going forward, nasa will investigate what it calls uaps — sport now, and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's marc edwards. hi, christian. we start with cricket, and a scintillating century from nat siver brunt has seen her write her name into the history books with england's fastest—ever odi hundred, as her side won the the final one day game against sri lanka at leicestershire�*s grace road. the match has been reduced to 31 overs per side due to rain, the visitors won the toss and decided to field tammy beaumont and alex capsey went cheaply. but sciver brunt was the star of england's innning gaining her 100th odi cap, she hit a sensational century injust 66 balls.

she was eventually caught for 120, as the home side made 273. england were just as good with the ball. charlie dean took her first five wicket haul in international cricket including three in one over as the vsitors were all out forjust 112. it means england win the series 2—0. the rugby world cup is back under way after the midweek break, there's one match on thursday as host nation france take on uruguay in lille. the french have made 12 changes to the starting line—up which beat the all blacks in the tournament opener. new zealand's first ever loss in the group stages of rugby�*s showpiece event. uruguay with the opening try at the start of the game, an early lead when they try in the corner, around half an hour into the match and france lead a 13—5, though they have just received a yellow card, he's in a sin bin with a yellow that could

be upgraded to a red. manchester united winger jadon sancho will train away from the first team until issues between the player and manager erik ten hag are resolved. the club confirmed in a statement on thursday. this follows ten hag's revelation that sancho had been left out of his squad for the premier league defeat at arsenal earlier this month because the winger�*s training performances were not up to the level required. however, sancho countered with his own statement on social media, saying he rejected the dutchman's claim and felt he was being made a scapegoat. it's transfer deadline day in the english women's super league, and manchester united have had a busy afternoon. they've just announced the capture of everton defender gabby george for £150,000. the 26—year—old leaves everton after almost ten years at the club, having previously come through united's academy. they've also announced the signing of spanish world cup winner irene guerrero from atletico madrid. the window closes at 11pm uk time and you can keep across all the latest deals

on the bbc sport website. tottenham hotspur stadium has been designated the official home of the nfl in the uk. it comes after tottenham extended its deal to host nfl games at its stadium until 2030. the new expanded partnership will ensure a minimum of two regular season nfl games a year will be held at the spurs stadium. opened in 2019, the north london venue is the first purpose—built american football stadium outside the us. the captain of the scottish women's football team, rachel corsie, shane lowry will attempt to continue his return to form as he defends his title at the pga championship at wentworth. the irishman achieved a first top ten finish since february last week, just days after his selection for europe's ryder cup team was criticised. he was one of the early round one starters at wentworth, and finished on three under par. denmark's marcus helligkilde leads the field at eight under, he's two shots ahead of the chasing pack.

rory mcelroy hitting and even part 72 -- rory mcelroy hitting and even part 72 —— even par. and it was a major league debut to rememberfor washington nationals pitcherjackson rutledge, as he was struck in the head by his own catcher. already trailing 5—1 against the pittsburgh pirates, rutledge walked ji hwan bae. bae then attempted to steal second base and nats catcher drew millas' throw struck rutledge on the back of the head. fortunately, he was able to continue with the nats going on to lose the game 7—6. that's all the sport for you now, back to christian. the british prime minister, rishi sunak has said he is "acutely aware of the threat to our open and democratic way of life" posed by china's communist regime. the prime minister was responding to a damning report on the uk's china strategy by parliament's intelligence and security committee.

ministers he said would take "all necessary steps" to protect the country from foreign state activity. he is facing calls from some tories to officially classify china a "threat" — which he has resisted so far, instead describing china as this "epoch—defining challenge" while insisting the uk needs to stay engaged. let's hearfrom professorjinghan zeng, professor of china and international studies at university of lancaster. good to have you with us, would you agree with the committee's finding that there is not a coherent strategy as of yet?- that there is not a coherent strategy as of yet? yes, i think you wouldn't find _ strategy as of yet? yes, i think you wouldn't find a _ strategy as of yet? yes, i think you wouldn't find a coherent strategy . wouldn't find a coherent strategy around china, but if you put in perspective, does any country have a coherence tragedy at all, given the size of china? i think when you are dealing with major like china and the us, it's difficult to have coherence tragedy. a few years ago, nobody knew there would be a war in ukraine or about covid. so it's a bit unrealistic to imagine a

