this is bbc news. i'm david eades. our top stories: spain rejects the offer of talks over the future of catalonia, as the region's leader avoids an immediate declaration of independence. fresh allegations against harvey weinstein — the hollywood producer denies claims he raped three women. and just when they needed it most, a magical messi hat—trick drags argentina into the world cup finals. hello, i'm sally bundock. saving north american trade — president trump and canada's prime minister trudeau meet, as tensions rise over the region's $1 trillion pact. and a scandal deepens at another majorjapanese supplier to the world's biggest car companies shares in kobe steel plunge. thank you forjoining us.

the spanish government has rejected the offer of talks over the future status of catalonia, and will be holding an emergency cabinet meeting later to discuss the crisis. the region's leader, carles puigdemont, backed off from making an immediate declaration of independence on tuesday, to allow for negotiations. but spain's deputy prime minister called his actions unacceptable and dismissed the offer. the government maintains that the independence referendum was illegal. andrew plant reports. confusion, consternation, and anger also. this crowd of people eager for catalonia to separate from spain watching as their leader first declared independence and then delayed taking any action. translation: the government and

myself propose that this parliament suspends the effects of the independents without dialogue without which we cannot reach a solution. the many it was a disappointing and to almost two weeks of turmoil which started with a referendum and scenes of police brutality is spain's central government declared the vote illegal. their patience with the separatist government now clearly wearing thin. the speech the president gave is that of a person who does not wear his, where he is going and who he wants to go there with. the government cannot accept the validity because it was ruled illegal by the spanish constitutional court. so what next is being? the leader of catalonia's regional assembly has disappointed many supporters who wanted an unequivocal declaration of independence. meanwhile, spain's

prime minister has called an extraordinary cabinet meeting to work out a way forward on an issue where it is increasingly hard to see where it is increasingly hard to see where any common ground can ever be found.. the names and the numbers just get bigger. hollywood producer harvey weinstein has now been accused of sexual harassment by some of hollywood's biggest stars, angelina jolie and gwyneth paltrow. the italian film star asiah argento and two other women claim he raped them, according to an investigation by the new yorker magazine. he has issued a statement ‘unequivocally‘ denying any non—consensual sex. nick bryant has the latest. few people have dominated hollywood quite like harvey weinstein, a movie mogul who changed the face of the film industry, but who now stands accused of abusing that power by harassing women and preying on them sexually in a modern day version of the casting couch. he could not. some of the biggest names in movies

are now coming forward. gwyneth paltrow claims that when he hired her as the lead in the film, emma, he suggested they head to his bedroom for massages. she was a kid, she told the new york times, and was petrified. angelina jolie, who was in the weinstein movie, playing by heart, claims he made unwanted advances in a hotel room, which she rejected. in los angeles tonight, louissette geist, who was then a young actress, described pitching a film to him in 2008. when i finished my pitch, i was obviously nervous, and hejust kept asking me to watch him masturbate. i told him i was leaving. he quickly got out of the tub and grabbed my forearm, as i was trying to grab my purse, and he led me to his bathroom pleading that i just watch him masturbate. the italian model, ambra battilana gutierrez, has accused weinstein of groping her and, after complaining to police, wore a wire to capture a conversation at this manhattan

hotel, in which he appeared to admit it. i'm everything, i'm a famous guy. meaz—féégaféifiae k§*fi%7?£%2?5'25”’ 7" w *' weinstein. leading liberals were much quicker to condemn donald trump after a tape emerged of him boasting about molesting women than the movie mogul, a major democratic fundraiser. tonight, his friend, hillary clinton, gave herfirst response, saying she was "shocked and appalled." america is a country of second chances and improbable comebacks, but given the number of women who are now coming forward, it's hard to see how

harvey weinstein can ever be such a force in the movie industry again. hollywood hierarchies have been dramatically upended, the power now lies with his accusers. nick bryant, bbc news, washington. sally is here with all the business news. nafta's chances of survival... hope for improvement? it is definitely going to be discussed. the canadian prime ministerjustin trudeau meets donald trump today for talks on the future of the north american free trade agreement — or nafta. it comes against a backdrop of increasing tensions over the deal. nafta slashes tariffs on trade between mexico, canada and the us — that trade is worth around $1 trillion a year. but the american leader has called it a disaster and is trying to renegotiate the terms.

