this is the briefing, i'm sally bundock. our top story: president trump arrives in brussels for a key nato summit, and bashes europe again on its record of defence spending. the blues are through. paris comes to a standstill as france make it to the world cup final. yes, but who willjoin them, england or croatia 7 i'm rajini vaidyanathan with all the build—up to tonight's game, live from moscow. the 12 boys and their football coach rescued from flooded caves in northern thailand, now being treated in hospital. officials say they are in good health and high spirits. a new day, a new set of tariffs. the us says it is ready to hit china with additional duties on $200 billion worth of imports. in business briefing, i will be talking to a top fund

manager to get his take on the impact of the china—us trade war. 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. tell us what you think about the stories we are covering. just use the hashtag #bbcthebriefing. nato‘s summit in brussels gets underway in a few hours, with president trump's criticism of us allies over their defence budgets expected to dominate proceedings. mr trump has said nations

which failed to meet their spending commitments should reimburse america. from brussels, our europe editor katya adler reports. the united states‘ self—appointed dealmaker—in—chief has landed on european soil. long—awaited but also kind of dreaded by his allies here, who wonder, after the iran deal and the climate change accord, will nato be the next trans—atlantic agreement to be trampled by president trump. his tweets weren't exactly encouraging. "nato numbers don't add up for us tax payers," he fumed. he is not wrong, in terms of domestic military spending. president trump points to europeans as the worst offenders. the us always tops military spending charts. this year, seven european countries will hit nato‘s target of 2% of gdp. but a host of others come nowhere

near, including three of the eu's biggest economies — germany, italy and france. forget decades of peace and tra ns—atla ntic partnership. nato‘s secretary general has honed in on cash and flattery in the hope of persuading donald trump of nato‘s merits. nato is a good deal for all 29 allies. i have thanked president trump for his leadership on defence spending, and it is having a clear impact. all allies have stopped the cuts, all allies have started to increase and more allies spend 2% of gdp on defence. donald trump's ambivalance towards nato and his general unpredictability has europeans spooked and feeling exposed. they have relied on the us for security since the second world war, but feel nothing can now be taken for granted. fearing russia, cyber attacks and cross—border terror, the eu is now beginning, modestly,

to boost its own defence capabilities. eu leaders signed a co—operation agreement with nato, with some blunt european words for the us president. dear president trump. america does not have and will not have a better ally than europe. dear america, appreciate your allies. after all, you don't have that many. at nato headquarters, a packed agenda awaits. but a show of unity is what really matters most. the question hanging heavy here — will donald trump deliver? katya adler, bbc news, brussels. well, let's stay with the nato summit. jonathan charles, director of communications at the european bank for reconstruction and development, joins me now. our correspondent discussing some of the key issues, but at the end of the key issues, but at the end of

the day president trump will arrive and he will have his agenda, won't he? the wheel, and of course you can't divorce this with what is going on more widely with donald trump. obviously on the surface he wa nts to trump. obviously on the surface he wants to make this point that the european allies in nato need to be spending 2% of gdp on weaponry, to make sure that they update their armouries. but of course, you can't, asi armouries. but of course, you can't, as i say, separate this from what is going on with the wider relationship issue between the united states and some of its european allies of the trade. and he is a dealmaker, as we know, donald trump, and he may well also be using one issue in order to put pressure on another issue. so he has ramped up the trade war issue, but if they did a deal, for example, on all pledging to 2%, he might say these things actually outweigh each other. but he is a very tricky operator in terms of knowing what he might say or do next, or how he might say or do next, or how he might suddenly change his mind. the g7 summit is a stark example. here's

a politician. when he was last with some of these european leaders. and of course, that was a very painful event, as we know, in canada, which left a lot of bruises and a lot of people feeling burnt. but he is a very instinctive person. one day he might say something, the next day, because he likes one of his interlocutors, he might something different. and we need to see this in the context that he will be seeing president putin of russia later on, and you can't separate that from the nato issue, because president putin will be meeting him, hoping probably that there have been divisions in nato. in that meeting is monday, and next week president trump is arriving in the uk, late tomorrow. but in terms of nato itself, as an organisation, with all these international organisations there are questions about their releva nce, there are questions about their relevance, their importance, that kind of thing. what has trump said about nato 7 kind of thing. what has trump said about nato? well, he has made it clear a ll about nato? well, he has made it clear all the way along that he is a

