this is bbc news — i'm sally bundock with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. a moment of history for italy — giorgia meloni's election victory puts her in line to be the country's first female prime minister, and the first from the far right since mussolini. if we are called to govern this nation, we will do so on everybody�*s behalf, for all italians, with an objective of uniting the people. the pound plummets to its lowest ever level against the us dollar after the uk chancellor's historic tax cuts, funded

by huge increases in borrowing. cubans give their verdict on legalising same—sex marriage and whether gay couples can adopt — in a landmark referendum that's divided the nation. as hundreds of russians flee the country to avoid president putin's partial military mobilisation, we go live to moscow to speak to nikita khrushchev�*s granddaughter about the conflict in ukraine. and nasa prepares to crash a probe into an asteroid to see how difficult it would be to stop a space rock from hitting earth. hello and welcome. giorgia meloni, who's set to become italy's first

female prime minister, has called for unity and promised to govern for all italians. projected results in the general election show victory for a coalition led by ms meloni's far—right party, brothers of italy. the democratic party have already conceded, and in herfirst speech after her triumph, she said the voters had indicated their desire for a centre—right government. leigh milner reports. it's a historic moment, not just for giorgia meloni, but for italy as a country. for the first time, voters have chosen a female prime minister, one which aims to form italy's most right—wing government since the second war. speaking afterwards, mr meloni said her brothers of italy party would govern for everyone and would not betray people's trust. == not betray people's trust. -- ms meloni- _ not betray people's trust. » ms meloni. italy has chosen

asked, if we are called to govern this nation, we will do so for all italians, with a clear objective of uniting the people. we will ensure italians will once again be proud to be italian. fist will once again be proud to be italian. �* ~ ' will once again be proud to be italian. �* ~ , ., .,, italian. at 6296, turnout was very low. — italian. at 6296, turnout was very low. and _ italian. at 6296, turnout was very low, and voting - italian. at 6296, turnout was very low, and voting levels l very low, and voting levels were especially poor in southern regions including but her party is set to sicily. but her party is set to win with 25% of the vote. however she will have to share power with other right—wing parties in a coalition. with ford italia, led by silvio berlusconi, and matteo salvini's league party. a meloni lead italy will alarm much of europe, but unlike her right—wing allies, she said is pro—nato and openly said she is pro—nato and has no for vladimir haszngztime for vladimir putin. she has hard to although she has worked hard to her although she has worked hard te

her image, although she has worked hard to her image, she leads a soften her image, she leads a party rooted in a post—war movement that arose out of benito mussolini's fascists. still embracing their old slogan, god, fatherland and family, she campaigns against lgbt rights and is calling for a naval blockade of libya to stop migrant boats. she a naval blockade of libya to stop migrant boats.- stop migrant boats. she is ve , stop migrant boats. she is very. very _ stop migrant boats. she is very. very right _ stop migrant boats. she is very, very right wing. - stop migrant boats. she is very, very right wing. a i stop migrant boats. she is| very, very right wing. a lot stop migrant boats. she is i very, very right wing. a lot of issues about things in italy going on in a way more liberal, but now we say we are going backwards. but now we say we are going backwards-— backwards. this election has been a political _ backwards. this election has been a political turning - backwards. this election hasj been a politicalturning point been a political turning point for the country. tax her alliance massive eu recovery massive eu recovery plan nassive eu recovery plan nas: have j president by vote. it is to

new prime minister, it is up to her to italy through one �* its most delicate periods, of its most delicate periods, dealing with huge of its most delicate periods, dealing with hug crisis gg; of its most delicate periods, dealing with hug crisis and 2s of its most delicate periods, dealing with hug crisis and high from the energy crisis and high inflation to a possible recession and a winter wave of covid—i9. a huge change there which we will discuss with experts as the programme progresses. the pound has fallen to its lowest level against the us dollar since decimalisation in 1971. in early asia trade, sterling fell to $1.0327 before regaining some ground to around $1.05. the pound has also been under pressure as the dollar has been boosted by the us central bank continuing to raise interest rates. this all follows the

