welcome to newsday. reporting live from singapore, i'm mariko oi. the headlines: on patrol with the afghan vice and virtue inspectors, as they enforce the taliban's strict rules on how women should appear in public. a 21—year old russian soldier pleads guilty to shooting dead an unarmed ukrainian civilian, in the first war crimes trial of the conflict. i'm karishma vaswani live from sydney, australia, where voters will head to the polls on saturday to decide who'll be the country's next prime minister. it's a contest between the incumbent, scott morrison, and his rival, anthony albanese, who is hoping to form the first labor government in nine years.

amnesty international demands fifa should pay hundreds of millions of dollars to compensate migrant workers abused during world cup preparations in qatar. as india and pakistan face blistering temperatures of 50 degrees celsius, experts warn such heatwaves are now 100 times more likely because of climate change. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news, it is newsday. it's 8:00 in the morning in singapore, and 4:30am in afghanistan, where the number of restrictions imposed on women, under taliban rule, is growing. the ministry for preventing vice and promoting virtue, has been behind a raft of new, hard—line laws, and among them,

ordering afghan women to wear the islamic face veil. our correspondent, secunder kermani, has been given exclusive access to a team of inspectors, from the ministry and begins our programme. meet the inspectors of the ministry of vice and virtue. with branches across the country, they are remoulding afghanistan to fit in with the taliban's hardline beliefs. and how often do you do this, in a week? every day. every day? we are following one team in the centre of kabul. first stop, a shopping centre. bystanders and shopkeepers are given a lecture on the importance of saying your prayers and growing a beard, though it's all framed as brotherly advice. "if you have any problems, we can help you," maulvi mahmoud fatih tell them.

you haven't been talking about women, about what they should wear? that's what your ministry is most known for at the moment. translation: we have already given advice to the owner - of the shopping centre, and put up some posters, but we can't interact with individuals, for example, stopping a woman and asking her, "why are you not wearing the correct hijab?" my manners in religion do not permit me to do that. so if you see a woman here who's got her head covered but not her face covered, you won't say anything to her? we can distinguish between a woman with hijab and with out. if a woman is completely crossing the limits without any modesty, we will try to find her male guardian. in sucha in such a conservative country, it is not clear which women he means. many already cover their faces. in cities like kabul

others cover their hair. this is how the tell about think how they should be dressing up. what right does the taliban have to tell them how to practise the religion? translation: it practise the religion? tuna/mom- practise the religion? translation: , ., ., translation: it is not for the government — translation: it is not for the government it _ translation: it is not for the government it is _ translation: it is not for the government it is of _ translation: it is not for the government it is of god. - translation: it is not for the government it is of god. the l government it is of god. the inspectors — government it is of god. the inspectors are _ government it is of god. the inspectors are on _ government it is of god. the inspectors are on the move. next up, a bus stop. they have a fierce reputation from the previous regime when offenders had been regularly beaten. but here, theirfocus is on ensuring men do not get too close to female passengers. in front of us, these inspectors are behaving lightly and gently with the public. is that was the case when cameras are not

around for teams around the country? local residents we spoke to off cameras had no complaints about these inspectors but many worry the taliban are growing increasingly repressive. this woman is an activist who was on board the bus stopped by vice and virtue inspectors. translation: and virtue inspectors. tuna/mom- and virtue inspectors. translation: ., and virtue inspectors. translation: ,, ., ., ., translation: some women had their faces covered, _ translation: some women had their faces covered, others - their faces covered, others like me were wearing black accounts and face masks. i said to the inspector, there is no—one without hijab. became very angry but would not look at me, he said you are a shameless woman, this is now the islamic emirate and you cannot do what ever you want. the taliban initially appeared more flexible than many inspect the but they are becoming increasingly hardline. ——

expected. despite an economic crisis, tightening social restrictions seems that priority and the path ahead for the country is deeply uncertain. secunder kermani, bbc news, kabul. a russian soldier has pleaded guilty to killing an unarmed civilian, in the first war crimes trial in ukraine, since the russian invasion began. appearing in court in kyiv, the 21—year—old admitted shooting dead a ukrainian man, as he pushed a bicycle on the road. our correspondent sarah rainsford sent this report. this was a major moment for ukraine, the first russian soldier accused of a war crime already up in court. vadim shishimarin is a russian tank commander. he's on trial for shooting and killing a civilian. all the time, the widow of the man killed was just the other side of the glass. the soldier seemed nervous and said little,

