good afternoon. thejudge nominated by donald trump to serve on america's supreme court looks set to be confirmed today, despite allegations of sexual assault. brett kavanaugh is expected to receive formal endorsement in a vote in the us senate after the fbi completed a short investigation into the claims. here's our north america correspondent, chris buckler. stop this! and with the final vote nowjust hours away, campaigners have made clear they intend to keep up the pressure on america's politicians. i am so angry i do not want to leave this place or leave the streets. they are not listening to women and they are not listening to survivors. the system is corrupt! for days the senate's corridors of power have been filled with protesters, each one trying to influence the few senators still wavering over whether to support brett kavanaugh‘s nomination to the supreme courts. he has angrily denied claims that he sexually assaulted christine blasey ford decades ago

when they were both teenagers. after wrestling with her political beliefs and the simple question of who to believe, the republican senator susan collins finally decided she would vote in favour ofjudge kavanaugh. the facts presented do not mean that professor ford was not sexually assaulted that night or at some other time, but they do lead me to conclude that the allegations fail to meet the more likely than not standard. do you believe doctor ford? i believe doctor ford. i don't believe that the facts showed that it was brett kavanaugh, but i believe something happened. this confirmation process has been nothing short of a bruising and divisive political fight. but all the indicators are that president trump is quietly confident

that his nominee is now likely to secure a place on america's highest court. chris buckler, bbc news, washington. levels of nitrogen dioxide in eight areas of england are much worse than previously thought, the government has revealed. the poisonous gas, emitted from cars and other vehicles, can cause serious heart and lung disease. several councils have been told they must reduce nitrogen dioxide levels at pollution hotspots. as sophie long reports, they far exceed legal limits. air pollution in our towns and cities has been linked to health issues like heart disease and asthma. the government's uk plan for catling roadside concentrations says councils with the worst levels of air pollution must take robust action. it says it will ensure funding is there to enable ten local authorities to implement new measures. they include fitting

hundreds of buses with technology to reduce emissions, changes to traffic signalling to limit congestion, and campaigns to get people to take individual action and reduce their own contribution to a pollution. client earth, and environmental law authority, labelled the uk's air—pollution and national embarrassment. it is taking so long to find out the true extent of the problem and the government instead of passing the buck onto local authorities, has to take real action now to protect people's health. the royal college of physicians says it contributes to some 40,000 early deaths every year. sophie long, bbc news. sophie long, bbc news. the president of the european commission, jean—claude juncker, has suggested that the uk and the eu may have moved significantly closer in recent days to agreeing a brexit deal. mrjuncker said if a deal couldn't be finalised in time for a meeting of eu leaders this month, an agreement could be reached at a special summit proposed for november. one week after the indonesian island

of sulawesi was hit by a devastating earthquake officials say more than 1,000 people could still be missing beneath the rubble. around 1500 people are known to have died in the disaster. hundreds of buildings were destroyed in palu on the island of sulawesi when it was hit by a wall of water. it was caused by a tsunami that followed the earthquake. yet alongside the despair, there have been some stories that bring hope, as our correspondent nick beake reports. within this devastated city you find incredible stories of survival. 12—year—old football fan risgi was in an internet cafe in palu watching highlights of his beloved manchester city when the earthquake struck. suddenly the earth started to shake, he tells us. i started to run, my hand was crushed but i was able to stick out my other hand and wave it. someone saw me and helped me out. when his broken arm heals, he says he wants to get so good

at football he can play alongside his heroes. who is your favourite manchester city player? riyad mahrez. algerian international riyad mahrez became manchester city's record signing when they bought him for £60 million this summer. we thought manchester city may want to know about their young fan's amazing story of survival thousands of miles away. so we got in touch and it turns out riyad mahrez wants to send a personal message. risgi does not know anything about this. hi, risgi. somebody wants to say hello to you. hi, risgi, how are you? i hope you are getting better. i heard you were a big manchester city fan so i just want to wish you a good recovery. i hope you will get better and we will give you all the best wishes from manchester city.

