this is bbc news. the headlines: the taliban appeals for international help in afghanistan after a powerful earthquake kills more than 1,000 people. everything is devastated. there are no blankets, tents, there is no shelter. a decision is due shortly over whether hundreds of gmb union members working as check—in and ground staff at heathrow airport will take strike action. it comes as the second day of rail strikes is under way, with half the network closed in england, wales and scotland and only 20% of services expected to run. the independent office for police conduct is to reinvestigate the way the metropolitan police

handled the deaths of the four men murdered by stephen port. the waiting list for hospital treatment in wales reaches a new record level — more than 700,000 patients were waiting for treatment in april. and it's day two of glastonbury. more than 200,000 festival—goers will see headliners billie eilish, sir paul mccartney and kendrick lamar this weekend. just before we cover our top story — the earthquake in afghanistan —

we're expecting to hear very shortly whether there will be further industrial action impacting travel here in the uk over the summer. a ballot has been held by heathrow—based gmb union members, who are employed by british airways. the ballot closed at midday, with the result expected to be released very soon. if the workers vote in favour, it could mean a walkout during the summer holidays. we can cross straight to heathrow and our business correspondent, theo leggett. just remind us what the voters all about, what might happen here? well. about, what might happen here? well, jane, what about, what might happen here? well, jane. what the — about, what might happen here? well, jane, what the workers _ about, what might happen here? in jane, what the workers want is what

they used to be paid in the pre—pandemic era. this ballot has been among 700 heathrow staff. they work for british airways, ba staff, they worked for british airways, mainly female workforce represented by the gmb and unite unions and the experienced pay cuts at the height of the pandemic two years ago. this was when their aircraft were flying in the air lines themselves were in deep trouble and trying to cut costs to the bones are pretty much across the board, ba put pressure on its workers to accept pay cuts and these workers to accept pay cuts and these workers had their pay reduced by 10%. now, what they're asking for now is that pay to be reinstated and reinstated permanently. what ba offered them was a 10% one—off payment this year pending further negotiations. they say that is not good enough and what they want is a proper increase for their members at a time of course when the wider picture is increasing inflation, higher prices, british airways said the market has not yet returned to

normal. these are still difficult times. in a statement, what it said is after a deeply difficult two years which sell the business move more than £4 billion these colleagues were offered a 10% payment for this year which was rejected. we remain fully committed to talks without trade unions about their concerns. now, on the other side, the unions are saying well, hang on a minute. these workers have still not had their pay reinstated after a long period of difficulty. meanwhile directors at british airways and the parent group iag have had their pay increase or have much higher payouts this year. if the strike does go ahead it is likely to mean some more disruption particularly in terminal five or british airways. these are customer facing staff, people who help passengers around the terminal. if they're not working british airways will have to come up with contingency plans which, for example, might mean managers having to operate desks. it is pretty much inevitable that there would be disruption and any strike days will be time to between mid to late

august so the peak summer season. thank you. that is the situation there. as soon as we get the result we will be back at heathrow so as soon as the gmb tells us the result of that ballot, as you would expect, we will be back there at heathrow and we will see what awaits if indeed there is strike action voted for. and we will talk more a little later in the sapphire about the rail strike of course we are on day two of a national rail strike. we will have more on that in the next little while as well. until that result comes through to us we are of course going to talk about the story that has dominated the last 24—hour. the taliban have appealed for international support after an earthquake in afghanistan caused devastation, killing at least a thousand people, and injuring another 1,500. doctors there have told the bbc that many children have been killed. aid agencies are rushing to get

shelter, food and medicine to the worst—hit areas, but the rescue efforts have been hampered by heavy rain and a lack of resources. the country's health system was facing near collapse before the disaster, and the international community now faces questions about how far it will help a government run by ha rdline islamists. jon donnison has the latest. imagine living here when the earthquake struck. much of the mudbrick housing in paktika province has been flattened. and the fear is that many more people could be buried under the rubble. this man shows where he was lying when he felt the tremor. nothing is left here. 0ur belongings are still under the rubble. we have only pulled out human beings, he says.

everything is devastated, there are no blankets, tents, there is no shelter, there is literally nothing to eat. afghanistan's health care system is fragile at the best of times and is struggling to cope. this woman says 19 members of herfamily were killed. she can't talk any more, she says, her heart is getting weak. in this remote corner of afghanistan, even reaching some of the worst affected areas is challenging. with thousands of houses destroyed, many simply have nowhere to go. and this, in an impoverished country which the un says it was already facing the world's worst humanitarian crisis. people in the uk have been extraordinarily generous, we urge the rest of the world, we urge them not to forget

afghanistan, to remember the people here. they are resilient, yes, they have been through a lot, but they are hungry and they really do need all of our help and all of her support. the taliban is trying to coordinate an aid effort with the red crescent but since the islamist movement took power last year, it has been crippled by sanctions and asset freezes, with direct foreign assistance drying out. one of the things that can be looked at is whether or not some of afghanistan's frozen assets can be released immediately into these agencies to help that relief effort because money, getting money to buy the things that are needed are going to be really difficult. and this earthquake, the worst in afghanistan for 20 years, has brought into focus a challenge, how to help a country desperately in need when you don't like the people who run it.

i'm joined now by shukria barakzai, afghan politician and former ambassador for afghanistan to norway. we have spoken on this programme before so thank you so much for rejoining us on bbc news. this is a truly difficult situation, isn't it? because a desperate plight for innocent people, we know of the need. we have reported honours in the last 24—hour is, what is your view, though, on how much of what the international community could be doing to help here?— doing to help here? thank you. first of, my deep — doing to help here? thank you. first of, my deep condolences _ doing to help here? thank you. first of, my deep condolences to - doing to help here? thank you. first of, my deep condolences to those i doing to help here? thank you. first l of, my deep condolences to those who have lost their lives and thank you for those who have been donating to the people of afghanistan. i would say, in my country, there is misery.

the government, the situation. i believe it is time for the taliban to show their resilience, to show their power. it is the time that they should take at least the responsibility. as far as i saw, there are some sort of aid to these areas but it is not enough. the international community can do much more at least for those winded bodies where the taliban are not touching particularly women and children. they should be taken from that situation but to be honest, if you are trying to use the situation and talking about the legitimacy or the frozen assets which belong to the frozen assets which belong to the people of afghanistan, without any guarantee, we would not understand where that will stand, if it will be released at the hands of

a terrorist group, they don't have mercy. they are not responsible now not paying attention to the crisis as is afghanistan today.- not paying attention to the crisis as is afghanistan today. right. so our as is afghanistan today. right. so your concern _ as is afghanistan today. right. so your concern is, _ as is afghanistan today. right. so your concern is, if _ as is afghanistan today. right. so your concern is, if some - as is afghanistan today. right. so your concern is, if some countries unfrozen that money to allow money to go into the country for a legitimate humanitarian reason, your concern is that money would be diverted, it will not get to the people in need, is that your anxiety? people in need, is that your anxie ? , people in need, is that your anxiety?— people in need, is that your anxie ? , , ., anxiety? yes. because according to experience. — anxiety? yes. because according to experience. the _ anxiety? yes. because according to experience, the international- experience, the international organisation and afghan people, humanitarian aid agencies, they are complaining the taliban are not really equally distributing the aid so even they are abusing the money just for theirfighters so even they are abusing the money just for their fighters and supporters so how we can ensure that that money will go direct to the people of afghanistan because that

is the nation was make money, it is not the money that belongs to the telephone. it shall go to the pocket of the taliban. it should not be an asset to support be used against the people of afghanistan. earlier on you mention some of those involved in the rescue operation not helping women are not picking up the bodies of women who have been killed in this earthquake. explain more about that, but what is going on there. it is just because the type of ideology that her banner carrying on. they're not touching any women's body. at least in an emergency situation, to move from danger to the mobile medic team. they are not touching. i saw lots of male bodies carrying for treatment but there are very few

women, cannot even see the picture. something like that. that is according to them they should not touch any women who does not belong touch any women who does not belong to the family, even the women if their touching they should be full coverage so this is the crisis we are facing in afghanistan. even when i saw on the field there was no, from the medic team, there was not enough e—mails to reach out and to support. so i am appealing and urging the international community, please, if you send any medic team make sure there will be enough women and nurses there to treat afghan women. �* , , and nurses there to treat afghan women. ~ , , and nurses there to treat afghan women. , , , ., women. and because you believe that is happening. — women. and because you believe that is happening. you've _ women. and because you believe that is happening, you've seen _ women. and because you believe that is happening, you've seen evidence i is happening, you've seen evidence thatis is happening, you've seen evidence that is happening, let's say a woman has been injured but she could be helped with medical treatment but because of belief, whatever we want to call it, she will not be picked up, she will not be touched or moved and so she will not get moved to medic you might possibly be able to

help her injuries. this medic you might possibly be able to help her injuries.— help her in'uries. this is how the ideolo: help her injuries. this is how the ideology of _ help her injuries. this is how the ideology of the _ help her injuries. this is how the ideology of the taliban - help her injuries. this is how the ideology of the taliban is. - help her injuries. this is how the ideology of the taliban is. this l help her injuries. this is how the| ideology of the taliban is. this is how they are wanting to eliminate the women because the women are not counted as a human being in afghanistan so that is why we saw the schools are closed. we have been eliminated from the job. there's not equal distribution for aid and if you see, even when there is such a crisis and emergency, the lack of female medic team is also questionable in such a remote area although they employ lots of men over there but not a female because it may be they are not allowing females to go and travel even in such an emergency situation and i think that is why i am asking if any country or any organisations are trying to support medical aid make sure there will be enough e—mails to help and support female bodies and wounded women and i believe the taliban really don't care about

women that much, as we think. thank ou so women that much, as we think. thank you so much — women that much, as we think. thank you so much for— women that much, as we think. thank you so much forjoining _ women that much, as we think. thank you so much forjoining us. _ women that much, as we think. thank you so much forjoining us. we - women that much, as we think. thank you so much forjoining us. we moved to our main domestic story. it's another day of disruption on the railways in england, scotland and wales as workers walk out for the second time this week. just one in five trains are running, and around half the rail network is closed, leaving some areas with no services at all. tens of thousands of rail staff are taking action in a dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. industry bosses says working practices need to be modernised. our business correspondent emma simpson reports. here we go again. half of britain's railway network brought to a halt. in cardiff, only 10% of services are expected to run. it is really disrupted my weekend and week. it is the same in scotland, withjust five routes in action in the central belt. i feel like they are always on

strike! yeah, it is annoying. annoying too if you had been planning to go by train to the test match at headingley in leeds. at london's paddington it was better news for travellers heading to the glastonbury music festival — a few trains are leaving for somerset. these things happen, it is part of life, logistics are never easy, so the j whole theme of glastonbury is positive vibes. _ it is clear many have avoided all the picket lines and disruption by working from home. at this small financial services firm in cheltenham, they are back to meeting clients on zoom. it is far from ideal, but we had to adapt to a lockdown, now it is strikes, that is the way we work now. but kamala has to travel by train for her teaching job in idoth-— contract, so i'm only paid for contact hours. so if i don't work, i don't teach,

i don't get any pay. like everyone else, she wants to know how long this is all going to last. this has become an increasingly fractious and bitter dispute, with both sides blaming each other. but negotiations between the rmt union and the rail companies are | back on again today.— | ideas being put forward by bothl parties but the essential point of l this is that we need a guarantee of. no compulsory redundancies and when we get that, we can move onl positively to the other agenda items, which include the stuff thatj the company want to pursue about i changes to working practicesm bosses hope compulsory redundancy can be avoided, but there has to be reformed. �* . , ., ., , work with the trade unions on how we modernise and reduced the overall costs that can then allow us in various ways to increase wages, but also ultimately stop the taxpayer are paying more into the industry

than is necessary. how to bridge the | gap and avoid potentially months of| disruption coming down the tracks. emma simpson, bbc news. lorna gordon, our scotland correspondent, is in glasgow for us. 0ur correspondent celestina 0lulode is at paddington. iam not i am not sure i have ever seen london paddington look quite so quiet. london paddington look quite so cuiet. ~ ., , quiet. well, that is right. according _ quiet. well, that is right. according to _ quiet. well, that is right. according to network- quiet. well, that is right. l according to network rail, quiet. well, that is right. - according to network rail, there quiet. well, that is right. _ according to network rail, there has been a 70% drop in footfall at the station. now, let me show you five. look at this board here. wherever you see the words please inquire that means that train is not running. and jane, as you said, this

is usually one of the busiest stations in the country but look at the concourse. still a number of people here but staff tell me this is nothing like what they are used to. one service that is still running as the newly opened queen elizabeth line. of course, that was impacted earlier on in the week due to the tube strikes but of course, the message from network rail remains, don't travel unless you need to. ., ~ remains, don't travel unless you need to. ., ,, ,., remains, don't travel unless you need to. ., ,, y., ., remains, don't travel unless you need to. ., ,, ., ., thank you for now. lorna gordon, our scotland correspondent, is in glasgow for us. this is the busiest it has booked all day and that is because the half hour service to and from glasgow to edinburgh will depart hour service to and from glasgow to edinburgh in about ten minutes' time but that is the only service running from the station today. these services as a whole across scotland have been extremely curtailed. 0nly whole across scotland have been extremely curtailed. only about 10% of the money and those that are

running our favourites in of the money and those that are running ourfavourites in a small geographical area of the central belt so there are no trains north of the central belt, no trains to the borders. a limited service around the east and west coast main line is down to england. if you wanted to go to london the last trains have left already. your well out of luck there. they left at 1220 from glasgow, 1230 and his co—side from edinburgh so no direct trains to london now and that is the indication of reallyjust how disrupted this train strike by network rail has been. scotrail staff are not on strike but they are dependent on network rail to run the trains around the network here. run them safely. we have been speaking to people outside the station here and it is just to people outside the station here and it isjust a to people outside the station here and it is just a snapshot. broadly speaking, most people seem to be supportive of those people on strike, though stuff on strike. it has cost some disruption especially among cursive had to make other

arrangements, many of them turning to buses to make sure they got on their planes home or their onward journey and that is an indication going forward when the big areas of concern here in scotland. the schools are about to start breaking up schools are about to start breaking up summer. some break—up as early as tomorrow and of course the peak of the tourist season is about to start. hospitality and hotels are really worried about the impact the strike could have if it continues into the summer. they are already seeing some cancellations. thank you. we'll keep you up—to—date with any developments in that and of course just to you we are waiting for the result of that ballot of gnb staff who work at heathrow airport. could there be disruption at heathrow over the summer as well? bring you that ballot result as soon as that comes through. the independent office for police conduct is to re—investigate the officers who failed to spot that serial killer stephen port

was operating in northeast london. port murdered four men in 2014 and 2015 in barking. the iopc originally decided that no officers would be disciplined, despite failures to catch the serial killer until after the fourth victim was murdered. now the iopc has said there were "material flaws" in its own investigation. i'm joined by our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford. it isa it is a truly green case but there have already been reports into what went on net so just explain exactly what this ruling is to say. it went on net so just explain exactly what this ruling is to say.— what this ruling is to say. it took until the fourth _ what this ruling is to say. it took until the fourth death _ what this ruling is to say. it took until the fourth death for - what this ruling is to say. it took until the fourth death for the - until the fourth death for the police, frankly, to even realise that there were murderers going on. they kept thinking there were drugs —related deaths and it was only after quite a lot of persuasion from the relatives of the fourth man who died, jack taylor, that the police

actually did take it seriously enough to identify that these were four murders. after the trial of stephen port it was fairly obvious that there should be an investigation into how detectives had gone about their business but when the independent 0ffice had gone about their business but when the independent office for police conduct finish that they decided that none of the detectives that they had investigated should face either misconduct or gross misconduct hearings. 0f face either misconduct or gross misconduct hearings. of the 17 offices they interviewed all except one gave no comment. they wouldn't even discuss with the aop see what they had done and that did because, frankly, quite a lot of astonishment particularly, obviously, with the relatives of stephen port�*s victims. we then had the inquest last year and the inquestjury were quite categorical in their findings. they said there were fundamental failings in these investigations from the beginning and that basic lines of inquiry were not followed and after

that tio pc said they would look again at their own investigation and it has taken until today for them decide, actually, looking at what came out of the inquest, there were material flaws in their own investigation and decided to reopen it, much to the relief of stephen port�*s victims families. find port's victims families. and relevant — port's victims families. and relevant to _ port's victims families. and relevant to mention - port's victims families. and relevant to mention many l port's victims families. and relevant to mention many other friends and families of the four young men who died feel that homophobia was part of this. it is relevant that all these young men were gay. they were all in their early 20s. yes, the family feel i think two things. first of all, just incompetence was rife throughout these investigations and it was not these investigations and it was not the people were not pointing out that the possible links between these deaths.— that the possible links between these deaths. there were people ”ointin these deaths. there were people pointing out _ these deaths. there were people pointing out the _ these deaths. there were people pointing out the possible - these deaths. there were people pointing out the possible links i pointing out the possible links between these deaths and also concerns about a very impersonal suicide note that one of the men had found on his body. but the families feel very strongly that if these were for young white women that had

been found in graveyards and on the streets in barking, that would have been treated differently to the fight that they were four young gay men and they felt that the assumptions were being made about the men's lifestyles and that they are more likely to take drugs. a lot of can sex going on and others kind of can sex going on and others kind of assumptions were being made just because these four victims were gay. and they feel very strongly about that. that is not the only thing they feel strongly about but they do feel very strongly about that. thank ou ve feel very strongly about that. thank you very much _ feel very strongly about that. thank you very much for — feel very strongly about that. thank you very much for now. _ the waiting list for hospital treatment in wales has hit a new record high for the 24th month in a row. latest figures show there were over 700,000 patients waiting for treatment in april, which is approximately one in five of the welsh population. over 68,000 of them have been waiting over two years. the government says services are still recovering following the pandemic. 0ur correspondent hywel griffith reports.

