hello, you're watching the context on bbc news. it's been revealed that keir starmer�*s top adviser, sue gray, now earns more than the prime minister. we've been told that she's now on a salary of £170,000. more than 100 charities and aid agencies have urged sir keir starmer to protect foreign aid spending — amid fears the budget could fall to its lowest level since 2007. the unease comes ahead of the budget — set to be unveiled by the chancellor in october — and with increasing aid being spent here in the uk, to support refugees and asylum seekers. the previous government had counteracted this — adding £2.5 billion to the foreign aid budget,

as a top—up to compensate for the money being spent in britain. but where does the uk stand internationally? the un target for foreign aid spending is 0.7% of a country's gross national income. that figure is widely accepted among the international community — and the uk made a legal commitment to it in 2015. but in reality — according to the oecd, just 5 countries met that target last year — with norway leading the pack, spending more than 1% of their gni. the uk's total spend on foreign aid amounted to just—under .6% of total gni that was just over 15 billion pounds in 2023. and despite the us being the world's richest nation, they spentjust.21i% of their gni on foreign aid, but given the size of the us — it amounts to a higher dollar figure of assistance than any other country. the chair of the international development committee here in the uk, the labour mp sarah champion, spoke to radio 4's the world at one programme —

and expressed her concern for the future of the uk's foreign aid capabilities. i sort of share that fear. i understand about the black hole financially that we've inherited. i get all of that. but i think what we need to see is some bold visions. the foreign secretary did a very strong speech at kew talking about, for example, climate adaptations, talking about our position on the international stage as someone that is leading to try and prevent poverty and what we can do to try and address that. and unfortunately, that needs cash. so i hope in the budget we'll see them actually filling that black hole, which unfortunately has been created largely by the home office raiding the aid budget to pay for refugees who are largely here as a consequence of instability in their own countries. with me tonight — rina shah, political strategist and andrew fisher, columnist at the i paper.

andrew, what you think the labour government will and should do come the autumn budget? i should do come the autumn budaet? , , , . , budget? i suspect they will kee- budget? i suspect they will kee aid budget? i suspect they will keep aid about _ budget? i suspect they will keep aid about where - budget? i suspect they will keep aid about where it - budget? i suspect they will keep aid about where it is. keep aid about where it is at the moment. what they should do is increase — the moment. what they should do is increase it. i think we should _ is increase it. i think we should see aid as an investment, notjust something investment, not just something good _ investment, not just something good and — investment, notjust something good and moral to do, it is that— good and moral to do, it is that of— good and moral to do, it is that of course, but in terms of preventing conflict, poverty and environmental degradation, it has_ and environmental degradation, it has advantages here. it keeps _ it has advantages here. it keeps food prices down, energy prices _ keeps food prices down, energy prices stable, prevent refugee flows — prices stable, prevent refugee flows from conflict and of course _ flows from conflict and of course the impact on climate change — course the impact on climate change in _ course the impact on climate change in the uk as well. indeed _ change in the uk as well. indeed we are seeing in the world — indeed we are seeing in the world it _ indeed we are seeing in the world it impacts our trade for exporters— world it impacts our trade for exporters here in the uk. aid is a _ exporters here in the uk. aid is a good _ exporters here in the uk. aid is a good investment that more than _ is a good investment that more than pays— is a good investment that more than pays for itself if it is correctly deployed. it

