elmar brok, we have to end it there. thanks for being on hardtalk. thank you very much.oking like being a largely dry ones to be once again we will see a few showers across northern and southern scotland and maybe a few more across the west but the vast majority is bright, a bit warmer as well, 26 in the south—east. thursday, another largely dry day by the odd shower, starting to see cloud and breezed across western scotla nd cloud and breezed across western scotland and northern ireland as this weather system slowly encroaches in. a little bit more fresh across the north, the deep orange building into england and wales and it will be a very warm one again the. the mid to upper 20s celsius. this weather front will bring maybe some substantial rain into north—west parts of the uk, but generally a weakening feature as it moves its way southwards through the course of friday. this is the briefing. i'm sally bundock. our top story: after three weeks underground and another week in hospital, the 12 boys trapped in the thai cave are to be allowed to go home. theresa may's brex

my guest today, elmar brok, is the longest—serving member of the european parliament and a close allycellor angela merkel. germany is the eu's most powerful economy, but is its political clout on the wane? elmar brok, welcome to hardtalk, and thank you forjoining me from washington, dc, where i know you are having talks with counterparts in the united states. i do want to focus very quickly, though, on brexit. how close to britain crashing out of the european union without any kind of deal do you think we are? i think since the chequers paper we see a possibility to come to an agreement. this is not exactly what we can't agree to but we have now, after waiting one and a half years for it, a proposal by the british government, which is one of the basis for the negotiations, and hopefully we can achieve preliminary results on that in order to get to the withdrawal agreement through, the transitional period time, and then negotiate finally in detail. well, i looked at reaction from brussels to theresa may's white paper proposals. michel barnier has kept very quiet. he says he is analysin

parliamentarian elmar brok just arrived at the polling station the people are not so afraid anymore there is no right or lens physical violence but perhaps some intimidation. and the unclarity about the procedure to come to the elections concerning the voters' list the better cheats and that we have to check that also there's reason for optimism but also the reason for concern for the future of them by the questions out how would the opposition react if the president will win these elections will they accept the results on the other hand how will the powerful military react who has been interfering in politics in the past will they allow a peaceful transition of power. and we will have more coverage of the zimbabwean election coming up later on the day and you can also find it more information about the zimbabwean election on our website that's the w dot com slash africa or not to the united states u.s. president donald trump is meeting this hour with italian prime minister do something conte in washington the talks came and come amid a simmering trade dispute between the u.s. and the eur

parliamentarian elmar brok just arrived at the polling station people are not so afraid anymore there is no violence physical violence but perhaps some intimidation . and uncluttered t. procedure to come to the elections concerning the voters list the cheats to be have to take that also this reason for optimism but also the reason for concern for the future of zimbabwe the questions how will the opposition react if the president will win these elections will they accept the results on the other hand how will the powerful military react who has been interfering in politics in the past will they allow a peaceful transition of power. i want to go now to our correspondent melanie crystal ball she is in harare the capital of zimbabwe good evening to you melanie the ballot counting we understand is underway right now how did the election itself go were voters able to cast ballots freely and in peace brand it's been truly amazing to see how significant this day has been here bob where there was six million voters and people were out queuing to put in their vote to put the cross next to that

parliamentarian elmar brok just arrived at the polling station people are not so afraid anymore there is no violence physical violence but perhaps some intimidation . and uncluttered t. bow to procedure to come to the elections concerning to vote to solicit the below cheats and to be have to take that also there's reason for optimism but also a reason for concern for the future of zimbabwe the questions are how will the opposition react if the president will win these elections will they accept the results on the other hand how will the powerful military react who has been interfering in politics in the past will they allow a peaceful transition of power. and increase reporting there in the core of the ball is also in harare covering these historic elections for us melanie it's just hard to overstate just how historic this day is for the people of zimbabwe is it living up to expectations how is it going so far and really is living up to expectations here it's been a very significant day for the almost six million voters in zimbabwe and you really should have seen the queues here in ha