this is bbc news, i'm duncan golestani. our top stories: a brexit breakthrough. the british prime minster says cabinet ministers are backing her plan for leaving the european union. this is a proposal that i believe will be good for the uk and the european union, and i look forward to it being received positively. divers in thailand succeed in getting an air line to the cave where 12 boys and their football coach are trapped, but conditions still aren't right for a rescue attempt. china retaliates after the us imposes tariffs worth $34 billion, accusing washington of starting the largest trade war in economic history. and brazil are out of the world cup. belgium beat the former champions in a thrilling game and will now play france for a place in the final. hello and welcome to bbc world news.

after a day of intensive discussions, the british prime minister, theresa may, says her cabinet has agreed a collective position on future negotiations with the european union. ministers have signed up to a plan to create a free trade area for goods and also supported what could amount to a combined customs territory. theresa may said it laid out a positive future for the uk, butjust how it will go down with brexit supporters remains unclear. here's our political editor, laura kuenssberg. look close. then closer. look through the haze. there's the cabinet, deciding theirfuture. and, more importantly, all of ours.

the prime minister, in purple, gesturing to boris johnson. what do you think his body language is saying back? theresa may's allies desperate to get him and the other brexiteers on board. inside there were, and likely still are, profound disagreements about life outside the eu. theresa may argued for a model where we're snugly tied to the eu in many ways, but it seems, at least in her mind, a deal was done. well, in detailed discussions today, the cabinet has agreed our collective position on the future of our negotiations with the eu, and our proposal will create a uk—eu free trade area, which establishes a common rule book on industrial goods and agricultural products. this will maintain high standards but we will ensure no changes can take place without the approval of our parliament. as a result, we will avoid friction in trade. that will protect jobs

and livelihoods and also meet our commitment to northern ireland. we've also agreed a new business—friendly customs model with freedom to strike trade deals around the world. but if it was easy, theresa may wouldn't have had to call her ministers to her retreat. suggestions brexiteers might quit after plotting last night, so alarmed atjust how close a relationship number 10 has design. be clear, what theresa may says has been agreed is a tighter rather than a looser relationship with the rest of the eu after we leave. yes, immigration as we know it will come to an end, but she wants to sign the uk up to following many eu rules. so was today the day she faced down her reluctant brexiteers? right now we just don't know if they rolled over or are guarding their angerfor another day.

in recent times, the animals here have been better behaved than the political creatures in the tory party. the prime minister's been struggling between eurosceptics and former remainers almost impossible to tame. after the cabinet, she'll have to sell her plan to those grumpy mps and then, on the opposite side of the table, to the rest of the eu. they're likely to suggest everything wholesale but listen, perhaps a tiny chink of light. the uk has started to engage with us on all these topics. this is welcome and i look forward to further clarity from the uk. a long day's talks in the country have produced something, something that's acceptable to a majority of the cabinet? yes. something the tory party can live with? perhaps not everyone. something that talks with the eu can build on? maybe so.

a leap forward for theresa may? certainly, yes, but we can't know where that leap will land. laura kuenssberg reporting. earlier i spoke with asa bennett, brexit commissioning editor at the daily telegraph, and susie boniface, a columnist for the daily mirror. i began by asking how long this apparent united front is likely to last? they need it to last for another nine months before the brexit deadline but what we've had up until now is two years of the conservatives negotiating with itself, arguing, leaking, being in terrible disarray... that's why their phones were taken away? which was why their phones were taken away, not given back to them until after dinner and in the meantime, the prime minister put out a statement saying they had reached an agreement while they were eating their beef

and bread and butter pudding. she also put in it that collective responsibility has been restored. if you say it, it must be so! if borisjohnson and her opponents don't get their phones back until 10pm, it's too late for the next day's papers. they have the story about theresa may achieving a solid win and it's maybe 2a hours before boris and the others have a chance to oppose that and in the meantime, of course, england's got a big world cup game. it won't get in. by the time they get around to it the moment will have passed, they have lost that dramatic impetus, and theresa may has won several days of a nice bit of calm government unity which she hasn't had for the last two years. for a long time. late on friday night, or early on saturday morning in london we have a united, collective cabinet. how long is that going to last? what are you hearing from mps, members of the tories in britain? let's say this, the cabinet is looking like it's plain sailing, it will sail through the weekend

as happy as anything, united like you've never believe but there are tremors from the rest of the party and there will be a quake on monday night when she comes back seemingly triumphant from chequers, looking to present her deal to the rest of the party. those not in cabinet don't have to worry about holding office, the backbenchers, they will speak their minds and some of them aren't happy bunnies. over the last few hours some have messaged me saying this is pretend sovereignty, the rasputin officials have got them. this is theresa may caving in. are they going to be as angry on monday? they will have the same line of thinking as brexiteer ministers, where do they take this? shake the tree, bring everything down, ruin brexit with it? or do we support it

