humans are to blame. a top ukrainian general says his forces are struggling to make progress in the counter offensive against strong russian defences. and — tributes continue for the trailblazing singer — sinead o'connor , police say they're not treating her death as suspicious. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. welcome to verified live, three hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. we start with a searing assessment of the dangers of climate change from the un's secretary general. antonio guterres said, the earth is in an �*era of global boiling'. it comes as two major organisations — monitoring climate change — have warned thatjuly 2023 is virtually certain to become the hottest month in history.

the data — from the co—pernicus climate service and the world meterological service — predicts this year, will be the planet's hottest yet. take at look at this chart. it shows the warmest 30 months on record globally. the line on the right hand side of the chart — shows temperatures this month — over 0.3 degrees warmer than the previous record, set in july 2019. and that follows the hottestjune on record. the report spelled out — the trend of drastic increases in global temperatures, is mainly driven, by man—made emissions. mr guterres said the data signalled a disaster for the entire planet. according to the data released today, july has already seen the hottest three week period ever recorded, the three hottest days on record, and the highest ever ocean temperatures for this time of year. the consequences are clear and they are tragic. children swept away by monsoon rains.

families running from the flames. workers collapsing in scorching heat. for vast parts of north america, asia, africa and europe, it's a cruel summer. for the entire planet, it is a disaster. and for scientists, it is unequivocal — humans are to blame. all this is entirely consistent with predictions and repeated warnings. the only surprise is the speed of the change. climate change is here. it is terrifying. and it isjust the beginning. chris hewitt, of the world meteorological organisation was one of the report's authors — and we can speak to him now. welcome and we can speak to him now. here to the program terms welcome here to the programme. in terms of what you just heard from the secretary general, do you agree with just about every part of it? yes, i agree with the comments about it being the warmest first three

weeks ofjuly on record and it's not good news for the planet, yes. just tell me a little _ good news for the planet, yes. just tell me a little more about that data you've looked at and what it shows you because at least from the first three weeks, the evidence looks crystal clear.— first three weeks, the evidence looks crystal clear. yes, exactly, these first _ looks crystal clear. yes, exactly, these first three _ looks crystal clear. yes, exactly, these first three weeks - looks crystal clear. yes, exactly, these first three weeks in - looks crystal clear. yes, exactly, these first three weeks in july, l these first three weeks in july, this is on the back of a very warm june as well, these first three weeks ofjuly are indeed very warm, exceptionally warm. we are nearly at the end ofjuly and it is looking very likely that it will be the warmestjuly on record and there would have to be significant cooling globally for this to not be a new record. i globally for this to not be a new record. ., ., , ., ., record. i want to put one of the charts onto _ record. i want to put one of the charts onto the _ record. i want to put one of the charts onto the screen - record. i want to put one of the charts onto the screen that - record. i want to put one of the charts onto the screen that you | charts onto the screen that you supplied because it shows the progression over 80 differentjulys and they show as we get to the currentjuly, where we are. it is just coming onto our screens as i speak. the global mean temperature is temporarily exceeded the 1.5

degrees threshold, above preindustrial thresholds, in the first and third week of this month. how much of an alarm bell is that given how important that threshold is? ., , ., , given how important that threshold is? ., , g is? yeah, so it is further evidence. we have been _ is? yeah, so it is further evidence. we have been seeing _ is? yeah, so it is further evidence. we have been seeing warming - is? yeah, so it is further evidence. we have been seeing warming for| is? yeah, so it is further evidence. | we have been seeing warming for a long period of time, decade on decade it has been getting significantly warmer since about the 19705 significantly warmer since about the 1970s and so we have been getting closer and closer to this 1.5 degrees threshold set in the paris agreement. what you are referring to there would be on a shorter timescale so the paris agreement is referring to a very long period of time, decades, and we are seeing the annual average is getting closer and closer and now the data we are looking at, we are seeing that temporarily four days and perhaps weeks, we are exceeding that threshold. this is temporarily at the moment, but we are getting closer to that paris agreement threshold. ~ ., ., closer to that paris agreement threshold-— closer to that paris agreement threshold. ., ., , ., . threshold. what do you then pro'ect in the years — threshold. what do you then pro'ect in the years ahead i threshold. what do you then pro'ect in the years ahead given * threshold. what do you then pro'ect in the years ahead given the i threshold. what do you then project in the years ahead given the data i in the years ahead given the data you see now? 50. in the years ahead given the data you see now?— in the years ahead given the data ou see now? _, you see now? so, in the coming five

