this is bbc news, i'm geeta guru—murthy. the headlines at midday. victory for president trump as brett kavanaugh is sworn onto the supreme court — after weeks of debate over sexual abuse allegations. republicans believe in the rule of law, not the role of the mob. ahead of the snp party conference nicola sturgeon says the party would vote for a second eu referendum if its proposed in the house of commons. i have said before we would not stand the way of a second referendum, so—called people's vote i think snp mps would undoubtedly vote for it. pret a manger confirms a second historic case where a customer is believed to have died from an allergic reaction — this time to a sandwich which was supposed to be dairy—free. turkish officials say they believe a dissident saudi journalist was murdered at his country's consulate in istanbul. defeat for conor mcgregor — but the fighting continued

outside the ring... as soon as the fight finished, mcgregor‘s opponent vaulted the cage and headed towards the irishman‘s team, and a brawl began. and in half an hour, click looks at the technological advances in the art of photography. good morning and welcome to bbc news. brett kavanaugh has been sworn in to the us supreme court, following the closest senate confirmation vote in more than a century. he has denied allegations of sexual misconduct as a young man. last night, president trump hailed the appointment as "truly historic", but democrats said it would galvanise their

support at the polls. here's our north america correspondent, barbara plett usher. it has been a great week for donald trump — the economy's looking good, the supreme court, even better. i stand before you today on the heels of a tremendous victory for our nation, our people and our beloved constitution. just a few hours ago, the us senate confirmed judge brett kavanaugh to the united states' supreme court. this is what president trump promised voters he would deliver, and he has, a month before midterm elections. brett kava naugh's confirmation cements a conservative majority on the supreme court that will chart america's direction for a generation. shut it down, shut it down!

but it's not the kind of victory he imagined. sergeant—at—arms will restore order in the gallery. it was a close vote almost entirely among party lines, and it didn't go smoothly. without objection. the judge's nomination was upended by a university professor who accused him of trying to rape her when they were teenagers. but his belligerent and partisan response rallied republicans to defend him as the victim of a political attack. the democrats are focused on turning this distressing incident into political gain. the protesters have lost this battle. but they will carry on the fight into the midterms. even thouthudge kavanaugh has won his seat on the supreme court, the political drama continues.

earlier dr leslie vinjamuri, head of the us and americas programme at chatham house, spoke to the bbc about the significance of kavanaugh's win. i don't think i have ever seen americans more divided over a supreme court confirmation, or over any issue in the last 22 months, the period of the trump presidency. the division is really difficult to understate. it has been quite extraordinary. the reactions have been very intense, people now question on the left, the democrats, question the integrity not only of the candidate, but they now see the court as being deeply political and partisan. on the right, they see this as a victory, and they see the democrats as having tried to launch and wage a smear campaign against this candidate who they see as tremendously qualified. the narrative could not be more different on both sides, and that is one of the most disturbing things, it is not clear that the court will any longer be seen to be independent from politics, and that has been absolutely critical to american

democracy. the question now, of course, in american political life, is how this will impact the midterms. the women, this is likely to bring out, he'll like to vote, and would like to take back the house. if the democrats take back the house, the chances that they can impeach, that they can move to impeach thisjustice cavanagh are very significant. if the republicans continue to control the senate, but that become something that is very much in play. it is also going to mobilise the conservative base, who also had a negative reaction to the integrity of the process, and it will feel much more mobilised now to vote that they have won. on both sides, we could see a very significant mobilisation, and so much of it happens in american politics right now is about whether or not people turn out to vote that determined so much, as opposed to changing people's views, it is as actually as to whether or not they

turn out to vote on november 6th. the backlash will be very likely to inspire a widespread turnout. pret a manger has revealed a second customer may have died following an allergic reaction to one of its products. the individual died in december last year after eating a flatbread which was supposed to be dairy—free. the company says the fault lies with a supplier, saying it was mis—sold an ingredient that was contaminated with dairy protein. the parents of 15—year—old natasha ednan—laperouse, who died from an allergic reaction to sesame in a pret a manger sandwich, have said they are "incredibly saddened"

