welcome to newsday. reporting live from singapore — i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines... the japanese government launches a rare emergency alert after north korea launches more missiles towards its territory. a surprise peace deal after nearly two years of civil war in ethiopia. it's hoped it will allow aid into northern tigray — where 90% of the population is going hungry. with less than a week to go until the us midterm elections — president biden says democracy itself is on the line. we must have one unified voice,

speak as a country, and say there is no place, no place, for voter intimidation and political violence in america. and with three weeks to go until the world cup kicks off — critics deny the tournmanet will be carbon—neutral. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news. it's newsday. welcome to the programme. north korea has launched three ballistic missiles, according to the south korean military. warnings were issued in some regions ofjapan, but the missile didn't cross their territory. the news comes after wednesday's launch of around 20 missiles, including one that landed less than 60 kilometres from the south korean city of sokcho. those launches were described by us secretary of state antony blinken as "dangerous" and "escalatory". north korea appears to be

retaliating for the joint military drills that the south koreans and the us have been carrying out. stanton senior fellow in the nuclear policy program at the carnegie endowment for international peace. he's in seoul. great to speak to you, i know that we have spoken before about issues like this. ijust want to get your thoughts on the immediacy of all of this and what kind of missiles are we looking at?— we looking at? there is uncertainty _ we looking at? there is uncertainty about - we looking at? there is uncertainty about the i we looking at? there is - uncertainty about the types of missiles, but we have seen the north koreans launch more missiles in the past 2a hours and then launched in the entirety of 2019 which was their busiest missile testing yearin their busiest missile testing year in the past, so really, we're seeing a qualitative shift in the nature of north korean missile activity, and it is indeed destabilising the northern east asian region. according to some reports that we are getting across reuters

news wires, the japanese prime minister is quoted as saying that one of the missiles fired by north korea could have been an icbm, and if, and as you point out there is much that is uncertain at this stage, if it is an icbm, how significant is that luke a, ., is an icbm, how significant is that luke— is an icbm, how significant is that luke a, ., ., , ., that luke the magatti was one ofthe that luke the magatti was one of the milestone _ that luke the magatti was one of the milestone that - that luke the magatti was one of the milestone that trust - that luke the magatti was one of the milestone that trust in l of the milestone that trust in 2017. this is a known capability and the us administration has accounted for this. the biden administration said that north korea does launch a nuclear threat either to united states. there is some talks between south korean and japanese adversaries about what that missile represents and the difficulty involved in tracking these missiles, both of these countries, and regularly

disagree and assess the launch of these missiles should be deeply concerning to the public of both countries. i deeply concerning to the public of both countries.— of both countries. i 'ust wonderi of both countries. i 'ust wonder as i of both countries. i 'ust wonder as well i of both countries. ijust wonder as well what i of both countries. ijust| wonder as well what you of both countries. ijust - wonder as well what you think of the timing of all of this, and is it significant that this is taking place ahead of the midterms, of course? i don't see the midterms _ midterms, of course? i don't see the midterms of- midterms, of course? i don't see the midterms of the - midterms, of course? i don't - see the midterms of the primary factor at play. the north korean general who is one of kimjong—un�*s most korean general who is one of kim jong—un�*s most trusted military advisers released a statement not too long before these missiles began flying, indicating that north korea was deeply distressed by the fact that the us and south korea were carrying out aerial exercises, that the us and south korea were unprecedented in scale, and so we have seen the north koreans respond in their own unprecedented way. from a north koreans perspective, the us and south korea practising for warfare, although the alliance would say that these are the effects of exercise, so too are the north koreans, demonstrating that they could escalate a nuclear war that became necessary.

where to go from here with the next 24—48 hours, it is being said by some analysts that this is a very dangerous period. in your view, where does the situation go now? i your view, where does the situation go now?- your view, where does the situation go now? i fear that we are looking _ situation go now? i fear that we are looking at _ situation go now? i fear that we are looking at a - situation go now? i fear that we are looking at a very - we are looking at a very dangerous trajectory. the last eight weeks in general on the korean peninsula have not been reassuring, we have seen a spiral dynamic at work where what happens when north korea prompts aggression from north korea drops a reaction from south korea, and north korea response, and there is a case for the us and south korea to de—escalate because the north koreans are unlikely to do so. the consequences of allowing the spiral to continue our the possibility of a major crisis between the two korea plymouth, the likes of which we have not seen since there were landmines at the border, or in 2010 when north korea actually shelled a south korean island and sank a south korean island and sank a south korean island and sank a south korean naval vessel. i

