this is bbc news. the headlines at seven: the government says it will keep a close eye on kensington and chelsea council after its leader quit over the grenfell tower fire. the absolute priority remains looking after the victims, their families and friends, making sure they get everything they need and in doing so, when it comes to the local council, nothing is off the table. residents and the community who have been affected by the fire says help is they are, but only if they look for it. people in the tower, they are not out there yet, they are still in bereavement and facing trauma. to get the word out to them is very difficult. after days of intense fighting, iraqi forces have taken control of the main base of the so—called islamic state in the city of mosul. thousands of people take to the streets in central london to march against austerity. the veteran film critic and television presenter

barry norman has died at the age of 83. also in the next hour: protests in hong kong on the 20th anniversary since the end of british control. pro—democracy and pro—china demonstrators clash, as the chinese president warns against any challenge to beijing's rule there. and in rugby, a memorable second half comeback secures the british and irish lions victory in new zealand, levelling the three test series. good evening. welcome to bbc news. the government says it has no plans to send independent commissioners to kensington and chelsea council following criticism of its handling

of the grenfell tower fire disaster. the mayor of london, sadiq khan, had urged ministers to appoint commissioners following the resignation yesterday of the leader of the council. instead, the government says it will keep a "close eye" on the situation. frankie mccamley reports. as the tributes continue to arrive and the missing posters line many of the streets, the anger towards the council here is clear. it was the breakdown of this, the first cabinet meeting at the council since the fire at grenfell tower, that led to the resignation of its leader, nicholas paget—brown. as council leader, i have to accept my share of responsibility. pressure had been mounting on the council, following intense criticism of the way the disaster had been handled from day one. the resignation has been welcomed by many, including the mayor of london, sadiq khan, who has urged the prime minister to appoint commissioners to run the borough. he wrote...

but the government says it is keeping its options open. nothing is off the table in making sure that the local residents, especially the victims, their families and friends, get all the support they need. clearly there's a role for the local council and government and for many others, but where anyone is not stepping up and doing what is expected of them, then nothing should be off the table. the council now needs a new leader and that person will have to be elected by the council itself, not by the people, and some residents here say they're not happy with that. they want a bigger say on who is going to be making those key decisions. and some are sceptical of whoever is put in charge. they cannot just impose their old boy network and their friends and family scheme that they seem to operate elsewhere. there needs to be a proper process for the selection

of those commissioners, and that has to be community led, they cannot do that on their own. we're not going to be imposed on at state level again. it's understood a new council leader will be elected next week, in the hope of rebuilding trust with those whose lives have been torn apart. frankie mccamley, bbc news. let's cross now to our correspondent, jonny dymond, who's outside kensington and chelsea's town hall. what has been going on there today? not that much in the town hall itself. the action has been beyond here, as politicians have slugged it out as to the succession here, who should take over as leader of the town hall? we heard from the labour party, the strong suggestion it should be an appointed leader, a commissioner should be appointed. that has been rejected by

councillors and pretty much rejected by sajid javid, as we heard in that report, the communities secretary. he did say he would be keeping a close eye on what is happening here. in some senses, as far as direct assistance to those affected by the disaster is concerned, it is something of an irrelevance, because a new organisation, gold command, which takes resources drawn from across london, is helping out those affected, but the symbolism is important. going forward, decisions made about what was —— what will happen to grenfell tower randy area in the surroundings, they will come back to kensington and chelsea town hall. we will wait to see who is elected next week by the conservative group that controls the council, what kind of effectiveness they have, and whatjudgment the government makes us to the future of this council. let's get the latest on the political reaction. let's talk now to our political correspondent, iain watson. the government is saying they will

keep a close eye on kensington and chelsea. watmore have they been saying? that is right, they will continue to monitor the council closely but if you speak to people in whitehall, it would seem that downing street is far keener on the idea of commissioners, championed by the mayor of london, sadiq khan, to sort this problem might. that would be a robust headline, to say that the government is taking charge, but the view is not shared by other ministers, and not by the communities secretary, sajid javid. he is taking a more cautious approach for a number of reasons. we had a little bit about this from johnny, but first of all, circumstances in kensington and chelsea are not normal in other local authority areas. when commissioners are sent in, they are usually experts or former senior council officials, sent in to help failing councils. but there is already a response team on

