welcome to bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in north america on pbs, and around the globe. my name is nkem ifejika. these are our top stories: protests across the uk, as tens of thousands of people demonstrate against president trump and his policies. more are planned over the weekend. there was pomp and pageantry. queen elizabeth welcomed the president for afternoon tea at windsor castle. there was also an apology for his interview with a newspaper and mr trump rowed back on his criticism of the prime minist calling her instead an "incredible woman". as his visit draws to a close, president trump is now in scotland. he's expected to spend the weekend playing golf at turnberry. in other news, the us justice department charges 12 russian intelligence officers with meddling in the 2016 us election. and back home, we speak to the british divers who helped save 12 boys and their football coach trapped in a cave in thailand.

there've been demonstrations across the uk, with tens of thousands of people showing their opposition to president trump and his policies. at a news conference, the us president rowed back on his criticism of the prime minister theresa may's brexit strategy, praising her instead as an "incredible woman". he also dismissed as "fake news" the newspaper interview in which he'd suggested that the british government's plans for leaving the eu would probably kill any trade deal with the us. with a roundup of the day's events, including tea with the queen, here's our political editor laura kuennesberg. 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 not just to grin and bear it today, but more importantly, to try to change his mind. when first the tricky question was asked, he left it to her. reporter: yeah, have you had a chance to talk about the interview this morning? we've got a lot to discuss. we're going to discuss our special relationship... the question repeated, this time he made a face, rather than answer. reporter: thank you. 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'll 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 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 really 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, you know, 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 your brexit plan are right, it will limit the possibilities of doing trade deals easily in the future? there'll 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 that was made here at chequers, and that i've put forward to the european union. and as you've heard from the president, the united states are keen for us, we're 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 pull the plug on the deal. and that brexit is a very tough situation, that's a tough deal. you can't walk away, because if she walks away, that means she's stuck. you 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's the highest level of special. i would much rather have her as my friend than my enemy, that i can tell you. and we are friends, mr president. 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've 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 our two countries are fraught, the lines less precise. and as both our countries change, so diplomatic decorum is far from guaranteed. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, chequers. well, there were cheers as a six metre balloon in the shape of donald trump wearing a nappy took to the air over parliament square in london. our special correspondent lucy manning has more on the anti—trump protests. all chant: say it loud, say it clear, donald trump's not welcome here!

his name echoed round the streets of london. all chant: donald trump has got to go! 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 the president, but they weren't lining the streets for the american president, but against him. i think his policies are awful, i think the way he talks to people, the way he talks about women, the way he talks about disabled people, the policies on climate change. the list of things he does wrong is longer than... you're not going to stop trump with your protest, are you?

i think peaceful protest is a beautiful thing. what do you make of so many people coming out against your president? it's really nice that they care that much. the day of protests started with london's newest tourist attraction, flying outside parliament, the trump baby balloon, not huge in size, but big in impact. i think it's brilliant, i think it's and epitome of british humour really, and i think trump doesn't get that, but i think it stands for the way that we deal with things we don't like. then this peculiarly british day of protests took to the streets, the women's march starting the demonstrations, armed with song, pots and pans, wit, and anger. he's the worst thing to happen to the world right now. i have a daughter, i am a mother, i am a woman, he is not... we did not deserve him on this world. he has done nothing but wrong. but is it for british people to say that about... and she does not like him! it's for anyone to say it,

because we are citizens of the world. we're not telling him he shouldn't be here, we're protesting some of the policy decisions he's made. america is our closest ally, so... yeah, and this is not against america, this is against trump. then the main anti—trump protest of the day, filling central london. no presidential motorcade here, the streets instead taken over by the mass of protesters. well, the american president might not be in london to see and hear these protests, but he's 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 across the country, there were protests. in glasgow, as he landed in scotland tonight, and in other cities. all chant: hey hey, ho ho, donald trump has got to go! meanwhile, trump's supporters

toasted his arrival. i don't think it's the most hospitable welcome. i think it's a bit shortsighted of some british, those that have protested, and a bit of wasted energy on their part. they were saying, "keep trump out of the uk." i mean, i don't know where to start with how you're leaving the european union and now you're trying to shun away the 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. and you will find more information on the protests against donald trump on the protests against donald trump on the protests against donald trump on the bbc website. that's all at bbc.com/news. or you can just download the bbc news app. the white house insists

