welcome. more than 160,000 tv and movie actors are nowjoining the picket lines after talks between the union representing the actors and hollywood studios and producers failed to reach an agreement last night. the actors willjoin more than 11,000 writers already on strike since may, marking it the first dual hollywood strike since 1960, when ronald reagan was the president of the screen actors guild. today's announcement is already having an impact over in the uk, where the cast of the film 0ppenheimer walked out of its london premiere thursday night in solidarity with the strike. according to the union's rules, besides being banned from on and off camera work, actors are not permitted to promote their shows or movies, not allowed to do interviews or be photographed on the red carpet and they're not allowed to participate in emmy awards campaigns. the strike is expected to have ripple effects throughout hollywood — our sophie long spoke with the president of the actor's union fran drescher and national

executive director and chief negotiator duncan cra btree—ireland earlier today. why have you decided to call the strike?— the strike? because we were stonewalled _ the strike? because we were stonewalled and _ the strike? because we were stonewalled and because - the strike? because we were stonewalled and because we | the strike? because we were - stonewalled and because we had an earnest extended 12 days which is unprecedented because we know the gravity of what a strike is and its impact on members and everybody impacted by a strike outside of our membership. we had hoped in that extension, there would be deep inroads accomplished but there was not. we continued to be cut out of the conversation. they went behind closed doors. they went behind closed doors. they cancelled meetings with us. a lot of time was wasted and frankly i think we were duped so they could keep promoting their summer movies a little bit longer. the promoting their summer movies a little bit longer.— little bit longer. the strike is now on- _ little bit longer. the strike is now on. what _ little bit longer. the strike is now on. what would - little bit longer. the strike is now on. what would it l little bit longer. the strike i is now on. what would it take you to call it up? it is now on. what would it take you to call it up?— you to call it up? it would take the _ you to call it up? it would take the company - you to call it up? it would take the company 's - you to call it up? it would

take the company 's colin take the company '5 colin forward _ take the company '5 colin forward and make it a good year forward and make it a good year for the _ forward and make it a good year for the second what is needed, to have — for the second what is needed, to have it— for the second what is needed, to have it on hand, they can sign — to have it on hand, they can sign on _ to have it on hand, they can sign on the dotted line today for the — sign on the dotted line today for the key to the track was always— for the key to the track was always in_ for the key to the track was always in the hands of these companies but the fact is they are unwilling to make the deal battery— are unwilling to make the deal battery our members fairly. that — battery our members fairly. that is _ battery our members fairly. that is how we got to this point _ joining us now for the latest on the stalled negotiations is our corresondent peter bowes in la. why did things get to this point. what has provided both sides from reaching an agreement? 15 sides from reaching an agreement?— sides from reaching an aureement? , , , ., agreement? is the big question and it has taken _ agreement? is the big question and it has taken people - agreement? is the big question and it has taken people by - and it has taken people by surprise. the apparent wide gulf we are giving about between the union and the officials and negotiators and employers and studios. a couple of weeks ago, the message from both sides was they were getting close to a deal and there was a certain amount of optimism. there seems to be quite a lot of mistrust between the two sides with the unions accusing the employers of being

greedy, using some pretty strong language. it seems it is going to take some pretty hard negotiating. whether a strike proceeding from six hours time to reach a deal. a lot of people here in hollywood, los angeles saying they don't expect that to be a fast process. people bracing for a long and painful strike. this asset to be _ long and painful strike. this asset to be a _ long and painful strike. this asset to be a double - long and painful strike. this asset to be a double strike. what impact will it have on entertainment industry? it will have a huge — entertainment industry? it will have a huge impact _ entertainment industry? it will have a huge impact on - entertainment industry? it will have a huge impact on the - have a huge impact on the entertainment industry but much wider than that, the los angeles economy which really derives when the entertainment industry is doing well. it is notjust industry is doing well. it is not just the actors industry is doing well. it is notjust the actors and writers going to be affected by this, it is going to be the caterers and costume designers and all the other ancillary services that go into making a television series or tv show. as you mentioned, notjust going to be actors appearing on

screen affected, we won't be seeing any interviews, won't be seeing any interviews, won't be seeing any interviews, won't be seeing any red carpets, the 0ppenheimer red carpet was probably the large red carpet we will see for some time. everybody is going to be affected in a big way. all of this playing out in a very public way because this is a very public industry for the people rely on entertainment and away perhaps they don't rely on certain other industries. this is going to be very public involving some pretty big stars.— very public involving some pretty big stars. thank you very much- _ a senior russian military officer says he's been dismissed from his command in southern ukraine for allegedly speaking the truth about the dire situation on the front line. in a message to his troops, shared via a russian mp critical of the military, major general ivan popov said he had highlighted problems of fatigue and casualties as well as a lack of artillery support and accused more senior officers of treachery. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg reports from moscow.

