must be maintained on north korea. they hope it will agree to complete nuclear disarmament. at a joint press conference after talks in florida, mr trump also promised to press the north korean leader to send home japanese citizens abducted in the 1960s and ‘70s. cuba's vice—president, miguel diaz—canel, has been named as the next leader. he's 57 and expected to take office on thursday. the handover will bring to an end nearly six decades of rule by the castro family. fidel castro led the revolution in 1959. air safety officials are investigating the death of a passenger who was almost sucked out of a plane in midair. an engine exploded on the southwest airlines flight from new york to texas, shattering a window. it is just after half four.

now on bbc news, hardtalk. welcome to the dole with me zeinab badawi. elections are due in pakistani in july and badawi. elections are due in pakistani injuly and running for a seatin pakistani injuly and running for a seat in the national assembly is the airto the seat in the national assembly is the air to the country's main political dynasty. —— welcome to hardtalk with me. my guess is the world that while bhutto zardari, son of benazir bhutto, the two—time prime minister of pakistan who was assassinated in 2007. he is chairman of the pakistan people's party, founded by his grandfather 50 years ago. the ppp has seen its popularity plummet in recent yea rs. has seen its popularity plummet in recent years. ken bilal because of dowry restore its fortunes and turn around their political legacy tarnished by allegations of corruption, patronage, and incompetence? —— can bilal bird zardari. —— bhutto.

bilawal bhutto—zardari, welcome to hardtalk thank you for having me. your mother was assassinated and you have received death threats. why put yourself on the frontline politics like this? thank you very much, zeinab badawi. three months after my mother's assassination, the party's central executive committee decided that i was to be the co—chairman of the couple be. along with your father. —— ppp. the couple be. along with your father. -- ppp. yes. the party was in chaos. and the party asked and it was not exactly something that i

could turn down. i stepped up and did what i had to do. my mother often said that she didn't choose this life, it chose. and i believe the same applies to be. i am committed to completing my mother's incomplete mission. —— me. committed to completing my mother's incomplete mission. -- me. your mother was in self imposed exile. i saw her a couple of months before she was assassinated. i asked why she was assassinated. i asked why she went back to pakistan after the death threats. she said it was her duty, as you just said, to go back. she was fatalistic about what might happen to her. did she ever discussed the possibility that she might die with you or your sister i might die with you or your sister 's? that is the devil conversation to have with anyone. —— difficult conversation. everybody was aware of the risk. she would often say you can get to choose when you die. we have faith, typically from our

religion, and she would oftenjoke that i could die walking across a street in london. she believed in a democratic pakistan and was warning a nation of the threat of extremism and terrorism. it was a time that all of pakistan's politicians were not standing up. my mother spoke up and was a beacon of hope. she was your mother as well is this iconic political figure for many people. did you feel any anger or resentment about what she did and the fact that you in your sisters ended up losing her? absolutely. i was completely and utterly devastated. and even though i come from a family, and my grandfather was assassinated, and both my uncles were associated. various political leaders have been assassinated for the cause. but it

com pletely assassinated for the cause. but it completely broken. rather than pursue a politics of hate and revenge, my mother has raised me differently. as a sad, three days after my mother's assassination, i was elected chairman, and instead of calling for revenge and paying off the anger of the people of pakistan, the anger of the people of pakistan, the supporters of the pakistan people's party, said that democracy is the best revenge. and tried to convert our grief into a cause. and we are working towards a greater aim. but it was a great shop. you are living in dubai, mostly brought up are living in dubai, mostly brought up at dubai... i havejust are living in dubai, mostly brought up at dubai... i have just completed my first term at oxford university when this news came through. how did you learn about her death? we were in dubai at the time. my mother had recently in dubai at the time. my mother had rece ntly ha d in dubai at the time. my mother had recently had a conversation with my father and myself that my father, he

would live in dubai with us, and they would split the risks, and she would take the political risk. we literally were having a conversation when the news appeared. what was your last conversation with your mother? actually, she - i had discussed with her voice. she had been campaigning all over the country. she is a very charismatic speaker. she spoke from the heart. after a long campaign, her voice had gone away. it was sort of grasby and things. i said that she had to have a lemon and honey. and she said yes, she would do that. —— raspy. that was the last conversation we had. so you want to see justice of her death, because up until now, the only people who have been punished