after four years of waiting, patricia is finally having her operation. she needs a joint replacement in her thumb so she can do simple things like cooking and gardening again. it was very difficult, but covid came in the middle and there wasn't anything you could do, and i just accepted it. it's nothing you can do about it. you just have to get on with it, don't you? long waits are something patients in wales have had to accept. pre—pandemic, around 5% of patients were already waiting more than nine months for treatment. now, more than a third wait that long. seeing their health deteriorate as they wait is difficult for surgeons like dougie russell. it's really frustrating. before covid we recognised that particularly in wales we had longer waiting lists than a lot of our colleagues in england. and since the covid pandemic has stopped much of our elective

operating, particularly in orthopaedics, our waiting lists have been going up and up, which is extremely frustrating. the biggest problem is a lack of capacity. new theatres like this one in swansea are being built, but they also need to be staffed before they can beat the backlog. the welsh government says a corner is being turned, with the number of patients waiting over two years falling for the first time. we are seeing the first chinks of light, because we are actually seeing numbers for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic for those waiting more than two years coming down by 3%, so there is a little chink of light here, and i'm very pleased to see that and that really is testament to the incredible hard work of those people who are on the front line at a time, let's not forget, when covid was at its peak. the royal college of surgeons says ending two—year waits in wales will be a mammoth task, made impossible without the right reforms and investment to bring

more patients through. hywel griffith, bbc news, swansea. have 100 days left to spend the traditional paper £20 or if you have £150 notes. they are being replaced with plastic versions like v5 and £10 notes because they are more durable. it is believed there are more than {160,000,050 banknotes and nearly twice as many £20 still in circulation there. that is what the bank of england estimates. that is the paper ones, we should say. to the paper ones, we should say. to the end of september to spend or deposit them with a bank. let's ta ke let's take a look at the weather prospects now. still a burial warm day across some parts of the country but the cloud cover has increased

across the south. you can see on the satellite picture here we have had hit and mist showers and thunderstorms potential for the course of today and into this evening. this is what it looks like around 5pm. that he'd been pushed a little bit further north. i 20s and one or two spot still possible and those well scattered showers and the odd thunderstorm as well. drifting northwards through the course of this evening. 0vernight, yes, there will be showers around but generally speaking it is dry for most of us. variable amounts of cloud and quite a one night. early on friday morning in some towns and cities, temperatures will be around 15 or 16. pressure atlantica is trying to push on around this area of low pressure centred over ireland through friday. it will also bring showers under stronger breeze to western areas and again pushing some of that warmth towards the east.

hello this is bbc news. the headlines: growing international appeals for help in afghanistan after an injury earthquake killed thousands and injured many more. a decision it suspected soon about

whether many gmb members who work at heathrow airport will take strike action this summer. it comes as a second day of rail strikes is under way, with half the network closed, in england, wales and scotland. 0nly network closed, in england, wales and scotland. only 20% of services are believed to be running. the independent 0ffice are believed to be running. the independent office for police conduct is to reinvestigate the way the metropolitan police handled the death of four young men murdered by stephen port in east london. the waiting list for hospital treatment in wales reaches a new record level, with more than 700,000 patients waiting for treatment in april. and we will have more this hour from the glastonbury festival. more than 200,000 festivalgoers are expected there. it's the first time it is running for three years.

that is all coming up. sport now, and a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. let's had to pull for the latest. good afternoon. straight to headingley, where england's treatises of struck early in the second session of rebuilding morning against new zealand. despite losing the toss and being asked to bowl, england struck early and lead, stuart broad taking a wicket in the first over, removing tom lehman. the tourists were left in 63—3 at lunch, and just a few minutes ago, jamie 0verton took his first test wicket, bowling devon conway, new zealand currently still in back, 87—4. to the tennis at eastbourne, where harriet dart is in quarterfinal action. it has been a day of disappointment for two written's players. harriet dart is out after losing her quarterfinal in straight sets against petra kvitova.

disappointment ambien for the top men's seed, british number one cameron norrie, who lost to the american maksym cressy, going down in straight sets. fellow brit ryan penistone is having a busy day, againstjack draper in the quarterfinals. he currently leads to— one in the first set. it is not the first time he has been in court today. he had to finish his last 16 match against pedro martinez, which was suspended from yesterday because of bad light. he won in three sets and will now hope for victory this afternoon. bad news for serena williams. she and partner 0ns jabeur were through to the semi—finals of the doubles on williams' return to tennis after a year out. they've had to withdraw today, though, after an injury to jabeur. it means williams heads to wimbledon next week having played just two matches in almost a year. the latest pga tour event in the usa will get under way later,

with some of the sport's biggest names missing. the four—time major winner brooks koepka is the latest tojoin the saudi—backed liv golf series. rory mcilroy isn't impressed with the former world number one. they say one thing and they do another, and i don't understand that, and they don't know if that's for legal reasons or if they can't... i have no idea. but it's pretty duplicitous on their part to say one thing and then do another thing. are you talking about something they said two— are you talking about something they said two years ago a week ago? the whole wa said two years ago a week ago? tue: whole way through! said two years ago a week ago? tta: whole way through! the said two years ago a week ago? t"t2 whole way through! the whole said two years ago a week ago? tt2 whole way through! the whole way through, in public and all of it. that was definitely a surprise for me. that was definitely a surprise for me i_ that was definitely a surprise for me i was — that was definitely a surprise for me i was at _ that was definitely a surprise for me i was at a _ that was definitely a surprise for me. i was at a function - that was definitely a surprise for me. i was at a function with - that was definitely a surprise for me. i was at a function with him| me. i was at a function with him last weekend _ me. i was at a function with him last weekend definitely- me. i was at a function with him last weekend definitely wasn't l me. i was at a function with him . last weekend definitely wasn't what he had _ last weekend definitely wasn't what he had in _ last weekend definitely wasn't what he had in mind _ last weekend definitely wasn't what he had in mind. we _ last weekend definitely wasn't what he had in mind. we were— last weekend definitely wasn't what he had in mind. we were focused . last weekend definitely wasn't whati he had in mind. we were focused on building _ he had in mind. we were focused on building the — he had in mind. we were focused on building the pga— he had in mind. we were focused on building the pga tour— he had in mind. we were focused on building the pga tour and _ he had in mind. we were focused on building the pga tour and getting i building the pga tour and getting the guys — building the pga tour and getting the guys to— building the pga tour and getting the guys to stay— building the pga tour and getting the guys to stay here _ building the pga tour and getting the guys to stay here together, i building the pga tour and getting i the guys to stay here together, and kind of— the guys to stay here together, and kind ofiust — the guys to stay here together, and kind ofjust having _ kind ofjust having talks and figuring _ kind ofjust having talks and figuring out— kind ofjust having talks and - figuring out what... how we could help benefit —

figuring out what... how we could help benefit the _ figuring out what... how we could help benefit the tour, _ figuring out what... how we could help benefit the tour, and - figuring out what... how we could help benefit the tour, and to - figuring out what... how we could help benefit the tour, and to seel help benefit the tour, and to see brooks _ help benefit the tour, and to see brooks leave _ help benefit the tour, and to see brooks leave was _ help benefit the tour, and to see brooks leave was definitely- help benefit the tour, and to see brooks leave was definitely a - brooks leave was definitely a surprise _ brooks leave was definitely a surprise for _ brooks leave was definitely a surprise for us. _ brooks leave was definitely a surprise for us. that - brooks leave was definitely a surprise for us. that being i brooks leave was definitely a i surprise for us. that being said, brooks leave was definitely a - surprise for us. that being said, he has made _ surprise for us. that being said, he has made a — surprise for us. that being said, he has made a decision, _ surprise for us. that being said, he has made a decision, and - surprise for us. that being said, he has made a decision, and i- surprise for us. that being said, he has made a decision, and i will- surprise for us. that being said, he has made a decision, and i will not| has made a decision, and i will not knock— has made a decision, and i will not knock him — has made a decision, and i will not knock him for _ has made a decision, and i will not knock him for doing _ has made a decision, and i will not knock him for doing that. - has made a decision, and i will not knock him for doing that. he - has made a decision, and i will notj knock him for doing that. he made has made a decision, and i will not. knock him for doing that. he made a decision— knock him for doing that. he made a decision that — knock him for doing that. he made a decision that was _ knock him for doing that. he made a decision that was best _ knock him for doing that. he made a decision that was best for— knock him for doing that. he made a decision that was best for him, - knock him for doing that. he made a decision that was best for him, and i decision that was best for him, and i'm decision that was best for him, and i'm not— decision that was best for him, and i'm not going — decision that was best for him, and i'm not going to— decision that was best for him, and i'm not going to he— decision that was best for him, and i'm not going to be one _ decision that was best for him, and i'm not going to be one to- decision that was best for him, and i'm not going to be one tojudge i decision that was best for him, and. i'm not going to be one tojudge him on that _ i'm not going to be one tojudge him on that for— i'm not going to be one tojudge him on that for me. _ i'm not going to be one tojudge him on that. for me, it's— i'm not going to be one tojudge him on that. for me, it's not— i'm not going to be one tojudge him on that. for me, it's not where - i'm not going to be one tojudge him on that. for me, it's not where i- on that. for me, it's not where i see myself— on that. for me, it's not where i see myself ending _ on that. for me, it's not where i see myself ending anytime i on that. for me, it's not where ll see myself ending anytime soon. on that. for me, it's not where i. see myself ending anytime soon. i grew— see myself ending anytime soon. i grew up— see myself ending anytime soon. i grew up wanting _ see myself ending anytime soon. i grew up wanting to— see myself ending anytime soon. i grew up wanting to be _ see myself ending anytime soon. i grew up wanting to be on- see myself ending anytime soon. i grew up wanting to be on the i see myself ending anytime soon. i grew up wanting to be on the pga| grew up wanting to be on the pga tour, _ grew up wanting to be on the pga tour, dreaming— grew up wanting to be on the pga tour, dreaming of— grew up wanting to be on the pga tour, dreaming of playing - grew up wanting to be on the pga tour, dreaming of playing in - grew up wanting to be on the pga| tour, dreaming of playing in these events _ tour, dreaming of playing in these events i_ tour, dreaming of playing in these events i not — tour, dreaming of playing in these events. i not dream _ tour, dreaming of playing in these events. i not dream of— tour, dreaming of playing in these events. i not dream of growing i tour, dreaming of playing in these events. i not dream of growing up| tour, dreaming of playing in these . events. i not dream of growing up to play in _ events. i not dream of growing up to play in the _ events. i not dream of growing up to play in the centurion _ events. i not dream of growing up to play in the centurion club _ events. i not dream of growing up to play in the centurion club in - events. i not dream of growing up to play in the centurion club in londonl play in the centurion club in london or whatever— play in the centurion club in london or whatever it — play in the centurion club in london or whatever it is. _ play in the centurion club in london or whatever it is. i— play in the centurion club in london or whatever it is. i grew— play in the centurion club in london or whatever it is. i grew up- play in the centurion club in london or whatever it is. i grew up wanting| or whatever it is. i grew up wanting to play— or whatever it is. i grew up wanting to play in_ or whatever it is. i grew up wanting to play in the — or whatever it is. i grew up wanting to play in the nationals, _ or whatever it is. i grew up wanting to play in the nationals, to- or whatever it is. i grew up wanting to play in the nationals, to play- or whatever it is. i grew up wanting to play in the nationals, to play in. to play in the nationals, to play in allston. _ to play in the nationals, to play in allston. to— to play in the nationals, to play in allston. to play— to play in the nationals, to play in allston, to play at _ to play in the nationals, to play in allston, to play at colonial, - to play in the nationals, to play in allston, to play at colonial, the l allston, to play at colonial, the buyer _ allston, to play at colonial, the buyer and — allston, to play at colonial, the buyer and no _ allston, to play at colonial, the buyer and no some. _ allston, to play at colonial, the buyerand no some. i— allston, to play at colonial, the buyer and no some. i wouldn'tl allston, to play at colonial, the i buyer and no some. i wouldn't trade those _ buyer and no some. i wouldn't trade those memories— buyer and no some. i wouldn't trade those memories for— buyer and no some. i wouldn't trade those memories for anything - buyer and no some. i wouldn't trade those memories for anything at i buyer and no some. i wouldn't trade those memories for anything at this| those memories for anything at this point _ those memories for anything at this point in _ those memories for anything at this point in time — gareth bale could be set for an unlikely home coming. it seems the 32—year—old has plenty of options, but one is close to home. his representatives have held talks with championship club cardiff, the city where he was born. he's available on a free after leaving real madrid, all things going to plan he'll captain wales at the world cup in qatar later this year. sheffield united say two of their

players have been charged following a pitch invasion at nottingham forest during their play—off semifinal defeat in may. ryan brewster, seen here, and ollie mcburney of the two players charged following trouble after united lost the match on multis. nottinghamshire police have been attached for more details —— approached. there was a really scary moment at the world aquatics championships in budapest when one of the american synchronised swimmers fainted and sank to the bottom of the pool, having to be rescued by her coach. this was the american anita alvarez during the solo free final, when she passed out under water. her coach andrea fuentes was the quickest to react and dived in and dragged her out of the pool, averting a much more serious incident. the coach has released a statement saying: "anita is okay. "we sometimes forget that this happens in other

"high—endurance sports. marathon, cycling, cross—country. "we all have seen images where some athletes don't make it to the finish "line and others help them to get there. "0ur sport is no different than others, just in a pool. "we push through limits and sometimes we find them." that's all the sport for now. thank you, paul. see you in the next hour. borisjohnson is in rwanda for a meeting of the commonwealth's heads of government. mrjohnson again defended the uk's policy to send asylum seekers there, and accused critics of having a condescending attitude towards the african country. rwanda joined the commonwealth in 2009, but there's been criticism over the country's human rights record. 0ur deputy africa editor anne soy reports. the pm's first visit to rwanda, just a week after the flight to cancel their word take asylum seekers from their word take asylum seekers from the uk was cancelled. first on the agenda, a meeting with the host, president porker gamay. the two governments are keen to proceed with the deal despite the opposition it has faced. —— paul

kagame. tomorrow, the prime minister faces a potentially awkward meeting with prince charles, who is reported to have described the deal privately as appalling. people need to keep an open mind about the policy. the critics need to keep an open mind. i think a lot of people can see its obvious merits, and yes, of course, if i am seeing the prince tomorrow, i will of course make that point. rwanda is hosting this meeting for the first time since joining the commonwealth in 2009, and the —— at the time, a politician thought the move would help improve things in rwanda. she returned from europe in 2010 to run for president. t rwanda. she returned from europe in 2010 to run for president.— 2010 to run for president. i thought in my heart. _ 2010 to run for president. i thought in my heart. may — 2010 to run for president. i thought in my heart, may be _ 2010 to run for president. i thought in my heart, may be you _ 2010 to run for president. i thought in my heart, may be you can - 2010 to run for president. i thought in my heart, may be you can really| in my heart, may be you can really help rwanda to become a democratic country _ help rwanda to become a democratic country. did help rwanda to become a democratic count . , help rwanda to become a democratic country-- no- _ help rwanda to become a democratic country-- no- if— help rwanda to become a democratic country.- no. if you _ country. did it? no. if you criticise — country. did it? no. if you criticise authority, - country. did it? no. if you criticise authority, you i country. did it? no. if you criticise authority, you are country. did it? no. if you i criticise authority, you are able country. did it? no. if you - criticise authority, you are able to be criticise authority, you are able to he the _ criticise authority, you are able to be the enemy of the state. she recently missed _ be the enemy of the state. 5t2 recently missed her son's wedding, blocked by the government from

leaving the country. he was eight when she left the family in europe to try her hand in politics, but ended up injailfor close to try her hand in politics, but ended up in jail for close to a decade. she says british leaders should visit politicians and journalists who are imprisoned here. the rwandan government has disputed many of these accounts, and said human rights and democracy are a work in progress. notjust here and wonder, but across the commonwealth. hosting this event is a source of pride for them. —— hosting this event is a source of pride forthem. —— not hosting this event is a source of pride for them. —— notjust here in rwanda. rwanda has pulled out all stops to make an impression. the country is eyeing the opportunities at this meeting could bring, but the commonwealth's spotlight and the recent migrant deal with the uk might also bring to light issues the country would prefer to remain hidden. ukraine is set to be approved as a candidate to join the european union at a summit in brussels later today. the country applied for membership days after the russian invasion in february, but this is just the first step in a long process. 0ur europe correspondent