ears, we you see now? so, in the coming five years. we are _ you see now? so, in the coming five years, we are predicting _ you see now? so, in the coming five years, we are predicting that - you see now? so, in the coming five years, we are predicting that at - years, we are predicting that at least one of those five years will be the warmest year on record. that is very likely. it is more likely than not, actually, that's one of those five years will temporarily break the 1.5 degrees paris threshold. again, we are not saying we have permanently broken that threshold, but does the world warms we are getting closer and closer and we are getting closer and closer and we do think in the next five years we do think in the next five years we will, for at least a year, temporarily break that threshold. and since may, looking at the data, the global average sea temperatures are also well above the normal levels. how significant or troubling is that? ., , , is that? yeah, dc surfaced temperatures _ is that? yeah, dc surfaced temperatures are - is that? yeah, dc surfaced temperatures are in - is that? yeah, dc surfaced temperatures are in deed l is that? yeah, dc surfaced - temperatures are in deed quite striking. —— the sea surface temperatures. it is what is partly driving the temperatures injuly, superimposed on long—term global warming. the sea services are very warming. the sea services are very warm in parts of the ocean. in terms

ofthe warm in parts of the ocean. in terms of the points — warm in parts of the ocean. in terms of the points we _ warm in parts of the ocean. in terms of the points we have _ warm in parts of the ocean. in terms of the points we have now— warm in parts of the ocean. in terms of the points we have now reached, l of the points we have now reached, all of that data, all of what you have taken us through, is this still in a period where it is reversible? yes. yes, it is. the paris agreement is based on trying to limit the warming and to limits the warming we need to limit the emissions of greenhouse gases and eventually reduce the greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere so action can be taken. as the un secretary—general said, we need to take dramatic and drastic action as soon as possible to limits the warming. the worst effects can be avoided and if we take very dramatic action then we can avoid those worst effects. we action then we can avoid those worst effects. ~ ., ., ., effects. we have to leave it there but thanks _ effects. we have to leave it there but thanks for _ effects. we have to leave it there but thanks for taking _ effects. we have to leave it there but thanks for taking us - effects. we have to leave it there but thanks for taking us through l effects. we have to leave it there i but thanks for taking us through the key planks of your report today. well, extreme heat has caused havoc across many parts of southern europe in recent days. 0ur reporter azadeh moshiri joins us now from one of the worst affect areas — the greek island of rhodes.

just take us through some of what you have seen, even in the last 2a hours. you have seen, even in the last 24 hours. ., , ., ., you have seen, even in the last 24 hours. ., i. ., hours. matthew, what you are looking at riaht hours. matthew, what you are looking at right now — hours. matthew, what you are looking at right now is — hours. matthew, what you are looking at right now is high _ hours. matthew, what you are looking at right now is high season _ hours. matthew, what you are looking at right now is high season on - hours. matthew, what you are looking at right now is high season on the - at right now is high season on the southern part of the island of rhodes. these are tables where people would have had food, drinks. and yet, now every single one of these coffee shops is a representation of livelihoods that have gone up in flames. that's what the stakes of these extreme temperatures are, its people is's livelihoods. now, that's notjust businesses that are at stake, there are lives as well. two people died in the fire and earlier this week, two pilots died as well. and yet, this isn't happening across all of greece, these are in localised parts of the island and of the country but for people witnessing this and seeing their businesses and lives and way of living going up in flames, they recognise that these

temperatures are not normal. this right now is what we are seeing, we are seeing the consequences of extreme weather play out. it is not exaggeration _ extreme weather play out. it is not exaggeration to — extreme weather play out. it is not exaggeration to say _ extreme weather play out. it is not exaggeration to say it _ extreme weather play out. it is not exaggeration to say it is _ exaggeration to say it is effectively a war between the wildfires and the firefighters, where are we in that basic battle? matthew, that is exactly... the term war is what officials are saying. that is what the prime minister has said as well. that this is a war. firefighters have said we hunt fires every single day and in terms of where they stand, they are saying the temperatures are still high, the winds are still strong and when you look here, you know that on the island of rhodes for example, some parts of temperatures have hit 45 celsius. we know there have been 90,000 people evacuated, the largest evacuation ever on the island of greece. therefore, when we are looking at the future and seeing that winds are still strong, they are extremely concerned about the

