this is bbc news. i'm christian fraser. france's biggest—ever terrorism trial is underway. in the dock, 20 people connected to the 2015 paris attacks — among them the one surviving gunman who is alleged to have taken part. the british teenager, emma raducanu, is through to the semifinal of the us open after beating the swiss player belinda bencic in straight sets this evening. one of the largest confederate statues in the united states is taken down, after a lengthy court battle. and angela merkel�*s 16—year tenure as german chancellor is almost up. we'll look at who might replace her — in one of europe's most closely watched elections.

hello. people talk of september 11th as a turning point in the recent history of the united states. the same might be said of the 2015 attacks on the bataclan concert hall in france. a night of indiscriminate shooting and bombing in paris that left 130 innocent people dead. it was france's worst attack since the second second war. it led to intensified french military action against the extremists abroad and a security crackdown at home. today, the trial began of the 20 men accused of involvement in those attacks. it is an historic moment for the thousands who were affected, directly or indirectly. the trial is expected to last nine months, detailing how the attacks unfolded and who ultimately was responsible. our paris correspondent, lucy williamson, reports.

the sirens sounded again in paris today for the men accused of terrorising this city six years ago. sounds that once accompanied that fear and panic, now accompanying the defendants on their way to justice. it was a night when security felt uncertain, when no one in paris knew where to run. as islamist gunmen targeted bars, restaurants, the football stadium, the bataclan concert hall. explosion salah abdeslam, the only suspected attacker to survive that night, is facing the most serious charges. 19 others are accused of involvement, including mohamed abrini, also wanted by belgian prosecutors in connection with the attacks in brussels. today, a message from abdeslam. as the trial opened,

the judge asked for his profession. "fighter with the islamic state," he replied. this case includes almost 2,000 civil plaintiffs, many of whom have opted not to testify. translation: the suffering is unspeakable. _ it is inexpressible, but they expect tough justice. the acts these defendants are accused of are particularly monstrous. the trial is being held in a specially built chamber inside the old courts ofjustice to fit its scale and security demands. this trial is the antidote to the chaos and panic of that night six years ago, the moment when the french state reasserts control and turns national trauma into national history. joseph's wife armelle died in the bataclan that night. they had gone out to celebrate the launch of the riverboat company he now runs alone. how does he feel about looking salah abdeslam in the eyes?

translation: to me, he is nonexistent - - he is just a face. i have seen the attackers myself that night at the bataclan. when they were shooting at us, they shot at us twice. the first time, we were able to escape. the second time, no. joseph told me he was afraid of coming here today. fear is something he knows about. justice is the antidote he needs. lucy williamson, bbc news, paris. let's bring in raffaello pantucci. he's a terrorism analyst at the royal united services institute, a defence research body. go to see you. one focus for the past three micro prosecutors in this trial will be how the group managed to enter france undetected. but we know about that? i to enter france undetected. but we know about that?— know about that? i think from what we've discovered _ know about that? i think from what we've discovered in _ know about that? i think from what we've discovered in the _ know about that? i think from what we've discovered in the substantial| we've discovered in the substantial reporting that has come out since the incident is that these individuals slipped into europe, in some cases in much the same way that they slipped out of europe into

syria, through turkey, and via routes through the balkans into france. but also amongst the wave of refugees that are amongst the time were coming from across the middle east and arab world, or muslim world more generally, into europe. we saw a lot of these guys are slipping into those various routes. if they use the flow _ into those various routes. if they use the flow of _ into those various routes. if they use the flow of refugees - into those various routes. if they use the flow of refugees from i into those various routes. if theyj use the flow of refugees from iis control syria as cover, the evidence from this trial surely has fresh evidence to what we might imagine might happen in the coming months. i mean, i think that is certainly a life concern, and i'm sure that in the course of this very long trial that narrative will start to play out again. i think unfortunately we have seen in this particular instance some of the particular individuals snack in, and in other attacks we have seen links to individuals who came into these

refugee flows. the numbers of people we are talking about to is refugees fleeing oppression and horrible situations in other parts of the world into europe, the overwhelming majority, hundreds of thousands of people who are entirely innocent in seeking to build a better life for themselves. it is a very small minority that is represented in parts of this case who are involved in these... parts of this case who are involved in these- - -— parts of this case who are involved in these... ., , ., ., ., ~' in these... the families are looking for answers- _ in these... the families are looking for answers. i spent _ in these... the families are looking for answers. i spent a _ in these... the families are looking for answers. i spent a lot _ in these. .. the families are looking for answers. i spent a lot of- in these... the families are looking for answers. i spent a lot of time i for answers. i spent a lot of time in brussels looking into the background of the salah abdesalam brothers. they worked in a bar, their other brother had served in their other brother had served in the council. and i was never really convinced that he was idea logically linked to this group. have you looked into his background? do you draw the same conclusion? i probably haven't looked _ draw the same conclusion? i probably haven't looked into _ draw the same conclusion? i probably haven't looked into him _ draw the same conclusion? i probably haven't looked into him in _ draw the same conclusion? i probably haven't looked into him in as - draw the same conclusion? i probably haven't looked into him in as much i haven't looked into him in as much detail as you have, but i've

certainly research the product group and the broader cohort of individuals they were part of, and i think it is noticeable that when we look at idea logically within his individuals, it is often very thin. they seem caught up in it for many other reasons. isis was very good at presenting this image of offering people like these brothers who were people like these brothers who were people who had been involved in petty criminality, drug taking, fairly dissident youth, they offered a chance of redemption through basicallyjoining this group to try to change the world and use extreme violence, with three micro which appeal to them on a number of different levels. we see the religion or a particular connection to the cause is quite limited. i think what we have to remember is that the group that is minute relating these people, in some cases there are people who are idea logically convinced by what they are doing. so i think the ultimate individual case, often if you dig

into their detail and histories, you find very thin understanding of the religion they are purporting to be willing to die for, but at the same time the group they are joining, amongst them there are real believers, and certainly the group leading them does have a strong sense of religious identity. we do need an understanding _ sense of religious identity. we do need an understanding of- sense of religious identity. we do need an understanding of how - sense of religious identity. we do i need an understanding of how these groups form and what their motivations are, and i think one of the things that always shocked me when i was reporting from france was the size of the watchlist that the police in france have. there were some 30,000 names on that list which no police force can keep a cross over such a long period of time. do you think things have changed in france since the bataclan incident? so that they have a better awareness of where these people are and what they're up to? i of where these people are and what they're up to?— they're up to? i think there is certainly--- — they're up to? i think there is certainly... i— they're up to? i think there is certainly... ithink— they're up to? i think there is certainly... i think the - they're up to? i think there is certainly... i think the attack| they're up to? i think there is - certainly... i think the attack was a real wake—up call not only for

