this is bbc news. the headlines at 12: tougher sentences for the perpetrators of acid attacks — automatic minimum jail terms are proposed for people repeatedly caught carrying acid. britain joins other countries in opposing president trump's threat to tear up a nuclear deal with iran. emergency talks are set to take place at the oscars over harvey weinstein, following multiple claims of sexual assault. also this hour: fears that wildfires could worsen in northern california. so far, 36 people are known to have died. 250 remain unaccounted for. and around 6000 homes and properties have been destroyed. and click goes inside the fukushima nuclear power plant where robots are helping to clean—up after the disaster. that's in half an hour, here on bbc news. good afternoon and

welcome to bbc news. tougher prison sentences are being planned for people who are repeatedly caught carrying acid or other corrosive substances. the government wants to introduce a minimum six—month jail term in england, wales and scotland. this comes after the number of acid attacks across the uk more than doubled in the past five years. here's our home affairs correspondent danny shaw. convicted this week, two robbers who sprayed a chemical on their victims. joshua jordan and sadik kamara were part of a gang that attacked a shop assistant in east london. the woman, in her 50s, was squirted, with ammonia at least three times. herface burning, she bravely fought back. later, jordan and kamara sprayed another woman with ammonia.

they will be sentenced next month. the government wants to give police greater powers to prevent attacks with substances like ammonia. in future it will be an offence to carry harmful chemicals in public, unless there's a reasonable explanation. it's really important that we send out a very strong message that carrying a corrosive substance in a public place, unless you've got a really good reason to have it, is just totally unacceptable. you speak to any victim of an acid attack and they will be living with lifelong scars. under the home office plans on violent crime, there will be a four—year maximum prison term for possession of harmful chemicals. people convicted twice or more will face an automatic prison sentence. ministers also want a knife ban in sixth form colleges, further education centres and universities — just as there is in schools.

in london, police are being issued with test kits to check the contents of suspicious bottles of liquid. they're also being given protective gloves and water bottles, so they can treat victims quickly. together with the proposed new laws, officers hope it will help prevent more attacks. it is an appalling crime, especially for those who have to live through the attacks. in a moment we will be speaking to a delivery driver who was attacked with acid and also a youth campaigner on his thoughts on how this latest move on the sentencing is going to play with the minority of young people who do choose to carry acid around with them. but let's move on for the moment, to another big story that is developing through the day. britain has said it will defend the international nuclear deal

with iran, after donald trump decided he would no longer endorse it. the us president said iran had already violated the deal and has threatened to abandon the agreement altogether. all the other signatories — including france, china, and germany, have said they remain committed to the agreement. as we have seen in north korea, the longer we ignore a threat, the worse that threat becomes. it is why we are determined that the world's leading sponsor of terrorism will never obtain nuclear weapons. a canadian man kidnapped with his pregnant wife by islamic militants in afghanistan in 2012 has been describing their ordeal for the first time since they were released. joshua boyle says one of his children was murdered and his wife was raped during captivity. joshua boyle and his pregnant american wife, caitlan coleman, were captured while backpacking five years ago. they arrived back in toronto

on friday night with three surviving children — all born in captivity. these are pictures from that arrival. the pakistani army rescued the family in the north—west of the country, near the afghan border, earlier this week. obviously it will be of incredible importance to my family that we are able to build a secure century for our three surviving children to call home, to focus an edification and to try to regain some portion of the childhood that they have lost. —— a secure sanctuary. i was in afghanistan helping the most neglected minority group in the world, those ordinary villagers who live deep inside taliban—controlled afghanistan where no ngo, no aid worker and no government has ever successfully been able to bring the necessary help. the organisers of the oscars are to hold emergency talks later to discuss claims of sexual misconduct against the film

producer harvey weinstein. the academy of motion picture arts and sciences, which has awarded 81 0scars to films produced by his company, says the allegations of sexual assault are "repugnant". adina campbell reports. facing possible expulsion from the organisation that catapulted him to stardom, harvey weinstein‘s future is hanging in the balance. normally known for its glitz and glamour, the academy which organises the oscars will hold an emergency meeting later, rocked by allegations that the man behind some of hollywood's biggest films sexually harassed and assaulted dozens of women. he is someone who is different from the person i knew and the person who was involved for many years in democratic politics, for me and for barack 0bama and so many of us. he was very helpful and it is just appalling, what is coming out now, and i want to commend the women who are finally stepping forward.

