this is bbc news. the headlines at seven: a global emergency is declared by the world heath organisation as the international monkeypox outbreak worsens. we have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly through new modes of transmission about which we understand too little. officials in kent declare a major incident as long queues form for a second day in dover. delays are also being reported by travellers heading for the eurotunnel in folkestone, with traffic crawling on approaching routes. and russian missiles hit the port of odesa a day after ukraine and russia agreed to restart grain exports. rishi sunak and liz truss take to the campaign trail as the race to become the uk's next prime minister heats up.

i will deliver tax cuts, but tax cuts you can believe in. i will make that happen. what i am about is about cutting people's taxes, reversing the national insurance increase to put more money in people's pockets, and making sure those that work hard, go out to work, are rewarded. a very warm welcome to the programme. the head of the world health organisation has declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern — the highest level of alert the who can issue. dr tedros adhanom ghebreyesus was speaking at a news conference in geneva. he said his scientific advisory

committee had been divided on whether to declare an emergency, but he'd taken the decision based on the rapid spread of the virus. 16,000 cases of the disease have been reported in more than 75 countries, and five people have died. dr tedros says monkeypox represents a high risk in europe, with a clear risk of further international spread. we have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly, through new modes of transmission about which we understand too little, and which meets the criteria in the international health regulations. for all of these reasons, i have decided that the global monkeypox outbreak represents a public health emergency of international concern. he went on to say the outbreak was mainly concentrated among gay and bisexual men. although i am declaring a public health emergency of international concern,

for the moment this is an outbreak that is concentrated among men who have sex with men, especially those with multiple sexual partners. that means that this is an outbreak that can be stopped with the right strategies in the right groups. it is therefore essential that all countries work closely with communities of men who have sex with men to design and deliver effective information and services and to adapt measures that protect the health, human rights, and dignity of affected communities. stigma and discrimination can be as dangerous as any virus. in addition to our recommendations to countries, i am also calling on civil society organisations, including those with experience in working with people living with hiv, to work with us

on fighting stigma and discrimination. robbie de santos is the director of communications and external affairs at stonewall, an organisation supporting the freedoms of lgbtq+ people. thank you forjoining us this evening. how do you think it is best approached to get the warning and message across to those who are most at risk, that is gay and bisexual men, without creating stigma and discrimination, which is something that clearly doctor tedros is concerned about?— that clearly doctor tedros is concerned about? that is a really im ortant concerned about? that is a really important question. _ concerned about? that is a really important question. i _ concerned about? that is a really important question. i think- concerned about? that is a really important question. i think the i important question. i think the first thing isjust important question. i think the first thing is just being really clear who that group of people are. i think even actually saying gay and bisexual men is a bit limited. we know that a number of people who fall within that group may not identify as part of the lgbt q identify as part of the lgbt 0 community. it is using words like

men who have six with men can be just a bit more expansive and can capture the full span of people who are at this heightened risk. just really emphasising this is a non—judgemental call, this is about understanding behaviours and ways of living that can potentially put people at higher levels of risk, but really making sure that there is not an element of moralising in any of the tone, of any of those communications. really it is about just making sure it is clear, sober and directed messaging, that will really make sure that people do not feel that there is a stigma in coming forward about it. one of the other point is about ensuring confidentiality, as well. remembering that not everyone who is at risk may be out to those around them. reallyjust making sure that people know that they can get help, they do not need to get help from