jessica parker has more. ukraine's national anthem heard today in the heart of the eu. over 1,000 miles away, the country's capital, kyiv. but the european union now feeling a little closer. it is great, but it is something that will happen much later. now, if we lose this war, it will mean nothing. i really want our country to become a candidate for european union because i would like our country to be more powerful. however, this is a country at war, not in control of parts of its own territory. no one knows how long the conflict will last. but in brussels, ukrainian officials say they are determined to press ahead, ready to carry out at least

some reforms required by the eu even while the fighting goes on. the real integration process will start when the war is over, but in the meantime, when we are talking about those recommendations, i see the potential to implement some of them even now. but this is a family that is not easy to join. leaders from the western balkans testify to that. north macedonia is a candidate for 17 years, albania for eight, so welcome to ukraine. it is a good thing to give candidate status, but i hope that ukrainian people will not make many illusions about it. this is the red carpet that eu leaders walk down at summits, it is where ukraine wants to be. all the warnings that this is a long road without any guarantee of success are all true. nevertheless, this is still being regarded

as a historic moment. giving ukraine candidate status here and now, diplomats say, would not have been imaginable not long ago. jessica parker, bbc news, in brussels. a british man sentenced to death by a russian proxy court in ukraine has been told the execution will be carried out. aiden aslin was captured alongside fellow uk national shaun pinner while serving with the ukrainian army, and the pair are accused of being mercenaries. aiden's family in nottinghamshire have called for more to be done to help release them. 0ur correspondent emma vardy reports. it's been an agonising wait for aiden aslin and shaun pinner since being told they face the death penalty. the sentence was handed down a fortnight ago to the two men, and a moroccan national, in an unrecognised court in an area controlled by russian backed separatists. your son rings to say that he is going to be,

he's going to be killed. in a phone call to his mother, aiden said his captors have informed him the execution will go ahead. he was given a month, and time is running out. and aiden was told that he was going to be executed. the uk's foreign ministers called it a sham judgment with no legitimacy. but hopes for a pardon or an appeal to his family appear to be fading. aiden and shaun have lived in ukraine since 2018, appearing here in a documentary made after they became marines in ukraine's armed forces. in a sense, like, it is like my war, because, like, even though i'm not ukrainian, this is on my doorstep. after the russian invasion, they spent weeks defending the besieged city of mariupol, before having to surrender. these are two men who came

here a few years ago, before this invasion started. speaking from ukraine, another member of the marines who served in their unit said the death sentence showed russia's disregard for international law. it's absolutely dire, and at this point i really hope that the uk government, as well as the ukrainian government, is going to step up and figure out some way to negotiate their release. how is this being seen in ukraine? it actually rallies more people behind them, and i guess the ukrainians, they look up to aiden and shaun as heroes. meanwhile, on state sanctioned russian television, they've been shown little mercy, being publicly mocked and accused of terrorism. the uk government says it's deeply concerned by the sentences and it's continuing to work with ukraine to try to secure the men's release. there is believed to be a reluctance to get involved in direct negotiations with russia,

those who are holding the men in donetsk. president putin, i do believe, has got the power to stop this. i plead, please, let these guys go. for now, their fate appears to remain in the hands of russian backed separatists. aiden's family still hope he may be saved by a prisoner exchange. but fear the situation is becoming more desperate. emma vardy, bbc news. breaking news coming in in the last few moments. we are hearing, i'm afraid, there is going to be more disruption, it appears, this summerfor some appears, this summer for some travellers. appears, this summerfor some travellers. we arejust appears, this summerfor some travellers. we are just hearing the staff who worked for british airways at heathrow have voted to strike. let's go straight to the airport. 0ur let's go straight to the airport. our business correspondent theo leggett has been following this.

this is specifically about heathrow, theo, not other airports, this is specifically about heathrow, theo, not otherairports, but explain what has happened here? yes. explain what has happened here? yes, this is specifically _ explain what has happened here? 123 this is specifically about british airways staff at heathrow, some 700 customer facing staff, so we are talking check—in staff and people who work on the floor of the airport helping passengers around. they were balloted on strike action because their pay went down at the height of their pay went down at the height of the covid pandemic two years ago and they lost 10% of their salary. they want british airways to reinstate that. british airways so far has failed to do so. now they have voted for strike action, quite overwhelmingly, in fact. a 95% vote in favour on an 85% turnout, is a very scheming and pheasant support the strike action. this means we are likely to see very significant action, especially in terminal five, in the peak weeks of the summer. we don't know the strike dates themselves but they are likely to be in the second half ofjuly and during august, at a time when the airport is normally very busy

indeed. 0bviously, airport is normally very busy indeed. obviously, this isn't the only disruption we have seen at airports recently. they have been problems with short staffing anyway, and just last week, at gatwick, we had the airport deciding to restrict the number of flights. so this is all feeding into an environment where people who are heading to the airport and holidays are likely to have a little bit of trepidation and will be wondering what they might face when they get there. absolutely. we don't have strike dates yet, of course, unless you know otherwise, but you have hinted at the parameters for that. we all know about the torrid time that the airline industry has had during covid, the whole travel industry. what is be a's response to this? what is be a's response to this? what do they say about this claim for a bit more money?— for a bit more money? well, we haven't heard _ for a bit more money? well, we haven't heard their— for a bit more money? well, we haven't heard their response i for a bit more money? well, we haven't heard their response to | for a bit more money? well, we i haven't heard their response to the strike ballot yet, because that has onlyjust come through, but in recent days, they have been saying the airline industry is not yet fully recovered. british airways

lost some £4 billion over two years. there is still need for some restraint because the airline is not profitable yet. on the other hand, the unions are saying that managers who took a pay cut along with their staff at the start of the pandemic have had their pay restored, so why cannot the other workers have their is restored a smoky? they will be cheering and throwing on this, but the announcement now is that workers who have voted for strike action have done so overwhelmingly and that makes it likely there will be strike action in the summer. —— toing and froing. british airways will have its own contingency measures in place. we might assume managers will be running check—in desks to help passengers that way, but equally, if check—in staff walk off the job, there will be disruption in the airport and we would likely see cancellations as well. thanks very much for now, theo leggett following that for us at heathrow airport. let's talk first of all immediately to the gmb union. 19 heltonjoins me

from the gmb union, one of the two involved in this ballot today. thanks forjoining us so quickly. what you say to people watching this who are desperate for a break after the last couple of years and are now really worried that their summer travel plans are disrupted. t really worried that their summer travel plans are disrupted. i would sa that travel plans are disrupted. i would say that the _ travel plans are disrupted. i would say that the blame _ travel plans are disrupted. i would say that the blame for _ travel plans are disrupted. i would say that the blame for this - travel plans are disrupted. i would say that the blame for this needs. travel plans are disrupted. i would l say that the blame for this needs to be laid squarely at the door of british airways. my members and i are genuinely, genuinely sorry for any disruption this might cause to hard—working families who are, of course, so desperate to get away after the pandemic. but the problem is that this dispute has been many, many years in the making, and our members, primarily low—paid, part—time women workers, have been asking nicely for over a year now to have this money paid back. this is money that was robbed from them during the pandemic. they are not

asking for a pay increase, they are just asking for the 10% that was taken from them during the pandemic in april last year. they are not asking for a pay increase. their demands are not unreasonable in the slightest, and actually, i think that most hard—working families would actually understand and support the plight of our members. all our members want to be able to do is to defend their living standards through the worst cost of living crisis in 40 years, and unfortunately, they have been forced into taking this vote, this very convincing mandate for strike action, because they are done with asking nicely. we have run out of road with negotiations. british airways have an opportunity, a small window of opportunity, in which to respond and to reimburse our members for what they so cruelly stole from them as a result of fire and rehired during the pandemic. so, if ba and the word came to you

and said, all of those people will get that 10% back, would that be it? you would call off and say, there would be no strikes? hate you would call off and say, there would be no strikes?— would be no strikes? we are a democratic — would be no strikes? we are a democratic organisation, i would be no strikes? we are a democratic organisation, so i would be no strikes? we are a democratic organisation, so if| would be no strikes? we are a i democratic organisation, so if ba want to come back to us and make an offer, that offer then goes back to our members, who get a full vote on whether or not what is on the table is adequate, because we need to be absolutely certain that if there is an offer on the table and there was no talk of an offer necessarily at the moment, that there is no strings attached to that. what ba have tried to do is, they have tried to say, we offered this group of workers a 10% bonus and they rejected it. they offered these workers a 10% one off payment, so once it is gone, it is gone. what these members have lost is 10% of their consolidated page, so pay that is pensionable, pay that increases year—on—year with any further pay rises, and that is what they are asking for back, and went

ba off of the 10% bonus to our members, one of the key reasons they rejected it is because one of the strings that was attached to it was that our members would waive their rights to campaign to improve their pay and conditions, and we don't think that is a bribe with taking. british airways says it has lost £4 billion injust british airways says it has lost £4 billion in just two years because of covid. billion in 'ust two years because of covid. ~ , , ., ., covid. well, 'ust under 2 billion of that is debt — covid. well, just under 2 billion of that is debt that _ covid. well, just under 2 billion of that is debt that has _ covid. well, just under 2 billion of that is debt that has been - covid. well, just under 2 billion ofj that is debt that has been saddled onto it by its parent company iag, and ba was very profitable pre—pandemic. it made £4.5 billion in profit and £1.6 billion of that was siphoned off to private shareholders in dividends, so we want ba to be back in that place where it is doing members, our loyal members, these are some of the longest serving members of staff that ba has on its books. they have remained with the

airline through thick and thin. they want to get ba back on its feet. but ba can only do that, and the aviation industry as a whole can only do that, if it is prepared to invest in its staff. we have seen the staff shortages. we have seen the staff shortages. we have seen the crisis in aviation, and iag, ba's parent company, their ceo says the reason we're having this crisis in aviation is because of staff shortages. so surely the answer to thatis shortages. so surely the answer to that is very simple. pay people properly. 0ur that is very simple. pay people properly. our members are on the front line of the crisis in aviation, they are on the phone line when the pandemic hit, and they are on the front line now with all the staff shortages, and they are day in, day out, experiencing verbal and in, day out, experiencing verbal and in some cases physical abuse, and thatis in some cases physical abuse, and that is unacceptable. their work life balance has been affected, their mental health has been affected, and there comes a point where working people say, enough is enough.

for now, no dean horton from the gmb union, thank you. so, a strong turnout in that vote stop 81% turnout, and 95% those people voting, voting yes for industrial action. so we wait to see what happens from there on in, if we get any more information about potential dates, we will of course let you know immediately. it is 2:54pm. let's turn away to slightly different news for the next few minutes and head off to somerset. the glastonbury festival is under way after a three—year break due to covid. the five—day event in somerset will host around 200,000 visitors — entertained by headline artists including sir paul mccartney, billie eilish and kendrick lamar. 0ur man colin paterson is there at worthy farm. thursday at glastonbury is when the music starts, not on the main stages but the smaller ones. there are some

big names playing today, the likes of mel c from the spice girls doing a djing set, and michael eavis, the founder of glastonbury will do a set of his favourite songs by crooners immediately after. we are right in front of the pyramid stage. there it is. i remember michael eavis once joining coldplay there to sing a version of my way. let's say, it remains long in the memory. i have been out and about this morning walking around the festival site and it is much busier than it usually is at that time. that is for two reasons. first of all, the festival has not been on for three years, so people wanted to get here as early as possible. and secondly, because of the much talked about rail strikes. trains have actually been running to glastonbury today. the first one out of london had fewer than 50 people on it, and some festivalgoers have been saying they have had hole carriages to themselves. let's also talk about

themselves. let's also talk about the weather. i know people at home watching glastonbury on their sofas want nothing more than for it to pour down on us here, and there has been a yellow thunderstorm warning. the hope is, it will pass, but you never know. diana ross might get very, very mucky! colin paterson, having far too much fun at glastonbury. let's find out what the weather has in store generally. the weather is starting to turn as we head towards the weekend. more for sure. scattered showers, we head towards the weekend. more forsure. scattered showers, perhaps some thunderstorms around through the rest of the day, and it is of the rest of the day, and it is of the evening hours, and on the satellite picture, you can see where it has been overcast earlier on, and that band of showers will move further northwards. at the showers are quite well scattered, so plenty of dry weather around too. risk of thunder around in the afternoon spreading northwards into parts of wales, possibly the north west of

england as well. still very warm for some of us, particularly across central and northern parts of england. mid to high 20s, but especially around western parts of the uk, those temperatures closer to 20 degrees. through tonight, still some showers around, for sure. there will be clear spells developing in some areas, but overall, i think a fair amount some areas, but overall, i think a fairamount of some areas, but overall, i think a fair amount of cloud, and really quite won first thing in the morning in some spots, temperatures around 15 or 16, for example they are in liverpool. tomorrow, fresher air starts to push on from western areas. this is an area of low pressure which will park itself over ireland for the next two or three days at least. the breeze will pick up days at least. the breeze will pick up in cornwall and devon and down the coast of wales and the irish sea. lower temperatures, the coast of wales and the irish sea. lowertemperatures, perhaps sea. lower temperatures, perhaps only sea. lowertemperatures, perhaps only in the teens for places like plymouth and also belfast. some of that residual heat we have tomorrow will be pushed away the stone areas, and then tomorrow it will be a mixed bag both through the day and the evening. we will see bands of showers crossing the country. i mentioned that low pressure parked

over ireland, and it is here to stay all the way through the weekend. there will be brisk winds blowing around this area of low pressure, and pushing in the showers, mostly into western parts of the uk, so if you live further east, i think the weather will be drier, brighter, and even clear blue skies in some areas at times, but overall, i think a mixed picture on saturday for most of us. those temperatures a good deal lower, 17 in plymouth, a fresh 16 in belfast, and just around 20 or so in london. the low pressure still with us on friday. you can see the winds circling around it stop it is hardly moving at all. the winds are blowing around it quite fast, but the low pressure is slow to move itself. so the outlook on sunday, again on the icon forecast we will see certainly some showers, at the same goes for monday too. goodbye.

this is bbc news. the headlines: hundreds of gmb union members — working as check—in and ground staff at heathrow airport — have voted for strike action in a dispute over pay. it comes as the second day of rail strikes is under way — with half the network closed in england, wales and scotland. only 20% of services are believed to be running. there are more appeals for international help in afghanistan — after a powerful earthquake killed more than a thousand people and injured many others. yes they are resilient, yes they have been through a lot but they are hungry and they really do need all of our help and all of our support.

the independent office for police conduct is to reinvestigate the way the metropolitan police handled the death of the four young men murdered by stephen port, in east london in 2014 and 2015. the waiting list for hospital treatment in wales reaches a new record level — more than 700 thousand patients were waiting for treatment in april. and — we're at the glastonbury festival. more than 200 thousand music lovers are expected at this year's event — the first for three years because of the pandemic. british airways staff

at london's heathrow airport have voted in favour of a strike for better pay. the move threatens to disrupt britain's busiest airport during an already chaotic summerfor air travellers. we can cross straight to heathrow and our business correspondent, theo leggett. to heathrow and our business there to heathrow and our business was a big turnout an vote there was a big turnout and a big vote in favour.— vote in favour. absolutely, jane. 95% of those _ vote in favour. absolutely, jane. 95% of those who _ vote in favour. absolutely, jane. 95% of those who responded i vote in favour. absolutely, jane. 95% of those who responded to l vote in favour. absolutely, jane. i 95% of those who responded to the strike ballot, and there was 81% turnout, said they were in favour of strike action. now, what is unusual here is the spout was not about pay increases. we are seeing a lot of that at the moment with rising inflation people saying their pay should go up to keep pace with the

cost of living. this was about workers at heathrow, mainly part—time workers, saying they wanted to go back to the pay levels they had before the pandemic. now, if you remember a couple of years ago the aviation industry was in crisis, planes were not allowed to fly, there were immense restrictions on who could go where and as a result, the alliance below to pressure on the staff to accept pay reductions. that happened at british airways and the staff had to have their pay cut by 10%. now they want it back. british airways is not doing that. what they did offer was a 10% one—off payment this year while other negotiations started out. the ground crew union, gmb and unite say that is not good enough. they want commitment that they are going to get back what they lost. british airways say the airline industry is not back up and running yet. there are still problems. it is still not profitable. it lost £4 billion over the past year so

therefore we have this conflict between the two sides another workers have decided enough is enough and are going to go out on strike. and could be see those strikes? probably a few days of disruption in the second half of july and then in august. how bad will that disruption be? well, we understand british airways does have contingency plans so that is likely to be, for example, managers operating check—in desks but even so, there is likely to be disruption, particularly in terminal five, which is the british airways terminal. and we will have to wait and see how serious that disruption is going be. bug and see how serious that disruption is going be— is going be. buy for anyone desperate _ is going be. buy for anyone desperate to _ is going be. buy for anyone desperate to get _ is going be. buy for anyone desperate to get away i is going be. buy for anyone j desperate to get away after is going be. buy for anyone i desperate to get away after the pandemic and reputation be, i suppose, this is rough for, this is bad for pr, even if they manage to bring another members of staff to cover some of these ground crewjobs and so on. cover some of these ground crew “obs and so on. ~ cover some of these ground crew “obs and so on. . ., , , cover some of these ground crew “obs andsoon. , �* , and so on. well, absolutely. british airwa s and so on. well, absolutely. british airways has — and so on. well, absolutely. british airways has faced _ and so on. well, absolutely. british airways has faced a _ and so on. well, absolutely. british airways has faced a great _ and so on. well, absolutely. british airways has faced a great deal i and so on. well, absolutely. british airways has faced a great deal of i airways has faced a great deal of criticism over the past few years in part because of the way they handle dealings with staff a couple of

