houday holiday from hell. >> brits stranded in greece offered mercy flights to get them home, but those stuck say not enough is being done, as the prime minister urges them to stay in touch with their tour operators . as we'll be speaking operators. as we'll be speaking to people in airport and looking for a way out and the wildfires now engulfing three separate greek islands. >> authorities in corfu and evia announcing evacuation orders there. and no end in sight to there. and no end in sight to the treacherous conditions . the treacherous conditions. >> travel companies have a duty to help britons escape from greece. so says the chair of the foreign affairs select committee . easyjet and jet2 are both sending rescue flights . we'll be sending rescue flights. we'll be live at gatwick and east midlands airport.

and we'll be totting up a success story for welsh whisky. >> a £23 million industry given special status to protect it against ms use. perish the thought. first, a taste of all the news headlines with . aaron the news headlines with. aaron >> good afternoon. it's a minute past 12. i'm aaron armstrong in the newsroom. holiday firm jet2 says they're adding three repatriation flights to get stranded holidaymakers back from roads for more than 19,000 people have been forced to evacuate parts of the greek island as wildfires burn for a sixth day. reports say the blazes remain out of control, while hundreds of people fled hotels and left belongings behind. they've been sleeping in airports. makeshift centres and schools. many have complained of being left with little to no information on from their travel operators. now the three extra flights put by jet2 are in

flights put on by jet2 are in addition to two from easyjet today and another tomorrow. sarah shepherd , who fled from sarah shepherd, who fled from rhodes, told gb news how she escaped the fires. >> we knew that fires were burning, but we didn't really realise how they were coming so close and then the hotel then sent out an an alert and we all had to evacuate from there. and we sort of grabbed what we could and went to down the beach and then we just followed everybody else. there was just hundreds and hundreds of people just walking and just we were walking away from the fires. and as we looked back, you just there was just the flames and the and the smoke . smoke. >> meanwhile, the government says there are currently no fires in residential areas of corfu, despite evacuation orders being issued there last night, almost 60 people were rescued by boat from nozaki beach in the north of the island , a popular north of the island, a popular area with tourists . a rapid area with tourists. a rapid deployment team has been sent to rhodes. the prime minister rishi

sunak, says holidaymakers are being assisted . being assisted. >> my paramount priority is the safety of british nationals and that's why the deputy prime minister chaired a cobra meeting yesterday . yesterday. >> he's been monitoring the situation closely and we've been in touch with local authorities on the ground there and the foreign office have sent a rapid deployment on the ground to deployment team on the ground to assist people. think most assist people. i think the most important remain important thing is people remain in their tour in touch with their tour operators . there are lots of operators. there are lots of flights going back and forth to be to people home and be able to bring people home and if are in with if people are in touch with their operators, they'll their tour operators, they'll get that they need. >> michael gove has announced plans to create more homes in inner relaxing inner cities by relaxing planning and red planning rules and cutting red tape. housing secretary says tape. the housing secretary says he to make it easier to he wants to make it easier to convert empty shops into flats and it easier extend and make it easier to extend homes convert lofts. the homes and convert lofts. the plans will include creating an urban quarter in cambridge , urban quarter in cambridge, although critics say the government will miss its commitment of delivering 300,000 new homes every year. and the conservative mp for south

cambridgeshire, anthony brown, has called the plans nonsense . has called the plans nonsense. spain is facing political uncertainty after sunday's general election ended. inconclusively resulting in a hung parliament. the centre right people's party took the biggest share of the vote, but not enough to be able to form a government even with the support of the far right. vox party, which more than a third of which lost more than a third of its seats. ruling socialist its seats. the ruling socialist party outperformed expectation polls, the results mean polls, but the results mean neither they nor ipp will be able to form a coalition government, raising the prospect of round of elections as of another round of elections as the islamic preacher anjem choudary has been charged with terror offences following his arrest last week . the charges arrest last week. the charges include directing a terrorist organisation membership of a prohibited organisation and encouraging support for one another. man khalid hussain from canada, has also been charged with membership of a prohibited organisation . both men have been organisation. both men have been remanded in custody to appear at

westminster magistrates court later today. train drivers are threatening fresh disruption at the height of the summer holidays, with another ban on overtime. members of the aslef union won't work extra hours for a week from saturday the 5th to the 12th of august. the union claims none of the train companies employ enough drivers and is warning of serious disruption on. it will be the fifth week long ban on overtime since may. the latest one ended on saturday. another one is due to start on the 31st. sweet climate activist greta thunberg has been found guilty of disobeying a police order for failing to leave a climate protest. ms thunberg was part of a group of protesters who blocked the road for oil trucks in sweden's malmo harbour back in sweden's malmo harbour back in june. she'll also pay a fine based on her reported income. ms thunberg arrived ahead of the heanng thunberg arrived ahead of the hearing and did not talk to the press . this is gb news we'll

press. this is gb news we'll bnng press. this is gb news we'll bring you more as it happens, but now it's back to mark and . pip >> aaron, thank you very much indeed. >> aaron, thank you very much indeed . but we'll start the live indeed. but we'll start the live desk with some very sad news reaching us. breaking news that the bbc newsreader and presenter george alagiah has died at the age of 67. of course, he'd been diagnosed with bowel cancer back in 2014 and had been fighting the disease. but still remaining on air. but his agent has just confirmed his death in the last few minutes. >> yeah, a face, a voice we all know so well. he was presenting on television for more than three decades and had presented on the bbc news at six for the last 20 years. he was an award winning foreign correspondent reporting from countries such as rwanda and iraq, but diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in

2014. and he only revealed in october last year that it had spread further. he was an award winning journalist, a statement released from the bbc director—general tim davie, saying across the bbc, we're incredibly sad to hear the news about george. >> we're thinking of his family at this time. george is one of the best and bravest journalists of his generation. he reported fiercely rather fiercely, fearlessly, rather from the world, as well from across the world, as well as presenting the news flawlessly. was more than flawlessly. he was more than just an outstanding journalist, said davie. audiences could said mr davie. audiences could sense kindness and empathy sense his kindness and empathy and wonderful humanity. he was loved by all, and we will miss him enormously. so sad loved by all, and we will miss him enormously . so sad news. him enormously. so sad news. george alagiah dying at the age of 67 with tinder dry conditions and temperatures expected to top 45 celsius, the greek government has declared a severe fire risk in almost half of its landmass . in almost half of its landmass. >> evacuations of british and other holidaymakers are continuing on the island of rhodes as firefighters continue to battle those massive

wildfires whipped up by strong winds now on the island of corfu. >> fires there leading to a partial evacuation of areas. although the authorities on the island say they're not directly as yet, threatening most of the island's resorts as well. mark white has the latest for us on a rapidly developing situation . rapidly developing situation. >> flying low over mountain forest , that's a turkish forest, that's a turkish firefighting plane gives a sobering assessment of the extent of the disaster for now engulfing large parts of this greek island . and turkey has greek island. and turkey has suppued greek island. and turkey has supplied two planes and a helicopter to help authorities in rhodes battle. the flames, which are being whipped up by strong winds . there's already a strong winds. there's already a number of local villagers and tourist hotels have been badly damaged by the fires , leading to damaged by the fires, leading to the mass evacuation of around 20,000 people over the last couple of days . a ukrainian couple of days. a ukrainian tourist filmed these images on a

beach where a number of those evacuated had fled to a high school. sports hall has been turned into a makeshift evacuation centre for those fleeing the worst of the fires . fleeing the worst of the fires. >> we could see smoke and then basically the smoke seemed to be getting worse and we came back from the beach yesterday. >> we went down in the morning and luckily we came back. when we got back like we were in the pool at about 3:00 in the afternoon, we could see flames coming over the top of the forest in rhodes . forest in rhodes. >> thousands of others have ended up here at the island's main airport , forced to sleep in main airport, forced to sleep in the terminal as they await evacuation flights. >> we started to hear the helicopter was and then basically you could see the fire eventually on the on the mountain top panic, everyone dashing about fleeing for buses . and, you know, luckily we were

able to get a bus. >> a ten man foreign office rapid reaction team is now on the ground helping uk nationals at the airport. a number of the airlines and tour companies, including easyjet and tui, are laying on additional flights and have promised more if required . have promised more if required. >> the situation was very challenging, but we are here with a strong team of more than 300. three represents us. we are facing the situation very well organised and in close cooperation with the greek authorities. >> it's in the evening when the extent of the fires still raging across parts of rhodes can be seen. across parts of rhodes can be seen . the orange glow illuminate seen. the orange glow illuminate lighting the night sky. the tourist minister on rhodes said reports that up to 50% of the island had been affected by the fires was false , as she put the fires was false, as she put the figure at nearer 15. but with

strong winds and the potential for a shift in direction , other for a shift in direction, other areas could still be under threat . on the greek island of threat. on the greek island of corfu , authorities there are corfu, authorities there are also closely monitoring wildfire fires. their rapid spread led to a partial evacuation of some tourists areas overnight, although greek authorities say the fires are not yet directly threatening any of the island's resorts . but across greece, resorts. but across greece, tinder dry conditions and high temperatures have led the national government to declare a severe fire risk to almost half of the nation's landmass . as the of the nation's landmass. as the thermometer in some areas is expected . to top 45 c in the expected. to top 45 c in the days ahead . mark white gb news days ahead. mark white gb news some astonishing pictures there. >> well, let's get now more now from mark white in more detail

and look at how this rescue and repair patriation effort is going. >> mark, it seems that many of the holidaymakers still stuck out there have been saying they've been trying to get information and out what information and to work out what to do . and they're being told to do. and they're being told that basically it's up to the tour operators, the airlines, even the british government saying that it seems. >> yeah , i mean, this is an all >> yeah, i mean, this is an all familiar pattern. any time you get at a natural disaster or something similar in a country where you have people abroad , where you have people abroad, there is this lag time , um, that there is this lag time, um, that it takes the tour operators, governments and others to get up to speed and to get their assets in place . i think to be fairto in place. i think to be fair to to the operators, certainly not to the operators, certainly not to be fair to them in recent days because i think they have been quite slow. but now they seem to be putting on extra flights. they're flying over some flights that are pretty much empty , if not entirely much empty, if not entirely empty , to act as repatriation

empty, to act as repatriation flights. so we know that easyjet have put on a couple of extra flights today. they're going to put on more flights this evening if required . and jet2 tui, as if required. and jet2 tui, as well as thomas cook. so they are doing this, but inevitably they will be dealing with a backlog because you've had thousands of people heading out of tourist resorts and heading towards the airport. other sort of evacuation centres . eventually evacuation centres. eventually they'll end up in the airport, so they will need to get rid of the backlog of people who are queuing up at the airport in addition to those who would be leaving on a daily basis anyway, because in any resort , every day because in any resort, every day hundreds , thousands of people hundreds, thousands of people who are at the end of their houday who are at the end of their holiday would be waiting for their flights back. >> and there seems to be quite a few people who are stuck saying that there's not been enough information given them . um, information given to them. um, and yet the locals are the ones that are really properly looking

after them and have been amazing i >> -- >> yes, i m w >> yes, i think that's true in rhodes. we know that they've turned over the likes of high school games , halls, things like school games, halls, things like that for people to be able to spend the night there. and they've been given food and water and looked after in the first instance. as i say , it first instance. as i say, it just takes a while for tour operators to be able to ramp up their flights to get additional flights in place and to make room for those people to return. amid the tourists who would normally be returning . and of normally be returning. and of course, the british government has a part to play as well. that's why we have what's termed a rapid reaction team. it's got half a dozen government officials for red cross officials for red cross officials who are across there really be acting as liaison between when the tourists who are hoping to get back the tour companies and the airlines and are like to try and get them out. >> and we understand that's now

at rhodes international airport to get what is a growing number. i mean, 19,000 and counting, although obviously not all british holidaymakers. but alicia kearns, the chair of the foreign affairs committee , said foreign affairs committee, said it wasn't quite rapid enough . i it wasn't quite rapid enough. i mean, is there perhaps a thinking that they'll have to relook at the template for these things and reassess how they operate .7 operate? >> you know, i, i hate to be fair to the government, but the fire's really only broke out on wednesday . it became a real wednesday. it became a real issue thursday , friday, they issue thursday, friday, they were out there by sunday. so, you know , saturday they decide you know, saturday they decide to go . they're out there by to go. they're out there by sunday. there's really only a day or two of which you're trying to assess in that period . are the fires severe enough? where are they threatening? are we looking at mass evacuations ? we looking at mass evacuations? is the mass evacuations really only started as we got to the weekend and that's where you got the teams going out there. >> and now, of course, it's corfu. so they could have put

all their resources into one island, had to switch. >> and it's actually it's a difficult situation if we look on the ground in rhodes on the ground in both rhodes and in we've had the tourist in corfu, we've had the tourist minister in rhodes saying, look , you know, there's a bad situation , certainly in the situation, certainly in the central part of the island , but central part of the island, but many of the resorts on rhodes are functioning normally . are functioning normally. they're not affected by the fire. so flights are still going in there. and the same with corfu . none of the resorts have corfu. none of the resorts have actually been directly threatened, although some people, as a precaution , have people, as a precaution, have been evacuated. it's a rapidly changing situation and it's just being monitored and responded to as as the situation dictates . as as the situation dictates. >> mark white being fair to the government, thank you very much. thank you. now let's have a look at the operation on the ground. houday at the operation on the ground. holiday firm jet2 is mark was saying, adding three repatriate or rescue flights this evening. ray addison is at gatwick airport for us where easyjet operate. but jack carson at east midlands, i think maybe jack, let's just go to you first on

this latest that we're getting on operations there. do we on the operations there. do we know those flights will be know when those flights will be leaving ? leaving? >> yes. so what we understand is, is from the arrivals that are going to be coming into east midlands airport, a little bit later on today, we've got two flights from corfu, both arriving quite soon after each other. i think the first flight from corfu is meant to touch down here at around 3:10. the next one then at 3:45. so two flights within the short space of time with each other . flights within the short space of time with each other. imagine carrying a lot of people that of course, are coming off the island to touch down here and bnng island to touch down here and bring them back home. of course, the situation in corfu is mark was mentioning is a very was mentioning there is a very interesting one because as the deputy well, the minister for tourism , they're saying that tourism, they're saying that people should still come to the island. mayor of the island. the deputy mayor of the north the island saying that north of the island saying that actually this fire is under control. now, we, of course, heard overnight that a route from the fire service there around 2500 people were evacuated from where those fires

were immediately , a danger to, were immediately, a danger to, of course, the public. but we do understand that no hotels or residential areas have been quite effective while the fires are still very much visible on the island is what the foreign office minister andrew mitchell, was, was saying this morning. it's understood that there were movement of people there overnight, but there's no official to order evacuate off the island. just quite but the island. just quite yet. but of as people come of course, as those people come through, will, of try through, we will, of course try and speak to them to find out, of course, about their experience. roads where experience. but it's roads where very course, the very much of course, the situation still described by situation is still described by many of control with the many as out of control with the fires and the conditions fires there and the conditions there that of course, there mean that it's, of course, spread rapidly. 7000 to spread quite rapidly. 7000 to 10,000 people out there in british, people out there in roads are expected, of course, to be trying to get on these or get on these flights home. these repatriation that are repatriation flights that are going to bring many going out empty to bring as many people back, course. but the people back, of course. but the situation at the east situation here at the east midlands airport, least, is midlands airport, at least, is that flights from that those first flights from corfu arriving a little bit corfu are arriving a little bit later afternoon .

