this is bbc news — i'm rebecca jones. the headlines at 11:00: votes are being counted in zimba bwe‘s presidential elections. turnout was high and the opposition is hoping to end nearly a0 years of rule by the zanu—pf party, formerly lead by robert mugabe. families and doctors will no longer need to go to court, if they agree to end the life of a patient, in a persistent vegetiative state. northern rail reinstated most of the services it suspended after a new timetable led to severe problems but passengers still face more cancellations. also coming up — an attack on a vulnerable woman in suffolk has been viewed by millions of people after a picture of it was posted online. a group of teenagers threw eggs and flour over the victim while she was sitting on a park bench. police in the town are warning about the dangers of vigilantism. the broadcasting regulator ofcom has announced that it won't readvertise

the licences of 13 local tv stations in the uk. one of the largest luxury fashion brands opens its doors to us as we take an exclusive look at max mara's archives. and at 11:30pm, we'll be taking an in—depth look at the papers with our reviewers james rampton, who's the features writer at the independent, and the political commentator jo—anne nadler — stay with us for that. good evening. counting is under way in historic elections in zimbabwe, the first since independence from british rule, without robert mugabe running for high office.

voters have relished the opportunity for new leadership, with turnout said to be as high as 75%. many voters have known no other leader but mr mugabe, and now emmerson mnangagwa of the ruling zanu—pf party, is up against nelson chamisa of the opposition movement for democratic change, in the battle for the presidency. our africa editor fergal keane was in the capital harare this evening. hundreds of foreign and local observers were deployed. most part, that seems to have been the case, remarkable turnout. up 60% since the last election and for those of us recover past violence in this country, it seemed a different zimbabwe. just a year ago, they believed

democracy was a sham. a rigged exercise designed to keep an ageing tyrant in power. but today felt like something very different. african laughter and the high hopes of long—suffering people. i would like everybody to be employed. i would like some clinics to have medicine. i would like people to go to school. more schools, more clinics, morejobs for everyone. this day, i am very hopeful for a new zimbabwe. i am very happy that i am able to make a change, my decision is being considered for a better zimbabwe, so i am happy and hopeful. it was peaceful across zimbabwe, in the rural areas of matabeleland, and in midlands province, where the man who overthrew the old regime cast his vote. once an enforcer for robert mugabe,

he is gambling voters will thank him for bringing change. i'm happy that both the process for campaigning was peaceful and voting today is peaceful. i have no doubt that the end process of the entire electoral process will remain peaceful. in the capital harare, stronghold of the opposition movement for democratic change, its young leader nelson chamisa arrived at a local school to vote. he has campaigned energetically for months. how is it going? is it going well? "very good," he said. nelson chamisa just after voting. it is chaotic, but it is democracy as zimbabwe has never known it before. a few moments later, i caught up with him again. will you accept the result, even if you lose?

i have told you that we are not losing in this election, we are winning this election. so i am not interested in impossibilities. so you are confident? we will win this election, to the extent that it is a free and fair election, particularly in the rural areas. it is a done deal. it has been a hard road to this place. the mess that zimbabwe became is rooted in the bitter struggle against white minority rule. thousands were killed before independence brought hope. but the heroes of liberation became despots. zimbabwe might have become an enduring success story but, over time, ordinary lives became hostage to the terror of robert mugabe's one—party rule. millions fled, like this man, who spent 15 years in exile in britain. now he has come back as an election observer. i think this is what it should have been.

this is what everyone has always advocated for. what we are getting now, obviously it is not perfect, but i think it is quite commendable. i mean, we cannot take away the fact that this has been very peaceful. with voting over, they were preparing to count tonight. this was the scene in one harare polling station. this day passed in peace, but the days to come, when a victor is declared, will prove the ultimate test of zimba bwe‘s democracy. fergal keane, bbc news, harare. permission from the courts will no longer be needed, to withdraw life support from people in a permanent vegetative state, or those who are minimally conscious. the supreme court has ruled that if family members and doctors agree, then food and liquid can be stopped, allowing patients to die. many thousands of individuals with little or no hope of recovery could be affected.

