the name's bond, james bond — but who will play me? we look at the runners and riders in the race to become the next 007. for the next few minutes let's focus on the southern african country of zambia — whose latest battle to keep its economy afloat could have global repercussions. zambia is a landlocked nation with one of the fastest—growing populations in the world, and a strong copper mining industry, which has at various points allowed it to enjoy some level of economic growth. but in 2020, zambia became the first african nation to default on its debt payments during the covid pandemic — this is when a country cannot repay its debts back. as other countries also began defaulting on their debt, the 620 group of nations created the �*common framework in debt�*, with the international monetary fund playing a key role as lead co—ordinator. the new system was meant to speed the process up —

and zambia has been seen by many as a test case for how well the common framework works. but despite protracted negotiations, the zambia debt relief deal has collapsed, raising doubts about the workability of the common framework. zambia's president — hakainde hichilema, who inherited a huge debt overhang when he was elected in 2021 — has been spearheading efforts to get the country's economy back on track. i spoke to the zambian president in an exclusive interview and began by asking him about the economy. i think we did our part as a country in terms of meeting our obligations. we did that well ahead of time. now it is for the other part of the stick to come on board. the bilateral creditors, i think we are doing reasonably well. delayed? yes, it was delayed. but the private creditors, we now need to close and put this to bed so that it can create the headroom we needed, we anticipated long before.

but these delays are beginning to negate the gains that we already made as a country in our economic and social restructuring process. and i think it's an indictment not just on zambia and other debtor countries, but also on the global institutional framework, institutional arrangements such as one. we are talking about the g20. this thing doesn't work, doesn't deliver on time. it's an indictment on a global system as well. so we have to make it work. it has to work. we are at the last stages. let's get it done. and remember, zambia is like a guinea pig. when zambia's debt restructure is put to bed properly, it will motivate others to sign up to this process. it will also help to improve the global systems, the global frameworks, so that they can deliver on time and deliver effectively. most of southern africa — including zambia has suffered from a drought — which has been declared a national disaster. there have been periods where the country has gone without rain for five weeks at a time. as a result, zambia has lost 1 million hectares of planted crops this rainy season.

i asked the president about climate change and thejuggle between international climate commitments and economic development in zambia. first and foremost, we're facing the worst drought in history. records show that we're facing the worst drought in history. 6 million people are under threat of food insecurity. this is a serious issue. we also asked for a global support mechanism to fall in place because this climate change, this drought is largely instigated by the negative effects of climate change. and i think, you know, that the various climate change conferences we've had, we are talking about mitigation. you know, issues that have arisen now, excessive heat. this heat is beyond three, almost four degrees above what is normal in the month of march in zambia. and by the way, it's

notjust in zambia. it's the whole of, most of southern africa. so this is a situation clearly showing that we need to redouble our efforts, travel our efforts to climate mitigate. now let's take you to afghanistan. unicef has told the bbc that 350,000 girls aged thirteen will be blocked from starting secondary school in afghanistan this thursday. many of the girls who finished their primary exams in december had hoped the taliban authorities would moderate their own announcements excluding females from secondary education. let's speak to rebecca roby who is the advocacy manager for the norwegian refugee council in afghanistan. thank you forjoining us. how detrimental is this to 13—year—old afghan girls, but moving forward, the generations to come? the figure that ou the generations to come? the figure that you quoted _ the generations to come? the figure that you quoted there, _ the generations to come? the figure that you quoted there, 330,000 - the generations to come? the figure that you quoted there, 330,000 is l the generations to come? the figure | that you quoted there, 330,000 is an

enormous figure. it is really important to remember that figure has been repeated every year. we are seeing something over1 million girls that have been blocked from achieving secondary education. it is also important to remember that this ban on education as part of a set of restrictions that are really harming women in the country. for perspective, there have been around 50 different decrees is issued since the taliban have taken over that restrict women, their ability to move in public, their behaviour. this is going to cause generational hard for the people of afghanistan. it will have an impact on the labour market, so at a certain point, we will run out of newly graduated teachers and health care workers. so there will be no one to take care of and educate the future generations. we are also seeing really alarmingly, a decline in the

