this is bbc news. the headlines at 11am. north korea has made a failed attempt to test a missile, hours before the us vice—president mike pence arrived in south korea. theresa may urges unity over brexit, as she delivers her first easter message as prime minister. our shared interests, our shared ambitions, and above all our shared values can and must bring us together. the evacuation of besieged towns in syria has resumed, following yesterday's suicide attack targeting evacuees. more than 100 people were killed. also in the next hour, turkey goes to the polls in a landmark referendum. president erdogan casts his vote in a bid to bring in new sweeping powers that could keep him in office potentially for another 12 years. the world's oldest person has died aged 117. emma morano was officially the last surviving person born in the 1800s.

and coming up at eleven thirty — dateline london discusses those simmering tensions between the united states between the united states and north korea and the turkish referendum. good morning and welcome to bbc news. north korea has made a failed attempt to launch a missile, a day after it issued a warning to the united states that it was ready to hit back with nuclear attacks amid escalating tension in the region. the pentagon said the ballistic missile blew up almost immediately. it happened as the us vice president, mike pence, arrived in south korea on a scheduled visit to discuss the north's missile and nuclear programmes. 0ur correspondentjohn sudworth is in pyongyang with the latest. it's almost certain that the missile test is meant as a

message of defiance, it came just a few hours before the visit to the south korean capital seoul by the us vice president mike pence. and just a day after north korea held a massive military parade, a show of strength typical of this most totalitarian of states, and at which it unveiled what are believed to be its first intercontinental missiles. it's worth noting that in many regards this is business as usualfor north korea. it has long used brinkmanship and tension to up the ante and then win diplomatic and economic concessions as it steps back from the brink. but with each cycle, moving one step closer towards its goal of becoming a fully fledged nuclear power. what's new in all of this is not what's happening in this capital but in washington, of course, but it seems north korea's actions suggest that it's

confident that president donald trump, will, like his predecessors before him, eventually conclude that the cost of military action is simply too great. john sudworth, bbc news, pyongyang. that is the view in north korea, what about in south korea? the bbc‘s steve evans is in the south korean capital seoul. i don't think there is any sense here that people expect anything to happen. we've lived in this kind of state of fearsome rhetoric and threats from pyongyang pretty well since 1953 and the tension goes up and comes down. if you go out on the streets here people go about their business, there is no panic buying, nobody is preparing to go out of the city for example and 25 million people live in this region within range of north korean artillery. the us embassy, business as usual, the us embassy is not warning citizens

to leave, for example, so the assumption of ordinary people is that this is another spate, another spat between pyongyang and washington and seoul which will come to nothing. but as john pointed out, the different element in all of this is the new president in the white house who is talking very, very firmly and toughly. will he do what his predecessors, from clinton onwards have done and decide that the potential cost of hitting north korea is simply too great in terms of the risk of war? or does he have a different perception of risk? we simply don't know at the moment. mallory factor is a professor of international politics and american government and speaking to me a little earlier he gave me his thoughts on the current tensions. surreal is you is, can north korea

be contained. because the president of the united states is a deal—maker. of the united states is a deal-maker. if the deal collapses people will flood across the board into north china. i should be interviewing you! you are correct, thatis interviewing you! you are correct, that is the point. he's basically saying you help me with north korea, president xi and i will help you with economic policy. you say the testis with economic policy. you say the test is a small point and it is quite true that there have been a lot of these tests, some more successful tha n lot of these tests, some more successful than others although this seems to be a big debate worrying people about how quickly north korea

can get to the stage where it could actually deliver something really dangerous that could hit the united states, maybe not washington but somewhere closer. is that threat credible? i think it is overstated. iran missile defence systems, they probably have ten, total, nuclear weapons. with the arsenal of the united states and other countries being far more fast, i think the issueis being far more fast, i think the issue is we don't want to see them continuing to grow in their ability because they are rogue regime. but you are also looking at other rogue regimes around the world, which basically they supply, like iran. they are one of iran's major suppliers so if you can stop them you can help contain iran as well. that is a big debate for the trump administration because it has a different approach to president 0bama's because it is accepting, at

times presidentjohn has suggested he might even tear at that. times presidentjohn has suggested he might even tear at thatlj times presidentjohn has suggested he might even tear at that. i think he might even tear at that. i think he might. you see him making a lot of changes... to what he said on the campaign trail. he talked the talk that may it will not walk. that's been a problem throughout modern history in america. the conservative movement elects these so—called conservatives and then when they get into office, they change. and the conservative movement is kind of upset. are they giving him more patience? i think they are. there was one magazine that had an interesting analogy, it's like dating a girl whose father cheated on her mother, she will always be suspicious. he constantly has to provide wins because he has an emotionally damaged base that has

been abused. that sums it up. professor mallory factor, speaking about an hour ago. the failed missile test comes as washington steps up the pressure on the isolated north, with president donald trump saying that the us is ready to act alone to deal with the nuclear threat. 0ur correspondent laura bicker reports now on the american response to events in north korea. pyongyang is being warned. these naval warships are within striking distance of the north korean capital. the message — the us is ready to act if provoked. north korea is a problem, the problem will be taken care of. north korea has to change its behaviour. the key time for action is now. key to us efforts will be china. these talks lay the groundwork. donald trump said he received assurances that they would help put an end to the nuclear ambitions of north korea and believe that is why he has dispatched warships. china is already applying pressure at its border and placed a ban on imports of north korean coal.

if president trump is weighing his options, his best hope is in beijing. the us could also push for more un sanctions but critics believe that punishes the people of north korea, not its leaders. the pentagon has denied any suggestion of a pre—emptive military strike. but donald trump's actions in syria prove he is a president prepared to take action quickly and without warning. us troops in afghanistan are advancing after the dropping of a massive bunker busting bomb known as the mother of all bombs. a display of firepower from the world's strongest military that just might make kim jong—un think twice about launching any attack. laura bicker bbc news, washington. we have heard remarks from mike pence in south korea he has attended

an easter service with troops stationed there. according to reuters he said that the countries revolve a nd reuters he said that the countries revolve and commitment in its alliance with south korea had never been stronger. he will also meet political leaders on his visit to south korea. we will bring you pictures of mike pence in south korea when we get them. still with the easter theme. theresa may has used her first easter message as prime minister to say the uk is coming together after the brexit vote. the pm said opportunities would emerge from britain's decision to leave the european union thanks to the country's shared ambitions and values. she also stressed her belief in the importance of religious tolerance and freedom of speech. let us come together as a nation, confident in our values and united in our commitment to the obligations that we have towards one another. let us work together to build that brighter future that we want for our country. and let us together build a stronger, fairer britain that truly does work for everyone.

the labour leaderjeremy corbyn used his easter message to urge people not to standby in the face of society's problems. he said easter should be a time to reflect on the current challenges both at home and abroad. it would be easy to retreat into our private lives because of challenges that seem overwhelming, or allow ourselves to be divided and blame others. but we need to respond to these problems head on, through action and support for socialjustice, peace and reconciliation. let's look at the events in rome this morning. it looks as if the rain clouds have cleared. people are in saint peter ‘s square, they have just been listening to the pub's address to the catholic faithful who have attended easter mass this morning. that great tradition in the vaticanjudgment morning. that great tradition in the vatican judgment listening to pope francis's address. we can hear a

little of the service although pope francis has completed his main easter message. translation: francis has completed his main easter message. translatiosz francis has completed his main easter message. translation: in the form laid down by the church to all the faithful present and to those who receive his blessing by radio, television and the new communications media. just a small flavour of the service which is coming to its conclusion. we get the traditional message that the pope delivers to catholics worldwide, and indeed to followers of other religions and he often touches on the shortage tulisa contostavlos subject of conflict in the world, no shortage of issues he might want to address this sunday. it is possible that he may be thinking of syria after the car bomb

attack. the evacuation of syrian residents from towns under siege has resumed, after dozens were killed in a suicide car bomb yesterday on the outskirts of aleppo. the attack happened at a check point where thousands of civilians were waiting on buses to be moved to safety. as you rightly said the death toll has risen, agencies reporting around 112 killed in this blast yesterday. however, there were fears of retaliation on some buses waiting to be evacuated from the opposition side besieged by the government but so far, what we hear, there was no retaliation, the evacuation went smoothly, and in fact, i spoke to some activists who made it through northern syria in the town of idlib. this is the town in idlib province, the town and the province held by the rebels. this is where most of the opposition that are evacuated not only from these two towns yesterday but elsewhere, they are evacuated and it showed solidarity between both sides after the blast that happened where many

children and women, mainly civilians, were targeted. we have seen evacuations happening from opposition activists and loyalists, helping women and children who were targeted. we describe it as an evacuation but it also seems to be a swap of competence. people are going from a dangerous place but are they going anywhere safe? that's a very important question. for the loyalists to the government, that have been evacuated, around 5000 of them evacuated yesterday, between civilians and militants, going to safe areas because they are going to be under government control but for the opposition who left around 2200 mixed between civilians and militants, they are basically going to idlib, the rebel held area asi mentioned. idlib is constantly

under government attack. the government always justifies its attacks by saying it is targeting terrorists but you know, there are lots of civilians in idlib and they are being constantly attack on the government and the fear that we are going to see another level in idlib, you know, of targeting civilians there. thank you very much for that update. the headlines on bbc news: north korea has made a failed attempt to launch a missile — as the us vice—president arrives in the region. theresa may urges unity over brexit, and speaks out for the role of christianity as she delivers her first easter message as prime minister. the evacuation of besieged towns in syria has resumed, following a suicide attack targeting evacuees. more than 100 people are now known to have died.

sport now and for a full round up, from the bbc sport centre, here's hugh woozencroft. good morning! there's been more success for great britain on the final day of cycling's world track championships. after winning two silvers already in hong kong, elinor barker has gone one better, taking gold in the points race after a gripping battle with america's sarah hammer. it's britain's fifth medal and second gold of the five—day competition, following katie archibald's omnium success on friday. i'm incredibly happy, so, so happy. two silvers this week and until the last lap it looked like it was going to be another silver and i was heartbroken but i'm so happy and relieved i got a gold. there are highlights of the cycling on bbc two at 1pm. now to boxing, and scotland's ricky burns failed to unify the super—lightweight division in glasgow last night. he lost his wba title to the ibf and ibo championjulius indongo.

the namibian was unbeaten in 21 fights prior to this and forced burns onto the back foot for much of the fight. burns had rallied in the fifth and sixth rounds but all three judges awarded the fight to indongo. chelsea have the chance to regain their seven—point lead at the top of the premier league when they face manchester united at old trafford this afternoon. antonio conte's side had their lead cut to four points yesterday when tottenham beat bournemouth. manchester united are a really good team, physically strong, good technically, for this reason we must pay great attention, because of united, to find a place for the next champions league and to arrive in the first four of the table. i think they have the possibility to do this. they have a certain style of play, they stick to it.

they do it very well. not every team defends with 11 players, they defend with 11 players and not every team is so objective in their counterattacks. they are very objective in their counterattacks. and they have individual players out of the context of the game that can also resolve problems. so they are a very strong team. there are just two matches in the premier league today. liverpool will hope to go back up to third. they face west brom at the hawthorns in the lunchtime kick—off. we know about their qualities, their style, we know they have real experience, maybe the most experienced team in the premier league. they play at home. a lot of things which cause us work but we have nothing else to do, we go

there and we want to show again that we have big targets this season and we want to go for it and fight for a result. if we can do this, then we have a chance. and there's just one game in the scottish premiership today. champions celtic travel to ross county for a 12.30pm kick—off. county go into the match three points clear of the relegation play—offs spot and three behind seventh—placed kilmarnock. it's day 2 of the world snooker championship in sheffield with players battling for a place in the second round. yan bingtao has hit a century break in his first appearance in the competition. he's taking on shaun murphy, who is leading at the

session interval. these are live pictures from bbc two. on the other table, world no 1a kyren wilson resumed this morning 5—4 up on david grace who makes his first appearance at the crucible. wilson is 6—5 ahead, they have each w011 wilson is 6—5 ahead, they have each won one friend this morning. you can follow proceedings on the bbc sport website and app. that's all for now. keep up—to—date with all of those stories on the bbc sport website. i'll be back with more in the next hour. see you then. thanks very much. voting is under way in turkey in a referendum that could grant sweeping new powers to president erdogan. if approved, the role of prime minister would be scrapped. our correspondent mark lowen has the latest from ankara. so it's arrived, the biggest political choice in modern turkish history. should voters in this country choose to turn turkey from a parliamentary to a presidential republic, scrapping the post of prime minister, making the president head of the executive as well as head of state, with vastly enhanced powers? we've arrived at this high school in ankara which is serving

as a polling station today, one of tens of thousands across the country to do so. let's go inside and see how the voting process works. around 3,000 voters are registered to cast their ballot at the polling station. they come in here to the central area, their names are checked against a central registration list, providing their id and they are assigned a classroom which to cast their ballot. it's been a pretty regular flow of voters this morning. they are hoping for a high turnout. that could be decisive in the outcome of this referendum. once in the voting room, they have another id check before they pass down here and are given the ballot paper. it doesn't have a question but just two words, yes and no, a decision that will shape turkey's future path and peering down upon them, the founder of the turkish republic, ataturk. they come through into the polling booth and they cast their ballot. rarely has turkey mattered so much to world affairs. never has it faced a political

choice quite like this. here, the government has been accused of wasting millions of pounds opening vocational and free schools which have subsequently closed. the national union of teachers, which is holding its annual conference in cardiff this weekend, estimates that more than £130 million has been spent on 62 failed free schools, university technical colleges and studio schools. tens of thousands of people across the united states have marched in more than a hundred cities this weekend to demand that president trump releases his tax returns, something he has so far refused to do. some protesters carried huge inflatable chickens, suggesting the president was scared to release the data. president trump's predecessors for the last a0 years have all released their tax returns. greg dawson has more. with little chance of the president himself discussing his taxes, protesters in the nation's capital opted for the next best thing, this was an example where imitation wasn't intended to

flatter. what's the big deal about my taxes, 0k? since you guys are my supporters, releasing my taxes... piles of shredded mock tax returns were launched into the crowd, organisers claim the protests have been taking place across 150 locations in the us. in chicago, crowds took part in a chicken dance, suggesting donald trump is too scared to release his returns. the president broke a long—held tradition by not releasing his paperwork during his campaign, and these protests were timed to coincide with the mid—april deadline for americans to file their tax returns. if taxation without representation is tyranny, the representation without taxation is authoritarianism, we deserve democracy. in manhattan, several thousand lined sixth avenue, marching

towards one of donald trump's new york hotels, these people say without his tax returns it's difficult to know who the billionaire president has had dealings with as a businessman, and if there are any conflict—of—interests. mr trump says he can't supply his returns because they are being audited, something federal tax authorities say is no bar. we are living in a time when honesty has no currency. and i think because of that it's kind of all we have. and the only way to really penetrate this administration is to take to the streets. the president's supporters point to a recently leaked 2005 return showing donald trump paying $38 million to the taxman, and many say the issue simply doesn't matter to them. in berkley, california, rival pro and anti trump rallies descended into a brawl with more than a dozen arrested as fistfights broke out. another reminder how donald trump continues

to be a president that polarises his country. greg dawson, bbc news. an italian woman who was thought to be the oldest person in the world has died at the age of 117. emma morano from northern italy was the last person verified to have been born in the nineteenth century. helena lee reports. here she is celebrating her 117th birthday in november last year surrounded by family and friends at her home in northern italy. asked how she felt on reaching 117, she said she felt well. born in 1899, emma morano's life spanned three centuries. the eldest of eight children, she outlived all of her younger siblings. she survived an abusive marriage, the loss of her only son, two world wars, and more than 90 italian governments. and she worked in a factory until she was 65. so, what was her secret? emma morano thought

it was probably her diet. translation: i eat two eggs a day, and that's it. i eat cookies. i don't eat much because i have no teeth. always eating the same things, always at the same time of day. her doctor of 27 years thought there were other reasons too for her long life. translation: the first factor is genetics. it is her own condition, a natural phenomenon, as it happens around the world. but personality would seem to be fundamental as well. the mayor of the small city in northern italy where she lived said she had an extraordinary life, and she will always be remembered for her strength to move forward. helena lee, bbc news.

if she were here she would be the last of the victorians, i don't know the italian equivalent. let's have a look at the weather now. phil, happy easter. i don't think it is as bright as it was earlier, it's much more like this through my window and like this through the northern half of the british isles, quite grim, and it has been this lovely in the south, that is greenwich, we've seen weather watcher pictures from east anglia, glorious pictures to start the day although a wet start in northern ireland and that rain is spreading further north and east. tumbling in this south—easterly direction towards east anglia probably shy of the south west of england, and the south west not

seeing as much as it needs, given how dry it has been and will be a cold night for the wintry showers, speckling of showers further south and that is the day for you on easter monday, sun is both an showers, this feature coming through scotla nd showers, this feature coming through scotland introducing much colder weather, frost in the forecast for the next few mites. winter is not done yet. —— for the next few nights. hello. this is bbc news. the headlines. a north korean missile has blown up during a test launch. it happened as the us vice—president, mike pence, travelled to south korea for talks. theresa may has used her easter message to urge people to "unite" as britain prepares to leave the european union. our shared interests, our shared ambitions, and above all, our shared values, can and must bring us together. syrian observers now say that at least 112 people died in yesterday's suicide bomb attack,

on a convoy of buses carrying people from besieged towns. voting is under way in turkey in a landmark referendum that will determine whether president erdogan will be granted sweeping new powers. now on bbc news, it's dateline london. hello and welcome to dateline. this week, we learnt three things from president trump —