gas and delivering of british gas and delivering profits up 900. anti—poverty campaigners say the figures will be met with disbelief and hotter still , the warning from the still, the warning from the weathermen that we haven't seen anything yet as regards record temperatures , as the wildfires temperatures, as the wildfires continue to rage across the mets houday continue to rage across the mets holiday hotspots , private holiday hotspots, private investigations, prince harry is to get his day in court against the sun, but not on phone hacking charges. we'll have the latest from the high court . latest from the high court. >> plus, the truth is out there somewhere. the us congressional heanng somewhere. the us congressional hearing that's heard of crashed auen hearing that's heard of crashed alien craft and non—human biologics hidden in secret as they could pose a threat to national security. me first, the latest headlines for you with rory .

rory. >> thank you very much. pep tram operators have been fined a total of £14 million over the croydon derailment, which killed seven people. many more were injured when a tram carrying 69 people derailed near the sandyland stop in november 2016. transport for london and tram operations limited have accepted failing in their health and safety duties . mrjustice fraser safety duties. mrjustice fraser told the court this was undoubtedly an accident waiting to happen on a high court. judge rules that the duke of sussex can bring a claim of unlawful information gathering to trial against the publisher of the sun, but not a claim of phone hacking. prince harry alleges he was targeted by journalists and private investigators working for the news group. newspapers the sun publisher says the announcement is a significant victory. the group denies any unlawful activity took place .

unlawful activity took place. the home office's routine housing of unaccompanied child asylum seekers in hotels has been ruled unlawful by a high court . the charity every child court. the charity every child protected against trafficking launched legal action after claiming the arrangements are not fit for purpose. it was ruled unlawful as the power to place the children in hotels may be used on very short periods in true emergency situations . true emergency situations. phones, while fires in greece continue . thus, despite a drop continue. thus, despite a drop in temperatures as blazes have spread across the country for more than a week , killing three more than a week, killing three people and causing over 20,000 tourists to evacuate roads , 61 tourists to evacuate roads, 61 more fires have erupted in greece in the last 24 hours, destroying farms and factories, with farmers rushing to evacuate their remaining livestock . in their remaining livestock. in albania, crews continued to battle the flames across the country's southern region, with emergency helicopters dropping water on affected areas. in italy, drone footage shows the

extent of devastation after a wildfire turned the hills surrounding a fifth century temple into ash. our national reporter paul hawkins is in rhodes. >> the situation here this morning feels a little bit more positive. the pockets of fires that existed yesterday , i'm that existed yesterday, i'm told, were extinguished overnight . right. they are still overnight. right. they are still running water via helicopter , running water via helicopter, via aeroplanes, dropping it onto the embers of those fires. and while people are feeling a little bit more positive today, they're still remaining highly vigilant , they're still remaining highly vigilant, highly anxious, because the wind is starting to pick up. and that's the factor. it's a little bit cooler here today, but the wind remains a factor. it getting windier . factor. it is getting windier. and so risk from those and so that risk from those fires reigniting remains well back home. >> the met office warns that last year's summer, the hottest year ever recorded in the uk, is a sign of things to come. it says that as long as people continue to emit greenhouse gases unchecked , the earth will

gases unchecked, the earth will continue to heat up. scientists say that on our current emissions trajectory , 2022 would emissions trajectory, 2022 would be considered a cool year by the standards of 2100. the former ceo of natwest , alison rose, ceo of natwest, alison rose, could be in line for a multi—million pound pay off following her resignation on the express. reports that a former ftse 100 chairman says ms rose could be paid her notice period, which could be worth as much as £5 million. the source adds that if he were chairman, he would have fired the former executive , not let her resign . it would , not let her resign. it would not be known until next year if the payment is made. well, ministers are urging banks to learn from the mistakes of natwest in the wake of the row over the closure of nigel farage coutts account at shop lifting and antisocial behaviour has increased by over a third in co—op shops in the past year. the company reveals that almost 1000 incidents occurred every

day in shops in the first six months of this year. that's a total of more than 175,000, while one shop and central london was looted three times in a single day shop. workers have also seen physical assaults increase by almost a third year on year , more than 1000 workers on year, more than 1000 workers had to amazon fulfilment centres are walking out in early august in an ongoing dispute over pay. the gmb union says workers in rugeley are striking on the third and 4th of august and in coventry on the fourth and 5th of august. the union says the fight for workers rights at amazon is only just beginning . amazon is only just beginning. ireland's president says the country has lost one of its great and most gifted composers, songwriters and performers following the death of sinead o'connor, the met police says sinead was found unresponsive yesterday at a residential address in london. she was

pronounced dead at the scene . pronounced dead at the scene. the 56 year old's death is not being treated as suspicious . being treated as suspicious. this is gb news. we will, of course, bring you more as it happens. now, though, back to mark and peppa . mark and peppa. rory thanks very much. >> welcome back to the live desk. so let's turn up the heat on british gas, shall we.7 the on british gas, shall we? the parent company centrica reporting that the retail arm had profits up 900% at £969 million, just for the first half of this year, alongside british gas parent company centrica reported profits of £2.1 billion in the first half of the year. well, it comes as the energy cap sits at about £1,000 above pre—pandemic averages with a

regulator , ofgem saying that the regulator, ofgem saying that the record profits are a one off because of those changes. yes, to the government's price cap fuel poverty campaigners say the figures will be met with disbelief by customers struggling to pay their bills as british gas ceo was paid £4.5 million last year. british gas ceo was paid £4.5 million last year . so is it as million last year. so is it as the fuel poverty campaigners, the fuel poverty campaigners, the fuel poverty coalition say a sign of britain's broken energy system? let's get more of our political reporter, olivia utley, because the sensitivities, olivier, is that ofgem, ofgem, ofgem says this is because of that price cap government policy . well, absolutely. >> and the fact that the profits are nearly a billion really is pretty astonishing to put that in perspective, ten times higher pretty much than than last year. obviously, last year we saw the impact of the russian invasion of ukraine and energy prices started to ease since then. >> but it's even nearly double the record , the previous record the record, the previous record of 2020, which was 565 million

in the first half of the year. >> now, as you say, central are arguing that this is a this is a one off profit. we're not going to expect to see anything like this in the future. and it is because ofgem has changed where the price cap sits, they admit. they admit that originally earlier year , they set the earlier this year, they set the price cap too low and energy companies were unable to make any profit at all. so now they've raised the price. cap and energy companies are now recouping some of what they lost over past six months. over the past six months. >> so all right for them. >> so it's all right for them. >> so it's all right for them. >> that's what centrica argues. >> and they say that as we as the as see the effects of the the as we see the effects of the russian invasion of ukraine begin to ease and our energy suppues begin to ease and our energy supplies diversify begin to ease and our energy supover. diversify begin to ease and our energy supover the diversify begin to ease and our energy supover the next diversify begin to ease and our energy supover the next half �*sify begin to ease and our energy supover the next half ofy begin to ease and our energy supover the next half of the bit over the next half of the yean bit over the next half of the year, then we will expect to see profits go down. but yeah, their argument essentially that argument is essentially that the government was was meddling. ofgem under a lot of ofgem was under a lot of pressure to set the energy price cap too low. it did so and then energy companies now have to make up what they think of as a shortfall . but course they're

shortfall. but of course they're sitting at home who were unable to heat their houses. winter will though nearly £1 will feel as though nearly £1 billion profit. >> this is being as >> this is this is being seen as just no than corporate just no more than corporate greed. and we have figures from the trussell trust that says almost £3 million sorry, 3 million food parcels were handed out to families . now, if you're out to families. now, if you're one of those families and you're seeing figures like this, it's absolutely it's crackers. >> it does feel pretty astonishing. we've seen jeremy hunt has written an op ed in the times today where he's sort of trying to tread a pretty delicate line because on the one hand, he's saying that, of course, companies have to make profits , reminding people that profits, reminding people that capitalism whole is capitalism on the whole is a good thing. and bigger profits for does for energy companies does mean more pockets of more money in the pockets of pensioners, but of pensioners, etcetera. but of course, he's saying what is british gas going do to show british gas going to do to show that helping customers? that it's helping its customers? now, response that, now, in response to that, british offered at the british gas has offered at the same time as publishing these record profit figures, it has said that it will offer another

50 million on of what it's 50 million on top of what it's already to help british already offering to help british gas , but against gas suppliers, but against profits of 967 million. there will be those who feel as though that drop. that is a drop. >> and let's reflect they've bought back £450 million in its own shares, which is something that normally is you've got that normally is when you've got so you don't know so much money, you don't know what it. and the what to do with it. and the customers, can't recoup that customers, we can't recoup that excess we pay them . it's excess that we pay to them. it's gone. in their coffers now. gone. it's in their coffers now. well, exactly. >> and so the way claim >> and so the way they claim they're going use the profit they're going to use the profit is by by rewarding shareholders at a higher range than they did before . and then also, as you before. and then also, as you say, investing back in their own company, which does a little bit smell of corporate greed. >> so where are we on on the political debate? because we know that labour has talked about more windfall taxes. but i mean, will this bring the whole question of renationalisation back it for our utilities ? back into it for our utilities? >> well, i think that keir starmer at the moment very starmer at the moment is very keen to keep the ship as steady as possible. we know that he is

feeling actually not that confident after last week's by elections because he's sort of realised that although the support for labour might be very broad, it's quite thin on and so he is a little bit worried about doing anything that might rock the boat. so i think the talk about nationalisation is probably not there probably were not quite there yet, far the moment. yet, but too far for the moment. i what we will is, is i think what we will see is, is more about a higher more talk about a higher windfall and that windfall tax. and i think that will put quite a lot of pressure on government. on the government. >> thank you much. >> olivia, thank you very much. >> olivia, thank you very much. >> joining now is matthew >> joining us now is matthew leisch, director of public policy communications policy and communications at the institute economic affairs. institute of economic affairs. good matthew. good afternoon to you, matthew. how do you read this british gas profits up by we say, 889. let's just round it up, up by nearly 1,000. >> yeah . look, i think this >> yeah. look, i think this sounds in the first instance quite shocking to a lot of people, but it's worth understanding and unpacking why this has happened. >> it's because last year >> and it's because last year and in fact, throughout the covid period , the profits the covid period, the profits the industry could make quite industry could make were quite limited and price cap was limited and the price cap was set relatively low and therefore

this is a one off greater ability as a reflection of the basically roller coaster in energy prices for the sector to recoup some of its profits. >> now, the assumption here that , well, if a company makes a profit, they must be greedy. >> there must be something unfair i think we have unfair about it. i think we have to really, careful to be really, really careful with that logic. there is nothing wrong nothing inherently wrong with making a profit which making a profit. a profit which is reward providing people is a reward for providing people a and nothing i think, a service. and nothing i think, would more important. perhaps would be more important. perhaps as to our economy than as a base to our economy than ensuring that gas keeps ensuring that that gas keeps running, particularly considering shortages considering the global shortages and been faced i >> -- >> so keeping the lights on, keeping gas going, making a profit in that process, particularly if there are supply shortages, is actually a good thing. >> and the reason why it can actually a good thing is actually be a good thing is because it encourages investment into it into the sector and it encourages more supply down the track. >> so you trying to say >> so are you trying to say extra profit that we must attack them? >> i'm a bit confused . are you >> i'm a bit confused. are you trying to say that a profit margin of 889% is a good thing

or there isn't a profit margin of 889? >> is it increasing the profit? and the reason why there's an increase in the profit is because their profits were held down last year. >> because the energy price cap was so low and because energy costs were going up. so it's got to be very careful . to be very careful. >> they're not making 800% profit margin . no one makes an profit margin. no one makes an 800% profit margin. what we've seen profits gone seen is that profits have gone up of the roller up as a virtue of the roller coaster dynamics in the market. now, noting this is now, it's worth noting this is only just break that down. >> let's just break that down results. >> they're probably going to be very different because it's a £65 billion operating profit £6.5 billion operating profit for the whole company against 1.18 last year. >> they've got so much money in their coffers , they've given 450 their coffers, they've given 450 million back to their own shareholders. now, any business journalist will tell you that only happens they've got so only happens when they've got so much know what much money, they don't know what to it . to do with it. >> well, nothing well, >> well, there's nothing well, there's nothing wrong with share buybacks per se. >> what i think we need to get

into a discussion about is even when you're a public utility, supplying people with fuel, why why the market has has been so broken. and that's largely because we actually don't have the necessary domestic supplies of things like north sea oil and gas exploration because we keep them putting up windfall taxes because we're banned fracking domestically because we've domestically, because we've put so renewable energy into so much renewable energy into the but we don't have back the grid, but we don't have back up it comes to up capacity when it comes to reliable energy sources. so there's a whole lot of reasons why the energy market isn't as competitive as it should be and why we're paying far for why we're paying far more for energy should that's energy than we should be. that's not the fault of british gas per se. i think goes back to se. i think that goes back to poor policy making. >> so let's address those >> okay, so let's address those policymakers simon policymakers because simon francis, fuel francis, as you know, end fuel poverty coalition saying a further that britain's further sign that britain's energy system is broken and one might consider perhaps that this is a direct result of government policy. they've obviously set the price cap at the wrong figure to get these sorts of returns from british gas . returns from british gas. >> well , potentially, i mean, >> well, potentially, i mean, the whole idea of a price cap is

seriously flawed. the price cap came in on this false assumption that the state could magically keep down prices when in fact, as we see in the international market, there's a bit of a roller coaster going on here. it's meant less diversity and less competition within the retail it's led retail energy market as it's led some companies to have to exit the market and it's left something like british with something like british gas with fewer competitors. so the price cap itself has been a cap in itself has been a complete disaster. but the underlying you're going underlying that if you're going to the price cap, to get rid of the price cap, then you need a competitive energy to with, energy market to begin with, which don't have because which we also don't have because we the right and we haven't allowed the right and correct supply to come correct amount of supply to come into the system. so i think that's absolutely right. the overall is bung overall energy market is bung and that's where things need to go in terms of addressing ing. what we see is perhaps an unfairness here that we're paying unfairness here that we're paying so much for energy. now, part of that, of course, is outside of british energy. so british gas is control. in fact, a lot of it is because it's the international prices we saw last year because of the war in

ukraine. so part of it is, you know, the know, not all directly the government's fault, a lot of government's fault, but a lot of it and certainly pay more it is. and we certainly pay more than, for example, the americans pay than, for example, the americans pay energy because we pay for their energy because we have poor policy now in the us. they have a lot of fracking, a lot of domestic supply of gas, which not which means they're not as responsive to the international headwinds . headwinds. >> okay. well, thank you very much indeed for your take on it. of course, we'll and see of course, we'll wait and see what with the next six what emerges with the next six months figures. it as months of figures. it might as you say, tell a different story. but let's just update you that we've from we've got a statement from centrica, the parent company of british they've british gas. they've said nothing important nothing is more important than delivering customers. delivering for our customers. it's here. today's it's why we are here. today's results allow increase our results allow us to increase our customer support package to more than £100 million and the new green investment strategy we've announced see invest announced will see us invest several pounds in energy several billion pounds in energy transition to create thousands of new, well—paid jobs. our robust balance sheet, said centrica , has allowed us to centrica, has allowed us to invest heavily in the uk and ireland's energy security and make sure that our customers have cleaner energy at the right

price. the statement goes on. >> it's quite long, centrica is now a more focussed and higher quality business. our integrated portfolio of businesses and the relentless focus from our 20,000 amazing colleagues has enabled to us deliver another strong financial performance , which financial performance, which includes significant one off recovery of past costs through the uk price cap mechanism . all the uk price cap mechanism. all right, let's bring you some breaking news that we are getting now here at gb news. and thatis getting now here at gb news. and that is louis de sousa , who has that is louis de sousa, who has been sentenced to life in imprisonment the last few imprisonment in the last few moments for the murder of police sergeant met police sergeant matt ratana . now, you might matt ratana. now, you might remember that mr ratana was shot deadin remember that mr ratana was shot dead in a custom ph.d. suite in croydon in 2020. this is the judge speaking this is mr justice johnson saying ratana had devoted his life to public service , had put himself in the service, had put himself in the way of danger to protect the public. >> recapping the details of the case and indeed the impact worked on matt ratana's family. let's just have a quick listen in included.

