tonight, president trump's controversial visit — now he hails the relationship between the us and the uk, as the "highest level of special". us anthem plays. at windsor castle, the president is formally welcomed by the queen, despite the fact that it's not a full state visit. earlier, he'd held talks with the prime minister, where tensions were evident on the approach to brexit and on future trade links. i don't know what they're going to do, but whatever you do is ok with me, that is your decision. whatever you're going to do is ok with us, just make sure we can trade together, that's all that matters. the united states is keen for us, we're keen to work with them, and we will do a trade deal with them, and with others around the rest of the world. across the uk, thousands have taken to the streets to protest against the visit, accusing president trump of spreading hatred. we'll have the latest on the president's visit,

and we'll have reaction to the series of outspoken remarks he's made in the past 2a hours. also on the programme: back in the uk, we speak to the british volunteer divers who helped save 12 boys and their football coach trapped in a cave in thailand. in amesbury, a small bottle containing the nerve agent novichok has been found in the home of one of the recent victims. and we follow the first lady, melania trump, as she meets the chelsea pensioners on her visit to london with the president. good evening. it's been a presidential visit that's broken all the diplomatic rules. donald trump has emerged from his talks with theresa may in chequers,

hailing her leadership skills and declaring that the relationship between britain and america is "the highest level of special". this was a matter of hours after he'd attacked mrs may's approach to brexit and warned that her plans for trade with the euwould kill the chances of a deal with the us though he appeared to soften that view today. at chequers, he repeated his assertion that immigration had caused major problems for europe and that brexit was happening because of concerns about levels of migration. our first report on this eventful presidential visit is by our political editor, laura kuenssberg. you don't need to count the helicopters to know how much this visitor matters. president trump's entourage blasted through the countryside as subtly as he warned this week that his host might not get the trade deal she covets. for theresa may, herjob was notjust to grin and bear it today but, more importantly, to try and change his mind. when first the tricky question

was asked, he left it to her. have you had a chance to talk about the interview this morning? we've got a lot to discuss. the question repeated, this time he made a face, rather than answer. but after talks, back to the choreography around the stately home, exactly where she brokered her brexit compromise, this time last week. the prime minister appeared to have taken hold of president trump and predicted he's now on her side. we agreed today that as, the uk leaves the european union, we will pursue an ambitious us—uk free trade agreement. the chequers agreement reached last week provides the platform for donald and me to agree an ambitious deal that works for both countries right across our economies. was he quite so convinced? once the brexit process is concluded, and perhaps the uk has left the eu, i don't know what they're going to do, but whatever you are going to do is ok with me,

that's your decision. whatever you're going to do is ok with us, just make sure we can trade together, that's all that matters. mr president, you seem rather to have changed your tune from what you said earlier this week when you said that, on the current brexit plan, that would probably kill the possibility of a trade deal with the uk. our countries are meant to have a special relationship yet you publicly criticised the prime minister's policy and her personally for not listening to you this week — is that the behaviour of a friend? i didn't criticise the prime minister, i have a lot of respect for the prime minister, and unfortunately there was a story that was done which was generally fine, but it didn't put in what i said about the prime minister, and i said tremendous things. to be accurate, it did. she's going to make a decision as to what she's going to do. the only thing i ask of theresa is that we make sure we can trade, that we don't have any restrictions. i read reports where that won't be possible, but i believe, after speaking

with the prime minister's people and representatives and trade experts, it will absolutely be possible. and, prime minister, isn't the problem for you, that some of the things mr trump has said about the brexit plan right, it will limit the possibilities of doing trade deals easily in the future? there will be no limit to the possibility of us doing trade deals around the rest of the world, once we leave the european union, on the basis of the agreement made at chequers, and that i have put forward to the european union, and as you've heard from the president, the united states are keen for us, we are keen to work with them, and we will do a trade deal with them and others around the world. he said he'd suggested she should be tougher on brexit but never pulled the plug on the deal. and that brexit is a tough situation, that's a tough deal. you can't walk away, because if she walks away, she's stuck. can't walk away. but you can do other things. what about that oft—quoted special, if today surreal, relationship? i would say the highest

level of special. am i allowed to go higher than that? i'm not sure, but it is the highest level of special. i would much rather have her as my friend than my enemy, that i can tell you. where he leads, the prime minister is certainly not always willing to follow, but had the president not calmed his tone on brexit, this vital moment would have been humiliating. for years, british prime ministers have strained to show that they matter to the united states. they want to be listened to, they want to be respected, but with characteristic smash and grab style, donald trump has made that tricky, very tricky for theresa may, just at the moment when she needs friends and reliable allies. goodbye to chequers, then for the president to move to call on one of the few people in the world whose status rivals his. the queen has now met a dozen american presidents.

