this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. a month after the devastating blast in beirut, rescuers continue to dig for possible survivors as a minute's silence is held for the victims. controversial former australian prime minister tony abbott is appointed as a trade adviser to the uk — despite critics describing him as a homophobe, misoygynist and climate change and climate change denier. i don't agree with those sentiments at all, but i don't agree with everybody who serves the government and an unpaid capacity on hundreds of boards across the country. and i can't be expected to do so. quarantine confusion in the uk as scotland and wales impose new restrictions,

but no change for passengers arriving in england and northern ireland. barcelona superstar lionel messi agrees to stay at the club, days after insisting he wanted to leave, he says he doesn't want to drag the spanish club into court. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world — i'm reged ahmad. rescuers in beirut looking for survivors have been digging for over 2a hours, after a scanner suggested a pulse that could mean someone is still alive under the rubble. they had planned to stop at 10pm local time, that's now. earlier the city held a minute's silence for the victims of a huge explosion which devastated the port area of the city a month ago today.

orla guerin has sent this report from beirut. probing for signs of life, deep in the rubble. hidden from view, sensitive scanning equipment. in the hands of a specialist rescue team from chile. on thursday morning, they picked up what seemed to be breath sounds. and for two days, they have been searching. painstaking work, much of it done by hand, clawing away at a ruling that could collapse any second. the dust and debris being sucked out to clear and debris being sucked out to clear a pathway to the second floor, the focus of the search. the work is continuing care hour after hour. they are trying to lift the way the rubble with extreme care. and they are still trying to work their way down through about five layers of concrete. some local people have been here right through the night,

unwilling to leave, hoping that today of all days a survivor might be found. the lebanese film—maker the dean low back he was one of them. she connected her stuff away. you want to believe in america. i just wanted to come... it was an instinctive reaction to just come and see. —— believe in a miracle. i think we are all holding onto the small ray of light. after everything that has happened to us. this was the signal to call for complete silence with the so rescuers could scan again for signs of life. but late this afternoon, they could no longer detect any breathing. hopes ofa longer detect any breathing. hopes of a miracle were fading as lebanon approached 18:06pm local time. the moment of the blast a month ago.

church bells told near beirut port to honour the dead. some said in silence, remembering the last friends and colleagues. rather stood with ropes in their hands, a noose for the entire political leadership here. tamara saade, a freelance journalist and photographer, joins me from beirut. thank you so much for your time. first of all, everybody wants to know about this potential rescue that might be happening. i know they may have stopped digging at this point in time but what can you tell us point in time but what can you tell us about it? they have been digging for the past 36 hours nonstop. since they got the first signal around four p:m.. the rescue team where they later i joined by four p:m.. the rescue team where they later ijoined by others from lebanon and then underground and for

36 hours under an incredible thing happening to him a lot of tension and stress but also a lot of excitement anyway because that is still that glimmer of hope. obviously we will keep people updated as the rescue come potential rescue, may develop at this time, but that was a minute silence today as well. i wonder what people and beirut are telling you about how they feel a month on from this disaster. obviously today was a lot of grief for the one month anniversary, but also is also a lot of anger since the blast, there has been little or no response from the government, no responsibility, the grief anger and ask frustration as well. is there a sense a month later that the political situation and lebanon may be changing? that is been often discussed as being some of the reasons behind this disaster.

imean... changing of the reasons behind this disaster. i mean... changing might be a big word. we have a new prime minister, but people are reluctant to call it a change because they think it doesn't really matter. it is the same names that would keep happening to him the same political leaders we keep having over and over. change might bea keep having over and over. change might be a bit ambitious of a word to say right now. there's obviously a lot of people who are homeless, people who still have damaged homes as well. what is happening to those people? where are they going to live and get the amenities that they need? for the past month it is incredible to see the volunteers who have been on the ground, either the first few days cleaning homes in the streets, or raising funds and initiatives and even offering their own homes, so everything that has been happening the past month has

