this is bbc news, the headlines. world leaders meet injapan ahead of the g7 summit — with global trade, support for ukraine and sanctions against russia high on the agenda. large parts of a region in northern italy, remain on red alert after six months�* rainfall fell in a day and a half. and sting receives the ivor novello songwriting fellowship award — the body's highest honour. let's get sport now, for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here is gavin.

the latest from the gulf in a moment but some breaking news from tennis and rafael nadal want to be defending his french open title this year after pulling out of roland garros. speaking at a press conference to m time french open champion said next year could be his last as a professional. he hasn't missed a french open since 2004 and has gained the nickname the king of clay. he hasn't played since january after a hip injury at the australian open. he said it was a decision his body made. mi; he said it was a decision his body made. ~ , . . , he said it was a decision his body made. g . ., , ., ., ., , made. my idea and my motivation is to t made. my idea and my motivation is tot to made. my idea and my motivation is to try to enjoy _ made. my idea and my motivation is to try to enjoy and — made. my idea and my motivation is to try to enjoy and to _ made. my idea and my motivation is to try to enjoy and to try _ made. my idea and my motivation is to try to enjoy and to try to - made. my idea and my motivation is to try to enjoy and to try to say - to try to enjoy and to try to say goodbye of all the tournaments that have been important for me in my tennis career and just try to enjoy that, being competitive and enjoying, but today is not possible. i really believe if i keep going now i really believe if i keep going now i will not be able to make that

happen. i will not be able to make that ha en. ., , ., ., i will not be able to make that ha en. .,, ., ., ,, happen. the opening round of the us pga is under — happen. the opening round of the us pga is under way _ happen. the opening round of the us pga is under way and _ happen. the opening round of the us pga is under way and later— happen. the opening round of the us pga is under way and later than - pga is under way and later than planned due to frosty conditions. the big names will fancy their chances. rory mcilroy, john ram and scottie scheffler have all started but hazuki kiga is currently leading. current championjustin leading. current champion justin thomas leading. current championjustin thomas has started strong as well with the birthday on her first hole of the day as did world number one jon rahm. rory mcilroy is even power so far. one game in the premier league to tell you about a bit later on, champions league chasing newcastle are at home to brighton themselves, looking to secure a historic european place. a win would mean at least brighton seeing them into european football for the first time but for newcastle they are still third in the table and not taking for granted. we are not looking too far ahead and as i said at is small steps and the next

game and trying to get three points against a really tough opponent. that is all we can do at this moment in time and can't look beyond and can't look at other teams fixtures and look at external factors, we have to look very much internally and we have to bring our a game because this is going to be a really tactical game and a really intriguing battle and hopefully we can show our best. some news into us in the last hour or so, some news into us in the last hour orso, liverpool some news into us in the last hour or so, liverpool bossjuergen klopp has been given a two match touchline ban and a fine following comments following his side's 4—3 win over tottenham last month. the first match of the band is effective immediately means he will miss the game against aston villa, the second suspected until the end of last season. they ruled the comments about a referee in post—match interviews amounted to improper conduct and brought the game into disrepute. a huge game

in the europa conference league tonight as west ham take on az alkmaar in the semifinal second leg leg. they currently lead 2—1 on aggregate and have the chance to reach their first european final since 1976 and having failed in last year's semi is the manager knows what is at stake tonight. since i knew that it is in prague, since the beginning of the season, i told the guys, come on, we need to go there because it is my home, so it is even a special motivation for me to get there because i know the stadium very well and i came there at year ten, so it is a special motivation. fix, at year ten, so it is a special motivation.— at year ten, so it is a special motivation. �* , ., . ., motivation. a big match for them later on. motivation. a big match for them later on- also _ motivation. a big match for them later on. also do _ motivation. a big match for them later on. also do remember- motivation. a big match for them later on. also do remember on i motivation. a big match for them l later on. also do remember on the bbc sport website all the latest from the gulf and the us pga and the breaking news about rafael nadal pulling out of the french open this year, we will see you soon.