the us actress rose mcgowan is the latest woman to accuse harvey weinstein of rape, while some of hollywood's other big names have made sexual assault, groping and harassment allegations, leading to police investigations in both the uk and us. it has opened up questions about what young aspiring actors are faced with in a fierce industry with a cutthroat culture. before you even step into the room, do i have the right look? are they going to like me because of this? i don't have that. but what if they ask me to do that? i can't do that! ok, maybe i shouldn't go. it sounds crazy, but that is literally the conversation that goes on in your head. harvey weinstein has denied allegations of nonconsensual sex

and is now believed to be getting therapy in arizona. rumours are swirling that his film production company could soon be closed or sold, but in a statement his brother bob has rejected those claims, saying business is continuing as usual. 65—year—old weinstein has already been suspended from the british film academy, bafta, and may face the same fate or worse from the academy later. this is a story that has obviously got some way to run. earlier i spoke to sandro monetti, a showbiz journalist who's based in los angeles. he told me that the oscars academy has a tough decision to make about weinstein. in the 90 year history of the academy, they have rarely made such a closely watched decision. the sa members of the board will meet in a few hours to decide what to do about

the harvey weinstein problem, and on the harvey weinstein problem, and on the surface, the obvious way is to kick him out, just as after have done. but it's maybe not as simple as that. during all of their nine decades, the academy has sat in judgment of professional achievement, not a professional behaviour, so their options are kick him out, do nothing, in which case they are likely to face resignations and condemnation, or take away the best picture 0scar from 1999 that harvey weinstein won for shakespeare in love. they are dumbed if they do and down if they don't. it is an important decision in hollywood history. if they were to kick him out, does that then open them up to having to revisit other people, let's not name names but other people who might have been found to have not conducted themselves in the best possible way in previous years?

the allegations against harvey weinstein are abominable, but if you add other high people who are members of the academy, there has been a huge history of convictions and allegations for sexual harassment and lots of repugnant behaviour. let's not forget that the casting couch has been around as long as hollywood has—been, and if you open this door to kick out one person, who is going to come next, and does the academy have to be the moral arbiter of decent behaviour in hollywood? and moral arbiter of decent behaviour in hollywood ? and that moral arbiter of decent behaviour in hollywood? and that is what i mean when i say the decision, although obvious, may come with certain problems and whatever decision they take, it is farfrom problems and whatever decision they take, it is far from the end of the story. how is this playing out in hollywood at the moment? does it feel like a seismic moment, all bearing in mind the number of people who we now know knew of harvey weinstein‘s behaviour, presumably it

is clearly not just weinstein‘s behaviour, presumably it is clearly notjust him. this is a massive industry. i wonder whether this feels like a moment of change, oi’ this feels like a moment of change, or whether this feels like a moment where the finger gets pointed out one individual and yet the systems continue as they have been. the floodgates have opened and certainly lots of finger—pointing is going on. and i think even though it's a very sad week for hollywood, it's a huge opportunity going forward, and suddenly after the horrendous allegations here, the creditors who no doubt exist in hollywood hopefully it will think twice and hopefully it will think twice and hopefully will understand that this must never be done again, because for so long, they've been able to get away with it, and that's why hollywood has turned a blind eye to this sickening kind of behaviour. this is a huge opportunity to keep the eyes wide open and say no, never

again, to this. this could be a turning of the page in hollywood history and in wider society. that was the latest from hollywood on the harvey weinstein story as it stands at the moment, the oscars committee due to meet later on today to discuss what they should do in reaction to that. let's return to the news on the tougher prison sentences being planned for people who are repeatedly caught carrying acid or other corrosive substances. with me now is jabed hussain, a delivery driver who was attacked with acid in east london back in july. and in birmingham we're also joined by theojohnson — he's an actor and youth campaigner. thank you forjoining us. let me start with you. all of these attacks are horrific. what happened to you? i was just back from work, stuck in traffic, and someone threw acid on

my face. out of the blue, unprovoked? yes. an unknown person i have never seen before. they were wearing a mask as well. basically, it is kind of like ijust tried to go home. did people come and help you? i remember i wasjust crying and screaming but no one opened their windows from the cars, and i was just begging their windows from the cars, and i wasjust begging for their windows from the cars, and i was just begging for water. their windows from the cars, and i wasjust begging for water. did you know what had happened?m wasjust begging for water. did you know what had happened? it is really painful and obviously i know that because i know the feeling of it. i've still got the feeling of it, when they threw acid on me. it felt like fire on my face. 0bviously, there is somebody crying on the street, they are mentally affected. yours was not, obviously, the first attack of the sector but it was one of the first attacks that got some

nationwide coverage, and since then you have been campaigning to try to draw attention to this crime. do you feel that what we are seeing today, the government announcements today of tougher sentences for those repeatedly caught carrying corrosive su bsta nces repeatedly caught carrying corrosive substances without a valid reason, do you think that that gets us somewhere? first of all, i'm going to give thanks because at least there is a response to it, but i'm denying it because it is notjust me, i'm talking about... i'm campaigning against, the victim is of acid attacks are suffering. it should be tougher punishment, as i know the pain of it. i know the pain and the people suffering. so there should be a tougher sentence that, and it's not like knife crimes, it's

