live from washington. this is bbc news. president biden arrives in belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the historic good friday agreement. brazil's president lula da silva heads to china to discuss a peace plan for ukraine. at least 50 people are killed in central myanmar after an air strike by the military. hello, i'm sumi somaskanda. us presidentjoe biden has touched down in belfast, for the start of his visit to northern ireland and the republic. the four—day trip marks the 25th anniversary of the good friday agreement.

the deal largely brought an end to the 30—year conflict in northern ireland, known as the troubles. but political turmoil persists, even if less violent in nature than the past. here's president biden�*s schedule: on wednesdeay, biden will deliver a speech at ulster university, before travelling to the republic of ireland. there, he'll celebrate his own family's roots, attending events in louth and mayo. there will also be official discussions in dublin, where biden will meet with irish president michael d. higgins. he'll then head back to america on friday. the bbc�*s lucy hockings has more from belfast. so president biden has arrived and there was a small crowd that came down to the centre of belfast to greet him. they braved the wind and the rain. the weather has truly been atrocious. to welcome him to belfast. and i spoke to one northern ireland politics

student and he said the reason he had come was because a visit by one of the most powerful people in the world, a us president, offers hope, hope at a time when there is no power—sharing at stormont, at a time when people say that vacuum could be filled once again by violence. he says that president biden visiting offers a real sense of hope to that process. it has really been a day of reflection here and also anticipation around the arrival of president biden. it is 25 years since designing of the good friday agreement in this country has changed enormously. if you can imagine the streets around me here in belfast 25 years ago, there were armed police on the street. you didn't see cars in this part of town very often because there were worries of bomb scares, if you went into a shop people searched your bags.

there was an ever present threat of violence. you wouldn't go out onto the streets around here at night. so the good friday agreement has led to peace, but it is an imperfect piece. i mean, yes, the killings have stopped, but the political stalemate, as i mentioned, has now ended power—sharing at stormont. against the hope is from people here is that american presidents have been influential before and now with that sense of anticipation people are wondering ifjoe biden could use his influence, his famous negotiating skills, to once again kickstart the process. it is expected to meet with all political leaders here all at the same stage, so there is not a huge amount of expectation that something will come of that meeting. but words matter here in northern ireland and it is his speech tomorrow that will be keenly watched by all sides, including the democratic unionist. it's also thought tomorrow that he will remind younger people that they may think at times that the good friday agreement belongs in the history books, but that peace is fragile and it is an agreement that still lives and is vital to the future

of northern ireland. earlier i spoke with tom foley, former us ambassador to ireland, who worked to re—establish the devolved government in northern ireland under the good friday agreement. why is it important for us president to make this visit and mark this anniversary of the good friday agreement? well, the us government is an independent third party and friendly to both sides, both the republic of ireland and the catholic population in northern ireland as well as the uk and the protestants population. so we have a unique position to help. we have a unique position to hel. ., ., , help. unique position to help and obviously _ help. unique position to help and obviously the _ help. unique position to help and obviously the us - help. unique position to help and obviously the us play - help. unique position to help| and obviously the us play add big role in help negotiate the good friday agreement as well but we heard from our correspondent there this has been an imperfect peace in northern ireland. so looking back now 25 years later, how successful has this agreement been? ~ ~ , successful has this agreement been? ~ ~ _ ., been? well, i think by all standards _ been? well, i think by all standards you _ been? well, i think by all standards you have - been? well, i think by all standards you have to - been? well, i think by all| standards you have to say been? well, i think by all- standards you have to say it's very successful. the violence

