forty—six times more than originally thought. until now the official death toll from the storm last september was just sixty—four. the revision follows a report by researchers from george washington university. they found that those from poorer backgrounds were at a higher risk of being killed. of being killed. president trump has accused google, facebook and twitter of prioritising fake and biased news — to portray him in a less positive light. he said they had to be "very careful". google has strongly denied the claims. several countries have called for myanmar‘s military leaders to be brought to justice following a report detailing atrocities committed against the rohingya minority. the report also criticised myanmar‘s de facto leader, aung san suu kyi, forfailing to intervene to stop attacks. now on bbc news, hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk with me, zeinab

badawi. i am in washington where my guest exclusive interview is resident uhuru kenyatta of canada who has been holding —— of kenya who has been holding talks at the white house. but how can president uhuru kenyatta invite investors to kenya when the country is so mired in corruption that pervades all walks of life and enriches the few at the expense of the many? president kenyatta says that fighting corruption is his priority. so why do questions remain about how effective his efforts are? president

uhuru kenyatta, welcome to hardtalk. you have had your meeting with donald trump. this is a president who describe some african countries as s—hole nations. he has also referred to large—scale killings of white farmers. is this a man you can do business with? let me put it this way. i think that what we need to do is to basically create a better understanding. of the situation. i have an opportunity to really do that today. i would not say he is a man who was unwilling to listen. and we exchanged a wide variety of issues and i think he has a much better understanding of africa and of kenya after our session and i think he is basically a person who wa nts to think he is basically a person who wants to do deals. he wants to see how we can partner. that is the way

i would actually reach the issue. i would not look at it from past issues. i would look at it more from, well, i have a better understanding now, can we do business? and we say that africa is ready for business. africa is open and africa is a continent with wide diversity and we need to be able to put out the real and true picture of who africa is today. when you say he wa nts to who africa is today. when you say he wants to do deals with you, that america wants to do deals with africa, we know, of course, that trade relations between africa and china is worth four times what america trade with africa is. is you would like to see that balanced redressed? absolutely. as i have a lwa ys redressed? absolutely. as i have always maintained, africa is looking to do business with the world.

africa is not the same african continent of a few years ago. not even centuries, just a few years ago. there have been dramatic changes across the continent and people are beginning to get a much better understanding of themselves, who they are, where they are and where they want to be. we are looking to see how we can partner with countries across the globe. the united states, china, europe, great britain. and understanding that is not a patronising partnership but one that is a win win partnership, one that is a win win partnership, one that is a win win partnership, one that understands that africa needs to move ahead, that african people seek prosperity. africa has come of age and that looks not towards eight but how to do but mutually beneficial trade and investment negotiations that benefit both parties. it looks like a win lose situation at times. just one

example from your country, the chinese have built eight nairobi to mombasa railway that was completed last year and costly .2 billion dollars according to the danish institute for development studies, three times the standard for the industry. i put it to you that perhaps you need to say african countries met to better leveraged their position with china and other investors. i think we are doing precisely that. but you have not. one of the things you have to appreciate and understand is that we are talking about replacing an entire rail system that was built over 110 years ago. as a result, as a result of the railway line that we have now established with china, thatis have now established with china, that is now operational and moving passengers who used to spend 16 hours on the road or rail. but you paid too much for it. that is the point. no, we didn't. and if you

look at the costing and estimated the fact that we also had to... you need to look at things differently. it was traversing across in national parks. we had to take into account how to ensure that we do not destabilise... it could have been cheaper. i am using it as an example. we had to look at environmental aspects and ensure that the railway we build was not an impediment to what kenya is known of so the environmental aspects were important. that isjust one example because you will attend the china africa summit in the coming days in beijing and the point i make is that do you believe africa should better leveraged its position with china and other investors like the united states ? and other investors like the united states? this is the whole objective. we are saying that africa is not the africa of yesteryear is. we are a

more open society. we are far more democratic and all these issues, as you are asking today, all of the numbers, all the facts are out there. and what we that we want to get the best deals. and make sure you get the best deal for the africans. will that be the nature of what you discuss with the british prime minister when you meet this week? absolutely. was your message to her? we wish to say that we are keen on investment to help us fill oui’ keen on investment to help us fill our infrastructure that. we are keen on investment. we will partner in accordance to what the kenyan social economic demands are for development, keen on health, keen on housing and keen for security and that manufacturing to create jobs for our people. we are keen on leveraging not just for our people. we are keen on leveraging notjust in terms of investment but also on our location, on the investment we have made in oui’ on the investment we have made in our young men

