we start with new, dire warnings about global climate change. scientists say the average surface temperature of the world's oceans has hit a record high. it rose to 20.96 celsius — that's nearly 70 degrees fahrenheit — in august. that's far above the average for this time of year. the european union climate change service has warned the upward trend in temperatures has been caused largely by global warming. researchers say there may be serious consequences for biodiversity. our climate editorjustin rowlatt has more details. they've been taking measurements of ocean temperatures here in plymouth for more than a century. and for the last 50 or so years, they've showed a slow but steady increase, up about a third of a degree a decade. have we got a reading for today yet, do you know? i heard them say something around 18 or 19, which is four degrees higher than it should be. it's been a similar pattern globally. rising sea temperatures and increasing numbers of marine heatwaves.

and it has just reached a new peak — 20.96 degrees celsius, the highest global average sea temperature ever recorded. the world's warming waters are a dangerous trend, say experts. people's perspective is that the ocean is so big, so vast, that it can buffer anything that humanity can throw at it. and the reality is that's not the case. everything has its niche within the ocean, and it's incredibly easy to break that niche and influence it and upset it. take plankton. these tiny plants and animals are crucial to life on the planet. they're the basis of the entire marine food chain and produce half the oxygen in our atmosphere. so, every other breath you take. and they are sensitive to heat. many species have been migrating north as the world's oceans warm. personally, i'm really concerned.

the heatwaves that we're experiencing on land and the marine heatwaves that we're seeing are happening in unusual locations where we haven't expected them. but there is hope. scientists are learning more about how the ocean ecosystems function every day. we have the renewable technologies that can tackle climate change by reducing our use of fossil fuels. we just need to make the change quickly. let's get some analysis now from dr ella gilbert, a climate scientist at the british antarctic survey. thank you forjoining us. let me ask you first of all, what are the key dangers of rising sea temperatures? we heard from justin about things like plankton. but if this continues, what with the outcome be? well, we know that the oceans are a hugely important part of our global climate. they cover 70% of our surface, and produce a half of our

oxygen, which we of course all depend on. but the ocean is also very important for our weather patterns, for ecosystems, for economic activities, a fisheries. it affects all sorts of different parts of our lives, from the kind of physical climates to our actual everyday lived experience. so the potential consequences, for example, on coral bleaching close to the tropics, or devastating ecosystems and fisheries further towards the poles, that all has a very important consequences for people. let’s poles, that all has a very important consequences for people. let's talk about the fact _ consequences for people. let's talk about the fact that _ consequences for people. let's talk about the fact that the _ consequences for people. let's talk about the fact that the heat - consequences for people. let's talk about the fact that the heat we - consequences for people. let's talk about the fact that the heat we see | about the fact that the heat we see increasing due to climate change doesn'tjust impact increasing due to climate change doesn't just impact the increasing due to climate change doesn'tjust impact the air, does it? it impacts the water. what are the differences between hot water compared to hot air, in terms of how climate change plays itself out? yes, i think we are probably unfortunately fairly familiar with seeing headlines about heatwaves on land. wejust seeing headlines about heatwaves on land. we just have to look atjuly

2023 to see lots of those. but perhaps what we are not so familiar with is marine heatwaves. this year, the uk had a very prolonged heatwave, marine heatwaves around the uk. and these are happening all over the world in the oceans as well. and that has important consequences for creatures who live in the ocean, fisheries, of course. but climate change impact the surface of the ocean, in a way similar to the atmosphere. because you have lots of heating, with putting lots of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. it raises atmospheric temperatures, and that heat is also transferred into the top layer of the ocean. unfortunately, we are also seeing temperatures rising in the deep ocean. this is because the ocean sucks up and stores around 90% of the extra heat that we produce as human beings. so, it is notjust about the temperatures at the sea surface. but it is also about that rising heat, much deeper down, which

has much longer term consequences. 0k, thank you very much. good to talk to you. donald trump has claimed he's the victim of political persecution, after pleading not guilty to conspiring to overturn his defeat in the 2020 us election. speaking after his court appearance in washington, the former us president said it had been a "sad day for america". he faces three separate criminal trials in the coming months, but remains the frontrunner for the republican presidential nomination for next year's election. our correspondent, nomia iqbal, sent this report. it was the same atmosphere but a different venue. those who love and hate donald trump turned up outside the courthouse, ready for his arrival. once, donald trump lived as president in this city. but he returned as a criminal defendant. he faces four charges and is accused of orchestrating an astonishingly broad campaign to overturn the election results of 2020. it's alleged he used unlawful methods to try and get joe biden�*s victory blocked. inside court, mr trump's lawyer

