Live from our studio in singapore, this is Bbc News. Its newsday. Welcome to Bbc News, broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. Its 6am in the morning in singapore and 1am in the morning in lebanon, where a day of remembrance for the victims of the huge explosion in beirut� s Port A year ago has descended into violence. The deaths of more than 200 people were commemorated at a multi Faith Event in the shadow of the ruins where the blast happened. Relatives of those who died observed a silence, and each of the victims names was read out. But a little later, near the Parliament Building in the centre of beirut, Angry Crowds gathered to voice their frustration at what they see as a lack of accountability for the disaster and failures in government. Security forces fired Tear Gas, and several fires were started. By nightfall, the situation had worsened. More Tear Gas was used, and police equipped with Riot Gear were trying to disperse the crowds. More than 50 people are reported to have been injured. With ongoing political uncertainty, the unrest looks set to continue. Heres beirut based Journalist Rebecca Collard on what happened in her city today. Yeah, definitely this day of sorrow turned into a night of anger, and im just going to show you. We were in downtown now when the Security Forces started using the Tear Gas trying to push people back, and it really took them hours of barrages of Tear Gas to get the thousands of people that had marched from this Commemoration Ceremony toward the countrys parliament. It took them hours to get them out of that area, and illjust show you, they actually pushed us into this residential area. You can see most people are gone now, but i dont know if you can see the litter on the street and this Police Car that is just completely smashed. On the other side, theres actually a brick thats been thrown through the window, and i think that really gives you a sense of how angry people here are. You know, its been a year since this explosion. We do not really have any more answers about what happened, and nobody has been held accountable. And because of that, were seeing this anger in the streets. And, you know, one of the protesters i spoke to said to me, you know, as long as there is no formal justice, as long as we dont know who did this, as long as we dont feel like somebody� s being held accountable, people are going to be taking the justice into their own hands in the way that we saw today. Life has gotten tougher and tougher here. Electricity cuts are now up to 20 hours a day even in the centre of beirut in a generator people have relied on for much of the past few years no longer can handle this sort of demand. People are spending the night that electricity. They are having days that electricity. The price of food, of basic food has doubled and quadruple because of this massive inflation. As salaries have not an estimate to put 50 of the lebanese population now below the lebanese population now below the poverty line. And that number is likely to climb even higher because right now we are not seeing any solutions in the crisis. Just last month, we saw the former Prime Minister who was supposed to be in charge of forming a new Cabinet Step down after more than eight months of trying to form a new cabinet. Now we have a new Prime Minister, but its been a year without a government in this country in this country needs government so they can meet the reforms and demands of international immunity because there are billions of dollars that are being offered to lebanon to help mitigate this financial crisis. Right now that money is not being brought to the country because the leadership is simply not forming a government and not making these reforms. Much more on this story on our website, including this video of survivors of last augusts deadly blast talking about their experiences. Just log on to bbc. Com news or download the Bbc News app. Lets Take A Look at some of the stories in the headlines in the uk. All 16 and 17 year olds in the uk will be offered a Covid Vaccine in the coming weeks. England, wales, scotland and Northern Ireland have all moved quickly to approve the recommendation by vaccine experts. Around 1. 5 million teenagers could receive the pfizer vaccine, and, crucially, they will not need parental consent to take part. The british Security Guard who died last thursday in a Drone Attack on a ship off the coast of oman has been named as adrian underwood. A Romanian Sailor was killed in the same attack on the vessel mercer street. Police are investigating the incident which britain, the us and israel have blamed on irans revolutionary guard. The iranian government denies any involvement. A judge has ruled that footballer jamie vardy� S Phone can be inspected as part of a Libel Battle between his Wife And Coleen rooney. Rebekah vardy is suing rooney for libel after rooney claimed fake stories had been leaked to newspapers by vardy� s instagram account. The wife of Ex England Player Wayne Rooney was dubbed Wagatha Christie during the row, which began in 2019. Still to come a bit later in the programme, well have the latest from afghanistan as fighting continues to rage across the country. But first to the sprinter from belarus, krystina timanovskaya, who refused orders to fly home from the olympics early because she feared for her safety has arrived in poland this evening after being granted a humanitarian visa by the polish government. Earlier today, the most prominent Opposition Leader left in belarus, Maria Kolesnikova, made a defiant appearance as she stood trial for trying to overthrow president lukashenko. From minsk, Sarah Rainsford reports. Krystina timanovskaya left japan with her olympic