this is bbc news. our top stories: the australian prime minister says counter—terrorism police have foiled an attempt to blow upa plane. the threat of terrorism is very real. the disruption operation, the effo rts real. the disruption operation, the efforts overnight have been very effective, but there is more work to do. north korea claims its latest intercontinental ballistic missile test proves any target in the us is now within striking distance. tensions in venezuela ahead of a vote that could lead to a new constitution — a power grab, says the opposition. also in the programme, thousands of people are evacuated from a music festival in barcelona, after a fire engulfed part of the main stage. hello, and welcome to bbc news.

our breaking news this hour — the australian prime minister says his country has foiled a plot to bring down an aeroplane. malcolm turnbull says four people have been arrested in what he called "a majorjoint counter—terrorism operation." there are few further details at this point. additional security has been put in place at all australian domestic and international airports. the australian public, as andrew and mick observed, can have great confidence in our security arrangements, and in particular our security screening procedures at airports. however, what we have done is increased them so that there will

be more bags being checked, it is really intensifying what we are already doing. and some of that will be visible, some of it will not be visible. but it will take more time. the bbc‘s phil mercer's live in sydney for us. what more do you know about this plot? well, the australian federal police say they have no specific details of time, date or location, but they believe they have credible information that the aviation industry was the target of this alleged conspiracy. investigators say they have information that this alleged plot involved some sort of improvised device. as a result, as we just heard from prime minister malcolm turnbull, security has been stepped up not just malcolm turnbull, security has been stepped up notjust that sydney's international and domestic terminals but at airports right across the country. this follows raids in four suburbs in sydney on saturday evening local time. four men were

arrested and police say that their investigations are continuing. you know what sort of plane being targeted? police haven't said that. all that they will say is that this was, in their opinion, a credible threat. and woman whose son and husband were apparently arrested during these raids by heavily armed police and members of australia's domestic spy agency, she has denied that they had any links to extremism. australia's national domestic terror threat level remains the same, at probable. it is worth pointing out that since 2014, 70 people have been charged following more than 30 counterterror raids here in australia. this extra security being put on at domestic and international airports, do you think that is precautionary?m and international airports, do you think that is precautionary? it is a sign of the times, isn't it? with australia joining many other

countries around the world beefing up countries around the world beefing up security notjust at countries around the world beefing up security not just at airports countries around the world beefing up security notjust at airports at that public transport hubs and public holdings as well. this is a country public holdings as well. this is a cou ntry world public holdings as well. this is a country world used to the new security arrangements. —— well used. malcolm turnbull is urging travellers to stay calm. he says they should have confidence in going about their business, urging them to turn upa about their business, urging them to turn up a lot earlier. he says they will be a lot of additional screening of baggage and a lot more visible security presence as well. phil mercer, from sydney, thank you for that update. south korea says it will speed up the deployment of its american anti—missile system, following pyonyang's latest rocket test. north korea's leader kimjong—un has claimed the us mainland is now within striking range. the launch has been condemned worldwide, with china expressing serious concern. from seoul, here's our correspondent karen allen. cloa ked in darkness,

state—run tv captured the final moments before the missile launch. a potent symbol of north korea's defiance in the face of international sanctions, its leader kim jong—un there to witness it all. then the dramatic lift—off. and the moment that pyongyang thumbed its nose at the world. the second launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile in less than a month. it travelled higher and further than the missile fired before, eventually splashing down in the ocean off the coast of japan. then came the official confirmation from pyongyang. the newsreader announcing that this test was proof that the whole of the us is now within reach. pictures show a triumphant north korean leader. in washington, president trump described the test as "reckless and dangerous."

the reaction from north korea's neighbour in the south was equally harsh. translation: south korea strongly condemns the reckless act, dashing the international community's hopes of eased inter—korean military tensions and, in particular, seoul's offer of bilateral military talks. thesejoint us—south korea military drills a response to the launch, designed to send a clear message that seoul and washington stand shoulder to shoulder in the face of an increasingly belligerent north korea. the us already has battleships in the pacific ocean. now it's promised to scale up its strategic assets in response to this latest threat. more aircraft carriers and stealth bombers could soon be on the way. a jubilant kim jong—un wants us recognition as a nuclear power. instead, in the wake of another missile test, he's likely to face stiffer sanctions, with china and russia under pressure not to stand in the way. andrea berger is a nuclear security

expert at the middlebury institute of international studies. she outlined the main concerns following this latest missile test. well, this is not an imminent escalation in tension between the two countries. the concern that we have over this latest missile test is the system that north korea is developing. it has developed the capability to hit much of the continental united states with a nuclear weapons, and to hold targets in the us at risk. that really changes some of the military calculations that we have had towards north korea and the threat that it poses for some time. kim jong—un says any part of the us is

