this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. senate republicans block a move that would have expanded voting rights in the us. a special report from texas, where thousands of migrant children are being held in overcrowded camps, with very limited medical care. all the evidence is this that under the care of the us government, these children are being severely neglected and in some cases, put in danger. myanmar troops clash with fighters opposing military rule in the country's second city, mandalay. also, as dating app bumble gives staff time off to deal with the pandemic�*s stresses, we find out what they're doing to unwind.

hello and welcome to audiences in the uk and around the world. whenjoe biden moved into the white house he made the issue of voting rights one of his key platforms. but the democrats�* attempt to push forward a bill to make it easier for people to register and to cast their vote has failed to win the necessary support in the senate. they onlyjust managed to keep all 50 democrats onside, and failed to win over a single republican. in fact many republican—led states have enacted additional limits on voters�* access to the polls. and the senate minority leader mitch mcconnell described this �*for the people�* bill as a �*partisan plan to tilt every election in america permanently�*. so what are the republicans objecting to?

what are democrats trying push through? the bill would ensure the right to vote by mail — remember many democrat voters cast their ballot this way in 2020. it would protect the right to cast a vote in the run up to election day. the bill would also allow ballot drop boxes — so people wouldn�*t have to stand in line to cast their vote. so as we said, the bill was blocked by republicans. here�*s the reaction of vice president kamala harris. it is clear, certainly, for the american people that we talk about the right to vote, it is not a republican concern or a democratic concern. it is an american concern. this is about the american people�*s right to vote. u nfettered. it is about access to the right to vote in a meaningful way, because nobody is debating, i don�*t believe, whether all americans have the right to vote.

the issue here is that is there actual access to the voting process or is that being impeded? and the bottom line is that the president and i are very clear — that we support the voting rights act and the fight is not over. i�*m joined now by our north america correspondent david willis. kamala harris spoke with some conviction there and ended up with saying the fight is not over. it is for the moment, isn�*t it? it over. it is for the moment, isn't it?— isn't it? it would appear to be, isn't it? it would appear to be. david. _ isn't it? it would appear to be, david, apart— isn't it? it would appear to be, david, apart from - isn't it? it would appear to be, david, apart from if. isn't it? it would appear to i be, david, apart from if there are changes to the rules in the senate. most cases, a 60 vote majority is required in the 100 member house for legislation to pass and those ten republican votes were not there today. this was a very wide ranging piece of legislation that would have basically ensured voting rights, it would have ensured the integrity of elections and as far as the democrats are

concerned, they saw it as a means of offsetting. the measures that the republicans have put in place in many different states, make voting more difficult. many argued those measures are necessary in order to protect against the prospect of voter fraud which is something they say, and still believe, costa donald trump the presidential election last year. even though —— cost donald trump, even though it no evidence has been found of substantial voter fraud. given that the republicans - substantial voter fraud. given that the republicans and - that the republicans and democrats pretty much point in different directions on this issue, david, was it always a bit of a pipedream to think that they could be a bipartisan vote on something as strident as this? fix, vote on something as strident as this? �* , , ., vote on something as strident asthis? ,, . , as this? a pipedream, perhaps, david, but _ as this? a pipedream, perhaps, david. but as — as this? a pipedream, perhaps, david, but as far _ as this? a pipedream, perhaps, david, but as far as _ as this? a pipedream, perhaps, david, but as far as the - as this? a pipedream, perhaps, david, but as far as the emma l david, but as far as the emma kratz are concerned, chuck schumer —— democrats. chuck

schumer —— democrats. chuck schumer said it was important they would be discussion of these matters because they are so fundamental to democracy and of course all of this is so raw following the election last year. a lot of people in the republican party support donald trump�*s notion that this election, that that election is somehow stolen from him. the democrats hoped that they would at least have the chance to discuss it in the senate. this vote today it basically kills this bill stone dead. find vote today it basically kills this bill stone dead. and how much can _ this bill stone dead. and how much can be _ this bill stone dead. and how much can be read _ this bill stone dead. and how much can be read into - this bill stone dead. and how much can be read into it- this bill stone dead. and how much can be read into it in i much can be read into it in terms of its significant? there are loads _ terms of its significant? there are loads things _ terms of its significant? there are loads things -- _ terms of its significant? there are loads things -- there - terms of its significant? there are loads things -- there are. are loads things -- there are thins are loads things -- there are things that — are loads things -- there are things that are _ are loads things -- there are things that are high - are loads things -- there are things that are high on - are loads things -- there are things that are high on the l things that are high on the priority list butjoe biden priority list but joe biden wanted priority list butjoe biden wanted this to be an —— a cornerstone at least. i think some progressive democrat said he wasn�*t quite up for the fight here.

