it's four o'clock. you were watching bbc news. i'm shaun ley and these are the latest headlines. after a weekend of heavy violence between israel and palestinian militants, hopes are high of a possible ceasefire following the deaths of at least 31 palestinians. this is the scene live in gaza. we'll have all the latest. the two conservative party leadership contenders vying the next prime minister outline how they plan to help people cope with the rising cost of living. but former prime minister gordon brown says much more action is needed. i'm quite frankly shocked about the emphasis on tax cuts that will benefit the very richest sections of society. nearly 170,000 tonnes of grain and sunflower oil leaves on a second

convoy of ships out of ukraine after russia's blockade caused global shortages. warnings that millions of children in england could go hungry this summer because councils have reduced or scrapped free school meal vouchers over the school holidays. and 72 artefacts forcibly removed from benin city during a british military incursion in 1897 will be returned to nigeria by a london museum. good afternoon if you have just joined us. welcome to bbc news. israel has reportedly agreed to a truce in gaza to end the latest fighting with palestinian militants, which has killed at least 31

palestinians since friday. the islamichhad militant group is also reported to have agreed to the ceasefire — which is due to start in the coming hours. this is the scene... there is some pictures of the funeral of khaled mansour, the islamichhad leader who pictures of the funeral of khaled mansour, the islamichhad leader who was pictures of the funeral of khaled mansour, the islamichhad leader who was killed pictures of the funeral of khaled mansour, the islamichhad leader who was killed in pictures of the funeral of khaled mansour, the islamichhad leader who was killed in the pictures of the funeral of khaled mansour, the islamichhad leader who was killed in the israeli pictures of the funeral of khaled mansour, the islamichhad leader who was killed in the israeli attack on friday. from jerusalem, our middle east correspondent, yolande knell, reports. a huge crater in southern gaza marks a serious blow by israel to islamichhad. its most important militant commander in the palestinian territory was killed here in a strike with seven others. translation: it was horrifying. they targeted the house with five or six rockets. there were bodies on the ground. and today, the violence reached jerusalem, as israeli nationalists visited its most disputed holy site

for a jewish holiday. israel's air defence system could be seen intercepting at least two palestinian rockets over the city, leaving trails of white smoke. israeli officials say they launched their military operation to prevent attacks by islamichhad on israeli civilians, that they had precise, detailed intelligence of its plans. but for now, civilian life is on hold in southern israel, the streets largely empty as air raid sirens leave residents hiding in bomb shelters. 0utside, nobody�*s hur — but some rockets hit. and in gaza, too — we cannot independently verify these pictures, but israel says they show a palestinian missile misfiring with deadly consequences. there was no israeli activity in the gaza strip in that area or at that time. islamichhad is killing palestinian children in gaza. one in four rockets fired from gaza towards israel lands

inside the gaza strip. as this fighting continues to take a toll, both israel and islamichhad say publicly that they are ready to continue, but with the humanitarian situation in gaza worsening, pressure is growing for a ceasefire. yolande knell, bbc news. gordon brown says borisjohnson and the tory leadership candidates should agree an immediate emergency budget to tackle the rising cost of living. the former labour prime minister says millions of families may be pushed over the edge when energy bills go up again in october. he said failing to act now would condemn vulnerable children and pensioners to a winter of "dire poverty." the first responsibility of government is to those people who are the most vulnerable and the people who are blameless in a crisis, and that's families with children, disabled people and elderly people in this country.

we know that 80% of each of these groups are going to be in fuel poverty by the end of the year — in other words they're going to have to pay out far more for their fuel bills they can afford, while at the same time having to pay higher prices for their food, telecom, council tax and all basic necessities. it's absolutely urgent that you get together in the next few days, if you don't then the benefit changes cannot go through even if they're agreed in september until perhaps late october or november. it's quite important that we take action now when the emergency exists. and i really can't understand why the government is being so slow to respond to the latest very hefty increase in fuel bills, which is putting an unjustifiable burden on so many people. gordon brown talking to us a little earlier. allies of the conservative leadership contender, liz truss, have insisted she isn't ruling out future direct help for people struggling to pay energy bills.