later on this afternoon. >> and jack, can you shed any light on people who are due to go on holiday rhodes over the go on holiday to rhodes over the next few days? are there flights still happening? because i know some tour operators have actually all flights actually cancelled all flights to rhodes . to rhodes. >> well, i did see actually this morning on departure that ryanair are still flying out to rhodes. they haven't affected their service in or out of rhodes at all. so there was a flight leaving here in about five minutes, actually, from from east midlands airport. that's a ryanair flight going out. of course, we know from the other main airline operators, including tui , of course, including jet2, tui, of course, they're all cancelling many of their flights. well, up until their flights. well, up until the end of july, offering full refunds customers. if you refunds to customers. but if you are a ryanair flight and are on a ryanair flight and that's who your ticket is for east airport, far, east midlands airport, so far, it looks like you can still get a flight in out of rhodes because, course, as well, the because, of course, as well, the local officials there local government officials there saying much of the island saying that much of the island is unaffected these fires. is unaffected by these fires. and resorts are still safe and the resorts are still safe to come to. >> jack, thank you that. >> jack, thank you for that. let's head to gatwick. ray

let's head down to gatwick. ray is us. of course, is down there for us. of course, ray, is the hub for ray, this is the big hub for easyjet. and i think they've got two flights have gone two extra flights that have gone out today . yeah absolutely. >> two flights to rest . >> two flights to rest. >> two flights to rest. >> two flights they're calling them from rhodes here to gatwick. now, the first flight is currently in the air. that's carrying around 220 british tourists. it's above the aegean sea right now , heading on to the sea right now, heading on to the greek mainland . that was a delay greek mainland. that was a delay of an hour . greek mainland. that was a delay of an hour. the greek mainland. that was a delay of an hour . the second flight of an hour. the second flight has still not taken off. that's been delayed by about 45 minutes so far. that's going to be another 180 british tourists. and of course, there'll be very relieved to see the uk and to land here at gatwick and make their way home after what must have been a very stressful few days. have been a very stressful few days . got to remember those days. got to remember those between 7 and 10,000 british tourists on the island of rhodes were being told by the foreign office many of them were evacuated from their hotel rooms in the middle of the night. they lost their luggage. some got

split from friends and family split up from friends and family members had to walk miles to members and had to walk miles to make their way to the airport. they'll have slept on the floor of the airport as well in a makeshift fashion and desperate to get on those flights. i'm sure there are, of course, more flights taking place as well. we've seen announced by tui they operated three dedicated flights overnight last night, bringing back british tourists from rhodes. back british tourists from rhodes . jet2 says they operated rhodes. jet2 says they operated their first rescue flight last night from rhodes to leeds and easyjet, of course, putting on a third flight tomorrow. now, all of those companies are saying that they are reviewing the situation and they will put on more rescue missions when they need to. why is that so important ? well, need to. why is that so important? well, as need to. why is that so important ? well, as andrew important? well, as andrew mitchell , a foreign office mitchell, a foreign office minister, was saying on gb news breakfast this morning, you know, it is up to the tour operators to provide that service to british and bring those british tourists back there aren't going to be any

specially organised flights at the moment planned by the british government and of course we do know that there is that rapid deployment team, that ten man that mark was talking man team, that mark was talking about rhodes about there at rhodes international. right now . and international. right now. and they are dealing with requests from british members of the pubuc from british members of the public who need help now on the question of whether people should continue to travel to rhodes, we do know there are still easyjet flights . if you still easyjet flights. if you want to go on your holiday, you can get on your easyjet flight and go rhodes. easyjet have and go to rhodes. easyjet have actually cancelled the holidays. part their offering, but not part of their offering, but not the flights . if you've just the flights. if you've just booked the flight, you can still go. foreign office is saying that's up to you. you've got to make your own mind. you've make up your own mind. you've got to weigh up the risks and the and the benefits. gatwick though, urging make though, urging people to make sure got travel sure that they've got travel insurance , which includes flight insurance, which includes flight disruption . if they do decide to disruption. if they do decide to go . okay. and ray, in a cloudy go. okay. and ray, in a cloudy and rainy gatwick, which may be and rainy gatwick, which may be a bit of a relief for many of

those holidaymakers returning. thanks very much indeed for updating us. there >> people are going to be in a right pickle about that, aren't they, about whether they, worrying about whether they, worrying about whether they avoid they should go or avoid the island altogether? they should go or avoid the island altand her? they should go or avoid the island altand trying to get back >> yeah, and trying to get back with have left passports. with some have left passports. >> the interestingly, the >> so the interestingly, the greek on greek prime ministerjust on that very question about should people greek prime people go. the greek prime minister just been making minister has just been making a statement in parliament tonight saying remain saying that roads will remain the country's flagship for tourism , saying that only 10% of tourism, saying that only 10% of tourists on island have been tourists on the island have been affected the wildfires . but affected by the wildfires. but of course, if you are one of them, then that's not actually going anything. it's going to change anything. it's not at all. but do not very helpful at all. but do hope you are okay. >> coming up, the government announcing measures the announcing new measures for the housing rishi sunak housing crisis. rishi sunak saying he won't concrete over the countryside . but one tory mp the countryside. but one tory mp not so sure . more after the break. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers. proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> hello, i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for

gb news. some fairly heavy showers around at the moment across parts of the south—east. many other parts, though, seeing some brighter spells, but it isn't warm, pressure is isn't warm, low pressure is pulling away, but it's allowing the winds come down from the the winds to come down from the north. hence the air is north. hence why the air is quite cool. this weather front north. hence why the air is ql sparking this weather front north. hence why the air is ql sparking some/eather front north. hence why the air is quparking some pretty' front north. hence why the air is quparking some pretty intense is sparking some pretty intense showers of southern showers over parts of southern and eastern england, particularly from essex down towards hampshire. they'll slowly ease through the afternoon. elsewhere a few scattered light showers, but many places will stay dry and bright and have a little bit of sunshine coming through. but it isn't warm. there's a cool breeze blowing, keeping temperatures below average, mostly in the high mostly struggling in the high teens at best. still a few heavy showers around. then through the late afternoon, but they'll fade fairly rapidly, think into the fairly rapidly, i think into the evening time. we will see more showers into scotland showers coming into scotland overnight . elsewhere, most overnight. elsewhere, most places becoming dry. overnight. elsewhere, most places becoming dry . the places becoming dry. the possibility of some showers in the south—west on. but the south—west later on. but generally clear spells and temperatures dipping down into single figures, certainly in rural spots. so fresh start to

rural spots. so a fresh start to choose day again. it'll be a case of dodging the showers on tuesday. shouldn't be as many , tuesday. shouldn't be as many, certainly across the south—east and east anglia and across wales and east anglia and across wales and southwest england. some early showers, but generally turning drier here through the day quite across day. quite showery across southern scotland , northwest southern scotland, northwest england, where 2 heavy ones england, where 1 or 2 heavy ones are likely and again the cool are likely and again on the cool side, most with temperatures side, for most with temperatures struggling in the high teens at best, that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on .

gb news radio. >> hello and welcome back to the live desk on gb news my gove has announced new proposals to tackle the uk's housing crisis. he's pledged to meet the conservative manifesto commitment to build a million new homes before 2024. that's next year. here is the housing secretary outlining his principles earlier long term plan has ten principles the regenerate and renaissance of the hearts of 20 of our most important towns and cities supercharging europe's science capital building beautiful and making architecture great again. >> build great public services into the heart of every community. community is taking back control of their future . back control of their future. our greener homes , greener our greener homes, greener landscapes and green belt

protection. a new deal for tenants and landlords , ensuring tenants and landlords, ensuring that every home is safe, decent and warm. lib narrating leaseholders and extending ownership to a new generation . ownership to a new generation. >> but it's already been criticised by a tory mp no less. anthony brown has said the proposals for his constituency, cambridge, were not essence plans. well, let's get more with our deputy political editor tom harwood, who was at this morning's announcement announcement. even joining us in the studio . clearly, michael the studio. clearly, michael gove thinks it's not quite nonsense. no this is clearly a big almost legacy project for this government if we're to believe the opinion polls. >> this may well be a government on its way looking to create on its way out looking to create genuine legacy projects and things that can move the country forward. and clearly, housing has become a more salient political issue in the last few months. coming up time and time again at prime minister's questions, much more salient, not just for renters who have been struggling for some time, but now with homeowners, too,

because of the mortgage crisis. all the all linked to the big inflationary we saw in inflationary spiral we saw in home costs and therefore mortgage costs to the government is trying to take this head on. but perhaps with a more piecemeal approach than the labour party is proposing. the labour party is proposing. the labour party is proposing sweeping planning reform, although we are yet to see the detail of that plan and indeed proposals to build on the green belt as well. the conservatives are saying no building on the green belt, but urban intensification, one of the big themes of michael gove's speech today was making it easier to densify the urban areas that potentially have the highest demand. he noted . areas such as demand. he noted. areas such as leeds and east london that could be under development corporation's for greater intensification. but also perhaps the most interesting legacy proposal if i could frame it like that, is the idea of making an entirely new quarter for cambridge , a new scoping

for cambridge, a new scoping exercise to see exactly how that may work with the infrastructure feature attached, but also in the architectural style of cambridge as it currently exists , and potentially doubling the size of the city. >> but there is a little bit of a concern and excuse me, about to have a cough. you and i know cambridge very well. i know from what we've talked about, but there is a concern that it's not going to be a new urban quarter. it's simply to going be mass building. area cannot building. and the area cannot cope and we have seen cope with it. and we have seen criticism from the former lib dem huppert from the dem mp julian huppert from the mp south cambridgeshire, mp from south cambridgeshire, anthony saying anthony brown, as well, saying that this is not what locals want. >> but it's interesting, michael gove challenged on this gove was challenged on this point a of journalists point by a number of journalists in question and answer in the question and answer session today , and seemed to session today, and he seemed to basically put his foot down, say that he is good friends and on friendly terms with the local mps. he's happy to meet with them, but that cambridge needs to expand . there are some stark to expand. there are some stark facts about the lack of lab

space when you compare it to competitor cities like boston in the united states , which has the united states, which has millions of square feet of new lab space every year , cambridge lab space every year, cambridge and oxford together have barely and oxford together have barely a hundred couple of thousand square feet of new lab space each year. if the government is set upon making cambridge this this global tech city, this is a plan that it really is pushing forward on. >> okay, for tom, the moment, thank you. and we'll see what michael gove said to you about it little bit later. and it all a little bit later. and on political balance, labour's problems , the party becoming problems, the party becoming more apparent of its problems as the party leader piles pressure on the mayor over ulez first, let's make tracks for the latest headunes let's make tracks for the latest headlines with . aaron headlines with. aaron >> hi there it is. 1233. let's get you up to date with the headlines. holiday firm jet2 says they're adding three repatriation flights to get stranded holidaymakers back from

roads . more than 19,000 people roads. more than 19,000 people have been forced to evacuate parts of the greek island as the wildfires there burned for a sixth day report . they say the sixth day report. they say the blazes remain out of control . blazes remain out of control. hundreds of people have fled hotels and left their belongings behind . they've been sleeping in behind. they've been sleeping in airports , makeshift shelters and airports, makeshift shelters and schools , and many have been schools, and many have been complained of being left with little or no information from their travel operators. the three extra flights put on by jet2 are in addition to two from easyjet and two today and another tomorrow . michael gove another tomorrow. michael gove has announced plans to create more homes in inner cities by relaxing planning rules and cutting red tape . the housing cutting red tape. the housing secretary says he wants to make it easier to convert empty shops into new flats and to make into new flats and also to make it extend homes and it easier to extend homes and convert lofts . the islamic convert lofts. the islamic preacher anjem choudary , has preacher anjem choudary, has been charged with terror offences following his arrest last week . the charges include last week. the charges include directing a terrorist organisation , membership of a organisation, membership of a proscribed organisation and encouraging support for one. he

and another man, khalid hussain, from canada, will have been remanded in custody and they will appear at westminster magistrates court later today . magistrates court later today. train drivers are threatening fresh disruption at the height of the summer holidays, with a further ban on overtime for members of the aslef union won't work. extra hours for a week from saturday, the 5th to the 12th of august. the union claims none of the train companies employ enough drivers and they're warning of serious disruption. it will be the fifth week long ban on overtime since may. the latest one ended on saturday, and another one will start on july 31st. we'll keep you up to date with all the developing news from greece on our website as well. details there gbnews.com .

gb news radio . gb news radio. >> i'm welcome back to the live desk now. labour appears to have found itself in something of a political cul de sac over that contentious issue of ulez the london mayor's pollution charge for older cars . sir keir starmer for older cars. sir keir starmer blaming the charge for labour's defeat. of course, in the uxbndge defeat. of course, in the uxbridge and south ruislip by—election >> now, sadiq khan, the mayor of london, has said he's open to mitigating ideas but has refused to back down over the timing of the expansion. at the end of

next month. well, the prime minister also today reassure the pubuc minister also today reassure the public that the push for net zero will not dramatically increase household costs as more tory mps call for a watering down of green commitments . down of green commitments. >> standing up for the british people because i'm also cognisant that we're living through a time at the moment where inflation is high, that's having an impact on household and families bills and i don't want to do anything to add to that. want to make easier. that. i want to make it easier. so yes, we're going to make progress towards net zero, but we're to that in a we're going to do that in a proportionate and pragmatic way that unnecessarily only that doesn't unnecessarily only give more give people more hassle and more cost their life. that's cost in their life. that's what i'm interested in prepared i'm not interested in prepared to making to do. but we are making progress towards zero and progress towards net zero and our record this is our track record on this is better than the vast majority of other countries that we're compared should be compared to. so people should be proud that, also should proud of that, but also should be what i'm not be reassured that what i'm not going is unnecessarily add going to do is unnecessarily add cost their families bills . cost to their families bills. >> so let's get more now with our political reporter olivia utley with, well, red flags being raised over green policies

for both parties , it seems. for both parties, it seems. >> well, absolutely. and you can see from that clip and from the clip had recently of clip that we've had recently of keir both keir starmer that both the leaders main parties are leaders of the main parties are now desperately trying to balance out their green commitments with their commitments with their commitments to help people with the cost of living crisis, because basically what happened in uxbridge was a referendum on ulez and what it has taught politicians is that though in their focus groups and in the polls that we see published every day, people are theoretically very much in favour green policies . and favour of green policies. and when comes to shove and when push comes to shove and those green policies actually affect the money in their wallets, then suddenly that enthusiasm seems to ebb away. and you can understand why of course, in the middle of a cost of living crisis. so right now we're seeing keir starmer saying that we need reflect on ulez seemingly at odds with the mayor of london. the mayor of london was forced to delete a tweet yesterday that need yesterday saying that we need bold on green policies, bold action on green policies, presumably because keir starmer and angela rayner are putting

pressure on him to try and mitigate his expansion of the ulez zone . meanwhile, you've got ulez zone. meanwhile, you've got rishi sunak there sort of stepping on hot coals. he's trying to keep both environmental conservatives happy who want to see press ahead with green measures and those in his party who are saying the only way to deal with the cost of living crisis is to dilute the green policies that are already place what are already in place and what seems have been picked seems to have been picked up on from interview , too, is from that interview, too, is that rishi sunak did not especially recommit it to the ban on selling petrol and diesel cars from 2030. >> well, exactly . >> well, exactly. >> well, exactly. >> so that is apparently still a live discussion in number 10. that was something which we thought was set in stone then and now seems to be up for review once again because of course you've got you've got mps like jacob rees—mogg, who is now a backbencher, former business secretary, who you might expect to criticised in the to be criticised in the government's net zero policies. and sure enough, is. but then and sure enough, he is. but then you've got someone you've also got someone like michael seen as a michael gove who is seen as a pretty green tory. he's in the

cabinet, he's levelling up secretary, suggesting that some of those green measures need to be relaxed. one them is be relaxed. one of them is landlords currently we will soon have to ensure that they have heat pumps in their houses before they rent them out. he is now talking about rowing back on that commitment. so it sounds as though most of these green policies pretty much all of them, we thought set them, which we thought were set in up for debate in stone, are now up for debate again number 10. again in number 10. >> going to win between >> who's going to win between the leader and the labour the labour leader and the labour mayor i mean, will it be a fudge? may they reduce the element maybe just and element or maybe just try and well delay introduction to well delay the introduction to some well delay the introduction to sonit's really interesting what well delay the introduction to so sounds ally interesting what well delay the introduction to so sounds ally ithey're ng what well delay the introduction to so sounds ally ithey're thinking it sounds like they're thinking about is , as sadiq is about doing is, as sadiq khan is saying , steadfast in his saying, steadfast in his commitment to expand the ulez zone to those outer london boroughs. currently, the ulez charge is only for inner london boroughs. at the end of august, it's set to extend to outer london boroughs, labour is london boroughs, where labour is going and get a lot of going to try and get a lot of seats exactly, tend to be seats exactly, which tend to be far tory nature. what far more tory in nature. what sadiq khan saying he might sadiq khan is saying he might do is giving grants to

is consider giving grants to people need to scrap their people who need to scrap their low emissions what sadiq low emissions cars. what sadiq khanis low emissions cars. what sadiq khan is also hoping is that when actually the policy is rolled out, people will realise that it doesn't affect nearly as many of them as they think it affects them. so in uxbridge , it sounds them. so in uxbridge, it sounds as though quite a lot of people thought it would affect them when actually doesn't when actually it doesn't affect them only 1 in 10. them at all. only 1 in 10. that's i only1 in 10. so that's i only 1 in 10. so therefore, why have a charge? yeah. yeah exactly. so sadiq khanis yeah. yeah exactly. so sadiq khan is hoping that once it's rolled out, people will feel more relaxed it because more relaxed about it because they'll doesn't they'll find that it doesn't affect them all. but that's a affect them at all. but that's a pretty big hope and obviously angela has already said angela rayner has already said that failed to listen to that we have failed to listen to voters a pretty, very, voters a pretty, not a very, pretty thinly veiled thing for politicians to do. yeah exactly. and star was being pretty critical as well. >> okay, olivia, thank you. we'll see what emerges in the weeks thank much indeed. >> the jury in the sex offences trial of hollywood star kevin spacey is expected to retire today to consider its verdict.

