hello, i'm christian fraser. this is the context. it shows that if the government and bank of england are prepared to take difficult decisions, we can win the battle against inflation. but nonetheless, for families up and down the country, prices are rising much too fast, there's a long way to go. there are still big challenges out there. we need to stabilise the economy, because whether it's your energy bills, the weekly food shop or, indeed, increasingly, mortgages and rents, they're going through the roof and people's wages just aren't keeping pace with that. the bacon and the gammon products since the turn of the year, _ they've gone up considerably. we are finding they're levelling, but i don't feel we're _ going to find a decrease.

good evening. brighter news, then, for the british economy. inflation fell more than expected last month. so what will that mean for the british economy and our mortgages, which are getting ever more expensive? also tonight, the owner ofjaguar land rover, tata, confirms it will build its flagship battery plant here in the uk, but in return for some huge government hand—outs. the government's critics say it is no substitute for a proper industrial strategy. and the heatwave in europe intensifies — get used to it. the world health organization warns this is the new normal. so, it might taste ghastly, but the medicine does appears to be working. across the board, inflation was down today. the headline figure — that's the consumer prices index — fell injune to 7.9%,

down from 8.7% in may. that fall was driven by a 2.7% drop in food and fuel prices. while inflation is falling, it does not mean prices are falling, just that they are rising less quickly. well, what does that mean for our interest rates? currently, the bank rate stands at 5%, but these figures suggest it may not have to go much further. the bank is still likely to put rates up in august another 0.5%. the markets were expecting the base rate to peak early next year at 6.25%, the highest level since 1999. that has now been revised to 5.75%. the chancellorjeremy hunt and the opposition shadow chancellor rachel reeves have been responding to the figures. it's obviously welcome news that inflation has fallen. and it shows that if the government and the bank of england are prepared to take difficult decisions, we can win the battle

against inflation. but nonetheless, for families up and down the country, prices are rising much too fast, there's a long way to go. if we look at inflation at 3% in the us, 5.5% in the eurozone, you can see if we stick to the plan, we can bring down inflation, and that's what this government is utterly determined to do. the government need to be doing its part to deal with some of the reasons why inflation is so much higher in britain than it is in similar countries around the world. the numbers today have confirmed that food price inflation, probably the most important element of inflation for most people, is still going up by more than 17%, so there are still big challenges out there. because we need to boost our own domestic economic security, we need to help bring down people's gas and electricity bills and we need to secure for britain the jobs of the future. countries around the world are making those investments. we need to see more of it in the uk.

let's hear from professor oliver de groot, head of economics at the university of liverpool management school. thank you very much for being with us, professor. let's provide some context for people singing at home because that is what we do. yes, inflation is falling, but prices are still going up, just not as quickly, correct? still going up, “ust not as quickly, correct? . still going up, 'ust not as quickly, correct? . , . correct? that is correct. good evening. _ correct? that is correct. good evening, christian. _ correct? that is correct. good evening, christian. so - correct? that is correct. good evening, christian. so the - correct? that is correct. good - evening, christian. so the headline inflation number that has been reported, this is only the change in prices over the last year, and so while that headline number has come down forjune relative to june while that headline number has come down forjune relative tojune last year, it still means that the prices on the whole are rising and rising a lot faster than the bank of england would like. �* ., ., ., would like. and although that headhne would like. and although that headline inflation _ would like. and although that headline inflation figure - would like. and although that headline inflation figure is - would like. and although that - headline inflation figure is coming down, your own cost—of—living could be going up, itjust depends what you spend your money on.- you spend your money on. that's riuht. so you spend your money on. that's right- so the _ you spend your money on. that's right. so the inflation _ you spend your money on. that's right. so the inflation data - you spend your money on. that's right. so the inflation data is -

right. so the inflation data is measuring a kind of represented basket of things that consumers buy, and so every household consumers go to be different in terms of what they spend their money on, so for example people generally come on lower incomes, spend a large proportion of their income on food, and food inflation has them on the big components in the inflation indexin big components in the inflation index in terms of pushing up on price rises —— food inflation has been one of the big. they are going to be expressing a higher inflation rate than other people. henge to be expressing a higher inflation rate than other people.— rate than other people. have you seen any evidence _ rate than other people. have you seen any evidence today - rate than other people. have you seen any evidence today that - rate than other people. have you i seen any evidence today that prices have fallen compared to the previous month? ., ,, ., have fallen compared to the previous month? ., , ., have fallen compared to the previous month? ., i. ., ., ~' month? there are... so if you look at the rate — month? there are... so if you look at the rate down _ month? there are... so if you look at the rate down across _ month? there are... so if you look at the rate down across different . at the rate down across different components of the index, on the good side, they have fallen by a small amount month on month, but the real

