and you need to add to are going and you need to add to this _ are going and you need to add to this the — are going and you need to add to this. the bank of england does and so does _ this. the bank of england does and so does the government generally. there's_ so does the government generally. there's lots of other statistics that come out that our administrative data from various departments, surveys are being done, which _ departments, surveys are being done, which have _ departments, surveys are being done, which have to be added in. you know that a _ which have to be added in. you know that a tot _ which have to be added in. you know that a tot of— which have to be added in. you know that a lot of that is 100% and you know_ that a lot of that is 100% and you know it _ that a lot of that is 100% and you know it will— that a lot of that is 100% and you know it will be revised so how you can have — know it will be revised so how you can have decisions being made on 'ust can have decisions being made on just data — can have decisions being made on just data coming out at that point and you _ just data coming out at that point and you raise interest rates for example. _ and you raise interest rates for example, it's a baffling point. david, — example, it's a baffling point. david, data, wrongly interpreted or simply wrong or too short—term can create societal misunderstandings, can't it? fit create societal misunderstandings, can't it? , create societal misunderstandings, can'tit? , , can't it? of course but that's if ou take can't it? of course but that's if you take a _ can't it? of course but that's if you take a very _ can't it? of course but that's if you take a very simplistic- can't it? of course but that's if you take a very simplistic view| can't it? of course but that's if - you take a very simplistic view that there is one definition of anything. covid das have not been revised, there have been no revisions at all, it's just there are multiple ways of counting things and they've always been there, working in parallel. anyone who made an effort to understand would explained that

clearly and it was done from the start of the pandemic, comparing excess deaths with covid reported deaths. data does not speakfor itself. it requires interpretation. we imbue it with meaning and we communicate numbers and should be clear about any fragility that's there. this is a generic issue, not some new discovery. later, you know, the trouble is, they aren't cold, hard facts. they're actually quite soft because of the multiple ways we can measure things. it is vital that we look at the numbers and make the best sense of them but it's absolutely right that the simplistic views of taking one number and the meaning of that and therefore we should do something is completely inappropriate. but should do something is completely inappmpriate-_ inappropriate. but during the pandemic. — inappropriate. but during the pandemic, weren't _ inappropriate. but during the pandemic, weren't we - inappropriate. but during the pandemic, weren't we using, j inappropriate. but during the - pandemic, weren't we using, maybe one or two measurements, was the government doing that to make decisions about when we locked down and when we didn't?—

and when we didn't? there was a comlete and when we didn't? there was a complete view — and when we didn't? there was a complete view of _ and when we didn't? there was a complete view of the _ and when we didn't? there was a complete view of the data - and when we didn't? there was a complete view of the data in - and when we didn't? there was a i complete view of the data in terms of those things. i'm not going to talk about whether decisions were right or wrong but it didn't depend on the particular ways we were counting deaths. we knew that there were multiple ways and it was discussed ruthlessly from the beginning and the people who were making the decisions i hope were aware of those nuances. a lot of the media were not about the people who... , media were not about the people who... ., who... the politicians always work? i ho -e who... the politicians always work? i hope so. — who... the politicians always work? i hope so, advisers _ who... the politicians always work? i hope so, advisers were _ who... the politicians always work? i hope so, advisers were certainly . i hope so, advisers were certainly aware. . . , i hope so, advisers were certainly aware. -- the politicians always were? perhaps _ aware. -- the politicians always were? perhaps we _ aware. -- the politicians always were? perhaps we are - aware. -- the politicians always were? perhaps we are wired - aware. -- the politicians always were? perhaps we are wired to | aware. -- the politicians always - were? perhaps we are wired to make instant answers and we made short—term policy decisions in our own heads because we are wired to have statistics to help us on our way. have statistics to help us on our wa . ~ . have statistics to help us on our wa , ~ ., ., have statistics to help us on our wa .~ . ., have statistics to help us on our wa. . ., , way. we have to make decisions based on something — way. we have to make decisions based on something and _ way. we have to make decisions based on something and they _ way. we have to make decisions based on something and they are _ way. we have to make decisions based on something and they are there - way. we have to make decisions based on something and they are there and l on something and they are there and they are _ on something and they are there and they are always people who say let's not use _ they are always people who say let's not use gdp as a measure, let's use