coherent and consistent foreign policy strategy. it’s coherent and consistent foreign policy strategy. it's multifaceted, the threat is _ policy strategy. it's multifaceted, the threat is not _ policy strategy. it's multifaceted, the threat is notjust _ policy strategy. it's multifaceted, the threat is notjust within - policy strategy. it's multifaceted, the threat is notjust within the l the threat is notjust within the parliamentary lobbies, it's in every element of business, in universities — but don't you need to produce a strategy where, on every strada of british democracy, you are at least aware of the threat and issuing guidelines so people are aware of it? , , ~ it? definitely, ithink for government _ it? definitely, i think for. government coordination, it? definitely, i think for - government coordination, you it? definitely, i think for _ government coordination, you would be better if you have a more coherent strategy to co—ordinate between departments. currently that department have been speaking in different voices across china, because china was not important in the past, because of the past few years, and also because the you uk was a little bit far from years, and also because the you uk was a little bit farfrom china. but looking at the macro context, a

superpower like china will have the influence in a different kind of agenda. it's really difficult to have a coherent strategy to deal with them, and i think that something you have to accept. you haveit something you have to accept. you have it now, and a few years later it can easily fade away.— have it now, and a few years later it can easily fade away. what about the prime minister's _ it can easily fade away. what about the prime minister's perspective i the prime minister's perspective that he but across the g20 on sunday that he but across the g20 on sunday that it that he but across the g20 on sunday thatitis that he but across the g20 on sunday that it is better to stay engaged and to be in the room with premier league chang and to tell him face to face your concerns, and that open dialogue — you may not appreciate what he's doing but that open dialogue gives some room to change behaviour? it’s dialogue gives some room to change behaviour? �* , , ., dialogue gives some room to change behaviour? �*, , ., ., behaviour? it's very important to encuae behaviour? it's very important to engage with _ behaviour? it's very important to engage with china, _ behaviour? it's very important to engage with china, and - behaviour? it's very important to engage with china, and to - behaviour? it's very important to engage with china, and to what i engage with china, and to what extent the behaviour will be done by that meeting, i remain suspicious. i don't see much impact of that, and we have to realise that the uk, although in the past was a

superpower, no longer remains a major player in the world. so it's not something —— china is not relevant to the uk. it was more about the us, the uk and eu, it wouldn't be allowed to change. —— wouldn't be allowed to change. —— wouldn't be allowed to change. —— wouldn't be able to change china's behaviour at a macro level.- behaviour at a macro level. thank ou for behaviour at a macro level. thank you for your _ behaviour at a macro level. thank you for your thoughts, _ behaviour at a macro level. thank you for your thoughts, professor. | there are, around the world, hundreds of ufo sightings every year, many of which are never reported or ever explained. here's a good example, from 2004 — caught on video by two pilots from the us navy. what they filmed was a round object hovering above the water about 100 miles into the pacific ocean. this is another incident from 2021 — an american airlines pilot flying between cincinnati and phoenix, saw a "long cylindrical object that looked like a cruise missile" moving at high speeds in front of him. well today, nasa revealed they have appointed a new director of research into what they call

"unidentified anomalous phenomenon". so get used to saying uap instead of ufo. as part of a year—long study, they say have not yet uncovered any evidence of an extra—terrestrial origin, but they are open to the idea. what's important they say, is that we move from conspiracy and "sensationalism to science" — and they have pledged to continue this research in a more transparent fashion. let's hearfrom drjeni millard, extragalactic astronomer. many of you will be familiar with her, nice to have you on the programme this evening. this is slightly the problem, if you said you'd heads seen something like this, you would've been dismissed as a conspiracy theorist which is why many of these sightings go unreported. many of these sightings go unreported-— many of these sightings go unre orted. .. , ., ., many of these sightings go unreorted. , . ., unreported. exactly, and nasa want to move away _ unreported. exactly, and nasa want to move away from _ unreported. exactly, and nasa want to move away from conspiracy - to move away from conspiracy theories and sensationalism, as you said, and really start getting into the science. so treating them not as ufos, there's new terminology to

