good afternoon. a canadian man kidnapped with his pregnant wife by islamic militants in afghanistan and held captive for more than four years 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. afghanistan, parts of the country remain in the grip of islamist militants. canadian joshua remain in the grip of islamist militants. canadianjoshua boyle and his wife came here, he says to carry out aid work, but instead they were kidnapped by the haqqani network. over the years the group released videos of the couple, one of them showing one of their children, born in captivity. the couple were

rescued recently and arrived home on friday night. the evil of the haqqani network kidnapping a pilgrim and his heavily pregnant wife was eclipsed only by the stupidity and evil of authorising the murder of my son. joshua boyle also said his wife was raped by the militants. the canadian government has welcomed the captives' canadian government has welcomed the ca ptives‘ safe canadian government has welcomed the captives' safe return home. bay have been through a difficult time and we are pleased that the ordeal they have been through over these past years has finally come to an end. questions have been voiced about the couple ‘s‘ decision to go to

afghanistan at all, butjoshua boyle says he now hopes his surviving children can regain some of their lost childhood. here, the home office is planning tougher sentences to tackle acid attacks, which have more than doubled in britain in the last five years. ministers are proposing a minimum six—month jail term for those caught carrying acid repeatedly. some disturbing images at the start of this report. acid attacks can have devastating consequences. there were more than 400 in the uk between december 2016 and april this year, according to police figures. the government wants to give police more powers to prevent such assaults. it is really important that we sent out in very strong words that carrying a corrosive substance in a public place, unless you have a really good

reason to have it, is totally unacceptable. you speak to any victim of an acid attack and they will be living with lifelong scars, and it is absolutely right that we ta ke and it is absolutely right that we take this as seriously as any knife attack. under the home office proposals, it would be an offence to possess a corrosive substance in public. there would be a ban on the sale of such substances to anyone under 18. and people caught carrying acid twice in public would receive a mandatory minimum six—month prison sentence if over the age of 18. the proposals and the consultation around them, what it will do is allow us to bring more charges and convictions when it comes to carrying these substances, even before they are being used. at the moment, we have to prove the intent, why are you carrying that substance? the proposals look to put the onus on the person carrying the acid as to why they have it. in london

police are being issued with test kits to check the contents of suspicious bottles of liquid. they are 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. there'll be an emergency meeting today, involving the organisers of the oscars. they'll discuss the disgraced film executive harvey weinstein. he's been accused of a series of rapes and sexual assaults going back decades. the board, which includes leading actors, directors and executives including tom hanks, whoopi goldberg and steven spielberg, have been urged to expel harvey weinstein from the academy. jeremy corbyn has issued his strongest warning yet about the dangers of leaving the european union without a trade deal. he accused the government of "failing" in exit negotiations and warned that no deal would see key manufacturers leave britain,

taking skilled jobs with them. in sector after sector, no deal could prove to be an economic disaster. theresa may's cabinet of chaosis disaster. theresa may's cabinet of chaos is wrecking jobs across britain. the authorities in california are warning that huge wildfires north of san francisco could spread further, as they're fanned by dry, windy conditions. 36 people are known to have been killed in the past week and many more are missing. from california, dave lee reports. these fires have choked california, displacing 90,000 people and destroying more than 5000 buildings. sir, you have got to go! this footage shows a police officer's

view on sunday. he was in the safety of sa nta view on sunday. he was in the safety of santa rosa helping terrified residents evacuated. the next day, the city looks like this. we walk and see our neighbourhood flattened. it looks like a bomb has gone off in our neighbourhood. it's so heartbreaking. the smoky air can be smelt as far as 100 miles away. there is our winemaking facility. there is our winemaking facility. the harvest was pretty complete, so all of our grapes were in. and over there is a crash pad with the tanks, and that was all outside. obviously, you can see it is completely destroyed. the police are having to deal with looters. some of the largest buyers are showing signs of being contained thanks to the effort

of 8000 firefighters drafted in to help. these firefighters are bracing themselves. weather forecasts suggest more high winds are on the way. this is already the deadliest wildfire in the state' history and it is not over yet. now let's get the latest on a big day of sport — here's mike bushill at the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. it is all underway. liverpool and manchester united are just about to kick off their premier league game at anfield, renewing their old rivalry. united started the date seven point clear their old rivals and would go top of the table. and the kenny dalglish stand has been unveiled, renamed the centenary stand. there was a chance at a few moments ago. just a few yards out after a save. not much time to react and they

