live from washington, this is bbc news. welcome to viewers on pbs in america. fighting is continuing in parts of sudan, despite a 72—hour ceasefire largely holding. the south korean and the us presidents have vowed that any north korean use of nuclear weapons will prompt an overwhelming joint response. and ukraine's president zelensky holds his first phone call with his chinese counterpart since the war began. hello, i'm sumi somaskanda. welcome to our show. we start in sudan, where renewed fighting is threatening

a fragile three—day ceasefire. the violence broke out on the western outskirts of omdurman, a city across the nile from the capital, khartoum. but much of central khartoum remains calm, and thousands of sudanese and foreign nationals are still trying to get out of the country. as they flee, they're making treacherous journeys. residents are struggling to get clean water and other vital supplies, and warplanes are still flying overheard. tens of thousands of sudanese are trying to reach neighbouring chad, egypt and south sudan, and those left behind say they fear the world is abandoning them. meanwhile, britons are being told to go to this airbase, about 20 miles outside of the capital khartoum, from where they're being flown to safety in cyprus. nearly 2,000 people, from 50 countries, have crossed the red sea from port sudan to the port ofjeddah, on a ship organised by saudi arabia. eight—year—old karim, a british national, arrived in cyprus with his family, earlier.

we heard lots of gunshots while we were in the house, but we were safe. well, we were only a little safe. and, like, we also heard explosions. yeah, we're safe now, because there is no war here at all. meanwhile, un officials say they are worried about a further breakdown of law and order in sudan. several former government officials, suspected of war crimes, have been able to leave prison in khartoum, including close allies of deposed president, 0mar al—bashir. bbc africa's ferdinand 0mondi reports. they have also been reports of prison breaks, including an ally close to the ousted president, alba cher who told that some of his allies and he have escaped because of a lack of food, water and treatment. 0mar alba cher himself, the military says, was transferred to a military hospital before the flare—up began, so he remains in custody. the united

nations continues to say while 400 people have already died they could be more deaths due to disease and lack of treatment. live now to nureldin satti, a former sudanese ambassador to the us. good evening to you. wejust mentioned that un officials have raised concern, because severalformer have raised concern, because several former government officials, who are accused of war crimes, have been able to leave jail in khartoum. how worried are you about this development? i worried are you about this development?— worried are you about this development? i am extremely worried, development? i am extremely worried. i'm — development? i am extremely worried, i'm extremely - development? i am extremely i worried, i'm extremely worried, because the statement that was made by the man indicted by the icc, the former governor, in the case that they are going to engage in the ongoing war between the two factions, he said we are going to fight, in order to put an end to the rebellion, meaning the iss. so we have known since the

beginning that the islamists, those of the former regime, have been involved in this war since the beginning, the ones who triggered the fighting between the two parties. this is an extremely worrying development, because it might be seeing a new escalation of war. ., ., ., war. you are saying a new escalation, _ war. you are saying a new escalation, and _ war. you are saying a new escalation, and we - war. you are saying a new escalation, and we have l war. you are saying a new| escalation, and we have at war. you are saying a new. escalation, and we have at in the meantime seen this shaky ceasefire holding, the army says they are willing to extend perhaps this ceasefire and sent a convoy to south sudan the talks. how optimistic are you that this diplomatic effort could work?— that this diplomatic effort could work? ~ ., , , ., could work? well, i only, you know, believe _ could work? well, i only, you know, believe it _ could work? well, i only, you know, believe it when - could work? well, i only, you know, believe it when i - could work? well, i only, you know, believe it when i see i could work? well, i only, you| know, believe it when i see it, because we heard before that one side so they are ready, the other said they are not ready. i hope they are at this time, and for a change they take