move away from the conspiracy theory, so uaps, and using science, satellites monitoring the earth to figure out what these strange things our people are seeing, collecting lots of evidence from lots of people as well, so they're talking about developing apps where people can submit their sightings. developing apps where people can submit theirsightings. if developing apps where people can submit their sightings. if we have multiple sightings of the same thing, taking different angles and good—quality imagery, as well, nothing grainy and awful to try and analyse, then we can figure out what these things are. because putting aliens to one side for a minute, it is important for us to understand what these things are in the sky because they could spell disaster for aviation. so even just from that road, it's important we nail down what uaps actually are. so road, it's important we nail down what uaps actually are.— road, it's important we nail down what uaps actually are. so they want us to be transparent, _ what uaps actually are. so they want us to be transparent, and _ what uaps actually are. so they want us to be transparent, and they - what uaps actually are. so they want us to be transparent, and they say i us to be transparent, and they say they'll be transparent, but they won't tell us who their new director is — why not? i won't tell us who their new director is - why not?— is - why not? i think that comes from a safety — is - why not? i think that comes from a safety perspective - is - why not? i think that comes l from a safety perspective because is - why not? i think that comes - from a safety perspective because at the moment, there are so many problems when it comes to ufo

reporting sent things and people can be stigmatized. so at the minute they are just trying to protect the identity of the people involved, and maybe over time as we transition away from conspiracy theories towards more science, then that transparency will come. it can't change overnight but i think proposals in this report are really interesting to take us into the realm of science. [30 interesting to take us into the realm of science.— interesting to take us into the realm of science. do you think there's been _ realm of science. do you think there's been a _ realm of science. do you think there's been a changing - realm of science. do you thinkl there's been a changing culture realm of science. do you think- there's been a changing culture when it comes to discussing this issue? because we've already had a congressional hearing this year, we've heard evidence from various people, whether or not there's any facts behind when they put forward is open to debate. but the very discussion of it is new because in years gone by, it was a classified issue which the american government never wanted to talk about. yes. issue which the american government never wanted to talk about.— never wanted to talk about. yes, and if it ever was — never wanted to talk about. yes, and if it ever was talked about, _ never wanted to talk about. yes, and if it ever was talked about, it - never wanted to talk about. yes, and if it ever was talked about, it was - if it ever was talked about, it was people who were dubbed crazy and mad, and really off the wall. there is something to be said — there are strange things in the sky, and most times they can be explained by

atmospheric phenomenon or it's a weather balloon, or an aircraft. but sometimes there are things that are as yet unexplained. so now we are trying to open this narrative, hopefully it will lead to new interesting science, as well, and will solve some mysteries. it would be great to actually start treating this a little bit more seriously. 0ne this a little bit more seriously. one of the things they said today was that they would be able to use artificial intelligence to help with research — in what way? artificial intelligence to help with research - in what way? artificial intelligence _ research - in what way? artificial intelligence and _ research - in what way? artificial intelligence and computer - research - in what way? artificial i intelligence and computer learning are great tools we have in analysing data. so when they try to get people on board with submitting things to apps, there could be tens of thousands of submissions every day when this is up and running. you can't have human eyes on that, so what we do is use computers who have been trained by people, they sift through it as much as possible and presented to human eyes. it allows us to analyse greater amounts of data and really do a lot more