rise in prices is still on the services side. that is where most of the inflation is coming from at the moment. ., ., , moment. 0k. the government target is to cut headline — moment. 0k. the government target is to cut headline inflation _ moment. 0k. the government target is to cut headline inflation to _ moment. 0k. the government target is to cut headline inflation to 5.496 - moment. 0k. the government target is to cut headline inflation to 5.496 by - to cut headline inflation to 5.4% by the end of the year was we ahead of that curve, do you think? i am the end of the year was we ahead of that curve, do you think?— that curve, do you think? i am not a forecaster myself, _ that curve, do you think? i am not a forecaster myself, so _ that curve, do you think? i am not a forecaster myself, so i _ that curve, do you think? i am not a forecaster myself, so i don't - that curve, do you think? i am not a forecaster myself, so i don't have a | forecaster myself, so i don't have a forecaster myself, so i don't have a forecast of where it is going to go. the general view amongst forecasters, professional forecasters, professional forecasters, is that it is a little bit touching go. it is gonna be there or thereabouts —— and go. it there or thereabouts —— and go. it has been stubbornly high, hasn't it? this time it is below the forecast, which is why we are defining it as good news. ijust want to know really what that will mean for the bank of england's monetary policy committee when they meet in august. do they take that on board and might they change the decision that was

pending on how much they push interest rates of?— pending on how much they push interest rates of? certainly. so the bank of england — interest rates of? certainly. so the bank of england has _ interest rates of? certainly. so the bank of england has got _ interest rates of? certainly. so the bank of england has got a - interest rates of? certainly. so the bank of england has got a clear - bank of england has got a clear mandate, which is to get inflation back onto his 2% target, and so when they make their interest rate decision every meeting, they are thinking about what the future path for inflation will be and how quickly that inflation is going to calm down. so they will have an internal forecast, calm down. so they will have an internalforecast, and calm down. so they will have an internal forecast, and the accent to which this is a surprise on the downside, it will affect their decision their —— will affect their decision—making. forthe —— will affect their decision—making. for the last three orfour months, the decision—making. for the last three or four months, the surprises been the up cycles of this type of the first time in a few month, inflation is lower than expected. the bank of england a construct a 30 standing of the inflation dynamics in the economy and would probably put some downward pressure on where we think interest rates are going to go. what interest rates are going to go. what would that mean _

interest rates are going to go. what would that mean the _ interest rates are going to go. what would that mean the people sitting at home who, in the coming weeks or months, might be looking to change their mortgage? a lot of fixed rates about to end. martin lewis, sensible advice, said today, there is a chance, no promises, but there is a chance, no promises, but there is a chance that a new fixed—rate mortgage deals may easily. do you think they will? —— ease a little. two things. this isjust think they will? —— ease a little. two things. this is just one think they will? —— ease a little. two things. this isjust one month data and one surprise. i think we want to be careful about over interpreting one single data point. we really want to see where the inflation is going to go, so for example, the court inflation numbers are still pretty strong, suggesting that there is a lot of inflation pressure in the economy. wage growth numbers are still very high, suggesting there is a lot of tightness in the labour market. these are definitely still concerns for the bank of london and how they are going to set interest rates, but coming to the point about banks, a

five—year fixed term, they are setting that rate based on their expectation of where interest rates are going to go over the next five years, and to the extent that this surprise fall inflation means interest rate are going to be a little bit lower over the next couple of years, then you would hope to see that being reflected in the mortgage rates being offered as well, but as i said, this is one month of data and normally banks do not change their mortgage deals as quickly as that, so i think it will be a bit of time before you see them adjusting. jun; be a bit of time before you see them ad'ustina, , ., , be a bit of time before you see them ad'ustina, i. , , ., ,, ., adjusting. jury out but perhaps a little ho -e adjusting. jury out but perhaps a little hope for _ adjusting. jury out but perhaps a little hope for those _ adjusting. jury out but perhaps a little hope for those who - adjusting. jury out but perhaps a little hope for those who are - adjusting. jury out but perhaps a l little hope for those who are about to renegotiate their mortgages. professor the context, thank you. —— professor the context, thank you. —— professor de groot, thank you. some more good news