their people seriously and the safety of their own people seriously. i hope that this will happen, and that if it does happen, that they will engage wholeheartedly and seriously in a critical manner in any talks that are going to take place, because the question remains, how are these talks going to be organised, and who will take part? we do not want a power—sharing between the military, as has been done in the past. ambassador, if i could jump in there, what is it that both sides want to get out of these talks? ~ sides want to get out of these talks? . ., , sides want to get out of these talks? ~ . , ,., , talks? well, as i said first, we have — talks? well, as i said first, we have to _ talks? well, as i said first, we have to be _ talks? well, as i said first, we have to be sure - talks? well, as i said first, we have to be sure they i talks? well, as i said first, l we have to be sure they are serious about it, and if they are this means both of them do not believe that they are going to win this war, as they thought they would, and if they arrive at this conclusion, then it is a good development, and from there and i think they

would like, and then they would like to consolidate their position, and be part of whatever form of governance would be agreed upon, and that's the way i see it. if they are genuine, i'm saying. thank you forjoining us. now to the white house, where president biden is hosting south korean president, yoon suk yeol, for a state dinner tonight. the two presidents met, with the nuclear threat from north korea high on their agenda. south korea and the us laid out a new agreement, called the washington declaration, aimed at deterring an attack on seoul. it gives south korea more insight into the us' nuclear planning, and a bigger voice in strategy, in exchange for seoul remaining a non—nuclear state. biden also announced that the us would send nuclear ballistic missile submarines to dock in south korea for the first time in decades. during theirjoint press conference, president biden sent this warning to pyongyang.

a nuclear attack by north korea against the united states or its allies and partners is unacceptable, and will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action. live now to our seoul correspondentjean mackenzie for more. tell us more about what this agreement involves.- agreement involves. this is really about _ agreement involves. this is really about strengthening l agreement involves. this is i really about strengthening the us because my commitment to defend south korea using its nuclear weapons. the us is responsible for south korea's defence and it has always been implied that the us would use nuclear weapons if it was felt that it was needed, but people here had started to question that commitment. they needed reassuring. so what has been agreed is that the us will send these nuclear powered submarines for the first time to the korean peninsularfor the first time in more than 40 years. they will come periodically, so they won't be stationed here permanently. another thing the two sides are doing is forming thisjoint nuclear planning group. now

what this does, it allows south koreans to be more involved and how the us will use its nuclear weapons when it comes to the peninsular, because politicians here dislike essentially that they are in the dark, that they have no understanding of what would cause mr biden, or trigger him to push the nuclear button. so this gives them some of this involvement they were wanting. in return, they have had to promise that south korea will not develop its own nuclear weapons, because people he had started to call for that, and that had alarmed policymakers in washington, and it is really why we have seen washington step in and provide these new security measures. what does it tell us about how concerned both the us and south korea are about the north's build—up and testing of ballistic missiles? both sides are concerned. north korea is making rapid process on its nuclear weapons programme. it is developing tactical nuclear weapons that can target here in south korea and it is refining its long range weapons that can target

the united states. so in light of this increasing threat, the big question here today is are these new measures going to be enough to reassure the public, but also to satisfy this vocal group of academics and scientists and politicians here who are now really pushing for south korea to have its own nuclear weapons. this morning, a couple people happily said to me that no, these measures do not go far enough, ultimately because the us still has that final say over whether to use nuclear weapons, final say over whether to use nuclearweapons, but final say over whether to use nuclear weapons, but even so, this is being seen as a win for south korea, and as in that clip you displayed area of president biden in the white house, he has been very clear today, saying that any north korea nuclear attack would result in the end of the regime, an attack on the us or an attack on us allies, and thatis an attack on us allies, and that is the sort of language that is the sort of language that people here want to hear. 0ur seoul correspondentjean mackenzie can be talk to you.

