welcome to bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is ben bland. our top stories: showdown in brussels. president trump demands nato countries double their defence spending. the first pictures of the rescued thai boys recovering in hospital, as more details emerge of their dramatic escape. dozens are still missing after japan's worst floods in decades. the death toll‘s now passed a hundred and seventy. and croatia come from behind to beat england and book their place in the world cup final. they'll face france on sunday. hello and welcome to bbc world news. president trump has called on nato

allies to double the amount they've committed to spend on defence, from 2—4% of national income. mr trump was commenting after he clashed with the german chancellor, angela merkel, at the nato summit in brussels — singling out her country for not paying its share and accusing berlin of being a "captive" to moscow because of its reliance on russian energy. our europe editor katya adler sent this report. such careful choreography — not showy, but precise. nato boasts that it is in control and ready to take on modern—day threats — cyber—crime, cross—border terror, concerns about russia. but there was one big element today over which nato had no control at all — donald trump, a man determined to shake up this alliance, which has guaranteed european security since world war ii.

thank you very much. thank you. the morning here started with a jolt. germany is totally controlled by russia, because they were getting from 60% to 70% of their energy from russia, and a new pipeline. a blistering and not entirely factually correct attack by donald trump on nato ally germany for its plan to build a gas pipeline with russia. so we're supposed to protect you against russia, but they're paying billions of dollars to russia, and i think that's very inappropriate. but the german chancellor was mentally prepared today for a ding—dong with donald trump. her reply was swift. translation: i myself experienced living in part of germany when it was occupied by the soviet union. but i'm happy today that germany is united in freedom, so we can make our own independent policies and our own independent decisions. so what does this all mean? is nato, the cornerstone of european security, falling apart before our eyes? well, not quite. the us remains as involved as ever in nato missions, and donald trump blows hot as well as cold when it comes

to this alliance. but he did stamp his foot today about his favourite nato bugbear, military spending, a message above all for europe. "you want us protection," he insists, "you start coughing up a lot more for defence." nato has a military spending target of 2% of gdp for all its members. most european countries don't make the grade, including big beasts germany, france and italy. with all her problems at home, the prime minister came here determined not to trip up — at least with regards to president trump. we're announcing today that we will be deploying an additional 440 personnel to nato‘s resolute support mission in afghanistan, and i think that shows when nato calls, the uk is one of the first to step up. the right honourable theresa may. and, just for good measure, theresa may also underlined

that the uk is paying its way when it comes to military spending. nato leaders then headed off for dinner, to keep talking and possibly arguing. a big question donald trump's allies have for him is about his one—to—one meeting with russian president vladimir putin next week. katya adler, bbc news, brussels. earlier i spoke to daniel davies and he said it donald trump isn't the only president to ask for more. all presidents are back to reagan has been saying the same thing every year and unfortunately it hasn't seemed to have result in actual reduction in terms of what they pay. but president trump has certainly turned a new page on how to approach theissue, turned a new page on how to approach the issue, that is foreshore. given

the issue, that is foreshore. given the potential tensions it causes amongst allies, if it is not a realistic target, is there any point of calling for it at all? i think he is using some of the tactics in his financial negotiations, where you ask for a lot more than you expect yet and then you come back down the. in all probability he is actually thinking he wants to accomplish the 296 thinking he wants to accomplish the 2% number, but i throwing out 4%, which we are not even meeting at the moment, but i think he does and there is some justification that members of nato, they have agreed to this in 2014 and if they say that 2% is the number they have agreed to them and think it is reasonable to say when is that going to start materialising? out say when is that going to start materialising ? out it say when is that going to start materialising? out it is that you 2024 and the problem is i am not

