of tonnes of treated nuclear waste water into the pacific ocean. the sun newspaper says a bbc presenter has been accused of paying a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for sexually explicit photographs, beginning when they were 17. it's understood that the bbc is looking into the allegations. us treasury secretary janet yellen calls for greater cooperation between the us and china on tackling the climate crisis on a trip to beijing. hello. very good to have your company. on day 500 of the war in ukraine, president volodymyr zelensky visited snake island, where ukrainian soldiers famously defied a russian war ship at the beginning of the invasion.

he also thanked the united states after washington agreed to supply cluster bombs to ukraine. it's a weapon that has been banned by more than one—hundred countries around the world. by more than one—hundred despite this, ukraine has been pressing for the artillery shells which drop multiple explosives to help with their counter offensive against russian forces. russia has been using the weapons since the start of the war. human rights groups say cluster bombs kill indiscriminately and unexploded devices can pose a danger to civilians for many years. our security correspondent gordon corera has this update from kyiv. it is contentious because human rights groups and others have long viewed them as dangerous to civilians and more than 120 countries have banned them but they have been used already in this conflict and ukraine has been pushing for them. it has become clear that ukraine has been pushing for them for months. the issue has been on president biden�*s desk in washington for a decision whether or not

to provide them and i think a few things have made the difference. one is that ukraine is running short of regular ammunition and artillery rounds and needs more ammunition and one option is to stock the cluster bombs which the us already has. there is also the fact that the ukrainian counteroffensive has gone slower certainly than some would have liked and military strategists believe they offer the possibility of penetrating some of those russian defences and targeting russian artillery and russian infantry. they believe there is a military value and that clearly has been enough to overcome washington's initial concern. and ukraine has provided written assurances, things like it will only use them in certain areas and will affect a clean—up to make sure that the risk to civilians is minimised. but there is no doubt there will still be controversy around this and some caution among some other nato allies about provision of cluster munitions. i spoke to sir richard shirreff, former nato deputy supreme commander europe, for his thoughts on this latest

development in the war. i think the first point i would make is that to those nato allies who are complaining or criticising president biden�*s timely decision to give these munitions to ukraine, ukraine has been crying out for ammunition for months and if what ukraine had wanted and needed had been given right from the start instead of the incremental drip drip approach that has characterised so much of the provision of capability, ukraine might not be the same position so they should look to themselves and they should look to themselves and the extent to which they supported ukraine. secondly, does this make it more difficult for russia? does it make it easierfor more difficult for russia? does it make it easier for ukraine more difficult for russia? does it make it easierfor ukraine in this most difficult military operation, launching a counteroffensive, breaking through different ——

difficult minefields, defensive positions, tanker operations? and will it make the ukraine counteroffensive more successful? if the answer to all three adjust then good for president biden. flan the answer to all three adjust then good for president biden. item i the answer to all three ad'ust then good for president biden. can i ask ou about good for president biden. can i ask you about the _ good for president biden. can i ask you about the statement _ good for president biden. can i ask you about the statement this - good for president biden. can i ask i you about the statement this morning from the us defence that the ukrainian forces have made steady gains in the north and south of bakhmut. if ukraine is making slow but steady progress, is this a suggestion that the counteroffensive is working and the country does not need to opt for cluster bombs which occurs will impact on civilians? it is making steady progress but it is about difficult operations of war, to launch a major offensive, penetrating and breaking through well sited russian defensive positions, minefields, killing areas the like. therefore they need everything they can, everything they

can get at their disposal to concentrate forces and that means cluster munitions. of course in an ideal world they would not want to use them but this is not an ideal world. russia has liberally spread mains all over ukraine and has been much comment on the app from the international community. at the current rate of progress, the number of men's russia has sprayed and laid over ukraine will take 750 years to clear. this is ukrainian territory and if the ukrainians want the munitions they should get them. we said in their introduction, this type of injured —— munition is banned in over 100 countries, we have you —— analyse which is crucial to ukrainian strategy, does this compromise the unity? ida. to ukrainian strategy, does this compromise the unity?- to ukrainian strategy, does this compromise the unity? no, it should

