hello. a warm welcome to bbc news now — three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. we start in london, where the high court has ruled that a major plan which aims to reduce air pollution in the capital can go ahead. the plan is to expand the city's ultra low emissions zone, known as the ulez. it currently covers the central area — shown in pink — on this map. drivers of the most polluting vehicles in the zone — are charged 12.50 a day. london's labour mayor — sadiq khan — wants to extend the boundary of the zone to cover the whole

of greater london. five conservative—led councils tried to have the expansion of the scheme halted — arguing that mr khan had exceeded his powers — but they have now failed. the extension is due to go ahead on august 29th. ulez has been at the centre of a major political row — and is thought to have contributed to labour's failure in last week's uxbridge by—election. our transport correspondent, katy austin, has more details. in harrow in north—west london, the prospect of the ultra low emission zone arriving in just a month's time provoked some strong reactions. buying a new car — we can't afford it, it's rubbish. it's just to get more money out of the public, and it's not fair. others we spoke to agreed with the idea but had had to change their vehicle. we sold the car, didn't get much for it because the demand for diesels wasn't great. and then had to have a big outlay into purchasing a new car. inside london's ulez area, a £12.50 daily charge applies for driving vehicles which don't meet certain emissions standards. it's aimed at reducing air pollution. it currently reaches up to the north and south circular roads but is due to take in all london boroughs

from the 29th of august. while clean air campaigners support this, it has proved controversial, and it was a big issue in the recent uxbridge by—election. five local councils mounted a legal challenge against the expansion plan. they argued the mayor didn't have the power to extend the zone that far, and they attacked the consultation process and the scrappage scheme. today, a high courtjudge dismissed their challenge. the mayor has continued to insist his plan is necessary, and today he vowed to press ahead. the decision to expand ulez was a difficult one, not one i took lightly, but it's essential because in our great city every year around 4,000 people die prematurely linked with air quality. there are children who have stunted lungs forever because of air pollution, adults with a whole host of health issues from asthma to cancer, dementia to heart disease. one of the conservative councils involved in the legal action says they won't appeal but will call

on the government to intervene. we thought it was the wrong thing to do and the wrong time. we don't think it has the impact the mayor is now claiming it does. i really suggest the mayor goes and reads his own report that was part of his decision—making process that actually says this will have a very, very small impact on air quality in outer london. clean air zones have sprung up in other places, too, in recent years, including birmingham and bristol. the ulez expansion looks set to go ahead. the political debate will continue. katy austin, bbc news. let's talk to councillor paul 0sborne, leader of harrow council, one of the four conservative—run councils who challenged decison. we saw in that report there. thank you forjoining us here on the bbc. you said in that report that it is the wrong thing at the wrong time, having these charges to reduce emissions. what is the right thing and when is the right time? we think

we should do — and when is the right time? we think we should do more _ and when is the right time? we think we should do more to _ and when is the right time? we think we should do more to encourage - we should do more to encourage people to make the right choices rather than penalising those who cannot afford to change their card. this ulez is incredibly regressive, it has people who are generally on the port side of things, who do unsociable jobs the port side of things, who do unsociablejobs in the port side of things, who do unsociable jobs in unsociable the port side of things, who do unsociablejobs in unsociable hours, cannot get public transport, people who need to take their kids to school or go to the doctors. it is just not the right way of doing these things. it doesn't make that much difference, as i was saying on the bare's own report, it says it is going to have a negative impact on air quality in london. but it has a devastating impact on our residents. i'm looking at a report on transport for london website which says that ulez, since its launch, has helped cut the number of older polluting vehicles on the road in this actually helps to reduce harmful nitrogen oxide by 46% in central london. a201% in inner nitrogen oxide by 46% in central london. a20 1% in inner london. that

suggests that it is making a difference.— suggests that it is making a difference. , ., ., ., ., ., difference. first of all, a lot of --eole, difference. first of all, a lot of peeple. some _ difference. first of all, a lot of people, some of _ difference. first of all, a lot of people, some of the _ difference. first of all, a lot of people, some of the earlier. difference. first of all, a lot of l people, some of the earlier ulez schemes and the expansion of it gave people much more notice so they were able to plan and change their car. also, those figures don't really take into account that covid happened. this had a dramatic impact on those things. actually, what the tfl report says is that this expansion will have a small or negligible effect in outer london. it is just not the right solution. instead, we should be looking at encouraging people to the right thing, improving the electric vehicle charging infrastructure, in this city and this country, all this could make a difference. we all want to see cleaner air. there is nothing controversial about that. it is this a scheme that will literally attack those people who cannot afford to change their car but need their car to get around. find change their car but need their car to get around-— change their car but need their car to get around. and there are always debates over _

