welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is duncan golestani. our top stories: a new witness to donald trumer‘s meeting with a russian lawyer comes forward — a former soviet intelligence officer. a year after the nice truck attack, france remembers the 86 who were killed. after a sharp rise in acid attacks in london, the government says it is considering tightening the law. as turkey marks the anniversary of last yea r‘s as turkey marks the anniversary of last year's attempted coup, the government sacks another 7000 civil servants. the alleged links between donald trump's administration and russia have taken a new turn, with claims that a former soviet intelligence officer met

with mr trump's son donald jr during the campaign. this is the man being identified as having been part of the meeting. he is rinat akhmetshin, now an american citizen working as a lobbyist. he says he was present when mr trumer met a russian lawyer, but mr akhmetshin denies having any links now with russian intelligence. donald jr didn't mention him when he confirmed he had been present at the meeting, but a lawyer for the president's son has now said he didn't know anything about mr akhmetshin‘s background at the time. 0ur correspondent in washington, david willis, has the latest. so this all goes back to a meeting that a lawyer arranged with donald trump that a lawyer arranged with donald trumer, sing damaging material on hillary clinton. that's right, and

that russian lawyer is known to have worked closely in the past this man, rinat akhmetshin. and mr rinat akhmetshin is, as you mentioned, a former officer in the soviet military, a man who was trained in counterintelligence, but who denies being involved in counterintelligence at the moment. he is actually a russian lobbyist, and joint us citizen, but we didn't know until now that he was present at that meeting at trump tower last june, that controversial meeting, which also involved, as well as donald trump jr, donald which also involved, as well as donald trumer, donald trump's son, his son—in—law, jared kushner, and also his campaign director at the time, paul manafort. the big question is, this meeting was set up

by veselnitskaya, was it set up on the command of vladimir putin? and what has been the congressional reaction to this latest revelation? well, the house minority leader, pelosi, has called forjared kushner, the president's son—in—law, to have his security clearance revoked. he is the only one of the three who now has a formal role in the administration. no word, though, from the white house itself. neither officials they are nor from president trump himself, who was travelling back from paris tonight on air force one. and no further statement from donald trump junior. but all of this, as you can imagine, dominic, is going to be more grist to the mill, if you like, of the myriad of congressional enquiries that are currently under way, not to

mention the federal investigation being led by the special counsel, robert mueller, into alleged links between the trump campaign and russia. president trump has described america's relationship with france as stronger than ever as he attended the bastille day military parade in paris. the parade marked 100 years since the americans entered the first world war, but events have also been held to remember the 86 people killed in the nice attack one year ago. 0ur paris correspondent lucy williamson reports. france today celebrated its long us alliance with a series of increasingly forceful handshakes between their two heads of state. this event, though, was not about the ties between men but between nations. joining the armed forces from both america and france, beginning with a fly past of visiting fighter jets. their soldiers, too,

led the parade together, in a tribute to their role in world war i. the us is an ally of theirs. i know sometimes you don't think so, but france was there for us, and we're the for them. i didn't vote for president trump, but he is our president, and we're proud to have him here. speaking to the crowds in central paris, mr macron thanked the us for the choice it had made a century ago, and said that france and america would never be divided. the france of today was honoured, too, with a military band playing music by daft punk. enjoyed by some in the audience, perhaps, more than others. france's changing culture mirrored in this parade, accompanied by changing security threats, too.

the image of france's security forces has changed in the past few yea rs. repeated terrorist attacks have refocused attention on security at home, and the values that france has chosen to protect. the ceremony ended with the city anthem of nice, the scene of the country's last major terrorist attack, a year ago today. in nice, the tributes honoured those who died in that attack, killed by a truck driven into bastille day crowds. their names, 86 of them, pinned by survivors into the shape of a heart. this afternoon, president macron flew from paris to join the commemorations. the fight against terrorism was a battle for our civilisation, he said. the events here today were still haunted by debates over how best to guarantee security, as the country once again paid tribute to its values, its history, to the idea of france. lucy williamson, bbc news, paris.

let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news: the latest round of un—led peace talks on syria have wrapped up in geneva without any breakthrough on key issues, including the future of president bashar al—assad. however, un special envoy staffan de mistura says there has been some small progress in the right direction. the next talks are scheduled for september. two israeli police officers have been killed in a shooting in jerusalem's old city. police say three attackers, all of them arab—israelis, were shot dead after fleeing to a nearby sensitive holy site. after the attack, the israeli authorities took the rare step of closing the al—aqsa mosque for friday prayers. the un has condemned the use of military courts in venezuela to try anti—government demonstrators. a spokesperson for the un high commissionerfor human rights said thousands of protestors have been arbitrarily detained. 0ver1i50 civilians have been brought before military tribunals. a high courtjudge in london has heard that the american doctor

who has offered to treat the terminally ill baby charlie gard is to come to the uk next week to examine him. charlie's parents want him to receive experimental therapy. they have been involved in a lengthy legal battle with doctors at great 0rmond street hospital, who believe life support should be stopped. a man armed with a knife has killed two people and wounded four others, after swimming ashore at a holiday resort in egypt and attacking tourists. it happened at the red sea resort of hurghada. the authorities say the two killed were german women who were local residents. the attacker has been arrested. here is our correspondent in cairo, 0rla guerin. what we saw today, once again, was foreign tourists being targeted on a middle eastern beach. now, today, a lone attacker swam ashore. he stabbed two women repeatedly.

