ahead of the commonwealth summit. but will a row over reparations dominate proceedings? the us says north korea has sent thousands of troops to russia to help in its war with ukraine. south korea calls it a provocation. the uk government announces that a ban on single—use vapes will come into force from june next year. the temperature continues to rise in the race for the white house — kamala harris once again condemning donald trump. it is clear from john kelly's words that donald trump is someone who, i quote, certainly falls into the general definition of fascists. hello, i'm geeta guru—murthy, thank you for being with us. the bbc has learned that commonwealth leaders are preparing to defy the uk

at their summit in samoa by agreeing to examine ways of securing reparatoryjustice for the tra ns—atla ntic slave trade. on wednesday, prime minister sir keir starmer, said that while there was "no question" slavery was "abhorrent" but he wanted the meeting on the pacific island to focus on the "here and now". king charles and queen camilla are present for the commonwealth heads of government meeting. the couple will complete a day of engagements before meeting with commonwealth leaders at the end of the week. frederick mitchell is the foreign minister of the bahamas. he spoke to the bbc earlier today. fist he spoke to the bbc earlier toda . �* ., today. at the moment the countries _ today. at the moment the countries want _ today. at the moment the countries want the - today. at the moment the - countries want the conversation to start about it. there appears to be reluctance to even start the conversation. many countries have conceded the apology by the british government doesn't want there. at this time the discussion needs to be had about the history of this and the ill effects of what happened after slavery was abolished which continue to affect our society today.

joining me live now from samoa is our correspondent katy watson. how much is this question of reparations going to be a factor in this gathering? well, officially the _ factor in this gathering? well, officially the big _ factor in this gathering? well, officially the big day _ factor in this gathering? well, officially the big day is - factor in this gathering? well, officially the big day is on - officially the big day is on friday, the leaders have arrived command officially the big story at the top of the agenda is climate change. climate change is an issue that affects especially countries like here in the pacific, rising sea levels and countries wanting much more support when it comes from bigger, wealthier nations in trying to protect them. but that's a pretty officially what is at the top officially what is at the top of the agenda and what is being discussed is there will be many more questions that arise over reparations. now, what we have heard is the bbc has seen this draft communique and in it it talks about the time has come for a meaningful, truthful

respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity. as we heard there, the uk has said they will not be apologising and they are not entertaining reparations. but that's the uk. there are plenty of other commonwealth countries clearly want to put this on the table, want to discuss it, even if it is just a question of discussion right now, they want to entertain it. the discussion right now, they want to entertain it.— to entertain it. the royals are there, rather— to entertain it. the royals are there, rather warmer - to entertain it. the royals are| there, rather warmer welcome than they had in australia, presumably? it than they had in australia, presumably?— than they had in australia, presumably? than they had in australia, resumabl ? , , ., , presumably? it seems there has been one welcome _ presumably? it seems there has been one welcome ceremony . presumably? it seems there has l been one welcome ceremony after another. today it started with another. today it started with another ceremony, a ritual that is reserved for dignitaries, for monarchs, where king charles drank this liquid from a route, it was an amazing ceremony and went from one to another. he visited a mangrove restoration project, talking to villagers about how important these mangroves are to be able

to protect their livelihoods. they talked about the fact it is notjust rising sea levels but plastic pollution that is really affecting their lives. this is information that can be taken to the table. again, highlighting issues that are very crucial and very important to communities in the pacific and small island nations especially. but of course, today was the big busy day for king charles and queen camilla and then on friday he will be at the leaders' meeting as the symbolic head of state for the uk. ., , symbolic head of state for the uk. a, , a a, symbolic head of state for the uk. katy watson in sam moa, thank yom — the war in ukraine could be about to escalate. south korea's president says it "won't sit idle" over north korea's deployment of thousands of troops to help russia fight ukraine. president yoon suk yeol slammed it as a "provocation". seoul's spy agency says around