years ago when they needed to reduce their costs. there was talk of fire and we however british airways said if you do not accept lower pay than we will terminate your contract and rehire you on a lower paid contract so that did some damage. this year, there have been other problems. problems with baggage handling and it systems, particularly with it systems. flight cancellations due to shortages of stamps are all of this put together and now we are facing further disruption over the summer so, yes, ithink further disruption over the summer so, yes, i think you are right. there will be some reputational damage from this.— there will be some reputational damage from this. thank you. this vote involves _ damage from this. thank you. this vote involves two _ damage from this. thank you. this vote involves two unions. - damage from this. thank you. this vote involves two unions. the i damage from this. thank you. this j vote involves two unions. the gmb union and the unite union. i have been speaking, as we had that ballot result, i was talking to the gmb, spokesperson who said this dispute has been some years in the making. the blame for this needs to be laid

squarely at the door of british airways. my members and i are genuinely, genuinely sorry for any disruption this might cause to hard—working families who are of course so desperate to get away after the pandemic but the problem is that this dispute has been many, many years in the making and are members, primarily low paid part—time women workers have been asking nicely for over a year now to have this money paid back. this is money that was robbed from them during the pandemic. they're not asking for a pay increase. they are just asking for the 10% that was taken from them during the pandemic in april of last year. this taken from them during the pandemic in april of last year.— in april of last year. this is 'ust heathrow fl in april of last year. this is 'ust heathrow airport, i in april of last year. this is 'ust heathrow airport, worth i in april of last year. this is just i heathrow airport, worth reminding, i think. it is not other airports. just heathrow but nonetheless part of the country's busiest airport of course. let's discuss what it all

might mean for people trying to get away. i'm joined by paul charles, ceo of the pc agency — a travel and tourism consultancy company. how much disruption could this cause, will this cause, do you think? tt cause, will this cause, do you think? , ., , cause, will this cause, do you think? , . , ., ~ ~ think? it is the last thing that ba manaters think? it is the last thing that ba managers need _ think? it is the last thing that ba managers need at _ think? it is the last thing that ba managers need at the _ think? it is the last thing that ba managers need at the moment. | think? it is the last thing that ba - managers need at the moment. bearing in mind the pressures they are under already, of course, from staff shortages, flight cancellations, queues at airports which are sometimes out of their control. on top but they are being asked to cap the number of flights that they are running each day during the peak summer period so the fact that the main union here, the gmb is so frustrated will add employment issues to the list of customer issues to the list of customer issues that ba management are facing. very, very frustrating for them. th facing. very, very frustrating for them. , facing. very, very frustrating for them. . ., facing. very, very frustrating for them. , ., ., ., them. in terms of what the whole issue is actually _ them. in terms of what the whole issue is actually about, _ them. in terms of what the whole issue is actually about, we'll- them. in terms of what the whole | issue is actually about, we'll come in to travel in a moment but in terms of what this specific dispute is about, is it a question you are

prepared to answer as to your thoughts on that argument that 10% was taken away during the pandemic, what they want is the 10% back. they are giving it is not about a pay rise, perse, as are giving it is not about a pay rise, per se, as we might think about it. it is about giving back to them what was removed. yes. and understandably, _ them what was removed. yes. and understandably, workers _ them what was removed. yes. and understandably, workers across i them what was removed. yes. and | understandably, workers across the aviation industry who hung in during the chaos of the pandemic, may be were put on furlough, stayed with the airline and came back to them, understandably want to feel that they are being recognised for the work that they put in during that period and the enormous upheaval that they faced. i think this illustrates what all airlines are going through at the moment. they are facing a battle with their teams, with their staff around putting them back in the place they were in before the pandemic began. 0r raising wages. in one of the problem is, there is a staff shortage across the industry. the wages are not seen competitive

enough. so many people have gone to other sectors because they don't find the sector as attractive as it is to be. the benefits have been changed in the face of offal losses, billions of pounds worth of losses in the industry and ba is now facing this battle because it has not been able, perhaps understandably bearing in mind the £4 billion of lost during the pandemic, to put workers backin during the pandemic, to put workers back in the position they were in and i think it is going to take some time to sort this dispute out because there is no easy compromise here and that ba is prepared to look at giving more money and that will be tough for it at a time and it is already facing compensation bills and having to shell out more money to consumers because of flight cancellations. 50 to consumers because of flight cancellations.— cancellations. so what you are sa int cancellations. so what you are saying suggests. _ cancellations. so what you are saying suggests, we _ cancellations. so what you are saying suggests, we can't i cancellations. so what you are i saying suggests, we can't assess cancellations. so what you are - saying suggests, we can't assess but there are going to be strikes. what does that mean. if you are family watching this right now and you think, it is awful for years and watching this right now and you think, it is awfulfor years and i'm deaf desperate to get away, to

think? what are they to do? you will see the gmb — think? what are they to do? you will see the gmb tried _ think? what are they to do? you will see the gmb tried to _ think? what are they to do? you will see the gmb tried to sit _ think? what are they to do? you will see the gmb tried to sit on - think? what are they to do? you will see the gmb tried to sit on the - see the gmb tried to sit on the table with ba senior management and try to negotiate some sort of settlement of a solution to this before, i think, settlement of a solution to this before, ithink, to settlement of a solution to this before, i think, to give strike dates. that is why we didn't have strike dates yet so let's see if both sides are prepared to sit around a table and negotiate and thenit around a table and negotiate and then it makes no progress, you must either strike days search. the unions that ba traditionally have have been pretty militant to be honest. tap and break the strikes at british airways that we have not seen any for a few years since the last private family point of view, from all of us travelling, this will add to the uncertainty that everybody is seeing at the moment. the scene cancellations every day for many airlines, notjust ba, at heathrow, gatwick and other airports begin capping the number of flights taking off the summit is an extraordinary situation. the demand

is there, people want to fly. people are happy to pay to fly. they are paying flight prices much more than they were pre—pandemic but the airlines and airports are really struggling to deliver the quality of service needed to make these fights get away on they cannot deliver on that service because they're not paying enough and therefore attracting enough staff and that is attracting enough staff and that is at the heart of this dispute. goodness. well, let's see happens next. we will be talking again, i am sure. todayis today is the second day of rail strikes as well and we'll talk more about that a little bit later on this afternoon as well but forget any more information on the specific reaction from ba, which were keeping and i out for, too, we will bring that to you of we will turn to our major overseas story.

the taliban have appealed for international support after an earthquake in afghanistan caused devastation, killing at least a thousand people, and injuring another 15 hundred. doctors there have told the bbc that many children have been killed. aid agencies are rushing to get shelter, food and medicine to the worst—hit areas — but the rescue efforts have been hampered by heavy rain and a lack of resources. the country's health system was near collapse before the disaster — and the international community now faces questions about how far it will help a government run by ha rdline islamists. jon donnison reports imagine living here when the earthquake struck. much of the mudbrick housing in paktika province has been flattened. and the fear is that many more people could be buried under the rubble. this man shows where he was lying when he felt the tremor. nothing is left here. our belongings are still under the rubble. we have only pulled out human beings, he says.

everything is devastated, there are no blankets, tents, there is no shelter, there is literally nothing to eat. afghanistan's health care system is fragile at the best of times and is struggling to cope. this woman says 19 members of herfamily were killed. she can't talk any more, she says, her heart is getting weak. in this remote corner of afghanistan, even reaching some of the worst affected areas is challenging. with thousands of houses destroyed, many simply have nowhere to go. and this, in an impoverished country which the un says it was already facing the world's worst humanitarian crisis. people in the uk have been extraordinarily generous, we urge the rest of the world, we urge them not to forget afghanistan, to remember the people here.

they are resilient, yes, they have been through a lot, but they are hungry and they really do need all of our help and all of her support. the taliban is trying to coordinate an aid effort with the red crescent but since the islamist movement took power last year, it has been crippled by sanctions and asset freezes, with direct foreign assistance drying out. one of the things that can be looked at is whether or not some of afghanistan's frozen assets can be released immediately into these agencies to help that relief effort because money, getting money to buy the things that are needed are going to be really difficult.

and this earthquake, the worst in afghanistan for 20 years, has brought into focus a challenge, how to help a country desperately in need when you don't like the people who run it. joining me now is obaidullah baheer, a lecturer of transitionaljustice at american university in afghanistan and founder of aid agency save afghans from hunger. his team is currently on the ground in afghanistan helping those who have been affected by the earthquake. a truly desperate situation. what are you hearing from colleagues, friends, people you know in the region about this situation on the ground? region about this situation on the round? ~ . , region about this situation on the round? ~ .,, ,, region about this situation on the round? ~ .,, i. ., ., ., region about this situation on the round? ~ .,, i” ., ., ., ., ground? well, as you are aware, two da s auo ground? well, as you are aware, two days ago the — ground? well, as you are aware, two days ago the earthquake _ ground? well, as you are aware, two days ago the earthquake hit - ground? well, as you are aware, two days ago the earthquake hit in - ground? well, as you are aware, two days ago the earthquake hit in the i days ago the earthquake hit in the middle of the night so the numbers initially were hard to estimate and now we know that more than 1000 people have fallen victim to this earthquake. a lot of land people have fallen victim to this earthquake. a lot of [and sliding, the major area that was hit the worst, getting to it was very

difficult. we had colleagues that got there in the morning so we have a clear idea of the scale of destruction now. again, i spoke earlier on your show, they need medical supplies, earlier on your show, they need medicalsupplies, medicalfacilities there are horrendous and that's by there are horrendous and that's by the ministry of defence had to fly out a lot of the patients to different hospitals. they are currently trying to get food to the hospital. we have given their meals. so far we are planning on doing so for the next few days. in just the idea is, hopefully tomorrow we are going to move in packages for 100 families. these are monthly packages to help sustain them in this time of crisis. �* , ., u, to help sustain them in this time of crisis. �* , ., . ., ., crisis. are you confident that the su lies crisis. are you confident that the sunplies you _ crisis. are you confident that the sunplies you are _ crisis. are you confident that the supplies you are describing, - crisis. are you confident that the supplies you are describing, that you are trying to get in, that they are going to get the people who need them? ~ , ., ., are going to get the people who need them? ~ i. ., ., ~ them? well, if you are talking infrastructure _ them? well, if you are talking infrastructure wise, _ them? well, if you are talking infrastructure wise, it -

them? well, if you are talking infrastructure wise, it is - them? well, if you are talking infrastructure wise, it is going j them? well, if you are talking i infrastructure wise, it is going to be tricky but if you are talking about someone eluding or embezzling, i don't think that is going to happen all that happens. what we're doing is we are in contact with tribal elders who have lesser families who are needy. we will verify them on spot as well. and hopefully handover aid. 0ne verify them on spot as well. and hopefully handover aid. one thing that was mentioned earlier on your show was the idea of assets and how they should be released into these agencies. please note that federal reserves are designed for a very specific function that helps the evaluation of your currency and is the backbone of an economy. you should not advocate for that money to be released into aid agencies that have 40—60% overhead costs which means you're just giving away afghanistan fast make money and only 40% of it reaches the actual people. also for a function, there are better ways to deal with this

political impasse. i better ways to deal with this political impasse.— better ways to deal with this olitical im asse. .,, _, . political impasse. i was concerned more about _ political impasse. i was concerned more about the _ political impasse. i was concerned more about the political— political impasse. i was concerned more about the political situation. i mean, it is not surprising, given the scale of what we're talking about, that the turbines asking international help. the humanitarian need is obvious and desperate but you will know that there are people, governments who would have concerns about ensuring that anything that is given or assets that are unfrozen will be end up in the wrong hands, not going are victims of the earthquake?— not going are victims of the earthquake? not going are victims of the earthauake? �* . _, . ~ ., earthquake? again, coming back to the assets those _ earthquake? again, coming back to the assets those have _ earthquake? again, coming back to the assets those have a _ earthquake? again, coming back to the assets those have a specific- the assets those have a specific function and are spent on a specific way so they can be monitoring mechanisms for that but also the current hurdle in afghanistan has been the international aid organisations conduct their work independent of the taliban while sharing information and coordinating. we can keep going without but you have to realise that one of the reasons, the reaction to

this calamity was so stagnant was that this model does not really function as smoothly as one would expect because, at the end of the day, the first line on the ground is the taliban and you have to coordinate with and get the information and have the best access as well. ijust hope that all sides can sit down and dialogue can ensue because this and impasse, we will have another disaster at another time, what will we do then? so the sooner things move out and both sides start playing politics and start with the caring about the common people suffering due to international sanctions be that bad politics by the taliban are see this lack of communication between both sides. to lack of communication between both sides. ., ,., lack of communication between both sides. ., ., ., �* sides. to some of what you're sa inc , sides. to some of what you're saying. of _ sides. to some of what you're saying, of course, _ sides. to some of what you're saying, of course, it - sides. to some of what you're saying, of course, it is - sides. to some of what you're saying, of course, it is the - sides. to some of what you're - saying, of course, it is the people who need our help you are at the of our minds but i was chatting in the last hour to the former afghan politician who said her concern as women are being left out of the help

you because a male taliban, a male will, if they see, for example, an example she gave, they see an injured woman who might be helped, might get some medical assistance, they won't touch that woman because she is a woman so they won't move her, she won't get the medical attention that she desperately needs. ~ , ., ., ., needs. well, you have to contextualise _ needs. well, you have to| contextualise everything, needs. well, you have to - contextualise everything, right? idiosyncrasies of afghanistan and this larger culture are a search where it is male dominated and, yes, the major people that are affected including the disenfranchised women and children, they are not at the forefront but then the society has its own mechanisms of dealing making sure that the women are getting help without having to be dealt with by foreign men and again, there are international organisations on the ground, they have women aid workers with them and then the families, and in times of calamity, a taliban were not asked himself, should i pull

this woman out of the rubble, this is a very imaginary scenario and humanity hopefully trumps all norms at that point. fik. humanity hopefully trumps all norms at that point-— at that point. 0k. well, yes, everyone. — at that point. 0k. well, yes, everyone, absolutely, - at that point. 0k. well, yes, everyone, absolutely, of- at that point. 0k. well, yes, - everyone, absolutely, of course, hopes it does. thank you for your time. thank you for your time this afternoon. just a reminder of the headlines. actually, no. it is a little bit late for headlines. let's talk to one of the major domestic issues here. it's another day of disruption on the railways in england, scotland and wales as workers walk out for the second time this week. just one in five trains is running and around half the rail network is closed — leaving some areas with no services at all. tens of thousands of rail staff are taking action in a dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. industry bosses say working practices need to be modernised.

