children away from their parents. more than 2000 have already been separated donald trump has signed an executive order he says will end the separation. but the children will now be detained with their parents instead. there's been angry reaction to hungary's approval of a controversial package of laws that penalises non—governmental organisations that help migrants. and this story is trending on bbc.com: british airways has disappointed travellers who thought they found an incredible deal on flights to tel aviv and dubai. more than 2000 tickets — booked forjust over a dollar — were cancelled by the airline, after it admitted they had been sold "too cheaply" by mistake. that's all from me now. now on bbc news it's time for hardtalk. welcome to kazakhstan. i am stephen

sackur. the shiny new capital city tells it plenty about kazakhstan‘s oil wealth and its big ambition to be central asia's regional powerhouse. at all obvious cannot mask a nagging question, what happens in this country when the long serving president, nursultan nazabayev, finally leaves long serving president, nursultan naza bayev, finally leaves power? long serving president, nursultan nazabayev, finally leaves power? my guess today is the chairman of the kazakh senate and the de facto number two to the president, kassym—jomart tokayev. is kazakhstan tiring of 1—party rule? kassym—jomart tokayev, welcome to

heart talk. you have spoken about the subtle balance in this country between stability and democracy. do you think kazakhstan has the balance right? i am sure the kazakhstan has reached the right balance between stability and democracy. stability isa stability and democracy. stability is a must for us. democracy is a must for us equally. at the same time, stability should not be guaranteed or should, at the price of democracy. said the reason i was saying that there is a subtle balance between both stability and democracy, we must be stable but at the same time we must be democratic. i see the stability. that is obvious

because you have had the same leader for 27 years. since independence and the collapse of the soviet union. democracy, i am less certain about because when you look at the political culture and the way the politics works in kazakhstan today, it seems, frankly, that you have barely evolved from the soviet days. kaza khsta n barely evolved from the soviet days. kazakhstan is evolving. i think there is no ground to make a comparison between the soviet style democracy and the contemporary kazakhstan. kazakhstan has evolved dramatically and tremendously. you have i—party rule, don't you? dramatically and tremendously. you have 1-party rule, don't you? no. we have 1-party rule, don't you? no. we have three parties. here in the senate we have no political factions... however the two parties in the lower house that are not the ruling party, they basically

supports naza bayev and ruling party, they basically supports nazabayev and are loyal to the regime. you do not have any genuine opposition because, frankly, the biggest opposition party, the democratic choice party, has been banned. it is illegal. we have no such party, democratic choice. if we speak about the rule of law, we need to acknowledge that there is no existence of this party since the general prosecutor proclaimed that this party has been prohibited in carrying out activities in kazakhstan. that is exactly my point. you have banned the only real opposition voice in the country. the leader of that party is living index i'll, having been imprisoned, or convicted in adventure. as a matter of fa ct convicted in adventure. as a matter of fact we do not have such a party because what is the party? the party means that it needs to be registered by the ministry ofjustice. there

was no registration, there was no procedure of registration by the ministry ofjustice. procedure of registration by the ministry of justice. and procedure of registration by the ministry ofjustice. and you do not feel when you tell me that that that sounds rather evocative of the times of the soviet union? i would not say so of the soviet union? i would not say so because i used to live in the soviet union and i remember. i remember a time when there was dominance of the communist party. now we have a total different situation in kazakhstan. we are free to talk about anything. talk about freedom in a minute but the political culture. you are an experienced diplomat, ten years as foreign minister and you have travelled around the world you know in which the way democratic systems work and how they work. does it think you credible that when we learned that in the last election, president nazabayev won 97.7% of the

vote. with all of your international experience, do you think that sounds credible? it sounds credible. perhaps for you, particularly in the uk, it sounds not that credible but for us it sounds quite credible because president naza bayev for us it sounds quite credible because president nazabayev is a special case. he is a founder of kazakhstan. as an independent country. we had been dreaming about independence for so many years and for us it was absolutely necessary to make sure that we will survive as an independent country. so i am saying that is why president nazabayevis saying that is why president nazabayev is a special case. you told me at the start of this interview that we in kazakhstan must evolve and it is that lack of revolution that i am picking away at