until the words that mattered. asked whether he admitted his guilt, vadim shishimarin told thejudge, "yes, completely." it was the very start of this war, as russian tanks rolled south through sumy. vadim shishimarin�*s unit came under attack then and were forced into retreat. in the chaos, he and four others ended up fleeing in a stolen car. kateryna described seeing the russians through her gate, but her husband was out in the street. she later found his body lying here. the russians had seen him on his phone and vadim shishimarin had killed him. oleksandr shelypov was 62. he was shot in the head. he was shot four times in the head. this was the first time his widow had seen the man responsible, so i asked how she coped. "i feel very sorry for him," kateryna told me, "but this crime,

i can't forgive." ukraine knows most of those it accuses of war crimes may never be prosecuted, the suspects sheltered by russia. but this soldier surrendered, his only defence that he was following orders. those in moscow who sent him to this war have not even made contact with his lawyer. the prosecutor is asking for a life sentence, so i asked him how fair this trial could be. translation: we follow - all the laws and all the norms. the trial is open. if there was any violation by us, shishimarin could have said so. he has all the rights accorded to him by ukrainian and international law. this trial is taking place extremely quickly and, of course, it's happening in the middle of a war, but everyone here knows that they're under scrutiny, they know they have to be transparent. and what ukraine says

is that it's not looking for scapegoats. this is not a show trial. they want justice. sarah rainsford, bbc news, kyiv. amnesty international says fifa should earmark at least m40 million for the hundreds of thousands of migrant workers who have suffered human rights abuses in qatar, during preparations for the 2022 world cup, six months ahead of the tournament's opening game. i'm joined now by our news reporter mark lobel, who has been following the story. what are amnesty and other human rights groups proposing? these groups want to ensure that the hundreds of thousands of abuses suffered upon migrant workers, be it unpaid wages, unscrupulous recruitment fees or even lives lost, are just not forgotten and of course we are just six months from the start of this world cup and there an argument this may be

there an argument this may be the last chance before the media spotlight was on from qatar. proposalagainst media spotlight was on from qatar. proposal against a big amount of money, 440 million dollars worth, in a fun they say should be split between compensation costs for labour abuses but also to support initiatives, to protect workers rights in the future, and they want that in place and committed to by the end of the world cup. committed to by the end of the world cup-— committed to by the end of the world cop-— world cup. has there been any reaction from _ world cup. has there been any reaction from the _ world cup. has there been any reaction from the qatari - reaction from the qatari government?— reaction from the qatari government? that has been progress — government? that has been progress made _ government? that has been progress made by _ government? that has been progress made by both - government? that has been progress made by both fifa| government? that has been i progress made by both fifa and at the qatari government in this area since 2017. quite a lot of progress in fact an fifa have responded to this proposal by firstly pointing some of that progress out, saying they are implementing their own grievance mechanism and they

have raised over $26 million to ensure repayment of equipment fees and fifa on this planet is assessing the programme proposed by them so it is considering it but it adds, it involves a wide range of specific infrastructure which is outside the scope of the responsibility. something to argue on there. the qatari government has given the plan somewhat of a cooler response... a bit of work to do. going forward. _ a bit of work to do. going forward, what _ a bit of work to do. going forward, what are - a bit of work to do. going forward, what are the - a bit of work to do. going - forward, what are the lessons to be learnt?— forward, what are the lessons to be learnt? , , ., to be learnt? some lessons have been learned. _ to be learnt? some lessons have been learned. for _ to be learnt? some lessons have been learned. for example, - to be learnt? some lessons have been learned. for example, if. been learned. for example, if you are a country heading for a world cup, you have to outline

your plan is to avoid human rights abuses in the preparation for that. that was in place for 2026 whent mexico, canada and the us won that bid. qatar says it has really paid hundred $10 million owed to workers in the last two years, where they should have been paid. speaking to one human rights activist a few hours ago, they said qatar has come a long way but the message now is to make sure past abuses are not forgotten.— to make sure past abuses are not forgotten. mark, thank you so much for — not forgotten. mark, thank you so much for that _ not forgotten. mark, thank you so much for that story. - you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: the latest on the australian election campaign. and i will be looking at how important the female vote is going to be at these elections. this morning, an indian air

