welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines: borisjohnson refuses to resign, despite his government collapsing and some of his closest allies deserting him. so far there have been 44 resignations, it's a record number in one day, but the prime minister responded with defiance to critics on his own side. does the prime minister think there are any circumstances in which he should resign? laughter frankly, mr speaker, the job of a prime minister in difficult circumstances, when he has been handed a colossal mandate, is to keep going, and that's what i'm going to do.

the prime minister also sacked michael gove, once a very loyal supporter, who turned against him. but the opposition labour leader, sir keir starmer, said the prime minister was in the dying act of his career. anyone quitting now, after defending all that, hasn't got a shred of integrity. mr speaker, isn't this the first recorded case of the sinking ships fleeing the rat? also in the programme: japan plans to pump water from the fukushima nuclear plant into the pacific, we'll hear from the fishermen protesting the move. translation: ”rotestin the move. ., wa nts translation: the government wants to release _ translation: the government wants to release contaminated l wants to release contaminated water into the sea. we do not trust them and we do not feel safe. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news —

it's newsday. welcome to the programme. the british prime minister borisjohnson is continuing to defy calls for him to resign from some of his most senior colleagues, who believe he has clearly lost the confidence of most of his mps. mrjohnson has been inside number 10 meeting cabinet colleagues, some of whom still believe he should stay, but most are convinced his time is up. late on wednesday night another cabinet minister, michael gove, was sacked, with a source from downing street describing him as a snake. 44 ministers and aides have left the government in the last 48 hours, after sajid javid and rishi sunak resigned from the cabinet. with the latest, here's our political editor chris mason. the front pages, the photographers, the reporters, all asking the same thing. is it all over, prime minister? the lenses tilt towards boris johnson leaving downing street, heading

for parliament at lunchtime and prime minister's questions. the difficult questions usually come from the opposition benches. today, they came from conservative mps as well. the prime minister constantly tries to deflect from the issue, always tries to blame other people for mistakes and at least nothing left for him to do other than to take responsibility and resign. applause today, i ask him to do the honourable thing, to put the interests of the nation before his own interests, and before, in his own words, it does become impossible for government to do its job. does the prime minister think there are any circumstances l in which he should resign? laughter frankly, mr speaker, thejob of a prime minister in difficult circumstances, when he's been handed a colossal mandate, is to keep going, and that's what i'm going to do. and when it was the labour

leader's turn, he took aim at those in the cabinet. only in office because no—one else is prepared to debase themselves any longer, the charge of the lightweight brigade! laughter have some self—respect! in the middle of a crisis, doesn't the country deserve better than a z—list cast of nodding dogs? mr speaker, the difference between this government i and that opposition is _ we have a plan and they do not. and we're getting on with it. they want to focus on this type of issue, mr speaker, - we're going to get on with ourjobs. i ian blackford. the scottish national party leader at westminster is often remorselessly barracked by conservative mps. not today. let's face it, it's a minor miracle that the prime minister has even made it through to prime minister's questions. and he really ought to see the faces behind him because, prime minister, it really is over.

the prime minister is desperately clinging on to his own fantasy, but the public can't afford to put up with this farce of a government a minute longer. all day, it felt at times like every ten minutes or so, conservative mps were sending letters saying the prime minister should go. and just take a look at the language chosen by the now formerjustice minister victoria atkins as she resigned... are we witnessing the collapse of the government, mrjavid? ..and from a letter to a resignation statement from the man who just yesterday was boris johnson's health secretary. i call sajid javid. have a look at the body language of the conservative benches as you listen

to mrjavid's words. treading the tightrope between loyalty and integrity has become impossible in recent months. and, mr speaker, i will never risk losing my integrity. this week again, we have reason to question the truth and integrity of what we've all been told. and at some point, we have to conclude that enough is enough. i believe that point is now. he said he had been patient, hoping things would improve. but i do fear that the reset button can only work so many times. there's only so many times you can turn that machine on and off before you realise that something is fundamentally wrong. and then there was this — a public, laser—guided attack on those still in boris johnson's cabinet. they will have their own