not do. it should _ compromise the unity? no, it should not do. it should make _ compromise the unity? no, it should not do. it should make alliance - not do. it should make alliance members, particularly those reluctant to give capability to ukraine, like hungry for example, it should make them realise the only way ukraine will achieve a victory that they need and must have is if the alliance gets behind ukraine 100% and gives them they want. not only have they been calling for munitions but also air cover, f—16s and to launch an offensive without heir superiority makes even more difficult so that makes it even of an possess —— important for the alliance to come together. the next few days are critical for the perception of nato as i powerful alliance which is absolutely critical as far as ukraine is concerned.

lets show you some live pictures now from the south korean capital seoul, where protests are taking place— overjapan�*s planned release of treated radioactive water from the wrecked fukushima nuclear plant. the head of the un's nuclear watchdog, rafael grossi is in seoul to try and calm fears, after he endorsed the plan. the plant was severely damaged in 2011 after being struck by a tsunami. some scientists and activists have opposed the release of the water due to concerns on the impact of the ocean bed and marine life. seoul has said it respects the un body's conclusion that the discharge of wastewater from the fukushima plant will be largely safe. we will keep across those pictures as they come to us. let us go to michael bristow for more.

there's a difference between the south korean government on one hand and the scientists who the one hand say that the plan to release water from the fukishima nuclear plant is safe and on the other hand, there is the public here, the general public in south korea. four out of five people an opinion poll suggests are opposed to the release of water. rafael grossi is here in the capital of south korea to try and convince those people that it is actually safe to release this water. he is trying to convince people like the opposition politician behind me, she has been sitting outside the japanese embassy where i am at the moment for the last 13 days. she is on hunger strike. she is taking water but she hasn't eaten for 13 days. she said she will continue doing that until the japanese abandon their plan not to release this contaminated water. so her protest and the other protests around the capital and indeed around south korea, particularly in cities where there is a big fishing community, those protesters are trying to persuadejapan not to release the water.

live now to dr peter martin from the university of bristol — he's an expert in nuclear energy, threat reduction, and reactor accidents. good to have your expertise on the programme, iwant good to have your expertise on the programme, i want you to help me understand the science, what was being done with the water prior to it being released? the being done with the water prior to it being released?— it being released? the fukushima site since the _ it being released? the fukushima site since the accident _ it being released? the fukushima site since the accident has - it being released? the fukushima site since the accident has been i site since the accident has been sending all of its waste water through some very complex treatment processes, the advanced liquid processing system which removes if not all of the radioactive contamination that is in the water. however it cannot remove everything so things like carbon—1a is abundant and still remains. so things like carbon-14 is abundant and still remains.— and still remains. linked to what ou are and still remains. linked to what you are saying. _ and still remains. linked to what you are saying. it _ and still remains. linked to what you are saying, it is _ and still remains. linked to what you are saying, it is routine - you are saying, it is routine practice for waste like this to be released into the ocean so why is

the fukushima incident so controversial on this occasion? it is a controversial topic globally, radioactive materials are released from all nuclear facilities. the main issue is the fact it stems from an accident, prior to the accident in 2011, the site was releasing waste as part of its routine discharges so this release planned for next month would only release tritium back up to levels which were acceptable prior to the acts don't. —— accident. we have had the endorsement that it is safe to put this material into the water but this material into the water but this is doing little to reassure ordinary people that they can go about their work and live in a safe manage —— measure. as the consensus among scientists this is the right

approach? among scientists this is the right a- roach? , , ., approach? yes, everything done in this regard. _ approach? yes, everything done in this regard. i _ approach? yes, everything done in this regard, i have _ approach? yes, everything done in this regard, i have been _ approach? yes, everything done in this regard, i have been working i approach? yes, everything done in| this regard, i have been working on the fukushima accident for ten years, it is not a complete release, we have over a million tonnes of waste water, it will not be released all in one go, we will take it back and do monitoring on the pacific and understand if it is an issue. a lot of the work today said the tritium, radioactive hydrogen water will be released but it will not accumulate in fish or marine organisms. so a lot of scientific community believes this is the right thing to do in order to reduce the risk on the fukushima site and progress on decommissioning. it fukushima site and progress on decommissioning.— decommissioning. if you are reassured. _ decommissioning. if you are reassured, how— decommissioning. if you are reassured, how does - decommissioning. if you are reassured, how does the - decommissioning. if you are - reassured, how does the scientific community then reassure ordinary people? i