worry about those kinds of provocations, as they north koreans seem to be tolerating more risk, as we have seen with the mr abbott landed 50 kilometres of the south korean coast service is heading in a very dangerous direction, in my assessment. thanks forjoining us with your thoughts. after ten days of peace talks — a surprise deal has been reached between the government of ethiopia and rebel forces in tigray for a permanent cessation of hostilities. the african union's chief mediator — the former nigerian president, 0lusegun 0basanjo — has called it the beginning of a new dawn for ethiopia. it's almost two years since a brutal conflict began in ethiopia's northern tigray region. since then a civil war has left hundreds of thousands dead, almost five million displaced, and a population on the brink of starvation. the bbc is the first international broadcaster

to obtain footage from inside the area since august. 0ur senior africa correspondent, anne soy, reports. it's a major breakthrough. ethiopia's government has called it "monumental". rebels have agreed to disarm. but there is some level of caution. this moment is not the end of the peace process, but the beginning of it. a previous ceasefire was breached in august. this footage is the first gathered by international media since then. a children's playground, bombed. the ethiopian government has always insisted that they are not targeting civilians. this granny fled some of the most recent fighting. i left my kids and grandkids, she says. she doesn't know if they survived. the displaced have harrowing stories to tell.

translation: we saw elders being slaughtered, _ women raped and kids killed. we've seen many things. we saw these things, that's why we were frightened and came here. there are many atrocities in this war. people are dying because of the blockade and famine. kids are dying due to a lack of medicine. we are losing people. the region has been cut off from the rest of the country and world for nearly two years now. the people here have been without banking, means of communication and power. aid agencies say almost everyone in northern tigray is in need of food aid. they're desperate for a return to normal life. at mek�*ele's largest internally displaced people's camp, this man struggles to grow food for his family. every harvest is a disappointment. he's desperate to go back to his large farm. translation: we were working

hard and living our lives. - but now we have nothing to do. no—one is helping us. we've been here for a year now, and received aid only three times. the new deal brings hope that his and many other families can begin the journey to reconciliation. but its success hinges on the commitment of the warring parties. anne soy, bbc news, nairobi. to the us now where president biden has been speaking at a democratic national committee event in the past hour. referring to next week's midterm elections, he says americans must unite in opposition to political misinformation and lies as well as violence and voter intimidation. he accused donald trump and his supporters of undermining democracy and fuelling anger, hate and violence by refusing to accept the results of the 2020 us elections. ii

to accept the results of the 2020 us elections.- 2020 us elections. if you refuse to _ 2020 us elections. if you refuse to accept - 2020 us elections. if you refuse to accept the - 2020 us elections. if you refuse to accept the will. 2020 us elections. if you | refuse to accept the will of the people, if you refuse to accept the fact that he lost, he has abused his power and put the loyalty to himself before loyalty to the constitution, and he has made a big lie and article of faith in the maga republican party, as secret, if thatis republican party, as secret, if that is true then every person's rights must be sacred because we have enjoyed our freedom for so long, it is easy to think it will always be with us, no matter what. to think it will always be with us, no matterwhat. but to think it will always be with us, no matter what. but in our bones, we know that democracy faces a risk. we also know this. it is within our power, each and every one of us, to preserve our democracy.

let's speak to our north america correspondent peter bowes. great to get you on the programme. we have heard this sort of thing from joe biden before, but i wonder how much of an impact you think a speech like that is going to have on undecided voters, and is that even a key consideration as we get to the midterm elections, they are so close, aren't they? that is probably a huge consideration, because the election certainly in many parts of the country is close, especially those crucial congressional seats that could decide the future political make up of the house of representatives. you are absolutely right. the speech didn't really tell us anything new in terms of what president biden thinks of democracy because it is a topic he has returned to several times over the last couple of years but i think, significant that he chooses to make a major speech about it in the closing stages