110w jong—un says any part of the us is now a target. is that a credible claim, do you think? well, what north korea does ears, it fires its missiles when it is testing them straight up, in effect. so while the launch yesterday may only have travelled 1000 kilometres, if that's a missile were to be actually launched as it would be in an attack, it could indeed probably reach a large portion of the continent united states. how effective do you think the anti—missile system in south korea is against these missiles? the amazing thing is, actually, that the antiballistic missile system that south korea has accelerated the deployment of today is not designed to counter the type of missile that north korea launched yesterday. it is actually designed to defend against different missile types. so it is pretty clear proof that we are grappling with things to demonstrate that we are taking action in response to north korea's

activities, even if our own demonstrations are not very credible. briefly, if you could, what do you think can be done to bring in north korea? well, everybody is saying that there are no good options right now, and that is largely true. there are pretty significant risks and costs associated with pursuing any one pa rt associated with pursuing any one part to its full extent. —— path. there are many avenues we could try further. we could try greater dialogue with the north, to try to exert restraint on their programme. the problem is that north korea is not the phone is right now. —— not picking up the phones. so we are searching for more that we can do, but the recipe that would make for good policy is complex. that was andrea berger. there's plenty more on this story on our website, including analysis from our diplomatic correspondent jonathan marcus on how the united states could defend itself. that's all at bbc.com/news, or go to the bbc news app. let's take a look at some

of the other stories making the news. poland has reacted angrily after the european union begun legal action against its government over a new law giving the justice minister and the government the right to fire judges. poland's foreign minister says the eu's actions seem like blackmail. two people have been killed and more than a dozen injured in crush during a football match in south africa. police say too many people had been trying to enter the fnb stadium during the soweto derby between football clubs kaizer chiefs and orlando pirates injohannesburg. hundreds of turkish women have staged a march in istanbul to protest against demands that they should dress more conservatively. demonstrators say the march was in opposition to an increasing number of public attacks on women over their choice of clothing. tensions are rising in venezuela ahead of sunday's vote to elect

an assembly, with the power to rewrite the nation's constitution. opponents of president nicholas maduro say it's just an opportunity for him to gain more power in a country riven by political and economic divisions. will grant is in caracas. this is one of the main arterial roads in eastern caracas. normally it would be full of traffic and pedestrians. this is one of the main paths through the city. today it is just a catered completely. —— barricaded. the streets are deserted. every few hundred metres there is rubbish, barbed wire, young men and women are sitting at protecting the streets from anybody coming through, any traffic. this is

the environment in which sunday's vote is due to take base, and it is happening notjust vote is due to take base, and it is happening not just in vote is due to take base, and it is happening notjust in this part of caracas but across the city. —— take place. wherever there are neighbours who are opposed to the mid— euro administration —— maduro administration —— maduro administration and sunday's vote, which they see as the final imposition of a dictatorship in venezuela, people are turning out and closing the streets, and they say they will continue to do so until they can affect a change in the country. president trump's chief of staff, reince priebus, has resigned after days of public infighting at the white house. it makes him the shortest serving white house chief of staff in history. mr trump has replaced him with this man generaljohn kelly, who was head of homeland security. in the tumultuous seven months of his presidency, donald trump has lost several key members of his administration. in his first month in office he fired, sally yates, the acting attorney general, over her opposition to his travel ban.

then his national security advisor michael flynn resigned after only 23 days on the job over discussions he had held with the russians. then at the beginning of may, the president fired the fbi director james comey. at the end of that month white house communications director mike dubke resigned. in his place this man, anthony scaramucci, but his appointment led to another resignation press secretary sean spicer. speaking from los angeles, the conservative radio talk show host, amanda head, gave me her thoughts on all the movement and drama in this administration. i think we can all agree that donald trump's presidency, there is not a whole lot of tradition involved. there really hasn't been, from the very beginning. the issue with the reince priebus is that they had something of a contentious relationships in the beginning. it is no secret that there are a lot of

republicans who didn't want trump to win the nomination. he did, and the contention continued on from there. reince priebus was a great rnc chairman. he did a fantasticjob of bringing back the rnc after some defeats in the last two presidential cycles. he did a greatjob with that but i do not think that his personality as complement three to president trump's. —— complement three. he likes to surround himself with dominant personalities. he has a dominant personality himself, obviously. he likes guide's guys. this new hiring, john kelly, he is the kind of guy who will go into a combat zone, will and some would argue that washington is exact without right now, but he is the kind of person who goes in and knocks heads. in terms of reince priebus, here's a link, is he not, to the people he needs in order, donald trump needs, in order to pass