bit ambivalent about nato. he believes it is always another case of america having to ride to the rescue. and he doesn't see the allies, the western allies, as having the same weight in the organisation. so i think he has said, as well, remember, that article five, the one that says that everybody will help everybody else in the event of some attack on one nato member, it is an attack on all, that he wouldn't necessarily honour that he wouldn't necessarily honour that either. so many, many questions about whether he really values nato, andi about whether he really values nato, and i think what people will be looking at in terms of the discussions today is, is he going to say what is necessary to keep nato isa say what is necessary to keep nato is a very firm organisation which really has a role to play, or will he say something that exacerbates the divisions within nato? as i say, with donald trump, you never know. he isa with donald trump, you never know. he is a big character, and as a result, you get big questions. we will have more later on the nato summit. our correspondent has been

talking to some key players as well, we will hear from them later. the england football team will attempt tonight to reach the world cup final for the first time since they went on to lift the trophy in 1966. they will face croatia, cheered on by thousands of fans in moscow and millions more back home. let's go to rajini vaidyanathan, who is near the luzhniki stadium in moscow. not long to wait now. no indeed. it isa not long to wait now. no indeed. it is a relatively quiet day at moscow's luzhniki stadium, but it is early morning. but if we fast forward another 12 hours it is going to be absolutely packed with england and croatia fans as the second of the semifinals gets under way. of course, let's not forget we already know which team the winner of the night's match will face, and that will be france. france beat belgium inafairly will be france. france beat belgium in a fairly gripping match. he definitely didn't produce lots of

goals, though. france one i—o definitely didn't produce lots of goals, though. france one 1—0 to belgium, as tim allman reports. in paris, pandemonium. it felt like an entire nation had come out to celebrate. a huge party. imagine what it would be like if france were to actually win the world cup. translation: we feel a lot of joy. we're really happy. we knew they were going to win. it was perfect. translation: i experienced this 20 years ago. i told my kids about it. now they're grown—ups. it's going to be my second final, and i hope my second victory. perhaps unsurprisingly, this was what they would call a cagey game. but, when chances did come, both goalkeepers rose to the challenge. eventually, though, a breakthrough.

early in the second half, samuel umtiti leapt up, putting the french ahead. that was all they needed — france back in a world cup final for the first time in 12 years. at the champs elysees, a sea of supporters, all with dreams of glory. france will now be favourites for the cup. only croatia or england can stop them. tim allman, bbc news. well, as i was saying, that match tonight is at the luzhniki stadium, england croatia. and certainly in moscow over the last few days we have seen fans from both teams streaming into the city. but many england fans, at least, do not have a ticket to the match, and they have

been scrambling to get to russia as their team has progressed through their team has progressed through the tournament. surpassing expectations, as our correspondent reports. the flags are out, the fear of russia has clearly faded. england fa ns russia has clearly faded. england fans are now pouring into moscow to see their first world cup semi—final in almost three decades. it is going to bea in almost three decades. it is going to be a party of a lifetime. are they going to win? course we are. actually to get match croatia, though, could be costly. two tickets for each one is 1300. $1300? why are they so expensive? this is cheap! but these fans never dreamt england would get this far. now, there are very few official to get around. fingers crossed we will get to see it. then my brothers will be really jealous, because i said to them, they are not proper fans. they claim to be, but they are not here. some have made epicjourneys. 19 hours

yesterday, flew to five different airports but i am finally here, and can't wait. the kremlin argues all these football fans are now seeing these football fans are now seeing the real russia. it is true all these visitors are now seeing russian people at their warmest and their most welcoming. and yet the politics here haven't changed. just this week, two human rights activists were detained metres from the world cup party street. russia's relations with the uk are dire as well. but that doesn't stop its football fa ns well. but that doesn't stop its football fans backing england. well. but that doesn't stop its football fans backing englandlj think football fans backing england.” think this is my favourite team, and my national team. think this is my favourite team, and my nationalteam. england is think this is my favourite team, and my national team. england is your national team? i feel a little bit england. he sounds it as well, a little bit. # coming home. god save the queen. i was talking to croatian fans and they say it is coming back home for them. this is theirfifth they say it is coming back home for them. this is their fifth world

they say it is coming back home for them. this is theirfifth world cup, they have never won a tournament for, but do not underestimate them. in their world cup debut in 1998 they did make it to the semifinals, losing to that you's eventual winners, france, and their secret weapon is modric. england will be banking on one of the top goalscorers, harry kane, to pull it out for them. we shall of course be glued to our screens later. let's brief you on some of the other stories making the news: the number of people who have died in flash—floods and landslides injapan has risen to more than 160. searches continue as dozens of people are still missing. downpours triggered mudslides and left homes flooded. hiroshima and okayama were among the worst—affected. hollywood star george clooney has suffered minor injuries in a scooter crash in sardinia. the 57—year—old's scooter was hit by a car that failed to stop, and he slammed into its windshield. clooney was taken to hospital