kind of like someone destroying your identity. someone destroys your face. you have to carry that until you die. so the government should do tougher sentences. just letting it 90, tougher sentences. just letting it go, they can't let it go. it is a terrible crime. let's bring in theo in birmingham. thank you forjoining us. in birmingham. thank you forjoining us. can you give us any understanding as to why some young people carry these substances around? the key word is random, and thatis around? the key word is random, and that is what it seems to be. there is no actual one thing why they do it. like one reason. there is jealousy, there is people'sinsecurities, it's a weird one. it's not like knife crime where you could say people are trying to defend themselves. it's cruel. i feel that with the sentences, it's definitely a start. busy we need to do something, but yes, it is

life—threatening and it's not good. to the sentences... i mean, for people who clearly carry this stuff around and therefore with the attention possibly of using it, are they going to be put off by any sentence? it's hard to say, because you have to be really cruel to do something like this. it is mental and physical scars permanently. the raising of awareness that something, an announcement like today's it's us, that presumably would stop some people or make some people consider twice? yes, the fear of going to jail is always a deterrent in some way, even if it is a small way, so it isa way, even if it is a small way, so it is a good start but there is still more that needs to be done. jabed do you think that there is something amongst raising awareness amongst the public that will stop people carrying this out? yet it is

such a violent crime that you would think that anyone carrying acid who withdrew it in someone's phase would know that my right leg —— would know that morally and ethically they are doing something wrong, so you would wonder whether criminal proceedings and prison would put them off. they can get the substances from their own kitchen but you can't stop selling it. you need to go to the bottom. what do you mean? go to the bottom. what do you mean? go to the bottom means why are they doing it? who is doing it? so without counting the crimes, go to the bottom and if you just sort this out, like most of the boys are under 18 that are doing this kind of crimes, so if you just go and sort this out, that would be reduced. that is what i think. theo, there is a problem, is there not, if it is people under a certain age

it's hard to prosecute people? as it is for some and knife crimes. it's hard to prosecute people? as it is for some and knife crimesm it's hard to prosecute people? as it is for some and knife crimes. it is. it isa is for some and knife crimes. it is. it is a shame because they are young and will grow it is a shame because they are young and willgrow up it is a shame because they are young and will grow up and regret it. what could help is going into schools and youth centres and talking about it, showing the serious effects of it and making them see first hand and bringing people in who have been affected. you have presumably spoken to get people who do carry acid around. can you give us a sort of picture of perhaps one of them and why they do it and what they are thinking, what they are hoping to achieve? it is an immature mind state. the times i've come across people with acid, it's like they don't see the serious nature of what it is and what they can do. it is like people don't look for the future. they will do some thing today and not think about the lifetime effects of it happening, how it will affect them in their

lifetime and the other person. jabed, there are life term effects, aren't there? not just jabed, there are life term effects, aren't there? notjust physical scars but presumably mental difficulties as well. yes, i feel scared to go back to work. however the tins of surviving at the moment they have to carry on until they die. —— however the they have to carry on until they die. —— howeverthe victim 's are surviving. i know the pain within if you hours. i know the pain of this kind of crime. within three hours, i can imagine how they are suffering. how the victims are suffering. so this is why ijust want future generations not to suffer like that. they —— campaigning against it is important to raise the awareness that this is really important.

especially in london, where i live. it is my home. sol especially in london, where i live. it is my home. so i don't really acce pt it is my home. so i don't really accept it. thank you, jabed, and theo as well. thank you forecasting at least some light on this appalling crime. the headlines: as we havejust been discussing, the home office is planning to introduce minimum six—month prison sentences for people repeatedly caught carrying acid, following a surge in attacks. the uk has joined acid, following a surge in attacks. the uk hasjoined other countries in defending the international nuclear deal with iran grow after donald trump's decision to withdraw his endorsement of the agreement. the organisers of the oscars will hold emergency talks later to discuss claims of sexual misconduct against film producer harvey weinstein. at least four people have died after a cargo plane has crashed

into the sea off the shore of ivory coast. it had taken off the from the main airport in the city of abidjan during a heavy storm. witnesses said two bodies have been removed from the wreckage. reuters news agency is saying that it has been reported that the dead we re it has been reported that the dead were all moldovan citizens and french nationals were injured. at least 36 people have died in the wildfires that continue to spread in northern california. authorities say 9000 firefighters are tackling 17 separate wildfires in a wine region to the north of san francisco — they are among the worst in the area's history. three smaller fires have been contained. the duchess of cambridge's uncle has been charged with assault. gary goldsmith was charged on friday following an incident in the early hours according to the metropolitan police. he was bailed and is due to appear at westminster magistrates' court later this month.

