live from washington. this is bbc news, welcome to viewers on pbs in america. negotiations on the us debt ceiling continue into the night. president biden and the speaker of the house say there's still no deal, but they call their talks productive. i think the tone tonight was better than any other time we have had discussions. russian authorities say they're battling a group of �*saboteurs�* that's crossed the border into the belgorod region from ukraine. and inside russian defences — the new bbc verify service takes a look at moscow's preparation for an expected ukrainian counter—offensive.

we start tonight in washington, where talks to avoid a us debt default have been described as productive, but there's still no deal. presidentjoe biden and speaker of the house kevin mccarthy led negotiations on raising the debt ceiling to ensure the us can continue to pay its bills. biden and republican congressional leaders now have just ten days to avoid a default. president biden said: kevin mccarthy spoke outside the white house, and the bbc�*s nomia iqbal was watching. he said the meeting was productive. he said the tone was good. he appeared in an upbeat mood and he said there was still a way to go before they make a compromise. he did say that he believed the president does want to make a deal. bear in mind, we are fast approaching the deadline, and if a deal is passed,

it would take more than a week, or about a week, to get through congress. the speaker appeared confident that would happen. i never wanted to be here. i do not like the idea that you govern by chaos, you govern by a deadline. so all the way back in january, i requested meetings with the president after i won speaker, only on this issue, we always knew it was coming. february i got the meeting and i said, mr president, we should work together to find where we have common ground to raise the debt ceiling, but curb our spending so we stop doing this. i told the president two things. not going to raise taxes. and we are not going to pass a clean debt ceiling. but for 97 days, he said he wouldn't meet with me. and now what the republicans did in the house, we passed a bill to raise the debt ceiling, saved us money, put us on a trajectory where we could go to balance. this was long before secretary yellen said

the deadline wasjune 1st. we don't want to govern that way. unfortunately denying our ability to meet put us in this situation. i believe we can still get there. i believe we can get it done. any deal that is reached has to be bipartisan, and i asked the speaker what he thought about members of the house republicans to the far right who have said they won't accept anything less than a house—backed bill, what was he doing to assure them of that? he said, look, we are going to have to compromise, that's the only way to get the deal forward. both parties don't want to concede on any of the key issues that the constituents care about, that voters care about and that party members care about. but he said, when asked, should americans prepare for default, he was quite clear, he said no.

earlier in the day, treasury secretary janet yellen told congress that it's highly likely the agency will be unable to pay all its bills by earlyjune. so if that prediction is correct, what exactly is at risk? according to the financial services company moody's analytics, if the debt limit is breached for evenjust one week, the us economy would shrink so much, so quickly, that around 1.5 million jobs would be lost. and if a government default were to last into the summer, 7.8 million american jobs could vanish. that would mean the unemployment rate would soar from the current 3.4% figure to 8%. and the stock—market could plunge, wiping out $10 trillion in household wealth. for more on this, i'm joined by michael strain, the director of economic policy studies at the american enterprise institute, as well as betsey stevenson, a former member of president obama's council of economic advisers, and former chief economist at the us department of labor.

good evening to you both. michael, if you look at the messaging we heard from the meetings at the white house today, we heard they were productive, that default is off the table, are you encouraged? er, i am the table, are you encouraged? er, iam more the table, are you encouraged? er, i am more encouraged than if the meeting had gone poorly. it is good that they met, and a good sign that positive things were said about the meeting, but i think we still have a long way to go before any of us should be feeling comfortable with the situation, certainly before any of us should be feeling optimistic. they have to agree a deal, there has been no agreement on work requirements and other programmes. no agreement on reform. although it seems that democrats may be getting more comfortable with the idea of spending cuts, there is no agreement on the specifics of what the spending cuts would be. even after there is an