he left them to die on the sand. local officials then said he then managed to swim to the adjoining beach. he continued his attack, he wounded several more tourists, and only then was he arrested. now, there has been no claim of responsibility, but suspicion will fall on so—called islamic state. they are carrying out an insurgency from neighbouring northern sinai. you'll remember that they claimed responsibility for the downing of a russian aircraft in october 2015, which had just taken off from the red sea resort of sharm el sheikh. now, that resulted in the loss of more than 200 lives. it devastated the tourism industry here. it had begun to recover. visitor numbers were up by about a half in the first quarter of this year. i think now, for many, there will be renewed concern about visiting egypt. here in london, two teenagers have been arrested after a series of acid attacks on thursday evening.

five people had acid thrown in their faces in separate incidents. one is said to have life—changing injuries. the attacks were carried out at five separate locations in east london within the space of less than 90 minutes. this report from our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford contains some disturbing images from the start. in the aftermath of an acid attack last night... where does it hurt? in your eyes? we need to try to get water in your eyes. keep your eyes open. ..police officers desperately trying to reduce the burning, and to save the victim's sight, rushing extra water to the scene. ijustjumped away from my bike. ijust ran. tonight, the victim of that attack, javed hussain, told me that the first help he received was from a passer—by. she asked me what happened. isaid, look, someone put acid on my face. she was shocked, she was just trying to call an ambulance. i said, i need water asap.

because, if you call an ambulance, it's going to be long. i need water right now on my face because it's hurting, it's burning. well, she ran to the co—operative, and she got one of the bottles of water. the attack here turned out to be the first of five over the next hour and a quarter, all in a small area of east london, and all involving acid being thrown at the victim. at every crime scene, the target had been driving a moped. two of them were stolen. a 24—year—old man here in clapton was left with life—changing injuries because of the acid used. the prime minister said the attacks were horrific. police have arrested a 15—year—old and a 16—year—old. national statistics on acid attacks on people are not collated by the home office, but in london they have risen from 129 two years ago to 224 last year, and by april this year, there had already been another 66.

one of the most high—profile recent attacks was last month, when 21—year—old resham khan and her cousin jameel muhktar were targeted while sitting in their car at a traffic light. we are concerned because the numbers appear to be going up. we will arrest people, we will enforce the law as we can, and we're working very closely with the home office to see if there are any changes in law required. stephen timms is one of the mps in east london, where the problem is most acute. he has been campaigning for a change in the law, and will lead a debate on acid attacks next week. i'd like the minister to confirm on monday that the possession of acid will be an offence in the future, in exactly the same way that possession of a knife is an offence today. i'd like the law to be changed so that sulfuric acid will only be sold to people who hold a licence. it seems likely that some criminals are using the laxer rules on acids to avoid the tough laws

on carrying a knife. the home office today said it was working with police and retailers to tackle what it called these sickening crimes. but any change in the law would take time. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: on your marks, get set, crawl! new yorkers take competitive parenting to new heights. the flamboyant italian fashion designer gianni versace has been shot dead in florida. the multi—millionaire was gunned down outside his home, in the exclusive south beach district of miami. emergency services across central europe are stepping up their efforts to contain the worse floods this century. nearly 100 people have been killed. broadway is traditionally called the "great white way" by americans, but tonight it is completely blacked out.

it is a timely reminder to all americans of the problems that the energy crisis has brought to them. 200 years ago today, a huge parisian crowd stormed the bastille prison — the first act of the revolution which was to topple the french monarchy. today, hundreds of thousands throng the champs—elysees for the traditional military parade. finally, fairy penguins have been staggering ashore and collapsing after gorging themselves on huge shoal of their favourite food, pilchards. some had eaten so much they could barely stand. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: a new witness has come forward to donald trumpjunior‘s meeting with a russian lawyer during last year's election campaign. he's a former soviet intelligence agent. speaking at commemorations to mark the first anniversary of the truck attack in nice, emmanuel macron has said france will fight without mercy to protect its values from terrorists. the turkish government has dismissed

more than seven thousand members of the police, soldiers, civil servants, and academics, for allegedly working against state security or being a member of a terrorist organisation. the purge comes on the eve of the anniversary of last year's failed coup attempt by rogue soldiers. the turkish government is celebrating it as a victory for democracy, but some groups have voiced concern about what they see as a clamp down on legitimate opposition voices. here's our turkey correspondent mark lowen. turkey's nightmare was unleashed, as the plotters seized the bosphorus bridge. sabri unal tried to reach it, to resist the coup attempt. a tank approached. he lay in its path, between its tracks. miraculously, he got up unhurt. then, a second. he tried to stop it again, but it ran over his arm. to gain his blessing.

