beat us to the they will try to beat us to the ground because there is a lot of money to be made in streaming and they know that. we'll be live in hollywood to look at the spiralling action affecting the film and television industry. also on the programme. as kevin spacey�*s trial continues, he denies using his power and fame to seduce people. get set for travel disruption — workers at gatwick airport announce summer strike action. and he has it. the streak goes on at wimbledon. novak djokovic heads into another wimbledon final. and coming up in sportsday later in the hour on bbc news... a brutal mountain finish at the tour de france sees the british ineos team get their fist stage win at this years tour de france. good evening. 160,000 actors have begun a strike

that looks set to affect production on major hollywood films, as performersjoined action begun earlier this year by writers in the film and television industry. the screen actors guild wants studios and streaming giants to give its members a better share of profits — as well as assurances on the use of artificial intelligence. the strike has considerable implications for the entertainment industry as it is open—ended. let's join our correpsondent sophie long in los angeles. this is the first industrywide strike in six decades and it has shut down a few productions that survived the writer is' walk out. the big questions now are what rules should govern the future use of ai and what split of the entertainment industry profits would get hollywood up industry profits would get hollywood up and running again.

actors from bit part players to hollywood's biggest stars joined those who write their lines on the picket lines. the studios say actors have walked away from their historic offer on pay and a ground—breaking proposal protecting them from the use of artificial intelligence. in that ground—breaking proposal they propose background performers should be able to be scanned to pay for one day's pay and the company should own their image and likeness and be able to use it for the rest of eternity on any project with no consent or compensation. it on any project with no consent or compensation.— on any project with no consent or compensation. it is a terrible thing when big business _ compensation. it is a terrible thing when big business tries _ compensation. it is a terrible thing when big business tries to - compensation. it is a terrible thing when big business tries to replace| when big business tries to replace you with _ when big business tries to replace you with digital, robots, artificial intelligence. if we don't stop this now, _ intelligence. if we don't stop this now. this — intelligence. if we don't stop this now, this maniacal need to make money— now, this maniacal need to make money over— now, this maniacal need to make money over allowing people to make a living, _ money over allowing people to make a

living, you _ money over allowing people to make a living, you know, i mean it is going to be _ living, you know, i mean it is going to be dystopia. some of hollywood's biggest releases have been affected with production for the next avatar film and doubt and season two of house of the dragon is likely to be delayed, also. and films already in the cans such as haunted mansion, premiers and promotions will not now take place. and promotions will not now take lace. , . , ., place. they are trying to freeze us out. the place. they are trying to freeze us out- they will _ place. they are trying to freeze us out. they will try _ place. they are trying to freeze us out. they will try to _ place. they are trying to freeze us out. they will try to beat - place. they are trying to freeze us out. they will try to beat us - place. they are trying to freeze us out. they will try to beat us into i out. they will try to beat us into the ground because there is a lot of money to be made in streaming and they know that. the desire is not to want to share with either the writers or performers. im’ith want to share with either the writers or performers. with some streamin: writers or performers. with some streaming services _ writers or performers. with some streaming services yet to - writers or performers. with some streaming services yet to turn - writers or performers. with some streaming services yet to turn a l streaming services yet to turn a profit after spending billions on programming, only to watch subscriptions fall. the ceo of disney say unions have unrealistic expectations and the strike is disturbing to him. it will be

disturbing to him. it will be disturbing also to the california economy, costing millions of dollars every day. and many thousands of workers in adjacent industry is still recovering from the pandemic. more on this later in the programme. we'll have the view of the oppenheimer director christopher nolan, who's been talking to us about this and his new film the actor kevin spacey has denied using his power as a hollywood star to get people into bed, as he continued to give evidence in his trial over sexual assault allegations. he told the jury at southwark crown court he could have had sex "all the time", but his fame made it hard to trust people and that made him feel lonely on occasion. he denies all the charges. 0ur correspondent helena wilkinson reports morning, kevin. kevin spacey arrived at southwark crown court ahead of a second day in the witness box. he was to call the prosecution's case against him weak and accuse one

