this is bbc news, i'm lewis vaughanjones. our top stories: day nine of the tokyo olympics and more gold for team gb, while australia dominate in the pool and the fastest men in the world line up for the 100 meters final later. fierce fighting in afghanistan. three cities are battling the taliban. kandahar airport has come under rocket attack. young people in england are to be offered discounts, including from uber and deliveroo, to get their covid—19 jabs. banning the big boats. after years of environmental protests, large cruise ships can no longer dock in the centre of venice.

hello and welcome to bbc news. turning to the olympics now, and we've now reached day nine of the games. here is the medal table as it stands at the moment. china is on top with 22 gold medals, followed in second place by the united states with 19 golds, and the host nation, japan, currently in third on 17 golds. with me is our reporter tanya dendrinos. let's wrap up the action so far. where shall we start? swimming pool? absolutely, good place to start. it was the last day of swimming in the final event was the men's 100 was the last day of swimming in the final event was the men's100 medley relay. it finished an emphatic fashion. they not only claim the gold medal, team usa, but also a

world record. it was team gb in silver. in the mix for that us team was superstar caeleb dressel. he has been incredible to watch, incredible speedin been incredible to watch, incredible speed in the water. you would think you might have been tired after his final win in you might have been tired after his finalwin in the you might have been tired after his final win in the 50 metres, but he claimed the olympic record in the time of 21.07. he finished the games with a remarkable five gold medals. similar celebrations in terms of swimming for the aussie camp as well, and olympic record broken in the women's 50 metre freestyle by australia post mac emma mckeon in the time of 23.81. i am super proud, a little bit of aussie bias creeping in, emma now the most successful australian 0lympian of all time, which is an incredible feat. she also backed up that 50 metres freestyle win with a win in the women's follow 100 medley relay, the aussie team claiming and olympic

record in that race as well —— 4x100 medley relay. iii record in that race as well -- 4x100 medley relay-— record in that race as well -- 4x100 medley relm-— medley relay. if you are allowed to sneak in a bit _ medley relay. if you are allowed to sneak in a bit of— medley relay. if you are allowed to sneak in a bit of aussie _ medley relay. if you are allowed to sneak in a bit of aussie bias - medley relay. if you are allowed to sneak in a bit of aussie bias i - medley relay. if you are allowed to sneak in a bit of aussie bias i will l sneak in a bit of aussie bias i will sneak in a bit of aussie bias i will sneak in a bit of uk bias, team gb medals in the bmx. that sneak in a bit of uk bias, team gb medals in the bmx.— sneak in a bit of uk bias, team gb medals in the bmx. that seems only fair, a magnificent— medals in the bmx. that seems only fair, a magnificent run _ medals in the bmx. that seems only fair, a magnificent run from - fair, a magnificent run from charlotte worthington. she bagged a score of 97.50. they are absolutely incredible to watch — flips, tricks, thrills and spills. it has really got everything. in terms of the men's final, gb came in bronze and aussie logan martin claimed bronze comic gold there. in aussie logan martin claimed bronze comic gold there.— comic gold there. in terms of lots of peeple's _ comic gold there. in terms of lots of people's personal _ comic gold there. in terms of lots of people's personal highlights, l comic gold there. in terms of lots of people's personal highlights, it is the 100m —— claimed gold. we of people's personal highlights, it is the 100m -- claimed gold. we have the semi is coming _ is the 100m -- claimed gold. we have the semi is coming up _ is the 100m -- claimed gold. we have the semi is coming up in _ is the 100m -- claimed gold. we have the semi is coming up in the _ is the 100m -- claimed gold. we have the semi is coming up in the main - the semi is coming up in the main race. everyone is used to watching usain bolt. since 2004 he has brought so much drama, so much

