hello, i'm geeta guru—murthy. ukraine says its troops have moved further into russian territory, despite denials from moscow. this video from ukrainian tv shows troops pulling down the russian flag in sudzha — and president zelensky says they have pushed one to two kilometres further into russia just since this morning. the governor of the russian border region of belgorod has declared a state of emergency, saying ukrainian shelling had made the situation there extremely difficult. this map shows just how rapid the advance has been in the past seven days, with ukraine claiming to have taken more territory in a week than russia has all year. ukraine says it is creating a "security zone" in russia's kursk region in a bid to protect their own border areas. our correspondent will vernon reports.

the russian military has been busy making slick videos, apparently showing it's striking back against ukrainian forces in kursk. russia's defence ministry claims the ukrainian advance has been stopped, but ukraine's president says his forces march on. translation: we're expanding our area of active operations _ in the kursk region. the commander—in—chief reported that our forces control 7a towns and villages. i thank every soldier and commander that has achieved this. in kursk, people queue for handouts of humanitarian aid. over 100,000 residents are said to have been evacuated. it's a sobering picture of how ordinary russians are starting to feel the impact of this war. and in russia's neighbouring belgorod region, the governor said

a state of emergency has been declared due to shelling. "the situation is very complicated," said vyacheslav gladkov, "though no signs yet of an incursion." the aims of ukraine's offensive aren't yet clear, but the lightning advance of kyiv�*s troops has shaken the kremlin and surprised the west. it's creating a real dilemma for putin and we've been in direct contact, constant contact with the ukrainians. that's all i'm going to say about it while it's active. the ukrainian foreign ministry says kyiv isn't interested in seizing russian territory, but russia is struggling to repel the incursion, now in its eighth day, and ukrainian forces show no sign of pulling back. will vernon, bbc news. with me is our security correspondent frank gardner. frank, correspondent frank gardner. what does this mear

chances frank, what does this mean for any chances of future refreshment? —— refreshment. i chances of future refreshment? -- refreshment-— chances of future refreshment? -- refreshment. i think rapprochement is off the cards _ refreshment. i think rapprochement is off the cards for _ refreshment. i think rapprochement is off the cards for a _ refreshment. i think rapprochement is off the cards for a long _ refreshment. i think rapprochement is off the cards for a long time, - is off the cards for a long time, but eventually the two sides will have to sit together and ukraine's position is that by temporarily occupying some russian land, that gives them a stronger bargaining position and therefore in their view brings the chance of peace talks closer. when russia says it is off the table, big deal, they were of the table, big deal, they were of the table, big deal, they were of the table anyhow because russia's peace proposals were not realistic and frankly, i don't think ukraine's are either. ukraine wants all of its territory back into the crimea. russia isn't going to do that and russia isn't going to do that and russia wants to not only hang on to what it has already seized illegally, there's four partial provinces in the south, but also to take more, for example take zaporizhzhia and the capital of zaporizhzhia and the capital of zaporizhzhia oblast, so it wants ukraine to give up even more. that

is not a serious starting point, so forget about peace talks. the two sides are still trying to manoeuvre on the battlefield. ukraine is trying to do several things by this. it is trying to draw away some of russia's combat forces from the donbas, where they are putting a lot of pressure on ukrainian retreating forces. so far, that isn't working. it's trying to embarrass president putin and force them closer to a settlement. that may or may not work. it has certainly embarrassed and angered him. it's trying to create a sort of buffer zone to occupy some of the territory from which russia was firing drones and other munitions towards ukraine. but fundamentally, the main benefit of this ukraine is a morale boost. they have had a rotten summer. they have slowly been retreating in the donbas. everyone assumed that ukraine was losing, even though it was not winning, but doing well in the black sea and doing some long—range strikes on distant russian airfields. but on land, it's been losing, and this is putting

