will drift light heavy thundery rain will drift up light heavy thundery rain will drift up from the south affecting southern england, the wales, the midlands, east anglia. low cloud again for north—east coast but western scotland, northern ireland we hold onto some sunshine and some warmth with highs of 26 degrees. looking ahead to sunday, a lot of dry weather abound, especially towards the north—west. more thunderstorms in the and east.

hello this is bbc news. the headlines... a spectacular start to the olympic games with the opening ceremony underway now. thousands of workers in the food supply chain in england no longer need to isolate if pinged by the covid app, as long as they test negative. daily testing for pupils is just as effective at controlling covid in schools as self—isolation, according to new research. a high courtjudge rules there should be a new investigation into whether state agencies could have prevented the omagh bombing in 1998. and surfing will make its olympic debut at the tokyo games, as a0 thrill—seeking athletes take to the waves. the olympics opening ceremony is taking place in tokyo, and we've seen team gb out in the parade, albeit a much

smaller contingent than normal, due to the tight restrictions surrounding the games in light of rising covid cases. the organisers still put on a spectacular show for the world watching on. a fireworks sequence, and a ceremony focusing on togetherness, connection and inclusion, as well as reflecting the struggles of the pandemic greeted the athletes into a near empty stadium. britain were led by flag—bearers hannah mills, the sailor, and rower mo sbihi, both gold medallists from rio 2016. heptathlon hopeful katerina johnson thompson, who competes in the second half of the games, is happy it's all going ahead, but is wary of the isolation rules surrounding athletes in the run up. it feels like it's almost potluck whether you are going to get pinged or not depending on what plane you have been on, the distance where you spend too much time dealing with somebody and there's a lot of processes to get to. customs and

stuff, we were walking for about 90 minutes yesterday just going minutes yesterdayjust going through each station but it's all very well organised, everything is organised to 80 and i can't fault it in that, it's necessary to be able to compete. i'm happy they are competing in the athletes are getting their chance finally after a year of waiting. it's hard but everyone is in the same boat so it's something we just have to adapt to. australia and new zealand's decision to pull out of the rugby league world cup was "premature", according to australia's players�* union, who have claimed a number of its members wanted to travel to england for the tournament this autumn. here's the union's chief exec clint newton. it's always really important if you're going to make a decision that's going to obviously impact the players, it's, we believe, fundamental to have the players as part of that decision—making process. and again, we have been speaking to the nrl so i can be clear on that but overview is that

this decision was premature and that we would like to see what unfolds in the coming weeks. so frustration among many of those represented by the rugby league players association, but the new zealand rugby league chief has defended the withdrawal. if looking after human safety is cowardly, then i am a coward but i don't believe it is. some of those comments quite honestly are misjudged and ill—advised. some football transfer news to bring you now and manchester united have confirmed the signing of england internationaljadon sancho. the forward joins from german side borussia dortmund for £73 million on a 5—year deal. he was part of the england squad that reached the final of euro 2020 that lost on penalties to italy. onjoining united, sancho said it was a "dream come true and ijust cannot wait to perform in the premier league." son heung min has signed

a new four—year contract keeping him at tottenham until 2025. son has scored 107 goals in 280 appearances for the club since joining from bayer leverkusen in 2015. he's also scored 27 times for south korea, appearing at two world cups. chelsea women have confirmed the signing of manchester united forward lauren james. lauren, who is the younger sister of england and chelsea right—back reece james, has agreed a four—year contract with the reigning women's super league champions. she scored united's first goal in the wsl and went on to be their top scorer in the 2019—20 season. that's all the sport for now. you can find more on all those stories, as well as the build up cricket's the hundred, on the bbc sport website. it's birmingham phoenix against london spirit today. that's bbc.co.uk/sport. the leadup to the tokyo olympics has been a roller—coaster 18 months, not only for the athletes, but for their families and friends too, who sadly can't be there in tokyo to support their loved ones. but they won't let that dampen their spirits,

as mike bushell reports. getting the party started at home. the family of rio gold medallist are not able to cheer him on poolside in tokyo this time, but they can still feel his presence. and while this might be confusing alfie the dog, showing their support with friends in the garden in ripon... mask some of the extra stress of having to watch their son's third olympics only through the tv. i get more nervous, because i feel as though i have some control when i'm there, for some reason, although i am in the stands, but ijust know what is going on. you cannot see everything through the camera. i basically have to leave the room when jack's dive comes around. i am pretty nervous about the whole thing,

