live from washington, this is bbc news. welcome to viewers on pbs in america. both sides in the conflict in sudan agree to extend a ceasefire for another three days, despite reports of heavy fighting in the capital khartoum. south korea's president yoon urges us congress to stand with seoul in the face of an increasing north korea nuclear threat. and the biden administration announces new plans to curb illegal migration at the border. hello, i'm sumi somaskanda in washington. in sudan, rival military groups say they have agreed to extend a fragile ceasefire for another three days. the sudanese army and

the paramilitary group the rapid support forces came to that agreementjust hours before a previous ceasefire was due to expire. despite these agreements, clashes have been reported with gunshots heard and fighterjets seen in parts of the country. our correspondent paul adams has more on the origins of the conflict. khartoum obviously was the focus of that popular revolt backin focus of that popular revolt back in 2019, which was, you know, the thing that brought to an end 30 years of alba ts�*s power. it was followed by a terrible massacre of demonstrators in the aftermath of president 0mar al—bashir�*s alistair but it has not seen the kind of all—out military conflict that it is witnessing. what happened in so many other parts of sudan and is now, has now come to the city. it is a real shock for the civilians of

that city who did not think that city who did not think that it would come to this but feared that somehow, this rivalry between these two factions was going to result in some kind of military conflict. i doubt that anyone quite anticipated just how lawless and reckless that conflict would be as interrupted on the streets of khartoum but they knew something was very —— brewing and they wondered why the west, by the international community at large, did not do more to prevent it.— community at large, did not do more to prevent it. pauladams re-uortin more to prevent it. pauladams reporting on — more to prevent it. pauladams reporting on the _ more to prevent it. pauladams reporting on the latest - reporting on the latest developments in sudan. here in washington, former vice president mike pence has testified before a grand jury investigating donald trump's alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. pence appeared at a federal courthouse earlier today. he received a subpoena back in february from the special counsel leading the probe into the january 6th attack on the capitol and any interference in the 2020 election results. trump tried to block pence from having to answer questions under oath, arguing that

their interactions were covered by executive privilege, but an appeals court rejected that argument. the former vice president appeared in front of the grand jury for more than seven hours, according to sources following the case. earlier, i spoke to cbs news correspondent bob costa. bob, thank you so much for joining us. what do you make of the fact that pens appeared in front of the grand jury for seven hours? front of the grand “ury for seven hours?h seven hours? this is a significant _ seven hours? this is a i significant development seven hours? this is a _ significant development because special counseljack smith has been investigating january six four months —— pence. now he has the opportunity to listen to a key witness, former vice president mike pence, who was present at the creation of all of these schemes to try to get him to stop the biden presidency. he was under pressure day in, day out, in the weeks after the november 2020 election to try to do the bidding of trump to try to stop with certification so he is able to provide a prism, a real window into what was happening and who was telling him what in those crucial days. [30

and who was telling him what in those crucial days.— those crucial days. do we know specifically _ those crucial days. do we know specifically what _ those crucial days. do we know specifically what federal - specifically what federal prosecutors wanted to hear from hence about his conversations with the former president —— pence. we know based on cbs news's reporting that prosecutors have been asking witnesses for weeks about what people like rudy giuliani was saying behind the scenes. they trying to do to convince pence and others to try to stop congress from certifying the election. they are looking over calendars, memos, e—mails, phone messages, they want to compile all of this evidence to try to understand was there a conspiracy afoot? to try to understand was there a conspiracy afoot?— conspiracy afoot? to try to sto conspiracy afoot? to try to step the — conspiracy afoot? to try to stop the american - conspiracy afoot? to try to i stop the american presidency from having that peaceful transition of power. so many in trump's in a circle saw penance as the fulcrum of the operation, the peace of the whole puzzle that needed to be really controlled and put into motion —— pence. d0 really controlled and put into motion -- pence.— really controlled and put into motion -- pence. do we know how pence prepared — motion -- pence. do we know how pence prepared for _ motion -- pence. do we know how pence prepared for the _ pence prepared for the testimony?— pence prepared for the testimon ? ., ~ . , testimony? he worked closely with his lawyers _ testimony? he worked closely with his lawyers about - testimony? he worked closely with his lawyers about what i with his lawyers about what exactly he could say to the special counsel and what he