that into reverse. we still don't know how this is going to play out. russia has got a big, grinding war machine that is slowly creeping interaction. ultimately, they have got more numbers than ukraine has. but they are poorly organised, poorly led, fully equipped, so it's by no means clear who is going to win this one. find by no means clear who is going to win this one-— win this one. and were the nato allies told _ win this one. and were the nato allies told of _ win this one. and were the nato allies told of this _ win this one. and were the nato allies told of this beforehand? l win this one. and were the nato l allies told of this beforehand? are weapons from nato allies being used? is there any nervousness around that? ., ., ., ,~ that? you have asked me three questions _ that? you have asked me three questions there. _ that? you have asked me three questions there. sorry! - that? you have asked me three questions there. sorry! in - that? you have asked me three questions there. sorry! in the l that? you have asked me three i questions there. sorry! in the best traditions of presenting. no, i don't think they were told. at least, the us has they weren't and so it is hard to believe any of the others were. it's hard to know why ukraine didn't tell this, because it would expect that the answer would be, we are not keen on you using our weapons. so they have used things

like german weapons and us stryker vehicles and others which quite possibly, washington would have said, we didn't give permission for that. so they have gone ahead and done it. so far, there hasn't been a squeak of disapproval, at least not publicly. and iforget we squeak of disapproval, at least not publicly. and i forget we are third question was. 50 publicly. and i forget we are third question was-— question was. so do i! but it was about where _ question was. so do i! but it was about where it _ question was. so do i! but it was about where it goes _ question was. so do i! but it was about where it goes from - question was. so do i! but it was about where it goes from here. | question was. so do i! but it was l about where it goes from here. we have to see how it plays out, don't we? ., have to see how it plays out, don't we? . , ., a have to see how it plays out, don't we? . , ., ., we? yeah. there is a risk of escalation — we? yeah. there is a risk of escalation here. _ we? yeah. there is a risk of escalation here. putin - we? yeah. there is a risk of escalation here. putin was l we? yeah. there is a risk of - escalation here. putin was clearly angry. you saw that video of the meeting where he snapped at the kursk governor saying i don't give me the details, i want to know about the humanitarian situation. he has promised what he calls a fitting response. i think that means he is going to double down on hammering ukraine's cities, sending in more drones and missiles, hitting civilian centres, shopping centres, shopping arcades, supermarkets, hospitals if necessary, punishing

ukraine, trying to make them feel the pain for this. and he may possibly increase hybrid warfare attacks on the west, cyber attacks on things like that.— attacks on the west, cyber attacks on things like that. frank gardner, a security correspondent, - on things like that. frank gardner, a security correspondent, thanks l on things like that. frank gardner, l a security correspondent, thanks for talking us through some of that. to discuss this further, i'm joined by alexander khara is a ukrainian diplomat and fromer advisor to the ukrainian ministry of defence. is there nervousness about the potential russian response to this? i don't think that russia is capable to escalate beyond the point we have seen so far, because russia is targeting ukrainian cities up to lviv, the most western ukrainian city. they are using all kinds of weapons except nuclear ones. and so there is a restriction on the use of nuclear weapons, there is a restriction on the use of nuclearweapons, not there is a restriction on the use of nuclear weapons, not because of the russian constitution, but both

because of the clear position of the united states, china and others for the consequences of such use. so we do not expect anything other than what the russians have been doing since 2022. but what the russians have been doing since 2022. �* ~ ., , what the russians have been doing since 2022. �* ~ . , ., since 2022. but if ukraine is now causina since 2022. but if ukraine is now causing harm — since 2022. but if ukraine is now causing harm to _ since 2022. but if ukraine is now causing harm to russian - since 2022. but if ukraine is now| causing harm to russian civilians, does that potentially put you in a difficult position? you have to maintain your alliances with european and nato countries. i maintain your alliances with european and nato countries. i don't think there would _ european and nato countries. i don't think there would be _ european and nato countries. i don't think there would be any _ european and nato countries. i don't think there would be any cases - european and nato countries. i don't think there would be any cases of. think there would be any cases of deliberate damage to civilians. but we cannot rule out russians, and we expect that the russians will behave brutally in bombing out the towns like they have been doing in ukraine