because in the course of my time in this country i met, for example, with an opposition politician who has found it impossible to operate in this country. his party was essentially disbanded and he ended up essentially disbanded and he ended up serving over four years essentially disbanded and he ended up serving overfour years in prison including a long time in solitary confinement. that, to me, suggest that mr nazabayev has stayed in power partly by ensuring that critical voices are silenced. power partly by ensuring that critical voices are silencedli power partly by ensuring that critical voices are silenced. i do not agree with you. as far as this party is concerned, it has been violating the law of kazakhstan. according to the constitution of kazakhstan, nobody has the right to do so. the reason this party has been prohibited and the leader has

been prohibited and the leader has been accused of a felony. so i think... everything has been done quite properly according to the constitution and the laws of kazakhstan. i know you care about the international perceptions of kazakhstan. when amnesty international names a series of prisoners of conscience of this country, political prisoners, when it says that people are imprisoned are expressing criticism of the regime online, that there is no free expression, that certain newspapers and online news organisations have been closed down, this creates a very poor impression of your political culture to the outside world. perhaps at the same time we do not agree. we do not agree with thosejudgements made by amnesty international and other organisations. we believe it is a matter of discussion. we are, going

to go ahead with our arguments and oui’ to go ahead with our arguments and our discussions with these organisations. why? why, when a small number of people on may ten decided to protest about the imprisonment of some political dissidents, why did the government sent paramilitary police units to arrest them? i have seen the video, to carry them bodily into police va ns to carry them bodily into police vans and detain them. why would you do that? the same things happen abroad including in western countries. everybody is doing their ownjob. it is not about countries. everybody is doing their own job. it is not about democracy oi’ own job. it is not about democracy or the violation of democracy in kazakhstan. if it is going against the law or whenever it goes against the law or whenever it goes against the law, violates the existing laws,

of course the police will be doing theirjob. but there were no injuries, there were no serious incidents. during those demonstrations... the result is that there is no political space for a vigorous discussion of kazakhstan‘s political future. that is the reality. we have a lot. they are free tojoin reality. we have a lot. they are free to join any. and reality. we have a lot. they are free tojoin any. and i am reality. we have a lot. they are free to join any. and i am active reality. we have a lot. they are free tojoin any. and i am active in pushing the government to be more open to the nanograms 0s. pushing the government to be more open to the nanograms 0sm pushing the government to be more open to the nanograms 0s. it is interesting. you are pushing for them to be more open. are not against. we are not pushing against. we are pushing the government to be more open to the civil society. to be more positive to the ngos and

those who go out to the states to demonstrate against the government. 0ut demonstrate against the government. out to the streets. they should have an opportunity to join out to the streets. they should have an opportunity tojoin ngos out to the streets. they should have an opportunity to join ngos so they can speak out about their own problems. so our task, as i understand, is to provide some opportunity, or more opportunity to the ngos to be in civil society. it isa the ngos to be in civil society. it is a process, not a final stage. but i think we are on the right track. you said that president nazabayev is a special case because he is, as many people say, the father of the nation. is that actually a source of vulnerability as well as strength for kazakhstan? you need to figure out what to do when president nazabayevis out what to do when president naza bayev is no out what to do when president nazabayev is no longer in power why. there is no sense here of what will

happen in that succession. is not a matter of vulnerability. it is a matter of vulnerability. it is a matter of vulnerability. it is a matter of stability. a matter of confidence. do you know what will happen when the succession time comes? firstly, i should mention that the president of kazakhstan, president net terrine —— nazabayev was elected until 2020. whether he is elected once again is up to him. if my mathematics is correct tool will be 80 by then. the constitution says... the malaysia and prime minister became the chief of the governance at 92. that is an interesting comment because i noticed the constitution says that because he is the founder of the nation he can run as many times as he want. i don't believe that president nazabayev will go to the

presidential election in 2020. i don't believe that because he is a wise man. absolutely reasonable and i think that in 2020 we shall have presidential elections so other candidates can accept. you are the de facto number two in this country. i have never heard you nor any other official stated clearly is that before. does that suggest... it is my personal opinion but i think that in 2020... of course it is up to president nazabayev whether he will go for the election. but i need to say openly that i don't believe it. but i do believe he will go. as his de facto number two right now, and one of the most experienced politicians in kazakhstan, are you throwing your hat into the ring?|j would say so because it depends. it depends. what i do want to stay is

