joe biden begins his journey to the uk, but he's flying into a disagreement over sending cluster bombs to ukraine. and, a hero's welcome — five ukrainian army commanders return from turkey, after being released in a prisoner swap. hello. we start with breaking news — and in the last hour, the bbc has confirmed they've suspended a male presenter following allegations that the man paid a teenager £35,000 for sexually explicit photos. it's understood the bbc has been in touch with the police as well as their own investigations team looking into it. it comes after the sun newspaper reported the unnamed male presenter was pictured in his underwear, on a video call to the young person. there were earlier claims that the presenter paid

the individualfor the photos over the course of three years, beginning when they were 17. bbc news impartially covers stories about the wider corporation bbc news impartialiaty covers stories about the wider corporation and like other news organisations is seeking further clarification from the corporation on the story. in the last hour the bbc has released a statement. it reads...

live now to our entertainment correspondent, lizo mzimba, in the newsroom. we have had that statement. what else to be no? we we have had that statement. what else to be no?— we have had that statement. what else to be no? we have also had the director-general— else to be no? we have also had the director-general of _ else to be no? we have also had the director-general of the _ else to be no? we have also had the director-general of the bbc, - else to be no? we have also had the director-general of the bbc, tim - director—general of the bbc, tim davie, writing, e—mailing all staff at the corporation with element of that statement and also some additional bits and pieces. let me read you some of the e—mail from tim davie. he says, everybody will be a lack aware of the allegations of a male member of staff working for us. firstly, we take all such allegations incredibly seriously and he goes on to repeat the statement that has been made publicly by a bbc spokesperson. he also talks about what's happened with the young

individual who the bbc presenter is alleged to have been in contact with and the complaints that young individual�*s family made the bbc initially in may. he says that new allegations of a different nature were put to the bbc on thursday and in addition to our own inquiries, we have been untouched with external authorities in line with our protocol. as he said, we understand that those external authorities are in fact the police. interesting, he then goes on to say, by law, individual are indicted to a reasonable expectation of privacy which is making the situation more complex. i also want to make it very clear that i am condemning the unsubstantiated rumours being made on the internet because —— around our male talent. we are ensuring these matters are handled fairly and

with care, including with external authorities when appropriate. it is never easy when the bbc is the subject of a news story, if you would like to pass on any information, they provide an e—mail address. interesting thing that came out of that statement, the fact that a male member of staff has been suspended following the events and allegations of the last few days. secondly, the fact that the family of the young individual involved did come to the bbc in may, that has been confirmed by the bbc but they also say that they are not the same allegations that were put to them on thursday. they don't go into any more details but that is a point they are making, seemingly in their defence about some of the criticism that has been levelled at the bbc in recent days. some say that if the allegations put to the bbc on

thursday were particularly serious, why has it taken three days for that to happen with the male member of staff being suspended? a couple of things there, we don't know the detail of the allegations. we don't know what has been going on behind the scenes. it might be when all the facts are examined that that is a purse —— perfectly reasonable amount of time that to happen but other might say that when the facts have been looked at, it should happen quickly. we have not been able to confirm any suspension but it may well be from the reading of this, that the bbc did suspend the male presenter very quickly after those allegations were put to the bbc on thursday but it is only now that possibly, because of mounting public pressure, that they have said it publicly, we don't have the information to be able to properly analyse everything there that is

going on. but overall, saying that the bbc has suspended a male member of staff. new allegations were put to the bbc on thursday and that is obviously a factor in that happening and also saying that they are working with external authorities and we do understand that to be the police. some fairly significant updates in the last few hours. figs updates in the last few hours. as ou updates in the last few hours. as you say, we have had quite a few developments and there has been pressure mounting on the bbc all day. even hearing from the culture secretary as well, can you explain to us the seriousness of this because we know now that the bbc, we believe may have been in touch with the police? believe may have been in touch with the olice? , , , ., , the police? yes, this is potentially very serious situation. we don't know the full facts of what has going on. these are allegations of a

serial nature and —— serious nature. if they are as they mac says, top bbc name —— the sun say, a top bbc presenter, it is serious for the bbc. the bbc relies on the trust it has and if the allegations here are prove to be true, then that will be a bitter blow to that particular link between the bbc and its audience so very serious indeed. you can see that by the number of politicians that have been weighing in. of course, one thing that has produced so much pressure is that we don't really know enough detail on what has been going on. what will

