today at six, the pressure on household budgets laid bare — new figures show wages falling further behind the rapidly rising cost of living. counting the cost of every purchase — when the real value of wages is shown to have shrunk by 3%. we have a baby and it's pretty hard with our wages to keep on track of everything. we'll be asking whether ministers have any answers to the growing gap between earnings and prices. also on the programme... gearing up for theirfirst hustings in scotland — rishi sunak and his opponent liz

truss also face questions over the scottish government's plans for a second independence referendum. a year ago today — the desperation of afghans trying to flee their country — we have a special report on those who helped the west but were left behind. the treatment of american indians today by the film industry... and nearly 50 years after actress sacheen littlefeather was booed off the stage, an apology from the organisers of the oscars. and coming up on the bbc news channel, great britain's lois toulson and kyle kothari take gold in the mixed io—metre synchro platform dive. the commonwealth silver medallists took it on the final of their five dives — to beat the ukrainian team. good evening. there are more figures out today confirming the squeeze on people's living standards — they show the real value of wages has fallen at its fastest rate since records began.

just over 20 years ago. the office for national statistics says average wages have risen recently — by 4.7% between april and june this year. but that's been massively outpaced by inflation, that is the rate at which prices rise. the blue line represents the rate at which prices are rising, is running well above wage growth and is fully expected to increase further. it means the �*real value�* of pay fell by 3% our economics correspondent andy verity has this report. in barnsley, andrea is looking through toys for her baby after getting a pay rise of £1 an hour in herjob as a packer at a warehouse, which came as a pleasant surprise. with prices rising much faster even that higher wage couldn't buy what it but a year ago. that that higher wage couldn't buy what it but a year ago.— it but a year ago. that is a big raise, honestly. _ it but a year ago. that is a big raise, honestly. but— it but a year ago. that is a big raise, honestly. but after - it but a year ago. that is a big | raise, honestly. but after that, raise, honestly. but afterthat, when we

raise, honestly. but after that, when we went raise, honestly. but afterthat, when we went in raise, honestly. but after that, when we went in the shop and left £100 for three orfour when we went in the shop and left £100 for three or four days of food, and everything necessary, it was quite a shock. from the outside, 4.7% is the best average pay rise for years. but the inside story is the average worker is dealing with astronomical price rises that more than cancel that out. aiming to attract the instagram generation, this extravagantly decorated restaurant in heath, 0xfordshire reopened, post—pandemic, to a strange new world, where even when you offer training and bump up the pay, you can't get the staff. we can't open up, which is a massive shame, apart from friday and saturday evening because of lack of people. try as he might, the restaurant's boss can't recruit enough experienced servers to offer a fine dining service in this room for more than two days a week. we believe it is costing about 30% more for anybody that has a hotel, pub or restaurant to employ people, than it used to pre—march 2020, so what we're trying to do at the moment is to find other ways

to incentivise our people to come, and we, you know, as an industry, we need to be looking at, are we open for maybe four days a week, and do an amazing service, rather than trying to open for seven? the recruitment crisis does mean if you're looking for work, you're in a better bargaining position than you've been for decades, but it also slows down economic growth — this restaurant could be open — and it has other negative effects, like inflation, visible not only in prices, but in queues and longer waiting times. there is now a gaping distance between pay rises in the private sector, up 5.9%, and in the public sector, up 5.9%, and in the public sector up just 1.8%. allowing inflation that is a real terms pay cut of more than 6% which can make it harder to recruit much—needed doctors, nurses and carers already in short supply. labour is pledging

more support for cost of living. this has been going on for ten years so i understand how strongly people feel. 0ne so i understand how strongly people feel. one of the reasons we announced our energy price freeze is to keep the bills down and to make the choice that the oil and gas companies in the north sea should pay a windfall tax to help those struggling through this period so it is further evidence of the pressure so many millions face. it is is further evidence of the pressure so many millions face.— so many millions face. it is the bi est so many millions face. it is the biggest dmp — so many millions face. it is the biggest dmp in _ so many millions face. it is the biggest drop in living _ so many millions face. it is the | biggest drop in living standards since the silverjubilee way back in 1977 according to a think tank the living standards resolution. the government says the job market remains resilient and it is providing £30 billion of support to households with the cost of living. 0ur political correspondent alex forsyth is at westminster. alex — further evidence today of the huge challenge facing the incoming prime minister. it throws that challenge into sharp relief, the challenge that families,

