millions of people in north america are under air—quality alerts, as smoke from wildfires in canada blankets parts of the us and canada. four young children are in a stable condition in hospital, after being injured in a knife attack in france. rishi sunak and joe biden agree a new economic partnership between the two countries, but appear far from a free trade agreement. today we have agreed the atlantic declaration — a new economic partnership for a new age, of a kind that has never been agreed before. a teenage boy dies after colliding with an ambulance while riding an electric bike, and being followed by police in greater manchester. live from our studio in singapore. this is bbc news. it's newsday.

hi there, thank you for being with us. canada is in the midst of what's being called its worst—ever wildfire season — and the hundreds of fires continuing to rage are causing a wave of smoke to move down the east coast of the united states. in new york, the air turned orange and people are being asked to stay indoors if possible. samira hussian sent us this report from there. a blurry look at the manhattan bridge. the day is onlyjust starting in new york city, but the haze continues to linger from the day before, when the city was engulfed in a thick orange fog. today, many heeded warnings about the hazardous air quality. commuters wore masks, seemingly back to the covid days. smoke from several hundred wildfires burning across canada continue to blanket the northeastern united states with dusty polluted air.

the blazes have already burned more than 3.8 million hectares of land. officials in new york city advised people to stay indoors. this normally very busy park was strangely quiet. how surprised are you by just how empty it is? yeah, it was a little shocking actually. i thought maybe i shouldn't be out here. not only the park but all of our sidewalks are empty. it's reallyjust quiet, it's kind of eerie. it smells like barbecue. it's giving me bad headaches. but for scientists who measure air quality, like bradley horton, headaches are not the only health concern. according to this machine, the air quality around us is deemed unhealthy. why? we have so many tiny particles that are able to get deep into people's lungs and even cross into their bloodstreams. they get right past our natural defences in our lungs. how much of this is about climate change? a very significant part,

especially through rising air temperatures. rising air temperatures are causing ourforests to burn more easily. breathing difficulties due to the polluted air forced british actressjodie comer to halt a matinee performance during her one—woman broadway show. it is only the beginning ofjune and wildfire season has just started, which means hazy summer days may become more frequent for new yorkers. samira hussein, bbc news, new york. darren austin is a meteorologist and senior air quality specialist with the rhode island department of environmental management. he explained what's going on. so this is actually a quite unusual event here. i'm east of new york city, where they've actually gotten the brunt of this wildfire smoke, but yeah, when we have monitors in the ground and when we're detecting certain readings above

the health standards exposure — you know, we call them sensitive groups, so people with breathing conditions as medics, babies, elderly folks, or even if healthy people are outside really exerting themselves, they can be impacted. and we saw a lot of new yorkers and other americans wearing masks yesterday and today — do they help? do those masks help? yeah, it's funny, here in the northeast, like i mentioned, we don't quite see this like the western states do, and even parts of canada. so i was looking to other states for guidance, in terms of what can you do about it? and n95 masks, i guess, are recommended just to reduce exposure to the fine particles, so you're not quite breathing it as heavy a load as you would be without it. is there anything else that people can do to protect themselves, aside from just staying indoors?

so our levels here in rhode island haven't gotten quite that high to tell people to stay indoors. but it has been what we call unhealthy for sensitive groups. so i've beenjust recommending folks to just take it easy, to reduce your air exchange. if you're exerting and breathing a lot in, you'rejust getting a heavier dose. but if you're ultra—sensitive, it is recommended to stay inside. and if you have air conditioning on, you need to be aware of filtration on that, you want to have good filtration — if you do turn on an ac without filtration, the indoor air quality will look very similar to the outdoor air quality. to france now — where four children are in hospital after they were stabbed in a playground in annecy in the east of the country. a three—year—old british child is among the injured, another is dutch. two adults were also hurt, with one in a critical condition.

police have arrested the suspect who they say is syrian with refugee status in sweden. the attack isn't being linked to terrorism. lucy williamson reports. today in annecy, toddlers were the targets. the safety of a summer playground shattered by a knife attack. this video gives a glimpse of the horror. the suspect roaming among the slides and climbing frames — a knife clearly visible in his hand. we can't show you what happened next. four children, one of them british, were stabbed here in quick succession. some attacked in their pushchairs. local authorities have told us that all four children are now in a stable condition. the suspect, said to be a syrian christian, was chased through the lakeside tourist spot by witnesses. before police intervened and arrested him. translation: all of a sudden,

a lady says, run! _ run! there is a guy who is stabbing everybody all along the lake. he starts on children. run, run! i tell the cops, just shoot him, kill him. he is stabbing everybody. i see a mother with her children on the floor. her children are full of blood and the mother is crying. the suspect had refugee status in sweden and entered france legally last autumn. the french news agency afp is reporting he was recently divorced with a young child of his own and had been living in a church. translation: we are deeply shaken by this odious - and indescribable act. when children are involved, people are touched to the core and today, our whole nation is in shock. france's national assembly stopped to hold a minute's silence this morning

