hello, i'm carl nasman. ukraine's president came to the annual nato summit in lithuania with high hopes, widespread western support and a demand for a timeline for his country's entry into the military alliance. volodymr zelenskyy didn't get that last one but he did not walk away empty handed either. nato member nations offered a variety of pledges this week. france says it will provide ukraine a significant number of so—called scalp cruise missiles able to strike targets as far as 250km away. the united kingdom has committed to providing more than 70 vehicles, as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition for the challenger 2 tanks the uk has already provided to kyiv. 11 nato members will train ukrainian pilots in the use of the f—16 fighterjet, beginning in denmark in august. the hope is that ukraine

could start using the planes in combat by the beginning of next year. germany, norway and nato itself also offered a variety of monetary and hardware pledges. our europe editor katya adler has been covering the nato summit for us and has more from vilnius. i think if you stand back, what we saw is a west united behind ukraine, against russian aggression. but what we did see is real tension between the realities of war on the one hand, decimating ukraine, upending stability in all of europe, and then on the other, the very real domestic political pressures facing all the leaders there. take zelenskyy. because of what his people are going through, they expect him to be able to rock up to a summit like this with a whole wish—list for weapons and a demand for a timetable for nato membership, and they do not really understand why they cannot get it. then look atjoe biden. he's facing election

in the us next year, and on a very delicate tight rope he has pledged billions of dollars of military aid to ukraine and taken on a leadership role here in europe over the war. then look at rishi sunak or france's emmanuel macron, their countries are facing the cost—of—living crisis. so the idea of a potential blank cheque for ukraine for years and years to come, people may not like that, so it is tricky. meanwhile: the russian government has suggested that ukraine's delayed pathway into the alliance is a victory for russia. the bbc�*s russia editor, steve rosenberg, reports from moscow. i think the russians were very pleased that ukraine did not get what it really wanted from this summit, in other words a firm timetable for nato membership. on russian state tv today, there was a lot of gloating all day. having said that, about these g7 security assurances, they did not go down well here in moscow. we had some reaction from president putin's spokesman, dmitry peskov, who said it would be a mistake and potentially very dangerous for countries to give

security guarantees to ukraine because he said they would infringe on russia's security. he called nato an offensive lines that brought with it instability and aggression. well, nato would say it is a defensive alliance and as far as aggression is concerned, it was not nato that launched a full—scale invasion of ukraine last year, it was russia. but basically the message from moscow was, nato is anti—russia, nato is on the war path — that was the headline in the government paper here today and that fits in with the wider kremlin narrative according to which russia is a besieged fortress surrounded by enemies, by britain, by america, by the eu, by nato, all plotting, from morning to night, to destroy mother russia. strong rhetoric from the kremlin. strong rhetoric, too, from joe biden, who spoke on wednesday to a crowd of university students in vilnius. since this war began, i assured president zelenskyy,

as ijust said aboutan hourago, or in washington, in kyiv, in hiroshima, and now in vilnius, i declared to the world what i say again, we will not waver! cheering and applause we will not waver. i mean that. our commitment to ukraine will not weaken, we will stand for liberty and freedom today, tomorrow and for as long as it takes. cheering and applause. the bbc spoke earlier to sabrina singh, deputy press secretary at the us defence department. i think as the president said and you heard from other world leaders who attended the nato summit, nato is united behind ukraine, so, while ukraine might not be a nato member it is getting the assistance and support it needs to continue on in its fight over its sovereign territory and territory that was invaded by russia and so it is going to continue to get the military supplies, the training that

nato countries and allies and partners all around the world, including the united states, have been providing and so, while ukraine might not be in the nato alliance itself, it is getting all the support of every single country a part of that alliance and the alliance is even stronger. we just welcomed finland as the 31st country. sweden will soon be ascending to the nato alliance — our 32nd country as part of the group, part of the block, so, again, this is a real step forward in strengthening the alliance and ultimately more support for ukraine. turning now to capitol hill, where house republicans grilled fbi director christopher wray, accusing him of "weaponising" the nation's top law enforcement agency. wray, a republican himself, who was appointed by former president donald trump, defended his record during his hours—long testimony before the housejudiciary committee. republicans have repeatedly accused the fbi and other federal agencies of targetting conservatives.

