this is bbc news i'm look was a bureaucrat with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. this is bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the worst flooding in more than a century hits parts of south—east australia, forcing thosands to flee their homes. we have lost the bridge that is our access into the property, we've lost our flying fox, we've lost acres of river bank. i don't know how we are going to recoverfrom this, quite honestly. america's defence secretary has refused to say whether us forces will leave afghanistan by may as planned, afterflying to kabul to talk about security. officials in miami beach declare a state of emergency — and enforce a curfew — as the spring break parties get out of hand.

people are just out here enjoying the beach and it's a good vibe, but that want to shut it down at eight o'clock, people will go somewhere else and take their money somewhere else and take their money somewhere else and take their money somewhere else and it is what it is. and as the un marks world water day, can south east asia's mekong river meet the growing demands of a rapidly developing region? hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world. we begin in australia, where heavy rains have triggered the worst floods for a century. thousands of residents in the state of new south wales have been told to leave home.

forecasters are warning that more rain is expected. just to give you an idea of how saturated the ground is, take a look at these pictures, filmed at oxley island, about 250km kilometres north of sydney. the water simply has nowhere to go. and that's led to images like this — a house, literally floating away. it's believed it belonged to a couple who were due to get married on saturday. the river is peaking nearly six metres above normal — that's almost 20 feet. it's already burst its banks. things are so serious that prime minister scott morrison has put the australian defence force on standby. we've been speaking to sophie love. her home, north of sydney,

is now being threatened by the rising waters. take a listen. ok, so we are on the banks of the river. this is the viewjust about five metres from my house. the river came up, all the grass that you can see, yesterday the water was lapping at the top of the bank near the house. it covered the flat right in front of the house. it has never come up this high before. it dropped about six metres yesterday and it is coming up again now. this is actually nothing compared to what it was like yesterday. we have lost the bridge that is our access into the property, we've lost our flying fox, we've lost acres of river bank. i don't know how we are going to recoverfrom this, quite honestly. let's talk to our correspondent in sydney,

phil mercer. just listening to sophie there, i'm sure there are going to be increasing numbers of residents who are being told to leave their homes, because it sounds as if things are not what you get better for a while, what is the latest? i not what you get better for a while, what is the latest?— what is the latest? i think world water day in _ what is the latest? i think world water day in this _ what is the latest? i think world water day in this part _ what is the latest? i think world water day in this part of - what is the latest? i think world | water day in this part of australia has a very menacing tone. we have seen residents plucked from their rooftops by helicopter, there are communities that have been cut off. australia is a land will use to natureextremes, but records have tumbled all over the state of new south wales, as you say, the north of sydney, they are enduring a once in a century freak weather event. and it is still raining. thousands of people have already been told to leave their homes and many more could follow. the floodwaters in many areas are rising, the rain is

continuing and the authorities are urging people to either stay at home or get out why they while they can. they say they don't know how to recover from this, they say they don't know how to recoverfrom this, how they say they don't know how to recover from this, how did he recover? what help is being put their way by the government? the federal their way by the government? tue: federal government their way by the government? tte: federal government offering disaster relief funding and as you said earlier the australian military has been put on standby, but essentially this part of australia is at the mercy of the weather. the ground is already saturated in many parts of new south wales so more rain will cause more flooding. with the authorities and with the people affected have to do, really, isjust wait until those floodwaters subside. we understand from the police here in australia that thousands of homes have been damaged and on top of that as we heard

earlierfrom sophie, bridges, roads and all sorts of businesses and schools will have been damaged as well. so this is going to be a huge clean—up operation for australia in the immediate aftermath of the flooding people need to get back to their homes to see what's left. thank you very much for that update. that's phil mercer in sydney. we are going to be speaking to a resident, glenn schaefer in a coastal village to find out how they are coping there. do stay with us for that, that's coming up later in the programme. two other events now. the us defence secretary has refused to say whether american forces will leave afghanistan by the may deadline, which was announced by donald trump while he was president. lloyd austin was speaking after talks with the afghan leader, ashraf ghani, during a brief visit to kabul. he didn't refer directly

