with properly and so on are dealt with properly there and rehabilitated. of course when you've got prisons continuing to be in crisis because of a lack of staff and investment, lack of education and training as the chief inspector's report recently identified — not for the first time, as well — then those slogans are easy to put out there but actually delivering something of that sort is entirely different in a political debate in poetical contest, but that might not matter too much there. if you're being serious about it, you need to say how you'll do it then, what's the concrete plan, and is it realistic that you can actually hope to achieve that? everybody would like to do that, maybe more than that, including the police. but it's not as straightforward as saying something and making it happen necessarily. something and making it happen necessarily-— something and making it happen necessaril . ., , ., ., , necessarily. onto the guardian, this staa caerin necessarily. onto the guardian, this staggering figure — necessarily. onto the guardian, this staggering figure according - necessarily. onto the guardian, this staggering figure according to -

necessarily. onto the guardian, this staggering figure according to the i staggering figure according to the government spending watchdog public accounts committee concluding that £770 million was played with fast and loose in the awarding of covid contracts. it's an extraordinary some. it really is.— contracts. it's an extraordinary some. it really is. and this is lots ofthe some. it really is. and this is lots of the covid _ some. it really is. and this is lots of the covid contracts _ some. it really is. and this is lots of the covid contracts that - some. it really is. and this is lots of the covid contracts that were l of the covid contracts that were handed — of the covid contracts that were handed out, they are now starting to be looked _ handed out, they are now starting to be looked at by the public accounts committee, so the watchdog in parliament that overlooks the expenditure of our money. now he was -- they— expenditure of our money. now he was -- they found _ expenditure of our money. now he was —— they found on the front page that ministers _ —— they found on the front page that ministers were playing fast and loose — ministers were playing fast and loose. this is about a firm that employed _ loose. this is about a firm that employed owen paterson — if we cast our minds _ employed owen paterson — if we cast our minds back to one of the earlier controversies borisjohnson brought controversies boris johnson brought in, controversies boris johnson brought in. he _ controversies boris johnson brought in. he was _ controversies borisjohnson brought in, he was the mp who was going to be suspended for 30 days for breaching lobbying rules as a sitting — breaching lobbying rules as a sitting mp. borisjohnson tried to change the rules so he didn't have to have _ change the rules so he didn't have to have that suspension— it then went down— to have that suspension— it then

went down like a book in a cold sit with the _ went down like a book in a cold sit with the public and he was forced to resign, _ with the public and he was forced to resign, the — with the public and he was forced to resign, the tories lost that seat to the litr— resign, the tories lost that seat to the lib dems. so that's where it started — the lib dems. so that's where it started. now the public accounts committee have said that actually, the rules— committee have said that actually, the rules weren't followed as they should _ the rules weren't followed as they should have been, parliament's spending — should have been, parliament's spending watchdog says that the lobbying from owen paterson to matt hancock, _ lobbying from owen paterson to matt hancock, who was then the health secretary. — hancock, who was then the health secretary, was widely known, it was known _ secretary, was widely known, it was known he _ secretary, was widely known, it was known he was in discussions with the health _ known he was in discussions with the health secretary while taking money to try and _ health secretary while taking money to try and help them get public contacts — to try and help them get public contacts. they've got a £777 million covid _ contacts. they've got a £777 million covid contract to do testing during that period, and their profits before — that period, and their profits before covid were {1.2 million in 18 months _ before covid were {1.2 million in 18 months. after they got this contract, _ months. after they got this contract, it was £170 million. $0 contract, it was £170 million. so there _ contract, it was £170 million. so there were — contract, it was £170 million. so there were serious questions that need _ there were serious questions that need to— there were serious questions that need to he — there were serious questions that need to be asked about how that happened and why were lots of people in government who knew there was a potential— in government who knew there was a potential conflict of interest, why they were — potential conflict of interest, why they were unable to stop that? now i

