live from london, this is bbc news. i'm victoria valentine. reports say fighting military forces in sudan agree to a 72—hour ceasefire to allow for humanitarian corridors to be opened. the uk's deputy prime minister, dominic raab, faces questions about his future as an inquiry into alleged bullying is expected to be published. criminal charges are dropped against the actor alec baldwin over an on—set shooting that killed cinematographer halyna hutchins. drug smugglers are using submarines to bring millions of dollars worth of cocaine from south america into europe.

hello and welcome to the programme. we start with breaking news fron sudan: the paramilitary rapid support forces say they have agreed to a three—day pause in the fighting on humanitarian grounds, starting about now. so far, there's been no comment from the sudanese army. clashes in the capital khartoum continued overnight, with bombing and artillery shelling. many people have been trapped by the fighting for days. there's been growing diplomatic pressure on the warring factions to agree to a ceasefire. the un, the us and a number of other countries have been trying to persuade the two sides to agree to a truce to mark the muslim holiday of eid.

more than 300 people have been killed in the past week. so the breaking news reports of a 72 hour ceasefire and when we have more news we will be bringing it to you. the politcal future of dominic raab, the ukjustice secretary, still hangs in the balance as the prime minister considers the findings of an inquiry into bullying allegations against his deputy. a decision on whether or not mr raab would be sacked or should resign was expected earlier after the report was delivered to rishi sunak on thursday morning. opposition politicians have accused the prime minister of "dithering". jonathan blake reports from westminster. reporter: have you always behaved professionally mr dominic raab? fix, behaved professionally mr dominic raab?— behaved professionally mr dominic raab? a decision to decide whether _ dominic raab? a decision to decide whether an _ dominic raab? a decision to decide whether an enquiry . dominic raab? a decision to i decide whether an enquiry into accusations of bullying has

proved he broke the ministerial code. told of the prime minister wanted the time to consider the report thoroughly before coming to a decision but opposition parties are asking what is of the hold—up? if opposition parties are asking what is of the hold—up? iii he what is of the hold-up? if he is a bully. — what is of the hold-up? if he is a bully. he _ what is of the hold-up? if he is a bully, he should - what is of the hold-up? if he is a bully, he should go - what is of the hold-up? if he is a bully, he should go and l is a bully, he should go and the prime minister really should be able to read the report, make up his mind and get on with it, stop dithering, sack your deputy if he is a bully because this is not what the people elected him from. eight forms of complaint involving at least 2a people against dominic raab for his time as brexit secretary, foreign secretary and a previous stint as justice secretary. frustration from some eagerly awaiting the outcome of the enquiry. it is outcome of the enquiry. it is hard to describe _ outcome of the enquiry. it is hard to describe how - outcome of the enquiry. it 3 hard to describe how difficult it is for civil servants to raise a complaint against the minister and if you have got that far and you then think of the prime minister does not have your back, you have to

think fundamentally about whether you want to work the government. whether you want to work the government-— whether you want to work the government. whether you want to work the covernment. . ., , ., ., ~ government. one manages to make a judgement — government. one manages to make ajudgement on — government. one manages to make a judgement on minutes's _ a judgement on minutes's behaviour gave his thoughts on the delay on a decision. in the delay on a decision. in some the delay on a decision. in some ways you can understand, if it is these are usually poon if it is these are usually poor, the prime minister may want time to consider it but as far as i can see it, it probably cannot be completely clear—cut otherwise he would have come out with a decision one way or another this afternoon.— one way or another this afternoon. �* , ., , , , afternoon. allies of the deputy prime minister _ afternoon. allies of the deputy prime minister did _ afternoon. allies of the deputy prime minister did not - afternoon. allies of the deputy prime minister did not dispute| prime minister did not dispute he is a demanding boss but he denies accusations of bullying and says he has i was acted professionally. his future rests on the decision by the prime minister which is in turn a test of rishi sunak�*s judgement. jonathan blake, bbc news. let's get some of the day's other news. the defence ministry in moscow says a russian fighterjet accidentally fired its ammunition into the city of belgorod near the border with ukraine. the region's governor said the blast left a huge crater about 20 metres wide in the city centre.