been happening the past month has been great. the government offered no shelter a response, no monetary damage for the welfare own. it's been a lot of people who didn't want to reach that point. we didn't want to reach that point. we didn't want to have the be in the situation. everything has been community less of our. —— community led so far. thank you so much for your time. we will keep me across that potential rescue 01’ will keep me across that potential rescue or not. they are digging in they don't know if somebody is still alive but we will bring you the latest as soon as we find it. the former australian prime minister tony abbott has been appointed as a trade adviser to the uk government. it comes after days of pressure to re—think the plan, over allegations of misogyny and homophobia. our political correspondent ben wright has more. tony abbott recently flew into the uk to meet ministers and face flak about his possible appointment as a trade adviser here. but, today, borisjohnson trumpeted

mr abbott's credentials. this is a guy that was elected by the people of the great liberal democratic nation of australia and you've been to australia, it's an amazing country, it's a freedom loving country, it's a liberal country. there you go, i think that speaks for itself. yes, i've had some discussions with members of the british government. the confirmation of mr abbott's appointment as an unpaid trade adviser comes after he was given a rough ride by a committee of mps earlier this week. in 2012, you said that men are, by physiology or temperament, more adapted than women to exercise authority or to issue command. look, i'm not sure that i ever did say that. tony abbott is from the right of australia's raucous politics. ditch the witch! a climate change sceptic, who spoke at this rally, mr abbott incurred the wrath of his political opponents for his reported views of women.

he wants to know what misogyny looks like in modern australia. he doesn't need a motion in the house of representatives, he needs a mirror. and it is not only labour mps who have spoken out on mr abbott. he is a misogynist, he has a poor record on lgbtq rights and he is no one who should be near our board of trade. but he will be on the group. the government have decided that his experience cutting deals for australia trumps complaints about the man's character. ben wright, bbc news, westminster. let's get more from our uk political correspondent rob watson. it's good to see you, rob. he is a controversial figure to be sure. why would the british government choose him? i think a couple of reasons. in terms of the controversy, i think the government know what they are

doing. ididn't the government know what they are doing. i didn't really mind. that is partly because the uk has to some extent imported the united states sort of culture war. this government thinks that an awful lot of the people that voted for in december in 2019, they rather do think this world has become too politically correct. they don't mind the controversy. the second reason is probably because they do think he will be a good advocate for the idea of global free will be a good advocate for the idea of globalfree trade will be a good advocate for the idea of global free trade both here will be a good advocate for the idea of globalfree trade both here in the uk and around the world. of globalfree trade both here in the uk and around the worldm of globalfree trade both here in the uk and around the world. is it possible that he could be a trade whiz and he could really help britain sign onto trade deals in order to compensate for leaving the eu? well, i think the first thing to say is that the government says that is not what mr abby or anybody else they've appointed to this trade board are supposed to do. they say the actual negotiating will be done by british government. —— mr abbott

said. it is more this idea of banking the drum if you like for global free banking the drum if you like for globalfree trade which banking the drum if you like for global free trade which we know that mr abbott supports. in terms of the broader question, if you put aside the controversy surrounding mr abbott, the bigger point is that all of the forecast so far from the government itself and from other forecasting organisations suggest that even if mr abbott and the rest of them are the best people in the world i doing free trade deals, then none of it can make up for the forecast loss and trade with britain p°pped forecast loss and trade with britain normed my forecast loss and trade with britain popped my biggest trading partner, the european union as a result of brexit. not even remotely make up for it. not the last we have heard of this i'm sure. thank you, rob. apologies for the audio problems there. after a protracted saga, lionel messi has decided to stay at barcelona. the argentinian forward initially said he wanted to leave after the club after barca were thrashed in the champions

league semifinal by bayern munich. but despite staying for another year, messi has lashed out at the club's management, accusing them of ‘covering up holes'. let's speak to the man who has been following the entire sage in microscopic detail — the spanish football journalist — guillem balague. it's thank you so much for your time. first of all, are you surprised by this? at first he says he will try and leave now he says he is staying. i think in the last i would say couple of days we've had the impression that something had changed after his dad met the president of barcelona. at that point, barcelona gave him the number. the other alternative. from that moment on it became clear in the mind of messy today that he did not want to take barcelona to court. that's the other alternative is to go to court. he feels that he is

