following a rapid offensive by the taliban who've taken over nine provincial capitals. tens of thousands of civilians have fled their homes — and hundreds have died in recent weeks. in greece, residents have fled 20 more villages as wildfires continue amid a heatwave across the mediterranean. dozens have died in algeria and italy may have registered europe's hottest ever temperature — 48.8 degrees celsius. a british man working at the uk's embassy in berlin has appeared in court accused of spying for russia. prosecutors say the man, who's been identified only as david s, passed on documents to russian intelligence in exchange for cash. it followed a joint investigation by german and british authorities. now on bbc news...

global questions — lessons from barbados. hello and welcome to global questions with me, zeinab badawi, from barbados. i am in the capital bridgetown outside parliament, overlooking independence square. in november this year, barbados marks its 55th anniversary by becoming a republic. queen elizabeth will no longer be head of state. what does this tell us about the identity and future of barbados and the rest of the region? the caribbean has been very badly affected by the economic fallout of covid and people are looking to their political leaders for solutions. that is global questions, lessons from barbados.

well, i am now here at the 18th—century george washington house, one of the finest historic buildings in barbados. i am joined by a local audience who are going to be putting their questions to their prime minister, the honourable mia mottley. and i should say you are also the minister of finance, economic affairs and investment in barbados so a very busy lady! you had a series of career firsts — you are not only the first female prime minister in barbados, you are also the first woman to have led the opposition and to have held the post of attorney general. a lot to live up to there. prime minister, welcome to you and to all of you and remember, you too can join the conversation. using the hashtag bbc global questions. applause. great, thank you. let's get down to our first question, prime minister.

it is from livas. what do you want to ask mia mottley? madam prime minister, i what is barbados hoping to achieve when it - becomes a republic? to be able to settle for our citizens once and for all that they do not and will not be inferior to anyone on this earth. we have for too long, had to accept the fact that a head of state of this country is somebody who we don't choose. we have no say in how they are appointed. and it causes us to feel in many instances, that they are two sets of people. we hope to bring this to an end. and we hope that it will give the confidence and the sense of high self—esteem that our citizens need in order to be able to be more productive and in order to be able to chart their own destiny. when you look at our history and how we got here, then you realise that having a head of state who is a non—barbadian

is an anachronism that this country can no longer afford to carry and secondly, that we use this opportunity to be able to set the tone and to create the framework for establishing once and for all who we want to be and what we want to stand for. and that requires in my view notjust form but substance. and to that extent, therefore, we are not only changing the head of state, we hope to be able to start a discussion for a new constitution but a new constitution that looks at the different roles and responsibilities and indeed rights of citizens but before you even get there, i think we need to settle a document that says look, this is who we are. this is what we stand for. and on our own journey here as a government, we did something similar in 2016, with a covenant of hope. we want to be able to let the people know nation—building is not a passive act, it is very

much an active entity and if it is active, then we need to know who we are and what we stand for. all right, mia mottley, there are some in barbados who say the queen is a very benign presence and secondly, you have just decided to do this, you haven't put this to a referendum. well, first of all, anyone who tells you that does not know the history of this country. we have been discussing a republic now since the late 19905 and the 1998 constitutional reform commission that was led by sir henry ford and was a broad civil society and across all political parties, recommended yet again that this is the direction in which we go. we, actually, i was attorney general when we looked at the referendum and then all political parties and all other elements of civil society have more or less in the last 20 years, said this is a time that has come and that we don't need any more discussion. and let me be very clear. our determination

that we want to be the best that we can be is not a reflection to denigrate anyone. and we have utmost respect for the royalfamily, utmost respect for her majesty, utmost respect for prince charles who is a great friend of barbados but equally, we have utmost love for our people and ourselves, and when we look into the mirror, the image that we need to see is somebody who is capable of being able of rising to the top of this country's offices and as a nonexecutive president, capable of reflecting the best of who we are and understanding what we face everyday. very quickly, what about the commonwealth, could you leave that still? absolutely not, we believe in the commonwealth and as you know, there are many, many african countries that are republics within the commonwealth and there are other caribbean countries as well, dominica is a republic, trinidad and tobago is a republic. they are all in the commonwealth. guyana. regrettably, these are some of the issues in

