this is the village of kouvaras where buildings can be seen burning. more than 1,000 children in greece have been moved out of holiday camps which are being threatend by wildfires near athens. a blistering heatwave is intensifying across much of southern europe such as italy, with warnings that records could be broken in many places. temperatures in sicily and sardinia are predicted to reach 49 degrees celsius. elsewhere in asia these pictures are from what are called the �*flaming mountains�* in xinjang province in china. as the name suggests, it's often very hot there it's often the hottest place in china but temperatures are far higher than usual at 52 degrees celsius. and in the us, in death valley already one of the hottest places on earth, temperatures reached 53.9c on sunday. 0ur climate editor,

justin rowlatt has this report. gale—force winds fanned the flames of wildfires just south of athens today. several seaside villages were cleared, as more than 100 firefighters — supported by 11 planes — battled to contain the blaze. and more than 1,000 children were evacuated, as a second wildfire threatened to engulf the holiday camp in southern greece they were staying in. it comes as a second blistering heatwave sweeps into europe. temperatures in southern spain are already pushing into the 40s, up to 10 celsius hotter than normal. it means it is almost impossible to work outside. it has been extremely hot this year. i normally get up at eight or nine in the morning and i have been getting up at five to get things done by nine o'clock, it isjust harsh. colin brown runs an animal sanctuary inland from alicante.

hot animals mean more work for colin, they need to be hosed down to keep them cool. you have got sweat all over you. and it is too hot for the tourists. his main source of donations. so colin has had to close the place. meanwhile, the local river has run dry and a terrible harvest thanks to the heat and a lack of rain means he is finding it hard to get hay for the horses. at the same time, the money is running out. here's why it's so hot. a high—pressure system, held in place by the rapidly moving air high in the atmosphere, known as the jet stream, is funnelling heat up from the deserts of north africa and across southern europe. the climate of southern europe is changing, say local people. it is becoming more and more like north africa, the sahara desert is slowly creeping into europe, one man

told me. what has changed is global warming. humans are 100% to blame for the global trend in high temperatures that we are seeing. so all of the observed global warming is because of our burning of fossil fuels. we are seeing record—breaking temperatures in asia this summer, too. china provisionally recorded its highest temperature ever, yesterday according to the met office. temperature ever yesterday — 52.2 celsius in xinjiang, in the north—west, according to the uk met office. in the us, a heat dome over the south—west has left tens of millions of people under extreme heat warnings. death valley, in california, hit 53.9 celsius on sunday — not far off the all—time global temperature record of 56.7 degrees, recorded injuly 1913.

and climate change means southern spain, like the rest of the world, is only going to get hotter. joining us now is andrew kruczkiewicz, a senior researcher with columbia climate school's international research institute for climate and society. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. we have seen the impacts of the hotter weather across so many different parts of the world. how difficult is it to prepare for these types of offence and is the difficulty change level wise depending on where you are? we are seeinu depending on where you are? we are seeing challenges _ depending on where you are? we are seeing challenges in _ depending on where you are? we are seeing challenges in preparedness i seeing challenges in preparedness however it is important to identify where those challenges lie along the chain from having the data available to actually doing something about it. fortunately, forecasts for heat waves and other extreme events but specifically heat waves, our forecasts are getting better and better. the question is now, do we

have early warning systems which in many cases the answer is yes, and are those early warning systems by defending those who needed the most. that is where we need to focus our attention now. that is where we need to focus our attention "ow-— that is where we need to focus our attention nova— that is where we need to focus our attention now. you can have an early warnin: attention now. you can have an early warning system _ attention now. you can have an early warning system warning _ attention now. you can have an early warning system warning you - attention now. you can have an early warning system warning you about i attention now. you can have an early| warning system warning you about an impending heatwave but if the infrastructure in the preparations are not there, generally, the basis, then what is the good of knowing a few days in advance.— few days in advance. absolutely ri . ht. few days in advance. absolutely riuht. but few days in advance. absolutely right- itut we — few days in advance. absolutely right. but we are _ few days in advance. absolutely right. but we are also _ few days in advance. absolutely right. but we are also seeing, i few days in advance. absolutely - right. but we are also seeing, more and more evidence of compounding events. just because we have heat wave risks does not mean we do not have risks for other events such as floods. we are seeing more scenarios were really are having floods happening at the same time or right after heat waves. so this is to be taken into consideration when we are think about what are the appropriate actions for preparing for heat waves and floods and making sure that overall, the disproportionality of impact, on the most vulnerable and underserved populations is decreasing. that is what we need to keepin

