very interesting story, meghan owen. _ august. very interesting story, meghan owen, thank - august.u for coming in and giving us more of those details the steps you have a similar story, get in contact with us here at bbc news, and we will return to that. the opening ceremony of the paralymic games is just an hour away — taking place tonight in paris. we saw a terrible weather for the un—pics open sermon, that is the backdrop there in paris this evening. about one hour away from organiser said it would be a spectacular set of games. there's a tremendous amount of excitement. the last time we had the paralympics in tokyo was without fans because of the pandemic and this time a big change, so stay with us because, as i say, we are 60 minutes away from that opening sermon he, and of course we have seen world leaders are ready gathering there in paris. we would have continuing coverage from the games here on bbc news through the next few hours. thank you for watching verify life today, see you at the same time tomorrow. goodbye. hello there. we've certainly seen some contrasting weather

our reporter meghan owen is there.t, we are meeting a couple of calls from finland. i will take it over to the red nose company. this is doggy hotel. studio: we are having all sorts of technical problems with edinburgh and the red knows company. we might have to return to meghan owen later. scientists were hoping to see the first full—engine test of a vertical rocket at the uk's new spaceport in shetland last night — but it didn't quite go to plan — as multiple engines exploded on the launch pad. the test was due to be carried out at the saxavord site on unst, the country's northernmost inhabited island. lorna gordon reports. the countdown to what should have been a final engine test on a rocket being readied for space. but moments after the ground—based test started, this. a plume of smoke and large flames shooting out sideways, then loud bangs as the entire structure was engulfed by fire. unst is britain's most northerly inhabited island. when it comes to space and safety, its remoteness is part of the attraction. sa

our reporter meghan owen has been soaking up the atmosphere. of edinburgh at the worlds largest performing arts. and here's one of the acts. i'm not kidding. every single one of them, really. it was not... every single one, i swear. 0k, ok, but you should have seen his face. he was all like. oh, that is spot on. you don't know him, but that is spot on. no, no, wait. it was more like. so i'm up there 20ft. it's not 20... no, no, no, no, no 30ft up there. hillbilly's basically wetting himself. he's pooping himself. yeah, yeah, pooping. that's what i meant to say. so i'm not even scared. not even a little bit. they play harmmonica. thanks so much, guys. and obviously, this is one of the acts that you can see at this year's fringe. and i've got my phone because it's a long title — a letter to lyndon bjohnson or god, whoever reads this first. now chloe and natasha is a physical theatre show about boy scouts becoming soldiers in the 1960s vietnamese war. so where's the inspiration come from? yeah, when we were coming up with this idea, we talked a lo

meghan owen in edinburgh. go to plan as multiple engines exploded at the launch. the test was carried out on first night, the country's most inhabited northern —— northerly island. what should have been the final test on a rocket bound for space built. —— for space. but then this. a plume of smoke and lodge flames shooting out sideways. then loud bangs as the entire structure was engulfed by fire. u nst unst is britain's most northerly inhabited island. its remoteness is part of the attraction. the spaceport said all safety protocols were observed and the site evacuated prior to yesterday's test. no staff were at risk. rocket testing and launches can be full with difficulty. the first ever satellite mission launched from the uk ended when a virgin orbitjumbojet mission launched from the uk ended when a virgin orbitjumbo jet flying out of cornwall lost the rocket it released horizontally after it suffered an anomaly. last year, the spacex starship spacecraft exploded minutes after liftoff. elon musk congratulat

meghan owen, bbc news.lth crisis has been set up in england. it's the first time a support service for mental health issues has been available, alongside the non—emergency iii numberfor physical illness and accidents. our health editor hugh pym has more. so where are you at the moment? are you on your own? it's a 24/7 service. callers to nhs iii in england can select a new option for mental health help. keep yourself safe for now, yeah? callers will be connected to a team of trained staff, like this one, including nurses and clinicians. they can refer to mental health support or treatment from the local services available. specialist mental health helplines were set up during the pandemic, but the new 111 option will make it easier to access and find the right support. we can arrange for a home treatment team, a crisis team, to come and see you at home, or for you to go and see them if that's safe. gemma's team is taking around 300 calls a day. we're always busy. it's never quiet. the phone doesn't stop rin

our reporter meghan owen is there. what have you got in store for us now?store for us now? .,, ,., ~ ., what have you got in store for us now? ., , , ., ~ . . now? lots in store. we are at the r0 al now? lots in store. we are at the royal mile _ now? lots in store. we are at the royal mile in _ now? lots in store. we are at the royal mile in the _ now? lots in store. we are at the royal mile in the heart _ now? lots in store. we are at the royal mile in the heart of - now? lots in store. we are at the i royal mile in the heart of edinburgh and it is getting incredibly busy and it is getting incredibly busy and i think it might be to do with the fact the sun has come out for the fact the sun has come out for the first time in the last two days. we will speak to some of the performers at the largest festival for arts in the world. i am joined by lucy, performing party girl, rock and roll monologue based on your experience of being a children's entertainer. i was a fairy attack kids party in sydney australia, i had a lot of stories to turn into a one—woman tha