he said two women were injured and several buildings were damaged. police in canada are investigating a gold heist at toronto pearson airport after more than $20 million worth of gold and valuables were stolen on monday. officials say they believe a high—value aircraft container was raided whilst being held in a cargo area. toronto airport is often used to ship gold mined in ontario province. an investigation by the british consumer group which? has found that tens of thousands of people are members of facebook groups which are encouraging fake product reviews. it says members are offered free goods or cash for leaving top reviews on websites like amazon and trustpilot. blue ticks on twitter accounts have begun to disappear. legacy ticks are being removed as the company continues to push people to pay for twitter blue in order to receive the verification. among the hundreds of thousands of users losing their verification are the pope, jk rowling and cristiano ronaldo.

so the breaking news reports of a 72—hour ceasefire and when we have more news we will be bringing it to you. rapid support forces have agreed to the halt in fighting. live now to kalkidan yibetal who is monitoring the situation from the ethiopian capital, addis ababa. what more do we know of the ceasefire?— what more do we know of the ceasefire? , ., ., . _ ceasefire? this announcement by the raid ceasefire? this announcement by the rapid sunport _ ceasefire? this announcement by the rapid support forces - ceasefire? this announcement by the rapid support forces came i the rapid support forces came amid growing international pressure for at least a three day trees. earlier the african union convened with the united nations, the arab league and other countries with inflows like saudi arabia and the united arab emirates, and that they were pushing for a 72 hour ceasefire on the grounds of

humanitarian grounds, as well as two do the eid celebration celebrated by the muslim population. there are reports they have agreed to a 72 hours ceasefire starting 6am on a friday. we have not heard anything from the army yet but if they are going to accept this ceasefire, it would be very huge really for many people in the conflict areas because it will allow for civilians stuck in the conflict zones to be evacuated and people in need of help to get medical help or increase food supplies. medical help or increase food su lies. ~ ., medical help or increase food su--lies. ., supplies. without any communication - supplies. without any communication from | supplies. without any i communication from the supplies. without any _ communication from the sudanese army, is that an expectation the ceasefire will hold? people are understandably _ the ceasefire will hold? people are understandably wary - the ceasefire will hold? people are understandably wary of - the ceasefire will hold? people| are understandably wary of this announcement because to begin with, there had been other

truces announced, previous truces announced, previous truces on unitarian grounds announced but breached quickly. the army and the rsf blaming each other for the army and the rsf blaming each otherfor breaching the army and the rsf blaming each other for breaching the halt. there has been gunfire heard and people are understandably worried about this. but there's been a growing international pressure, the us secretary antony blinken said he has spoken to both generals and the hope is something could come out of this growing pressure.- this growing pressure. what role exactly our _ role exactly our western countries are playing in this spate of violence in sudan? sense violence broke out last

week, they have been repeated statements from international bodies like the un or even individual countries, from neighbours like ethiopian, south sudan, turkey, qatar and the us but this did not happen in a vacuum. there had been signs of the escalating tension between the armies and rsf for weeks and they have been criticism that there has not been enough efforts to meet again before violence broke out but for now there's been at that at least they need to be an immediate ceasefire to reach out to people trapped in conflict. if out to people trapped in conflict-— out to people trapped in conflict. , . ., , conflict. if this conflict does not come — conflict. if this conflict does not come to _ conflict. if this conflict does not come to a _ conflict. if this conflict does not come to a swift - conflict. if this conflict does - not come to a swift conclusion, what exactly are the potential consequences for the rest of the world and certainly for the neighbouring countries? yes. the world and certainly for the

neighbouring countries? yes, it is a very volatile _ neighbouring countries? yes, it is a very volatile region, - neighbouring countries? yes, it is a very volatile region, this i is a very volatile region, this area of the horn of africa. just recently there was a bloodied civil war in neighbouring ethiopian and we are reaching the conclusion of that conflict and now, if there is another lengthy and bloodied violence in sudan, that will be catastrophic for the region because it is coming amid other crises. there is continued drought, economic problems and now millions of people are going to be impacted by this conflict. read it tens of thousands, particularly in that capital khatoum are seeing and experiencing the consequences of this brutal and open violence.— of this brutal and open violence. , . , , ., violence. presumably, whoever becomes the —

violence. presumably, whoever becomes the vector _ violence. presumably, whoever becomes the vector of - violence. presumably, whoever becomes the vector of this - violence. presumably, whoever| becomes the vector of this adds up becomes the vector of this adds up running the country? == becomes the vector of this adds up running the country?- up running the country? -- the winner. up running the country? -- the winner- we _ up running the country? -- the winner. we will _ up running the country? -- the winner. we will have _ up running the country? -- the winner. we will have to - up running the country? -- the winner. we will have to see. i up running the country? -- the l winner. we will have to see. we seen dramatic moment since 2019 when the former leader omar al—bashir was ousted. after that there was dogs of transition to a civilian government but we have really seen a coup after that and so now this is going to be just another twist, another chapter in what appears to be a bloodied few years. we will have to wait and see how this is going to turn out but it seems they are hellbent in trying to defeat each other. kalkidan yibetal thank you very much for your inside. so the breaking news from sudan, the rapid support forces said they