eventually put the follow—up wide. so it is still goalless after 34 minutes. former west brom and reading boss steve clarke has been named as the new manager of scottish premiership side kilmarnock. the 54—year—old from ayrshire, has agreed a deal at rugby park until 2020, and will be assisted by former charlton defender alex dyer. he'll have his work cut out. the club are currently bottom of the table, with just three points from their eight games so far. top seed rafael nadal remains on course to meet roger federer in the final of the shanghai masters, after beating marin cilic in straight sets in the semifinals. cilic had cruised through to the semifinal without dropping a set but struggled to make inroads on the nadal serve. the world number one has now won 16 straight matches, and is nowjust one victory away from his seventh title of the season. federer is taking onjuan martin del potro in the other semi final. maria sharapova remains on course for a first wta title since returning from a drugs ban. she beat peng shuai in straight sets in the semifinals of the tianjin open. the five—time grand slam champion needed just 78 minutes to beat the third seed.

she'll now face world number 102, aryna sabalenka, in tomorrow's final. you can't use your mind to control a speeding arrow but patrick houston uses mental management techniques to convince himself that he is going to hit the target and he hopes this could help him win a world title in the upcoming world championships in mexico. this arrow is going in the middle because i am the best archer in the world. in archery, a good game and steady hand are key, but so, it seems, is the power of the mind. archery is a sport of repetition under pressure. it is 10% physical and 90% mental. you need to have that belief and

mental consistency to be able to follow through with that shot you have learned and practised so well in that exact given moment. the more you talk about, think about, right about something, the more likely it is to happen. it is certainly happening so far for is to happen. it is certainly happening so farfor him. his is to happen. it is certainly happening so far for him. his system has helped him break world records. asa team, has helped him break world records. as a team, gb as a whole are having their best season yet. that is despite losing their funding after the rio games. they are still competing a lot but outdoing archery coaching, finding private clients. because they are thinking about their archery the different way, they are actually getting better themselves and it is giving them a motivation and passion behind it that they had perhaps lost. so he tells himself he is the world's best but can houston become great britain's world champion this week? someone has to be the first person

to do it. i am confident that my abilities are at their best yet. i am confident of bringing back some bling. the gold could already be his. liverpool could do so with —— do with some of that accuracy. it is still 0—0. that's all the sport for now. i'll have more in the next hour. more on all the stories on the bbc sport website. you are watching the bbc news channel. let's return to the news

that tougher prison sentences are being planned for people who are repeatedly caught carrying acid or other corrosive substances. earlier i spoke to actor and youth campaigner theo, and jabed, a delivery driver attacked with acid earlier this year. he told me it seems the new plans, he thinks, will not make a significant difference.” was driving home from work and someone was driving home from work and someone threw acid in my face. it was a person i had never seen before. they were wearing a mask. i was just trying to go home and that happened. two people come and help you? i rememberjust crying and screaming but no one open their windows. i was just begging for water. did you know at that time what had happened? it was really

painful. i have still got the feeling of it. i got worst and it felt like extreme fire on my face. obviously, somebody crying on the street, they are mentally affected. yours was not obviously the first attack of its nature, but it was one of the first attacks that got some nationwide coverage. since then, you have naturally been campaigning to try to draw attention to this crime. do you think that what we are seeing today, the government announcements today, the government announcements today, after the sentences for those repeatedly carrying corrosive su bsta nces if repeatedly carrying corrosive substances if they don't seem to have a valid reason for it, do you think that gets somewhere?m have a valid reason for it, do you think that gets somewhere? it should be tougher because i know the pain of it. i know the pain and i know that people suffer. so it should be tougher sentences for that and it is not just normal. it tougher sentences for that and it is notjust normal. it is not like

knife crimes. it is like someone destroying your identity. let's bring in theo in birmingham. 24 joining us. can you give us any understanding as to why some young people carry these substances around? the keyword is random and thatis around? the keyword is random and that is what it seems to be. there is no actual one thing why they do it. one reason. there'sjealousy, there's people'sinsecurities, it is weird. it is a weird one. it is not like knife crime way you could say people are trying to defend themselves. it is cruel. and i feel like with the sentences, it is definitely a start. busy we need to do something, but yes, it is life threatening and it's not good. do the sentences... i mean, for people who clearly carry this stuff around, and therefore with the intention possibly of using it, are they going

to be put off by any sentence? possibly of using it, are they going to be put off by any sentence ?m possibly of using it, are they going to be put off by any sentence? it is ha rd to to be put off by any sentence? it is hard to say because you have to be really cool to do something like this. it is mental and physical scars, permanently. but the raising of awareness that something, an announcement, like today's announcement, like today's announcement gives us, that presumably with 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. it is a start, but there is still more that needs to be done. there is a problem, is there not, if people are under a certain age, that it is hard to prosecute them, as it is for some epic crimes and knife crimes. yes, definitely. it is a bit harder because they are younger but is it is a shame because they will grow up and regretted. what could help is going into schools and youth centres and talking about it and

