Laughter in cannes as Director Spike Lee accidentally let slip the name of the winner of the Palme Dor. Hello, and welcome. Well, Rescue Workers searching for victims of the devastating floods across Western Europe have warned that more bodies may be found in submerged cars, cellars and collapsed buildings. At least 170 people are known have died, most of them in western germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to visit affected areas on sunday. With more, heres our berlin correspondent, jenny hill. In ahrweiler, everything, everyone, is covered in a thick, sticky mud. Theres no power, nowhere to buy food, not much mobile reception. But theyre doing what they can. Willie told us theyve never seen anything like it here, not even in his parents� , grandparents� , time. The water rose two metres in 15 or 20 minutes, he told us. People tried to save their things, went on to their basements, and unfortunately got trapped. I was lucky, he said, i could get out the back of my basement. Around 100 people have died in this district alone. Many more are still missing. There was so little time to run, people tell us. Look at the force of this flood. And the damage it left behind. The waters receding, but the number of dead is expected to continue to rise. Search and rescue, its feared, will soon be a recovery operation. Today, the german president described the loss as heartbreaking. Translation its a time of misery, and in times i of misery, our country sticks together. Im glad that people, notjust here in the region, but from all over germany, send messages of sympathy and solidarity. So many people just want to help, donations piling up, overwhelming the volunteers at this makeshift warehouse. Translation icant. Imagine what it must be like to be affected. Thats why im here, to help people. In ahrweiler, across the region, lives turned upside down. This is amelie. The water, she told us, came from the playground to our house, but luckily just the ground floor. My Gran And Grandad were affected, though. They are staying with us now. As the waters slowly subside, they reveal the extent of the damage done. The task of rebuilding this region seems overwhelming, so much of its vital infrastructure bridges, roads, Railways Has completely gone. Hard to imagine the time, the Money Itll take to get this region back on its feet. Jenny hill, Bbc News, ahrweiler. Well, 27 people are known to have died in neighbouring belgium, where Rescue Operations are continuing. From there, Anna Holligan sent this report. This is the river meuse, and if you look carefully here, you can see some of the debris that has been carried downstream. And the smell of oil, the stench is something that you can smell all around here. This is the belgian city of Liege And Rescue workers were sent from italy, france and austria to help with the Recovery Effort here and the evacuations, too. Most people are now returning to their homes, but the belgian Prime Minister has declared July 20 a national day of mourning. At least 20 people have been killed here alone, they say they have never experienced catastrophic floods of this scale before. Now, across the border, not far from here in the netherlands, the Emergency Services are still trying to reconnect the power supplies. But there, so much of the country lies ten metres below sea level. They have so much Experience And Talent in managing the rising tides, and what the last few days has demonstrated, this extreme rainfall, that even the most investigated technology will struggle under this kind of pressure. Experts have said it should be a wake up call, politicians across the continent have blamed climate change. But what so many people in this region here in liege, in limburg, which has been classified as a disaster area, and beyond, what they want to know now they want assurances from those politicians that something like this can never happen again. Anna holligan there. And the details on those floods and Rescue And Recovery operations on our website bbc. Com news. Here in the uk, the Health Minister, Sajid Javid, is self isolating after testing positive for coronavirus. Mrjavid, whos fully vaccinated, said hed felt a Bit Groggy on friday night. Its understood he met the Prime Minister on friday, but its not yet clear whether borisjohnson will have to self isolate, too. It comes ahead of the government lifting covid restrictions in england on monday. 