gb news consistently abused since the 2008 financial crisis. >> the words of a consultant doctor as their 48 hour strike begins the first since 2012. how much sicker will it make the nhs? much sicker will it make the nhs.7 we're live on the picket

line. them's the breaks. >> rmt leader mick lynch says he has a better relation with the current transport secretary that he did his predecessor. but it it is not stopping the strikes . it is not stopping the strikes. with thousands of passengers facing fresh travel disruption today. >> now a war of words over the falklands. the eu officially refers to the islands as las malvinas . we'll speak to malvinas. we'll speak to falklands veteran and mp james sunderland about the growing diplomatic row. >> plus, conservative mp tobias ellwood faces being ousted from his role as a parliamentary committee chair. that's after he posted a video in which he praised the taliban's leadership in afghanistan . we'll take in afghanistan. we'll take a look at all that, plus much more after your headlines with . aaron

after your headlines with. aaron >> good afternoon to you. it's a minute past 12. i'm aaron armstrong in the newsroom. mortgage rates have fallen for the first time since may. the slight decreases on two and five year fixed rate deals have been confirmed as lenders factor in better than expected inflation data that was released earlier this week. financial information company moneyfacts s say the average rate for both deals is down nought point nought 2, since yesterday. but those figures are still higher than their peaks during last year's mini—budget supermarkets aren't displaying prices as clearly as they ought to, preventing shopping shoppers from finding the best deals . the competition the best deals. the competition and markets authority has found retailers could be hampering people's ability to compare products. the watchdog is warning supermarkets to make the necessary changes or risk facing enforcement action and is calling on the government to

tighten the law around pricing display . the sovereign grant, display. the sovereign grant, which is used to fund the monarchy's official duties, has been cut by more than half. it's been cut by more than half. it's been reduced to 12% of the crown estate's net profits for next yean estate's net profits for next year, down from 25. now the treasury has announced the change following a significant boost , significant boost change following a significant boost, significant boost in change following a significant boost , significant boost in the boost, significant boost in the crown estate's profit from offshore, which and deals the king asked for those profits to be used for the wider public good. instead the total sovereign grant for 2024 to 25 will remain at £863 million, up to 20,000 rail staff are on strike this morning overjob strike this morning over job security and pay, causing disruption and cancellations across many services. it's the first of three days of industrial action over the next week and a half, which will affect 14 train companies in england and may also affect some services in scotland and wales. members are also walking out on the 22nd and 29th of july.

additionally, drivers in the aslef union have been banned from doing overtime. this week, the general secretary, mick lynch, is hopeful fresh talks will mirror the progress he's making with london underground . making with london underground. >> and let's get try and get a deal cooked up, but we can try and get back round the table. we're doing that with london transport right now about what's we're doing that with london transfon right now about what's we're doing that with london transfon in]ht now about what's we're doing that with london transfon in london about what's we're doing that with london transfon in london underground . going on in london underground. we've been acas, the we've been in acas, the conciliation service all week. so if we can get the same atmosphere people atmosphere where people are trying towards trying to work towards some solutions, we can do solutions, perhaps we can do that on national rail. i'm hoping that maybe london underground will come up with some proposals that are steps forward we can consider that forward and we can consider that if do that on both parts if we can do that on both parts of the railway, if you like, we can get progress. can maybe get some progress. thousands of medical appointments and operations have been postponed as senior doctors hold hour over pay . hold a 48 hour strike over pay. >> consultants and dentists have agreed to offer emergency care only. they're walking out for the first time in a decade . nhs the first time in a decade. nhs bosses are warning of severe disruption to patient care. now,

the health secretary, steve barclay, says the government , barclay, says the government, who have offered a 6% pay rise, have also listened to the bma's demands . demands. >> average nhs earnings of a consultant after this pay rise will be £134,000 a year. and on top of that , 20% of their salary top of that, 20% of their salary goes into their pension, which means they'll be able to earn when they retire by the age of 65, tax free up to £60,000 a yeah 65, tax free up to £60,000 a year. the number one ask of the bma was for pension tax reform , bma was for pension tax reform, and we listened to that as we acted on it. and in addition, we've also accepted in full the independent pay review body recommendations . recommendations. >> nigel farage says he hasn't ruled out taking legal action against the private bank. coutts after they closed his account , after they closed his account, he says the private bank closed his account because his views do not align with its values . the not align with its values. the treasury is expected to announce plans to extend the notice time for bank customers to close

their accounts from one month to three months. banks will also have to explain why they've closed accounts and customers will be allowed to appeal the decision . tobias ellwood is decision. tobias ellwood is facing a motion of no confidence after publishing a video that claimed afghanistan has improved since the taliban regained power. the conservative former defence minister is facing a backlash from his own committee members after saying corruption is down since the fundamentalists returned in 2021. now he's called for britain to reopen its embassy in kabul britain to reopen its embassy in kabul, following on from the eu, re—establishing a physical presence there last year. mr ellwood deleted his video from twitter and has since expressed regret it over its publication . regret it over its publication. in an and five, whale sharks have been rescued by divers after they were found trapped in fishing nets in ocean waters off indonesia. underwater footage shows these divers pulling fish nets away and gently freeing the

whale sharks so they can swim off freely. wonderful pictures . off freely. wonderful pictures. these the whale shark is the largest species of fish in existence. it is on the red list of the international union for the conservation of nature. it's a vulnerable species. so good to see several of them being saved . this is gb news more as it comes to us throughout the afternoon. but for now, it's over to mark and . over to mark and. pip >> our thanks and welcome back to the live desk with nhs consultants holding their first major strike in nearly 50 years, huge disruption expected during the two day walkout. nhs bosses saying it will have more impact than any other stoppage. so far. >> there are warnings, too, that the strike action by senior doctors could cost hospitals

many billions of pounds , as nhs many billions of pounds, as nhs bosses urge the government and unions to reach a deal. >> let's get more now down at the royal infirmary in bristol and our south—west of england. reporter jeff moody is there. geoff, i think the estimate is another three quarters of a million appointments are being restricted, as they say . but restricted, as they say. but certainly professor sir stephen powis saying this particular stop is going to have more impact than any other. >> well, yes , absolutely. and >> well, yes, absolutely. and the reason for that is the role that consultants play within the nhs. okay. they're on strike, but it does mean that junior doctors who are not on strike at the moment have very little to do because they rely very heavily on those consults to guide them and improve what they're doing. and we're finding that many, many junior doctors , that many, many junior doctors, nurses as well are finding there isn't much to do today. nurses as well are finding there isn't much to do today . as you isn't much to do today. as you say, thousands and thousands of appointments have been cancelled or postponed , rather. i spoke to or postponed, rather. i spoke to a gentleman who sadly wouldn't

come on camera, but he was saying how angry he feels because his wife has had three operations that have been postponed in the last few months, one because of a nurses strike, one because of a junior doctor's strike. and now one because of the consultants strike two. well, there was a picket line here very briefly. this morning, only from nine till about 11:00 this morning. but i did manage to catch up with the consultant. and i asked him why feels it's just him why he feels it's just defied him why he feels it's just defied in these times to go on strike. it is not just the strike, but it's also the capacity to deliver with the lack of infrastructure and the most precious infrastructure is the staffing . the staffing. >> so, you know, we have waiting lists that have been growing and growing. it is not because of the junior doctors or the consultants. we've only started doing. we're taking industrial action recently, but it has been action recently, but it has been a long problem because of the lack of staff, lack of infrastructure . the problem is infrastructure. the problem is that there is only so much one person can do or two people or

three people. it's the government. you know, from the top. we need to invest and understand that if doctors are trying to work and work to make sure that they can pay for child care , pay for their mortgage, care, pay for their mortgage, clear their debt, the for the nhs as such is going to be stretched to to the the bone . stretched to to the the bone. >> well, talking to people in bristol this morning, it's very evident that the public support for this strike isn't as strong as we've seen in the past. many people have been saying, well, look, you their starting look, you know, their starting salary is well over £90,000 and that could rise to £120,000, albeit they say that it takes them 19 years to get to that level that level is still possible. and you were saying just before i came on air about their pension pots and the increases they're getting to that i think fair to that. so i think it's fair to say in bristol that there say here in bristol that there isn't the support for this isn't quite the support for this strike there was the strike as there was for the nurses the junior nurses strike and the junior doctors strike earlier on this week. >> that's that's interesting

take on it, geoff, for the moment . thank you. back to you, moment. thank you. back to you, of course, little later. but of course, a little later. but let's ask now what long term let's ask now what the long term effect these strikes on the effect of these strikes on the nhs given the nursing nhs could be given the nursing action, was saying then action, as geoff was saying then the now of the junior doctors, now of course let's course the consultants. let's speak former nhs speak once more to former nhs administrator health administrator and health commentator roy lilly. roy apology for dragging you on screen yet again to give a running commentary. but but very important point from professor powis, of course, saying this could actually be the most damaging yet. >> he's absolutely right. consultants are supervised and the work of all the junior doctors , and there's very little doctors, and there's very little really in terms of particularly if elective procedures that they can do without a consult being either in the in the room or normally in charge of the clinic. so there's a whole sort of risk issue now that the hospital bosses , the hospital bosses, the administrators and managers, they can't schedule the clinics and they can't schedule the elective procedures hours. now, today, there will be, i don't know, well over 70 000 people, i

think perhaps closer to 100,000 people who will have had that dreadful letter in the post saying, sorry, but you know how long you've been waiting for your procedure. we're not going to do it because the strike is on.and to do it because the strike is on. and you know what.7 we don't know we reinstate it. know when we can reinstate it. you're you know, you're looking at, you know, 3 or 4 months to reinstate these appointments. and that's really, i think, the hidden dangers of this. it's all very well for the consultants to say, oh, well , consultants to say, oh, well, we're going to give christmas day cover . and, you know, the day cover. and, you know, the blue light in the front door will be safe and it will be safe . but is not safe for . fine. but what is not safe for the people whose clinical priorities have got them to the front of the queue to be turfed off the waiting list. now, these are people who might want a simple procedure like a pain blocker. really for lower back pain. for example , sciatica or pain. for example, sciatica or or it might be someone with sinister symptoms. query cancer or it could be someone who's waited ages for a knee or a hip . their family have taken time off work to look after them,

post—operative or even drive them to hospital or drive them home. i mean, this is huge disruptive. and for the work in the hospital for the administrative departments, i mean, they are there to book appointments. they are not there to book appointments and rebook appointments. so it's unbelievably disruptive. and i think very cruel for patients . think very cruel for patients. >> so, roy, the basic pay for a consultant , taking into account consultant, taking into account this 6% pay increase that was recently announced , will be recently announced, will be £93,000. now, that is a heck of a lot of money for a lot of people. it can rise to, i think over £120,000. so do you sympathise with what the public are saying, which is we don't have a lot of sympathy .7 have a lot of sympathy? >> yes, i absolutely do. >> yes, i absolutely do. >> i mean, to be fairto >> yes, i absolutely do. >> i mean, to be fair to the doctors, they haven't had a proper pay increment . they've proper pay increment. they've had order increments over. but but going back for nearly ten, 12 years, they haven't had a proper pay increase . and that proper pay increase. and that does mean that the value of

their pay packets has eroded because of inflation and all the other pressures that there are. the ukraine war costs of living, all of that, that has impacted. and you have to say , well, look, and you have to say, well, look, if you haven't had a decent pay rise in 10 or 12 years, what on earth has your trade union been doing? i mean, the bma have been asleep at the wheel. the government's successive governments have taken advantage of the that they've not of the fact that they've not really for any any really pressed for any any serious increments . and now, of serious increments. and now, of course, the doctors have woken up to the fact that they were lagging and if look lagging behind. and if you look at comparisons with other at oecd comparisons with other countries and you look at what doctors are paid in germany and france and other countries like that, and ireland particularly, where they're paid a lot more , where they're paid a lot more, they're you know, they're our doctors. you know, we're about think we're about i think about i looked it up before i came on air. about 7 or 12 on the air. we're about 7 or 12 on the oecd list. i mean, we are the doctors really have slipped in pay- doctors really have slipped in pay. so that is true. but but they can be paid. >> they extra for work .

>> they extra for work. >> they extra for work. >> sorry. can you say that again 7 >> sorry. can you say that again ? yeah. >> they can be paid extra for private work, can't they? i know not all do it . not all do it. >> yes, yes, yes. i was coming on to that. >> so i mean, i think they they have that case. but i mean, the bma has been asleep at the wheel trying to recover it all in one go and putting, you trying to recover it all in one go and putting , you know, the go and putting, you know, the patients in the crossfire , i patients in the crossfire, i think cruel. and it's true think is cruel. and it's true what you say. consult it's not all of them, but most consultant disciplines can practise in the private sector , and it is private sector, and it is regionally distributed . so you regionally distributed. so you usually find it in the big cities. manchester birmingham, london and bristol, places like that, where there's quite a healthy private care sector going on. and of course, depending on what you do, orthopaedic surgeons and particularly in neath ethicists are in huge demand. they can earn 300,000 a year in the private sector. so for them to say our pay has eroded, well, look, so is everybody else. you know, bus drivers , shop know, bus drivers, shop assistants, care assistants ,

assistants, care assistants, everybody's in the same boat . everybody's in the same boat. >> so what's the way forward ? >> so what's the way forward? beanng >> so what's the way forward? bearing in mind what we heard yesterday? ppmc cues where the prime minister indicated that 6% figure is from an independent pubuc figure is from an independent public pay review body that's to going be difficult, i guess, for the unions to argue against. >> it is . i mean, in the end, we >> it is. i mean, in the end, we know don't we, that all these all these strikes end in negotiations. the nurses strike endedin negotiations. the nurses strike ended in negotiations. they ended in negotiations. they ended up with 5. they didn't do so well. really but it will end up in talks . what's likely to up in talks. what's likely to happen? well i think probably they'll they'll have some kind of staged settlement over a period. they mean they certainly we don't really know what figure the consultants want . they've the consultants want. they've been actually much cleverer. i think, in their negotiations by the junior doctors who said they wanted 35. well, there's no way they're going to get that. the consultants have been much more subtle about it, and i think they'll probably settle for a lot less. but at the end of the day, we know, don't we, that ,

day, we know, don't we, that, you know, disputes end in you know, all disputes end in getting round the table and talking. government have talking. the government have said, know, we've done 6% said, you know, we've done 6% and that. now if they and that's that. now if they stick to that and they may well try and do that, then we can see these strikes going on until christmas and that will do horrendous damage to the to the waiting lists and to hospitals. >> right . waiting lists and to hospitals. >> right. right. sorry, as waiting lists and to hospitals. >> right . right. sorry, as ever. >> right. right. sorry, as ever. thank very much for taking >> right. right. sorry, as ever. thithrough very much for taking >> right. right. sorry, as ever. thithrough all( much for taking >> right. right. sorry, as ever. thithrough all the jch for taking >> right. right. sorry, as ever. thithrough all the permutations us through all the permutations and we'll see what happens, of course, a result of course, as a result of this latest action. thank very much. >> well, from one strike to another and the latest series of train strikes are causing a lot of problems right across britain today. >> well, thousands of members of the rmt , including station the rmt, including station staff, off work today and planning another walkout on saturday. and then the following weekend whilst drivers and aslef, well, they're banning any overtime shifts this week. >> you need to put it all >> yeah. you need to put it all in i think. let's get in your diary i think. let's get more our national more on this from our national reporter hawkins , who is reporter paul hawkins, who is live paddington . good live from paddington. good afternoon you, paul. good to afternoon to you, paul. good to see you. general see you. the rmt general secretary, mick lynch,

interestingly, has said he has a better and more constructive relationship with the current transport secretary, mark harper, than he did his predecessor, grant shapps . and predecessor, grant shapps. and yet they still cannot come to any sort of agreement. yet they still cannot come to any sort of agreement . yeah any sort of agreement. yeah yeah, they're sticking to their guns >> they're saying that, look , >> they're saying that, look, the rail delivery group want to talk to us. that's the organisation that represents the train companies. but in the background the government is stopping them from doing that. and i was speaking to mick lynch this morning and he was saying he hasn't he hasn't met he hasn't heard. he hasn't met with government minister with the government minister since january. so strikes since january. so these strikes are ongoing over pay, over jobs, over conditions , ones. the most over conditions, ones. the most recent offer we have from the government that was turned down by in april promised a by the rmt in april promised a 5% backdated pay for last year and then for % for this year. but and then for% for this year. but there were conditions attached that the union felt it was unable to agree to, such as forgoing its current mandate for strike action, which last till around october november time. so