reasons, but it is a choice. i knowjust how difficult that choice is. but let's be clear. not doing something is an active decision. i'm deeply concerned about how the next generation will see the conservative party on our current course. can i say to the house, there will be no more personal statements today. bye, boris! but he was back again, down the corridor, a few hours later, facing the liaison committee of senior backbenchers. prime minister, how's your week going? terrific. turns out that they had been keeping up with the news. it's being reported that there's a delegation of your cabinet colleagues waiting in downing street, including the chief whip, the transport secretary and your new chancellor, waiting to tell you when you finish here today that it's time for you to go.

how will you respond to that? you're asking me to comment on... this conversation will happen in a few minutes, prime minister. so you say! but i'm not going to give a running commentary on political events, we're going to get on with the government of the country. this morning, the communities secretary michael gove went to see the prime minister to tell him he thought he should resign. the man who just yesterday sat around borisjohnson�*s cabinet table was sacked by him, with a number 10 source describing mr gove as a snake. this was the scene in downing street this evening — drivers hanging around while cabinet ministers went inside, some saying mrjohnson should go, others saying he should stay. the culture secretary's still supportive. is anyone else backing the prime minister? oh, yes! westminster is a postcode defined by power. today has been defined by it draining away from borisjohnson.

but he's not shifting, at least yet. we can go to downing street now and speak to our reporter who has been watching the latest developments for us on this story. i think the lights are still on their behind you aren't they, mark? any sense of what kinds of conversations are taking place behind those close doors? since we last spoke the light above the doorway is but some of the lights on the first floor went out about 20 minutes ago so i get the sense that people in there are now having some sleep after a very, very chaotic day. at times it was questioned as to whether boris johnson would still be in charge in this building by the end of the day. well, he is. what we have learned at the end of the chaotic day is the prime minister is defiant. he has a message that he doesn't think he can be matched at the ballot

box by any other conservative politician and he should continue to lead the party. in fact, we learned he is prepared to take actions like sucking michael gove, an extraordinary move that shocked a lot of people here, the housing secretary considered one of the people behind the moves to get rid of borisjohnson. he spoke to him this morning in this building we believe, and after that we have heard that michael gove saying that he has been set up through some of the people, allies appears that have been talking to newspapers. but we have also learnt the details of those people that were confronting the prime minister in this building, one at a time to his face, telling him to go. the likes of priti patel, the home secretary who boris johnson likes of priti patel, the home secretary who borisjohnson has stood by through thick and thin. the new chancellor who was appointed only a day ago and who will be standing side—by—side, we are told by number 10, side—by—side, we are told by number10, next side—by—side, we are told by number 10, next week to deliver economic strategy they are promising tax cuts. a very

difficult thing to understand. the man who was telling him to go is going to be working with him next week. some suspect there may be leadership ambitions on his behalf to remain a high profile. speaking obvious, the attorney—general is the latest person to say that boris johnson is the latest person to say that borisjohnson should go on the clear but she hasn't resigned. she is the first person to throw her hat in the ring publicly for boris johnson'sjob even ring publicly for boris johnson's job even though there is no vacancy yet. and yet like dominoes, ministers keep falling. we have heard that simon hart, the secretary of state for wales in the past few hours reside. and also at argo who is not a name known to many viewers but a loyal ally of borisjohnson�*s. he is the 44th person to resign. a lot of people over a short period of time. putting a lot of pressure on borisjohnson. and one final huge point of pressure coming next week when the backbench mp of conservative backbench committee may change the voting