the indictments of 12 russian intelligence officers for interfering in the 2016 presidential election will not jeopardise a monday summit between donald trump and vladimir putin in helsinki. the russian foreign ministry said that the charges announced had been intended to throw the meeting off course. here's the us deputy attorney general rod rosenstein outlining the alleged involvement of the russian state. the indictment charges 12 russian military officers by name for conspiring to interfere with the 2016 presidential election. 11 of the defendants are charged with conspiring to hack into computers, steal documents, and release those documents with intent to interfere in the election. one of those defendants and a 12th russian military officer are charged with conspiring to infiltrate computers of organisations involved in administrating elections. and we'll have more analysis of this later in the programme.

i have just looked up i havejust looked up and a guest is standing by. let's get some of the day's other news. in the uk, agents believe they have identified the source of the novichok nerve agent that poison two people last month. they say that as more bottle contained the nerve agent. they are now trying to determine whether it was from the same about the poison that kill former russian spy sergei skripal and his daughter in march. —— that killed. more than 200 people are now confirmed dead from the flooding in western japan. 70,000 rescue workers and soldiers have been deployed to dig through the rubble. dozens of people remain buried a week after record rainfall hit the region, triggering landslides and floods. italy and malta are engaged in a new row over which country should take responsibility for migrants on board vessels in the mediterranean. the maltese government said migrants currently on an overcrowded fishing boat wanted to proceed to the italian island of lampedusa, but italy is insisting malta take in the migrants. sinn fein says that an explosive

device has been thrown at the home of the party's former president gerry adams in belfast. a spokesperson at the home was also targeted. the party described the attacks is reprehensible and cowardly. mr adams said nobody was hurt. at least 120 people have been killed at an election rally in pakistan, and more than 100 others were hurt. the islamic state group said it had carried out the attack. lebo diseko has the details. we warn you, there are some distressing images from the start of her report. a community gripped by shock and grief, as victims arrive in hospital, caught up in what is the worst militant attack in this country for nearly four years. more than 100 were killed in the suicide bombing at an election rally in the province of baluchistan. translation: we reached the blast site and found the people scattered, there was hardly a person who was in a good condition.

we alerted our vehicles and sent 30 ambulances to help the wounded. the army had claimed that militants had been cleared from the region near the afghan border, which has been marred by ongoing violence and instability. in a separate incident, four people were killed in a bomb blast in the north of the country. another politician's campaign convoy was hit. it's less than two weeks before pakistan goes to the polls, and these attacks could trigger a new set of tensions ahead of an election already marred by controversy. lebo diseko, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: we follow the us first lady, melania trump, as she meets the chelsea pensioners on her visit to london with the president. the flamboyant italian fashion designer, gianni versace, has been shot dead in florida. the multimillionaire was gunned down outside his home in the exclusive

south beach district of miami. emergency services across central europe are stepping up their efforts to contain the worst floods this century. nearly 100 people have been killed. broadway is traditionally called the great white way by americans, but tonight it's completely blacked out. it's a timely reminder to all americans of the problems the energy crisis has brought to them. 200 years ago today, a huge parisian crowd stormed the bastille prison, the first act of the revolution which was to topple the french monarchy. today, hundreds of thousands thronged the champs—elysee for the traditional military parade. finally, fairy penguins have been staggering ashore and collapsing after gorging themselves on huge shoal of their favourite food, pilchards. some had eaten so much they could barely stand. this is bbc world news.