by the death, saying, "our hearts go out to the bereaved family." the snp leader nicola sturgeon says she expects her party would support a new referendum on brexit if it comes to a vote in the house of commons. the central issues for activists are brexit and a possible second referendum on independence. tens of thousands marched through the centre of edinburgh yesterday. ona on a people's vote as the organisers collared? it is quite significant nicola sturgeon has gone further than she has before this morning. she says if there was a vote in parliament on a second eu referendum party of 35 mps would back it. the snp want conditions attached to that. they want to know that what happened last time as they see it couldn't happen again where scotland votes as a country for remain but ends up as part of the uk in a process to be taken out of the european union. she confirmed that

it does come to parliament had party knows what it will do. we simply cannot have a position we described as fire or frying pan. cannot have a position we described as fire orfrying pan. i think sensible mps of all parties should come together and look at it. calls for the second referendum would grow in those circumstances and we would not stand the way of a second referendum, so—called people's vote andi referendum, so—called people's vote and i that's what snp mps would vote for. the government opposed to any sort of second vote and aruba are relu cta ntly sort of second vote and aruba are reluctantly that smack labour are relu cta ntly reluctantly that smack labour are reluctantly in favour. is there any direction of the snp leadership as her second book could happen? the a nswer her second book could happen? the answer is no. i do not think it is something that is the lake at the top of the snp leadership agenda and they would much ratherfocus top of the snp leadership agenda and they would much rather focus on some other issues over the next three days. as you say the numbers in

parliament and extremely challenging for those who want another referendum to happen. the liberal democrats and the snp and the two parties committed to voting for another referendum but even together they make up less than 10% of mps. the big challenge for campaigners for the so—called people's vote would be getting the labour party on board and a few conservatives as well. as you say labour a couple of weeks ago at their conference said that of system the low table but it is not their preference either. they wa nt is not their preference either. they want a general election. there are still some massive hurdles to climb if those in favour of that second referendum to get one. at the leadership feeling damaged by this situation around nicola sturgeon ‘s predecessor? i think you had from nicola sturgeon this morning with just shove repetition of what you said about alex salmond. he has made it clear he wants to see another

independence referendum sooner rather than later. nicola sturgeon has struck a more cautious note that seeing again this morning that she will wait until theresa may comes back with whatever deal she manages to negotiate with brussels or no deal and decide then on what the next steps would be. there is no doubt there are some people at this conference and in scotland at large who are desperate for another independence referendum. tens of thousands of them marched in edinburgh yesterday calling for exactly that. nicola sturgeon i do not expect will get any meaningful movement on the concept of an independence referendum over the next few days. she has kept that at least another couple of weeks down the road and told the european council. the authorities in turkey say they believe a prominent saudi journalist has been killed

inside the kingdom's consulate in istanbul. jamal khashoggi who was criticial of some saudi government policies, hasn't been seen since entering the building last week. a source at the consulate described the accusation as "baseless". our turkey correspondent mark lowen is outside the saudi consulate in istanbul. what is the allegation? the allegation as a bombshell. that jamal khashoggi entered the saudi conflict last tuesday to get documents needed for his forthcoming marriage to establish fiance and he never emerged because he was killed, they say, in a premeditated murder which took place inside the consulate linking it to the hit squad are potentially some 15 saudi officials are said to have arriving tuesday and return the same day. the turkish allege his body was removed that the words from the saudi

consulate. the saudi arabia consulate general welcome to inner camera crew and to have them around opening cupboards to show thatjamal khashoggi was not inside the cupboards and denied that he was killed or indeed abducted. they say the allegation is baseless and he left the consulate building shortly after ending it. as the fiance of jamal khashoggi said anything? what was the criticism he was levelling against the saudis? she has treated in arabic saying she does not believe he has been killed but we have not had from a sense and has not responded by a from us to contact. in terms of the profile of jamal khashoggi he has become a very high profile critic of the saudi government and outside the crown prince in the crushing of the silencing of dissent and has lived