agreement between speaker mccarthy and president biden, speaker mccarthy has to sell it to the republicans in the house of representatives. that could be difficult. chuck schumer has to sell it to the senate. that could be difficult. d0 to sell it to the senate. that could be difficult.— could be difficult. do you think a default _ could be difficult. do you think a default really - could be difficult. do you think a default really is l could be difficult. do you. think a default really is off the table? i think a default really is off the table?— think a default really is off the table? ~ , ., ._ , the table? i think it is always ossible the table? i think it is always possible that _ the table? i think it is always possible that they _ the table? i think it is always possible that they can't - the table? i think it is always| possible that they can't reach this kind _ possible that they can't reach this kind of agreement. you heard — this kind of agreement. you heard the speaker say we are willing — heard the speaker say we are willing to _ heard the speaker say we are willing to negotiate on everything except most things, like raising more revenue, that would — like raising more revenue, that would be — like raising more revenue, that would be a _ like raising more revenue, that would be a key way in which one would _ would be a key way in which one would fight fiscal imbalances, along — would fight fiscal imbalances, along with cutting spending. he is going — along with cutting spending. he is going to have to negotiate on things he doesn't want to negotiate on. obviously the democrats don't want to cut their— democrats don't want to cut their key— democrats don't want to cut their key spending packages that have shown what biden has been _ that have shown what biden has been able to accomplish four people _ been able to accomplish four people. so i do think there is

a lot— people. so i do think there is a lot that's to have to happen. you _ a lot that's to have to happen. you know. _ a lot that's to have to happen. you know. i_ a lot that's to have to happen. you know, ithink a lot that's to have to happen. you know, i think what could happen— you know, i think what could happen is— you know, i think what could happen is they could agree that they are — happen is they could agree that they are not getting there by june — they are not getting there by june the _ they are not getting there by june the 1st and pass some sort of temporary increase in the debt— of temporary increase in the debt ceiling that says, ok, we need — debt ceiling that says, ok, we need to— debt ceiling that says, ok, we need to come to some agreement, we are — need to come to some agreement, we are going to agree to keep negotiating, and in the meantime we will take some of the pressure off.— the pressure off. right, that would just — the pressure off. right, that would just be _ the pressure off. right, that would just be kicking - the pressure off. right, that would just be kicking the - the pressure off. right, that| would just be kicking the can down the road. you talked about what president biden might have to do, what further concessions do you think you might have to make to reach a deal?- do you think you might have to make to reach a deal? well, you know, i think — make to reach a deal? well, you know, i think all _ make to reach a deal? well, you know, i think all along, - make to reach a deal? well, you know, i think all along, it's - know, i think all along, it's unfortunate we are in this situation _ unfortunate we are in this situation because the debt ceiling _ situation because the debt ceiling shouldn't be tied to these _ ceiling shouldn't be tied to these kind of negotiations. but they are, — these kind of negotiations. but they are, and what we saw in 2011 — they are, and what we saw in 2011 was _ they are, and what we saw in 2011 was everybody had to give a little — 2011 was everybody had to give a little bit of something. and the thing is, if we are going to do— the thing is, if we are going to do spending cuts, it can't just— to do spending cuts, it can't just be _ to do spending cuts, it can't just be the sort of key pillars

of things— just be the sort of key pillars of things biden has accomplished in his administration. so it's going to have _ administration. so it's going to have to be across the board. it's to have to be across the board. it's going — to have to be across the board. it's going to have to be combined with some sort of revenue _ combined with some sort of revenue raising measures. the house — revenue raising measures. the house itill— revenue raising measures. the house bill not only includes cutting _ house bill not only includes cutting spending but it actually reduces tax revenue because _ actually reduces tax revenue because it cuts the funding for the tits — because it cuts the funding for the irs that allowed them to go after— the irs that allowed them to go after tax — the irs that allowed them to go after tax cheats. so compromise would _ after tax cheats. so compromise would have to be a little bit on the _ would have to be a little bit on the spending and a little bit on — on the spending and a little bit on the revenue side. michael, i want to ask for your take about republicans, what do you think they will have to concede on to get some sort of deal? ~ ~' .,, deal? well, i think the most likely deal — deal? well, i think the most likely deal is _ deal? well, i think the most likely deal is a _ deal? well, i think the most likely deal is a deal- deal? well, i think the most likely deal is a deal that - deal? well, i think the most| likely deal is a deal that cuts spending by less than republicans would like, less than what republicans have passed in the house of representatives, and it raises the debt ceiling. i think it's

