Hurricane ophelia is approaching the uk and may bring heavy rain and gusts of up to 80mph. And. The accountants who disappeared leaving thousands of lorry drivers owing money to the taxman. Thats in inside out in half an hour here on bbc news. Good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. A canadian man, kidnapped and held for five years in afghanistan, along with his pregnant wife, says she was raped and her baby daughter murdered. They were freed earlier this week along with three children born in cap tiffity. He revealed captivity. Afghanistan, parts of the country remain in the grip of islamist militants. Canadianjoshua boyle and his wife caitlin coleman, came here, he says, to carry out aid work. But instead the couple were kidnapped by members of a Haqqani Network linked to the taliban. Over five years their captors released a series of videos. One of them showed their children born in captivity. On wednesday, the family were finally freed by pakistani forces. They arrived in toronto late last night where joshua boyle outlined their grim ordeal including the horrific murder of his daughter. The stupidity and the evil of this Haqqani Networks kidnapping of a pilgrim and his pregnant wife in taliban controlled regions of afghanistan was eclipsed by the stupidity and evil of authorising the murder of my infant daughter. Joshua boyle also said his wife was raped by the militants. The canadian government welcomed the familys safe return home. Im going to ask people to respect their privacy and understand that they have been through an extremely difficult period right now, but i can certainly say that were pleased that the ordeal they have been through over the past years has finally come to an end. Questions have been voiced by the couples decision to go to afghanistan at all. They really will not. Butjoshua boyle says he hopes his surviving children can regain some of their lost childhood. The home office is planning tougher prison sentences to tackle acid attacks. The number of incidents has more than doubled in britain in the past five years. Ministers are proposing a minimum six month jail term for people whore repeatedly caught carrying acid or other corrosive substances in england, wales and scotland. Alexandra mackenzie report begins with pictures showing the physical injuries some victims have been left with. Acid attacks can have devastating consequences. There were more than 400 in the uk between november 2016 and april this year, according to police figures. The government wants to give police more powers to prevent such assaults. I think its really important that we send out a very strong message that carrying a corrosive substance in a public place, unless youve got a really good reason to have it, is just totally unacceptable. Speak to any victim of an acid attack and they will be living with lifelong scars. Its absolutely right that we take this as seriously as any knife attack. Under the home office proposals, it would be an offence to possess a corrosive substance in public. There would be a ban on the sale of such substances to anyone under 18, and people caught carrying acid twice in public would receive a mandatory minimum six month prison sentence if over the age of 18. The proposals and the consultation around them, what it will do, it will allow us to bring more charges and convictions when it comes to carrying the substances, even before they are being used. At the minute, we have to prove the intent, the fact why are you carrying that substance. These proposals change that and put the onus on the person carrying it to explain why they have a reasonable or lawful excuse to have it in a particular set of circumstances. In london, police are being issued with test kits to check the contents of suspicious bottles of liquid. They are also being given protective gloves and Water Bottles so they can treat victims quickly. Together with the proposed new laws, officers hope it will help prevent more attacks. With me now is rory geoghegan. Hes a former metropolitan Neighbourhood Police officer, who is now the head of criminaljustice at the think tank the centre for socialjustice. Thanks for being with us. First of all, what do you make of the proposal . Weve got to welcome them. Weve been at the cs] arguing for this for a while. Stephen timms, mp, has been doing the same. Acid attacks, as anyone would imagine, theyre one of the most vile, horrific forms of attacks. The law has had a deficiency. Its failed to keep pace for what has worked its way into the criminal culture. When this was first mooted in terms of the figures came out. We had a series of very nasty attacks in london, one of the points made was that its not a new problem. Its one that, you know, its one thats almost victorian because it was used, certainly a lot in victorian england by criminal gangs. It seems to flare up every so often. This is the latest impact of that. |j to flare up every so often. This is the latest impact of that. I think you can go back as far as you like and find occasions when corrosive su bsta nces have and find occasions when corrosive substances have been thrown at people. What were seeing now, whats worrying, theres a concentration. One in four has been in one part of east london. If we dont tackle this, it will seep further into the