since 2022. it is putin who is to blame for the war in general and for ukraine going into russian territory, because we want to survive. it is a struggle for existence and we are trying to do whatever is possible to deter russia from further annexation of ukrainian territory orfor keeping from further annexation of ukrainian territory or for keeping the status quo, that territories annexed by russia remain in russia. that's why i don't believe in any diplomacy and there will be no diplomacy with the putin regime. he thinks he can undermine ukrainian society and its future. �* ., undermine ukrainian society and its future. �* . ., ., ., ~ the us is stepping up pressure on israel and hamas to reach a ceasefire in gaza. president biden said such a deal could deter iran

from launching attacks on israel and several of his key advisors are in the middle east, trying to smooth a path towards new talks. there were hopes a new round of discussions could begin in qatar tomorrow. israel said it would send a delegation, but hamas is yet to commit. us special envoy amos hochstein has been visiting lebanon. after meeting the lebanese speaker of the parliament, he said a ceasefire deal must be agreed now. speaker berri and i also talked about the framework agreement that is on the table for a gaza ceasefire. and he and i agree that there is no more time to waste and there is no more valid excuses from any party for any further delay. the deal would also help enable diplomatic resolution here in lebanon, and that would prevent an outbreak of a wider war and create the conditions for the displaced lebanese people to return to their homes in the south and the displaced israeli residents to return

to their homes in the north. 0ur correspondent hugo bachega has more from beirut. those diplomatic efforts continue, so today here in beirut, president biden's special envoy amos hochstein is having conversations = with the country's top officials. he had a meeting with the parliament speaker, who is a strong hezbollah ally, and he said he didn't believe a wider conflict between israel and hezbollah is inevitable, but he said there was no time to waste, so obviously this country is waiting for the response from hezbollah following the assassination by israel of a senior hezbollah commander here in beirut. this visit happens on the eve of the talks that have been organised by international mediators, including the us, for a ceasefire deal in gaza, but i think there is very little expectation that any significant progress can be made.

huge differences remain between israel and hamas, there are questions about how or even if hamas will be represented in those talks and there are many questions about the intentions of the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu. many believe he is not interested in a deal, that he wants to prolong the war to guarantee his political survival. so diplomatic efforts continue, but the us secretary of state antony blinken, who was expected to come to the region, has delayed his visit, which i think is another sign of how difficult the situation is. hugo bachega there. inflation has fallen to its lowest level for more than three years. the consumer prices index dropped slightly to 2.9% injuly compared with a year earlier. meanwhile, here in the uk, inflation has risen slightly for the first time since december. prices rose by 2.2% — which is slightly less than expected — and mainly driven by the cost of gas and electricity. our business correspondent

marc ashdown reports. the pace of price rises has cooled off over the past couple of years, which is good news for this family—run restaurant in hove on the south coast. since it opened back in 1969, marrocco's has weathered many an economic storm, but recent years have been a struggle. it has been tricky, especially since brexit and the cost of living, the price of products have gone up quite considerably. i mean, for the ice cream, we reckon about 30% they've gone up in the past three years. we've tried to keep our prices so that it's still obtainable to a lot of people, so we've put our prices up about 15%. so we've had to absorb some of the cost. the prices of gas and electricity are largely behind this uptick in inflation, but it was widely forecast and remains close to the bank of england's long—term target of 2%. so inflation has come down a long way since that huge spike we saw at the end of 2022.

injuly, prices rose at 2.2% and the bank of england expects them to stay around this rate until the end of the year. but, of course, inflation is made up of more than just that one headline figure. let's look at the services sector. things like hotel prices, restaurant prices — that's been falling steadily but remains at 5.2%. too hot for the bank's liking. that's come down more than people expected today, but it's still a lot higher than the rest of the inflation basket. this is what the bank of england is really focused on at the moment, and i think that means they're going to take interest rate cuts quite gradually. it means they probably won't cut rates again in september. hopefully, though, later in the year. consumer confidence is another factor. the prices of most goods and food have come down from their peaks, but the cost of living can still feel expensive. my outgoings are quite a lot each month out of what i have incoming, so, you know, it's difficult, but i am aware of it