my colleague meghan owen is in edinburgh and has been speaking with some of this year's performers. we have been speaking to performers from around the world and we are now going to speak to a couple of clowns from finland. i will take it over to the red nose company. taste finland. i will take it over to the red nose company.— finland. i will take it over to the red nose company. we are going to resent red nose company. we are going to present you — red nose company. we are going to present you the _ red nose company. we are going to present you the magnificent - red nose company. we are going to present you the magnificent story l present you the magnificent story # of don quixote and his loyal companion, sancho panza stop i get to play the epic role of don quixote because i am the tall one. he is idealfor the part because i am the tall one. he is ideal for the part because because i am the tall one. he is idealfor the part because don quixote is by no means a young hero. 50 years old, so practically dead. but very handsome, either. mostly skin and bones. here we see him. in the b

our reporter meghan owen is there.r ago, i cannot wait to see what you have got for us. ., ., . ., cannot wait to see what you have got for us. ., ., _, ., cannot wait to see what you have got forus. ., ., ., ., for us. from flamenco to acrobatics. we are in the — for us. from flamenco to acrobatics. we are in the centre _ for us. from flamenco to acrobatics. we are in the centre of _ for us. from flamenco to acrobatics. we are in the centre of edinburgh, . we are in the centre of edinburgh, you can see the beautiful buildings of the university behind us. but also the posters of the artists performing. as you mentioned they came from all over the world, including canada. this duo are from montreal. i willjust hand over to you guys. we montreal. i will 'ust hand over to ou cu s. ~ ., montreal. i will 'ust hand over to ou cu s. ~ . ., montreal. i will 'ust hand over to ouuus. . ., ., montreal. i will 'ust hand over to ouuus. . ., , you guys. we are a circus duo. he is the base and — you guys. we are a circus duo. he is t

our reporter meghan owen has spent the day there. we're at edinburgh festival fringe. performers from around 58 countries, but also some local scottish performers as well. so there's a huge variety here, including, of course, cabaret. we're by this gorgeous poster ofjanie dee, an olivier award winning cabaret theatre actress, and i'm pleased to say that the real janiejoins me now. hi. and what does the fringe mean to you and why is it so special? it's special because the whole world comes here. it's also special because it creates more rubbish probably than any other festival because it's the largest festival. and i felt that it went with this climate and this time that we're in where nature is, has been decreed dying by the government, by the environment, department of environment. and we... i wanted to celebrate nature in a performative way, but without a fourth wall, so that i could be with the audience. i could have fun with the audience. i could ignite them to think they have power to, as individuals, like i'm trying and making loads of mistakes. but mistakes are

meghan owen, bbc news.calling nhs111. it's the first time services around the country have been brought together and made accessible through one simple number. our health editor hugh pym has more. so, where are you at the moment? are you on your own? it's a 24/7 service. callers to nhs111 in england can select a new option for mental health help. keep yourself safe for now, yeah? callers will be connected to a team of trained staff like this one, including nurses and clinicians. they can refer to mental health support or treatment from the local services available. specialist mental health helplines were set up during the pandemic, but the new 111 option will make it easier to access and find the right support. we can arrange for a home treatment team, a crisis team, to come and see you at home, or for you to go and see them if that's safe. gemma's team is taking around 300 calls a day. we are always busy. it's never quiet. this phone doesn't stop ringing, ever. we are trying to make the system as easy as w

30—year—old confirming his retirement from the sport in a bitter—sweet interview with the bbc's meghan owentalk about. it's emotional. we are so proud. the whole of the uk are so proud of you. and it's so amazing to have you back with your silver medal. you must just feel so proud of yourself. yeah, i am. just feel so proud of yourself. yeah, lam. yeah. it's really just feel so proud of yourself. yeah, i am. yeah. it's really hard to talk about. but it's, you know, i have to hang it up sometime. so, yeah. i'm very proud. you have to hang it up sometime. so, yeah. i'm very proud.— have to hang it up sometime. so, yeah. i'm very proud. you should be. just now yeah. i'm very proud. you should be. just now that — yeah. i'm very proud. you should be. just now that you _ yeah. i'm very proud. you should be. just now that you are _ yeah. i'm very proud. you should be. just now that you are back, _ yeah. i'm very proud. you should be. just now that you are back, what - yeah. i'm very proud. you should be. just now that you are back, what is l just now that you are back, what is the first thing that

our reporter meghan owen is there.the kung fu dance and circus to give us a taster of their show. this is recreating the classical lion dance and chinese opera is contemporary performance. i am joined by the artistic director. thank you forjoining us. talk to me about the act and what you are bringing to edinburgh fringe. this show we off _ bringing to edinburgh fringe. this show we off as — bringing to edinburgh fringe. this show we off as solo in 2016 and now we have _ show we off as solo in 2016 and now we have ten— show we off as solo in 2016 and now we have ten performers in edinburgh. i we have ten performers in edinburgh. i borrowed _ we have ten performers in edinburgh. i borrowed the philosophy from hong kon- i borrowed the philosophy from hong kong kung fu master bruce lee to question— kong kung fu master bruce lee to question about performing arts and to question about performance styles and how _ to question about performance styles and how do— to question about performance styles and how do we express ours

