Continue across the world. In business, france to slash taxes again next year to tackle what the finance minister calls a social crisis. Are president macrons economic reform plans now out of the window . A warm welcome to the programme, briefing you on all you need to know in global news, business and sport. And you can be part of the conversation. Japan airlines has announced that customers will now be able to see where small children are located when they book their seats so that they can choose to sit further away. Do you think all airlines should take this up . What other things might you like to see highlighted before you selected a seat . Tell us what you think, just use the hashtag bbcthebriefing. Hello there. Senior us democrats say a whistleblowers letter which has been made public proves that donald trump tried to cover up details of a phone call he had with the president of ukraine. In the call, mr trump pushed for the Ukrainian Government to help smearjoe biden, his leading rival in next years us president ial election. Mr trump denies exerting improper pressure, but the call has triggered an impeachment inquiry against him and evidence to congress, on thursday, from americas acting director of national intelligence. David willis reports. A beleaguered President Donald Trump returned to the white house last night, even by the breathless standards of his administration, the last few days have been particularly tumultuous. A whistleblower report maintains not only that mr trump misused to the office of president for personal gain but that white house officials, alarmed by his request for dirt on democratic rival joe biden, then sought to bury the evidence. In the days following the phone call, i learned from multiple us officials, that senior white house officials had intervened to lockdown all records of the phone call, the whistleblower rights, especially the official word for word transcript of the call. This underscored to me that white house officials understood the gravity of what had transpired in the call. President donald trump, seen here with mr zielinski earlier in the week, has lashed out publicly and privately. At a closed door event in new york, he suggested white house staff who spoke about the telephone conversation should be seen as traitors. Democrats in the house of representatives launched a formal impeachment enquiry earlier this week. On capitol hill, the battle lines are being drawn along party lines. This phone call is a nothing burger in terms of a quid pro quo. The president of the United States did not remotely suggest to the ukraine, if you dont do my political bidding, im going to cut your money off. Donald trump is going to choke on this supposedly nothing burger. Hes going to go down with this supposedly nothing burger in his throat because what it shows is repeated, concerted, premeditated criminal conduct. Last night president tom renewed the attack on his political rivals. Ijust watched a little bit of this on television. Its a disgrace to our country. Its another witch hunt, here we its a disgrace to our country. Its another witch hunt, here we go again. It is adam schiff and his ciew again. It is adam schiff and his crew making up stories and sitting there like pious. Whatever you wa nt there like pious. Whatever you want to call them. Really a disgrace. The president s personal lawyer, rudy giuliani, is surfacing as a centralfigure in the rudy giuliani, is surfacing as a central figure in the effort to dig the dirt onjoe biden. Last night, an infuriated mr giuliani lashed out at his critics. Why are they doing this . What theyre really trying to do is discredit me because im doing such a good job of showing what phonies they are. The president isnt without his supporters, however. Sheriffs from across the us converged on the white house, looking to raise his spirits at the end of a brutal week. Seven days ago, most in america had yet to hear of mr trumps fateful conversation with the president of ukraine. David willis, bbc news, los angeles. Voters will go to the polls in afghanistan on saturday to elect a new president. Campaigning has been marred by deadly attacks, while a peace deal with the taliban has been declared dead by President Trump. Our correspondent martin patience looks at the frontrunners in a race where two fierce rivals from the current unity government are battling each other for the presidency. In the afghan capital, theyre preparing for a vote that could make or break this countrys fragile democracy. The two main candidates Abdullah Abdullah and president ashraf ghani, once uneasy partners in government, now election rivals. Theirfive years in power a time of soaring violence and poverty. The Security Forces here are on high alert. The threat of the taliban looms over this election. Nawrooz and ahmed were seriously injured fighting the militants. The former soldiers have lost faith in their government. Translation around 20 of my friends from the army have been killed or injured. The government doesnt support us or our families. I want to vote for a different government. Can you show me your injuries . Ahmed was shot multiple times. He has had 19 operations and spent a year and a half in hospital. Translation there will be no future for afghanistan until the war is over, but itll take time. After 18 years of war and three president ial votes, peace doesnt seem to be any closer. Previous elections in afghanistan have been marred by massive corruption. The government here wants to use this vote to shore up its legitimacy. But how much legitimacy can that election have, when large parts of the country are under taliban control, and many people are simply too scared to vote . There is fear on every street here. This is one of many armed guards standing watch outside a college in kabul. Security is tight now after it was bombed by militants last year, killing 48 students. But today, the hall was full. Many here are first time voters. Youre going to vote. Do you think its going to change anything . Deep down, of me, its a great fear. Great fear of peace talks, the negotiations, where will the country go, the direction, the changes that will be made after the americans have gotten out of the what will happen . This is the big question what then . Are you going to vote at this election . No. And why are you not going to vote at the election . Because i hate all of them. Because we have lots of bad things, that if ijust say now, i will cry. Many afghans despair for their country. They have war, not peace, and are unlikely to have a free and fair election. Martin patience, bbc news, kabul. Lets brief you on some of the other stories making the news. The british flagged stena impero tanker, which was detained by irans revolutionary guards injuly, has started moving and exited the bandar abbas port on friday, according to ship tracking data. The stena impero was detained in the strait of hormuzwaterway for alleged marine violation. It followed the Royal Marines seizing an iranian tanker off gibraltar, suspected of carrying oil to syria. The United States is to reduce by almost half the number of refugees it admits. The state department has announced that 18,000 refugees will be accepted in the next 12 months, down from the current limit of 30,000. Refugee slots will be prioritised for iraqis whove worked with the us military, some persecuted people from Central America and small groups of religious minorities. Saudi arabia is opening its doors to tourists from around the world for the first time. According to the tourism minister, its an historic moment. Visas costing 80 will be available online. Jean claude juncker, the president of the european commission, said he and the European Unions chief brexit negotiator Michel Barnier were doing all they could to get a brexit deal, and if they failed, it would be britains responsibility. In an interview with a german newspaper, juncker said he and barnier were working intensively for a deal a catastrophe for britain and europe if britain left the euwithout priya lakhani, the founder and ceo of century tech, joins me now. Do you believe that . They have to say that because at the end of all of this, nobody wants to have the blame pointed at them if there is a no deal and we crash out and what they are saying is obviously they really dont want a no deal. Theres many people who dont want a no deal but certainly if thats the case, it isnt europe or the blocks fault, it will be britain and Jean Claude Juncker has come out a couple of times to say were working really intensively on this and talking about this and trying to get a deal done. Michel barnier is meeting stephen barclay, the brexit secratary, today, and theyre having lots of conversations but theyre saying britain is picking and choosing bits of eu law that it wa nts, choosing bits of eu law that it wants, and theres nothing fully worked out. Theres been a dampen assessment of oui worked out. Theres been a dampen assessment of our proposition for this backstop issue that we cant seem to get around that Michel Barnier has told ambassadors about. This is about them coming out and saying if this happens it is our fault. The Prime Ministers position has very much been and has been that his position has been thoroughly weakened by the fact that his hands have essentially been tied behind his back by these amendments and bills that have been passed stop the because when youre negotiating, the eu and the uk isnt like haggling a moroccan rug or buying a car, but at the same time negotiations are a lwa ys the same time negotiations are always still at play and weve essentially shown our cards as britain, so the Prime Minister will wa nt to britain, so the Prime Minister will want to point the blame if this does happen at the opposition parties and the europhiles. We have a lot more brexit related coverage to get through in the papers. Lots of different points of view, including the war of words here and abroad. Let speak more then but for now, thank you. Lets speak more then, but for now, thank you. More strikes are due to take place around the world today, as Climate Change protesters continue their fridays for future campaign. The School Strike 4 Climate Campaign is calling on the government in wellington to declare a climate emergency. The rallies have been inspired by the swedish teenager greta thunberg. Correspondent phil mercer is covering the story from sydney. This comes about a week after the Climate Change protests we saw in other parts of the world. Millions of people around the world joining that. Why is this one a little bit later . Because of exams. Many stu d e nts later . Because of exams. Many students in new zealand were sitting there school exams a week ago and couldnt take part in that global wave of protests we witnessed a week ago, including very large protests here in sydney and across australia. Now, i think its safe to say that new zealand has never seen climate rallies on this scale. Some political leaders across in new zealand say they asked goodbye the numbers. Its reported 40,000 people have marched in the capital, wellington, demanding the ce ntre left wellington, demanding the Centre Left Government do much more to address the effects of Climate Change. Now, these young protesters have five core demands. Among them, urging the government in new zealand to declare a climate emergency. Also to declare a climate emergency. Also to Start Building an economy based on renewable energy. Another of the demands is to offer more help to island nations in the south civic who are particularly susceptible to the impacts of rising seas and storms surges south pacific. Weve seen many colourful placards at these demonstrations stop me there are more than 40 around new zealand, from dunedin in the south to auckland in the north demonstrations. One of the placards says i want a hot date but i dont wa nt says i want a hot date but i dont want a hot planet. Protesters voicing theirfears, want a hot planet. Protesters voicing their fears, frustrations