this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the chancellor of austria sebastian kurz says he is stepping down to fight corruption allegations. the czech election has been won by a coalition of opposition parties, narrowly edging out the party of prime minister andrej babis. us officials have held their first face to face talks with the taliban since they took power in afghanistan. taiwan says it will work to hold fast the front lines of democracy and freedom after china says reunification must be fulfilled. and british schoolchildren present

a petition at buckingham palace calling on the royal family to "rewild" its large estates of land. hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. we start with some developing news out of austria. chancellor sebastian kurz has just announced that he will step down, after he was placed under investigation on suspicion of corruption offences. mr kurz, who denies the accusations, said he would remain leader of his party. journalist emma midgley gave me more details from vienna. raids were carried out on wednesday into his offices, some of his close associates, and basically the allegation is that he used public

money to pay for favourable coverage in several tabloid newspapers. so quite damning accusations there. he has had quite a rise at a young age and has risen very fast. how has this been received by the wider public? this been received by the wider ublic? ., , , ., , , public? there have been protests, about 1,000 _ public? there have been protests, about 1,000 people _ public? there have been protests, about 1,000 people are _ public? there have been protests, i about 1,000 people are protesting outside their offices on the night the accusations surfaced. i have seen people around vienna wearing stickers with his face on them, making it obvious that they disapprove. i think he is generally quite popular in austria. h0??? disapprove. i think he is generally quite popular in austria.— quite popular in austria. how will these allegations _ quite popular in austria. how will these allegations impact - quite popular in austria. how will these allegations impact that? i quite popular in austria. how will. these allegations impact that? what ha--ens these allegations impact that? what ha ens is these allegations impact that? what happens is because _ these allegations impact that? w�*ué�*ii happens is because he these allegations impact that? “misgt happens is because he is these allegations impact that? wiat happens is because he is governing in coalition with the green party, his own party supports him but the greens said they would no longer happy to be in the coalition with someone of not impeccable character.

they will carry on a coalition with the party but not with him. in terms of his resnonse _ the party but not with him. in terms of his response to _ the party but not with him. in terms of his response to this _ the party but not with him. in terms of his response to this and - the party but not with him. in terms of his response to this and his - of his response to this and his decision to step down, was it a surprise? he has been speaking out in the past hour or so. it surprise? he has been speaking out in the past hour or so.— in the past hour or so. it was a surprise- _ in the past hour or so. it was a surprise- he — in the past hour or so. it was a surprise. he has _ in the past hour or so. it was a surprise. he has maintained i in the past hour or so. it was a | surprise. he has maintained his innocence throughout and he was possibly facing a vote of no confidence on tuesday, which would have dissolved the government, and he says he has done this for his country and not himself. obviously we are still coming out of the pandemic, the economic recovery has onlyjust begun and we need stability in austria, so that is his reasoning behind standing down, he is doing it for the stability of the country. is doing it for the stability of the count . ~ ., ., ,., is doing it for the stability of the count . ~ ., ., , country. what about the impact this miaht have country. what about the impact this might have on _ country. what about the impact this might have on the _ country. what about the impact this might have on the party _ country. what about the impact this might have on the party as - country. what about the impact this might have on the party as a - country. what about the impact this| might have on the party as a whole? there have been numerous corruption investigations going on since the ib thoroughfare a few years ago, which are reporterfrom one of the coalition partners at that time discussing various transactions with what he thought was a russian

oligarch. this has been rumbling away for some time, and there is a quite widespread practice of getting favourable coverage in newspapers in return for funding. this favourable coverage in newspapers in return forfunding. this is favourable coverage in newspapers in return for funding. this is the first serious ramification from that after the ib thoroughfare. the czech election has been won by a coalition of three opposition parties, narrowly edging out the party of the billionaire turned prime minister andrej babis. his campaign was beset with accusations of corruption. rob cameron is in prague. it is and i'm excited outcome, i think, and no one really foresaw that this coalition of three opposition parties, conservative party, christian democrat party and a liberal party, would edge ahead of andrej babis's party, a centrist and populist party. it has been at the centre of government for the past for years, and they have done it,

