it isa activists warned about. it is a felony— activists warned about. it is a felony to _ activists warned about. it is a felony to perform an abortion. the attorney— felony to perform an abortion. the attorney general has stepped in and said she _ attorney general has stepped in and said she will not criminalise anybody _ said she will not criminalise anybody and the court has also said they are _ anybody and the court has also said they are giving it two weeks of a stay, _ they are giving it two weeks of a stay, but — they are giving it two weeks of a stay, but beyond that we need to go a step— stay, but beyond that we need to go a step further. even donald trump himself_ a step further. even donald trump himself is— a step further. even donald trump himself is mixed up about this. the day before — himself is mixed up about this. the day before yesterday he said he was not for _ day before yesterday he said he was not for a _ day before yesterday he said he was not for a national ban. today he is saying _ not for a national ban. today he is saying arizona has gone a step too far and _ saying arizona has gone a step too far and something has to be done about_ far and something has to be done about it — far and something has to be done about it. he is trying to have his cake _ about it. he is trying to have his cake and — about it. he is trying to have his cake and eat it as well because he understands what is at play here. in arizona _ understands what is at play here. in arizona there are 1.6 million of reproductive age and this is not a joke _ reproductive age and this is not a joke these — reproductive age and this is not a joke. these are millions of lives we are talking — joke. these are millions of lives we are talking about and with no exceptions for incest and rape i think— exceptions for incest and rape i think we — exceptions for incest and rape i think we will see some interesting people _ think we will see some interesting people get to the polls who have not been there before.— people get to the polls who have not been there before. from donald trump was my point — been there before. from donald trump was my point of— been there before. from donald trump was my point of view— been there before. from donald trump was my point of view should _ been there before. from donald trump was my point of view should they - was my point of view should they shut up about the issue of abortion?

they have the advantage on inflation and affordability. prices continue to rise like they are doing across the globe. they have the advantage on immigration and they are at deficit on abortion. the majority of the population do not support what arizona has done. every time you talk about inflation, republicans are winning, every time you talk about abortion, democrats are winning. i think you'rejust about abortion, democrats are winning. i think you're just guests agree on this issue to a greater degree. agree on this issue to a greater decree. . ~ agree on this issue to a greater decree. . ,, i. ., . degree. thank you for pointing that out. degree. thank you for pointing that out- exoiain — degree. thank you for pointing that out- exoiain to _ degree. thank you for pointing that out. explain to our _ degree. thank you for pointing that out. explain to our british - degree. thank you for pointing that out. explain to our british audiencej out. explain to our british audience how crucial arizona is in deciding the outcome of the presidential election. ~ ., . ., , . election. without a doubt we are talkin: election. without a doubt we are talking about _ election. without a doubt we are talking about a _ election. without a doubt we are talking about a lot _ election. without a doubt we are talking about a lot of— election. without a doubt we are talking about a lot of new - election. without a doubt we are - talking about a lot of new americans as wet _ talking about a lot of new americans as well. when i gave you that start of 16 _ as well. when i gave you that start of 1.6 million women being of

reproductive age in arizona, 38% of those _ reproductive age in arizona, 38% of those are _ reproductive age in arizona, 38% of those are hispanic and 45% are white — those are hispanic and 45% are white. that tells you what arizona is looking — white. that tells you what arizona is looking at. these new americans are not— is looking at. these new americans are not voting in the ways we have traditionally seen them do. i come from _ traditionally seen them do. i come from a _ traditionally seen them do. i come from a republican party where it was part and _ from a republican party where it was part and parcel that hispanic voters thought— part and parcel that hispanic voters thought abortion was very important to them _ thought abortion was very important to them and they were anti—abortion and they— to them and they were anti—abortion and they came up with a conservative message _ and they came up with a conservative message. but what the court has done is interpret— message. but what the court has done is interpret the laws. i blame the legislators, they have gone a step too far— legislators, they have gone a step too far and — legislators, they have gone a step too far and in arizona in particular. i have not seen any good, — particular. i have not seen any good, empirical evidence that will draw— good, empirical evidence that will draw me — good, empirical evidence that will draw me to the conclusion how these men and _ draw me to the conclusion how these men and women will vote given the issue _ men and women will vote given the issue i_ men and women will vote given the issue i take — men and women will vote given the issue. i take the point of my guest, age. _ issue. i take the point of my guest, age, economy and those are hits against _ age, economy and those are hits against biden. can abortion permeate those _ against biden. can abortion permeate those things? i am not so sure. in arizona _ those things? i am not so sure. in arizona we — those things? i am not so sure. in arizona we have to guess. let those things? i am not so sure. in

