: england and england and world war ii, we'll find out what makes them so special. now before we go to the business, let's get some breaking news. detectives are investigating a homophobic attack. issued fresh images of the man they say they want to trace. now the images were taken from a bus in fortin heath, at approximately 8:30 p:m.. detective chief inspector, from the policing team has said that these images provide a clearer picture of the person that we need to identify and locate following the trucking attack. police say they would urge people to look at these images to see if they recognise the man or the clothes that he is wearing. nowjust to remind people of the incident happened at around

10:15pm on the 13th of august on sunday, those two men were standing outside the nightclub, in south london, they were approached police say by a man who attacked them with a knife before running away. both men are in their 20s or 30s, they were taken to hospital for treatment and have since been discharged, there has been no officers, officers are following up leads, they are crucial in the ongoing investigation what they described as a homophobic attack of the two men. we will of course have more on that story as we get it but now let's go to tie and write for the business news. let's start with china. we've had some worrying data this week fuelling fears about the health today, property prices fell for the first time this year due to flagging demand — house prices fell by 0.1% injuly, compared with the same month last

year. going into reverse again for the first time since china began to emerge from its covid lockdown.0n wednesday, on wednesday, retail sales growth slowed to 2.5%, a sign of the nervousness of consumers. and on the same day, beijing's statistics agency decided not to publish the latest figure for youth unemployment as had been scheduled. it reached a record high of 21.3% injune and was forecast to rise even more. james early is chief investment officer at bbae, a digital investment platform. he joins me from washington. thanks very much for being with us today james. thanks very much for being with us todayjames. now we know thanks very much for being with us today james. now we know that house prices are a barometer of the health of economies all over the world, but they are particularly important in china, why don't you explain to us a little bit more? in the west, i mean housing is one thing we put our

money and but we invest in the stock market, we do bonds and some pensions. a0 to 50% traditionally, all —— a lot of... property or construction at large is about 2a-25% of construction at large is about 2a—25% of chinese gdp, the whole economy. it is a big deal and it affects social sustainability. chinese are big savers, with the government a prison contract the government a prison contract the government supply stability and the chinese go along with that. grumblings to the foundation of the economy that had been built on a a0 year property run that may be about to end. fix, year property run that may be about to end. �* ., ., , ., ., to end. a lot to focus on one particular— to end. a lot to focus on one particular property _ to end. a lot to focus on one| particular property developer to end. a lot to focus on one i particular property developer in particular, timbuktu.—

particular property developer in particular, timbuktu. these are big real estate developers, _ particular, timbuktu. these are big real estate developers, people - particular, timbuktu. these are big | real estate developers, people come and populate them. they had to extend some bond payment, i'll add these are trust companies sort of like people say closet lending, basically these are the archaeopteryx, the missing difference between... property sector and they are also missing some payment so basically you've got these big entities whether it's country garden, the direct outcome of the money is coming from the property sector which i'm just looking at a step from the chinese national bureau of statistics, total property sales over the last year are down 20.6% in monetary terms and 28% in floor area terms it is a

pretty big collapse. companies that have to pay out these bonds or retirement payments in some way or another. �* , ., , . another. and interest rates which have been going _ another. and interest rates which have been going up _ another. and interest rates which have been going up and - another. and interest rates which have been going up and the - another. and interest rates which have been going up and the restl another. and interest rates which l have been going up and the rest of the world or much of the rest of the world, have gone down in china this week. yet the government seems reluctant to do much more even though they say they should, what's with that reluctance? the? though they say they should, what's with that reluctance?— with that reluctance? they don't want to be _ with that reluctance? they don't want to be get _ with that reluctance? they don't want to be get stuck _ with that reluctance? they don't want to be get stuck in - with that reluctance? they don't want to be get stuck in the - with that reluctance? they don't want to be get stuck in the trap | want to be get stuck in the trap that japan has been want to be get stuck in the trap thatjapan has been in for the last a0—50 years. it's hard also when you're the only one lowering their rates and everyone else is raising their rates, your bonds look a lot less attractive to the rest of the world. the other thing is the debt, no one knows exactly how much debt china has, it's hard to get a read on that, but the application is its high, and a lot of these local governments make money by selling, not technically property, but like 70 year rights to property for these developers and that's how their coffers have been filled. when that demand drives up these local governments are stuck with a lot of