guess— they were unable to stop that? now i guess the _ they were unable to stop that? now i guess the government would say, and matt hancock has said many times, that these — matt hancock has said many times, that these were extraordinary times, was it— that these were extraordinary times, was it not better to get these problem _ was it not better to get these problem fixed and get deals moving rather— problem fixed and get deals moving rather than have the problem still be out _ rather than have the problem still be out there and people potentially getting _ be out there and people potentially getting seriously set? the company has responded to this saying that the conclusions are deeply flawed and have — the conclusions are deeply flawed and have issued a legal complaint. so they— and have issued a legal complaint. so they are — and have issued a legal complaint. so they are clearly denying this and are angry— so they are clearly denying this and are angry about it. i think a lot of people _ are angry about it. i think a lot of people at— are angry about it. i think a lot of people at home won't need to be an ekpert— people at home won't need to be an expert legal barrister to look at these _ expert legal barrister to look at these sick —— the series of events and think— these sick —— the series of events and think it — these sick —— the series of events and think it doesn't feel right. and the company _ and think it doesn't feel right. fif1c the company has and think it doesn't feel right. ji.1c the company has said and think it doesn't feel right. l1c the company has said they feel the report is faults based on wrong and unchecked assumptions about the company. —— faults. martin, turning to the final story on the front page of the metro, a paper which is often committed that picked up by commuters, but may be fewer

commuters, but may be fewer commuters tomorrow with the strike happening. commuters tomorrow with the strike ha eninu. , , commuters tomorrow with the strike haueninu. , , , , commuters tomorrow with the strike haueninu. , , ,_ happening. definitely picked up by fewer for them, _ happening. definitely picked up by fewer for them, unfortunately, - fewer for them, unfortunately, people wanted to get on a train but it's no good. it's clearly not the last one as the metro story indicates because there will be two more in august for sure, and the london tube strike for people like me who live in london. of course that won't necessarily be the end of it either — the feud hasn't been settled and that could carry on. so it's massively disruptive to everybody and there seems to be no prospect right the second of any actual breakthrough to stop a continuing and causing more trouble for people. 50 continuing and causing more trouble for --eole. ., ., , for people. so the immediate ones, for people. so the immediate ones, for an one for people. so the immediate ones, for anyone who's _ for people. so the immediate ones, for anyone who's not _ for people. so the immediate ones, for anyone who's not heard, - for people. so the immediate ones, for anyone who's not heard, the - for anyone who's not heard, the immediate ones or tomorrow, wednesday, there's another national rail strike by as left on saturday.

with these split days of strikes, they have a knock on effect on the daysin they have a knock on effect on the days in between, don't they? absolutely, i remember the first set of strikes _ absolutely, i remember the first set of strikes the other day and i assumed they were consecutive days this week— assumed they were consecutive days this week -- — assumed they were consecutive days this week —— days myself, and that's probably— this week —— days myself, and that's probably what they are hoping for. but if _ probably what they are hoping for. but if we _ probably what they are hoping for. but if we look at what will happen in the future, both liz truss and rishi sunak— in the future, both liz truss and rishi sunak have said they want to make _ rishi sunak have said they want to make it _ rishi sunak have said they want to make it much harder for rail workers to go— make it much harder for rail workers to go on— make it much harder for rail workers to go on strike. so it's already coming — to go on strike. so it's already coming in that supply workers, agency workers will be allowed legally— agency workers will be allowed legally to cover the shifts of rail workers — legally to cover the shifts of rail workers that go on strike. so the government has plans to make it much harden _ government has plans to make it much harden as _ government has plans to make it much harder. as the polling suggests, lots of— harder. as the polling suggests, lots of people have looked at these rail strikes — lots of people have looked at these rail strikes and while they are annoyed at the disruption to their day, a _ annoyed at the disruption to their day, a lot— annoyed at the disruption to their day, a lot of people are saying, "i can't _ day, a lot of people are saying, "i can't afford — day, a lot of people are saying, "i can't afford to pay the basics just like these — can't afford to pay the basics just like these rail workers who ought to be able _ like these rail workers who ought to be able to, so isn't it a bad luck that— be able to, so isn't it a bad luck that the government is saying stuff you, you're not getting a pay rise, you, you're not getting a pay rise,