here's sophie hutchinson. cathy's brother mackie was severely brain damaged in a hit—and—run accident when he was just 16 years old. he then spent eight years in a vegetative state. she is of the family had to go through the painful process of asking the court to have food and water withdrawn so he could die. that is one of the difficult things about going to court, i had to swear an affidavit saying i wa nted to swear an affidavit saying i wanted my brother to die. i didn't wa nt wanted my brother to die. i didn't want that, i wanted him to get better and not be knocked over in the first place but i couldn't have any of those things and that's it, for all the families, they don't wa nt to for all the families, they don't want to have to go to court and say they want somebody to die, they want them back but they can't, they don't wa nt them back but they can't, they don't want them in a nursing home the yea rs want them in a nursing home the years and years. today's landmark ruling by the supreme court means that when families and doctors agreed, they will no longer in seek —— need to seek permission from judges, meaning they can decide whether life—sustaining nutrition

should be withdrawn from a loved one ina should be withdrawn from a loved one in a persistent vegetative state. today's ruling is hugely significant for potentially thousands of families who find themselves as some of the most tragic situations. those who agree with doctors that their loved ones should be allowed to die, they can now make that decision on they can now make that decision on the quiet about home, in hospital or elsewhere without the strain of having to go to court. it's estimated there are tens of thousands of people living in a vegetative or minimally conscious state in the uk, patients with almost no prospect of recovery who are kept alive with artificially administered food and water, some four decades. those who represent families have welcomed the new ruling. it is a really good decision for a sensible and compassionate society to allow doctors and families to get on and make decisions on behalf of a patient in their best interests. the

hillsborough victim tony bland was the first patient in england through the first patient in england through the courts allowed to die by having food and water withdrawn. since then, 100 such cases and some are concerned that removing the safeguard of asking the court's permission could be dangerous. these decisions are very difficult, they need to be made by specialists. diagnoses are often wrong and could seek court protection is overturned decisions before mrs white we feel it severely compromises the lives of these vulnerable patients. but whether there is disagreement between families and doctors, the courts will still have the final say. cathy is adamant, though, that if court can be avoided, a kindness. sophie bbc news. —— sophie hutchinson. some rail services in the north of england, that were scrapped back in may due to a shakeup of the timetable, are back. up to 75% of the trains are up and running again — but angry commuters still faced cancellations and delays in many

areas, as danny savage reports. just after 7am this morning and lorna fitzpatrick is waiting in burnley for her daily northern service to leeds. it arrives on time, but lorna says the new timetable means more stops and more passengers. i have this dread every single morning, because i know that the train is probably going to be late and i'm probably not going to get to work on time, as usual. train announcement: on behalf of northern, i'd just like to apologise for the... every single aspect of my life revolves around this train and i'm just absolutely sick of it. i'm at the end of my tether. it's had such a massive impact on my life — my professional and my personal life. and i can't be the only one in this situation. northern says a more gradual reintroduction of its timetable will ensure a more stable and reliable service. but again, today, there were delays and cancellations. the mayor of greater manchester says enough is enough. today, i have called on the prime minister to intervene, because passengers in the north can't keep running the daily lottery of turning up at the train station

hoping they will be able to get to work on time. they deserve much better than this. and that was reflected at this company in manchester, who are having to build their working day around the delays of staff commuting on northern. there's usually lots of calls at 8:30am with people saying they're going to be delayed, they are going to be late. there is a bit of chaos rearranging meetings, say if we've got a pitch where we are going to be trying to win new work. it is having a huge impact on us being actually able to win new business and grow. northern blamed a shortage of drivers for the chaos back in may. they say training has now happened. all the unions disagree. your operating services on overtime, that says to me and to our members, and i suspect to passengers, that you haven't got enough staff in the first place. there were certainly fewer complaints on social media about the trains today, but the commuters we met believe the real test will be in september. a husband and wife from west yorkshire have been

sentenced to eight years in total for trying to force their daughter into marriage and threatening to kill her. leeds crown court heard the young woman had described her parents as "monsters." she was told she would be travelling to bangladesh for a holiday. once in a remote village, the victim was told she was to be married to her cousin, before being rescued by armed police. a man acquitted of rape has lost his appeal to remove any reference to the case from his enhanced criminal records check. the teacher — who can't be named — was found not guilty seven years ago. when he applied for a job following his acquittal, details of the allegation and verdict were included in his criminal records certificate. the supreme court ruled that the disclosure of the acquittal was proportionate given his application for a job as a lecturer. an attack on a vulnerable woman in suffolk has been viewed by millions of people after a picture of it was posted online. a group of teenagers threw eggs and flour over the woman while she was sitting

