hello and welcome to bbc news. the british prime minister, theresa may, and the opposition labour party leader, jeremy corbyn, have been facing questions from voters in the final televised debate before next week's general election. they were questioned separately by members of the studio audience after mrs may refused to debate directly with other party leaders. she stressed that she was the best person to lead brexit negotiations and faced tough questions on austerity. it would have been easy. i could have said that i am prime minister, there are still a couple of years, why not just a there are still a couple of years, why notjust a end hang on? i did not do that. i cold an election because of brexit. i was willing to do that because i think this is an important moment for our country. you cold a general election to the good of the conservative party and it will backfire. people who voted out, perhaps they should be given a second chance, you should have the confidence to say she we have another vote? people here in the uk

said that that was not the way to behave. let's listen to the people and deliver on it. you can spend your whole life working hard to build upa your whole life working hard to build up a nest a but if it will all be taken build up a nest a but if it will all be ta ken away build up a nest a but if it will all be taken away from you, if care is needed, then, essentially, why should you even bother in the first place? today we see people needing to sell their house to pay those bills. what we say is that in the system we introduce, we need and sustainable so system for the future. if we do nothing, our social ca re system future. if we do nothing, our social care system will collapse. can you tell us the imac —— why can you not tell us the imac —— why can you not tell us the cap? we need to give people the protection of their savings. that is why was that the figure at £100,000. 0n the cap, as to where you set that vigorous to the absolute figure people pay, the amount they pay, i think it is right

that we have that consultation. my wage slips from 2009 reflect exactly what i am earning today. how was that fair? we have had to make hard choices across the public sector in relation to payments. we did that because of the decisions we need to ta ke to because of the decisions we need to take to bring public spending under control because it was not under control because it was not under control under the last labour government and i am being honest with you in terms of saying that we will put more muggy into the nhs that there is no magic muggy tree. " muqqy that there is no magic muggy tree. —— muggy tree. —— money tree. then it was mr corbyn‘s turn. he promised a left—wing alternative to spending cuts, but was challenged over the last labour government's legacy of debt. we do not approach the negotiations by threatening europe with the threat of a low tax haven. we instead say that we want to continue the trading relationship outside the european union. is your manifesto a

realistic wish list orjust a letter to santa claus? i think it is a serious and realistic document that addresses the issues that many people in this country face. the la st people in this country face. the last time labour were people in this country face. the last time labourwere in people in this country face. the last time labour were in government they left a note in the chancellor 's they left a note in the chancellor '5 office saying we have no money left. you know what? the very richest in our society have gotten richer. there have been more and more tax giveaways at the top end and more and more charges at the other end. it is time to rebalance. if britain were under imminent threat from nuclear weapons, how would you react? the idea of anyone ever using a nuclear weapon anywhere in the world is appalling and terrible. it would result in the destruction of the lives and communities and the environment for millions of people. are you saying there are no circumstances in which

you would use it? any circumstances where someone is prepared to use a nuclear weapon is disastrous for the whole planet. that is why there needs to be a policy of disarmament and globally but through or two lateral policy, not a unilateral policy. would you allow north korea or some idiot in iran to bomb us and then say oh, we might need to start talking. that will be too late. of course not! of course i would not do that. you would allow them to do it? of course not. that is why i made the point a short time ago about the need for president 0bama's agreement with iran to be upheld. it is quite important, actually, and also to promote disarmament in korea. i appreciate that is difficult and stop stay with us here on bbc news. stay with us here on bbc news, still to come — ireland's set to have a new prime minister —

the gay son of an indian immigrant. the conservative candidate for kent, craig mcinally, has been charged in connection with the alleged breach of spending limit during the last general election campaign. he, his agent and a party official have also been charged under the representation of people act and are due to appear in court next month. ina due to appear in court next month. in a statement he described the decision to prosecute as shocking and insisted he had done nothing wrong. this report is from our home affairs correspondent. in the 2015 general election, the voters were deluged by big—name conservative campaigners. desperate to keep the seat away from nigel farage. their candidate to keep the seat away from nigel fa rage. their candidate posed to keep the seat away from nigel farage. their candidate posed with every member of the front bench that he could find. craig mcinally. --

