live from london, this is bbc news. prices in the uk rose by a smaller number than expected injune, but it's still far away from the bank of england �*s target. as the heat wave in europe intensifies, firefighters in europe intensifies, firefighters in greece battle new wildfires. it comes as the world health organization warns that the heat is putting health systems under severe pressure. putting health systems under severe ressure. , , ., ., pressure. this is the new normal, the aood pressure. this is the new normal, the good news. — pressure. this is the new normal, the good news, always _ pressure. this is the new normal, the good news, always look- pressure. this is the new normal, the good news, always look at - pressure. this is the new normal, | the good news, always look at the good news too, those heat —related deaths are preventable. find good news too, those heat -related deaths are preventable.— deaths are preventable. and on the trail of banksy. _ deaths are preventable. and on the trail of banksy, the _ deaths are preventable. and on the trail of banksy, the secretive - deaths are preventable. and on the trail of banksy, the secretive world | trail of banksy, the secretive world of the street artist.

hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. let's start with inflation because interest rates are expected to rise less sharply after the uk saw a sharp drop in inflation. drop in inflation. uk inflation fell to 7.9% injune from 8.7% in may — uk inflation has fallen to its lowest level in more than a year. and it still almost four times higher than the banks official 2% target. repeatedly raised interest rates to force it down. it’s rates to force it down. it's obviously _

rates to force it down. it's obviously welcome - rates to force it down. it�*s obviously welcome news that inflation has fallen, had to make difficult decisions. we can win the battle against inflation, but nonetheless for families up and down the country, prices are still rising much too fast, there is a long way to go, if we look at inflation 3% in the us, 5.5% in the euro zone, if we stick to the plan we can bring down inflation, that's what the government is determined to do. the government is determined to do. the government will need to do its part to deal_ government will need to do its part to deal with some of the reasons why inflation _ to deal with some of the reasons why inflation is _ to deal with some of the reasons why inflation is so much higher in britain as_ inflation is so much higher in britain as it is in similar countries around the world. food price _ countries around the world. food price inflation probably the most important evident —— element of inflation — important evident —— element of inflation for most people, has gone up inflation for most people, has gone up more _ inflation for most people, has gone up more than 17%, so there's some bil up more than 17%, so there's some big challenges out there. we need to boost _ big challenges out there. we need to boost our— big challenges out there. we need to boost our own economic security, we need _ boost our own economic security, we need to— boost our own economic security, we need to help — boost our own economic security, we need to help bring down peoples gas and electricity bills and we need to secure _ and electricity bills and we need to secure for— and electricity bills and we need to secure for britain the jobs of the future _ secure for britain the jobs of the future. countries around the world are making — future. countries around the world

are making those infections —— investments, we need to see more of it in the _ investments, we need to see more of it in the uk _ investments, we need to see more of it in the uk-— it in the uk. robert cuffed took me throu~h it in the uk. robert cuffed took me through some _ it in the uk. robert cuffed took me through some of _ it in the uk. robert cuffed took me through some of today's _ through some of today's inflation figures. today's news is about the latest data point right here, there's a hint of a slowdown, it's not like it's coming down, it's more tapping on the brakes before you start to go into reverse. and there's a hint as well that the core inflation is doing as well. across a raft of measures, some prices are coming right down. fuel, petrol, diesel, coming right down. this is the picture, slowdowns, not false. the

international picture is improving as well though. we look in april, the uk had the highest inflation rate in the g7, last month's figures everyone else starts moving down but the uk was still stubbornly above 8%. but the good news in today's figures, ijust moved it too far, the figures moved all the way down and the uk is starting to catch up on our neighbours. still the highest but at least moving in the right direction, so that's why we put it all together, the headline, the core, the international picture, leading economies like this told the today programme, this morning, that it may not be great news. but it it's at least good news in the fight against inflation. live now to grant fitzner — he's chief economist at the office for national statistics. thank you for being here live on the programme, what's your assessment of today? i programme, what's your assessment of toda ? ~ . programme, what's your assessment of toda ? ,, ., ., , ., , today? i think what of the questions is mostly that _ today? i think what of the questions is mostly that the _ today? i think what of the questions is mostly that the headline - is mostly that the headline inflation and and secondly what

we've got next. the drivers for the big pull this month, chief of petrol and diesel prices injune and anotherfact that was and diesel prices injune and another fact that was mentioned was the falling fool food prices, but it still in double figures, decade highs. definitely a ways to go on food prices. looking ahead there are some positive things to point to, the pound has been strong in recent months, that's likely to lead to cheaper food months, that's likely to lead to cheaperfood import months, that's likely to lead to cheaper food import prices, months, that's likely to lead to cheaperfood import prices, secondly we have seen that petrol prices have gone down, we are also expecting there to be lower energy prices for electricity, gas for this month. and a lot of, may be haven't really picked up but actually a pretty big news story. the prices that businesses pay for their raw materials are actually now back in negatively —— negative territory.