he also said he will send you a signed shirt as well. i can't wait to get better and wear it, he says. in the city of sorrow where they have lost so much... thank you. a smile goes a long way. nick beake, bbc news, palu. the artist banksy has pulled off another spectacular stunt. a painting which self—destructed moments after being sold at auction for more than a million pounds. the framed girl with balloon, one of the artist's best known works, was being sold by sotheby‘s in london. however, moments after the piece went under the hammer the canvas passed through a shredder that was hidden inside the frame. the opera singer montserrat caballe whose duet with freddie mercury became the signature song of the 1992 barcelona 0lympics has died aged 85. she had been suffering from health

complaints for some time and was admitted to hospital in barcelona last month. her career spanned 50 years. with all the sport now, here's mike bushell at the bbc sport centre. good afternoon. it's advantage lewis hamilton once more in the formula one title race after he qualified on pole for the japanese grand prix, whilst main rival sebastian vettel is down in 8th. the conditions at suzuka were tricky and caught out sauber‘s marcus ericsson in the first session. the heaviest of the rain came in the final part, but hamilton managed to get out in time to set the pace. behind, vettel was helpless on the damp track and looks set to lose more ground on hamilton in the race. he's 50 points behind with five rounds to go. the woman voted as the best player in the world, marta, is in action right now

for brazil against england at notts county's gay meadow. but it's england's lionesses who are upstaging her at the moment, and nikki parris‘s creativity set up fran kirby for the 11th england goal. it's i—0 approaching half time. while the speculation about his future intensifies, jose mourinho is preparing his manchester united team to face newcastle at 0ld trafford this evening. the bbc understands that contrary to newspaper reports, the manager's departure is not imminent and indeed mourinho has the backing of the board, despite not winning any of their last four matches. the third edition of the summer youth 0lympics get under way with the opening ceremony in buenos aires this evening. 43 team gb athletes are hoping to follow in the footsteps ofjadejones and tom daley who have competed at previous events before going on to claim senior 0lympic medals. bbc sport's nick hope is in argentina for us. buenos aires, a breathtaking city

steeped in history and traditions, of tango, steak and football. but for the next 12 days the city is embracing the new for the third edition of the summer 0lympics. embracing the new for the third edition of the summer olympics. the inaugural event in 2010 launched jadejones career as she inaugural event in 2010 launched jade jones career as she followed inaugural event in 2010 launched jadejones career as she followed up her success in singapore with senior goals at london 2012 and rio 2016. now a 15—year—old hopes to follow in her footsteps and those of world champion team—mate bianca walked in. when i was younger seeing them on tv and then you turn around and you are stood next to them in the gym and i definitely look up to them and hopefully i can come back with a medal. powell is one of 43 team gb athletes competing in argentina, but the youth 0lympics athletes competing in argentina, but the youth olympics are about more than chasing medals. they are an opportunity to try out new sports. so over the next 12 days we will be

given a glimpse of what future 0lympics may look like. break dancing, roller—skating may be additions to senior games after debuts here. we will monitor the performance of these new disciplines and their spores and when it comes to their programme for paris 2020 for the results of these youth 0lympic for the results of these youth olympic games will play an important role. bmx rider ross hopes to raise at paris 2024, but his first experience will be at team gb's flag bearer at night's opening ceremony. it is such an honour representing tea m it is such an honour representing team gb, never mind leading them out at the opening ceremony and this is at the opening ceremony and this is a big stepping stone for myself. few cities will rival this setting, but athletes are not here for the setting. to them the only mementos that matter are the medals. to them the only mementos that matter are the medals. england's second warm—up match in colombo has been abandoned without a ball even being bowled. and this as you can see is the reason why.

heavy rain overnight and throughout the morning left the outfield at the p—sara 0val underwater. the side now travel to dambulla, ahead of wednesday's opener in the five—match series. they will be hoping for better weather. that is all the spot for 110w. you can see more on all of today's stories on the bbc news channel. have a good afternoon. hello, this is bbc news. more now on the spanish opera singer montserrat caballe, who has died at the age of 85. her career spanned 50 years. earlier i spoke to the soprano singer denise leigh. she explained why montserrat caballe was so important to opera. her voice was completely a

jewellers. she was thrust into it when she was studying at carnegie hall. i do not think it was a natural territory. at that time she was singing a lot of mozart. this is herfamous call from was singing a lot of mozart. this is her famous call from the wings appearance in the mid—60s, which really made her almost overnight has a sensation. her big international break, the singer was indisposed and montserrat caballe was studying, and that thrust her into that repertoire, which we knows, maybe she would have gone into eventually, but at the age she was, still very young as a boy sat 32, who knows

where it would have taken her. young as a boy sat 32, who knows where it would have taken henm young as a boy sat 32, who knows where it would have taken her. it is fairto where it would have taken her. it is fair to say that that is a path role for any singer, still less one getting up at short notice. very short notice, she learned the role ina short notice, she learned the role in a month. that is a huge ask. she rose to the occasion and angie got 25 minutes standing ovation, so she did a good job. —— and she got. 25 minutes standing ovation, so she did a good job. -- and she got. 25 yea rs did a good job. -- and she got. 25 years ago i had never heard of her until that duet with freddie mercury. almost 30 years now. i suspect that is true for a lot of people who did not know prior, but ina lot people who did not know prior, but in a lot of ways she epitomised what people thought a woman opera singer should be. definitely, that's right. i was 15 when i first heard her sing with freddie mercury, because that was my first exposure to her. possibly my first exposure to opera. iwas a budding musician, didn't know what i wanted to be, playing brass instruments, and it is true