their gp, there are sexual health and x and nhs iii their gp, there are sexual health and x and nhs 111 where they can find out more information if they are worried that they may be at risk. it are worried that they may be at risk. , ., ,., ., are worried that they may be at risk. _, ., , .,, risk. it is about how people get that help. _ risk. it is about how people get that help, how— risk. it is about how people get that help, how people, - risk. it is about how people get that help, how people, if - risk. it is about how people get that help, how people, if they. risk. it is about how people get i that help, how people, if they fall into those categories, and fear that they may have been in contact with someone who has had monkeypox, or they have symptoms that they think could be monkeypox, what is the best way for them to establish whether it is or not? the way for them to establish whether it is or not? , , ., way for them to establish whether it is or not? , ,., ., u, way for them to establish whether it isornot? , ., , is or not? the first port of call is 'ust to is or not? the first port of call is just to look _ is or not? the first port of call is just to look at _ is or not? the first port of call is just to look at the _ is or not? the first port of call is just to look at the nhs - is or not? the first port of call is just to look at the nhs website, | just to look at the nhs website, look at the list of symptoms, and the ways in which people might be likely to get monkeypox, and think if that is you. from there, it is about taking steps like calling nhs iii about taking steps like calling nhs iii or visiting or calling up your local sexual health clinic to book an appointment for a test. in local sexual health clinic to book an appointment for a test. in terms of protecting _ an appointment for a test. in terms of protecting those _ an appointment for a test. in terms of protecting those who _ an appointment for a test. in terms of protecting those who are - an appointment for a test. in terms of protecting those who are most . an appointment for a test. in terms | of protecting those who are most at risk, what do you think is the best way to make sure that where there

are limited supplies of a vaccine that offers protection to get those to the people that need them most? the nhs has already come up with a criteria for prioritising the vaccine, and it is simply that they have created profiles, they are offering that vaccine on that prioritise basis. the first thing to say is that if you get that call, and you are in one of those priority risk groups, then please press ahead and take the vaccine. it is safe, it is tried and tested. the on that, it is tried and tested. the on that, it is just about making sure that the people who are in that risk group, people who are in that risk group, people who are in that risk group, people who have multiple partners or who have a new partner really take those steps and think about how best they can protect themselves. it is really important that people take responsibility. if you think that you have been in close contact with someone or you were told you have

beenin someone or you were told you have been in close contact with someone, self—isolate, get tested, just really make sure that you look after yourself and other people.— yourself and other people. briefly, do ou aet yourself and other people. briefly, do you get the _ yourself and other people. briefly, do you get the sense _ yourself and other people. briefly, do you get the sense that - yourself and other people. briefly, do you get the sense that people | yourself and other people. briefly, l do you get the sense that people are taking this seriously or is there an amount of fatigue, given that we have been through one global pandemic in the last couple of years and everyone feels things are just starting to get back to something resembling normal, do you think there is a weariness of, oh my goodness, we'rejust there is a weariness of, oh my goodness, we're just with another potential widespread disease? what potential widespread disease? what we hear from _ potential widespread disease? what we hear from gay — potential widespread disease? “await we hear from gay and potential widespread disease? wiat we hear from gay and bisexual potential widespread disease? wiegt we hear from gay and bisexual men, we hearfrom gay and bisexual men, and men who have sex with men, is that they are very concerned. there is a real element of seriousness, they want to be hearing more information, they want to be signposted to advice. there is a significant group of people who are very concerned and taking it seriously. however, there are a lot of people, they may not follow organisations like stonewall or

other sexual health organisations, so what is really key is that public health england and other public health bodies are proactively investing in digital advertising and marketing to reach and target people who are at higher risk. it is really important that we do not just who are at higher risk. it is really important that we do notjust rely on civil society organisations, we have really got to go out there and go to the places where people are getting information and organising, because that is how we get the message out to everyone. thank you very much- — message out to everyone. thank you very much. thank _ message out to everyone. thank you very much. thank you _ message out to everyone. thank you very much. thank you for _ message out to everyone. thank you very much. thank you for speaking i message out to everyone. thank you | very much. thank you for speaking to us. and we'll find out how this story — and many others — are covered in tomorrow's front pages at 10:30 and 11:30 this evening in the papers. our guests joining me tonight are gerry scott from the times and the guardian's aubrey allegreti. it's been a day of more lengthy delays and frustration for thousands travellers, trying to cross the channel. on what's been the busiest travel day of the year so far, some drivers have had to wait five

