september night on record. ahead of the advancing cloud, there is a risk ofa the advancing cloud, there is a risk of a touch of frost and shortly lived mist and fog patches as well. rain heading into northern ireland. it will head eastwards in the afternoon into wales and western parts of england. ahead of the cloud and patchy rain is sunshine. with the atlantic breeze, it will be warmer, particularly noticeable in the east of england where temperatures could reach 19 degrees. later in the week it does turn cooler and, at the same time, the more unsettled.

hello, this is bbc news. the headlines... as thousands of students across the uk are forced to self—isolate due to coronavirus outbreaks, the labour party calls on the government to promise students will be able to go home for christmas. cardiff and swansea — wales' two biggest cities — are preparing to go into tighter lockdown restrictions from 6pm this evening, with neath—port talbot, the vale of glamorgan and torfaen also going into local lockdown from 6pm tomorrow. police investigating the murder of sergeant matt ratana at croydon in south london on friday — have arrested a man on suspicion of supplying a firearm. president trump has nominated the conservative judge, amy coney barrett, to fill the vacant seat on the us supreme court. there's been more arrests at an anti—government protests in belarus, as the exiled opposition figurehead

tells supporters that they will succeed in replacing alexander lu kashenko. we're back in half an hour. now on bbc news — global questions. the growing street protests in belarus threaten not only president lukashenko, the country's authoritarian leader — the stakes are high for president putin too. hello and welcome to this edition of global questions. what will happen in belarus? president lukashenko, who's been in powerfor a quarter of a century, has been sworn in for a sixth term in office in a secret inauguration. there have been weeks of street protests against him following his disputed election victory in august. so far he has the support of russia's president putin but it is not clear how long that will last. that's global questions, the belarus crisis, trouble in putin's backyard.

well, i am now in the studio and is always to bring you this edition of global questions our two panellists join via video link. svetlana tikhanovskaya is a leading opposition figure who stood as the main candidate against alexander lu kashenko in the election and her supporters believe that she was the real winner of that poll. she joined us for neighbouring lithuania where she has just gone into political exile.

and nigel gould—davis was britain's ambassador to belarus until 2009. he is a leading authority on foreign policy, especially of post—soviet realities, and is now at the institute of international strategic studies in london. welcome to both and all of our questioners. you join us from all over the world and a solitary round of applause from me to welcome you. remember, you too canjoin the conversation and it is hashtag bbc global questions. that is go to our first question from minsk, the capital of belarus, and andre — your question? the question i would like to address to both panellist is how could the situation we see unfolding in the streets of belarus have been avoided? svetla na ti kha novs kaya, how could the situation we see unfolding in the streets of belarus have been avoided? first of all, i have to say that right after the elections in maybe three or four days after the elections, the coordination of the council was organised just to start dialogue

between belarussian people and the authorities. we wanted this dialogue just to prevent belarus from demonstrations. from violence on the side of authorities. we just wanted authorities to just start to talk to belarussian people. this body is like a bridge between authorities and people, so i think we did a lot to avoid demonstrations, but authorities, they didn't... accept this body is legal. in their eyes our people are not legal and this body wasn't legal and they started to jail the members of this coordination council and started to kick their members out of the country. nigel gould—davis, how would you answer that question? was this something that was going to happen inevitably,

the street protests we have been seeing against lukashenko? if the authorities had allowed everyone who wish to run in the elections to do so, this would not have been necessary. if the election results had been counted in a free and fair and honest way, then the people of belarus would have had the outcome for which they are protesting now so the protests are entirely a consequence of the failure of alexander lukashenko's regime to give the people of belarus what everyone else in europe has, which is the right to decide how they are governed. on social media we have had this question asked looking at the wider regional perspective and say what is known about the political agenda of the russian state. how strategic is belarus to russia? nigel, could you answer that one? the kremlin wants to control space. this is a big part of its

foreign policy generally. it sees belarus as a country that it's tried in recent years to bring under its control and i think it worries that a three belarus may worries that a free belarus may wish to have a good relationship with russia but does not want to be controlled by russia so it sees a threat to its projects of domination. the second worry, i think, potentially for russia is that belarus would set a threatening example to putin himself, so lukashenko has been in power for 26 years. when putin seeks we election in fouryears time, as everyone expects him to, he will have been in power for 24 years, just two years less. so i think it would be an unwelcome precedent for him to see in a neighbouring country and other eastern slavic population being able to peacefully remove a long—standing

authoritarian figure. svetla na, how far do you think lukashenko could rely on vladimir putin? do you think putin could ditch him? i have to say that belarus, my country is neutral, it is independent and it is a sovereign country and i'm sure with our people we can solve all our crises and problems by ourselves. we don't need any interference from neighbouring countries. but i don't want belarus to be an object of any geopolitical game so we don't want to refuse to speculate on russian we refuse to speculate on russian geopolitical interests. we are not opposed.