up to one million people in the uk cancelled their broadband in the last year because of the high cost of living — according to citizens advice. the charity said those struggling could have benefited from cheaper social tariffs or special low—cost packages. watchdog ofcom has warned a5 million eligible people are missing out on the deals let's speak to elizabeth anderson — who's chief operating officer of the digital poverty alliance. shejoins us from longfield in kent. thanks for making time to talk to us. what were your first thoughts when you saw this news that so many people have had to cancel their broadband?— broadband? thank you. it is absolutely _ broadband? thank you. it is absolutely terrible - broadband? thank you. it is absolutely terrible for - broadband? thank you. it is absolutely terrible for us . broadband? thank you. it is absolutely terrible for us to | broadband? thank you. it is - absolutely terrible for us to see more and more people being pushed over the line into digital poverty. if you think about how many services have moved online, particularly post—pandemic, that move, that rush to a digital world has really been

accelerated, and thinking about kids where nearly half of all home work now is set online, it is not possible to go back to the old days and just rely on pen and paper when so much requires internet access, whether finding work are connecting with health care services and other essential provision that can now really only be found online. find really only be found online. and that is the _ really only be found online. and that is the thing, _ really only be found online. and that is the thing, the more we continue to rely on doing things digitally and on line, the more this gap becomes a worry. just how widespread is digital poverty in the uk? it widespread is digital poverty in the uk? , . ., , uk? it is much wider than people realise. around _ uk? it is much wider than people realise. around 14 _ uk? it is much wider than people realise. around 14 million - uk? it is much wider than people realise. around 14 million people j realise. around 14 million people very rarely go online, and that is for a variety of reasons, it can be that people can't afford the initial outlay for a device, whether a phone or tablet or laptop. it can be the monthly bills, whether that is broadband as they have been talking about today or even data, and it can

also be around a lack of skills and confidence to get online, worrying about whether being online is safe. but without any question, that cost and the impact of the cost of living crisis is having a major impact and rather than digital poverty becoming a smaller issue, actually arguably the digital divide is continuing to grow. the digital divide is continuing to crow. �* ., the digital divide is continuing to . row, �* ., ., the digital divide is continuing to crow. ~ . ., ., , grow. and what are the interventions that ou grow. and what are the interventions that you would _ grow. and what are the interventions that you would recommend, - grow. and what are the interventions that you would recommend, what - grow. and what are the interventions | that you would recommend, what can be done about this? when we look at what citizens advice has been saying in this particular case, there are lots of people who could have had help and were eligible for help to get broadband butjust weren't getting it, so in this particular case it seems like a communication issue. ., case it seems like a communication issue. . ., ., ., ,, , issue. there are a range of issues involved and _ issue. there are a range of issues involved and actually _ issue. there are a range of issues involved and actually the - issue. there are a range of issues involved and actually the digital. involved and actually the digital poverty alliance are releasing a national delivery plan on monday at the house of lords to begin looking at how government, industry, charities and communities can all

come together to solve the issue. it is very complex. and that revolves around absolutely how do we increase the access to devices and connectivity. how do we raise awareness about the issue of digital poverty and the need for people to have access to get online? it is not a luxury any more. but also signpost people to the help that they can access like the social tariffs were only around 5% of those eligible have taken them up, and absolutely the communications challenge around thatis the communications challenge around that is huge. it is also about skills, it is also about helping people to understand where they can find the support that they need, but most of all it is about people coming together, organisations coming together, organisations coming together, organisations coming together, government signposting the importance of the issue to help get people online. aha, issue to help get people online. a real combined effort, elizabeth anderson from the digital poverty alliance, thank you for your time.