influence women have over decision—making at both the households and the public sphere. un women recently reduced in a port that compared how women report their household level influence last year and 90% of women said that they had felt they had influence over decision—making in their household. this year, it is at 32%, a substantial production. it means that women are losing their ability to advocate for themselves, even in their household.— to advocate for themselves, even in their household. advocacy manager at their household. advocacy manager at the norwegian — their household. advocacy manager at the norwegian refugee _ their household. advocacy manager at the norwegian refugee council- their household. advocacy manager at the norwegian refugee council in - the norwegian refugee council in afghanistan, thank you for talking to us about this. the us fentanyl epidemic shows little sign of abating. more than 100,000 people died in america last year of an overdose — the majority of these deaths were from synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, which can be up to 50 times

stronger than heroin. 0ur correspondent in san francisco james clayton has been speaking to a former addict about how addiction took over his life — and how he nearly died. brian was homeless on the streets of san francisco for three years between 2020—2023. there is someone actually doing fentanyl right now. . actually doing fentanyl right now. , yes you will see that. people do not give an expletive. this yes you will see that. people do not give an expletive.— give an expletive. this is his account of— give an expletive. this is his account of what _ give an expletive. this is his account of what life - give an expletive. this is his account of what life is - give an expletive. this is his account of what life is like . give an expletive. this is his account of what life is like is homeless and addicted to fentanyl. for a year i did not go to sleep on purpose. where i fell is where i slept. i always wondered, why don't you go and get undercover or something, it is because you are just exhausted and just sheer exhaustion and you lay where you fall. so i have been there plenty of times. it is an all—encompassing desire, a 2k hour dayjob. all you're doing is acquiring money to

make sure you still have the dope. even when you run out, obviously withdrawals are looming, they are going to come in a matter of hours. to keep up the habit, brian regularly stole items from stores and sold them on the streets for his next fix which he knew could be his last. . . next fix which he knew could be his last. ., , ., last. there was one time we were sittin: on last. there was one time we were sitting on a _ last. there was one time we were sitting on a ledge _ last. there was one time we were sitting on a ledge of— last. there was one time we were sitting on a ledge of smoking - last. there was one time we were l sitting on a ledge of smoking dope, me and if you guys, and a drug dealer spot, and there was a guy laying down on the ground watching him, but he was not moving, but people laying on the down sleeping all over the place in the area and suddenly went over to him and he was dead. and that is just a suddenly went over to him and he was dead. and that isjust a regular tuesday morning, whatever. brian could consider _ tuesday morning, whatever. brian could consider himself _ tuesday morning, whatever. brian could consider himself lucky. when he was on the streets from november 20 20- he was on the streets from november 20 20— april he was on the streets from november 20 20- april 2020 1683 he was on the streets from november 20 20— april 2020 1683 people died in san francisco due to a drugs overdose. most from synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

still to come on the world today — can the british parliament tackles football legal problems? a new bill is introduced after calls for an independent regulator. many people swear by intermittent fasting? but a new study suggests limiting eating hours could be linked to heart conditions — we speak to an expert. around the world and across the uk. this is the world today on bbc news.

the creation of the first independent regulator for men's football in england is a step closer after the government introduced new legislation today. if passed into law, it would grant powers to a body to oversee clubs across england's top five tiers, independent of government and football authorities. our sports editor dan roan has more. whether it is controversy over teams docked points for overspending, clubs getting into financial difficulty, or the threat of european super league, english football has faced various

crises in recent years. and today the government published legislation that will establish the game's first independent regulator. we have seen 64 administrations since the premier league was formed in 1992. to date this bill is about making sure that we bring financial resilience and stability back into football so we don't see those clubs go under. this comesjust days after the premier league failed to agree a proposed £900 million funding deal that would have seen it share more with clubs like this, leyton orient of league 1. i was hugely disappointed, the government has been very clear from the outset in these discussions, that if football did not come to a deal, the regulator would be able to in the bill we will bring forward. as well as the power to impose a financial settlement on the game and to block clubs joining a breakaway league is, the regulator will be able to issue club licenses linked to financial security and fan power on key decisions.

