welcome to bbc news. the headlines. how to make friends and influence people — new research uncovers the staggering scale of china's hidden foreign lending. america's top general admits the united states�* reputation has been damaged by the chaotic exit from afghanistan. the french insist they're doing everything they can to stop migrants crossing the english channel, and accuse the uk of being ungrateful. we all have our secrets. we just didn't get to yours yet. and shaken, stirred and very, very late. finally, the newest bond film is released, with the premiere in london.

hello, welcome to bbc news. and on pbs. over the past 18 years, china hasissued over the past 18 years, china has issued twice as many loans and grants as the us. a 150—page report full of hidden data that took us researchers four years to uncover. it's full of hidden information that the chinese government doesn't even have about its own lending. namely that china is bankrolling international infrastructure projects — big things like bridges and ports — at twice the rate of the united states and other

major powers, and a majority of that funding is being channelled through chinese state banks. they're often issuing risky high—interest loans. $843 billion worth of funding spread across 165 countries. here's a prime example. a aoo—kilometre railway stretching from kunming in south—west china, across the border into neighbouring laos, down to its capital vientiane. it's a complicated project requiring 75 tunnels and 62 bridges, and it's costing a lot - $5.9 billion. laos is one of the poorest countries in the region and it's shouldering most of the risk. last year, laos had to sell off a $600 million chunk of its energy grid to pay its chinese creditors — all before the railway even starts operations. loans like the laos deal are often cloaked in confidentiality clauses,

so researchers are concerned that the shaky financing behind such deals are often hidden from public view, even though ultimately it's the public that's going to be on the hook for repaying the mammoth debts to china owed by such mammoth projects. we spoke earlier to executive director dr brad parkes. he was a lead researcher on this report. hejoins us again. why he joins us again. why should we be worried that a lot of this lending comes from debt rather than actual money owed? the levels of debt accumulated over time are staggering. we found 42 countries around the globe now have levels of public debt exposure to china in excess of 10% of gdp. as the report mentioned, a lot is hidden from public view. the belt and road initiative has

created major debt sustainability challenges for poorer countries.— sustainability challenges for poorer countries. what do you think china — poorer countries. what do you think china is _ poorer countries. what do you think china is trying _ poorer countries. what do you think china is trying to - poorer countries. what do you think china is trying to do - think china is trying to do here? ~ , ., ., think china is trying to do here? ~ , . ., ., ., here? well, they have a mandate to find revenue _ here? well, they have a mandate to find revenue generating, - to find revenue generating, profitable projects. they want to be repaid on time and with interest, they are looking to turn a profit. that is why a typical overseas loan from china has a 4% interest rate, and one from germany, france, japan has a 1% interest rate. in terms of country by country, the breakdown of the chinese level of lending, do we know what exactly they are lending for? ~ ., ., ~ �* for? we do now. we didn't before this _ for? we do now. we didn't before this report - for? we do now. we didn't before this report was - before this report was released. and i should say that we also now know that there are substantial problems in the project portfolio that is being financed with these loans. 35% of the projects have run into

serious implementation problems, like corruption scandals, labour law violations and public protests. so scandals, labour law violations and public protests.— and public protests. so why should the _ and public protests. so why should the world _ and public protests. so why should the world sit - and public protests. so why should the world sit up - and public protests. so why should the world sit up and | should the world sit up and listen to this, why should the world worry about it?- world worry about it? well, bei'ina world worry about it? well, beijing has _ world worry about it? well, beijing has a _ world worry about it? well, beijing has a buyers - world worry about it? well, | beijing has a buyers remorse problem on its hands. many foreign leaders initially eager tojump on the belt foreign leaders initially eager to jump on the belt and foreign leaders initially eager tojump on the belt and road bandwagon are now suspending or cancelling chinese infrastructure projects because of the debt sustainability concerns and the changes in public opinion which are making it difficult for these leaders to maintain close relations with beijing. thejury is to maintain close relations with beijing. the jury is still out as to whether that will undermine the long run sustainability or belt and road, but clearly beijing needs to watch it, because they will soon be greater choice in the infrastructure financing market which could lead to high—profile defections from the belt and road, because the us, uk and other members the g7 are positioning the belt and

