welcome to bbc news. i'm mike embley. our top stories: president trump attempts to distance himself from the racist chanting, targeting a somali—born democratic congresswoman, at wednesday's campaign rally. i was not happy with it. i disagree with it but, again, i did not say it, i didn't say that, they did. the pentagon says us forces have shot down an iranian drone as it approached an american ship in the gulf. staying in jail. the reasons why a judge ruled that financierjeffrey epstein must stay behind bars until his trial on sex trafficking charges. on a beach in norfolk,the biggest sandscaping project ever seen in the uk to try to save the coastline.

president trump has tried to distance himself from the "send her back" chants directed by his supporters at a black democratic congresswoman, a former refugee, at a north carolina rally on wednesday. the president has claimed he was not happy with the chanting, but video footage makes it plain he made no attempt to stop it. from the podium he had specifically named ilhan omar and 3 other congresswomen of colour, who have criticised him. the bbc‘s nick bryant watched the whole rally. donald trump has been raising the racial temperature in this country all week. tonight he tried to cool things down a little, admits to concerns within his own party that he has been playing with political

fire. this is a rather that will be talked about for decades to come. after the racism of donald trump ‘s original attacks on the four congressmen of colour and the kind of racial talk we have not seen from a modern day president. he singled them out by name. representative ilhan omar. crowd boos. representative alexandra ocasio—cortez. crowd boos. "go back to where you came from" was his message to the congresswomen earlier this week, three of whom were born in the usa. his latest advice — if you don't like america, then leave. tonight i have a suggestion for the hate—filled extremists who are constantly trying to tear our country down. they never have anything good to say. that's why i say, hey, if they don't like it, let them leave. let them leave. crowd chants: send her back. "send her back" was the shout,

and donald trump made no attempt to calm the crowd. for 15 seconds, presidential silence. today, though, he tried to distance himself from the chants. earlier, republican leaders told the white house we cannot be defined by that cry. i was not happy with it. i disagree with it. but again, i didn't say — i didn't say that, they did. newly elected and on the left of their party, the congresswomen call themselves the squad. alexandra ocasio—cortez describes herself as a democratic socialist, and the president as a racist. ilhan omar, a muslim born in somalia, has been condemned for remarks about israel her critics claim are anti—semitic, and for saying of september the 11th, "some people did something." this was her response today, to mr trump. we have said this president is racist. we have condemned his racist remarks. i believe he is fascist.

tonight at the oval office, he looked more conventionally presidential, but the angry mood of the north carolina rally speaks more of the age of trump. there are moderate conservatives who are much more uneasy about them and they are such a key demographic, perhaps the decisive demographic and next year ‘s presidential election. well, there's been a huge reaction, in congress on thursday, chuck schumer, leader of the democratic minority in the senate, criticised senior figures in the republican party for their silence about president trump's comments. this is a moment, there is nojohn mccain anymore. when this kind of racism emerged at his town hall

meeting, he rejected it publicly. would somebody used it against the then candidate, obama. it went down in history as one of his finest rabbits, where other fine in history as one of his finest rabbits, where otherfine members of my colleagues? 53 of them on the republican side, not one has spoken out strongly enough. not one will stop district. ——. but some republicans have spoken out against donald trump. republican adam kinzinger, said the chants were "ugly". he tweeted: meeting in montreal, the european union president donald tusk and canadian prime minister justin trudeau condemned donald trump's comments at the rally. i want everyone in canada to know that those comments are completely

unacceptable and should not be allowed. or encouraged, in canada. unacceptable and should not be allowed. or encouraged, in canadalj allowed. or encouraged, in canada.|j have been from —— seen one of the most pro— american politicians in europe, it is difficult to understand some facts and some words. and sometimes if you feel that something is totally unacceptable, you have to react. despite business, despite interest, for me, values are much more important than trade, sorry, may be old—fashioned. but i will never change my opinion here. live now to north carolina and to taylor griffin, former republican party candidate. taylor, i know you worked under george w bush in the white house, you're now editor of