and anger at rallies right across the country. For now, thanks very much. Phil mercer in sydney. Stay with us on bbc news, still to come egyptian politics and the writing on the wall. We meet the artist using murals to challenge military rule. Ben johnson, the fastest man on earth, is flying home to canada in disgrace. All the athletes should be clean going into the games. Im just happy that justice is served. It is a simple fact that this morning, these people were in their homes. Tonight, those homes have been burnt down by serbian soldiers and police. All the taliban positions along here have been strengthened, presumably in case the americans invade. Its no use having a secret service which cannot preserve its own secrets against the world, and so the British Government has no option but to continue this action even after any adverse judgement in australia. Concorde have crossed the atlantic faster than any plane ever before, breaking the record by six minutes. You are watching the briefing. Our headlines white house officials have been accused of trying to cover up evidence that President Trump used his power to solicit foreign interference in next years election. After an Election Campaign marred by deadly attacks, afghans prepare to go to the polls to choose a new president. Un officials are warning that a surge in fighting in libya could escalate into full blown civil war. The latest conflict began in april, when a rebel commander launched a major offensive aimed at seizing the capital, tripoli. Thousands of people have been killed, including many civilians. From tripoli, our International Correspondent orla guerin. The southern edge of tripoli, a suburban battlefield. A journey to the heart of libyas latest conflict, one which involves foreign players and is increasingly another proxy war in the middle east. After there, the five lines. The Commander Shows us the front line, which many have died to protect. He and his men are the defenders of tripoli, fighting for the un recognised government. It has the support of turkey and qatar. Explosions they take aim at enemy forces, backed by egypt, the uae, france, and russia. Explosion well, the fighting has been grinding on here since april, much of it unseen. But there is active firing taking place today, and what happens on this front line has implications far beyond tripoli. The fear is that, if this conflict continues, it could push libya into all out civil war. The government complains that it is outgunned and cant fight on all fronts. Minister, very nice to see you again. Libyas interior minister says, while the battle for tripoli is raging, theres a moment of opportunity for including the Islamic State or daesh. This is a very good chance for alanda, for boko haram, for daesh, for organised crime now in libya. It is a very good environment, and they will use this chance. They will use it, you know. They can grow now, in the desert, and they can move. And right now you cant try to fight them, because youre defending tripoli . Yes. We continue our activity to capture some of them. We are watching, but inside our area, not outside our area, and we are continuing our collaboration with the usa security and British Security will continue. But out of our front line, what will we do . The government here cant even protect the airport in the capital. It was targeted by an air strike today, the latest in a series. Here, a glimpse of the terrified passengers caught inside earlier this month. For now, the airport is closed, a potent symbol of a capital city under attack. Orla guerin, bbc news, tripoli. Now its time to get all the latest from the bbc sports centre. Hello, im marc edwards, with your friday sport briefing. We start at the Rugby World Cup injapan, where england ran a merry dance around the United States, thrashing the americans 45 7. They ran in seven tries in the process to claim a second bonus point in pool c. The usa, though, finishing the match with 14 men afterjohn quill received the tournaments first red card for a dangerous challenge on owen farrell. There was also a big win for italy, who scored seven tries as they hammered canada 48 7. They are six points clear at the top of pool b, but they still have to play new zealand and south africa. Barcelona have been fined 300 euros thats right, 300 euros by the Spanish Football Federation for approaching Antoine Griezmann without Atletico Madrids permission while he was still at the madrid club. Some quick maths, but based on his estimated salary, it would take the frenchman ten minutes to pay that off himself if he wanted to. Meanwhile, in italy, torino are up to fifth in serie a after beating ac milan 2 1. Andrea belotti scored twice in a four minute spell midway through the second half, as torino came from a goal down. Belotti has now scored ten goals in all competitions this season with just a few hours to go until the start of the world athletics championships in qatar, most of those who have been in the stadium have spent their time trying to shelter near the air conditioning units. The heat will be a major talking point in doha, and while the action inside the arena has a chance of feeling a little cooler, the marathon is having to start at midnight to try and avoid the worst of the heat. And even then it could be stifling, with temperatures expected to exceed 30 degrees, with humidity forecast at 80 . Were down to the semi final stage of the wuhan open, one of the premier 5 tournaments on the wta tour. World number one Ashleigh Barty will face Aryna Sabalenka of belarus in her last four match, while the former champion Petra Kvitova will face the unseeded american alison riske, who pulled off the shock result of the quarter finals with a straight sets win over the number three seed, elina svitolina. Riske, who is ranked 35 in the world, won 6 1, 6 3 to reach the semi finals of a premier 5 event for the first time in her career. The lebanese egyptian artist and academic bahia shehab documented the so called arab spring of 2011 from her