than pays for itself if it is correctly c of .oyed. it than pays for itself if it is correctly c of asylum—seekers and thousands of asylum—seekers and hotels _ thousands of asylum—seekers and hotels waited for policy that would — hotels waited for policy that would have never solved the crisis. — would have never solved the crisis, which was probably always— crisis, which was probably always illegal and ended up then— always illegal and ended up then reading the international aid to— then reading the international aid to budget to pay for hotel space — aid to budget to pay for hotel space. that is appalling. hopefully the government can sue get— hopefully the government can sue get a grip on that, process of asylum _ sue get a grip on that, process of asylum claims and give people _ of asylum claims and give people the refugee status that the vast — people the refugee status that the vast majority will hope for — the vast majority will hope for that _ the vast majority will hope for. that will free up money to id for. that will free up money to go to— for. that will free up money to go to the — for. that will free up money to go to the correct purpose in the budget but i suspect with all the — the budget but i suspect with all the talk of tough decisions, we probably won't see an — decisions, we probably won't see an increase at the october budget, — see an increase at the october budget, but we should. is see an increase at the october budget, but we should.- budget, but we should. is this a political _ budget, but we should. is this a political issue _ budget, but we should. is this a political issue in _ budget, but we should. is this a political issue in the - budget, but we should. is this a political issue in the states i a political issue in the states at the moment in this time? mat at the moment in this time? not at the moment in this time? not at this exact _ at the moment in this time? iirrt at this exact moment because climate migration has not hit us the way it has hit europe. for america, us the way it has hit europe. foramerica, our us the way it has hit europe. for america, our southern border remains a crisis point for our nation's federal leadership. we frequently hear republicans talk about how the

crisis at the southern border has notjust elevated crime, spite levels of again, violent crime in certain communities and we hear it frequently talked about and tied to venezuela and south america. there has been a narrative about the folks escaping conditions of violence and instability when it comes to their government, but in general what we don't talk enough about is how it is truly related to our food supply and climate. i think that is a conversation that has been missing, in the last presidential debate where harris and trump met, i was struck by how little was discussed about agriculture, american farmers, discussed about agriculture, americanfarmers, climate discussed about agriculture, american farmers, climate as it regards my grades and how much they help our economy in places like california where they are the workers tending to the farms there. he do a fair

amount of importing our fresh produce and whatnot, but i would say, the average american is not curing enough from federal level leadership regarding climate migration and supply. regarding climate migration and su -l . �* , ., regarding climate migration and su--l. supply. andrew, when you say ou supply. andrew, when you say you think _ supply. andrew, when you say you think of — supply. andrew, when you say you think of the _ supply. andrew, when you say you think of the labour - you think of the labour government will not actually increase the level of eight even though it talked about that a lot and criticise the previous conservative government for their cuts, equally i guess there is some logistic commentary as well for those port reform uk that more should be spent on british citizens, there has been a lot of talk on the winter fuel cuts, is that part of the decision for labour, juggling where public opinion is? unfortunately the labour government seems to void out tax on — government seems to void out tax on the _ government seems to void out tax on the british more harshly. _ tax on the british more harshly, that is why it they have — harshly, that is why it they have more money, they are rich, and putting —

have more money, they are rich, and putting public—sector workers against pensioners or people — workers against pensioners or people in— workers against pensioners or people in extreme poverty against _ people in extreme poverty against parts of the rest of the world so we should not have these _ the world so we should not have these conversations. the uk is these conversations. the uk is the sixth— these conversations. the uk is the sixth largest economy on the sixth largest economy on the planet. the number of billionaires in the uk is increasing year by year, the sunday— increasing year by year, the sunday times rich list is testament to how the wealthiest are doing well, and that is because _ are doing well, and that is because we are not taxing them and that— because we are not taxing them and that is— because we are not taxing them and that is why we don't have the winter— and that is why we don't have the winter fuel allowance and a huge _ the winter fuel allowance and a huge nhs waiting list because we are — huge nhs waiting list because we are not investing in our public— we are not investing in our public services and elderly. we don't _ public services and elderly. we don't need to pick these people against — don't need to pick these people against each other or international aid if we take the bold and fair decision to up the bold and fair decision to up taxes _ the bold and fair decision to up taxes on the rich a bit more. _ up taxes on the rich a bit more, they have plenty. | up taxes on the rich a bit more, they have plenty. i know that is something _ more, they have plenty. i know that is something you - more, they have plenty. i know that is something you will- more, they have plenty. i know that is something you will talk. that is something you will talk about later, we will come back to that. another political story here. sue gray's name has been become well known in british politics first because of her report into borisjohnson's partygate scandal during covid, and now as chief of staff to the new prime minister sir keir starmer. and amid a spate of briefings