and i'm on top of it. even things with, like, budget ranges in supermarkets, like, you might walk in one day and it's gone up fairly significantly. there's been a lot less— of the things that we would normally be doing that we've been able to do. so things like i used - to have some nice beers delivered and things i like that, that's gone. one of the blue cones. the bank's interest—rate setters will be hoping they aren't served up any surprises as they digest all the economic data and plot their next move. marc ashdown, bbc news. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

thailand has been plunged into deeper political and economic uncertainty, with the country's constitutional court dismissing the prime minister, srettha thavisin. the court in bangkok ruled that he'd violated the constitution by appointing a minister who'd served time injail for contempt of court.

he's been in office less than a year. the ruling threatens to destablise thailand's governing coalition. the country has faced decades of political uncertainty and governments toppled by the courts. mr srettha is the fourth thai premier in the past 16 years to be removed by the court. and just last week, the court dissolved the main opposition move forward party and banned its former leader from politics for ten years. the move could also have major implications for southeast asia's second—largest economy and impact investor confidence. 0ur south east asia correspondent jonathan head gave us this update on the court's decision. this is a court that many people argue is more powerful than any elected government in the country. for all that, the whole business about this petition against mr srettha was not taken that seriously. i mean, thailand's politics are not famous for their ethics, all sorts of colourful and pretty disreputable people have served in government

and in parliament in the past. and this was essentially a political decision and nobody thought that there would be real pressure to get rid of a prime minister who is still struggling to get the economy going and as you say, has only been in office forjust under a year. we still don't know exactly what lies behind this verdict, apart from reminding us aboutjust how powerful interventions of thailand's court are. it really does throw the country into some disarray. there is a process for choosing a new prime minister and a new cabinet. that will probably happen pretty quickly, we will expect a meeting in parliament on friday where the current coalition of ii parties can discuss, it has to be somebody who is already registered as a prime ministerial candidate in the last election, which of them will become prime minister. but it is clear, it seems the dominant pheu thai party in the coalition did not expect this verdict and that there is some confusion about just exactly what kind of government is going to emerge. the number of violent attacks against women and girls on britain's railways has increased by more than 50% in the past two years, according to a new survey

by the british transport police. the minister for violence against women and girls described the figures as upsetting. 0ur correspondent nick eardley has this report. doors beep. put your bags on the floor. this is the moment when edgarjunior was arrested by british transport police last year. the 50—year—old had sexually assaulted a woman on a train. he admitted it and was sentenced to 20 months in prison. but new figures show that this is far from an isolated case. british transport police figures show an average of 31 reports a day involving violent crimes against women or girls. the number being reported hasjumped 50% in just two years. reports of sexual harassment have more than doubled in the same period, with sexual assault reports up 10% too. most women and girls have experienced incidents of sexual harassment and other types of non—contact sexual offending

on the transport network for a very long time. it isn't new to many women and girls that this is happening, but we also know perpetrators can target busy transport network times so that they can access women and girls in that way as well. so we shouldn't be surprised that there are a huge number of perpetrators. there have been a number of campaigns encouraging women to report violence on the transport network. like this app, railway guardian. police say the increase in cases is not necessarily more crime, but could be a sign that more women are comfortable coming forward to report it. the government says the violence women face on the transport network is completely unacceptable. we need to make ourjustice system, our police and our courts fit completely for purpose to tackle the most serious offenders of these crimes. and to ensure that victims are supported that when they come forward, and one of the issues in this data is that, you know,

i think it was one in six said they would report to the police. we have to make sure that people are given confidence to come forward and then action is taken. but charities also warn that the reported cases are likely to be the tip of the iceberg. nick eardley, bbc news, westminster. people near the greek capital athens are counting the cost of the worst wildfires to hit the region in a decade. the blazes have now been brought under control, but they've left a trail of destruction. at least one person has died and dozens more have been injured. let's speak to our correspondent azadeh moshiri — who's in a suburb of athens. tell us about the damage behind you? areas like these are a reminder that these fires have come to the suburbs of athens. this was one of the worst hit suburbs. it is where homes,

