down. good morning from southampton, where northern ireland and england face each other in their final group game at the euros. england look to continue their winning form as they head to the quarterfinals, while northern ireland want to finish their first major women s tournament on a high. sunny in the southern half of the country at the moment but a cloudy and damp start in the north. it will brighten up. news of exceptional heat coming our way into next week. it s friday, 15thjuly. our main story. thousands of rail workers are to go on strike again as the leader of one of britain s biggest union warns of a summer of discontent . the rmt union has announced its members will strike on thursday the 18th and saturday the 20th august in their ongoing row over pay, jobs and conditions. the union had already announced a day of action on the 27thjuly. yesterday, the aslef union also said train drivers at eight rail companies would stage a walk out on saturday 30th july. sharon g
to the foreign office. the foreign office has long condemned the exploitation of british civilians and prisoners of war being held by pro russian forces in ukraine, but the kremlin sees them as diplomatic pawns who can be used to put pressure on the west, and officials here don t expect that strategy to change soon. james landale, bbc news, at the foreign office. everyone aged 50 and over will be offered a covid booster vaccine this autumn to top up their immunity. the announcement comes amid a continuing rise of covid cases across the uk, with some parts of the country nearing the record levels seen during the spring. our health editor hugh pym has all the details. yes, reeta, there was confirmation of those groups who are set to get another covid boosterjab in the autumn, including those more vulnerable who were offered a fourth dose in the spring. now they will qualify for a fifth. health experts say everyone aged 50 and over should be offered a booster in the autumn. prev
India News: Congress' winter hopes have left it facing a summer of discontent. The party staked its future on the outcome of last December's assembly elections, but the whitewash in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan has led to dissensions and defections. The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance partners are snubbing Congress, and the party is lacking focus and strategy. Congress' strategic blunders and hubris have brought it to this point.