to six hours before reaching the port of dover or the eurotunnel terminal at folkestone. from dover, here's ramzan karmali. the queues on the motorway leading into dover. it's becoming a familiar sight. yesterday's chaos seems to be repeating itself today, and for many holiday—makers trying to get away, this has become the worst possible start to their summer break. but most travellers knew they were going to face a long wait. i'm assuming at some point we're going to stop and sit in traffic for hours and hours and hours, but so far we've got... we keep creeping forwards and it's been fine. the police seem to be doing a good job and getting the tourists actually moving and stopping the lorries coming in on the a2, because they were all told to come in on the m20. and how long would this journey normally take you? about two hours, so we're now into four hours, but it's fine. cars and lorries continue to try to get through the border control here at dover. in fact, 8,500 tourist vehicles tried to make

the crossing yesterday, and today that number's expected to be higher at 10,000, so officials are warning there will be delays, and it's feared that these types of delays could become commonplace throughout the summer. 3,000 lorries are also expected to make the crossing today. yesterday, the port of dover boss blamed the delays on french authorities for not providing enough staff to carry out passport checks, which are now compulsory since brexit. today, he's confident that situation won't be repeated. after the terrible disruption from yesterday and all the impact that it had on travellers and truck drivers and our local communities, i'm very pleased that police aux frontieres have turned up with a strong complement of officers to man the booths. we've had 12 in from the early hours of this morning, we've got another four on the way, and so the processing time through the port has improved. congestion has been building around neighbouring folkestone on the a20. that is having a knock—on effect on eurotunnel services, too. from leaving the junction 12 of the motorway, it took us seven

hours to get to the terminal, which is about two miles, i think. the company is adamant that some of the delays are beyond its control. when the channel tunnel was built, there were no requirements for passport controls, no requirements for customs controls on goods moving backwards and forwards between the uk and france, and that is different now. so the introduction of controls has some effect on the speed with which people travel through the tunnel. today's likely to be the port of dover's busiest day since the pandemic, with thousands of families trying to travel abroad for the first time in three years. ramzan karmali, bbc news. our correspondent dan johnson is in dover and gave us the latest. it does feel like things are starting to move a little more freely. there are people queueing at

the ferry terminal, but at least they get to queue in sight of the ferry. there are still thousands of cars and trucks stuck on the major arteries, the big roads coming into dover. there are still being managed, still being warned to expect delays. even if the backlog is cleared tonight, there's a chance there will be even more disruption tomorrow because it is such a busy weekend. this is the culmination of the busiest weekend since the summer of 2019. since then, we have had a change in the passport rules, which means every british passport needs to be examined and stabbed at the port, and there are so many people trying to get away this weekend. that is why the discussion is moving onto as if this is going to be repeated through the summer, we will see this level of pressure, then perhaps dealing with it may mean even more border posts being put in so they can check more passport, evenif so they can check more passport, even if enough border guards shop. and perhaps reorganise the road network in this part of the south—east to handle the volumes of traffic. some back issues being

discussed, but still frustrating delays for drivers trying to get across the channel. the headlines on bbc news: a global emergency is declared by the world heath organisation as the international monkeypox outbreak worsens. officials in kent declare a major incident as long queues form for a second day in dover. delays are also being reported by travellers heading for the eurotunnel in folkestone, with traffic crawling on approaching routes. less than 2a hours after a grain supply deal was signed with russia to guarantee the safe passage of cargo ships, the ukrainian port city of odesa has been hit by a missile attack. reports suggest several long range missiles were fired by russia — some were shot down but explosions were heard and smoke was seen rising. this is the region where it was hoped millions of tonnes of grain would be exported in the coming days.

