welcome to newsday. reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines — anger on the steets of beirut — police and protesters clash on the anniversary of the explosion that destroyed much of the lebanese capital. but i don't know if you can see the litter on the street and this police car that is just completely smashed. on the other side, there's actually a brick that's been thrown through the window, and i think that really gives you a sense of how angry people here are. the sprinter from belarus who refused to return home for her own safety has landed in poland. final arguments are heard in a canadian court as america attempts to extradite huawei's chief financial officer to face charges of bank fraud. i'm sarah mulkerrins in tokyo

on day 13 of the olympics, where more medals will be up for grabs in the men's hockey, and i'll be talking to a five—time olympic gold medallist, the former australian swimmer ian thorpe. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news. it's newsday. welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. it's 7am in the morning in singapore and 2am in the morning in lebanon, where a day of remembrance for the victims of the huge explosion in beirut�*s port a year ago has descended into violence. the deaths of more than 200 people were commemorated at a multi—faith event in the shadow of the ruins where the blast happened. relatives of the dead observed a silence, and each of the names of the victims who died was read out.

but a little later, near the parliament building in the centre of beirut, angry crowds gathered to voice their frustration at what they see as a lack of accountability for the disaster and failures in government. by nightfall, the situation had worsened. more tear gas was used, and more than 50 people are reported to have been injured. with ongoing political uncertainty, the unrest looks set to continue. here's beirut—based journalist rebecca collard on what happened in her city today. yeah, definitely this day of sorrow turned into a night of anger, and i'm just going to show you... we were in downtown now when the security forces started using the tear gas trying to push people back, and it really took them hours of barrages of tear gas to get the thousands of people that had marched from this commemoration ceremony toward the country's parliament... it took them hours to get them out of that area, and i'lljust show you, they actually pushed us

into this residential area. you can see most people are gone now, but i don't know if you can see the litter on the street and this police car that is just completely smashed. on the other side, there's actually a brick that's been thrown through the window, and i think that really gives you a sense of how angry people here are. you know, it's been a year since this explosion. we do not really have any more answers about what happened, and nobody has been held accountable. and because of that, we're seeing this anger in the streets. and, you know, one of the protesters i spoke to said to me, you know, "as long as there is no formaljustice, as long as we don't know who did this, as long as we don't feel like somebody�*s being held accountable, people are going to be taking the justice into their own hands in the way that we saw today." let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. a global study of flooding shows that the percentage of the population at risk has risen by almost a quarter since the start of the century. researchers said climate change and migration towards slum areas were among the factors behind the rise. most of the increase was in asia and sub—saharan africa. the mexican government is suing major us gun companies, accusing them of failing

to stop the illegal flow of weapons across the border. it's filed a lawsuit in a court in boston against 15 firms. they claim the unscrupulous selling of guns had armed drug cartels, who kill large numbers of people and cause extensive economic damage. a power plant in south—west turkey has been been evacuated because of the threat from a major wildfire. the wildfire is one of 16 currently raging across the country. firefighters, police cars and locals were seen fleeing the site as flames lapped at the edges of the power station. now the sprinter from belarus, krystina timanovskaya, who refused orders to fly home from the olympics early because she feared for her safety has arrived in poland this evening after being granted a humanitarian visa by the polish government. earlier today, the most prominent opposition leader left in belarus, maria kolesnikova, made a defiant appearance as she stood trial for trying

to overthrow president lukashenko. from minsk, sarah rainsford reports. krystina timanovskaya left japan with her olympic dreams shattered, but her route to safety secured. the belarusian athlete says she just wants to run. her life was sports, not politics until a row with her coaches left her too scared to go home. but here inside belarus, state television has slammed her claims as cheap hype. "the only thing timanovskaya won in tokyo," this presenter says, "is a polish visa." on the streets of minsk, though, we did find sympathy for the sprinter who's fled because there is zero tolerance of dissent here now. "we're all afraid," dmitri says. "me, too, sometimes, because the situation is unstable."

the danger is real. we pass the prison where opposition activists have been locked up since mass protests last year. but somehow maria kolesnikova is still smiling. the protest leader appeared in court today charged with plotting to seize power. she and a fellow activist are facing 12 years behind bars. maria's father brought her flowers. but had to pass them on via her lawyer. alexander hasn't been allowed to see his daughter for ten months, an extra punishment. and the woman who wanted to change belarus did this dance of defiance. for her dad, it was a chance to smile. "it just shows how free she still is inside," he told me, "despite everything." sarah rainsford, bbc news, minsk.

