welcome to bbc news, i'm nuala mcgovern. our top stories: taiwan sends up flares to deter aircraft, hours after beijing protested at the visit by the us house speaker nancy pelosi. the un secretary—general describes oil and gas companies making record profits on the backs of the world's poorest people as immoral. iurge i urge all governments to tax these excessive profits and use these excessive profits and use the funds to support the most vulnerable people through these difficult times. in a major victory for pro—choice groups, the conservative state of kansas, votes to keep its abortion services. and, tributes to roy hackett, one of britain's most influential civil rights campaigners, who's died,

at the age of 93. welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. taiwan has scrambled fighter planes after chinese military aircraft entered its air defence zone. beijing is protesting against the visit by the us house speaker nancy pelosi, who vowed her country would never abandon the island. china has also begun manoeuvres around taiwan that are affecting air and shipping links. taiwan is self governing, and lies about 160 kilometres across the taiwan strait. it sees itself as independent, but china views it as its own. from taiwan, here's rupert wingfield hayes. despite what china has been saying,

today's meeting between nancy pelosi and taiwan president ing—wen didn't look terribly sinister. president tsai began by presenting ms pelosi with taiwan's highest civilian honour. she in turn praised taiwan's democracy and promised america would stand by the island. our solidarity with you is more important than ever, as you defend taiwan and your freedom. we are supporters of the status quo, and we don't want anything to happen to taiwan by force. so strength, and one of the biggest sources of strength is democracy. most people here are unfazed by china's threats. if anything, they're excited that the world's attention is focused on taiwan, if only for 2h hours. i think everybody is very excited here and very happy that she can come. and, more importantly, that people can show their excitement that,

you know, that they're very welcome. to most people here, taiwan is a proud, independent country, with its own national flag and its own democratically—elected president. it is not some renegade province of china. but beijing has used its considerable economic and political clout to make sure this place is recognised by almost nobody. and that's why nancy pelosi's trip here today has been so important to them. they also knew china might retaliate, and that is exactly what it's now doing. china has declared these six areas around taiwan closed to all air and sea traffic, starting from midday on thursday until midday on sunday. some of them encroach on taiwan's own territorial waters. in beijing, the foreign ministry said china had been forced into taking these actions. translation: for days, china has repeatedly - expressed its opposition to pelosi's taiwan visit, but the us and the taiwan separatist forces seem not to have heard.

in this case, china can only speak to them in a language that they can understand. china's state television has been showing warplanes and navalforces mobilising, and ballistic missile carriers on the move. taiwan's defence ministry says china may be preparing to blockade the island. if so, we could be heading for the most serious crisis in more than 20 years. rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, in taipei. with me is our news reporter azadeh moshiri. good to have you with us. what more do we know about these drills that china is due to begin? do we know what they will involve?— will involve? while this is all in reaction — will involve? while this is all in reaction to _ will involve? while this is all in reaction to the _ will involve? while this is all in reaction to the us - will involve? while this is all in reaction to the us visit. in reaction to the us visit military response is completely focused on taiwan. in terms of what china has told us we know that these drills are going to involve long—range ammunition shooting, happening and what is

about ten miles away from taiwan so that's about 16 kilometres and it is one of the most busy waterways in the world. taiwan has also said that china has sent 27 warplanes and its air defence zones prior to these drills beginning and they are arguing that given the zones that china is covering, and the silent, it effectively amounts to a blockade. china is arguing that it is whollyjustified based on the us visit, that the us violated its sovereignty and warned that anyone who offends china will be punished. h0??? china will be punished. how about china _ china will be punished. how about china and _ china will be punished. how about china and other- china will be punished. how about china and other countries like the us, how are they responding? like the us, how are they reminding?— responding? taiwan has resnonded _ responding? taiwan has responded by _ responding? taiwan has responded by putting i responding? taiwan has responded by putting in| responding? taiwan has - responded by putting in some contingency measures for its own safety, as you said it has scrambled more than 20 jets to warn them off but it has also directed its ships to find alternative routes to avoid these drills. it is also in negotiation with japan and the philippines to find other