sure that it is going to happen even then the. so it is something that really deserves some attention. i just wish he would do it a lot differently and a lot more friendly towards our allies that he has been. is quite an unusual approach. it is one thing to say other nato members in general, but he went further and singled out germany in particular, what is his gripe with them? i think, as with a number of points in this situation, some of the points are valid and he has a regiment point here but the way he has gone about it is really bad. for example, germany were spending 1.4% of gdp on defence in 2001 and now in 2018 it isi.2% defence in 2001 and now in 2018 it is1.2% to. so defence in 2001 and now in 2018 it is 1.2% to. so it is actually going in the wrong direction and i think it is valid to say it if the economic powerhouse of europe is not making progress then something needs to change. that is something that needs to be handled traumatically, behind closed doors and not in front

of everybody, calling out angela merkel. i just of everybody, calling out angela merkel. ijust don't of everybody, calling out angela merkel. i just don't think that is the way to do it, i don't think it will be helpful. but there is some substance underneath that. you think it could do any damage?” substance underneath that. you think it could do any damage? i think that nato is bigger than any one person and for the difficulty that trump has and the way it he has challenged and presents himself in our situation, i think that nato is bigger thanjust the situation, i think that nato is bigger than just the united situation, i think that nato is bigger thanjust the united states and the united states is more than just a president as we also have the congress and the military capabilities. has seen some continued cooperation at high levels with us military and our allies and that will continue. i think it is bigger thanjust that will continue. i think it is bigger than just trump. i that will continue. i think it is bigger thanjust trump. i do that will continue. i think it is bigger than just trump. i do think it will cause any permanent damage, at least up until this point. the first images have emerged from the hospital where 12 thai boys — and their football coach — are being treated after their remarkable rescue from a flooded cave. and new details have been released

about the complexity of the rescue operation. the boys were heavily sedated ahead of the rescue to prevent them panicking in the dark, narrow, passageways which were under water in parts. our correspondent lucy williamson reports. these are the luckiest boys in thailand — still weak, still in quarantine, these pictures the first we've seen since a rescue diver filmed them huddled together in the cave, their schoolboy poses for the camera hiding the miracle that they are here at all. what happened here at the cave over the past two weeks inspired horror, then awe, and now curiosity — a dozen boys who couldn't dive, or even swim, trapped two miles inside the cave. rescuers said the biggest risk was that they would simply panic. so how did they get them out? the incredible story of their rescue from tham luang is onlyjust emerging.

this is the first footage of the mission itself, each boy wrapped in a special kind of stretcher and carried along by hand. in parts of the cave where it was impossible to stand, rescuers built a complex system of pulleys to transport them out. and, where it was flooded, scuba divers strapped the children underneath them and carried them through — a feat described by one rescuer as superhuman. several sources have told the bbc the boys were sedated during the journey. watch his arm. not unusual for normal mountain rescues, experts say, but much riskier with children and scuba diving conditions. you have to believe. we think that our plan is perfect. we try and try and try, we test and test and train. ok, and you've got the best team so you have to believe in them. leaving from chiang rai airport tonight, the british cave diver

who starred in the rescue denied he was a hero. it's not like that. if you could do the same for someone else's child, you would, i hope. but what most people see when they look at the rescuers and their boys is the most incredible show of courage from one, from the other, incredible trust. lucy williamson, bbc news, chiang rai. croatia have beaten england to reach sunday's world cup final. the balkan team fought back from a goal down, to win two — one, and ended english hopes of glory after extra time. it's the first time croatia have ever reached a world cup final — in their fifth appearance at the tournament. they'll now play france who beat belgium in the other semi final on tuesday. joe wilson reports. england flew into the semi—final, croatia conceding a freekick in a position where the world's best players would fancy their chances. lionel, cristiano — here comes kieran. when you are only 1—0 up,

then there is always the chance that this can happen. perisic‘s foot beating the england head, and suddenly it was level. so who has the energy for extra time? southgate rallied his men again. but, with 11 minutes left, england lost sight of mario mandzukic, a croatian striker too good to miss this. injury time of extra time, one last freekick cleared, and that was it. the final whistle blew on england's world cup, with the memory of huge progress, but overwhelmingly a sense of missed opportunity. the final, they knew, could have been theirs. dozens of people are missing in japan after torrential rain caused flooding and landslides in central and western areas. rescuers are still trying to find them. at least 179 people have died in the worst weather for decades

