from tornadoes to tropical storms, wildfires and even rare june snow — the us braces for an onslaught of extreme weather. hello and welcome to bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak. we begin in pyongyang, where the official ceremony welcoming president vladimir putin to north korea has begun in the city's central square. we'll bring you pictures as they come in. russian flags and portraits of putin line the streets of pyongyang for the president's first visit to the country in 2a years. the red carpet was rolled out in the middle of the night,

followed by a brief meeting in which the state news agency said the pair exchanged what it called their "pent—up "inner—most thoughts". the leaders reportedly have a nine—hour—long schedule today, including a gala concert and a tea ceremony. no doubt on the agenda will be strengthening military ties as russia seeks allies following its full—scale invasion of ukraine. before arriving, president putin praised kimjong—un for firmly supporting the war. this is the leaders�* second meeting in less than a year — the pentagon raising concerns about the growing ties between the two. the deepening cooperation between russia and the dprk is something that should be of concern especially to anyone thatis concern especially to anyone that is interested in maintaining peace and stability on the korean peninsula. but also supporting the people of ukraine as they continue to

fight against russian aggression and so of course you are well aware of the dprk providing ammunition and weapons to russia that's been able to help them perpetuate their illegal and unprovoked war against their illegal and unprovoked waragainst ukrainian their illegal and unprovoked war against ukrainian people, so it is that we gonna continue to keep an eye on. let's speak to our correspondent shaimaa khalil, who is following the story from seoul. laura bicker alsojoins me from beijing. joining me now is natalia slavney. thanks to all three of you and i'll start with shaimaa khalil. a midnight or rather darkness arrival under the darkness. what about the pomp and ceremony can we expect today? yes, it was red roses on the

red carpet in a very late night for vladimir putin. around half past two pyongyang time and the tarmac receiving him with a hug and smile as kim jong—un. tarmac receiving him with a hug and smile as kimjong—un. this morning it was a busy and colourful morning in kim il—sung is square in the heart of pyongyang as leaders attended the welcoming ceremony for vladimir putin attended the welcoming ceremony foeradimir putin and attended the welcoming ceremony for vladimir putin and we've seen picture shared by the russian news agency showing the two men in the square but also showing just so many balloons, so many colourful flags that are decorating the surrounding buildings and also local residents who were dressed in the same colours of the two flags of the countries, red, white and blue. we've also seen a welcoming salvo of gardens and the orchestral military orchestra playing the anthems of both countries. all the pomp

and circumstance and the show of unity and togetherness for those two isolated leaders that are trying to show the world and america in particular that they do have friends that they can rely on. we also know another they've sat down for negotiations and i think apart from the photo ops, apart from all the ceremony that we have seen, all the pictures they want to project to the world and to their local and home crowds, it is important what those two men can offer each other. there are limitations to those offers but i think they have very urgent shopping lists that each once from the other. north korea's depleted economy needs money, fuel, food and technology for satellite lodges especially after that failed satellite launch in late may. russia needs more munitions for the depleting stockpile as the world continues in ukraine.

saturday i think it's going to be about practicalities. the questions are what is going to come out of the nine hours in meetings and talks with the two leaders? any treaties, agreements or specifics about what the two men can offer each other? �* , ,, �* what the two men can offer each other? �* , ,,�* , other? i'm sure you'll bring those developments - other? i'm sure you'll bring those developments to - other? i'm sure you'll bring those developments to ask| other? i'm sure you'll bring - those developments to ask here. thank you. let's cross to beijing because another close ally of russia is china and our charter corresponded to laura bicker is following events from beijing. laura, what will this meeting mean to beijing? they are allies, aren't they? fine meeting mean to beijing? they are allies, aren't they?- are allies, aren't they? one of the things _ are allies, aren't they? one of the things i — are allies, aren't they? one of the things i would _ are allies, aren't they? one of the things i would say - are allies, aren't they? one of the things i would say clearlyl the things i would say clearly is someone who has watched the region of the last ten years is that when you look at north korea and russia together, these are fast friends, not firm friends. when kim jong wanted his wellwood diplomacy in 2018 and 2019 he did not prioritise his relationship

