Homes that have been destroyed, and as we get access to further areas that have been cut off, we are expecting worse news again. Could new yorks former mayor take on trump for the white house . Michael bloomberg files papers paving the way for a president ial run. Its a part of the world where religion and deeply held beliefs and customs play a central role in peoples lives. After decades of emnity, tensions between nuclear arch rivals india and pakistan remain high with fresh skirmishes taking place this year. Now, indias highest court will pronounce its verdict on a decades old dispute between hindus and muslims over a contested religious site in the holy town of ayodhya. Hindus want to build a grand temple in the city, where muslims say theyve worshipped for generations. A security clampdown is in force across the Northern State of Uttar Pradesh ahead of todays ruling. Indias Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has called for calm. A group of hindu fundamentalists tore down a sixteenth century mosque there in 1992, triggering riots in many parts of india. Many hindus believe that the mosque stood at the exact spot where their deity, lord ram, was born. Lets show you some live pictures. These are pictures from india from delhi, this is the Supreme Court and this is where we are expecting that decision, probably within the next hour or decision, probably within the next hourorso, we are decision, probably within the next hour or so, we are told. We are expecting this decision and as we have said the security situation has been tense, the Prime Minister urging calm, feelings running high on both sides here, with this, one of the holiest sites under dispute. It has been disputed for a long time, which way that decision will 90, time, which way that decision will go, we dont know. As soon as we do get that decision, of course we will bring it to you and we will shortly be speaking to our correspondence there in delhi. Staying in the sub continent, and its the 550th anniversary of the birth of the founder of sikhism guru nanak. A Peace Corridor will be opened shortly, from punjab, india, to punjab, pakistan. Its just a few kilometres across the border and will allow sikh pilgrims to travel into pakistan from india visa free for the first time, to allow them to pray at the khartapur shrine, where the guru settled in later life. The former brazilian president , Luiz Inacio Lula da silva, has been released from prison after a year and a half behind bars for corruption charges. He was greeted by a crowd of supporters outside the Police Station in the Southern City of curitiba where he had been held. His release comes after brazils Supreme Court ruled that convicted criminals should not go to jail while their appeals are heard. Katy watson reports from the former president s traditional heartland of sao paulo. Chanting and singing. Lula walked out of prison to an emotional crowd. Free lula, these people had been chanting, keen to witness what has been an extraordinary day for brazilian politics. Translation i cannot tell you the importance of me being here with you. After spending a lifetime talking to the brazilian people, i never thought that today i could be here talking to men and women who, for 580 days, shouted, good morning lula, good afternoon, lula, or goodnight, lula. You were the source of democracy that i needed. For lula supporters, this is an indication. In their eyes, it has been a political witch hunt from the very beginning. But hes a politician who stirs emotions. His detractors see him as a corrupt politician who should stay behind bars. Lulas freedom comes after brazils Supreme Court ruled that convicted criminals should only go to prison after they have exhausted all their appeals. It overturned a previous ruling requiring convicts to start serving their sentence after losing their first appeal. Lula was accused of receiving kickbacks from a Construction Company in connection with a beachside apartment on the coast of sao paulo. The accusations were linked to brazils biggest ever corruption investigation, operation car wash. He started a 12 Year Prison Sentence in april 2018, after an appeal against his conviction was upheld. Chanting. Lula will now remain free while he appeals to higher courts. He also has several other cases against him for corruption. And being out of prison will no doubt strengthen the left in brazil, who didnt stop campaigning for their leader. But it will also strengthen the right. President Jair Bolsonaro has been pretty vocal in his criticism of lula, and millions agree. They see him and his Workers Party as responsible for the political and economic problems brazil has suffered in recent years. This deep hatred towards him is what propelled far right mr bolsonaro to power in the first place. Katy watson, bbc news, sao paolo. Australias Prime MinisterScott Morrison has warned that bushfires will spread and have catastrophic consequences in the days ahead. Its been confirmed that two people have been killed