welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is nkem ifejika. our top stories: john mccain, the us senator and former presidential candidate, has died. senator mccain was 81 and had been diagnosed with a brain tumour last year. tributes have been paid from across the political world from president trump and president obama, who said he was an american hero. hello and welcome to the programme. this breaking news for you the us senatorjohn mccain has died at the age of 81.

the vietnam war veteran had been suffering from brain cancer. although a republican, he was a frequent critic of president trump. chris buckler looks back at his life. john mccain was a politician of sap. the patriot who believed in his country and fought for it at tremendous cost to himself. as a young navy pilot, he was shot down over hanoi, interrogated and tortured. his cap is sought potential propaganda, when his father became the commander of us forces in the unarmed and offered him released. butjohn mccain refused, despite the many beatings he had suffered. on his return, he was hailed as a war hero and entered politics. he would eventually spend 35 years representing republicans inside congress, but he was fiercely independent and often spoke out against the party, notably challenging the influence of big

money on american politics. the party establishment will not finish me off anywhere. because i will break the iron triangle in washington of money, lobbying and legislation and they know would that would be very financially disruptive to many people ‘s lives at. would be very financially disruptive to many people 's lives at. he may have challenged washington, but he was respected here too. in 2008 he was respected here too. in 2008 he was a republic —— presidential candidate, but he was criticised as choosing sarah pailin as his running mate. ultimately he was to lose to history in the form of barack obama. i wish the outcome had been different, my friends, the road was a difficult one from the outset. but your support and friendship never wavered. in the divisive and aggressive world of american politics, there was all is respect shown between resident obama and john mccain the. but donald trump didn't always show him such

courtesy. he is not a war hero. he isa war courtesy. he is not a war hero. he is a war hero because he was captured, i like people that work captured, i like people that work captured, ok? —— that were not. he was a war hero because he was captured! it's influence was obvious in the twilight of his career, after brain surgery he walked into the senate and stock donald trump's attem pts senate and stock donald trump's atte m pts to senate and stock donald trump's attempts to get rid of the obama ca re attempts to get rid of the obama care reforms, with a grand gesture he turned his thumb down. john mccain was a fighter till the end, he lived longer than expected after the being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. is family said it was with his usual strength of will that he chose to stop receiving medical treatment and he was a man who never gave up hope in politics, or in his own personal battles. i am going home for a while to treat my illness, i have every intention of returning here, giving many of you cause to regret all the

nice things you said about me. and i hope to impress on you again that it is an honour to serve the american people in your company. thank you fellow senators, mr president. applause. john mccain, who has died at the age of 81. ron christie joins john mccain, who has died at the age of 81. ron christiejoins me on john mccain, who has died at the age of 81. ron christie joins me on the phone, who is a former special assistant to george w bush and is 110w assistant to george w bush and is now a bbc political analyst. tell us what he was like? you knew him very well. i did. senatorjohn mccain embodied the naval academy here, which is duty, on, country. he was a patriot, someone who served in the navy a month his father, his grandfather, he had been tortured

severely in that beckham walcott refused to offer himself to come home because he said he would never come home and tell all the soldiers we re come home and tell all the soldiers were there before him and have the opportunity to come home. i think he embodied the spirit of whatjohn mccain brought not only to the house of representatives, but the united states congress, someone who is willing to cross party lines and do what was right or the country, not necessarily in the best interests of his political party and that is what so his political party and that is what so many americans tonight are thinking about as we mourn the loss of this true american hero. when he was at the naval academy, he wasn't necessarily seen as someone who would go on to do very well, but in subsequent 30, a0 years, you could say the boy done good. yeah, in fa ct, say the boy done good. yeah, in fact, he graduated at the bottom of his class in the united date naval academy. one thing you can say at

thatjohn mccain is that he had a true compass pointing north. what was in the best interest of the country. one of the things that i would point out to your viewers is how he was so instrumental in not only trying to reform our finance here —— finance system here, but somebody who really understood what soldiers, sailors and airmen needed to do theirjob not only to protect america but to protect our allies around the world. another aspect about his career, his long story career, was his commitment to public service and his commitment to try to engage younger generations to want to do engage younger generations to want todoa engage younger generations to want to do a better thing for themselves a serving our country. whenever people talk about washington these days, you often hear them complaining about how partisan it is if you are in one camp or the other, usedit if you are in one camp or the other, used it to act camp. but whether it was george w bush or obama or president trump, he has always stuck

