more than 160,000 tv and movie actors are now joining 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. 0ur 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?— why have you decided to call the strike? well, because we were stonewalled _ the strike? well, because we were stonewalled and - the strike? well, because we were stonewalled and we - the strike? well, because we i were stonewalled and we had the strike? well, because we i were stonewalled and we had in earnest, extended 12 days, which is unprecedented, because we know the gravity of what a strike is. and its impacts on not only our members but everyone that is impacted by a strike outside of our membership. and we had hoped that in that extension, there would be deep inroads accomplished but there wasn't. we continue to be cut out of the conversation. they went behind closed doors. they did — 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 for to you call it? it is now on. what would it take for to you call it?— for to you call it? it would

take the _ for to you call it? it would take the companies - for to you call it? it would l take the companies coming forward and making a fair deal. they know what is needed in order to make a deal. they have it in hand, they could sign on the dotted line today. the keyth strike was always in the hands of the companies. the fact, they're unwilling to make the deal to treat our members fairly. that's how we got to this point. joining us now for the latest on the stalled negotiations is our correspondent peter bowes in la. what is standing in the way of an agreement? 1 what is standing in the way of an agreement?— what is standing in the way of an agreement? ithink, and 'ust listenin: an agreement? ithink, and 'ust listening to fl an agreement? ithink, and 'ust listening to fran i an agreement? ithink, and 'ust listening to fran drescher h listening to fran drescher there, there's a huge gulf between what the unions be want and the employers are prepared to give. 0n the issue of residuals, the repeat fees that actors have traditionally received, say in television, when a show is repeated years after it's made, an actor receives some income from that. the whole ecosystem of streaming television is very different. there's fewer shows in a season, longer periods of time when actors are out of

work. what they want to see is an entirely new framework that rewards them adequately for their performances, but also tides them over during those quiet times. clearly, they're not close to that kind of agreement. the other big issue is artificial intelligence. and while an offer has been made on artificial intelligence, and guarantees about not using an actor's likeness digitally without their permission, clearly they�* re not close enough together, there's concern about background actors. these are people you see behind the scenes, if you like, in a scene, in a film, in a television show, people walking by, not speaking, they're background actors. and there's a big disagreement on how those people should be protected from digital technology.— protected from digital technology. protected from digital technolo: . ., technology. so, peter, what imact technology. so, peter, what impact is — technology. so, peter, what impact is this _ technology. so, peter, what impact is this all _ technology. so, peter, what impact is this all going - technology. so, peter, what impact is this all going to i impact is this all going to have on the entertainment industry?— industry? it's going to be hue. industry? it's going to be huge- not _ industry? it's going to be huge. not only _ industry? it's going to be huge. not only on - industry? it's going to be huge. not only on the . huge. not only on the entertainment industry but the los angeles economy more generally. if you think about

it, there's so many different industries involved in television and film production. there's the costumers, the caterers, the film editors, sound people. all of these people are out of work because the actors are not working and the actors are not working and the writers are not working as well, to the tune of continues —— tens of millions of dollars every week. it's a wide community, especially those individual actors, especially at the lower end of the pay grade, who would suffer because of this dispute. live now to howard rodman, a former president of the writers guild of america west. he's also a screenwriter, novelist, and educator. thank you forjoining us. are you surprised to see actors walking out and joining the writers on the picket lines? i'm not surprised the actors

arejoining us. i'm delighted. the reasons the actors are joining us are the same reasons we went out, that the companies are not prepared to pay adequately to our members who create the product that enables them to amass this great wealth. anything near adequately for our work. so, the — the ascension of streaming services that really kind of broken the system in terms of shorting seasons, lack of residuals, in all kinds of ways. we're saying you good to fix it. they're saying we kind of sorta happy with the way it is. ., . , ., of sorta happy with the way it is. ., ., , ., , is. howard, 'ust to “ump in there, is. howard, just to “ump in there, sag-aftrah is. howard, just to jump in there, sag-aftra told - is. howard, just to jump in| there, sag-aftra told the is. howard, just to jump in - there, sag-aftra told the bbc they want to see a fair deal before they would end the strike. from your perspective, what with —— would a fair deal look like? i what with -- would a fair deal look like?— look like? i think a fair deal in a practical _ look like? i think a fair deal in a practical sense - look like? i think a fair deal in a practical sense enables writers to lead a middle class