the committee focused on the bureau's handling of investigations into donald trump and current presidentjoe biden�*s son, hunter biden. here's one heated exchange between republican matt gaetz and director wray. i am sitting here with my father, i will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows in my ability to forever hold a grudge, you will regret not following my direction. i am sitting here waiting for the call with my father. sounds like a shakedown, doesn't it, director? i'm not going to get into commenting on that. you seem deeply uncurious about it, don't you? almost suspiciously uncurious. are you protecting the bidens? absolutely not... crosstalk that is a shakedown and everybody knows why you will not answer it because to the millions of people who will see this, they know it is. meanwhile, elon musk

hosted his own congressional panel of sorts on wednesday with two lawmakers joining him on twitter spaces for a bipartisan chat on artificial intelligence. the lawmakers expressed their desire for congressional regulation, warning about china's use of ai and its wider effect across industries. the conversation follows musk�*s launch of a new ai start—up earlier on wednesday, he tweeted: musk hopes xai will be an alternative to chat gpt. musk had been sounding the alarm for months on the speed of ai development, which he believes has the potential for "civilisational destruction." it's unclear if he's now changed his mind. i spoke to sophia cai, axios�* congressional reporter for more on all of this. after start—up without tense hearing we heard earlier. some

republicans claiming the fbi is politically biased. what is behind their claims? i think this is a narrative that they have been trying to portray both in congressional hearings and also the campaign trail. this is the first time that the fbi director is testifying since trump's first and second an indictment and the whole narrative spans congress and it really is this idea that republicans and conservatives feel like they are being unfairly targeted and treated differently and the examples they have used included school boards, targeting catholic churches and targeting parents so these are some examples that they continue to harp on and christopher wray spent hours today defending the department against all of these accusations.

some republicans have also threatened to defund the fbi. is thatjust like a political slogan or is there a chance we could see funding taken away from the fbi if that republicans get their way? i think funding will come later when congress kind of really doubles down and decide how they want to find each of these agencies. it sounds like for now, for the most part, a political cry. we saw the fbi director today, he reminded the congressman from florida that in florida, the number of audience who wanted tojoin the department was up by 100% so i think he will continue to return to the basics

and he really showed just how much is at stake. he told congress that there is now a new unit to track threats against the fbi and the department and i think this is really significant and shows just how tense things are in the us with regards to this. it should be said that democrats on the committee very much disagreed with what the republicans had to say. it has been an eventful week already. congress has been back in session only a couple of days. a senate hearing on artificial intelligence today. how likely do you think we might see some sort of concrete regulation of ai this year? ai is the story of the year. we have seen a couple of senate bills. today we saw bipartisan lawmakers gather in twitter spaces with elon musk who has just launched his own ai company.

they moved from congress and an official hearing to this twitter space which they mentioned they want to be a more productive conversation devoid of the politics. we saw lawmakers as well as elon musk being open to some sort of measured government regulation and so i think they are asking very basic questions. should we be providing guardrails? who should be providing those guardrails? who has the expertise to make those decisions? and we saw slightly different answers from these three guys who were in conversation today. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. bbc news — bringing you different stories from across the uk. it was like constant mental torture.

gambling and alcohol was just a momentary respite in the same continuous negative force. losing his grandfather hit him hard. his gambling started soon after, but it reached a point when he felt death was his only way out. one day he left notes for his family and went out intending to take his own life. but he was saved. it was hard enough being thejoker and making everyone laugh, and everyone loved being around me. that was draining because you have no idea how i actually feel on the inside. freddie wanted to live, so he got medical help and, crucially, debt advice too. and started a podcast, the life of fred, and thousands of people are listening. itjust blew up and loads of people started listening and loads of people messaged me saying, "i feel the same way," or, "i've not heard a man talk like that "about feelings and emotions." for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website.

you're live with bbc news. he's one of the most recognisable faces on british television, anchoring coverage of major national and international events. but huw edwards, the lead anchor of the bbc�*s news at ten, has been revealed as the man at the centre of allegations, over the payment of thousands of pounds, to a young person for explicit pictures. he was identified in a statement on his behalf by his wife, who said he's now "receiving in—patient" hospital care, having suffered a "serious mental health episode," after what have been five extremely difficult days. huw edwards has not resigned from the bbc. the statement went on to say that "once well enough, he intends to respond to the stories that have been published." the uk metropolitan police, having reviewed the allegations, said there's no evidence of a criminal offence having been committed. as the bbc tonight resumes its own inquiry into his conduct, the sun newspaper says it won't be printing any more claims. here's our culture editor, katie razzle. tonight at 10, we are in

edinburgh where the king has been presented with the crown jewels of scotland. named, and likely a huge shock to many viewers. this ceremony was steeped in tradition. wednesday was the last time huw edwards appeared on bbc news, that night from edinburgh. the next day, the bbc quietly took him off air. now, the secret that has been speculated upon across social media for days is public. huw edwards, the main face of the bbc�*s flagship news at ten for two decades, is the presenter at the centre of allegations of misconduct. this evening, his wife released a statement, naming her husband...

she said her husband had been first told of the allegations last thursday. moments earlier, the metropolitan police had confirmed it was not investigating, that there was no evidence to suggest a criminal offence had been committed in the case. the bbc had responded, saying, having paused its investigation yesterday at the request of the police, it would now restart it with a thorough assessment, while continuing to be mindful of its duty of care to all involved.