he's especially annoyed about the $61; billion trade deficit his country has with mexico — which he says has hit americanjobs. but canada hasn't escaped his wrath. canadian plane maker bombardier has been hit with import tariffs of 300% on some of its planes. that's after the us said the planes were being sold at below cost price due to illegal support from ottawa and london. that's something justin trudeau denies and he will try to persuade mr trump that "canada is not america's problem" when talks get underway near washington. he's also expected to say that canada is america's biggest customer. what is the likely outcome of that

meeting? we will be discussing that. kobe steel has confirmed that there may have been data fabrication in iron powder products used in parts like automotive gears. this news comes after the japanese company admitted over the weekend to making up false numbers to show that its aluminum and copper products had met customer specifications. this is a really big story forjapan because it is another weakjapanese supplier to the big names in the car industry. this follows the supplier of the airbags and that disaster. what is all this going to mean to the industry? we will have all that and business stories later on. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news: the us supreme court has formally dropped the case over president trump's travel ban on visitors

from six muslim—majority countries. the ban expired last month, and the court said that there was now no need to rule on it. mr trump announced new restrictions which included limited bans on venezuelans and north koreans two weeks ago. victims of the las vegas shooting have filed a lawsuit against the makers of so—called bump stocks — a device that allowed the gunman, stephen paddock, to fire semi—automatic weapons with the speed of a machine gun. 58 people were killed and hundreds injured in the shooting on october the first. south korea's military says two american bombers have flown close to the korean peninsula in a show of force. with tension in the region still high, the bombers flew from the us airbase in guam, on a training exercise. it comes amid allegations that north korean hackers stole military documents from the south, including a plan to assassinate kim jong—un. brazilian police have arrested sixty people and served 104 search and seizure warrants as part of probes into cocaine trafficking

out of ports in the southern state of santa catarina. according to the authorities, criminal organisations were sending packages of the drugs in containers to be transported to europe. french public sector workers have been on strike and organised demonstrations across the country to protest against president macron‘s programme of budget cuts. they accused the president of ‘stigmatising' state workers, and favouring private business. france's pensioners are spoiling for a fight. the government has plans to raise the tax on their pensions in order to balance the nation's books. i think this increase of that tax is totally unfair because it's concentrated on one portion of the whole. the sign says, "look out for the teeth of the grey panthers."

yeah, you're dangerous? are you angry? parisian pensioners have a reputation for being a little bit grumpy when they see things they don't like, and what they don't like right now is emmanuel macron. emmanuel macron is a young man in a big hurry. he's forced through labour reforms, he plans big cuts in the public sector. the response — protests and strikes, and a dramatic fall in his approval rating. macron knows he's in a fight. the reform agenda has plenty of backers. banker erich bonnet has just moved his business back to paris from london because he's convinced macron can deliver change. it wasn't a very difficult decision. thanks to macron‘s election and a much clearer direction for entrepreneurs in france, the move was, for me, natural. president macron wants to bring change to every corner of france.

rhone is a country town deep in the auvergne. here they grow tobacco. right now the harvest is in full swing. the cigarette industry has been a big employer in rhone, but not any more. uk based imperial tobacco hasjust closed its factory here. 239jobs gone, and production moved to poland, where costs are lower. the redundant staff don't see macron‘s reforms working for them. in the french parliament, emmanuel macron‘s party has a big majority. despite the strikes and the slide in the polls, the president's team is pushing on.