>> the actor denying charges against four involving four men, including sexual assault and indecent assault alleged to have been committed over a period of more than a decade. let's get more than a decade. let's get more with paul hawkins at southwark crown court. and paul, it's been a pretty high profile case with , well, dramatic case with, well, dramatic evidence from both sides . yeah indeed. >> and testimony from people such as sir elton john appearing for the defence this morning. the judge , mrjustice for the defence this morning. the judge , mr justice wall, has the judge, mrjustice wall, has continued to sum up. he's been going over each of the charges, the now nine charges, four would drop because of legal technical oddities. so nine charges. he's been going over them with the jury been going over them with the jury and also re summing up, if i can put it that way, the case for the defence against each of those charges . he's then also those charges. he's then also outlined kevin spacey, who he is , where he's from, what his connection to the uk. is, and

then still summing up at the moment and just before i left the courtroom, he was going through the chronology of the allegation is both up to both including in the states and in the u.k. those up to the actor anthony rapp making those allegations in 2017. the allegations in 2017. the allegation that anthony rapp made himself and then following that, the allegations that take us to the present day and then later this afternoon , possibly later this afternoon, possibly even shortly before lunch, he may send the jury out to decide on their verdict and just remind us, paul, you know how long this trial has been going on for and also those those extraordinary moments when sir elton john, no less, gave evidence as a defence witness straight from monaco . witness straight from monaco. yes weeks, weeks and weeks. this trial has been going on for. and indeed, there was that dramatic evidence by sir elton john for kevin spacey's defence case in which the central allegation was

that the defendant , that kevin that the defendant, that kevin spacey grabbed the crotch of a man who was driving him on the way to a ball, an annual ball that's held at elton john's house every year at sir elton john's, saying that he didn't recall kevin spacey being at that event at the year in question , that the allegation question, that the allegation was made. and so that was reappraised by the judge this morning. but what we should add that kevin spacey, of course, denies all those allegations against him and the jury are due to be sent out. >> paul, thank you very much indeed. of course. back to you as we get it, the jury's verdict perhaps this afternoon , perhaps perhaps this afternoon, perhaps in a few days time. thank you very much indeed. let's just bnng very much indeed. let's just bring you a bit of breaking news we're getting from downing street official street prime minister's official spokesman talking about spokesman been talking about the situation with those britons in rhodes defending the government's decision not to discourage britons from going after sending the foreign office

team out there. the official spokesman saying our advice was focussed safety of focussed on the safety of british enabling british nationals, enabling people make informed people to make an informed decision situation on people to make an informed dec ground. situation on people to make an informed dec ground. the situation on people to make an informed dec ground. the currentition on the ground. the current situation is impacting on a limited area in rhodes and whilst it's right to keep it under review, it's possible the advice may change. do not advice may change. we do not want act out proportion to want to act out of proportion to the situation on the ground, he said. currently no plans to get the raf to help people leave, said the prime minister's spokesman. >> and very much reflects >> and that very much reflects what greek minister what the greek prime minister has morning. in has been saying this morning. in a only small a statement about only a small part of rhodes comparatively is affected by these wildfires. >> more on that as we get it. but let's talk about now the saudis and sport once more. could the saudi league be about to make its most audacious signing yet? press association reporting that the club has made a . world record £259 million bid a. world record £259 million bid for kylian mbappe discuss that as well as well. the wash out for the ashes. aiden is joining us once more . 259 million. is

us once more. 259 million. is that a record ? that a record? >> my mind is blown to say yes. it is. it's a world record. yeah. quite. quite some distance. >> it would. it would usurp, i think, neymar back in 2017. that was the previous previous one. but goodness me, i mean, £259 million. i mean, we know there are problems there because he's entering the last year of his contract at psg. he's indicated privately i think wants to privately i think he wants to join next summer. i join real madrid next summer. i mean, real madrid are going to find the money to match that kind of bid. is beyond me. but he didn't travel to japan. there was story for the pre—season was a story for the pre—season toun was a story for the pre—season tour. there was a suggestion that he may he may out the that he may he may sit out the final season, make himself a disruptive influence at the club, of club, which is not befitting of a the france captain, a player who the france captain, 24 old. but then suddenly 24 years old. but then suddenly from field in the last half from left field in the last half an hour, al—hilal saudi come an hour, al—hilal in saudi come in bid for £259 million. it in and bid for £259 million. it is mind blowing. it really is. >> he's going to is. going to get the >> and he's not going to get the football out there. i mean, it's just the retirement fund isn't a retirement just the retirement fund isn't a retiremen24. goodness me. i >> well, 24. goodness me. i mean, what do we what do we say? i mean, this is going to change

the of football the landscape of football because premier because nobody in the premier league with that. league can compete with that. manchester in theory manchester city could, in theory match that bid. but i don't know whether they to because match that bid. but i don't know whethe got ey to because match that bid. but i don't know whethe got the to because match that bid. but i don't know whethe got the issues because you've got the issues with financial play with saudi. financial fair play with saudi. they operate outside the they operate outside of the realms financial fair play realms of financial fair play because play because financial fair play only appues because financial fair play only applies europe. and applies to clubs in europe. and so are going there, so if players are going there, then we've already seen then i mean, we've already seen i month ago when ruben i mean, a month ago when ruben neves aged 26, we neves left wolves aged 26, we thought, know, this isn't thought, you know, this isn't about and paydays. about retirement and paydays. this his prime this is a player in his prime who have joined barcelona who could have joined barcelona going to saudi. we're seeing a steady drip of players. harry kane over the weekend as kane linked over the weekend as well looks as well with saudi. so it looks as if they're messing around. if they're not messing around. they're on they're looking to do on football exactly they did football exactly what they did with gulf. with the gulf. >> any other attraction >> is there any other attraction for players about to for these players about going to saudi arabia from the saudi arabia apart from the dosh? >> not that see. dosh? >> not that see. i have to >> not that i can see. i have to be honest you. i mean, be honest with you. i mean, look, forget don't get me look, don't forget don't get me wrong, you looked at the wrong, if you looked at the premier league 30 years ago compared then looks compared to now, then it looks a lot different. it is developing, but have years of but they don't have 100 years of experience. the premier experience. when the premier league started, there was 100 years football a years old. football was a hundred in this

hundred years old. in this country, there's nothing like that so well, that in saudi. so mark well, i was however, if it was going to say, however, if it gets to a certain degree and kane, for instance, agrees, others get others follow, you then get a super actually being super league actually being established default. saudi established by default. saudi dup and this this dup and this is this is different we saw in different to what we saw in china ago. that china maybe five years ago. that was private money. in fact, the chinese decided that it was inhibiting of their inhibiting the growth of their own they imposed own players and they imposed a 100% meant if 100% tax, which meant that if you for a £50 million you paid £50 for a £50 million for chelsea you also for a chelsea player, you also had pay another £50 million had to pay another £50 million to the chinese government. that could the development could curtail the development of the league. this could curtail the development of th different league. this could curtail the development of th different though, .eague. this could curtail the development of th different though, mark,. this is different though, mark, because is government because this is government money. this is 259 money. yeah, this is 259 million, but million, £249 million. but they've another 200, they've also got another 200, 200 oil reserves. it's 200 years of oil reserves. it's an amount money. an unlimited amount of money. this financial this is state backed financial intervention intervention, and the premier league match the premier league can't match these things. these sorts of things. absolutely it makes me absolutely not. and it makes me worry because worry for this league because sooner of these sooner or later some of these players, the ones players, particularly the ones in 20s, who think, in their late 20s, who think, well, maybe we're coming into the last year of their contract, but they're their but yet they're still in their prime. they a chance, like prime. they have a chance, like jordan last week jordan henderson last week had a chance to from £200,000 a chance to go from £200,000 a week at liverpool £700,000

week at liverpool to £700,000 a week at liverpool to £700,000 a week 33. i mean, week at the age of 33. i mean, it's work you can get it's nice work if you can get it, and it's going to it, certainly. and it's going to change the landscape because we've month we've still got another month until weeks till the until three weeks till the season starts. we could see more of these transfers before the end it will come end of the window. it will come down to the sporting interest as to mbappe thinks to whether kylian mbappe thinks his are his sporting interests are best served saudi or in in served going to saudi or in in staying in europe. >> and we might just add up. we assume the football authorities elsewhere. there's nothing they can is an can do to stop this. it is an international market. international free market. >> no international free market, as unless they as you say. but unless they legislate nation legislate against state nation states football states taking over football clubs, newcastle got round it a year a half by saying year and a half ago by saying that there was a separate public investment which investment fund which was nothing to do with the government. looked nothing to do with the governn each looked nothing to do with the governneach individual looked nothing to do with the governneach individual member through each individual member of public investment fund. of the public investment fund. they held in very they all held office in the very qatar because i'm fed up of talking football players talking about football players and all this money got. and all this money they've got. >> oh no, we talk cricket? >> oh no, can we talk cricket? oh not paid oh goodness me, not as well paid for but england for the players, but england have lost. well, they've lost. they the ashes have lost. well, they've lost. they lost the ashes have lost. well, they've lost. they lost to the ashes have lost. well, they've lost. they lost to the the ashes have lost. well, they've lost. they lost to the weathere ashes have lost. well, they've lost. they lost to the weather that1es they lost to the weather that poor photo ben stokes looking poor photo of ben stokes looking just such shame. poor photo of ben stokes looking just they such shame. poor photo of ben stokes looking just they have such shame. poor photo of ben stokes looking just they have announced shame. poor photo of ben stokes looking just they have announced the ne. but they have announced the squad for the final at the squad for the final test at the oval. going to about oval. and it's going to be about entertainment value for them. >> really

>> now it is australia really are champions, are the reigning champions, aren't no, but aren't they? but oh no, but no, listen, mean , so it's so listen, i mean, so it's so disappointing. i the disappointing. i felt the cricket have dealt with cricket should have dealt with this 20 or 30 years ago. i don't know longer know how much longer the broadcasters are going to put up with spectacle like with having a spectacle like that. series we've seen that. the best series we've seen in a couple in probably a couple of generations and curtailed generations and it's curtailed just just seems so just by rain. it just seems so antiquated, close. antiquated, was so close. >> winning that it >> they were winning that and it would have changed everything. >> have >> it would have it would have created a thrilling finale at the would it have made any the oval. would it have made any difference were allowed difference if they were allowed to until i mean, to play late until i mean, the point being you've still to play late until i mean, the poirlightng you've still to play late until i mean, the poirlight till you've still to play late until i mean, the poirlight till 10:00; still to play late until i mean, the poirlight till 10:00 attill got light till nine, 10:00 at night. but all those night. you have. but all those they're test venues, they've they're all test venues, they've all floodlights, all got floodlights, they've all got floodlights. enough. got floodlights. true enough. that's you that's the thing. maybe if you start early, does it have to start early, why does it have to start early, why does it have to start it have start at 11:00? why does it have to in manchester? you've to be held in manchester? you've got rainfall there. got a lot of rainfall there. i shouldn't oh, actually, shouldn't say, oh, actually, thatis shouldn't say, oh, actually, that is true. >> worked there. you >> haven't worked up there. you are lived up there are absolutely lived up there for many years. >> but then it >> yeah. yeah. but then it shouldn't wait for shouldn't be happening. wait for the emails to come in. >> send them in. send >> come on, send them in. send them in. >> seriously, rain, the >> but seriously, the rain, the rain be. that's rain should not be. that's that's sporting that's an international sporting event. think about australia as well. really wanted well. would they really wanted to win it like that? pat cummins

marnus steve smith. marnus labuschagne. steve smith. david class david warner they're world class players. go down players. we're going to go down as future. they as greats in future. do they want to win tournaments like that? think they that? i really don't think they do. right. okay >> big maybe. well, look, >> big roof maybe. well, look, maybe buy for maybe the saudis can buy it for them. don't see them. well, look, we don't see you see rooves that often them. well, look, we don't see yo sport. see rooves that often in sport. >> i mean we only a football venues in this country only really the millennium stadium in wales woi'i. >> won. >> yeah. aiden, as thanks >> yeah. aiden, as ever, thanks very updating us. very much for updating us. coming be updating on coming up, we'll be updating on those wildfires in greece the those wildfires in greece as the prime minister's spokesman says they the they won't be sending in the raf. all the latest coming up. stay us. stay with us. >> temperature's rising. >> the temperature's rising. boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> hello, i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. some fairly heavy showers around at the moment across parts of the south—east. many other parts, though, seeing some brighter spells, but it isn't warm, low pressure is pulling it's allowing pulling away, but it's allowing the winds to come down from the north, air is north, hence why the air is quite cool this weather quite cool. this weather front is pretty intense is sparking some pretty intense showers parts of southern

showers over parts of southern and eastern england, particularly from essex down towards hampshire . they'll towards hampshire. they'll slowly ease through the afternoon . elsewhere, a few afternoon. elsewhere, a few scattered light showers , but scattered light showers, but many places will stay dry and bright and have a little bit of sunshine coming through. it sunshine coming through. but it isn't there's a cool isn't warm. there's a cool breeze keeping breeze blowing, keeping temperatures below average, mostly struggling in the high teens at best. still a few heavy showers around. then through the late afternoon , but they'll fade late afternoon, but they'll fade fairly rapidly. think into the fairly rapidly. i think into the evening we will see more evening time. we will see more showers coming into scotland overnight. elsewhere, most places becoming dry. the possibility of some showers in the south—west later on, but generally clear spells and temperatures dipping down into single figures. certainly rural spots. so a fresh start to tuesday . again, it'll be a case tuesday. again, it'll be a case of dodging the showers on tuesday . shouldn't be as many, tuesday. shouldn't be as many, certainly across the south—east and east anglia and across wales and east anglia and across wales and southwest england. some early showers, but generally turning drier here through the day. quite showery across southern scotland, northwest england, where or 2 heavy ones

england, where 1 or 2 heavy ones are likely. again, the are likely. and again, on the cool side for most with temperatures struggling in the high teens at best, the temperatures rising, boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on .

gb news houday news holiday from hell . holiday from hell.

>> brits stranded in greece offered mercy flights to get them home, but those stuck say not enough is being done. as the prime minister urges them to stay in touch with their tour operators. we'll be speaking to people in airports looking for a way out . way out. >> and the wildfires now engulfing three separate greek islands with authorities in corfu and evia announcing evacuation orders. and no end in sight to the treacherous conditions . travel companies conditions. travel companies have a duty to help britons escape from greece. >> so says the chair of the foreign affairs select committee easyjet and jet2 are both sending rescue flights . we'll be sending rescue flights. we'll be live at gatwick and east midlands airport. >> also coming up, how the snp is facing an independent threat from within its own border . we from within its own border. we report on the latest of orkney's efforts to join norway. first,

latest headlines with . aaron latest headlines with. aaron >> good afternoon. it's a minute past one. i'm aaron armstrong in the gb newsroom. a downing street says there are no plans to get the raf to help stranded holidaymakers get back from roads . up to 10,000 british roads. up to 10,000 british holidaymakers are on the island at the moment, many of whom have been forced to evacuate parts of the island as wildfires burn for a sixth day, reports say many blazes remain out of control, while hundreds of people fled their hotels and left belongings over the weekend . they've been over the weekend. they've been sleeping in airports , in sleeping in airports, in schools, in makeshift centres , schools, in makeshift centres, and many have complained of being given little or no information from their travel operators. but the holiday firm jet says they're adding an extra flight to the three announced a little earlier today. so that's four repatriation flights from jet2 in addition to another two from easyjet today and another one tomorrow. sarah shepherd,

who fled from rhodes, told gb news how she escaped the danger i >> -- >> we knew that fires were burning, but we didn't really realise how they were coming so close . and then the hotel, then close. and then the hotel, then sent out an an alert and we all had to evacuate from there. and we sort of grabbed what we could and went to down the beach and then we just followed everybody else. there was just hundreds and hundreds of people just walking and just we were walking away from the fires. and as we looked back, you just there were just the flames and the and the smoke . smoke. >> meanwhile, the government says there are currently no fires in residential areas of corfu despite evacuation orders being issued there last night, almost 60 people were rescued by boat from nozaki beach in the north of the island, a popular area with tourists now a rapid deployment team has been sent to rhodes and the prime minister, rishi sunak, says holidaymakers on both islands are being assisted . assisted. >> my paramount priority is the

safety of british nationals and that's why the deputy prime minister chaired a cobra meeting yesterday , has been monitoring yesterday, has been monitoring the situation closely . we've the situation closely. we've beenin the situation closely. we've been in touch with local authorities on the ground there and the foreign office have sent and the foreign office have sent a rapid deployment team on the ground assist people . i think ground to assist people. i think the important is the most important thing is people remain in touch with their operators as there their tour operators as there are lots of flights going back and forth to able to bring and forth to be able to bring people people are people home. and if people are in with tour in touch with their tour operators, get the operators, they'll get the information they need. information that they need. >> has announced >> michael gove has announced plans more in plans to create more homes in inner cities by relaxing planning cutting red planning rules and cutting red tape. the housing secretary says he wants make it easier to he wants to make it easier to convert empty shops into flats and make it easier to extend homes and convert lofts . the homes and convert lofts. the plans will include creating an urban quarter in cambridge , urban quarter in cambridge, plans dismissed by the local tory mp anthony browne as nonsense . as the prime minister nonsense. as the prime minister insists, though, the government is on course to create a million new homes over this parliament but declined to answer this morning if it will also hit its