let's just have a quick listen in iwhened. let's just have a quick listen in iwhen you requested an >> when you requested an appropriate adult and a solicitor for any communication, difficulty or any difficulty with social interaction , ian had with social interaction, ian had no bearing on your decision to kill sergeant ratana . kill sergeant ratana. >> all chisholm can also result in restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviour or activities or interests . activities or interests. >> it may be that this helps explain your interest in firearms, but it does not help explain your decision to kill sergeant ratana . autism also sergeant ratana. autism also affects how you perceive things . for example, you are not tolerant of noise , but again, tolerant of noise, but again, that does not explain your decision to kill sergeant ratana. i am satisfied that you were able to exercise appropriate judgement and you were able to make rational choices . you were able to

choices. you were able to understand the nature and consequence of your actions . consequence of your actions. there was no sufficient connection between your autism and the murder to reduce your culpability . guilty by reason of culpability. guilty by reason of your autism . autism is not to your autism. autism is not to blame for your decision to murder sergeant ratana. you are to blame for that. there is no reason to depart from the normal rule that the seriousness of this type of offence is to be regarded as exceptionally high. i therefore adopt the starting point of a whole life order, but thatis point of a whole life order, but that is then subject to the other factors and the aggravating and mitigating balance . i turn first to the balance. i turn first to the aggravating factor as sergeant ratana was performing a public service and exercising a public duty that factor is inherent in the starting point of a whole

life order where it is not. therefore a separate aggravating factor for planning and premeditation . your decision to premeditation. your decision to kill sergeant ratana was not immediate or panicked , but there immediate or panicked, but there was a degree of both planning and premeditation prior to being stopped by the police. i accept that you had no plan to murder a police officer , but once you had police officer, but once you had been stopped and detained and the period thereafter, you did form a plan to do so, that plan took shape in a number of ways. you lied to the officers . you you lied to the officers. you said you did not have anything that could hurt them. you told them that the cartridges that they found were not real. you pointed them to the in the direction of the cannabis in your.

direction of the cannabis in your . bag, direction of the cannabis in your. bag, concealed . you went your. bag, concealed. you went to considerable and probably painful lengths to retrieve the gun in a way that was undetected . once you had hold of the gun, you kept it hidden under your coat. you kept it hidden under your coat . as you moved from the van coat. as you moved from the van to the holding cell, you sought to the holding cell, you sought to keep your back close to the wall to help conceal the gun . wall to help conceal the gun. all of those things show a degree of planning and premeditation, albeit i accept that was all within the context of the period between the stop and your arrival in the holding cell . it is nonetheless cell. it is nonetheless a significant aggravating feature use of a firearm . you acquired use of a firearm. you acquired the gun and then you manufactured the bulleted cartridges for it . you loaded cartridges for it. you loaded each of the chambers of the gun in and you took it with you with

other cartridges as you took a journey in public, you took it into the police station . those into the police station. those actions created a significant risk to members of the public and to all those in the police station , including other police station, including other police officers who are also exercising pubuc officers who are also exercising public duties after the lethal shot , you fired three further shot, you fired three further shots as they and particularly the third and fourth shot posed a high risk to the lives of two other police officers . as your other police officers. as your use of a firearm is a further significant aggravating feature to the use of a gun . to commit to the use of a gun. to commit the murder means in itself that . the apologies . . the apologies. >> we are getting a break up on the signal here from northampton crown court. in terms of the

sentencing, they're just to refer to what mr justice johnson is saying there. these are the conditions he's considering for a possible whole life tariff in terms of the murder of the police sergeant at ratana in 25th of september 2020. louis de zoysa being sentenced and although he was handcuffed, he shot the antique gun he'd smuggled into the custody centre in croydon. the judge just indicating there that he had also manufactured the ammunition and indeed, in addition to the lethal shot of shooting the sergeant, two others then discharged or three further shots discharged . and indeed one shots discharged. and indeed one of those actually hit de soyza himself, who'd been left with brain damage as a result after it ricocheted off the walls of that holding cell. >> yeah, i think part of the defence industries case was he has autism, but justice jeremy johnson says that he was treated with respect , dignity and with respect, dignity and understand adding and contrary

to the argument of the defence, his actions were voluntary , they his actions were voluntary, they were controlled, they were deliberate . and the judge said deliberate. and the judge said to him, you acted in cold blood watching this sentencing has been sergeant matt ratana's partner, su bushby . she has been partner, su bushby. she has been there . she's been listening, there. she's been listening, listening intently to what the judge has to say. the judge, you were able to see there was addressing louis de souza directly looking at him throughout whilst he was speaking. but reporters inside court saying that louis de souza did not meet the judge's eyes, that sentencing is currently happening. we will bring you the very latest on that as we get it here on gb news. >> also coming up here in the next few minutes, we'll be updating you on what the situation with natwest . the situation with natwest. the fallout deepens or widens financial conduct authority and the information commissioner's office, no less. now involved.

we'll be explaining why that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers >> proud sponsors of weather on gb news is alex deakin here with your latest weather update from the met office for gb news may murky, humid, dank start to the day, skies are brightening in many places, but that may spark some heavy showers this low pressure system is moving in for the weekend. >> it's already brought these weather fronts which brought all the overnight. the the wet weather overnight. the rain easing in most places, rain is easing in most places, but staying quite breezy with rain along the coast of the south—east and outbreaks of rain continuing across a good part of scotland and elsewhere. said a lot of cloud but brightening up and see some sunny spells and we'll see some sunny spells perhaps across parts of eastern england and the midlands. and if we any brightness that we do see any brightness that may heavy, even may spark some heavy, even thundery showers later in the day, temperatures getting into the low 20s in places perhaps a little higher. if we see any of that sunshine poking through.

but for most it will stay cloudy, it'll stay pretty grey through this evening. further rain pushing north across northern scotland overnight, but elsewhere, most places becoming dry. we'll see some clearer skies for scotland and northern ireland, which allow to ireland, which will allow it to turn a cooler here. but ireland, which will allow it to tur|most, cooler here. but ireland, which will allow it to tur|most, anotherr here. but ireland, which will allow it to tur|most, another pretty but ireland, which will allow it to tur|most, another pretty warm for most, another pretty warm night. temperatures up night. temperatures holding up at 15 16 degrees is generally at 15 or 16 degrees is generally at 15 or 16 degrees is generally a fresher feel, though. through friday. and for most it'll be a brighter day, too. fact, brighter day, too. in fact, a day of sunny spells. by and large, some wet weather, of course, northeast scotland working from orkney up towards shetland and 1 2 showers shetland and 1 or 2 showers elsewhere, certainly for northern ireland on, northern ireland later on, plenty but for most, plenty of showers, but for most, tomorrow fresher tomorrow should be a fresher friday with bright spells and in the sunshine, temperatures getting into the low 20s that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers. >> proud sponsors of weather on

gb news radio. >> well, welcome back to the live desk. let's just update you on what we were hearing there from northampton crown court a few minutes ago. now, in terms of shooting of met police of the shooting of met police custody, sergeant matt ratner, louis has now been sentenced louis de has now been sentenced to a whole life order at northampton crown court for shooting sergeant ratner dead while handcuffed in a police cell that holding cell at croydon police station . croydon police station. >> yes, his murder happened in september 2020. kwasi and de

souza, he was in handcuffs, but he managed to shoot an antique gun that he'd smuggled into the custody centre in croydon, south london. now, matt ratana, he was only months away from retiring and that gun was fired and it hit him in the chest and the thigh. de souza was left with brain damage. he was thigh. de souza was left with brain damage . he was actually brain damage. he was actually hit by the gun as well. a bullet struck his own neck and he actually had very he had great difficulty communicating in court during the trial before the sentencing , matt ratana's the sentencing, matt ratana's family said that their future has been robbed. and to hear that that that sentencing imposed by the judge was sue bushby, who is matt ratana's partner. she was in court for that sentencing where the judge imposed a whole life order, meaning that louis de souza will spend the rest of his life behind bars . behind bars. >> the gun would hearing in the court case, of course , he was

court case, of course, he was convicted of the murder last month had been bought legally with a revolver . but then we with a revolver. but then we were hearing in the sentencing there from the judge that the ammunition had been manufactured by de soysa, a cannabis user, and that the gun hadn't been detected in the custody suite or the cell in croydon when he was being questioned by sergeant ratana and other policemen. we're expecting the family to give some reaction outside court . we'll bring you that as we get .we'll bring you that as we get it. but let's get an update now on all the news headlines with rory . rory is on all the news headlines with rory. rory is coming up now with the news headlines for you . the news headlines for you. >> tram operators have been fined a total of £418 million over the croydon derailment, which killed seven people. many

more were injured when a tram carrying 69 people derailed near the sandilands stop in november 2016. transport for london and tram operations limited have accepted failing in their health and safety duties , mrjustice and safety duties, mrjustice fraser told the court this was undoubtedly an accident waiting to happen . a man who shot dead a to happen. a man who shot dead a custody sergeant in a police cell in 2020 has been sentenced to life in prison. 25 year old louis de zoysa fatally shot sergeant matt ratana in croydon in 2020. de zoysa claimed diminished responsibility during the three week trial, but the jury the three week trial, but the jury took around five hours to convict him . well, a high court convict him. well, a high court .judge convict him. well, a high court . judge rules that the duke of sussex can bring a claim of unlawful information gathering to trial. this is against the

publisher of the sun , but not a publisher of the sun, but not a claim of phone hacking. prince harry alleges that he was targeted by journalists and private investigators working for the news group newspapers as the sun publisher says , the the sun publisher says, the announcement is a significant victory. the group denies any unlawful activity took place . unlawful activity took place. wildfire fears in greece continue, thus , despite a drop continue, thus, despite a drop in temperatures , blazes have in temperatures, blazes have spread across the country for more than a week, killing three people and causing over 20,000 tourists to evacuate roads. 61 more fires have erupted in greece in the last 24 hours, destroying farms and factories in albania. crews continue to battle flames with emergency helicopters dropping water on affected areas in italy, drone footage shows the extent of devastation after a wildfire turned the hills surrounding a fifth century temple into ash .

fifth century temple into ash. the home office's routine housing of unaccompanied child asylum seekers in hotels has been ruled unlawful by a high court. the charity every child protected against trafficking launched legal action after claiming the arrangements are not fit for purpose. it was ruled unlawful as the power to place the children in hotels may be used on very short periods in true emergency situations . true emergency situations. that's the up to date . but you that's the up to date. but you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website. thatis stories by visiting our website. that is gb news news.com .

gb news radio. and welcome back to the live desk. >> so holiday resorts across the mediterranee have been counting the cost of these wildfire issues that have erupted from portugal in the west to sicily and croatia. in the east, more than 40 people have died so far and many homes and businesses have been destroyed. >> in the last 24 hours >> and in the last 24 hours alone, 61 wildfires have erupted across greece. thousands of firefighters hours are working to control the blazes . and the to control the blazes. and the island of rhodes has declared a state of emergency . state of emergency. >> let's go there now and actually get the very latest , actually get the very latest, just as we have paul hawkins, our correspondent there . and our correspondent there. and

paul our correspondent there. and paul, an indication, of course, that the fires still aren't under control . just tell us under control. just tell us where you are and what you've been witnessing today . yeah so been witnessing today. yeah so essentially today it started on a slightly more optimistic note. >> we drove down from the north, which is where we're staying , which is where we're staying, couldn't see any smoke, spoke to firefighters, volunteers who told us that at the moment most of the fires that were around and you saw them spring up sporadically yesterday have been extinct , wished. and indeed, we extinct, wished. and indeed, we spoke to one volunteer. this is vassilis. he lives in london, but he's from this part of rhodes and he's been volunteering . he told us how volunteering. he told us how they're feeling about the situation. this bear in mind, this was earlier on, we hope it's going to finish soon. >> still hasn't finished because it keeps going on. we're going to have a high winds today and tomorrow . tomorrow. >> so it seems like most of the fires are out . so now they're fires are out. so now they're just watching . just watching. >> yeah. have you seen the

helicopters going and they make surgery extinguishing like what is possible . all new targets. is possible. all new targets. but with this wind and the size of this event, you can but with this wind and the size of this event , you can expect of this event, you can expect everything . i mean, if you were everything. i mean, if you were here yesterday, you see this fire up on the hill? yeah, we saw it. so this can start again because it can come closer. yeah. with the wind with five, eight bofors wind. some ashes they or some some burning they move or some some burning of animals. they run and they give the fire forward. that's the problem . so we have to stay the problem. so we have to stay here for about another five, ten days. >> maybe the fire brigade will stay. >> definitely. and a lot of volunteers on paul as you are talking to them . talking to them. >> we could see that the trees behind you, they're shaking as the wind was picking up again. and i guess this is the problem where they're trying to second guess embers be guess where these embers will be blown the next is blown and where the next fire is going start . going to start. >> you're absolutely spot on, mark. it's not that he it's not

the sun. yeah, it's dropped a bit to the low 30s. the big problem is the wind. and it has picked up significantly in the past 2 or 3 hours since i spoke to vassilis. and now we can actually see that there is some smoke rising that just there over the hills . i don't know if over the hills. i don't know if you can see it because the wind is blowing now. it's is blowing so strongly now. it's blown it's spread out. the blown the it's spread out. the column of smoke. so there are some fires happening in that position. going position. and we're going to go and check in the and check them out. in the meantime, if we just go 180 over here, you can see in the distance, i don't know if you can we're to push our push can we're going to push our push the capability of this camera, but see the plane right but you can see the plane right out scooping up the out at sea scooping up the water, in a minute they're water, which in a minute they're going two of going to take. there's two of them they're going to going to take. there's two of thenoff, they're going to going to take. there's two of thenoff, fly they're going to going to take. there's two of thenoff, fly back re going to going to take. there's two of thenoff, fly back over»ing to going to take. there's two of thenoff, fly back over our to take off, fly back over our heads, straight towards the location that smoke. and add location of that smoke. and add and off their water. and drop off their water. interestingly has said interestingly the eu has said that it to sign a contract that it wants to sign a contract for 12 of those planes that it can dispatch to european countries to me, that sounds like they're going to need a hell of a lot more, given that

the number of fires that there are in italy and croatia and portugal, as you mentioned, i was to one villager this was talking to one villager this morning it's in russia, morning who said it's in russia, russia owns couple of russia owns a couple of extremely large water carrying planes that do that kind of job, but they can carry a hell of a lot more water. they helped us out with fires in the past on this occasion because of the current embargo, with current embargo, the war with ukraine, the eu turned around and said, you cannot have any exemptions the embargo to exemptions to the embargo to allow effectively allow russia to effectively assist you with these extra special planes . as i said to special planes. as i said to him, do you think that they should break that embargo? and he he said, he said absolutely. he said, forget about the war in ukraine. obviously, not and obviously, it's not good and there should an embargo. but there should be an embargo. but on this occasion, that plane could potentially could have potentially helped extinguish the fires that were raging i would raging here before. so i would say that people here are are in a constant state of vigilance and anxiety at the moment. one fire official this morning said, look, if the wind down by look, if the wind stays down by the we could have all the weekend, we could have all the weekend, we could have all the fires extinguished. clearly now picked up. now the wind has picked up. there's in the distance there's a blaze in the distance and is they're

and that is what they're fighting here. you cannot rest on here. and on your laurels here. and so people vigilant. they people are extra vigilant. they might take a breath, but might stop to take a breath, but they're still looking for they're still looking out for they're still looking out for the as soon as they the fires. and as soon as they hear reignited, off hear that one's reignited, off they that's where we're they go. and that's where we're going to go in a moment to going to go in just a moment to find out just how that one find out just how bad that one is over the horizon. >> is there a sense, paul, that in some ways, because these these are just so these fires are just so difficult put out, you put these fires are just so diff one, put out, you put these fires are just so diff one, puyout, you put these fires are just so diff one, puyou them put these fires are just so diff one, puyou then there's out one, then you then there's another, or is there sense another, or is there a sense that people are are losing a little bit of hope at the moment in terms of being tackle in terms of being able to tackle them you know, tackle them them and, you know, tackle them completely ? completely? >> i would say no , they're very, >> i would say no, they're very, very strong headed here. they look, we're going to keep for going as long as we can. but i said them, how sustainable is said to them, how sustainable is that? even get to that? okay. so you even get to the to the end of the weekend and wind drops and the fires and the wind drops and the fires are gone. you've still we're not we're only halfway through the summer. be summer. so there's going to be another we know that another heat wave. we know that at some point. and so they go through all that another through all that again, another ten weeks of fires. i ten days, two weeks of fires. i mean, tourists in this part mean, the tourists in this part of the island, and we should

stress not the other part of the island, but in this part of the island, they're gone. the tourist industry decimated. tourist industry is decimated. but continue to but people can't continue to work. survive on three hours work. and survive on three hours sleep day in terms of fighting sleep a day in terms of fighting these fires. just to give these fires. and just to give you idea extent of the you an idea of the extent of the damage, the way, behind me, damage, by the way, behind me, i'll this very i'll just show you this very quickly. we're not going to get too close because we haven't spoken to owners. but this spoken to the owners. but this house has been completely gutted through. the through. and to show you the arbitrary of arbitrary nature of how of how these spread and how they these fires spread and how they just there's no rhyme or reason really for their building. this one's completely gutted. you can see this valley over here. it's completely scorched. this is from where the fire arrived here a days but look at that a few days ago. but look at that building there. just there. building down there. just there. look completely untouched. in fact, fire went around it. fact, the fire went around it. so it just shows that, you know, it's difficult. i mean, it's good that the vegetation has gone means that the gone here. it means that the fire shouldn't really get back to the mountains . fire shouldn't really get back to the mountains. but to here from the mountains. but it mean that a sporadic it doesn't mean that a sporadic fire crop up in those fire couldn't crop up in those pockets vegetation there. and pockets of vegetation there. and that's got look

