hello, you're watching afternoon live — i'm simon mccoy. today at 2pm. less than five hours to go till kick—off. england are one game away from a world cup final — but a strong croatia team stand in their way before history can be made. they've got the whole country in the palm of their hand and that's great to see. it hasn't happened that many times that we can all get excited and be happy with an england team. there have been some really down times with england, but not this time. we're all happy, we're all singing, we're all cheering at them and were desperate for them to to get to that world cup final. dramatic new pictures emerge of the operation to rescue 12 boys and their football coach from a cave in thailand — with the bbc understanding they were heavily sedated to prevent them panicking. the man poisoned by novichok speaks to police for the first time — could he hold the clue to where the nerve agent was found? at war with nato — president trump claims germany is totally controlled by russia — as he prepares to meet

angela merkel this afternoon. it is very sad when germany makes a massive oil and gas deal with russia where we are supposed to be guarding against russia and germany pays billions and billions of dollars of year —— a year. coming up on afternoon live, all the sport with tim hague. will the world be in motion for england fans tonight? well we hope so simon. they face a really good croatian team at the luznikhi stadium in moscow. and we also know who england or croatia will play in sunday's final too — france winning last night against belgium. but first, it's tonight's semifinal and we are counting down the minutes. thanks. and ben rich has all the weather. we have a forecast for a certain football match. i apologise for

this. also coming up — a very special message ahead of that world cup semifinal tonight. we are going to make sure we are using some magic to make sure football is coming home tonight. football is coming home. hello everyone — this is afternoon live — i'm simon mccoy. there are just under five hours to go until england's biggest game for almost 30 years. if gareth southgate‘s men can beat croatia in moscow, they'll make history — with a place in the world cup final, the country's first since 1966. tens of millions are expected to watch the game. in a moment, we'll report on the growing

excitement back home — but first our sports correspondent richard conway reports from moscow on the england squad's final preparations. england's laboured victory in moscow last week. now they are back in town and determined to stick around for a sunday's final. it is now 28 years since new word' world cup and some world in motion. back in 1990, croatia did not exist as a country. it is an entire generation since gaza's tears. it is even longer since england got their hands on the prize. it is 52 years since england w011 prize. it is 52 years since england won their world cup. it is still gleaming asi won their world cup. it is still gleaming as i this current team's hopes. gareth southgate wants his players to make their own streak and is aware the boost his team is providing back home. our country has been through some difficult moments

recently in terms of its unity. sport has the power to do that and football in particular has the power to do that. so far as we can feel the energy and fuel the support from home and it is a special feeling, it isa home and it is a special feeling, it is a privilege for us. england was my players notably relaxed in this world cup. from paddling with unicorns to harry maguire's treats, they have shown a willingness to engage through social media, help build up barriers that have built up over the years through with the public. this is a huge opportunity for a gareth and his players. one former captain believes this has forged a great team bond. they have been absolutely magnificent in everything they have said, everything they have said, everything they have done. so they are enjoying it and they look as if they are having fun which is great to see. and they are not ready to go

home yet. final preparations today. after last week's close shave against colombia, england will be opening tonight's team will be decided before penalties. but croatia mean business. they are determined they will progress, training foran hour determined they will progress, training for an hour last night at high intensity despite tough games. their head coach saying in his press conference it should be no surprise his team is amongst the final four and that the strength of his players has been underestimated. the trophy may have changed, the ambition remains the same and england sends a chance to bring it home once more. our correspondent, sarah rainsford is in moscow where the atmosphere ahead of tonight's game is building. those are not england shirts behind you? no. we could not set this up rate for you. there are some croatian fans getting their picture taken with this monument here. there

are taken with this monument here. there a re lots of taken with this monument here. there are lots of russians who are coming to be part of this world cup experience, lots of people here to have their picture taken with not just the statues but with the fans. another couple over there. 32 countries involved in this world cup and still of the fans in town but there are still more and more england fans who are coming to moscow trying to join this football party as it has gone along. there we re party as it has gone along. there were not that many at the beginning but the crowd has grown since england has come along to the semifinal. i have some fancier from manchester. you arrived this morning? around half past 12 this afternoon. was it a last—minute decision? sort of. we thought at the quarterfinal we would try and come out. we have been winning more schemes since 1986 —— coming out too. we decided to give it another go. more positive about gareth

southgate's team ? go. more positive about gareth southgate's team? they play good football. so it is interesting to watch, it is more enjoyable because they have more passion. the first semifinal since 19 86. quite excited. it is a big game. the first time we have got their since... since i have been going to football. how have you found the mood here since you arrived? great. that is why we have come. as much as what has happened on the pitch, we have friends that we have travelled less than they have had a great time watching the games on television, watching the games on television, watching the games on television, watching the crowd as much as a game in king we should be here. thinking you were missing out on something. so we decided, the chance other semifinal might not come around again, obviously we want the result to go the right way and then we will

figure out what we will do. what happens if england does win? you do not have any plans? we have got room for tonight. we have no bedroom after that and no flight. we will see what happens at 11 o'clock tonight. are you pessimistic? no. no we have no real turn flights we could fly on monday. how are you feeling about england was like chances against croatia ? feeling about england was like chances against croatia? croatia have got a good team. we are playing well. each game we are getting better so we have a shout. they have been singing it all in russia as well, football is coming home. do you feel it as well? i am excited for the first time in a long time. in fairness, it was not great for a number of years. hopefully it will be great again. we are looking forward to it again. maybe even two

matches. that is the reflection of the mood here. we have been hearing over the last few weeks, as this tea m over the last few weeks, as this team has gone through the tournament and as fans have grown in confidence, lots of people saying they do think that inglis has a real chance against croatia. notjinxing it too much there. thank you very much. well, back home, tens of millions of fans are getting ready to watch tonight's semifinal either at home, in pubs or on big screens. for many it'll be a race home from work to make it in time for kick off. some fans are dressing up as manager gareth southgate — on what's been dubbed waistcoat wednesday. a warning there is some flash photography in this report from sarah campbell. these liverpudlian milkmen are sure. 52 years of hurt and nearly over. yes we believe. we are going to win 2-0. there is pitch perfect vocal support from the keystroke —— cathedral choir. it's coming home.

and prince harry is in ireland today and it was in no doubt when asked whether football is coming home. most definitely. even politics will have to remain on the bench, there are more important matters at hand. gareth southgate and the boys have done a fantasticjob and i am sure they are going to do well, i wish them all the very best of luck tonight. it does feel like the whole country, including the school in nottingham, has got behind the team. this generation here in northamptonshire is too young to remember all the previous disappointments. very excited and i think we're going to win.|j disappointments. very excited and i think we're going to win. i feel very excited, i hope we're going to

crash croatia. i am so ready for the match. i am crash croatia. i am so ready for the match. lam kind crash croatia. i am so ready for the match. i am kind of nervous and excited. very very excited. also excitement here at the school. they could not be prouder that a former pupil has become one of england's start players. it is exciting to know he is not selfish and he is such a great player. just a great all—round player and use either way you see the way he performs, it shows if you believe in yourself you can make it anywhere. the semifinal is predicted to cause a spending spree according to the centre for retail research, totalling more than £550 million. and every bit of that will go on buying 10 million extra paints. during the match. another item flying off the shelves, wa istcoats. item flying off the shelves, waistcoats. we're wearing away scores to get behind gareth southgate. doing weights coast wednesday to support the team. ——

waistcoat. i think england will win 3-0. england's coming home. one of those who played back in 1966 thinks england can repeat that team's success. england can repeat that team's success. it is about time, mind you, that we have got as far as we have got. it has been a long time since 1966. i am got. it has been a long time since 1966. iam pretty got. it has been a long time since 1966. i am pretty certain we will get in the final. and that would be absolutely wonderful. this was saturday. millions will be hoping these scenes will be repeated this evening. more on that throughout the afternoon. it's emerged that the 12 boys rescued from a cave in thailand were heavily sedated to keep them calm, and were only semi—conscious as they were brought out by divers. officials say the boys and their coach are in ‘good health‘ as they recover from their ordeal and showing no signs of stress.

these new pictures of rescue personnel work at the tham luang cave complex in the northern province of chiang rai have come into us within the last hour. the bbc has been told that if the last rescues had not been carried out yesterday — today would have been ‘virtually impossible' because of rising water levels. from northern thailand, dan johnson reports. these are the final four to leave the caves last night. they brought with them the 12 boys and their football coach. as the international divers head home, we are beginning to learn more about how extraordinary this rescue was. how we re extraordinary this rescue was. how were the boys when he saw them? they we re were the boys when he saw them? they were sedated. they were unconscious. they were breathing. the doctor administered drugs to make them? they had to. because it would be a lot of risk to fit them in that

situation. thai officials deny drugging the boys but we have been told they all came out semiconscious, strapped to an experienced cave diver. this is the man who led the underwater dive team. even he had doubts about this dangerous rescue. translation: idid not translation: i did not think that we would do this well. we just had a little bit of hope that the kids were still alive but we had to move forward and do it. it was a tiny bit of hope but we had to succeed. we had to hold onto that hope and in the end we found out that they were all alive. soiam found out that they were all alive. so i am very happy. and so is the rest of this country. it is a moment to celebrate but there are family still to be reunited and classmates eager to see friends. translation: .as translation: . as soon as night walks into the classroom we will give them his birthday cake and gifts we have made ourselves. everyone will tell them

how they feel. there were so many people involved in this rescue operation, it will take a long time for things to wind down. there is a lot of satisfaction and a job well done, but the enormity of what they have achieved is just beginning to sink in. the boy ‘s recovery will ta ke sink in. the boy ‘s recovery will take time to. their stay in hospital will continue but they are in remarkable health. we are still giving medicine to those who have lung infections for the next seven days. this is the period of time when we will need to take it of them. the cave has been cleared and them. the cave has been cleared and the boys can begin to move on. hows and whys will come later. for this place, it's pain and amazing outcome will remain long in it's never marry. “— will remain long in it's never marry. —— in its memory. our correspondent dan johnson is at the cave in tham luang

in northern thailand. what do these new pictures show? this is the first glimpse we have add inside the cave was the boys we re add inside the cave was the boys were being brought out. we do not know which day of the three days of rescue operations these pictures we re rescue operations these pictures were filmed, they give you a sense of actually what was going on in that cave, how difficult this rescue operation was. you can see the source of conditions that the boys we re source of conditions that the boys were having to live in for the 16, 17 days that they were stuck there. and you can see what the rescue workers were really battling against, the number of obstacles that there are deep underground, deep under the mountains here. and the tricky terrain which they had to navigate to bring these boys out. you can see the rushing water that they were battling against in parts. some have described bits of this cave network is being like the

flushing you bend over toilet it was s0 flushing you bend over toilet it was so difficult to get through. so this is what they have had to work out very carefully over the few days they have put this rescue plan into operation. it has also been a huge logistical effort staging people along the route to help the boys through each passage, resupplying equipment are difficult —— different stations in a more than two mile route to the surface. this has been such a difficult and long journey as well. you can see in some of these pictures, the boys strapped to stretchers being carried by the rescue workers. there has been some top today whether these boys were sedated to some degree to ease this ordeal and most of the international divers who were part of the operation who led this has said that the boys had to be sedated, they we re the boys had to be sedated, they were semiconscious when they were brought out. the thai officials are quite sensitive about that but we

understand that was necessary to make sure they were saved as they we re make sure they were saved as they were brought out to the surface, the last ones about this time yesterday. you can understand their sensitivity. this has been a sensible operation. and in the last few moments we are getting pictures of the boys in hospital. yes. the eyes of the world have been on that cave waiting entrance for those boys to emerge. when we saw the ambulances leaving here we did not have a glimpse of the boys themselves. now we have these pictures of the boys filmed inside the hospital, about an hour away from the cave entrance here in northern thailand. they show them in the isolation ward where they are being kept in. although they have been separated from their families, we canjust been separated from their families, we can just see them through the windows of the hospital ward, the boys are together, wearing hospital masks but talking to one another and able to share some moments with theirfamilies able to share some moments with their families through the glass,

although they have not been able to enjoy a physical reunion yet. the families will be eager to have that moment when they can embrace. the officials have said they want to wait for that, they want some test results back to make sure the boys are as well as they seem. they will probably be in hospitalfor another week. they did not eat for such a long time, they have lost weight, they do seem remarkably well but there will be something of a recovery to arm. psychological help being giving to these boys because this is such a time —— dark time that they have had in the cave. and also in the global spotlight. that will be something they will have to get used to. thank you very much. you're watching afternoon live, these are our headlines. with just hours to go until kick—off — can england make it to the final of a world cup for the first time in 52 years?

dramatic new pictures emerge of the thai cave rescue operation. the 12 boys were heavily sedated to help bring them out safely. they are all recovering well in hospital. a tirade from president trump ahead of the nato summit: he claims he claims germany is totally controlled by russia. and coming up.... the bbc‘s latest pay figures show the corporation's twelve highest paid stars are all men —— despite efforts to close the gender pay gap. it is men's quarterfinal day in wimbledon. find out if roger federer makes it to another semifinal. i will be back itjust after half past.