alleged victim of being after money. the american beauty actor spent around three hours being cross—examined. he was animated at times, voice projected as he denied the accusations. at one point, he told the court how he liked being called k—dog by one of the complainants during their encounter. responding to allegations made by one of the four complainants that kevin spacey drugged him and performed a sex act on him while he was asleep, the actor said, "he did not fall asleep and i did not perform on him while he was asleep, despite what he has shockingly accused me of." addressing the suggestion that he might have ignored signs from the four complainants, mr spacey said he definitely misread signs from one man. the actor said his interactions with two other complainants were consensual and told jurors, "if they went further than they wanted, they did

not let me know that." he added, "it seems that they regretted what they did at a later time." kevin spacey admitted to court that he felt lonely at times after he became famous. the prosecution asked him if he reached out to people sexually in order to ease the burden. the american actor replied, welcome to life, yes, yes i did. the former artistic director of the old vic denied using his power to get people into bed. he said he used his position to help others. the defence evidence continues on monday. kevin spacey denies the charges. helena wilkinson, bbc news at southwark crown court. nearly a thousand workers at london's gatwick airport will go on strike towards the end of this month — and again in august amid a pay dispute between the unite union and four employers. the timing means the busy summer holiday season will be affected. 0ur transport correspondent

katy austin is here. strike action at one of the uk's busiest airports, during what's set to be the busiest summer since before covid, will be an unwelcome prospect for thousands of holidaymakers hoping for a smoother time after last year's issues. today, the unite union announced strikes at gatwick airport from? friday, 28th ofjuly to tuesday, 1st of august, then friday, 4th of august to tuesday the 8th. airlines bring in specialist companies to do keyjobs like baggage handling and check in. 950 workers doing those sorts ofjobs at these companies are set to walk out. the union claims that's more than half the workforce. and it says the companies have failed to make good enough pay offers. easyjet, the airline with the biggest presence at gatwick, told us it was extremely disappointed by the strike announcement. and the airport itself said it would support airlines with contingency plans, so as many flights as possible run as scheduled.

busy european air space and air traffic control issues have already been causing cancellations this year. so how much disruption will these strikes cause, if they happen? they could cause further delays and potentially cancellations. but airlines haven't announced any yet, so it's too soon to know the exact impact. more talks between the union and the ground handling companies are planned early next week, to see if they can come to a resolution and prevent the action going ahead. a man and woman who enslaved her vulnerable disabled husband, keeping him in squalid conditions, have been sentenced to jail terms. sarah somerset—how and george webb, who was employed as a carer, have each been sentenced to 11 years over their treatment of tom somerset—how, who has cerebal palsy and is mostly blind. duncan kennedy reports. tom somerset—how was determined to be in court to hear the sentences against those who were supposed to care for him, but who instead

controlled and exploited him. they were his own wife, sarah, and his own carer, george webb. the pair of them became lovers and, in effect, tom'sjailers. speaking to the bbc, tom — who has cerebral palsy and is nearly blind — said he can neverforgive them. there's no retribution that will ever equalise what they've done to me. as far as george goes, because he was a carer, he should never, ever have the opportunity to do this to anybody again. tom's ordeal took place in this property in chichester which he shared with sarah. in 2016, george webb moved in, becoming tom's carer. it was then the two of them turned on tom. they took away his electronic devices to limit his contact with the outside world. they left him stranded in his bed, on one occasion, for more than a month.