pockets of vegetation there. and thatfor. got look pockets of vegetation there. and thatfor. it's got look pockets of vegetation there. and thatfor. it's somethingt look pockets of vegetation there. and thatfor. it's something that'sok out for. it's something that's new. it's something that southern europe is going to have to adjust to. they're saying that travel companies are going to start making better to have to start making better plans for this. that's paul plans for this. that's what paul charles, a pr travel charles, the ceo of a pr travel firm, has said today. both the foreign office needs to re—evaluate how gives out re—evaluate how it gives out that indeed does that advice if indeed it does decide that advice decide to give out that advice and that travel companies are going be more going to have to be more flexible with refunds, flexible with their refunds, with when it comes with their plans when it comes to sending out here, to sending people out here, because to people because i've spoken to people that sent out here and they that were sent out here and they said in the even those said that even in the even those that were sent to the evacuation centres, they were there. and then people off the then people were getting off the plane straight to plane and being sent straight to the centre from the the evacuation centre from the plane. they allowed plane. and why were they allowed to in the first place? so to leave in the first place? so this is to be a problem this is going to be a problem certainly southern certainly for southern europe. and with that and as we've heard with that climate report, it's climate change report, it's going to become more frequent in the and so the uk. the temperature. and so that wildfires will that threat of wildfires will arrive the at some point arrive in the uk at some point in yeah. in the future. yeah. >> just last quick thought, >> and just last quick thought, paul >> and just last quick thought, paul. in the nearer term, you were telling us yesterday about the the the firefighters, all the volunteers day volunteers as well as their day jobs. clearly with the

jobs. now, clearly with the firefighting in those firefighting crews in those aircraft they've aircraft that they've got to have periods. so, mean, have rest periods. so, i mean, that's going to stretch them as well. they're having to so well. they're having to make so many yeah many flights. yeah >> yeah, it does. and that's why. and there's only a limited number of pilots. that's why. and there's only a limited number of pilots . that's why number of pilots. that's why there has been assistance from, i croatian air force i think, the croatian air force have sent some planes as well. and some pilots. we've seen a slovakian water sort of water vehicle that, you know, that assists the firefighters here. so it is a multinational response here to try and cover the sparse cover not only on this island, but across greece, because as we know, there's been 61 fires in the last 24 hours thatis 61 fires in the last 24 hours that is going to stretch any countries emergency services. and that's why a lot of people are saying in future, we need to be for this. be more prepared for this. >> paul, as ever, thanks very much there on much for updating us there on the ground in rhodes. thank you. >> earlier today, a judge >> now, earlier today, a judge ruled of prince ruled that parts of prince harry's claims that group harry's claims that news group newspapers used illegal methods to information about him to gather information about him can to trial . all although

can go to trial. all although his phone hacking claims were dismissed. >> well, the duke claiming that private investigators and journalists working for the sun and news of the world had used illegal methods to gather information , allegations that information, allegations that ngn, the publishers had strongly denied. let's get the thoughts now of a former executive editor of the news of the world, neil wallace, who can us here in wallace, who can join us here in the studio. neil, thanks for coming to see you. and coming in. good to see you. and we're just trying to out we're just trying to work out who happier at the who will be happier at the moment. news group or prince harry in that obviously there will be another hearing, but not not on phone hacking. >> one neil. >> one neil. >> news group. right >> news group. right >> explain but into extra time now obviously well it's actually a different game now because this is a very profound ruling. >> it should not be underestimated how important this is on a whole number of levels , because what the judges levels, because what the judges did, don't forget, this is one of three trials. yes >> against the three major newspaper groups. >> this is the first ruling on

phone hacking and the judge don't forget, judges are establishment creatures. >> don't forget, we're in a civil court, which means on the balance of probability , city, balance of probability, city, not an issue of fact . not an issue of fact. >> it isn't decided on, as you say , facts basically , the judge say, facts basically, the judge can make a decision and he has comprehensive thrown this out and all the allegations about phone hacking are broadly similar against all the three newspaper groups. >> and , you know, he uses words >> and, you know, he uses words like implore able inherently unlikely. and as you saw during the last trial in particular, which was an. pardon me , prince which was an. pardon me, prince harry very often didn't know what the stories he was being asked about . what the stories he was being asked about. i think it's given asked about. i think it's given a huge blow to his credibility. it's a huge sense of relief at all of those newspaper groups. >> but and it's a big but. the

judges decide added that there can be a full hearing on the issue of illegal information gathering. and it seems that's involving the work of private investigators . investigators. >> yes, that's true. but what he said, there's a realistic chance of a case being argued and he isn't making a judgement here on whether or not he he believes or disbelieves. he's saying that prince harry's legal team can can make a case and then the judge of that case will make a ruling personally , i don't think ruling personally, i don't think that will work either . ruling personally, i don't think that will work either. but what we're seeing here is the culmination often of a . long culmination often of a. long running vendetta that prince harry, some may say is justified and has got with newspapers , and has got with newspapers, others and i'm afraid on this occasion he's come up very short indeed. >> it's part of the ruling to do with the amount of time that had elapsed between these allegations or claims. yeah, there was two things that essentially the judge didn't

believe. >> first of all, he said that he didn't know at the time effectively that he could make a claim and left it to many years. he's talking about allegations going back to 2012. i think it was, although the phone hacking is generally accepted , the is generally accepted, the police accept the phone hacking finished in 2006, which was when the original trial was. but but he claimed that he didn't know he claimed that he didn't know he could make that claim. the judge has thrown that out. he then went on to claim that there was a secret agreement. >> this this is interesting, isn't it? because the judge had refused to allow the duke to rely on this because it was alleged that there had been this deal , if like, between the deal, if you like, between the royal family and senior executives working rupert executives working for rupert murdoch. yeah. >> and the judge listened to this. he and he described it as inherently unlikely. he said the only witness for this was prince harry. there was no hard evidence. there was no one

supporting. and you've got to say, you know, prince harry at the time was knee deep in the royal world. they would have known those around him would have been in a position to advise him. according lee and the judge has said, no, i don't believe a word of it. he says it's implausible . and there's it's implausible. and there's a big issues come into this , isn't big issues come into this, isn't there, about harry's credibility here either. this is paranoia a bit delusional or it is him being cynically used by the ambulance chasing lawyers who are using him to drive forward these cases. >> let's just actually examine that a bit more detail because david sherborne is his counsel who said in written arguments that the fact that the prince of wales, william, had settled a claim against news group newspapers for a very large sum of money in 2020. so supports the contention that there was a secret agreement in place . secret agreement in place. >> yeah, he doesn't explain why

it doesn't explain why he supports it. maybe it simply took a long time to agree the deal because it was a very large sum of money. yeah, you know, the point is, though, back in those days , one side would know those days, one side would know what the other was doing. and so the idea that this was somehow kept away from harry is just utterly implausible. the only time you'd be in the loop. in other words, it would be in the loop. the palace would be in the loop. the palace would be in the loop. you can't keep things like this. that secret. >> now, the trial is due to take place next year, or possibly even the year after for that's quite long time to wait, isn't quite a long time to wait, isn't it, for all parties involved? >> it'sjust it, for all parties involved? >> it's just not. and the only way this goes on is because if you like to be brutal about it, pip prince harry here is a loss leader for the lawyers. prince harry's not paying these legal bills. they're doing it on a well. >> he's not being he's not being charged . charged. >> he won't he won't be being

charged for how are you so sure of that? he will be doing on a no no win, no fee basis, which is a very common thing in civil cases. and what they've got out of this, of course , is huge , of this, of course, is huge, huge, huge publicity . i get so huge, huge publicity. i get so much of this on twitter , right? much of this on twitter, right? i see it all the time. i think the phrase is to be continued . the phrase is to be continued. >> tbc tbc. thank you very much indeed. >> well, do stay with us here on gb news. plenty more to tell you about over the next hour, including corporate profits . including corporate profits. british gas parent company centrica seeing a huge rise up by nearly 1,000. the latest very shortly . shortly. >> the temperatures rising on boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news alex deakin weather on. gb news alex deakin here with your latest weather update from the met office for gb news as murky, humid and dank start to the day , skies are start to the day, skies are brightening in many places, but

that may spark some heavy showers as this low pressure system is moving in for the weekend. >> it's already brought these weather fronts which brought all the wet weather overnight. the rain is easing most places , rain is easing in most places, but staying quite breezy with rain along the coast of the south—east and outbreaks of rain continuing across a good part of scotland. a lot scotland. elsewhere, said a lot of cloud but brightening up and we'll see some sunny spells, perhaps across parts of eastern england and the midlands. and if we see brightness that we do see any brightness that may spark some heavy, even thundery showers in the thundery showers later in the day. getting into day. temperatures getting into the low 20s in places perhaps a little higher if we see any of that sunshine poking through. but for most it will stay cloudy. it'll stay pretty grey through further cloudy. it'll stay pretty grey thr0|pushing further cloudy. it'll stay pretty grey thr0|pushing north further cloudy. it'll stay pretty grey thr0|pushing north across her rain pushing north across northern scotland overnight , but northern scotland overnight, but elsewhere, most places becoming dry by. we'll see some clearer skies for scotland and northern ireland, which will allow to ireland, which will allow it to turn cooler here. but turn a little cooler here. but for another pretty for most, another pretty warm night. holding up night. temperatures holding up at 15 or 16 degrees. generally a fresher feel, though, through friday. and most , it'll be

friday. and for most, it'll be a brighter day, too. in fact , a brighter day, too. in fact, a day spells , by and day of sunny spells, by and large, some wet weather, of course, northeast scotland working orkney up towards working from orkney up towards shetland and 1 or 2 showers elsewhere, certainly for northern on, northern ireland later on, plenty showers, for most, plenty of showers, but for most, tomorrow should a fresher tomorrow should be a fresher friday spells and in friday with bright spells and in the sunshine, temperatures getting into the low 20 as the temperatures rising. >> but most solar proud sponsors of weather on .

gb news. >> it's 1:00. gb news. >> it's1:00. very gb news. >> it's 1:00. very good >> it's1:00. very good afternoon. you're with the live desk here on gb news. coming up this lunchtime , the parent this lunchtime, the parent company of british gas delivers profits up nearly 900% as anti poverty campaigners say the figures will be met with disbelief with labour's shadow climate and net zero secretary saying these figures demonstrate the continuing scandal of the tory failure to act on the windfalls . it's hotting up windfalls. it's hotting up elsewhere. the weather watchers warning the worst yet to come for the uk and on roads, the wildfires continue as the island now declares a six month emergency . and private investigations. >> prince harry is to get his day in court against the sun, but not on phone hacking charges. we'll have the latest . charges. we'll have the latest. >> and ufos , well, they're an

>> and ufos, well, they're an open secret, according to the intelligence veterans who've been testifying to congress. the truth is out there somewhere. latest headlines now with rory . latest headlines now with rory. let's get the latest headlines now with rory . thank you very now with rory. thank you very much, mark. >> british gas owner centrica has revealed that earnings at its gas and electric supply arm have soared by 889% to £969 million in the six months to june on an underlying basis, operating profits rose to 2.1 billion from 1.3 billion a year ago.the billion from 1.3 billion a year ago. the prime minister insists that energy companies windfall profits are being taxed to support consumers, helping to

pay support consumers, helping to pay around half of a typical family's energy bill. >> i know that the number one challenge families are facing up and down the country is the cost of living and in particular, their energy bills. >> that's why i took a decision back i chancellor to back when i was chancellor to introduce windfall tax back when i was chancellor to introduce windfalltax the introduce a windfall tax on the energy companies. so we are now taxing these windfall profits of energy companies , and we're energy companies, and we're using money help us pay using that money to help us pay around of a typical around half of a typical family's energy bill, particularly over the last winter, that support has been worth £1,500 to a typical family. it's support on the scale of the furlough scheme to give people context, because i know how important it is for the government and me to ease some of those pressures on the cost of those pressures on the cost of living . of living. >> a who shot dead a custody >> a man who shot dead a custody sergeant in a police cell in 2020 has been sentenced to a whole life term in prison. 25 year old louis de zoysa fatally shot sergeant matt ratana in croydon in 2020. de zoysa claimed diminished responsibility during the three

week trial, but the jury took around five hours to convict him . tram operators have been fined a total of £14 million over the croydon derailment, which killed seven people. many more were injured when a tram carrying 69 people derailed near the sandyland stop in november 2016. transport for london and tram operations limited have accepted failing in their health and safety duties. mrjustice fraser told the court this was undoubtedly an act isn't waiting to happen . a high court judge to happen. a high court judge has ruled that the duke of sussex can bring a claim of unlawful information gathering to trial against the publisher of the sun, but not a claim of phone hacking. prince harry alleges he was targeted by journalists and private investigators working for the news group newspapers. the sun publisher says the announcement is a significant victory. publisher says the announcement is a significant victory . the is a significant victory. the group denies any unlawful activity took place . the home

activity took place. the home office's routine housing of unaccompanied child asylum seekers in hotels has been ruled unlawful by a high court. the charity every child protected against trafficking launched legal action after claiming the arrangements are not fit for purpose. it was ruled unlawful as the power to place the children in hotels may be used on very short periods in true emergency situation as wild fires in greece continue . that's fires in greece continue. that's despite a drop in temperatures as blazes have spread across the country for more than a week now, killing three people and causing over 20,000 tourists to evacuate roads . 61 more fires evacuate roads. 61 more fires have erupted in greece in the last 24 hours, destroying farms and factories with farmers rushing to evacuate the remaining livestock. in albania , crews continued to battle flames across the country's southern region with emergency helicopters dropping water on affected areas. and in italy,

drone footage shows the extent of devastation after a wildfire turned the hills surrounding a fifth century temple into ash. well, our national reporter paul hawkins is in rhodes for us. the situation here this morning feels a little bit more positive. >> the pockets of fires that existed yesterday, i'm told, were extinguished overnight, but they are still running water via helicopter , via aeroplanes, helicopter, via aeroplanes, dropping it onto to the embers of those fires . and while people of those fires. and while people are feeling a little bit more positive today, they're still remaining highly vigilant, highly anxious , because the wind highly anxious, because the wind is starting to pick up. highly anxious, because the wind is starting to pick up . and is starting to pick up. and that's factor. it's little that's the factor. it's a little bit cooler today, but the bit cooler here today, but the wind a factor. is wind remains a factor. it is getting windier. so that getting windier. and so that risk from those fires reignite thing remains more than 1000 workers had to amazon fulfilment centres are walking out in early august in an ongoing dispute over pay . over pay. >> the gmb union says workers in

rugeley are striking on the third and 4th of august and in coventry on the fourth and the 5th of august. the union says the fight for workers rights at amazon is only just beginning . amazon is only just beginning. two former navy pilots and a former intelligence officer have accused the us government of downplaying the threat that ufos pose to their country. the told lawmakers about their experiences as and when they believed to have seen them. they're calling on the us government to be more transparent, warning that those unidentified are unidentified objects are a national security threat. well, last week a white house spokesperson said the ufos are having an impact on training ranges. when pilots see things and they're not quite sure what they are . this is gb news we they are. this is gb news we will, of course, bring you more as it happens. now, though, back to mark and pepper.