science. �* , _ data and really do a lot more science. �* , ., , science. and they did say today they would tie up — science. and they did say today they would tie up with _ science. and they did say today they would tie up with the _ science. and they did say today they would tie up with the pentagon - - science. and they did say today they would tie up with the pentagon - i i would tie up with the pentagon — i guess if the pentagon is prepared to play ball, that might open a whole new field of research to them. yes. new field of research to them. yes, and i new field of research to them. yes, and i guess — new field of research to them. yes, and i guess the _ new field of research to them. yes, and i guess the pentagon _ new field of research to them. 1a: and i guess the pentagon being involved is, because when we talk about airspace, there are elements of national security involved, so it's right that government agencies of that effect are involved with these sorts of investigations. because that's the point, to allow us to gain more knowledge and understand what these things are in the sky, and just figure out their nature. the sky, and 'ust figure out their nature. �* , ., _, . the sky, and 'ust figure out their nature. �* , ., . nature. i'm 'ust not convinced you af will nature. i'm just not convinced you af will catch _ nature. i'm just not convinced you af will catch on. _ nature. i'm just not convinced you af will catch on. i _ nature. i'm just not convinced you af will catch on. i don't _ nature. i'm just not convinced you af will catch on. i don't think - af will catch on. i don't think hollywood would adopt you af, do you? it hollywood would adopt you af, do ou? ., , hollywood would adopt you af, do ou? . , , hollywood would adopt you af, do ou? , ., , ~ , you? it may be hollywood will keep ufo and we — you? it may be hollywood will keep ufo and we will— you? it may be hollywood will keep ufo and we will have _ you? it may be hollywood will keep ufo and we will have uap. - you? it may be hollywood will keep i ufo and we will have uap. laughter love ou to ufo and we will have uap. laughter love you to talk _ ufo and we will have uap. laughter love you to talk to _ ufo and we will have uap. laughter love you to talk to you, _ ufo and we will have uap. laughter love you to talk to you, thanks - love you to talk to you, thanks very much indeed for coming on the programme. —— lovely to talk to you. —— lovely to talk to you. around the world and across

the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news — bringing you different stories from across the uk. handsome. he's handsome! 0h, he'd like to know that, janet! here at open all hours, janet can stock up on us much cliff richard memorabilia as she likes. we'll have to write to him, janet, see if he can come visit us. yes! 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. do you like that? i love that. it'll be your colour, as well. 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. 0k, and this is your change. sometimes with 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, "0h, look at this, shall we buy this? can you remember this?" it's heart—warming to see, and it makes that visitjust go much more smoothly.

for more stories from across the uk, visit the bbc website. the bbc has denied that singer roisin murphy's recent comments on puberty blockers was not the reason she was removed from a scheduled programme on its 6 music, radio station. the former moloko singer courted controversy last month when she posted on facebook that puberty blockers were "desolate," adding that "big pharma was laughing all the way to the bank." the singer later apologised. but, contrary to reports she was removed, the bbc said there was no ban, it was entirely a scheduling issue, and roisin murphy's music remains on rotation. the thing is, it's not the first time an artist has been forced to apologise for her thoughts, in fear of being "cancelled". and it is a wider issue that alarms many in the world of art and publishing. is there, in british and american culture, a rising, left—wing "i—lliberalism" that

threatens our freedom of thought and expression? pen america thinks so — which is interesting, because in the united states, they are a major promoter of literature and poetry would most likely define themselves as liberal. they have just written a report called booklash: literary freedom, 0nline 0utrage, and the language of harm. and they say a growing problem with online hate campaigns directed at books which is "problematic". one example they cite, the author elizabeth gilbert, writer of eat, pray, love. her next book, the snow forest, which was due out next year, was pilloried on—line because it is set in russia. it's actually about a soviet family fleeing religious persecution. but so intense was the "book—lash", that injune, she said she was indefinitely "removing the book from its publication schedule." with us tonight cathy young, author at the bulwork, who wrote the piece that stirred my interest for the the bulwark, "the book—banners on the left".