aviation roots it can use. in terms of the us, they say that this is completely unjustified and that they are going to be watching these drills closely. in fact we can listen to the white house's national security spokesperson when he spoke to the bbc earlier. irate spokesperson when he spoke to the bbc earlier.— the bbc earlier. we have serious _ the bbc earlier. we have serious security - the bbc earlier. we have - serious security commitments throughout the region, five of our commitments, and nothing has changed. either about our commitment to help taiwan in self defence, nothing has changed about our one china policy — changed about our one china policy. we have said all along that_ policy. we have said all along that there is no basis, no justification for the chinese to establish some sort of pretext _ to establish some sort of pretext for this to emerge into a crisis — pretext for this to emerge into a crisis or— pretext for this to emerge into a crisis or conflict.— a crisis or conflict. there is of course _ a crisis or conflict. there is of course what _ a crisis or conflict. there is of course what john - a crisis or conflict. there is of course what john kirby l a crisis or conflict. there is - of course what john kirby says of course whatjohn kirby says here our viewers may be thinking that this sounds familiar because we have been

through this when it comes to ukraine and russia and the us supporting ukraine and then russia also pushing back against this. there appears to be parallels. against this. there appears to be parallels-— against this. there appears to be parallels. there does appear to be a few _ be parallels. there does appear to be a few parallels _ be parallels. there does appear to be a few parallels here - be parallels. there does appear to be a few parallels here but . to be a few parallels here but in terms of the history, the geography, the fact that they are separated by waters here, china and taiwan, there are also significant differences, especially because most countries in the world don't actually acknowledge taiwan's independence. they have formal ties with asian, that is very different to the situation with ukraine, but as you say, this has been a concern in the west that china will be looking at the invasion of ukraine and that perhaps china will be taking its cues from president putin's decisions, from the way that the west has responded so there has been a concern all along, all the way back from february, especially from the white house national security council that this could be a moment where tensions will be much more heightened than they

were before. much more heightened than they were before-— were before. thank you so much forjoining _ were before. thank you so much forjoining us — let's get some of the day's other news. sri lanka's new president ranil wickremesinghe has said the country is in great danger as it faces an unprecedented shortage of goods. in his first address to parliament, he called on all parties to form a unity government to address the economic crisis. the country is hoping to secure a $3 billion bail—out package from the international monetary fund. at least three people have been killed in renewed fighting between armenia and azerbaijan over the disputed enclave of nagorno—karabakh. this footage was released by azerbajan's military claiming the strikes were in response to armenia breaking a russian—brokered truce that ended fighting there two years ago. in iraq, populist cleric moqtada al—sada's told his supporters to continue their sit—in of parliament until his demands, which include early elections and constitutional changes, are met. thousands of his followers stormed the empty parliament building last weekend. his televised remarks are likely to prolong a political deadlock that's kept iraq without an elected

government for nearly 10 months. the united nations secretary general has said, it is immoral for oil and gas companies to be making record profits on the backs of the world's poorest people, and at massive cost to the climate. presenting a report on the energy crisis, antonio guterres urged all governments to tax excessive profits and use the money to help the most vulnerable. the combined profits are close to 100 billion us dollars. i urge all governments to tax these excessive profits and to use the funds to support the most vulnerable people through these difficult times and i urge people everywhere to send a clear message to the fossil fuel industry and their financials that this grotesque greed is punishing the poorest and most vulnerable people while destroying our only

common home, the planet. meanwhile, the russian energy giant, gazprom, says the delivery to russia of a turbine crucial to its gas supplies to europe has been made impossible by the current sanctions. but german chancellor, 0laf scholz, has blamed moscow for not honouring its gas supply contracts and accused putin of blocking delivery of the turbine. this comes as fears of gas shortages, and even blackouts, are growing in germany as the country tries to prepare for a tough winter ahead. jenny hill has this report. he's holding europe's feet to the fire. vladimir putin knows germany relies on his energy, that its industry needs his gas. the aluminium they produce here flows down vital supply chains — cars, medical equipment, wind turbines. but no—one can rule out shortages this winter. honestly, if they cut energy, there is no real contingency plan. the only thing you can do is then

prioritise, and, let's say, allocate the capacity that you could still run to the most important markets, where you think the damage to society is the biggest, right? so you'd cut back on production? that's the only way. russia cut gas to europe, but it wants the world to think it's germany's fault. so, today, a photo—op. the german chancellor and the german turbine russia says it can't do without. 0laf scholz insists it's available and there is no technical reason for russia to withhold its gas. but this is a chancellor who promised to phase out coal and end nuclear power. he is having to rethink those pledges now. "germany's last three remaining nuclear power stations," he said, "only provide electricity, and only a small amount." "nevertheless, it could make sense to keep them going." it would be a huge political compromise. one of those plants is in bavaria, and provides 12%

of the region's electricity. it's due to be decommissioned at the end of the year. in the nearby town of landshut, they're painfully aware that germany doesn't yet have enough gas stored for the winter. translation: we are preparing for disaster management. - should the gas supply break down, energy intensive industries would be the first to be taken off the supply grid, which would have catastrophic consequences for industry in our region. secondly, we would have to ensure places like hospitals and old peoples' homes are looked after. vladimir putin is casting a long shadow over the baking heat of the german summer. he may not yet have triggered the economic and political turmoil he'd no doubt like to unleash in the heart of europe, but he is forcing governments like germany's into difficult decisions and uncomfortable choices. and that's before you throw soaring energy bills into the mix.