has been brought down to a bare minimum. ithink has been brought down to a bare minimum. i think the agreement was essentially a civil rights agreement, that made parity between catholics and protestants and in northern ireland which hadn't existed prior to that. that was really the reason behind the troubles. that parity has remained. these are — the inability of the leaders of the parties to make an agreement. but the benefit to the population has been huge. to the population has been hu.e, , to the population has been huie, , �* huge. so president biden will be meeting — huge. so president biden will be meeting with _ huge. so president biden will be meeting with some - huge. so president biden will be meeting with some of- huge. so president biden will i be meeting with some of those very leaders as we heard from his schedule there. but right now with the tense political time in northern ireland, we know the unionists are not taking part in the power—sharing agreement. what do you expect president biden to do in his position? i’d do you expect president biden to do in his position?— to do in his position? i'd hope he'd take _ to do in his position? i'd hope he'd take a — to do in his position? i'd hope he'd take a leadership - to do in his position? i'd hope| he'd take a leadership position and try and get the parties to agree. when i was ambassador there and, in 2007, we stood up stormont for the second time.

it's worked for more than ten years and it's devolved government has broke down and having a hard time getting it set up again but i'm hopeful it can be set up and having somebody like president biden take it as a project and a goal for himself and appoint somebody like george mitchell who negotiated the original agreement. i think it could be very helpful. d0 agreement. i think it could be very helpful-— agreement. i think it could be very helpful. do you think this tri will very helpful. do you think this trip will help _ very helpful. do you think this trip will help repair _ very helpful. do you think this trip will help repair those - trip will help repair those relations?— trip will help repair those relations? ~ �* ., , relations? well, i'm not sure that was _ relations? well, i'm not sure that was the _ relations? well, i'm not sure that was the goal _ relations? well, i'm not sure that was the goal of - relations? well, i'm not sure that was the goal of the - relations? well, i'm not sure that was the goal of the trip. j that was the goal of the trip. if it was — because i'm not part of the biden administration, i'm not familiar with their policies right now with respect to northern ireland, but if they took an, i hope they will, i they think could be helpful. tony blair was the prime minister at time of the good friday agreement, called biden�*s visit quote, "significant" but he also urged him to tread carefully. what do you think biden needs to look out for here?— out for here? well, you certainly _ out for here? well, you certainly if _ out for here? well, you certainly if you're - out for here? well, you certainly if you're in -

out for here? well, you certainly if you're in the out for here? well, you - certainly if you're in the role of a mediator, you can't be seen to be taking sides, and george mitchell is very much that sort of a player as appointed by president clinton. took this on and did an excellentjob to get the original agreement in place. president george w. bush followed behind him, there are a lot of qualified people who really understand policy and understand the northern ireland. i think they would — i think they would tread lightly as recommended by tony blair. let's talk about what this trip means to president biden. he's called it a homecoming. we know he's taken his son and sister along on the trip. how much is this really a personal trip, do you think, for the president? well, everything the president of the united states does is political. so it's a political trip and, you know, there are 4.5 million people in the republic of ireland, 44 million

people in the united states who are — at least have one irish ancestor. it's very important political group in the united states. so i think he'll get some points for that. and i think it's nostalgic, president reagan went there, you know, the very fond memories. it's heart warming to go back to your homeland and maybe an ancestral home and meet some people you're probably related to. i think this is a big positive. to. i think this is a big positive-— to. i think this is a big ositive. ., ., , ., ~' positive. how do you think he'll be received _ positive. how do you think he'll be received there? i positive. how do you think i he'll be received there? very well. he'll be received there? very well- very — he'll be received there? very well. very well. _ he'll be received there? very well. very well. the - he'll be received there? very well. very well. the irish - well. very well. the irish people are extremely nice and welcoming and sure will show him a good time as i did. tam him a good time as i did. tom fole , him a good time as i did. tom foley, former _ him a good time as i did. tom foley, former ambassador- him a good time as i did. tom foley, former ambassador to | foley, former ambassador to ireland, thank you very much forjoining us on the bbc. thank you. china is set to host another world leader this week, as it seeks to expand its global influence. brazil's president,