announcement on friday by the new uk chancellor kwasi kwarteng as he unveiled historic tax cuts funded by huge increases in borrowing. on monday morning here in asia, as those markets opened, sterling tumbling to a record low. we now know it is an all—time low, because decimalisation was brought in in 1971, and it is the lowest it has been since then. now, in early trade, the pound did plunge almost 5%, and the big question is, why is this happening? investors are pulling money out of the currency, quite frankly, after those announcements in the uk on friday. they really lack confidence that the uk government's economic plans will work, and they do think that, at the very least, the uk's

finances will be stretched to the very limit. there are also concerns around growth and those higher interest rates that you mentioned. the fed raised interest rates to try to keep inflation down in the us, and this is as much a story about the strong us dollar as it is about the weak pound, because there are a number of other currencies that are weakening because of that really strong us dollar. i will talk to a leading economist in around 20 minutes for his take on the plans of the new government here in the uk, and what it means for the uk, and what it means for the uk economy going forward. cubans have been voting in a referendum on legalising same—sex marriage. the proposed bill, which is supported by the government is part of a broad package of measures contained

within what's known at the family code. but the referendum result could be tight, conservatives and the catholic and evangelical churches oppose the moves which would also allow gay couples to adopt. will grant has more. among the first to vote was the cuban president miguel diaz canel and his wife, who came out in support of this raft of changes to the country's family code. the most noteworthy change would be the legalisation of same—sex marriages or civil unions. it also would give the right to gay couples to adopt. the president said he expected the motion to pass, although he did recognise there could be a strong anti—government vote and said that, whatever the result, he felt it had been to the benefit of the nation to hold the conversation. this long document had been through more than 22 changes and been debated at community level town hall meetings. nevertheless, there will be

significant opposition to these measures coming from a variety of quarters. one is the growing strength of the evangelical church notjust in cuba but across the caribbean and central america. as well, ingrained conservative opinions in society in cuba, people who see this as wrong and have done for decades. don't forget, in the 1960s and 1970s, cuba sent homosexual people to re—education camps. demonstrators in russia's dagestan region have clashed with police, in the latest protests to break out against moscow's new "partial mobilisation". while large protests have taken place in major cities across russia in recent days, with more than 700 people being arrested on saturday alone,

the images of dagestani demonstrators fighting with police marks a rare outbreak of violence against authorities. nina khrushcheva is a professor of international affairs at the new school in new york. she is currently in moscow writing a book. it's a pleasure to have you on the programme. for the benefit of our viewers, tell us about your family history so they get a sense of where you are coming from. can you hear us?— from. can you hear us? yes. i can. i from. can you hear us? yes. i can- ijust— from. can you hear us? yes. i can. i just wanted _ from. can you hear us? yes. i can. i just wanted to - from. can you hear us? yes. i can. ijust wanted to ask- from. can you hear us? yes. i can. i just wanted to ask you | can. i 'ust wanted to ask you to can. i just wanted to ask you to cive can. i just wanted to ask you to give us — can. i just wanted to ask you to give us your _ can. i just wanted to ask you to give us your family - to give us your family background so the viewers understand your history, although you are based in new york, you are now in moscow writing a book?—

writing a book? yes, well, i'm writin: writing a book? yes, well, i'm writing a _ writing a book? yes, well, i'm writing a book _ writing a book? yes, well, i'm writing a book about _ writing a book? yes, well, i'm l writing a book about khrushchev right now, a lot of talk about the cuban missile crisis, and given the current heightened tension about the nuclear threat, nuclear warnings and whatnot, that is a very timely moment for me to write about khrushchev. but really i am here also, the way i think about it, witnessing the unravelling of history, gorbachev died just now, he opened the world for us, he made the soviet union not a pariah but part of the global community. and now we are just witnessing, have been witnessing, have been witnessing for a year and a half, half a year, with the war in ukraine, all going back to suppression, repression, not the soviet union but russia being a threat to the world. and i want to be a witness to that history. and i want to be a witness to that history-— and i want to be a witness to that history. you are based in new york _ that history. you are based in new york most _ that history. you are based in new york most of _ that history. you are based in new york most of the - that history. you are based in new york most of the time, | that history. you are based in i new york most of the time, you are in moscow right now.