i have my hands in front of me, doctor who—style. in 2016, jack and chris became britain first olympic champions. to make the nerves worse forjack�*s family this time, thousands of miles away, they don't expect to we've got a family whatsapp that we use but jack is very much one for taking himself on flying even with us. he just wants to get on with hisjob. at least he is able to spend time poolside with his girlfriend lois toulson, who is diving from the higher ten metre board at her second olympic games. lois is doing the platform ten metres as well, so you - see her up there and l think oh, you know... she hasjust been bonkers- from being young, she just goes for it. the first thought was a double -

olympian, then for them to be there together because the kind of, the romance started in rio, . so for them to be there as a couple is really— nice for them both. i am jack's number one fan. it's just like jack taking six penalties. how we bow out at football finals, jack only has two seconds per dive and that's it, bang. he is on the move! jack and lois�*s family... cheering. up and down the land, these scenes have been repeated whatever time of day or night it may be. in keeping with the way of doing things over the last 18 months, i caught up with others feeling similar emotions from home. joe fraser the gymnasts godmother,

laura kenney�*s first coach coach and adam's teacher. if i can start with you, what a moment. he has got the feel of these bars overl the last few days... he has been dedicated for such a long time. gymnastics is not the first sporty think of, you think of football and those sort of sports but being inspirational for those youngsters coming through, i think it's so important. he's done a greatjob. double front half turn - with that little adjustment! that was a routine and a half. even though it's a long time since i coached laura, you still feel as though you are there with her. like i was when she was riding her first youth event all those years ago. i have been teaching the same classroom for many years and i will often say that's where adam peaty used to sit. just a bit of inspiration for them because it's like anyone of them there.

anything is possible, it's a good demonstration. forfamilies, coaches and athletes it has been the longest and most difficult build—up to any olympic games and over the last 18 months, we have followed some of team gb's of team gb's top stars through all the uncertainty and with the games cancelled last summer and right up until today continuing speculation and some doubts. all those hours training in empty gyms at times and at home, new ways of staying in condition during lockdowns. it takes a whole team effort we're going to need and you play a little part in that _ too, don't you? going behind—the—scenes as theyjuggle preparations with the issues so many of us have faced. but i will still show we haven't done all the competitions we normally do, but i will still show

fury. i think the olympics will be won and lost with whoever he has i is it not? will it happen? i don't think we have still quite adjusted to the idea of it going ahead. because it's on at 7am it will be difficult to get that atmosphere going. we will have to get up at 5am. get the tea on the stove ready. a bit too early for wine, i think. the australian state of new south wales is asking the federal government to send more vaccines and other resources urgently, describing the delta variant outbreak in sydney as a "national crisis". it comes as the city records its biggest daily rise in covid cases this year. only 12% of australians have been vaccinated so far.

new zealand has now suspended its quarantine—free travel bubble with australia for at least eight weeks. our correspondent phil mercer has more from sydney. what we've seen since the pandemic began in many ways is australia like a distressed submarine, those compartments of a submarine being closed off like states and territories around australia. western australia has put up a hard order with covid—affected regions. the state of queensland is doing the same as well. what we are hearing from dan andrews, the victoria state premier, is wanting more of those restrictions around the greater sydney region to keep the people in and to keep the virus out of other parts of australia. so, we know today new south wales, of which sydney is the state capital, has recorded 136 new covid—19 infections. this is a new daily record for this latest outbreak. now, 136 infections might not sound much to people in other countries, but in the australian context it is extremely significant. and you have to remember that australia has been pursuing a national policy of elimination, and that's why we are hearing those

tough words from political leaders like dan andrews, who wants to lock sydney down until the delta variant here is crushed. new zealand has suspended its quarantine—free travel bubble with australia for at least 8 weeks. the scheme was launched in april, after both countries appeared to have controlled the spread of covid. but outbreaks of the delta variant in sydney and melbourne have led to the move. new zealand residents have 7 days to return home to avoid quarantine. italy is the latest country to announce it will introduce a mandatory covid vaccination certificate scheme. starting next month, it will allow people who've received at least one jab to go to various indoor venues like cinemas and gyms. in france, lawmakers

are debating whether to only allow access to bars, restaurants and public transport to those who have had a covid vaccine, or can show proof of a negative test. our paris correspondent, lucy williamson has been talking to those for and against the new rules. if the government has its way, a pint of beer, a bistro lunch, a morning coffee, will all require proof that the customer is covid—19 free. daniel runs this bistro a stone's throw from the old paris stock exchange. the bill being debated this week is designed to keep france open for business in the face of what the government is calling a fourth wave of infections. but daniel says it's going too far. translation: i am never going to ask for the health pass. _ i am not a policeman. i don't have that kind of authority. no, i won't do it. i think it shows a lack of respect and it is not the kind of conviviality we should have

