a new covid strain found in southern africa is classed a "variant of concern" by the world health organization over fears it may be more infectious and more resistant to vaccines. the us is the latest country to impose travel restrictions to the affected countries to slow the spread. french president emmanuel macron is accusing the uk of not being serious about dealing with the migrant crisis as the diplomatic row deepens. 27 people drowned on wednesday trying to reach the uk — european ministers will meet on sunday, but the uk is not invited to the talks. one of the most influential figures in musical theatre, the legendary composer of broadway musicals stephen sondheim, has died at his home in connecticut. he was 91. he composed and wrote lyrics for a vast number of musicals including west side story, sweeney todd and follies. now on bbc news, it's the travel show

with lucy hedges. this week on the travel show: i am in dubai, with visions of the future at the delayed expo 2020. if i scan my signature here i get augmented reality view of what south korea deems to be the future of mobility. and that includes flying cars. i take a dip and tumble... and i take a dip and tumble... and idiscoveran i take a dip and tumble... and i discover an artificial rainforest in what was once a desert. ., rainforest in what was once a desert._ here - rainforest in what was once a desert._ here we i rainforest in what was once a l desert._ here we go!

but first, in a difficult couple of years in the bible travel calendar, there has been one giant mega event looming. and of course, fitting for a giant mega event, would happen in the city of superlatives, dubai. nobody knew for sure it would happen, but it is. hello, expo 2020, or should that be, expo 2020, or should that be, expo 2021. it was delayed by a year, and for a place that relies so heavily on tourism, dubai needed this to happen. in fact, it is probably not too much of a stretch to say the entire international tourism industry needed this to happen. i am armed with my expo passport, let's do this. it has taken place over six months,

and had nearly 2.5 million visits in the first month alone. 192 countries have created pavilions showcasing innovations for the future. here in a site twice the size of monaco, you have a world in miniature. looking around this place one thing to remember is that pavilions are like shop windows for countries. in amongst all the tech and innovation, there is a real chance for them to show the rest of the world their big ideas, and the idealised vision of their culture and values. some seasoned travellers, their experiences of these countries might be a little bit different. the first expo, then called the world's fair, started back in 1851, when it was opened by the uk's queen victoria in london. back then, when only a fraction of people ever went abroad, and information about the world was harder to come by, multicultural innovations on show, fuelled by the new industrial revolution, would

have seemed extraordinary. but now, it is a technological revolution at expo's heart. as you can probably tell, still a work in progress... last year i came to see it in the making, so now i have come back to see how it has all come together. the last time i was here, this place did not look like this, it was basically one big construction site. and i can see they have completely transformed it. the uk's contribution presents a huge wall of poetry, which doesn't always make total sense. it is generated by artificial intelligence using words donated by the public. and it was inspired by vanessa stephen hawking's theories about how the world might come together to communicate a message in the event of meeting intelligent life from another planet. —— professor stephen hawking's. i will take my wedding here, i am going for "beautiful. and now i

believe it is going to appear on the big screen. so talk me through the arrangement of the words. looking at right now, it doesn't look like it makes a lot of sense. how do we make a story out of this? it lot of sense. how do we make a story out of this?— story out of this? it is really simle. story out of this? it is really simple. poetry _ story out of this? it is really simple. poetry is _ story out of this? it is really simple. poetry is very - simple. poetry is very personal. every word is given a single couplet, those couplets will speak to the individual who donated the word, what is really exciting about it is the algorithm has been trained over many months. it has digester to 15,000 poems, including shakespeare, including blake and so on and so forth. poetry societies across the uk have found the algorithm words and poems, so that it can learn how to create poetry. and the more words we give it, the better the sense of the poetry becomes. and right now it has been up for a few weeks, and you can see sentences, you can you can see sentences, you can see sense you can see sentences, you can