right, legally he is right in the spirit of the law and the contract he signed with barcelona was that come at the end of the season come if you want to leave, you leave. you leave for free. that is what the contract said. barcelona are hanging onto the fact he should've said that before the 10th of june. onto the fact he should've said that before the 10th ofjune. he is asked today than at that point they were in the middle of a season and he had been thinking of leaving and he had been thinking of leaving and he had been told the president to leave for the whole year. but the president considered did not take that seriously and push the situation to a point where he feels messi staying on doesn't really want to. leno messi is described as the worlds greatest football. what did they say about the state of barcelona? —— lionel messi is described. exactly. that is such a good point. he should stay here. he talks about love and the club. he talks about when he told the family and it was a personal situation. he told the family used to be in the same area

since he was 13 really with a girlfriend he's had since his teenage years. and they been together both from there with kids that were born in barcelona. he didn't want to change. he's been here for 20 years. but things have been so badly at barcelona at that right now, they are in a negative dynamic that not even he can say. he has hit the crack for a long while but there's not much more he can do right now so he is talking about not only the president giving him a worried of letting them go by saying the club having a really a project that you don't see where they are going. that is giving him his word that he would let him go. in the last years of his career he wanted to go somewhere where he can win titles. you need to change. he is shouting that in barcelona are saying sorry, we just have you any contract. thank you very much for that. everybody will be watching

barcelona. stay with us on bbc news, still to come — confusion in britain over travel quarantine rules as scotland and wales announce one set of rules while england and northern ireland set out another. she received the nobel peace prize for her work with the poor and the dying in india's slums. the head of the catholic church said mother teresa was a wonderful example of how to help people in need. we have to identify the bodies, then arrange the coffins and take them back home. parents are waiting and wives are waiting. hostages appeared — some carried, some running — trying to escape the nightmare behind them.

britain lost a princess today. described by all to whom she reached out as "irreplaceable , " an early—morning car crash in a paris underpass ended a life with more than its share of pain and courage, warmth and compassion. this is bbc news, the latest headlines. a month after the devastating blast in beirut, rescuers continue to dig for possible survivors as a minute's silence is held for the victims. controversial former australian prime minister tony abbott is appointed as a trade adviser to the uk — despite critics describing him as a homophobe, misogynist and climate change denier. it's been a confusing day for british holiday—makers in certain countries — with the home nations now

disagreeing on quarantine rules for those coming to the uk. as of today, there are different regulations for people returning from portugal and greece depending on whether their final destination is scotland or wales, england and northern ireland. the transport secretary grant shapps says he admits the varying approach is confusing. our europe correspondent gavin lee reports from southern portugal. back to britain from faro airport this morning. where you're going back to now dictates whether you have to self—isolate. there's been no clarity from the government as to what we were doing. karen and mick are heading to birmingham. they don't need to quarantine, but they bought early tickets home because they thought they did. obviously not very happy. we feel as though we've lost two days of our holiday. it's cost us an arm and a leg. we're very disappointed. as more and more british tourists return home, it's clear to me how confusing many people find the new rules.

for example, if you're an english traveller flying to cardiff today, you can then drive back, won't have to self—isolate. but if you're welsh and say you land at birmingham today, you'll then go back and have to spend the next two weeks in isolation. and this new way of travelling has just become even more complicated. so just how do the uk nations differ on quarantine? if you live in scotland and are returning from portugal, from 4am tomorrow you have to self—isolate for 1h days. the same applies if you're coming from anywhere in greece. if you're arriving back in wales from portugal, self—isolation starts today, but the welsh government only requires you to quarantine if you're coming from specific greek islands. in england and northern ireland, there are no quarantine restrictions. portugal has seen a rise in coronavirus cases in recent days, going just above the uk's margin of safety of 20 cases per 100,000 people, but the tourist destinations of the algarve aren't the problem. so why are politicians taking such

different approaches? we look at the data and then we do speak, but i'm afraid quite often, coming to slightly different outcomes. hugs and relief at glasgow airport this afternoon as travellers made it back before their isolation deadline. but few are smiling about the decision here. we had to change our flight. we're just disappointed that scotland obviously had to go into quarantine, but england don't. so it seems ridiculous. people are all going to fly into england now and drive up the road, know what i mean? it was a risk. we knew that we were making a risk anyway, so we only lost a day. it is annoying but i'm just glad we made it home in time. it's estimated that more than 30,000 uk holiday—makers have headed out here since the travel corridor opened two weeks ago. golf and good weather, a magnet for older travellers, the so—called silver season. but today there have been notably fewer arrivals than usual.

