and russia accuses ukraine of launching a drone attack on moscow, as key grain export routes come under fire again. hello, i'm sumi somaskanda. we begin tonight in israel, where anti—government protests overjudicial reform have rocked the nation. police fired water cannons into crowds and dragged protesters through the streets. the outrage erupted after israel's parliament passed a highly contentious judicial overhaul that limits the powers of the supreme court. critics say it's part of a wider plan from the right—wing government, led by prime minister benjamin netanyahu, to weaken thejudiciary system. thousands of israelis blocked highways across the country, calling the reform an affront to democracy. the measure passed 64—0 on monday in the knesset, israel's parliament, after last—ditch efforts to find a compromise fell apart. speaking to the country

monday night, mr netanyau defended the reform. translation: today we carried | out a required democratic move. the move was aimed at restoring a degree of balance between authorities, which was here for 50 years. we passed the bill of reasonableness so the elected government could lead the policy in accordance with the decision of the majority of the country's citizens. israel's opposition leader yair lapid called the reform a "defeat for israeli democracy." our correspondent tom bateman is injerusalem amid the protests. the streets of israel were soaked in anger, moments after one of the most contested laws in the country's history was passed. anti—government protesters were being blasted with water cannon, and the rage towards mr netanyahu or "bibi" was boiling over. this is my country and bibi kidnapped our citizens

and it's not supposed to be. we need to be here. i serve in the army. i have three little boys and i want to continue to stay in my country. and outside the israeli parliament, a showdown. today's vote, they said, was a red line. well, these protesters had said they would stay put and block the route so they can... that's it. and now they're trying to prove it. the security force is using a van. these are unprecedented scenes. the israeli leader has just had surgery to fit a pacemaker. he appeared amid the increasingly fraught atmosphere. the opposition shouted "shame" as the critical vote neared. and they walked out, claiming historic changes were being rammed through, opening a door to dictatorship. but with the protests set

to intensify, the mood is one of deepening crisis. there is escalating violence in the region, the absence of any political horizon in the wider conflict, and israel's occupation of the palestinian territories. now, anti—government dissent is spreading into the security establishment and israel's internal divisions have rarely felt this severe. tom bateman, bbc news, jerusalem. us president biden said sunday that mr netanyahu should not rush the judicial overhaul. white house press secretary karinejean—pierre echoed that message after its passage. place with the slimmest it is unfortunate that the vote today took place with the slimmest possible majority. we understand talks were ongoing, we cannot forget that, likely to continue over the coming weeks and months

to forge a broader compromise, which is what the president has been calling for over these past several months. past several months, even when the knesset is in recess. our commitment to israel's security remains and i will reiterate, the core of the relationship is on democratic values, shared democratic values and interests and that will continue to be the case. here's what you need to know about the law. it strips the supreme court's power to challenge the government, and limits the high court's power to assess the "reasonableness" of the government's decisions. opponents have been protesting the propsoals for 29 consecutive weeks. large protests in march forced mr netanyahu to delay the reform. in reaction, 10,000 military reservists are threatening to resign from duty in protest. and multiple media outlets are reporting that the israeli medical association has announced a 24—hour strike, expected to begin tuesday. the organisation represents 97% of the country's doctors. they said they will handle emergencies only. i spoke with david makovsky of the washington institute

for near east policy about the situation in israel. thank you so much forjoining us on the programme. what impact do you think this legislation will have on israel'sjudicial system? i'm worried it will have a chilling effect. israel doesn't have a full constitution like the united states, and it doesn't have a lot of the protections like the bill of rights, term limits on bicameral legislature, it has been all predicated on a very robust, fiercely independentjudiciary. there are now limitations, profound limitations on its ability to do oversight. i worry it will have a chilling effect. we should say that the court itself will hear a petition against the law, it could strike down the law and there could be the equivalent of a constitutional stand—off. so we will need to see

how that plays out. in the coming weeks and perhaps months ahead there might be a kind of limbo period until the court makes its views known, then what do the law enforcement agencies, who do they listen to? this is impossible situation. do they listen to the courts of the government? the police, the army, the intelligence services? big question. it is remarkable. president biden and other international leaders expressed concern and urged the prime minister to change the legislation to find broader consensus but that didn't seem to happen. why do you think that is? biden was trying to thread a political needle. he has a lot of street cred in israel that he's built up over decades.

