hello i'm karin giannone, welcome to bbc world news. our top stories... violent clashes in venezuela as the country holds a divisive election. at least two politicians are killed. us bombers fly over the korean peninsula in response to pyongyang's latest missile test. and british royals lead commemorations to mark 100 years since the battle of passchendaele. and coming up in sport: germany's bid for a seventh consecutive women's european championship title is over a dramatic danish comeback in the quarterfinals. hello and welcome to bbc world news. it was always likely to be a highly charged and deeply divisive election. and venezuela's vote for a new assembly has been

scarred by more violence. several people have been killed — including two politicians. president maduro is widely expected to secure a victory that could allow him to change the constitution. but opposition parties in the oil—rich nation are boycotting the vote. the bbc‘s will grant reports from caracas. this is a very poor sector other low income neighbourhoods in the east of caracas, one of the biggest sha ntytowns in latin caracas, one of the biggest shantytowns in latin america and order a government supporters have been turning out to vote. it has been turning out to vote. it has been a slow and steady stream to the polling stations, not the huge queues we are used to seeing snaking around the block during the days of president hugo chavez. there are controversial elements to this vote, particularly these points of registration which opposition

members of parliament say are basically a form of control to make sure government employees are voting. nevertheless, those who have turned out so far say this process is legitimate and necessary for the peace and security of venezuela. today the people will decide the sovereignty of this country. so, through the constituent assembly the people will execute —— exercise popular power, others do not want the people to decide the future and wa nt to the people to decide the future and want to control things in the hands of the few, that is what we are taking on with this vote. as much as some are preparing to vote today, others are getting ready for the others are getting ready for the other side of the coin, the opposition protest. translation: we are going to keep turning out to

defend democracy in venezuela. it sounds poetic to say i am prepared to give my life but the young people have a beautiful saying, they can ta ke have a beautiful saying, they can take our lives but not liberty. anything i can do as an individual and a venezuelan i'm going to do. so voting will continue throughout the day and all though this most controversial of votes in venezuela perhaps the most controversial of modern times in the country is going ahead peacefully so far, it does seem ahead peacefully so far, it does seem like confrontation is still on the horizon. what is the latest on the horizon. what is the latest on the violence so far? having said things were largely peaceful and at that stage in the day it appeared they were, things have gotten far worse as the day has proceeded,

there has been sporadic clashes in there has been sporadic clashes in the east of the city and other parts of the country we have heard of several politicians being killed on both sides so it is unfolding into quite a violent chaotic and anarchic election day. this is such a controversial vote with the opposition completely boycotting the election that that will hand victory to the president, no doubt about that but it will not be a victory that but it will not be a victory thatis that but it will not be a victory that is clear and is uncontested, it'll be a victory ofjust his most supporters and those as i indicated in the report who may have come under pressure to turn out and vote in the first place. whatever happens it doesn't appear this will take those steps towards pulling venezuela out of its economic malaise, its security and crime situation and violence and this will go one way beyond this individual

vote about a new constituent assembly. we'll grant, thank you. the united states has stepped up its response to the latest missile launch by north korea. two us air force bombers have flown directly over the korean peninsula. earlier, president trump expressed frustration with north korea's neighbour china saying bejing wasn't doing enough to halt the pyongyang's weapons programme. karen allen sent this report. us b—i bombers dominated the sky as tensions mount over the korean peninsula. escorted by fighterjets as part of a drill it was a direct response to what is being seen as an increasingly belligerent north korea. the us president is blaming china, pyongyang's biggest trading partner, for letting it get this far. taking to twitter president trump said: but china's influence taking to twitter president trump

said: but china's influence could be overstated. historic ties have become looser and chinese imports of north korean coal have been cut after un sanctions last year. china also condemmed friday's second ballistic missile test. this powerful rocket flew faster and further than the one before and could soon be armed with a nuclear weapon. it's all about getting america to listen. the north korean side is definitely sending a message to the united states. the missile is aiming at the united states. they are saying we are going to talk to you. not to south korea. more joint military exercises a sign that force is not being ruled out, though pressure is mounting for a diplomatic solution.

