this is bbc world news today. i'm tanya beckett. our top stories. twenty years after the first astronauts took residence on the international space station nasa says it will allow tourists on board. these missions will be privately funded, dedicated commercial space flights allowing commercial activities to be conducted on board stations. the united arab emirates says only a ‘state actor‘ could have carried out the attacks on four tankers off its coast in may. ethiopia's prime minister has called for ‘unity‘ in sudan, after holding talks with protestors and the military, following several days of bloodshed. and the womens‘ world cup is under way, hosts france following the opening ceremony with three goals against south korea

hello and welcome to world news today. if you're looking for a new adventure, and have tens of thousands of dollars to spare, from next year you could book yourself a trip on the international space station. earlier on friday nasa announced it will open up the international space station for tourism and other business ventures. there will also be up to two short private missions per year. we are enabling this for the international space station. for the duration of private astronaut missions for yearfor the international space station beginning as early as 2020. these missions will be privately funded, dedicated commercial space flights

allowing for improved commercial activities to be conducted on stations. keith cowing is an astrobiologist, former nasa employee who now edits the online blog nasa watch well, it is not surprising, nasa has had commercial visitors before, but it was always done through the russians. but nasa has decided to clarify what it would take to send it not only astronauts but commercial things into space and it is really clear now, like having a brochure to go to what is the incentive for doing it? to bring more private money into space research was yellow there's a variety of things, commercializing the space station. nasa's plans to go back to the moon and looking for ways to offset some of its existing

cots, president trump tweeted today that nasa should be talking about going back to the moon, but it may have just changed. but if you can move some of the regular routine things that we do closer to earth and take some of the others, make nasa go back to the old exploring a new frontier sort of thing. it is trying to rebalance the payments to get back to a better plan of exploration. the risks, is there any idea what the risks are? the risks are probably such that they are well—known, we've had other safety requirements and training requirements and training requirements and training requirements and pretty much i have had some training myself, but if you can survive a long oceanic trip in an aeroplane, he can probably go to space. and how many people are interested in doing it. why would you do it? i would go and if you talk to your producer, they can send

you an assignment. there are a lot of people who would know, it is having the resources to pay for the ticket. that is the big show stopper. how much do we think it may cost? nasa buys it for 80 million and now they are doing some other things with them that will lower the cost, but my guess would be that when it is all said and done, you'll be spending somewhere between 70 to go be spending somewhere between 70 to 9° up be spending somewhere between 70 to go up there for a couple of weeks. did to get all on international cooperation, which not looking quite as it hasn't recent years? the interesting thing is, as you watch the us and russia and other countries not getting along, the one place or they seem to get along is in space and aside from hiccups here and there, the operation in the space station international, all of the countries that are involved it has been amazingly smooth. if anything, how they run the international space station might

give us some lessons on how to get along here on earth. and i think you arejust right along here on earth. and i think you are just right by my produce would like to send me into space. thank you very much. an investigation by the united arab emirates into an attack on four oil tankers off its coastline has concluded that it's very likely it was carried out by a "state actor". limpet mines — it believes — were attached by divers operating from fast boats — a highly spohisticated operation. but the investigators stopped short of blaming a specific country. washington however has blamed iran — which has denied any involvement. rana rahampour from the bbc‘s persian service is follwing the story — here's what she thinks this means for the building tensions between the us and iran in the region. both iran and the united states have tried to calm things down, so i think where we were two weeks ago was far more worrying than what we see today. so, the navy ship was supposed to go to the persian gulf but didn't,

it went to arabian gulf. i think there is a sense that everybody is trying to calm down and remove this in smarter ways because it is clear that neither side want a confrontation. i think everyone was worried. the international community, the united nations asked both parties to show restraint and in the country, people of iran. the majority of them kept asking is there was going to be a war. there was a point we thought this was imminent because where the navy ship was originally going to be sent to is a very narrow piece of water and being policed by iran's revolutionary guard which is added to the list of terror groups by the united states so any confrontation there could have potentially ended in a full—scale war. but at the moment i think i was trying to avoid that scenario. but at the moment i think that everyone was trying to avoid that scenario. to an another, unrelated, maritime incident — this time in the south china sea, involving russian and american warships. these pictures were shot