on a park bench. people living close to where it happened say they are sickened by the incident. and there's been an angry reaction online, prompting a warning by suffolk police about vigilante action. five boys have been arrested. alex dunlop reports. three days after the attack, you can still see the flowers stuck to the park bench. they say after the altercation a group of teenage boys did this to a local woman in her 40s. they threw eggs and flowers over her. as they cower, they posed for a photo posted on line. within hours, it goes viral around the globe. councillor tom murray lives on the estate. i felt sick when i saw the photograph. the whole state is embarrassed, we are now national news and offer a good thing, or ill treating a member of the public who

has slight problems in her estate, in our homes, in our neighbourhood, is just dreadful. jake in our homes, in our neighbourhood, isjust dreadful. jake king josep say they know some of the boys allegedly involved. it's not something i want in the community at all. they have come to our youth clu b all. they have come to our youth club a couple of times, they seem like good lads, theyjust get mixed up like good lads, theyjust get mixed up in bad stuff. we are not revealing the name of the woman attacked on this bench, she is vulnerable and known to have mental health issues. while she wasn't physically hurt, she was left deeply distressed. police have arrested and bailed 315—year—old boys and 217 —year—olds who live locally but away from the papers, their names and faces a re from the papers, their names and faces are now cross social media. there are fears they could face reprisals. it went viral after this well—known social blogger with 750,000 facebook followers shared it on line. following fears of vigil anti— attacks, suffolk police told us: that an isolated attackers sparked

such worldwide interest shows the power and pitfalls of social media. when the boys next appear before police in august, it is hoped cooler heads will prevail. the headlines on bbc news: votes are being counted in zimbabwe's first presidential and parliamentary elections since robert mugabe was ousted. the supreme court rules legal permission will not be needed to end care for patients in a permanent vegetative state. trying to get back on track after months of passenger misery, northern rail reinstates most of its cancelled trains. ofcom has halted the further rollout of local tv stations. the media regulator announced it has decided not to readvertise licenses in 13 locations. the then culture secretary,

jeremy hunt, outlined the plans for a more decentralised media landscape, but in a matter of years some of the channels have faced financial difficulties and struggled to attract an audience. there are 13 locations where licenses are not going to be re—advertised. and since the iniative launched in 2013, more than 30 local tv stations have been awarded licenses by ofcom. let's talk to stewart purvis. as well as being a former ofcom executive and chief executive of itn, he's a journalism professor and non—executive director at channel 4. we're very grateful you've come in. let's turn the clock back and start at the beginning. what was the thinking behind setting up these local tv stations? well, thinking behind setting up these localtv stations? well, back in 2009, jeremy hunt was the shadow culture and media minister and he

was interested about what he thought was interested about what he thought was going on in the us, in a city like birmingham, alabama, there were four local tv stations and he says why hasn't birmingham, england got at least one? he understood what was at least one? he understood what was a local tv station. in birmingham, alabama it's the same as birmingham, england. it's a network like itv with local news. he thought they we re with local news. he thought they were big local stations with lots of local content so he wanted one of those in england in every major city. some at of, at the time said you've got the wrong end of the stick —— at of common. he said he wa nts stick —— at of common. he said he wants big local stations with local stations across the uk, up to 80 of them. his civil servants were very sceptical and the whole of the television industry said this wouldn't work but there were enthusiasts, people in the local community who wanted to start a tv

station, so they apply for licences and as soon as they got on the air they realised there wasn't any money. how are they funded? they are meant to be funded from television advertising but they haven't got the audiences to command much tv advertising. they are effectively subsidised by the bbc, why would that happen you might ask? absolutely. in jeremy hunt's mind is to help it get going. the bbc was giving money from the licence fee to these stations under a curious deal in which they were given stories to use although the bbc didn't use most of them. net effect, these stations we re of them. net effect, these stations were never barrable. surprisingly not many have gone out of business because there are two groups out there trying to hoover up these licenses believing one day they will get back to the real idea of a network —— viable. but i doubt if that will happen. are any thriving? without going through the financial