i was not afraid, and i'm nota hero. to be a hero, i would have had to stop the tank. i wish the coup had never happened. 0n isjuly, rogue soldiers bombed government buildings and seized roads. more than 260 people were killed. the coup attempt failed. the coup soon became the purge, with over 50,000 arrested, accused of ties to the alleged plotter, the cleric fethullah gulen. president erdogan called it a gift from god, to cleanse the virus of gulen followers. critics say all dissent has been crushed. the government hits back that the real crime was the coup itself, not what came afterwards. they're actually saving turkish democracy, turkish rule of law, turkey's future, from a power—hungry criminal network. 140,000 people have been

dismissed or suspended. there is now a commission to look at all those cases. you will see, when this episode is over, that turkish democracy is functioning, that turkish judiciary has been functioning. gulen followers were in every corner of society. the purge went wide — far too wide, many believe. some have simply disappeared. emine 0zben's husband, mustafa, taught at a gulen—linked university. in may, on his way home, eyewitnesses say masked men bundled him into a car. he hasn't been seen since. translation: i pray he is alive. if they want to prosecute him, do it legally, not by abduction. i don't believe that he backed the coup. i can't raise our children without their father. others are fighting back against dismissals. protests in support of two

academics, on hunger strike forfour months, calling for theirjobs back. alongside, a human rights monument is now sealed off — a bleak metaphor for turkey's plight. the wife of one is herself on hunger strike in solidarity, this in a country hoping tojoin the eu. it is being celebrated here as the legend of the 15th ofjuly. but, for others, it is a painful chapter that is still being written. with me now isjody sabral, an expert on turkish politics and author who has lived in turkey for ten years.

thank you forjoining us. first of all, the timing of this latest crackdown, on the eve of the anniversary. house music and is that? it is significant. ithink this is president erdogan showing who is firmly in control ahead of the national unity march planned for tomorrow where he will speak to his supporters and commemorate last yea r‘s supporters and commemorate last year's food. today's dismissals of 7000 civil servant workers isjust pa rt 7000 civil servant workers isjust part of the ongoing crackdown. since last year at least 150,000 civil serva nts last year at least 150,000 civil servants have been dismissed or suspended from theirjobs. so, yeah, this is not a small number. i think the timing is significant and i think resident erdogan wants to show that he is firmly in control. they are huge numbers. 0ne

that he is firmly in control. they are huge numbers. one year on from the failed coup, how much more do we know about who is responsible. i know about who is responsible. i know that erdogan has pointed the finger at gulen but is that true? intelligence officials were aware release six hours before it began. an account on the president's website says he was made aware ahead of time but he was not able to contact the intelligence chief because, he claims, he had been kidnapped by the coup plotters. this led to claims by the opposition of speculation that the government allowed me to do one for to justify the subsequent crackdown needed

we instruction from gulen himself. we heard from people - report but heard from people in that report but iam heard from people in that report but i am interested in your tape because you have recently returned. what is the mood like in turkey at the moment? i was in istanbul three weeks ago. the mood is polarised to. 0n weeks ago. the mood is polarised to. on one side you have supporters of erdogan who believes he is protecting turkish democracy and they will celebrate tomorrow. 0n the other hand you have those who are very worried that this is an antidemocratic style of rule that isn't stealing. you know, since last year, emergency rule has been enforced and is a ground of the resident extraordinary powers. we are moving towards a residential system. people i spoke to in istanbul were worried that this is putting too much power in the hands of one man. thank you very much for

yourtime, we of one man. thank you very much for your time, we appreciate your analysis in perspective. the united nations says there has been a correlation of cocaine in columbia. figures show the amount of cocaine has risen by one third with a 50% increase in the amount of land used to cultivate the drug. the colombian government has seized spraying to eradicate the crops, despite pressure from the united states. let's see what's been making headlines around the world — with a look at the international papers. we start with le figaro — which leads on the crackdown in turkey. president erdogan has dismissed thousands more police officers, officials and academics — one year after the failed coup. the paper also shows some of the bastille day celebrations in paris. president trump was at those events — and he appears on the front cover of gulf news. the paper leads on the tensions between qatar and some of its middle eastern neighbours. the paper quotes a minister from the uae — who says the diplomatic fallout is likely