to his guns, always willing to criticise his oversight and also show support for the other. —— criticised his side. when i worked for george w bush, senatorjohn mccain was a constant thorn in our side foursome of the priorities we wa nted side foursome of the priorities we wanted to accomplish, but he always did it on principle. it was never to spike —— spike the party or the president, it was what he thought was best. he was a shrewd negotiator and had opportunities to negotiate on behalf of resident bush with senatorjohn mccain, the one thing that comes to mind is principle. you didn't have to agree with him but you can lightly agree to disagree and walk away from the conversations and walk away from the conversations and tried to find a way to get common ground, which was why he was such an effective legislator, finding that middle ground to advance the aims of what was best for the country. what was he like in

person, way from the spotlight and away from the cameras? he was a very feisty person. certainly there is no doubt that senatorjohn mccain was a sailor, someone who served the united eight navy. he was feisty, he had a very short temper, but yet at the same time, spending time with him alone, away from his colleagues and staff, he had a very warm sense of humour. tough to negotiate with, but very warm and considerate to those around him when he was away from the public eye. ron christie, please stay with us now, let's turn to anthony zeljko who is in washington. he's recently produced a radio documentary on his life and career. just on friday we were talking that howjohn mccain and his family said they would no longer receive treatment for his brain tumour and

less tha n treatment for his brain tumour and less than 2a hours, a8 hours, he is drawn. right, i was less than 2a hours, a8 hours, he is drawn. right, iwas surprised less than 2a hours, a8 hours, he is drawn. right, i was surprised at how quickly it happened. the prognosis when he was first diagnosed with this disease last july when he was first diagnosed with this disease lastjuly wasn't that he would be able to live this long. so, the fact that he was able to survive this illness for as long as he did, actually, is a fairly remarkable, you have to remember he was 81 years old. so the amount of treatment he was receiving at that age did surprise a lot of people, i think that the family wanted to have people to prepare for this, to let them know that he was near. and just over 2a hours after that last word, he has passed. we profile of what the people in our line of work for various reasons, what was that about senatorjohn mccain which prompted you to make your documentary?” think the remarkable thing about john mccain is that his life spans what we could call the american

century, the modern american political history. was born on the eve of world war two, he served in vietnam's, he would stomach suffered from the warjust as much as any american, captured as a pow to five yea rs before american, captured as a pow to five years before he was released. as ron christie mentioned, he waited until all the other pows before him were released before he returned home. then he entered american politics. he was a war hero, became a politician in 1982, a senator in 1986, another remarkable thing was that he felt some of the temptations of money and power. he was involved ina campaign of money and power. he was involved in a campaign influence—peddling scandal that nearly cost him his political career. he was eventually exonerated but i think you are a lot from that and went for campaign financing reform and made money in politics a key issue for him. he ran

for politics and rental president in 2000, capitalising on a lot of the anti— establishment attitudes that we have seen rise up and helped bring donald trump to presidency. in 2008 he ran against barack obama, but the republican nomination but lost right when the economic recession hit. he named sarah pailin as his vice presidential running mate, she was essentially the precursor to donald trump, that populist conservative, i think he tapped into that, may be credited after but he reflected that the party was changing and then of course his role as an outspoken addict of donald trump in the last few years, the feuding, the healthcare repeal, that is going to be one of his final legacy is. —— legacies. they'd really make senators like him any more, do they? no. one thing i have heard speaking

to his naval academy remake, people who spent time with him in the senate, people who worked with him on his campaign in 2000 and 2008, is that they don't make americans like him any more. truly one of his kind, a guy that intense sense of right and wrong, a sense of duty and patriotism to his country. one of his campaign managers told me they we re his campaign managers told me they were on the road in new hampshire in 2008 and he realised thatjohn mccain, because of his war injuries, couldn't even raise his hand over his head to brush his hair, he had to rely on staff members to shake his head because of his war wounds and he was a willing it to a allowa nce and he was a willing it to a allowance of retaking carrot like that and make himself vulnerable to people and turn around and stand on the stage and get a traditional campaign can do that speech. he was indeed a 1—of—a—kind american. campaign can do that speech. he was indeed a 1-of-a-kind american. there is something about the sort of american that has always fascinated me, those who go into service or go

to war, when they don't have too. he came from maple stock, his father and grandfather served in the navy. he didn't really need to serve in the navy himself and ended up in a bad situation in bingham and went on to public services. these are things he didn't have to do, but did. as you mentioned, the son and grandson of admirals, he grew up in washington, dc meeting senators and politicians as his father had a very important role in the navy there. yes, he didn't have to fight in vietnam's. he certainly didn't have to become a navy pilot, i think it helped the obligation to go into the naval academy and follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, but he put himself in harms way time and time again and he demonstrated bravery not only as a pow but also in this horrible fire that happen on an aircraft carrier when he was —— before he was a pow,