>> rory, thank you and welcome back to the live desk here on gb news. now, the prime minister, rishi sunak, has been talking about plans for more homes in london in hopes of growing the economy using a speech in the last few minutes to take a swipe at mayor sadiq khan's quote , at mayor sadiq khan's quote, failure to deliver the homes that london needs. but he's also been talking about the natwest banking issue significantly. >> yes, the prime minister has said he does not bank does not back and he said bank back calls for the resignation . didn't do for the resignation. didn't do that either. exactly. of natwest group chairman sir howard davies . and that's after nigel farage demanded the resignation of the entire bank board amid this row over the closure of his coutts account. but interestingly , what account. but interestingly, what rishi sunak also did not say is whether he had confidence in sir howard. so olivia, what can we read into what the prime minister has just said there? >> well, it feels as though

rishi sunak is sort of hedging his bets a bit because at the moment it's not quite clear what's happen to the what's going to happen to the chairman of natwest. he has had a really very much edifying week. that full week. he said that he had full confidence, those his words confidence, those were his words in rose , only for her to in alison rose, only for her to have resign sort of hours have to resign sort of 12 hours later, either because the government told her government actually told her to resign felt that resign or because she felt that her was completely her position was completely untenable. terrible untenable. it was terrible corporate judgement from howard davies. but, you know, he's had a very long career. he was expecting to stand down next summer dignity , but summer with dignity, but obviously he's now under quite a lot of pressure to resign now it sounds as though rishi sunak, doesn't time be the doesn't this time want to be the one actually push him? but he one to actually push him? but he isn't prepared to say that he has full confidence because it still pretty likely that still looks pretty likely that that davies might have to step down, particularly he was down, particularly as he was planning go. so soon anyway. planning to go. so soon anyway. he might feel that he has simply become distraction, of become a distraction, given, of course, a whopping course, that he earns a whopping £750,000 and natwest is. >> and let's reflect, of course, rishi sunak has come from a

banking background and this was his previous job, if you like, before he got into politics. i'm just looking at what he's been saying to reporters at this this speech. the government taking tough action to ensure banks behave fairly following the row with natwest and nigel farage saying the chancellor and the treasury hosted meetings just the other day. now, this was the meeting that the treasury minister , andrew griffith, has , minister, andrew griffith, has, but we've not really had much reaction from the banks themselves about what they're going to be doing to put their house in order. no, absolutely. >> it is really interesting to see just how fast the government has does as you has reacted. it does feel as you say, rishi sunak is from a banking background. jeremy hunt knows what he's talking about here, it feels as here, too, and it feels as though pair of them are though the pair of them are really in their element when they're addressing these of they're addressing these sort of banking how they're addressing these sort of bankingthey how they're addressing these sort of bankingthey acted how they're addressing these sort of bankingthey acted with how they're addressing these sort of bankingthey acted with the 10w quickly they acted with the silicon valley collapse ? but silicon valley collapse? but they have acted very quickly. they're to new laws they're planning to put new laws in to it more in place to make it more difficult banks to bank difficult for banks to bank customers without explaining exactly why they've done that.

but as you say, the banks are being rather slow to come back after the comms disasters after all of the comms disasters for the last week for natwest, you would think that natwest would now be at the forefront of a sort of onslaught of banks explaining exactly what they're going be better. but so going to do to be better. but so far, that doesn't really seem to have what seeing have happened. what we're seeing from lots of from natwest is lots of equivocation followed, seems, equivocation followed, it seems, by resignation. equivocation followed, it seems, by there'snation. equivocation followed, it seems, by there's lingering questions, >> there's lingering questions, isn't there, about what dame alison rose's seven ounce package? well, absolutely . what package? well, absolutely. what is she going to get? >> what's she going to get? because technically, she could take entire notice, period take her entire notice, period pay take her entire notice, period pay and that could be as much as £5 million. it's not quite clear how long her notice period is. she's seemingly earns £5 million a year. so whether that notice penod a year. so whether that notice period is that long or whether she will be under a lot of pressure to cut that cut that nofice pressure to cut that cut that notice period short and perhaps notice period short and perhaps not take nearly as much as as as she is able to take. but that is a question that's still hovering in the air. and one would have

thought that natwest would really get it answered really want to get it answered pretty quickly. >> as we say, the >> yeah, well, as we say, the prime minister giving that response on response in his speech on housing. let's reflect on what he say a few minutes he had to say just a few minutes ago . ago. >> okay. they just seem to be a little problem with with sound there. we will try and bring you rishi sunak not miming , but what rishi sunak not miming, but what he has done today or has is what's been quoted as stepped in to try to sort out london's housing crisis . and he's blamed housing crisis. and he's blamed the mayor of london, sadiq khan, for sky high property prices, which he says destroys the dreams of many londoners to own their own homes. so what he's done today is announce a review of the london plan. now, what that will do is identify new sites to build tens of thousands of new homes in the capital. he's also thinking, though, i'm quite impressed with that. i'm great. did i not tell you how goodi great. did i not tell you how good i was at this? mark, let's just reflect on this very

quickly with olivia. >> of course, this was the reason that was giving this reason that he was giving this speech. from what we've speech. clearly from what we've seen pmqs, housing is coming seen at pmqs, housing is coming up top of the table as an up to the top of the table as an election issue. >> housing is a huge political election issue. >> housat] is a huge political election issue. >> housat thea huge political election issue. >> housat the momentolitical election issue. >> housat the moment and:al election issue. >> housat the moment and keir football at the moment and keir starmer has made really bold claims to on green belt claims to build on green belt land. rishi sunak is now sort of trying to catch up with him. but of course rishi sunak has this permanent problem which every conservative prime has conservative prime minister has where to balance where they are trying to balance the of young people who the concerns of young people who they win perhaps they want to win over, perhaps slightly to vote slightly hopelessly to vote conservative the next conservative at the next election. those desperate to get on housing ladder and those on the housing ladder and those people conservative people at the conservative backbench voters rural seats backbench, voters in rural seats who don't want houses. >> and the problem not >> and this is the problem not just for the government but for labour as that they have labour as well, that they have this policy. trying this housing policy. but trying to the mps faced to persuade all the mps faced with constituents, saying with their constituents, saying not my back yard. it's a real not in my back yard. it's a real problem for them. not in my back yard. it's a real pro well, for them. not in my back yard. it's a real pro well, absolutely. politically >> well, absolutely. politically it's i think more of a problem for prime because for the prime minister because some seats which were some of those seats which were once wall seats , places once blue wall seats, places like selby, for example , which like selby, for example, which which look as though they

which now look as though they could to could quite easily flip to laboun could quite easily flip to labour, those are exactly the sort places , beautiful rural sort of places, beautiful rural areas with, with on the whole tends to be a slightly older population who worry about the perhaps very understandably, who worry about the effect on local services. if there are houses built in their areas. >> he's very clearly exploiting that dividing line between him and the mayor of london. i mean, his tweet makes me laugh. he's like, i'm coming to the rescue . like, i'm coming to the rescue. i'm stepping in to boost housebuilding and make home ownership again for londoners. >> i think another element of this that because of that this is that because of that uxbridge, the conservatives uxbndge uxbridge, the conservatives uxbridge win last week and it being said probably rightly, that it was all because of ulez as sadiq khan policy rishi sunak has seen an eye to the main chance here and thinks well instead of attacking keir starmer, i'm going to really lay in on sadiq khan, who already seems pretty and seems to be pretty unpopular and just that, when we just to explain that, when we talk outer london in terms talk about outer london in terms of these labour can of these policies, labour can see some some cherry picking in these areas, particularly

perhaps croydon and further south definitely. but london has always been a pretty labour city, but traditionally it's been a sort of doughnut with conservative seats on the outside and inner london, very red . in previous elections we red. in previous elections we have seen already a swing from at these outer london boroughs going progressively redder and redder as people from the caphal redder as people from the capital, from the very centre of london who are labour, labour by mindset begin to move out of the city. so we're seeing that already. and as you say, it feels like very easy pickings for labour. >> olivia, thank you for standing in for the prime minister. much appreciate. thank you. >> and thanks to my lip syncing. >> and thanks to my lip syncing. >> well, absolutely not. yeah, quite impressive. >> my reading of it now >> well, my reading of it now houday >> well, my reading of it now holiday across the holiday resorts across the mediterranean counting holiday resorts across the me(cost anean counting holiday resorts across the me(cost ofean counting holiday resorts across the me(cost of those counting holiday resorts across the me(cost of those wildfires,ounting the cost of those wildfires, fires that erupted from fires that have erupted from portugal west to sicily portugal in the west to sicily and croatia in the east. so many areas affected now and more than 40 people have died . homes and 40 people have died. homes and businesses have been destroyed . businesses have been destroyed. >> of course, in the last 24

hours. we've seen 61 wildfires across greece. thousands of firefighters working to try and control the blazes . but the control the blazes. but the focus still very much on roads on the island, which is now declared an emergency for six months. well, let's get the very latest from there. we'll reflect on the uk's weather situation a little later. but let's bring in paul, little later. but let's bring in paul , who is little later. but let's bring in paul, who is still on the island for us in rhodes and i think we can bring him in now as we're seeing the flowers of britain. there it's the smoking stubs of trees and brushland behind you, of course, there, paul . and of course, there, paul. and you're indicating that as we can see, the wind still a problem which can push these embers to other areas . other areas. >> oh, what a shame. we don't seem to be able to hear paul at the moment, although we can look at those very striking pictures from the island of rhodes , which from the island of rhodes, which is still suffering terribly on parts of the island . we will try

parts of the island. we will try and rejoin paul very shortly. >> he was telling us a little earlier, of course, about the aeroplanes we remember that crash on evia in terms of the crash on evia in terms of the crash of the canadair plane. but we were seeing from paul, one of those planes picking up water from the sea and actually heading overhead to drop water on some smoke that we were seeing in the back ground. i think we can rejoin paul . uh, think we can rejoin paul. uh, pauli think we can rejoin paul. uh, paul, i think we've got contact with you. can you hear us? >> yeah, i can hear you. crystal clear. i was just going to say, actually, because i don't think you could hear me, but if you want to the latest for want to get the latest for yourself, it is in the yourself, there it is in the distance. there some, in distance. yes, there is some, in fact, that appears to be fact, that that appears to be quite a major fire that's burning moment. it's burning at the moment. it's difficult tell because, difficult to tell because, as you mark, wind you mentioned, mark, the wind has picked up significantly. so it can spread these columns of smoke. but clearly there is a fire burning of some degree over that hill and then if we just look over to here over in that direction, there's what looks

like a fire at the end of this valley just in the distance. and there's a much smaller column of smoke over there. so this is what we're talking about when we're to explain that we're trying to explain that just you think got just when you think you've got on all the fires, it's on top of all the fires, it's not the heat. it's the wind that is the big problem. and the wind has picked significantly . and has picked up significantly. and thatis has picked up significantly. and that is when it whips up these embers, ash, and embers, whips up this ash, and then restart catches then it can restart catches hold of leaf a tree of some of a leaf of a tree of some vegetation nearby. and then off it goes again. and then the wind, then spreads it on further. so that's the challenge that overstretched that these already overstretched emergency . emergency services are facing. >> esther has been speaking today, paul, and he says climate change is not an excuse for these wildfires and that greece needs to take more steps to combat the effects of it . the combat the effects of it. the fire brigade saying that there have been more than 500 wildfires across the country so far this year.

>> well, i think we've lost communications again with you, paul communications again with you, paul. given the difficulties , of paul. given the difficulties, of course, of getting a signal there from rose. but we'll head back to paul just to reiterate, the island has now established a six month emergency period as they try to, of course, rebuild and reassess their emergency response . clearly, in terms of response. clearly, in terms of the firefighters, they are all in terms of the crews on the ground basically putting their lives on the line and they are all volunteers, to remind you , all volunteers, to remind you, although the crews in those aircraft , of course, are greek aircraft, of course, are greek aircraft, of course, are greek air force pilots. but still a very challenging situation. >> i should also stress as well that it >> i should also stress as well thatitis >> i should also stress as well that it is only part of the island of rhodes that is affected. and if you are going there, then i've been hearing that there are holiday travel agents that are offering holidays to greece for vastly reduced prices . whether you want

reduced prices. whether you want to actually go out and in that heatis to actually go out and in that heat is something else . but heat is something else. but there are holidays available on there are holidays available on the emergency services out there as well. >> but anyway, we'll get more from paul, course, as we from paul, of course, as we re—establish communications with it. coming up, we'll update it. also coming up, we'll update you with you on the situation with natwest. minister's natwest. the prime minister's been on that latest for been speaking on that latest for you with us. you coming up. stay with us. >> looks like things are heating up. boxed boilers as proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. sponsors of weather on. gb news. >> alex deegan here with your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. as murky, humid and dank start to the day, skies are brightening in many places, but that may spark some heavy showers . this spark some heavy showers. this low pressure system is moving for in the weekend. it's already brought these weather fronts which all the wet which brought all the wet weather . right. weather overnight. right. the rain easing in most places, rain is easing in most places, but staying quite breezy with rain along the coast of the south—east outbreaks of rain south—east and outbreaks of rain continuing across a good part of scotland. elsewhere said a lot of cloud brightening up and of cloud but brightening up and we'll some sunny spells,

we'll see some sunny spells, perhaps across parts eastern perhaps across parts of eastern england and the midlands. and if we see any brightness that we do see any brightness that may spark some heavy even thundery showers later the thundery showers later in the day, getting into day, temperatures getting into the low 20s in places perhaps a little higher if we see any of that sunshine poking through. but for it'll stay cloudy but for most, it'll stay cloudy . stay pretty grey through . it'll stay pretty grey through this rain this evening. further rain pushing north across northern scotland overnight , but scotland overnight, but elsewhere, most places becoming dry. we'll some clearer dry. we'll see some clearer skies for scotland and northern ireland, which will allow it to turn little here. but turn a little cooler here. but for most, another pretty warm night. temperatures holding up at degrees. generally a at 15 or 16 degrees. generally a fresher feel, though, through friday. and for most, it'll be a brighter fact, brighter day, too. in fact, a day of sunny spells, by and large, some wet weather, of course, northeast scotland working from orkney up towards shetland. or 2 showers shetland. and 1 or 2 showers elsewhere, certainly for northern ireland later on. plenty but for most, plenty of showers, but for most, tomorrow fresher tomorrow should be a fresher friday spells and in friday with bright spells and in the sunshine, temperatures getting the 20s looks getting into the low 20s looks like things are heating up.

>> box boilers, proud sponsors of weather on

>> gb news the people's channel. britain's watching . britain's watching. >> well, welcome back to the live desk . should we turn up the live desk. should we turn up the heat on british gas? well, they've reported profits of £969 million for the first six months of this year, up a staggering 889% on the same time last year.

it's said to be a one off, but because of the price cap actually introduced by the government as part of its energy support scheme alongside british gas parent company centrica reported profits of £2.1 billion in the first half of the year. >> it comes as the energy cap sits at £1,000 above pre—pandemic average well fuel poverty campaign say these figures will be met with disc relief by customers struggling to pay their bills. >> british gas chief executive officers remind you paid £4.5 million in 2022. >> so is this a further sign of britain's broken energy system? let's cross now to billy mcgranaghan , founder of dad's mcgranaghan, founder of dad's house charity and foodbank, to hear how this is impacting people . well, what did you think people. well, what did you think when you heard these profits this morning going up by nearly 900% high? >> mark, if you know what, i'm still reeling with what matthew

said about everything is okay. >> everything's not okay. >> everything's not okay. >> and what we've been seeing since covid and lockdown, families are being staying at home and they're prices are went up 102% on a weekly basis, especially with families and on prepayment metres and £1 billion. >> um is some amount of profit when the whole of the uk are absolutely struggling to put food on the tables, to heat their homes, to have showers in their homes, to have showers in the morning, you know, so i mean this is so serious for families who who come to our office are so anxious and really suffering from more mental health situations that they were in pre since the pandemic. >> and i've never seen anything like it. >> you know, so i'm i'm not surprised. >> but let's hope that british

gas gives back to small charities who help in the community. >> katie yeah. >> katie yeah. >> with providing small grants to families and you're getting cut off in their gas and electric bills and they're going without electric 2 or 3 days a month. and i know that for a fact because we meet families on a daily basis and we remember that phrase heat or eat, and literally that was the question for many elderly people and families as well. >> they say they're going to give an extra £50 million to those who are worst affected. i mean, that's a big sum, but is it going to be enough if it's not going to be enough? >> but also, it's not going to be quick enough because we've got families running out of electricity on a daily basis. we've got families, we've got mums and dads who go regularly without breakfast, lunch and

they wait till the kids get home from school before they have something to eat and that that shouldn't be happening in, in london in the uk, 2023. >> no way in a million years. >> no way in a million years. >> close that door. look, please, no way in a million years. should that be happening. >> and as i say, families come in here and they're devastated . in here and they're devastated. they're the burst into tears when they come into dad's house. and we have lunch clubs and we talk to families , we cook for talk to families, we cook for families and families are brilliant at putting their cards on the table when they meet people who care . yeah people who care. yeah >> and of course there's a lack of competition at the moment isn't there, billy? so people don't actually have the option to, to go elsewhere and energy companies aren't being very competitive . competitive. >> no, it's unbelievable where

the energy companies are talking a good game. >> you know bits of families who are suffering, you're going without and they get cut off, you know what? it's a nightmare to get anything back on and going back to the energy companies who went bust, some of our families couldn't get a contract. >> so they were paying over £100 a week and they're one bedroom flats in kensington and chelsea, hammersmith and fulham. >> and we're on the border of one of the richest boroughs in the united kingdom. >> we've got families who are absolutely struggling on a daily bafis absolutely struggling on a daily basis , and they're going without basis, and they're going without , as i said, food and electricity. >> and it breaks your heart when you see that . you see that. >> i was going to ask you how things are there at the sharp end, because we keep hearing that food inflation is starting to that maybe things to come down, that maybe things are going to get easier. but that's what you're finding that's not what you're finding there the end.