yesterday, the foreign secretary said she would focus on tax cuts if she becomes prime minister, rather than what she called "hand—outs". one of her supporters, trade minister penny mordaunt, said ms truss was considering "other measures". there will be different things required for different people. there's the package of support that's already been put in place. liz is looking at other measures. i spoke to the chancellor yesterday, actually, about this and a raft of other things. he has commissioned some additional work. what we do need to do, though, is provide reassurance to people early and i think the right time to do that is when we have a new prime minister in, but we need to do pretty sharpish. and that's why i think it is right to have an emergency budget, why i am glad liz is committed to that. penny mordaunt.

0liver dowden, a supporter of rishi sunak, said ms truss�* proposed tax cuts were "insufficient". i think this is one of the biggest challenges, possibly the biggest challenge for an incoming prime minister. we're going to see energy bills going up to almost £4,000. if you look at the idea of the tax cuts, this idea of reversing national insurance contributions, that's only going to benefit someone working full—time on the national living wage by less than £60. contrast that with whoever the prime minister is, they're going to get the benefit of about £1,800. this isn't the way to help people through this very difficult period. 0ur political correspondent damian grammaticas is here with me. just picking up on what gordon brown was saying, he doesn't make many direct interventions into politics and he will be acutely conscious of the timing of what he had to say today. where do you think lies the significance of this intervention? he would argue it is not party political, he is trying to perform the role of a national elder statesman.— the role of a national elder statesman. ~ ~ ., ., ., �* ., statesman. we know that gordon brown has lona had statesman. we know that gordon brown has long had a — statesman. we know that gordon brown has long had a particular _ statesman. we know that gordon brown has long had a particular interest - has long had a particular interest in child poverty, and there sorts of

issues, so this is something that is obviously close to his heart on something that he feels very strongly about. and once to raise right now at this point. there is also of course the context, which is that the current prime minister has been on holiday, he has been away during this period when we have had the bank of england making this extraordinary announcement about what it thinks is down the tracks and what is coming. so in the light of that, and the chancellor as well, nadhim zahawi, he has also been away, neither of them have been seen on camera, so gordon brown's intervention quite pointed in that context. as he sees it, there is this tsunami, he said, coming of bills that will hit people in october, and he says it will be too late to wait until the new tory prime minister is in place. something needs to be done now. we won't get a new prime minister until the 6th of september. boris

johnson's office was saying every weekend, "look, he doesn't think it would be right for him to take any actions because he is leading office." clearly there would be situations. if somebody declared war, we would expect the prime minister to act. some would say that the scale of the economic challenge would suggest you cannotjust the scale of the economic challenge would suggest you cannot just sit back for a month and wait for somebody to take over. i back for a month and wait for somebody to take over. i think that is artl somebody to take over. i think that is partly why _ somebody to take over. i think that is partly why gordon _ somebody to take over. i think that is partly why gordon brown - somebody to take over. i think that is partly why gordon brown said - somebody to take over. i think that| is partly why gordon brown said this is partly why gordon brown said this is something that the two candidates, rishi sunak and liz truss, and borisjohnson, should sit down together and agree together. it may not be possible to get them to agree. we know they have different views. , , , , .,. views. they were sitting beside each other in cabinet _ views. they were sitting beside each other in cabinet until _ views. they were sitting beside each other in cabinet until a _ views. they were sitting beside each other in cabinet until a few- views. they were sitting beside each other in cabinet until a few months i other in cabinet until a few months ago. other in cabinet until a few months auo. ~ , other in cabinet until a few months am, . , ., , ' ago. we see those different approaches- _ ago. we see those different approaches. so _ ago. we see those different approaches. so gordon - ago. we see those different - approaches. so gordon brown's view is that there should be something done now, and as you say, this could be seen as some sort of emergency that. in be seen as some sort of emergency that. , ., , that. in terms of this debate between the _ that. in terms of this debate between the candidates. - that. in terms of this debate between the candidates. do|

