russia's defence minister, sergei shoigu, arrives in north korea as part of the first foreign delegation to visit since covid. the british government has been sharply criticised by the foreign affairs committee for underestimating the growth of rush—hour's that zero missing in the group. in a scathing report, the committee mps the conservative party of having a dismal lack of lack of understanding of wagner's holed beyond europe. the report outlined seven states where wagner has been active and concludes that for nearly active and concludes that for nearly a decade that the british government had a dangerous misunderstanding of his activities across africa and europe. let's get more on that report with the committee. —— the

chair of the committee. can you outline the threat of the wagner group? we outline the threat of the wagner grou - ? ., ~ ., outline the threat of the wagner grou? ., ,., , outline the threat of the wagner grou? ., ~ ., ,., , , group? no wagner group has been 0 eratin: group? no wagner group has been operating globally _ group? no wagner group has been operating globally across _ group? no wagner group has been operating globally across the - group? no wagner group has been l operating globally across the middle east, afghanistan and europe and africa for almost ten years now. they essentially operate like a criminal mafia group. they go into a country, they steal natural resources, and they leave in their wake appalling atrocities. they operate in every way as an arm of the kremlin but they also have their own interests. ultimately everything they do goes back to the enrichment of the russian elite. will; they do goes back to the enrichment of the russian elite.— of the russian elite. why do you think the threat _ of the russian elite. why do you think the threat has _ of the russian elite. why do you think the threat has been - of the russian elite. why do you | think the threat has been ignored for so long?— think the threat has been ignored for so lona ? ., , ., for so long? one of the goals of the wanner for so long? one of the goals of the wagner network, _ for so long? one of the goals of the wagner network, one _ for so long? one of the goals of the wagner network, one of— for so long? one of the goals of the wagner network, one of very - for so long? one of the goals of the wagner network, one of very many| wagner network, one of very many private military companies that many different countries operate is that it has tried to deny its connection to the kremlin to make it more difficult for governments to take action. following massacres in

ukraine, there is no way the kremlin can deny it has helped to set it up. even at the aircraft that have flown wagner fighters even at the aircraft that have flown wagnerfighters into even at the aircraft that have flown wagner fighters into syria and northern africa. now we have this certainty, we need to take action so we can reduce the cycle of atrocities that they are committing globally, but also to make sure we are protecting people here in britain better and taking better action against the wagner network. what action would you like the government to take to be effective? this is a particular turning point following prigozhin�*s march on moscow. we are asking the government to prescribe the wagner network as a terrorist group, that will allow us to take action in our courts against them. we want to pursue sanctions against individuals and entities that are enabling them and are helping russia evade sanctions. we want to see the uk joined the un

missionaries convention. this is a growth area, we think this is going to be industrialised in months and years to come. to be industrialised in months and years to come-— years to come. what about the situation with _ years to come. what about the situation with the _ years to come. what about the situation with the uk _ years to come. what about the situation with the uk and - years to come. what about the situation with the uk and is - situation with the uk and is delivering of aid? we have been focusing today on what is happening in yemen, wet aid to this country, which are so ravaged by war, has been cut drastically. is there any sign that channelling some much needed aid into these countries would also change the dynamic? we would also change the dynamic? - believe that we have to be far more strategic about where we use age. the reality is that 90% of aid was cut to sudan, and now look at the situation now, the wagner group went in and took advantage of that vacuum. yemen is an appalling cycle of violence, which seems to be the

forgotten war, and thanks to reporting that goes we are casting a light on the suffering of the people of yemen. in light on the suffering of the people of yemen. . light on the suffering of the people of yemen. , ., , of yemen. in terms of where they wanner of yemen. in terms of where they wagner grouo _ of yemen. in terms of where they wagner group gets _ of yemen. in terms of where they wagner group gets their - of yemen. in terms of where they wagner group gets their money i of yemen. in terms of where they - wagner group gets their money from, is it not understood that there is a complex entities that exist underneath it that fund that? the central african underneath it that fund that? tta: central african republic underneath it that fund that? tt2 central african republic for me is the best example of this. essentially, the wagner group have captured estate and then i have significant contracts for mining for diamonds and gold. essentially, guns at for gold is their cover. ogre at for gold is their cover. are there other _ at for gold is their cover. are there other countries, particular in europe, they have tackled this in an effective way? tia. europe, they have tackled this in an effective way?— europe, they have tackled this in an effective way? no, this is something that we are sadly _ effective way? no, this is something that we are sadly seen _ effective way? no, this is something that we are sadly seen across - that we are sadly seen across europe, across all our key allies. no one has yet prescribe them or taking the action needed to deal with private military companies in a strategic manner. we are asking the