rules so that borisjohnson could bates a vote of confidence as early as the middle of next week and that would not be totally in his control as to whether he can stay in this building. thank ever keeping us up—to—date with the latest developments. thank you forjoining us on the programme. just as you are listening to what mark was saying we can hear more about that special committee that will be meeting next week. a little earlier i spoke with sharjones who was a special advisor to four cabinet ministers. she is now a political consultant. she gave me her reaction who could be the next leader.— the next leader. nobody with any reality — the next leader. nobody with any reality could _ the next leader. nobody with any reality could advise - the next leader. nobody with any reality could advise borisj any reality could advise boris johnson apart from to tell him that the game is up. no—one could recall a situation like this where we have had 44 ministerial resignations in one day and a delegation of cabinet ministers going to downing street, chairman of the powerful 1922 committee of

backbenchers going to downing street to tell the prime minister time to stand down. he is refusing to go and is still staying put. so it is really telling into almost this farcical psychodrama, a battle of wills between the prime minister and the conservative party. what is going to happen over the next 2a hours will be extremely interesting. i don't think anyone could realistically say that the prime minister has much chance of clinging onto power now. indeed and certainly the world watching very carefully given the fact that the uk is such an important player, notjust in europe but out here as well in a sharples i am glad you brought up the 9022 committee, because he did win that last no—confidence vote. he cannot face another boat for another year, my understanding of the rules suggest. at the 1922 committee which could change those rules is meeting next week. ~ . , ., those rules is meeting next week. ., ,,. those rules is meeting next week. ., ,, . ., week. what your spectrum that? i am almost _ week. what your spectrum that? i am almost certain _ week. what your spectrum that? i am almost certain there - week. what your spectrum that? i am almost certain there will. i am almost certain there will

be a change of rules coming next week. there will be an election early next week to determine who is going to be sitting on that committee. what seems to be the case is that they will be a number of mps standing that a pretty hostile to borisjohnson, thereby they are going to try and force the role change and bring about a confidence vote as early as possibly the middle of next week. i think things will move very rapidly now. there was talk of there being a competence boat as early as tomorrow because it was thought that potentially the rules could be changed by the current committee. but they decided not to do that. it seems that graham brady i believe went to see borisjohnson in downing street and pabst thought that him putting a hand on the prime minister �*s shoulder would be enough to swing the situation but that appears not to be the case. it shows how today she's and determine the prime minister is to cling to office. i do think it will be the mechanism of the 1922 using a competence voting process to get him out. iii competence voting process to get him out-—

get him out. if it comes down to it, as _ get him out. if it comes down to it. as you _ get him out. if it comes down to it, as you say, _ get him out. if it comes down to it, as you say, boris - to it, as you say, boris johnson extremely determined. if we get to a point where the tory party is looking at another leader, who do you think that might be? i another leader, who do you think that might be? i think it is an open — think that might be? i think it is an open field _ think that might be? i think it is an open field at _ think that might be? i think it is an open field at the - think that might be? | think it | is an open field at the moment. there are a number of names in the frame. 0ne there are a number of names in the frame. one of the names we have heard a lot about is penny mordaunt the trade minister, obviously rishi sunak was the chancellor until yesterday. had a difficult bit of press conference recently over his personal situation but cannot be discounted. you have other names like ben wallace the defence secretary, and the players outside the cabinet. so jeremy hunt who stood in the last leadership contest. you have other outsiders like tom tugun house who is a chair of one of the powerful pick committees in parliament as well was becoming increasingly powerful and high—profile bows. i think will be a very, very interesting contest which will not be resolved back quickly.