probably turn out to be very significant is back in may, and also on thursday, what information was actually given to the bbc? did the bbc speak to the presenter and question either back in may or a few days ago on thursday? probably most crucially, what actual evidence to the bbc have access to? by the back in may or in the last few days. all those things will be crucial in the eventual determination of how appropriately the bbc have handled this fast moving and undoubtably difficult to situation.— difficult to situation. thank you for that detailed _ difficult to situation. thank you for that detailed analysis - difficult to situation. thank you for that detailed analysis from | difficult to situation. thank you i for that detailed analysis from our newsroom here in london. lets speak to our political correspondentjohnathan blake. the government put pressure on the bbc. we heard from the culture

secretary in a tweet, she said she has spoken to the bbc director—general about the deeply concerning allegations. mounting political pressure today, slightly eased by that statement perhaps? slightly eased by that statement erha s? , . , , perhaps? ever since his eye accusations _ perhaps? ever since his eye accusations were _ perhaps? ever since his eye accusations were first - perhaps? ever since his eye - accusations were first reported, pressure has been growing on the bbc not least from politicians and that came to a head this morning when we were told that the culture secretary lucy frazer would be beating the bbc director—general tim davie —— meeting the bbc director—general. since then, as you have said, lucy frazer has tweeted to say that she had spoken to tim davie and had been assured that the bbc was acting

swiftly and sensitively. she went on to say that it was important that the bbc was given its base to conduct the investigation, establish the facts and take appropriate action. see said she would be kept updated. last night, conservative mp spoke out, including the chair of the culture and sport committee, calling on the bbc to take action. the former conservative home secretary, priti patel, also spoke out saying that the bbc�*s response had been the shadow chancellor rachel reeves saying that the bbc had to get its house in order and that its response so far had not given greater clarity on what had happened. we now have the statement from the bbc confirming that a

member of staff has been suspended. we have a lucy frazer calling for the bbc to be given space and time to conduct its investigation, that may mean that the pressure on the corporation is a slightly for now but it certainly won't go away. we had about the seriousness earlier on in terms of what it means for the bbc, politically, what do you say it means in terms of the relationship between politicians and the bbc? and also politically as well, how important is this? i also politically as well, how important is this?— also politically as well, how important is this? i don't think it's a hugely — important is this? i don't think it's a hugely political _ important is this? i don't think it's a hugely political issue - important is this? i don't think it's a hugely political issue and another itself. the government and the bbc have at times a difficult relationship, the current culture secretary under rishi sunak is perhaps a little less hostile than the immediate predecessors under borisjohnson when there was a good deal of political pressure coming bbc�*s way and what we can learn from

the updates we have had between the government and the bbc is that both sides, the government seem satisfied that the bbc is handling this appropriately for now. there is pressure for more clarity, because the greater explanation and the father action to be taken and it depends what the next moves are the how this plays out.— how this plays out. thank you very much for that _ how this plays out. thank you very much for that update. _ how this plays out. thank you very much for that update. you - how this plays out. thank you very much for that update. you can - how this plays out. thank you very i much for that update. you can follow live updates on our website on the bbc live page. we have that statement from the bbc in full on that page including the message from the director—general tim davie to all staff as well.

the us president, joe biden, has begun hisjourney to the uk, traveling from the dover air force base in delaware en route to london ahead of a meeting with the prime minister, rishi sunak. the two allies have disagreed in public over the us decision to send controversial cluster bombs to ukraine. the issue has dominated the build—up to the visit. in addition to his meeting with the prime minister, president biden will also meet king charles at windsor castle. ukraine has welcomed home five army commanders, who were being held in turkey, after a prisoner swap. the men were captured over a year ago, during the fierce and prolonged battle for control of the azovstal steel plant in mariupol. russia has condemed their return, saying it breaks the terms of a prisoner swap agreement. here's lee milner. ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky welcoming home five commanders of ukraine's former garrison in mariupol at a ceremony in lviv. they were brought home by the

president after a visit to turkey. translation: they were fighting for ukraine. - they survived russian captivity. they spent over 300 days in turkey. it is time for them to be home. reunited with family and friends, the five commanders — hailed as heroes in ukraine — led last year's defence of the southern port of mariupol, the biggest city russia has captured in its invasion. the ukrainian defenders who held out in tunnels and bunkers under a steel plant were finally ordered by kyiv to surrender in may last year. translation: from today onwards, we will continue | the fight together with you. we will definitely have our say in the battle. with each day passing, we are advancing, destroying the enemy. russia says this latest move by president zelensky violates the terms of a prisoner exchange deal made last year, which meant the men had to remain in turkey.