uk to lead the way on this. for too long to many countries have not looked at the strategically or across multi geographies. figs looked at the strategically or across multi geographies. as we have been talking — across multi geographies. as we have been talking about, _ across multi geographies. as we have been talking about, what _ across multi geographies. as we have been talking about, what a _ across multi geographies. as we have been talking about, what a day - been talking about, what a day across the mediterranean. wildfires have been burning across the med, plumes of smoke approaching this village on the island of rhodes. the emergency services are observing three days of mourning after a plane crashed on tuesday. on sicily, the fires are raging near popular tourist attractions. palermo airport also had to close for several hours. we also think that the day ahead, we are being told, will be one of the most dangerous on the island of rhodes, corfu and nvr.

a spokesperson saying that although some areas were currently quiet, strong and drive south winds pose a serious threat. all of rhodes is now in a state of emergency. jenny hill is there for us. you can see just how quickly things changed, in a matter of seconds, as we were driving down this road, the flames suddenly reared up almost out of nowhere. you can actually hear the crackling noise as this fire consumes the the pine trees around. it's very noisy at the moment because other vehicles are moving down the road and being told they need to turn around or get past very quickly, and just beyond that truck firefighters have got their hoses trained on this particular spot, desperately trying to get the flames out. one of the big problems with this wildfire is that it is all over the place. it flares up, it spreads, it's moving. it's a bit like a game of cat and mouse for the firefighters. it's not particularly windy at the moment. it has been in recent days, but the wind does move around and that means the fire is driven all over the place. it's also very warm,

one of the warmest days of the week. and it must be very, very difficult indeed for those firefighters trying to bring all of this under control while wearing all of that heavy protective equipment. this, of course, is not the image that this tourist island wants the world to see at this time of year. this island should be full of holiday—makers enjoying themselves, swimming in the sea, enjoying the warmth of the sunshine. instead, so many of them have had to move away from areas like this in central and southeastern roads. it's notjust europe experiencing extreme weather events. across the atlantic in canada, three people have died in massive flooding in the country's east. the flooding was caused by the heaviest torrential rains to hit nova scotia in 50 years. three months' worth of rain fell in a matter of hours over the weekend, washing out vehicles, bridges and roads. with more on this, let's cross live to the bbc weather centre and sarah keith—lucas. keeping a close eye on everything

happening right around the world. but let's not in europe. is it going to get any cooler in the coming days? i think we have seen the peak of the heatwave. what we're seeing at the moment is a bit of a change in wind direction. thankfully the extreme heat wave that has been with us for more than a fortnight now are starting to ease. they when starting to come in from a northerly direction. still windy conditions across parts of sicily, fanning the flames. but they will be dying down. another died today of temperatures up. but greece is it really the heat today, 44, possibly a5. that sheet really spilling up across the balkans, for the likes of serbia, romania, the very hot today. tomorrow those temperatures are back into the mid 30s, so some places about 10 degrees cooler by tomorrow

than earlier on in week. some relief thankfully on that they way as temperatures going to dip down. no winds to pick up a little bit is that the collector brings in, but certainly not enough to cause too many problems. 50 certainly not enough to cause too many problems-— certainly not enough to cause too many problems. so better news. we have seen some _ many problems. so better news. we have seen some pretty _ many problems. so better news. we have seen some pretty dramatic- have seen some pretty dramatic pictures from canada from the rain and flooding they had over the weekend there. rain is up—to—date with what's happening in the rest of the world when it comes to the 16 weather. , ., , ,., the world when it comes to the 16 weather. , ., , , , ., weather. the storms both sides of the atlantic _ weather. the storms both sides of the atlantic can _ weather. the storms both sides of the atlantic can be _ weather. the storms both sides of the atlantic can be linked - weather. the storms both sides of the atlantic can be linked into - the atlantic can be linked into what's happening with the jet stream. it is this river of air here that you can see high above our heads and it delivers areas of high and low pressure, as well as the intense heat. generally you see the jet stream, and... we are seeing storms across parts of eastern europe at the moment but we have seen torrential downpours across

parts of canada as well. on the other side of the atlantic and the jet stream is causing problems there too. it is really stuck, just arching up and down. those ripples in thejet arching up and down. those ripples in the jet stream is what brings us those intense storms. but to the south of it, he is still a problem, particularly for the likes of california and arizona. the city of phoenix has seen temperatures above 40 celsius for 26 days in a row, and it looks like it could be 30 days before we see anything dipping below 40 celsius. with thatjet stream becoming more blocked in its position as our climate changes, that means heatwaves and stormy conditions are going to be more frequent, more intense and longer lasting. a worrying time for so many people- _ longer lasting. a worrying time for so many people. around _ longer lasting. a worrying time for so many people. around the - longer lasting. a worrying time for| so many people. around the world, and across the uk, this is bbc news.