explain what it is like in moscow currently. in explain what it is like in moscow currently.- explain what it is like in moscow currently. in i have been here _ moscow currently. in i have been here for— moscow currently. in i have been here for three - moscow currently. in i have | been here for three months. moscow currently. in i have i been here for three months. i got here where it seemed like the war was still elsewhere. there was a horrible depression and despair, even those who say they are not against the war, they are not against the war, they are not against the war, they are really in depression and despair. but with the referendums now happening in those breakaway republics, the occupied republics, and now when putin announced partial mobilization, i'm sure you've seen the footage, half of russia is now trying to flee. it's the second set of exile. the first one was after february 24th, when putin announced the special military operation. so it really feels like the end of history. it's not even despair and depression any more, it's when not even young boys but men can save

their lives, and people can their lives, and people can theirfamilies. i their lives, and people can their families. i understand that when _ their families. i understand that when you _ their families. i understand that when you walk - their families. i understand that when you walk around | that when you walk around moscow currently, you don't see men around, is that right? absolutely, you can't. i've been walking around moscow, going into coffee shops, and it is all women. it's so surreal. for the first time i noticed that, i asked the waiter and i said, what's going on? the waitress. it is a woman's day? she said, oh, no, it's the mobilization, men are trying to stay away from where the police is. it's reallyjust something that you only read in george orwell and you don't think it can happen in your life, the end of the first quarter of the zist end of the first quarter of the 21st century. end of the first quarter of the 21st century-— end of the first quarter of the 21st century. what do you think will happen? — 21st century. what do you think will happen? president - 21st century. what do you think will happen? president putin i will happen? president putin seems determined in his agenda to annex huge parts of ukraine,

certainly to the east, at the very least. what are your thoughts on how this may end? well, as you can imagine here, the only thing we talk about is how this may end and how we can get to that ending, which nobody seems to be a good one, a positive one. i've been thinking about putin for 22 years, from day one. ijust don't see that he's going to blink or unravel whatever he has created, because the more he has dug in, the less he can lose, orthe he has dug in, the less he can lose, or the lessee can appear that he is weak and gives up, because he already created such a frenzy that russia is fighting against the world and we are being undermined and ungraded and whatnot. —— the less he can appear. so according to the referendums,

they would become part of the russian territory, so then the line that we are defending ourselves from the nazi forces in ukraine, in quotes, but it's a sovereign country nonetheless. but if it becomes a civil war, everyone is conscripted, it's no longer partial mobilization. from my point of view, he is setting it up point of view, he is setting it up to a world where it is the war and he is going to fight it. ., ~ war and he is going to fight it. . ~ , ., war and he is going to fight it. . ~ i., ., war and he is going to fight it. thank you for talking to us on the bbc. _ it. thank you for talking to us on the bbc, fascinating - it. thank you for talking to us on the bbc, fascinating to - it. thank you for talking to us| on the bbc, fascinating to get your perspective on what's happening there at the moment. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: nasa prepares to crash a probe into an asteroid. we explain why. in all russia's turmoil, it has never quite come to this.

president yeltsin said today would decide the nation's destiny. the nightmare that so many people have feared for so long is playing out its final act, here. catholics throughout the world. this man, israel's right—winger ariel sharon, visited he wants israel alone to have sovereignty over the holy sites, an idea unthinkable to palestinians. in berlin, a million germans celebrated the rebirth

this is bbc news, the latest headlines. t moment news, t moment of ews, t moment of history for italy, giorgia meloni's election puts �* in line to be female the country's first female prime first prime minister and the first leaders on the far right since mussolini. daniele albertazzi is a professor of politics at the university of surrey and hejoins me now from birmingham. this is clearly a fantastic result for the radical right party brothers of italy which has only existed for about ten years. it's less surprising if we look at the right wing coalition as a whole, notjust one party but three parties that make up the right. they

