the united state's highest court, the supreme court, struck down a decades—old, contentious policy in university admissions known as affirmative action. the ruling determined that race—conscious admissions programmes at harvard and the university of north carolina violated the constitution�*s guarantee of equal protection, handing conservative activists a major victory. writing for the majority, supreme court chiefjustice john roberts wrote that: butjustice sonia sotomayor, who authored the dissent, asserted that the decision rolls back decades of precedent and progress. in the dissenting opinion, sotomayor wrote that: "despite the court's unjustified exercise of power, "the opinion today will serve

only to highlight the court's "own impotence in the fact of an america whose cries "for equality resound." meanwhile, presidentjoe biden called the ruling a "severe disappointment." here's more of what he had to say: i believe that while talent, creativity and hard work everywhere in the country, not equal opportunity. it is not everywhere in this country. we can't let the decision be the last word. earlier i spoke to us secretary of education miguel cardona on the impact of today's decision. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. you've written today puzzling decision was that the country back decades.- country back decades. what im act country back decades. what impact do — country back decades. what impact do you _ country back decades. what impact do you think - country back decades. what impact do you think it'll - country back decades. what| impact do you think it'll have couege impact do you think it'll have college admissions? physicians today took away a very important to all that university leaders to ensure diversity on campus. students learn best in a diverse learning environment and the supreme court decision took the tool away. but what it did not take away is the intent to ensure leaders across the country that our colleges are

made up of beautifully diverse students, much like our country is. �* , students, much like our country is. v . ~ students, much like our country is. let's talk about the content _ is. let's talk about the content because - is. let's talk about the content because the i is. let's talk about the - content because the president as been know strongly disagrees with the court decision and instructed you to look at ways to look at ways student bodies remain diverse.— remain diverse. what we look at? as the — remain diverse. what we look at? as the president - remain diverse. what we look at? as the president said - at? as the president said earlier today we won't let the decision be last word. we are committed more than ever as a latino first—generation college student, i get home what it is to ensure people that don't come from privileged or wealth have access and unfortunately there are inequities in our systems that we are working really hard to address. what we will be doing at the department of education in the coming days and weeks is within 45 days we will have guidance available to the presidents of universities across the country about what this decision means and what it does not mean. i think it's really important we see what is and what is not in the

decision. injuly will convene decision. in july will convene a decision. injuly will convene a national summit of educational opportunity for couege educational opportunity for college leaders and thought partners across the country, responding to the decision that was made today. in september we will release and publish a report that is promising practices on college admissions to ensure we are learning from another, staying true to the admission of making sure all students in our country have opportunities to succeed. i want ask about what the plaintiffs have said. plaintiffs for students preferred admissions who argued and affirmative action, here is what one, calvin young, said. the victory transcends far gone to those of us sitting in this room. it belongs to the overachieving son of a recently unemployed west virginia coalminer. it belongs to those with the last names of smith warlley, chan gonzalez. it

belongs to all of those who deserve a chance but can now rejoice over the fact that least arkitsa can bejudged based on their achievements and merits alone.— merits alone. what you say to mm: merits alone. what you say to young people _ merits alone. what you say to young people who _ merits alone. what you say to young people who argued - merits alone. what you say to young people who argued andj young people who argued and this practice? i young people who argued and this practice?— this practice? i respect different _ this practice? i respect different perspectives l this practice? i respect i different perspectives and recognise that the perspective of others should be taken into account, but if the field well account, but if the field well a level playing field, i could see that. if some people didn't have to work twice as hard to make it to the starting block, i would get that, but at our country unfortunately as the president said there are still discrimination. we still have outcomes that are different based on race and place, so we have a lot of work to do. i think affirmative action was one tool that level the playing field and i still believe that we have responsibility to make sure that our campuses are

diverse because learning is better in environments that are diverse. i better in environments that are diverse. ., ., ,~ better in environments that are diverse. ., ., ., ., diverse. i want ask about that because the _ diverse. i want ask about that because the question - diverse. i want ask about that because the question that's . because the question that's come from the plaintiffs is sure that happened at the expense of other groups like asian americans?— expense of other groups like asian americans? no, of course, all students _ asian americans? no, of course, all students should _ asian americans? no, of course, all students should have - asian americans? no, of course, all students should have an - all students should have an opportunity to succeed at high levels. what is happening and if you look at our country's history there are students that have been marginalised more, who have not had that opportunity and the tools that provide that levelling. i do agree that all students should have the opportunity. historically we have not had that everywhere in the united states which is why affirmative action is so important. one is repealed in 1996 in california, taken down, the number of black and brown students that attended some of those top universities plummeted by 50% and there is been some improvement but has not fully recovered. it is intended for some of these marginalised groups that are not evident as