and it is a remarkable victory for them at the other opposition grouping which is now in parliament and will now, together with the largest opposition group, have a majority in parliament. that cuts off the path for andrej babis essentially to form a new government. the only fly in the ointment, the only glimmer of hope for andrej babis is that the country's president has said previously that he will only appoint the leader of the largest party in parliament, not the largest alliance or the largest coalition. so that would mean that andrej babis would have first dibs at forming a government, but really his chances success this evening look pretty slim. lebanon has been plunged into darkness after its electricty grid shut down, leaving the entire country without power. an official said the closure of two big power stations due to fuel shortages was to blame for the power cut. there was a similar massive outage

last week as lebanon struggles to buy fuel to run its electricty network after its economy collapsed. the country has experienced daily blackouts in recent months, often lasting 22 hours or more. we can get more on this at a civil society organisation, and they corresponded for a french newspaper. it is night—time there, you are facing this power outage. describe what the city you are in fields like right now. what the city you are in fields like riaht now. ~ , . ~ what the city you are in fields like riaht now. ~ , ., ~ ., , right now. well, it is dark outside. i have the privilege _ right now. well, it is dark outside. i have the privilege of _ right now. well, it is dark outside. i have the privilege of having - right now. well, it is dark outside. i have the privilege of having light| i have the privilege of having light in my building, because we have a diesel generator in the building. but in other places, the situation is much worse because the cost of accessing private generators has increased terribly due to the

currency appreciation. buying fuel from these providers has been very difficult and more and more expensive. i am difficult and more and more expensive. iam privileged, but most of the lebanese are not. you mentioned — of the lebanese are not. you mentioned that _ of the lebanese are not. you mentioned that having - of the lebanese are not. you mentioned that having a generator is a privilege, considering the fact that so much of lebanon is at or below the poverty line now. yes. that so much of lebanon is at or below the poverty line now. yes, can ou below the poverty line now. yes, can you imagine — below the poverty line now. yes, can you imagine living — below the poverty line now. yes, can you imagine living without _ you imagine living without electricity in the 21st—century? it is a basic need, and the lebanese people have been deprived of electricity, but not only this, also access to food, medication, jobs of course, so the crisis is increasing day after day and there is no light at the end of the tunnel, unfortunately. the government has beenin unfortunately. the government has been in place for a few weeks now, after a year of. it is the same

recipe, the same power system that is in place, and we are not seeing any improvement yet. so is in place, and we are not seeing any improvement yet.— any improvement yet. so that olitical any improvement yet. so that political and _ any improvement yet. so that political and economic - any improvement yet. so that political and economic crisis l political and economic crisis continues. but with regard to those generators, so much of lebanon depends on privately funded generators. can they now meet this excessive demand that is upon them, and what does it mean for those essential services like the medical industry? it essential services like the medical indust ? , , ' . industry? it is very difficult, hosoitals — industry? it is very difficult, hospitals have _ industry? it is very difficult, hospitals have equipped - industry? it is very difficult, - hospitals have equipped themselves with generators, but they rely also on the state utility. now they are being obliged to rely only on fuel generators, private generators, so it is very difficult to manage them and to get fuel, because of the shortages. fuel has been subsidised until now, and now the subsidies have been lifted so there are lots of shortages. so not only do we have

shortages but also the prices are increasing. it is difficult for everyone. forfood increasing. it is difficult for everyone. for food security reasons, for the health system, and the internet for example is at risk as well. i internet for example is at risk as well. ~ ., internet for example is at risk as well. ~' ., , internet for example is at risk as well. ~ ., , ., , internet for example is at risk as well. ~ ., , .,, . internet for example is at risk as well. ~ ., , well. i know this has impacted you and our well. i know this has impacted you and your loved _ well. i know this has impacted you and your loved ones _ well. i know this has impacted you and your loved ones a _ well. i know this has impacted you and your loved ones a great - well. i know this has impacted you and your loved ones a great deal, | and your loved ones a great deal, and your loved ones a great deal, and your loved ones a great deal, and yourfamily spirit and your loved ones a great deal, and your family spirit is and your loved ones a great deal, and yourfamily spirit is impacted ljy and yourfamily spirit is impacted by this, so we appreciate you taking your time to speak to us. thank you. here in britain, there's growing concern about the spiralling cost energy, with industrial leaders saying huge increases in the price of gas could threaten their future. several mps from the ruling conservative party are calling for urgent action from the government. our business correspondent, katie prescott, reports. our biggest customer is ocado. brewing broth, these gas pans are simmering 2a hours a day, seven days a week. there is little this business can do to cut its energy usage. bills recently have been painful. energy prices going up is not what we need. my overheads are already

