this phone call between centre, this phone call between vladimir putin and xijinping on his 69th birthday. in this pledge from time to make a china, the second biggest superpower in the world, absolutely behind russia, the comradeship. it spells out and block letters the big geopolitical face—off that we will see in this next decade — it russia backed by china, threatening the west and europe. that's why we are seeing this pact between britain, australia and america, with submarines and intelligence sharing. so it's a hot war in europe, these geopolitical tensions will play out right across the globe over the next decade. it’s the globe over the next decade. it's fascinating when you look at

countries like india, with both sides effectively bidding and trying to persuade india, whether that's in relation to energy or defence spending, orwhatever relation to energy or defence spending, or whatever it is. we will come back to that, let's go back to the uk, to your paper, camilla, the telegraph, and their take on the rail strikes. the real strikes are being a huge disruption across the country, which looks like they will do. what is the telegraph pots line? it's looking at the impact the rail strikes _ it's looking at the impact the rail strikes will have on the health system, — strikes will have on the health system, on the nhs, and on patients. we got _ system, on the nhs, and on patients. we got a _ system, on the nhs, and on patients. we got a warning here from the health — we got a warning here from the health secretary, sajid javid, saying — health secretary, sajid javid, saying these rail strikes will put patients— saying these rail strikes will put patients at risk. he is saying that because of— patients at risk. he is saying that because of the train strikes on the first day, — because of the train strikes on the first day, this will make it

incredibly difficult for medical staff, — incredibly difficult for medical staff, doctors, hospital staff to -et staff, doctors, hospital staff to get into— staff, doctors, hospital staff to get into work, also difficult for patients— get into work, also difficult for patients to get into hospitals — and all those _ patients to get into hospitals — and all those things together, we could see operations cancelled, appointments missed, and really the danger— appointments missed, and really the danger is _ appointments missed, and really the danger is nhs waiting lists and backlogs build up even more because over those _ backlogs build up even more because over those few days, people will 'ust over those few days, people will just be _ over those few days, people will just be stuck at home if there's no public transport for them to get, and if— public transport for them to get, and if they— public transport for them to get, and if they don't have another way to get— and if they don't have another way to get around. $0 the story also has some _ to get around. $0 the story also has some warnings about disruption for school, _ some warnings about disruption for school, of course it's gcs he had a levels _ school, of course it's gcs he had a levels taking place next week. we have the _ levels taking place next week. we have the education secretary saying schools _ have the education secretary saying schools need to put contingency plans _ schools need to put contingency plans in — schools need to put contingency plans in place in case schools and school _ plans in place in case schools and school staff and pupils can't get there _ school staff and pupils can't get there so — school staff and pupils can't get there. so it's a series of warnings for people — there. so it's a series of warnings for people across the country, across — for people across the country, across society to plan for the worst

in case _ across society to plan for the worst in case there rail network is ground to a halt _ in case there rail network is ground to a halt. ,, . in case there rail network is ground toa halt. ,, ., ., in case there rail network is ground to a halt. ,, ., ., i. to a halt. stay at home if you can. what do you make _ to a halt. stay at home if you can. what do you make of _ to a halt. stay at home if you can. what do you make of the - to a halt. stay at home if you can. what do you make of the scale . to a halt. stay at home if you can. what do you make of the scale of| what do you make of the scale of these strikes?— what do you make of the scale of these strikes? ., , ., ,, ., these strikes? you 'ust talked about sa'id javid these strikes? you 'ust talked about sajrd javid being — these strikes? you just talked about sajid javid being so _ these strikes? you just talked about sajid javid being so concerned - these strikes? you just talked about sajid javid being so concerned that l sajid javid being so concerned that he asked the education secretary to get involved in this. best transport secretary. in order to create another one of his divisions between them and us, the same way as the government are doing on the wanda flights. and it will be pretty tough next week if they go ahead dasher wanda flights. it looks like neither side is getting together to divert these strikes, so it'll bring the nation to a halt, no trains to and from wells, edinburgh, scotland,