dreams shattered, but her route to safety secured. The belarusian athlete says she just wants to run. Her life was sports, not politics until a row with her coaches left her too scared to go home. But here inside belarus, State Television has slammed her claims as cheap hype. The only thing timanovskaya won in tokyo, this presenter says, is a polish visa. On the streets of minsk, though, we did find sympathy for the sprinter whos fled because there is zero tolerance of dissent here now. Were all afraid, dmitri says. Me, too, sometimes, because the situation is unstable. The danger is real. We pass the prison where Opposition Activists have been locked up since mass protests last year. But somehow Maria Kolesnikova is still smiling. The Protest Leader appeared in Court Today charged with plotting to seize power. She and a fellow activist are facing 12 years behind bars. Marias father brought her flowers. But had to pass them on via her lawyer. Alexander hasnt been allowed to see his daughterfor ten months, an extra punishment. And the woman who wanted to change belarus did this dance of defiance. For her dad, it was a chance to smile. It just shows how free she still is inside, he told me, despite everything. Sarah rainsford, Bbc News, minsk. The lengthy legal battle over the whether a senior executive from the Chinese Industrial Giant Huawei can be extradited from canada to the us has reached a crucial stage. Meng wanzhou, the companys chief financial officer, as well as the the daughter of its founder, has been held on bail for almost three years. The us wants her to stand trial for financial impropriety. She denies that, and china says the allegations are a sham. The final Extradition Hearing is under way in vancouver, and Barbara Plett Usher is following developments for us. Barbara, whats the background to this case, and why is it so diplomatically sensitive . Its quite complicated because its about more than just Meng Wanzhou. She was arrested in December 2018 on a us warrant. The americans wanted her extradited to the united states to face charges that her company, related to her Company Huawei violating american sanctions against iran. In those legal proceedings about the tradition have dragged on now for more than two years, and the first phase is wrapping up now. That is best way to determine if they would be enough evidence against her for her to stand trial in canada. Then thejudge has for her to stand trial in canada. Then the judge has to look at the merits of the tradition be asked or divided, and it is expected to be determined by the early autumn. Whys it so sensitive . It really is riling relations between china and the us and china and canada. So with us, this case against the top Huawei Executive coincided with American Action Against Huawei the company, reducing its contracts and its influence in western countries because The Americans believe is a National Security threat. And that has really angered china. In regards to canada, beijing arrested two canadians in china shortly after Meng Wanzhou was arrested for so that was widely seen as retaliation, and they are now trying those two canadians for espionage behind closed doors. So whatever the court decides, there is a political element to this as well. For the rest of the question whether there might be a political resolution, exchange and a two canadians for her, allowing her to go back to china. But relations are so bad between china and the us and canada that it is difficult to see how that can happen. Canada that it is difficult to see how that can happen. Barbara there with the latest how that can happen. Barbara there with the latest on how that can happen. Barbara there with the latest on that how that can happen. Barbara there with the latest on that story. How that can happen. Barbara there with the latest on that story. A with the latest on that story. A developing story and we will bring you more throughout the day on Bbc News. Day 13 of the Tokyo Olympics is getting under way, but the talk is about the records that have been broken on the track in the athletics stadium. Both mens and womens 1t00 metres hurdles have seen new fastest ever times in the last two days, and thats got people asking if its the athletes, their shoes or the track itself which is the main factor. For more on this, we can now cross live to tokyo with sarah mulkerrins, who is there for us. Every time i see one of these stories, i think i must get myself a pair of these super shoes. That might change my career altogether. That might change my career altogether that might change my career altogether. That might change my career altotether. ~ , , altogether. Absolutely we will set ersonal altogether. Absolutely we will set personal best altogether. Absolutely we will set personal best times altogether. Absolutely we will set personal best times in altogether. Absolutely we will set personal best times in no altogether. Absolutely we will set personal best times in no time. I altogether. Absolutely we will set i personal best times in no time. That is where they started actually because companies began developing them for Road Runners initially. Basically shoes that have a Carbon Play and they have some special foam and it is stacked, it is quite thick so it is a bit unusual. A lot of fun runners run the world are now able to buy them but they have transferred into the spikes which are the shoes that the athletes will wear on the track and we have seen some superfast times. May people are wondering whether it is this springy, bouncy track we have or whether the heat having it run quicker or whether it is potentially these super shoes or super spikes they are calling them. Lets get a little bit more on