battling wildfires in the canadian town of jasper. hello. we start where else but in paris and the olympic games. the first full day of competition has started. this is the scene live in the french capital where it's ”am in the morning. diving, fencing, and rugby sevens are among the events in which athletes are competing for gold medals today. the games opened in spectacular style with a stunning display of french culture, architecture, and heritage. in a world first, the olympic opening ceremony was held outside of the stadium 6,800 athletes from 205 delegations travelled on 85 boats and barges down the river seine past some of the french capital's most famous landmarks with bridges and river banks used as catwalks. there was heavy rain but it didn't

dampen the crowd's enthusiasm. there were surprise performances throughout — a pink feathered lady gaga and the french—malian singer, aya nakamura performed alongside teams of dancers high—kicking the can—can or perching perilously on poles. the olympic flame, which had been carried by a host of global sports superstars including rafael nadal, serena williams and zinedine zidan, was used to light a huge cauldron on a hot—air balloon that rose high into the paris sky. the culmination of the show included an emotional return of canadian icon celine dion — her first live performance for four years. she sang on a spectacularly illuminated eiffel tower for the first time since revealing a serious health condition. for rights reasons we can't show any of celine's performance or the opening ceremony, but my colleague maryam

moshiri watched in paris. what a culmination, what an end to what has been at times a difficult day for the organisers of the paris olympics and, indeed, the ceremony. the day started with those train delays, with those attacks on various train lines around france, but it ended with a real bang. the opening ceremony was promised to be a joyful event, an event that would be beautiful theatre in the heart of one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and it really did deliver. we had the french celebrating their culture, their art, theirfashion, their music, but also celebrating a global sense of unity, a global sense of belonging together, and that really is what the olympics are about. the flame, well, that was also an amazing addition to the ceremony. it was lit on a hot air balloon, which then and flew up

into the sky, and is now hovering over the paris skyline. you can still see the eiffel tower is beautifully sparkling and lit behind me. the ceremony has been something to behold and it ended with an icon on an icon — celine dion, singing the most beautiful hymne a l�*amour, on the first floor of the eiffel tower. everyone went crazy. you could hear the screaming crowd from here in the bbc studio. it was immense. it has been a successful opening ceremony, and they really needed this, the french, given the difficulties earlier in the day. now, all that awaits for us is three weeks of amazing sport from paris, and i will be bringing it all to you, as well as the stories behind the sport, throughout the next few weeks here on bbc news. she's got a very good view there, hasn't she? few weeks here on bbc news. for more on last night's opening ceremony, we spoke earlier to our sports correspondent katie gornall, who's in paris. there was a huge enthusiasm. i think there was a massive

acknowledgement that it was a very ambitious event that the paris organisers have put on, unlike, of course, anything we've ever seen. the first 0lympic opening ceremony to take place outside a stadium, and they really didn't hold back, and they showed off every part of the city that you could imagine. there were some absolutely spectacular scenes, weren't there, particularly with the lighting of the olympic cauldron in the shadow of the eiffel tower that was lit up in the way it was. but of course, with it not being in a stadium that presented so many different challenges as well, which the weather certainly didn't help for, and as a spectator experience, it would have been very different. now we saw a little bit of the opening ceremony outside from where we were. we could see people climbing on balconies and up lamp posts to get the best view they possibly could, but it was difficult for parisians, really, who didn't have those tickets in the grandstands to really get a sense of what was going on if you didn't watch it on tv. and of course, there were some unintended highlights as well, weren't there? through all of this, if you watched it, as well as the spectacular