our reporter meghan owen has spent the day there and caught up with the black blues brothers.he black blues brothers, a special take on the film. just tell me, what do you hope to bring to edinburgh fringe and what is you programme all about? find what is you programme all about? and its what is you programme all about? jifuc its theatrical show. what is you programme all about? a"ic its theatrical show. we what is you programme all about? aic its theatrical show. we use data what is you programme all about? a"ic its theatrical show. we use data but its theatrical show. we use data but it tells a story for them it has a story line. we addressed, when we start the show, we want to be like the blues brothers because we just like working in the club. something like working in the club. something like that. then we have to close and we want to be like the blues brothers. we want to be like the blues lmothers-— we want to be like the blues brothers. ., , ., . . brothers. you performed at the royal varie , brothers. you performed at the royal variety, at moulin _ brothers. you perfor

our reporter, meghan owen, is there. over to you. yes, it is the world's laruest over to you. _ over to you. yes, it is the world's largest arts festival and _ over to you. yes, it is the world's largest arts festival and there - over to you. yes, it is the world's largest arts festival and there are | largest arts festival and there are performers from 58 countries from around the world, but i think what makes edinburgh fringe festival so special is you have huge venues, huge artists, but also tiny music venues, lots of free performances in little bars and cafe is around the city and we are in one of those bars now. it is called home bar on the outskirts of the centre and i am joined by stephanie, who is an opera singerfrom colorado. thank you joined by stephanie, who is an opera singer from colorado. thank you for joining us. talk to us about your act. what is it all about? mr; joining us. talk to us about your act. what is it all about? my show is called it — act. what is it all about? my show is called 11 lessons _ act. what is it all about? my show is called 11 lessons on

our reporter meghan owen has more.e—mails with cancellations or being forced to cancel their bookings. so i've actually got one e—mail here that was sent from fans, and it's from a hotel near heaton park. and it says that due to a technical problem, they have asked fans to confirm a cancellation request, which has left obviously lots incredibly disappointed. now, the greater manchester night—time economy adviser has taken to x, urging the hotel to do the right thing, and it is interesting. if you look at that thread on x, there is a lot of very disappointed fans. i'm just going to read out some of the comments. so, one person said, "i'm raging that they have done this. i booked even before the gig announcement. this is sheer greed." another said that, "i am one of them, and that price has now trebled." another has said, "they have unfortunately had quite a few convenient technical errors today." i spoke to one fan from wales who booked immediately after hearing the announcement, but received the same e—mail. it's unbel

our reporter meghan owen is there for us. out here but it hasn't damaged the spirit says it is clearly very busy. everyone is really enjoying the evening atmosphere here. we've been speaking to performers from around the world. it's the world's largest performing arts festival, and now i am joined by ruben k all the way from australia. thank you. sorry to drag you out here. australia. thank you. sorry to drag you out here-— you out here. no, i love it it's. it's me you out here. no, i love it it's. it's me and — you out here. no, i love it it's. it's me and the _ you out here. no, i love it it's. it's me and the natural- you out here. no, i love it it's. - it's me and the natural environment. turns— it's me and the natural environment. turns out— it's me and the natural environment. turns out god really is angry at me. for some _ turns out god really is angry at me. for some reason. who knows why. how is your fringe going so far? me’oe is your fringe going so far? we've 'ust been is your fringe going so far? we've just been n

our reporter meghan owen is there. hello. hello. yes, we have seen so many acts— hello. hello.coming from all over the world. let us not forget that there are tiny live venues all across edinburgh. this flamenco tapas bar is only one of them. it is in full swing, here. we have to tear and lunch service ever way —— under way. let us talk to the owner of the tapas bar. let us talk to the owner of the tapas bar-— let us talk to the owner of the ta as bar. ., ,, i. _, let us talk to the owner of the taas bar. ., ,, i. _, m tapas bar. thank you, welcome. we can then perform — tapas bar. thank you, welcome. we can then perform is _ tapas bar. thank you, welcome. we can then perform is warming - tapas bar. thank you, welcome. we can then perform is warming up - tapas bar. thank you, welcome. we can then perform is warming up in l can then perform is warming up in the background. august is huge for you as a business. we the background. august is huge for you as a business.— the background. august is huge for you as a business. we are in a quiet street. you as a business. we are in a qu

meghan owen has this report. i still really don't believe it's happened.'ve always believed in fairness, and it doesn't seem fair that years and years after the equal pay act came in, when i was actually at school, that women were still earning less than men for similar roles. and, i'm a pensioner now, and it's unbelievable that we've had to wait until now for someone to actually recognise that our role is as valuable as a similar role for a man. the tribunal ruled that next failed to prove that paying their store workers, 82% of whom are currently women, a lower basic hourly rate than warehouse workers, was not sex discrimination. the claimants argued that the difference in basic hourly pay ranges from a0p to £3.13, although next disputes this range. on average, each retail worker has lost more than £6,000. their payout could cost next around £30 million. next is planning to appeal. there are key legal principles at stake here. they say that the tribunal rejected the majority of the claims, but they lost on the key terms that matter to the retail workers.