in New South Wales, and several are still unaccounted for across eastern australia. The bbcs freya cole has been following events. Its not yet summer in australia, but already bushfires have claimed their first victims. Firefighters have battled a Record Number of emergency blazes, and the threat is far from over. We are seeing a situation in New South Wales with these fires that we have not seen before. With the aid of strong winds, the flames are moving fast. Firefighters say an entire village in the north east of New South Wales has been lost. Those who were forced to leave their homes are now camping in evacuation centres, not knowing what remains back home. Another burst of scorching hot conditions is due in coming days, which is not the news Firefighters Want to hear. Its a similar story on the other side of the country in west australia they too are bracing for catastrophic conditions. Australia has been battling ferocious fires for as long as australia has been a nation, and well before. Scientists cant say Climate Change is to blame for the bushfires. But they do say the effects of a warm and dry climate are exacerbating the situation. Currently, more than 98 of New South Wales is grappling with drought. We are very mindful of the scarcity of water, and just how precious it is, but the reality is we cant do firefighting without water, but we are using it wisely ends and sparingly to greatest effect. It means the bushfire season arrives earlier, lasts longer, and is more dangerous than ever. Begging the question for many could this be the new normal . Freya cole, bbc news. Lets get some of the days other news. Us Health Officials believe they may have identified the substance thats killed around a0 smokers of e cigarettes and damaged the lungs of hundreds more. They say vitamin e acetate an oil used to thicken some vaping products has been detected in patients lung fluid. Protesters in chile have gathered for another day of Anti Government demonstrations. On thursday, the chilean president Sebastian Pinera announced new measures to toughen penalties for looting and violence, after two weeks of protests that have left at least twenty people dead. Spains Political Parties are making last ditch efforts to persuade undecided voters, ahead of elections on sunday. The governing socialists are hoping to see off challenges from their traditional, centre right rivals, the Peoples Party and the far right party, vox. 0pinion polls suggest no party is likely to get a majority. The former new york city mayor and billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg has given the strongest signal yet that he intends to enter the us president ial race for the democratic party. Hes filed the paperwork needed for the democratic primary in alabama just before deadline expired. Nada tawfik reports. Just when it seems like the crowded field of democratic president ial candidates was finally narrowing, Michael Bloomberg has thrown the race a giant curveball. The billionaire businessman and former mayor of new york city has long teased a possible run both in 2016, and earlier this year. I think theres an awful lot to be said for experience and accomplishment. Bloomberg is said to have grown concerned that joe bidens lead is fading. The former Vice President was asked about that today on the trail. In terms of hes running because of me . Last polls i looked at, im pretty far ahead. As a centrist, bloomberg doesnt believe left leaning candidates like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren can beat president donald trump. I have my reservations about the people running and the way theyre campaigning and the promises theyre making that they cant fulfil. Those progressive candidates welcomed Michael Bloomberg to the race with tweets attacking his wealth. The businessman has poured his money into liberal causes such as Climate Change and gun control. 0nce himself a republican, he has called donald trump a threat to the nation. At the white house, the president had his own words for his fellow new yorker. He will not do very well. And if he did, i would be happy. There is nobody i would rather run against than little michael, that i can tell you. Normally in political races, time is money. Bloomberg will self fund his campaign. Nevertheless, hes going to have to announce a final decision soon. Stay with us on bbc world news, still to come . A big day for big bird as sesame street celebrates 50 years on screen. The bombastic establishment outsider, donald trump, has defied the pollsters to take the keys to the oval office. I feel great about the election result. I voted for him because i genuinely believe that he cares about the country. Its keeping the candidates name always in the public eye that counts. Success or failure depends not only on public display, but on the local Campaign Headquarters and the heavy routine work of their women volunteers. Berliners from both east and west linked hands and danced around their liberated territory. And with nobody