hello and welcome to bbc news. these are our top stories: one day before the official start of the tokyo olympic games the direct of the opening ceremony is fired over a parody about the holocaust. that sackina about the holocaust. that sacking of _ about the holocaust. that sacking of kentaro - about the holocaust. twat sacking of kentaro kobayashi is the latest scandal to rock the organisation of this game. the woman in charge says she will not resign. flooding in china kills at least 25 people in henan province, following the heaviest rainfall since records began.

the remote indian district where 80% of the population has had a vaccination for covid—i9 despite hesitation. and had a vaccination for covid-19 despite hesitation.— despite hesitation. and five months after _ despite hesitation. and five months after landing - despite hesitation. and five months after landing on - despite hesitation. and five| months after landing on the despite hesitation. and five - months after landing on the red planet. a very warm welcome and we begin with breaking news on the eve of the tokyo games. the president of the 2020 olympics committee has announced that sacking of the opening ceremony creative director kentaro kobayashi following criticism over past comment he made during his career as a comedian which have been described as anti—semitic. it is the latest

in a series of scandals that have spiked outrage both in japan and around the world. we go live to tokyo. tell us about this latest development. this has emerged _ this latest development. this has emerged in _ this latest development. this has emerged in the _ this latest development. t�*u 3 has emerged in the last hour this latest development. t�*u 1 has emerged in the last hour in a press conference with the tokyo 2020 organiser seiko hashimoto. she confirmed that the direct of the opening ceremony which takes place here on friday had been fired from his position. this relates to this video that has resurfaced. he is a comedian, at the and was a director of the ceremony. —— and actor. he made a joke about the holocaust edit the video. it service on tuesday

and seiko hashimoto said she regretted taking until now to make the decision. it is the latest in a line of scandals to hit the organisation of these games. we know that a couple of months ago, seiko hashimoto replaced the former head of tokyo 2020. he resigned over sex discrimination comments. another insinuating a female comedian was a pig. one of the composers with some of the music in this opening ceremony had the music removed because of an article which resurfaced in which he recanted times when he bullied disabled children when he was a children. seiko hashimoto and that press conference said she understood

they may be many people who might not want to watch the opening ceremony and that also she would not step down from her position but it is very troubling times. we are not quite sure what it means for the opening ceremony on friday. she said they are going to review things and see how they get on in the next 2a hours or so. we speak to rabbi cooper love from washington. thank you very much forjoining us. can you give us your reaction to these developments? i you give us your reaction to these developments? i think the ja anese these developments? i think the japanese olympic— these developments? i think the japanese olympic committee - these developments? i think the i japanese olympic committee made the right— japanese olympic committee made the right decision, made all the right decision, made all the more _ the right decision, made all the more difficult because it literally— the more difficult because it literally comes under the eve of the — literally comes under the eve of the opening ceremony. when you have — of the opening ceremony. when you have someone who is a veteran _ you have someone who is a veteran actor, who had 22 years to consider_ veteran actor, who had 22 years to consider changing his mind or at—

to consider changing his mind or at least apologising, and initial. _ or at least apologising, and initial, denigrating people with— initial, denigrating people with physical disabilities, there _ with physical disabilities, there was no other decision that— there was no other decision that could have been made. it was appropriate and at a difficult time. we are all part of the — difficult time. we are all part of the covid family and no—one knows — of the covid family and no—one knows when this is going to happen— knows when this is going to happen we hope and prayjapan has made — happen we hope and prayjapan has made the right move and hopefully the games will go off and the — hopefully the games will go off and the focus will be on the athletes _ and the focus will be on the athletes. at the opening ceremony you have a lot of talented _ ceremony you have a lot of talented young people. they could — talented young people. they could give us some contemporary music_ could give us some contemporary music and — could give us some contemporary music and dance and i am sure it will— music and dance and i am sure it will he — music and dance and i am sure it will be terrific.— it will be terrific. this video has emerged _ it will be terrific. this video has emerged in _ it will be terrific. this video has emerged in the - it will be terrific. this video has emerged in the last - it will be terrific. this video - has emerged in the last couple of days. what more do you know about what took place in that video? j about what took place in that video? . ., ., . . video? i am not a film critic or a sensor _ video? i am not a film critic or a sensor of _ video? i am not a film critic or a sensor of political - or a sensor of political thought or satire. i do know