them now. We spoke to geoff burns, a Biomechanics Researcher at the university of michigan, an expert in running Shoe Technology and a runner himself. He explained how this works. Its a really highly responsive foam and a stiff plate going through it. So, you know, all shoes, running shoes, have foams, but this next generation of foam is what we call it more compliant and more resilient. So, that means it squishes down more and squishes back more. Sarah, what action can we look forward to today . Right now we have the Open Water Swimming Marathon for the man. It is going on right now as it is quite warm so they will be out there for the next two hours. The defending Champion Dutchman there. Were also going to have the Bronze Medal Match in womens about with the us womens national team going for a metal they perhaps did not expect to be going for taking on Australia A Little Bit later. We are also going to have the mens Oche Final with the world champions belgium, they had ever won an olympic title so they will be taking on australia, who have not one that since 2001t. And also for the locals here, they will be enjoying the start of karate, which gets under way a little bit later. Lots of stuff to look forward to. Sara h, lots of stuff to look forward to. Sarah, thank you forgiveness up to date on the Sporting Action in tokyo. If you want to get in touch with me. If you want to get in touch with me, im on twitter, bbckarishma. Im looking forward to hearing from you. Youre watching newsday on the bbc. Still to come on the programme, a teenager and a girl aged just 12 took Gold And Silver in the skateboarding in tokyo. Well find out more about japans new stars. The question was whether we wanted to save our people and japanese as well and win the war, or whether we wanted to take a chance on being able to win the war by killing all our young men. The invasion began at two oclock this morning. Mr bush, like most other people, was clearly caught by surprise. We call for the immediate i and unconditional withdrawal of all iraqi forces. 100 years old and still full of vigour, Vitality And Enjoyment of life. No other King Or Queen in British History has lived so long, and the Queen Mother is said to be quietly very pleased indeed that shes achieved this landmark anniversary. This is a pivotal moment for the church as an international movement. The question now is whether the american vote will lead to a split in the anglican community. This is newsday on the bbc. Im Karishma Vaswani in singapore. Our Headlines Anger on the steets of beirut police and protesters clash on the anniversary of the explosion that destroyed much of the lebanese capital. The sprinter from belarus who refused to return home for her own safety has landed tonight in poland after being granted a humanitarian visa. Lets turn to afghanistan as fighting continues to rage across the country. The taliban have been Launching Offensives on multiple fronts. These pictures are of the aftermath of the attack on the defence ministers home in kabul. Neither he nor his family were there. But there were extraordinary scenes in kabul as the Gun Battles were taking place, with hundreds of people coming on to the streets chanting their support for government forces and denouncing the militants. For more on this, i am joined now by daniel davis, retired us colonel and a Senior Fellow at the National Security think Tank Defense priorities. Good to have you on the programme with us, mr davis. With us, mr davis. Thanks for having me. How long before the taliban are in Majority Control of the country . I guess i would differfrom many people and think that is still very much up for debate as to whether thatis much up for debate as to whether that is going to happen. I dont think its inevitable at all because some of the things he were sitting in the report you just mentioned there that the people of afghanistan commander they know they dont the us over their shoulder to back them up, are going to have to stand up on their own and they know now that their own and they know now that their life is on the line. If they dont make the changes that are necessary, either diplomatically or evenin necessary, either diplomatically or even in the security arena, i think you will see the oche people pulled together like they have not so far because now they have to. And so the televangelists not having a free Line Anything and they will have i think more casualties if they start moving into city warfare. He will not work out there with they think. But they are gaining ground rapidly. Was it a mistake for the us to pull troops out in such an uncoordinated manner . It was definitely not a mistake for the us to withdraw. But i think there is some room to question how it was done. I actually was arguing as far back in 2016 2017 that we should announce the withdrawal and then give the active people about 21t months of continued supPort At the same level so we can conduct a coordinated and professionally accomplished withdrawal that everybody has a chance to do in time. Unfortunately that is not the way we did it. We had a second chance with Donald Trump announcing his Decision Or Deal with the taliban in february of last year, there was a M Month Window there wished it would have given us time but unfortunately we did not take advantage of that and he got to sit about other things in the pentagon did not want it so they took no action and then went present biden came in, hejust said thats it, we are going to leave an hour in three months we have 95 now and we have a lot more chaos than we should have happened. But leaving is the right answer. Bill happened. But leaving is the right answer. �. , happened. But leaving is the right