fact that fires are still raging and will continue to burn in certain parts of the country. in will continue to burn in certain parts of the country.— will continue to burn in certain parts of the country. in terms of the worst _ parts of the country. in terms of the worst affected _ parts of the country. in terms of the worst affected areas - parts of the country. in terms of the worst affected areas at - parts of the country. in terms of the worst affected areas at the i the worst affected areas at the moment, is it still rhodes that is principally the worst with the sort of images running on the screen alongside your talking?- of images running on the screen alongside your talking? rhodes is still the most _ alongside your talking? rhodes is still the most difficult _ alongside your talking? rhodes is still the most difficult part - alongside your talking? rhodes is still the most difficult part to - still the most difficult part to handle because of the fact that there is so much greenery and so many tall pines and the fact that there is strong dry heat and very strong winds. that is why firefighters say that actually, most of the time, rhodes is always the island they focus on and find so difficult. but it is also very important to mention that loss of life has happened in other parts. evenif life has happened in other parts. even if you are looking at these huge files and images, it is important to remember that it was on the mainland where two people just died. a man who was a farmer trying to protect his sheep and a woman who stayed in her mobile home. of

course, it was on another island where two pilots died. when you are looking at the concentration of these fires, there are the areas that are extremely difficult, but it is different parts of greece that are still having to handle all of this as well.— are still having to handle all of this as well. 0ur reporter sofia bettiza is in reggio calabria in southern italy and sent this update. here in italy, emergency services are used to tackling wildfires in the summer but this year, the heatwave has been so long and so intense that firefighters are struggling. they've had to battle nearly 2,000 fires in the last few days and you can see behind me, the aftermath of one of those fires. all of that used to be greenery, the region of calabria where i am this afternoon is famous for its nature, now all of that is burned to the ground.

if you come over here with me, you can see several vehicles damaged by a recent fire. for example, that is what remains of a lorry. if you look up there, you can see that the flames reached that village causing several people to be evacuated. we spoke to a woman that lives in that building over there. she told us that within seconds, her home was engulfed by the flames and that it was absolutely terrifying. her family luckily managed to escape and get to safety, but several people here in southern italy have died, trapped in their own homes because of these fires. the italian government has introduced emergency measures last night to try and help families and businesses that have been affected by the bad weather. but the fear here in southern italy is that the scorching temperatures and the strong winds could cause more fires in the next few days and that that could lead

to even more deaths. more on that a little later in the programme. to west africa now where niger's army has given its backing to the troops who announced in a television address that they had toppled the country's elected president, mohamed bazoum. a statement signed by the army chief of staff said it was backing the coup in order to avoid fighting within the armed forces. the coup leaders said they'd dissolved the constitution, suspended all institutions, and closed the country's borders. protests erupted in the streets in response to the attempt to overthrow the government. the president was detained by troops from the presidential guard on wednesday — though the soldiers made no mention of him in their announcement. translation: this day, - july 23rd 2023, we, the defence and security forces, meeting within the national council for the safeguard of the homeland, have decided to put an end to the regime you know.

this follows the continuing deterioration of the security situation, and poor economic and social governance. that was the statement earlier in the day. for more, i spoke to our security correspondent frank gardner. it is a really big setback, matthew, for notjust french and us, but western and european efforts generally, to try to establish some kind of security in the sahel region. that is the part of northwest africa that borders the sahara, so countries like mauritania, mali, burkina faso, chad and niger. 0nly last year, the french basically gave up on mali, because they had very bad relations with the newjunta that seized power there. so they withdrew their forces. the un withdrew and the french chose to make their base in niger. there is a $100 million us drone base operating out of niger. this was supposed to be their safe place for monitoring and trying to spot the jihadist insurgencies across the region.

and now, niger is up for grabs, as it were. this will be welcomed by two lots of people — the jihadist insurgencies, that is al-qaeda and isis. they absolutely love this kind of instability. they feed off it. they will almost certainly be looking for ways to profit from this, and quite possibly, the wagner group, which has got very close relations now with the central african republic, with mali, with burkina faso and other countries. so, this is a real setback for the west, and a potential gain for moscow and the jihadists, even though those two are on different sides. and is it clear, frank, whether the military will be able to maintain their current grip on power? no, i am not going to try to second—guess what happens on the ground. but the fact that the chief of staff of the military has decided now to back the coup in order to avoid bloodshed, that is not looking too good, actually, for the president

or indeed his followers. so, internationally, you have the un, the us, the african union, and ecowas, that is the economic community of west african states. all backing the existing, effectively ousted president. and yet, the situation on the ground is that the coup, this co major amadou adramane, which nobody in niger had heard of until this week, they seem to have the upper hand. frank talking about the un. in the last while, the un secretary talking about this and has said that the military there in niger need to release the president immediately and unconditionally stop obstructing the democratic governance of the country and respect the rule of law. he said we are seeing a disturbing trend in the sahel region, unconstitutional changes of government are having terrible effects on the lives of civilian