our business correspondent emma simpson reports. here we go again. half of britain's railway network brought to a halt. in cardiff, only 10% of services are expected to run. it is really disrupted my weekend and week. it is the same in scotland, withjust five routes in action in the central belt. i feel like they are always on strike! yeah, it is annoying. annoying too if you had been planning to go by train to the test match at headingley in leeds. at london's paddington it was better news for travellers heading to the glastonbury music festival — a few trains are leaving for somerset. these things happen, it is part of life, logistics are never easy, so the j whole theme of glastonbury is positive vibes. _ it is clear many have avoided all the picket lines

and disruption by working from home. at this small financial services firm in cheltenham, they are back to meeting clients on zoom. it is far from ideal, but we had to adapt to a lockdown, now it is strikes, that is the way we work now. but kamala has to travel by train for her teaching job in bath-— contract, so i'm only paid for contact hours. so if i don't work, i don't teach, i don't get any pay. like everyone else, she wants to know how long this is all going to last. this has become an increasingly fractious and bitter dispute, with both sides blaming each other. but negotiations between the rmt union and the rail companies are | back on again today.— | ideas being put forward by bothl parties but the essential point of l this is that we need a guarantee of. no compulsory redundancies and when we get that, we can move onl

positively to the other agenda items, which include the stuff thatj the company want to pursue about i changes to working practicesm bosses hope compulsory redundancy can be avoided, but there has to be reformed. �* ., , ., ., , work with the trade unions on how we modernise and reduced the overall costs that can then allow us in various ways to increase wages, but also ultimately stop the taxpayer are paying more into the industry than is necessary. how to bridge the | gap and avoid potentially months of| disruption coming down the tracks. emma simpson, bbc news. what impact is the rail strike having on towns and cities and tourism. 0ur correspondentjo black is in stratford—upon—avon for us in the west midlands: i wonder if there are many tourists

are fun today. i wonder if there are many tourists are fun today-— are fun today. plenty of tourists, is the short _ are fun today. plenty of tourists, is the short answer. _ are fun today. plenty of tourists, is the short answer. this - are fun today. plenty of tourists, is the short answer. this is - are fun today. plenty of tourists, is the short answer. this is the i is the short answer. this is the most visited place for tourists outside of london. yes, we are in the beautiful stratford—upon—avon. both plays of shakespeare, of course. i have seen guides walking around with the microphones and people following with the headphones and listening to what the guides are having to say so people are still coming here today. it does look reasonably busy. there is a train station here but most of the about it have decided to drive or came by coach and these were coach trips that were booked a long time ago. but it is a mixed picture here. the royal shakespeare company which is just over there, they had a production of richard iii starting tonight they have had no requests, so far, for refunds because of the rail strike just over there there is a nice clean vendor and he tells me thatis a nice clean vendor and he tells me that is isa cream sales are down by 20% which he says is due to the rail strike so it is a mixed picture and here is what some businesses have been telling me today. i am director

of avon boating _ been telling me today. i am director of avon boating limited. _ been telling me today. i am director of avon boating limited. within - been telling me today. i am director of avon boating limited. within a i of avon boating limited. within a boating _ of avon boating limited. within a boating operation for over 100 years — boating operation for over 100 years to— boating operation for over 100 years. to be honest, it is very difficult — years. to be honest, it is very difficult to _ years. to be honest, it is very difficult to gauge. we are a business that are really, it is predominantly run by what the weather— predominantly run by what the weather is doing fries. yesterday, bright _ weather is doing fries. yesterday, bright sunshine, very, very warm. we were _ bright sunshine, very, very warm. we were pretty— bright sunshine, very, very warm. we were pretty busy. today a little bit greyer, _ were pretty busy. today a little bit greyer, the threat of thunderstorms are very— greyer, the threat of thunderstorms are very difficult to gauge one way or another— are very difficult to gauge one way or another if it has had an impact. iam— or another if it has had an impact. lam a— or another if it has had an impact. i am a director attitude a world in stratford—upon—avon _ i am a director attitude a world in stratford—upon—avon and - i am a director attitude a world in stratford—upon—avon and it - i am a director attitude a world in stratford—upon—avon and it is - i am a director attitude a world in stratford—upon—avon and it is a l stratford—upon—avon and it is a museum — stratford—upon—avon and it is a museum of— stratford—upon—avon and it is a museum of tudor— stratford—upon—avon and it is a museum of tudor history - stratford—upon—avon and it is a museum of tudor history in - stratford—upon—avon and it is a museum of tudor history in a i stratford—upon—avon and it is a - museum of tudor history in a genuine elizabethan _ museum of tudor history in a genuine elizabethan building. _ museum of tudor history in a genuine elizabethan building. if— museum of tudor history in a genuine elizabethan building. if at _ museum of tudor history in a genuine elizabethan building. if at slightly - elizabethan building. if at slightly higher— elizabethan building. if at slightly higher footfall _ elizabethan building. if at slightly higher footfall over _ elizabethan building. if at slightly higher footfall over this _ elizabethan building. if at slightly higher footfall over this week - higher footfall over this week especially— higher footfall over this week especially the _ higher footfall over this week especially the days _ higher footfall over this week especially the days with - higher footfall over this week especially the days with the i especially the days with the strikes _ especially the days with the strikes. today _ especially the days with the strikes. today has - especially the days with the strikes. today has actuallyl especially the days with the - strikes. today has actually been relatively— strikes. today has actually been relatively high _ strikes. today has actually been relatively high for— strikes. today has actually been relatively high for the _ strikes. today has actually been relatively high for the period - strikes. today has actually been| relatively high for the period not working — relatively high for the period not working they— relatively high for the period not working. they kept _ relatively high for the period not working. they kept the - relatively high for the period not working. they kept the kids - relatively high for the period not working. they kept the kids off. working. they kept the kids off school — working. they kept the kids off school. �* . ., ., school. and the director of shakespeare _ school. and the director of shakespeare birthplace i school. and the director of i shakespeare birthplace trust. school. and the director of - shakespeare birthplace trust. such a strange picture at the minute because we have been delighted to see international visitors coming backin see international visitors coming back in stratford has been feeling really buzzy and bright again.

obviously a real shame for people that they are struggling to get places on the train strike won't help us if we are trying to recover from a global pandemic. just help us if we are trying to recover from a global pandemic. just some of the opinions — from a global pandemic. just some of the opinions are _ from a global pandemic. just some of the opinions are in _ from a global pandemic. just some of the opinions are in such _ from a global pandemic. just some of the opinions are in such an _ the opinions are in such an important part of the economy there as well. we see how much impact continued strikes might have. what might happen after saturday? we have been talking about heathrow today. a disciple, people to move around the country, it is not over yet. yes. disciple, people to move around the country, it is not over yet.— country, it is not over yet. yes. as ou had country, it is not over yet. yes. as you had from _ country, it is not over yet. yes. as you had from the _ country, it is not over yet. yes. as you had from the people _ country, it is not over yet. yes. as you had from the people i've - country, it is not over yet. yes. as l you had from the people i've spoken to today they did not say that they have felt too much impact but when i asked about saturday and if this goes further would they be concerned, and i think they are. they're saying it is hard to tell at the moment whether they have been impacted. time will tell as they look at the figures further on but they are worried especially this goes into saturday. i've been speaking to them today, the second day of the strike, of course put up mid week. saturday, the weekend, a very busy time for the tourism industry especially here in

stratford—upon—avon. so they don't yet know. they are worried. this is the post—coded recovery period. they are trying to get back on their feet and some of them say the rail strike in the last thing need, really. thanks very much for now. the independent office for police conduct is to re—investigate the officers who failed to spot that a serial killer, stephen port, was operating in northeast london. port murdered four young men in 2014 and 2015 in barking. he is serving a life sentence. the iopc originally decided that no officers would be disciplined — despite failures to find a suspect until after the fourth man was murdered. now the iopc has said there were "material flaws" in its own investigation. here's more from our home affairs correspondent, daniel sandford. it took until the fourth death for

the police, frankly, to even realise that there were murders going on. they kept thinking they were drugs —related deaths and it was only after quite a lot of persuasion from the relatives of the fourth man to die, jack taylor, that the police actually did take it seriously enough to identify that these were four murders. after the trial of steven port it was fairly obvious that there should be an investigation into how detectors are gone about their business but when the independent office for police conduct finish that they decided that none of the detectives that they had investigated should face either misconduct or gross misconduct hearings. other 17 officers that they interviewed, all except one of them gave no comment in the interviews so they were not even discuss with the iop see what they had done. and that did because, frankly, quite a lot of astonishment, particularly, obviously, with the relatives of stephen port's victims and then we

had the inquest last year and the inquestjury were quite categorical inquestjury were quite categorical in theirfindings. they inquestjury were quite categorical in their findings. they said there were fundamental failings in their findings. they said there were fundamentalfailings in in their findings. they said there were fundamental failings in these investigations from the beginning and that basic lines of inquiry were not followed and after that the iop see said they would look again at their own investigation and it has taken until today for them to decide, actually, looking at what came out of the inquest, there are material flaws in their own investigation, and decided to reopen it. much to the relief, i should say, of stephen port's victims families. i practice relative to mention that many of the fans and families of the four young men who died feel that homophobia was part of this. i mean, it is relative that all these young men away day. they are all in their early 20s. you'll make the family's feel, think are two things. thatjust incompetence was right about these investigations and it was not that people were not pointing out the possible links between these deaths. there were people pointing out the possible links with these deaths and also

concerned about very impersonal suicide note, for example, that one of the men had found on his body. the families feel very strongly that if these were for young white women that had been found in graveyards, and on the streets in barking, that that would have been treated differently to the fact that they were four young gay man and they felt that assumptions were being made about the men's lifestyles and that there were more likely to take drugs, a lot of cam sex going on at all this kind of assumptions were being made. just because these four victims were gay and they feel very strongly about that. is not the only thing they feel strongly about but they do feel barry strongly about that. let's discuss what it might mean and how we have reached this point with a former chief superintendent of the metabolic and police dal babu. good

afternoon. is it right that this is all going to be looked at again? festival i would like to send my sympathies to the families. these were needless deaths and i'm afraid it was a shockingly level of incompetence by the police in these investigations. and notjust the police but the iop see that fail to carry out an investigation into the officers who carried out the initial mitigation. the families have fails w. ., mitigation. the families have fails w. -- failed doubly. how much of the incompetence... _ w. -- failed doubly. how much of the incompetence... what _ w. -- failed doubly. how much of the incompetence... what were _ w. -- failed doubly. how much of the incompetence... what were the - incompetence... what were the systemic problems or what were the problems that meant the death of four young men in the space of not

much more than a year, found in a similar part of london were not investigated correctly? it is difficult to _ investigated correctly? it is difficult to know _ investigated correctly? it 3 difficult to know where to start. as you pointed out, these men rule found in the same vicinity, the suspect was arrested on one occasion. they failed to carry out basic investigations into the laptop that were recovered by the individual. the failure to back around the suicide note the partner's one of the victims was not allowed to see the note. and that suicide note was discovered to be written by someone else. so the failures were multiple. in the end the victim's families had to carry out investigations themselves. in order to draw to the attention of the police the obvious fact of that

these crimes were related. someone listenin: to these crimes were related. someone listening to that _ these crimes were related. someone listening to that and _ these crimes were related. someone listening to that and someone - these crimes were related. someone listening to that and someone who i listening to that and someone who doesn't know about the specifics of the case mightjust think, in broad terms, how does that happen... is that notjust terms, how does that happen... is that not just someone terms, how does that happen... is that notjust someone simply not doing theirjob if a suicide note is found in any circumstances, surely there is a certain procedure to go through to make sure it is accurate to that it's written by the person it's purported to written by. why would these basic procedures not be followed? you would these basic procedures not be followed? ., .. would these basic procedures not be followed? ., ., ,, ., would these basic procedures not be followed? ., ., ., , followed? you can take for example the suicide note, _ followed? you can take for example the suicide note, you're _ followed? you can take for example the suicide note, you're absolutelyl the suicide note, you're absolutely right. there are basic procedures. you would expect the partners of the individuals to be shown on that note. forsome individuals to be shown on that note. for some reason, and i think this is why the families believe homophobia was a factor in some of the actions of the police, for some reason that note was not shown to the partner of the young man who was murdered. it was shown to the

parents were not the partner. that is just aspect of where it is... it goes beyond incompetence and you have to ask yourself the questions, was a homophobia as well. the frustrating thing is for the families is that they were bringing to the attention of the police the shortcomings and the police didn't have that professional can curiosity which they should have had around why this is happening, why have we found four young men in the same vicinity in similar circumstances deadin vicinity in similar circumstances dead in the public places in a cemetery. it's a pretty shocking level of policing i'm afraid. when ou were level of policing i'm afraid. when you were serving _ level of policing i'm afraid. when you were serving in _ level of policing i'm afraid. when you were serving in the - level of policing i'm afraid. when you were serving in the metropolitan police did you experience, did you see that sort of behaviour, did you experience it, did you go through anything similar to this? i’m experience it, did you go through anything similar to this? i'm afraid homophobia _ anything similar to this? i'm afraid homophobia is... _ anything similar to this? i'm afraid homophobia is... it _ anything similar to this? i'm afraid homophobia is... it exists. - anything similar to this? i'm afraid homophobia is... it exists. and i anything similar to this? i'm afraid i homophobia is... it exists. and some of the questions you have to ask is

why that note wasn't shown. there is a suggestion that the police probably saw this as lifestyle choices are by individuals. so there is levels of in confidence. one thing i would add is that the police have had cuts of 40,000 in police officers and police staff. you have a situation where police officers are being expected to do more and more, an experienced individual, who don't necessarily have the necessary skills, who are basically asked to... and very veryjunior level to investigate convex issues. it something that the resorting of the police. forthe something that the resorting of the police. for the last ten years we have seen a significant reduction in police. when police officers are recruited, it takes time to train those police officers to be of the appropriate level of training. thank ou ve appropriate level of training. thank

you very much- _ let's turn to ukraine. ukraine is expected to be approved as an official eu candidate country this afternooon, the first step towards joining the bloc. european leaders are in brussels for a summit in which they're we can cross live to our correspondent in brussels, jessica parker. so, what can happen now, eu leaders are in the room discussing this topic. the plan, if there is a plan in these kinds of events where unexpected things can happen, is that they will have a sign off of the candidate status of the ukraine and neighbouring moldova pretty quickly full stop there as been a lot of groundwork done, the european

commission put forward recommendations with conditions attached to this candidate status last week. it seems some member states that were doubtful about going ahead with this their concerns were allayed enough and i think it's fair to say that there has been some considerable pressure on the eu to give what is being seen as a political signal to ukrainians, a morale boost... we expect a decision in the next hour or so. we will have to wait and see full stop in terms of how long this could take, because as you are saying this is just the first step in a potentially very long process, if they get candidate status they don't have two —— they need to fill a number of reforms to make sure that they are indeed meeting the raft of requirements and standards that the eu now has. and to give you an idea of how long this

could take. north macedonia has been a candidate country since 2005 stop it can take a very long current time. with ukraine at the moment, it is a country at war. but, as i think i say, the hope is to send a positive message to ukrainians. it was interesting, the prior minister of albania arrived... i can't be sure, but there is some applause down there. i can't see quite what is going on, i will have to check my phone to see if there has been an announcement. but there is applause down on the floor. not clear exactly what is going on. as i was saying, the prior minister of albania earlier saying that his country, too, had health candidate status for years and he didn't want ukrainians to have any illusions about these processes. to have any illusions about these processes-— processes. and more broadly, in terms of what _ processes. and more broadly, in terms of what is _ processes. and more broadly, in terms of what is being _ processes. and more broadly, in| terms of what is being discussed, processes. and more broadly, in i terms of what is being discussed, is ukraine and the situation something which is very much at the forefront

of people's minds?— which is very much at the forefront of people's minds? there are ongoing discussions. — of people's minds? there are ongoing discussions, we _ of people's minds? there are ongoing discussions, we don't _ of people's minds? there are ongoing discussions, we don't accept - of people's minds? there are ongoing discussions, we don't accept any - discussions, we don't accept any major decisions at the moment. about the military and financial support for ukraine and huge concerns, this is going to be discussed, about a food security. of course, there has been this issue, and effective blockade of the black sea ports where a lot of those supplies go out of supply. many, many people, millions of people around the world, there have been dubbed i am sorry around the noise. i can't go down and quite check what is going on. but they are going to discuss security of supply and they have been trying to get some of those crucial supplies how to land been trying to get some of those crucial supplies how to [and routes, i would buy eu countries. so they will be looking at that again. but the feeling is that that is just not going to be enough to make up for the lack of access to black sea

ports out of ukraine at the moment. thank you. we will let you disappear and find out, because that really is and find out, because that really is a lengthy applause. quite possibly more from there shortly. now, we turn to the commonwealth's head of government meeting. because boris johnson is in a wonderfor that commonwealth meeting. mrjohnson again defended the uk's policy to send asylum seekers there, and accused critics of having a condesending attitude towards the african country. rwanda joined the commonwealth in 2009, but there's been criticism over the country's human rights record. our deputy africa editor anne soy reports. the pm's first visit to rwanda, just a week after the flight

to carry asylum seekers from the uk was cancelled. first on the agenda, a meeting with the host, the president. the two governments are keen to proceed with the deal despite the opposition it has faced. tomorrow, the prime ministerfaces a potentially awkward meeting with prince charles, who is reported to have described the deal privately as appalling. people need to keep an open mind about the policy. the critics need to keep an open mind. i think a lot of people can see its obvious merits, and yes, of course, if i am seeing the prince tomorrow, i will of course make that point. rwanda is hosting this meeting for the first time since joining the commonwealth in 2009, and the, at the time, a politician thought the move would help improve things in rwanda. she returned from europe in 2010 to run for president. i thought in my heart, maybe you can really help rwanda

to become a democratic country. did it? no. if you criticise authority, you are labelled to be the enemy of the state. she recently missed her son's wedding, blocked by the government from leaving the country. he was eight when she left the family in europe to try her hand in politics, but ended up injail for close to a decade. she says british leaders should visit politicians and journalists who are imprisoned here. the rwandan government has disputed many of these accounts, and said human rights and democracy are a work in progress. notjust here and wonder, but across the commonwealth. hosting this event is a source of pride for them. rwanda has pulled out all stops to make an impression. the country is eyeing the opportunities that this meeting could bring, but the commonwealth's spotlight and the recent migrant deal with the uk might also bring to light issues the country would prefer to remain hidden. let's talk to our correspondence

live. it is a structure a striking picture that you paint with your report there, the tension between the pride at hosting a prestigious meeting such as this but of course it throws up other issues that perhaps some there don't really want to discussed?— to discussed? absolutely. it's a contradiction. _ to discussed? absolutely. it's a contradiction. speaking - to discussed? absolutely. it's a contradiction. speaking to - to discussed? absolutely. it's a contradiction. speaking to the i contradiction. speaking to the opposition politician, she also said that there is a contradiction also from the british government. on one hand, they have reports criticising rwanda's record of human rights and media freedom. but on the other hand this is a safe country, safe enough to send asylum seekers to rwanda. the two heads of government met earlier. they have already met. and they are really on the same page when it comes to the question of the migrant deal. they are keen to proceed with this partnership as

they call it. and say, as soon as they call it. and say, as soon as the hurdles are out of the way they are very keen to proceed. that meeting. _ are very keen to proceed. that meeting. of— are very keen to proceed. that meeting, of course, _ are very keen to proceed. that meeting, of course, so - are very keen to proceed. that meeting, of course, so much bigger than this one specific issue. give us an overview of the real pressing issues that are up for discussion amongst the many leaders there? well, certainly, the commonwealth is not about the migrant deal. this is coming together of 54 countries across the world representing nearly one third of the world's population for so many of them have historical ties with the uk, but you also have if you like rwanda who have joined the organisation. one who will be admitted, is gabon. from the western part of africa. in another country thatis part of africa. in another country that is likely to raise eyebrows because of their record on democracy, quite a chequered record.