it's not yet known how or why the commanders were returned home. in a televised press conference yesterday, turkey's president recep tayyip erdogan supported ukraine's bid tojoin naito, something which mr zelensky said he was happy to hear after spending a week trying to rally support from other naito countries ahead of a two—day summit next week. lee milner, bbc news. now it's time for a look at today's sport with hugh faris. the ashes series is still alive after england beat australia by three wickets to win the third test at headingley. but like the first two tests, it was a dramatic conclusion, partly because of the five wickets taken by mitchell starc with engalnd needing 251 to win. one of them was ben stokes, no heroics from the captain this time. harry brook instead stepped up, his 75 was the backbone to england's chase. but when he went his side still needed 21. chris woakes hit the winning runs to give england

a crucial win at the venue that has provided so many against australia over the years. 2—1 then to the tourists with the fourth test at old trafford next week. 0nly only once before has a team come from to — zero down to win the ashes and that was in the 1930s. let's hear from and that was in the 1930s. let's hearfrom ben and that was in the 1930s. let's hear from ben stokes, frustrated to getting out earlier but relieved with the result. i getting out earlier but relieved with the result.— getting out earlier but relieved with the result. , ., ' with the result. i ended up doing 15 [as with the result. i ended up doing 15 la -s of the with the result. i ended up doing 15 laps of the headingley _ with the result. i ended up doing 15 laps of the headingley dressing - with the result. i ended up doing 15 l laps of the headingley dressing room for the last 20 runs and i can watch the end. hearing the lads go over when we hit the winning runs was a relief but another cracker, three games and going down to the wire like it has done has been incredible and we are grateful we managed to

get the win today and hopefully we are on this comeback charge that we know we have to do. it are on this comeback charge that we know we have to do.— know we have to do. it was always auoin to know we have to do. it was always going to be _ know we have to do. it was always going to be hard — know we have to do. it was always going to be hard but _ know we have to do. it was always going to be hard but i _ know we have to do. it was always going to be hard but i thought- know we have to do. it was always going to be hard but i thought we| going to be hard but i thought we bowled _ going to be hard but i thought we bowled really well at times and a couple _ bowled really well at times and a couple of— bowled really well at times and a couple of innings by then. harry brooke — couple of innings by then. harry brooke was the key wicket and a good partnership— brooke was the key wicket and a good partnership together but, kept flipping — partnership together but, kept flipping and flopping. the first places in the wimbledon quarter finals are being won today at the all england club. novak djokovic and iga swiatek will hope to secure theirs later. chethan pathak is there for us with the latest on the matches already underway. lets talk about what's happening on centre court. andrei rublev is trying to reach the quarterfinals for the first time, he is playing alexander bublik of kazakhstan and it has come to a tie—break in the

fourth set. the russian rublev taken the first two sets, boop nick beat rublev on a tie—break. it is 2—2 on that tie—break at the moment. can rublev do it? he has got a great grass court game, can you get himself over the line? on court one, someone else who is trying to reach the quarterfinals here for a second time as jannik sinner. last year, he beats carlos alcaraz. cena has never reached past the last eight, taking on the colombian. he is 2—1 down in that second set. frances tiafoe, the

american has gone out of these championships at the third round stage, beaten in straight sets. in the women's draw, jessica pegula in herfirst ever wimbledon her first ever wimbledon quarterfinal. really impressive performance for her today. we see iga swiatek with belinda bencic later. . ~ iga swiatek with belinda bencic later. ., ~ , ., iga swiatek with belinda bencic later. ., ~' , ., , iga swiatek with belinda bencic later. ., ~ i. , . for more on these and other sports stories, you can go to our website. including the latest on the british grand prix at silverstone — that got underway a short time ago. grand prix at silverstone — and that's all the sport for now. the us treasury secretary, janet yellen, is leaving china after a visit to try and strengthen economic ties, saying she believes the two countries can have a healthy relationship. while in china, ms yellen

held ten hours of talks with senior chinese officials, saying the meetings had put relations between the two countries on a "surer footing" after a long period of tensions over trade and other issues. here's ms yellen speaking at a press conference earlier. the us and china have significant disagreements. those disagreements need to be communicated clearly and directly. but president biden and i do not see the relationship between the us and china through the frame of great power conflict. we believe that the world is big enough for both of our countries to thrive. both nations have an obligation to responsibly manage this relationship, to find a way to live together and share in global prosperity. 0ur correspondent rupert wingfield—hayes has been

following the story from bangkok — and he gave us this analysis of ms yellen's visit to china. very broadly speaking, i think this trip has gone as well as anyone could have expected. firstly, janet yellen said she had managed to reestablish direct, face—to—face, respectful communications between china and the united states. and that's something that's been missing for really a very long time. secondly, she was able to meet face—to—face with china's new new team, particularly in the economy. and that means she really, referring to yesterday, on saturday, she spent most of the day with he lifeng, vice premier and the man in charge of china's economy, very close to president xijinping, a very key figure in the new chinese administration. you know, no—one from the us administration has done that before, so that's important. the other thing janet yellen went to great lengths to do during this trip is to try and convince the chinese leadership that the biden administration,

unlike the previous trump administration, is not openly hostile to china. she said they do not view the relationship through the prism of big power conflict and that america was not going to decouple its economy from china. whether chinese officials believe that or not, we do not know and we haven't had a readout from them yet. ithink, in conclusion, i mean, i think this shows that dialogue is happening again. more dialogue will come in the next few months. there will be more visits by us officials and chinese officials the other way. but you know, most experts you talk to say this is now a very difficult relationship and one that is going to need careful management in the long term if it is going to remain stable, and that this progress made in the last few days is good, but it is fragile. it's a year since thousands of protestors in sri lanka stormed the residence of the president, demanding that he resign.