see sense within this building. what we're trying to do with this building is show that we are innovators a nation. —— as are innovators a nation. —— as a nation. the pavilions each set in one of the expo's three main themes. mobility, opportunity and sustainability. and each theme has its own building. the sustainability provision —— pavilion is net zero emission and net zero water, targeting people's waste water, targeting people's waste water through a natural outdoor filtration system of reedbeds and then reuse on the site's vegetation. mil and then reuse on the site's vegetation-— and then reuse on the site's vegetation. all around us you will find buildings _ vegetation. all around us you will find buildings that - vegetation. all around us you will find buildings that are - will find buildings that are net zero energy, you will find buildings _ net zero energy, you will find buildings that have employed sustainable wood technologies and methodologies, shading, outdoor— and methodologies, shading, outdoor passive cooling areas. and it — outdoor passive cooling areas. and it is — outdoor passive cooling areas. and it is actually a real honour_ and it is actually a real honour to stand alongside all of these _ honour to stand alongside all of these country billions from all around the world but had chosen _ all around the world but had chosen to highlight solutions that are _ chosen to highlight solutions that are applicable to those regions _ that are applicable to those regions. —— pavilions. and trailing _ regions. —— pavilions. and trailing amount to see what works— trailing amount to see what works here. —— trailing them

out — works here. -- trailing them out. �* . ~ works here. -- trailing them out. �* ., ~ ., ., ., ., out. and walking around, one of the sustainability _ out. and walking around, one of the sustainability pavilions - the sustainability pavilions stand out among the others. there is around 80,000 different kind of plans the tropical garden, and over 190 different species. and it really is so peaceful and tranquil, just wondering three here. and i think is crazy that i am in a giant garden that is slap bang in the middle of a desert. in slap bang in the middle of a desert. ,, ., ., desert. in singapore we have more than — desert. in singapore we have more than 250 _ desert. in singapore we have more than 250 hectares - desert. in singapore we have more than 250 hectares of. more than 250 hectares of vertical green. so what we do here is reflected in what we do in singapore, in a much, much bigger way. in singapore, in a much, much biggerway. five in singapore, in a much, much bigger way. five decades ago singapore was known as the garden city. and until recently, we have evolved into a city and a garden. now we are aspiring to be a city in nature. and will be rewiring all our gardens, we will bring major closer to the people.

0nce major closer to the people. once you bring this down to the city, we are bringing the biodiversity closer to them. i think that is what we want to see. —— re— wild thing. —— rewilding. and what better than with this bird that has made its estimate pavilion.- its estimate pavilion. while this may — its estimate pavilion. while this may all _ its estimate pavilion. while this may all seem - its estimate pavilion. while this may all seem like - its estimate pavilion. while this may all seem like a - its estimate pavilion. while l this may all seem like a huge boon for dubai for the time being, what happens when all the visitors go home and the pavilions pack up and shut their doors? how sustainable is this expo site then? dubai has standard —— expended an extraordinary pace in recent years, but still, plans are in place to re— purpose expo to create a new living and working environment to support nearly a people as part of the vision of a human centric future city. this site is huge. twice the size of monaco. it this site is huge. twice the size of monaco.—

this site is huge. twice the size of monaco. it is. for the built environment, _ size of monaco. it is. for the built environment, it - size of monaco. it is. for the built environment, it is - size of monaco. it is. for the built environment, it is twice the size of monaco. it built environment, it is twice the size of monaco.- the size of monaco. it is massive. _ the size of monaco. it is massive, how _ the size of monaco. it is massive, how will - the size of monaco. it is massive, how will you i the size of monaco. it is - massive, how will you make the size of monaco. it is massive, how will you make use of the space, how will you utilise it?— of the space, how will you utilise it? j~:: , ., , utilise it? 8096 of everything we have built _ utilise it? 8096 of everything we have built gets _ utilise it? 8096 of everything i we have built gets repurposed. and it is taking this space, this incredible environment that you see from on top of here, and repurposed sing it into this innovation hub, and it is a blank canvas, really, for us, but architects, for smart infrastructure solutions, for start—ups that want to come into this vibrant environment. dubai is moving towards coming a very smart city, we are taking the lead on that. it is about creating this industry thatis about creating this industry that is another focal point for dubai. and finally, it is night time when this place transforms into something else altogether. like a south korea's pavilion,

bursting with lights and technology. so if i scanned this image here... i get an augmented reality view of what south korea deems to be the future of mobility. and that includes flying cars. but there is one last emerging global superpower i wanted to see. so this is the china pavilion, and one of the biggest pavilions here, as i guessed it might be, where they definitely don't do things by halves, which explains why every night they do drones and performance outside. —— a drones and lights performance outside. here it goes! a brilliantly synchronised, stunning display. i expected nothing less.