french intelligence services but services across europe. but i think already you had seen them increase their capability before that. but i think really that showed them the depth and potential danger that could emerge from this cohort of people who have been radicalised and fighting alongside isis. since then, the thing i would point to more clearly, the attacks that we saw in paris and any subsequent attacks that we saw in belgium at the airport and public transport system, it was all part of the same network, since that network we haven't really seen anything on this scale since in europe. the closest incident was the attack we saw in manchester in 2017. but even that, it's not inquiringly clear how much was directed by it. since then, what we have seen its attacks involving isolated individuals, using weapons that they can find around them and launching attacks on random citizens they find near them, attacks on random citizens they find nearthem, using attacks on random citizens they find near them, using a vehicle, using knives, using low—tech weapons. and i think that it's a reflection of

the fact that it's become much harder for groups to launch these large, sophisticated plots, because intelligence services across europe are really trying to step up their game, conscious of this capability being out there. the groups haven't stopped wanting to launch these sorts of attacks, but they find it very difficult now and that is why the threat scene is so dominated by these low actor individuals using low—tech weapons. these low actor individuals using low-tech weapons.— low-tech weapons. let's hope it sta s low-tech weapons. let's hope it stays that _ low-tech weapons. let's hope it stays that way- _ low-tech weapons. let's hope it stays that way. good _ low-tech weapons. let's hope it stays that way. good to - low-tech weapons. let's hope it stays that way. good to talk - low-tech weapons. let's hope it stays that way. good to talk to i low-tech weapons. let's hope it - stays that way. good to talk to you. in the last hour, mp's here in england have been voting on borisjohnson�*s proposals to raise national insurance to fund his new health and social care plan. a number of his own mp's were expected to abstain or withhold support for the prime minister's plans, which will increase taxes to their highest level since the second world war. let's speak to our correspondent helen katt who has been watching events. there were a number who wanted to

abstain or oppose the government tonight. in abstain or oppose the government toniaht. ,., tonight. in the end, the government one less vote _ tonight. in the end, the government one less vote pretty _ tonight. in the end, the government one less vote pretty comfortably. i one less vote pretty comfortably. 319 votes — one less vote pretty comfortably. 319 votes to 248. the number of conservative mps who rebelled and voted _ conservative mps who rebelled and voted against the government was pretty— voted against the government was pretty small, five. but there where it appears — pretty small, five. but there where it appears a — pretty small, five. but there where it appears a significantly larger number— it appears a significantly larger number who decided not to vote. they abstained _ number who decided not to vote. they abstained. we know that 37 conservative mps didn't have a boat recorded _ conservative mps didn't have a boat recorded. that doesn't necessarily mean _ recorded. that doesn't necessarily mean that— recorded. that doesn't necessarily mean that all of those did that deliberately to make a point. some of them _ deliberately to make a point. some of them will have had reasons for not being — of them will have had reasons for not being in the commons. but we know_ not being in the commons. but we know that — not being in the commons. but we know that some mps were planning to deliberately abstain because they are unhappy with some of the details of this, _ are unhappy with some of the details of this, they are unhappy with the principle — of this, they are unhappy with the principle of it. other mps that stood — principle of it. other mps that stood up _ principle of it. other mps that stood up this afternoon in about five hours — stood up this afternoon in about five hours of debate said that while they would back the government's plan, _ they would back the government's plan, some conservative backbenchers, they wanted to see more _ backbenchers, they wanted to see more detail. they accepted extraordinary circumstances around the pandemic, but they wanted to cease _ the pandemic, but they wanted to cease a _ the pandemic, but they wanted to cease a bit— the pandemic, but they wanted to cease a bit more of the detail examined, too. the sorts of issues

being _ examined, too. the sorts of issues being raised — examined, too. the sorts of issues being raised work how fair it was on regions _ being raised work how fair it was on regions of— being raised work how fair it was on regions of the uk, regions of england. _ regions of the uk, regions of england, where people were on lower incomes— england, where people were on lower incomes and they had lower property values, _ incomes and they had lower property values, that they would lose out in effect _ values, that they would lose out in effect to _ values, that they would lose out in effect to people who would be able to keep _ effect to people who would be able to keep more of the value of their house _ to keep more of the value of their house if— to keep more of the value of their house if they have a high—value house in — house if they have a high—value house in somewhere like the south—east of england. concerns about _ south—east of england. concerns about the — south—east of england. concerns about the idea of how much of this tax would — about the idea of how much of this tax would eventually end up being channelled into social care, because for the _ channelled into social care, because for the first — channelled into social care, because for the first three years the government to set most of the £12 biiiion— government to set most of the £12 billion a _ government to set most of the £12 billion a year raised is going to go into funding the backlog in the nhs caused _ into funding the backlog in the nhs caused by— into funding the backlog in the nhs caused by the pandemic, and several mps asked _ caused by the pandemic, and several mps asked at what point is more money— mps asked at what point is more money going to go into social care, and how— money going to go into social care, and how feasible is it really going to he _ and how feasible is it really going to be for— and how feasible is it really going to be for ministers a few years down the line _ to be for ministers a few years down the line to _ to be for ministers a few years down the line to say they are going to take _ the line to say they are going to take some — the line to say they are going to take some of that money away from the nhs _ take some of that money away from the nhs and give it to social care instead — the nhs and give it to social care instead. so they were quite a few concerns — instead. so they were quite a few concerns on all of these things, which _ concerns on all of these things, which i — concerns on all of these things, which i think ministers will have to address _ which i think ministers will have to address. but which i think ministers will have to address. �* ., , ., address. but rumours are rife in westminster— address. but rumours are rife in westminster about _ address. but rumours are rife in

westminster about a _ address. but rumours are rife in westminster about a possible i westminster about a possible reshuffle tomorrow. who is it in the cabinet you might not sleep particularly well tonight? there have been _ particularly well tonight? there have been rumours— particularly well tonight? there have been rumours for- particularly well tonight? there have been rumours for some i particularly well tonight? there - have been rumours for some time, although— have been rumours for some time, although it — have been rumours for some time, although it is worth saying that today— although it is worth saying that today the prime minister or official spokesperson implied that wasn't going _ spokesperson implied that wasn't going to — spokesperson implied that wasn't going to happen tomorrow. we are waiting _ going to happen tomorrow. we are waiting to — going to happen tomorrow. we are waiting to see if that will happen or not _ waiting to see if that will happen or not. and then the people, i suppose. _ or not. and then the people, i suppose, you will be looking at, if you ministers that have had a bit of a tough _ you ministers that have had a bit of a tough time recently or made some gaffes, _ a tough time recently or made some gaffes, if— a tough time recently or made some gaffes, if you like. one particular, gavin _ gaffes, if you like. one particular, gavin williamson, the education secretary. — gavin williamson, the education secretary, has made a few errors. criticism _ secretary, has made a few errors. criticism of— secretary, has made a few errors. criticism of his handling of a-ievels _ criticism of his handling of a—levels in particular and gcses last year. — a—levels in particular and gcses last year, as well as a few unforced errors _ last year, as well as a few unforced errors a— last year, as well as a few unforced errors a lot — last year, as well as a few unforced errors. a lot of spec elation about his future — errors. a lot of spec elation about his future. but i think a wider speculation about who boris johnson might— speculation about who boris johnson might move where. but we still don't know when— might move where. but we still don't know when that is going to happen. rumours— know when that is going to happen. rumours in— know when that is going to happen. rumours in the last few days that it is pretty— rumours in the last few days that it is pretty imminent, but at the moment _ is pretty imminent, but at the moment- - -— is pretty imminent, but at the moment... ., ,, , ., moment... the intrigue. thank you very much- —

