you're watching bbc news, i'm rich preston. our top stories. singapore is to end its ban on sex between men, but there'll be no moves to legalise same—sex marriage. i believe this is the right thing to do, and something that most singaporeans will now accept. officials in pakistan say the former prime minister imran khan is being investigated under an anti—terrorism law. growing concern over a wave of killings targeting hindus, in india—administered kashmir. for the first time in four years, the us and south korea conduct military drills — the bbc gets rare access to the command centre. this is the only place in korea where us forces

and south korean forces sit side by side, and using all this information, they can detect almost immediately if north korea launches a weapon. hello. the prime minister of singapore has announced his country will end its ban on sex between men, but says it'll take steps to defend the institution of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. lee hsein loong said singaporean society was becoming more accepting of gay people and said the law banning gay sex, which came from the days of british colonial rule, was out of date. the law has long been criticised by lgbt activists, even though it's not been actively enforced for many years.

many more conservative citizens still support the legislation. the government will repeal 377a and de—criminalise sex between men. i believe it's the right thing to do and something most singaporeans will accept. joining now is professor roy chan, founder and president of the organisation action for aids in singapore. thank you very much for making the time for us. what is the significance of this?- the time for us. what is the significance of this? thank you for asking. _ significance of this? thank you for asking. it _ significance of this? thank you for asking, it is _ significance of this? thank you for asking, it is huge _ for asking, it is huge significance and the result of many years of effort removing this law. from a public health point of view, it has always stood in the way of much broader, much wider dissemination of educational messages and other messaging in

singapore. having a statute that criminalissing gay sex means limited capacity for men who have sex with men to access in various ways... hopefully the stigmatisation and discrimination of those who are hiv—positive as well as those who have high risk of getting hiv... inaudible. singapore is often seen as a liberal, progressive, forward—thinking southeast asian nation. how prevalent is discrimination against the lgbt community in your country? i think the discrimination of lgbt people is largely structural. certainly among the younger generation, there is increasing acceptance, the most recent polls have shown that

most people are accepting, especially younger people, so it has changed quite dramatically in the last five or ten years. so i think it's a huge win for people, or us who have been advocating for this change. the change cements our reputation for being forward—looking and progressive, i think. forward-looking and progressive, i think. progressive, ithink. you describe _ progressive, ithink. you describe this _ progressive, ithink. you describe this as - progressive, ithink. you describe this as a - progressive, ithink. you describe this as a huge l progressive, ithink. you describe this as a huge win, what was the reaction among the activist community when the announcement was made? there wasn't huge _ announcement was made? there wasn't huge parties _ announcement was made? there wasn't huge parties and - announcement was made? there wasn't huge parties and that - wasn't huge parties and that sort of thing, but as far as i could see some social media, and whatsapp, people were celebrating their own small ways, small gatherings here and there, but nothing on a major scale like marching on the street, that sort of same.

that's usually not allowed anyway. that's usually not allowed an a . ., that's usually not allowed an a. ., ., ~ that's usually not allowed an a. ., ., anyway. professor, thank you for making — anyway. professor, thank you for making the _ anyway. professor, thank you for making the time. - emergency workers in central iraq have mounted a rescue operation after a shia shrine there collapsed. an earth mound adjacent to the shrine in the city of karbala gave way as a result of moisture saturation. four bodies have been found, while six survivors have been pulled from the rubble. emily brown reports. working by floodlight, a rescue operation so delicate emergency workers continue their search for survivors of a deadly landslide by hand. it has been said any mistake at this stage could lead to more collapses. the landslide hit the ceiling of this shi'a shrine in iraq, which then collapsed onto visitors. several bodies have been found in the rubble so far while some survivors, including children, have been pulled free.