of this campaign. he did acknowledge during the speech that there are other issues that there are other issues that clearly concerned americans, the cost of living crisis, rising inflation, the future of abortion rights, crime, in some major cities, those are what people are talking about, but president biden and his supporters and the democrats, and this was a political speech, arranged by the democratic national committee, they clearly believe that there is something of a consensus across america, or perhaps something approaching a consensus, about the importance of democracy and that the one candidate who will accept the results, and he wants people to choose those politicians who will not deny the election result, he said that election deniers would take the country down a road to chaos.- down a road to chaos. even thou:h down a road to chaos. even though he _ down a road to chaos. even though he didn't _ down a road to chaos. even though he didn't directly i down a road to chaos. even| though he didn't directly say donald trump's name in that speech, he did say that the previous president refused to

accept those election results. what do you think is the usefulness of deliberately targeting the former president in this way forjoe biden? it was deliberate and he didn't really need to say donald trump, everybody knows who he is talking about, but it is interesting that neitherjoe biden nor donald trump are actually on the ballot paper next week, but clearly, they are the two focal points, the two key figures for the respective parties. we don't know who's going to stand in 2024, but it is donald trump thatis 2024, but it is donald trump that is at the centre of much of the election result denial. donald trump and his supporters, that it goes to the heart of the issue thatjoe biden was talking about. in effect, he was saying that donald trump has fanned the flames of the next —— election denial, the continued election denial, the continued election denial, of many of the candidates standing, with the support of the former president.— support of the former president. support of the former resident. �* , ., ., ., president. always great to on our president. always great to on your programme _ president. always great to on

your programme is _ president. always great to on your programme is your - your programme is your thoughts, peter bowes, thank you forjoining us on the programme. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come... the legacy of invasion — how is russia's war on ukraine affecting the people back home? the israeli prime minister yitzhak rabin, the architect of the middle east peace process has been assassinated. 27—year—old jewish man has been arrested and anjewish organisation has been the responsibility. aha, organisation has been the responsibility.— responsibility. a restored historic result _ responsibility. a restored historic result for - responsibility. a restored i historic result for australia, as the — historic result for australia, as the results _ historic result for australia, as the results came - historic result for australia, as the results came in - historic result for australia, as the results came in it- as the results came in it became _ as the results came in it became clear— as the results came in it became clear that- as the results came in it became clear that the l as the results came in it- became clear that the monarchy would _ became clear that the monarchy would survive. _ became clear that the monarchy would survive. in _ became clear that the monarchy would survive. in the _ became clear that the monarchy

would survive. in the covax - would survive. in the covax leaders _ would survive. in the covax leaders have _ would survive. in the covax leaders have threatened i would survive. in the covax i leaders have threatened that the americans that 1 ou, nericans that 1 ou, the ansthat 1 ou, the ansallt voyager they ans, allt voyager one vans, allt voyager one is is, allt voyager one is now it voyager one is now the die. voyager one is now the most distant _ die. voyager one is now the most distant man-made - die. voyager one is now the i most distant man-made object most distant man—made object anywhere — most distant man—made object anywhere the universe, and just seems to keep on going. itjust seems to keep on going. directly— itjust seems to keep on going. directly have proven once more that the true strength of our nation not come from the might of arms or the scale of our wealth but from the power of our ideas. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. north korea launches more ballistic missiles — one of them passing overjapan and falling into the pacific ocean. a surprise peace deal after nearly two years of civil war in ethiopia. it's hoped it will allow aid into northern tigray — where 90% of the population

is going hungry. let's turn to ukraine now, where many areas have been devastated by vladimir putin's war. but it's worth reflecting on what it has done to putin's own country. in russia there are signs of growing repression and state control, as well as escalating economic problems caused by sanctions, and a brain drain. 0ur russia editor, steve rosenberg reports from st petersburg on how russia is changing as the military offensive continues. singing how many in russia want to remember the darker chapters of their country's history? very few. every year, they gather to remember the great terror of the 1930s... ..by reading out the names ofjosef stalin's victims — the million he executed, the millions more sent to prison camps. the gulag has gone, but fear is returning. "repression is increasing by the week,"

local politician sergei troschen tells me. you can feel the fear today in russian society, and we can feel we're being watched and filmed. hardly undercover surveillance. for critics of the authorities, there are consequences. university lecturer denis skopin has just been sacked for "immoral behaviour". he'd been arrested for protesting against mobilisation for the war in ukraine. he'd spent ten days in jail. but look at the send—off his students gave him on his last day at work. cheering i love my students very much. they understand very well what is happening now in russia. denis says that many of his