target of delivering 300,000 homes. a new every year. the islamic preacher anjem choudary has appeared in court charged with three terror offences relating to the banned organisation , al—muhajiroun. the organisation, al—muhajiroun. the charges include directing a terrorist organisation membership of a prohibited organisation and encourage support for one. mr chowdhury spoke only to confirm his name , spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address when he appeared at magistrates westminster magistrates court earlier , train drivers are earlier, train drivers are threatening more disruption at the height of the summer holidays, with another ban on overtime. members of the aslef union won't work extra hours for a week from saturday, the 5th to the 12th of august. the union claims none of the train companies are employing enough drivers says serious drivers and says serious disruption lies ahead. it will be the fifth week long ban on overtime since may. the latest one finished on saturday, with

the next one due to start on the sist the next one due to start on the 31st of july. so climate activist greta thunberg has been found guilty of disobeying a police order for failing to leave a climate protest. ms thunberg was part of a group of protesters who blocked the road for more oil trucks in march harbour in sweden on the 19th of june. she'll also pay a fine based on her reported income. ms thunberg arrived ahead of the heanng thunberg arrived ahead of the hearing and did not talk to the press . bbc newsreader george press. bbc newsreader george alagiah has died aged 67 after battling with bowel cancer since 2014. the sri lanka born journalist was presenting bbc one's news at six. since two thousand and seven, he was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancen diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, which had spread elsewhere in his body. bbc's director general tim davie described george as one of the best and bravest journalists of his generation . an bring you his generation. an bring you more as it happens here on gb

news. but for the moment, that's it. now back to mark and . it. now back to mark and. pip >> ivan, thanks very much and welcome back to the live desk. so tinder dry conditions as temperatures of 4 to 5 celsius or more . the greek government or more. the greek government declaring a severe fire risk. indeed, the greek prime minister in the past few minutes saying we are at war with fire. >> evacuations of british and other holidaymakers are continuing on the island of rhodes as firefighters continue to battle those wildfires which are being whipped up by strong winds. >> well, the latest is on the island of corfu. the fires there now leading to a partial evacuation of some areas, although the authorities say not directly yet threatening the island's main resorts. >> mark white has the latest on this rapidly unfolding situation i >> l>> flying >> flying low over mountain for

lists. a turkish firefighting plane gives a sobering assessment of the extent of the disaster now engulfed large parts of this greek island. turkey has supplied two planes and a helicopter to help authorities in rhodes battle. the flames, which are being whipped up by strong winds . whipped up by strong winds. already a number of local villagers and tourist hotels have been badly damaged by the fires leading to the mass evacuation of around 20,000 people over the last couple of days. people over the last couple of days . a ukrainian tourist filmed days. a ukrainian tourist filmed these images on a beach where a number of those evacuees had fled to a high school. number of those evacuees had fled to a high school . sports fled to a high school. sports hall has been turned into a makeshift evacuation centre for those fleeing the worst of the fires. >> we could see smoke and then basically the smoke seemed to be getting worse and we came back

from the beach yesterday. we went down in the morning and luckily we came back. when we got back, we were in the pool at about 3:00 in the afternoon. we could see flames coming over the top of the forest in rhodes. >> thousands of others have ended up here at the island's main airport for forced to sleep in the terminal as they await evacuation flights. >> we started to hear the helicopters and then basically you could see the fire eventually on the on the mountain top panic, everyone dashing about fleeing for buses . and, you know, luckily we were able to get a bus, a ten man foreign office rapid reaction team is now on the ground helping uk nationals at the airport. >> a number of the airlines and tour company , including easyjet tour company, including easyjet and tui, are laying on additional flights and have promised more if required .

promised more if required. >> the situation was very challenging, but we are here with a strong team of more than 300 to represent tentatives . we 300 to represent tentatives. we are facing the situation very well organised and in close cooperation with the greek authorities. it's in the evening when the extent of the fires still raging across parts of rhodes can be seen. >> the orange glow illuminating the night sky. the tourist minister on rhodes said reports that up to 50% of the island had been affected by the fires was false. she put the figure at nearer 15, but with strong winds and the potential for a shift in direction , other areas could direction, other areas could still be under threat. on the greek island of corfu , greek island of corfu, authorities there are also closely monitoring wildfires as their rapid spread led to a partial evacuation of some

tourist areas overnight. although greek authorities say the fires are not yet directly threatening any of the island's resorts . but across greece, resorts. but across greece, tinder dry conditions and high temperatures have led the national government to declare a severe fire risk to almost half of the nation's landmass . as the of the nation's landmass. as the thermometer in some areas is expected to top 45 c in the days ahead. expected to top 45 c in the days ahead . mark white gb news. ahead. mark white gb news. >> well, mark joins us now in the studio with the very latest . mark, there are some people who are staying out there. i think they've called it a bit of a but they're a survival exercise, but they're staying what about staying put for now. what about those that are desperate to just get home? >> well, those people will have to join the queues at the airport. sadly because on any given day, there are thousands of people that would be leaving this tourist resort at the end

of their holidays. so they've got to be be included on the sort of departure boards and the departure flights. we know that a number of the airlines now jet jet2 and easyjet, tui and the like, they're all putting on additional flights. so a bit of additional flights. so a bit of a slow, sluggish response in the first few days. but it is ramping up now with a view to getting many of these 99,000 or so that were evacuated out of the island. >> and we've got this rapid deployment unit now at rhodes international airport. i'm just looking at the contrast in the language being used from the prime minister spokesman here in number 10, who said it's a limited area of rhodes. we don't want to act out of proportion. we're going send raf we're not going to send the raf . then greece, we've got . and then in greece, we've got the prime minister, kyriakos mitsotakis . we are at war with mitsotakis. we are at war with fire, a completely different assessment . assessment. >> i think both those

assessments can can be true. they are at war with a fire, but rhodesis they are at war with a fire, but rhodes is on tourist minister says that it is contained within about 15% of the island at the moment . but there is obviously moment. but there is obviously issues around the wind in any shift in direction that could send it off, threatening other resorts . but actually very few resorts. but actually very few of the resorts around rhodes have been directly threatened by the fires and those resorts that have been threatened . will the have been threatened. will the 19,000 or so people evacuated out of those areas? so rhodes, rhodes town in the north completely unaffected , for completely unaffected, for instance? yeah. and that's why you've still got people are wondering on earth wondering why on earth is easyjet yet sending into easyjet yet sending people into the midst of an inferno . well the midst of an inferno. well the midst of an inferno. well the fact is the vast majority of the fact is the vast majority of the island is still unaffected in terms of the main resorts. so that's why they're still going in. but of course, there are people from some of those affected areas that have come out. it's a significant number

that will require evacuation out of the island. >> and talk to us about corfu . >> and talk to us about corfu. how badly affected is that island at the moment? i mean, there's a suggestion that the wildfires there are due to arson. >> yes . and even on rhodes >> yes. and even on rhodes itself , some concern that some itself, some concern that some of the fires may have been deliberately started . so that deliberately started. so that will obviously have to be investigated . and in the investigated. and in the fullness time , there was some fullness of time, there was some concern over corfu last night as these fires looked as though they were out of control. the authorities there say that they have contained and a lot of the blazes there and that actually they're not directly affecting any of the resorts . there was any of the resorts. there was still a partial evacuation overnight and some of these people may well be deciding to fly home or to get out some ships out of the island itself . ships out of the island itself. but it's the situation is far more contained and less worse than it is in rhodes itself. >> mark, thank you for that. well, indeed. can you fly home

jet2 the holiday firm saying they're adding three extra rescue flights to get people back from rhodes . well, ray back from rhodes. well, ray addison at gatwick airport for us and jack carson at east midlands airport. and jack, i think jet2 mainly based there at east midlands. what are the details about these flights ? details about these flights? >> well, here at the east midlands airport, it's going to be this afternoon on just after 3:00, 3:10, the first flight, and then 3:45 is the second flight. that is coming in from from tui and jet2 from corfu respectively . they they did also respectively. they they did also have flights take off and depart from the airport going on to that greek island, which maybe is a bit of indication of the risk currently posed there. of course, number 10 saying that it is the holiday experts and those tourist , those that are tourist company, those that are best to guidance best placed to give the guidance on is safe for an on whether it is safe for an individual or a family to go out on holiday. so the fact that tui and jet2 and ryanair as well, we're still flying to we're all still flying out to corfu this airport. so corfu from this airport. so maybe some indication that the

wildfires aren't as wildfires there aren't as serious what on nearby serious as what are on nearby islands such as rhodes. in fact, the one of the mayors in one of the one of the mayors in one of the areas of corfu saying that most of the fires are now under control. but he did also say that fire department's first that the fire department's first unofficial is that it unofficial assumption is that it was arson and that fires don't start simultaneously in four different areas. that's what the deputy of north corfu said deputy mayor of north corfu said . of course, in the fullness of time, in a full investigation, we'll have to take place to determine the actual cause of those fires on the island. but he's saying that island he's saying that the island is in better position in in a much better position in that it still safe for that it is still safe for tourists to go there in terms of roads as well. we know from east midlands airport here that ryanair's flights there are still unaffected and they are still unaffected and they are still flying to and from that island from airport . island from this airport. >> okay, jack carson, thank you for that update from east midlands airport. ray addison, you're gatwick airport. you're at gatwick airport. what's the latest situation there ? there? >> well, we now have around 420

british tourists in the air on two easyjet flights heading from the island of rhodes here to gatwick airport . now, the first gatwick airport. now, the first flight was delayed by an hour. that's currently above montini's . so it's heading towards bosnia air. that's due in gatwick at 326. second flight took off just about 15 minutes ago. that's one hour and 45 minutes late. scheduled eta for that flight is 510 heading into the evening. of course , the foreign office course, the foreign office saying there's around 7 to 10,000 british tourists on the island. not all of them will be needing help. i was just chatting to a plane spotter. they all flock here to look at the latest planes . something the latest planes. something very exciting happening with ryanair , apparently. was ryanair, apparently. and he was telling his uncle's sat telling me his uncle's sat in the barin telling me his uncle's sat in the bar in his hotel on the the pool bar in his hotel on the island of rhodes and is very, very happy , although he can see very happy, although he can see some smoke and flames the some smoke and flames in the distance . government, of course, distance. government, of course, saying it's up to the tour operators to bring people home. they're not going to involve the

raf gatwick airport saying make sure you've got travel insurance to cover disruption. ray thank you very much indeed for that. in the well, the ironic rain there at gatwick to welcome them back, course, to britain . back, of course, to britain. let's get more with alex let's get more now with alex deakin, meteorologist at the met office, can us. alex office, who can join us. alex thank you for your time. i mean, the being told the assessment we're being told from the deputy mayor in rhodes is fire remain out of is the fire remain out of control. and we gather that the problem the winds are problem is the winds are whipping and changing whipping up and also changing direction. there yeah , and direction. there yeah, and that's unlikely to change as we go through this week. >> one thing that is going to change, going to see a change, we are going to see a drop in the temperatures. so this heat that's building this heat that's been building up much of the up across much of the mediterranean days, mediterranean over recent days, if is now starting to if not weeks, is now starting to ease. eased ease. it's already eased in spain. in italy. spain. it's easing now in italy. and will see temperatures and we will see temperatures dropping closer to average dropping back closer to average in greece later this week. however, the reason that's happening is a weather fronts moving through and that weather front will switch to winds front will also switch to winds around and make them gust a little bit stronger as well through of the

through the middle part of the week. i change week. and i say change in direction. going to direction. so we are going to see wind continuing to be see the wind continuing to be a feature. although a feature. and although that is a weather front bringing the change, to bring change, it is unlikely to bring any of course is any rain, which of course is perhaps the most useful thing in fighting so fighting these fires. so temperatures dropping, winds continuing gust and not much continuing to gust and not much rain is the forecast . rain is that is the forecast. >> just explain to >> alex, can you just explain to us i think we might have a map where see the location of where we can see the location of roads corfu and of evian and roads of corfu and of evian and is the weather very similar on these islands? i guess not because they are quite far apart , aren't they? certainly roads is . is. >> yes, but actually the weather is very similar right across the mediterranean has been for a while. that's why seen while. that's why we've seen this prolonged spell of hot weather, because had weather, because we've had a large high pressure large area of high pressure dominating right across the mediterranean. of those mediterranean. so all of those greek basically greek islands basically influenced low influenced by the same low pressure the jet stream pressure system, the jet stream is the player in this, is the bigger player in this, and that's just been in the same kind of position for a number of weeks. been bringing us a weeks. it's been bringing us a lot , but it's also lot of rain, but it's also allowed this dome of high pressure build the

pressure to build across the mediterranean. the mediterranean. so, yes, the weather those very, weather in those areas very, very though they very similar, even though they are miles it's dry , are many miles apart. it's dry, it's sunny, it's incredibly hot. temperatures are significantly above average. sea surface temperatures are also above average across large swathes of the mediterrane ionian. so, yeah, they're all seeing this same weather all same weather and it's all contributing . contributing. >> so what's going to take or what will take the dome away? what can actually we look forward to in terms of the conditions changing and bringing them some relief ? them some relief? >> well, in the broader picture, what we really need to see is a shift in the jet stream. it's been locked in this pattern, this waving pattern where the mediterranean has been under high pressure been high pressure and we've been under there are under low pressure. there are signs week we signs that through this week we might start a change in might start to see a change in that which could bring a shift in weather patterns as we head into august. there's no real into august. but there's no real big in that through big shift in that through the rest but we are rest of july. but what we are going to see is a cold front coming down, which will introduce, temperatures introduce, say, temperatures back to average, which back closer to average, which will at least reduce the temperatures. but that doesn't

really relief from the really bring any relief from the fires because it's still going to gusty winds. as i say, to be gusty winds. and as i say, there's rain really expected. to be gusty winds. and as i say, the yeah. rain really expected. to be gusty winds. and as i say, the yeah. and] really expected. to be gusty winds. and as i say, the yeah. and withoutzxpected. to be gusty winds. and as i say, the yeah. and without wishing. to be gusty winds. and as i say, the yeah. and without wishing to >> yeah. and without wishing to make what they're make light of what they're suffering , gather make light of what they're suffjetig , gather make light of what they're suffjet stream , gather make light of what they're suffjet stream now , gather make light of what they're suffjet stream now means ther make light of what they're suffjet stream now means that the jet stream now means that there are flood warnings for us here in britain, is that right? >> i think we've got any >> i don't think we've got any flood warnings, no. but there are some heavy rain are some pretty heavy rain around moment. there are around at the moment. there are some showers around. we some thunder showers around. we saw some heavy rain through through night. the through last night. the environment agency issued environment agency that issued flood warnings. so, yeah, there was lot of heavy rain was quite a lot of heavy rain around night there's around last night and there's a few showers today. few heavy showers around today. and are looking at more and we are looking at more showers, weather the showers, showery weather for the rest uk. and rest of july in the uk. and staying the cool side here as well. >> alex, as ever, thank you very much indeed for updating us. >> coming home from >> i bet people coming home from roads have been so roads will never have been so pleased have rain pleased to have seen the rain and rain. and feel the rain. >> indeed . >> indeed. >> indeed. >> do stay us here on gb >> do stay with us here on gb news coming up from bassetlaw to brazil, the underwater cables embarking on an exotic journey. we'll be telling you and explain it all in a few moments time

looks like things are heating up i >> -- >> boxed boilers, proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. of weather on. gb news. >> hello, i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. there's some fairly heavy showers around at the moment across parts of the south—east. many other parts, moment across parts of the south—eseeingany other parts, moment across parts of the south—e seeing someher parts, moment across parts of the south—eseeing some brighter, though, seeing some brighter spells, but it isn't warm, low pressure pulling but pressure is pulling away, but it's allowing the winds to come down from the north, hence why the air is quite cool. this weather front is sparking some pretty over pretty intense showers over parts southern and eastern parts of southern and eastern england, particularly from essex down towards hampshire . they'll down towards hampshire. they'll slowly ease through the afternoon . elsewhere, a few afternoon. elsewhere, a few scattered light showers, but many stay dry and many places will stay dry and bright and have a little bit of sunshine coming through. but it isn't there's a cool isn't warm. there's a cool breeze blowing, keeping temperatures average temperatures below average mostly struggling in the high teens at best. still a few heavy showers around. then through the late afternoon , but they'll fade late afternoon, but they'll fade fairly think into the fairly rapidly. i think into the evening time. we will see more

showers coming into scotland overnight. most overnight. elsewhere, most places becoming dry. the possibility of some showers in the south—west later on, but generally clear spells and temperatures dipping down into single figures. certainly rural spots. fresh start to spots. so a fresh start to tuesday . again, it'll be a case tuesday. again, it'll be a case of dodging the showers on tuesday . shouldn't be as many. tuesday. shouldn't be as many. certainly across the south—east and east anglia and across wales and east anglia and across wales and southwest england, some early showers, but generally turning drier here through the day. quite showery across southern scotland, north—west england, where 1 or 2 heavy ones are likely. and on the are likely. and again on the cool side for most with temperatures struggling in the high teens at best, it looks like things are heating up . like things are heating up. >> boxed boilers proud sponsors of weather on gb news as

this evening. gb news the people's channel. britain's watching young . welcome back to watching young. welcome back to the live desk on gb news a multi million pound order of underwater cables is making its way to brazil after leaving a factory in worksop in nottinghamshire over the weekend i >> -- >> and -_ >> and why 5mm >> and why is that important? well, it's just one of many products on the uk's exported to latin america and elsewhere . as latin america and elsewhere. as we trade less with the european union and more the rest of union and more with the rest of the our east midlands the world, our east midlands reporter will hollis has the details us. details for us. >> a colossal coil ready to roll halfway across the world, weighing as much as 50 elephants.