in other news, disney has accused florida governor, ron desantis, of organising a campaign of "government retaliation", in a lawsuit. the new legal action sharply escalates the battle between the entertainment giant and the republican politician. the two sides have been fighting since disney criticised a state law, banning discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in primary schools. there are reports that desantis is set to jump into the 2024 presidental race in mid—may. competition authorities in the uk have blocked microsoft's plan to buy us video game company, activision blizzard. the proposed takeover would let microsoft acquire such titles as call of duty and candy crush. the deal was worth an estimated $69 billion. the regulator cited concern over reduced innovation and less choice for gamers. microsoft and activision say they'll appeal the decision. montana's house of representatives have voted to bar transgender lawmaker zooey zephyr for the rest of the legislative session. the measure comes after the democrat said that republican lawmakers would have "blood on their hands",

if they passed a ban on gender—affirming medical care for minors. during a speech before the vote, zephyr said she is taking a stand for her community, and for "democracy itself". zephyr willjoin me for an interview in the next hour, to talk the vote, and what comes next for her. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. wokka micro a lot of people say to me, oh, i didn't know you painted? i mean, many years it has been going on like this, but it's great. it is another string to my bow that i have always done since i was little. i have heard that you have painted or drawn some of the members of the royal family. painted or drawn some of the members of the royalfamily. is that true? members of the royal family. is that true? ~ that true? well, i did the duke. prince _ that true? well, i did the

duke. prince philip? - that true? well, | did the j duke. prince philip? yes, that true? well, | did the i duke. prince philip? yes, he was a favourite _ duke. prince philip? yes, he was a favourite character - duke. prince philip? yes, he was a favourite character of| was a favourite character of mine, and ijust caught him on canvas, and prince william loved what he saw. it canvas, and prince william loved what he saw.- canvas, and prince william loved what he saw. if you had to choose. — loved what he saw. if you had to choose, you _ loved what he saw. if you had to choose, you are _ loved what he saw. if you had to choose, you are on - loved what he saw. if you had to choose, you are on a - loved what he saw. if you had| to choose, you are on a desert island and you can only take a guitar or a island and you can only take a guitar ora paint island and you can only take a guitar or a paint brush and paints, a canvas, what would you choose? if paints, a canvas, what would you choose? iii paints, a canvas, what would you choose?— you choose? if i only had a uuitar you choose? if i only had a guitar or — you choose? if i only had a guitar or a _ you choose? if i only had a guitar or a paintbrush? - you choose? if i only had a i guitar or a paintbrush? 0h. .. guitar or a paintbrush? 0h... very guitar ora paintbrush? 0h... very difficult. i would just smuggle the paintbrush inside the guitar, and then i'll have both. ., ., ~ both. lateral thinking. laughter _ you're live with bbc news. turning to ukraine — where presidnt volodymyr zelensky said he had a �*long and meaningful�* phone call with chinese president xi jinping for the first time since rusia's invasion earlier. shortly after the phone call, zelensky tweeted that he appointed the new ukrainian ambassador to china, and that it will give a powerful impetus to the development of their bilateral relations. president zelensky has repeatedly reached out to the president xi since the beginning of the invasion but received no response.

earlier this month, xi told european commission chief ursula von der leyen he would speak to zelensky when "conditions and time are right." james waterhouse reports from kyiv. well, kyiv will see this as a bit of diplomatic progress. why? we are told it was a "long and meaningful" phone call. so, while ukraine will see this as serious progress, there are still huge ideological differences on how to end this war, because what beijing wants, and what we are told after this phone call, it sees negotiations and talks as the only way out of this conflict. ukraine sees a military victory as the way out, to avoid just that — any kind of political compromise. in the call, beijing reiterated its i2—point peace plan, which was met with broad criticism from western countries. some of the key points of the plan includes working toward a ceasefire and resuming peace talks, protecting civilians and prisoners of war,