this spectacle a product of that shared history. these images perhaps the ones donald trump truly desired. but the politics between the united states and britain are fraught, the lines less precise. and as both our countries change, so diplomatic decorum isn't guaranteed. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, chequers. across the uk today, tens of thousands of people have ta ken to the streets to protest against president trump's visit. there are protests across the country right now. in london, tens of thousands of people spent the day marching through the streets heading for trafalgar square, as our special correspondent lucy manning reports. say it loud, say it clear, donald trump is not welcome here! his name echoed around the streets of london. it was on the posters they carried, the t—shirts they wore. they were loud, and they

were certainly many, but as tens of thousands came to protest against president trump, he wasn't even in the city to see or hear the anger. the relationship normally a special one, the highest level of special, said of the president, but they weren't lining the streets for the american president, but against him. i think his policies are awful, the way he talks to people, the way he talks about women, the way he talks about disabled people, policies on climate change. you are not going to stop trump, are you? what do you make of so many people coming out against your president? it is really nice that they care about what is happening in our country. the day of protests started with london's newest tourist attraction, lying outside parliament, the trump baby balloon, not huge in size, but big in impact.

i think it is brilliant, it is humour, trump doesn't get that, but i think it stands for the way we deal with things we don't like. in this peculiarly british day of protest on the streets, the women's march started the demonstrations, armed with song, pots and pans, wit and anger. he is the worst thing to happen to the world right now, i have a daughter, i'm a mother, i'm a woman, he is not... we did not deserve them on this world. and she does not like him! it is for anyone to say it, because we are citizens of the world. we are not telling him he should not be here, we are protesting his policy decisions. america is our closest ally. this is not against america, it is against trump. then the main protest

of the day, filling the streets of central london. the american president might not be in london to see and hear these protests, but he is certainly aware of them, saying he wasn't spending more time in the capital because he had been made to feel unwelcome, but as donald trump said, he believes the real british people love the american president. but those in trafalgar square this evening are not on and on the go and in other cities. meanwhile his supporters toasted his

arrival. i don't think is the most hospitable welcome. i think it's a bit short—sighted of some british, those that are protesting, and a bit of wasted energy on their parts. they were saying keep trump out of the uk. i don't know where to start with how you are leaving the eu are i'iow with how you are leaving the eu are now you are trying to shun away the us. but with every corner of trafalgar square taken us. but with every corner of trafalgar square ta ken up us. but with every corner of trafalgar square taken up with those against the president, it wasn't the welcome he wanted. lucy manning, bbc news. the president and the first lady left windsor and headed for scotland, where they're spending a private weekend. donald and melania trump flew to prestwick on air force one and were then driven to the village of turnberry in ayrshire, where mr trump owns a golf resort. our scotland editor, sarah smith, is there. you know anything about plans for the weekend? there is no official schedule for the weekend. this has been billed as a private visit so there is no official meetings. i think it is safe to assume he will

get ina think it is safe to assume he will get in a round of golf. he always says that trump turnberry is his favourite of all his properties, so he will want to get out on the revamped course as soon he will want to get out on the revamped course as soon as he will want to get out on the revamped course as soon as he arrived here he headed out the front of the hotel to look at the view and talk to some of the other guests who are staying here who were all of course busy taking pictures of him. hotel has not been cleared for the weekend, other guests were playing on the course, there is even a wedding planned and hotel tomorrow. it might not be as relaxing weekend as he had hoped. within minutes of arriving at the hotel a greenpeace protester flew over the resort in a powered paragliderflying protester flew over the resort in a powered paraglider flying a protester flew over the resort in a powered paragliderflying a banner saying trump well below par. and despite the really heavy security on the ground here the police seemed unable to do anything about the fact that this paraglider got within about 100 yards of the president as he was outside. he was quickly ushered inside as soon as the