fine clubs up to 10% of their annual turnover for not complying and implement a tougher owners and directors test. 2017, this club was almost in liquidation once upon a time and since then, we have had bury grabbed gone through what they have gone through, the financial difficulties of what wedding is going through currently and when you look from the outside in there is definitely a concern and you want there to be a robust measures in place to protect clubs —— reading. this constitute is the most significant reform to the way the game is won in england for a generation but the premier league has said it is concerned about any unintended consequences that could weaken competitiveness or appeal of the game here. the premier league reiterated it distributes £1.5 billion over three years to all levels of the games and while some campaigners say the legislation has not gone far enough, the football league welcomed it. the gulf between top and bottom has grown to a chasm. when we formed the premier league, the turnover was 45 million, the air felt was 3a, the gap was 11 million and the gap is now three billion and it is not able to be bridged. the regulator which ministers want to become law before

the general election will not block to state ownership of clubs and with the possibilities of amendments, its final form is still in play. the air felt was 3a, the gap was 11 million and the gap is now three billion and it is not able to be bridged. the regulator which ministers want to become law before the general election will not block to state ownership of clubs and with the possibilities of amendments, its final form is still in play. the name's bond, james bond — but who is set to be the next 007 with daniel craig having retired his walther ppk. speculation over which actor will take on the role ofjames bond has been mounting once again, after reports that british star aaron taylor—johnson has been offered the role. there he is in the picture giving brad pitt a hug. let's speak to rob parker, an author and host of the really 007 podcast. what do we make, will it be aaron,

yes or no? taste what do we make, will it be aaron, yes or no?— what do we make, will it be aaron, yes or no? we hope so. it has been so lona yes or no? we hope so. it has been so long since _ yes or no? we hope so. it has been so long since we _ yes or no? we hope so. it has been so long since we have _ yes or no? we hope so. it has been so long since we have added - yes or no? we hope so. it has been so long since we have added any i so long since we have added any kind of news, so any kind, however much you want a pinch of salt with it, it is good news. so exciting. what is good news. so exciting. what makes him _ is good news. so exciting. what makes him potentially - is good news. so exciting. what makes him potentially a - is good news. so exciting. what makes him potentially a good bond? is good news. so exciting. what - makes him potentially a good bond? i think he is a fantastic actor and i think he is a fantastic actor and i think that is crucial. it is always been crucial but now more than ever people want a bit more from their james bond and their hero. so being a great actor helps. i also dare i say, he looks the part, splendid. also, at 33 he is an attractive age for producers who want to make a long—term thing of it. for producers who want to make a long-term thing of it.— long-term thing of it. what direction — long-term thing of it. what direction do _ long-term thing of it. what direction do you _ long-term thing of it. what direction do you think - long-term thing of it. what direction do you think they| long-term thing of it. what. direction do you think they are going with bond given that they have done the muscular hard man with daniel craig, where we going next, geeky bond? daniel craig, where we going next, geeky itone?— geeky bond? truthfully it is such a thankless task. _ geeky bond? truthfully it is such a thankless task. everyone - geeky bond? truthfully it is such a thankless task. everyone has - geeky bond? truthfully it is such a thankless task. everyone has an i thankless task. everyone has an opinion. everywhere, on tv, radio,