they won, just. but following an investigation, he was charged with filing false expenses for the campaign. so was his agent. the senior campaigner has been charged with aiding and abetting them. this, the moment this morning when nigel farage heard the news. you're joking?! good lord. right. big news. thank you. he hasjust been joking?! good lord. right. big news. thank you. he has just been charged. 0nce thank you. he has just been charged. once again it is bad judgement from theresa may. why on earth would you allow someone to go ahead as a general election candidate when this cloud was clearly hanging over him? at the heart of this case is the thousands of pounds the conservatives spent on rooms for activist at hotels like the royal harbour here. the national party picked up the bills but a police investigation into whether in fact they should have appeared on craig mcinally‘s individual election costs has now resulted in these criminal

charges. the allegation is that expenses should have been on his official return were not. and, of course, if he had been he may be reached the strip limit every candidate has on how much they are allowed to spend. the conservative party continues to believe that these allegations are unfounded. he is innocent until proven and remains oui’ is innocent until proven and remains our candidate. he said that he has been very disappointed with the way this has had been handled. he will continue to campaign to be re—elected, however. just being charged with filing false election expenses does not disqualify you from becoming an mp. his first court appearance will be less than what tree weeks after polling day. police investigating the manchester bombing have seized a car that they say could be a significant development following the attack at

manchester arena. prince william visited the city to meet some of the police and medical staff who were first on the scene after the attack. a significant development in this terrorist investigation. it could be, say the police. today, for a time, the bomb squad were back in an area in south manchester. it has become a key location for detectives. salman abedi is said to have been here. at a block of flats, the focus was on a white nissan that was left there. a cordon went up and residents had to leave as specialist teams moved in. the police came rushing in this morning, and evacuated us from the house as if there were bombs were. —— bomb scare. i have left my books in there, everything is so it is

affecting my studies, really. over the last few weeks the residents here have grown used to police tape and officer is outside their door. detectives are trying to plot the last days of salman abedi as he finalised his plan to kill and injure scores of concert—goers. tonight, this lorry backed into position. the car was loaded up and taken away. will the yield important evidence? there is still a feeling of rawness in the city as it welcomes high profile visitors. today, the duke of cambridge met a police officer who was off duty and tended the injured at the manchester arena. he did this while trying to find his own daughter. it was horrendous, said william, who, away from the cameras, made a private hospital visit to some of the injured. manchester is now preparing for this week and's benefit concert

where security has become the all consuming issue. don't drive here. use the facilities were offering for free. and do not bring a bag in. if you can avoid it, please do not bring a bag. this will be a poignant return for so many concert—goers. and a reflection of all that has been lost with the announcement that the inquest on the 22 victims will open one week today. take a look at some more stories making the news today. us defence secretary — james mattis — has been speaking at an international policy forum in singapore. there he once again warned that north korea's nuclear ambitions were a ‘threat to us all‘. he went on to criticise china for militarising parts of the south china sea. he said the us wanted to reinforce the rules—based international order and keep shipping lanes open. one of germany's biggest music festivals has been evacuated following, what police have described, as a possible terrorist threat. fans hoping to see german rock

giants rammstein streamed out of the arena in the city of nuerburg after organisers asked them to leave in a "calm and controlled" way. the organisers say they hope the festival will resume on saturday a group of children conceived through ivf have won the right to have the dna of the doctor at the sperm bank tested. they believe he may be their biological father. jan karbaat, who died last april, is suspected of replacing the sperm chosen by their mothers, with his own. he could have fathered around 60 children. ina in a speech on thursday when donald trump said he was taking the united states out of the paris climate accord, he said he represented and was elected to represent the citizens of pittsburgh, not paris. but the mayor of pittsburgh was