there at the sharp end. >> oh, no, it's not because our donations have dropped , because donations have dropped, because the families who used to donate don't have that disposable income. yeah, you know, so any extra cash that they do have , extra cash that they do have, they're using it for their own electric city, their own food. and we've got baskets and major shops in a mile from our office. and they're empty nearly every week now . you know, our week now. you know, our financial donations have dropped by 90. we're trying to raise £100,000 on twitter . and that's £100,000 on twitter. and that's how we managed to raise £54,000. so we're constantly battle going to keep going from september from five days a week . we're from five days a week. we're going to be operating four days a week. you know, so and that's that's my heart. it would be good, wouldn't it, billy, if a british gas executive actually popped british gas executive actually poppedin british gas executive actually popped in to see you sometime

just to see how busy you are and to meet some of the people that are kindly helped by you? >> i would love i would love of the british gas chief exec to come and see what we do. >> meet our families, have a cup of tea, you know, and find out what families are facing on on a on a daily basis from first thing in the morning to the last thing in the morning to the last thing at night. you know, some some dads and moms, they're not putting anything on during the day, as i said before, until the kids come home from school . kids come home from school. >> and it's easier at the moment in the summer, but it's going to get even tougher again come the autumn . autumn. >> well, i've going back to the lockdown families . lockdown families. >> i've been i've been hit really hard and what you just said, we're lucky that it's a little bit warmer just said, we're lucky that it's a little bit warmerjust now . but little bit warmer just now. but come september , october , i'd come september, october, i'd read to think what's going to

happen and if there's any donations from british gas to brilliant charities who look after the most vulnerable people in the united kingdom , i'm do it in the united kingdom, i'm do it this week you know don't wait two and three months you know because you'll have deaths in 2 or 3 months. you'll have hospitals. you have doctors won't be able to cope with. >> billy. >> billy. >> that's such . and what >> that's such. and what families are, that's such a sombre message for you . sombre message for you. >> keep being brilliant . keep >> keep being brilliant. keep doing what you're doing . doing what you're doing. unfortunately, you have to do it. but thank you ever so much for talking to us here on gb news. that's billy mcgranahan , news. that's billy mcgranahan, who's founder dads house who's founder of dads house charity and foodbank. >> coming up, we'll have the latest prince harry's phone latest on prince harry's phone hacking . yes, it's going hacking scandal. yes, it's going to the courts. all to be back in the courts. all the coming first, the details coming up. first, all news headlines with rory all the news headlines with rory i >> -- >> thank 5mm >> thank you very much, mark. british gas owner centrica has

revealed that its earnings at its gas and electricity supply arm have soared . by 889% to £969 arm have soared. by 889% to £969 million in the six months to june on an underlying basis, operating profits rose to 2.1 billion from 1.3 billion a year ago.the billion from 1.3 billion a year ago. the prime minister insists that the energy companies windfall profits are being taxed to support consumer hours, helping to pay around half of a typical family's energy bill. >> i know that the number one challenge families are facing up and down the country is the cost of living and in particular, their energy bills . that's why their energy bills. that's why i took when i was took a decision back when i was chancellor introduce chancellor to introduce a windfall on energy windfall tax on the energy companies so now taxing companies. so we are now taxing these windfall profits of energy companies and we're using that money to help us pay around half of a typical family's energy bill, particularly over the last winter, that support has been worth £1,500 to a typical family. it's support on the

scale of the furlough scheme to give people context, because i know how important it is for the government and me to ease some of those pressures cost of those pressures on the cost of those pressures on the cost of living . of living. >> a man who shot dead a custody sergeant in a police cell has been sentenced to life in prison. 25 year old louis de zoysa fatally shot sergeant matt ratana in croydon in 2020. de zoysa claimed diminished responsibility during the three week trial, but the jury took around five hours to convict him . tram operators have been fined a total of £41 million over the croydon derailment, which killed seven people. many more were injured when a tram carrying 69 people derailed near the sandilands stop in november 2016. transport for london and tram operations limited have accepted failing in their health and safety duties . that's the up and safety duties. that's the up to date. but you can get more on all of those stories by visiting

our website. that is gbnews.com . direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news for gold and silver investment . all gold and silver investment. all right. let's take a quick look at today's markets. the pound will buy you 1.295 ,7,000,000,001.1646. the price of gold, that's at £1,526. i'm £0.13 per ounce. and the ftse 100, that is at 7695 points direct bullion sponsors. >> the finance report on gb news for physical investment

gb news radio. >> welcome back to the live desk. now things appear to be going from bad to worse for the natwest bank. going from bad to worse for the natwest bank . its share price natwest bank. its share price down another 2.2% at the moment after 840 million was knocked off its value yesterday. well, now the financial conduct authority and the information commissioner's office have announced they'll investigate whether the bank has breached data protection laws. >> announcing the investigation , the head of the ico said that the banking of the banking duty of confidentiality is over 100 years old and any suggestion that this trust had been betrayed would be concerning for both a bank's customers and regulators as well. >> that announcement coming as

it was revealed dame alison rose , the now former ceo of natwest , could be in line for a multi—million pound payout in lieu of working out her notice period. >> this is what the prime minister had to say. a little earlier today. >> see what i said right at the start of this that it wasn't right for people to be deprived of basic services like banking because of their views . because of their views. >> now, ultimately, this isn't about any one individual. it's about any one individual. it's about values. do you believe in free speech and not to be discriminated against because of your legally held views? do you believe in privacy, particularly on matters as sensitive as your financial information ? those are financial information? those are the values and the questions at stake here. and that's why i said what i did prime said what i did as prime minister there, speaking a little earlier. >> well, here's someone who might relate to all might be able to relate to all of this scandal, a former natwest customer, anthony seal, who had his natwest account closed in august 21. anthony, were you given a reason ? were you given a reason? >> not at all.

>> not at all. >> and i sent various emails. i made various phone calls. >> i attended the branch. and each time they said it wasn't a decision that they took lightly. um and it was only after very careful consideration. um still, no, i've still been, still not been given an explanation as to why . why. >> so you're still in the dark. exactly what about your, your banking? i mean, are you able to banking? i mean, are you able to bank with anyone? >> shortly after natwest >> um, shortly after natwest decided to close me down, and it was very. >> they . they gave me no notice >> they. they gave me no notice whatsoever. um, i basically logged on line to find i was restricted . i couldn't access restricted. i couldn't access my, my online banking . um, restricted. i couldn't access my, my online banking. um, i then went and opened up another bank with another, another provider and i've had no issues with them whatsoever . um yeah. with them whatsoever. um yeah. i've no issues with it. with, with the bank up to now. so that's interesting that you know , clearly whatever they thought you were doing or weren't doing another bank said or thought it was fine . was fine. >> so something particular perhaps to natwest, i don't

think even natwest know what they're doing. >> um because back because in the october of the 21 i was closed down in the august in the october the they sent me an invitation to open up another account. i found out foundation account. i found out foundation account. i found out foundation account. i applied because i was ianed account. i applied because i was invited to and then they declined me yet again. that is now another mark on my credit file. so i don't think anyone knows what they're doing when i've questioned them and asked them it. all they keep them about it. all they keep saying to me is that after after careful consideration , um, careful consideration, um, that's they can tell me . i that's all they can tell me. i don't they follow any don't think they follow any procedure. i don't think they're going follow policy. is going to follow any policy. is there algorithm? how they there an algorithm? how are they how deciding who's how are they deciding who's customers accounts get closed? i don't think they even know themselves. government, themselves. the government, they have reforms this week. >> in light of all this , >> in light of all this, including that customers will be given greater notice if their accounts are to be closed down, they will be given a reason. do you think that goes far enough ? you think that goes far enough? are you are you happy with what you've heard this week? no i don't think it does go far

enough. >> um, how far they can go? i don't know. that's that's me. you know, i don't have any idea with that, but i made, um, an inquiry with the fca, the financial conduct authority , financial conduct authority, back in 2021, and they didn't want to know . and now when i was want to know. and now when i was closed down, i didn't receive a letter. it was it was spur of the moment. it was just logged onune the moment. it was just logged online and that was it. um, i, i was, i was closed down on the, on the 3rd of august. i didn't receive my letter till the 7th of august. so i was left in limbo for all that time. i suffered from mental health and i was going through mental health therapy at that time and i use the nhs because i couldn't use the nhs because of waiting, waiting lists. of the waiting, waiting lists. we know how much, we all know how much, how stretched nhs so i was stretched the nhs are. so i was having use private funds having to use private the funds that was in there in my um, bank account was from the dwp and from personal personal independence payment. that money was frozen from me. um, and i had to cancel my therapy because they wouldn't, they wouldn't give me access to it.

>> but even when you were, when you were struggling with those issues, i think you still managed actually get in managed to, to actually get in touch dame alison rose's touch with dame alison rose's office. the ceo's office. what happened then ? happened then? >> um, again, they went round in circles. i spoke to two managers from the chief execs office who just had to say the exact same things. we'll make some inquiries. they made their inquiries. they made their inquiries. give me ten days. we'll come back you in ten we'll come back to you in ten days. ten went. went days. then ten days. went. went by they came back to by very fast. they came back to me saying same thing me saying exactly the same thing after. after careful consideration . listen, we've. consideration. listen, we've. we've decided to close you up. close your account. we can't tell you anymore. >> so round and round in circles, very much so. >> very much so. ran around the circles. was only circles. it was only when threatened action, threatened with legal action, they offered me. they offered me a £100 compensation. and that's. yeah, it was a slap yeah, that's just it was a slap in the face and wanted me to go away. >> and do you think any of this could be to do with any of your politics, the views that you hold ? hold? >> um, i'd hope not because natwest have always proud of

themselves on being a hidden disability champion and i'm obviously i do have not obvious. i've got mental health and i'm a firm supporter and advocate for that on my social media. and i'm a firm supporter and advocate for lgbt rights and same sex marriage. um and in my previous employer , i was a firm unionist employer, i was a firm unionist and again, i'm an advocate for survivors of, of abuse . and i'm survivors of, of abuse. and i'm i won't shy away from that on, on my social media. how have they seen my social media? should they be used? should they be allowed to use that when making decisions? again, i don't i don't think they know know exactly they're doing. exactly what they're doing. >> another >> yeah. but clearly another bank they've given you bank did and they've given you an account. so there is a happy ending to a degree is ending to a degree which is great acknowledge. yeah very great to acknowledge. yeah very much so. >> and the one thing i was scared about when you when you do when you have one bank account when you to account closed, when you go to apply account closed, when you go to apply another you apply for another account, you are you've had any are asked whether you've had any bank closed. you have bank accounts closed. you have to be honest. um, it's . it's

to be honest. um, it's. it's a roundabout. you don't want to go on. >> okay, well, listen, thank you very much for sharing us your with your story. it's great to speak to you. thank you very much indeed for your time here on gb news. interesting >> yeah. we were discussing >> yeah. as we were discussing earlier, a judge has ruled that parts of prince harry's claim that news group newspapers used illegal methods to gather information about him can go to trial. although his phone hacking claims were dismissed . hacking claims were dismissed. >> well, yes, the duke of sussex claiming that private investigators and journalists working the sun and the news working for the sun and the news of had used illegal of the world had used illegal methods information on methods to gather information on him, allegations that ngn, the papers him, allegations that ngn, the paper's publishers, strongly deny. well we can now speak to former royal correspondent at the sun, charlie ray. >> good afternoon to you, charles. thanks for joining >> good afternoon to you, charles. thanks forjoining us on gb news. so is this a significant victory for the sun or prince harry? >> i would like to think it was a nil nil draw at the moment. i

think there's a slight victory for the sun because the phone hacking element has been thrown, thrown out by the judge and we've just got to deal with the allegations . allegations. >> is of private investigator hours. >> i don't quite understand the bit about the journalists. and, you know , target targeting you know, target targeting i mean, targeting a is a terrible word because it makes it sound as if it's something illegal. i mean, as a journalist , i used to mean, as a journalist, i used to do stories about members of the royal family all the time. i wouldn't say i was targeting. it was my job to do stories about them. but it will be interesting. and i think it's january. the court case starts and could a very lengthy and it could be a very lengthy court case. i'm talking about going into 2025. so this isn't going into 2025. so this isn't going be an easy one, an easy going to be an easy one, an easy one to sort out. and harry's going to have to prove that certain stories that that were written were gathered by the use of private investigators. and if you remember from his appearance at the court when we were talking about the phone hacking,

some of the story, he claimed were that where achieved through phone hacking and were written when he didn't even have a mobile phone. so anyway, that's out of the way now the phone hacking element is out of the way . and we've just got to deal way. and we've just got to deal with this. i mean, this is a serious allegation that he's making. there's no doubt about that. know, it's just going that. you know, it's just going to happen and it's going to be washing dirty linen in public again. and it's not a criminal case as such. >> it will be a civil action before a judge. so no jury. and therefore, it's the balance of probability and i guess that the issue is the unlawful information gathering. that's going to be the crux of the matter. and so it's going to be, you know, as you say, everything's going to be out in the open as to what these journalists and indeed the executives were doing. >> yeah, that's that's right. i mean, a journalist write mean, a journalist can write a story a celebrity or a story about a celebrity or a member of the royal family through legitimate means like like like what i did. through legitimate means like like like what i did . we you

like like what i did. we you know , you you find sources who know, you you find sources who are linked to the royal family. are you you have a story. you go to them and you ask them for comments on it. you see the problem with the royal family is we could not ring up the monarch or the prince of wales or any other member of the royal family and ask directly to put allegations to them. we have to go through their press office now. sometimes their press office would just say , no office would just say, no comment. other times you'd be guided. but if this if he is suggesting that private investigators, which gives you the sort of sleazy type world and that journalists were using these private investigators as we'll have to wait and see just what evidence he's got on this . what evidence he's got on this. >> okay. january is the date for the court, we think, or even later. but charles, as ever, thanks for updating us. your view. thank you. >> new findings from the national weather service have been released amid a severe heat wave we've been talking about

wave as we've been talking about a that's severe heat wave a lot. that's severe heat wave in southern europe in its annual state of the uk climate report, the met office found that 2022 weather was well severe. the hottest year on record, and warned of temperatures higher than 40 celsius. summer droughts and downpours will only increase in both frequency and severity . in both frequency and severity. >> she sounds like a job for a weatherman. joining us now, former bbc weatherman john kettley . as ever, john, thank kettley. as ever, john, thank you for that . and clearly, you for that. and clearly, they're looking at sort of not just the immediate situation, but long term trends as well and the sort of rather i don't know whether chilling is the right phrase in this, but what we've got at the moment might be the lowest and we're going to see even higher temperatures . even higher temperatures. >> yeah, it's very difficult to know, it, mark, really? know, isn't it, mark, really? >> very difficult. >> i mean, it's very difficult. >> i mean, it's very difficult. >> extrapolating >> anyway, extrapolating information from hundreds of years and thinking it's going to go the same sort trend go on the same sort of trend right way through to the end right the way through to the end of the century beyond. being of the century and beyond. being

a of some years, of a weatherman of some years, of course, i've it all before. course, i've seen it all before. yeah, we've seen it warming up. we've cooling down, we've seen it cooling down, we've getting wet and we've seen it getting wet and we've seen it getting wet and we've snow so in a we've seen it snow too. so in a way, i'm not surprised this this statement out. it's statement is coming out. it's very same as it usually very much the same as it usually is. it's because we had the 40 degrees last year, which was unprecedented country as unprecedented in this country as far we know. and certainly it far as we know. and certainly it will at 40 degrees in the will peak at 40 degrees in the future. there's no sign future. but there's no sign of it peaking degrees this it peaking at 40 degrees this yeah i it peaking at 40 degrees this year. i think the message for year. so i think the message for the public is that really it's not something that's going to happen regular basis. it's happen on a regular basis. it's going to happen and again. going to happen now and again. but now and again could but that now and again could become as become perhaps more frequent as we the next few we go through the next few decades. forget that all decades. don't forget that all this climate change, this talk of climate change, global warming really didn't start until about 1998, when we had a warm year in 98. and then we had some extremely hot weather in 2003 and 2006. so they were jumping on the bandwagon then and saying, well, if it carries on like this, if we don't do something about fossil fuels, we could be six degrees by the end the degrees hotter by the end of the century. well, that's been toned