but is now recovering at home. and the us says it is ready to hit china with additional duties on $200 billion worth of imports, including tv components and refrigerators. china says the move will harm the world trade organization system, and the only correct choice for china—us relations is cooperation. in business briefing we will look at market reaction to that story on trade. and we will have some expert analysis in business briefing in around 20 minutes. stay with us on bbc world news. still to come: tributes to the rescuers, at the end of the massive operation to free 12 boys and their football coach trapped in flooded caves in northern thailand. 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 hosts of the 2006 football world cup, and they pipped the favourites, 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. you're watching the briefing.

our headlines: the blues are through. france make it to the world cup final after beating belgium —— blues. president trump has arrived in brussels ahead of a high nato meeting. let's stay with that now. president trump's comments on defense spending have caused alarm, not least in germany. our berlin correspondent sent this report from grafenwohr in eastern bavaria, which is home to a major us army base. it's a partnership that stance to to the music of time. —— that stance —— time. 60 years ago a young american soldier sang for his german hosts in

this town. for grafenwohr, elvis is still the king. but they worry here about what the real american leader will do next. grafenwohr hosts the biggest us training facility outside america. 35,000 us soldiers were stationed in germany. for europe, its protection. for the us, it's a strategic base. but for its president, it's seemingly a question. translation: there have been debates for a long time about the number of us troops in germany but the training grounds are so important for the american army and for nato that their existence is safe. but these are tense times for the nato alliance. wargames on europe's russian border. no one's sure of boo's next move, neither can the west predict what its american ally has in mind —— boo's.

arejust hope president has in mind —— boo's. are just hope president trump will not find it attractive as he thinks about his voter base at home to argue that the united states could save a little bit more money by reducing this commitment or that commitment. that would only play into the hands of those who we don't like, of the russians, all of other adversaries. the second world war still casts a shadow here. germany favours diplomacy, development aid ofa favours diplomacy, development aid of a defence. that's changing. the government's promised more money for the military. it's not enough for donald trump. all of this was supposed to be about guaranteeing security, but there's a growing sense of unease here in germany and in the eu at a time when europe is redefining its entire approach to defence, it can at seems no longer rely on its biggest ally. daily routines, long—term alliances. what

was once a certainty no longer taken for granted. jenny hill, bbc news, grafenwohr. norway's defence minister has told the bbc the summit could be the most important to the alliance in decades because of the security challenges facing the world. frank bakkejenson told our chief international correspondent lyse doucet that he was also concerned about president trump. it's worrying because of the unpredictability. everyone's asking themselves what will he say, which is... what is his approach, will he talk trade or will he talk security policy, defence policy? it's an important meeting, as you say, but it's also important because of the security situation. um secure times, yeah, but i also see an alliance which are responding to this

situation very well and adapting to reality. does it bother you that donald trump will go from brussels, to the nato summit, then to a summit with resident putin? these days they are more active in russia, that's the biggest problem. the annexation of crimea, the breakup of international law. that's what really worries me. if president trump gives his nato allies a hard time here, like he did to his g7 allies in canada, then he gives a different message to president putin, is it helpful? if he gives us a hard time here that's a worry. it's important to talk to russia at the same time as we are crystal

clear about the break of the rules will big international law, it's impossible for us to go on with. will big international law, it's impossible for us to go on withm president trump that europe has to do more to share in this what's called the burden sharing? every nato ally agrees on that. we need to do something with the burden sharing president, president obama said the same. the language is different. they communicate on different platforms but the message is the same. what is the biggest danger for nato itself at the moment? if we can't gain the unity we need. some are describing this could be the most divisive summit in nato history. it could be the most important summit in decades because the situation is difficult, but we need... we have to... because of president trump's kind of policy?