protecting nuclear safety, and avoiding nuclear weapons, stablising supply chains and resolving humanitarian crises. the plan does not offer specific measures to achieve these goals, but xi also signalled that they are willing to engage directly with ukraine. our correspondent stephen mcdonell is in beijing. we were asked to come to the foreign ministry for an unusual evening press conference and it was not until we entered the room that we found out that xi jinping and vladimir zelensky had had this phone call. crucially, we were told that there is to be a high—level chinese government delegation which will travel not only to care but to other countries as a means of pushing forward this piece proposalfrom china and we were told that vladimir zelensky welcomes china's proposals and welcomes china's efforts to bring about a diplomatic solution. and on the battlefield,

drones have become a pivotal element to ukraine's war effort. the country has purchased more than 3,000 as part of its �*drone army�* campaign. military leaders say even small drones that you and i might use forfun, can help give ukrainian fighters a competitive edge over russia. 0ur cyber correspondent joe tidy reports from ukraine 0n the outskirts of kyiv, the latest group of drone pilots being trained for the front line. the location is being kept a secret but this instructor is teaching recruits how to use the small drones to spot signs of enemy troops and help guide artillery attacks. 0leka has nearly finished her training. this is her new

brigade in action. the drone used to help the military aim. this has become a major tool for both sides. so much so, the chinese manufacturer�*s has banned sales to russia and ukraine. still, thousands flow to the front line. live now to retired lieutenant general steff twitty, distinguished fellow at the center for european policy analysis. he was deputy commander of the us european command. it is good to see you. how instrumental do you think drones have been so far to ukrainian defence?- drones have been so far to ukrainian defence? they have been absolutely _ ukrainian defence? they have been absolutely critical. - ukrainian defence? they have been absolutely critical. what| been absolutely critical. what we have seen in this war is the proliferation of drones on the battlefield like we have never seen before. we have seen the russians use iranians drones with great significance and now the ukrainians have learned lessons from the russians and now they are trying to get more

drones in their arsenal as well. and what these drones can really do is, number one, recon deep into russian enemy lines and number two deep into russian enemy lines and numbertwo can deep into russian enemy lines and number two can provide strike capability on communications, logistics, artillery locations, even frontline troops and so these drones have significant capability to add not only a reconnaissance effort but arsenal effort to assist the ukrainians as well.- arsenal effort to assist the ukrainians as well. they also have the _ ukrainians as well. they also have the ability _ ukrainians as well. they also have the ability to _ ukrainians as well. they also have the ability to enter- ukrainians as well. they also have the ability to enter into | have the ability to enter into russian territory. are you worried about the possibility? no, i am worried about the possibility? no, iam not worried about the possibility? no, i am not because absolutely they have the ability to enter russia but i think what the ukrainians have shown so far is that they can strike russian targets and they can do it precisely without harming russian civilians. so if they choose to strike in russia i�*m

sure they will see that as a calculated risk and make the decision to do so.— calculated risk and make the decision to do so. both sides are exoected _ decision to do so. both sides are expected to _ decision to do so. both sides are expected to be _ decision to do so. both sides are expected to be on - decision to do so. both sides are expected to be on the i are expected to be on the offensive in the coming weeks. how do you assess the state of operations for both sides? what operations for both sides? what i will tell you — operations for both sides? what i will tell you is _ operations for both sides? what i will tell you is the _ operations for both sides? what i will tell you is the focus i operations for both sides? what i will tell you is the focus of i i will tell you is the focus of late at least for the past eight months has been on bakhmut and that war continues to grind with no victory. but in the background you have russians digging in defensive positions and putting mines along their 800 mile tenuous border where they are trying to protect their land bridge to crimea in the ukrainians have been focused on getting european equipment and american equipment and all of the international equipment that has been pledged to them and they have been training and recruiting. so both sides have

imprudently planning for this particular counter—attack, particularly the russians that are putting in the defence. i think this will be a hard fight and i think it will be a long fight simply because, in my view, neitherside fight simply because, in my view, neither side wasted the winter and they had a good preparation effort to ensure that they were able to handle a counter—attack over this spring and summer. counter-attack over this spring and summer-— and summer. what will ukrainians _ and summer. what will ukrainians need i and summer. what will ukrainians need from l and summer. what will i ukrainians need from allies such as the us to have the upper hand in this long hard fight you described? i upper hand in this long hard fight you described?- fight you described? i think what the international i what the international community must do is continue to support the ukrainians with the equipment that they need. with all the equipment that they receive it will be a tremendous logistic tale, as we call it, or a logistic effort to keep this stuff going. and so that alone will need the

