The opening ceremony of the paralympic games. More than 4,000 athletes from a record 168 delegations joined a parade along the champs elysees in the french capital, ahead of the first events later today. Our sports correspondent andy swiss was watching. It was a spectacular end to a quite spectacular ceremony. A giant balloon floating in the paris night as the paralympic cauldron was finally lit. It had been a curtain raiser like no other. Welcome to paris! an opening ceremony exploring attitudes towards disability. French star christine and the queens with a modern take on an edith piaf classic. But soon it was time for the athletes parading down the champs elysees, thousands of competitors united by a commonjoy. And here comes great britain. The british team, led by terry bywater and lucy shuker, were welcomed by the prime minister, sir keir starmer. Afterfinishing second in the medals table at the last games, they have high hopes. After a moving rendition of the marseillaise, the he
Good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at 0ne. The government is considering banning smoking in more public places, as part of plans to drive down the use of tobacco. Pub gardens and outdoor restaurants are being looked at, as well as sports grounds and outside hospitals. The proposals, which could be adopted in other parts of the uk, are expected to be added to the tobacco and vapes bill. That legislation would ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after 2009. It was introduced by the last government but ran out of time to become law when the election was called. Rowan bridge reports. Risking the wrath of some of his own supporters, it was rishi sunak who first suggested tougher measures to tackle smoking as his last party conference. That means a 14yearold as his last party conference. Twat means a 14 year old today will never legally be sold a cigarette and that they had their generation can grow up they had their generation can grow up smoke free. Now, we know. . . Thafie u
Restaurants, playgrounds and sports grounds could be banned under plans being considered by the government. Health experts have welcomed the proposals, but some businesses are concerned about the impact an outdoor ban might have. The latest research shows 6. 4 million people still smoke in the uk. Almost 80,000 people die every year as a result of smoking, despite the ban on indoor smoking across the uk being in place in 2007. 0ur correspondent danny savage has been to york to hearfrom smokers, non smokers, and businesses which could be affected. We all know smoking is bad for our health, but plenty of people still choose to do so. So what about the latest idea to restrict it, ban in it pub gardens and outdoor restaurants in england and possibly elsewhere in the uk? remind everyone. . . We showed the prime minister s views to people in a pub garden. Over 80,000 people lose their lives every year because of smoking. That s a preventable death. It s a huge burden on the nhs, and of cours
Political will by the warring parties to end hostilities. Since the fighting began in april last year, thousands of people have been killed and 10 million forced to flee their homes. Almost half of the population is now critically short of food. Our correspondent kalkidan yibel tal has more. This is the latest that s coming in in similar reports for the past 16 months, essentially since the beginning of this war. There had been report after report detailing and documenting various rights abuses. This include extrajudicial killings of civilians, forced evictions, forced displacement of people using sexual violence, including rape as a weapon of war. And both the main actors in this war, the rapid support forces and the sudanese armed forces, have been accused of this. And the latest report that came out from the human rights watch, is just another example of how dire the situation is. For the millions of sudanese people who are trapped in this devastating war. A dire situation, as you s
On the government to ban flavoured and disposable vapes to protect children against what they say is a growing epidemic in the uk. A bill aimed at restricting the sale and marketing of vapes, especially to children, ran out of time to pass into law under the last government. The british medical association says bold action is needed. Here s our health reporter michelle roberts. According to the latest estimates, around 8% of 11 to 17 year olds vape. Although it s already illegal to sell e cigarettes to anyone under 18, the british medical association says more needs to be done, and quickly, to protect children and young people from a vape epidemic. The bma wants disposable vapes and all flavoured ones to be banned. It s also calling for curbs on how vapes are marketed and sold, similar to cigarettes, with plain packaging and products kept behind the counter. If you re stopping smoking, you need a tobacco flavoured vape to just transfer from one to another. There is no need for any of t