this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. i'm sally bundock. a threat to our very existence. as wildfires continue to rage, president biden pledges to make the biggest—ever investment to combat climate change. i will do everything in my power to clean our air and water, protect our people's health, to win the clean energy future. fire—fighters across europe struggle to cope with the excessive heatwave temperatures. sorry. i don't know. no trees, nothing. i don't know.

despite winning a confidence vote — is mario draghi about to once more resign as italy's prime minister? and the lionesses of england roar into the semifinals of the euros after a nailbiter against spain. hello and welcome. president biden has used a visit to massachusetts to issue the latest stark warning on the threat posed by climate change. the us president is using executive powers to usher in measures, including offshore wind farms and expanded flood control. with a heat dome now affecting 28 states, the us is the latest country to swelter with high temperatures. here's our north america correspondent peter bowes.

with searing temperatures across much of america it feels like a climate emergency, from new york city to las vegas more than 100 million people being under excessive heat warnings this week. in parts of texas and oklahoma temperatures have topped 46 celsius. joe biden's comments came after a visit to a former coal—fired coal plant in massachusetts now being used as a manufacturing facility for the offshore wind facility. i come here today as a message as president i have responsibility to act with urgency and resolve when our nation faces clear and present danger. and that's what climate change is about. it is literally a clear and present danger. the health of our citizens and communities is literally at stake.— literally at stake. whether envoy for _ literally at stake. whether envoy for climate - literally at stake. whether envoy for climate change | literally at stake. whether i envoy for climate change he said she managed she was facing

the gravest of threats.— the gravest of threats. extreme weather disrupts _ the gravest of threats. extreme weather disrupts supply - the gravest of threats. extreme weather disrupts supply chains| weather disrupts supply chains and shortages for consumers and businesses, climate change is literally an extensional threat for our nation and the world. he has been under growing pressure to act but his plans are being derailed by congress with opposition from republicans and one prominent member of his own party. in the short term, more than $2 billion is being made available to help communities cope with the extreme heat to help low income families get aircon units and help deal with droughts, flooding and hurricanes, and tornadoes. but joe biden stopped short of formally declaring a national emergency. a move that would have opened up new ways to pay for measures to tackle climate change. you talked a lot about climate being an emergency today. why notjust declare it

an emergency. today. why not 'ust declare it anemergency.— today. why not 'ust declare it an emergency. because there are ta -s on an emergency. because there are taps on the — an emergency. because there are taps on the totality _ an emergency. because there are taps on the totality of _ taps on the totality of authority i have.- taps on the totality of authority i have. taps on the totality of authori ihave. ~ authority i have. like so many issues challenging _ authority i have. like so many issues challenging the - issues challenging the president from government—controlled to abortion rights long—term progress on climate change is mired in congressional politics. peter bowes, bbc news. we can now speak tojohn antle who's a professor at oregon state university. his current research focuses on climate change impacts, adaptation and mitigation. thank you so much for being on the programme. $2.3 billion, an investment from the us government into combating climate change. is that significant or is it more symbolic? i significant or is it more symbolic?— significant or is it more symbolic? significant or is it more s mbolic? ., ., , symbolic? i would say at this oint symbolic? i would say at this point it's _ symbolic? i would say at this point it's more _ symbolic? i would say at this point it's more symbolic, - symbolic? i would say at this point it's more symbolic, it l symbolic? i would say at this| point it's more symbolic, it is what president biden could do with executive action,

obviously, look what the united states needs is a much more serious long—term plan. it's worth noting that right now, the administration are preparing the fifth national climate assessment for the us. but we have no national climate plan of action. and so we need to go beyond assessing and talking about what the risks are to having a coherent long—term strategy that will obviously entail a lot more than $2.3 billion. the administration this year to put it in perspective is spending $1 million to begin to encourage farmers to adapt to climate change by sequestering carbon in the soils. the climate change by sequestering carbon in the soils.— carbon in the soils. the 2.3 billion i _ carbon in the soils. the 2.3 billion i understand - carbon in the soils. the 2.3 billion i understand that's l carbon in the soils. the 2.3 i billion i understand that's not your money is from an existing fund, and in terms of how it will be used, it's more about enabling people to cope with