scenes and the images along the river seine, there was a clip of carl lewis and serena williams doing the rounds on social media after their very choppy, boat ride down the river seine, shall we say. so there was something for everyone, perhaps a little bit of a mixed reaction, but you certainly can't fault the organisers for their ambition. about whether is going to cause perhaps a bit of disruption. some major british stars are in action. the swimming heats get under way. adam peaty is the two—time champion in the 100 metre breaststroke. and normally, you would say he would be an absolute shoo in to make it a three peat. that's what he's going for. but he's had a bit of a turbulent build up to these games, and he faces an awful lot of competition for that title. but he is a born winner, so his heats get under way. the gymnastics gets under way as well. max whitlock is a big star in that event, and he'll be hoping to make his way smoothly

into the final. he's going to retire after these games and he wants to do that with his fourth olympic gold medal. but 1a gold medals are up for grabs today, and i think there'll be a lot of focus as well on the rugby sevens, which, um, antoine dupont, the poster boy of this games for france, is competing, and they'll be hoping so much that he will finish the day with a gold medal around his neck. not a foregone conclusion, of course. they've got to navigate the semifinal first, south africa as well, but there will be an incredible atmosphere here in france if he is able to do that. and he said that would be the ultimate, ultimate goal. and there's no better feeling than that for him than winning an olympic gold medal. so a lot of focus on the rugby sevens tonight here. now, away from the sport. the french authorities say rail travel is likely to remain disrupted during saturday, a day after sabotage attacks on the high—speed rail network. 0perators say seven out of ten high

speed trains will run today, with delays of one or two hours. while repairs continue on the three affected routes, investigators are analysing forensic evidence collected from at least four crime scenes outside paris. the french prime minister says police and intelligence services are working hard to find and punish those responsible. for the latest on this, i spoke to our paris correspondent andrew harding. good morning. here, about two thirds of trains are now running. passengers are saying that they are getting e—mails and smses from french national authorities telling them when they should and shouldn't come to the station. it actually very calm here, none of the chaos that we saw yesterday. very little confusion. people are generally being pretty patient. the authorities saying in the next day or so they should be back to normal. meanwhile engineers we know are still out fixing those destroyed or broken fibre—optic cables that are so crucial which the arsonist targeted. they have also got to inspect many more miles of cables to make sure

that nowhere else has been targeted. and meanwhile, as you mentioned, that investigation still going on at those four crime scenes where there was sabotage or attempted sabotage. and the french authorities are also saying hey are looking back saying they are looking back to an episode in may near marseille just as the olympic torch was arriving there. they are saying now there was another attempted sabotage attack which suggest that that could have been a trial run and perhaps we are looking at a much larger network of operatives working inside france. do police and intelligence services know who was behind these sabotage efforts? if they do they are not telling us, at least not yet. no arrests made. no talk about suspects. there were several people seen running away from a site south of paris early yesterday morning when they were detected by police. that act of sabotage was actually thwarted. there are people that they are

hunting for there and that will be the case in these other three sites where there was successful arson attacks. a lot of people are suggesting that this could be an act of local extremists, perhaps left—wing or anarchists perhaps, or right wing. other people are suggesting that maybe it is a foreign power, perhaps russia. but absolutely no evidence as yet that we have seen indicating who is behind it. let's stay in paris. a press conference is taking place by members of the organisers of the paris 0lympic members of the organisers of the paris olympic committee and the international olympic committee as well. a press conference after yesterday's opening ceremony. let's have a listen to what they are saying. he speaks french

in that press conference we have the director of ceremonies and the artistic directors, no doubt talking about what happened in paris at the opening ceremony last night. and looking ahead to events of the weekend. well, let's... let's speak to howard kemp, who volunteered to be was part of the pandemonian drummers who performed during the opening ceremony of the 2012 london olympics. thank you very much forjoining us, howard. what did you make of last night's opening ceremony in paris? 0riginal. ambitious, ithink. personally, with a bias, i don't think it could have beaten 2012 and i think that was the memory of all of us, probably the best opening ceremony. but then, as i said, i