>> this 329 tonne wire rope is leaving its factory in worksop destination south america. >> it's one of three that we've exported . exported. >> and andy is engineering manager at brunton shaw. >> it's took three days to build this trailer around the reel to be picked up , this trailer around the reel to be picked up, and it is now ready for shipping tonight , ready for shipping tonight, every inch matters. >> it's so big, police are closing the road and it's attracting a crowd . attracting a crowd. >> we've come down here to see the big lorry had all the way up around worksop. that's right . around worksop. that's right. there's a big wire rope and there's loads of police cars going all around the streets. it's something different, isn't it? so they could go back to school in september. they've school in september. so they've got bound for brazil. got to seen bound for brazil. >> it's taken 20 weeks to complete each wire, 3.5km long. the company's sending to a multi—million pound deal. it will be used for laying pipes

beneath the pacific ocean. kieran buys the materials, but he started out as just an apprentice . for me, apprentice. for me, manufacturing is not much of it in the uk as much anymore, but i think it needs to grow again. he's one of 100 people from worksop with the job . here for worksop with the job. here for the leader of bassetlaw council, james nash. the sale shows the district can be a hub for manufacturing . manufacturing. >> we're on a very positive journey in bassetlaw. we've got lots of companies that are moving here, most notably the fusion energy project, a multi—billion pound project which will be taking place at west burton power station . west burton power station. >> the departure comes as new research shows a drop in manufacturing exports to the eu from england and wales. a shift in trade patterns . the raw steel in trade patterns. the raw steel used for the wires comes from india . managing director somnath india. managing director somnath says the sale that spans three continents will bring even bigger orders. >> we have supplied a couple of these kind of product throughout

these kind of product throughout the europe and the usa globally and we would like to think that we will be the market leader very, very soon. >> a tight squeeze, but it's eventually on the road. a big load going out and it's very great fun for kids to come and see it. >> and how many wheels did it have? >> have you counted them? >> have you counted them? >> probably like a hundred. >> probably like a hundred. >> it's a long way to brazil, but britain is setting its own pace. will hollis gb news in worksop now the sentencing of transport for london and the first group owned tram operations limited over a tram crash which killed seven people has got underway at the old bailey. >> both organisations have pleaded guilty to health and safety failings over the accident when the tram derailed at croydon in south london in 2016. >> gb news reporter lisa hartle has been following the story and is outside the old bailey. lisa what can you tell us? well as

you said, that sentencing of transport for london and tram operators limited is underway. >> so that's after they entered a guilty plea to health and safety failings last year. a guilty plea to health and safety failings last year . so safety failings last year. so tfl are responsible for the infrastructure for providing the trams, whereas tram operations limited, they're responsible for the actual running of the service for providing drivers. so it was . on the 9th of so it was. on the 9th of november in 2016 when 69 passengers were on board. as you say, seven of those lost their lives. and all the other passengers , but one sustained passengers, but one sustained injuries as the tram was travelling from new addington to wimbledon when it derailed at sandylands sandylands south london, travelling at 45mph in a 12 mile per hour zone. so today the prosecution, in their opening statement said the principal failing that, they are going to say is the principal failing was the lack of a detailed risk assessment addressed the risk of a high speed , high speed derailment at speed, high speed derailment at that curve in the tracks where

the accident happened. so over the accident happened. so over the next three days, the court is going to be hearing evidence on such if the on issues such as if the lighting was up to scratch, if the signage was as should the signage was as it should have been. court heard this have been. the court heard this morning. also ten victim impact statements. four of them were read out by family members such as jean smith, the mum of mark smith, who was just 35 years old when he was killed . and she when he was killed. and she struggled at times to speak , struggled at times to speak, sharing with court the sharing with the court the impact death had had impact her son's death had had on and her family. and he on her and her family. and he left behind a young son, she said she cried every day for two and a half years until still to this day struggles psychologically . ali, psychologically. ali, a statement was also read out on behalf of stephen kennedy . he behalf of stephen kennedy. he lost his arm in the crash when he was just 24. he had just started a career as an electrician in the film industry. and he said as a result, he could no longer do his job and he suffers psychologically to this day. this follows the acquittal of tram driver alfred doris last month , who was accused of month, who was accused of

failing to take reasonable care of his passengers. the driver claimed a number of factors, including poor lighting and signage , was leading into the signage, was leading into the tunnel that led to the crash was to blame. so this sentencing is expected to take another two days after this . days after this. >> lisa, thanks very much indeed for updating us on that. and of course, back to you as we get more. stay with us here the more. stay with us here on the live desk and gb news. let's get an though, on all an update now, though, on all the headlines. aarons the latest headlines. aarons there for . us there waiting for. us >> a very good afternoon to you. 132 the time aaron armstrong here in the newsroom downing street says there are no plans to get the raf to help stranded holidaymakers get back from roads between 7 and 10,000 britons are currently on the greek island where authorities have conducted one of the largest evacuations in their history. the wildfires history. as the wildfires continue to burn, there have also been evacuation orders on corfu, where the foreign office says no resorts have been

affected . and also on the island affected. and also on the island of evia , holiday firm jet2 says of evia, holiday firm jet2 says they're adding four repatriation flights in addition to two extra from easyjet today and another tomorrow . sarah shepard, who tomorrow. sarah shepard, who fled from rhodes and mentioned to us earlier how she escaped from the danger. we'll play that to you a little bit later. a michael gove has announced plans to create more homes in inner cities by relaxing planning rules and cutting red tape. the housing secretary says he wants to make it easier to convert empty shops flats and empty shops into new flats and make easier to extend homes make it easier to extend homes and convert lofts . islamic and convert lofts. islamic preacher anjem choudary has appeared in court charged with three terror offences relating to the banned organised al—muhajiroun. the charges include directing a terrorist organisation membership of a prohibited organisation and encouraging support for one. mr chaudhry spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address when he appeared at westminster

magistrates court earlier . and magistrates court earlier. and there could be fresh disruption on the trains with drivers is threatening a ban on further overtime at the height of the summer holidays. members of the aslef union will not work extra hours for a week from saturday the seventh. so saturday the 5th to the 12th of august. the union claims that none of the train companies employs drivers claims that none of the train com is nies employs drivers claims that none of the train com is warning)loys drivers claims that none of the train com is warning of ys drivers claims that none of the train comis warning of serious drivers and is warning of serious disruption. it'll be the fifth week long ban on overtime since may. the latest ban ended on saturday, with another one due from . july 30th 1st to august from. july 30th 1st to august the 5th. more on all of our stories on our website, gbnews.com. and we'll be back with more headlines in in half an hour's time. >> direct bullion sponsors the financial report on gb news for gold and silver investment .

gold and silver investment. quick look at today's markets. >> the pound buys you $1.2850 and ,1.1577 is the price of gold £1,529.82 per ounce. and the ftse 100 is at 7647 points. >> direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news for physical

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>> welcome back to the live desk housing secretary michael gove has said tory backbenchers will realise that his plans are in the national interest. that is, after one hit out at what he calls his nonsense proposals as well. >> nonsense proposals may be on housing. it comes as the issues to tackle the uk's housing crisis. according to mr gove, pledging to meet the conservative manifesto commitment to build a million new homes before 2024. here is the housing secretary outlining those details earlier. >> long term plan has ten principles for the regeneration and renaissance of the hearts of 20 of our most important towns and cities supercharging europe's science capital building beautiful and making architecture great again, building great public services into the heart of every community, communities taking back control of their future , back control of their future, greener homes, greener landscapes and green belt

protection in a new deal for tenants and landlords. ensuring that every home is safe, decent and warm . i'm liberating and warm. i'm liberating leaseholders and extending ownership to a new generation . ownership to a new generation. >> let's get more with our deputy political editor tom harwood, who is actually at this morning's announcement is now with in the studio. and with us here in the studio. and we point term we should point out that term nonsense plans from a tory mp no less, the south cambridgeshire mp. >> indeed , anthony brown has >> indeed, anthony brown has been very critical of housing plans as indeed has the former mp for the city of cambridge, juuan mp for the city of cambridge, julian huppert, the lib dem . julian huppert, the lib dem. there have been lots of people in the locality who are saying we don't want building here and this the problem that this is the problem that government has the government often has in the generality. say, generality. people say, of course need more in course we need more homes in this when it comes this country. and when it comes down specifics, there is down to the specifics, there is often local opposition. and this is why michael gove's plan is perhaps very political. what it doesisit perhaps very political. what it does is it picks off areas of the country that may well have big bouts of building in east

london, he namechecked leeds , he london, he namechecked leeds, he namechecked and indeed cambridge . this cambridge new quarter plan . and it's interesting plan. and it's interesting because it differs from the labour party's proposals of sweeping planning reform across the board. i asked michael gove if this was too political and too piecemeal. millions of people in the country are suffering the acute effects of this country's housing shortage . tej you've outlined some areas of progress, but there are specific there. top down, it's a piecemeal plan . is this when you piecemeal plan. is this when you compare it to the sweeping planning reform that the labour party is proposing, simply too little, too late ? little, too late? >> no, i don't think the labour party are putting forward a sweeping planning reform at all. all all they have said is that they want to see green belt land swallowed up that form of development as we've seen in the past , that piecemeal, sequential past, that piecemeal, sequential development has led to the erosion of environmental assets

. it's led to communities opposing development and it hasn't provided the scale of growth that we need. i wouldn't describe the extension of development out across the thames estuary in the way that we've done as anything other than ambitious , ambitious on than ambitious, ambitious on a oltenian scale . i wouldn't oltenian scale. i wouldn't describe the transformation that we envisage in leeds or or the growth of barrow or the significant growth that we expect to see around cambridge as piecemeal and nor does this top down what it is, is a determined effort by national government to work with local communities in to order unlock the homes that we need . in my the homes that we need. in my speech today , i've outlined a speech today, i've outlined a coherent plan which takes into account not just the role that national government can play and the partnership that we require for local government, but also the other levers that we need in order to get our housing market moving, discussing everything from unblocking, planning, backlogs to how we can get higher quality design and a more

beautiful aesthetic look in new development . all of these development. all of these together are required . labour together are required. labour didn't come anywhere near that . didn't come anywhere near that. >> so crucially there michael gove was talking about this specific plan and a cynic might say the areas in which michael gove wants to build east london, leeds , cambridge, they're not leeds, cambridge, they're not tory voting areas, but also they are areas with big house prices, market signals for more building. so potentially this is an interesting political balance that could deliver lots of homes without upsetting too many tory mps. >> and you challenged him. is it top down? he said no, it's local authorities. local communities want it, but that's not the case in cambridge, that it's been outlined. i mean, there's been pretty opposition, he pretty vocal opposition, as he was saying, opposition was saying, vocal opposition from live there. >> however, the potential for people move there, obviously people to move there, obviously there is huge demand we there is huge demand because we can in the can see that in the extraordinary prices , very extraordinary house prices, very high cambridge. but high salaries in cambridge. but people move people struggling to move there get growth limited as get jobs growth limited as a

result. but it's interesting, michael gove seemed to want to win sceptics to this plan, win over sceptics to this plan, not just with promises of infrastructure and new transit system for leeds, a new transit system for leeds, a new transit system cambridge, but also system for cambridge, but also in architecture . and in terms of architecture. and the creates streets there the group creates streets there , a social enterprise, chair , a social enterprise, the chair of chairs an advisory board of whom chairs an advisory board for gove's department, for michael gove's department, have created mock ups of have created some mock ups of what think new this what they think new this cambridge new quarter should look according those look like. according to those design out by design principles set out by michael watching on michael gove. those watching on television believe, be television, i believe, will be able them on our screens able to see them on our screens now sort of extending that traditional architectural style of cambridge into a new quarter. these look like buildings that could have been built over 100 years ago, but michael gove plans that these could be built in the next decade. >> michael gove's own watercolours. we all know one of the one of the thoughts is, is that it will be converting retail premises. >> you could have a takeaway >> so you could have a takeaway converted into flats. but some people are concerned that the quality won't be very good. so converting these buildings, this

is the other element of the plan i >> cambridge new quarter is a is a completely new development . a completely new development. but the other element of this quite political plan is that densification of cities as they currently exist is a is a key way to do more house building with more consent, using buildings that are currently standing there, perhaps underutilised offices where people might have moved out because there's more working at home or indeed high streets that have less footfall and closed shops be much more easily shops could be much more easily with what are called permitted development into with what are called permitted deveis3ment into with what are called permitted deveis something into with what are called permitted deveis something they into with what are called permitted deveis something they have 1to this is something they have touched on before. >> i think as far back as 2016. but the timing now but is the timing now significant where they see housing as being one of the main issues for general election? >> it's remarkable how much housing has moved up the political salience it's political salience ladder. it's been brought up at almost every prime minister's questions in the months. it clearly the last few months. it clearly is something that not just people in the private rented sector are now feeling the squeeze people with squeeze on, but also people with mortgages the mortgages are feeling the squeeze because people so squeeze on because people are so much leveraged with much more leveraged with debt than were 10 or years

than they were 10 or 20 years ago house prices have ago because house prices have soared even modest soared and soared. even modest rises in interest rates now affect mortgage holders so much more than they did several decades ago. and so that salient issue the fact that we're issue of the fact that we're about 4 million homes in deficit compared to european countries has become more and more salient i >> -- >> okay, tom, tom, thank you very much . very much. >> the jury in the sex offences trial of hollywood star kevin spacey has been sent out to consider its verdict. >> well, the oscar winning actor denying charges involving four men, including sexual assault , men, including sexual assault, indecent assault, all alleged to have been committed over a penod have been committed over a period of more than a decade. let's get more now with paul hawkins, who's at southwark crown court and, of course, paul , there's been fairly dramatic evidence in court and some fairly dramatic witness as well i >> -- >> yeah, most notably sir elton john appearing via video link dunng john appearing via video link during the trial in defence of kevin spacey. that was in relation to an allegation that

kevin spacey grabbed the crotch of a man on their way to sir elton john's party in 2002. sir elton john's party in 2002. sir elton john's party in 2002. sir elton john appearing via video link to say that the only year he could remember him attending was in 2001. so yes, there has been some dramatic evidence this morning . mrjustice will morning. mr justice will finished his summing up. he went through the charges. each individual allegation made in total nine charges made by four men from 2001 to 2013. and he also gave the defence side of things to the jury as well. he gave a brief history of kevin spacey's background and his relationship with the arts and theatre in the u.k. and then he laid out a chronology, a brief chronology, a timeline of the allegations , not just in allegations, not just in relation to this case, but also allegations is in the united states, most notably by the actor anthony rapp in 2017. and that then sparked other people to come forward and bringing us

to come forward and bringing us to where we are today . to where we are today. >> and paul, mrjustice mark wall, he has sent jurors out, but they do have nine charges to consider . so, but they do have nine charges to consider. so, i mean, it's not looking likely they're going to come back today, is it? >> well, in mrjustice ball's own words, this is what he said to the jury. take the time you need. do not rush. so we're not expecting them to go through what effectively are a series of claims, counterclaims , the claims, counterclaims, the evidence that's been laid before them. remember, during this trial, kevin spacey was described as a vile sexual predator , a slippery and predator, a slippery and atrocious case. and we heard about those. what were called described as aggressive crotch grabs . and one more serious grabs. and one more serious allegation in that a man put to him that he woke up, that he said kevin spacey had drugged him and he woke up to find him and that he woke up to find kevin performing a sex kevin spacey performing a sex act remember, kevin act on him. remember, kevin spacey those spacey denies all those allegations. and indeed , when allegations. and indeed, when his summing up, they his defence was summing up, they described the

described three of the complainants liars and complainants as liars and another complainant . the another complainant. the allegation that was put forward saying that that was a possible clumsy pass, that was an admission made by by kevin spacey himself . so there is a spacey himself. so there is a lot for the jury to weigh up. and as i say, the judge has told them to take the time you need and do not rush. but as soon as there returning verdicts there is any returning verdicts by jury, there is any returning verdicts by jury, we'll bring them by the jury, we'll bring them to you. >> at southwark >> paul hawkins at southwark crown court, thank you for that update . it it's been a three update. it it's been a three weeks now since orkney council passed a motion allowing the orkney islands to explore an alternate future outside of scotland and outside of the uk . scotland and outside of the uk. on the 4th of july, the council voted 15 to 6 in favour of exploring new beginnings. >> how is that exploration been going last? scotland reporter tony mcguire has more for us. >> it wasn't so long ago that orkney was celebrating 500 years as a scottish territory . this as a scottish territory. this archive footage shot in 1968,