translation: the reason behind the landslide - is the mountain had been collecting humidity and water, and nobody unfortunately had noticed, and therefore a large amount of rocks fell into the flat roof, which collapsed onto the visitors. the site of the shrine in iraq's karbala region marks an ancient spring where the first shi'a imam ali and his army are believed to have once stopped to take a drink in the seventh century. much of the mosque is still intact, a sacred site now playing host to a rescue mission. emily brown, bbc news. the former pakistani prime minister imran khan is being investigated under the anti—terrorism act. authorities say he threatened police and justice officials. it follows a speech by mr khan during a rally, accusing the police of torturing a party colleague while in custody.

the media regulator then took the step of banning live speeches by the cricketer—turned—politician on all satellite tv channels because of what it called his hate speech against state institutions. we can now speak to political analyst shuja nawaz, a distinguished fellow and former director of the south asia center, atlantic council. is mr khan upsetting the authorities so much? it's playing a high—stakes game to force an election so he can come back to power, particularly if they are held in october, so they could select the new army chief. his second term which was granted to him by imran khan expires in november. so he is playing for

all the marbles, as it works. he's up against every powerful opposition. he has managed to unite all the other parties against. and he's managed to unite the military, that had shown some signs of deception within the ranks of how to deal within the ranks of how to deal with him. so they are now taking a hard—line position again. it taking a hard-line position aaain. , ., ~' taking a hard-line position aaain. ~ again. it sounds to me like you don't think— again. it sounds to me like you don't think his _ again. it sounds to me like you don't think his gamble - again. it sounds to me like you don't think his gamble is - again. it sounds to me like you don't think his gamble is going j don't think his gamble is going to pay off? we don't think his gamble is going to pay off?— don't think his gamble is going to -a off? ~ ., ., , ., to pay off? we have to see what ha--ens to pay off? we have to see what happens in _ to pay off? we have to see what happens in the _ to pay off? we have to see what happens in the next _ to pay off? we have to see what happens in the next day - to pay off? we have to see what happens in the next day or- to pay off? we have to see what happens in the next day or so. l happens in the next day or so. apparently the police have already arrived at his residence, they say they are there to protect him and for there to protect him and for the law and order situation developing, but it is eminently possible they will arrest him. if that happens, his followers will be in the streets in the cities of pakistan, where he still commands a very powerful majority. still commands a very powerful ma'ori . ., �* , still commands a very powerful ma'ori . ., v ., , still commands a very powerful ma'ori . . �*, ., , majority. that's a very good oint, majority. that's a very good

point, because _ majority. that's a very good point, because as _ majority. that's a very good point, because as the - point, because as the government attempts to silence mr khan, they run the risk of just revoking his followers even more, as you say, and these people turning out in the streets and things getting violent. , ., streets and things getting violent. , . ., violent. yes, and if that happens. _ violent. yes, and if that happens, the _ violent. yes, and if that happens, the civilian i happens, the civilian government is not likely to be able to control them. particularly since they don't control two of the provinces. in the punjab for example. it will be tough for them. it's also likely that the army may need to step in as a caretaker of sorts. and that's the last thing pakistan's democracy needs. ~ ., needs. we will leave it there, thank yon — the daughter of a prominent russian ultra—nationalist has been killed by a car bomb on the outskirts of moscow. darya dugina was a journalist and vocal supporter of the invasion of ukraine.

there is speculation the target may have been herfather, alexander dugin, whose calls for a new russian empire, challenging the west, are said to have influenced president putin. will vernon reports from moscow. a fireball on the streets of moscow. darya dugina, a political commentator, was killed when a bomb exploded in the car she was driving. at the scene, her father, aleksandr dugin, an ultra nationalist philosopher. russian media said mr dugin was meant to travel in the car with his daughter, but changed his mind at the last minute, and there is speculation he was the intended target. darya dugina, like herfather, was a vocal supporter of russia's invasion of ukraine. she was a regular guest on russian television, calling the war a clash of civilisations. both she and her father have been sanctioned by the west. some analysts say president putin is close