have a bias. ceremony. but then, as i said, i have a bias-_ have a bias. gas, i think many --eole have a bias. gas, i think many peeple in _ have a bias. gas, i think many people in britain _ have a bias. gas, i think many people in britain really- have a bias. gas, i think many people in britain really hold i have a bias. gas, i think many l people in britain really hold that opening ceremony really deep in their hearts, that 2012 opening ceremony. we saw there was over 3000 in paris last night. what is it like to be part of such a huge international event? well, for us, it was unbelievable. _ international event? well, for us, it was unbelievable. it _ international event? well, for us, it was unbelievable. it was - international event? well, for us, it was unbelievable. it was an - it was unbelievable. it was an experience of a lifetime. i think a huge amount of credit perhaps behind—the—scenes to the team making us feel part of huge family. the campaign that he ran in the lead up, he would go round and chapter all of us. around the arena in the stadium. we felt part of it. and that collective feeling was unmatched by anything that we had experienced before. ~ . . , , before. watching yesterday's ceremony —

before. watching yesterday's ceremony in _ before. watching yesterday's ceremony in paris, _ before. watching yesterday's ceremony in paris, did - before. watching yesterday's ceremony in paris, did it- before. watching yesterday's i ceremony in paris, did it make before. watching yesterday's - ceremony in paris, did it make you want to be involved again in an event of that scale? yes want to be involved again in an event of that scale?— want to be involved again in an event of that scale? yes and no. i don't think, _ event of that scale? yes and no. i don't think, as _ event of that scale? yes and no. i don't think, as i _ event of that scale? yes and no. i don't think, as i have _ event of that scale? yes and no. i don't think, as i have said, - don't think, as i have said, anything can be what we achieved and what we experience back in 2012. sometimes you have to lock that memory away and accept that that was the highlight. i don't think anything would —— any of us would experience anything like that again. the ceremony of 2012 encapsulated british history. did you get a sense of the story that was being told in the narrative of the opening ceremony last night? to the narrative of the opening ceremony last night?- the narrative of the opening ceremony last night? to be honest, no. but ceremony last night? to be honest, n0- but again. _ ceremony last night? to be honest, no. but again, we _ ceremony last night? to be honest, no. but again, we see _ ceremony last night? to be honest, no. but again, we see things - no. but again, we see things differently. from whatever country we may come from. i thought again, it lost the thread at times. i wasn't quite sure what it was trying to get across. seeing some of the comments on social media, others seem to agree with that view. you sa that, seem to agree with that view. you say that, although i believe that

british twitter, everybody seems to be big fans of 2012 but if you go to french twitter, people they're saying it was a huge success and really celebrating what their nation has to shell and what the nation has to offer. it certainly showcased the city of paris. to offer. it certainly showcased the city of parie— city of paris. there is obviously auoin to city of paris. there is obviously going to be _ city of paris. there is obviously going to be bias. _ city of paris. there is obviously going to be bias. i _ city of paris. there is obviously going to be bias. i won't - city of paris. there is obviously l going to be bias. i won't criticise our french cousins feeling that theirs was the best, as we would say ours was the best. you see things through different perspective. respect them but i still stand by what i said earlier that ours was an beatable. ., . ., , ., ., ., ., beatable. you clearly had an amazing time back in — beatable. you clearly had an amazing time back in 2012. _ beatable. you clearly had an amazing time back in 2012. wielded. - beatable. you clearly had an amazing time back in 2012. wielded. as - time back in 2012. wielded. as eve one time back in 2012. wielded. as everyone here _ time back in 2012. wielded. as everyone here in _ time back in 2012. wielded. as everyone here in the _ time back in 2012. wielded. as everyone here in the uk - time back in 2012. wielded. as everyone here in the uk has i time back in 2012. wielded. as - everyone here in the uk has amazing memories. he was part of the drummers in the opening ceremony of the 2012 london olympics. a reminder that you can follow the olympics in paris across the bbc.