3,000 north korean soldiers are currently in russia, with thousands more troops to be sent by december. the american national security spokesmanjohn kirby says the american national security spokesmanjohn kirby says the troops travelled by ship to vladivostok, russia's largest pacific port, in early to mid—0ctober to receive training at various sites. but he said it still isn't clear whether they will be deployed to the front line. while russia and north korea deny the reports, the two nations have strengthened collaborations in recent years — and signed a major security agreement injune that commits both countries to provide military assistance if either is attacked. this is whatjohn kirby said at a white house breifing. we have briefed the ukrainian government on our understanding of the situation and we are certainly consulting closely with other allies, partners and countries in the region about the implications of such a dramatic move and on how we might respond. one of russia's allies, the belarussian leader, alexander lukashenko, said reports of north korean troops were �*rubbish�*.

in an exclusive interview, he told our russia editor, steve rosenberg, that involving north koreans on the front lines would be a step towards escalating the conflict. he is the one world leader who knows vladimir putin inside out. to the west, alexander lukashenko is a pariah. to russia, the closest ally. so, what does he make of reports that russia's relationship with north korea is growing ever closer, and that pyongyang is supplying soldiers to fight against ukraine? translation: that's rubbish! that would mean an escalation of the conflict. knowing his character, putin would never try to persuade a country to involve its army in the ukraine conflict, especially on the front line. "but what if these reports are confirmed," i ask. translation: it would be a step towards an escalation _ in the conflict. it was shortly after these joint drills in belarus, in 2022, that russian troops

invaded ukraine from belarusian territory. nothing to do with him, claims mr lukashenko. translation: there were | exercises going on involving several thousand russian soldiers. putin began withdrawing his troops from southern belarus, along a road past the border with ukraine. then, at one point, he redirected some of them to kyiv. i'm sure they'd been provoked. "did you call putin to find out what was going on," i ask. translation: no, he didn't call me and i didn't call him. | these are his troops, and he has the right to move them out whichever way he likes. due to widespread claims he stole the last election, mr lukashenko is not recognised as president by the west, so he looks east to moscow. russia has stationed tactical nuclear weapons in his country. but will it use them? translation: putin will never use the weapons l

stationed in belarus without the belarusian president's consent. "so, are you ready to permit the use of nuclear weapons?" translation: i'm completely ready. | otherwise, why have these weapons? but only if the boot of one foreign soldier steps into belarus. we have no plans to attack anyone. while he claims to seek better ties with the west, alexander lukashenko told me he'll give russia all the support it needs. steve rosenberg, bbc news, kazan. we are going to take you to the brics summit where president putin has been speaking. let's listen in. translation: the idea is to _ listen in. translation: the idea is to join _ listen in. translation: tue: idea is to join efforts listen in. translation: tte: idea is tojoin efforts in order to effectively endure true stability and peaceful existence of all people and states on the continent and of course it is quite symbolic that today's meeting is taking

place on the united nations day. it was on 24th of october 1945 that the un charter came into power, the principles of which four eighths decades have been a cornerstone of interstate relations and international law. this universal organisation should continue playing a central role in sustaining peace and security, assisting in steady, progressive growth. meanwhile, to ensure the effective functioning in the future of the un, we believe it is important to adapt its structures to the realities of 21st—century. expand the representation in security council and other key international bodies of countries of asia, africa and latin america, including those whose leaders are present in this hall today. it is high

time we reformed un institutions of development and global financial structures. the way of developing countries in the world economy has changed drastically over the last decades. yet in particular this was not reflected properly in the governance systems of the international monetary fund, world bank and other multilateral banks of development. founding fathers of the united nations organisation saw its purpose in being the centre for harmonising the actions of the nations because it is only collectively and in agreement we can efficiently respond to global threats and challenges, tackling such threats as combating terrorism, illegal drug circulation, corruption, organised crime icts, and of course ensure a steady economic growth for the welfare of

global element and prosperity. studio: vladimir putin addressing a big gathering of leaders at the so—called brics summit, including china, india, south africa, antonio guterres, as you can see, there, and of course he has been with leaders for the last couple of days in kazan, talking about ukraine, saying it is being used to create strategic threats against russia. he said the middle east does look as though it is on the brink of war, and there needs to be a settlement to create an independent palestinian state. and this summit has been seen as pretty significant because it is shown russia far from isolated despite ongoing sanctions and war in ukraine. a lot hinging of course with the outcome of the us elections in terms of the us elections in terms of the future of both what happens in the middle east and in ukraine. but a lot of focus on