now, we don't often turn to sport in the first half our our programme, but there is some remarkable tennis news developing in the womens side of the draw at the us open. the 19—year—old canadian leyla fernandez, who won an extraordinary match to get through to the last four last night. and now the british sensation emma raducanu, who is still only 18 and is the first woman in us open history to go through qualifying all the way to the semifinals. which is a pretty remarkable achievement. let's speak to bbc tennis commentator and co—host of the tennis podcast, david law. suddenly we are all asking, could we see a teenage final?— see a teenage final? yeah, it suddenly _ see a teenage final? yeah, it suddenly feels _ see a teenage final? yeah, it suddenly feels possible - see a teenage final? yeah, it suddenly feels possible now, i see a teenage final? yeah, it - suddenly feels possible now, the fact that the two of them are in the semifinals and the manner they are playing to have got there as well. you mentioned leyla fernandez from canada, who has beaten last year's champion, naomi osaka. and now elina

svitolina, who is one of the top five players in the world. but perhaps even more remarkably is the way that emma raducanu, the british player, who had not even played this tournament before this year, is now going through all of the qualifying rounds without dropping a set, and now five rounds of the main draw. eight matches, no sets dropped, actually dealing to gold medallist today, and there is no real sign that any of it is perturbing her. she is now going to face either maria or zachary or carolyn up chris cuba in the semifinals, and she really does look like she believes she can go all the way.— she can go all the way. formerly never one _ she can go all the way. formerly never one of— she can go all the way. formerly never one of course. _ she can go all the way. formerly never one of course. when - she can go all the way. formerly never one of course. when you | she can go all the way. formerly i never one of course. when you say that she has the mentality for it, that she has the mentality for it, that in itself is interesting because people will recall how she went out at wimbledon this summer. the fact that she retired, and questions were asked about whether she was ready for it all. it seems that she is very calm and collected through this tournament, almost as

if she benefited from that experience.— if she benefited from that experience. if she benefited from that exerience. . ,, ., experience. yeah, i think it gave her pause _ experience. yeah, i think it gave her pause for — experience. yeah, i think it gave her pause for thought. _ experience. yeah, i think it gave her pause for thought. i - experience. yeah, i think it gave her pause for thought. i think. experience. yeah, i think it gavel her pause for thought. i think she came away from it and try to consider what had happened. and she said afterwards that she just got a bit worked up, and also i think she was playing rallies against a player who was just at a level she wasn't used to, so she was getting out of breath when she was playing the rallies. at the moment did get to her a little bit. but she was so new to it. what she did then was she travelled to america and decided to spend five weeks before this tournament just spend five weeks before this tournamentjust playing matches, tournament just playing matches, tournamentjust playing matches, tournament in america, getting used tournament in america, getting used to the conditions, trying to improve her game, get a lot of wins under her game, get a lot of wins under her belt. when she entered the qualifying tournament for the us open she was really ready for it. i just block by block, she has built this road to the semifinals, the us open, which frankly felt ridiculous. if you had suggested that that would happen to us at the start of this

tournament, nobody would have believed you. i tournament, nobody would have believed you-— tournament, nobody would have believed ou. ,, ., ., ., , believed you. i know commentators like ou believed you. i know commentators like you say. _ believed you. i know commentators like you say, "look, _ believed you. i know commentators like you say, "look, she's _ believed you. i know commentators like you say, "look, she's only - believed you. i know commentators like you say, "look, she's only 18, i like you say, "look, she's only 18, we have to limit our expectations." she has the game, she is developing the mental side of the game, as you just explained, and she has the team around her. she just explained, and she has the team around her. . ., , just explained, and she has the team around her. ,, ., , ., ., ., just explained, and she has the team around her-— around her. she does have a lot of time, around her. she does have a lot of time. and — around her. she does have a lot of time. and i — around her. she does have a lot of time, and i think— around her. she does have a lot of time, and i think when _ around her. she does have a lot of time, and i think when somebody | around her. she does have a lot of i time, and i think when somebody like martina says something like that, you have to listen. she is not prone to hyperbole, she is notjust making that up to get a sound bite. she knows what she is talking about. i think reddy cano has just got the basics right. all the four strokes are already ready, her athleticism is there. the fact is, she is loving every minute of it. it may well not end with a title this fortnight, but the idea that she won't one day go and win a title such as this seems unrealistic now to me. she is as

good as it gets at this sort of age. just has to stay fit. it was really good to talk to you. thank you very much. emma raducanu, a name i think you are going to hear more of in the years to come. stay with us on bbc news, still to come. there are a few weeks left until germany's federal election, marking the end of chancellor angela merkel�*s 16—year term. here, the government is planning to overhaul the travel traffic light system, with changes set to be announced within weeks. our business reporter simon browning has been explaining some of the details. we understand from travel bosses who've been working with the government that some changes are under way and proposals are being worked on with government to transform the system. that would see green and amber list countries effectively removed with a much more open policy that would allow fully vaccinated travellers to travel to countries with similar levels of vaccination as we have here in the uk. now, the travel industry are very

keen for this to happen because they feel that the travel rules that have been in place this summer have really, really restricted people's confidence from booking. now, the government will say that the system that's in place is there to protect public health, to protect the public from the spread of variants of concern, but changes are favoured by the travel industry. and we understand that they are being looked at now by the government. the american biotech entrepreneur, elizabeth holmes — whose hi—tech products were exposed as fake — has gone on trial in california. ms holmes is accused of making billions of dollars in profits through false claims about a blood—testing device, which could supposedly detect conditions such as cancer quickly without using needles. james clayton sent this report from outside the court in sanjose. it's taken four years to get to this point, where we are actually sitting down

for a fraud trial. now, some people who followed this case might assume ms elizabeth holmes will be found guilty after all. she was chief executive and founder of the company and the technology simply didn't exist. but the burden of proof is very high on cases of fraud, and she will also be using a defence, which is that one of the people she brought in to run the company, a guy called sunny balwani, was also her lover. and she'll be saying that he exercised coercive control over her. it's going to be a very salacious trial, it's going to be a very interesting trial, but the idea that she is nailed down to be found guilty is certainly not the case. the judges said this will take between 2—4 months, so perhaps we'll get a verdict before christmas. in just under three weeks, the germans will go the polls, to choose a new government and a successor to the country's longest—serving post—war leader.

