iour country. we the history of our country. we have never done so well, everybody is amazed by it. other countries were copying us. reform uk have condemned campaigners for the party who were apparently recorded making racist, homophobic and islamophobic comments while campaigning to elect nigel farage as mp. and history has been made in us sport, as the basketball player lebronjames and his son, bronnyjames, become the first father—son duo to share the same nba team. hello, i'm lukwesa burak. welcome to bbc news. we start in the us where president biden and his rival donald trump have been taking part in their tv debate ahead of this november's election. it was the first time they had

faced off since the 2020 presidential election and the earliest a debate has ever been held in an election year. at times it was tetchy with them sparring over immigration, abortion and foreign policy. the two etched out sharply differing views on russia's war on ukraine, and the role of nato. at one point president biden said mr trump was a convicted felon — mr trump called mr biden a criminal. immigration was a key issue in the debate, with the two clashing with their different views. let's take a listen. i don't know what he said at the end of that sentence, i don't think he knows what he said either. we have the safest border in the history of our country, all you had to do was leave it. he decided to open up the border and are contrary to people that are from prisons.

people that are from mental institutions and insane asylums, terrorists. we have the largest number of terrorists coming to our country right now, all over the world, notjust in south america but all of the world that come from the middle east, everywhere. all of the world they are pouring in. i everywhere. all of the world they are pouring in.- they are pouring in. i made sure we — they are pouring in. i made sure we were _ they are pouring in. i made sure we were never - they are pouring in. i made sure we were never in - they are pouring in. i made sure we were never in a - sure we were never in a situation _ sure we were never in a situation where you had no circumstance where you could come — circumstance where you could come across the border with the police _ come across the border with the police there are now. we increased the number of asylum offices, — increased the number of asylum offices, the border patrol men, endorsed — offices, the border patrol men, endorsed my position. we found ourselves— endorsed my position. we found ourselves in a situation where when — ourselves in a situation where when he — ourselves in a situation where when he was president he was taking — when he was president he was taking babies from their mothers and putting them in cages— mothers and putting them in cages and making sure that famiiies— cages and making sure that families were separated. that is not — families were separated. that is not the _ families were separated. that is not the right way to go. this debate has also addressed the concerns that us voters have on both candidates. donald trump was asked — more than once — whether he would accept the results of the election. if it is a fair and wiggle and

good election, absolutely. i would have much rather accepted these, but the fraud and everything else was ridiculous and if you want to have a news conference on it in a week. i will absolutely, there is nothing i would rather do. it would be much is here for me to do that than running again. i was not really going to run until i saw the horrible job he did. in the case ofjoe biden, it was the age question. he is now 81 and would be 86 at the end of a second term. i spent half my career being criticised for being the youngest person in politics, i was the second youngest person ever elected in the united states senate and i'm the honest. this guy is three years younger and a lot less competent. look at what i've done, what i turned around in what a horrible situation he left me. let's speak to our washington chief presenter,

caitriona perry, who is in atlanta at the cnn spinroom. caitriona, tell us more about the first head—to—head betweenjoe biden and donald trump. this was tagged as being potentially a pivotal moment in this years campaign and it may have been just that. this years campaign and it may have beenjust that. it this years campaign and it may have been just that. it was the first timejoe biden and donald trump met each other on eight debate stage since they last met in 2020. also the bus time in the history of debate in this project we have a current president debating a past president debating a past president which played out in a lot of how the debate went for the 90 minutes or so. lots of discussion and poking at each other�*s records and a catalogue of what they had achieved or not achieved in their time in office and very little actually forward focusing into what they may do should either of them being re—elected again. there are a lot of topics in the hour and a half, possibly due to the fact that they were timed to give in the short answer is, two minutes by answer and one

minute for rebuttal before the microphones were muted of a new development in this debate. joe biden was always going to come under the microscope for the question of age which the trump campaign has been raising for months now. he did stumble on the number of occasions during the number of occasions during the debate, appearing to lose his way and lose his train of thought at one point when answering a question about medicare, something donald trump was quick to jump medicare, something donald trump was quick tojump on later in the debate and saying he couldn't understand whatjoe biden had said he doubted joe biden had said he doubted joe biden could either. for his part, donald trump was pressed repeatedly on whether he would accept the election result if he was to lose in november, he was pushed repeatedly before he gave an answer to that and he somewhat reluctantly set if the elections were free and wiggle than he would. it was also pushed on whether he would get outs to january 6 individuals who were convicted of crimes in relation to storming the capital and he refused to

