donald trump's lawyers are expecting an indictment in his effort to overturn the election defeat in the 2020 according to a report in the us. a top ukrainian general says — his forces are struggling to make progress — against strong russian defences. we speak to our defence correspondent on the ground — in ukraine. tributes continue for the trail blazing singer, sinead o'connor. please see they are not treating her death as suspicious. —— police. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala, welcome to verified live, 3 hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them.

we start with a dire warning about the dangers of global climate change — from the united nations secretary general — antonio guterres. the earth — he said — is now in an "era of global boiling". speaking in new york, mr guterres pleaded for immediate radical action on global emissions — and he described the current intense heat in parts of the northern hemisphere as "terrifying". it comes as the un said this month is now "virtually certain" to be the world's hottest on record. have a 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. scientists say — the trend of drastic increases in global temperatures, is mainly driven, by man—made emissions. mr guterres said the data spelled out 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. well early i spoke to one of the chris hewitt,

of the world meteorological organisation — he was one i spoke to an author. we use a ulobal i spoke to an author. we use a global climate _ model, climate observations are built—in to show how our climate has evolved and we report on this data five days behind real time so we know from earlier in january, five days behind real time so we know from earlier injanuary, sorry earlier injuly we have the hottest day ever recorded in our record which goes back to 1940. if you go back to proxy records it is how the state in human history. it was the hottest three week period globally. that is all superseded by extremely warm heat waves, marine heat waves in the north atlantic and extremely low sea ice in an article for the

time of year. so seeing a huge number of extreme events in the climate system. —— arctic. number of extreme events in the climate system. -- arctic. seeing a clear progression _ climate system. -- arctic. seeing a clear progression 80 _ climate system. -- arctic. seeing a clear progression 80 julys - climate system. -- arctic. seeing a clear progression 80 julys in - climate system. -- arctic. seeing a clear progression 80 julys in the . clear progression 80 julys in the data from that you can clearly see from the graph coming up from the right—hand side seek and see just the way it has gone across a century orso the way it has gone across a century or so now. the global mean temperatures temporarily exceeded 1.5 celsius, the threshold above preindustrial levels during the first and third week of this month. a real alarm bell given everything we know about the threshold, is it not? , , . not? yes it is. if exceeded the threshold _ not? yes it is. if exceeded the threshold in _ not? yes it is. if exceeded the threshold in the _ not? yes it is. if exceeded the threshold in the past - not? yes it is. if exceeded the threshold in the past and - not? yes it is. if exceeded the i threshold in the past and actually the first time we exceeded the threshold was when the paris agreement was actually signed in december, 2015. so in 2015—2016 we had an el nino during that time and they were temporary exceedances of this 1.5 degrees in 2023, we have seen more of those temporary

exceedances of 1.5 degrees. this does not mean we have gone beyond the 1.5 degrees threshold of the paris agreement because that is a long—term threshold, but it does ring alarm bells that we are temporarily exceeding that threshold on a daily or weekly basis. fine temporarily exceeding that threshold on a daily or weekly basis.— on a daily or weekly basis. one of the co-offers _ on a daily or weekly basis. one of the co-offers of— on a daily or weekly basis. one of the co-offers of today's's - on a daily or weekly basis. one of the co-offers of today's's report. | the co—offers of today's's report. live pictures from washington because we are expecting the us president to speak their own climate change and to the us heatwave that they are experiencing. that is the picture, the scene pretty much set so as soon as there is movement that we will see the president return back and hear what he has to say. but let's stay with us because extreme heat has caused havoc across many parts of southern europe in recent days. and our reporter azadeh moshiri joins us now from the south east of the island of rhodes. in terms of what you've seen simply in the last 24 hours take me through it. , , , ., ~

in the last 24 hours take me through it. this is peak season for tauris here in rhodes _ it. this is peak season for tauris here in rhodes and _ it. this is peak season for tauris here in rhodes and across - it. this is peak season for taurisl here in rhodes and across greece it. this is peak season for tauris - here in rhodes and across greece and get the southern part of the island look like this. that is but the beach look like behind me instead of having lots of toursits there it is completely empty, the lender and has been scorched and the activity you normally see on the beach here, one of the worst affected areas, is completely different than years past. here we are seeing planes regularly comes out to collect water to continue battling fires the reaching across the island. with the businesses right here that are completely ruined, empty and scorched rest typically those businesses, the speech are meant to be fuelling the economy of the island. this is happening in other parts of greece as well. it is important to say that it seems like this, what you're listening, is not happening across all of greece, not even happening across all of the island, but in the parts were the wildfires have had, they have changed the memories of the locals