luiz inacio lula da silva — also known as lula — is headed there right now for an official visit. the war in ukraine, and trade between china and brazil, are top of the agenda. he's first going to shanghai, then beijing to meet with china's president xijinping on friday. china is brazil's largest trading partner. trade between brazil and china was nearly $153 billion last year. lula is looking to strengthen those economic ties. i got more on this from our leandro prazeres, who is following lula on his trip. lula is likely to raise this idea of a peace club when it comes to negotiating a peace — for the war in ukraine and he's looking to work with china on this. how viable are these peace efforts?— peace efforts? well, diplomaticics - peace efforts? well, diplomaticics i - peace efforts? well, diplomaticics i have | peace efforts? well, - diplomaticics i have been talking about is what brazil has presented so far is one of a statement of more good intentions than a proper peace heard. what we heard from brazilian sources is that the chinese sources will hear what brazil has to say about the

crisis in ukraine, but do not expect china to make a move towards this peace club that brazil — that mr lula is proposing now. brazil - that mr lula is proposing now.- proposing now. that's interesting. _ proposing now. that's interesting. we - proposing now. that's interesting. we have l proposing now. that's - interesting. we have seen brazil in recent years with lula's predecessor, jair bolsonaro, take a more isolationist approach but lula isolationist approach but lula is now back out on global stage. why is that? and how does he see lthlthlthlthlth�*s role on that —— brazil �*s role on that global stage? that -- brazil 's role on that global stage?— global stage? yeah, that's true. since _ global stage? yeah, that's true. since lula _ global stage? yeah, that's true. since lula took- global stage? yeah, that's| true. since lula took office global stage? yeah, that's i true. since lula took office in january this year, he and his ministers have been repeating this slogan that says more or less that brazil is back, back, of course, to the international stage. it is, of course, a criticism of the foreign policy adopted by his predecessor, jair bolsonaro, but what we are seeing now is it's sort of a continuation of lula's foreign policy during the period of 2003 and 2010 when he also led the country. because lula and his close advisors have always

placing a bet on multi—lateralism as a way of a certain brazil's role on international stage considering that brazil is not military nor an economic superpower. yes, so lula has an economic superpower. yes, so lula has said — an economic superpower. yes, so lula has said very _ an economic superpower. yes, so lula has said very clearly - an economic superpower. yes, so lula has said very clearly that - lula has said very clearly that he sees the us and relations with the us as a priority. at the same time he's taking this trip to china. we know the us and china have very strained relations right now. we have seen commentators in brazil say that essentially brazil is being caught in between these two superpowers. how do you think this trip will affect lula's relations with the us? well, what we have seen is that the brazilian government's trying to avoid the situation as much as it can. we must remember that before coming to china, lula hasjust visited the us presidentjoe biden. on the us presidentjoe biden. on the other hand, there are clear indications now that biden�*s administration is watching very closely the brazilian moves towards china. a few weeks ago, a senior state department official brian nicholls, said

the united states is focussing on showing to latin america that the united states is the best partner for the region, especially for brazil, but for the moment there is no indication whatsoever that the united states could retaliate brazil for its recent diplomatic moves. so we mentioned _ diplomatic moves. so we mentioned as _ diplomatic moves. so we mentioned as well - diplomatic moves. so we mentioned as well that i diplomatic moves. so we mentioned as well that a | diplomatic moves. so we i mentioned as well that a lot diplomatic moves. so we - mentioned as well that a lot of this trip is about economic ties and trade and we mentioned that number trade between brazil and china nearly $153 billion last year, what does lula hope to walk away with from this trip?— from this trip? well, that's one of the _ from this trip? well, that's one of the most _ from this trip? well, that's| one of the most interesting questions. because lula expects to track chinese investment to brazil as the country right now is struggling to make its gdp grow. here in shanghai, lula will meet with chinese businessmen from different sectors from the economies such as technology, communications, energy and infrastructure, and lula is trying to convince these businessmen to put their money in brazil right now. one of the deals that is likely to be announced here is the selling of a car plant from