he wasn't able to shower for weeks on end and couldn't brush his teeth for more than a year. these photos show the squalor he lived in. his food on this day — a box of sliced bread. there was one point, for example, where i didn't get showered in five weeks. i looked as bad as i felt. in terms of the toll it's taken, it's completely and utterly destroyed me. sussex police found his home in a filthy state. they'd been alerted after tom eventually managed to get a message to a friend. today, sarah somerset—how and george webb were both jailed for 11 years, convicted under the highly unusual charge of holding a person in slavery or servitude. sussex police say it's the first time this law — designed to catch human traffickers — has been used this way. when it was looked at the amount

of time that tom had been there, how he was contained in the room and how everything was just taken away from him, so that's why it came to this more serious case rather than a neglect case. it was unique? yes, yes, very unique. your reaction to the verdict? i couldn't ask for a better verdict under the circumstances, it couldn't have gone better. thejudge said tom had been held in slavery and humiliated. tom says he's now rebuilding his life away from his wife and carer, who took his money, his liberty and his dignity. duncan kennedy, bbc news, and portsmouth. a coroner has criticised a hospital trust for the deaths of two new mothers from the herpes virus in 2018. kimberley sampson and samantha mulcahy died six weeks apart after caesarean sections at different hospitals run by east kent hospitals trust. the coroner said there was no evidence that a surgeon and another member of the team involved in both

women's care were the source of the infection — in part because the trust had never tested them. it is very rare for herpes to be fatal but the coroner also said hospitals should be made more aware of its risk in new mothers. the world health organisation has classified aspartame — the sweetener used in many diet and sugar—free drinks — as being a possible cause of cancer. the finding comes after an investigation by the who, but it also said aspartame was safe to consume in moderation. 0ur medical editor fergus walsh is here to explain 200 times sweeter than sugar, aspartame is a key ingredient in diet and sugar—free drinks, but is also found in some toothpastes, yoghurts and medicines. the world health organisation says there is limited evidence aspartame may increase the risk of liver cancer, but wants much more research. aspartame has now been placed by the who in a group of products deemed possibly carcinogenic

to humans, along with things like aloe vera and asian pickled vegetables. this group is below things deemed probably carcinogenic, like night—shift work and eating red meat. the highest group where there is clear evidence they can cause cancer include smoking, alcohol and processed meat. so what does this mean for individuals? well, the evidence linking aspartame to cancer is so weak, the advice on safe limits is unchanged. that means a man of average weight would have to consume more than 17 cans of diet soft drink a day to exceed safe limits, and an average woman more than 14 cans a day. i think people can be very reassured by this report, which essentially says although there is some limited evidence for this possibly having a role in cancer, aspartame is safe at the levels that we currently recommend. when asked which was better

for you — a can of diet or regular sugary cola, a who scientist recommended a third option — water. fergus walsh, bbc news. the footballer benjamin mendy has been cleared of rape following a three—week trial at chester crown court. the former manchester city player had been accused of raping one young woman and the attempted rape of another. he was found not guilty on both counts and broke down in tears as the verdicts were read out. his lawyer thanked the jury but said the case had had a "serious impact" on him. india's space agency has launched a new effort to land a rover on the moon, which, if successful, will be the first to take place at the lunar south pole. the rocket carrying it blasted off from the spaceport in the southern indian state of andhra pradesh. so far only three space agencies — the united states, the former soviet union, and china — have managed a controlled lunarlanding. the time is 6pm. our top story this evening...

hollywood films and tv shows to be disrupted, as actorsjoin writers on an indefinite strike. and coming up... we chat with oppenheimer director christopher nolan about those strikes, and his new film. and in london... coming up on bbc news... can either of these men stop novak to activate swimming in eighth wimbledon title? carlos alcaraz and daniel medvedev fight it out for the other place in sunday's final. next week will see three by—elections for westminster seats take place on the same day — all of them constituencies currently held by the conservatives. voting will take place on thursday for new mps in the south—western seat of somerton and frome, in west london, in borisjohnson's old seat of uxbridge over the coming days, our political editor, chris mason, will report

