this is the briefing. i'm sally bundock. our top story: all footballing eyes turn to russia with the world cup about to kick off. lam i am live in moscow. the wait is finally over. the world cup kicks off today, with russia taking on saudi arabia. i will have all of the excitement and the atmosphere coming up. as the american secretary of state meets his counterparts, there are signs of concern about the deal with north korea from japan. we also note that no security guarantees have been given yet. it's the anniversary of the grenfell tower fire in london. commemorations are planned to remember the 72 lives lost. in business, fox—hunted.

comcast makes a $65 billion hostile bid for rupert murdoch's entertainment business, setting up a bidding war with disney. also in business briefing, markets in asia are flagging as the federal reserve raises rates and signals two more rises this year. a warm welcome to the programme, briefing you on all you need to know in global news, business, and sport. and you can be part of the conversation. are you excited about the world cup and who do you think will win. tell us what you think. just use the hashtag bbc the briefing. seven and a half years

after it was controversially awarded the football world cup, the tournament will officially kick off in the next few hours when the hosts russia will take on saudi arabia in moscow. the russian team is the lowest ranked team taking part in the tournament but after all the controversies off the pitch it's hoped events on the pitch will finally start to dominate. lucy hockings is there for us. live to moscow. as you said, the excitement, the anticipation, not long to wait now. when we arrived in moscow on the weekend, we were a little bit concerned about the lack of atmosphere, the lack of excitement in the russian capital. that has all changed in the past 48

hours. the streets are teeming with fans. as i left my hotel early this morning, bars were still full of people. we passed a mariachi band with mexican fans and mexican television here. there is a huge atmosphere in moscow. russia has waited eight years, fans all over the world, four years. russia takes on saudi arabia. this is the stadium. that is where the match will take place today. organisers will take place today. organisers will be hoping it goes off well. the president last night, behind me, in red square, an incredible concert, with the finest classical musicians. fireworks as well. it all went off off very smoothly. the expectation is for a great day for the first day of the world cup. here he is sarah

ra i nsfo rd , of the world cup. here he is sarah rainsford, looking at the expectations of russia. -- is. the party has finally started. this is not how moscow usually sounds. and it is not what it usually looks like either. but for one month, russia has been transformed into the centre of the football world. there is even kickabout on the cobbled stones just metres from red square. with football fans flooding in, it is easy to forget football is all about politics. the list of grievances is long. this is a country on a great charm offensive. so surprising, the friendship, the smiles, the people smiling. i like the russians. omar isjust hoping his hero will be hit again.

the russians. omar isjust hoping his hero will be hit againm the russians. omar isjust hoping his hero will be hit again. if he does not play the first half, i plays the second half. —— fit. does not play the first half, i plays the second half. -- fit. he did not play the training session. russia hopes for a smooth world cup. there is much more than football at sta ke there is much more than football at stake here. sarah rainsford, bbc news, moscow. the two lowest ranking teams in the whole time and playing today. russia ranked lowest, then saudi arabia. —— tournament. there isa saudi arabia. —— tournament. there is a lot of talk about how defensively both sides could play. nevertheless, everything is going according to plan. some of the issues have been raised and have been talked about in russia. it is alljust been talked about in russia. it is all just about how well everything is going, how the stadiums are ready and prepared. i just is going, how the stadiums are ready and prepared. ijust came back from saint petersburg. huge excitement in that city. coming back on the train,

it was full of people, fans, and also lots of merchandising as well. you are getting that sense russia is about to be taken over by world cup fever. we will bring you all of the excitement, all of the atmosphere, and, of course, all of the action, when it all starts this afternoon here in moscow. thank you. we will talk to you again later in this programme. just to say, at the beginning of the programme we asked for your opinion on who you think will win. many have said money is on brazil. they want revenge for the previous world cup. i will share your predictions. that is coming up later in the programme. but now, moving on. us secretary of state, mike pompeo, has insisted north korea is committed to giving up its nuclear arsenal but said it would be a a process, but not an easy one. he's been meeting with the foreign ministers of both japan and south korea as they try to work together to ensure the deal signed by president trump and kim jong—un committing the north koreans to the denuclearisation

of the korean peninsula was carried out. the world should rest assured the united states, the republic of korea, andjapan, united states, the republic of korea, and japan, remain committed to the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearisation of north korea. these alliances are ironclad. we have a close friendship and will continue to closely co—ordinate with respect to north korea as you move forward together. we understand that the united states will advance the discussion on provision of a security guarantee while carefully monitoring whether north korea takes concrete steps to fulfil its commitment to the net to