individuals and businesses across the country, and as you say the challenge for the government when it comes to what they can do to ease economic pain. there has been a package worth some £37 billion to help households with bills and much of that. come through in the autumn but there is pretty broad consensus that will not be enough. the treasury is looking at the options but the government has been pretty blunt in saying nothing is going to happen until there is a new prime minister in place which is why there is so much focus on what the two people vying for that job is so much focus on what the two people vying for thatjob would do. yesterday labour leader keir starmer threw down the gauntlet and said if he was in power he would freeze the energy price cap to stop bills going up energy price cap to stop bills going up further. liz truss said that was a sticking plaster and she is focused on tax cuts. rishi sunak said he would want to target support to help the poorest families and pensioners, but all the while that conversation is going on within the context of the conservative leadership race, the economic reality facing this country is

becoming clearer. it will be the defining issue for whoever gets the keys to number ten and will be the defining issue for this country for the foreseeable future. there's more updates, news and analysis on bbc news 0nline — that's bbc.co.uk/news — and by using the bbc news app. the latest hustings in the conservative leadership contest will begin in perth in less than an hour. both liz truss and rishi sunak have promised greater scrutiny of the scottish government — but whoever wins will have to deal with its plans to hold another referendum on independence in october 2023. here's our scotland editorjames cook. the last splash of a scottish summer. the seasons are about to change, students are heading back to school, and while these day—trippers pick sunflowers, in nearby perth tory party members are picking a new prime minister. i tory party members are picking a new prime minister.— prime minister. i think people are read for prime minister. i think people are ready for someone _ prime minister. i think people are ready for someone who _ prime minister. i think people are ready for someone who can - prime minister. i think people are ready for someone who can act i

prime minister. i think people are - ready for someone who can act would be a strong leader. i wouldn't vote conservative myself but i think it would maybe be good to see who else could do a betterjob of something different. everybody is ready for something different. i different. everybody is ready for something different.— something different. i think the scots and general— something different. i think the scots and general foul - something different. i think the scots and general foul but - something different. i think the i scots and general foul but ignored by the _ scots and general foul but ignored by the uk — scots and general foul but ignored by the uk government in general. is by the uk government in general. [55 that by the uk government in general. is that something you hope whoever becomes the new prime minister would do something about?— do something about? hopefully, erha -s do something about? hopefully, perhaps not _ do something about? hopefully, perhaps not moving _ do something about? hopefully, perhaps not moving towards - perhaps not moving towards independence but acknowledging that scotland _ independence but acknowledging that scotland has perhaps independent needs _ scotland has perhaps independent needs. get scotland has perhaps independent needs. , ., , ., , ., needs. get the tories out. they are no aood needs. get the tories out. they are no good for — needs. get the tories out. they are no good for scotland, _ needs. get the tories out. they are no good for scotland, they - needs. get the tories out. they are no good for scotland, they don't . no good for scotland, they don't care about scotland, never have and never will. ~ . , care about scotland, never have and never will. ~ ., , ., , ., never will. what is the answer for scotland? independence, - never will. what is the answer for scotland? independence, has - never will. what is the answer for i scotland? independence, has been never will. what is the answer for - scotland? independence, has been for ears and scotland? independence, has been for years and always _ scotland? independence, has been for years and always will _ scotland? independence, has been for years and always will be. _ scotland? independence, has been for years and always will be. the - years and always will be. the constitution _ years and always will be. the constitution is _ years and always will be. the constitution is casting its shadow on the candidates. liz truss vowed to raise spirits by cutting taxes but she was also asked if she really could as promised ignore scotland's first minister nicola sturgeon. i am