stay with us, because still to come on the show: i take on one of the world's biggest floating inflatable assault courses. and find out how the residents of a very special home here in dubai copes during lockdown last year. the speed with which those things devoured that chicken, unbelievable. the beaches here are one of the many reasons to visit dubai, and as you can see, it is a glorious day, people are enjoying the sun. and i have been told there is a really fun way to cool off here. i'm about to give it a try.

this is dubai aqua fun, the brainchild of a young emma ratti entrepreneur. —— emirati. he claims it is the biggest inflatable waterpark in the world. against the backdrop of hotels and skyscrapers, and a short 25 metre swim from the beach, you will find a course made up of over 70 blowup floating slides, swings and other obstacles, all designed to test your stamina, balance and bravery. and after a bit of undignified clamber on board, i am ready to accept the challenge. it is a lot more slippery than you think! come on lucy! almost! i think

i... 0h! come on lucy! almost! i think i... oh! i come on lucy! almost! i think i... 0h! iwasjust come on lucy! almost! i think i... oh! i wasjust about to say, i... 0h! iwasjustabout to say, ithink i... 0h! iwasjustabout to say, i think i i... oh! i wasjust about to say, i think i have been in the water enough. i didn't even touch the obstacle. he we go! boo! laughs. that is what you got to look out for. you might complete the obstacle but the end, every time. every time! something tells me i may have spoken too soon. i challenge anyone to get over this thing and stay dry. i am trying my hardest! but most importantly, this is so much fun.— this is so much fun. three, two, this is so much fun. three,

two. one! _ this is so much fun. three, two, one! all— this is so much fun. three, two, one! all right, - this is so much fun. three, two, one! all right, here i this is so much fun. three, | two, one! all right, here we no! two, one! all right, here we go! how— two, one! all right, here we go! how can _ two, one! all right, here we go! how can you _ two, one! all right, here we go! how can you not - two, one! all right, here we go! how can you not love i two, one! all right, here wel go! how can you not love the slide? i think i am ready to get off now. well, now that i am thoroughly soaked through, it is time to dry off. i am not heading back to the beach. instead, perhaps it is time to feel the wind in my very wet hair. how's this for a socially distance experience? these are the dubai hero ropes, your own personal speedboat that lets you cut through the warm waters of the golf at speeds of up to 50 kilometres an hour. after a short instructional and safety tutorial, you will stick to a vast but designated course, accompanied by a guide who is

on hand to make sure you stick to the rules while getting a high speed and unique view of the dubai beaches and skyline. as far as rides go, this is awesome, easy to drive and i have someone nearby for safety in case. you can go slow but the fun begins when you crank the fun begins when you crank the engine and more importantly you do it with no mask! well, to finish off this week, we are heading to a place here in dubai where, despite the heat outside, it rains as regularly as clockwork inside and its home to some rather special residence and i've been to meet some of them. this is green planet dubai, a purpose—built bio dome where no matter what the temperature is

outside, inside it is a different story. and that's because of the thousands of animals, birds, fish and insects that live here. this is just amazing, you have a rainforest in the middle of the city. now, how? tell me about the building. city. now, how? tell me about the building-— the building. building itself is temperature _ the building. building itself is temperature and - the building. building itselfl is temperature and humidity controlled all year long. yeah. perfect tropical _ controlled all year long. yeah. perfect tropical environment l perfect tropical environment right in the middle of downtown dubai. , , ., ., ., dubai. dubai is not a place of kind of synonymous - dubai. dubai is not a place of kind of synonymous with - dubai. dubai is not a place of. kind of synonymous with nature. dubai is known for doing things unique to the only rainforest in the middle of dubai should not come to a shock as anyone. so this tree here is artificial and then everything growing off of it is natural. i and then everything growing off of it is natural.— of it is natural. i cannot get over this — of it is natural. i cannot get over this soundtrack. - of it is natural. i cannot get over this soundtrack. it - of it is natural. i cannot get over this soundtrack. it is l of it is natural. i cannot get| over this soundtrack. it is so beautiful. like skin, isn't it? very tranquil, isn't it? find very tranquil, isn't it? and it's funny _ very tranquil, isn't it? and it's funny when _ very tranquil, isn't it? and it's funny when you - very tranquil, isn't it? and it's funny when you see i very tranquil, isn't it? fific it's funny when you see animals and their personalities so the toucan over there is the boss of the birds. he is in charge. everyone has the kind of place