we want to solve our problems by ourselves. we are always asking to represent the sovreignty of our country. thank you. thank you very much indeed. for the time being, as the ambassador said, putin is propping up lukashenko. andre, do you want to come back quickly on what you have heard our panellist say? yeah, it is a very complicated geopolitical game but it is very necessary for us to decide our own destiny and i would also say that putin's interference in belarussian politics and culture is just tremendous. it's also can be related to homophobic laws that russia introduce themselves, even though in belarus we have no such law but everybody relates to it, like we are living in the russian cultural and media sphere and it is really huge pressure. thank you very much indeed. speaking of russia, let us go now

to a russian from saint petersburg but living in london currently. mischa? thank you. my question to the panellist today is why do they think the leaders behave in such a belligerent manner towards their own citizens, and does this tactic work in the long term? and the uprising of the people and peaceful protests succeed and can the opposition beat lukashenko when he has control of the security forces? that is a very critical point raised by misha. can the street when? first of all i want to say that a real leader of any country will never use force against its own people. if you are using police, riot police against your own nation, you are not a leader, you are just an usurper.

so the protests in my country will not fade out because our people know that we don't want to live with this so called president any more. we will not be able to forget and forgive all the violence he committed towards our people. if, of course, we would prefer if riot police would take our nation's, the majority side, and we are working on this, because it's what they're doing, it's a crime and they have to defend belarussians but not to beat them. nigel gould—davis? two points i think. firstly we've seen situations like this elsewhere in europe over the past 30 years. ultimately, the people have always won. it's not always been quick or easy but they have prevailed against repressive countries. the second point, svetlana,

just to take up one of your points, i think it is absolutely vital and important that you will, i think it is absolutely right and important that you, more than once, have appeal to those who are currently supported power, and you have said to them, if you come and leave this repressive regime and join the people then we will forgive you. and we will remember what you are doing now rather than what you have done in the past. and i think that hope lies there. we need people that are currently repressing the population to realise that their higher loyalty lies with the country are not the regime. svetlana, how far do you think the surprise inauguration of president lukashenko and the fact that it wasn't broadcast on state tv is a reflection of his weakness? is the street winning?

i know i think at the moment that this inauguration was made in secret is the point of his weakness because he understands that the majority of people doesn't support him and, you know, he behaves as if he is afraid of his people, but if he's sure that he has won this elections he wouldn't be afraid of his nation. but, anyway, this inauguration doesn't mean anything because mr lu kashenko was illegitimate in the eyes of bela russian people and he didn't become legitimate because of his inauguration, absolutely not. thank you very much indeed. quick response from you if you want to? yes, thank you very much nigel and svetlana. i think the point svetlana raised about really does not using force towards its own people is really crucial and i would like to say that my self, my family and the russian people hope for the best for you and the

belarussian people in the future. thank you very much indeed and the opposition in belarus have always said that the russian people are their friends so thank you very much indeed there misha. i next question is from vidal gabriel, who is in london but is originally from nigeria. vidal, what you want to ask our panellists? to your mind, are there any identifiable foreign strings behind the protests in belarus as president lukashenko has continued to alleged? this question was always very surprising to me because when my husband started his activity mr lukashenko blamed him as if he was conducted from russia so now he is blaming me and my election campaign that europe is conducting all these demonstrations and protests but there is no proof,

no proof about russia and no proof about europe, and i have to say that if mr lukashenko wants to see the reason of demonstrations, want to see the reason of protests, he just had to look into the mirror. that's the answer. i should just say that your husband of course is the prominent