and around eight million people have been ordered to evacuate their homes. on wednesdayjapan's prime minister shinzo abe visited the city of okayama to inspect the damage, as michael bristow reports. when the scale of the flooding became clear, mr abe cancelled a planned trip abroad. he went to see this natural disaster for himself. he visited a shelter for people who had been washed out of their homes. the prime minister promised them everything they needed to rebuild their lives. the government has put aside extra money, and pledged to make sure they get it quickly. the emotion of the ordeal told

in the voices of some of those mr abe met. the clean—up has now begun. people are sorting through the items that can be saved, and those that must be discarded. there are constant reminders of more carefree times. somehow, the floodwater that this miniature horse stranded on a roof. she fell off, but was unharmed. the search is now on for her foal. japan's worst flooding in decades is being blamed on more unpredictable weather caused by climate change. japan is one of the best—prepared countries in the world when it comes to disaster risk reduction, disaster response. they are supremely well prepared, and so the magnitude of the casualties of the destruction that we're seeing now really is an indication ofjust how big and how extreme this was. nearly 200 people have died. tens of thousands of homes were still without clean water. others had no power.

japan has detailed plans to cope with earthquakes, but some say it has done far less to get ready for flooding. when the rebuilding is finished, that will no doubt change. michael bristow, bbc news. stay with us on bbc world news. still to come: 70 years of the special relationship between the us and the uk. we take a look at what it means in the trump era. central london has been rocked by a series of terrorist attacks. police say there have been many casualties and there is growing speculation that al-qaeda was responsible. germany will be the hosts of the 2006 football world cup, and they pipped the favourites, south africa, by a single vote. in south africa, the possibility of losing hadn't even been contemplated and celebration parties were cancelled. the man entered the palace through a downstairs window

and made his way to the queen's private bedroom, then he asked her for a cigarette. and, on the pretext of arranging for some to be brought, she summoned a footman on duty, who took the man away. one child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. education is the only solution. this is bbc world news. the latest headlines: president trump has demanded nato countries double their defence spending. only five countries meet the current target of 2% of gdp. the first images have emerged from the hospital where 12 thai boys and their football coach are being treated after their rescue

from a flooded cave. a german neo—nazi has been sentenced to life injailfor her part in ten murders. beate zschaepe belonged to a gang that carried out racist killings over a period of seven years. the police initially thought the victims, mostly of turkish descent, were caught up in gang violence. lebo diseko has more. the only surviving member of a neo—nazi terrorist cell, beate zschaepe was found guilty of ten racially motivated murders. for the families of the victims, this day has been a long time coming. a five—year trial almost two decades after the first killing. zschaepe's gang, called the nationalist socialist underground, or nsu,

murdered eight ethnic—turkish people, a greek citizen and a policewoman between 2000 and 2007. she denied taking part in the murders, saying she only knew of them after they had happened. she blamed two members of the msu. they killed themselves in an apparent suicide pact. but the court found she was responsible, and gave a verdict that carries an automatic life sentence. translation: i believe that the sentence imposed on ms zschaepe, for life imprisonment, is a substantial and right. she is not a woman who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. she is a nazi, a racist, and a murderer. there has been anger at what many see as the failures of the police, who at first blamed the killings on immigrant gang violence. and many families believe institutional racism hampered the investigation and the trial. so, while they may welcome this verdict, questions remain unanswered. how the killer selected their victims, and just why authorities did so little to protect them. the former "keeping up with the kardashians" reality tv

