we came to think that in george's reporting, there was a kind of outstretched hand of a shared humanity. a kind of shared and human solidarity. he stretched that hand out to almost everybody he reported on. new fires in greece — prompt tens of thousands — to flee the flames. we'll have the latest on more than 80 wildfires — and the evacuations being organised. and — israel's parliament approves restrictions on the powers of the country's supreme court — despite huge protests. hello, i m matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories and checking out the truth behind them. we start with the many tributes being paid to george alagiah —

one of the bbc�*s most highly—respected, and much—loved presenters. he died — at home in london — with his family — this morning. he was 67 — and he'd been living with bowel cancer since 2014. the bbc�*s director general said he was "one of the best and bravest journalists of his generation." george won many awards in a hugely successful career which took him all over the world. but many who worked with him here — will remember him most — as an unfailingly kind—hearted and generous colleague. alan little — looks back at his life. 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. "ajob," 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 their story because, in hisjournalism, they saw the outstretched hand of a shared humanity and of solidarity. theft report from alan lytle. we will have more life on the programme with allen in the next few minutes. but george campaigned to improve bowel cancer screening — and he worked closely with genevieve edwards — the chief executive of bowel cancer uk. she paid her tribute to george — a little earlier: he was so kind, the kindest man, actually. and so generous with his time. he was a huge advocate for bowel cancer uk. he campaigned with us to lower the bowel cancer screening age to 50, and that is a commitment that we plan together. he

was just so generous with his broadcasting skills. he did a podcast for rest, a couple of seasons of podcasts, he was brilliant. he could talk to anyone. he would interview fellow patients, oncologists, and always get the very best out of them. we heard so much from other bowel cancer patients, how valuable they found his insight, and he always brought something personal but that. it he was only happy to share his experiences. i met george in my first week as chief executive of bowel cancer uk, and i went up to meet him and hear him record several episodes of the podcast and we had lunch afterwards. i always remember how kind he was to me, this new chief executive, big screen behind the ears. he was always offering to help, you know,

what can i do, is there anything i can do to help? and it'sjust so sad. my heartfelt condolences to his family. and actually to all of you, his colleagues who worked with him so closely as well. one of the things we will never forget is just how much of his precious time he gave to every charity. and, you know, the support he gave two other patients and other people in the community, but was a difficult time in his own life, and i think that reallyjust sums up, you know, his commitment. he said very clearly, you know, there were things i can do for you, and i will do for you. and he did. ithink for you, and i will do for you. and he did. i think he's raised such valuable awareness over the years, the spotlight he's been able to shine on bowel cancer. he hasn't shied away from talking about it, and that will help countless other people living with bowel cancer and confronted people to go and see

their doctor maybe with symptoms that they have been worrying about. it is a hugely sad day and he will be so very much missed. that was genevieve — be so very much missed. that was genevieve edwards _ be so very much missed. that was genevieve edwards talking - be so very much missed. that was genevieve edwards talking to - be so very much missed. that was genevieve edwards talking to the l genevieve edwards talking to the bbc. and we can talk to allan now. a difficult day for everyone who knew him. he worked with him so closely. warmth and empathy are the words that he referred to, just about everyone we have been talking to today. about everyone we have been talking to toda . ., , . to today. that empathy which he radiated was _ to today. that empathy which he radiated was at _ to today. that empathy which he radiated was at the _ to today. that empathy which he radiated was at the heart - to today. that empathy which he radiated was at the heart of - to today. that empathy which he radiated was at the heart of his l radiated was at the heart of his talent has the most gifted television storyteller i think i've ever worked with. everybody wanted to talk to him. he could talk to anybody from heads of state to children in a refugee camp because he engaged authentically. i used to marvel at his work. he was a television star and i was trying to make my way in early stages of my career so i watched him and learn from him to used to marvel at the way he engaged with people so positively. he was genuinely curious