unlikely they will have a short—term extension, although it would be a way to give them more time, i think it's unlikely because i don't think they want to do this twice. if what's left, work requirements and other programmes, i imagine that will be what republicans say, well, we wanted to include that but we didn't get everything we wanted. but again, you know, speaker mccarthy has to get that through the house. they would want to see that included. we know the negotiations are continuing. i want to zoom out, michael, we have a lot of viewers around the globe. what would the impact of a us debt default mean for the rest of the world?— default mean for the rest of the world? ~ ., ., the world? well, it would mean chaos in the _ the world? well, it would mean chaos in the financial _ the world? well, it would mean chaos in the financial markets. l chaos in the financial markets. we would see the beginnings of

a globalfinancial we would see the beginnings of a global financial crisis. we would see the beginnings of a globalfinancial crisis. we a global financial crisis. we would a globalfinancial crisis. we would see massive reductions in the value of us equerries, reductions in the value of equerries in other nations as well. —— us equerries. —— equitys. concern about the stability of the global financial system. that situation would not persist for very long. in the set—up for this segment, massive amounts ofjob loss and things of that nature... i think that might happen if the default were prolonged. but my view on this is the us protocol system could withstand probably if you hours of being in default, maybe a day. and then there would be so much pressure from financial markets, from investors,

members of the house and the senate, that a compromise would be found very quickly. find senate, that a compromise would be found very quickly.— be found very quickly. and a final question, _ be found very quickly. and a final question, in our - be found very quickly. and a | final question, in our current political system, divided government and incredibly polarised, if we keep reaching this point regularly, on the brink of debt default, what is a long—term solution look like to ensure the us can continue to ensure the us can continue to pay its bills?— to pay its bills? well, a long-term _ to pay its bills? well, a long-term solution - to pay its bills? well, a long-term solution is i to pay its bills? well, a - long-term solution is going to long—term solution is going to have _ long—term solution is going to have to — long—term solution is going to have to be thinking about how to bring — have to be thinking about how to bring spending and revenue in balance, but i want to touch on what — in balance, but i want to touch on what is _ in balance, but i want to touch on what is likely to happen. a different— on what is likely to happen. a different scenario, the one i'm most _ different scenario, the one i'm most worried about, which is, while — most worried about, which is, while counting on financial markets _ while counting on financial markets to essentially save as by starting to freak out enough that it — by starting to freak out enough that it disciplines congress off what if the financial markets don't freak out, what if they— markets don't freak out, what if they take it in stride, because _ if they take it in stride, because maybe the treasury will io because maybe the treasury will go ahead — because maybe the treasury will go ahead and pay all the treasury bills and pay the interest _ treasury bills and pay the interest and they will delay

payment... they are going to delay— payment... they are going to delay payments but they will be able to — delay payments but they will be able to make them the next day, the day— able to make them the next day, the day after, and then we will see they— the day after, and then we will see they get an influx of revenue onjune 15th see they get an influx of revenue onjune15th due to see they get an influx of revenue on june 15th due to tax day, _ revenue on june 15th due to tax day, and — revenue on june 15th due to tax day, and things won't actually really— day, and things won't actually really get bad untiljuly... my concern — really get bad untiljuly... my concern is _ really get bad untiljuly... my concern is if that were to happen, _ concern is if that were to happen, people would say, hey, you guys— happen, people would say, hey, you guys have been crying world, _ you guys have been crying world, this isn't that bad. but in fact, — world, this isn't that bad. but in fact, it _ world, this isn't that bad. but in fact, it will be that bad, it will— in fact, it will be that bad, it willjust be a slower burn than — it willjust be a slower burn than what people are predicting. it could be that financial markets will terrorise everything right away and congress won't make it a few hours. _ and congress won't make it a few hours, as michael said, before _ few hours, as michael said, before they go and try to solve the problem. but it's also possible that people being late receiving their paycheques, bills— receiving their paycheques, bills being paid a couple of days— bills being paid a couple of days late, just doesn't cause the chaos— days late, just doesn't cause the chaos many people have predicted. the chaos many people have predicted-— the chaos many people have predicted. great to have you both on the _ predicted. great to have you both on the programme - predicted. great to have you - both on the programme tonight, thank you so much for your analysis. german police have requested