kensington and chelsea, which includes the chief executive of some other london boroughs. there is also ministerial task force involved and well. —— as well. undermining local democracy is a big step. a new leader will be elected and is more support for that leader is provided, more than in other councils that seem to be failing, that would be 0k. and local legislation, the communities secretary believes it is important that councils are given an opportunity to improve their performance. he does not want another row that distracts from the relief effort around grenfell tower. if being more cynical about this, you could also say that if the government sends in commissioners to this area, is the local people do not like what they are doing, if they do not get the trust of the local community, it is central government that will take the blame and not the local politicians. 0k, we will leave it there for now.

ian watson. with me is now is swarzy macaly. she's a volunteer who's been helping in the emergency effort and those who have lost their homes in the grenfell tower block fire. we spoke to you when this first happened. you have been all over this, as they say. campaigning, organising, what do you think of the reaction so far today from the council, from those supporting the residents that need help?” council, from those supporting the residents that need help? i think there is mixed emotions. sometimes it is very difficult to absorb all the different types of motion because we are just pockets on the ground, there is lots going on. lots on latimer road. this week i was based in west ealing were a kaffir generated loads of donations. we we re generated loads of donations. we were working out storage and how to put these lovely donations to the best use possible. —— where a cafe.

are the residents still relying on donations rather than help from the council? it seems so. i want to encourage, if i can, where we were helping with donations. a family called to say they had a baby that was gluten—free. a lady came over and said, here is £80. i said, the best thing you can do with your money is going by gluten free food for the baby, because you put trust in to the donor, saying, this is a practical way that i can meet the need. she bought the food and we put it in need. she bought the food and we put itina need. she bought the food and we put it in a car. that was really rewarding. i you're resident of g re nfell rewarding. i you're resident of grenfell para? rewarding. i you're resident of grenfell para ? i rewarding. i you're resident of grenfell para? i do not live in west london at all. for the people you have been talking to, what they have been saying, put aside the feeding, the nappies, what about the trauma? what have you been hearing? yes, there are severe cases of people who have seen things. standing outside latimer road, woman was weeping all

the way from the road to where we were, to where the car park was. you cannot let a woman weeping walk past you. isaid, cannot let a woman weeping walk past you. i said, give cannot let a woman weeping walk past you. isaid, give me cannot let a woman weeping walk past you. i said, give me a cannot let a woman weeping walk past you. isaid, give me a hug, i know it sounds silly. we were hiding and you start crying. she just said these words, i cannot wash my eyes. when she said something like that, i thought, i cannot wash my eyes. you cannot remove what you've seen. children banging on windows, a baby being thrown out. so many people have been scarred with things they should not have seen. if the council can step in, people feel abandoned and unloved. where are they going, those people who are traumatised? they are dealing with bereavement. this is real trauma and in many cases it does not come out until late on. where are people going to get support? i am only one person. in that instance, the lady was directed to westway, to give her name. i hope the people on the other

side of the table who are taking registrations are emotionally connected to the tragedy. people just become a statistic, another person lost in that. for those who do not know how to help, the best thing you can do is buy flowers and late at the curragh. that emotional connection sparks something in you. —— and leave it at the tower. it did something for me. its bags that emotional connection. we have heard there has been movement at the council, people stepping down. lots of anger directed towards the council. in your conversations with the people around grenfell tower, what have they been saying in terms of what they want next? they want to be loved. i know it sounds like a cliche, but where the council have liked, the community have picked everything up. on the ground, there is anger, but it is also this balance of, right, in the absence of this council, i have got my

community, my friends and family around me who are collecting exactly what i need. it is notjust an abyss of clothes, but if i need nappies, someone has got me those nappies. of clothes, but if i need nappies, someone has got me those nappiesm has been very organic. are people now moving into more permanent housing, do you know?” now moving into more permanent housing, do you know? i do not know, but from the ground, it does not seem that way. sometimes when you're helping on the ground, you cannot give people household objects because people have not moved into permanent housing yet. a community meal looks better than a brand—new microwave, those kinds of things. if the council was to step in, it needs to fill the void of people like myself, who are the contact numbers for vans and storage. you cannot simply go back to work. have you seen members of the council on the ground trying to coordinate and help in the same way you're doing?