population. a really clear statement from the un secretary—general. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. tram operators have been fined £14 million over the croydon derailment which killed seven passengers. the tram carrying 69 people derailed near the sandilands stop on the morning of november 9th in 2016. transport for london and tram 0perations limited have accepted failing in their health and safety duties. the tram driver was found not guilty earlier this year of failing to take reasonable care of his passengers. jean smith's son mark died in the crash — she says financial penalties achieve nothing. no amount of money and i suppose... no amount of money would ever have been enough for what happened to mark and the other six or even in fact the other 19 that were seriously injured. so, yeah, money is meaningless, it is replaceable. people's lives aren't. the mayor of london, sadiq khan,

who is the chair of tfl, has said he would continue to work with the tram operator to make the transport network as safe as possible. you're live with bbc news. the general in charge of ukraine's counter—offensive against russia in the south has told the bbc that his forces are struggling to overcome russian defences and move forward quickly. the general said russia's multi—layered minefields, and fortified defensive lines, were making it difficult for military equipment, including western—supplied tanks and armoured vehicles, to advance. ukraine's counter—offensive is now in its second month. but progress has been slow. areas shown here in red are those currently under russian military control. they include the cities of donetsk and mariupol. 0ur defence correspondent, jonathan beale is in dnipro and sent this report. hidden in a forest, evidence

of ukraine's stuttering offensive in the south. a makeshift repair yard trying to salvage not old soviet equipment, but recently donated western armour. these us—made bradleys may have saved lives, but they have also been damaged by what is slowing them down. russian minefields. sergei says some can't be repaired so they will scavenge the parts. this was the same brigade in the first days of the offensive, especially trained and equipped by the west to break through defences. instead they became an easy target and fodder for russian propaganda. now they are using old soviet tanks to try to clear a path. it's ukraine's infantry who are having to make the hard yards on foot, all the more difficult to hold ground without armour. it has been painful to watch for this drone pilot. he has seen brutal new tactics.

this is what he recently filmed when ukrainian troops, advancing from the bottom right, tried to capture a russian trench. it was empty but rigged with explosives. 0n the russian trenches they leave remote—controlled mines and when the soldiers get to the trenches the mines explode and kill ourfriends. it's a new weapon. ukraine is now using a new weapon too, one that is banned by more than 100 countries. this us—supplied howitzer is firing on russian infantry positions and for the first time we are seeing them using cluster munitions. the ukrainian general overseeing the sudden offensive defended the use. he says he is facing a more difficult enemy. translation: idon't- underestimate the enemy. they have created all the conditions that prevent us from moving forward quickly, but their weakness

is they don't care about their people. how can i decide if your offensive is a success or a failure? i wouldn't be talking to you now if the counteroffensive wasn't successful. he said he had still to commit his main strike force. there are reports that may now be happening. the bodies of dead russian soldiers and destroyed tanks show ukraine is advancing, but on this battlefield there is also wrecked western armour, including these british supplied vehicles. ukraine says it needs patience and time. jonathan beale, bbc news, southern ukraine. president putin is hosting african leaders at a summit in st petersburg. but fewer of them are taking part, than in previous years — and the invasion of ukraine is believed to be one of the main reasons.

when the event was first held in 2019, 43 african leaders took part. but this time only 17 are attending. another update from that summit — our colleagues at bbc verify have confirmed that this image circulating on social media is genuine and shows the wagner founder yevgeny prigozhin shaking hands with ambassador freddy mapouka, a senior representative of the central african republic. the image was first posted on 26th july by a russian official. bbc verify has confirmed that the meeting took place at the trezzini palace hotel in st petersburg. wagner has developed a highly successful business model — supporting the governments of several african countries. very interesting to see him there at that summit. the bbc�*s africa correspondent, andrew harding,

developments at the summit from johannesburg. it's interesting that african leaders are staying away in much larger numbers now. i think ukraine and the conflict there have a fair amount to do with that and also presumably american and european pressure on african governments. the grain issue is messy right now. the african continent as a whole, very dependent on ukrainian and to some extent russian grain. there had been a deal, as you know, through the black sea to allow ukrainian exports that have been re—continued after negotiations but now the russians have pulled out and seem to be trying to essentially blockade ukrainian grain exports. that is very bad news for african countries, particularly in places like somalia where they are facing famine conditions. the russians are saying, we will give you free grain or at least some free grain and certainly lots of russian grain to make up the shortfall. but the likely impact on global grain prices is going to be to push it up dramatically and that is going to affect a lot