international community to shore them up and ensure they do not run out of supplies. ammunition as well. you heard details of ukrainians lacking ammunition. we need to continue to step up and provide that ammunition for them as well. europe mentioned russian defences and we saw recent satellite images from crimea showing russia building up large defensive positions and trenches there. we know that the ukrainian president has vowed to win back crimea saying that we cannot win the war without taking back crimea. how do you see this playing out was to mark what i will say, i think the ukrainians have to do what they have been successful in doing. we what they have been successful in doina.~ what they have been successful indoin-.~ h. ,, in doing. we saw success in care, in doing. we saw success in care. most _ in doing. we saw success in care. most of— in doing. we saw success in care, most of it _ in doing. we saw success in care, most of it was - in doing. we saw success in care, most of it was small. in doing. we saw success in i care, most of it was small unit tactics, not large scale combined armed manoeuvres where they put the entire military into the field to try and defeat the russians. they defeated them through surprise and small—scale manoeuvres. we saw the same thing in kherson

and we will see it in bakhmut. that is what they are good at and what i think we will see going forward is that they will continue to use those tactics, to not try and attack across the 800 mile zone but to take a bite out of the apple, if i could say that, and, there for, continue to make gains by steadily taking bites of that apple and gaining terrain, consolidating their gains, making sure their logistics are tied in so they can sustain those gains and move onto the next location. so i do not see an overwhelming war or counteroffensive given that it is 800 miles, you also have crimea, i see it as a slow grind, taking a piece of terrain, consolidate gains and move onto the next. interesting insiuhts. move onto the next. interesting insights. thank _ move onto the next. interesting insights. thank you _ move onto the next. interesting insights. thank you very - move onto the next. interesting insights. thank you very much l insights. thank you very much forjoining us on bbc news. the un�*s envoy to haiti has

told a security council meeting that gang violence is expanding at "an alarming rate" in areas previously considered safe. here�*s maria isabel salvador speaking earlier. gang violence is expanding at an alarming rate in areas previously considered relatively safe in port—au—prince and outside the capital. the horrific violence in gang ridden areas including sexual violence, particularly against women and girls is emblematic of the terror facing much of haiti�*s population. live now to mimi swaby — the bbc�*s latin america regional editor. thank you forjoining us. we heard those troubling words but tell us more about what the security council discussed. fine security council discussed. one ofthe security council discussed. one of the key _ security council discussed. que: of the key messages was security council discussed. i2 of the key messages was that they need action quickly. that�*s what the haitian foreign minister told the council, the security situation has really deteriorated considerably in

the last 48 hours and it was a plea to the un for urgent action and they really need the action, notjust promises. the un special representative to haiti was saying that it is a shocking increase of criminal activity, gang activity that has really happened in the last three months. 0nly has really happened in the last three months. only in this year, the last three months, there has been more than 1600 deaths or rapes or murders, really violent crime compared to less than 700 in the first three months of 2022. so a real difference there. the situation has completely descended into lawlessness. this began back in 2019 with the assassination of the president but these last few weeks and days have really seen an escalation, as we heard. ~ ., ., ., ., heard. what about authorities? do they have — heard. what about authorities? do they have any _ heard. what about authorities? do they have any chance i heard. what about authorities? | do they have any chance against the spiralling gang violence? there is little trust in the police and increasingly more so we see resident with an estate the law into their own hands as clashes are becoming more