that. in terms of this debate - between the candidates. do you think the intervention by the governor of the intervention by the governor of the bank of england on thursday with this announcement about recession prediction at 13%, and the decision to put up interest rates, that in a sense that might force some kind of change in what has been until now their stated positions? i change in what has been until now their stated positions?— their stated positions? i think it's interesting- _ their stated positions? i think it's interesting. if _ their stated positions? i think it's interesting. if you _ their stated positions? i think it's interesting. if you had _ their stated positions? i think it's interesting. if you had listened i their stated positions? i think it'sj interesting. if you had listened to notjust interesting. if you had listened to not just what the governor of the bank of england but the governor was saying, borisjohnson�*s government, saying, boris johnson's government, they saying, borisjohnson�*s government, they were already predicting a recession at the end of the year, and ii% inflation. this is not a radical change, but it is a hiking of those predictions to an even greater level of seriousness. i think the interesting thing we are seeing is what the bank of england were saying, it chimes quite closely with rishi sunak�*s position. liz truss has this different view, that tax cuts is the way to tackle this, to push money she says back into people's pockets. rishi sunak�*s team

saying that will only deliver less than £200 to most average households as they will do very little when they are facing rising bills of a couple of thousand. i guess the question is perhaps more on the liz truss side. penny mordaunt saying we had a very clear statement from liz truss in the financial times, saying the way she would do things is lowering the tax burden, not giving hand—outs. pretty clear. penny mordaunt today saying that it's being over interpreted. perhaps they would look at things. you could look at that as responding to some of this pressure on liz truss, a criticism for saying no hand—outs. environment secretary george eustice has called for more water companies to impose hosepipe bans as the country faces its driest summer since 1976. southern water has introduced a hosepipe ban for hampshire and the isle of wight.

but the rivers trust has accused water companies of "waiting until the last minute" to implement the ban and the government instead needed to come up with a long term solution to deal with the future shortages and dry spells. i'm joined now by christine coalvin, the director of partnerships at the rivers trust. what is it the companies haven't done that you think they should done? i done that you think they should done? ~ , . , done that you think they should done? ~' , ., , ., done? i think it is really a question _ done? i think it is really a question of— done? i think it is really a question of being - done? i think it is really a question of being much . done? i think it is really a - question of being much more responsive to the reality that we find ourselves in. we know that we have _ find ourselves in. we know that we have just _ find ourselves in. we know that we have just had the driestjuly on record. — have just had the driestjuly on record, but that drive month was also on _ record, but that drive month was also on the — record, but that drive month was also on the back of a very dry year. so we _ also on the back of a very dry year. so we are — also on the back of a very dry year. so we are seeing low flows in our rivers _ so we are seeing low flows in our rivers across _ so we are seeing low flows in our rivers across the country, right up into northern england. and we are also seeing — into northern england. and we are also seeing our aquifers where we -et also seeing our aquifers where we get our— also seeing our aquifers where we get our ground from coming under pressure _ get our ground from coming under pressure as— get our ground from coming under pressure as well. we just feel that

waiting _ pressure as well. we just feel that waiting until we are already now coming — waiting until we are already now coming to— waiting until we are already now coming to mid august to put in place hosepipe _ coming to mid august to put in place hosepipe bans when we have had these extreme _ hosepipe bans when we have had these extreme temperatures is not fast enough _ extreme temperatures is not fast enough and not responsive enough. and of— enough and not responsive enough. and of course, if the short—term solution — and of course, if the short—term solution as— and of course, if the short—term solution as well. as and of course, if the short-term solution as well.— solution as well. as part of the roblem solution as well. as part of the problem that _ solution as well. as part of the problem that if _ solution as well. as part of the problem that if you _ solution as well. as part of the problem that if you impose - solution as well. as part of the j problem that if you impose the solution as well. as part of the - problem that if you impose the ban is because you think it is going to get worse, you get the reaction, "well, it was raining last week, i can't see why we need a hosepipe ban." and therefore the ability to enforce the hosepipe ban is we can. i suspect he will find people largely obey these instructions because they can see now why they are necessary. you do it ahead of that, people ignore it.— that, people ignore it. yes, and i think that evidence _ that, people ignore it. yes, and i think that evidence is _ that, people ignore it. yes, and i think that evidence is visible - think that evidence is visible across— think that evidence is visible across the country, and now we only have a _ across the country, and now we only have a relatively small proportion of customers that have a hosepipe ban in _ of customers that have a hosepipe ban in place already. with others potentially being rolled out in the next couple of weeks. so, you know,