around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. on the herefordshire border hay on wye is famous for books and in the field on the edge of town it is all systems go, bearing for the annual hay festival. the festival is in its 36th year but how did it all start? the festival began with one single event six years ago in the village in hay on wye and now 36 years later it has blossomed into this incredible pop—up village. big incredible pop-up village. big names, incredible pop—up village. egg names, dua lipa incredible pop—up village. e r names, dua lipa is at the top of our superstar list. it names, dua lipa is at the top of our superstar list-— superstar list. it prides itself as the world's _ superstar list. it prides itself as the world's biggest _ superstar list. it prides itself as the world's biggest book - superstar list. it prides itself as the world's biggest book town l superstar list. it prides itself as i the world's biggest book town with around 20 independent book shops. the winter here can be quite long, we are quite seasonal as a town, and the festival was the sign that the

season has come back.— the festival was the sign that the season has come back. local people we soke season has come back. local people we spoke to — season has come back. local people we spoke to say _ season has come back. local people we spoke to say they _ season has come back. local people we spoke to say they embrace - season has come back. local people we spoke to say they embrace it. . we spoke to say they embrace it. generally speaking i say we would be hoping _ generally speaking i say we would be hoping for— generally speaking i say we would be hoping for a good festival. you generally speaking i say we would be hoping for a good festival.— hoping for a good festival. you are live... hoping for a good festival. you are live- -- you — hoping for a good festival. you are live... you are _ hoping for a good festival. you are live... you are live _ hoping for a good festival. you are live... you are live with _ hoping for a good festival. you are live. .. you are live with bbc- hoping for a good festival. you are| live... you are live with bbc news. time for a look at the business news now with ben. we are going to start with news that has been described as good news for the world. that is how the un secretary—general has described an agreement with russia to continue allowing ukrainian grain exports via the black sea for another two months. the existing deal was arranged lastjuly to tackle a globalfood crisis caused by russia's invasion of ukraine — one of the world's top grain exporters. it was due to expire today, thursday. arnaud petit — executive director of the international grains council — says the extension is vital for many countries' food security. you're right, it is very important to have this extension, particularly for north african, sub—saharan african countries,

which would import much more grains that we have seen in the past season, so really it's good news for them that they can already plan some buying contract with producers in ukraine and also in russia. and important, as you say, about russia because there maybe is a tendency to think that russia is just blocking those exports from ukraine, but this is also good news for russia, isn't it? indeed, both ukraine and russia exported 70 million tonnes of wheat during the current season and we expect that they would export more or less the same for the next season, so it is very important, it is more than 35% of the global trade of wheat, so it really matters. we have seen the implications right around the world of that grain not being able to get through in the earlier days of this war. give us a sense of quite how important it is as a trade route and why it is so vitally important to keep it open. in terms of prices,

since the corridor has been implemented the global price of wheat has gone down by 30%, so it is very relevant, particularly for countries where the currency is very weak, so having low prices is important, and as i said, in north africa, we expect that they might import maybe the biggest volumes for the next season and therefore to have access to the cheapest wheat is a very important and vital and terms of food security. yes, and inevitably attention will now turn to the future — a limited 60 day extension and we know the impact of the war on harvests and crops and ukraine. what does the future look like right now? in terms of future, we are expecting in black sea region lower harvest in ukraine, as you just stated about the war and uncertainty for farmers to be able to plant hrvest, but also in russia, due

to bad weather, important, so they planted less wheat, so this is why it will be very important to have access to the stocks of wheat in these two countries in order to avoid a shock in the global market. a shortage of grain proving to be a tech problem around the world. you also remember a shortage of semiconductors around the world has caused problems. to japan now where the uk prime minister rishi sunak is set to announce a "semiconductor partnership" during a visit to tokyo. the agreement will see the uk semiconductor industry getting over $1 billion of investment over the next decade. semiconductors have been a top topic at the summit. as they look to grow their own chip making capabilities. the semiconductor industry is huge, it's currently worth 500 billion dollars and is expected to