the latest headlines: demonstrations have taken place across the uk, with huge numbers of people showing their opposition to president trump's visit. president trump has arrived in scotland at his golf resort — the last stop on his trip to the uk. he was welcomed earlier by the queen at windsor castle, despite it not being a full state visit. now, let's get more story on the indictment of 12 russian intelligence officers, who are charged with conspiring to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. we can now speak to evan mcmullin, who's a former central intelligence agency operations officer, who also ran as an independent during the 2016 united states presidential election. hejoins us from new he joins us from new york city. thank you forjoining us. you have been very vociferous ever since 2016 on the interference of russia in the us elections. does this give you these indictments? well, it isn't a

surprise, frankly. i think we have been waiting here in the united states for details around the special counsel robert mueller‘s investigation of the hacking part of russian interference, of course, they also carried out a disinformation campaign leveraging social media, in part. robert mueller has already issued a number of indictments of russian intelligence associates related to that part of their effort. but today we learned more about the actual hacking part. isuspect we learned more about the actual hacking part. i suspect we will learn more down the road. there is obviously a to cover for the special counsel, so they are doing the indictments in batches. —— a lot to cover. i believe over time we will see the involvement of us persons, potentially involved in the trump campaign, numbers of the trump campaign, numbers of the trump campaign and potentially trump himself. that has been the crucial element of all of this. there hasn't been any proven collusion. i think thatis been any proven collusion. i think

that is the important word, there is no proof so far of collusion with the trump campaign. no proof so far of collusion with the trump campaignlj no proof so far of collusion with the trump campaign. i wouldn't exactly say that. i would say the special council hasn't invited anyone. but already available in the media, there is a lot of information about different contacts, but several members of the trump campaign had all the trump family had. 0ne campaign had all the trump family had. one of them, for example, was donald trump jr, donald had. one of them, for example, was donald trumer, donald trump's son, emailing with a representative of the russian representative, somebody who was representing the russian government, who offered hacked information on hillary clinton and donald trump jr said he information on hillary clinton and donald trumer said he loved it and recommended the information be used later in the summer. so there is quite a lot of information there, actually. but robert mueller and the special counsel's office, they haven't commented on that yet. we don't know how they look at that from a legal perspective. as american citizens we have to make

oui’ american citizens we have to make our own decision about that politically, when we go to the polls for the mid—term elections to decide who controls congress in 2018, but also in 2020, when, if donald trump is still president, we will make another decision about whether he will remain so. do you believe the 2016 elections are, for want of a better legal term, on safe? 2016 elections are, for want of a better legalterm, on safe? -- u nsafe. better legalterm, on safe? -- unsafe. i believe our national security professionals have said repeatedly we are not doing enough, there is not a co—ordinated us government response yet or plan, to protect our elections from foreign interference. we are fortunate in some way that in the united states, our presidential elections are run by the states, not at the national level. so states can take action. at the federal government in washington, led by president donald trump, has not really taken a lead on this. —— but the federal government. which is quite shocking

and not what you would find with any other president in the past, republican or democrat, but that is the situation we find ourselves in, we have a president who still, even today, taking questions with prime minister theresa may, called the investigation a witch—hunt, a rigged witch—hunt. this is even after he was briefed by the department of justice earlier in the week about these in pending indictments of russian intelligence officers involved in hacking the democratic party and related targets. so that is where the president is. the president is still covering for vladimir putin. it is quite shocking that this would be what the president of the united states would do, but this is the situation we are in. the president was assisted by russians and he continues to protect them. thank you very much. that was evan mcmullin, who has been very vocal about this issue, and you can find him on twitter if you are interested about finding more about his news. thank you forjoining us.

-- his his news. thank you forjoining us. —— his views. 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. 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 believe what they saw. how many of you? 13? brilliant. today, for the first time, john spoke in detail about that moment. you are swimming along an underwater passage, wherever there is an airspace we surface, we shout,

and also we smell. and... in this case, we smelt the children before we actually saw them. slowly and carefully, preparations were made for a rescue which the thais dubbed ‘mission impossible'. the visibility in the water is very low, so 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. one by one, they inched the children and their coach to safety. we essentially packaged the children with a buoyancy compensator, which is a kind of diving jacket, tank on their chest, and this buoyancy compensator, we have made it 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 depended on what the cave was doing and where they had to be in relation to you to pass that particular passage. john and his team say they are no heroes, just expert cavers doing theirjob. so today they left quietly, to resume their normal lives. but across the world, their efforts will not be forgotten. the us first lady, melania trump, has met some chelsea pensioners during a visit to the royal hospital in london. accompanied by philip may, the prime minister's husband, mrs trump helped veterans and local schoolchildren assemble poppies for the royal british legion.