through gritted teeth? maybe the eu will allow something or insist it gets pared down differently. that's the rationale for them. either way, theresa may has momentum, that's what matters for her. of course in britain, theresa may is in a difficult political position, isn't she? she's surrounded by people who want to go in different directions, she doesn't have the majority she needs to get things through parliament. so is this an artful compromise? or is it, as we say, a bit of a fudge? it depends whether you think theresa may is a brilliant strategist or someone who has got where she is by accident. two years ago when she became prime minister, she looked like she would never last long, it would always be a bit shaky, but she's been here for two years. if she can get us through to brexit, that could be three years, and if that can be presented as successful then she'll have some kind of a legacy... if she came out with this plan on day one when she became

prime minister, she would have been deposed a long time ago. facts and reality have acted on the rest of the tories, they can bluster and argue as much as they like, but they have no real choice with this. they have to come into line and have a softer brexit that keeps business happy, and a large chunk of the electorate as well. those members of the tories that this angry, messaging saying we're not going to put up with this, they're in the minority in the parliament and in the country. most people, even if you voted leave, they want a gentle leave. we should say this is a suggestion that has to be taken to brussels. how do you think barnier, the chief eu negotiator, will focus on this? he has been speaking today. barnier said he can revise his lines in kind. provided there's no sudden catches, knock on wood for the cabinet, he should be very positive about this. but of course, what theresa may can

point out is if this goes wrong, the uk is at the behest of 19 other eu states are leaving, it is huge. the eu has an interest in getting a deal. they'll have to bend. basically the ball has been served into their court. the authorities in thailand say an air line has been installed successfully in the cave where 12 boys and their football coach have been trapped for two weeks. there had been concern about falling oxygen levels before a rescue operation could get underway. the regional governor told journalists that the boys had enough strength to walk, but couldn't yet swim to safety. jonathan head is at the entrance to the caves in northern thailand. throughout this week since they found those boys, there's been a debate here among thai officials about what they should do with them. now, many of the divers who've been

going in to see them have said the route out is just too dangerous to risk, they should be left where they are. that thinking is clearly changing, the impending monsoon makes staying where they are unviable, they could be there for months, they might even lose their only dry spot. we're hearing very much today about preparations to take them out. the kids can't swim, they're being taught now, they are practising wearing masks. lots of consultations are going on in particular with the british cave divers, who are still playing a leading role in this rescue and it seems now it's not imminent, but the authorities have decided at some point they're going to have to take a chance on the perilous route out with the divers. how many of you? their discovery on monday seemed miraculous. but their rescue has confounded those trying to help them. now the authorities believe they have no choice. tonight, the local governor said they would have to risk taking the boys out the same way

as the divers, and soon, because of expected rain next week. we will try. if it's heavy rain, and the situation is not good, we will try. supplying the boys is a long and exhausting job, involving dozens of thai and foreign divers. this is the easy part of the route. the last part takes six hours and needs six heavy air tanks for each diver to get there and back. it was while returning from laying down those extra tanks that saman kunan, a 38—year—old former navy diver, became unconscious and died. this is him a week ago as he boarded the plane to come here and help. now he's being flown back to his hometown to a hero's funeral. his commander acknowledged that time was running out. translation: we had thought

the children could survive there for a long time, but everything has changed. we have quite limited time. and that's because the torrential rain that drove the divers out of the caves last week is expected to return and could go on for weeks or months. the death of this diver has brought home just how difficult it will be to try to pull these 12 weakened boys and their coach through flooded passages which one diver describes as like being in a darkened water tub and being battered by water. but the agonising truth confronting the thai authorities is that leaving them where they are through a rainy season that may cut off their supply line could be much riskier. the past week of little rainfall has given the authorities a window. they've used it to pump as much

water as possible out of the caves and to try to stop more waterfrom going in. but that window is closing. from now, it will only get harder to attempt a rescue. jonathan head, bbc news, northern thailand. stay with us on bbc world news, still to come: we've all the latest from another thrilling game in russia, as brazil are knocked out of the world cup. and we'll look ahead to the much anticipated england—sweden match. central london has been rocked by a series of terrorist attacks. police say there have been many casualties and there is growing speculation that al-qaeda was responsible. germany will be the host of the 2006 football world cup. they pipped the favourite south africa by a single vote.