that is— next couple of weeks. so, you know, that is really— next couple of weeks. so, you know, that is really taking us quite close to the _ that is really taking us quite close to the wire — that is really taking us quite close to the wire in terms of the managed storage _ to the wire in terms of the managed storage and — to the wire in terms of the managed storage and supplies that we have. and what— storage and supplies that we have. and what we don't want to happen is that we _ and what we don't want to happen is that we end — and what we don't want to happen is that we end up having to put additional pressure on our ground water— additional pressure on our ground water resources and on our rivers in order— water resources and on our rivers in order to _ water resources and on our rivers in order to meet — water resources and on our rivers in order to meet a high level of demand, _ order to meet a high level of demand, which we always see during these _ demand, which we always see during these hot _ demand, which we always see during these hot temperatures. and the hot temperatures are also set to continue — temperatures are also set to continue into august, as well as the dry weather. it is really a question of understanding as well that the summer— of understanding as well that the summer that we of understanding as well that the summerthat we are of understanding as well that the summer that we are in now is what has been _ summer that we are in now is what has been predicted for our summers for the _ has been predicted for our summers for the future, and with the crime it crisis _ for the future, and with the crime it crisis. that means longer, dry spells _ it crisis. that means longer, dry spells along with hotter temperatures are what we can expect. -- with— temperatures are what we can expect. -- with the — temperatures are what we can expect. —— with the climate crisis. instead of putting — —— with the climate crisis. instead of putting these temporary bans in place _ of putting these temporary bans in place sooner, we know that the water companies _ place sooner, we know that the water companies need to start thinking about— companies need to start thinking about how they are going to fix up their leaks— about how they are going to fix up their leaks much more quickly and

enable _ their leaks much more quickly and enable consumers to get metre to more _ enable consumers to get metre to more quickly and to put in their own different— more quickly and to put in their own different sources of water, like rainwater — different sources of water, like rainwater and rainwater systems as welt _ rainwater and rainwater systems as well. all _ rainwater and rainwater systems as well. . ., rainwater and rainwater systems as well. �* ., . rainwater and rainwater systems as well. . ., ., ,. ._ rainwater and rainwater systems as well. ., ., ,. , well. all of that is clearly very useful, well. all of that is clearly very useful. but — well. all of that is clearly very useful, but i _ well. all of that is clearly very useful, but i wonder - well. all of that is clearly very useful, but i wonder if - well. all of that is clearly very useful, but i wonder if it - well. all of that is clearly very useful, but i wonder if it is - well. all of that is clearly very useful, but i wonder if it is a l well. all of that is clearly very i useful, but i wonder if it is a bit unfair to load all of this on the water companies because isn't it arguably that some of the problems we face are down to government policy, behaviour developers. the obvious thing is building properties on areas where there are drainage problems. the fact that a lot of householders choose to do things like replace their gardens with patios and do all of those things that make natural drainage much harder, all of which contribute indirectly. and it actually, that kind of thing can't really be levied at the water companies. it certainly can't solely — at the water companies. it certainly can't solely be _ at the water companies. it certainly can't solely be levelled _ at the water companies. it certainly can't solely be levelled at _ at the water companies. it certainly can't solely be levelled at the - can't solely be levelled at the water — can't solely be levelled at the water companies, and things like putting _ water companies, and things like putting in— water companies, and things like putting in permeable surfaces where people _ putting in permeable surfaces where people have to put in hard surfaces.