force plane, carrying mr gandhi's body, landed in delhi. the president of india walked to the plane to solemnly witness mr gandhi's final return from the political battlefield. ireland has voted overwhelmingly in favour of gay marriage. in doing so, it has become the first country in the world to approve the change in a national referendum. it was a remarkable climax. to what was surely the most extraordinary funeral ever given to a pop singer. - it's been a peacefulfuneral demonstration so far, but suddenly, the police are tear—gassing the crowd. we don't yet know why. the pre—launch ritual is well—established here. helen was said to be in good spirits, but just a little apprehensive. in the last hour, east timor has become i the world's newest nation. it was a bloody birth for a poor country, i and the challengesl ahead are daunting. but for now, at least, i it is time to celebrate.

this is newsday on the bbc. 0ur headlines: the taliban's vice and virtue patrols step up the enforcement of the new rules in afghanistan. a 21—year—old russian sergeant pleads guilty to shooting dead an unarmed ukrainian civilian, in the first war crimes trial of the conflict. lets turn to australia, which is two days out from a national election to decide who will be the next prime minister, karishma is there. what is the mood a few days ahead of this big election with 7 ahead of this big election with ? . ., , ahead of this big election with ? election fever is really in the air here _ ? election fever is really in the air here in _ ? election fever is really in the air here in australia, i ? election fever is really in i the air here in australia, i'm coming to you from a very

windy, surprisingly cold but gorgeous the sydney morning herald. the conversations we have been having ahead of the election with climate change is a big issue for a lot of voters here, in fact for some it is the number one issue but it is not necessarily dominating the political debates. as you know, this country is no stranger to the effects of a warming climate from deadly bushfires to devastating floods over the last few years, but any discussion of the reduction of emissions here can be politically toxic in some parts of the country as my colleague found out. australians have been through so much since the last federal election. 0ne natural disaster after another, dozens of lives lost in fires and floods. climate scientists warn australia will see much more of this unless the country plays its part to cut carbon emissions and help limit global warming. with so much at stake, you would think climate action would be central to this election, but here in central queensland, an area with deep economic ties

to fossilfuels, this is what campaigning looks like. this is the real stuff, this is what is paying for education, our health. is a lot of rubbish out there that the labour party don't support the mining sector, and what i can tell you... despite the government's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, both major parties here are throwing their weight behind a lucrative but heavily polluting industry. the coal shipped from the port here in gladstone have helped make australia the second biggest exporter on the planet. it's contributed massively to global carbon emissions, but also to the national economy, creating jobs and providing many families with a good standard of living. gladstone's aluminium factory has pledged to move away from coal as renewables get cheaper.

australia depends on call for producing most of their electricity, so why they say they want them to be strong on climate action, phasing out fossil fields is a complex issue that if you want to take on. despite the political posturing, a transition away from fossil fuels is already under way. gladstone's aluminium factory has pledged to move away from coal as renewables get cheaper. for workers here, the realfear is getting left behind. the challenge is inevitable. if an industry comes here, we need to make sure that we're going to get our workforce that are here now trained to actually fit these roles, because if this is going to replace something, it's got to replace pay packets. just outside gladstone, a factory is being built to make equipment for producing hydrogen from renewables. but those working with local government and industry on the energy from the future say politicians continuing to support coal isn't helpful.

i'm really worried that if we can't send clearer signals to each other, but to the rest of the world, around having serious targets around decarbonisation, that we are going to miss out on a whole lot of international investment that is poised at the moment. it's a different picture in bigger cities. some independent candidates are making climate change a defining campaign issue. and that's making them a real threat to previously safe government seats in sydney and melbourne. a change in the balance of power in this election could mean a change in the country's climate policy and its attitude towards fossil fuels. that was the picture on climate change and how voters feel about that. i wanted tell you about that. i wanted tell you about another big election issue out here and that is the