pleaded not guilty on his behalf. but the former president did speak as he left the city. when you look at what's happening, this is a persecution of a political opponent. this was never supposed to happen in america. this is the persecution of the person that's leading by very, very substantial numbers in the republican primary and leading biden by a lot. so if you can't beat him, you persecute him or you prosecute him. it's easy to almost become immune to donald trump's legal problems. but this case is bigger than all the other indictments, and that is because ultimately, it's about america's democracy and how the former president stands accused of trying to overthrow it. january the sixth left a painful and indelible mark on the us�*s

image here and worldwide. five people died and more than 1,000 were arrested. donald trump isn't charged with inciting the violence, but accused of exploiting it. for his supporters and many republican voters, every indictment turns him into a bigger hero. it's not going to change my vote, and i think it's actually going to make a lot of the american people understand exactly what we've been saying with regard to the witch hunt, with regard to the political division in this country. i think it's going to earn him votes more than anything. that's how much i like donald trump. he's a man's man. and the problem is today, men in america don't know what a man's man is any more. donald trump could be facing a fourth indictment over election tampering and it's likely to propel him closer to clinching the republican party's nomination, allowing him to run again for the presidency. nomia iqbal, bbc news, washington. let's talk to amber phillips, politics reporter for the washington post.

i guess a lot of people watching this will be thinking, how can we have a former president appearing in front of a court, but also, there not impacting his chances for the presidential race? in fact, many people predict it will improve his chances. ~ , , ., people predict it will improve his chances. , , ., ., ., ., , chances. why is that and how does it work? first, — chances. why is that and how does it work? first, let— chances. why is that and how does it work? first, let me _ chances. why is that and how does it work? first, let me say _ chances. why is that and how does it work? first, let me say that - chances. why is that and how does it work? first, let me say that anyone | work? first, let me say that anyone who predicts what will happen in american politics right now is just making educated guesses. and i'm going to do the same, and that is because we cannot say this enough, this is historic. and as this piece just underscored, that you just played, this is much more... donald trump is much more in legaljeopardy then he has been with his other criminal indictments. and also, in america, we havejust never had, i cannot say this enough, a former president are being charged by the government he led, and now wants to lead, for trying to undermine and subvert us democracy. and so, it is happening as he is running for president. i would argue that his

presidential campaign, and these criminal trials, presidential campaign, and these criminaltrials, he presidential campaign, and these criminal trials, he has now got two may be three may be for mac next year, are notjust on parallel tracks, but completely under twined. —— intertwined. next year's election will be about whether you think the justice system and the rule of law in america should hold donald trump accountable, or whether you think it is essentially all a sham.— is essentially all a sham. there is a hard core _ is essentially all a sham. there is a hard core elements, _ is essentially all a sham. there is a hard core elements, isn't - is essentially all a sham. there is| a hard core elements, isn't there, of the republican party supporters and to make america great again supporters that think it is a sham. but is that enough to take him over the line? . , . but is that enough to take him over the line? ., , ., ., , ., the line? that is a great question and have been _ the line? that is a great question and have been watching - the line? that is a great question and have been watching poll - the line? that is a great question| and have been watching poll since donald trump announced his candidacy orjust a decade ago now for president. there is about 30 to 40% of americans that are immutable and absolutely love donald trump, and will not leave him, even if he is committed over a felony, according to a recent reuters... pole. ——

convicted of a felony. that same poll us that if donald trump were convicted of a felony, any felony, not just a convicted of a felony, any felony, notjust a budding democracy, would you vote when? 45% of republicans said no, once the conviction happens. it is an open question of whether convictions will happen as the primary is going on. will trials be delayed and all of a sudden, this convicted person to loses almost half the support of the republican base, going into a general election. it is all an open question. qm. it is all an open question. 0k, thank you _ it is all an open question. 0k, thank you so _ it is all an open question. 0k, thank you so much, _ it is all an open question. 0k, thank you so much, and - it is all an open question. 0k, thank you so much, and by philips. it is good to talk to you. politics reporter for the washington post. thank you for talking to us. here in the uk, ministers have set out plans to significantly expand the use of the private sector in tackling the health service backlog in england. rules are to be relaxed to make it easier for local nhs leaders to send patients for treatment in the private sector. eight privately—run diagnostic