—— removal of north korea's nuclear weapons. but we also note no safety guarantees have been made yet. let's brief you on some of the other stories making the news. the british aid agency, oxfam, has been permanently banned from operating in haiti after its staff were accused of sexual misconduct after the 2010 earthquake. haiti's government says the decision was taken because of oxfam's violation of the country's legislation and serious breach of the principle of human dignity. oxfam has apologised, saying the behaviour of some former staff was "com pletely u na cce pta ble. " in hungary, the verdict is due in the trial of 14 men accused of responsibility for the death of 71 migrants in a sealed lorry. the victims were found in the abandoned vehicle beside a motorway in austria in 2015. 11 of the accused men are in court, while three are still on the run. the most serious charges include murder with particular cruelty. the uk government will try to heal a rift

with the scottish nationalists after the party's mps staged a mass walk—out over brexit during wednesday's prime minister's question time. its leader at westminster is accusing the westminster parliament of trying to seize powers which he feels should go to scotland once britain leaves the european union. an off—duty fbi agent who accidentally shot a man while dancing in a night club has appeared in a denver court. chase bishop was charged with second degree assault after handing himself into police on tuesday. the agent was performing a backflip when his gun fell out of his pocket and shot a bystander in the leg. a lot of the key business stories i centred on the us. we start in the us, with a massive hostile takeover bid

for rupert murdoch's fox entertainment business. late on wednesday, the world's biggest cable tv company comcast made an unsolicited, $65 billion offer for fox. the move is a direct challenge to rival media giant, disney, which had already agreed to buy fox for $52 billion in shares. they are both trying to win control of valuable content to counter the rise of streaming services like netflix and amazon. iain anderson is founder of the international communications agency, cicero group. good morning. good morning. yesterday we were talking about at&t and time warner. now we have comcast making their move. this was the plan. yesterday, a us court said to at&t they can go for time warner. that unlocked comcast‘s aggressive bid. this is a $65 billion bid,

trumping the disney offer by 20%.. lot of that is cash to pillage the disney offer is essentially a share transaction. —— cash. rupert murdoch owns 20%. they are the biggest shareholder. they have been cosying up shareholder. they have been cosying up to disney. they see the wider interest that the deal with disney is good for them. the question is what the board has to decide, this real money offer on the table, which looks more attractive for shareholders. this is part of the huge change going on with the media industry in the us predominately, but it is a worldwide issue. netflix, amazon, apple tv, all of these streaming services, which we get used to and enjoy. they are taking a huge slice of the cake. and the distributors, folks like at&t,

comcast, they want to own a content producer. a businesslike netflix, of course, put that idea together. it made its own market. a disruptor. they are trying to get a piece of that action. this story is going to run and run. there is no doubt about that. we will run with it as well. thank you for now. he will be back with quite a few interesting stories. he will be back in half an hour. the president of macedonia has said he won't support a plan to change the name of the country. it comes just one day after the macedonian prime minister reached a deal with his greek counterpart to rename it "the republic of north macedonia," in an attempt to end a dispute between the two neighbours that's lasted for nearly three decades. andrew plant reports. the morning's headlines in macedonia, heralding a new era, and

the new name, for the country. the proposal, the republic of north macedonia, a name change which would and a feud between macedonia and greece. many like the idea. translation: what is the difference? others, though, strongly objected. this, a protest in the hours after the announcement between the greek and macedonian prime minister's. now, this historic agreement is in doubt after just one now, this historic agreement is in doubt afterjust one day now, this historic agreement is in doubt after just one day after the macedonian president said he would not support the idea. translation: ourline is to not support the idea. translation: our line is to not change the constitution and the country's name. this detrimental agreement which is unique in the history of humankind is unacceptable. it violates the constitution, our laws, and state institutions. i will not politically legitimise this. when macedonia

gained independence from yugoslavia in1991, gained independence from yugoslavia in 1991, greece immediately objected to the new name. it already has a region called macedonia. a territorial dispute which has caused tension ever since. the un officially calls it the former yugoslav republic of macedonia. new macedonia was also discussed, though it seems the name—calling between these two european nations is set to continue. robert plant, bbc news. stay with us on the briefing. also on the programme: central asian antelopes have survived since the ice age but now they're facing extinction. we join the scientists trying to save them. the day the british liberated the falklands, and by tonight,

british troops had begun the task of disarming the enemy. in the heart of the west german capital, this was gorbymania at its height. the crowd packed to see the man who, for them, has raised great hopes for an end for the division of europe. michaeljackson was not guilty on all charges, the screams of the crowd testament to his popularity and their faith in his innocence. as long as they'll pay to go see me, i'll get out there and kick 'em down the hill. what does it feel like to be the first man to go across the channel by your own power? it's pretty neat. feels marvellous, really. you're watching the briefing. our headlines: the foreign ministers of the us, south korea and japan have emphasised the importance of continued close co—operation