the lengthy legal battle over the whether a senior executive from the chinese industrial giant huawei can be extradited from canada to the us has reached a crucial stage. meng wanzhou, the company's chief financial officer, as well as the the daughter of its founder, has been held under effective house arrest in canada for almost three years. the us wants her to stand trial for breaking its sanctions on iran. she denies that and china says the allegations are a sham. the final extradition hearing is under way in vancouver, and barbara plett usher is following developments for us. well, it's quite complicated because it's about more than just meng wa nzhou. so, she was arrested in december 2018 on a us warrant. the americans wanted her extradited to the united states to face charges that her company...related to her company huawei violating american sanctions against iran. and those legal proceedings about the extradition have dragged on now for more

than two years, and the first phase is wrapping up now. that is basically to determine if there would be enough evidence against her for her to stand trial in canada. and then the judge has to look at the merits of the extradition request itself and decide whether she should be extradited, and that is expected to be determined by the early autumn. now, why is it so diplomatically sensitive? well, it's really roiled relations between china and the us and china and canada. so, with the us, this case against the top huawei executive coincided with american action against huawei the company, reducing its contracts and its influence in western countries because the americans believe it's a national security threat. and that has really angered china. and then with regards to canada, beijing arrested two canadians in china shortly after meng wanzhou was arrested. that was widely seen as retaliation, and they are now trying those two canadians for espionage behind closed doors. so, whatever the court decides, there is a political element to this as well. so, there's still a question

whether there might be a political resolution, you know, exchanging the two canadians for her, allowing her to go back to china. but relations are so bad between china and the us and canada that it's difficult to see how that could happen. day 13 of the tokyo olympics is getting under way. but all the talk is about the records being broken in track and field and super shoes. sarah, tell us more about this. every time i hear about this i think super shoes make me that much faster on my weekend 5k. i know, we are all going to be paying looking to claw around and find with the athletes are getting the shoes because we are seeing some really fast times. we have had two world records in the last two days in the 40 records in the last two days in the a0 metres hurdles for men and women. and basically they started out with road running.

they have got a carbon play inserted into them and they also have phone which is stacked quite heavily on them and that technology and development in the main on them and they are transferring over onto the spikes. usually they are leather shoes the athletes would wear on the track and they are transferring over now and there is some debate whether we should be having them or allowing them or not. i think that debate is going to read john over the coming weeks and months. i know that we may well see some fast times later. we have three finals on the track this morning here this thursday, the men's shot put committeemen pop �*s triple jump and the men's 110 committeemen pop �*s triple jump and the men's110 metres hurdles with the american grand hollow by giving his favourite in that one. just below was here in tokyo bay we have the open water swimming, the marathon for men is coming to its closing stages. the german leading there. women's golf getting under way about a0 minutes north of us here in tokyo. interesting because it

is quite hot here the last couple of days. the golf yesterday reached a1 celsius and it's having a massive impact was of the caddie of lexi thompson had to withdraw because of heat stroke and potentially we may have a shortened competition there 25a holes, suggest three days because potentially they are going to have some thunderstorms at the weekend. so the athletes are having to battle that. and a little bit later in the hockey we will have the men poz oche final with belgium looking for their first ever olympic gold medal in that. they are up against australia, who last one back in 200a. i australia, who last one back in 2004. 4' ., ., , ., , 2004. i know that there is lots to look forward _ 2004. i know that there is lots to look forward to _ 2004. i know that there is lots to look forward to today - 2004. i know that there is lots to look forward to today as - to look forward to today as you have been talking about commitment another big theme at the elephant games has been the level of heat the athletes have to deal with.— to deal with. absolutely and i can feel it _ to deal with. absolutely and i can feel it even _ to deal with. absolutely and i can feel it even just - to deal with. absolutely and i can feel it even just in - can feel it even just in the last couple of days. the open

water swimming yesterday, the researchers in the water were 30 degrees in the water. they were having to take drinks on every lap they did of seven and they had to put really cold frozen drinks out to the swimmers on fishing rods so they could collect them to try and keep their departures school. we also as well have had the news that the women's gold medalfinal had the news that the women's gold medal final tomorrow had the news that the women's gold medalfinal tomorrow a friday here in the women's football, sweden and canada are taking part in that, that's to be played at 11am local time but they have both asked that to be switched to potentially later in the day so that they can both maintain and manage themselves because they are quite worried about how it would be competing in such high temperatures here filter the temperatures here filter the temperatures are high, the humidity is high and this is a constant thing we have seen throughout these olympic games. athletes really having to battle with the heat here and trying to make sure that they remain safe and healthy and are able to perform as best as they can. , ., , ., ,

