this is bbc news. i'm chris rogers. our top stories: one of the men questioned by police speaks out for the first time. —— ten years after the disappearance of madeleine mccann, one of the men questioned by police speaks out for the first time. the starting gun is fired — britain's parliament is dissolved, the general election campaign gets under way. the last of their kind — why these killer whales are in danger and how man—made chemicals are to blame. hello, and in business: apple reports a surprise fall in iphone sales as customers wait for the ten year anniversary phone. we talk you through the tech giant's latest numbers. and as the french prepare to make their choice on sunday, we look at the contentious issue of immigration. hello and welcome to bbc world news.

hello and welcome to bbc world ten years ago, a british toddler went missing from her holiday home in portugal. the disappearance of madeline mccann sparked worldwide headlines. a decade on, one of the men questioned by scotland yard has been speaking for the first time. paulo ribeiro is no longer a suspect, but was questioned in connection with a theory that she was taken during a burglary that went wrong. the three year—old had been left by her parents in their holiday apartment while they dined at a restaurant nearby. portuguese police have also given their first tv interview about the case, as richard bilton, from the bbc‘s panorama, reports. for ten years, the holiday village of praia da luz has given up no answers. on the third of may 2007, madeleine mccann went to bed in apartment 5a and was never seen again.

it is the policia judiciaria's job to find her, i asked for an interview ten years ago, now they've finally said yes. why did you think it was important to talk now? madeleine mccann is a very unique case, unfortunately. we've never had a case like madeleine mccann before and since then, never one. it was portuguese detectives who prompted one of the most shocking moments of the case... reporter: gerry, how do you feel, gerry? ..when madeleine mccann‘s parents were made suspects. do you think it was right to make kate and gerry mccann arguidos back then? when we came up with the team to review the case at that point, the mccanns‘ were no suspects to us. so was it a mistake in 2007? i've repeated and i'm saying again now, the mccanns‘ were no suspects to us. it isn't just the portuguese who were looking for madeleine mccann. for six years, there's been a british investigation and it has looked to the back streets of luz.

most of scotland yard's time and money has been spent on the theory that madeleine mccann disappeared as part of a burglary gone wrong. this is one of their suspects. paulo ribeiro was asked 250 questions by uk detectives, including — did you kill madeleine mccann? what did you think when they asked you about whether you were involved in madeleine mccann‘s disappearance? last week, scotland yard announced

there was no evidence to implicate mr ribeiro or the other suspects questioned. the case against them has been closed. the british have other lines of inquiry and funding until september. the portuguese say they have no deadline. you know more about this case than almost anyone else, do you think in your heart it will be solved? if it depended on my heart, the case would have already been solved, but it doesn't depend on my heart, it depends very much on our minds. there is no other case like madeleine mccann. after ten years, the search goes on, but the solution seems as far away as ever. richard bilton, bbc news, luz. bringing you some breaking news from

kabul, we are hearing that a large explosion has been heard in the capital of afghanistan. reaches is quoting witnesses describing a blast in an area not farfrom the quoting witnesses describing a blast in an area not far from the american embassy, and in an area that is used by nato. no word of casualties or what damage has been done, but violence in kabul has risen in recent weeks —— reuters. we will keep you updated. here in the uk, british prime minister theresa may will visit queen elizabeth later as parliament is dissolved, marking the official start of the general election campaign. parliament was officially dissolved atjust after midnight meaning there are now no mps and every seat in the house of commons is vacant. the prime minister will travel to buckingham palace to mark the dissolution

later this afternoon. as britain prepares for brexit negotiations, relations between theresa may and the head of the european commission are proving tense. mrs may has warned jean—claude juncker she will prove to be a ‘bloody difficult woman‘ during the brexit talks. mrjuncker, it's reported, had accused her of being ‘deluded' about the process. the prime minister has been speaking to our political editor, laura kuenssberg. i think what we've seen recently is that these negotiations are going to be tough. during the conservative party leadership campaign, i was described by one of my colleagues as a "bloody difficult woman". and i said at the time, the next person to find that out would be jean—claude juncker. and did he over the weekend? these are going to be tough negotiations as we go ahead. i'm asking the british people to give me a mandate. every vote for me and my team is a vote to strengthen my hand in

ensuring we get the best possible dealfor the united ensuring we get the best possible deal for the united kingdom. did jean—claude juncker say to you, brexit cannot be a success? i don't... look, i don't recall the account that has been given of the meeting that took place. i think a lot of this is brussels gossip. it was a dinner in london and you were there. but what it does show... either he said it to you or he did not. the account, i think that the account i have seen, a lot of that is brussels gossip. but what is important is there is a key question for people when they come to this election. we have seen that these negotiations will be tough. getting the right deal requires the right leadership. of course this process has ramifications across the uk and indeed, the world. there's much more on the brexit process — and the various upcoming elections in the uk — on our website. to find out more go to bbc.com/news. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news.