often when american presidents say things, i'm not going to invite the prime minister for many months, this is unprecedented, there can be a pushback from the israeli public but because biden is someone who loves israel, the public thought he was pro israel by coming out against this controversial legislation. he won the public but not the government. for the government, they see it as to be or not to be, they think the courts are not letting them do their agenda. i don't know if anyone could have stopped this government. i think what was remarkable is that biden... the israeli public was cheering him on with his criticisms but it wasn't decisive enough. if i could jump in, you said that president biden had the support of the public, do you think the protests could lead to any change? i don't know. it is too soon

to know for sure. it is coming. the knesset is going on a three—month recess now. there is no real imminent way to have follow—on steps. but people wonder if there will be more constraint put on thejudiciary. and that is going to be something, the public, i think the protests will grow because they feel that the very character of their identity is at stake. the whole concept of israel as the kind of live and let live culture, they feel that is now under threat. so i expect the protests to keep growing. i want to ask you about mr netanyahu's position because he has been under pressure of his right—wing coalition partners. who is driving this legislation? ah, the $64,000 question! we don't know, he likes to famously say he has

both hands on the wheel, but it looks like somebody else has both feet on the accelerator. he does not want to do anything to offend his hard right junior coalition partners. i would argue they have nowhere else to go. he has more leverage than he uses. it is unclear to me how much he is leading or being led. ultimately he is responsible. he named thejustice minister whose life obsession has been to weaken the courts. he can't extricate himself from that. but often he looks like he was more being led than leading. the fact he had a health issue with the pacemaker this weekend, we don't know if that added to that perception. but the fact is, this doesn't look to the israeli public that this is the old bibi, who relishes directing things. he looks like he's being led around by these junior partners, and i think it should

be excruciating for him after having this very dominant persona, to be looked at the way he is now. david, last question, you mentioned the challenge in the courts, what chances do you think the challenge has? i think it's pretty high. the courts understand the stakes better than anyone. i think there is a chance they will strike it down, but then the question is, who does the authority, like the police and the army, who today take guidance from? the courts or the government? we haven't seen this. this legislation, i think he has lost the public and we will see how the courts see their role going forward. i would say stay tuned, israel is in a period of limbo right now. interesting insights, david, thank you so much. delighted to be with you.

extreme weather conditions in greece have fuelled more wildfires on the islands of rhodes, corfu, and evia, as well as dozens of fires impacting the mainland. this footage was filmed on the island of corfu on monday. more than 2,000 people have been evacuated from there. the island of rhodes is affected and the country's capital, athens, is under threat, as fires rage to the east and south—west. it's peak tourist season in greece and there's been a major impact on travel. tui has become the latest travel company to cancel flights to rhodes. as tourists try to leave, residents are left behind. their livelihoods rely on business from foreign visitors. 0ur correspondentjenny hill has been speaking with them. it seems like a miracle no—one was hurt. fire swept through this resort. not much left behind. those were once water skis. so much of this island still looks... ..well, idyllic.

and then you take a few steps and you come across a scene... ..well, like this. it's still smouldering. that, of course, was someone's livelihood, completely destroyed. this is where there were sunbeds just a few days ago. it wasn't just tourists who scrambled to safety. i was crying. it was making me feel terrible. edisa and herfamily, who all work in the hotels here, had to get out, too. when we met them, they'd only just learned their house had survived the fire. for the tourists, it was a really terrifying and bad experience, but for us, i think it's worse, because we live here. everything is burned. not everything. this hotel, one of the most luxurious in lindos, escaped damage. but the guests are gone, and much of the surrounding countryside is destroyed. if you have seen the scenery around,

it's like a biblical catastrophe. the hotel is a hotel that will be rebuilt and repainted, but the nature outside is the most important thing that we need to check what we are going to do because all of this is a result of the environmental crisis that we are facing. and all day, despite every effort, the fires have raged on, strong winds fanning the flames. it's far too soon to properly assess the damage done here. but, on the nearby beach, a business owner had come to take a look. and found his concession destroyed. we lose the business. we are... we have good health, and we are hopeful to fix it again. _ it's a sign ofjust how quickly things change. the winds very strong now, and we've been told we need to get out, because the fire may be coming towards us. it seems unstoppable. firefighters now battling