arizona we have to guess.- those things? i am not so sure. in arizona we have to guess. let me ask ou, rina arizona we have to guess. let me ask you. rina shah _ arizona we have to guess. let me ask you, rina shah talked _ arizona we have to guess. let me ask you, rina shah talked about - arizona we have to guess. let me ask you, rina shah talked about age, - arizona we have to guess. let me ask you, rina shah talked about age, are| you, rina shah talked about age, are the economy and the border. what is the economy and the border. what is theissue the economy and the border. what is the issue when it comes tojoe biden? it the issue when it comes to joe biden? . . . . the issue when it comes to joe biden? , . ., the issue when it comes to joe biden? ,. ., , ., biden? it is critical for democrats to net the biden? it is critical for democrats to get the 18 _ biden? it is critical for democrats to get the 18 to — biden? it is critical for democrats to get the 18 to 29-year-old - biden? it is critical for democratsl to get the 18 to 29-year-old votes to get the 18 to 29—year—old votes activated and engaged and involved. there are some polls that showjoe biden and donald trump tied. you have to go back to ronald reagan to find out the republican doing as well among younger people. this activates that group and it is not just about participation. the perception ofjoe biden is that he is out of touch and out of time. abortion changes all that. abortion engages that segment of the population because they take it seriously, and it is the only segment that puts abortion as one of the top three issues.— the top three issues. thank you both ve much the top three issues. thank you both very much and _ the top three issues. thank you both very much and thank— the top three issues. thank you both

very much and thank you _ the top three issues. thank you both very much and thank you for - the top three issues. thank you both very much and thank you for talking l very much and thank you for talking to our audience. are we doing the papers or are we saying good night? no, that is all from us tonight. kirsty is here tomorrow. good night. and then more surprisingly, several republicans, including donald trump, as you said, said they, too, had concerns about this ban. i think those concerns reflect the fact that republicans know they're in a really tight spot with abortion. they have to appeal to a pretty conservative base who do oppose abortion access. but they also don't want to alienate a base of americans who really broadly support abortion access. the majority of americans

do support abortion, and that hasn't changed over about 50 years. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

the worst flooding in almost a hundred years has hit russia and kazakstan, forcing the evacuation of more than a 100,000 people. the flooding in the urals and western siberia has been caused by unseasonably warm temperatures, which has melted snow. in the russian city of 0renburg home to half a million people — water levels have reached dangerous levels. thousands of people have left the city. 0renburg is downstream from the city of 0rsk, which was inundated when a dam burst last week. 0ur russia editor steve rosenberg gave us this assessment of the flooding. sirens. in places, 0renburg

is a city submerged. roads turned into rivers by the worst flooding here in living memory. "evacuation under way," is the message for anyone still living here. "all the houses are flooded," says the local mayor. he's sailing down the streets, surveying the devastation. spring floods are common in russia, but not on this scale. it's thought the combination of heavy rain and rapidly melting snow in warm weather caused rivers to burst their banks. in 0renburg, thousands have left their homes or been helped to leave by emergency services and by volunteers. "everything was dry yesterday," she says. "the water came at night, so fast." and look what damage it's done inside the houses.

the floating fridge — a reminder of the destructive power of water. and flooding has affected towns and villages across the ural mountains and western siberia. beyond russia, too. this is neighboring kazakhstan. here, 100,000 people have been evacuated from the flood zone. meanwhile, other russian regions are preparing for flooding as water levels continue to rise. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. us presidentjoe biden says the us is considering dropping the prosecution of wikileaks founder julian assange, following a request from the australian government. the wikileaks founder has been held in belmarsh prison in london for five years. 0ur washington correspondent gary o'donoghue had this update following joe biden's comment.

well, this was pretty much an off the cuff comment that he made as he was sort of walking through the colonnade at the white house and a reporter shouted to him, you know, "will you consider australia's request?" because of course australia, julian assange, the australian and the australian parliament has passed a motion asking him to be returned to australia, saying, "would you consider ending the prosecution? " he didn't seem to hear the question at first, but it was repeated and he said, "we're considering it." now that would be a huge change, given that the us has been pursuing the extradition ofjulian assange from the uk for years and the thing is still winding its way through the courts. the home secretary signed the extradition back in 2022, but there's been court challenges to that and the high court is still waiting for some responses from the us to see whether or not mr assange could appeal the decision even further and possibly up to the court of human rights. but if america really is thinking about that, that would be a significant move.

we'll have to see the extent to which that was a sort of spontaneous comment, if you like, and whether or not it's borne out by the acts of the justice department. but certainly it will get lawyers talking in london. exit polls in south korea's parliamentary elections are projecting a landslide win for the opposition. the democratic party and other opposition groups are projected to win about two—thirds of the 300 seats in parliament. if confirmed, the result would be a blow to the people power party of president yuun sung—nyull who was elected two years ago. jean mackenzie has more details from seoul. the first thing to note is that exit polls in korea are unreliable. they have been wrong in the past and they don't take account of the early voting happening here in the past week so we don't want to read too much into them. if they are correct, it means that the liberal opposition party is on course to win a significant majority in the parliament.

these elections, although just parliamentary elections, they don't decide the president. they are being seen as a midterm referendum on the current president, yoon suk yeol, who has been in office for two years now. he has been unpopular from the start, but neither side expected him to be punished this much. if his party loses in a big way, it will weaken his authority and make it nearly impossible for him to push ahead with his agenda and pass legislation. the big number that everybody is interested in is 200. this is what is needed to get what is called a supermajority here, and it means that if the opposition party and the smaller parties get 200 seats or more between them, they can join forces to push through laws the government doesn't want. the president will no longer be able the use his veto and that could make politics chaotic, but we will have to wait until the morning here in korea to find out the results for real and what they mean. but they could have big implications for how this country is run over the next three years.