it's not the best start to a nato summit — a war of words breaking out as us president donald trump denounces germany as being ‘totally controlled by russia' — suggesting it depends on moscow for up to 70% of its gas imports. mr trump was speaking ahead of the summit in brussels — and he's due to meet the german leader angela merkel shortly. the president has also accused european nations of failing to pay enough for the alliance. gavin lee reports good morning, everybody. a presidential breakfast in brussels but no time for pleasantries. donald trump who has barely touched the ground since arriving in europe, choosing a presummit photo opportunity for a public would be cut, accusing germany of undermining nato. i think it's very sad when germany makes a massive oil and gas deal with russia, where you are supposed guarding against russia and germany spends billions on year to russia. across the table, nato's head looks on, choosing not respond as the us president goes further.

germany is totally controlled by russia because they were getting from 60% to 70% of their energy from russia in a new pipeline. and you tell me if that's appropriate. because i think it's not and i think it's a very bad thing for nato, and i don't think it should have happened and we have to talk to germany about it. as germany's chancellor angela merkel arrived at nato's new headquarters, she refused to directly respond the criticisms into saying germany is free to make independent decisions. this nato summit has barely started and already we're seeing from 28 nato leaders, they want to talk about strength and unity in the face of the perceived threat from russia. donald trump is saying that comes at a price and he accuses germany and other countries, in his words, of not paying their way. it has been a year since nato leaders first met the us president and were publicly berated by him for failing to spend 2% of their gross domestic product

on defence as they had pledged to do over the next decade. as theresa may arrived this morning, she told reporters the uk is one of the few members doing their bit for the alliance. nato is as vital today as it ever has been in the uk's commitment to it remains as that fast as ever and we show that, we lead by example, not only by meeting target of spending 2% of gdp on defence, but also 20% of our defence budget on equipment and in the way in which we deploy thousands of armed forces personnel on nato operations around the world. privately, european diplomats talk of the summit being a damage limitation exercise in the face of open american criticism. but for nato, these public outbursts have triggered more countries to invest in the alliance even if they see it

as an ugly we to do politics. let's cross over to the bbc‘s chief international correspondent, lyse doucet who is in brussels for us. an ugly way to do diplomacy. they knew going into the summit that president from would—be levelling accusations against nato leaders, and another unusual move you sent letter saying i am expecting you to increase your defence spending to 2% of gdp. as you saw the united kingdom is one of five countries which has met that target. countries like germany and saying, listen, it is not just about that magic like germany and saying, listen, it is notjust about that magic number. we were always speaking to the german defence minister, i asked about the accusations by president trump. we have heard and listened to the tweets for quite awhile. the

most important part the facts. what he talks about the pipeline is concerned, well we are independent, sovereign country. we know how important it is to diversify and this is what we are doing. that is the criticism of russia. you are paying billions to russia for natural gas and that is the country you expect the united states to protect you against. he has a point? no he has not. the numbers are not the right ones. on the contrary. if we look at the alliance, we have been standing side by side to protect our easter and members against russia. in estonia, for example. in latvia. but germany is protecting our baltic friends

against the russian aggression. so we are taking a share of the burden andl we are taking a share of the burden and i think they should be seen, too. president trump says germany is a rich country. you could increase defence spending tomorrow to the 2% of gdp that need to agree to. why don't you? we are seeing where we're coming from with the summit with president obama, we were down to £1 196. -- 1.196. president obama, we were down to £1 1%. "1.1%. we president obama, we were down to £1 1%. —— 1.1%. we have raised the budget by 30% already which is quite a lot of money in real terms and if we look at the projected increase in 2024, a decade after, we will have an increase in defence budget by 18%. an increase in defence budget by 1896. president trump is helping you. there are reports today in the uk

media saying you need to update your military hardware? if you look at the reports it is an old report. it is true. it was a few years ago, it wasjust the point i mentioned when we we re wasjust the point i mentioned when we were at the lowest point. and since then we have made a turnaround thatis since then we have made a turnaround that is impressive. so we did not only fill the deficit and the gaps, but we also are in the process of modernising. i have setup a troop of cyber trooper 14,000 servicemen and servicewomen dealing with cyber attacks. so as any other ally, we're working hard on strengthening our armed forces. what is your greatest golfer of the success of this name will summit? —— hopes end of this nato summit? we should go out with the greatest hope. that is what all

readers are emphasising, a strong emphasis on unity. president trump tomorrow he will go to britain and then helsinki for another summit with president putin. he litters, the important summit of the transatlantic alliance, a key military alliance and there is politics threaded all the way through it. there is a lot of sport and as the hours go by, more sports of the world cup that is threaded through it as well. when theresa may arrived here, did she not only have to talk about defence spending, but also about england playing croatia inafew also about england playing croatia in a few hours' time. she spoke to the crow nation president —— croatian president. she got a croatian president. she got a croatian football shirt from the croatian football shirt from the croatian prime minister. she got another one today from the croatian

president. she would say thank you for this football shirts but what we really wa nt for this football shirts but what we really want is to win that game this evening. i see you are not winning your waistcoat. i am wearing mine underneath. back to you. i cannot tell you what i am wearing. thank you very much! the bbc has revealed that its ten best paid stars are men — despite efforts to close the gender pay gap between its highest earning presenters. there are two women in the top 15 — claudia winkleman and vanessa feltz. match of the day host gary lineker is the biggest earner at the corporation, taking home around one and three quarter million pounds a year. our media correspondent david sillito reports. the revelation last year the big pay gap between male and female stars of the bbc provoked outrage from many women in the corporation. the annual report today is with you that some women have had pay rises and some men have had cuts. jeremy vine lost around one third of his £700,000 salary,

john humphrys‘ publicly reported salary is also drop from around £600,000, to £400,000. last year men outnumbered women on the list 3 to 1. women on this list. we're now told that that is closer to 60—40 with an ambition in the next year or so to make it 50—50. but if you look at the top ten highest paid staff at the moment, they are still all men. these things take time, what i am concentrating on is ensuring we are seen to make real progress. so sarah montague is one of the number of women who have made it onto the list of top paid dissenters. —— presenters. the number earning £200,000 or more has doubled. names such as tess daly have disappeared from the list

because they are employed by bbc studios, the bbc production arm, now operating as a private business. the report shows they're making progress on equal pay that there is still further to go. in some ways the report is a backward step because many people, their pay has not been included this year because they work for bbc studios. we need transparency on that as well. so the bbc highest paid star now on the list is gary lineker with more than £1.7 million. the highest—paid woman is 13th on the list. bbc women say there is still a long way to go. with me in the studio is our media correspondent, david silitto. they are right, there is a long way to go. and also you need a bit of a degree in labour law to understand who is on the list and why they are on the list, and who is not on the list. we saw tess daly is fit because she is employed by bbc

studios, but claudia winkleman is on the list at number 13 because she is employed by bbc one. it is not a comprehensively list. all the people you are seeing comprehensively list. all the people you are seeing on comprehensively list. all the people you are seeing on the bbc, there is no david attenborough, david dimbleby, no danny dyer. all the actors are out. so what has actually changed? actors are out. so what has actually changed ? there are actors are out. so what has actually changed? there are certainly people earning a bit more and quite a few high profile ones who are earning quite a lot less will stop you have got new names on the list such as sarah montague, i think seven new names, women 110w earning more sarah montague, i think seven new names, women now earning more than £150,000. the number earning £250,000 or more has now doubled. however, you look at all the top names, the ones earning £400,000 or more, they are still all men, so the bbc says there is a long way to go

but they are aiming at having 50—50 by around 2020 on that list. but the issue about whether it will be 50—50 in the top ten, they haven't committed themselves to. and how up to date is this list really? that's the interesting point because these things change very rapidly. the split of women in the top earning over £150,000, the figure is already almost out of date. at the moment, it is 60-40. and almost out of date. at the moment, it is 60—40. and they say it is heading towards 50—50. and lots of the salaries, you look at hugh edwards, £550,000 last year, coming down to around £500,000. and they say it will carry on coming down. the same with john say it will carry on coming down. the same withjohn humphrys. so these are ongoing processes. lots of negotiations happening all the time.

contracts coming to an end. and it is so complicated. jeremy wright was earning more than £700,000. it's gone down to about £450,000 now —— jeremy lefroy in. that includes his quiz show, eggheads. however, john humphrys‘ salary does not include mastermind. it is very difficult to compare but overall more women, some pay cuts for the men, and bbc women say there is still a long way to go. let's have a look at the weather. our weather watchers have been well and truly getting into the world cup spirit. this picture came from a weather watcher in shropshire, just outside of telford. a little further north, you can see we have been

getting into the spirit on the beach. and further south, football hopefully coming home in hampshire. that is what is going on at home, what about the match itself? the forecast in moscow, if we look at the chart for this afternoon, there are some showers in the vicinity, some afternoon downpours and thunderstorms, but these should fade away by the time we get to kick off. we will dive underneath the cloud and you can see that by about 7pm, they could be one or two showers around but they should tend to fade. i think it will be mostly dry for the match. back at home, we have got a bit ofa the match. back at home, we have got a bit of a change for some. across the north—west, some extra cloud producing rain in some places but there is also sunshine to be had, as seen there is also sunshine to be had, as seen by this picture in county durham. we have got two areas of cloud. one plaguing the east, producing some outbreaks of patchy

rain. that will continue across parts of scotland and northern ireland. only drifting very slowly southwards and eastwards. further south, some sunny spells to be had, but still be potential for one or two showers. as we go into the evening, 7pm, if you are watching the big match, it is not looking too bad. some sunny spells to close out the day. across northern ireland and western scotland, we will still have oui’ western scotland, we will still have our band of cloud. some patchy rain limping southwards and eastwards. as we go deeper into the night, this cloud and patchy rain across scotla nd cloud and patchy rain across scotland will very slowly move its way southwards and eastwards but not much more rain by this stage. a bit cloudy for northern ireland. just the odd shower is possible. temperatures between 11 and 17 celsius tomorrow, fare amounts of

cloud for northern ireland but for southern scotland, down into england and wales is, while we will see some spells of sunshine, we are going to see one 01’ spells of sunshine, we are going to see one or two scattered showers. some of these could be on the heavy side. temperatures during thursday between 21 and 26 degrees. and let me give you a look at the full forecast for friday, because they will be more showers by this stage. some heavy, thundery downpours developing here and there. those temperatures generally between 20 and 26 degrees. that is all the weather from me for now. this is bbc news. our latest headlines. we're counting down to kick—off. in less than five hours, england will go head—to—head with croatia in the world cup semifinal. the team hopes to play france in the final. dramatic pictures have emerged of the operation to rescue 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded cave in thailand. the bbc understands they were heavily sedated

to prevent them from panicking. the first pictures of the boys since the rescue have also been released. police have briefly spoken with charlie rowley who was poisoned in wiltshire by the nerve agent novichok. investigators are trying to find the source of the poison which made the 45—year—old man seriously ill and caused the death of his partner, dawn sturgess. donald trump has accused germany of being controlled by russia, because of its reliance on energy supplies. the us president will meet one—on—one with germany's leader at the nato summit in brussels this afternoon. sport now on afternoon live with tim hague. can we do it? yes, we can, simon. it won't be easy though. a croatia side that beat argentina 3—0 earlier in the tournament. but gareth southgate has urged his england side to make history in a huge world cup

semifinal against croatia. england rained earlier on in moscow. the match kicks off at 7pm tonight, so less tha n match kicks off at 7pm tonight, so less than five hours. that is also where our sports news correspondent sent this a little early on. this is the national stadium of russia. 80,000 people will be packing her at 7pm for that kick—off. what a game. the first england semifinal at a world cup since 1990. 28 years ago. so long, croatia weren't even an independent country back then. so every opportunity awaiting gareth southgate and his men. let me give you a little look around this place. all empty now. the pitch hasjust had a fresh mot, it is all prepared, it is beautiful. the england fans, we are expecting around 3000, but

maybe more who got those last—minute tickets. there has been quite a struggle to get over here. to get a visa in place and to get those precious tickets. behind me, you will see also the benches. that is waistcoat wednesday central. that is where gareth southgate will be tonight, leading his men out onto the pitch. waistcoat wednesday central, richard said there. where is your waistcoat? iama said there. where is your waistcoat? i am a jacket man. we will see how it goes tonight. we have still got a couple of hours of this. i wonder if the players are beginning to feel nervous, because one feature of this young england tea m one feature of this young england team is that they have appeared nervous. they have amazingly seemed nervous, particularly yesterday. i don't think i've ever seen a team look happier. they looked so relaxed. but nerves are jangling all across

england at the moment. it is the fa ns england at the moment. it is the fans who are struggling. one man who is feeling very relaxed and beak at is feeling very relaxed and beak at is the former england captain alan shearer. iam very shearer. i am very confident. that england tea m i am very confident. that england team is confident. they are on a roll, they have got momentum, and they seem very happy bunch. i am really looking forward to the game andi really looking forward to the game and i think we are in with a very good chance. so alan shearer thinks a very good chance but what of england's opponents, croatia? chance but what of england's opponents, croatia ? they chance but what of england's opponents, croatia? they have a squad with a lot of experience. they have nine champions league titles between them, four of which belonged to lu ka between them, four of which belonged to luka modric. he plays alongside in midfield and other superstar, ivan rakitic. there was to play for barcelona and real madrid, so some serious pedigree. and this man, marumatsu pitch, as played with luka modric for over a decade or so they know each other inside out. they

maybe a little tired after two games going to extra time and two penalty shoot outs, but they will be ready for england. it is men's quarterfinal day at wimbledon. the big three are all in action. what is the latest? many thanks. four players will be booking their place in the men's singles semifinals later and that could include the big three of roger federer, rafa nadal and novak djokovic, who will begin on court number one, where roger federer is in action. unfamiliar surroundings having played his last 20 matches at wimbledon on centre court. court number one for him today, where he is currently two sets ahead against kevin anderson. no wonder roger federer is sat in his seat looking s0 federer is sat in his seat looking so relaxed. kevin anderson getting a real work—out on court number one. as we know, where roger federer to

progress, he would face the winner of the other quarterfinal between milos raonic and john isner in the semifinal. that could be the biggest test job semifinal. that could be the biggest testjob roger federer will face. novak djokovic also in action against kei nishikori. it is 1—1 in this one. djokovic took the first set. novak djokovic has a good head—to—head against kei nishikori, having won 13, versus kei nishikori's two. novak djokovic has struggled with form and fitness of late and if he is to reach the final he has eight other side of the draw. he is in rafa nadal‘s side of the draw. so it really is opening up nicely for roger federer. on centre court, we have a big game to come, with rafa nadal taking on one martine del potro. plenty of tennis to come.