have agreed to a 72 hour, three day, ceasefire starting now. it started we understand probably 11 or 12 minutes ago and on the basis of humanitarian grounds, there has been no comment from there has been no comment from the sudanese army. plenty more available on that story on the bbc website. prosecutors in the us have formally dropped all the charges against the actor alec baldwin over the fatal shooting of a cinematographer. the star was accused of two counts of involuntary manslaughter after halyna hutchins was killed on the set of rust. the prosecutors in new mexico said the decision didn't absolve mr baldwin of criminal culpability, and new facts had been revealed, requiring further investigation. live now to anousha sakoui, an entertainment industry writer at la times. what do we know about why the criminal charges have been dropped against the actor?

as you mention, the newly appointed prosecutors have said in preparing for a third hearing, where they would have had to prove to the judge that a case was worthy of going to trial, they discover some new evidence that they need time to evaluate and do forensic examination of and they did not have time within the time allowed now to do that and say they dismissed the charges. they are still bringing charges against the armourer on the field. they have not gone into specific detail about what the evidence was. we have a hearing tomorrow, may be, friday in the us, and if there may be some more information than that but we have been reporting in the times, there has been some information about the gun and potentially it might�*ve been fired in a way that might�*ve made it easier to ms fied which

is something alec baldwin has been saying, that he didn't pull the trigger of the gun but that itjust pull the trigger of the gun but that it just went pull the trigger of the gun but that itjust went off. pull the trigger of the gun but that it just went off.— that it 'ust went off. what is the that itjust went off. what is the basis — that itjust went off. what is the basis of _ that itjust went off. what is the basis of the _ that itjust went off. what is the basis of the source i that itjust went off. what is j the basis of the source upon which your discussing changes? we have sources that we have been reporting, anonymous sources, and it isn'tjust one element. i think the big issue here is that the charges have been dismissed and they are saying they might bring back charges, that alec baldwin is not absolved and it is yet another blow for the prosecution which has been under the back foot ever since it has started. we have spoken to other criminal defence lawyers and prosecutors who have heavily criticised this prosecution for their handling of it. already, they have had to row back on a few elements.

one was when initially they charged an enhancement to the charges to the involuntary manslaughter charges where he might�*ve faced five years mandatory prison sentence if found guilty. they had to drop the charge because it out that charge did not clearly say on the books when the gun was fired. it is another win for alec baldwin's camp. anousha sakoui thank _ alec baldwin's camp. anousha sakoui thank you _ alec baldwin's camp. anousha sakoui thank you very - alec baldwin's camp. anousha sakoui thank you very much i alec baldwin's camp. anousha| sakoui thank you very much for your time. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. making sure his day boat is seaworthy. jonathan anthony now has to make sure he is medically fit enough to go to sea. they canjust medically fit enough to go to sea. they can just say you are not allowed to go fishing, which i think is wrong. john

and tony are among thousands in the south—west too soon need a doctor approved certificate to doctor approved certificate to do theirjobs. among questions, they have a body mass index of under 35. they have a body mass index of under35. size they have a body mass index of under 35. size doesn't matter out there, and in all honesty, the more bit of beef you have around you, if we fall in the water, that will save your life. the provisos come from the coastguard agency who say the coastguard agency who say the certificate is wired by international law and accelerate our mission of detecting lives at sea. there are understood to be about 4000 day fishermen in the south—west, the organisation that represents them fears unless they change tact, many will be forced to quit. around the world and across the uk, this is the bbc news. breaking news now, news of a ceasefire in sudan, three days

in which families can meet on the basis of humanitarian grounds. i will read a statement. the rapid support forces, the paramilitary group, one side of this conflict have said the truths coincides with the blizzard eid holiday to open humanitarian corridors, evacuated citizens and give them the opportunity to greet their family. them the opportunity to greet theirfamily. they them the opportunity to greet their family. they say they are acting in self—defence to repel what it described as a coup attempt, adding it is committed to a complete ceasefire during the armistice period. there has been no immediate comment from the sudanese army we should say. of course is conflict in the last week has claimed the lives of more than 300 people so far since the power struggle broke out between these two sides. previously allied leaders of the early military jointer. we will have more on that story as and when it develops. let us move on and