four to chinese company called bid, which is famous for its electric cars.— electric cars. this trip has been watched _ electric cars. this trip has been watched very - electric cars. this trip has | been watched very closely electric cars. this trip has i been watched very closely of course here in the us. tell us what it's like being there in shanghai to cover this really important trip.— shanghai to cover this really important trip. well, it's been a fantastic _ important trip. well, it's been a fantastic experience - a fantastic experience actually. it's my first time here in china and there is a lot of anticipation regarding this visit. a few days ago i was reading the newspapers, local newspapers, and they were talking about this trip as a very strategic trip as brazil is considered one of the most important partners for china, in latin america, but also regarding the rest of the world. �* , ,, �* regarding the rest of the world. a �* , world. as we said, you'll be travel being _ world. as we said, you'll be travel being lula _ world. as we said, you'll be travel being lula during - world. as we said, you'll be travel being lula during his| travel being lula during his visit in china so we'll be following your reporting closely. the bbc�*s correspondent, thank you for joining us. around the world

and across the uk this is bbc news. why are capybaras taking over the internet again? videos of these friendly rodents have had millions of views world—wide on tiktok. but did you know there's a group of capybaras who call westland ca pybaras who call westland their capybaras who call westland their home. music plays they're kind of toddlers, like brightly coloured foods and sweet foods. their favourite would be sweet potato and carrot. ., u, would be sweet potato and carrot. ., , carrot. you can see the internet _ carrot. you can see the internet sensations - carrot. you can see the internet sensations for| internet sensations for yourself. internet sensations for yourself-— internet sensations for ourself. ., �* yourself. so you got andre, this one. — yourself. so you got andre, this one, then _ yourself. so you got andre, this one, then we _ yourself. so you got andre, this one, then we got - yourself. so you got andre, this one, then we got corey here. and then this one is sunny. so sunny is really easy to tell the difference of because he's the likest colour and the smaller. corey is the biggest. they are so sweet.

everyone loves it. that's what they have all ages have in common. they come away loving it. you're live with bbc news. to myanmar, where the military government say they are responsible for carrying out an air strike that killed at least 50 people. it happened in the village of pa zi gyi in the north—western sagaing region, which has opposed the military government. one villager told the bbc that a militaryjet had flown over at about 7am local time and dropped a bomb, followed by a helicopter gunship which attacked the village for 20 minutes. here's one picture of the aftermath of the attack. the military has increasingly used air strikes against their opponents since seizing power in 2021. live now to tom andrews, the un special rapporteur on human rights in myanmar. thank you so much forjoining us on our programme tonight. what do you know about

what happened in sagaing and why this community was targeted? this region is really a vitally important area for the opposition. opposition has grown very, very quickly and is very strong in this area. don't get me wrong, opposition to the honda is widespread and all around the country but we see some of the most intensive opposition, the most focus and organise here in this part of myanmar. junta. as a result people living here are vulnerable to the attacks. how much control— vulnerable to the attacks. how much control does _ vulnerable to the attacks. how much control does the - vulnerable to the attacks. how much control does the junta have? much control does the 'unta have? , , ., much control does the 'unta have? , , . much control does the 'unta have? , ., have? this is an act of desperation _ have? this is an act of desperation in - have? this is an act of desperation in many l have? this is an act of- desperation in many respects. they are losing control of the country. they have lost control of significant parts on the ground and what that means is that soldiers that the junta puts on the ground are more

susceptible to attack so as a result of that, the junta is using these helicopter gunships, there is an aircraft that are dropping bombs over these civilian areas more and more. there has been a significant uptake into the use of aircraft over the last year. that means more and more civilians, innocent people, including those killed earlier today, i going to be suffering, including many, many children. you are the un special rapporteur. how difficult is it for you to access information? we know there are regular blackouts in myanmar? the 'unta are like mushroom, * blackouts in myanmar? the 'unta are like mushroom, they _ blackouts in myanmar? the junta are like mushroom, they thrive i are like mushroom, they thrive in the dark and everything they possibly can to hide what they are doing, particularly the atrocities against civilians but we have a network