everybody�*s lives affected —— no trains to england from wales. they're also job cuts and volunteer which could put real safety at risk. if you cut rail services, you and convenience people, when you strike you inconvenience people. but if you cut rail safety, there a danger you kill people. cut rail safety, there a danger you kill petiole-— kill people. those strikes are 'ust to sa 21, kill people. those strikes are 'ust to say 21. 23. fl kill people. those strikes are 'ust to say 21, 23, and i kill people. those strikes are 'ust to say 21, 23, and 25 i kill people. those strikes are just| to say 21, 23, and 25 provisionally next week. camilla, talk me through this story which i must admit i don't really understand, but i know you looks clean it to me— the front page of the telegraph, a nice picture showing the sunshine and nice weather we've been having, but this isn't so much about the weather as it is climate change. "sour grapes over special status for sussex wine." what on earth is going on? , , ~' ., sussex wine." what on earth is going on? ,, ,, ., on? this is the kind of story that has uuite on? this is the kind of story that has quite a lot _ on? this is the kind of story that has quite a lot of— on? this is the kind of story that has quite a lot of fun _ on? this is the kind of story that has quite a lot of fun with - on? this is the kind of story that has quite a lot of fun with the i has quite a lot of fun with the headline _

has quite a lot of fun with the headline in the play on words. sussex— headline in the play on words. sussex county has been given special status _ sussex county has been given special status for— sussex county has been given special status for its wine — so this is similar— status for its wine — so this is similar to _ status for its wine — so this is similar to regions like champagne, where _ similar to regions like champagne, where you — similar to regions like champagne, where you get a special ruling that says that _ where you get a special ruling that says that in the case of sussex, the wind that— says that in the case of sussex, the wind that comes from the region has an elevated — wind that comes from the region has an elevated and protected status that shows it comes specifically from _ that shows it comes specifically from there, and winds from other regions _ from there, and winds from other regions can't imitate it, can't pretend _ regions can't imitate it, can't pretend to be on the same pedestal as sussex _ pretend to be on the same pedestal as sussex wine is. this has received the short— as sussex wine is. this has received the short shrift from conte producers who say this is a joke tashkent — producers who say this is a joke tashkent producers. —— kent producers _ tashkent producers. —— kent producers. they aren't happy they've been given— producers. they aren't happy they've been given this accolade. | producers. they aren't happy they've been given this accolade.— been given this accolade. i can't seak for been given this accolade. i can't speak for sussex, _ been given this accolade. i can't speak for sussex, but _ been given this accolade. i can't speak for sussex, but i've - been given this accolade. i can't speak for sussex, but i've drank kent sparkling wine it's fantastic somewhat on that endorsement i'll

leave it there, because i don't pliant leave it there, because i don't want ou to be leave it there, because i don't want you to be involved _ leave it there, because i don't want you to be involved in _ leave it there, because i don't want you to be involved in this. - leave it there, because i don't want you to be involved in this. i would tell you to have a nice glass of wine but don't, you have to come back later on so please don't have too much. thank you both very much for your efforts so far, will speak to you a little bit later. that's it for the papers this hour. torcuil crichton and camilla turner will be back again with me at ii.30pm. goodbye for now. good evening, i'm tulsen tollett, and this is your sports news. yorkshire county cricket club and a number of individuals have been charged by the england and wales cricket board with breaches of its code of conduct — following an investigation into racism at the club. the charges relate to bringing the game into disrepute and breaking the anti—discrimination code — and were brought after claims were made last year by the former player azeem rafiq. he has welcomed the charges and said the process had been gruelling but necessary.

our sports editor dan roan reports from headingley. it's the victory in the match and the series! english cricket was on a high — yesterday's stunning victory over new zealand in the second test, one of the greatest wins in the team's history. butjust21i hours later came the latest development in the saga that's cast a shadow over the sport. yorkshire and a number of unnamed individuals charged by the ecb over allegations of racism at the county following a six—month investigation into its handling of claims made by former player azeem rafiq. in a statement, the governing body said... last year, rafiq gave harrowing testimony to mp5 about the racist abuse he said he'd suffered by some of his former colleagues at yorkshire. there just seems to be

an acceptance at the institution, from the leaders, and no—one ever stamped it out. the whistle—blower claimed former team—mate gary ballance was among those who used racist language toward him. ballance said he deeply regretted doing so. former yorkshire and england captain michael vaughan revealed he'd been accused of making racist comments to rafiq and other players but has repeatedly denied the claims. today, in a statement, rafiq said he welcomed the charges but that... last year, yorkshire, who today lost in the county championship, sparked outrage by not disciplining anyone, despite rafiq having been found to suffer racial harassment. the county plunged into crisis. a damning parliamentary report then concluded discrimination was endemic in the sport. today, one of its authors gave this reaction. the absolute key thing is what actually happens to the game more generally. can we be certain there are no other yorkshires out there?

