this is bbc news. the headlines: australians are voting in a tightly—fought general election which could see the opposition labor party regain power. labor, led by bill shorten, has had a slender lead, this is bbc news. in opinion polls over, i'm martin stanford. the conservative liberal party our top stories: of the current prime minister, polls open in australia's election — scott morrison. prime minister scott morrison the united states and canada is hoping to hang on to thejob, have agreed to drop tariffs against a challenger from the left. on steel and aluminium imports imposed just under a year ago. it follows lengthy negotiations. it could pave the way the polls are opening in australia, for the ratification after a close—run election contest of a new north american where climate policy became trade agreement. an attempt by britain's two main the defining campaign issue. parties to find a compromise the us and canada agree to drop tariffs that would break the deadlock on steel and aluminium imports, over brexit has failed, after lengthy negotiations opening after the main opposition labour party pulled out. it came after six weeks of talks the way for a new trade deal. with the governing conservatives. theresa may said labour's position missouri becomes the latest us state to pass on holding another referendum strict anti—abortion laws, had made the discussions difficult. moving the debate nearer labour blamed weaknesses a showdown in the courts. within the government. cross—party talks to find a compromise on theresa may's brexit deal with the european union end in failure.

divisions within the conservative party means the government is negotiating with no authority or no ability that i can see to actually deliver anything. we haven't been able to overcome the fact that there isn't a common position in labour about whether they want to deliver brexit or hold a second referendum which could reverse it. gearing up for eurovision — hot favourites sweden and switzerland rehearse for the 64th song contest in tel aviv. hello and welcome to bbc news. polls have opened in australia in a general election to choose the country's sixth prime minister, in as many years.

a tight race is predicted in the fierce political battleground of its federal politics, with climate change, the economy and immigration among the major issues. a record 96.8% of eligible voters are enrolled to cast their ballot in australia. voting is compulsory and more than 4 million people have done so early. facing a tough fight to stay in hisjob is the incumbent prime minister scott morrison of the liberal party. he took over the top job in august 2018, after the party ousted malcolm turnbull mid—term. standing against him is bill shorten of the labor party. he's been opposition leader since 2013. the polls suggest he has the narrowest of leads. currently, the liberal party holds 58 seats of 150 in the country's lower house. they're in a coalition partnership with the national party which holds an extra 16 seats. labor currently has 69 seats. they would need 76 seats

if they were to form a government. phil mercer is in sydney outside the australia street polling station, and has the latest. as you say, about 4 million australians voted before polling day, in early voting. at the end of today 16 million australians will have had their say. tim, you voted in the last hour or so, what were the big issues for you? i think labor has been very stable for six years and i don't like to vote forjust the leader, i like to vote for a team and there are a lot of brains on their shadow front bench and they're looking to make the tax system fairer and give the aboriginal people a voice in parliament so i do not see what there is not to love. bob hawke died just the other night and i think that might rally the true believers and i think labor, i hope, mightjust get in. what about the issues of climate change and the economy,

what do you think will sway this election? the centre—right governing coalition saying that it is the key economic manager, whereas on the other side of the ledger, labour saying that it has bold plans for the climate. we have been reminded by hawke's passing that labor knew how to manage the economy, in the 80s, and they were reformists and they were important for the future. they also have a climate policy and i think a lot of people this election are voting for their kids and their grandchildren — it's the first time i've heard that from older people, so i think it could be a real turning point. how would you sum up the campaign — there has been a bit of nastiness in it, it seems to be quite negative? you mentioned bob hawke, the longest serving labour prime minister who died a couple of days ago — he really had that common touch. how do you think that this campaign has gone, how do you think the current crop of leaders compare to the charisma of the past? morrison is a good campaigner and has had to do it on his own... scott morrison the prime minister. bill shorten's approval