to aleksandr dugin, although the nature of their relationship is unclear. but mr dugin's radical nationalism has helped shape the kremlin's foreign policy, including on ukraine. his political movement, eurasianism, sees russia as the centre of a new empire that will challenge the west. back in 2016, mr dugin spoke to the bbc�*s gabriel gatehouse about his views. so we have our special russian truth that you need to accept as something that maybe is not your truth. even if it's not true? but if the truth is relative, that doesn't mean that truth doesn't exist. the authorities have not yet said who was behind the attack. but russia's foreign ministry said if a link to ukraine were found, the attack would be state terror by the kyiv regime. an adviser to the ukrainian president denied his

country was involved. car bombs and assassinations are rare in moscow. but as the war in ukraine grinds on, instability at home will be a cause for concern in the kremlin. will vernon, bbc news, moscow. stay with us on bbc news — still to come: war games — thejoint operation between south korea and america aimed at deterring an attack from the north. he is the first african—american to win the presidential nomination of a major party, and he accepts exactly 45 years ago to the day that martin luther king declared, "i have a dream". as darkness falls tonight, an unfamiliar light will appear in the south—eastern sky — an orange glowing disc that's brighter than anything save the moon —

our neighbouring planet, mars. there is no doubt that this election is an important milestone in the birth of east timor as the world's newest nation. it will take months and billions of dollars to repair what katrina achieved injust hours. three weeks is the longest the great clock has been off duty in 117 years, so it was with great satisfaction that clockmaker john vernon swung the pendulum to set the clock going again. this is bbc news — the latest headlines: singapore says it'll end its ban on sex between men but has made it more difficult to legalise same—sex marriage. officials in pakistan say the former prime minister imran khan

is being investigated under an anti—terrorism law. to the uk again now — where the boxer tyson fury has called on the british government to introduce tougher punishments for knife crime, after his cousin was stabbed to death in manchester in the early hours of sunday morning. rico burton, who was 31, was attacked outside a bar in the city. a second man was taken to hospital with serious injuries. alison freeman reports. the scene of a murder investigation, after a night out ended in what the police have called a senseless attack. greater manchester police say a 31—year—old man died after being stabbed outside a bar here in altrincham in the early hours of this morning. that man, officers confirmed this evening, was tyson fury�*s cousin, rico burton. a 17—year—old was also seriously injured. this was a senseless attack. everything suggests at this stage that he was out enjoying an evening with friends and that this has taken place,

spontaneously, and unplanned. it's a very, very tragic ending to what should have been a good night out with friends. today, fury took to social media to express his hurt, shock and anger. in a furious post, he called on the government to introduce stronger punishments for knife crime, comparing it to a pandemic and saying only cowards carry weapons. police said this area would have been very busy when the 31—year—old was stabbed at around morning, and they're calling on anyone who may have been in the area and taken photos and videos to get in touch. a 20—year—old man was arrested at the scene and another man aged 21 was arrested later. both are still being questioned by police. alison freeman, bbc news, altrincham.

a three—day state of alert has begun in portugal due to the extreme risk of wildfires. it gives authorities temporary powers including barring people from woodlands. access to forests has been restricted, as well as the use of machinery, even by farmers, to prevent sparks. security is being stepped up outside the home of the former south korean president, moonjae—in. he has been subject to verbal abuse and loud protests since he left office in may. right—wing groups are angry about his record as the country's president. from monday, demonstrators will be forced to stay at least three hundred metres away from his residence. authorities in lebanon say the remaining grain silos at beirut�*s port — which was devastated in a blast two years ago — are expected to collapse soon. fires at the silos have been simmering for weeks, caused by high temperatures and the fermentation of grain left in and around them. there's growing concern over a wave of killings