——juan martin del to come. —— juan martin del potro. i will be back for the 3pm headlines andi i will be back for the 3pm headlines and i hope you will be wearing a waistcoat. keep hoping. parts of england are expected to grind to a halt this evening, as millions of people watch the national side take on croatia in the world cup semifinal in moscow. victory for england would take them to theirfirst final in the tournament since 1966. well, let's get the thoughts now of former croatian professional goalkeep stipe pletikosa whojoins me now from moscow. ican i can guess who you are supporting but you had a season playing for totte n ha m , but you had a season playing for tottenham, how do you think these two sides will match up? hello everybody in england, first of all. i think the game will be very interesting but we are struggling with our fitness because everybody knows that we play in extra time and

penalties, so i hope fitness will be on the same level as the english team. with the experience we have, i hope that we are very positive about winning the game. who are croatia's most dangerous players? well, i think luka modric and ivan rakitic. they gave the balance to our game. this is their 125 game they played this season together for their clubs and the national team so i hope they will find the strength in their legs to be very, like i said, bring a good balance. and we have a really good balance. and we have a really good goalkeeper who is making the difference in the most important parts of the game, yes. which one is

better. we saw last night how crucial goalkeepers are because they can give as victories. every game during this world cup is 50—50.|j don't want to mention penalties because i know that is how you marked the end of your international career. i just marked the end of your international career. ijust wonder who marked the end of your international career. i just wonder who you marked the end of your international career. ijust wonder who you would back, if it went to penalties, which of the two goalkeepers has the nerve? they have been through this before already. i think england have also confidence about penalties now, especially when you know the history of english penalty takers during the world cup and european cup. i am very positive. the croatia goalkeeper is on fire, he is performing well, and he has a small advantage. are you wishing you had not retired after the last world cup now? of course, but these players,

they continue our dream, which we dreamt for a long time, that we can do something special like they are doing. we are very happy about that. the whole nation is united and the whole nation is trying to find a ticket or some way to get to moscow. i think this atmosphere makes them better and i'm sure they will find the strength tonight to beat england. what would it actually mean for croatia, given this is the first time they will be at this level since creation was created. how big a deal would it be to get to a world cup final? everyone would be happy. still when i was playing, there were a lot of comparisons with that team that won the bronze medal and that pressure was a little bit too much for us over the years. now this team has really performed well and got the results so theyjust need to grab this chance, to show they are

confident from the first minute when they get down on the pitch and try to score the first goal. england is a very strong, physical team, i like this organisation, the game plan from the back, and harry kane raheem sterling. they run a lot, they open space for kieran trippier, but i think we will find a way to stop them. and the school will be? i think 2—1, croatia. them. and the school will be? i think 2-1, croatia. may the best tea m think 2-1, croatia. may the best team wind. thank you very much. facebook has been fined a record £500,000 by the information commissioner over its misuse of data. the regulator has been investigating how the details of tens of millions of users ended up in the hands of the political consultancy cambridge analytica. the commissioner raised concerns about political parties buying personal information from what it called "data brokers". and theojoins me in the studio now.

when we are talking about a multi—billion pound company, £500,000 is a drop in the ocean. for facebook, certainly, £500,000 is small change. it won't make any difference to the business. but what's important is the message this sets up. this wasn't the largest find the commissioner's opposite is able to levy under the laws that we re able to levy under the laws that were applicable at the time, but since then the laws have changed. it is now possible for companies to misuse data to have much bigger fines and something called the general data protection regulation. we have all had those e—mails, those texts. and it means companies can be fined more money. the message sent out on this occasion is that it ta kes out on this occasion is that it takes these matters very seriously. this has been a long investigation,

it involved enormous numbers of documents, a range —— raid on cambridge analytica's offices. if there is an abuse of data, it will be investigated. in future, the fines could be a lot bigger. how much bigger? they said this was the maximum fine they would be able to find under the old system. under the new system, what could it be? for 96. global turnover, for a complete like facebook that is a lot of money. detectives have managed to speak to the man who was poisoned by novichok in amesbury. salisbury district hospital said 45—year—old charlie rowley is no longer in a critical condition after regaining consciousness. he "briefly" spoke to police officers. his partner dawn sturgess, who was also exposed to the nerve agent, died on sunday. police are investigating a possible link to the case of russians sergei and yulia skripal, who were poisoned with the same substance in nearby salisbury in march. a controversial loyalist bonfire in east belfast, that a high courtjudge had ordered to be reduced in size, has been set alight prematurely.

the bloomfield walkway bonfire was set alight in the early hours of this morning. it was one of hundreds across northern ireland due to be burned late tonight as part of the annual battle of the boyne commemorations. in a moment, we'll be finding out what's hot and what's not in the business news. first, a look at the headlines on afternoon live with just hours to go until kick—off, can england make it to the final of a world cup for the first time in 52 years? dramatic new pictures emerge of the thai cave rescue operation. the 12 boys were heavily sedated to help bring them out safely. they are all recovering well in hospital the man poisoned by novichok speaks to police for the first time. could he hold the clue to where the nerve agent was found? hello. the bidding warfor sky heats up, after 21st century fox increases its offer for the uk

broadcaster to £24.5 billion. however, some analysts are expecting a counter offer from fox's rival comcast, who bid £22 billion for sky in febuary. fox is expecting to obtain regulatory approval in the uk for the deal this week. the global trade war escalates after the united states hits china with fresh tariffs worth £150 billion. beijing's not happy and neither are financial markets with heavy losses across the world today. more on that in a minute. facebook recieves a slap on the wrists by uk's watchdog. the social media firm is fined £500,000, which is the maximum amount for serious data breaches. more threats of tarrifs from president trump last night. if we just remember where we are, just on friday the us imposed

ta riffs just on friday the us imposed tariffs on about $34 billion worth of imported chinese goods. that's about £26 billion. china knew that was coming, so they retaliated with a similartariff on was coming, so they retaliated with a similar tariff on us goods imported into china. but then overnight, donald trump has announced further potential tariffs on to about $200 billion worth of chinese goods that come into the us. there is a list of about 6000 products. everything from fruit and fish to different types of flour, photographic paper, and these items could face tariffs of about 10%. there is going to be a public consultation. it could come into effect from september. now on -- all eyes on china for a reaction. they have said it is totally unacceptable and a trade war could harm the entire world. by september, the us could be targeting about $234

billion worth of imports into the us. on friday, china met the amount of tariffs the us put on chinese goods, china met that on goods going into china. they can't continue to match the us because china imports more to the us than the us imports into china, so last year it was about $130 billion worth of chinese goods went into the states. if we look at the us targeting $230 billion worth, there is a discrepancy. but china can make regulation more difficult for us goods, they can look at their currency, possibly using their currency, possibly using their currency to make their items more competitive, but let's talk hyojoo kim in the stock exchange. —— talk to tim in the stock exchange. the markets have just opened to tim in the stock exchange. the markets havejust opened in new york. how are they doing? the dow is

down over 160 points but that is actually not as bad as many people we re actually not as bad as many people were fearing, especially when the list was released late last night in the united states. i think investors are taking a wait to see when it comes to the latest round of tit—for—tat tariffs, because the number being proposed by the united states, $200 billion worth of chinese imports is huge, and a numberchina chinese imports is huge, and a number china can't meet. it doesn't import as much us goods into china la st import as much us goods into china last year. i think investors are waiting to see what china is proposing in terms of retaliatory measures. we are expecting three days of hearings in august about the list and that could fundamentally change this entire trade battle once more. when it comes to markets, they are quite rightly worried but they are quite rightly worried but they are not in the phase where they are quite fearful for the future yet.

england are kicking off in a few hours. this country is coming to a halt at that time. what is happening over there? is there much interest? i have a hard time with the rules of foot ball i have a hard time with the rules of football but even i have been brushing up on them. i was in a pub on saturday at 10am, which is when the last england match was on in the united states, and it was packed. although we may not have a team in this year's world cup, i think americans are quite interested in what the outcome of this match will be today. a quick look at the markets. the markets are concerned about this escalatingj the markets are concerned about this escalating j —— the markets are concerned about this escalatingj —— trade war. the ftse is down. we talked about the sky bid. the increased bid we saw today from fox would put sky at £14 per share. the fact it is that 15 on the ftse suggests we are looking for a

cou nteroffer. with just hours to go before england team faces croatia in the world cup semi finals. the team has been getting support from some popular childhood icons — sooty and sweep. hi everybody. we are going to use a little bit of magic to make sure football comes home tonight. let's get busy! that's it. football's coming home. after weeks and weeks of dry weather, some of us have finally seen some weather, some of us have finally seen some rain. this is how it looked early on in county durham. still some blue skies to be had. into this evening and tonight, simply spells. still potentially one two showers. a bit of patchy rain

drifting south eastwards across scotland. overnight lows between 13 and 17 degrees. tomorrow, across scotland, some extra cloud. a little bit of patchy rain and drizzle sinking southwards and eastwards. elsewhere, patchy cloud and sunny spells. this afternoon, there is the potential for some spells. this afternoon, there is the potentialfor some hit spells. this afternoon, there is the potential for some hit and spells. this afternoon, there is the potentialfor some hit and miss showers. some of these could be on the heavy side. temperatures in the south around 25 or 26 degrees. those temperatures continue to climb as we head to the weekend. hello, you're watching afternoon live. today at 3. the countdown is on — just four hours to go till kick off. england are one game away from a world cup final — but a strong croatia team stand in their way, before history can be made. they have the whole country in the palm of their hand and it is great

to see, it has not happened that many times that we can all get excited and be happy with an england team. there have been some down time is with england but this team we are all happy and singing and cheating and desperate for them to get to that world cup final. the mac singing and cheering. dramatic new pictures emerge of the thai cave rescue operation. the 12 boys were heavily sedated to help bring them out safely. they are all recovering well in hospital. the man poisoned by novichok speaks to police for the first time — could he hold the clue to where the nerve agent was found? at war with nato — president trump claims germany is totally controlled by russia — as he prepares to meet angela merkel this afternoon. it is very sad when germany makes a mess of an oil and gas deal with russia when we are supposed to be guarding against russia and germany pays billions of dollars a year to them. coming up on afternoon live all the sport with tim hague. england play their world cup

semifinal against croatia and moscow this evening, the biggest game in a generation for both countries and france are waiting in the final. ben rich has all the weather. some of the shine has come off the heat wave and some places have seen some rain. will the heat return? all the details coming up. thanks ben. also coming up — a very special message ahead of that world cup semi—final tonight. hi this is a wretched and sudeep and who will be using some let's get busy. football is coming home. good afternoon and welcome

to afternoon live. there are just under five hours to go until england's biggest game for almost thirty years. if gareth southgate's men can beat croatia in moscow, they'll make history — with a place in the world cup final, the country's first since 1966. tens of millions are expected to watch the game. in a moment we'll report on the growing excitement back home — but first our sports correspondent richard conway reports from moscow on the england squad's final preparations. england savoured victory in moscow last week. now they're back in town and determined to stick around for sunday's final. # world in motion... # it's now 28 years since new order's world cup anthem, world in motion. back in 1990, croatia didn't even exist as a country. it's an entire generation since gazza's tears, lineker‘s worry and england's defeat to west germany.