throughout myanmar, we have extremely important information coming to us from around the country from people who are working very hard to make sure that information gets out. it goes through a variety of channels and there is enormous courage used to get this information out but it is difficult and the junta will do everything it can to prevent the world seeing the reality on the world seeing the reality on the ground in myanmar because of the reality is just horrific. of the reality is 'ust horrifiei of the reality is 'ust horrific. ., ,, ., , horrific. that is precisely what i want _ horrific. that is precisely what i want to _ horrific. that is precisely what i want to ask - horrific. that is precisely what i want to ask you i horrific. that is precisely - what i want to ask you next, the world's reaction. i want to bring up a treat you sent earlier... who actually has the influence to get the junta to stop its crackdown first of all, those nations supplying weapons, the weapons used to commit more crimes and crimes against humanity, they have

enormous influence on the junta. enormous influence on the 'unta. ., ., enormous influence on the 'unta. . . ,, ., ., ., junta. china and russia among them. junta. china and russia among them- itut— junta. china and russia among them. but country _ junta. china and russia among them. but country that - junta. china and russia among them. but country that has - them. but country that has spoken out in favour of the people of myanmar in opposition to thejunta, people of myanmar in opposition to the junta, criticising attacks like today, they have influence but my problem, my concern is that the response of the international community has been fractured, it has been disorganised, it has not been strategic, unlike the response to the attack on ukraine in which a coalition of countries gathered together and formed a clear, coherent plan. no such coalition, co—ordination has been built with respect to confronting this horror that has been subjecting the people of me day after day... if i has been subjecting the people of me day after day. . .- of me day after day... if i can 'um in of me day after day... if i can jump in there. _ of me day after day... if i can jump in there, why _ of me day after day... if i can jump in there, why is - of me day after day... if i can jump in there, why is it - of me day after day... if i can jump in there, why is it that l jump in there, why is it that no such action is been taken? that is a very, very good question. i do not know that. i get asked by people in myanmar. i do not think the political

will exists. many of the nations interval that could be acting are distracted. there are obviously other conflicts going on around the world. they have a lot of political capital in some of those conflicts, geopolitical interests at stake but the political will does not exist and as long as it does not exist, we're going to see continuous assault like we saw today in myanmar.— continuous assault like we saw today in myanmar. tom andrews, the un special— today in myanmar. tom andrews, the un special riveter_ today in myanmar. tom andrews, the un special riveter on - today in myanmar. tom andrews, the un special riveter on human l the un special riveter on human rights in myanmar. thank you for sharing your insights on bbc news. in ukraine, 174,000 kilometers is covered in landmines and other explosive devices. that's roughly the same size as syria. the landmines are mostly concentrated in the north—eastern kharkiv region, where officials say it will take decades to clear them. this map shows the areas in red that have been contaminated by mines and unexploded ammunition left by the russians. both russia and ukraine have been accused of using these weapons. from kharkiv, james waterhouse

sent this report. this is what you call a scratching of the surface. a sweep and a gentle prod for hidden killers. a job with very obvious occupational hazards. it's hard to describe this as anything other than random. this is a patch of land in the middle of a city. it's not a place unlike other areas that was once contested, where there was heavy fighting, but what these minesweepers are looking for are so—called butterfly mines. they are banned by international law. they don't look much, but the damage they can cause is severe. only a few inches wide and shaped like a propeller, they are scattered from a flying rocket. they are illegal because of the indiscriminate way they can kill and injure civilians.

in the area around here, russia and ukraine have both been accused of using butterfly minds. the latter denies it. the city's deputy mayor tells me they have been de—mining every month since world war ii, and it is now everyday. translation: they are everywhere. mines can be found in yards, cemeteries, agricultural fields, woodlands, along the severodonetsk river. there are a lot of mines. and the damage they cause is devastating. as shown inside izyum's battered hospital. mykola stepped on one in the garden of his destroyed home. translation: i have no house, no car, no cows, no property, i and i used to have it all. it all got burned down, ruined. my grandchildren cannot visit because everything is mined.