shows islanders celebrating the amalgamation of their celtic and nordic cultures . nordic cultures. >> today, more than 22,000 orcadians are contemplating a different future, one that could bnng different future, one that could bring an end to its 560 years as a scottish archipelago ten miles off the northern coast on the 4th of july, orkney council voted in favour of exploring alternative forms of governance. this satisfied with support from holyrood and westminster. council leader james stocken has grown tired of an ageing ferry fleet and disproportionate funding awarded by the islands growth deal . underfunded and growth deal. underfunded and overburdened . he makes the case overburdened. he makes the case that today's primary concerns spell disaster for orkney's future. we're in the vanguard. >> we are seeking thing what's going to happen in the future and the future looks pretty bleak . it's crazy that we don't bleak. it's crazy that we don't get the same funding that the other two islands groups get . other two islands groups get. shetland get £350 per person, more than us from the scottish government and the western isles gets £700 per person more than

we get in orkney to provide the same services. >> the ten year island growth deal was signed in january, promising a £50 million investment in orkney shetland and the western isles. scottish secretary alister jack stands by the deal but supports the council in voicing its dissatisfaction with the scottish government. >> well, the uk government is doing we have the islands deal and put money into that and we've put money into that and we've put money into that and that's split three ways between shetland the between orkney, shetland and the western we have western isles. and we have the levelling going but levelling up money going in. but i spoken to orkney i mean, i've spoken to orkney council leader and do have council leader and they do have of they are upset with the funding package. they get the local government funding package they the scottish they get from the scottish government and are upset government and they are upset that the scottish government aren't helping them to renew their orkney only their ferries. orkney only became part of scotland in 1468 after it was gifted to king james, the third as security in a wedding dowry celebrating his marriage to margaret of denmark. >> one option tabled by orkney council is to to nordic council is to return to nordic control , a proposal council is to return to nordic control, a proposal making headunes control, a proposal making headlines around the world. but

the council is also exploring independence from scotland within the uk. become an overseas territory of gibraltar or even a crown dependency like the isle of man. whatever conclusion orkney council draws from its research , the journey from its research, the journey to reach that conclusion will be lengthy following through will require petitions, referenda and constitutional approval from holyrood and westminster. of course, it's entirely possible that all this goes away with better communication from both governments and a re—evaluation of orkney's equity from the islands deal. tony mcguire gb news amazing looking beaches as well, isn't it? >> yeah. now a busy day. busy diary for his majesty the king. >> when isn't it busy for him to mark the 80th anniversary of the dambusters raids? his majesty will meet world war two veterans and staff at the battle of britain memorial flight, also visiting a lincolnshire cheese farm run by the same family for four generations. >> so that's a tasty treat in

store. our royal correspondent cameron walker is with for us more. i can just see the pictures now of him actually being off. had little selection. >> yes. the king is very excited about organic farming and i'm sure the king is going to very much enjoy the engagement he's currently on at this. local cheese producers, as you said, currently on at this. local chefamily�*ducers, as you said, currently on at this. local chefamilyduc they didn't quite make it did they for the coronation we were supposed to see. i think the lancaster and the hurricane and the spitfire because of the weather you're right. >> so the battle of britain memorial flight for these veteran to veteran war planes were meant to fly palace for fly over buckingham palace for the the coronation the fly—past, for the coronation that happen because of that did not happen because of the weather. did see them the weather. but we did see them fly a few weeks later for fly over a few weeks later for trooping the colour the trooping the colour for the king's parades. king's special birthday parades. there but also it's quite

interesting. he's meeting raf veterans who are over 100 years old. so we've got a former lancaster bomber engine here. so he's going to be meeting the king at raf coningsby this afternoon . and also another guy, afternoon. and also another guy, 102 year old, called frank tolly, and he was inspired to join the raf and the bombing raids because he saw the devastation that was caused in coventry in during the blitz in 1940 41. and was inspired to join the raf because of that. >> and of course that at the time, in terms of attacking civilian targets was incredibly content . focus and bomber civilian targets was incredibly content. focus and bomber harris taking that decision then to issue these raids onto german cities. >> yeah, it certainly was. and the dambusters raid in particular, a number of citizens did civilians even did lose their lives to dams were destroyed. one was a was damaged quite severely. so it's weighing up, wasn't it? it was it was seen as a big hammer. blow, hammer, blow to the war effort. >> the king wearing raf uniform today because he, of course, got

his wings . he was an raf pilot, his wings. he was an raf pilot, wasn't he ? wasn't he? >> yes. well, perhaps we don't know yet. we'll have to wait and see what he's wearing when we see what he's wearing when we see the pictures. >> okay. well, forward to that. >> just wonderful those >> just wonderful for those veterans super veterans as well. what a super day to have. well, day they're going to have. well, do us here on gb news. do stay with us here on gb news. we will bringing you all the we will be bringing you all the latest on thousands of latest on the thousands of british holidaymakers stranded by on the greek by those wildfires on the greek islands. do stay with us. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. on. gb news. >> hello, i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. we've seen a few heavy showers across the southeast. they're fading through this evening. seeing some evening. many places seeing some bright the end of bright spells during the end of the it's still on the the day, but it's still on the cool side. that's because the wind from the wind is coming down from the north. pressure clearing north. low pressure is clearing away to the east. and that cool feel will continue for most of this week. actually, as i said, a heavy showers across the

a few heavy showers across the southeast. they're fading a few scattered showers elsewhere in many will be largely dry many places will be largely dry overnight with some decent, clear spells. the winds will ease. clear spells. the winds will ease . and with that northerly ease. and with that northerly flow , it's going to be quite flow, it's going to be quite a cool night, actually. temperatures single temperatures down into single figures, certainly many rural spots, cities tend to spots, towns and cities tend to 12 celsius onto tuesday . and 12 celsius onto tuesday. and it's a case of sunny spells and showers, quite a few showers, certainly across the western side of scotland. initially obe much of central and eastern england will start dry, but we are expecting some heavy showers to develop , particularly over to develop, particularly over northern especially northern and especially northeast england the northeast england through the afternoon wales, southwest afternoon for wales, southwest england, not too many showers , england, not too many showers, decent chance of a dry afternoon with spells. but even with some sunny spells. but even in , temperatures in the sunshine, temperatures still for most still only high teens for most low 20s across the south wednesday, we'll see a few more showers again for northwest england. scotland, but england. southwest scotland, but generally start. showers generally a dry start. showers will develop in the east through the day. but further west, we'll start to see the cloud gathering as further outbreaks rain start to see the cloud gathering as furinzr outbreaks rain start to see the cloud gathering as furin here :breaks rain start to see the cloud gathering as furin here during rain start to see the cloud gathering as furin here during the ain come in here during the afternoon. again, temperatures mostly around or a touch below

average for the time of year. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on .

gb news houday gb news holiday from hell . holiday from hell. >> brits stranded in greece offered mercy flights to get them home, but those stuck say

not enough is being done. we'll be speaking to the chair of the foreign affairs select committee, alicia kearns . committee, alicia kearns. >> the wildfires now engulfing three separate greek islands. authorities in corfu and evia announcing evacuees on orders and no end in sight to the treacherous conditions . treacherous conditions. >> jet2 and easyjet continue to send rescue flights. we'll be live at gatwick and east midlands airport. >> also coming up, island life. how the snp is facing down the independent threat from within its own border, even while orkney wants to be heading to norway. first, the headlines with . aaron with. aaron >> good afternoon. it's a minute past to aaron armstrong here in the gb news room. the greek prime minister has declared war on the wildfires spreading

across roads and has warned of difficult days ahead. tour operators have now flown home. nearly 1500 holidaymakers at the start of a mass evacuation as the fires burn for a sixth day. jet2 have announced four repatriation flights today . repatriation flights today. easyjet have to planned later and another tomorrow. the foreign office says between 7 and 10,000 britons are currently on the island. it's set up a rapid deployment force to assist those in need of help. sarah shepherd, who fled rhodes, told gb news how she escaped the danger. dangen >> we knew that fires were burning, but we didn't really realise how they were coming so close . and then the hotel then close. and then the hotel then sent out an an alert and we all had to evacuate from there . and had to evacuate from there. and we sort of grabbed what we could and went down to the beach and then we just followed everybody else. there was just hundreds and hundreds of people just walking and just we were walking away from the fire. and as we looked back , you just there were

looked back, you just there were just the flames and the and the smoke . smoke. >> meanwhile , the government >> meanwhile, the government says there are currently no fires in residential areas of corfu , despite evacuation orders corfu, despite evacuation orders being issued there by authorities last night. almost 60 people were rescued by boat from nozaki beach in the north of the island. it's popular with tourists and there are conflicting reports coming from corfu. evacuations have also taken place on the island of evia . the prime minister, rishi evia. the prime minister, rishi sunak, says holidaymakers are being assisted . being assisted. >> my paramount priority is the safety of british nationals and that's why the deputy prime minister chaired a cobra meeting yesterday. he's been monitoring the situation closely. we've beenin the situation closely. we've been in touch with local authorities on the ground there and the foreign office have sent and the foreign office have sent a rapid deployment team the a rapid deployment team on the ground to assist people. i think the important thing is the most important thing is people remain in touch with their tour operators. there are lots of flights going and lots of flights going back and forth able to bring people forth to be able to bring people home. are in touch home. and if people are in touch with their tour operators,

they'll get the information that they'll get the information that they michael they need. well, michael gove has to create has announced plans to create more the uk's inner more homes in the uk's inner cities by relaxing planning rules and cutting red tape. >> the housing secretary says he wants make it easier to wants to make it easier to convert new convert empty shops into new flats and to extend homes and convert lofts . the plans include convert lofts. the plans include creating an urban quarter in cambridge , plans dismissed by cambridge, plans dismissed by the local tory mp anthony browne as nonsense . it comes amid as nonsense. it comes amid criticism the government's failed to hit its target to build 300,000 new homes annually . shadow levelling up secretary lisa nandy says the government's making empty promises. >> this is just the latest instalment of a government at war with itself . housing war with itself. housing secretary promising to build new homes while passing legislation. right now that will make it more difficult. mortgages have gone through the roof. housebuilding is falling off a cliff. we don't need more recycled press releases and broken promises. we need serious action to get britain building. >> the islamic preacher anjem choudhury's, appeared in court,

charged with three terror offences relating to the banned organisation al—muhajiroun. the charges include directing a terrorist organisation member of a proscribed organisation and encouraging support for one. mr choudhury spoke to confirm his name , date of birth and address name, date of birth and address when he appeared at westminster magistrates court today . train magistrates court today. train drivers are threatening fresh disruption at the height of the summer holidays, with a further ban on overtime. members of the aslef union will not work extra hours for a week from saturday the 5th to the 12th of august. the union claims none of the train companies employ enough drivers . it will be the fifth drivers. it will be the fifth week long ban on overtime since may. the latest one ended on saturday with the next due to start on the 31st of july. the jury start on the 31st of july. the jury in the sex offences trial of the oscar winning actor kevin spacey has been sent out to begin its deliberations . the

begin its deliberations. the hollywood star is charged with nine sexual offences concerning four men, which were allegedly committed between 2001 and 2013. the 63 year old denies the charges as the swedish climate activist greta thunberg has been found guilty of disobeying a police order for failing to leave a climate protest . ms leave a climate protest. ms thunberg was part of a group of protesters who blocked the road for oil trucks in sweden's malmo harbour in june. she will pay a fine that's going to be based on her reported income. ms thunberg arrived ahead of the hearing and did not speak to the press . arrived ahead of the hearing and did not speak to the press. bbc newsreader george alagiah has died at the age of 87 after battling bowel cancer since 2014. the sri lanka born journalist was presenting bbc one's news at six since two thousand and seven. he was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancen diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer, which had spread to his liver and lymph nodes. the bbc's director general, tim davie, has described george as one of the

best and bravest journalists of his generation . this is gb news his generation. this is gb news we'll bring you more in about half an hour's time. but now it's back to mark and pippa . it's back to mark and pippa. our aaron. >> thanks very much and welcome back to the live desk . let's back to the live desk. let's update you now on the situation with these greek islands and the wildfires. still treacherous conditions there. the wind, gusting temperatures still expected to top 45 celsius. the greek government declaring a severe fire risk for almost half of its land. >> mass evacuations of british and other holidaymakers are continue on the island of rhodes as firefighters battle those huge wildfires whipped up by strong winds. now on the island of corfu, further to the north, fires leading to a partial evacuation of areas of the authorities saying not yet

directly threatening some of the island's resorts while on evia, authorities telling residents of four villages in the south to evacuate to a town west of where the fire has been advancing. >> it's still a changeable situation . situation. >> ian mark white, though, has the latest on this story . the latest on this story. >> flying low over mt. forest , >> flying low over mt. forest, that's a turkish firefighting plane, gives a sobering assessment of the extent of the disaster now engulfing large parts of this greek island. turkey has supplied two planes and a helicopter to help authorities in rhodes battle. the flames, which are being whipped up by strong winds already , a number of local already, a number of local villagers and tourist hotels have been badly damaged by the fires , leading to the massive fires, leading to the massive accusation of around 20,000 people over the last couple of days. people over the last couple of days . a ukrainian tourist filmed days. a ukrainian tourist filmed these images on a beach where a

number of those evacuated had fled to a high school. sports hall has been turned into a makeshift evacuation centre for those fleeing the worst of the fires . fires. >> we could see smoke and then basically the smoke seemed to be getting worse and we came back from the beach yesterday. we went down in the morning and luckily we came back. when we got back like we were in the pool at about 3:00 in the afternoon, we could see flames coming over the top of the forest in rhodes . forest in rhodes. >> thousands of others have ended up here at the island's main airport, forced to sleep in the terminal as they await evacuation flights . evacuation flights. >> when we started to hear the helicopters and then basically you could see the fire eventually on the on the mountain top, panic , everyone mountain top, panic, everyone dashing about flee for buses. and you know, luckily we were

able to get a bus , a ten man able to get a bus, a ten man foreign office rapid reaction team is now on the ground helping nationals at the airport i >> -- >>a m >> a number of the airlines and tour companies, including easyjet and tui, are laying on additional flights and have promised more if required . promised more if required. >> and the situation was very challenging. but we are here with a strong team of more than 303 represent lives . we are 303 represent lives. we are facing the situation very well organised and in close cooperation with the greek authorities as it's in the evening when the extent of the fires still raging across parts of rhodes can be seen. >> the orange glow illuminating the night sky. the tourist minister on rhodes said reports that up to 50% of the island had been affected by the fires was false . she put the figure at false. she put the figure at nearer 15, but with strong winds

and the potential for a shift in direction , other areas could direction, other areas could still be under threat. on the greek island of corfu , greek island of corfu, authorities there are also closely monitoring wildfires as their rapid spread led to a partial evacuation of some tourist areas overnight. although greek authorities say the fires are not yet directly threatening any of the island's resorts . but across greece, resorts. but across greece, tinder dry conditions and high temperatures have led the national government to declare a severe fire risk to almost half of the nation's landmass . as the of the nation's landmass. as the thermometer in some areas is expected to top 45 c in the days ahead. more quite gb news some astonishing images there, mark.