violent and frequent and residents are doing the jobs of the police. we saw this yesterday, on monday when 13�*s expected gang members were stone and lynched by an angry mob and earlier this week the un said that these levels of insecurity are comparable to a war zone. insecurity are comparable to a warzone. gangs insecurity are comparable to a war zone. gangs are using sexual violence to terrorise populations in areas controlled by rival gangs and children are among the victims. we are hearing reports of children being shot while in classrooms and even kidnap while their parents drop them off. so there is some real underlying issues here, notjust the violence but also economic and social and political crises but this insecurity and violence needs to be addressed first. that was the key message. it needs to be addressed first in order to go back and then rebuild haiti from the bottom up and restructure the community. and restructure the community. and haiti's foreign _ restructure the community. and haiti's foreign minister is haiti�*s foreign minister is asking for help from the un.

what can the un do? there is a lot of distrust and people are wary of the un given the humanitarian crisis of 2019 when the un brought cholera into the country. the un denies this. back in october the government promised a special multinational force government promised a special multinationalforce to government promised a special multinational force to come in and help save the country. six months later this is yet to materialise. canada the us and france were among the people saying that they are willing to partake in this but nobody or no country has really offered themselves to lead this so people are still waiting. there have been many promises made but again it is a lack of action that we are seeing and a lack of action that has been addressed in the security council meeting today. aha, council meeting today. a troubling situation they are indeed. thank you so much for joining us.

thank you for watching. don�*t forget to download our app for all the latest news and headlines. stay with us here on bbc news. hello, there. particularly warm days have been few and far between so far this spring. in fact, the highest temperature we�*ve recorded this year was in highlands, scotland, 21.2 celsius. for england and wales, temperatures have not yet got above 18 degrees celsius. we have to look back all the way to 1986 to find a year when we�*ve had to wait this long for temperatures higher than that across england and wales. but that may be about to change. over the next few days, some warmer air pushes its way northwards. the one place that won�*t get an awful lot warmer is the far north of scotland. so, through the rest of the week, we will see some spells of rain through the day ahead,

and then it turns warmerfor many into the start of the weekend, albeit still with some scattered showers, some decent dry weather as well. but for thursday, a couple of different frontal systems, this one pushing in from the southwest, this one just easing its way in towards the western side of scotland. so two different areas of rain, really. this one grazing the north coast of northern ireland and then pushing its way eastwards and north eastwards across scotland, maybe some snow over the highest ground here. and then this area of wet weather pushing in across the south west of england, some of that rain will then get up into wales, parts of the midlands, east anglia, certainly some rain into the south east. there is likely to be a drier slot between our two areas of wet weather. temperatures between 7—14 celsius. now, as we head through thursday night, we will continue to see some outbreaks of rain, oerhaps the odd thundery burst here and there. a lot of cloud around as well to take us into the start of friday. so, with that extra cloud in place, it is not going to be a particularly cold night. temperatures typically between three 3—11 celsius. so actually a very mild night indeed down towards the south.

into friday, well, we will start off with cloud and some patchy rain across parts of eastern england, that will tend to ease. and then for england and wales, northern ireland too, we should see some spells of sunshine developing. southern scotland will see a little bit of sunshine, northern scotland, more cloud, some bits and pieces of rain. still chilly in shetland, but further south, temperatures of ten to 18 celsius. now as we head into the weekend, it will be parts of scotland, particularly in the far north, that struggle in terms of temperatures, and we�*ll also see some rain at times. further south, some dry spells, a few showers, but it�*s southern parts that will see the highest of the temperatures, particularly on saturday, up to 19 celsius.

meta�*s financial results confirm it is not all doom and gloom in the tech sector. plus, the latest episode of american�*s culture wars — disney takes legal action against florida�*s governor. hello and welcome to asia business report. i am karishma vaswani. we begin the programme with meta and its surprising quarterly results. shares of the facebook parent are up nearly 12% in extended trading, after the company reported its first sales increase in nearly a year, and forecast that

second—quarter revenue would be above market expectations. this confirms the view that digital advertisers