to journalists in recent weeks, the bbc has learnt that sue gray, received a pay rise following the general election which means she is now is being paid more than the prime minister. following the rise — her salary stands at 170,000 pounds. that's 3,000 pounds more than the prime minister — it's also more than any cabinet minister, and her conservative predecessor. though some have said when adjusted for inflation, previous tory advisers would be earning more. and your i willjust get back to you on this if i can, what do you think, is it a mistake tjy do you think, is it a mistake by sue gray to accept a pay packet that is more than the p. m. packet that is more than the p.m. ? packet that is more than the .m. ? . ' packet that is more than the .m. ? ., ' , p.m. ? there are different ways to look at _ p.m. ? there are different ways to look at this. _ p.m. ? there are different ways to look at this. one _ p.m. ? there are different ways to look at this. one it _ p.m. ? there are different ways to look at this. one it is - p.m. ? there are different ways to look at this. one it is an - to look at this. one it is an increase _ to look at this. one it is an increase on her predecessor, understand of £25,000, a 17% increase — understand of £25,000, a 17% increase in— understand of £25,000, a 17% increase in than what the previous— increase in than what the previous chief of staff was paid — previous chief of staff was paid under the last government. i do paid under the last government. i do not — paid under the last government. i do not know if there has been a change — i do not know if there has been a change of role thatjustifies that lrut— a change of role thatjustifies that but it seems like a sharp increase _ that but it seems like a sharp

increase in the time when many people — increase in the time when many people -- — increase in the time when many people —— not many people are getting — people —— not many people are getting 17% increases in one year — getting 17% increases in one year the _ getting 17% increases in one year. the other way to look at it is _ year. the other way to look at it is it — year. the other way to look at it is it there are plenty of council— it is it there are plenty of council chief executives that are running the budgets of small— are running the budgets of small local councils that are paid — small local councils that are paid over— small local councils that are paid over £200,000. of staff to the prime — paid over £200,000. of staff to the prime minister and paid over £200,000. of staff to the prime ministerand being paid — the prime ministerand being paid 170,000, in that context of the — paid 170,000, in that context of the not _ paid 170,000, in that context of the not seem so much, but what — of the not seem so much, but what will— of the not seem so much, but what will really troubled labour _ what will really troubled labour party at the moment is as you — labour party at the moment is as you mentioned at the top of the piece. _ as you mentioned at the top of the piece, the amounts of briefing _ the piece, the amounts of briefing going on against her and various other people and counter— and various other people and counter briefings against other senior— counter briefings against other senior staff within number ten, there _ senior staff within number ten, there is— senior staff within number ten, there is clearly a lot of hostility and tension there and if you — hostility and tension there and if you speak to anybody close to the — if you speak to anybody close to the government, i will not name — to the government, i will not name names orjob positions, but speaking to anyone within number— but speaking to anyone within number ten in but speaking to anyone within numberten in government but speaking to anyone within number ten in government more broadly, — number ten in government more broadly, they have an opinion on this— broadly, they have an opinion on this at— broadly, they have an opinion on this at the moment. it is clearly— on this at the moment. it is clearly a _ on this at the moment. it is clearly a divisive issue. that is obviously distracting from the business they should be doing — the business they should be doing which is running the

country _ doing which is running the country. so there is a problem to get— country. so there is a problem to get control of the media narrative because they keep having — narrative because they keep having negative stories about keir starmer's acceptance of gifts — keir starmer's acceptance of gifts which takes his salary way— gifts which takes his salary way above 166,000 what —— from what _ way above 166,000 what —— from what we — way above 166,000 what —— from what we have been reading over the recent — what we have been reading over the recent days. at this internal— the recent days. at this internal story, they should be telling — internal story, they should be telling us what they will teach from — telling us what they will teach from the country, not being dragged _ from the country, not being dragged into this debate around internal— dragged into this debate around internal personalities. as mica for them — internal personalities. as mica for them or that from the governments of the country. political— governments of the country. political briefings and divisions are part of the course in every single government and i guess this is a new administrationjust a new administration just settling a new administrationjust settling in after a surprisingly early general election year in the uk. in the us it's widely said, you have to be super wealthy even to be able to run because of the way the political system works there. money and politics always difficult bedfellows. here we have an intimate