some of the issues that have been discussed here, it's a wide range of issues, earlier the duchess of cornwall attended a meeting on sexual and gender violence here in which she spoke about the need for everybody to work together towards dealing with that violence. people here have been meeting, their youth, then business leaders as well as a civil society, they have been holding various forums discussing issues like climate change, cervical cancer and the need to have the vaccine widely available. and they have come up with resolutions which have come up with resolutions which have been handed over to foreign ministers, who have been meeting today, and they are considering those resolutions and then drafting the agenda which will be handed over to the heads of government who will be meeting tomorrow. prince charles will officially open that meeting, he is representing the queen, who is

the head of the commonwealth. it is tomorrow that the official opening will be happening here in kigali. and the heads of government will be discussing a wide range of issues. and we will talk to you much more about that... thank you very much. i suggested we will have plenty from their tomorrow as well. right now though, we will pause... we will now catch up on some sport's news. good afternoon... straight to headingley where england's cricketers are enjoying themselves in the sunshine on the opening day of the third and final test against new zealand. despite being put into bowl — england have taken key wickets early on. stuart broad struck in the first over — removing tom latham.

broad also removed kane williamson — while jack leach has also picked up two wickets while jamie 0verton — on his debut — also got his first test wicket. at tea, new zealand are struggling on 123—5. with the opening round of wimbledon just around the corner, it's been a day of disappointment for two of britain's top tennis players at eastbourne. harriet dart is out. the british number three lost her quarter final in straight sets against petra kvitova. the two—time wimbledon champion winning 6—3, 6—4. and disappointment too in the men's draw — as british number one and top seed cameron norrie has also been knocked out in the quarter finals. he lost in straight sets to the american maxime cressy — a player ranked 48 places below

norrie in the world rankings. and cressy will now play another british player in the semi finals — as jack draper awaits. he beat another british player ryan peniston in straight sets 6—3, 6—3. it's the first time draper has reached a semi final on the main atp tour. and the next time tennis fans can see serena williams on a tennis court — will be at wimbledon. that's after she — and doubles partner 0ns jabeur pulled out of their semi final at eastbourne — with jabeur unable to recoverfrom a knee injury. it means williams heads to wimbledon next week having played just two matches in almost a year. they're under way in the usa in the latest pga tour event, but another star name is missing — the four—time major winner brooks koepka is the latest player tojoin the saudi backed liv golf series. rory mcilroy who is competing this weekend, isn't impressed with the former world number one.

they say one thing and they do another, and i don't understand that, and they don't know if that's for legal reasons or if they can't... i have no idea. but it's pretty duplicitous on their part to say one thing and then do another thing. are you talking about something they said two years ago a week ago? the whole way through! the whole way through, in public and private and all of it. that was definitely a surprise for me. | i was at a function with him last weekend definitely wasn't - what he had in mind. we were focused on building the pga tour and getting the guys— to stay here together, - and kind ofjust having talks and figuring out what... how we could help benefit the tour, and to see brooks leave _ was definitely a surprise for us. that being said, he has made a decision, and i will not- knock him for doing that. he made a decision that was best i for him, and i'm not going to be one tojudge him on that.

for me, it's not where i see myself heading anytime soon. _ i grew up wanting to be - on the pga tour, dreaming of playing in these events. i not dream of growing up to play in the centurion club _ in london or whatever it is. i grew up wanting to play in the masters, to play. in boston, to play at colonial, the buyer and no some. - i wouldn't trade those memoriesl for anything at this point in time. sheffield united have been... this player here and ollie mcburney other two players charged following trouble after united lost the match on penalties. in a statement, the club say that the pair deny the

charges. gareth bale could be set for an unlikely home coming. it seems the 32 year—old has plenty of options, but one is close to home. his representatives have held talks, with championship club, cardiff, the city where he was born. he's available on a free after leaving real madrid, all things going to plan he'll captain wales at the world cup in qatar later this year. there was a frightning moment at the world aquatics championships in budapest when one of the american synchronised swimmers fainted and sank to the bottom of the pool, having to be rescued by her coach. this was the american anita alvarez during the solo free final, when she passed out under water. her coach andrea fuentes was the quickest to react and dived in and dragged her out of the pool. the coach has released a statement saying "anita is okay...we sometimes forget that this happens

in other high—endurance sports. marathon, cycling, cross—country ? we all have seen images where some athletes don't make it to the finish line and others help them to get there. our sport is no different than others, we're just in a pool. we push through limits and sometimes we find them." that's all the sport for now. plenty more on a website as well. —— right on our website. now, the island's now, the islands of st kilda in the north atlantic are home to nearly1 million seabirds. but, conservationists are warning that the avian flu outbreak could lead to the extinction of one species, the great skua. it's often said to be

on the edge of the world. but even here in st kilda, over 100 miles from the scottish mainland, the effect of the avian flu outbreak is being felt. it's more than 90 years now since the last st kildans were evacuated from these homes, but the centuries before that, the sea beds that surrounded this archipelago were integral to their way of life. now with avian flu in these islands, there is real concern about the impact it could have on various species on the islands. on the hill above village bay, kilda's seabird ranger is keeping a close eye on great skua territory. they have been badly affected. craig describes this as his most challenging season yet. at the end of last season, i was already worried about the 60 birds that had died, how many more i had missed. i knew that the population was going to be impacted. but it wasn't until i got back, i think was around about the 28th of april, that i found the first dead bird. since then, the number of dead birds

has just been increasing every day. that number is now at 120 this year and counting. it's thought across many colonies, including here in st kilda, that between two thirds and three quarters of great skuas have been lost. and with only between 15,000 and 20,000 breeding pairs worldwide, if avian flu continues to have such an impact, the species' very existence could be under threat. that's alarming and heartbreaking to witness. really, really worrying that this bird that i have been working with for many years now on multiple islands is on the verge of extinction. those on the island are doing what they can to limit any spread, especially to other species. when people do arrive, whether it's on cruise boat or on a day boat, we can have that introductory talk with people to make sure they can are both aware of the situation that we have on the developments that will be ongoing with that, and our biosecurity measures to make

sure those are fully in place. and it may be that we have to restrict areas of the island in future, so asking people to only explore certain areas for their safety and safety of the birds. the outbreak continued to be monitored nationally and internationally, with the risk to human health described as very low. but people are being reminded not to touch dead or dying birds. craig, though, is concerned about the future. the most worrying thing about this is that we don't know how much further it's going to go, how many more species it's going to affect. to see this happening to the birds that i'm monitoring is heartbreaking. i came here to monitor live birds, i take great pride in the work that i do, but it's rapidly becoming a major part of myjob to trecord dead birds. it's worrying times. let us turn to the weather prospects.

the weather is starting to turn as we head towards the weekend. more forsure. scattered showers, perhaps some thunderstorms around through the rest of the day, and into the evening hours, and on the satellite picture, you can see where it has been overcast earlier on, and that band of showers will move further northwards. at the showers are quite well scattered, so plenty of dry weather around too. risk of thunder around in the afternoon spreading northwards into parts of wales, possibly the north west of england as well. still very warm for some of us, particularly across central and northern parts of england. mid to high 20s, but especially around western parts of the uk, those temperatures closer to 20 degrees. through tonight, still some showers around, for sure. there will be clear spells developing in some areas, but overall, i think a fair amount of cloud, and really quite won first thing in the morning in some spots, temperatures around 15 or 16, for example they are in liverpool.

tomorrow, fresher air starts to push on from western areas. this is an area of low pressure which will park itself over ireland for the next two or three days at least. the breeze will pick up in cornwall and devon and down the coast of wales and the irish sea. lower temperatures, perhaps only in the teens for places like plymouth and also belfast. some of that residual heat we have tomorrow will be pushed away the eastern areas, and then tomorrow it will be a mixed bag both through the day and the evening. we will see bands of showers crossing the country. i mentioned that low pressure parked over ireland, and it is here to stay all the way through the weekend. there will be brisk winds blowing around this area of low pressure, and pushing in the showers, mostly into western parts of the uk, so if you live further east, i think the weather will be drier, brighter, and even clear blue skies in some areas at times, but overall, i think a mixed picture on saturday for most of us. those temperatures a good deal lower, 17 in plymouth, a fresh 16 in belfast, and just around 20 or so in london. the low pressure still

with us on friday. you can see the winds circling around it stop it is hardly moving at all. the winds are blowing around it quite fast, but the low pressure is slow to move itself. so the outlook on sunday, again on the icon forecast we will see certainly some showers, at the same goes for monday too. goodbye.

this is bbc news — i'mjane hill. the headlines: hundreds of british airways workers at heathrow airport — mostly check—in staff and ground crew — vote for strike action in a dispute over pay. it comes as the second day of rail strikes is under way — with half the network closed in england, wales and scotland. only 20% of services are believed to be running. there are more appeals for international help in afghanistan — after a powerful earthquake killed more than a thousand people and injured many others. yes they are resilient, yes they have lived through a lot but they are hungry and they really do

need all of our help and all of our support. the independent office for police conduct is to reinvestigate the way the metropolitan police handled the death of the four young men murdered by stephen port, in east london in 2014 and 2015. and — we're at the glastonbury festival. more than 200 thousand music lovers are expected at this year's event — the first for three years because of the pandemic. british airways staff at london's heathrow airport have voted to strike, in a dispute about pay. members of the gmb union employed as ba ground staff and check—in workers voted overwhelmingly

for the industrial action. ba says it is �*extremely disappointed with the result�*. the move threatens to disrupt britain's busiest airport this summer. we can cross straight to heathrow and our business correspondent, theo leggett. it was very strong favour, very strongly in favour in terms of the overall vote?— strongly in favour in terms of the overall vote? . , ,., , . ., , ., overall vote? absolutely, jane, you could say it — overall vote? absolutely, jane, you could say it was _ overall vote? absolutely, jane, you could say it was overwhelming. - overall vote? absolutely, jane, you | could say it was overwhelming. 95% in favour of strike action and i think that reflects the anger that many of these hundreds of check—in workers and other ground staff feel. they're mainly women. many of them part—time and they are kind of at the bottom of the food chain in terms of ba's workforce and they accepted pay cuts at the height of the pandemic. ba was in trouble back then. people were not flying. there

were severe restrictions on where they could fly to. there was no transatlantic travel and the company was losing money but at the time it was losing money but at the time it was heavily criticised as well for the rather heavy—handed way in which it persuaded the staff to accept pay cuts. what the staff are saying is that two years on, things are getting better, aircraft are flying again in the company can afford not to give them a pay rise but to reinstate what they lost in those negotiations. british airways has not done that. what it has done is offered a 10% one—off bonus and that is to come and talk about future pgy- is to come and talk about future pay. the unions have accused british airways of being pig—headed. ba itself has issued a statement understands that it is extremely disappointed and the unions had taken this course of action. many other parts of british airways employees did accept that 10% one—off pay offer and it says it is committed to working together to find a solution to help avoid disruption for customers but

customers will inevitably face disruption as strike days go ahead because these are likely to be during the peak summer months, the second half ofjuly and during august. british airways does appear to have contingency plans in place. nevertheless, some kind of disruption particularly at terminal five which is british airways main terminal does look inevitable. the s - okes terminal does look inevitable. the spokes person for the prime minister saying we expect ba to putting contingency plans to try to minimise disruption to travel those but in terms of people watching this afternoon, anyone hoping to go on holiday, to visit family, they are right to be worried, i think? well, the are right to be worried, i think? well, they are right _ right to be worried, i think? well, they are right to _ right to be worried, i think? well, they are right to be _ right to be worried, i think? well, they are right to be worried - right to be worried, i think? -ii they are right to be worried because it is one thing after another. don't forget that even before the strike ballot announcement, the industry has been facing trouble because staff shortages mean that there have been delays and cancellations at british airways and at other airlines. now, what the contingency plans are likely to put in place are

going to include, we expect, are, for example, managers taking over check—in desks. we understand that there is a group of check—in staff are not covered by the strike ballot so they should be able to work as well and then, of course, if you have cancellations, what airlines tend to do is cancel planes on routes where they have a lot of daily services so passengers can be reallocated to other flights to minimise the impact on consumers. nevertheless, does look as if we're going to see further disruption in the summer that could well be cancellations and, if that happens, some passengers, at going to be badly affected. for some passengers, at going to be badly affected.— some passengers, at going to be badly affected. gmb national officer, nadine houghton says that the dispute has been many years in the making. the blame for this needs to be laid squarely at the door of british airways. my members and i are

genuinely, genuinely sorry for any disruption this might cause to hard—working families who are of course so desperate to get away after the pandemic but the problem is that this dispute has been many, many years in the making and our members, primarily low—paid part—time women workers have been asking nicely for over a year now to have this money paid back. this is money that was robbed from them during the pandemic. they are not asking for a pay increase. they're just asking for the 10% that was taken from them during the pandemic in april of last year so they are not asking for a pay increase, their demands are not unreasonable in the slightest and, actually, i think that most hard—working families would actually understand and support the plight of our members. other members want to be able to do is defend their living standards of the worst cost of living crisis in 40 years and unfortunately, they

have been forced into taking this vote, this very convincing mandate for strike action because they are done with asking nicely. we have run out of road. with negotiations. british airways have an opportunity, they have a small window of opportunity in which to respond and have reimbursed our members for what they so cruelly stole from them as a result of fire and rehired during the pandemic. 50. result of fire and rehired during the pandemic.— result of fire and rehired during the pandemic. result of fire and rehired during the andemic. �* . ., the pandemic. so, if ba came to you and said, the pandemic. so, if ba came to you and said. all— the pandemic. so, if ba came to you and said, all those _ the pandemic. so, if ba came to you and said, all those people, - the pandemic. so, if ba came to you and said, all those people, they - and said, all those people, they will get that 10% back, would that be it? would you call it off and say there will be no strikes? irate be it? would you call it off and say there will be no strikes?— there will be no strikes? we are a democratic _ there will be no strikes? we are a democratic organisation _ there will be no strikes? we are a democratic organisation so - there will be no strikes? we are a democratic organisation so if - there will be no strikes? we are a democratic organisation so if ba l democratic organisation so if ba want to come back to us to make an offer that offer then goes back to our members who get a full vote on whether or not what is on the table is adequate because we need to be absolutely certain that if there is an offer on the table and there is no talk of an offer necessarily at the moment, that there is no strings attached to that. and what ba have

tried to do as they have tried to say, well, we offered this group of workers a 10% bonus and they rejected it. they offered these workers a 10% one—off payment. so onceit workers a 10% one—off payment. so once it is gone, it is gone. these members is versus 10% of the consolidated pay so pay that is pensionable, pay that increases year—on—year with any further pay rises, and that is what they're asking for back. and when ba offered the 10% bonus to our members, one of the 10% bonus to our members, one of the key reasons they rejected it is because one of the strings that were attached to it was that our members would waive their right to campaign to improve their pay and conditions and don't think that that is a bribe worth taking. no word on dates and we wait to see

what emerges on that score but, of course, we were very much keep you up—to—date with all of that as we head into the summer. we are going to talk about afghanistan and just a moment butjust to tell you, before that, we are hearing news from nottinghamshire police that sheffield united footballers are facing allegations of common assault after an investigation into incidents following the championship play—off semifinal second leg against notts forest last month. so to sheffield united footballers facing allegations of common assault say the force. that has just come through from the police in the last few moments. the taliban have appealed for international support after an earthquake in afghanistan caused devastation, killing at least a thousand people, and injuring another 15 hundred. doctors there have told the bbc that

many children have been killed. aid agencies are rushing to get shelter, food and medicine to the worst—hit areas — but the rescue efforts have been hampered by heavy rain and a lack of resources. the country's health system was near collapse before the disaster — and the international community now faces questions about how far it will help a government run by ha rdline islamists. jon donnison reports. imagine living here when the earthquake struck. much of the mudbrick housing in paktika province has been flattened. and the fear is that many more people could be buried under the rubble. this man shows where he was lying when he felt the tremor. nothing is left here. our belongings are still under the rubble. we have only pulled out human beings, he says. everything is devastated,