for the government today. the owners of jaguar land rover, tata, has confirmed plans to build its flagship battery plant here in the uk. the new factory in somerset is expected to create 4,000 uk jobs and thousands more in the wider supply chain. tata said it will invest £4 billion. the uk has seen off competition from spain, but at a considerable price. the government is providing subsidies worth hundreds of millions of pounds. here's rishi sunak reacting to the news. this is a fantastic vote of confidence in the uk and the uk economy. it's one of the largest ever investments in the uk auto sector that we've seen. it's getting us ready for the future and the transition to electric vehicles. it's billions of pounds of investment and thousands ofjobs. and it's great news. let's speak to james boley, senior communications manager and spokesperson for the society of motor manufacturers and traders. good to see you, james. batteries typically account for more than half the value of an electric car, so in that context, how important is this deal? 50 that context, how important is this deal? , , ., that context, how important is this deal? , ., , ., deal? so this is a real shot in the arm for the _ deal? so this is a real shot in the arm for the uk _ deal? so this is a real shot in the arm for the uk automotive - deal? so this is a real shot in the i arm for the uk automotive industry will sub there is a global transition with markets around the

world all making the shift toward electrification. we are seeing considerable investment in overseas markets, in the us, in china and europe, and so anchoring battery production in the uk for the uk's vehicle output is incredibly important, it gives us this real opportunity to continue building on the huge, very firm foundations that we have in the uk for electric vehicle production. we have outstanding rnd, we already have an excellent supply chain, and this is a real opportunity now for the industry to consider to go and see the opportunities. fin industry to consider to go and see the opportunities.— the opportunities. on the supply chain, thousands _ the opportunities. on the supply chain, thousands of _ the opportunities. on the supply chain, thousands of jobs - the opportunities. on the supply chain, thousands of jobs at - the opportunities. on the supply chain, thousands of jobs at the l chain, thousands ofjobs at the plane but many more being created in the local economy. when foreign direct investment is looking at a place to go and set up a factory, do they look at that supply chain and does it bring further investment if you have that expertise there? it you have that expertise there? it certainly is a can tripping factor. it is really helpful that the uk has an outstanding global reputation ——

ng bidding factor. for electric vehicles we almost make every component they need to produce an electric vehicle. we also have a high skill labourforce. an electric vehicle. we also have a high skill labour force. we an electric vehicle. we also have a high skill labourforce. we have outstanding relationships with academia and r and d, so it is really important to build on that and make sure that we have that progress for the next few years. aha, progress for the next few years. a lot of comments about the subsidy package. dft is reporting tonight £500 million invested through subsidies, road increments and research funding full is that the model was mac —— road increments and research funding, is that the model? ultimately... at the announcement today ensures is the uk remains

globally competitive. there are other markets making big investments upset is in their industries at the moment and it is really important we stay competitive, we attract that investment, and we are fundamentally over the strong automotive producer, and so it is vital to make sure that investors see that opportunity in the uk and continue to invest in uk automotive. the the uk and continue to invest in uk automotive-— the uk and continue to invest in uk automotive. ., . ., automotive. the former executive at nissan, he automotive. the former executive at nissan. he is— automotive. the former executive at nissan. he is new — automotive. the former executive at nissan, he is now at _ automotive. the former executive at nissan, he is now at pod _ automotive. the former executive at nissan, he is now at pod point - automotive. the former executive at nissan, he is now at pod point uk, l nissan, he is now at pod point uk, he said, great, disc of all well and good, but it is piecemeal and what the uk really needs for the industry is an industrial strategy to lift all boats, and the opposition would agree with him. prime minister does not think a strategy like that is necessary for the what would you say? necessary for the what would you sa ? ~ . . . , necessary for the what would you sa? . , ., ., say? we have cause for a green transfer mission _ say? we have cause for a green transfer mission strategy, - say? we have cause for a green - transfer mission strategy, something that brings together all the different expertise we have in the uk, creates a really attractive package to turbo—charge investments, turbo—charge production make sure we stay at the forefront. that wider strategy is really important, it is