when the news broke. tonight, that same wordless horror hangs over france, as here in annecy, the tributes and the questions grow. lucy williamson, bbc news, annecy. to washington — where rishi sunak has been at the white house for the first time as prime minister. he and joe biden have both emphasised the strength of the relationship between the uk and us. they announced an agreement called the "atlantic declaration", which they said would mean more cooperation on clean energy, supply chains for rare minerals, and artificial intelligence. our political editor chris mason is travelling with the prime minister, and sent this report. rishi sunak arriving at the white house this afternoon. here he is, always quite a moment, this, a british prime minister visiting the white house — especially a first visit. he's here to talk about ukraine and economic cooperation in a dangerous world, and a new deal to

deepen economic ties. we're releasing a new plan to equip our economic partnership for the 21st—century. today, we have agreed the atlantic declaration — a new economic partnership for a new age, of a kind that has never been agreed before. prime minister, your aim as the conservative party at the last general election was a full free—trade deal with america. isn't the simple truth of what's been announced today an acknowledgement of the failure to do that? and to the president, why won't you do a full trade agreement with the uk? what it does is respond to the particular opportunities and challenges that we face right now and into the future. and it asks the question, "what do we need to do working together that can bring most benefit to our citizens as quickly as possible?" and our agreement does that. it's the first—of—a—kind agreement that is ambitious in what it seeks to achieve. be in no doubt, asjoe

and i were discussing earlier, the economic relationship between our two countries has never been stronger. president biden didn't answer my question directly, but his endorsement of the uk playing a role in coordinating the international response to the rise of artificial intelligence will please number ten. there's enormous potential, and we're looking to great britain to help lead that effort to figure out a way through this. so we're in full, total cooperation, because there is no country we have greater faith in being able to negotiate this — not negotiate with individuals, negotiate our way through this — than the prime minister. and so we're in lockstep. the fact is, the uk has done free trade deal with others since brexit, but not with the united states — despite that being the aim. the argument, as you've heard from both leaders,

is that this arrangement, while short of that, is attuned to where the world is now, and particularly that concern about economic security with the rise of china and the ongoing conflict between russia and ukraine. earlier, the oldest—ever american president met the youngest british prime minister of modern times. well, mr president... president! i managed to suggest he too was a president before quickly correcting himself. pleasantries in the oval office — and is the so—called special relationship still in good shape? "real good shape," the president replied. the prime minister leaves the so—called atlantic declaration done — a deal striking for what is in it, and what isn't.

that report by chris mason. since brexit, the uk has been keen to sign a free trade agreement with the us. our north america correspondent jessica parker explained to me why is it not happening. they've got this rather grandly—titled "atlantic declaration" that, as chris was outlining, looks at closer cooperation on clean energy, artificial intelligence, a range of areas. and it's something that rishi sunak can take home and say, "look, i have deepened economic cooperation with the united states post—brexit." but it is certainly not a free trade agreement — something that britain and brexiteers talked a lot about as the run—up to the departure from the european union is a great boon of brexit, and it just hasn't happened. but, look, i think for rishi sunak, he will be overall pleased with this visit because he does have the atlantic declaration piece of paper to wave around, and clearly we'll have to monitor and see to what extent that does deliver economic benefits. but i know british diplomats tend to breathe a sigh of relief when an american president gives the thumbs—up to the special relationship — and joe biden even said, "no country is closer to us than great britain."

so there's always this slightly obsessive discussion about, how is the special relationship? is it in a good place? i think that that was a bit of a thumbs—up from joe biden, who actually has met rishi soon, quite a few times now, and i think the american administration was somewhat suspicious of borisjohnson previously, the democratic administration, liz truss obviously was very briefly prime minister. i think they do see rishi sunak as a man that they can do business with. jessica parker in washington. let's take a look at some of the stories in the headlines in the uk. a weekend heat—health alert has been raised from yellow to a more severe amber warning in eastern and southern england, and the midlands. the amber alert indicates that high temperatures could affect all ages and impact the health service. doctors warn that health services across the uk, are struggling to provide safe and effective care for cancer patients. the royal college of radiologists, which represents many cancer doctors,

describes the situation as a "ticking time—bomb" because of what it calls "chronic staff shortages". rising interest rates are putting pressure on landlords, with some considering to sell up. but that in turn could further squeeze the availability on the rental market and potential increase in the costs for tenants. some landlords are also considering their future due to proposals for a ban on no—fault evictions in england. a former daily mirror royal editor said piers morgan, who used to be her boss, would "inject" information into her stories without explaining where it came from. in a hacking case against mirror group newspapers, prince harry alleged that the papers unlawfully obtained private information about him. mr morgan has consistently said no illegal newsgathering happened on his watch.