social obligations because this is just the nature of the socialist system, but without that income they've been use to for a whole generation. put so yes, the question is china's response has been muted, what's next, can they lower rates more? �* ., , ., , ., more? i'm not sure. it goes back to robabl more? i'm not sure. it goes back to probably preperty- _ more? i'm not sure. it goes back to probably property. james _ more? i'm not sure. it goes back to probably property. james early, - probably property. james early, thank you very much for that. next to the uk where the latest inflation figures show a marked decline in the pace of price rises. with the consumer prices index coming in at 6.8% injuly, that's still well above the bank of england target rate of 2%. that's the pace of price rises which is seen as healthy for the economy. but it's an improvement on the near 8% figure recorded in the year to june. the data will of course be pored over by the bank of england as it considers its next move on the cost of borrowing. the current uk base rate of interest is five and a quarter percent. and although the fall in price rises is a welcome development, it does not mean a further

increase won't come. let's not forget that yesterday we heard that average uk wages were rising at their fastest pace in 20 years. katharine neiss, chief european economist at pgim fixed income, said while it was enouraging for uk consumers, it's unlikely to stop interest rates going higher. it's encouraging, as you say, that headline inflation is coming down. no doubt uk consumers will be relieved to see that energy prices and food price inflation is beginning to cool. but that said, core inflation, that is a measure of inflation that gives us perhaps a better read on domestic inflationary pressures. that's not really showing any signs of coming off. and so that means that while encouraging in these data, we're not quite there yet in terms of seeing inflation really dropping off in a sustainable way and uk inflation still well ahead and uk inflation still well ahead

of its international peers such as the united states, for example. why is that? well, the uk is really being hit from both sides. 0n the one hand, the uk has had a very tight labour market similar to what the us is experiencing. but of course we're also exposed to the energy price shock on the back of russia's invasion of ukraine in europe. so we're sort of being affected by both of these double whammy impacts on inflation here in the uk. and as a consequence, the inflationary pressure here is magnified compared to the us and the euro area. sure. so the widespread expectation is that the bank of england is going to raise the interest rates yet again at its next decision point in september. you haven't seen anything in today's date or in indeed the days of the last few days, such as that wage growth data we're talking aboutjust a moment ago to dissuade us from that expectation. no, i'm afraid not. this latest batch of data, whilst encouraging it does show that domestic inflationary pressure remains uncomfortably high. and i would expect that the bank

of england will make a similar conclusion and continue to raise rates at their next policy meeting. a year ago today, president biden signed the inflation reduction act into us law. although inflation is in the name, in reality it has very little to do with price rises. it's been described as one of the most substantial piece of climate change legislation in us history, containing big subsidies for green energy manufacturing, something which ruffled feathers outside the us, especially in europe. 0ur nabc michelle fleury has more. we're one year in and many americans really know very little about it — perhaps because of the confusing name. what does that say about its success? in this sort of months ahead people