well and colleges even with affirmative action. we well and colleges even with affirmative action.- affirmative action. we have numbers — affirmative action. we have numbers from _ affirmative action. we have numbers from the - affirmative action. we have numbers from the state - affirmative action. we have numbers from the state of| numbers from the state of michigan with the new times reporting that after it banned a race conscious admissions in 2006 black undergraduate enrolment acquired at the university of michigan and the shara proctor students fell to 4% in 2021 from 7% in 2006. what do universities concretely do to maintain diversity in student bodies?— do to maintain diversity in student bodies? thank you for shafinu student bodies? thank you for sharing the — student bodies? thank you for sharing the michigan - student bodies? thank you for sharing the michigan data - student bodies? thank you for sharing the michigan data and | sharing the michigan data and we have to you protect our institutions to prevent that slide across the country. what message are we sending to our students when we see there had less opportunity to access? we will work really hard today, the decision came out a couple of hours ago and we will look at what it does and does not say, look for opportunities for couege say, look for opportunities for college presidents and board of trustees to come together around best practices, provide, as you have the presidency earlier, the ability of

colleges to take in, whether it's colleges to take in, whether its students' essay on adversity. they can be taken into account. we will have an exhaustive process to ensure we take into account the best practices across the country, publish those and continue to push to make sure adversity is realised on campuses and a message to students and families paying attention. we will not stop fighting for you. the biden—harris ticket, department education recognise the importance of this and we wanted to know we need you on our campuses, we want you to apply, want to see you on couege apply, want to see you on college campuses when it's your term and we will support 100%. secretary, thank you for joining us. it's been great speaking with you. i also spoke with republican congressman ken buck, he told us he welcomes the court's ruling. universities have a responsibility each. that's what they have an opportunity, responsibility to do, and teach

the best students with the best professors in the best way. they don't have a responsibility to correct the ills of a secondary education system that is at fault for the racial inequality that we see amongst students applying to universities and they certainly don't have a responsibility to discriminate against one racial group. because they are trying to foster this false idea that there is some sort of equality in grades by admitting various racial groups to colleges. that's a very dangerous path for us to go down. we've been on the wrong path, we should make sure we have a race neutral admissions process at universities. taste neutral admissions process at universities-— universities. we will have the full interview _ universities. we will have the full interview with _ universities. we will have the i full interview with congressman but in the next hour. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news — bringing

you different stories from across the uk. she was possibly the most vibrant, lovely, fun, outgoing sister and girl anybody could ever meet. she was so much fun, best friend. max with his parents and a good friend at their home in nailsea. three years on, and billie is always in their thoughts. they've set up a trust and, together with friends, are constantly fundraising to make sure billie won't be forgotten. it's here at southmead hospital that billie died from a brain aneurysm with complications. some of that money raised will fund two new researchers. we have been working on the gene that could potentially be responsible for causing this condition, and hoping that it will then translate to a clinical outcome in order to reduce the risk. billie's family are determined that the fundraising won't stop here. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website.

you're live with bbc news. now back to our top story. the supreme court's decision to strike down race—conscious practices in university admissions has brought forth both celebration and criticism. the president of the asian—american coalition for education, yukong zhao, told the bbc that, quote: "this "decision will preserve meritocracy, which is "the bedrock of the american dream." harvard university, one of the schools the court ruled against, has also issued a statement, reiterating their commitment to cultivating a vibrant community in compliance with the court's decision. quote: "in the weeks and months ahead, drawing on the talent "and expertise of our harvard community, we will determine "how to preserve, consistent with the court's new precedent, "our essential values." we have a terrific panel to break all of this down. joining me now is lia epperson, professor of law at american university washington college