road as the low quality option, and the build back better world alternative as a higher quality option for countries that want to undertake infrastructure projects based on transparent and sustainable financing. what and sustainable financing. what led ou to and sustainable financing. what led you to start _ and sustainable financing. what led you to start this _ and sustainable financing. what led you to start this research in the first?— led you to start this research in the first? china shrouds its overseas _ in the first? china shrouds its overseas lending _ in the first? china shrouds its overseas lending portfolio - in the first? china shrouds its| overseas lending portfolio and its grant giving portfolio in secrecy. so this was really an effort to equip analysts and decision makers around the globe with a stronger evidence base to be able to scrutinise the belt and road initiative, and to better understand its merits and shortcomings. thank ou ve merits and shortcomings. thank you very much- _ us military authorities in washington have acknowledged the chaotic pull—out from afghanistan has damaged the us's credibility. general mark milley told a senate committee he had not anticipated the speed

of the taliban takeover and warned that al-qaeda could pose a renewed threat to us interests. he was testifying alongside lloyd austin. we helped build a state but we could not help forge a nation. the fact the afghan army that we and our partners trained simply melted away, in many cases without firing a shot, took us all by surprise and it would be dishonest to claim otherwise. as we built that army and all of its components i think that one error we may have made over time is we made them too dependent on technology, too dependent on our capabilities. we didn't take in the cultural aspects as much as we should have, and we mirror imaged, to put it simply. i think that's a big lesson, we will take a hard look at it and when you pull contactors, troops, it is one of many contributing factors as to the rapid collapse.

our north america editor explained how damaging this testimony could be for president biden. normally at these committees, the style of question is what did you know and when did you know it? the answer was, we didn't know very much at any particular time, we didn't know the afghan army was going to collapse, sometimes without firing a bullet, we didn't know there would be chaos in kabul or that we would leave americans behind or that we would leave kit behind for the taliban once they took over. most damaging of all was the admission by the general, he had made it clear that he thought 2500 troops should remain behind to maintain stability, to stop the fall of kabul and to stop the takeover by the taliban. earlier, joe biden had absolutely denied that he had ever had a recommendation along those lines.

there is a clear gap there which you can be sure republican senators are going to press at, because of what he said. the other thing about these committee hearings that often happens is it becomes very partisan. the fire that the military commanders were under was both from friendly and hostile sources. there is huge displeasure atjoe biden's handling of all of this. 457 a57 british soldiers were killed in afghanistan, most in helmand province, which saw some of the heaviest fighting of the conflict. john white of the royal marines suffered serious injuries there. he has been speaking to our correspondent. this must have been one of the last photos taken of me before my injuries. jon white was 27 at the time, and in command of 30 men. it was his second tour of afghanistan. sangin in 2010 was the most dangerous place in the country for british troops. dangerous place in the country

yes, it's definitely the scariest place i have been for any amount of time. you know, if the kids are around you, generally it is ok, but as soon as the kids see you and start running, you know that's an area where they don't want you there. at the time, what was the mission? it was a twofold thing. if you like, there was the fight against the taliban, but then there is the undermining them by supporting the locals as best you can. overall, you had a sense that it was never quite enough, and it was hard to see solid progress. jon risked his life to take down a taliban flag, but it was an unseen danger that got him and so many others. on a routine patrol, he stepped on a taliban bomb. for about two minutes, i was trying to give myself first aid, waiting for the guys to get to me. and you knew it was bad?