on the investment we have made in oui’ young men and women on the investment we have made in our young men and women who are ready to take on the world. so when you meet theresa may, the british prime minister this week in nairobi, do you feel that post—brexit there isa do you feel that post—brexit there is a greater or lesser chance for britain to assert itself in the african continent? i think that is the wrong question. we are not looking for britain to assert herself on the african continent. trade wise. we are looking for britain, we are looking for western europe, we are looking for eastern europe, we are looking for eastern europe, we are looking for china, for america. to look at the advantages that kenya has to offer. now, britain of course has an edge given our historical relationship in the past. britain has an advantage of leveraging both her knowledge of kenya and africa, her understanding, the historical and cultural ties

that exist. bite, also, leveraging on the commonwealth of which kenya isa on the commonwealth of which kenya is a member. to improve trade in and amongst member countries. so i think... so that is your message? the message we have is that all we are the message we have is that all we a re interested the message we have is that all we are interested in our win win at proposals that enable all of us to ta ke proposals that enable all of us to take advantage of the opportunities that exist to create mutually beneficial prosperity. one issue i wish to raise is that it is the 20th anniversary of the august seven bomb blast on the american embassies in tanzania and cannier. 5000 people we re tanzania and cannier. 5000 people were injured but this is what the bomb blast victims association of kenya has appealed to the us government to pay restitution to the victims. he says the lives of the kenyan victims have been shattered

due to a lack of medication, proper ca re due to a lack of medication, proper care and livelihood. did you raise their plight, which is still ongoing 20 years in that happen, with president trump? i did not mention that issue in particular but it is an issue that we now have affected the lives of many families. tourism has affected the lives of many thousands not just in has affected the lives of many thousands notjust in kenya but across the world. and we sympathise with the victims of the bombings in nairobi embassyjust with the victims of the bombings in nairobi embassy just as with the victims of the bombings in nairobi embassyjust as much as we sympathise with the situation that happened in other areas. and we are keen to see how we can work, especially with the us government, to see that these people are adequately compensated. and we can return what they lost. however i believe that we can and will continue to try to do more for families and for victims to ensure

that we make their lives as easy as possible. this is an agenda that we are constantly putting across going to the americans in the same manner that we are looking after the victims of other attacks that happened in the past. we would like to see the same happening for this. in kenya you have outlined your big four agenda items, in kenya you have outlined your big fouragenda items, housing, health, infrastructure and food security. many people are concerned that you are not delivering on these objectives, largely because of the widespread rampant corruption that exists in your country at your own admission. people are quite sceptical in kenya that you are getting to the bottom of this. one poll in august this year said that only 21% of people in kenya have confidence that you are tackling this. as i have said we have made it very clear that this is an animal that we intend to slay. this dragon,

this beast called corruption is an animal we intend to slay. we have been working quietly over the last few years to strengthen our agencies that are involved in this particular fight. we have tried to go through and assess whether weakness is. we have worked in conjunction with various governments have worked in conjunction with various governments across have worked in conjunction with various governments across the globe. they have given us the necessary technical support, they have given us the necessary training that we required to bring cases to conclusion. as a government, as an individual, i am committed to this fight. as you have seen over the last few months as we have gotten these new regenerated agencies working, cases are now being finalised a lot faster, been presented before court, and we are now looking forward to our courts to do their part to ensure that people in kenya and across the world

realise that the age of impunity is over, to ensure that we are able to achieve. how soon do you think you can meet your objectives in tackling corruption? as far as i am concerned, and if you have been following media reports alone, the number of cases that are now before the courts of law in kenya are very many. the courts of law in kenya are very n the courts of law in kenya are very many. many of them are people who nobody expected would ever appear before a court of law. what we are now looking forward to... no high—profile convictions though. that is what i am saying. what we are now looking forward to is our courts of law will also now do their pa rt courts of law will also now do their part and expeditiously process these cases and convicted in the shortest time possible. so we will hear about some of the big fish? you have

already heard about them being presented before courts of law. that is what i am saying. what remains now is four—hour independent judiciary to do their work and bring justice for and on behalf of the people. you have 18 months from now until the next election campaigning sta rts until the next election campaigning starts and you can no longer run because you have had your two terms. you do not have that long. wendy you think we might really see results? six months time? we are already seeing results. you are already seeing results. you are already seeing these people are reined before court and what we are saying is that we are ready to support our judicial review in whatever manner that they desire as an independent institution to ensure that these cases are prosecuted as quickly as possible and justice is not only, seen to be done. we are talking about millions and millions of