to last a long time. the financial times shows presidents macron and trump in paris. the ft reports on concerns coming from wall street. two of america's biggest banks — jp morgan and citigroup — have reported a drop in revenues from their trading business — amidst signs of a possible downturn. here in the uk — the guardian leads on a report by a think tank which shows a huge financial divide between the top one per—cent and those under the age of thirty—five. the paper also shows a photo of beyonce with her new twin babies, sircarterand rumi. the picture first appeared on social media and has had more than eight million likes. some pictures from florida to share with you now. where a sinkhole has swallowed two houses in a modern development. the ground fell away without warning in the town of land o' lakes —

though it's not thought anyone was injured. sinkholes are a somewhat regular occurrence in florida, due to the large number of underground water courses across the state. some sports news now — in the loosest sense of the word. a highly competitive race has been taking place in new york. but this race was a little bit different — everyone take part was a baby. the bbc‘s tim allman has more — and a warning — there's some flash photography in his report. warming upforthe warming up for the big race. well... sort of. around 30 athletes aged between six and 2a months competing in the diaper derby. although some of the competitors are more focused than others. you know, i think a lot of the kids could care less about it. is the parents in the crowds who get extremely competitive. the challenge is simple. crawl

across a three metre match, proud pa rents across a three metre match, proud parents cheering them on. —— three metre mat. first one to reach the chequered line is the winner. it was a little too stressful for some. there were a number of hit you, 11 —month—old rock band from texas was the niftiest nappy wearer. sheila excess either a little bit better than me. the prize, appropriately enough, a trophy that looks like a diaper. hello there.

some decent, dry, and also for some sunny weather around this weekend. but there will be a lot of cloud around at times, threatening some rain, particularly on saturday. and throughout saturday, the air gets warmer and more muggy. it is because of this warm front pushing its way eastwards, dragging in the air from the mid—atla ntic. but it is those weather fronts which through the night have been producing rain, and to start the day, a bit of a damp start in western scotland, northern england, wales, and also parts of the midlands. the first batch is fairly rapidly spreading its way south and eastwards. not much rain at all across south—eastern areas, but the rain is there across western scotland. we could see as much as 20 to a0 millimetres of rain on the hills in the west, so not a great one here. some rain at times, some dry moments, and something drier every now and then to the east of scotland, so far from a washout. it stays fairly cloudy in northern england, midlands and wales, patchy light rain and drizzle. but across england and wales, i think it is during the morning we are best favoured for some wetter conditions.

the rain tends to ease off into the north sea. one or two showers here and there in the afternoon, but temperatures climbing as we go, up to around 22 or 23. it does mean there could be some rain in the middle part of the day at wimbledon. the same on sunday, the best of the dry weather in the morning. to get us through into sunday, the rain will work its way southwards. by the end of the night, probably across parts of northern england and wales, and it offers a bit of a split in conditions into the start of sunday. a fresh start, especially away from city centres. to the north, a fairly muggy, misty, and for some damp start across england and wales. this is the weather front, then, which is the dividing line between the muggiest of the air and something a bit fresher. but it does mean scotland, northern ireland and northern england actually have a bit of sun on the way. lots of sunshine elsewhere, brightening up for north wales and the north midlands, staying fairly cloudy across southernmost counties. the best of your sunshine will be in the morning. this weather front producing the odd shower, spot of rain and drizzle. 2a to 26 degrees, potentially, in the south—east corner.

the teens in the north, but it will still be quite nice. they may be some patchy rain around in the morning at silverstone, optimistic skies will brighten by the time we get to the second half of the day. but it'll be one close call, we will have to keep on watching things. but certainly, into the start of next week, that ridge of high pressure building. lots of you will be dry. note the temperatures in the south, holding onto mid—20s, and by wednesday, humid across the board. potentially hitting 30 degrees in the south—east corner, but there is a chance of some nasty storms, too. this is bbc news. the headlines: a former soviet intelligence officer has revealed that he was present when donald trump's eldest son met a russian lawyer during last year's presidential campaign. donald trumer attended the meeting in new york injune last year after being promised information about hillary clinton. president emmanuel macron has said france will fight without mercy to protect its values from terrorists.

speaking at commemorations to mark the first anniversary of the truck attack in nice, mr macron said france had forgotten the name of the attacker, but learned the names of his 86 victims. the british government is to review laws on buying and carrying acid, following a spate of attacks in london. two boys aged 15 and 16 have been arrested in connection with assaults on five people on thursday night, in which acid was sprayed on theirfaces in order to steal their motorbikes. the boss of a yachting company has been found guilty of failing to ensure the safety of one of its vessels,