by setting out what is at start by setting out what is at stake here. start by setting out what is at stake here-— start by setting out what is at stake here. �*, a, ~ a, stake here. it's talking about the ace-old stake here. it's talking about the age-old issue — stake here. it's talking about the age-old issue of _ stake here. it's talking about the age-old issue of if _ stake here. it's talking about the age-old issue of if you _ stake here. it's talking about the age-old issue of if you have - stake here. it's talking about the | age-old issue of if you have gone stake here. it's talking about the i age-old issue of if you have gone to age—old issue of if you have gone to age—old issue of if you have gone to a less_ age—old issue of if you have gone to a less successful school, in effect what _ a less successful school, in effect what the — a less successful school, in effect what the poorer backgrounds is a proxy— what the poorer backgrounds is a proxy for. — what the poorer backgrounds is a proxy for, generally speaking, that you may— proxy for, generally speaking, that you may not therefore have had the same _ you may not therefore have had the same advantage in your education. and if_ same advantage in your education. and if you — same advantage in your education. and if you get an equivalent performance at a level or even slightly— performance at a level or even slightly less than somebody who has been to— slightly less than somebody who has been to a _ slightly less than somebody who has been to a high—powered grammar school— been to a high—powered grammar school or— been to a high—powered grammar school or a — been to a high—powered grammar school or a well funded private school, — school or a well funded private school, some allowance should be given— school, some allowance should be given to _ school, some allowance should be given to that. —— at a level. and perhaps— given to that. —— at a level. and perhaps preferential treatment in your admission to university, ahead of a similar— your admission to university, ahead of a similar type of person from a grammar— of a similar type of person from a grammar school or private school background. personally i think that's— background. personally i think that's right, actually. clearly for a long _ that's right, actually. clearly for a long time statistics have shown that admission to universities, the

top universities in particular, skews — top universities in particular, skews towards people from the so—called best schools, the most hi-h so—called best schools, the most high performing schools. and that doesn't _ high performing schools. and that doesn't necessarily correlate with the talent — doesn't necessarily correlate with the talent there. long—standing evidence — the talent there. long—standing evidence also that a level results, people _ evidence also that a level results, people being drilled to do well doesn't — people being drilled to do well doesn't necessarily correspond to how well— doesn't necessarily correspond to how well you do at degree level either~ — how well you do at degree level either~ so— how well you do at degree level either. so i think it makes sense. of course — either. so i think it makes sense. of course it's unfortunate for some people _ of course it's unfortunate for some people who will feel they have done very well— people who will feel they have done very well in their education, it's no fault — very well in their education, it's no fault of— very well in their education, it's no fault of theirs that they went to those _ no fault of theirs that they went to those type of schools. but there are not infinite — those type of schools. but there are not infinite places in the relevant universities, so sometimes there has to be _ universities, so sometimes there has to be a _ universities, so sometimes there has to be a choice made. and i think sometimes _ to be a choice made. and i think sometimes it is appropriate, isn't it, sometimes it is appropriate, isn't it. that _ sometimes it is appropriate, isn't it. that it— sometimes it is appropriate, isn't it. that it is— sometimes it is appropriate, isn't it, that it is tilted in that way. jenny, — it, that it is tilted in that way. jenny. you _ it, that it is tilted in that way. jenny, you were nodding along. absolutely, if you are fortunate enough to be given every opportunity in the world, you should get the maximum grade possible. and i think the difference between getting an a

and two bs at a grammar school and the local state school is massive. kids are under pressure from their parents who have paid a lot to go to these schools. but when you are given all those privilege, you should do as well as you can, and it's not the same, the grades from a private school where you are given so many opportunities, they don't mean as much as the equivalent good grades from a school with fewer facilities and bigger class sizes. the daily telegraph have picked up here saying, in the first comment on the debate, james cleverly, the new education secretary says he is not uncomfortable with universities using the background of children to decide between applicants with similar grades. so quite a narrow focus there, rather than the broad debate, but interesting, i'm sure that will get the readers of the daily telegraph interested, which is why they put it on their front page,

of course. 0k, why they put it on their front page, of course. ok, the front page of the financial times. this is a counterintuitive story at first glance, at least. martin, the headline is japan's latest advice on alcohol to its younger generation. please drink more. what's going on? because they are not drinking enough of their own sake, isn't it? funnily enough, in conjunction with younger people in other parts of the world, including in this country, the evidence has shown over recent decades, in fact, the last few decades, in fact, the last few decades, that there is a decline in drinking among younger people. this is happening injapan. and of course it's harming their drinks industry in effect, and they are trying to encourage people to drink a bit more, which historically has been the opposite, hasn't it? in this