each summer, thousands of visitors flock to the county, meaning health care services are put under extreme pressure. as at the summer holiday start, the nhs hopes that people can help them by notjust turning up your unless that is an urgent need. we want to help people get to the right place and seen in a timely fashion, that is really important for us here in the emergency department because we want to be able to to people who have emergency conditions in a really timely way. what you can do nowjust because of remote _ what you can do nowjust because of remote technology as it rent your own gp _ remote technology as it rent your own gp who has all your own records and at _ own gp who has all your own records and at the _ own gp who has all your own records and at the medications you are taken and at the medications you are taken and they— and at the medications you are taken and they can — and at the medications you are taken and they can sort out a prescription for you _ and they can sort out a prescription for ou. ., , . and they can sort out a prescription for ou. .,, ., , ., for you. people are sure of the health care _ for you. people are sure of the health care service _ for you. people are sure of the health care service they - for you. people are sure of the health care service they need i for you. people are sure of the i health care service they need are advised to call 111 or use nhs iii advised to call 111 or use nhs 111 online. but doctors have said those who have been told they need urgent care should not delay coming in. you're live with bbc news.

russia's defence minister, sergei shoigu, has arrived in north korea's capital, pyongyang. he's there to join celebrations to mark the end of fighting in the korean war 70 years ago, but his visit is also very much about the present. let's talk about it with our europe regional editor, paul mus. this is somewhat surprising, isn't it, to see sergei shoigu in pyongyang? tt certainly is, north korea seems to be a country that seems to be sealed at the best of times. lots of quarantine measures remain in place, so for them to hold a state visit by a foreign dignitary, it is a sign of how seriously they take their relationship with russia. sergei shoigu is a defence secretary, he has a water fight, so for him to go to north korea and take part in the pageantry and pomp of an army celebration is a bit surprising.

let's not forget that sergei shoigu was the target of lots of them from the wagner leader, yevgeny prigozhin. we note there are many others in russia who would rather see the back of him. so the fact he has gone to korea, leaving his cabinet seat a little empty, it is a sign that they're taking this relationship very seriously. what sign that they're taking this relationship very seriously. what is it do ou relationship very seriously. what is it do you think— relationship very seriously. what is it do you think that _ relationship very seriously. what is it do you think that sergei - relationship very seriously. what is it do you think that sergei shoigu l it do you think that sergei shoigu hopes to achieve through this visit? russia has been buying weapons from north korea. we know from us intelligence, it has bought actually and rockets. secondly, ithink this is a very important relationship historically. north korea and russia were ideological bent finals back in the cold war, seeing themselves as communist countries with a great titanic battle with the evil capitalist west. that language may have gone, but they still see themselves as allies against the united states and western europe.

but i think there is something else going on. they are commemorating the end of the korean war. that began when north korea invaded south korea. they thought they would take the south korean capital very quickly and overrun the country. instead the war went on for several years, it ground down to slow fighting, 5 million people died, and nothing was achieved, the porter ended up exactly where it was before. one country invading a neighbour, hoping for a very quick victory, fighting grinding down and not achieving an awful lot. does it remind you of a conflict going on at the moment? i wondered sergei shoigu might notice the parallels and perhaps notice a potential warning. to cambodia now, where the prime minister, hun sen, has announced he'll step down, days after he led his cambodian people's party to victory in an election with no meaningful opposition. the 70—year—old, who is one of the world's longest—serving political leaders, said that he'd appointed his eldest son to be

the new prime minister and the handover will take place next month. i've been speaking with our south east asia corresondent, jonathan head. i asked him what he made of this announcement. we've got to assume that all the pieces are in place for what is a once in a generation leadership change. and it's notjust hun sen himself, but the people around him. these people brought out in the very brought up and the very rough house experience of cambodia in the khmer rouge revolution and the civil war that followed. these are politicians schooled in hard knocks as they pass on almost always to their own children. it's quite extraordinary to see many of the ministers around him also planning to hand over their ministerial posts to their children. clearly they believe that the election victory they achieved, albeit in highly controversial circumstances, with no opposition allowed to to run, but the fact that it actually went reasonably smoothly gives him the opportunity to do this. i don't think this is just