in bringing about the complete denuclearisation of the korean peninsula. and our top story, the footballing world's eyes are on russia as the world cup is just hours away from kick off. let's stay with that now lucy hockings is in moscow for us. lucy, over to you. hi, sally. the buildup, eight years for russia, they've been preparing for russia, they've been preparing for this moment, one thing people have been concerned about is security. tom donkin is with me, huge security presence, and they are confident everything will be fine through the city and the other cities around russia 7 through the city and the other cities around russia? that's what authorities are saying, they're confident they have enough resources

put into this specifically to help foreign visitors. you and i have spent a few days in moscow, it's notoriously difficult for those who don't speak russian or read streller ick, we've been to the tube stations and it's hard to navigate but to combat this the russian authorities have installed a new police force, a new force of tourist police who speak spanish, who speak chinese, who speak english, for all those fans who are visiting moscow, and there's about 100 of those who have been deployed to moscow. i spent the day with two of those officers yesterday and minutes after i started filming with them, woman from thailand visiting for the foot ball from thailand visiting for the football came over because she had been pickpocketed, her wallet had been pickpocketed, her wallet had been stolen and she lost her friends and she was beside herself and distraught and we went around with her for the day and eventually after a lot of looking, we relocated her friends and she was overwhelmed with emotion and hugged the officers.

this is a snippet of how the interaction is working. have you been surprised at how friendly eve ryo ne been surprised at how friendly everyone is, the russians have a bit ofa everyone is, the russians have a bit of a reputation for being cold and unwelcoming but that's not been the case at all? that's why they've trained up these office rs that's why they've trained up these officers specifically to be the outward facing face of russia. it's really worked from what i've seen so far. but it's only day one, we've got a long time to go, so we'll see. don't you think people are getting desperate to watch some football, we had the big news yesterday the spanish coach was sacked, we now know who is hosting the world cup with a joint bid with mexico, canada and the us but when you speak to people, they want to see some football. it's a long buildup, four years in the making, the spanish coach has gone and a new one has been installed. that won't upset the team too much, many people, the especially the fans for spain and

are hoping that won't be the case. the football is what we are here for and many are saying thank you very much that it's kicking off in a couple of hours. expectations of the game not particularly high. especially amongst russian fans. russia ranked the lowest in this whole world cup. everyone likes to bet on the games and predict who is going to win. meet achilles, one of the cats that lives at the world famous hermitage museum in st petersburg. he's been officially revealed as the oracle for the 2018 world cup in russia. and he's predicted, as you can see, that russia will beat saudi arabia in the opening game. achilles, who was born deaf, is expected to pick all the winners at russia 2018 by choosing between two bowls of food with the flags of each team attached. he's been on a strict diet to be in a shape for world cup. we will have to see how accurate he is. i know some of you have been

sending in your predictions to ask. lots of you think it will be brazil or germany again —— to us. spain's chances perhaps taking a bit of a knock after yesterday's drama. thanks, lucy, i'm loving a kilis. paul the octopus made this a big business —— achilles. remember paul the octopus? it's a really important day in london today. a series of commemorations and vigils is taking place today to mark the first anniversary of the tragedy at grenfell tower in london. it was britain's worst domestic fire since the second world war. shortly before 1am this morning, the time when the fire was first reported to the emergency services, 13 tower blocks in west london including grenfell, as well as other landmarks, were lit up in the colour green. this report from ben ando.

last night, and for the next three nights, grenfell goes green. the tower block, its scorched remains now clad in white sheeting, illuminated by coloured spotlights to commemorate the one—year anniversary since the devastating blaze in which 72 people died. on the ground, a silent vigil as people in the shadow of the tower came to remember and mourn. elsewhere green lights were turned on in solidarity, at other tower blocks, in the cabinet office and at number 10 downing st. the lights were turned on here at 12:54a.m., that the lights were turned on here at 12:54 a.m., that was the time the first 999 call was made, and the colour green was chosen because in the immediate aftermath of the fire local school, schoolchildren started using a hash tag on social media. we've had to work very hard in the

last few months but over this week we hope we will be given time and space to reflect on what's happened on our loved ones, on the friends that we've made over the year. you know, when we came together at the beginning of this terrible, terrible time. to allow that time for reflection the grenfell public enquiry has paused and will resume next week. later today a moment's silence will be observed and 73 white doves released, one for every known victim and one to recognise that there may be those who died in the tower as yet and then divide —— unidentified. ben ando, bbc news. lots of events taking place today in london to mark that anniversary. central asian antelopes, the saiga, are one of the few animals to have survived the ice age. once prevalent from siberia all the way to western europe, today they're critically endangered species only found in parts of kazakhstan, russia and mongolia.