if people have to put in hard surfaces. if we _ people have to put in hard surfaces. if we can _ people have to put in hard surfaces. if we can at — people have to put in hard surfaces. if we can at least make them permeable, link them up to soak ways locally— permeable, link them up to soak ways locally at _ permeable, link them up to soak ways locally at nearby so that we are still recharging aquifers that we are very— still recharging aquifers that we are very reliant on. all of those nteasures— are very reliant on. all of those measures need to come in place. government reviewing those at the moment, _ government reviewing those at the moment, and we hope that in october there will— moment, and we hope that in october there will be _ moment, and we hope that in october there will be the result of that review — there will be the result of that review which is going to enable much more _ review which is going to enable much more of— review which is going to enable much more of what is called sustainable urban— more of what is called sustainable urban drainage. to be implemented. so absolutely, the government needs to play— so absolutely, the government needs to play its _ so absolutely, the government needs to play its role in terms of having the right — to play its role in terms of having the right policies in place. and i think— the right policies in place. and i think also— the right policies in place. and i think also the relationship between government and the water companies, where _ government and the water companies, where the _ government and the water companies, where the water companies have to meet _ where the water companies have to meet the _ where the water companies have to meet the demand of their consumers. but how— meet the demand of their consumers. but how are _ meet the demand of their consumers. but how are we going to bring down demand _ but how are we going to bring down demand in — but how are we going to bring down demand in the long term if that is a pressure _ demand in the long term if that is a pressure that is continually applied to them? _ pressure that is continually applied to them? we need to be bringing down our per— to them? we need to be bringing down our per person consumption, which is one of— our per person consumption, which is one of the _ our per person consumption, which is one of the highest in europe, at nearly—

one of the highest in europe, at nearly 150 — one of the highest in europe, at nearly 150 litres per person per day, _ nearly 150 litres per person per day, we — nearly 150 litres per person per day, we need to be bringing that down _ day, we need to be bringing that down. which requires a household response. — down. which requires a household response, how we build houses, how we plumb— response, how we build houses, how we plumb them, how we plan our towns and storm _ we plumb them, how we plan our towns and storm water drainage, as well as the infrastructure that the water companies are responsible for. so it is definitely — companies are responsible for. so it is definitely a whole society approach. the government needs to be leading _ approach. the government needs to be leading very _ approach. the government needs to be leading very urgently. and at the moment, — leading very urgently. and at the moment, we are lagging in terms of our adaptation implementation, adapting — our adaptation implementation, adapting to the climate crisis. thank— adapting to the climate crisis. thank you _ adapting to the climate crisis. thank you very much. thank you. the family of archie battersbee have called for an investigation and inquiry into what happened to their son. the 12—year—old died yesterday in hospital after his life support was withdrawn. he had been in a coma since he was found unconscious at home in april. his parents fought a long legal battle to maintain his treatment, and then to have him transferred to a hospice.

detectives investigating the disappearance of a student nurse from grays in essex have arrested a fifth man. owami davies was last seen a month ago in west croydon, after leaving her family home in essex three days earlier. the man is being questioned on suspicion of kidnap. four other men have already been bailed. the headlines on bbc news... after a weekend of heavy violence between israel and palestinian militants, hopes are high of a possible ceasefire following the deaths of at least 31 palestinians. the two conservative party leadership contenders vying the next prime minister outline how they plan to help people cope with the rising cost of living. but former prime minister gordon brown says much more action is needed. nearly 170,000 tonnes of grain and sunflower oil leaves on a second convoy of ships out of ukaine after russia's blockade caused global shortages.

sport, and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's ben croucher. i slightly hesitate to say this, but the first news of the football season. and it's not even the middle of august. it creeps up earlier every year, and it is not good news for manchester united fans. matt graveling was watching. another season, another man in charge. he became the eighth boss in the nine years since alan ferguson. can he finally unite united? his starting 11 had no number seven, with cristiano ronaldo on the bench. exactly three months ago, brighton put four past manchester united. the south coast side started strongly again. this was the midfielder�*s fought against united, and he didn't have to wait too long for his fifth.