to the peace talks with the taliban, which are taking place in qatar — but did say, he hoped a negotiated settlement to end the conflict could be reached. that process of reviewing the conditions that have been met or not met is ongoing. as you have seen with our efforts in doha, so, i will not care to comment on that, but what i will say is that it is obvious that the level of violence remains pretty high in the country. we would like to see that violence come down, and i think, if it does come down, we can begin to set the conditions for some really fruitful diplomatic work. this is the time of year when young americans — particularly college students — head off on spring break, which is perhaps the biggest

mass party of the year. and for many people, the pandemic is no barrier. just look at these scenes in miami in florida, filmed on saturday evening. but, the events have become so raucous, with multiple reports of fights, that the city authorities have declared a �*state of emergency�*. and that includes an 8pm curfew in the main entertainment district, and restrictions on travel. police actually had to use pepper balls to clear these crowds — as you can see, there was little social distancing or mask wearing in evidence. let's get the latest. our north america course but it has a watching events there. you are talking about a big party

for them, you are talking about a big party forthem, how you are talking about a big party for them, how importantjust to put into context is spring break?- into context is spring break? spring break is hugely _ into context is spring break? spring break is hugely important. - into context is spring break? spring break is hugely important. it - into context is spring break? spring break is hugely important. it is - into context is spring break? spring break is hugely important. it is a i break is hugely important. it is a tradition and we see it every year. in fact you might remember this time last year at the beginning of the pandemic we had very similar scenes in miami, miami beach with hordes of university students and others gathering in the area for this traditional holiday. it'sjust gathering in the area for this traditional holiday. it's just a time to let off steam a little bit before going back to school for the next few weeks and months of studying. so it's important if you are a student. and the message last year of growth was that these people were perhaps a prime example of how not to behave. at the beginning of the pandemic. when not a lot was really understood about certainly wearing masks, and social distancing was beginning to come into the dialogue then but certainly a very different picture to what we have now, but here we are 12 months later and the same crowds, actually bigger

crowds with non—students as well and very little evidence of masks and social distancing in the mood seems to be not only the traditional party time but a sense of letting off steam because at the end of the pandemic which of course it is not, and that's what so concerning to local officials who say they have been overwhelmed by the sheer number of people in the area. trier? been overwhelmed by the sheer number of people in the area.— of people in the area. very quickly, aenerall of people in the area. very quickly, generally how _ of people in the area. very quickly, generally how good _ of people in the area. very quickly, generally how good has _ of people in the area. very quickly, generally how good has florida - of people in the area. very quickly, l generally how good has florida been about adhering to lockdown restrictions?— about adhering to lockdown restrictions? ., �* , restrictions? that's the thing, the covernor restrictions? that's the thing, the governor of _ restrictions? that's the thing, the governor of florida _ restrictions? that's the thing, the governor of florida has _ restrictions? that's the thing, the governor of florida has aired - restrictions? that's the thing, the governor of florida has aired on i restrictions? that's the thing, the i governor of florida has aired on the liberal side of applying all of those restrictions that many have got use to across the united states, and scrubbing it as an oasis of freedom from the coronavirus, he said thatjust under a month ago and that may well have encouraged people from across the country to descend on the area. from across the country to descend on the area-— from across the country to descend on the area. ., ,, ,, , . ., on the area. thank you very much for that.

in other news... police in amsterdam have used water cannon to break up up a demonstration against coronavirus restrictions. the city has been under curfew since the end of january. holland has recorded over 16,000 coronavirus deaths. the british government says a record number of vaccinations were administered on saturday. a total of more than 844,000 injections took place. but it's not yet clear whether british nationals will be allowed to take holidays abroad this summer. the palestinian authority has launched a coronavirus vaccination programme. it's received 60,000 doses from covax — a global initiative to ensure equal distribution. the jabs will initially be given to people over 75. here in the uk, two police officers are in hospital after clashes with hundreds of protesters in the western city of bristol.

it happened after a rally against plans to limit demonstrations turned violent. the uk's home secretary condemned what she called unacceptable thuggery and disorder. 0ur correspondent andrew plant sent this report from bristol. in a protest against new police powers, it was soon police themselves who became the target. vans and a police car set on fire, fireworks thrown into the crowd as around 1000 protesters gathered in bristol city centre in what has been, police say, the worst violence the city has seen in years. there's a row of police blocking off what is the central police station here in bristol, but you can see at the end of the road, they've also blocked off now the end of this city centre street, but also the side roads too, and they're doing it from behind, but there are still about 1000 people here and now they are being left with nowhere to go.