details of any, but in scotland, stv, they already run the newsroom for scotland, when they started a local station for edinburgh and glasgow, everyone thought that was a goodidea glasgow, everyone thought that was a good idea because you got half the infrastructure in place and a few weeks ago they gave them away to somebody trying to build up these licenses. if it doesn't work in a place where there is strong local identity, edinburgh and glasgow, where there's the infrastructure, where there's the infrastructure, where will it work? i gather perhaps from what you're saying that you welcome ofcom's decision today?” don't welcome it in the sense that there are lots of young journalists, particularly them, their first foot on the run of the ladder into television journalists, on the run of the ladder into televisionjournalists, many on the run of the ladder into television journalists, many are doing it for nothing, volunteers, i don't wish them ill. the whole thing was misguided and we will have to see what happens to be 3a that are already on the air and whether they can sustain a future. you've pre—empted my question, what's the

future for existing services, who knows? it comes from the big groups trying to accumulate licenses to make a network out of it but their trouble is there's great gaps in the coverage, looking at the 13 that would go ahead, some in the west country, they haven't got anything west of bristol. there's nothing west of bristol. there's nothing west belfast. there isn't really a national network. i don't see how you go to an advertiser and say i can help you reach people in lots of interesting cities but not nationwide. a final thought, is there anything that would make local new zombies level viable in this country? one of the interesting ideas to start with is do it on the internet —— news services viable. you don't have to fill up every hour like itv station. maybe if things started like that it may have worked out. stewart purvis, good to talk to you, thanks for explaining it.

the funeral has taken place of dawn sturgess, who was poisoned by the nerve agent novichok in wiltshire three weeks ago. among those attending was her partner, charlie rowley, who was hospitalised in the same poisioning. ms sturgess died after coming into contact with novichok, which may have been discarded during the attack on the former russian spy sergei skripal and his daughter in march. jon kay reports. her coffin dressed in summer flowers, dawn stu rg ess was remembered as an innocent novichok victim and as a fun loving mum of three. her private funeral included james blunt‘s song beautiful dawn, and was attended by senior police officers. it is a very emotional experience. the vicar who conducted the service told me dawn's11—year—old daughter was among those to speak. she just said how much she loved her mum and how much her mum had loved her, which resulted in a round of applause from everybody in the crematorium, just to say how marvellously she had done that and how courageous she had been. the vicar said the coffin

was carried into the crematorium by pallbearers as normal, despite earlier advice about possible contamination risks. charlie rowley, who was poisoned with novichok at the same time as his partner, sat at the front as tributes were paid to the ali—year—old. i'd like people to think of dawn, not in a sad, sort of like, she's passed, but in a happy sense, that she was a lovely person and very helpful to anyone who was in need of help. tonight, work continues to establish where the couple unwittingly came across the deadly poison. at her funeral, prayers were said for dawn stu rgess' family and friends and for this entire community, where so many are still in shock. jon kay, bbc news, salisbury. the authorities in california have begun allowing people to return

to their homes after wildfires forced more than 50,000 people to flee. around 12,000 firefighters from across the us have been battling blazes, which have so far claimed the lives of eight people. james cook reports from lakeport in northern california. the fire season is no more. california is now ablaze all year round. in the past six years, not one month has passed without a major wildfire here. just now, 17 are burning up and down the state, causing problems for battalion chief paul fleckenstein and his team. the fire that's coming up behind us is a little enthusiastic right now. it's reacting to the wind and the fuels. it's coming up from the bottom below us. mostly the thermal column is carrying it up, it's catching the brush, you can hear it cook off the moisture, that's the crackling part.