paul adams is in kyiv with the latest on the airstrikes. judging by what we saw this morning, this does appear to have been an attack using sophisticated calibre cruise missiles. so, there is every sign that this was a russian attack. but this does raise an interesting question — given the sophistication of those weapons, highly accurate weapons, they don't seem to have really hit very much or caused very much damage. yes, one or two did land in that vast port area of odesa, but we do not now think that any grain—related facilities were damaged, as was previously reported. and there were also no casualties. ukrainian officials are saying they are still planning to go ahead with implementing the deal reached yesterday in istanbul. so, given that, it does raise all sorts of questions about what exactly the purpose of this attack was. perhaps it was just to send a signal that, you know,

ukraine shouldn't be too complacent, that it has somehow won this round and it is going to be plain sailing from now on. it is interesting that, having used those weapons, they didn't use them to greater effect. the two candidates battling it out to become prime minister have taken their campaigns to the tory party faithful, hoping to impress the voters who'll ultimately decide who wins. speaking in margaret thatcher's birthplace of grantham, rishi sunak suggested liz truss' tax plans were "immoral" as they'd increase borrowing. however, in kent, she said it was "wrong" to take money from people when the cost of living was rising. here's our political correspondent, iain watson. it is more than 30 years since mrs thatcher was prime minister, but today was �*s leadership candidates have been blowing away the cobwebs and paying tribute to her. that is perhaps she is still revered by many of the conservative party members who choose our next prime minister.

rishi sunak even travelled to her own place of grantham to attack his opponents own place of grantham to attack his opponent's plans for tax cuts. we have to tell _ opponent's plans for tax cuts. - have to tell the truth about tax. i will deliver more tax cuts, but i will deliver more tax cuts, but i will not put money back in your pocket knowing that rising inflation will only whip it straight back out. i have been very clear that not only do i think it is the wrong thing for the economy, i do also believe that it is immoral. find the economy, i do also believe that it is immoral-— the economy, i do also believe that it is immoral. and he pledged to set u . it is immoral. and he pledged to set u- a task it is immoral. and he pledged to set up a task force _ it is immoral. and he pledged to set up a task force to _ it is immoral. and he pledged to set up a task force to clear _ it is immoral. and he pledged to set up a task force to clear nhs - up a task force to clear nhs backlogs, paid for by the national insurance rise which was trust would reverse. rishi sunak and liz truss served in the same cabinet, but with such stark divisions emerging on the economy, it is sometimes difficult to believe they are in the same party. do remember set to receive their ballot papers in just over a week expect both campaigns to put even more policy differences on display. even more policy differences on disla . ~ ~ , ., . even more policy differences on

disla .~ �*. .. display. went mrs thatcher was in ower, a display. went mrs thatcher was in power. a lot _ display. went mrs thatcher was in power. a lot of— display. went mrs thatcher was in power, a lot of people _ display. went mrs thatcher was in power, a lot of people said - display. went mrs thatcher was in power, a lot of people said her- power, a lot of people said her ideas _ power, a lot of people said her ideas were bad, she went on to win three _ ideas were bad, she went on to win three elections. liz ideas were bad, she went on to win three elections.— ideas were bad, she went on to win three elections. liz truss suggested she was more _ three elections. liz truss suggested she was more in _ three elections. liz truss suggested she was more in the _ three elections. liz truss suggested she was more in the tradition - three elections. liz truss suggested she was more in the tradition of - three elections. liz truss suggested| she was more in the tradition of mrs thatcher by being more willing to ignore conventional wisdom to bring about big changes. we ignore conventional wisdom to bring about big changes.— about big changes. we face the bi est about big changes. we face the biggest economic _ about big changes. we face the biggest economic crisis - about big changes. we face the biggest economic crisis we - about big changes. we face the | biggest economic crisis we have about big changes. we face the - biggest economic crisis we have for a generation. now is not the time for business as usual. now is the time _ for business as usual. now is the time for— for business as usual. now is the time for bold action, to get the british— time for bold action, to get the british economy going, to unleash all the _ british economy going, to unleash all the talent we have in this country. _ all the talent we have in this country, to unleash businesses to produce _ country, to unleash businesses to produce more. that is why i favour keeping _ produce more. that is why i favour keeping our— produce more. that is why i favour keeping our taxes low. wood are both candidates _ keeping our taxes low. wood are both candidates have been keeping our taxes low. wood are both candidates have bee— candidates have been indicating their closeness _ candidates have been indicating their closeness to _ candidates have been indicating their closeness to mrs - candidates have been indicating | their closeness to mrs thatcher, while stressing their differences from each other. ian watson, bbc news. a review into racism in scottish cricket, due to be released on monday, is expected to say there's evidence of institutional racism within the game. our scotland correspondent alexandra mackenzie has more on this story. this review was commissioned