0ur political correspondent, nick eardley, reports. Downing street yesterday. The Health Secretary outside number 10, Face Mask in hand, but this morning he tested positive for coronavirus. I was feeling a Bit Groggy last night, so i took a Lateralflow Test this morning and its come out positive. So, im now self isolating at home with my family until i get the results of a pcr test. Im grateful that i have had two jabs of the vaccine, and so far, my symptoms are very mild. This was Sajid Javid at a Care Home on tuesday, four days before his symptoms developed. Its not clear yet if anyone else in government will have to self isolate as a close contact. It comes ahead of a crucial week. From monday, Social Distancing will officially end in england. There will be no limits at events, Face Masks wont be a legal requirement. But there were more than 5a,000 cases in the last 24 hour period. Some are warning we shouldnt be too relaxed, pointing to countries like israel, where some restrictions have been brought back. If we behave like theyve done and change our behaviour too dramatically when the restrictions are changed, then were going to end up having to do what theyre having to do now, which is reconsider reimposing restrictions. Next week will be a significant moment in the sometimes slow road out of lockdown in england, but it wont be back to normality overnight. Face coverings will still be recommended in some places and there will still be an emphasis on caution. And the number of positive cases were seeing, like the Health Secretarys, is a reminder that even if many restrictions are going, the Virus Hasnt disappeared. For tourists returning from paris and the rest of france, some changes have already been delayed. Double jabbed people were supposed to be spared quarantine, but last night, the government announced that wouldnt be happening. Thats left some in the Travel Industry frustrated. Whilst Public Health will always be a priority, it does not feel like its the right thing to do to hold the uk back when other countries are travelling in their abundance. Frustration shared by tourists leaving london this morning. Im trying my hardest to follow the rules, but i dont understand the rules, so i dont know. At this point, im going on my holiday and whatever happens happens. Its just constantly changing. It actually feels more, like, political than anything else. Its very confusing. I think everything is really badly handled. In wales today, restrictions on Meeting Outside were lifted. Across the uk, there are more freedoms on their way, but that isnt without risk. Nick eardley, Bbc News. Well, residents of americas second largest city, Los Angeles, are once again being required to wear Face Masks indoors, following an increase in coronavirus cases amongst the non vaccinated. The rule comes into effect at midnight local time, Making La The First area of its kind to restore such requirements in the us. John swartzberg is clinical Professor Emeritus at the university of Californias School of Public Health and hejoins me now. Whats going on here. Is this the Delta Variant making things worse . It the Delta Variant making things worse . ,. , worse . It certainly is. Not exclusively worse . It certainly is. Not exclusively the worse . It certainly is. Not exclusively the delta worse . It certainly is. Not. Exclusively the Delta Variant but far and away the most prominent variant we are seeing in Los Angeles and really throughout the united states now. The variant is really doing exactly what it did to the uk, just doing it a few months later here. So, yes, delta is causing havoc in Los Angeles. Delta is causing havoc in los anaeles. ,. , angeles. The cdc said recently, ust in angeles. The cdc said recently, just in the angeles. The cdc said recently, just in the last angeles. The cdc said recently, just in the last day, angeles. The cdc said recently, just in the last day, they angeles. The cdc said recently, just in the last day, they are just in the last day, they are going to use the going to see this affect the unvaccinated. Is this being Born Out in la . Predominantly, es. Born out in la . Predominantly, yes those Born Out in la . Predominantly, yes. Those cases Born Out in la . Predominantly, yes. Those cases are yes. Those cases are anticipated because vaccines are not 100 . But those breakthrough cases are either asymptomatic or causing mild disease or at least disease not serious enough to require hospitalisation is. Of the 99 of the hospitalisations in Los Angeles are people who are either not vaccinated or partially vaccinated. And what kind of peeple partially vaccinated. And what kind of people are partially vaccinated. And what kind of people are we partially vaccinated. And what kind of people are we seeingl kind of people are we seeing going to hospital . Is it predominantly over 50s, elderly, getting quite sick, or are we seeing younger people who are not vaccinated getting sick . ~. ,. Who are not vaccinated getting sick . ,. , sick . We are seeing a change in the demi sick . We are seeing a change in the demi elegy, sick . We are seeing a change in the demi elegy, not sick . We are seeing a change in the demi elegy, notjust sick . We are seeing a change in the demi elegy, Notjust In the demi elegy, Notjust In Los Angeles and california in general, but throughout the united states. We are not seeing as many elderly people get hospitalised and dying. We are seeing younger people dying and this is mainly because of two Things Number one, younger people are not getting vaccinated nearly to the rate that older people are, and number two, younger