the headlines: president trump has launched a fierce personal attack without giving any evidence on robert mueller. the former special counsel made headlines this week with a rare public statement, reiterating that his russia inquiry did not clear the president of obstructing justice. mr trump described him as "totally co nflicted" and his team as "some of the worst humans on earth." united nations officials are warning that tens of thousands of children are at immediate risk of being killed or forced to flee for their lives because of intense fighting around idlib in northern syria, one of the last strongholds of islamist rebels. police in hungary have detained the captain of a cruise ship that collided with a smaller boat on the river danube in budapest on wednesday. at least seven south korean tourists died and more than 20 others are missing. rescuers have said there's little hope of finding them alive. the chief medical officer for england has told bbc news that

she's in favour of a tax on foods that are high in sugar and calories with the proceeds being used to subsidise healthier foods. hugh pym reports. how do you give children every chance of leading a healthy life? that's what policy—makers are grappling with as they search for new measures. encouraging exercise is one thing, but what are billed as bold proposals on diet are now being considered. these include a new tax on high—calorie, high—sugar food with england's chief medical officer telling me she'd look seriously with experts at how it might work. if you provide a healthy product on the supermarket shelves, that will come in cheap. if it's unhealthy, there's a levy put on top of it, which is equivalent to a tax. so, parents are then nudged to buy the healthy version, because it's cheaper and they can see it's healthy. she's been asked to report to ministers on new policy ideas and dame sally says

her 3—month review will take a very broad approach to the problem. perhaps we should talk less about obesity, because people find that stigmatising, and talk much more about how do we change our environment to be healthy? we had to change our environment about smoking, we had to change it about road traffic accidents. what are we going to do as a society to make it that our children are healthy? but in recent years, there have been a string of official government obesity strategies published. moves to crack down on advertising of unhealthy food were announced last year, but haven't yet been implemented. there have been delays in the roll—out of various obesity strategies. to what extent do you take responsibility for those delays? i should have chivvied harder in order to get us there faster, but this is a political system and a democracy and so we have to move at the pace that the politicians and the democratic process

of consulting allows. i, as an independent advisor, do wish we could do things faster. the scottish government is also planning restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy food in supermarkets and close to schools. tackling obesity is a tough challenge. that's why bold and brave measures to shift people towards healthier diets have been called for today. hugh pym, bbc news. now it's time for the travel show. this week, on the travel show: it's ladies‘ night in the atlas mountains. wejoin the historic cavalcade of pancho villa. and i'm stepping up to the plate in new york. i don't know if i'm going to be able to hit it that hard, but i'm going to give it my best shot.

no pressure at all. well, there's a little bit of pressure. we're starting this week by heading off to morocco tojoin a high country that's on trend. around the world, some tour companies have reported that bookings for women's—only adventure trips are up by a whopping a0%, so we sent cat moh to the atlas mountains to join a trekking group that's run

solely for and by women. the berber tribes have lived in the atlas mountains for thousands of years in villages and towns dotted across the slopes and valleys. so i've been to morocco before, but this is the first time i'm actually making it out into the mountains, and i'm super excited about it. but it's also the first time that i'm going to take part in a women's—only expedition, so let's see how that goes. most of the women helping us on our 2—day trip are berber and trusted members of the community. today we're walking through some of the clay villages in the valley deep in the high atlas mountains.

leading us is hafida, morocco‘s first female mountain guide. she qualified 25 years ago, very much a pioneer of the time. how old is this place? so, we don't really know the age, but it is probably 11th century. oh, wow! so, we havejust stopped for some mint tea in this castle—like building. that's our host. 80% of women here can't read and earn very little, but a rise in these women—only tours are starting to provide an income for those who can now host us on their own terms, without men present. how h ow ofte n how often does she put it on? the henna is notjust for beauty. these people work very hard, and if you know, henna is antiseptic. to have women in the expedition,

and to have women hiking and helping other women, i love this idea, to have the women coming in from far away, western women, to share the life of the berber women. in honour of our arrival, some of the locals are throwing us a party. but there's one rule. the berber women often gather in the evenings to sing, dance and chat. they don't always dress up in their traditional outfits, but they wanted us to have the full experience, and they have kindly leant us their clothes. i'm actually wearing someone‘s bridal dress. so i've been wedged in the middle. oh, and apparently the

male musicians don't count as men, so it's all still considered above board. over breakfast, i catch up with zina. she has long been an advocate for women's rights in morocco and has pushed hard to launch these women's only tours. zina, so what do women get out of this, rather thanjoining a regular mixed group? in a country like morocco, where especially in places that are a bit conservative, like here, it's really hard to be able to interact with the locals, and especially with women locals,

if you come in a group of mixed tourists. in a group of women only, we can actually break some barriers and get to learn about the customs, the tradition, they will open up. the headscarves will fall down when you're in their homes, and they start to talk to you as woman to woman. how much difference does it make to their lives? well, it can be quite a lot, when you consider it is notjust a trend, it is something that is fast growing, 40% women only trips in the world. it is a big business now. that means there is a need, and if we can supply this need, in a sense, we can help a lot of women and empower them and provide them with an income. it's a longer walk today, way off the beaten track, deep into the high atlas mountains. we are on our way tojoin a nomad family for the afternoon. they are part of the eit ata tribe of south—east morocco.