summer last year, there are actually down now. it does take a couple of months for this process to float through to consumers, but there is a correlation of 20 lower prices will be passed... you mentioned it because millions of people out there they won't feel that things are markedly better because... percentage points, but they, when are they likely to feel any sort of are they likely to feel any sort of a real difference?— are they likely to feel any sort of a real difference? well i think when food rices a real difference? well i think when food prices start _ a real difference? well i think when food prices start to _ a real difference? well i think when food prices start to lower, - a real difference? well i think when food prices start to lower, we - a real difference? well i think when food prices start to lower, we seen| food prices start to lower, we seen them gradually suffer in the last couple of months, we haven't seen big falls. that's something to look out for. i also mentioned lower electricity and gas tariffs for this month's and that will help. that another factor, month's and that will help. that anotherfactor, perhaps not quite strictly related to inflation but

another important thing is we've seen a combination of falling headline inflation and rising ways it —— wages. still in negative territory but it has been picking up and i think most forecasts expect that if inflation continues to fall in coming months... spending power of people �*s wages is actually going up, so that is a positive for consumers and consumer confidence. i haven't that long left, why is uk inflation stubbornly higher in the uk then the rest, four times the bank of england said where we should be. you think it is pressure on the interest rises?— interest rises? interest rates are definitely a _ interest rises? interest rates are definitely a matter— interest rises? interest rates are definitely a matter of _ interest rises? interest rates are definitely a matter of the - interest rises? interest rates are definitely a matter of the bank, | definitely a matter of the bank, not... interpret them and make decisions in fact of in terms of why

inflation in the uk is higher than inflation in the uk is higher than in other comparable countries, one is that we import a lot of energy and a lot of food, more than many other comparable countries, france for example grow more of their own food. more gas than we do, that's really it helped their inflation numbers. one of the effects of the ofgem is that it can take a month or two for changes in the process can be reflected in consumer pricing. irate be reflected in consumer pricing. we have to leave it there but thanks forjoining us come alive on bbc news, thanks forjoining us. sweeping red across europe and elsewhere, exceptional heat continues to be felt across large parts of the northern hemisphere the world health organization has warned today that the hype temperatures are straining health care systems. wildfires are still burning right across greens in southern europe,

this is a scene outside of athens, forests, homes being destroyed in the wake. a new heat wave is likely to further stoke the tinderbox conditions in southern europe. the situation is global, look at this map, the red shows temperatures above 30 degrees in china, beijing has recorded four weeks of record highs, where the temperature has exceeded 35 celsius. and in phoenix, arizona, even fiercer heat with highest of at least 43 degrees, that's about 110 fahrenheit for 19 �*s consecutive days. magistrate is on high alert for temperatures well above a0 degrees for several days, there's a risk to everyone's health, notjust there's a risk to everyone's health, not just the most vulnerable. let's gauge the situation in greece, in northern athens. just take it through how hot

it is where you are and what the authorities are doing there. itrefoil authorities are doing there. well ri . ht authorities are doing there. well riaht now authorities are doing there. -ii right now matthew i'm in an area north of athens, the hills behind me have been burning all day and in fact we've been around here and in mantra which is west of athens and our team has been moved several times by emergency services and we've been following their advice in terms of where it's safest to report from. helicopters have had to fly through every few minutes in fact i can hear one approaching as they've been dumping water, even if they've had one on area under control the winds are strong here, it's hot, it's humid, and so all of that is spanning the flames —— fanning the flames, they've done that every few hours. the firefighters say that they are trying the best they have, they are trying the best they have, they can the local residents that i've been speaking to in this area say they are not doing enough, they see their homes and their businesses

completely destroyed under forced to evacuate in the hundreds, they feel like all of this could potentially been avoided had emergency services got into these areas sooner.— got into these areas sooner. andrea there in greece, _ got into these areas sooner. andrea there in greece, think _ got into these areas sooner. andrea there in greece, think very - got into these areas sooner. andrea there in greece, think very much. . there in greece, think very much. let's move from greece to italy because red alerts are in effect for major cities as the heatwave increases there. it major cities as the heatwave increases there.— increases there. it has been extremely _ increases there. it has been extremely hot _ increases there. it has been extremely hot in _ increases there. it has been extremely hot in here - increases there. it has been extremely hot in here in - increases there. it has been l extremely hot in here in italy increases there. it has been - extremely hot in here in italy for the last few days. this heatwave has been described by authorities as the week from hell. under red alert warning meaning that the heat poses a threat to everyone. we've seen that these temperatures have consequences for people �*s health. there has been a 20% increase in the number of patients being admitted in hospitals across italy, showing