to stop them, it wasnt long before the first attempts were made to destroy the structure itself. Yasser arafat, who dominated the palestinian cause for so long, has died. Palestinian authority has declared a state of mourning. After 17 years of discussion, the result was an outburst ofjoy. Women ministers who long felt only grudgingly accepted in the ranks of clergy suddenly felt welcomed. This is bbc news, the latest headlines indians awaiting a Supreme Court verdict over a religious site contested by hindus and muslims. Brazils former president , Luiz Inacio Lula da silva has walked free from jail, after a Court Decision freeing prisoners that have not exhausted their appeals. Events will take place later to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the fall of the berlin wall. German chancellor Angela Merkel who herself lives behind the well will lead to services. The anniversary will be remembered in the morning at the berlin wall memorial. The celebration in the evening at the brandenburg gate. Here is our correspondence. In broad daylight, with the world watching, east berlin became a present, its citizens sealed off from friends and family in the west. The regime called itself a democratic republic. In truth, the gdr spied on its own people, curtailed theirfreedoms. And this man, wanted out. He expected to west berlin across the canal, controlled by bodyguards. Translation it took me four hours, it was more diving and swimming, there were dogs, voices, but i think i heard a guardian angel, i heard a dog panting close but i was hidden in the reeds. I was afraid my chattering teeth would give me away. I thought thats it, they are going to shoot me now. Scores of people died trying to escape. Few imagined the gdr would and like this. November nine, 1989. After weeks of protest, the regime came tumbling down. No one died, no blood was shed, but this revolution left scars nonetheless. Even Angela Merkel, who herself grew up behind the iron curtain, admits there are still profound inequalities between germanys east and its west. Growing discontent souring the tone of the celebrations. This installation a chance for people to air their fears, hopes and visions. This is of course, first and foremost, day of and commemoration. But the political leaders who will gather here know that this country, europe itself, is in some ways still deeply divided, and that they themselves are increasingly under pressure to address those divisions. For hartmut it is an important day two. He will be thinking of another date. But of his escape. Translation be thinking of another date. But of his escape. Translationzlj be thinking of another date. But of his escape. Translation i have a lwa ys his escape. Translation i have always celebrated august 27, 1966, more than my own birthday. That was liberation. My escape from the regime. My disdain for that regime has never faded. Lives lost, freedoms one. A country redefined, and 30 years on, a people still trying to make sense of it. Here in the uk, a woman has died after being swept away by floodwater following the torrential rain which has hit parts of the north of england and the midlands. Her body was found in the River Derwent in derbyshire. This report from our correspondent danny savage. As floodwaters rose rapidly across the east midlands, derbyshire and yorkshire, a woman died after being swept away in rowsley, near matlock. She went missing in the early hours near here, and her body was recovered from the River Derwent in darley dale this morning. In doncaster, the main river through the town burst its banks and overflowed into nearby streets. Anything and everything was used as a Huge Community effort to save belongings swung into action. Locals are angry, and say they werent warned. It has happened down here a couple of times. Ive had no warning from the council or anything. They should have been out last night, giving sandbags out, all that sort of stuff, but we had nothing. Nearby, i met linda. Her home has been flooded before, but the timing now couldnt be worse. Iam here, 26a, the one with the for sale sign in fact, sold, subject to survey. They were due to come out on monday to do the survey. Are you worried now this has happened . I am very worried. I doubt anybody is going to want to go ahead and buy this now. From above, the flooding can be seen for miles, from sheffield, through rotherham, and to doncaster and beyond. This is worksop in nottinghamshire, where a wide area was left underwater. This caravan park in doncaster was completely overwhelmed and People Living here were evacuated. What has happened to your caravan . They are all every one of them is knackered, every one of them is finished. Are you insured . No. Because you cant get insurance . No, im not entitled to it. So youve lost your home . Yeah, oh, aye, yeah, weve lost our home. Its mid afternoon and its started raining heavily again. All this water flowing past us here is the overflow from the river don, and its going straight down