criminal culture. Gangs are going to think, you know what, its easier to get acid, its a lesser sentence. What, its easier to get acid, its a lesser sentence. Ill go for that. Devastating impact on victims. Terrible. Not just devastating impact on victims. Terrible. Notjust physical devastating impact on victims. Terrible. Not just physical damage. Can be life changing, psychological damage as well. In terms of the evidence for this, the difficulty is, i suppose, evidence for this, the difficulty is, isuppose, that evidence for this, the difficulty is, i suppose, that you can increase sentences. What you cant be certain is whether that deters. You also make the point in your answer there that part of this is about the availability of the substance. Correct. Thats a much harder thing to tackle theres three prongs. Its similarto to tackle theres three prongs. Its similar to knife crime. You have to tackle the supply, the availability of the substances. The consultation promises to do. Weve been keen to push on that. The other element is to tackle peoples risk of getting caught. Whilst its tougher to say that longer sentences deter, we know the risk of detection has a deterrent effect. If you know youre going to get search, that luke zaid bottle, the police will test whether its got something nasty in it, youre its got something nasty in it, you re less its got something nasty in it, youre less likely to carry that. What are the prospects that you, as an officer, would have been issued with that. You will carry it every day . Just in case . This is where the consultation comes out. Its proposing a number of kits per a certain number of vehicles per borough, theres a cost etc. This is where actually to be honest, often its just the appearance of the police doing things. So im a young person whos carrying acid for whatever reason, or an old person, andi whatever reason, or an old person, and i get stopped and the police are routinely checking, ill think twice about carrying that. Really these proposals are to be welcomed. It will feed into the consultation process along with stephen timms. Were doing all we can to ensure theyre workable. How quickly would you hope the government can legislate on this, its a little busy at the moment. At the end of the day, kind of the framework around this is likely to hang is established around knife crime. Were not breaking massive new territory. Hopefully, there would be a broad consensus. This is something we seek to build around this. Hopefully it might have a fairly swift passage, the sooner the better. Absolutely, not least for those who have lived with the consequences. Thank you very much. Therell be an emergency meeting today, involving the organisers of the oscars. Theyll discuss the disgraced film executive Harvey Weinstein. The academy of Motion Picture arts and scienss which has awarded 81 oscars to films produced by his company and say the claims are repugnant. Facing possible expulsion from the organisation that catapulted him to stardom, Harvey Weinsteins future is hanging in the balance. Normally known for its glitz and glamour, the academy which organises the oscars will hold an emergency meeting later, rocked by allegations that the man behind some of hollywoods biggest films sexually harassed and assaulted dozens of women. He is someone who is different from the person i knew and the person who was involved for many years in democratic politics, for me and for barack obama and so many of us. He was very helpful and it is just appalling, what is coming out now, and i want to commend the women who are finally stepping forward. The us Actress Rose Mcgowan is the latest woman to accuse Harvey Weinstein of rape, while some of hollywoods other big names have made sexual assault, groping and harassment allegations, leading to Police Investigations in both the uk and us. Harvey weinstein denied allegations of non consensual sex and is now believed to be getting therapy in arizona. Rumours are swirling that his Film Production company could soon be closed or sold. In a statement his brother bob has rejected those claims, saying, business is continuing as usual. 65 year old weinstein has already been suspend pd from the british film academy, ba fta pd from the british film academy, bafta and may face the same fate or worse from the academy later. Lets talk to dr mary harrod from the faculty of arts at the university of warwick thanks very much for coming in. The number of these allegations is growing. The sense of momentum behind doing something about it is clearly out there. What realistically can we expect to come out of the meeting, what options are there for the academy . They have three options which are to do nothing, which seems relatively unlikely given that theyve been criticised for reacting slowly by compa reson criticised for reacting slowly by compareson with pasta. Harvey weinsteins own bafta. Second option would be to suspend his membership going forward, which is a relatively likely outcome. We dont know what the legal position will be. Even the fact that hes talked about causing pain suggests recognition by him ethically undesirable behaviour has taken place in a professional context. They have to decide if it can continue to hamper the way it works with them. Theres a case. The third option would be