longer summers. sir david than longer summers. sir david acknowledges that these are bold ambitions, but he says he time for action is now. i do know that if you help the natural world, the word becomes a better place for everybody. ordinary people worldwide are beginning to realise that greed does not actually lead to joy. we are right on the coast. it is becoming clear that protecting the environment is the issue that will define prince william's public role from now on. you can hear the ducks and geese all along the coast. he says he hopes the earthshot prize will help repair the planet, no less. the idea is that it will call forth new and innovative ways to bring real change. the prince told the bbc today that he has taken inspiration from his father, prince

charles, and now regards championing environmental action is one of his key responsibilities. justin rowlatt, bbc news. you can hear prince william talking about the launch of the earthshot prize in a bbc news special, and there's a further interview with sir david attenborough in the new podcast, what planet are we on? both are available now on the bbc sounds app. time for a look at the weather. over the next few days as we head into the weekend, it's going to be feeling a bit cooler. lower temperatures by day and by night. that is because we have high pressure to the west of the uk. we are drawing down this cold north and north west air stream, bringing cold airall the north west air stream, bringing cold air all the way down from iceland. earlier today, we had milder conditions across southern areas of the uk. but it has come with a lot of cloud and there has been rain and drizzle. the last of that is clearing away from the south—east of england. that rain is moving out

into the english channel. sunny spells following to many parts of the country, although it is still cloudy across east anglia by the end of the day, she was continuing into scotland. yesterday evening was the peak of the meteor shower, but that coincided with cloud coming from the atlantic. but this evening, we should have clearer skies arriving, particularly across england and wales, those showers tending to fade away. but for scotland and northern ireland, we have the wind picking up. that will blow in more cloud and bring rain down from the to northern england and north wales by the end of the night. ahead of that, we will find it being quite a bit colder than last night. a little bit chilly in the glens of scotland where, after the overnight rain, we have sunshine and showers for scotland and northern ireland. some heavy ones, with hail and thunder as well. after the rain, those showers and sunshine come to northern england and wales, rain in the afternoon across southern england and it will be heavier by then. the winds are

turning into the west or north—west. it will be windier across western scotla nd it will be windier across western scotland where we have more frequent showers, and temperatures are falling away. as we head into the weekend, we start with that cold north to north—westerly wind and then high pressure trying to build in from the atlantic means lighter winds for the second half of the weekend. feeling chilly on saturday. some sunshine and showers. the bulk of the show across northern and western parts of the uk. eastern england may be dry with sunshine, but is going to feel quite chilly. the second half of the weekend sta rts the second half of the weekend starts quite cold, with the strongest of the winds down the north sea coast of scotland and england, where we are more likely to catch a few showers. other areas may be joy. catch a few showers. other areas may bejoy. some catch a few showers. other areas may be joy. some sunshine, catch a few showers. other areas may bejoy. some sunshine, not as catch a few showers. other areas may be joy. some sunshine, not as windy, but still a disappointing temperature. thank you, darren. time for the news where you are.

you're watching bbc news. now — extended highlights of the us vice—presidential debate last night between the current vice—president mike pence and his democrat challenger kamala harris. please welcome california senator kamala harris and vice president mike pence. the american people have witnessed what is the greatest failure of any presidential administration in our country. and here are the facts. 200

and 10,000 dead people in this country in the last few months, over 7 million people who have contracted the disease. one in five businesses closed. we are looking at front—line workers who have been treated like sacrificial workers. we are looking at over 30 million people who, in the last several months, had to file for unemployment. here is the thing, onjanuary for unemployment. here is the thing, on january 28, the for unemployment. here is the thing, onjanuary 28, the vice president and the president were informed about the nature of this pandemic. they were informed that it is lethal in consequence, airborne, that it will affect young people, and that it would be contracted because it is airborne. and they knew what was happening and they didn't tell you. can you imagine if you knew on january 28 as opposed to march 13 to what they knew? what you might have done to prepare? they knew and they