answer that question. the debate focused on a lot of topics, economy obviously a big one, immigration and foreign policy as well. was also sparkling and spiky with both men exchanging insults with each other a lot of the time. joe biden accusing donald trump of having the morals of an ali cupper, donald trump saying living in america was like living in america was like living in america was like living in a rats nest —— ali cat. at one point it descended into the two men big ring over the better golf handicap. the campaign continues, donald trump is in virginia and will hold a rally tomorrow, joe biden in north carolina where he will hold a valley as well. it's a long way to november and will wait to see what happens next. ., ., . , will wait to see what happens next. ., ., ., , ., ~ next. caitriona perry, thank ou next. caitriona perry, thank you very — next. caitriona perry, thank you very much _ next. caitriona perry, thank you very much indeed. - let's get more reaction to the debate now and our la correspondent, emma vardy, is in las vegas, where she's been at the watch parties. what was the reading that was

watching from a distance? i’m watching from a distance? i'm the watching from a distance? in the everywhere correspondent. we did a quick look across town and spent the first part of the evening at a republican watch party, the second part during the commercial break we got in the commercial break we got in the car and headed to a democratic watch party and they couldn't have been more different. as soon as you walk into the room of the republican watch party at a swanky restaurant, people are clicking cocktail glasses, there is a celebratory atmosphere. lots of trimmings around, and everyone rang read and a lot of cheering each time trump speaks. for his supporters they feel he did brilliantly tonight, they love his perception of strength and his perception of strength and his putdowns ofjoe biden. in the new president democratic watch party, a completely different atmosphere, people taking things more seriously and listening to what each candidate has to say, less tackling and cheering if you

like. lots of people holding their heads in their hands when they hear donald trump speak almost before he answered a question in aquatic supporters were groaning at some of his answers and you just get the feeling that america is so polarised now that for either side, to support one candidate is to despise the other and vice—versa. it is very difficult for each side to cit i annelee a small number of undecided voters in the middle and i don't think the debate tonight will happily change that much —— a really small number. staying with the democratic watch party. what was the reaction to some of the lies that former president trump mentioned tonight? the fact checking, there was no pushback from the two moderators. was the reaction from those watching? groans, people holding their head in their hands, lots of cackling and lots of derision at what they were seeing on the

monitor. the debate format was a lot more extent, less free—flowing than before and for some people they felt that made it clear, you could hear what people have to say more but less of a back—and—forth style debate with seen previously. was interesting to hear from previously. was interesting to hearfrom democrats is there is an admission that there is this concern overjoe biden's presentation, the perceptions about his age but voters tonight said to me that doesn't change things, they said we are where we are and he is our best chance and we must back him stop there is that admittance that the two candidates are different and that is a concern and many people will a lot of watch the debate all the way through like we did, lots of people willjudge it on the clips they see go viral on social media and that will be the takeaway for tonight. the republican — the takeaway for tonight. the republican watch party, the comment byjoe biden about donald trump being a convicted felon, what was the reaction when that was mentioned? the?t

when that was mentioned? they have heard _ when that was mentioned? they have heard it _ when that was mentioned? they have heard it all— when that was mentioned? they have heard it all before - when that was mentioned? tie have heard it all before and you hear a lot of responses time and time again, when you talk to republicans supporters of trump and that is that the case against him was politically motivated, that it was a witch—hunt as trump calls it in his own words and his supporters absolutely see it those terms. those kinds of putdowns by biden which may delight democratic supporters, don't worry trump supporters. they don't feel in any way shameful about it. of course it's not what they focus on but they explain it away as a politically motivated prosecution and that's good enough for them.— prosecution and that's good enough for them. emma vardy, thank you _ enough for them. emma vardy, thank you very _ enough for them. emma vardy, thank you very much. _ let's speak to robin swanson, democratic strategist. live from sacramento. welcome to the programme. first off, you're reading on what you saw this evening in america? what this evening in america? what we saw was — this evening in america? what we saw was more _ this evening in america? what we saw was more of _ this evening in america? what we saw was more of the - this evening in america? what we saw was more of the same |