discuss climate. climate scientists are warning the world could face record temperatures this year in part due to the anticipated return of the el nino. it's a weather phenomenon, which sees a pattern of warming ocean temperatures that can increase the likelihood of extreme weather events. 2022 was already the world's fifth warmest year on record with temperatures fuelling wildfires, droughts and flooding across the globe. scientists say the effects of an el nino this year could make it even hotter, bringing with it potentially more catastrophic weather. live now to michael mcphaden, a senior climate researcher at the us national oceanic and atmospheric administration. my understanding is that el nino comes around every decade or so. maybe 15 years. why is it that scientists are predicting another, so hot on the heels of the last major one in 2015—2016? yes, actually, it comes around

every four to five years, and we had a weak one that occurred in 2019. the major el nino occurs every 15 years or so, and it looks like the conditions in the tropical pacific now indicating that 2023 we will see the development of an el nino later this summer and development of an el nino later this summerand in development of an el nino later this summer and in to the fall and winter season. mt; this summer and in to the fall and winter season. my apologies for caettin and winter season. my apologies for getting that wrong. _ and winter season. my apologies for getting that wrong. so - for getting that wrong. so a major one every ten or 15 years or so. what happens during this period of warmer ocean temperatures?- period of warmer ocean temperatures? period of warmer ocean tem eratures? ~ ., ., temperatures? well, we are now in a condition _ temperatures? well, we are now in a condition where _ temperatures? well, we are now in a condition where it _ temperatures? well, we are now in a condition where it is - temperatures? well, we are now in a condition where it isjust i in a condition where it is just developing, we are seeing the tradewinds week announcing initial warming. these are the beginning signs of developing el nino. more importantly, we can see below the surface the heat is building up, and if you want to see the future in the

tropical pacific, look below the surface. this will tell us what to expect in the coming two to three seasons. we can see this content building below the surface and the forecast models are picking up on this and projecting forward to say with a high probability we will see el nino conditions develop by this fall and into the winter season. this means a probability for extreme weather experienced around the globe. extreme droughts, extreme rainfall is in some regions, heat waves and more severe tropical storms. heat waves and more severe tropicalstorms. i heat waves and more severe tropical storms.— heat waves and more severe tropical storms. i think at the moment they _ tropical storms. i think at the moment they put _ tropical storms. i think at the moment they put it _ tropical storms. i think at the moment they put it at - tropical storms. i think at the i moment they put it at something like 62% or something. is it possible to predict using these forecasting models the magnitude of an event like this in advance? that magnitude of an event like this in advance?— in advance? at this time of ear it in advance? at this time of year it is — in advance? at this time of year it is very _ in advance? at this time of year it is very difficult i in advance? at this time of year it is very difficult to i year it is very difficult to predict the magnitude, so far the forecast models are predicting anything from a

monster el nino a pussycat el nino. there is a very large uncertainty as to how strong it will actually be. but we can say with some degree saying the indicators we are seeing that it will probably be warm in the tropical pacific. just how warm, have to wait and see. we will have better indication by june. ., ~' , . june. thank you very much, michael- — europe is facing a massive cocaine crisis according to law enforcement agencies. production of the drug has increased by a third in just one year after a slowdown over the pandemic. in the most recent discovery, uk authorities seized more than a tonne of cocaine found floating off the south coast. drug smugglers are even using submarines to bring millions of dollars�* worth of cocaine into the continent from south america. our europe correspondent nick beake has more.

international criminal gangs are sinking to new depths to get their cocaine into europe. so cold marco subs helping to flood the continent with the drug. this is the first submarine known to have brought cocaine all the way from south america, the three men on board were arrested after reaching the spanish coast. and this is where they lived for nearly a month. it is so cramped and claustrophobic in here. for food, they had energy bars, cans of sardines, the toilet with a bag on the corner and that was it, they had nothing else. apart from three tons of cocaine in the front worth more than £100 million. last month, spanish police said they had detected a second cocaine submarine, again, in delicia. but any cargo had disappeared. translation:—