will hear— in this sort of months ahead people will hear more _ in this sort of months ahead people will hear more about _ in this sort of months ahead people will hear more about it. _ in this sort of months ahead people will hear more about it. got - in this sort of months ahead people will hear more about it. gotjoe - will hear more about it. gotjoe biden, — will hear more about it. gotjoe biden, all— will hear more about it. gotjoe biden, all this _ will hear more about it. gotjoe biden, all this week— will hear more about it. gotjoe biden, all this week taking - will hear more about it. gotjoei biden, all this week taking pains will hear more about it. gotjoe - biden, all this week taking pains to try and _ biden, all this week taking pains to try and gel— biden, all this week taking pains to try and gel that _ biden, all this week taking pains to try and get that message _ biden, all this week taking pains to try and get that message out - biden, all this week taking pains to| try and get that message out there. ithink_ try and get that message out there. llhink part — try and get that message out there. llhink part of— try and get that message out there. i think part of the _ try and get that message out there. i think part of the problem - try and get that message out there. i think part of the problem is, - try and get that message out there. i think part of the problem is, a - i think part of the problem is, a lot of— i think part of the problem is, a lot of the — i think part of the problem is, a lot of the money— i think part of the problem is, a lot of the money that _ i think part of the problem is, a - lot of the money that the government is spending _ lot of the money that the government is spending as— lot of the money that the government is spending as a — lot of the money that the government is spending as a result _ lot of the money that the government is spending as a result of— lot of the money that the government is spending as a result of this - lot of the money that the government is spending as a result of this to - is spending as a result of this to try and — is spending as a result of this to try and lower— is spending as a result of this to try and lower the _ is spending as a result of this to try and lower the cost _ is spending as a result of this to try and lower the cost of - is spending as a result of this to try and lower the cost of the - try and lower the cost of the adoption _ try and lower the cost of the adorttion of— try and lower the cost of the adoption of cleaner- try and lower the cost of the . adoption of cleaner technology, whether— adoption of cleaner technology, whether that's _ adoption of cleaner technology, whether that's for— adoption of cleaner technology, whether that's for households l adoption of cleaner technology, i whether that's for households or companies — whether that's for households or companies has _ whether that's for households or companies has actually - whether that's for households or companies has actually ended i whether that's for households or| companies has actually ended up whether that's for households or - companies has actually ended up sort of in red _ companies has actually ended up sort of in red states, — companies has actually ended up sort of in red states, not— companies has actually ended up sort of in red states, not blue _ companies has actually ended up sort of in red states, not blue states, - of in red states, not blue states, and so _ of in red states, not blue states, and so certainly _ of in red states, not blue states, and so certainly not _ of in red states, not blue states, and so certainly not everyone - of in red states, not blue states, and so certainly not everyone isi and so certainly not everyone is aware _ and so certainly not everyone is aware of — and so certainly not everyone is aware of that _ and so certainly not everyone is aware of that.— and so certainly not everyone is aware of that. . ~ . , , . ~ ., aware of that. take a step back and as i sa , aware of that. take a step back and as i say. this _ aware of that. take a step back and as i say. this act — aware of that. take a step back and as i say, this act was _ aware of that. take a step back and as i say, this act was designed - aware of that. take a step back and as i say, this act was designed to i as i say, this act was designed to lower the costs of adoption of cleaner technology whether that's through subsidies for ev �*s, i think it's had a huge impact on sort of where america was. if you think back a couple years ago, industry in america as a whole is moving faster

than anyone could have thought towards clean technology. and that i think can be attributed to this legislation. think can be attributed to this legislation-— bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. playful and plentiful, these kittens are currently being homed with all animal sanctuary in worchestershire, but it's not the best of times. they are struggling financially, and if things don't improve, this could be theirfinal year. it's probably a combination of the rising energy costs, rising vet bills, and the general cost crisis everyone is faced with at the moment. roughly we're losing about 20,000 each month. which is the moments that go on hard which are hitting us. the sanctuary has been here for more than 50 years, and tk here is one of more than 70 animals being cared for, but staff say at the moment, they are having to stop

taking in new animals. it's quite heartbreaking really, obviously we are fending off a lot of phone calls, we got on average probably about 20 or 30 calls a day of people asking to surrender animals, whether it's cats, dogs, rabbits. a very very difficult time to be in. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. the leaders of a global wildlife trafficking gang have been convicted after a four—year investigation and a trial in nigeria. they've pleaded guilty to smuggling the scales of african pangolins, which conservationists say are being hunted to extinction. described as "top of the pyramid" of traffickers, they were responsible for half of the illegal trade in pangolin scales. steve swann talks to one of the people who went undercover to bring down the network in this exclusive report. an african wildlife trafficker with something to sell. on a video call, he shows sacks

full of pangolin scales. he doesn't realise it, but the woman he's calling isn't a buyer. she's an undercover investigator. within days, this compound in nigeria is raided. it's the third largest seizure of pangolin scales by the nigeria customs authorities in the past three years. tonnes of pangolin scales and elephant ivory were seized. now the leaders of a major global trafficking gang have been convicted of wildlife crime. 0utwitted by fake buyers and sting operations, a four—year global investigation run by a small charity in the netherlands. we meet the young woman who went undercover to help bring the network down. van, not her real name, doesn't want to be identified. i mean, you met these people physically. were you afraid? i was nervous for about 20 seconds. but then after that, i thought, i can do this.