we saw was more of the same from donald trump, he is a world—class conman who lies with ease and confidence. that doesn't stop him much on every issue he told big whoppers and did not get called out for it like you said by the moderators. i think there will be pushback over the coming 24—hour is on a lot of the things he said, we are seeing a lot of fact checking say that what he said on abortion was wrong, what is set on immigration was wrong, what he said onjobs was immigration was wrong, what he said on jobs was wrong. so immigration was wrong, what he said onjobs was wrong. so he is never without confidence, clearly he is all about style and swagger also i think the biggest difference isjoe biden is substance over style and no—one will givejoe biden a ton of style points from tonight, but i think he's running on a record. is running on a record of increasing jobs tjy on a record of increasing jobs by 15.6 million in america. he is running on protecting a woman's right to reproductive

health. he is running on a record of protecting middle—class families. that is what is going to matter at the end of the day with voters and thatis end of the day with voters and that is what is really important for democrats to talk about until november. lise important for democrats to talk about until november.- about until november. use a substance — about until november. use a substance and _ about until november. use a substance and it's _ about until november. use a substance and it's the - about until november. use a substance and it's the policy| substance and it's the policy and the —— use a substance. and we look the performance, there were a couple of slipups from joe biden. engine in medicare instead of perhaps i think the word it was searching for was pandemic. how will that have been read by the white house? these men are only three years apart in age so the talk about the age difference or one being older than the other is really kind of irrelevant. again, he is running on a record and nobody elected joe biden because he was an amazing

orator. they elected him because he is reliable, because they trust him and they elected him because there is a conman running on the other side and people do not trust up. on the other side you had a man who interacted onjanuary 6, supported an insurrection and tonight called them patriots. i believe he used the word peaceful patriots to describe them tonight. again, the con goes on and i think america has had enough of it.— had enough of it. obviously i think in the _ had enough of it. obviously i think in the next _ had enough of it. obviously i think in the next few - had enough of it. obviously i think in the next few days i had enough of it. obviously i | think in the next few days we will see how the polls react to this first debate. it's very early days for atb debate like this. strategically was joe biden's camp this. strategically wasjoe biden's camp right to push for this? i biden's camp right to push for this? ~ �* , biden's camp right to push for this? ~ �*, . ., this? i think it's important to net the this? i think it's important to get the issues _ this? i think it's important to get the issues out _ this? i think it's important to get the issues out and - this? i think it's important to get the issues out and i - this? i think it's important to j get the issues out and i think there is one more debate upcoming in a couple of months. we will see where that goes, but it's important that voters know where the vision is for

joe biden and where it is for donald trump and to draw that contrast. that was the idea behind having this debate was to draw a distinct contrast between someone who divides the country and someone who is working to unite the country. robin swanson, thank you very much indeed. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

reform uk have condemned campaigners for the party who were apparently recorded making racist, homophobic and islamophobic comments while campaigning to elect nigel farage as mp. our political correspondent, hannah miller, told us more about this story. these were comments recorded by a channel for news when they sent an undercover reporter to work alongside campaigners and clocked in where nigel garages standing to be an mp.

the really kind of two groups of accusations that are going on here, the first is comments made by a man identified as andrew parker, who makes racist slurs about the prime minister, rishi sunak and suggests people coming across the channel in boats, they should be target practice used on them, essentially suggesting that they ought to be shot. now, nigel farage, the reform uk leader has described those comments as very prejudiced and very wrong and said that andrew parker will not be welcome working on his campaign infuture. but then there is a separate set of allegations. i should also say andrew parker says that he hadn't made his views known to reform uk and apologise for bringing the party into disrepute, if that is what has happened. the second set of allegations, though, are about homophobic comments. a police car appears to go past