with vladimir putin, he met putinjust once, he met president xi three times, donald trump three times and the president of south korea three times but at that point he did not meet the relationship with russia. right now he does. but when it comes to the relation between the two, one major limitation as their own relationship with china. something they cannot afford to jeopardise. when beijing looks at these two together, they look with a worried eye. it is notjust the united states concerned about this relationship, beijing will be as well. for a number of reasons. one of the chief of which is that when these to get together, if north korea does further testing and gets further testing and gets further tax, further testing and gets furthertax, it further testing and gets further tax, it frightens us allies in the region. one thing we saw in the last couple of years is a closer reliance between south korea and japan, something that many in this region thought they would never see. they saw those cheerleaders shake hands that

camp david, brought together by the us and china is incredibly worried about an east asian nato and they don't want any more us assets in the region. the other thing china is worried about when it comes to this relationship is they do not want to be said in the same state as both russia and north korea. they do not want to be an international pariah. china wants to be a global leader, not another cold war, it once a business with both the us and europe, it does not want to cleave itself away from a world relationship in the same way that russia and north korea have. china will be watching carefully to see what these agreements and these cheerleaders, with because if russia is going to give north korea more technology and analysts are not sure that that is the case, but if russia does that, it will worry beijing. 0k, that, it will worry beijing. ok, laura bicker, thank you. natalia slavney, research analyst for the korea programme at the international security think tank, �*the stimson center'.

hello and welcome to the programme. both leaders must be loving the attention that they are getting. how much leverage do they have?— do they have? they both let me know how _ do they have? they both let me know how to — do they have? they both let me know how to draw _ do they have? they both let me know how to draw attention - do they have? they both let me know how to draw attention to l know how to draw attention to themselves. i think that when you're acting as the spoiler country, you always have more leveraged. the latter method you are in negotiations and building a relationship, the more power you have. they are both in comfortable seats. share both in comfortable seats. are ou both in comfortable seats. are you surprised _ both in comfortable seats. are you surprised that this visit is taking place? what do you read into it? i is taking place? what do you read into it?— read into it? i don't think anybody _ read into it? i don't think anybody in _ read into it? i don't think anybody in the _ read into it? i don't think anybody in the dc- read into it? i don't think anybody in the dc policyl anybody in the dc policy community watching north korea is surprised. we have seen signals from list deepening relationship for a few years now. one of the turning point being in september 2022 when north korea released their new nuclear law stating that there would not be negotiations for deed looking relation first in referencing pensions for a unipolar world moving to a

multipolar old away from us power —— denuclearisation. following the visit of september 2023 with kim jong—un visiting the far east and russia, this is right mind. resident putin will be going to vietnam. this is also going to frustrate the us.— frustrate the us. yes, i think it might be — frustrate the us. yes, i think it might be a _ frustrate the us. yes, i think it might be a bit _ frustrate the us. yes, i think it might be a bit frustrating l it might be a bit frustrating especially where the symbolic failure that harboured in the hanoi summit in 2019 and we're seeing a lot of north korea are cosying up to asean allies. like—minded states. i think vietnam sees itself as a more neutral country that is able to play a lot of different cards in the region.— play a lot of different cards in the reuion. ,, . ,., in the region. the us have said that this visit _ in the region. the us have said that this visit potentially - that this visit potentially could come up against the un security council resolutions. what do they mean by that and does north korea, does russia

really care? we does north korea, does russia really care?— really care? we saw back in aril really care? we saw back in april that — really care? we saw back in april that russia _ really care? we saw back in april that russia vetoed - really care? we saw back in j april that russia vetoed the renewal of the un panel of experts 1718 committee which was a blow to sanctions monitoring and compliance. so if we see this attitude continuing with the russia playing its power in the unp fires, i do see some reason for concern. , , ., fires, i do see some reason for concern-— concern. russia previously backed international - concern. russia previously - backed international sanctions, didn't they? and a un but investigate into north korea. this is a bit of a turnaround in relations.— in relations. yes, in 2017 thins in relations. yes, in 2017 things were _ in relations. yes, in 2017 things were pretty - in relations. yes, in 2017 i things were pretty charged between the us and north korea in the fire and fury area under donald trump. and we saw a lot more compliance from actors like russia and china but now it's a complete different scene. ., ~' it's a complete different scene. ., ~ ,, y it's a complete different scene. ., ~ y . scene. thank you very much, “oininr scene. thank you very much, joining us _ scene. thank you very much, joining us from _ scene. thank you very much, joining us from washington l scene. thank you very much, i joining us from washington and the stimson centre.