quick to point out that he and those who voted for him actually embraced the paris climate accord. we have spent the day their hearing from residents with found themselves thrust into the middle of this debate. pittsburgh, pennsylvania, a city twinned unexpectedly, by the president, with paris. maybe for its alliterative allure. but this morning, it wasn't hard to find citizens delighted by his decision. i think our president is trying to do everything he can, that's good for the american people. and that's what i like. america first? absolutely. it's about time that people put, and presidents put, and for the people, america first. and he's doing it, and he's shown that all of these agreements that are not fair to the united states, it's time they renegotiated them and they become fair. the old pittsburgh was different from the new. steel city, it was known as, a manufacturing capital often shrouded in smog. but now it's remade itself as a high—tech hub, often called roboburgh because it's a centre of excellence in robotics — the place where uber

is testing its driverless cars. you were in paris? yeah, no, i was one of the american representatives. the city's democratic mayor, bill peduto, says its resurgence has been based on green—friendly policies. he's hit back at donald trump. the decision to withdraw is not only bad for the united states economy, but it weakens us throughout the world. it is the old rusting steel towns in the valleys outside pittsburgh, left behind by the new economy, where the slogan "make america great again" reverberated most strongly. donald trump would not today be president today if it wasn't for the support he received in the rust belt states. they became a critical battleground in us presidential politics. there are many voters here who believe that the global anger over his paris decision offers proof of his determination to fight on their behalf. at this derelict steel plant, today, we found something

unexpected — the old economy meet in the new. employees from google on a day out, learning about this region's industrial past. ron beroff runs this archaeological site. the paris accord was gonna help stimulate the economy of this region. green industries are really the future of this region. unfortunate, this industry is not. the post—paris question for the us economy: is donald trump trying to revive old, declining industries, in a way that impedes the development of the new? nick bryant, bbc news, pittsburgh. let's get a reminder of our headlines now. with less than a week until the uk general election, theresa may and jeremy corbyn have faced questions on brexit, nuclear weapons and the future of social care, from a live television audience. china, the european union and india have restated their commitment to the paris agreement on combating climate change. but president donald trump's team

is standing by his decision to pull the united states out. he's ireland's first openly gay minister, the son of an indian immigrant, and at the age of 38, leo varadkar is now set to be the youngest leader in europe as ireland's next prime minister. he was voted in tonight as the new leader of fine gael, the biggest party in ireland's ruling coalition. he'll succeed enda kenny. here's our ireland correspondent chris buckler. leo varadkar is the new face of modern ireland — the son of an immigrant, openly gay, and for months, he's been the favourite to become this country's new prime minister. i indeed have been elected the 11th leader of fine gael. he set out his vision of leadership, amid a sea of signs bearing one name. i think if my election as leader of fine gael, today, it's that prejudice has no place in this republic.

and so every proud parent in ireland today can dream big dreams for their children. every boy and girl can know there is no limit to their ambition, their possibilities, if they are given the opportunity. varadkar‘s father was a doctor, who migrated from india, and married an irish nurse. two years ago, he came out as gay, ahead of a referendum on the introduction of same—sex marriage. he celebrated the "yes" vote on stage, a sign of social change in what many still call "catholic ireland". and leo is certainly different from last leader, enda kenny. he's not one of these high—fiving enda kenny types, but, you know, that's not always what's needed. councillors and the parliament and the party know what is in him, and that's steel and determination. ireland's economy may have emerged

from bank crises and bailouts, but brexit poses it's own challenges for the uk's neighbouring trading partner, as head of minority government, varadkar is go to find that his leadership is tested sooner rather than later. anti—government protests in northern morocco have continued for a seventh consecutive day. they've been triggered by the arrest of the leader of the protest movement. nasser zefzafi has been charged with threatening national security. it's the worst unrest in the country for several years. greg dawson reports in the city the riot shields were out again as protesters pelted police with rocks. this is home to the worst anti— government protest

