he was a well respected journalist and writer and had been diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2014... and that's the bbc�*s news at six. his was a trusted voice of authority, he spent the last few years calling for better nhs cancer screening. he'll perhaps be best remembered for his work in africa, where his reporting gave a voice to millions. we'll have an appreciation of a remarkable life. also this lunchtime... thousands flee the wildfires in rhodes as the blazes spread out of control. more repatriation flights bringing british tourists back are planned. we could see the fire just coming down, there was nowhere for us to go, the beach was a dead end. and the struggle to get on the boat, it was very, very traumatic. the government sets out plans to build the bulk

of new homes in cities, vowing not to "concrete over the countryside". and coming up on bbc news... one of the tournament favourites germany get their world cup campaign off to an impressive start by beating morocco 6—0. hello. thejournalist, presenter and author, our colleague george alagiah, has died. he was 67. he was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2014, and in recent years used his voice to champion better nhs screening for the disease. in many ways he was a pioneer in british broadcastjournalism. born in sri lanka, he was one of the first people of colour working for a major uk broadcaster to report extensively on the part

of the world that became known as the global south, shining a light on the ordinary lives of millions of people, most notably perhaps in africa, whose everyday lives were often ignored or relegated to the inside pages of newspapers. the bbc director—general, tim davie said today that george... "was more than just an outstanding journalist....audiences could sense his kindness, empathy and wonderful humanity". our special correspondent allan little now looks back at a life of wonderful storytelling and adventure. three, two, one... go tape. at six o'clock — the ground war on iraq has begun. millions knew him as the face of the six o'clock news... good evening and welcome to the six o'clock news. ..and for his calm, unflappable authority. good evening and welcome to the bbc�*s news at six. he was born in sri lanka in 1955 to christian tamil parents. as a child the family moved to ghana. this is the road...

and he was swept up in the early optimism of a young nation newly independent of british colonial rule. we knew that africa was going to be united and that ghana, this country, was going to be at the centre of it, and i think that was a kind of dream. at 11 he was a migrant again, this time to england, where his parents enrolled him in a portsmouth boarding school. here, though there was some racism, he learned to adapt to a new culture and to thrive. at durham university he met his wife frances. i think when we got married, we were aware of a sort of meeting of cultures. you can see that in the wedding photos. we've got two sons, adam and matthew. in a turbulent and often dangerous working life, she and their two boys were the still and unwavering centre of his existence — his solid ground. and welcome to the rainbow nation. forjust over a year now,

south africa has been my base as the bbc�*s africa correspondent. i knew george as a foreign correspondent. we worked together in africa, the continent whose fate ran through his life like a thread through cloth. so, this is where... your house? hey? oh, it's nice, it's nice. i thought of him as a kind of mentor, i was inspired by his example. he was brave, calm and kind. ok, you get the water from here and do that. i admired his gift for reaching into the hearts of those caught up in war or natural disaster. winning their trust, even at the worst moments of their lives. in a refugee camp in eastern zaire, hundreds were dying every day of preventable illness. i asked her what she wanted from life. "a job," she said, "so i can look after little petty." in somalia he met a woman whose ten—year—old daughter had just died. his own children were about the same age. it seemed wrong to be

there at what should have been a moment of private grief. she said it was all right if it might help to save her other daughter. i haven't the heart to count and it doesn't really matter... there were moments when he crossed the line between merely witnessing and actively intervening in the pain of others. we took those we could manage to the french military hospital, at times like this it's impossible not to cross the line that divides us, the observers, and those we observe. the rwandese translator we worked with then, seth ngarambe, told us his tutsi wife had been murdered by hutu extremists. but he was later accused of complicity in her murder and jailed. george wanted to know the truth, however painful, and went to find him in prison. the nature of their reunion, the power of it, says something profound about the george we knew and his extraordinary talent. you're looking well, you're looking better than i thought. yes. hey?