centres will carry out tests, scans and other investigations, which don't need to be done in hospital. let's ask our health reporter, jim reed. so, how will it work, and what's been the reaction? there is a lot of pushback against the perceived privatisation of the nhs in this country. this the perceived privatisation of the nhs in this country.— nhs in this country. this is the issue the _ nhs in this country. this is the issue the government - nhs in this country. this is the issue the government and - issue the government and policymakers have at the moment. this graph behind me shows the waiting list in england for preplanned treatments. these are people that might need surgery or to come in for a scan to check for cancer. you can see here what has happened since the pandemic. this tip it is the pandemic. since then, the waiting lists are right up to 7.5 million people now in england. that means one in eight people living in england are on the waiting list for some sort of treatment. one of the key bottlenecks here is diagnosis. so, people that need to go into have a ct scan, an x—ray, and mra, for example. —— and mri.

the big thing here is committee diagnostic centres, sir robert and going into hospitals to have your scan, you go into one of these new centres, they tend to be in places like shopping centres, town centres, or there is even one in a football stadium at the moment. the ideas you can get your scan done them quickly, and you don't have to tie up hospital resources. there are already 114 of these centres across the uk. the announcement today is to create another 13, so adding to that. but the important thing is that. but the important thing is that eight of these 13 are going to be run by the private sector. this has been done before, and there are already for being run by the private sector, but this essentially doubles the amount that would be run by the private sector. —— four are being run by the private centre. as you say, there is some controversy about this, and politicians in the uk, anytime the private sector is mentioned, there is a certain level of pushback by people that think this means the privatisation of the nhs. but when you actually look at the figures on this, the reality is

about 8% of the nhs budget in england is already spent on private—sector treatment. or commissioning private sector treatment. it already adds up to £13 billion a year. it is already quite a significant amount of money. we have had some reaction from the opposition labour party today, and in fact, they are not critical of this idea. if anything, wes streeting, who is the shadow labour representative on health, says that this has not been done quickly enough. he said, he has criticised the government for waking too long to make these decisions. —— waiting too long. unions have been more critical, saying there is a danger we could be overpaying the private sector by going down this route, and it is also not addressing the underlying problem, which is that there is simply not enough capacity in the nhs to deal with this demand for services and diagnostics. thank ou ve for services and diagnostics. thank you very much _ for services and diagnostics. thank you very much indeed _ for services and diagnostics. thank you very much indeed for - for services and diagnostics. thank you very much indeed for that, - for services and diagnostics. thank| you very much indeed for that, jim. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

eligibility for a scrappage scheme has been extended to all of london, ahead of the expansion of the city's ultra low emission zone — or ulez. labour mayor of london sadiq khan has announced all londoners with a noncompliant car can access up to £2,000 to replace their vehicle. plans to replace ageing lights at the top of blackpool tower have been approved by blackpool council. the current lights will be replaced by led lights, as recent surveys of the tower found thin steel plates used for lighting strips are badly corroded. amazing images of the end stages of a distant star's life have been captured by the james webb space telescope. many of you will know about this if you are really into space and looking up into the night's sky in the evening. they show amazing detail of a glowing doughnut—shaped structure. the star is around 2,600 light—years from earth and it was born from a dying star that expelled its outer layers into space.

you're live with bbc news. next on bbc news now, some sport. the canadian province of alberta has cancelled its bid to host the 2030 commonwealth games, blaming rising costs. last month, australia pulled out of hosting the 2026 games in victoria. our reporter nicky schiller is in the news room with more. just remind us what the games are. the commonwealth games have been going every four year since the 19305. going every four year since the 1930s. they include the triathlon, diving and gymnastics, and indeed, wheelchair marathon on tarmac athletics as well. the only time they were cancelled was during the second world war. the athletes to take part, they have to be one of the 54 commonwealth countries or 18 territories. as you mentioned,

alberta in canada had bid to host the 2030 games. they produced a promotional video. the 2030 games. they produced a promotionalvideo. but the 2030 games. they produced a promotional video. but now, they have decided to pull out, and it is because of the cost. the ministers there say that it has risen to this amount. 2.7 billion canadian dollars. the exports and tourism minister said that was too high for the province to bear. in a statement, he said it was partly down to the amount of revenue you get in broadcasting rights at the sponsorship model. it meant 93% of the costs, they said, and the risks were put on the taxpayer. so at the moment, there is no city bidding to host the 2030 games. and it's notjust 2030 with a problem. there's also no host for 2026? you may remember that last month, victoria and australia pulled out of bidding for the 2026 games because of the spiralling costs again. they had won the rights to host it, but said the course had spiralled till 6