europe faces a volatile winter. and its leaders, a critical task — to insulate europe from russian power. jenny hill, bbc news, landshut, in bavaria. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: remembering the life of one of the uk's most influential civil rights campaigners, roy hackett, who has died, at the age of 93. the question was whether we wanted to save our people, and japanese as well, and win the war, or whether we want to take a chance on being able to win the war by killing all our young men. the invasion began at two o'clock this morning. mr bush, like most other people, was clearly- caught by surprise. we call for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all the iraqi forces.

100 years old, and still full of vigor, vitality and enjoyment of life. no other king or queen in british history has lived so long, and the queen mother is said to be quietly very pleased indeed that she's achieved this landmark anniversary. this is a pivotal moment for the church as an international movement. the question now is whether the american vote will lead to a split in the anglican community. this is bbc world news. the latest headlines — taiwan has launched flares to deter aircraft, hours taiwan has launched flares after beijing protested at the visit by the us house speaker nancy pelosi. the un secretary—general has accused oil and gas companies of making huge profits on the backs of the world's poorest people.

president biden has hailed a vote in the conservative state of kansas to uphold access to abortion services. it's a major victory for pro—choice groups, after the us supreme court overturned roe v wade two months ago, ending federal protection for the procedure. since that ruling, abortion has been banned in ten states across the us, and restrictions imposed in at least four. the referendum in kansas is the first time voters have had the chance to weigh in. nomia iqbal reports. cheering. in this deeply conservative state, it is a moment that has given liberal groups hope. it's going to be ok, it's going to be ok. they'd expected the vote to protect abortion rights to either be tight, or not go their way at all. i am speechless, really. i'm so proud and relieved. i'm relieved that our rights remain intact in kansas. when the us supreme court overturned roe v wade two

months ago, a ruling that legalised abortion nationwide, many republican—led states banned or restricted the procedure. not kansas, because the right is enshrined into the state's constitution. an amendment had to be passed to remove that right. it was a yes or a no vote. no won, by a lot. so proud of everybody in this - state of kansas who has stepped forward and worked so hard for this. - for president biden, this result is proof that the removal of roe v wade is out of step with public opinion. voters made it clear that politicians should not interfere with the fundamental rights of women. the voters of kansas sent a powerful signal that this fall, the american people will vote to preserve and protect the right, and refuse to let them be ripped away by politicians. and my administration has their back. anti—abortion groups say this is a temporary setback. this campaign has been bitter and divisive.

about $12 million has been spent by both yes and no sides, in a state with a population ofjust three million people. both groups have accused each other of aggressive and misleading tactics. unlike its neighbouring states, abortion is currently legal in kansas until 22 weeks of pregnancy. and now will stay that way. for many, that's emotional and disappointing. itjust goes against my faith, i guess, or my feelings. i just don't like to see an innocent life taken, if it isn't really, really medically necessary. other states will now vote directly on abortion rights in the mid—term elections in november. but this comfortably republican state has shown just how unpredictable this issue is in america. nomia iqbal, bbc news, kansas. so, could this unexpected victory in kansas be what the democrats need

to boost their chances of retaining control of congress in november's midterm elections? here are two expert views. this was as much about abortion as it was a tangible measure of the extreme republican agenda that we are seeing across the country that is taking away rights of women that have been in place for 50 years, and so it is really hard to decouple the idea of abortion and whether this is really an example of the extreme rhetoric, the extreme policies that are being rolled back, etc. so if the campaign, if the democrats — etc. so if the campaign, if the democrats decide _ etc. so if the campaign, if the democrats decide to - etc. so if the campaign, if the democrats decide to make - etc. so if the campaign, if the | democrats decide to make this etc. so if the campaign, if the i democrats decide to make this a campaign — democrats decide to make this a campaign about abortion, they will campaign about abortion, they wiii wirr— campaign about abortion, they will win a — campaign about abortion, they will win a couple of seats in wealthier, suburban districts and they— wealthier, suburban districts and they will lose the country. i recognise a lot of people are focused, _ i recognise a lot of people are focused, because of the supreme court _ focused, because of the supreme court decision, but in the end, as a _ court decision, but in the end, as a pollster, myjob is to keep— as a pollster, myjob is to keep emphasising where the issues — keep emphasising where the issues are, where the

