you're watching bbc news, good to have you with us. i'm rich preston, ourtop to have you with us. i'm rich preston, our top stories. president biden promises he will re—engage with the world and step up efforts to end the war in yemen.— war in yemen. i've asked my middle east _ war in yemen. i've asked my middle east team _ war in yemen. i've asked my middle east team to - war in yemen. i've asked my middle east team to ensure l war in yemen. i've asked my i middle east team to ensure our support for the united nations to impose a cease—fire, open humanitarian challenge in every store, long dormant peace talks. �* �* �* , ., ., talks. after bbc investigation reveals harrowing _ talks. after bbc investigation reveals harrowing accounts . talks. after bbc investigation | reveals harrowing accounts of uighur women in chinese camps being tortured and raped. marjorie taylor green is stripped of her high—profile

post—following several controversial remarks. scientists warned about the cacophony of human activity that's drowning out the natural ocean soundscape. and we visit the uk streets where having a babyis the uk streets where having a baby is something of a lockdown trend. we begin in the united states where presidentjoe biden has pledged to re—engage with the world in his first major foreign policy speech. it's a remarkably different tone to the america first tone of the trumpet menstruation. mr biden said solutions to problems such as armed conflicts and climate change could be solved only by working with other nations. he also said his administration would step up efforts to end the war in yemen. we would step up efforts to end the war in yemen.— would step up efforts to end the war in yemen. we are also ste -|n~ the war in yemen. we are also

stepping up _ the war in yemen. we are also stepping up our— the war in yemen. we are also stepping up our diplomacy - the war in yemen. we are also stepping up our diplomacy to l stepping up our diplomacy to end the were in yemen which has created humanitarian and strategic catastrophes. i've asked my middle east team to ensure our support to impose a cease—fire, open humanitarian challenge and restore long dormant peace talks. we challenge and restore long dormant peace talks. we can now seak dormant peace talks. we can now speak t0- -- _ dormant peace talks. we can now speakt0--- at— dormant peace talks. we can now speak to. .. at the _ dormant peace talks. we can now speak to. .. at the middle - dormant peace talks. we can now speak to. .. at the middle east - speak to... at the middle east institute. she also previously served as a programme officer at the department for international development in yemen. president biden says drawing support for ending the war in yemen will be one of us keep track to says. what does this mean in practice? it’s keep track to says. what does this mean in practice?- this mean in practice? it's a aood this mean in practice? it's a good thing- _ this mean in practice? it's a good thing. basically - this mean in practice? it's a good thing. basically the i good thing. basically the democrats have been pressuring the former administration to end its involvement in saudi arabia among them chris murphy,

bernie sanders has spoken time and time again for the need to end arms sales to the saudis, given the us involvement in the war, and the need to focus on solving the humanitarian crisis that's happening in the country. so the decision now is quite significant, it shows that the biden administration is carving out a new policy direction with this audis, showing they will no longer be supporting their saudi partners unconditionally, especially when the former administration has somewhat given unconditional support for the saudi led mission in yemen and continue to issue certification for arms sales despite the violations that were reported in air strikes that took a

significant number of yemeni citizens as collateral. has saudi arabia _ citizens as collateral. has saudi arabia responded to this message from president biden? this saudi's response is a bit of a toss—up right now. they are keen on ending their intervention in yemen, they don't want to get more entangled, but there isn't really any way for this to happen without having to who these and other iranian backers do the same, and back out as well. so it is a bit of a comp located issue. also in the past, this —— the saudis... saudi arabia would be happy to purchase arms elsewhere. there is a possible continuation of arms sales, but in biden�*s message, i think his message

was a bit more nuanced that they will end arms sales that were not also reassure the saudis that they are protecting them and protecting the national security, especially in the face of increased rebels. so the message is not an ultimatum for the saudis it is an ultimatum now for a smart calculated position. engagement that i think is what yemen and the saudis need at this time. briefly, is this the vital step that could see the war in yemen come to an end. we hope so but it is important to

see the taking political steps are also not very easy. the un envoy has been a diplomat that spoke to all sides in this conflict and yet have face significant hurdles. get some gains so there are many players in this conflict. you need to be cognisant that the saudis are intervening on behalf of the yemeni government and the iranians are using the hershey's to their advantage as well. and there are no signs that this is being settled in the us has no leveraged with eran and, you know, the humanitarian crisis is not improving and the aid is not going to the people where it is intended to go. no—one is on an increase and people who speak up increase and people who speak up and especially the rebels, they end up going to jail.