the internet. there is such a huge appetite for bond, still, despite where we were left at the end of the last movie without giving too much away. so where do we go next? i don't know. ijust want away. so where do we go next? i don't know. i just want to away. so where do we go next? i don't know. ijust want to enjoy it. i would like us to have that two hours of reporting good time and go away thinking, man that was good. fit away thinking, man that was good. of course to the producers of bond, if they want a geeky one, my husband is available. who is yourfavourite bond? available. who is your favourite bond? . , available. who is your favourite bond? ., , ., available. who is your favourite bond?_ what? | available. who is your favourite i bond?_ what? say available. who is your favourite - bond?_ what? say that bond? timothy dalton. what? say that aaain. i bond? timothy dalton. what? say that again- i love — bond? timothy dalton. what? say that again. i love roger. _ bond? timothy dalton. what? say that again. i love roger. he _ bond? timothy dalton. what? say that again. i love roger. he is— bond? timothy dalton. what? say that again. i love roger. he is very - again. i love roger. he is very brooding _ again. i love roger. he is very brooding and _ again. i love roger. he is very brooding and has _ again. i love roger. he is very brooding and has those - again. i love roger. he is very i brooding and has those beautiful blue eyes, but really? tell me why. why timothy dalton? i blue eyes, but really? tell me why. why timothy dalton?— why timothy dalton? i thought he brou:ht why timothy dalton? i thought he brought something _ why timothy dalton? i thought he brought something extra - why timothy dalton? i thought he brought something extra to i why timothy dalton? i thought he brought something extra to the i why timothy dalton? i thought he i brought something extra to the role. i think if you people are looking for a greedyjames bond you had him backin for a greedyjames bond you had him

back in 1987. he for a greedy james bond you had him back in 1981— back in 1987. he was very brooding. he very much _ back in 1987. he was very brooding. he very much was. _ back in 1987. he was very brooding. he very much was. i _ back in 1987. he was very brooding. he very much was. i don't _ back in 1987. he was very brooding. he very much was. i don't think i back in 1987. he was very brooding. he very much was. i don't think the | he very much was. i don't think the public at the time were quite ready for that. mr; public at the time were quite ready for that. g ., ., , ., for that. my favourite is roger moore because _ for that. my favourite is roger moore because he _ for that. my favourite is roger moore because he is- for that. my favourite is roger moore because he is so i for that. my favourite is roger| moore because he is so funny, charming and for me that this quintessential bond. that is how he should be. i know everyone has their own favourite, who knows who the next one will be. thank you so much forjoining us. i will speak to you again soon. 0nce forjoining us. i will speak to you again soon. once we know the actual bond as we will bring you back. ianthem bond as we will bring you back. when there is actual — bond as we will bring you back. when there is actual news, bring _ bond as we will bring you back. when there is actual news, bring it - bond as we will bring you back. when there is actual news, bring it on. what you mean actual news, awkward. moving on. a new study of over 20,000 adults in the us has found that intermittent fasting is linked to higher risk of death from heart conditions. the study found that people who limited their eating across less than 8 hours per day, a time—restricted eating plan, were more 91% more likely to die from cardiovascular disease compared to people who ate across 12—16 hours per day. worrying news if you are one who

intermittent fasting. dr benjamin home is an expert on the relationship between fasting and cardiovascular health from intermountain heart institute in utah. he joins us from salt lake city. does this report make for where reading, or is it not a good enough scope of people to be able to decide whether intermittent fasting is good or bad for you. it whether intermittent fasting is good or bad for you-— or bad for you. it does not surprise me what they _ or bad for you. it does not surprise me what they have _ or bad for you. it does not surprise me what they have found. - or bad for you. it does not surprise me what they have found. we i me what they have found. we know that intermittent fasting is something that is not free of risk. are people who are apparently healthy, they probably can fast without much concern of side effects, but for other people who have diagnosed chronic diseases or who are elderly or frail or so forth, fasting regiments need to be personalised. people need to understand that they need to be doing what is good for them which balances risks and benefits. 50 it balances risks and benefits. so it does not actually _ balances risks and benefits. so it does not actually cause - balances risks and benefits. so it does not actually cause heart problems, it exacerbates them if you have them already? that problems, it exacerbates them if you have them already?— have them already? that is primarily what i am

have them already? that is primarily what i am saying- — have them already? that is primarily what i am saying. in _ have them already? that is primarily what i am saying. in this _ have them already? that is primarily what i am saying. in this study i have them already? that is primarily what i am saying. in this study in i what i am saying. in this study in particular, they have asked individuals, what is your pattern of eating and they found that some people who are restricting their diets, just eating during an eight hour. in other people are not, it did not ask people why. so there are potentially people who are doing it on purpose so that they could improve their health, but there are other reasons would have responded that they only eat during an eight hour window during the day some including that they have a chronic disease and they are undergoing treatment and they don't feel like eating. they only use data from two different days to decide who went into the group of people who are restricting their diet. so they have some potential issues with the data, they have taken a real—world sample of a large number of people, but they have not evaluated why it.