what president putin is saying this week, and those other nations who are gathered there. turkey's government says its military has struck sites in iraq and syria linked to the kurdish militant group pkk, which is in the frame for an attack near ankara that killed at least five people. a statement from the ministry of defence said a total of thirty two targets had been destroyed in the ongoing operation. turkish officials said the attack on wednesday on a state—owned arms and aerospace company was carried out by two people — a man and a woman — who were killed. let's speak to ragip soylu — turkey bureau chief, middle east eye. thank you forjoining us. what is now known about who was responsible for that attack, even as we see these strikes by turkey in the region?— turkey in the region? there has been no official— turkey in the region? there has been no official crane _ turkey in the region? there has been no official crane by - turkey in the region? there has been no official crane by the - been no official crane by the pkk or any other group but the turkish interior minister said

yesterday the initial indications suggest the attack was conducted by the pkk, the identification process is still ongoing and there's been no official announcement by the government about the specific identities of the attackers. can you tell us more about the military strikes being carried out by turkey? the military strikes being carried out by turkey?— out by turkey? the strikes happened _ out by turkey? the strikes happened overnight - out by turkey? the strikes happened overnight in - out by turkey? the strikes - happened overnight in northern syria and northern iraq and there were also separate strikes by the turkish intelligence agency because they have their own capabilities and as far as i can see in northern syria they mainly targeted the oil infrastructure controlled by the kurdish groups over there, turkey intelligence and the basement and save guided weapons depots but there are also reports on the ground suggesting there had been air strikes in the urban centres as well. ., , ., strikes in the urban centres as well. . , ., , ., , well. can you tell us a bit more about _ well. can you tell us a bit more about if— well. can you tell us a bit more about if it - well. can you tell us a bit more about if it is - well. can you tell us a bit more about if it is the - well. can you tell us a bit l more about if it is the pkk, well. can you tell us a bit - more about if it is the pkk, or any affiliated groups with it,

what would be the rationale behind that? what is the background to all this? this is an important _ background to all this? this is an important moment - background to all this? this is an important moment in - background to all this? this is i an important moment in turkey because this week a key member of the turkish government called for talks with the jailed pkk leader and after that public announcement this attack occurred. so widely in turkey this was interpreted by a pkk response to the turkish government's called for new talks and it is really sensitive because at the same time this person took a huge risk for this kind of talks and then this response perceived as a war declaration by the pkk. but as you can see there's been no official announcement by the pkk to claim the attack so we have to see over the weekend in coming days to see where this alleged peace process or invitation by the government to hold talks is going.— hold talks is going. would it be seen definitely _ hold talks is going. would it be seen definitely as - hold talks is going. would it be seen definitely as a - be seen definitely as a response by the pkk purely, or

by groups orfactions response by the pkk purely, or by groups or factions within it? i by groups or factions within it? ., , ., it? i mean, there is a discussion _ it? i mean, there is a discussion over - it? i mean, there is a i discussion over whether it? i mean, there is a - discussion over whether this was a coordinated move by the pkk or some elements within the pkk or some elements within the pkk because as you know the pkk is a large group of subgroups. it has offshoots in syria, it has offshoots in iran, it has manpower on the ground to some degree in turkey as well. it is really decentralised at this point. but there are some groups that are close to the regional countries and some groups who are basically more open to talk to the turkish state as well so at this point we cannot be really sure whether this was a coordinated or some sort of disagreement within the group itself.- within the group itself. ragip so lu, within the group itself. ragip soylu. thank _ within the group itself. ragip soylu, thank you _ within the group itself. ragip soylu, thank you for - within the group itself. ragip soylu, thank you for your - within the group itself. ragipl soylu, thank you for your time today. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

the uk government has announced that a ban on single use vapes will come into force from june next year. it's hoped this will reduce the number of young vapers. emily brown reports. the ban on single use f tes was announced by the previous conservative government has been confirmed by the labour g