about their lives. i used to watch him win their trust, even at the worst possible time of their life. so what i learned from him, i think is that good reporting is rooted in human goodness. he was a profoundly decent human being. he wore it very lightly. he seemed unaware of his own effect on people. he seemed aware of his own ability to inspire affection and respect. he seemed unaware for his own instinct for kindness and i found that very moving and very affecting. enthusiasm to, especially reporting africa. he never lost that, did he? africa. he never lost that, did he? africa ran through his life like a thread through cloth. it was very important. no word from the language in southern africa which we referred to a lot back in those days, and he referred to it again to celebrate his 60th birthday. there's no real english translation for it, but it was george's load style. it carries

with it the conviction that all human beings are bound together in a shared responsibility for each other. desmond tutu who have interviewed many times to find it like this, he would say you and i are connected. i came to be rich if you are poor. it can't be fully free if you are enslaved. 0ur lives are bound together. and i think george's values, the values that underpinned his reporting in his private life as well were very closely aligned with that sense, and it is a word that he would come up with time and time again. he was also great fun. he was again. he was also great fun. he was a great raconteur. he could make you laugh with his gift for mimicry. and he liked a bit of intrigue and gossip as well. he wasn't a saintly figure. he didn't carry this profound abundance of goodness on his sleeve. he worked very very lightly. and that was one of the attractive things about him. figs lightly. and that was one of the attractive things about him. as you started that _ attractive things about him. as you started that thought, _ attractive things about him. as you started that thought, we _ attractive things about him. as you started that thought, we have - attractive things about him. as you started that thought, we have a . started that thought, we have a picture on the screen with that amazing wonderful smile. when did

you last see him because he likes i'm two weeks ago today. he was still in hospital and he flashed that big smile at me. we knew it was the last time we would see each other, so it was a very precious and profound exchange, and one of the things he said to me was there is an upside, a positive side to living with cancer and that is that i've had the luxury, and use the word luxury, which pierced my heart, the luxury, which pierced my heart, the luxury of time to reflect on my own life and to say to people the things i want to say, to tell the people that i love that i love them. and we had time as well to tell him what he meant to us. and i have a series of e—mail and text exchanges which i will treasure all my life now in which we openly expressed how we felt about each other and george thought that was a positive side of living with cancer. he said to me tell them, alan, tell them if you have not yet told the people that you love that you love them. don't wait. don't wait until it's too

late. if you haven't yet told the people that you love that you sometimes feel vulnerable, don't wait, tell them. that was really the measure of george that we had that exchange the last few minutes that we had to get there. that exchange the last few minutes that we had to get there.— we had to get there. that is so powerful. _ we had to get there. that is so powerful, alan. _ we had to get there. that is so powerful, alan. the _ we had to get there. that is so powerful, alan. the bbc- we had to get there. that is so | powerful, alan. the bbc earlier we had to get there. that is so i powerful, alan. the bbc earlier in the day talked about his special connection with the audiences and thatis, connection with the audiences and that is, of course, absolutely true. at his persona off camera was the exact same as on camera. he was open, warm, incredibly generous with junior colleagues.— junior colleagues. there was no artificial george. _ junior colleagues. there was no artificial george. there - junior colleagues. there was no artificial george. there was - junior colleagues. there was no artificial george. there was no | junior colleagues. there was no - artificial george. there was no side to him, there was no malice. he was completely unimpressed by his own legend. he didn't think he was special and that is part of what was special and that is part of what was special about him. the light of his generosity shown on so many people, and that is why i thank you are in the newsroom in london. i imagine there is a very stale and grief stricken atmosphere there. he was an extremely special man. yes.

stricken atmosphere there. he was an extremely special man.— extremely special man. yes, he usually loved. _ extremely special man. yes, he usually loved. alan, _ extremely special man. yes, he usually loved. alan, thank- extremely special man. yes, he usually loved. alan, thank you i extremely special man. yes, he i usually loved. alan, thank you very much. wonderful tributes from you through the course of a very difficult day. thank you so much for talking to us on today's programme. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some stories making news across the uk. the housing secretary michael gove has announced his intention to relax planning rules in england to build more homes in towns and cities. the plans aim to address the country's housing crisis by allowing more home extensions and conversions of shops into houses . the government has insisted it will meet its manifesto commitment to build a million new homes by 202a. the radical islamist preacher — anjem choudary — has appeared in court, charged with directing, and being a member of, the banned group al muhajiroon, which the prosecution said, is known in north america as the islamic thinkers society. choudary has also been charged with addressing meetings to encourage support