but any cargo had disappeared. translation: they are very hard to detect. translation: they are very hard to detect- in _ translation: they are very hard to detect. in fact, in _ translation: they are very hard to detect. in fact, in more - to detect. in fact, in more than 20 years of traffickers using submarines to reach africa and europe, these two other first we have ceased. law enforcement _ other first we have ceased. law enforcement agencies across europe are fighting a surgeon cocaine production. although they say they have just dismantled the biggest known coat factory the continent has ever seen. the spanish police have recreated the drugs factory and the assembly line starting with this, raw poker face. it has a really strong vinegar smell. face. it has a really strong vinegarsmell. it face. it has a really strong vinegar smell. it will then be cooked up using lots of chemicals, it will then be pressed. over here, they would weigh the products that they have and... take a look at this. this is 150 kilos worth of cocaine, a purity of 95%. what you see here on this table have a street value of around 9 million euros. that is about £8

million. but it is in belgium where the biggest amounts of cocaine are being seized. here at the port of antwerp, more than 110 tons were intercepted in 2022. huge quantities are getting through, though, and this topjudge fears getting through, though, and this top judge fears it is out of control. translation: ., ~ , of control. translation: w , ., translation: it makes an absolute fortune _ translation: it makes an absolute fortune for - translation: it makes an absolute fortune for those l translation: it makes an | absolute fortune for those we call narco traffickers. with money laundering and corruption which is now luminous in terms of the sums that can be offered to dockers, police officers and other people. how do we have any control of criminal organisations? it is over. just this week. — organisations? it is over. just this week, the _ organisations? it is over. just this week, the italian - organisations? it is over. just this week, the italian police found 400 million euros worth of cocaine bobbing off the sicilian coast, and the united nations is warning that international gangs are now looking to expand into africa

and asia. europe's cocaine crisis is getting wider and deeper. nick beake, bbc news. you can watch cocaine: flooding europe on bbc iplayer if you are in the uk, and also on bbc news this weekend. if you are watching internationally. now, just to remind you of our breaking news this hour. sudan's paramilitary rapid support forces have said they will agree to a 72 hour truth on humanitarian grounds over the holiday, the holiday of eid, effective from 6am local time on friday. that ceasefire should have already started. we have not heard any word from the sudanese army in response to this news. the fiercest battles have been between the army and the rss in and around the capital, khartoum, one of africa's largest urban areas, and in guffaw as well, still scarred by long convicts that ended three years ago —— darfur.

people have been killed in a violent struggle which broke out between these two sides that were previously aligned as leaders of the militaryjunta. hello there. our weather story for friday is a tale of two halves, the best of the weather once again through scotland and northern ireland, closest to this area of high pressure. these little weather fronts will introduce some cloud and rain at times, be a bit of a nuisance, and that nagging easterly wind still making it feel rather raw on exposed east coasts. so first thing in the morning, the rain quite heavy across norfolk, lincolnshire, into the east midlands, gradually drifting towards wales. there'll also be some showery outbreaks of rain across essex and kent. but north of that, not a bad start. it will be a chilly start. a touch of frost not out of the question across the grampian, but at least in scotland and northern ireland, you will have some sunshine and it will continue like that

for much of the day. that easterly breeze, though, always making it feel cooler on exposed east coasts. sheltered western areas seeing the best of the sunshine and warmth. and as we go through the afternoon, we'll see a line of more persistent rain stretching across the south coast. sunny spells and scattered showers driven in by that strong easterly breeze coming in off the north sea. so 10 to 12 degrees once again on exposed east coasts. further west, we could see 16 or 17 degrees. favoured spots once again, northern ireland and western scotland. here, the pollen will be high — it's tree pollen at this time of year. medium perhaps across much of central and eastern england. now, as we move into the early hours of saturday, we are likely to see this weather front producing some showery outbreaks of rain through scotland and northern ireland, and at the same time, we've got some showery outbreaks of rain into the southwest. sandwiched in between the two, drier and brighter, and once again, much of scotland will see some sunshine. but the temperatures really subdued by then,

11 to 14 degrees. and as we move out of sunday into monday, we'll start to see this colder northerly flow take over and you really will start to notice the difference right across the country. so on sunday, we'll see some showery outbreaks of rain just drifting away from the east. drier behind it, but that northerly wind will make it feel quite chilly at times. so temperatures really falling away in scotland, 7 to 11 degrees by then. 14 degrees the maximum on sunday. and that's going to be the trend as we move into the week ahead. it will turn wetter and then much colder.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. time for a truce in the trade war? america's treasury secretary calls for a �*constructive' relationship with china. we seek a healthy economic relationship with china. one that fosters growth and innovation in both countries. a growing china that plays by international rules is good for the united states and the world. also coming up — us recession fears. a slew of weak data has traders raising their bets that the world's biggest economy is about to go into reverse. plus — avoiding an office culture clash. how ceos can get grade a results from generation yand z.

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