to get around. and there are always debates over this, _ to get around. and there are always debates over this, and _ to get around. and there are always debates over this, and of— to get around. and there are always debates over this, and of course - to get around. and there are always| debates over this, and of course you raise concerns about the cost of living. we were speaking to the mother of the child ella who died and on her death certificate the coroner said it was due to pollution in london, she says ulez would make a difference. what can make a difference, even if it is a less serious way, you say ulez is too severe because of the cost impact. if you look at london's buses that run around all day long, they are not all electric yet, they are still polluting, they are still pushing out dirty air. gas boilers is a big problem when it comes to other forms of air pollution. encouraging people who want to move to electric vehicles but to have the charging infrastructure in place, to make that happen. there are lots of things we can do that will make the air quality better, and let's be clear, it has been getting better and better over the last four years

as vehicles have improved, as people have naturally upgraded their paul 0sborne from harrow council, thank you very much for sharing your perspective on why you decided to go to the courts over this. the former health secretary and former chancellorjeremy hunt is starting to give evidence at the infected blood inquiry. it was established in 2017 to establish how thousands of patients in the uk were infected with hiv and hepatitis c. it also looks at how the authorities, including the government, responded and whether there was a cover—up. you can see there was a cover—up. you can see there the inquiry, we can cross now where we can listen in tojeremy hunt as he is giving evidence. that is auoin to hunt as he is giving evidence. that is going to be _ hunt as he is giving evidence. that is going to be looked at outside of the spending review process. i�*m the spending review process. i'm sor , i the spending review process. i'm sorry. i am _ the spending review process. i“n sorry, i am going to have the spending review process. i�*sn sorry, i am going to have to the spending review process. i“n sorry, i am going to have to give you an answer which i gave you more more than once this afternoon. we are genuinely any situation where no decisions have been made about the

level of compensation, how it will be funded. we are having very active in detailed discussions about all of that. but i cannot therefore be drawn on where that funding would come from. i drawn on where that funding would come from-— drawn on where that funding would comefrom. , , , ., , come from. i suppose my question is about time scales. _ come from. i suppose my question is about time scales. because - come from. i suppose my question is about time scales. because if - come from. i suppose my question is about time scales. because if the - about time scales. because if the next spending review is not until, as you _ next spending review is not until, as you have — next spending review is not until, as you have described it, that would postpone _ as you have described it, that would postpone decision—making for a significant period of time and might not be _ significant period of time and might not be said — significant period of time and might not be said to be in accordance with the priority— not be said to be in accordance with the priority that the prime minister and others — the priority that the prime minister and others have told us is attached to this _ and others have told us is attached to this issue within government. what _ to this issue within government. what can— to this issue within government. what can you tell us, if anything, about— what can you tell us, if anything, about the — what can you tell us, if anything, about the timescales, if you are not able to— about the timescales, if you are not able to tell— about the timescales, if you are not able to tell us about the sources of funding? _ able to tell us about the sources of fundin: ? ~ ., .., able to tell us about the sources of fundin ? . ., .., ,., able to tell us about the sources of fundin? . ., , able to tell us about the sources of fundina? ~ . , ., funding? what i can tell you is that we totally understand _ funding? what i can tell you is that we totally understand the - funding? what i can tell you is that we totally understand the urgency | funding? what i can tell you is that i we totally understand the urgency of this situation. we recognise the fact, as i think i wrote in a letter before i was chancellor, one person