we are starting with tough measures because we found a budget which was really a huge problem for our country, so we had to take tough decisions. better to take them now than not to take them at all. so this change is real and it's going to be maybe brutal? no, it's not brutal, it's dynamic. his opponents accuse the new president of governing for the rich. in his drive to change france, mr macron will have to overcome a fierce current of resistance. stephen sackur, bbc news, paris. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: reliving the battle of the sexes — it was the tennis match watched around the world and we'll talk to the legend who took part. this was a celebration by people who were relishing their freedom. they believe everything's going to be different from now on. they think their country will be respected in the world once more, as it used to be before slobodan milosevic took power.

the dalai lama, the exiled spiritual leader of tibet, has won this year's nobel peace prize. as the parade was reaching its climax, two grenades exploded and a group of soldiersjumped from a military truck taking part in the parade and ran towards the president, firing from kalashnikov automatic rifles. after 437 years, the skeletal ribs of henry viii's tragic warship emerged. but even as divers work to buoy her up, the mary rose went through another heart—stopping drama. i want to be the people's governor. i want to represent everybody. i believe in the people of california. you are watching bbc news. i am

david eades. the latest headlines for you: the spanish government has rejected the offer of talks over the future status of catalonia. the region's leader backed off from making an immediate declaration of independence on tuesday. fresh allegations against harvey weinstein — the hollywood producer denies claims he raped three women. the wildfires raging across california's famous wine region have left at least 15 people dead. hundreds of houses have been destroyed and a state of emergency has been declared. 20,000 people have fled their homes. california is no stranger to wildfires but these are some of the worst on record. a combination of dry weather and strong winds is fuelling the destruction. it is not over yet, either. we are speaking to sarah reith. sarah reith is a reporterfor kzyx news, based in mendocino county where three people have been confirmed dead. she's been covering the fires since they started and joins us now

via webcam. thank you very a much indeed for giving some of your time, now. can you give us a picture, if you like, as to how bad it has been in the areas you have been looking at?m mendocino co, we have about 21,000 acres confirmed, which is a little meaningless, because soon as the days down on one promoter, it springs up on another. to give you an idea, about one and a half hours north of us, there are about 20,000 acres to the east of us. there is another fire there too. there are about 70 massive fires around us. we are in the heat of it, so to speak. -- i7. are in the heat of it, so to speak. —— 17. there has been a lot of emphasis placed on the winegrowing region, there, because it is so famous. but there is more to it, is in there? there always is. here in mendocino co, we grow wine, we have

apples, grapes, we are also world—famous apples, grapes, we are also world —famous for the apples, grapes, we are also world—famous for the high quality of oui’ canvas, world—famous for the high quality of our canvas, which, whether people like it or not, is a major economic engine. —— cannabis. it is still quite a legal, and there is no way to quantify how much this major crop has been impacted and what impact it will have on the economy. -- quasi—legal. just looking at the pictures, it has been absolute devastation. but is there a full understanding as to how bad it is and how many have been affected? can you build that picture, yet? and how many have been affected? can you build that picture, yewm and how many have been affected? can you build that picture, yet? it is really ha rd. i you build that picture, yet? it is really hard. i have to tell you the not knowing has been the hardest part. yesterday, i was in two communities that have been affected, and the vibe was exultant. because those were the stories of survivors. those who lept out of bed at 2am, ran out of houses barefoot, but

there mood was exultant, because they had prevailed over this disaster. today, this adrenaline is starting to wear. people are wandering around and realising they had been wearing their pyjamas the two days in a row. —— starting to wear. i went up to one community that has been shut off from access. —— wear off. they have had no landline, no cell, no internet. they are separate 110w, landline, no cell, no internet. they are separate now, but they have no way of knowing how to get information, how to let their families know. there were people in the library won it gillette families as far away as mexico know they say. but it is a waiting to find out if your home is still standing. if your loved ones are still say. if your animals that your livelihood depends upon are still alive, and if you still have a phone to go back to