the bbc‘s abdujalil abdurasulov has followed a scientific expedition attempting to save them from extinction. we drive on what used to be the seabed of an agent of showing millions of years ago. now it's an ancient fast grassland of central kazakhstan. the journey to find the saiga antelopes is long and full of challenges. just 20 years ago there we re challenges. just 20 years ago there were more than 1 challenges. just 20 years ago there were more than1 million challenges. just 20 years ago there were more than 1 million saiga. challenges. just 20 years ago there were more than1 million saiga. but a mere decade later, 95% of their population was killed off by poaching and diseases. they were declared as a critically endangered species. thanks to conservation efforts, their numbers slowly started to grow again. but in 2015, an infectious disease outbreak wiped

out nearly all of the saiga population in central kazakhstan. the saiga is a really key element of the ecosystem. they spread seeds, be helped to germinate plants. they are very important as they pray for others in the ecosystem. this area is a vital habitat for the saiga and other wildlife, but now it is under threat. the local government plans to build a new road across it. scientists said this could have drastic consequences for the wildlife's survival, especially for the saiga. we've finally the spotted some saiga, not for five we've finally the spotted some saiga, not forfive kilometres we've finally the spotted some saiga, not for five kilometres from here, so we might drive a bit to ta ke here, so we might drive a bit to take a look at them. the scientists gather information from these saiga

cubs gather information from these saiga cu bs to gather information from these saiga cubs to examine their reproductive patterns. they also get blood tests to examine the saiga's health. it's to examine the saiga's health. it's to identify infectious diseases, like those that have caused mass bios in the past. win you get infectious diseases or diseases affecting populations of wild animals, to work out the best way of controlling that disease in the future, you need to what's going on in the animal in a normal situation. here it's almost over and what the scientists have found is promising. the bbc‘s abdujalil abdurasulov reporting there on the plight of the saiga. lots of you have been in touch with your predictions for the world cup. angela thompson, a regular viewer, saying i haven't really got enthusiasm for this world cup, normally i.e. really get into it. some are saying spain, most are

saying brazil. iwill see it. some are saying spain, most are saying brazil. i will see you in a moment cash normally i really. —— normally i really. hello once again. i know it's the second week injune, but i have to start this particular show by reminding you we've got a named storm on our hands, and there's an amber warning from the met office for gusts of wind on thursday morning which could, in extremis, get up to around 60mph if not 70mph. where's all that coming from? this great lump of cloud hurtling towards us and deepening all the while and as it does so, quite a vigorous area of low pressure for the time of year. we've ended up with a deep low for the type of year and notice how the isobars squeeze together. that's how we signify strong winds to the extent the met office has issued an amber warning to start the day for parts of the north of britain. not a cold start to the new day by any means, temperatures in double figures right across the piece, but

that's the least of our concerns because with that low pressure not1 million miles away from this north—western corner of scotland, evenin north—western corner of scotland, even in the central belt you could get disruptive and damaging gusts of wind. 60 to 70 mph. if you're in that neck of the woods, or indeed quite widely across northern britain, there could be disruption and bbc local radio will keep you up to date. further south as you step out of the door first thing, a noticeably windy day. southern parts of the pennines, into the higher ground of the peak district, some northern parts of wales in exposure could look at gusts of 50 mph. the tail end of the weather fronts sweeps away taking what little rain they would have be in south—eastern parts and eventually things will dry and brighten up in many locations, that will help to get the temperatures to around 21, 22 at best. friday sees a speckling of showers across the western side of scotla nd showers across the western side of scotland and may be down into northern ireland, but elsewhere, a

much quieter day and a very pleasant day. less wind certainly an high on the day in the south of around 22. further north, locked into the teens. not an overly inspiring start to the weekend given we've got low pressure nearby and those fronts. and unsettled look to the start of the weekend, but i'm hopeful that sunday may well be a dry day —— an u nsettled. this is your business briefing with me, sally bundock. fox hunted: comcast makes a $65 billion hostile bid for rupert murdoch's entertainment business — setting up a bidding war with disney. plus in great shape: the federal reserve hails a booming us economy. it raises interest rates — and signals two more increases this year. was enough to not financial markets in asia. you can see these markets down as asia weighs up more movement

from the fed