it's even longer, though, since england got their hands on the prize. it's 52 years since england last won the world cup. it's still gleaming, as are the current team's hopes. gareth southgate wants his players to make their own history and is aware of the boost his team is providing back home. our country's been through some difficult moments recently in terms of its unity, and i think sport has the power to do that, and football in particular has the power to do that. so for us, we can feel the energy and we can feel the support from home and it's a very special feeling, it's a privilege for us. england's players are notably relaxed in this tournament. a far cry from the tension and cliques of past squads. from paddling with unicorns to harry maguire's tweets. they've shown a willingness to engage in social media, helping break down barriers that built up over years with the public. this is a huge opportunity

for gareth and for his players. one former captain believes that relaxed attitude has forged a strong team bond. they deserve to be in this position. they've been absolutely magnificent in everything they've said, everything they've done. so, they are enjoying it, they look as if they're having fun which is great to see. and they're not ready to go home yet. final preparations today at the luzhniki stadium. after last week's close shave against colombia, england will be hoping tonight's game is decided before penalties. but croatia mean business. a battle hardened squad are determined they will be the ones to progress, training last night for an hour at a high intensity, despite their recent tough games. their head coach, that zlatko dalic, saying in his press conference, it should be no surprise that his team is amongst the final four. and that the strength of his players has been underestimated. the trophy may have changed,

the ambition remains the same. and england sense a chance to bring it home once more. well back home, tens of millions of fans are getting ready to watch tonight's semi—final either at home, in pubs or on big screens. for many it'll be a race home from work to make it in time for kick off. some fans are dressing up as manager gareth southgate — on what's been dubbed waistcoat wednesday. a warning there is some flash photography in this report from sarah campbell. # it's coming home, it's coming home #. these liverpudlian milkmen are sure. 52 years of hurt are nearly over. yes, we believe. we are going to win 2—0. there's pitch perfect vocal support from the cathedral choir in chelmsford. # it's coming, football's home. # it's coming home, it's coming home. # football's coming home, it's coming home. # it's coming home...#. and prince harry is in ireland today

and it was in no doubt when asked whether football is coming home. is football coming home? most definitely. even politics will have to remain on the bench — there are more important matters at hand. gareth southgate and the boys have done a fantasticjob and i am sure that they are going to go on and do well, i want to wish them all the very best of luck tonight. it does feel like the whole country, including saintjohn houghton school in nottingham, has got behind the team. this generation, here in northamptonshire, is too young to remember all the previous disappointments. very excited and i think we're going to win. i feel very excited, i hope we're going to thrash croatia. i am so ready for the match. i am kind of nervous and excited about the match. very, very excited. also excitement here

at kieran tripier‘s old school. they could not be prouder that a former pupil has become one of england's star players. it is exciting to know that he is not selfish and that he is such a great player. he still stays in touch with the school. he's just a great all—round player and you see the way he performs, he's persued his dreams and it shows if you believe in yourself you can make it anywhere. the semifinal is predicted to cause a spending spree according to the centre for retail research, totalling more than £550 million. and a fair bit of that will go on buying 10 million extra pints during the match. another item flying off the shelves, waistcoats. we're wearing our waistcoats to get behind gareth southgate. we're doing waistcoast wednesday to support the team. i think england are going to win 3—0. england's coming home! one of those who played back in 1966

thinks england can repeat that team's success. it is about time, mind you, that we have got as far as we have got. it has been an awful long time since 1966, that's a certainty. i am pretty certain we will get in the final. and that would be absolutely wonderful. this was saturday. millions will be hoping these scenes will be repeated this evening. sarah campbell, bbc news. preparations are under way all over england particularly where you are. it is one of hundreds of venues going to be opening their doors and helping that hundreds of people come and watch. tickets here sold out in

less tha n and watch. tickets here sold out in less than 12 seconds. there will be about 700 people here this evening. that is wimbledon on the big screen but we do not care about that. an important person related to the football, their hair is very important and ten of the unofficial england team barber is here. who's here have you created? many of the players, henderson, and others. here is very important so how important do you think your individual contribution has been?” do you think your individual contribution has been? i wouldn't know what i give them a nice haircut. this very brave gentleman is allowing us to interview whilst you are talking to me. how do the discussions go with the players? we

sat down and it was a consultation and we swapped out a style that would sit ten. i guess you are a football supporter. it has been crazy. anxiety every time, come on england. and that you thinking i did not do your hair like that, please ta ke not do your hair like that, please take care of it. i did not do that at all. what is your prediction? it's coming home. i do not want to jinx it, it is coming home and that is it. will you be able to cut their hair before the final? that'll be a blessing, i hope so. thank you. there will be hundreds of people in

here later, doors open at 4pm. already some people queueing by the gate helping to get in. this isjust one venue that is going to be packed with england supporters hoping it is coming home. sarah rainsford has been meeting fans in moscow. a couple of croatian fans getting their photo but russians coming to be part of the world cup experience, people wanting their photos taken with these statues and statues and paraphernalia and with the fans. 32 countries involved in this world cup and still a lot of fans are still in town. there are also more and more england fans who have been coming to moscow trying to join in this football party as it has gone along.

there were not that many in the beginning but the crowd is growing as england has reached the semifinal. i have the fancier and have come from manchester, you just arrived this morning? yes, about 1230 and moscow, via italy. it was sort of last—minute, we decided after the quarterfinal we would try and come out. we have been to most england games since 1996, give it up after the iceland ‘s tobacco but decided to give it another go. they play good football, interesting to watch and more enjoyable because this seems a bit more passion. watch and more enjoyable because this seems a bit more passionlj this seems a bit more passion.” guess you were around in 1990?” was. quite excited, it is a big game the first time since i've been going to football. how have you found the

mood? great. that is why we come, as much as what is on the pitch, we have friends over here from all over the world and they have had a great time watching the games on the tv and thinking we should be in the game so and thinking we should be in the game so we and thinking we should be in the game so we decided semifinal might not come around again and we have to get the experience as well as what happens on the pitch will stop obviously knew what the results to go the right way and then you'll figure out what we're going to do. what happens if england do when? you don't have any plans? we have a room for tonight but nothing for after that and now reserved flights of evil see what happens at 11pm. if you are pessimistic we would have booked a flight tomorrow. how do you

feel about the chances against croatia? we can do it. croatia are a good team, some of the best midfielders in the world but we are playing well. we definitely have a shout. the england fans have been singing football is coming home, is it? without a doubt. i am excited for the first time in a long time. it wasn't great for a number of years as an england fan but hopefully now it will be great again, really looking forward to it. thank you. enjoy the match. that is the deflection of the mood we have been hearing over the past few weeks as this team has gone through the tournament and the fans have grown in confidence and lots of people saying they do think that england does have a very real chance against croatia. you're watching afternoon live, these are our headlines with just hours to go until kick—off — can england make it to the final of a world cup for the first time in 52 years?

dramatic new pictures emerge of the thai cave rescue operation. the 12 boys were heavily sedated to help bring them out safely. they are all recovering well in hospital the man poisoned by novichok speaks to police for the first time — could he hold the clue to where the nerve agent was found? the bbc reveals its ten best paid stars are men — despite efforts to close the gender pay gap — with only two women in the top 15 and in sport, gareth southgate surveys the surface england will play croatia on at 7pm and moscow. and this is a croatia team that destroyed argentina 3—0 earlier in thejudgments of destroyed argentina 3—0 earlier in the judgments of england face a tough test. and it is men's quarterfinals day at wimbledon, roger federer already on the verge of the 13th wimbledon semi. i will be back with morejust of the 13th wimbledon semi. i will be back with more just after the 30

pm. it's emerged that the 12 boys rescued from a cave in thailand were heavily sedated to keep them calm, and were only semi—conscious as they were brought out by divers. officials say the boys and their coach are in ‘good health' as they recover from their ordeal and showing no signs of stress. the bbc has been told that if the last rescues had not been carried out yesterday — today would have been ‘virtually impossible' because of rising water levels. our correspondent dan johnson is at the cave in tham luang in northern thailand. such a contrast from the misery of the cave that held them for so long. now they are together gone, a p pa re ntly now they are together gone, apparently cheerful and keen to share their experience. parents are close but there have still been no

physical contact until more tests are done and a proper assessment of what they have endured. we are planning to scale back the preventative medication but we are still giving medicine to those who have long infections for the next seven days. this is the period of time when we will need to take care of them. and this is our first look inside the cave as the boys were being brought out. the rescue team carefully navigating the doctor then, difficult obstacles deep underground. —— navigating the tough train. they did this 13 times with the boys and their football coach through two miles of cavan to safety and the relief of the watching world. as international divers that to head home we are beginning to learn more about how extraordinary this rescue was. how were the boys? they were sedated, they were

breathing. the doctor gave them drugs cause it would be a lot of risk in that situation. thai officials denied driving the boys but we have been told they came out semiconscious structure and experienced cave diver. this is the man who led the underwater dive team, the head of the thai navy seals. even he had doubts about the dangerous rescue. i did not think we would do this well. we had a little bit of hope that the kids were still alive but we had to move forward and do it. it was a tiny bit of hope but we had to succeed. we had to hold onto that hope and in the end we found out that they were all. i am very happy. and so is the rest of this country. it is a moment to celebrate but there are families still to be reunited and classmate

eager to see their friends. as soon as he walks into the classroom and we will give him his birthday cake and gifts and sing a song for him. there were so many people involved in this rescue operation and it will ta ke in this rescue operation and it will take a long time for things to wind down. a lot of satisfaction at a job well done but the enormity of what they achieved is onlyjust well done but the enormity of what they achieved is only just starting to sink in. their recovery, physical and mental, will need time. they are getting psychological support and will also have to adjust to being suddenly the world's most famous cave diving football team. this was an enormousjoint cave diving football team. this was an enormous joint efforts to bring them out. a determined and skilful and delicate rescue already being talked of as one of history's great biscuits. this —— —— great biscuits. this cave did not easily give up but

its challenge is still being absorbed. it's not the best start to a nato summit — a war of words breaking out as us president donald trump denounces germany as being ‘totally controlled by russia' — saying it depends on moscow for up to 70 per cent of its gas imports. mr trump was speaking ahead of the summit in brussels — and he's due to meet the german leader angela merkel shortly. it's not the best start to a nato summit — a war of words breaking out as us president donald trump denounces we can cross to brussels and talk to our chief international correspondent lyse doucet. it has gone rather so far? for a very applicable president like the american leader that is one thing certain about him as he has always had very strong words for nato. you can hear the sound of a helicopter

overhead, they have been flying across from member states all day. president trump has been lowered, co nsta ntly president trump has been lowered, constantly accusing his nato partners of relying on the american taxpayer to protect them here in europe. when i spoke to german defence ministers for her reaction to the tied aid against germany she said we can cope with that, we are used to it. we have had from president trump but what matters are the facts. what are the facts so far here this nato summit? this report from our correspondent. good morning, everybody. a presidential breakfast in brussels but no time for pleasantries. donald trump who has barely touched the ground since arriving in europe, choosing a presummit photo opportunity for a public rebuke, accusing germany of undermining nato.

i think it's very sad when germany makes a massive oil and gas deal with russia, where you are supposed to be guarding against russia and germany spends billions on year to russia. across the table, nato's head looks on, choosing not respond as the us president goes further. germany is totally controlled by russia because they were getting from 60 to 70% of their energy from russia in a new pipeline. and you tell me if that's appropriate. because i think it's not and a very bad thing for nato, and i don't think it should have happened and we have to talk to germany about it. as germany's chancellor angela merkel arrived at nato's new headquarters, she refused to directly respond the criticisms into saying germany is free to make independent decisions. this nato summit has barely started and already we're seeing from 28 nato leaders, they want to talk about strength and unity in the face of the perceived threat from russia. donald trump is saying that comes with a price and he accuses germany and other countries, in his words,

of not paying their way. it has been a year since nato leaders first met the us president and were publicly berated by him for failing to spend 2% of their gross domestic product on defence as they had pledged to do over the next decade. as theresa may arrived this morning, she told reporters the uk is one of the few men are doing their bit for the alliance. nato is as vital today as it ever has been in the uk's commitment to it remains as that fast as ever and we show that, we lead by example, not only by meeting target of spending 2% of gdp on defence, but also 20% of our defence budget on equipment and in the way in which we deploy thousands of armed forces personnel are nato operations around the world. privately, european diplomats talk of the summit being a damage limitation exercise in the face of open american criticism. but for nato, these

public outburst at triggered more countries to invest in the alive even if they see it as an ugly we to do politics. and nato is a militarily and lyons, a transatlantic military alliance and a very important one. all this politics threaded throughout and with the croatia and england game just i was away there is a local sport winding through it as well and that was undermined by the croatian president when she met mrs major day, she had a gift of a croatian football shirt, a number ten and some other reviewers may know that the prime minister already has a croatian shirt from the croatian prime minister in london. and imply

that she may have said thank you very much but what i really want is to win that game. she is not alone in that. thank you. in the last few minutes president trump and angela merkel made a short statement after their bilateral meeting at the nato summit. we had a great meeting, discussing miller today expenditure and talking about trade. we have a very good relationship with the chancellor, a tremendous relationship with germany. they have had from in the success and i congratulate you and i believe that our trade will increase and other things will increase but we will see what happens over the next few months. in german.

lam very i am very pleased indeed to have this opportunity for this exchange of views and we had an opportunity to have an exchange about economic developments on issues such as migration and also the future of trade relations. we also briefly touched upon the present and i am looking forward to further extending in the future and it is important to have these exchanges together because we are good partners and wish to continue to cooperate in the future. ok, thank you. more from

brussels later. the man who was poisoned by novichok in amesbury has spoken briefly to police officers. charlie rowley regained conciousness and is no longer in a critical condition. his partner dawn sturgess, who was also exposed to the nerve agent, died on sunday. joining me now from amesbury is our correspondentjen smith. there is an important question that the police will have for him. absolutely. as you were saying we now know that charlie is in a serious but stable condition, longer critical and the director of nursing says his progress is giving cause for optimism. he spoke to the police, albeit briefly and we hope to speak to him again in a couple of days. it is thought the police may have to wait some days for charlie to regain his memory and to focus on the questions being asked. of course

has evidence could be critical to this investigation. the police think the something he and his partner handle that led to the contamination. if you can identify that there he could also shed light on the investigation, the poisoning of the script file ali . there are still a police presence in salisbury. police line saying do not cross. this has been a strain on the local police and wiltshire police have heard news today that they are going to get a £2.5 million grant from the home office which means since march that have received over £4 million of extra funding. charlie rowley is now conscious in hospital and the police will be hoping that what he can tell them can help progress of this investigation. thank you. now it's time for a look at the weather.