one — thought or satire. i do know one thing, the idea thatjoke and genocide belong in the same thought — and genocide belong in the same thought i— and genocide belong in the same thought. i also acknowledge that it — thought. i also acknowledge that it happened in 1998. the person— that it happened in 1998. the person was much younger than and, _ person was much younger than and, unfortunately, someone who has been — and, unfortunately, someone who has been in — and, unfortunately, someone who has been in the public eye throughout, never thought that maybe — throughout, never thought that maybe this kind of behaviour was — maybe this kind of behaviour was inappropriate and an apology to the victim was still along — apology to the victim was still along the line. today's apology, i read the english translation and maybe i did not quite _ translation and maybe i did not quite get — translation and maybe i did not quite get it, but i am not sure the individual involved even understands as we speak the depth — understands as we speak the depth of— understands as we speak the depth of the harm and suffering he caused to people who i think it is safe — he caused to people who i think it is safe to say have suffered enough _ it is safe to say have suffered enough. it was the correct decision _ enough. it was the correct decision. i know the committee has its — decision. i know the committee has its hands full. they were scheduled to have an exhibition

under— scheduled to have an exhibition under the — scheduled to have an exhibition under the nazi holocaust open into the — under the nazi holocaust open into the olympic village in connection with the paralympics in order— connection with the paralympics in order to — connection with the paralympics in order to highlight the great achievements of people with disabilities this year in sport. _ disabilities this year in sport, as opposed to the mass murder— sport, as opposed to the mass murder that the german nuts are government carried out on their own citizens with disabilities in the — own citizens with disabilities in the late 19305 and early 19)40s— in the late 1930s and early 19405. ~ , ., in the late 1930s and early 1940s. ~ , 1940s. when you consider the scale of the — 1940s. when you consider the scale of the olympic - 1940s. when you consider the scale of the olympic games i scale of the olympic games globally, how damaging is this for the olympic brand? has globally, how damaging is this for the olympic brand?- for the olympic brand? as we know, for the olympic brand? as we know. the _ for the olympic brand? as we know, the olympic _ for the olympic brand? as we know, the olympic brand, - for the olympic brand? as we i know, the olympic brand, going back_ know, the olympic brand, going back to — know, the olympic brand, going back to the 1936 games, and unbelievable victory to adolf hitler. — unbelievable victory to adolf hitler, they have been many low points _ hitler, they have been many low points -- — hitler, they have been many low point5. —— there have been. a profound _ point5. —— there have been. a profound re5ervoir point5. —— there have been. a profound reservoir of sympathy

for japan — profound reservoir of sympathy forjapan i5 profound reservoir of sympathy forjapan is present. they had to delay— forjapan is present. they had to delay the olympic games. a lot of— to delay the olympic games. a lot ofjapanese citizens lot of japanese citizens understandably lot ofjapanese citizens understandably would have preferred the games not going forward — preferred the games not going forward. but the fact they made this painful and necessary decision— this painful and necessary decision means they have a chance _ decision means they have a chance the opening ceremony will he — chance the opening ceremony will be actually focusing on the people who should have attention, the athletes themselves from around the world — themselves from around the world and people like the first lady— world and people like the first lady of— world and people like the first lady of the united states who will he — lady of the united states who will be there. we hope and pray it witi— will be there. we hope and pray it will he — will be there. we hope and pray it will he a — will be there. we hope and pray it will be a celebratory moment during — it will be a celebratory moment during the gloomy era of covid—19. during the gloomy era of covid-19-_ during the gloomy era of covid-19. . , , , ., ,, covid-19. rabbi cooper, thank ou for covid-19. rabbi cooper, thank you forjoining _ covid-19. rabbi cooper, thank you forjoining us. _ covid-19. rabbi cooper, thank you forjoining us. we - you forjoining us. we appreciate your time. more than 24 appreciate your time. more than 2a hours ahead of that opening ceremony, these delayed games have been hit so many different crisis over the years and this is another one, sally.-