attitude. we are looking out for canada's andre de grasse. he finished third in rio and will be searching for the gold. meanwhile from team usa, trayvon bromell has been tipped by usain bolt himself is the favourite, the man to watch. i don't know how i would feel about that tag, it seems like massive shoes to fill.— that tag, it seems like massive shoes to fill. millions around the world will be _ shoes to fill. millions around the world will be tuning _ shoes to fill. millions around the world will be tuning in _ shoes to fill. millions around the world will be tuning in for - shoes to fill. millions around the world will be tuning in for that. i i world will be tuning in for that. i will cut you off and talk a little bit more about gb. i will cut you off and talk a little bit more about gb.— bit more about gb. i will not intermpt _ bit more about gb. i will not intermpt you _ bit more about gb. i will not interrupt you if _ bit more about gb. i will not interrupt you if you - bit more about gb. i will not interrupt you if you are - bit more about gb. i will not i interrupt you if you are talking bit more about gb. i will not - interrupt you if you are talking gb. also to look out for in that race is hughes in the second semi—final. good stuff, thank you for that. coming into this with simone biles, what is the latest from her? she has had the weight _ what is the latest from her? she has had the weight of— what is the latest from her? she has had the weight of the _ what is the latest from her? she has had the weight of the world - what is the latest from her? she has had the weight of the world on - what is the latest from her? she has had the weight of the world on her l had the weight of the world on her shoulders and it has been unfortunate not to watch her compete. she is a remarkable athlete, they all are at this level of the competition. she has been

suffering from a phenomenon known as the twisties, losing her orientation in the air, which must be terrifying. usa gymnastics have confirmed in a statement that she has withdrawn from the event final for the floor. they will make a decision on the beam later this week and they say either way we are behind simone. i think the rest of the world is as well. we behind simone. i think the rest of the world is as well.— the world is as well. we will wait and see what _ the world is as well. we will wait and see what happens _ the world is as well. we will wait and see what happens there. - the world is as well. we will wait i and see what happens there. great the world is as well. we will wait - and see what happens there. great to have you want to wrap up exactly what has been happening. thank you. rockets have been fired at kandahar airport as the taliban continues its offensive against the afghan government. two of the missiles hit the runway and the airport has now been closed to all flights. the militants are trying to seize three major cities in the south and west. they've now entered parts of herat, lashkar gah and kandahar, afg hanistan�*s second—biggest city. husain haqqani is former ambassador of pakistan to the united states, now with the hudson institute. he gave us his assessment of the gains made by the taliban.

well, they prove three things. first, that there was no peace process. it was an illusion, and the taliban are not amenable to peace. they basically thought that an american withdrawal meant that they had won and theyjust wanted to establish their emirate all over again. second, that the taliban are not just a small insurgent force. they are a force that is capable of fighting like a conventional army, which basically means somebody is behind them and is supporting them, and showing them the way to behave like a conventional army. and thirdly, that the afghan military has been left without air cover by the sudden withdrawal of the western forces. all through the 20 years that the americans and the brits and everybody else were there, they all did not build a strong enough afghan air force and made the afghan air force totally dependent on contractors

who have now been withdrawn. the taliban have also killed afghan pilots while off duty in a very methodical manner to make sure that there is no air power on the side of the government. so if anybody wants the taliban to not take over afghanistan by force, they have to abandon the so—called peace process and actually get round to supporting the afghan military. young people in england are to be offered incentives such as discounts from uber and deliveroo to get their covid—19 vaccinations. ministers are hoping to make further offers involving cafes and restaurants in the coming weeks to try to improve uptake of the jabs. simon jones has more. a day out with a difference. a pop—up vaccination centre was set up last week at the thorpe park theme park in surrey — part of a drive to get more younger people vaccinated. hi, guys. we're doing covid vaccines today. just over two thirds of adults aged

18—29 in england have received their first dose. that is a lower uptake than in the wider population. overall, 88% of people across the uk have had a firstjab. now there will be new incentives. uber is to give discounted trips to young adults who get vaccinated. the ride—hailing app bolt will be offering free ride credits to vaccination centres. deliveroo is set to offer vouchers to young people who getjabbed, though how exactly these schemes will work has yet to be revealed. but it is a carrot—and—stick approach. cheering. ministers have warned that they will introduce covid passports in certain places from september, meaning those who have not been vaccinated won't be able to get into nightclubs. asking festival—goers to show proof of their covid status is being used at this weekend's camp festival music event in dorset.