to save more villages from the flames. all those who fled can do can is watch and hope. the usjustice department is suing the state of texas over floating barriers that it installed in the rio grande river to block migrants crossing from mexico. texas had been ordered to remove them, but refused. the barricade is strung together by buoys that are four to six feet in diameter. the government argues this is a violation of the rivers and harbors act. the lawsuit comes after texas governor greg abbott sent a letter to the biden administration accusing the white house of failing to address an immigration crisis at the border, saying... around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

bbc news, bringing a different stories from across the uk. mil stories from across the uk. all the plastic— stories from across the uk. all the plastic that has ever been created — the plastic that has ever been created still exists in some form — created still exists in some form because it takes so long to break_ form because it takes so long to break down. leading to pollution like this. but a new invention _ pollution like this. but a new invention might be able to help _ invention might be able to help. this may look like a normal— help. this may look like a normal plastic bag but there is something quite different about it. it dissolves in water, boiling _ it. it dissolves in water, boiling water, this process takes _ boiling water, this process takes about a minute. i caught up takes about a minute. i caught up with— takes about a minute. i caught up with the comfort of the australian company at this live event — australian company at this live event to— australian company at this live event to find out more. these bags— event to find out more. these bags look_ event to find out more. these bags look like plastic but they're _ bags look like plastic but they're not, what's the magic ingredient? we they're not, what's the magic ingredient?— ingredient? we used the starches. _ ingredient? we used the starches. once - ingredient? we used the starches. once the - ingredient? we used the - starches. once the usefulness of these? _ starches. once the usefulness of these? it — starches. once the usefulness of these? it breaks _ starches. once the usefulness of these? it breaks down, - starches. once the usefulness of these? it breaks down, it i of these? it breaks down, it can dissolve _ of these? it breaks down, it can dissolve in _ of these? it breaks down, it can dissolve in hot - of these? it breaks down, it can dissolve in hot water . of these? it breaks down, it can dissolve in hot water in | can dissolve in hot water in under 60 seconds and it will compost in six to eight months. for more stories from across

the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. russia accused ukraine of launching a drone attack monday on its capital moscow. the defence ministry says two buildings were damaged, with debris crashing close to its headquarters in the city centre. no casualties were reported. meanwhile, ukrainian officials say russian drones attacked ports on the river danube, destroying grain storage infrastructure. the river is a key export route for kyiv, after russia withdrew from the black sea grain agreement last week. that deal created safe passage for ukrainian ships carrying grains and otherfood products to global markets. 0ur correspondent james waterhouse is in the southern city of 0desa. there was a period when 0desa was more bearable, in the sense that it didn't come under such heavy aerial bombardment compared to some other southern cities here. but the last week has seen that change. nights are often accompanied by the booming sounds of air defences as they try to keep out russian missiles which have been typically

launched from the black sea, from the russian naval fleet, which is based close to the crimean peninsula. this afternoon, grain terminals, ports have been hit in the mouth of the river danube and that is significant for two reasons. firstly, it's close to the border with romania, which is a nato member. if any of those missiles had gone over, it would have put the alliance in a very difficult position in terms of what to do next. secondly, the river danube is actually seen as an alternative for ukraine to be able to export its grain. the timing of these attacks — moscow pulled out of a landmark agreement last week which allowed ukraine to export through the black sea, and it worked. tens of millions of tonnes made it out. but the deal is no more and cities like 0desa are now finding themselves as targets. earlier, i spoke with angela stent, a former us state department official. great to have you back on the show. i want to start with russia

accusing ukraine of launching a terrorist drone attack in moscow earlier on monday.

what do you think they need at this point because they have received these cluster munitions us? i

received these cluster munitions us? . , munitions us? i mean, they need more air power. _ munitions us? i mean, they need more air power, they _ munitions us? i mean, they need more air power, they need - munitions us? i mean, they need more air power, they need more | more air power, they need more long—range missiles from the united states, it would help them if they had the f 60 fighter airjets, they definitely need more airpower and they do need more munitions. but the us and their allies are also running out of these munitions, so that is a challenge too.— these munitions, so that is a challenge too. angela, thank ou so challenge too. angela, thank you so much- _ challenge too. angela, thank you so much. north - challenge too. angela, thank you so much. north korea i challenge too. angela, thank you so much. north korea is| you so much. north korea is reported to have fired several missiles into the sea of japan, it comes as a second us powered submarine has arrived in south korea on an unspecified mission. north korea often conducts missile tests in retaliation to us presence in south korea which it sees as a threat, the us has condemned the launchers. talks in spain about a new government. the people's party emerged as the largest group in the election but lacks the majority even with the support of its far