the high temperatures now, isn't it as opposed to reducing carbon emissions in the future? that's what i understand although the details are still not really clear yet. it sounds like the plan is destined to try to help communities and noticed that we are talking about cities, people scattered across the world, notjust cities in this very big country of ours. when you think about spreading $2.3 billion over all of that territory, just think of that territory, just think of the fire threat and the rest of the fire threat and the rest of the us where i live, and, $2 billion doesn't go very far. in terms of how the us is digestive in the news elsewhere, is it sort of really on people's radar the impact that extreme weather is having notjust in the us but around the world? i notjust in the us but around the world?— the world? i think it's on the radar, the world? i think it's on the radar. but. _ the world? i think it's on the radar, but, it's _ the world? i think it's on the radar, but, it's clear- the world? i think it's on the radar, but, it's clear that - the world? i think it's on the| radar, but, it's clear that our

political institutions aren't very well suited to dealing with this kind of existential threat in reaching consensus to take action. it's tough for politicians to be a cost now for benefits down the road. and unfortunately, that's where we are at now. so it's going to take some time still, it looks like, for the us and the rest of the world to agree that the international efforts still also are falling far, far short of what we need to, for example in to keep warming below 2.3 degrees as the us accord tried to accomplish.— degrees as the us accord tried to accomplish. thank you, john. at oracle state _ to accomplish. thank you, john. at oracle state university. - well, as president biden was speaking, the wildfires across europe were still raging. countries like spain, italy and greece struggling to cope with the excessive

temperatures they've been witnessing in recent weeks. in france's gironde area, 200 square kilometres have been destroyed in the worst fires there in over 50 years. azadeh moshiri reports. sorry. there is going to be... no trees, nothing, i don't know. don't want to think about it. �* , ., . .,, know. don't want to think about it. �*, ., ., it. it's the human cost of the fl ers it. it's the human cost of the flyers laid — it. it's the human cost of the flyers laid bare, _ it. it's the human cost of the flyers laid bare, this - it. it's the human cost of the flyers laid bare, this man - it. it's the human cost of the | flyers laid bare, this man saw his village in central spain burnt down in his childhood home destroyed. hundreds of other residents like him, were rushed to the spanish red cross temporary housing. and this is happening across the country. like much of europe, spain has had to continue battling wildfires. more than 500 deaths across the country have been linked to the fire so far.

world leaders are now at action stations, trying to contain the situation. the spanish proneness to pedro sanchez visited a fire on entering station in abn. visited a fire on entering station in abm.- visited a fire on entering station in abn. the climate emergency _ station in abn. the climate emergency is _ station in abn. the climate emergency is a _ station in abn. the climate emergency is a reality - station in abn. the climate emergency is a reality i - station in abn. the climate | emergency is a reality i said at the other day, climate change kills people edit this lethal for our ecosystem, rich biodiversity and imposes a challenge for all those people and localities who have such extraordinary points in the rural environment. it extraordinary points in the rural environment.- extraordinary points in the rural environment. it was a message — rural environment. it was a message echoed _ rural environment. it was a message echoed by - rural environment. it was a message echoed by the - rural environment. it was a - message echoed by the french president where temperatures reached 42 celsius this week in the gironde.— the gironde. several european countries that _ the gironde. several european countries that have _ the gironde. several european countries that have not - countries that have not experienced great fires before a living and acceleration of the direct consequences of climate change. so all of this will require us to make structural decisions in coming months and coming years. while temperatures — months and coming years. while temperatures are _ months and coming years. while temperatures are cooling - months and coming years. while

temperatures are cooling in - temperatures are cooling in france, other countries aren't so lucky. italy's firefighters are still under immense pressure as the fires continue to threaten trees and the wildlife around them. in portugal, helicopters have continued refilling their buckets with water, hoping to save forest and save homes. but in some parts, its already barren land. an elderly couple burnt to death in this car as they tried to escape the fire. these daily battles being fought into night, these apocalyptic scenes in greece north of athens show how relentlessly wildfires have become. and how difficult it is to beat them. scientists argue until governments cut emissions and cut them fast, these red skies will become all too familiar. azadeh moshiri, bbc news. here in the uk, rishi sunak and liz truss have won

the backing of conservative party mps and will now start trying to convince the wider party membership of their suitability to become britain's next prime minister. the pair, who served together in the cabinet until recently, have already clashed over financial policy. here's our political correspondentjonathan blake. the question now for our members is who is the best person to defeat guest arm and the labour party at the next election, i believe i'm the only candidate who can do that and my values are also those of my members not have the experience and vision to translate those values into a government that delivers for the british people and ensures that this is the best country to live, work and raise a family anywhere in the world. i'm absolutely delighted by the result, — i'm absolutely delighted by the result, i— i'm absolutely delighted by the result, i want to thank all the colleagues who supported me and all the _ colleagues who supported me and all the other candidates in the race, — all the other candidates in the race, it's _ all the other candidates in the race, it's really important we have — race, it's really important we have this _ race, it's really important we have this debate in the conservative party and i'm the person — conservative party and i'm the person who can go into number tenend— person who can go into number lenend hil— person who can go into number ten and hit the ground running and gel — ten and hit the ground running and get things done, and i