for the banned organisation. police have charged a man with the murder of a woman found dead in a churchyard in lincolnshire. colette law, 26, was found in a tent in the grounds of st mary and st nicholas church in spalding on last week. paul neilson, who's thirty and of no fixed address, is due before magistrates. you're live with bbc news. wildfires are causing havoc on the islands of rhodes, corfu and evia and on the greek mainland. more than 80 wildfires are now burning — and tens of thousands of residents and tourists have been forced to flee. this footage was filmed in island of corfu on sunday evening. over 2,000 people have been evacuated from the island. and this video was filmed in a corfu hotel, as guests were dining. the government says, it has sent boats to evacuate residents by sea, if required. the greek emergency services have been deadling with several fires — including two in areas east

and south west of the capital, athens. firefighters on rhodes say around one in ten of the hotels in the central and south eastern parts of the island have been affected. british travel companies are putting on more repatriation flights for people trying to leave the area. a short while ago the travel operator tui announced it was cancelling all outbound flights to rhodes up to and including friday. straight to rhodes. 0ur reporter azadeh moshiri is there for us now. just give us a sense of what it is like they're on the island because new is only a few hours ago that there were new fires being reported. that's right. when i spoke to the fire service, they said that the fire here on rhodes is the hardest one to handle because of the terrain, because of the tall trees, the greenery, the wind, this is the

island that is a problem for the fire service time and time again. yet, when you couple that with very difficult weather conditions, a potentially historic heatwave, it could be the longest heat wave that greece has experienced in its recorded history. it could last up to 17 days. that means that these wildfires are an even bigger problem for the country. and that is why even though they say it is more under control then it was a few days ago when we saw those scenes of the skies smoke across the island, people fleeing their resorts from what was meant to be a wonderful holiday, that is not the case now. firefighters don't know when the situation is quite going to end because, as you say committee spires are spreading and other islands have had to expend similar issues as welcome even though corfu is now under control. the focus here at the airport is repatriation. people are frustrated with their airlines, but at the end of the day, we are seeing

people make it back home. thahk at the end of the day, we are seeing people make it back home. thank you ve much people make it back home. thank you very much for— people make it back home. thank you very much for the _ people make it back home. thank you very much for the latest _ people make it back home. thank you very much for the latest where - very much for the latest where you are. we speak now to craig help. he has extensive experience of fighting wildfires in greece in 2021. thank you so much for being here on the programme. he will have seen the pictures. in terms of what they are experiencing on the ground, how difficult is the task they are currently facing? it’s difficult is the task they are currently facing? difficult is the task they are currentl facina? �*, ., . �* currently facing? it's horrific. but the weather _ currently facing? it's horrific. but the weather conditions _ currently facing? it's horrific. but the weather conditions as - currently facing? it's horrific. but the weather conditions as they i currently facing? it's horrific. but l the weather conditions as they are, the weather conditions as they are, the wind as it is and basically the amount of preston trees, this is a horrific situation and i feel for all of the responders. ih horrific situation and i feel for all of the responders. in terms of when ou all of the responders. in terms of when you where _ all of the responders. in terms of when you where they _ all of the responders. in terms of when you where they are, - all of the responders. in terms of when you where they are, what i all of the responders. in terms of - when you where they are, what is the approach that these firefighters, we are playing pictures on our screens at the moment, what is the basic approach they are trying to do here, because there seems to be semi—fires going in so many different directions.— going in so many different directions. , ., ., ., directions. trying to manage the fires, trying _