by sportscotland last year, and it followed allegations of racism and discrimination, including claims from scotland's all—time leading wicket taker, majid haq. it was carried out by the equality and diversity group, planlisport. more than 200 people came forward to give evidence, and some of the details of those testaments have been passed to police scotland. —— some of the details of those testimonies. a cricket scotland spokesperson said, the cricket scotland board is truly sorry to everyone who has experienced racism in cricket in scotland. they said, "cricket should be a welcoming place for everyone, and not somewhere that racism or any form of discrimination takes place." they said they were not in a position to comment any further on the independent review�*s report, as they will not see it until it is published publicly on monday, but we understand

it is expected to say there is evidence of institutional racism within the game of cricket in scotland. it's understood that sportscotland is very concerned by the review�*s findings, they have said they will keep all options on the table, including the withdrawal of funding to cricket scotland. a man's body has been found after a 21—year—old man went missing in water in essex on the uk's hottest ever day. the discovery was made in jaywick this morning, by emergency services who were searching for a man last seen in the water close to clacton pier on tuesday. police said they are "liaising with international partners to contact the family of the 21—year—old," before formal identification can take place. human rights watch has urged the new president of sri lanka,

ranil wickremesinghe, to order security forces to cease all use of force against anti—government protesters. the call came after hundreds of heavily armed soldiers stormed a section of the main protest site in colombo on friday and took control of the president's office. wickremesinghe became president just one day earlier. our south asia editor anbarasan ethirajan is in colombo for us. the sri lankan government did not expect such a strong reaction from the international community after hundreds of heavily—armed soldiers stormed this place yesterday morning, removing all the tents and the banners that the anti—government protesters had put up, and they beat up many of these protesters. we were there right in the middle when all these things were going on, and the president's office is just behind me, and the soldiers also took control, and this was stormed by huge crowds ten days ago following this public anger. now, the un human rights council's

core group on sri lanka, which also includes the uk, they came out with this strong statement saying peaceful protest, the right to hold peaceful protest, should be respected, and not only that, the senior diplomats from the us embassy, the uk commission, they all came out with a strong statement saying, expressing their displeasure over what they described as a high—handedness in terms of sending heavily armed soldiers on peaceful protesters. and this place was a protest site about 48 hours ago. now, about 100 metres has been cleared. the protesters are still there at the designated area outside, but all happening on the same day when prime minister and president ranil wickremesinghe took office, and then the action started in the evening. that's what disappointed many people inside the country as well as outside. wildfires are continuing

to spread across europe, and severe weather warnings are being issued in america this weekend. parts of china are also set to experience searing temperatures. mark lobel has this story. and still the heat blazes its path across europe, with nowhere to hide from spain to italy. translation: honestly, i feel the heat more - than in previous years. i am trying to cope as best i can. across france, the heartbreak that comes with discovering your corner of paradise is no more. translation: everything is destroyed. _ the equipment, the walls, there is nothing left. in slovenia... romania... portugal. translation: these are painful days. firefighters and the people are helpless. fatigue is taking over, but the adrenaline of saving what is ours is even greater