protesters here holding banners, concerned, they say, that the uk is becoming a police state. the kill the bill march started in the early afternoon, but as night fell, the clashes began. projectiles thrown at officers in riot gear. we saw several people with head injuries being helped from the crowd. i think it's horrible and i agree with the cause of the protest is but i don't think this _ is going to do anybody any good. several officers have been injured, some reported to have broken bones. the chair of the avon and somerset police federation said people's right to protest had been hijacked by protesters hell—bent on violence. the bbc�*s andrew plant reporting from bristol in the west of england. now to the southern philippines and an area rarely visited by the western media. the newly established bangsamoro autonomous region of muslim mindanao is the product of a recent peace deal

between separatist fighters and the philippine government. after decades of conflict, the moro islamic liberation front are now transitioning to politics, helping to establish a fledgling regional parliament in return for the decommissioning of firearms. but with other factions still at war with state forces, can the peace hold? 0ur philippines correspondent howard johnson, visited the region, with the westminster foundation for democracy, to take a closer look. the dimaukom mosque was painted electric pink to promote peace and love in an area beset by violence. we've come here to meet umi and this man, two formerfighters of the separatist group the moro islamic liberation front. i asked her why shejoined the group. translation: i saw my parents being hit by some soldiers. - they killed my uncle who was tending to his water buffalo on his farm when they passed by.

another relative was also killed. they threw their bodies into the river. the bangsamoro, meaning nation of the moro people, say that this is part of decades of religious discrimination from catholic—dominated manila. first established as the moro national liberation front, milf split away to form the region's most dominant insurgency in the 1990s. the group that once trained with al-qaeda now say they reject that of violent ideology, hoping to build a better future for their people through a fledgling regional parliament. translation: the ethnic cleansing back then - was during the times of my parents. the difference now — i'm myself an employee of the government. i became one of the instruments to continue to fight for the bangsmoro cause through the government. and it appears that the peace is holding. the milf have publicly decommissioned hundreds of firearms. the organisation international alert say overall violence in the region has declined year on year since 2016 but intensified in some localities.

although the peace process appears to be taking root, there are factions here that never wanted to be part of it in the first place. so, that's why we are travelling with a police escort because in recent weeks, there have been roadside bomb attacks, skirmishes between local clans, and there remains a kidnapping risk for westerners like me. but in the main market of the regional capital cotabato city, there's a palpable sense that things are changing. translation: we want peace. we muslims and christians come from the same place. stop the war, stop the misunderstandings. the peace deal agreed full elections for parliament next year but the region's chief minister says he'd like to push back the vote until 2025 because of setbacks caused by the pandemic. what do you say to those critics who say, "could this be seen as a power grab?"

there's nothing wrong in the extension because we see the failure to properly implement the agreement will result in the failure of the peace process. for years, umi and comenie were enemies of the state. a family outing like this would have been impossible. but now the police turn a blind eye to them. the mosque's appeal for peace seems to be working. howard johnson, bbc news, maguindanao. monday is un world water day — and we're going to look at the mekong river now. it is at the heart of many countries in south east asia — but demands for dams and other development have meant big changes for the communities who live near it. we're joined by singapore—based

photographer huiying ore. she has documented a project of seven cascading dams and the impact it has had on lives and livelihoods on people in laos. so thank you so much forjoining us here on bbc news. this is an incredible project because you have documented this with photographs. first off, when you came away from laos, what was your mum or what were your thoughts as you left the region in terms of the future for those communities that lived along the river? 50 communities that lived along the river? , ., , , communities that lived along the river? , , ., river? so my last trip to laos was in mid-2019, _ river? so my last trip to laos was in mid-2019, that's _ river? so my last trip to laos was in mid-2019, that's where - river? so my last trip to laos was in mid-2019, that's where i- river? so my last trip to laos was in mid-2019, that's where i took| in mid—2019, that's where i took this photograph. it was really devastating to witness the impact of