and this footage filmed by channel 4 news displaying a pride flag and there are some homophobic comments that are made by a more senior figure, slightly closer to nigel farage, someone who he has known. nigel farage has again said that that person won't be working on his campaign infuture. but he described the comments initially as crass and then kind of had to be pushed into admitting that perhaps they could be described as homophobic. so his response on the one hand to the racist language really quite clear—cut, less clear cut around some of the other accusations, perhaps. but this is something that nigel farage clearly doesn't want to be seen to be associated with as he is standing for the eighth time to try to become an mp. and nigel farage says he's sorry if anyone has been offended by the comments. a lot of what has been said is

nonsense, a lot of it is the way people talk. where i find people that were genuinely offensive, idealwith people that were genuinely offensive, ideal with it. people that were genuinely offensive, idealwith it. —— i dealwith offensive, idealwith it. —— i deal with it. european union leaders have nominated ursula von der leyen for a second 5—year term as head of the european commission. ms von der leyen's nomination still needs approval from the european parliament in a secret ballot. antonio costa of portugal's socialists and democrats party has been chosen as the president of the european council. the liberal estonian prime minister, kaja kallas, will be the eu's foreign policy chief, to replace the outgoing josep borrell of spain. let's get some of the day's other news now. at least six people have been killed in a crash at a level crossing in slovakia. the emergency services said an express train hit a bus as it crossed the tracks. all the deaths are understood to be passengers from the bus, with a further five people injured. there are unconfirmed reports that the lights and barriers at the crossing

weren't working. the bolivian president, luis arce, has denied any involvement in — or knowledge of — a failed coup led by the former army chief, juanjose zuniga on wednesday. president arce said general zuniga had acted on his own accord. shortly before he was arrested, general zuniga told reporters he'd been ordered to stage the uprising by president arce, saying he wanted to boost his own popularity. the high court in kenya has declined to outlaw the deployment of the military to help the police quell protests that have shaken the country for several days. the bar association had argued that sending the military onto the streets was unconstitutional. doctors say at least 23 protestors were killed earlier this week during demonstrations that saw parts of the parliament set on fire. the us supreme court has

rejected a bankruptcy plan for the maker of the opioid oxycontin, purdue pharma. under the plan, billions of dollars would have been released to programs fighting opioid addiction, which has become a leading cause of death in america. in return, the sacklerfamily, which owns purdue pharma, would have got immunity from further lawsuits. our north america correspondent, nada tawfik, has been following the developments. u nfortu nately we unfortunately we do not have that clip but once we do we will get more from nada tawfik. workers at tata say they've been told the company will take steps to cease operations at the port talbot steel plant in south wales earlier than expected — next month — because of a planned strike by unite. around 1,500 workers are due

to begin indefinite action over the firm's plans to cut thousands ofjobs. our wales correspondent hywel griffith reports. the blast furnaces dominate the skyline, but the days are numbered. both are due to shutdown over the summer. the second in september, bringing an end to steelmaking... and you electric furnace will be built here eventually. 2800 jobs will go. unite union has been pushing for the company to hold off its workers are planning to strike in protest from july eight. now tata says it will bring forward the change, citing safety concerns unless the union calls it off. but unite will not back down. we are absolutely appalled by

tata's announcement. to threaten to close down the blast furnace is not the way the company should be behaving. they should be negotiating seriously. there is investment to be put into the plant, so it is completely and utterly unacceptable. the wash governments as the news is extraordinary and will cause huge anxiety for the workforce. tata says it is not something that take lightly but the stand—off is only increased pressure and anger. hywel griffith, bbc news. pakistan's former prime minister, imran khan, has lost an appeal against the only remaining conviction keeping him behind bars. ajudge dismissed an attempt by mr khan and his wife, bushra bibi, to overturn their 7—year sentence for breaching islamic marriage laws. they were found guilty in february of not waiting long

enough between their wedding and ms bibi's divorce from her previous husband. our correspondent caroline davies is there. i'm standing outside the district court in ysland about where imran khan's latest appeal has been dismissed. this is his most recent attempt to try to be released from prison and you can see behind me there are several hundred of his supporters who have come out and have been chanting about freedom and holding up signs saying shame on you, release imran khan, release bushra bibi. his wife. some have been chanting saying your friend, my friend, prisoner804 chanting saying your friend, my friend, prisoner 804 which is imran khan's prisoner number. the reason is appeal was considered to be significant today was if imran khan had been found to have had appeal upheld, this is the last sentence that is currently holding him in prison. many of his supporters had hoped this could lead to his release, that

