welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is ben bland. our top stories: a crucial newjudge for the us supreme court, president trump expected to reveal his choice within minutes. hopes are high that four remaining boys and their coach will be rescued from caves in northern thailand within hours. hello and welcome to bbc world news. president trump is due to announce his nomination for the supreme court shortly. thejudge will replace justice anthony kennedy, a moderate conservative, who is standing down. let's speak to our north america correspondent david willis in washington. that is the scene in washington

where we are expecting donald trump to reveal his pick for the supreme court. david, the shortlist down to four. any clues as to who might be the frontrunner? well, it is down to four and they all have quite a few things in common. they are all white, they all federal appeals courtjudges and they all have a record of conservative judgements. that is something that has unnerved the democrats, particularly since justice anthony kennedy, who is retiring, was somewhat known as the swing vote on the supreme court. he was conservative when it came to gun rights but he was liberal on issues such as gay rights and of course abortion and to those on the left

are very concerned that whoever donald trump nominates tonight will be looking to revoke or whittle down or in some way diminish the 1973 —— the 1973 ruling roe vs wade which established a constitutional right for a woman to have an abortion. but see what he has to say. the profound responsibility of the president of the united states and thatis president of the united states and that is the selection of a supreme court justice. that is the selection of a supreme courtjustice. i have often heard that other than matters of war and peace, this is the most important decision by president will make. the supreme court is entrusted with the safeguarding of the crownjewel of oui’ safeguarding of the crownjewel of our republic, the constitution of the united states. 12 days ago,

justice anthony kennedy informed me of his decision to take senior status on the supreme court, opening a new vacancy. foi’ status on the supreme court, opening a new vacancy. for more status on the supreme court, opening a new vacancy. for more than four decades, justice kennedy served our nation with incredible passion and devotion. i would like to thank justice kennedy for a lifetime of distinguished service. applause. ina few in a few moments, i will announce my selection forjustice kennedy's replacement. this is the second time i have been faced with this task. last year, i nominated judge i have been faced with this task. last year, i nominatedjudge neil gorsuch to pay —— to replace the

late great justice antonin scalia. applause. i chose justice gorsuch because he, just like justice scalia would be a faithful servant of our constitution. we are honoured to be joined tonight by justice constitution. we are honoured to be joined tonight byjustice scalia's allotted wife, maureen. —— beloveds. bothjustice scalia both justice scalia and justice gorsuch were appointed because they knew that the best defence of our judicial branch in immune from political prejudice, judges that apply the constitution as written.

that president happened to be ronald reagan. for this evening's announcement, were joined by ronald reagan's attorney general. and i speak for everyone for everything you have done to protect the nation's great legal heritage. in keeping with president reagan's legacy, i do not ask about a nominee's personal opinions. what matters is not a judge's political views but whether they can set aside those views to do what the law and the constitution require. i am pleased to say that i have found, without doubt, such a person.

tonight, it is my honour and privilege to announce that i will nominate judge brett kavanaugh to the united states supreme court. applause.

i know the people in this room very well. they do not stand and give applause like that very often so they have some respect and brett's wife ashley and two daughters, margaret and liza have joined us and congratulations to you as a family. judge kavanaugh has impeccable credentials, unsurpassed qualifications and a proven commitment to equal justice qualifications and a proven commitment to equaljustice under the law. a graduate of yea or couege the law. a graduate of yea or college and yale law school, judge kavanaugh college and yale law school, judge kava naugh currently teaches college and yale law school, judge

kavanaugh currently teaches at harvard, yale and georgetown. he is considered a judge's judge, harvard, yale and georgetown. he is considered a judge'sjudge, are truthful leader among his peers. he isa truthful leader among his peers. he is a brilliant jurist with a clear and effective writing style universally regarded as one of a finest and sharpest legal minds of oui’ finest and sharpest legal minds of ourtime. and finest and sharpest legal minds of our time. and just like justice gorsuch, he excelled as a cloak for justice kennedy. —— clark. —— clerk. judge kavanaugh has devoted his life to public service. the last 12 years he has served as a judge on the dc circuit court of appeals with great distinction, authoring over 300 opinions which have been widely admired the skill, insight and rigourous adherence to the law. among those opinions are more than a