at after weeks of dry weather, some of us have seen some rain. not all of us have seen some rain. not all of us. still some sunny skies and cou nty of us. still some sunny skies and county durham but across central parts we take the skinny skies through us. into this evening, clear spells and potentially one or two showers, patchy rain drifting south eastwards a cross showers, patchy rain drifting south eastwards across scotland and overnight lows between 13 and 17. into tomorrow, across scotland some extra cloud, some patchy rain and drizzle sinking south and east, elsewhere in mix of patchy cloud and sunny spells and through the afternoon and across the south—west of scotla nd afternoon and across the south—west of scotland and west of england and wales the potential for some of scotland and west of england and wales the potentialfor some hit of scotland and west of england and wales the potential for some hit and miss showers, some on the heavy side. temperatures in the south to 2526 degrees, continuing to climb and southern areas to was the weekend and always cool and fresh

further north and west. this is bbc news. our latest headlines. the count down is on — it's now four hours until kick—off. england are one game away from a world cup final but they have to beat a strong croatia team before football history can be made. dramatic pictures have emerged of the mission to rescue 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded cave in thailand. the bbc understands they were heavily sedated to prevent them from panicking. the boys are now recovering in a local hospital. police have spoken briefly with charlie rowley who was poisoned by novichok in wiltshire. investigators are trying to find the source of the nerve agent which made the 45—year—old man seriously ill, and caused the death of his partner, dawn sturgess. donald trump has accused germany of being controlled by russia, because of its reliance on the country's energy supplies. he described the relationship as inappropriate. the us president will meet with germany's leader at the nato summit in brussels this afternoon. and facebook has been slapped with a £500,000 fine

for breaches in data protection in relation to the cambridge analytica scandal. and coming up, prince harry and meghan markle meet the irish president michael higgins and his wife on their first official overseas engagement since their wedding in may. sport now on afternoon live. can england do it? they absolutely can. that is the confident answer. england are playing really well and are obviously united. gareth southgate says he has total confidence that his side will play well in the semifinal against croatia this evening in moscow. the match kicks off at 7pm. our correspondent is therefore rest. not long now until kick—off.

preparations are well under way. they are testing the pa system, the pitch has been prepared, the lines are painted, everything is ready to go are painted, everything is ready to go for this world cup semifinal. england's first since 1990, some 28 years. croatia didn't even exist as a country at that point. croatia wa nt a country at that point. croatia want to progress to do that final against france on sunday. that is also at this stadium. so we are in for quite an evening of football. we should have the team news within the next couple of hours. i wouldn't expect many changes, if any at all, from gareth southgate's last starting 11 against sweden. i think he's going to stick with his trust in those players. they left their hotel around lunchtime, came to a training pitch nearby to the stadium for a brief training session, a tactical session, they will then go

back to their hotel before coming back to their hotel before coming back to the stadium shortly before kick—off to get on the pitch, stretch their legs and get ready for that big kick—off against croatia. a place in the final against france awaits the victor. it will be england's first world cup final in 52 years. since that fabled year of 1966. it's a prize you don't get any bigger than. so what of england's opponents tonight? croatia have a squad with lots of talent and experience. they have nine champions league titles between them, four of those belonging to luka modric. he plays alongside another superstar in ivan rakitic. those two play for spain's two leading sides, real madrid and barcelona. they made their croatia dead use more than a

decade ago so they have spent a lot of time playing together and getting to know one another, unlike england's team. away from football to wimbledon now as it is meant‘s quarterfinal day. the big three are all in action. john is therefore rest. i believe roger federer has lost his first set of the fortnight. yes, the rather unfamiliar surroundings of court number one where roger federer is playing today producing a rather unfamiliar scoreline as you suggest. let's take you to live pictures from court number one. roger federer, the eight times wimbledon champion, is 2—1 ahead but just times wimbledon champion, is 2—1 ahead butjust dropped the last set against kevin anderson. he lost 5—7. he is still leading but as you say he has dropped his first set of this tournament so far. so roger federer being given a stern a work—out on court number one by kevin anderson

than he has by any other player so far in this tournament. let's cross over to centre court, which is where novak djokovic is in action against kei nishikori at the moment. a similar scoreline here. the three times wimbledon champion leading. and novak djokovic 4—2 ahead in the fourth set. so he is looking likely to book his place in the semifinals, where he could face rafa nadal, who is second on centre court, against juan martin del potro. those two former champions in action on centre court. the reason behind roger federer playing on court number one. and to follow on court number one, milos raonic takes onjohn is met, two of the big servers in this tournament. no one has smashed more acesin tournament. no one has smashed more aces in this tournament than those two. thank you very much indeed. that is

all the sport for now. i am off to get my position in the pub. let's return to tonight's world cup semifinal. let's talk now to mark hillman. you travel to moscow for some of the earlier games but then went home again. i was out the two weeks, a wonderful atmosphere. but as an england fan, never do we get this far so england fan, never do we get this farsoi england fan, never do we get this far so i went home and saw as bring it to them. and believable at the moment. you are there but it has been a bit of a struggle. talk is through that journey to been a bit of a struggle. talk is through thatjourney to get back to moscow. we booked it quite last—minute. on saturday we booked

it after the sweden game, ended up at luton yesterday about 4pm, took off at 7pm for prague, which we got you at around 11pm, a three—hour stopover, and then over to moscow. and then we had to wait until ten in the airport. so zero sleep, two flights, a few tantrums, a few beers, but above all we are in moscow for the semis and i couldn't be happier. absolutely loving it at the moment. can they do it? of course we can. you the moment. can they do it? of course we can. you look at our team now, we have got a young squad, no individuals, just a whole team, and thatis individuals, just a whole team, and that is so important at the moment. we will take on anybody. straightaway, france in the finals, we will do a job on them. we will bring back two stars. were you this optimistic at the start of this? like most england fans, i thought we

would go through the group stages, but seeing games like in america and iceland, you are not overly optimistic, but now we are. and how easy was it to get a ticket?” optimistic, but now we are. and how easy was it to get a ticket? i went on the fifa site, it took me about 15 minutes, it was quite straightforward. the site crashed a lot, i probably paid a little bit over, but a once—in—a—lifetime experience. and the message to the tea m experience. and the message to the team is what? just turn up, do what you have been doing, play as a team and be fearless. go out there and bring it home. you will be at some stage. it is great to talk to you. enjoy the game. the bbc has revealed that its ten best paid stars are men — despite efforts to close the gender pay gap between its highest

earning presenters. there are two women in the top 15 — claudia winkleman and vanessa feltz. match of the day host gary lineker is the biggest earner at the corporation, taking home around £1.75 million pounds a year. our media correspondent david sillito reports. the revelation last year of a big pay gap between male and female stars at the bbc provoked outrage from many women in the corporation. the annual report today has revealed that some women have had pay rises, and some men have had cuts. jeremy vine lost around one third of his £700,000 salary, john humphries‘ publicly reported salary also dropped from around £6,000, to £400,000. £600,000, to £400,000. last year men outnumbered women on the list three to one. we're now told that that is closer to 60—40 with an ambition in the next year or so to make it 50—50. but if you look at the top ten highest paid staff at the moment, they are still all men. these things take time.

especially when you're dealing with people who are the voices and the faces of the bbc to millions and millions of people. what i am concentrating on is ensuring we are seen to make real progress. so radio 4's sarah montague is one of a number of women who have made it onto the list of top paid presenters. the number earning £2000 or more has doubled. the number earning £200,000 or more has doubled. but names such as tess daly have disappeared from the list because they are employed by bbc studios, the bbc production arm, now operating as a private business. the report shows they're making progress on equal pay but there is still further to go. in some ways the report is a backward step because many people, their pay has not been included this year because they work for bbc studios. i believe we need transparency on that pay as well. so the bbc‘s highest paid star now on the list is gary lineker with more than £1.7 million. the highest—paid woman is 13th on the list. bbc women say there is

still a long way to go. david sillito, bbc news. facebook has been fined a record £500,000 by the information commissioner over its misuse of data. the regulator has been investigating how the details of tens of millions of users ended up in the hands of the political consultancy cambridge analytica. the commissioner raised concerns about political parties buying personal information from what it called "data brokers". here's our correspondent theo leggett. this is the biggest investigation of its kind ever undertaken in the uk. the information commissioner has been looking at the way personal data has been used for political purposes for more than a year. political parties, data analysis companies and major social media platforms have all come under scrutiny. documents have been pored over and offices raided. a major part of the enquiry has been looking at facebook. the social media giant has already admitted data from up to 87 million users may have been acquired without their consent by a company

called cambridge analytica. it is looking at allegations that that data was misused by both sides in the eu referendum campaign. by making sure that advertising and other information was directly targeted at those most likely to be influenced by it. we looked to the campaigns on both sides, on the leave side and the remain side and again we have found some contraventions of the law, we also have found misuse of data and our investigation continues so we have not finished yet. in october we hope to have our final report. but we are taking action against some of the campaigns and some of the players. the information commissioner is planning to fine facebook half a million pounds. the company has admitted it did not do enough in response to claims that data was being misused. and the inquiry goes well beyond facebook and cambridge analytica. the ico says it is sending warning

letters to 11 political parties and meanwhile politicians themselves say new data protection laws should have a big impact. the ico has investigated the breach of the data protection act which goes back to 1998, we now have new laws in place which are much more stringent, much more protection for people and they are the best in the world. so we would hope in future that people will be protected against this sort of unlawful activity by facebook and by cambridge analytica. the proposed fine for facebook may be small change for an online giant but it is still a powerful statement of intent. it shows that the regulator is taking the issue very seriously and in the future the fines could be much bigger. a controversial loyalist bonfire in east belfast that a high courtjudge had ordered to be reduced in size has been set alight prematurely. the bloomfield walkway bonfire was set alight in the early hours of this morning.

it was one of hundreds across northern ireland due to be burned late tonight as part of the annual battle of the boyne commemorations. a six—year—old girl whose parents are waiting for permission to treat her with medicinal cannabis oil has been admitted to an intensive care unit in belfast. sophie gibson suffers from a severe form of epilepsy. it comes as the mother of another six year old, alfie dingley, has legally brought medicinal cannabis oil into the uk for the first time. hannah deacon was allowed to pass through london city airport with a five month supply from amsterdam for her son after being granted a licence by the home secretary. we'll have the latest business news for you in a moment. first, a look at the headlines on afternoon live. with just hours to go until kick—off, can england make it to the final of a world cup for the first time in 52 years? dramatic new pictures emerge of the thai cave rescue operation. the 12 boys were heavily sedated to help bring them out safely. they are all recovering well in hospital

the man poisoned by novichok speaks to police for the first time. could he hold the clue to where the nerve agent was found? the bidding warfor sky heats up, after 21st century fox increases its offer for the uk broadcaster to £24.5 billion. however, some analysts are expecting a counter offer from fox's rival comcast, who bid £22 billion for sky in febuary. fox is expecting to obtain regulatory approval in the uk for the deal this week. the global trade war escalates after the united states hits china with fresh tariffs worth £150 billion. beijing's not happy and neither are financial markets. facebook recieves a slap on the wrists by uk's watchdog. the social media firm is fined £500,000 — which is the maximum amount — for serious data breaches. so here's the big question, is the world cup good

for the economy?! we have had some figures out on consumer spending which is looking at may and june and there is a suggestion that notjust world cup fever... suggestion that notjust world cup fever. . . who suggestion that notjust world cup fever... who is that? harry kane. the figures are from barclaycard. they pinpoint a few interesting notes on it. that the spending is up 33%. notes on it. that the spending is up 3396. getaway! also more spending on experiences to make the most of the glorious sunshine we have been having. but there is an interesting line that says the good weather is putting us in a good mood about our money. many of us are more confident about our household finances. i'm joined by laura suter,

personal finance analyst at aj bell. laura, surely it takes more than a bit of sunshine to increase our confident in our household budget. laura, can you hear me? let's come back to laura in a moment. there is another big thing going on at skype. we have had this bidding war going on at skype. fox have made a bid, fox this morning have made a counter bid. the most recent comcast bid was about 22 billion in total. fox have come back with 24.5 billion. that would put the value of each sky share at £14. they are trading at £15. and the reason is? investors

are expecting comcast to come back with a counter offer. as far as bidding wars go, this is huge, isn't it? it is, because in november2016, the sky share price was trading at around £7 a share in the last time a cheque it is at around £15. —— last timei cheque it is at around £15. —— last time i checked. you better explain the bar —— background to this because you have got two huge companies. fox, comcast, disney. it has been a long road and that is because they have been concerns that the deal will hand too much control over uk media to the murdoch family. that looks like that issue has probably been cleared up by the fact that there is a secondary bidding war that is going on for fox itself. so disney and comcast are battling

it out for fox. disney currently in pole position on that one. it looks like because sky news will ultimately cede to disney, it is going to be less of a concern to uk regulators. all eyes are expecting the deal to be waved through. now let's have a look at those markets. sky is going to feature. let's see if it's gone any higher than 1502. the ftse is down because markets globally have fallen in the last 12 hours, since donald trump announced those fresh tariffs he was threatening china with. now let's talk sunshine and making money. let's try again. laura, can you hear me?” let's try again. laura, can you hear me? i can. sorry about those technical difficulties. let's talk about that increased