seth, can we go and talk somewhere? it's wonderful. he even charmed men at the heart of sierra leone's normally secretive diamond trading business. this is the biggest you've seen all day and... the world of the so—called blood diamond. this is something to write home about? no, this is about $2,000, $2,500. so you're in the clear? in ghana, he went back to his old school. somewhere in here is me. go on, yes... well done! he would later say that he was destined to spend his adult life in africa dispelling the dream he had nurtured so carefully as a child. he was injohannesburg in the mandela years, a time of bright promise, mandela in his �*70s was about to remarry. and now, sir, the future, you're a man in love? it is a wonderful moment for me, as anybody else, to be in love. when he returned to the uk he brought to the

studio a wealth of wisdom and experience gathered over years on the road. though in the seconds before his first six o'clock news, there was some trepidation. at six o'clock, these are tonight's top stories... he was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. after a gruelling round of treatment and multiple operations, he couldn't wait to be back in the tumult of the newsroom. he was deeply moved by messages of support and affection sent in by countless viewers he would never meet. and on his first day back made this a small concession. and i just want to say it's...good to be back with you. off—screen, george was funny, clever, a generous and confiding friend and full of energetic hope. there was something infectious about his optimism. you always walked away from time with george feeling better about the human race and the world in general. and that's the bbc�*s news at six. the migrant boy whose family left sri lanka with nothing found his home in a changing britain and he took this country to his heart.

it's goodbye, the news continues, though, here on bbc one... i watched george for years up close and thought this of him — that people wanted to tell him that that people wanted to tell him their story because, in hisjournalism, they saw the outstretched hand of a shared humanity and of solidarity. the journalist, presenter and writer george alagiah, who has died at the age of 67. on a personal note, george touched us all with his kindness and generosity, his warmth and good humour. we loved him here at bbc news and i loved him as a mentor, colleague and friend. his spirit, strength and courage in the later years of his life are something his family can be so proud of. journalism has lost a giant. in our other main news today.

the foreign office says there are between 7,000 and 10,000 british tourists on the greek island of rhodes where wildfires have forced many people from their homes and hotels. they're being urged to take advice from tour companies about what to do, and holiday firms are sending planes to pick up those who may be stranded. some have had to sleep at the airport or in sports halls, conference centres and and even out on the street. and today there are evacuation orders in place because of spreading wildfires for parts of corfu and evia. zoe conway has the latest. the seaside resort of kiotari this morning on the south coast of rhodes. it was engulfed by fire on saturday. the flames, the smoke spread so quickly that people had to be evacuated from the beaches. we were trapped on the beach. we could see the fire. we could see the fire — it was coming down. there was nowhere for us to go. the beach was a dead end, and the struggle to get on the boat, it was very, very traumatic

because it was just... everyone was fighting. it was each man for themselves. but for others, the beach was no safe haven. all of a sudden, the smoke just got so black. no, you couldn't see anybody on the beach. everyone was coughing. we had the towels from the sun loungers which we were wetting, putting over our faces. and then we were just told, just walk, just walk. and we just walked for six miles in flip flops. just kept walking until we came across the first hotel. for seven days, firefighters have laboured in the a0 degree heat. yet these fires are still not under control. according to the island's deputy mayor, the uk foreign office is not advising people to stay away. the foreign office advice is to stick very close to your tour company. they are the people, the tour operators, who know best what you should do. it's important to recognise that there are between seven and 10,000 british holidaymakers on rhodes. this satellite image of rhodes gives a sense of how

widespread the fires are. the foreign office says it's affecting 10% of the island. tourists have been full of praise for the generosity they've been shown by the greek people. we've been treated very well. they're like, yeah, and you can't... the volunteers have been amazing. fires have also been raging on the island of corfu, where 2,000 people have been evacuated. these boats were helping people to escape last night, but the greek government is anxious to play down the threat. the situation in corfu is not alarming. we had some evacuation from houses. summer houses, but nothing like the evacuation that took place in rhodes these days. temperatures are set to soar in greece again tomorrow. fires continue to spread across the country. the greek government says it's on constant alert. zoe conway, bbc news.