barbados we would call them red herrings, that people float out there to determine whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. but we are not leaving the commonwealth. well in fact we have a question about the commonwealth from pierre. fire away. going forward, will the - commonwealth still be our main international platform or will _ you look for other- international partners? the commonwealth will continue to be one of our key platforms on which we function, it's never been the only one. in fact, the main one for us is the caribbean community, we have determined among ourselves within the region, we will treat each other better and stronger than any other grouping. that is where we have the single market and single economy. no different from the european union, no different from africa with the africa free trade area. equally, we are a key member of the organisation of african caribbean and pacific states. those are our partners across the atlantic across the pacific and those are critical

especially in today's age. let me give you an example. we have been talking for example about the impact of climate on small island developing states but we have come to the conclusion that we are not heard and we are not seen. and therefore we are changing the narrative to between the tropics of cancer and capricorn because those are the countries that are going to be affected in the climate crisis. once we do that, our colleagues in africa become our natural allies, our colleagues in the pacific become our natural allies, and to that extent, whether it's the commonwealth or the acp or the acp as it is now called, or whether it is the alliance of small island states, we will have multiple entities within which we operate including of course the united nations. the united nations. i was going to bring up the united states because the caribbean is america's backyard. from cuba, the closest point... we like to say neighbourhood. because you could get the wrong impression with backyard. i'm sorry, i was using that... true. you are in america's

neighbourhood because at the closest point it is only 70 kilometres from cuba to the united states. seven military us bases are here in the caribbean. but people are beginning to wonder whether you are looking further east and we had a question on social media, prime minister, which says i honestly would like to know why we in barbados are so ingratiated with china, why are we in so deep with china? are you swapping one superpower for another? once again i regret the person who asked the question does not know our history. in 1977, barbados established relations with the people's republic of china. this is 44 years ago. and therefore, to suggest that we are now seeking to ingratiate ourselves with china means that you don't understand where we have come from or what we are doing. any country that lives in the world today, to exist in this world, ought to have relations with every country. and china is clearly a global power. and for us not to have a

relationship with china, even if we did not have one 47 years ago would be foolish. but you've been very complimentary about china, you had a phone conversation with president xi recently, you said this is about strengthening the relationship with china. in 2019, the government signed up to the bri, the big infrastructure projects and so on, and some people are suspicious, they think china wants to buy the family silver. let's put it this way. i've also been very complimentary of the americans and british and canadians so that for me, not to be complimentary of china seems unusual. and similarly, for persons who believe that because we want to be friendly with china means we are a pawn, tells us what they think about us in the first place. because we are capable of being as one, ourfirst prime minister said, friends of all. satellites of none. but it's notjust barbados moving closer to china. it's the whole of the caribbean. investment from china has gone up many folds.

but so has the whole world. if i look correctly, i think the chinese hold a large percentage of assets within the united states of america and a large amount of their treasuries as well. so... for you to focus on the caribbean or africa, with china, without recognising the role that china is playing in europe or in the north atlantic countries, is a bit disingenuous. and really reflects more that we are seen as pawns, regrettably, rather than countries with equal capacity to determine our destiny and to be part and parcel of that global conversation to fight the global issues of the day like climate and the pandemic. that's put me in my place! no, not at all! not at all, my dear. thank you. our next question, provide me with relief. kevon, your question, please. history, you have added your voice — history, you have added your voice to— history, you have added your voice to the global discussion on reparations, we agree reparations are due to african