and at the moment the polls show that after 16 years in power angela merkel�*s conservative cdu are facing the very real threat of being ousted, with the social democrat sdp in the lead as we head into the final stretch. such is the worry within angela merkel�*s party that yesterday the outgoing chancellor weighed in with an unusually blunt attack on her opponents. translation: the best way forward for our country is a government led l by the cdu and the csu, with armin laschet as chancellor. because his government will stand for stability, reliability, moderation and balance, which is exactly what germany needs. so let me remind you of the key figures in this election. battling it out to become the next chancellor — angela merkel�*s chosen succesor armin laschet on the left, and the spd�*s olaf scholz. laschet�*s campaign has been riddled with gaffes, most notably when he was caught on camera laughing during a ceremony for the victims of germany's catastrophic flooding. conversely, olaf scholz has seen his fortunes rise through the campaign — with almost half of the voters now

saying they would prefer him as the next chancellor. the pandemic has certainly hurt the cdu, and the threat of a third wave is hardly helping. so, there is much to get into here. let's talk to journalist emmanuelle chaze in berlin. nice to see you. we were talking just last night about the canadian election and the threat tojustin trudeau, who called a snap election despite the fact he was a long way ahead in the polls. i asked whether it was wise to call an election between two spikes in a pandemic, and i wonder if that is how it is playing out in germany? armin laschet, playing out in germany? armin laschet. the — playing out in germany? armin laschet, the candidate - playing out in germany? armin laschet, the candidate and i playing out in germany? armin i laschet, the candidate and successor to angie _ laschet, the candidate and successor to angie at _ laschet, the candidate and successor to angle at merkel, he didn't run a very successful campaign so far. you mentioned _ very successful campaign so far. you mentioned this incident when he was seen laughing during a ceremony for flood victims in his region. he was also caught— flood victims in his region. he was also caught on camera being a very short— also caught on camera being a very short tempered, very angry at a journalist — short tempered, very angry at a journalist who was asking questions about— journalist who was asking questions about his _

journalist who was asking questions about his environmental laws. in the worst— about his environmental laws. in the worst affected region. so he is not very popular in the post. only around — very popular in the post. only around 10% of germans would like to see him _ around 10% of germans would like to see him as _ around 10% of germans would like to see him as the next chancellor. as opposed _ see him as the next chancellor. as opposed to — see him as the next chancellor. as opposed to olaf scholz, who has been way more _ opposed to olaf scholz, who has been way more popular. and you could see even angeia — way more popular. and you could see even angela merkel, the chancellor, who is— even angela merkel, the chancellor, who is usually not weighing in elections, but yesterday in front of the bundestag, she was actually supporting the conservative party. unfortunately, the only thing that has been — unfortunately, the only thing that has been steady for the conservative so far— has been steady for the conservative so far as _ has been steady for the conservative so faras their has been steady for the conservative so far as their declines in the polls — so far as their declines in the polls |— so far as their declines in the olls. . , so far as their declines in the olls. ., , ., so far as their declines in the olls. ., ., ., ._ so far as their declines in the olls. .,, ., ., .,y ., ., polls. i was reading today that one ofthe polls. i was reading today that one of the issues _ polls. i was reading today that one of the issues in _ polls. i was reading today that one of the issues in this _ polls. i was reading today that one of the issues in this election i polls. i was reading today that one of the issues in this election and i of the issues in this election and the news that circulates around it is that the russian broadcaster, rt deutsch, which largely exists to promote president putin's agenda in europe, is now one of the most

followed on social media. truth? europe, is now one of the most followed on social media. why is that? there _ followed on social media. why is that? there is _ followed on social media. why is that? there is a _ followed on social media. why is that? there is a lot _ followed on social media. why is that? there is a lot of— followed on social media. why is that? there is a lot of conspiracy theories — that? there is a lot of conspiracy theories on — that? there is a lot of conspiracy theories on social media, not only on certain— theories on social media, not only on certain broadcasters who might have interests to defend in germany, there _ have interests to defend in germany, there is— have interests to defend in germany, there is a _ have interests to defend in germany, there is a lot — have interests to defend in germany, there is a lot of conspiracy theories _ there is a lot of conspiracy theories that play a role in the next _ theories that play a role in the next election stop anti—vax is are protesting — next election stop anti—vax is are protesting as well in the streets of berlin _ protesting as well in the streets of berlin. they are not happy with the candidates — berlin. they are not happy with the candidates currently running for chancellery. one of the challenges in these _ chancellery. one of the challenges in these elections, just like in many— in these elections, just like in many other elections, will be to debunk— many other elections, will be to debunk all of the fake news that are being _ debunk all of the fake news that are being presented to the viewers, to the people consulting social media, and speaking of fake news, if we look at _ and speaking of fake news, if we look at the — and speaking of fake news, if we look at the candidates, there is olaf scholz, armin laschet who you mentioned, — olaf scholz, armin laschet who you mentioned, but you didn't mention the green —

mentioned, but you didn't mention the green candidate. she was the candidate — the green candidate. she was the candidate that was most targeted by fake news _ candidate that was most targeted by fake news and social media. | candidate that was most targeted by fake news and social media. i was wondering — fake news and social media. i was wondering today _ fake news and social media. i was wondering today whether - fake news and social media. i —" wondering today whether there are some similarities, given her long reign in germany, between angela merkel and margaret thatcher here in the uk. they were very different in style and substance but they both won three elections from a very fickle audience, a very fickle electorate. we remember that the conservatives did quite badly when she had gone. is there a danger that that happens to the cdu? i she had gone. is there a danger that that happens to the cdu?— that happens to the cdu? i think what will be _ that happens to the cdu? i think what will be quite _ that happens to the cdu? i think what will be quite poorly - that happens to the cdu? i think. what will be quite poorly regarded as the _ what will be quite poorly regarded as the way angela merkel was unapologetic about her 16 years as chancellor. she said that she had no regrets. _ chancellor. she said that she had no regrets, that she had left the chancellery with a clear conscience, so perhaps — chancellery with a clear conscience, so perhaps not only for the conservatives but the social democrats, this will play a role also _ democrats, this will play a role also in — democrats, this will play a role also in the _ democrats, this will play a role also in the way the electorate will choose _ also in the way the electorate will choose the next chancellor because those _ choose the next chancellor because those 16 _

choose the next chancellor because those 16 years have also... things that have — those 16 years have also... things that have to— those 16 years have also... things that have to be improved in germany, and conservatives have not delivered so far _ and conservatives have not delivered so far. . ~' ,. , and conservatives have not delivered so far. . ~ ,. , . and conservatives have not delivered so far. . ,, y., , . , so far. thank you very much. plenty more to come- _ so far. thank you very much. plenty more to come. to _ so far. thank you very much. plenty more to come. to stay _ so far. thank you very much. plenty more to come. to stay with - so far. thank you very much. plenty more to come. to stay with us. i hello, there. this is typical british summertime in a way, three fine days and a thunderstorm. we've had the heat far and wide again today, just had the hottest september day in scotland since 1906. it was around london, heathrow, that we saw the highest temperatures with 30 degrees. but in the south west earlier today, we had some thunder and lightning and also some flash flooding in devon. those storms have since moved away, but we still have an area of low pressure circulating to the south—west of the uk and there's another band of storms that's developing in france to bring some wetter weather towards more eastern parts of southern england. on top of that, it's still very warm. these are the temperatures