from on board the american guided—missile cruiser, the uss chancellorville — showing the two vessels coming extremely close to each other. moscow says the american ship suddenly changed course — washington has made a formal diplomatic protest. this aerial image of the two shows just how close they came to crashing into each other. neither ship sustained any damage, and there were no injuries reported. the ethiopian prime minister, abiy ahmed, has called for ‘unity‘ in sudan and a ‘quick‘ transition to democracy, after holding talks with the country's transitional military council and pro democracy campaigners. mr ahmed arrived in khartoum earlier to mediate between the two parties, following the killing of dozens of democratic protesters. catherine bya—ru—hanga reports from khartoum khartoum is a city gripped by fear. most people choose to stay quiet. in the shadows, these security forces appear to outnumber civilians on the streets. these makeshift barricades

have been put up in neighbourhoods. they are made of bricks, plastic and wooden poles. young men around are mining these posts. they say it is to protect their communities from the government militia. when they come here, it is a mess, they are shooting everywhere and it is a mess. when they came here, they killed people, they entered our homes, they took some of our friends. but opposition groups have also asked people to put up these barricades as a sign of civil disobedience against the country's military rulers. there isn't an official curfew, but through the night, there are a few people out on the streets and there is a build—up of soldiers and militia out on patrol, making sure there is nobody on the streets. things got worse on

monday when security forces attacked pro—democracy sit ins, the opposition says that 100 people has been killed, but in reality, the death toll will be much higher. to a breakdown in talks between the army and activist before forming a transitional government. these were at the sit and when the government attacked. to started shooting in front of everyone, were surrounded on all sides. he could hear bullets from everywhere. there was literally nowhere to run to. no safe place to run to. we running we are running for a long distance. i looked up to my left and an unfinished building. and there were

snipers. the prime minister has arrived to try and mediate. but the opposition says they will only review talks of the military if those behind the recent violence are held to account. president trump says there is a "good chance" the united states will not impose tariffs on mexico — something his administration has threatened, in order to get its southern neighbour to meet its demands, over immigration. the president tweeted a deal was close which would also involve mexico purchasing us farm & agricultural products at very high levels — although he repeated his threat to impose 5% tariffs on mexico this monday if talks fail. mr trump says america's southern neighbour needs to do more to stop the flow of migrants from central america. the two sides have been holding talks in washington — this is mexico's foreign minister arriving a few hours ago. with the latest on where those discussions might go, here's our state department correspondent barbara plett usher.

they have had this high—level group of ministers here all week negotiating in an emergency fashion trying to get some sort of agreement that will prevent these terrorists and the americans and said that these proposals are positive and there is progress in the talks. but what they are discussing is not going to bring the numbers down enough. they want them at the levels that were there when he took office. and those that a record low and now it has increased quite significantly since then. they are discussing other options, particularly whether they're going to change how asylum rules work, where people apply for asylum. and here's our correspondent will grant with the view from mexico city. pa rt part of the offer it seems that is coming from washington, as explained by the foreign minister will be the idea of somewhere in the region, 6000 troops to mexico possible southern border. really ramping up

the feed side of the equation and the feed side of the equation and the tensions and the deportations that would likely go up and we have already seen quite a lot of that this week, a group of around 420 migrants from central america who we re migrants from central america who were picked up in an area that i was visiting early this week which was down near guatemala. the concern is not of this would prove particularly effective. absolutely. ithink not of this would prove particularly effective. absolutely. i think the fear is that there are now, there area fear is that there are now, there are a lot of understandings about the legal loopholes involved in making it into the united states. donald trump himself has put that front and centre of his problem with what the democrats did on immigration and his complaint about congress and so on. the way i have been hearing about it from mexican sources is that effectively, people traffickers and groups involved in bringing people from central america

to the united states now and know that the best plan is to simply get to the border and have people handed themselves in and ask for asylum. that is very different to how things used to work in the idea that these ta riffs used to work in the idea that these tariffs are anything like this would actually make any difference to the sheer numbers of people trying to make it through mexico on the first place is a very difficult thing to know. it would be very crippling for the mexican economy. that is the key point from the mexican side, they simply cannot afford this at the moment. the economy is on the verge ofa moment. the economy is on the verge of a recession and i think that the 2596 of a recession and i think that the 25% tariffs that donald trump is saying this could rise to would absolutely cripple the economy. let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news. the united nations human rights council says the number of venezuelans leaving their country as refugees has reached 4 million. the un body described the number of people fleeing — since the humanitarian crisis under president maduro began — as staggering.

three people have been killed after their boat capsized off the west coast of france, during storm miguel. they were part of a crew of seven who had gone to the aid of another boat which had got into difficulty. facebook has announced it will stop its apps being pre—installed on huawei devices. the action was taken in response to us government action in may — which bars us companies from using foreign telecom firms it regards as a security risk. facebook said that people who already own a huawei phone and have the relevant apps installed, can still continue to use them. stay with us on bbc world news, still to come: the waiting is over — the womens' world cup has kicked off in paris — we'll have the latest.