people tend to take more risks than older people do. To take more risks than older Peeple De to take more risks than older eoledo. ~. ,. , people do. What is the solution here . We people do. What is the solution here . We have people do. What is the solution here . We have seen people do. What is the solution here . We have seen the people do. What is the solution here . We have seen the us here . We have seen the us president get frustrated with Vaccination Rates styling in the us. How does La And Other Cities and states change the mindset around those who have chosen not to get vaccinated . Well, itsjust chosen not to get vaccinated . Well, its just an absolute tragedy that vaccination became politicised in the united states. There is no reason for that. Of course, it is appropriate to be hesitant about anything new, but the politicisation of vaccination is a tragedy. The first thing is a tragedy. The first thing is to try and get rid of the idea that this is a republican or democratic idea. It is just nuts. So, we have got to continue to make the vaccine available, we have got to convince people of its necessity, notjust to protect themselves, but to protect others from getting infected, and it is also to protect the world from developing variants, because every person who gets infected becomes a variant factory. Infected becomes a variant facto. G. , infected becomes a variant facto ,. ,. , factory. John swartzberg from the university factory. John swartzberg from the university of factory. John swartzberg from the university of california. I the university of california. Thank you very much for your time and analysis on that. You are welcome. High level talks have begun between afghan political leaders and the taliban, in the Gulf State of qatar. The negotiations are an effort to jump start a long stalled process in the midst of Rapid Taliban Military Advances across afghanistan and growing concern about the Countrys Future in the wake of the us led nato pullout. Afghan government sources say the talks have got off to a good start. 0ur chief international correspondent, lyse doucet, is in doha, where shes been speaking to the key players on both sides. These high level talks are taking place in the midst of growing uncertainty, if not anxiety, about afg hanistan� s future. Afghan government negotiators say they are acutely aware that the window for Peace Talks is fast narrowing, perhaps a question ofjust two to three months. Because the backdrop, of course, is that the taliban have been Overrunning Districts across afghanistan and seizing strategic order crossings. So i asked the Minister Of State for peace, Sayed Sadat mansoor naderi, did he believe after talking to the taliban again here that they were interested in a political solution . Well, we hope so, because the only solution to the conflict in afghanistan is a political solution, is through a meaningful negotiation, and conflict and taking afghanistan by force is not the solution. It will not be acceptable to the people of afghanistan. Afg hanistan� s State Minister for peace. But of course that is a question for the taliban too, because its been noticed that as they make rapid Military Advances, its emboldened them and they become clearer about their political vision for afghanistan. And its one, judging by their ideas now on the table, one which doesnt include elections and has a new Islamic Constitution as well as leadership, which, of course, for the afghan Government Team means that accepting those proposals is tantamount to a call for surrender. So i asked the member of the taliban negotiating team, their spokesman suhail shaheen, whether that was the spirit of these talks. That is a perception of the other side, not our policy. Our policy is to have a negotiated settlement of the issue. That is our policy. We want this, because in that circumstance, we can then bring a durable peace to the country. That is our objective. Suhail shaheen, the talibans spokesperson. Well, both sides say the Talks Today here in Doha Have got off to a good start. What theyre hoping is that these discussions can help both sides to clarify their positions and that they will lead to another round of talks involving even more high level figures on both sides to try to push this negotiation forward. Because everyone is aware, most of all afghans on the ground as well as afghanistans neighbours, that if these talks fail, the war will get worse much worse. This is Bbc News. Our main headlines. A race against time the search continues for hundreds of people still missing following devastating floods in germany and other european countries. The uks Health Minister tests positive for coronavirus just as the government prepares to lift its legal restrictions. An american Space Force Plan to develop a global Monitoring System to track objects up to 22,000 miles from earth could see powerful Radar Stations established in the us, the uk and australia. It comes amid fears that anti satellite arms held by beijing are capable of