to say that she actually pushed me in the direction of opera. because she was the epitome of the operatic voice. everyone's idea of the operatic voice. the operatic lifestyle. such a glamorous lifestyle and glamorous career. it is hard not to think that dawn french, when she did her impersonation of an opera singer, was thinking of montserrat caballe. and the word diva is used, but how was she regarded in the industry? was she a team player or was she a set apart figure? she was a consummate professional. when she was brought in to a role, she just boosted everyone around her because her standards were so high. i was never given the chance to work with her, but like i say, i have worked alongside her, shared colleagues. yes, there are many and varied

stories in the industry about her, but they all come down to her professionalism and just how she delivered time after time, even recently, as an elderly singer, to hear the quality of her technique is amazing, that is what kept her singing as long as she did. here are the headlines on bbc news. president trump's supreme court nominee is expected to be approved by us senators later — despite allegations of sexual assault. toxic air pollution is much worse in eight areas of england than previously thought — as a government review reveals. the opera singer montserrat ca balle, whose duet with freddie mercury became the signature song of the 1992 barcelona 0lympics, has

died at the age of 85. gambling addicts say a new app, available from two mobile—only banks, has helped them to tackle their addiction. tens of thousands of people have signed up to the service which allows a "gambling block" to be activated by the customer. the app then identifies any transactions with a bookmaker, either online or in a shop, and blocks money from leaving the account. dan whitworth from radio 4's moneybox explains how it works. i'm literally surrounded by it. i've got one in that direction where i used to spend every penny. bookmakers seemed to be everywhere for danny cheetham, and walking around manchester city centre brings bad memories where he spent most of his 20s addicted to gambling. i lost in excess of £50,000 to gambling. i was addicted to, though including

how much i've won back. i haven't got much material things in my names. i see friends getting first deposit and first car. i am starting from zero again. danny tried to stop. he sent e—mails asking to ban himself from dozens of individual bookmakers but whenever his addiction would take hold, he could always find a new one willing to take is that until, that is, his bank cut off his gambling funds at the source. —— willing to take his back. this new type of gambling block being offered by online banks like monzo and starling can spot any transaction with a betting company, whether at a shop on a mobile phone, and stop it from happening before the money leaves the recount. ——their account, we've had about 25,000 people self exclude from gambling. not all those were problem gamblers. we ran a survey and asked people how they were using it. probably seven 8000 people

did have a history of gambling and we saw gambling transactions on their account previously and we monitored their usage since and saw a 70% decline in gambling related transactions. with at least 430,000 problem gamblers right across britain, the royal college of psychiatrists is now calling on the five big high—street banks to introduce similar blocks for their customers. this type of gambling block can make an enormous difference. we see people in our clinic who have lost their family homes because of moments when they can't control their spending on gambling. if you can't access your funds, notjust managing funds and getting spouses to help, but if you are unable to do it because you cannot spend that money, you can save people's homes and families and their mental health can be preserved. the five main high—street banks say, while they don't offer this type of gambling block yet, they are always looking at new ways

to help vulnerable customers. while the gambling commission, which regulates the industry in britain, says it supports the idea and is already talking to banks about how to improve existing protections for problem gamblers. as for danny, put simply, this new type of gambling block has turned his life around. i'm feeling a lot better, happier, getting goals, getting on with my life and i can see where i want to be. i literally don't want to gamble any more. i don't see that as being the first thing i want to do now. swarms of ladybirds are being reported in homes and buildings across england and wales. experts suggest the hot summer has boosted numbers of the invasive harlequin species, which first arrived in the uk in 2004. as the temperature cools, the harlequin hibernates for the winter in buildings — including homes. scientists say the ladybirds are mostly harmless and can be left alone if they are found in your house. earlier i spoke to the ecologist

professor helen roy — she started by telling me about what makes the harlequin ladybird so distinctive. it is quite a large ladybird, comes inafew it is quite a large ladybird, comes in a few different colour fault and that can be confusing. it comes in an orange form with lots of blackspots, and also a black form with two red spots, but if you take a close loop, it has slightly pale brown legs, so that is a good feature to take a look at, and behind the head and often has a white panel and on that is a black m shape, solid shape that looks like a crown. ayes we see that now as you are describing it. what is the explanation for this large number? bellis apparently seeking century at the same time. the harlequin is a new arrival, it has been here around 14 years. since 2004. it is native