dozen that the supreme court has adopted as the law of the land. yawned his great, renowned as a judge, he is active in his community. he coaches cyo basketball, serves meals to needy families and having learned from his mum, who was in dc, tutors children at local elementary schools. there is no one in america more qualified for this position and no one more deserving. i want to thank the senators on both sides of the aisle, republican and democrat, without consultation and advice during the selection process. this incredibly qualified nominee deserves a swift confirmation and robust bipartisan support. the rule of law is our nation's proud heritage. it is the cornerstone of our freedom. it is

what guarantees equal justice cornerstone of our freedom. it is what guarantees equaljustice and the senate now has the chance to protect this glorious heritage by sending judge brett kavanaugh to the united states supreme court. and now, judge, the podium is yours. applause. mr president, thank you. throughout this process, i have witnessed first hand your appreciation for the vital role of the american judiciary. no president has ever consulted more widely or talked with more people from all backgrounds to seek input about the supreme court nomination.

mr president, i am grateful to you. and i'm humbled by your confidence in me. thank you. 30 years ago, president reagan nominated anthony kennedy to the supreme court. the frame is established that the constitution is designed to secure the blessings of liberty. justice kennedy devoted his career to securing liberty. i am deeply honoured to be nominated to fill his seat on the supreme court. applause. my my mum and dad are here. they are my

only child. when people ask how it is to be their only child. they say, it depends to their parents are. i was lucky. i was a teacher. in the 19605 was lucky. i was a teacher. in the 1960s and 70s, they taught history at two largely public african american high schools. her example taught me the importance of equality for all americans. my mum was a trailblazer. when i was ten, she went to law school and became a prosecutor. my introduction to law came at the dinner table when she practised her closing arguments. the trademark line was, use your commonsense. what rings true, what rings false. that's good advice for a juror rings false. that's good advice for ajurorand rings false. that's good advice for a juror and for rings false. that's good advice for ajurorand fora rings false. that's good advice for a juror and for a son. one of the

few women prosecutors at that time, she overcame barriers and became a trialjudge. the president introduced me tonight doesjudge kavanaugh introduced me tonight doesjudge kava naugh but to introduced me tonight doesjudge kavanaugh but to me, that title will a lwa ys kavanaugh but to me, that title will always belong to my mum. my dad went to law school at night while working full time. he has an unparalleled worth —— work ethic and is passed to me his passion for playing and watching sports. i love him dearly. the motto of myjesuit high school was meant for others. i tried to live that creed and spent my career in the public service in the executive branch of the white house to the us court of appeals for the dc circuit. i have served with 17 otherjudges, each of them a colleague and friend. myjudicial philosophy is straightforward. a judge must be independent, and must

interpret the law, not make the law. ajudge must interpret interpret the law, not make the law. a judge must interpret statutes as written and a judge must interpret the constitution as written. informed by history and tradition and president. the past 11 years, i've taught hundreds of students, primarily at harvard law school. i teach that the constitution's separation of powers protects individual liberty and i remain grateful to the dean who hired me, justice kagan, and as a judge, i hire for law clerks each year, they come from diverse backgrounds and points of view and i am proud that a majority of my law clerks have been women and i'm part of the vibrant catholic community in the dc area. the members of that community

disagree about many things but we are united by a commitment to serve. fatherjohn ensler this year. a0 yea rs fatherjohn ensler this year. a0 years ago, i was fatherjohn ensler this year. a0 years ago, i was an fatherjohn ensler this year. a0 years ago, i was an alter boy for fatherjohn. these days, i help him serve meals to the homeless. by by hal two spirited daughters, margaret and liza. margaret loves sports and she loves to read —— i have two. liza loves sports and she loves to talk. applause i have tried to create bonds with my daughters like my dad created with me. for the past seven years, i have coached my daughters' basketball teams. the girls on the team call me

coach k. i am proud of our blessed sacrament team that just coach k. i am proud of our blessed sacrament team thatjust one the city championship. applause my daughters and i also go to lots of games. our favourite games. ourfavourite memory was games. our favourite memory was going to the historic note dame uconn women's basketball game at this year's final four. unforgettable. —— notre dame. my four. unforgettable. —— notre dame. my wife is a west texan. a graduate of high school and university of the excess. she is now the town manager of our community —— university of texas. we met in 2001 when we both worked in the white house. ourfirst date was on september the 10th, 2001. the next morning i was a few steps behind her as the secret service shouted at all of us to