over her death are two policeman who we re over her death are two policeman who were found guilty of cleaning the area where she had been killed. nobody in connection with the actual assassination. it is a great travesty of justice. it was a assassination. it is a great travesty ofjustice. it was a strong case that included a united nations investigation report and pakistan's ofan investigation report and pakistan's of an investigation that include not only dna results, in a test is that placed the bomb with his accomplices. confessions. it was a 15—year—old. .. but it accomplices. confessions. it was a 15—year—old... but it was those higher up that —70 nose... 15—year—old... but it was those higher up that -70 nose... the ones that comedy converses —— big ones that, the accomplices... —— but it

was those higher up that nobody knows. whenever these allegations... this is the same case where they let the terrorists off despite self confessions from the accused. instead of giving a decision against him, they said when he comes back, we will decide. but we know these allegations that he was involved in benazir bhutto's death, he loves of those allegations and says he was not involved. he does concede, however, that there were rogue elements in the deep state, in the deep establishment, who may have been colluding with elements of the pakistani taliban to assassinate your mother. that is what he claims. but the united nations report states that her security was undermined. and mr musharraf at my mother. that isa and mr musharraf at my mother. that is a record. he denies having a

conversation with her, threatening her. it has been represented in court that he threaten my mother. she told me, and then she not like it... he says no. when he is here, he can defend himself. if it was the case, why is he running away from the court cases? and it is not only my mother's case in which he is accused. he is accused of bombing and killing others. he has been charged with treason but is not appearing in any of these cases. charged with treason but is not appearing in any of these caseslj have to put on the record as they said that he denies all about. he says he is not a murderer or a dictator. not a dictator? is as also in doubt? —— is that also in doubt? this is a new alternative facts.|j and is putting out what he would say. but i want to ask you, your father became president soon after your mother's death in 2008. because

he was co—chair of the ppp. if the investigation was to proceed smoothly, if there was to be no cover—up, he could have done something about that, because he was president. why didn't he? he did. and as president of pakistan, for the first time in our history, our country went all the way to united nations for an investigation. now the case that we have against it usesis the case that we have against it uses is very strong. you mentioned the un commission, which father asked... not only the un commission. because there is an investigation and case against space —— case against — and it is a strong investigation. in the same case, after a government completed its term, the chief prosecutor was assassinated. in this case for my

mother, we had a strong case against mr musharraf. sevenjudges mother, we had a strong case against mr musharraf. seven judges changed hands in this case. instead of two weeks, it took ten years. and that isa weeks, it took ten years. and that is a travesty ofjustice weeks, it took ten years. and that is a travesty of justice we weeks, it took ten years. and that is a travesty ofjustice we haven't got... you haven't gotjustice you to your mother. but rather millenials says there were many people in the establishment that wa nted people in the establishment that wanted to interview but they refuse. —— geraldo munoz. he said the un team's security... these were also government ministers. team's security... these were also government ministerslj team's security... these were also government ministers. i am not try to deny that. they were ministers of the government. if they failed to produce people, that is our failing that we failed to produce individuals that they wanted to produce. but the report also mentions that they did not have

access to the certain individuals and this did not undermine their ability to produce a report. there we re ability to produce a report. there were accusations in the report of my mother's security being undermined. we have talked about your accusations and what his response would be. but let's talk about the party founded by your grandfather. he was executed 1979 by the military under martial law. so we have a history of military dictators assassinating. .. and making history of military dictators assassinating... and making keep it denying. it is on the record. but is it that you say that the ppp is run like a personalfiefdom of it that you say that the ppp is run like a personal fiefdom of your family? it is an accusation. it is a reality of politics in asia. i will

not permit them merits of the merits of that, because any modern society would want to promote a system that isa would want to promote a system that is a meritocracy. but we did not pursue this dynastic politics by choice. my grandmother was assassinated. if my mother was not assassinated, my father would be the one entering politics. any political party that relies on dynastic politics does not go anywhere. i also told you that three days after my mother's assassination, we just buried the body. the central executive committee of the party asked. it is not so that i could refuse. i asked and stood up bay had to. you felt that you are compelled to. you felt that you are compelled to do it. and my party is the one that decides who leads them. and nature is that they trusted me the most to continue my mother's mission. and editorial on

deutschewelle on october 2016 said your future is weak because benazir bhutto's ppp does not exist any more, but died in 2007. she not only left a huge vacuum within the pakistan people's party, but also within the body politics of pakistan. and not only her assassination, but the climate in oui’ assassination, but the climate in our politics any moment in pakistan. it is filled with extremism, partisanship, and had driven politics that i refuse to engage in. perhaps in the short term... but what is going on in the ppp that is referring to. little italy serving us referring to. little italy serving us that it says. it quotes one of benazir‘s closest aides, nahid khan, who fell out with your father. she actually fell out with her mother before she was assassinated. she