extremely high as it is. and it's a concern. it's a deep concern about the viability of the business, and i don't want to pass that cost on to our customers. i'll do everything i can to avoid that. businesses don't have the cushion of an energy price cap. they tend to fix their bills a year or two in advance, so for those whose contracts are coming to an end at the moment, it's a really painful time. and it's even worse for companies like this one who don't have those contracts and pay their energy bills on a three monthly metred basis. steel, chemicals — industries with the heaviest energy consumption in the uk are seeing costs rocketing. to keep the furnaces burning, they're crying out for government support. absolutely right now. gas prices are at an unprecedented level. and the businesses that manufacture the goods that we need are trying to operate under these unprecedented conditions. and they're backed by some conservative mps

representing industrial areas. we need government support, either in direct support or a cap on their energy prices to allow them to continue in business, and it would be ludicrous that we would lose these high energy intensive businesses that we need for our economy. but so far that support isn't forthcoming. the government says.... for now, though, businesses like facing a transport crunch and rising taxes would like to see limits on how much they have to pay. i am doing every thing i can to keep this business running. the last thing we need now is sky—high energy bills to top that. katie prescott, bbc news.

the united states and the taliban have held their first face—to—face talks since the american withdrawal from afghanistan in august. yogita limaye is in doha she told us what happened. we heard some time ago from amir khan muttaqi, the acting foreign minister of the taliban—appointed government. he is here leading the delegation in doha. he said they want to improve relations with the international community. he has warned that no one should interfere with the internal affairs of the country. it has now been three weeks since the taliban banned girls from going to secondary schools in afghanistan. one of the

things they said if they are not against women's education or rights to go to work, so this is the backdrop against which those talks are happening. as far as the taliban is concerned, this is part of a series of efforts to gain international recognition. they had a meeting with uk diplomats in afghanistan recently. he said they would also be meeting european officials soon. the reason they want that recognition is because it is a key step forward in trying to unblock foreign funding to afghanistan. many international countries and organisations have stopped funding to afghanistan, fearing it would for into the hands of the taliban, and they are trying to unfreeze those funds. taiwanese president tsai ing wuhn has vowed to uphold democracy and freedom at home amid growing tensions with beijing. taiwan, which china views

as a breakaway province, will celebrate its national day on sunday. responding to a speech from president xi jinping saying that reunification with china is inevitable, taiwan's leader was defiant. translation: we continue to work hard to maintain _ translation: we continue to work hard to maintain the _ translation: we continue to work hard to maintain the front _ translation: we continue to work hard to maintain the front lines - translation: we continue to work hard to maintain the front lines of i hard to maintain the front lines of democracy— hard to maintain the front lines of democracy and freedom, to strengthen our ties— democracy and freedom, to strengthen our ties without international partners _ our ties without international partners through shared values and to cut _ partners through shared values and to cut bead — partners through shared values and to cut bead more to the world. we see our— to cut bead more to the world. we see our fighterjets in the sky, completely in control, and protecting our airspace. when someone _ protecting our airspace. when someone intrudes into this airspace, our pilots _ someone intrudes into this airspace, our pilots are ready to immediately take off— our pilots are ready to immediately take off and react. earlier, chinese leader xijinping warned taiwan that it will have to unify with china. he said bringing the island under beijing's control was part of china's national rejuvenation. translation: unification is the hope of all chinese people. _