you know, we've got very stringent measures here — double—vaccination proof or lateral flow negative test for people over the age of 11, more sanitation, really great compostable toilets with a lot more air space in them, things being wiped down, hand sanitiser. the uk isn't the first to try new incentives. in the us, the governor of newjersey launched shot and a beer in may, offering a free drink to those over 21 getting vaccinated. and in colorado, some vaccination sites are giving out $100 supermarket cards to the jabbed. if i can get it, y'all can get it. i'm a cancer survivor. i recommend y'all have it. the hope is people won'tjust grab a vaccine, but a bargain too. around 4,000 children and young people in scotland will be offered the pfizer vaccine before the start of the new school term in just over two weeks. it will be on offer to those with conditions which make them more vulnerable to covid such as down syndrome, learning disabilities and illnesses which affect

the immune syndrome. it will give them some protection after that first dose, but we will need to wait until they have had their second doses, which will need to be eight weeks after that first dose. so we're really looking towards this protection being in place for them into the autumn and through the winter months as well. the head of the burmese military government has promised to hold multi—party elections and work with fellow asean states, six months after seizing power. but general min aung hlaing, speaking in a television address, described the party he forced from office as terrorists. that is the national league for democracy of aung san suu kyi. myanmar has been engulfed by violence since the army took control on 1 february. nationwide street demonstrations in favour of aung san suu kyi have been suppressed with violence.

new zealand's prime minister, jacinda ardern, has formally apologised at a ceremony in auckland for police raids which disproportionately targeted pacific communities in the 1970s. the so—called dawn raids were carried out to find, convict and deport people from the pacific islands suspected of overstaying their visas, but never those from the uk or the us. let's speak to our correspondent phil mercer, who's in sydney. this seems like a significant moment. why did jacinda ardern stand up moment. why did jacinda ardern stand up and give this apology? idea? up and give this apology? new zealand rarely _ up and give this apology? ii? zealand rarely apologises for past injustices but such was the gravity of these immigration raids between 1974 and 1976 in new zealand that it has prompted the prime minister, jacinda ardern, to issue this formal

apology at the auckland town hall. now, these raids spread panic and terror through pacific communities in the 1970s. after the second world war, new zealand invited thousands of pacific islanders in to work to boost a workforce that had been depleted by conflict overseas. but in the 1970s the new zealand economy was beginning to falter, and all of a sudden those valuable, welcomed migrant workers were turned upon and were accused of taking jobs away from new zealanders. and that prompted a wave of police raids, this crackdown included churches, schools, workplaces and also homes, many homes rated in the middle of the night. and thousands of people were arrested and deported. find the night. and thousands of people were arrested and deported. and what has the reaction _ were arrested and deported. and what has the reaction be _ were arrested and deported. and what has the reaction be into _ were arrested and deported. and what has the reaction be into the _ has the reaction be into the apology?— has the reaction be into the aolo: ? ., ., apology? both ma'or political arties in apology? both ma'or political parties in new _ apology? both major political parties in new zealand - apology? both major political| parties in new zealand accept apology? both major political- parties in new zealand accept that the raids were racist. as you said

earlier, these raids targeted pacific island communities from countries such as tonga and samoa, but at the time about 40% of overstayers in new zealand were visitors from the united kingdom and the united states, and those visitors were rarely if ever targeted for deportation. there has been this heartfelt apology by the prime minister, jacinda ardern. she has expressed her government's sorrow and remorse. many pacific island communities will be welcoming this apology that has taken 45 years to come to fruition. there is also a call that the government needs to do more practical things for pacific island communities in new zealand to address inequality in terms of poverty, education and health. but for the most part this apology by jacinda ardern has been well received by pacific island