could not say. there has been a legal battle behind the scenes ahead of this testimony about the bounds of the testimony. what exactly can pence say about private exchanges. part of why pence appeared today as he believes he does have some rigid —— restrictions but what you can tell prosecutors in terms of his role on capitol hill in washington as president of the senate while simultaneously serving as price —— vice president, which every vice president does, whether he can stay quiet about his constitutional role which does not mean that prosecutors may try to find another way of getting to the truth of what really happened but it does mean that there will be some obstructions to what pence can talk about based on his understanding of howjudges understanding of how judges have understanding of howjudges have ruled about this testimony ahead of time.— ahead of time. trump did try to net ahead of time. trump did try to get pence _ ahead of time. trump did try to get pence to — ahead of time. trump did try to get pence to not _ ahead of time. trump did try to get pence to not testify - ahead of time. trump did try to get pence to not testify in - get pence to not testify in front of the grand jury. what does that tell us about where he is on this?— he is on this? trump has maintained _ he is on this? trump has maintained throughout l he is on this? trump has i maintained throughout this entire investigation and on

other legal fronts federally that someone like pence or a member of his white house staff should not be able to testify because of what he is citing as, asserting, as executive privilege which means that any presidential conversation should not be part of an investigation because it lives investigation because it lives in this legal zone called privilege, where it's somewhat private and not entirely open to scrutiny or investigation, but judges to scrutiny or investigation, butjudges have repeatedly ruled whether it is on pence or other witnesses that because a crime may have been committed in and around january six, that executive privilege is effectively waived, taken off the table. they've told trump's lawyers again and again you can continue to assert executive privilege but we will not accept it. privilege but we will not accept it— accept it. thank you for “oininr accept it. thank you for joining us _ accept it. thank you for joining us on _ accept it. thank you for joining us on our- accept it. thank you for joining us on our show. j accept it. thank you for - joining us on our show. thank ou. south korean president yoon suk—yeol has delivered an historic address to us congress. he received a warm welcome by bipartisan lawmakers in the chamber. the speech also marks the 70th anniversary of the us—south korean alliance. yoon's address urged the congress to stand united with seoul in the face

of north korea's aggression. bbc�*s carl nasman has been covering the south korean president's visit in the us. carl, it's good to see you. what do you think this tosses about the relationship between washington and seoul? this alliance of _ washington and seoul? this alliance of course _ washington and seoul? ti 3 alliance of course goes back several decades and that relationship and that has been on full display over the past few days in washington, dc but they have also been some signs that there have been some question marks hanging over the future of this partnership. its, future of this partnership. a historic speech to a packed bipartisan chamber. find historic speech to a packed bipartisan chamber. and open new era of — bipartisan chamber. and open new era of the alliance. - bipartisan chamber. and open new era of the alliance. it's i new era of the alliance. it's the first — new era of the alliance. it's the first speech _ new era of the alliance. it's the first speech by - new era of the alliance. it's the first speech by a south korean president to congress in over a decade at a time of heightened tensions with its northern neighbour. yoon emphasised the us alliance and steeply criticise north korea