targeting hindus in the indian—administered region of the disputed territory of kashmir. police say the attacks in the muslim—majority region are being carried out by anti—india militant groups. it comes against the backdrop of a long—running conflict there, and growing anger against the indian government. the bbc�*s yogita limaye reports. a school in trauma. earlier this year, as these students in kashmir gathered for morning prayers, their teacher was killed, metres away. they heard the gunshot and found her on the ground, bleeding from her head. the spot has been marked with stones. rajni bala was killed by anti—india militants, police say. a mother and wife, a much—loved history teacher. "we're devastated. she was a wonderful person, adored notjust in the school but in our village",

her colleague told us. it's believed rajni was targeted because she was a hindu, a minority in the country's only muslim—majority region. teachers told us she feared for her life after a wave of killings of people from her community. translation: there had been a targeted killing of a hindu, . just two kilometres away. she was scared and had applied for a transfer. kashmir�*s long—running and complex conflict started with the killings of hundreds of hindus 30 years ago. but this minority has rarely been targeted since 2003. now it's facing a resurgent threat that's left hindu families terrified. these men work in government jobs and are demanding they be moved out of kashmir.

sanjay kaul is a teacher at a public school. translation: if someone next to me takes their hands - out of their pockets, i feel they are going to pull out a gun to shoot me. we have stopped sending our children to school. and we hardly go out of our compound. insurgent groups say they're attacking minorities because the government is trying to change the religious make—up of kashmir. the accusation stems from india's actions here three years ago. federal rule was imposed. outsiders allowed to buy land. leading to fears that india's hindu nationalist government wanted to alter the religious demographics of muslim—majority kashmir. distrust against the state soared. since 2019, things have gotten a lot worse. there is no elected government here and large sections of the police and bureaucracy

are now officers from outside of the region. which means amongst local people here, there is a strong feeling that their voice is being suppressed and they don't have any say in the decisions that are being made to govern them. there are also allegations of killings of muslim civilians by indian security forces. we travelled to shopian in southern kashmir. this is where 20—year—old shoaib muhammad ganai is buried. a university student who loved playing cricket, he was killed in the middle of the day in the local market. his parents and eyewitnesses say he was shot dead, point—blank, by a paramilitary soldier. "we want justice for this cruelty that's been inflicted on us. a piece of our hearts has been taken from us", his father, ghulam muhammad, told us. the police and paramilitaries

say their son was killed in crossfire. translation: we are being ruled by ruthless people, _ despite what eyewitnesses say, they insist he was shot in crossfire. the indian government denies that there's an atmosphere of fear in kashmir. it says its policies are bringing peace and development. the growing violence contradicts the claims. yogita limaye, bbc news, kashmir. for the first time in four years, the us and south korea will revive their live—action military drills, sharpening their preparedness as the north korean nuclear threat worsens and china steps up its presence around taiwan. the 11—dayjoint drills start monday in south korea. but there's concern that north korea could use the drills as a chance to retaliate. our correspondent in south korea, jean mackenzie, was given rare access

to the joint operation centre, from where the war games are run. deep underground, an american and a south korean colonel watch north korea. i'm learning but it's difficult to get it right. in this classified bunker outside seoul, the two militaries work together to defend against a north korean attack. this is the only place in korea where us forces and south korean forces sit side by side, and using all this information, they can detect almost immediately if north korea launches a weapon. between his great english and my terrible korean we can usually muddle through a lot of different things and get to a decision quickly. the threat from north korea is increasing. its missiles are becoming more dangerous, its rhetoric more fiery. so these war games from five years ago are back as the us and south korea practice how to fight their common enemy using aircraft,

warships and tanks. i can't do it in a classroom, i can't do it on a chalkboard, i have to give them the most intense environment that we can create, and this is that environment. fighter pilot captain abby walters will train from the sky. it's really important for us to train together with the south koreans. the communication flow is much better in the air if you've practised it multiple times, so it can go quicker which helps us to get more effects down and just be more efficient and deadly in ourjob. north korea sees these drills as a rehearsalfor an invasion. there is concern it could retaliate. in this recent speech, kimjong—un warned they could end in war. they might have the appearance of war but the us and south korea insist these drills are defensive. in part, a show of strength to convince north korea