confidence that has been reported in people's household budget. surely we need more than a little bit of sunshine to feel confident about our finances? you would think so but it does seem to have boosted people's finances and they are out spending more, they are in pubs. the big pick—up in spending has been what ba rclayca rd pick—up in spending has been what barclaycard determines pick—up in spending has been what ba rclayca rd determines nonessential spending. spending on all the fun things rather than boring things like the bills. people have been out in pubs, restaurants, and buying big tvs to watch the games on. there was another interesting line in this report, suggesting a significant proportion of us, 42%, are concerned about those headlines we have been hearing about high street retailers closing down and more of us are already trying to return to the high street and support those retailers. do you think people are going to shop localfor do you think people are going to shop local for sentiment, do you think people are going to shop localfor sentiment, even if it is more expensive? that is certainly

not what we have seen already. you touched on the fact that so many people have moved to online shopping because it is cheaper, it is more it convenient, and that has had a crunch on the high street, but because more and more store closures are happening, they are realising it isa are happening, they are realising it is a use it or lose it situation with the high street and if they don't shop more and spend more of their money there, they will lose these stores. it is not something we are seeing at the moment but it is definitely an encouraging sign. and the big question, is the world cup good for the economy? it is that question. i think we are going to have to leave it there. thank you everybody for your contributions. if you heard it or not. over recent weeks firefighters across the uk have

been struggling to deal with dozens of wildfires. but what impact do they have on the air we breathe? scientists are now taking to the skies to try assess what sort of pollution these sort of fires are causing. our science correspondent victoria gill reports. ravaged peatland is still burning, two weeks after the wildfire on saddleworth moor started. and with forecasts suggesting that this summer could bring more wildfires in the uk and across europe, these researchers are taking to the smoky sky. this airborne laboratory, a converted passenger plane fitted with an instrument that sucks in samples of our atmosphere is heading into the smoke to work out what wildfires mean for the air that we breathe. we look at live data from the aircraft to identify when we think we're going through a plume and when we think we are in a plume, we hit a button and that takes a sample of air from outside the aircraft which we collect for analysis way down the line. entire ecosystems have been wiped out in two major fires that are still burning in the north of england. incidents that the fire service has described some of

the worst it has ever seen. you can see the fire is still smouldering away. the saddleworth moor fire started on the 24th ofjune and you can still see it burning, the peatland is definitely burning and a lot of people are wondering why this fire has become so big when there are controlled burns on moorland and peatland reasonably frequently. one of the reasons is this peatland is so degraded, historic air pollution meant that the moss which contained so much moisture was killed by acid rain and that means this peatland has really dried out. so with the drought conditions and a lot of very dry heather, it gives a lot of fuel for this fire which is why it has become so huge. on board, the instruments reveal a spike in methane, a greenhouse gas and air pollutant carbon monoxide. back on the ground, the team will work out the smoke's exact chemical make up. potentially, if these types of fires are going to happen more often in a changing climate and potentially a drier climate in the uk, we need to understand what is being emitted from them and therefore how that's

going to affect the atmosphere going into the future. it is our mission to capture this pollution as it drifts into our towns and cities. victoria gill, bbc news. the duke and duchess of sussex are carrying out a second day of engagements in dublin on their first official overseas visit since their wedding in may. this morning, prince harry and meghan markle met the irish president michael higgins and his wife, along with their two dogs. the royal couple then visited croke park stadium, before travelling to trinity college to see the books of kells. with just hours to go before england team faces croatia in the world cup semi finals, the team has been getting support from some popular childhood icons — sooty and sweep. this is richard and we are going to use a little bit of magic to make sure football comes home tonight. let's get busy! football is coming

home! time for a look at the weather. here's ben rich. good afternoon. some of the shine seems to have come off our heat wave. temperatures are a little bit lower and some places have seen some rain. this is how it looked in dumfries and galloway earlier. elsewhere, still some sunshine to be found. this is how it looked earlier on in county durham. we do have a nice slice of sunshine through the rest of today. the saudis tending to brighten up. the odd shower for

wales and the south—west. but this is how we are expecting it to look at 7pm, when the big match kicks off. most places in england and wales will be dry. the odd shower perhaps. for northern ireland and western scotland, more cloud and the odd spot of rain. this band of patchy rain slowly sliding eastwards. what are the forecasts in moscow? potentially some afternoon showers but by the time we get a kick off, these should be fading away and sunny spells and clear spells to diggers towards the end of the match. temperatures around 20 degrees. tonight, we will have some clear spells. some patchy rain and drizzle sinking south eastwards across scotland. maybe the odd shower elsewhere. temperatures between 13 and 17 degrees tomorrow morning. as far as tomorrow goes, there will be a lot of dry weather around. the cloud should break up to give some spells of sunshine. some patchy rain and drizzle for central and southern scotland. and then we

could see the odd shower breaking out for western areas of england and wales. if you catch one, it could be on the heavy side. the best of the sunshine in the south. as temperatures continue to climb during friday, there is the increasing chance that it will spawn some heavy showers across east wales, the midlands, the south coast. not everyone will get one but you really will know about it if you do get one. they could be hale and thunder mixed in for good measure. but high pressure will still be just about in charge as we head towards the weekend. we could see more cloud. a little bit of rain at times. down towards the south, it looks like the warm air returns. temperatures close to 30 degrees for the weekend. cooler further north and west. hello, you're watching afternoon live. today at 4. the countdown is on — just a few hours to go till kick off.. england are one game away from a world cup final — but a strong croatia team stand

in their way, before history can be made olly foster is live in moscow. thousands of england fans, the lucky ones to have got a ticket are heading towards that historic match. dramatic new pictures emerge of the thai cave rescue operation. the 12 boys were heavily sedated to help bring them out safely. they are all recovering well in hospital the man poisoned by novichok speaks to police for the first time — could he hold the clue to where the nerve agent was found? at war with nato — president trump claims germany is totally controlled by russia — ahead of his meeting with angela merkel this afternoon. it is very sad when germany makes a mess of an oil and gas deal with russia when we are supposed to be guarding against russia and germany pays billions of dollars a year to them. coming up on afternoon live

all the sport — tim hague.... england are in russia. that is rule period. we will keep you up—to—date with all of that adding everything at wimbledon as well, the men's quarterfinals, roger federer and novak djokovic in action. and weather watch is getting into the world cup spirit and i will be looking ahead to the forecast and what the weather will be doing in the stadium. thanks ben. also coming up — a very special message ahead of that world cup semi—final tonight. this is richard and sooty and we will be using some magic to make sure football comes home tonight.

that's it, football is coming home. good afternoon and welcome to afternoon live. there are just under five hours to go until england's biggest game for almost thirty years. if gareth southgate's men can beat croatia in moscow, they'll make history — with a place in the world cup final, the country's first since 1966. tens of millions are expected to watch the game with parts of england predicted to grind to a halt. in a moment we'll hear about fans preparing for the game here... but first let's cross to our sports news correspondent, olly foster who is in moscow. that is the stadium behind me, it is

those in packed in there and in four days we will have a world cup final. we wait to see a thing that can make yesterday, three hours away from kick—off and you can hear the hubbub from the street, already hundreds of england fans making their way towards this must not miss much and must not lose match because that is this belief that england will perhaps never have a better chance to emulate that famous team from 1966. we will be their live inside the stadium in just a 1966. we will be their live inside the stadium injust a moment but first richard conway. england savoured victory in moscow last week. now they're back in town and determined to stick around for sunday's final. # world in motion... # it's now 28 years since new order's world cup anthem, world in motion.

back in 1990, croatia didn't even exist as a country. it's an entire generation since gazza's tears, lineker‘s worry and england's defeat to west germany. it's even longer, though, since england got their hands on the prize. it's 52 years since england last won the world cup. it's still gleaming, as are the current team's hopes. gareth southgate wants his players to make their own history and is aware of the boost his team is providing back home. our country's been through some difficult moments recently in terms of its unity, and i think sport has the power to do that, and football in particular has the power to do that. so for us, we can feel the energy and we can feel the support from home and it's a very special feeling, it's a privilege for us. england's players are notably relaxed in this tournament. a far cry from the tension and cliques of past squads. from paddling with unicorns to harry maguire's tweets. they've shown a willingness to engage in social media, helping break down barriers that

built up over years with the public. this is a huge opportunity for gareth and for his players. one former captain believes that relaxed attitude has forged a strong team bond. they deserve to be in this position. they've been absolutely magnificent in everything they've said, everything they've done. so, they are enjoying it, they look as if they're having fun which is great to see. and they're not ready to go home yet. final preparations today at the luzhniki stadium. after last week's close shave against colombia, england will be hoping tonight's game is decided before penalties. but croatia mean business. a battle hardened squad are determined they will be the ones to progress, training last night for an hour at a high intensity, despite their recent tough games. their head coach, that zlatko dalic, saying in his press conference, it should be no surprise that his team is amongst the final four.

and that the strength of his players has been underestimated. the trophy may have changed, the ambition remains the same. and england sense a chance to bring it home once more. it could be a very special night here in moscow for england. let's cross to the stadium and speak to our sports news corresponded richard conway. we will get to the croatians shortly but gareth southgate has been talking about breaking down barriers, egg seeding expectations game by game. this would put them into the most famous names of all, his young squad. let's really would. we are inside the luzhniki, it is very loud and we are getting closer to kick—off and the testing the

music system, the pitch is prepared and everything is ready for a huge game. gareth southgate's team came to russia with love expectations, the quarterfinal was seen as building for the future but how this tea m building for the future but how this team have defied those expectations, now here on the verge of a world cup final against france in what is going to be extra weight tough against creation. the matter what happens this team has restored a bond with the english public, it is perhaps looked to the future and the european championships in 2020 and to the world cup in 2022 and fans and players alike can look to those tournaments with a degree of confidence knowing that i'm the biggest dangers they can perform and beat any way they have not in recent tournaments. a lots of good coming from this, when rose but having got

this far this team does not want to go homejust yet. croatia this far this team does not want to go home just yet. croatia got to a semifinal 20 years ago, their world cup debut. they have a tiny nation compared to england, punching above their weight for a couple of decades. they are going to be dangerous. they will be and they have shown that throughout this judgment, luka modric a contender for the player of the judgment with his playmaking style and they are strong and battled hardened professionals. we have seen this week in press conferences where they have talked about the size of the nation, around 4 million but the players play for some of the biggest clu bs players play for some of the biggest clubs in europe. they have talked about the strength of the english game at the premier league and they are pitching themselves as the underdogs despite the quality and calibre of that squad. this will be a tight game we have to expect between these two sides but croatia

have had tough games of late, russia taking them to penalties a few days ago. they trained here last night at the luzhniki for an hour, high—intensity which may come as a surprise given the games in their legs but they are ready for this game and know what they have to do. yesterday awaits for them as well, they want to get to that final it is going to be some contest. thank you. 17 of gareth southgate's squad were not born in the were in a world cup semifinal, the tears of paul gascoigne in italy. little you are near enough to hear the cheers. it is good enough. i am

saying no more. don't go there.” cheers. it is good enough. i am saying no more. don't go there. i am better off here. simon, you can order the royal wedding but you are not walking up the aisle. bitter. enjoyed being outside the stadium tonight. well back home, tens of millions of fans are getting ready to watch tonight's semi—final either at home, in pubs or on big screens. for many it'll be a race home from work to make it in time for kick off. some fans are dressing up as manager gareth southgate — on what's been dubbed waistcoat wednesday. a warning there is some flash photography in this report from sarah campbell. # it's coming home, it's coming home #. these liverpudlian milkmen are sure. 52 years of hurt are nearly over.

yes, we believe. we are going to win 2—0. there's pitch perfect vocal support from the cathedral choir in chelmsford. # it's coming, football's home. # it's coming home, it's coming home. # football's coming home, it's coming home. # it's coming home...#. and prince harry is in ireland today and it was in no doubt when asked whether football is coming home. is football coming home? most definitely. even politics will have to remain on the bench — there are more important matters at hand. gareth southgate and the boys have done a fantasticjob and i am sure that they are going to go on and do well, i want to wish them all the very best of luck tonight. it does feel like the whole country, including saintjohn houghton school in nottingham, has got behind the team. this generation, here in northamptonshire, is too

young to remember all the previous disappointments. very excited and i think we're going to win. i feel very excited, i hope we're going to thrash croatia. i am so ready for the match. i am kind of nervous and excited about the match. very, very excited. also excitement here at kieran tripier‘s old school. they could not be prouder that a former pupil has become one of england's star players. it is exciting to know that he is not selfish and that he is such a great player. he still stays in touch with the school. he's just a great all—round player and you see the way he performs, he's persued his dreams and it shows if you believe in yourself you can make it anywhere. the semifinal is predicted to cause a spending spree according to the centre for retail research, totalling more than £550 million. and a fair bit of that will go on buying 10 million extra pints during the match. another item flying off the shelves, waistcoats.