a pre—emptive strike could destabilise the entire region, but how long is washington prepared to wait? here in seoul, south korea depends heavily on the americans for security. but the very presence of tens of thousands of us forces here feeds into pyongyang's propaganda, that it is under threat, justifying its nuclear ambitions. with the military on high alert the korean peninsula feels more dangerous than just a week ago. avoiding an ultimate confrontation is now key. a visiting professor at georgetown university centre for security studies in washington, i asked her how dangerous this current situation is. i do not think it's any more dangerous than has been franklin the

last 64 years. we just passed the anniversary of the armistice and the tensions on the korean peninsula have always been high because the korean war has technically never ended. some would say that is extraordinary given what we have seen with the latest missile test with north korea, the most powerful yet. well, yes it may be the most powerful yet but the point it is not so much this task test, it is problematic the series and consecutive and ongoing testing that north korea is doing because it indicates north korea is no progression towards steady and greater development and it is the totality of the picture that is alarming. there is nothing particular about this strike, i think, that raises the threat level any more than at other times. when we see american bombers flying over the korean peninsula, how much of the korean peninsula, how much of the message is that sense to pyongyang but also to beijing saying

if you will not do much about this, we might? well, that is certainly one perception that is received by the audience but i think the bigger and stronger message is one of deterrence, it is not so we're practising because they're going to make runs of bomb droppings, that is not what they are for, they are to show the strength and unity of the alliance which is very important to south korea's defence and also japan and all of us allies in the region. but when you see donald trump sending out tweets which has seen the frustrated with beijing, how strong is the alliance? no, i do not think the two have are related. it has taken six months for president tromso come to the understanding that china is not going to act on behalf of the united states. that is

quicker than previous presidents who her last 16 years have relied on outsourcing the chinese role to solve the north korean problem. president trump i think his tweets are confusing to many people as i do not think this is any different. so this is misguided and china is not so much a solution of some think it might be? the point is north korea is often treated as just this objective actor that if we can just twea k objective actor that if we can just tweak how we try to change our tactics towards north korea we will get the result. you have to remember north korea is an independent actor and china is acting in china's interests. these interest and not much united states or any of its allies. that is the problem. president vladimir putin has confirmed that

seven—hundred—and—fifty—five us diplomatic personnel are to be expelled from russia by september the first. he added that further sanctions against washington were being considered, but would not be imposed yet. new us sanctions on russia were overwhelmingly approved by both houses of congress on tuesday despite objections by the white house. a gunman has opened fired in a nightclub in the german city of konstanz near the border with switzerland, killing one person and seriously wounding three others. police say the attacker, a 34 year—old iraqi, was shot in an exchange of fire with officers as he left the building — he died in hospital. a spokesman said there was no evidence of a terrorist motive. an israeli court has rejected the appeal of a soldier convicted of manslaughter. elor azaria was sentenced to 18 months injailfor shooting dead a 21—year—old palestinian man who was lying wounded on the ground. the court ruled that the palestinian man did not pose a "real and present danger" and that azaria violated the army's rules of engagement. police in australia believe

an alleged plot to blow up aircraft was inspired by islamist extremists. four men have been arrested after raids on several homes in the sydney area , and suspected bomb material was discovered. security has been tightened at airports around the country, with passengers being warned to expect delays. as phil mercer reports. a suspect is taken into custody in the surry hills neighbourhood of sydney, one of four people arrested in raids across the city by heavily armed police and members of australia's domestic spy agency. investigators say they have information that the plot to blow up an aircraft involved the use of an improvised device. as roads were sealed off and properties searched, it has been reported the operation was not planned but a rapid response to a tip—off. the prime minister, malcolm turnbull, says the authorities have foiled what appears to be

an elaborate conspiracy. i can report last night that there has been a majorjoint counterterrorism operation to disrupt a terrorist plot to bring down an aeroplane. the operation is continuing. a woman who said her son and husband were among those arrested in sydney has denied they had any ties to extremism, but senior police commanders say the raids were part of an alleged islamic—inspired plot. additional security measures have been put in place at domestic and international airports around the country. australia's national terror threat level remains at probable, which means the intelligence agencies believe that groups or individuals have the intent and capability to carry out an attack. since 2014, 70 people have been charged as a result of more than 30 counterterrorism raids across the country. still to come, events to remember