descendants. how do you view what _ descendants. how do you view what mechanisms should be used in handling the issue of reparations?— in handling the issue of reparations? in handling the issue of rearations? , , ., ., reparations? let us start from the perspeetive _ reparations? let us start from the perspective that _ the perspective that reparations for us is not a barbadian issue alone. there is a ten point plan. barbados and i at this moment happened to be prime minister, has responsibility, lead responsibility, lead responsibility for reparations. i am not surprised because we were at that country where the modern expression of racism took form. regrettably, in the 17th century and in the 18th century. 17th century and in the 18th centu . �* , 17th century and in the 18th centu .�* , century. because barbados was the first british _ century. because barbados was the first british slave _ the first british slave society. b. the first british slave society-— the first british slave socie .�* ., ., ., , the first british slave socie . �* ., ., ., society. a lot of the laws and iniquitous — society. a lot of the laws and iniquitous practices _ society. a lot of the laws and iniquitous practices came - society. a lot of the laws and i iniquitous practices came about here. and that is where you heard me say why our parliament has had unbroken service, we have both seen it as an instrument of oppression but it is now a tool of empowerment in the last 80 or so years. we start from that perspective. reparations for us as a

development issue. it is one we believe whose time has come. 20 years ago when we first started having this discussion people would laugh us out of the room. when emancipation came, there was a compensation of slave owners of £20 million. we ask ourselves today, when these countries became independent, what was the development given to us? we got no development compact to help us with housing or education or health. all of the wealth that was extracted from these countries for centuries, were used to build the monumental edifice is that we see all across europe and north america.— we see all across europe and north america. when the british were asked _ north america. when the british were asked for _ north america. when the british were asked for compensation, . were asked for compensation, like the slave owners were, they were told your freedom is your compensation. haw they were told your freedom is your compensation. how about that? that, — your compensation. how about that? that, once _ your compensation. how about that? that, once again - your compensation. how about that? that, once again as - your compensation. how about that? that, once again as an . that? that, once again as an offhand comment that causes us to feel you think we are pawns and not human beings and we say simply, we are not seeking to do anything that is unusual but

we believe our people have a right to development and therefore we feel there is a need for a conversation, particularly for the developing countries of the world, he remain victims for centuries of the extraction of wealth on a continuous basis.— continuous basis. let's go to ian. continuous basis. let's go to ian- and _ continuous basis. let's go to ian- and he _ continuous basis. let's go to ian. and he wants _ continuous basis. let's go to ian. and he wants to - continuous basis. let's go to ian. and he wants to ask - continuous basis. let's go to ian. and he wants to ask a i ian. and he wants to ask a question about the economy. before he speaks, i should say to you, graduate from the opposition here in barbados says all this talk about the republic and someone is a convenient distraction from covid and the economic crisis. a man who served as british high commissioner to the uk, who sole claim to fame is that... i do not have a that. .. i do not have a difficulty.— that... i do not have a difficulty. he says it is a distraction _ difficulty. he says it is a distraction from - difficulty. he says it is a distraction from the - difficulty. he says it is a - distraction from the economic crisis here. let's hear about the economic crisis. ion the economic crisis. ian melville. _ the economic crisis. ian melville. good - the economic crisis. ian melville. good afternoon. a year— melville. good afternoon. a year or— melville. good afternoon. a year or so_ melville. good afternoon. a year or so ago you announced the grouping of individuals who would — the grouping of individuals who would get together to look for new ideas and new directions for our— new ideas and new directions for our economy. since then it

seems — for our economy. since then it seems to— for our economy. since then it seems to be very quiet so where are we _ seems to be very quiet so where are we in— seems to be very quiet so where are we in the subject? in the public— are we in the subject? in the public domain, notjust are we in the subject? in the public domain, not just what you have _ public domain, not just what you have heard. we public domain, not 'ust what you have heard._ you have heard. we are still planning — you have heard. we are still planning very _ you have heard. we are still planning very much - you have heard. we are still planning very much on - you have heard. we are still planning very much on it, i planning very much on it, renewable energy, for example, we have got a major study completed that looks at the issue of offshore wind energy that would see a billion us dollars in investment, would help us meet the 2030 targets. with respect to tourism the minister here and she will tell you covid, covid, covid, and the bottom line is even as we have started to reopen, we look at the performance figures of all tourism and travel —dependent economies last year, the only countries that did as bad or worse than us were war—torn countries, libya and lebanon. collectively, the impact has been horrific because when you start to look at the reduced demand for food and reduced demand for goods and reduced demand for goods and services across the board, you start to see other parts of the economy suffer. you you start to see other parts of the economy suffer.— the economy suffer. you are la in: the economy suffer. you are laying all — the economy suffer. you are laying all the _ the economy suffer. you are laying all the problems - the economy suffer. you are laying all the problems at i the economy suffer. you are | laying all the problems at the