never to use its weapons, especially as it works to develop ones that can evade missile defences. lieutenant general scott plius is the deputy head of the us forces korea. i have absolutely no worries whatsoever that north korean missiles have a way of defeating our capabilities here on the peninsula. but they are making progress. and so are we. intelligence suggests north korea is on the cusp of testing its first nuclear weapon in five years. south korea says it shouldn't be blamed if these drills provide its ammunition. since north korea know that this one is a defensive one, and they wanted to utilise this joint military drill for their own political purpose, i think that the joint military drill is one excuse for north korea to do the kind of military provocation.

these war games may well provoke north korea, but faced with an increasingly formidable enemy, these forces believe they have no choice but to prepare. jean mackenzie, bbc news, seoul. just before we go. young parisian alexis landot has scaled skyscrapers in la defense and mounted the montparnasse tower, but he reckons this 122—metre tower in the suburbs of paris was his toughest challenge yet. he's one of the only climbers in the world to go "free solo", meaning he foregoes ropes and security. alex prepared for this climb for six months. i'm very glad to say he made it safely to the top.

you can reach me on twitter — i'm @richpreston. hello there. for many, this weekend shaped up to be a tale of two halves. the north of england on saturday was cloudy, grey and wet with a couple of inches of rain falling. but on sunday, just take a look at leeds, just shy of 13 hours of sunshine here. i suspect there's going to be more rain in the forecast, however, today, with this area of low pressure and the fronts pushing in from the west. now, some of that rain is going to push its way steadily eastwards. so, some heavy rain clearing to showers. the best of the drier weather through monday is likely to be across scotland. so we start off, then, with heavy rain moving out of northern ireland through the irish sea into the north—west of england and parts of wales. but you can see central and southern england is quite showery in nature, so not everywhere will see some wetter weather.

there'll be some heavier bursts. the best of the drier, sunny weather looks likely potentially to be in scotland. not quite as warm here, though, 1a to 20 degrees the high. we mightjust see 25 degrees ahead of that rain before it arrives in parts of lincolnshire and east anglia. now, as we move into tuesday, this area of low pressure will continue to enhance some showers in the far north—west, and down to the south—west, we've got this little weather front which will bring some showery outbreaks of rain across south—west england and wales. just how far north that's going to be, well, we'll need to keep an eye on that, but we start to tap into some pretty warm, humid air with that south—westerly flow and temperatures in east anglia and the south—east likely to peak at 27 celsius. that's 80 fahrenheit. it stays warm and humid in the south and east. at the same time, close to that low pressure, we'll see more wetter weather, sharper showers developing out to the west. so first thing on wednesday morning, a very humid feel, 18 degrees. and so, despite it being quite cloudy to begin with,

it will be largely fine and dry with that south—westerly flow. as the rain eases away, the temperatures are likely to peak at highs of 27 celsius by the middle of wednesday afternoon. moving out of wednesday into thursday, that weather front is going to continue to sink south and east. there'll be no significant rain on it, unfortunately. and so, that does mean that thursday on the whole will be largely fine and dry. potential for some thundery rain first thing in the south—east and then into the weekend, drier but noticeably fresher.

this is bbc news — the headlines... singapore's prime minister says the country will end its ban on sex between men — but will take steps to defend the institution of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. the legal ban — while not enforced — has long been criticised by lgbt activists. police in pakistan have launched an investigation into the former prime minister imran khan under sections of the anti—terrorism act — for allegedly threatening police officials and a judicial magistrate. the move came after mr khan gave a speech at a rally in which he accused police of torturing a party colleague. russian investigators say the bomb attack that killed daria dugina — but presumably targeted her father, the far—right ideologue aleksandr dugin — was preplanned and commissioned. the explosives were planted

on his car, but he escaped assassination after switching vehicles following an