this is bbc world news today. i'm tanya beckett. the latest headlines. nasa has said it will allow tourists to visit the international space station. the announcement is part of a plan to open up the space station for commercial activity. lizzie has all the sport. thank you the women's world cup, playing south korea and paris this is the biggest ever women's world cup with nearly a million tickets sold and the ceremony took placejust million tickets sold and the ceremony took place just before the opening match at a sold—out stadium. 24 nations are taking part in six groups of 14 with the final on the 7th ofjuly. groups of 14 with the final on the 7th of july. friends groups of 14 with the final on the 7th ofjuly. friends are the 3—0 up with 56 minutes on the clock. after having another offside, it is still

1-0 having another offside, it is still 1—0 in the last few minutes of the first where she scored twice. friends have never gotten past the quarter filings at friends have never gotten past the quarterfilings at a friends have never gotten past the quarter filings at a world cup, south korea are ranked 14th. england played their first game against scotla nd played their first game against scotland in group d on sunday early evening. 0ur correspondence reports from france. england is a team used to breaking new ground. they lifted one trophy for the first time already this year. now they have their sights set on something much bigger. as a player, she never made it to the world cup, but now in charge in france as genuine contenders. packed with experience and youth, he grew up idolizing some of the players who are now her team—mates, and once queued up for a

photo at a time of the last world cup, she had something else on her mind. sitting and i remember doing that and i remember getting up in the middle of the night and getting up the middle of the night and getting up to watch the games and when i fell asleep, i would absolutely love watching it and it is crazy to be here now and it has only been four yea rs, here now and it has only been four years, so here now and it has only been four years, so it is, time flies. standing in their way is a familiar foe in scotland. two years ago, they faced each other and scotland hampered by injuries, was swept aside. this time, they will be far harder to beat. much of their hopes rest on the young star. a very good effort! and after a positive build—up, the coaches hoping they will peak at the right time. build—up, the coaches hoping they will peak at the right timelj build—up, the coaches hoping they will peak at the right time. i am really excited on how we perform, we talked about, we have certainly

matured as a team. but now, it is about how we measure ourselves against some of the best teams in the world. and this is where the journey begins for scotland, it is where they play their first ever world cup match or they take on england here on sunday. the tournament itself kicks off tonight, nearly 600 miles away from here in paris. the opening match between france and south korea is a sell—out. this women's world cup promises to be the biggest and widest watched yet. it represents a huge opportunity to grow the game. that is something i am proud of to see that little girls identify with me. you have come a long way now and we are visible, and people can identify. i did not get the chance to see women play on tv. coverage was nonexistent and today, things have changed. it is becoming the

norm and this is great. there's already a feel—good factor around this tournament, soon the football begins in here, both teams will be helping to capture the world's attention. they have announced that they have agreed a deal with the real madrid to move to spain, more on that story on our website, but thatis on that story on our website, but that is the end of the sport. the outgoing british prime minister theresa may has formally resigned her position as leader of the governing conservatives. she will remain as prime minister until a successor is chosen by her party — that will happen over the coming weeks. 0ur uk political correspondent nick eardley has been following this story from westminster. he explains what this all means. theresa may has struggled to exert any authority really over her party for months now. the big issue in the uk brexit was when shejust couldn't get a grip on, couldn;t get enough to support her and that has led to what's happened today,

she is finally officially saying that she is no longer leader of the conservative party. as you see, she is going to stay in downing street for a few weeks. the race to replace her has officially begun now, we'll find out exactly who the candidates are on monday, who the candidates are on monday. there are about 11 so far, a couple who may or may not declare over the weekend. tory mps in the house of commons will then whittle that list down to two, as quickly as they can. and the vote for goes to conservative members across the uk. it will probably be mid july into the next british prime minister and before theresa may leaves. 0n the main issue is at the heart of her time at the top. brexit, she's failed by her own admission, she has not managed to do what she intended and she leaves without achieving a withdrawal agreement. i think you will see over the next

few weeks from her trying, perhaps, trying hard to come up with some sort of domestic legacy. i think you'll see a few announcement over the next few weeks on things like the environment or women in work, knife crime in the uk which is a pretty big topic at the moment, to see her try to come up with something that she can be remembered for apart from brexit. the novel ‘to kill a mockingbird' is one of the best—known works of literary fiction to come out of the us — with its story of racism in the justice system in the deep south of america. but it's now also become one of the most profitable plays — with a stage adaptation on broadway making more than forty million dollars since it opened last december. nick bryant reports. we have to heal this wound or we will never stop bleeding. a classic of american literature has become a box office sensation of american theatre. the adaptation of tequila