communities.— received by pacific island communities. ., ~ , ., , . communities. 0k, thank you very much for the communities. 0k, thank you very much forthe undate- — another step is being taken towards winding down the uk government's furlough scheme. from today, the state contribution towards salaries drops to 60%, while employers must now pay 20%. business groups have warned there could be thousands of redundancies. here's our business correspondent katy austin. it's been credited with preventing unemployment rising sharply. now, we're in the final two months of thejob retention scheme. the economy has been reopening, but nearly 2 million people were still furloughed at the end ofjune. receptionist ruby, who is 65... hi, ruby. hiya. ..has been on full or part—time furlough since march last year. she's grateful for it but the future is unclear. i think there's every possibility that come 1 october when the furlough scheme ends completely, then yes,

i will possibly have to start looking for anotherjob. she can't afford to retire yet, so that's a worry. i don't think a lot of employers are happy to employ you if you're over 65. the highest rates of people on furlough used to be among the under—25s. but in the most recent data, we've seen that it's over—60s who are now more likely to be furloughed. and that's concerning because we're likely to see a rise in unemployment when thejob retention scheme ends in the autumn. and any workers who are kind of left on furlough are more likely to become unemployed. in its final stage, the scheme is changing. previously the government paid 80% of wages for hours not worked. in july that contribution fell to 70%, with the employer picking up 10%. from today, the government will pay 60% and the employer 20%, until furlough stops at the end of september. the british chambers of commerce estimates a fifth of firms

still using it are considering redundancies as the cost to them increases. it's a concern for businesses which are still struggling, like travel agents. there are still lots of destinations we can't sell. it's come to a point where the money is going to run out. and obviously with the furlough scheme we've been able to keep staff on, or we've kept 50% of the staff on, and it's just going to just drain the money even faster. furlough will soon become a thing of the past. that means tough decisions for some firms. in a statement, the government told us it's helping people of all ages find the skills they need to get back into work. katy austin, bbc news. covid passes. in paris, police have fired tear gas at protesters — who claim the passes restrict their freedoms. the news comes as france battles its fourth wave of coronavirus infections. celestina 0lulode reports. violent clashes on the streets

of paris, as police attempted to control the palpable sense of anger. protesters with a wide range of political views marched side—by—side on saturday. they had a simple message. all chant. freedom. it's the third weekend in a row of protest. similar scenes played out in marseille, leon, and toulouse, against president emmanuel macron�*s a so—called health path. the measures mean you will need to prove you've been vaccinated, or are covid free, to enter most museums and cinemas. and under a new law introduced this week, vaccinations are mandatory for all healthcare workers. it has been described by some as health dictatorship. translation: we are creating a segregated society, - and i think it is unbelievable to be doing this in the country of human rights. so i am taking to the streets.

i have never protested before in my life, but i think our freedom is in danger. translation: | won't go| to restaurants, i don't give a d“n, i won't sell my soul to go to the cinema or for other nonsense, that's it. there's more at stake. freedom. there's nothing above freedom. we've started losing all of our liberties, so it must stop. that's enough. we must put an end to their nonsense. but not everyone agrees. if you want to avoid another confinement, a forced confinement, and all of that painful thing, and keep the economy going, your choice. and as one poll suggests, more than 60% of people in france support the measures, with many believing it's the only way to avoid yet another lockdown. celestina 0lulode, bbc news.

large cruise ships have been banned from the centre of venice, after yea rs of environmental protests. vessels of more than 25,000 tonnes will no longer be allowed to dock in the central canal. campaigners and residents say the ships pollute the air and water, and cause erosion. our rome correspondent mark lowen reports. it's been venice's david versus goliath. for years, protests by locals in their small boats against the mammoth cruise liners clogging its waterways. critics say they pollute, damage venice's ecosystem and erode foundations with their large waves. finally, victory. from today, any ship over 25,000 tons is now banned from the city's central canal. they brought significant amount of fear and hopelessness because every time we saw one of these ships coming towards us in piazza san marco,