this residential street, where the waters getting deeper and deeper. How much warning, if any, did you get . None, as far as im concerned. Just in the space of 20 minutes, it all came and started coming flooding through. The house is wrecked from bottom up. Carpets, laminates gone, the tvs gone, everything. Electrics been cut off. Were hoping to get it sorted. Like, as long as we are all out and safe, thats all that matters, really. In mansfield in nottinghamshire, a cliff gave way. The landslide led to 35 homes being evacuated. Transport has been badly disrupted, too, roads and railways closed, stations left as islands. Tonight back in matlock, the Prime Minister visited to meet Emergency Service personnel and see some of the damage. In doncaster, the rescue boats will be on standby all night, although water levels are slowly dropping. Danny savage, bbc news, doncaster. I want to return to our top story this hour. You may remember it is in india, thus dispute over a wholly religious site between hindus and muslims, indias top court expected to make a decision on that site imminently. Our reporter joins to make a decision on that site imminently. Our reporterjoins me. We are expecting this verdict anytime now . Yes, thats right. The justices have assembled inside indias Supreme Court behind me, and as you can see outside here, the indian media has gathered en masse. This is a very important decision for indians, for hindus, muslims, for indians, for hindus, muslims, for the rest of india. So at the moment, thejustices are for the rest of india. So at the moment, the justices are delivering some of their feedback, and then the verdict will be announced. All we know, from one of my colleagues who was inside the court, is that the justices say the decision they have made is unanimous. And there have been appeals for calm. How potentially dangerous is this situation . Well, it is not for me to speculate in that sense, but yes, there is a Huge Police Presence in large cities across india, and of course in ayodhya, webby site is itself, and in some parts the country as well, especially in ayod hya country as well, especially in ayodhya and that area, schools have been closed and extra measures are being put in place, in anticipation of the potential for violence. Being put in place, in anticipation of the potentialfor violence. Now, thatis of the potentialfor violence. Now, that is because in 1992, when this mosque was built in the 16th century in ayodhya was demolished by hindu groups, there were huge riots that took place in the aftermath, and 2000 people were killed. So i suspect people are bracing themselves for what could potentially be the worst. But Prime MinisterNarendra Modi said earlier today that he wanted everyone to stay calm, and he said that the judgement will not be anyones loss oi judgement will not be anyones loss or victory. This is of course something that means so much to hindus and muslims. Hindus lay claim to the site in ayodhya. They say it is the birthplace of one of their most revered gods, lord raam. They therefore want to build a hindu temple at the site, and some hindus say that actually, there was an ancient hindu temple that existed there away before the 16th century mosque was built. Muslims say they worshipped at that mosque for a long time and of course it was demolished ina very time and of course it was demolished in a very violent way back in the 19905, in a very violent way back in the 1990s, and that is why this is something that really hits to everybodys hearts here in india. India isa everybodys hearts here in india. India is a secular nation, but in many ways, what happened in 1992 revealed some of the religious divides in this nation that continues today. That is why so many people are waiting nervously for the verdict. Why now . As you mentioned, this has been going on for such a long time, this disputed side. Why has it come to a head and this potential Court Verdict now . Well, it is because the Supreme Court has been hearing this case. The case, about ten years ago, a judgement was given on the case at a high court, and that was decided, that two thirds of the site should go to hindu groups and one third should go toa hindu groups and one third should go to a muslim group. But neither side was co nte nt to a muslim group. But neither side was content with that so it ended up going all the way to the highest court in the land here, indias Supreme Court. So for a0 days earlier this year, all parties in this dispute came to the Supreme Court and delivered their case, and 110w court and delivered their case, and now we have the judgement. This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of sesame street, the American Television show that set out to entertain and educate younger children. To mark the occasion, new yorks Empire State Building was lit up in yellow and green. And there was one very special guest at the event, as the bbcs tim allman explains. Applause. Hi, everybody its me, big bird they were never going