it's difficult. there is severe disruption to the network, as you've mentioned today. then another rmt national strike on saturday and then another one the following saturday. they add into that this overtime ban from aslef and then next week, rmt workers going on strike on the tube as well. it means there will be there won't be an uninterrupted day of train coverage across the country, including the capital, until july the 30th. so this dispute continues to rumble on. and in the meantime, mick lynch is saying, look, the government needs to allow us to talk to the rail delivery group, to the train operating who train operating companies who by their admission , according their own admission, according to delivery boss, to the rail delivery boss, jacqueline starr, says that a very good offer remains on the table, that they're open to table, that they're very open to continuing conversations. what is different at the moment, though, about the other strike action that's taken place during this long running industrial dispute? is ticket office closures . those have now closures. those have now officially been announced . the officially been announced. the transport focus watchdog has put that out for consultation . and

that out for consultation. and you would have thought that there will be some public support there . for not going support there. for not going ahead with closing so many ticket offices given there's been opposition from disability groups and five mayors of five cities are also bringing a legal challenge to those closures. so potentially there could be an increase in public support for the strikes because at the moment, ipsos , the latest ipsos moment, ipsos, the latest ipsos poll shows 36% backed striking railway workers, 23% neutral, 37 opposed. compare that to ambulance workers and nurses , ambulance workers and nurses, pubuc ambulance workers and nurses, public support for them hovering around 60% when they do take industrial action. >> okay, paul, thanks very much for taking us through that. as we see some passengers anyway, at least coming and going in paddington you. thank you paddington behind you. thank you very . very much indeed. >> you're with the live desk on gb news coming up soon, more misery if you're going away because there is expected to be lots of hold ups at dover with bumper to bumper traffic set to halt britons looking to get away

for the summer. we'll be live from the port after your latest weather forecast . but that warm weather forecast. but that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers >> proud sponsors of weather on gb news news. >> hello again . >> hello again. >> hello again. >> it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast scattered showers once again across the uk. >> but sunny spells in between those showers ease overnight and it's going to be a cool night. we've got this northwesterly air flow the country at the flow across the country at the moment. low pressure over scandinavia, pressure scandinavia, the high pressure over but weather over the atlantic. but weather fronts for fronts staying clear for the time being. and that means that although there are scattered time being. and that means that althougraroundare scattered time being. and that means that althougraround ,e scattered time being. and that means that althougraround , they'llzred time being. and that means that althougraround , they'll bei showers around, they'll be fleeting, they'll be disappearing into the evening and clear spells will break out fairly widely. still some showers pushing into northern ireland. northern and eastern scotland and perhaps northwest england and wales. but otherwise away from the showers. temperatures dipping into the single figures, perhaps even the mid to low single figures for some sheltered parts of northern

scotland. so certainly a cool some might call it a chilly start to friday, otherwise plenty of sunshine from the word 90, plenty of sunshine from the word go, but cloud will build through the morning. and once again, those showers will get going again. they'll be hit and miss. not everyone get showers, not everyone will get showers, i think driest towards the southeast , but those showers southeast, but those showers will be most frequent across northern parts of northern england, parts of wales, and scotland. and wales, east and scotland. and then longer spells of rain arriving end of friday arriving by the end of friday into northern ireland. a sign of things to come the weekend. things to come for the weekend. saturday sees spells of saturday sees those spells of rain across much of the rain spread across much of the country, northern country, avoiding northern scotland and southeast england for being . but an for the time being. but an unsettled weekend in store with wet breezy weather followed wet and breezy weather followed by showers later sunday and into monday . monday. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on

radio. now we're just about to get the great school holiday getaway or is it port of dover dampening the mood of happy holidaymakers by warning them of long delays this coming weekend , huge queues are expected as post—brexit border rules now mean that passengers past ports have to be checked individually , which significantly lengthens the time it takes to pass through . through. >> well, our reporter theo chikomba is in dover for us now . how is it looking, theo? any signs of these lengthy queues? we're being warned about yet to

be honest with you. >> so far, so good. well, in the early hours of this morning, there were some queues formed , there were some queues formed, but it was business as usual. now, however, 1.7, 1.7 million people are expected to come through here at the port of dover throughout the weekend. and the reason at the moment, you're probably seeing queues like is because schools are like this is because schools are closed this afternoon and closed later this afternoon and then some will close tomorrow. but saturday is the day they're expecting to see some of those huge queues at the port of dover . management have said they have prepared for this, but they're hoping that passengers don't come here three more than three hours before they're due to check in. so that's the advice they're giving passengers. and they're giving passengers. and they're also warning passengers when they do get to the other side, if they're going to places like italy. there's been weather forecast of around 48 c. so do prepare for that. the foreign office also issuing that warning as well. however, there have

been some concerns this week in particular regarding the entry and exit system, which isn't in place at the moment, but is due to come into force next year. this week we've heard from getlink . they operate the getlink. they operate the channel tunnel so cars and lorries and others can go through there, but they're saying once those checks do come in, you have to take a photograph. your fingerprint, any time you enter a member state. and that's going to add the time in which people are processed. but today, though, they are warning people, do give yourself plenty of time to come here, but don't come here too early. so that we don't see those similar scenes we saw at the easter holiday as well. >> chikomba , thanks very >> theo chikomba, thanks very much for talking to us there from dover . from dover. >> well, the delays there when they occur, not just the only problem for anyone looking to get away because we've got the baking conditions, extreme heat, perhaps for longer than we're expecting . global temperatures, expecting. global temperatures, of course, soaring towards their alarming highs. let's get more

now with sally gethin. travel and aviation expert, joining us here studio . and sally, here in the studio. and sally, you're looking the you're sort of looking at the map to be map there doesn't seem to be anywhere to go for any relief. i mean, it's hitting spain, italy , turkey, greece. if you are heading off to the med, particularly, you've got problems, haven't you? >> yeah, it's totally crushing heat for people and people are wondering now, well , where do wondering now, well, where do i stand with my travel? if you, for example , can't bear the for example, can't bear the thought of going into that baking heat, then that's called disinclination to travel and actually can nullify your rights as a consumer. so when you booked your travel, it's so important to read the fine print with everything, the terms and conditions and check your travel insurance cover . but generally insurance cover. but generally it's not designed to cover situations like this because it's an act of god. >> is that the phrase they normally use force majeure or act of god, which means which does cover an extreme weather

event. >> and there are most travel insurers will exclude that that particular thing. and obviously key travel insurance companies wouldn't be able to afford to provide cover. >> that's about what about if you get a doctor's note, could that be an exception ? if your gp that be an exception? if your gp says you are not well enough to go to a country with such temperatures? >> yeah, i mean, obviously that's worth trying, but it really depends on how you booked your trip and you know , a lot of your trip and you know, a lot of travel insurance states, well if you've got a pre—existing condition and you still choose to travel, that could nullify your travel insurance. but i think many airlines , for think many airlines, for example, and travel agents will still preserve their brand. and as a goodwill gesture, accommodate that kind of situation if you are in that situation. so it's definitely worth trying. >> so we're assuming that's on a cancellation line. what about rebooking where maybe you think, let's slightly later the let's go slightly later in the school holidays where the kids

will bit comfortable? will be a bit more comfortable? well, situation well, is it the same situation there trying to rebook for there that trying to rebook for a later is going to be a few weeks later is going to be a problem? >> yeah. again, down to >> yeah. again, it comes down to your or tour operator your airline or tour operator travel agent because they may well exact some extra costs on on your trip costs. yeah. so rebooking so obviously when you book anything, if it's airbnb, just anything there are different stages where you can claw back some of your money if you change your mind . so yeah, you change your mind. so yeah, it really depends on, you know, travel agents , tour operators travel agents, tour operators and what you actually signed up for. >> and if there are people who are not very organised and a bit like me really who are thinking, right, i want to get away for a long weekend where can they go where they're not going to suffocate in this heat ? well, suffocate in this heat? well, apart from here in the uk, i mean northern europe is a good bet. i guess at the moment. i mean, what about, say, the south of france? >> think all that. so the >> so i think all that. so the jet stream seems to be the dividing and that's dividing line and that's dividing line and that's dividing the weather pattern

between northern europe and southern europe. so anything north of the jet stream, obviously you have to check all the weather data, but any place that in the uk or say, northern france , it's going to be a much france, it's going to be a much better bet . also, people in better bet. also, people in general now are the travel trend is more towards eastern europe. a lot more people book in eastern europe. you can get some great deals, great breaks. you know, sunny beach and bulgaria . know, sunny beach and bulgaria. and you know, many of these countries are offering a lot better resorts and options. and so the travel is the temperatures are not quite as bad as we show the forest fires. >> yeah. yeah. and in greece and elsewhere. so but clearly , elsewhere. so but clearly, obviously check before you go. i guess there's the other thing. you get intelligence you know, get some intelligence on what's happening you're on what's happening where you're supposed absolutely supposed to be going. absolutely thank for updating thank you very much for updating us you. thank you very much for updating us. you. yeah, right. us. thank you. yeah, right. >> we'll do stay with us here on gb news. will very shortly be gb news. we will very shortly be speaking president speaking to the former president of petro poroshenko, to of ukraine, petro poroshenko, to get latest from the front get the latest from the front

lines . it's been another very lines. it's been another very dramatic week there. first, though, the news with . aaron though, the news with. aaron >> very good afternoon to you. it is 1232. aaron armstrong here in the gb newsroom. the nhs is on red alert for the next 48 hours. a senior doctors walk out over pay for the first time in a decade. over pay for the first time in a decade . in matthew taylor, the decade. in matthew taylor, the head of the body that represents nhs organisations , says the nhs organisations, says the strikes could end up costing hospitals many billions of pounds as services have been reduced to christmas day levels, with only emergency cover provided a consultants have rejected the government offer of a 6% pay rise . rejected the government offer of a 6% pay rise. rail rejected the government offer of a 6% pay rise . rail passengers , a 6% pay rise. rail passengers, meanwhile, are facing further disruption today as a result of fresh strikes. rmt members, including station staff and train managers, have walked out and will do so again on the next two saturdays. while drivers in aslef have been banned from taking over time this week, general secretary mick lynch

says they're still waiting to be ianed says they're still waiting to be invited back to the negotiating table by network rail mortgage rates have fallen for the first time since may. their have been slight decreases on two and five year fixed rate deals as lenders factor in better than expected inflation data that was released earlier this week. the financial information company moneyfacts say the average rate for both two and five year fixed deals is down 0.02. but those figures are still higher than their peaks dunng still higher than their peaks during last year's mini—budget and voters are going to the polls as right now in the three by elections taking place in england. all three seats in uxbndge england. all three seats in uxbridge and south ruislip, selby and ainsty and somerton and frome have been held by the conservatives since the last general election . polling general election. polling stations are open until 10:00 tonight, with the results expected tomorrow morning and constituents are being reminded to bring photo id with them and

more available on all of our stories on our website . stories on our website. gbnews.com .

patrick christys on gb news. i'm gb news radio . well, welcome gb news radio. well, welcome back to the live desk. >> let's update you now with the latest from ukraine with another devastating round of russian attacks on the country, this time targeting the black sea

ports of odesa and mykolaiv , ports of odesa and mykolaiv, which have been hit by waves of missiles drones. missiles and drones. the russians retaliatory strikes. >> yeah , as things stand, 21 >> yeah, as things stand, 21 people have been injured and one person has died . it comes as the person has died. it comes as the price of wheat shot up following russia's declaration that it would treat ships heading for ukrainian ports as potential military targets. now, that has to led accusations that president putin is weaponising food aid. >> well, let's get the latest now with former president of ukraine, petro poroshenko, joining us once more. thank you very much indeed for your time. once more , just to identify once more, just to identify what's happened here in the black sea ports, it does seem that they've been targeting these distribution areas these wheat distribution areas and the silos and so on. no military targets as such . military targets as such. >> definitely. that was not only the target as a port infrastructure , that was infrastructure, that was a civilian residence building where they during this and

previous night, he . eight previous night, he. eight reussie agents and wounded and killed people . this is just killed people. this is just a demonstration that the russia is a terroristic state and russia attacked not only ukraine but russia attacked and weaponize food and blackmailing with the hunger of the whole world. the countries of africa, countries of middle east, countries of asia, food price goes up immediately after russia blocked the grain corridor . and they the grain corridor. and they attack 60,000 tonnes were prepared for their shipment in china. and with that situation, this is not the end because russia started to mine their equatorie of the poor of ukrainian port place in uncontrolled mines which

completely blocked any commercial vessels on the black sea and with that situation, the decisive answer of the whole world should be immediate because this is just a demonstration that the russia is even for those countries who has some doubts about their relationship with the russian participation in the war. now it has an exact evidence . how has an exact evidence. how dangerous is putin for the whole world and target for ukraine in china? this is not only port facility, this is also chinese consulate in odesa. >> and there's also a suggestion from the white house that russia is planning to hit civil ships and then blame ukraine with that situation. >> i think that the russia should receive absolutely clear

message . for example, if russia message. for example, if russia will continue attack port facilities and if only they attack any civilian ships as they said that they will consider any civilian ships as a military target . we, for military target. we, for example, can block the all the russian shipments to the bosphorus channel, all to the mediterranean sea . this is 50% mediterranean sea. this is 50% of russian export , export of of russian export, export of oil, export of oil. and with that situation , even russia that situation, even russia should understand that we have an instrument to punish russia and only decisive our action can stop putin because putin understand only one language. and this is not russian or german. this is the language of unity of the whole free world and language of strength. and we should deliver this message to putin. >> given given this, i know that your foreign minister, kuleba is

in pakistan at the moment talking about the difficulties with the grain deal . basically, with the grain deal. basically, i think that was nullified on monday. is there any hope now, given all this military action that those talks can resume and that those talks can resume and that that grain deal can be put back on the table ? back on the table? >> i think we have a several instrument in our disposal. first is the role of the turkish president erdogan. and u.n. president erdogan. and un. general secretary gutierrez , general secretary gutierrez, which should now deliver their decisiveness before possible putin visit in ankara. and i quite optimist that if we will be decisive in united erdogan , be decisive in united erdogan, as he do before , can block the as he do before, can block the grain corridor for the ukrainian grain corridor for the ukrainian grain potential because as we exported during the while the grain corridor was in act, more

than 30 million tonnes of grain saving the from hunger . than 30 million tonnes of grain saving the from hunger. millions of people and now we have the biggest crop and on our ability we are ready to export 50 million tonne without that the global food market would be destabilised . and with that destabilised. and with that situation i hope that in august we can do we can solve this question if we can find out the effective instrument on putin, including . block. bosphorus including. block. bosphorus poderem and goods. >> okay. now i know that you've been travelling and meeting your troops and going on the front lines to find out what the situation is. what's your battlefield report, if you like, on how that counteroffensive is going? >> yeah. three days ago i returned back from the zaporizhia and donetsk region , zaporizhia and donetsk region, and i do that every single week, delivering the maxim we can the

artillery track the uav and many , many other things. and i want to, by the way, thanks the british government the british people, because significant part of our delivery. i buy for my own money from great britain. thank you very much indeed for that. but good news is that the counteroffensive is underway and we already released more than 180 square kilometre of occupied ukrainian territory. and this is more than russia do for the previous year. and but this is very difficult question. we have lots of mines. we have a complete dominance of russia on the ukrainian airspace and together the same like we need an air defence on the ukrainian ports. we need an air defence western air defence which covered the offensive operation of ukrainian troops, both on the south and on the east. direction