he wasn't quite up for the fight here-— he wasn't quite up for the fiuht here. ., ., g ., fight here. you are right. joe biden called _ fight here. you are right. joe biden called this _ fight here. you are right. joe biden called this the - fight here. you are right. joe biden called this the fight. fight here. you are right. joe biden called this the fight of| biden called this the fight of his presidency and he said as well that the battle will go on and coming democrats are speaking in harmony on this and say this is reallyjust the start of their fight to ensure a level playing field when it to voting in this country. you are absolutely right. joe biden has other priorities. a huge infrastructure bill he is hoping to steer through congress but this is something he definitely put a great deal of value on and this will be something that will be a setback for him.- something that will be a setback for him. ., ~', setback for him. david, thanks very much _ setback for him. david, thanks very much indeed. _ setback for him. david, thanks very much indeed. good - setback for him. david, thanks very much indeed. good to - setback for him. david, thanks| very much indeed. good to see you, david willis in los angeles. thousands of migrant children are being held in a camp in texas, which is ridden with disease, is insanitary and is lacking medical resources. an investigation by the bbc has

revealed the facility at fort bliss in el paso as grossly overcrowded. children are sleeping several hundred to a tent, with shortages of clean clothes. staff working there say that illnesses such as covid and flu have affected hundreds of children in recent months. our correspondent hilary andersson sent this special report. deep in the chihuahuan desert of west texas is a tented camp holding thousands of migrant children in conditions that are alarming. these are the camp�*s white tents. it�*s set in a military base. we weren�*t allowed near it but you can glimpse it from the road. there it is. it�*s just down there, behind these white buildings. these pictures are the world�*s first look inside. they were taken secretly by employees who are banned from filming or speaking about conditions. the tents are massive.

hundreds of children are crammed in. i�*m texting staff inside. they say disease is everywhere. an employee has agreed to an interview after work. this is not his real voice. there are very significant numbers of kids with covid. i know there were quite a few with strep throat. lice became a very big problem. at one point when all the girls were consolidated into one tent, the lice were so widespread they actually had to put the tent into lockdown. and how many girls were in that tent? hundreds and hundreds of girls. when a child gets covid their bed is stripped, then they are moved to tents that at times, we are told, have held hundreds of sick children. this is a rare look inside one of the covid tents. this 15—year—old spent five harrowing weeks in detention. he�*s now been reunited with his mother here in america. in the camp he became severely ill with covid and struggled to fully recover.

this is not his real voice. it was difficult to see a doctorfor medicine. when we went to ask for medicine they gave us dirty looks and they always laughed among themselves. children wear wristbands. they�*re checked any time they leave a tent. they are marched in their hundreds to meals. the food was not well cooked. sometimes the chicken had blood on it, the meat was very red. we were so hungry we ate it but we got sick from it. the desert climate here is harsh. wild winds blow a sandwich breaks into the tents, wild winds blow sand which breaks into the tents, ——wild winds blow sand which breaks into the tents, coating the children. there is a shortage of clean clothes. the heat is relentless. over a million migrants have

tried to cross into the us this year, mostly from central america. many adults are deported. but under president biden, children may stay. most have relatives here but the system is failing them. there are thousands of children in this camp who have no idea how long they�*ll be here, or when they will be reunited with theirfamilies. and many of them are vulnerable children who fled their home countries to seek safety here in america. but all the evidence is that under the care of the us government these children are being severely neglected, and in some cases put in danger. downtown el paso. i�*d been told where to collect a memory stick containing secret audio recordings of a camp training session in which staff said children were being sexually abused. an employee came out of the camp to meet us.

she said the department of homeland security had spoken to staff about a rape. this again is an actor�*s voice. dhs mentioned there was a rape. they�*re giving girls pregnancy tests. i also heard theyjust announced the results in front of everyone here. and i heard the other night that another contractor was caught in a boy�*s tent, you know, doing things with him. the authorities have not responded to the specific allegations in this report but say that children in their custody are given the required standard of care and access to medical services. they say they�*re working to speed up the release of children to their relatives. many children have been in here for over a month. some, like this boy, have tried to run away. the 15—year—old we met sank into despair. i watched the days go by and i felt very low.