roughlyexplained.com. this must be uncomfortable ground, it's come to something, hasn't it that we have to seriously discuss whether the president of the united states is racist, white nationalists, white supremacist, is a fascist? yes, there is an important distinction here, fascist have a plan, donald trump is having it upfor have a plan, donald trump is having it up for the audience and its getting out of control. he woke up this week and not strategically deciding to stir all this up, he woke up on the wrong side of the bed. he was mad and is impulsive and he sent a tweet out, that's what i think happened. but this kind of stuff works for him because his base, his supporters really love it when he is in the middle of a fight, when he is in the middle of a fight, when he is angering the liberal media and the liberals in the country and when his politically incorrect, that's what they like about him, the lichen because he is

about him, the lichen because he is a brawler. there's a problem isn't there? his having it up, this is what he does. to see the most powerful man in the world, an old white man leading a baying crowd, mocking, abusing, threatening, for women of colour, all of them elected representatives, simply because they disagree with him. the historical echoes are surely chilling and it suggests the future under a second trump term could be a very dark place. there is none of us who are pa rt place. there is none of us who are part of this. i don't think even some trump supporters feel like he's going a bit too far. it's important to have a distinction about him. he is not capable, he doesn't have some master plan for a fascist america, he is someone who will say things that are way out of what is acceptable, adult behaviour, and his supporters love it because they love the reaction to it. they see this as

a fight with the left, who they see as communist and all other things, and it excites them, it engages them evenif and it excites them, it engages them even if they are not really racist. how do you think politico this might play, when a political corresponded mentioned that they might be a key demographic? other people might of like him, but what he says, what is doing is doing is enough, that they will vote for him again? how do you think this will play? a lot of people say that they like the economy, it's going well, he's doing well enough but the problem is this really starts get embarrassing. i don't like coming on and explain what the president of the united

states is saying in this sort of tone. for a lot of people, they are going to start being a lot more sceptical of donald chong, start looking at democratic candidates very closely who would otherwise have voted for him and as excited as his base gets and is —— as much as they cheer, that is was going to win him the election. those voters who are on the cusp and like the economy, maybe a little sceptical trump but this might be the finger push them over the line and says i'm going to vote democrat. —— the thing that pushes them over the line. president trump has announced that the us military shot down a drone. it took defensive action as the drone came within 1000 yards of a it took defensive action as the drone came within1000 yards of a us navy ship. it is the latest action ina mounting navy ship. it is the latest action in a mounting tension in the gulf

region, this, according to iran was the moment that it sees the tanker. it was meant by members of the radian revolutionary guard, they found 1 million litres of fuel which they allege is being smuggled out of they allege is being smuggled out of the run. —— iran. it was said that resident trump shut down a drone. he said staff on the boxer took defensive action as the drone came within1000 yards of a us navy ship. this latest incident reflect the mounting tension in the gulf region between iran, the us and its allies. in may, the us tidied —— tightened up in may, the us tidied —— tightened up sanctions on the oil sector after it -- up sanctions on the oil sector after it —— offered unilaterally withdrew from a deal. the president said it would be scaling back its commitment to that deal. since then, the white

house has claimed iran for two separate attacks on all takers in may and june. an allegation that tehran has denied. iran has also shut down the us surveillance during, again under disputed circumstances. it's not just during, again under disputed circumstances. it's notjust the two countries adults here. uk warships have been shadowing british oil tankers since iran threatened to cc1 in response to impounding a iranian tanker. the uk claimed that the tanker. the uk claimed that the tanker was suspected of wrecking eu sanctions against syria, this led to another denialfrom to sanctions against syria, this led to another denial from to run. sanctions against syria, this led to another denialfrom to run. the us has beefed up operations. it is asking its allies to help protect strategic waters of iran and yemen. it's an international responsibility, the united states is