protester got near him, and he flew around for several minutes above the resort. protesters will be trying tomorrow as well to get as close to heroes tomorrow whilst a major demonstration is also planned in edinburgh. he isn't beating nicola sturgeon or any other politicians while he is here. some of them will be joining while he is here. some of them will bejoining the while he is here. some of them will be joining the anti—trump protest. not the first minister herself, but she is going to be leading the glasgow pride march over the weekend, and she will hope that joining that demonstration will send a message to the president all of its own. with me are our political editor, laura kuenssberg, and our north america editor, jon sopel. laura, can we distinguish anything between the messages we got overnight, the interview he did with the newspaper and what he said in this conference today?” the newspaper and what he said in this conference today? i think we can say pretty clearly that number ten tried really hard to get him to

roll back from what was very direct criticism of the prime minister, and they were successful in that to an extent. the visit of an american president is almost the most high—profile event any pressure ridges prime minister ever has to deal with. so for them to have him landing in the uk with this criticism of her brexit policy, don't forget the biggest political project the government is engaged m, project the government is engaged in, was notjust embarrassing but frankly intolerable. so clearly through this morning and no doubt officials overnight, they managed to get donald trump to roll back some of his language so at least his tone was warmer, he was calm around brexit, he did at least give signs he would try to be helpful, and he did eke out the phrase that he looked forward to signing a trade deal. but the reservations were evidently still there. there is no pretence that for the uk to do a trade deal with the us after brexit will be anything other than tricky.

i think for theresa may that is the thing that will prove so difficult in the coming months, notjust with donald trump but with her party. the reason why his criticism was so damaging was because it pushed on a bruise that has already been put there by people in the conservative party. they don't think brexit compromises the right approach, and to hear it from the most powerful political leader in the western world was something that really put her the spot. today was frankly not nearly as bad as it might have been, but still an episode that put theresa may on the back foot. john lets talk about the tensions over night and today. this phrase, highest level of special. is it more than just highest level of special. is it more thanjust a highest level of special. is it more than just a pretty phrase? it is a pretty phrase and british prime ministers love to hear the words for american president is that there is no one was special to us than the british. so donald trump trotted out that phrase, you are so special, it's the highest level of special,

but you don'tjudge it's the highest level of special, but you don't judge these things it's the highest level of special, but you don'tjudge these things by words, you judge them by actions. and over a whole series of issues laura has talked about the trade talks that will come at the end of the brexit bruisers, those will weep protected and difficult. locatelli are areas where we have tried to influence the us, iraqi, nato, thymic change, russia, and theresa may, emmanuel macron, angela merkel have found it more or less impossible to shift him an inch. it is true that the special relationship is still special where it comes to defence, intelligence cooperation. but today was in danger of going off the rails. it could have been catastrophic after that interview that he gave the sun. we heard him rollback, who knew he could reverse, and we heard one other thing. apparently when he saw theresa may this morning he

apologised. again, something we have not heard much from this president. thank you. let's look at some of the day ‘s other stories. counter—terrorism detectives investigating the contamination of two people by the nerve agent novichok say they've found the source of the substance in the home of the victims. dawn sturgess died in hospital on sunday after being exposed to the poison. her partner, charlie rowley, remains in a serious conditon in hospital. 0ur correspondent duncan kennedy has the latest. the finding of the bottle at charlie rowley‘s home here is a significant moment in the nerve agent enquiry. tonight police are still standing guard outside, two weeks after charlie and his partner dawn stu rgess were contaminated by the novichok. we now know that novichok was found in a small bottle here on wednesday, and that tests confirmed the bottle was the source of the nerve agent. police aren't saying what sort of bottle it was or how it got here. dawn sturgess died last sunday, eight days after falling ill. charlie rowan he regained consciousness on tuesday, the day before the bottle was found, and it's possible he helped police locate it. officers say they can't guarantee