to additionally or instead option would be to additionally or i nstea d ta ke option would be to additionally or instead take away his oscar for shakespeare in love in 1999. That is a more difficult proposition. They have to decide, one, should his artistic achievement be judged on the basis of social behaviour . And should this be applied retrospectively. We are sitting in a building, the old part of which has the designs of a sculptor who it subsequently emerged had variety Sexual Offences against even members of his own family. There was a debate then about whether we should cover up debate then about whether we should cover up his work. If they took away his oscar, is it not a dangerer that theyve convicted him already of what are, at this stage, very serious, but allegations. Yes, for that reason, i think theyre likely to avoid it. It does remind me of all these questions about removing statues. Your example is better because its not achievements in the line, the same thing that were judging them harshly for, military, for example. But something they did outside. I think perhaps a better way would be to think about more diversity in the oscars going forward. Thats begun a bit. We have katherine bigelow, first woman to win an oscars. Moonlight was looking at diversity in different ways, a win this year. More needs to be done. Has the culture, i mean is this an illustration of the culture in american film making in particular, perhaps in this country as well, that has been surprisingly resista nt, as well, that has been surprisingly resistant, for what is said about gender equality, diversity, respect and treating others as equals that a lot of that has been about projection, image and performance. Yes, i think absolutely. Its one of the remitts of the academy. If you look at the data, a huge pay gap, actresses like jennifer look at the data, a huge pay gap, actresses likejennifer lawrence speaking out publicly about that. Few women in above the line roles behind the camera. Its about directing, about 7 now, it was 11 in 2000, its gone down. If you look at data from the centre of study of women in television and film out of stand yayingo university, cinemaing to fares, 5 , writers 13 . In addition, you have to look at onscreen representation. Actors are routinely objectified. There is a lack of roles for particularly older women. Is it any wonder when women are treated as second class citizens on set, it spills out into the broader culture. It will be interesting to see what comes out of that meeting later. Thanks very much for coming in. Britain has said it will defend the International Nuclear deal with iran, after donald trump decided he would no longer endorse it. The us president said iran had already violated the deal and has threatened to abandon the agreement altogether. All the other signatories including france, china, and germany have said they remain committed to the agreement. As we have seen in north korea, the longer we ignore a threat, the worse that threat becomes. It is why we are determined that the worlds leading sponsor of terrorism will never obtain nuclear weapons. The headlines a canadian man, kidnapped with his wife and held for nearly five years in afghanistan, has spoken for the first time about the ordeal his family went through at the hands of the taliban. The home office is planning to introduce minimum six month prison sentences for people who are repeatedly caught carrying acid, following a surge in attacks. The organisers of the oscars are holding talks later today to discuss claims of Sexual Misconduct against the Film Producer, Harvey Weinstein. A former senior Civil Servant in the department for International Trade has warned that leaving the eu without a trade agreement would be a very serious outcome for the uk. Sir Martin Donnelly said a no deal scenario could harm the uks ability to strike trade deals with other countries. The labour leader, jeremy corbyn, has also warned that conservative infighting over brexit was putting britain on a path to economic disaster. The government insists its actively working with the eu to ensure a good deal. Our political correspondent, jonathan blake, is here weve had a week of talks ending with the implication that they are politely agreeing to disagree on quite a lot of things still. European Council Meeting next week. This intervention from martin donnelley, will it be regarded as helpful in whitehall . donnelley, will it be regarded as helpful in whitehall . I think among government ministers perhaps not. But this is an intervention from someone who was, until recently, right at the heart of the department for International Trade. Thats the department which liam fox is in charge of as the secretary of state and tasked with post brexit, striking new trade deals with Different Countries around the world. Also having a hand in negotiating britains future trading relationship with the eu specifically. Now hes a former Civil Servant. Hes not crashing in here and using undiplomatic language and causing a row, he is choosing his words carefully to set out what he sees are the disadvantages, the dangers of ending the brexit negotiations with no deal. Hes been clear to say this would lead to a huge amount of legal uncertainty. It will be bad for business, forjobs, for investment in