i thought that i was not going to get out of there, that i was not going to see my family again. and sometimes at night we would cry. during the worst time i was nearly at the point of committing suicide. this camp is closed to public scrutiny, yet the biden administration portrays itself as compassionate and open. staff here took serious risks to expose the damage being inflicted on children. but there are around 12,000 children in other camps around america whose condition remains largely unknown. hilary andersson, bbc news. let�*s get some of the day�*s other news. a number of websites belonging to iranian broadcasters have been taken over by the us government. websites belonging to state—controlled press tv and al alam are among those with an fbi and a reference to us sanctions. thejustice department�*s yet to comment. the world food programme says tens of thousands of people in southern madagascar

are living in famine—like conditions. its director says the crisis has been caused by climate change, with drought after drought. david beasley said wealthy nations had a moral obligation to help. india�*s health ministry says a new mutation of the delta variant of coronavirus is now a variant of concern in the country. labelled, delta plus, around two dozen cases have been detected. early testing shows it is likely to be more transmissible and that vaccines or antibodies might not offer as much protection. europe�*s football authorities are facing a growing backlash over a decision not to allow a stadium in munich to be lit with rainbow colours for wednesday�*s match between germany and hungary. the city asked it to do so as a gesture of tolerance — sparked by recent a hungarian law banning what�*s been termed the promotion of homosexuality to under eighteens. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: employees of the dating app

bumble get a week off to deal with pandemic burnout. members of the neo—nazi - resistance movement stormed the world trade centre, armed with pistols and shotguns. - we believe that, according to international law, that we have a rightful claim to certain parts of this country as our land. i take pride in the words "ich bin ein berliner". cheering and applause. as the uk woke up to the news that it is to exit the european union, leave campaigners began celebrating. in total, 17.4 million people voted for the uk to leave the eu. the medical research council have now advised the government that the great increase in lung cancer is due mainly to smoking tobacco. it was closing time for checkpoint charlie which,

for 29 years, has stood on the border as a mark of allied determination to defend the city. xinjiang this is bbc news. the latest headlines: senate republicans block a move that would have expanded voting rights in the us. democrats failed to get the 60 votes needed to advance their bill. an investigation by the bbc has found over 2000 migrant children being detained in a camp in texas in appalling conditions. myanmar�*s armed forces have clashed with a militia group in the country�*s second city, mandalay. it�*s the first such exchange of fire between the so—called people�*s defence forces, which are fighting to restore democracy, and the military in a major urban centre.

the army says four protesters were killed in a raid and eight arrested. several soldiers were also injured. the bbc�*s asia editor rebecca henschke reports. aim at the second floor, instructs this myanmar soldier. go closer, lift the gun up and shoot. they are raiding a border house after being tipped off by an informer that it�*s being used as a base for civilian militia fighting to restore democracy. they call themselves the people�*s defence force. they respond to the raid with gunfire and hand grenades. the sound of battle ringing out across the city. the pdf were no match for the might of the myanmar military. the bbc spoke with the member who managed to escape. translation: we were - outnumbered by them in the used rpg launchers to attack us.

so, we had to give up this place but, we will continue to do what we have to do. we protested peacefully but had no choice but to take up arms against them as a last resort. state owned a television broadcasted the militaries version of events. labelling the civilian fighters terrorists. more than 800 people have been killed by security forces since they seized back power on the first of february. the brutal crackdown has pushed some to take up arms and fight back. some protesters turning to the ethnic armies who have been fighting the military for decades for training and support. the military has responded to recent attacks with artillery and air strikes. displacing thousands of people from their homes. there are now fears of what they would do in mandalay bay.

we are deeply concerned because these military hunters who are guilty of crimes against humanity are trained to commit a crime against the people of mandalay. the people of myanmar are left with no choice but defending themselves with all they can, and i�*m afraid that every day we are closing into blood that will land in another genocide. until then, the fighting is largely taken place in rural areas. now it is happening on the streets with both sides in this deeply uneven conflict, vowing to fight on. let�*s bring in the un�*s special rapporteur on human rights in myanmar, tom andrews. he joins us now from north easton in the us state massachusetts.