answer. ~. ,. , , answer. All of this happening atainst answer. All of this happening against the answer. All of this happening against the backdrop answer. All of this happening against the backdrop of answer. All of this happening l against the backdrop of china. China has been extending a hand to the taliban, saying it believes the taliban has an important role to play in the countrys rebuilding. Beijing gaining ground in a region where the us is losing influence again . Well, i think you look at this in the context of the whole time and not just this the context of the whole time and notjust this particular moment. Because china is not talking about going and militarily to feel any military Void Or Security void. They arejust military Void Or Security void. They are just actually trying to play both sides and reaching out to the taliban and also to the afghan government side. They are trying to play both sides to try to gain something that they can because there is some financial opportunity for them in there with several rare earth materials and other things and also it is on their border and they dont want any of the violence to spill over into their side. They have a motivation to do that but look before we came in and in 2001, china was already there. There is no void to fill there. We just actually help them out as a read about not long ago that we help them out by keeping some of the security down. Now that we responsible for their own security and i think thats actually appropriate. What is the tailban� s End Goal in all of this, a Negotiating Position with the afghan government or ultimate control . I dont believe that their objective is to completely take over the whole country again because they saw that that did not really work out well the first time. They actually from 96 when they started as an organisation were never able to can fully conquer the territory. I think what you will see them want to do is to rule and govern in the areas where they are the majority. And i think that they will be willing to make negotiated deals like what happened in the Korean War and the Vietnam War is over other places in the past. They are fighting as hard as i can right now to get themselves the best Negotiating Position but i think ultimately they also want to negotiate a settlement so they can quit Fighting And Actuallyjust govern the areas where they are the majority. Govern the areas where they are the maori. ,. , ~ i. Majority. Daniel davis, thank you for oinint majority. Daniel davis, thank you forjoining us majority. Daniel davis, thank you forjoining us on majority. Daniel davis, thank you forjoining us on newsday. Lets Take A Look at some other stories in the headlines. A global study of flooding shows that the percentage of the population at risk has risen by almost a quarter since the start of the century. Researchers said climate Change And Migration towards Slum Areas were among the factors behind the rise. Most of the increase was in Asia And Sub saharan africa. A Power Plant in south West Turkey has been been evacuated because of the threat from a major wildfire. The wildfire is one of 16 currently raging across the country. Firefighters, Police Cars and locals were seen fleeing the site as flames lapped at the edges of the power station. The mexican government is suing major us gun companies, accusing them of failing to stop the illegal flow of weapons across the border. Its filed a lawsuit in a court in boston against 15 firms. They claim the unscrupulous selling of guns had armed drug cartels, who kill large numbers of people and cause extensive economic damage. Lets go back to the olympics now, and japan has some new young heroines after they secured medals in the park skateboarding. Sakura yozozumi took the gold. Shes just 19 years old, but shes a Boarding Veteran compared to the silver medallist. Kokona hiraki is not even a teeanger yet. Shes just 12 the average age of the skateboarders in the final wasjust 17, and the bronze was taken by british 13 year old Sky Brown. So, why Arejapanese Women so good at skateboarding at such a young age . Who better to ask than Mariko Oi . Good morning. How popular is the Sport Injapan . You good morning. How popular is the sport in japan . Good morning. How popular is the sport in japan . You know what, i did not realise how sport in japan . You know what, i did not realise how popular sport in japan . You know what, i did not realise how popular it sport in japan . You know what, i did not realise how popular it was sport in japan . You know what, i did not realise how popular it was until. Not realise how popular it was until we saw those amazing Young Athletes doing so extremely well. After say that podium was so adorable. As you said, 19 year old Sakura Yozozumi winning the gold but 12 year old Kokona Hiraki is was 13 year old Sky Brown becoming the youngest medalists for their own countries and of course Sky Brown posit mother is japanese even though your presented teams you become what we feel like she is part of Team Japan as well. And just last week we had the youngest ever gold medallist in japan as well but i think what i have enjoyed the most is their Post Match interviews in which they dont really seem to understand the amazing achievements that theyjust accomplished in the 12 year old Kokona Hiraki yesterday saying how heavy the metal was and also Sakura Yozozumi saying she just had fun and she just wants to go home and have a nice meal. So itsjust been an incredible performance by those Young Athletes. Incredible performance by those Young Athletes. Incredible performance by Those Ount athletes. ,. ,. , Young Athletes. Certainly not what i was doint Young Athletes. Certainly not what