said that the present ppp leadership is only interested in power and has abandoned the ppp ideology. she has said that you have forgotten your slogan of food, shelter, clothing, shelter, is lung, and economic socialism. this is the mantra of the ppp, and it has lost its roots. i would disagree. she right to criticise. the pakistan people's party are committed to the same idea. iam party are committed to the same idea. i am committed and i will fight for the ideals, i will die for them. she ignores issues that face them. she ignores issues that face the people of pakistan from extremism to poverty to financial chaos. the pakistan people's party and myself thinking to advocate for these principles, we are not in government today, we are in opposition, but we are doing what we can from the opposition's respect. your father had an important role

can from the opposition's respect. yourfather had an important role in the party and the american pakistan journalists says the political career has been scripted by his father and members of his team. he could revive his mothers but if he brea ks could revive his mothers but if he breaks free from his father 's influence and takes charge of the ppp. who is in control? you or your father? in democratic parties, we worked together and make decisions through consensus. myself and my father don't dictate decisions. we have a central executive committee of the party that makes party policy, that decides party policy, and implement the policy. as far as my political career is concerned, i am in no rush, i am 29 years old and iam init am in no rush, i am 29 years old and i am in it for the long haul.|j am in no rush, i am 29 years old and i am in it for the long haul. i knew in control of the party? do you work together? we worked together. pakistan and the pakistan people's party face a lot of challenges.

these challenges are not going to be defeated in a single day. one of your challengers is that your popularity is really plummeting as a party. in the elections, the last elections in 2013, he won 1a, seven seats and the pml and, they have 189 seats. even in a by—election in lahore, where your party was born recently, the party guests at a fraction of votes, and part of the problem is that the ppp has been seen as problem is that the ppp has been seen as mired in corruption, the masses feel that, the opposition politician has called your father the biggest illness of sind province and he talks about this the wealth has skyrocketed and it is these kind of allegations swirling around your party... acme address the three different things you brought up. in

the election in 2013, let me allowed to contextualise what happened in the 2013 general election. the taliban, the terrorist had caught up the pakistan people's party and said, "we will not allow them to campaign. we will attack them. " people were kidnapped. they took other political parties names. they took pti, was the league and they said these are allies, they will have a free hand and they can run. on top of that, the pakistan people's party was the first government to complete the civilian term and conduct a peaceful transfer of power. we went against a whole host of antidemocratic interest within pakistan to reform passed the 18th amendment. we were not allowed to campaign. the political chief justice at the time who has gone —— now gone on to form his own political party, stopped my father,

from campaigning. you have a handful of votes. that is your stronghold. that was the 2013 election. we won't allow to campaign. you showed me how, whether it is any american president, it any party, if there area president, it any party, if there are a leadership is not allowed to campaign, they are under attack from terrorists, everyone else is given a free hand, there will be consequences. polls still show, your vote is not as high as the ruling party. as far as the by-elections are concerned, party. as far as the by-elections are concerned , you party. as far as the by-elections are concerned, you refer to an older by—election. the last by—election that took place on the border was the by—election and that by—election, we won by lead of 12,000 points. this political victimisation has gone on throughout my mother 's own father 's political life. there were umpteen cases brought against them. my father

spent 11.5 years in prison without a conviction. each and every single case brought against my parents took us case brought against my parents took us 30 years, we fought it out, each and every case they have been it created. after that, that was when my father didn't enjoy power. he became the most powerful civilian president in pakistan's is three. for those 5— year terms, there has been accusations and lies, not a single case has been brought against my father. looking now, here you are, chairman of the ppp, you have these elections injuly are, chairman of the ppp, you have these elections in july for the national assembly, you want to do well yourself, voters want you to address those basic of all issues i talked about, food, shelter, clothing, education, health and all the rest of it. is that the key now of yourcampaign the rest of it. is that the key now of your campaign platform? that is exactly what my slogan is for the

next general election. food, clothing and shelter, education, health and jobs for all. the pakistan people's party is focused on the issues. you are seen, a young man, very progressive in your thinking, on women's rights, minorities rights and so on. you have some rather eye—catching policies, foreign policy for instance. you believe in military action against the taliban in pakistan. is that a good idea do you think when you see that neighbouring afghanistan is saying, we may need to negotiate with some elements of the taliban. you are deliberately taking a very different tack there. absolutely. i think pakistan has been solely focusing on the military component against extremism, and it needs to be a broader approach. we absolutely have to, you know, people who challenge us to take up arms, we