you heard rebecca�*s report. i wonder how you would characterise what is going on in mandalay. i characterise what is going on in mandalay-— characterise what is going on in mandalay. i think people are increasingly — in mandalay. i think people are increasingly desperate. - increasingly desperate. hundreds of people have been killed, over1000 hundreds of people have been killed, over 1000 detained. we are hearing of incidents of torture. thousands of people have arrest warrants out for them, and people are increasingly desperate. we are talking about, largely, a non—violent opposition. talking about, largely, a non-violent opposition. sorrow, that is what _ non-violent opposition. sorrow, that is what is _ non-violent opposition. sorrow, that is what is changing - non-violent opposition. sorrow, that is what is changing here, i that is what is changing here, isn�*t it? that is perhaps the nub of this. it isn't it? that is perhaps the nub of this.— nub of this. it is, which is why this _ nub of this. it is, which is why this is _ nub of this. it is, which is why this is so _ nub of this. it is, which is why this is so worrying. l nub of this. it is, which is - why this is so worrying. people are very desperate. they formed small pockets of violent resistance, but, listen, be clearabout resistance, but, listen, be clear about this, these are small groups of people with

very crude weapons, most home—made. they aren�*t military fighters, up against one of the biggest militaries in the region. over biggest militaries in the region. 0ver400,000 biggest militaries in the region. over 400,000 troops by one estimate. they are well—equipped. they are desperate, and what they are looking for is an international community that is, frankly, willing to do more than just express concern for the fate of those who are obviously in a very desperate situation. there will be very _ very desperate situation. there will be very few _ very desperate situation. there will be very few people - very desperate situation. there will be very few people who - very desperate situation. therej will be very few people who are more aware than you are of the imbalance of what is going on, particularly in terms of violence, but there are other commentators beyond just the military prepared to say that the activities of the people�*s defence force are effectively terrorist activities. i presume the concern is it is very difficult to tone it that down or turn that back.— difficult to tone it that down or turn that back. you take a look at the _ or turn that back. you take a look at the horror _ or turn that back. you take a look at the horror that - or turn that back. you take a look at the horror that has . look at the horror that has been inflicted upon a very innocent people, even in mandalay over the weekend. a

social worker was killed. the only crime was riding by on a motorcycle, wrong place, wrong time. we talk about these people, the people and mandalay are under assault and are desperate. this effort is an effort to protect, not only protest but protect. in my view, what is so important is to give the people of mandalay, but also all of myanmar some hope, and that would come from a much stronger and much more robust, much more unified international response. yes, i hate to say — international response. yes, i hate to say about _ international response. yes, i hate to say about that - international response. yes, i hate to say about that is - hate to say about that is moving slowly at best. i suppose i should put it this way, what do you fear is a likely consequence of the start of this sort of activity within major urban centres? we already know that over _ major urban centres? we already know that over half _ major urban centres? we already know that over half of _ major urban centres? we already know that over half of the - know that over half of the country is facing poverty in the next year. we�*re talking about significant loss of life.

if this trend continues this direction, and they feel they have more license to buraja people in cities with these militias and this incredible fighting force that has been unleashed in these urban areas, we could see a significant loss of life. ., ,., ., of life. there are some that feel particularly _ of life. there are some that feel particularly with - of life. there are some that feel particularly with the . feel particularly with the general heading out to russia for a security conference that there is a growing confidence that they can establish a permanence, rebuilt diplomatic relations that can assure a stronger footing than ever. would you share that view? in some respects they feel that time is on their side because the international community is moving slowly but when you have one of the largest militaries in the region and the world, it takes a lot of money to supply. if the international community began to squeeze the resources

that are so vitally important for them to supply and equip that military, this could make a significant difference in their capacity to do what they are doing. they passed a resolution on friday, as you know, calling for weapons to be stopped from going into myanmar. this would be an important step but the world needs to act on these resolutions. they need to cut off the resources that are being used to kill people, and the people of myanmar are yet to see that. we the people of myanmar are yet to see that-— to see that. we have to leave it there- _ to see that. we have to leave it there. thank _ to see that. we have to leave it there. thank you _ to see that. we have to leave it there. thank you very - to see that. we have to leave| it there. thank you very much indeed. ., ~ it there. thank you very much indeed. ., ,, , ., this is a bit of a change of scene. the dating app, bumble, says it�*s been busier than expected during the pandemic and has decided to give all its staff a week off to deal with burnout. its 700 employees around the world, have been told to switch off and focus on themselves. here�*s our business correspondent emma simpson. it�*s the dating app where women