existence, something that was possible for successful screen and television writers for decades and decades and decades, and now no longer is. for actors it's the same thing. and we also think a fair deal also should contain adequate recompense for insuccess, if we do a show that creates wild value for them, some of the should go to the people who created it. there's a kind of philosophical difference here, we believe that what we create is of value, they see what we create as a cost. i think that's the main dividing line between the way the two parties see it right now. fik. between the way the two parties see it right now.— see it right now. ok. i want to ask but the — see it right now. ok. i want to ask but the they _ see it right now. ok. i want to ask but the they here. - see it right now. ok. i want to ask but the they here. disney | ask but the they here. disney ceo bob iger spoke to cnbc. he said the studios were able to reach a fair deal with directors, they hope to do the same with actors and writers. he added the following. he said, "there's a level of expectation they have that's

just not realistic, and they're adding to the set of the challenges this business is already facing, that's quite frankly very disruptive." what do you think about that? if frankly very disruptive. " what do you think about that? if the businesses _ do you think about that? if the businesses are _ do you think about that? if the businesses are facing - do you think about that? if the businesses are facing so - do you think about that? if the businesses are facing so many| businesses are facing so many challenges, why are people like bob iger and ted and reid hastings making 30, 40, $50 million a year? it feels like they're being rewarded for success. if those businesses are successful, why are they trying to put downward pressure on our ability to earn a living? iiii on our ability to earn a livin: ? �* on our ability to earn a living?— on our ability to earn a livin: ? �* ., ., , living? if we're going to see actors and _ living? if we're going to see actors and writers _ living? if we're going to see actors and writers on - living? if we're going to see actors and writers on the i actors and writers on the picket lines, can you give us a idea of what some of our favourite shows and series will look like? ., favourite shows and series will look like?— look like? yeah, they're going to look like — look like? yeah, they're going to look like a _ look like? yeah, they're going to look like a test _ look like? yeah, they're going to look like a test pattern. - look like? yeah, they're going to look like a test pattern. a l to look like a test pattern. a test pattern? yes, _ to look like a test pattern. a test pattern? yes, the - to look like a test pattern. a test pattern? yes, the kind l to look like a test pattern. a. test pattern? yes, the kind of thing you _ test pattern? yes, the kind of thing you used _ test pattern? yes, the kind of thing you used to _ test pattern? yes, the kind of thing you used to see - test pattern? yes, the kind of thing you used to see on - test pattern? yes, the kind of thing you used to see on tv i thing you used to see on tv late at night when there wasn't enough programme to go around. there wasjust test enough programme to go around. there was just test pattern you would watch until the programming resumed. so not

something _ programming resumed. so not something that _ programming resumed. so not something that viewers... - programming resumed. so not something that viewers... it's| something that viewers... it's not something that viewers will be particularly happy to see. tojump in there, what is your message to viewers, to people who like to watch these series? to people who like to watch these series, i would say, support the people who create the series you like to watch. you talked about streaming and how it is revolutionised the way that shows are produced, but how they've been montised. do you think any deal can really address how much the industry has fundamentally changed? i industry has fundamentally chan . ed? ~ industry has fundamentally chanced? ~ ., , industry has fundamentally changed?— industry has fundamentally chanced? ~ . , ., ., changed? i think any deal that we reach has _ changed? i think any deal that we reach has to _ changed? i think any deal that we reach has to address - changed? i think any deal that we reach has to address how. changed? i think any deal that i we reach has to address how the industry has fundamentally changed. in 2007, 2008, the writers guild went on strike for 100 days. we wanted jurisdiction over what was then called new media, now called streaming. they said it'sjust experimental, there's no business model for it. if we didn't strike for 100 days, everything on apple, everything