here. as well as the tourists. it was beaches that tourists ran to as the evacuated.— the evacuated. sorry to interrupt ou the evacuated. sorry to interrupt you apologies- — the evacuated. sorry to interrupt you apologies. but _ the evacuated. sorry to interrupt you apologies. but i'm _ the evacuated. sorry to interrupt you apologies. but i'm heading l you apologies. but i'm heading straight to washington and president biden. we straight to washington and president biden. ~ . ~ ., straight to washington and president biden.~ . ~ ., , ,, straight to washington and president biden. . «u,, , ,, ., biden. we talk about steps for takin: to biden. we talk about steps for taking to help _ biden. we talk about steps for taking to help people - biden. we talk about steps for taking to help people get - biden. we talk about steps for i taking to help people get through the tough time and will also talk about steps for taking to help communities prepare, plan and recover to make our nation more resilient in future heat waves and there will be more. i thought anything can deny the impact of climate change any more. there has been a time when i first got here and a lot of people say, oh it's not and a lot of people say, oh it's not a problem. come on i don't know anybody, i should a problem. come on i don't know anybody, ishould not a problem. come on i don't know anybody, i should not say that, i don't know anyone who honestly believes that climate change is not a serious problem. take a look at the historic floods in vermont and california earlier this year. droughts and hurricanes that are growing more frequent and intense. wildfires spreading a smoky haze for

thousands of miles, worsening air quality. record temperatures and i mean the record are now affecting more than 100 million americans. puerto rico, reached a 125 degrees heatindex puerto rico, reached a 125 degrees heat index last month. san antonio, hit an all—time heat index high of 170 last month. phoenix has an over 110 degrees for 27 straight days. and with the el nino in the of the ocean, that exacerbates the effects of climate change making forecasts even hotter. in the coming months. 0cean temperatures near miami are like sitting in a hot tub. theyjust topped 100 degrees. 100 degrees. and they are hitting record highs around they are hitting record highs around the world. that is more like as i said, jumping in a hot tub then an ocean to right away. as people do not realise for years he has been, i did not know either, i knew it was tough but the number one

weather—related killer is heat. the number one for weather—related killer is heat. 600 people die annually from its effect, more than floods, hurricanes tornadoes in america are combined. even those places, that are used extreme heat have never seen as how is it is now for as long it has been. even though —— those who denied that we are in the midst of a chronic cashless —— climate crisis cannot deny the impact. americans like in phoenix, the woman who fell out of her wheelchair and after five minutes on her grounds had third—degree burns. third degree burns. 0r her grounds had third—degree burns. third degree burns. or the firefighter who has two are lug £45 of gear through smoke and flame which is incredibly hot it is even more harder in more dangerous to a record heat. forfarm workers more harder in more dangerous to a record heat. for farm workers after harvest crops in the dead of night to avoid high temperatures or farmers to risk losing everything

they planted throughout the year. our construction workers who 0ur construction workers who literally risk their lives working all day in the heat and do not even have a chance to have a water break. that is outrageous anyone who says or does that. folks, we want to pretend these things that are normal, experts say extreme heat is already costing america $100 billion already costing america $100 billion a year. and it hits our most vulnerable of the hardest, seniors. people who are expressing homelessness who have nowhere to turn, disadvantage communities, who are least able to recover from climate disasters and it its threatening firms, fisheries and force in so many families depend on to make a living. but none of this is inevitable. from day one of my administration we have taken unprecedented action to combat the climate crisis causes. we are losing a latte past the first month in office called the american rescue plan to help states and cities

promote energy efficiency, reduce flooding and open cooling centres. we are delivering over $20 billion from the infrastructure to operate the grid to withstand stronger storms and heatwave so we do not cause more fires. last year i signed the inflation reduction act, most significant climate investment ever anywhere in the world. meanwhile, fema has been on the ground responding to those unprecedented weather emergencies in real—time. and have travelled an awful lot... joe biden talking on climate change in the impacts in america saying climate change cannot be denied any more. he talked about the floods in vermont, droughts and hurricanes, wildfires and he said the recent high temperatures affecting 100 million americans so those some of the opening remarks from the president. we will come away from that, but we will continue to