to celebrate sesame street without celebrating big bird. Hi, debbie. In so many ways the heart of the show, the towering yellow feathered star looked right at home in the Empire State Building. Also there was caroll spinney, the man who had voiced him and oscar the grouch for most of the last 50 years. A special moment for a special programme. Sesame was founded on some fundamental values that everyone deserves respect, opportunity, kindness, all with a little bit of furry fun. And those are fundamental, sort of, human attributes and needs for all people, but particularly children. Sesame street theme plays. Sesame street premiered in november 1969, the brainchild ofjim henson, the man behind the muppets. A Pre School Programme that aimed to broaden the mind. Race, culture, homelessness, autism, hiv and aids no topic was taboo, no issue was ignored. Theres no doubt what is so unique about sesame is that it has a multi generational appeal. That you have kids growing up with it, you have their parents and, at this point, 50 years later, you have grandparents. A star studded special will be broadcast this weekend to mark the 50th anniversary. Big bird promises hell be back for the 100. Tim allman, bbc news. And we will have plenty more coming from india with that impending Court Decision there. Meantime, you can reach me on twitter. This is bbc news. Hello. The recent slow moving heavy rain that we saw across much of Northern England has now eased away, but we are left with the legacy of some very high river levels, quite a lot of flooding, too. So still several flood warnings and even severe flood warnings in force, particularly across parts of Northern England. River levels will slowly come down through the course of the weekend. Theres a bit more rain on the way for saturday but it will be heaviest in the places that are not affected by the flooding. A dry day likely by the time we get to sunday. But its a cold weekend. First thing saturday morning, temperatures widely subzero. About 2, 3 in towns and cities, colder in the countryside. A touch of frost, certainly. Also fog or freezing fog patches to start off your day as well. We can see this weather front making its way in from the west. That will bring a mix of rain. Also some sleet and some snow over the highest ground, only across parts of wales through the day on saturday, but certainly down at low levels it will be falling as rain. Parts of Northern Ireland, south west scotland, wales, western england, seeing the arrival of that rain. Eastern england and northern and eastern scotland staying dry through the day, after the morning mist clears away. Should be some sunshine around, but it will feel pretty chilly wherever you are. Were mainly going to be stuck in single figures, maybe just squeezing 10 celsius towards plymouth, but for most, about 6 9. That area of rain, with a little bit of sleetiness and snow over the high ground, starts to ease away towards the south as we move through saturday night and overnight into sunday morning. With all the cloud around in the south it wont be such a cold night. Certainly not compared to first thing on saturday. Temperatures mostly above freezing. Still a cold night to come for Northern England, Northern Ireland and scotland as well. Sunday, remembrance sunday, were looking at some decent conditions. Lots of dry and fairly sunny weather. There will be some rain working in from the west later on in the day, but much of remembrance sunday is looking fine and dry, with light winds, temperatures somewhere between 6 10, for most of us on sunday. Then we start to see this frontal system heading in from west to east, through sunday night and into monday. You can see a bit of light. Some sleet and snow over the highest ground, parts of Northern England and scotland as well. That main band of rain should clear away gradually on monday, perhaps lingering longest towards the south east. Then were back into sunny spells, scattered showers, some of them a little bit wintry over the highest ground. In the sunshine, though, top temperatures around 6 11. Bye bye. This is bbc news. The headlines Security Services in india are on high alert as the countrys Supreme Court is announcing the long awaited verdict over rights to disputed land in the holy city of ayodhya. Both muslims and hindus claim the site, which has been the centre of violent clashes between the two sides for decades. Brazils former president luis inacio Lula Da Silva has walked free from prison where hed been held for a year and a half on corruption charges. He was met byjubilant supporters as he was released, which came after the Supreme Court decided convicts should only go to prison if they have exhausted their appeal options. At least two people have lost their lives as an unprecedented number of bushfires burn across eastern australia. Firefighters in the state of New South Wales have been struggling to reach some parts and the Prime MinisterScott Morrison has warned that the stiuation is likely to get worse