here in france. mattieu will keep coming for lunch anyway. he works in finance and says there is no alternative to the health pass. if we are going to avoid another confinement, a forced confinement and all that painful thing, and keep the economy going, no choice. a majority here seem to support the government plan, but this being france, opposition to it has been vocal too. more than 100,000 people protested here last week. and there have been fresh protests outside the national assembly. a few have compared the current government to the nazi occupation here. i am here because we need - to save the freedom, freedom. i think that if you are - obliged to do something, it is a kind of dictator. it's like if the government wanted lto force us to have this vaccine. i

the vaccine is seen as the way to avoid lockdown and this new law, the stick rather than the carrot in getting people to sign up, but for those who already see the government as arrogant and out of touch, it is just another constraint, another control. a health pass is already required for entry to many public spaces, at the eiffel tower, tests are available for anyone who arrives without one. because even the most divisive ideas can sometimes become an accepted part of france. china has rejected a plan by the world health organization for a second phase of an investigation into the origins of covid 19. a senior chinese health official said the proposal, to consider whether the virus could have escaped from a chinese lab, did not respect science and disregarded common sense.

our north america correspondent david willis has the latest. us intelligence officials were pursuing a number of different leads and theories, among them the possibility the virus could have resulted from a laboratory accident in china and this gave momentum to a theory that up until then had really been seen here as a right—wing conspiracy theory, the possibility that the virus was man—made in some form. and china hasn't really been helping itself in this regard, some might argue. officials from the world health organization were only able to get access to the wuhan area injanuary of this year, more than a year after the first cases of the virus came to light and now, beijing has flatly rejected a request from the who for its investigators to be allowed to inspect the laboratories, the research institutes, in wuhan.

the debate over the safety of e—scooters has been in the headlines once again this week following two incidents involving children. a 16—year—old boy was killed on sunday after his e—scooter collided with a car and a three—year—old girl has been left with life—changing injuries after being hit by one. now some campaigners are calling for them to be banned in public places. adam mcclean reports. a scheme to rent e—scooters where riders have to be over 18 and hold a provisional or full licence. is being tested in 32 areas across england. they can only be ridden legally in places where people can use bikes including roads and cycle lanes. the government say it will help them understand the benefita and impact e—scooters have. i do not ride on the pavement. i appreciate the scooters, they are lovely scooters.

and the hired bikes as well. i do not want to lose the opportunity of having these for the public. the law says an e—scooter is as much a motor vehicle as a car or motorbike, so riding them illegally can attract six points and a £300 fine, plus the scooter being seized. some can go 20—30mph. there is no protection at all to the rider, they are completely exposed. if they are involved in a collision with a car, van or a bus or another motor vehicle, it is likely that the e—scooter rider is going to come off a lot worse than the other person in the other vehicle. while there are risks to those who ride them unsafely, like this scooter on a motorway near bradford, pedestrians and other road users are at risk. philjones was on a mobility scooter when he found his route blocked by an abandoned scooter. phil being phil, got— off his mobility scooter to move it, the scooter was too heavy, forced him back down -

on the road and it fell on top of him and broke his hip. - the resultant effect _ was he had to go into hospital and he never came out. he died 12 days later. dennis has delivered a petition to number 10, calling on the government to stop the hire schemes. these are just some of the scooters he has found abandoned nearby. to rub salt into the wound, - when we were doing my brother's funeral arrangements, - there was one parked right outside the doorway to get into the funeral directors. i i was beside myself. i was so angry, ijust didn't know really. . the response from inside me was horrendous, you know? i in a statement, the department for transport said, "we continue to engage with vulnerable road user groups to help shape rules on top of existing safety features such as compulsory horns and bells and ensuring trial areas have sufficient parking to avoid street clutter."