door of covid and the impact it has had on tourism which has decimated tourism here but you know for a long time, we are talking in barbados about diversifying the economy. 40% of your gdp is from tourism which is much higher than the average for the whole caribbean region which is about 17%. 40% of yourjobs are on tourism, you have known this for a long time, you need to diversify. that's exactly what we are trying to do. remember i inherited a government at or 50 years people talked about diversification but as usual it is when a woman turns up she has to do the job! let's get to it. barbados will never be able to compete with high volume low value manufacturing but we need to go after high—value manufacturing and we need to go after research. [30 manufacturing and we need to go after research.— after research. do you need to crow after research. do you need to grow what _ after research. do you need to grow what you _ after research. do you need to grow what you eat? _ after research. do you need to grow what you eat? you - after research. do you need to grow what you eat? you are i grow what you eat? you are coming to everything when i say. i am trying to project. 80% of the food consumed in barbados is imported. you need to produce what you consume.

that is exactly what we have been doing but you cannot pursue produce food without water, the government has spent just under $10 million doing a series of dams across the country so what we are responding to first and foremost is correcting decades of ignoring the critical aspects that are necessary in order to increase food production. we have had some interruptions, the worst of hurricane in 66. i would call it a... . . , hurricane in 66. i would call it a... , ., , ., it a... triple whammy! you need to cut it a. .. triple whammy! you need to cut your— it a... triple whammy! you need to cut your prime _ it a. .. triple whammy! you need to cut your prime minister- it a... triple whammy! you need to cut your prime minister some | to cut your prime minister some slack... ! to cut your prime minister some slack... ., .. slack... i would call it the... faetor- _ slack... i would call it the... faetor- 0ur _ slack... i would call it the... factor. our next _ slack... i would call it the... factor. our next question i factor. our next question please- — factor. our next question please. good _ factor. our next question please. good afternoon. | factor. our next question - please. good afternoon. prime minister, _ please. good afternoon. prime minister, what _ please. good afternoon. prime minister, what measures - please. good afternoon. prime| minister, what measures would you put— minister, what measures would you put in— minister, what measures would you put in place to help with youth — you put in place to help with youth unemployment? absolutely tood youth unemployment? absolutely good question- — youth unemployment? absolutely good question. the _ youth unemployment? absolutely good question. the figure - youth unemployment? absolutely good question. the figure is - good question. the figure is 32% as opposed to the national

average of 17%. the 32% as opposed to the national average of 17%.— average of 17%. the national averages _ average of 17%. the national averages about _ average of 17%. the national averages about 17.5%, - average of 17%. the national averages about 17.5%, but i averages about 17.5%, but 17.5%. look, one of the great problems that we have now is being able to find jobs across the board. and because of the implosion in the private economy in particular, what we are doing is trying to run a cyclical deficit, fancy language, the fact that government will have to step in and create projects in order to be able to allow persons to go forward. we also recognise barbados is simply a help on this globe and therefore we are not looking only to the economic activity within barbados to create opportunities for young people to get work. it is to that extent training and retraining becomes absolutely critical, education and training. the first thing we did as a government was to reintroduce free education at the tertiary level for young people because without those skills, they would simply be drawers of