happy to be part of the solution. and going to work very aggressively with our partners both in the region and internationally to move commerce through this critical part of the world. the latest incident suffered two more demands and denials on both sides. iran said it had no information about a missing drone. by information about a missing drone. by the us has insisted that iran should release it immediately. ajudge in new york has ruled that the disgraced american financier, jeffrey epstein, must remain in jail while awaiting trial on charges of trafficking underage girls for sex. mr epstein — who once counted bill clinton and donald trump among his friends — denies the charges. our correspondent, nada tawfik, explains how the prosecution thought epstein could be a flight risk. ultimately, the judge sided with prosecutors who argued that jeffrey epstein, who is a registered sex offender, remained a danger to the community and a flight risk and they pointed to evidence they found at his mansion. they found in his safe,

a foreign passport with a fake name, piles of cash, diamonds as well as many, many lewd photographs of young women and girls. and so they said that he had not changed his ways and that he had the means and motive to flee. the judge said the suggestion by the defence that mr epstein could remain on house arrest with an electronic monitoring bracelet was just not adequate. even though mr epstein offered to pay for armed guards 24/7 and to put up $100 million in collateral. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: the australian outpost that brought millions the now—iconic images of the moon landing. how one radio telescope helped relay history. after months of talks and missed deadlines, a deal has been struck to keep greece within the eurozone. the immediate prospect of greece going bust, in the worst crisis to hit

the eurozone, has been averted. emergency services across central europe are stepping up their efforts to contain the worse floods this century. nearly 100 people have been killed. broadway is traditionally called the "great white way" by americans, but tonight it's completely blacked out. it's a timely reminder to all americans of the problems that the energy crisis has brought to them. leaders meet in paris for a summit on pollution, inflation and third world debt. this morning, theyjoined the revolution celebrations for a show of military might on the champs—elysees. finally, wildlife officials in australia have been coping with a penguin problem. fairy penguins have been staggering ashore and collapsing after gorging themselves on a huge shoal of their favourite food, pilchards. some had eaten so much they could barely stand.

this is bbc news. the latest headlines: president trump has sought to distance himself from racist chanting aimed at a somali—born congresswoman during his election rally on wednesday. he said he was not happy about people shouting "send her back". the us says its forces shot down an iranian drone that approached an american vessel near the strait of hormuz, but iran says it has no information about a downed drone. there has been an outpouring of sympathy injapan and around the world after an arson attack on an animation production studio in kyoto killed at least 33 people. the police are holding a 41—year—old man in custody, suspected of deliberately starting the blaze. rupert wingfield—hayes has more from tokyo. the more we learn about this attack, the more horrific the details become. as the fire crews have gone through this charred and blackened building, they have found more and more bodies, many of them apprently crowded

onto stairs as people tried to escape onto the roof of the building as the fire tore through it in a very, very short amount of time. as to the allegation that this was a deliberate attack, the police are saying they have a 41—year—old man in custody. they say he went into the bottom of the building, the first floor of the building, with a can of petrol or gasoline, and then spread it around the floor there and set fire to it. and they claim eyewitnesses heard him shout, "die," as he did that. so really a truly horrific scene there. the younger brother of the man who bombed the manchester arena in 2017 has appeared in court charged with the murder of 22 people who were attending a pop concert. hashem abedi was extradited to the uk from libya yesterday. the prosecution alleges he made detonator tubes for the bomb used by his brother and bought chemicals that were used in the explosives. daniel sandford reports. flown back from libya yesterday, this morning brought to his first court appearance in

an armoured police van. hashem abedi back in britain for the first time since the manchester arena bombing. in the dock, he confirmed his name and his british citizenship, and then listened as the names of all 22 people he is accused of murdering were read out. he is also accused of attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion. his older brother salman abedi detonated the bomb. hashem abedi is accused of helping him, of buying the car where bomb parts were stored, purchasing two key chemicals used to make the explosive, and manufacturing the detonator tubes. his lawyer said he denied any involvement, and was happy to come back to clear his name. he said he had been held in solitary confinement for two years, and had been tortured. the hearing lasted just 11 minutes, and then he was driven out again. hashem abedi has now been taken away to prison, where he'll remain until a court