one of europe's bloodiest ever battles, century ago. nasa has investigated investigation after confirmation astronauts were cleared to fly while drunk. the last foot patrol in south armagh once an everyday pa rt foot patrol in south armagh once an everyday part of the soldiers lot mujdza judy and danger, now no more after almost four decades. six were white lion cubs are on the

prowl in worcestershire park and have been wrecked met with a roar of approval. they are cute. this is bbc world news today. the latest headlines... several people have been killed in venezuela — in violence surrounding the deeply divisive election for a new assembly to rewrite the constitution. us bombers have flown over the korean peninsula in response to pyongyang's latest missile test. now, the sports news. the match

taking place at the moment england and france, deep into the second half of the women's euro 2017 quarterfinal and the winner will meet the hosts in the semifinals, england to leeds withjody taylor taking the ball into the net on the hour mark. there is 60 minutes remaining. germany were knocked out by denmark. their third loss in 26 yea rs of by denmark. their third loss in 26 years of these championships. denmark face austria who won 5—3 against spain. germany play a wonderful passing game and we cannot com plete wonderful passing game and we cannot complete them from chances but we we re complete them from chances but we were in the way all of the time, it was not like open chances they got, they maybe got one that they should have scored but we also had one or

two that we should have scored on so maybe 4—3 us would have been the more fair result but there is too good goalkeepers in the goals. i do not think we were lucky today, it was not a lucky win, it was a good win. england are closing in on victory in a fair test of their series against south africa. england declared on 313—8jonny bairstow making 63. south africa lost their captain without scoring. ben stokes ona captain without scoring. ben stokes on a hat—trick. the four match series is currently level at one win each. we have done very well to get the four wickets. hopefully we can get these two at the moment and

finish it off quickly. sebastian vettel has won the hungarian grand prix to increase his lead in the f1 championship to 14 points. lewis hamilton had to settle for fourth but the team is taking a four—week break. as the sun sets on this first half of the 2017 formula 1 season it is ferrari who enter the formula 1 summer holidays with the biggest smile because they dominated here in hungary. sebastian vettel is understandably delighted with his days work but is weekend's work. mercedes have been less to lick their wounds because it was not their wounds because it was not their weekend at hamilton has cost himself three extra points because he gave the third—place back to va ltteri he gave the third—place back to valtteri bottas. his head may have been more ruthless. it is a three—week break in the f1 calendar and the season resumes at the belgian grand prix in three weeks'

time. who will it be, mercedes ferrari? bernhard langer has won the senior open, record tenth major title on the senior tour. the germany when two masters and more than 100 other titles on the mentors is in great form. his third senior major of the season winning by three shots in wales. it is fantastic to win any tournament but to win the senior 0pen win any tournament but to win the senior open championship means a great deal and to have won it three times now, second time here is pretty amazing achievement and i look forward to defending it next year. alexander christoph has won the richest one day cyber race. after 100. .. the richest one day cyber race. after 100... came the richest one day cyber race. after 100. .. came down the richest one day cyber race. after 100... came down to a bunch sprint on the mou and christoph got a late charge from the denmark man. that is the way to spend a sunday

afternoon. it looks beautiful. thank you very much. a service to mark 100 years since the battle of passchendaele is taking place in belgium this evening. the battle was one of the bloodiest confrontations of the first world war, with almost half a million soldiers killed. the duke and duchess of cambridge joined king phillipe & queen mathilde of belgium for the service at the menin gate in ypres. the ceremony included a rendition of the last post, something which has been heard in the town every evening over the past century. last post ben brown is in ypres to watched

commemorations. a very moving occasion. yeah, 100 years after one of the bloodiest battles in human history, what was supposed to be the war to end all wars. passchendaele lasted more than three months but in its there were some half a million casualties on both sides killed, missing or wounded. a staggering number of casualties and in the end the british side and commonwealth side only gained some five miles or eight kilometres of territory. the british side faced really some terrible odds on the battlefield, the battlefield had been swamped with torrential rain, a sea of mud, many drowned in the mud, machine guns and mustard gas as well. the