right partner. 0ur reporter sent this update. right partner. our reporter sent this update.— sent this update. spain is facin: sent this update. spain is facing weeks _ sent this update. spain is facing weeks of _ sent this update. spain is i facing weeks of uncertainty sent this update. spain is - facing weeks of uncertainty as none of the parties have, for now, secured a majority to form a government. next month, the new mps will take their seat in the spanish congress in madrid. but it's unlikely any candidate will be sworn in as prime minister easily. the conservatives won the election but fell short of a majority even with the far—right party talks. mathematically prime minister pedro sanchez still has a chance to be re—elected but it's going to be very tough for him, because he needs the support not only of the left—wing parties but also the catalan and basque nationalists. it may sound like a paradox, but sanchez�*s future is now in the hands of the seven mps of coloured pre—demand's party, the catalan president who led the failed

independent bid in 2017. he and sanchez are not allies, and the independence party have said they would want a referendum on independence, which is something the socialist party will never accept. so with a fragmented scenario, nobody is rolling out the possibility of fresh elections later this year. spain has a new parliament, but is still looking for a prime minister. aha, looking for a prime minister. a swedish court fined greta thunberg after she was forcibly removed from a protest last month. she and other activists blocked a route for oil trucks. thank you for watching bbc news. some parts of the uk, particularly parts of northern england and northern ireland, have already seen the wettestjuly on record.

and you probably won't be too surprised to hear that we have got more rain in the forecast at times through the remainder of this week. now, tuesday brings a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers. we won't all be seeing the rain during the day on tuesday, but let's look at the rest of the week. this is the jet stream. these winds you can see here continuing to drive areas of low pressure in towards our shores with showers or longer spells of rain moving their way through from the atlantic and pushing gradually eastwards. now, tuesday morning, a few spells of showery rain across parts of central scotland. also the odd shower for wales, south west england, east anglia too. heading through the day, this area of cloud and rain nudges further south and then we start to see showers bubbling up for eastern scotland and eastern england, which could be really quite heavy, potentially thundery, with some hail mixed in too. a bit more cloud and a few showers later on for northern ireland, but some sunny spells elsewhere. northern scotland, wales, south west of england, just 15—21 degrees at best, a little below par for this time of year. heading through the overnight period, into wednesday, then, most of the showers tending to ease away, one or two continuing perhaps parts of wales, north west england to start the day on wednesday.

but another fairly fresh night with temperatures getting down into single figures, in the countryside at least. heading through wednesday, here's the next area of low pressure, only gradually moving in from the west. so ahead of that, a fair amount of dry weather, particularly through the morning for much of scotland. few showers parts of northern and eastern england, but some sunshine for east anglia in the southeast. there's the cloud and the rain spilling into northern ireland, parts of wales, the south west of england. later in the afternoon, the wind picking up too. temperatures, perhaps a degree or so up, but still below average, onlyjust11i—21, perhaps 22 in the south. moving through into thursday now and low pressure sits out towards the north west of the uk. so we've still got a few lingering weather fronts. could be a bit more rain for parts of northern scotland, perhaps around the south coast of england, where it'll be quite breezy. elsewhere, we're looking at a day of sunny spells again and a few showers cropping up. still, temperatures only 15—21, perhaps 22 degrees on thursday. and then that unsettled showery spell continues right through the end of the week and the weekend, into next week, too.

perhaps something eventually a little bit drier and warmer as we head through towards the second week of august. bye for now.

you're watching bbc news. the latest headlines will follow this programme.

margaret atwood. one of the world's best—selling critically acclaimed authors, she's published more than 60 books, and has won the booker prize twice. the winner of the first booker prize of the 21st century, margaret atwood. cheering and applause. her stories often centre on oppression and brutality. most famously, her 1985 novel, the handmaid's tale, a dystopian vision of america, in which women are enslaved. now an emmy award—winning television series. there's an eye in your house. in this episode of this cultural life, the radio a programme, she reveals her formative influences and experiences. and how even in high school, her creativity was clear. i put on a home economics opera. it was about fabrics. can you remember how it goes? # fabrics need a swim in the suds. # it makes them feel just like new.