0nce not be resolved back quickly. once that stage is reached. i think the party will be hoping to have a new leader in place in time for the autumn which is traditionally the time when we like to have a bit of a political reset and a fresh start. that was sian jones, that was sianjones, former adviser to achieve minister. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: something fishy, or normal nuclear procedure? we look at plans to empty water from the fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. central london has been rocked by a series of terrorist attacks. police say there have been many casualties, and there is growing speculation that al-qaeda was responsible. germany will be the hosts of the 2006 football world cup. they've pipped the favourites, south africa, by a single vote. in south africa, the possibility of losing hadn't even been contemplated.

celebration parties were cancelled. a man entered the palace i through a downstairs window and made his way to - the queen's private bedroom. then, he asked her for a cigarette. - and, on the pretext - of arranging for some to be brought, summoned a footman. on duty, who took the man away. one child... ..one teacher... ..one book... ..and one pen can change the world. education is the only solution. applause this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. 0ur headlines: borisjohnson refuses to resign, despite his government collapsing and some of his closest allies deserting him. so far, there have been 44

resignations, it's a record number in one day, but the prime minister responded with defiance to critics on his own side. staying with our main story, boris johnson refuses to resign, despite his government collapsing. we have been talking about what the political crisis may mean to the economy in the uk. i've been speaking to britain economics editorfor the economist, soumaya keynes. here's what she had to say. things are fairly fragile right now. what you've got is essentially lots of things happening at the same time. so you have got this cost—of—living crisis, this energy price shock which, as you say, is sitting lots of countries around the world, but in the uk it seems like it is going to drag on for an unusually long time. you also have this fresh memory of the pandemic. during the pandemic there was the sense that money was no object, the government

was no object, the government was here to help, and so now when we have got these really difficult times, again there is an expectation that government should really do something about it. that is obviously just setting up high expectations, you know, this idea the government should really do something. the tricky thing is that the politics of the situation and the economics are tugging in at two different directions. you got the conservative party, backbenchers, tax cuts, and essentially more targeted support that would help less affected. the prime minister is saying that he needs to stay on because he needs to get things done and complete the mandate that he was given. but, as you point out, it is astonishingly difficult time for the uk economy, can he fix things if he does stay in power? in general, i think the last

couple of days have been fairly embarrassing for britain, and i don't think anyone looking at what has happened would expect there to be a calm, considered, coherent, long—term economic vision coming out of this debacle. i think it's more likely that we would see some kind of positive change in at the direction of the economic plan if borisjohnson were to leave. that said, there have been reports that borisjohnson is going to try to lay out some kind of new economic strategy with his new chancellor, and so, you know, we will see what they come up with. i worry it's just going to be tax cuts rather than things that really get to britain's underlying economic challenges. i’m get to britain's underlying economic challenges. i'm glad ou economic challenges. i'm glad you brought — economic challenges. i'm glad you brought up _ economic challenges. i'm glad you brought up how— economic challenges. i'm glad you brought up how this - economic challenges. i'm glad you brought up how this is - you brought up how this is being viewed around the world

because certainly, you know, people all over looking at the situation in the uk, and i wonder what you might think what investors are seeing or are thinking when they look at the situation, just briefly if you don't mind.— the situation, just briefly if you don't mind. looking at the -ound you don't mind. looking at the pound for— you don't mind. looking at the pound for example, _ you don't mind. looking at the pound for example, there - you don't mind. looking at the pound for example, there is i pound for example, there is remarkably little movement there, right? right now it looks like everyone is just watching, thinking, "0h looks like everyone is just watching, thinking, "oh dear," but it isn't having a huge market effect. that obviously... you know, it could change of the economic outlook would you change significantly, if borisjohnson started to announce really, really extreme things. for now though, i don't think we are on the brink of investors fleeing, you know, fleeing stirling, you know, but it's foolish to predict that — to predict too much when it comes to those currency movements. away from the uk, let's take a look at some other stories in the global headlines.