billion australian dollars, and that was too much. —— said the costs had spiralled. it is worth remembering that the games last year were only posted in birmingham after the south african city of durban were stripped of the rights to host it because they failed to meet financial deadlines. the games mean a lot to some athletes, don't they? they do. the reason for that is both athletes and para—athletes compete athletes and para—athletes compete at the same games, at the same time. this is australian, emma mckeon. she is the most successful australian commonwealth athlete above, winning 20 medals. here the uk, a lot of applets like competing, because they compete for the home nations, england wales, scotland, northern ireland, ratherthan england wales, scotland, northern ireland, rather than team gb. last month, we spoke to baroness grey thompson after victoria pulled out, and this is what she said about how important are the games are to

athletes. i think it's important that we don't lose the commonwealth games as an event, because as well, for a lot of the smaller countries in the commonwealth games, this is their chance to shine on a world stage, which they might not get as well so does this put the games in doubt? it isa it is a very good question. the commonwealth games federation issued a very brief statement after alberta pulled out, saying that the dialogue with other potential hosts is ongoing. there were reports last month that gujarat in india might want to host it, but that has since been denied. they say they want to concentrate instead on the 2036 olympics. meanwhile, the mayor of london, sadiq khan, said he would consider the capital bidding for the 2026 games. consider the capital bidding for the 2026 games-— consider the capital bidding for the 2026 games. consider the capital bidding for the 2026 names. . ~ , . ., 2026 games. thank you very much for that. we 2026 games. thank you very much for that- we are — 2026 games. thank you very much for that. we are keeping _ 2026 games. thank you very much for that. we are keeping across _ 2026 games. thank you very much for that. we are keeping across that - that. we are keeping across that story for you.

a video has emerged allegedly showing a sea drone driving into the side of a russian naval vessel. the bbc has been unable to confirm its location but sidarth kaushal, a research fellow at defence think tank rusi, says the russian warship in the video is the olenegorsky gornyak. the night footage you can see here is unclear, but it appears the drone is driving into the side of a large ship and cutting out on impact. the video was released by the ukrainian security services. in the early days of invasion of ukraine, experts were surprised how poorly the russian army 5 electronic warfare units performed. but nearly 18 months later, they are causing significant problems for ukraine 5 counter—offensive. in this invisible war, russian systems can affect even the most sophisticated weapons ukraine has received from nato countries. the bbc s abdujalil abdurasulov spoke to senior ukrainian military officers from electronic warfare units in order to understand how this mysterious field

is shaping the war in ukraine. their battles are invisible, but the dangers they face are real. this is a ukrainian electronic intelligence unit. theirjob is not to fight with guns, but to monitor emissions — signals used by drones, air defense systems, multiple rocket launchers and other weapons. we can't show their faces for security reasons. the team leader, with the call—sign alain, says that russian forces constantly hunt down units like his. their mission is part of a hidden confrontation called electronic warfare. but how does it work? almost every modern weapon uses radio waves, microwaves, infrared or other signals to send or receive data. and electronic warfare uses this vulnerability in order to disrupt enemy's communications, gather intelligence and identify targets. and for the first time since world war two, we're witnessing a conflict

where both sides are heavily relying on the electronic warfare systems as part of their military strategy. drones have become a key feature in this war, but this is what happens when they are jammed by electronic warfare systems. it's notjust drones that can be affected. most sophisticated arms ukraine has received from nato countries use a gps link for navigation. so when russia jams this signal, even high precision weapons, including himars rocket artillery, can miss their target. that is why both russia and ukraine keep their electronic warfare — or ew — capabilities in secret. this war represents new and very effective abilities of drones, radars, communications. and all of these system could be affected with ew means.

if we destroy russian jammers, we improve capabilities of our troops in detection and the ability to have precise strikes. here, ukrainian special forces have spotted pole—21, a russian system that jams gps signals. ukrainian artillery put it out of action. but russia is on the hunt for ukrainian electronic warfare units too. alain�*s group comes under fire. he thinks that russian troops may have discovered their antenna and now are looking for their base. alain tells everyone to use single rounds in order to last till the morning. he decides to change their location because the position is compromised. the key in electronic warfare is being invisible to your enemy. abduljalil abdurasulov, bbc news, kyiv.