absolutel first minister nicola sturgeon. i —n absolutely passionate about scotland in the united kingdom, i grew up in paisley and spent my primary school years there, and what i want is to deliver for the people of scotland and that is what i am focused on. rishi sunak was asked about the same issue, whether it was sensible for a prime minister to ignore the snp leader. i prime minister to ignore the snp leader. ., �* ., ., ., leader. i don't want to ignore nicola sturgeon, _ leader. i don't want to ignore nicola sturgeon, i— leader. i don't want to ignore nicola sturgeon, i want - leader. i don't want to ignore nicola sturgeon, i want to i leader. i don't want to ignore i nicola sturgeon, i want to take leader. i don't want to ignore - nicola sturgeon, i want to take her own and _ nicola sturgeon, i want to take her own and beat her and i think we can mahe— own and beat her and i think we can make a— own and beat her and i think we can make a very— own and beat her and i think we can make a very strong case for what the uk government does to help people in scotland _ uk government does to help people in scotland and as chancellor i started that, to _ scotland and as chancellor i started that, to directly support scottish communities and local areas. gn that, to directly support scottish communities and local areas. on the whole the candidates _ communities and local areas. on the whole the candidates have _ communities and local areas. on the whole the candidates have been - whole the candidates have been keeping a pretty low profile today and this partly explains why, a very noisy protest outside the venue by campaigners in the favour of scottish independence. the high court has been told that government ministers who have backed sending asylum seekers to rwanda were warned by their own independent adviser that the rwandan government tortures and kills political opponents. the warning from a foreign office

expert came weeks before the government tried and failed to send asylum seekers to the rwanda. migrants who were identified for the flight are challenging the government's attempts to keep the official�*s views secret. 0ur legal correspondent dominic casciani is here. how have these comments emerged? these comments have emerged in a preparatory hearing today at the high court ahead of next month's make or break challenge to the rwanda flights policy. no flight has actually left for rwanda yet and it won't leave until the high court says it is legal to do so. during the experts hearing, the claimants, those challenging the government, want to hear how this policy came about in the first place and what the government's advisors was telling ministers about the safety of the country. today we heard one of the country. today we heard one of those hand—picked advisers told ministers that political opposition

in rwanda wasn't tolerated and tortured and even killings are accepted methods of enforcing control. those challenging ministers say it is crucial evidence that could make or break this case next month particularly with home secretary priti patel saying the country is safe. more will come after a ruling on whether the official�*s comments can be disclosed. a drought has been declared in yorkshire for the first time in nearly four years, the environment agency has confirmed. it brings the total number of english regions suffering from extreme dry conditions to nine. officials say rain forecast for this week won't be enough to counteract weeks of dry weather. but in scotland, some areas have been hit by a week's worth of rain injust 2a hours, as the hot, dry weather gives way to downpours. the met office is forecasting flash floods — because the parched ground can't absorb the rain fast enough — and heavy thunderstorms across much of the uk in the coming days. nearly 20 flood alerts have been issued in areas of the midlands and south—east england.

the former footballer ryan giggs has told manchester crown court he has never been faithful in relationships, but denied ever physically assaulting a woman. he denies charges of controlling behaviour, and assaulting his former partner kate greville and her younger sister emma in november 2020. laura scott reports. in his glittering football career, ryan giggs had countless important days, many of them in manchester. today, arriving at court for day seven of his trial, it was a different kind of important. this, the former manchester united star's first chance to put his case to the jury. the court heard that, hours after being arrested on suspicion of assaulting his then girlfriend kate greville and her sister in november 2020, he had told police he felt emotional about the incident. in a statement, he said a tussle with miss greville involved him being caught in the face leaving him bleeding.