treatment of women. it has been a major talking point in the lead up to the polls and lots of women, thousands of women have been protesting about the abuse of women, notjust in the workplace but also in the halls of power, the corridors of power in parliament and there has been a national soul—searching so to speak of the treatment of women in australia. here with me michelle arrow, historian at macquarie university. great to have you out here with us today. just explained to us, how important is the female vote in australia? what proportion of the demographic doesn't make up?— proportion of the demographic doesn't make up? women make up about 5096 of— doesn't make up? women make up about 5096 of the _ doesn't make up? women make up about 5096 of the voting _ about 50% of the voting population in australia, so almost every australian adult to australian vote, votes in this election so women make up a really important part of the demographic although they haven't necessarily been at the centre of the election conversation so far. why is that? there _ conversation so far. why is that? there is _ conversation so far. why is that? there is a _ conversation so far. why is that? there is a number i conversation so far. why is that? there is a number of reasons. — that? there is a number of reasons, there _ that? there is a number of reasons, there was - that? there is a number of reasons, there was a - that? there is a number of reasons, there was a lot i that? there is a number of reasons, there was a lot of discussion in the lead up to the polls that the women's vote would be very important, that

women's issues and women's status would be an important part of the conversation, and in some ways i think the liberal party are still pursuing what for them in 2019 was quite a successful strategy of pursuing male working class voters, traditionally people who would vote labour. the liberal party found that targeting male voters with a important way to success in 2019. the labor party is sticking with continuing to support an appeal to women voters but it is doing so in a way that i think is often quite veiled stop without talking about emphasis on care and anthony albanese the labour leader is mentioning the word care, he's talking about his mum, holding babies and photographs but it is not an overt appeal to women voters which is interesting considering the gender politics. considering the gender politics— politics. sorted that specifically - politics. sorted that specifically women | politics. sorted that l specifically women do politics. sorted that - specifically women do want to hear from specifically women do want to hearfrom their leaders? specifically women do want to hear from their leaders? what are they want to have changed? what are they most irrigated by? i what are they most irrigated b ? ~' what are they most irrigated b ? ~ ., ., what are they most irrigated b ? ~ . ., , by? i think there are a number of thins by? i think there are a number of things stopping _ by? i think there are a number of things stopping the - by? i think there are a number of things stopping the impact l of things stopping the impact of things stopping the impact

of the pandemic had put impact on women, particularly in the pandemic recession, more women lost theirjobs than men. women ended up dealing with more of the care work that made the pandemic that difficult experience for so many people, but in particular women really incensed and outraged by the treatment of a number of cases in parliament house in particular that were centring on women's safety at work, so a young liberal staff made an allegation that she had been sexually assaulted and a female minister's office and when that went public and around february 2021 that kind of galvanised a larger conversation about the status of women notjust larger conversation about the status of women not just within the nation and the kind of ways that women should be safe in a place like parliament house, but within the liberal party itself and there were a number of other allegation made against liberal ministers stopping there was a big march fourjustice around the nation in march 2021, and again, thank women were incensed by the response to that stopping the parameters that women should be grateful weren't shocked when they protest early, so that

obviously has played, continued to play on. obviously has played, continued to play om— to play on. absolutely, and -- should be _ to play on. absolutely, and -- should be grateful— to play on. absolutely, and -- should be grateful they - to play on. absolutely, and --| should be grateful they weren't shot. , ., ., ., shot. they were motivated to run partly _ shot. they were motivated to run partly by _ shot. they were motivated to run partly by this _ shot. they were motivated to run partly by this position - shot. they were motivated to run partly by this position in i run partly by this position in the liberal party and australian politics generally. and the treatment of those female independence by the liberal party who have kind of regarded them as interlopers on seats that they should be rightly theirs reveals i think something of the gender politics. 50 something of the gender olitics. . ., ., ,, ., politics. so much to talk about but sadly not _ politics. so much to talk about but sadly not enough - politics. so much to talk about but sadly not enough time. - but sadly not enough time. thank you so much forjoining us, michelle arrow from macquarie university. that it finau from us in sydney, back to you. —— that's it for now. i actually wanted to ask you about _ actually wanted to ask you about prime minister scott morrison because he had been waking — morrison because he had been waking up to someone unwanted headlines this morning, hasn't

he? _ headlines this morning, hasn't he? ., ., , , ., he? yeah, not the best of headlines, _ he? yeah, not the best of headlines, certainly - he? yeah, not the best of headlines, certainly not . he? yeah, not the best of| headlines, certainly not so close to the elections this weekend and theyjust want close to the elections this weekend and they just want to show you these pictures. would you want this to be your eight—year—old boy? i'm not sure i would. scott morrison accidentally provided perhaps one of the most memorable parts of the campaign by sensationally wiping out a small child while he was playing soccer in tasmania as part of the campaign trail activities at. he was playing a training game with kids at the home of the devonport strikers when he made a run towards the goal that went terribly wrong. the child is fine. that's it from us and back to you in the studio. ., ., ., , from us and back to you in the studio. . . ., , studio. that at least good news, studio. that at least good news. isn't _ studio. that at least good news, isn't it? _ studio. that at least good news, isn't it? thank- studio. that at least good news, isn't it? thank you| studio. that at least good i news, isn't it? thank you so much for that and she mentioned about the importance of climate change in these elections in australia but of course australia but of course australia isn't alone in filling the effects of climate