but said he is still open to talks. ~ , ., talks. my government will resond talks. my government will respond firmly _ talks. my government will respond firmly to - talks. my government will- respond firmly to provocations. and at the same time, we will keep the door open for dialogue for north korea's denuclearisation. ., ,, ., denuclearisation. congressman mike lawlor. — denuclearisation. congressman mike lawlor, who _ denuclearisation. congressman mike lawlor, who visited - denuclearisation. congressman mike lawlor, who visited southj mike lawlor, who visited south korea this month, says the us needs to take any security threat seriously. we needs to take any security threat seriously.— needs to take any security threat seriously. we need to continue _ threat seriously. we need to continue to _ threat seriously. we need to continue to have _ threat seriously. we need to continue to have peace - threat seriously. we need to i continue to have peace through strength. and the only way to do that is to have these strong alliances. and yes, you know, they continue to propagate but if we're going to fully deter, there needs to stronger economic tyres and military ties in the region greater. yoon played a tribute to war veterans and thank the us for its support over their 70 year partnership which began in the wake of world war ii. he also touched on deepening cultural ties with the us. netflix,

which produced squid game, has announced a multibillion dollar investment in south korean productions. but the speech comes in the wake of intelligence leaks, showing the us spying on its ally and questions about america's commitment to korean security. the us has rolled out red carpet in an effort to reassure the and president biden gave a stark warning to kim jong—un. nuclear attack by north korean against the united states or taiwan or its partners is unacceptable and will result in the end of whatever regime would take such an action. biden also announcing a new agreement, giving more access to shared intelligence while keeping south korea from developing its own nuclear arsenal. the us will also send arsenal. the us will also send a nuclear armed submarine to south korea, a move china quickly condemned as a potential threat to the region. and now, with yoon's six—day trip rubbing up soon, it is clear he will be leaving on a high note.

we heard a lot of talk about provocation in your report there and how concerned are the us and south korea about the build—up that we've seen in north korea? build-up that we've seen in north korea?— build-up that we've seen in north korea? ., , ., , , ., north korea? there does appear to be a lot _ north korea? there does appear to be a lot of _ north korea? there does appear to be a lot of concern, _ to be a lot of concern, especially on the part of south korea, and you have to look at president yoon's speech today before congress, mentioning north korea several times, saying, quote, "north korea is a serious threat and the country is determined to pursue a wrong path" but interestingly yoon also appearing to be open to dialogue or negotiations with north korea, saying so in his speech. but many observers say given the flurry of missile tests we've seen, a record number last year from north korea, and the determination on the part of the country to continue building its nuclear programme, even if the door were left open, north korea is unlikely to walk through it. bbc�*s carl nasman, great to talk to you. thousands of us and philippine troops have been taking part in one of the largest ever

military exercises carried out by both countries. the exercises follow a deal announced earlier this year for us forces to use an increased number of bases in the philippines, including one near taiwan. laura bicker sent this report. life is fragile in this northern frontier of the philippines. impenetrable limestone cliffs and frequent storms can cut the island off for weeks. but people here face a new threat — caught between two superpowers trying to gain supremacy over these seas. cyrus is out to catch flying fish — the islanders�* favourite. but on his days out at sea, fishing in the philippine waters just south of taiwan, he spotted chinese ships getting ever closer. the chinese fishermen used to harass us.

even the chinese coast guard used to roam around the island. chinese coastguard? yes. cock crows the native ivatans have forged a living, —— the native ivatans have forged a living fishing and farming on this island for centuries, taking only what they need. it's very fresh air. we live here in peace. but their proximity to taiwan has made them both a strategic us ally and a vulnerable foe. the us and the philippines held combat drills here to practice defending an island from aggressors — part of the largest military exercises the two allies have ever staged. this is about more than a show of arms. this is about washington building an arc of alliances across asia — south korea, japan, the philippines, australia. the idea is to build a reliable coalition, just in case there's conflict with china. but some fear an increasing us

presence will provoke the people's republic of china. we don't want a war with the prc. we do not want that, we do not desire that, we are not provoking that. a war with the prc is good for nobody, including the prc. our method of operation here, and a goal of our campaign in the region, is to deter conflict from ever occurring. this sleepy town in the far north of the filipino mainland is now part of that deterrent. santa ana is home to a tiny naval base — one of four new filipino sites the us can access — but some fear it could make the area a target. it's really difficult. that's why we trying to provide some inputs, too, about it, and the feelings of our people,