at 11 o'clock tonight — 20, 21 degrees in quite a few places — and muggy, too. and if that wasn't enough, we've got this thunder and lightning and heavy downpours to come across south east england, moving up across east anglia and into northern england, with more showers coming back into wales and the south west. so, a lot of cloud around overnight, and these are the temperatures by the end of the night. as we head into tomorrow, we've still got some heavy, thundery rain to move away from eastern england. moving northwards into scotland — and elsewhere, we're going to find showers breaking out more widely. these are going to be quite slow—moving and they could turn heavy and thundery, bringing a risk of some localised flooding. where we're drier, perhaps in the afternoon across more eastern parts of england, temperatures still warm for this time of year. it's just not as hot as it has been of late. and temperatures are dropping and we're getting the wetter weather essentially because low pressure is moving in. and that's drifting up from the south—west, moving northwards across the uk and it's dropping the temperatures and dropping a lot of rain in places. not everywhere, mind you — many places start dry on friday,

but we're likely to find some more slow—moving downpours developing all the way from southern scotland southwards. that again could bring some flash flooding, and those temperatures are going to be more typically back to 20 or 21 celsius by the end of the week. so, the heat is subsiding, a lot of rain in the forecast. as we head into the weekend, low pressure starts to move away and things should start to calm down a little bit as well. on saturday, we may still have quite a few showers to come in scotland, but generally this weekend, there's fewer showers, lighter showers, a lot of cloud and temperatures are going to be near—normal, really, for this time of the year.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. 20 people have gone on trial in paris — all are accused of being connected to the 2015 paris attack. a huge rise in the number of coronavirus cases among children and teenagers in the united states coinciding with the return to school. one of the largest confederate statues on display in the united states has been removed after a public outcry. music: galop infernal byjacques offenbach. and kicking their way back onto the stage — we'll be heading to the world famous moulin rouge ahead of its grand reopening.

one of the largest confederate statues on display in the united states is that of general robert e lee. it stood on its plinth for 131 years in the city of richmond, virginia, but not any more. today, large crowds gathered as cranes began dismantling the imperious, 18—metre—high monument. the virginia supreme court ruled in favour of its removal last week after a long court battle. the statue became the focus of angry protests last year after the killing of george floyd in minneapolis. general lee, who had led confederate forces in the civil war, was of course opposed to the abolition of slavery. levar stoney is the mayor of richmond. he was among the crowds watching the statue come down, and he is with us. a great pleasure to have you on the programme, mayor.— programme, mayor. thank you for having me- _ programme, mayor. thank you for having me. you'd _ programme, mayor. thank you for having me. you'd removed i programme, mayor. thank you for having me. you'd removed all- programme, mayor. thank you for

having me. you'd removed all the| having me. you'd removed all the other confederate _ having me. you'd removed all the other confederate statues - having me. you'd removed all the other confederate statues on i other confederate statues on monument avenue last summer so why was this one left? this monument avenue last summer so why was this one left?— was this one left? this once left because this _ was this one left? this once left because this was _ was this one left? this once left because this was property i was this one left? this once left | because this was property owned was this one left? this once left i because this was property owned by the commonwealth of virginia, owned by the state. and so i had the ability to remove all the other city owned monuments, buti ability to remove all the other city owned monuments, but i did not have the ability to remove this one. and so right when the governor, i stood next to him lastjune, said he was going to remove this monument of robert e lee, the granddaddy of all confederate monuments, there was a lot of court litigation that occurred between then and now. luckily last week, the supreme court of virginia stated that the governor had the ability to remove, and i'm glad and thankful that he got right to it today. glad and thankful that he got right to it toda . ~ . glad and thankful that he got right to ittoda . ~ . ., ,, ., to it today. what will happen to the statue? i hear— to it today. what will happen to the statue? i hear it _ to it today. what will happen to the statue? i hear it will _ to it today. what will happen to the statue? i hear it will be _ to it today. what will happen to the statue? i hear it will be going i to it today. what will happen to the statue? i hear it will be going off i statue? i hear it will be going off to an undisclosed _ statue? i hear it will be going off to an undisclosed location. i statue? i hear it will be going off to an undisclosed location. righti to an undisclosed location. right now we have a number of pieces of civil war iconography in undisclosed

locations still in the city of richmond. this when i hear it's going outside the city to another location and then maybe it will be on display in the future at an educational institution, museum, something of the sort that will allow for us to learn about this history in the proper context. i think these monuments were an attempt to create a new narrative around the civil war and the reasons for that war. and it's time for us to close the chapter, close the book on the lost cause and start writing a new chapter towards a more righteous cause.— a new chapter towards a more righteous cause. a new chapter towards a more riuhteous cause. ., ., ., righteous cause. you have part done it there but — righteous cause. you have part done it there but how _ righteous cause. you have part done it there but how would _ righteous cause. you have part done it there but how would you - righteous cause. you have part done it there but how would you respond l it there but how would you respond to president trump and his supporters who say this is cancel culture? ~ ., ~' supporters who say this is cancel culture? ~ ., ,, ., culture? well, i would like to direct them _ culture? well, i would like to direct them to _ culture? well, i would like to direct them to the _ culture? well, i would like to direct them to the history i culture? well, i would like to i direct them to the history books. essentially there were leaders of the commonwealth and of the usa and

in particular the confederate states of america who tried their best to cancel black americans, the enslaved africans who came over from africa to work the fields and basically treated as second—class citizens for so long. if that's not cancel culture, i don't know what is. telling the full truth about what occurred during the civil war and what was the original sin of america, slavery, and the support as they were opponents of abolition, to me that's not cancel culture. that is telling the full on truth. there is telling the full on truth. there is no other country in the world that erects monuments to those who took up arms against their country, their nation. and unfortunately we had a tree—lined street that did exactly that. it's time for a new chapter and today we close the chapter and today we close the chapter on the confederacy in the us. 50 chapter on the confederacy in the us. ,, ., , chapter on the confederacy in the us. , , ., us. so there is 'ust one statue left, and if — us. so there is 'ust one statue left, and if the i us. so there isjust one statue left, and if the statute - us. so there isjust one statue left, and if the statute of- left, and if the statute of the richmond board tennis legend arthur