can. yes, not 'ust athletes, yourself_ can. yes, notjust athletes, yourself having _ can. yes, notjust athletes, yourself having to - can. yes, notjust athletes, yourself having to battle i can. yes, notjust athletes, | yourself having to battle the heat for us very valiantly every day on newsday. running from tokyo there. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme, a teenager and a girl aged just 12 took gold and silver in the skateboarding in tokyo. we'll find out more about japan's new stars. the question was whether we wanted to save our people and japanese as well and win the war, or whether we wanted to take a chance on being able to win the war by killing all our young men. the invasion began at two o'clock this morning. mr bush, like most other people, was clearly caught by surprise. we call for the immediate i and unconditional withdrawal of all iraqi forces. 100 years old and still full of vigour, vitality and enjoyment of life. no other king or queen

in british history has lived so long, and the queen mother is said to be quietly very pleased indeed that she's achieved this landmark anniversary. this is a pivotal moment for the church as an international movement. the question now is whether the american vote will lead to a split in the anglican community. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. our headlines — anger on the steets of beirut — as police and protesters clash on the anniversary of the explosion that destroyed much of the lebanese capital. the sprinter from belarus who refused to return home for her own safety has landed in poland.

earlier we told you all about the sporting action and we talked about the heat. we are heading back to tokyo now because she has a special guest, a surprise for us, a very famous person in the sporting world that i really want to hear from. sporting world that i really want to hearfrom. so, go for it. we actually do. we'll come back to tokyo. another big talking point of the limit games as being about how athletes have been coping with the pressure of having to compete at the very top level and then being very top level and then being very open and honest afterwards in a lot of their interviews was a who is well aware of what it is like to compete at the very top level in the olympics as well the home olympics back in sydney is a former australian swimmer ian thorpe, who joins us now. australian swimmer ian thorpe, whojoins us now. five olympic gold medals. thank you for joining us. i wondered firstly on that point about hearing so

many athletes coming out in their post race or postevent interviews being quite open and honest with their emotions and their feelings. honest with their emotions and theirfeelings. do you honest with their emotions and their feelings. do you feel the olympics are a little bit of a watershed moment in terms of talking about mental well—being? i talking about mental well-being?- talking about mental well-beina ? ~ ., , well-being? i think what it is and what _ well-being? i think what it is and what the _ well-being? i think what it is and what the powerful - well-being? i think what it is i and what the powerful message that does come from some of these — that does come from some of these very high—profile athletes around the world that have _ athletes around the world that have actually struggled with different mental illness or mental_ different mental illness or mental challenges that they have — mental challenges that they have faced in their careers and how— have faced in their careers and how they— have faced in their careers and how they overcome them, and i guess— how they overcome them, and i guess it — how they overcome them, and i guess it removes that false perception that all athletes are just _ perception that all athletes are just superheroes and they don't — are just superheroes and they don't have vulnerability and they— don't have vulnerability and they seem invincible. but we all have _ they seem invincible. but we all have our witnesses as well. for people to know that this can affect anybody in our communities and that is why we need _ communities and that is why we need to— communities and that is why we need to get it right in sport but in — need to get it right in sport but in the broader community as well _ but in the broader community as well. �* .. ., but in the broader community as well. �* ., ., well. and the reaction to most --eole well. and the reaction to most peeple speaking _ well. and the reaction to most people speaking out _ well. and the reaction to most people speaking out has - well. and the reaction to most people speaking out has been| people speaking out has been overwhelmingly supportive

across social media with people acknowledging it and supporting these athletes. do you think something has changed in terms of people realising this? i think we are starting to realise _ think we are starting to realise what level of expectation we place on our athletes _ expectation we place on our athletes to perform well. and it varies — athletes to perform well. and it varies from country to country. _ it varies from country to country, but there is an expectation of gold in the country— expectation of gold in the country in question must be at what _ country in question must be at what cost? not only physically but now — what cost? not only physically but now we are acknowledging mentally as well. and i look at naomi — mentally as well. and i look at naomi osaka for example or simone _ naomi osaka for example or simone biles who felt that they had the — simone biles who felt that they had the weight of a nation. we thought— had the weight of a nation. we thought that originally naomi osaka — thought that originally naomi osaka when she refused to do interviews at the french open that it — interviews at the french open that it wasjust hurt not being ready— that it wasjust hurt not being ready for— that it wasjust hurt not being ready for it. then when she is now_ ready for it. then when she is now sharing a house and her struggles had been since the us open _ struggles had been since the us open and even leading into tokyo— open and even leading into tokyo and the limit games, we saw that— tokyo and the limit games, we saw that she actually beat her childhood hero and then had to console — childhood hero and then had to console her on the dais because