residential areas have been hit. government officials and authorities are coming here to try and assess the damage done to these homes and cars. there are some people are going around, i think they can tell we are the bbc. and they are trying to figure out what kind of support these communities need. the government has already earmarked 4.7 million euros to try to help businesses, people who have been affected by these fires. we also know that nearly 650 people have been allocated temporary housing since sunday. those are the latest figures. as they try to come to terms with what has happened to their livelihoods and their homes. we have met one of the families affected here and their son is right here. you were telling me what happened to you when these fires were starting. you flood with your family, didn't you? my

were starting. you flood with your family, didn't you?— were starting. you flood with your family, didn't you? my aunt welcomed us to her home _ family, didn't you? my aunt welcomed us to her home to _ family, didn't you? my aunt welcomed us to her home to stay _ family, didn't you? my aunt welcomed us to her home to stay for— family, didn't you? my aunt welcomed us to her home to stay for a _ family, didn't you? my aunt welcomed us to her home to stay for a little - us to her home to stay for a little bit. us to her home to stay for a little bit first— us to her home to stay for a little bit first of— us to her home to stay for a little bit. first of all, me and my grandmother were here and because my grandmother were here and because my grandmother is a little bit... older? — grandmother is a little bit... older? ., , grandmother is a little bit... older? . , ., ., older? older than me, my mother and m dad, older? older than me, my mother and my dad. she — older? older than me, my mother and my dad. she can't _ older? older than me, my mother and my dad, she can't really _ older? older than me, my mother and my dad, she can't really smell - older? older than me, my mother and my dad, she can't really smell the - my dad, she can't really smell the oxygen. so she was having difficulty breathing? oxygen. so she was having difficulty breathin: ? , oxygen. so she was having difficulty breathing? yes. and what happened when ou breathing? yes. and what happened when you came back, what did you see? i when you came back, what did you see? . when you came back, what did you see? , , . . ~' when you came back, what did you see? , ,., . ~ ., when you came back, what did you see? , , ., . ~ ., see? i see black on the floor. the trees were _ see? i see black on the floor. the trees were all black. _ see? i see black on the floor. the trees were all black. and - see? i see black on the floor. the trees were all black. and when i l see? i see black on the floor. the i trees were all black. and when i was playing _ trees were all black. and when i was playing here, now| trees were all black. and when i was playing here, now i can't because of the fire _

playing here, now i can't because of the fire my— playing here, now i can't because of the fire. my scooter and my bicycle. and some _ the fire. my scooter and my bicycle. and some of— the fire. my scooter and my bicycle. and some of the windows in your home? . , ., ., , , home? yeah, my two windows in my home? yeah, my two windows in my home 'ust home? yeah, my two windows in my home just break _ home? yeah, my two windows in my home just break because _ home? yeah, my two windows in my home just break because of- home? yeah, my two windows in my home just break because of the - home? yeah, my two windows in my home just break because of the fire, | home just break because of the fire, the temperature go high. and mairos, how do ou the temperature go high. and mairos, how do you feel— the temperature go high. and mairos, how do you feel about _ the temperature go high. and mairos, how do you feel about the _ the temperature go high. and mairos, how do you feel about the fact - the temperature go high. and mairos, how do you feel about the fact that i how do you feel about the fact that there are these fires that have threatened your home and threatened the area? . threatened your home and threatened the area? , ., ., ., , threatened your home and threatened the area? , ., ., .,, , the area? first of all, i was very worried. the area? first of all, i was very worried- i _ the area? first of all, i was very worried. i was _ the area? first of all, i was very worried. i was crying _ the area? first of all, i was very worried. i was crying because i. the area? first of all, i was very i worried. i was crying because i was telling, _ worried. i was crying because i was telling, i_ worried. i was crying because i was telling, i don't have a home. my clothinq — telling, i don't have a home. my clothinu. . ~ telling, i don't have a home. my clothinu. ., ,, , ., telling, i don't have a home. my clothinu. . ~ i. telling, i don't have a home. my clothinu. . ~' . ., clothing. thank you so much for shafinu clothing. thank you so much for sharing your _ clothing. thank you so much for sharing your story. _ clothing. thank you so much for sharing your story. what - clothing. thank you so much for. sharing your story. what happened clothing. thank you so much for- sharing your story. what happened to mairos and his family is unfortunately not unique. several families had their homes affected and now it is up to the government to give them the support they need. azadeh moshiri in an athens suburb,

