this is bbc news. a very warm welcome if you're watching here in the uk, on pbs in america, or around the globe. i'm mike embley. our top stories: brazil's president says his government doesn't have the resources to fight the record number of wildfires raging across the amazon rainforest. france's president macron tells his british counterpart, borisjohnson, there can be no major changes to the brexit agreement. the buses bangladesh hoped would repatriate hundreds of rohingya refugees — but nobody would get on board. and putting their necks on the line — one international body votes to combat the "quiet extinction" of the world's giraffes.

with a record number of wildfires raging across the amazon, there is mounting alarm worldwide. brazil's president has said his government lacks the resources to fight the fires, and jair bolsonaro has accused other countries who give money to preserve the rainforest of doing so, not for charity, but to interfere with brazilian sovereignty. the president has for the first time acknowledged that farmers in the amazon are starting fires, to clear land. but he's also accused non—governmental organisations. conservationists blame his government, saying he has encouraged uncontrolled logging and clearance. and the french president has added his voice, tweeting: "our house is burning. literally." he described the wildfires as an "international crisis" and called on this weekend's g7 summit to address the issue. from sao paulo, camila mota sent this. fire in the amazon's rainforest. this is happening in the world's largest and most important

ecosystem, that's home to three million species of plants and animals and one million indigenous people. it generates more than 20% of all the oxygen in our atmosphere. this is what it's like at ground level. brazil's had more than 73,000 fire outbreaks this year and more than half have been in the amazon. sao paulo, brazil's largest city, is over 1,600 miles from fires. but this week, in the middle of the day, it was plunged into darkness due to smoke from the fires. in recent months, the country's president has ripped up environmental protections for the amazon. who does he blame for the fires? translation: guarding the amazon fires, i'm under the impression they could have been started by the ngos because they'd asked for funding. what was their intention? to bring about problems for brazil. crowd chanting.

protesters have blamed bolsonaro‘s government for encouraging greater exploitation of the amazon, and weakening its environmental safeguards. this is how they greeted brazil's environmental minister at a climate conference. crowd booing. fires in the amazon caused by people are fairly common at this time of the year, but it was the arrival of smoke from the blazes here in sao paulo that ignited outrage in brazil and worldwide against the government's attitude towards the environment. camilla mota, bbc news, sao paulo. mauricio voivodic is the executive director of the world wide fund for nature in brazil. he says the fires coincide with an increase in the deforestation of the amazon basin. the deforestation rate this year is increasing compared to the previous yea rs

increasing compared to the previous years as is the number of fires in the vm it is not a record in history but it is at least 60% higher than the previous three or four years. why is this happening? there are several reasons for that. it is the start of the dry season right now which increases the possibility of fire in the amazon but it is really important to note that there is an increasing willingness of farmers to clear land, to convert forests, to put pastures in the forest and it has been incentivised by the government in brazil. when mrjair bolsonaro says there is a need for ngos to stop doing this, this is very concerning for us. what do you make of what the president has been saying and doing? the president is reducing the law enforcement in the

amazon and sending concerning state m e nts amazon and sending concerning statements that the forest is a problem for the brazilian economic development and he is also reducing the number of lower enforcement operations and saying there will not be any fines for those who are going to open or illegal activities the amazon. those statements are sent m essa 9 es amazon. those statements are sent messages forfarmers in amazon. those statements are sent messages for farmers in the frontier of deforestation that they can do whatever they want, that the government is not going to go there to do law enforcement so that creates a wave of more deforestation in the amazon. do you think that position the government is taking can be changed? if not what can be done? we hope it can be changed. we have not seen so far any kind of plan from the jair bolsonaro government for protecting the amazon