no. iam help in the same way you're doing? no. i am only one person. maybe they we re no. i am only one person. maybe they were there the day i was not there. there were some people in jacket saying, this is where people need to 90, saying, this is where people need to go, buti saying, this is where people need to go, but i do not know if they were from the council. i would like to say well done to the community who have stepped in. and you are doing all right yes. 0k, thank you very much. good luck. fantastic work you're. thank you. iraqi forces say they've taken control of the main base of the so—called islamic state group in the city of mosul after days of intense fighting. the militants have been driven from a hospital compound where several senior is leaders were thought to have been hiding. fighting continues in the old city area, but commanders say they're confident a final victory is in sight. 0ur correspondent 0rla guerin reports from mosul. a symbol of victory, planted this morning in what was the main base of is in mosul. troops weary after driving the militants from this vast medical

complex but vowing to hunt down every last one of them. we will keep chasing them and those who support them, says this man. we will throw them in the garbage. commanders say they have removed a cancer here but one that has already spread. 0ur message is daesh is not only an iraqi problem, says the colonel, it is international. explosion. he was interrupted by a booby trapped bomb, the militants may have gone from here but they left plenty of threats behind. and plenty of wreckage in iraq's second largest city. this is what victory looks like in mosul after more than eight months of fighting.

the remaining is militants have been driven from here but at what cost? this hospital complex which was a place of healing now lies in ruins, like many other parts of mosul. the city may be regaining its freedom but there will be a great deal of rebuilding to do. this territory has now been reclaimed but not before some iraqi troops gave their lives. the city is not fully liberated yet. commanders admit that even when it is, there's a real risk is could be back. 0rla guerin, bbc news, mosul. gerry adams says he doesn't believe a deal to restore power—sharing will be agreed by the deadline monday. the controversy over the green

energy scheme that left the devolved administration overspent led to the colla pse administration overspent led to the collapse of the assembly almost six months ago. and northern ireland reporterjoins me now with more from belfast. that monday deadline is fast looming. it is not a deadline as such. northern ireland has been without a functioning devolved government since january. talks between the political parties in northern ireland aimed at trying to restore power—sharing resumed after the general election. it has been a very bumpy road since then. the two main parties involved are the democratic unionist party and sinn fein. they seem unable to reach agreement on several major issues, both blaming each other for the lack of progress. 0ne each other for the lack of progress. one of the main stumbling blocks between the two seems to be their nationalist and republican demand foran nationalist and republican demand for an irish language act. the dup's opposition to that also. the deal struck between the dup and theresa

may to prop up the government seems to have somewhat muddied the waters when it comes to these political talks. last night downing street issued a statement after theresa may spoke to both dup and sinn fein leaders. in it she said her government would do everything it could to work with the parties and get a successful conclusion, but she urged them to find agreement themselves. it was a campaign rally today in belfast for same—sex marriage. northern ireland remains the only part of the uk where it is still banned. speaking at the rally was president of sinn fein, gerry adams and he outlined why he believes there can be no deal before monday. i do not believe there is going to be a deal by monday. the dup are showing no urgency, or no real inclination to deal with the rights—based issues which are at the heart of the difficulties.