the primary reason is the security situation around us. russia on your border? yeah. and on the baltic seat. the situation has changed. russia sees herself as a superpower and we need to be prepared and we need to build the collective defence and deterrence to cope with that. are you worried? yeah. on the minister of defence, so of course. -- i'm. minister of defence, so of course. —— i'm. it's important to see that we do —— i'm. it's important to see that wedoa —— i'm. it's important to see that we do a lot of good things with building a good collective defence in europe in the western part of the world and that's important. you're not doubting america's commitment to the nato alliance? no, i don't. lyse doucet, speaking to the

norwegian defence minister,. we will tip you up to date with any developments at that —— we will keep you up to date with any celebrations at that summit. celebrations are continuing in thailand following the rescue of 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded cave system, after they were trapped for over a fortnight. sophie long is in chiang rai for us. there's just been a press conference, what did they have to say? we've heard in the last few moments from the public health minister, he gave details on how the boys are doing on the eighth floor behind me, and how they survived in the cave for nine days before they we re the cave for nine days before they were found. they were able to survive by drinking the water dripping on them from the roof of the cave. in terms of those that arrived yesterday, the final four boys and their coach, they had high temperatures but they are ok. one has a small lung inflation. the

first group of boys are doing well, lab results have come back negative on infections. the second group of boys who arrived on monday are clear of local infections. the first eight at the hospitalhospital will see theirfamilies tomorrow at the hospitalhospital will see their families tomorrow but they will have to keep their distance and wear protective clothing. imagine the rollercoaster they have been on for the last few weeks. they will be able to see their family but not be able to see their family but not be able to see their family but not be able to give them a hug. there have been international tweets coming in from these accessible operation. it was such a high risk operation, some said itjust didn't work but it did, of course. theresa may, the british prime minister, said she is delighted to see this excess pork rescue of those trapped in the cave, the world is watching and we will salute those involved. donald trump —— the successful rescue. donald trump said he

congratulated those involved. the final ambulances came along here making their way to the hospital and crowds gathered in the street, they cheered and applauded as they arrived here. all 12 footballers breed, along with their coach as well. it was a happy date —— freed. sophie long outside the hospital where all those boys are being looked after —— was a happy day. stay with us on the briefing. i want to draw your attention to the sports page on the website. all the news about the world cup but also all the latest from wimbledon. who's in the quarter—finals for the women's? of course, looking ahead to the semifinals. and tour de france as well, which of course is underweight too. stay with us here on bbc news, so much more to come. stay with us, i will have business ina stay with us, i will have business in a moment. hello again.

yesterday's fresher weather brought an end to a run of remarkable heat, really. somewhere in the uk over the last six days has seen temperatures into the low 30s, with the exception of yesterday's maximum temperature, which was at chivenor, in devon. we only got up to 26 degrees celsius. so for most of us, yes, there was much less humidity around. it did feel a good deal fresher than recent days. and it was a beautiful end to the day. this was the scene of the setting sun there in lincolnshire. now, looking at the weather picture for the early risers today, we do have a weather front across western scotland that will threaten to bring some rain into northern ireland as well. otherwise, it's a dry start to the day, and a fresher feel to the weather, as well. mind you, the rain will be welcome for gardeners but for most of us it is a dry start to

the day and a fresh feel to the weather as well. although the rain intensifies for a time across south—west scotland, in particular, after that, it will tend to begin to fizzle out as the moisture gets spread out and it brings a risk of a few showers to wales and south—west england as we head into the afternoon. apart from that, though, there's going to be a lots of dry weather with clouds coming and going. sunny spells around and temperatures widely getting into the high teens for scotland and northern ireland. low 20s for some. the warmest weather for england and wales, where we should see highs of around 25, 26 degrees celsius once again. if you're planning to watch the football in some of the open—air venues, well, it should be a fine evening, with temperatures slowly coming down. even if football is not your thing, it should be pretty comfortable, actually, for getting some sleep. looknig at the weather picture for thursday, we've still got this very weak weather front, a zone of moisture really, that's lying across the western side of the country, that willjust provides the focus of a few isolated showers. but the big picture is one of a ridge of high pressure and that means for most of us it will be a continuation of the dry weather with spells of sunshine around. most probably more sunshine to go around, to be honest, as we head towards the end

of the week with sunnier skies and lighter winds. temperatures will be a little bit higher as well. so we're beginning to warm up again across northern ireland and scotland and pushing more generally into the low 20s here. a few isolated showers across western areas. top temperature 27 celsuis toward london and the south—east. still a few isolated showers around on friday but for most of us it is a dry end to the week and that the continues into the weekend when it's set to get a bit warmer. that's your weather. this is the business briefing. i'm sally bundock. a new day, a new set of tariffs: the us says it's ready to hit china with additional duties on $200 billion worth of imports. and virtual technology isn't just for gaming anymore. we'll find out how some businesses are using it to attract customers. and on the markets in asia stocks are down as trump ups the ante and releases the biggest list yet of chinese goods it may hit with tariff increases.