decreasing. that is what we need to keep in mind. you decreasing. that is what we need to keep in mind-— keep in mind. you talk about underserved _ keep in mind. you talk about underserved and _ keep in mind. you talk about underserved and vulnerable, | keep in mind. you talk about - underserved and vulnerable, who exactly are we talking about here? are we talk about elderly and young people or people who rely on for example working outside of air—conditioned buildings for their livelihood. fisge air-conditioned buildings for their livelihood. �* , ., ., ., livelihood. age is one factor for sure. income _ livelihood. age is one factor for sure. income status _ livelihood. age is one factor for sure. income status is - livelihood. age is one factor fori sure. income status is another, there is also cultural elements as well which, perhaps need the increasing chance that people will be outside and expose from long periods of time. we will muster member is welcome a mini heat with casualties happened inside peoples homes. so it is not only a matter of taking shelter, it is making sure we have appropriate air conditioning, it is a combination of different types of vulnerabilities when we are thinking about who are at high school levels of risks for heat waves. also again keeping in mind of disasters can and will occur at the

same time —— heat waves. indie disasters can and will occur at the same time -- heat waves. we talk about climate _ same time -- heat waves. we talk about climate change _ same time -- heat waves. we talk about climate change and - same time -- heat waves. we talk about climate change and the - same time -- heat waves. we talk. about climate change and the impact, it's notjust that about climate change and the impact, it's not just that things are about climate change and the impact, it's notjust that things are going to get hotter, it is what happens because of these elements that matter as well. ._ matter as well. . with cooling centres. _ matter as well. . with cooling centres, what _ matter as well. . with cooling centres, what we _ matter as well. . with cooling centres, what we suggest - matter as well. . with cooling centres, what we suggest is l matter as well. . with cooling i centres, what we suggest is that matter as well. . with cooling - centres, what we suggest is that the planning of cooling centres, where they are, how they are operated. this is also be reviewed from a lens when we are think about risks from other strips of offence. for example are cooling centres located in flood risk areas. this is an important step that we should take as we are seeing more and more disasters interacting with each other. fortunately again we do have better and betterforecasts fortunately again we do have better and better forecasts these days. our forecasts are getting better will be returned by extreme events, but there will be always be some uncertainty within this forecast. important to note.— uncertainty within this forecast. important to note. senior researcher at the columbia _ important to note. senior researcher at the columbia climate _ important to note. senior researcher at the columbia climate school - at the columbia climate school international research institute for crime and society. good to talk to you

ukraine says it's prepared to carry on exporting grain despite russia declaring that it has withdrawn from a un brokered agreement. it says ukrainian ships are ready to sail without russian approval provided the turkish authorities let them leave the black sea. ukraine is one of the world's largest exporters of sunflower, maize, wheat and barley and any blockade is a threat to global food supply. the un secretary—general antonio guterres has strongly criticised russia's decision to end the grain deal which he described as a lifeline for global food security. today's decision by the russian federation will strike a blow to everyone in need everywhere, but it will not stop our efforts to facilitate the unimpeded access to global markets for food products and fertilisers from both ukraine and the russian federation. i particularly want to recognise the efforts of the government in turkey in this regard. looking ahead, we must continue to be advancing global security, food security and global

food price stability. this will remain the focus of my efforts, taking into account the rise in human suffering and that will inevitably result from today's decision. live now to hannah shelest, security studies programme director for prism a ukrainian think tank. thank you forjoining us here on bbc news. let me ask you first of all for your reaction to the news today which is wholly expected and many people are also putting forward the belief that it is not really as bad as it was back in february 2022 because there is some level of preparedness now and the plan b for ukraine to get the green and food out. i ukraine to get the green and food out. , ., ., ., out. i will start on the and because there is no — out. i will start on the and because there is no actual _ out. i will start on the and because there is no actual plan _ out. i will start on the and because there is no actual plan b, - out. i will start on the and because there is no actual plan b, that - out. i will start on the and because there is no actual plan b, that is i there is no actual plan b, that is just going back to the situation in spring blaster when the long lines at the border and now we are just in