on hulu, everything on amazon, everything on netflix, everything on netflix, everything on netflix, everything on max, would be totally the wild west. we would have no minimums, no health, no pension. this is another one of those moments where the changes in the way that entertainment is produced have broken the industry and we need a fair deal that addresses that for the people who create the value. �* ., ., ., value. and howard, final question _ value. and howard, final question - _ value. and howard, final question - we _ value. and howard, final question - we heard - value. and howard, finalj question - we heard also value. and howard, final- question - we heard also that question — we heard also that al is a big sticking point ai is a big sticking point here. what's your biggest concern about how ai may be used in this industry?- used in this industry? there are many — used in this industry? there are many fears _ used in this industry? there are many fears about - used in this industry? there are many fears about al. . are many fears about al. certainly for, as you heard, for the people who are background, the current proposal they have made is they can hire you for one day, capture yourface, and can hire you for one day, capture your face, and they own that likeness forever and ever and ever and ever. you could be paid for one day's work and appear in 30 tv series and 100 movies. that's wrong. for

writers it's a whole other thing. i don't want a motion picture executive sitting at their keyboard and going, chatgpt, writ me something like mission impossible. and chatgpt spews forth something like mission impossible. and then someone like me is hired to rewrite it. no. human beings are what create value. human beings are what create copyrightable work. we don't want to be replaced by machines. it's very simple. 1th machines. it's very simple. as i said, actors are joining the i said, actors arejoining the picket lines on friday. howard rodman, thank you so much for joining us. appreciate you having me on. record—setting heat is scorching large parts of the united states, with 113 million americans under extreme heat warnings. as you can see, the south—west is being hit especially hard, some cities are bracing for temperatures above 49 degrees celsius, or 120 degrees fahrenheit.

a heat dome — which traps warm air — remains parked over regions of north america — and is believed to be intensifying. phoenix, arizona is expected to break its record of more than 18 consecutive days with temperatures above 43 degrees celsius, or 109 degrees fahrenheit. and it's notjust the us. parts of europe are expected to see record temperatures in the coming days, with reports of tourists collapsing in the heat in italy. the beginning ofjuly was the hottest week on record for the planet. 0ur climate editor justin rowlatt has been looking into the earth's long—term trends when it comes to rising temperatures. this shows estimated average global temperatures over the last 800,000 years. look at how the world went in and out of ice ages. let's add in carbon dioxide levels and look how closely they track the temperature and just look at how carbon dioxide spikes here at the end of the graph. now, let's zoom in to the last

12,000 years. look at how the world gradually warms, then temperatures level out, becoming much more stable than during the ice age. we human beings, we've been around for 300,000 years. it's only in this period of warm and stable temperatures that we learned to grow crops, and civilisation developed. now, let's look at the last 2,000 years. temperatures remain stable until... just over there, at the end of the graph. the steam engine was invented. the industrial revolution took off. man—made carbon dioxide emissions started to increase, and just look at what happened to global temperatures. scientists say global warming is fueling extreme temperatures and extreme weather. in india, torrential monsoon rains have left parts of delhi heavily flooded. water levels in the yamuna river, which runs through india's capital, are now at their highest point in the last 45 years. thousands of people living along the banks and in low—lying areas have been evacuated. in japan at least eight people are now known to have died in the country's

west and south—west following flooding and landslides caused by days of torrential rain. more heavy rain has been forecast, especially in areas along japan's west coast. staying injapan, and the government's plan to release treated radioactive water from the fukushima nuclear plant into the pacific ocean could begin any day now. the planned release was backed by the un's nuclear watchdog last week but it's sparked concern and anger in both the country and region. 0ur tokyo correspondent shaimaa khalil was been given access to the daichii nuclear plant and sent in 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 i 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. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bringing you different stories from across the uk. i’ee from across the uk. i've suffered _ from across the uk. i've suffered from _ from across the uk. i've suffered from mental. from across the uk. i�*e: suffered from mental health issues, alcohol addiction, suffered from mental health issues, alcoholaddiction, i was homeless for a while. it's been a struggle for me. debbie james has _ been a struggle for me. debbie james has lived _ been a struggle for me. debbie james has lived in _ been a struggle for me. debbie james has lived in poverty - been a struggle for me. debbie james has lived in poverty for l james has lived in poverty for most of her adult life. she