appearance at oxford crown court on monday. it is the end of more than two years of difficult negotiations with the government and military groups in war—torn libya, and there was even a last—minute hitch yesterday, when the private jet that was to fly him back to biggin hill airport developed a fault. daniel sandford, bbc news, at westminster magistrates' court. let's get some of the day's other news: officials in southern afghanistan say a car bomb has exploded in the city of kandahar, killing at least 12 people and injuring 60 others. the attack took place near the entrance of the city police headquarters, and several gunmen started firing at the building afterwards. the taliban has admitted responsibility. britain's parliament has voted to make it more difficult for the next prime minister to try and force through a no—deal brexit. lawmakers have made it more difficult to suspend parliament, a move that borisjohnson, the favourite to become the next prime minister, has not ruled out. here in the uk, some 2 million cubic

metres of sand is being pumped onto a beach in norfolk to help save an eroding stretch of coastline. a giant dune will be created to protect a gas terminal which is crucial to the uk's gas supplies. our science correspondent rebecca morelle went to see how it is being done. a crumbling norfolk cliff, and perched on top, bacton terminal, which supplies one third of the uk's gas. but the coastline here is eroding so fast, in a few years, it could be lost. this, though, could be the answer — a £20 million experiment, on a vast scale, using sand to fight back the encroaching sea. this is a 24/7 operation. every hour, 10,000 cubic metres of sand is being pumped out. and, over the course of just a few weeks, it is going to create a massive sand dune, standing up to seven metres high and stretching for six kilometres. that's nearly four

miles along the coast. it is the first time this has been tried in the uk. the problem is so big and so unsolvable that it needs something radical like this, so the massive volume of sand, and then using the wind and waves and the tide to move the sand to where it needs to be over time, to provide 15—20 years of protection. this dredger is full of sand collected further along the coast from a licensed site. it then delivers it to the shore using a long pipe, releasing a mixture of sand and water. it is carefully shifted into position, working section by section to create the sandy barrier. when you've got national infrastructure like this, it's clearly being affected, and people can afford to pay to protect this. where you can't afford to protect the coast, do you just let it go? in some places, that's already happening, mainly in areas where it's just natural

farmland anyway. using sand is a change of approach for sea defences. usually it is concrete or rock, but this is a more natural method. the sand will ebb and flow with the currents, but should protect a larger stretch of coast over time. all eyes will be on this scheme to see if it works. rebecca morelle, bbc news, bacton in norfolk. this weekend marks 50 years since man first walked on the moon, an event watched live by a television audience of 600 million people. the pictures were broadcast thanks to a radio telescope in rural australia, which was later immortalised in the film the dish. our correspondent hywel griffith has been to meet one of the people who helped bring those famous images to the world. they've got the flag up 110w, and you can see the stars and stripes on the lunar surface. it was the tv moment of the 20th century. beautiful, just beautiful. the giant leap for mankind sent 384,000 km through space and onto screens around the world. it was only possible thanks to this dish. the parkes observatory

was one of three receiving the signal on earth. it produced the clearest pictures, and so was the main source of the tv images. david cooke was the senior receiver engineer. but the enormity of the occasion didn't strike him until later. if we started to think about what a great thing that we're doing, we're likely to break down and not do it properly. so only afterwards did i go down outside the telescope and look up and see the moon, and realise that there were three people up there, and two of them on the surface, and we had helped to put them there. that's armstrong. on the moon. much of the story was captured in the dish, the film which told the observatory‘s history, with a little dramatic license. for example, there wasn't really a power cut as the moment approached. but there was plenty of real—life