another reason in addition to having a disease that is causing them to restrict their diet, people may have been recently diagnosed with a disease and have decided, fasting will reduce my risk, so i will do a lot of that. people need to personalise their diet. we have seen in some of the data of hours, people who have a lot of risk factors like diabetes and are overweight or so forth, can actually have worse outcomes if they are doing too much fasting. iiii outcomes if they are doing too much fastina. ,., ., outcomes if they are doing too much fastina. ., ., . fasting. if someone were watching this at home _ fasting. if someone were watching this at home and _ fasting. if someone were watching this at home and they _ fasting. if someone were watching | this at home and they are relatively healthy, and one bird, would you recommend fasting as a healthier approach to life? i recommend fasting as a healthier approach to life?— recommend fasting as a healthier approach to life? i would, yes. for someone that _ approach to life? i would, yes. for someone that has _ approach to life? i would, yes. for someone that has other _ approach to life? i would, yes. for someone that has other potentiall someone that has other potential problems, diagnose diseases, they should talk to their physician first. they need a more personalised regimen than some of the more intense ones.— regimen than some of the more intense ones. interesting advice. thank you _ intense ones. interesting advice. thank you very —

intense ones. interesting advice. thank you very much, _ intense ones. interesting advice. thank you very much, doctor. i the organisers of a football match in hong kong have begun the process of reimbursing fans disappointed by the non—appearance of the argentine striker lionel messi six weeks ago. almost 40,000 fans attended the friendly between messi's inter miami and a local hong kong team, only for messi to sit out the match because of injury. the no—show sparked boos from the crowd and accusations from some that his absence was a political snub to china. there he is on the pitch, not playing, though. the british board of film classification — which gives films in the uk age ratings — is tightening its rules on violence, sex and bad language, in response to its latest audience research. the changes only affect future releases. but, as charlie rose reports, some popular films would face stricter ratings if they were released in cinemas today. released in 1964, goldfinger is one of the classic bond movies, but some of the content hasn't stood

the test of time. now let's both play. the british board of film classification — or bbfc — says people who took part in its research feel this scene actually portrays sexual assault. and these drama and media students in bury in greater manchester agree that the film's current classification of pg — or parental guidance — is too low. it's not appropriate for younger viewers, for the younger audience, i don't think it's suitable. i think it should be at least a 12a, minimum. i tend to ignore the kind of not—as—appropriate side of it because that's more how i was brought up tojust see the better things of it. the bbfc says its guidelines are updated every few years to ensure standards reflect the expectations and values of audiences. in its new survey, the organisation spoke to more people than ever before. 12,000 people there or thereabouts responded to your latest survey. tell me what they told you.

this time they've told us that they're slightly more concerned about violence and sexual activity. there's a degree of tightening up on language, particularly at the lower levels, but there's a bit more relaxation when it comes to cannabis use. don't worry about that. and that's why the new film about bob marley has been classified as suitable for children over 12. # gonna be all right.# you like that one? yeah. our research had come out already, so it enabled us to apply the new research to the film. the film was now given a 12a. if we had received that film six months ago, it would have been given a 15. and olderfilms put forward for re—release must also be tested against current attitudes. last month, the original mary poppins from the 1960s was reclassified from a u — which stands for universal —

to a pg, because of concerns about discriminatory language. bumblebee, from 2018, was among the more recent films shown to focus groups as part of the bbfc�*s latest research. and at school, the children had their own firm views. do you think the pg rating is right? yeah, because there are, like, toys that children play with. and i think that if kids can play with those toys, they can at least see the movie. i think the violence should at least be toned down a little because the younger audiences, they see stuff, they want to copy it, it's like they might think it's right. and 2021's mitchells vs the machines — sold as a family comedy and classified as universal. yes, it does show violence. and although it is humans against machines, there's still the threat of humans doing that to other humans.