i am talking about the bill of rights, the whole issue of marriage equality, a whole range of other matters, including legacy issues. unless there is a step change, here we are on saturday afternoon, i cannot see... and we have told them this directly, i cannot see how it can be put together by then. if there is a step change, and part of that is for everybody to understand that equality and respect has to be at the heart of the institution. they have to deliver for everybody, not just the sinn fein vote, not just the dup vote, but for everybody, including those who do not vote, those who are vulnerable, or are in poverty, who what their rights. that is the only basis on which these institutions will be put together. all the attention now turns to

monday but it is not a deadline as such. last thursday was actually the deadline for some sort of progress in these talks and that has been and gone. monday, the secretary of state for northern ireland james brokenshire intends to make a statement to update the house of commons on what steps are taken next. he has the option of extending the talks, can call another assembly election or re—establish direct rule from westminster. when it comes to the northern ireland parties himself, the dup traditionally don't ta ke himself, the dup traditionally don't take parts in talks on sundays for religious reasons. the talks will begin in earnest again monday morning but at this point it looks very unlikely a deal will be struck. thank you. thousands of people have been protesting in central london, calling for an end to government cuts. the shadow chancellorjohn mcdonnell told the demonstrators austerity was a "political choice." the leader of the labour party, jeremy corbyn, earlier told marchers that austerity should be replaced by more public investment. grenfell taught us a message about housing.

taught us a message that so many people are frightened of living in tower blocks, frightened of the danger, frightened of the insecurity, and so many sleeping on our streets and trying to survive, and so many children growing up in overcrowded, damp, overpriced private rented accommodation. that is the face of modern britain with the tories, that is the face of modern britain with austerity, end austerity and invest in the future, invest in decent housing. and opportunities for everyone else, because the election campaign was presented as a kind of walk in the park for the tories. and it all changed when people began to realise that the social care crisis is a crisis made by this government. the late german chancellor helmut

kohl is due to be buried in germany. he was honoured in a special ceremony at the european parliament in strasbourg earlier today. the former statesman oversaw germany's reunification and was a major driving force behind closer european integration, as hugh schofield reports. it isa it is a suitably miserable evening here in the west german town. we are at the cathedral where the funeral for helmut kohl is being held, attended by angela merkel and his widow, but not his two sons, that reflecting the deep family rift. the cathedral very important in the life of helmut kohl. whenever he had a foreign visitor visiting him as chancellor, would come here and

bring them to the cathedral which he said represented the spiritual essence of european union. this cathedral also had a personal importance to him. as a boy growing up importance to him. as a boy growing up notfar importance to him. as a boy growing up not far from here, importance to him. as a boy growing up not farfrom here, where he died insta ntly, up not farfrom here, where he died instantly, would come here in the water shelter from allied bombs. instantly, would come here in the water shelterfrom allied bombs. a very important place in his life. a farewell here from provincial germany. a very different farewell from the one we had earlier run with the great and good of europe, world, this is rural provincial germany, his heartland saying goodbye. it's very important to recognise that in helmut kohl was both the international diplomatic figure, the colossus, but also this man rooted in provincial germany. she's taken some absolutist

positions on issues. she said a red line effectively for a conference speech that has hamstrung these negotiations, in my view. david davis, there isn't anybody better to be doing this negotiation in parliament. these are very tough, resilient operator. the red lines have been set for him that make the job he has to do extremely difficult. there have been scuffles between pro—democracy demonstrators and police in hong kong just hours after new chief executive carrie lam was sworn in. it's 20 years since britain handed over hong kong to china. activists have accused beijing of clamping down on free speech. but the visiting president xi has warned against any challenge to beijing's authority, as steve mcdonell reports. in their tens of thousands, hong kong's pro—democracy demonstrators poured through the streets. they'd come to mark 20 years

since this former british colony was returned to beijing, with a message to the president of china, xijinping. they say that in recent years theirfreedom of assembly, freedom of speech and the independence of the judiciary have all, to some extent, been undermined. then there's what they claim is a breach of promise, for genuine democratic elections to choose this city's leader. translation: we're here to voice our disappointment towards our government, and to criticise the distorted one country, two systems model. we do not accept the gambling of the hong kong government, that this is under the pro—beijing party. on his historic visit, president xi had his own message for the people of hong kong, that he believes their region has a very bright future indeed. but that a line which now could not be crossed was involvement in any action threatening