community then reassure ordinary --eole? ~ ., , people? i think we need to ensure we have complete _ people? i think we need to ensure we have complete monitoring _ people? i think we need to ensure we have complete monitoring around - people? i think we need to ensure we have complete monitoring around the j have complete monitoring around the area. having worked with the japanese for over a decade, they are incredibly diligent and civic minded and very good scientists. this will not be just opening the floodgates and releasing the water, we need to ensure we continue to conduct the monitoring that has been going since the accident, continue all our monitoring of the food products that go into the food chain so scientists have a crucial role in ensuring all the monitoring continues so that the public are brought along with us and understand that there is not a significant risk. it is not the big reactor monster it is seen to be. doctor martin, thank you for your time here. a bbc presenter has been accused of paying a teenager for sexually explicit photographs, according to the sun newspaper. it is understood that the bbc is looking into the allegations.

our media editor, katie razall has more. these accusation concerns serious misconduct by a presenter that the newspaper claims is known to millions. the front page story claims that. the man who has not been named, it is claimed in the paper that he paid a teenager tens of thousands of pounds for sexually explicit images. the mother tells the newspaper the person had gone from happy—go—lucky to a ghostlike crack addict in three years. the family is reported to have complained to the bbc in may 1930 which leaves questions around what steps were taken after the complaint. the family is reported to have become frustrated that the star remained on air. the bbc said it treats any allegations seriously and take steps to investigate, including actively trying to speak to those who contacted them.

it said if it gets no reply that can limit the ability to progress things but it does not stop inquiries and acts on any new information that comes to light including from newspapers. we understand the presenter is not scheduled to appear on air in the coming days. here in the uk — tributes are being paid to the eight—year—old girl who died when a car crashed into her school in wimbledon on thursday. she's been named as selena lau — her family say she was "adored and loved by everyone". an eight—year—old girl and a woman in her 40s remain in a critical condition. our correspondent aruna iyengar joins me now from wimbledon. tell us more about what we know about this young girl. serena lau was described by her family as beautiful and cheeky. a beautiful photo on the website showing a smiling girl and her

school uniform. people have been coming to lead tributes and flowers and also to try and gain trip —— comfort from the messages left. one particularly heartbreaking message was obviously from a small child saying good luck in heaven. people are completely shocked. the school says it is devastated by what has happened. on thursday morning a land rover crashed in through the barriers behind me into a picnic area where our year three class was having its end of year tea party. there were parents, teachers and a class sitting outside enjoying the last day of term before the school ended. i have been a teacher myself and i know the end of year is a particularly important time for teachers and pupils to come together to celebrate the year which is why this is so distressing. it is to celebrate the year which is why this is so distressing.— this is so distressing. it is so very sad _ this is so distressing. it is so

very sad and _ this is so distressing. it is so very sad and seeing - this is so distressing. it is so very sad and seeing a - this is so distressing. it is so - very sad and seeing a photograph there brings home the extent of the tragedy. we also know another eight year girl as severely unwell as well as a woman in her 40s, what more can you tell us? i think we might have lost the connection. we will try again later in the programme. now to china where us treasury secretary, janet yellen continues her multi—day trip and has expressed concern about what she called china s �*unfair trade practices'. speaking in beijing at the start of a four—day visit, she called for healthy economic competition, and criticized china's recent export restrictions on key minerals. in china's premier said the us should "meet china halfway" and work to put bilateral relations back on track. despite tensions, the world's two largest economies did a record 690—billion dollars in trade last year. speaking at meeting focusing on climate finance on saturday, yellen said it was important that both china and the united states