the middle of harvest season so you can imagine what a crazy mad house it will be at the border. at about preparedness, ecologically and politically we were not prepared because russia started to jeopardise the deal since the spring. first of all it was the decline in the number of and injune they were not expecting it. the operation was jeopardise into several days ago one of the ports involved in the deal was bombs with a missile, a fire over there. was bombs with a missile, a fire overthere. forthe was bombs with a missile, a fire over there. for the last several days coming from a port and russia was prolonging in previous time instead of the four months that was agreed last year. so with all of theseit agreed last year. so with all of these it seems russia is not willing to prolong the grain deal. what

these it seems russia is not willing to prolong the grain deal.— to prolong the grain deal. what is the answer _ to prolong the grain deal. what is the answer now— to prolong the grain deal. what is the answer now and _ to prolong the grain deal. what is the answer now and who - to prolong the grain deal. what is the answer now and who needs i to prolong the grain deal. what isj the answer now and who needs to to prolong the grain deal. what is - the answer now and who needs to step up the answer now and who needs to step up to make a change here? russia saying that they will not come back unless their demands are met but thatis unless their demands are met but that is not looking likely. that unless their demands are met but that is not looking likely.- that is not looking likely. that is difficult to decide. _ that is not looking likely. that is difficult to decide. what - that is not looking likely. that is difficult to decide. what is - that is not looking likely. that is i difficult to decide. what is meeting russian demands because there are many people waiting for that deal they agree to your goal. they would like to example open a pipeline of ammonia to 0desa port but if you look to the map the pipeline is going through the territory where they have fighting currently happening. so any mistake with a missile or rocket or any fire will have the explosion as we saw in lebanon several years ago when birgit was almost destroyed. that is definitely not in the interest of ukraine. but now what will turkey will do and the president's role, when the situation of last november russia decided to withdraw for

several days and turkeyjust continued inspections of the ship. also the turkey president said several weeks ago his navy is ready to accompany ships —— ships in the region. so we expect a bold decision from turkey and the abilities of shipping companies to navigate even without the russian agreement. irate without the russian agreement. we talk on the impact that this food security issue has globally but it also has a big impact on ukrainian farmers as he mentioned a minute ago. farmers as he mentioned a minute auo. , ., , ., ., ago. yes, we need to understand one imortant ago. yes, we need to understand one important moment _ ago. yes, we need to understand one important moment that _ ago. yes, we need to understand one important moment that a _ ago. yes, we need to understand one important moment that a lot - ago. yes, we need to understand one important moment that a lot of- important moment that a lot of fields have been underfire or under occupation, we also know that a lot of farmers in spring decided to not plants. the reason is that 30% of ukrainian land are heavily mindful so it is extremely dangerous. we have a tractor that blew up in the middle of a field. so in general the scope of the harvest is less then

what we have last year. still, in the area that is good we only have 1 million tonnes of wheat so we are not just trying to million tonnes of wheat so we are notjust trying to make a simple calculation what is 1 million tonnes how many can we leave in ukraine, how many can we leave in ukraine, how much to export.— how many can we leave in ukraine, how much to export. thank you very much indeed- _ thank you very much indeed. an announcement for moscow that the green deal would not be renewed came hours after an attack that link the occupied crimean peninsula to southern russia important bridge that links the occupied crimean peninsula to southern russia. ukraine's military has claimed responsibility for it. road traffic has been suspended on the 12 mile crossing. as the ukrainian offensive continues, the kerch bridge is seen as a symbol of russian occupation. russia said two of its civilians died in the attack.

president vladimir putin has called for tougher security at the bridge. he was speaking in a televised meeting with officials to assess the consequences of what he called a terrorist act. 0ur russia editor, steve rosenberg has more. it's been called russia's most important bridge, and it's been attacked again. you can see the roads split and sloping. russia says ukrainian naval drones struck at night. two people were killed in the explosion. the bridge links the russian mainland with annexed crimea. it's a vital supply route for russian troops fighting in ukraine. russian investigators called it a terrorist attack by the ukrainian security services. this was the scene here nine months ago. russia had accused ukraine then of attacking the bridge with explosives hidden in a lorry. ukraine calls this bridge illegal. the 12—mile—long road and rail bridge is not only strategically important to the kremlin, it's hugely symbolic.