have gained this level of support, 43% it seems at the moment, for 30 years, sometimes even more. up to 48%. but what happens now is within the right, the party that is by far the largest is the radical right brothers of italy. this party gets about 25%, we will see exactly how much when the votes have been counted. there are lies, again radical right, the league of matteo salvini, gets around nine, when in the last election they got 17, so a huge drop. and the party of berlusconi around 8—9%. it is huge, and we know this from the data, basically it means the right—wing voters are very much moving to brothers of italy, which causes a lot of problems to the other two. 50 which causes a lot of problems to the other two.— to the other two. so in terms of change — to the other two. so in terms of change going _

to the other two. so in terms of change going forward, - to the other two. so in termsl of change going forward, what will it mean to start with? what it means is that it is likely, i would say, very likely, i would say, very likely if these are the results we will have, it will be the first female prime minister in italy's republic�*s history. i'm expecting the president to ask meloni if she wants to try and form a government, a right—wing coalition as a clear majority. i'm expecting meloni to be very moderate when it comes to relationships with the eu commission, with the major partners in europe, france and germany. i'm not expecting her to change position on ukraine. why? because she needs to be seen as responsible, moderate, abroad. but she will focus on the priorities of the right in domestic policies. so what i expect is a very quick move to

get rid of the basic income, a measure of welfare that was introduced not very long ago and that they oppose. they might look at expenditure in terms of health and education, because they promised to deliver tax cuts. but in terms of the relationship of italy with other countries, other commentators say meloni has been very eurosceptic in the past. that is quite true, but can italy now afford in this moment to clash with the european commission for a number of reasons? i don't think they can.— think they can. thank you, we'll have _ think they can. thank you, we'll have more _ think they can. thank you, we'll have more later- think they can. thank you, | we'll have more later when think they can. thank you, - we'll have more later when we are live in rome to look at the challenges for the economy. now the sport. reigning nations league champions france were beaten by denmark on sunday, theyjust beaten by denmark on sunday, they just avoided beaten by denmark on sunday, theyjust avoided relegation after croatia won their group by beating austria. the

netherlands continued their unbeaten run, they are into the finals after winning 1—0 against belgium in amsterdam. 15 matches unbeaten now for louis van gaal. england are in a dead rubber for their final nations league tie against germany on monday. they are already relegated from the top tier group, following defeats to italy. they are on a five—game run without a win and manager gareth southgate wants to improve the mood around the camp before the world cup in november. i'm not the first coach to go through a difficult time in terms of results, and criticism. that is part of the territory. for me, it's a great challenge to lead the team through a moment like this. you're not going to have six years, as we have had, without a spell where you are going to have some tough results, and you've got to show the resilience to come through those times. frances tiafoe sealed team world's victory over team europe in the laver cup. he saved four match

points, beating stefanos tsitsipas on sunday. tiafoe was outplayed but roared back in the first but roared back, to give team world an unassailable 13—8 lead. stefanos tsitsipas had the chance to take the match to a deciding singles, but tiafoe was inspired, in front of a raucous o2 arena crowd, and after winning match point he collapsed to the court and was buried under a pile of his team—mates and captain, john mcenroe. i can't picture a better weekend for the players. we've got rod laver, who was my idol, an all—time great, roger federer, one of the greatest nights that i have ever been slightly a part of, just being there was unbelievable, and to have it end this way i just want to say, these guys are the best. thank you very much. i love everybody! 17.5—12.5 points over the international team.