we are full of designers despite of the fact that this is extremely difficult task right ? extremely difficult task right? russian armed forces is different from the february year 2000 and in 2022. and i want to thanks once again for the long—range storm shadow missiles this is weapons are extreme efficient against russian ammunition storage , against ammunition storage, against russian infrastructure object. and that's significant . we and that's significant. we support and improve our offensive operation at the present time. thank you very much indeed for that . much indeed for that. >> could i also just ask you about reports we're getting that cluster bombs have now been used against russia, the cluster bombs that the united states have controversially provided. is that something you can confirm ? confirm? >> i definitely can confirm then

since the year 2014, when i was supreme commander in chief of ukrainian armed forces until year 2019, russia continuously used the cluster bombs against ukrainian civilians. this has confirmed we have lots of evidence now , this is a evidence now, this is a different situation because, first of all, this is our territory and we use the we plan to use the cluster bombs only on ukrainian territory with the very careful object military object without any danger for civilians. we keep the map for possible mining of these bombs for facilitate demining . after for facilitate demining. after our victory and until now, we until now we still do not use the cluster bombs. but this is definitely increase our

potential of offensive operation. and i want to thank the united states for this decisive decision to equip our artillery with the cluster munition . munition. >> thank you very much for updating us once more. former president petro poroshenko. and joining us here on gb news. we do appreciate it . thank you. do appreciate it. thank you. >> thank you. thank you . >> thank you. thank you. >> thank you. thank you. >> something completely different now. the king and queen have been visiting brecon in wales . queen have been visiting brecon in wales. it's to mark the centenary year of brecon cathedral and to meet organisers of the brecon choir festival . of the brecon choir festival. >> yeah, plenty of union flags, but no welsh flags there at the moment . but meeting first moment. but meeting first minister mark drakeford, there , minister mark drakeford, there, these pictures just having come in and of course there is some controversy where we're learning that the former prince wales's home, that he bought there in carmarthenshire is now technically prince william's as prince of wales, but he may require some rent, apparently from his father if he wants to

visit it again. so not bank of mum and dad, but yeah, house of mum and dad. but there we are. we'll update you with cameron's take on that particular story. but i think we've got some more royal stories coming through fairly shortly as well . swan fairly shortly as well. swan upping what is that. we'll be explaining a little later . explaining a little later. >> but first, britain is fighting for the eu to reverse a decision to refer to the falkland islands as the islas malvinas. after a new declaration between brussels and argentina. >> well, that declaration , >> well, that declaration, published after a two day meeting with some 27 eu member states and a bloc then of 33 latin america countries called the celac would azeris . the celac would azeris. >> the move has been hailed, as you might expect, as a diplomatic triumph. but downing street this morning said it was a regrettable choice of words. joining us now is gb news home and secured city editor mark white. incredibly controversial. this isn't it? >> yeah. i mean, the prime

minister's spokesman has said , minister's spokesman has said, as you just said, there it is a regrettable choice of words. they're also claiming that the eu has backed down in terms of clear certifying that its position hasn't changed and on the falklands, but it certainly hasn't backed down in terms of the language it's using and that i think is a real diplomatic slap in the face for the uk. however, downing street wants to portray this because you have the argentinian president who is claiming that this is a triumph, that the eu for many , many years that the eu for many, many years now has never referred to the islands as the malvinas. now has never referred to the islands as the malvinas . but now islands as the malvinas. but now an official declaration it does just that. now that declaration came after this meeting with these celac countries, latin american countries, and the 27 eu members as and the declaration reads regarding the question of sovereignty over the islas malvinas slash falkland

islands , the european union took islands, the european union took note of salak historical position based on the importance of dialogue and respect for international law in the peaceful solution of disputes. so very clearly in the language of that declaration, they refer to it as islas malvinas , and not to it as islas malvinas, and not just that they juxtapose those two positions. so falkland islands comes after the islas malvinas and just to reiterate the diplomatic damage, james cleverly, the foreign secretary , demanding the ex president, charles michel, clarifies the position . position. >> and as far as we know, he did not receive a reply on that. >> no, i mean there is an eu official who has now come out to say that the official line on the falklands has not changed as far as the european union is concerned. however, other officials quoted in some of the press, including the financial times , said this was agreed by times, said this was agreed by 27 member states and celac

countries. we cannot issue a statement on their behalf . the statement on their behalf. the uk, it says, is not part of the eu . they're upset by the use of eu. they're upset by the use of the word malvinas. if they were in the eu , perhaps they would in the eu, perhaps they would have pushed back against it. >> there's a thing. however let's just reflect that. i mean the technical situation is it is a british overseas territory and that's in in law effectively . that's in in law effectively. >> yes, it is. there was a referendum in 2013 in which 99.8% of the population of the island voted to remain part of the united kingdom family. and that as far as britain is concerned, is good enough for them. they are not interested in reopening negotiations with argentina over sovereignty. actually argentina and the uk agreed to disagree over sovereignty in 2016 and they implemented an agreement. a pact to cooperate more widely on

issues such as science, energy, shipping or fishing. but in may of this year, argentina pulled out of that pact and since then we've had a downward spike role in relations between argentina and the uk. this the latest triumph as it's been, it will give argentina impetus, won't it , to continue talking to the eu about all this. just what i'm seeing. yeah. the president of argentina now declaring this a triumph and saying that it really bolsters his case to have the eu pile perhaps more pressure on the uk to reopen sovereignty negotiations. >> and let's reflect too, perhaps on the families and indeed the veterans of the falklands conflict , because one falklands conflict, because one of the important things is the ability travel there ability to travel there unhindered , to visit, to see the unhindered, to visit, to see the graves and to mark and pay their respects . respects. >> yeah, well, one of the benefits of this pact was that the argentinian families would

be able to try to come to visit, that there would be formed all efforts to try to identify the bodies of fallen argentinian men, servicemen on the islands itself, so that has now been suspended as part of the disinter operation of this pact between buenos aires and london. and as i say, diplomatically , and as i say, diplomatically, relations are at their lowest level for some time. >> mark, thanks very much indeed for updating us. >> in the next hour here on the live desk, we'll be discussing the uk's well, summer of discontent. we'll have the latest on the industrial action on the trains and the nhs . on the trains and the nhs. >> if you're trying to head across to the continent, we'll update you on the latest on the weather there as well. what about weather here, though ? about the weather here, though? >> the temperatures rising , boxt >> the temperatures rising, boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news.

on. gb news. >> hello again, it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast that scattered showers once again across the uk. but sunny spells in between those showers ease overnight and it's going to be a cool night. we've got this northwesterly air flow across the country at the moment. low pressure scandinavia, high pressure over scandinavia, high pressure over scandinavia, high pressure , but pressure over the atlantic, but weather clear for weather fronts staying clear for the time being. and that means that although there are scattered around , scattered showers around, they'll be fleeting, they'll be disappearing into the evening and clear spells will break out fairly widely. still some showers pushing into northern ireland. northern and eastern scotland and perhaps northwest england and wales, but otherwise away from the showers. temperatures dipping into the single figures, perhaps even the mid to low single figures for some sheltered parts of northern scotland. so certainly a cool some might call it a chilly start to friday, otherwise plenty of sunshine from the word go. but cloud will build through the morning and once again those showers will get going again. they'll be hit and miss. not

everyone will get showers i think driest towards the south—east, showers south—east, but those showers will be most frequent across northern parts of northern england. parts of wales, scotland and then wales, eastern scotland and then longer spells of rain arriving by the end of friday into northern ireland. a of northern ireland. a sign of things for the weekend. things to come for the weekend. saturday those spells of saturday sees those spells of rain across much of the rain spread across much of the country, avoiding northern scotland and southeast england for being . but an for the time being. but an unsettled store with unsettled weekend in store with wet and breezy weather followed by showers later sunday and into monday . the temperatures rising i >> -- >> boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on .

gb news consistently abused since the 2008 financial crisis . 2008 financial crisis. >> in the words of a consultant, dr. as their 48 hour strike begins the first since 2012. how much sicker will the nhs be as a result? we're live on the picket line or is there one? >> them's the breaks . rmt leader >> them's the breaks. rmt leader mick lynch says he has a better relationship with the current transport secretary than he did his predecessor, but it is not stopping the strikes. with thousands of passengers facing fresh travel disruption . fresh travel disruption. >> the war of words now over the falklands. the eu officially refers to the islands as las

malvinas . downing street calls malvinas. downing street calls the choice of words regrettable i >> -- >> plus, -_ >> plus, uk supermarkets are under scrutiny again, with warnings that some retailers are failing to clearly display pnces. failing to clearly display prices . all that plus much more prices. all that plus much more very shortly. first, though, we're checking in with . aaron we're checking in with. aaron >> hey, good afternoon to you. it's a minute past one. aaron armstrong here in the gb newsroom. strikes by health workers could end up costing hospitals billions of hospitals many billions of pounds. according to pounds. that's according to matthew taylor, the head of the body represents nhs body that represents nhs organisations who says they're on alert for the next 48 on red alert for the next 48 hours. a senior doctors walk out over pay . he says health leaders over pay. he says health leaders are deeply concerned by the impact strikes are having on the ability reduce waiting lists ability to reduce waiting lists and improve morale and

and improve staff morale and patient satisfaction. consultants have rejected the government offer of a 6% pay rise. health secretary steve barclay says the government has listened to the bma's demands. >> average nhs earnings of a consultant after this pay rise will be £134,000 a year and on top of that 20% of their salary goes into their pension, which means they'll be able to earn when they retire by the age of 65, tax free up to £60,000 a yeah 65, tax free up to £60,000 a year. the number one ask of the bma was for pension tax reform , bma was for pension tax reform, and we listened to that as we acted on it. and in addition, we've also accepted in full the independent pay review body recommendations , up to 20,000 recommendations, up to 20,000 rail staff are on strike today overjob rail staff are on strike today over job security and pay, overjob security and pay, causing disruptions and cancellation across many services. >> now , it's the first of three >> now, it's the first of three days of industrial action which will affect 14 train companies in england and that may have a

knock on effect into scotland and wales, too . members will and wales, too. members will also walk out on the next two saturdays, the 22nd and the 29th of july. additionally drivers in the aslef union are banned from doing overtime work this week. rmt general secretary mick lynch is hopeful fresh talks will mirror the progress he's making with london underground. let's get try and get a deal cooked up, but we can try and get back round the table. >> we're doing that with london transport right now about what's going on in london underground . going on in london underground. we've the we've been in acas, the conciliation service all week. so if we get the same so if we can get the same atmosphere where people are trying to work towards some solutions, we can do solutions, perhaps we can do that on national rail. i'm hoping that maybe london underground will come up with some proposals that are steps forward can consider that forward and we can consider that . do that on both . but if we can do that on both parts if you parts of the railway, if you like, maybe get some progress. >> good news. mortgage rates have fallen for the first time since may. both two and five year fixed rate deals are down by 0.02% on average. that's

according to the financial information company moneyfacts. lenders have factored in better than expected inflation data that was released earlier this week, but those figures are still higher than their peaks dunng still higher than their peaks during last year's mini—budget supermarkets aren't displaying pnces supermarkets aren't displaying prices as clearly as they should, preventing shoppers from finding the best deals . the finding the best deals. the competition and markets authority has found retailers could be hampering people's ability to compare products. the watchdog is warning supermarkets to make the necessary changes or risk facing enforcement action andifs risk facing enforcement action and it's calling on the government to tighten the law around pricing display. the sovereign grant, which is used to fund the monarchy's official duties, has been cut by more than half. it's been reduced to 12% of the crown estate's net profits next year, down from 25. now the treasury has announced the change following a significant boost in the crown estate's profits from offshore wind deals. the king asked in

january for the wind farm profits to be used for the wider pubuc profits to be used for the wider public good instead. so the total sovereign grant for 2024 total sovereign grant for 2024 to 2025 remains the same at £863 million. nigel farage says he hasn't ruled out suing the private bank. coutts after they closed his account. senior conservatives have criticised the elite bank after the former brexit party leader revealed his account was closed because his beliefs did not align with the banks. the treasury is expected to announce plans to require lenders to explain why they close an account and also to give customers an opportunity to appeal the decision . tobias appeal the decision. tobias ellwood is facing a motion of no confidence after publishing a video claiming afghanistan has improved since the taliban regained power. the conservative former defence minister is facing a backlash from his own committee members after saying corruption is down since the taliban returned two years ago. he's called for britain to reopen its embassy in kabul

following from the eu re—establishing a physical presence in the country. last yean presence in the country. last year, mr ellwood deleted his video from twitter and he has expressed regret over its publication . in voting has begun publication. in voting has begun in the three by elections that are taking place in england today. all three seats in uxbndge today. all three seats in uxbridge and south ruislip in london, selby and ainsty in nonh london, selby and ainsty in north yorkshire and somerton and frome in somerset have been held by the conservatives since 2019. polling stations close at 10:00 tonight. constituents are being reminded to bring photo id with them . and how about this? five them. and how about this? five whale sharks have been rescued by divers after they were found trapped in fishing nets in ocean waters off indonesia . some waters off indonesia. some spectacular footage this you can see how caught up the whale sharks are. but the divers managed to free them from the nets and let the whale sharks glide away and swim freely again. the whale shark is

considered the largest species of fish in existence as it is on the red list. though of the international union for conservation of nature as a vulnerable species . this is gb vulnerable species. this is gb news. we will bring you more throughout the afternoon. but now it is back to mark and . now it is back to mark and. pip >> aaron, thanks very much and welcome back to the live desk with nhs bosses warning patients that the country's health service is on red alert for the next two days with thousands of consultant doctors holding their latest walk out the most serious stoppage. to hit stoppage. they say, to hit hospitals. so far, the chief executive of the body is warning the consultants walk out could cost hospitals many billions of pounds as it urges the government and unions to reach a deal. government and unions to reach a deal . now let's get more done in deal. now let's get more done in bristol , the royal infirmary, bristol, the royal infirmary, with our reporter jeff moody and jeff , clearly it's not just the

jeff, clearly it's not just the various appointments and normal procedures missed out, but the warning that , of course, if warning that, of course, if anything serious does happen, there are not that many doctors around at the moment. there are not that many doctors around at the moment . well around at the moment. well that's right. >> and it's not just the doctors. it's the role that those consultants play. the consultants are extremely crucial in the nhs because they guide and support and consult with the junior doctors . so in with the junior doctors. so in effect, this means that the junior doctors are turning up to work today and have very little to do because they can't sign off procedures without those consult agents in place. so it feels like a bit of a double whammy for the nhs today. coming so soon. off the back of the junior doctors strike earlier on this week, nhs england has said that they really feel it's unfair share of these consultants to do this at the moment so close to the other strike when they haven't had time to regroup and to re roster to and sort proper cover. they're saying over most of the

country that the cover will be what they call christmas day coven what they call christmas day cover, which means emergencies only. now i have received a tweet this morning from a viewer who says that they had an appointment here at 8.30 this morning for a scan and that went ahead as planned. but i've also had people coming up to me to say had operations say that they've had operations cancelled throughout last cancelled throughout the last few weeks and months . well, few weeks and months. well, there was a picket line here very briefly from 9:00 until 11:00. and during that time i caught up with one of the consultants and he told me why he feels this strike is so important. >> it is not just the strike, but it's also the capacity to deliver with a lack of infrastructure and the most precious infrastructure is the staffing. >> so, you know , we have waiting >> so, you know, we have waiting lists that have been growing and growing. it is not because of the junior doctors or the consultants . we've only started consultants. we've only started doing we've taking industrial action recently , but it has been action recently, but it has been action recently, but it has been a long problem because of the lack of staff, lack of

infrastructure. the problem is that there is only so much one person can do or two people or three people. it's the government, you know, from the top. we need to invest and understand that if doctors are trying to work and work to make sure that they can pay for child care , pay for their mortgage, care, pay for their mortgage, clear their debt, the for the nhs as such is going to be stretched to the to the bone . stretched to the to the bone. >> it's not just about pay, is it either, jeff? it's about retention. i mean , so many retention. i mean, so many consultants are saying they can get paid so much more by going overseas to places like australia for. >> yes, exactly. which is kind of what that guy just said that that consultant just said it's about retaining staff. it's about retaining staff. it's about getting staff employed , about getting staff employed, ing them, training them and keeping them , most importantly. keeping them, most importantly. and that's the real problem that people are so they're so short staffed here. but i think what is interesting, i've been on