if china can be unified, all chinese will enjoy a happy life. if china can't unify, everyone will suffer. so what are we to make of president xi's remarks? our correspondent, john sudworth, explains from taipei. this was a very confident chinese president saying not only must unification with taiwan be achieved, but that it will be achieved. you know, underlining this idea of this inevitability behind this process. of course, it is important to say this is the kind of thing we have heard from the chinese leadership many, many times before. i think it is coming under more scrutiny at the moment because of the context. first of all, as you mentioned, these comments come around a couple of significant anniversaries. but also china upping the tension with these military sorties that it has been flying into the taiwanese air defence identification zone,

acts seen as deeply provocative by taiwan and its allies. and of course a lot of that is kind of business as usual, linked to these sorts of anniversaries when we see an uptick in rhetoric, but there is something bigger behind all this as well and that is the sense that possibly the political and strategic balance is shifting as well. the politics, because of course taiwan and china in many ways have never been further apart — china growing increasingly authoritarian, taiwan today a modern and vibrant democracy, but also as china grows more authoritarian, it is growing stronger, more wealthy, more powerful, it is updating its military and there is a fear here in taiwan that the strategic balance is shifting and that the day might not be too far off when for china, eyeing the possibility of taking taiwan by force, eyeing the possibility of an invasion calculates that finally the benefits outweigh the risks, rather than at the moment what has kind of maintained

the status quo some people suggest is that at the moment invasion for china is a very risky option. the headlines on bbc news: the chancellor of austria sebastian kurz says he is stepping down to fight corruption allegations. us officials have held their first face to face talks with the taliban since they took power in afghanistan. sport, and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's sarah mulkerrins. hello and thanks forjoining us. and the big heavyweight fight in las vegas between tyson fury and deontay wilder starts in the early hours of tomorrow morning. there's been plenty of angry talking, but tonight that all stops as the pair enter the ring for the third time. the first fight was a draw, fury convincingly won the second, so what will happen this time? ade adedoyin reports from las vegas. suchis such is the intense rivalry between tyson fury and deontay wilder that they were kept apart in yesterday's

way in for fear of a fight before the fight, but i didn't stop both men trading verbal blows. furey fiery throughout, wilder was much milder throughout. fiery throughout, wilder was much milderthroughout. i fiery throughout, wilder was much milder throughout.— fiery throughout, wilder was much milder throughout. i know that when i'm not milder throughout. i know that when i'm not calm. _ milder throughout. i know that when i'm not calm. my — milder throughout. i know that when i'm not calm, my mind _ milder throughout. i know that when i'm not calm, my mind is— milder throughout. i know that when i'm not calm, my mind is cloudy. - i'm not calm, my mind is cloudy. when your mind is cloudy, it allows you to make bad decisions. deontay wilder has barely _ you to make bad decisions. deontay wilder has barely engaged - you to make bad decisions. deontay wilder has barely engaged with - you to make bad decisions. deontay wilder has barely engaged with the | wilder has barely engaged with the media all week, unlike tyson fury who has taken centre stage. it has been a fascinating rivalry. furey floored twice in their first fight in 2018, down but not out, it ended on a draw. then it was furey�*s turn to play the aggressor on the rematch. a punch perfect performance handed wilder his first loft. there were claims of cheating by minute letting his gloves to gain an advantage. i letting his gloves to gain an advantage-—