opposition blogger sergei who is currently in jail in belarus and you had to flee to neighbouring lithuania when you received many threats against you and your two children, which of course you said was a terrible thing to have happened. ok, let's go to you on that question nigel. any identifiable foreign strings behind the street protests in belarus? there are none whatsoever. this is an entirely home—grown domestic, peaceful, mass demand for change. it is always and has only ever been about belarus so these claims that there are hidden forces from abroad behind it are a total myth. vidal, has that answered your question or do you still harbour suspicions? we also know that often times when things like this happen and there are cries forjustice for people who live under very dictatorial regimes, the west is often blamed so it is good to set the record straight. ok, so they've set the record straight for you so one satisfied panellist there. thank you very much vidal. let us now go to lithuania and indeed where svetlana

is and to darius. thank you very much for taking the time. the crisis in belarus has been going on for over a month and a half now with no end in sight. how should the west, if at all, respond to the situation and do you see anyone taking the leading role in the natter? svetla na, can you answer that about what role the west should take? first of all i have to say thank you to all of the countries that are involved in our situation that it is very important to us that if we do not matter for our authorities and leaders and people multiple european countries who respect human rights. first of all i ask every country to be vocal. we hear all the voices and all the supports that other countries show, so, secondly, i call for not necessarily recognising mr lukashenko as president

of belarus and the third one is very important also, it is individual targeted sanctions against those who are involved directly or indirectly into violations after the elections the elections of august 9 2020. let mejust add let me just add a little bit better because people watching this might say, is belarus something that is only of concern to europe, to the west, or is it something that has global significance? yes, well, but we have been seeing in belarus is a peaceful demand for change that will bring about she international human rights in belarus and we have seen the mass and shocking violation of those rights. these are european standards, these are global standards, these are global standards in fact, so it is right for notjust the

standards in fact, so it is right for not just the west but for the world to be concerned about this. it isa world to be concerned about this. it is a legitimate concern. now, i am very glad to hear your clear statement, svetla na, about very glad to hear your clear statement, svetlana, about how you think of the country should respond. i think the important point is that other countries shouldn't assume what is right. it is important for them to listen to you and other leaders of this movement for change. the sanctions certainly have a role, it seems to me, holding those who have violated rights to account is very important too, and helping investigations into human rights violations, but also it seems to me providing some sort of support for those whose economic livelihoods are being lost as a result of these demonstrations. people have been fired for going on demonstrations, people are suffering a loss of livelihood from going on strike. so it seems to me there is a role therefore the international community to plato.

community to play too. thanks for the answers. i'm really happy that lithuania is one of the most vocal of the matter but we hope the major powers to join in. our next panellist joined us from sweden but is originally from belarus so he very clearly has a vested interest going on there. thank you very much for inviting me here mrs president elect, mr ambassador, it is a big privileged to be asking this question. my question is one of the big feature of bella revolution pro—democracy movements is that to a great extent it isa movements is that to a great extent it is a women movement, both under

the election campaign and under the post—election protests so my question to the president elect how do you explain this phenomenon and also maybe mr ambassador can explain where i'll be western feminists in this case women are demonstrating, women making solidarity change, women making solidarity change, women are subjected to terrible repressions, and where are the women solidarity chains in the west? challenge there but first of all, svetla na, if you challenge there but first of all, svetlana, if you could let us know, key opposition figure such as yourself on course, all women. you know, i have to say that i am really proud of all the belarus and people who are in demonstrations now but i am extremely proud of women because iama am extremely proud of women because i am a woman as well and i remember that it was really difficult decision for me to move on because

it was tough time. i understood whom i was fighting against and i am sure that our women understand it as well. but now they don't have any other choice but just well. but now they don't have any other choice butjust to go out because they know that they are fighting for the future of their children. they don't want our children. they don't want our children to be the slaves of this system, to be the slaves of this regime, and, you know, we have seen that men during these demonstrations are being imprisoned in great quantities, and women found strength in themselves and stand in front of menjust to defend in themselves and stand in front of men just to defend our strongmen, just then to be behind the small shoulders, and they succeeded for a couple of weeks. it is a pity that on last weekend we saw that our riot police started to grab women as well