relationship between big money and politics because we have a supreme court ruling that has made it so that operations are people as well. if i may, i have worked extremely hard over the past 15 years in particular to get more american women into positions, not only that our elected or political appointments, but alsojust elected or political appointments, but also just to serve as public servants. so doing what a lot of what sue gray is doing. it is an error of monumental proportions for her to accept a pay greater than her boss. there is an internal compass we all have. coming to public service means need to activate that moral compass, if it has not been already. this tells me that perhaps all of the chatter about her seeing herself as a deputy prime minister is actually kind of truth. because there is no other reason that she would accept this large of a pay when she is in service to the prime minister. i'm all for women shattering glass ceilings, but doing so in the private sector, not the public

sector like this.— sector like this. obviously there has _ sector like this. obviously there has been _ sector like this. obviously there has been a - sector like this. obviously there has been a lot - sector like this. obviously there has been a lot of. there has been a lot of political gossip and speculation about what is going on amongst keir starmer�*s advisers and he was really in charge and who holds how much power, at the same time, there is a question in british politics about getting really good people into government because people coming from private sector often would have to take a pay cut. maybe they have family responsibilities and to our already committed and to our already committed and surely people want to get the best people into government. do we need to have a rethink about how we actually are numerate people to do these incredibly difficultjobs? i incredibly difficult jobs? i don't incredibly difficultjobs? i don't think we do. because i think— don't think we do. because i think you _ don't think we do. because i think you enter public service for public— think you enter public service for public service, not enrichment. if you are a backbench mp you get £90,000 a year _ backbench mp you get £90,000 a year that — backbench mp you get £90,000 a year. that puts you well within the top — year. that puts you well within the top 5% of earners in this country _ the top 5% of earners in this country if— the top 5% of earners in this country. if you are the prime minister— country. if you are the prime minister on 160 something thousand pounds you are in the

top 1-2%— thousand pounds you are in the top 1—2% of earners. this is quite — top 1—2% of earners. this is quite decent money, better money— quite decent money, better money than the vast majority of people — money than the vast ma'ority of eo - le. �* ., money than the vast ma'ority of --eole. �* ., . , people. but not necessarily what they _ people. but not necessarily what they could _ people. but not necessarily what they could get - people. but not necessarily what they could get doing l people. but not necessarily - what they could get doing other jobs and that is the point. what people get and what people deserve _ what people get and what people deserve are two different things— deserve are two different things —— can get. i want someone _ things —— can get. i want someone in public service for the right— someone in public service for the right reason and you cannot .et the right reason and you cannot get by— the right reason and you cannot get by on — the right reason and you cannot get by on 150 or £160,000, you need _ get by on150 or £160,000, you need to— get by on 150 or £160,000, you need to look at yourself, because _ need to look at yourself, because i would not trust you with — because i would not trust you with a — because i would not trust you with a budget if you cannot budget— with a budget if you cannot budget that. it is a huge amount— budget that. it is a huge amount of money for most people and who— amount of money for most people and who will talk about money in the — and who will talk about money in the public sector let's talk about— in the public sector let's talk about the money that some security— about the money that some security guards and cleaners who — security guards and cleaners who are _ security guards and cleaners who are managing government buildings, keeping the lights on, literally are paid. they are — on, literally are paid. they are paid _ on, literally are paid. they are paid on the minimum wage. let's _ are paid on the minimum wage. let's boost _ are paid on the minimum wage. let's boost their pay rather than — let's boost their pay rather than concerned about people on 150-170 — than concerned about people on 150—170 grand a year, their way down _ 150—170 grand a year, their way down on — 150—170 grand a year, their way down on my list of concerns. as the people _ down on my list of concerns. as the people struggling to make ends _ the people struggling to make ends meet, making £20,000 a year. _ ends meet, making £20,000 a year, employed by the government, nurses on 20 something thousand, that is the real issue —