threatening us orbital fleets. Heres our defence correspondent, jonathan beale. The race in space is already under way, the race in space is already underway, notjust the race in space is already under way, notjust for under way, not just for commercial ventures like under way, notjust for commercial ventures like Virgin Galactic with its recent maiden voyage, but for nations as well. ,. , well. Three, two, we have ignition well. Three, two, we have ignition. Last well. Three, two, we have ignition. Last year well. Three, two, we have ignition. Last year the well. Three, two, we have ignition. Last year the us| ignition. Last year the us military launched ignition. Last year the us| military launched another ignition. Last year the us military launched another ten satellites into space. America also now has its own Space Force, not least to protect the systems we know or use, such as Gps Location. Systems we know or use, such as Gps Location Gps Location. There are threats in space Gps Location. There are threats in since i Gps Location. There are threats in space. I would Gps Location. There are threats in space. I would say Gps Location. There are threats in space. I would say the Gps Location. There are threats in space. I would say the two. In space. I would say the two countries that are most threatening are China And Russia, there have been Antisatellite Metals that have been developed. Antisatellite metals that have been developed. America already has early warning been developed. America already has Early Warning Systems been developed. America already has Early Warning Systems to has Early Warning Systems to detect ballistic missiles, including the Farmingdales Radar in north yorkshire. Now the us wants to build a new Radar System for Deep Space, and one of the new sites could be in the uk. It and one of the new sites could be in the uk. Be in the uk. It could end up in the uk, be in the uk. It could end up in the uk, array be in the uk. It could end up in the uk, array of be in the uk. It could end up in the uk, array of parabolic| in the uk, array of parabolic antennas, anywhere from 10 15, for tracking, and potentially 4 for tracking, and potentially 4 six for transmitting. So for tracking, and potentially 4 six for transmitting. So it would cover 4 six for transmitting. So it would cover a 4 six for transmitting. So it would cover a large 4 six for transmitting. So it would cover a large area. I 4 six for transmitting. So it would cover a large area. Al would cover a large area. Large area to receive, so probably an area of one kilometre in diameter. The deep S Ace Kilometre in diameter. The deep sace to kilometre in diameter. The Deep Space to advanced kilometre in diameter. The Deep Space to advanced Radar Space to advanced radar capability, which will be able to detect an object the size of a football up to 36,000 kilometres away, is being developed here in california. 0ne developed here in california. One of the sites visited by the british Defence Secretary this week, wants to strengthen cooperation on space, not least to protect critical National Infrastructure. Infrastructure. Space is a growing infrastructure. Space is a growing domain infrastructure. Space is a growing domain for infrastructure. Space is a growing domain for both| growing domain for both commerce, but also to protect all the key National Infrastructure that we need to entered as world, and it is under threat in some areas, adverse areas are weaponising space, so we have to make sure at the very least we are providing resilience. The locations providing resilience. The locations of providing resilience. The locations of the providing resilience. The locations of the deep providing resilience. The locations of the Deep Space radar capability, or dark for short, have still to be agreed, but one of the sites being considered by the us Space Force is in the south of england or scotland, as well as in texas and australia. It may prove controversial but the government has made clear it wants britain to be in the vanguard of efforts to keep space safe. We can now speak to todd harrison, Whos Director of the Aerospace Security Project at the center for strategic and international studies. Thank you so much for your time. Why build such a large radarsite . How time. Why build such a large Radar Site . How unusual is it a try and do something like this . Its actually not that unusual. This is something that has really been expected, and needed for quite a while, and its not so much for military purposes, although it will help enhance our collective security in space, its really more about ensuring safety of flight in space. There are so many more satellites going up now, and the Space Force, the us Space Force and before that the air force, has had the responsibility of tracking all those objects, figuring out which objects might collide with each other, and then sending out all of those Collision Warnings to Satellite Operators around the world. Gets a free service the us government has provided