of law, formerly with the naacp legal defence and educational fund akayla gardner, bloomberg white house correspondent and shan wu, formerfederal prosecutor. good evening and great have you. ifirst good evening and great have you. i first what your thoughts on the ruling we saw today. i am definitely watching the white house reaction today with president biden giving a national address after the ruling to show how much he is committed to diversity in his own words. something that was interesting as we really saw the white house with a quick response and that's much different than roe v wade when they face a lot of criticism for being slow to the decision and we are told president biden has been meeting with civil rights organisations, legal organisations and universities for months in preparation for the decision. that seemed to really inform some of the responses and one is the justice department and department of education have said they will provide guidance to universities about what is still lawful in terms of administration practices in the next 45 days and second, they are urging colleges to consider

three factors. one is a student's high school education, financial means and personal experience including with racial discrimination act. they definitely showed a front that they are prepared, committed to diversity and willing to find ways around the decision. ~ �* _, ,., . ~ decision. we'll come back to the white — decision. we'll come back to the white house _ decision. we'll come back to the white house position - decision. we'll come back to | the white house position but decision. we'll come back to - the white house position but we are, i want to attack. mas the white house position but we are, i want to attack.— are, i want to attack. was the rulin: a are, i want to attack. was the ruling a surprise? _ are, i want to attack. was the ruling a surprise? it _ are, i want to attack. was the ruling a surprise? it was - are, i want to attack. was the ruling a surprise? it was not l ruling a surprise? it was not necessarily surprising. one point akayla gardner makes it's important as this is a court irrefutably supported the notion that diversity is a commendable goal so they laid that out but in doing so removed the tools that are most useful for colleges and universities to do so, so the wording of position actually leaves open the ability for colleges and universities to take account of a student's lived experience but they have removed most beneficial tools colleges and universities have used for some time and they did so under the guise of adherence

to colourblindness. as adherence however is a bit ahistorical we look at the history of the 14th amendment as well as the true meaning of brown versus what of education, something thatjustice roberts something that justice roberts was something thatjustice roberts was using quite a bit in his speech. i was using quite a bit in his seech. ., i. . a was using quite a bit in his seech. ., i. . .,, speech. i want your check as well because _ speech. i want your check as well because the _ speech. i want your check as well because the chief- speech. i want your check as | well because the chiefjustice wrote harvard's admission process races on the stereotype a black student can usually bring something a white person cannot offer, as clarence thomas is that these programmes are unconstitutional. share thomas is that these programmes are unconstitutional.— are unconstitutional. are they? i don't are unconstitutional. are they? i don't think— are unconstitutional. are they? i don't think they _ are unconstitutional. are they? i don't think they are _ are unconstitutional. are they? i don't think they are that - are unconstitutional. are they? i don't think they are that the l i don't think they are that the court — i don't think they are that the court has _ i don't think they are that the court has no real to say they are in— court has no real to say they are in this _ court has no real to say they are in this form. i was particularly struck and we talked _ particularly struck and we talked about this before, about thomas— talked about this before, about thomas being so bold in his concurring opinion to lay out his decades long views on how racism — his decades long views on how racism should and should not be addressed in the country, and my immediate take on the opinion— my immediate take on the opinion was the legal nuances asidel — opinion was the legal nuances aside, it— opinion was the legal nuances aside, it struck me this is

more _ aside, it struck me this is more of— aside, it struck me this is more of this court engaging in social— more of this court engaging in social engineering, that they believe — social engineering, that they believe they are the last word on how— believe they are the last word on how society and structure should — on how society and structure should work and while does not matter~ — should work and while does not matter. . ., , matter. the court set affirmative _ matter. the court set affirmative action - matter. the court set affirmative action is l matter. the court set - affirmative action is social engineering, correct? wright and thomas _ engineering, correct? wright and thomas pozner - engineering, correct? wright and thomas pozner opinion | engineering, correct? wright - and thomas pozner opinion talks about— and thomas pozner opinion talks about how— and thomas pozner opinion talks about how race itself is a social— about how race itself is a social construct, it's not really _ social construct, it's not really something you should pay attention to, and all of that takes — attention to, and all of that takes place in a very ahistorical background. the whole — ahistorical background. the whole purpose of the 14th amendment, if the constitution left all— amendment, if the constitution left all to— amendment, if the constitution left all to itself was so happily colourblind and everything was fine, you wouldn't have needed the 14th amendment.— wouldn't have needed the 14th amendment. ., amendment. akayla gardner, back to ou amendment. akayla gardner, back to you because _ amendment. akayla gardner, back to you because the _ amendment. akayla gardner, back to you because the white - amendment. akayla gardner, back to you because the white house, | to you because the white house, president biden says this is a severe disappointment but the white house was also preparing for the ruling and as you said they have asked the education department and justice department and justice department to issue guidance and 45 days. what you think the biden administration wants to see happen? tel biden administration wants to see happen?— biden administration wants to see ha en? �* , , see happen? telaviv university is to rive see happen? telaviv university is to give indication _ see happen? telaviv university is to give indication of _