in morocco for six years. the anger has been triggered by the rest of this man, nasser zefzafi, has been triggered by the rest of this man, nasserzefzafi, charged with threatening national security. the monthly has let us here is of protests that began last of dover after the death of a fishmonger who was crushed by a rubbish truck as it tried to rescue stock that had been confiscated by police. 0ver tried to rescue stock that had been confiscated by police. over the last seven days, protesters have shunted we are all zefzafi stop i have had a broken bone because of police, said this woman. we are always threatened. 0ur this woman. we are always threatened. our children are scared. we asked for the king to intervene. it is not just we asked for the king to intervene. it is notjust claims of corruption, protesters say they are frustrated by the lack ofjobs in their country, especially for young people. so far much of the anger has

not be directed at morocco abbas king but the longer this continues a country which presents itself as a model of stability may face problems. —— morocco's king. a growing number of americans say they find civil war monuments to confederate leaders offensive because of their links to slavery. in recent weeks four such statues in new orleans were removed and other cities are considering doing the same. 0ur north america correspondent, aleem maqbool has been taking a closer look at why this has become a flashpoint of america's racial divide. robert e lee led the army of the convergence if. now it is the battle over his memory that is being fought. three statues have been removed from the city. we spoke to many people fighting for the

monuments to stay. these people were good people and they lived and died why should we just forget it?m good people and they lived and died why should we just forget it? it was for the defence of the institution of slavery. they are wrong. what is the big story here tonight is the use standing behind us who are convinced that these good people are all neo—nazis and that we are all racists and that they have been screaming at us all night. and they have no clue about history or anything that has happened. and it isa anything that has happened. and it is a problem. why such opposing views about what should and should not be represented on the streets of new orleans? is partly down to the fa ct new orleans? is partly down to the fact that even to this day there are different ways of teaching things like the civil war, slavery and segregation in schools in the city.

if you had a white teacher you did not really learned too much because they did not want to feel uncomfortable. the great old glory stories of how it used to be, it is kind of embedded in you. in many places schools can teach history however they like. not saying it all but the war was about keeping slavery. this is about a broader issue of narrative. when it comes to monuments, it is notjust about what is there a big taken down but what is there a big taken down but what is not there and should be. let's ta ke is not there and should be. let's take a look at this building which tourists are passing without a second look into the heart of the french quarter of the city. it was the biggest slave market in new 0 rlea ns the biggest slave market in new orleans but there is not a single sign to say that. there are so few

monuments that marcasite related to slavery so it is about the way americans think about their country's sometimes shameful past. why is that important? in germany you up for stick in front of the legacy of the holocaust. it is a country determined to reconcile itself with its history. his point is, germany was honest about its past but that has not happened here. in some senses it feels like the division of the civil war are somehow still alive and that feeds into a racist mindset and into the big disparities that remain. 0k. let's rev things up a bit. motorbikes are, of course, common throughout africa, but in the togolese capital, lome, they really are everywhere. such is their popularity that, as a visitor to the west african

country, you may be forgiven for thinking everyone in togo seems to either own a motorbike, borrow one, fix them or sell them. the bbc‘s vumani mkhize has more. despite not having her licence yet, university student faiza issa is excited to have just bought her very first motorcycle. the cacophony of small engines are ubiquitous part of life in the togolese capital, lome. and faiza will soon be driving off into the city's busy streets. the only thing holding back is deciding which colour to choose. this, or this, maybe. i don't know which one exactly. but i think i have two go with one of the colours. whichever colour she decides on, when faiza pulls into traffic for the first time, she will certainly not be alone. in lome, motorcycles are everywhere. and in a country where many roads are narrow or unpaid, they have proved to be a reliable, convenient, and cheaper alternative to cars.