yeah, i had a pretty good idea. i knew my legs were gone. i didn't realise how high the amputations were, and i remember the first time the sheets were removed when i was in hospital being quite shocked by the fact that both legs had gone above the knee. over the past 11 years, he's had more than 20 operations. i really liked my feet. i know it sounds like a stupid thing to say, but everything i did in my life was on my feet. jon now travels around the uk giving workshops on leadership and resilience. i'm pretty happy with where i am now, who i am now, what i've got going on in my life now. i can put my hand on heart and say that i went out there and did the bestjob i could do. genuinely tried to make a difference. but it's obvious now that you can always connect the dots looking back. and, yeah, it's clear to see now that it was a doomed project.

because... ? because ultimately there was enough of their society that didn't want us there, that didn't want to have that way of life forced upon them. i'm very accepting of the past, and that's been really important for me, to be able to let go of all of that anger and transfer that same attitude and philosophy across all aspects of my life, really. jon white, who served with the royal marines, reflecting on his time in afghanistan. north korea says it has fired a new type of hypersonic missile off its coast. they said it checked the control and stability of the missile as well as its hypersonic gliding

warhead. it was condemned by the us, which urged north korea to come back to the negotiating table. it follows a successful test by the us military of its own hypersonic missile system, the so—called air breathing hypersonic weapon capable of speeds faster than five times the speed of sound, making it much harder to detect and stop before reaching its target. what does it all mean? let's talk to the doctor mark lewis, an expert in hypersonics, and former chief scientist in the us air force and current director of the emerging technologies institute. what does it all mean? explain exactly why this particular missile is so different to what we have seen before?- missile is so different to what we have seen before? sure, so as ou we have seen before? sure, so as you mention. _ we have seen before? sure, so as you mention, hypersonics i as you mention, hypersonics refers to flight in excess of five times the speed of sound, what we call mac five. it is

much faster than most conventional weapons. a traditional cruise missile would travel less than the speed of sound, but a hypersonic cruise missile would travel much faster. that is roughly a mile per second. in addition, a hypersonic weapon is also manoeuvrable, because it is flying in the atmosphere, it is flying in the atmosphere, it has wings, it can use aerodynamic forces to manoeuvre, it can glide, it can dive, and that makes it harder to predict where it is going to 90, to predict where it is going to go, harderto to predict where it is going to go, harder to detect and harder to stop. go, harder to detect and harder to sto -. ., go, harder to detect and harder to sto. ., go, harder to detect and harder tosto. ., , go, harder to detect and harder to sto. ., , to stop. how powerful is it? how much _ to stop. how powerful is it? how much damage - to stop. how powerful is it? how much damage can - to stop. how powerful is it? how much damage can it. to stop. how powerful is it? | how much damage can it do, depending on what you loaded with? it depending on what you loaded with? , , , ., ., with? it depends. it is a whole class of things, _ with? it depends. it is a whole class of things, it _ with? it depends. it is a whole class of things, it can - with? it depends. it is a whole class of things, it can be - with? it depends. it is a whole class of things, it can be very l class of things, it can be very large, relatively small, it depends on the warhead. that fast, you can produce effects from the energy of the weapon itself, you can use the kinetic energy of the vehicle to supplement the impact effects.

how do hypersonic capabilities differfrom how do hypersonic capabilities differ from country to country? we are hearing about north korea and the us both having the capability, but i find it hard to believe they have the same level of capability, surely not?— same level of capability, surely not? same level of capability, surel not? ~ ., �* ~ ., . surely not? we don't know much about the north _ surely not? we don't know much about the north koreans, - surely not? we don't know much about the north koreans, but. surely not? we don't know much about the north koreans, but i l about the north koreans, but i would guess it is not very sophisticated. the leaders in hypersonics right now are the united states, china and russia. other countries have also work in the field. england has a long history. australia has a long history. australia has also worked successfully in the field. in military applications right now, china and russia have made huge investment in hypersonic weapons. the chinese showed off their capabilities about two years ago in a military parade. and of course the united states have been developing hypersonic capabilities as well.— capabilities as well. really interesting _ capabilities as well. really interesting to _ capabilities as well. really interesting to talk - capabilities as well. really interesting to talk to - capabilities as well. really interesting to talk to you, | interesting to talk to you, thank you so much for giving us your expertise. lost and found, a previously