0ur correspondent azadeh moshiri is on the island of rhodes. you are at the airport, azadeh, what are people there telling you about their experiences clive, people here rhodes airport are angry, and that angry is firmly directed at the airlines. i spoke to a family who had to leave their hotel to reach a beach where thousands were trying to get on boats, only to be told to go to another hotel and sleep on sunbeds. they expected to get support from their airline, they didn't. they kept saying the words, where are they? since then, because there have been so many some of the story to this which i have heard and others have heard across the bbc, support has come in. there is the uk rapid appointment team which is here to guide british holidaymakers to their airlines. to guide british holidaymakers to theirairlines. 0ur to guide british holidaymakers to their airlines. 0ur lines have sent more staff and they have made a

point of saying that they understand this is a very difficult situation. easyjet, tui, all of them have sent out similar messages about the health and well—being of their customers, but the problem is that when you have gone through traumatic events like this, it is hard to feel like that is enough, in fact one of the people i spoke to said, i am disgusted, where are they? but it is important to say that there have also been real acts of kindness from the people of rhodes. there is a table here that airport staff have set up which is replenished every few hours with greek treats and water for people who need them. azadeh moshiri there at the airport in rhodes. so, a concerning time for holidaymakers in those areas hit by wildfires in greece. well, theo leggett has been looking at the details of the return flights being planned by travel companies and also at what your rights are if you've already booked a holiday but are now thinking of cancelling. thanks, clive. as the fires still rage on rhodes

and now corfu as well, british holiday—makers have been returning home. passengers who landed at birmingham airport this morning were clearly relieved to be back. you think, gosh, we have been put through this situation, you empathise with people who have had it worse and have literally had to be rescued by boats. because the flames were getting to them. said to the kids, flames were getting to them. said to the kids. get — flames were getting to them. said to the kids, get anything, _ flames were getting to them. said to the kids, get anything, flannel, - the kids, get anything, flannel, 'ust the kids, get anything, flannel, just get— the kids, get anything, flannel, just get on the rocks and stay near the waten — just get on the rocks and stay near the water. we just get on the rocks and stay near the water. ~ , ., ., the water. we were 'ust moved from our resort the water. we were just moved from our resort to another _ the water. we were just moved from our resort to another resort - the water. we were just moved from our resort to another resort with - the water. we were just moved from our resort to another resort with no | our resort to another resort with no kind of— our resort to another resort with no kind of organisation _ our resort to another resort with no kind of organisation in _ our resort to another resort with no kind of organisation in terms - our resort to another resort with no kind of organisation in terms of- our resort to another resort with no| kind of organisation in terms of why we were _ kind of organisation in terms of why we were going — kind of organisation in terms of why we were going there, _ kind of organisation in terms of why we were going there, who - kind of organisation in terms of why we were going there, who was - kind of organisation in terms of whyl we were going there, who was going to meet_ we were going there, who was going to meet us_ we were going there, who was going to meet us there, _ we were going there, who was going to meet us there, no _ we were going there, who was going to meet us there, no reps— we were going there, who was going to meet us there, no reps to - we were going there, who was going to meet us there, no reps to guide l to meet us there, no reps to guide us, nothing — for those planning to go to the region, the government's current advice is to check with your travel operator or hotel first if you're heading for an area that might be affected. the foreign office says it has sent a team to rhodes international airport including red cross staff to help support british citizens there. meanwhilejet2 has cancelled flights and package holidays

to rhodes until next sunday. it is offering re—booking or refunds. it is also laying on extra flights to get people home. tui has cancelled trips to the island until tuesday. it is also operating extra homeward flights. it says customers due to travel on wednesday can cancel or change to another holiday. likewise easyjet has cancelled package holidays until tuesday. but it is still operating scheduled flights to the island. and ryanair is also operating a normal service to rhodes. but what happens if you can travel but given the situation you don't want to? the best thing is to get in touch with your tour operator and appreciate that maybe difficult, they are likely to be very busy at they are likely to be very busy at the moment and see what your options are, in most cases there will be options to rebook or claim a refund. if not, if you can't do that, you are not booked with a package, look to travel insurance, contact your provider if you have taken it out and see what they might be able to