and also ernest 0wens, political writer at large for philadelphia magazine. he has recently published a book called the case for cancel culture: how this democratic tool works to liberate us all. does it liberate us all? i read these examples and i fear that the space for freedom and thought of expression is drinking in front of us. �* . . , ~' expression is drinking in front of us. a . , ~ ., , expression is drinking in front of us. ~ ., ,, expression is drinking in front of us. ~ ., us. actually i think that this is a tool, us. actually i think that this is a tool. like _ us. actually i think that this is a tool. like all — us. actually i think that this is a tool, like all tools, _ us. actually i think that this is a tool, like all tools, they - us. actually i think that this is a tool, like all tools, they can cutj tool, like all tools, they can cut people or save people. that's how it's always been, and what's interesting is that more of the conversation has looked at cancel culture as something to defend people who have offensive or oppressive views. in a democracy, people have the right to free speech, but at the end of the day that free speech is protected by government, not the public. so my book argues about how many people have misunderstood what freedom of speech means, and freedom of

expression, and i've often times used an weaponize for that amendment in the united states as a way to defend themselves, or to a divorce themselves from accountability. so freedom of speech isn't allowed to offend priscilla people have the right to offend, but they also have the right to hear and experience the consequences that come from offending. consequences that come from offending-— consequences that come from offendina. ,, . , . offending. free speech is ob'ective, the woman you i offending. free speech is ob'ective, the woman you referred i offending. free speech is ob'ective, the woman you referred to i offending. free speech is objective, the woman you referred to earlier. the woman you referred to earlier who had the controversy with bbc, she made a remark that many people would view as trans— phobic — she said it, that was what she believed, but she's also responsible to hear other people who disagree with her. kathy, you wrote this article about the report that they had written, they are an interesting organisation, they defended poetry and literature for over a century, and literature for over a century, and you say that there has been this chilling effect in publishing caused ljy chilling effect in publishing caused by these online campaigns — what worries you about the way they develop and the way they publishers

respond? for develop and the way they publishers resond? ., ., ,._ respond? for one thing, i will say that certainly _ respond? for one thing, i will say that certainly people _ respond? for one thing, i will say that certainly people have - respond? for one thing, i will say that certainly people have the i respond? for one thing, i will say l that certainly people have the right to criticise — that certainly people have the right to criticise offensive views. i don't — to criticise offensive views. i don't think anyone disputes that, and of— don't think anyone disputes that, and of course i also agree that if we talk— and of course i also agree that if we talk about free speech protections, to in america for instance _ protections, to in america for instance by the first amendment, yes, that — instance by the first amendment, yes, that really only applies to restrictions by the government. and yes, of— restrictions by the government. and yes, of course people as citizens have _ yes, of course people as citizens have the — yes, of course people as citizens have the right to say "we find these views _ have the right to say "we find these views really offensive and we want them _ views really offensive and we want them taken off the air." but the problem — them taken off the air." but the problem is, do we as a society support— problem is, do we as a society support that? as citizens, people also have — support that? as citizens, people also have the right to say, for instance. _ also have the right to say, for instance, we don't want gay artists to appear— instance, we don't want gay artists to appear on television, and there used _ to appear on television, and there used to— to appear on television, and there used to he — to appear on television, and there used to be a time when there were influential— used to be a time when there were influential right wing groups who tried to — influential right wing groups who tried to get ellen to generous off the air— tried to get ellen to generous off the air when tried to get ellen to generous off the airwhen she tried to get ellen to generous off the air when she came out as gay.

and i_ the air when she came out as gay. and i think— the air when she came out as gay. and i think most people felt that the boycott was illiberal and bad, was antifreedom. and i think we as a society have — was antifreedom. and i think we as a society have a responsibility, really. — society have a responsibility, really. if _ society have a responsibility, really, if we care about liberalism, genuine _ really, if we care about liberalism, genuine liberalism as the exchange of ideas. _ genuine liberalism as the exchange of ideas, to say that we really should — of ideas, to say that we really should have the maximum space for a diverse _ should have the maximum space for a diverse views — obviously there are some _ diverse views — obviously there are some views — diverse views — obviously there are some views like holocaust denial or the view— some views like holocaust denial or the view that slavery was good, the view that— the view that slavery was good, the view that women are not as good as men - _ view that women are not as good as men — obviously there are views that should _ men — obviously there are views that should he _ men — obviously there are views that should be outside the pale, so to speak — should be outside the pale, so to speak |�*ll— should be outside the pale, so to seak... �* .., should be outside the pale, so to seak... �* ., ., speak... i'll come back to that oint, speak... i'll come back to that point. the _ speak... i'll come back to that point, the trouble _ speak... i'll come back to that point, the trouble is, - speak... i'll come back to that point, the trouble is, earnest, speak... i'll come back to that i point, the trouble is, earnest, a lot of these attacks on criticism and doesn't always fit into the