then it's picking up the embers and throwing them kind of where we're not looking for them to go right now. across north america, tens of thousands of firefighters are battling to save life and protect property, setting controlled burns like this one and hacking away at the undergrowth to try to deprive the wildfires of fuel. it is relentless and often dangerous work. quite how dangerous was underlined again with the death of brian hughes, the 33—year—old captain of the arrowhead hotshots. he was fighting this blaze near yosemite national park when he was struck by a falling tree, the fourth firefighter to die in california's current wildfires. this is the latest threat, fire advancing on the town of lakeport, adding to the evacuations. 50,000 people in the state have now fled their homes. but staying can be deadly. in the mountains of shasta county, where this village was reduced to ashes, police say they found the body of someone who had refused to leave. these pictures of the fires

sweeping in were filmed by a helicopter pilot. they show it jumping the sacramento river, leaving two young children and their great—grandmother among the dead, and the fear here is that this is what the future looks like. james cook, bbc news, in northern california. fresh from his tour de france victory, the welsh cyclist geraint thomas has arrived back in the uk. discussions are underway in cardiff about how to mark his achievement, as sian lloyd reports. the city waiting for geraint thomas to come home. flags have gone up at cardiff castle. behind the scenes, plans are being made to give him a hero's welcome. i think it is amazing that geraint thomas has won the tour de france and, you know, it inspires little kids to get onto their bikes. i was watching the tour de france and i want to know when is he coming back to cardiff, geraint thomas?

we don't know yet, but when we do, we'll let you know. all right, thank you. one step closer to home, geraint thomas is back in the uk and headed to the one show sofa tonight. cheered on by young members of his former cycling club from cardiff, excited to meet their hero. but he is still trying to take it all in. it's been nuts. it's just been crazy. you know, you think about the race, the racing part and all that, and, suddenly, you win and it is all over and itjust goes crazy and you just don't expect anything else. it's just a whirlwind. what are your thoughts from here, now? i haven't actually signed a new contract yet, so quite good timing, really. laughter just sit and wait for the office to call you tomorrow. at home, they are talking about building a legacy on the back of geraint thomas's win. over the past few years there has been an increase in interest shown by peoplejoining cycling clubs.

but that hasn't translated into people using bikes more every day. there's already a gold postbox in the city centre to celebrate his olympic triumphs. but now they have more ambitious plans. the biggest tribute we can pay to cycling and to geraint is to put in place high—quality cycle lanes and cycling infrastructure, so everybody has a chance to cycle in cardiff, not just the champions. that goal will take some time to achieve, but first, this city and its cyclists are looking forward to seeing geraint and the yellowjersey here. sian lloyd, bbc news, cardiff. more winners. jack and dani have been crowned the winners of this year's love island, jointly winning the £50,000 prize. the pair originally coupled up on the first episode of the itv2 series eight weeks ago. this is the moment they were announced as winners. dani and jack! cheering

well done, guys! our entertainment correspondent, lizo mzimba, is here. they seem surprised, elise was it a surprise? not a surprise to the viewers. they've been together from the start of the show. a few hiccups along the way but they've come across as a great couple, two genuine as genuinely nice —— genuinely nice people, they get on well and have fallen in love and have had a fantastic time on love island for the last eight weeks. no surprise the last eight weeks. no surprise the viewers voted them the number one couple on the island. they've been the favourites from very early on because they seemed so solid. in these cynical times, as some would say, it's been great entertainment watching too really nice people

getting on and growing in each other‘s affection for each other —— two. are they the only winners from this? itv have been huge winners, it's broken records for itv two since it came on air. they've got 5 million episode viewers after catch up. it has helped a surge in advertising revenue for itv. with the world cup and this, june revenue for itv. with the world cup and this,june and revenue for itv. with the world cup and this, june and july have been a great month for itv, the biggest increase they've had in advertising revenue in recent years. they've loved all this because they've attracted young audiences, great for advertisers to target. they have got other additions of this sprouting up and they will sell it all over the world outside the uk. itv are the big winners out of all of this. lots of people of across the country, and social media they are saying dani

and jack, isn't that sweet, and they are right. what happens to them now? they have been offered all sorts, when you come off a programme like this with high profiles, they will be offered their own reality tv show, appearances and advertising endorsements because they have become two role models for young people who have the chance to connect. they have a genuine opportunity here to choose what they think works for them. rioli they have... it's a wonderful chance to do whatever thing they want to do, tv, magazines —— rioli they have. whether its lifestyle... at the moment they have a limited chance to capitalise but if they make the right choices they can do very well because their public profile is so high -- it because their public profile is so high —— it is lifestyle.