we're wearing our waistcoats to get behind gareth southgate. we're doing waistcoast wednesday to support the team. i think england are going to win 3—0. england's coming home! one of those who played back in 1966 thinks england can repeat that team's success. it is about time, mind you, that we have got as far as we have got. it has been an awful long time since 1966, that's a certainty. i am pretty certain we will get in the final. and that would be absolutely wonderful. this was saturday. millions will be hoping these scenes will be repeated this evening. sarah campbell, bbc news. just over three hours to go. venues

across the country have been turned into outdoor venues, one of the people in charge of running it, how many people are you expecting and so much business has the world cup brought you? we're expecting around 700 people, and has been incredible so far, international treaties it has been overwhelming and incredible. and a great boost to the local economy. you will be selling hundreds of pints of beer. a few thousand pints were up in the air when a goal is scored. which is quite good for you because they have to buy another one. exactly. tickets for this place sold out in around 12 seconds and two of the lucky people are simon and nick. did you ever

think you would be here for the england semifinal? definitely not. it is very pleasing i was saying my bank account was not ready for getting to the semifinal but we are here now. we want to win it but win or lose the team is going to be cheered on and supported, gareth southgate has done an amazing job and the team has been amazing. with the sun is shining, england winning, how has this summer been? amazing. at the start of it would whom are thinking of coming first or second in the group but we never dreamt we would get here and to get to this point has been unbelievable. they have played so well and they hope we can get to the final, that would be incredible. without asking too personal a question, do you remember 1990? neither of us were alive. i was born two months after. prediction? england to win but that

is going to be tough so either after extra time penalties. 10096 was no we cannot win. —— no way we cannot win. you're watching afternoon live, these are our headlines with just hours to go until kick—off — can england make it to the final of a world cup for the first time in 52 years? dramatic new pictures emerge of the thai cave rescue operation. the 12 boys were heavily sedated to help bring them out safely. they are all recovering well in hospital the man poisoned by novichok speaks to police for the first time — could he hold the clue to where the nerve agent was found? gareth southgate says his team is ready for croatia, kick—off fast approaching. this is a croatia team

which destroyed argentina 3—0, england have only faced them once any major tournament before, england winning 4—2 in 2004. it is men's quarterfinals they in wimbledon, roger federer making hard work of his match against kevin anderson but novak djokovic is through to the semifinal. more at 430. it's not the best start to a nato summit — a war of words breaking out as president trump denounces germany as being ‘totally controlled by russia' — saying it depends on moscow for its gas. in response, the german leader, angela merkel, said her country made its own decisions independently —— and her foreign minister went further, saying germany was not a prisoner, either of russia or america. mr trump says he's fed up with european nations not investing in their military — and said he wouldn't be taken for a ride. gavin lee reports good morning, everybody. a presidential breakfast in brussels but no time for pleasantries. donald trump who has barely touched the ground since arriving in europe, choosing a presummit photo opportunity for a public would be

cut, accusing germany of undermining nato. i think it's very sad when germany makes a massive oil and gas deal with russia, where you are supposed to be guarding against russia and germany spends billions on year to russia. across the table, nato's head looks on, choosing not respond as the us president goes further. germany is totally controlled by russia because they were getting from 60 to 70% of their energy from russia in a new pipeline. and you tell me if that's appropriate. because i think it's not affected a very bad thing for nato, and i don't think it should have happened and we have to talk to germany about it. as germany's chancellor angela merkel arrived at nato's new headquarters, she refused to directly respond the criticisms into saying germany is free to make independent decisions. this nato summit has barely started and

already we're seeing from 28 nato leaders, they want to talk about strength and unity in the face of the perceived threat from russia. donald trump is saying that comes with a price and he accuses germany and other countries, in his words, of not paying their way. it has been a year since nato leaders first met the us president and were publicly berated by him for failing to spend 2% of their gross domestic product on defence as they had pledged to do over the next decade. as theresa may arrived this morning, she told reporters the uk is one of the few men are doing their bit for the alliance. nato is as vital today as it ever has been in the uk's commitment to it remains as that fast as ever and we show that, we lead by example, not only by meeting target of spending 2% of gdp on defence, but also 20% of our defence budget on equipment and in the way in which we deploy thousands of armed forces personnel are nato operations around the world.

privately, european diplomats talk of the summit being a damage limitation exercise in the face of open american criticism. but for nato, these public outburst at triggered more countries to invest in the alive even if they see it as an ugly we to do politics. —— in the alliance. this afternoon president trump has spoken to the media, and said the meeting was going very well. we had a great meeting, discussing military expenditure and talking about trade. we have a very good relationship with the chancellor, a tremendous relationship with germany. they have had tremendous success and i congratulate you and i believe that our trade will increase and other things will increase but we will see what happens over the next few months. we can talk now to ivo daalder —

he was the us ambassador to nato between 2009 and and 2013 and is now president of the chicago council of global affairs. iam i am wondering, if you were ambassador at nato and you heard the president saying that germany was controlled by russia, would the blood drained from your face?m would not be the message that one would not be the message that one would want to hear if you care deeply about the alliance and i think the ambassador who has been very public in her statements in the past few days has stressed the importance of strength and unity of nato and the face of russia that is clearly bent on undermining nato. that remains the message that one will hopefully hear from the president and everyone else. clearly

he is very angry with many of the nato countries for not pulling their weight and he has a point, doesn't he? he does. it is clear that the kinds of reductions in defence spending that occurred over the past decade or more needs to be reversed and the good news is that it has been. they are now in the fourth year of a turnaround at nato defence spending by european allies, perhaps not as fast as we would like and it is necessary to keep prodding the point. but this is an opportunity to celebrate the progress made because the reality is we are making progress, spending more on defence and equipment and capabilities and we are bolstering deterrence and eastern europe didn't which is necessary given the threat that russia poses so this is a time for celebration of a strong and capable nato alliance that is ready to confront the threats we face in the

21st—century. confront the threats we face in the 21st-century. is there. perhaps playing a double bluff? some countries are seeing him as pro—russian so it is perhaps a good move to see germany are more pro—russian than i am. move to see germany are more pro-russian than i am. that may be an interesting game late at night when you are not trying to conduct real diplomacy, the reality is we wa nt real diplomacy, the reality is we want germany to be on our side, germany is not controlled on a captive of russia just because its trades with it's not be in the united states a captive venezuela because we buy their oil, that is how international energy markets happen. the video point is we have shared interests and values with our allies particularly in germany and other 27 allies as it is now those she interests being threatened by russia and is important for us to stand together to deal with that

threat. therefore make that meeting with president trump and putin in helsinki all that much more important over the strength in unity of brussels. realistically as the unity they there seems to be a division that people are looking with one eye towards russia and less at president trump because of the personal difficulty developing. this is one of the big challenges that we confront. the question is are we more interested in good relations with russia than we are a good relations with nato? for 70 years the united states has been very clear when it came to the answer that question which is that a strong nato as the best way to have a productive relationship with russia. that i hope they're still something that will come out of the summit. it is divided nato, exactly what russia

is divided nato, exactly what russia is looking for and try to do for the last 70 years, dividing the west and nato and europe and it does not serve american interests to have a division within the west or nato europe. it serves american interest to have a strong and united nato to deal with the challenge that russia poses. thank you. let's go live to brussels where the general secretary of nato holding a news conference. counter propaganda and energy security. we agreed to set up a new cyber operations centre as part of strengthening command structure. we agreed we can draw on national cyber capabilities in missions and operations. instability in the middle east and north africa affects nato allies. we are determined to

preserve our gains in the fight against isis and prevent them from coming back so today as requested by the iraq government we launched a new training mission and canada has agreed to lead the mission in iraq. it will be a non—combat mission of several hundred trainers. it will also establish milita ntly several hundred trainers. it will also establish militantly schools and academies for unlucky forces. —— iraq forces. we also increased capacity to tackle terrorism and the hub is fully operational. it will help us respond more effectively to regional challenges. in order to be prepared for the challenges faced we need to invest more and better in

defence. we all agree that we do not have their burden sharing in our lives today —— alliance today. we need more cash and national defence budgets, more capabilities and contributions to operations. the good news is that we are making progress. for 25 years many of our countries have been cutting billions from their defence budgets and now they are adding billions. all allies are increasing defence spending, this year eight nations have admitted to at least 2% of gdp on defence and the majority of allies have plans to do so by 2024. last year saw the biggest increase in defence spending since the end of the cold war. last year we also

agreed to develop national plans on burden sharing and based on the national plans of european allies and canada we expect 266 billion extra dollars between now and 2024 for defence. this is significant including billions for modern high—end capabilities. we are also stepping up contributions to nato deployment so we have turned the tide but we need to do more. this is about fairness and credibility and above all about our security in a more unpredictable world. nato's door is and will remain open. we warmly welcomed last month's historic agreement between athens and we today agreed to invite even

the government of skopje to start accession talks. once all national procedures have been completed to finalise the name agreement the country willjoin finalise the name agreement the country will join nato finalise the name agreement the country willjoin nato as our 30th member. the decisions made today show that europe and north america are working together. nato is delivering and we are determined to keep our almost1 billion citizens safe and secure. i am ready to take your questions. wall street journal. there has been some talk in the run—up to the summit that despite the challenge of getting to 2% that that target may not be enough and should actually be set higher. what

is your view at this point? would that be helpful or a distraction from getting allies to two to percent? i think we should first get to 2% question. focus on that and that's what we have agreed and that the pledge and a good thing is we are moving towards that. this year, aid allies have committed and a majority of allies have already put forward plans on how to reach 2% within a decade. my focus is on that. we also have to understand that this is really turning the trend because for decades after the end of the cold

war, nato allies were cutting defence budgets. in the 1990s, i was minister of finance in norway and i was good at cutting defence budgets. but their intentions went down. now tensions are going up so when we cut defence budgets when tensions are going down, we have to be able to increase defence budgets when tensions are going up.” increase defence budgets when tensions are going up. i saw the declaration and you have mentioned romania as one of the best contributors for 2% of gdp in the defence budget. romania is asking the allies to increase security in the allies to increase security in the black state region. all the military aggression from russia in the last ten years, in georgia, ukraine, crimea. what other steps that this nato summit took to increase the security in the black sea region and what will be the role of the new commandment that will be

founded in romania, as mentioned in the declaration? thank you.” founded in romania, as mentioned in the declaration? thank you. i will welcome the increase we have seen in defence spending in romania. that is significant and as you said, romania is one of the countries... we are going to pull away but the message is that all members of the nato alliance have increased their defence spending. this follows a call from us president donald trump to raise defence spending to 4% of gdp. currently, the target for many is 296. gdp. currently, the target for many is 2%. but he has asked for 4%. we are also hearing that nato alleys will stand in solidarity with the uk and that russia was to blame for the nerve agent attack in salisbury and say that russia's recent activities

have reduced stability and security and increased and predict ability in the region. but obviously the issue of spending, something that is central to nato, given donald trump and the comments he made earlier, that he was disappointed that nato allies were not contributing enough as far as he sees it to the nato budget. we will keep an eye on that. any more to come from that, i will let you know. now let's get a weather update. we have got sunshine and an england flag. england flags all around. even our weather watchers are getting into the spirit of things. that was shropshire earlier on. i'm not quite sure what is going on here on merseyside. it looks like a metal

statue covered in sand with an england hat on. it doesn't really get much better than this. it is coming home, apparently, in hampshire. but they should be an apostrophe here, which has been winding me up a little bit. but i think we get the idea. everyone is getting into it. and what is the weather like for the match itself? we haven't got much time. some showers have been around moscow today. we are going to dive in and only the clouds. this is what the weather is actually going to look like at the stadium. the computer is showing us what it thinks the sky will actually look like. exactly. if we had caught this earlier on, there might have been a few showers as well. we have been using these during wimbledon as well but the weather has been so settled.

we would like some more interesting whether to show it off. by kick—off we are expecting it to be dry. at the stadium, around 16 degrees. that's great but everybody is going to say, what is in store for us? i have heard about some people wheeling the tv outside and watching the game in the garden. in a second i will be showing you what it will be like outside. but it is a bit different in places. that was aberdeen earlier on. more clouds in the sky but beautiful sunshine for the sky but beautiful sunshine for the isle of wight. essentially, some of the shine has come off our heatwave. quite a lot of rain across the western side of scotland. a lot of cloud her. the eastern parts of england, the cloud taking a little while to burn away but most places finishing on a decent note this evening. if you are out and about,

maybe watching on a big screen, you can see it is pretty decent. some sunny spells, patchy cloud around. if you are in wales, perhaps the midlands, northern england, a very small chance of catching a shower. most people want. we have got this area of thicker cloud appear. the rangers limping southwards and eastwards. —— the rain limping southwards and eastwards. always more cloud across scotland and northern ireland. some areas of drizzle and we could keep some showers going through the night across parts of northern england. overnight temperatures between 13 and 17 celsius. tomorrow, in scotland, particularly the northern half of scotland, the odd spot of drizzle around. but for southern scotland, down into england and wales is, some good spells of sunshine. if you look closely at the

map, you can see some showers breaking out. some of these could be on the heavy side. temperatures between 21 and 26 degrees. look at friday. look at the way these showers spring to life. if you are looking for rain for the garden, this is not reliable, but some places in southern scotland, england and wales will see some very vicious downpours. but still a lot of dry weather and spells of sunshine. those temperatures 22 in edinburgh, 25 degrees in london. and what about the weekend? high pressure is still just about in charge down towards the south. it will reduce the possibility of showers. in the north—west, frontal system is not too far away so they could be some cloud and rain at times, but look at the orange colour is moving back across our chart. the heat is going to make a return as we head through the weekend. maybe 30 degrees in parts of the south. further north it will always be a little bit cooler. just the odd splash of rain at

times. this is bbc news. our latest headlines. the count down is on — it's now less than three hours until kick—off. england are one game away from a world cup final but they have to beat a strong croatia team before football history can be made. footage has been released of the remarkable mission to rescue 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded cave in thailand. the bbc understands they were heavily sedated to prevent them from panicking. the boys are now recovering in a local hospital. police have spoken briefly with charlie rowley who was poisoned by novichok in wiltshire.