he added three bombs to prevent them from exploding in a fire, a remarkable act of bravery to keep that set —— kick that carrier from sinking. there was also another story which was told to me, one time he was in a mess hall and watched one of the newly enlisted men, a person from the philippines who waits on these naval students get dressed down by upper—class men for not winning the right meal. john mccain stood up as a freshman, stood up mccain stood up as a freshman, stood up and confronted the other class men and said you shouldn't treat other men that way, just try to do hisjob. the other men that way, just try to do his job. the upper—class and was ready to dressing down, ruin his naval academy wife and make miserable for him, he asked him what his name was and he said uss forrestal the third, what is yours? this is one that upper—class men realised this is a grandson of an admiraland he he realised this is a grandson of an admiral and he he was as a freshman, standing up to him. that is anthony

searcher from washington, standing up to him. that is anthony searcherfrom washington, he has made a radio show aboutjohn mccain, the arizona in senator, the presidential candour that who has died at the age of 81. —— candidate. lets bring back ron christie, lets bring back the events of 2008 when john mccain chose sarah pailin to be his running mate. was that a mistake? because as anthony were saying, that was almost a precursor to the donald trump era. picking up some that he regretted? —— do you think. and it was a mistake at the time. subsequently to that, he said that he would have liked to have made a different joyce durra nt that he would have liked to have made a differentjoyce durrant that you need to understand the political climate here it in the united states in 2008, and what we were dealing with others so many wars. —— made a

different choice. but you need. he wa nted different choice. but you need. he wanted to try to be different and shake up the system. he wanted to really u pset shake up the system. he wanted to really upset the apple cart, and governor pailin resented the non— establishment. she didn't necessarily go to the right schools or gone through the ranks in the way traditional american politicians, it but she was the centre of a —— but she was the senator of alaska. if there is one thing to describejohn mccain's political career, it is unconventional. ten years ago, it seemed like the right choice for the senator to make. thank you very much. don't go awayjust yet. let us just have a look at what people have been saying across the spectrum. barack obama, for example, who rain againstjohn mccain in 2008. he said... the former vice president,

joe biden, who served many years in the senate withjohn mccain said... and donald trump, who has had disagreements withjohn mccain, said... and senator chuck schumer, another person who served a long time with john mccain in the senate said... in the senate, said... —— in the senate, said... i suppose that kind of sums up in a

nutshell, those tweets?” i suppose that kind of sums up in a nutshell, those tweets? i think it does if you look at what the former vice president of the united states said, that really embodies not only this career in politics, but this commitment to public service as an american patriot, and as a sailor, and asa american patriot, and as a sailor, and as a senator, and people really recognise what senatorjohn mccain did for this country, the sacrifices he made free country, and as historians look back at this time in public service, there will recognise that this is a once in a generation individual to step and seven public service. he served world leaders and people who've worked in governments around the world, and there will know him because he had a huge interest in foreign affairs. how would you some up this diplomatic

philosophy in terms of the grand scheme of american diplomacy? as the former senator, he worked hand in glove with the foreign relations committee, regardless of the party and present in power, trying to make sure that american diplomacy, peace through strength, a concept championed by ronald reagan, was very much in force and in evidence. john mccain had grey reverence and respect for ronald reagan. i think that help mould his portable philosophy, trying to ensure that we had peace around the world, but try to make sure that our men and women in uniform had the tools and the armament and had the american people behind him. but what we very much learnt from his service in vietnam —— he learnt this from his service

in dead arm, and this is how his philosophy of old for the american people. it would be simplistic to simply call him a hardline politician, because he was also a believer in diplomacy, and notjust the carrying of the big american stick, but with talking, as well? no question about that. he was certainly a critic at times but the projection and the use of american force if there wasn't a clear objective. something he learned from his own service, had we define success , his own service, had we define su ccess , we his own service, had we define success, we ensure that we put our bravest and finest in harm's way and allow them to do their mission with the least amount of harm in it? india look at the way that senator mccaina india look at the way that senator mccain a bolt from his political perspective, he used his own personal experience, not only as an

officer in the united states' navy, but the sun and grandson of an admiral in the united states navy, his family's story. —— son. just to recap, this is our breaking news stories this hour. the us senator and former resented candidate, john mccain, has died, at the age of 81. the vietnam war vetera n the age of 81. the vietnam war vete ra n ha d the age of 81. the vietnam war veteran had been suffering from brain cancer. although he was a republican, he was a frequent critic of donald trump. chris buckler looks back on his life. john mccain was a politician of principle, a patriot who believed in his country and fought for it at tremendous cost to himself. —— principle. his captors in the vietnam war sort a potential for a

coup. john mccain refused release, despite the many beatings that he suffered. on his return, and he was hailed as a war hero, and entered politics. he would eventually spend 35 years representing republicans inside congress. but he was fiercely independent, and often spoke out against the party, notably challenging the influence of big money on american politics. the party establishment would love to finish me off anywhere. because i will break the ira triangle in washington of money, loving, and legislation, and they know they would be destructive to many people. he was respected in washington. in 2008, he was selected as their presidential candidate, but his campaign was not without mistakes, and he was criticised the choosing sarah pailin as his running mate.