i was doing when Young Athletes. Certainly not what i was doing when i Young Athletes. Certainly not what i was doing when i was Young Athletes. Certainly not what i was doing when i was 12. How much do you think this success will inspire a new generation . I think that is still what the ioc had hoped. It made skateboarding on olympic sPort And that was a bid to reach out to the younger generation and it is definitely getting those young Athletes Attention and i think that those girls and also boys, they hope that by them winning the metals, this would boost the popularity of the sPort As well. So a lot of japanese media have popularity of the sPort As well. So a lot Ofjapanese Media have been talking to the Skateboarding Parts and what theyre doing to attract the younger generation as well. I have to ask because im sure everybody in the audience watching right now is wondering the same thing. And, mariko, have you ever been a skateboarder . You have known me long enough to know that i can hardly write a bicycle or a scooter, so, no is your answer. ,. , bicycle or a scooter, so, no is your answer. ,. , answer. Just not skateboarding. Thank you answer. Just not skateboarding. Thank you very answer. Just not skateboarding. Thank you very much answer. Just not skateboarding. Thank you very much for answer. Just not skateboarding. Thank you very much for their. Answer. Just not skateboarding. | thank you very much for their us in tokyo. It turns out it is notjust humans who want a day out at the ball game. Our Feline Friends while a day out as well. This was the moment that a cat interrupted play at the new york yankee stadium. The cat has yet to be identified definitely weaved its way across the field most of the amusement of the crowd and the players. Staff had a tough time catching the animal, who seemed to enjoy playing its own game of cat and mouse. You can see there that the cat is having a wonderful time at that ball game. Certainly giving the audience a lot of entertainment and the players a bit of a run for their money. A very different day at their money. A very different day at the ballpark certainly end it was him i wonder if they ever ended up catching that cat. You have been watching newsday on bbc. State with us. Thank you so much forjoining us. Hello. Our temperatures so far this week have topped out in the comfortable low 20s. In greece, a severe extreme heatwave is continuing. There are wildfires. Temperatures by day have topped out at 47 degrees, and overnight this is an overnight temperature on the island of crete into the mid 30s. Now, there is a bit of relief on the way towards the South East of europe in the coming days as temperatures will come down a bit. Ours are about to go down a bit, too. Low pressure is coming into the uk. The heavy downpours, there have been a few so far this week, are about to become more widespread again. This is how we start off on thursday morning, already some showers affecting Northern Ireland and western scotland. It will turn much wetter through Northern Ireland in the morning, but across the western side of the uk, even though you may start dry, rain will move in through the day. Thats going to extend eastwards to those areas still having some sunny spells even into the first part of the afternoon. Now, behind this main band of rain, my Brightening Up in Northern Ireland, but here some slow moving Thundery Downpours bring a risk of Flooding And Disruption into the afternoon and evening. And temperatures still across eastern parts rising into the low 20s. All areas, though, Seeing Freshening Winds gusting 30 a0 mph. Windiest around Irish Sea coasts, blowing in plenty of showers as we go on through Thursday Night into friday morning. Some longer spells of rain in scotland, and temperatures as friday starts around the mid teens. Well, that low pressure right across us on friday, and there will be further heavy showers around through the central belt, southern scotland, Northern Ireland, northern england, north wales, parts of the midlands. This is where there is a risk of some slow moving, prolonged, even torrential downpours. Thundery, too, theyll bring a risk of Flooding And Disruption. Maybe not too many showers running across parts of southern england, but that could well change on saturday. Another set of weather fronts coming our way from the south just pepping up the downpours across southernmost parts of the uk. Whereas elsewhere, its certainly a similar story. Therell be some heavy and Thundery Downpours around. It is worth bearing in mind, though, there will also be some sunny spells, not wet all the time. There will be brighter, drier moments in between these downpours. By saturday, many places with temperatures back down into the teens. Showery picture continuing on sunday and monday. By tuesday, that low Pressure System is out of the way. It will turn drier for a time, though another low moves in later next week. This is Bbc News. The headlines. Police and protesters have clashed in the lebanese Capital Beirut on the anniversary of a deadly explosion that destroyed parts of the city. Demonstrators are angry no one has been held accountable for the blast. The olympic athlete from belarus who refused her teams orders to fly home from the games has landed in warsaw after being granted a humanitarian visa. Fierce fighting continues between afghan government forces and the taliban in the southern city of Lashkar Gah leaving destruction in the city. Theres growing concern about the safety of tens of thousands of civilians in the area. In the uk, all 16 and 17 year olds will be offered a pfizer Covid Vaccine in the coming weeks. Around one and a half million teenagers could be included in the plan