when this is all over. as early. very upsetting for many people. sarah, a much indeed. sarah reith, there. a previously lost portrait by leonardo da vinci is to go on sale in new york. it's the last one still in private hands — estimated worth, well, around a $100 million. but the auctioneers admit it is so rare they don't really know what it will sell for. the bbc‘s tim allman has the story. it's been described as the last da vinci. salvator mundi, saviour of the world, a portrait of christ, dating to around 1500. it was only rediscovered 12 years ago when it was sold at auction, initially believed to be a copy. the new buyers started the restoration process, and once the old paint layers began to come off the new paint layers, you could see the original quality and it was at that point that it was beginning to be understood that it really might be leonardo da vinci's lost original, which was presumed to have been destroyed. leonardo da vinci, perhaps

the greatest and most important artist of all time, the creator of the mona lisa and the last supper. so what price do you put on genius? we're being a little vague — around $100 million. i mean, there's never been anything like it sold, so, in a way, how much it makes is really... we're not really sure. the market will decide, but it's around $100 million is an estimate. all will be revealed next month, when the auction takes place in new york. soon, the last da vinci will have a new home. tim allman, bbc news. we wait to find out. what we do know is that in sport at lease, —— what

we do know, in sport, at least, is a little more of the full line—up of countries who will be fighting for football's world cup next year. one big name eliminated through qualifying are the netherlands.but another team who looked unlikely to reach the finals and have is argentina. no surprise who they have to thank for their trip to russia. lionel messi's hat trick brought them back from the brink of elimination. the barcelona star scored twice in the first half to give his side the lead. and then he completed his hat—trick just after the hour mark to seal a 3—1win over ecuador. it means they finish third in the group just behind brazil and uruguay. colombia take the fourth automatic spot with peru going into a play—off. —— peru. elsewhere the usa are out. it's the first time they've missed the finals since 1986 but panama are in for the first time. european champions portugal will be there — they finished top of their group. as did france. the 1998 winners finished ahead of sweden who now face a play off and the dutch were eliminated

at the qualifying stage for the second successive tournament and leading one of their stars arjen robben to announce his retirement from international football. he is one of the best players in the world. he can still do hisjob by his club. so he will be missed in the national team, playing without him, because he is such a quality player. and we will miss him. no doubts about that. that was recent history, now some almost ancient history. it was called the battle of the sexes. it was a tennis match like no other. bobby riggs, a former wimbledon champion, took on the greatest female player of the era to prove equality in sport could never happen. but there was a problem — riggs lost the match.

44 years on, a film based on the encounter has been made. the bbc‘s david sillito went to meet the woman at the centre of it all, billie—jean king. how about this? man versus woman. male chauvinist pigs versus hairy legged feminists. no offence. billie—jean king, greatest female player of hurt generation. billie—jean king, greatest female player of hurt generationlj billie—jean king, greatest female player of hurt generation. i lay pressure. i always was built for those of them. this matches for all the guys around the world who feel the guys around the world who feel the mail is king, the melissa breen. bobby riggs, ageing tennis champion and soccerfest mao chauvinist pig. the battle of the sexes, one of the most extraordinaire matches in the history of tennis. —— self—confessed male chauvinist pig. 44 years later, i met the real billiejean king to see what she thought of seeing a life turned into a movie. watching a film for the first time, and it

comes to an end. what is going through your mind? well, too that really happen? despite all the bravado, she has been working out every evening. bobby riggs was a hustler trying to makes money. but for billie jean king, hustler trying to makes money. but for billiejean king, this was more than just for billiejean king, this was more thanjust a for billiejean king, this was more than just a tennis match. it represented so much. it represented equality, freedom, and the woman who saw it had come up to me and said they got power and confidence. and they got power and confidence. and the men, to me and a very emotional. sometimes they have tears in their eyes and say, i have a daughter, now, and that changed my whole outlook on how i was going to raise my children. the first time, willa mette my children. the first time, willamette the woman in the glasses. it was a very different era. —— wimbledon. billie jean was it was a very different era. —— wimbledon. billiejean was fighting for their treatment for female players, but what did she really pick a bobby riggs? what makes you