there is a special paris 2024 section on the bbc website and sport app section on the bbc website and sport app where you can find live coverage of today's day one events. you can find that on the website of the sport app. now, to the press conference in paris. members of the organising committee and the international olympic committee. that is the creative director of the ceremony speaking right now. they are speaking right now. they are speaking french, unfortunately my french isn't good enough to interpret it. if they do switch to english, we will bring you more of that later on. to the united states now. donald trump has launched a scathing attack on kamala harris at a christian conservative political conference amid signs that the race for the white house is tightening. in a vitriolic, hour—long address to the �*believers' summit�* in florida, mrtrump described his likely opponent in november's election as a radical liberal and a bum and mocked the pronunciation of her name.

she was a bum three weeks ago, she was a bum. a failed vice president in a failed administration with millions of people crossing where the borders are. so now we have a new candidate to defeat, the most incompetent, unpopular and far left vice president in american history. that's what she is. the most incompetent but certainly the most far left. for more analysis of what donald trump had to say here's our north america correspondent david willis. an hour—long address to that christian convention, as you mentioned, in palm beach, florida. and we heard some of the mud slung by donald trump just there calling kamala harris a burn, the most far left vice president in american history. and he also attacked her record on immigration, saying that her policies and those ofjoe biden had led to millions of people entering the country illegally. it's amazing to think thatjust a week ago, donald trump was basking

in the adulation of republican party members who had conferred on him their presidential nomination for the elections in november. and now he finds himself battling against a much younger, more energetic candidate in kamala harris and somebody who is doing quite well in the opinion polls as well. latest polls show that they are basically neck and neck, the two candidates and that kamala harris has gained some of the territory lost, as far as opinion polls are concerned, tojoe biden. and there is a two point difference between the candidates, according to that poll in the wall streetjournal in donald trump's favour. but obviously some way to go, 100 days and a little bit. but this election campaign

is really heating up now. and david, it does matter, those polls across the country, but in particular it is those key swing states where we have to really there is speculation that the chancellor will use a speech on monday to address concerns over a possible black hole in public finances of around £20 billion. it's expected that rachel reeves will argue she has inherited "unfunded projects", and that some hospital and road projects will have to be delayed as a result. i asked our political correspondent rajeep sandhu, what we can expect to hear from the chancellor on monday. so rachel reeves has been conducting a review of uk finances with the treasury and we are expecting her to talk about the dire financial inheritance that they receive from the conservatives. that is a theme that they have talked about many times in the first few weeks of government. we are expecting her to say that actually when she's opened up the books and looked at them, it's worse than they expected.

we don't have a finalised figure but there are figures out there of about £20 billion of a black hole that they need to fix. while labour say that this is kind of new to them, people watching the election very closely will know that it is not a total surprise because it was something that the institute for fiscal studies was warning about and saying, actually, the conservatives and labour had a conspiracy of silence. not really talking to the voters about where they would find £10 to £20 billion worth of money to spend on public services. it is not a complete surprise but in labour's defence they would say that things have changed slightly since the election. one big issue is around pay rises for public sector workers. we are expecting potential increases for nurses and teachers above inflation. i think what was budgeted previously and what sources have told the bbc was around 2% increase, it could be a 5% increase

it could be a 5.5% increase because that is the amount that the independent pay review body has recommended to government. it does seem like rachel reeves would be looking to implement that in order to prevent strikes. but of course, we are now looking that that is the backdrop to this idea that she could potentially delay large infrastructure projects, projects that she thinks aren't funded properly. and also those projects that perhaps where costs have gone up since they were first announced. things like roads and hospitals, we could look at those projects being delayed further. what is the conservative response been to this? conservatives think that all of the doom and gloom from the labour party and the idea that it is worse than they thought is a way to lay the ground for future tax increases. that is something that labour ruled out on personal taxes for working people. but the conservatives have pointed out that labour promised 50 times