unofficial— console her on the dais because unofficial was being booted. and then gave her the pep talk that she — and then gave her the pep talk that she needed all within a few minutes of find out throughout the world. and that is hard — throughout the world. and that is hard for— throughout the world. and that is hard for anyone who is unprepared for, but we are doing — unprepared for, but we are doing and limiting conscious effort — doing and limiting conscious effort to— doing and limiting conscious effort to improve or we are apt with— effort to improve or we are apt with what— effort to improve or we are apt with what we are doing a mental health— with what we are doing a mental health services for our athletes.— health services for our athletes. ,, athletes. do you think you will be different, _ athletes. do you think you will be different, i— athletes. do you think you will be different, i think _ athletes. do you think you will be different, i think back- athletes. do you think you will be different, i think back to i be different, i think back to sydney 2000 when you are one of those faces of the games, do you think things are different now for people who are coming in under that intense spotlight? i in under that intense spotlight?— in under that intense spotlight? in under that intense s-aotliht? ,, ., ., spotlight? i think what we do now is instead _ spotlight? i think what we do now is instead of _ spotlight? i think what we do now is instead of talking - spotlight? i think what we do now is instead of talking a i now is instead of talking a really _ now is instead of talking a really good game in this for about— really good game in this for about mental health what we do to repair— about mental health what we do to repair athletes for it, we are actually doing hard work and — are actually doing hard work and realising that each individual athlete is going to have — individual athlete is going to have a — individual athlete is going to have a different requirement and different need going into and different need going into an event— and different need going into an event like the limit games. some — an event like the limit games. some can _ an event like the limit games. some can walk in and some naivety— some can walk in and some naivety can actually help. walking in and not realising the significance of the acknowledgement of that particular time, yet others

need — particular time, yet others need to— particular time, yet others need to be coached through and have _ need to be coached through and have the — need to be coached through and have the constant affirmations that they require to be able to deliver— that they require to be able to deliver the performance when it counts — deliver the performance when it counts most. deliver the performance when it counts most-— deliver the performance when it counts most. and looking at the action in the _ counts most. and looking at the action in the pool _ counts most. and looking at the action in the pool in _ action in the pool in particular, i have seen some headlines from australia saying australia are back. they had such a great swimming competition at the olympics. do you reflect positively on that? absolutely i reflect positively on it — absolutely i reflect positively on it it — absolutely i reflect positively on it. it exceeded my expectations and i felt and i knew— expectations and i felt and i knew there was going to be a successful olympics for australia in the pool. this is the — australia in the pool. this is the most _ australia in the pool. this is the most success we've ever had anywhere — the most success we've ever had anywhere in the world. and congratulations to all who have prohibited to this result and it's been_ prohibited to this result and it's been a long time coming for austrian swimming. you look at ma be for austrian swimming. you look at maybe two — for austrian swimming. you look at maybe two names _ for austrian swimming. you look at maybe two names in - at maybe two names in particular that stood out that were capturing a lot of the attention and then they are

performances in particular, what did you make of both of them? i what did you make of both of them? ~ them? i think there were three women that — them? i think there were three women that really _ them? i think there were three women that really were - them? i think there were three i women that really were dominant for australia at these olympic games — for australia at these olympic games. there was emma mccann, then katie _ games. there was emma mccann, then katie mcewan and then carry— then katie mcewan and then carry on— then katie mcewan and then carry on it. watching her come up carry on it. watching her come up against _ carry on it. watching her come up against it was ordered by the british from a swimmer of the british from a swimmer of the world _ the british from a swimmer of the world had ever produced and to he _ the world had ever produced and to be able — the world had ever produced and to be able to match up with her on the — to be able to match up with her on the opening—night release of the tone — on the opening—night release of the tone for the australian tearn — the tone for the australian team to _ the tone for the australian team to be able to go and have success — team to be able to go and have success of— team to be able to go and have success of these olympics. | success of these olympics. i wondered if you see her coach part celebrations? re—celebrating his hard? idat part celebrations? re-celebratinu his hard? ., re-celebrating his hard? not as much as him. _ re-celebrating his hard? not as much as him. i _ re-celebrating his hard? not as much as him. ithink— re-celebrating his hard? not as much as him. i think that i re-celebrating his hard? not as much as him. i think that kind i much as him. i think that kind of was — much as him. i think that kind of was looking for consent for what — of was looking for consent for what he — of was looking for consent for what he was doing but he added some _ what he was doing but he added some gyration to the sport. but it was— some gyration to the sport. but it was this — some gyration to the sport. but it was this also was her coach.