you shouldn't be allowed to go on strike, _ you shouldn't be allowed to go on strike, we — you shouldn't be allowed to go on strike, we will try to ban you going on strike _ strike, we will try to ban you going on strike while lots of people are suffering?" it's a dodgy line for the government to tread on this one and i_ the government to tread on this one and i wouldn't be surprised if we just end — and i wouldn't be surprised if we just end up in a cycle of these strikes from rail workers and train unions _ strikes from rail workers and train unions in — strikes from rail workers and train unions in the coming months. indeed, we shall watch — unions in the coming months. indeed, we shall watch and _ unions in the coming months. indeed, we shall watch and see. _ unions in the coming months. indeed, we shall watch and see. for— unions in the coming months. indeed, we shall watch and see. for the - we shall watch and see. for the moment, we will leave it there, but benjamin and martin, thank you for looking at the papers with us for this first edition of the evening. that's it for the papers this hour. join us again at 11.30pm if you can. stay with us. hello, i'm marc edwards with your support. its been a night of history—making for england, as they put in an extraordinary second half performance to thrash

the tournaments top—ranked side sweden 4—0, and go through to the final of the women's european championship. the lionesses breaking their semifinal hoodoo, having lost in the last four at each of their last three major tournaments. our correspondent natalie pirks was at bramall lane. under a heavy sheffield sky, the lionesses arrived to a growing weight of expectation. fans of all ages were dreaming of a night to remember. it's going to be a tough game against sweden, but i reckon, based on the last game, we have got the skills to do it, don't you? yeah. yeah, why not? they're going to go all the way. i think they're going to smash it. why are you so confident? because we've got tickets for the final, so i'm hoping they're going to be there on sunday, so that's the plan. but sweden are ranked second in the world — and from the off, they were intent on showing why. earps forced into a very early save.

england again starting with the same 11 that sarina wiegman had put her faith in throughout. within four minutes, top score beth mead almost repaid that trust. this was a frantic start — a blur of pony tails were bearing down on mary earps. heart in mouth moments. england's goalkeeper kept busier than in all previous matches. england needed to take a breath — and with calm heads came the breakthrough. mead! she's done it again! england lead in the semifinal! the ecstatic gasps of 30,000 england supporters inhaling the ball into the net for beth mead's sixth goal of the tournament. half—time brought respite and chance to remind each other to leave no regrets on the bramall lane pitch. lucy bronze got the memo. luzy bronze strikes gold for england! the dreaded var check

meant an anxious wait, finally confirmation came of how close it was. var once again sweden's nemesis. ellen white had played her part, the dynamic crowd favourite alessia russo came on, hoping to make another impact. she would get her chance, but not before england once again had to be alert. it wasn't a clean shot, but the save needed to be perfection. mary earps, take a bow. from one goalkeeper�*s pleasure to an absolute howler. russo was a menace, but this audacious backheel was surely just wishful thinking. oh, my — lindahl will never want to see that again. but if she thought it was over, she was wrong — england's march to the wembley arch was becoming a cantor — and fran kirby's mastery reaped the rewards she so deserved.