letting his gloves to gain an advantaae. ~' , ., , advantage. i think it will be really excitina. i advantage. i think it will be really exciting. i cannot _ advantage. i think it will be really exciting. i cannot wait _ advantage. i think it will be really exciting. i cannot wait to - advantage. i think it will be really exciting. i cannot wait to see - advantage. i think it will be really| exciting. i cannot wait to see what kind of— exciting. i cannot wait to see what kind of drama takes place in the rin- kind of drama takes place in the ring and — kind of drama takes place in the ring and how both boxes deal with each othen — ring and how both boxes deal with each other-— ring and how both boxes deal with each other. after the theatrics and hi . h each other. after the theatrics and high octane _ each other. after the theatrics and high octane performance - each other. after the theatrics and high octane performance on - each other. after the theatrics and high octane performance on stage | high octane performance on stage yesterday, furey was in a much, mood as he made his way out of the arena, where he remains confident there will be only one outcome. it where he remains confident there will be only one outcome.- will be only one outcome. it only noes one will be only one outcome. it only goes one way. — will be only one outcome. it only goes one way. i— will be only one outcome. it only goes one way, i hit _ will be only one outcome. it only goes one way, i hit him, - will be only one outcome. it only goes one way, i hit him, he - will be only one outcome. it only goes one way, i hit him, he hits| will be only one outcome. it only i goes one way, i hit him, he hits the floor, i leave victorious. we goes one way, i hit him, he hits the floor, i leave victorious.— floor, i leave victorious. we will find out the _ floor, i leave victorious. we will find out the outcome _ floor, i leave victorious. we will find out the outcome later- floor, i leave victorious. we will find out the outcome later this | find out the outcome later this evening. there are plenty of world cup qualifiers taking place in europe this saturday. in group a, ireland chalked up their first win of the campaign with a 3— zero victory over azerbaijan. serbia leading i— campaign with a 3— zero victory over azerbaijan. serbia leading 1— zero against luxembourg. wins for greece and sweden, lithuania beat bulgaria, switzerland at home against northern ireland in group d at the moment. we

have scotland qualifying for the play—offs after a dramatic win in injury time against israel. that keeps them second in their group. andorra against england, england currently leading 3— zero. they are in control of that group at the moment. all of the details on the bbc sport website. lewis hamilton was quickest in qualifying for sunday's turkish grand prix, but thejumping chip leader will have to start from 11th. he took a ten place grid penalty for changing his engine this weekend. hamilton set a new track record at istanbul park, beating his team—mate ljy istanbul park, beating his team—mate by a tenth of a second. he starts ahead of max verstappen, who is desperate to regain the championship

lead. it desperate to regain the championship lead. . , . desperate to regain the championship lead. ., , . , desperate to regain the championship lead. ,, ,, ., lead. it was tricky, this session in aeneral, lead. it was tricky, this session in general, because _ lead. it was tricky, this session in general, because there _ lead. it was tricky, this session in general, because there were - lead. it was tricky, this session in general, because there were still| general, because there were still some damp patches and getting the temp reges in the tyres was not easy. but a really greatjob by the team, so happy. i will give it everything. it team, so happy. iwill give it everything-— team, so happy. iwill give it eve hina. , ., ., ., everything. it is not what we want, but we tried _ everything. it is not what we want, but we tried everything. _ everything. it is not what we want, but we tried everything. we - everything. it is not what we want, but we tried everything. we just i but we tried everything. we just need _ but we tried everything. we just need to— but we tried everything. we just need to understand what we could have done — need to understand what we could have done better, but now we cannot change _ have done better, but now we cannot change the _ have done better, but now we cannot change the car any more and we will see what— change the car any more and we will see what we — change the car any more and we will see what we can do. that— see what we can do. that is— see what we can do. that is all your sport for now. france has threatened to reduce electricity supplies to the british crown dependency ofjersey amid fresh tensions over post brexit fishing rights. its europe minister said france had applied for four hundred and fifty licences for its fishermen to access british waters, but had only been granted half that number. lucy williamson reports from paris. questioned about the row over

british fishing licences on a morning news programme, clement beaune said reducing electricity to jersey was no idle threat. we are not talking about cutting power to eachjersey resident, he said, but reducing the delivery of electricity to the island is possible. resentment has been piling up on this side of the channel over covid vaccines, post—brexit border checks for northern ireland, and a secret british—american submarine deal in the pacific. fishing rights have been a source of tension for years, but brexit has sharpened divisions, with european fishermen asked to prove their connections to uk waters. some small french boats say they are not equipped to provide that proof. france has accused britain of not living up to its own post—brexit agreement. next week, eu ministers will meet in luxembourg to discuss their response as politicians on both sides of the channel point to the waters that separate