see happen? telaviv university is to give indication of that - is to give indication of that they will still continue to prioritise diversity. something biden said today was america are's strength remains in its diversity and he has tried to demonstrate that in his own cabinet. we've seen historic first from the chief economist to vice—president so he has tried to show that, so is looking for a confirmation here that they will still prioritise this in some way. do you think there is a way to circumvent the ruling? the chiefjustice said that if a student writes an essay and mentions his or her background in that essay that is allowed that it should not be used for selective admissions.- selective admissions. that is ri . ht. selective admissions. that is right- the — selective admissions. that is right. the reality _ selective admissions. that is right. the reality is - selective admissions. that is right. the reality is we - selective admissions. that is| right. the reality is we cannot embrace race. for a student to create an application that would be devoid of their lived experience, informed by their race or ethnicity or national origin is folly and it is really impossible to do. i

think that was discussed during oral arguments for both cases, that this is something that would be necessary. so even separate, i don't put too much purchase with the opinion of justice thomas because it is a concurrence but in terms of what the majority says, they do look to the notion of diversity as being a commendable goal but the court, and maybe this gets your point, the court speaks about, really, an issue of their own competence. the competence of the court to determine and measure when a couege determine and measure when a college or university has reached this goal of enhancing student body diversity. the reality is that that is a change that historically the court has said in the president for the 45 years that colleges and universities do have a right to use race conscious measures to achieve diversity and they have, quite frankly the academic freedom to say a couege the academic freedom to say a college university is best suited to determine how to do

so. know what we have is a situation where about 230 pages of opinion so everyone is passing it out and digesting it and to michaela's point it will take 45 days before universities and colleges can begin to look at what to do and understand how to comply with the law and that is historically the role of the department of education and the department of education and the department of education and the department ofjustice to issue guidance in situations like this. as, guidance in situations like this. �* ., ., , , this. a quick follow-up, this has been — this. a quick follow-up, this has been a _ this. a quick follow-up, this has been a president - this. a quick follow-up, this has been a president but. has been a president but affirmative action has also been chipped away by courts in recent years. why do you think that we have seen this ruling now? in that we have seen this ruling now? , ., , ., now? in terms of why we have seen this _ now? in terms of why we have seen this ruling _ now? in terms of why we have seen this ruling now _ now? in terms of why we have seen this ruling now there - now? in terms of why we have seen this ruling now there is i now? in terms of why we have seen this ruling now there is a| seen this ruling now there is a lot of opining about the roberts court and i think it is safe to say that we are at a time now with a clear majority of the court that is poised to be a lot more comfortable with, initial period of time, overturning historic precedent. this or that last term and we saw at this time and there are certain areas which we have seen that happen quickly. in

the realm of reproductive justice and in respect to affirmative action in this term. ., ., ., term. your thoughts? looking at the trajectory — term. your thoughts? looking at the trajectory of _ term. your thoughts? looking at the trajectory of the _ term. your thoughts? looking at the trajectory of the court - term. your thoughts? looking at the trajectory of the court you i the trajectory of the court you could — the trajectory of the court you could almost see it as some earlier— could almost see it as some earlier opinions this week, they— earlier opinions this week, they would not uphold the legislature idea, northe voting _ legislature idea, northe voting rights case. it is almost _ voting rights case. it is almost like you could see robert's hand there trying to make — robert's hand there trying to make the court a little more powerful _ make the court a little more powerful because the stuff they really _ powerful because the stuff they really care about, the core conservative stuff is things like — conservative stuff is things like affirmative action. they have — like affirmative action. they have worked decades to get judges _ have worked decades to get judges in place and justices in place — judges in place and justices in place where they can finally make — place where they can finally make these moves.- make these moves. likely tomorrow _ make these moves. likely tomorrow we _ make these moves. likely tomorrow we will - make these moves. likely tomorrow we will see - make these moves. likely - tomorrow we will see decision come down on president biden student that makes student debt relief programme. do you the report will strike this down as well and what plan does the biden administration have in place to make good on this promise to students was debt relief? i promise to students was debt relief? ., �* ., .,