in south africa, the possibility of losing hadn't even been contemplated and celebration parties were cancelled. the man entered the palace through a downstairs window and made his way to the queen's private bedroom, then he asked her for a cigarette. and, on the pretext of arranging for some to be brought, she summoned a footman on duty, who took the man away. one child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. education is the only solution. applause this is bbc world news, the latest headlines: following a day of intensive talks, the prime minster says

cabinet ministers have reached agreement on uk relations with the eu after brexit. china has imposed retaliatory tariffs on american goods, after accusing the us government of igniting the biggest trade war in economic history. the chinese commerce ministry said the measures would match thirty—four billion dollars‘ worth of us tariffs which came into force on friday. it's a bitter pill to swallow forfarmers in the us, especially those who grow soybeans and have seen their fortunes drop. the bbc‘s nick bryant has travelled to alabama for this report. these have become the golden battlefields of a trade war that's fast engulfing the world. farmers in the american heartlands sown with soya bean crops are now hit with 25% import duties by beijing in revenge for us tariffs on chinese goods. china is the biggest export market for american soya beans and josh ogle has seen the price plunge to a nine—year low. but he voted for donald trump

and backs the president's protectionist fight. he's a businessman and he knows how to negotiate and do things. i've got faith in what he's doing's going to work. now, is it going to work in the end? time will tell. but this trade war is going to hurt your business? it could, it's very possible it could hurt our business. it's according to how long it lasts and how long it takes to negotiate it out. nearby huntsville, alabama is the fastest—growing tech hub in america, a silicon valley of the south. and the home to high technology campuses now caught in the no man's land of this tit—for—tat conflict. this company manufactures communications equipment and its product lines use 1300 components imported from china that have now been hit by us tariffs. its costs have increased, its global supply chains have been disrupted and its ceo says they are being punished for manufacturing in america. if i buy the individual pieces, the individual chips and components and resistors and bring them into the us so i can manufacture here, we're slapped with a 25% tariff so i think that's

going against what we want to have done. that policy is penalising american companies? those that actually manufacture here in the us, yes it's a problem. the us economy is thriving, many talk of a trump bump. and a recent poll suggested for the first time in his presidency, a majority of americans approve of his handling of the economy. a trade war could jeopardise all of that. this america first protectionism is already hitting american commerce. supporters likejosh believe the trade war will be short and sharp and america will end up on top. but that faith in the president could easily turn into frustration, even fury, if this summer of tariffs turns into an autumn and winter of economic pain. nick bryant, bbc news, alabama. here in britain, investigators wearing protective suits have entered a hostel in salisbury as they search for the item contaminated with a nerve agent which poisoned a couple.

police believe charlie rowley and dawn sturgess were exposed to novichok after handling an unknown object. the pair remain in a critical condition in hospital. june kelly has more. key sites have been sealed off and this afternoon the decontamination process began. a team in special protective suits arrived at the hostel where dawn sturgess had been living in salisbury. these suits are resistant to nerve agent. eight miles away in amesbury, emergency vehicles moved in en masse to the estate where charlie rowley lived, ahead of the decontamination operation here. residents saw scenes like this in other parts of the county four months ago. now they're faced with disruption on their own doorstep. one week on, dawn sturgess and charlie rowley remain in a critical condition as doctors are once again fighting to save novichok victims.

last friday afternoon dawn sturgess was seen on cctv shopping in salisbury. later, the couple visited queen elizabeth gardens and then both went to dawn sturgess‘ hostel. 10:30pm that even in day took a bus to amesbury, where charlie rowland lives in mugglestone road. at 10:15 the next morning, dawn took ill. at 6:20 that evening, charlie collapsed. during the afternoon he had been to a church event and a branch of boots. fellow residents from the hostel had described how they had been tested for novichok poisoning. i had a scientist from porton down take a blood test and take information down about what room i was in, or what how close i was, asking me several different questions. it is still not known where the couple came across and handled the abandoned nerve agent. there is still unanswered questions about novichok and its potency. we have previously thought that even in a container it will remain highly toxic for possibly 4—6 months.

outside a container that could be less. this is one of the questions we want answered. they do know the details, the russians, they made the stuff. scotland yard is leading the investigation. tonight they describe it as complex and fast moving and they warned it is expected to take months to complete. all the community here thought the poisoning episode was over. meanwhile, the families of the couple who collapsed here have to endure the torment of the wait for news. there's growing concern in gabon that mangrove forests are being destroyed to make way for urban development. the small trees act as natural flood defences against storms. but as the region rushes forward

with plans for urbanisation, mangroves are being cut down and replaced with new buildings. celestina 0lulode has more. indeed thick mangrove forest there isa indeed thick mangrove forest there is a struggle to survive. shrubland like this is increasingly being cleared to make way for new buildings. gabon is home to half the mangroves in the gulf of guinea. natural habitats like this play a vital role in the fight against rising sea levels. the marshy land acts like a sponge, creating a natural flood barrier. but scientists here are concerned that gabon‘s rush towards urban development could negatively impact the environment. translation: today, people are building on riverbeds and they're destroying wetlands such as mangrove forests. we are exposing ourselves to more and more natural disasters, and we risk ending up with conflict over land. and it's notjust the environment that could lose out. this recently