covered it up. the president said it was a hoax. they minimise the seriousness of it. the president said you are on one side of his ledger if you wear a mask, you're on the other side if you don't. in spite of all of that, today they still don't have a plan. they still don't have a plan. joe biden does and our plan is about what we need to do on the national strategy for contact tracing and testing, administration of the vaccine and making sure that it will be free for all. that is the plan thatjoe biden has and that i have, knowing that we have to get a hold of what has been going on and we need to save our country and joe biden is the best way to to do that and, frankly, this administration has forfeited their right to re—election based on the thank you, senator harris. art a nation and sponsor a very challenging time this year. i want

the american people to know that from the very first day donald trump is put the health of the american first. before there were more than five cases in the united states, all people who had returned from china. president donald trump did what no other american president had ever done and that was he suspended all travel from china, the second largest economy in the world. now, senator, joe biden opposed that decision, he said it was seen phobic and hysterical. i can tell you having led the white house coronavirus task force that that decision alone by president trump brought us invaluable time to bring about the greatest mobilisation since world war ii and i believe it save hundreds of thousands of american lives, because in that time we we re american lives, because in that time we were able to reinvent testing. more than 150 million tests have been done to date. billions of supplies so doctors and nurses had the support they needed. and we

began before the month of february to develop a vaccine. under president trump's leadership we believe operation works we will have millions of doses of vaccines before the end of the year —— warp speed. when you look at the biden plan it reads an awful lot like what president trump and i and our task force have been doing every step of the way. quite frankly, when i look at their plan, it talks about advancing testing, creating new ppe, developing a vaccine, it looks a little bit like plagiarism, which is something joe biden knows a little bit about. i think the american people know that this is a president who is... the american people i believe with my heart can be proud of the sacrifices they have made... vice president p, you're in the front row at a rose garden event 11 days ago, what seemed to be a

spreader with no social distancing, umass and a cluster of coronavirus cases amongst those who were there. how can you expect americans to follow the administration safety guidelines to protect themselves from covid when you at the white house had not been doing so? —— pence. the american people have demonstrated over the last eight months that when given the facts, they are willing to put the health of theirfamilies they are willing to put the health of their families and neighbours and people they don't even know first. president trump and i have great confidence in the american people. and their ability to take that information and put it into practice. in the height of the epidemic, when we were losing, a heartbreaking number of 200 two americans a day, the american people make the sacrifices. when the

outbreak cabin the summer, the american people step forward. the work of the president of the united states goes on. the vacancy on the supreme court of the united states has come upon us and the present energy thank you, mr vice president. there isa thank you, mr vice president. there is a great backlash about the event. many that were at the event were tested for coronavirus and it was an outdoor event which all of our scientists regularly and routinely advise. the difference here is, president trump and i trust the american people to make choices in the best interest of their health. on the issue of the economy i think they can be more fundamental difference between donald trump and joe biden. joe biden believes you measure the health and the strength of america's economy based on the health and the strength of the american worker. and the american

family. on the other hand, you have donald trump, who measures the strength of the economy based on how rich people are doing. which is why he passed a tax bill benefiting the top 1% and the biggest corporations ofa top 1% and the biggest corporations of a medical, top 1% and the biggest corporations ofa medical, leading top 1% and the biggest corporations of a medical, leading to a $2 trillion deficit that the american people are going to have to pay for. on day one joe biden will repeal that tax bill, he'll get rid of it. and what he was there with the money is invested in the american people. through a plan that is about investing in every structure, something donald trump said he would do...| something donald trump said he would do... i remembered hearing about and in production a week, i don't think it ever happen. butjoe biden will do that. it's about upgrading roads and bridges but investing in clean and bridges but investing in clean and renewable energy. joe is going to invest that money in what we need to invest that money in what we need to do around innovation. there was a time when our country believed in science and invested in research and development, so that we were an

innovation leader on the globe. joe biden will use that money to invest in education, so, for example, folks who want to go to a two—year community college, it will be free. if you come from a family that makes less than $125,000, you go to a public university for free. and across the board we will make sure that if you student loan debt, it is cut by $10,000. that is howjoe biden thinks about the economy, by investing in the people of our country, as opposed to passing a tax bill that had the benefit of letting american corporations go offshore to do their business. one person trump andi do their business. one person trump and i took office, america are going to the slowest economic recovery since the great pression. —— depression. president trump cut taxes across the board. despite what senator harris says, the average american family of four had $2000 in