and their homes and their personality and it's a lot of fun to watch.— personality and it's a lot of fun to watch. yeah. and how many different _ fun to watch. yeah. and how many different species - fun to watch. yeah. and how many different species of. many different species of animal are in many different species of animalare in here? many different species of animal are in here? hundreds of different species, _ animal are in here? hundreds of different species, thousands - animal are in here? hundreds of different species, thousands of. different species, thousands of different species, thousands of different animals. you different species, thousands of different animals.— different species, thousands of different animals. you have the best 'ob. different animals. you have the best job. thank— different animals. you have the best job. thank you _ different animals. you have the best job. thank you so - different animals. you have the best job. thank you so much. i| best job. thank you so much. i know, best job. thank you so much. i know. we're — best job. thank you so much. i know, we're very _ best job. thank you so much. i know, we're very lucky. - best job. thank you so much. i know, we're very lucky. everyl know, we're very lucky. every day is a little bit different though. it's like working with kids, you cannot predict what is to happen. every time you think you haven't figured out someone will surprise you and give themselves in a situation where you go i did not even know that was possible. haifa where you go i did not even know that was possible. how did ou know that was possible. how did you decide _ know that was possible. how did you decide what _ know that was possible. how did you decide what animals - you decide what animals actually go in here because they all have to play nice together, i presume. it’s they all have to play nice together, i presume. it's a very particular _ together, i presume. it's a very particular process - together, i presume. it's a very particular process to i together, i presume. it's a i very particular process to look before we bring any new animal and educationally about what they bring to the facility, how they bring to the facility, how they would work together with they would work together with the other animals, do they have the other animals, do they have the space and all the requirements that they need? 0ur requirements that they need? our last new animals with remote ringtail miserable thing today and the first day they came right after lockdown, they

were introduced and they kind of came out and i swear to you that was about 100 birds all around them gathering like... who is the new kid?— around them gathering like... who is the new kid? exactly, so a whole bunch _ who is the new kid? exactly, so a whole bunch of _ who is the new kid? exactly, so a whole bunch of introductions i a whole bunch of introductions i have to get used to. now they are settled in my professionals. —— like. then the building we try to be sustainable as possible, whether it has to do with the grey water recycling programme, the eliminating as much as possible single—use plastics, we also have as many critically endangered conservation breeding programmes for animals here in the building. for the survival of the species is unfortunately there is a lot of species becoming extinct in their natural habitat every year. trying to do what we can do just stay alive.— year. trying to do what we can do just stay alive.- we i do just stay alive. yeah. we have every _ do just stay alive. yeah. we have every one _ do just stay alive. yeah. we have every one of _ do just stay alive. yeah. we have every one of our i do just stay alive. yeah. we l have every one of our guests comes, expenses, has a great time but leaves with a little bit more of a passion to take care of the environment. here!