is a dying approximately every four days and that there is a need for justice to be as quick as possible for what has been a terrible scandal. so we completely understand that. so that is a very active consideration in all of the discussions that we are having. can i then perhaps ask you a little about — i then perhaps ask you a little about what you said last year about the stance — about what you said last year about the stance of the treasury? you told us that _ the stance of the treasury? you told us that compensation was something that the _ us that compensation was something that the treasury at the time that you were — that the treasury at the time that you were secretary of state for health, — you were secretary of state for health, looking at the 2012—2018 period. _ health, looking at the 2012—2018 period, was opposed to the references for that if anyone needs is, i references for that if anyone needs is, i am _ references for that if anyone needs is, i am not — references for that if anyone needs is, i am not proposing to put it up on the _ is, i am not proposing to put it up on the screen unless it assist you, chancellor, — on the screen unless it assist you, chancellor, but it is pages 15 and

internal— chancellor, but it is pages 15 and internal page 87 of the transcript. but you _ internal page 87 of the transcript. but you also told us that the whole question— but you also told us that the whole question of a public inquiry was something that hadn't happened sooner— something that hadn't happened sooner precisely because the treasury— sooner precisely because the treasury feared that it would lead to recommendations for compensation, and that— to recommendations for compensation, and that was _ to recommendations for compensation, and that was a very clear understanding. that was a major factor— understanding. that was a major factor as— understanding. that was a major factor as to — understanding. that was a major factor as to how there had been no public— factor as to how there had been no public inquiry. that is obviously potentially a matter of concern and interest _ potentially a matter of concern and interest now when the inquiry has made _ interest now when the inquiry has made recommendations for compensation. are you able to give us without— compensation. are you able to give us without committing to any particular decisions, and assurance that the _ particular decisions, and assurance that the treasury no longer has that implacable — that the treasury no longer has that implacable opposition that you told us about— implacable opposition that you told us about last summer? i implacable opposition that you told us about last summer?— implacable opposition that you told us about last summer? i want to be as helful us about last summer? i want to be as helpful as _ us about last summer? i want to be as helpful as i _ us about last summer? i want to be as helpful as i possibly _ us about last summer? i want to be as helpful as i possibly can. - us about last summer? i want to be as helpful as i possibly can. but - as helpful as i possibly can. but you understandably, we discussed last week i have to follow

collective responsibility. i think it is worth me explaining to everyone, if i may, why this isn't a storming tactic. government only works because all government ministers stick to an agreed position for the whole government, otherwise we just wouldn't be able to deal with having an effective government at the same time as a free and open press. so i have to speak in a way that reflects the whole government position. as a former health secretary when i came before the inquiry last time, i spoke very freely about the difference between my view and the department of health and the treasury's view, and number ten. we discussed lots of documents that looked at the differences in their views. what i can say very clearly is that the government position, the whole government position, as changed. because in december, we accepted the moral case for compensation. so i hope that gives

comfort to people, that the government as a whole is not taking the stance that it took during the period that i was health secretary. can i then just ask you a little about— can i then just ask you a little about the _ can i then just ask you a little about the process that the government will be following in terms _ government will be following in terms of — government will be following in terms of decision—making regarding funding? _ terms of decision—making regarding funding? i_ terms of decision—making regarding funding? i am terms of decision—making regarding funding? lam not terms of decision—making regarding funding? i am not asking for details of meetings, details of costings or options. _ of meetings, details of costings or options, butjust to broadly understand the process of how far along _ understand the process of how far along in_ understand the process of how far along in general terms you are. if we just— along in general terms you are. if we just look at w itn 3499063, please — we just look at w itn 3499063, please. so this is your response to a letter— please. so this is your response to a letter from mr quinn as part of a ministerial— a letter from mr quinn as part of a ministerial right round. we looked earlier— ministerial right round. we looked earlier this — ministerial right round. we looked earlier this week at mr quinn pass

letter— earlier this week at mr quinn pass letter to— earlier this week at mr quinn pass letter to you. this is your letter with _ letter to you. this is your letter with a _ letter to you. this is your letter with a policy clearance from the home _ with a policy clearance from the home affairs committee for the acceptance of the moral case for compensation. can we just look at the bottom — compensation. can we just look at the bottom of the page, please, lawrence? "you can proceed on the conditions _ lawrence? "you can proceed on the conditions that c0, cabinet office, lead discussions around affordability and secure in the associated funding with hmt." is it correct _ associated funding with hmt." is it correct to — associated funding with hmt." is it correct to understand from that that in broad _ correct to understand from that that in broad terms the process is that a government— in broad terms the process is that a government department, in this case the cabinet _ government department, in this case the cabinet office, will effectively at whatever stage is regarded as appropriate to make a case to the treasury— appropriate to make a case to the treasury in — appropriate to make a case to the treasury in relation to funding? that— treasury in relation to funding? that is— treasury in relation to funding? that is the _ treasury in relation to funding? that is the way government works in normal circumstances. you can take any government department, let's say the department for education, and the department for education, and the secretary of state for education will have a budget that is agreed at