"i may have caught her and her sister during the scuffle but at no time was there ever any intent to harm either," he said. "i would agree that both sisters were hurt. i regret that this argument got so out of hand." in a later statement, responding to kate greville's accusations that he was controlling, he told police, "neither one of us had any more control over the other." this afternoon, for the first time, giggs made his way from the dock to the witness box. his barrister, chris daw qc, introduced him as a famous footballer, but went on to address his reputation as a love cheat, which giggs said he deserved. but when asked, "have you ever physically assaulted a woman," giggs said, "never." asked, "have you ever set out to coerce a woman," he replied, "i have not, no." during two hours giving evidence, giggs spoke of getting his dream job as wales manager while they were together. he refuted miss greville's claim that he had thrown her out of their hotel room naked in dubai in 2017, and dealt with questions about their sex life.

giggs will take the stand again tomorrow. he denies the charges. laura scott, bbc news, manchester. the time isjust the time is just coming up to quarter past six back. the time is just coming up to our top story this evening. the pressure on household budgets increases as new figures show wages falling further behind the rapidly rising cost of living. coming up... 20 years of radio 1xtra celebrating black music and culture. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel, dina asher—smith will attempt to defend her european title in the women's 100 metres later. a hamstring injury had ruled her out of the commonwealth games. to the crisis in afghanistan now. a year ago today, this image crystallised the desperation of some afghans to escape their country —

people clinging to the side of a moving us military plane leaving kabul as the taliban seized power. tens of thousands who worked with foreign governments, including the uk, are still stuck in afghanistan. the british government acknowledges more than 6,000 eligible people are still waiting to be relocated. for those still there, many are in hiding, moving from place to place. some have been detained by the taliban, accused of spying for western countries. they fear for their lives and feel betrayed by the people they worked for. 0ur south asia correspondent yogita limaye has been speaking to some of them — we've hidden their identities and changed their voices to protect them. in a seemingly calm kabul, fear runs deep. hidden away behind the bustle, people who worked with foreign governments, left in an afghanistan now ruled by men who were the enemy. a translator who used

to work with us troops. it's not safe to go to his home so we are meeting at a secure location. photos and papers from his time on the front line. being found with them could put him in danger. he's moving from one province to another, hiding from the taliban, who he once helped kill. translation: i was in combat, standing shoulder to shoulder . with american soldiers at every step. i saved their lives in many ways but in the end, they forgot me. if i had known this is how i would be left, i would never have chosen to work with them. it's notjust those in combat roles. this man worked to implement uk and us development projects in afghanistan. a senior adviser, he had faced death threats even before the taliban takeover. in the past year, he has received multiple such summons from the group's interior ministry. translation: i have moved seven times since the last year. _

i am suffering from stress and depression. i don't sleep. i don't allow my children to go to school in case they are recognised. i facilitated the uk and the us to work in the country and now there is no place where i can live with safety and dignity. he had been called by uk officials to the airport... ..during this chaos that followed the taliban's takeover. amid the tens of thousands desperate to flee, many who should have been evacuated did not make it through. when the taliban walked into kabul, foreign militaries and diplomats moved into this airport complex overnight. they had not expected it to happen so quickly and so perhaps it was understandable that they could not have evacuated everyone who worked with them then.

now it has been one year and people here are asking if western governments will honour the commitments they have made and how long it will take. this british council teacher is one of more than 100 stuck in afghanistan. he showed us documents that could be a lifeline, or a death warrant. proof that he taught the english language and uk values. two weeks ago, he was detained by the taliban, accused of spying for the uk. released because they did not find the papers. translation: i don't think it's over. - they are keeping an eye on me. we taught uk values of equality, diversity and inclusion. _ according to the taliban, - that is unlawful and not islamic. they think we are criminals and should be punished. i i think the uk will only act if one of us dies. . sooner or later, that is going to happen. many of his colleagues are women.