rating have risen because people have got to know him and he has shown his human side and i think he might turn out to be a very good prime minister, i am hoping. we will know in the next few hours. another perspective here. how are you feeling about the election and what are the big issues for you? for me it is mainly about making a real change on the climate so we can start making sustainable choices so we can all live in a future where we are equal and safe in our planet. i think that is really important. also giving a voice to people who have not had a voice in the past. we have had a chance to introduce new ideas. we have just had the hottest summer

ever documented in australia. the two major parties have promised action of varying degrees on the environment. do you think australia has been too slow in addressing the issue of climate change? i think so. i think we should have been making choices about solar and wind power much sooner so that we are not having to do it so rushed because we have 11 years left to really make a solid choice and ijust think we need to get our act together. i really do. this is the australia street polling station. the seat of sydney. a pretty safe labor territory and as you can see behind me, lots of people turning up now and one of the features of the australian elections, the sausage sizzle. this is the democracy sausage which is pretty popular at polling stations up and down the country.

a bit of a festival atmosphere here in australia and you have to remember that voting in this country is compulsory so the authorities have to make it easy for people to vote. compulsory voting came in in 192a so, when all is said and done, at six o'clock this evening counting begins and by this time tomorrow australia should know who its next prime minister will be. 0n the issue of climate change, as you mention talked a lot about on the campaign, which party is thought to have the stronger offering? of the two major party, analysts would tell you the opposition labor party has a stronger suite of measures for addressing the climate. the centre right prime minister scott morrison is also promising action as well but when you speak to voters, they do say that many of them think the government has been remiss,

with an addiction to coal which is a cheap and plentiful in australia and generates the lion share of this country's electricity but you get the sense that, according to voters, the climate is the number one issue in this election. of course, we have many, many candidates and parties to choose from and also, australians have two votes — one for the house of representatives, the lower chamber of the australian parliament and also the senate and it is also worth noting that the senate ballot paper is a bigger than the ballot booth itself so it has the wingspan of your arms stretched out wide so lots and lots of choices for australians to make today. the united states and canada have agreed to drop tariffs on steel and aluminium imports imposed just under a year ago. it follows lengthy negotiations and a telephone call on friday

between president trump and the canadian prime minister, justin trudeau. it could pave the way for the ratification of a new north american trade agreement. both leaders have been speaking about the deal. we have just reached an agreement with canada and mexico and we will be selling our product into those countries without the imposition of tariffs or major tariffs — big difference. cheering and applause. as you know, canada has been for years — and we have a great relationship with canada and the prime minister — we have a great relationship — but they have been charging at extremely high tariffs, as much as 285% or more for our agricultural products. obviously these continued tariffs on steel and aluminium and our counter—measures represented significant barriers to moving forward with a new nafta agreement. now that we have had a full lift on these tariffs, we are going to work with the united states on timing

for ratification but we are very optimistic we are going to be able to move forward well in the coming weeks. lawyer and a former canadian foreign affairs minister, peter mackay, says the development provides some clarity on the road to ratifying the new trade agreement. this was a very punitive sanction taken under what was called 232 in the united states around national security and i think, frankly, there was leverage that was being exercised by the president and by the united states, their negotiators, so it is lifted effectively today and will take away some of the uncertainty around having the us—canada free trade agreement and mexico, of course, as well, ratified but that is not a certainty either. it is still going to require some significant negotiations in the united states because the republicans have lost control of the house of representatives,

so there's a lot of political intrigue and dynamic in the united states, and we are still a long way from finally realising a replacement deal for nafta. do you think it will be in the democrat's interest to pick holes in thisdeal then? well, it is not in their interest but the bigger issue is that they do not want the president to get a win in advance of the 2020 presidential elections and, while there are certainly concerns on both sides — all three sides of the border — about ways in which we might have tried to improve the deal in certain ways, particularly around labour, agriculture products in the case of canada, ip protection — all of those issues were hopefully ironed out in this new deal but the deal is never done until it is ratified and canada did make significant concessions. what about the mexicans, how soon could they be folded into the deal? well, i think they are ready to go as well. the aluminium and steel tariffs