i love animals, and wildlife is my passion. the animals mean nothing to them. pangolins are the most trafficked mammal in the world. here, a south african police raid finds one, but it doesn't survive. it's estimated a million pangolins have been killed by traffickers in the last decade. their meat eaten in africa, their scales used in traditional medicine in china. investigators were given a rare opportunity to disrupt the illegal wildlife trade during the coronavirus pandemic. that's because shipments slowed down in the lockdown and west african traffickers, who'd usually stay hidden, turned to social media to look for clients. and that made them and their customers vulnerable. here you can see them offering elephant ivory for sale, and those are pangolin scales. i'm just having a look at the names that she's pulled off as potential targets.

a massive intelligence operation helped identify buyers based in vietnam. they were put under surveillance and followed to africa when they travelled to buy more pangolin scales. in these video calls, the traffickers incriminate themselves. an undercover officer, whose voice is disguised, pretends to be a buyer and asks... you buy something else in nigeria? in nigeria? — you buy something else in nigeria? in niceria? ., �* ., ., , , ., in nigeria? you're going to ship to niceria, in nigeria? you're going to ship to nigeria. 20 _ in nigeria? you're going to ship to nigeria, 20 tonnes? _ soon after this video was recorded, the men were arrested. now they've pleaded guilty to smuggling and trading in pangolin scales and elephant ivory. i can't underestimate the value of this trial, not only to nigeria, but to vietnam, to south africa, to mozambique and to wildlife in africa. these guys are, you know, the top of the pyramid.

finally, after years of feeling untouchable because of corruption and lack of police resources, the wildlife traffickers are under pressure. although the leader of this west african network is still at large. steve swan, bbc news. world war ii aerial photographs of england are available for the public to view for the first time. historic england archive released the images taken by us army air forces between i9a3 and i9aa and offer a bird—eye view of england. over 3,600 pictures capture airfields with american bombers and baseball players in wilshire, bomb damage in towns and cities across the country, as well as manchester united's old trafford football stadium in greater manchester. live now to katy whitaker from historic england archive. katie, i love looking at old photos and this is a fascinating collection, tell us more about it.

it's a wonderful collection of aerial photographs. the united states army air force moved into england partway through the second world war when america joined the war and their pilots who specialised in photo reconnaissance needed to practice their navigation skills and the photography, learning how to operate cameras from their cockpits. so they flew to various locations in england and took a number of photographs, 20,000 of which are cared for by the historic england archive, with conserved and digitised and put online for people to enjoy. digitised and put online for people to en'o . ., , , , , digitised and put online for people toen'o. , , , to en'oy. casey, why did they take all to enjoy. casey, why did they take all these photos? _ to enjoy. casey, why did they take all these photos? they _ to enjoy. casey, why did they take all these photos? they were - all these photos? they were practising — all these photos? they were practising for _ all these photos? they were practising for the _ all these photos? they were practising for the jobs - all these photos? they were practising for the jobs that l all these photos? they were i practising for the jobs that they had to do over germany and the occupied territories in the second world war. and the best way to do that was to have locations around england that they could be tasked to fly to so that's how they could practice the navigation, and then to make sure that the camera set up was

working and they could successfully capture photographs of the correct locations, they would take the photographs, bring them back to their bases in 0xfordshire, have those photographs developed and that provided the evidence for them to learn from, have they navigated to the right locations? had the cameras worked, had they taken good photographs? they went to germany, and across france, to take photographs of strategic and tactical locations during the war. let's take a look at three stills that you have identified are particularly interesting. let's go for the first one, that is the iron age ring of west sussex. 50 this is a age ring of west sussex. so this is a fort for peeple — age ring of west sussex. so this is a fort for people who _ age ring of west sussex. so this is a fort for people who live - a fort for people who live locally, would be a quite a familiar location. nearby worthing and the built—up area of the town, what's really important about this particular photograph capturing this snapshot in time, it shows there is