star kyliejenner is on track to become the youngest ever self—made billionaire. forbes magazine estimates the social media celebrity is currently worth about $900 million, atjust 20 years of age. jenner, who is currently not old enough even to legally drink alcohol in the us, will turn 21 in august. joining me now live from los angeles is entertainmentjournalist kj matthews. at least one person has tweeted me about this story with self—made and about this story with self—made and a question mark. can she really claimed to be self—made when she comes from this incredibly wealthy family with a well—established name? you know, that is the news that has usurped the fact that she is worth $900 million. ithink usurped the fact that she is worth $900 million. i think forbes thought wow, everybody will be surprised, probably a little bit elated for her, and you know what? social media

has really been taking stabs at her, saying self—made — questionable. they say by the time she even launched her make—up line, kylie cosmetics, they already had reality shows, they were already worth $100 million, they already had a major platform, and so they like to think of self—made when they think of someone of self—made when they think of someone like an oprah winfrey, who really ca m e someone like an oprah winfrey, who really came from nothing and worked itself up to be worth more than $1 billion. so yes, a lot of people are very up in arms over that self—made title, and even webster's dictionary tweeted out self—made means unaided, without any help, and we all know that she had the help of the famous kardashian family, and especially her mother, her "mom—ager", as they say. i suppose all at wealth somewhat insulates her from those barbs. to be fair, she has this

cosmetics company, doesn't she? and there are some people who have the opportunities, who come from those kinds of established families, but do not then make anything of it. and to give her due credit, she has taken the opportunity and achieved something, hasn't she? she absolutely has. remember, she really doesn't have to work. she is part of the kardashian clan and family that are worth millions and millions and millions of dollars. so she grew up ina certain millions of dollars. so she grew up in a certain amount of wealth. remember, herfather in a certain amount of wealth. remember, her father is in a certain amount of wealth. remember, herfather is bruce jenner, transgender and now goes by caitlyn jenner. jenner, transgender and now goes by caitlynjenner. and what people don't understand is, even though she had that sort of help, it still ta kes had that sort of help, it still takes guts and it takes a lot of logic and a lot of smarts and brains to work so hard to turn anything into $900 million. let's put things in perspective. beyonce is not even worth $900 million. kim kardashian,

her older sister, is not worth $900 million. taylor swift is not worth $900 million. so there are many celebrities who, with clothing lines, shoe lines, make—up lines, beauty projects, and none of them have had the success that kylie jenner has had at the age of 20. and she credits that to a lot of social media. we are in the age of social media. we are in the age of social media. she is on snapchat, she is on instagram, she is on twitter, and she has more than 100 million followers. 100 million on instagram alone, and they follow her every move, the instagram stories, her snapchat stories, any any time she releases a new product, a lipstick, and eyeshadow, people are there all over the world to watch. thank you for sharing some of the secrets of her success, which i'm sure many of us will be trying to emulate. thank you very much indeed for speaking with us. the "special relationship" was a phrase used by sir winston chrurchill in a speech in 1946,

when he referred to political, diplomatic, cultural, economic, military, and historical relations between the united kingdom and the usa. on the eve of president trump's visit to the uk, our special correspondent allan little reports on how the relationship between britain and america was nurtured in the past, and how it is now seen in the age of trump. in st paul's cathedral, this memorial chapel remembers the americans stationed in britain who died in the second world war. the roll of the dead has 28,000 names. newsreel: britain and america join together in persons of high and lowly estate... it was inaugurated in 1958, and by then, a new world had emerged from the shared sacrifice of war. the american—led atlantic order has endured and evolved over seven decades. its founding fathers were president franklin roosevelt and winston churchill. the institutions of global

governance, the imf and world bank, the world trade organization, the marshall plan, nato and the european union, would all emerge from their victory. at the heart of the international system that america built after the second world war was the idea that nations should live by a set of agreed rules, in politics, economics, security and trade. america was the principal author of those rules, and has spent the last 70 years using its power in the world to enforce them. not anymore. donald trump believes that america is not the beneficiary of those rules, but the victim, that the rest of the world uses those rules to cheat america, and that the european allies are among the worst offenders. the question those allies are now facing is this — is the rules—based order that roosevelt launched ending with donald trump? he doesn't know the history, and he doesn't care. he takes a very transactional approach to international relations, which seems to come from his sort of real estate background, where he is — where