on the we have called for previously, and we are really grateful that this investment has been made, it is really important, and it is essential we now build on that. g and it is essential we now build on that. �* ., ., and it is essential we now build on that. ., ., ., , ., ., ., that. a lot of money, a lot of taxnayers — that. a lot of money, a lot of taxpayers money, _ that. a lot of money, a lot of taxpayers money, but - that. a lot of money, a lot of taxpayers money, but if - that. a lot of money, a lot of taxpayers money, but if it. that. a lot of money, a lot of taxpayers money, but if it is| that. a lot of money, a lot of- taxpayers money, but if it is going to bring £4 billion into the wider economy, the government was say that is money well spent? it is economy, the government was say that is money well spent?— is money well spent? it is also a hue is money well spent? it is also a huge opportunity _ is money well spent? it is also a huge opportunity to _ is money well spent? it is also a huge opportunity to go - is money well spent? it is also a huge opportunity to go much - is money well spent? it is also a - huge opportunity to go much further thanjust the 4 huge opportunity to go much further than just the 4 billion we are seeing invested in this particular giga factory. this is an opportunity to anchorfor the giga factory. this is an opportunity to anchor for the production within the uk will we are already seeing other company is make big investments in the uk and big commitments to the uk. there is electric then production taking place in the northwest from other manufacturers also investing indicative factories as well in the northeast, so there is a real opportunity to create that's snowball effect and build on not just the 102,000 jobs that currently depend on automotive production but also the total of 800,000 jobs,

currently in uk automotive. an opportunity to grow that come invest in skills and make sure that this growth helps generate wealth across the uk. ., ,., ,,_ growth helps generate wealth across theuk. ., ,, , , the uk. yeah, probably the biggest investment they _ the uk. yeah, probably the biggest investment they have _ the uk. yeah, probably the biggest investment they have made - the uk. yeah, probably the biggest investment they have made any - investment they have made any current history since they invested in nissan in the 1980s. —— in the car industry. james, thank you very much. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some of the other stories making headlines today. 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. susan hall has been announced as the conservative party's mayoral candidate for london. ms hall, who has been a london assembly member since 2017, secured 57% of the vote, beating her rival, moz hossain. ms hall will now face labour's sadiq khan in next year's election. he's been in the

position since 2016. over 100 former and current mcdonald's employees have contacted the bbc since it published its investigation into allegations of bullying and harassment at the fast food chain. staff said they were forcibly kissed and groped by colleagues at uk restaurants. mcdonald's says it will thoroughly investigate any claims brought to its attention. you're live with bbc news. an extreme heatwave is continuing to be felt across large parts of the northern hemisphere, amid warnings from the world health organization that the high temperatures are straining health care systems. wildfires are still burning across greece in southern europe. this is the scene just outside athens, where forests and homes are being destroyed. greek authorities are bracing themselves for a new heatwave, which is likely to further stoke tinderbox conditions across the country. southern europe is hugely affected by the heat,

but the situation is global. as you'll see from this map. this is the red, these are the warning signs. temperatures above 30 degrees. in china, beijing has registered four weeks of record highs, where the temperature exceeded 35 degrees celsius. and in phoenix, arizona, even fiercer heat — with highs of at least 43 degrees, about 110 degrees fahrenheit, for 19 consecutive days. setting a new record. the mediterranean basin is on high alert, with temperatures well above a0 degrees for several days, meaning there's a risk to everyone's health, not just the most vulnerable. azadeh moshiri is in greece, where wildfires continue to burn. she sent us this update. i'm west of athens, in mandra. local residents pointed us here. they said, "follow the road and you'll find a facility that has "completely burned down," and when we got here, we spoke to the owner and he said that there were animals actually

held here, dogs held in the basement, for safety, as the fires began to spring. now, as you can see, there's some smoke coming up, so i'm going to move you in this direction — because over here were deer that were held who apparently hopped across the fence because the fire started engulfing and approaching this area. now, here in mandra, the fire actually extended across eight km, and so scenes like this — devastation like this — is happening across the area and also across mainland greece. another issue that we are hearing from several local residents, including the owner of this facility, is they feel like firefighters just didn't get here soon enough, that if they'd managed to respond to all the wildfires in time, then perhaps scenes like this wouldn't have happened. with temperatures soaring in so many cities this summer, some have introduced

chief heat officers. i'm joined by kathy baughman mcleod. she is a director of resilience. what is the focus of the job? detecting peoples and anti—amenities from the impact of climate change like extreme heat and the chief heat of a certain someone in the city wakes up every day dedicated to protecting vulnerable people this heat is so —— from this heat. and this heat is so unexpected and so big that we are not ready. share big that we are not ready. are cities not _ big that we are not ready. are cities not do _ big that we are not ready. are cities not do up _ big that we are not ready. are cities not do up to he prove themselves?— cities not do up to he prove themselves? . .. ., ., ., themselves? the acceleration of the heat from climate _ themselves? the acceleration of the heat from climate change _ themselves? the acceleration of the heat from climate change plus - themselves? the acceleration of the heat from climate change plus el - heat from climate change plus el nino means that the risk and the impact is moving more quickly than our perception of our own risk, and so we are not ready, we did not expect it, our buildings are not built for these temperatures, our clothes are not built for these temperatures, and so there are lots of things we can do when that is