in fact an antique tank ditch that has been dug around the hillfort so there's, two and a half thousand —year—old... in case germany had invaded and, through the south coast. �* , ., invaded and, through the south coast. 3 ., ., invaded and, through the south coast. �*, ., ., , coast. let's go to the second when he icked coast. let's go to the second when he picked out. _ coast. let's go to the second when he picked out, that's _ coast. let's go to the second when he picked out, that's us _ coast. let's go to the second when he picked out, that's us bombers. he picked out, that's us bombers playing baseball on the us army camp. playing baseball on the us army cam -. �* , , playing baseball on the us army cam. . , , , , , camp. the army is still present in wiltshire, it _ camp. the army is still present in wiltshire, it has _ camp. the army is still present in wiltshire, it has a _ camp. the army is still present in wiltshire, it has a great _ camp. the army is still present in wiltshire, it has a great history, | wiltshire, it has a great history, military, defence of history. but american bases in wiltshire as well, and this particular photograph accidentally, the baseball game has been captured. the point of the photograph was to practice low level flying, taking close—up pictures. but yet it captures that baseball game. but yet it captures that baseball came. ~ �* ., but yet it captures that baseball came.~ �* ., ., but yet it captures that baseball came. ~ �* ., ., ,~,:: but yet it captures that baseball came. �* ., 3,1: , , game. we've got about 30 seconds i want to get — game. we've got about 30 seconds i want to get to _ game. we've got about 30 seconds i want to get to the _ game. we've got about 30 seconds i want to get to the last _ game. we've got about 30 seconds i want to get to the last one. - game. we've got about 30 seconds i want to get to the last one. in one i want to get to the last one. in one sentence, tell us about it. this

want to get to the last one. in one sentence, tell us about it.- sentence, tell us about it. this is a wonderful— sentence, tell us about it. this is a wonderful photograph - sentence, tell us about it. this is a wonderful photograph that i sentence, tell us about it. this is l a wonderful photograph that shows sentence, tell us about it. this is i a wonderful photograph that shows us old trafford, the football ground. it shows there's been some bomb damage to the football ground, it wasn't used again until after the second world war but you can also see traffic nearby.— see traffic nearby. sorry we can't talk for longer katie, _ see traffic nearby. sorry we can't talk for longer katie, thanks i see traffic nearby. sorry we can't talk for longer katie, thanks for. talk for longer katie, thanks for guiding us to this pictures. you're watching bbc news. two former royal marines have described being shot at by pirates while attempting to navigate the amazon in a world record attempt. john bathgate from edinburgh, and ian roberts from exeter, were attacked close to the colombian border. but they say they managed to fend off the attackers with their paddles. alexandra mackenzie reports. yan and i... a couple of lads came up to us... this was filmed after the attack. john bathgate from edinburgh was shot twice but fought back. capsized their boat, got their weapon... john and ian, known as yan, from devon, made it to safety in a nearby village.

lovely community here helped us out, managed to send messages to the navy and to our friends in akita, so hopefully they'll arrive soon. medics did arrive and treated the pair after their frightening ordeal — both lucky not to have been more seriously injured. their plan had been to navigate the amazon river and attempt to travel more than 3,000 miles from ecuador to brazil. but they were attacked while canoeing in peru. what i'd like to get through to people is this doesn't define peru. these were two individuals who probably due to lack of options, not having much and seeing, you know, us rich westerners going by with all this equipment. it doesn't excuse what they did, but their actions don't define the people of peru. and john, from his home in edinburgh, is already talking about returning to the amazon as soon as he is able.

alexandra mackenzie, bbc news. many young people might struggle with the idea of having a pen pal but in the days before the internet — writing letters and posting them to other children around the world was our version of "social networking".that�*s what patsy that's what patsy gregory, from preston, and carol ann krause, from south carolina, started doing in 1955. after nearly 70 years of written correspondence, they've finally met in person. samantha nanda reports. i didn't know we were going to be on tv! welcome! yeah, finally! oh, my gosh! after 68 years and nearly 1,000 letters, this is the moment pen pals patsy and carol—anne finally got to meet. finally.