double by 2030. currently the industry is dominated by taiwan, which produces 60% of the world's semiconductors. we can speak now to malcolm penn, chief executive of the global semiconductor analysts. we are talking about semiconductors and people might think it is just the things that go inside a computer but they are everywhere, apparently? they absolutely are. it is one of the real unsung heroes of the 21st century because it is really hard to actually think of any product or service or application that we use everywhere today that doesn't owe its functionality to the semiconductor device. but they are hidden, you can't see them, they just work and go about their task and we depend upon it. they really are the two unsung hero. the reason we became — are the two unsung hero. the reason we became more _ are the two unsung hero. the reason we became more aware _ are the two unsung hero. the reason we became more aware of— we became more aware of semiconductors was during the pandemic when supply chains were disrupted and stuff wasn't being sold around the world and suddenly you couldn't buy a new car or get a

new computer because the chips just weren't available. new computer because the chips 'ust weren't available.�* weren't available. absolutely, it is a very competitive _ weren't available. absolutely, it is a very competitive supply - weren't available. absolutely, it is a very competitive supply chain i weren't available. absolutely, it is l a very competitive supply chain and takes quite a long time to actually make these devices. each individual part takes about 4—5 months, so when you run out of capacity at very quickly accumulates into a shortage. we saw it with petrol and toilet rolls and with all sorts of other commodities in the shortages during the pandemic period. with semiconductors, you can't turn that around quickly. if you don't have capacity it will take you at least two years to build a new factory and in that time the supply shortage just gets worse. bud in that time the supply shortage just gets worse.— in that time the supply shortage just gets worse. and we have 'ust had that new fl just gets worse. and we have 'ust had that new agreement �* just gets worse. and we have 'ust had that new agreement of h just gets worse. and we have 'ust had that new agreement of a h just gets worse. and we have just had that new agreement of a deal signed between the uk and japan. what difference will that make because it strikes me it takes quite a long time to build factories and get all the research and development you need to start manufacturing these things. it you need to start manufacturing these things-— these things. it does, but if you don't start _ these things. it does, but if you don't start somewhere - these things. it does, but if you don't start somewhere you - these things. it does, but if you | don't start somewhere you never these things. it does, but if you - don't start somewhere you never get anywhere so the fact it is being

done now is very important. regional collaboration, country and corporation collaboration, they are so important to the efficiency of this country. no country can do it all by itself, the food chain is very long and complicated, so collaboration is a way to shorten the time, you are not duplicating resources or duplicating problems but solving them. you are making a very efficient situation. it is hard to do because people don't naturally collaborate but it is worth it. fascinating to talk to you, thanks for explaining all of that,. lets go to west africa where the international monetary fund has approved a $3bn bailout programme aimed at boosting ghana's economy. the country has been battling its worst economic crisis in a generation — hit with soaring inflation — high debt and a devaluing currency. but it was one of the continents rising economic stars — as a major global producer of commodities

like gold and cocoa. so what's gone wrong? i got the view from bright simons — a ghanaian entrepreneur and business analyst. it all starts with how ghana became a rising star and that was sometime in 2006. it got one of the biggest debt relief packages ever, the second largest in africa. $4.5 billion of debt was wiped out, and that meant it could all of a sudden borrow from international capital markets. it also discovered oil in 2007. combining those revenues meant investment in large infrastructure projects which then transform the fortunes of the country, so that is how ghana became a rising star. unfortunately we borrowed too much until eventually we had to ask the imf for a bailout. that allowed it to go back to the capital markets and borrow even more so around 2019 it was starting to spend more than 60% of all its government

income on servicing debt, and in 2022 when this crisis hit, 75% or more was going to servicing debt so that is how ghana fell from grace. and associated terms of this latest bailout from the imf, there are some demands for reforms, what will they look like? one is infrastructure. the country has to be put on the path to sustainability so that means we should be spending less than 20% of government income on servicing debt. they need to go to creditors and say i can't pay you what i used to pay you. it has done some of that, about 40% of domestic debt has now been restructured. that is where the challenge lies because they cannot take the gutsy government is proposing. i wanted to ask you that,