and everybody is concerned, not only was ill but internationally so that is good. we have seen that the could bea is good. we have seen that the could be a plan for protecting the forest but we're still waiting. six months of this new government and we are not any clear interest or plans for protecting the forest. the british prime minister, borisjohnson, has been meeting the french president emmanuel macron, as he tries to persuade european leaders to change the brexit deal reached last year, with the eu. 0n the key question of the backstop, which guarantees no return to a hard border on the island of ireland, mr macron said it was indispensable, a clear rebuttal to mrjohnson‘s demand to have it removed from the agreement. 0ur political correspondent ben wright was in paris for us. it's a short flight from berlin, but there is a long way to go. pilot: welcome to paris... yesterday angela merkel invited the uk to find solutions that might avoid a no—deal brexit

but little more than that. and today's trip promised to be tougher still for the prime minister. president macron has long said the existing brexit deal works and cannot be renegotiated, but borisjohnson is pushing for a different one, and seemed buoyed by his trip to germany. i was powerfully encouraged by our conversations last night in berlin, with our mutualfriends, and i know that, with energy and with creativity and application, we can find a way forward. but borisjohnson‘s key demand — the removal of the so—called irish backstop from the brexit deal — was given short shrift by president macron. translation: the key elements of this agreement, including the irish backstop, are notjust technical constraints or legal quibbling, but indeed indispensable guarantees to preserve the stability in ireland and the integrity of the single market, which are fully part of the agreement negotiated over a long period of time

between the uk and the eu. both the french president and chancellor merkel said borisjohnson now had 30 days to propose ideas that could eliminate the need for a backstop — an insurance policy to prevent a hard border. so, what's his plan? we think that there are ways of protecting the integrity of the single market, and allowing uk to exit from the eu, whole and entire and perfect, as it were. the prime minister mentioned ideas already rejected many times by the eu as unworkable, and president macron said any alterations to the deal would be small. translation: in the coming month, we are not going to find a new agreement very different from the current one. but if there are things that can be adapted, they have to meet the two objectives i've already mentioned, and they need to be found in the coming month. but the prime minister remained pugnacious. let's get on now in deepening and intensifying the friendship and the partnership between us, over lunch!

once again, borisjohnson‘s breezy optimism that a new brexit deal can be struckjars with what european leaders are actually saying. right now, it looks very unlikely that a compromise can be reached with so little time left. there is plenty of swagger in politics and, eye to eye, their talks would have been frank. an acrimonious and destructive no—deal brexit looms over these cordial—looking discussions, and neither side wants the blame for that. so, for now, the diplomacy goes on. ben wright, bbc news, paris. a second attempt by bangladeshi officials to repatriate rohingya refugees to myanmar has failed — no one turned up to board the vehicles to take them back across the border. in recent years thousands have sought refuge in bangladesh, fleeing violence by the military in myanmar. the government there had approved the return of more than 3,000, but what hapens next is unclear. ramzan karmali reports. there were buses waiting to take people back to myanmar

but no rush to board them. translation: until now, of the families interviewed, we have not found anybody willing to go. but we expect that, any moment, they may change their mind to go. this is the second attempt to repatriate some of the rohingya refugees. the first one was just as unsuccessful. since 2017, around 700,000 rohingya muslims have fled persecution in the northern rakhine province of myanmar and neighbouring bangladesh. for neighbouring bangladesh. myanmar refuses to recognise them as an ethnic group and denies them citizenship. translation: we will not go back. we want to go but along with armed forces from other countries. i am still scared as they tortured thousands of people and killed many of my relatives so i am scared to go back. iam scared. translation: if they release all our people now injail then we will go back, otherwise it will not go back. if we get back our homes, land and belongings then we will go.

we are ready to go back. the failed repatriation efforts come as a un report revealed the extent to which myanmar military systematically used sexual violence, including gang rape, as part of a strategy to intimidate the rohingya in 2016 and 2017. and the un themselves have doubts that myanmar is ready for the return of the refugees. we do not think that the situation is yet ready for any significant return but i think we need to work to make it ready. we need to work so that the situation can be conducive for return. that there can be safety. the failed repatriation effort this week coincides with the second anniversary of the 2017 crackdown in rakhine. for the majority at cox's bazar, the prospect of returning home still remains an unlikely outcome. ramzan karmali, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news. still to come:

seventy—five years on, a museum dedicated to the war—time liberation of paris prepares to open its doors. washington, the world's most political city, is today assessing the political health of the world's most powerful man. indeed i did have a relationship with ms lewinsky that was not appropriate. in fact, it was wrong. in south africa, 97 people have been killed today, in one of the worst days of violence between rival black groups. over the past ten days, 500 have died. chanting: czechoslovakia must be free! czechoslovakia must be free! chanting: czechoslovakia must be free! russia is observing a national day of mourning for the 118 submariners who died on board the kursk. we all with them now, within our hearts. the pope has celebrated mass before a congregation of more than 2.5 million people in his hometown of krakow.

"stay with us, stay with us," chanted this ocean of humanity. "well, well," joked the pope, "so you want me to desert rome?" this is bbc news, the latest headlines: brazil's president says his government doesn't have the resources to fight the record number of wildfires raging across the amazon rainforest. president macron of france tells his british counterpart there can be no major changes to the brexit agreement — but some minor alterations may still be possible. you may not know it but giraffes have quietly been going extinct for years. now their chances have improved considerably — the world's tallest mammals will have enhanced protection under the convention on international trade in endangered species. countries in west, central,

and east africa sponsored the move to regulate trade in giraffes and their body parts, and there was an overwhelming vote of approval at a meeting in geneva. jeffrey flocken, president of the humane society, told me how serious the problem is. it's been called the silent extinction, what they estimate is that in the last 30 years, nearly 40% of giraffes have disappeared from the savannas of africa. when i studied giraffes in the 90s in africa, we thought they were abundant, we had no idea that we were already well into this decline. just explain this opposition to this protection from countries in southern africa, it seems to be because in central and west africa, giraffes were in trouble, in southern africa, less so. we know overall the population is in trouble. the vote today was overwhelming. 106 nations voted in favour of protections to the species, only 21 voted against, and seven abstained. there are some countries that have luckily been able to keep thriving populations of giraffes overall,

we know they need protection and we they need to be protected across the population, so that won't be any trade in any poaching that can be done in disguise of legal trade. so the fact that this issue that they can be protected throughout africa is a benefit to all of them. and yet, jeffrey, this is not going to ban the trade in giraffe parts, is it? correct. bbut this a first step, the first time that nations import and export giraffe parts will have to trace and track what is being brought in and out of these countries. additionally, countries that export giraffe parts are going to have to be distract going to have to be able to show that this particular export will not be to the detriment of the population in the wild. it does seem absurd, doesn't it, that so—called trophy hunting is not considered trade under these definitions, despite the damage it does. really, it is problematic. we did a study of data in the us and over a 10—year period we found that 4000 giraffe

trophies were brought in. that is over a giraffe a day that had been killed for sport. knowing that same time, this population is in decline. so, going through this convention, and other attempts to help save the species, like listing them on the endangered species act, united states, maybe we can get this trade under control, and that's one of several threats that it's facing currently in the wild, but it's an easy one to address through protections like this. south korea has terminated its intelligence—sharing pact with japan — the latest in a tit—for—tat dispute that has damaged the two countries trade and diplomatic relationship. recently japan has removed south korea's favoured trade partner status and imposed export controls on its important electronics sector. the tensions date back to a dispute over reparations for japan's occupation of korea. indian administered kashmir has been tense for more than two weeks now after the indian government terminated the region's semi—autonomous status. under the country's new policy, kashmir‘s special powers

to make its own laws and give jobs to local people have been taken away. the government has deployed thousands of military personnel and internet services and mobile connections continue to remain suspended. the bbc‘s sameer hashmi sent us this report from indian—administered—kashmir. indian administered kashmir under lockdown. one of the world's most militarised regions basing unprecedented restrictions and now, voices of desperation have started to emerge. last week, in the inner quarters of the main city, srinagar, hundreds walked through these narrow alleys shouting slogans against the indian state. internet connection and mobile phone service still remain suspended. the indian government's decision to revoke kashmir‘s special privileges has left people fuming. translation: we condemn this decision and if the situation continues like this then everyone