women activists are held in prisons under sham prosecution charges and children under ten years old are being recruited en masse to go to war on behalf of the rebels. we en masse to go to war on behalf of the rebels.— of the rebels. we will have to leave it there, _ of the rebels. we will have to leave it there, thank - of the rebels. we will have to leave it there, thank you - of the rebels. we will have to leave it there, thank you for l leave it there, thank you for making time for us. we will have more on president biden �*s foreign policy changes later in the programme. now get of the days other news. the us is to end its support for offensive operations by its allies in yemen, which has been devastated by a six—year war in which more than 110,000 people donald trump says he will not testify at his senate impeachment trial next week. a statement from his lawyers dismissed the request for him to appear as a public relations stunt. democrats accuse the former president of inciting insurrection. the brazilian mining firm, vale, has agreed to pay $7 billion in compensation after the collapse of a dam two years ago. 270 people died, when the brumadinho dam gave way, unleashing a torrent of toxic mud. residents in yangon have banged pots and pans for the third night in a row in support of aung san suu kyi

who was ousted by myanmar�*s army on monday. military rulers have also blocked access to facebook — the main source of online information for many in the country. uk residents returning from coronavirus hot spots abroad will have to quarantine in hotels from the middle of this month. they're expected to be set up near airports including heathrow and gatwick. hotel owners will be asked to provide rooms for more than a thousand people a day. there's been international condemnation of china after the bbc reported claims that women in so—called re—education camps for the uighur muslim minority are being raped and tortured. presidentjoe biden and the british government are now calling on beijing to allow independent investigators into the camps. china has denied the allegations and accused the bbc of making a "false report". matthew hill has spoken to several former detainees for his report — and you may find some of their accounts distressing. two days ago,

we broadcast the story of tu rsunay ziawudun. she described how she was held in this re—education camp in xinjiang for months and was the victim of repeated rape. translation: they were three men. not one, but three. they did whatever evil their mind could think of. and they didn't spare any part of my body, biting it to the extent that it was disgusting to look at. they didn't just rape. they were barbaric. they had bitten all over my body. we also heard from gulzira, now living in the relative safety of istanbul, having fled china. we also heard from gulzira, now living in the relative safety of istanbul, having fled china. she's a kazakh who says she was forced to be complicit in the rape that goes on in the camps. translation: my '0b is to remove *

their clothes completely and then handcuff them on their beds so they cannot move. reaction to our story has been global. the australian foreign minister says the united nations should be given immediate access to the region. the uk foreign office minister told lawmakers in parliament that the bbc�*s report was chilling and said china needed to be open about what's happening in xinjiang province. the evidence of the scale and the severity of these violations is now far—reaching. it paints a truly harrowing picture. if china wishes to dispute this evidence, then it must allow unfettered access to the region for the un high commissioner for human rights or another independent fact—finding body. and there's been this from the us state department... it's estimated that a million uighurs and other muslim minorities are held in camps in xinjiang. china has responded to our report

insisting that its camps are vocational training centres, designed to stop muslims living in the region from turning to extremism. and it denounced the bbc report as lies and misinformation. translation: there is no so-called - systemic sexual assault and abuse against women. china is a country ruled by law. 0ur constitution guarantees and protects human rights, and it is embodied in our legal system and the government's work. now we can show you new testimony. a former inmate who describes how regular rape was in the camp she was in and how it was used as punishment. translation: one day, they assembled - many people in a large hall. then they brought a young girl, 20 or 21 years old. she was forced to confess a bogus crime in front of everyone. she pleaded guilty to the made—up crime in flood

of tears in her speech, in which she was forced to confess. after that, in front of so many people, the police raped her in turns. despite the huge international outcry that these women's testimonies have provoked, it's unlikely that china will act and allow independent scrutiny of what's going on inside their re—education camps. matthew hill, bbc news. the us house of representatives has voted to strip a republican member of her position on two key congressional committees. democrats argued the newly elected congresswoman was not fit to serve due to remarks she made after being elected such as saying september 11 was staged. marjorie taylor green said she regretted her past