savings and taxes. with the rise in wages that occurred, most predominantly poor blue—collar hard—working americans, the average household income for a family of four increased by $4000 following president trump's tax cuts, but america, you just heard senator harris tell you that on day onejoe biden is going to raise your taxes. it's really remarkable to think, right after a time where we are going through a pandemic that lost 22 millionjobs at going through a pandemic that lost 22 million jobs at the height, going through a pandemic that lost 22 millionjobs at the height, we have already added back 11.6 million jobs because we had a president who cut taxes, rollback regulation, unleashed american energy, bopper and fair trade unleashed american energy, bopper and fairtrade and unleashed american energy, bopper and fair trade and secured sports chilean dollars from the congress of the united states give to american families. save 50 millionjobs through the payment protection programme. we have spared no expense to help the american worker through this. joe biden and kamala harris

wa nt to this. joe biden and kamala harris want to raise taxes, barrier our economy under a $3 trillion new deal, which you were one of the original sponsors of the united states senate. they want to eliminate fossil fuels and ban fracking which would destroy many jobs. and joe biden wants to go back to the economic surrender to china. when we took office half of our international trade deficit was with china alone. he wants to repeal all the tyres, trump in the fight for americanjobs the tyres, trump in the fight for american jobs and workers. biden says democracy is on the ballot. make no mistake, susan, the american comeback is on the ballot with four more years of growth and four more yea rs of more years of growth and four more years of president donald trump. 2021 will be the biggest economic yearin 2021 will be the biggest economic year in this country's history. a sign that we saw enough of the fifth and last week's debate that this is supposed to be based on truth...

biden has been clear that he will not raise taxes. and he said he will repeal trump's tax cuts. mr vice president, i'm speaking. he said twice last week he will repeal the tax cuts, those which give the average working family 2000 dollars tax break every year. that is absolutely not true. if you don't mind letting me finish, we can then have a conversation. please. joe biden will not raise taxes on anyone that makes less than $400,000 a year. he has been very clear but that. he will not in fracking, he's been very clear about that. joe biden is the one who, during the great recession, was responsible for the recovery act that brought america back and now the trump pence

administration wants to take credit when they rode the coat—tails ofjoe biden's success for the economy had the beginning of their term. now the economy is a complete disaster. but joe biden on the one hand did that. on the other hand you have donald trump us reigned over a recession thatis trump us reigned over a recession that is being compared the great depression. on the one hand you have joe biden who was responsible with president barack obama for the afforda ble president barack obama for the affordable care act, which brought health care to over 20 million americans and protect people with pre—existing conditions, and what it also dead, except those families who otherwise were going bankrupt, because of hospital bills they could not afford. with regard to the supreme court of the united states, let me say president trump and i could not be more enthusiastic about the opportunity to see joe

could not be more enthusiastic about the opportunity to seejoejimmy connie barrett become just as a connie barrett become just as a connie barry. she is a great woman will bring a lifetime of experience and a sizeable american family to the supreme court in eight states. our hope is that mix week, unlike justice kavanaugh, we hope to get a fair hearing. we critically hope we don't see the kind of attacks on her christian faith that we saw before. the democratic chairman of the judiciary committee, before when judge barry was being confirmed for the court of appeals, express concerns of the dog mother of her fate lea pt concerns of the dog mother of her fate leapt loudly concerns of the dog mother of her fate lea pt loudly in concerns of the dog mother of her fate leapt loudly in her —— barrett. —— the dogma of herfaith. the catholic knights of columbus, just because the knights of columbus holds pro—life view... because the knights of columbus holds pro-life view... thank you, mr vice president, your time is up. she