says she's often been treated as subhuman, ignored and stigmatised. we as subhuman, ignored and stigmatised.— as subhuman, ignored and stiumatised. ., ., ., , stigmatised. we are all worthy of di . ni stigmatised. we are all worthy of dignity and _ stigmatised. we are all worthy of dignity and respect. - of dignity and respect. everybody�*s got their own story, and everybody�*s got a right to have their story heard. . heard. the wealth divide in the bournemouth, _ heard. the wealth divide in the bournemouth, christchurch - heard. the wealth divide in the| bournemouth, christchurch and poole macro area is stark. multi million pound houses in sandbanks only a few miles away from some of the most deprived parts the country. those behind this project are encouraged by the momentum that's begun. we won't eradicate _ the momentum that's begun. we won't eradicate poverty, - the momentum that's begun. we won't eradicate poverty, but - the momentum that's begun. we won't eradicate poverty, but if. won't eradicate poverty, but if each of the — won't eradicate poverty, but if each of the people _ won't eradicate poverty, but if each of the people in - won't eradicate poverty, but if each of the people in our- each of the people in our audience follow through, you know. — audience follow through, you know. at— audience follow through, you know, at different levels can you make the change. for more stories from _ you make the change. for more stories from across _ you make the change. for more stories from across the - you make the change. for more stories from across the uk, - stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. turning to two major developments in women's reproductive rights here in the us. we'll start with the us food and drug administration that approved the first over—the—counter birth control pill.

the daily contraceptive — 0pill — could become available without prescription as early as next year. almost three dozen medical organisations signed a statement supporting over—the—counter contraception, without age restrictions. meanwhile, the republican—led house of representatives voted to limit abortion access in the miitary. a group of far—right lawmakers tied the measure to a broader defense policy bill, as part of a broader push to play into culture—war issues. the outlook for the bill itself remains in doubt. my colleague helena humphrey spoke earlier with representative kathy manning of north carolina, for her perspective. congresswoman, thank you very much forjoining us he on bbc news. i want to start with the news today from the fda, the news today from the fda, the news that it's approved the first over—the—counter birth control for women in the united states. how do you think that will affect women in this country?— will affect women in this count? , ., ., _ country? this is an enormously beneficial— country? this is an enormously beneficial development, - beneficial development, particularly for women who don't — particularly for women who don't have the financial

abiiity— don't have the financial ability to see a doctor on a regular— ability to see a doctor on a regular basis, to get their birth— regular basis, to get their birth control. it is also particularly important, in light— particularly important, in light of— particularly important, in light of the supreme court decision that decimated the roe versus— decision that decimated the roe versus wade standard for abortion that had been in place for 50 — abortion that had been in place for 50 years. so the ability to access— for 50 years. so the ability to access birth control is even more — access birth control is even more important today than it was — more important today than it was a — more important today than it was a year and a half ago. according to a kaiser poll, at least 70% of women, and over can actually support this move. but at least one supreme court justice, clarence thomas, has argued that the court should reconsider past rulings codifying the right to contraception access. could this be a new battle ground, do you think?— you think? well, we thought that was going _ you think? well, we thought that was going to _ you think? well, we thought that was going to be - you think? well, we thought that was going to be a - you think? well, we thought that was going to be a new | that was going to be a new battle _ that was going to be a new battle ground when the dogs decision was released, and we read _ decision was released, and we read clarence thomas's concurring opinion where he stated — concurring opinion where he stated quite clearly that he intended to go after griswold versus— intended to go after griswold versus connecticut. that was the case _ versus connecticut. that was the case in 1965 that first recognise that a woman had the

right— recognise that a woman had the right to — recognise that a woman had the right to use contraception. the fact that — right to use contraception. the fact that clarence thomas wants to go _ fact that clarence thomas wants to go after that decision and ”p to go after that decision and up and — to go after that decision and up and a _ to go after that decision and up and a woman's access to hirth— up and a woman's access to birth control was extremely concerning to us and that's why i introduced my right to contraception act last year. that— contraception act last year. that act— contraception act last year. that act would guarantee a wornans— that act would guarantee a woman's right to use the full range — woman's right to use the full range of— woman's right to use the full range of fda approved birth control, _ range of fda approved birth control, and it also created the — control, and it also created the right _ control, and it also created the right of medical professionals to prescribe or provide _ professionals to prescribe or provide the full range of fda approved birth control. that bill passed the house on a bipartisan basis last year, although 195 republican members of the _ although 195 republican members of the house voted against that bill, including all the north carolina _ bill, including all the north carolina house members from north— carolina house members from north carolina, my home state. so that— north carolina, my home state. so that bill did not pass the senate _ so that bill did not pass the senate. we've reintroduced this year _ senate. we've reintroduced this year do— senate. we've reintroduced this ear. ., . ._ year. do you anticipate any further resistance? - year. do you anticipate any further resistance? we - year. do you anticipate any further resistance? we are| further resistance? we are auoin further resistance? we are going to — further resistance? we are going to continue - further resistance? we are going to continue to - further resistance? we are