demonstrators from all over the country marched on colombo — protesting against the mismanagement of the country's economic crisis. extraordinary images were seen all around the world — including protesters taking a dip in the presidential swimming pool. in the 12 months since that day, the country has suffered desperate shortages of essentials — after the government ran out of foreign currency. let's return to our breaking story this hour — the bbc says the unnamed male presenter who is alleged to have paid thousands of pounds to a teenager in exchange for explicit sexual images has been suspended. the corporation released a statement and the director general, tim davie, sent an internal email to bbc staff. let's bring you up to date with the latest developments. the male presenter accused of paying a teenager for sexually explicit photographs has been suspended

and the bbc says it became aware of a complaint in may. mr davie's e—mail adds that the bbc investigations team have been "looking into this since it was raised and have been actively following up". according to the bbc statement, new allegations "of a different nature" were put to the corporation on thursday. the bbc says it is in touch with "external authorities" — which are understood to be the police — over the matter, in addition to its own enquiries. and the director general says — the bbc is in contact with the family referenced in the media reports. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. storm clouds bubbling up.

not as many as we saw through yesterday. and still pleasant enough in the sunshine. but through the week ahead, even in the sunny moments, it will start to feel a bit cooler out there. all of us will still see some rain at times, some more than others, admittedly, and it will be a little bit breezier. and that's because we've got low pressure out towards the west at the moment. circulation of cloud here, which will transfer its way northwards in eastwards. this band of cloud is what brought the rain early in the day across east anglia and southeast and will linger across 0rkney into the evening. elsewhere, as i said, more sunshine this evening. a few showers, particularly through wales, northern england, northern ireland, some of those heavy and thundery. but even this evening, temperatures still in the low twenties. showers for a time through tonight, but they will gradually fade away. heavy rain in shetland clearing too, and tonight will be a little bit fresher again compared with last night. some rural spots down into single figures, but most places still in double figures as we start the monday morning commute. and it will be a sunny one for the vast majority, but quickly clouding over south west england and wales, outbreaks of heavy and potentially thundery rain pushing in here as we go through the morning.

a few showers breaking out through scotland, northern ireland. again, some of those thundery, especially to the northeast of scotland. but longer spells of rain that's in wales will gradually transfer to north west midlands and in the afternoon into parts of northern england and it could have a big impact. of course, if the cricket is still going. certainly winds freshening up a little bit. but whilst you've got the sunshine out and fewer showers, east anglia and south east could see temperatures higher than today. elsewhere, roughly on par, we're feeling cooler where that rain is falling. the rain fizzles into more showery conditions through monday night to the north. but in the south, more persistent rain returns, wales and across central and southern england to take us into tuesday. that may be slow to clear the south east corner on tuesday. other than that, it's back to sunshine, heavy and thundery showers, most frequent during the afternoon in scotland, northern ireland and the north of england. bit of sunshine in between, but temperatures starting to drop, winds going more west to north westerly and that temperature drop will continue further through the second half of the week as our low pressure pushes its way off towards norway. winds going to a more north or north westerly direction,

especially for scotland for a time. so temperatures will drop here. further north you are, showers most frequent, heaviest further south, you are fewer showers at times. temperatures still in the low 20s here and temperatures in the north of scotland, only the mid—teens at highest.

this is bbc news. the headlines. in the last half an hour the bbc has confirmed a male member of staff has been suspended following allegations that

an unnamed presenter at the corporation had paid a teenager for sexually explicit images. bbc news understands the bbc has been in touch with the police. president biden has set off for a trip to the uk, ahead of a meeting with the prime minister, rishi sunak. the two allies have disagreed in public over the us decision to send controversial cluster bombs to ukraine. the issue has dominated the buildup to the visit. the us treasury secretary has ended a trip to beijing with an upbeat assessment of the state of ties with china. janet yellen told reporters they were moving towards a surer footing and a more healthy relationship. she described her talks with the chinese vice premier as candid and constructive. now on bbc news. in conversation: elliot page. in 2020, oscar—nominated actor elliot page announced via his instagram that he is

a transgender man.