colleagues, academics and scientists, have fled russia. russia is losing the best people now. the most educated, the most energetic, the most critically—thinking people are leaving the country. there are worrying parallels between russia's past and present. underjosef stalin, soviet citizens who fell foul of the authorities were often labelled enemies of the people. after invading ukraine vladimir putin vowed to cleanse russia of what he called, traitors, some and the column. to some and the fifth column. to help him do that president putin has introduced a new

patriotic lesson in russian schools. it is called conversations about what is important. in this conversation, he claims that in ukraine russia is fighting to protect russia. critics call it indoctrination.— protect russia. critics call it indoctrination. they open us and they _ indoctrination. they open us and they are _ indoctrination. they open us and they are ready - indoctrination. they open us and they are ready to - indoctrination. they open us and they are ready to be, i indoctrination. they open us and they are ready to be, to| and they are ready to be, to believe _ and they are ready to be, to believe in _ and they are ready to be, to believe in anything, and that is very— believe in anything, and that is very dangerous.— believe in anything, and that is very dangerous. because if there is one _ is very dangerous. because if there is one thing _ is very dangerous. because if there is one thing russian . there is one thing russian history teaches us, it is this, that if you believe in everything a leader here says and does without question, that can have tragic consequences. fascinating report from a russian editor steve rosenberg. authorities have ordered an investigation into a video showing officers severely beating a protester. the attack was so brutal that

it's led to an outcry in iran. this comes as anti—government protests continue throughout the country following the death of the young woman mahsa amini, who died in police custody. let's speak to our news reporter azadeh moshiri, who is following events in iran. great to get you on the programme. in the first instance could you describe what happened in that video? the video was apparently shot in tehran and in it you can see several police officers severely beating a man until he is unconscious then continue to pile on top of him even though he's not moving any more. at one point it even appears that a police officer was on a motorcycle and him over, so obviously these were distressing images, the police have now said that they will launch an investigation. they aim to find out who these police officers were, and they say that they committed on ethical and violent behaviour. this tends to be the response

each time there is undeniable evidence of a brutal act by authorities, when mahsa amini died in police custody, they said that they would launch an investigation. mahsa amini is the woman who died and triggered this entire wave of protests. after they launch that investigation they found that investigation they found that she had died from pre—existing medical conditions, something her family is categorically denied. the bbc persian. and this fits into a pattern of a brutal crackdown that is, in its most severe phase right now, so it is hard to talk about this as an isolated incident. ngos place deaths at more than 280 right now, including more than 45 children. right now, including more than 45 children-— 45 children. has been another case that _ 45 children. has been another case that has _ 45 children. has been another case that has led _ 45 children. has been another case that has led to _ 45 children. has been another case that has led to an - 45 children. has been another case that has led to an outcry| case that has led to an outcry against the government and that is the arrest of a famous iranian rapper. what more can you tell us about that? this noes you tell us about that? this aoes to you tell us about that? this goes to the _ you tell us about that? this goes to the point _ you tell us about that? this goes to the point of- you tell us about that? this goes to the point of a - you tell us about that? try 3 goes to the point of a pattern of brutal behaviour. the rapper

was very well—known in iran, and he is also known for being very outspoken, his songs often issues of human rights and economic issues within iran. that's why this isn't the first time that he was arrested. in terms of why he was arrested, this time, he gave an interview to a canadian broadcaster in which he criticised the regime. the latest is now that we have seen that he has come up in a state media video in an apparent forced confession, blindfolded and shaking so this is a pattern of brutal behaviour so far by the islamic regime. behaviour so far by the islamic reaime. �* ., behaviour so far by the islamic reaime. �* . ., ,, regime. azadeh moshiri, thank ou for regime. azadeh moshiri, thank you foryour— regime. azadeh moshiri, thank you for your insights _ regime. azadeh moshiri, thank you for your insights and - you for your insights and thoughts on that story, as always. the football world cup kicks off in qatar in under three weeks — and it'll be the first time it's being staged in the middle east. fifa — world football's