since the beginning of the Space Age that the world has come to rely on, to provide that safety of flight information, and with all the new objects going up there in space, they simply need more radar, more telescope sides, more eyes on this guy to keep track of whats going on. So its an additional Perspective Radar Network on top of what they already have, is that right . Is that right . Thats right, the space is that right . Thats right, the Space Force is that right . Thats right, the Space Force already i the Space Force already operates a network around the world of radar and Optical Telescopes that keep track of whats happening in space, so to other countries as well, and many other allied countries, we share that space situational awareness data with one another so we can all have a collectively Better picture of whats going on in space, but also, there is a growing commercial industry. We see a lot of private companies building similar systems. Not quite as large as what they are talking about here, but we see private companies building their own radars that look up into space to track objects, and they sell that data to Satellite Companies that want to have a Better fix on whats going on in their neighbourhood. Going on in their neithbourhood. ~. , neighbourhood. We have seen some competition neighbourhood. We have seen some competition with neighbourhood. We have seen some competition with the neighbourhood. We have seen i some competition with the Space Race between China And Russia and the us already, but could this be a further push into more competition between these countries that already compete . There are many elements of the competition in space between the united states and china, and russia as well. One element of the competition is for science and exploration, going back to the moon, china putting up back to the moon, china putting up a space station, a lot of thatis up a space station, a lot of that is about advancing science and who will get there first, and who will get there first, and national prestige, quite frankly, but there is also very much a Military Competition going on in space, and is the earlier folks going on in space, and is the earlierfolks that you earlier folks that you interviewed alluded to, both China And Russia have been building a vast array of antisatellite weapons, missiles that can shoot down satellites, satellites that can actually attack other satellites, and their nongenetic forms of attack like jamming and lazing of satellites. We have seen them develop and test a full range of counterspace capabilities, and what they are talking about here, these radar sides would simply allow the us military to get a Better picture of whats actually going on in space, which in many ways isjust going on in space, which in many ways is just going to increase Transparency And Increase Transparency And Increase the pressure on china to behave Better. To behave Better. There is so much more to behave Better. There is so much more to to behave Better. There is so much more to talk to behave Better. There is so much more to talk about,. To behave Better. There is so i much more to talk about, space is definitely the new frontier, thank you so much for that. The french director, julia ducourneau, has won the Palme D0r at the Cannes Film Festival for her movie about a Serial Killer titane. Shes only the second female director to win one of the film worlds most prestigious awards. But the announcement didnt quite go according to plan as the bbc� s Tim Allman explains. � s can you tell me which prize is the first prize . s can you tell me which prize is the first prize . Is the first prize . Yes i can. A Big Night is the first prize . Yes i can. A Big Night and is the first prize . Yes i can. A Big Night And A Is The First prize . Yes i can. A Big Night and a big is the first prize . Yes i can. I a Big Night and a big moment, that camejust a a Big Night and a big moment, that came just a bit earlier than intended. That came just a bit earlier than intended. The film that won the palme than intended. The film that won the Palme Dor than intended. The film that won the Palme Dor is i than intended. The film that i won the Palme Dor is titane. Won the Palme D0r is titane. Spike won the Palme D0r is titane. Spike dudley announcing the winner of the Palme D0r a little ahead of schedule. You a fair dose of confusion and a few red faces. Fast forward a couple of hours, throw in a Hollywood Sex symbol, and try again. Hollywood sex symbol, and try atain. � ,. , Hollywood Sex symbol, and try atain. �. , again. Are you ready . It is now . Palme again. Are you ready . It is now . Palme dor, again. Are you ready . It is now . Palme dor, titane. | now . Palme dor, titane. Directorjulia ducourneau still looks a little overwhelmed, evenif looks a little overwhelmed, even if she knew she was going to win ahead of time. And why not, she is on the second woman to ever be awarded the Palme Dor. To ever be awarded the Palme D0r. Titane has been described