three weeks after that the nearby magnet resonators, one more sign of this unity within russian banks.— russian banks. chantra good evenin: , russian banks. chantra good evening, michael— russian banks. chantra good evening, michael levitt - evening, michael levitt gladiators. in evening, michael levitt gladiators-_ evening, michael levitt cladiators. ., gladiators. in a voice message. ma'or gladiators. in a voice message. major general _ gladiators. in a voice message. major general cole _ gladiators. in a voice message. major general cole sign - major general cole sign spartacus, did the 58 combined arms army in russian occupied southern ukraine. but he has been dismissed. senior military officials sent some kind of dangerfrom me, he claims. major general says he took family with the military leadership about problems on the frontline. including supply, the frontline. including supply, strategy and what he called the mass deaths and injuries of russian soldiers

from enemy artillery. there is nothing to suggest this is the start of another interaction. he shows disagreements processed within the russian military and within the military and within the military elite here on how the war in ukraine is being fought. the bbc�*s steve rosenberg, reporting from moscow. ivan popov is not the only russian officer to have been sacked since the wagner group's munity. on thursday, the wall streetjournal reported than at least 13 senior russian officers have been detained for questioning and 15 have been suspended from duty or fired. japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from the fukushima nuclear plant into the pacific ocean could start any day now. the un's nuclear watchdog backed the plans last week — but there's still been concern and anger in the country and region. 0ur tokyo correspondent shaimaa khalil has sent us this report. a triple disaster that crippled the country and shocked the world. japan's most powerful earthquake triggered a tsunami

that swept through the east coast, killing more than 18,000 people. and causing this — a nuclear meltdown. this is the fukushima daiichi nuclear power plant now, surrounded by tanks filled with radioactive waste water. this is what more than a million tonnes of water looks like. think 500 0lympic sized pools and that's what you get in over 1,000 tanks. this is water that's been used to cool the destroyed reactors from the fukushima nuclear meltdown in 2011. the water is treated and then stored here, but now these tanks are running out of space. japan has just been given the go ahead to release the treated contaminated water into the sea. but it's causing a huge amount of anger and anxiety, notjust here, but around the region. tepco, the company running the plant, says the water will be treated, diluted and tested for safety before it's discharged.

here at the advanced liquid processing system, all radioactive compounds will be removed except one tritium, so the water won't be completely radiation free. tritium, tepco says, will be well below international safety standards of concentration. as part of the testing process, this fish is swimming in water at the same radiation level as that which will be released. translation: i am a radiation expert, so i know that tritium has very little effect on the human body and living organisms. we are all concerned about the same thing, radiation. and that is why we are so anxious. i hope that these data and images will help to reassure people a little. but fukushima fishermen are not reassured. they're furious. for years, they've struggled to fight the stigma and convince people to buy their fish. now they say the reputational damage from the water release plan will be another huge blow.

fishing has been in toru takahashi's family for generations. his son and his grandson now run his boat. he worries about the uncertainty discharging the waste water would bring long. translation: before we were able to fish across four other prefectures. now we're not allowed to do that. they just don't want to be associated with us. the prices were recovering little by little, but now they could drop drastically. i've had so many conversations with the japanese government and tepco. nobody wants to release this dangerous water. if it's so safe, i told them, just take it to tokyo. the government may have all the technical approvals it needs, but it doesn't have the support of those who'll be most affected by this plan. the people of fukushima will once again have to navigate their way through its troubled waters. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, fukushima. the leaders of sudan's seven neighbouring countries have

called on the warring parties to commit to a ceasefire and signed a joint statement at a summit hosted by egypt in the capital. more than three million people have been displaced by the conflict between rival military factions, which broke out in april. 700,000 have fled across the borders to neighbouring countries, most of which have been struggling with their own poverty crises. the bbc�*s bilingual correspondent, sally nabil, has more. the summit has ended by issuing a closing statement that called on the warrant partners in sudan to stop fighting and commit themselves to a permanent ceasefire. a statement also expressed deep concern about the humanitarian conditions in sudan, especially in the capital khartoum. they called for opening essay humanitarian corridor so that aid can be delivered to civilians in sudan that are caught up in the crossfire. as far as we know, the humanitarian situation there is quite dire, people suffer severe shortages and everything