relief? i don't want to get into predictions _ relief? i don't want to get into predictions but - relief? i don't want to get into predictions but there | relief? i don't want to get l into predictions but there is legal experts i have spoken to and i welcome your thoughts as well, that believe that the roberts court will strike this down. there is also a chance that the case could not have merit and that could yield a different outcome here. but he has definitely faced president biden, has definitely placed pressure from advocates and progressives to come up with some kind of plan b. certain groups say that failure is not an option here in the president made this promise on the campaign trailand made this promise on the campaign trail and they want him to find some alternative way to deliver that in one option that people have said is to basically reintroduce the plan under another law which will be the higher education act and we do not know if that would be even legal after the decision from the supreme court tomorrow. . ., , decision from the supreme court tomorrow-— tomorrow. predictions for tomorrow? _ tomorrow. predictions for tomorrow? i— tomorrow. predictions for tomorrow? iwill- tomorrow. predictions for tomorrow? i will stay - tomorrow. predictions for tomorrow? i will stay out | tomorrow. predictions for l tomorrow? i will stay out of that — tomorrow? i will stay out of that game as well. it remains to be — that game as well. it remains to be seen but i think as said there — to be seen but i think as said there are _ to be seen but i think as said there are signs pointing in

particular directions but we really— particular directions but we really do not know with this call~ — really do not know with this call~ i— really do not know with this call. i think the better description was that there are these — description was that there are these key areas in which the court — these key areas in which the court is _ these key areas in which the court is moving in a particular direction _ court is moving in a particular direction and there is some nuance _ direction and there is some nuance with other cases so we cannot — nuance with other cases so we cannot assume that there will be a — cannot assume that there will be a 63 — cannot assume that there will be a 63 block in every decision.— be a 63 block in every decision. ., ., ~ ., ,., be a 63 block in every decision. ., ., decision. looking at both of these decisions _ decision. looking at both of these decisions and - decision. looking at both of these decisions and in - these decisions and in particular the affirmative action ruling today, how do you think this could affect aspects and sectors beyond education? for example diversity in the business sector could also be taken to the court.— taken to the court. that is a little different _ taken to the court. that is a little different to _ taken to the court. that is a little different to a - little different to a institution versus private institutions. but the bigger message here is that the court, back to my social engineering concern, to me they are saying that we are ok now, we have done thejob to that we are ok now, we have done the job to remedy past injustices and now if you continue to use the same tools you run afoul of the constitution. that allows them

to continue much assembled other courts and organisations, to continue down the road, for example, some of the high schools in virginia that have been the subject of challenge for admissions, they are trying to say that even if it is racially neutral, if the effect is not it could still want to follow the constitution so i think it opens the door to many more challenges in the future. so even for racial and diversity inclusion programmes? yes, i think so. and diversity inclusion programmes? yes, ithink so. and i diversity inclusion programmes? yes, i think so. and i think thatis yes, i think so. and i think that is reflective of a societal controversy right now over dia programmes and i think people are using the law to push particular activist defenders but they are going to be reflections of what you see in terms of societal conflict and this does give them a legal platform. i and this does give them a legal latform. , . ., platform. i wish we could continue _ platform. i wish we could continue this _ platform. i wish we could| continue this conversation platform. i wish we could - continue this conversation but we have run out of time. thank you so much for sharing insights with us. it is a fascinating conversation and we will see what comes next with the supreme court ruling.