in self imposed exile on the united states for the past year or so. he was a thorn in the side of the saudi government. at the moment the turkish government are seeing cctv footage around this area does not showjamal footage around this area does not show jamal khashoggi leaving the building and as senior official in the governing party says he has conquered information to back up their claims. we wait to see what that information is. we have to say that information is. we have to say that this allegation is so serious that this allegation is so serious that one would have thought that turkey would not make this kind of claim and let it had serious grounds to believe it. what will it mean if these allegations are proven to be true? it would be a tragedy for his friends and family and employers including the washington post for which she writes a weekly column. but it would also be an unprecedented crisis between turkey and saudi arabia whose relations are already strained and a number of issues. turkey supports the muslim brotherhood which is listed as terrorist organisation in saudi arabia. turkey has supported qatar

of this blockade by saudi arabia and other states. a state—sponsored murder if it turns out to be the case others turkish citizen on saudi soil would bring the relationship to an unprecedented low. the authorities in indonesia have called on people in sulawesi, which was struck by earthquakes nine das ago, to start officials in indonesia say the number of people confirmed to have died in the earthquake and tsunami on the island of sulawesi has risen to 1,763. hundreds more people are still missing, buried in rubble and mudslides. rescue officials say they'll stop the large scale search for victims this thursday. hywell griffth sent this report from the island. (tx) slowly some sort of normality is coming back to sulawesi the indonesian government has told people they must start thinking about the future. but how do you do that when everything you own has

been swept away? this 15—year—old and his father had been able to salvage something from the home but it is hard after the house was carried 400 metres by a mudslide. it is hard after the house was carried 400 metres by a mudslidelj sell it from a distance. i was sick. i was searching around trying to find my mum and my sisters. his mother was found alive at his sister and his niece were both killed in the mudslide. 500 families used olivia and so far they have found at least 300 bodies. in reality they may never be able to know exactly how many people were trapped in the smut. on monday the indonesian government will announce weather they are bringing search and rescue operations to an end. it is likely this place could be declared a mass grave. nearby this school is not ready to reopen but emergency tent classrooms could be set up this

week. for this boy and his father planning a future is still difficult but they are desperate to try to rebuild their lives. officials in haiti say at least 11 people have been killed in an earthquake in the north of the country. the epicentre of the 5.9 magnitude quake was about 11 miles northwest of the city of port—de—paix. the president has appealed for calm after the tremor. it's one of the most powerful earthquakes recorded in haiti since 2010, when thousands of people were killed. theresa may has appealed to labour supporters urging them to vote for her rather than jeremy corbyn. in an article for the observer, the prime minster highlights what she calls her party's moderate and patriotic programme. labour says the government is ‘desperate' and trying to ‘con‘ working people. our political correspondent, jonathan blake, explained the background to the article. this piece in the observer today, a paper which many labour supporters may well be reading, and she's

trying to appeal to them particularly labour supporters who may be an easy or unsure about jeremy corbyn and the direction he's taken the party saying that the conservatives had it in modern and patriotic programme for government and ata patriotic programme for government and at a party for the whole country. she also within that that attacks onjeremy corbyn that country. she also within that that attacks on jeremy corbyn that they condemned the party of engagements in seeking to lead the labour party are not going to work on the road and they will not win the conservatives the next election. she says we cannotjust point out the thoughts and floors flares of corbynism as she says. she points out how the conservatives can help working people and says the end of sterility is in sight. we had a say that at a conference speech last week. how that will happen or what form it might take we're not sure. she was light on the details the chancellor, when he gives the budget later this year, will have very little room for manoeuvre in terms