vladimir putin was first to cross when it opened in 2018, as if he wanted to show the world that russia and crimea were now joined forever. so for the second time in less than a year, the bridge that vladimir putin built, this symbol of russia's annexation of crimea, has come under attack. the kremlin says it will respond by continuing with what it still calls the special military operation — russia's war in ukraine. but what the kremlin won't be continuing, it said today, is with the deal that had kept global food prices stable. brokered by the un, the agreement allowed ukraine to keep exporting grain via the black sea. moscow, though, says it's not getting what it was promised and will no longer guarantee the safety of shipping. the kremlin insists its decision is unconnected to the attack

on the bridge. but right now, russia seems in no mood for a quick compromise. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. earlier i spoke to the former ukrainian prime minsiter arseniy yatsenyuk i asked for his reactions to the attack on the bridge in crimea. crimea is an integral part of the state of ukraine. this is within the internationally recognised borders of ukraine. and the time will come when ukraine is to liberate an entire ukrainian territory, including crimea. in terms of this so—called bridge, this is this has nothing to do with the humanitarian infrastructure. this is the supply route for the russian military. we neither to confirm nor deny that ukrainian security service or ukrainian military actually committed these kind of attack on the ukrainian soil. i want to be very clear, on the ukrainian soil.

but once again, the best way is to liberate an entire ukrainian territory and to fend off the russian military. here is the thing having the chance to address the british audience, i want to thank to the defense secretary wallace, because there was some kind of misunderstanding between ukraine and your government. i want to be very clear — we are very grateful to the british people, to the british government, to the british army, and to your defence secretary for everything that you've done for ukraine. and i do believe that in a concerted actions, we will liberate ukraine, including crimea, and we will restore the global order. let's take it back to the bridge and the occurrences there, because president putin has described this as a terrorist attack. do you accept that? yes. he is the terrorist. he is the terrorist number one in this world. he launched an unjust, genocidal war

against the state of ukraine. he violated everything. everything that we actually managed to create after the second world war. he waged the biggest war after the second world war in europe. so he is the war criminal under the icc warrant. ukraine never committed any kind of terrorist attacks. what we are doing, we are defending our homeland. we are saving ukrainian people from the genocidal war that president putin waged against us. do you expect if the bridge is fixed once more for a similar occurrence to happen? well, they will try to do their best, but we got some kind of, i would say, expertise that says that russians will need plenty of time to restore this bridge.

around the world and across the uk you are watching bbc news. let's take a look at some of the other stories making headlines. people who've been injured in terror attacks in the uk have condemned the government's compensation scheme. in a survey carried out by the support group, survivors against terror, more than half of those who responded said the process was unfair. the ministry ofjustice says it's reviewing the support available. universities in england will be forced to limit the number of students they recruit onto courses deemed as underperforming, as part of government plans announced today. the prime minister says he wants to crack down on what he calls "rip off" degrees that don't lead to graduate jobs. labour has described the plan as "an attack on the aspirations of young people". the train drivers�* union, aslef, has announced a third ban on working overtime, which will see fresh disruption on railways.

drivers will refuse to work overtime for six days from monday, july 31. it comes as the union begins its second overtime ban in three weeks, in a dispute about pay, jobs and conditions. you�*re live with bbc news. sir eltonjohn sir elton john has sir eltonjohn has been giving evidence for the trial of kevin spacey who is accused of sexual offences including four man�*s appearing via video link sir elton was asked about a charity event he hosted which the actor attended. kevin spacey denies all charges against him. our special correspondent has

more on a video link from monaco, sir eltonjohn and his husband david more furnish gave evidence. the singer told the court his name was elton herculesjohn and he was asked about this charity event held at his home in windsor over a number of years. the white tie and tiara ball. the significance is one of kevin spacey�*s accusers said the actor grabbed him hard in the crotch on the way to that event causing him almost to swerve off the road. and there has been some question about how many times kevin spacey appeared at that event. sir eltonjohn said he had been there once in white tails coming off a private jet to the event. the barrister asked, a privatejet? to laughter from kevin spacey, sir elton said, yes, i don�*t think he was in a white tails on a commercialflight. the singer was also asked whether he recognised the accuser from a photo when he rushed out of a theatre. he said, normally when i rush out of the theatre, i wouldn�*t even recognise the queen. later this afternoon, we heard character references from friends and colleagues of kevin spacey. the court heard from these character references that he was a good and honest man who had dedicated himself to charity and to the theatre.