here will pick up guns. translation: they have locked communication channels. we are not able to contact anyone. even if someone dies here, no—one will come to know. they have imprisoned us. even those not protesting have been caught in the crossfire. this seven—year—old was allegedly shot in her right eye by a sling—led bullet on the day of eid al—adha, an important islamic festival. varying reports say between 2,000 and 4,000 people are under detention. parween says her son aqib was one of them. he was picked up by security forces from their house on the south of kashmir. translation: they knocked on the door at 3:30am. they said, open the door or we will break it. they surrounded my son with guns.

when they were taking him away, they said they will leave him soon. since then, i haven't seen my son. prominent politicians in the region have already been arrested under a controversial act that allows the government to detain people for two years without charge. 0ne party is putting people under lockdown. as the ruling party, they have the right to take decisions but as the opposition, the other parties also have the right to oppose that decision. that is not being allowed and that is direct murder of democracy. that may sound very rhetorical but that is what is happening. anger has been rising in the region, leading to clashes between protesters and security forces. the ruling party has defended the clampdown, saying it was necessary to prevent violence. these are exceptional measures. these are not measures that are not ordinarily taken the course but these are not

ordinary circumstances. can you do it in a democracy? you can do it in a democracy sometimes. look, the idea is not that an entire population should be starved of basic communication facilities, that they should be kept isolated and insulated from the rest of the world and the rest of the country. the idea is a contingency measure. india has had a troubled relationship with kashmir for decades. the current unrest could become a defining moment. with anger simmering, the tense situation on the ground is unlikely to change anytime soon. sameer hashmi, bbc news, indian—administered kashmir. president trump has branded one of the main anti—fascist movements a terrorist organisation — he's considering officially designating it. many feel he hasn't done enough to curb white supremacist groups. 0ur north america correspondent

aleem maqbool reported on them earlier this week — now, from portland in oregon he's looking at the left. the rise of white supremacy in the us has seen a counter surge, in an anti—fascist movement that has come to be known as antifa. it gets attention when activists come out to oppose far right marches, often in dangerous confrontations with neo—nazis or the police. it's our duty, it's our obligation as human beings to come in and use our voice and use our bodies to protect our communities. i, personally, am comfortable with the thought that my life could be... like, i could die in order to make it easier for other people to live. many conservatives here say that antifa, and not the far right, is the real danger. in the past, antifa protesters have vandalised businesses and beaten people during rallies

in the name of anti—fascism. we are not going to let fascists take over peacefully. by whatever means. by any means necessary. which means the potential use of violence? u nfortu nately. luis, who has been arrested many times, insists it is never his objective to start violence, only to physically confront hate groups on the streets. but, even in recent days, we have seen that the antifa movement takes many other forms to oppose fascism. well, you don'tjust see anti—fascism expressed in this country on the streets when people come out to confront white supremacists. antifa has also found a home in the supporters clubs of some of america's professional football teams. the stadium at this

portland timbers game was awash with anti—fascist slogans and signs, and messages of inclusion. even the supporters club logo is that of the iron front — its three arrows representing opposition to nazism. and this is antifa, too. the metal band lockdown part of a thriving us anti—fascist music scene. so, what do they think about the president saying he is thinking of designating antifa a terrorist organisation? antifa is not an organisation whatsoever. itjust should be who you are as a human being. we've done nothing terroristic at all. we've committed no sorts of atrocities, unlike the other side, the far right side, where there have been many, many very deadly terroristic attacks. and when you do look at the mass shootings by white supremacists, at a black church or a synagogue or targeting latinos, there has been no equivalent