of people across africa. so, i think there will be some pretty difficult discussions in saint petersburg between president putin and certainly some of the more outspoken african leaders who decide to show up. that was andrew harding. let's squeeze in one more story this half hour because the nominees for this years mercury music prize have been revealed. among those nominated are jessie ware, the arctic monkeys and the jazz quintet the ezra collective. 0ur entertainment correspondence went at the announcement. ezra collective on the mercury list. what does it mean to you? we're very, very grateful. we're gratefuljust for a whole host of reasons. you know, so many people were involved in this record. and it's such a beautiful way to celebrate everyone. so grateful to be alongside such a beautiful list of people. and every year on the mercury prize, there's normally the jazz album, but this feels different because this album went top 30. you've got big names on there, kd radical.

you've got emily sande. this isn't the token jazz album, is it? do you know what? i'm really grateful you said that. i don't feel like we're a token jazz band, and i don't i've never seen jazz as a token artist kind of thing. i feel like even pastjazz musicians that have been nominated for this amazing award, like nirbhaya garcia, like sons of kemet, i never really saw them as token. so for me, music's music and i'm just glad and really grateful to be amongst such great music. for people who don't know what is happening in londonjazz scene in the moment. man, it's really beautiful, i think where you would have had like an indie scene a few years ago. what's beautiful is that instrumental music with saxophones, with trumpets embedded in a jazz origin, it's really popular and you've got people playing it all over clubs, all over bars, and now it's been wonderful to see it happen on big stages and big festivals. so it'sjust, like i keep saying, just amazing to be a part of it.

straight to breaking news coming from washington. the reuters news agency is reporting that donald trump's attorneys have been told to expect an indictment against the former president and an investigation into overturning or attempts to overturn the presidential defeat. two networks reporting that, it is highly anticipated this move but we are being told that donald trump's attorneys have been told to expect an indictment against the former us presidents. we will get the latest from our correspondent in washington here in the next while. we will have more injust a moment. if you spent your day under cloudy sky and i'm sure you will notice the muggy feel to proceedings. when the sun came out, temperatures climbed quite readily. 0n the earlier satellite picture, you can see we have had quite a lot

of cloud, but some big breaks, some spells of sunshine. just behind me, this swell of cloud. that is the centre of an area of low pressure which is pushing eastward, bringing unsettled conditions. in the short—term we keep quite a lot of cloud and mist and murk, some rain overnight, although signs of some clear skies edging in from the west. temperatures between 11 and 16 degrees, so another fairly warm and muggy start to friday morning. for friday, quite a lot of cloud around across the eastern half of the uk to start. this band of rain are moving very slowly across 0rkney and toward shetland. later in the day we will see this band of showers pushing on towards northern ireland. in between, a bit more in the way of sunshine, just one or two showers here and there, and temperatures between 17 and 24 degrees. i think there is just the chance of catching a shower at the 0val for the ashes test match, and the increasing chance of showers as we head into the weekend. that is because low pressure is going to be in charge of our weather.

we have had low pressure with us for the last couple of weekends and here we go again. around this area of low pressure it is not going to be raining all the time, but there will be quite a few showers. on saturday, those showers are most likely to affect parts of northern ireland and scotland, where some could be heavy and perhaps thundery. some showers for england and wales, perhaps not as many, some spells of sunshine in between. it will be a breezy and fresh feeling day, temperatures 15 to 22 degrees. into sunday, sunshine and showers again, the showers perhaps focused across parts of northern england, down into east anglia. more rain later in the day into northern ireland. across central and southern parts of the uk it is going to be an unusually windy day for the time of year. nothing exceptional, nothing extreme, butjust unusually breezy for a latejuly day. quite cool as well, 15 to 21 degrees. to sum things up, for the weekend we will see a mix of sunny spells and showers. some showers will be heavy. it will be quite breezy and feeling

rather cool for the time of year.

this is bbc news. the headlines: the un saysjuly is on course to be the world's hottest on record , the organisation's chief says — the era of "global boiling" has arrived:

the high court in london rules the government's housing of unaccompanied child asylum seekers in hotels is unlawful. tributes continue for �*trailblazing' singer sinead o'connor. police say they're not treating her death as suspicious. archaeologists have solved the decades—long mystery over the gender of an iron age warrior who lived on the isles of scilly. more on all of those stories later. time for a look at the business news now. the cost of borrowing is on the rise again. the european central bank has hiked interest rates back to their record high; hot on the heels of a similar announcement by the us federal reserve yesterday.