legislation like healthca re? donald trump needs, in order to pass legislation like healthcare ?|j donald trump needs, in order to pass legislation like healthcare? i don't think so, necessarily. i think that the hope is that within an ministration, the common goal is the president's agenda. that is what you sign on for. let's hope that there is not one single link between the president and passing his agenda. i would hope that others would make an effort to follow through on that even without reince priebus there. the speculation is that the white house is in chaos. do you think generaljohn kelly will be able to bring some order to it?|j generaljohn kelly will be able to bring some order to it? i do, absolutely. he is the general border, and i think if anybody can do it, he can. —— general of order. donald trump has said he wants to end government payments to health insurers. he is obviously very annoyed that there wasn't, you know, that the skinny repeal didn't go through. do you think this is blackmail, that he isjust through. do you think this is blackmail, that he is just bent out of shape it is he didn't get his

way? i think the underlying concern, andi way? i think the underlying concern, and i say this dripping with sarcasm , and i say this dripping with sarcasm, i mean, these poor congressmen and women, this was just thrown in ball—up. they had no idea they would have the chance to repeal and replace. it is not like we have all -- and replace. it is not like we have all —— not like we have control of all —— not like we have control of all three branches of government. i am being sardonic. they have had three years to prepare for this and nothing has cottoned on. i do not think it is blackmail, but i do think it is blackmail, but i do think it is time for the people who promised and run on repeal and replace to step up to the plate and do theirjob. stay with us on bbc world news. still to come, the emergency call from a woman in the us who was being attacked by a boa constrictor. the air space agency nasa has

ordered an investigation after confirmation today that astronauts we re confirmation today that astronauts were cleared to fly while drunk. the last foot patrol that it wants an everyday pa rt last foot patrol that it wants an everyday part in the soldiers lot, drudgery in danger now no longer after almost four decades. if someone after almost four decades. if someone is in a private house, not doing any harm to anyone, i cannot see why people should wonder in and say you are doing something wrong. six round white line tie and clubs are on the prowl. they have been met with the roar of approval from visitors. they are lovely and sweet. cute. the australian government says a counter—terrorism operation has

disrupted a plot to bring down an aeroplane. four people have been arrested in sydney. north korea claims its latest intercontinental ballistic missile test proves that any target in the us is now within striking distance. there are reports of a major best fire at a music festival in spain. thousands of people are believed to have been evacuated from the tomorrowland dance music festival in barcelona, after a fire engulfed part of the main stage. here are the extraordinary pictures of the huge blaze. it's not clear at this point whether anyone has been injured in the fire. we will bring you much more on that if we get it later. the german chancellor, angela merkel, has offered her "deepest sympathy" to the relatives of a man who killed in a knife

attack at a supermarket in hamburg. mrs merkel promised a full investigation into the attack which was carried out by a known islamist. 0ur berlin correspondent damian mcguinness reports. this mobile phone video shot by an eyewitness shows a group of local residents trying to stop the attack are hurting anyone else. they were in a nearby cafe when he ran past attacking people on the street with a large knife. the men grabbed chairs to bring him under control as he tried to stab them. translation: a woman ran and shouted there's someone with a knife. people got up, there was movement and panic on the other side of the street, some 20 or 30 people fleeing before the attacker. some people stood up and armed themselves with chairs to try to stop him, surround him and chase him and at the crossing he briefly stopped.

he waved the knife in the air and shouted allahu akbar, then he was cornered by other people. german officials say the attacker came to germany in 2015 as an asylum seeker. his application for asylum was rejected. he was known to be an islamist but he wasn't considered dangerous. translation: at the moment we can say that the perpetrator‘s motive was on the one hand connected to religious motives, islamist motives, on the other hand there is also mental instability. we're currently assuming it's a mix of both, it's currently not clear what his primary motive was. the attack happened on friday afternoon. the man went into this supermarket, grabbed a large kitchen knife from a shelf and stabbed a nearby 50—year—old man to death. he then attacked other people in the shop before running outside. and it was thanks to these local men now being called the heroes of hamburg that more people weren't injured or killed.

damian mcguinness, bbc news, berlin. the canadian city of vancouver is holding its first indigenous fashion week, spotlighting designs by the country's aboriginal peoples. almost sixty designers and models from indigenous first nations communities have joined forces for the four—day event. many of those on the catwalk are current or former foster children. the organiser of the event, joleen mitton, who's a former model, said she hoped it would give young indigenous people "a sense of their own culture". sri lanka has signed a billion—dollar deal with china for the control and development of a deep sea port. the site is in the strategically important southern town of hamba ntota. it's near the main shipping route between asia and europe. the agreement had been delayed because of local concerns that the port could be used by the chinese military. our south asia editor,