monitor back and bring you anything more significant that he says in the next few minutes. but that is joe biden there in next few minutes. but that isjoe biden there in washington. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. lets take a look at some other stories making headlines here in the uk. a man who shot dead a custody sergeant, while handcuffed in a police cell in south london in 2020, has been sentenced to life imprisonment. louis de zoysa, was convicted of murdering sergeant matt ratana, in a holding cell, in croydon. strike action by nearly a thousand ground staff at gatwick airport has been called off this weekend following revised pay offers. workers at four firms employing baggage handlers and ground staff had originally threatened to strike from friday 28 july to tuesday 1 august. an historic royal census, known as "swan upping", has revealed a 40% drop in the number of cygnets on the river thames,

compared with last year. the decline has been blamed on avian flu but also a growing problem of violence, including shootings, catapult attacks and dogs killing swa ns. only 94 cygnets were found on the five—day search. you're live with bbc news. the general in charge of the ukraine counteroffensive says his forces are struggling to overcome brushing defences and over —— move quickly. the russian minefields and defensive lines were making it difficult for military equipment including western supplied tanks and other armoured vehicles to advance. let's go live not to our defence correspondent jonathan beale. live now to our defence correspondent — jonathan beale — who speaks to us from dnipro. a really honest account from that general aboutjust how a really honest account from that general about just how tough a really honest account from that general aboutjust how tough this counteroffensive is. it is

general aboutjust how tough this counteroffensive is.— counteroffensive is. it is worth remembering _ counteroffensive is. it is worth remembering that _ counteroffensive is. it is worth remembering that this - counteroffensive is. it is worth i remembering that this offensive counteroffensive is. it is worth - remembering that this offensive has been going on for nearly two months now. the focus has been on the south where ukraine is trying to divide russian forces to reach towards crimea, but as we found when we went to the front line. progress has been slow and difficult. in the face of well—prepared russian defences and minefields. 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. but overnight, maxim's t64 hit anotherm mine, leaving it damaged and one of his men injured. translation: there are too many mines. | the minefields can be six rows deep. it is very difficult and our rollers can't stand more than four explosions. you need to save the equipment as well as do yourjob. it's ukraine's infantry who are having to make the hard yards on foot, all the more difficult to hold ground without armour. these had to pull back

when a comrade was injured. 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 front 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. cluster shells scatter scores of small bombs over a wide area. fired to try and dislodge russian

infantry and artillery. 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. we spoke to the general a few days ago and there has some of the support and reserve have now been committed to the battle over the last 24 hours and have made some gains around the town that is the main axis of the ukrainian offensive in the south. that said, those western trained, western armour grades, the newberg reads that ukraine has formed have not tipped the balance in ukraine's favour so far. i think it is fair to say that so far and of course things could change in this battle, at any moment, but so far they have not lived up to western expectations. thank you very much indeed,

jonathan. president putin is hosting african leaders at a summit in st petersburg. if you are african countries are taking part in the summit than in previous years and the invasion of ukraine has been believed to be one of the main reasons for that. when the first event was held back in 2019, 43 african leaders took part, this time though, only 17 are attending. another update from that summit, our colleagues at bbc verify have confirmed that this image on the screen, circulating on social media, is genuine and it shows the wagner shaking hands with a representative of the central african republic. the first confirmed sighting of the leader of wagner since back injune. live now to moscow, we can speak to bbc

russia editor steve rosenberg. some potential outcomes and assessment —— in a second but some assessment —— in a second but some assessment of the event and the fact thatis assessment of the event and the fact that is taking place. tiara assessment of the event and the fact that is taking place.— that is taking place. two ways of lookin: at that is taking place. two ways of looking at this. _ that is taking place. two ways of looking at this. you _ that is taking place. two ways of looking at this. you could - that is taking place. two ways of looking at this. you could say, i looking at this. you could say, goodness me there are far fewer african heads of state taking part in this particular event in st. petersburg compared to the first russia— africa summit four years ago and if you are heads of state than at the us— africa summit last year and two that will be quite calling for the kremlin. the kremlin seems to take a glass half—full attitude. and thinks that it is a pretty good turnout, considering that this is a difficult situation. the kremlin accuses the west to putting pressure on african leaders not to come. at the end of the day, this event, this international event in st. petersburg provides putin with what he wants. the political stage of which he can deliver certain