the international red cross has said a convoy of food and medical supplies has reached the besieged syrian town of douma for the first time since october. the convoy of almost 50 trucks entered the main rebel enclave east of damascus late at night, with aid for 35,000 people. fighting around damascus has cut off residents of rebel—held suburbs from essential provisions and food supplies three young women arrested in east london on suspicion of terrorism offences are now being detained until at least thursday. the arrests are linked to a raid last week in another part of the capital — a woman was shot and wounded there by police. another five people arrested after the raid are still in custody. in france, the trial has started the chief of staff to the former brazilian president, luiz inacio lula da silva, has been released from prison to await his appeal against a thirty—two—year sentence. jose dirceu was convicted as part of the country's biggest corruption scandal linked to the state oil company, petrobras. the us and russian presidents have discussed how they could work together on a number of crises

during their first phone call since washington ordered missile strikes against a syrian airbase. the white house said donald trump and vladimir putin agreed that the civil war in syria had dragged on far too long and that all parties had to step up efforts to end it. president putin was also asked at a press conference whether russia had interfered with the american election. we never interfere in the political life and the political processes of other countries, and we don't want anybody interfering in our political life. you've referred to the us example, which is not confirmed by anything or anyone. these are just rumours used in the internal political struggle in the us. hillary clinton has been talking in more detail about her defeat by donald trump. at an event in new york city, she took some of the blame for her losing campaign, but said there were other factors

at play. it wasn't a perfect campaign, there is no such thing. but i was on the way to winning until a combination ofjim comey‘s letter on october 28, and russian wikilea ks, ofjim comey‘s letter on october 28, and russian wikileaks, raising doubts in the minds of people who we re doubts in the minds of people who were inclined to vote for me, but got scared off. sally is here with all the business news. apple is the world's most valuable company and it made another huge profit in the first three months of the year. but it was a bit of a mixed bag. the california based firm sold just under $53 billion worth of products as it continues to dominate the smartphone market. but surprisingly iphone sales actually fell by i% — mainly because customers are holding off purchases while waiting for the 10th anniversary model

expected this autumn. they still sold over 50 million of them though and more of their expensive seven plus smartphone. france goes to the polls on sunday in a tightly contested presidential election. in these final days of campaigning immigration policy has increasingly dominated the airwaves. but immigration is integral to many parts of french society. we'll go to france to explore in world business report. don't forget you can get in touch with me and some of the team on twitter, i'm @sallybundockbbc.

i'll be back in about 20 minutes. the two contenders in the race to be the next french president will face each other tonight in a televised debate. centrist emmanuel macron and marine le pen of the far—right will be questioned for nearly two and a half hours on a range of issues from the economy to terrorism. so where do both candidates stand in terms of key policy issues such as the economy, immigration, and their positions on the european union? take a look at this. more on that televised debate throughout the day here, and more online as well. sweden is to lift identity checks on people entering the country from denmark imposed at the height of the migration crisis in 2015. another four countries from the schengen area with similar border checks are expected to follow suit in the coming months. harvey briggs reports.

at border points between sweden and denmark this has become a daily routine for the past 18 months. police carrying out identity checks on people entering the country from denmark. causing lengthy delays for the frustration of an estimated 20,000 commuters who travel across the border daily the measure was introduced at the height of the migration crisis when more than 160,000 people sought asylum. that number fell to less than 30,000 last year. so the country's government is scrapping the checks but will strengthen other border controls including surveillance cameras and vehicle x—ray. including surveillance cameras and vehicle x-ray. translation: apart from extended and intensified border controls the government wants to ta ke controls the government wants to take further action to enable police and customs to control our borders. the announcement came as the