many a picket line forjunior doctors, for nurses , for railway doctors, for nurses, for railway staff . and when you're on staff. and when you're on a picket line , you can really tell picket line, you can really tell that the public reaction by the number of cars that are tooting their horns as they go past. i didn't hear that many this morning , which i think didn't hear that many this morning, which i think is didn't hear that many this morning , which i think is really morning, which i think is really interesting when you look at the salaries that these consoles are being paid, the starting salary is around £93,000 and that can go is around £93,000 and that can 9° up is around £93,000 and that can go up to £120,000. now, a little caveat to that. it does take 19 years to get to that £120,000. and of course, these are highly skilled, highly trained , vital skilled, highly trained, vital workers in the nhs. so they should be paid a good salary. but i think that it's very hard for them to garner as much support out on that sort of salary , particularly as the cost salary, particularly as the cost of living crisis continues to bite. i think it's much harder for them to garner the same support as, say, the nurses did a few months and weeks back . a few months and weeks back. >> okay, jeff moody, thank you

very much for that . well, from very much for that. well, from one strike to another here, because the latest series of train strikes are set to cause mayhem across britain. >> we've got thousands of rmt members, including station staff, off work today. then they're planning another walkout this coming saturday and the following weekend. whilst drivers in aslef will they're banning their overtime shifts again this week. let's get more on this from our national reporter paul hawkins, who is live from paddington. >> it all sounds so simple, paul . the rmt general secretary, mick lynch , is saying all rail mick lynch, is saying all rail workers are waiting for is an invitation back to the i can't get my words out. the negotiating table . negotiating table. >> yeah, that's what they're saying. they're saying that the rail delivery group, they want to meet with them. that's the body that represents the train operating companies. but according to the union, they're saying the government is stopping them from opening negotiations. now, just to remind those of you, because this industrial dispute has been

running on for well over a year now, the latest pay offer was rejected by the union in april . rejected by the union in april. it was 5% backdated for last year for % for this year. but the year for% for this year. but the conditions that came attached with that offer were unacceptable to the union. and so they've called this strike action today, saturday and then action today, saturday and then a week on saturday and factor that in as well with the aslef ban on overtime aslef of course, the union that represents train drivers, they're banning their members from taking up overtime. and then next week you've got an rmt strike on the tube network in london. there's pretty much going some sort of going to be some sort of industrial action the industrial action on the railways the capital industrial action on the raiacross the capital industrial action on the raiacross the the capital industrial action on the raiacross the country capital industrial action on the raiacross the country everyal industrial action on the raiacross the country every day, or across the country every day, right until the end of the right up until the end of the month. it is difficult. there month. so it is difficult. there is severe disruption today, 20,000 members of the rmt on strike. all 14 train operating companies in england affected . companies in england affected. and knock on effect for and also a knock on effect for services that are going to wales and scotland . although we and to scotland. although we should say that this industrial dispute has been running so dispute has been running for so long people are kind of

long that people are kind of getting it. people are getting used to it. people are working they're so working from home or they're so used this industrial used to this industrial action that got plans that they've already got plans in mitigate against any in place to mitigate against any disruption. here's what mick lynch , who's the general lynch, who's the general secretary rmt, had to secretary for the rmt, had to say earlier on about the talks or lack of them with the government. >> the stuff that we've been saying for more a year, saying for more than a year, that about cuts and a that this is about cuts and a drastic to change the future of the railway is now coming true. and they've put those negotiations into the companies rather than national level. rather than at national level. so big campaign in so we've got a big campaign in front of us. the public are out supporting this week, 100,000 supporting us this week, 100,000 people have responded to the consultation on ticket office closures, but we're hoping the government will give the companies permission to come back to the table and we can work up some solutions and get get an agreement. but at the moment, that seems a long way away . away. >> yeah. so that's what mick lynch is saying. the government is saying that the offer on the table is a final one. that strike action isn't having the desired effect that it would do.

and so there's a kind of standoff here between the government the unions with standoff here between the gov railnent the unions with standoff here between the gov rail delivery the unions with standoff here between the gov rail delivery groupnions with standoff here between the gov rail delivery group in ns with standoff here between the gov rail delivery group in the vith the rail delivery group in the middle, of middle, the boss, the boss of whom jacqueline starr, has called it a very good offer. and she open to she said they're very open to continuing conversations. one thing that is different about this industrial action that it's taking while is a taking place while there is a pubuc taking place while there is a public ticket public consultation on ticket office closures and there does seem to be some public support for keeping some of those ticket offices open, given there is resistance to closures from from disability groups and also a legal challenge from the mayors of five cities within england . of five cities within england. so there's some resistance to that ticket office closures. it could push up public support for more industrial action on the railways, and that could be something that the unions are factoring into as we head into the summer. but at least until the summer. but at least until the end of july, there will be some and the advice some disruption. and the advice to passengers to all passengers is check before travel. before you travel. >> indeed. paul, thank you for that. but as we were saying a bit earlier, we can see obviously 1 or 2 people still coming in and out paddington

coming in and out of paddington there bags. good luck there with their bags. good luck to else can we be to them. what else can we be doing about this? well let's speak think mark venables speak now. i think mark venables can us, who's managing can join us, who's managing director because director of megabus, because clearly a lot of people may be giving up on the tube and the train network at the moment. i guess that means, though, that seats on bus will be at a seats on a bus will be at a premium . premium. >> absolutely . >> absolutely. >> absolutely. >> we've we've seen a surge in sales , as we always do, ahead of sales, as we always do, ahead of a rail strike. so yeah, i'd say sales are up probably about a third on where we would expect them to be for today , for them to be for today, for example. and it's growing still. so throughout the day we'll see more and more demand and demand is definitely grown for the weekend as well. so there's two more coming up. so yeah, more strikes coming up. so yeah, people do find us when there are rail strikes and what's i think difficult for the rail industry is that when people find us, they then tend to stay with us afterwards to say, this afterwards to say, does this sort alter the structure such sort of alter the structure such that as people get more and more fed up or they literally can't

physically train , physically travel by train, especially sort of intercity journeys , they do tend to then journeys, they do tend to then seek out other alternative methods. >> and you know, if you've got a good service, well, that's good bus service, well, that's what they're going to pick up . what they're going to pick up. >> yeah, that's right. and obviously , you know, there are obviously, you know, there are alternatives out there that are not as well known about as as railways. so and what we're talking about really is it's not just bus. it's coach . and there just bus. it's coach. and there is a distinction. but coach scheduled coach means it operates very, very similarly to a railway . there's departure a railway. there's departure times slots and you can buy a ticket much in the same way that you would buy a rail ticket. ticket much in the same way that you would buy a rail ticket . so you would buy a rail ticket. so yeah, sure. a search on google. how do we get to a from a to b when rail doesn't come up ? then when rail doesn't come up? then alternatives like like a coach do come up . do come up. >> it's the only thing with the coach is that the journeys can invariably be longer by bus than they would be by train. but a

passenger is quite forgiving of that because they just simply can't rely on the rail services i >> -- >> yeah , indeed. in fact, what >> yeah, indeed. in fact, what we find is reliable is reliability and affordability are the top two priorities for customers. whenever we ask them. and of course it an overall end to end journey might be longer on a coach or it might be shorter. it depends exactly where you start and end points are. but frequency is really important as well. so for example, between glasgow and edinburgh, we've got coaches running every 15 minutes 24 over seven. so it's just turn up and 90, seven. so it's just turn up and go, which means you don't have necessarily the wait time that you have when you've got when you're waiting for a train to factor into that end to end journey time. so it really does depend. sheffield meadowhall to leeds were faster than the train . it just depends where you want to go to and from. >> okay. now i think i'm right in saying that you work with the department of transport well. department of transport as well. is that we really is it fair to say that we really

need looking some need to start looking at some kind rail transport kind of national rail transport infrastructure plan ? because it infrastructure plan? because it seems that getting from a to b in this country is getting more and more difficult . sure i in this country is getting more and more difficult. sure i did work for the department for transport a few years ago , but transport a few years ago, but yeah, absolutely. >> to make public transport more attractive and therefore encourage people to leave the cars at home, you've got to have that integrated network, that integrated way of buying a ticket across multiple modes and for it to be easy. so for it to be easy and attractive, it's got to be affordable and it's got to be reliable. those are the two key ingredients. and it's possible we will get there. but clearly the rail industry has got the got some challenges at the moment that it will overcome in time. >> okay. well thank you very much indeed for taking us through that. and as we say to everyone, safe travel, i guess, is what we can say. thank you very much for your time. >> safe, but challenged travel. >> safe, but challenged travel. >> yeah, you . >> yeah, you. >> yeah, you. >> supermarkets are under

screwed again with warnings that some retailers are failing to clearly display prices as yeah, competition and markets authority , no less. authority, no less. >> that's the watchdog has been ordering grocers to comply with the rules. what are the rules? we'll be updating you shortly. stay with us. >> the temperature's rising. boxt solar. proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> hello again. it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast. scattered showers once again across the uk , but sunny again across the uk, but sunny spells in between those showers ease overnight and it's going to be a cool night. we've got this northwesterly air flow across the country at the moment. low pressure scandinavia , high pressure over scandinavia, high pressure over scandinavia, high pressure over scandinavia, high pressure over atlantic, but pressure over the atlantic, but weather staying for weather fronts staying clear for the being . and that means the time being. and that means that there that although there are scattered showers around, they'll . they'll be they'll be fleeting. they'll be disappearing into the evening and clear spells will break out fairly widely. still some

showers pushing into northern ireland and northern and eastern scotland and perhaps northwest england and wales, but otherwise away from the showers. temperatures dipping into the single figures , perhaps even the single figures, perhaps even the mid to low single figures for some sheltered parts of northern scotland. so certainly a cool some might call it a chilly start to friday, otherwise plenty of sunshine from the word go. but cloud will build through the morning and once again those showers will get going again . showers will get going again. they'll be hit and miss. not everyone get showers, i everyone will get showers, i think towards the think driest towards the south—east but those showers will frequent across will be most frequent across northern of northern england, parts of wales, east and scotland. and then longest spells of rain arriving the of friday arriving by the end of friday into ireland. a sign into northern ireland. a sign of things come for the weekend. things to come for the weekend. saturday sees those spells of rain spread across much of the country, avoiding northern scotland england scotland and south—east england for . but an for the time being. but an unsettled weekend in store with wet and breezy weather followed by showers later sunday and into monday . monday. >> the temperatures rising , boxt

>> the temperatures rising, boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on

the people's channel. britain's watching . watching. welcome back to the live desk on gb news. >> uk supermarkets are under scrutiny again with warnings that some retailers are failing to clearly display prices . to clearly display prices. >> this is coming from the competitions and markets

authority, which is the competition watchdog, effectively ordering grocers to comply with the rules while calling on the government to examine the issue. >> and all comes as food >> and it all comes as food inflation remains at record highs . well, joining us now to highs. well, joining us now to discuss all this is our economics and business editor liam the money liam halligan with on the money . this will be causing millions of people a lot more worry than they already have got with the cost of living crisis. >> liam exactly. pip there are two. so there's this thing called cma, the competition called the cma, the competition and markets authority. it used to be called the office for fair trading, the oft , and it trading, the oft, and it combined with the competition commission as the as the officials in whitehall sort of moved to deckchairs and so on. but now have cma, which but we now have the cma, which is body. it's an is a powerful body. it's an independent and official body and it examines particular sectors where it thinks competition may not be happening , retailers are , where maybe retailers are colluding and so consumers don't get a good deal basically. and

there have been two really big investigations going on over the last couple of months . i'm going last couple of months. i'm going to tell you about the first one, which is supermarket hits selling fuel. right? so when you go to the supermarket and they've got petrol stations there use to fill there and you use them to fill up, and the results of this one actually out at the end of actually came out at the end of last week and it was barely noticed. last week and it was barely noficed.soi last week and it was barely noticed. so i just alert noticed. so i just want to alert gb viewers listeners to gb news viewers and listeners to it. the cma investigated it. so when the cma investigated supermarkets selling fuel , you supermarkets selling fuel, you can see on the graphic they found that fuel profits when sold by supermarkets were actually up quite sharply. the margin on fuel profits was 4.6 p per litre in 2019 profit. but that was 10.8 p per litre . in that was 10.8 p per litre. in 2022 and absolutely huge increase, well, a doubling effectively more than doubling of those profits when supermarkets sell fuel. and the cma found that motorists overpaid for their fuel when they bought at supermarkets . by they bought at supermarkets. by

£900 million in 2022. that's absolutely huge. so the supermarkets are being reprimanded for that . and then reprimanded for that. and then there's this new study that's come out this morning and it's much less dramatic because the cma finds that when supermarkets are selling food and there was actually competition, there wasn't kind of price gouging or profiteering. now we know that food price inflation is still very high. the number yesterday that came out from the ons was 17.3. so food was 17, 33% more expensive in june than june 2022. but the cma found that over that year , those food over that year, those food retailing profits actually fell. and this is supermarkets and some other convenience stores and the average operating margins of those food retailers fell from 2021 to 2022 from 3.2% to 1.8. so the supermarket has got a clean bill of health. when selling food, but not when selling food, but not when selling fuel, though the cma did say that sometimes food

retailers weren't displaying prices. clearly enough. so you might want to know how much vegetables are per kilo . you vegetables are per kilo. you might want to know how much shampoo is per mille litres or whatever. and sometimes the units that supermarkets were using weren't comparable. the typeface was too small, etcetera , etcetera. so the cma said food retailers need clearer per unit pricing. >> what we have been clear on is what the price is at the forecourt when we pull in for petrol at supermarkets. now asda were actually called to account by mps yesterday, just run us through what happened on that very dramatic yesterday and it's one reason why i reprised this cma inquiry into fuel selling by supermarkets because it kind of got lost towards the back end of last week. >> there's so much going on and because yesterday the house of commons, a select committee was quizzing, they were quizzing some of the supermarket bosses and the boss of asda in particular billionaire boss of asda. he was really hauled over

the coals and some of the mps said afterwards that his performance was embarrassing and it detracted from asda's reputation. i think they said they'd wasted an hour of their time because he because the boss didn't seem to want to admit that profits on on petrol retailing were higher when the cma had the bang to rights. as we say in journalism. now, asda deny any wrongdoing , but i would deny any wrongdoing, but i would say that at this these having these two inquiries at once, it's been quite difficult for us to follow them and for consumers to follow them and for consumers to follow them and for consumers to follow them. but the basic outline is that when they're selling petrol, the supermarkets have been profiteering and when they're selling food, they haven't been. >> and just when it comes to the selling food, would you agree that people sell should actually just always check your receipts ? i do every single time i shop because i've been caught out too many times by a display that

says, you know, two for £3 and it doesn't show up on my receipts. >> you've put your finger on pip exactly what the cma is saying . exactly what the cma is saying. i mean, look, some people, you know , i've been talking to two know, i've been talking to two friends who are campaigning, anti—poverty campaigners this morning, and they they think the cma's pulled their punches. they think course, there's profiteering going on the supermarkets there. they're just too powerful . lots of campaign too powerful. lots of campaign donations, etcetera , etcetera. donations, etcetera, etcetera. so the cma has pulled its punches, but it has kind of given a finger in the direction, an eyebrow in the direction of the supermarkets when they actually sell fuel. i actually find the cma finding on food and i wouldn't say disengaged tenuous. i find it it stretches my imagination as well. i do think there have been price rises that are unjustifiable , rises that are unjustifiable, particularly on certain certain products . and we've had we've products. and we've had we've had data from companies like cantor, from campaigners like which, you know, you you guys we talk about this every few days, don't we? and when you've got