>> just looking at just looking at those pictures, does it help to explain why maybe the liberal democrats are now urging the government to add rhodes to the travel red list, or is that a bit too much what they're asking for at this stage? well, on the face of it, with the images that we're seeing, you can understand perhaps they might it make perhaps why they might it make such a request. >> but the difficulty is only a portion of the island is affected directly by the wildfires , yet they are wildfires, yet they are absolutely see horrific images from those areas that are coming out and wildfires that are largely uncontained at this point. but for the vast majority of the island, around about 80% or more, they are unaffected, including all of the main resorts. so the tourist minister there is saying that she understands why flights from easyjet and the like are still coming into rhodes because they're going to parts of the island that are largely

unaffected . but it could change, unaffected. but it could change, you know, if the wind changes in direction , then resorts that direction, then resorts that hitherto have been free from any kind of threat could then face the potential of being under threat, but not at the moment . threat, but not at the moment. >> but then one reflects that the international airport itself, they've had to send a rapid deployment team. it's a hub for all these rescue or repatriation flights. the greek prime minister saying we are at war with fire. so there's a different assessment from 10 downing street to two. athens >> yeah. so, i mean, the greek prime minister said that the next three days are going to be critical, that still a very significant heat wave for the next three days. then things start to be to cool a bit. next three days. then things start to be to cool a bit . and start to be to cool a bit. and as i say, it will depend as well, largely on which direction that wind blows and whether it finds a flames into areas that haven't been burned yet or pushes them back into burned areas that can obviously aid the firefighting effort or hamper

it, depending on which way it goes. they yeah, the issue with regard to the airport is that there are thousands of people unexpectedly turning up at the airport ahead of schedule. now because they've had to cut through their holiday short because cause of what is happening on the island and the threat to their resorts . add to threat to their resorts. add to that the fact that every day in rhodes thousand of people will be leaving anyway at the end of their holiday was the scheduled flight. all have to be accommodated now. that's why easyjet jet2 tui and others are arranging for additional flights. some flying over empty to be able to take back those extra holidaymakers. >> and it may seem to be working because thomas cook now are actually officially recognising that everyone is out of the or at least their customers out of the evacuation centres. so they're either got out, flown out or they've got them to other hotels. >> yeah, i mean there wasn't too

many. to be fair. there was about 50in their evacuation centres. they've now either been moved, as you say , out with moved, as you say, out with a view to going home or they've been moved to another hotel out of the danger zone in rhodes and what they're saying is that they're for holiday holiday experience to rhodes are still continuing to areas that are unaffected by the fires. so this is just the bizarre juxtaposition that we're in, you know, an island that in part is burning and an island that's okay. full of smoke on occasions, depending on which way the wind blows. but actually is largely unaffected by the natural disaster. further up the coast. >> mark, thank you . >> mark, thank you. >> mark, thank you. >> well, let's cross to our reporter ray addison, who is at gatwick airport this afternoon. and that's where easyjet has dispatched several rescue flights . ray, are those flights flights. ray, are those flights now in the air and are they neanng now in the air and are they

nearing roads ? yeah both flights nearing roads? yeah both flights are now in the in the air. >> pip, we've got around 420 british tourists currently inbound to gatwick airport on those two rescue flights . those two rescue flights. >> the first one did leave one hour late. they're due to arrive in just over an hour at about 330 this afternoon . that's 330 this afternoon. that's currently over switzerland . the currently over switzerland. the second flight was delayed by an hour and 45 minutes. must have made that getting on that plane even more of a tense experience for british tourists desperate to get away and get themselves home. that's currently above greece. it's heading towards albania . the eta for that flight albania. the eta for that flight is 510. this evening into this evening. there is another easyjet rescue flight being put on tomorrow as well . of course, on tomorrow as well. of course, the foreign office pointing out the foreign office pointing out the 7 to 10,000 british tourists currently on the island of rhodes. not all of them will be wanting help. as mark was

pointing out, there only a small proportion of the island is affected by these fires. and of course, i was speaking to one person earlier on and he was saying to me his uncle's out there and he's actually having a great time, despite being aware very of what is going on very much of what is going on and the impact that that is having office minister having foreign office minister andrew mitchell speaking to gb news earlier, stressing that it the government is not going to send the raf. it is very much up to these tour operators to bring british tourists back . however, british tourists back. however, they do have that rapid deployment team out there . ten deployment team out there. ten members of the foreign office , members of the foreign office, including four british red cross responders, and they're working to help british tourists who do want to get come back earlier, people who've been evacuated from their hotels, maybe people who've lost track of their loved ones, their relatives, their friends and family. they're giving that kind of help . but giving that kind of help. but people know, it took people saying, you know, it took a long time them to get out a long time for them to get out there and is ten enough? are they enough to help they doing enough to help

people? that's that's the people? so that's that's the good news. we've got two flights inbound, 420 british tourists on their way home. a little bit more good news, too, for holidaymakers, maybe at gatwick. we understand that the industrial action that was planned the airport, that planned for the airport, that might shelved and might have been shelved and yeah, absolutely. industrial action planned for later on this month. and then in early august as well. that seems to have been put on hold. unite saying long planned strikes by dhl workers has been completely cancelled and they've accepted now a 15% pay and they've accepted now a 15% pay rise. meanwhile asc and menzies workers , they're being menzies workers, they're being balloted on an improved pay deal . if accept accepted that will mean that strike action scheduled to take place between july. the 28th and august 1st and then again from the 4th to the 8th of august will not take place. also talks with gatwick ground services are moving in the right direction. unite says

again they were planning to strike from july the 28th and then those early dates in august. so a little bit of good news there for tourists. >> right? >> right? >> great. thanks very much indeed updating there indeed for updating us there at gatwick. you. indeed for updating us there at gat let's you. indeed for updating us there at gat let's talk you. indeed for updating us there at gat let's talk to you. indeed for updating us there at gat let's talk to alicia kearns, >> let's talk to alicia kearns, who is chair of the foreign affairs select committee. good afternoon to you , alicia. these afternoon to you, alicia. these all these tourists that are coming home and we've been heanng coming home and we've been hearing what what the government has said, no plans yet to send out the raf to help. is the government handling this correctly , do you think ? correctly, do you think? >> so the government is there for when? all other ways of getting british nationals home have been exhausted . and at the have been exhausted. and at the moment we the commercial moment we have the commercial flights available. is no flights available. there is no question the moment question that at the moment the airports likely to close or airports are likely to close or be affected by wildfires . be affected by the wildfires. and actually it's commercial operators have statutory operators who have a statutory duty help get british duty to help get british nationals home. so what the british government has done quite is deploy rapid quite rightly, is deploy a rapid deployment team and their job is to that people have to make sure that people have the travel documents they need

and are able to access and that they are able to access those flights. and that they are able to access those i flights. and that they are able to access those i think flights. and that they are able to access those i think youlights. and that they are able to access those i think you was s. >> but i think you was reflecting maybe it wasn't quite rapid enough given that the problems were mounting from saturday night onwards . saturday night onwards. >> so, yes, i would have deployed a rapid deployment team earlier, given that actually it was tuesday when these wildfires began. was wednesday . the began. it was on wednesday. the first call went out . first emergency call went out. and the reality is that we've seen some operators, for example , chewy and jet2, make the responsible decision to say that they are not going to allow any british nationals to travel out between and next sunday between now and next sunday because recognise the because they recognise the temperatures to because they recognise the temworse res to because they recognise the temworse .zs to get worse. >> not every airline has done that though. alicia, do you think that that should be the common message here? >> i think it's an interesting paradox that those companies who provide an entire package houday provide an entire package holiday , so both the flight and holiday, so both the flight and the hotel, they have cancelled them knowing that the hotels are unable to currently provide a houday unable to currently provide a holiday to people, whereas a lot of the companies that provide straight flights, knowing that the air platform remains

completely continuing completely open, are continuing to fly people in, they know full well that british nationals who cancel that holiday rather than travelling to rhodes, which is purposely that i would purposely somewhere that i would not take family , not currently take my family, they would lose the 2000, £3,000 that have saved for a year that they have saved for a year to go on these holidays for. so i it's really important i think it's really important these companies these commercial companies actually themselves in the actually look themselves in the mirror the right mirror and make the right decision for british nationals and getting people home and focus on getting people home rather bringing people rather than bringing more people out place where we see out to a place where we see wildfires rage and wildfires continuing to rage and looking at what's being experienced by people not just in rhodes , but corfu, the in rhodes, but corfu, the continuing or the common theme that's coming through is lack of communication, lack of information. >> is there a role there for government to actually learn some lessons for the industry and say, look, there needs to be some kind of set structure in these circumstances that people can get information quickly and easily . easily. >> so that's why the rapid deployment team is there is to try and help improve that. but

there's no question if this was a situation where commercial airlines weren't being able to get in, i would be the first person to say to the foreign office, have you the office, have you opened the crisis you tripled crisis centre? have you tripled the number on the the number of people on the phones? look like the phones? it doesn't look like the commercial companies have done this that is utterly wrong. this and that is utterly wrong. they're happy a enormous they're happy to make a enormous profit can people profit when they can get people in and out of airports, but their statutory duty their job, their statutory duty is to step up in a time of crisis like this and to help british nationals. i want to see them doing that. i don't them doing that. and i don't want that they're want them saying that they're going opportunity want them saying that they're go make opportunity want them saying that they're go make a opportunity want them saying that they're go make a penny opportunity want them saying that they're go make a penny oppwejnity want them saying that they're go make a penny oppwe see' to make a penny when we see these devastating wildfires spreading. >> now, the liberal democrats have actually said the government should add road fees to the travel red list. what do you think of their demand ? you think of their demand? they're so i think you have to be very careful. >> no country has said that. rhodesis >> no country has said that. rhodes is on the no go zone. i would advise travel against, but i would not say you cannot or should not travel. and there is

a big distinction. and the liberal democrats should be very clear about exactly what they are for. at this are calling for. but at this point in time, would not be point in time, i would not be putting family on a flight to putting my family on a flight to rhodes. we have to remember that fires . athens, fires remain. athens, evia, corfu , although they are corfu, although they are improving in some situations as people need to look at the map, they work out where they need to work out where they're need to they're going. they need to determine safe. they they're going. they need to deterto 1e safe. they they're going. they need to deterto 1e to safe. they they're going. they need to deterto 1e to theirthey need to speak to their travel company. would be company. yes, i would be advising against travel to rhodes , but i would be rhodes, but i would not be saying absolutely no travel. >> and of course , then the >> and of course, then the question will be raised question that will be raised is when people return home and they try get travel try and get their travel insurance out for insurance to pay out for whatever, and they're told, well, is act of god well, no, this is an act of god and so on. is another role and so on. is that another role for government try for government to try and encourage the travel industry to help out people individually ? help out people individually? >> without question. you've seen parliamentarians trying to do that, whether it be in covid, whether it be after the volcano. the reality is, however, there is a requirement for them to step up and we do want to see

them doing this. they need to recognise that they do have responsibilities, but also it's quite clear wildfires, the vast majority of the time, do not just make themselves there is a clear element of criminality here. the greek government have been very clear about that and the fires, this is an the other fires, this is not an act of this is either act of god. this is either humankind mistakes and humankind making mistakes and leaving things out that go on fire, example, barbecues fire, for example, barbecues or people fires on earth. people setting fires on earth. so insurance companies so i think insurance companies should be very cautious before trying the god trying to claim the act of god clause . clause. >> alicia kearns chair the foreign affairs committee, thank you very much for joining you very much indeed for joining us here on gb news and updating us. you. let's bring you us. thank you. let's bring you some it's being some more sad news. it's being reported that trevor francis, the first million pound british football player who won two european cups with nottingham forest , has european cups with nottingham forest, has died at the age of 69. those reports just coming in. he also had more than 50 england caps a lethal striker, of course, who'd won the european cup twice with nottingham forest and well, rising to stardom before that at

birmingham city. but that news just coming in. very sad indeed . now coming up very soon, we will be talking about plans for more houses. >> what do you think of this, michael? michael gove has announced that these plans, they are coming, but they've been quickly described as not licence by a fellow tory mp. we'll be telling you more about that very shortly. stay with us. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on gb news >> hello , i'm alex deakin and >> hello, i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. we've seen a few heavy showers across the southeast. they're fading through this evening with many seeing evening with many places seeing some spells during the some bright spells during the end but it's still end of the day. but it's still on cool side. that's because on the cool side. that's because the is coming from the the wind is coming down from the north. pressure clearing the wind is coming down from the northto pressure clearing the wind is coming down from the north to theressure clearing the wind is coming down from the north to the east|re clearing the wind is coming down from the north to the east and clearing the wind is coming down from the north to the east and that|ring the wind is coming down from the north to the east and that cool away to the east and that cool feel will continue for most of this week. actually as i said, a

few heavy showers across the south—east they're fading. a few scattered showers elsewhere. many places will be largely dry overnight with some decent, clear spells . the winds will clear spells. the winds will ease. and with that northerly flow, it's going to be quite a cool night, actually. temperatures single temperatures down into single figures, certainly many rural spots, towns and cities tend to 12 onto tuesday . and 12 celsius onto tuesday. and it's a case of sunny spells and showers, quite a few showers, certainly across the western side of scotland. initially obe much of central and eastern england will start dry, but we are expecting some showers are expecting some heavy showers to develop , particularly over to develop, particularly over northern and especially northeast england through the afternoon wales, southwest afternoon for wales, southwest england, not too many showers , england, not too many showers, decent a dry afternoon decent chance of a dry afternoon with some sunny spells. but even in sunshine, temperatures in the sunshine, temperatures still most still only high teens for most low 20s across the south wednesday, we'll see a few more showers again for northwest england. scotland, but england. southwest scotland, but generally dry start. showers generally a dry start. showers will develop in the east through the day. but further west, we'll start to the gathering start to see the cloud gathering as further outbreaks of rain come here during the

come in here during the afternoon. again, temperatures mostly around a below mostly around or a touch below average for the time of year. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers. proud sponsors of weather on .

sunday from nine only on gb news the people's channel, britain's news . channel welcome back to news. channel welcome back to the live desk. >> let's take you straight live to jerusalem where they've been

violent protests outside the parliament building. the knesset water cannon being used on protesters after the law was passed. they're limiting the power of the supreme court to overrule government actions. it's been a very divisive policy and extensive protests outside the parliament building . but the the parliament building. but the law has gone through , too. and law has gone through, too. and as you can see, many people gathering with flags and placards in protest was what happened there . happened there. >> some protesters are dressed as judges and have handcuffed themselves. while there are banks and businesses which have shut down to show solidarity with the protests. the government announced its plans to change the judiciary back in january, soon after it was sworn in, and that has set off these unprecedented covid demonstrations . demonstrations. >> one protester hurt. we're being told, according to local media, at least six others arrested. and in terms of the protesters, they say that

benjamin netanyahu is trying to turn israel into a theocracy. others basically saying he is guilty of dictatorship ship. but clearly feelings running high. we'll update you as we get more. but that's the scene outside the knesset. but the law itself , it knesset. but the law itself, it seems, has been passed in the past few minutes . oh, stay with past few minutes. oh, stay with us. a busy day for the royals . us. a busy day for the royals. why king charles is the big cheese today. we'll be updating on that. but first, the headunes on that. but first, the headlines with . aaron headlines with. aaron >> hi, there it is, 232. let's get you up to date with the headlines. the greek prime minister has declared war on the wildfires spreading across roads, warning difficult days roads, warning of difficult days ahead. tour operators have flown home nearly 1500 holiday makers at the beginning of a mass evacuation as the fires burn for a sixth day. jet2 have announced four repatriation flights today. easyjet have another two planned

later and one tomorrow. the foreign office says between 7 and 10,000 britons are currently on the island and it's set up a rapid deployment force to assist those in need of help . michael those in need of help. michael gove has announced plans to create more homes in the uk's inner cities by relaxing planning rules. the housing secretary says he wants to make it easier to convert empty shops into new flats and to extend homes and convert lofts . homes and convert lofts. israel's parliament has passed a new law which will limit the supreme court's powers to overrule the government. it's led to months of demonstrations and political unrest. the president of the country, isaac herzog, is attempting to find a compromise. but protests continue. the bill has caused concerns about judicial independence. the prime minister benjamin netanyahu's coalition a far right coalition, is likely to secure the vote despite opposition from the military and wider spread demonstrations. critics fear the changes could

weaken israel's democracy. and it's led to economic repercussions . train drivers are repercussions. train drivers are to stage another ban on overtime. it's all part of their long running dispute over pay. members of aslef at 15 train companies in england will refuse to work overtime from the 7th of august to the 12th. the union says the ban will disrupt services, claiming none of the train companies employ enough drivers and more available on all of our stories on our website, gbnews.com .

gb news radio. >> welcome back to the live desk. michael gove has announced new proposals to tackle the uk's housing crisis. he's pledged to meet the conservative manifesto commitment to build a million new homes before 2024. here's the housing secretary outlining his principles earlier long term plan has ten principles the regenerate and renaissance of the hearts of 20 of our most important towns and cities supercharging europe's science caphal >> build beautiful and making architecture great again, building great public services into the heart of every community, communities taking back control of their future , back control of their future, our greener homes , greener our greener homes, greener landscapes and green belt

protection. a new deal for tenants and landlords , ensuring tenants and landlords, ensuring that every home is safe , decent that every home is safe, decent and warm, liberating leaseholders and extending ownership to a new generation . ownership to a new generation. >> but those plans already criticised by a tory mp no less, anthony brown, saying proposals for cambridge in his constituency were nonsense plans . let's get more now with rose grayston, independent housing consultant . i grayston, independent housing consultant. i used grayston, independent housing consultant . i used to work for consultant. i used to work for shelter rose, thank you for your time. i wonder if it's a case with all these plans of well, not quite in my not in my backyard, but not in my constituency. the mps themselves don't want them . don't want them. >> there is an element of that. of course. there's been a lot of really intense debate in recent years about whether homes should be built, where homes should be built. but i think it's really clear to anybody in this country that we've got a housing crisis and we do need more homes if we're going to build our way out of it. the question is , it

of it. the question is, is it just homes, anywhere ? is it just any homes, anywhere? is it going to be good enough? for example, to have more conversions shops conversions of takeaway shops and laundrettes ? and laundrettes? >> is that going to deliver the homes that we need of the quality that we need, or do we need more need to do something more targeted planned? we targeted, more planned? do we need to assess what kind of housing that's needed isn't being built at the moment? so i'd in particular i'd emphasise in particular social housing for people on low incomes , but also homes that are incomes, but also homes that are accessible and disabled accessible to older and disabled people . both of those are types people. both of those are types of are really of housing that are really undersupplied the market at of housing that are really undmomented the market at of housing that are really undmoment and the market at of housing that are really undmoment and we'renarket at of housing that are really undmoment and we're notet at of housing that are really undmoment and we're not going the moment and we're not going to solve problem by to solve that problem by deregulating rules and deregulating planning rules and allowing disused shops on high streets to be converted into poor quality homes. yeah just just on that point, i think it is actually the charity shelter which is concerned about that, saying that these takeaways that could be converted might be really unsafe. >> is that something that they are rightly worried about ? are rightly worried about? >> we have good reason to be concerned because we've seen a