xander schauffele holed the winning putt, beating corey connors by one hole, to seal the cup for his side. the us led 11—7 overnight and got themselves over the line with wins for jordan spieth, patrick cantlay and tony finau, before the olympic champion delivered the victory for davis love's team. and teenager atthaya thitikul won the arkansas championship, beating danielle kang, on the second hole of a sudden—death play—off. she started the round with a single shot lead but kang hit five birdies before an eagle at the 17th took her to 17 under par. the teenager from thailand held her nerve and hit a birdie on the second play—off hole to win her second tournament of the season. you can get all the latest sports news on our website. from me, and the rest of the sport team, we will see you soon. this may sound like something from a hollywood blockbuster — but nasa are planning to crash a spacecraft into an asteroid to change its course.

the space rock doesn't pose any danger to the earth, but this mission will test whether one could be diverted if it was heading for our planet. 0ur science editor rebecca morelle has more. it is the stuff of hollywood, and asteroid threatening to wipe out the earth, and a mission to stop it, like in the film, armageddon. but now, nasa is turning science fiction into science fact. they are about to crash a spacecraft into an asteroid to try and change is path. this space rock poses no threat, but it is a chance to show how we could deal with one on a collision course with the earth. the double asteroid redirection test is, first and foremost, a test. it is a test of an asteroid that is not a danger to earth, there is nothing we can do to it that will make it a danger to earth, and we are doing this now when we don't have to do in order

to develop the capabilities to deflect an asteroid if we ever should need to in the future. three, two, one... and lift off, over the falcon nine, and dart. the spacecraft launched last year and has travelled nearly 7 million miles. after the first stage, to see those engines coming to life... now it is nearing its destination. it's target is a small space rock that is orbiting a larger one, travelling at 111,000 mph, the spacecraft will crash into dyomorphus, giving the asteroid a kick. this will change its speed, and alter its orbit, which scientists can monitorfrom earth, to see if it has worked. it's the first time that nasa has tried anything like this, and on—board cameras will film the collision and beam the footage back to earth and if the test is a success it will be the first step in protecting our planet, should a real asteroid threat ever come our way. rebecca morrell, bbc news.

we will look at the slide in the value of and italy under a new government. see you in a moment. we will get our first proper taste of autumn this week, with temperatures below average for the time of year, north—westerly winds to begin with, a changeable week in terms of sunshine, during the first half of the week, and then the potential for something quite nasty later on. to start the week we have warm weather fronts clearing away from southern coastal counties, bringing early rain, and that opens the door to a north—westerly airflow bringing arctic air our way, but don't forget it is september, there is still warmth in the atmosphere and it won't feel desperately chilly, and temperatures higher than they were on sunday. but we do start with rain across southern counties of england,

the channel islands, just one or two showers later here. ever changing skies elsewhere, sunshine and showers, most frequent across scotland and out of the western coast, one or two spots may avoid showers altogether, but quite breezy compared to of late. strong winds in the west. and of course it all adds up for a cool afternoon, and out of the sunshine you will notice temperatures of 10—16, lower than of late, and distinctly chilly in the north of scotland, 8 degrees cooler than on sunday. through monday night into tuesday, we continue with the strong wind, showers frequent across northern parts of scotland and a bit cooler particularly in the south and east, but enough of a breeze to stop a frost forming to take us into tuesday. the chart for tuesday, low—pressure to the north—east of us, system trying to move down, sliding towards the south—west, a bit closer with a chance of some cloudy conditions, outbreaks of rain close to cornwall and devon but otherwise it is

sunshine and showers, a different position of showers due to a shift in wind direction, so some eastern areas will stay dry for longer before showers develop. and temperatures, 11—15, it will feel cool. the wind is starting to ease down a little bit, longer spells of rain, eastern scotland pushing down, and overall southern and western areas looking a little bit drier and brighter and it won't feel quite as cold given the winds are lighter. a cold start to thursday, but the quietest day of the week with more places dry, but the potential for some very wet and windy weather on friday.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines. the pound tumbles to an all—time low against the dollar on fears new tax plans could stretch britain's finances to their limits. italy swings to the right, as giorgia meloni's far—right "brothers of italy" party wins the general election — but what now for the economy? and is the era of the �*supermodel�* over? a boom in the industry has created more opportunites for a wider spectrum of models, so who is earning the big bucks now?