is another one, sally. quite the optimism _ is another one, sally. quite the optimism we _ is another one, sally. quite the optimism we heard - is another one, sally. quite the optimism we heard it i is another one, sally. quite i the optimism we heard it from your guest in washington. it is about to cast a shadow with just a day to go and reading that the formerjapanese prime minister shinzo abe among many choosing not to attend the opening ceremony.- opening ceremony. yes, absolutely. _ opening ceremony. yes, absolutely. it _ opening ceremony. yes, absolutely. it has - opening ceremony. yes, i absolutely. it has developed into a bit of a political issue. the whole games in total but the significance of an opening ceremony and what that does for each olympic games is usually a joyous celebration, everything a nation wants to say about itself on a global scale but it has been scaled down enormously for these covid games essentially and day after day we are seeing more and more people remove themselves from the opening ceremony in order to fit with the tone of these

games and make sure the japanese public feels everything has been done to diminish any viral transmission. shinzo abe was fundamental in receiving the games. they want to scale down the amount of people they will have it. other peoples and sponsors have done the same. we will see later editing programme when we can talk about some of the athletes taking part. let bring you some other news and in china, scientists are saying climate change is making extreme weather events more likely and more severe following the major floods in henan province. the provincial capital zhengzhou recorded its highest rainfall in 60 years and 25 people have died across the region and some

trapped by rising floodwater in subway trains. rescuers are searching for others cut—off by the water. passengers on an underground train, trying to escape the approaching floodwater. instead, though, they found themselves standing still, silent, holding on as the levels rose around them. translation: the water was at shoulder level. i a child and i both nearly gave up. we were worn out. but i used my arm to hang on, and that's why i'm bruised. others in the carriage said air was the problem. translation: we broke half of a window so air could get l in, otherwise we would have choked. at least a dozen people lost their lives as the water overran the tunnels and then the trains. above ground, others faced a terrifying torrent. the muddy, brown waters

of the yellow river trying to sweep them away. this was just one example of an impromptu rescue effort that succeeded. the impact of the floods has been widespread, the city of zhengzhou is the worst hit, at one point it had almost a year's worth of rainfall in just three days. over a million people have been affected. in the last few days, hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated from in or around this city and millions more warned about the impending floods, but the most troubling question that remains amidst the stench of dirty water here is: "how was it that a station on this line, on an underground metro system that's less than ten years old, came to be overwhelmed by rainwater and passengers left to die on the platform?" china has mobilised its army, but not its leader. in a brief statement, president xijinping called for "improvements" to

the system for early warnings — measures that are likely to be needed more as chinese scientists admit these once—in—a—millennia rains could become more frequent as global warming makes for more dangerous weather. robin brant, bbc news, zhengzhou in eastern china. let get some of the days other news. several us states have unveiled a proposed settlement in which pharmaceutical companies accused of killing an opioid epidemic will pay 26 billion dollars. it would need the support of all states. the disgraced mega producer harvey weinstein has appeared in court in los angeles where he pleaded not guilty over charges of sexual assault. not guilty over charges of sexualassault. he not guilty over charges of sexual assault. he is serving a

22 year prison sentence. under a new system, argentinians who do not wish to identify as male orfemale can do not wish to identify as male or female can choose a third option, x. do estate with us. still to come... five months after landing on the red planet, the perseverance rover begins its hunt for signs of ancient life. mission control: we see - you coming down the ladder now. neil armstrong: that's one small step for man, | one giant leap for mankind. a catastrophic engine fire is being blamed tonight. for the first crash - in the 30—year history of concorde, the world's only supersonic airliner. _ it was one of the most vivid symbols of the violence and hatred that tore apart the state of yugoslavia. but now, a decade later,