priorities are, where the american people are, and they are far— american people are, and they are far more focused on affordability than they are on the vote _ affordability than they are on the vote of kansas. we're joined from eugene, oregon, by rachel bitter—coffer, who is a political analyst and strategist. we had a couple of years there. where would you come down on that? just how significant do you think the kansas boat might be in showing how democrats may or may not use this issue in the midterms? i or may not use this issue in the midterms?— or may not use this issue in the midterms? i think a good wa to the midterms? i think a good way to demonstrate - the midterms? i think a good way to demonstrate the - the midterms? i think a good way to demonstrate the size | the midterms? i think a good i way to demonstrate the size of the effect is that i had anticipated, based on registration surges, and where that data was coming from, that the no campaign had an opportunity in a very red macro state to potentially subvert this, but instead what we see of course is a very large resounding victory for no, by a spread so wide that it actually had to pick up some card—carrying republicans to ca rd—carrying republicans to produce

card—carrying republicans to produce it, and what that means is the energy around this issue of women's equality under the law is going to be a real potential game changer for democrats, because as the party in power, they are disadvantaged in the 2022 midterms the way that republicans were disadvantaged in the 2018 midterms. very conditioned on the president in office at the time. haifa conditioned on the president in office at the time.— office at the time. how do you exlain office at the time. how do you exolain then — office at the time. how do you explain then that _ office at the time. how do you explain then that to _ office at the time. how do you explain then that to our- explain then that to our viewers, because we talk about the economy, people are hurting on day—to—day issues, and if you look at polls, often it is economy and further down it might be abortion or guns, issues like that, then health care, then climate, from some, looking at it, so how do you think they can harness it, or why will it matter to people when they go to the ballot box? i will tell you this, abortion kind of always hovers on the list of important things, since roe versus wade and moved right

up roe versus wade and moved right up to number three, the only thing in double digits, other than economy and inflation, 0k? and why that matters from mr watson's face and his assessment of public opinion on the old status quo, which was women didn't have access to abortion in every 50 states to some degree and the moral question really was about unborn children or unborn babies. now that we are looking at this regime, a dozen states are already electing very stringent, we have no ability to get an abortion even if you have a health emergency, now thatis have a health emergency, now that is the reality, the moral bias flips the other way, and it really lends itself towards women's rights, health, freedom, survival, so i think the politics of this genuinely are the republican party are very sad right now.

interesting. do you think it is a specific demographic that the democrats need to target to turn out?— turn out? i'm happy to talk about that. _ turn out? i'm happy to talk about that. our _ turn out? i'm happy to talk about that. our mid-term, j turn out? i'm happy to talk - about that. our mid-term, which about that. our mid—term, which comes in the middle of the four—year presidential term, always has a slightly highly educated, more suburban older voter kind of democratic —— demographic that is precisely the kind of demographic that just sent a resounding message to the gop in kansas, so in some ways this is actually really going to benefit democrats, because otherwise the conversation all year was going to be about them and inflation and gas prices, and now we are really starting to see news cycles focusing on the republican party's extremist republican pa rty�*s extremist issues, republican party's extremist issues, which of course also manifests in the insurrection investigation.— manifests in the insurrection investigation. interesting, so interesting — investigation. interesting, so interesting we _ investigation. interesting, so interesting we will _ investigation. interesting, so interesting we will have - investigation. interesting, so interesting we will have to i interesting we will have to talk to you again, rachel, is this all evolves. thanks for joining us. this all evolves. thanks for joining us— this all evolves. thanks for joining us. thanks for having me. warner brothers has scrapped its upcoming batgirl film,

just months before it's due to be released, after poor screen—testing results. the dc film, which was set to feature hollywood stars leslie grace, michael keaton, jk simmons and brendan fraser, was filmed entirely in glasgow. production reportedly cost more than $70 million, and the film was scheduled for release later this year, in cinemas and on hbo max. one of the uk's most influential civil rights campaigners, roy hackett, has died, at the age of 93. he helped organise the bristol bus boycott, the campaign in 1963, to end the bristol 0mnibus company's colour bar on employing black and asian people. the protests that followed paved the way for the race relations act. 0ur correspondent, jo black, looks back at his life. trying is what i did in my life, in my whole life, i keep

trying. life, in my whole life, i keep t inc. ., ~:: life, in my whole life, i keep t in. .,