cleared land was once mangrove forest. the area floods in heavy rains, making it unsafe for construction. but in this suburb north of libreville, despite legislation protecting natural areas, new land is an opportunity for new buildings. it is shocking because, of course, we should not be in a situation where people are building structures without permission in places that are unsafe. in this case, we are dealing with one or more people who are building on public land. so while there's a need to protect the land, the desire for urban growth threatens it. celestina 0lulode, bbc news. let's get all the world cup action, and we now know the winner of the competition will be a european team, after belgium beat brazil 2—1 to go through to the semi—final. it's a huge blow to one of the tournament favourites. richard conway reports. these scars from brazil's 7—1

semi—final defeat to germany four yea rs semi—final defeat to germany four years ago might never truly heal. this world cup was supposed to provide redemption. but belgium reopens that all the wound, early pressure leading to a fernandinho own goal inside the opening quarter. soon, it was two. scored in russia, made in manchester. united's lukaku feeding at city's de bruin. with their place in the tournament on the line, brazil emerged in the second half like a swarm of angry bees. the belgian defence was eventually bridged, philip catena's unlikely chipmaking at 2—1. that set up a frontal —— frantic final 15 minutes. belgium survives and will now meet france for a place in the final. for brazil, heartbreak once more, four yea rs brazil, heartbreak once more, four years on from humiliation on home soil there is disbelief over a team

that promised so much and delivered so that promised so much and delivered so little. in the day's other quarter—final, in two teems with strong world cup degrees, only one of france and uruguay could advance, and it was the blur who struck first. raphael grant with a glancing header. uruguay fought back, forcing this wondrous save from hugo lloris. second half, and from the sublime to the ridiculous. mr laragh attempted to parry antoine griezmann's shot, directing it into his own net. 2—0, and french hopes of winning a second world cup are still very much alive. and of course, there's plenty more world cup action on saturday when sweden take on england before the hosts, russia, meet croatia in their quarterfinal matches to decide who else will advance to next week's semifinals. we will, of course, be bringing you all of the action here as well as online at bbc.com/sport. that's the way it is looking to be soui’. that's the way it is looking to be sour. i'm duncan $ be. thank you this company. —— duncan golestani.

for many of us it will be another hot day with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees across the south and temperatures reaching 31 on friday and we will easily make that on saturday. having said that, there will be a little more cloud around during the course of the weekend. some areas may be overcast from time to time. the atlantic weather system is away to the north of us, still closer to iceland so that is why we are still dry. there is no change as far as the eye can see, at least through the weekend into most of next week indeed the whole of next week. bad news for gardens and parks. a lot of scorched grass out there at the moment. these temperatures first thing in the morning. 17 in london, 13 in newcastle. and then the temperatures shoot up rapidly. a lot of sun around but it will be cloudy from time to time, particularly around north—western and eastern areas, picking up cloud, and cloud is also developing across midland. 30 degrees of least in london, i suspect temperatures could reach 31 also. in the north of the country, closer to the mid—teens. high—pressure front with us through the weekend however a cool front nudges into scotland and that means a little more cloud here for the north—west of scotland and the western isles in general.

may be some spots of rain and these atlantic fresh winds. across the north—west here it will be quite a bit cooler on sunday with temperatures perhaps in the teens whereas to the south of that it will be hot to very hot. temperatures across the south could peak at around 32 celsius on sunday, reaching 90 fahrenheit. newcastle will be the pleasant 2a celsius. not much change on the way next week, staying dry, but it will not be quite as hot. it looks as though the heat will be pushed back into europe and we will see slightly cooler air riding around this high pressure because the wind around the high—pressure blow in a clockwise direction. this air will be pushed back into the uk which means we will see more and more northern parts of the country with slightly fresh air. still mostly in the 20s, we're not talking about it necessarily cooling off a great deal.

on monday it is still in the high 20s across the south. it is only when we reach tuesday or wednesday that we get back down to the mid—20s. in the north we are closer to the teens. that is it for me. bye— bye. this is bbc world news, the headlines: the british prime minister, theresa may, says a day of intensive talks with cabinet ministers has produced an agreement on future relations with the eu after brexit. the deal proposes continued free trade in goods between britain and the european union. but it says the current free movement of people will end.

rescue teams in thailand say an air supply line has been installed in the cave where twelve boys and their football coach have been trapped for two weeks. there had been concern about falling oxygen levels as rescuers try to work out how to bring the boys to safety. china has retaliated against the us, matching tariffs imposed by washington worth $34 billion. beijing is accusing the trump administration of starting the "largest trade war in economic history". china's commerce ministry says it's lodged a complaint about the us with the world trade organization. now on bbc news it's time to click.