as they were read out, the actor in the dock sobbed. he denies all the charges. now on thursday voters go to the polls in three constituencies across england in a series of by elections which will provide a major test of rishi sunak�*s authority. the conservatives currently hold all three seats but the prime minister faces the possibility of losing them all after their previous mps resigned from parliament. and over the next few days we�*ll be in all three seats. and today it�*s the turn of selby and ainsty in north yorkshire. the seat was held by the former minister and conservative mp nigel adams who quit in the wake of his ally boris johnson�*s resignation as an mp last month. labour believe they can prize the seat away from the conservative party despite a 20 thousand majority for the tories at the last election. 0ur reporter luxmy gopal reports from selby.

against the backdrop of selby abbey and in a constituency of 100,000 people, the main political parties have been bringing out their big guns. the prime minister, rishi sunak, and the leader of the opposition, sir keir starmer, have been here joining in with campaigning. the local issues on voters minds include green spaces and public transport. national issues you won�*t be surprised to hear include the cost of living crisis, according to candidates who�*ve been out knocking on people�*s doors. and that�*s notjust rising food prices and high energy bills, but also rising mortgage rates and the knock on effect on rent. one of the people i spoke to here today said that his adult son has had to move back home with him because of how much his mortgage had gone up. now, this constituency is considered a tory heartland. labour, though, has been doing well in the polls nationally and sees an opportunity here. if they were to overturn the majority, it would be a record for them a majority of 20,000. and for rishi sunak, whose own constituency isn�*t far from here,

around 60 miles away. a loss would be a huge blow. one final thought. when selby changes political party, so does the country — to labour in 1997 and to conservative in 2010. so the outcome on thursday�*s byelection will be watched very closely by the main political parties. there are a number of candidates standing in the selby and ainsty by election. the list of candidates is on your screen now and can also be found on the bbc website along with a video from each candidate outlining their pledges to voters. before we leave you... have you ever had an old phone that you thought about keeping but you exchange it or got money for it or even thrown in the bin, regret you may have because an apple iphone from 2007 has been

sold for a record $190,000 at an auction in the us. the unopened first edition a0 gigabytes model was described as exceedingly rare and in exceptional condition. that�*s it, backin exceptional condition. that�*s it, back in a few minutes. stay with us on bbc news. good evening. there is no sign of any of the heat that�*s been affecting southern europe heading our way any time soon. but that is probably a good thing when you look at the temperatures that affected large parts of the south of europe and indeed the north of africa during today, temperatures into the middle a0s celsius. but that heat is being trapped in southern europe and north africa. thejet stream is running just about here to the south of it, a persistent area of high pressure feeding in that warmth to the north of it, an area of low pressure which today has been bringing us north—westerly winds. quite a cool feel to the weather and also quite a few showers,

as you can see on our earlier satellite and radar picture. but those showers are now fading in many places. so overnight we�*re going to be largely dry with some clear spells, although you can see behind me, cloud getting back into northern ireland, parts of wales, maybe the south—west of england later in the night, ahead of some outbreaks of rain. a rather chilly night in north—east scotland, maybe down to four or five degrees. and for tomorrow, well, here�*s our weather maker — this weather system, an area of low pressure pushing its way in from the west. and this is going to bring some outbreaks of rain. in fact, some quite heavy rain in places to start the day across northern ireland, some of that rain getting into parts of north—west wales. it�*s going to turn very wet across northern england and also in southern scotland. i think south—west scotland may see some of the wettest weather of all, but to the south of that, some hazy sunshine, and with more of a southerly wind, actually a warmer feel, 23 to 2a degrees. stuck under the cloud and rain, maybejust 1a or 15, a slightly drier day than it has been today in the north of scotland. and then as we head through tuesday night, well, that rain could persist for a while in parts of southern

scotland, north—east england, then tending to pull away into the north sea. some clear spells elsewhere. and these are the starting temperatures for wednesday, generally between 8 and 1a degrees. now, as we head deeper into the week, we�*ll see that weather system running away eastwards. high pressure trying to build from the west, but not making a lot of progress. and actually later in the week, it could well be that low pressure starts to return. so what does that mean for our weather? well, it means it is going to stay quite changeable, quite showery and rather cool for the time of year as well. temperatures as we get into the weekends between 16 and 22 degrees. bye for now.

"a turning point" in the fight this is bbc news. the headlines: russia and is the international deal on grain exports from ukraine. the un chief antonio guterres says it�*s "deeply regrettable". meanwhile, russia has blamed ukraine for attacking a vital bridge linking the crimean peninsula with russia. sweltering heat hits the us and europe. china sees record breaking temperatures. and a new drug to combat alzheimer�*s is hailed a "turning point". more now on that story.

the new drug which has been called