down a bit now. but down quite a bit now. but nonetheless, think we nonetheless, i don't think we can blase about this. can be too blase about this. there definite trend of there is a definite trend of global which is lifting global warming, which is lifting temperatures but temperatures not only here but around other of the world, around other parts of the world, as we've seen, but equally, we are going to the other are still going to see the other extremes. we're to see the extremes. we're going to see the troughs weather. we troughs in the weather. and we will see some really will still see some really miserable weather. we've miserable july weather. we've got this year following a good june. this is really june. but this is really dreadful this year. i think it's just perhaps symptomatic of global means that global warming, which means that the british weather is not reliable john. reliable indeed, john. >> when we see these >> and when we see these wildfires across southern europe and for many of us sitting here in this dreary weather in the uk at the moment, it seems a long way away. but if these hot days are going to become more frequent , what are going to become more frequent, what is there going to be a greater risk of these be then a greater risk of these wildfires in the uk ? doesn't it wildfires in the uk? doesn't it also come down to negligence , though? >> doesn't it mean that if we are seeing more hot weather and more people are out there with their barbecues and more people

are being negligent with the barbecues, who knows what's going to happen? it may not just be of the weather getting be a case of the weather getting warmer more regular warmer and on a more regular basis. think we've just got to basis. i think we've just got to take heed if we're out and about and we've got make sure that and we've got to make sure that we're, you know, we are we're, you know, if we are having barbecues whatever we having barbecues or whatever we are just going are doing, we're just going to be very, very careful. but you know, hill have always know, hill fires have always existed, hot existed, whether it's been a hot summer or not. so i don't think there's anything new in this. but have take the but we do have to take care the fires in greece at the fires over in in greece at the moment are dreadful, absolutely dreadful. and the temperatures are they've are very high. but they've always had temperatures of 40 degrees summer months degrees in the summer months over there in greece and turkey i >> k- k you're here, k—n >> as you're here, let's just ask you, when will summer be back please . back here, please. >> well, that's a harder question than predicting what's going to be happening in 2100 . going to be happening in 2100. >> okay. but i mean, we still got this what this the jet stream coming across. is it ? stream coming across. is it? yeah well, the jet streams in the wrong place as far as we're concerned. >> it feels warmer, more humid today, which is a sign perhaps,

that the rain's getting warmer. but at the moment, there's no sign of a heat wave coming our way. they've still got the >> sadly, they've still got the smile. john, very smile. anyway. john, thanks very much us. much indeed for updating us. thanks time . thanks for your time. >> do you stay with us here on gb news. we will be talking to the host that ufo podcast . the host of that ufo podcast. find out exactly why in a few minutes. >> truth is out there somewhere a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news alex deakin here on. gb news alex deakin here with your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. >> murky, humid , dank start to >> murky, humid, dank start to the day, skies are brightening in many places, but that may spark some heavy showers this low pressure system is moving for in the weekend. it's already brought these weather fronts which brought the wet which brought all the wet weather is weather overnight. the rain is easing in most places, but staying quite breezy with rain along the coast of the south—east and outbreaks of rain continuing across a good part of

scotland. elsewhere said a lot of cloud but brightening up and we'll see some sunny spells perhaps across parts of eastern england and the midlands. and if we any brightness that we do see any brightness that may heavy, even may spark some heavy, even thundery showers later the thundery showers later in the day. temperatures getting into the low 20s in places perhaps a little higher. if we see any of that sunshine poking through. but it will stay but for most it will stay cloudy, it'll stay pretty grey through this evening. further rain north across rain pushing north across northern scotland overnight, but elsewhere, most places becoming dry. we'll some clearer dry. we'll see some clearer skies for scotland and northern ireland, which will allow to ireland, which will allow it to turn little cooler here. but turn a little cooler here. but for most, another warm for most, another pretty warm night. up night. temperatures holding up at 16 degrees is generally at 15 or 16 degrees is generally at 15 or 16 degrees is generally a fresher feel, though. through friday. and for most it'll be a brighter day, too. fact, brighter day, too. in fact, a day of sunny spells, by and large , some wet weather, of large, some wet weather, of course, northeast scotland working from orkney up towards shetland and or 2 showers shetland and 1 or 2 showers elsewhere, certainly for northern later on, northern ireland later on, plenty but for most, plenty of showers, but for most, tomorrow fresher tomorrow should be a fresher friday with bright spells and in the sunshine, temperatures

getting into the low 20s a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on .

gb news. >> it's 2:00. a very good afternoon and welcome to the live desk here on gb news coming up this afternoon , british gas up this afternoon, british gas delivers profits up 900% as anti

poverty campaigners say the figures will be met with disbelief . disbelief. >> labour says it is the continue lying scandal of a tory failure to act on windfalls . failure to act on windfalls. >> it's hotting up elsewhere. the weather watchers warning that the worst is yet to come for the uk while abroad, rhodes now declares a six month emergency. we're live on the island as the wildfires continue to spread and private investigations . investigations. >> prince harry is to get his day in court against the sun. but not on phone hacking charges . we'll have the latest . . we'll have the latest. >> and the truth is out there somewhere for the us congressional hearing. that's heard of crashed alien craft and a non—human biologics being hidden in secret. they could pose a threat to national security . so first, the security. so first, the headunes security. so first, the headlines with rory .

headlines with rory. >> thank you very much, mark. british gas owner centrica has revealed that earnings at its gas and electricity supply arm have soared by 889% to £969 million in the six months to june. on an underlying basis, operating profits rose to 2.1 billion from 1.3 billion a year ago.the billion from 1.3 billion a year ago. the prime minister insists that energy companies windfall profits are being taxed to support consumers, helping to pay support consumers, helping to pay around half of a typical family's energy bill. >> i know that the number one challenge families are facing up and down the country is the cost of living and in particular, their energy bills. that's why i took a decision back when i was chancellor introduce chancellor to introduce a windfall tax on the energy companies. are now taxing companies. so we are now taxing these profits of energy these windfall profits of energy companies and we're using that money to help us pay around half of a typical family's energy bill, particularly over the last

winter. that support has been worth £1,500 to a typical family. it's a port on the scale of the furlough scheme to give people context, because i know how important is for the how important it is for the government and to ease some government and me to ease some of pressures on the of those pressures on the cost of those pressures on the cost of living . of living. >> a man who shot dead a custody sergeant in a police cell in 2020 has been sentenced to a whole life term in prison . an 25 whole life term in prison. an 25 year old louis de soyza fatally shot sergeant matt ratana in croydon in 2020. de zoysa claimed diminished responsibility during the three week trial, but the jury took around five hours to convict him . the decision to release double child killer colin pitchfork will be re—examined by a new parole board . and the 63 year parole board. and the 63 year old was jailed for life after raping and strangling to 15 year old girls in the early 1980s. he was given a minimum sentence of 30 years. in 1988. later reduced to 28 years for good behaviour

and was released in september 2021. pitchfork was recalled to prison two months later after approaching two young women in the street, which was later deemed flawed by the parole board. justice secretary alex chalk asked for the decision to be reviewed, saying it is vital that dangerous offenders are kept behind bars. tram that dangerous offenders are kept behind bars . tram operators kept behind bars. tram operators have been fined a total of £41 million over the croydon derailment , million over the croydon derailment, which killed seven people, many more were injured when a tram carrying 69 people derailed near the sandilands stop in november 2016. transport for london and tram operations limited have accepted failing in their health and safety duties . their health and safety duties. mr justice fraser told the court this was undoubtedly an accident waiting to happen . a high court waiting to happen. a high court judge has ruled that the duke of sussex can bring a claim of unlawful information gathering to trial against the publisher

of the sun, but not a claim of phone hacking . prince harry phone hacking. prince harry alleges he was targeted by journalists on private investigators working for the news group newspapers the sun publisher says the announcement is a significant victory. publisher says the announcement is a significant victory . the is a significant victory. the group denies any unlawful activity took place . wildfires activity took place. wildfires in greece continue, thus , in greece continue, thus, despite a drop in temperatures , despite a drop in temperatures, blazes have spread across the country for more than a week, killing three people and causing over 20,000 tourists to evacuate roads. 61 more fires have erupted in greece in the last 24 hours, with footage showing cliffs and trees scorched by those blazes as well. in albania , crews continue to battle the flames across the country's southern region with emergency helicopters dropping water on affected areas in italy, the extent of the devastation on can be seen after wildfire turned the hills surrounding a fifth century temple into ash. well,

our national reporter paul hawkins is in rhodes for us. >> the situation here this morning feels a little bit more positive. the pockets of fires that existed yesterday, i'm told, were extinguished overnight , but they are still overnight, but they are still running water via helicopter , running water via helicopter, via aeroplanes, dropping it onto the embers of those fires. and while people are feeling a little bit more positive today, they're still remaining highly vigilant , they're still remaining highly vigilant, highly anxious, because the wind is starting to pick up. and that's the factor. it's a little bit cooler here today, but the wind remains a factor. it is getting windier. and so that risk from those fires reigniting remains . to fires reigniting remains. to former navy pilots and a former intelligence officer have accused the us government of downplaying the threat that ufos pose to their country. >> they told lawmakers about their experiences and when they have believed to have seen them. they're calling on the us government to be more transparent , warning that these transparent, warning that these unidentified objects are in national security threat. well,

last week a white house spokesperson said ufos are having an impact on training ranges when pilots see things and are not quite sure what they are . this is gb news. we will, are. this is gb news. we will, of course , bring you more as it of course, bring you more as it happens. now, though , back to happens. now, though, back to mark and pepper. >> rory , thanks very much and >> rory, thanks very much and welcome back to the live desk. so in the middle of a continuing cost of living crisis, british gas reports profits at £969 million, up almost 900. just for the six months. the first half of this year, alongside british gas parent company centrica reported profits of 2.1 billion in the first half of the year and it comes as the energy cap sits at £1,000 above the pre

pandemic average . the regulator pandemic average. the regulator ofgem, saying that the record profits because of the changes indeed to the government's price cap fuel poverty campaigners say the figures will be met with disbelief by customers struggling to pay their bills . struggling to pay their bills. >> as british gas's ceo was paid. wait for it 4.5 million in 2022. well or is it? >> as fuel poverty campaigners say, a further sign of britain's broken energy system? let's speak to our political reporter olivia utley , because, well, olivia utley, because, well, it's rather awkward for the government when they're pointing out that this is a one off because of the way that the energy support scheme was structured. >> well, absolutely. so centrica, the parent company of british gas, is arguing that these, frankly, enormous profits last year getting on for a billion, ten times more than last something which last year isn't something which we will expect to see in the future. it's not just that they're recouping more and more profits every year. it simply profits every year. it is simply that the government set a price cap is the maximum that an cap that is the maximum that an energy charge a energy company can charge a customer per kilowatt of energy

used. and when the russia—ukraine war broke out and energy prices were soaring, the government insisted on that on that price cap being lowered so that price cap being lowered so that people weren't too affected by the cost of living crisis. ofgem obviously felt the pressure the government to pressure from the government to put that to put that rate lower. did now ofgem is saying, did so. and now ofgem is saying, well, actually we set that rate too low and these companies weren't able to make enough profit. are you define profit. how are you define enough? profit is anyone's guess. but yeah, essentially what they're saying is that now they have raised that price cap so that companies like centrica, british gas are able to recoup some the that they lost some of the money that they lost when and oil prices were so when gas and oil prices were so high the russia—ukraine . high during the russia—ukraine. >> and boy, have they filled their boots. >> and boy, have they filled the well, ts. >> and boy, have they filled the well, absolutely. they have >> well, absolutely. they have filled and what filled their boots. and what sort of slightly angered people is that the way that they say they're going to be using those profits is by paying back shareholders more , more and by shareholders more, more and by investing another 450 million back in their own company ,

back in their own company, something that you would normally do only if you had sort of surplus cash. yeah. >> and you don't know what else to with and you don't know to do with it and you don't know what to do it. what else to do with it. >> meanwhile, the government. jeremy hunt saying, hang on jeremy hunt is saying, hang on a minute, are you going to minute, how are you going to help customers? whom help out customers? many of whom were choosing whether help out customers? many of whom we heat choosing whether help out customers? many of whom we heat iover;ing whether help out customers? many of whom we heat iover the whether help out customers? many of whom we heat iover the winterer months. >> and this has led then to yet more debate about that windfall tax. and minister is tax. and prime minister is saying profits are saying windfall profits are being to help consumers. being taxed to help consumers. but climate but the shadow climate secretary, ed he has secretary, ed miliband, he has this lunchtime rubbished what the minister saying , the prime minister is saying, saying joker for the saying what a joker for the windfall tax is full of holes. >> yeah, i think he said swiss cheese holes in the windfall tax at the moment, gas and oil companies are taxed at 75. the marginal tax rate, that's three different taxes, including a windfall tax. and ed miliband is asking for that to be raised to 78, not just some breaking news coming in. >> i'm just going to interrupt coutts's chief executive peter flavell , the boss of the private flavell, the boss of the private bank, will down

bank, will step down immediately. natwest group has said, let's just touch on that while you're with us, because as again, the prime minister was reflecting on the natwest situation a little earlier in terms of how davis, who was on the natwest board. but it seems that maybe the dominoes might start to fall now. >> well, it does indeed . it >> well, it does indeed. it really has been a crisis, a reputation crisis for natwest . reputation crisis for natwest. and it seems quite odd that these figures seem to keep trying to hang on and then have to go at what feels like the 11th hour. it'll be really interesting to see what happens with howard davies, the chairman of group paid £750,000 a of the group paid £750,000 a yeah of the group paid £750,000 a year. the prime minister has so far said that he isn't calling on him to go. but norris he said that he has full confidence in him to just explain coots being a subsidy of natwest. >> but the overall board has obviously policy decisions to make on both. yeah, exactly . make on both. yeah, exactly. >> so natwest is the parent company, and what's important about that is that it is 40%

taxpayer owned as a bailout from the from the bailout in 2008. so the from the bailout in 2008. so the government does have a lot of sway here. the government is, in fact, the largest investor in the natwest coots conglomerate . the natwest coots conglomerate. so it'll be really interesting to see what happens with the chairman. now, it looks quite likely that howard davies will be forced out or feel that he should resign a year earlier than he was planning to. and if that's the case, perhaps he is under pressure to do it quickly so this so that this so that this so that this communications crisis for natwest any worse, natwest doesn't get any worse, beanng natwest doesn't get any worse, bearing that they've bearing in mind that they've already 850 million off already lost 850 million off their value and counting, i think down another 2.2% this lunchtime. >> so it's still falling. yeah. >> so it's still falling. yeah. >> and this all started with the row between coots and nigel farage after he says he was debunked. he has demanded the resignation of the entire natwest board . now it's looking natwest board. now it's looking like he could get what he what he wants here. >> he could. well get what he wants. nigel farage clearly tapped into something which is

bubbung tapped into something which is bubbling below the surface. he tweeted 28 days ago explaining what had happened to him. and so this it just gives you a sense of how long this crisis has dragged out for natwest. and he is now calling on people. he wrote a piece in the telegraph this morning urging people this morning urging other people who debunked without who have been debunked without a reason come forwards and reason to come forwards and natwest at the moment getting natwest is at the moment getting a of calls from people a lot of calls from people saying they have been saying that they have been debunked and they don't know why. doesn't feel as why. so it doesn't feel as though crisis ended with though this crisis ended with the resignation of dame alison rose last week. >> yeah, let's just remind us ourselves of what prime ourselves of what the prime minister said little earlier. minister said a little earlier. he talking this speech he was talking about this speech on housing and he that the on housing and he said that the government taking tough government was taking tough action the free action to protect the free speech of banking customers, but that the issue more than that the issue was more than just about nigel farage and the fact that obviously the treasury minister, andrew griffith , had minister, andrew griffith, had spoken to the banks , i think, spoken to the banks, i think, you know, pretty directly , but you know, pretty directly, but we still don't know what the banks themselves are doing. and now we've got the regulators

starting to circle, if you like. well, absolutely . well, absolutely. >> the banks are in in a pretty awkward position. the government moved very, very fast indeed. the day after the nigel farage dos , they broke that dossier dos, they broke that dossier explaining that the coots internal memo essentially saying that, yes, the reason why nigel farage was tide bank was because of political reasons as soon as that broke, the government said that broke, the government said that they would act and to introduce laws to make it harder for banks to get rid of customers without giving them proper reason. so the government's acting fast talking a lot about this. they don't seem scared to wade into this war. they seem pretty certain that the public is on their side about this and on nigel farage's side. say, the banks side. but as you say, the banks haven't yet explained what they're to do get they're planning to do to get their own house back in order. and very feels at the and it very much feels at the moment though the banks moment as though the banks are on the back we're seeing on the back foot. we're seeing these resignations in dribs and drabs natwest and no one drabs from natwest and no one seems to until their position seems to go until their position becomes untenable and becomes completely untenable and it doesn't really feel as though