the financial and logistical challenge of taking an unpredictable break here is perhaps too much of a gamble. portuguese of a gamble. over the operators had told portuguese over the operators had told us that they have cancelled the 4000 hotel rooms this week from british holiday—makers who booked for autumn holidays because of the uncertainty and this afternoon and one party gives government official has messaged me to say she is flummoxed that there are parts of britain declared during this country anogo britain declared during this country a no go and the part that says that it is safe and there is no other european countries that have put a blanket quarantine for the country on return. it matters because the british tours are the backbone of the economy. they are more from the uk than any other country. their absence hits hard here. nato says russia has serious questions to answer over the poisoning of the opposition leader alexei navalny. and the us has said it has grave concerns about the incident. mr navalny remains in an induced coma in a hospital in berlin, recovering from what german

officials say was a novichok nerve agent attack on an internal flight in russia last month. our security correspondent frank gardner reports. still critically ill, still in a berlin hospital, russia's most prominent government critic, alexei navalny, poisoned, say his doctors, with a novichok nerve agent on a flight across russia. now nato and the west are demanding answers from moscow. nato allies agree that russia now has serious questions it must answer. the russian government must fully cooperate with the organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons on an impartial international investigation. those responsible for this attack must be held accountable and brought to justice. here the foreign secretary, dominic raab, called the poisoning of utterly deplorable. he is insisting on the full and transparent investigation.

the kremlin says it will investigate but it complains it has not been shown any evidence of poisoning. translation: our specialists are carrying out checks, investigative actions. if there is a confirmation of the presence of poisonous substances, there is no doubt an investigation will be launched. we are asking everybody to rely on the fa cts . there are disturbing echoes here of what happened in salisbury more than two years ago. a novichok nerve agent developed in soviet laboratories was used to poison the former russian kgb defector sergei skripal and his daughter. britain blamed it on to a russian military intelligence officers. moscow denied responsibility. then there was alexander litvinenko, anotherformer kgb officer. he died in a london hospital in 2006, after his assassins slipped radioactive polonium into his tea. today, his widow says russia cannot be trusted with an investigation. unfortunately, russia is not a democratic country right now.

it's a lot of signs of dictatorship regime. and doing business as a dictatorship regime you have a different approach. and everything what you try to do as you did before, you can't say now is business as usual. all this throws an uncomfortable spotlight on president putin and the kremlin dealership. but mr navalny, who campaigned against corruption and many powerful enemies in russia, despite the global outrage, it is possible we may never learn the truth of who poisoned him. frank gardner, bbc news. with the paralympics postponed to 2021 because of the covid—19 pandemic, we're taking a stroll down memory lane to look back on some of africa's greatest paralympians. and today, we hear from an amazing swimmer who became one of the few athletes to compete in both olympics and paralympics, the south african natalie du toit. the multi—paralympian

champion spoke to bbc sport africa's victwaa ayuom. as a teenager, swimmer natalie du toit was considered as one of south africa's most talented sporting prospects. then her leg was amputated below her left knee, but she refused to let this stop her professional career. an accident is a moment in time. and you look back and you, i have half a leg less than what i had, and ultimately, it is waking up every day, putting on a prosthesis and saying right, i'm going to start my day. so you are facing it every day. and i think it is a choice every day as to what your choice would be. and that is how the south african made history, by qualifying for the 2002 commonwealth games in manchester, england the following year. she competed in both disabled

and able bodied events. 2002 was a whirlwind. i had been disabled in 2001, and i got back into the water probably about six months after my amputation. the commonwealth games was the next big event for south africa and i qualified for it. and then i had the ability to take part in the 800 metre freestyle, which was an able—bodied event and the disability races, they are all sprinting events, and i'm definitely not a sprinter. and she went way further. du toit won several gold medals at the 2004 paralympic games, she then qualified in 2008 for the paralympic and olympic games in beijing. she became the first athlete to carry the flag for a country at both the olympics and paralympics in the same year. she successfully ended her career at the london paralympics in 2012 with more medals. whetherfrom motivational speaking or sports, her message to other is the same —