it just brought to the front of our minds, just, how little everybody cares about venice as world heritage and about environmental and social justice in general. the cruise ships have been seen as symptoms of venice's over tourism. hordes of daytrippers not the model of sustainable tourism many here want. and they've contributed to the flooding that's long played venice. ——long plagued venice. the high in 2019 the worst in 50 years, inundating st mark's square and devastating homes and businesses. a new port in the nearby city of marghera will be fast tracked for the cruise liners, but those depending on the industry are worried. translation: such a decision

taken so quickly without - planning is absurd. in our opinion it is evil and a crime against the workers. �*la serenissima' venice was called — the most serene. but its beauty is fragile. the battle over who can drift through the city of water might now help preserve this jewel of civilisation. mark lowen, bbc news, rome. joining us now is jyoti hosagrahar is deputy directorfor the world heritage centre at unesco. he thank you for coming on the programme. he thank you for coming on the programme-— he thank you for coming on the rouramme. ., ~ , . m programme. thank you very much. what is our programme. thank you very much. what is your reaction — programme. thank you very much. what is your reaction to _ programme. thank you very much. what is your reaction to the _ programme. thank you very much. what is your reaction to the big _ programme. thank you very much. what is your reaction to the big ships - is your reaction to the big ships being banned?— is your reaction to the big ships being banned? well, of course we welcome the _ being banned? well, of course we welcome the decree _ being banned? well, of course we welcome the decree to _ being banned? well, of course we welcome the decree to prohibit. being banned? well, of course we i welcome the decree to prohibit ships larger than 25,000 tons from passing through the canal in the venice lagoon. as you know, the state of composite —— science —— conservation

and its lagoon has been reviewed by the world heritage committee since 2014 for a number of different issues, many of which have to do with the impacts of excessive tourism. and suddenly large cruise ships traversing through the heart of the city �*s a significant issue and we very much thank the state party for all the effort to address the recommendations of the world heritage committee but we do look forward to receiving the full details of how these large ships will be circulating and where they will be circulating and where they will be circulating and where they will be because we don't have these details yet. and so while we very much appreciate the willingness to find solutions, there does need to be a clear plan on how these will be moored to be able to assess what impact they will have.—

moored to be able to assess what impact they will have. let's “ump in there. if impact they will have. let's “ump in there. mne— impact they will have. let's “ump in there. if the principle h impact they will have. let's “ump in there. if the principle of_ impact they will have. let's jump in there. if the principle of this - impact they will have. let's jump in there. if the principle of this movel there. if the principle of this move is welcomed and you are waiting on the details of where these big ships will go, that suggests this is one issue, but are there other issues with just the number of tourists in venice itself, whether they're on the big ship �*s or not? are there other issues that need to be addressed there?— other issues that need to be addressed there? , ., , ,., , addressed there? yes, absolutely. in fact it is a addressed there? yes, absolutely. in faet it is a very— addressed there? yes, absolutely. in fact it is a very complex _ addressed there? yes, absolutely. in fact it is a very complex situation - fact it is a very complex situation because there is a number of interconnected issues to say which have an impact on the properties, outstanding universal value which you know is protected for world heritage was not first of all, the statement about universal value talks about, and i want to quote here, the result of dynamic process which illustrates the interaction between people and the ecosystem of

their natural environment over time so there is a very, it is a very interconnect did value to begin with and it has, the negative impacts of mass tourism have been really significant which, as you know, the cruise ships is only one of them. the cruise ships traversing through the city. there is also the transformation of the historic centre, the decreasing number of local inhabitants and so on. in addition to that, we have human induced changes in the ecosystem of the lagoon, we have the need for more governance and management, climate change is also affect ink. there needs to be a kind of solution which is multisector or multi— stakeholder that brings together, and this is what is a need, there is and this is what is a need, there is a need for a holistic co—ordinated effort that really tries to resolve