dollars, for example from women's charities, from the national youth service which is a government agency dedicated to tackling youth employment. in one recent scandal over toxic sugar that has been imported into kenya and it is the alleged that mps had been taking bribes to stop a report in parliament to stop the importation of toxic sugar. one mp has said that this is, geoffrey godfrey says that the institution of parliament that is supposed to protect the public has turned against them. this is the kind of thing that is going on. and this is what we are saying. we are going to tackle and we have begun tackling, regardless of who you are, and as i said regardless of who you are, even if you are my own family member, zeinab, i have said itand been you are my own family member, zeinab, i have said it and been very clear that agencies are free, and

you have seen already a number even of members of parliament, right) who have been arrested by the eacc, which is owl anticorru ption commission, charges that they, right, have abused their office or they have taken advantage of their office for personal gain. all right, you said... these are things that are happening as we speak, eacc. you said... these are things that are happening as we speak, eacci have to put it to you that in 2011, mr president, the kenyatta family we re mr president, the kenyatta family were said to have a lot of wealth and the own a lot of land, and we know that 8500 people of kenya's 49 million citizens owned two thirds of the country's wealth, and your family is part of that 8500. how is

that fit with your fight against corruption? as i always stated, what we are what we have is up to the public. as a public servant, i am supposed to make my wealth known, and we declare every year, daewoo said if there is an instance where somebody can say that what we have done or obtained has not been legitimate, to say so. we are ready to face any court. furthermore, as long as they further said that going forward , long as they further said that going forward, we are in the process of putting in place measures where every public serva nt‘s putting in place measures where every public servant's assets must be declared publicly, so that people can question and ask what is legitimate? and if you cannot explain yourself, including myself, then i have a case to answer. that is the ordered that he launched in june, so that all public servants

will be asked to explain the source of their wealth. including myself. including yourself, but there have been calls for an inspection of your late father, kenyatta. we can do that, we can even go back to my grandfather, great—grandfather, no problem. uhuru kenyatta himself seems to have benefited from the redistribution of land, using kenya's —— using his wealth to buy circularfarmland. kenya's —— using his wealth to buy circular farmland. the keyword there is by. at will you allow this

historic acquisition of farmland? absolutely. anything that you will emerge, very confident that? so no sacred cows? none. and have you declared all this? we are waiting for the process to be done, we are waiting for especially procurement officers. and is everything going to be made public? absolutely. so we know who has been put through this. absolutely. and has been underpinned by legislation? this is what we are working together with parliament to establish because already that is done. what we are saying is at least for the executive, we will insist that if you to continue serving you must make the public —— it public. so it is notjust windowdressing? no, this is something i am committed to andi no, this is something i am committed to and i am determined to live as my

legacy in this country. is that what you want your legacy to be, your fight? the fight against corruption and transparency, and to ensure that the nation's re— sources are used in the nation's re— sources are used in the best interests of the people of the best interests of the people of the republic. we have seen what is happening in uganda, where the president has change the constitution. under any circumstances in you can foresee that you might stay on for another term or submit yourself to an election for another term, because you have a two u—turn? election for another term, because you have a two u-turn? work on the basis of our constitution. my predecessors all the function on that basis and i intend to follow suit. no circumstances whatsoever, evenif suit. no circumstances whatsoever, even if the people demanded in a referendum or something like that? there is no provision constitution to that. -- return. and we cannot on one side say that we are fighting impunity on one hand, and then on

the other hand say that we are part and parcel of the impunity that you have committed yourself to fighting. one trend in kenyan politics that many observers have said is a blight on democracy in your country is the fa ct on democracy in your country is the fact that people tend to vote along ethnic groups, and we saw what is happening in the last two elections in 2008 when there was the terrible violence but also the contested election last year when the opposition leader went to the mock inauguration ceremony in february, and then in march there was this famous handshake between the two of you. what did that handshake denote? was just between two men or did it show that the two ethnic communities have come together? handshake had nothing to do with the ethnic communities, because i myself got support from all of my community. the kikuyu. i got more votes from my

community. odinga at also got more votes from his ethnic community. the handshake is that what we to political leaders are saying that regardless of our ethnic backgrounds, we do not want to allow and we will work together to make sure that in —— going forward, political differences will never result in animosity and we will go around the country, and ideas are going to override personal interest. we are going to work together to fight the ills that face and challenge our society, such as corruption. it does not make a difference whatever your political or party affiliation is, corruption works against the entire country and it takes all of us to work against that. when it comes to community, we wa nt that. when it comes to community, we want people to understand that they can't make political choices without fear of political ramifications