ashe, which is particularly notable since all eyes to not particularly over here in the uk are on the arthur ashe stadium. are you done with statues or are you going to feel these plants with modern—day people? the feel these plants with modern-day --eole? . , , ., feel these plants with modern-day neale? . , , ., ., feel these plants with modern-day --eole? . , , ., ., ., people? the city is going to remove our plants. — people? the city is going to remove our plants. and _ people? the city is going to remove our plants, and allow— people? the city is going to remove our plants, and allow for— people? the city is going to remove our plants, and allow for a - people? the city is going to remove our plants, and allow for a clean i our plants, and allow for a clean slate for the city to join the commonwealth in a re—imagination of that avenue right there. and, you know, i want to hear back from the community, the neighbours who live there and voices all across the city of richmond, and i want to base those conversations in a couple of principles. that being that injustice and inclusivity and how we become more welcoming as a city. if we can follow those principles, i think we will get to an outcome that will reflect the opposite of what

those monuments stood for, and that is we will be a place that is more inclusive and i will say correct about arthur ashe, he will serve as the north star on how we go about reimagining. brute the north star on how we go about reimagining— reimagining. we had a similar controversy — reimagining. we had a similar controversy here _ reimagining. we had a similar controversy here in _ reimagining. we had a similar controversy here in the i reimagining. we had a similar controversy here in the uk i reimagining. we had a similar| controversy here in the uk last reimagining. we had a similar i controversy here in the uk last year when black lives matter protesters toppled the statue in bristol. this was the statue of the slave trader edward colson and it was thrown into the harbour and since then it has been retrieved and restored and placed in a museum. and the mayor there said that's because he wants a conversation about the city's history, wanted to continue because it's an important part of their education. would you agree with that? was there a role for some of these statues in a particular setting? i these statues in a particular settin: ? ~' ., , setting? i think the mayor is absolutely — setting? i think the mayor is absolutely correct. - setting? i think the mayor is absolutely correct. in i setting? i think the mayor is absolutely correct. in a i setting? i think the mayor is i absolutely correct. in a particular setting, these monuments, the statues are appropriate for educational purposes. ijust don't believe that monuments like the one

in england and the one here as well deserve a place in spaces in public plazas and things of that nature. i think i need to be contextualized in educational institutions. and so i could have easily stood with those who said we should melt indenting create them into benches but i said they need to be serving as a tool for education so that we do not repeat this history again. goad for education so that we do not repeat this history again. good to talk to you. _ repeat this history again. good to talk to you. mr— repeat this history again. good to talk to you, mr mayor, _ repeat this history again. good to talk to you, mr mayor, thank i repeat this history again. good to talk to you, mr mayor, thank you | repeat this history again. good to i talk to you, mr mayor, thank you for coming on. talk to you, mr mayor, thank you for coming on-— there's been a huge rise in the number of coronavirus cases among children and teenagers in the united states coinciding with the return to school. in just the last week alone, nearly 252,000 children in the us tested positive. it is up 250% on the number of cases five weeks ago, which means one in four us infections are now children. hospitalisations of children also increasing, but it is important to note that they still only make up

2.5% of all hospitalisations. the danger, though, of course, is that they carry it and spread it, and it has serious consequences. since the start of the school year, 13 employees of the miami—dade school district are known to have died from the virus. not necessarily from catching it in school, but still they were at risk because all 13 were unvaccinated. here to tell us more is the president of the miami—dade teachers�* union, karla hernandez—mats. good to have you on the programme. 13 school staff dying from coronavirus. that is tragic. who were they?— coronavirus. that is tragic. who were the ? , , were they? they were community members- — were they? they were community members- they — were they? they were community members. they were _ were they? they were community members. they were bus - were they? they were community members. they were bus drivers, cafeteria workers, security mum monitors, teachers, pillars in their school sites and this has really brought a lot of sorrow into our communities not only for our

children but also for the faculty and staff because we are seeing our members of our community perishing because of a lack of vaccination. i'm very sorry for your loss. 13 of them who were unvaccinated, and 13 of them i know that were all african—american. what does that tell you? it african-american. what does that tell ou? , , ., ., tell you? it tells us that we are seeinu tell you? it tells us that we are seeing exactly _ tell you? it tells us that we are seeing exactly what _ tell you? it tells us that we are seeing exactly what this i tell you? it tells us that we are i seeing exactly what this pandemic has been showing us, that first of all this is a pandemic that is now for the unvaccinated. the earlier you talk about the rise of covid—19 positivity for children and we are certainly seeing that. these are children that don't have access to the vaccine and we are seeing those numbers skyrocket for supper and then we are also seeing how it is devastating and how it impacts communities that are not vaccinated, and whether it be because of lack of resources, because of misinformation and disinformation that is so rapid in the us right now, you know all of these things are impacting our communities and it's very sad to see

that it's happening as we start our school year, as we are bringing kids backin school year, as we are bringing kids back in because obviously these are tumultuous times when we have to think up on the safety and well—being of everyone and we are having to fight for basic things like common sense, like wear a mask. that is become political here in the us, and so all of these misinformation and disinformation that we are seeing from various sources is really what's causing so much confusion and what is impacting our communities in a way that it is right now. our communities in a way that it is riaht now. ., ., ., right now. you are having the same debate over— right now. you are having the same debate over there _ right now. you are having the same debate over there as _ right now. you are having the same debate over there as we _ right now. you are having the same debate over there as we are i right now. you are having the same debate over there as we are having| debate over there as we are having over here as the school term starts. do you then believe after these 13 deaths that all teachers, all schools —— revaccinated with matching to a mandate on vaccination? i matching to a mandate on vaccination?— matching to a mandate on vaccination? , ., ., vaccination? i will tell you what i been telling _ vaccination? i will tell you what i been telling a — vaccination? i will tell you what i been telling a lot _ vaccination? i will tell you what i been telling a lot of— vaccination? i will tell you what i been telling a lot of folks. i vaccination? i will tell you what i been telling a lot of folks. we i vaccination? i will tell you what i | been telling a lot of folks. we did a poll here for our members and 85% of our members are already vaccinated. in miami—dade, 90% have

at least had the one shot. and so we are seeing that it's trending in the right way. we have a governor that won't even let us mandate masks. so this has been polarised, politcised, really divided communities and instead of facing what we are supposed to be facing which is a health crisis and really looking out for the well—being of everyone, we are seeing that leaders are not leading by example, leaders are actually harming communities and i don't foresee that. so myjob as an educator is to make sure that everyone knows how important it is to get vaccinated, that we have a collective responsibility and that we have to do right by everyone, not just for ourselves but for the greater good of our children and those that we are around. iloathed greater good of our children and those that we are around. what about the children? — those that we are around. what about the children? because _ those that we are around. what about the children? because i _ those that we are around. what about the children? because i mention i those that we are around. what about the children? because i mention the l the children? because i mention the numbers and one in four of the cases but and it is a really important but they are just two and a half percent of the hospitalisation. she would be vaccinating children over 12? absolutely. i hope that no one i