0h, they are both here. 0h, hello. ., ., ., hello. there we go. i love that there is no _ hello. there we go. i love that there is no fear, _ hello. there we go. i love that there is no fear, think - hello. there we go. i love that there is no fear, think i - hello. there we go. i love that there is no fear, think i have l there is no fear, think i have ever seen animals be this brazen before collectively as well, you know?— brazen before collectively as well, you know? honestly that's because it _ well, you know? honestly that's because it is _ well, you know? honestly that's because it is their _ well, you know? honestly that's because it is their home - well, you know? honestly that's because it is their home first i because it is their home first of these guys are confident knowing they can be wherever they want to be and guest can come nice and close but we will not be touching any of the animals and therefore they can be wherever they want and explore. be wherever they want and ex - lore. . be wherever they want and exlore. ., ' ,': :: explore. he did a little 12:30 camera- _ explore. he did a little 12:30 camera- you _ explore. he did a little 12:30 camera. you want _ explore. he did a little 12:30 camera. you want to - explore. he did a little 12:30 camera. you want to have i explore. he did a little 12:30 i camera. you want to have some more nuts? — camera. you want to have some more nuts? when _ camera. you want to have some more nuts? when visitors i camera. you want to have some more nuts? when visitors come| more nuts? when visitors come the are more nuts? when visitors come they are told — more nuts? when visitors come they are told no _ more nuts? when visitors come they are told no touching i more nuts? when visitors come they are told no touching the i they are told no touching the animals, you know, have to be strict about but obviously. brute strict about but obviously. we do have strict about but obviously. - do have particular programmes where you can, in a small group, get to know the animals more close—up. if that is something you would like to do. but in general with the larger quantities of gas coming through, we will observe them on a little distance so that they can be comfortable coming to see you. and that's why we can have this loss, the monkeys, the birds, lizards. all kind of doing their own thing. all kind of doing their own thin. �* , ,., all kind of doing their own thin. ., , thing. it's so fascinating 'ust watchin: thing. it's so fascinating 'ust watching the i thing. it's so fascinating 'ust watching the way i thing. it's so fascinating 'ust watching the way he i thing. it's so fascinating just watching the way he eats. .

thing. it's so fascinating justj watching the way he eats. in the claw, using the big describe the night. when the pandemic hits last year it must�*ve been so tough for you, it's not what you guys can flick a switch off, current comeback in a few months. he. comeback in a few months. no, definitely not, _ comeback in a few months. no, definitely not, so _ comeback in a few months. iifr, definitely not, so considering there are thousands of animals and plants around here that are relying on us for their survival no matter what but we knew that's what needed happen and so is what we were happy, more than happy to do, and that is how we got through it. in is how we got through it. in addition to being able to see wildlife from the aerial walkways, there are also programmes here that give you the chance to get up close to some of the more intimidating residents. like a shoal of deadly flesh eating hungry piranhas. are you sure this is safe? absolutely, it's a. i notice you have a cut on your hand. is notice you have a cut on your hand. , ., . ., ., hand. is that cool? not a problem- _ hand. is that cool? not a problem. we _ hand. is that cool? not a problem. we just - hand. is that cool? not a problem. we just feed i hand. is that cool? not a i problem. we just feed them chicken, we will watch and will

be fine. ., ., , chicken, we will watch and will befine. ., ., , , ., ., be fine. how many piranhas are in here? around _ be fine. how many piranhas are in here? around 500. - be fine. how many piranhas are in here? around 500. 500, i be fine. how many piranhas are. in here? around 500. 500, nice. in here? around 500.500, nice. yeah. 0k. in here? around 500.500, nice. yeah. ok. i in here? around 500.500, nice. yeah. 0k. iwill see in here? around 500.500, nice. yeah. ok. i will see on other side. , yeah. ok. i will see on other side-_ let's - yeah. ok. i will see on other side._ let's go. j side. sounds good! let's go. thankfully. _ side. sounds good! let's go. thankfully. i— side. sounds good! let's go. thankfully, i am _ side. sounds good! let's go. thankfully, i am not- side. sounds good! let's go. thankfully, i am not on i side. sounds good! let's go. thankfully, i am not on the i thankfully, i am not on the menu today which is a blessing considering how hungry these fishlock. —— fish look. the speedin fishlock. —— fish look. the speed in which those things devoured that chicken! unbelievable. i keep telling myself they're not going to eat myself they're not going to eat my feet. interesting it was not the piranha that was the terrifying things, the size of them, they are like this, some at the bottom are even bigger so i think that was the more disconcerting thing for me. that was brilliant, learned a lot about piranhas today. they don't want to eat and that's good. towards the end of every