of how much money he has dispensed. ido of how much money he has dispensed. i do not think we will see big public spending commitments from the government any time soon. this morning the conservative party chairman brandon lewis was asked for his view on how the conservatives plan to move on from ages of austerity. what we have outlined and even in the speech of the premise that we have outlined something such as removing the borrowing cap on councils for building houses is a very clear indication of bothered different structure as we go forward. that is what we mean by the change in the end of austerity. also for public sector pay we will look at what those independent panels 's comeback were. we must have to make sure it pays to work and that we help people get into work and do it ina way help people get into work and do it in a way that is fair for the taxpayer. the conservatives talk about ending a steady today at a time if there was a risk of an ordeal lots of economic forecasts of calamity. is this claim by the primers are plausible and is she making a special pitch to labour

supporters because people are fea rful of supporters because people are fearful of a new model at party or movement forming? what is the reason for the movement forming? what is the reason forthe timing? movement forming? what is the reason for the timing? i think that is a bit of both. she's tying it to have appeal to people within the conservative party and beyond to back her possession and a strategy on brexit. in her speech at the conference and in this article today it is if she gets the brexit deal and if brexit is a success then we can see an end to a studied the insight and people can hope for sunnier times ahead in terms of economy. that is a very big effort because as we know the brexit negotiations. . .. we do not know even with the dealer sunnier times will come. yes, of course there are arguments made on both sides had even of the government gets evident once in terms of a brexit deal the economy will suffer result. other people say no it is an opportunity for us to strike trade deals around the world and take advantage of

that. there are lots of errors but it isa that. there are lots of errors but it is a political gamble by the pro—minister saying if you make a success of brexit on her terms then you can trust me that we will have better times in terms of economy ahead and we can put this in either of austerity behind us. that is a gamble as well because her position at the moment is precarious and although ministers and cabinet ministers that they have talked about getting a term the real —— getting ideal and more optimistic terms there is the issue of getting it through parliament here. we have just had the snp leaders saying she would properly support our second referendum if that came forward as an option. —— probably. it looks likejeremy an option. —— probably. it looks like jeremy corbyn an option. —— probably. it looks likejeremy corbyn has been pushed into saying he would back that the labour do not want that, they want an election. they do. this is all about what happens at the brexit deal cannot be voted for and passed through parliament. here, what of

the what are the options then? for the what are the options then? for the first time nicola sturgeon saying this morning in that scenario if there was an option for parliament to vote in favour of another referendum happening, which is by no means certain, her mps would back it. sport and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre. ugly scenes marred ufc 229, as lightweight champion khabib nurmagomedov began a brawl outside the octagon after beating conor mcgregor. khabib dominated the fight, beating mcgregor in the fourth round by submission, khabib dominated the fight, beating mcgregor in the fourth round by submission, means the russian retains his title.. means the russian retains his title.

but afterwards, in extraordinary scenes, he leapt over the cage and attacked someone in the crowd. then someone from the khabib camp climbed into the cage and appeared to attack mcgregor inside the octagon. it's since emerged that three of khabib's party have been arrested and his payment has been withheld pending further investigation. i want to say sorry to the athletic commission, to nevada, to vegas. i know this is not my best side. this is not my best side. i am a human being. i don't understand how people can talk about ijump in the cage, what about talking about my religion is like you talked about my religion, my country, my father. well, former ufc fighter dan hardy was commentating on the fight for bbc radio 5 live and says the brawl cast a shadow

over the sport and that khabib should be banned for his actions. i don't see any other way around it and if he's suspended depending on how long which i think would be at least six months and maybe 12 months for his actions, that is footage of himjumping for his actions, that is footage of him jumping feet first into a crowd of people. that is unforgivable. u nfortu nately of people. that is unforgivable. unfortunately he will be suspended for a period of time which means the belt would probably be stripped from him and then we will see tony ferguson facing someone else for the va ca nt ferguson facing someone else for the vacant title. lewis hamilton is on the verge of a fifth formula one drivers championship. he could wrap it up as soon as the next race in the united states after dominating to win the japanese grand prix his main rival — ferrari's sebastian vettel —