there are no blankets, tents, there is no shelter, there is literally nothing to eat. afghanistan's health care system is fragile at the best of times and is struggling to cope. this woman says 19 members of herfamily were killed. she can't talk any more, she says, her heart is getting weak. in this remote corner of afghanistan, even reaching some of the worst affected areas is challenging. with thousands of houses destroyed, many simply have nowhere to go. and this, in an impoverished country which the un says it was already facing the world's worst humanitarian crisis. people in the uk have been extraordinarily generous, we urge the rest of the world, we urge them not to forget afghanistan, to remember the people here. they are resilient, yes, they have been

through a lot, but they are hungry and they really do need all of our help and all of her support. the taliban is trying to coordinate an aid effort with the red crescent but since the islamist movement took power last year, it has been crippled by sanctions and asset freezes, with direct foreign assistance drying out. one of the things that can be looked at is whether or not some of afghanistan's frozen assets can be released immediately into these agencies to help that relief effort because money, getting money to buy the things that are needed are going to be really difficult. and this earthquake, the worst in afghanistan for 20 years, has brought into focus a challenge, how to help a country desperately in need when you don't like the people who run it. let's hear from our

pakistan and afghanistan correspondent secunder karmani. the small hospital is one of the closest to the village is worse affected by earthquake that there are still around two and a half hour drive along dirt roads away. now, most of the patients with more serious injuries have already been transferred to other bigger hospitals for specialist treatment that these men have relatives been cared for here and they have been telling me that practically all the homes have been destroyed and dozens of people they know have been killed and mass burials been taking place. rescue and recovery effort is continuing. villages say they fear that some of the most remote parts of this province are yet to be reached. and in urgent to help the hundreds of families left homeless by this earthquake and we saw heavy rain and hell here and some tents

have been distributed but much, much more are still needed. the us supreme court has ruled that americans have a fundamental right to carry guns in public. this is a landmark decision that will prevent individual states from restricting people carrying guns. let's get the very latest on this ruling from a correspondent who joins very latest on this ruling from a correspondent whojoins me very latest on this ruling from a correspondent who joins me from the supreme court in washington, dc. explain exactly what this ruling is. you'll make this willing him down a short while ago and it centres around new york. new york there is a law which basically means if you want to carry a concealed weapon,

you need to get a license and you need to justify why you want the gun so you have to have special calls for it and that was challenged by two men who said that violated the second amendment rights and the supreme court backed them in a conservative majority ruling of six — three, saying that this constitutional law in new york went too far. 50 constitutional law in new york went too far. , ., , constitutional law in new york went toofar. , ., , ., too far. so they have struck it down which means _ too far. so they have struck it down which means that _ too far. so they have struck it down which means that you _ too far. so they have struck it down which means that you will - too far. so they have struck it down which means that you will be - too far. so they have struck it down which means that you will be able l too far. so they have struck it down | which means that you will be able to obtain a license still in new york to carry a concealed weapon but you don't need to have a special reason to justify so that sets a precedent for other states that have similar laws in their states which say that you need a special reason to carry a gun and it remains to be seen exactly how much this incentivises other states but what it does do, i think, the case opens up this new chapter in real constitutional challenges in this country when it comes to gun safety laws. find challenges in this country when it comes to gun safety laws. and all of

this 'ust comes to gun safety laws. and all of this just such _ comes to gun safety laws. and all of thisiust such a _ comes to gun safety laws. and all of thisjust such a short _ comes to gun safety laws. and all of thisjust such a short time _ comes to gun safety laws. and all of thisjust such a short time after - this just such a short time after another mass shooting. the elementary school in southern texas, of course. and how's that provoked further debate? will we then see a debate on both sides is not a particularly british perspective on it? because the approach to it is so different in some parts of the us. it is. it is divisive. the carnal debate. gun control. we know that and there are those people who, when mass shootings happen, their argument is, well, more people should be armed. we saw that when leaders and taxes, there arguments where you need to are more teachers and you have those who say we do need to those regulations and we need to those regulations and we need those restrictions and that is something president biden has been hugely calling on and come at the moment, you do have a bipartisan group of senators trying to find common ground, trying to pass a bill which is yet to be voted on which will, to some extent, try to

restrict gun control but it is really, really hard for the democratic party is to pass any of that because they need republican support. i think what the supreme court ruling, what is so significant about this because if you get more states are now stuck challenging, sorry, more cases like this when laws are challenged in states, it might be much harderfor the supreme court to change course on this now that they have interpreted this particular law in new york in this way so it might be get more cases here that end up in the same way that new yorkers today. brute here that end up in the same way that new yorkers today.- here that end up in the same way that new yorkers today. we wait to see. that new yorkers today. we wait to see- thank — that new yorkers today. we wait to see- thank you _ that new yorkers today. we wait to see. thank you for _ that new yorkers today. we wait to see. thank you for now. _ it's another day of disruption on the railways in england, scotland and wales as workers walk out for the second time this week. just one in five trains is running and around half

the rail network is closed — leaving some areas with no services at all. tens of thousands of rail staff are taking action in a dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. industry bosses say working practices need to be modernised. our business correspondent emma simpson reports. here we go again. half of britain's railway network brought to a halt. in cardiff, only 10% of services are expected to run. it is really disrupted my weekend and week. it is the same in scotland, with just five routes in action in the central belt. i feel like they are always on strike! yeah, it is annoying.

annoying too if you had been planning to go by train to the test match at headingley in leeds. at london's paddington it was better news for travellers heading to the glastonbury music festival — a few trains are leaving for somerset. these things happen, it is part of life, - logistics are never easy, so the whole theme of. glastonbury is positive vibes. it is clear many have avoided all the picket lines and disruption by working from home. at this small financial services firm in cheltenham, they are back to meeting clients on zoom. it is far from ideal, but we had to adapt to a lockdown, now it is strikes, that is the way we work now. but kamala has to travel by train for her teaching job in bath. i am on a zero—hour contract, so i'm only paid for contact hours. so if i don't work, i don't teach, i don't get any pay. like everyone else, she wants to know how long this is all going to last.

this has become an increasingly fractious and bitter dispute, with both sides blaming each other. but negotiations between the rmt union and the rail companies are back on again today. there are some ideas being put forward by both parties- but the essential point of this - is that we need a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies and when we get that, i we can move on positivelyl to the other agenda items, which include the stuff— that the company want to pursue about changes to working practices. rail bosses hope compulsory redundancy can be avoided, but there has to be reformed. but we are trying to do is work with the trade unions on how we modernise and reduced the overall costs that can then allow us in various ways to increase wages, but also ultimately stop the taxpayer are paying more into the industry than is necessary. how to bridge the gap and avoid potentially months of disruption coming down the tracks. emma simpson, bbc news.

what impact is the rail strike having on towns and cities and tourism. our correspondentjo black is in stratford—upon—avon for us in the west midlands: it is the most visited place by tourists outside of london is what we have discovered here today and do you know what? actually, looking around here today it has been very busy. the weather is not too bad. i have seen guides walking around with microphones and people following that particular guide with their headphones and so those sorts of things, those sorts of activities still going on. i have spoken to one isa cream vendor who tells me that he believes he has been impacted by the rail strike. said his isa cream sales are down by 20% and when i asked him if it was because of the rail strikes he said absolutely it

was but i've also spoken to the royal shakespeare company and they have their production starting this evening, richard iii, they had no requests for refunds because of the veil strike at the moment. spoke to another business, spoke to a museum called tudor world, the manager there told me that his figures were actually up and we've also spoken to actually up and we've also spoken to a lady called rachel from shakespeare's birthplace and she said it is too early to tell at the moment. too early to assess whether the rail strike is impacting on visitor numbers but she is very cautious and very worried about what would happen at the weekend and any further rail strikes going forward. we wait to see what happens in that regard. thank you very much for now. alexandra mackenzie is in glasgow for us. iamat i am at queen street station in

glasgow normally by this time in the afternoon it would be getting quite busy here but what i have behind me, very quiet station and also the departure board is looking very empty. there is only one service running from here so if you want to go to edinburgh then that is fine, there is a service to services running every hour to edinburgh but the last one is going to at her past five so a lot earlier today but to tell is a bit more about what has mapping in scotland today i'm joined by david frost from scotrail. can you sum up? what is the picture been in scotland today? you'll make as a result of the network felt like there was a very small number of services able to run for the obvious favourites within the central belt, mainly in the glasgow — edinburgh area so unfortunately, beyond that there are no services so our message to customers in those parts of the country is please don't go to your local station. there will be no trains. forthose local station. there will be no trains. for those travelling on the favourites, please consider if it is absolutely necessary to travel. that has only been about 10% of the total number of services that would

normally run in scotland, is that right? market is put up as a result of the network rail strike there are significantly fewer signal is available which are essential to run available which are essential to run a train service.— a train service. there are only available _ a train service. there are only available in _ a train service. there are only available in small— a train service. there are only available in small numbers i a train service. there are only available in small numbers in | a train service. there are only i available in small numbers in the central belt area mainly between glasgow and glasgow and edinburgh and that means we can only operate a very limited service. we understand thatis very limited service. we understand that is frustrating for passengers but it is as a result of the network vale strike. but it is as a result of the network vale strike-— vale strike. the network rail strike, vale strike. the network rail strike. not — vale strike. the network rail strike, not a _ vale strike. the network rail strike, not a scotrail- vale strike. the network rail strike, not a scotrail strike l vale strike. the network rail| strike, not a scotrail strike is vale strike. the network rail - strike, not a scotrail strike is it? you like there are no scotrail staff on strike. it is a network vale rmt matter. ourfocus is on on strike. it is a network vale rmt matter. our focus is on dealing with the impact on trying to deliver a service for passengers. it when it is not scotrail on strike. you'll make the biggest frustration is for our passengers and we are sorry for that. there will be some impact tomorrow as well and services will start later than normal as a result of the shift patterns and further north in the country get the

leighton the day the service will start for example, the first aberdeen— dundee service will operate at 11:18am and that is normally 7:22am so our message to customers for tomorrow's please check and visit the website to make sure you know exactly when your train is running. it has been quite quiet. there are a few people now because there is likely to be a train to edinburgh fairly somebody think people havejust train to edinburgh fairly somebody think people have just taken your message not to travel and stayed away? ii message not to travel and stayed awa ? , ., message not to travel and stayed awa ? i. message not to travel and stayed awa ? ., ., ,, away? if you look around queen street this _ away? if you look around queen street this afternoon _ away? if you look around queen street this afternoon it - away? if you look around queen street this afternoon it is - away? if you look around queen street this afternoon it is clear i street this afternoon it is clear people have to the message, they are aware the strike is having a significant impact on our services. it's unfortunate, it is really frustrating for customers but we will have another few days of the so we urge then please check before they travel. we urge then please check before they travel-— we urge then please check before the travel. ., ., ., ., ., they travel. you mention tomorrow thin . s will they travel. you mention tomorrow things will be _ they travel. you mention tomorrow things will be a _ they travel. you mention tomorrow things will be a bit _ they travel. you mention tomorrow things will be a bit slower- they travel. you mention tomorrow| things will be a bit slower tomorrow but what about saturday? we are looking at another strike on saturday, that is a bit different because people are not trying to get work but we do have events happening at pride in glasgow on saturday. so what is the service likely to look

like? will it be just the same? the favourites and that is all? in the market will be the same as today in the same as what we had tuesday. just favourites in the central belt mainly between glasgow and edinburgh on saturdays and our busiest day of the week so we understand the impact that will happen passengers. it is very frustrating. _ that will happen passengers. it 3 very frustrating. it is a result of the network rail strike and we will do everything we can to deliver the best service we come five routes. what is your advice to people hoping to travel into the city on saturday? you might check the app. visit the website will top make sure you know exactly what is running and what isn't running so that you don't get caught out. very quiet station this evening. services are due to wrap up. things will be slower tomorrow and another strike they expected on saturday. thank you so much.

glastonbury festival happening and our entertainment correspondent is there amongst the festivalgoers. the founder of glastonbury will take to the stage immediately after mel received to do a set of his favourite songs by crooners. we are right in front of the pyramid stage. if you look over there, there it is. if you look over there, there it is. i remember him oncejoining coldplay on there to sing a version of my away. let'sjust on there to sing a version of my away. let's just say it lives long in the memory. now, i've been out

and about this morning walking around the festival site and it is much busier than it normally is at that time and it is for two reasons. the festival has not been on for three years so people wanted to get here as early as possible and secondly, because of the much talked about rail strikes. trains actually be been running to glastonbury in the first one had fewer than 50 people on it and some festivalgoers have been saying they whole carriages to themselves. and that is also talk about the weather. because i know people at home watching glastonbury on their sofas wants nothing more than forehead to pour down on us here and there has been a yellow thunderstorm the hopers it will pass but, hey, you never know. diana ross might get very, very mucky. colin paterson at glastonbury. i hope it doesn't rain, to be honest. that's not fair, is

it? let's find out what the weather is wherever you are in the country. thank you jane. the ground that pretty hard there, didn't it? not too muddy there at the moment. the going is good at the moment but a good term id over the next couple of days as we have some showers in the forecast and plenty of showers across parts of the midlands, wales, just moving into the north—west now. the odd crack of thunder and brightening up in the south—east were earlier and it was cloudy. the distribution of showers today. barry scattered a meaning that they are separated by decent spells of dry weather. temperatures are run 7pm so in the mid—20s and one or two spots. through the course of tonight generally dry. showers around in the morning. i believe mild morning in liverpool. 16 degrees first thing tomorrow. most are around 14 or 15 evenin tomorrow. most are around 14 or 15 even in the north and tomorrow it is a mixture of sunshine and showers.

the wind will pick up across western areas in quite a contrast between east and west. 26 in norwich and 18 expected belfast. that is it. a mixed bag on the way. thomas, thank you very much indeed. now, we are, i hope, going to catch up with all the latest sports news. let's start at headingley where england's cricketers are in control on the opening day of the third and final test against new zealand. despite being put into bowl — england have taken key wickets. stuart broad struck in the first over, removing tom latham. broad also removed kane williamson, jack leach has also picked up two wickets. jamie 0verton — on his debut — got his first test wicket. a few moments ago, new zealand had reached 150 — five. a few moments ago, new zealand had reached 150 — five.

with the opening round of wimbledon just around the corner, it's been a day of disappointment for two of britain's top tennis players at eastbourne. harriet dart is out. the british number two lost her quarter final in straight sets against petra kvitova. the two—time wimbledon champion winning 6—3, 6—4. in the men's draw — disappointment too for british number one and top seed cameron norrie. he lost his quarter final against maxime cressy in straight sets... and cressy will now play another british player in the semi finals — as jack draper awaits. he beat another british player ryan peniston in straight sets 6—3, 6—3. it's the first time draper has reached a semi final on the main atp tour. and the next time tennis fans can see serena williams on a tennis court — will be at wimbledon.

that's after she — and doubles partner 0ns jabeur pulled out of their semi final at eastbourne — with jabeur unable to recoverfrom a knee injury. it means williams heads to wimbledon next week having played just two matches in almost a year. they're under way in the usa in the latest pga tour event, but another star name is missing — the four—time major winner brooks koepka is the latest player tojoin the saudi backed liv golf series. rory mcilroy who is competing this weekend, isn't impressed with the former world number one. they say one thing and they do another, and i don't understand that, and they don't know if that's for legal reasons or if they can't... i have no idea. but it's pretty duplicitous on their part to say one thing and then do another thing. are you talking about something they said two years ago a week ago? the whole way through! the whole way through, in public and private and all of it. that was definitely a surprise for me. | i was at a function with him last weekend definitely wasn't - what he had in mind.

