meghan markle, in the spring. the prince proposed to his girlfriend of 18 months, over dinner earlier in november. buckingham palace has announced that the queen and duke of edinburgh are delighted for the couple and wish them every happiness. pope francis has met myanmar‘s military chief, on the first papal visit to a country widely accused of the ethnic cleansing of rohingya muslims. general min aung hlaing has claimed there is no religious discrimination in myanmar. officials are watching closely to see whether the pope even uses the word "rohingya" — they've warned him not to. the bbc has spoken to young rohingya girls who've become victims of sexual exploitation as refugees in bangladesh. more than 600,000 rohingya muslims have now fled across the border, from the violence in myanmar. now on bbc news, the travel show. 20 years ago, dubai set out to become one of the most talked

about towns in the world. since then this young city state, one of seven emirates in the uae, has largely succeeded. it's become one of the fastest growing tourist destinations on the planet. synonymous with spectacular skyscrapers, gigantic shopping malls and high—end hospitality and also the occasional stories of tourists who fall foul of local customs. but scratch deeper and there's much more to this place. no longer the brash new kid on the block, dubai is now an established hub and one of the world's few truly global cities. and although the impulse to impress is still here, there's now a complex identity taking shape and i'm here to see how that's changing the look and feel of dubai, its people and its future. aviation is at the very

heart of dubai's growth. geographically blessed between east and west, with the vast indian subcontinent on its doorstep and an ambitious national carrier, it's reckoned that over 40% of the world's population lives within four hours flying time of dubai. 20 years ago, dubai airport was something of an aviation backwater. today they say they handle more international passengers than anywhere else in the world. a couple of years back, we were looking ahead and seeing

a 5 million number. now 5 million — we consider 5 million as very low and very mild traffic. in august, we broke our record of more than 8 million per month. the numbers may have grown at an eye—watering rate, but this is basically a city airport and as that city has grown land has become expensive and scarce. so the usual dubai solution of building bigger isn't an option. you could say that the airport has become a victim of its own success. the solution? investing in new technology to cope with the projected 100 million passengers who they reckon will pass through here by 2020. all co—ordinated here in this new airport operations centre, which they say is the largest in the world. we have infra—red motion sensors in the ceiling to detect any movement of passengers.

and those sensors can tell each individual person, they can separate them? they can separate. once the passenger enters the queue, the white dot turns into a red dot. airport staff can access real—time data about passenger numbers anywhere in the terminals. hello? the data helps predict potential surges that could slow the whole process down, but it doesn't, they insist, identify individual passengers. ok, it's going to be busy here in the next ten minutes. we need to get more desks open. hi, how are you? go—ahead. what's happening at the airport is symptomatic of the city, really. the rush to develop has brought its successes but has also created challenges as the demands on dubai's infrastructure has grown. congestion can be the bane of this city, where the car is king,

but a solution lies through more innovation. following trials in america, dubai says it's got plans to build a super fast hyperloop between here and abu dhabi and they reckon this could be the only place in the world where you'll soon be able to hail your own flying taxi. there's also a drive here to encourage the use of more sustainable energy, like here, on a public beach, with these futuristic looking solar palm trees. those are the panels up there, soaking up the rays. you can get a bit of shade from them too. more importantly there is free wi—fi and with this screen you can check the weather, exchange rates and, really useful on holiday, you can take selfies. but what i like most of all is that you can just sit down here, take in the views and charge your phone, check your e—mails and whatever else, all thanks to the power of the sun.

with the massive world expo coming here in 2020, the language from developers has moved on from "bigger is better" to finding new ways to add value to their tall towers, by making many of them attractions in their own right. this two—tower complex of apartments, townhouses and a hotel is due to be finished by next year. it's being built by the same group who came up with the iconic burj khalifa nearby, which just happens to be the world's tallest structure. it's pretty early in the morning and it's already very hot. i can imagine 22 people in these things going up and down all the time. it can't be easy and the temperatures gets hotter, the humidity gets worse as the day goes on.

look at that view. that's just incredible. it is. look at that. i've got to say, i'm feeling a little bit giddy up here. it's quite high up, isn't it? it is, but you get accustomed to it. you get used to it, do you? do you want us to look down? 0k. 0n floors 52 and 53 is the showpiece of this project. it is quite astounding to think that this bridge section, which connects the two towers, started life on the ground and was then hoisted 200 metres up into the air. just to give you an idea of the scale of that, this section weighs more than a fully laden a380 super jumbo jet. what a feat of engineering! and for the super adventurous,

you'll eventually be able to get harnessed up and check out the views in the open air. so this protrudes out some 27, 28 metres. the experience here will be that you can walk all the way out with unhindered views over to the zabeel district, dubai creek harbour. so it's a new addition, a new visitor observation experience that we don't have in dubai or even in the region. 4,000 people are working on this site on 12 hour shifts. construction here is 24—7 and it's an internationally staffed project. but, as ever, the dubai construction industry relies heavily on migrant labour from south asia, bussed in from living quarters outside the city. it is hard to believe that 15 years ago this downtown area