tried to gain ground from eighth place on the grid but span to the back after colliding with max verstappen. vettel recovered but could only finish sixth. hamilton meanwhile serenely led from the front for the whole race to seal his ninth win of the season and move 67 points clear at the top of the standings.. hamilton meanwhile serenely led from the front for the whole race to seal his ninth win of the season and move 67 points clear at the top of the standings. now motogp and honda rider marc marquez has won the inaugural thailand grand prix to take a huge stride toward a third successive title. marquez snatched the lead from andrea dovizioso right at the end of the race to extend his lead to 77 points over ducati's dovizioso with four races remaining. thailand grand prix to take a huge stride toward a third successive title. marquez snatched the lead from andrea dovizioso right at the end of the race to extend his lead to 77 points over ducati's dovizioso with four races remaining. marquez can wrap up the series with a win injapan in two weeks' time. marquez snatched the lead from andrea dovizioso right at the end of the race to extend his lead to 77 points over ducati's dovizioso with four races remaining. marquez can wrap up the series with a win injapan in two weeks' time. three games in the premier

league this afternoon — the first has already kicked off at craven cottage wher fulham host and speaking of unbeaten, it's manchester city away to anfield at half past hour. liverpool have beaten city three times in 2018 so far — and jurgen klopp is the only manager who has a positive head—to—head record against pep guardiola. always we know somebody‘s telling me good luck for sunday. and i think always, unfortunately, we need it. so that's how it is in these games. we need it in all the games we play against them. and we need it again. —— but that is no problem. if you work hard you own it, you deserve it. always we know somebody‘s telling me good luck for sunday. and i think always, unfortunately, we need it. so that's how it is in these games. always we know somebody‘s telling me good luck for sunday. and i think always, unfortunately, we need it. so that's how it is in these games. always we know somebody‘s telling me good luck for sunday. i am not feeling beaten,

not even last season, so everyone can beat us, accept it. it is part of the game, just to learn. anfield is a special because they have a good manager and good players. and that happens well we approach the game and how we are like a team. in the scottish premiership rangers host top of the table hearts, while celtic will be hoping to bounce back from their europa league defeat when they travel to stjohnstone. fluttering in the breeze, a symbol of who ultimately rules the city. not that these protesters need much reminding. they came to the immigration department calling for press freedom, worried a red line has been crossed. it's notjust barring victor mallett from working in hong kong. the government is barring all future journalists from having to report on hong kong independence or any opposition voices.

victor mallett writes for the financial times and he is vice president of the hong kong foreign correspondents club. or fcc. in august, the group posted an event with andy chan, the head of the hong kong national party which advocates independence. china called for to be cancelled but the fcc declined. subsequently the party was banned and now a victor mallett does not have a work visa. all this comes just days after the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the so—called umbrella movement. these were protests calling for greater democracy rather than independence but they are unnerved at the local government and beijing. for more than 20 years, hong kong has operated under the formula of one country, two systems. some here are increasingly concerned the emphasis is now more on the former than the latter. mike pompeo said there had been

further progress on agreements made injune. further progress on agreements made in june. some further progress on agreements made injune. some news on the report on pret a manger which has confirmed the second historic case without customer has died after eating a sandwich and supposed to be any free. pret a manger said it was down to one other suppliers but the supplier has was a statement saying the claims were unfounded. the daily

free product we provided at december 17 december 2071 not linked to the product from earlier this year. that was only linked to our product provided to us injanuary 2018. our ability to investigate this has been limited by. pret a. they say going on to the mac that being gay free is very important to them. —— going on in the statement that being daily free is very important to them. we will keep you updated. two men have been arrested after 4 police officers were injured

in north london last night. two male officers were stabbed, and two female officers were hurt after responding to reports of fighting in islington. one of the officers is still being treated for stab wounds in hospital. a search is continuing for a kayaker who went missing during a race off the dorset coast. 60—year—old alistair collier from worcester was last seen around midday yesterday near the start of the course. 15 competitors were taking part in the event from knoll beach to swanage. coastguards said organisers raised the alarm when he did not complete the race.