the european parliament has approved sweeping measures to reform the eu's rules on migration and asylum. welcoming the vote, the european commission vice president, maragaritis schinas, said europe would now manage migration in an orderly way, and on its own terms. the issue has been one of the most divisive debates among eu countries ? and this new scheme, is the result of eight years of talks. sofia bettiza explains the changes. this is a make—or—break attempt by the eu to control migration. so how does it work? well, at the moment very few european countries — spain, italy and greece — deal with the vast majority of asylum applications. now, this new agreement brings in a solidarity mechanism. essentially, it's a trade off. so the countries that receive most migrants will build new detention

centres on the eu's external border. migrants would be screened as soon as they arrive and authorities will have the option to detain them until their asylum claims are assessed. and if those claims are rejected, they can be sent to a third country deemed safe. but in return, other european countries like france, germany or poland will have to take in more refugees or send extra money for border infrastructure. now, most ngos dealing with migration have called this pact cruel. for example, amnesty international says that it will lead to a surge in suffering for asylum seekers. the worry is that this agreement could lead to more detentions, especially of children and families. but the eu says that this could be

a breakthrough because a higher number of asylum applications being fast—tracked at the eu's external border could lead to a quicker and more efficient way of sending back illegal migrants. 0ur european correspondent, nick beake explains the significance of this move. if you listen to the likes of the german leader who says this is an historic moment, the word being used by quite a lot of leaders this afternoon, this evening, making the point that for ten years there have been negotiations and now finally, european leaders have agreed on a revamping, reforming of the most arguably controversial issue in europe. today the european parliament has effectively signed off this new deal. it hard to its size. these changes will not come until 2026. size. these changes will not come until2026. by size. these changes will not come until 2026. by their own admission, the european leaders say this is not perfect. it took about a balance

being struck between protecting europe's external borders and also upholding the rights of people to come to the continent if they are fleeing war and are genuine asylum—seekers. the timing is interesting conscript european elections in the summer, the far right look for ways to do pretty well. across many european countries. and centrist politicians know that traditionally, immigration or specifically anti—immigration feeling has done quite well for the far right. before we go — they say retirement is a reward for a lifetime's hard work — and that's certainly the case for one canine in the uk. nine—year—old �*trigger�*, who's known as the �*dogfather�*, has fathered 323 puppies during his work in the guide dog's breeding programme. guide dogs says each of those puppies had brought "independence" and "confidence" to the lives of blind and partially sighted people all over britain. trigger will spend his retirement with his dog breeding volunteer of seven years — who will officially adopt him. that's all for now — stay with bbc news.

hello. well, some of us are in for a fine day. thursday's expected to bring warm, sunny spells to many northern and eastern parts of the country. certainly won't be like it everywhere — in fact, farfrom it in the morning across many western and southern areas of the uk. right now, a lot of cloud shrouding the uk. weatherfront is crossing us, bearing rain and dribs and drabs possible anywhere through the night and in some areas even quite heavy for a time. but this weather front is caught in a current of very mild air streaming in from the southern climes, quite a breezy end to the night is expected as well. but i think by the time we get to around 6:00 in the morning, you can see the skies are clearing across many eastern and some western areas of the uk as well. temperatures will be in double figures in most major towns and cities. so here's the morning, then, the forecast. you can see still a fair amount

of cloud across some southern and western areas, dribs and drabs of rain, but already sunshine across, say, many northern and north—eastern parts of the uk. the temperatures very pleasant indeed — widely, i think, into the high teens or 20 degrees across england, eastern scotland, around 18 and out towards the west, around 1a to 17 degrees celsius. but the west will always be more cloudy. now into friday, the south of the country is closer to an area of high pressure. so i think brighter skies here, but i say brighter, not necessarily all that sunny, because we still have that relatively mild and murky current south—westerly wind, in fact, bringing some outbreaks of rain to north—western areas. so the sunny, brighter skies will always be further towards the east and south and every bit as mild or warm, 20 degrees widely in some areas — mid or high teens. now, that warmth isn't going to stick around. in fact, saturday night into sunday, we're expecting this slightly cooler air mass or much cooler air mass drifting in out of the west

and the north atlantic and brought also by this area of low pressure, which is expected to sweep in some rain to many north—western areas of the uk. so yes, we've got three days of relatively mild if not warm weather given some sunny spells, but by the time we get to sunday and certainly into monday, it's all change — colder and outbreaks of rain from time to time.

this is bbc news. we will have the headlines at the top of the hour as newsday continues straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. there seems to be no end to the suffering of the people of zimbabwe. a prolonged drought is threatening to spread mass hunger in a country grimly familiar with political repression and economic chaos. but no amount of popular dissatisfaction seems to loosen the grip of the ruling party, zanu—pf. my guest is one of zimbabwe's highest—profile opposition figures, job sikhala, recently released from almost 600 days in prison without trial. is real change ever going to come to his homeland?