during the campaign, they sent a very long e—mail of all of the words that labour politicians have said outlining where they wouldn't increase taxes, they think this is a ploy to roll the pitch for tax increases. labour did say that they wouldn't increase personal taxes, of course that leaves out other taxes that could be increased. i think rachel reeves wouldn't want to pull those levers just yet and she is looking the other way she can get a bit more money in order to pay for the things that need to be paid in the immediate short term. to venezuela now where people are gearing up for a pivotal presidential election on sunday. president nicolas maduro, who's been in office since 2013, is seeking a third consecutive term. he is trailing in the polls and has told voters they have a choice between war and peace and warned of a bloodbath if he loses. the opposition candidate, edmundo gonzalez, is leading most opinion polls, but fears the vote won't be free and fair. he says it's time to re—establish democracy and prosperity in the country after a quarter

of a century of socialist rule. let's speak to ana milagros parra, who is a political scientist and podcaster. hello there. hello. thank you for havin: hello there. hello. thank you for having me- _ hello there. hello. thank you for having me. first— hello there. hello. thank you for having me. first of— hello there. hello. thank you for having me. first of all, _ hello there. hello. thank you for having me. first of all, edmundoj having me. first of all, edmundo gonzalez fears _ having me. first of all, edmundo gonzalez fears that _ having me. first of all, edmundo gonzalez fears that the - having me. first of all, edmundo gonzalez fears that the selection j gonzalez fears that the selection won't be free and fair. is he right to fear that, do you think? yes. won't be free and fair. is he right to fear that, do you think?- to fear that, do you think? yes. i want to start _ to fear that, do you think? yes. i want to start by _ to fear that, do you think? yes. i want to start by saying _ to fear that, do you think? yes. i want to start by saying that - to fear that, do you think? yes. i want to start by saying that you | want to start by saying that you cannot analyse venezuelan elections in these elections through democratic lenses. you cannot analyse these moments thinking with democratic logic in thinking that the government here in venezuela is acting with democratic logic. these elections are not free, are not fair. you have persecution, you have oppression, you have censorship against the opposition, against any citizens that is supporting edmundo.

you have to know that there are not equal conditions for the candidates. you can just see these two candidates and one is 20% on the poles and the other one is around 50 or 60%. you know who is going to win, right? but these elections do not work how elections work in a democracy. venezuelan people and the opposition is using a democratic tool, an election process as a way tool, an election process as a way to pressure the government to start a democratic transition. these are not free and fair elections. they are elections that are held under a dictatorship, undera regime are elections that are held under a dictatorship, under a regime that is forced to do elections. and when you think of regime, you know that anything that happens under that is

not free, it's not fair. they don't follow the rules and they don't follow the rules and they don't follow the rules and they don't follow the law. iii follow the rules and they don't follow the law.— follow the rules and they don't follow the law. if that is the case, will people _ follow the law. if that is the case, will people in _ follow the law. if that is the case, will people in venezuela - follow the law. if that is the case, will people in venezuela turn - follow the law. if that is the case, will people in venezuela turn out| follow the law. if that is the case, i will people in venezuela turn out to vote tomorrow?— vote tomorrow? yes. that is the different thing _ vote tomorrow? yes. that is the different thing about _ vote tomorrow? yes. that is the different thing about these - different thing about these elections. that is how all eyes on the world and in venezuela. even though these elections are not free and they are not fair, people believe in their vote having some kind of power to pressure the government because it is notjust a few people, that are supporting edmundo, there is a 30 point difference in the polls. when you go to the streets and you see throughout the years you know this is a movement and this is a political party and a social movement that started 25 years ago is based on common people's support, based on popularity. when you go to the streets and when you see the