for many, the processing of this news isjust beginning. he is the face of bbc in many ways, particularly in terms of news, absolutely. i don't think it is quite such a shock. i think this speculation has been so rampant for the last few days that it is more a relief in a sense than a shock. the sun broke the story in its saturday paper, alleging that a high profile, unnamed presenter at the bbc had paid £35,000 to a much younger person for sexually explicit images, beginning when the young individual was 17. more allegations were front page every day since, although on monday, the lawyer for the young person said the story was rubbish and nothing criminal had taken place. some will now be asking whether the sun has questions to answer for its decisions. tonight the paper said... it added that it at no point in the original story alleged criminality and also took the decision neither to name huw edwards nor the young person involved

in the allegations. why are we not saying to the sun newspaper, you published these allegations, you asked the bbc to give the detail you wouldn't give, what is the sun's response? has it got photographs, details of bank transfers and so on? it has not put them forward and a lot of former tabloid editors are asking the same questions. we must not forget that huw edwards is suspended from the bbc. he may not be facing a criminal investigation but he is accused of potential misconduct, and if true, there is a family and a young person who are also in trauma. he speaks welsh in recent years, huw edwards has publicly shared his struggles with mental health in a welsh documentary. the future of the united kingdom is uncertain. now the man who has held viewers�* hands through some of the most significant moments of the nation's history is asking to be left in private. that is bbc news at 10...

whether he can find a way back to health and broadcasting is a question for the future. huw edwards became a trusted name for millions, presenting flagship bbc programmes and anchoring coverage of some of the most important news stories for more than two decades, as our media correspondent, david sillito, now reports. a very good evening. for the fourth time in the space of five years... when huw edwards took the helm of the bbc�*s tv election coverage of 2019, it was the first change of presenter in a0 years. there are 650 mps... when millions are watching at the important moments in british life... 10 seconds... ..it needs someone who can project reliability, trustworthiness, dignity. presenting the news is just a part of it, it's the great state occasions, and over the years, only a handful of names have been entrusted with such a role.

one of them was huw edwards. tonight at 10 — thousands of police officers deployed across france... he speaks welsh his career, from reporting on politics for bbc wales, to being made a lead presenter of bbc tv news saw him become one of the most familiar faces on british television. welcome to windsor... the great royal events, the coming and going of prime ministers. tonight at 10, we are live in downing street... the one voice that links it all, huw edwards. the serious, reliable, dignified presence for those era—defining moments. here, the minutesjust before the announcement of the death of the queen. and then suddenly, a newspaper headline changed everything. a tv career of almost a0 years that had taken him to the very top of bbc news, one of the corporation's highest paid and highest profile

figures, was off air. and while the guessing game about the bbc presenter at the centre of the week's headlines is now over, there is still much to resolve. david sillito, bbc news. you're seeing live pictures of parliament voting in the thailand prime minister elections. the role of the monarchy in thailand is at the core of a looming deadlock that could tip south—east asia's second—largest economy into crisis. despite a stunning victory with its allies in a 14 may election over pro—monarchy parties, the progressive move forward party led by pita limjaroenrat faces an uncertain path to government. the thai parliament will begin voting on thursday, but due to limajaroenrat�*s anti—monarchy sentiments, it's unclear if he will secure the vote needed to win.

a look now at some other stories making headlines. in washington, a hit—and—run driver is still at large after killing one person and injuring a teenager near the white house. the suspect fled a us secret service traffic stop after officers pulled the car over wednesday for an expired registration plate. the motorist drove off, running a red light and striking multiple people in the crosswalk, according to secret service. former us president donald trump can be held liable for the comments he made about ejean carroll, the woman who accused him of rape. that's according to the us department ofjustice. the department reversed its previous position that mr trump was legally immune due to his presidential status when he made the remarks in 2019. this decision boosts carroll's defamation lawsuit against mr trump. a spokesman for the former president dismissed the decision as "a partisan sham." the nominations for the 75th annual primetime emmy awards were announced today.