a straight handover. his son is relatively untested politically. he's 45 years old, western educated, may present a very different face from his father, but cambodian politics is notoriously tricky and factional, and his father is making it clear he will hold on to a number of positions which will allow him to continue to pull strings from behind the scenes even while his son takes the top job. the owner of tottenham hotspur, joe lewis, has been charged in the united states with insider trading. prosecutors allege that mr lewis used his access to corporate board rooms to gain information, which he then passed on to employees and friends. mr lewis's lawyer has rejected the charges. let's speak now to our economics correspondent, andy verity. these were allegations laid out in a video statement. what else was alleged? video statement. what else was alleued? ,, ., , , video statement. what else was alleued? ,, ,, video statement. what else was alleued? ,, . , , , . video statement. what else was alleued? ,, ., , , alleged? essentially this is a case alleged? essentially this is a case all about insider _ alleged? essentially this is a case all about insider trading. -

alleged? essentially this is a case all about insider trading. that's i all about insider trading. that's when someone has privileged information on the other investors don't have any access to which they might tread upon, which might change the value of the company. for example, if someone were taking over a football club and at the head about it from the manager, and then about it from the manager, and then a football that leaked it to his sister in law, who bought shares and then made money — that is insider trading, and it is illegal. it is illegal because it is unfair on other investors. that is what being alleged here, that you laces ——joe lewis has been leaking information to romantic partners, relatives way before it has been made public. it was all laid out by the attorney in the southern district in new york who is bringing the charges. i am announcing that my office, the southern district of new york, has indicted joe lewis, the british billionaire, for orchestrating a brazen insider trading scheme. we allege that for years joe lewis abused his access to corporate boardrooms and repeatedly provided inside information to his romantic

to his romantic partners, his personal assistants, his private pilot and his friends. those folks then traded on that inside information and made millions of dollars in the stock market, because thanks to lewis those bets were a sure thing. now, none of this was necessary. joe lewis is a wealthy man. but as we allege, he used inside information as a way to compensate his employees, or to shower gifts on his friends and lovers. that's classic corporate corruption, it's cheating, and it's against the law, laws that apply to everyone no matter who you are. in the southern district of new york. thank you. that is the main millions there, the attorney charging joe lewis at the southern district of new york. if you heard from your brother—in—law that his company listed on the stock market was going to be taken over, and therefore bought a load of

share, then that would be unfair on on the other investors who didn't know that, he wouldn't be able to trade on the same information. the same information is made public at the same time so that people are not able to get ahead for unfair reasons. what is alleged here is that non—public information has been leaked about companies thatjoe lewis was involved in, including... we haven't seen the full indictment but it is quite clear that the southern district of new york has a detailed case here.— detailed case here. does this all have any implications _ detailed case here. does this all have any implications for - detailed case here. does this all - have any implications for tottenham hotspur cars the answer is not really, actually, becausejoe lewis is a minority owner of spurs. iiit is a minority owner of spurs. t�*t terms of its business, it doesn't have any strong implications, it is not going to affect his ability to put money into the club or not. he still has a holding we think through

a family trust, whether or not you consider him as a person of significant control there. the way it does affect tottenham, you have to think about who you are doing business with, any business has to. if this indictment succeeds, and we should say thatjoe lewis has denied it strenuously through his lawyer, but if you were to be indicted and thenit but if you were to be indicted and then it eventually went to a trial and there was a conviction, obviously likes a big strain on tottenham's reputation, to have had an owner that was potentially criminally charged. of course he has denied that and we don't know that is going to happen. for the premier league, there are questions as to whether it has been examining things as hard as it should if the us department ofjustice is coming up with charges like this.— with charges like this. some breakin: with charges like this. some breaking news _ with charges like this. some breaking news to _ with charges like this. some breaking news to bring - with charges like this. some breaking news to bring you i with charges like this. some - breaking news to bring you from brussels regarding the war in ukraine. this is the eu agreed to adopt restrictive measures regarding belarus in terms of its involvement in the conflict with ukraine,

russia's involvement, saying that the measures include the listing of various individuals and entities as well. belarus has been crucial in terms of allowing russia to stage part of the nation from its territory, the shortest possible land route to kyiv is actually from belarus. there have been efforts from the russians were sent their trips across the border. of course the leader of belarus, alexander lukashenko, is a close ally of president putin. so, the eu is going to adopt some objective measures listing individuals and entities when it comes to belarus. this time next year, the paris olympics will get under way, a games which has already been labelled a blueprint for the future with environmental sustainability at the heart of it. but it wouldn't be an olympus without some controversy in the build—up.