european commission recommended the same temporary border controls brought in by another for countries to be phased out over the next six months. the measures were also introduced by germany, austria, denmark and norway despite being pa rt denmark and norway despite being part of the passport free schengen area. the time has come to take the last concrete steps to gradually return as we have repeatedly said many times before to abnormal, functioning of the schengen area. more than1 functioning of the schengen area. more than 1 million functioning of the schengen area. more than1 million migrants functioning of the schengen area. more than 1 million migrants and refugees fled syria and other countries facing conflict in the middle east in 2015, sparking a crisis as european countries try to deal with the influx. the announcements today will see the end of border control methods described as exceptional and a last resort. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: more protests in venezuela, as the president's plan to rewrite the constitution faces widespread international

criticism. nothing, it seems, was too big to withstand the force of the tornado. the extent of the devastation will lead to renewed calls for government to build better government housing. internationally, there have already been protests. sweden says it received no warning of the accident. indeed, the russians at first denied anything had gone wrong. only when radioactivity levels began to increase outside russia were they forced to admit the accident. for the mujahideen, the mood here is of great celebration. this is the end of a 12—year war for them. they've taken the capital, which they've been fighting for for so long. it was 7 o'clock in the morning, the day when power began to pass from the minority to the majority, when africa, after 300 years,

reclaimed its last white colony. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: ten years after the disappearance of madeleine mccann, one of the men questioned by police speaks out for the first time. britain's general election campaign is officially under way as parliament is dissolved. the vote will take place on june eighth. there's been international condemnation of president maduro's plan to rewrite venezuela's constitution. it would also allow him to get round the current parliament, which is dominated by the opposition, but his government says a new constituent assembly is the best way to unite a fractured country.

there's been another day of street protests, with barricades limiting traffic in many cities. greg dawson has the latest. this is the result of president maduro's promise to bring peace to venezuela. in this city, the only sign of traffic is the burning cars used to form road blocks. protests have taken place here and across the country in direct response to the president's idea for a new citizen—led national assembly. in a televised address, president maduro confirmed he would sideline the country's opposition—controlled congress which has been calling for his resignation. but with pots and pans in hand, these people made it clear the only change they want is a new president. translation: we are not scared. i am sick and tired of this disgusting corrupt government. president maduro wants at least half of the new assembly to come from his traditional powerbase, the poor and the working classes. but opponents have vowed to fight the decision. translation: we venezuelans do not

have to accept the elections different to those set out in our constitution. the government has two choices. they can approve the constitution among themselves, or they can have a referendum. if they hold a referendum, we will defeat them. the united states has condemned president maduro's announcement as a bid to cling to power. the move has been denounced by brazil, chile, and bolivia. with no sign of the end, the protesting looks set to continue. a mega—protest will take place on wednesday. in france the trial has started link with the publication of topless

photos of kate, the duchess of cambridge. the photographers deny your privacy and conspiracy charges. the photos were taken in 2012 while the couple were on a holiday in a private chateaux in the south of france. sport now... all european athletics world records set before 2005 could be rewritten under a "revolutionary" new proposal from the continent's governing body. the credibility of records is being scrutinised after the sport's doping scandals. great britain's paula radcliffe, faces losing her 2003 marathon world great britain's paula radcliffe faces losing her 2003 marathon world record and has called the proposals "cowardly." i understand what they are trying to do andi i understand what they are trying to do and i see what they are trying to do. iam do and i see what they are trying to do. i am not saying there is an easy solution. i don't think this is it. i think this is a broad sweeping solution, which they are just trying to push in which, yet again, sees clea n to push in which, yet again, sees clean athletes suffering at the

hands of cheats, and it happens time and again. it is hard to be told that we don't value your record, we don't believe and respect it and we can't trust it, the records from that time, they were set under the correct height area and standing. it is very hard to be told that and i think especially when you think back to 2003, for example, that we probably had more pre— competition testing than is in place in some countries now. four months after an attack by an intruder that left her playing hand badly injured, the two time wimbledon champion petra kvitova is back playing tennis. she posted this picture of herself hitting a ball on a practice squad in monaco on instagram. saying, "hello guys, i hope this picture makes you as happy, as it makes me! i'm back on the tennis court!" her recovery is going so well, she's entered to play at the french open later this month. the world's killer whales are in trouble, especially around the coast of britain. scientists have found that one of the uk's last resident killer whales, who was found dead on the shores of scotland last year,