know has a child that falls into that two point percent. that 2%. to have that loss of anyone but of course to find a child that is very sickly or to lose a child is not a situation any parent should be in. we know that although this does not have a cure, there is a way to stop the pandemic from propagating itself and that is multiple mitigation factors that include wearing masks, be vaccinating, social distancing a washing hands, and the loss of any life is always heartbreak and sorrow. but we certainly don't want to see it in our classrooms and we don't want to see it for our students and as a parent i want to make sure that everybody�*s child is protected. make sure that everybody's child is rotected. ,., ., ., make sure that everybody's child is rotected. ., ., ,, ., protected. good to talk to you, thank you _ protected. good to talk to you, thank you for— protected. good to talk to you, thank you for coming _ protected. good to talk to you, thank you for coming on. i protected. good to talk to you, | thank you for coming on. thank you very much- — it's been over three weeks since the afghan president ashraf ghani fled kabul, and finally he broken his silence about what happened and why he acted as he did. in fact, he apologised to the afghan

people for the way things ended. it comes the day after the taliban announced their new caretaker government, which we will look at in a moment. but on his twitter account, mr ghani said he left the presidential palace on the advice of his security team to avoid, he says, the potential for widespread bloodshed. he also addresses claims he fled with millions of dollars, a claim he says is categorically false. and he lays the blame for endemic corruption on the previous afghan governments. in closing, he paid his respects to the afghans who made sacrifices. well, let's discuss all of this with andrew radin. he is political scientist at the rand corporation and former country director for afghanistan at the us department of defense. thanks for being with us was some of those points. he points. he says he regrets how it ended but he does not take any personal responsibility for the corruption which was endemic and which of course led to the

precipitous collapse. what do you say to that?— say to that? ashraf ghani is an academic he — say to that? ashraf ghani is an academic he spent _ say to that? ashraf ghani is an academic he spent his - say to that? ashraf ghani is an academic he spent his whole l say to that? ashraf ghani is an i academic he spent his whole career fighting against corruption. i think he truly believes i think what he is saying. i mean i think the challenge is whether he was able to rein in corruption within his own government and i think probably anybody who was working and observing the country would say that he was not. but as to whether or not he fled with hundreds of millions of dollars as it has and what he reported, but as you noted he denies it. what he reported, but as you noted he denies it— he denies it. yeah, he says that he fled on the — he denies it. yeah, he says that he fled on the advice _ he denies it. yeah, he says that he fled on the advice of— he denies it. yeah, he says that he fled on the advice of his _ he denies it. yeah, he says that he fled on the advice of his security i fled on the advice of his security team and there are some reports to say his security team urged him to stay and to negotiate. as others did. i mean the chair of the reconciliation council, he stayed, the hominid car i stay for talk so why did ashraf ghani decide it was time to scamper? i why did ashraf ghani decide it was time to scamper?— time to scamper? i suspect in his mind was the _ time to scamper? i suspect in his mind was the history _ time to scamper? i suspect in his mind was the history of _ time to scamper? i suspect in his mind was the history of the last l time to scamper? i suspect in his i mind was the history of the last got who was there when the taliban came

who was there when the taliban came who was there when the taliban came who was hung from a lamp post. so you know ashraf ghani also apparently told secretary blake and he would continue fighting the day before he left. i would suspect that the taliban gave or mate ashraf ghani understand that the situation in the group three will beat radically better if he left and that was a compelling story probably. there were also reports that ashraf ghani was not in clear communication with the rest of his cabinet. he is head of the central bank tweeted about how it was unclear when people were leaving and he was going to the airport and it was unclear much of the government had departed already. so there was quite a bit of chaos in the final period. the reality is with the advancing taliban army coming to kabul so quickly and with everybody being surprised at how quickly the afghan armed forces fell

apart, i wonder if there were what other choices and ashraf ghani have? other than to basically give up and leave. , ., ,., ., leave. the shoe department and white house in an opposition _ leave. the shoe department and white house in an opposition now— leave. the shoe department and white house in an opposition now because i house in an opposition now because the alternative government could be formed in the valley, those who are opposing the taliban and abby have a caretaker government with people in it that clearly the american administration are not going to like. one of whom is on the fbi most wanted list. he is got a $5 million bounty on his head and he still is in fact believed to be holding an american hostage and then you have got the interim prime minister. he headed the taliban government in kabul during the last years of israel which begs the question of what was it all for. how do you think the administration is going to approach this? i think the administration is going to approach this?— approach this? i think there's a fundamental _ approach this? i think there's a fundamental choice _ approach this? i think there's a fundamental choice for - approach this? i think there's a fundamental choice for the i approach this? i think there's a fundamental choice for the us | fundamental choice for the us and international community. on one hand, you have people who we

effectively have declared as our enemies. the network is a foreign terrorist organisation. but the people of afghanistan will suffer a humanitarian crisis if that government does not have resources human aid and other things that they need to do to provide for afghanistan. afghanistan was heavily dependent before and the taliban are not going to magically create an economy where one was not. so the choice is going to be whether to possibly associate with people who have been identified as terrorists and enemies and possibly help the people of afghanistan, or to hold back on eight and wait and see and disassociate the international community from these people. yeah, fast money- — community from these people. yeah, fast money. thank _ community from these people. yeah, fast money. thank you _ community from these people. yeah, fast money. thank you very _ community from these people. yeah, fast money. thank you very much. i fast money. thank you very much. thank you. stay with us on bbc news. still to come, it's one of the most iconic venues in the world, and now the moulin rouge can—can reopen again. we'll be heading there next.

part of a family driveway in gloucestershire on which a meteorite landed has been removed and will go on display at the natural history museum. the meteorite, which itself is already on display at the museum, crash—landed in february. scientists will carry out research on both the meteorite and the driveway with the aim of increasing our understanding of the solar system. claire marshall reports. in the depths of the winter lockdown, something bright came to earth. a blazing fireball from back in deep time landed on a driveway in the cotswolds. it was a space rock, 4.6 billion years old. this is material from the very beginnings of our solar system. the last trace of that extraordinary interstellarjourney has been lying here on that driveway in winchcombe.

today, the painstaking operation to preserve the landing site. so, they've cut all the tarmac out around where the meteorite landed. you see how thick it is. and now comes the very delicate operation to try to get it all out in one piece. it's gone to plan, so we're pleased. if it was in three pieces, less pleased, but... do you feel proud of your work? yeah, yeah. we can go home now and smile. it looks unremarkable, but the clues in this extraterrestrial shadow will help scientists understand how the planets and life itself were created. a big day for the homeowners. they will study this one - for hundreds of years, literally, and learn a lot from it. so, will you keep your eyes to the skies now? always, always. and we'll always have an interest in it because we've been inspired by the scientists we've met, so we always want to keep going, yeah. waiting for that next fireball! yeah. this is the most important and valuable meteorite ever to land in britain.