drama here on the day. just as the astronauts were landing on the moon, a storm arrived here in parkes, bringing wind gusts of over 100 km/h, causing the tower to shake and sounding the safety alarms. normally they would have shut down the dish, but they didn't want to miss their moment in history. it is one which has put parkes on the map, and keeps bringing visitors out to this country town. i find it very cool, ‘cause it's just amazing how that big thing can, like, see or, like, hear people out in space. i don't think they realise how much of an impact it had on history, when it comes from such a small town, and it is out in the middle of nowhere. and nowadays, we have this equipment... the dish is still in use, and is now 10,000 times more powerful than when it came into operation. one of their projects is to look for alien life. we scan the heavens, visible from here, looking

for evidence of radio emissions from alien civilisations. we haven't found anything yet, butjust imagine if a signal is found from another civilisation elsewhere. i mean, that'll just. .. there is still so much we don't know about the universe around us, but 50 years on, this dish is helping humans to see and think beyond our own planet. a reminder of the main news. president trump has tried to distance himself from the racist chanting at somali born congresswoman. the president has claimed he was not happy with the chanting, but video footage makes it plan he made no effort to stop it. there is much more on all the news

on the bbc website. thank you for watching. hello there. if you're hoping for warm weather, it might be worth sticking around until the end of this forecast, but in the meantime, some soggy weather to get through during the day ahead. this frontal system sliding in from the south—west, this is going to bring some outbreaks of pretty heavy rain northwards across many parts of the uk, and with that, a brisk breeze. that rain very quickly getting into south—west england and the south of wales through the morning. many other spots starting the day dry and clear, but through the rush hour, some very heavy rain falling across parts of the west country and particularly south wales. could well be some surface water and spray on the roads, some very poor travelling conditions, perhaps some disruption. but as we drift further north, across northern england, northern ireland and scotland, many places starting the day dry, with some spells of sunshine.

1a degrees there in glasgow, just a scattering of showers across the north of scotland. now, as we go through the day, this band of rain, perhaps with the odd flash of lightning, the odd rumble of thunder, will move its way northwards across the midlands, east anglia, up into northern england, clipping into northern ireland, getting into southern scotland, perhaps into the central belt by the middle of the afternoon. some showers chasing on from the south. the best of the dry weather, albeit with one or two showers, across northern scotland. some sunny spells here, temperatures of 19—21 degrees. now, on the southern flank of this rain band, there could be some thunderstorms breaking out across the far north of england, the far south of scotland through friday evening. another batch of wet weather sliding across southern parts of england. generally speaking, across the south—east of the uk, it's going to be a pretty muggy night, a muggy start to saturday morning. a little cooler and fresher across the north—west. now, the main body of the wet weather tied in with this frontal system here will be sliding eastwards as we get into saturday,

but low pressure still very much in charge. so yes, there will be some spells of sunshine, but also a scattering of showers, and some of those could be heavy, could be thundery, could crop up just about anywhere, but especially for central and eastern areas. temperatures 20—211 degrees, beginning to creep upwards again. split fortunes on sunday — england and wales having a predominantly dry day, increasing amounts of cloud, some sunny spells, but we'll see rain across northern ireland spreading into the western side of scotland. temperatures down towards the south may be into the middle 20s at this stage, but they will climb a little higher, i suspect, because early next week, heat will really be building across iberia and france. some spots up to a0 degrees, and that heat looks like getting drawn into at least the southern half of the uk. some spots into the low 30s celsius, but further north, it'll be cooler, and more unsettled as well.

this is bbc news, the headlines:

president trump says he didn't agree with racist chanting at a campaign rally in north carolina on wednesday, aimed at a somali—born democratic congresswoman. the president told reporters at the white house that he was not happy with the taunt. footage from the rally shows mr trump paused when the chants erupted. he specifically named three congress women of colour who criticised him to. him to. an american navy ship has shot down an iranian drone in the gulf. president trump said the drone had flown within a kilometre of the vessel, threatening the safety of its crew. but iran says it has no knowledge of any missing drone. injune, iran downed a us military drone in the area. ajudge in the us has ruled that financier jeffrey epstein must stay behind bars until his trial for sex trafficking. thejudge denied epstein's request

to to be under house arrest,