there are some pretty tough choices coming down the line. do you expect they will be made in the difficult decisions and acted? some of them the government has started to make them. some are linked to the government's re—election next year. typically in election years the government spends large amount of money on infrastructure and it may not be able to do this. the question is whether it will abide by the agreement to restrain spending and that is where the doubts remain. doubts remain over that bailout afforded to ghana. more on that for you. to the us now and the state of montana where the governor has signed the country's first bill that outright bans tiktok. paving the way for a legal fight that could determine the fate of a nationwide ban — under consideration in the capital washington.

let speak to some era who is following this from new york. we have seen governments around the world ban it on their devices but this time it is a whole state. find this time it is a whole state. and when the bill _ this time it is a whole state. and when the bill was _ this time it is a whole state. fific when the bill was first introduced, tiktok made a lot of efforts within the state to try to fight against it, by putting out adverts that would show local businesses using tiktok to promote what they are doing, or even allow for form letters are offered to their users form letters that they can send to their legislator to try to push back against the bill. inevitably it actually got past and when it comes into fruition january one, actually got past and when it comes into fruitionjanuary one, or when it takes effect, what the new law saysis it takes effect, what the new law says is that app stores will not be able to offer tiktok as a download, so that will impact stores like apple and google, and will prevent tiktok from being made available

within the state. they could all face fines for continuing to operate within the state. of course there are challenges with making that actually happen. bud are challenges with making that actually happen-— are challenges with making that actually happen. and briefly, what is the suggestion _ actually happen. and briefly, what is the suggestion that _ actually happen. and briefly, what is the suggestion that this - actually happen. and briefly, what is the suggestion that this could . actually happen. and briefly, what| is the suggestion that this could be rolled out in other states as well? this is going to be tested legally. there will be lots of legal battles against this because of the first amendment right to free speech, and already many are arguing that this infringes upon that. i think it will be the case that everyone is watching even the mood nationally with regards to tiktok. lovely to see you, thanks very much for that. much more on all those business stories on the bbc news website. if you want to reach me i am twitter, those are your business headlines, more still to come, you are watching bbc news.

the world's biggest human imaging project is to re—scan the brains and bodies of 60—thousand uk volunteers, to find new ways to treat and prevent disease. by looking at how bodies age, the study, by uk biobank, could help predict those more likely to develop dementia or different cancers —— perhaps many years before symptoms appear. among those taking part is the bbc�*s medical editor, fergus walsh. this vast freezer is a treasure trove of human health. it contains 10 million dna samples from the 500,000 volunteers who make up uk biobank, delivering vital insights into disease. more than 30,000 scientists from over 90 countries are exploring the genetic information stored anonymously in these drawers. so far more than 7,000 research

papers have been published using uk biobank data, nearly a third of those in the last year alone. this resource is getting more valuable with every year that passes because the volunteers are getting older. in 2010, when i signed up to biobank, i did a battery of health tests. squeeze up as hard as you can. 13 years later i've repeated many of them. cor blimey. 0h! now i'm the first volunteer to undergo a second round of brain and body scans, along with bone density measurements. it will reveal even more detail of how we age. it enables researchers for the first time to be able to look at changes in our organs as we get older and develop disease.

that will help to develop biomarkers of disease perhaps many years before a clinical diagnosis of symptoms, therefore helping to come up with ways to prevent disease happening in the first place or come up with new treatments. the volunteers, like mary, who's 81, and marion, 67, have done reams of cognitive tests and lifestyle questionnaires. they don't get to see the results, so what's in it for them? well, it's going to help future generations and it's going to help the health service, we hope. maybe there's a measure of altruism in there and it's a bit _ like being a blood donor — - you do it for your fellow man. big breath in. time will eventually catch up with all the volunteers. nearly one in ten have already died. but that all adds to the wealth of information contained in uk biobank, which may help others to live longer, healthier lives. fergus walsh, bbc news.