because i decided to go one way or another. —— that they can make. because i decided to go one way or another. -- that they can make. will you create a new position for him? is that possible? why should we create a new position? there are no positions in our government. we will work for the reunification of our people. as well as the president of kenya, you're also a leader of a very important country in east africa, and i put it to you that one issue that is in the news very much issue that is in the news very much is the fate of the ugandan opposition mp, and i would like to know whether you have raised his plight with the president. he has now been released on bail on charges of treason. kenny is not a country that seeks to really interview with other peoples's or other countries's issues. even when he hasjust been beaten up? let me finish, we are a

country that encourage democratic processes , country that encourage democratic processes, but we also understand that every country has their own challenge. what can you would like to see is where political competition is allowed without intimidation, and we preach that message but we say that where there are differences, please let us ensure that those differences do not result in violent. exactly what i said about odinga in. so in short, ours is to encourage democracy and a peaceful solution to whatever differences may exist, but kenya does not interfere, just like we also are not keen on other people interfering in our own domestic issues, and what we encourage is internal resolution to internal problem. but the kenyan lawyers, national lawyers association, has said it wants to bring his case to the east african court because he was beaten up in detention. as you know, we allow our institutions and our organisation the freedom to push

whatever agenda they have, and as to how they are going to pursue that, i would encourage you to ask them. this is how we intend to prosecute this case. president uhuru kenyatta, thank you very much indeed for coming on hardtalk. thank you very much for having us. thank you very much for having us. thank you very much indeed. hello. wednesday starts with a bit of umbrella weather across some parts of the uk, but it should turn dry and sunny for many of us as the day goes on. two weather systems to talk about early on. this one clipping parts of south—east england and east anglia, with either showers or some rain, could be some heavy bursts. and this one moving out of scotland and northern ireland, taking some increasingly light and patchy rain further south

through england and wales. starting temperatures double figures for england and wales, but something fresher for scotland and northern ireland, it's less humid behind this weather front, and there'll be some sunshine around. a few showers pushing into north—west scotland, maybe along to the west of northern ireland. rain clears east anglia and the south—east lunchtime at the very latest, and then our weakening weather front takes a few late—day showers towards this part of the world. sunny spells developed elsewhere in england and wales. here's a look at things at 11:00pm in the afternoon, and on the breeze, a feed of a few showers into north—west scotland. but most other parts here in scotland, and indeed in northern ireland, will be dry. you mayjust catch the odd shower in the west. good sunny spells, sunny speels developing across northern england, wales, the midlands and into the south—west. but a weakening weather front, with still maybe the odd shower associated with it, moves into east anglia and the south—east towards the end of the day. but hardly any rain left, really, and then it clears away and we've got clearing skies. and there mayjust be the odd patch of mist and fog as we go into thursday morning, but overnight into thursday,

our weather systems have cleared away — clearing skies, and temperatures dip away. a much cooler night to come going into thursday morning, and into low single figures in some spots. under those clearing skies, we have an area of high pressure starting to build into the uk, which means although it's chilly first thing on thursday, there will be plenty of sunshine to come first thing. it may not last all day. you'll see the band here showing that we've got clear skies. as we go deeper into thursday, you can see some cloud starting to build. it may produce the odd shower, maybe more so into western scotland. most will be dry, just expect a bit more cloud to come, but still some sunny spells, and temperatures high teens, to a few into the low 20s. so, once we get past that chance of umbrella weather in the day ahead, for the rest of the week, it is looking mainly dry. but do note — again, that the night will be chillier.

and then, as we go into the weekend, we'll see a theme of cloud coming into western parts of the uk. that may produce a bit of patchy rain. the emphasis is on the plenty of dry weather, as the weekend goes on, it will start to warm up a little bit too. that's your latest forecast. welcome to bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is mike embley. our top stories: a dramatic rise in the death toll from hurricane maria. puerto rico says nearly 3000 people lost their lives last year, up from just 64. google strongly denies claims by president trump that it skews search results to portray him in a less positive light. several countries call for myanmar‘s military leaders to be brough to justice following a report detailing atrocities committed against the rohingya minority. innocent human beings were raped, murdered and burned alive for no other reason than their religious and ethnic identity. the whole world is watching what we will do next and if we will act.