anyone really taking charge anyone is really taking charge of the situation and the problems they're just mounting of the situation and the probmounting 're just mounting of the situation and the probmounting're natwestnting of the situation and the probmounting're natwest because and mounting for natwest because there's talk of a there's now talk of a potentially serious data breach . a very day madison rose yeah, i mean, it is this is only going to get worse for natwest from here if they were hoping that the resignation of dame alison rose would fix things, then i think they've got another thing coming and it feels as though this is beginning to stretch out beyond natwest other big this is beginning to stretch out beyo street :west other big this is beginning to stretch out beyo street banks, other big this is beginning to stretch out beyo street banks, many er big this is beginning to stretch out beyo street banks, many of big this is beginning to stretch out beyo street banks, many of whom high street banks, many of whom have of have also been accused of banking customers for we were talking to an hour or so ago. >> yes yes. >> yes yes. >> yeah natwest share price 239 90. so down 1.9. come back a little bit, but we'll see what the reaction is to this. just to reiterate that the chief executive coutts, which is the well the queen's bankers as it was called, but now the king's bankers, the private bank effectively under natwest umbrella. peter flavell the chief executive, has now stepped down immediately, to according the natwest group. we'll have more reaction, of course, as it

comes through holiday resorts across the mediterranean have been counting the cost of these wildfires that have been raging from portugal in the west to sicily and croatia. >> in the east. more than 40 people now have died. and so many homes and businesses have been destroyed in the last 24 hours alone, 61 wildfires erupting across greece, including the mainland. >> thousands of firefighters, many of them, of course, are volunteers trying to control the blazes while roads has now declared a state of emergency for the next six months. so let's actually reflect on why and break away from these pictures, of course, showing situation here in the uk to paul hawkins on the island of rhodes. and you were indicating that there are problems with the wind picking up, embers being released. again, it's still not over. released. again, it's still not over . paul yeah, released. again, it's still not over. paul yeah, and i'll tell you what, mark, in the last half an hour we've been down in that valley over there. >> you can we were showing you

earlier that plume of smoke in the distance. we were over that hill, so we couldn't get any any signal with our equipment, our broadcast equipment, so we couldn't broadcast live from there. but we saw first hand flame teams racing up the hill, catching onto other trees. we saw little pockets of smoke , saw little pockets of smoke, smouldering trees, ash , ash. we smouldering trees, ash, ash. we were right up close with those incredibly brave volunteer firefighters , essentially guys firefighters, essentially guys in their in their normal casual clothing. all they've got on is a mask, a kind of industrial strength garden hose attached to a huge cube on the back of their pickup truck. and they're fighting the fires along with the fire service, who are tackling some of the bigger blazes. but it's incredible to see these little pockets there and right by the side of the road right next to us, there's a base of a tree trunk and it's suddenly, spontaneously ignites. and then it starts to spread onwards. along comes onwards. and then along comes a huge fire truck and there's a

guy on top of it, a civilian, operating the fire truck , operating the fire truck, squirting water onto the onto the fires as best they can. and then you've got these planes and choppers overhead dropping water as well. it's it is it's incredible to think that only this morning we were talking and feeling optimistic and people were saying, look, they've extinguished pretty much all the fires. but we've got to we've got to stay vigilant. and indeed , we spoke to one guy. his name is and is what is vassilios. and this is what he to tell us about how he he had to tell us about how he felt this morning about the situation the island. situation on the island. >> it's to finish >> we hope it's going to finish soon. hasn't finished soon. still hasn't finished because keeps going on. we're because it keeps going on. we're going a high winds today going to have a high winds today and tomorrow . and tomorrow. >> so it seems like most of the fires are out. so now they're just watching. >> yeah. have you seen the helicopters going and they make surgery extinguishing like what is possible. new targets . but is possible. new targets. but with this wind and the size of this event you can expect

everything. i mean, if you were here yesterday, you see this fire up on the hill? yeah, we saw it. so this can start again because it can come closer. yeah. with the wind with five, eight bottles, wind some ashes they move or some some burning or animals. they run and they give the fire forward. that's the problem . so we have to stay the problem. so we have to stay here for about another five, ten days. maybe the fire brigade will stay. definitely. and a lot of volunteers , these of volunteers, these firefighters, paul, they are volunteers. >> it must be absolutely knackering for them. and they must have to keep such a close eye on those embers, possibly reigniting the worst isn't necessarily over yet, is it ? no, necessarily over yet, is it? no, no , not at all. no, not at all. >> and that's why they've got to be strategic with the resources and the water. they have. so they're leaving some pockets of wildfires to try and hopefully burn out. obviously, wildfires to try and hopefully burrneed out. obviously, wildfires to try and hopefully burrneed the out. obviously, wildfires to try and hopefully burrneed the roadsit. obviously, wildfires to try and hopefully burrneed the roads to obviously, wildfires to try and hopefully burrneed the roads to getiously, wildfires to try and hopefully burrneed the roads to get out ly, you need the roads to get out here. so they're prioritising

any come near the any fires that come near the roads. but it is incredibly stressful and they are working on very little sleep. and even when there aren't any fires and they don't tend to have the planes and the helicopter at night, they're staying awake just to see where the fires are going flare up . i have to going to flare up. i have to say, we come a country say, we come from a country where only experience, where the only experience, really of wildfires have really of wildfires that we have is in wennington last is we saw in wennington last year dangerous they can be. year how dangerous they can be. but certainly greece is used to some level of wildfires. not on this scale. and they're struggling and it makes you think if the uk is going to get hotter and situations like whittington are going to crop up, then this is going to be something authorities something that the authorities are have to think about are going to have to think about in the uk, well as here in in the uk, as well as here in greece. >> now, paul, we've got a six month state emergency month state of emergency established for the island. there's a very important decision for them make, of decision for them to make, of course, because they need tourists the economy tourists to keep the economy going. supermarket going. we saw that supermarket you yesterday where you reported on yesterday where all the stock had been wiped out. try and get out. they've got to try and get back their feet in some way. back on their feet in some way.

so guess the question for the so i guess the question for the greek and the greek authorities and the british authorities is what they do the holiday trade . do about the holiday trade. >> this is indeed what >> well, this is indeed what we're saying. and paul charles, who's the ceo of a pr travel agency, has said today that the foreign office needs to evaluate a, does it need to give advice ? a, does it need to give advice? should it be giving out advice given it's been telling people to fly to the island , check with to fly to the island, check with your travel operator and at the start of this week, on saturday, travel operators were still flying out people, even though the burning for the fires had been burning for a number days before, and number of days before, and indeed were off indeed people were getting off the plane and travelling straight evacuation centres. straight to evacuation centres. so there clearly has to be better plans put in place for the tourism industry, better plans in place for how the greek authorities deal with these fires. and then the two have to work together to make sure that you can tourism on the you can have tourism on the island. can exist in pockets island. it can exist in pockets , but there needs to be plans in place with when place to deal with when situations like this occur. and indeed, if holidays do have to be cancelled, potentially be cancelled, then potentially refund policies to be more

refund policies have to be more flexible . but given this is flexible. but given that this is going be nature things going to be the nature of things to in future, there to happen in future, there certainly needs to be changes made to the the tourism made to the way the tourism industry the way it industry operates and the way it interacts with greek interacts with the greek authorities interacts with the greek authoritielive for us on >> paul, live for us on the front line of fire fighters front line of the fire fighters in rhodes. thank you very much indeed for updating us once more. of course, a more. back to you, of course, a little later. >> do stay with us here on >> we'll do stay with us here on gb will be bringing you gb news. we will be bringing you the on natwest the very latest on natwest because coutts chief executive, he has resigned. peter flavell , he has resigned. peter flavell, the boss of the private bank which closed nigel farage's account, is stepping down immediately. that news has broken in the last few moments. >> paul sweet the natwest group interim chief executive officer, saying it was right decision saying it was the right decision for and the wider group. for coutts and the wider group. mr saying in the handling of mr farage's case we have fallen below the bank's high standards of service. it is right of personal service. it is right i responsibility i bear ultimate responsibility for , which is why i'm for this, which is why i'm stepping down. more reaction coming up. stay with us. >> that warm feeling inside from

boxt boilers, proud sponsors of weather on . gb news alex deakin weather on. gb news alex deakin here with your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. >> murky , humid, dank start to >> murky, humid, dank start to the day. skies are brightening in many places, but that may spark some heavy showers. this low pressure system is moving in for the weekend . it's already for the weekend. it's already brought these weather fronts which all the wet which brought all the wet weather overnight. the rain is easing most places, but easing in most places, but staying quite breezy with rain along the coast of the south—east and outbreaks of rain continuing across good part of continuing across a good part of scotland. elsewhere said a lot of cloud but brightening up and we'll see some sunny spells, perhaps across parts eastern perhaps across parts of eastern england midlands. perhaps across parts of eastern england midlands . and england and the midlands. and if we see brightness that we do see any brightness that may spark some heavy, even thundery showers later in the day. getting into day. temperatures getting into the low 20s in places perhaps a little higher if we see any of that sunshine poking through. but for most it will stay cloudy. pretty grey cloudy. it'll stay pretty grey through this evening. further rain pushing north across

northern scotland overnight , but northern scotland overnight, but elsewhere, most places becoming dry . and we'll see some clearer dry. and we'll see some clearer skies scotland and northern skies for scotland and northern ireland, will it to ireland, which will allow it to turn cooler here. but turn a little cooler here. but for another warm for most, another pretty warm night. holding up night. temperatures holding up at 16 degrees is generally at 15 or 16 degrees is generally at 15 or 16 degrees is generally a fresher feel, though. through friday. and for most it'll be a brighter day to, in fact, a day of sunny spells, by and large, some wet weather, of course, northeast scotland from northeast scotland working from orkney towards shetland and 1 orkney up towards shetland and 1 or 2 showers elsewhere, certainly for northern ireland later of showers but later on, plenty of showers, but for should be a for most, tomorrow should be a fresher friday with bright spells. and in the sunshine, temperatures getting into the low 20s that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers. >> proud sponsors of weather on

sunday from nine only on gb news is the people's channel. >> britain's news . is the people's channel. >> britain's news. channel >> britain's news. channel >> welcome back to the live desk. let's just update you on that breaking news we're bringing you that the boss of coots, the private bank at the heart of the nigel farage banking issue, has resigned and with immediate effect by mutual consent. he said with the admission, he said, that he bears ultimate responsibility for the handling of the former ukip leaders account. that's the statement that's been issued by coots and peter flavel said he was exceptionally proud of his seven years at coots , but said seven years at coots, but said that in the handling of nigel

farage's case, we have fallen below the bank's high standards of personal service as ceo of coots, it is right that i bear ultimate responsibility for this, which is why i am stepping down. well let's speak now to cameron parry, who is ceo of bank challenger. tally money. you can join us here in the studio. so just to give some reaction to yet more breaking news on this and i guess it's still a question, you know, up at coots or something wider in the banking sector. >> it does seem to be more >> it does seem to be far more systemic than just a couple of ideologues in the top jobs at at the top bank at natwest , natwest the top bank at natwest, natwest and coots . um, yeah, it's, i and coots. um, yeah, it's, i mean , it's like there's mean, it's like there's a disconnect with who they think their customers are. i mean, coots is a particularly exclusive, actually not inclusive financially. >> it's a private bank that was at one time. yeah. >> and , and it just i find it >> and, and it just i find it supremely arrogant of people that you know a bank like coots has over 300 years old.

>> natwest has taken five decades to become what it is at and obviously some acquisitions along the way . and obviously some acquisitions along the way. but you and obviously some acquisitions along the way . but you know just along the way. but you know just because you're running you're at that top role doesn't doesn't give you a right to start pushing forth all your views on society and cultural issues and all this as though you're morally superior to everybody else and that your views are just infallible. that's the kind of systemic sort of thing that seems to be in there. >> and so i would say an accident waiting to happen then. >> yeah. and it's also it's not just a natwest increase. there's obviously, i'm sure you guys obviously, as i'm sure you guys would have reported, there's a lot other mainstream banks lot of other mainstream banks that have been accounts that have been closing accounts on aren't suspected on people who aren't suspected of financial crime . i mean, of financial crime. i mean, there are we have very tight regulations so that people can trust the banking and trust the banking system. and there are things where you do have to somebody's account have to block somebody's account or have to close or you do have to close somebody's account in somebody's account and in certain circumstances, can't certain circumstances, you can't inform which is inform them of that, which is for a very good reason. but around , around, you know, around, around, you know, de—platformed people making

someone a second class citizen someone a second class citizen so they can't really exist in a normal way in society because they a different view to they have a different view to you supremely arrogant. you and a supremely arrogant. >> there some >> i mean, there are some dissenters there saying this dissenters out there saying this is about one man with quite a bit of money and his bank and they're accusing him of whipping up a populist storm. >> yeah, that's one way to spin it. but i think i think it's quite a deep rooted thing. you do tend to see some of a this the will being imposed on us through various establishments . through various establishments. and, you know, banks are an establishment that's there to really serve the public. and again, it's a complete conflict and that there are increasing numbers of stories and people saying this has this has happened to me. >> yeah. not just at natwest or at coutts, but but elsewhere. so >> well that's right. i mean nigel farage being nigel farage has got a lot more attention around it, but that's a good thing it exposes thing because if it exposes this, this going on, then you know this is an attack on

freedom of speech. >> is it also the way that the bank or the banks have handled the issue? because we've now got the issue? because we've now got the commissioner's the information commissioner's office saying it's examining whether dame alison at the natwest or constituted natwest breached or constituted a data breach in talking a serious data breach in talking about it to a business correspondent and going through details that should remain confidential and therefore, you know, perhaps hubris and arrogance is also being drawn into the equation. >> yeah, absolutely . i think it >> yeah, absolutely. i think it is. yeah. it does reflect the hubns is. yeah. it does reflect the hubris of some of these people . hubris of some of these people. again, that that they take a position and use the means of something they've inherited. i mean, they've done well in their career to get to those posts, but they didn't build the bank, they didn't build natwest. 19 million customers. and to million customers. and then to think the moral arbiter think you're the moral arbiter to push your views , is that to push your views, is that something within the banking sector that you get this sort of bunker mentality, you're not part of the real world without you don't have that at tally. money is the opposite of that.

we don't care who you are as long as you're not breaking the law. please go forward and be productive in society. so it's certainly seems so and you know, evidenced by so many cases in so many mainstream banks where this kind of behaviour has is rife . kind of behaviour has is rife. and it is it's not just 1 or 2 people. i mean . alison rose you people. i mean. alison rose you know, she would have pr communications around her, the wealth and reputation or wealth reputational risk committee over at coutts. i mean that's a committee of people that are sitting in the room going through only negative articles about somebody without substantiation and then making a call on them. >> there is a suggestion that she could get a payoff running into a well, a few million on her basic salary is a million. is that fair that she could walk away? >> i heard . i heard it could be >> i heard. i heard it could be 5 million, which was last year's salary with bonuses, which i suppose as taxpayers, we're footing 2 million of that. i guess owning 40% of the company.