the latest uk inflation figures will be released later this morning. it is expected that inflation will return to its 2% target for the first time in nearly three years. this comes a day before the bank of england's next interest rates decision and at a crucial time for political parties ahead of the 4july vote. our chief economics correspondent dharshini david has more. gary higgon sussex used to have seven butcher shops. now he has four. forced to make cuts as he has been caught between soaring costs over the last few years a nd costs over the last few years and hard—pressed customers. it is still challenging. and hard-pressed customers. it is still challenging.— is still challenging. price probably _ is still challenging. price probably to _ is still challenging. price probably to 1596 - is still challenging. price probably to 1596 more . is still challenging. price i probably to 1596 more than is still challenging. price - probably to 1596 more than they probably to 15% more than they were the beginning of covid. but the actual price of the product is pretty much stationary now, or we hope it is. it will be nice to come

down but i can't see that in the foreseeable future. that means a value _ the foreseeable future. that means a value is _ the foreseeable future. that means a value is at - the foreseeable future. that means a value is at stake. i the foreseeable future. that l means a value is at stake. the choice cuts — means a value is at stake. the choice cuts may _ means a value is at stake. the choice cuts may be _ means a value is at stake. tia: choice cuts may be out of reach. people are shopping with their pockets rather than eyes. they are looking for the bargain products, quality product at market price. that's happening _ product at market price. that's happening across _ product at market price. that's happening across the - product at market price. that's happening across the high - happening across the high street. it's where prices are settling as the impact of the war in ukraine on energy and food wears off. so total inflation has come down a long way from the 11% it hit in late 2022. but that still means that prices generally remain far above what they were. smaller writers in the price of goods has helped bring down overall inflation this year. but some fear that could rebound a bit in the coming months. father prices, those of services from hotel stays at restaurants and cafes and travel fares are still rising more quickly as

those businesses pass on higher costs. which is a challenge here at the bank of england for those who set interest rates. they have to be sure inflation is notjust coming down but will stay down further out before they start cutting rates. so there is borrowers hoping that we could see the first cut announced as soon as tomorrow, are likely to be disappointed. dharshini david, bbc news. now that announcement comes of course in the middle of the general election campaign. we expect the issue to feature today. we're also set to hear from the scottish national party, who'll launch their manifesto in edinburgh today. first minister and party leaderjohn swinney will be joined by snp westminster candidates and activists to unveil the pa rty�*s proposals. our scotland correspondent lorna gordon has more. john swinney has been leader of the snp forjust over six weeks. he is now letting it into a general election and aware that photo opportunities

while out campaigning can have challenges. his party either argue the challenges will come from policies devised at westminster and claimed that both the conservatives and labor present a danger to the nhs. mr swinney argues the snp will fight many cuts which it says are coming and will today propose ways to increase funding for health. its manifesto well, he says, include measures to protect the nhs against privatisation and set out support for families struggling with the cost of living. and well detailed plans for investment in public services. for investment in public services-— for investment in public services. ., ., , services. we want to make sure that the damage _ services. we want to make sure that the damage that's - services. we want to make sure that the damage that's been - that the damage that's been done to our country for example from briggs that is reversed by this westminster election so that we can rejoin the european union. i want us to take measures to assist the cost of living likeable leading a social tariff and protect multiple households from high energy costs and connectivity costs. these are some of the

ideas that make a difference to people's lives in scotland and of course all of that could be achieved if scotland was an independent country and the possibility of independence will be right at the heart of the snp manifesto. the will be right at the heart of the snp manifesto. the snp say the snp manifesto. the snp say the offer the snp manifesto. the snp say they offer an _ the snp manifesto. the snp say they offer an alternative - the snp manifesto. the snp say they offer an alternative to - they offer an alternative to they offer an alternative to the spending squeeze both the conservatives and labor will the party claims ever made sure they went. he points to policies they brought in at holyrood like the scottish child payment as proof that his party is different. childsplay here, but manifestoes are a serious moment to set out the party's serious moment to set out the pa rty�*s stall. serious moment to set out the party's stall. the snp to win seats for the measures being proposed today. lorna gordon, bbc news. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

president biden has been speaking in the united states. he was addressing earlier talking about immigration. i want those with an educated us couege want those with an educated us college university for their skills and knowledge to work in america and i want to keep building the strongest economy in the world, with the best workforce of the world. with credit of 15 million newjobs, record and within record economic growth, record small business growth and i doubt why the action was taken today matters if you wonder about that, just ask business leaders, labour leaders, economists, elected officials. they know it's good for american business and the american business and the american economy, they know it's good for america period. that was presidentjoe biden unveiling a new policy in which he offered hundreds of thousands of undocumented spouses of us citizens a path