something thousand, that is the real issue in this country. but we have — real issue in this country. but we have a _ real issue in this country. but we have a huge amount of people that work— we have a huge amount of people that work full—time and are having _ that work full—time and are having to _ that work full—time and are having to rely on food banks make — having to rely on food banks make ends meet because of the cost of— make ends meet because of the cost of living. we make ends meet because of the cost of living.— cost of living. we could go on, but i cost of living. we could go on, but i am _ cost of living. we could go on, but i am being _ cost of living. we could go on, but i am being told _ cost of living. we could go on, but i am being told we - cost of living. we could go on, but i am being told we must . but i am being told we must move on. thank you very much to my guests, you will return in a few moments. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

now — it is time for the panel... we have got some stories that they want to talk about today as we finish this hour, what did you would spring up today? i wanted to bring up the topic of the company patagonia investing $1 million into a grant with california farms this is about which farming practices and patagonia is essentially i think walking the talk on social responsibility.

this is a company that sells lots of things from hiking, camping gear, it is an outdoorsy company, if you well. but it has been a status symbol, theirjackets are not cheap. but to know they are making the investment in the very country of the people that they are targeting with their overpriced year, it tells me that it overpriced year, it tells me thatitis overpriced year, it tells me that it is possible for private corporations to talk really responsibility and walk the walk on what it means to make our earth more beautiful. when you are selling apparel for folks to go explore, you should put your money where your mouth is on preserving those beautiful places. this really gives me hope because i think other companies can do this. california has had many farming issues particularly up north where people in the central valley there make their living off of farming so returning to farming practices have been a buzz word phrase when we talk environments of congress ——

consciousness, but patagonia can lead the way and countries and companies should take notice and this is such a positive story because this is a status, good brand of apparel to well —— to wear, it turns out they are doing could as well. , ., ., ., ., ,, well. there is a lot of talk about that _ well. there is a lot of talk about that here _ well. there is a lot of talk about that here as - well. there is a lot of talk about that here as well. l about that here as well. andrew, you have something more world related with us today. it world related with us today. it is the call for a supertax on private _ is the call for a supertax on private jets and super yachts that — private jets and super yachts that are _ private jets and super yachts that are run by the rich and famous _ that are run by the rich and famous. that could raise potentially £2 billion a year in government revenue. that is a fair— in government revenue. that is a fair amount in government revenue. that is a fairamount of in government revenue. that is a fair amount of money to raise. _ a fair amount of money to raise. it _ a fair amount of money to raise. it is _ a fair amount of money to raise, it is relevant to the discussion we were having about international aid and went toward _ international aid and went toward fuel payments professionals —— pensioners because _ professionals —— pensioners because the cut that would save about _ because the cut that would save about half of what this would raise — about half of what this would raise up _ about half of what this would raise up. also important in the context— raise up. also important in the context of— raise up. also important in the context of climate changes but because — context of climate changes but because it is the world's