to asia and introduced to europe as a control agent and found its way to the uk and many different ways. we saw the number slowly build up in those early jazz in saw the number slowly build up in those earlyjazz in its arrival, its bed at 100 kilometres per year in those first years. it spread rapidly and now it is increasing in abundance in many areas, particularly in the south—east of england. this summer has been favourable for them, lovely warm sunny days and lots of aphids around. it has good condition to be able to get into high numbers and thatis able to get into high numbers and that is what we are seeing. it lasted coming to buildings for the winter. excuse me for sneezing, not caught by a ladybird. my floor manager was saying she has lots and house, they are clearly harmless, but for those uncomfortable with any infestation of insects, what is the best way of discouraging them? we asked people to report their sightings either online or through

ourapp and that sightings either online or through our app and that is the first thing we love them to do to let us know about it because we can use the information in our research. we asked people not to take any direct action, not to kill them anything, bigger they are so easily confused, 46 pcs and they can be vacant used with others, and it will not make any difference in the population, so every other look like a nuisance, the best thing is to pick them up gently and to put them back outside again, they will keep coming back with sunny spells and about not be done the midst of winter when it is quite cold that they will start moving in and out, but there is not very much more that people can do. when you pick them up, do not squash them, at least in the second ladybird, but they are also quite smelly. ladybirds in general can lose this substance from their knees, a defensive secretion, so if they are attacked by a burden, it is to put them off and make them spit it out. it smells are not so

pleasant, depending on your taste. when you have got several hundred and bedroom window, the smell can be and bedroom window, the smell can be a little bit strong. people should be careful that that yellow substance can sustain the paintwork, so be very gentle with them. the president of the european council, donald tusk, says it will be possible to secure a brexit deal by the end of the year. the head of the european commission, jean—claude juncker, has also suggested that the chances of a deal have increased. in an interview published in three austrian newspapers, mrjuncker said an agreement might be concluded in time for a special eu summit in november. earlier i spoke to our political correspondent tom barton. this is mood music. a happier tune than we have heard in recent weeks and months from the european commission. jean—claude juncker saying

at the potential for reproach meant has increased. his officials talking to eu member states about the northern ireland border issue, giving them a much more optimistic assessment of progress in the negotiations, saying the atmosphere is much better than it has ever been. as for when a deal could be struck, if one is, he could not say whether it would be done in time for the october summit, or whether a special summit in november is going to be needed. the irish government are also saying, or sources within it, that a deal was close. there are suggestions in the papers that the government might already be looking at the next stage, getting a deal through the house of commons. whatever theresa may agrees with brussels is going to have to be agreed by parliament. she does not have a majority. and of course, relying on support from the dup, and

also many of her mps are very pro—brexit. so questions about whether she will be able to get a deal through, suggestions in the guardian that senior tory mps have been talking to labour mps to try to persuade them to come onside. there has been a backlash from many labour mps, ben bradshaw, rachel reeves, chris bryant on twitter saying, we have not spoken to anyone from the conservative party, if they approached us we would tell them where to go, and by the way we will not support anything that is less than staying inside the single market and customs union. time for a look at the weather. not a great day across south and

east, but if they to pass, some enjoying the sunshine, scotland and northern ireland, and across parts of western england and wales, but note on the radar chart the ring is easing from the midlands, soaking across parts of east anglia and the south—east, temperatures dropping into single figures for the rest of the afternoon. a rather cool started a weekend, but at least you go into the evening, scotland, the north, devon and cornwall with sunshine. tonight, breezed easing down, rain clearing, turns wet into the highlands and hebrides later, but in between clear skies, light wind, it will be a crisp and for the start to sunday for quite a few. sunshine to begin, better day for england and wales, but a weekend of two halves, scotla nd wales, but a weekend of two halves, scotland and northern ireland more cloud and breeze, touching gale force in places. 0utbreaks cloud and breeze, touching gale force in places. outbreaks of rain coming and going in northern ireland and the east of scotland but soaking

in western parts of scotland but will continue to raise to sunday night and into the start on monday. tomorrow temperatures will be up a little. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... president trump's supreme court nominee is expected to be approved by us senators later — despite allegations of sexual assault. toxic air pollution is much worse in eight areas of england than previously thought — as a government review reveals. one week after the indonesian earthquake and tsunami — officials say more than 1,000 people could still be missing beneath the rubble. the european council president, donald tusk has said there's a chance that a brexit deal could be agreed between britain and eu by the end of year. the opera singer montserrat caballe, whose duet with freddie mercury became the signature song of the 1992 barcelona 0lympics, has died at the age of 85. now it's time for inside out

yorkshire and lincolnshire. good evening. this week, the hundreds of ford customers whose engines have failed or, in some cases, burst into flames, and a little girl recovering from meningitis.