for us from each contest. first, he's been to north yorkshire listening to the voices, taking in the sights and hearing the sounds of selby and ainsty. this contest in north yorkshire will be a measure of how well or not labour are doing and how badly or not the conservatives are doing. the tories have won here with big, even whopping majorities over the last decade, but this race feels really competitive between westminster�*s two big parties and plenty of others are standing to. the by—election is happening

because the former mp, a conservative and a friend of borisjohnson's, packed it in when he did. and it now means that politicians of every colour have some persuading to do. i think we need the honesty and i think people are upset by that. i think maybe people are not voting like they used to do because of that, because i don't think they feel that the vote matters any more, because there's just no truth in politics. so what's the point? years ago, i couldn't wait to get to a polling station to cast my vote. and then i'm thinking, well, do i vote for what? i know what they're saying, but what they're going to do? privately labour acknowledge this isn't a part of the world they've campaigned in much in recent years. such has been the conservative lead, but they reckon the tory vote might be crumbling. the tories, for their part, hope that keir starmer isn't the voter magnet that labour hope that he might be.

so will those who've often voted conservative in the past, not vote at all or switch directly to labour? and what will be the issues that determine how or whether people vote for young people , because there's nothing around here for them. and itjust seems like we were at the hospital the other night and we went for airjust to actually get seen. so there's not really much been put into anything. i think we need more representative in the north. there's too much happens in london. is it then that even though politicians fall over themselves to talk about the north of england, that perhaps those folk in london still don't really get it? no, they don't. you know, i've got nhs dentist, but i've got friends in the area that have spent years trying to get onto a list — people are suffering, you know, sometimes i'll go round my neighbour's and she's got really bad toothache and i might go to a dentist, but she can't. optimistic about the future? yeah, i think i can. i mean, at the moment when you're looking back in history, there's always ups and downs.

the only way is up from now. for labour to win a general election, they have to do astonishingly well. and yet they could win that election without winning seats like this. so little wonder an increasing number of conservatives are rather gloomy. if they manage to hold on here, it would raise their spirits for labour. victory here would be a colossal achievement. the covid public inquiry could finally gain access to borisjohnson's whatsapp messages, after a record of the passcode on an old phone was found. the former pm had said he wasn't sure of the code and there were fears getting it wrong could lead to data being wiped from the phone. 0ur political correspondent, leila nathoo, is at westminster. how was this worked out in the end? the covid inquiry is a tough time getting hold of this important batch records it needs from the time of the pandemic. but the government refused to hand over borisjohnson's

whatsapp, diaries and notebooks in full, saying they needed to be re—enacted to stop the inquiry seeing things irrelevant to its work. it went to court to fight the request and lost the challenge and borisjohnson had said then he was happy for the inquiry to have everything it requested. so all the material had to be handed over by monday. it was except for boris johnson's crucial whatsapp messages from an old phone he stopped using in may 2021 as it has emerged his number had been floating around online for years. why the hold—up? it appears borisjohnson couldn't be certain of the phone's pin and there was some concern, if you put the wrong one in repeatedly, data could be lost. now we understand the cabinet office is a record of his pin. we don't know her routine that is, but it looks like those messages could finally be retrieved. we don't have a clear picture of all those issues surrounding the extraction of the messages from the old phone and

we don't know when the inquiry is going to get them, but it certainly hasn't been a satisfactory process for the inquiry or for those who want to see it get on with its work. a 65—year—old man has appeared in court, charged with murdering two women who police say were known to him, one of whom went missing and whose body has not been found. the first woman, naomi hunte, was found stabbed to death in london last year. the accused, carl cooper, was arrested on suspicion of her murder and then released as investigations continued. the disappearance injune of the second woman, fiona holm, is being treated as a murder investigation by the metropolitan police. novak djokovic is through to his ninth wimbledon final after beating jannick sinner this afternoon. the other men's semifinal, between carlos alcaraz and daniil medvedev, is still under way, as andy swiss reports. it's become a familiar sight this wimbledon, henman hilla

it's become a familiar sight this wimbledon, henman hill a sea of brollies as fans braved the rain to watch the reigning champion. last year novak djokovic was pushed to five sets by italy's jannik sinner but he began like a man in no mood for a repeat. after taking the first set, controversy. listen carefully to djokovic after his next shot. he shouts out. the umpire thought djokovic's grant had put off his opponent and he was penalised a point and warned for taking too long to serve. still, he won the second set but, come the third, it was jannik sinner�*s big chance, two set points but djokovic saved them for this was the response from his spectator. from there, the result seemed inevitable that up.