realm of transphobia and racism. what we talked about was pylon on social media, most people haven't read the book or commenting on a snippet of a book that might not be representative. when there is a viral pylon like that, don't publishers have a responsibility to stand firm in support of the writer? i think that at the end of the day, if you assume that the pylon is the only thing that's causing a publication or publisher to make that decision, then you're foolish here. at the end of the day, we are in a free—market society and some of these who support capitalism forget that its supply or demand, its supply and demand. so this publishers aren't making just a decision on the pylon, they think to themselves, "we are about to invest a lot of money on a product that might not sell." so the thing about the bottom line, in addition to these opportunities, this has always been the case with everything.

before there is cancel culture, there was pc culture, political correctness. before that, there was which mobs, everything else. there's always been some kind of euphemism or word to describe cancel culture, and decisions are never made purely off of argumentation, but often driven by capitalism. so publishers in an industry where we see books publishing shrinking, and it's hard to sell a book, to be honest, they are looking and considering other aspects that might do that. and if the public is showing a lot of backlash and boycotting, the democratic way for people sometimes to respond is through capitalism, even though in some cases it may not fall on the popular sword, we've seen this happen throughout history and what it will require is that those who do want to support elizabeth gilbert and those authors, they need to stand out louder. i think about roseanne barr — i can't stand her, she's made racist and offensive jokes towards jewish people she's aligned herself with people she's aligned herself with people who are problematic, i don't like her. but you know what, when

abc took her off, fox news put her on. so we have a marketing economy where cancellation is not across the board. some groups may not like it, but others embrace it, we see this all the time. but but others embrace it, we see this all the time-— all the time. but one of the issues i wanted all the time. but one of the issues i wanted to _ all the time. but one of the issues i wanted to get — all the time. but one of the issues i wanted to get at _ all the time. but one of the issues i wanted to get at is _ all the time. but one of the issues i wanted to get at is that - i wanted to get at is that literature is a space to explore and to create, and to live a life that the author perhaps doesn't experience. so if, for instance, a book with a white character was taking a stand against racial injustice, that might be described by one group as antiracist, but by another, it might be described as a white saviour narrative. the question is, who stands injudgment on that? question is, who stands in “udgment on that? ., ., question is, who stands in “udgment on that? . ,, ., �*, on that? right, and i think that's what a lot of— on that? right, and i think that's what a lot of people _ on that? right, and i think that's what a lot of people are - on that? right, and i think that's i what a lot of people are concerned about, _ what a lot of people are concerned about, because a lot of this backlash. _ about, because a lot of this backlash, and this is what i think the report— backlash, and this is what i think the report clearly showed, is that

it's not— the report clearly showed, is that it's not against far right ideas, it's not against far right ideas, it's not— it's not against far right ideas, it's not against far right ideas, it's not against racist ideas, it's against — it's not against racist ideas, it's against very often progressive books with a _ against very often progressive books with a progressive message that some people _ with a progressive message that some people believe is packaged in the wrong _ people believe is packaged in the wrong way. for instance, with a white _ wrong way. for instance, with a white protagonist who is perceived as a white — white protagonist who is perceived as a white saviour, or for instance, with— as a white saviour, or for instance, with a _ as a white saviour, or for instance, with a book— as a white saviour, or for instance, with a book about migrants, about migrants _ with a book about migrants, about migrants from mexico that is written by an— migrants from mexico that is written by an author who is not sufficiently latino. _ by an author who is not sufficiently latino. like — by an author who is not sufficiently latino, like janine cummins. quickly, _ latino, like janine cummins. quickly, ernest, you have a thought on that? i quickly, ernest, you have a thought on that? . , , ., ,, on that? i absolutely do. i think what the demand _ on that? i absolutely do. i think what the demand is _ on that? i absolutely do. i think what the demand is we - on that? i absolutely do. i think what the demand is we are i on that? i absolutely do. i think- what the demand is we are conflating too many things. people speaking out against diversity and inclusion may not necessarily be looking at this as cancellation, what they are doing is demanding diversity in spaces. so when we look at the liberal argument of this, white liberals who are