water, medicine, food. a stephen expressed deep concern the longer the conflict goes on, the more people willfully into neighbouring countries which put pressure on these countries and more civilians will be displaced within sudan. the big question is how realistic these goals are, the goals announced in the closing statement, and how willing the warrant parties in sudan are to sit down together and start reaching a compromise and negotiating for the previous negotiation initiatives have totally failed. 0ne hosted by saudi arabia a few weeks ago and brokered by the us, it did not manage to put an end to the conflict. in theory, the site has kind of put a frame that would bring in an end to the conflict at some point. in practice, there are lingering questions that no—one can give

a clear—cut answer to. it all depends on the willingness of the warren parties to sit together and stop the fighting. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk _ it is all downhill from here as the u.k.'s top mountain borders sharpen up for the world championships. the u.k.'s championships. the u. k.�*s current championships. the u.k.'s current number one who lives in gloucester describes what is needed to win big in the sport he loves. b. needed to win big in the sport he loves. �* . ., ., he loves. a certain level of stupidity. _ he loves. a certain level of stupidity. i _ he loves. a certain level of stupidity, i guess. - he loves. a certain level of stupidity, i guess. you - he loves. a certain level ofl stupidity, i guess. you have he loves. a certain level of - stupidity, i guess. you have to be a little bit crazy to be down here on one of these. there is more than that, when you're going downhill, you are thinking about that and only that and it is a nice entertaining thing. that and it is a nice entertainin: thin. . entertaining thing. the team admit they — entertaining thing. the team admit they are _ entertaining thing. the team admit they are lucky - entertaining thing. the team admit they are lucky to - entertaining thing. the team admit they are lucky to have | admit they are lucky to have this training centre. this admit they are lucky to have this training centre.- this training centre. this is matter- — this training centre. this is matter. has _ this training centre. this is matter. has the _ this training centre. this is matter. has the track - this training centre. this is matter. has the track for l matter. has the track for racing, downhill tractor seen

how fast you can go, the airbag for learning tricks without hurting us. bill for learning tricks without hurting ve— for learning tricks without hurtin: us. �* , hurting us. all facilities here come courtesy _ hurting us. all facilities here come courtesy of— hurting us. all facilities here come courtesy of a - hurting us. all facilities here come courtesy of a beef- hurting us. all facilities here i come courtesy of a beef farmer who even finds time to drive everyone back up to the start. for more stories across the uk, head _ for more stories across the uk, head to — for more stories across the uk, head to the _ for more stories across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. a bbc investigation has found new evidence that casts doubt on the greek coast guard's account of the migrant boat sinking in the mediterranean last month. 82 people are confirmed to have drowned but it's feared a further 500 may have died. now, survivors claim they were told to keep quiet after raising concerns. here's nick beake from bbc verify. for the past month here at bbc verify, we've been trying to find out more about what happened to this boat, what happened to all the people on board. let'sjust go right back to the beginning, because the journey the vessel took was from the northern coast of libya, a place called tobruk. the idea was that people would travel to italy. they didn't want to go to greece. but we know that the journey

went very badly wrong. this is in more detail the northern coast of libya. and what survivors have told us is that they actually were put on smaller boats by the coast there and then they went further into international waters before getting on to the bigger fishing boats. this is the journey we think that boat took. you can see it there leaving tobruk and it actually capsized off the greek coast and sunk. this red line here is the journey of the faithful warrior. now, remember that name that is a much bigger vessel that was sent to deliver food and water to the migrant boat. there is a new video that we've been looking at and i want to show you it here. this is the migrant boat. and look at the situation. it's dangerously, precariously to one side. this is significant because at the time that this video was taken, the greek coast guard continues to argue that the boat was not in danger and did not need to be rescued.

if you just look again at the video, you can see there is a much bigger vessel in the background. and if we look at what we've been working on here, the faithful warrior, we looked at this. this is a photo that exists of the boat and just have a look at the windows. you've got a pattern, two big windows, two smaller ones, and then two big windows, one partially obscured there. but if you take that pattern and apply it to our video, you've got the two big windows, two smaller ones and two big ones. so, that enabled us to basically do a visual match. but also, we were looking at the tracking data vessel and it places it in the sea at that particular time. but it's notjust this evidence we've been looking at. we've been back to greece, talking to people as we try and find out what exactly happened. in a park in central athens, we meet two survivors who ask us to hide their identity. they say the greek coast guard caused their boat to sink. they attached a rope from the left.