and we need to be sure that the ecb has a game under its control which is inclusive, which means that everyone from every background can feel safe and can feel welcome in. having regained the lucrative international hosting rights that it lost in the wake of the crisis after an overhaul in leadership, yorkshire are now preparing to host a buoyant england next week here in the third test. but moving on from this crisis is proving no easy task. dan roan, bbc news, headingley. steph houghton has been left out of the england squad for the european championship on home soil next month. the former england captain hasn't played since january, but was given an opportunity to prove herfitness — but the manchester city defender hasn't been picked. forward fran kirby and midfielder jill scott have both been included, despite fitness concerns. manager sarina weigman says it was a difficult decision to leave out houghton. yeah, that was a hard decision, but i think she is just not ready to compete. i think we set a plan in place with her and we did everything,

she did everything, that she could to come and be supported to as well as possible. —— and we supported her as well as possible. she came into training, she and a very good place, butjust not ready to compete, i think. it is just a matter of time — and we don't have that time. britain's katie boulter is having an excellent week at the birmingham classic. on tuesday, she recorded the biggest win of her career knocking out seventh—seed alison riske. and the world number ilii saw off caroline garcia of france in the second round in another straight sets victory. and boulter will face former world number one simona halep for a place in the semi—finals, after the romanian beat britain's harriet dart in straight sets. valteri bottas has warned that the issues of car bouncing in formula i is getting serious and could injure drivers. it's known as porpoising, and it's been affecting a number of drivers this season. after sunday's azerbaijan grand prix, lewis hamilton complained of back problems that,

at one stage, he worried may have caused him to miss this weekend's canadian grand prix. new design specifications mean cars bounce as they travel at speed down straights. if we start to actually see injuries of drivers while driving the cars and without incident, that's not how it should be. so, we spoke with the fia in the last race and we made the point pretty clear — that we would like to see for any options for the future, how can we improve it, so it is definitely a topic and i think it's getting quite serious. five—time olympic gold medallist laura kenny has been named as part of a 35—strong england cycling squad for this summer's commonwealth games in birmingham. the competition will pit riders against their regular team—mates — kenny won olympic madison gold alongside katie archibald in tokyo, but will be competing against the scot this summer. state of rest won the big race of the day at royal ascot,

the prince of wales stakes. ridden by shane cross and trained byjoseph o'brien, the five—to—one shot finished ahead of the favourite bay bridge. grand glory was third. there was a dramatic photo finish to the queen's vase where 5—2 favourite eldar eldarovjust about beat zechariah. it was about as close as it gets, with hafit coming in third place. for more on that and everything else, you can head to the bbc sport website. but that is all your support for now. well, wednesday was already a very warm day across the south of the uk, 28 celsius in london. thursday's going to be hotter still, and then the peak of the heat arrives on friday. but that's mostly across southern and central parts of england and wales.

now, here's the short—term. not much to say across england and wales, clear skies in the morning, temperatures, say, 10—14 celsius. more cloud here in the north west, and that's how it's going to stay into the afternoon. so, thicker cloud for northern ireland and particularly western parts of scotland. perhaps some showers through the course of the afternoon. england and wales will stay dry and sunny, and those temperatures will be skyrocketing, particularly in the south and the south east, up to around 28, maybe 30 celsius. compare that to only 19 in belfast and in glasgow. and then, of course, hotter still on friday, and come the weekend, all of that energy is going to be released. it's all going to go bang, thundery downpours on the way.

welcome to newsday. reporting live from singapore, i'm arunoday mukharji. the headlines — the us announces another $1 billion in security assistance for kyiv and urges allies to increase the delivery of weapons to help ukraine battle russian forces. the us central bank raises interest rates by three quarters of a percentage point to combat soaring inflation, the biggest hike in nearly 30 years. we have both the tools we need and the resolve that it will take to restore price stability on behalf of american families and businesses. uk prime minister borisjohnson's ethics adviser has resigned. lord geidt gave no details other than to say that he felt it was the right thing to do. and the england and wales cricket

board brings charges against yorkshire and several individuals over