think— and get things done, and i think that's what colleagues have — think that's what colleagues have voted for and that's what i have voted for and that's what i now — have voted for and that's what i now want to take two conservative members around the country _ let's get some of the day's other news. in sri lanka, ranil wickremesinghe will be sworn in as president after winning a parliamentary vote on wednesday. the six—time prime minister replaces the ousted gotabaya rajapaks, who fled the country last week and resigned following weeks of protests over the country's dire sconomic situation. after winning the vote, the new president called for unity but there are already protestors accusing him of being too supportive of the old regime. forensic experts in ecuador have been able to identify only seven of the 12 prisoners who died in a clash between rival gangs on monday. they say the bodies were beheaded, dismembered and scattered across bellavista prison. relatives have been identifying the victims by checking body parts. a convoy of about 200 trucks loaded with food has departed towards the capital of panama as protesters continue to block some of the main roads,

demanding action against the rising cost of living. protest leaders said they had agreed to allow the trucks to access panama city to avoid shortages in the capital. they're calling for cuts to fuel prices and measures to reduce corruption. italy's prime minister mario draghi is likely to tender his resignation later on thursday after three parties in his coalition refused to back him in a confidence vote. mr draghi will attend a debate in the lower house of parliament and is then expected to see the president, where it's thought he'll offer to stand down. simonjones reports. even for italy the political drama has been staggering. he tried to fight to convinces right—wing coalition parties he should stay on but they have left him with few options. the prime minister mario draghi may

end up resigning twice in one week. the stand—off had been brewing for some time. came to hit last week the prime list enters right—wing partners decided to see who would blink first. the populist 5—star movement had pulled out of a confidence vote on a multibillion—dollar euro package forfamilies multibillion—dollar euro package for families and businesses, events took off for them and mario draghi walked to them and mario draghi walked to the presidential palace and tendered his resignation. but the president rejected it and several protests erupted, mario draghi agreed to calls from the public were too strong and he had to carry on. on wednesday look like he would survive, the situation seemed positive until he caught impact and a vote of confidence in the senate. irate confidence in the senate. we need a new— confidence in the senate. - need a new pact of trust, sincere and concrete like the one that so far has allowed us to change the country for the better. the parties and

parliamentarians are you ready to rebuild this pact? but thins to rebuild this pact? but things move _ to rebuild this pact? but things move fast - to rebuild this pact? but things move fast in - to rebuild this pact? but things move fast in politics. it was only hours later that while he won the vote admit little as three parties in his coalition boycotted the vote, unwilling to work with each other. ., , ., other. hope the government will remain in but _ other. hope the government will remain in but unfortunately - remain in but unfortunately instead the government will fall and we will have to go back to the polls in october. for the european union this couldn't come at a worse time. the prime list is a powerful ally, chief of the european central bank in the eu's third august economy. a good cv have at time of soaring inflation in difficult economic decisions need to be made as the war in ukraine continues. he will attend the debate on the lower house of parliament, if he does resign on the spot that would lead to an early election. that means a turbulent few months for italy when times are already tough enough. simon

jones, bbc news. and do stay with us, because in the business news, we'll be discussing just how italy moves forward with its debt mountain that is now at around 2.5 trillion euros. that's larger than the combined debt of spain, portugal, greece and ireland stay with us on bbc news, still to come: rare film footage shows the oldest moving images of one of america's most famous cities. radio: i see you coming down the ladder now. i that's one small step for man... ..one giant leap for mankind. a catastrophic engine fire is being blamed tonight. for the first crash - in the 30—year history of concorde, the world's only supersonic airliner. _ it was one of the most vivid symbols of the violence and hatred that tore apart

the state of yugoslavia but now, a decade later, it's been painstakingly rebuilt and opens again today. there's been a 50% decrease in sperm quantity and an increase in malfunctioning sperm unable to swim properly. seven, six, five... thousands of households across the country are suspiciously quiet this lunchtime as children bury their noses in the final instalment of harry potter. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: a clear and present danger. president biden pledges to make the biggest ever investment to combat climate change, but stops short of declaring an emergency. his warning comes as wildfires continue to rage across europe. firefighters struggle in the heatwave to tackle flames in greece,