17.1% food price inflation, right, when wholesale food pnces right, when wholesale food prices have come down a lot, the retailers would say, oh, yeah, but there's the cost of heating and growing in greenhouses and labour costs are high. yeah but you know, when was the last time you know, when was the last time you went to a supermarket and somebody actually did the checkout it's all self checkout for you? it's all self checkout for you? it's all self checkout a lot checkout now, isn't it? or a lot of it look, this debate is of it is. look, this debate is going to go on and on, but for now, at least, the supermarkets, they've clean of they've got a clean bill of health, mostly food health, mostly on food retailing, but they've certainly had marked when had their their card marked when it retailers. it comes to petrol retailers. >> see happens to >> and we'll see what happens to the forecourt. the prices on the forecourt. absolutely. liam ever, absolutely. yeah. liam as ever, thank . thank you. >> well, coming up here on the live diplomatic dispute live desk, a diplomatic dispute over the falklands as rishi sunak criticises the eu for a regrettable choice of words. we'll be telling you more about that after your headlines with . aaron >> hi. there is 132 aaron

armstrong here in the gb newsroom . the nhs is on red newsroom. the nhs is on red alert for the next 48 hours. a senior doctors walkout over pay for the first time in a decade. matthew taylor, the head of the body that represents nhs organisations, says strikes could end up costing hospitals many billions of pounds. services have been reduced to christmas day levels, with only emergency cover provided . emergency cover provided. consultants have rejected the government offer of a 6% pay rise , more disruption for rail rise, more disruption for rail passengers throughout the day as a result of fresh strikes. rmt members, including station staff and train managers, have walked out. they'll do so again on the next two saturdays while drivers in aslef have been banned from taking over time. this week, the rmt general secretary, mick lynch , says they're still lynch, says they're still waiting to be invited back to the negotiating table by network rail . the negotiating table by network rail. mortgage the negotiating table by network rail . mortgage rates have fallen rail. mortgage rates have fallen for the first time since may. both two and five year fixed rate deals are down 0.02% on average, according to the

financial information company moneyfacts . lenders have been moneyfacts. lenders have been factoring in the better than expected inflation data that was released earlier this week. but those figures are still higher than their peaks during last year's mini—budget and the voting is well underway in the three by elections that are taking place in england today. the three seats are uxbridge and south ruislip. that's boris johnson's former seat, selby and ainsty in north yorkshire and somerton and frome frome sorry, in somerset. they've been held by the conservatives since 2019. polling stations close at 10 pm. and constituents are being reminded to take photo id with them . more on all of our stories them. more on all of our stories on our website gbnews.com . on our website gbnews.com. direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news for gold and silver investment . gold and silver investment. >> it . a quick look at the

>> it. a quick look at the markets today. >> the pound buys you 1.28, seven $5 and ,1.1501. the price of gold £1,538.64 per ounce. and the ftse 100 is currently trading at 7640 points a direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news for physical investment

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>> welcome back to the live desk with britain now pushing the eu to reverse a decision referring to reverse a decision referring to the falkland islands as malvinas after a new declaration between brussels and argentina , between brussels and argentina, the declaration was published following a two day meeting with the 27 eu member states and a bloc of 33 latin american countries . well, in buenos countries. well, in buenos aires, the move , hailed as a aires, the move, hailed as a diplomatic triumph . downing diplomatic triumph. downing street, however, saying it's a regrettable choice of words . regrettable choice of words. joining us now, our homeland security editor , mark white. security editor, mark white. and, mark, it's the latest in a war of words, of course, over the islands after the physical war back in 1982. downing street now indicating that this may go up a notch, perhaps . up a notch, perhaps. >> yes. well, they've certainly described the language or description used by the european union to describe it as islas malvinas, which of course , is

malvinas, which of course, is what argentina refers to the falklands as . it's what argentina refers to the falklands as. it's a very loaded name in terms of how the islanders themselves in the falklands react to being called the malvinas. but but the european union did in that declaration , after two days of declaration, after two days of talks with the rest resentatives of these latin american countries, celac countries agreed to the wording of this particular declaration . particular declaration. >> what official communique effectively , isn't it? yes. effectively, isn't it? yes. >> and it says regarding the question of sovereignty over the islas malvinas slash falklands islands , the european union took islands, the european union took note of suella historical position based on the importance of dialogue and respect for international law in the peaceful solution of disputes . peaceful solution of disputes. so we've got the argentinian president , alberto fernandez,

president, alberto fernandez, declaring this a triumph, saying that it strengthens his country's position. really in terms of pushing for the british government to reopen talks over the island sovereignty . the island sovereignty. >> see, and in terms of its position, a british overseas territory, where are we with this assertion that because of brexit, these sort of things no longer apply on the on the international forum? >> well, yes. i mean, officially european union certainly a spokesman has come out and said that the overall position with regard to sovereignty has not changed. but clearly with the use of the term malvinas and the way in which it's juxtaposed as well, it talks about malvinas slash falklands rather than the other way around . but just the other way around. but just the term anyway, i think is enough to trigger this government and those in the falklands and they will know how loaded that is . will know how loaded that is. yes. well, indeed. well, a

spokesman , an unnamed, has been spokesman, an unnamed, has been speaking to a number of publications , including the publications, including the financial times. they say this was agreed by 27 members and the celac countries. we cannot issue a statement on their behalf, said the uk is not part of the eu. they are upset at the use of the word malvinas . if they were the word malvinas. if they were in the eu , it goes on. perhaps in the eu, it goes on. perhaps they would have pushed back against it. >> i mean , is the argentine >> i mean, is the argentine president being a little bit too triumphant if the eu is coming out with this statement ? is that out with this statement? is that where they are saying we haven't changed our views? they say they haven't changed their views, but then their wording suggests otherwise? yeah. then their wording suggests oth well,e? yeah. then their wording suggests oth well, i yeah. then their wording suggests oth well, i mean, from his point >> well, i mean, from his point of view, all about of view, it's all about accentuating the positive, isn't of view, it's all about accentu you; the positive, isn't of view, it's all about accentu you know, ositive, isn't of view, it's all about accentu you know, trying, isn't of view, it's all about accentu you know, trying to ;n't of view, it's all about accentu you know, trying to pile it? and you know, trying to pile the pressure on the uk government, he says. now now that he's got this sort of tacit backing of the international community to push for london in, to go in and reopen these

sovereignty talks with buenos aires. but the foreign secretary, james cleverly says that's not going to happen . just that's not going to happen. just back in 2013, the people of the falkland islands voted by 99.8% to remain within the uk family , to remain within the uk family, and that is good enough for the british government. yeah >> and have we had any reaction yet from both the veterans groups and their families, beanng groups and their families, bearing in mind the importance of free and unfettered access to get there to pay their own respects to those who who fell in that conflict in 1982? well other than regret and anger at the way in which relations have been deteriorating in recent months since argentina pulled out of a key pact, an agreement with . london to allow greater with. london to allow greater cooperation over the likes of energy science , shipping and

energy science, shipping and fishing, fishing, particularly , fishing, fishing, particularly, and also with regard to the identity location of those argentine guinean servicemen who remain unidentified in the falkland . falkland. >> as as part of that agreement , there was, you know , a process , there was, you know, a process aimed at trying to identify why these individuals that has now ended because of the deterioration in the relationship. and it doesn't look like it's going to get any better on the back of this now, especially with the argentinian president continuing to ratchet up, ratchet up the calls for, again , sovereignty issues to be again, sovereignty issues to be re—examined . as i say, london re—examined. as i say, london says that's absolutely not going to happen. >> the war of words continues. mark, thanks very much indeed. >> makes you wonder what maggie thatcher would have said if she was here. can you imagine ? was here. now, can you imagine? >> yeah, i think obviously we'll be getting some views, too, from

those who were involved in the conflict a little later. james sunderland, the mp who was a veteran of that campaign , king veteran of that campaign, king charles, has another first in his reign today. >> swan songs are being officially counted on the river thames. the monarch has the right to claim any unmarked, mute swan swimming in open waters. they have the official title of seigneur. i don't know if i've said that correctly. signer of the swans. >> well, our royal correspondent cameron walker, has been following the swan uppers taking part in a tradition dating back hundreds of years . hundreds of years. >> that's a nice little cygnet , >> that's a nice little cygnet, a very, very young . a very, very young. >> the tradition of swan upping dates back hundreds of years. but this is the first time king charles has the rights to own any wild swan that's unmarked and mute . the annual census on and mute. the annual census on the river thames is a five day journey upstream in six traditional rowing skiffs supported by boats used to evacuate allied troops from dunkirk during world war ii. royal swan uppers scarlet uniforms have been worn for

years. standing out against the centuries old vintners and dyers livery companies who tag their swans to claim ownership . vp swans to claim ownership. vp david barber was queen elizabeth's swan marker for 30 years. he's continuing his role under king charles. >> there's really no difference except for, we know the king is very interested in wildlife and conservation, which is very positive for us. >> so it should be good. >> so it should be good. >> the swan uppers scan the banks for new cygnets as it's not long before something is spotted, so the swan uppers have found a brood and they've separated the adult swans from the cygnets. and what they're doing now is checking if the aduu doing now is checking if the adult swans are tagged, if they are untagged , they belong to the are untagged, they belong to the king and therefore the cygnets will also belong to the king. but they're also checking them over for any injuries because the whole point of swan upping nowadays is conservation and education. >> do you know anything about swan upping? no no. >> local school children met the

swan uppers on the banks and were taught about conservation efforts to avoid the birds getting caught in fishing lines. they were introduced to orphaned cygnets to. >> i hadn't seen a baby cygnet that looked like a baby swan , that looked like a baby swan, but it was a little bit grey year to encourage an interest in the environment, children were shown how to bind the cygnets legs to tag them safely, testing out their own bow tying skills on the swan uppers themselves. >> it's been a challenging year for swan numbers due to the spread of bird flu. hundreds of swans have been lost on the thames alone, but infections are down, paving the way for the swan population to recover . our swan population to recover. our cameron walker gb news on the river thames successfully upping the swans as it were. >> now whoever said that banking was boring after nigel farage's account was closed, the head of natwest group under fire from multiple mps , the prime multiple mps, the prime minister, the home secretary , minister, the home secretary, all criticising the company's

handung all criticising the company's handling of the situation. >> dame alison rose is alleged to have sat next to the bbc's business editor at a dinner the night before he published a story claiming nigel farage, a gb news presenter, was deep banked for commercial reasons , a banked for commercial reasons, a claim that has now been exposed as false and described as concerning by the banking watchdog in the political sphere. >> rishi sunak saying the government would be looking at the situation . cracking down, the situation. cracking down, i think was the phrase on cancelling customers. this is what he had to say. >> it wouldn't be right if financial services were being denied to anyone exercising their right to lawful free speech. our new financial services and markets act puts in place new measures to ensure that politically exposed persons are being treated in an appropriate and proportionate manner . and appropriate and proportionate manner. and having consulted on the payment services regulations, we are in the process of cracking down on this practise by tightening the rules around account closures . but in around account closures. but in the meantime, any individual can

complain to the financial ombudsman service, which has the power to direct a bank to reopen their account . their account. >> so that was rishi sunak in parliament yesterday. well, our political reporter olivia utley joins us, the bbc under yet more pressure again about this story we and about how they handled it. >> well absolutely and this story gets murkier and murkier the more you look into it. and what i think is particularly shocking to most of the people reading this today is the fact that cuts not only seemingly discriminated against one of its customers on the grounds of their political views, but then attempted to cover up. and it seems they actually lied about their reasons for d banking as they call it, nigel farage. simon jack, who's the bbc's business editor, it turns out , business editor, it turns out, sat next to dame alison rose, the ceo of natwest, the parent group of coutts at a glitzy

charity dinner . and the next day charity dinner. and the next day he published that story, which has been a pretty infamous story now in which he said that the reason nigel, according to sources close to coutts , the sources close to coutts, the reason why nigel farage had been d banked was that he didn't have enough enough funds to fulfil coutts criteria . you have to coutts criteria. you have to have £3 million in savings or £1 million in investment with the bank to hold an account with. coutts well nigel farage said to that it's never been that okay, but it's never been a problem before and lots of people i've spoken to lots of people i've spoken to lots of people who said that they have accused fallen accused customers who've fallen below and below that before and that doesn't to a big issue. doesn't seem to be a big issue. well now that nigel farage has got dossier , extracts got hold of a dossier, extracts of which are published in the telegraph , a 40 page telegraph today, a 40 page dossier which essentially says we will use the fact that nigel farage is mortgages coming an farage is mortgages coming to an end as a reason terminate our end as a reason to terminate our relationship with him on the grounds that his political beliefs don't align with our values. so seems that the bbc values. so it seems that the bbc got hold of this story and ran

with it and. and it simply wasn't true. yeah >> outside that as well. obviously there's now the bigger question about banks and their customers as well. we've got nicola riley from the financial conduct authority . we've got conduct authority. we've got andrew griffith, who is the treasury minister, all weighing in, le. what powers does a bank have ? what should they tell us have? what should they tell us and what powers then do we have to challenge it? i guess? >> well, exactly. so this isn't just a problem with coutts nigel farage claims that he's tried to try to get a banking contract with ten different banks and has been refused by all of them and other political figures have claimed that they've been refused by, by banks apart from coutts, we know for example, that jeremy hunt was refused by monzo and they didn't give a reason. >> the chancellor can't get a bank account for the rest of us. >> yeah, well exactly. and yesterday rishi sunak said in prime minister's questions that he is planning on bringing in

new laws which would clamp down on banks being able to turn away customers without giving any reason for it. as things stand, a bank can just say no without explaining why, and it sounds as though the government is going to try and crack down on that in in the weeks and months ahead. but obviously it takes pretty but obviously it takes a pretty long time for a law like that to pass through parliament. and that's not that long before a general an interesting situation >> and an interesting situation where got nigel farage where we've got nigel farage actually over something in government over something in particular, the way they've reacted quickly, in his reacted very quickly, in his view, reacted very quickly. >> something we >> yes, that's something that we don't there was don't hear very often. there was also of a spat with jon also a bit of a spat with jon sopel also a bit of a spat with jon sopel, former bbc correspondent, who tweeted saying that nigel farage looked a bit silly after after the bbc reported that that it was all a matter of funds and not politics. they've now apologised other apologised to each other on twitter seeing a very twitter and we're seeing a very unlikely love between the two unlikely love in between the two of them. >> w- e they'll be of them. >> they'll be going for >> not sure they'll be going for a anytime soon, but but a drink anytime soon, but but ultimately, about ultimately, this is about protecting free speech, isn't it? >> yeah, definitely . and you >> yeah, definitely. and you know, there are people from all

sides of the political spectrum who feel deeply alarmed about this, not they agree this, whether or not they agree with nigel farage, because the fact the only reason why, fact is, the only reason why, according to their own 40 page dossier, reason why they dossier, the reason why they turned nigel farage is turned down nigel farage is because not because there was anything substantive. they actually is nothing actually said there is nothing substantive that can on substantive that we can get on him. talked about his him. they talked about his russia alleged russia connections but couldn't find any details. it's simply because they eurosceptic they didn't like his eurosceptic views. and if that's the case, then what hope is there for any of us? >> well, i've got a statement from coots, not a bank statement. not rich enough from coots, not a bank stigo nent. not rich enough from coots, not a bank stigo with not rich enough from coots, not a bank stigo with them.ot rich enough from coots, not a bank stigo with them. it rich enough from coots, not a bank stigo with them. it is h enough from coots, not a bank stigo with them. it is notiough from coots, not a bank stigo with them. it is not coots to go with them. it is not coots policy, they say, close policy, they say, to close customer solely the customer accounts solely on the bafis customer accounts solely on the basis illegally held basis of illegally held political personal views. political and personal views. yeah, decisions to close an account are not taken lightly and involve a number of factors, including commercial viability , including commercial viability, reputational considerations and legal and regulatory requirements. full stop. there we are so i don't know if that means they're sorry or not. i'm not quite sure. but there we are

not quite sure. but there we are not quite sure. but there we are not quite clear. okay, we'll follow the latest twists and turns, but clearly, i think bigger questions now on the banking sector. olivia thank you very indeed. very much indeed. >> do stay with us. we will soon be at the headquarters the be at the headquarters of the british medical association, where are to hold where they are due to hold a rally senior doctors rally supporting senior doctors who are on strike today. the first of two days. we'll also be joined by an mp who served in the falklands . that story the falklands. that story breaking today. >> yeah, more of a war of words now with a diplomatic fallout, it seems not just with argentina , but with the eu as well, with the prime minister weighing in. we'll be assessing the very latest on how damaging it could be. and of course, what those veterans feel about it. stay with us. here on the live desk from news. we'll have the from gb news. we'll have the very latest for you. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. hello again. on. gb news. hello again. >> it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news

forecast scattered showers once again across the uk. but sunny spells between those showers spells in between those showers ease overnight and it's going to be a cool night. we've got this northwesterly flow across northwesterly air flow across the country at the moment. low pressure scandinavia the pressure over scandinavia, the high the atlantic. high pressure over the atlantic. but fronts staying clear but weather fronts staying clear for the time being. and that means although there are means that although there are scattered showers around , scattered showers around, they'll fleeting, they'll be they'll be fleeting, they'll be disappearing into the evening and clear spells will break out fairly widely. still some showers pushing into northern ireland. northern and eastern scotland and perhaps northwest england and wales. but otherwise away from the showers. temperatures dipping into the single figures, perhaps even the mid low single figures for mid to low single figures for some sheltered parts of northern scotland. so certainly a cool some might call it a chilly start to friday, otherwise plenty of sunshine from the word 90, plenty of sunshine from the word go, but cloud will build through the morning. and once again, those showers will get going again. they'll be hit and miss. not everyone will get showers, i think driest towards the southeast, those showers think driest towards the sout be |st, those showers think driest towards the sout be most those showers think driest towards the sout be most frequent howers think driest towards the sout be most frequent across will be most frequent across northern england, of

northern england, parts of wales, east and scotland. and then longer spells of rain arriving end of friday arriving by the end of friday into northern ireland. sign into northern ireland. a sign of things weekend. things to come for the weekend. saturday sees those spells of rain spread across much of the country, avoiding northern scotland and southeast england country, avoiding northern scolheid and southeast england country, avoiding northern scothe timei southeast england country, avoiding northern scothe time being1east england country, avoiding northern scothe time being .east england country, avoiding northern scothe time being . butengland country, avoiding northern scothe time being . but an|land for the time being. but an unsettled weekend in store with wet and breezy weather followed by showers later sunday and into monday , a brighter outlook with monday, a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on .