messages. number one, that russia is not as isolated as the westwood lake. despite western sections, there are still world leaders, many from africa who are willing to come and shake his hand, sit on the table and shake his hand, sit on the table and do business with them. this is also an opportunity for him to get across his worldview, so we will hear a lot of talk about the multipolar world that he likes to mention in his speech. in multipolar world that he likes to mention in his speech.— multipolar world that he likes to mention in his speech. in terms of outcomes. — mention in his speech. in terms of outcomes. the _ mention in his speech. in terms of outcomes, the symbolism - mention in his speech. in terms of outcomes, the symbolism aside, i mention in his speech. in terms of- outcomes, the symbolism aside, what about the green, that was saying about the green, that was saying about and wagner and all the links with those countries —— grain. in terms of grains is a big concern for african leaders. i don't think you will here president putin announced nancy returned to the un brokered black sea deal. he offered to send free grain to six african states. as far as wagner is concerned, his name

was not on the official list of participants, the leader, and we did not see him sitting at the tables or at the sessions on television and yet when that extraordinary photograph popped up of the wagner chief shaking hands with a central african republic representative and smiling, he almost stole the show on the first day of the summit.— the first day of the summit. thank ou ve the first day of the summit. thank you very much. — the first day of the summit. thank you very much, life _ the first day of the summit. thank you very much, life for— the first day of the summit. thank you very much, life for moscow i you very much, life for moscow there. please seek the death of sinead o'connor is not being treated as 0'connor is not being treated as suspicious following the discovery of her body on wednesday. the singer and activist died at the age of 56 in her home at london. best known for her 1990 hit, nothing compares to you. # because nothing compares... nothing compares

that iconic song, sinead 0'connor�*s former manager has been talking to the bbcjust explaining how the singer came to record that most famous of hits. she singer came to record that most famous of hits.— singer came to record that most famous of hits. ,, , ., ., ., famous of hits. she became aware of the son: famous of hits. she became aware of the song because _ famous of hits. she became aware of the song because i _ famous of hits. she became aware of the song because i had _ famous of hits. she became aware of the song because i had become - famous of hits. she became aware of| the song because i had become aware of the _ the song because i had become aware of the original version by a group from _ of the original version by a group from minneapolis called the family. which _ from minneapolis called the family. which was — from minneapolis called the family. which was a song that everyone knows was written _ which was a song that everyone knows was written by prince and i think he actually— was written by prince and i think he actually produced the family version of it which— actually produced the family version of it which a couple of years before, _ of it which a couple of years before, maybe in the mid—805 or something, and i was very enamoured at the _ something, and i was very enamoured at the song _ something, and i was very enamoured at the song and eventually gave a copy of— at the song and eventually gave a mm of it — at the song and eventually gave a copy of it to sinead o'connor and suggested that she may be about recording it. which obviously ultimately she did and just and amazingly beautiful, painful, heart—rending kind of manner. first time _ heart—rending kind of manner. first time i_ heart—rending kind of manner. first time i ever— heart—rending kind of manner. first time i ever heard her sing it was