how many times have you come here to this bit? i have stopped counting. 200 times? the altitude is really starting to hit now, plus it is so hot. fatima is a widow. normally, women would give up this lifestyle, as it's considered a man'sjob. she lives in a cave with her daughter and has begun hosting female

tourists to supplement her income. they also help out with the daily tasks, some staying for up to a week. this afternoon, it's getting the goats back into the pen to milk. sounds simple enough. what do i do? yells. that's a faster way to do it. there we are. oh, some are escaping! i'm not sure i was the most effective goat herder. this is not why i came. i can't even get a drop of milk.

fatima and her daughter often spend time with other nomads in the area. they have come to help her this afternoon. most what she likes — everybody‘s happy and dancing and making fun. what type of dancing? the music here. i can see why these trips are becoming so popular. we've met some wonderful women who have welcomed us into their world. and although i'd been to morocco before, it sometimes felt like i was only experiencing half the story, half its people. but now, i'm leaving with maybe more of an understanding of the country and its customs, and an appreciation for the women who live here in these challenging but stunning mountains.

cat moh reporting there from morocco. and if you're planning on heading there, here are the travel show‘s top tips for what to know before you go. if it's more of a city exploration you are looking for in morocco, why not go beyond marrakesh and try fes? step inside its beautiful walled city medina, and alongside the colourful tanneries associated with morocco, you'll find the city alive with culture, especially in latejune during the fes festival of world sacred music, showcasing spiritual music from around the globe. further afield, every september, the village of imilchil in morocco‘s midelt mountains celebrates moussem. 30,000 people from the surrounding berber tribes gather for the 3—day marriage festival. it's a spectacle of romance with couples meeting and marrying. or pack your running shoes for something more active. the morocco trail race

is also happening this september. at distances ranging from iokm to 144, it's for a range of levels. but unlike most races, the idea is to meet local people and get a taste of berber mountain life at the same time. still to come on the travel show, we travel stateside to visit a town which enjoys a cross—border celebration with mexico for one day a year. and i discover the street sport that has entertained generations of new yorkers. keep the eye on the ball. argh! don't say it, don't say it! laughter. needs a bit more practice.

so don't go away. this week i am in new york city outside the legendary yankee stadium. now each year around three and half million locals and tourists come here to enjoy one of america's favourite sports, baseball. the first recorded baseball match in the united states was played in the 1840s just over the river in newjersey. it saw new york square off against knickerbockers. and since then, the sport has become a way of life for many. what do you think new york would be without baseball? boring. just how many baseball themed items do you have in here? we have probably close

to 10,000 pieces on show. 10,000! recently we added the holy grail of baseballs, this is signed by popejohn paul ii. he is actually a saint so as i like to tell people, i've got one baseball signed by an actual saint and almost 4000 signed by sinners. later i'll be trying my hand at a street version of baseball that has entertained generations of new yorkers. but first, we're heading to the mexican border with the united states. where in 1916, a raid led by the mexican revolutionary general pancho villa on the american town of columbus, new mexico, escalated into a full—blown battle with the us army. today, the event brings the two communities together. i am one of the founders

of the cabalgata that approaches and joins with columbus. in a celebration and remembrance of the pancho villa raid in 1916.

many americans that get on their horses, they come down and they meet them at the border. and they kind of co—mingle at that time. and then they all come up together. the march, the three miles‘ march from the border to here is symbolic. everybody just enjoys that, to see those people come here and remember that this was part of their history. we have speeches, singing, dancing. you go around and you walk around and shake hands with pancho villa,

which is a lot of fun. we never celebrated the raid, per se. we acknowledge that it happened. but this is 100 years later. nobody alive now was in that raid, or had any part to do with it, so this is strictly for friendship with people that live below the border and people that live on this side of the border. and to finish off, i'm heading north to new york where a street version of baseball has been played for decades. it's called stickball.

if you come to the bronx in the spring or summer, there is a street called stickball boulevard where most sundays, the emperors stickball league keep this tradition alive. ok, so as far as i can tell, each player has three attempts to serve the ball, one attempt to hit it. if they miss the ball, they're out. if they hit it, it's about getting to first base, second base, et cetera. to keep the game going, the street is closed off to traffic. you'rea bum! shouting. there is a lot of smack talk, as well — a lot of smack talk. in fact, i've been told smack talk accounts for 90% of the game. but there's also a lot of camaraderie. everyone is just having fun. it's just about a bunch of friends

getting together, hanging out. how did you get into it? we are washed—up baseball players. that's part of it, but the other thing is it's a tradition. stickball is a tradition that's always happened in new york city, and a lot of our parents kind of like — put us into the game. my family's been playing — wow, over 50 years. i remember a young kid going to see my uncles play downtown. it was really cool. how about you, young man, are you into it? nope. stickball‘s popularity continued throughout the 1950s and ‘60s, and tourists can revisit that popularity in manhattan's tenement museum, which recreates a typical apartment from the time. there were tons of tenements which were cheap places for people to live. sometimes even nine or ten people per apartment in the space we are in right now. obviously overcrowded and cramped, it was also fun, because everyone