to citizenship. under the existing rules of foreigners who arrive illegally and marry us citizens must wait a brought their application to be processed. ms tavidance said the changes would streamline the changes would streamline the current system which he describes as cumbersome. —— biden. the policy applies to those who have been in the country for at least ten years. those who qualify will have three years to apply for permanent residency and will be eligible for a three—year work permit. the white house believes that more than half a million people will be eligible. polls show the issue of immigration is a primary concern for many voters ahead of the presidential election in november. our north america correspondent, nomia iqbal, the policy benefits those who been living in the us more than a decade, they built their families and lives here. so if

you marry an american, that is eventually a pathway to citizenship. however, if you enterthe citizenship. however, if you enter the country illegally without a visa or visa expires, and you marry an american and then you want to apply for citizenship, you have to leave the country, go back to your home country to do that and that involves splitting up families because the process to pursue legal status takes years so what president biden essentially is doing with the programme is allowing people to stay in the country with their families while they pursue legal status. there are some conditions though, you have to have at least been in the us for a decade, and you had to have been married as ofjune the 17th. also, you mentioned about children. the policy would also help as you mentioned about 50,000 children of those undocumented people whose children and then were taken in by those american

citizens. it's worth mentioning that the policy does affect a pretty narrow, substantial group pero people but narratives of the focus of the policy. that was non—reactive girl. —— nomia iqbal. extreme weather is affecting different parts of the globe currently, but in the us in particular more than 70 million people — that's one in five americans are under heat alerts this week. extreme temperatures reaching as high as 105 degrees fahrenheit in some areas. forecasters are warning that the early summer heatwave could be the longest in decades. an approaching heat dome threatens to bring record—setting temperatures across the midwest and north—east for up to a week. meanwhile in california wildfires near los angeles continue to burn out of control as firefighters struggle to contain the flames. and in the state of new mexico in ruidoso, wildfires burn through 20,000 acres, impacting at least 500 structures and forcing thousands to evacuate.

let's speak to yassamin ansari, former vice mayor of phoenix, arizona and former un climate advisor. hello and welcome. arizona is a well—known desert area. i want to first start with a heat dome. what we mean by that? the heat dome — dome. what we mean by that? ti2 heat dome discusses what is happening in the atmosphere whereas the impact on the ground is talking about a heatwave. as you mentioned, right now in united states we are seeing key emergencies being declared across the united states in particular in the northeast, as the heat indexis the northeast, as the heat index is hurting triple digits. here in arizona we are very much used to extreme heat but many of the places in the us there is also the humidity aspect, many are feeling very challenging times so we are seeing leaders begin to declare those emergencies and acting as

such. . . ., ., , those emergencies and acting as such. . . . ., , ., such. once declared as an emergency. _ such. once declared as an emergency, what - such. once declared as an| emergency, what happens such. once declared as an - emergency, what happens next? it's interesting. in every city and state, they handle the situation differently. at this point in time the federal government in the united states, the agency that deals with natural disasters, has not officially declared extreme heat and natural disaster. there is ongoing call that many of our elected officials, labour unions and organisations are calling on fema to do so to help unlock photo resources. but every jurisdiction help unlock photo resources. but everyjurisdiction is handling it differently. in phoenix, we work every year to prepare for extreme heat because we see hundreds of deaths every single summer as a result of extreme heat and so we have an office of heat response, we open calling centres across the city and this year we are opening several overnight heat respite said estimate to make sure people have a place to go. i know cities across the northeast are doing the same

right now, things are being cancelled, calling centres are being opened but there is a lot of proactive planning that many places in the united states and across the world frankly i going to have to start doing as we see the impacts of climate change and worsening heat waves moving forward.— moving forward. often after a heatwave _ moving forward. often after a heatwave you _ moving forward. often after a heatwave you have _ moving forward. often after a heatwave you have the - heatwave you have the additional problem of once the weather system breaks down, you get rain and it is falling onto hard baked ground and you don't get the risk of flooding? —— you then get the risk. get the risk of flooding? -- you then get the risk. there are so many _ you then get the risk. there are so many consequences. you then get the risk. there - are so many consequences from all impacts of climate change, extreme heat included. one of the most severe impacts and one of the things we have to think about is places in the country and world that may be populations don't have access to air—conditioning. in phoenix here we often seen a lot of people have air—conditioning but some of our most honourable populations are impacted and we