do for you. with the fires in rhodes apparently still out of control and concerns growing about what's happening in corfu as well, this situation could develop further very quickly. the time is 13.16. our top story this lunchtime. one of the most familar faces of bbc news, george alagiah, has died at the age of 67. he was diagnosed with bowel cancer nine years ago. the cancer nine years ago. afghan women's football tel are the afghan women's football team who are playing in the world coming up on bbc news. brazil star marta will have to come off the bench against panama if she is to become the first player to score in six world cups. is the housing secretary, michael gove, has set out plans to build thousands of new homes in urban areas, creating what he

calls an "inner city renaissance". he says he wants to make it easier to convert empty retail premises and betting shops, into flats and houses. however critics say such conversions, are often poor quality. it comes as rishi sunak insists the conservatives will meet their commitment to building a million homes before the next general election, expected sometime next year. 0ur political reporter, peter saul, has more from birmingham. not the best weather for a day out, be the prime minister knows this is an issue that can't be ignored. here is one happy customers a brand—new homeowner and she has got a house warming gift. number ten themed mugs but what is going to do help people? we themed mugs but what is going to do help maple?— themed mugs but what is going to do help peeple?— themed mugs but what is going to do help people? we are making it easier for --eole help people? we are making it easier for peeple to — help people? we are making it easier for people to expand _ help people? we are making it easier for people to expand homes - help people? we are making it easier for people to expand homes upwards| for people to expand homes upwards and out wards, easier to build on brownfield sites and we are investing on the planning system. that is a practical approach that will mean more people can own their

own home but we are doing it in thele right way.— thele right way. this is the type of housin: thele right way. this is the type of housing development _ thele right way. this is the type of housing development the - thele right way. this is the type of housing development the prime . housing development the prime minister wants to see, thousands of homes are going up here on the site of an old car factory, brownfield rather than green field. but this kind of thing only goes so far, and another manifesto pledge is proving much harder to meet. that of building 300,000 new homes a year. and up the road it is not hard to find people with housing related grumbles find people with housing related u-rumble , , , , grumbles rent is very expensive. £800 for two _ grumbles rent is very expensive. £800 for two bedroom _ grumbles rent is very expensive. £800 for two bedroom property i grumbles rent is very expensive. l £800 for two bedroom property for grumbles rent is very expensive. - £800 for two bedroom property for me and my son. has £800 for two bedroom property for me and m son. .,, ., ., £800 for two bedroom property for me and my son-— yes- i and my son. has that gone up? yes. it seems to — and my son. has that gone up? yes. it seems to get _ and my son. has that gone up? yes. it seems to get worse _ and my son. has that gone up? yes. it seems to get worse and _ and my son. has that gone up? yes. it seems to get worse and worse - and my son. has that gone up? yes. j it seems to get worse and worse and the rents— it seems to get worse and worse and the rents get hiring and there is not enough housing.— the rents get hiring and there is not enough housing. house prices aren't what _ not enough housing. house prices aren't what they _ not enough housing. house prices aren't what they used _ not enough housing. house prices aren't what they used to - not enough housing. house prices aren't what they used to be, - not enough housing. house prices aren't what they used to be, i - not enough housing. house prices. aren't what they used to be, i don't think they have a grasp of what people are going through. dawn think they have a grasp of what people are going through. down in central london _ people are going through. down in central london the _ people are going through. down in central london the housing - people are going through. down in i central london the housing secretary set out the detail behind the government's ambition, relaxing planning rules to allow more shops