was pretty well empty. today, they like to think of it as the most prestigious square kilometre in the world. but isn't there a limit to all these bolder, bigger and better aspirations? dubai is famous for being the city of superlatives — the tallest this, the biggest that. is there any more to it than that? what do you think? there is. yes, there is that perception there, however, we as developers always look to show, where can we add value? what is unique? so it's notjust about bragging rights, it's about the quality. a lot of thought goes into the developments we choose. all of this may never convince those who think of dubai as a vapid shrine to consumption and unfettered growth. but whatever your views on dubai's addiction to record—breaking construction, it's also a calling card for the emirate. the very reason why many tourists come here in the first place, which gives it a business

rationale too. and if you think you've seen it all, well, think again, because the so—called city of superlatives is about to surpass itself with this massive project. and the centrepiece? this incredible, mind—boggling construction which will become, yep, the tallest tower in the world. as ever, the scale of ambition is breathtaking, but subtlety and understatement has never been dubai's strong suit. and for the ultimate proof of that, what about atlantis resort on the palm island, where, if you can afford it, you'll get an on—call butler 2a hours a day and a luxurious room with a unique view. hello! welcome to your suite.

nice to meet you. dinesh, yes? yes, my name is dinesh. i'm your butler. my butler? please, show me around. oh, wow! i'm presuming he doesn't live there permanently. mind you, it does sound like it has to be on standby at all times, like dinesh himself. to be honest, the guests who stay in this kind of suite are quite demanding because they're rich and wealthy and theyjust don't want to wait for things to delay. for example, sometimes they might ask you, 0k,

i want to have breakfast. i want to see the diver coming, holding a bowl, good morning. 0r, like, when the partner wakes up, the first thing she wants to see happen, so we have to wait until she wakes up. so we are waiting for him to come down, so they can get full happiness on that one. so we'll make it happen somehow. but not everyone can afford to or indeed wants to enjoy this level of indulgence. just maybe bigger, better, bolder isn't everyone‘s cup of tea, which takes us to paradigms shift i think is taking place in dubai, away from mega—luxury towards more authentic pleasures, which may help in changing the perception of the emirate as a mere three—day stopover destination, or even a blinged—up blow—out for the world's rich and famous. this is the creek, the real heart

of old dubai, and gorgeous in this light. now, this used to be a real trading hub for the city and the kinds of boats you can see behind me bring in spices and other goods from countries like india, iran and much further afield. this is my personalfavourite part of dubai, the old town. you get a real sense of the past. as a contrast to the skyscrapers and shopping mall downtown. what is this? this is cinnamon. cinnamon, i recognised that. very good. this is turmeric. turmeric, very good for cooking.

this one is for cooking, and this one is for the face massage. for the face massage, 0k. this is a long piece of wood, what is it? this is more cinnamon! very good, you're testing me, aren't you. tell me the difference, that is bigger. this is bigger and this is smaller. is that it! laughs. frankly, if i hadn't stopped him i think he would've taken me through every single spice in the shop. this is for smoking and for soup. of course if you are into bling you don't have to go too far to find that here too. but to find authentic arts and crafts 21st century style, you'll need to venture even further from the glitz and skyscrapers, and head to the gritty al quoz industrial area, where a flourishing warehouse—based community arts scene has sprung up. this is "calligraffiti", a mixture of traditional arabic

calligraphy and graffiti, and it's the signaature style of a french—born artist of tunisian origin, who goes by the name el seed. he has taken his unique approach to street art around the world with astonishing results, including this monumental project he created in a working—class district of cairo. so what is he doing in dubai? for me, dubai is like, a new city. i look at it, i try to get a different view to it, a lot of people coming from outside say, "oh, it is fake, you as an artist, how could you be here?" and for me there is this kind of growing art scene, there is a growing art community. and as an artist it is good to say that i am part of this, i am part of making a change and making this movement.

if i can question you on that a little bit more — it is also a place that is glamorous and wealthy, you have a big expat population, you have some very rich emiratis here. is that inspiring for you? we are here in the middle of the industrial zone that has been turned into this culture and art community. when you cross the road you have a steel factory. this is the dubai that i want to see. i am not interested in this shiny thing, this is not for me, but some people, they want it. but i think at some point now, there is a switch, dubai is trying to show people, this is what we do. some people love paris, i love paris, some people hate paris. some people love new york, some other hate new york. you cannot compare, for me it is too naive. but when i look, is like, yes, what has been done here in less than 30 years is crazy, and i think people should salute that.