country, people say we are drinking too much. actually the evidence tends to show now that isn't the case. and certainly that appears to be the situation injapan with a negative economic consequence for the business is concerned.- the business is concerned. jenny, because it — the business is concerned. jenny, because it is _ the business is concerned. jenny, because it is the _ the business is concerned. jenny, because it is the st, _ the business is concerned. jenny, because it is the st, they - the business is concerned. jenny, l because it is the st, they highlight the financial tax reasons behind this. fit the financial tax reasons behind this. . ., , , the financial tax reasons behind this. , , the financial tax reasons behind this. , _._ , the financial tax reasons behind this. , this. of course, they say it is to do with tax _ this. of course, they say it is to do with tax revenue _ this. of course, they say it is to do with tax revenue and - this. of course, they say it is to do with tax revenue and they i this. of course, they say it is to . do with tax revenue and they make this. of course, they say it is to - do with tax revenue and they make a point _ do with tax revenue and they make a point that— do with tax revenue and they make a point that it — do with tax revenue and they make a point that it is about demographics, ageing _ point that it is about demographics, ageing population injapan, a high proportion— ageing population injapan, a high proportion of people over 65, not enough _ proportion of people over 65, not enough young people drinking and providing — enough young people drinking and providing tax for the government coffers — providing tax for the government coffers. maybe the government need to find _ coffers. maybe the government need to find another way of balancing the books _ to find another way of balancing the books than — to find another way of balancing the books than trying to get young people — books than trying to get young people to drink more or they might regret— people to drink more or they might regret it. _ people to drink more or they might regret it. i— people to drink more or they might regret it, i think. not people to drink more or they might regret it, ithink.— regret it, i think. not often we go to the ftfor— regret it, i think. not often we go to the ft for an _ regret it, i think. not often we go to the ft for an and _ regret it, i think. not often we go to the ft for an and finally, - regret it, i think. not often we go to the ft for an and finally, but i regret it, i think. not often we go | to the ft for an and finally, but we have this evening. jenny, martin, thank you, we will see you again shortly. we will be back at half past 11, sojoin us for

shortly. we will be back at half past 11, so join us for that. goodbye. british billionairejim ratcliffe has emerged as a potential new owner for manchester united. the majority owner of chemical company ineos wants talks with the current owners the glazer family over a minority stake with long—term view to taking full control. a spokesperson for ratcliffe told the times on wednesday that: "if the club is for sale, jim is definitely a potential buyer." it follows another billionaire elon muskjoking on twitter that he would buy the club earlier today. a lot of people would buy into the idea of him taking over manchester united. not that manchester united needs to be owned by anybody, the club is big enough with a globalfan base to stand on its own two feet,

but the fans are pretty desperate. the news has been welcomed very positively. still a long way to go. the glazes have not said they are up for selling a controlling stake in manchester united, and that is a key issue. in the championship tonight, early leaders blackburn rovers lost their 100% record, soundly beaten 3—0 at reading. sheffield united, meanwhile, moved up to fourth with a 2—1 win over sunderland at bramall lane. after sunderland had seen dan neil sent off, sheffield united scored through max lowe. the home side held on to win, despite a goal back from sunderland's lynden gooch. there was an all—british clash in cincinnati as cameron norrie and andy murray faced off in the second round of the western and southern open. it all started well for murray as he powered through the first set. and the triple grand slam champion had his chances to win too, missing 11 break points in total. that opened the door

for the ninth seed norrie to continue his stunning year, as he fought back to win 3—6, 6—3, 6—4. and emma radacanu's good form continued ahead of the us open later this month. after beating serena williams in the previous round, she took down another legend today, seeing off former world number one victoria azarenka in straight sets. well, in a summer of record—breaking temperatures, it was our old friend rain that took centre stage at lords today in the first test against south africa. but not before england had produced a dismal batting performance that leaves them 116—6 on an opening day that began with special recognition for a cricketing pioneer. joe wilson has more. gates were meant to be open, that was always the perspective of rachael heyhoe flint, unveiled by her son, she is the first woman to have a permanent memorial at lord's.