it's been painstakingly rebuilt and opens again today. there's been a 50% decrease in sperm quantity, and an increase in malfunctioning sperm unable to swim properly. crowd: three, two, one! thousands of households across the country are suspiciously- quiet this lunchtime - as children bury their noses in the final instalment of harry potter. - you are with bbc news. one day before the start of the tokyo olympic games, the director of the opening ceremony is fired over a parody about the holocaust. many nations have been heading

ahead of their vaccination programmes, however it is slower for india, with programmes, however it is slowerfor india, with most programmes, however it is slower for india, with most of the population only having received windows. in a remote district in the far eastern state of our interpretation, most adults have had their firstjab, and our correspondent travelled to the area to find out how they achieved their success. these are the lengths some health workers are going to to deliver vaccines across india. in this far—flung corner of the country, they are making arduous journeys. country, they are making arduousjourneys. reach remote villages only accessible by foot. in the blistering heat, we tracked through the jungle with this man and his team. covid cases have been rising

here we go by foot, boats, hanging bridges. there are dangerous places. we try and maintain the temperature of the call box to maintain the vaccine. that is why we go to villages as soon as we can. —— cool box. this team is pushing themselves to the limit, but here, there have been challenges. the government has been criticised of being too slow to getjabs out. in this district, they have offered cash prizes to health centres that deliver the most doses. how long have we got now? half—an—hour, we need to walk more. half-an-hour, we need to walk more. ~ ., ., ., ., more. another half-an-hour? wow. more. another half-an-hour? wow- this _ more. another half-an-hour? wow. this is _ more. another half-an-hour? wow. this is not _ more. another half-an-hour? wow. this is not easy. - wow. this is not easy. after three gruelling hours, we finally make it to a tribal village. outside the school,

they are already waiting for their jabs. they are already waiting for theirjabs. it is quite a turnaround after villages were scared of getting a vaccine. this man was one of many who needed persuading. translation: ., , translation: there were rumours ou would translation: there were rumours you would fall — translation: there were rumours you would fall sick _ translation: there were rumours you would fall sick and _ translation: there were rumours you would fall sick and die - translation: there were rumours you would fall sick and die if- you would fall sick and die if you would fall sick and die if you took one. most villages didn't want to come for the vaccine, but health workers convinced us, so we agreed. it took months of work to overcome vaccine hesitancy among the district's 65,000 adults. india hasjust come out district's 65,000 adults. india has just come out of a devastating second wave, and the races want to get as many people vaccinated as possible. around a third of adults have had least one dose, but here in kamlang, despite the odds, they have done much better — more than 80% of people have had at least one shot. the vaccine programme of kamlang is going against the grain. officials say incentives are boosting

turnouts. at a nearby village, they are running a vaccination drive on the same day they are attributing free rice rations. in this farming community, it is an effective way to encourage people to show up. most of the people are into agriculture. they have to spend two days — want to get rice, want to get vaccination, so the idea of putting both the things together — they have to spare only one day. they might be leading the way here in kamlang, but india's vaccination programme is making slow progress. it still has a long way to go if it wants to reach its target of immunising all adults by the end of the year. bbc news, arunachal pradesh, british. the perseverance rover landed on mars in february and is

about to continue its historic hunt for ancient life. nasa has been getting its sophisticated instruments to start taking soil samples soon from what was suspected a once lakebed about 40 suspected a once lakebed about a0 kilometres wide. the hope is it will unearth evidence of potential imitative life, as michael bell explains. surveying the crater floor, nasa—mac's peephole into a possible lake on the red planet, they expect could have been replenished and drained with water and drained several times. the dig will take place here, with scientists unsure if this is sedimentary or volcanic. we are looking very far back in the history of the solar system, and what that means is that life would not have had much chance to advance far, which is why we say we are

always looking for evidence of potential microvilli. he then turns his back to the ba- he then turns his back to the bag that— he then turns his back to the bag that is on the lunar module. if- module. if you look at it now. module. if ou look at it now. �* if you look at it now. nasa compares _ if you look at it now. nasa compares this _ if you look at it now. nasa compares this to _ if you look at it now. nasa compares this to the - if you look at it now. nasa compares this to the part l if you look at it now. nasa| compares this to the part of its mission and nearly 52 years ago, when neil armstrong began ago, when neil armstrong began a process that would rewrite what humanity knew about it. by bagging some moon dust. as you can see here, the mars rover has been using its robotic arm to practise getting samples. it will take 11 days to collect rock from the crater. that will be transferred to a revolving carousel before being placed into a tube and analysed, before being sealed and stored.