directions. trying to manage the fires. trying to — directions. trying to manage the fires, trying to prioritise - directions. trying to manage the fires, trying to prioritise which . fires, trying to prioritise which fires, trying to prioritise which fires you need to deal with, which fires you need to deal with, which fires are a danger to life, danger to community, and then you are trying to make an impact on the fire, but as he can seek and it's very difficult, especially with conditions they face, using firefighting resources, area resources, anything they can do, really, to try to get a grip on these buyers.— really, to try to get a grip on these bu ers. ., ., , ., , these buyers. how fast are things chanauin ? these buyers. how fast are things changing? because _ these buyers. how fast are things changing? because we _ these buyers. how fast are things changing? because we have - these buyers. how fast are things changing? because we have seen | these buyers. how fast are things - changing? because we have seen the wind suddenly picked up and take fires in a completely different direction, putting so many people at risk in such a small period of time. these are serious situations, the wind will obviously affect the fire and more fire around on the landscape as well. it's really dangerous for firefighters. also really dangerous for the tourists and that committees —— communities that live in these areas. we and that committees -- communities that live in these areas.— that live in these areas. we have to leave it there. _ that live in these areas. we have to leave it there. it's _ that live in these areas. we have to leave it there. it's a _ that live in these areas. we have to leave it there. it's a very _ that live in these areas. we have to leave it there. it's a very busy - leave it there. it's a very busy afternoon. thank you for that snapshot in terms of your expertise and how you deal with this on the

ground. let's bring in our environment correspondent — matt mcgrath. just to put what we are seeing, both this weekend last week into some form of context for us into what we are actually witnessing. it’s form of context for us into what we are actually witnessing.— are actually witnessing. it's very difficult to _ are actually witnessing. it's very difficult to attribute _ are actually witnessing. it's very difficult to attribute a _ are actually witnessing. it's very difficult to attribute a single - difficult to attribute a single layer event to climate change and the impact of rising temperatures and events like wildfires in greece, as we see at the moment, but we can say some things about it, and scientists are pretty confident about it, one is that heat waves are increasing in frequency and intensity and they are having an impact on the likelihood of fires occurring in places like rhodes. we know that europe is the fastest warming continent in the world and we know that greece itself is about 2 degrees warmer than it was in the 19905. at 2 degrees warmer than it was in the 1990s. at fires in this area are common. they happen a lot. but what we have seen increases that since the 1960s—70s, heat waves have increased by about six bold, and as those heat waves create the conditions, drive the heat, drying out the fuel, if you like some when a fire does start, it makes it

likely to be intense, more frequent, more powerful and much more difficult to put out. we more powerful and much more difficult to put out.— difficult to put out. we are expecting _ difficult to put out. we are expecting temperatures i difficult to put out. we are expecting temperatures to difficult to put out. we are - expecting temperatures to rise even further increase in the coming 2a hours. maps, thank you very much forjust giving us some of the wider context, and we will continue to watch those pictures and bring you the latest details of all those tourists trying to get back here to the uk and elsewhere through the course of our programme. the israeli parliament has passed into law a highly controversial bill which removes the power of the country's supreme court to overrule government actions it considers unreasonable. the law was voted through after the collapse of compromise talks, brokered by the country's president. 0pposition parties boycotted the vote. the proposals for the new law have triggered some of the largest protests in israeli history. police using water cannon, have been battling protesters on the streets ofjerusalem. one of the leaders of the protest movement, and several

other demonstrators, were arrested near the knesset building. straight to jerusalem — tom bateman is there for us now. —— to paul adams. paul, just take stock of what we have seen there, because a really important moment in israeli politics. it because a really important moment in israeli politics.— israeli politics. it is, matthew. i don't know— israeli politics. it is, matthew. i don't know if— israeli politics. it is, matthew. i don't know if you _ israeli politics. it is, matthew. i don't know if you came - israeli politics. it is, matthew. i don't know if you came here, i israeli politics. it is, matthew. i. don't know if you came here, but there is still the sound of protests echoing across the valley here, the knesset is just a little distance away behind me, the supreme court is just across the way here, and all day, protesters have been swarming around the area trying to make their voices heard. as i breathe now, i can smell the skunk water, was the israeli police have been using, not on arab citizens in israel, not on the palestinians, but on the demonstrators here on the streets of jerusalem. that is quite unusual and just gives you some sense in the way