unreleased audio tape ofjohn lennon goes under the hammer. in all russia's turmoil it has never quite come to this. president yeltsin said the day would decide the nation's destiny. the nightmare that so many people have feared for so long is playing out its final act here. russians are killing russians in front of a grandstand audience. it was his humility - which produced affection from catholics throughout the world, but his - departure is a tragedy. for the catholic church. this man, israel's right—winger ariel sharon, visited the religious compound and that started the trouble. he wants israel alone to have sovereignty over the holy sites — an idea that's unthinkable to palestinians. after as years of division, germany is one. - in berlin, a million germans celebrate the rebirth - of europe's biggest

and richest nation. | this is bbc news. our headlines. new research suggests that chinese lending for foreign projects is now twice that of the us and other major powers. that is double the number for all of 2020. the british home secretary has threatened to withhold millions in funding unless the french authorities intercept more vessels, but the commander in charge of coastal operations in the calais region has accused britain of a lack

of gratitude and said he would withdraw his forces if british money was withheld. lucy williamson reports. this, smugglers tell their clients, is the moment you are safe from french police. just a few feet into the channel will do. but this night, the story is different. oui, comme—ca? 60 miles away, up the coast, general frantz tavart receives the call. his men are searching for migrants hiding in the beaches and dunes along this coast — 130 men each night, including reservists, funded by the uk. this is the kind of terrain that the patrols here have to police every night. the sand is so fine that your boots sink into it. sometimes, there's not even the moon for light. tonight, the patrols are paying off. this is the third boat they have stopped. in footage shot by officers on the beach, gendarmes wade into the sea, surround the boat and pull it back to shore.

baby cries. this time, there are several children and a baby on board. general tavart says his patrols stop almost all crossing attempts from the 50—mile stretch of coast around calais. translation: the proof of our efficiency is that l smugglers are now trying to go from the belgian coast, even the somme. but that dilutes our resources across the territory. it is like a game of chess where the smugglers always make the first move. on the night we were there, almost 200 people were prevented from crossing the channel. but on that same night, three times as many did make it to the uk. britain says france needs to do more. the french have stopped many thousands of crossings already this year, well over 12,000 already. but there's more to do.

the french know there's more to do and so do we. we need to get to the stage where it is more likely than not that if you attempt to cross the channel, you will be stopped. the home secretary has put it another way. stop more boats, or the uk will withhold £50 million of funding for the mission this year. translation: we know that britain has threatened - to cut their financial support. i am very clear, if they stop paying for their reservists, i will pull my men. britain and france are separated here by just 20 miles of sea. to a migrant, it looks easy to cross. to a government, easy to manage. lucy williamson, bbc news, northern france. after lengthy delays, the latest james bond movie is finally here. no time to die was originally due for release in april last year, but faced repeated delays because of the pandemic. the world premiere was held on tuesday at the royal

albert hall in london. a red carpet rolled out for a royal audience. why would i betray you? we all have our secrets, we just didn't get to you as yet. daniel craig is back in action as 007 for his fifth and final outing as james bond, the highly anticipated film cost $250 million to make and sees james bond return from retirement to active service. in his words, to finish this. on the red carpet was of course of the star, daniel craig. he spoke to our entertainment correspondent. we arejoined by daniel craig. how does it feel after all this time finally to be on the red carpet? does it feel like the end is really here now? listen, a ear end is really here now? listen, a year ago _ end is really here now? listen, a year ago this _ end is really here now? listen, a year ago this felt _ end is really here now? listen, a year ago this felt like - end is really here now? listen, a year ago this felt like a - a year ago this felt like a dream. we were not counting on this, sojust to be here is a huge relief. it's a shame we