worked together to mitigate the effects of climate change on poorer countries. climate change is on top of the list of global challenges. and the united states and china must work together to address this threat. history shows us what our two countries can do. moments of cooperation on climate between the united states and china has made global breakthroughs possible, including the paris agreement. both our economies seek to support partners in emerging markets and developing countries as they strive to meet their climate goals. i believe that continued us china cooperation on climate demands is critical. our asia correspondent rupert wingfield hayes has sent this

report from bangkok. i think from what janet yellen has said she sees it as imperative that they do cooperate because the us and china are by far the worlds largest committed —— emitters of greenhouse gases. but also she said not only did they have that responsibility but they have the ability, which means the us and china lead the world in renewables. china installed more solar last year than the rest of the world together, it dominates the solar industry and it dominates the solar industry and it dominates the manufacture of wind turbines so if they can come together they have the financial clout and technology to start addressing climate change across the world and helping poorer countries to install solar, wind to reduce carbon emissions and of course mitigation of the effects of climate change which will be an increasing issue for poor countries.

more than 2 billion people around the world eat insects every day and many rave about them as a source of vitamins and protein. sofia bettiza has been to an insect farm in north italy that produces pasta made from ground critters. would you eat cricket pasta? eating insects is nothing new in parts of the world like asia. but is there a shift happening in europe? this farm in northern italy turns1 million crickets into food every day. first, the crickets, still alive, are frozen. boiled. dried, and then pulverised. this is the final result, a cricket—based flour that can be added to food, like pasta, bread or pancakes. and it is good for the planet. insects require a fraction of the land and water that is used

to produce meat. translation: what we do here is very sustainable. to produce one kilogram of cricket powder we only use about 12 litres of water. whereas producing the same amount of protein from cows requires about 60,000 litres of water. but how does this get on your plate? some restaurants buy the flour and add it to some of the more traditional dishes, like pasta. cricket pasta? yes. here we go. i am about to taste cricket tagliatelle. this is really good. it tastes like normal pasta. i would not be able to tell that this is cricket based. it is delicious. and it's a superfood. do you like?

and it's a superfood. it is packed with vitamin c, fibre and minerals. one plate of cricket pasta contains as much protein as a stake. as much protein as a steak. but is it a realistic option? there is one problem— it is very expensive. cricket flour costs about £60 per kilo, way more expensive than a standard bag of pasta which costs about £1. that means that for now, insect food is a niche option. translation: the meat i produce is much cheaper than the cricket flour, and it is very good quality. it is healthy and i am absolutely against this new food products. we don't know what they can do to you. a good steak makes you happy. i can't really imagine people eating crickets at restaurants. but a change in attitudes is happening. belgium, austria and the netherlands are the countries that are more open—minded, and with the eu approving foods made from insects,

the prices are expected to go down, which means insects could soon become a part of the european diet. we will get more on eating insects now. live now to francesco marjno, who is the chief marketing officer at small giants — a start up selling insect based snacks. good to have your business, talk us through what your company does and how it has been good morning. what how it has been good morning. what we do is exactly. _ how it has been good morning. what we do is exactly, it _ how it has been good morning. what we do is exactly, it is _ how it has been good morning. wrist we do is exactly, it is actually just producing new food made out of insect flower, they could be several stacks. at the moment the response

we get is very good. we started everything in london. so a few years ago we were in the uk and we started the company there and we were also selling one of our first products, good cricket flour. i selling one of our first products, good cricket flour.— selling one of our first products, good cricket flour. i am conscious of time and _ good cricket flour. i am conscious of time and keen _ good cricket flour. i am conscious of time and keen to _ good cricket flour. i am conscious of time and keen to understand i good cricket flour. i am conscious i of time and keen to understand how people have received it in italy? it has been received quite positively. at the moment we are also doing a campaign crowdfunding that is going very well. so we can say it is a niche market of course for sure but at the same time the response is good. at the same time the response is aood. . , , ., ~ , good. recently your prime minister said what you're _ good. recently your prime minister said what you're doing, _ good. recently your prime minister said what you're doing, using - good. recently your prime minister| said what you're doing, using insect —based products is going against the