would have been out on the street. people would be socialising, people would be shopping. stickall was a game with a very low cost of entry. only thing you needed was a broom handle, which most households had, and some sort of ball. and if you did not have one, they only cost a couple of cents. as you can see, they're made of a cheap rubber or leather. really you can use anything to play this game. you know, it was very ad hoc. and that rough—and—ready home—made approach continues today. all of you have customised your bats. what are they made from? wood. they're closet poles from the home depot. closet rods, poles, whatever. new york emperors stickball league was established in the mid ‘80s. we've got approximately 100 members playing stickball. one of the league's founders was called steve mercado. he was a fireman in engine company a0 who died in the 9/11 attacks. it was his vision to just try to

push this and advance this league. he always wanted it to be an olympian event. so memorial day weekend, we have teams from california coming. we have teams from florida, orlando, miami, tampa. we constantly try to uphold the vision for him. his two sons, as a matter of fact, play in the league now, but it's just a legacy that we just want to continue from there. the power of some of these swings. you can hear it. whoosh! i don't know if i'm going to be able to hit that hard, but i'm going to give it my best shot. ok, let's go, come on. let's do it. grab a stick for you. this one right here. 0k. let it bounce once, step into the ball. 0k. i feel like the ball clipped the bat. i'm going for a clean hit this time. all right, so this time, you've got to run to first base. alright.

now they're going to talk trash, though. keep your eye on the ball. argh! don't say it, don't say it. just toss it up. that's good. there you go. run it out, run it out! let go of the bat! they laugh. i think i'm going to leave it to the professionals. i need a bit more practice. i might be done, but if you want to catch some stickball, the emperors league big blowout memorial day competition takes place next weekend. well, that's your lot for this week. but coming up on next week's travel show: i'm going to be looking back at a white—knuckle start

to the year on the programme. like when ade experienced life in the fast lane in dubai. wowee. that was incredible. so much raw power. we're about to set off. 100 km down a very icy hill. and christa took on a bobsled ride in latvia. oh, man. whoo, i think that's one of the most intense experiences of my entire life. that was completely insane. don't forget, you can keep track of us wherever we are in the world on our social media. but for now from me, lucy hedges, and the rest of the travel show team here in the bronx, it's goodbye.

well, you may have heard by now that it's turning a lot warmer, but the forecast isn't quite so straightforward. in fact, it's not going to be turning hot everywhere, and in fact, some areas are still in for some rain. but i think the main message is that yes, broadly speaking, we are all at least for some warmth. but a lot of cloud out there right now. it's very muggy, a very muggy night, with temperatures in the mid—teens across some southern areas of the uk. but rain, too. this is what it looks like the early hours of friday, so some bits and pieces of rain around western scotland, some in northern ireland, a scattering of rain across parts of the lake district.

and the temperatures — 1a early in london on friday, but a lot fresher there in the far north, in lerwick, only five degrees. so here is the forecast for friday, moist south—westerly winds dragging in a lot of cloud, mist and murk around the coast. rain in northern ireland, in parts of western scotland. by the time this weather front is through, we will have seen around 40—50 mm of rain. that's a lot, a couple of inches of rain. the warmest and brightest of the weather will be across central and southern areas. temperatures reaching 22, but certainly not clear, blue skies. there will be a fair amount of cloud around during the course of friday. now, on saturday, so obviously the orange here is the warm air that's spreading across much of europe. in fact, the near continent, temperatures will be approaching 30 degrees. we will get some of that warmth, it'll be reaching towards southern, central and eastern areas. so this portion of the uk will probably see temperatures in the mid 20s, maybe the high 20s in one or two spots. but further north, it's

a case of more cloud, even a few spits and spots of rain. only 17 in belfast, maybejust squeezing 19 there in newcastle. and then it's all change, because on sunday, a low pressure comes in off the atlantic, brings some showers almost anywhere, really. there will be some sunshine, too, but it does sort of spoil the second half of the weekend a little bit, and it will turn fresher. in fact, temperatures will start to drop away, back down into the low 20s across the southern and eastern areas. so that 27—28 degrees on saturday is just a one—day wonder. and in fact, the low pressure is with us during the course of monday and tuesday. you can see there it's anchored just to the north of scotland. so that does mean that, after that brief spell of very warm weather on saturday, from sunday onwards and into next week, it will be turning cooler and more unsettled.

welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is mike embley. our top stories: president trump lashes out at former special counsel robert mueller over the russia inquiry. the whole thing is a scam, it's one of — it's a giant presidential harassment! no, russia did not help me get elected. you know who got me elected?! i got me elected. russia didn't help me at all. police arrest the captain of the cruise ship involved in wednesday's deadly crash on the river danube. syria's humanitarian crisis: the un warns that tens of thousands of children are still at risk. r kelly has been charged with more sexual offences. he's due in court next week. and scientists develop a genetically enhanced fungus