change. according to a new british study, record—breaking heatwaves in northwest india and pakistan are a hundred times more likely, because of climate change. the two countries have suffered extremely high temperatures recently, as our south asia correspondent yogita limaye reports. 0utdoors in northern india is like the inside of an oven. this work is never easy, but during a heatwave it can be life—threatening. dozens have died of heat stroke across india, but millions of workers cannot afford to stop. this man has travelled 800 miles from home for thisjob. "we face a lot of problems. "the skin all over our body burns and sometimes we feel "like we might faint," he says. "but we have no choice,

we have to work to earn." heatwaves are not uncommon in south asia, but this year they started earlier than usual and have been more harsh and frequent. in pakistan, temperatures are touching 50 degrees in some parts. this area of punjab province is facing a severe drought, putting lives and livelihoods at risk. climate change could cause such extreme weather once every three years instead of 300, experts have warned. barely any part of the region has been spared from these changes in weather patterns. here in the west of india, not only are we seeing higher temperatures during the summer, but during the rainy season for the past few years we have seen cyclones hitting this coast, which is extremely unusual, and many climate experts say that is because surface temperatures of the sea are rising.

and that is all we have time for on this addition of newsday, thank you so much for watching. —— edition. hello, again. there's a few big thunderstorms to watch out for over the next few hours — particularly of concern is across parts of central, southern england, southeast england, and into areas of east anglia, as well. but on into thursday's forecast, they'll all be out of the way and we're looking at some warm spells of sunshine. so take a look at those storms — when they first developed across the channel islands, and in the first hour that they existed, there had already been over 10,000 lightning strikes, these storms here.

now, what'll happen over the next several hours is they'll work in probably around hampshire, sussex, surrey, greater london, moving into east anglia. they could bring some localised flash flooding — 25 millimetres of rain in some of them falling injust one hour. some large hail is a possibility, as well as some very strong gusts of wind locally. eventually it will become drier and quieter — and temperatures, as we start thursday morning, around 10—14 celsius, so it is going to be mild. now, there could be an odd shower left over across the far southeast of england, but otherwise, largely fine morning with spells of sunshine. there'll be a bit of high cloud in the sky, that'll make the sunshine a little hazy at times. and through the afternoon, could see a few passing showers for northern ireland and northwest scotland, but even here, not many. most of you feeling warm in the sunshine — 19 celsius in aberdeen, 23 towards london and southeast england. it won't be quite so warm, though, on friday — the wind'll pick up, and we've got this band of rain that'll be pushing its way eastwards off the atlantic. now, there could be another batch of thunderstorms coming in from europe that gets very close to southeast england, so we'll have to keep a close eye on that.

but otherwise, there'll be a gap between the showers and the more general rain across the north and the west, so could be some areas that just about stay dry. but whether you stay dry or not, temperatures will be a little bit lower, 15—18 celsius. now the weekend starts off with some sunshine, showers mostly confined to the northwest, and after that sunny start, things tend to turn a little bit cloudier through the afternoon, but still with some sunny spells coming through from time to time. temperatures on saturday in any sunshine should reach the low 20s, but across the north and west, not much sunshine — a bit of rain, 14—15 celsius here. sunday and monday, again, there could be 1—2 showers, mostly across the northwest of the uk, but otherwise some pleasant spells of sunshine. that's the latest weather, bye—bye.

this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. hello. welcome to the media show. welcome, too, to the headquarters of channel 4 in central london. and we're here because the government has confirmed it's pushing on with its plans to privatise channel 4, despite the reservations of the broadcaster. so we're going to look through all of the issues that this raises with our guest today, the ceo of channel 4, alex mahon. alex, thank you very much indeed forjoining us. this wasn't the outcome you wanted.

so where did it go wrong? well, i'm not sure that it went wrong.