mykola is under the care of yuriy kuznetzov, the only doctor who kept working throughout russia's occupation last year. translation: unfortunately, in most cases, an encounter l with an unknown explosive device ends tragically, and losing a limb or getting other injuries is not the worst outcome. for instance, a week and a half ago, we received a patient who uncovered a mine. he is still here, but the other person who was with him died. at a mine lecture, there is an appetite to better understand this resident threat. translation: i am very cautious. - i don't walk around much, but when i do, i use the same path, because i'm scared. i have a 16—year—old son and i'm really worried about him going out on his own. back here, the butterfly

clearing reaches its crescendo. a job likely to be replicated for decades. james waterhouse, bbc news, kharkiv region. we asked james to tell us what it was like for him and his team to report on this story. here's what he said. landmines have always been a part of warfare. as a team we knew that but end of this conflict we have seen the russian side notably use them in large numbers. when they were retreated from the central kyiv region, was on the deployed in areas which they used to occupy. in these, where there is heavy fighting, both sides have used them. as a team we wanted to get a sense of the longer term implications of that so we got in touch with the state emergency service which is responsible for de— mining. they allowed us to join their team as they responded to call out for explosives to be removed. the first day, we did

not find any landmines, instead they found missiles. we could not get too close. but also the miners not want to take us anywhere that was too dangerous. it was a few days later we went to a town that we finally saw butterfly mind for ourselves and the way they are deployed in an indiscriminate nature and most importantly, we were able to talk to residents directly affected by living with these kind of hazards. we will leave you with some record breaking news. a pair of sneakers once worn by michael jonzon have been sold for $2.2 million. the most expensive issues ever sold. he wore his issues ever sold. he wore his issues in the sixth and final nba title. they were originally given to a ballboy at the end. no word on who bought them.

stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. stormy weather is expected to continue through tonight and into wednesday. and that's because we've got this powerfuljet stream up above that weather system, developing it very rapidly in the past 2a hours, giving those severe gales, unusually windy weather, a lot of rain to go with it. it means the conditions on the roads have been pretty atrocious. and now, we've got cold airtucking in, around that low pressure across scotland, so turning progressively to snow, several centimetres over the hills here and even the showers further south following the rain band could be a little bit wintry. it's certainly going to be a chilly end to the night under the clearer skies further south, within a degree or two of freezing.

but really, that's not the story. the story is these powerful winds once again battering many western and southern areas during the day. we're expecting gusts up to, if not above, 70 miles an hour, which will cause disruption. bring down the odd tree. 50 miles an hour inland is really quite unusual. and, given that it's already been very windy through tuesday, we're going to see some very large waves around the south—west approaches, through the channel, into the english channel as well. and that could overtop the coastlines as well. so, some dangerous conditions. it also looks on that north—westerly to be a very windy end to the morning, start to the afternoon, across northern ireland. and we will keep very strong winds around that band of rain across the northern isles. so nowhere really exempt. and there'll be a lot of showers after the bright start. those showers rattling in really quite cloudy and wet for much of the day, potentially northern ireland, northern and western scotland. still that snow risk on the hills, perhaps as high as 12 in the south.

but really we will notice a cooler feel, those showers rushing in, becoming frequent with hail and with thunder and still around into thursday, but fewer in number potentially. that low pressure is with us in the north sea. it stays put actually through thursday into friday. but you can already see friday's rain is due in. some uncertainty on that. but temperatures might recover just a little bit more on thursday, given a bit more sunshine. but it might be then that as we go into friday, we get the next area of low pressure pushing more rain in, with some fairly strong winds. it doesn't look as windy as the current stormy conditions. and perhaps starting to settle down as we get into the latter part of the weekend. and in fat, next week, there's the hint that we might see the first 20, 21 of the year. but between now and then, a lot of nasty weather to come.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. a warm welcome. i'm kim chakanetsa. there are many ways that

someone can make their name in hollywood. it could be an award—winning performance, or even