fundamental _ discrimination illegal. that fundamental step, - discrimination illegal. that fundamental step, just - discrimination illegal. that fundamental step, just getting the law— fundamental step, just getting the law on the side of antiracism, the bristol bus boycott _ antiracism, the bristol bus boycott and what happened to his colleagues were absolutely fundamental, this is us, our story, — fundamental, this is us, our story, the _ fundamental, this is us, our story, the british colour bar, the british bus boycott, and it is the — the british bus boycott, and it is the story of how we became the britain we are today. roy hackett's _ the britain we are today. roy hackett's name _ the britain we are today. tr hackett's name became synonymous with civil rights, and for many, his tireless campaigning made him a father figure, notjust in bristol. to remember him as notjust to remember him as not just to remember— remember him as not just to remembera— remember him as not just to remembera moment- remember him as notjust to remembera moment in- remember him as notjust to remember a moment in the| remember him as notjust to- remember a moment in the civil rights _ remember a moment in the civil rights movement, _ remember a moment in the civil rights movement, but— remember a moment in the civil rights movement, but it - remember a moment in the civil rights movement, but it is - remember a moment in the civil rights movement, but it is to. rights movement, but it is to remember— rights movement, but it is to rememberthat_ rights movement, but it is to remember that moment - rights movement, but it is to remember that moment in l rights movement, but it is to remember that moment in a| remember that moment in a continuum _ remember that moment in a continuum of— remember that moment in a continuum of history- remember that moment in a continuum of history and - continuum of history and struggle _ continuum of history and struggle against- continuum of history and struggle against racism. | continuum of history and - struggle against racism. roy hackett was _ struggle against racism. roy hackett was also _ struggle against racism. hackett was also one of the founders of saint paul's carnival, one of the uk's most inclusive events. the jamaican born campaigner was appointed obe in 2009 born campaigner was appointed 0be in 2009 and became an mbe in 2020. he has been described as a humble, principled freedom fighter, a man whose legacy lives on.

roy hackett who's died, at the age, of 93. thanks so much for watching. stay with us if you can. hello, there. we've had some exceptional weather through july and statistics came through this week to show that it was the driest on record in some southern and eastern parts of the uk, and there's little sign of any rain here for the rest of the week and into the weekend. but it's notjust been dry across the south and east. across the whole of the uk, through the summer so far — the meteorological summer, june, july — we've had just over 100mm of rain. whilst during the whole of the summer — so another month, august, added on — we'd normally expect to see about 240mm, so we're way off that. it has been dry across many parts, but obviously exceptionally so in the south. and with this high pressure moving in, over the next few days, that's going to keep our weather fronts at bay, and it means the dry

weather persists. rain will fall, but mostly in the north. this shows the accumulations over the next 3—4 days, and we do expect some rain for northern ireland and for scotland, but very little across the south and east, where we need it. there's been some heavy rain, actually, overnight, across scotland and northern ireland, some heavy, thundery rain just across the east of scotland in particular. it could be some quite nasty conditions for travelling here, localised flooding. further south, we're losing the humidity — finally, we're lowering the humidity — more comfortable for sleeping. so, some rush—hour issues, potentially, with spray and standing water on the fast routes in the south and east of scotland, before that clears away. sunny spells and scattered showers, heavy in the north of scotland, rumbles of thunder, potentially, one or two into the midlands, east anglia. but notice the temperatures, 20—25, feeling a lot fresher, i think, compared with recent days, less oppressive. we'll notice that, actually, at the commonwealth games in birmingham — temperatures 3—4 degrees down here. through the evening and overnight, the showers continue, as you can see,

perhaps some heavier ones clumping together and a fresh feel again. more noticeable again across the south, and we keep that fresher air, actually, through the weekend. the rain comes in the form of showers, just one or two getting into northern parts of england, perhaps the midlands, again, and parts of wales, but few and far between, for the most part. temperatures on a par with those of thursday, 17—24 celsius. then, into the weekend, there is going to be some rain, particularly across the north of scotland, but elsewhere, there's a lot of dry and settled weather, warming up again into next week.

this is bbc news, the headlines: taiwan has scrambled fighter planes after chinese military aircraft entered its air defence zone. beijing has protested against the visit by the us house speaker nancy pelosi, who vowed her country would never abandon the island. china has also begun manoeuvres around taiwan that are affecting air and shipping links. the head of the united nations, antonio guterres, has accused oil and gas companies of making huge profits at the expense of the world's poorest people. he said the energy industry had displayed "grotesque greed". president biden has hailed a vote in the conservative state of kansas to uphold access to abortion services. it's a major victory for pro—choice groups after the us supreme court overturned roe v wade two months ago, ending federal protection for the procedure.