everything is a deal. the essence of the american support for the international order is that you're investing in it. but that investment allows them to sustain the rules—based order, and nobody else could do that, and that rules—based order is something which the united states benefits from tremendously. that's hard to measure in dollars and cents. it's a long—term proposition, and trump doesn't look at transactions that way. but does this mean he wants to tear up the rule book, or just rewrite it? i think trump's role is to be a disrupter in all things. it is to look at how these relationships either help or hinder america. he literally wants to put america first. i think the whole idea of this international, globalist worldview has taken hold of government, and he wants to shake that up and say, well, is it really in the best interest of america to do it this way? for the first time in 70 years, europe will look across the atlantic at an america no longer willing

to carry what it sees as the costs of an alliance forged in the sacrifice of a different age. allan little, bbc news. the duke and duchess of sussex are visiting dublin in theirfirst official overseas engagement since getting married. prince harry and meaghan markle met the irish president and first lady at their residence, alongside their two dogs. the royal couple then visited a stadium before travelling to trinity couege stadium before travelling to trinity college —— meghan markle. you can reach me on twitter. i'm @benmbland. hello there.

temperatures dipped a little bit at the start of this week. wednesday was a warm one, and those temperatures are going to continue to rise towards the end of the week. some places could be really quite hot during the course of the weekend. now, we also had a few showers around. they'll tend to fizzle out, but we could start thursday morning with one or two across some western areas, maybe north—west england, in towards wales. and there could be quite a muggy start in some of the larger towns and cities across southern england and southern wales. now, we start thursday, then, on a rather cloudier note. it looks like clouds will tend to break up, with some sunny spells developing, although eastern coastal areas remaining a little bit cloudy through the day. and then showers will develop, and we think most of these will be across more western areas. now, some could be quite heavy, particularly across south—western scotland, maybe the western side of england to the west of the pennines, in towards wales and south—west england. they'll be very slow moving,

almost stationary, so some areas could get quite a lot of rainfall. and the ground being so dry could lead to some local flooding, so watch out for that. but be warned, though — where you get the sunshine, especially in the south—east, 26 or 27 celsius. as we head on in towards friday, looks like the risk of showers and thunderstorms begins to increase, and some of them could be on the heavy side. friday starts off mainly dry, with some sunshine, although there will be showers from the word go across parts of north—west england and southern scotland. these will become more widespread across parts of wales, into the midlands, maybe southern england as well. and like i mentioned, some of them could be quite intense, with the risk of some local flooding. temperature—wise, around 25, maybe 26 celsius, and some eastern coastal areas may hold onto that cool breeze. now, as we head on in towards the weekend, a big area of low pressure will be anchored to the north—west of the uk. this may bring further cloud, maybe outbreaks of rain, to scotland and northern ireland, but it's also going to draw up much warmer air from the near continent. so for saturday it's definitely a north—west, south—east split, with outbreaks of rain across the north

and the west of scotland, maybe into the far north—west of england too. much of england and wales, though, dry and sunny. locally hot in places, we could see 28, maybe 29 celsius in the south—east. on sunday it's a similar picture — breezier, with more cloud from northern ireland and western scotland. with outbreaks of rain, could see a few showers as well pushing into wales, north—west england. but elsewhere, across most of england and eastern wales, a hot day to come. we could see one or two locations in the south—east reaching 30 or 31 celsius. so for the end of the week it looks like we'll see an increase of showers and thunderstorms for a time, then it starts to hot up as we head on into the weekend. this is bbc world news. the headlines: president trump has urged nato member states to commit 4% of their annual gdp output to military spending — double the current target. he made the remarks during the western military alliance's summit in brussels. of nato's 29 members, just five met the current target this year. the first images have emerged

from the hospital where 12 thai boys and their football coach are being treated after their remarkable rescue from a flooded cave. meanwhile — reports say the boys and the coach were sedated to stop them panicking as they made their escape.