around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news — bringing you different stories from across the uk. climbing aboard for a school trip — except this is a trip that'll be repeated every day for the next six weeks. these children lost their classrooms after an accidental fire destroyed part of their school. demolition work has begun — but new pop—up classrooms will be ready till september. that means from now until the summer holidays, four classes will be waved off to lessons elsewhere. i'm so happy that everything is has gone to plan this morning, but sad as well that i haven't got all my children on site, as we normally have. two nearby schools have taken in children — a chance for their pupils to join the community spirit to support the school. at the end of the day, the children from yatton will head back there and will attempt to keep things as close to normal as possible. these children are taught about resilience — they're now putting that learning into practice. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website.

you're live with bbc news. a teenage boy who was riding an electric bike has died after a collision with an ambulance in salford, in greater manchester. police said he was being followed by traffic officers shortly before the crash. the incident has been referred to the independent office for police conduct. our correspondent nick garnett has been at the scene. well, the road that this happened on is directly behind me. you can see probably in the distance some bollards and some flowers being left over there at the moment. the boy on the bike came through the gap in the bollards there, being followed at a distance by traffic police. he came out, the police obviously couldn't do anything at that point, and so stopped following the bike. but as the bike came onto this road — now, this is langworthy road, it's a very busy road, a lot of traffic on it at that time of day,

2pm in the afternoon — an ambulance was there. the boy hit the ambulance and died. now, police say that they were on the scene very quickly and were able to help and paramedics tried to save the boy's life, but the 15—year—old died. the force has now referred this incident to the iopc, which is a common thing to do whenever police have been involved in any incident, and the independent office for police conduct will launch their investigation. now the road has been reopened, flowers are being left there tonight, people have been coming down. it comes not long, of course, after the events in cardiff where two teenage boys died on and e—bike as well — that again is being investigated by the iopc. but the mood here very different to what was happening in cardiff, a very sombre mood. the family live incredibly close by to where this happened and are distraught at what has happened. greater manchester police

have offered their condolences to the boy. but as you can see, flowers being left at the scene here tonight. ukraine's president, volodymyr zelensky, has visited the flooding in the southern kherson region — and he's criticised the lack of help from international aid agencies. ukraine and russia have accused each other of attacking the dam, while rescuers are still trying to save people who are still trapped. our ukraine correspondentjames waterhouse sent this report. a visit with deliberate timing — president zelensky assessing another ukrainian trauma, an unfolding disaster in the middle of a war. he praised medical staff and promised them kherson would be rebuilt. but the russians can do deliberate too. a couple of hours later, the same area was shelled, with a near—miss for volunteers doing an already impossiblejob.

it's hard to picture an estimated four cubic miles of water until you're in it. victor and vitaly haven't stopped for two days, searching for people trapped. why don't you want to leave? they reply in ukrainian so they've said, "we so they've said, "we don't want to leave. "there are older people who can't get away. "give us your power banks," so they can charge devices. while the water levels have stabilised, they're still dauntingly high. so we're just now passing through two apartment blocks, and it feels like a strange theme park ride because of what we're having to weave through, and yet victor is asking people whether they want to be evacuated — no one yet has taken him up on that offer.

and why do you think people don't want to leave their home? because many people are stupid, you know? they think everything will be ok after maybe one day or two days. but it's not ok. every time, more water, more, more, more. when this finally recedes, you wonder what will be left. a war, an invasion by russia which takes everything. james waterhouse, bbc news, kherson. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. a pro—military pop star has died in hospital in myanmar after being shot by an alleged anti—regime gunman. the assassination of lily naing kyaw is the latest in a series of high—profile killings. in australia, the government plans to ban public displays and sales of nazi symbols. it said the move was prompted by a rise in far—right activity. the kenyan government says it has enough evidence to charge a cult leader

who convinced his followers to starve themselves and their children to death with genocide. at least 250 people are now known to have died since the cult's activities came to light in april, while a further 600 people are still missing. officials at the vatican say pope francis has spent a restful day, after undergoing surgery for a hernia on wednesday. the 86—year—old pontiff is expected to remain in the gemelli hospital in rome, convalescing, for up to a week. a spokesman said all tests had shown encouraging results, and all signs are positive. exam season is in full swing for many around the world — but the stakes are especially high for students in china, as they sit their national university exam known as "gaokao". it's the first in—person gaokao since the pandemic. this year, a record 12.3 million have signed up for the exam — the results of which can be