to be converted to home, planners to speed up the process and a focus on building in city, but the idea of a new urban quarter in rapidly growing cambridge has not gone down well with the local conservative mp cambridge needs to grow but it is growing rapidly and under existing plans that is going to accelerate but the constraint is lack of water, we don't have enough in the ground for all the new houses. it we don't have enough in the ground for all the new houses.— for all the new houses. it will be the case i _ for all the new houses. it will be the case i am — for all the new houses. it will be the case i am sure _ for all the new houses. it will be the case i am sure that - for all the new houses. it will be - the case i am sure that conservative backbenchers and others once they have a _ backbenchers and others once they have a chance to look at the plans will realise — have a chance to look at the plans will realise this is in the national interest— will realise this is in the national interest and that is why we are actim} — interest and that is why we are actina. ., ,., ., , interest and that is why we are acting. labour meanwhile is accusing the government _ acting. labour meanwhile is accusing the government of— acting. labour meanwhile is accusing the government of failing _ acting. labour meanwhile is accusing the government of failing to - acting. labour meanwhile is accusing the government of failing to grasp i the government of failing to grasp the government of failing to grasp the scale of the problem.- the government of failing to grasp the scale of the problem. these are all thins the scale of the problem. these are all things the _ the scale of the problem. these are all things the government - the scale of the problem. these are all things the government has - the scale of the problem. these are all things the government has been j all things the government has been promising to do since 2019 and they haven't been able to do it, not least because they have been under pressure from their own backbenchers to block housing developments all together, that is why house billing has fallen off a cliff. despite the labour attacks rishi sunak�*s trying to get on the front

foot on housing. and it is shaping up foot on housing. and it is shaping up to be a key issue at next year's 0ur chief political correspondent nick eardley is at westminster. nick, is the government pretty much signalling a rethink on net zero? really interesting comments from the prime minister this morning, that result in uxbridge on friday, the by—election shocked a lot people, the conservatives hell on to boris johnson's old seat, basically by opposing a scheme to tax polluting cars more. it has led to some in the labour party being nervous about policies which could add to cost of living pressures but it has meant a lot of conservatives are calling for a rethink of big government policy, off the plan to ban new petrol cars by 2030, if the plan to ban new gas boilers as well. the prime minister was asked about this this morning and he is notjunking any of those

policyjust and he is notjunking any of those policy just yet but and he is notjunking any of those policyjust yet but he said that any push towards net zero had to be proportionate, and pragmatic, he talked about not adding unnecessary costs, to household bills and not adding any hassle to voters either, so the government is still saying this lunchtime that it is committed to achieving that net zero goal by the end of 2050 but what is not clear is how many unpopular policies it is prepared to fight for to make that happen and it seems like some of the big pledges on the environment the metropolitan police say the radical preacher, anjem choudary, has been charged with three terror offences. the 56—year—old, who is from east london, has appeared before westminster magistrates today on charges including directing a terrorist organisation. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford is there. daniel, just fill us in with the

details of these charges. an'em choudary appeared i details of these charges. an'em choudary appeared wearing h details of these charges. anjem choudary appeared wearing his | details of these charges. anjem - choudary appeared wearing his white shalwakameez, and looking like he doesin shalwakameez, and looking like he does in the photographs, he is charged with three offence, one is directing a banned organisation which he was involved in setting up many years ago, he is also charged with being a member of a banned organisation, and also with addressing meetings, the prosecution said he has held weekly online groups giving lectures on the establishment of an islamic state in great britain and how to radicalise people. before that a 28—year—old man from canada khaled hussein appeared in the same dock, he was arrested as he arrived on a plane on 17th july and he arrested as he arrived on a plane on 17thjuly and he is charged with being a member of a banned

organisation, and the allegation against him that he was involved in setting up the canadian branch and was in effect working for anjem choudary. the chief magistrate said that both men would remain in custody, until their next court appearance at the old bailey on daniel, thank russia has accused ukraine of launching a drone attack against its capital moscow. russia's defence ministry says two drones hit nonresidential buildings — with one crashing close to its headquarters in the city centre. in a separate development, russian officials ordered people to evacuate one district of crimea — the ukrainian southern peninsular annexed by moscow in 2014 — after a reported overnight ukrainian drone attack. meanwhile, russia has again attacked port infrastructure inside and outside 0desa in southern ukraine, striking four grain terminals with drones.

the swedish climate activist greta thunberg been fined for disobeying the police during a protest in malmo last month. she told the court in the southern swedish city she had been given an order which she hadn't listened to, and denied any criminal activity, but the court found her guilty. germany have made a strong start to their bid to win the women's world cup. they beat morocco 6—0 in their first match in melbourne. earlier, italy beat argentina 1—0, and brazil are currently playing against panama in adelaide. when the taliban took over kabul nearly two years ago, many members of the afghan national women's football team escaped to australia. they've now settled in melbourne and are continuing to play, but because the taliban have banned women's sport, fifa has refused to recognise them as a national team.