now the scientists can look into the birth of our solar system. claire marshall, bbc news, gloucestershire. welcome back. if i said cabaret, how many of you would instantly think moulin rouge? of course you would, it is one of the world's best—known venues. but for a year and a half, there has been nothing, not a garter in sight. but i am pleased to say, as a former resident of paris, that the ladies of the moulin rouge are back, limbering up to make a triumphant return to the stage this friday. it's a big moment for the city. it is one of their world's most visited attractions. and a little earlier, i spoke to the moulin rouge performer mathilde tutiaux about their return. mathilde, you look amazing. thank you. are you about to go on stage? yeah, we're doing, like, one of our dress rehearsals. we're opening on friday, and we're missing so much the stage,

this famous stage since, like, 18 months now. have you missed it? a lot, so much, you can't even imagine. what have you done over the last year while you've been off stage? we've been through different lockdowns as you note, but we were all keeping dancing in our little apartments and we're doing our best to stay fit and, yeah, keep in touch between each other with the management. and we're back in rehearsals for three months now. so, i'll let you in on a secret, when i lived in paris, i used to come. i always was used to bring friends and family to the moulin rouge when they visited. and it's so intricate what you do. i can't imagine, or maybe it does, but i can't imagine that it all comes back without a lot of practice. yes, it's lots of practice, and when you start to show for the first time, you have, like, a month of full rehearsals,

and this time we're like three months just to be sure that there are no injuries after that long break. so, we're perfectly ready for friday. yes, you can't put a facemask on with that amazing outfit that you're wearing. so, are there any masks in the audience? how is it going to work? yeah, there will be like some masks in the audience. the audience will wewr the masks, but we won't on stage. right, and so the cancan, the famous cancan is coming back, right? yes, definitely. you can't do the moulin rouge show without the cancan. it's like the iconic dance of the moulin rouge. yes, i can feel my hamstrings alreadyjust thinking about it. mine, too. i read actually today it's not been close for the long period of time going all the way back to 1915. is that right? yes, yes, it's true. it's the first time we've had such a long break without being opened. that's kind of sad, but the past is the past and now we're all looking forward to the opening

and we're more than ready and all excited to be back on stage. and how big will the audiences be, do you think? i think it will be big. like there's lots of people booking, and we're pretty confident with that. yeah, and all the dancers come, it's all the same people, is it? you've all come back together? yes, we're all back together and we're so happy to see each other and to see the dressers and technicians. we're kind of a family, so we're all happy to see each other. magnificent. well, we're glad that you are back and the moulin rouge is back. paris wouldn't be the same without it. mathilde, thank you very much. thank you very much. au revoir. still got it. it of you who don't approve it let me tell you it's not just women that are dancers at the moulin rouge was and i want to make that clear. they do actually audition men, and i did not ever audition men, and i did not ever audition emily to make that clear. and if you are wondering and looking at the costume and seeing the

fantastic headdresses, do you know that actually at the theatre they have their own feather company. they make their own feather headdresses on—site. it's actually in the theatre. so there's a couple of things that you did not know about the moulin rouge. i was never able to do the cancan. the new residents of the madrid zoo have had their first neonatal checkup as all babies do. there they are? are they really pandas with what they look like mice. they are today sold the vets and they are both in good health. the vets also say it with a couple days to establish the sex of the two newborns. their mother is also said to be doing well. that is good news and obviously the babies will have to grow some as well and they will look different in a couple of months. that's it from us. cancan pandas. up next on bbc world news,

world news america and if you watching in the uk, of course the news at ten. we will see you same time tomorrow. bye—bye. hello. wednesday was the last of our really hot days weather—wise. quite widely, we had temperatures reach 29 degrees celsius. for example, in parts of northern england, across the midlands, valleys in anglesea in north west wales, and charterhall, 28.6 celsius here. well, according to the met office, well, it's made it scotland's warmest september day since 1906. so, some very hot weather here, and of course around the capital, we had temperatures just poke above the 30—degree mark. of course it wasn't like that everywhere. across the south west, a change to thundery weather. here, we had some hefty downpours and even brought some localised flooding around the salkham area. and also very heavy rain in plymouth for a time, too. it's all because by this area of low pressure that's down to our south—west, and that's going to be slowly pushing its way across the country over the next few days.

so, thursday is the big changeover day for many parts of the uk. showers and thunderstorms will be widespread. the amount of rain that we get from the storms is going to vary a lot, though, from place to place. some bringing around 20—40 mm of rain. well, that's actually enough to cause some flooding issues, whereas some of the showers won't be that heavy at all. across eastern areas, it's still quite warm. 25 celsius in norwich, but generally temperatures will be reaching the high teens to low 20s, so not as hot as it has been. and those showers through thursday night will continue to move northwards. some of the heaviest ones working into scotland, where i suspect around the coasts and hills, it will also become rather murky with some mist and fog patches forming. temperatures by night somewhat slower to drop away. 15—17 degrees as we head into the first part of friday morning. now, that area of low pressure is still with us for friday, so it's another unsettled day with showers and thunderstorms pretty widespread. and again some of the heaviest showers could cause some localised problems with a little bit of localised flooding.

between those showers, a few better spells, but overall quite a cloudy look to the weather. temperatures quite widely into the low 20s. now, this time yesterday, i was talking about the uncertainty that's in store for us at the weekend. now, the reason the forecast is uncertain is down to the jet stream pattern, and just here some models produce this, which is a cut—off low, whereas other model solutions don't do that and they have more of a trough here. now, while that area of uncertainty is quite a way from the british isles, it actually has downstream effects for us in terms of whether we get showers or larger spells of rain around for the weekend and into next week or whether we get a more general rise in pressure and it actually becomes drier with a bit more sunshine around. so, there's a lot of uncertainty. i think there probably will be some rain around across northern scotland still left over from our area of low pressure on saturday, but i think even further south, there will be a mixture of bright spells and scattered showers. the temperatures at best into the low 20s. sunday, we don't have a lot of confidence in the forecast really. the thing i'm most confident

about is we will start to get these northerly winds moving in across the northern half of the uk, and they will bring significantly cooler and fresher air with them. so, temperature—wise, 15 degrees in aberdeen, 15 degrees in newcastle, and by night, there'll be some places seeing temperatures dipping down into single figures. the details about any showers, well, that's very uncertain. the uncertainty, i'm afraid, carries into next week, and this model, which is the preferred model at the moment, calls for quite a band of rain across england and well. i'm not so sure that that's going to come out to be exactly right, so showers and thunderstorms around but then the forecast gets very uncertain into the weekend.

tonight at ten, the house of commons approves a rise in national insurance to boost funding for health and social care. the ayes to the right, 319. the noes to the left, 248. the new levy on workers and employers will raise an extra £12 billion a year, with the nhs initially taking the lion's share. but some leaders in the care sector warn that the plans will not deliver in time to save many struggling residential homes. unfortunately, if your ship is sinking now, you don't wait three years before you provide the plug for the hole. it's just not going to happen, services are already deteriorating in quality. we'll also have the latest on the burden imposed by the new tax and whether it's fair to those

on lower incomes. also tonight: