this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. president biden confirms that all us military forces will be withdrawn from afghanistan in september, saying it is time to end the war. we went to afghanistan because the horrific attack that happened 20 years ago. that cannot explain why we should remain there in 2021. a policewoman is to face manslaughter charges, over the fatal shooting of black man daunte wright in minneapolis. the world's two biggest polluters are talking — us envoyjohn kerry hopes to persuade china to agree new targets on cutting emissions

the noes have it. british mps reject opposition calls for a parliamentary inquiry into the former prime minister david cameron's attempts to gain government contracts for a business which has collapsed. (pres) hello and welcome if you're watching in the uk or around the world — and stay with us for the latest news and analysis from here and across the globe. for the latest news and analysis president biden is ending america's longest ever war. american soldiers invaded afghanistan in 2001 — almost twenty years later, they are still there. but not for much longer. he will withdraw the remaining two and a half thousand troops by september the 11th — the anniversary of the terror attack that launched this fight. here's what mr biden had to say a little earlier today. keeping thousands of troops grounded and concentrated in this one country

at the cost of billions each year makes little sense to me and our leaders. we cannot continue the cycle of extending or expanding our military presence in afghanistan hoping to create ideal conditions for the withdrawal and expecting a different result. mr biden�*s announcement has raised perhaps as many questions as it has provided answers. perhaps none is more relevant than where it leaves the millions of afghans, who face a deeply divided country. the taliban still control many areas, including parts of balkh province. from there, our correspondent secunder kermani reports. victory, they believe, is theirs. as american troops prepare to leave afghanistan, the taliban promises to create what they call an islamic government. but where does that leave millions of ordinary afghans? we've been given rare access to their territory to find out. early—morning, we set off from the northern city of mazar—i—sharif.

this province was once one of the most stable, now it is one of the most violent. we are just around half an hour's drive outside the main city, and already we're in taliban territory. 0ur hosts have put on a show of force. their violent insurgency has cost the lives of tens of thousands of people. through checkpoints like this, the militants assert their authority. and where does the government control, then? us troops will be withdrawn later this year, but the fighting here will likely continue. negotiations between the taliban and afghan government has achieved little so far. for the past year, you've not been fighting against the americans, you've been fighting against other afghans, other muslims.

this man is the taliban's shadow mayor in this part of balkh province. he gives us a tour of the area. 0ne, one, one. class one? class one. there are girls. in the 1990s, the taliban banned female education, and in other areas there are reports they still don't allow older girls to attend school. but here, at least, they are supporting it. the school is funded by the government, but monitored by the taliban. local sources told us the taliban removed art and citizenship studies from the curriculum,

adding islamic subjects, but otherwise follow the national syllabus. the taliban wanted to present us with a positive image. throughout the trip, we were accompanied by them at all times. residents we spoke to at a local bazaar expressed support for the group, saying they brought security, but later we were told about villagers being slapped for shaving their beards, or having stereos smashed for listening to music. many, particularly in afghan cities, fear the taliban want to recreate their repressive islamic emirate of the 1990s. do you think that you did things wrong back then, and would things be different now? there's a diplomatic push

for the taliban to agree to a power—sharing arrangement. so far, though, the group has shown little desire to compromise. the price of peace may well mean giving into more of their demands. secunder kermani, bbc news, balkh province. now to the us state of minnesota — where two big stories are playing out in parallel. in a moment we'll have the latest on the minneapolis murder trial against former police officer derek chauvin — in the death of george floyd. but first — the police woman who shot and killed twenty—year—old daunte wright during a traffic stop last weekend has been arrested. minnesota authorities say they will charge kim potter with second degree manslaughter. police say the officer had intended to use her taser — and that the shooting was "accidental". this was the moment when mr wright was pulled over for a minor traffic violation in the city of brooklyn center near minneapolis. police then determined that daunte wright had an outstanding arrest warrant — because he had failed to attend a court appearance for carrying