we were focused on building the pga tour and getting the guys— that are staying here together, and kind ofjust having talks i and figuring out what... how we could help benefit the tour, and to see brooks leave _ was definitely a surprise for us. that being said, he has made a decision, and i will not- knock him for doing that. he made a decision that was best i for him, and i'm not going to be one tojudge him on that. for me, it's not where i see myself heading anytime soon. _ i grew up wanting to be - on the pga tour, dreaming of playing in these events. i not dream of growing up to play in the centurion club _ in london or whatever it is. i grew up wanting to play in the masters, to play. in austin, to play at colonial, the buyer and no some. - i wouldn't trade those memoriesl for anything at this point in time. well both players are in action right now at the travelers championship in connecticut. scheffler tees off this evening — but mcilroy has started well — he's five under par after 14 holes. that leaves him a shot off the lead — which is currently held

by american xander schauffle. and a scottish. sheffield united say they're disappointed that two of their players are to be charged with common assault following a pitch invasion at nottingham forest — during their play—off semi final defeat in may. rhian brewster — seen here — and oli mcburnie are the two players charged — following trouble after united lost the match on penalties. in a statement the club say the pair deny the charges. gareth bale could be set for an unlikely home coming. it seems the 32—year—old has plenty of options, but one is close to home. plenty of options, but one his representatives have held talks, with championship club, cardiff, the city where he was born. he's available on a free after leaving real madrid, all things going to plan he'll captain wales at the world cup in qatar later this year. there was a frightning moment at the world aquatics championships in budapest when one of the american

synchronised swimmers fainted and sank to the bottom of the pool, having to be rescued by her coach. this was the american anita alvarez during the solo free final, when she passed out under water. her coach andrea fuentes was the quickest to react and dived in and dragged her out of the pool. the coach has released a statement saying "anita is okay. ..we sometimes forget that this happens in other high—endurance sports. marathon, cycling, cross—country. we all have seen images where some athletes don't make it to the finish line and others help them to get there. our sport is no different than others, just in a pool. we push through limits and sometimes we find them. and that is all from the world of sport. don't forget, plenty more details and the latest from eastbourne and headingley at our website. the independent office for police conduct is to reinvestigate

the way the metropolitan police handled the death of the four young men murdered by stephen port, in east london in 2014 and 2015. port murdered four young men in 2014 and 2015 in barking. he is serving a life sentence. the iopc originally decided that no officers would be disciplined — despite failures to find a suspect until after the fourth man was murdered. now the iopc has said there were "material flaws" in its own investigation. here's more from our home affairs correspondent, daniel sandford. it took until the fourth death for the police, frankly, to even realise that there were murders going on. they kept thinking they were drugs—related deaths and it was only after quite a lot of persuasion from the relatives of the fourth man to die, jack taylor, that the police actually did take it seriously enough to identify that these were four murders. after the trial of steven port it was fairly obvious that there should be

an investigation into how detectors are gone about their business but when the independent office for police conduct finish that they decided that none of the detectives that they had investigated should face either misconduct or gross misconduct hearings. of the 17 officers that they interviewed, all except one of them gave no comment in the interviews so they were not even discuss with the iop see what they had done. and that did cause, frankly, quite a lot of astonishment, particularly, obviously, with the relatives of stephen port's victims and then we had the inquest last year and the inquestjury were quite categorical in theirfindings. they said there were fundamental failings in these investigations from the beginning and that basic lines of inquiry were not followed and after that the iopc see said they would look again at their own investigation and it has taken until today for them to decide, actually, looking at what came out

of the inquest, there were material flaws in their own investigation, and decided to reopen it. much to the relief, i should say, of stephen port's victims families. it'srelative to mention that many of the fans and families of the four young men who died feel that homophobia was part of this. i mean, it is relative that all these young men away day. they are all in their early 20s. the family's feel, think are two things. thatjust incompetence was right about these investigations and it was not that people were not pointing out the possible links between these deaths. there were people pointing out the possible links with these deaths and also concerned about a very impersonal suicide note, for example, that one of the men had found on his body. the families feel very strongly that if these were for young, white women that had been found in graveyards, and on the streets in barking, that that would have been treated differently to the fact

that they were four young gay men and they felt that assumptions were being made about the men's lifestyles and that there were more likely to take drugs, a lot of chemsex going on at all this kind of assumptions were being made. just because these four victims were gay and they feel very strongly about that. that's not the only thing they feel strongly about but they do feel barry strongly about that. we've also heard from the former chief superintendent of the metropolitan police — dal bubu —— here's what he said. first of all, i would like to send my sympathies to the families. these were needless deaths and i'm afraid it was a shocking level of incompetence by the police in these investigations. and notjust the police but the iopc that failed to carry out an investigation into the officers who carried out the initial mitigation.

the families have been failed doubly. we are speculating about a case there was 2014, 2015, a few years ago, you used the word incompetence. how much of that was a... what was that about. what were the systemic problems or what were the problems that meant that the death of four young men in the space of not more traffic not much more than a year find in a similar part of london were not investigated correctly? it is difficult to know where to start. as you pointed out, these men were found in the same vicinity, the suspect was arrested on one occasion. they failed to carry out basic investigations into the laptop that were recovered by the individual. the failure around the suicide note the partner's one

of the victims was not allowed to see the note. and that suicide note was discovered to be written by the murdered. so the failures were multiple. in the end the victim's families had to carry out investigations themselves. in order to draw to the attention of the police the obvious fact that these crimes were related. someone listening to that and someone who doesn't know about the specifics of the case mightjust think, in broad terms, how does that happen? is that notjust someone simply not doing theirjob if a suicide note is found in any circumstances, surely there is a certain procedure to go through to make sure it is accurate, that it's written by the person it's purported to written by. why would these basic procedures not be followed? you can take for example the suicide

note, you're absolutely right. there are basic procedures. you would expect the partners of the individuals to be shown on that note. for some reason, and i think this is why the families believe homophobia was a factor in some of the actions of the police, for some reason that note was not shown to the partner of the young man who was murdered. it was shown to the parents but not the partner. that is just aspect of where it is... it goes beyond incompetence and you have to ask yourself the questions, was it homophobia as well. the frustrating thing is for the families is that they were bringing to the attention of the police the shortcomings and the police didn't have that professional curiosity which they should have had around why this is happening, why have we found four young men in the same vicinity in similar circumstances dead in the public places, in a cemetery. it's a pretty shocking level

of policing i'm afraid. let's return to afghanistan. what can the international community do to help the country. i have been talking to a politician, a women's rights activist trevor activist and norway's former ambassador to norway. i asked norway's former ambassador to norway. iasked her about norway's former ambassador to norway. i asked her about the challenges ahead, first of all when it comes to aid.— it comes to aid. festival, my deep condolences _ it comes to aid. festival, my deep condolences to _ it comes to aid. festival, my deep condolences to those _ it comes to aid. festival, my deep condolences to those who - it comes to aid. festival, my deep condolences to those who lost - it comes to aid. festival, my deep. condolences to those who lost their lives. and thank you for those supporting and generating to the people of afghanistan. i would say, in my country, misery upon miseries. the government, the situation, the humanitarian crisis and right now the earthquake. i believe it's time for the taliban to show their resilience. to show their power.

it's the time that they should take the response ability. as far as i saw, there are some sort of aid, immediate aid, to those areas, but thatis immediate aid, to those areas, but that is not enough. the international community also can do much more, at least for those wounded bodies where the taliban are not touching them. particularly the women and children. they should need to be saved and taken from that situation. but, to be honest, if we are trying to use this situation and talking about the taliban's legitimacy, or the frozen assets which belong to the people of afghanistan without any guarantee, we may not understand where those monies may be spent, if it will be released to the hands of a terrorist group who have no mercy, they are not with responsible. even, they are not with responsible. even, they are not paying attention to the crisis as it is. i. .., .

not paying attention to the crisis asitis. . , not paying attention to the crisis as it is. . , ., as it is. soul, your concern is that if some countries _ as it is. soul, your concern is that if some countries and _ as it is. soul, your concern is that if some countries and froze - as it is. soul, your concern is that if some countries and froze that l if some countries and froze that money to allow money to go into the country for a legitimate humanitarian reason, your concern is that that money would be diverted, that that money would be diverted, that it wouldn't get to the people in need, is that your anxiety? yes. in need, is that your anxiety? yes, because according _ in need, is that your anxiety? yes, because according to _ in need, is that your anxiety? isis because according to experience, the international organisation and the afghan people do make even the humanitarian agencies are complaining the taliban are not really equally distributing the aids. so, even they are abusing the aid's money for theirfighters. how aid's money for their fighters. how can aid's money for theirfighters. how can we ensure that that money will go directly to the people of afghanistan, because that is the nation's money it is not the money that belongs to the taliban. it should not go to their pockets. it shouldn't be an asset to support extremism or to be used again

against the people of afghanistan. and, earlier on you mentioned some of those involved in the rescue operation. there were not helping women or not picking up the bodies of women who had been killed in this earthquake. explain more about that, about what is going on there. it’s about what is going on there. it's 'ust about what is going on there. it�*s just because the type of ideology the taliban are carrying, they are not touching any women's body, and in an emergency situation, to be moved from such a danger to at least to the mobile medic team, they are not touching. i saw lots of male bodies that had been carried for medical treatment. bodies that had been carried for medicaltreatment. but bodies that had been carried for medical treatment. but there are very few women's bodies, i couldn't see the picture... something like that. that is according to... that they shouldn't touch women that do not belong to the family, even women if they are touching and dealing with them, they should be fully

covered. this is another crisis that we are facing in afghanistan. despite of all, and everything, even what i saw in the field, there was a note from the medic been to reach out and support and... so i am appealing to the international committee, please if you send any medic team, make sure that they will be enough women and nurses there to treat afghan women and that is the miserable situation. bind treat afghan women and that is the miserable situation.— treat afghan women and that is the miserable situation. and because you believe that is _ miserable situation. and because you believe that is happening, _ miserable situation. and because you believe that is happening, you - miserable situation. and because you believe that is happening, you have l believe that is happening, you have seen evidence that that is happening, let's say a woman has been injured but she could be helped with medical treatment, but because of belief, whatever we want to call it, that she will not be picked up, she won't be touch, which you be moved and so she will not get moved to a medic who might possibly be able to help her injuries? this to a medic who might possibly be able to help her injuries?- able to help her in'uries? this is how the ideology _ able to help her injuries? this is how the ideology of _ able to help her injuries? this is how the ideology of the - able to help her injuries? this is| how the ideology of the teledyne able to help her injuries? this is - how the ideology of the teledyne is. this is how theyjust want how the ideology of the teledyne is. this is how they just want to eliminate the women. because for them women are not humans. they do not count as human beings in

afghanistan, so that is why we saw that the schools are closed, we have been eliminated from the job, there is not equal distribution for the aid and if you see, in the end, even when there is such a crisis, such an emergency, the lack of female medic teams is also a question about and in such a remote area, although they deployed a lot of men in the area, no female. it might be because they might not be allowing female to travel in such an emergency situation. that is why i am asking, if any country or an organisation tried to support medical aid, make sure they will be enough females to help and support female bodies and wounded women who need treatment. i believe that the taliban and really don't care about women that much, as we had to think.

a british man sentenced to death by a russian proxy court in ukraine, has been told the execution will be carried out. aiden aslin was captured alongside fellow uk national shaun pinner while serving with the ukrainian army, and the pair are accused of being mercenaries. aiden's family in nottinghamshire have called for more to be done to help release them. our correspondent emma vardy reports. it's been an agonising wait for aiden aslin and shaun pinner since being told they face the death penalty. the sentence was handed down a fortnight ago to the two men, and a moroccan national, in an unrecognised court in an area controlled by russian backed separatists. your son rings to say that he is going to be, he's going to be killed. in a phone call to his mother, aiden said his captors have informed him the execution will go ahead. he was given a month,

and time is running out. and aiden was told that he was going to be executed. the uk's foreign minister has called it a sham judgment with no legitimacy. but hopes for a pardon or an appeal to his family appear to be fading. aiden and shaun have lived in ukraine since 2018, appearing here in a documentary made after they became marines in ukraine's armed forces. in a sense, like, it is like my war, because, like, even though i'm not ukrainian, this is on my doorstep. after the russian invasion, they spent weeks defending the besieged city of mariupol, before having to surrender. these are two men who came here a few years ago, - before this invasion started. speaking from ukraine, another member of the marines who served in their unit said the death sentence showed russia's disregard for international law.

it's absolutely dire, - and at this point i really hope that the uk government, _ as well as the ukrainian government, is going to step up and figure out. some way to negotiate their release. how is this being seen in ukraine? it actually rallies more people behind them, i and i guess the ukrainians, they look up to aiden - and shaun as heroes. meanwhile, on state sanctioned russian television, they've been shown little mercy, being publicly mocked and accused of terrorism. the uk government says it's deeply concerned by the sentences and it's continuing to work with ukraine to try to secure the men's release. there is believed to be a reluctance to get involved in direct negotiations with russia, those who are holding the men in donetsk. president putin, i do believe, has got the power to stop this. i plead, please, let these guys go. for now, their fate appears to remain in the hands of russian backed separatists.

aiden's family still hope he may be saved by a prisoner exchange, but fear the situation is becoming more desperate. emma vardy, bbc news. borisjohnson is in rwanda for a meeting of the commonwealth's heads of government. mrjohnson again defended the uk's policy to send asylum seekers there, and accused critics of having a condesending attitude towards the african country. rwanda joined the commonwealth in 2009, but there's been criticism over the country's human rights record. our deputy africa editor anne soy reports. the pm's first visit to rwanda. just over a week since the first flight to carry asylum—seekers from the uk was cancelled. first on the agenda a meeting with the host, president paul kagame. the two governments are keen to proceed with the deal, despite the opposition it's faced.

tomorrow, the pm faces a potentially awkward meeting with prince charles, who is reported to have described the deal privately as "appalling". people need to keep an open mind about the policy, the critics need to keep an open mind. a lot of people can see its obvious merits, and, yeah, of course, if i'm seeing the prince tomorrow of course i am going to make that point. now, rwanda is hosting this meeting for the first time since joining the commonwealth in 2009. at the time politician victoire ingabire thought the move would help improve things in rwanda. she returned from europe in 2010, to run for president. i thought in my heart, maybe uk would really help rwanda to become a democratic country. did it? no. if you criticise in authority, you are labelled to be the enemy of the state. she recently missed her son's wedding, blocked by government

from leaving the country. he was eight when she left the family in europe to try her hand in politics, but ended up injail for close to a decade. she says british leaders should visit politicians and journalists who are in prison here. the rwandan government has disputed many of these accounts, and said human rights and democracy are a work in progress, notjust here in rwanda but across the commonwealth. hosting this event is a source of pride for them. rwanda has pulled out all stops to make an impression. the country is eyeing the opportunities that this meeting might bring, but the commonwealth spotlight and the recent migrant deal with the uk might also bring to light issues the country would prefer to remain hidden. anne soy, bbc news, kigali. the islands of saint kilda in the north atlantic are home to nearly1 million seabirds.

now conservationists are warning that the avian—flu outbreak could lead to the extinction of one particular species — the great skua. iain macinnes has been to take a look. it's often said to be on the edge of the world. but even here in st kilda, over 100 miles from the scottish mainland, the effect of the avian flu outbreak is being felt. it's more than 90 years now since the last st kildans were evacuated from these homes, but the centuries before that, the sea birds that surrounded this archipelago were integral to their way of life. now with avian flu in these islands, there is real concern about the impact it could have on various species on the islands. on the hill above village bay, kilda's seabird ranger is keeping a close eye on great skua territory. they have been badly affected. craig describes this as his most challenging season yet. at the end of last season,

i was already worried about the 60 birds that had died, how many more i had missed. i knew that the population was going to be impacted. but it wasn't until i got back, i think was around about the 28th of april, that i found the first dead bird. since then, the number of dead birds has just been increasing every day. in that number is now at 120 this year and counting. it's thought across many colonies, including here in st kilda, that between two thirds and three quarters of great skuas have been lost. and with only between 15,000 and 20,000 breeding pairs worldwide, if avian flu continues to have such an impact, the species' very existence could be under threat. that's alarming and heartbreaking to witness. really, really worrying that this bird that i grew up with for many years now on multiple islands is on the verge of extinction. those on the island are doing what they can to limit any spread, especially to other species.

when people do arrive, whether it's on cruise boat or on a day boat, we can have that introductory talk with people to make sure they can are both aware of the situation that we have on the developments that will be ongoing with that, and our biosecurity measures to make sure those are fully in place. and it may be that we have to restrict areas of the island in the future, so asking people to only explore certain areas for their safety and safety of the birds. the outbreak continued to be monitored nationally and internationally, with the risk to human health described as very low. but people are being reminded not to touch dead or dying birds. craig, though, is concerned about the future. the most worrying thing about this is that we don't know how much further it's going to go, how many more species it's going to affect. to see this happening to the birds that i'm monitoring is heartbreaking. i came here to monitor live birds, i take great pride in the work that i do, but it's rapidly becoming a major part of myjob

to record dead birds. it's worrying times. that takes us to the weather prod prospects. warm and sunny and glastonbury, big players having gathering and showers for the rest of today and also sunshine and showers expected tomorrow. here is the satellite picture, you can see a fair amount of cloud across england and wales, the north of england and wales, the north of england has a very norm try one day. we got out treasury up to about 20 to a degree celsius will stop the woman's day of the year so you can see clouds moving over glastonbury. nothing too heavy, but i think there will be more tomorrow and into the weekend. these the temperatures around 7pm. so still, a low mid 20s were widely across glynn. the forecast for tonight show still a few showers are scattered across the uk, based on the cloud too, so

generally speaking a dry night, quite a warm warm around 6 degrees. over the course of the night the tempter will be a bit higher than that. so tomorrow, out towards the west, the winds will freshen, just the possibility of one or two cracks of thunder from the showers, but generally speaking i think we are in for a relatively bright day with occasional showers and that is an area which should say 201 degrees. i'm just going to cover that up. tomorrow evening we will continue to see showers spreading in, the odd crack of thunder is possible. so, the forecast for saturday and the weekend show low pressure across the uk and that means it is going to be a cool weekend with sunshine and showers. a mixed end of the week and a mixed weekend as well. that's it from me.

this is bbc news. the headlines. air passengers face further disruption this summer after hundreds of ba ground crew and check—in staff at heathrow voted overwhelmingly for strike action in the dispute over pgy- strike action in the dispute over pay. it comes as the second day of rail strikes is under way without the network closed in england, wales and scotland. only 20% of services are believed to be running. relatives of the young man murdered by the serial killer stephen port welcome a decision by the police watchdog to begin a fresh investigation into the way detectives handled the inquiry.

taliban officials in the afghan province