water and that is not what we want, we want our young people to be able to do work in africa, europe, work from anywhere, both from here or if they have to travel, similarly, we recognise as i said, tourism alone is not going to do it. our young people with technology and capital will be at the forefront of agriculture and will be at the forefront of the digital economy and the creation of apps and other things that can help a wider population base, the 300,000 be happier, orthe population base, the 300,000 be happier, or the base we have further afield.— further afield. our next question- _ further afield. our next question. what - further afield. our next question. what do - further afield. our next question. what do you | further afield. our next - question. what do you want to ask? , ., ., question. what do you want to ask? ,., ., ., ., ., question. what do you want to ask? _, ., . ., ., , ask? good afternoon. first, i wanted to — ask? good afternoon. first, i wanted to say _ ask? good afternoon. first, i wanted to say thank - ask? good afternoon. first, i wanted to say thank you - wanted to say thank you publicly because i am a beneficiary of the free education and one of the contractualjobs you have created _ contractualjobs you have created so i wanted to publicly thank — created so i wanted to publicly thank you for that.— thank you for that. you've got a lot of fans _ thank you for that. you've got a lot of fans today, _ thank you for that. you've got a lot of fans today, prime - a lot of fans today, prime minister. a lot of fans today, prime minister-—

a lot of fans today, prime minister. g , ., ., , minister. my question today is about climate _ minister. my question today is about climate change. - minister. my question today is about climate change. how i minister. my question today is| about climate change. how big minister. my question today is i about climate change. how big a risk you — about climate change. how big a risk you see climate change as to barbados and the region and how do— to barbados and the region and how do you see your policies and — how do you see your policies and plans— how do you see your policies and plans positively affecting us in — and plans positively affecting us in the next 5—10 years? it us in the next 5-10 years? it is us in the next 5—10 years? is huge, not us in the next 5—10 years? it is huge, not do not let us delude ourselves, we see and feel it all the time and i call the drought the chronic in cds of. . . the drought the chronic in cds of. . , ., , ,., the drought the chronic in cds of. . , ,, ., of. that is the sargasso sea, it is smelly. _ of. that is the sargasso sea, it is smelly, it _ of. that is the sargasso sea, it is smelly, it is _ of. that is the sargasso sea, it is smelly, it is toxic. - it is smelly, it is toxic. although ironically it allows the sea grass to grow better in the sea grass to grow better in the surgeons to develop. but it's not good _ the surgeons to develop. but it's not good for those who live on the coaster do their business on the coast. you have about 50% of your population on the coast. the average across the caribbean is 70%? average across the caribbean is 7096? ., �* , ., , average across the caribbean is 7096? . a ., , , 7096? that's right. that is why i have 7096? that's right. that is why i have also _ 7096? that's right. that is why i have also established - 7096? that's right. that is why i have also established a - i have also established a ministry of maritime affairs because the maritime jurisdiction is 424 times the

size of our land and we need to manage both. size of our land and we need to manage both-— size of our land and we need to manage both. natural disasters are a big issue _ manage both. natural disasters are a big issue for— manage both. natural disasters are a big issue for the - manage both. natural disasters are a big issue for the whole . are a big issue for the whole of the caribbean. i are a big issue for the whole of the caribbean.— are a big issue for the whole of the caribbean. i was coming to that. chronic— of the caribbean. i was coming to that. chronic in _ of the caribbean. i was coming to that. chronic in cds - of the caribbean. i was coming to that. chronic in cds art - of the caribbean. i was coming to that. chronic in cds art the l to that. chronic in cds art the droughts and the sargasso sea weed and those things that hit us everyday, every day. and then the her accounts is what catches the bbc �*s attention, thatis catches the bbc �*s attention, that is a heart attack and it comes at you. but the point i am making is that we are fighting this daily. this is not something that just fighting this daily. this is not something thatjust comes in the middle of summer. as do the wildfires in california or the wildfires in california or the floods in europe. we are literally finding this daily. and regrettably, the world came together in paris and said, we are going to put some finance together to be able to help people with resilience and adaptation, it has not happened. i am adaptation, it has not happened. iam hopeful that adaptation, it has not happened. i am hopeful that the united kingdom, leading the whole effort in glasgow, will start to make a difference in terms of access to finance, with respect to how we build