mr goldsmith is the younger brother of carole middleton. a former civil servant in the department for international trade has said that leaving the eu without a trade deal would put the uk in a very difficult position. martin donnelly stood down as permanent secretary in march. early i spoke to our political correspondent about what he has been saying. he was in the post until march and has given his first interview since. he set out what he saw as the disadvantages or even dangers of the negotiations with brussels ending without a deal and the uk going it alone, if you like, after brexit. he said it could mean a huge amount of

legal uncertainty and that in turn could be very bad for business, for jobs and for investment in britain. he said that it would be a very serious outcome and a serious position for the british economy. and he also links the outcome of no deal with the eu to the uk's chances of being able to trade effectively with countries elsewhere in the world, and that is of course what those keen to get me brexit as soon as possible built tell you, that the trade deal with the eu is important but not the be all and end deal because we could strike a trade deal with other countries around the world to make up for it. but sir martin donnelly sounded a bit of a reality check about that approach this morning, saying it could take a very long time and will be a slow process to strike those deals. the americans might raise issues like chlorine—treated chicken or hormones in beef or access to our health service. the indians might well say, well, we would like more visas for it workers. some asian countries might want more recognition of their safety and product standards.

all these raise complex issues, so i think it's a mistake to think that there is some quick and easy alternative to the european union. obviously over time things change, but that's slow process. the government still insists it is working towards a deal but there is clear concern in the civil service, who can't talk as publicly as he can, but there is clear concerned about the progress being made? yes, and that is reflected in sir martin's comments this morning and there is preparation under way for this no deal scenario. as we have seen over this no deal scenario. as we have seen over the this no deal scenario. as we have seen over the course this no deal scenario. as we have seen over the course of the last few days, it has been argued about in public, the chancellor saying in front of mps that he would not commit many to planning for a no deal scenario until the last possible moment. the prime minister having to go back slightly on that,

getting hit from her own mps, saying we should be planning from this —— on this from the word go. so it reflects a fear from some that we will end up with no dealfrom reflects a fear from some that we will end up with no deal from the eu, but let's take a step back and remember that the talks with brussels are ongoing. they might be difficult at the moment, we might be waiting for that breakthrough to come but it may well do in the weeks and months ahead and we'll end up with a perfectly decent deal as the government would see it. although the prime minister has said several times no deal is better than a bad deal, it is by far the preferred option to reach what the government would see as a good deal for the option to reach what the government would see as a good dealfor the uk and the eu. this is the new £600 million toll bridge over the river mersey, which opened this morning. it is an ex—runcorn and widnes in cheshire. hundreds of people lined the banks

of the mersey to watch a spectacular firework display a few hours before the new bridge opened. it links widnes on the north bank and runcorn on the south. tolls aside, the locals approve. it's very smart. it reminds me of the one in america. i think it's brilliant. a long—time overdue. yeah, it's a fantastic development. and just past midnight the bridge was opened. hundreds of bikers among the first to cross. the mersey gateway bridge is the biggest civil engineering project in the country, outside london. the total cost is more than £1.8 billion. 20 million vehicles every year are expected to use it and its 810 miles of cable would stretch from lands end tojohn 0'groats. the old runcorn—widnes bridge now closes for a year for repairs. when it opens, both mersey crossings will be tolled. locals can travel free if they pay a registration fee, but there's real anger among the individuals and businesses

who'll have to pay. the transport secretary says the bridge should be free to use once it is paid for in 2042. the weather. damaging winds next week as ex—hurricane 0phelia arrives. today, drying off further north away from the west of scotland but not quite as warm as further south. 0vernight, we see the rain getting heavier and steadier in north—west scotland and elsewhere, too. some low mist and applied particularly in the west but

applied particularly in the west but a very mild night. lows of 12—13d, warming up quickly where we get sunshine tomorrow. low cloud may linger across western areas for a time. then the rain back into scotla nd time. then the rain back into scotland and northern ireland, limiting the temperature rise here. in areas sheltered from the high ground it will be another very warm day. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines. the headlines. the home office is planning to introduce minimum six month prison sentences for people who are repeatedly caught carrying acid. it's been welcomed by some victims of acid attacks — one of whom we have agreed not to identify. the fear of going to jail is a detern in some way, so a start, there is still more that needs to be done but a start is always good. the uk hasjoined other countries in defending the international nuclear deal with iran after donald trump's decision to withdraw his endorsement of the agreement. the organisers of the oscars are to hold emergency talks later

to discuss claims of sexual misconduct against the film producer harvey weinstein. now for sport with mike. good afternoon. liverpool and man an have kicked off in the last couple of minuters in the lunchtime premier league game at anfield so renewing their century old plus rivalry. united have had got off to a flyer and start the game behind manchester city on goal difference and a win for united would see