comments but stopped short of apologising. you see, school shootings are absolutely real. i also want to tell you 9/11 absolutely happened. i remember that day, crying all day long. these were words of the past, and these things do not represent me, they do not represent my district and they do not represent my values. keith norton nowjoins us from washington. this sets a precedent, what is your take on this? i precedent, what is your take on this? ~ , ., , ., precedent, what is your take on this? ~ , ., ., this? i think it is a bit of a problem- _ this? i think it is a bit of a problem. having - this? i think it is a bit of a problem. having this - this? i think it is a bit of a - problem. having this open-ended problem. having this open—ended suspension on committees is a mistake. i think they would have been better doing something temporarily or something temporarily or something with some specificity to it instead of something rather open—ended because it opens it up to who you punish next, what exactly is the

standard, what happens if you lose power. it is a significant problem from that standpoint. the two committees she was removed from, one was education and the other was budget, how much effectors that on her political influence? none. she is a minority member, minority has very little power. she is a freshman on a committee in the minority party, she would have no effect on these committees, no effect on these committees, no voting effect, no policy effect. it reallyjust mostly boosts her in her district and will help her be re—elected. what is the republican party said in response to this? for the most — said in response to this? for the most part, _ said in response to this? lip" the most part, people have condemned it and i don't think she has been given much of a platform on the conservative media. most people, by far, recoilat media. most people, by far, recoil at what she said and correctly so and would rather not have her around. but fortunately it is called the house of representatives for a reason and every now and then someone who represents the french will slip into one or the other of the parties. she

had solid — the other of the parties. she had solid support in her home base of georgia. we expect that to dip or have a boost after the public relations that have come about as a result of this? it may fall a little bit. i think the people in the district will resent that california democrat and nancy pelosi is trying to tell them who their member of congress should be. ithink who their member of congress should be. i think there could be a bit of a rallying around the local person. but in the end it is a heavily republican district and she will probably, she will most likely hang on but i don't think she will be very influential going forward. some of her remarks were rather incendiary, casting doubt over 9/11 and school shootings, remarkable to hear a us representative having to stand up representative having to stand up and say that these things did happen. up and say that these things did happen-— up and say that these things did hauen. , did happen. they were facebook comments _ did happen. they were facebook comments and _ did happen. they were facebook comments and facebook - did happen. they were facebook comments and facebook is - did happen. they were facebook comments and facebook is kind| comments and facebook is kind of a cesspool, if you will.

some of this was she was clicking like on certain statements and there is a difference between promiscuously clicking the like button and making explicit threats. she did say some things and she does deserve sanctioned by the democrats should have been a little more careful about how they handle this. ., ., ., ~ , ., this. keith norton, thank you very much — this. keith norton, thank you very much for— this. keith norton, thank you very much for being - this. keith norton, thank you very much for being with - this. keith norton, thank you very much for being with us. | this. keith norton, thank you i very much for being with us. we appreciated. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: the uk streets were having a babyis the uk streets were having a baby is becoming something of a lockdown trend. this is the moment that millions in iran had been waiting for. after his long years in exile, the first hesitant steps of ayatollah khomeini on iranian soil. south africa's white government has offered its black opponents concessions unparalleled in the history of apartheid. and the anc leader, nelson mandela, is to be set free unconditionally. three, two, one.

a countdown - to a critical moment. the world's most powerful rocket ignited all 27 - of its engines at once. and apart from its power, it's this recycling of the rocket, l slashing the cost of a launch, l that makes this a breakthrough in the business| of space travel. two americans have become the first humans to walk in space without any lifeline to their spaceship. one of them called it "a piece of cake". thousands of people have given the yachtswoman ellen macarthur a spectacular homecoming in the cornish port of falmouth after she smashed the world record for sailing solo around the world non—stop. this is bbc news, the latest headlines: in his first major foreign policy speech, president biden promises america will re—engage with the world, including stepping up efforts to end the war in yemen.

let's stay with that story now. president biden also said he would formally and the planned withdrawal of troops from yemen. he said he would confront china on various fronts, including china. in speaking of the military coup in mount martha on monday, he said the military should relinquish its power. he said they will continue to co—operate with russia on areas of mutual interest but also had a warning for moscow. fist of mutual interest but also had a warning for moscow.- a warning for moscow. at the same time. _ a warning for moscow. at the same time. i _ a warning for moscow. at the same time, i made _ a warning for moscow. at the same time, i made it - a warning for moscow. at the same time, i made it clear i a warning for moscow. at the same time, i made it clear to president putin, a man very different from my predecessor, that i am that, in the days of the united states rolling over in the face of russia's aggressive actions, interfering with our elections, cyber attacks, poisoning our citizens, are over. we will not hesitate to raise the cost on russia and defend our vital interests and our people was white now, according to a report in science magazine, a