hbo tops the field with 127 nominations overall, including securing four best drama nominations. its shows, succession, the last of us, and the white lotus receiving the most nods. however, potential plans for an emmys ceremony are currently up in the air. 11,000 tv and film writers have been on strike for more than two months. and now another 160,000 actors could join the picket line as soon as thurday morning. negotations between the screen actors guild and the alliance of motion picture and television producers are now down to the wire, with an already extended deadline set to expire tonight at midnight on the west coast. let's go live now to bbc correspondent peter bowes, who is in los angeles. we heard the deadline is less than two hours away.- we heard the deadline is less than two hours away. when the negotiations — than two hours away. when the negotiations stand? _ than two hours away. when the negotiations stand? we - negotiations stand ? we understand negotiations stand? we understand there are still negotiating but as every hour

passes by i think hollywood is losing hope that there will be a deal before midnight local time when the actors contract expires and these negotiations have been going on for several weeks. the deadline was extended just a couple of weeks ago and they came a lot of people hope, a lot of union members especially hope that a deal was in the offing, but we have not heard anything about it. the glimmer of hope in the last 2a hours has been the government mediators who have been brought in to try to bring the two sides together but this is happening really at the 11th hour. and the unit still insists that it's midnight deadline stands and of course as we've known for several weeks the union has among date, an overwhelming 98% of its membership saying, yes, we will go on strike if there isn't a deal by the end of that contract.— deal by the end of that contract. ~ �* , . ~ contract. we've been talking about artificial _ contract. we've been talking about artificial intelligence l about artificial intelligence

already on the programme. there are interesting concerns among actors in this potential strike about al in the movie and tv business. tell us more about that. , v business. tell us more about that. , �*, ., business. tell us more about that. , ., that. yes, it's one of the huge concerns. _ that. yes, it's one of the huge concerns, the _ that. yes, it's one of the huge concerns, the other _ that. yes, it's one of the huge concerns, the other of - that. yes, it's one of the huge concerns, the other of course | concerns, the other of course be repeat fees, residuals and pay, but artificial intelligence is looming large over these negotiations because there is a technology now, the digital technology to essentially recreate the image of an actor to use them in future productions and actors are very concerned that that could be done without their permission. they want to secure a contract that has safeguards written into it so that if they are not necessarily opposed to the technology but if it is used that they are properly rewarded. the writers and performers are properly rewarded, both financially and creatively. rewarded, both financially and creatively-— creatively. very briefly, if ou creatively. very briefly, if you can. _ creatively. very briefly, if you can. we _ creatively. very briefly, if you can, we have - creatively. very briefly, if you can, we have 20 - creatively. very briefly, if - you can, we have 20 seconds, but we've had about the emmys

awards ceremony in september. what are the chances it goes ahead? . , , ., ahead? that depends on whether the strike, again, _ ahead? that depends on whether the strike, again, negotiations i the strike, again, negotiations are under way right now to discuss a possible delay, possibly two november, some people are even suggesting it could be delayed untiljanuary. there we go, bbc correspondent peter bowes in los angeles. thank you. much more coming up at the top of the hour. i am carl nasman. stay with us for the brief see news. ——on bbc news. hello. if you thought summer had already taken a bit of a back—seat, just wait till friday and into the weekend. this is the area of low pressure that's developing. it will be responsible for some big changes. before that arrives, and as one area of low pressure pulls away into scandinavia, into a slightly quieter spell on thursday. still a few showers around to start the day in the north and the west.

temperatures like they were on wednesday morning. but low pressure still close enough by for the shower clouds to bubble up once more. thing is, with thursday, there'll be fewer showers around. the heaviest of the showers, some will be across scotland, slow moving here. large rainfall totals for some, but equally, some will stay dry. northern ireland, england and wales, fewer showers by and large. many will spend the day, well, at least the bulk of it, dry. though, we'll start to see cloud gather towards the south—west. feel a touch warmer with winds that little bit lighter. now, into the evening, rain at times, northern ireland, north wales, spreading its way into central southern scotland. elsewhere, some clear skies into friday morning. temperatures 9—13 celsius again. but already the change is towards the south—west. this is the area of low pressure. we could see gales around hills and coasts and some pretty rough seas developing too. it's here where we start with the rain on friday, some of it should become heavy and thundery. dry start elsewhere, a bit of patchy rain in scotland working its way

north, but far north of scotland stays dry throughout. outbreaks of rain, though, spread to much of england, wales, northern ireland, maybe not too much east anglia south—east until late in the day. and while temperatures high teens low 20s, the strengthening wind will start to make it feel a little bit cooler. and that cooler story continues into the weekend. an unseasonably windy spell through the weekend too. not what you want to see this stage injuly. low pressure by saturday, will be to the north of ireland, wrapped around it, rain, but it's wrapped around it where we've got some of the strongest of the winds, far north of scotland and towards the south west approaches, widespread gales, strong winds more widely on saturday than they will have been on friday. lightest winds through parts of scotland, but that rain will be persistent in the far north. heavy thundery downpours quite widely across much of the uk. they could give some large rainfall totals. strong winds, making it feel rather cool as well, despite seeing temperatures again, high teens and low 20s. winds strengthen for scotland on sunday. elsewhere, sunshine and blustery showers yet again.

of family and friends. this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. the moment lyne barlow�*s world fell apart.

she wrecked the lives