brighton fans were in a frenzy. the manager now well aware of the challenge at hand. a corner whipped into the brighton boxer saw the seagulls keep flapping. with heads in hands, the home fans watched as brighton held on for theirfirst in hands, the home fans watched as brighton held on for their first win at old trafford. no equaliser for united. we will see how much time he is given to make united tick. you can see how _ is given to make united tick. you can see how many _ is given to make united tick. ym. can see how many times we have one here is a club. it is not easy, not something that happens all the time. when you do get the three points, it is nice to celebrate. the quality of the performance, and then when we need to suffer, we managed to. it is a nice moment.

elsewhere, brentford came from behind to earn an impressive point at leicester city, josh dasilva with the equaliser four minutes from time. in the next 15 minutes, manchester city begin the defence of their title against west ham. erling haaland does start. in the scottish premiership, it finished 1—1 between hearts and hibs. hearts had taken the lead through lawrence shankland and looked set to hold on for a win, but a late goal from returning martin boyle grabbed a point for hibernian. boyle's move to easter road was only finalised at 11pm on saturday, and boss leejohnson said it was a risk to play him for so long, but they got their reward late on. let's bring you up to speed with the commonwealth games, then, where 45 gold medals are up for grabs on sunday. england are gunning for a first—ever gold in the women's hockey. they're taking on the australia's hockeyroos at the university of birmingham.

england took a surprise 2—0 lead with tess howard here guiding the ball past the aussie goalkeeper, capping off a fine first—half display. it looks like england are going to hold on for theirfirst it looks like england are going to hold on for their first ever commonwealth gold medal in the women's hockey, back in 1998 they were beaten 8—1 by australia in the final. it looks like we are going to have to hang on a minute before we see the final result of that, but australia scoring two goals in the last 22nd looks a little bit optimistic. england look like they are on course for a first ever women's hockey gold medal. we will bring you up to speed with that before the end of the bulletin.

15 golds on the final day of athletics. eight have already been decided, including in the men's 4x100 metre relay. england were the defending champions and the team delivered, taking the gold ahead of nigeris and trinidad and tobago, anchored home by ojie edoburun. the women's team took silver with daryll neita not able to chase down a strong nigerian quartet in the home straight. elsewhere, england's matthew hudson smith won silver in the 400 metres, cindy sember bronze in the 100 hurdles. victoria 0huroghu and jodie williams came second and third in the women's 400. there was a dramatic finish in the men's road race where geraint thomas made an audacious break for victory with a mile to go but couldn't quite hang on. after three and a half hours of racing around warwick, it came down to a sprint finish with new zealand's aaron gate claiming his fourth gold of the games ahead of south africa's daryl impey. scotland's finn crockett claimed bronze by half a wheel length. scotland's neah evans finished second in the women's road race behind australia's georgia baker. 16 boxing finals today, 15 involving home nation fighters. wales' rosie eccles became only the second welsh woman to win commonwealth boxing gold after she won the light middlewight title. the 26—year—old beat australia's kaye scott,

forcing two standing counts, with the referee calling it a day in the second. dylan eagleson came from behind to beat ghana's abraham mensah to win bantamweight gold for northern ireland. earlier, jude gallagher claimed gold for northern ireland without even stepping into the ring after his opponent was declared unfit for their featherweight final. aidan walsh completed a hat—trick of golds for northern ireland in the ring by winning the light middleweight final. and it will be scotland's most successful commonwalth games outside of glasgow 2014. samuel hickey beat callum peters of australia by split decision in the middleweight division. elsewhere, sean lazzerini won the light heavyweight title. and the final round of the women's open at murifield is underway. the leaders teed off at 3:50pm. ashleigh buhai started with a five—stroke advantage. that's bbc.co.uk/sport. just to update you with the women's hockey. australia have scored with