spain and italy. russian gas is expected to start flowing again today through the nordstream one pipeline, after ten days of maintenance work. but the german government has speeded up efforts to find alternative sources of energy, wary that russia might close the tap for good. jenny hill reports from duisburg germany from duisburg thought this was the fuel germany thought this was the fuel of the past, now cole is keeping the country afloat. as russia restricts its gas, germany is seeking other sources of energy and that includes firing up old coal power stations. these barges are busy, but she sees the damage done by vladimir putin's gas was. translation: flit damage done by vladimir putin's gas was. translation: of course it is aood gas was. translation: of course it is good for— gas was. translation: of course it is good for us _ gas was. translation: of course it is good for us that _ gas was. translation: of course it is good for us that we _ gas was. translation: of course it is good for us that we are - it is good for us that we are transporting so much coal, but

it is a fine line because industry here might have to shut down soon if the gas runs out. few here trust russia. but germany relied on its gas, it is painfully exposed. russian gas has powered this country's economy. going without it, industry leaders warned, could have catastrophic consequences, perhaps even trigger a recession.— perhaps even trigger a recession. �* , ., , recession. and if germany struggles _ recession. and if germany struggles economically, . recession. and if germany| struggles economically, so recession. and if germany - struggles economically, so does europe. just when they thought it couldn't get worse, this hotel is still recovering from covid shutdowns. now its energy bills are soaring and of gas supplies unsecured, germany could face rationing. translation: iii could face rationing. tuna/mom- could face rationing. translation: ., �* translation: if we don't get as translation: if we don't get gas anymore. _ translation: if we don't get gas anymore, we _ translation: if we don't get gas anymore, we can't - translation: if we don't get gas anymore, we can't cook. i translation: if we don't get. gas anymore, we can't cook. the kitchen closes. we won't be able to heat either. i don't believe it will come to that but we have to act now. it would be the death of

hospitality.— would be the death of hositali . .,, .,, �*, hospitality. even as europe's walters through _ hospitality. even as europe's walters through a _ hospitality. even as europe's walters through a heat - hospitality. even as europe's| walters through a heat wave, experts are looking to the winter. germany is hoping to import liquefied natural gas to boost reserves. it doesn't have enough to get through the cold months. it enough to get through the cold months. . ., , enough to get through the cold months. .., , months. it could be bad, there could be shortages _ months. it could be bad, there could be shortages if— months. it could be bad, there could be shortages if we - months. it could be bad, there could be shortages if we don't| could be shortages if we don't prepare enough and that said we have to import gas from other sources as well, we have to diversify even further. we have to fill the storages as high as possible, we need to get the gas demand down and also to increase renewables more. vladimir putin has forced germany's climate conscious government back to coal, at least in the short term. he wants to trigger political and economic chaos in the west but he may yet accelerate european efforts to abandon russian energy, or perhaps even fossil fuels altogether for good.

england are through to the semifinals. if you were watching, it was a nailbiter. time for all the sports news. hello, i'm tulsen tollett and this is your sports news where we start with the european women's football championship and england are through to the semi—finals after a 2—1 extra time win over spain. the spanish took the lead in the quarter—final but it wasn't until the second half when esther gonzalez scored the game's opener. ella toone levelled the game in the final 10 minutes of normal time before georgia stanway�*s right footed rocket sealed her teams place in the last four where they'll play either sweden or belgium next tuesday. crazy day. especially today was a crazy day. came with the team late, prepared, trying to stay calm myself because you know, you want to be here but plan b is like watching it from a

distance and then coming behind, it isjust a crazy distance and then coming behind, it is just a crazy day. i don't think they will forget this day anymore. the second of the quarter—finals heads out later in london with germany up against austria. eight time winners germany start as favourites and say they won't be taking their opponents lightly despite the gulf in class and the fact they've yet to concede a goal in this tournament. novak djokovic is likely to miss the us open later this year due to his vaccination status against covid—19. the 21—time grand slam champion is set to be denied entry after tournament organisers said they would respect the united states government's rules on the covid—19 vaccine. the us require non—citizens to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus to enter, meaning the three—time winner at flushing meadows would not be allowed entry. jonas vingeggard still leads reigning champion tadej pogacar by over two minutes as the riders continue their trek towards paris in the tour de france.

