welcome to newsday. reporting live from singapore, i'm monica miller. the headlines. # and my heart is set on you... the star of grease, olivia newton—john, one of the most successful music artists of all time, has died at the age of 73. asjoe biden�*s climate change bill clears the us senate, the us president travels to kentucky, where at least 37 people died in flash flooding last month. that's the objective here. it's notjust to get back to where we were, it's to get back to better than where we were, and we can do it now that the legislation�*s been bipartisanly passed. a covid outbreak has left more

than 80,000 tourists stranded in the popular chinese resort city of sanya. and in birmingham, 11 days of competition have come to an end at the closing ceremony of the commonwealth games. live from our studio in singapore... this is bbc news. it's newsday. hello and welcome to the programme. olivia newton—john — the singer, songwriter, actress, and activist — has died of cancer at the age of 73. her stellar career included four grammy awards and sales of more than 100 million records. but she will always be associated with grease, the film musical released in 1978, the soundtrack of which is still one of the world's best—selling albums.

0ur correspondent david sillito looks back at her life and remarkable career. # summer loving, had me a blast. # summer loving, happened so fast. # i met a girl crazy for me. # met a boy cute as can be.# sandy in grease was clean—cut, fresh—faced innocence, and it was john travolta who knew who would be perfect to play this slightly naive american teenager — a 29—year—old australian, olivia newton—john. # if not for you, the winter would hold no spring.# herfirst hit was in 1971, seven years after she left school aged 15 determined to be a singer, something which rather shocked her academic family. her grandfather had won a nobel prize for physics. # country roads, take me home

to the place i belong...# born in britain, she'd grown up in australia, and after years of touring clubs, made her name in america as a country singer. music. blonde, wholesome, family friendly, easy listening — no wonder eurovision came knocking. # you better shape up, cos i need a man...# and then came grease. it was huge at the box office. there were six hit singles and the premier... ..a near riot ensued. this was a new level of fame. there was then naturally huge interest in her next musical.

xanadu gave her a hit single, the film, it was the inspiration for a new award ceremony, the golden raspberries. music. and then there was physical. she was terrified it would destroy her girl next—door image. instead, it became an anthem for the sweatband—wearing hordes of the aerobic �*80s. of course, many tv stations would cut away before this final shot. after a break for marriage and children, her career would never be the same. but 30 years on, olivia newton—john was still performing. it was a reminder of how it all began. # sandy, you must startanew...#. like a burst of australia sun, blonde, wholesome and pure. if anyone was going

to be sandy, it was olivia newton—john. come on, sandy! # goodbye to sandra dee.# dame olivia newton—john, who has died at the age of 73. let's speak to our north america correspondent, peter bowes. hejoins us live in los he joins us live in los angeles to talk about dame 0livia newton—john, who died at the age of 73. tell us what the reaction has beenin been in hollywood. a lot of sadness — been in hollywood. a lot of sadness and _ been in hollywood. a lot of sadness and a _ been in hollywood. a lot of sadness and a lot - been in hollywood. a lot of sadness and a lot of- been in hollywood. a lot of sadness and a lot of love, | been in hollywood. a lot of. sadness and a lot of love, and it's interesting just listening to those thoughts in the music

especially. i think it's striking to a lot of people that that was a very successful soundtrack from grease, but it was also the soundtrack to so many people's lives during that time in the late 1970s, early 80s. time in the late 1970s, early 805. i time in the late 1970s, early 80s. i think that sense that she created a lot of memories for people is being reflected in what people are saying about her today, for example from her costarjohn travolta, who said "you made all of our lives so much better. your impact was incredible." the oscar—winning actress viola davis said "you are my childhood. thank you for creating internal memories." i think that is the essence of what she did. the career continued and went in different styles and directions with physical, which was certainly very different. it was controversial in some senses, but it was her biggest seller.