finally! 68 years. patsy travelled nearly a,000 miles from her home in haughton near preston to conway, south carolina, thanks to a special 80th birthday present from her children. well, actually, she'sjust as i imagined that she would be. bless her. i mean, i recognised her immediately. and it wasjust, just natural. they began their long distance friendship in 1955, age 12, when patsy was in the girl guides and carol—anne, a girl scout, working towards their pen pal badges. nearly 70 years and hundreds of letters later, they've shared life's milestones, including getting married, having children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren. new at five, after. decades of letters... the story even made the local news in carol—anne's home town. ..have reached a new milestone.

patsy�*s daughter, steph, travelled to south carolina with her. it was just really, really emotional. i was quite choked to watch them hugging each other for the first time and greeting each other, and theyjust hit it off instantly. we've just gone through life, all the trials and tribulations and shared it. for sure, yes. and it's just absolutely lovely. yes, it is, it's great that you're. .. and we're both still here. amen to that, right? what do you think the secret of a good friendship is? well, never had a cross word, anyway. you know, we've just gotten along well, and that's it. and any more visits in the future, do you think? who knows, who knows?

neither one of us know that, one of us are there. so i don't know. samantha nanda, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with elizabeth rizzini. hello there, good afternoon. lots of dry and sunny weather right across the uk today, particularly for southern counties of northern ireland, england and wales. blue skies, sunflower fields, as captured by our weather watcher in norfolk. a bit of fair weather cloud bubbling up in powys. as we head through the rest of the week, although it is looking wet and windy on friday, there will be lots of dry weather, some sunny spells and it will turn warmer and more humid, especially by night. but for the rest of this afternoon, we will keep the sunshine for most

areas, i wouldn't rule out a shower breaking out just about anywhere, but they are more likely across northern areas of scotland, possibly heavy in places — it is cloudier here — and temperatures will be lower. but elsewhere creeping into the low to mid 20s celsius, 26 celsius possible in south—east england. 0vernight tonight, any showers we see will fade away to leave us with a dry night, long clear spells, mist, murk, low cloud gathering towards central areas, perhaps into tomorrow morning, but it's a mild start to the day on thursday yet again. on thursday morning any mist and murk, low cloud will gradually lift and clear through the morning, burnt back by the sunshine. we draw in more of a south—easterly wind, just feeding this warm, humid air our way from the near continent. the highest temperatures perhaps for western areas of wales. those temperatures a little lower towards north sea facing coasts with the onshore breeze. but again, we're expecting the mid 20s for many spots. and then on friday, we look out towards the atlantic where we have a deep area of low pressure. it will be pulling in all of these weatherfronts, merging together at times to form longer

spells of rain. there will be some heavy thundery downpours, very windy conditions too across northern areas of wales, but we do keep that mild, very muggy feeling air, and temperatures pretty much across the board will be in the low 20s in celsius. it stays dry in northern scotland until we get to friday night, into saturday, and then that system clears off into scandinavia, so still some rain on saturday morning for northern areas of scotland. elsewhere, though, it should be largely dry, some showers feeding into the west perhaps, as we go through the afternoon. it will feel fresher on saturday, but the air is still warm, temperatures in the low to the mid 20s once more in celsius. here is the outlook for our capital cities, as we head through the weekend and into next week, dry and warm in the south—east, still warm, but more showery in the north and west.

live from london. this is bbc news. cheering england make history by reaching the final of the women's world cup — after beating australia 3—i. uk inflation slows to 6.8% injuly — but a further hike in interest rates is expected. president biden will travel to hawaii next week — where at least 106 people have died in wildfires. police release new pictures of a man they want to speak to — following a homophobic attack

in south london. hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan, welcome to verified live, 3 hours of breaking stories, and checking out the truth behind them. we start, with the women's world cup. england's lionesses roared and muted thousands of matildas fans at stadium australia. yes, sarina wiegman's team have made history by reaching the final, at the expense ofjoint hosts, australia. england — who were beaten semi—finalists in the past two world cups — overwhelmed australia by three goals to one in sydney. england led 1—0 at half—time through a goalfrom ella toone, but australia levelled midway through the second half — this stunning strike from sam kerr levelling the scores at i—all.