slovenian pogacar won stage 17 on wednesday but was unable to break the race leader on an epic mountain stage. the dane now leads by two minutes and 18 seconds going into thursday's final mountain stage with the race concluding on sunday. you can get all the latest sports news at our website, that's bbc.com/sport. but from me, tulsen tollett, and the rest of the team that's your sports news for now. film footage is going on display at a museum in the us state of louisiana that's believed to show the oldest moving images of the city of new orleans. the black and white film dates back to 1898 and shows the annual mardi gras parade. the bbc�*s tim allman has the story. even in the late 19th century, the big easy knew how to have a good time. this was canal street, more than 120 years ago,

celebrating mardi gras in its own inimitable style. the floats, the costumes, the spectacle. new orleans putting on its best. you did not go to canal street unless you were dressed up and i am sure that this was early on in the culture, in new orleans culture among all people. but here on mardi gras day, the people were dressed very well. mardi gras, or fat tuesday, is part of the fabric of the city. it has become a raucous affair these days with the crowds almost as big a part of the show as those on parade. things were a little different in 1898. the people standing, they are watching, are just staid and not really interacting the way that people are now.

this footage, discovered only recently in a museum in the dutch city of amsterdam provides a window into the past, a past that still looks, despite the passage of time, strangely familiar. tim allman, bbc news. it's just fantastic, isn't it, to see the footage of old? we have much more for you here on bbc news, to stay with us stopping the top stories are next, we will initially be analysing the economic plans of rishi sunak and liz truss, the two left, whoever gets the job of the next prime minister will say they will prioritise the cost of living crisis in the uk and of course taming inflation but, what are the promises? will it work? all that and a look at the european central bank, its meeting today and

likely to raise rates for the first time in many years stopping all that and more in just a moment so i will see you soon. hello. after that exceptional heat to start the week, for many of you, it was significantly cooler on wednesday compared with tuesday. tuesday, of course, we saw temperatures approach around 40 celsius in a number of spots. for some, it was actually 10—17 degrees cooler, but to put it into a bit of perspective, those temperatures still well above where we should be for ajuly afternoon. the exceptional heat had pushed a bit further eastwards, record—breaking heat in denmark. all that heat over the next couple of days pushes its way southwards and eastwards, and then into the weekend, we start to see it build once more in across parts of the uk. not, though, at the levels we've seen this week. as for thursday, as we start the day, it's going to be a largely dry day for many. there will be some rain around, and it's a bit cooler still compared with what we've experienced on wednesday. now, the drier weather comes courtesy of an area of high pressure trying to push in from the west.

we've still got the legacy of a front sitting across eastern areas. we saw a lot of humid air, temperatures still sitting in the mid if not high teens for one or two first thing thursday morning. fresher conditions in the west, but this is where we'll start with the best of the sunshine. northern ireland, wales, southwest england having a pretty decent day, just one or two showers around. sunny spells across scotland, a few showers for the mainland, but for the bulk of england, away from the southwest, lots of cloud, some outbreaks of rain and drizzle here and there, many will be dry. around the coast, it may be quite sunny. sunny too towards the channel islands, but a bit of a breeze blowing down through the likes of east anglia, and here, temperatures dropping back to normal. still a little bit above normal across the south, 24—25 celsius. now, into thursday evening and through into friday, we'll start to see that cloud sit in place, but then a few more showers push their way northwards, the winds shifting direction slightly. it does mean temperatures still won't drop a huge amount, a cooler day — a cooler night — i should say, across eastern parts of the country, but still with temperatures in

the mid—teens across the south. so, for friday, showers at a greater chance of seeing, particularly heavy ones across parts of wales, the midlands, maybe rumbling up into northern england, could see some flashes of lightning, rumbles of thunder as well. some through the english channel, which could get close to the south coast and affect the channel islands for a time. only a few showers for scotland and northern ireland. all of us will see temperatures closer to thejuly norm, for one or two, a little bit below. as i said, heat builds back in this weekend, there will be rain at times in the north and west, still very little rain towards the south and east, and temperatures in the high 20s by sunday.

most famous cities.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. tax rises or tax cuts? two candidates, two views on tackling the worst cost of living in a generation. the end of free money in europe. the 19 nations that use the euro face their first interest rise in a decade — and some of them will find it tough. a government in collapse — and 2.5 trillion in the red. why italy is raising fears of a new european debt crisis. plus — tesla pulls the plug on bitcoin. selling three quarters of its holdings after a steep fall in the cryptocurrency.