china's sovereignty here. translation: any attempt to endanger china's sovereignty, challenge the power of the central government, or use hong kong to carry out sabotage activities against the mainland is an act that crosses the red line and is not permissible. in support of president xi, there are also those protesters who turned out to back china's leader, and taunt the opposition. this will give you an idea of the battle for the hearts and minds of the people of hong kong. 0n the street here we have tens of thousands of pro—democracy protesters. on this side of the road, a small but very vocal group of pro—beijing demonstrators, and in the middle is the police, keeping their two groups apart as they hurl insults at one another. two decades after the handover, this is a divided city,

with very different views about the role beijing should play in its governance. but after a long, hot, tense day, at least there was something of a happy ending, as this unique metropolis turned on one of its legendary fireworks displays, in honour of this occasion. steven mcdonnell, bbc news, hong kong. the film critic and journalist barry norman has died. he was 83. for more than 25 years he hosted a film show for the bbc which was regarded by many movie buffs as essential viewing. he'd been suffering from lung cancer. i can now speak to toby earle, tv critic for london live. thank you forjoining us. what is your reaction to this news?

well, i'm very saddened. a huge formative part of my childhood and one of the reasons i wanted to go into journalism one of the reasons i wanted to go intojournalism and one of the reasons i wanted to go into journalism and or film, one of the reasons i wanted to go intojournalism and orfilm, because of his knowledgeable deconstruction of his knowledgeable deconstruction of films in a way which wasn't snooty or haughty. it was informed, he was in complete command of his material and also entertaining. to me, when i watched film and on from there, he was a friendly, welcoming gatekeeper to another dimension. for him to have access to those individuals, to have access to the footage he did, it was miraculous somehow, to someone growing up wanting to write about film and be involved in film. i think whenever he interviewed some of the biggest stars in the world it was always a very easy conversation, and also his critiques i always thought were very

even handed. as i say, he was so in command of his material. he was able to impart such information with ease and always felt when you were watching him, iwas and always felt when you were watching him, i was having an education, i was learning more about film and the film—making process, not just what he film and the film—making process, notjust what he thought film and the film—making process, not just what he thought about film and the film—making process, notjust what he thought about one particular movie. have you ever had the pleasure of meeting him? sadly not, no. but after all those yea rs of sadly not, no. but after all those years of watching him on tv and reading his various columns, he was still writing for the radio times up until pretty recently. i kind of field you do know him. and such was his presence on british television, such was his influence on british television and in british culture, he ended up with a puppet on spitting image. his catchphrase why not becoming lampooned on that stage. that is a real honour to end up stage. that is a real honour to end up on spitting image and i think it was a very deserving of it. so many

celebrities and people in the public i have commented very publicly that he was a very lovely man. for many viewers that very clearly came across on screen. what do you think was barry's secret to endearing him to the public? i think he was a superior journalist. he cut his teeth in newspapers, and so i think his use of language... his ability rather to speak about sometimes pretty big issues, pretty weighty issues that some of the films dealt with, and also some of the flippant films he reviewed as well, i think he gave everything equal weight. i think he was fairand everything equal weight. i think he was fair and treated everything with respect. and also, he managed to impart some pretty big ideas and thoughts in a very... sorry, very informative, in a way in which connected with viewers. it was an

haughty or two high—handed. i really felt like he was broadcasting for the masses to the masses, in order to pass on his passion forfilm, as much as the critique of the film he wa nted much as the critique of the film he wanted to pass on as well. thank you very much forjoining us. remembering barry norman who has passed away at the age of 83. let's find out how the weather is looking. 0rla guerin, bbc news, mosul. look in some directions, glorious, in other directions, disappointing for the time of year. especially across the north of scotland and anywhere close to this weather front, which initially broke into scotla nd front, which initially broke into scotland and northern ireland, and is now doing the same to the west of england and wales. rather patchy and it remains that we as it moves to the south—east to start a new day on sunday.