15 seconds to go. england clinging on. a 2—1 lead at the minute. more at the sportsday later. four more ships carrying grain and sunflower oil have left ports in ukraine. millions of tonnes of grain have been stuck because of the russian blockades, leading to shortages and higherfood prices in other countries. the ships left odesa and chornomorsk, and will travel through the safe maritime corridor towards romania. they then have to be inspected in turkey. two will dock there and the other two will head onto italy and china. our correspondent in kyiv,

james waterhouse, has the latest. this is the second convoy to make it through this corridor, through the dangerous black sea where there is the russian navy and thousands of mines thought to be positioned. we are a week into this landmark grain deal, the only diplomatic breakthrough in this war. around a quarter of a million tonnes has made its way out of ukraine's ports for the first time. eight vessels have made it out. there has been one empty ship arriving the other way. ukraine's ambition is for three million tonnes to be shifted every month and for 100 ships to pass through in the same time period. we are still in early days, in a testing phase, but the deal is holding. and as far as kyiv is concerned, this is about building confidence. it's about saying to insurance companies, "look, this is an acceptable level of risk." it's about saying to shipping companies, "come to our docks, there is plenty of business here." and whether kyiv likes it or not, it's about establishing some kind of trust with russia as it continues to fight for its very survival. ukraine's state nuclear power company says a worker was wounded

on saturday evening when russian forces shelled the zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. the company said the site of the power plant's dry storage facility — where 174 containers of nuclear fuel are stored in the open air — was hit by rocket attacks. the international atomic energy agency had raised concerns on saturday about shelling — saying the action showed the risk of a nuclear diaster. president zelensky has urged a stronger international response to what he called russia's "nuclear terror". thames valley police are investigating the death of a girl that a water park this weekend. the child got into difficulties at the liquid leisure water park. members of the public searched a lake before she was found by emergency services. a leading charity is warning that millions of children in england could go hungry this summer because councils have reduced or scrapped free school meal vouchers over the holidays. the children's society says

the rising cost of living, and changes to how the scheme is funded, has created a postcode lottery for families who are struggling. our education correspondent, elaine dunkley, reports. zed watches every penny. today, she's shopping at a community food pantry to pick up discounted essentials for the children. last summer, zed got a free school meal voucher in the holidays worth £15 a week. but here in birmingham, that's been scrapped. £15 might not sound like a lot of money. actually, in the grand scheme of it, it is. when you've got two children to be paying for, like, it's a big loss. the vouchers have been replaced with free holiday clubs that provide food and activities. i love to get my children out in all activities, but with having a young child and a child with additional needs, it can be extremely difficult for many reasons. three, two, one, go! the council has organised events like this. in birmingham, nearly 70,000 children are eligible for free school meals. we had sandwiches, yoghurt,

and a bit of fruit. yeah, it was a healthy lunch. i've enjoyed it a lot because i was able to go out. like, usually i wouldn't go to the park. usually i'd just be at home on my phone. the holiday activities and food programme is also meant to help families on low incomes who don't qualify for free school meals but are also struggling. the government says the household support fund has allocated up to £281 million to councils to spend on families with children. some local authorities have told us it has led to a reduction in the value of the vouchers they're able to offer. he wants chicken. birmingham city council says it's not offering vouchers this summer, but will spend £4 million on grants for households with children on free school meals. hi, andy, how's it going? at this community hub, they're helping struggling families applying for a grant. currently on the desk, more than 400 applications. a similar number of people, but more

families with young children. if you're a working family on a low income, or in the gig economy or you work part—time, then your choices are really limited. we're a lifeline. without us, they would, you know, really struggle. for many families, tough times have got tougher, with no breakfrom the rising costs over the summer holidays. elaine dunkley, bbc news, in birmingham. french officials trying to rescue a beluga whale trapped in the river seine have tested a new strategy — a vitamin cocktail. the visibly malnourished beluga was first spotted on tuesday and has swum upriver to within 70 kilometres of paris. rescuers say it has so far refused their offerings of fish, either because it lacks energy or is sick. they hope that the vitamin injection will stimulate its appetite and help it to make the 160km return journey to the english channel, where it can swim back to its arctic habitat.