richest _ because it is the world's richest 1% of people that cause 66%, _ richest 1% of people that cause 66%, sorry, they cause the same level— 66%, sorry, they cause the same level of— 66%, sorry, they cause the same level of pollution as the bottom two thirds of the entire global— bottom two thirds of the entire global population. it is quite an amazing imbalance. there a risk that you — an amazing imbalance. there a risk that you just _ an amazing imbalance. there a risk that you just ride - an amazing imbalance. there a risk that you just ride the - risk that you just ride the wealthy away from this country, as people say it is happening with the non—dons and these are the wealthy generators. ido. the wealthy generators. no. they are _ the wealthy generators. no. they are the _ the wealthy generators. no. they are the wealthy - the wealthy generators. no. they are the wealthy quarters. it is they are the wealthy quarters. it is the — they are the wealthy quarters. it is the workers that create the wealth and do the work. the people _ the wealth and do the work. the people with huge amounts of money— people with huge amounts of money that invest it, rely on their— money that invest it, rely on their work— money that invest it, rely on their work was to create that, we tax — their work was to create that, we tax workers higher than we do the — we tax workers higher than we do the owners sometimes. the tax for— do the owners sometimes. the tax for example on private jets. — tax for example on private jets. is— tax for example on private jets, is higher than someone driving — jets, is higher than someone driving their carwhen jets, is higher than someone driving their car when violent this country. it is absurd we have — this country. it is absurd we have these tax reliefs for the very— have these tax reliefs for the very wealthy. so we should up the rate — very wealthy. so we should up the rate on private jet fuel, air passenger duty and if we did so, _ air passenger duty and if we did so, we could raise £2

billion, _ did so, we could raise £2 billion, so that would be a fair— billion, so that would be a fair way— billion, so that would be a fair way of raising taxes. it does — fair way of raising taxes. it does not _ fair way of raising taxes. it does not ignore people that were — does not ignore people that were never going to get a private — were never going to get a private jet or a seal on a super— private jet or a seal on a super yacht in private jet or a seal on a superyacht in their private jet or a seal on a super yacht in their life. in a word, super yacht in their life. in a word. does _ super yacht in their life. in a word, does that _ super yacht in their life. in a word, does that sound - super yacht in their life. ii�*u —. word, does that sound the politics of envy because it's not necessarily you had here in us politics, that argument? you're asking the wrong person. i taxation is theft.— i taxation is theft. fairness. -- | i taxation is theft. fairness. -- i believe _ i taxation is theft. fairness. -- i believe taxation - i taxation is theft. fairness. -- i believe taxation is - i taxation is theft. fairness. l -- i believe taxation is theft. —— i believe taxation is theft. thank you so much to you both. very good to see you both. thank you. we are hearing from the reuters news agency that the death toll after the blast today has risen to 20. we heard over a50 had been injured, that comes after a 3000 were injured yesterday and 12 people were killed. we

will bring you up—to—date on the very latest in the coming minutes, but for now, this is hello, i'm will parry. let's bring you up to date with the champions league games taking place tonight and what a night for celtic who've thrashed slovan bratislava 5—1 at celtic park. brendan rodgers' side have made a great start to the season, winning all six of their domestic games so far and completely dominated this evening. adam idha with the fifth goal. manchester city have begun the defence of their title. just a few minutes to go against inter milan at the etihad. city beat inter in last year's final but have been frustrated tonight with erling harland looking for his 100th city goal.

the full—time whistle has just gone and it has finished all square there, 0—0. it's not been a good week for tottenham and their manager ange postecoglu after their north london derby defeat at the weekend, they were on the verge of going out of the league cup against champonship side coventry brandon thomas—asante put coventry infornt with just over an hour gone. djed spence has equalised, that one heading to penalties. brennanjohnson brennan johnson scoring the winner brennanjohnson scoring the winner in stoppage time. djed spence has equalised, that one heading to penalties. there were 5 goals in the all premier league tie after admitting to a charge of racism at the club which they failed to address between 2001 and 2010, essex were charged injune after an investigation by england's cricket regulator. an independent disciplinary commission also cautioned and reprimanded essex. 50,000 pounds of the fine is suspended for a period of two years. essex have until the 2nd

october to appeal. jofra archer is in the side to face australia at trent bridge tomorrow, his first one—dayer since march last year, the fast bowler has been carefully managed by england after elbow and back injuries in recent years. harry brook will captain england for the first time in the five match series. he's been speaking to our cricket reporter henry moeran. i'm just going to be as relaxed as i can be in my usual self trying to react to the game however the game is playing out and move accordingly to try to get wickets. is a something that you aspire to? not really displaying for england was good enough for me and i thought being the captain until recently. this is an england side