a two—day search of a remote reservoir in portugal in the disappearance of madeleine mccann. the british toddler vanished from her parents�* holiday apartment in praia da luz in 2007. the reservoir is believed have been heavily frequented by the suspect christian brueckner, who is currently serving a seven—year sentence for raping a woman in the same area. in an interview with bbc radio 4, former pakistan prime minister imran khan said he fears being re—arrested following his release from police custody just over a week ago. he still faces multiple corruption charges and his initial arrest prompted his supporters to take to the streets. in the us, south carolina senator tim scott has announced that he's running for the repulican party's presidential nomination. mr scott is campaigning on a message of personal responsibility, strong security and education reform. the 57—year—old is the only black senator representing his party. he enters the race with about $22 million of cash in his campaign funds — more than any of his rivals so far, including

former president donald trump. in russia, officials say the army is fighting a group of saboteurs who crossed the borderfrom ukraine in the belgorod region. according to the local governor, eight people have been wounded, buildings have been damaged and local residents had been evacuated from the area. ukraine has denied having anything to do with the attack. our russia editor steve rosenberg reports. smoke in the distance. the first hint of the drama ahead. russia said saboteurs had forced their way from ukraine into russian territory. the bbc has located this video to a border checkpoint south of belgorod. it appears to show military vehicles having crossed over. ukraine denied responsibility. it said russian citizens from two paramilitary groups were behind the attack.

the russian army sent in reinforcements. local residents couldn't believe what was happening. the local governor, vyacheslav gladkov, announced a counterterrorist operation. he said he would take special measures and impose temporary restrictions. tonight, russian tv claimed the ukrainian army was behind the incursion. it said civilians had been wounded and people were being evacuated. in recent months, this part of russia has felt increasingly like a warzone. with a series of explosions in belgorod — suspected ukrainian drone attacks — forcing people here to take cover. attacks on russian territory are putting the kremlin under pressure. one of the kremlin's justifications for launching

the so—called special military operation was national security — making people here feel more secure. but before russia's war in ukraine, life in belgorod region and in other russian regions close to the ukrainian border was calm and peaceful. there were no explosions, no sabotage groups breaking through. it very much looks as if the full—scale invasion of ukraine has had the opposite effect. for now, though, there is no sign of those in power in russia changing direction. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. so that's russia. we want to bring you some images from inside ukraine. satellite images like this have revealed the extent of defences being built by russia in the areas they currently occupy in the east of the country. that's in preparation for an expected ukrainian counter offensive. those images have been analysed by bbc verify. it's a new service bringing together 60 journalists

with a range of forensic and investigative skills, to fact—check data and help explain complex stories — as well as counter disinformation. our analysis editor ros atkins has more. ukraine's expected to launch a counteroffensive soon and here at bbc verify we've been looking at how russia is bolstering its defences. here's the front line with territory controlled by russia marked in red. we've also highlighted bakhmut, the city has hosted some of the fiercest fighting in the war. and we know that around bakhmut both sides have been using trenches. we also know that trenches are a crucial part of russia's effort to fortify the entire front line. that process has been documented by the open source analyst brady africk. all of these black dots here mark new russian fortifications. let's focus on a couple of locations. first of all, tokmak. it's a small city, but it's strategically important. you can see it at the bottom of this satellite image. further north would be where

the ukrainian positions are. and look what the russians have done. they've built one new defensive line, a second one behind it, and then a third one around the city. we also know that in ukrainian media there are reports that civilians are being removed from tokmak in order that the russians can further fortify it. and to understand all of these fortifications, looking at these types of satellite images is also useful. here, furthest from the front line, you have artillery positions. then the trench network for the soldiers. then what are called dragon's teeth. these are concrete obstacles the russians are using in the hope of stopping ukrainian tanks. tanks are also the focus of these enormous ditches, produced by these digging vehicles. and if we go back to this satellite image you can see the first line of defence is an anti—tank ditch. so that's one location. this is a second one that bbc verify has looked at. on the peninsular of crimea, which was annexed by russia in 2014. this picture shows us a beach on the west coast of crimea.