the traditional home of cricket. she spent over two decades playing for england and a lifetime promoting women'ssport. the mcc which owns lord's was once a men only club. what this means to me is there is finally recognition in the most public way for the contribution that rachel made to cricket. she was a trailblazer. ., ., , rachel made to cricket. she was a trailblazer-— trailblazer. traditions always need someone to _ trailblazer. traditions always need someone to change _ trailblazer. traditions always need someone to change them. - trailblazer. traditions always need i someone to change them. england's men have been tearing up test cricket, bold, brave, out. afirst success for south africa on the first morning, that was their plan. rabada again. the zak crawley was gone. south africa want bowlers who are strong, tall, quick. that was joe root lbw. afterjust an hour, two key questions, how long could england survive, how long before it started to rain? this busy innings

was the positive for england, but watch out. jonny bairstow had been immovable earlier this summer. gone here for zero. the final ball before lunch saw the end of ben stokes. relentless fast bowling was what south africa promised and what they delivered. nortje not done yet. now ben foakes. six wickets down, england saw a temporary salvation. by england saw a temporary salvation. by the time the rain arrived, england were well aware of the calendar that will face them in this series. stay brave, they will be lots more of this. over in munich for the european championships — great britain's matt hudson—smith successfully defended his men's aoom title. it was a dominant run to crown a great season where he took bronze at the world championships and silver in birmingham for the commonwealth games. his team—mate alex haydock—wilson placed third in a very tight finish.

a good day for britain at the european aquatics championships in rome. and continuing her stunning summer of success there was a gold for andrea spendolini—sirieix. the teenager was in second for the most part of the competition in the women's ten metre platform but this dive sealing top spot. after picking up two gold medals at the commonwealth games, she added another title to her growing collection. the seventeen year old already has a bronze from the team event at this competition as well. my my gosh, it's a bit crazy after the commonwealth games. ijust wanted to have fun here. we spoke before the team event, i had no expectations. i was quite nervous, because i wanted to do well, and i did. i don't know what to say, like, champion, now european champion, just thanks to god. i couldn't have done it by myself. yeah, it's crazy! ben proud has continued his

brilliant year by becoming european champion in the 50m freestyle. proud picked up two golds at the commonwealth games and he did just enough to win in rome, squeezing through byjust two—hundreths of a second. proud is also the reigning world champion in the event. and that's all the sport for now. hello there. over the past couple of days we have seen some torrential downpours across england and wales, localised flooding in places. the heavy thundery showers have now eased away and it looks like over the next few days we will see a little rain at times, mainly in the north and west, with increasing sunshine in the south and east. no pressure in off the atlantic will bring a breeze on thursday, and this weather front will bring cloud and rain slowly spreading from west to east across the country. initially we start with

quite a bit of cloud, heavy showers in the south—east, but increasing sunshine for central, southern and eastern areas in the afternoon. the weather front will bring patchy rain across scotland, northern ireland and western parts of england and wales. behind it, heavy showers for scotland and northern ireland in the afternoon. further south and east, it would be more dry with temperatures reaching 25, in the high teens further north and west, quite breezy as well. the weather front continues to cross england and wales on thursday night, clearer skies with the odd shower, temperatures a bit cool in the north and west, but quite warm and mild in the south and the east. the weather front eventually cleared away from the south—east on friday, low pressure to the north of the uk, brisk westerly winds and sunshine and blustery showers. we will lose the cloud and rain in the south—east on friday morning. plenty of sunshine in central, southern and eastern england. a mixture of sunny

spells and scattered blustery showers elsewhere. temperatures ranging from the high teens up to 20 degrees in the north, 20—25 further south and east. around the seasonal norm. on saturday, low pressure to the north of the uk, northern and western areas will see the most showers, some could be quite heavy, with sunshine in between. a greater chance of staying dry in southern and eastern england. again 25 the high, mid—to—high teens further north. on sunday, the area of low pressure clears, and we look to the west for another one pushing on across the uk, arriving later in the day. much of the country will have a dry sunday before it turns more wet and windy. initially across western areas, gradually moving into eastern areas, gradually moving into eastern areas on sunday night and into monday.

have a very good night.

welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines. the powerful blast at a kabul mosque during evening prayers — amid reports of multiple casualties, we'll hear from the bbc�*s lyse doucet in the afghan capital. a dire warning from the nato chief about the danger posed by the zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in ukraine, now under russian control. donald trump's former vice president mike pence says he might be persuaded to testify before the committee investigating last year's capitol riot. if there was an invitation to participate, i would consider it. and rolling out the rocket that could pave the way for astronauts

to return to the moon.