something _ not use gdp as a measure, let's use something like well—being, which doesn't _ something like well—being, which doesn't cover everything. of course it witt— doesn't cover everything. of course it will be _ doesn't cover everything. of course it will be more complicated than that _ it will be more complicated than that you — it will be more complicated than that. you don't know what you are measuring — that. you don't know what you are measuring if you are trying to estimate _ measuring if you are trying to estimate for instance how people are feeling, _ estimate for instance how people are feeling, as— estimate for instance how people are feeling, as if that's going to give you a _ feeling, as if that's going to give you a better view of where you are going _ you a better view of where you are going. there's quite a lot else you can add _ going. there's quite a lot else you can add. rather thanjust gdp data, what are _ can add. rather thanjust gdp data, what are consumers telling you about their behaviour and also hiring, you can understand more about the market if you _ can understand more about the market if you have _ can understand more about the market if you have that data available. you don't _ if you have that data available. you don't make — if you have that data available. you don't make a decision on one piece of data _ don't make a decision on one piece of data tty— don't make a decision on one piece of data by itself.— so, let's take a look at some of the front pages. the daily mail, labour ready to open the door to eu asylum seekers. the guardian, the rebuild of hospitals riddled with crumbling concrete. the met payout to women held at vigil for everard. and again that story,

starmer plotting a deal to take eu migrants. at the bottom left, british made missiles used on strike on russian submarine. that's all from us, sleep well. i'll be back tomorrow. face a determined trade union movement. angela rayner in the family arrived in pakistan. it's thought they went to the city and just go there and respond to the needs of the people. that is the only thing that is needed now from the international community and the un should actually not say that the

two governments are coordinating. no, it should threaten both governments and all of the officials of those governments with sanctions if they hinder or hamper the arrival of relief response in the arrival of humanitarian action and age because thatis humanitarian action and age because that is what is happening now. tote that is what is happening now. we will need to leave it there but thank you very much for your perspective. speaking let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. in moroccan mountain villages the chances of finding survivors from last friday's earthquake, which killed almost 3,000 people, are fading. aftershocks have also been felt near last week's epicentre. the 6.8 magnitude quake, the impact of which was felt from the high atlas mountains to the city of marrakesh, levelled buildings and left survivors homeless and in urgent need of shelter, food and clothing.

the wife ofjailed mexican drug lord, joaquin el chapo guzman, was released from prison earlier today. the federal bureau of prisons confirmed her release. emma coronet was sentenced in 2021 to three years in prison, but had her sentence reduced after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges. her husband, who led the sinaloa drug cartel, is serving a life sentence in new york. at least 56 people have died in a huge apartment block fire in the vietnamese capital, hanol about 70 people were rescued from the ten—storey building, with many of them taken to hospital. the fire, which broke out during the night, has been extinguished but rescue operations are still on. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. 0h, we'd like to know that.

here. open all hours. janet can stock up on as much cliff richard memorabilia as she likes. we'll have to write to him, janet, see if he can come and visit us. this shop sells everything from jewellery and bags to hats and antiques and has been specially curated to tap into the interests of the people who live here. you like that? i love that. it's going to be your colour as well. it's the concept of the shop is to encourage independence and staying active to make the experience as authentic as possible. the customers are given replica money to spend. and this is your change. sometimes in dementia you can have really bad days and when family come in, they really struggle sometimes to make conversation and just don't know what to do. so witnessing actually they can talk about, "oh, look at this, "should we buy this and can you remember this? and can you remember this?" it's heart—warming to see and it makes that visit just go much more smoothly. for more stories from across the uk — head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. an escaped murderer who had been on the run in pennsylvania for almost two weeks has been