were significant burden for them. the concern has been around dumping of steel in north america, particularly from china, and so one of the requirements under this deal that was reached today to drop the tariffs was to have a committee that would monitor for impurities and that is to ensure that there is complete transparency and that the steel coming into the united states is in fact canadian or mexican product. let's get some of the day's other news: sudanese protesters have gathered outside the army's headquarters after clearing roadblocks at the demand of the ruling military. talks to finalise the new body to govern sudan were suspended on wednesday after demonstrators put up roadblocks. this comes after the ouster of president 0mar al—bashir last month. international powers including the un have called for an immediate resumption of talks between the two sides.

in algeria, protestors have clashed with police in the capital algiers during another friday of demonstrations, the 13th in a row. they're demanding the departure of key figures from the regime of the former president abdelaziz bouteflika who was ousted last month. new presidential elections are due to be held injuly although the reuters news agency is reporting that they might be delayed. rohingya refugees in bangladesh have been issued with their first ever identity cards. more than a quarter million people have been registered by the un which says the cards will safeguard the rights of the refugees when they return to myanmar. rohingya muslims are a minority in rakhine who are denied myanmar citizenship and face severe restrictions. in the uk, the prime minister theresa may and leader of the oppositionjeremy corbyn are blaming divisions in each other‘s party for the breakdown of talks to end the

deadlock over brexit. mr corbyn pulled the plug earlier on friday after six weeks of discussions between his labour party, and the conservatives. john pienaar reports. odd to see them talking at all about a brexit compromise, but still bad news for mrs may when they broke down. these talks have now reached what i believe to be a natural conclusion. the prime minister has announced the date she's leaving, there have been increasing noises offstage by conservative cabinet ministers and others who don't agree with much of the talks, or any of the discussion we're holding, so we are concluding the talks. so, no comfort here for a prime minister on borrowed time. helping her was hardly mr corbyn‘s priority anyway. what a time to promote the tories‘ faltering euro election campaign. no cheering crowds, not many there in bristol for her stock message. next thursday, we will be holding european elections. the conservative party didn't want to be fighting these.

we wanted to be out of the european union. indeed, if parliament had backed our brexit deal, we could already have left the eu. and the breakdown of brexit talks? all labour's fault. we haven't been able to overcome the fact that there isn't a common position in labour about whether they want to deliver brexit or hold a second referendum, which could reverse it. six weeks these talks went on. some concessions, but labour is split on a new referendum and the tories on sharing eu customs rules. there may soon be commons votes on brexit options and an attempt to pass legislation to leave. i think it's important that parliament takes a decision and i think that means every mp thinking in their conscience that perhaps they're going to have to accept their second or third preference, to find the right compromise. but the pressure is intense. those tories who are campaigning at all — and many aren't bothering — expect a bad euro election night next thursday. reporter: do you think you're too

divisive a character to be tory leader...? borisjohnson has now declared himself a candidate to succeed mrs may. other potential runners would also like to see brexit delivered first. reporter: do you want the top job, mr gove? hello, good morning. i think the most important thing that we all need to do is to focus on the fact that the government is bringing forward the withdrawal agreement bill, which will allow us to leave the european union. if theresa may's last effort to get brexit passed here ends in failure, the next tory leader may well take office having promised a sharper break from the eu. the ca rd—carrying conservatives who will choose britain's next prime minister are by and large brexiteers. senior conservatives are convinced that the chances of britain leaving with no deal are as high now as they've ever been. parliament might oppose that, but constitutional experts say only the government could at a single stroke stop it happening. stay with us on bbc news, still to come:

will europe go dutch and hand the netherlands their first eurovision victory in 44 years? all eyes are on this weekend's song contest in tel aviv. this morning an indian airforce the plane carrying mr gandhi's body landed in delhi. the president of india walked to the plane to solemnly witness mr gandhi's final return from the political battlefield. ireland has voted overwhelmingly in favour of gay marriage. in doing so it has become the first country in the world to approve the change in a national referendum. it was a remarkable climax to what was surely the most extraordinary funeral ever given to a pop singer. it has been a peaceful funeral demonstration so far but suddenly the police are tear gassing the crowd. we don't yet know why. the pre—launch ritual is well established here. helen was said to be in good spirits

but just a little apprehensive. in the last hour, east timor has become the world's newest nation. it was a bloody birth for a poor country and the challenges ahead are daunting but for now, at least, it is time to celebrate. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: the polls open in australia after a close—run election contest where climate policy became the defining campaign issue. the us and canada agree to drop tariffs on steel and aluminium imports after lengthy negotiations. the governor of the us state of missouri says he'll sign into law a bill which severely limits women's access to abortion. doctors could face up to 15 years in prison for performing the procedure, after eight weeks of pregnancy.

the bill was overwhelmingly approved by the republican—led legislature — but sparked fierce criticism from democrats who say an abortion is a woman's "constitutional right." chris buckler is watching events from washington. we spend so much time talking about how divided american politics are. i don't think there is any issue which is more divisive and emotive than abortion. certainly when you take a look at republicans and president trump's base support, there are many evangelical christians among them who feel very strongly that this law should be challenged and changed. they want to see it in the supreme court, partly because the supreme court has changed. newjustices have been appointed by president trump and there is now a conservative majority in the court. they believe they can potentially change the law which offers abortion

to women right across america. there is a backlash as well, coming from others. they feel very strongly that some effort should be taken to challenge the states. in georgia, there are television film production companies which have said they will not film there. that industry is very important to this state. this weekend there is a music festival taking place in alabama and there are calls for a boycott. it gives you a sense there is a real battle taking place between conservatives and liberals which will feed into 2020. i am not saying it will be settled in 2020, but you can be sure that in that election it will be discussed and strongly debated. two years ago next week, saffie roussos who was eight years old, was the youngest person to die in the attack on a concert at the manchester arena. her mother lisa was also very badly injured and was in a coma for 6 weeks. but after extensive surgery and rehabilitation, she's now preparing to walk the route of the great manchester run this weekend, to raise money for a new charity in her daughter's memory. she's given her first broadcast interview alongside her husband andrew, to our north of england correspondent, judith moritz. i remember leaving,

and saffie had got my hand, this hand, and she was pulling, jumping about, and the next minute, i just hit the floor with a thud. ijust remember lying there and trying to move, i wasjust phys...just paralysed, i couldn't even, i couldn't move a finger, i couldn't move at all, i could blink, ijust kept thinking to myself, "keep your eyes open," and then somebody finally spoke to me, and started moving me. they asked me my name,

and ijust said saffie, that's all i could get out. i wanted to say, "will you just go and find saffie?" then i must have gone again, because the next time i remember them cutting myjeans off, and that was the last thing i remembered until i woke up. how many weeks later? six weeks. six weeks later. what happened at that point, andrew was with you? andrew was with me, and i can remember thinking, well, "why has he not mentioned saffie?" and i knew, ijust knew. i thought if i'm this badly hurt, and she was a tiny 8—year—old, then what chance would she have? it's like an intuition. yeah. did you ask the question? i said, "she's gone, isn't she?" it's a painful moment. i can't talk about it. because it's so raw, and it's two years on, i know that. it makes no difference at all, does it? no, it doesn't. still like yesterday? i feel like we are stuck in 2017.

you do, you feel like you're stuck. it's amazing how these two years have gone by, but sometimes we talk amongst each other, you're stuck in 2017. and for you, over the last two years, balancing your bereavement, your loss, with your recovery, how have those two things been possible? ifelt like i needed to be strong, and i needed to be the best i could be before i could deal with the loss of saffie. i had to learn to walk again. the first few steps around the ward, i felt like i'd ran a marathon, didn't i? i was out of breath. sweating. it's only about five steps. the hand, i think the progress was a lot slower with my hand.