whining and crying about being cancelled, actually are being channelled on your —— challenged on your privilege. thinking about this on the larger spectrum, is it cancellation or people demanding something different? why is it that we don't have the right to have challenges within progressive spaces about who's taking up space, who's dominating the narrative, and who is listening to who? 51am dominating the narrative, and who is listening to who?— listening to who? such an interesting _ listening to who? such an interesting debate, i listening to who? such an| interesting debate, again, listening to who? such an i interesting debate, again, read listening to who? such an - interesting debate, again, read her piece, it'll divide opinions but it certainly an issue that will probably discuss much further on the programme at some point. good to have you both on the programme, thanks for your time this evening. going to a short break, but we'll be back with our panel straightaway. hello there. we've had quite a mixture of weather across the uk today. across the south, dry, sunny, quite warm. northern areas of the uk had a day of sunshine and these passing showers, but between — across wales, the midlands, into lincolnshire — we had a weather front bringing some

fairly persistent outbreaks of rain. now this front is tied to another area of low pressure out in the atlantic that is set to deepen and swing toward iberia, where it's quite likely to lead to some severe thunderstorms over the next few days. for friday, it also flicks warm air across england and wales, but then will bring some heavy rain for some of us into the weekend. so that low to the south is quite important. 0vernight tonight, outbreaks of rain turning heavier for a time across wales, the midlands, northern england, pushing northwards to reach southern scotland and parts of northern ireland. for most, it's a mild night, but quite cool air across the far north of the country. now, we pick up on our weatherfronts on friday across northern england, northern ireland, southern scotland. through the day, the rain on it will tend to weaken somewhat. we've got sunshine developing to the south across england and wales, but underneath that band of cloud and rain in the north, those temperatures are going to struggle somewhat. highs of 13—15 celsius. in contrast to that, england and wales turning a lot warmer, 21—25 celsius, feeling a little on the humid side. now, saturday, the same weather

front is still with us, draped across parts of northern england, wales, perhaps eastern counties of northern ireland. could be a few patches of light rain here and maybe a few heavy showers in the south through sunday. 0therwise, we'll get some spells of sunshine, still warm and humid in the south, with that fresher air still affecting scotland, northern ireland and increasingly the far north of england as well. for sunday, that area of low pressure near iberia starts to bring much heavier rain across parts of the uk. now, we're most likely to see the heavy rain across england and wales. thundery, too, probably heavy enough to cause some localised surface water flooding. and through the day, that will drive northwards, so it's quite likely to reach northern ireland. and there is a small chance of it moving right the way northwards into parts of scotland as well. but the general rule of thumb is the further north you are, the more likely you are to keep the dry weather with a bit of sunshine. into next week, well, it looks very unsettled. a sequence of low pressures coming our way. it's going to be wet and also really

quite windy, as well. it's going to feel a bit more like autumn.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. we are investing in america. investing in america and investing in americans, american people. it's about growing the economy from the middle out and the bottom up instead of the top down.

the big three can afford to immediately give us our fair share. if they choose not to, and they are choosing to strike themselves and we are not afraid to take action. and now hunter biden will be facing these very serious charges - at the court in delaware. good evening. the president in america wants to talk about the economy. the problem is his son hasjust been indicted for lying about his drug use and when he bought a gun. the indictment comes days after republicans opened an impeachment inquiry into president biden. we will get the views new tonight of victoria coates, republican consultant who served in the trump administration and also with us professor carwynjones, the former first minister of wales,

previously leader of welsh labour. the uk has been plagued by industrial action this year.