everyone moved to the right side of our boat to balance it. the greek vessel moved off quickly, causing our boat to flip. they kept dragging it for quite a distance. the men alleged that when survivors tried to speak out about what happened, they were quickly silenced. the army men said, "you have survived death. "stop talking about the incident and don't ask more "questions about it. "stop talking about this. "stop making accusations. "you are safe now — that's the most important thing. "mind your business." we returned to the port of kalamata in southern greece, where the coast guard interviewed survivors. but there are now doubts about that process. 0ur bbc investigation last month showed that in the seven hours before it went down, the boat had hardly been moving at all and now, using court documents, witness statements and the evidence of a new whistle—blower, we can see a pattern of behaviour by the greek coast guard.

penniless in the street... after this man watched our bbc verify investigation last month, he contacted us. he wanted to explain that he worked as a translator in a previous people smuggling case, where he believed an argument was built against two innocent men. with fellow survivors being threatened. they were told if, unless you specify such and such, that these were the individuals who were people smugglers, you'll be treated unpleasantly. you'll be put in prison and returned to taliban. as for this summer's shipwreck, the greek authorities have charged nine egyptian men with manslaughter and people smuggling. the greek coast guard refused an interview and have not replied to our latest allegations. but this new video and these new claims raise more questions about their actions.

despite those allegations, there is no big independent international investigation into what happened — even though the likes of the united nations say it's really important that one takes place — and that's something that survivors have said they're really disappointed about. they don't think that this is getting the attention it deserves and also, they've criticised the fact there is no big effort to go to the mediterranean and try and find the boat. yes, it sank in one of the deepest parts of the sea but the survivors we met in athens said it's not just a ship, it's the fact that our families, our loved ones, our relatives, it's their resting place, and they're desperate for their bodies to be recovered from if it is at all possible. thailand failed to elect a new prime minister on thursday. pita limjaroenrat�*s progressive move forward party had built a multi—party coalition but he came 51 votes shy of winning. mr pita says he will re—strategise to gather enough support to win the next vote. 0ur correspondentjonathan head

is in thailand with more. these are all supporters of the reformist party move forward together here this park outside the thai parliament throughout today watch the vote as it came in on a big screen behind me and there were cheers every time an mp stood up to support the leader, pita limjaroenrat, for prime minister and cheers and boos and colourful language every time an mp and in particular the underling that senators stood up to oppose him. few people here are surprised by this result. everyone expected this was what would happen — that's what the senate was put therefore by the military government in the past. at the same time, many are bitterly disappointed and some are saying what was the point in voting with such passion back in may for a platform of sweeping change if what they voted for is not being reflected by the choice of government in parliament? could you can come back next week with their coalition partners and try again to get pita limjaroenrat elected but

it's unlikely now that will happen and what kind of government thailand ends up with is not clear at this stage but what is clear is that a great deal of faith in thailand's democratic system has been lost and, more, the monarchy has been central to the debate over what kind of government is formed — that hasn't happened in the past. we've heard so many mps on both sides supporting the monarchy, arguing that move forward's proposal to amend the world defamation law that criminalises any criticism of the royal family, the law must be amended by the mps are saying that cannot happen so this is quite a dangerous moment for thailand's monarchy as well as it is drawn into the debate about thailand's future. us officials are downplaying recent comments critical of the israeli government ahead of next week's visit by israel's president isaac herzog. tensions have risen between the two countries with president biden saying in a recent cnn interview that some members of the israeli government are "some of the most extreme" he has ever seen. on wednesday, a us state department spokesman refuted a new york times

opinion column titled: this is just this isjust a newspaper column in the new york times by tom friedman but it has had a lot of coverage in the israeli media over the last 2a hours and i think that's because it adds to the sense of noise of the sense of tension between the sense of tension between the current american administration and the current israeli government. there have been a series of statements now over the last week from various senior american officials voicing displeasure about what is going on in israel so, for example, the outgoing us ambassador to israel tom nida saying is thejob ambassador to israel tom nida saying is the job of the americans to stop israel going to off the rails and he said that we have the white house �*s security council calling for the right for people —— peaceful assembly for israel is amid a sea of internal dissent, civil disruption and protest —— thomas nides. but was on

tuesday against the israeli government public plant judicial reforms which they see as stripping the checks and balances, democratic checks and balances, democratic checks and balances of the courts. stripping its powers here in israel. and cruciallyjoe biden in an interview with cnn this week saying this is one of the most extreme israeli government he known and saying that those extremist cabinet members, these are people who are massively aggressively pro— settler, staunch ultranationalists, settler, staunch ultra nationalists, anti— palestinian, one ultranationalists, anti— palestinian, one who has got a conviction for racist incitement, for example, against palestinian, the bidens saying these people who he said want to settle anywhere in the west bank, he described them as part of the problem. when it comes to spiralling violence in the territory at the moment. president biden hasjust returned to washington after his europe trip. it culminated on thursday with a message to russia president vladimir putin — "you've lost". speaking after a summit with nordic leaders in finland, biden downplayed the chances