signs, showing signs of exhaustion, dehydration, and heatstroke. it's mostly elderly people but we have seen some younger people, too. that's not because they are being exposed to the sun and the hottest hour, it's because italians are being exposed to these temperatures for a few days in a row. and of course heat waves like this one can be dangerous. on tuesday a man and a woman, both aged 69, have died here in palermo and several local newspapers are reporting that they died because of the heat. we spoke to a doctor here that told us some of our —— some of her patients have died, not because of the heat, but the high temperatures have been contributing factor. she says she is worried because she feels that it's the most vulnerable that will pay the most vulnerable that will pay the price for this heatwave. because

of course for the elderly and for people with existing health conditions, and health problems, being exposed to these temperatures can have devastating consequences. what we've had the snapshot from greece, from italy. let's turn to spain because our climate editor in just in rowlett is in there. how climate change causes temperatures to soar. it climate change causes temperatures to soar. . . climate change causes temperatures tosoar. , , , , ., ., to soar. it shifts distribution of hot weather. _ to soar. it shifts distribution of hot weather, it _ to soar. it shifts distribution of hot weather, it makes - to soar. it shifts distribution of hot weather, it makes hot - to soar. it shifts distribution of| hot weather, it makes hot days to soar. it shifts distribution of - hot weather, it makes hot days and even more likely, makes them likely to be hotter as well and that's exactly what we are seeing here in europe. it's been a hellish week in southern spain where i've been,, i have to say where i am on the coast there is a breeze which is cooling things down. but you're absolutely right, the world meteorological organisation is saying that we should expect high, extreme, the high temperatures at extreme heat waves like the ones that the world has been enduring, or the northern

hemisphere has been enduring this week, to become the new normal. it's worth pointing out as well as here as you said in the introduction, here in europe we've got similar weather patterns and even higher heat here in america and also in asia, and we focus a lot on southern europe, north africa had even higher temperatures and tunisia has topped 15 celsius. , . ., 15 celsius. justin rowlett there here in spain. _ 15 celsius. justin rowlett there here in spain, head _ 15 celsius. justin rowlett there here in spain, head to - 15 celsius. justin rowlett there here in spain, head to the - 15 celsius. justin rowlett there here in spain, head to the life | 15 celsius. justin rowlett there - here in spain, head to the life page on our website because a lot of updated information constantly from right across europe also the situation in china, we also have those heat waves in america. so much in their that we have all italian cities under a red heat alert. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. rishi sunak has apologised for the historical treatment of lgbt veterans, who were sacked or forced out

of the military for being gay. the prime minister called the ban an "appalling failure" of the british state. it was illegal to be gay in the british military until 2000. jaguar land rover owner, tata, will invest £a billion, to build its flagship electric car battery plant in the uk. the new plant in somerset is expected to create a,000 ukjobs and thousands more in the wider supply chain. the new �*giga—factory�* will be one of the largest in europe. susan hall has been announced as the conservative party's mayoral candidate for london. she's been a london assembly member since 2017, secured 57 % of the vote — beating her rival, moz hossain. she will face labour's sadiq khan in next year's election. he's been in the position since 2016. you're live with bbc news

clear what this a0 page document shows. it shows that on november the 17th, the reputational risk committee met and said, i did not align with their values, that somehow i wasn't part of their diversity and inclusion agenda, and that for those reasons, there should be a glide path to closing my account when the mortgage expired in 2023. let me re—emphasize on that day that the decision was made.

that it was for commercial reasons just is not true. but the very idea that you close out a customer because they have perfectly legal opinions, which, by the way, our majority views in the country is a very dangerous path. that was nigel �*s carriage a little earlier, in a tweet rishi sunak said... david, tell us more, it was referring there to the prime minister, telus first of all what we heard from nigel faraj.— heard from nigel fara'. coots, excusrver * heard from nigel fara'. coots, exclusive banking _ heard from nigel faraj. coots, exclusive banking firm - heard from nigel faraj. coots, exclusive banking firm had - heard from nigel faraj. coots, i exclusive banking firm had been closed down he linked it then to his political views, obviously one of the most prominent you're a sceptic politicians in the uk. and the bbc