partly what a officer does. but we have to double time answered investing in these solutions and the biggest thing when you do is make people aware because we are just don't have the awareness we need to take action to protect ourselves and our families. take action to protect ourselves and our families-— our families. would you say some thins our families. would you say some things will. _ our families. would you say some things will. we — our families. would you say some things will, we are _ our families. would you say some things will, we are still _ our families. would you say some things will, we are still learning . things will, we are still learning was mac i read a very interesting piece in one of the american papers this week about what is going on underground, in chicago, with metro lines with basements of huge power blocks. are we reaping a whirlwind here we don't fully understand? yes. here we don't fully understand? yes, we are, here we don't fully understand? yes, we are. and — here we don't fully understand? yes, we are, and when _ here we don't fully understand? yes, we are, and when with _ here we don't fully understand? yes we are, and when with thick about all the investment we made in our cities and our infrastructure, they have not been heat risk informs —— when we think about. the materials we build our cities and all of our bridges and our roads and our airports and all of the things we used to live our lives, they have been built without the idea of how hot it is, and so our airports are going to be shutting down because aeroplanes cannot fly past 38

degrees, our iphones, smartphones, will shut down at 35 degrees, and so we have got some big, big things coming, but again there are lots of solutions, but the biggest thing is that this risk is invisible and silent and so we have a hurricane, you have trees blowing, a flood, cars going down the street, the fire just catches your attention. this climate risk are so telegenic. this one is silent and invisible and so it needs extra pr and extra branding for us to understand how big it is and to act quickly to save ourselves. i and to act quickly to save ourselves.— and to act quickly to save ourselves. , , ,.,, .,, ourselves. i suppose the most visible example _ ourselves. i suppose the most visible example of— ourselves. i suppose the most visible example of that - ourselves. i suppose the most visible example of that for - ourselves. i suppose the most. visible example of that for people who were watching some years ago was that building that collapsed in miami. it was not a flood, it was not the sea that had already advanced on the building, but the coastal topography was changing the unseen it was changing, and the building just fell over.—

building 'ust fell over. yes, and there building just fell over. yes, and there was _ building just fell over. yes, and there was also _ building just fell over. yes, and there was also some _ building just fell over. yes, and there was also some salt - building just fell over. yes, and there was also some salt water| there was also some salt water intrusion that had an interaction with the core structures of the building, and so it does daily question of, should we assess what we have? we know the cost of heat are growing and especially around worker productivity, and we have determined that just with the thatjust with the us economy alone in 2020 it cost $100 billion in worker productivity losses, which means that when we are not thermally comfortable, not cool enough, our brains don't rest and we wake up tired and make mistakes at work, and that cost a lot of money. we get sick, we hurt ourselves and others and we have to thing about the systemic leaving also protecting and helping those most at risk of this —— think about systemically, but also. heat does not hit people equally. it is a just proportionate impact on order people, pregnant

women, kids —— a disproportionate impact on older people. women, kids -- a disproportionate impact on older people.— women, kids -- a disproportionate impact on older people. kathy, thank ou for impact on older people. kathy, thank you for coming _ impact on older people. kathy, thank you for coming on. _ the russian president vladimir putin, facing an arrest warrant from the international criminal court, will not attend next month's bric summit injohanessburg by mutual agreement. the truth is it would have put south africa, a member of the court, under an obligation to arrest him — a move that president cyril ramaphosa had warned might lead his country into war. not that the bric countries are taking a position on the war. they are still doing plenty of business with the kremlin, as are other nations who are skirting western—imposed sanctions. the washington post has a fascinating investigation today on the flow of banned hardware and electronics that are pouring into russia in support of the war. in particular, there has been a striking expansion of import—export companies in kyrgystan, who are dealing in sanctioned chinese and european goods, most of which are flown or shipped overland.