think that i won't be of this iq at? what next you think that?” think that i won't be of this iq at? what next you think that? i thought he was hysterical, and crazy, and a great performer. he was outrageous, but myjob was to beat him. cillessen go. he is not there to change, i cillessen go. he is not there to change, lam cillessen go. he is not there to change, i am not interchangeable. cillessen go. he is not there to change, lam not interchangeable. so let him be. the film civilly tells the story of the match, the victory, and all the off—camera personal drama. but there was a fascinating final scene. i stayed in touch with them, and the night before he died, ata them, and the night before he died, at a great discussion within, and he finally understood was about history, because i kept saying 0bee, it is about history. and he said no, it is about history. and he said no, it is about money. and he finally said we did make a difference, didn't we? and i said yes. and i am so didn't we? and i said yes. and i am so happy that we have stayed in touch and you're my friend and i love you. and he told me that he loved me and the next

day he passed away. game set and match, billie jean king. day he passed away. game set and match, billiejean king. you're watching bbc news. hello there. it's shaping up to be a very wet wednesday indeed for some parts of the country, particularly up towards the north and the west. some heavy rain, some strong winds, as well, courtesy of a slow—moving weather front. you can get that across west wales to start the morning. across the south—west of england, just a few spots of rain here and there, and a largely dry start across the south—east, up into east anglia. there will be a fair amount of cloud, but some hazy sunshine. it will be breezy, temperatures around 1a degrees. some brightness up across the midlands and north—east england, also some bright skies to start the day across northern parts of scotland. but, with some hefty showers from the word go, some heavy rain there across the south—west of scotland. rain for a time sinking southwards and eastwards across northern

ireland. 1a degrees in belfast, a pretty mild start to the day. the wettest weather, though, will be across the hills of north wales and north—west england. now, in some of these areas, as we go through wednesday, over the whole day we could record 50 millimetres to 100 millimetres, or even a touch more, over some of the hills of cumbria. so that could well be enough to give some issues of localised flooding. that rain will be blown in on this strong south—westerly wind. you could see gales in exposed spots. largely dry down to the south—east, but generally fairly cloudy. could be the odd spot of rain. further north and west, brighter skies. sunshine, but some heavy showers at times, and temperatures of 1a to 17 degrees. this slow—moving band of rain clears out of the way by wednesday night, and by thursday we will see clear spells, showers into the north—west. quite a breezy night, but even so, it could turn quite chilly out there, especially in some spots in the countryside down towards the south. but first, a nice—looking day for the most part. we will see some spells of sunshine, much drier for parts of north england and north wales. thicker cloud for england later in the day, and some outbreaks of rain, and highs

of 12 to 17 degrees. wet and windy weather will return to the north—west during friday. very soggy for some of these hills in north—west england, and perhaps south—west scotland. notice, though, down to the south—east. with a bit of brightness, you could well get those temperatures up to around 20 degrees. and, as we head towards the weekend, that is a theme that will continue. warm air wafting up from the south, could get to 23 in the south. cooler to the north—west, with some rain. this is bbc news. the headlines: the spanish government has rejected the offer of talks over the future status of catalonia. the region's leader backed off from making an immediate declaration of independence on tuesday, to allow — he said — for negotiations. the hollywood film producer, harvey weinstein, has denied raping three women after allegations were made against him in the us magazine the new yorker. he said in a statement

he unequivocally denied the claims. at least fifteen people are known to have died in wildfires in northern california's wine region. more than 150 others are missing, though that may be a consequence of the chaotic pace of the evacuations. the us supreme court has formally dropped the case over president trump's travel ban on visitors from six muslim—majority countries.