governing body — claimed it would be the first carbon—neutral tournament. but environmentalists are furiously challenging that claim. in an open letter, a group of professional footballers are also demanding that fifa drops its carbon—neutral claim, as our sports editor dan roan explains. despite being staged in the desert kingdom of qatar, organisers of the upcoming world cup have long hailed the green credentials of the event. this recyclable stadium, just one of a number of initiatives promoted by high—profile tournament ambassadors. the qatar world cup has set a real example in sustainability and what can be achieved. but today, fifa's official forecast of the event's likely carbon footprint was disputed by one renowned climate scientist. they're estimating 3.6 billion tonnes, we think it's way over the 10 million tonne mark, so three times that, at least. the idea that they've somehow made it green by cheap, nasty so—called offsets that just don't undo the damage

from the emissions at all, you know, to become carbon neutral, thatjust... that doesn't stack up at all. despite the impact of constructing seven new stadia in tiny qatar, one of the highest carbon—emitting countries per capita in the world, and the flights of more than a million fans, fifa claims the footprint will be offset. 0urjoint pledge to make this next major tournament- fully carbon—neutral. but the bbc can reveal that that claim is now the subject of a series of formal complaints by environmental campaigners to advertising standards authorities in five countries across europe. this one, filed in the uk, says that statements related to the carbon neutrality of the world cup were wrong and likely to mislead consumers, relying on deeply flawed carbon—accounting calculations. meanwhile, a host of footballers, including norway international morten thorsby,

have signed an open letter to fifa asking it to scrap its claims of carbon neutrality. this tournament is an absolute disaster in terms of also its environmental footprint. world cup is extremely important, but at the same time, we have to make it more sustainable, we have to work at finding solutions to make it better. fifa says it's taking concrete steps, such as energy—efficient stadia and offsetting emissions through investing in certified carbon credits. in a statement, it said it was... qatar's organising committee, meanwhile, emphasised no internalflights would be required at this most compact of world cups, pointing to a fleet of hundreds of electric buses and vowing the stadia would remain in use after the event. but despite the excitement they generate, the concern is that the sheer scale of such events now means fundamental change is required if they're ever to be truly sustainable. dan roan, bbc news.

that's all for now — stay with bbc world news. hello there. it was a stormy end to wednesday, low pressure sweeping rain and gales across the uk. as we move into thursday, though, we'll see some improvements with some sunshine around, one or two showers, but it will stay quite wet in the southeast as the overnight rain band lingers. and you can see here on the pressure chart, eventually, it'll wriggle away as we move into thursday afternoon, but this new area of low pressure will bring increasing showers to the southwest quadrant of the country along with strengthening winds. you notice the blue hue there on the temperature map. it will feel cooler across the northern half of the country throughout the day today. so a wet, damp morning across the south east. eventually, that should clear

away into the afternoon. elsewhere, plenty of sunshine around, one or two showers. most of the showers affecting wales and the southwest of england, with increasing winds here, particularly through the channel. but it will be a blustery day across the southern half of the country. winds slightly lighter further north. that is away from the far north of scotland. and temperatures, 10, 11 degrees in the north, around 12 or 13 in the south, so it will feel cooler for all. looks like that area of low pressure will bring showers or longer spells of rain through thursday night for wales, southwest england, perhaps the south coast as well, and certainly through the channel, for the channel islands. but a ridge of high pressure starts to build in early on friday, so winds veering to a more northerly direction and it will be quite cold, temperatures down to freezing across some northern areas and a bit of mist and fog too. so here it is, ridge of high pressure building in across the country for friday before more low pressure arrives for the weekend. any early showers will clear away from the far south early through friday, and then its bright. plenty of sunshine around. a chilly start, mind you. temperatures rising a little

bit through the day. but most places dry. 11—13 or 14 degrees across the south. so the weekend is looking unsettled. we've got more low pressure working its way in off the atlantic. that's going to bring rain and gales at times. it looks like one frontal system will cross the country on saturday, though. it will tend to weaken as it pushes towards the eastern side of the country. then it's blustery showers, strong winds into sunday and this front bringing some wet weather once again to the southeast corner. so quite a mixed bag through the weekend. like i mentioned, it's wet in the west, showers further east, and a little bit drier in the north on sunday. very wet across the southeast.

this is bbc news. we will have all the headlines and amine stories for you at the top of the error straight after this programme —— the main stories. i don't think people fully realise how much people do use the a1. it's really scary.

you get cars which will come within inches of you. the road surface has worn out.