that even if president nazabayev does not become the president of this country, he will be exercising tremendous influence over the politics. these are external politics. these are external politics and internal politics. however, we still have time and it is very much important that kaza khsta n is very much important that kazakhstan will be as stable as it is now. one of the other problems that critics of the government here see with the longevity of the current regime and president nazabayev himself, current regime and president naza bayev himself, is current regime and president nazabayev himself, is that they see it as one of the factors behind the growth of corruption in this country. the same people in power for so long the same friends, cronies and associates. it has led to the development of a systematic corruption in this country. people

complain about corruption but at the same time, cousin stine is an example of how to fight corruption. so many people, approximately 400 officials, have been put in persian —— prisons for corruptions. name one of the countries in the world, particularly in the post— soviet period, in the post— soviet area. particularly in the post— soviet period, in the post— soviet arealj ta ke period, in the post— soviet areal take your point. even as very senior economy minister, the young star in the government, was locked up for corruption but one of the opponents of the regime put it to me and almaty, it is not a question of individuals, it is the system, the system is rotten. i don't agree with him because of course, everybody is free to criticise the system but i don't believe that he is right. the system is good. we have a very good

legal framework for fighting against corruption. one feature of the kazakh economy is that a small number of extraordinary wealthy individuals seem to dominate. there is one private company, eurasia resources, which it is said controls 496 resources, which it is said controls 4% of the country's assets. it looks to outsiders like an oligarchical system. is that healthy and sustainable for the kazakh economy? it was quite necessary for our economy in the very beginning of sovereignty. you need to remember that the old economy was state—owned so the company you mentioned about was one of the first to come to our market, to privatise, some major enterprises. and we are grateful to

them. to make this step because we had no traditions of private economy. now people argue that this company is detrimental to our economy. they bring some problems. the answer to your question is is to develop semis here. it is one of the goals of the government formulated by president nazarbayev. we don't have oligarchs. what is that mean? that he is a rich man and he wants to be near the government, the president, in order to exercise influence. that is precisely what you do have. making decisions, instead of the government, or instead of the government, or instead of the president. we have no such persons here. really? what

about the riches we know have been amassed by people who are very close friends of the president, some of whom are in the family of a president? it's not true. there are speculations, a lot of speculations, believe me. yes, they are quite rich. they are capable people. they are very much educated. some have been educated abroad, including the uk but at the same time, to make judgements like the family which i’u ns judgements like the family which runs the whole country, it is not true. privatisation is going into a new phase, creating an international stock exchange under british common law and you are inviting international investors in. they have to have confidence that the system here is clean, that outside investors are going to be given full access to an independentjudiciary.

can you give those guarantees? we can give those guarantees. first of all, there is a special amendment to the constitution creating the international financial centre in asta na. international financial centre in astana. it is a precedent in kaza khsta n astana. it is a precedent in kazakhstan and far beyond and it's also one of the major answers to the corruption, as you said, to those negative things that unfortunately do happen here from time to time and this is a realfinancial international centre and the barristers and judges also came here to have a look, to help us run the financial centre. i think it is one of the major example is how we want to handle this issue. the other, it seems to me, key pillar of your economic strategy over the next few

yea rs economic strategy over the next few years is trying to exploit your geographical position, in particular your proximity to the massive growth of the chinese economy. it seems to me this is potentially dangerous for kazakhstan. it could be a one—way relationship. china has an awful lot to gain. what does kazakhstan had to gain? without kazakhstan, the concept one belt, one road, will not be feasible. 0ur concept one belt, one road, will not be feasible. our aim concept one belt, one road, will not be feasible. 0uraim is concept one belt, one road, will not be feasible. our aim is to get $5 billion from this concept up to 2020. it is both beneficialfor china and for kazakhstan. do you think you persuaded the kazakh people are close economic relationship with china is in the country's interest? i remember the 2016 protests when land reform measures were proposed which would

allow chinese farmers and agricultural companies to come in and lease farmland in kazakhstan and the kazakh people, they did not like it one bit. there was a huge confusion and misunderstanding so we had to explain to the people that somebody is making wrong judgements on the plans of the government as was the parliament. at the same time, just a month ago, we passed a new law here saying that there will be no territorial or land concessions to any country, and first of all to china. we have absolutely clear and open explaining our plans to the chinese government, saying that as far as land is concerned, its second thing for us. just a quick thought before we finish, on one of the other key strategic neighbours you have, that is russia. vladimir putin said this