investigators are trying to find the source of the nerve agent which made the 45—year—old man seriously ill and caused the death of his partner, dawn sturgess. sport now on afternoon live. we ask, can england do it? we ask, can england do it7m we ask, can england do it? if! had the answer to that, i would not be working here with you. just under two and a half hours to go. the nerves really setting in across the country. gareth southgate is the picture of cool and calm. he has totally on villains in them and says they will be at their best against croatia in moscow. —— total confidence in them. we can now go to the stadium. no one at alljealous now watching you, richard. how is it looking in there? is there a sense

already of the occasion? absolutely. with just a few hours away from kick—off, some of the fans are starting to come in, the atmosphere is building, the music is playing, the pitch has been meticulously prepared. both teams have had a tactical training session today close to the stadium and now we await the big kick—off. a place in the final against france awaits but let me give you a quick look around. this is an 80,000 capacity stadium. empty pretty much right now but some of those fans who have made it all the way from england are finally here, appears in hand, world cup in hand, they are ready for a big night ahead. they know what is at stake. a first world cup finals since 1966 is what they are looking forward to. that is what they are voting for. —— hoping for. this is

the first semifinal england have played since 1990. we all remember what happened then, the heartbreak against west germany. there is hope that they will not be a repeat of that they will not be a repeat of that tonight and that gareth southgate's team can beat croatia. that is what those fans are hoping for. not long until kick—off, not long until we know the team news. expecting an unchanged side with gareth southgate sticking with the players that got him to the semifinal. not long now. the atmosphere building, fans starting to come in. the stadium is ready for the world cup semifinal between england and croatia. love that. thank you very much. back with richard shortly. england have only faced croatia once in a major tournament and that was back at euro 2004. they won that, it was a group stage match, and they won 4—2.

croatia have a squad with plenty of experience. their players have nine champions league titles between them. four of those belong to luka modric. he lines up alongside another superstar, ivan rakitic in midfield. they play for real madrid and barcelona. they all made their croatia debbie is more than a decade ago. they have spent a lot of time playing together, unlike this england team. croatia have had eight different scorers at this world cup as well. away from the world cup, it is meant‘s as well. away from the world cup, it is mea nt‘s quarter finals as well. away from the world cup, it is meant‘s quarter finals day at wimbledon. novak djokovic is the first man to book his place in the semifinals. he beat kei nishikori in four says. it will be his first grand slam semifinal since 2015. only roger federer has reached more grand slam semifinals than him.

these are bbc one pictures that you can watch right now on court one, where roger federer is making hard work of his quarterfinal. he went to sets ahead and then had a match point in the third, but south africa's kevin anderson has fought his way back into it, winning sets three and four. you can see that it is 6—5 to roger federer in a thrilling fifth set. let's pop over to bbc two. world number one rafa nadal still in the first set in that one. it is juan nadal still in the first set in that one. it isjuan martin del potro who is trailing 5—4. that is on serve. nadal hoping to wind wimbledon for the third time. and just to tell you, stage five of the tour de france has just finished. you, stage five of the tour de france hasjust finished. that you, stage five of the tour de france has just finished. that is all the sport for now.

the clock is ticking. there are nowjust under three hours to go until england's biggest game for almost 30 years. england fans have been going out of their way to find some way to watch the semifinal against croatia in moscow tonight with some tickets being sold for as much as £11,000. let's get a taste of how fans are preparing to watch. the headphones are for what? are you expecting some noise? it is all for you, simon. this is the centre of manchester. we are expecting about 8000 people inside the arena. it will be pretty cosy. it is going to be some atmosphere. there are some of the early arrivals. enjoy the game, boys. people are just starting to come in. there is going to be real

excitement here, as there is across the country. there is also real in gareth southgate and his team, and in particular some of the players who represent the two manchester clu bs, who represent the two manchester clubs, the likes of raheem sterling, john stones. jesse lingard and ashley young. i don't know about you but just chatting ashley young. i don't know about you butjust chatting to a few of the fans, i don't know whether there is a sense of nerves starting to come over people. i was really confident until i woke up this morning. then i thought, lu ka until i woke up this morning. then i thought, luka modric, istarted until i woke up this morning. then i thought, luka modric, i started to turn him into the best player i've ever seen. turn him into the best player i've ever seen. then there is ivan rakitic of barcelona. but when there are 8000 people in here, there will be some atmosphere. the last time we we re be some atmosphere. the last time we were ina be some atmosphere. the last time we were in a world cup semifinal since 1990. let's hope we can make that final, the first time since 1966.

and let's hope it is the same result if they do get there to play france. but let's concentrate on this game against croatia first of all. back to you. it is good to hear all sports correspondent is talking about richard conway in the stadium. you are all rather bitter about that, aren't you? just a little, but i will make do with this. the atmosphere at these big screens can be almost, i'm not going to push it too far, almost as good as being at the stadium itself. i have seen what happens in manchester and liverpool. it will be some atmosphere. and if england do score, goodness me, we have seen the scenes around the country, and if they wind, they will be something to behold. let's hope we can do it. thank you very much. there are worse places to watch the game tonight. let's talk now to rob romans.

he'll be fraternising with the enemy tonight as he's an england fan watching the game in croatia. are you going to sit in the corner ofa are you going to sit in the corner of a room rather quietly?” are you going to sit in the corner of a room rather quietly? i think the best place to watch it will be the best place to watch it will be the hotel bar because that will be the hotel bar because that will be the safest place to be in case things go wrong. where i am at the moment, the dalmatian coast, the atmosphere is starting to get quite electric. the hotel staff are wearing their croatia shirts. wherever you go, there are croatia shirts. by the poolside, someone was blasting the croatian national anthem outside. it is going to be an interesting evening. that looks like in norwich shirts to me. is that your way of going undercover? you have got it. i did think about putting on an australian accent but i don't think that would work. at the end of the day, it doesn't matter whether it is norwich or

england, we are all supporting england, we are all supporting england tonight. i put my norwich shirt onjust in case we did make it to the world cup semifinal and it will be worn later on this evening. you but this holiday eight months ago, the world cup a long way off, here you are, england facing croatia, really? when i put the holiday, the world cup wasjust croatia, really? when i put the holiday, the world cup was just an afterthought more than anything else. and it has happened, here we are. just from speaking to the locals where i am today, they are in a similar position. they are just really glad to be in the semifinal. some of them expected them to be there, some of them didn't, but they are ina there, some of them didn't, but they are in a similar position to us and theyjust want to enjoy it. they wa nt theyjust want to enjoy it. they want to have a good time. have a good evening and remember, no gloating. enjoy the game. in a moment, we'll have the business news. first, a look at the headlines on afternoon live

with just hours to go until kick—off, can england make it to the final of a world cup for the first time in 52 years? dramatic new pictures emerge of the thai cave rescue operation. the 12 boys were heavily sedated to help bring them out safely. they are all recovering well in hospital the man poisoned by novichok speaks to police for the first time. could he hold the clue to where the nerve agent was found? here's your business headlines on afternoon live. the bidding warfor sky heats up, after 21st century fox increases its offer for the uk broadcaster to £24.5 billion. however, some analysts are expecting a counter offer from fox's rival comcast, who bid £22 billion for sky in febuary. fox is expecting to obtain regulatory approval in the uk for the deal this week. facebook recieves a slap on the wrists by uk's watchdog. the social media firm is fined £500,000,

which is the maximum amount — for serious data breaches. oil prices are falling. it follows a report from opec saying they expect demand to fall next year, because growth in consumption will slow and rivals will pump more oil. there are also concerns that the us china trade war could lead to a drop in demand. we know what's been the biggest story for most people today, but what's been the biggest story for the markets? it is the us, china trade war. that is what the market is right around the world have had their eyes on. the escalation of both countries. the escalation of both countries. the us imposed tariffs on $34 billion worth of chinese imports into the us. that is about £26 billion. china retaliated with pretty similar measures. overnight, donald trump said he is going to impose further 10% tariffs on goods

worth up to $200 billion from china into the us, probably from september. markets are down on the back of that. they are not panicking just yet but they are aware of what is going on, they are keeping a close eye. you might think this is a war between the us and china, but they are the world's two biggest economies and with a trade war of that size, it will inevitably have a knock—on impact on the rest of the world. let's talk to jeremny stretch, head of currency strategy at cibc world markets. how can the us, china spat the factors in the uk? the spat between the two largest economies in the world will have an enormous impact on global economic activity and for the uk, which is a major global player, despite the uncertainties relating to brexit, if there is going to be deceleration in consumption and demand, our companies will find that impacting their bottom line. and also, in

terms of our asset values or equity markets, we are seeing equity prices are falling or moving lower on the back of uncertainty and that will reflect and react in terms of the ftse as well so we will see that via our investment portfolio is being compromised if this situation persists. let's talk about sky. if you have got that in your portfolio you have got that in your portfolio you might be quite pleased because the bidding war between fox and comcast, why do both want sky so badly? it is all about having content and distribution. the media sector has really been shaken up over re ce nt sector has really been shaken up over recent years by upstart company is like amazon and netflix, who are able to reduce content and distribute it. there is this ongoing battle between these two the hammers to try and take those customers into their networks and we have seen that

bid today but it may well be the case that they could be another coming from, cast before the end of the week. we have been hearing a number of big retailers say that if england are successful tonight and make it through to the world cup final on sunday, they will be closing their doors and our earlier so closing their doors and our earlier so that staff can get home to watch the match. we have also heard some figures out saying that consumer spending is at because we are gripped by world cup fever. is england's progress in the world cup, as it had a significant impact on the economy? i think it is having an impact. just listening to your report about those fan zones, people congregating and drinking large quantities of beer. i have seen people wearing england merchandise. so retailers have had the benefit. also in terms of broader consumer spending. so if england continue to progress tonight and into sunday, one suspects that the impact on the economy will continue to be positive. not if, when. thank you

very much. shall we look at the markets? the ftse is down, as we said. concerns over the china and us trade war. but keep an eye on that. those threats of fresh tariffs came last night. markets will probably recover a bit. lots of news happening. donald trump, tomorrow he's coming to the uk. and the brexit white paper on the future eu relationship is due to be published. whenever we get more information about how the uk could exit, the eu, it tends to affect currencies. tejada brexit, still intends to fall, a softer brexit, still tends to rise. some shops are looking towards sunday and if england win tonight, they are going to finish early. yes, aldi, liddell, iceland.

iam going early. yes, aldi, liddell, iceland. i am going to take us to moscow and i think we are looking at possibly the england team about to emerge, as they... i could be completely wrong. let's keep an eye on this. here we go. it's coming home! it's coming home. let's just listen home. it's coming home! it's coming home! football's coming home! we saw a few of the players there. jamie vardy amongst others. the coach will take them to the stadium in readiness for the game against croatia. you don't need me to tell you, kick—off is at 7pm. just over two hours away. well, they had the good wishes of

the people hanging around outside their hotel, that's for sure. harry kane. hoping to become the winner of the golden boot. but more hopeful of leading a winning side that will ta ke leading a winning side that will take england through to a world cup finalfor take england through to a world cup final for the first take england through to a world cup finalfor the first time take england through to a world cup final for the first time since 1966. they are under no illusions as to the length and strength of the support. all of them household names. if they are not now, if they win tonight, they certainly will be. full coverage of the build—up to that match, 7pm kick—off. that's it from your afternoon live team for today. next the bbc news at five. time for a look at the weather. here's ben rich.

some of the shine seems to have come off our heat wave. temperatures are bit lower and some places have even seen some bit lower and some places have even seen some rain. this was dumfries and galloway earlier. elsewhere, still some sunshine. that's how it looked in county durham. we do have a nice slice of sunshine through the rest of today. southern england, east wales, just the odd shower for wales and the south—west. this is how we are expecting it to look at 7pm as the big match kicks off. most places in england and will be dry. just the odd shower perhaps. cloud will continue to bring the odd spot of rain in scotland. but slowly sliding eastwards. what of the forecast in moscow for the match itself. professionally some afternoon showers but by the time we get through to kick—off, these should be fading away. sunny and

clear spells to diggers towards the end of the match. temperatures around 20 degrees. this evening and tonight, we will have some clear spells. a bit of patchy, drizzle across scotland. maybe the odd shower elsewhere. temperatures between 13 and 17 degrees as we go into tomorrow morning. tomorrow, there will be a lot of dry weather around. the cloud should break up to give spells of sunshine. still a bit of patchy rain and drizzle for central and southern parts of scotland. and then we could see the odd shower breaking out for western areas of england and wales. they could be on the heavy side. the best of the sunshine in the south. temperatures beginning to creep upwards. as temperatures continue to climb on friday, there is the increasing chance that we will spawn some heavy thundery showers into east wales, the midlands, down towards the south coast. very hit and miss. but if you get a shower, you really will know about it. they

could be hale and thunder mixed in for good measure. but high pressure will still be just about in charge as we head towards the weekend. frontal system is not far away from the northwest so we could see more cloud. a little bit of rain at times. but down towards the south, it looks like the warm air returns. temperatures close to 30 degrees for the weekend. always cooler further north and west. today at five — england's footballers on the verge of history — just one win away from a place in the world cup final. there are just two hours to go till the semi

final against croatia — with tens of millions expected to watch on tv and on big screens. i was thinking if we get to the quarterfinals, i think we've done quite well. but, you know, now to get to the finals, and obviously we're going to win today and we'll still be here on sunday, hopefully. we'll have the latest from olly in moscow and our correspondents around the country — and we'll also be talking to the croatian ambassador about his country's game plan. the other main stories on bbc news at 5. dramatic new pictures emerge of the operation to rescue 12 boys and their football coach from a cave in thailand — it's been revealed they were heavily sedated to stop them panicking.