delirium inside bramhall lane! when the final whistle blew at the semifinal hoodoo had been banished, the emotions could finally come out. in sarina they trust — not even a year in the job, the impact wiegman's had is clear. it had been 13 years since the lionesses were last in a majorfinal. who would bet against them now? natalie pirks, bbc news, sheffield. it's crazy, i'm it's c ra z y, i'm s o it's crazy, i'm so excited, i'm just soaking it all in and enjoying every day, every game, and just can't wait for the final now. day, every game, and 'ust can't wait for the final now._ for the final now. honestly my eyes have always — for the final now. honestly my eyes have always been _ for the final now. honestly my eyes have always been on _ for the final now. honestly my eyes have always been on the _ for the final now. honestly my eyes have always been on the trophy - for the final now. honestly my eyes. have always been on the trophy from the very— have always been on the trophy from the very beginning. i've always had to take _ the very beginning. i've always had to take each game as it comes. but i don't think— to take each game as it comes. but i don't think i'll be truly happy unless— don't think i'll be truly happy unless we get our hands on that trophy— unless we get our hands on that trophy over the weekend. the finally at wembley on _ trophy over the weekend. the finally at wembley on sunday. _ trophy over the weekend. the finally at wembley on sunday. -- _ trophy over the weekend. the finally at wembley on sunday. -- finale. i

onto cycling — and cecilie ludwig has won stage three of the inaugural tour de france femmes, from reims to epernay. the dane crashed yesterday and lost almost two minutes to race leader marianne vos, but she came back strongly over the 83—mile stage this afternoon in the french champagne region, surging up the final climb to take the stage by two seconds. that moved her into the top ten — enough for vos to retain the overall lead. the commonwealth games get under way on thursday in birmingham. diverjack laugher and weightlifter emily campbell have been announced as england's flagbearers. campbell won bronze at the last commonwealth games in 2018, before becoming the first woman to win an olympic weightlifting medalfor team gb, with silver at tokyo 2020. while diver laugher has five commonwealth gold medals and one silver, along with an olympic gold from rio in 2016. it's so hard to make these games and represent their country is always an honour. but to carry the flag and lead a team out, i don't think words can describe it. it's so special, and to do it with jack, as well, he's an absolute legend and pioneer of his work. so for us to do it together will be a really special moment. �* ., ., ., , ., �*

moment. i've done for games and i've seen some — moment. i've done for games and i've seen some unbelievable _ moment. i've done for games and i've seen some unbelievable people - moment. i've done for games and i've seen some unbelievable people carryl seen some unbelievable people carry the flag _ seen some unbelievable people carry the flag for me, for team england and team — the flag for me, for team england and team gb. but to be mentioned among those names is a massive honour and i'm extremely privileged. i'mjust so i'm just so excited,. i want to get out there and represent team england in front of an english crowd. more on that and all the other stories on the bbc website. from me, marc edwards, and the rest of your sports team, it's bye—bye for now. hello. clearing skies from the west this evening and overnight means it's going to be a much cooler night than we've been used to of late and the coolest conditions of the week so far. we'll still have a bit of cloud, though, continue across the far north and east of the country. one or two continuing showers here, but for the vast majority, as i said, those partly clear skies and temperatures in rural areas down into mid—single figures. even some of the towns and city centres as we start the wednesday morning commute at

around 7—8 degrees. but it will be a sunny start for many. a bit more cloud, the southeast corner. one or two showers here to start with. one or two as well in the far north of scotland, but after a sunny morning, a bit more cloud brewing up, certainly through inland areas for the afternoon, and we could just catch the odd isolated, mainly light shower. the vast majority will stay dry for the bulk, if not all day long. some of the sunniest conditions around the coasts in the northern irish sea, east anglia and the southeast. notice, though, we've got more of a southeasterly wind starting to develop, so if anything, after that fresh start, temperatures climbing up a little bit relative to today's values, and it will get warmer still at the end of the week. bye for now.

welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines... scientists find "compelling evidence" that covid—19 started in wuhan's seafood and wildlife market — casting more doubt on claims it came from a lab. the international monetary fund warns that the world could be teetering on the brink of the worst recession for half a century. russia says it will withdraw from the international space station and build its own — ending decades of cooperation with the us and other countries. far from the front line of ukraine's battle with russia — we have a special report

on the shameful treatment of disabled people.