gb news consistently abused since the 2008 financial crisis. >> the words of one consultant doctor as their 48 hour strike begins the first since 2012. how much sicker will the nhs be as a result? we're live from bma headquarters shortly with a rally there . rally there. >> them's the breaks . rmt leader >> them's the breaks. rmt leader mick lynch says he has a better relationship with the current transport secretary than he did his predecessor. but it is not stopping the strikes with thousands of passengers facing fresh travel disruption . fresh travel disruption. >> a war of words breaks out over the falklands. the eu officially refers to the islands as las malvinas. officially refers to the islands as las malvinas . downing street as las malvinas. downing street calls the choice of words regrettable. falklands veteran and mp james sunderland joins us live .

live. >> plus, we'll be live in brecon for the first royal visit to wales since the coronation as it is announced that the monarchy will be receiving six significantly less taxpayers cash this year thanks to offshore wind. we'll be explaining all that very shortly. before, though. here's your headlines with . aaron your headlines with. aaron >> good afternoon to you. it's a minute past to aaron armstrong here in the gb news room. strikes by health workers could end up costing hospitals many billions of pounds. that's according matthew taylor, the according to matthew taylor, the head of the body that represents nhs organisations who says they're on red alert for the next 48 hours as senior doctors walk out over pay. he says health leaders are deeply concerned the impact strikes concerned by the impact strikes are having on the ability to reduce waiting lists, improve staff morale and patient satisfaction . seven consultants

satisfaction. seven consultants have rejected the government's offer of a 6% pay rise. health secretary steve barclay says the government has listened to the bma's demands and average nhs earnings of a consultant after this pay rise will be £134,000 a yeah >> and on top of that 20% of their salary goes into their pension, which means they'll be able to earn when they retire by the age of 65. tax free up to £60,000 a year. the number one ask of the bma was for pension tax reform , and we listened to tax reform, and we listened to that as we acted on it. and in addition , we've also accepted in addition, we've also accepted in full the independent pay review body recommendations , up to body recommendations, up to 20,000 rail staff are on strike overjob 20,000 rail staff are on strike over job security and pay , overjob security and pay, causing disruption and cancellations across many services today . services today. >> it is the first of three days of industrial action, affecting 14 train companies in england and may have a knock on effect in scotland and wales. and may have a knock on effect in scotland and wales . members in scotland and wales. members are also walking out on the 22nd

and the 29th of july. both of those saturdays. additionally, drivers in the aslef union have been banned from doing overtime this week , the rmt general this week, the rmt general secretary, mick lynch , is secretary, mick lynch, is hopeful fresh talks with network rail will mirror the progress he's making with the london underground. >> let's get try and get a deal cooked up, but we can try and get back round the table. we're doing that with london transport right now what's going on right now about what's going on in london underground. we've been , the conciliation been in acas, the conciliation service week . so if we can service all week. so if we can get the same atmosphere where people are trying to work towards solutions towards some solutions as perhaps on perhaps we can do that on national rail, i'm hoping that maybe underground will national rail, i'm hoping that mayb

moneyfacts . lenders have moneyfacts. lenders have factored in better than expected inflation data that was released earlier this week . however, earlier this week. however, those figures are still higher than their peaks during last year's mini—budget now supermarkets aren't displaying pnces supermarkets aren't displaying prices as clearly as they should be, and it's preventing shoppers from finding the best deals. the competition and markets authority has found retailers could be hampering shoppers ability to compare products. the watchdog has warned them to make the necessary changes or risk facing enforcement action. it's also called on the government to tighten the law around pricing display . the sovereign grant, display. the sovereign grant, which is used to fund the monarchy's official duties , has monarchy's official duties, has been cut by more than half . it's been cut by more than half. it's been cut by more than half. it's been reduced to 12% of the crown estate's net profits. next year, down from 25 of the treasury's announced the change following a significant boost in the crown estate's profits from offshore wind deals. and the king had asked back in january for wind

farm profits to be used for the wider public good instead. so the total . grant for 2024 to 25 the total. grant for 2024 to 25 remains £863 million as voting will continue until 10:00 tonight in the three by elections taking place in england right now, the three seats are uxbridge and south ruislip, selby and ainsty and somerton and frome . they've all somerton and frome. they've all been held by the tories since the last general election in 2019. a constituents , though, 2019. a constituents, though, are being reminded to bring photographic id with them . now photographic id with them. now here's one for you. police are searching for a female lion suspected to be on the loose on the outskirts of berlin. several sightings were reported last night by members of the public who believed they'd seen big who believed they'd seen a big cat chasing a wild boar. police believe animal is an escaped believe the animal is an escaped pet as no official facility have reported a missing lion and they think it could now be in one of the many lakeland forests in brandenburg state , residents are brandenburg state, residents are being told to stay indoors until

it is found. so the hunt continues and five whale sharks have been rescued after becoming trapped in fishing nets in ocean waters off the coast of indonesia and papua new guinea . indonesia and papua new guinea. underwater footage can show the divers cutting away the nets and guiding the whale sharks through them. now, every year, millions of marine animals are either killed or injured because of discarded fishing nets . the discarded fishing nets. the whale shark, the largest species of fish. it is on the red list of fish. it is on the red list of vulnerable species . nice to of vulnerable species. nice to leave you with that gb news here. we'll bring you more as it happens. now it's back to mark and . and. pip >> aaron, thanks very much. and welcome back to the live desk with nhs bosses warning that the senior doctors strike, the consultants , which will take

consultants, which will take place until saturday, could cost hospitals many billions , as it hospitals many billions, as it urges the government and the unions to try to reach a deal. the bma calling, of course, for a 6% government pay offer. deri ceri, the nhs chief executive, says the country's health service is on red alert over the next two days in the most serious stoppage to hit hospitals so far. >> our gb news london reporter lisa hartle is at bma headquarters in central london where a rally is set to take place . it will be good to place. it will be good to actually see a few people rallying or on the picket line because we haven't seen many so far today. lisa well, it's not actually a picket line. >> it's more of a it's a meeting of people . i'm joined with a of people. i'm joined with a guest. i'll explain more in just a moment. so we won't see the traditional banners and things outside just outside the building. but just going back to what the government last going back to what the goverrtheyt last going back to what the goverrthey offered last going back to what the goverrthey offered pay|st going back to what the goverrthey offered pay rise week, they offered a 6% pay rise to medics . obviously, to medics. obviously, consultants are now on strike across england today. tomorrow with two other days planned in august . the british medical

august. but the british medical association have said that they find about 6% insulting find that about 6% insulting because they say that consultants wages have fallen 35% since 2008. so just to explain a bit more, i'm joined by a&e doctor simon welsh. thank you so much forjoining us today. so tell us a little bit about what's happening today. >> yeah, afternoon, lisa. there's we're at a gathering, a rally of consultants at the headquarters of the bma in london, the bma house. and i've come from a picket line earlier on this morning outside a nearby hospital. and we're out here on the picket line because we're striking because consultants pay, striking because consultants pay, as you you said , has pay, as you as you said, has been by 35% over the been reduced by 35% over the last 15 years. and it's been a really difficult decision to go out to strike. consultants don't want to strike. of course. we want to strike. of course. we want to strike. of course. we want to be in working, but we've been forced into that position out of desperation now anger out of desperation and now anger because the government's just not been engaging in any meaningful offer with us and addressing that one that actually start to address that

pay actually start to address that pay erosion. >> so you were telling me that you haven't had much consultation. i mean. steve barclay , the health secretary, barclay, the health secretary, has said that the 6% offer is the final offer. so what do you do now ? you were saying that you do now? you were saying that you haven't met much with him. >> been engaging >> yeah. so we've been engaging in, in discussions with civil servants . but obviously what we servants. but obviously what we really need is the really need is for the government ministers and the health secretary particularly to come credible come in with a credible offer. the moment the erosion of the at the moment the erosion of pay the at the moment the erosion of pay is driving a workforce crisis . consultants are moving crisis. consultants are moving to work in other places around the world australia, new zealand , even just across in ireland where their salary will instantly be doubled, if not more . and that workforce crisis more. and that workforce crisis is impacting patients. it's why it's partly why we've got such long waiting lists, such delays in emergency care . we simply in emergency care. we simply don't have enough consultants working in the nhs in the uk and the government needs to actually understand that and address the pay understand that and address the pay issues which are driving that. >> now the bma have said that

the difference with this industrial action is obviously consultants are needed in hospital pretty much hospital for pretty much everything to take place. so this a huge impact. this is having a huge impact. thousands of people obviously having their operations cancel and appointments. obviously this is all adding to the already huge waiting list that people are facing with the nhs. what's your response to that? >> yeah, so we're really sorry for people who've had their procedures and appointments and operations postponed today . it's operations postponed today. it's as i said, it's a really difficult decision to get consultants to take that that step and walk out . of course step and walk out. of course we've you'll be aware that we're preserving a christmas day service which delivers full emergency care. so we're putting patient safety at the front here. but the as i say, one of the main reasons we were in this position is we're trying to prevent the further destruction of what the nhs can offer and by by taking this step, yes , it is by taking this step, yes, it is having an impact on patients today. and we're really sorry for that. but we truly believe that we need to do this in order

to safeguard the nhs for the future and address those future to and address those recruitment future to and address those recruit consultant workforce . in the consultant workforce. >> and talk to me about the pay . what acceptable for . what would be acceptable for consultants because , you know, consultants because, you know, the bma have said that the amount, you know that a consultant starts on from a 2003 contract is 88,000 and that grows to over 100,000 for 19 years. >> yeah. so i mean, we're aware that consultants pay sits at the sort of top end of nhs workers pay sort of top end of nhs workers pay and that is for a good reason of course, you know, consultants are highly trained even after medical school. it takes around another ten years even after medical school. it taitraining1d another ten years even after medical school. it taitraining to another ten years even after medical school. it taitraining to becometen years of training to become a consultant . and obviously we consultant. and obviously we take responsibility for the most the life threatening decisions and procedures every day for people's lives . quite rightly, people's lives. quite rightly, it's regarded as a comparable profession to law and accountancy. and what we've seen not only is our erosion of pay against inflation, but when you compare it with comparable professions as well, there's been a similar gap widening . so

been a similar gap widening. so it's you can't expect to attract the best and the brightest. and those who you want to be delivering your care , making delivering your care, making those difficult decisions unless you're actually rewarding staff fairly for that enormous amount of training and expertise and skill . skill. >> thank you so much forjoining us today and for sharing all of that with us. so as we said before, there's two more days planned towards the end of august and they've got a mandate that lasts until the end of december. so they're not ruling out possible more strike action in future, though hope in the future, though they hope that something can that this is something that can be hartle outside be avoided. lisa hartle outside the headquarters in central london. >> thank you . >> thank you. >> thank you. >> now a declaration from the eu, no less, has named the falkland islands as islas malvinas declaration, published after a two day meeting with 27 eu member states and a bloc of 33 latin american countries called celac in buenos aires. >> the move has been hailed as a diplomatic triumph, but downing street calls their choice of words regrettable. well, joining us now is mp for bracknell ,

us now is mp for bracknell, james sunderland, who served in the falklands. and let's just remind our younger people who are with us this afternoon , are with us this afternoon, james, that that conflict in 1982 claimed the lives of 255 british servicemen , three british servicemen, three islanders and 640 to 649. i apologise . argentine personnel. apologise. argentine personnel. how do you feel then about this war of words that has broken out today ? today? >> well, it's outrageous. >> well, it's outrageous. >> it's my personal view . >> it's my personal view. >> it's my personal view. >> it's my personal view. >> i was 12 years old when the argentinian forces invaded the falklands as margaret thatcher was the prime minister at the time. >> she sent the task force down to the south atlantic. and after a couple of months of brutal fighting , the flag was raised fighting, the flag was raised once again over port stanley. the british flag and the reason the british flag was raised over port stanley in 1982 was because the islands are british. the people of the falklands want to be part of britain. 3000 islanders. they voted overwhelmingly over. islanders. they voted overwhelmingly over . 99% islanders. they voted

overwhelmingly over. 99% in the referendum and speed. british >> and it's my clear view that what's happened this week within the european union is outrageous. >> and you've served in the falklands, you've been there , falklands, you've been there, you've spoken to that that british protectorate effectively as it is this , i guess, will be as it is this, i guess, will be taken as pretty much of an inqu taken as pretty much of an insult by those islanders . insult by those islanders. >> yeah, the islanders are passionate about this. they are passionate about this. they are passionate brits . i was in the passionate brits. i was in the falklands before christmas . i falklands before christmas. i served there myself personally as a serving officer in 1996 and two thousand and seven. i know the falklands very well. they are a part of me and i love the people down there. i love the islands and they'll be absolute shocked and horrified at what the eu has done this week . the the eu has done this week. the islands in the falklands are not islas malvinas. they are the falkland islands uk has exercised sovereignty over them since 1833. it was a british

explorer who put the flag on the falklands in 1650 and to my mind this is a smack in the face for the uk by the european union. how much do you think this is about punishing the uk for brexit then? >> james well, it's a very hard one to answer. >> ultimately, you've got to take it in context. so you had a meeting between eu officials and celac nations, so quite clearly there's been a dialogue . i there's been a dialogue. i imagine that diplomats have been carried away by the occasion. there's been a decision taken to record the falkland islands as islas malvinas on the document. islas malvinas on the document. i would hope that the eu comes to regret it. i think it'd be very difficult to draw a parallel between this and brexit. but of course the uk is no longer part of the european union. rightly so, and the eu can wants can effectively do what it wants . but but one thing i would say to you is that a close to you is that as a close allies, as nato partners , this allies, as nato partners, this was a clever move. was not a clever move. >> just wondering what can >> yeah, just wondering what can we do about this? now we understand that james cleverly,