he is— it was this also was her coach. he is a — it was this also was her coach. he is a lively figure and he was — he is a lively figure and he was doing all the celebration and you _ was doing all the celebration and you see a calm, cool and collected _ and you see a calm, cool and collected athlete not only looking at their olympic when looking — looking at their olympic when looking at their olympic when looking at what they mixed with that night at have already moved _ that night at have already moved on to what is required at the next — moved on to what is required at the next point.— the next point. and finally we've been _ the next point. and finally we've been talking - the next point. and finally we've been talking about. the next point. and finally i we've been talking about the action in the pool but i wonder if you've been looking at some of the other events in the olympics and maybe even the skateboarding yesterday seem to catch her a lot of attention. you fill out the new sports they are adding to the olympics are adding to it? i'sre they are adding to the olympics are adding to it?— are adding to it? i've been watching _ are adding to it? i've been watching them _ are adding to it? i've been watching them and - are adding to it? i've been watching them and i'm i are adding to it? i've been i watching them and i'm watching a multiple devices so i have loved — a multiple devices so i have loved the skateboarding as went bmx entered at the london games which _ bmx entered at the london games which was — bmx entered at the london games which was a great memory. and it seems— which was a great memory. and it seems all the different forms— it seems all the different forms of skateboarding and how it hits _ forms of skateboarding and how it hits good to very audiences, i it hits good to very audiences, i have — it hits good to very audiences, i have a — it hits good to very audiences, i have a like the new bmx event as welt — i have a like the new bmx event as welt so _ i have a like the new bmx event as well. so there is something for everyone. australia it would _ for everyone. australia it would have liked to do better in the — would have liked to do better in the surfing, but we can accept _ in the surfing, but we can accept this. this is been a great _ accept this. this is been a great game for us off and i

think— great game for us off and i think the mood of australia as we are — think the mood of australia as we are in— think the mood of australia as we are in with the beginning with— we are in with the beginning with a — we are in with the beginning with a lot of the country almost _ with a lot of the country almost half was in a locked down _ almost half was in a locked down. and i think the olympics had given— down. and i think the olympics had given a little bit of respite from being in those circumstances for the people and a — circumstances for the people and a lot _ circumstances for the people and a lot of people.- circumstances for the people and a lot of people. sport can do that. ian _ and a lot of people. sport can do that. ian thorpe _ and a lot of people. sport can do that. ian thorpe the i and a lot of people. sport canj do that. ian thorpe the ability to talk to you and really appreciate your time early in the morning in sydney. speaking to us there and paris 202a perhaps for some australian surfers to potentially win gold than it. this surfers to potentially win gold than it. �* , ., surfers to potentially win gold than it. . , ., , than it. as and hopefully ou'll than it. as and hopefully you'll be _ than it. as and hopefully you'll be back _ than it. as and hopefully you'll be back for - than it. as and hopefully you'll be back for us i than it. as and hopefully. you'll be back for us there again. sarah in tokyo with all of the sporting action. ian thorpe was just talking about this, skateboarding. japan has some new young heroines after they secured medals in the park skateboarding. sakura yozozumi took the gold. she's just 19 years old. but she's a boarding veteran compared to the silver medallist. kokona hiraki is not

even a teeanger yet. she's just 12! the average age of the skateboarders in the final wasjust17, and the bronze was taken by british 13—year—old sky brown. so, why arejapanese women so good at skateboarding at such a young age? who better to ask than mariko oi? great to have you on the programme again. how popular is the sport injapan? i programme again. how popular is the sport in japan?— the sport in japan? i have to sa i the sport in japan? i have to say i did _ the sport in japan? i have to say i did not _ the sport in japan? i have to say i did not know _ the sport in japan? i have to say i did not know how- the sport in japan? i have to i say i did not know how popular it was until i saw those amazing performances by those young athletes. as he said the 19—year—old sakura yozozumi 19—year—old sa kura yozozumi winning 19—year—old sakura yozozumi winning gold and the 12—year—old kokona hiraki and 13—year—old sky brown becoming the youngest medalists ever for their own countries. and of course skype is a mother is japanese even know if you're presented team gb we feel like she is part of team japan as well. and only last week we had the youngest ever gold