a spending round and she will have a limit, let's say £50 million, £100 million, these sound large sums of money but in the context of a budget of 40— money but in the context of a budget of 40- £50 money but in the context of a budget of 40— £50 billion they are relatively small sums of money, where she could just make a decision on her own. if it was above the departmental spending limit, she would have to refer that decision up to the treasury and we would approve it or say we have got concerns. so in this situation i think it goes without saying that the sums of money are likely to be potentially very large, so it would be spent standard practice that a line like that would be put in, a condition for proceeding. you that would be put in, a condition for proceeding.— that would be put in, a condition for proceeding. you gave us some dates in your _ for proceeding. you gave us some dates in your witness _ for proceeding. you gave us some dates in your witness statement, | dates in your witness statement, dates _ dates in your witness statement, dates on— dates in your witness statement, dates on which you had been updated or provided _ dates on which you had been updated or provided with advice. again, i

stress, — or provided with advice. again, i stress, my— or provided with advice. again, i stress, my question is about process _ stress, my question is about process i_ stress, my question is about process. i am stress, my question is about process. lam not stress, my question is about process. i am not asking you to tell us what _ process. i am not asking you to tell us what the — process. i am not asking you to tell us what the advice was that you received — us what the advice was that you received. if we just look on the actual— received. if we just look on the actual statements. w itn 3499 034, please — actual statements. w itn 3499 034, please, lawrence, and if we can go to paragraph 11. 11 and 12, i think it is _ to paragraph 11. 11 and 12, i think it is thank— to paragraph 11. 11 and 12, i think it is. thank you. so, you tell us in paragraph — it is. thank you. so, you tell us in paragraph ii — it is. thank you. so, you tell us in paragraph 11 you received advice on the 22nd _ paragraph 11 you received advice on the 22nd of— paragraph 11 you received advice on the 22nd of february, on the fiscal implications of the policy options being _ implications of the policy options being considered. and you have told us that— being considered. and you have told us that there was an emphasis from your officials on the imperative to act quickly — your officials on the imperative to act quickly. the benefit of the affected — act quickly. the benefit of the affected and infected to respond meaningfully to the public inquiry while _ meaningfully to the public inquiry while recognising the wider environmental and fiscal context. i will come — environmental and fiscal context. i will come back to that last phrase later _ will come back to that last phrase later you — will come back to that last phrase later. you then referred to receiving _ later. you then referred to receiving advice on the 18th of may and then— receiving advice on the 18th of may and then having received a note on the 21st— and then having received a note on the 21st of— and then having received a note on

the 215t ofjune. now, it may be that viewed within government there is a sound _ that viewed within government there is a sound like quite speedy steps. we have _ is a sound like quite speedy steps. we have heard evidence, and i think we discussed it last year, from a number— we discussed it last year, from a number of— we discussed it last year, from a number of ministers, sirjohn major's— number of ministers, sirjohn major's evidence comes to mind, describing — major's evidence comes to mind, describing the process of government reaching _ describing the process of government reaching new decisions as turning around _ reaching new decisions as turning around a — reaching new decisions as turning around a supertanker, something that is quite _ around a supertanker, something that is quite slow. there is a three month— is quite slow. there is a three month gap— is quite slow. there is a three month gap between the 22nd of february— month gap between the 22nd of february and the 18th of may. are you confident that is consistent with the — you confident that is consistent with the government working at pace, which _ with the government working at pace, which is _ with the government working at pace, which is the _ with the government working at pace, which is the phrase that has been repeatedly used but which you will appreciate many of those listening will find _ appreciate many of those listening will find frustratingly nebulous? | will find frustratingly nebulous? i do appreciate that and i do appreciate that the way government works might seem frustratingly slow. but i am absolutely content that the government has been acting at