these several issues together rather than. if; these several issues together rather than. . ~ these several issues together rather than. ., ~ , ., these several issues together rather than. ., ~' , ., , these several issues together rather than. ., ~ i. , . these several issues together rather than. ., ~ , . ., than. ic. thank you very much for cominu than. ic. thank you very much for coming on — than. ic. thank you very much for coming on and — than. ic. thank you very much for coming on and explaining - than. ic. thank you very much for coming on and explaining that. than. ic. thank you very much for coming on and explaining that to| than. ic. thank you very much for i coming on and explaining that to us. thank you. coming on and explaining that to us. thank ou. . ~ coming on and explaining that to us. thank ou. ., ~ i. , . prime minister borisjohnson�*s wife, carriejohnson, says she feels blessed and "incredibly grateful" to be pregnant again after having a miscarriage at the start of this year. the couple, who also have a one—year—old son, wilfred, are expecting their new arrival around christmas. charities have praised mrsjohnson for sharing her experience of miscarriage. i think it can only be helpful to open up the conversation about miscarriage, to understand, actually do know some of the facts that also to understand the whole range of feelings that people have which are so often to do with who they are but also what this pregnancy means for them. . ,

also what this pregnancy means for them. ., , ., ., , them. that is it from me for this houn them. that is it from me for this hour. i them. that is it from me for this hour- i will _ them. that is it from me for this hour. i will be _ them. that is it from me for this hour. i will be back— them. that is it from me for this hour. i will be back with - them. that is it from me for this hour. i will be back with the - hour. i will be back with the headlines injust hour. i will be back with the headlines in just a hour. i will be back with the headlines injust a couple hour. i will be back with the headlines in just a couple of minutes' time. meanwhile, get me on twitter at elboya jones. i'm lewis vaughanjones. this is bbc news. —— good morning. part two of the weekend is similar to how we saw conditions yesterday. that is mainly dry with some sunshine. but also some showers. these are likely to pop up across more southern parts of england. further north we should tend to be drier with the wind coming down from the north and it is not going to feel particularly warm for the time of year to assess whether front moves towards the south, it will generate showers in the afternoon. some of them could be heavy and thundery so as we move through the morning, the showers could get going. you see the bright colours indicating heavy showers and the storms. mainly dry with a good deal of sunshine and a bit of cloud across where they could

be the odd shower and most places further north would be dry. high—teens foremost and could see the odd 21 across southern england so slightly warmer than elsewhere. a rather cool field to things for the first of august. as we head on into this evening. i know the showers and storms fade away from the south. most places will be dry. cliff bells, —— clear spells. most places will be dry. cliff bells, —— clearspells. could most places will be dry. cliff bells, —— clear spells. could see single digits. as we going to monday, we start the new week with this ridge of high pressure. it means we bring dry weather around but not completely dry. it will still produce the odd shower particular the as we head into the afternoon as the temperatures begin to rise. the greatest risk of showers on monday will be parts of england and wales but they will be hit and miss. england and wales but they will be hitand miss. many england and wales but they will be hit and miss. many places will be dry. if you catch a shower, they could be heavy and torrential.

high—teens celsius but a cooler feel right across the board could see 20 degrees through the central belt of scotland. as we move out of monday, deeper into the weak, high pressure dominates especially for the first half of the week. no pressures invading from the west so although it will start fine with a lot of dry weather around, one or two showers, it will turn more unsettled by the end of the week with low pressure system is bringing wet and windy conditions. you can see that here on the outlook for the capital cities. largely dry start and then it turns wetter and windy the end of the week and it will continue —— continue to feel cool.

this is bbc news. the headlines: at the olympics, there has been more success for team gb. charlotte worthington has won britain's ninth gold of the games in the bmx freestyle. the british win their eighth medal in the swimming pool with silver in the medley relay. fighting is raging around three major cities in afghanistan as the taliban try to seize them from government forces. militants have made rapid gains since it was announced almost all foreign troops would leave by september. rockets have been fired at kandahar airport, which has been closed to all traffic. the head of the burmese military government has promised to hold multi—party elections and work with fellow asean states, six months after seizing power. myanmar has been engulfed by violence since the army took control. nationwide street demonstrations in favour of aung san suu kyi have been suppressed with violence.

now on bbc news, the media show.