sprint out the front gates of the white house because there was an inbound plane. in the difficult weeks that followed, ashley was a source weeks that followed, ashley was a source of strength for president bush and for everyone in this building. through bad days and so many better days since then, she's been a great wife and inspiring mum. i thank god every day for my family. applause tomorrow i begin meeting with members of the senate, which plays an essential role in this process. i will tell each senator that i revere the constitution. i believe

that an independent judiciary revere the constitution. i believe that an independentjudiciary is the crown jewels of our constitutional republic. if confirmed by the senate, i will keep an open mind in every case and i will always strive to preserve the constitution of the united states and the american rule of law. thank you, mr president. applause studio: well, there we are, wejust heard from justice brett kavanaugh, who president trump has named as his nominee to feel that vacancy now on the us supreme court. he described judge cavanagh having impeccable credentials, unsurpassed

qualifications and a proven commitment to equal justice qualifications and a proven commitment to equaljustice under the law. —— brett kavanaugh. the nomination will have to be confirmed by senators. there will be potentially a searching senate hearing before he is confirmed. let's go live to washington. david willis is there. david, this was the front runner, some have described him as an insider with a pedigree, clearly somebody who president trump has a lot of confidence in crays hill yes, and in actualfact, while confidence in crays hill yes, and in actual fact, while those confidence in crays hill yes, and in actualfact, while those remarks we re actualfact, while those remarks were being made in the east room of the white house, ben, the white house put out a press release —— confidence in? yes. they talked aboutjudge kavanaugh yes. they talked aboutjudge kava naugh working yes. they talked aboutjudge kavanaugh working in the bush administration, a graduate of the late gonna yale law school, and he worked as a clerk withjustice

kennedy, as we heard —— graduate of yale law school. he was involved in the whitewater investigation into land dealings involving bill clinton, involving kenneth starr, which became the monica lewinsky investigation. he is described in the press release as a brilliant man with impeccable legal credentials. what that press release doesn't mention, a couple of things, the fa ct mention, a couple of things, the fact thatjudge kavanaugh voted last year against a fact thatjudge kavanaugh voted last yearagainsta migrant fact thatjudge kavanaugh voted last year against a migrant teenager in texas getting an abortion. he also criticised liberaljustices for creating what he called a new right foran creating what he called a new right for an unlawful minor in the us government detention to obtain abortions on demand. and, it should be pointed out, that he wrote a laura review article arguing that presidents should be shielded from

criminal investigation and civil lawsuits while in office —— law review. that's potentially significant when you bear in mind president trump is under investigation into alleged obstruction of justice investigation into alleged obstruction ofjustice by the special counsel, robert mueller. it's interesting, david, isn't it? this conservative choice, this conservative candidate basically restores the make up of the court in terms of its balance between conservative and liberaljustices, but some are saying that he may be a bit more rightleaning than the man he replaces, justice kennedy, who, at times, would vote with the democratic appointed judges on some key social issues? absolutely. what this does, this nomination, assuming that it this does, this nomination, assuming thatitis this does, this nomination, assuming that it is confirmed, and we can't really assume that, but if it is then this will make the complexion

of the supreme court quite different. in place of that swing voter, justice anthony kennedy, we have a conservative in this gentleman, brett kavanaugh, and a com pletely gentleman, brett kavanaugh, and a completely different animal by all accounts. justice anthony kennedy could be conservative when it came to matters involving gun rights, for example, but he could be liberal on issues such as gay rights, and, of course, the big issue here, abortion. that's why a lot of democrats are very concerned and are pledging to do all they can to block the confirmation of this candidate, brett kavanaugh, by the senate, because they believe that it will lead inevitably to the weakening, perhaps the erosion, perhaps the decimation of the roe vs wade verdict back in 1973, which established the constitutional right for women here across all 50 states