djokovic now has the chance of equalling roger federer�*s eight titles here at the age of 36, still seemingly unstoppable. hr? titles here at the age of 36, still seemingly unstoppable. i try not to look at the age _ seemingly unstoppable. i try not to look at the age as _ seemingly unstoppable. i try not to look at the age as a _ seemingly unstoppable. i try not to look at the age as a hindrance. - seemingly unstoppable. i try not to look at the age as a hindrance. i i look at the age as a hindrance. i feel 36 is the new 26. it feels good. feel 36 is the new 26. it feels aood. �* ., ., good. but who will he now face? daniil medvedev _ good. but who will he now face? daniil medvedev or _ good. but who will he now face? daniil medvedev or world - good. but who will he now face? | daniil medvedev or world number good. but who will he now face? - daniil medvedev or world number one carlos alcaraz? alcaraz is as a bigger threat and he won the opening set. as he looks for a place in his first wimbledon final. thank goodness we have a roof over centre court. the latest is that carlos alcaraz has also won the second set, so he is very much in control of that match but, earlier, what a win that was for novak djokovic. he's not been beaten on centre court for more than a decade. it will take something very special to change that on sunday.

with the actors' strike now under way in hollywood set to affect major productions, let's turn to one that is about to be released, oppenheimer, directed by christopher nolan. it's the story of the scientist often described as "the father of the atomic bomb", but christopher nolan has said he won't write another screenplay until the dispute is resolved. he's been talking to our culture editor, katie razzall. the test in 1945 was codenamed trinity, an atomic bomb crater by scientists working for the us government, and used controversially to end world war ii. the government, and used controversially to end world war ii.— to end world war ii. the world will remember — to end world war ii. the world will remember this _ to end world war ii. the world will remember this day. _ to end world war ii. the world will remember this day. now _ to end world war ii. the world will remember this day. now one - to end world war ii. the world will remember this day. now one of i to end world war ii. the world will| remember this day. now one of the world's most _ remember this day. now one of the world's most renowned _ remember this day. now one of the world's most renowned film - world's most renowned film directors, christopher nolan, is telling the story of] robert oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist behind the bomb and that

test. , . ,_ physicist behind the bomb and that test. , . _ , physicist behind the bomb and that test. , . , ., test. they are saying there is a chance when _ test. they are saying there is a chance when they _ test. they are saying there is a chance when they push - test. they are saying there is a chance when they push that. test. they are saying there is a - chance when they push that button we destroy the world. nick near zero. i became really interested in exploring that man and taking that moment where they made that incredible decision. how could you take that on? you know there is a possibility, when you push that button, you might destroy the world, and yet they pushed it.— and yet they pushed it. making the bomb was a _ and yet they pushed it. making the bomb was a triumph _ and yet they pushed it. making the bomb was a triumph of— and yet they pushed it. making the bomb was a triumph of human - bomb was a triumph of human ingenuity and science but also heralded the potential end of civilisation. here is oppenheimer quoting from hindu scripture in 1955. ., ., , ., 1955. nowl am become death, the destro er 1955. nowl am become death, the destroyer of _ 1955. nowl am become death, the destroyer of worlds. _ 1955. nowl am become death, the destroyer of worlds. i _ 1955. nowl am become death, the destroyer of worlds. i suppose - 1955. nowl am become death, the destroyer of worlds. i suppose we | destroyer of worlds. i suppose we all thought that one way or another. he never apologised for hiroshima and nagasaki or expressed shame to tip all_ and nagasaki or expressed shame to tip all of— and nagasaki or expressed shame to