literally life—changing. let's speak now to someone who sat the exams seven years ago — aria deng joins us from beijing. thank you so much forjoining us on newsday. now i know it was a few years ago when you took those exams, but for our international audience especially, can you just explain how important and hard those exams are? you explain how important and hard those exams are?— explain how important and hard those exams are? you know, for me i felt like _ those exams are? you know, for me i felt like it _ those exams are? you know, for me i felt like it was _ those exams are? you know, for me i felt like it was kind - those exams are? you know, for me i felt like it was kind of- me i felt like it was kind of also about... where only the white coloured job is a decent job. and become a white collar, you need to have a good academic background, like a couege academic background, like a college degree. in the gaokao is the only way to get into the country pause �*stop universities, but i do feel like gaokao weighs less in

different areas — for example i'm working in beijing now, and i'm working in beijing now, and i do notice that as students and first—tier cities like beijing or shanghai, they are more likely to choose to study overseas where they have multiple choices. for students coming from places like my hometown, the gaokao can be there only ticket to big cities and more promising futures. so for most chinese students, the gaokao is very important and very hard. {iii gaokao is very important and very hard-— very hard. of course, and that's why _ very hard. of course, and that's why it's _ very hard. of course, and that's why it's often - very hard. of course, and| that's why it's often called life—changing — but how hard does everyone study? are we talking, how many hours a day in your case?— in your case? for most students, _ in your case? for most

students, i— in your case? for most students, i can - in your case? for most students, i can say - in your case? for most - students, i can say without any exaggeration that there are debts they are designated to follow the path of the gaokao firm before they were burned on the born. just before they were born. the process of studying for the exam is grueling. i had to get up at 6am and study until 11pm. to get up at 6am and study untiliipm. especially to get up at 6am and study until 11pm. especially in the last year of my high school, we practised exams almost every single week, and you could see books and exam papers piled up on everybody�*s desk, and i had to take excerpt lessons every day after school, and my grandpa even ran a house next to mine... grandpa even ran a house next to mine---_ to mine... there is a sharp rise in youth _ to mine... there is a sharpl rise in youth unemployment to mine... there is a sharp - rise in youth unemployment in china, one and five are now

unable to find work, does that where you could definitely, it's a very worrying sign. especially the economic downturn has brought more fear and security, and people are becoming more conservative recently so they tend to find a stable and well—paid job, which makes the gaokao even more competitive i think.— makes the gaokao even more competitive i think. thank you very much _ competitive i think. thank you very much for— competitive i think. thank you very much forjoining - competitive i think. thank you very much forjoining us - competitive i think. thank you very much forjoining us from | very much forjoining us from beijing, and good luck to all students sitting that exam. that's it for this edition of newsday, thank you so much for joining us, and do stay with us because i'll be back with business news shortly. hello. love it or loathe it,

a spell of very warm weather's upon us — but what will be less desirable, i think, is the level of humidity, which will become particularly noticeable over the weekend. one thing that we do need is rainfall, and we haven't had much of it recently, and we are expecting some showers and thunderstorms through the course of the weekend. let's have a look at the satellite picture — and you'll soon see the sun setting over the storm clouds here out towards the south. initially, these storms will be very well—scattered, so not many of us will actually get them. but it's that humid air to the south that'll start arriving, i think, friday night into saturday, and then through sunday. that'll also keep the nights really balmy, so some pleasantly warm evenings on the way, too, but quite sticky at night. so here's the forecast early on friday morning — cloudy skies across eastern scotland, eastern and central england. but out towards the west, it's sunshine, could be a few showers, maybe the odd thunderstorm across the southwest of england early in the morning. and then, through the

afternoon, it's pretty much what we've had in the last few days — so the cloud burns back to the coast, and just a few coastal strips there, hanging onto that cloud through the course of the afternoon, where it will be a little on the cool side. so maybe only 14 in newcastle and aberdeen, out towards the west, it's sunny and warmer, temperatures could be nudging up into the mid—to—high—20s in 1—2 spots on friday. then, friday night into saturday, this is the weather map, a weather front approaching — that'll spark off a few showers and thunderstorms during the day on saturday. starts off really sunny everywhere, but then, that risk of storms i think across parts of england and wales. some of the storms will bring torrential downpours, hail, and gusty winds — but very localised, and many of us will miss it altogether. temperatures low—to—mid—20s, high—20s in 1—2 spots — we could nudge up to 30 on saturday, which will be a little too hot for some. then saturday evening, look at that, at 10pm, temperatures could still be in the high teens, perhaps even in excess of 20 celsius

in bigger towns and cities. this is sunday's forecast — lots of sunshine right from the word go, and then, that increasing risk of showers and thunderstorms across some western areas. how about the temperatures? again, typically in the mid—to—high—20s, so warm enough for most of us. bye— bye.