showing the first—hand effects, bringing people in who have been affected. you have presumably spoken to young people who carry acid around. could you give us a bit perhaps one of them and why they do it and what they are thinking of what they are hoping to achievem is an immature mind state. at the times i've come across people with acid, it is like they don't see the seriousness of what it is and what they can do. people don't look to they can do. people don't look to the future. they will do something today and not think about the lifetime effects of it happening and how it will affect them in their lifetime and how it will affect the other person. that was theo johnson talking other person. that was theojohnson talking to me earlier, and ten mac hussain on that story about tougher sentencing for people found carrying acid around. —— jabed hussein. while we people found carrying acid around. ——jabed hussein. while we had that discussion, we got a bit of breaking news from the republic of ireland,

which we are now told has issued a status red weather warning for parts of the country on monday. wind in access of 80 mph are expected. this is as harry kane ofelia approaches the uk. -- is as harry kane ofelia approaches the uk. —— hurricane ophelia. some parts of the country will have a lovely weekend and early next week, and getting the republic of ireland, they are saying they now have a status red weather warning because of the hurricane, and also parts of britain as well are going to have some problems with the forecast. there will be a discussion on that here on the news channel after 2pm. for now, let's move on to the crisis engulfing the acting industry after the allegations about harvey weinstein came to light this week. he has been accused of a series of rapes and sexual assaults going back

decades. earlier i spoke to eirini mo about her experiences as an acting woman in the industry. sometimes directors want something more from the actor in order to get a better part or a part in a production. i have seen it happen at different times to different people, not just myself. it different times to different people, notjust myself. it is up to the individual whether they want to go ahead with that or whether they want to decline it. has anything in particular happened to you, something you regarded as completely inappropriate when you're going for a part? i actually had a part but then one of the directors was talking to me about him being unhappy in his marriage, in all areas, and! unhappy in his marriage, in all areas, and i didn't think that was appropriate because always innuendos that you hear, and you shouldn't have to hear all of that, because you are not their friend, you are there to work and it is a professional environment and i think

thatis professional environment and i think that is forgotten sometimes. as i understand it, there was one party when four, a mother of two children, but you asked to send in a particular tape. yes, i went for a pa rt particular tape. yes, i went for a part where i was being a mother of a young child, and i did my tape and then i was asked for a retake, done naked. i went back to the director and said why do i have to do this naked? and said why do i have to do this naked ? it is and said why do i have to do this naked? it is not part of the role the script. that isjust astonishing. that someone would have the gall to ask that. what was the response when you said, this is not appropriate? i did not get a response and i did not get the part. how did it leave you feeling as an actor when you are asked to provide that? first i felt, why is he asking me for that? is that common practice, is that right, am i missing something? you start to think whether you are doing something wrong, missing something. but then when i read the script

again, i thought, but then when i read the script again, ithought, no, this is but then when i read the script again, i thought, no, this is not right. i should again, i thought, no, this is not right. ishould not again, i thought, no, this is not right. i should not have to do that. soi right. i should not have to do that. so i went back very politely and professionally and said, i don't think this is part of the script. what is the reason you are asking me for that? and that is when i did not get a response. which leads to the biggest problem here, well, no, the biggest problem here, well, no, the biggest problem here, well, no, the biggest problem is meant not behaving properly, but another big problem for actors like yourself is, what you feel you can do about it at the moment. because there are people who worry that their careers will be damaged. do you have advice for people who might find themselves u nfortu nately people who might find themselves unfortunately in that position? exactly, you think your career may be damaged. and that you are missing a very good opportunity, but then again it depends on the individual whether they want to go down that route, and hopefully they won't be successful that way. personally, route, and hopefully they won't be successfulthat way. personally, i don't want to go down that route. i wa nt to don't want to go down that route. i want to get the parts because i deserve the parts, because i'm good enough for them and i fit the role.

i think the advice i would have to give is, don't do anything you don't feel comfortable with. only do things that you think are right for you and the part at that point. do you and the part at that point. do you feel this is something that is not just about the film industry, that it exists in many walks of life? i think it exists everywhere. i have seen it in other industries, not just this i have seen it in other industries, notjust this one. it really exists everywhere and it is just general behaviour. it is. and so what is the answer, apart from, i guess, men behaving themselves, what is the answer? i think everyone should keep it more professional and make sure you're there for the right reasons, make sure you're there for either the part of the job or the job description, that you actually meant to be giving, and always think that you are in a working environment. evenif you are in a working environment. even if you are filming later at night, you are still in a work environment. that was eirini mo speaking to me a