going to continue to push. going to continue to push forward _ going to continue to push forward that bill. it's going to he — forward that bill. it's going to be tough to get it passed in the house with the current house _ the house with the current house majority. we are hoping to get— house majority. we are hoping to get it — house majority. we are hoping to get it through the senate, but this— to get it through the senate, but this fta development is a huge — but this fta development is a huge benefit to women who want to access — huge benefit to women who want to access birth control, particularly the birth control pill — particularly the birth control ill. �* . ., ,, ~ pill. and what do you think, congresswoman, _ pill. and what do you think, congresswoman, about - pill. and what do you think, - congresswoman, about abortion being used as an issue in the annual defence policy bill? i think it is outrageous that republicans are taking a pill that— republicans are taking a pill that is— republicans are taking a pill that is so critically important to our— that is so critically important to our national defence, to our service — to our national defence, to our service members, and trying to use this — service members, and trying to use this as— service members, and trying to use this as a culture war vehicle _ use this as a culture war vehicle. we should be passing the end — vehicle. we should be passing the end without any of these culture — the end without any of these culture war issues, —— the ndaa~ _ culture war issues, —— the ndaa. let's leave that aside and lets— ndaa. let's leave that aside and let's do what we need to do to keep — and let's do what we need to do to keep our country safe. in other news, a new report, released today by unaids, shows that the world is on track to end aids by 2030.

investments — particularly in eastern and southern africa — have led to a reduction in new hiv infections and increased access to treatments. globally, the number of people on anti—retroviral treatment has risen almost fourfold since 2010. but millions of people are still missing out on treatment, including more than 600,000 children. the jury in the pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial has decided that the shooter is eligible for the death penalty after two hours of deliberation over two days. the trial will now move onto the sentencing phase, which involves victim impact statements. the shooter killed 11 worshippers in october 2018, the deadliest anti—semitic attack in us history. thailand failed to elect a new prime minister on thursday, after pita limjaroenrat fell short of securing enough support in the military—backed senate. mr pita's progressive move forward party had built a multiparty coalition, but he came 51 votes shy of the 375 votes he needed to win. mr pita says he will not give up, and will re—strategise to gather enough support to win in the next vote, which is expected next week. 0ur correspondentjonathan head

is in thailand with more. these are all supporters of the reformist party, move forward, who gathered here at this park outside the thai parliament throughout today to 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 move forward leader, pita limjaroenrat, for prime minister and jeers and boos and some very colourful language every time an mp — and, in particular, the unelected senators — stood up to oppose him. few people here are surprised by this result. everyone expected this is was what would happen — that's what the senate was put there for by the military government in the past. at the same time, many are bitterly disappointed. 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?"

move forward can come back next week with their coalition partners and try again to get pita limjaroenrat elected but it's unlikely now that that will happen and what kind of government thailand ends up with is not clear at this stage. what is clear is that a great deal of faith in thailand's democratic system has been lost, and more, that the monarchy has been central to the debate over what kind of government is formed — that hasn't happened in the past. we heard so many mps on both sides supporting the monarchy, arguing that move forward's proposal to amend the royal defamation law, that criminalises any criticism of the royal family, that law must be amended, with mps saying, no, that cannot happen, so this is quite a dangerous moment for thailand's monarchy as well, as it's sucked into the debate about thailand's future. and we end this show with some potentially bad news for those of us with a certain kind of sweet—tooth. an agency of the world health organization has classified the artificial sweetener aspartame as possibly carcinogenic to humans. health officials say there's limited evidence that it may

increase the risk of liver cancer. however the who says aspartame, used in diet drinks and low—calorie food, posed little risk. so the current safe daily limits remain unchanged. the fda and beverage companies have protested the findings, thank you for watching. stay with us here on bbc news. 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 — 14, 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.

this is bbc news. we've have the headlines at the top of the hour, straight after this programme.