adaptation, dealwith adaptation, deal with adaptation, deal with adaptation and adaptation, dealwith adaptation and resilience in climate. at the same time i am hopeful a lot of young people will getjobs because there has to be an adjustment of how we build and what we do to prepare ourselves for these new areas of activity that are on the front line because of the crisis. that is why water is an issue in the country and that issue in the country and that is why food security is an issue that has to be resolved and how we settle, we augment our water supply. and how we settle, we augment ourwatersupply. i and how we settle, we augment our water supply. i could go on and on. ~ . �* ., and on. we haven't got time! thank you — and on. we haven't got time! thank you for _ and on. we haven't got time! thank you for your _ and on. we haven't got time! thank you for your question. | thank you for your question. thank you for your question. thank you for answering the question _ thank you for answering the question. just one follow—up, i know— question. just one follow—up, i know we — question. just one follow—up, i know we have a lot of youth advocates, we have health advocates, we have health advocates, sorry, gender advocates, sorry, gender advocates, and ijust think it is about— advocates, and ijust think it is about time we as a government, as a people, nation, _ government, as a people, nation, strengthened our climate _ nation, strengthened our climate change advocates. | climate change advocates. i take your point. is - climate change advocates. i take your point. is that - climate change advocates. i take your point. is that a i climate change advocates. i i take your point. is that a good idea? it take your point. is that a good idea? it is, — take your point. is that a good idea? it is, we _ take your point. is that a good idea? it is, we have _ take your point. is that a good idea? it is, we have at - take your point. is that a good idea? it is, we have at the i idea? it is, we have at the high formal levels but were we needed is for it to become mass

—based for the average young person, they feel this is a matter that bothers and affects them. it matter that bothers and affects them. ,., , ~' them. it sounds like the prime minister likes _ them. it sounds like the prime minister likes your _ them. it sounds like the prime minister likes your idea. i them. it sounds like the prime minister likes your idea. you i minister likes your idea. you can chat with her later, maybe put yourself forward. the final question please.— question please. good afternoon. _ question please. good afternoon. you - question please. good i afternoon. you mentioned question please. good - afternoon. you mentioned the constitution earlier, my question is if the republic, the constitution will be amended to include human rights laws, _ amended to include human rights laws, clauses, as well as the removal— laws, clauses, as well as the removal of discriminatory laws. laws _ removal of discriminatory laws. laws that — removal of discriminatory laws. laws that affect marginalised people — laws that affect marginalised people to like the disabled, lgbto _ people to like the disabled, lgbtq persons, homeless persons. lgbtq persons, homeless persons-— lgbtq persons, homeless ersons. ., ., ., persons. you've asked a lot of questions _ persons. you've asked a lot of questions in — persons. you've asked a lot of questions in one. _ persons. you've asked a lot of questions in one. there i persons. you've asked a lot of questions in one. there will. persons. you've asked a lot of| questions in one. there will be a new constitution for barbados that will be the product of discussion, will be the first order of business for a new barbados posted the 30th of november this year. before that, we hope to be able as i said to settle who we are and what we stand for and the government has already made it clear that a country that has

known what it is to be a victim of discrimination in so many ways cannot perpetuate discrimination in any way. we have already said whether it is related to civil partnership laws, that will allow people to be able to have access to the rights and protection of the law, simply because of who they love, secondly with respect to theissue love, secondly with respect to the issue of other human rights abuses, barbados �*s constitution covers a lot of it, where there are gaps there will be conversations with the countries from st lucia to saint philip, we have a framework of social partnership that brings together government, labour, private sector, and we have a social justice committee that this government established that brings together civil society because we are conscious that we do not only govern for ourselves individually as a government, but we govern for a nation and conversation and progress is based on what we can therefore agree upon as a nation. and there are some things that will be driven by