the secretary, has the foreign secretary, has demanded president, demanded the ec president, charles michel, demanded the ec president, charles michel , that they charles michel, that they clarify that so far clarify the position that so far met with radio silence. i just wonder , you know, given the wonder, you know, given the diplomatic sensitivities, how much should we push this now ? much should we push this now? >> well, i think the fcdo is quite right to represent it. james cleverly is on record this morning , i james cleverly is on record this morning, i think is saying that they want to see this change. he's absolutely right. i mean, the falklands are important to the falklands are important to the uk. the uk is important to the uk. the uk is important to the falklands and the uk should also be important to our eu allies and in my view there has been an error of judgement. i think the uk is entirely right to want to see that that that change back to what it should be and doubt the wrangle will and no doubt the wrangle will continue. >> w- w— g want to talk to >> well, i just want to talk to you about something your you about something else. your colleague , tobias ellwood, colleague, tobias ellwood, no less , chair of the commons less, chair of the commons defence select committee. there is now an attempt by some conservative mps to oust him. after that video. very

controversial . he praising the controversial. he praising the taliban . do you think he should taliban. do you think he should go ? go? >> well, i know tobias very well . he's a clever guy. he's a good operator . he . he's a clever guy. he's a good operator. he has a proud record in defence and is a former minister. i suspect that what's happened here is the same thing . tobias has gone to afghanistan. he's met with the taliban. he's got carried away by the moment. so i don't necessarily subscribe to what he said . i think he's said in that video. i think he's come out morning and come out this morning and apologised it. to oust apologised for it. but to oust him, think a strong. him, i think is a bit strong. >> do you think he was >> yeah. do you think he was perhaps saying the right thing in wrong way in that he's in the wrong way in that he's wanted obviously the government to embassy in to reopen the british embassy in kabul to reopen the british embassy in kabul, the current kabul, saying the current strategy of shouting from afar is working . is not working. >> i think it's reasonable to expect that at some point we are going to have to re—engage with the taliban. that's inevitable and we can't just ignore them . and we can't just ignore them. the taliban are in control once again of afghanistan. there were many positive things from tobias

report from from kabul. but it is so sensitive . at the same is so sensitive. at the same time, we lost lots of british troops out there, lots of foreign troops. and i think in many ways, the families themselves, i think, will be sitting uncomfortably watching that video . so my personal view that video. so my personal view is that we have to try and tread both paths very carefully , both paths very carefully, offence to those who lost their lives and the families deference to what the british forces did out their allies. but out there with their allies. but also the need, in my view , to also the need, in my view, to embrace, but to embrace, not embrace, but to engage with the taliban at some point . point. >> but what is winding a lot of people up, james, is tobias ellwood describing afghanistan as a country transformed . and he as a country transformed. and he must know how women and girls are still being treated out there. they're banned from going to school. i mean, it's just a ridiculous thing to say. >> no, i completely agree . i >> no, i completely agree. i mean, afghanistan is different to what it was 12 months ago. and 24 months ago. but but, of course, we're also seeing horror stories in terms of how women and girls are being treated . the

and girls are being treated. the beauty parlours thing yesterday , girls alone in school, women don't have the rights. i mean, you absolutely cannot you know, we absolutely cannot subscribe is happening subscribe to what is happening in afghanistan in terms of their domestic policies towards women in afghanistan in terms of their domgirls. policies towards women in afghanistan in terms of their domgirls. itlicies towards women in afghanistan in terms of their domgirls. it isies towards women in afghanistan in terms of their domgirls. it is quite vards women in afghanistan in terms of their domgirls. it is quite clearlyomen and girls. it is quite clearly wrong. but what i would say is that dialogue is good. we can perhaps influence the taliban to make afghanistan a better place for women and children, to reopen schools . and in many ways reopen schools. and in many ways , you know, if you don't talk to people that you don't like , people that you don't like, nothing ever gets done. and the uk does have a role in the world, does have a global role to bring people with it. we are respected of democracy and i think it's entirely right that at some point we are going to have re—engage the have to re—engage with the taliban for objective reasons and really appreciate your thoughts on that this afternoon i >> -- >> thanks 5mm: >> thanks for talking to us. >> thanks for talking to us. >> still to come, more on the breaking news we're just getting from the commons. the deputy speakeh from the commons. the deputy speaker, sir roger gale, has announced the illegal announced that the illegal migration has been given migration bill has been given royal assent . it is

migration bill has been given royal assent. it is in law effectively after that what we call parliamentary ping pong. and just to reflect the latest figures to from the home office that 14,071 migrants have arrived in the uk so far this year from the latest official figures, 297 people detected making the crossing yesterday, according to the latest data. >> kevin royal assent. but what it actually means in practise could something else. still could be something else. still to , the latest on the to come, the latest on the greece wildfires, but easyjet is reporting that this severe heatwave has not actually had any impact on passenger numbers. we'll be discussing that very sooi'i. 500“. >> soon. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> hello again. it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast scattered showers once again across sunny spells across the uk, but sunny spells in those showers ease in between those showers ease overnight and it's going to be a cool night . we've got this cool night. we've got this northwesterly air flow across

the at the moment. low the country at the moment. low pressure over scandinavia, high pressure over scandinavia, high pressure atlantic , but pressure over the atlantic, but weather staying clear for weather fronts staying clear for the time being. and that means that although are that although there are scattered around , scattered showers around, they'll be fleeting, they'll be disappear into the evening and clear spells will break out fairly widely . still some fairly widely. still some showers pushing into northern ireland, northern and eastern scotland and perhaps northwest england and wales, but otherwise away from the showers. temperatures dipping into the single figures, perhaps even the mid to low single figures for some sheltered parts of northern scotland . so certainly a cool scotland. so certainly a cool some might call it a chilly start to friday, otherwise plenty of sunshine from the word go. but st cloud will build through the morning and once again those showers will get going again. they'll be hit and miss. not everyone will get showers i think driest towards the showers the southeast, but those showers will be most frequent across northern of northern england. parts of wales, scotland , and wales, eastern scotland, and then spells of rain then longer spells of rain arriving by the end of friday into northern ireland. a sign of things to come for the weekend.

saturday of saturday sees those spells of rain across of the rain spread across much of the country , avoiding northern country, avoiding northern scotland south—east england scotland and south—east england for being. but an for the time being. but an unsettled weekend in store with wet and breezy weather followed by showers later sunday and into monday . that warm feeling inside monday. that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers >> proud sponsors of weather on gb news

only on gb news is the people's channel. britain's news . channel

channel. britain's news. channel >> welcome back to the live desk. the boss of easyjet says extreme heatwaves in europe have not deterred travellers so far this year, despite temperatures reaching up to well, up to probably more than 44 c. >> i think the worry is going to hit 48 or even more course in sardinia and sicily. well, wildfires in greece, meanwhile , wildfires in greece, meanwhile, they've been largely contained so far today, we've been updating of course, on those fires near athens, prompting massive evacuations earlier this week. >> a new heatwave , though, is >> a new heatwave, though, is forecast in southern europe for today. so what could it mean for us in the uk? well, let's talk to senior meteorologist jim dale. jim, i think we've already establish that actually the uk is not going to be feeling the effects of this heatwave at all. i mean, here in the uk the weather is looking quite unsettled, isn't it? over the next few days? >> yeah, it's absolutely right . >> yeah, it's absolutely right. >> yeah, it's absolutely right. >> there's a there's a barrier in the way. it's called the jet

stream and the differential between the jet stream , which is between the jet stream, which is flowing across us and bringing frontal systems, showers and the heat dome that's essentially across north africa and southern europe . those two things are europe. those two things are like two heavyweight wrestlers not wanting to give way. >> if that makes sense. >> if that makes sense. >> in other words, both stick around. >> they don't want to give ground and essentially, that's the battle that we've got coming in this next in this next fortnight . fortnight. >> but things are going to more or less stay same or less stay in the same position get to the end position until we get to the end of all i would on that of july. all i would say on that is possibly quite possibly we're going see some higher going to see some higher temperatures south—east temperatures into south—east england as we go england in particular as we go towards end of july. so we towards the end of july. so we might to see the 25 and 26 might start to see the 25 and 26 seconds but not 40 once we seconds back, but not 40 once we got the schools breaking up, many people trying to head off on holiday and maybe heading to the med. >> does this dome sticking >> does this heat dome sticking there? i mean, it's going to be more like a pressure cooker and the will just keep the temperatures will just keep on yeah it's a good

on climbing. yeah it's a good point . point. >> high pressure essentially subsiding. air pushes the air downwards toward the towards the earth where it's making hot. and it's just a sort of it feeds off itself. um and that's in itself creates this block and obviously not just in north africa and southern europe, but also in, in south—west united states and also across asia, china, these sorts of places. so we've got three zones not not wanting too much. yes, it'll be a little bit of ebbing and flowing. that will be the case. but i'm looking at charts here that basically, yes , everything remains as it is more or less for a little bit more or less for a little bit more at the end of july, going august. these are say, but it's that ingredient of jim, we're just getting a bit of interference on the signal from you on the line. >> we'll try and stay with it and see if we can improve that. but the other issue i just wanted to talk to you about, we've been covering the wildfires particularly as well

in that in greece. and it seems that they've had these really strong winds up winds that have been whipping up a of the flames as well . a lot of the flames as well. >> often greece is a place >> yeah, often greece is a place i've never gone on holiday down there. um, can't quite remember there. um, can't quite remember the name the wood easton or the name of the wood easton or something nature. but something of that nature. but but wind comes out of but the wind that comes out of the across turkey the east there across turkey into into greece often is quite strong . strong. >> and we see breezes attaching to it. yeah, you can get 20, 30 miles an hour. >> this is the killer. when you get wildfires . and then the wind get wildfires. and then the wind associated wildfires on their own probably wouldn't go too far too yeah , it's the too quickly. it's yeah, it's the combination of dry , dry combination of dry, dry conditions, extremely dry conditions, extremely dry conditions, hot conditions. and then the wind and the wind is then the wind and the wind is the big thing that moves these things seen things along. we've seen pictures from pictures and videos from the past where these things have just careered actually faster than a person can run. so if you think you're in one of these, you're going to run away from it. you ain't very quickly with 30 an hour winds. 30 mile an hour winds. so jim, if haven't booked if people haven't yet booked their holiday getaway. >> they they're hoping >> but but they they're hoping to something last minute like

to do something last minute like i usually do . they don't want to i usually do. they don't want to stay here the weather is stay here because the weather is looking unsettled. they don't want southern want to go to southern europe because hot . because it's too blinking hot. where they go? where would where could they go? where would you be you know, you suggest would be you know, fairly safe, particularly for older people ? older people? >> okay. so i would i hear what you're saying. and actually, today is a nice day in the uk for the most part. and there's been a few showers around. i'd been a few showers around. i'd be sticking, but i realise people want to get away sometimes. yes saturday isn't going great so where do going to look great so where do you you go that middle you go? you go in that middle line so you're line if you like. so you're going to the very near continent a little bit further. northern france , maybe across to germany. france, maybe across to germany. these sort of places . that's these sort of places. that's that's kind of where i would be going rather than into southern europe and the mediterranean and nowhere in the mediterranean is avoiding big heat. and avoiding the big heat. and you've got to watch your back as far those southern parts far as even those southern parts of europe, southern france , the of europe, southern france, the alps, to a certain degree as well. but there are places you can go. altitude always helps . can go. altitude always helps. so it's rather saying go , go, go

so it's rather saying go, go, go near rather than go far , if that near rather than go far, if that makes sense . makes sense. >> okay. jim dale, thank you so much for your insight there. really appreciate that . really appreciate that. >> you're welcome. >> you're welcome. >> but don't go via dover. that's the other thing. we've got the 2.5 hour delays. >> they're talking about this weekend coming up, should we go shopping with michael gove? >> maybe not to m&s. we'll be explaining why shortly. let's get the latest headlines first. aaron is waiting for. us yeah , aaron is waiting for. us yeah, it's one 231. >> let's get you up to date with the headlines in the gb newsroom. the illegal migration bill has been given royal assent . it was confirmed by the deputy speakeh . it was confirmed by the deputy speaker, sir roger gale in the commons earlier. that is when the king formally agrees to make the king formally agrees to make the bill law. than 14,000 the bill law. more than 14,000 migrants have arrived in the uk so this year after crossing so far this year after crossing the according figures so far this year after crossing the the according figures so far this year after crossing the the home:ording figures so far this year after crossing the the home office figures so far this year after crossing the the home office . figures so far this year after crossing the the home office . thejures so far this year after crossing the the home office . the nhs is from the home office. the nhs is on red alert for the next 48

hours as senior doctors walk out over pay for the first time in a decade. matthew taylor, the head of the body that represents nhs organisations, says strikes could end up costing hospitals many billions of pounds. so services have been reduced to christmas day levels , with only christmas day levels, with only emergency cover provided . emergency cover provided. consultants have rejected the government's offer of a 6% pay rise further disruption across the rail networks today may as a result of fresh strikes . rmt result of fresh strikes. rmt members, including station staff and train managers , have walked and train managers, have walked out and they'll do so again on the next two saturdays in july . the next two saturdays in july. drivers and aslef have been banned from taking over time, compounding the problem, general secretary mick lynch says they're still waiting to be ianed they're still waiting to be invited back to the negotiating table by network rail . mortgage table by network rail. mortgage rates have fallen for the first time since may. both two and five year fixed rate deals are down 0.02% on average. that's according to the financial information company moneyfacts lenders have factored in better

than expected inflation data released this week, but those figures are still higher than their peaks during last year's mini—budget. their peaks during last year's mini—budget . and voting is well mini—budget. and voting is well under way. there's another eight hours to go to the polls in the three by elections taking place in england today. all three seats in uxbridge and south ruislip selby and ainsty and somerton and frome have been tory held since 2019. 10 pm. is the deadline for the polling stations and you'll need to bnng stations and you'll need to bring photo id with you . that's bring photo id with you. that's it for the moment. we'll be back in about half an hour's time with more or our website has the details on all our top stories. gbnews.com .