while the artists in al quoz are busy feeding the soul, many locals and expats here in dubai are also now keen to exercise their bodies. some of them in the most quintessential emirati locations. you wouldn't normally associate dubai with cycling. in fact, riding through the dubai rush hour is definitely a no—no. but the sport is becoming increasingly popular here, and that is thanks to facilities like this — the al qudra cycling track. it's long, smooth, purpose built and flat as a pancake. in a country not famed for its exercise culture, these days many locals are now getting into a whole range of sports. and in case you are wondering, i'm gonna leave this to the experts. hi, i'm 0marmasri, i'm

a wakeboarder in dubai. i am all about board sports, snowboarding, wakeboarding, surfing, kite surfing, all accessible in dubai. living in the desert, the closest mountain is in lebanon orjordan or something, you have the best instructors, you learn how to snowboard over here and any time you go to any mountain, from the alps to colorado, it's simple. the younger generation is actually crazy here in dubai. they are crazy when it comes to extreme sports, they are trying to compete more internationally. it is actually very nice to see. the vibe of the city

is all about work hard, play hard. you put in so many hours at work, so the little time that you have left, you don't want to waste it just lolling around. keen to get another fix of the great outdoors, i am now heading out to the desert early in the morning to experience something new, that i am told you can only see here in dubai. it's a new twist on traditional arabian falconry — and i hear it is going to be truly breathtaking. 2,500 years ago, the bedouin relied on falcon the way you and i rely

on the supermarket. the falcon was used toput food on the table. traditionally the way it worked, it still happens today, birds from europe and asia migrate over the middle east on their way to africa. on that migration was when the bedouin would have trapped their falcons from the wild and then used them for the winter months. at the end of winter they would untie their birds and release them back into the wild. a really beautiful system of borrowing a bird for a while and letting it go back again. we are about to release 0beron from the basket and i'll untie him, he is wearing a transmitter on his tail, that is so i can go find him if he flies away, i will pop his hood off in a second, this device is called the hood, or burqa in arabic, and this hood is keeping him calm and relaxed. that comes off, 0k. ready, guys? five, four, three, two, one...

wow. amazing. good boy. well done. do you want a go? i would love to, let's try. oh, yes. peter has helped to hand rear at these birds from birth and the bond of trust between them is vital. it is clear that to him the falcon‘s welfare is paramount, and months of work has gone into training the birds to get them used to this sights and sounds of the balloon and its passengers. if practiced correctly, these birds are in good shape.

essentially the bird is not suffering. absolutely not. what more could you ask for? unique experience, and what a beautiful animal. and that ride over dubai's ancient landscape marks the end of my trip here — where i have seen the sharply contrasting old and new worlds of this city state. i've witnessed again first—hand how the limitless desire to impress and amaze the world has not diminished, with expo 2020 a big incentive for yet more development. this is still a relatively young destination, almost an ongoing experiment that continues to grab headlines and polarise reaction in equal measure.

but i sense dubai is developing into a complex and intriguing mix of cultures and attitudes, of experiences old and new, and forging its own unique personality. that's not to say its reputation as a haven of luxury and excess is going to disappear any time soon. let's go! hello there. monday brought some of us something a little bit milder. that is not a sign of things to come. during tuesday, and indeed the rest of the week, we are back into this feed of northerly winds, all the way from the arctic. cold air sweeping southwards right across the country. quite a few showers, as well, and where those showers have been falling through the early part of the morning, there is certainly the risk of some icy stretches across parts of northern ireland and into scotland. take it easy on untreated roads and pavements. some of the showers across scotland will be wintry.

some rain, some sleet, some hail, and some snow, the snow mostly over high ground at this stage. showers beginning to push into the east coast of england. but, through north—west england, down into the midlands, a dry start, yes, a cold and frosty start in places, with temperatures ofjust one or two degrees at 8:00am in the morning. showers continuing to feed across west wales, into devon and cornwall. most of these showers will be falling as rain. a few showers across dorset, perhaps into hampshire, as well. but for east anglia and the south—east, a dry start, yes, but a chilly one — three, four or five degrees. a lot of crisp sunshine, then, to come during the day on tuesday, but the showers continue to feed in across eastern areas, drifting that bit further south, perhaps into east anglia, parts of the east midlands, as the day goes on. these showers wintry, particularly over high ground. a few showers out west, as well. even in the sunshine, feeling cold —

five to eight degrees. now, as we go through tuesday night, the showers continue to feed in across eastern areas. these showers wintry, mostly over high ground, but perhaps starting to turn wintry to slightly lower levels at this stage. temperatures hovering around freezing, or a touch below. there will be frost for some of us on wednesday morning. so this is how the weather pattern looks. high pressure to the west, low pressure to the east. that is what is feeding the northerly winds down across the country. strong, biting winds on wednesday, particularly towards the east, where there will again be plentiful showers, and late in the day, we may even start to see some sleet and some snow to pretty low levels. some sunshine, too. not as many showers at this stage in the west. three to seven degrees, that is your lot. thursday a similar day, but if anything, a colder day still. some snow is possible to fairly low levels in the east. a few showers in the west, as well. plenty of sunshine in between. but add on the strength of the wind, this is what it will feel like, many places feeling sub—zero during thursday. so, for the rest of the week, a cold wind. yes, some crisp sunshine, but some wintry showers as well.

welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is mike embley. our top stories: a bachelor no more — britain's prince harry is engaged to his american girlfriend meghan markle. they'll marry next spring. the testing team, we know we are and we hope to have more impact on the ins we care about. i am very excited about that. pope francis is in myanmar — the first papal visit to a country accused of the ethnic cleansing of rohingya muslims. and more than 100,000 people near mount agung in bali are ordered to evacuate. this is the volcano right now.