britain. He also was at pains to point out it would make it very difficult for britain to agree future trading relationships with countries beyond the European Union, who may see britain as a gateway to the eu in future. He said that agreeing those deals with other countries would be a long, and at times, difficult process. The americans might raise issues like chlorine treated chicken or hormones in beef or access to our health service. The indians might well say, well, we would like more visas for it workers. Some Asian Countries might want more recognition of their safety and product standards. All these raise complex issues, so i think its a mistake to think that there is some quick and easy alternative to the European Union. Obviously over time things change, but thats slow process. When youre talking about agreeing trade deals with other countries, we are not there yet because the uk cant formally start doing that until weve left the eu. The clock may be ticking on those negotiations, but we are not at this no deal scenario yet, not by a long way. There is plenty of time for a breakthrough and for things to fall into place. Labour throughout have been critical of the governments strategy. The labour leader, jeremy corbyn, during a speech in london this morning using some of the strongest language yet to criticise the governments approach saying that in fighting in the conservative party is in danger of sabotaging the negotiations. Lets be clear, no deal is the worst possible deal. It would leave us with World Trade Organisation tariffs and restrictions instead of the full access to the european markets we need. The risk would be that Key Manufacturers leave for the European Union mainland taking skilled jobs with them. In sector, after sector, no deal could prove to be an economic disaster. Theresa mays cabinet of chaos is risking a jobs melt down across britain. In response to all this, the government has said that they want a deep and special partnership with the European Union after our exit. They say thats in everyones interests. Theyre optimistic about achieving it. They say its a duty of a responsible government to plan for all scenarios. Thank you very much. At least four people have died and six people injured, after a cargo plane has crashed into the sea off the shore of ivory coast. It had taken off the from the main airport in the city of abidjan during a heavy storm. Witnesses said two bodies have been removed from the wreckage. The Reuters News Agency quoting the Ivorian Security minister has reported that the dead were all moldovan nationals and that four french citizens were among the injured. The authorities in california are warning that huge wildfires north of San Francisco could spread further, as theyre fanned by dry, windy conditions. 36 people are known to have been killed in the past week and many more are missing. From california, dave lee reports. These fires have choked california, displacing 90,000 people and destroying more than 5000 buildings. Sir, you have got to go this footage shows a Police Officers view on sunday. He was in the safety of santa rosa helping terrified residents evacuated. The next day, the city looks like this. We walk and see our neighbourhood flattened. It looks like a bomb has gone off in our neighbourhood. Its so heart breaking. The smoky air can be smelt as far as 100 miles away. This is where we made all our wines. The harvest was pretty complete. So all of our grapes were in. Over there is our press and crush pad. The tanks and that was all outside. Obviously you can see its com pletely obviously you can see its completely destroyed. Police are having to deal with looters, seeking to capitalise on block after block of empty homes. Some of the biggest fires are showing signs of being contained, thanks to the efforts of more than 8,000 firefighters drafted in to help. These firefighters are bracing themselves. Weather forecasts suggest more high winds are on the way. This is already the dead least wildfire in the States History and its not over yet. The republic of ireland has issued a status red weather warning for parts of the country, as hurricane ophelia, currently in the atlantic, heads towards the british isles. Irish forecasters warn the storm could bring gusts in excess of 80mph to southern counties by monday. Lets find out more what it means now with ben rich. Tell us about where it is at the moment and what its doing. Its pretty unusual actually to see a hurricane fully formed in the eastern and actually the North Eastern atlantic. Currently hurricane ophelia has sustained winds of around 100mph. It isa sustained winds of around 100mph. It is a category two hurricane. If we look at some weather graphics, i think i can show you, hopefully in a moment. Theyre coming. They will show you exactly where that storm is and how unusual the position of this is. There we are. This swirl of cloud. Its got an eye. Its got all the characteristics of a hurricane. Not that far from our shores. Sustained winds of 100mph at the moment. This storm is going to not bea moment. This storm is going to not be a hurricane as it approaches us. Watch this area of low pressure. When we see a low with isobars really squashed together like that, that shows you that were going to see strong winds. While it will not bea