and our medical editor fergus walsh isjoining me now from the newsroom. looks like every inch of your body has been measured and scanned, so tell me, how useful is the uk biobank and delivering insights into our health care market is an extraordinary resource that gets richer and deeper with every year that passes. richer and deeper with every year that passes-— that passes. with each year that asses, that passes. with each year that passes. more — that passes. with each year that passes, more of— that passes. with each year that passes, more of the _ that passes. with each year that passes, more of the volunteers | that passes. with each year that . passes, more of the volunteers like me begin to succumb to the diseases of ageing. and as a result that gives more information for researchers. as i said in that report, already nearly 7000 peer—reviewed medical studies have been published using uk biobank data, and it is free for use by researchers around the world. there

are other biobanks and other countries but none has been going is long as uk biobank and they haven't had as much detailed information, so it is the sheer scale and duration which is giving these insights into a whole array of different diseases. why did you feel it was important to join this study. you are used to asking people if you can film them. did that play into the idea of allowing them to film you, in a way? i have been scanned in several countries and in many parts of the uk, i have had my brain scanned, and i have been on medical trials, mostly as a healthy volunteer, and i think it is important, a bit like being a blood donor are signing the organ donor register. it is important for somebody in my possession, who asked people, the mind is following year, often at difficult times when people are experiencing health problems, that i

am also prepared to have my body imaged and take part in a study which is really a privilege to be part of. all for the greater good, fergus walsh, a medical editor, thank you very much, such a fascinating insight. now it is time for a look at the weather. the full uk forecast in a minute. we will take a quick look at what is going on in italy where it looks like we'll see some further extreme rainfall across the north—west of the country where we could see up to 300 millimetres of rain over the mountains, likely to lead some further severe flooding. weather—wise in the uk, quite a quiet picture with a strap of cloud coming in, running into an area of high pressure. just a few spots of rain across northern ireland and into western scotland. some damp weather to come over the course of the afternoon across these areas. england and wales seeing hazy spells of sunshine but we will have a line of showers developing across parts of england stretching more or less

from the wash, down to the area, driven by conversions, winds bashing together and shovelling moisture together and making showers. they will not be thundery but some of them could be quite sharp. temperatures in the high teens, should feel quite pleasant and tonight that front continues to push southwards across scotland into northern england and north wales by the end of the night. temperatures round about eight celsius for most of us so, not too cold start of the day on friday. then some spots of rain across central and eastern england. some sharper showers around as well through the afternoon. scotland and northern ireland will have more in the way of sunshine so it should feel a bit warmer here. temperatures reaching around 18 in glasgow. still, high teens for england and wales so not feeling too bad. into the weekend, that nasty area of low pressure looks like it is going to bring flooding to parts of italy. then we will start to draw in easterly winds around its periphery so it has a distant effect on our

shores because we will be dragging some slightly milder air in across england and wales where there should be some warm sunshine. scotland and northern ireland cloudier with spots of rain. temperatures for most in the high teens to the low 20s and where the sunshine comes out it will feel pretty pleasant. the second half of the weekend with the most cloudy weather across western areas, some spots of rain, nothing significant, england and wales, largely dry and feeling pleasant with hazy sunshine as temperatures can reach the high teens to low 20s.

live from london. this is bbc news. in the next 60 minutes all the main uk stories together with the latest breaking developments internationally. journalists are taxed as thousands of israeli nationalists march through palestinian neighbourhoods in occupied eastjerusalem sparking fresh tensions. world leaders meet injapan ahead of the g7 summit. with global trade, support for ukraine and sanctions against russia high on the agenda. anglin's water companies make an unprecedented apology for the amount of sewage spilt into rivers and seas —— england's. and rival accounts emerged about a reported court case involving prince harry, meghan and the paparazzi in new york.