has not happened. the appeal has not happened. the appeal has been dismissed and at the moment both he and his wife bushra bibi remain behind bars. well, there's been times during the euros when some players just wanted the ground to swallow them up, but perhaps not like this. cctv caught the moment when a massive sinkhole appeared on a football pitch in the us town of alton. it's 100 feet wide and could be just as deep. nobody was hurt but a whole floodlight disappeared. it's thought it was caused by a disused mine collapsing. history has been made in us sport, as the basketball player lebronjames and his son, bronnyjames, become the first father—son duo to share the same nba team. and possibly court as well.

it was the dream that lebronjames floated years ago, to play with one of his sons. you are watching bbc news. hello. it was a slightly cooler day across the board on thursday but still warm enough with 25 degrees across the southeast. friday will be a little bit cooler still but quite a lot of sunshine around generally. most of the showers and strongest of the winds will be across the northern half of the uk, courtesy of this area of low pressure which will continue to pull northwards and take the strong winds and showers with it as we go through the day. but it's a blustery start to many areas, certainly across the northern half of the country for friday. the showers, the strongest of the winds, pushing northwards across scotland. some of these heavy and thundery across north—eastern parts of scotland. but england and wales — certainly for wales — the midlands southwards should stay mostly dry with a top temperature of 22—23 degrees,

mid—teens further north. now, as we head through friday night, the showers begin to fade away, the winds turn lighter and skies will clear, so it will turn quite chilly under those clear skies by the end of the night with temperatures out of town dipping into single digits for some of us but in town, around 9—12 degrees. so, it's a cool start to the weekend but, however, the weekend isn't looking too bad. there will be quite a bit of dry and sunny weather around. just a bit of rain at times through central areas of the uk, particularly on saturday, and that's courtesy of these weather fronts which will wriggle in from the west at times. now, as we look to the north of the uk, that area of low pressure will be pulling away, taking the strong winds and the showers away from the northern isles as we go through saturday. a lot of sunshine for scotland, northern ireland. patchy cloud and rain for northern england, the midlands and wales. but southern and south east england will be warm and increasingly humid through the day. plenty of sunshine. top temperatures 25 degrees here. again, mid—teens further north.

now, as we move into part two of the weekend, this ridge of high pressure will topple in. that will kill off any showers. lighter winds as well with fewer isobars. so, it should be a fine day on sunday. a cool start but plenty of sunshine around. a bit of cloud building into the afternoon. thickest of the cloud north—west scotland, where it will be breeziest, but lighter winds elsewhere. top temperatures on the cooler side — we're looking at 16—21 degrees. then, as we head into next week, i think low pressure will be close by, certainly to the north and the west of the country. this is where we're likely to see most of the showers. better chance of staying dry and warmer towards the south and the east. take care.

we wa nt we want to welcome our viewers in the united states, around the world to our studios in atlanta. america's former and current presidents debate their economic achievements in their firs presidential debate, hosted by cnn. the us supreme court throws out a bankruptcy settlement which shielded the sackler family, whose firm made the drug oxycontin. we hear from the mother of two victims of opioid addiction. and as glastonbury opens its gates, we learn about why uk festivals are struggling to survive.

welcome to business today. i'm lukwesa burak. as we've been hearing, president biden and his predecessor donald trump have faced off in their first presidential debate of 2024. they addressed economic questions with each accusing the other of mishandling the us economy. president biden accused donald trump of rewarding the wealth with tax cuts and in return mr trump accused joe biden of saddling the american people with high inflation. —— accused donald trump of rewarding the wealthy with tax cuts. let's hear now from martin baccardax, the london bureau chief of thestreet. hello there and welcome to the programme. watching this, what were your main takeaway is? t were your main takeaway is? i really think that you have to say that the main takeaway of the debate was the poor performance by the president.

joe biden entered the conversation trying to dispel