while she was battling cancer, she continued to perform. she has a residency in las vegas and herfight against has a residency in las vegas and her fight against cancer is something that so many people, i think, will remember herfor because of her bravery and her internal optimism. just listening _ internal optimism. just listening back - internal optimism. just listening back to - internal optimism. just listening back to the i listening back to the soundtrack, it was certainly the soundtrack of my childhood. i feel like i could the soundtrack of my childhood. ifeel like i could sing every word to the song, i think generations beyond me also can feel that. but her career did take a couple of chances. she had a kind of break off of her she“ had a kind of break off of her shell a bit after becoming sandy. how successful was she at doing that?— at doing that? well, i think the late 70s _ at doing that? well, i think the late 70s and _ at doing that? well, i think the late 70s and early - at doing that? well, i think the late 70s and early 80s | at doing that? well, i think- the late 70s and early 80s were her heyday and i think it was perhaps a struggle later on. that may not have been a great

film, but musically, i did for her and was a very popular song —— did all right. she went back to her roots, that sort of wholesome innocence that she or trade in that film and some of her performances in later life. that's what many people knew and loved herfor, that young girl that we got to know, that woman who was born in the uk and europe and australia and known as an american. she died here in california. she was someone, i think, here in california. she was someone, ithink, many here in california. she was someone, i think, many of her fans knew personally they felt. for her to be so public about herfight for her to be so public about her fight with breast cancer, how much of an impact did she really have? it is rather brave to do that in the public eye hello i think she— hello i think she had a tremendous _ hello i think she had a tremendous impact. l hello i think she had a - tremendous impact. because of her bravery and optimism, she worked with researchers and doctors and set up a

foundation. she was a proponent of medicinal marijuana and turned into a plant—based diet. these are not cures for cancer, but she looked for remedies that could alleviate the symptoms of cancer, and that was ongoing work. i think it's safe to say it benefited many other people. it's the kind of work that will continue. peter bos, work that will continue. peter bos. thank — work that will continue. peter bos, thank you _ work that will continue. peter bos, thank you very - work that will continue. peter bos, thank you very much - work that will continue. peter bos, thank you very much for| bos, thank you very much for joining us. earlier, i wasjoined by actress 0livia moore, who plays sandy in the west end's grease the musical. i found out in the interval that she passed away, which was quite surreal. i think we can all agree. i have to sing hopelessly devoted in the second act, so it was... i can't put into words how it feels, really. it's incredibly emotional.

it's emotional anyway, but knowing that information going on stage, it was the most special i will ever sing it. even now, it makes me feel really emotional. what was the first time you watched grease? it must be impressive now to have this moment in your career. but how old were you, what did you remember as you auditioned? well, grease was probably one of the first films that i've watched that kind of inspired me to dance and sing. i didn't really know much about musical theatre, but she's definitely been an icon throughout my life. so, getting this audition through was so exciting, so exciting to be attempting to follow in the footsteps of someone as magnificent as 0livia newton—john. it was honestly, truly, excitement as the first word

yeah, excitement is the first word that comes to my mind. so, to be playing every night, to be playing sandy, i'm so proud of, especially to associate it with the original 0livia newton—john. i think she's so respected, notjust with her craft, but as a human being, so i'm so, so proud to be playing sandy. moving on to the us. in what's billed as the biggest—ever investment by the us government to tackle climate change, president biden has won the backing of the senate to spend $369 billion so that america can achieve its target on reducing emissions. the money includes tax breaks for consumers who buy electric vehicles, and cash for communities hardest hit by fossil—fuel pollution. it's all meant to reduce us emissions of c02 by as much as 40% by the end of the decade. 0ur north america correspondent john sudworth reports. the american dream was built on fossil fuel —

the very concept of freedom and unrestrained energy consumption long going hand—in—hand. the time is now... it's hard, then, to overstate the significance of this moment — the us senate passing the country's first major piece of climate change legislation. the vice president votes in the affirmative, and the bill, as amended, is passed. cheering. one good thing that come from this is that we've realised, you know, this is an american problem... presidentjoe biden, struggling with woeful approval ratings, is suddenly looking like a man who can get things done — using a trip to meet victims of flooding in kentucky to underscore the need for the bill. it has its limitations. there are no tax penalties for polluters, it leaves in place concessions for the oil and gas industry, and its ambitions have been reduced by months of political wrangling. but for environmental campaigners, there's

still plenty to celebrate. the us senate just made climate history. this bill, if it gets enacted, represents the single most significant step forward for climate action in the united states ever, and it gives that signal that will encourage business, households, policymakers, to start to orient investments into a more green future. the idea is carrots, not sticks — billions of dollars over the next decade to incentivise the production of green energy, all funded by a new 15% minimum tax on corporate profits. not a single republican senator supported the bill, and at the pump, some motorists remain lukewarm, too. i'm just a fan of gas. it's just the way i grew up, i guess, i can't really... i don't have anything against electric cars, they're just not for everybody. i'm just really indifferent, on the fence about them. but it's a long way from this