the international agenda. because if we do not do it, we will be excluded. and some of them will require there for that level of deep conversation as we go forward. fik. that level of deep conversation as we go forward.— that level of deep conversation as we go forward. ok. that is a tood as we go forward. ok. that is a good point _ as we go forward. ok. that is a good point to — as we go forward. ok. that is a good point to end _ as we go forward. ok. that is a good point to end this - good point to end this programme. some people say the caribbean is a region that perhaps is lacking in inclusive rights for all groups. i perhaps is lacking in inclusive rights for all groups.- perhaps is lacking in inclusive rights for all groups. i am not so sure and — rights for all groups. i am not so sure and i _ rights for all groups. i am not so sure and i think _ rights for all groups. i am not so sure and i think the - rights for all groups. i am not so sure and i think the world | so sure and i think the world has to begin to have cultural discussions because democracy does not only come in one flavour, it may have universal values but the same way my accent is different from yours and his, the world needs diversity and we have to have sensible amateur conversations that cannot be reduced to 60 second sound bites or headlines. that is where i think the world is missing, that kind of mature discussion and certainly does not see small island states credibly. thank you, prime minister, you have given us a flavour of what you are trying to achieve in barbados. you are trying to achieve in

barbados-— you are trying to achieve in barbados. ., ,, , ., . barbados. thank you so much. the honourable _ barbados. thank you so much. the honourable prime - barbados. thank you so much. | the honourable prime minister of barbados mia mottley, thank you to my audience. that is all from this edition of the programme. it has been my pleasure being with you outside george washington house in bridgetown barbados. we will be back with another edition of the programme from here in barbados, this time focusing on the caribbean and climate change. untilthen, the caribbean and climate change. until then, for me, and the rest of the team, goodbye. hello. we provisionally saw a new temperature record in europe on wednesday — 48.8 celsius recorded in sicily. the exceptional heat shown by the red colours here in this chart transfer a bit westwards across the med into the

weekend, with record—breaking heat for spain and portugal. cast your eyes further north, though, across the uk, the blues appearing back on the charts. temperatures dropping below normal once again — so a cooler end to the week across the uk, and it will be blustery at times, mainly because of this area of low pressure — out to the west at the moment, but it will track across the north. through the night and into the morning, though, this weather front will bring some cloud and patchy rain into southern areas, keeping temperatures up in the mid—teens for some. but a much fresher start across many parts in the uk, but a sunny start for the vast majority. and for many, we'll see some good, sunny spells throughout the day, but cloud amounts will increase at times in the south, spreading into wales, the midlands, and through the day, northern ireland, western scotland seeing batches of showers pushing in, some of those becoming heavy and thundery. only the odd one reaching eastern scotland and northern parts of england, as well as the isle of man. temperatures here in the teens into maybe the low mid—20s again across the south and east. but it will be a windy end to the day across parts of scotland, northern ireland, winds close to gale force across these coastal districts.

further heavy, thundery showers rattling in notjust through the evening, but overnight, as well. head further south, most places will be dry, some clear skies around, and a slightly fresher night across some southern areas compared to what we'll have to start thursday morning. so, into friday we go, temperatures widely still in double figures, so not desperately cold. but it's another story of sunshine and blustery showers across scotland and northern ireland. a bit windierfor england and wales on friday, too, and we will still see the chance of some lingering cloud, especially towards southern counties of england, bringing the odd spot of light rain. but temperatures dropping relative to what we've seen on thursday — even in the south, low 20s, but still pleasant enough where you've got the sunshine out. then, as we go into the weekend, our area of low pressure pushes eastwards, allowing the cold air in, and just a chance we could see some other weather systems working their way in from the west, bringing outbreaks of rain at times. this is how we see saturday at the moment — just be aware, though, it is liable to change, maybe a brighter day for scotland and northern ireland, less breezy but rather cool with sunny spells. but a bit more cloud across england and wales, and it's the north and west

where we could see some rain at times brightening up again towards the south and the east. bye for now.

welcome to bbc news, i'm lewis vaughanjones. our top stories. afghanistan in crisis — us officials say the taliban could be in the capital kabul within weeks, as thousands flee the advancing militants. our reporter interviews some of the militants, as the bbc�*s granted rare access to newly taken taliban territory. we came through here a little earlier this year. back then, it was still under government control. now, it's one of around 200 district centres taken by the taliban. greece's wildfires force the evacuation of 20 more villages — we speak to british firefighters helping battle the blazes. and we catch up with the teens bringing skateboarding to the olympics and the streets of japan. even our reporter

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