gb news radio . so let's take you gb news radio. so let's take you shopping here on the live desk with the competition and markets authority, no less. >> that's the watchdog ordering grocers to comply with the rules, warning that some retailers failing to clear display their prices . display their prices. >> yeah, this comes as major department store marks and spencer pictures of the store you're looking at now has been referred used permission to knock down and redevelop its flagship oxford street store after opposition from michael gove with the m&s boss stuart machin calling the decision

utterly pathetic . well, joining utterly pathetic. well, joining us now is our economics and business editor liam halligan to talk about this with on the money . so michael gove, if he money. so michael gove, if he was a customer of m&s, i'm not sure he's going to be any more. >> they wouldn't let him return his underwear, would they? >> michael's not. >> saint michael's not. >> saint michael's not. >> yeah, i see. i see what we did there. >> why this so >> why is this so, so significant then? >> well, come to the cma >> well, come on to the cma findings in a minute because we just wanted to touch on this huge row. it's escalated between m&s, you know, arguably britain's most respected retailer, citadel of the middle classes, and michael gove, the levelling up secretary. and it's all kicked off over a planning dispute. so m&s, they have this flagship store in oxford street and it really is a sort of national icon . this this national icon. this this building, it's a 1929 art deco building, it's a 1929 art deco building . they're on oxford building. they're on oxford street . i think we can see some

street. i think we can see some pictures of it there. and it it's a significant interwar building and m&s say they want to knock it down and build a ten storey tower that also involves other other other real estate and in fairness when westminster council was run by the tories until quite recently, they said that was fine. now the westminster council is run by the labour party after the last local elections, but it's michael gove who has actually said to m&s they can't build this new building. there are architects lining up on both sides . the secretary of state, sides. the secretary of state, he says that this would impact the feel of oxford street to have a taller building there . it have a taller building there. it would it would look unfavourably on selfridges , which is another on selfridges, which is another very iconic art deco building just down the road. but have a look at some of the language just is the just imagine that this is the press release that the boss of m&s has put out. i mean, imagine what the first draft was like if the actual draft said this after a two year process where our

proposals were supported at every stage , said m&s ceo stuart every stage, said m&s ceo stuart machin. our investment in 2000 jobs building one of the most sustainable buildings in london, improving the public realm and creating a flagship store is now in the deep freeze . next page in the deep freeze. next page because stuart mason accused michael gove of here we go of playing to the gallery of being short sighted, he said this refusal was an act of self sabotage. and he said the secretary of state was more interested in cheap shot headunes interested in cheap shot headlines than facts utterly pathetic. now look, it's not often in the corporate world. i mean, things are said in meetings and behind closed doors. i've heard all kinds of industrial language, you know, stakes are often high and no doubt m&s have been planning this for years . this is their this for years. this is their flagship store and they want to do all kinds of things that flagship store and they want to do all site. s of things that flagship store and they want to do all site. but things that flagship store and they want to do all site. but to ngs that flagship store and they want to do all site. but to actually hat iconic site. but to actually print the press release and to put out this kind of language , put out this kind of language, feelings must be very, very high. >> can we just be clear, michael

goes decision will stand, as will the building. now the building won't be touched unless m&s can raise some kind of appeal. >> but i really think this was the last chance saloon or maybe they'll haven't. another thing this points to you've now got sort of captains of industry . sort of captains of industry. the person who runs m&s . they the person who runs m&s. they must just be thinking well how much longer are the tories going to we're to to be around? we're just to going give them barrels. going give them both barrels. we really decision, really don't like this decision, but maybe a tory thing but maybe it's not a tory thing ideologically because it was a conservative run westminster council that previously said m&s could build this. >> i wonder how many shoppers may actually side with michael gove saying, let's hold on to a bit of our history and i know he's. oxley commented on housing sort of plans for estates saying, you know, they've got to be designed properly as well . be designed properly as well. >> now the architects i've been reading the architectural press on this for a few months really, but also just since this came out.look but also just since this came out. look architects seem to be split. m&s have got big name architects on their side, but

there are other architects saying, look, this is a really important building. it would be churlish it would ruin the feel of oxford street . of oxford street. >> bill bryson is one of those against. >> the most famous >> this is the most famous shopping the world and shopping street in the world and this is one of the most famous buildings it. and that's what buildings on it. and that's what michael i did michael gove will say. but i did just want mention these other just want to mention these other things going to say things that we were going to say because all, a because this, after all, is a sort political round. it's because this, after all, is a sorall political round. it's because this, after all, is a sorall aolitical round. it's because this, after all, is a sorall a bitical round. it's because this, after all, is a sorall a bit ofl round. it's because this, after all, is a sorall a bit of fun,nd. it's because this, after all, is a sorall a bit of fun, butit's because this, after all, is a sorall a bit of fun, but let's all all a bit of fun, but let's just have a think shopping just have a think about shopping as the competition as well, because the competition and markets authority has brought out a report today and it follows a report they brought out week self buying out last week on self buying fuel at supermarkets. this is something we've talked about a lot and let's just have a little look at that because i think it is so the cma, this is important. so the cma, this is important. so the cma, this is one of our well, it is our main competition watchdog isn't it? said it found that when it? it said it found that when supermarket were selling supermarket markets were selling fuel, supermarket markets were selling fuel , the supermarkets found fuel, the supermarkets found that fuel profits were actually higher. so there was some evidence of so—called profiteering. the margin the cma

found was 4.6 pence per litre. that's the profit. if you like, in 2019, when supermarkets sold fuel. but it was 10.8 pence per litre. in 2022, so a near doubung litre. in 2022, so a near doubling with motorists overpaying by £900 million. so the supermarket , it's getting the supermarket, it's getting a bit of a hammering there from the cma when it comes to selling fuel, when it comes to selling food. this was the aspect of the report that came out today and it's only an interim update. there's going to be a further investigation when it comes to selling food. the cma are a bit less spiky to the supermarkets now. food price inflation is still going up. it's17, 173% in june was food price inflation. so very , very high, inflation. so very, very high, though, it's come down a little bit. but the cma found that food retailing profits actually fell in 2022 compared to 2021. the average margin was down from 3.2% to 1.8, though the cma said food retailers do need to do clearer pricing. what they call per unit pricing. so you can

compare how much meat you're getting on particular deals , how getting on particular deals, how much shampoo you're getting on particular deals . so some people particular deals. so some people would say some campaigners would say that the cma has pulled its punches here a little bit when it comes to supermarkets. they the have actually the supermarkets have actually been price gouging, something that they deny. so a mixed picture there from the cma. but these investigations will go on because they're so politically sensitive . sensitive. >> liam, thank you for all that. let's in money saving let's bring in our money saving expert bradley . emma, a expert emma bradley. emma, a couple interesting points couple of interesting points that know, the assertion that i you know, the assertion that i you know, the assertion that maybe the free market has been working. okay and that competition has driven down pnces competition has driven down prices , but that perhaps we prices, but that perhaps we can't see the best prices because the labelling is not right . right. >> yeah, there's been a lot about sort of promotional material covering the price, tickets of things so that you can't see clearly also the different ways things are measured . so in terms of what measured. so in terms of what the advice is , i mean, is it

the advice is, i mean, is it literally picking up stuff when you go through the shelves and doing a bit of mental arithmetic as you go through? yeah absolutely. keeping an eye on on what you're paying for tea bags were mentioned , for example, were mentioned, for example, some might be in 100g, some count. how many tea bags there are in their box. so it makes it really hard for a consumer to make even educated assumptions and working it out . and working it out. >> yeah, and one thing that i find as well well with with the labelling is that it might say to for £4 but you go and pay and that doesn't apply to the product. and i've had this so many times recently where i would suggest to shoppers , maybe would suggest to shoppers, maybe you'll agree that everybody should always keep their receipts and check what they're paying receipts and check what they're paying for. yeah yeah, absolutely. >> and i've experienced that myself and i always keep an eye and check that you know, when you've got a buy one, get one free or extra clubcard points

or, you know, whatever the kickback is that it is actually being applied because these deals change so quickly that sometimes, you know, the shelf pnces sometimes, you know, the shelf prices and the till prices just are not the same and it's just not fair . not fair. >> and in terms of the bigger picture of whether we're getting value for money, we do you share the cma sort of overview to that? perhaps the competition has driven down prices as much as it can. it's other factors that have pushed up this food inflation. >> i think again, it's really hard for the general consumer to make those decisions and to understand because you know, all we're seeing is that our food weekly shop is going up and up and up. you know , so it doesn't and up. you know, so it doesn't matter that somebody else is telling us that the costs are coming down. and, you know, these sorts of things because we're not seeing that when we get to the till . get to the till. >> and just to sort of clarify

where we are in terms of the cost of living crisis, i mean, what are your people telling you about how people are cutting back and how they managing to get by? i mean, we know, for instance, people are going maybe to aldi and lidl more than they used to be going to sainsbury's or or waitrose, for instance . or or waitrose, for instance. >> yeah. and i'm seeing and heanng >> yeah. and i'm seeing and hearing a lot more people looking for the reductions, you know, the yellow sticker shopping , the buying, the dupes. shopping, the buying, the dupes. so not buying, you know, the high street brands and buying their, the next level down. the savers value or the aldi own versions . and you know this is versions. and you know this is what people are really making their their choices on and they are definitely downshifting on on where they can and what products they can. >> and would you would you advise people to shop? you know, at the end of the day to get the best deals to time to time it to time when they go to their supermarkets? >> absolutely . i'm always asked

>> absolutely. i'm always asked when is the best time to find the bargains in those yellow stickers and generally it's the last hour or so of business each day . so they start reducing , you day. so they start reducing, you know, mid—morning or mid—afternoon. but those might be the £0.10 after the £0.20 off by the evening is when you'll be seeing the 75% off and even 90% off some of the products . and off some of the products. and then also look at, you know, apps like too good to go where independents and coffee shops and things they put together like surprise bags of goods that is going to go out that day and they can't sell it again tomorrow. so you can pick up bargains there. and i think also when you're shopping, you know, look below. they look at the shelf below. they put the premium stuff at eye level so that we are drawn to that. so look to the side, look up , look down, and then you can up, look down, and then you can get some better, better prices . get some better, better prices. >> okay. we all need to be very savvy indeed. saving savvy indeed. money saving expert emma bradley, thanks so much for to talking us on gb news. >> look up, look down and then run away. maybe who knows?

anyway, we've been speaking to our dale about our meteorology, jim dale about where holiday. was where to go on holiday. he was saying, continent, saying, well, near continent, perhaps for the perhaps is the best idea for the weather, but the port of dover once again warning travellers to expect long waits due to extreme popular rmt. there's a thing at the start of the summer holidays more than times the amount more than five times the amount of or unusual passengers of unusual or unusual passengers travelling this weekend. >> yeah, huge queues expected to be at least 2.5 hours long are expected as post—brexit border rules. now mean that passengers passports have to be checked individually, which signifies recently lengthens the time it takes to pass through quickly . takes to pass through quickly. >> let's get more with theo chikomba, who's down at dover for us. and theo, you're a veteran of that particular spot. of course you've seen the of course. you've seen the traffic delays build up at easter. is comparing to easter. how is it comparing to that bottleneck that you that last bottleneck that you saw ? saw? >> yes, well, easter and the may bank holiday, but not today, though so far , so good for though so far, so good for people who've been coming through here at the port of doveh

through here at the port of dover. they are warning waits of around 2.5 hours. but people already coming here have been warned not to come around three hours or so before they're meant to check in. when we were here dunng to check in. when we were here during those bank holidays several months ago, there was a tent that was erected extra checks were being put in place . checks were being put in place. but this time around , more but this time around, more officials have been put on here and in france as well, so that people can smoothly get across the channel. but of course , in the channel. but of course, in the channel. but of course, in the next few days it's expected more people will be coming here as schools close this afternoon and tomorrow. so those waiting for their children will be eagerly waiting for that so that they can come and get across. but in the last few days, we've had some warnings from the foreign office, particularly when it comes to whether 48 c has been forecast in places like italy . but there are also some italy. but there are also some warnings in places like spain and greece as well. so if you are heading to those destinations, make sure that you prepare adequately before you

get there. but as it stands here at the port of dover, for those who are coming in the next few days , be wary of that. and make days, be wary of that. and make sure you come during that period, but not to come too early. so that we don't see some of that we saw at of those queues that we saw at the may bank holiday. and during easter as well. >> theo for the moment, >> theo at dover for the moment, thanks much. and course, thanks very much. and of course, we'll updating people over thanks very much. and of course, we'inext updating people over thanks very much. and of course, we'inext coming ing people over thanks very much. and of course, we'inext coming dayszople over thanks very much. and of course, we'inext coming days. thank ver thanks very much. and of course, we'inext coming days. thank you. the next coming days. thank you. >> well, it's not quite as busy in of wales today. that's in parts of wales today. that's where the king and queen are for the first time since the coronation they are visiting brecon. >> well, indeed , they've been at brecon. >> brecon|deed , they've been at brecon. >> brecon countythey've been at brecon. >> brecon county show e been at brecon. >> brecon county show . been at brecon. >> brecon county show . aeen at brecon. >> brecon county show . a taste: the brecon county show. a taste today. the oldest agricultural society in the uk. no less, enjoying, well , whatever that enjoying, well, whatever that is, i think it's a llama. enjoying, well, whatever that is, i think it's a llama . an is, i think it's a llama. an alpaca. quite. thank you for that. and maybe a champion alpaca , who knows? alpaca, who knows? >> yeah . a small selection of >> yeah. a small selection of animals as well. well, joining us now is gb news royal correspondent cameron walker. i'm not exactly sure where you are, cameron. i'm assuming

you're there with with king charles just confirmed to us that it was an alpaca . please, that it was an alpaca. please, cameron for mark yes, it absolutely was an alpaca. >> i made that mistake as well, thinking it was a llama to start with. but we have had alpacas. we've had sheep, sheep shearing . we've had prize winning goats .we've had prize winning goats who decided to try and eat their own winning rosette. so that was an interesting time for the king and queen. but you're right, it is the first time the two of them have been wales since them have been to wales since them have been to wales since the they've come the coronation and they've come back to the breconshire agricultural society show . it agricultural society show. it dates back to 1755. the late queen actually came here in 1955, but the king has had a long kind of relation with the society because he was patron of the society when he was prince of wales and has been for a number of years. and he's decided to continue to being their patron since becoming king. but of course there's lots of modern twists here. so he got to meet the alpacas, as you have probably seen in the pictures

there. have a look on our social media. if you're listening on radio, because it really is quite a sight . but he got to quite a sight. but he got to have a look at how sheep are shown here in in wales. have a look at how sheep are shown here in in wales . and he shown here in in wales. and he also got to speak to the black mountains college, which is a new college based here in brecon. but it offers courses to young people throughout the uk and they're hoping to 1—1 day the world as well . so trying to the world as well. so trying to get them into this mindset that you have to be sustainable with farming, of course, something which the king cares very passionately about and it's all about that balance between human needs and what the natural world needs and what the natural world needs for the two of them to both thrive and survive. so the king, his majesty, spent a lot of speaking to of time speaking to representatives from that college. was also ice college. there was also ice cream for sale. it's not quite 45 degrees like it is in europe. it's slightly cold, but luckily just about the rain held off. so it was quite a successful day for the king and queen here in wales . wales. >> alpacas , indeed. thank you

>> alpacas, indeed. thank you very much for updating us there in in brecon . in in brecon. >> and of course, i stayed on an alpaca farm last year down in dorset. i'll give you the details afterwards. >> that's the story to tease you. >> that's it from the alpaca desk for today. patrick is up next with, well, maybe more animals, who knows? well i'm never 100% sure what an alpaca is , but of course, that's no is, but of course, that's no need for a llama, right? >> i've got one coming up. yes. we are going to be talking about whether or not the falklands really are british. the eu seems to that maybe are really are british. the eu seems to tobiasit maybe are really are british. the eu seems to tobias ellwood are really are british. the eu seems to tobias ellwood is are really are british. the eu seems to tobias ellwood is outare really are british. the eu seems to tobias ellwood is out of not. tobias ellwood is out of taliban we've got taliban pr disaster. we've got the coots files. the latest on the coots files. and just stop oil are up against it from protest group it from a new protest group whose can't say because whose name i can't say because this show, but it's this is a family show, but it's great lovely footage of great stuff. lovely footage of all and electric all of that. and electric vehicles apparently aren't actually green . and as actually that green. and as well, one last one. should we have sports have equal pay for women, sports stars? it's all going off free till six. patrick christys gb news. >> the temperature's rising. boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on gb news hello

>> hello again. it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast scattered showers once again across the uk, but sunny spells in between those showers ease overnight and it's going to be a cool night. we've got this northwesterly air flow across the country at the moment. low pressure over scandinavia, high pressure over scandinavia, high pressure atlantic. but pressure over the atlantic. but weather staying for weather fronts staying clear for the being. and that means the time being. and that means that although there are scattered showers around , scattered showers around, they'll be fleeting, they'll be disappearing into the evening and spells will break out and clear spells will break out fairly widely. still some showers pushing into northern ireland and northern and eastern scotland and perhaps northwest england and wales, but otherwise away from the showers, temperatures dipping into the single and perhaps even single figures and perhaps even the mid to low single figures for some sheltered parts of northern scotland . so certainly northern scotland. so certainly a cool some might call it a chilly start to friday, otherwise plenty of sunshine from the word go, but cloud will build through the morning and once again those showers will get going again.

once again those showers will get going again . they'll be hit get going again. they'll be hit and miss. not everyone will get showers, i think driest towards the , those showers the southeast, but those showers will across will be most frequent across northern england, parts of wales, eastern scotland, and then spells of rain then longer spells of rain arriving by the end of friday into northern a sign of into northern ireland. a sign of things come for the weekend. things to come for the weekend. saturday sees spells of saturday sees those spells of rain across much of the rain spread across much of the country, northern country, avoiding northern scotland england scotland and southeast england for time being. but an for the time being. but an unsettled weekend in store with wet and breezy weather followed by showers later sunday and into monday , the temperatures rising i >> -- >> boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on