to persevere in life. stay with us on bbc news. hello there. our weather is going to stay pretty quiet into the weekend, but it's often going to be quite cloudy, just like it was today for many of us. we had skies like these in herefordshire, but those kind of skies were quite widespread across england and wales today. further north, there is a bit of sunshine from northern ireland, scotland, on the far north of england, where we've also had some passing showers as well. the satellite picture picks up on those shower clouds across the northern half of the country, with that thicker layer of cloud across england and wales. but spitting out into the atlantic, we're looking at the next weather system just upstream. this area of cloud just passing to the south of iceland is racing towards our shores just in time for this weekend. overnight tonight, we're going to see some cloud and probably some rain for a time, working across east anglia and southeast england. it won't last very long and it will clear out of the way,

followed by clear skies. notice those showers will continue across the north and west, particularly for northwest scotland, although there will be a few in northern ireland and the northwest of both england and wales overnight. temperatures 8—12 . heading into the weekend, as i've already hinted at, it looks pretty cloudy, really. there'll be some rain around, likely to be quite patchy, quite light, not really amounting to too much. and it will tend to be biased across northwestern areas initially on saturday, a few sunny spells around as well. for northern scotland, showers from the word go. some of those still quite blustery, quite heavy, but some bright and sunny spells between these. some of those still quite blustery, quite heavy, but some bright and sunny spells between these. a lot of cloud elsewhere though, particularly for northern ireland and for the northwest of england and wales with patchy outbreaks of rain coming and going here. could turn out to be quite a damp day, although the rain probably not too heavy. and there will be some areas that stay entirely dry. southern wales, parts of southern england, maybe areas of eastern england and eastern scotland as well having the best of

the dry conditions. the second half of the weekend again looks pretty cloudy, and there will be some further patches of rain developing. but notice the rain this time could be a little bit further eastwards. scotland, meanwhile, should have a drier day, particularly through the central belt, with some bright or sunny spells getting through here, and showers becoming increasingly limited to the far north east of scotland. on into next week, we have areas of low pressure passing to the north of the uk with weather front sliding and snaking across central portions of the uk. all in all, it looks like it will be quite cloudy with those weather fronts still bringing the threat of a little bit of rain. it turns a little warmer for a time across the south and east. that's your weather.

this is bbc world news, the headlines: controversial former australian prime minister tony abbott is appointed as a trade adviser to the uk. critics say he is a homophobe and misoygynist and climate change denier. quarantine confusion as scotand and wales impose new restrictions, while there's no change in england and northern ireland. lockdown restrictions are to be eased in west yorkshire, lancashire and greater manchester, but not bolton, whilst leeds has been added to the government's coronavirus watchlist. rescuers in lebanon continue to search in the rubble for possible survivors after some signs of life were heard yesterday. those are the latest headlines here on bbc world news. coronavirus restrictions are to be eased in west yorkshire,

lancashire and greater manchester apart from bolton. public places including bowling alleys, conference centres and indoor play areas will be able to reopen from tuesday. but people in leeds have being warned they're now on a watchlist of coronavirus hotspots, after a rise in the number of cases in the city. almost half a million people could face new restrictions and the local council says the community has reached a "pivotal moment". our health editor hugh pym, has the details another city and another new challenge in the bid to control the virus. this time leeds is facing up to an increase in cases and local council and health leaders are considering new restrictions. it's premature to talk about lockdowns at this stage, but clearly if it's felt that there does need to be restrictions of movement, for example, then that's something of course that we will have to put in place.

local people we spoke to agreed there was a need for caution. i know if it was my grandparents at risk, i'd want us to go into another lockdown to save them. limiting when we go out, to only go out when we really have to, you've just got to... well, yeah, like i said, you've just got to be responsible and just not be stupid, really. but elsewhere, there are more encouraging signs. in luton, extra restrictions were imposed after a rise in case numbers, but they were relaxed last month after action by the local council. this included intensive testing of people without symptoms to locate problem areas. we have seen a lot of asymptomatic spread, so a lot of people who don't have symptoms have been tested positive, and that's helped us track those outbreaks and work out how we can try and stop them before they become a wider cluster. but she told me that recent testing capacity problems had affected their efforts. we are asking, just for the next week or so, for people only with symptoms to be tested in luton to make sure we have enough capacity.