so that more superpowers will see, you know, how it is hard and how hard it is for us to choose between the two of them. between a neighbour who has never been our enemy, and between a long ally with so many difficulties, too. but distance from the politics and the rhetoric, the people of these islands try not to dwell on what could be and enjoy what they have. an island life is a simple life, they tell me. with a close eye to the north, they pray daily that it will stay that way. laura bicker, bbc news, in itbayat. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. royal weddings and their dresses have long captured the public imagination. and whilst they may not have always been white, they have always been very elaborate. like this one, the oldest surviving royal wedding dress dating back to the marriage of princess charlotte in 1816.

as per the royal tradition in the 19th century, it was silver. the dress is part of an exhibition here at the queen's gallery about fashion and the georgians. but beyond the visual splendour of the period, what do the clothes of this era say about the people who wore them? well, the georgians were actually highly conscious of making sustainable clothes that could be altered and reused. you can see why dresses like this one worn at court might have eventually made way for more streamlined silhouettes. and it was in the georgian era that breeches and stockings for men eventually died out to make way for the undeniably more practical trouser. you're live with bbc news. the biden administration has announced its opening new processing centres outside the us to screen migrants seeking asylum at the southern border. they will first open in colombia and guatemala. 0fficials expect to quickly deport those with failed claims.

secretary of state antony blinken explained the decision. it is an approach focused on making migration more safe, orderly and humane and on advancing the interests of the united states people. if you step back and it is important to do that, globally there are more than 100 million people on the move today, compelled to move their homes for social security and better lives. joining me now from mexico city is our correspondent will grant. how will they work? and they are going to be manned by consular officials and staff sent down by the state department. it is interesting in terms of location. 0ne department. it is interesting in terms of location. one in colombia and one in guatemala, the idea is to capture two of the idea is to capture two of the main sources of migration north and there may be

additional months to come, one in ecuador and another in costa rica. if the idea works it could even go beyond that but this is the initial planning clearly the biden administration hopes it has the knock—on effect on the us southern border with mexico that the people held in towns begins to dissipate and people simply do not attempt the journey anymore, putting themselves in the hands of smuggling and drug organisations. if people they want to try to go the legal pathway. what has the reaction been within the region? i think it will be welcomed by some governments concerned about their citizens making these journeys, about their citizens making thesejourneys, about about their citizens making these journeys, about ending about their citizens making thesejourneys, about ending up in detention centres or in the hands of criminal groups so they will be some applause and

praise for this in the region but let's not lose the context. there are two things i want to mention. 0ne there are two things i want to mention. one is ali —— title 42 first introduced by donald trump and the other the election cycle both in the us and actually in central america and actually in central america and in mexico as well.- and in mexico as well. thank ou so and in mexico as well. thank you so much- _ live now tojohn feeley, executive director of the center for media integrity of the americas. he's the former us ambassador to panama and worked across latin america1. john, good night to you. how much of an impact you think this plan will have? i much of an impact you think this plan will have?- much of an impact you think this plan will have? i think it has not this plan will have? i think it has got the _ this plan will have? i think it has got the potential- this plan will have? i think it has got the potential to i this plan will have? i think it| has got the potential to have this plan will have? i think it l has got the potential to have a very important impact in the region. everybody who looks at the regional migration from

latin america and the caribbean understands all of the push factors that drive people to migrate to the united states. if you look at the geography, you will see, as you corresponded just mentioned, stopping people in colombia or guatemala, effectively the bookends of that journey, guatemala, effectively the bookends of thatjourney, is extremely important because in between those places there is nothing but danger and, frankly, horror. the human tragedy of people putting their hands in the hands of soulless human traffickers. i think it could have a big impact. iwill say personally it is a little bit overdue but i am glad antony blinken made the announcement today. what about the host countries, _ announcement today. what about the host countries, why _ announcement today. what about the host countries, why would i the host countries, why would they allow the centres in their country? if they allow the centres in their count ? , ., they allow the centres in their count ? i. ., ,, they allow the centres in their count ? .,~ ., they allow the centres in their count ? ., ., country? if you take a look at it, there _ country? if you take a look at it, there are _ country? if you take a look at it, there are roughly - country? if you take a look at it, there are roughly 2 i country? if you take a look at| it, there are roughly 2 million venezuelans already in colombia. having a place where they can go and being attended