in the past year, the most significant change in afghanistan has been the clampdown on female freedoms. independent women who had jobs face a dark future. for two years, she worked for the british council. now her family is finding it hard to get by. translation: sometimes i think i'm losing my mind. _ it's the worst feeling, when you are just trying to find a way to survive every day. the uk has made us feel like we are dispensable. we worked for their goals and aims but when we needed them, they left us. uk and us governments say they are trying to respond as quickly as they can. at stake is the reputation of the western world, already diminished by the rise of the taliban. yogita limaye, bbc news, kabul. now a look at some other stories

making the news today. russia's defence ministry has admitted that one of its ammunition depots in crimea has been hit by what it called "saboteurs". explosions near the town of dzhankoi damaged local infrastructure and forced the evacuation of 2,000 residents. russia annexed crimea in 2014. ukraine hasn't said it carried out the explosions. a student nurse who's been missing for more than a month could be in need of help, police say. 0wami davies was last seen in the early hours of the 7th ofjuly in croydon in south london. five men have so far been arrested and bailed in relation to the case. jeremy paxman is stepping down as the host of university challenge later this year, after 28 years in the chair. the broadcaster said he'd had a "blast" hosting the series and will film his final episode in the autumn. he revealed last year that he'd been diagnosed with parkinson's disease. a native american actress

who was booed off stage at the oscars almost 50 years ago has received an apology from the academy. sacheen littlefeather appeared at the ceremony on live tv in 1973 to refuse an oscar on behalf of marlon brando, who had won the best actor prize for the godfather. brando rejected the award in protest at the representation of native americans by the us film industry. lizo mzimba reports. i'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse. when he won the oscar for the godfather, marlon brando refused to attend the ceremony... marlon brando, in the godfather. ..instead sending a native american activist and actress. accepting the award _ for marlon brando in the godfather, miss sacheen littlefeather. he very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award, and the reasons for this being, are the treatment of american indians today

by the film industry... excuse me. booing and scattered applause. her words highlighting hollywood's almost universally negative depiction of native americans were greeted with both applause and boos. she said before that one of those opposing her comments was hollywood's biggest star, famous for his roles fighting native americans. john wayne was very angry. i don't like it, mr cohill. i don't like it at all. how dare i do something like that on his stage? he was going to come on the stage and pull me off. so he had to be physically restrained. she subsequently suffered abuse. her acting career was damaged, too. the body behind the oscars says it is making amends, including through how its new museum reflects movie history. when the academy museum i was being built, they really began to turn to have a critical eye |

and a critical look at our film history, and the inclusion and most often exclusionj of specific communities. in a statement, sacheen says... i beg at this time that i have not intruded upon this evening. now, after half a century, she and so many native americans feel a notorious injustice has finally been righted. thank you, on behalf of marlon brando. lizo mzimba, bbc news. at the european championships in munich, all eyes tonight will be on the 100 metre final is. great britain's zharnel hughes and dina asher—smith will seek to retain their titles.

zharnel hughes and dina asher—smith will seek to retain their 100 metres titles. our sports correspondent nesta mcgregor is there it should be quite a night? good evenin: , it should be quite a night? good evening. it _ it should be quite a night? good evening, it should _ it should be quite a night? good evening, it should be _ it should be quite a night? good evening, it should be some i it should be quite a night? (scar. evening, it should be some night tonight put it respectfully, the showcase events at most championships are the men's and women's100 metres finals and fans are already filling up the olympic stadium because those semifinals are starting in about half an hour. dina asher—smith and zharnel hughes are the defending champions but in the case of dina asher—smith, she was injured at the world championships just over a month ago and the fact she is here points to she is fit but anything less than 100% and she could be in trouble because it's a very strong field. as for zharnel hughes, he had the italian olympic champion marcelljacobs to contend with and also his own team—mate, reece prescod, who has already beaten him this year. we should be in for a treat. train your whole life for the 100 metres and it can

be over in less time than it takes to tie your shoelaces. at the moment the highjumps getting the to tie your shoelaces. at the moment the high jumps getting the cheers but later on the 100 metres should be in for a big treat. back to you. many thanks. the former pop idol contestant and theatre star darius danesh has died at the age of a1. #my # my loneliness is killing me... the scottish singer rose to fame when he gave this memorable audition singing baby one more time for the itv show pop stars in 2001 before finishing third in pop idol. after turning down the offer of a record deal from simon cowell, his debut single, colour—blind went straight to the top of that chart and he went on to forge a success will stage career in the west end including in shows such as chicago and guy's and dolls.