attack on wind power. and they say the noise i causes cancer, you told me that one, 0k... you know, the thing makes... and of course it's like a graveyard for birds. j climate change is now firmly on the american agenda, and a political system known more of late for its paralysis has shown its capable of progress, too. i'm joined now by vivian e thomson, who is a retired professor of environmental policy at the university of virginia. she has also been an environmental regulatory official in the us state and at the environmental protection agency. thank you forjoining us on the programme. this is a monumental bill for the us, but doesn't go far enough?— far enough? well, it's a real name far enough? well, it's a real game changer _ far enough? well, it's a real game changer for _ far enough? well, it's a real game changer for me. -

far enough? well, it's a real game changer for me. as i game changerfor me. as mentioned, it uses incentives to achieve really significant decreases that 40% reduction relative to 2005 and 2030 translates into 1 relative to 2005 and 2030 translates into1 billion translates into 1 billion metric translates into1 billion metric tonnes in 2030, which is greater than the entire annual emissions of the country of germany. so, i'm sure some wish we could have gone farther and some who wish with the supports for fossil fuel development were not in the bill, but i think it's a real game changer. we werejust hearing in my colleague's story that there are some people who simply love gas vehicles and they never made that change. what incentives are there in this bill to help your average american citizen?- bill to help your average american citizen? there are all kinds of incentives. _ american citizen? there are all kinds of incentives. for - kinds of incentives. for example, support for purchasing electric cars, supports for improving energy efficiency,

and something that's very important about these incentives — they're guaranteed for ten years. the us has a �*s history at a national level. so this guaranty is really important and provides certainty. there's a long list of sectors that stand to benefit from the bill's incentives. even agricultural. i was really amazed that that was... and do so by offering benefits and incentives. it's very interesting, we are in a moment lost with many politicians. coal use for electricity has declined over the past 15 years or so, and coal plants will continue to close. we're in a situation

where one of the factors that helps us build get over the finish line is that now renewables and coal are neck and neck. another interesting feature about the bill and one that i think helped slam open the policy window is that the rich are underwriting these incentives, so there are revenues in the bill that support the new energy outlays and for extra effort by the irs to crackdown on tact auditing. —— tax dodging. really shifted onto what are regarded as wealthy corporations and individuals. thus the important factor and let's not forget public demand, a really crucial element. americans are not all part of the part of since

sector. part of the part of since sector-— part of the part of since sector. . ., , ,., . sector. vivian thompson, thanks forjoining _ sector. vivian thompson, thanks forjoining us— sector. vivian thompson, thanks forjoining us on _ sector. vivian thompson, thanks forjoining us on the _ forjoining us on the programme. breaking news, donald trump has said that his home in palm beach florida has been rated by fbi agents. in a statement, he said after working in cooperating with the relevant agencies, this unannounced raid on my home was not necessary or appropriate. we will certainly be covering this story more. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme... a covid outbreak has left more than 80,000 tourists stranded in the popular chinese resort of sanya. the big crowds became bigger as the time of the funeral approached. as the lines of fans became longer, the police prepared for a huge job of crowd control.

idi amin, uganda's brutal former dictator, has died at the age of 80. he's been buried in saudi arabia, where he'd lived in exile since being overthrown in 1979. 2 billion people around the world have seen the last total eclipse of the sun to take place in this millennia. it began itsjourney off the coast of canada, ending three hours later, when the sun set over the bay of bengal. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm monica miller in singapore.

0ur headlines. the actress and singer 0livia newton—john, star of the iconic musical grease, has died of cancer at the age of 73. as his historic climate change bill clears the us senate, president biden is in kentucky, where at least 37 people died in flash flooding at the end of last month. the delivery of aid and fuel to gaza has resumed. a ceasefire appears to be holding after an agreement was reached to end three days of fighting between israel and palestinian militants. at least 44 palestinians died in the flare—up of violence, at least 44 palestinians died in the flare—up of violence, including 15 children. 0ur correspondent yolande knell sent us the latest from jerusalem. this cease—fire brokered by egypt appears to be sticking.