re—captured, ending a chase that captivated america. more than 500 officers hunted danelo cavalcante after he broke out of prison on the sist of august. he'd been awaiting transfer to state prison to serve a life sentence forfatally stabbing an ex—girlfriend. gary o'donoghue reports. relieved in their moment of triumph, this pennsylvania police swat team seemingly unable to resist parading their captive moments after he was tracked down. cavalcante's extraordinary crab—like escape from prison two weeks ago was caught on security video. it was a route another inmate had used back in may, though he was captured straightaway. cavalcante was on the loose for two weeks, staying at large by breaking in to homes and stealing clothes and food, as well as a rifle. police got their breakthrough when a plane detected a heat source on the ground, and at dawn they moved in, a police dog pinning him to the ground.

i believe he was taken by surprise, and i believe the canine played a large role in him not being able to utilise that firearm. the break—out came just a week after he'd been sentenced to life without parole for the brutal murder of his girlfriend deborah brandao, who was stabbed dozens of times in front of her two small children. we are so relieved, i can't even tell you. a quiet place that's remained untouched, and i'm glad he's out of it. ecstatic that they got him. i mean, showing our guys can get it done. cavalcante was also wanted for a murder in his native brazil, from where he fled in 2018, entering the united states illegally through florida. this is the latest in a spate of prison breaks in pennsylvania. the state governor is now promising a full inquiry. gary o'donoghue, bbc news. let's take a look at some of the stories making headlines in the uk. the conservative mp, tobias ellwood, has quit his role as chair of the defence committee

in the house of commons. he had been under pressure to quit since he posted a video to social media earlier this year appearing to praise the taliban. in the film, which he's since deleted, he claimed afghanistan had been transformed under their rule. the wet weather in july is being partly blamed for the economy shrinking. according to the office for national statistics, it shrank by 0.5% — which was more than what economists were expecting. analysts say strike action by nhs staff and teachers also contributed to the fall. the police watchdog will investigate how a police force handled the case of andrew malkinson, who was wrongfully convicted of rape. mr malkinson spent 17 years in jail for a crime he did not commit, despite steadfastly maintaining his innocence.

it's being described as the 'dream job' for swifties... or even, beyond their 'wildest dreams'. a major newspaper chain in the us is advertising for a reporter who will exclusively cover news related to the singer and songwriter taylor swift. she's one of the biggest names in music — and her current 'eras' world tour is breaking records. the job advertisement was posted on tuesday by gannett — the owner of several major newspapers, including usa today. i'm joined now by robert thompson — television, radio and film professor at syracuse university. thank you for your time. in today's media environment, does it surprise you to have a reporter assigned to one person from the world of entertainment?

yeah, you first hear this and you think it sounds absolutely ridiculous. journalism at absurd them, a culture beat yes, it is it beat yes, but the focus of a beat down to a single artist, taylor swift and now they are hiring a beyonce reporter as well, it seems absolutely ridiculous. but, when you think about it, way back in the late 18th century, wasn't boswell following ring around doctor johnson, that turned out pretty well when he had the doctorjohnson beat. in the late 20th century i was assigned to read boswell his work on johnson and not himself. some maybe it is not as strange as it seems. and i think it is also true that if we want to understand the soul of a nation, we need to understand its leaders in the usual historic stuff, but also we need to understand its

cheeseburgers, law ornaments, sitcoms and its popular musicians. so on the categorical level of does it make sense for someone to be covering, this exclusive beat of one artist, if it is as an important artist, if it is as an important artist as taylor swift, beyonce, yes, it makes sense. but it does involve other questions as well. do you think these kind of appointments could be here to stay and become a bit of a trend? i think they are, it shows traditionaljournalism is taking leads from social media and amateur work. fansites and all of the rest of it. but i don't think we are going to see, the only reason why it is important to have a single journalist covering these artists is