>> is that fair then? >> is that fair then? >> no, absolutely much . well, >> no, absolutely much. well, look, it depends. i think natwest , obviously they're not natwest, obviously they're not against a bit of self harm, but they not determining they should not be determining what her remuneration, remuneration is until remuneration or payout is until they to the of an they get to the end of an investigation have a look at investigation and have a look at all the evidence. due process. there are contractual issues. obviously as an obviously she's contracted as an employee the bank and so employee of the bank and so she'll and so she she'll have rights and so she should. at same time, should. but at the same time, you get all the facts you want to get all the facts out first. yeah. thank you very much out first. yeah. thank you very mu and still call >> and you can still call yourself a banker without reputational harm to yourself. thank you very much . thank you very much. >> come perry. good to see >> come on, perry. good to see you. be talking you. well, we will be talking about ufos, which are apparently an open secret . marc is very an open secret. marc is very excited about this story. >> truth is out there somewhere . or is that the banking story? i'm not sure. anyway, coming up after the . news after the. news >> thank you very much, marc. i'm rory smith in the gb newsroom , the ceo of coutts newsroom, the ceo of coutts bank, peter flavel , has stepped

bank, peter flavel, has stepped down with immediate effect. its interim boss paul tooth said the resignation was agreed by mutual consent and is the right decision for coutts and for the wider group . well it follows the wider group. well it follows the resignation of former ceo of natwest, dame alison rose. the express reports that dame alison could be in line for a multi million pound pay off, which could be worth as much as £5 million. it would not be known until next year if the payment is made by british gas owner centrica has revealed that its earnings at its gas and electricity supply arm have soared by 889% to £969 million in the six months to june. on an underlying basis, operating profits rose to 2.1 billion from 1.3 billion a year ago. the prime minister insists that energy companies windfall profits are being taxed to support consumers . a man who

support consumers. a man who shot dead a custody sergeant in a police cell has been sentenced to life in prison . a 25 year old to life in prison. a 25 year old louis de sousa fatally shot sergeant matt ratana in croydon in 2020. de zoysa claimed diminished responsibility during the three week trial, but the jury the three week trial, but the jury took five hours to convict him . tram operators have been him. tram operators have been fined a total of £14 million over the croydon derailment, which killed seven people. many more were injured when a tram carrying 69 people derailed near the sandyland stop in november 2016. transport for london and tram operations limited have accepted failing in their health and safety duties . no accepted failing in their health and safety duties. no medical cause has been given for the death of irish singer sinead o'connor, who was found unresponsive at a residential address in london yesterday. an autopsy will be conducted with the results taking up to several

weeks . the 56 year old's death weeks. the 56 year old's death is not being treated as suspicious . that's the up to suspicious. that's the up to date. but you can get more on all of those stories by visiting. our website is gbnews.com .

gb news radio. now close encounters of well the

several kind, it seems. >> unidentified flying objects an open secret in the us military air force and intelligence veterans have testified to a congressional hearing. a two hour session saw lawmakers and witnesses accusing the federal government of withholding key information. a former naval pilot claiming that the sightings were routine and grossly under—report reported. this is what they had to say. >> if you believe we have crashed , craft stated earlier , crashed, craft stated earlier, do we have the bodies of the pilots who piloted this craft ? pilots who piloted this craft? >> as i've stated publicly already in my news nation interview, biologic came with some of these recoveries. >> yeah . >> yeah. >> yeah. >> were they? i guess, human or non—human biologics or non—human? >> and that was the assessment of people with direct knowledge on the program i talked to that are currently still on the program. >> do you believe uap pose a potential threat to our national security? >> me yes . and here's why. the >> me yes. and here's why. the technology that we faced was far superior than anything that we had . and you could put that

had. and you could put that anywhere if you if you had one, you captured one. you reverse engineered it, you got it to work . you're talking something work. you're talking something that can go into space, go someplace, drop down in a matter of seconds, do whatever it wants, and leave and there's nothing we can do about it . nothing we can do about it. nothing >> it's okay. you're not watching some science fiction movie. you are watching . it was movie. you are watching. it was really extraordinary. this you are watching congress. three former military officials talking to congress and mystifying testimony being given there. but uap, if you wondered , it stands for unidentified aerial phenomena or ufos and old money. >> yeah. let's talk to annie mcgrillen, host of that ufo podcast. you may have to change it to that uap podcast , maybe. it to that uap podcast, maybe. i don't know, andy, but let's just put this in context because clearly you have all the conspiracy theories going back to roswell and so on, but these are quite serious minded people giving quite serious evidence .

giving quite serious evidence. >> yes, good afternoon. these are the creme de la creme and our particular areas, you've got pilots who are top gun pilots, 0.1. you have david grush, who was the rock star of said performance, who at the end of this has given details behind closed doors of locations and names of where congress can go and retrieve bits of this material and potential bodies that he's mentioned . that he's mentioned. >> and what will they do with it? i mean, what is the purpose of this is to try and show that the pentagon or the white house has been lying to the us public and the rest of the world. >> this is the culmination of >> so this is the culmination of six of hard work from six years of hard work from journalists, scientists, mainstream politicians and civilian researchers as well. and essentially they're looking for more transparency around the topic as more more lawmakers topic as more and more lawmakers and policymakers have got involved realised that there involved and realised that there is something to this ufo phenomenon that , like you phenomenon and that, like you say in old money, ufos and new money uap that there's something worth investigating there is a there there and that

transparency is the key word . transparency is the key word. and hopefully within six months we potentially see some some pretty groundbreaking historical news because some experts say that it could be balloons, drones , optical illusions . drones, optical illusions. >> yeah. and some of them will be that. >> that's quite right. 100% of sightings are not going to be aliens, if you want to call them that, or non—human intelligence, as david gris quite rightly said, i think we need to be careful of labels that we careful of the labels that we put these just because put on these just because something doesn't something isn't human doesn't mean that's mean it's alien. and that's a whole conversation, and whole other conversation, and that's the conversation that's some of the conversation lines are being had . lines that are being had. >> this is the term biologics that use, which, you know, that they use, which, you know, people would scratching their people would be scratching their heads also the fact heads about. but also the fact that some kind that suggestions that some kind of very advanced craft have been recovered and they've tried to reverse engineer, which is fascinating . fascinating. >> you mentioned roswell. that's that's over 75 years ago now. and that's that's going way, way back. but we are talking about operations and recoveries that

have happened potentially the have happened potentially in the last years. the people last 10 or 20 years. the people involved in roswell have long since passed away. their grandchildren have passed away. but have now recent but what we have now is recent events, recent with the events, recent data with the best technology , the best best technology, the best sensors and people who aren't just retired , but people who are just retired, but people who are already in active duty and still within politics, within the military, within other areas of, you know, kind of civilian business who are coming forward with pretty incredible with some pretty incredible claims. recent claims. so this is recent stuff and time to kind of and now is the time to kind of act on this. >> i mean, david david grush in his testimony, he's the former us official. he us intelligence official. he said he is absolutely certain that the federal government is in possession of uaps or ufos. as we were saying . and he's as we were saying. and he's very, very clear about what he believes, isn't he . believes, isn't he. >> yeah. david grush for those who don't know, was briefing presidents, had a top level security clearance and was priority over 200 special access programs . so this is a man who programs. so this is a man who had all the documentation in front of him and he knows what

he's talking about. he's incredibly eloquent, incredibly intelligent, and very well qualified to discuss this . so qualified to discuss this. so either is lying, which in either he is lying, which in under oath, which they are, it comes many, penalties, comes with many, many penalties, including jail time, or he's telling something of a truth and something is out there. >> indeed, we shall wait and see. you think six months time we might get more ? we might get more? >> that's been built into legislation where private contract makers like boeing, lockheed martin have been told, if you do have anything, it's time to hand it over. >> okay, we'll make a date, get you back on in six months time. thanks very much indeed for your time. now is it phenomenal in a phenomenon ? phenomenon? >> i still can't say that word objects . objects. yeah. we'll objects. objects. yeah. we'll keep we'll keep it basic. as we were discussing earlier, a judge has ruled that parts of prince harry's claim that news group newspapers has used illegal methods to gather information about him can go to trial. although his phone hacking claims were dismissed . claims were dismissed. >> well, the duke of sussex had

claimed private investigators and journalists working for the sun and the news of the world had used illegal methods to gather information on him. allegations that ngn, the publishers had strong denied. >> we can speak to our reporter now, theo theo chikomba. theo just just explain to us then what what the high court has said today . what what the high court has said today. it does sound like it's more of a verdict artery for news group newspapers >> indeed, that is how they have described today. but what we have learned today is that some of prince harry's claims against the sun's newspapers, publisher will go to trial, but allegations of phone hacking were due late. they were. they were due late. they were. they were late in the high court and that was ruled today. now, the news group newspapers had argued dunng news group newspapers had argued during the hearings that took place earlier this year that claims should be struck out because they fell outside the six year limit for legal six year time limit for legal action to have been brought. in addition, the publisher here has

denied harry's allegations. meanwhile, harry's lawyers said that the prince had not made a claim sooner because there was a secret agreement between buckingham palace and senior figures from the engine to avoid embarrassment. now, the news group denies such agreement took place while the palace is yet to comment. now the prince has long spoken about his anger at the press when it comes to intrusion. some of the ways they obtained information , and he obtained information, and he blames them for the death for his mother who was killed in her limousine, which crashed speeding from chasing paparazzi in paris in 1997. and in june, he became the first senior british royal for more than 130 years to give evidence in court when he appeared as part of his lawsuit against the mirror group newspapers. now, today , though, newspapers. now, today, though, mr justice van court, the judge agreed that the phone hacking allegations were made too late for the case, but said the rest of harry's claims could proceed

in a trial which is which is due to begin in january next year. now, he said, i consider that the duke's claim for voicemail interception and for any other wrong accessory to any voicemail interception are time barred , interception are time barred, both in relation to the news of the world, which is no longer operating, and the sun. and he said that is because the duke has no realistic prospect of establishing at trial that before the applicable date he had not known he could not with reasonable diligence, have discovered facts that were able to establish a worthwhile claim to establish a worthwhile claim to regard . and we can also bring to regard. and we can also bring you a response. this is from the news group newspapers. this says the high court has today in a significant victory for news group newspapers dismissed the duke of sussex's phone hacking claims against both the news of the world and the sun as we reached the tail end of this litigation engine is drawing a line under disputed matters, some of which date back more than 20 years ago. in arguing

his case, the duke of sussex had alleged a agreement alleged a secret agreement existed between him and buckingham palace and ngo, in which stopped engine from asserting that the duke's claim has been brought too late. now, the judge , mr fancourt , the judge, mrjustice fancourt, found his claims in relation to the alleged secret agreement were not plausible or credible. so that's their response. they've described it as a victory and as just a reiterate now that this trial is due to take place in january 2024, theo chikomba outside the royal courts of justice. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> well, let's bring in now clive coleman, former bbc legal correspondent, now a senior partner at moulton pr. so we have two assessments so far from former newspaper. personnel saying 1—0 for news group newspapers, the other a nil nil draw. but it's clearly going to go into extra time now, in january 2024. yeah well, you could actually say to one to harry because his claim is brought in three limbs.

>> it's a breach of privacy claim and it rests on three things allegation of unlawful phone hacking, allegations of unlawful blagging and allegations unlawfully allegations of unlawfully instructing private detectives to do the blagging and the hacking. >> what's been struck out today is the hacking part. so one limb, one of those three limbs has gone. >> and this is all about whether those claims are brought too late. it's something the lawyers call limitation . if there's call limitation. if there's a breach of privacy action, then you have six years from the breach itself, from the from the act that breaches your privacy, whether it be hacking or blagging or whatever. but that can be extend did if you couldn't have known of the breach, if you could only become aware of the breach later on, then the court can extend the time limit. and this is a big issue in this case. >> and in fact, the fact that the phone hacking element has been struck out doesn't mean that the judge has found that the other elements were brought within the limitation period. >> words, were brought >> in other words, were brought in time. all he's saying is this

can go to trial which will can now go to a trial which will determine whether those two limbs prince harry's claim limbs of prince harry's claim were brought in time . so it's were brought in time. so it's quite a technical ruling , but quite a technical ruling, but what it really means is, if you like, a third of his case has been struck out. two thirds proceed to a trial . and at that proceed to a trial. and at that trial, i anticipate that there'll be what's known as a preliminary point. in other words, they'll decide before they get the nitty gritty they get into the nitty gritty of the breaches of privacy. there will be, you know, an argument about whether the claims themselves were brought in if they weren't, in time. so if they weren't, then that could shorten any trial. >> and clive, you say a trial. i mean, will it actually be before a jury or is it still a civil case where a judge decides on the balance of probability ? the balance of probability? >> yeah, it's a civil case. it's a breach of privacy case. it will be in front of a judge alone, a little bit like the case that prince harry has recently against mirror recently brought against mirror group yeah remember, group newspapers. yeah remember, prince harry has three key privacy claims out at the moment against three major newspapers ,

against three major newspapers, newspaper groups, the mirror group newspaper. that's the trial we've just had . news trial we've just had. news group, newspapers. that's the one talking about the one we're talking about at the moment. also has a claim moment. but he also has a claim against associated newspapers, moment. but he also has a claim aga publishers ited newspapers, moment. but he also has a claim aga publishers ofd newspapers, moment. but he also has a claim aga publishers of the wspapers, moment. but he also has a claim aga publishers of the daily)ers, the publishers of the daily mail. made a decision mail. and he has made a decision that is going to, you know, that he is going to, you know, hold the tabloid news industry in this country to account. and he's doing that by bringing claims against, as i say, all of the major groups. >> but we should stress that these other cases that are that are ongoing, no judge will be swayed by what's happening in these other cases. they will only focus on this particular one. >> yeah , i mean, every judge in >> yeah, i mean, every judge in every case is there to look at the facts and the evidence relevant to the allegation. the claim and adjudicate on on that basis. but it you know, it is what we know is that from about 1998 through the north 80s, there was a vast amount of phone hacking that went on. we know

it's been admitted by news group newspapers that it went on at the news of the world. it has never been admitted and always been denied that it ever took place at the sun . but, you know place at the sun. but, you know , the amounts of money that have been spent by way of settlement and legal costs in relation to these phone hacking cases has been extraordinary. i mean, some estimates are that news group newspapers has paid out over £1 billion in settling cases and in the legal costs that they run up in in defending them and settling them . settling them. >> and just to reiterate , it's >> and just to reiterate, it's very likely that it will see the prince back in the court for that hearing in january. >> yeah , i mean, he's made it >> yeah, i mean, he's made it clear that he is. and we've seen he's he's prepared to go to court. a lot of these cases previously had had settled because, you know , one doesn't because, you know, one doesn't know, but perhaps offers of settlement were made and people decided that it wasn't going to be commercial for them to proceed with the cases. prince harry has said he's not worried

about that. he to fight them. >> yeah, he says it's not just about him. there's lots of other claimants here that he's standing for. standing up for. >> well , there are. standing up for. >> there well , there are. standing up for. >> there are. , there are. standing up for. >> there are. i there are. standing up for. >> there are. i mean,are. standing up for. >> there are. i mean, in. standing up for. >> there are. i mean, in the mirror case, he was one of, i think, five claimants in that case. but, you know, there have been hundreds claimants over been hundreds of claimants over the who have brought the years who have brought breach cases because breach of privacy cases because their phones, they say, were hacked by clive. >> as ever, thank you very much indeed us that indeed for bringing us that expert . this, ever. expert analysis. this, as ever. stay with us here on gb news. the very latest that breaking the very latest on that breaking news executive news that its chief executive has stood with immediate has stood down with immediate effect . all latest coming up effect. all the latest coming up with stay with us. with nana. stay with us. >> the temperature's rising . >> the temperature's rising. boxt solar a proud sponsors of weather on gb news . weather on gb news. >> alex deakin here with your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. murky, humid , dank start to the day, humid, dank start to the day, skies are brightening in many places, but that may spark some heavy showers this low pressure system is moving in for the weekend. it's already brought

these weather fronts which brought all the wet weather overnight. the rain is easing in most places, but staying quite breezy with rain along the coast of the south—east and outbreaks of the south—east and outbreaks of continuing across good of rain continuing across a good part scotland and elsewhere. part of scotland and elsewhere. said a lot of cloud but brightening and we'll see brightening up and we'll see some sunny spells perhaps across parts of eastern england and the midlands. if we do see any midlands. and if we do see any brightness may spark some brightness that may spark some heavy, showers heavy, even thundery showers later day, temperatures later in the day, temperatures getting into the low 20s in places perhaps a little higher if we see any of that sunshine poking through. but most poking through. but for most it'll stay cloudy, it'll stay pretty grey through this evening. further pushing evening. further rain pushing north scotland north across northern scotland overnight, but elsewhere, most places becoming dry. we'll see some clearer skies for scotland and northern ireland, which will allow to turn a little cooler allow it to turn a little cooler here. most, another here. but for most, another pretty night. temperatures pretty warm night. temperatures holding at 15 16 degrees holding up at 15 or 16 degrees is generally a fresher feel, though. through friday. and for most it will be a brighter day, too. fact, a of sunny too. in fact, a day of sunny spells, by and large, some wet weather, of course, northeast

scotland working from orkney up towards shetland and 1 or 2 showers elsewhere. sadly for northern later northern ireland later on, plenty showers, for plenty of showers, but for most of a fresher of tomorrow should be a fresher friday with bright spells and in the sunshine, temperatures getting the low 20s , the getting into the low 20s, the temperatures rising , boxt solar temperatures rising, boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on gb news

>> good afternoon. this is gb news on tv, online and on digital radio. >> i'm nana akua. i'm in for patrick christys. but you can hear the music right now as another one bites the dust. yes another one bites the dust. yes another one. yes, another one. peter flavell , he was the ceo of peter flavell, he was the ceo of coots. he's gone. but is that enough? do we need more of them to go? because, after all, they did all sit together in this board meeting and think that what dame alison rose had said and was okay, be and done was okay, we'll be discussing how about discussing that then. how about this gas record profits? this british gas record profits? so were all suffering, so whilst we were all suffering, paying so whilst we were all suffering, paying this extortion amount for gas and electricity, these companies are making a fortune. we need to talk about it. ofgem, are they any good? i don't think so. and then how about this? the fa's in europe , they are still fa's in europe, they are still raging. it's on fire, spreading to other parts nearby . we'll be to other parts nearby. we'll be discussing that. is it is it climate change or is it simply people lighting matches in the very hot environments? and then,

you