coming to manchester, taking part in the run in manchester, how will that feel do you think, being back here? i know it's going to be emotional. but it's a good thing, and we need, we need it, don't we? something good's got to come out of something so awful, it's got to. rehearsals are underway for what's being described as the most controversial eurovision song contest ever held. the finals are taking place in israel on saturday night, but pro—palestinian campaigners have called for a boycott of the 64th contest, and organisers fear protestors may be planning disruption. welcome to the eurovision song contest 2019. israel, and the week—long eurovision party is now in full swing. live from tel aviv, israel. but remember, all this is happening against a background of considerable political tension on the border with gaza, which raises issues of security. will there be protests and also, will people turn up? as you can see, the crowds are here, but even among some of the entrants, there are questions. # svallid var homlulaust...

this is iceland's hatari, and they have qualms about israel, but have been told "no politics", on or off stage. we've been warned. we've been told we reached the limit of the ebu's tolerance regarding politics. but at the same time, we're told they can't change our views. indeed, eurovision bosses were today making their position more than clear. if a competitor staged a protest, what would you do? well, we would intervene immediately. we have very strict rules and policies. you'd shut the performance down? yeah, for sure we'd be shutting it down, and they would be punished afterwards. meanwhile, the first brief glimpse of madonna. after a week of doubts, one eurovision insider is now confident that she will perform. i have heard madonna's voice in that arena, and it wasn't a cd.

you're confident, saturday night? i'm quietly confident. i'd put a shekel or two on it. david sillito, bbc news, tel aviv. thanks for watching. hello. much of this week has been gloriously sunny, dry and reasonably warm. things turned a bit cloudier and cooler later on friday. this was a picture taken by one of our weather watchers in mepham in kent. a bit of sunshine across scotland. through the course of the weekend the sunshine will be in shorter supply. quite an unsettled showery story. some sunny spells, especially across parts of the uk. scotland will see the bulk of the rain on saturday morning because we have got this frontal system, fairly weak front coming and which is introducing a lot of low cloud, mist and fog as well.

outbreaks of rain across parts of scotland. a soggy start to saturday here. patchy rain affecting parts of northern ireland. a few showers popping up for northern england. further south, dry weather through the morning, but you'll notice too, one or two of those showers just bubbling up in the afternoon. nowhere immune to catching a passing shower. in the afternoon. it will be hit and miss, some sunshine in between. temperatures in the south likely to hit 19 also. further north, just 13 or 1a celsius. a different feeling in scotland compared to what we have seen in the past few days. moving through into the early hours of sunday morning, quite a lot of cloud in general across the country, particularly cloudy in the north and patchy outbreaks of rain to scotland and northern ireland. drier further south and we're looking at a frost—free night with temperatures generally holding up into mid—single figures. so this is how we are heading into the second half of the weekend for sunday. a big area of low pressure across central parts of europe. we're drawing in the breeze around that. a bit of an easterly flow bringing

that cloud off the north sea to parts of eastern scotland. eastern england could see one or two showers popping up, and some patchy rain moving into western scotland and northern ireland. during the afternoon, more of these showers tending to bubble up. you will really notice that mix of sunny spells, scattered blustery showers, one or two on the heavy side, could be heavy hail and the odd rumble of thunder. a bit warmer, 20 degrees or so the top temperature by the time we get to sunday. heading on into the new working week, and there's not a great change in the pressure set—up. we've still got a bit of a slack flow, things not moving very quickly, patchy cloud around, some sunshine i think through the day on monday, and a lot of dry weather in the morning but again, it will be the afternoon with the daytime heating we see those showers developing, particularly in eastern scotland and eastern england during the day on monday. but temperatures not too bad. 14—20 degrees or so. then the outlook is a fairly settled one through much of the week ahead. there will be some showers around and spells of sunshine as well. temperatures typically 15—20 degrees. goodbye for now. 00:29:31,268 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 stop it happening.