ultimately, it he was to lose to history in the form of barack obama. i wish the outcome had been different. the road was a difficult one from the outset. but your support and friendship never wavered. in the divisive and aggressive world of american politics, there was worse respect shown between barack obama and john mccain. but donald trump did not a lwa ys mccain. but donald trump did not always showed such courtesy. he is not a war hero. he is a war hero because he was captured. i lay people who were captured, ok? i hate to tell you. you agree that? his or her because he was captured. his influence was still obvious in the tide of his career. after brain surgery, he walked into the senate, and stop donald trump's attempt to get rid of the obamacare health reforms. with a grand gesture, he turned his thumb down. john mccain was a fighter to the end. he lived

longer than expected after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. his family said he was with his usual strength of will that he chose to stop receiving medical treatment. he was a man who never gave up hope. in politics or in his own personal battles.” gave up hope. in politics or in his own personal battles. i am going home for a while to treat maleness. i have every intention of returning here and giving many of you cause to regret the nice things you said about me. and i hope to impress a new again that it is an honour to serve the american people in your company. thank you fellow senators. mr president. let's and a quick look at the tributes pouring importjohn mccain. barack obama, who ran against him in 2008, said... the former president, vice

president, joe biden, who said in the senate with him for many years, said... donald trump tweeted my deeper 70s and respect go out to the family of senatorjohn mccain. our hearts and present with you. and the democratic party leader in the senate, chuck schumer, said... that is all we have time for. we will be back again soon. thank you for joining will be back again soon. thank you forjoining us. good morning.

fewer showers are more sunshine on saturday, but it did not feel warm. is how we ended the day, shown by one of our weather watchers. already the skies of change. everything coming in from the atlantic, you would expect to be a little warmer. it may not be the case. this cloud already spilling in. overnight bridge is not quite as low, but it will feel quite chilly, i think, during sunday ‘s eye because it is going to be dull and is going to be a bit rainy as well. studied at least in scotland and is in england, but we will see the rain elsewhere, pushing its way ease. heavy rain at times, especially for wales in the south—west. including a rating up in northern ireland, with a break coming across the irish sea. buster especially in wales in southern england. the wettest weather in the south later in the day. 12 vote in

scotland, even though the rain might not amount to much. typically there isa not amount to much. typically there is a weight as things are to get dark and we will see skies clearing overnight. still showers in the northern half of the uk. a bitter breeze as well. nothing too cold, despite the low temperatures by the date of ten or 11 degrees. bank holiday for most of today. a blustery westerly wind and showers infor blustery westerly wind and showers in for the western and northern half of the uk. the south and east, it is public and to be a largely dry date. we sunshine, it will be warmer— significantly lower in scotland. in between two weather systems on monday and tuesday, this one arrives into the north—west. got to keep our eye on this developing pressure. but we don't see the rain get going until later in northern scotland and england will stop elsewhere, then be warmer, which averages into the mid—20s in the south—east. few

showers not far away. on the other side of the channel, that low pressure could arrive and push some showers northwards up the eastern side of england overnight. a lot of uncertainty about the forecast with the weather front coming in. most of the weather front coming in. most of the showers are just is away from east anglia and the south—east to the next weather front, east anglia and the south—east to the next weatherfront, and not amounting to much, and then we get sunshine following on behind a few showers in the north—west and slightly cooler and fresher. heading towards the end of the week, and the end of the month, we are likely to see high pressure building on. that will see a return to dry conditions. some good spells of sunshine and it should feel a little warm as well. that is a premiere. that —— that is all from me. welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers

in north america and around the globe. my name is nkem ifejika. our top stories: john mccain, the us senator and former presidential candidate, has died. he was 81. senator mccain was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year. he served as a pilot in the vietnam war and was shot down and spent five years as a prisoner. he was a strong critic of president trump. on his first official visit to ireland, pope francis has met survivors of abuse by members of the roman catholic church. among them was a prominent survivor of sexual abuse by a priest in the 1960's and at least two people born in homes for unmarried mothers. hundreds of venezuelans have been allowed into peru, just hours after the country said any venezuelan crossing the border would need a passport. a senior official in one border town said they were requesting refugee status. many had travelled with an identity card only and were stranded at the border.