having it as a pg, the parents can talk to the child about it. it's not that violent, but it's a little bit violent. do you think the rating is fair at the moment? um... yes, i do, because it'sjust a cartoon, actually. but the british board of film classification says, following audience feedback, it now adopts a stricter position on the classification of violence. so these films would be labelled differently if they were released today. charlie rose, bbc news. discounter lidl has won a trademark lawsuit against the uk's largest supermarket chain tesco. the high court ruled that tesco's clubcard logo copied lidl�*s logo which is a yellow circle with a blue background. lidl had argued that tesco was trying to take advantage of its reputation and had infringed its copyright.

the court of appeal today threw out tesco's appeal against the ruling last year. tesco said it was "disappointed", while lidl said it was pleased. can't please everyone, can you? that's it for the programme today. stay with us on bbc news. hello there. although south—east england and east anglia kept a lot of cloud during tuesday, the rest of the uk actually the weather brightened up quite nicely, with some good spells of sunshine coming through — for example, here in county durham. and it was mild, especially around lincolnshire. temperatures widely here reached around 16 celsius. but the next weather system is already showing on the satellite picture, with cloud thickening from the south—west. and overnight tonight, we're looking at rain moving in. now the rain will be at its heaviest across northern ireland, northern england, wales, and probably the north midlands.

temperatures keeping up at around 9—11 celsius across england and wales. scotland and northern ireland, around sixes and sevens. wednesday, then, we start off with rain in northern ireland — but the wettest weather looks likely to affect wales, northern england, and the midlands through the course of the day. it's not clear that we'll see rain as far north as northern scotland, so it might actually be a dry and bright day here, and a lot of cloud for east anglia, south—east england — could thicken up to give an odd patch of rain through the afternoon. but it will stay mild — 15—16 celsius in the warmest spots. north midlands northwards, the weather will be cooler — temperatures around 10—11 at best. now, that cooler slice of weather across the north isn't going to last long, because we've got this slab of milder air moving in behind this warm front for thursday. and that is going to be bringing some more rain, particularly to scotland. and it's notjust wet weather, it's also going to be windy — with gusts across northern scotland reaching 50, perhaps 60mph. the rain trickles southwards into northern ireland through the afternoon — but on thursday, across england and wales, cloud will probably thin

and break to give some sunny spells. it will probably stay dry for wales, midlands, east anglia, and southern england. highest temperatures up to 16 celsius, so pretty mild. but it's all change again for friday — a cold front pushes southwards, introducing much cooler and fresher air, with those north—westerly winds following. so, weather—wise, our cold fronts bring some cloud and rain to england and wales during friday. the rain could be slow to clear away from south—east england. behind that the sun comes out, but there'll be loads of showers for scotland, northern ireland, and the north—west of both england and wales. the showers for these areas — heavy with some hail and thunder, and temperatures for the most part around about average, 9—12 celsius. it stays unsettled, then, through the weekend. loads more showers to come, and, as well as that, there'll be a chilly north—westerly wind. bye for now.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. the extent of israel's continued restrictions on the entry of aid into gaza, together with the manner in which it continues to conduct hostilities, may amount to the use of starvation as a method of war. 100% of the population i in gaza is at severe levels of acute food insecurity.

that's the first time an entire i population has been so classified. we are determined to decimate these in rafah, and there is no other way to do it other than the ground invasion. the us secretary of statesays gaza is facing "severe levels of acute food insecurity". antony blinken, is returning to the region later this week as he looks to avert a man made famine. we will hear tonight from 0xfam who accuse the israeli government of deliberately blocking and undermining the humanitarian response. shadow chancellor rachel reeves — has delivered tonight a big speech on labour's plan for the economy. so does labour have plan? and is this an historic moment for english football? the government introduces its plans for an independent regulator. good evening. benjamin netanyahu has reaffirmed his belief that israel

will have to send troops into rafah,