as outlandish, grizzly, yet comic. It is the story of a female Serial Killer set to be one of the most shocking films ever shown at the festival. There was this moment where i felt i was in the twilight zone, so i did not believe it, at all. Somehow there was the same attention if nothing had been said. Same attention if nothing had been said same attention if nothing had been said. ,. ,. , been said. Elsewhere the award for the best been said. Elsewhere the award for the Best Actress been said. Elsewhere the award for the Best Actress went been said. Elsewhere the award for the Best Actress went to i been said. Elsewhere the award for the Best Actress went to a l for the Best Actress went to a norwegian actor for her part in the worst person in the world. Americas Caleb Landryjones was named best actor. The big winner wasjulia ducourneau, who said her evening had been perfect, because it was imperfect. Tim allman, Bbc News. Congratulations to all the winners there. The Annual Hajj Pilgrimmage is getting under way in saudi arabia, with a reduced number of participants. Only 60,000 people will be taking part because of covid restrictions. Under normal circumstances, around two and a half million muslims from across the world would visit the holiest sites of islam in mecca and medina a pilgrimmage which all muslims are expected to make at least once in their lifetimes. Stay with us on Bbc News, much more coming up, and you can reach me on twitter. See you soon. Hello there. Saturday saw the warmest weather of the year so far in all four nations of the uk. And in northern ireland, whereas you can see it was Beach Weather in county down, temperatures actually broke the all time record. The highest temperature since records began in northern ireland, ballywatticock 31. 2 degrees. But in england, in wales and in scotland, we saw some pretty hot temperatures. However, the far north of scotland was much, much cooler, just 13 degrees for parts of shetland, whereas you can see we had a lot of cloud. You can pick that out on the Satellite Picture through saturday afternoon. And that cloud has been pushing a little further south westwards, so starting off sunday morning, rather cloudy and murky for parts of northern ireland. Quite a lot of cloud for scotland, too, with some patchy rain in the far north. The cloud should tend to break up to give some spells of sunshine, although it will stay quite murky for some northern coasts of northern ireland. I think england and wales will see the Lions Share of The Sunshine, and thats where well have the highest temperatures as well. Slightly cooler day for scotland and northern ireland. For england and wales, particularly down towards the south, were looking at highs of 30, possibly 31 degrees in the london area. And The Sun very, very strong at the moment, very high Uv Levels in southern england, parts of wales. The lower levels further north only because well have more in the way of cloud. So, as we head through Sunday Evening and into the early hours of monday, we keep clear spells, especially across england and wales. Still more Cloud At Times Across Scotland and northern ireland, some mist and murk. And it will be another very warm and muggy night. 0vernight lows between 12 17 degrees. So, we start monday with high pressure still in charge, but notice the centre of the high is slipping a little further westwards. That will allow a very gentle North Or North westerly flow of air across the country. And thatll bring just a subtle change in the temperatures, a slightly cooler day for many, a bit more cloud working into North Sea coasts as well. Some cloud for north west scotland, parts of northern ireland, and youll see maybe just the odd shower, the Odd Sharp Shower breaking out across southern areas. Those temperatures a little down, still quite warm in the south. A little Bit Cooler further north. As we look further ahead, there is a lot of dry weather on offer this week. Still some relatively high temperatures. It mayjust start to turn a bit more unsettled by friday. This is Bbc News. The Headlines Rescue workers searching for victims of the devastating floods which earlier in the week Hit Germany and the benelux countries have warned that more bodies may be found in submerged cars, cellars and collapsed buildings. At least 170 people are known to have died, most of them in western germany. Two days before a Widescale Lifting of coronavirus restrictions in england, britains Health Minister has announced hes tested positive for the virus. Sajid javid said he had mild symptoms, having been vaccinated. He also recently said cases of coronavirus could reach 100,000 a day, later in the summer. Afghan government sources have expressed optimism after the start of renewed Peace Negotiations with the taliban in qatar. The long stalled talks come as the resurgent taliban continue to overrun many afghan districts, with concerns about the Countrys Future following the withdrawal of us and other foreign troops. Now on Bbc News dateline london