tradition of italian cooking, where do you stand on that? yes. tradition of italian cooking, where do you stand on that?— do you stand on that? yes, that's 'ust an do you stand on that? yes, that's just an opinion. _ do you stand on that? yes, that's just an opinion. is _ do you stand on that? yes, that's just an opinion. is closely - do you stand on that? yes, that's just an opinion. is closely related | just an opinion. is closely related to what you consider as tradition, so for tradition and innovation, they are close to one another. when we think about the italian traditional food, we think about the italian traditionalfood, most of we think about the italian traditional food, most of them are made out of ingredients which came from the rest of the world and so while we have been very good at doing it, just transforming them into numerous foods and make them as italian so for other people to see them as italian so this is just a new ingredient. over time people will see it as the same. you new ingredient. over time people will see it as the same.— will see it as the same. you are clearly very _ will see it as the same. you are clearly very positive _ will see it as the same. you are clearly very positive about - will see it as the same. you are clearly very positive about this | will see it as the same. you are i clearly very positive about this but there must be obstacles in the way to take this forward?—

there must be obstacles in the way to take this forward? yes, for sure. an kind to take this forward? yes, for sure. any kind of — to take this forward? yes, for sure. any kind of new— to take this forward? yes, for sure. any kind of new food _ to take this forward? yes, for sure. any kind of new food or _ to take this forward? yes, for sure. any kind of new food or new- to take this forward? yes, for sure. | any kind of new food or new market there are a lot of obstacles. at the same time of course you getjust like see early adopters so people are understanding exactly what is behind us in terms of nutrition. over time it will be possible for more mass production and things like that. but it is very common to any kind of food. that. but it is very common to any kind of food-— kind of food. fascinating stuff, thank you _ kind of food. fascinating stuff, thank you so — kind of food. fascinating stuff, thank you so much. _ kind of food. fascinating stuff, thank you so much. i - kind of food. fascinating stuff, thank you so much. i am - kind of food. fascinating stuff, thank you so much. i am a - kind of food. fascinating stuff, - thank you so much. i am a lifelong vegetarian so not sure i can be convinced but i am sure there are people out there who will be. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there, after the heat and

humidity storms and many of us today could see some heavy showers and thunderstorms moving on. already a lot of those across some parts of the midlands this morning and southern england. around the thundery showers there have also been sunny spells. this is a subtly picture from earlier on, you can see the area of quite moving north and east, that is the main troublemaker of the heavy and thundery showers. even ahead of that, we have some downpours towards the east of england and eastern areas of scotland. look at the brighter colours this afternoon associated with showers, indicative of torrential downpours, some hail and frequent lightning and the risk of flash flooding locally. hot and humid in north scotland, 23 celsius otherwise temperatures lower than yesterday. you can see the storms will continue going this afternoon, especially around merseyside, north—east wales and south of

england as well. away from that there will be dry spells and sunshine. the threat of showers diminishes through the afternoon at wimbledon. certainly by the evening it should be fine with the sunshine but at headingley for the ashes cricket, there is a chance of showers pretty much all day so the risk of downpours and interruptions to play at headingley. this area of low pressure is with us until sunday. that is the cold front bringing the heavy showers today, heading eastwards so by sunday morning still a threat of heavy downpours in east anglia and the east of england but into the afternoon, a rush of showers developing which will be heavy and thundery in places during sunday afternoon. temperatures down, it will feel fresher on sunday with temperatures around 21—23 c. into next week, this area of low pressure moves north and east and when you

see low pressure, you think of unsettled weather so a north—westerly wind will bring a fresh feel two things next week but the threat of showers are longer spells of rain for most of the week and maximum temperatures of 16—22 c. watch out for the showers today, goodbye.

than 100 countries for their this is bbc news, the headlines president biden defends supplying president biden defends supplying ukraine with cluster bombs, a weapon banned by more ukraine with cluster bombs, a weapon banned by more

than 100 countries for their record of killing civilians.