natural ocean soundscape is fundamental to healthy marine life but it is being drowned out by an increasingly loud cacophony of noise from human activities. ., . , activities. that includes drillinu activities. that includes drilling for _ activities. that includes drilling for oil _ activities. that includes drilling for oil and i activities. that includesj drilling for oil and noise activities. that includes i drilling for oil and noise from ship's engines. this into this. you can hear the type of sound thatis you can hear the type of sound that is being transmitted underwater. these sounds were recorded by and artist who was also the author of the report. let's get more on this now from professor francisjuanes at the university of victoria in canada, he's an expert in fish ecology and conservation. what did your report find, professor?— what did your report find, professor? ~ ., ., , professor? we found that it is the first really _ professor? we found that it is the first really global - professor? we found that it is the first really global review. the first really global review of underwater soundscapes and we found that noise is pervasive in all oceans and in places where you might have

thought that didn't happen such as in the deep sea and the arctic. and the effects are pervasive as well, both with all sorts of marine organisms, from fishes to invertebrates. how harmful is noiseyellow can be quite harmful depending on the source of the noise. some of these , , . the source of the noise. some ofthese , , . , ., ., ., of these seismic exploration for oil and — of these seismic exploration for oil and gas, _ of these seismic exploration for oil and gas, and - of these seismic exploration i for oil and gas, and underwater exploration, can actually be level for animals. a lot of the other kind of noise, ship noise, is much more accumulative and so can cause stress and behavioural and physiological effects that are more long—standing. physiological effects that are more long-standing.- physiological effects that are more long-standing. nature has seen something _ more long-standing. nature has seen something of— more long-standing. nature has seen something of a _ more long-standing. nature has seen something of a benefits i more long-standing. nature has seen something of a benefits to| seen something of a benefits to the pandemic, drops in carbon emissions and drops in global travel, has the same happen when it comes to ocean noise? yes. in fact, we have a term

for it and it is called the anthropause. it was a period right after the pandemic started. forabout right after the pandemic started. for about a month and a half, the oceans were really quiet. those of us lucky enough to have a hydrophone is, underwater microphones in the water, noted really strong decreases in ocean noise in most places where we listen. and forward thinking, what are some of the solutions to this. it is unlikely we are going to see rapid and to ocean noise, can be done?— can be done? unlike other stresses — can be done? unlike other stresses to _ can be done? unlike other stresses to the _ can be done? unlike other. stresses to the environment can be done? unlike other- stresses to the environment by chemical and plastic pollution, once you cut off the source of the sound, then the noise goes away. although its effects of course, its cumulative effects are going to stay there with most organisms, the sound source itself would disappear. so it is relatively simple, the solution. such as mass ship traffic or building quieter ships. the technology exists to do that. there is also a lot of

equipment in which we can explore using quieter technology. we should also change where the ship lanes. even large ships and small recreational vessels don't go over conservation areas for example. over conservation areas for example-— over conservation areas for examle. ., ., . , example. professor, frances, thank you _ example. professor, frances, thank you so _ example. professor, frances, thank you so much _ example. professor, frances, thank you so much for- example. professor, frances, thank you so much forjoining| thank you so much forjoining us. thank you so much for “oining us. . ~' thank you so much for “oining us. . ~ , ., more than a0 vehicles have been involved in a pileup in the us state of iowa. police had no serious injuries in the state is the region. officials have advised people to stay at home as winter storm peggy has brought white out conditions. when the first lockdown came into force almost a year ago, there was speculation it could lead to a baby boom. there's no official data yet but it looks like lockdown may have had the reverse effect. however one street in the uk is bucking the trend, as jon kay reports. first it was jenny. then catherine. then caroline. followed by victoria,

then ellie, and now ailey. it started with just a couple and then we found out we were due and then i was speaking tojenny... maybe i started a trend. every time i speak to someone else, it was like, the number basically increased. there is something in the water! four and then five and then six. there are just women popping up every day it felt like. _ it's been fantastic. myjaw hit the floor! really? yeah, iwas, like, i can't believe it. this street, this little street. notjust on the same street but all on the same side of the street. i dared to ask how many are pregnant on the other side, if it matches this side! because we are all friends as well. everybody is feeling i a bit nervous i think, all the people - who aren't pregnant. the first lockdown, lots of people went out and got dogs! um... you didn't want a dog! we've been going running, we've been baking bread. and we've been making babies.