violence on the far left. that's not to say things aren't heading in a more extreme direction. aleem maqbool, bbc news, in portland, oregon. this weekend — france will mark 75 years since the liberation of paris. there'll be ceremonies to remember the moment when the free french — and their allies — entered the city, after four years of nazi occupation. a new museum will tell the dramatic story. the bbc‘s tim allman reports. a dark symbol of the past, a reminder of paris's occupation. around 7000 items are on display, gas masks, pistols, flags, the lessons of the war still relevant today. democracy is something you have to actually discuss, protect, and take care of. so this museum is absolutely necessary for the knowledge and the history of paris. as allied troops move onwards towards paris,

a three word announcement from the capital brings the great news, paris is liberated. millions to the streets when the allies entered the city in august, 19114. years of nazi rule were over, paris was finally free. the museum is built above the bunker used by resistance leaders during the war. in some ways, this is almost like hallowed ground. translation: in fact, there is an emotional aspect because we try to tell the story of how deep underground, the resistance succeeded in organising the liberations. little by little, undercover, in the days before this great historic event. the museum will officially open on sunday, the date german soldiers finally surrendered. the day when occupation became liberation.

thanks so watching, more on the bbc website and on hello there. just when we thought it was all over, it looks like summer is set to return. temperatures rising across the country over the next few days, really hotting up in the south—east of england where we'll find the peak of the temperatures. the last time we had 30 degrees was back in the heatwave at the end of last month. no heatwave this time and at the moment, around this area of high pressure, we've still got some moist atlantic winds and that weather front bringing some rain in the far north of scotland. that moist atlantic wind means all this cloud that we start the day with and around some of these western hills may well be a bit damp and misty. that mist and drizzle will tend to lift and the cloud thin and that rain across northern scotland should clear the mainland and head up towards the northern isles. sunnier skies coming in across southern england, then across wales, the midlands, across lincolnshire and east anglia, giving those temperatures a boost,

up to a high of 27 degrees or so in the south—east of england. further north, where we hang on to more cloud, those temperatures will be nearer 20 or 21 celsius. for the second day of the test match at headingley, it looks like it should be a dry day this time but for most of the day, i think there'll be a lot of cloud around. cloud only really breaks up later on in the evening session. we've got the cloudier skies then and they will continue to push their way northwards, with the clearance coming in from the south. but we've still got a bit of rain threatening the far north—west of scotland, perhaps northern ireland as well. if we look at the temperatures by the time we get into the weekend and again, they're sitting at 1a or 15 degrees. but it continues to heat up during this weekend because we've got warmer air coming in around that area of high pressure, and pushing its way northwards. still, that weather front is hanging around in the north—west corner of the uk and it threatens to bring one 01’ two more showers into the north—west of scotland for a while and perhaps even across westernmost parts of northern ireland. elsewhere across northern areas of the uk, there'll be more sunshine

on saturday and we've got the sunnier skies further south still and that heat continuing to build its way northwards, maybe getting into the mid—20s in the central belt of scotland. 27, 28 with the midlands, east wales and 30 in the south—east of england. still the chance of the odd shower in the far north—west of scotland, a bit more cloud for northern ireland. temperatures are never going to be as high here but sunny skies pretty much elsewhere, that warmth pushing its way further north into scotland and with the peak of the temperatures on sunday around the london area, 30 or 31 degrees. into the beginning of next week, there's some uncertainty. eventually, the weather is going to change. the really high temperatures are going to be stuck in the south—east on monday. there's the potential for some thunderstorms to come up from the near continent. it's rain from the north—west that's more likely, perhaps on tuesday.

this is bbc news. the headlines: a record number of wildfires are still raging out of control in the amazon. brazil's president says his government lacks the resources to fight them. jair bolsonaro has also accused other countries who give money to preserve the rainforest of doing so, not for charity, but to interfere with brazilian sovereignty. president macron of france has insisted a key element of the brexit agreement, the so—called irish backstop, is indispensable. at talks in paris with the british prime minister boris johnson, mr macron said it was essential to preserve political stability in ireland, and the integrity of the single market. an attempt to repatriate some of the hundreds of thousands of rohingya refugees who fled myanmar appears to have failed. not a single person boarded the vehicles laid on to take them from their camps in bangladesh back to myanmar. more than 3,000 had been offered a return.