that is become good different and starting of the new year. have you had in messages of how this team should be played? is going to be fairly similar in the way that baz and stokes of been talking about how were going to play the game and i think they're going to bring it over to the white ball stuff as well and putting pressure on us when you are betting or trying to take wickets in the field chase. australians and big—name players and inevitably, we'll talk in just over a year's time and the chance to potentially land some early blows, you thinking of those terms? no, to be honest, i'm just trying to focus on the next game going forward and i'll be doing that for the rest of the series. what did you learn as deputy oli pope in the sri lanka matches? just go with your gut no matter what you feel about point,

take it on and the words they can happen is he goes for a boundary in the next ball, he can change it up whenever you want to. just whatever i'm thinking, just do it. finally the pga championship starts at wentworth on thursday. ahead of that we had the traditional pro—am. andy murray has been putting in plenty of hours on the golf course since retiring from tennis after the olympics. his pro—partner was fellow scot bob macintyre. murray is a seven handicapper and says with a bit of time and practice he could improve on that, but has no plans to try to be anything more than a keen amateur. i'm happy playing in front of nobody. to be honest. but i'm enjoying playing when i've got a lot of free timejust now so, i'm playing a few times a week and yet, having lessons just enjoying having something to focus my attention on and like i said, lots of free time. great night for celtic, 5—1

winners, all square for manchester city. that is all the support for now. hello there, good evening. more warm september sunshine around again today, with temperatures across the board above the seasonal average and some of the highest of those again across northern areas of scotland, even towards these north sea—facing coasts. despite the cloudy start, we've seen the cloud burn back sunshine develop, although here towards eastern coast it's always going to be cooler and cloudier as we head through the next few days. but more sunshine around for most with some showers developing later on in the south through the week — more on that in just a moment. but here's the pressure chart. so, high pressure dominates, still, but it gradually drifts further northwards and eastwards. still a brisk easterly wind blowing across the southern half of the uk overnight tonight, just drawing in more moisture from the north sea. so there will be a lot

of low cloud just drifting further westwards. and towards the north and the west of the uk, then we'll see largely clear skies, but here more mist and fog starting to develop into tomorrow morning. and here, of course it will feel chilly as temperatures possibly mid single figures, but very mild where we keep the low cloud across the south—east of the uk in particular. a mild start to the day — 1a degrees, so it's quite murky. could be quite grey wherever you are tomorrow morning, but the mist and the fog will lift and clear readily, and that low cloud will burn back again to these north sea facing coasts as we head through the day, but it could linger on for a while, particularly perhaps across parts of aberdeenshire, where it will be feeling cooler. some of the best of the sunshine out towards the west, the highest of the temperatures in the far south and the east and across north—west scotland. but watch out for one or two showers on thursday in the southern half of england. those showers will become more widespread on friday, and some of them could be heavy and thundery, drifting further westwards throughout the day from east anglia, perhaps through into wales and the far southwest of england. temperatures a little lower, of course, on friday, and again some of the best of the sunshine could be across western scotland and down through these

irish sea coasts. then we look towards the south into the weekend to see this area of low pressure drifting from iberia. and that's going to produce, again, some heavy, thundery downpours across much of the southern half of the uk. so, for england and wales, it could turn quite wet on saturday, and those showers could potentially continue into sunday, but further north, then, while it may not be completely dry, it's certainly drier with some sunshine, butjust feeling cooler than it has been in recent days. bye— bye.

tonight at ten — a new wave of blasts in lebanon — exploding walkie talkies leave at least 20 dead and more than a50 injured as israel says it's opening a new phase in the war. one exploded during the funeral of a victim of yesterday's pager attacks, sparking panic. and smoke billowed from these flats in beirut. hospitals are again inundated — most have wounds to their hands and faces. in my past 25 years in practice, i never removed as many eyes as i did yesterday.

here in lebanon, there's shock at the scale of these attacks —