mockingbird, a story set in the the adaptation of to kill a mockingbird, a story set in the american south of racial injustice were a black man is accused of raping a young white woman. let's begin with justice. you know what happened on november 24. you know it! don't do this! the central character, atticus finch, the heroic lawyer is played byjeff daniels who has received a tonne of nominations for the role. and although the play itself has been controversially overlooked for the top award, it has been an enormously popular with audiences. the play at its heart is about decency and what it means to be a person. and that is a story i think that we are thirsty for right now. all over the world, but especially in this country. the play is set in the days ofjim crow, the system of racial apartheid. it wasn't dismantled until the civil rights reforms of the 60s. but the theme of racial division resonates still today.

why in the world should this story still be relevant today? it feels to me like it is more relevant now even than when it was back then. we speak now at a time where america has had an african american president, there have been various civil rights acts and yet, the problem still persists. yeah, this problem still persists. it should be on a t—shirt. the characters of the play, from atticus finch, to bob yule, the town drunk, he sees the warring tribes who make up modern america. the elites and their heartening critics. heartland critics. there is a large swath of the country, large enough to elect donald trump that feels the way fiercely bob feels donald trump that feels the way fiercely bob yule feels about atticus. you think you're so much better than i am, don't you? you think you're so much better than i am? you look down your nose at me, you peep along the coast. you elites, you think you're so much better than i am and you think so much better than i am crowd

thatjust, more than anything, wanted to stick it to the rest of us and i think that donald trump was elected because he is a fantastic stick with which to poke liberals in the eye. they have staged a number of politically charged productions during the trump presidency, the success of to kill a mockingbird demonstrates audiences clearly want to see them. construction of barcelona's sagrada familia may have started 137 years ago, but the emblematic basilica only got a building permit — on friday. authorities only discovered in 2016 that the building — that draws millions of visitors every year — had never had planning permission since construction began in 1882 — meaning it was being built illegally. officials say that the designer antoni gaudi had asked the town hall for a building permit, but never got an answer.

now, some 137 years later, it is finally legal. the weather is not looking ideal on saturday. but it does depend on whether you are a crass half—full or half—empty. very blustery in the uk, gale force winds expected along the coast and some really choppy seas, and it because of this low pressure it has been bettering parts of france, some disruptive winds here and we have some rain and southern parts of the uk and all of that bad weather shifted further towards the north. we have had thunderstorms and reports of a funnel cloud earlier on. the low pressure is going to be tracking northwards through the course of the night and into the south where we will see those are

the strong winds. forecast through the strong winds. forecast through the course of this evening, he was the course of this evening, he was the low roundabout now. rain wrapping around the circulation here and again, some heavy showers around, that's a bat across the north of scotland with clear skies through the night, but the winds will start to strengthen across southern areas into the early hours of saturday it initially, around the coast, towards lunchtime, it will become very blustery towards southern parts of england and the midlands, probably as far as lincolnshire as well. guess i will be more reminiscent for autumn, possibly an excess of 15 miles an hour on the south coast and a good 40 or 45 miles an hour —— 50 miles. and remember in june, 40 or 45 miles an hour —— 50 miles. and remember injune, we do not get such strong gusts of wind. you can see occasional showers here but scotla nd see occasional showers here but scotland and join some showers there. tomorrow averaging around 15

or16 there. tomorrow averaging around 15 or 16 degrees. later on saturday, the weather will come down for some of us it is actually going to be a decent and to the day. on sunday's weather forecast, the pressure decent and to the day. on sunday's weatherforecast, the pressure is against the north sea moving into norway, behind that the weather im proves norway, behind that the weather improves and the wind is a lot lighter, some sunshine around but it is not going to be perfectly dry and in fact there are showers in the forecast agency around scotland, northern ireland and some across the western parts of the uk. central and eastern areas will be brighter on sunday. next week, he remains fairly cool and further showers on the way. goodbye.

this is bbc world news, your headlines. masi says it'll offer tours and commercial trips to the international space station from next year, flight into orbit and back will cost more than $60 million. united arab says only a state actor could have carried out the attacks on four tankers off the coast in may, and america has accused iran of being responsible and they have denied any involvement. president trump says that there is a good chance the us will not impose tariffs on mexico, white house has threatened measures u nless white house has threatened measures unless mexico meets the demands to reduce number of migrants reaching the us border. and france is leading the