see strong winds. While it will not be a hurricane, as it arrives here, you mention 80mph gusts or more for the republic of ireland. Even across our shores, Western Areas could be in line for gusts of 70 to possibly 80mph during monday. Strong winds eventually into scotland. At the same time, south eastern areas temperatures up to 2a degrees. All because of the tropical air in this system. All that air is being churned up. Some of it is going to be hitting us hard presumably its one of those things you cant be precise about exactly where and when it will hit landfall. The closer we get to the event, as with any of these weather events, the more confidence we will have in our forecast. The track of this storm has been fairly consistent over the last couple of days, in taking it to the west of the ireland. The worst of the impacts look likely to be across the republic of ireland. That would hit probably over, before the end of the weekend. 0h, would hit probably over, before the end of the weekend. Oh, it will be monday, early monday. Parts of western england, particularly irish sea coasts, west wales, Northern Ireland, where i think we could see gusts up to 70 or 80mph. Then eventually perhaps western scotland. In these areas, if you have travel plans on monday, for example, its worth staying in touch with our forecast. Is there any sense that weve been talking a lot about hour canes in the last few weeks, is there a sense that this is a particularly bad season . Well, it certainly has been a busy season. Weve had hurricane after hurricane. You dont need me to tell thaw. The thing that is unusual about this storm is how far east it is in the atlantic. It formed over watersjust to the south of the azores, where sea temperatures have been about a degree above average. About 26 degrees. Plenty enough to drive that storm. Its as it drifts over the cooler waters towards us, it ceases to bea cooler waters towards us, it ceases to be a hurricane. But it still has all the characteristics of a major storm. That is quite unusual for this part of the world. Thanks great, thank you very much. A new £600 million toll bridge over the river mersey opened earlier this morning. The mersey gateway route is the largest Infrastructure Project in england outside london and connects runcorn and widnes in cheshire. Andy gill reports. Hundreds of people lined the banks of the mersey to watch a spectacular firework display a few hours before the new bridge opened. It links widnes on the north bank and runcorn on the south. Tolls aside, the locals approve. Its very smart. It reminds me of the one in america. I think its brilliant. A long time overdue. Yeah, its a fantastic development. And just past midnight the bridge was opened. Hundreds of bikers among the first to cross. The mersey gateway bridge is the biggest Civil Engineering project in the country, outside london. The total cost is more than £1. 8 billion. 20 million vehicles every year are expected to use it and its 810 miles of cable would stretch from lands end tojohn ogroats. The old Runcorn Widnes bridge now closes for a year for repairs. When it opens, both mersey crossings will be tolled. Locals can travel free if they pay a registration fee, but theres real anger among the individuals and businesses wholl have to pay. The transport secretary says the bridge should be free to use once it is paid for in 2042. Now weve heard from ben rich, for some variety, were giving you the weather with darren bet. Damaging winds on the way early next week in western parts of the uk. Hurricane ophelia arrives. Today weve got a southerly breeze, drawing up warmth, especially where we get the sunshine more widely across england and wales. Drying off further north away from the north west of scotland, not as warm here. In england and wales, temperatures widely 18 to 20 degrees. Locally 22 or so towards the south east. Overnight, we see the rain getting heavier and steadier in north west scotland. Otherwise dry and clearer skies, areas of mist and low cloud particularly in the west. Youll notice a very mild night, lows of 12 or 13 degrees. Warming up quickly where we get the sunshine tomorrow. Some areas of low cloud may linger across Western Areas for a while. Well see rain coming back across scotla nd well see rain coming back across scotland and into Northern Ireland limiting the temperature rise here. Again where we see the sunshine across england and wales, especially central and eastern areas, shelter from the high ground, its another very warm day. Hello. And held for nearly five years in afghanistan has spoken for the first time about the ordeal his family went through at the hands of the taliban. It will be of incredible importance to that we are able to provide a secure santry to that we are able to provide a secure sa ntry for to that we are able to provide a secure santry for our three surviving children to quell a home and to try to make a childhood that they have lost. To call a home. The home office is planning to introduce minimum six month prison sentences for people who are repeatedly caught carrying acid, following a surge in attacks. The organisers of the oscars are to hold emergency talks later to discuss claims of Sexual Misconduct against the Film ProducerHarvey Weinstein. Now on bbc news, its time for inside out