to by international humanitarian organisations is extremely important, having a place where they will go and be processed by american consular and security officials is even more important because it will give them an answer right there and then as to whether or not they will be qualified to go on into the united states in a safe, legal and orderly manner. if you look at the geography, once people go past the journey is stopping them in guatemala, where they have access to the same kind of humanitarian first—aid, food and shelter, is important and it supports a humanitarian goal of american foreign policy. but humanitarian goal of american foreign policy-— foreign policy. but the question _ foreign policy. but the question is _ foreign policy. but the question is how i foreign policy. but the i question is how effective this will be. will people not still try to bypass these centres and cross directly into the us? that is still to be determined. i think that as they catch on,

as word gets out, people who are making these journeys, there is not a single migrant who gets to the southern border of the united states and says i had a really cheeryjourney, it was an easy time. it is a horrible journey, was an easy time. it is a horriblejourney, in the hands of human traffickers with all kinds of terrible things that happen. i think as the word gets out through whatsapp networks, families calling home, saying these are here, clean, safe, staffed by international people and if you get to qualify through the humanitarian effort, it is a much better solution so, again, i think your correspondent was right, it will take a little bit of time but it is absolutely a key step in unclogging our border and getting people out of the terrible, terrible refugee

camps in northern mexico, as seen by the terrible fire we saw a few weeks ago in one of them. , ., , ., ,, i. them. john feeley, thank you forjoining _ them. john feeley, thank you forjoining us— them. john feeley, thank you forjoining us on _ them. john feeley, thank you forjoining us on our- forjoining us on our programme. it forjoining us on our programme.- forjoining us on our rouramme. , . , the practice of oil companies burning off natural gas during drilling, known as �*flaring' has been linked to cases of leukeamia. for over a year, the bbc has highlighted the issue around bp's operations in southern iraq, featuring one man living near an oilfield. ali husseinjalood, who was 21, was due to challenge the company's chief executive, at a share holder meeting today, but he died from leukaemia last week. 0wen pinnell, has that story. likely caused by high levels of

pollution in local areas, he lived where bp has a giant oil pool where toxic gases are burnt off during the production process. the young iraqi was a key contributor to a bbc investigation which the high levels of cancer—causing pollution in his town. he sent us a final video diaryjust weeks before his death. translation: ., ., translation: following the documentary. _ translation: following the documentary, bp _ translation: following the documentary, bp and i translation: following the documentary, bp and the i documentary, bp and the government said they would reduce the pollution in the town but unfortunately nothing has changed. mi town but unfortunately nothing has changed-— town but unfortunately nothing has changed. ali hussein jalood have been _ has changed. ali hussein jalood have been planning _ has changed. ali hussein jalood have been planning to - has changed. ali hussein jalood| have been planning to challenge bp chief executive of the continuing of pollution in this community and the company's annual meeting instead his father spoke on his behalf.