have to challenge them militarily. we need a holistic overall approach that not only focuses on terrorism, but extremism. it would require education reform, curriculum, reform, police reform, judicial reform, police reform, judicial reform and providing equal economic opportunity. this is the overall package i believe the pakistan people's party can lead and provide. the current government has been led behind, have only been reacting to events and had been leading on the issue of extremism and terrorism which the number one threat to pakistan's existence. you said you ta ke pakistan's existence. you said you take back kashmir and not leave behind any of it. i want to clarify, i was talking in a political context, but i will speak about the kashmir issue. it was not a pakistani prime minister. it was the pm of india. the pakistani

constitution says they give special. you will be at loggerheads with india on the path. we can't ignore the united nations. we can't continue to close our eyes to what is happening in kashmir. it is the age of social media. we cannot hide the younger generation. they are coming out and protesting. they are attacked with pellet guns and the people of kashmir are screaming the butcher is of kashmir. the international committee is turning a blind eye. we had to engage on issues. i want peace with india but in order to publish that, we can't ignore the elephants in the room. we we re ignore the elephants in the room. we were talking about you entering politics, you said you felt you had to. you feel it is a burden on you? there is no greater pride in sums

life to know, to feel that he is working towards his mother's ambition. it is challenging. but the sun is one of the most difficult countries and the planet to do politics. my family has been assassinated, workers and leaders of my party have been assassinated... are you about your safety?” my party have been assassinated... are you about your safety? i have a lot of security and i feel secure. i feel passionately. the people of pakistan deserve equal opportunity, they deserve a progressive country, regardless if you are rich or poor, male orfemale, muslim or non— muslim. you deserve equal rights and opportunities. the aim is to achieve my ideology and my goals. that is my motivation. it is not a desire or simple desire to become a minister of pakistan. thank you very much for coming on hardtalk. thank you so

much for having me. such a pleasure. hi there. it's been the warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures climbing up to 25 degrees celsius on wednesday around the greater london area. and it was a fine end to the day, as well, for western wales — in gwynedd, a fine sunset there. looking at the picture today, it was good to be even warmer in the sunshine, which will be widespread as well. however, at times there will be a little bit more in the way of cloud across western areas. that's because we've got a weak weather front out west. it's not really going to do much for rain, but there is the strip of cloud. maybe one or two spots over the hills of northern ireland, western areas of scotland,

but otherwise it's fine. any early—morning mist patches, perhaps through the thames estuary, will clear through the day. with winds coming from the south, and even hot today. temperatures will reach 27 degrees, which will be the first time we've pushed into the 80s in terms of fahrenheit. now, looking at the weather picture for thursday night, we'll see a little bit cloud developing over western areas, maybe a few mist patches forming, as well. the cloud across the west of scotland threatening some showers. but another relatively mild night. temperatures between seven and 13 degrees. more of the same on friday, although there will be some showers coming and going for the highlands of scotland, across the northern isles too. fresher air working across scotland, northern ireland and northern england. the temperatures easing back in the northern half of uk, but in the south, it's another very warm one, temperatures 25 towards london and the south—east. so all this fine weather's being brought to us thanks

to this high pressure. the area of high pressure is slipping away a little bit as we go on through the weekend, to allow a greater risk of some showers to come up from the south. so they're most likely to swing up ahead of a weather front that's out just to the west of the british isles. we may well see some showers or thunderstorms developing across western areas of the uk. sunny spells elsewhere — the best of the sunshine probably for scotland and across eastern areas of england, where it will feel pleasantly warm, with temperatures up to 23. for the second half the weekend, it looks like we may see further showers, and we'll continue to see the temperatures just ease back, particularly across the north—west of the country. in fact, sunday could turn out to be quite a wet day across the far north of england, northern ireland, and the west of scotland. still, not too many showers across the south—east, just one or two passing ones, with temperatures continuing the trend ofjust cooling a little. a good deal cooler and fresher across the north—west. and there'll be a further cool—down with the weather as we look at the forecast for next week. that's your latest weather. this is the briefing.

i'm sally bundock. our top story: the us and japan say maximum pressure must be kept on north korea until it ends its nuclear programme. and there is a bright part available to north korea when it achieves denuclearisation in a complete and verifiable and irreversible way. replacing the castro dynasty: vice—president miguel diaz—canel is named as cuba's new leader. a style icon and one of the most famous cruise liners in the world — the qe2 reopens as a floating hotel.