the first lady also spoke to the schoolchildren about her be best campaign as our correspondent sian lloyd reports. hello. a smile as melania trump arrived at the home of the famous chelsea pensioners. good morning, how are you? to receive a lesson in poppy making, with the help of local schoolchildren. and she'd done a pretty good job, according to the prime minister's husband, philip may. that's very impressive. the audience was chosen to chime with her be best campaign, which champions children's well—being initiatives. there was no speech from the first lady. she chatted and listened to the experiences of two different generations. did she win you two over? she came across magic, absolutely magic. the first lady's visit to meet the chelsea pensioners was shrouded in secrecy, and there's been tight security surrounding this event. while her husband has certainly made waves, this was an opportunity for melania to show a softer side of the partnership. whisked away by her entourage, the first lady had made an impression on the children she'd

met, who go to a school a stone's throw away from the us embassy. she gave me a hug, and she shaked my hand. and what did you feel about that? i was actually really happy. i was — i don't even want to wash my hands. nana sat next to melania trump and said he was honoured to meet her. it inspired me. i've learned that i should try my best and be the best i can be, even in hard times, i should be the best that i can be. the aim of this visit was to show a lighter touch, and while this was a tightly controlled event with no opportunity for media questions, those who met melania trump said she was a good sport. sian lloyd, bbc news, chelsea. that's all from us for now. goodbye. hello.

welcome to the weekend, which will offer a bit of cloud and some rain to parts of scotland and northern ireland, whereas much of england and wales will stay dry. here's the rain—maker — this weak weather front coming in. for saturday, it is just towards the far north, north—west of scotland. it will affect more of scotland and northern ireland on sunday. for many over the weekend there will be sunshine, there will be warmth. in fact, building warmth particularly across parts of england and wales. sunday looking even hotter in places. a range of weather this weekend. this is what it will look on saturday morning. the cloud, some outbreaks of rain, far north—west of scotland, maybe to the west of northern ireland later in the day. yes, cloud increases ahead of that. but the further south and east you are in scotland and northern ireland there will be some sunny spells to be had. some cloud building in england and wales. you can see from the colours, warm to hot sunshine to be had. a range of temperatures, quite breezy as well with the cloud and some outbreaks of rain in north—west scotland. maybe isolated showers popping up across eastern parts of england. most will avoid that and stay dry. here is how it is looking for the wimbledon finals this weekend, the men's final could be

one of the hottest for decades, coming up on sunday with temperatures around 30 celsius, if not slightly above in south—east england. heading out and about on saturday evening, a lot of fine weather to come. but through the night some outbreaks of rain moving into northern ireland and western scotland. stay dry in england and wales. these are the overnight temperatures going into sunday morning. on sunday, scotland and northern ireland, more have cloud, more have outbreaks of rain. gradually pushing further east. it mayjust reach into the far north—east of england later today. elsewhere across western england and wales there could be showers popping up here and there. most will avoid them and stay dry. most in england and wales will hold on to the very warm to hot sunshine. temperatures will be a few degrees higher in the sunshine compared with saturday, 17 in stornoway. this weather front is taking some cooler and fresher air south eastwards across the uk. it willjust take its time. on sunday evening, not a great deal of change for the position of that front, if you are heading out and about. it will gradually slide further south—eastwards monday and tuesday, but it is a slow process.

any rain on itjust becomes a few showers. we are left with something, eventually, into next week, cooler and fresher, with more cloud around and than some of us have seen recently. a greater chance of picking up one or two showers around. enjoy your weekend. this is bbc world news. the headlines: tens of thousands converged on central london in protest at president trump's visit to britain. there have also been demonstrations in other cities around the country and he is now facing fresh protests in scotland

as he continues his visit to the uk. earlier, he met queen elizabeth at windsor castle and described the relationship between the us and the uk as the "highest level of special". president trump is now in scotland, at his turnberry golf resort — the last stop on his trip to the uk. the white house as a summit between mrtrump and the white house as a summit between mr trump and president putin will ta ke mr trump and president putin will take place, even though 12 russian intelligence officers have been charged with interfering in the 2016 presidential election. leaders are due to hold talks on monday in helsinki, the capital of finland. now on bbc news the week in parliament.