0ur correspondent shaimaa khalil has been spending time with the players this is not prep for a world cup game, but these women have already come a long way. two years ago, they were running for their lives, fleeing their home country after the taliban takeover. they're safe now, following their dreams. but it's not lost on them that millions of their country women can't do the same. everything you see here, the jerseys they're wearing, the hairstyles. even the laughter is enough to get them severely punished or killed, had they stayed in afghanistan. now there are many people who are in a voiceless journey, and i have to be the voice for them. i have an obligation to represent those ladies back in my home country. those who cannot study, those who cannot work, and those who cannot play soccer or do anything they like. so now i'm representing them, and i feel more strong and proud,

and it will be awesome to represent that country that women and ladies are banned from everything there. it's a bittersweet moment for these players representing afghanistan nearly two years after they fled their home country. many say this is much more than just about football for them. we play for afghan women, they tell me, and we pray for theirfreedom. none of them take this moment for granted. the taliban government has banned women's sports, which means they're not officially recognized by their country or fifa. i'm very sad. i was expecting a lot from the governing bodies of football to stand with these women. when taliban say women of afghanistan belong to the kitchen. these women sacrificed a lot to change that mindset, that women don't belong to the kitchen, women belong to everywhere in the society.

and that's what we want — the leadership. we want a strong voice to stand with us and just don't keep silent. we've asked fifa for a response, and they sent us this statement saying that the selection of players and teams representing a member association is an internal affair, adding that fifa does not have the right to officially recognise any team unless it is first recognised by its own association. they also said that they'll continue to closely monitor the situation of the afghan team. doing what they love comes at a heavy price. the constant anxiety about the safety of family and friends back home and the loneliness of having left everything behind. these players have given up a lot for football, and they're hoping that football doesn't give up on them. the simultaneous release of two films, barbie and 0ppenheimer, has resulted in a bumper weekend for cinemas across the uk. the cinema chain, vue international, says it's seen its biggest audience

numbers since before the pandemic, hiwle the uk cinema association, says the two films have already generated almost £30 million between them at the box office. here's gareth barlow. hey, barbie. can i come to your house tonight? it has been a box office weekend unlike any we've seen in recent years. on friday, barbie and 0ppenheimer both hit the big screen, becoming a cultural smash hit — or "barbenheimer" as it's now known. all america's industrial might and scientific innovation connected here, a secret laboratory. for vue, europe's largest privately owned cinema chain, it has been the second busiest weekend in the firm's history, as fans flock see a vision in pink, and a vision of a deadly dark past. i just love the reaction that everyone's had to the film.

like, so many peoplejust dressing up in pink. like, you know who is going to go and watch barbie. can't recommend it enough. best thing i've probably seen this year. what was so good? just about women empowerment. i don't think one can . exist without the other, because i think in the culturel what created such anticipation for those two films is actually, - you know, the clash than everybody thinks that it was. going to bring out. many movie goers have done the double, watching barbie and 0ppenheimer back—to—back, racking up four hours and 54 minutes of screen time in the process. and for the industry, success this weekend was vital. it is really important that those figures are delivering as they are. you know, as you say covid, and of course we are now facing an actors' strike, we are well into an actors' strike now as well, which does leave a bit of a murky future in terms of when big films are going to be released, so yeah, i think it is incredibly heartening to see. turn to the barbie next to you, tell her how much you love her, compliment her.

it's a sentiment that definitely rings true for both film—makers and film goers, grateful for a big weekend on the big screen. are we saying there is a chance that when we push that button we destroy the world? thankfully, it seems the only thing that might be broken are more records. gareth barlow, bbc news. soggy here but they are roasting in the mediterranean. huge contrasts across the continent. for us, whether you like it or not. there is absolutely no change on the horizon for let us say the next couple of weeks. that would take us into august. this is the big picture in europe and the north atlantic, the weather systems developing and the jet stream over the next five days orso jet stream over the next five days or so s and crucially i want you to look at this understood lating pattern, the waving pattern of the

jet stream and the lows dropping from the north