pace... ii government has been acting at ace... , ., government has been acting at ace... ,, ., government has been acting at ace... ., ., pace... if you are in the uk and you want to keep _ pace... if you are in the uk and you want to keep following _ pace... if you are in the uk and you want to keep following jeremy - pace... if you are in the uk and youj want to keep following jeremy hunt want to keep following jeremy hunt pass evidence to that inquiry, you can watch a bbc news live video stream on the bbc iplayer. i am going to bring you some breaking news that is coming in the united states. president trump, former us president, has been giving an interview to a us radio show, to a conservative radio host, in which he says that he did nothing wrong, this is in relation to charges which have been made against him, some more were laid against him this week, about the handling of classified information at his residence in florida at mar—a—lago. mr trump says he handed over the security tapes. also, he says that even if he is sentenced in that inquiry, he will continue to run for president. of course, mrtrump continue to run for president. of course, mr trump has announced that he wants to be one of the contenders for the republican nomination in

next year's presidential race. this interview has happened this morning. we are hoping to get more information on anything else that former president has said. if you're justjoining us, former us president donald trump says that even if he is sentenced in that ongoing inquiry, there are a number of charges laid against him in relation to classified information and the way he handled it, he is saying he will continue to run for president. let's hear more on that wider inquiry from cbs's jarrett hill. no, we don't have that after all. we will have that when we can bring it to you. for now, around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. now let's take a look at some of the other news making the headlines here in the uk. the natwest group is that it is launching an independent review into how coutts bank closes accounts. it comes after a major row over

the closure of the former brexit party leader — nigel farage's — account at coutts — and the resignaton of the natwest chief executive. the consumer group, which, has criticised the way portion size information is displayed on food packaging. it has described it as "confusing and unrealistic". in a new report, the body found people often couldn't work out how much sugar, fat and salt they were putting into their bodies. it says well—known brands of crisps and chocolate displayed inconsistent information. and new data has revealed that serious allergic reactions are rising in england. they're now responsible for around 25,000 nhs hospital stays annually. health officials say the rate has more than doubled over 20 years. members of the public are being encouraged how to recognise allergies and then respond. those are the headlines. your life with bbc news. the israeli military has said the country would be "totally united" against any attempt by militant groups to exploit

its current internal unrest. for months, there have been protests over changes to a law aiming to limit the supreme court's powers. earlier this week, the iranian—backed lebanese armed group hezbollah suggested the demonstrations — which have included dissent by military reservists — had left israel weakened. it comes after months of on—off tensions at the line separating israel and lebanon, which have shown signs of escalating, as our middle east correspondent tom bateman reports. a journey to one of the middle east's most explosive boundaries. the israeli army is fortifying its frontier along the so—called blue line. across the divide is lebanon and the dominant armed group there, hezbollah. the wire is a hair trigger... ..and those who live up against it are seeing the signs of tension again. so this is a checkpoint of hezbollah. and you see the bus over there and all of that here above that, it's all lebanon.

48 hours ago, people were coming for stones. they're shouting at us, "we will kill you!" levav, who farms here, tells me hejust filmed armed men watching him. have you seen that kind of thing in previous years, or is this new? no, it's new. it's new. you don't see that before. and this is what makes me nervous a little bit. if they were shooting me, or kill me or try to, the army will attack. then we can come to a war. this was an israeli drill held a month ago. the country last fought a devastating war with hezbollah in 2006. some of the posturing along the blue line has happened ever since, but this year has seen it come closer and the rhetoric heating up. "the israeli army has been carrying out breaches," said hezbollah leader hassan nasrallah. and this week he also pointed

to israel's political unrest, saying the country was in crisis. close to the line, hezbollah was flexing its muscles and revving its engines during this drill. it's a fight in the shadows that risks engulfing a region. there's a helicopter circling and you just feel the tensions on this particular frontier. it is, in effect, a front line between israel and iran as part of that much wider regional fight. and what happens here has the potential to spark war. israel backed the building of a fence around this town in israeli—occupied territory that juts into lebanon. and the fence itself a few weeks ago was targeted by an anti—tank missile coming from the other side. the israelis responded with artillery fire. i visited the israeli military on its side of the line. it's a hezbollah observation tower. are they watching us now?