these seven dams, first—hand and then to photograph it. i don't know, i felt really bleak for the future of the communities, and actually resilient to the changes and a new way of life but it's a struggle for anyone and they don't have as much resources as we would have. it's good to be challenging for them. t good to be challenging for them. i would if you could just explain to that the river is under from, for example, the dams and notjust one country that is using that resource, just expect to us what's happening. if you look at the dams that surround the river basin, it's one of the most important tributaries of the mekong river. after the dam has

been billed to come they cover with a 80% of the river length and after they have been built they potently alter the river's ecosystem. some of the impact includes the change in the impact includes the change in the river flow, the impact includes the change in the riverflow, and also huge the impact includes the change in the river flow, and also huge losses in biodiversity and the number of fish in the river, and just for that project alone more than 12,000 people living along the river were displaced. so imagine that, and you increase it by a lot and then not only the people living of the river will be effective from the people living down streams all the way to cambodia and then finally at the delta in vietnam they will suffer the consequent is as well. t delta in vietnam they will suffer the consequent is as well. i know that china _ the consequent is as well. i know that china are _ the consequent is as well. i know that china are also _ the consequent is as well. i know that china are also building - that china are also building numerous dams to use this valuable resource. what are villagers saying to you of what future do they see for themselves, those that live beside the... by blodgett we got

some noise in the background. i will repeat myself. what are villagers of the communities that rely on the mekong river saying to you about their future? mekong river saying to you about theirfuture? t mekong river saying to you about their future ?_ mekong river saying to you about their future ?— their future? i think, the villagers that have to _ their future? i think, the villagers that have to be _ their future? i think, the villagers that have to be displaced - their future? i think, the villagers that have to be displaced now - their future? i think, the villagers | that have to be displaced now they are typically relocated to other sites that are further away from the river. each household they are given a small concrete house that's different from what they are used to because their traditional houses are built with wood and earth. said now with these resettlement sites they have no plans to farm, they typically farm vegetables and rice, and they can't fish so they have no income. so instead they are given a years supply of rice and fish. after this supply runs out they have to buy their food. some of them they continue to return to their previous land to farm but they have to track several hours to reach that. so this relocation effectively takes away their ability to be self—sufficient and cause them to be poor. and not

only can these are not only the effects, so that i spoke to them and they told us what they have lost their sense of community, their traditions and identity because they have to abandon their village, abandoned their sacred temples and their ancestors that are around. and it feels like they have abandoned their religion and their way of life. it's really heartbreaking. taste life. it's really heartbreaking. we have not even touched on this idea of water scarcity. but thank you very much indeed. thank you. thanks for havin: very much indeed. thank you. thanks for having me- _ let's get more on our top story — where parts of australia have been hit by the worst flooding in a century. we are joined by glen schaefer, a local resident from scott's head which is a coastal village in the mid north coast region of new south wales, one of the worst affected areas. and i understand, just tell us, are

you at home still? and i understand, 'ust tell us, are you at home still?— you at home still? know. good morning- _ you at home still? know. good morning- i've _ you at home still? know. good morning. i've had _ you at home still? know. good morning. i've had to _ you at home still? know. good morning. i've had to if - you at home still? know. good morning. i've had to if i - you at home still? know. good morning. i've had to if i quit i you at home still? know. good | morning. i've had to if i quit for my home on friday morning, i'm staying at a friend a pleasant place at the moment. i'm close to the town which was at the epicentre of the floods on friday and saturday and it looks like the floods have broken the 100 year flood records looks like the floods have broken the 100 yearflood records in looks like the floods have broken the 100 year flood records in the region. the 100 year flood records in the re . ion. ,, the 100 year flood records in the reuion. ,, ,, the 100 year flood records in the reuion. ,, i. ., the 100 year flood records in the reuion. ,, ., ., ., ., region. see you are not at home, tell us what _ region. see you are not at home, tell us what happened _ region. see you are not at home, tell us what happened to - region. see you are not at home, tell us what happened to your - region. see you are not at home, i tell us what happened to your home and how quickly you had to leave it. ok. on the first day it was raining, early thursday morning really through the day. i kept checking the river heights which are about 150 metres through my home and it looked 0k metres through my home and it looked ok by thursday night, and then we got hammered. we got 190 ml of rain and the house was completely surrounded with water. an hour later it started coming in the house that