duke and duchess of cambridge have been here for the commemorative events and prince william spoke of the need to remember the sacrifice that was made. the battlefields came to define the war for many british and commonwealth soldiers. the defence of the city at such great cost meant it became hallowed ground. winston churchill said of ypres a more sacred place for the british race does not exist in all the world. 100 years ago tonight the british and commonwealth soldiers would have marched along the road behind me whether menin gate now stands on their way to the front line for the start of the offensive, the beginning of the battle of passchendaele but many of them would never return. and would die there on

the battlefield. 4000 relatives, descendants of those who fought at passchendaele have made their way from britain to belgium this weekend for the commemorative events determined to keep alive the memory of their ancestors, they brought pictures, letters and diaries and i spoke to one man whose father had fought at passchendaele and joint when he was only 15 years old who fought amid the mud was gassed but somehow survived and he told me it is so important that the memory of passchendaele should not be allowed to fade and future generations are taught all about it. i spoke to some of the british descendants started with philip cotterell his great uncle alfred died in the battle of passchendaele. these people really gave everything so we could have the life style we gave everything so we could have the lifestyle we leeds today and i think that we are very lucky. i can't

imagine doing it myself. when you go to the cemeteries and see the number that fell during the battle of passchendaele and the whole duration of the war, it is important to pay respect and to remember so many people gave their lives to allow us to be here and live our lives as we do today. between the british, the french and the allies and the german something like 500,000 people were wounded or killed. unbelievable numbers. and we won five miles of land which we then gave up again six months later when the germans came back again. it is the lunacy of it, the bravery and to try to remember that must never allow ourselves to get into the situations. well, commemorative events this weekend began at menin gate with the playing of the last post, it is played every evening here as it has been on almost every evening since 1928 and

on menin gate more than 50,000 names are listed of the missing from the first world war stop tomorrow many of the british relatives who are here will go to a cemetery where thousands of british and allied war dead are buried as the commemorative events continue a century after the start of the battle of passchendaele, one of the bloodiest battles on human history. thank you. if you want to read more about the world war i battle of passchendaele, you can on our website. you can also find information about other commemorations which began this evening. thank you for watching. hello, it has been all or nothing

today, some very big showers am a big downpours and northern ireland catching quite a few thundery downpours, reports of minor flooding in the country whereas towards the south—east of england, it has not been showery and a lovely end the day. we keep the showers for a while to the evening but overnight the heavy showers, thunderstorms will ease off, we keep the shower was going more towards northern ireland are still and western scotland around other western hills and coasts but they should be lighter overnight and further eased clear skies mean tempters will drop away in towns and cities to 11 or 12 and over the next two days we keep a mixture of sunshine and showers. we still have an area of low pressure sitting in the north west uk, the closer you are the more likely you are to get the showers. monday morning, showers, a rash of them pushing eastwards across scotland

and across the eastern side of northern ireland. north—west england catching a few showers and quite sunny. sunshine for the midlands and east anglia and much of southern england but one to showers running in the south—west and into west wales. the showers across england should be fairly few and far between, a stronger breeze here the showers not lasting long and the heavier ones in the far north of england more likely across scotland and northern ireland, they could be slow—moving and sundry. temperatures 18 degrees or so towards the south—east with sunshine 23. on tuesday, we see a mixture of sunshine and showers, fewer showers across northern areas like to showers so it's starting to dry off a little bit. thejet stream is a good way south across the uk, not worry should be, normally between scotla nd worry should be, normally between scotland and i slant, thatjet

strea m scotland and i slant, thatjet stream will pick up another area of low pressure that is across north america right now moving across the atla ntic america right now moving across the atlantic and heading towards the uk for the middle part of the week. we will find rain for the middle part of the week. we willfind rain and for the middle part of the week. we will find rain and strong wind coming in from the south—west, many eastern areas still dry through the day with sunshine but these areas will see the rain in the evening and overnight. hello, this is the bbc world news headlines. in venezuela, government supporters have been voting in a highly charged atmosphere for a new assembly to rewrite the costa goosen. several people have reportedly been killed during the day. —— to rewrite the constitution. the americans have said edfors, is to fly over north korea. president trump has criticised china for not doing more to rein in the north

korean regime. australian authorities say they have disrupted authorities say they have disrupted a plot to blow up a plane. ceremonies have been taking place in belgium to mark the centenary of the battle of passchendaele, one of the bloodiest of the first world war.