after the ukraine conflict, the annexation of crimea, the conflict in east ukraine, he said this of kaza khsta n in east ukraine, he said this of kazakhstan in 2014. kazakhstan is pa rt kazakhstan in 2014. kazakhstan is part of the larger russian world. do you in kazakhstan agree with that notion? i think that, yes, kazakhstan, as a matter of fact is a russian speaking country. we have to languages here. kazakh and russian, perhaps you noticed. languages here. kazakh and russian, perhaps you noticedl languages here. kazakh and russian, perhaps you noticed. i noticed that your government is pushing the kazakh language and pushing the... the alphabet. the script from cyrillic to the latin script, which moscow regards perhaps as a sign that you are moving away. speaking about the russian world, we don't agree because here, we have our own world, which is kazakh and the

presence of the russian language, of course, is quite physical and at the same time, we are facilitating and promoting english in kazakhstan. so the more languages our younger generation know, the betterfor kazakhstan. let me end by doing what you and kazakhs do a lot, which is thinking ahead. the president and the government issued a plan on taking the country all the way through to 2050 so let's talk about 2050. in 2050, do you think kaza khsta n 2050. in 2050, do you think kazakhstan will be much more integrated with the chinese economy than the russian economy?l integrated with the chinese economy than the russian economy? i think that in 2050, kazakhstan will be one of the major players, not only in central asia but beyond and my hope is that the younger generation, our young people are so bright, so

smart, tremendously. young people are so bright, so smart, tremendouslyl young people are so bright, so smart, tremendously. i think we will be living in a very good country. and a final thought about 2050. in 2050, will kazakhstan be a multi—party truly democratic country or will it still be a 1—party system, as it pretty much is today. whatever you criticise kazakhstan as a lack of democracy, i still don't agree with you, i'm sorry. you are entitled not to agree with me but just to continue the point about 2050, will the political system look very different? i think in 2050, the whole world will be changed. the whole world will be changed. the whole world will be changed. the whole world will be looking different. so the current perceptions and assessments of

democracy as well as political systems also will be changed. kassym—jomart tokayev, i thank you very much but being with us. thank you very much, i appreciate it. it is the summer solstice today, but i just want to cast your mind back to this time last year when we saw a high of 35 it really was a scorcher on the 21st ofjune, 2017. however, for us, things will turn notably fresher today as we have a north—western flow driving that humidity away to the near continent. the wind swinging around that high, coming through the north—west. that is going to make it feel noticeably fresher out there.

close to 19 hours of daylight. get out and enjoy it if you can. a scattering of showers and some gusty winds gusting in excess of 40 miles an hourfor the northern isles. a little bit of cloud developing. generally speaking, it is a quiet day. 14 to 18 degrees quite widely. might see 21 in the south—east corner if we are lucky. as we move out of thursday, we keep those clear skies with us and temperatures will fall away perhaps into single figures to start our day on friday. lowerfigures in more rural spots, so again a comfortable night for sleeping, as chilly start to friday morning. but there will be plenty of dry

weather and an area of high pressure is just starting to nudge a little bit further eastwards, which means we lose that north—easterly flow, with the exception perhaps along that east coast. we see the best of the sunshine, lighter winds, and temperatures will start to respond, highs of 22 degrees. what is in store for the weekend? not much change, in fact. we will hardly have a breath of wind on saturday. maybe the chance of a few showers just brushing the extreme north of scotland and a little more there were cloudy but generally speaking, maybe some hazy looking skies but a pleasant 16 to 24, 75 fahrenheit. warmer still on sunday, we still have those winds, the high pressure centred right across the uk. very little in the way of rain for the gardens. if you are a gardener or grower out there, that will be a little frustrating, but plenty of warm summer sunshine to look forward to. if you have outdoor plans on sunday, you will not be disappointed.

more of the same to come right throughout the next week. temperatures likely to peak in the high 20s. i'm rico hizon in singapore. the headlines: we will have a lot of happy people. president trump says he's ending his own policy separating migrant children from their parents, they'll be detained together instead. migration is also a big issue in europe — we'll be looking at how several countries are dealing with the crisis. i'm kasia madera in london. also in the programme: he's the disgraced former head of world football, but sepp blatter has turned up at the world cup, raising eyebrows in russia. with warrior robots and guitar—toting opera singers — it's the hong kong animation challenging cultural stereotypes. live from our studios in