home in cairo. She gained International Recognition for her politically charged graffiti, which appeared across the world. Now, her first solo exhibition is taking place in the uk at the Aga Khan Centre, where she talked to our arts editor Will Gompertz about the current protests in egypt. You left cairo last thursday, and you are going back this saturday. Its a very live situation in egypt. What is your understanding of it at the moment . Well, we still need to wait and see. There were some demonstrations breaking out in different parts of the country. A lot of people have been detained. You started your politically orientated graffiti in the autumn of 2011. What were you spraying . The first sentence i sprayed was no to military rule, and then others. Other, you know, stances. We are sitting on the Aga Khan Centre in london, with your exhibition here. You are showing a work which is five films in the round. What are you saying in those pieces . So the pieces are based on walls that ive have painted in different cities around the world. One is it starts in cairo about erasing things. And i am showing the graffiti i have painted that is being erased. The other film is showing painted that is being erased. The otherfilm is showing upon painted that is being erased. The other film is showing upon called painted that is being erased. The otherfilm is showing upon called my country is not a suitcase and it is about displacement. It illustrates four bags and each bag is being filled with a different thing, books, childrens clothes, spray ca ns books, childrens clothes, spray cans and food. Every time i packed my bag, cans and food. Every time i packed g, ipaq cans and food. Every time i packed my bag, ipaq my tears, because there are people i will miss. And finally, the last well was painted in marrakech, the last well was painted in marra kech, and the last well was painted in marrakech, and it reads we love life, if we had access to it. And it portrays a couple with the city of the dead as the background. You paint walls abroad in all sorts of countries, but you cant paint in egypt. That is the point, i guess. No, you cant paint if it is not political. You need an audience. You dont paint for yourself. And i dont paint for yourself. And i dont feel like there is an audience who needs to hear about the revolution right now. People are tired and they have been suffering for a long time. They want stability, and whoever provides it, it doesnt matter. But, you know, change doesnt happen that way, and right now not many people are ready for change. And tell me what you think about our talking point today. Japan airlines has announced customers will be able to see where small children, the under twos, are located when they book their seats so that you can sit closer or further away. Should other airlines be taking this up . Is this all of your travel prayers answered . Use the hashtag bbcthebriefing. Morning. Ooh, its been autumn proper this week, hasnt it . We started off on monday with some very heavy rain. It was a miserable start to a new working week, some places seeing a months worth of rain injust 24 hours. The middle of the weeks not been too bad sunny spells and scattered showers, so if youve dodged the showers, well, its been reasonably pleasant. However, theres more wet and windy weather to come, and its this system here thats waiting out in the atlantic. Its going to push its way steadily eastwards towards the uk for the weekend. Ahead of it, though, circulating around an area of low pressure, a rash of showers driving their way in. So sunny spells and scattered showers continue today, some of them merging together in the south west for longer spells of rain, driven in by strong, gusty winds. Therell be some sharper showers across north west england and north wales as well. The best of the drier, brighter, sunnier moments perhaps across scotland, and not looking too bad into Northern Ireland as well. Highs of 14 18 celsius. Now, as we move out of friday, that area of low pressure will drift its way eastwards off into the north sea, and things will quieten down still across the country. Itll be a breezy day on saturday, but saturday starts off relatively quiet. A few scattered showers around, but there will be some lengthy sunny spells as well. Not a bad afternoon for many. We do need to keep a close eye on the rain gathering into the south west. The timings of this could change and affect the story for the second half of the weekend. But ahead of it, dry, 14 18 degrees the high. So, overnight saturday into sunday, looks likely that well see some very heavy rain 2 3 inches falling across england and wales, accompanied by some strong, gusty winds. Gales in places in excess of 40 50 mph, and as the low drifts away, maybe 60 mph for a time across eastern england. So sunday could start off wet, but have a long lie in, lazy morning, and you never know, that rain could clear away and things could be a little better. The wind direction starting to change, still a blustery afternoon, and coming from the north in scotland, so that will make it feeljust that little bit cooler. Therell be a scattering of showers here, top temperatures of about 13 18 degrees the high. So, just in case you havent already got the message, at the moment, it looks likely that saturday will be a case of sunny spells and a few showers. Sunday will start off wet and windy, but that will ease away. Take care. This is the business briefing. Im victoria fritz. France to slash taxes again next year to tackle what the finance minister calls a social crisis. Are president macrons economic reform plans now out of the window . Plus, more pressure on boeing over the 737 max crashes as us safety regulators point out failings in its warning systems, procedures and Pilot Training and on the markets asian shares slipping tothree week lows as the release of a whistleblower complaint against President Trump add to uncertainties about the global economy
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