left by three days of intense bombardment. in israel, we've seen hundreds of rockets fired at it. people in the south, now restrictions are being used, they are able to return to their ordinary lives. israel launches operation against a counter, a direct threat from the group, and it considers it has dealt a very serious blow to the organisation after killing two of its senior managers. as islamicjihad managers. as islamic jihad disputes managers. as islamicjihad disputes that, and its leader says this was a victory for his organisation, which managed to target israeli citizens as far as tel aviv and jerusalem. help to prevent israeli casualties, and another important point is that israel has reopened its crossings with the gaza strip, after warnings of a potential humanitarian crisis in the past couple of days — food, aid and

fuel have now been able to enter gaza and its sole power plant has been turned back on. more than 80,000 tourists have been left stranded. in the popular chinese resort city of sanya. a new coronavirus outbreak has triggered a lockdown and flights have been cancelled. the holiday hotspot is on the southern island of hainan, often known as china's hawaii, for its sandy beaches and forests. sanya city has imposed a lockdown since saturday. tourists will be forced to stay for a week and can leave only after five clear covid tests. authorities say they will ask hotels to offer a 50% discount until restrictions are lifted. well, someone who is currently stuck in her hotel in sanya is marla anderson, an american who's based in shanghai, a city that's just come out of lockdown. she told us more about what is happening on the ground. i came, like, two weeks

ago and it was open, and i was so happy. but when my friends from shanghai got here, it was the day after they got here, it was lockdown. we were like, oh, god, i can't believe it's happening again! we're in a resort area, so we don't really know what's going on. we've seen some people standing in line, but you don't really know because you they don't tell us what's really going on. we're hearing the government is trying to broker some sort of deal. it's one thing to be stuck in paradise, it's another to pay for it. so, have they given you any indication of help with travel costs? listen, i don't think so. so, they said my flight was cancelled, and then they rebooked it, but they cancelled it again.

i didn't even get the whole amount back. they only gave me not even half back already, so i don't know what's going to happen. the flights now are quite high because normally, it's like $200 to get out here, but now its five or or 600 to get back home — if we can get back home. the closing ceremony for the commonwealth games has taken place in birmingham, bringing to an end 11 days of sporting competition. an audience of 30,000 people watched the event live. british reggae band ub40, ozzy osbourne, goldie and singer beverley knight were among the musical line—up. the event also featured a sequence from the theatre production, peaky blinders: the redemption of thomas shelby, inspired by the popular television series. 72 nations and territories took part in this year's games. let's take a look at which countries won the most medals. australia, which will host

the games next in 2026, was at the top of the table with 178. that includes 67 gold medals. next is england, with 176 medals, including 57 gold. canada came in third place with 92 medals and 26 golds. britney spears is set to return to the music scene with a duet of sir eltonjohn. they confirmed the collaboration by sharing artwork for the new track, a single rose and a rocket emojis. the song is thought to be the remit of the 1971 classic tiny dancer and will be titled pulled me closer. it will be the first release for britney spears for six years and first since an order was overturned that put

the singer's father in charge of her life and her career. that's it for us now. they would bbc world niles —— world news. i'm monica miller. hello there. i'm sure a lot of people are thinking its warm enough already, but it will get hotter to the rest of this week. temperatures will continue to rise with heatwaves spreading to many parts of the uk. a lot of people may be headed to the coast hoping for something a little bit cooler with some sea breezes. but already, we've seen temperatures hitting 30 degrees in surrey in the sunshine on monday. you may be surprised to learn the temperatures could be as low as 8 or 9 degrees first thing on tuesday morning. in rural parts of wales in northern england, in rural parts of wales in northern england. it's going to be warmer in northern scotland for the breeze being ploughed in a little bit of rain.

that gets pushed away to get more sunshine developing in scotland and it will be a sunny day on tuesday in northern ireland and again across england and wales. sea breezes a bit cooler and in the and temperatures continuing to rise among england and wales. widely 29—30 degrees, 25 or so east of scotland and northern ireland. the heat is building underneath that area of high pressure and keeping the rain to the far northwest of scotland. later on in the week, we will start to pick up in east or south easterly breeze that would draw breeze and that will draw in some the heat that we've got in western europe where it is hot in many places already. we're not expecting to break any records this time. however, by the end of the week, temperatures to the west and eastern parts of scotland

and the northeast of england, and 32 is likely to the midlands, towards the east of england as well. that heat will linger for some time. you can see it maintain above 30 degrees in london to the weekend. it's not going to be as hard in scotland and northern ireland, and temperatures may start to drop a bit over the weekend. but the rain is been all or nothing since the 1st ofjuly and nothing across many parts of the uk and a lot of rain in the highlands of scotland. some people are looking for some rain and asking when it's going to come. pressure, temperatures will be dropping and there could be some rain.

welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. there are some human experiences which most of us find very hard to get our heads around. my to get our heads around. my guest today experienced the unimaginable torment of more than four decades in solitary confinement in

a tiny cell in one of america's most notorious prisons.