don't have the crowds, but we are here and we are going to show it in the albert hall in front of an audience. the eyes ofthe front of an audience. the eyes of the whole _ front of an audience. the eyes of the whole cinema _ front of an audience. the eyes of the whole cinema industry i front of an audience. the eyes i of the whole cinema industry on how the film will do, all rooting for you. how important is it for this movie to do well? i is it for this movie to do well? ., , .., ., well? i hope we can do something, _ well? i hope we can do something, i— well? i hope we can do something, i hope - well? i hope we can do something, i hope it i well? i hope we can do something, i hope it isj well? i hope we can do i something, i hope it is a springboard. i hope it drives people back to the cinema and that we can keep this wonderful business going.— that we can keep this wonderful business going. from your point of view, business going. from your point of view. what — business going. from your point of view, what kind _ business going. from your point of view, what kind of— business going. from your point of view, what kind of state - business going. from your point of view, what kind of state do i of view, what kind of state do you hope you are leaving bond in after what happens in a legacy of 50 years? it in after what happens in a legacy of 50 years?- in after what happens in a legacy of 50 years? it is for other people _ legacy of 50 years? it is for other people to _ legacy of 50 years? it is for other people to decide. - legacy of 50 years? it is for other people to decide. i i other people to decide. i wanted to leave it in as good a place as i could. me and a lot of other people have put in a huge amount of effort to do that. we will see, i don't know. somebody hopefully will write about it one day and tell me. . , write about it one day and tell me. . y ., write about it one day and tell me. ., , ., ., i. me. finally, how do you feel personally — me. finally, how do you feel personally about _

me. finally, how do you feel personally about the - me. finally, how do you feel personally about the end - me. finally, how do you feel personally about the end ofl personally about the end of this journey for you? bond personally about the end of thisjourney for you? bond is such a unique thing, more people have walked on the moon than played bond.— than played bond. definitely a mixture of— than played bond. definitely a mixture of feelings. _ than played bond. definitely a mixture of feelings. i - than played bond. definitely a mixture of feelings. i am - mixture of feelings. i am incredibly proud of the work we have done, the movies we have made, what we have achieved. and of course tinged with sadness, but it's time to move on. ., on. daniel craig, en'oy the premier. * on. daniel craig, en'oy the premier. that h on. daniel craig, en'oy the premier. that was _ on. daniel craig, enjoy the premier. that was danieli on. daniel craig, enjoy the - premier. that was daniel craig, james bond himself, at the world premiere of no time to die talking about its importance to cinemark and how he personally feels about coming to the end of his time as the world's most famous secret agent. —— to cinema. a previous unreleased audio tape featuring the world is words and music ofjohn lennon has sold at auction in copan hagan for almost $60,000. it was made 50 years ago by four danish schoolboys, while he and yoko ono spent a few weeks in

denmark. from lovable mop top to committed peace campaigner, john lennon still fascinates. more than a0 years after his death. he took his activism all around the world, including a remote corner off thejoplin remote corner off the joplin coast. there he was interviewed ljy coast. there he was interviewed by four danish schoolboys desperate to give peace a chance. if desperate to give peace a chance. , ., desperate to give peace a chance. ,, �* ~ desperate to give peace a chance. i. �* ~ ., chance. if you can't think of an idea yourself, _ chance. if you can't think of an idea yourself, imitate i chance. if you can't think of i an idea yourself, imitate what we do. just sit down and think, what can i do locally? 51 we do. just sit down and think, what can i do locally?— what can i do locally? 51 years later, what can i do locally? 51 years later. that _ what can i do locally? 51 years later, that audio _ what can i do locally? 51 years later, that audio tape, - what can i do locally? 51 years later, that audio tape, all - what can i do locally? 51 years later, that audio tape, all 33 i later, that audio tape, all 33 minutes of it, was up for sale at auction. minutes of it, was up for sale at auction-— minutes of it, was up for sale at auction._ one i minutes of it, was up for sale | at auction._ one of at auction. 330,000... one of those danish _ at auction. 330,000... one of those danish schoolboys, - at auction. 330,000... one of those danish schoolboys, a . those danish schoolboys, a little bit older now, was there to witness the occasion.