make the first move. what if, after all this time at home, there is nothing to talk about? this american business has plenty to talk about. bumble has seen a surge in users during the pandemic and has made its debut on the stock market. now, it�*s given its staff time off, fully paid, to recharge the batteries. saying: i guess it�*s good that with the whole stress of the pandemic, they�*re actually thinking about their employees, which is a good shout. i don�*t know. is it realistic, though? yeah, can every company do that? i don't need it, really, do i? so might as well continue - working, you know, there's no need for me to take a day off. especially a week off. but what if you�*ve had to give up the comforts of the office and work from home?

the desks are still pretty empty in this corner of london, 15 long months and counting. so this big accountancy firm gave its 16,000 workers the day off yesterday. a bit of a breather. it�*s pretty relentless. it�*s hard to get a break. it�*s hard to get a break from work, you�*re working in your own home, it�*s very easy to keep on going back to the laptop or glancing at your phone. so i think it�*s really important that we and other employers really put well—being of their people at the very top of the board. jennifer met a colleague for a cup of tea. it was just a different feeling to taking a day�*s leave. we�*ve been given this day to do whatever we wanted with and we did leave the laptops and things at home. just completely disconnected from work and we just felt so relaxed and so happy. and it's amazing. few firms will be able or afford to follow bumble�*s move but more companies, it seems, are looking for ways to allow their weary workers to unwind. emma simpson, bbc news.

the euros are going full throttle. and croatia havejoined england and the czech republic in booking their place in the knockout stages of the european championship. hello there. it certainly was a chilly start across eastern scotland on tuesday, but that is where we had the lion�*s share of sunshine — over 14 hours of it. and it was our top spot in terms of temperatures as well, 21.4 celsius the high. now, we have been drawing a curtain of cloud, though, across scotland over the last few hours. this weather front bringing in some showery outbreaks of rain, and it will bring a change of fortunes to start our day on wednesday. yes, it will be a cloudier and slightly damper story, but it will also be a milder one. double digits first thing in the morning. clearer skies across england and wales. that�*s where we�*ll start with the best of the sunshine through the day. now, as the day progresses, perhaps clouding over

into north wales and northern england, as that weather front slowly meanders its way out of the scottish borders. we keep quite a lot of cloud and some bits and pieces of rain into the far north—west, quite murky to coasts and hills as well. the best of the sunshine further south and east, and we�*ll see temperatures peaking at 21 or 22 degrees. that�*s 72 fahrenheit. moving through wednesday evening, we�*ll continue to see a little more cloud pushing out of the north of england, down into the midlands, but it should be a largely fine and dry end to the day across the south—east. that weather front will continue to move its way slowly south and east. and at the same time, another weather front will introduce some heavier rain into the far north of scotland. so, as thursday goes, we can split the country to three. the best of the sunshine, east anglia, south—east england. a weak weather front, a band of cloud slowly brightening up into northern england later. and then for northern ireland and scotland, some of that rain still quite heavy for a time here. top temperatures on thursday afternoon, again, 22 degrees, 72 fahrenheit. now, as we move out of thursday into friday, those weather fronts continue to push

their way steadily south and a little area of pressure forms. and circulating around that low on friday, there will be bands of showery rain. so, not a complete wash—out. bit of a messy story, really, to tell on friday. the best of any drier weather, but with a northerly breeze, will be in the far north of scotland. so here, not particularly warm. we should see temperatures peaking at 22 degrees, 72 fahrenheit. that low pressure will influence the story for the start of the weekend, still bringing the risk of some sharp showers. the best of the drier weather is likely to be further north. take care.

this is bbc news, the headlines: republicans in the united states senate have blocked a bill that would have led to a wide ranging debate on expanding voting rights across the country. democrats failed to get the 60 votes that were needed to advance the legislation, with republicans arguing that it infringed on states�* rights. a bbc investigation has found over 2000 migrant children being detained in a camp in el paso, texas in appalling conditions. the facility at fort bliss is overcrowded and ridden with disease, with shortages of clean clothes and a lack of medical care for the children. myanmar�*s armed forces have clashed with a militia group in the country�*s second city, mandalay. it�*s the first such exchange between the so—called people�*s defence forces — which are fighting to restore democracy — and the military, in a major urban centre. the army says four protesters were killed.