pictures and the rallies, the propaganda and fear is not fulfilling the objective that he has. so venezuelan people know that they have to vote and they have to defend their vote. that is another thing that is different in the selection. they are notjust voting, they know they have to defend the vote. they have to go to the voting centres early to know what is happening, do check the people there are following the law. and then at 6pm, when the voting centre should close, they are calling people to go to the voting centres and defend their votes. to the voting centres and defend theirvotes. now to the voting centres and defend their votes. now we see people are participating more in the electoral process. they know they have to learn the process inside the voting centre to defend their vote to prevent any illegal realities and

prevent any illegal realities and prevent any illegal realities and prevent any official in the government to do something that is not legal. government to do something that is not leial. . .. government to do something that is not leial. . ~ i. , government to do something that is not leial. . ,. ,, , . let's have a quick look now at the eiffel tower in paris. a full day of sporting activity takes place in the 2024 paris 0lympics. despite the wet weather. hello. for many of us, today will be the cloudier day of the weekend. and it's a day where there's a greater chance of some showers around, even a few longer spells of rain for one or two. but by tomorrow sunshine and warmth will develop more widely, looking like a great summer sunday in store. 0ut there today, though, the cloud and the greatest chance of showers comes from this fairly weak weather system that's pushing its way eastwards. hits parts of northern england, wales, the south west. we'll see some of the cloudiest weather through the afternoon. greatest chance of some outbreaks of rain continued, certainly in northern england. a scattering of showers across scotland, northern ireland, fewer than yesterday. but across eastern scotland any that

do form could become heavy and thundery. few if any showers towards the south and the east, but even here a bit more cloud. best of sunshine around the coast. for all, winds are lighter than yesterday. so once you're in the sunshine, it will feel pleasantly warm. but don't forget where the cloudier weather is, temperatures down on yesterday's values — only around 17 or 18 for some. now into this evening and overnight the showers, the cloud melts away. we'll see clearer skies for most parts. some mist and fog and a few areas of low cloud in the west. temperatures down into single figures in rural parts to start sunday morning. so maybe a little bit on the fresh side for the early risers. but a lovely start to the day and a cracking day ahead. we will see some high clouds turn the sunshine hazy at times across scotland and northern ireland. northern western isles a bit more cloud, but for most lots of sunshine, strong sunshine at that. and it will feel warm if not hot for some of you as we go through sunday. temperatures widely into the 20s, maybe around 25, 26 degrees, if not a touch higher towards the south east corner. because we've got high pressure in charge for sunday

that's keeping winds light again. that nudges eastwards into monday and we start to tap into even more warmth and humidity that will be building across france by this stage. so temperatures higher on monday. best of the sunshine england, wales but with a bit more high cloud, some thicker cloud west of scotland, northern ireland later in the day could produce some light rain or drizzle. most, though, dry and by this stage seeing 23, maybe 24 in northeastern scotland, 28 towards the south east of england. that will creep a bit further upwards still, but as we go through into tuesday and wednesday, some storms could push up from the near continent as temperatures continue to build there. so tuesday, the peak of the heat may be close to 30 degrees in the southeast. maybe some showers and storms later. rest of the week, sunshine. when it's out, it'll be warm, but a few more showers to come, too.

this is bbc news, the headlines... let the games begin. the first gold medals are up for grabs at the paris 0lympics after a spectacular, but rain—soaked opening ceremony. an icon on an icon to conclude the ceremony. celine dion makes a triumpant return singing on the eiffel tower in herfirst live performance since revealing a serious health condition. donald trump uses a speech

to a religious political conference to attack his likely opponent in november's us presidential election, kamala harris. chancellor rachel reeves is expected to argue on monday that public finances have been left in a bad state by the previous governmentand and to delay some road and hospital projects. and rain and cooler temperatures bring some relief for firefighters battling wildfires in the canadian town of jasper. hello. let's go back to our top story — the olympic games in paris have officially begun, with stars like celine dion and lady gaga performing in an elaborate, but rain—soaked ceremony. the first gold medal has been one for china. in the ten metre air rifle mixed team event. at the ceremony, stars like celine dion and

lady gaga performed an elaborate but