and keeps us going. the effects of heat waves shown from the sky, pictured across parts of france and spain here, becoming more frequent, more intense, and longer lasting. igniting further fury at human induced climate change. translation: | believe . that the climate emergency is lethal, but even more lethal is ignorance and denial. away from europe, right across america, the heat is on. in arizona... i had multiple people compare arizona to being like hell. it is no better in texas. this heat is crazy. i have seen a lot of people pass out with this heat. with water a sanctuary in new york, too. well, we are finding fountains around the city and jumping

in the fountains to stay cool. with multiple heat warnings springing up across state lines as record highs are forecast to continue throughoutjuly. they are preparing for it in china, too. warnings of forest fires at a time of year big temperatures are expected here, but not like this. record highs predicted, too. demand on air conditioners expected to spell trouble for the national grid. mark lobel, bbc news. here's a treat for fans of the lord of the rings. a new prequel to the epic drama has been made by amazon prime, and it's being billed as the most expensive tv show ever created. it was launched at comic con in san diego, and our entertainment correspondent lizo mzimba was there.

today, our days of peace begin. it has been billed as the most expensive tv series ever, with a price tag rumoured to be in excess of $1 billion. add to that the expectation of a group of fans who grew up watching director peterjackson's trilogy. so... can you get something more pressured than this? there is a pressure, that is also really exciting. i'm a lord of the rings fan, so i'm with them. and i'm really excited for them to see it. with fantasy, with anything with a fandom, i don't feel it really exists until it is out there, so i feel like we are about to finally give birth to this. together we can survive this! the universe created byjrr tolkein has, of course, a timeless quality. the cast and crew behind this

new story, set thousands of years before the hobbit and lord of the rings, are hoping it will be equally appealing. the things in tolkein are really universal. it's about good versus evil, and we can all get behind that. i hope that it stands the test of time, and that people want to keep watching it. hopefully people just have fun when they watch it. of course, comic—con would not be what it is today without, well, comics. earlier today in hall h, the equivalent of the pyramid stage here, matrix and john wick star keanu reeves took part in a huge event talking about his comic book series, berserker. iam i am finally close to an answer. the story is about an immortal

battling through the ages launched in 2021, and a tv series on netflix is already in the works. it was special for all of us, in the sense that it was the first comic book to be in hall h, it was really oriented towards cinema previously, and television, so to be part of that kind of history and to feel the audience and the appreciation and the passion for what we have been a part of creating, really special. positive word—of—mouth spreading from events like this can give any project a huge boost, and that is what every tv series, comic book and movie here will be hoping for. cani can i make a confession? i have still not seen the first lord of the rings. don'tjudge me! now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. hello again. western parts of the uk had a cloudy day with bursts of rain on saturday, but it wasn't like that everywhere.

across parts of eastern england, it was dry, sunny, and in the case of santon downham in suffolk, it was pretty warm, with temperatures hitting 28 celsius across this part of east anglia. overnight, brisk south—westerly winds will continue bringing pulses of rain. it is going to be quite a humid night, there is going to be some low cloud, some mist and fog patches around the coast and hills, and temperatures falling no lower than 16—18, so we will already be off to a warm start first thing sunday morning. more rain to come, particularly across north—western areas of the uk. a little pulse of rain likely to develop across wales, the north midlands, the peaks and the pennines, but south and east of that it is dry, it is sunny, and it is warm. actually, temperatures will be higher across the board. quite a big jump in aberdeen, but it is going to be east anglia that is the hot spot with temperatures hitting 30. the weekend — dry in england and wales for the most part with increasingly warm sunshine, some thicker cloud in the north west will bring rain at times.

this is bbc news. a global emergency is declared by the world heath organisation as the international monkeypox outbreak worsens. officials in kent declare a major incident as long queues form for a second day in dover. delays are also being reported by travellers heading for the eurotunnel in folkestone, with traffic crawling on approaching routes. and russian missiles hit the port of odesa a day after ukraine and russia agreed to restart grain exports.

now on bbc news, it is time for sports day.