had literally an hour to start trying to pack things up and it was too late and i can only grab a laptop, a backpack and two dogs and we had to swim out of their back to the main road which was about 400 metres, and we went through about a metres, and we went through about a metre or a metre and a half of water. it had my backpack above my head carrying the two dogs. ? you sound as anyone would expect, even though no, if you have not been through it you can imagine it, in terms of the clean and going back home is there anything that you know at the moment, what are you being told, what are your plans? we actually got back to the property yesterday to take a quick look and we had to get in by flood. the house in a war zone. there's nothing left, my car is destroyed, the car is

completely flooded as well. all of god is a couple of close and a laptop into phone. but i got my dogs, and my dogs are which means the most to me. we dogs, and my dogs are which means the most to me.— the most to me. we appreciate the fact you've — the most to me. we appreciate the fact you've taken _ the most to me. we appreciate the fact you've taken the _ the most to me. we appreciate the fact you've taken the time - the most to me. we appreciate the fact you've taken the time to - the most to me. we appreciate the fact you've taken the time to speak to us, i can tell that this is really difficult. you have literally lost everything apart from yourself and your dogs. do take care of yourself and thank you very much indeed. thank you. can't imagine it, can you? scientists in iceland say the eruption of a volcano near the capital, reykjavik, appears to be subsiding. the volcano — which last erupted around 800 years ago — burst through a huge crack in the earth's crust on friday night. icelanders had been bracing themselves for an eruption for several weeks, after more than fifty thousand earthquakes

and tremors were felt in the region. you can see more of these stunning pictures on the website or of course the bbc news app. but it's a very gentle eruption. you are watching bbc news, stay with us, plenty more coming up. got the papers coming up but before that its weather time, here is darren. good evening. the weather pattern is forecast to change over the week ahead. today's been another one of those quiet days mixed amount of sunshine, certainly but a lot of dry weather. overnight tonight we'll see cloud probably coming back in from the atlantic into northern ireland into western scotland and northwest england. rather more variable cloud elsewhere and where we have the clearer skies for longer, say parts of northeast england, midlands and wales and even into eastern scotland, those temperatures will be close to freezing by the morning. one or two mist and fog patches. but those won't last long. looking ahead to monday, looks quite cloudy for western scotland, northwest england and northern scotland. more of a breeze or light drizzle for western scotland. elsewhere it looks dry, sunshine from time to time. highest temperatures 13, 14 degrees where the clouds a bit

thinner through the midlands, the southeast and also the northeast of scotland. high pressure then in charge. the centre of the high starts to drift away towards continental europe on tuesday. allowing more of a south to south—westerly breeze. a noticable breeze picking up in most areas on tuesday and we may have a fair bit of cloud around. the best of the sunshine across more sheltered eastern areas in northern ireland in eastern scotland we've got a weather front arriving and that will start to bring rain. could be drizzle across western areas of the day as well. that weatherfront is going to signal a change. it's not bringing much rain at all but it will move down across the country, opening up more of an atlantic airstream heading our way and bringing it's with it some more unsettled weather. this weather front, there it is they are, producing a bit of rain and drizzle as it heads towards the southeast, through the midlands and east anglia. then there is some sunshine before

we see some showers coming into the northwest where we got the stronger winds and it will be wettest in the northwest of scotland. temperatures dropping away here. otherwise, not a great deal of change. as we move from wednesday into thursday, the wind starts to pick up a little bit more, another weather system coming in from the atlantic. no longer high pressure, pressure will be much lower by thursday and we've got showers and sunshine perhaps some heavy showers toward the northwest was up blog is rain sweeping across northern island and western parts of scotland. again, temperatures 11 to 13 celsius so near normal for this time of year. a quiet start to the week, things start to turn a bit wetter and windier. particularly in the northwest and then briefly later in the week it turns a bit chillier.

hello. this is bbc news with lukwesa burak. we'll be taking a look at tomorrow morning's papers in a moment — first, the headlines. two police officers are in hospital after clashes with hundreds of protesters in bristol. it happened after a rally against plans to limit demonstrations turned violent. the government warns the european union, that any attempt to block the export of doses of coronavirus vaccine to the uk

would be "counterproductive".