translation: i to witness the occasion. translation:- to witness the occasion. translation: �* , . translation: i wasn't expecting an hint, translation: i wasn't expecting an hin~,i translation: i wasn't expecting anything, i didn't _ translation: i wasn't expecting anything, i didn't know _ translation: i wasn't expecting anything, i didn't know how- anything, i didn't know how high the price would go, but it was above the estimate so that was above the estimate so that was nice. . , was above the estimate so that was nice. ., , ., ,., was nice. the tape also includes _ was nice. the tape also includes a _ was nice. the tape also includes a never - was nice. the tape also includes a never before j includes a never before released a song called radio piece. although for now, the lennon estate seems to want to keep it under wraps. perhaps if you can find out who the anonymous winning bidder was, they will let you have a listen. now, let's leave you with live pictures we are getting from spain, pictures of the red—hot lava from the volcano that devastated the spanish canary island. it has now reached the atlantic ocean, late on tuesday evening actually, nine days after it started to flow down the mountain. it wrecked buildings and destroyed crops, buildings and destroyed crops, buildings and trees, and it's now

continuing itsjourney. that's it from me, thanks for watching bbc news. hello there. after the heavy rain and brisk winds that affected most parts of the uk during tuesday, wednesday gives something of a chance to draw breath — certainly a drier, brighter day in prospect with some sunshine. it will still be quite breezy and there will be one or two showers but we are essentially between weather systems — this band of cloud that brought the rain on tuesday, this area of cloud waiting in the wings in the atlantic — but, in between, a zone of clearer skies thanks to this little ridge of high pressure building its way in. notice the white lines on the chart, though — the isobars still fairly tightly squeezed, so it will still be quite breezy and certainly we're getting off to a very cool start, quite a chilly start in places — three orfour degrees in one or two spots in the countryside, but we should see a good deal of sunshine

through the day. now we will see some showers, too — these most plentiful across parts of northern ireland, south—west scotland, drifting through northern england, into the midlands, perhaps one or two into east anglia and the south—east, but many spots by the end of the afternoon will be dry with some sunshine. the winds easing a little by the end of the day, but temperatures just 13 to 16 degrees. and temperatures will drop quite quickly under clear skies during wednesday evening. however, the clear skies won't last. in western areas we see cloud and rain spreading in, a strengthening breeze, so by the end of the night it will be turning milder in the west — 11 for belfast, 12 for plymouth — still quite chilly to start the day across eastern areas. but for thursday, this frontal system dominates the weather — that's going to bring some outbreaks of quite heavy rain southwards and eastwards, the rain quite sporadic, quite on and off in nature. very windy to start the day, especially in north—west scotland. the winds will ease a little through the day across northern areas — it should brighten up a little bit here, too. further south, those winds

will stay strong and gusty, exposed spots in england and wales seeing gusts in excess of a0 or a5 mph even through into the afternoon. temperatures still struggling — 13 degrees for aberdeen, 17 in plymouth — although, actually, that's about where we should be at this time of year. now, into the weekend, low pressure dominates. weather system spinning around these areas of low pressure — that means we'll see some outbreaks of heavy rain at times, some very strong winds are possible, too, and temperatures will stay in a similar range — between 12 and 17 degrees. so with the cloud, the rain, the brisk winds and the cool conditions, it will feel very autumnal.

this is bbc news.

the headlines... new evidence has shown the extent of project foreign funding by china, much of it in the form of expensive loans concealed from government balance sheets. a lot of money supports a road initiative, building new trading routes around the globe. america �*s top generals had told a committee investigating the exit from afghanistan that they advised president trump and president biden that the two and a half thousand troops should stay in afghanistan. the test may contrast with earlier statements from president biden that he received no such advice. in the uk army personnel will begin training on how to use fuel company tankers to combat problems in the forecourt. the government says situations are improving with more petrol stations fully supplied with fuel after panic buying.