today marks 20 years since the bbc launched radio one xtra, a station dedicated to celebrating the very best in black music and culture. in the past two decades, it's helped bring music like grime, afrobeat and drill into the mainstream, and kick—started the careers of countless artists. ashleyjohn—baptiste has been looking at the station's impact. these are just some of the styles and sounds that have shaped the current music scene. garage, grime, afrobeat and r&b are amongst the genres that have moved into the mainstream over the past 20 years, something that undeniably 1xtra has had a hand in. the bbc is delighted to announce the arrival of a new baby... it is 1xtra's commitment to black british music in particular that has set it apart since launching in 2002, something that broadcaster

trevor nelson recalls. british black music primarily. so for the first time, there was support for artists, there was a proper platform for artists. 1xtra didn'tjustjump on an artist for one tune — they would support that artist. i'm remi burgz, your local energy provider... and beyond music, just as important for 1xtra is reflecting the real experiences of black communities in the uk. one thing that 1xtra definitely does extremely well is it tells you about the black experience, it shares our experiences, it shares our pain. the station is known for launching some of the biggest names in pop music. ed sheeran got his first radio play on 1xtra. and it was while performing on a 1xtra show that emeli sande made a connection that would change her career. there were two guys i was working with at the time, two managers, . and they said, do you want to come and do this 1xtra live show? - in the crowd was naughty boy and he said, you know, - i really felt like you were singing

that song to me. _ that translated into fantastic careers for both of us. - it's about bringing the colour and the vibe... yet, despite the vital role it has played in promoting home—grown uk talent, the challenge to remain relevant is tougher than ever. radio, for me, still has a fundamental role in articulating the music, the culture, and giving those artists more of a platform to have that conversation as well as just uploading their tracks. whilst some might question value of radio in an ever changing media landscape, 1xtra remains integral to drawing younger audiences to the bbc. because 1xtra attracts a younger audience, i think it will exist, it has to exist in some way, shape orform. there is no point investing 20 years in something like this and then letting it go. ashleyjohn—baptiste, bbc news. and you can find out more about the stories behind the uk's first national black music radio

station in a special documentary called home—grown: 20 years of bbc 1xtra on the bbc iplayer now. time for a look at the weather. here's stav daneos. a mixed story but the main message is rain? �* , , ., , a mixed story but the main message israin?�* , ,., , is rain? and big thunderstorms can alwa s is rain? and big thunderstorms can always typical _ is rain? and big thunderstorms can always typical after _ is rain? and big thunderstorms can always typical after a _ is rain? and big thunderstorms can always typical after a heatwave, i always typical after a heatwave, ending with a bang. we have had plenty of thunderstorms around. good evening, look at this incredible photograph of a water spout, fully formed funnel making contact with the ground. this was captured off the ground. this was captured off the coast of cornwall. torrential downpours and frequent lightning across the west country over the last few hours and other parts of england have had the thunderstorms because we have this thundery low to the south of us, sending the front northward and you can see the storms in the west country and south wales, some in the east midlands, pushing

into lincolnshire and some localised flooding reported in places. they will continue through the evening and overnight, pretty much from lincolnshire and a number towards south wales and south to where you are likely to seek thunderstorms and heavy showers. they could pep up in the south—east in the latter part of the south—east in the latter part of the night. quite a wild night to come, quite warm as well and humid, 17 degrees, but cooler and fresher further north with clear skies in much of scotland and northern ireland. still be thundery low to the south, this front will bring wet weather to western part of the uk on thursday but we have a ridge of high pressure which will bring a lot of dry weather through tomorrow in scotland and northern ireland and northern england but east anglia, from the wash to the west country, likely to see these showers and thunderstorms erupting against. the could be quite heavy with the risk of localised flooding conducts a fresh feeling, highs of 23 even in the south—east but quite pleasant in the south—east but quite pleasant in the north with more sunshine around. heading through wednesday night, still the chance of further than we

downpours in the south—east, we see