of there being a lengthy stalemate, adding he believed putin would eventually decide it wasn't in russia's interest to continue fighting. putin has already lost the war. putin has already lost the war. putin has a real problem. how does he move from here? what does he move from here? what does he move from here? what does he do? and so, the idea thatis does he do? and so, the idea that is going to be, what vehicle is used? you can end the war tomorrow. you canjust say, "i'm out." but the war tomorrow. you canjust say, "i'm out." but what agreement is ultimately reached depends upon putin and what he decides to do but there is no possibility of him winning the war in ukraine. he's already lost that war. imagine even if not he's already lost that war. 0ur north america correspondent nomia iqbal has more on biden's message. this was a very critical trip for president biden. he wanted to show that the us is committed to supporting ukraine but is some lingering doubts in

europe about the extent of that commitment or any pledges made tjy commitment or any pledges made by the us because, of course, there is a presidential election next year and mr biden's closest rivals for now is his predecessor donald trump and donald trump could get back into the white house and we know that he was very sceptical, certainly about the nato alliance, but earlier we spoke to the pentagon press secretary pat ryder and he made the point of saying that this isn't just about america, the us is working very closely with 50 other nations to give support to ukraine so i think they are trying to emphasise that this is again more president biden boys emphasising this is a global alliance. the other extraordinary thing about the trip was if you think back to five years ago, mr biden's predecessor donald trump was in the same site, in helsinki, effectively on the doorstep of russia but he was so different, standing with the russian president nanami putin and he made the same stunning rebuke of us intelligence when it came

to allegations of election interference in 20... == interference in 20... -- vladimir _ interference in 20... -- vladimir putin. - interference in 20... -- vladimir putin. nomia i interference in 20... —— vladimir putin. nomia iqbal reporting. that's our show at this hour and don't forget to head to our website for all of the latest news and analysis around the clock and you can download our to give up on the latest stories. stay with us. hello there. there's still no end in sight to the unsettled run of weather that we're in the middle of at the moment. we had a day of sunshine and showers on thursday but we've got something wetter and windier moving in for friday. it's this area of cloud — an area of low pressure that will continue to develop, continue to strengthen through friday and saturday and will ultimately bring some strong winds across many areas with gales for some — those winds strong enough to bring some localised disruption. now, the rain from that system has already started to arrive across the south—west of the uk.

there's been a bit of damp weather as well for northern ireland and western scotland, so you might see a little bit of light rain here for the next few hours. mild start to the day friday — 1a—15 degrees celsius — but it will be blustery as well with some of the strongest winds through the day across wales and south west england, where gusts into the 50s of miles an hour could be strong enough to bring down some tree branches, maybe one or two weak trees and, certainly, there'll be large battering, dangerous waves hitting the coastline. through the rest of the day, that area of rain extends across the whole of wales, the whole of england, reaching southern scotland and right across northern ireland, where the rain looks particularly heavy through the course of the afternoon. northern scotland, a lot of cloud, a cool wind here but at least the weather for a time will be a little bit drier, at least. temperatures across the board below average forjuly. now, on into the weekend, the same area of low pressure smack bang over the top of the uk. this time, though, the strongest winds will be working a little bit further eastwards, so we'll see those

potentially disruptive gusts of wind reaching parts of eastern england as well. again, the winds strong enough to bring down a few tree branches. rather than the persistent outbreaks of rain that we have on friday, saturday, it's a slightly less grim day. not greatest of weather, really — it's a day of sunshine and showers. the showers really widespread, some of them heavy and thundery. i suppose one of the benefits of those strong winds is any individual shower won't stay overhead for very long before it gets blown across the sky but i think it is a day where many areas will see several showers during the day. 0n into sunday's forecast, again, it's another showery one, perhaps some longer spells of rain across northern scotland. still blustery but those winds are starting to calm down a little bit. temperatures still below average for the time of year. any better next week weather—wise? well, not really. it stays unsettled, and that means we are going to see further showers. of course, it won't be raining all the time — there will be some warm spells of sunshine between the showers — but it'll still be quite wet for the time of year.

political transition plays out. chatgpt under investigation was regulators turned their attention to the chat bot that has become synonymous with the ai revolution. plus, we take a deep dive into the business environment in thailand as a fractious