and they grabbed even pregnant woman and they grabbed even pregnant woman and 73—year—old woman and even a woman with special needs. you know, we don't know where this redline that riot police will overstep just as if they are blind, as if they don't understand what they are doing to the women, but i am very proud of the belarussian to the women, but i am very proud of the bela russian people. to the women, but i am very proud of the belarussian people. they are wonderful. thank you very much. so, nigel, you find yourself in the position of being perhaps an unlikely spokesperson for western feminists and dimitri's point about the need for support from them. yes. when the history of these events is written it will show how extraordinary the role that women have played from the start has been, and very effectively too, and the creativity that comes with that has been impressive. 0f creativity that comes with that has been impressive. of course, will or women in belarus are fighting for

the human rights of everyone in the country, not only women, but dmitry, i think you have an important point there. it would be helpful if women's movements in other countries as well except perhaps more visibly and gave the sort of solidarity to to what is going on in belarus that perhaps they should. i think that would be an important element. thank you very much indeed and now our final question from lanner in sweden who is also originally from belarus. your question please. yes, so, there is huge support throughout the country feel, svetla na. is huge support throughout the country feel, svetlana. it is clear and you are the legitimate representative for a large proportion of people in belarus. but at the same time, too many people i really afraid to lose their pensions and benefits that they receive from lukashenko's regime. it always helps them very much in the stress not

doing what the future power will do. so how should the opposition responds to bring them over? svetla na, how would responds to bring them over? svetlana, how would you answer that? people who rely on the state to earn a living may not want to go out and join the opposition and the protesters. i know during my election campaign i always declared that it's not lukashenko who pays pensions, it's not lukashenko who pays salaries to our people. we ourselves pay all this money to old people, and just be sure that the future president of the republic of belarus will be taking care about all the bella vision people, especially the ppo, especially about children, especially about workers, because every future president will

ta ke because every future president will take care about belarus. please don't be afraid. it will not be worse. we will be building our country together with all the people, and your opinion will be listened to by the future president of our country. nigel? i think, svetlana, you make an important point that a free and democratic belarus which can choose the way it is governed will by definition by dell might be governed in the interests of all the people, so it will be free and also more prosperous as well. so from every point of view, political, moral and economic, it's... the games stand on the side of change colour and ultimately. , several of our questioners have referred to us president elect. —— svetlana,

several of our questioners have referred to you as president elect. is that how you see yourself? i would say that i'm a national leader at the moment, maybe a national symbol of freedom because it doesn't matter how people call me, it matters that they know i am among them, i am with them, i'm ready to fight for our future come up for free and safe future together with all the people who want future together with all the people who want to build this country together. svetla na ti kha novs kaya and nigel gould—davis, thank you. thank you very much indeed and also to our questioners who have joined us from all over the world. remember, we are the programme that brings you the trend lines behind the headlines and i think we have had some very useful ink sites from one of the key players in the belarus crisis and also some very good analysis and don't forget you can be part of a programme and you can submit a question to a panel for the next programme just please e—mail global questions

at bbc.co.uk but now from me and the rest of the global questions team, goodbye. hello. following the sunshine today will turn cold quickly underneath the clear skies. we have got more cloud coming into western scotland and northern ireland, so much over in northern ireland than it was last night. it was the coldest september night. it was the coldest september night here on record, so 9 degrees in belfast. ahead of that advancing cloud all the way from eastern scotla nd cloud all the way from eastern scotland down to the west country there is a touch of frost and some short lived mist and fog patches too. that they enlighten patchy as heads head eastwards across scotland

in the afternoon into wales, western parts of england, and head of that and patchy rain we have got some sunshine because we have got these atla ntic sunshine because we have got these atlantic influences, atlantic bully, breeze, it will be warmer and particularly noticeable across eastern england where temperatures can reach 90 degrees. quite mild again on tuesday and wednesday. later in the week it does turn cooler and at the same time the weather more unsettled. this is bbc news. the headlines at 4...

the government defends its decision to allow students to return to university — despite several outbreaks of coronavirus, which have seen many confined to their rooms. labour demands assurances. students have been done over on their a—levels, they have been done over on freshers' week. the government has threatened to lock them up in university and when they graduate they could be facing long—term unemployment. it is important for students not to have to give up a year of their life by not going to university and they are going to university and paying the fees accordingly. cardiff and swansea — wales' two biggest cities — preparing to go into tighter lockdown restrictions fom 6pm this evening, with neath—port talbot, the vale of glamorgan and torfaen also going into local lockdown tomorrow evening. police investigating the murder of sergeant matt ratana at croydon