will be respected... senator harris, you are the senator from former attorney general of california, so let me ask a parallel question. what would you want californians to do, no restrictions on access to abortion? percival, joe biden and i are both people of faith, and it's insulting to suggest that we would knock anyone for their faith. in fa ct, knock anyone for their faith. in fact, joe, if elected, will be only the second practising catholic as president of the united states. on theissue president of the united states. on the issue of this nomination, joe andi the issue of this nomination, joe and i are very clear, as are the majority of the american people. we are 27 days before the decision about who will be the next president

of the united states. before, when his conversation has come up, it has been about election time, we are literally in an election. over 4 million people have voted. 4 million people. in the process of voting right now. joe has been clear, let the american people fill that seat in the white house and then we will fill that seat on the united states supreme court. so your point, susan, theissues supreme court. so your point, susan, the issues before us couldn't be more serious, the issue of choice, andi more serious, the issue of choice, and i will always fight for a woman's right to make a decision about her own body, it should be her decision not that of trump and the vice president. can be more proud to serve as vice president for one that danced without apology for the sanctity of human life. i'm pro—life, i don't apologise for it. this is one of those cases where there is such a dramatic contrast.

joe biden and kamala harris support taxpayer funding abortion all the way up to the moment of birth. late term abortion. they want to increase funding to planned parenthood of america. for our part, i would funding to planned parenthood of america. for our part, iwould never presume howjudge barritt would rule, but we will continue to stand strong for the right to life. when you speak about the supreme court, i think the american people really deserve an answer, senator harris. are you and joe biden can impact the co re are you and joe biden can impact the core if thejudges are you and joe biden can impact the core if the judges confirm? are you and joe biden can impact the core if thejudges confirm? —— the court. presidents have nominated in all 29 cases, but your party is actually openly advocating adding seats to the supreme court which has had nine seats for 150 years if you don't get your way. this is a classic case of if you can't win by the rules, you want to change the rules. you have refused to answer the question, joe biden has refused

to a nswer the question, joe biden has refused to answer the question. i think the american people would really like to know, if thejudges american people would really like to know, if the judges confirm to the supreme court of the united states, are you and joe biden, if somehow you when the selection, going to pack the supreme court to get your way? i am so glad we went through a little history lesson let's do that a little more. in 1864... mrvice president, i'm speaking. in1860 a little more. in 1864... mrvice president, i'm speaking. in 1860 for one of the political heroes of the president and i assume of you i assume is abraham lincoln. he was up assume is abraham lincoln. he was up a real action on interest 27 days for the re—election and a seat became open on the united states supreme court. abraham lincoln's party was in charge, not only of the white house, but of the senate. but honest abe said it is not the right thing to do. the american people deserve to make the decision about

who will be the next president of the united states, and then that person can select who will serve for a lifetime on the highest core of ourland. and so a lifetime on the highest core of our land. and so joe a lifetime on the highest core of our land. and sojoe and i are very clear. the american people are voting right now, and it should be their decision about who will serve on this most important body for a lifetime. thank you, senator harris. people voting rain i would like to know if you will pack the supreme court if you don't get your way in this nomination? let's talk about packing... a non-answer, people deserve a straight answer. if you haven't figured out, the straight a nswer haven't figured out, the straight answer is they are going to pack the supreme court if they somehow when the selection was that i got to tell you, people across the country, if you, people across the country, if you cherish our core and the separation of powers, you need to

reject the biden harris ticket and re—elect donald trump and we will stand by the separation of powers and a nine c court. let's talk about packing the court. the trump pence administration has been, because i sit on the senate judiciary committee, i've witnessed the appointments, lifetime appointments to the federal courts, district courts, courts of appeal. people who are purely ideological, people who have been reviewed by legal professional organisations and found to have been not competent or substandard. and do you know that of the 50 people who president trump appointed to the court of appeals for a lifetime appointments, not one is black. this is what they've been doing. you want to talk about packing a core, let's have that discussion. —— a court.