let's speak to the man behind that investigation, joby warrick. surprise you most about —— what surprise you most? the surprise you most about -- what surprise you most?— surprise you most about -- what surprise you most? the fact that... we are stepping — surprise you most? the fact that... we are stopping russia _ surprise you most? the fact that... we are stopping russia getting - surprise you most? the fact that... we are stopping russia getting the | we are stopping russia getting the things they can use to attack the ukrainians, and obviously things we try our sanctions, export restrictions, but russia has been able to find so many ways around those restrictions and wanting most interesting wondrously has been using the central asian countries, particular kyrgyzstan. former soviet states, they have historical ties to russia, and so you see this numerous companies springing up in the last couple of years or last year and a half to basically help russia get the things it needs. chinese goods, everything from drones to electronics to even rifle scopes, coming in through kyrgyzstan and through some of these other central asian countries, through the back door into russia aboard they can use

them. i door into russia aboard they can use them. . ., , them. i am tight for time, but i 'ust them. i am tight for time, but i just want _ them. i am tight for time, but i just want to _ them. i am tight for time, but i just want to ask _ them. i am tight for time, but i just want to ask you, _ them. i am tight for time, but i i just want to ask you, kyrgyzstan, them. i am tight for time, but i - just want to ask you, kyrgyzstan, it strikes me, is an ally of the united states, but is it dealing with russia. what is the precedence? it russia. what is the precedence? it is interesting. we've spent delegations that it is in their interest to work with western countries and economies and not with russia, but there is corruption that is rampant, there is alsojust historical and economic ties, and russia has a lot of money to throw around to get the things it needs, so it has been an irresistible alert for some of these companies to do business with russia and maybe take the consequences. that is what we are seeing right now.— are seeing right now. joby, we are out of time. _ are seeing right now. joby, we are out of time, sorry _ are seeing right now. joby, we are out of time, sorry we _ are seeing right now. joby, we are out of time, sorry we were - are seeing right now. joby, we are out of time, sorry we were a - are seeing right now. joby, we are out of time, sorry we were a little | out of time, sorry we were a little pressed, but do read a joby�*s article. likeable, as he describes it, trying to crack down on the goods being smuggled in. —— whack a mole. we will be back, we will talk to miles taylor about a new book on

his life inside the house. it is a fascinating read. do you stay with us. —— inside the white house. hello. i wonder if you remember what you were doing this time last year? well, chances are you were sweating. yes, it was the uk's hottest day on record — 40.3 celsius recorded in lincolnshire. fast—forward to today — what a different story. one year later, a lot of cloud around, some showers, and temperatures at best into the low 20s. now the day's showers are starting to fade away, so for many of us, the weather will become drier over the next few hours. a few showers pushing into the far north of scotland, though. quite a cool kind of night forjuly, with temperatures dipping down in single figures — scotland, northern ireland, wales and western areas of england. so a cool start to the day on thursday for the early—risers, but there should be plenty of dry weather and sunshine. showers will start to develop, and i think the greatest risk of seeing some of those showers will be across northern and eastern scotland,

and into parts of northeast england. elsewhere, there should be some pretty big gaps between the showers — that means there'll be quite a few of you that stay dry all day. temperatures a little bit below average, but in thejuly sunshine should still feel ok. friday, a largely dry picture with some sunshine for england and wales, but for scotland and northern ireland, this time, we'll see some thicker cloud working off the atlantic, with outbreaks of rain pushing in from the west through the day. those temperatures struggling — 16—17 degrees, not great in the north, and even 21 in london, that's still 2—3 degrees below average forjuly. the jet stream pattern this weekend, well, we keep the trough to the west of the uk that keeps our weather unsettled. it's this ridge in the jet stream that's been responsible for the extreme heat in europe and, if anything, that ridge is moving a little bit further eastwards — and so too will the highest temperatures. so, we're starting to see some indications that we could see some extreme heat in parts of greece this weekend, maybe even getting quite close to the all—time european temperature record. we'll keep a close eye on that. no chance of anything particularly hot, though, for the uk this weekend. it will, though, be particularly

wet — and particularly for england and wales, outbreaks of rain moving in here, becoming heavy and persistent, and lasting right into sunday. scotland and northern ireland on saturday, yes, you get some rain, as well. wherever you are, it'll tend to be on the cool side, with temperatures for many of us around 17—18 celsius. but at least for scotland and northern ireland, the rain should pull away a little bit on sunday to allow something a bit brighter into the afternoon. and then, next week, well, we've got some further showers in the forecast. that's it for now.

england won the toss and put australia into bat in manchester and, though a number of batsmen got starts, none yet have