lot of conversion ins in recent years and they have tended to produce really poor quality homes . a lot of conversions have homes. a lot of conversions have actually been used as temporary housing for homeless people because people with no because only people with no choice would live in the homes created in this way. on the other hand, i'm open minded because i the government because i think the government has that there have has recognised that there have been problems with the quality of and we of conversion in the past and we have seen the announcement have seen today the announcement of the office for place, which i hope and think will provide some controls on the quality of the homes produced in this way. but we really do need to see the detail on that because what we've had recent has we've had in recent years has not been enough . not been good enough. >> course michael gove >> and of course michael gove quite you know, quite interesting. you know, he's on he's he's concentrating on design, quality as design, design and quality as well . in those terms. should we well. in those terms. should we leave this to developers to building companies, or should we really think about going back to, you know, we used to have as council housing, local authorities building these things. need both. things. we need both. >> we need, of course , we need >> we need, of course, we need private developers to build homes and we need their

expertise. we need their capacity, local capacity, we need local authority as well. we need to stop putting these things in opposition and start working together, particularly at the moment, because the housing market is not in good way. market is not in a good way. house prices are falling in most markets across the country. this is not a time where private developers are going to come along build enough homes to along and build enough homes to meet need. so it is the meet housing need. so it is the time where we need more social housing. it is a time where we need more public sector involvement. we do need involvement. yeah we do need both, but right now it's just not realistic to think that there's enough demand for housing private sector housing for the private sector to lead the we're going to to lead the way. we're going to need government to the need the government to lead the way. need the government to lead the way rose need the government to lead the wayrose thank need the government to lead the way rose thank you very need the government to lead the wayrose thank you very much >> rose thank you very much indeed for us. rose indeed forjoining us. rose grayson, housing grayson, the independent housing consultant , former of consultant, former member of shelter, thank you. shelter, of course. thank you. >> it's been a busy day for >> now it's been a busy day for the royals . when isn't it? to the royals. when isn't it? to mark 80th, the 80th anniversary of the dambusters raids, his majesty king charles visiting raf coningsby to meet world war ii veterans. he's also been

visiting a lincolnshire cheese farm which has been run by the same family for four generations. >> well, queen camilla on duty, too, in norfolk to visit redwings horse sanctuary in great yarmouth with . yes, an great yarmouth with. yes, an umbrella and horses. >> well, i think that's a shetland ponies out right. >> cameron, a royal correspondent and animal expert because i got i got the breed wrong the other day didn't i? >> well, yes, but i'm afraid to say i'm not an animal expert. well, i can tell you is that this particular horse sanctuary helped around 100 horses to be rehomed every year, but it's slightly more special than that. and that's because it's the former of sewell who former home of anna sewell who wrote beauty novels. wrote the black beauty novels. >> right. >> oh, right. >> oh, right. >> black beauty is the >> yes. and black beauty is the queen's childhood queen's favourite childhood novel. she launched her reading room a number of years ago when she duchess of cornwall, she was duchess of cornwall, trying more adults trying to encourage more adults and and it's and children to read. and it's hoped well as being hoped that as well as being a horse sanctuary, place will horse sanctuary, this place will eventually bit of eventually turn into a bit of a shnne eventually turn into a bit of a shrine for sewell and the shrine for anna sewell and the

books written about black like a living museum . exactly. exactly. living museum. exactly. exactly. so that's kind of a point. and then , of course, the king has then, of course, the king has been very busy as well, the king and queen, despite it being the summer holidays, actually are continuing, working with continuing, working hard with a number engaged agents. so the number of engaged agents. so the king at a lincolnshire king was at a lincolnshire cheese factory. the lincolnshire poacher cheese. it was originally a dairy farm. it's the four generations have been running place since the running this place since the 1970s, and most of their dairy creates this lincolnshire cheese. so there's pictures of it. you can see pictures of his majesty there. i haven't seen any photos yet of him sampling cheese. i have seen him looking through the window into the factory itself . factory itself. >> and i was trying to remember, does duchess cornwall, does the duchess of cornwall, has as well? has it produced cheese as well? i do the biscuits and i know they do the biscuits and everything it have everything else, but did it have its cheese as well? everything else, but did it have its i cheese as well? everything else, but did it have its i don'teese as well? everything else, but did it have its i don't think s well? everything else, but did it have its i don't think they've got >> i don't think they've got their cheese brands, but i their own cheese brands, but i believe there's some dairy farms on but not on duchy land, but not specifically he will on duchy land, but not speanically he will on duchy land, but not spean expert he will on duchy land, but not spean expert taster. he will be an expert taster. >> be in, no doubt. >> let's be in, no doubt. >> let's be in, no doubt. >> but course, he's no >> yes, but of course, he's no longer in the duchy longer involved in the duchy of cornwall. charge of

cornwall. he now is in charge of duchy of lancaster as prince william in charge of of william in charge of duchy of cornwall. the king is also visiting the raf battle of britain flight today. visiting the raf battle of brit the flight today. visiting the raf battle of britthe anniversary)day. visiting the raf battle of britthe anniversary this. it's the 80th anniversary this year the dambusters raids on year of the dambusters raids on the german dams, the so—called well, the bouncing bomb, as it was called, destroyed two dams and much a damaged one of and very much a damaged one of them. but he's also meeting a number of raf veterans who are all over 100 years old. so all would have presumably got a telegram first queen telegram from first the queen and now and now the king as well, including one guy who who was actually so inspired by the damage that was caused by in coventry by the luftwaffe in 1940, that he wanted to join the raf and take out the bombing raids on germany, get his own back, essentially . he there was back, essentially. he there was also another another man, 103 year old, who was raf lancaster, bomber engineer. so it's going to be a pretty special day for them meeting the king. >> there's not many left >> there's not many of them left now. how. >> now. >> absolutely . >> absolutely. >> absolutely. >> few so special , it's >> so the few so special, it's keeping those memories alive. >> obviously very >> we reflect, obviously very controversial. the whole issue about the bombing raids and

bomber harris targeting civilian targets in retaliation effectively to what happened to coventry and other cities. >> yeah, a number of civilians lost their lives during those bombing but it was seen bombing raids, but it was seen as a massive hammer blow to the war effort. so presumably that helped ends the war, bring a war to an end ? to an end? >> yeah. and of course, we're seeing the archive here. but let's reflect , of course, that let's reflect, of course, that the battle of britain flight very active now, although they couldn't actually fly for the coronation of course, the weather conditions meant the land spitfire and land caster and the spitfire and also the hurricane couldn't fly. no, they couldn't. >> it was pretty poor weather conditions that day at the coronation. they manage coronation. but they did manage to buckingham palace to fly over buckingham palace for colour. the for trooping the colour. the king's birthday parade king's official birthday parade just weeks later. a just a few weeks later. but a few more pictures to come, as well as maybe a bit cheese. well as maybe a bit of cheese. >> absolutely. cameron thank you. it has been three you. cameron it has been three weeks since orkney council passed a motion allowing the 70 mile archipelago. >> i can't say this word, mark. >> i can't say this word, mark. >> a group of islands of islands

i >> archipelago, isn't it? archipelago. archipelago or group of islands to explore an alternative future outside of scotland in the uk, possibly even with norway. >> that's quite far away as an island. >> anyway, on the 4th of july, the council voted 15 to 6. in favour of exploring new beginnings . how those beginnings. how those explorations gone . scotland explorations gone. scotland reporter tony mcguire has more . reporter tony mcguire has more. >> oh, it wasn't so long ago that orkney was celebrating 500 years as a scottish territory . years as a scottish territory. this archive footage shot in 1968, shows islanders celebrating the amalgamation of their celtic and nordic cultures . today, more than 22,000 orcadians are contemplate ing a different future, one that could bnng different future, one that could bring an end to its 560 years as a scottish archipelago ten miles off the northern coast on the 4th of july, orkney council voted in favour of exploring alternative forms of governance. this satisfied with support from holyrood and westminster council leader james stocken holyrood and westminster council leaderjames stocken has holyrood and westminster council leader james stocken has grown

tired of an ageing ferry fleet and disproportionate funding awarded by the islands growth deal under funded and overburdened, he makes the case that today's primary concerns spell disaster for orkney's future. we're in the vanguard. >> we are seeking what's going to happen in the future , and the to happen in the future, and the future looks pretty bleak . it's future looks pretty bleak. it's crazy that we don't get the same funding that the other two islands groups get. share island get £350 per person more than us from the scottish government and the western isles gets £700 per person, more than we get in orkney to provide the same services. >> the ten year island growth deal was signed in january, promising a £50 million investment in orkney shetland and the western isles. scottish secretary alister jack stands by the deal but supports the council in voicing its dissatisfaction with the scottish government that, well, the uk government is doing. >> we have islands deal and >> we have the islands deal and we've money into that we've put money into that and that's between that's split three ways between orkney, and the western orkney, shetland and the western isles. have the levelling isles. and we have the levelling up i mean,

up money going in. but i mean, i've spoken to orkney council leader and they do have they are upset with the funding package. they get the local government funding package, they get it from government and from the scottish government and they upset that the scottish they are upset that the scottish government helping government aren't helping them to renew their ferries. >> only became part of >> orkney only became part of scotland in 1468 after it was gifted to king james, the third as security in a wedding dowry celebrating his marriage to margaret of denmark. one option tabled by orkney council is to return to nordic control, a proposal making headlines around the world. but the council is also exploring independence from scotland within the uk, becoming an overseas territory like gibraltar or even a crown dependency like the isle of man. whatever conclusion orkney council draws from its research , the journey to reach that conclusion will be lengthy, following through will require petitions, referenda , aims and petitions, referenda, aims and constitutional approval from holyrood and westminster before, of course, it's entirely possible that all this goes away with better communication from

both governments and a re—evaluation of orkney's equity from the islands. deal tony mcguire jibin news. >> wonderful scenes there. well, not so wonderful scenes, of course, in the greek islands with all these rescue efforts going on to try and get holidaymakers out safely. our reporter jack carson can update us now. east midlands airport with the i think the first flight from corfu expected to land fairly shortly there. jack >> yeah, we are looking about in the next 20 minutes that first flight, it's a tui flight, the first one that's going to arrive here at the east midlands airport today. it's the first flight from from corfu that's arriving today. it's going to be arriving today. it's going to be a second arriving just a little bit just before around 4:00. that's jet two flight that that's the jet two flight that has been coming in from from corfu . of course, we know that corfu. of course, we know that the situation is very much different what's happening in different to what's happening in in the mayor's there, in rhodes. the mayor's there, the mayor of the north or north part of the island saying that the fires are very much under control . he did also say that

control. he did also say that the department's first the fire department's first unofficial that is unofficial assumption that is that there was the idea that this fire in corfu might have well been started by arson and arsonist. but of course, that is well has got to stand up to a full investigation. but that was the that's what he says was the fire department's first unofficial but unofficial assumptions. but yeah, first two flights yeah, those first two flights looking in from corfu, looking to come in from corfu, we know that overnight there were ized evacuation were some local ized evacuation efforts around 2500 people, according to the fire service on the island, were moved from where that burning was originally taking place to move them away from the danger. but we do understand that on that on that island, there is no immediate to life, to the immediate threat to life, to the residents or also to the resorts there. and the tourist minister for greece, of course, it's so important to the economy, isn't it tourism the to the it? tourism over to the to the islands and the mainland as well. the tourism minister saying that it is still safe to come and both roads as come to corfu and both roads as well, that those well, saying that those wildfires covering wildfires there aren't covering so much of the island that they're not affecting the majority resorts and the

majority of resorts and the tourism tourists can tourism still can tourists can still can go there. now, it's important to note that these flights coming in today here from these from corfu, aren't any of these repatriation flights. they are just that would just normal flights that would be usually scheduled to come back the island. course, back from the island. of course, we rhodes that jet2 we know from rhodes that jet2 and are flying and other airlines are flying out specifically, aren't they, to and take people bring to go and take people bring people bring people back. they're but they're going empty. but of course the course, that is not the situation with with corfu . so situation with with corfu. so this flights went out this morning, flights went out as flights as normal. there's also flights expected to go out tomorrow to corfu from here as well. and ryanair are one of the airlines that not changed any of that has not changed any of their scheduling, both for corfu and rhodes as well . and for rhodes as well. >> and jack, the uk government has today been defending its decision to not put any specific warning in about people travelling to greece, which means that there are still flights that will be going to rhodes and corfu over the next few days. some some airlines have cancelled them , at least have cancelled them, at least for the next few days . but but

for the next few days. but but they are still happening. people can still go on holiday. there >> yeah, just to give a bit of a rundown of what the situation is with different airline companies. so ryanair is continuing to fly tourists out as scheduled . a tui has as scheduled. a tui has cancelled flights for today and tomorrow. passengers for flights on wednesday can change their booking for another holiday or cancelit booking for another holiday or cancel it for easyjet . it is cancel it for easyjet. it is offering flexibility with their customers to move it to a different date. jet2 has cancelled all flights to rhodes until the 30th of july and it's in contact with its customers. it says about refunds. if you are flying with them. and thomas cook says customers are cook says customers who are booked to travel to rhodes tomorrow to cancel can do tomorrow want to cancel can do so. get full refund. it's so. and get a full refund. it's all cancelled all flights all it's cancelled all flights to nearby places lardos until to nearby places of lardos until the 31st of july as well. so that's the situation with other airline companies. but you airline companies. but as you write, coming write, the government coming under fire, the liberal democrats government under fire, the liberal de put:rats government under fire, the liberal deput rhodes government under fire, the liberal deput rhodes on government under fire, the liberal deput rhodes on a government under fire, the liberal deput rhodes on a onjovernment under fire, the liberal deput rhodes on a on the rnment under fire, the liberal deput rhodes on a on the red ent to put rhodes on a on the red list of travel that obviously would warn people not to necessarily go there . but of necessarily go there. but of course, the government leaning

back the that should course, the government leaning ba that's it from the live desk today. next up is nana akua . today. next up is nana akua. >> the temperature's rising in boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> hello, i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. we've seen a few heavy showers across the south—east they're fading through this evening, places some evening, many places seeing some bright during the end of bright spells during the end of the day, it's still on the the day, but it's still on the cool that's the cool side. that's because the wind is coming down from the north, pressure is clearing north, low pressure is clearing away east and that cool away to the east and that cool feel will continue for most of this week. actually as i said, a

few heavy showers the few heavy showers across the southeast. few southeast. they're fading. a few scattered elsewhere. scattered showers elsewhere. many places will be largely dry overnight with some decent, clear spells. the winds will ease. and with that northerly flow, it's going to be quite a cool night, actually. temperatures down into single figures. certainly many rural spots, towns and cities tend to 12 celsius on to tuesday. and it's a case of sunny spells and showers, quite a few showers certainly across the western side scotland. initially, side of scotland. initially, much central and eastern much of central and eastern england will start dry , but we england will start dry, but we are expecting some heavy showers to develop, particularly over northern and especially northeastern through the northeastern england through the afternoon southwest afternoon for wales, southwest england, not too many showers, decent of a dry afternoon england, not too many showers, dece some of a dry afternoon england, not too many showers, dece some sunny a dry afternoon england, not too many showers, dece some sunny spells. fternoon england, not too many showers, dece some sunny spells. butioon england, not too many showers, dece some sunny spells. but even with some sunny spells. but even in the sunshine, temperatures still only high teens for most low 20s across south low 20s across the south wednesday , we'll see a few more wednesday, we'll see a few more showers again for northwest england, scotland, england, southwest scotland, but generally a dry start. showers will develop in the east through the day, but further west, we'll start to see cloud gathering start to see the cloud gathering as outbreaks of rain as further outbreaks of rain come here during come in here during the

afternoon. temperatures afternoon. again, temperatures mostly touch below mostly around or a touch below average for the time of year. the temperatures rising, boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on .

gb news. >> well, good afternoon. >> well, good afternoon. >> i'm nana akua this is gb news. >> i'm in for patrick christys.

>> i'm in for patrick christys. >> i'm in for patrick christys. >> i know you're thinking, god, he's not here. no, i'm not patrick. >> i'm nana i'll be taking you through till 6:00. >> a cracking show for you. >> starting, of course, with roads of course roads roads from hell. of course roads is fire, as are other parts roads from hell. of course roads is greece as are other parts roads from hell. of course roads is greece on are other parts roads from hell. of course roads is greece on these her parts roads from hell. of course roads is greece on these awfulrts of greece on these awful wildfires. a lot of british houday wildfires. a lot of british holiday makers try to their holiday makers try to make their way back uk and way back to the uk and struggling. after that struggling. and then after that we'll be looking at the tory party now, do they to do a party now, do they need to do a green u—turn ? they go green u—turn? do they need to go back? this be the answer back? could this be the answer they dropped net zero. rishi sunak facing pressure from sunak is facing pressure from his potentially roll his party to potentially roll back the policies. back on the green policies. would that make you vote tory? and then the bibby stockholm? yes, it's well it's not quite found. its home actually, because it was on its way . it's because it was on its way. it's there but there are no migrants on it as such. apparently the 50 or so that were meant to get on board week are not doing board this week are not doing that. why? we'll find out later on show. we'll discuss and on this show. we'll discuss and of course, brexit, brexit has been, well, there's a victory in brexit at last. we've got something great to talk about. a brilliant in brilliant contract in nottinghamshire. steel, a

brazilian company, and it's