it is proving to be a challenge for us, as it is for other areas. there is a sense here in luton that things are moving in the right direction with tackling the virus, but civic leaders know that could change and they don't want local people to drop their guard on safety and social distancing. some i talked to don't want further easing. i think we are all aware about the measures they are taking to boost the economy. it's the point at which, should there be a higher focus on public health still before the economy? a lot of people are just feeling like it's all gone back to normal now as well. so not many people are actually using the social distancing that we are supposed to be doing. schools are going back, more people are travelling to workplaces, and winter is getting closer. every community knows they must tread carefully if the virus is to be restrained. hugh pym, bbc news. the latest government figures show there were 1,940 new confirmed coronavirus cases reported across the uk,

in the latest 24—hour period. that means the average number of new cases reported per day in the last week was 1,530. ten deaths were also reported, of people who'd died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test. that means on average in the past week, seven deaths were announced every day, taking the total number across the uk to 41,537 let's get more now on the confirmation that former australian prime minister tony abbott has been appointed as a trade adviser to the uk government. it comes after days of pressure to deny him the role over allegations of misogyny and homophobia. speaking earlier, the prime minister borisjohnson defended mr abbott's appointment. i obviously don't agree with those sentiments at all, but i don't agree with everyone who serves the

government in capacity on hundreds of bras across the country. and i can't be expected to do so —— hundreds of broad. what i would say about tony abbott, he was elected by the people of the great liberal democratic nation of australia, and it's an amazing country, it's a freedom loving, liberal country. there you go. i think that speaks for itself. earlier, my colleague karin giannone asked the former australian high commissioner to the uk, mike rann, for his reaction to mr abbott's appointment. it's bizarre. i think the general feeling in australia is one of bemusement and amusement. a country, a nation like britain, with 66 million people with a very proud history of diplomacy, reaches out to

australia, can't find someone in their own district and re—to australia to get someone who is turfed out by his own government afterjust turfed out by his own government after just two years. turfed out by his own government afterjust two years. then turfed out by his own constituency in one of the safest tory seats in australia. people are saying why would they do this when the last thing tony's known for is diplomacy. of course, britain and its free trade agreement has a deal with a whole series of nuanced complex issues, so why would they pick someone issues, so why would they pick someone who's known for picking a scrapper with everyone rather than negotiating a deal? he was nonetheless prime minister of australia. he signed trade deals with south korea, china, what in that capacity help access australian and asian markets? andrew robb was the trade minister that negotiated those deals, as well as others. tony

came in and was there for the signing and the press conference. i think across the board, the political bathroom in australia and in britain, people are baffled —— political spectrum. all these issues will come up like the moto or industry in britain. my advice to the motor industry is have a look at this guy's track record back and when he was prime minister. when the entire car industry basically closed down because of his actions in terms of neglect. also, it's going to be at the centre of an fda agreement, between australia and the united kingdom. it will be agriculture. australian farmers want to get into the british market, and that's absolutely at the core of this. so where is tony abbott going to be on there? is he going to be fighting? who knows? i guess that's remains to

be seen? why do you think he's been appointed to this role?|j be seen? why do you think he's been appointed to this role? i think what this is, i call this a captain's called by borisjohnson. i think that what happened is that he wants someone, that what happened is that he wants someone, climate denier, who appeals to the right wing of the tory party in britain, but he's a bit of a talisman for boris to ways waiver. i promised you brexit, we now bring in this tough guy, ijust hope britain doesn't put him before the french and eu negotiators, or indeed others where some listening is required and some delicacy is required. former australian high commissioner to the uk. borisjohnson insists the high speed rail link, hs2, is "crucial" for the country, as he marked the official start of construction on the tracks for the project,

costing more than a hundred billion pounds. the first phase would see a 140 mile line running from euston in london to a new station at curzon street in birmingham. trains will carry more than a thousand passengers, and reach speeds of up to 250 miles an hour. the second phase would then run services north from birmingham to manchester and leeds. borisjohnson says 22,000 newjobs will be created, but critics warn more jobs will be lost and the harm to the environment will be catastrophic. our business correspondent, katy austin the details. the diggers are digging, construction is now officially under way after years of preparatory work. this site near solihull will become hs2's interchange station, part of a major transport hub for the west midlands. as you can see, we've only got four or five members of staff in. the boss of this accountancy firm a few miles away believes it will bring huge benefits. we will see greater investment from overseas into this region. as a result of that greater investment we will see more