dealerships can be found on nearly every street corner. and the influx of cheap chinese brands has made it easier for togolese to buy them. the moto — the selling of motorcycles in togo is very important for the economy, because people are taking this moto to do taxis moto, you know? so we're selling too much quanity. now, we have 200 motorcycles, i think. i don't know exactly the quantity. and what we can tell you is that because we have many agencies in togo here. so we can say that the quantity a day, with all agencies, are almost hundreds. there are literally thousands of motorcycles here on the streets of lome in togo. it is the primary mode of transport for most of the togolese. locally, it is known as a zemi—john, which means "take me from here to there." with all these motorcycles rushing around the streets, breakdowns are inevitable.

and that means good business for the army of mechanics who fix the bikes and get them back on the road. bonjour! translation: i fix motorcycles - four, five, ten, sometimes 12 hours a day. so there's a lot of work. i like it a lot. i enjoy thejob. it is something i learnt to do, and today i have my own workshop. there is a lot of work. so it's good — it's good! from transporting goods to people around the busy streets of lome, it is clear that the motorcycle plays a role in the burgeoning economy — an economy that, without them, would very quickly grind to a halt. vumani mkhize, bbc news, lome, togo. stay with us on bbc news, coming up next it is click but first the weather. hello.

we'll do the easy bit first and then i'll give you the forecast, which is probably the bit you're after, anyway. a mixture of sunny spells and showers. friday was notjust as straightforward. you'll see why go back to friday in a moment. it started well enough, then it started to look more threatening. that is probably because many of you were getting tied up with the weather front, which had fresher air on its western flank, but ahead of it, warm, moist, muggy air, which turned into thunderstorms in parts of east anglia and the south—east, which is why some of you and your day looking more like that. yes, there were some localised flooding, due to be heavy downpours. and that muggy air is still there to be had, as we start saturday across this south—eastern quarter. the remnants of the old weather front still producing some rain across north—eastern parts of england. and it's out through the west that we see the finest conditions of the day. one or two showers to start the day across the western—facing coasts and hills. and they're there, too, through the western side of scotland. but it is out towards the east that we saw that overhang of cloud, the remnants of friday's weather, if you like. still enough about the cloud to create murky conditions east

of the pennines and on the eastern side of scotland, too. let's get you on through the day, and see how things will shape up. i know there are a lot of shows and weddings planned for tomorrow. as we get through the day, the bulk of the showers will be found across central and northern parts of scotland, through, northern ireland, too, and fewer showers, but still there to be had, across the western side of england and wales. that murk will just drift up the eastern shores and eventually, i think, the eastern side of england will improve as the bulk of that cloud and showery rain comes to lie there across the eastern side of scotland. so that's saturday. on into sunday, and i think it will be a quiet start for central and eastern parts, again. later on, i think we will see more showery rain in the south—west and into parts of wales, perhaps. and a slightly fresher feel through the day. this is monday. look at this. not one, two, but three areas of low pressure. this being the real driver of the weather.

they could bring 50 millimetres of rain to you. so watch out for that dry start. it won't last like that across england and wales. in some of the gusts of wind easily in excess of 50 miles an hour. here we are as far ahead as tuesday. and a slightly simplified area of low pressure still providing a really showery regime across all parts of the british isles. and a coolerfeel, too, given that the wind is somewhere between the west and the north—west. this is bbc news. the headlines: theresa may and jeremy corbyn have been facing questions from voters in the final televised debate before next week's general election. mrs may stressed that she was the best person to lead brexit negotiations and mr corbyn promised a left—wing alternative to the government's planned spending cuts. the white house has defended donald trump's decision to pull the us out of the paris climate agreement. administration officials say it's now up to other world leaders to decide whether to sit down and negotiate a new deal.

however, china, india and the eu have recommitted to the original agreement. the new leader of the biggest party in ireland's coalition government, fine gael, is leo varadkar — the son of an indian immigrant who is ireland's first openly gay minister. aged 38, he is set to become ireland's youngest