packing a core, let's have that discussion. -- a court. are at heart brea ks discussion. -- a court. are at heart breaks for the loss of any innocent american life. and the family of rhiannon taylor has our sympathies. i trust ourjustice system. it is remarkable that as a former prosecutor you would assume a panel and grandjury prosecutor you would assume a panel and grand jury looking all the evidence goes wrong you are entitled to your opinion... —— breonna taylor. and with regard to george floyd, there is no excuse for what happened there, justice will be served. there is no excuse for the rioting and looting that followed. this presumption that you hear consistently from joe biden and kamala harris that america is systemically racist and that, asjoe biden said, that he believes law enforcement has an implicit bias

against minorities, is a great insult to the men and women who serve insult to the men and women who serve in law enforcement. i want eve ryo ne serve in law enforcement. i want everyone to know who puts on a uniform of law enforcement every day that president trump and i stand with you. it is remarkable that when senator tim scott tried to pass a police reform bill, put together a group of republicans and democrats, senator harris, you got up and walked out of the room and then you filibustered centre tim scott's bell on the senate floor that would have provided new accountability, new resources , we provided new accountability, new resources, we don't have to choose between law enforcement and supporting our african—american citizens and all the minorities. supporting our african—american citizens and all the minoritieslj will citizens and all the minorities.” will not sit here and be lectured by the vice president on what it means to enforce the laws of our country. lam the to enforce the laws of our country. i am the only one on the stage who is personally prosecuted everything from child sexual assault to a homicide. i am the only one on this

stage who is prosecuting the big banks are taking advantage of america's homeowners. i am the only one on this stage who prosecuted those taking advantage of veterans. the reality of their says, we are talking about an election in 27 days where last week the president of the united states took a debate stage in front of 70 million americans and refused to condemn white supremacists. not true. it wasn't like he didn't have a chance. he didn't do it and then he doubled down. and then he said, when pressed, stand back. standby. this isa part pressed, stand back. standby. this is a part of a pattern of donald trump's. he called mexicans rapist and criminals. he instituted as his first act a muslim band. on the

issue of charlottesville, where people were peacefully protesting the need for racialjustice, where a young woman was killed. on the other side there were neo—nazis carrying tiki torches shouting racial epithets, anti—semitic slurs and donald trump, when asked about it, said there were fine people on both sides. this is how we have is the president of the united states. america, you deserve better. joe biden will be a president who will bring our country together and recognises the beauty in our diversity and that we have so much more in common than what separates us. space prison pence, i give you a minute to respond. this is one of the reasons that people dislike the media so much in this country, that you selectively add, just like centre harris that, comments that

president trump and i don't like centre harris conveniently omitted that after the president made comments about people on either side of the debate over monuments, he condemned the kkk, neo—nazis and white supremacists and has done so repeatedly. you're concerned that he doesn't condemn neo—nazis, president trump as jewish grandchildren. doesn't condemn neo—nazis, president trump asjewish grandchildren. his daughter and son—in—law are jewish. this is a president who respects and cherishes all of the american people. thank you for being with us tonight. applause colder over the next few days. some clear skies following by the evening. if you showers which will

continue for a few hours yet. otherwise we will see wetter weather coming in from the north—west overnight. some rain heading into scotland, northern ireland is the wind picks up down into the far north of england and north wales by the end of the night. i had a bit some clear skies. by the end of the night will be colder, temperatures of 5—6 . tomorrow we have showers coming in from the north—west into scotland, northern ireland. some of them heavy with hail and thunder. following this band of cloud and rain, it moves down across wales, the midlands and into southern england in the afternoon, by which point the ring could be a bit steadier and heavier. a bit of a stronger wind on friday, killer air moving down the typical temperatures 11-13 c -- moving down the typical temperatures 11—13 c —— cooler air.

this is bbc news. the headlines: pubs and restaurants could be forced to close in england, as tighter restrictions to control coronavirus are expected next week. it's too much complicating. we don't know what we're going to do next. it's just one know what we're going to do next. it'sjust one big mess. people waiting over a year for hospital treatment in england hit a 12—year high as fears grow about the pressure of coronavirus on the nhs. it's announced that the next us presidential debate will be held virtually, but mr trump refuses to participate, saying, "i'm not going to waste my time." british airways bids farewell to its last boeing 747 jumbo jets — four years earlier than planned due to the pandemic.