actually— time i ever heard her sing it was actually a — time i ever heard her sing it was actually a cappella. with no accompaniment whatsoever. we both went to _ accompaniment whatsoever. we both went to a _ accompaniment whatsoever. we both went to a gay, what was known then as a gay— went to a gay, what was known then as a gay pride rally down injubilee gardens— as a gay pride rally down injubilee gardens in— as a gay pride rally down injubilee gardens in london, and with maybe a couple _ gardens in london, and with maybe a couple of— gardens in london, and with maybe a couple of thousand people, male and female _ couple of thousand people, male and female there. gay men and game women _ female there. gay men and game women. and the organisers whom i knew— women. and the organisers whom i knew asked — women. and the organisers whom i knew asked me if go back witching —— saying _ knew asked me if go back witching —— saying and _ knew asked me if go back witching —— saying. and she said she would sink but i saying. and she said she would sink but i don't _ saying. and she said she would sink but i don't have a guitar but what i do. but i don't have a guitar but what i do and _ but i don't have a guitar but what i do and i— but i don't have a guitar but what i do. and i said that song, sing it a cappeiia — do. and i said that song, sing it a cappella. as she stood up and total silence _ cappella. as she stood up and total silence as _ cappella. as she stood up and total silence as she sang it a cappella and it— silence as she sang it a cappella and itiust, _ silence as she sang it a cappella and itjust, i don't want to mull a dramatise — and itjust, i don't want to mull a dramatise it— and itjust, i don't want to mull a dramatise it but there were two fuels _ dramatise it but there were two fuels rolling down people spaces because — fuels rolling down people spaces because the reason we were there was to support _ because the reason we were there was to support that community at a time when _ to support that community at a time when the _ to support that community at a time when the first of all thatcher was in power — when the first of all thatcher was in power and it was clause 28 and secondly— in power and it was clause 28 and secondly aids was decimating some of

those people, completely. notjust in london _ those people, completely. notjust in london but around the world. in this song. — in london but around the world. in this song. i— in london but around the world. in this song, i thinkjust meant everything, that day, to the people listening _ everything, that day, to the people listening to it. whether they had lost partners, whether they themselves were suffering from the dreadful— themselves were suffering from the dreadful virus, themselves were suffering from the dreadfulvirus, or themselves were suffering from the dreadful virus, or whatever it was. that _ dreadful virus, or whatever it was. that was— dreadful virus, or whatever it was. that was a — dreadful virus, or whatever it was. that was a moment or five minutes that would — that was a moment or five minutes that would live with me forever. irrespective of the subsequent broadway success of the song. an broadway success of the song. amazing broadway success of the song. in amazing story, one of the many ministries bees be approved in last 24 hours. back with headlines here in a moment. if you spent your day under cloudy skies, i'm sure you'll have noticed the quite muggy, humid feel

to proceedings where the sun came out, given that humid air temperatures climbed quite readily. now, on the earlier satellite picture, you can see we've had quite a lot of cloud, but some big breaks, some spells of sunshine. and thenjust behind me, this little swirl of clouds, that's the centre of an area of low pressure, which will be pushing eastwards, bringing unsettled conditions for the next few days. in the short term, we keep quite a lot of cloud, mist and murk some bits and pieces of rain overnight, although signs of some clearer skies edging in from the west. temperatures between 11 and 16 degrees. so another fairly warm and muggy starts to friday morning. so for friday, quite a lot of cloud around across the eastern half of the uk to start this band of rain moving very slowly across 0rkney and towards shetland. and later in the day we will see this band of showers pushing in towards northern ireland. but 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. so i think there is just the chance of catching a shower at the oval for the ashes test match and the increasing chance of showers as we head into the weekend. and that is because low pressure is going to be in charge of our weather. now, we've had low pressure with us

for the last couple of weekends. and here we go again. now, around this area of low pressure, it's not going to be raining all the time, but there will be quite a few showers on saturday. those showers 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 spells of sunshine in between. it's going to be quite a breezy day and a fresher feeling day as well. temperatures north to south, 15 to 22 degrees. and then we get into sunday, sunshine and showers again. the showers perhaps focused across parts of northern england, down into east anglia. some 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 and quite cool as well, 15 to 21 degrees. so to sum things up for the weekend, we will see a mix of sunny spells and showers, some of the showers will be heavy.

it will be quite breezy and feeling rather cool for the time of year.

welcome to bbc news. our main headline since half hour. the bbc investigation is found google earthquake warning systems failed to get to many traditional residents

before february pause positively tremor. they said support members of the presidential guard (about a coup d'etat. the government housing of unaccompanied child asylum—seekers and hotels is unlawful. and male orfemale, archaeologists solve the mystery of the gender of an iron age warrior on the aisles. heading to the sports centre for the sport and that is with mark edwards. thank you, we are going to start with the ashes were england cricketers of lived up to the reputation of the opening day of the fifth and final test against australia but their tactics have not completely paid off, the hosts and early control on 62—9 and 11 runs, ben, sect probably there, joe root,

all out quickly. harry