that they are so unique. they do control so much of the culture in an era where the culture has become so frightened so i don't think we will see, i think there are very, very few artists that would support this kind ofjournalistic contention. i don't think we will see that as a general trend that is kind of the point. that the fact that there are so few artists of this cultural centrality is one of the reasons those are the ones we cover this focus. the question is, what other things are not being covered as a result of that. this is an era where printjournalism and newspapers are playing off all kinds of people —— laying off and here is a place for the decided to put concentrated resources. . �* , . the decided to put concentrated resources— resources. that's an important oint. as an academic in your field, it would be interesting to understand the taylor swift phenomenon, what is it about her that has given her this kind of influence?

i think the bottom line, you don't need me to tell you, is that she is a religion accomplished artist. she is a great writer, her songs tend to go to some very basic parts of the human spirit. and all kinds of demographics and she is an extraordinary performer. the other think that i think makes are significant is that even if you do not listen to her or if you have never downloaded one of her songs, evenif never downloaded one of her songs, even if you have no taylor swift t—shirts, she is central to the culture in a way that few other things are. culture in a way that few other things are-— culture in a way that few other thins are. �* . . _, ., ., things are. i'm afraid we can go on talkin: things are. i'm afraid we can go on talking about _ things are. i'm afraid we can go on talking about taylor _ things are. i'm afraid we can go on talking about taylor swift but - things are. i'm afraid we can go on talking about taylor swift but we l talking about taylor swift but we are running out of time but i think you for your time and we will leave it there. thank you for watching. hello. thursday promises to bring a real mix of weather across the uk. for much of wales, parts of the midlands and northern england, we will have a band of cloud bringing some outbreaks of rain at times. to the south of that, it will be dry and warm.

to the north of that, a mix of sunshine and showers. and in the far north, in northern scotland, some strong winds. it's all because of an area of low pressure and this dangling frontal system here. this weather front, will be very, very slow—moving through the day on thursday, so we will see that band of cloud and rain across wales, parts of the midlands, some parts of northern england. we start the day with gales across the north of scotland and some heavy rain drifting its way across the northern isles. scotland, northern ireland, the far north of england can expect a day of sunny spells and scattered showers. then here's our rain bands, the rainjust waxing and waning across parts of wales, the north midlands, northern england. to the south of that, some spells of sunshine and some warmth, highs of 23, 2a, maybe 25 degrees. now, through thursday night, our rain band will tend to pep up again and it will also drift northwards across northern england, into northern ireland, southern and central parts of scotland by the end of the night. to the south of that, clear spells, ii or 12 degrees. to the north of that, actually rather chilly

in the north of scotland. but for friday, well, it looks very wet indeed across northern ireland, rain also affecting southern and central parts of scotland. and underneath the cloud, with the outbreaks of rain, temperatures in glasgow only getting to 13 degrees, ia there in belfast. compare that with 25 in london. some warmth and humidity building down towards the south. into the weekend, this area of low pressure swirling to the south—west of us will try to throw some showers or longer spells of rain in ourdirection. and with that, some relatively warm and humid air. that said, many places on saturday will see a fair amount of dry weather. a little bit of cloud, some bits and pieces of rain here and there, maybe some thunderstorms in the channel islands and the south—west of england. but towards the south—east corner, in the sunshine, highs of 26 or 27 degrees. always cooler and fresher further north, but some warmth and humidity for many of us on sunday. with that, some heavy showers

and some thunderstorms. that's all from me. bye for now.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines at the top of the hour, as newsday continues

straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. are the machines about to take over? that basic fear seems to underpin much of the discussion about artificial intelligence, and parallel developments such as synthetic biology. the latest wave of tech advances offers us extraordinary new possibilities, but do we flawed human beings have the will and the means to contain and control them? well, my guest is mustafa suleyman, ceo of inflection ai and the author of a challenging book on aland us. is that a doomed relationship?