a pistol without a permit — they tried to handcuff him, and when he went to get back in his car, an officer yelled "taser taser taser" before he was shot. live to our correspondent larry madowo — he's in minneapolis. the brooklyn centre, bring us up—to—date with what is happened in the situation facing kim. she up-to-date with what is happened in the situation facing kim.— the situation facing kim. she has not been booked _ the situation facing kim. she has not been booked and _ the situation facing kim. she has not been booked and is - the situation facing kim. she has not been booked and is in - the situation facing kim. she hasl not been booked and is in custody the situation facing kim. she has - not been booked and is in custody in the countyjail and she will be charged and until then, she remains in custody but police are expecting some protests around her house, which is not completely surrounded and have a police presence there. another curfew in the city of brooklyn centre. the second degree manslaughter charge, she can go to prison for ten years of charge for the community fears that she may be just another white officer that goes away with killing a black person. the man some believe the

manslaughter charge is a slap on the wrist, others believe this was not an accident, this was a deliberate attempt and it is not possible that some could confuse a taser for a gun and many of the community believe that he was pulled 0ver in the first place because he was driving while black. the problems with systemic racism and how they police black communities. let's turn to the derek cauvin trial — taking place ten miles away. the former police officer is facing murder and manslaughter charges after the death of george floyd. it's the second day of the defence. today's witness has been the forensic pathologist dr david fowler who has said heart issues and drug use contributed to george floyd's death,

contradicting prosecution experts who said he would not have died — if derek chauvin, had not knelt on his neck. earlier, dr fowler summed up his medical opinion. is significant contributory conditions, i've already got the heart disease and part of one and he would have the toxicology of fentanyl and methamphetamines and fenta nyl and methamphetamines and there's fentanyl and methamphetamines and there's exposure to a vehicle exhausts, so potentially carbon monoxide poisoning and in effect from increased carbon monoxide in his bloodstream and other national disease that he had —— natural. all of this combined to cause his death. live to our correspondent larry madowo — he's in minneapolis.

the prosecution accused him of trying to confuse the jury. they got him to admit that to win george floyd was on his front and falling in conscious the derek should have done cpr some form of medical assistance that they did not do. the doctor essentially advanced the theory that the defence has been pushing for the beginning of this trial that the subdural and restraint of george floyd did not directly kill him and they said he suffered a heart attack during that restraint. the criticism of doctor fowler plus plus testimony and the entire defence case here is that they're throwing several things on they're throwing several things on the wall and seeing what sticks. during this trial, we referred this condition of excited delirium that they blamed for george floyd's death, the cloud around them, they blamed the condition of his drug

use, they have blamed his underlying health problems and all of those together they say all contributed to his death, and all of the medical coroner that conducted the autopsy ruled, a homicide. essentially, someone was responsible for his death. according to fowler, that is not true because there's so many reasons why it is impossible to determine what exactly killed him. doctor martin fowler is also been accused in the state of maryland where she used to be the gym medical examiner. he has been sued by a black family there for covering up the death of their kid in police custody. so, all of these things are seen as an attempt to put george floyd's drug use on trial, to blame george floyd for his own murder. let's get some of the day's other news denmark has become the first country in the world to stop using the 0xford—astrazeneca covid jab entirely, citing concerns over possible links between the vaccine and rare blood clots. uk health officials insist the jab

is safe, although adults under 30 are to be offered an alternative. disgraced financier bernie madoff has died in prison at age 82. he had been serving a iso—year sentence after he pleaded guilty in 2009 to running a ponzi scheme. investors were paid with money from new clients rather than actual profits. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: a political row in the uk. how far did the former british prime minister go to help an australian financier, whose company is now in trouble? pol pot, one of the century's greatest mass murderers, has reported to have died of natural causes. he and the khmer rouge movement he led were responsible for the deaths of an estimated 1.7 million cambodians.

there have been violent protests in indonesia, where playboy has gone on sale for the first time. traditionalist muslim leaders have expressed disgust. the magazines officers have been attacked, and its editorial staff have gone into hiding. it was clear that paula's only contest was with the clock. and as for a sporting legacy, paula radcliffe's competitors will be chasing her new world best time for years to come. quite quietly but quicker. and quicker, she assumed to just slide away under i the surface and disappear. this is bbc news, the latest headlines. president biden confirms that all us military forces will be withdrawn from afghanistan in september this year. a policewoman is to face manslaughter charges, over the fatal shooting of black man

daunte wright in minneapolis. the uk opposition labour party has lost a vote to set up a parliamentary inquiry into former prime minister david cameron's lobbying of ministers on behalf of the now failed financial services firm greensill capital. labour leader kier starmer has accused the prime minister of presiding over what he called a return to "tory sleaze". borisjohnson said he shared the concerns raised but insisted the review he's ordered would get to the bottom of the issue. here's our political editor laura kuenssberg. calls for alarm? labour thinks it is onto something. labour thinks it's onto something. after weeks of claims about an all too close relationship between politics and those trying to turn a profit, it was borisjohnson�*s turn to answer. questions to the prime minister. after it was revealed that the man who used to stand in his place argued for the interest of a now failed bank to those in every day argued for the interest of a now

failed back to those in power. argued for the interest of a now failed bank to those in power. there is further evidence of the sleaze that is now at the heart of this conservative government. does the prime minister except there is a revolving door, indeed, an open door, between his conservative government and paid lobbyists? mr speaker, this is a government and party that has been consistently tough on lobbying, and indeed we introduced legislation, saying that there should be no taxpayer funded lobbying. the opposition leader used this occasion tojog his memory. the greensill scandal is that bit of the iceberg. dodgy contracts, privileged access, jobs for their mates, this is the return of tory sleaze. we're having a proper independent review and if he has any allegations to make about what has taken place, he should make them to the eminent lawyer who has been asked to do it. almost implausibly, this picture appears to show the former prime minister and the financer, lex greensill, casually chatting on a lobbying trip to saudi arabia.

david cameron worked for him and texted and called ministers and government now on his behalf. lobbying, the art of trying to change government's minds, is not illegal, but it is meant to be done in daylight, formal and transparent, for all to see. one of david cameron's former colleague suggested it's not as it should be. i think there is ample evidence - from what has happened that there's a gap between the current law about what people can - do by way of lobbying, - once they have left office, and the public perception of what is appropriate. i the former cabinet minister told me what is shocking about david cameron is that what he was doing is considered normal, sometimes, around here. government after government has tried to grapple with the awkward fact that contacts can be used as currency but the relationship between money and politics can be toxic.

the former cabinet minister told me what is shocking about david cameron is that what he was doing is considered normal, sometimes, around here. government after government has tried to grapple with the awkward fact that contacts can be used as currency but the relationship between money and politics can be toxic. but the opposition sniff an opportunity to make this about the here and now. it is no doubt a tasteless slapdash and unbecoming episode. it leaves a bad taste in the mouth, as so many have said far better than i could, as so many have said far

better than i could, it does tarnish us all. but would they vote with labour for a public investigation? if we vote against it, i as the prime minister has told you all to do, then i'm sorry to say, | that they too will be part - of the government's attempts to cover up tory sleaze. not this time. the noes have it, the noes have it. a separate committee of mps will still hold public hearings on the next few weeks. the business of politics once again in the glare. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. the us climate envoy, john kerry, has arrived in china to try to persuade beijing to agree to new targets on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. the us wants china to stop building coal—fired power stations and stop financing coal ventures abroad. here the yellow spots show you how many coal power plants there are across china. the red spots are the new ones. if we look across the rest of the world, you can see that india is another country still building coal powered stations, while if you look at europe and the us there are plenty of grey spots, which mark where coal power plants are being decommissioned. just last week, a report

by global energy monitor said that the new coal—fired power stations opening in china offset all the closures in the rest of the world last year. let's now speak to lorry maileeveer, the who is the lead analyst at centre for research on energy and clean air. thank you so much forjoining us, who was making the bigger commitments?— who was making the bigger commitments? ., ., commitments? chain or the united states? both _ commitments? chain or the united states? both of _ commitments? chain or the united states? both of these _ commitments? chain or the united states? both of these -- _ commitments? chain or the united states? both of these -- china. i commitments? chain or the united. states? both of these -- china. this states? both of these —— china. this administration has a much stronger approach to climate than donald trump did. china has made a very significant long—term commitment to target carbon neutrality by 2060. at the short—term actions are much less progressive so, both countries have a long way to go depending on what they're up to until 2030. $5

a long way to go depending on what they're up to unti12030._ a long way to go depending on what they're up to unti12030. they're up to until 2030. as we look around the — they're up to until 2030. as we look around the world, _ they're up to until 2030. as we look around the world, was _ they're up to until 2030. as we look around the world, was the _ they're up to until 2030. as we look around the world, was the china - they're up to until 2030. as we look around the world, was the china in i around the world, was the china in the united states, our opponents and extreme numbers of areas. but are they managing to find common ground when it comes to climate change? competition around climate can also be beneficial. it doesn't have to be about being friends and cooperation. if the united states and china compete over who can build the most advanced low carbon energy system, who can develop the market leader technologies, financing the development of these kinds of energies and infrastructure and the rest of the world that can also create a dynamic that pushes things forward and if the united states can piercing progress with japan and korea, there will also create

pressure on china to move. haw pressure on china to move. how realistic is _ pressure on china to move. how realistic is the _ pressure on china to move. how realistic is the sense _ pressure on china to move. how realistic is the sense of - realistic is the sense of competition? i realistic is the sense of competition?— realistic is the sense of cometition? ~ ., ., , competition? i think already in china, they — competition? i think already in china, they are _ competition? i think already in china, they are making - competition? i think already in china, they are making that i competition? i think already in - china, they are making that pledge for carbon neutrality. 0ne element in the position was other countries moving and there was a us administration potentially coming on board that would be much stronger on claimant and so countries do look at each other and china certainly has, certainly is not doing this carbon neutrality out of goodhart and it's for economic reasons so that competition already exists and the fact that we now have a us administration that is starting to do the same will certainly help things. do the same will certainly help thins. ., ., , ., ., , things. how does china move its domestic economy _ things. how does china move its domestic economy away - things. how does china move its domestic economy away from i things. how does china move its i domestic economy away from coal, given the fact that there is a rising middle class which demands energy? the

rising middle class which demands ener: ? . .., rising middle class which demands ener: ? . ., , rising middle class which demands ener. ? . ., energy? the technical solutions are certainly there. _ energy? the technical solutions are certainly there. china _ energy? the technical solutions are certainly there. china is _ energy? the technical solutions are certainly there. china is already - certainly there. china is already building solar power at costs that are competitive with coal. so, that is not the issue, the issue is overcoming the domestic interests that still prefer coal because of calligraphy reasons. the process to do that is happening right now. every chinese province is going through a planning process to create a peak of carbon dioxide emissions and reach carbon neutrality in the the ambition for the plans and the international plan given that we are already ahead of time with climate change. already ahead of time with climate chance. . ~ already ahead of time with climate chance. ., ~ i. already ahead of time with climate chance. . ~ i. ,., already ahead of time with climate chance. . ~' ,, . ., already ahead of time with climate chance. . ~' . ., ., change. thank you so much. -- out of

time. this week, thailand has been celebrating the buddhist new year. but for a second year, the country's covid task force is banning the street water fights that usually take place during celebrations because of the pandemic. the songkran festival takes place from apr 13 to 15 and in a normal year crowds pack the streets, spraying water guns orflinging waterfrom pick—up trucks in what has been described as the world's biggest water fight. but this year as the bbc�*s chaiyot yongcharoenchai is about to tell us it's been going ahead without the splash. no water fights? how disappointing. we have been waiting for this year to be the year that we get to do it again. because of the pandemic, actually last year, the government cancelled its holiday altogether because they do not want people to

move around that much. but this year, we thought the situation got better because they allowed us to have this holiday, but however, with the new strain was discovered in the uk just hit thailand like two weeks ago, it spread very fast and that means they cancelled all the water activities and we are back into locking down in the house again. and the travel restrictions are there but we are still able to move around, but we are able to go out on the street and play in the water like every year.— the street and play in the water like every year. you think him it's auoin to like every year. you think him it's going to break — like every year. you think him it's going to break the _ like every year. you think him it's going to break the rules - like every year. you think him it's going to break the rules and - like every year. you think him it's going to break the rules and try l like every year. you think him it's| going to break the rules and try to have their unofficial water fights? some local kids playing around, but not like the big thing that you see on tv, because that is impossible now. people are also aware of this because we just hit their highest record number yesterday, so people are aware of the pandemic too. is

the government saying hold all of the government saying hold all of the water fights into 2022? hopefully, fingers crossed because we just hope we can get back to normal soon. we we just hope we can get back to normal soon.— we just hope we can get back to normal soon. ~ ., ., ., ., normal soon. we all look forward to those normal soon. we all look forward to these water — normal soon. we all look forward to those water fights _ normal soon. we all look forward to those water fights in _ normal soon. we all look forward to those water fights in 2022 _ normal soon. we all look forward to those water fights in 2022 if, - normal soon. we all look forward to those water fights in 2022 if, of - those water fights in 2022 if, of course, it is possible. thank you so much. a reminder of our top story. president biden has announced that the united states will complete its military withdrawal from afghanistan no later than the twentieth anniversary of the september eleventh terror attacks of 2001. mr biden said washington would hold the taliban accountable for its commitment not to allow any terrorists to threaten the us or its allies from afghan soil. you'll find plenty of analysis on the story from her chief international correspondent or who has been covering afghanistan for decades and also from a

correspondent in afghanistan. i am on twitter. please do stay with us. hello there. most of us had a fine and dry day yesterday with some welcome sunshine. now across quite widely across the north and west of the country temperatures actually a bit above average for the time of year. about three degrees above around the glasgow area. across eastern england there were some areas a little bit on the cool side for example london. mainly because we had the wins come again from eight relatively cool north sea around this area of high pressure. similar wind pattern on thursday, similar distribution of temperatures again across these northwestern areas we will see some of the warmest weather. it's not particularly warm at the moment. indeed temperatures are dropping very quickly underneath these clear and starry skies. the wind is light, could be just a few mist and

fog patches although probably not quite as many as we had this time yesterday. temperatures at the lowest —3, minus four celsius or so across parts of northeast england. there will be quite a widespread frost first thing. so a frosty start to the day but a beautiful start as well with clear blue skies in many places. lots of sunshine on the cards. but as we head through the day we are going so a frosty start to the day but a beautiful start as well with clear blue skies in many places. lots of sunshine on the cards. but as we head through the day we are going to see some cloud build in a particularly across central and eastern england for the and indeed a line of showers will develop across east anglia and south east england with some heavy but i don't think there will be any thunderstorms around. the further northwest you are the clearest the skies will be. plenty of sunshine even into the afternoon for these areas. and it's here where we will see some of the highest temperatures again

probably reaching around 15 celsius. a little cooler than that across central and eastern areas of england. if anything those temperatures down a little bit compared with wednesdays. at the end of the week high pressure is still with us and that means another fine, frosty start to the day. plenty of sunshine a little bit of cloud bubbling up as we head into the afternoon. towards the northwest you might find a little bit of slightly thicker cloud beginning to make inroads but most of that is going to be quite high. just making the sunshine a little on the hazy side. for many of us that's a cold start to the day. a bit of cloud but essentially a fine day. for the weekend prospects, weather fronts are going to get pretty close to the northwest of the country. across most of england and wales were looking at this fine spell of whether to continue. of weather to continue. probably of the two days saturday it looks like being the sunniest but sunday is still not bad. further northwest a bit more cloud around and across the far northwest of the uk through sunday there is the threat of seeing a little bit of rain. that's your weather.

this is bbc world news, the headlines. presidentjoe biden has confirmed that the us will begin its final military withdrawal from afghanistan next month. mr biden said his goal was for the pull—out to be completed by the twentieth anniversary of the september eleventh terror attacks. us prosecuters say a white police officer who shot dead a black motorist in minnesota is to be charged with second—degree manslaughter. kim potter says she shot daunte wright accidentally, after mistaking her gun for her taser. denmark has stopped giving the 0xford—astrazeneca covid vaccine amid concerns about rare cases of blood clots, the first european country to do so fully. the jailed american financier, bernie madoff — who became a symbol of wall street excess — has died in prison. madoff had been serving a one—hundred—and—fifty year sentence for running the largest known ponzi scheme in us history.