translation:— father spoke on his behalf. translation: and because of this poisonous _ translation: and because of this poisonous air, _ translation: and because of this poisonous air, many i translation: and because of| this poisonous air, many people here are sick. in fact cancer is so common here, it is like the flu. i is so common here, it is like the flu. ., , ., ., the flu. i can only imagine how difficult it— the flu. i can only imagine how difficult it is — the flu. i can only imagine how difficult it is for— the flu. i can only imagine how difficult it is for you _ the flu. i can only imagine how difficult it is for you and i difficult it is for you and your— difficult it is for you and your family difficult it is for you and yourfamily and i difficult it is for you and your family and i can only also pass— your family and i can only also pass on— your family and i can only also pass on the condolences of the bp board. 0ver pass on the condolences of the bp board. over the past i think seven— bp board. over the past i think seven years flaring has reduced in the _ seven years flaring has reduced in the town by over 65%. but in the town by over 6596. but the bbc's — in the town by over 6596. but the bbc's and _ in the town by over 65%. mt the bbc's and research suggests the bbc�*s and research suggests a more modest reduction of 25%. little comfort to ali hussein jalood's father. translation: ali hussein jalood jalood's father. translation: ali husseinjalood broke my spirit because he was my firstborn son, he was a hero during hisjourney firstborn son, he was a hero during his journey of treatment until his last moments, before his passing. he did not fear

the disease or death. figs his passing. he did not fear the disease or death. as those in the community _ the disease or death. as those in the community room i the disease or death. as those in the community room on i the disease or death. as those in the community room on his| in the community room on his death, and despite bp's efforts to improve the situation, the air they breathe is a constant reminder of what he was fighting for. 0wen pinnell, bbc news. a reminder of our top story ensued and wear rival military group say they have agreed to extend a fragile ceasefire for another three days and that agreement by the sudanese army and the rapid support forces came hours before a previous ceasefire wasn't due to expire. clashes has still been reported with gunfire and bombardment in parts of the country. many are still coming to terms with what they have witnessed. that is our programme at this hour. had to our website or download out bbc app. more analysis at the

top of the next hour. stay with us here on bbc news. i am sumi somaskanda. hello. well, it's a very damp picture out there at the moment, a lot of cloud shrouding the uk. but if we have a look at the satellite picture, you can see some big gaps in the clouds to the west and southwest of us. that is heading our way, so there will be some sunshine on friday. let's have a look at the outlook, though, for the next few days. so, yes, sunny spells to come on friday, particularly by the time we get to the afternoon. but overall, the bank holiday weekend is actually going to be quite warmer compared to what we've been used to in the last few days. having said that, showers are also expected. so the forecast then, for early friday, a lot of cloud. you can see where it's still raining across parts of scotland, the north of england, but by this stage, it's already starting to dry out, particularly across wales

and the southwest. and as we go through the morning, into the afternoon, we'll see sunny spells developing widely. first across the southern half of the uk and then eventually a little bit further north too. but one or two showers certainly on the cards for friday. temperatures at best around 19 or even 20 celsius in the southeast, about 16 celsius expected in glasgow and not far off that in belfast. now, as we go through the weekend, we'll continue to see relatively mild air coming in from the south, not as hot, anywhere near as hot, as it has been in spain, the south of spain and portugal. now, our air is actually coming all the way from the azores, so, yes, the mild direction, but we're not going to be getting the heat you may have heard about across iberia. so saturday, then, a scattering of showers on the cards but sunny spells, too, and here are the temperatures, around 19 celsius again in london, but quite chilly across parts of scotland. aberdeen, for example, no higher than around 8 celsius. and here's a look at sunday, again, a real mixed bag on the way. some of the showers could turn

out to be really heavy on sunday, perhaps even with some cracks of thunder on the way. now, the temperatures around the mid teens across the northern part of england and into the lowlands. warmest spots, again, in the south. and then as we go into monday, bank holiday monday, high pressure is expected to build across the uk, but it's not going to be completely dry, because, again, in the north, especially in scotland, we are anticipating some showers. so here's the outlook from saturday onwards, it is a bit of a mixed bag, especially through the weekend, and actually into next week, you can see those temperatures easing once again. bye— bye.

big tech stellar performance, amazon joins fellow tech giants delivering surprisingly strong quarterly results. and is the world's largest economy headed for a recession? we break down the latest growth data out of the latest growth data out of the united states. welcome to asia business report. we begin with amazon because the us tech giant has just reported results that confirmed the technology sector is performing a lot better than originally expected. the

e—commerce and cloud computing giantjoined the likes of meta, microsoft and