short while ago. we've been reporting this morning on the brexit story, the fact that sir martin donnelly, who used to be the head of the department for international trade warned on the today programme that no deal with the eu would have a major and lasting negative effect on the british economy. thenjeremy corbyn in the last hour or so has claimed the government is failing on its brexit negotiations as well. a government spokesperson has put out a statement in the last few minutes. they have said that the government wa nts a they have said that the government wants a deep and special partnership with the eu after the exit. the government believes it is in everyone's interests to discuss this as soon everyone's interests to discuss this as soon as possible. and that they are optimistic about achieving this. but that they must as a responsible government plan for all scenarios. in addition, this spokesperson goes on, we are talking to a large number of countries on a variety of future trading operations. they are hoping

to promote the uk as a great place to promote the uk as a great place to do business and with which to trade. so that is the government response to a couple of fairly strong warnings this morning from jeremy corbyn and the former head of the department for international trade on where they fear the unit —— on where they fear the brexit negotiations are going, or rather not going, at the moment. a new £600 million toll bridge over the river mersey opened this morning. the mersey gateway regional moore is the largest infrastructure bridge outside of london. the idea of this new bridge is to

ease congestion around the local area but it comes at a price. it is a toll bridge and are not many left in britain and that has received some concern from the local community. let's to a borough council leader. there has been a bit of reservation about the idea that this is a toll bridge. how do you address those concerns? we had no options are not really. it was a toll bridge or no bridge. given that the bridges 56 years old and due to close because of refurbishments, we had to go with the toll bridge. and getting this type of investment in the north—west is just an incredible investment, an incredible structure, whenever you see it opened up here. this is just great for the area, isn't it? yes, it was announced that they would be a bridge and now people see the duality. we were trying for this for 20 years. the

investment was a good success and it justifies the decision. how have people been celebrating? there were fireworks last night. yes, international standard fireworks. people were very happy. there is a lot of pride about the bridge especially from local people, so yes, we had seen it coming out of the ground, being built, and it is fantastic. and congestion is an issue in this area. do you think the bridge will tackle the problem? yes, thatis bridge will tackle the problem? yes, that is what it is all about otherwise we have wasted our money. people wanted it. it was problematic on both sides of the river. this is an issue that is going to continue.

the bridge has opened. there are going to be a few delays as people get used to the local area, and the tolls will be in place until the hefty bill has been paid off, £1.9 million until 2044, but i think it is something that people willjust get used to. report on the banks of the mersey this morning. it is the second bestselling video game of time and now mine craft which allows people to build things using is too big box is about to ta ke to using is too big box is about to take to the stage. the show combines both real and virtual worlds and it is going to be performed by actors on stage and their digital avatars. oh, my god. i am so relieved. i nearly died out there. this is a play which brings the idea of translating stage

to screen onto another level. who's there? hello? not funny. meet me at the entrance to the museum of natural history. what? there is a screen in the auditorium that shows what happens when the story switches to the video game. each character has an avatar. in 1869 they were digging up rock structures... putting the characters into the minecraft world means they can be transported to any location or era. the audience will experience this as one seamless stream. real—life drama and action in the virtual realm. so will many thousands more who are expected to watch online. it is incredible. the whole project is inspiring. i love that we are trying to make this new form of theatre and interesting people who may not

have been interested before. gamers being interested in theatre and merging the communities together. getting the opportunity to mix minecraft with this, it is blowing my mind because i am a big sci—fi buff. i am so proud to be on thisjob. so it is merging two of your greatest loves — theatre and gaming? you better believe it. this pioneering fusion has posed an imaginative challenge for the cast and crew. to employ a metaphor, you have got the old lady of theatre and the new digital ballet dancer of the gaming world coming together. the writer has written a good story and it is about time travel. so the approach with actors is to allow them to have the idea of what it will be like to be able to time travel. these are the minecraft artists

who make the time travel possible. the digital puppeteers will be operating the avatars in the green room next to the stage during the show. we will be listening and waiting for and having cues from the actors on stage and we will be preparing our themes. —— preparing our scenes. in minecraft there are no woolly mammoths, so we have had to create them ourselves. minecraft is a brilliant game because it allows us to do these crazy things. it allows us to be creative. you have to undo what you just did. in this production boundaries are blurred between the future and past, fantasy and reality, graphics and theatrics. playcraft live will take its audience to new places. chris page, bbc news, derry. we were talking earlier about

hurricane ophelia, which appears to be approaching the republic of ireland. i wonder whether it will start affecting the weather this early on in the weekend. it is already having an impact but not really with strong winds. for the time being what it is doing is sending warm air in our direction from the south. so where we get sunshine through the afternoon, particularly in the south—east, 20 degrees very easily but could