then reported a story after speaking to someone familiar, the decision was actually because he wasn't meeting the minimum thresholds to have an account with the bank, coots. getting certain documents he was entitled to, someone who had a bank account, that's what they publish today, world reputational risk committee of the bank. there are quotes in this document that nigel faraj picked up on, talking about his views being at odds with the bank, viewing itself as what they say is an inclusive organisation, it talks about specifics, support for the tennis player novak djokovic who was quite suspected —— sceptic about the covid vaccine, donald trump wanting to have the uk leave the european court on human rights. what coutts was

saying today, he didn't meet the overall wealth threshold and that's what triggered this, nigel faraj is denying that's the case, he has been cancelled by the bank, obviously an issue that came up in politics today, prime minister's questions, the weekly session, rishi sunak faces and he said he's quite concerned about what got on here. and david where does this go now? and david where does this go now? and where does that go after this latest development? rishi and where does that go after this latest development?— latest development? rishi sunak talked about _ latest development? rishi sunak talked about the _ latest development? rishi sunak talked about the action, - latest development? rishi sunak talked about the action, the - talked about the action, the treasury looking to cheat regulations, someone could get more notice if their account was going to be pause, get more information about why it was going to be closed, give them more opportunity to challenge that, banks are private companies and there is an element of being able to choose who they do business with there. coutts saying of course

this was about the amount in nigel faraj �*s bank and his denying it. thank you very much, life for us there at westminster. now let's turn to north korea because more details have been emerged about the soldier that's been detained after crossing into north korea. he is, court documents stated that he had been detained in south korea for... been south sent back to the us... he made it across the demilitarised zone between north and south korea whilst on tour of that border area, that area is one of the most heavily fortified in the world. well let's hear from an eyewitness who was there at the time of this incident.

it all happened pretty quickly, running for a few seconds and that's all it would have taken. to get across the border and a couple of seconds after, i saw that's when the soldier started running after him and, and then they... the building, it was all a bit of a scramble and it was all a bit of a scramble and it all happened really quickly. while it is quite an extraordinary story, i've been talking to our correspondent in washington, he's telling us the latest details that have been merging there. it’s telling us the latest details that have been merging there. it's an extraordinary — have been merging there. it's an extraordinary story, _ have been merging there. it's an extraordinary story, and - have been merging there. it's an i extraordinary story, and america's actually— extraordinary story, and america's actually advised against going to north— actually advised against going to north korea at all because the historical— north korea at all because the historical risk of kidnapped or essentially detention if you like. as a soldier travis king would have no goodness. details have indeed emerged — no goodness. details have indeed emerged in terms of local court documents but the details reported extensively and the korean times he said to _ extensively and the korean times he said to have been extorted through

security— said to have been extorted through security by— said to have been extorted through security by military police officers, he was taken to the boarding _ officers, he was taken to the boarding gate, the point that they left because they couldn't export him actually onto the plane, it's reported — him actually onto the plane, it's reported that he then fainted and pretended to have lost his passport so he _ pretended to have lost his passport so he was _ pretended to have lost his passport so he was escorted out of the security— so he was escorted out of the security zone. he is then made his way 34 _ security zone. he is then made his way 34 miles away to tour the demilitarised zone. it is not totally— demilitarised zone. it is not totally clear how he's managed to do that, normally people would have to si-n that, normally people would have to sign up _ that, normally people would have to sign up three days to a week before joining _ sign up three days to a week before joining these tours because they are so very— joining these tours because they are so very much watch, is controlled by the us—led un command. so whether his military— the us—led un command. so whether his military ids helped or didn't help him — his military ids helped or didn't help him there are questions whether there was— help him there are questions whether there was any element of preplanning. but the big question all of— preplanning. but the big question all of this— preplanning. but the big question all of this of course is that we still— all of this of course is that we still don't _ all of this of course is that we still don't know. we haven't got any idea at all— still don't know. we haven't got any idea at all what he goes —— went through— idea at all what he goes —— went through his _ idea at all what he goes —— went through his mind... i�*ve idea at all what he goes -- went through his mind...— idea at all what he goes -- went through his mind... i've come to the diloma through his mind... i've come to the diplomacy in a _ through his mind... i've come to the diplomacy in a moment, _ through his mind... i've come to the diplomacy in a moment, but - through his mind... i've come to the diplomacy in a moment, but the - diplomacy in a moment, but the family have been speaking to american media, what have they been