day here at green planet the artificial heavens open and the whole bio dome is soaked in a warm tropical downpour, some of the more nocturnal animals wake up the more nocturnal animals wake up and others start thinking about heading for bed. which is exactly what i'm going to do, thanks to an overnight camping programme they also run here. so the last thing i thought i would be doing when i was told i would be coming to dubai would be camping overnight with nothing but lemurs, parrots and a tarantula to keep me company. i have a feeling the morning is going to be very early and very, very loud stop the lights go out at midnight, wish me luck. owl ho0ts. sleeping in a tent inside a

building that's pretending to be outside. 0nly building that's pretending to be outside. only in dubai. 0h, be outside. only in dubai. oh, that's all we've got time for this week but to join us next week, if you can, when... fin week, if you can, when... on journeaux! — week, if you can, when... q�*i journeaux! kusztor is in sardinia, one of only a handful of designated healthy blue zones around the world where your chances of living to 100 and beyond pretty high. 0h! all of this and you live a long life. a good way of life, i think. . ., think. do catch that if you can and don't _ think. do catch that if you can and don't forget _ think. do catch that if you can and don't forget you - think. do catch that if you can and don't forget you can i think. do catch that if you can | and don't forget you can watch more of our adventures on bbc iplayer. and for me, lucy hedges and the rest of the travel show team here in dubai, it's goodbye.

storm arwen has been buffeting the uk over recent hours. so far, the strongest wind gusts that i've seen have been across coastal regions of aberdeenshire. inverbervie picking up a top gust of 78 mph. not too far behind, northumberland — a 7k mph gust of wind here. those wind gusts strong enough to bring down some trees. no doubt some transport disruption out and about as we head into saturday. the peak red weather warning lapses, though, during the early hours of saturday, and as our low pressure moves southwards, we'll be left with two regions of strong winds — one affecting eastern areas of scotland and north east england, and anotherfor wales and south west england. both of these areas will see gusts of wind around about 60—70 mph, so still strong enough to bring down some trees. we could see some further disruption and as well as that, we've got some rain, some heavy snow over high ground, particularly the southern uplands into the highlands and over the high parts of the pennines. the cheviots as well could see some disruptive falls of snow high up. even low down, you might see

a little bit of snowjust for a time as we head into the first part of saturday morning and, of course, it will be a very blustery and cold start to the day on saturday as well with those gusts well up — even inland very blustery, indeed. now, through the rest of saturday, we'll have this zone of rain, still a bit of sleet and snow mixed in with that, although anything accumulating — well, that's not really likely to happen — anything that falls is just going to melt back to rain, really, as the day goes by. but we'll keep those strong winds all day and it's going to feel very, very cold — temperatures around 3—4 degrees celsius quite widely, but factor in those winds, it will feel bitter. now, for the second half of the weekend, arwen continues to work away from the uk, it's filling, it's dying, but we've still got these fairly strong northerly winds and those northerly winds won't be feeling any warmer at all. sunday will be a day, really, of sunshine and showers. these showers 0k, most frequent across northern and eastern areas, but i think there'll be a whole raft of showers working into the north—west as well, so nowhere's immune from seeing an odd downpour.

and those showers still having a wintry flavour — bit of hail, bit of sleet mixed in with some of those. temperatures around 2 degrees celsius or so in newcastle, maybe a 4 in london, but again, feeling cold. now, into next week, we are going to see a sharp jump upwards in temperatures. turns much, much milder by tuesday, but rain and some strong winds in the week ahead. that's your latest weather.

good morning. welcome to breakfast, with naga munchetty and charlie stayt. 0ur headlines today: the united states and australia join the list of countries banning flights from southern africa after confirmation of a worrying new variant of coronavirus. a man is killed in northern ireland as storm arwen hits northern parts of the uk with winds of nearly 100 mph. there are still some very strong winds out there this morning. a mix of rain, sleet and snow falling as well. the weather will slowly calm down through this weekend, but it is going to stay cold. ex england captain michael vaughan

speaks to this programme about the racism scandal that has engulfed cricket.