in which this is fracturing israeli society. it wasn't unexpected. everyone knew that when these negotiations broke down this morning, the bill was going to go through. and when the opposition mps decided to boycott the knesset session and walked out, then it was clear that the bill would pass on a you say, it is a very specific parts of the reforms that the netanyahu government wants to try and implement over the coming months. but it is a symbolic victory for benjamin netanyahu because it enables him to say to his supporters and to the parties that he is trying to keep around him in this rather shaky coalition, yes, he is able to realise their aspirations, able to tackle an institution which they regard as inimical to their

interests, so, for the time being to make shores up his authority. really briefl , make shores up his authority. really briefly, because _ make shores up his authority. really briefly, because we _ make shores up his authority. really briefly, because we are _ make shores up his authority. really briefly, because we are nearly - make shores up his authority. really briefly, because we are nearly out i briefly, because we are nearly out of time. 10,000 military reservists were threatening to resign. is that still in the pipeline? fight! were threatening to resign. is that still in the pipeline?— were threatening to resign. is that still in the pipeline? and very much as. the still in the pipeline? and very much as- they have _ still in the pipeline? and very much as. they have been _ still in the pipeline? and very much as. they have been urged - still in the pipeline? and very much as. they have been urged not - still in the pipeline? and very much as. they have been urged not to i still in the pipeline? and very much| as. they have been urged not to buy the chief of staff, but they have said that if this measure goes ahead, and there is going to be a legal challenge to the supreme court, probably as early as tomorrow, then they will simply refuse to show up for reserve duty. thatin refuse to show up for reserve duty. that in a country where everyone expects to be ready to serve the country and to jump to the country's defence in the event of security threats, that is a very, very grave danger indeed.— threats, that is a very, very grave daner indeed. ., ~ ., , ., danger indeed. paul adams come alive for us there in — danger indeed. paul adams come alive for us there in jerusalem. _ danger indeed. paul adams come alive for us there in jerusalem. thanks - for us there injerusalem. thanks very much. back with marv today's top stories here injust very much. back with marv today's top stories here in just a very much. back with marv today's top stories here injust a moment. don't go away. hello. the mixed bag continues after what was a very mixed weekend and for some of us an absolute

wash—out on saturday. the weather was more typical of autumn and indeed little change expected for the rest of this week and quite possibly into august as well. i want to show you the weather systems developing across the north atlantic and heading in our direction on this wide picture here, this wide map. let's have a look at this animation and once again you can see the cloud and the outbreaks of rain and this undulating jet stream, and where we see these troughs in the jet stream that is where the low pressure tends to form. crucially over the next few days the jet stream will be generally to the south of us, an autumn—like pattern, hence the colder air comes in from the north and keeps things very fresh for us. today, a lot of cloud across the uk, thicker cloud in the second half of the day in southern areas and this is where the showers will be more frequent. it is not raining all the time today

and there will be decent spells, but it is on the cool side with the jet stream to the south of us generally. temperatures will be around 16 to 18, peaking this afternoon. tonight it is the same pattern, there will be clear spells and showers become more frequent in scotland and there will be a few showers elsewhere. not too cold in the city centres, around 9 to 11, but in rural spots it will be a little bit colder. tomorrow starts off quite bright, even sunny in some areas, but this is what we call unstable air, so the cloud will grow quite quickly and produce sharp showers. some of them will be quite heavy across northern parts of england and southern scotland. but in this situation the best of the weather tends to be up towards the south—west, particularly coastal areas. i showed you the animation with the jet stream and the developing weather systems and this is a different look at it. this is early on wednesday and early in the day there will be decent weather, particularly in northern and eastern parts of the country, but then quickly this next weather front will sweep in and bring

outbreaks of rain and at times it will be heavy. it has already been a very wet month in parts of north—western england. if you look at the outlook through the week into the weekend it is unsettled.

this is bbc news, the headlines. tributes paid to george alagiah one of the most respected journalists who have died at the age of 67. booting the bulk of new homes and cities vowing investigation raises concerns the drug gangs are using social media to groom and exploit children. hello from the bbc sport centre britain's first million pound footballer trever francis has died

at the age of 69 after suffering a heart attack in spain.