saying? american media, what have they been sa in: ? , . , �* american media, what have they been sa in: ? , , , �* ., saying? very briefly, we've heard via abc news _ saying? very briefly, we've heard via abc news in _ saying? very briefly, we've heard via abc news in the _ saying? very briefly, we've heard via abc news in the us _ saying? very briefly, we've heard via abc news in the us that - saying? very briefly, we've heard via abc news in the us that his i via abc news in the us that his mother, — via abc news in the us that his mother, claudine gates, was saying that this _ mother, claudine gates, was saying that this doesn't sound like him, she can't— that this doesn't sound like him, she can't believe it, she said that he must — she can't believe it, she said that he must have been, must have lost his mind _ he must have been, must have lost his mind so— he must have been, must have lost his mind. so fairly brief words there. — his mind. so fairly brief words there, she's quite shocked, she's confirmed — there, she's quite shocked, she's confirmed that the military have contacted her, pentagon officials said that — contacted her, pentagon officials said that when we were up at the pentagon— said that when we were up at the pentagon yesterday. at that time they were not identifying travis king. _ they were not identifying travis king, they said that they had been working _ king, they said that they had been working to — king, they said that they had been working to understand, try understand the circumstances, before they contact the next of kin. sean dail , i they contact the next of kin. sean daily. mant— they contact the next of kin. sean daily. i want to — they contact the next of kin. sean daily, i want to return _ they contact the next of kin. sean daily, i want to return to - they contact the next of kin. �*e—i daily, i want to return to that they contact the next of kin. �*e—i daily, i want to return to that bbc investigation report yesterday because a further 120 now a firmer, former current and former mcdonald's workers have feasted —— workers as

young as 17 have been grouped and harassed almost routinely. three weeks and she said a senior manager groped her. iwas three weeks and she said a senior manager groped her. i was leaning down to get the cooks, and he smacked me on the bottom, i reported it to the health line but i never got a response from them. so what ha--ened got a response from them. so what happened after— got a response from them. so what happened after that? _ got a response from them. so what happened after that? i _ got a response from them. so what happened after that? i ended - got a response from them. so what happened after that? i ended up i happened after that? i ended up caettin happened after that? i ended up getting fired _ happened after that? i ended up getting fired i — happened after that? i ended up getting fired i think _ happened after that? i ended up getting fired i think it's - happened after that? i ended up getting fired i think it's because | happened after that? i ended up| getting fired i think it's because i reported it. it seemed to be like everyone was in this big group and they were untouchable.— they were untouchable. especially with the managers. _ they were untouchable. especially with the managers. since - they were untouchable. especially i with the managers. since publication we've had a flood of other mcdonald's workers as well as paris employees, working at the chain. like emily, many said they did complain but were ignored by managers orfaced retribution. the story has prompted

a reaction at westminster, too. it's horrific and like so many cases, this isn'tjust about sex, it's about power. it's about older managers exploiting what is at mcdonald's a very young workforce. we put the latest allegations to mcdonald's. in response, it said, "we take all allegations extremely seriously and will investigate any that are brought to us thoroughly. responding on the wider investigation, mcdonald's said, but workers like emily say it's too little, too late. i'm really happy that people are speaking out. i know a lot of people that have worked at mcdonald's, who've been through very similar experiences. if you've been affected by any of theissues if you've been affected by any of the issues in that story,

information support has been available by the bbc action line, you'll find that online over at bbc news. i'm back in a moment with all of today's headlines at bbc news. hello. full uk forecast coming up in a moment. but , i thought we'd start off with that extreme heatwave that's across southern europe at the moment. temperatures dipping down into scotland, northern wealth, cool start to the day for the early risers but there should be plenty of dry weather and sunshine. showers will start and develop and the

greatest risk of seeing, north, eastern scotland, and in parts of northern england. gaps between showers, there will be asked a few of you that state dry all day. sunshine still should be low key, friday largely dry picture for england and wales, some thicker clouds with outbreaks of rain pushing in throughout the day. 21 in london, that still two or three degrees below average forjune or july. thejet degrees below average forjune or july. the jet stream degrees below average forjune or july. thejet stream passing degrees below average forjune or july. the jet stream passing this weekend, that keeps our weather unsettled, this ridge in thejet stream that's been responsible for extreme heat in europe, and if anything that rich is moving a little bit further eastwards and so, too, the highest temperatures. so we are starting to see some indications and we could see some extreme heat in parts of greece this weekend, maybe even getting quite close to the all—time european temperature

record will keep a close eye on that. particularly hot for the uk this weekend, particularly wet, for england and wales. outbreaks of rain, becoming heavy and persistent, lasting right into sunday. scotland and northern ireland on saturday, yes you get some rain as well, where there you are it tends to be on the cool side, for any —— many of us... scotland and northern island, somewhat brighter into the afternoon, then next week we've got further showers in the forecast. that's it for now.