with the seismic scoop operation expected to lift off in august. it may sound and look like a faraway movie, but these a space scientists believe they are one step away from a leap in planetary science and discovery. many on earth, now hoping the perseverance pays off. mark labelle, bbc news. now, let's return to our olympic coverage where competition is a way ahead of friday's opening ceremony. as you know, our sports reporter is in tokyo covering every twist and turn. talk us through what has happened so far.- talk us through what has happened so far. yes, sally we have had some _ happened so far. yes, sally we have had some sporting action| have had some sporting action so far which has been quite nice to get away from the news at times because we had softball and women's football kick—off on wednesday. there will be more men's football later. the softball is going to continue at the moment. japan

opened with a win and currently playing mexico, leading 2—1 and not good so far for the hosts. to talk about the sport, because i think it will come on saturday when action takes part. take most of the headlines. let's look at one of the medallist hopes for south africa who joins us on the programme, a road cyclist. hello! ., ., ., i hello! hello, how are you? i think you — hello! hello, how are you? i think you are _ hello! hello, how are you? i think you are just _ hello! hello, how are you? i think you are just over - hello! hello, how are you? i think you are just over the l think you are just over the water from think you are just over the waterfrom me in the olympic village. how has your experience been so far? it has been really good so far, thank— it has been really good so far, thank you _ it has been really good so far, thank you. doing road cycling, we are — thank you. doing road cycling, we are not— thank you. doing road cycling, we are not based on the village itself. — we are not based on the village itself. we — we are not based on the village itself, we are in a separate village _ itself, we are in a separate village closer to the speedway, actuatty — village closer to the speedway, actually staying in a hotel, so it is— actually staying in a hotel, so it is slightly a different experience to the past, but i have —

experience to the past, but i have a — experience to the past, but i have a beautiful view of mount beauty — have a beautiful view of mount beauty each, so all good where i beauty each, so all good where lam, _ beauty each, so all good where i am, thanks. beauty each, so all good where lam, thanks. # mount beauty each, so all good where i am, thanks. # mount fuji. very— i am, thanks. # mount fuji. veryjealous indeed! how have the conditions been so far? have you found it restrictive? have you found it restrictive? have you found it restrictive? have you been able to get your training done ahead of the key event? , ., , , event? everything has been re event? everything has been pretty good. _ event? everything has been pretty good. it _ event? everything has been pretty good, it has - event? everything has been pretty good, it has gone - event? everything has been i pretty good, it has gone really smoothly. i had really good travet _ smoothly. i had really good travet i_ smoothly. i had really good travel. i landed in a good choice _ travel. i landed in a good choice of— travel. i landed in a good choice of an airport, it was smoother— choice of an airport, it was smoother than the experience i have _ smoother than the experience i have heard of at narita airport _ have heard of at narita airport. the protocol in place is att— airport. the protocol in place is all very— airport. the protocol in place is all very necessary, and the japanese _ is all very necessary, and the japanese people have been very friendly — japanese people have been very friendly. all volunteers have been — friendly. all volunteers have been friendly. i think we are all very— been friendly. i think we are all very respectful of what needs— all very respectful of what needs to be done in order to be here, _ needs to be done in order to be here. but— needs to be done in order to be here, but out here at the fuji speedway, things have been great. — speedway, things have been great, we have been allowed to train _ great, we have been allowed to train our— great, we have been allowed to