injapan, the prime minister has pledged to more nuclear power plants as they struggle with the hottest summer on record. 11 years on from the fukushima disaster, plants remain deeply unpopular, and as a storage run slow at the fukushima side, treated water is due to be released into the pacific, a policy that fishermen strongly oppose. 0ur reporter has been back to fukushima and sent us this report. this is raw fish, just from the sea off here in fukushima, caught this morning. would you dare to eat this? well, according to 0no—san here, who caught it, he says there is nothing for me to be worried about. nothing to worry about, it's safe. well, it certainly tastes good! bell rings

for years after the nuclear disaster, no—one wanted to buy fish from fukushima, the fear of radioactive contamination was so strong. finally, that is starting to change, but now there is a new threat. this is the fukushima nuclear plant today. the site is now dominated by giant water tanks filled with radioactive water. from up here, you really get a sense of the scale of the problem. behind me are more than a thousand giant water tanks, and at last count, they contained nearly 1.3 million tons of contaminated water. the plan now is to treat the water and pump it into the ocean. for fishermen like 0no—san, that would be a second disaster. translation: now, fish from fukushima is popular again. i people know we check every fish for radiation, so they feel safe, but now the government wants to release this contaminated water into the sea. we do not trust them

and we do not feel safe. the government says the water will be made safe before it is released, and this is where it will be done. inside this building is the world's largest, most advanced system for removing radioactive particles from water. you can't really see what's going on in here, but in here is all the processes to remove 62 radionuclides from the cooling water so that it will made safe, before it is then eventually diluted and pumped into the ocean. but the water will not be entirely free of radiation. at this specially built lab, they are testing for one radioactive particle they cannot remove — tritium. translation: tritium is emitted in the cooling water— of every nuclear power plant in the world. we are closely monitoring the levels to reassure

the public it is safe. we've also invited outside organisations like the iaea to check our data. beside the ocean, construction is already under way on a huge pipe that will carry the treated water out to sea. but the fishermen remain almost entirely unconvinced. translation: the electricity from the nuclear plant - all went to tokyo, so tokyo should take responsibility. why not put the water into tokyo bay? the water released from fukushima will be no more radioactive than water released from nuclear plants all over the world, but the fishermen here have had their likelihoods ruined once before. they have no desire to risk it again. rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, in fukushima. that's all for now —

stay with bbc world news. hello there. so far, the weather story this week has been dominated by a lot of low, grey cloud for many. yes, at times, it's felt warm, but just take a look at suffolk yesterday afternoon. it was a fairly typical story right across the country. the cloud was widespread. this was the satellite picture from wednesday. in fact, there was some early morning rain in scotland. that cleared away and a brisk north—westerly wind dominated here. some brightness further south, some warmth, but over the next few days, it looks likely that we are going to see more sunshine and more heat developing. perhaps into next week, it's going to get a bit too hot for some of you. the jet stream is to the north of the uk at the moment. 0nce we're on the southern flank of the jet, we're in the warmerairsource, and this area of high pressure, well, that is keeping things quieter and allowing for more sunshine to come through. so we will start the day on thursday, for many, on another cloudy, grey note.

early morning sunshine in eastern scotland, and then eventually the cloud will tend to melt away and the sunshine really starts to build. the only exception is a little more cloud just running in off the northwest of scotland. perhaps here, temperatures only mid—teens, but highest temperatures through thursday afternoon of 25 degrees — 77 fahrenheit. that cloud into the far north thick enough for a spot or two of light, drizzly rain into the northern and western isles, but elsewhere, we keep some clear skies. it will be a relatively mild start to friday morning, temperatures widely into the mid—teens once again. so, on friday, another dry, settled, sunny day in prospect. again, just the far north and west may well just keep a little more cloud that's being pushed in by this westerly wind, but with more sunshine coming through, temperatures are going to start to respond. into the high 20s not out of the question by friday afternoon, and that's 82 in terms of fahrenheit. as we move into saturday,

the high pressure is still with us. we've still got, however, the wind direction swinging around that high pressure, driving in more cloud and some showery outbreaks of rain just clipping the northern and western isles. but again, those temperatures for england and wales, where we see the highest values, into 27, 28 degrees. and that trend continues through the weekend and into next week. in fact, the heatwave could be here to stay. with temperatures widely into the low 30s for many, it could be too hot for some.

this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour straight after this programme. money is just like clothes. the dirtier it gets, the more it needs washing.