in the united states to seek an abortion. david, thanks very much. david willis in washington. divers in northern thailand have rescued four more boys from a vast cave system on the second day of a complex operation, meaning that eight boys have now been extracted from the cave. the thai navy seals leading the rescue mission have confirmed that eight boys in total have been extracted in what is a race against heavy rain which could hamper efforts. they became stranded underground more than two weeks ago, after being caught out by sudden torrential rain. lucy williamson reports. police helicopters over chiang rai have come to signal hope. inside this one, a fifth boy, pulled from deep inside the mountain and flown to join his team—mates in hospital. his identity kept private, even as his arrival here makes global news. a week ago, this mission was seen as almost impossibly risky, but with every success, confidence in the team here has grown. as the monsoon rains have

so far largely held off. ivan was one of the rescuers in the cave that first day. stationed near one of the route's most difficult parts, to replace the divers' empty tanks, helped guide the boys through and deal with problems. i was very scared because when i saw the diver and the kid on the horizon, we can't see that far, maybe 50 metres, i still didn't know if it was a casualty or if it was a kid. so i was very scared. it didn't feel good. but when i saw that he was alive and breathing and seemed to be all right, it felt very good. it felt very good. what did you learn from that first day? one of the difficult things in the cave is communication. talking inside the cave is difficult. you need to be very close. if you are more than five or ten metres away, the echo and the water, it is incredibly hard to understand. misunderstandings and the high

complexity leads to very bad situations. so we need to plan for that. we need to keep communication very simple. you can reach me on twitter, i'm @benmbland. this is bbc news, thanks for watching. hello there. it's been a remarkable run of hot weather really. temperatures over the last five days somewhere in the uk have pushed over the 30 degrees celsius mark, and yesterday it was the turn of kew in west london to push above the 30—degree mark. 31 degrees celsius the top temperature yesterday. many areas did see some decent spells of sunshine. this was the scene in norfolk during monday, but further north—eastwards, in whitby, in that area, we had some thicker

cloud and gary spotted a few spots of rain falling from the cloud. this, a cold front pushing through, and later in the day, the same weather watcher, gary, spotted some brighter weather following the cold front through. now, the satellite picture shows extensive cloud over northern and eastern parts of the country. that cold front continues to work its way southwards and significantly, it's going to be bringing fresher air. so the humidity will be dropping and as that happens, the temperatures will drop further as well. so it's going to be fresher, more comfortable night's sleep ahead. temperatures between around about 10 and 15 celsius for the early risers tuesday morning. a lot of dry weather out and about as well. this is the pressure chart for tuesday, high pressure still with us but we do have that weak cold front moving into the heart of southern england. further north in scotland, a weak warm front will bring some thickening cloud and the prospect of seeing a few spots of rain. nothing to help

the gardens mind you. for most areas, it's just going to be a dry day. a lot of cloud to start off with but that cloud will thin and break up with time, some spells of sunshine breaking through as we go through the afternoon. now, temperature—wise, ok, it's not going to be not as hot, we probably won't see temperatures into the low 30s, but it's still going to be pleasant out and about when the sun comes through. 2a celsius in london. close to normal for the time of year. 21 in edinburgh. if we see some decent sunshine across the south—west, we could see temperatures in the mid—to—high 20s in the warmest spots here. now, there could be some changes afoot on wednesday. a weather front threatens the north—west of the uk, bringing the prospect of some rain. uncertain how much and where that rain will be falling but something the gardeners will be looking out for. away from the north—west corner, though, it's the same old story, a lot of dry weather with some bright or sunny spells, and again, temperatures widely in the low—to—mid—20s, so pleasant weather really weather for many of us. towards the end of the week, we're going to keep the dry theme going with further sunshine and what you'll notice is the temperatures tending to build. we should see highs in london pushing back into the upper 20s as we head through

saturday and sunday. that's your latest weather, bye for now. this is bbc world news, the headlines: president trump has nominated brett kavanaugh to fill a crucial vacancy on the us supreme court. judge kavanaugh is known as a conservative justice who worked as a white house aide under president george w bush and also assisted with the impeachment investigation into president bill clinton. rescuers in thailand are preparing for what they hope will be a third and final day of the operation to free the remaining four footballers and their coach trapped in a cave. so far eight boys have been brought to safety. they are now in isolation in hospital. the british prime minister theresa may appears to have weathered an immediate challenge to her leadership. during a turbulent 2a hours, two of her senior ministers — both supporters of brexit — resigned over her plans to keep close trade ties with the european union after britain leaves the bloc. now on bbc news: monday in parliament.