britain and france. a us appeals court has reinstated an almost total ban on abortion in texas. the latest ruling reverses the decision of a lower court on wednesday. there have been large demonstrations since the controversial law took effect last month, forbidding the termination of pregnancies after six weeks. a group representing abortion providers in texas says this new court ruling has thrown patients back into a state of fear. marking the 40th anniversary of the abolition of the death penalty in france, emmanuel macron, has said he will lead a campaign to scrap it throughout the world. he pledged to use france's presidency of the european union next year, to organise a summit to convince leaders of nations where the death penalty still exists,that it should be scrapped. ethiopian government troops

are reported to have intensified attacks against the rebel tigray people's liberation front in the country's amhara region. the prime minister, abiy ahmed, was sworn in for a new term earlier this week, promising to stand strong and defend the country. the un has warned of a humanitarian catastrophe in the region, and called on the government to allow aid in. members of the british royalfamily are being urged to "rewild" the large tracts of land they own on royal estates. the wildlife campaginer chris packham has delivered a petition to buckingham palace along with about 100 children calling on the royals to restore their land to its natural stae. ecologists believe some of the estates would naturally be home to beavers and wild boar as simon jones explains. taking their message direct to buckingham palace, campaigners say the royals must re—wild. they are the biggest landowners in the country but their estates use practices that are said to degrade the land,

like deer stalking and grouse shooting. instead, there are calls for it to be allowed to return to a more natural state. because of their global celebrity and where they lead, other people follow, if they did this, it would be a fantastic gesture and significant at a time when we are rather tiring of people talking the talk and we need them to be walking the walk. we need meaningful, positive action. a petition signed by 100,000 people is delivered to the palace by 14—year—old simeon while his brother explained his concerns. we are still quite young, so we have a lot of time ahead of us. the way the world is going, it may not be very pleasant because there will be so much chaos in future. planting trees at balmoral for the queen's platinum jubilee. the royal estate says the family has a long—standing commitment to conservation and they are looking for new ways to improve biodiversity. next month, senior members of the royal family are due to attend the glasgow climate conference. campaigners say that would be the perfect opportunity for them to take a stand.

they are calling it a polite protest, which they hope will bring about change. we'll take a look at tomorrow's front pages at10:30pm and 11:30pm this evening in the papers. our guests this evening are the former anschutz minister ros altmann, jonathan walker, the political editor of the birmingham post and mail. now for a look at the weather with matt taylor. good evening. if you got caught in some rain, it was a weather front that will bring something cool in the next few days. it will push its way southwards and eastwards and

underneath that temperatures will not drop much. still sitting in double figures, with some drizzle. either side, a fresh start to tomorrow. some mist and fog patches around. any early sunshine in kent will be taken away and largely cloudy until the end of the afternoon. after a cloudy start in some areas, it will brighten up later. a scattering of showers in the northern half of scotland, winds may be touching 40mph in orkney and shetland. but mostly a dry afternoon and pleasant for much of england and wales, and temperatures down to what we have seen recently, but still not faring too badly. ia to 20 for the vast majority. the week ahead should be mainly dry, but it will feel cooler.

this is bbc news, the headlines... chancellor sebastian kurz of austria has announced that he will step down, after he was placed under investigation on suspicion of corruption offences. mr kurz, who denies the accusations, said he would remain leader of his party. talks have been under way in the qatari capital

doha between senior us and taliban officials. it's their first face—to—face meeting since the militants seized control of afghanistan. latest results from the czech republic's election have the opposition together party taking the lead ahead of the ruling party of controversial prime minister andrej babis. with nearly all the votes counted he may now have to cede government to a coalition of opposition groups. taiwanese president tsai ing—wen has vowed to uphold democracy and freedom at home amid growing tensions with beijing. responding to a speech from president xi jinping saying that reunification with china is inevitable, taiwan's leader was defiant. and lebanon has been plunged into darkness again after its electricity grid shut down, leaving the entire country without power. now on bbc news, it's time for spotlight: living with long covid. tonight on spotlight,

we hearfrom people suffering with long covid. stories of resilience but also desperation, pain. and we ask, 18 months into the pandemic, why are they still waiting for the stormont executive to provide long covid services to help them? my name is zoe mcnulty, i am 27 years old, i am from derry and i caught covid at the very end of march. 31st march 2020.