you can't go out, you can't really see people as much so maybe it's time to settle down. we are kind of supporting one another. ailey set up a yoga class which is fantastic. it is so nice to connect - with other women who are going through a similar experience at the same time. _ particularly as a first—time mum, not having any of the kind of baby groups and things that would normally be happening. but so much for the rule of six. i can't give you any names, they don't want to go public yet, but there will be more announcements on this street very soon. with babies arriving all the way through to august, it feels like an exciting and positive time. but hang on — five? where'sjenny? tonight, some breaking news. jenny and rick have a baby daughter — summer.

born this afternoon. the lockdown baby boom on this street is under way. jon kay, bbc news, bristol. before we go, german scientists have found what could be the smallest reptile. so small, it can fit on your finger tips. discovered in madagascar, the nano chameleon is less than 30 millimetres long, making it the smallest of the 7500 species of its kind. scientists say the nano chameleon's natural habitat is under threat due to deforestation but have now placed the area under the protection to hope that the species survives. a reminder of the top story. presidentjoe biden has told the world that the united states is back and ready to resume global leadership afterfour ready to resume global leadership after four years of donald trump's america first agenda. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @richpreston.

you can download the bbc news app you can download the bbc news app for all the latest stories. that is it for me for now, take care, goodbye. hello. cold and snow on the way. for now for many of us, it's just yet more rain with an ongoing risk of flooding. but as you know, in northern scotland, the snow has arrived. heavy snow, at that, where the met office has an amber warning in force throughout friday. still snowing here, and even into the weekend within that amber zone — so significant disruption as a result, as those snow totals mount. now all the wet weather, snow or rain, is from this area of low pressure only very slowly moving away over the weekend.

as it does so, rain turns to snow as an increasingly strong and bitterly cold easterly wind sets in across the uk. and as that continues into next week, we will continue to see some snow coming in, particularly but not exclusively to eastern parts of the uk. this is how we start off on friday morning — most of us are above freezing. most of us seeing rain rather than snow, but the snow very much still there across northern scotland. wet, too, in northern ireland, especially to the eastern parts of northeast england — both areas with the risk of flooding from the persistent rain. showers moving into wales, southwest england, the west midlands as we go through the afternoon. east midlands, east anglia, southeast england, and parts of northern england away from that rain towards the far northeast. drier and brighterfor a time, a few sunny spells, and still that big range of temperatures from north to south across the uk. now the overall pattern doesn't change very much as we go through friday night into saturday morning. still the showers or bands of rain circulating around an area of low pressure, and still very wet for some of us in northeast england, along the east coast of scotland with that snow further inland,

and especially into the hills — still snowing, perhaps for some of us, even into the start of the weekend. for all this weekend, it turns much colder and that snow becomes more widespread. plenty of cloud around on saturday, showers or spells of rain especially in the east with the wind starting to pick up, as well. i think deeper on into saturday, more of that rain turning into snow in northern england initially on the hills. looks to be a drier day though in northern ireland. overnight and into sunday, the cold air really starts to dig in. rain turning to snow across eastern parts, could be a prolonged spell of snow across parts of east anglia and southeast england, then further snow showers in the east — some may push further west. regardless, though, for all of us, it is much colder by then.

this is bbc news, the headlines: in his first major foreign policy speech, president biden has said it is necessary to engage with american adversaries diplomatically, pointing to an extension of a nuclear arms control treaty with russia. he also said he would step up his efforts to end the war in yemen. the us state department has called for serious consequences for china after a bbc investigation revealed harrowing accounts of uighur women injab revealed harrowing accounts of uighurwomen injab —— revealed harrowing accounts of uighur women injab —— chinese camps. uighur women in 'ab -- chinese cam s. ,, uighur women in 'ab -- chinese cams. ,, ., , ., camps. the us house of representatives - camps. the us house of representatives has i camps. the us house of l representatives has voted camps. the us house of i representatives has voted to publish the republican congresswoman marjorie taylor greene after she promoted baseless conspiracy theories and showed support for violence after that against democrats. 11 republicans enjoying —— joined the entire democratic caucus in an effort to expel herfrom two caucus in an effort to expel her from two committees.