you're watching beyond one hundred days. american football fans gather at the white house today to honour their sport. (but this year's super bowl champions — the philadelphia eagles — won't be there because donald trump has uninvited them. after some of the eagles players said they didn't want to go the event anyway, the president accuses them of lack of patriotism has anyone seenjohn bolton? a week before the singapore nuclear summit, the controversial national security advisor is excluded from key meetings. the white house press secretary is accused of lying to the public from the podium — or was she just not told the truth by her boss? also on the programme... the first funerals in guatemala for those killed by the volcano — the death toll now much higher than first reported. and a victory for redheads — as the first ginger emojis are released. you can tell us why that is so

important. get in touch with us using the hashtag #beyond1000ays. hello and welcome — i'm katty kay in washington, christian fraser is in london. it is a white house tradition to invite the super bowl champions to the rose garden, to shake the hand of the american president. but not this year. the invitation to the philadelphia eagles has been withdrawn. "unfortunately, only a small number of players decided to come", tweeted the president, "we cancelled the event." "staying in the locker room for the playing of our national anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling." "sorry!" the president's critique of the nfl plays well with his base. but not with the players themselves. only 10 members of the eagles team were expected to turn up — the rest didn't want to share a stage with donald trump. "disinviting the players only proves our president is not a true patriot" says the mayor of philadelphia "but a fragile egomaniac obsessed with crowd size."

that's the city's mayor — how does the rest of philadelphia feel? our correspondent, rajini vaidyanathan, has been to to find out. a few months ago, the streets of philadelphia were packed with fans celebrating the local team, the eagles, winning the super bowl. but today, with news that the team won't be going to the white house, the mood is somewhat different. does it change how you feel about your team 7 yes, yes. i'm a little disappointed with them. i don't know if i'll be watching the much next year. i think people have this misconception about sports players, that all they are supposed to do is play sports and that's it. i think we are losing track of what the whole purpose, the meaning of the party was about, to celebrate them being the champions. so, it shouldn't be made a political issue. they can have an opinion. if they choose not to want to go somewhere would do something because they don't agree with someone‘s values, they should be able to do so. as a native philadelphian, i think they did the right thing. honestly, none of the players kneeled during the season. it's disappointing that

the president has chosen to mix politics and sports, the joy of our city. i'm sorry for the team and the players. to many people we've spoken to, this all comes down to one thing. what does it mean to pledge allegiance to the american flag? does that mean you should stand for the national anthem, or does that give you the right to freedom of speech which means you can protest if you want to? and joining us now from san francisco is our political analyst ron christie — a former advisor to president george w bush. great to have you on the programme. i think great to have you on the programme. ithinki great to have you on the programme. i think i know where you stand on theissue i think i know where you stand on the issue now of the nfl and kneeling or not kneeling for the flag. you feel that players should stand and show appropriate reverence for the american flag, and for the anthem. don't you also think the president is being a bit cynical in reviving this issue because he knows it plays well to his base? in fact, he has told friends of his, you know what, periodically i am going to

revive the nfl issue because i think it isa revive the nfl issue because i think it is a vote winner? good afternoon. yes, i really do believe this is a cynical ploy by the president. the president won here. the national football league change their policy that the players have to stand, the following season, during the national anthem or stay in the locker room. the notion the president would send out a message saying the players are not patriotic, that is just not true. the philadelphia eagles, as far as i can tell, not one of their players took the three mark during the playing of the national anthem. the way the president went on about the eagles, frankly, it was disgraceful. excuse me, pennsylvania, philadelphia, key voting areas for this president, he would need to win them again in 2020 collections. is ita them again in 2020 collections. is it a very good idea to irritate people in philadelphia? no. once you get beyond philadelphia itself, you get beyond philadelphia itself, you get into some very blue—collar

areas, rural areas. they love the eagles. they love their team. we saw this morning, the chief of staff, sending out a shot, looking at the celebration on the streets of philadelphia, the president's inauguration, asking who has more fans. they say that you don't want to mess with the city of brotherly love. if you take it away from nfl, a deeper, philosophical question about what patriotism means. that president is not the final arbiter of what patriotism is for 300 million americans. is putting your hand on your heart and treating it that way the only form of patriotism? absolutely not. i've been very outspoken on this show and i have said that i think the players should stand and show respect for the flag. but that is why we have the flag. but that is why we have the first amendment, the ability to protest, the ability to speak out if we wa nt

protest, the ability to speak out if we want to speak out. the notion that the president of the united states should be telling people what is patriotic and what is not shows you, frankly, a bit of the schism that he has in his view of how americans should act. we have the ability to act or not act. i wish he would not act this way. ok, ron, joining us from san francisco, thank you. speaking of how this white house operates, can we believe what we're being told in white house press briefings? the question comes after revelations that sarah sanders misinformed us. last summer the press secretary denied the president had dictated a statement explaining the reason for that infamous meeting his son had held with russians at trump tower in 2016. the statement that donjunior issued is true. there is no inaccuracy. the president weighed in, as any father would, based on the limited information he had. this is all discussion, frankly, of no consequence. but this week we found out,

from a leaked letter the president's lawyers sent to special prosecutor robert mueller, that in fact the president did dictate that statement — which was a misleading statement itself. so, did sarah sanders deliberately lie on the president's behalf? here is what she is saying now... this is a reference back to a letter from the outside counsel. i understand that it is also pertaining to a letter from the president's outside counsel and therefore i can't answer. what was your basis for saying it?|j therefore i can't answer. what was your basis for saying it? i am not going to get into a back and forth andi going to get into a back and forth and i would encourage you to reach out to the outside counsel. either she lied and left the statement out there, knowing that it was patented false, all she was kept in the dark by other senior colleagues who were on air force one when the statement was dictated. either way, surely she has to consider her position?m was dictated. either way, surely she has to consider her position? it is a terrible spot to be in. i actually believe that she did not intentionally lie or try to mislead the american public. i look back to

the american public. i look back to the clinton administration, the bush administration and this one. there are many times with senior staff that you don't want to tell the press secretary everything. you want the press secretary to have the ability to look the press in the eye and say i honestly don't have that information, let me refer you to somebody else. in this instance, i believe she is telling the truth. what a terrible position, to be in the dark and having to do that in front of the american people and the world. we saw this during the clinton impeachment scandal, mike mccurry, the press secretary, famously said i am a double parked ina no famously said i am a double parked in a no comments own because he didn't want to get into the legal issues of what bill clinton had done and said before the grand jury. this is not unprecedented. i think it is the degree to which she has said one thing and it has been reversed in the facts. she has not come out and said, actually, that is right, last yeari said, actually, that is right, last year i didn't give you the right information. should she correct the record in order to maintain her credibility as a press secretary,

speaking from the white house podium? i think she should. i don't know her very well. she comes across to me as being a very credible and decent person. not one who is intentionally trying to obfuscate. it would be easy for her to say, you know what, last year i said the following, i am going to modify my remarks based on new information and let's move forward. thanks for your thoughts as ever. there is nothing orthodox about the way the white house runs. there was another tweet that the president put out today, the daily ofjeff sessions. there is so much that is wrong with that statement, not least the fact that statement, not least the fact that if he hadn't fired james comey there would not be a russian investigation. what does this tell us investigation. what does this tell us about his attitude to wear robert mueller‘s investigation is going? us about his attitude to wear robert mueller's investigation is going7m is clear from the number of tweets

that the president sends out about this that this is something that gets close, gets under his skin in the white house. it clearly preoccupies him. but there is a little bit, as there is with the nfl, a political message here as well. the president is repeatedly saying to his supporters, it is a witchhunt. jeff sessions does not serve me well. i am the victim, not just of the witchhunt, but of my own staff and the justice department. that message, polling suggests, is getting through not just that message, polling suggests, is getting through notjust to the core of his supporters but increasing numbers of american voters that are starting to feel that this is a politically motivated investigation and they that would like to see the end of it. watch what he says. but it's not just end of it. watch what he says. but it's notjust that end of it. watch what he says. but it's not just that this end of it. watch what he says. but it's notjust that this is frustrating him. he is doing something more, deliberately talking to american voters and saying, isn't it time we wrap this up? that was it seems to be getting through. you would think other things would be preoccupying him, would think other things would be preoccu pying him, like would think other things would be preoccupying him, like the thing we

will talk about next. if the north korea summit — now just a week away — is a matter of the highest national security, then why isjohn bolton, the national security advisor nowhere to be seen? when president donald trump met with kimjong un's right—hand man on friday to save the singapore summit, he was accompanied by only one other us official. the secretary of state mike pompeo who has been twice to pyongyang. there are, reportedly, divisions among mr trump's top foreign policy advisors on how to approach the summit. and for the moment, it seems the neo—conservative john bolton is on the outside. let's talk to our north america editorjon sopel. what are they saying about the summit at the moment? they are saying watch this space. there is no preprepared agenda. there is no d raft preprepared agenda. there is no draft communique. these are two strong minded men who will sit down and we will see where it goes. let's see what happens. normally when you hear things like that in politics,

you believe that can't be right. it can't be just left to see where it goes. i am told that it might be a very short get to know you session. equally, it might spill over into another day's talks, if they feel it is going well. you don't know what you're going to get at the end of it isa you're going to get at the end of it is a mouse or a giant. i you're going to get at the end of it is a mouse ora giant. i mean, are we going to get involved in the detailed nitty—gritty talks of denuclearisation, the verifiability of the denuclearisation? it is a hugely complex issue what happens in return in terms of economic aid. we don't know. neither didier deschamps neither do the most senior people in the white house know, probably in pyongyang. this is good to be above the personal chemistry, it seems, between kim jong—un and donald trump, and what sort of progress they make. you raise a very interesting question. remember the book, where's wally? you have a huge crowd of people and you had to spot

them. where is john crowd of people and you had to spot them. where isjohn bolton? a very good question, because he seems to be nowhere to be seen ever since he said they are going to follow the libyan model. north korea went ballistic, probably not the right phrase to use... anyway! the next day, sarah sanders, who we havejust seen a day, sarah sanders, who we havejust seen a moment earlier, said we are not following the libyan model. it looks like another arm wrestling match between mike pompeo and john bolton, mike pompeo has done that! yes, bigger and stronger. bolton, mike pompeo has done that! yes, biggerand stronger. he bolton, mike pompeo has done that! yes, bigger and stronger. he was brought in to somebody who was supposed to be close to the president, it seems like the relationship has not lasted terribly long. back to the meet and greet, there are thousands of people flying to singapore, including your good self and mr fraser here. is he going? i think you will both go and have a lovely time. it is effectively downgraded from the summit that was going to fix the north korean nuclear crisis to hi, i'm donald, you're kim? but it will

bea i'm donald, you're kim? but it will be a remarkable idea in itself. the idea of the us president sitting down with the north korean leader, weather has not been the normal preparation, there is unpredictability, where anything is possible, anything may happen. it is a huge event and i kind of thing the world will be watching with the world will be watching with the world and, that is two most unlikely characters are going to be sitting down and parlaying. 0nly characters are going to be sitting down and parlaying. only six months ago we were talking about what other prospects of a nuclear confrontation? now we are talking about what are the prospects of peace? we have a venue now for the meeting. sarah sanders has tweeted in the last hour that it will be the capell hotel. i read today, ominously, was once called the island after death. he is so full of

obscure facts! he's proud of that, thatis obscure facts! he's proud of that, that is his fact for the day. what does it tell us about the way that the summit is being organised? it is all very last minute, even down to the details of where the summit is going to be held? we know it is good start at nine o'clock in the morning. we now know there is a venue that has been agreed. can you imagine the scrambling and scrabbling that there has been to try to get this vaguely on ordinary conventional rails? it was off only ten days ago, then it was on at the end of last week, after the delivery of the huge envelope. now we have finally got a venue. i would imagine that the old hands that have been doing this sort of thing in the state department before, who are used to normal protocols, they are kind of bewildered, scratching their heads and they think, i've never seen heads and they think, i've never seen anything like it. thanks for

coming in. there's little chance this week's g7 summit in quebec won't be dominated by america's aggressive trade moves. germany will lead the way in pushing back against mr trump's new tariffs on european steel and aluminium. but chancellor angela merkel knows she has to be careful. the 25% tariff on steel imports is bad enough — but germany is worried this could evolve into a tit for tat trade war with german car manufacturers the hardest hit. last year, germany sold 29.4 billion dollars worth of cars to the us. or to put that another way — 1.3 million german—made vehicles made their way onto american roads. the us is a vital customer — one in four germanjobs depend on these export sales. we'rejoined now from berlin by dr volker treier who is deputy chief executive, german chambers of commerce and industry. how concerned how concerned are how concerned are you that this could result in a serious hit two german car manufacturers and german

workers? we are very much concerned. german companies are dependent on the open markets, good rules and on low tariffs. in order to establish global value chains, and german companies at the same time have invested quite a lot of substantially in us locations. we have employed 850,000 people, building upjobs in the us. this should be taken into account. as cat was saying, there is caution in the state m e nts was saying, there is caution in the statements made in london and berlin, they are deeply irritated but they are wary of antagonising donald trump further. how should angela merkel approach the summit in quebec on thursday? what do you want to see from her? we need a clear european approach. a common, joined

approach on the european level that includes that we have to speak with one voice and have a clear european position. that we stand for open markets, that this new imposing ta riffs markets, that this new imposing tariffs on steel and aluminium is violating the wto rules. that we go to geneva, to the wto dispute settle m e nt to geneva, to the wto dispute settlement mechanism. maybe this also includes retaliatory measures, like the ones being discussed. but we have to make this clear on a european voice. but we have to improve, this is often forgotten, that the sanctions, the us sanctions you are imposing against iran, and russia, hits german business as well, and other european business as

well. and we have to take into account and make a position. well. and we have to take into account and make a positionm well. and we have to take into account and make a position. if you are so account and make a position. if you are so worried about the german car industry, why haven't you done more to level the playing field between germany and the united states? the white house can make a fair point that american cars, when they are imported into europe, they get hit with a 10% tax. european cars imported into the united states and the tax is only 2.5%. that is not a level playing field. it is a mistake, in order to pick out one sector, and now combine with whom do you have a trade surplus, a trade deficit. the us, they have a trade deficit, and overall trade deficit, since the middle of the 70s last century. german businesses have built up locations and plans in the us in order to deliver the market. at the same time, they are dependent

on intermediates and preliminary goods imported to the us. we live in global value chains and we cannot ta ke global value chains and we cannot take one sector out of the discussion, saying this is unfair. what is unfair is that the us are not playing on the agreed level playing field. they agreed on the imposing of the tariffs in the wto rules will stop that means 2.5% in the us when it comes to cars, and 10% in the eu. we can eliminate that, but on a comprehensive free trade negotiation, not forcing us with violating wto rules and imposing unjustified tariffs on steel and aluminium. thank you very much indeed. i wasjust thinking, i was reading about the chancellor's comments at the weekend. her position is evolving towards the position is evolving towards the position that emmanuel macron has in

his attitudes towards the european union. they see a real existential threat at the moment, notjust union. they see a real existential threat at the moment, not just the election of the populist parties in italy, but the forces that are pulling at the periphery. she is talking about a common investment some for the eurozone, a financial backstop for the indebted members. those would be popular in germany. also, european defence capability. the debate on what to do and react to the threats to the european union is very much still on at the moment. is the attitude more federalism, is that the best way to deal with populism? 0r that the best way to deal with populism? or do you look at perhaps... many people who don't think that is the answer, is the a nswer to think that is the answer, is the answer to that that you must finish the project as quickly as you cancer that you can show people in the european union that you can deal with the many crises that the european union is facing? the aftermath is devastating — the first funerals, desperate searches, red hot debris — and the occasional rescue. the number of people killed in guatemala's volcanic eruption, has risen to at least 69 — many villages were obliterated by the fast moving gas and rock.

thousands are now in shelters. many families are still searching for missing loved ones. the scale of the task for the emergency services is vast. aleem maqbool reports. the first funerals tell of just how cruel the eruption was in the victims it took. here, they carried the coffin of three—year—old jennifer andrea moralez. six other members of her family were killed, too. survivors have been left traumatised and subsequent explosions have filled them with fear. well, thousands of people from the area around the volcano have been displaced. they're coming to churches and government buildings and schools for refuge. and many of them have no idea when they will be allowed back home and what's left. 35 members of the lopez pozuelos family fled as the lava, ash flows and debris engulfed their town. five of their relatives didn't make

it out, including francisco's brother and two grand—nieces aged i2 and 14. translation: the place is completely destroyed. i don't believe any of them survived, because the homes are totally buried under the ashes. there is no more space in the morgue for more bodies. people are coming together to help those who've lost everything, knowing that no amount of aid can help to get over some losses. the volcano remains shrouded in smoke, but gives away little of the sudden, catastrophic violence it roared. the land tells a different tale, scarred and suffocated by lava and ash. more eyewitness footage has emerged of the eruption. this was taken several hours after the main explosion, yet lava and gas still spew out. they've been remembering the dead, here. and those presumed dead.

given the circumstances, so few victims have, as yet, been identified. 0ne rescuer said, when he did find bodies, after hours digging in ash, they've often looked like statues, so hard to recognise. aleem maqbool, bbc news, guatemala. thinking all of all of those poor people. today is no ordinary tuesday, this is the day redheads around the world were patiently waiting for today is the day emojis were given ginger hair. more than 21,000 people signed a petition calling for new redhead emojis. i am trying to think right now of all the useful petitions that were yearning for a signature. trains that run on time, save our oceans, rename 100 days... and this, this is the campaign they choose. ginger emojis. there will also be new symbols, it says here, for those with curly

hair and bald heads. that is what you are looking at. ok, christian fraser, every now and again we disagree on things. you are trying to tell me and the rest of the world that you are blonde and not ginger. i am looking at you clear as daylight. you are ginger. get over it! there are days on this programme where we tackle false news in tweets. how money followers do you have? you have told people i am ginger. and then you follow it up with this, he says he is blonde, what doesn't he liked ginger —— what, doesn't he liked ginger hair? igo what, doesn't he liked ginger hair? i go really blonde in the sun, i am a natural blonde! this is beyond 100 days from the bbc. hello, today may have got off shrek

cloudy start but that is not how it ended. we have seen increasing amounts shown across the uk, glorious blue sky. in north yorkshire this afternoon, the satellite picture tells a story of the day. early on, a lot of cloud around. notice how more of us broke out into the sunshine. really, across parts of southwest england it stayed mostly cloudy and cooler compared with yesterday. high pressure in control for most of us. we're watching low—pressure to the south the channel islands there has been a few showers around. that will been a few showers around. that will be the case again as we go through wednesday while most places across the uk stay dry. the story of tonight's weather is clear initially for many of us. then cloud is increasing again through eastern scotland, eastern part england. that sum ploughed into the far south—west of england, a bit of patchy cloud in northern ireland as well. more of us dipping down into single figures compared with recent nights. it's going to feel cooler heading out into the morning. some cloud in eastern scotland will clear tomorrow. scotland, variable cloud

and sunny spells, northern ireland could catch a shower in the west of northern ireland, isolated in western scotland. most will stay dry. quite a bit of cloud and parts of northern england, the north midlands and into lincolnshire, south of that and into wales plenty of sunshine to come. it's going to feel a bit warmer. still, the flow ofair is feel a bit warmer. still, the flow of air is coming into the north sea coast and that is pegging temperatures back into the mid or low teens in places. where you have low teens in places. where you have low cloud it could be grisly as well. through wednesday night and thursday morning, we have some cloud. patchy cloud elsewhere. temperatures may not be quite as low. some of us may be into single figures. 0n low. some of us may be into single figures. on thursday, we talked about an area of low pressure to the south. it starts to feed up some showers. in fact, wednesday night and into thursday morning. in two parts of southern england initially. there could be a rumble of thunder with some of these. 0ne there could be a rumble of thunder with some of these. one or two mark urban break—up further the northern pa rt urban break—up further the northern part of east anglia, the midlands and wales on thursday. for northern england, northern ireland and scotland, variable cloud and

temperatures in the high teens or low 20s. 0n temperatures in the high teens or low 20s. on a little bit further into friday and saturday, a selection of temperatures. you could catch a shower, many will not. variable cloud, sunny spells. goodbye. this is beyond 0ne hundred days, with me katty kay in washington — christian fraser's in london. our top stories — donald trump hosts his party for the superbowl winners — but the eagles won't be there. the president cancels his invitation to the champions after most of the team said they weren't coming — sparking accusations of unpatriotic behaviour on both sides. the fashion designer, kate spade — best known for her luxury handbags — has been found dead at her home in new york. coming up in the next half hour... remember her? a first public appearance for the first lady in nearly a month — so just what has melania trump been doing? you won't have forgotten him. vladimir putin uses his first visit to western europe in nearly a year to warn that sanctions against russia will hurt everyone. and don't forget

about us — you can let us know your thoughts by using the hashtag... ‘beyond—0ne—hundred—days‘. the mid terms are often viewed as a test of how popular the american president is — because while the commander in chief isn't on the ballot, control of the house and senate, so vitalfor any leader, most definitely is. eight primaries are being held today ahead of the general election in november... and the battle grounds are incredibly varied. from newjersey in the east, to alabama and mississippi in the south, and iowa in the mid west... to north dakota and montana in the north, and new mexico in the south west. but perhaps the highest profile contest is in california's 22nd district — where the democrats are hoping to defeat the incumbent republican devin nunes, whose reputation has taken a knock after he stepped down from the house intelligence committee's russia investigation. donald trump is certainly

taking it seriously — devin nunes isjust one of the republican candidates to receive a tweet of support today. here to help us handicap the picture is charlie cook — editor and publisher of the cook political report. thank you for coming in. what are we going to learn about what will happen in the mid—term elections in novemberfrom a happen in the mid—term elections in november from a series of primaries injune? november from a series of primaries in june? do not expect huge lessons, but there may be a couple of places, where democrats suffer from having too much enthusiasm. too many candidates and they cut out their vote in california to the point... too much enthusiasm does not sound possible. under the election laws in california were everyone runs together and the top two are in a run—off, you have 56 democrats running and only two republicans

running, you can have a lot of democratic votes over five or six candidates and suddenly you end up with two republicans on the ballot in november. the thing is, you may see that once or twice and it lies cost a seat or two but it will not tell us much about nationwide other than democrats may be coming up a seat or two short that they would otherwise. you have watched american politics for decades and you are widely respected as one of the few people in the country who maintains a reputation for being nonpartisan, very difficult to do in this country at the moment. where do you see the mid—term is taking us in terms of who has control of congress and what impact will not have? what impact will not have an donald trump?|j think the way i would look at it, it appears that you have a democratic tidal wave in a republican sea wall

and the question is which will be stronger? the situation in the house and the senate are different, in that house, the wave looks taller than the wall and looks more likely than the wall and looks more likely than not that democrats will capture a majority but a narrow one. in the senate, because of the states, that sea senate, because of the states, that sea wall looks taller than the wave and looks more likely that republicans will retain a majority. we are talking about razor thin majorities, whether it is republicans hanging on or democrats barely catching control. i would not expect either party to have enough seats to really move legislation in a meaningful way. it is a referendum on the incumbent president and that is very clear and the question is can republicans get those trump voters that may not be reliable, normal republicans, get them to come out. you remember president 0bama was not able to get a lot of his young and exuberant supporters from 2008 and 2012 to turn out in the two

midterms and the democrats paid a price for it. when you talk about that sea wall, does it help if the president is standing behind you because some have debated whether an endorsement for the president is a good thing or not? it depends a lot on the districts and if you have got a district or a state that has got a large, small town, rural population, thatis large, small town, rural population, that is where the president or working—class whites, that is where the president is very strong. in suburbs, middle upscale suburbs, particularly outside the south, that is where the president is really underperforming and if republicans win... if the democrats win the 23 seats they need to get a majority in the senate, it will be through the suburbs. charlie cook, thank you for joining us. she has not been seen for over 3 weeks. but melania trump finally reappeared, at a white house event for military veterans on monday — seated next to her husband. she was out of the public eye following a surgery last month

which has fuelled no end of speculation. so how much are we entitled to know about the first lady? with me in the studio is kate andersen brower — who wrote a book on first ladies. her new book is called first in line: presidents, vice presidents and the pursuit of power. let us talk about first ladies, do we have a right to know where she is and we have not seen herfor a we have a right to know where she is and we have not seen her for a few weeks? i think so, there was a point in time when dent it was not in washington, she was in new york and i think people were frustrated she had not leave straightaway to the white house, we onlyjust have gotten used to seeing her. in the past month or so, when she announced hercampaign, she past month or so, when she announced her campaign, she coordinated a state dinner for the french president. i think the overall answer is yes, people want to see

the first lady and have heard the voice and an image that americans know and often really respect. melania trump's approval rating is 5796, melania trump's approval rating is 57%, well above her husband's. one thing that historians have told me which it think it is fascinating about the first lady is not the courses they take on or how they look or the image they present of themselves, it is their relationship with the president and whether the president can use them as an emotional sounding board, that has been particularly important and the most successful first ladies are those who have managed to enhance the president, would you say that melania trump has an important role in that respect. i think they have a different marriage than what we are used to and no one knows what goes on inside a marriage but they lived very separate, private lives. even when they were in new york. it is

not anything akin to president 0bama or president bush and their lives. i do not think it is quite the same level of intimacy in this relationship. i do think symbolically it is important that the first lady has a campaign that complements her husband's campaign, like michelle 0bama and her campaign about child nutrition, it worked well with the health care initiative for her husband and i do not think we see the same coordination in the trump white house. your new book is about vice presidents and we talk a lot about former presidents coming together, we do not often talk about vice presidents, is there a vice presidents club, do they talk? they do and joe biden talks to mike pence at least once a month and i thought that was interesting. just go back

to melania trump, she played a pivotal role in picking mike pence at the final decisive meeting where they were going over candidates, she said that we need someone who is clean. somebody who did not have any messy financial entanglements, no personal issues and they were looking at people like chris christie and newt gingrich and she said that was not a good choice. i think that shows her involvement and a little bit more than most people assume. usually, not a tight—knit relationship among vice presidents and that is why it is surprising thatjoe biden and that is why it is surprising that joe biden and and that is why it is surprising thatjoe biden and mike pence talk so thatjoe biden and mike pence talk so often. the top 26 vice presidents while researching the book but you did not get to speak to mike pence, why not? i interviewed his chief of staff and they told me that there is nothing in it for us. if you make it

look like mike pence is really a counsellor to the president and riding the ship, then the president will be furious and if you make it look like we are not doing ourjobs, it will make it harder for us will only run for president in 2024. there is no upside for them to do something that is a political deep dive into the role. ok. thank you for joining dive into the role. ok. thank you forjoining us. that is such an interesting point, most vice presidents would love the idea of getting rid of the vice president and being president and how do they get there? with this five president, mike pence, because there are so many questions hanging over donald trump and his future, particularly around the russia investigation, if he were not to run, does mike pence think he has a chance to become president? he has to do the struggle, because we know this is a boss who does not like people to get ahead of him, he did not like when stephen bannon was on the front page of magazines and he will not like

mike pence stealing the limelight. you have to be the tub thumper for the present even if you do not like the present even if you do not like the policy but not too ambitious, especially with this president, because if you are too ambitious, you're on your way out! it is a bit like my role on this might not get on the ticket the next time around. russia's president vladimir putin is in austria on his first trip to western europe in almost a year. president putin is keen to end the sanctions imposed on his country after the annexation of crimea four years ago. austria's chancellor sebastian kurz says his country will serve as a bridge between moscow and the west, a sentiment warmly welcomed by the russian leader. election i say that all the sciences are bubbled to those who impose them and those who are implemented against —— translation:. therefore i think everyone is interested in lifting them. and the russians do

have some leverage. 30% of the european union's oil comes from russia, it also supplies 37% of the eu's gas. germany and italy among the biggest consumers. a short time ago we talked to nathalie tocci. she is a special adviser to the eu's high representative for foreign affairs federica mogherini and director of the institute of international affairs in rome. nathalie tocci, on trade, on iran, a good many things at the moment, there is tension between the united states and europe and may be an opportunity that vladimir putin can exploit? well, i mean, looking at the transatlantic relationship, i think it is important to bear in mind a number of things. i mean, firstly, that this is a relationship that has actually always gone through many ups and downs. there tends to be this assumption that there was some sort of golden era in the transatlantic relationship. actually, precisely because that relationship was so deep

and so wide, it is inevitable that there are moments of tensions and disagreement. this is, i think the broader picture that we should be looking at and it is clear that this particular us administration is different from its predecessors, not so much regarding europe, but also regarding it is essentially an administration that in many respects tries to pull out from the world, whether that world is unesco, whether it is international trade. now this, in my mind, for europe represents an opportunity in many respects to grow up and become more responsible, because at the end of the day it is through a more responsible europe that a healthier transatlantic partnership in the 215t century can come about. when you have vladimir putin in austria today advocating that it is time to lift eu sanctions on russia, does it help vladimir putin's cause when we know that the man in the white house is ambivalent about this whole issue of pressure on russia at the moment? actually, i think that in an odd sort of way, the fact that there is a us president that is so extreme in many

respects has actually had a unifying effect on europe and although it may indeed have seemed that the white house's position could have disagreements in europe, actually what we are seeing, including on the russia question, is that exactly the reverse may come about. the new italian prime minister has said today that he wants to review the sanctions that italy and europe have imposed on russia and i wonder where that leaves soft power? what we see at the moment is the military might of russia winning, if indeed the sanctions are dropped. we see the economic might of america perhaps weakening as well. perhaps winning as well. does that mean that soft power is dead? i think there are two different questions. 0n the specific point about italy and the new prime minister, i would not hold my breath, to be honest. this is a government that has just come about, with a very long wish list of things that they would like.

frankly speaking, foreign policy is not their top priority and given that ultimately everyone has to compromise and prioritise, i really do not think that this will be an issue that they are going to seriously push for. 0n the broader question, of soft power, what i would say is that ultimately soft power is power and so i think that the bigger drama that we are living through at the moment is that countries which are increasingly viewed as being powerful, be it in economic terms, like china, be it in terms of reacquiring a global status like russia, they are countries which are not governed through liberal democratic systems and that has an appeal to citizens in liberal democracies in europe, as much as in america, which is indeed, a far more dangerous issue to look out for. fascinating. natalie tocci, thank you very much for your thoughts. this is beyond one hundred days. still to come... you may not have noticed — but our moon is slowly getting further away...

we'll reveal why that could make a difference to both our days and our nights. the comedian, michael mcintyre has been robbed by thieves on a moped, as he waited to collect his sons from a school in north london. the men smashed his car windows with a hammer, before taking his watch and speeding off. it comes amid a sharp rise in crimes committed by moped gangs in london in recent years. more than 23,000 offences were reported last year alone. david sillito reports. this footage, taken just minutes after the attack, clearly shows the broken car window. and the comedian, michael mcintyre, speaking to police. witnesses described how men, riding on a moped, hammered at the window and forced michael mcintyre out of the car before robbing him. hello! unfortunately, that happened! michael mcintyre, one of britain's most successful comedians, is said to be uninjured in the assault, but onlookers said his son was clearly very shaken.

then, today, this. as the pizza delivery bike pulls out, we see a second moped travelling at speed, after an attempt to rob a nearby shop. 0n the other side of the road, the gang were being taken on and chased by bystanders. these weren't the only moped—related crimes of the last 48 hours. however, the head of the metropolitan police speaking today to the commons home affairs committee says the number of incidents overall is declining. for the last several months we have seen a 50%, now 50%, reduction. it's coming down and down and down. we've done this through new tactics, better intelligence, more coordination, more focus in targeted hotspots. nevertheless, that still leaves the number of moped—related crimes in the thousands. and hammer—wielding thieves smashing their way into a stationary car. thankfully, michael mcintyre was said, today, to be fine.

a woman in a similar assault that day is now in a critical condition. but it was clear this was a terrifying ordeal for him and his children. the american designer, kate spade has been found dead in her home in new york. the 55—year—old was found dead in an apparent suicide. her body was found by her housekeeper and she left a note, cbs new york reported, citing unnamed sources. spade was a co—founder of the designer label kate spade new york, which she later sold. let's speak to our correspondent nada tawfik in new york. very successful businesswoman, quite a shock. yeah, absolutely and really the fashion world is mourning her calling her an icon of american

fashion full she grew this brand from being and accessories fashion editor and see ms boyd and need for high end bikes that were fun and functional. she started this company and it really just functional. she started this company and it reallyjust splashed onto the fashion scene. i rememberfrom my generation, this was the fashionable bag to have from the 19905 but then 5he bag to have from the 19905 but then she really grew the company from ju5t handbags to everything from jewellery to perfume and bedding and made it a global lifestyle brand. she has not been with the company now for nearly a decade. certainly, her print is all over the brand now. a5| her print is all over the brand now. a5 i say, many paying tribute to her after new5 a5 i say, many paying tribute to her after news that she has taken her life at her new york apartment, paying tribute to the talent and the entrepreneur europe that she was and

how she paved the way for so many other female de5igner5. how she paved the way for so many other female designers. the image of kate spade is positive, cheerful, bright colours and patterns, it is so bright colours and patterns, it is so at odds with the news we are getting today. we understand that she left behind a note. is there any reporting on what might be behind this? we really do not know what was behind her decision to take her life. there are reports that she left behind a note but we do not know the contents of that. a5 you 5ay, know the contents of that. a5 you say, her fashion really made a mark because it was bright, it was colourful. she said herself that goal was not to be intimidating. that she wanted fashion to be fun and for people to be accessible to people. when they are speaking about thi5 people. when they are speaking about this shop, they remember her with her bouffant this shop, they remember her with her bouffa nt hairstyle, this shop, they remember her with her bouffant hairstyle, her bright, colourful outfits, always seeming

cheerful and been so kind to others. asi cheerful and been so kind to others. as i say, a real shock here in new york and the fashion world and those who love to wear her styles. thank you very much. harvey weinstein has pleaded not guilty to rape and sex assault charges at a hearing in new york. the disgraced film producer arrived at manhattan supreme court to a throng of photographers. these are the first cases to be tested in a criminal court since a string of allegations emerged last year. the 66 year old turned himself in at a new york police station less than two weeks ago. the british government has finally given 21st century fox the green light to take full control of the european pay—tv group sky. but that's on condition fox — which is controlled by media mogul rupert murdoch — sells sky news. the takeover had been delayed, on concerns the takeover could give mr murdoch too much influence over the uk media. a rival offer from comcast has also been cleared, paving the way for a bidding war. beauty pageants have come in for quite a lot

of criticism recently — with the main complaint being that there'sjust no place in the modern world for a contest based on how good someone might look in a bikini. but — scenes like these are now a thing of the past — at least at the miss america competition. the organisers say they are scrapping the swimwear section, and entrants will no longer be judged on physical appearance. they also say their pageant will now embrace women of all shapes and sizes. let us see how much it actually changes. what do you think about this other story about the moon. i know you want to talk about it. do you ever feel like time is getting away from you? well according to astronomers we actually have more time than ever. scientists have found that

as the moon slowly drifts a little further from the earth it causes the the earth to spin ever so slightly slower. researchers from wisconson madison say in two hundred million years a day will last twenty five hours — giving you that much more time to watch watch 100 days and read the bbc news website. did you write that, christian? people will spend their extra hour watching this programme? this is in gazillions of years. should we be worrying about this?|j gazillions of years. should we be worrying about this? i have been doing calculations, the moon is currently moving away from the earth ata currently moving away from the earth at a rate of 3.82 centimetres a year, which means we gain, north point not not not 018 seconds every year. so since we have been an air, it has moved five centimetres further away from paris and i was thinking, since we will be moving to 25 hours a day, we should change the

name of the programme to 100 longer days or the longest day with catty k.i days or the longest day with catty k. i quite like that one. that is terrible. 0r already this programme is too long and it will get longer? can i come up with a small fact? 1.4 billion years ago, a date was only 18 hours. and we still didn't get overtime. date was only 18 hours. and we still didn't get overtimelj date was only 18 hours. and we still didn't get overtime. i have some photographs. i thought these were fa ns photographs. i thought these were fans that had been on your lawn. then i discovered that last night, you were the high sheriff at your virginia home and these are friends of your 18—year—old son. don't you

have a tent? cant you supply some shelter for these per boys? have a tent? cant you supply some shelterfor these per boys? i have a tent? cant you supply some shelter for these per boys? i was nervous about this, my son said he was inviting people for his high school graduation party. that was 13 people. all went well and i even got sleep courtesy of some very big earplugs and half a sleeping tablet. i woke earplugs and half a sleeping tablet. iwoke up earplugs and half a sleeping tablet. i woke up and took those photographs. there was a tent. this is the definition of an 18—year—old boy, perfectly comfortable tent, dry as anything, mattresses laid out by mother and i wake up and they are sleeping 20 yards away on the cold ground. is that what boys do?” remember it, the dew on the sleeping bag, the hangover, the hangover, where are my car keys? where are my house keys? learn with an experience. when you are full of beer, it feels good idea to sleep under the stars. i will go up and

are under the stars. i will go up and a re lots of under the stars. i will go up and are lots of slugs on the lawn. we will be back, same time tomorrow. see you then. goodbye. today may have got off to a cloudy start for many but that is not how it ended. we have seen increasing amounts of sunshine across the uk, glorious blue sky. in north yorkshire this afternoon, the satellite picture tells the story of the day. early on, a lot of cloud but more of us broke out into the sunshine and across parts of southwest england, it stayed mostly cloudy and cooler compared with yesterday. high pressure in control for most of us. low pressure to the south, in the channel islands, some showers, sundry ones that will be the case on wednesday while most places across the uk stay dry. story of the weather tonight is clear

initially for many of us and then cloud increasing in the east of scotla nd cloud increasing in the east of scotland and the east of thing and. keep some cloud into the far west of england and patchy cloud in northern ireland. more of us dipping into single figures compared with recent moutinho will feel cooler in the morning. some of this cloud in the east of scotland will clear tomorrow, variable cloud, sunny spells. northern ireland could catch a shower in the west. isolated ones in the west of scotland. cloud in parts of the north of england and the north midlands. south of that and into wells, plenty of sunshine to come and it will feel warmer. still air coming into the north sea coast and that is pegging temperatures back to the mid and low teens. where there is low cloud, it will be drizzly. wednesday night into thursday morning, some cloud, patchy cloud elsewhere, temperatures not quite as low, into single figures for some. then on thursday,

that area of low pressure to the south, it will move up some showers and on web wednesday night into thursday morning, in two parts of the southern england, a rumble of thunder with some of these and a couple to break out further north. for the north of england, northern ireland and scotland, variable cloud and sunny spells and temperatures into the high teens and low 20s. pleasa nt into the high teens and low 20s. pleasant in the sunshine. into friday and saturday, a selection of places here, pretty much all in the same boat, you could catch a shower, many of us will, variable cloud, sunny spells and light winds. this is bbc news. the headlines at eight the government approves controversial plans to build a third runway at heathrow. campaigners say it will damage the environment, but the transport secretary says expansion will benefit everyone. expansion at heathrow will bring real benefits across the country, including a boost of up to £74 billion to passengers, and the wider

economy. providing better connections to growing world markets, and increasing flights to more long—haul destinations. the grenfell fire inquiry has heard that the london fire brigade received more calls about how to survive the blaze on the night, than from the whole of the rest of london, in the previous decade. newspapers across the north of england have joined forces, calling on the prime minister to get a grip of the rail problems causing chaos for commuters. the american fashion designer kate spade, has been found dead at her flat in new york. it's being reported she took her own life.