tip all of his actions after 1945 other— tip all of his actions after 1945 other actions to meet me somebody... the start— other actions to meet me somebody... the start of— other actions to meet me somebody... the start of the film appeared at the premiere last night but, as the news came that actors would be joining writers on the picket line, left before the film started the nolan is ready on strike. so you will not be writing another film while this track is on for the absolutely not. this is not about me, this is aboutjobbing actors and staff writers on tv shows trying to raise a family, trying to keep food on the table. these companies have not yet accommodated how they are going to, in this new world of streaming, pay appropriately. any dela for streaming, pay appropriately. any delay for nolan is a loss to cinemark. forthe delay for nolan is a loss to cinemark. for the director behind critically acclaimed blockbusters like inception, and epics including the second world war drama dunkirk. oppenheimer is his latest movie to take on big themes and, with the film focused on the nuclear arms

race, what does he think of the other extension threat to humankind, ai? ~ , ., other extension threat to humankind, ai? ~ ., ~ other extension threat to humankind, al? ., ~ ., ., , ai? when you talk to leaders in the field of al. — ai? when you talk to leaders in the field of al. they _ ai? when you talk to leaders in the field of ai, they see _ ai? when you talk to leaders in the field of ai, they see this _ ai? when you talk to leaders in the field of ai, they see this moment i field of ai, they see this moment right now as their oppenheimer mode. they're looking to history to say, ok, what are our responsibilities? how can we deal with the potential of unintended consequences? we detonate an atomic device we might start a _ detonate an atomic device we might start a chain reaction that destroys the world — start a chain reaction that destroys the world. . . ., start a chain reaction that destroys the world. . .. , , . the world. there are ethical essence for the future _ the world. there are ethical essence for the future in _ the world. there are ethical essence for the future in this _ the world. there are ethical essence for the future in this timely - the world. there are ethical essence for the future in this timely film - for the future in this timely film about a scientific genius whose actions irrevocably changed life on earth. before we get to the weather, we thought we would share something that should make you smile — the finalists in this year's comedy pet photography awards. so here they are — a rather acrobatic collie, snapped in new york, kittens alex and max from lebanon, max described as the playful one, plus barney, a poodle from county durham,

captured in mid—air, and, rather more leisurely, this cat injapan who goes by the name big boss, and this rather brave mouse, the winning photographer, or perhaps that should be pet, will be announced next month. what more could you want, other than the weekend weather forecast, which we also have, courtesy of darren bett. that last picture obviously wasn't taken today, where it was cool, wet and windy across many parts of the country. all down to this big area to tip top temperatures of 21 for the next week, cc to not to tip top temperatures of 21 for the next week, cc to this big area of low pressure, the strength of the winds bringing the end we have still got some rain around this evening. it soon gets blown away in eastern parts and then the rain band moving north and west across northern scotland by the end of the night. it may not be quite so went overnight but temperatures down to 12 or 13.

tomorrow, the winds pick up again in england and wales, especially the south and, across these areas, 40 mph quite widely in lad and it could be stronger than that around the coast, with some travel disruption and perhaps damage. perhaps not too many across east anglia and the south—east but, as you can see, showers will develop widely across the uk tomorrow they will be heavy and thundery, perhaps not quite so windy across scotland and northern ireland, but temperatures typically around 80 on 19th tip and improved on today to dip it could make 22 in the south—east and east anglia. that error of low pressure continued to move north. as it does so, it should take away the worst of the weather for sunday. it will be windy for a while in scotland, and some heavy showers in the north—east. otherwise, further south, not as windy on sunday, with some sunshine and still some showers and they could on the heavy side. it's not getting anyone desecrate any warm up to tip top temperatures of 21 for

the next week, cool, not