some afghan refugees in the uk are facing homelessness after being ordered by the government to leave hotels where they've been staying since fleeing the taliban. the organisation representing councils in england and wales said one in five afghans being evicted from hotels had nowhere else to live. our political correspondentjonathan blake is following the story. hejoins us now. how is this being allowed to happen? what is happening here? well, afghans who came to the uk after the taliban returned to power in 2021 have been housed in hotels. many thousands of people under an arrangement is paid for by the home office. these people are here legally and have the right to live and work here longer term. that arrangement is coming to an end. the home office has written to these individuals, saying that they have three mac months to leave and find alternative accommodation. the department says it is providing additionalfunding and

department says it is providing additional funding and support to help those people find somewhere to live, longerterm. but councils help those people find somewhere to live, longer term. but councils are saying there just isn't a housing available, and many of these people are at risk of becoming homeless, and are already finding themselves homeless. it is then the local authority's job to provide them with suitable housing, which the local government association representing many of these councils sayjust isn't there. so they are warning that the government funding needs to continue in order to prevent more peoplejust simply continue in order to prevent more people just simply having nowhere to live, having come to the uk as a safe haven, after fleeing afghanistan. and that the situation is likely to get worse as more people find themselves coming to the end of that hotel accommodation. labour are saying that it is shameful that people who served alongside british forces in afghanistan are put in the situation, but the government says it is working to find a solution. jonathan, thank you very much indeed. stay with us on the bbc. plenty more to come in just a few

minutes's time. hello again. for many of us, it started off on a fairly dry note with some sunshine. we'll see a few showers developing through the course of today. but i think, so far, for most of us, it's dry and there's been some sunny spells already. that was the scene in falkirk first thing this morning. the showers today most focused around eastern areas of england. now, look at the bright colours here. some of the greens indicative of some heavy, perhaps even thundery, showers as we go through the afternoon. but further north and west, it's dryer. some lengthy spells of sunshine and maximum temperatures getting up into the high teens. maybe the low 20s across southern areas of england.

but as we go through tonight and into the start of the weekend, we've got another area of low pressure that's moving its way in from the atlantic. the iso bars here, the white lines getting closer together. some strong winds developing into saturday morning and certainly throughout saturday, heavy rain and some coastal gales. some improvements by sunday. there'll be a few showers and those winds will ease. but a very wet start to the day on saturday, particularly for northern ireland into wales. that heavy rain spreads its way further eastward as the morning goes on. gales developing around the coast of wales and south west england. that rain will gradually ease away from these southern and western areas into the afternoon. a few showers following behind that, and certainly for northern england, scotland and northern ireland, escaping the worst of the rain on saturday. there'll be some sunny spells, but also some heavy showers throughout the course of the afternoon. but it is going to be disappointingly cool for the time of year. look at those temperatures. 14 degrees in newcastle, birmingham. 17 or 18 degrees further south. now, this is sunday. as i said, some improvements, a dryer day for most of us. still some showers coming in on that northwesterly wind

across parts of wales, into scotland, northern england. northern ireland also seeing a few showers, but there should be some dry spells and some sunshine from time to time. temperatures up a little bit on saturday's values — about 17 to 19 degrees. and then, into next week, we've got one area of low pressure that's moving to the east on monday into tuesday. then high pressure starts to move in from the south, and high pressure is what you want to see if you want drier, brighter, and for some of us, warmer weather as well. look at those temperatures as we go through wednesday into the end of the week, getting up into the low to the mid 20s. so, a sign of summer to come. goodbye.

this is bbc news. the headlines... the temperature of the world's oceans reaches a record high — prompting new warnings about the dangers of climate change. niger's ousted president urges the international community to help restore his country's �*constitutional order�* after last week's military coup. controversial influencer, andrew tate, accused of rape and human trafficking, is released from house arrest in romania. more now on our top story — scientists say the average surface temperature of the world's oceans has hit a record high. it rose to just under 21 celsius — or nearly 70 degrees farenheit — in august. that's far above the average for this time of year. this chart shows the average ocean

surface temperatures recorded every year since 1979. the red line shows this year's data. the grey lines show previous years. as you can see the august 2023 temperature — is much higher than previous years. and here you can see the pattern of extreme heat in the oceans. those areas in blue have not experienced heatwaves, but — as you can see — many areas have experienced at least a moderate heatwave — coloured yellow — with many areas experiencing more severe and extreme heat — shown in orange and red. let's talk to our climate and science reporter — georgina rannard. how worried should we be about this record being broken? you how worried should we be about this record being broken?— how worried should we be about this record being broken? you 'ust talked about that chart * record being broken? you 'ust talked about that chart showing _ record being broken? youjust talked about that chart showing the - record being broken? youjust talked about that chart showing the rise - about that chart showing the rise over time at the record has actually been broken by .5 of a degree which doesn't sound like a lot but it is a lot for these very complex and huge

global systems that we have in the