businesses growing in this region. as a result of that, there is more business out there for us to grow our business and provide support to them. hs2 is currently europe's largest infrastructure project and building it will be a mammoth task. the first phase alone between london and birmingham is due to cost at least £35 billion. it is due to open by 2031. it will require 32 miles of new tunnels and 150 bridges. 1 million tonnes of steel will be needed. opponents have long criticised the scheme for delays and spiralling costs. one independent estimate says the full project could cost more than £100 billion. the railway is going to come through here, very up. and sheila, who lives near the village of balsall common, is one of those who has long opposed it for environmental reasons, such as the destruction of ancient woodland. i won't give up the fight. i do feel deeply depressed but i intend to continue trying to get mitigation for all the disastrous effects of it.

hs2's supporters say it will help with capacity on the rail network, boost connectivity and create jobs. the pandemic has now changed the world of work with a move towards more home—working, so is a high—speed rail line still needed? on a visit to the solihull construction site today, the prime minister said it was. i've got absolutely no doubt that mass transit, transport infrastructure, is going to be crucial for our country, not just now but in the decades ahead. and this incredible project is going to be delivering 22,000 jobs. campaigners against hs2 say it will actually displace almost as manyjobs as you say it will create. are they right? no, we don't recognise that statement at all. this is about creating jobs in the sector and in all the support sectors for something of this scale. the project remains controversial. campaigners from stop hs2 and extinction rebellion protested in london today. but also today, a reminder

it is happening, with a renewed vote of confidence from the prime minister. katy austin, bbc news. in the wake of the grenfell fire that claimed 72 lives in 2017, the government pledged they would accept the findings that came out of the inquiry into the tragedy in full. but it would already seem that this isn't happening. recommendations that disabled residents of high rise tower blocks should have their own personalised plans on how they could escape in an emergency may not be introduced. caroline davies spoke to one woman who lost her mother in the fire. she was just the most humble, loving, caring for everyone. she was like everyone's mum. this woman lived in greenville tower. she had mere arthritis, struggle to use the stairs and use a walker. she was housed on the 18th floor. she never wa nted housed on the 18th floor. she never wanted to be in a tower block. she

a lwa ys wanted to be in a tower block. she always hated the idea of being so high up, and we always assumed she would be moved into a lower level flat. she only found out about the fire when she woke up that morning. it's very hard to live with. every time you sleep, you wonder what else you will sleep through. she and her sister fatima died this night. her mother was never given a day and don't plan of how she could escape. if there is an effort to make a plan, there was no way she could have escaped. so she wouldn't have been put there in the first place. for others, maybe it would make a huge difference, life or death. but my mum was always put in a death trap. many of those in the grand bell tower fire had some form of disability. some survived. this is the video one wheelchair user being carried to safety, but others did not. sir martin moravec recommended...

the housing minister had previously said that the government would accept the findings of the report in full. now the home office has put off this consultation. it proposes to give personal evacuation plans to people who are disabled in blocks with dangerous cladding, but according to the government was my own excrement ‘s, there are over 150,000 people living with disabilities and tower blocks across the country —— government's own estimates. the details of who would need extra help to evacuate would be keptin need extra help to evacuate would be kept ina need extra help to evacuate would be kept in a box by the entrance for the fire brigade to use. some experts are worried that firefighters won't always have the right equipment or knowledge to deal with every type of disability, and that this plan leaves disabled people waiting until they arrive.|j always wondered what type of rule would be, if we passed a law that

said every fire door to remain locked and only be opened on arrival of the fire and rescue services, this is essentially what happens to disabled people. the government have said they are doing everything in their power to implement the phase one recommendations of the grant fell in fiery, —— inquiry. one recommendations of the grant fell in fiery, -- inquiry. it'sjust a great kind of game for everyone, keeping everyone injobs, spending money and nobody listens, really. people's lives remain at risk. i think as a society, we should be ashamed of that for putting disabled people in the corner. you're watching bbc news. now it's time for newswatch. hello and welcome back to newswatch

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