train our doors, sticking to the — train our doors, sticking to the road _ train our doors, sticking to the road circuits, our courses, but it— the road circuits, our courses, but it has— the road circuits, our courses, but it has been absolutely fine _ but it has been absolutely fine. we have been able to get out, _ fine. we have been able to get out. get — fine. we have been able to get out, get the training done, and actually— out, get the training done, and actually been really comfortable so far at the hotel. _ comfortable so far at the hotel, because i think, in a way. — hotel, because i think, in a way. it— hotel, because i think, in a way, it isn't quite the olympic experience. it may be feels safe. — experience. it may be feels safe. you _ experience. it may be feels safe, you know, to all does bna cycling _ safe, you know, to all does bna cycling bubble together. yes, well, all the _ cycling bubble together. yes, well, all the very _ cycling bubble together. yes, well, all the very best. - cycling bubble together. yes, well, all the very best. on i cycling bubble together. yes, well, all the very best. on a i well, all the very best. on a sunday you will be an action and we will follow you. you got brands in the commonwealth, so are you feeling ready? yes, i am feeling prepared. this— yes, i am feeling prepared. this method olympic games, so this time — this method olympic games, so this time i— this method olympic games, so this time i am feeling really good. — this time i am feeling really good. i_ this time i am feeling really good, i have two experiences in the bank— good, i have two experiences in the bank and a commonwealth medal. — the bank and a commonwealth medal, which really helps, and i medal, which really helps, and hust— medal, which really helps, and ijust came off a really successful. sorry, we will have to leave

you there, all the best. that was ashleigh moolman—pasio joining us there. all the best for sunday. we will follow these athletes over the next couple of weeks. thank you, business stories next. we're still in the middle of this heatwave, or actually just past it. some thunderstorms on the way too in the coming days, which should break the heat. but it certainly has been hot in northern ireland. it was wednesday's hot spot in county tyrone — 31.3 degrees — a provisional record for northern ireland, only beating saturday's value byjust 0.1 degree. on the satellite picture, we can see some clouds to the west of our neighbourhood. that is a developing area of low pressure, and it will be nearing us over the next few days, pushing the high pressure away, and this is going to bring some slow—moving thunderstorms. we will talk about that in just a second. i still have to mention the met office warning of extreme heat for the south—west of the uk and for northern ireland

lasting into friday, and this is to highlight also the high temperatures overnight, notjust by day. in fact, you can see how warm it is still through the middle of the night on thursday — it will have been around 18—20 celsius across some parts of the country. through the night, into the early hours of the morning, it is clear skies, may be a bit of cloud first thing across northern and eastern scotland, perhaps the north—east of england. that should mostly clear through the afternoon, but the temperatures will be skyrocketing, in fact hot enough for some local downpours and thunderstorms to develop across some central parts of the country. notice the wind is mostly an easterly, a very light easterly, so it's pushing the heat further towards the east, so that means the highest temperatures, again, on thursday could well be in northern ireland — we could well beat another record, that remains to be seen. possibly up to 32 but for most of us it will be in the mid to high 20s. here's friday, still a very warm day. wouldn't necessarily class it as a very hot day,

but warm enough. temperatures into the mid—or high 20s. notice some blue, some rain here, some thunderstorms brewing just to the south—west of us. this is an area of low pressure that will drag in fresher atlantic air, and push the hot air towards more eastern parts of europe. these could be very slow—moving thunderstorms, and slow moving thunderstorms can bring an awful lot of rainfall in a short space of time, and that's to come this weekend — saturday and sunday — especially across the southern half of the uk. something to bear in mind.

hello again. the top business stories: legal remedy, us drug firms agree a $26 billion settlement over the opioid crisis but it may not be the end of their problems. ihla end of their problems. no cooperation, _ end of their problems. fir? cooperation, no matter how powerful it is, should be able to put its profits over people's lives. to put its profits over --eole's lives. . , ., , people's lives. trading blows a . ain. people's lives. trading blows again. britain _ people's lives. trading blows again. britain and _ people's lives. trading blows again. britain and the - people's lives. trading blows again. britain and the eu - people's lives. trading blows i again. britain and the eu clash over northern ireland and business is caught in the middle. play on — the olympics get under way despite covid consents but the financial damage is already done. plus, setback for singapore — it returns to partial lockdown as

covid cases surge.