medallist forjapan as well. but i think what i have enjoyed the most is their post—match interviews. we heard from the 12—year—old kokona hiraki yesterday how heavy the metal was what she was also saying she is not for the pressure at all. shejust she is not for the pressure at all. she just went out and had fun but she was also just giving interview as well this morning saying that they are not rivals. they are just friends having fun. and it's they are not realising the amazing achievements they have had but also 19—year—old sakura yozozumi saying that she just had fun and now she wants to have a nice meal back on him. so amazing performances by those young girls. remarkably level-headed _ those young girls. remarkably level-headed for _ those young girls. remarkably level-headed for 12 _ those young girls. remarkably level-headed for 12 and i level—headed for 12 and 13—year—olds. i certainly was not doing that when i was 12. how much you think this excess might inspire a new generation? i think it will definitely boost popularity, which is what the ioc in the sport was hoping for. the ioc made skateboarding an olympic sport to reach out to the younger generation who

may not have been as interested in other sports, and i think they have managed to achieve their goal but because i have been seeing a lot of coverage on skateboarding and also skateboarding parks to try to address every generation of athletes as well.— address every generation of athletes as well. when you get back to singapore, _ athletes as well. when you get back to singapore, you - athletes as well. when you get back to singapore, you and i athletes as well. when you get back to singapore, you and me are heading to the skateboarding park and we will try this out for ourselves. thank you from tokyo. we will bring it to newsday when we do that. finally barack obama has scaled back plans for a big birthday party amid a rise in kevin infections nationwide. the president he was turning 60 had played a major celebration but face cruises and foretelling a massive bash as a death of area is surging. the party will now only include family and close friends. that is it for newsday. thank you so much forjoining us. do stay

with bbc news. we have much more for you to come. hello. our temperatures so far this week have topped out in the comfortable low 20s. in greece, a severe extreme heatwave is continuing. there are wildfires. temperatures by day have topped out at a7 degrees, and overnight — this is an overnight temperature on the island of crete — into the mid—30s. now, there is a bit of relief on the way towards the south—east of europe in the coming days as temperatures will come down a bit. ours are about to go down a bit, too. low pressure is coming into the uk. the heavy downpours, there have been a few so far this week, are about to become more widespread again. this is how we start off on thursday morning, already some showers affecting northern ireland and western scotland. it will turn much wetter through northern ireland in the morning, but across the western side of the uk, even though you may start dry, rain will move in through the day.

that's going to extend eastwards to those areas still having some sunny spells even into the first part of the afternoon. now, behind this main band of rain, brightening up in northern ireland, but here some slow—moving thundery downpours bring a risk of flooding and disruption into the afternoon and evening. and temperatures still across eastern parts rising into the low 20s. all areas, though, seeing freshening winds gusting 30—a0 mph. windiest around irish sea coasts, blowing in plenty of showers as we go on through thursday night into friday morning. some longer spells of rain in scotland, and temperatures as friday starts around the mid—teens. well, that low pressure right across us on friday, and there will be further heavy showers around through the central belt, southern scotland, northern ireland, northern england, north wales, parts of the midlands. this is where there is a risk of some slow—moving, prolonged, even torrential downpours. thundery, too, they'll bring a risk of flooding and disruption. maybe not too many showers running across parts of southern england, but that could well change on saturday. another set of weather fronts coming our way from the south just pepping up the downpours

across southernmost parts of the uk. whereas elsewhere, it's a similar story. there'll be some heavy and thundery downpours around. it is worth bearing in mind, though, there will also be some sunny spells, not wet all the time. there will be brighter, drier moments in between these downpours. by saturday, many places with temperatures back down into the teens. showery picture continuing on sunday and monday. by tuesday, that low pressure system is out of the way. it will turn drier for a time, though another low moves in later next week.

this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour as newsday continues straight after hard talk. welcome to hardtalk. those of us lucky enough to live in countries where 70%+ of the adult population have been double vaccinated against covid might be tempted to think we can relax our guard. but the pandemic isn't over and the global vaccine roll—out still faces enormous challenges. my guest is professor sir andrew pollard, a key

figure in the development of the oxford astrazeneca vaccine.