anbarasan ethirajan, has more. located in southern sri lanka, ha m ba ntota located in southern sri lanka, hamba ntota port straddles located in southern sri lanka, hambantota port straddles the world ‘s busiest east—west shipping route. called with chinese financial assistance in 2010, the port was supposed to transform the poor regions in the area. but it has been making losses. now, colombo is leasing the facility to china in a deal worth over $1 billion. china says the port will play a crucial role in its one belt one rogue initiative to boost its trade with the rest of the world. the port will achieve a status as a gateway to increase the socio economic status

of sri lanka and the african region. they say the money from the deal will be used to pay part of its debt. debt the country says it is struggling to repay. of course there was a debt trap. of course. we had to carry the burden, we still have to, asi to carry the burden, we still have to, as i have been showing you in some of the recent press conferences, sri lanka has to prepare. we have always had to pay huge amounts of foreign debts. there have been protests over the planned chinese industrial park to be set up near the port. villagers are scared they may be forced from their homes. neighbouring india is also nervous. beijing getting a foothold close to its southern tip. for now, colombo insists that the sri lankan navy will be in charge of the security and no foreign navy will be allowed to use it as a base. it is difficult to use it as a base. it is difficult

to predict how china will respond if its huge investment overseas are threatened in the future. now to a rather unusual emergency call in the us state of ohio. it was from a panicked woman who said she had a boa constrictor clamped to her face. rachel cary has the story. in her own front yard in sheffield lake, ohio, a woman is strangled by the very snake she'd rescued just one day earlier. when firefighters arrived minutes later, they found the woman laying in her driveway with the 1.6 metre boa constrictor wrapped around her body. they used a pocket knife to cut the snake's head off. the victim was treated for nonlife threatening injuries.

i'm just really pleased with the paramedics' response and to think that quick, to take a pocketknife out and do what they did, obviously they had to destroy the snake but they had no other choice. boa constrictors are native to tropical, central and south america and while their nonvenomous they squeeze their prey and swallow them whole. the victim kept no fewer than 11 snakes in her home. rachel cary, bbc news. the most extraordinary story. a reminder of our top story: the australian prime minister malcolm turnbull has said counter—terrorism police have conducted a number of raids in sydney over a suspected plot to bring down an aeroplane. four homes were raided as part of an investigation and four men were arrested. we will have more on that in the coming hours. hello there. was the central so that

saw the best of the weather today. across the north, and extra sunshine and showers continued. is dramatic picture was sent in from orkney. in the south, umbrella whether. lots of cloud with steady rain developing across southern parts of england and more recently across south wales as well. as the dry gap in between where we have the showers across the north—west, likely to continue through the evening and overnight. the rain in the south is the major feature. that will develop ahead northwards into many parts of england and wales for a time. strong gusty winds ahead of that in the south—east and that rain a little relu cta nt to south—east and that rain a little reluctant to clear away into northern and eastern areas of england. clear skies for a while, showers across scotland. heading into sunday and the rain moves away to the north sea, leaving a mixture of sunshine and showers across scotla nd of sunshine and showers across scotland and northern ireland. many parts of scotland still dry the

state but it is unlikely to stay that way. showers here across northern england. the wet weather pushed away out to sea. south of that most places will start dry and sunny but already we see showers rushing into the south—west approaches, filtering through the bristol channel. midlands and east anglia, probably by nine in the morning, bright and sunny. the prospect looks a lot better for the cricket at the oval after the washout today. we will find the chance of a passing shower through the afternoon but for most of the time it will be dry. showers are more likely further west, some of heavy and sundry, and the wind blow them eastwards through the day. almost anywhere could catch a shower. there will be sunshine in between the showers are to be heavy. london towards kent and sussex missing most of the showers. year we will see the highest temperatures like today. 22 or 23 degrees. we will find more showers into the beginning of next week. this area of global pressure has been a persistent feature of north—west of

the uk over the last few days and it is still there on monday. it is here we will see most of the showers across scotland and northern ireland, some heavy, again, scattered showers and england and wales but heading towards the south—east are good chance it was a fine and dry. high pressure fades away and we will see fewer showers on tuesday that there is another low pressure to bring wet and windy weather to the middle part of the week. this is bbc news. the headlines: the australian government says a counter—terrorism operation has disrupted a plot to bring down an airplane. four people have been arrested in sydney, and additional security has been put in place at all airports. north korea claims its latest intercontinental ballistic missile test proves any target in the us is now within striking distance. western experts who have examined the data agree most major us cities could now be in range. venezuelans are electing an assembly to rewrite the constitution on sunday. the government says it's the only way to bring peace to the country, but the opposition calls it a power grab.

thousands of people have been evacuated from the tomorrowland dance music festival in barcelona, after a fire engulfed part of the main stage. no injuries have been reported so far, and the cause of the fire is unclear. now on bbc news, it's time for witness.