france has deployed 40,000 police officers as the country enters its third night of protests and violence after a 17—year—old boy named as nahel m was killed during a traffic stop in a paris suburb on tuesday. there have been few signs of de—escalation in nanterre, the paris suburb where nahel was shot. protesters there torched cars, barricade streets and hurled projectiles. violence has been reported across the country this evening, including in the cities of marseille and nantes, and even across the border in belgium. so far tonight, at least 100 people have been arrested, according to the country's interior minister. our paris correspondent lucy williamson sent this report from paris. in nanterre today, thousands gathered to mark the void left by one local teenager and the rage that flowed in to fill it. the violence here last night still mapped onto the surrounding streets in ash and debris. nahel�*s mother leading a chant of "police assassins."

evan came from a suburb on the other side of paris but the problems there were just the same, he said. translation: we don't have jobs, we don't get hired - if we don't lie on our cv. there is nothing for us. we feel abandoned. and on top of that we get attacked by the people supposed to protect us. this is one offence too many. the march ended this afternoon in a different kind of protest — burning cars, tear gas, clashes with police. one local resident told us her own teenage son had been mistreated by police and that the violence following nahel�*s death was justified. translation: i wouldn't be surprised if the trouble - continues as long as there are no consequences for this police officer. i'm not in the heads of the young people, but what happens here is justified. the police are the delinquents here, not our youth. parents are doing

everything they can. the officer is now in custody and facing a charge of voluntary homicide. france's interior minister said it was time for the violence to stop. translation: last night's riots and burning a school, _ a town hall, a social centre, has nothing to do with what happened in nanterre. those responsible for the troubles should now go home. but no—one we spoke to in nanterre thought the anger here had run its course. what's fuelling these fires isn'tjust rubbish bins and vehicles but decades of frustration with the french state. nahel�*s death triggers wider feelings of grievance, betrayal, inequality and smouldering cars gets the attention of france's leaders in a way smouldering resentments rarely do. thousands of extra police were deployed across the paris region last night. tonight, those numbers are being multiplied again — symbols of the state providing extra security and extra targets.

we will have more on the landmark supreme court decision to strike down affirmative action in the next hour with a republican and democrat view. thank you for watching, stay with us. hello there. at the moment, the weather seems to be changing quite a lot, really from one day to the next. on thursday, we were in cooler, fresher air with some sunshine, a few showers for northern parts of the uk. but on friday the weather's going to look and feel quite different. there'll be a lot of cloud heading our way. it's going to be bringing a bit of rain and drizzle and it will feel more humid as well. and we've seen that cloud beginning to push in on a westerly breeze coming in from the atlantic into western parts of the uk and the cloud will continue to thicken, particularly on those weather fronts which will bring the rain in from the west. but we could start the day with some early sunshine across eastern scotland and eastern england.

don't think it's going to last too long. the cloud continues to stream in on that westerly breeze and it's thick enough to give it a little light rain or drizzle here and there. perhaps things turning a bit wetter through the day in northern parts of northern ireland and into scotland as well. and those temperatures are going to struggle with that cloudy, muggy air, 18 degrees widely, perhaps a little bit higher than that in east anglia and the south east, but nothing special at all. we're going to find those weather fronts taking the thicker cloud and the rain and drizzle away in time for the weekend. and then around that area of low pressure, we've got the winds coming in from the west or northwest and it could be quite blustery through the weekend. strongest winds across northern areas. this is where we're going to find the showers. it'll be sunnier and a bit warmer further south where the winds won't be quite as strong for many. southern parts of the uk may well be a dry day on saturday, with sunny spells further north for northern ireland. also across northern england,

southern scotland, more frequent showers in the north and west of the country where it will be particularly windy and temperatures may be only reaching 16 degrees in glasgow, warm in the sunshine across the east midlands, east anglia and the south—east. 2a degrees here. not too bad at all. second half of the weekend, not too many changes. still some stronger winds in the north. we've got showers, perhaps longer spells of rain in scotland, a few showers for northern ireland and northern england. but further south, better chance of staying dry again and those temperatures getting into the low 20s. so we've got a real difference north south over the weekend heading into next week. it's not a classic summer weather pattern because low pressure is going to be dominating that will bring some showers or longer spells of rain, particularly in the west.

the us economy continues the us economy continues to show signs of resilience to show signs of resilience despite expectations a recession might be despite expectations a recession might be on the way. on the way. we take a closer look at the chinese yuan and japanese yen, two currencies that have been weakening in recent months. hi there. welcome to the asia business report with me, marika oi. we start in the united states

where revised data shows