and we will be back in greece in the coming hours. stay with us on bbc news, we will keep you across all the very latest around the world and here in the uk. thanks for being with us. hello there. temperatures have been cooling somewhat since we had the highest temperature of the year so far to begin this week. today looks rather cloudy for parts of england and wales, with some rain at times, but plenty of sunshine thanks to this ridge of high pressure. but we look to the north west, this area of low pressure and its active weather front will bring a spell of wet and windy weather for many of us over the next 24 hours. that rain starts to push into scotland and northern ireland through this evening and overnight. much of england and wales will tend to be drier. we'll have a bit of cloud hanging on in the south east. that will stop temperatures from dipping much below

14 or 15 degrees, but it's a milder night to come further north than what we had the previous night. so we're dominated with this area of low pressure and its weather front as we head into thursday. it will be a wet and windy day for large parts of scotland, northern ireland and getting into northern and western england and wales. the midlands and into the southeast will see variable cloud, some sunshine. yes, it will be breezy here as well, but we could still be up to around 25 or 26 degrees here. but it's the high teens, low 20s elsewhere, closer to what we expect this time of year. that weather front spreads across the rest of england and wales as we move through thursday night. fairly quickly, i think, clears off into the near continent, but there's still some warm air across the southeast. further north, it will be a fresher start to friday. eventually, that weather front clears through. fresher air will prevail across the country, but it will be a fine day, i think, for many, with some good spells of sunshine. breezy with a few showers across scotland and northern ireland and these sorts of temperatures are what we expect this time of year, high teens in the north to the low to mid 20s further south. now, the weekend is looking pretty decent. it's going to be dry.

lengthy spells of sunshine. it's because we're in between weather systems both saturday and sunday and a ridge of high pressure will bring light winds and a good deal of sunshine. just a few showers, perhaps, for the north west of scotland. so for saturday, then, a breezier day to come across northern areas, a bit more cloudy and maybe the odd shower the further south that you are across england and wales. we'll see more sunshine around and lighter winds. those temperatures reaching the mid 20s in the south. high teens, low 20s in the north. we do it all again on sunday. another fine day to come with plenty of sunshine. light winds further south, breezier for scotland and northern ireland and there will be a few showers grazing the northwest corner of scotland. again, those temperatures, high teens in the north to the mid 20s in the south.

this is bbc news, the headlines: the kremlin says that any peace negotiations with kyiv are a non—starterfor the moment, as ukraine's offensive into russia enters a second week. the us steps up pressure on israel and hamas to reach a ceasefire in gaza. talks have begun in geneva — aimed at finding a way to end the civil war in sudan that has claimed thousands of lives. disney world argues a man cannot sue it over the death of his wife at one of their restaurants — because of terms he signed up to in a free trial of the streaming service disney+. and the tiktokers who are taking over edinburgh fringe — we'll be joined by some

of them later this hour. now with all the latest sport, here's anne marie. hello from the bbc sport centre. real madrid head coach carlo ancelotti says new star signing kylian mbappe could be in line to make his debut for the club tonight of the uefa super cup against atalanta. the 25—year—old french forward previously said it was his childhood dream come true to join the european champions, after scoring 256 goals in 308 appearances for paris saint—germain. mbappe — who led his national side to the european semi—finals earlier this year — signed a five—year deal at the club injuly after the expiry of his contract at psg. translation: kylian arrived well, the same as the - rest of the players. they arrived on the 7th ofjuly so we haven't had many time to train.

we are feeling ready.