a man who was repeatedly attacked by a grizzly bear in the us state of alaska for an entire week is recovering from his injuries after being rescued by the coast guard. he was alone in a remote mining camp when the bear first attacked, dragging him down to a river. he escaped but then had to fend off the animal as it returned to his shack every night. an sos sign was spotted during a routine helicopter flight last week. the man is suffering from a leg injury and bruised torso. we're expected to spent nearly £9 billion on domestic holidays this year, that's a ten—year—high. new statistics from mintel suggest more than 3 in 5 british people plan to holiday in the uk this year compared with just 2 in 5 before the pandemic. victoria fritz has been following the story and reports for us from north wales. it is places like these

which will be a boost to domestic tourism this year. new figures compiled for the bbc show that we are due to spend £9 billion this summer alone on domestic holidays, that figure is a ten—year—high. 62% of us are going to spend our summer holidays in the uk and plan to spend some time elsewhere, not all our time in our homes. we're going to places like this, north wales and cumbria have taken top spot in terms of the most popular places. not devon or dorset or cornwall, which might surprise some people. loads of places are fully booked, presumably these holiday parks. how do you prepare for a season like this? it has been difficult, for everyone involved, especially in the domestic tourism market where we've seen a massive demand coming through.

people have had enough, i think, trying to make a booking abroad and realising that it is just a complete waste of time. it is unfair for that individual, so we are getting that footfall and we are hoping we can continue with that where people have had a nice time, they enjoy this type of weather, and they'rejust going to keep coming back and returning year—on—year. how are you managing the demand? you'll have so many staff that don't know what's going on because of pingdemic. lots of people are being sent home. pingdemic is a problem. we feel some of our staff are unfairly getting pinged and unfairly, we feel, have perhaps only been in contact with somebody for a minute or two. the sooner the better to get a test to return back to work. i know they're altering the legalities of this to see whether we can get the back to work as soon as they get a negative test, that would be great for us, you know?

one thing that's noticeable, there is more of a mixture in terms of the people who are coming to holiday resorts who would otherwise go to the european continent, they are coming here as well, is it putting extra pressure on people and the older holiday—makers who would ordinarily come here, are they feeling a little bit uncomfortable perhaps about the excess volume of people? they will not be used to the amount of volume, but i think they understand. the individuals who normally go to europe or even america, they are here on holiday and it is... i think everybody understands the situation we're in and you have to enjoy the best of a bad situation and i think they are starting to enjoy it. we can report that there have been cases of verbal abuse for staff in restaurants and also people here because there is confusion about restrictions because they're different in wales compared to england. as a result, there can be

a little bit of trouble. there have been problems locally in this area. but overall, you know, the summer seaside, the great british holiday seems to be doing incredibly well and numbers are very high. now it's time for a look at the weather with ben rich. this week's heat is slowly but surely starting to ebb away with cooler weather in prospect for the weekend, for some some very wet weather. heavy thundery downpours, especially in the south, drier weather further north and west. these big blobs of cloud blossoming to life, we have seen quite a lot of lightning from this cloud as this heavy thundery rain approaches the far south—west through the day. still this amber warning from the met office through the rest of the day across northern ireland. sunny spells and the odd rogue thunderstorm. gusty wind developing

for southern counties of england is the heavy thundery rain approaches. another warm day across the north west of england, western scotland and northern ireland. 29 or 30, cooler further east into this evening and tonight, the heavy thundery bursts of rain really move north into southern parts of england, perhaps south wales as well. a lot of low cloud and mist and murk for eastern parts of scotland and england and another pretty warm night overnight close of 15 or 16 or 17 in places. this area of low pressure in the south is going to bring quite wet weather through the weekend. it's across the south of england and parts of south wales we have the risk of some severe thunderstorms, the potential for localised flooding and transport disruptions. not raining all the time. downpours will be hit and miss but where they crop up could give a lot of rain. frequent lightning and

strong gusts of wind. cloudy and murky for eastern coast of scotland and north—east england. for western parts of scotland and northern ireland it is a dry and mostly saint—etienne temperatures will be lower, we are still looking at highs of 26. still feeling pretty warm. saturday into sunday, the area of low pressure lumber is slowly east, close to the centre. that's where we have the potential for vicious thunderstorms again. further north and west drier and brighter with spells of sunshine that temperatures no longer in the 30s. highs of 23 or 24.

this is bbc news. i'm ben brown. the headlines. a spectacular start to the olympic games with the opening ceremony under way now. more than 11,000 athletes from more than 200 countries will compete. a high courtjudge rules there should be a new investigation into whether state agencies could have prevented the omagh bombing in 1998. the victims' families say they feel vindicated. for a very long time there's been no doubt in my mind that omagh was a preventable atrocity, but nobody wanted to hear that message. not the irish government, not the british government. thousands of workers in the food supply chain in england no longer

need to isolate if pinged by the covid app, as long