had record amounts of a banned toxic chemical in her body. scientists say the levels of the man—made chemicals known as pcbs were among the highest ever recorded. 0ur science correspondent rebecca morelle has more. they are the uk's last killer whales. found off the west coast of scotland, today this pob hasjust eight animals. but they are in trouble. last year the group lost a female. lulu was found dead on the shores of the inner hebrides. she had been caught up in fishing line. so, this is lulu's scull, this is the head. her skeleton is now stored at the national museum scotland. test showed she was heavily contaminated with man—made chemicals called pcbs. the levels that we found in lulu were 20 times higher than the levels that we would expect

in citations that were not suffering any in citations that were not suffering a ny effects in citations that were not suffering any effects of pcbs. that puts her as one of the most contaminated animals on the planet. in killer whales at the chemicals can stop the animals from daring young. they harm the system and also the brain —— immune system. one theory is the pcbs severely impaired her intelligence, perhaps leading to her deadly entanglement in the fishing nets. here in the laboratory the effect of heat is shown... pcbs was once a man—made wonder chemical, used in everything from plastics to electric. it was later discovered that they were toxic and from the 19705 that they were toxic and from the 1970s a series of bands around the world were put into place. but they have stuck around, especially in landfill sites that contain the materials they were once used in. today the pcbs problem lives on, especially in whales oceans. —— our

oceans. the chemicals are long—lasting and don't break down easily. there is an estimated million tons of the material in europe, this is coming from the land into the sea and on into the marine food chain. some scientists say more needs to be done to clear pcbs from the environment but uk officials say levels are declining. the controls we have in place is working. it is just that they take a very long time to disappear and they are probably disappearing into the sediment at the bottom of the sea and occasionally when that said is stirred up it brings it back to the surface. so it will take an long time to disappear completely. pcbs area time to disappear completely. pcbs are a global concern but with so few killer whales left in the uk it is a problem that is sharply felt. it is likely the rest of lulu's pod is also heavily contaminated, making their future very uncertain. we have got the business news and a

look at the international newspaper headlines coming up, but first let's have a look at the weather where you are watching us from today. 0n on tuesday we saw some big weather and temperatures contrasts across the country. western scotland had wall—to—wall sunshine and a top temperature of 21 degrees. further south and east, we saw thick cloud and it became disappointingly cloudy in the afternoon. as we move into wednesday morning, after a fairly dry night for many, things turn quite chilly across western glens of scotla nd quite chilly across western glens of scotland under clear skies. a touch of frost, a little mist and fog. we start wednesday fine with lots of sunshine, albeit quite chilly, with temperatures rising quickly in the morning. low cloud, mist and temperatures rising quickly in the morning. low cloud, mistand murk for the centre. it is fine in the

north midlands, northern and western wales, and sunny spells for cornwall and devon. further east, for the midlands in to the south—east, it will be disappointingly cloudy. quite breezy too and thick cloud and light and patchy rain pushing in from the north sea, from the near continent, and that is how it will be through the day. quite a breeze along the south—east corner with patchy light rain. it is more of a nuisance factor really. further north and west, you have the best of the sunshine. and broken in places in western scotland with the best bridges around 17 or 18 degrees — not as warm as tuesday —— temperatures. it is cool along the east coast, especially right on the coast. and the reason for the chill on the coast is because of the sea temperatures which are very low at this time of year, 8— 10 degrees. if you add on the breeze in the cloud it will feel quite cold, so the best weather in the west under the

shelter. wednesday evening, it will be cloudy for england and wales, spit and spots of rain, a clear night. and northern ireland. 0n thursday it is a north—west— south—east split with most of the cloud in the south and the east, call on the coast, the best of the sunshine north and west and the best of the temperatures of about 1k sunshine north and west and the best of the temperatures of about 1a or 15 degrees, feeling call on friday we picked up a east north—easterly breeze. it will be nippy. the best weather in the west. that is the setup into the weekend. high pressure keeps the low pressure systems at bay, we maintained the north—easterly wind, the best of the sunshine in the west. this is bbc news — the headlines. ten years since madeleine mccann disappeared on holiday in portugal, one of the men questioned by scotland yard has been speaking for the first time. paulo ribeiro is no longer a suspect but was questioned at the time. britain's pa rliament‘s been formally dissolved — paving the way for next

month's general election. prime minister theresa may will visit buckingham palace later for an audience with the queen to herald the start of the campaign. there's been widespread international criticism of president nicolas maduro's plans to set up a new body which could rewrite venezuela's constitution — and get around the current parliament which is dominated by the opposition. sweden is to lift identity checks on people entering the country from denmark imposed at the height of the migration crisis in 2015. another four countries from the schengen area are expected