probably, yeah. we're being watched. they are poking us and we are defending our border. the risk is that the thing will escalate. nasrallah has made mistakes before. let's hope he doesn't make a mistake again, because he'll meet the idf at full force. israel is in violation of parts of the blue line over flights over lebanon. do you acknowledge those breaches? there's a diplomatic effort to come to solve these areas. hopefully they'll come to an agreement. when we fly in lebanon, it's focused on defending and targeting things that threaten our country. neither side here seeks a major escalation, but it is a dangerous standoff along a trip wire to conflict, and both of them are now more fiercely armed than ever. tom bateman, bbc news, metula in northern israel.

to west africa now, where the head of niger's presidential guard has declared himself the country's new leader. during a televised address, general abdourahamane tchiani complained of worsening security problems in niger, as well as poor governance. niger's elected president, mohamed bazoum, is still being detained. the eu has also threatened to cut aid. the new authorities have banned all public demonstrations. they said acts of vandalism and wickedness would not be tolerated after crowds looted the headquarters of the ousted president on thursday. some breaking news from the united states. us senate republican leader mitch mcconnell plans to serve his full term as senate leader. that is a statement that has come from his office. it follows concerns over whether he could get carry on in the job following this moment. let's take a look. job following this moment. let's take a look-—

that moment there, mitch mcconnell, he was 81, is following a six—year term that runs until 2026. he is the longest serving senate party leader in history. and that episode on wednesday was in a regular scheduled press conference where he froze for around 21 seconds, but his office has just stated that he plans to run his full term in the senate. there is plenty more on all of those breaking stories we have been talking about online. if you are in the uk on iplayer, you can watch the blood inquiry. that's it from me for the moment. hello. for some of us, it's been quite a showery day.

let's see how the rest of the day is looking, and as we head into the evening hours, a little change, sunny spells and scattered showers. the weekend, on the other hand, is looking quite unsettled. let's have a look at the satellite picture, and you can see a low pressure there spinning around just to the north—west of our neighbourhood. that is going to be driving our weather through this evening into tomorrow as well. so it's just to the west here, but already ahead of it, one 01’ two showers. the temperatures at the end of the afternoon, pretty much the average for the time of the year, in the range of around, say, 19 to 22 degrees celsius for most of us. this evening and overnight, that low pressure slowly closes in on us. ahead of it, you can see showers become a little bit more widespread for a time. in fact, they could be quite heavy early hours of the morning. it's not going to be a cold night by any means. temperatures will be, in most towns and cities, around 13—15 degrees celsius. so the weekend, then. if you cast your mind back to last saturday, for some of us it was a total wash—out. this saturday is not looking so bad. yes, low pressure is close by. there'll be plenty of showers around and a blustery wind, but the rain won't be persistent, and in fact we're expecting

quite a few sunny spells. so here is saturday. i think the clouds will be fast—moving, pushed along by that strong west, south—westerly breeze. temperatures will be around 18—21 degrees celsius. and as far as the ashes are concerned, well, they're scheduled until monday, i think showers are possible almost at any time, and quite brisk winds as well, with temperatures of 20 degrees celsius. now, on sunday, another low pressure heads our way with its weather front. here's the jet stream — it's pointing right at us. and thatjet stream is not going to change, really, for the foreseeable future, so we'll keep getting these weather fronts, these low pressures. and the forecast temperatures — well, actually in sunnier scotland it could nudge up to 20 degrees celsius, about the same for the south, but it will be more cloudy with outbreaks of rain. and talking about rainfall, so far thisjuly has been wet. take a look at parts of western britain — here we've had about 179% of the rain normally we have this

time of the year. bye— bye.

niger natwest niger bank orders a review into the closure of nigel farage's bank account at coutts. the owner of british airways has

posted record half—year profits helped by higher fares and the rebound in post—pandemic travel. welcome to world business report. iam aaron i am aaron heslehurst. give me about 30 minutes and i will try to give you a snapshot of all of the latest in the world of business and money. it's been a strange week for the major british bank, natwest. there have already been very senior resignations. more than a billion pounds has been wiped off natwest shares. now the bank has reported huge half year profits of £3.6 billion — that's around $4.6 billion. these results are the last from outgoing chief executive alison rose, who was forced to quit along with the boss of its coutts banking division. they both left after a series of missteps about a complaint made by former ukip leader nigel farage. he said his coutts bank account had been closed because of his political views.