there is no more novichok left, so say cordons like this one at dawn's hostel in salisbury will remain. but finding the bottle has come as a relief to many people here. i'm shocked but i'm pleased they've found it. but i still want to know, there's still questions, where was it? to find the container, i'm actually quite relieved, because now that means hopefully that'll be an end to it. i think it's fantastic it's been found and it'sjust sad the circumstances it's been found in. this park in salisbury is also being searched as detectives try to trace the history and journey of the bottle that's been found. tonight public health england have again advised people in the area not to pick up anything suspicious. duncan kennedy, bbc news, in amesbury. the british volunteer divers who helped save 12 boys and their football coach who were trapped in a cave

in thailand have arrived back at heathrow airport. they said the they weren't heroes, just a group of people who had a unique set of skills. one of them, john volanthen, who was responsible for bringing up to half the boys out, has been speaking to the bbc about the rescue, as robert hall reports. they had spent days in the total darkness of a flooded cave system. this morning, blinking in the flashlights, the seven rescuers arrived to applause from the crowd of well—wishers who had shared a drama replayed around the world. when rick stanton and his colleague john volanthen emerged from the inky the skilled cave diving team you see before you are in a class of their own. when rick stanton and his colleague john volanthen emerged from the inky water a mile from the cave entrance, they could hardly —— two miles. believe what they saw. how many of you? 13? brilliant.

today for the first time john spoke in detail about that moment. we were swimming along an underwater passage. wherever we surfaced we looked and we smile. in this case we smelt the children before we saw them. slowly and carefully preparations were made for a rescue which the thais dubbed mission impossible. we weren't aware of the enormity of the task. the visibility in the water is very low so varying down to a few inches, there was also a lot of debris in the cave from previous attempts. at last, supported by thai colleagues the british team began their operation. 0ne british team began their operation. one by one they inched the children and their coach to safety. we essentially packaged the children

with a buoyancy compensator, which with a buevancv cemeensater. which — 7— isa with a buevancv cemeensater. which — 7— is a and this buoyancy compensator we had made into a harness, and that allowed us to have a single unit for want of a better word that was completely self—contained. if it was very low you had to carry them to the side, sometimes it was very narrow and you would push them in front. itjust depends on what the cave was doing and where they had to be in relation to you to pass that particular section of passage. john and his tea m section of passage. john and his team say they are no heroes, just expert cave is doing a job. so today they left, quietly, to resume their normal lives. but across the world their efforts will not be forgotten. robert hall, bbc news. let's have a look at some of the day's other stories. now time for sports day. thank you.

welcome to sports day. here are the headlines. more than six and a half hours, the longest wimbledon semifinal in history as kevin anderson edges pastjohn is on in a centre court epic. who willjoin him? that other semifinal is still going on as medale and djokovic face each other for going on as medale and djokovic face each otherfor a 52nd going on as medale and djokovic face each other for a 52nd time. and england must pick themselves up for tomorrow's play—off game with their second best world cup finish on the line. hello. 0nly

hello. only one place to start, the first men's were more than some of the final between john first men's were more than some of the final betweenjohn isner and kevin anderson provided absolutely incredible drama and proved to be the longest last four thai in history at the all england club and the third longest match in tennis history. the longest you might remember, is now featured in that one back in 2010. this one lasted six hours and 35 minutes. here is the deciding moment, finally, a match point anderson. it finished six — seven... the first time in 97 yea rs six — seven... the first time in 97 years that there is a south african in the wimbledon men's singles final. he will take on either medale or djokovic on sunday. it's really tough on both of us. in the end you feel like this is a draw between the two of us, but somebody has to win. and john is such a great guy and i really feel for him because if i had

been this i don't know how you could ta ke been this i don't know how you could take is playing so long in coming out short. i have so many mixed emotions right now. getting through something like that is quite different. an astonishing match. let's go to live pictures now on bbc two. that other matches still going. rafa nadal and novak djokovic. 0nly the third time they've met at wimbledon. djokovic beat nadal previously. they can play up until 11 o'clock tonight. just another half an hour to go. third set. good news for britain's jamie murray earlier, he's through to the final of the mixed doubles with partner victoria azarenka. they beat british hopefuls harriet dart and jay clarke in straight sets.