are seeing ageing factors, people who don't want to pay because they're worried about rent and utility bills and then suffer an illness. not only do you see floods and all of the impacts related to the weather following heat, there is also the impacts and aftermath to our populations and especially the most vulnerable.— our populations and especially the most vulnerable. what about wildlife because _ the most vulnerable. what about wildlife because i _ the most vulnerable. what about wildlife because i know _ the most vulnerable. what about wildlife because i know arizona l wildlife because i know arizona obviously is located a desert, arid area, but the extreme heat must affect the wildlife as well. is there something those working in that sector due to prepare as you have described? that is a great question. every sector has to be prepared. our farming communities are actively preparing and it arizona water security is something we worry very closely about. we have to manage our water future. about. we have to manage our waterfuture. we about. we have to manage our water future. we worry about water future. we worry about water conservation and so drought is something that we are constantly working on and

in particular around extreme heat making sure that our wildlife is being taken care of. it is a multifaceted problem. the most urgent threat we face is climate change and all sectors of government and society need to be working towards solutions for this issue because it is not going away. there are many climate impacts already logged in and will continue to see it worsen as he is progress. yassamin ansari, thank you. joining us from phoenix, arizona. stay with us here on bbc news. i'll be back shortly with all the top business stories. hello. here in the uk, we're at long last starting to see the signs of some weather that feels much more like summer than it has done so far this month. other side of the atlantic, though, eastern canada, eastern side of the united states, summer has arrived with a vengeance. a long lasting, intense

and life—threatening heat wave, potentially record breaking, will affect many cities in the east. temperatures into the high 30s by day. but add on the humidity levels, it will feel like it's above a0 degrees for days on end. now, that sort of heat is not coming our way, but it will affect our weather in some form. we've got heat and humidity out towards the east, clashing with cooler conditions out in the west at the moment. and that is starting to fire up a jet stream which will send ripples across the atmosphere, and at long last, move ourjet stream from south of us, bringing cooler air to the north of us, drawing in something a little bit warmer and high pressure, which through the second half of the weekend and beyond, will mean drier and warmer weather more widely. just a few showers to get the weekend under way. but notice the temperatures back to where they should be for the time of year, if not a bit above across most parts of the uk. now to get there, still a few blips around, one such on wednesday morning in terms of temperature. chilly start, scotland, northern ireland, for some temperatures down into lowest single figures, but otherwise a fine day for the vast majority on wednesday. most places will be dry,

varying amounts of clouds, some good sunny spells. northern ireland, england and wales. a slim chance of a shower in the hills, most will be fine. more cloud, though, into the north and west of scotland could bring some patchy rain, a drizzle, particularly later in the day. and temperatures here, 11—14 celsius, but most climbing a bit, especially across scotland and northern ireland. warmer there than in recent days. another fresh start to thursday, most places dry. showers just close to the near continent, and more cloud to the north and west, which could bring the odd isolated shower. but for the vast majority, it should be a fine day again, if not more cloud than we see on wednesday. temperatures, though, similar to wednesday's values for most. now, thursday night into friday, we've got one area of low pressure near the continent, very close to the southeast, another one which will push weather fronts into the west as we go through thursday night and into friday morning. so western areas seeing a bit more of a change here. more breeze, more cloud, outbreaks of rain possible. central eastern areas, most should just stay dry through the day. best of the sunshine in the morning, more cloud into the afternoon, warm in any strong sunshine, and the weather front will bring outbreaks of rain eastwards across most parts during friday

night into saturday morning, and then that dry weather develops more widely. take care.

ai fever takes hold — nvidia overtakes microsoft to become the world's most valuable company. a day of reckoning —

boeing's boss comes under intense questioning by us lawmakers, over the compa ny�*s safety culture. also on the programme, on target — inflation in the uk is expected to fall to 2% for the first time in almost three years. will this be enough for a rate cut? and sitting up high — can the hugely profitable suv market help keep european carmakers on the road amid fierce competition from china? i'll be speaking live to the ceo of citroen. welcome to business today. i'm lukwesa burak. let's start with nvidia, which has overtaken microsoft and apple to become the world's most valuable company. the chipmaker�*s share price climbed to an all—time high on tuesday. the stock ended the trading day at nearly $136 — up 3.5%.