a games fit for the future in the heart of historic paris, with a promise to be the most sustainable olympics and paralympics ever. the man making it happen knows a thing or two about a successful olympic games. tony estanget is a three—times olympic champion. for me, it is a great combination of iconic images, we want to demonstrate that paris and france can deliver the games in a different way than in the past, and it is this best balance of the passion of the games. but also the purpose. we have to be engaged in a new model of delivering the games. a big part of that new model is a laser focus on the environment. 95% of the venues already existed. the largest of only a few new construction projects is the athletes' village, but here wood has replaced steel, there is low—carbon cement and natural cooling instead of air—conditioning. elsewhere, the games will be the first to be run renewable energy. reducing our emissions by 50% is one of our most important objectives.

major events cannot be run the way they were run before, not with the current climate and environmental issues that we are seeing. one of the existing venues is the river seine, which is being cleaned up to host the open—water swimming events. but it will also take centre stage for the first ever opening ceremony outside a stadium. more than half a million spectators are expected on the banks of the river, which, in light of france's historic issues with security and civil unrest, has raised concerns. when you organise an event, the first things you have to be sure, it's the place that you are welcoming athletes and spectators, that it will be safe. that is the first part and the major one. so we work on that point essentially to be sure that we will be able to do it in a full security aspect. security is not the only potential problem. organisers face allegations of corruption. this building behind me, their headquarters, was recently raided by police,

and they face complaints over tickets being too expensive, although in response they say prices are the same as at previous games. usain bolt was on hand to mark the official countdown. new stars and stories will emerge, in a changing games, and france embracing the revolution. many of you might know the iconic comic, the beano. it is celebrating its 85th birthday this week in a special community of issue. harry styles, adelejoining special community of issue. harry styles, adele joining the likes of dennis the menace and the bash street kids. they were picked by children, who they said they would like to see them appear in cartoon form. you can also see their marcus

rashford, and broadcaster david attenborough. well worth picking up if you can. there is a huge amount of speculation in china right now about the whereabouts of the man you can see here, china's foreign minister. he has been removed from thatjob, he had only been doing it for about seven months. no reason was given for his removal and his predecessor has been reappointed to the post. there is lots of speculation and chat on social media as well. our corresponding invasion, stephen mcdonell, looks at this for us. so do log onto the website and take a look. july 2023 is shaping up to be a pretty wet month across parts of the country. some parts of it had twice the expected july rainfall, and a

bit more rain on the way for the finalfew days of bit more rain on the way for the final few days of the month. an area of rain spreads gradually eastwards, so pretty soggy for northern ireland, wales. across the north—east of scotland and eastern parts of england, drier and brighter weather into the early evening. temperature still out a bit cooler up temperature still out a bit cooler up towards the northern isles. into this evening and tonight, that area of rain tracks eastwards, we see some pretty brisk winds in the south as well, a spell of blustery and wet weather for us tonight. once the rain gradually clears, it is still looking really muggy out there is, quite a humid feel to the weather. an air of low pressure not far as way as we had through thursday. lingering front spring rain across scotland, perhaps parts of southern england as well and the channel islands. slowly lifting offers

across parts of scotland. a lot of low cloud, miss and murk elsewhere to start thursday. but some sunshine breaking through during the afternoon, a few scattered showers bubbling up as well, so certainly not dry everywhere. it is going to be the start of the fifth and final ashes series at the oval. i think we will have a lot of cloud, this could be the order shower. into friday, quite a bit of dry weather at the oval. i think a similar picture for much of the uk on friday, not a bad day, sunny spells, the could be showers almost anywhere in the breeze. temperatures still cover up towards the northern isles. the weekend as well the area of low pressure tracks eastwards across the northern half of the uk, bringing some showers which i think will be most frequent across parts of scotland, northern ireland and

north—west england. fewer showers further south, north—west england. fewer showers furthersouth, but north—west england. fewer showers further south, but there will be some at times, quite breezy too. temperature remain a little bit lower towards the of august.

today at one — the chief executive of natwest resigns after admitting a mistake in speaking of nigel farage's relationship with the bank. dame alison rose disclosed

inaccurate details of his account at coutts part of the natwest group. he now wants more resignations. i think this brings into question the whole of the board. you know, the chairman of the natwest group, the ceo of coutts, the subsidiary. frankly, because of how they behaved, i think they should all go. rishi sunak said it was right that dame alison step down — we'll be asking why the government felt the need to intervene. also on the programme... the man who spent 17 years in prison convicted of a rape he says he didn't commit — today the court of appeal considers whether to quash his conviction. the terrible suffering of yemen's youngest citizens — as the civil war leaves parents unable to feed their children. and the race to rent, the numbers feeling private properties has tripled since 2019. on the bbc news channel, spain and japan become the first to progress

to the