murray won the mixed doubles title last year with martina hingis. 16—year—old jack draper is a step away from becoming the first british wimbledon boys' champion since 1962 after beating colombia's nicolas me—hia in an incredible semifinal that lasted more than four hours. draper is the son of former lta chief roger draper. he'll now face taiwan's chun hsin tseng, the world number one junior, in sunday's final. england's dream in russia may be over but their world cup's not. it's the game nobody wants to play in as they battle it out with belgium for third place tomorrow afternoon. victory for gareth southgate's side would make it their most successful world cup since 1966, as our sports correspondent david 0rnstein reports from st petersberg. this is where england's unforgettable this is where england's u nforg etta ble world cu p this is where england's unforgettable world cup journey will come to an end tomorrow afternoon. a grand setting for the final flourish. and what a month it has been for this young squad who defied

low expectations to reach a first world cup semifinal in 28 years. and also reconnect with their long—suffering supporters. it did not go to plan against croatia, they came so close, but all is not lost. they could yet secure their highest finish ina they could yet secure their highest finish in a world cup since 1966 and their highest ever as a world cup on foreign soil. plenty to play for in this bronze medal match. england trained on russian soilfor the final time this morning. all 23 players were involved but we are expecting gareth southgate make some changes. what we have to decide with the team is who can go again, physically, is going to be important. everybody wants to play, everybody train this morning. sometimes it is not always a good decision for people to play if their energy isn't quite there, and we've got to think of who can give us the best performers. it won't be exactly the same starting 11 but we want

ideally to make as few changes as possible. 0ne ideally to make as few changes as possible. one or two injuries, one or two with a little bit of illness, so we just have to see. but we have high motivation to perform, we have the chance to win a medal, as a world cup, which only one other english team has ever done. this has also been a breakthrough world cup for england. they had not won a knockout match at any major competitions as 2006, they have also lifted their penalty shoot out hoodoo, a young squad, their third youngest squad ever to travel to a world cup, playing without fear, reconnecting with the public and seeming to enjoy themselves. but now the expectation changes. no longer will they be the surprise package, having reached the last four. and gareth southgate says new standards have been set in the future generations will need to live up to them. at club level you can have near misses and maybe get closer each season, and of course internationally you have to wait every two years. and this group i

have said all along definitely stronger in two years' time it of their age and their big match experiences we have been through really brilliant experiences this time. we have a responsibility to build on that, and we expect players any new players that comes into following, and that is the start point of any team in terms of how you work, and then we can improve the detail of our tactical play and the detail of our tactical play and the important moments of big matches. after the tournament the focus will inevitably shift quickly back to domestic football and the premier league with a particular interest in young english players getting an opportunity to play in first teams. currently only 33% of the premier league is made up by english players. and i think we all know that is not enough if england are to enjoy sustained success at international level. fabian delph was also part of a news conference with gareth southgate and he said it

is critical for english players to be playing senior football.m is critical for english players to be playing senior football. it has beena be playing senior football. it has been a fantastic experience for me to personally and i think it will stand us in good stead for the future. there are a lot of young players as there are at manchester city, everybody seems to be fearless, going in the same direction all across the premier league, i think if we start to push the young lads forward it will be nothing but good stuff for the future for the national teams. kick—off here at the saint petersburg stadium is 5pm local, three p0 in the uk, and then on afternoon england will leave russia and fly back to birmingham before heading off on their summer holidays. what a few weeks it has been. maybe after all football really did come home, just not the trophy, and that will be the next task for england and one they will approach with renewed vigour and belief. chelsea are expected to announce former napoli boss maurizio sarri as their new manager after confirming that

antonio conte has been sacked. sarri would become chelsea's ninth full—time manager since roman abramovich bought the club in 2003. during three years with napoli, sarri didn't win a major honour but guided the club to second, third and second again — behind juventus in 2017—18. conte has a clause in his contract that guarantees him a pay—off, thought to be £9 million, for the final year. liverpool have tonight confirmed the signing of xherdan shaqiri from stoke city, after triggering his £13.5 million release clause. the 26—year—old switzerland forward who played at the world cup in russia joined stoke from inter milan in 2015 for a club record fee of £12 million. he was top scorer last season with eight goals as they were relegated from the premier league. three games in rugby league's super league tonight and after a defeat in his first game in charge, new leeds director of rugby kevin sinfield had to watch his side settle for a draw