you can again see dragon's teeth. this time running alongside the shore of the black sea. further north on the beach is a bunker. running through it is this trench. bbc verify has measured it at around 15 miles. also note these piles of wood. they are being used by the russians to reinforce the trenches that they are building. a fortification of this nature could be used by a tank or an armoured vehicle should it want to face the sea. now, we should emphasise that we don't know if ukraine has the capacity to attack crimea from the sea. what we can be more certain of, though, is the resources that russia has committed to fortifying all along the front line. and now it waits to see if ukraine attacks. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. meet poppy and her noisy

squeaky toy. she can hear it but you can't see it. her owner eve discovered her very friend had lost her sight at the start of the covid—19 pandemic. had lost her sight at the start of the covid-19 pandemic. when we not of the covid-19 pandemic. when we got the _ of the covid-19 pandemic. when we got the diagnosis _ of the covid-19 pandemic. when we got the diagnosis i _ of the covid-19 pandemic. when we got the diagnosis i was - we got the diagnosis i was really worried about her general quality of life, and all the things we had done so far, ijust thought all the things we had done so far, i just thought we were never going to be able to do that stuff again.— never going to be able to do that stuff again. faced with an uncertain future, _ that stuff again. faced with an uncertain future, eve - that stuff again. faced with an uncertain future, eve founded| uncertain future, eve founded the underdogs training, specialising in training blind dogs, and she now helps other visually impaired canines and their owners globally.- visually impaired canines and their owners globally. your dog could have _ their owners globally. your dog could have lost _ their owners globally. your dog could have lost their _ their owners globally. your dog could have lost their sight - their owners globally. your dog could have lost their sight and l could have lost their sight and you need to work on confidence with different textures and sounds. how do we give them a nice safe approach to training without them bombarding into the coffee table? i really want to help show people that actuallyjust because a dog has lost its site, they can still have an absolutely incredible life. you're live with bbc news. to sudan now, where there are reports that a new ceasefire has been

violated as soon as it's come into force. witnesses in cities across the country say they've seen airstrikes and clashes after the week—long truce was announced. since fighting began last month, an estimated 700 people have been killed, 6,000 have been wounded and more thani million have been displaced. this latest ceasefire, which commenced monday evening, is the seventh to be announced since the conflict began. so what makes this truce different? our correspondent barbara plett usher explains. this ceasefire agreement is different than the others because it's the first one that's been formally negotiated and signed by the two parties. there isn't a mechanism to enforce it, but there is one to monitor it, and that will include representatives from both sides and also from the two mediators, the united states and saudi arabia. so this will be the platform where complaints can be brought about any violations. it will try to resolve disputes, and it will also help to co—ordinate with humanitarian agencies for the delivery of aid.

there's been 48 hours between the signing of the agreement on saturday night and the ceasefire coming into effect, and the two sides were supposed to use that time to inform their forces on the ground about the terms, and to instruct them to comply. they also said that they would not try to take military or seek military advantage during this period. but we have seen fighting continue, so that's not been very encouraging. this ceasefire is strictly focused on relieving the humanitarian situation, which is dire. to give you some idea, the sudan doctors syndicate says only 29 hospitals are operating throughout the country, and not at full capacity. and only six in the capital. so the ceasefire really does need to work. an image of an explosion at the pentagon briefly went viral early today, causing a ten—minute long dip on the stock markets. the image, which we are not showing you, depicted black smoke billowing out of a building. it was picked up by news outlets outside the us, before officials jumped in to clarify no blast actually took place, and that the picture was fake. experts now say the image had signs of an ai forgery.

joining me is our us digital reporter mike wendling. he is going to tell us more about how this happened. explain how this spread so quickly. explain how this spread so tuickl . . , . quickly. yeah, 'ust after the markets quickly. yeah, just after the markets opened _ quickly. yeah, just after the markets opened this - quickly. yeah, just after the i markets opened this morning, this photo started circulating on twitter. people into cryptocurrency and bitcoin, they are extremely online, they started spreading it rapidly. it pulled some more mainstream people as you indicated. that caused the markets to react, until authorities came out and said it was a hoax. —— it. more mainstream people. it was over in a matter of minutes. hagar in a matter of minutes. how could you — in a matter of minutes. how could you tell— in a matter of minutes. how could you tell the _ in a matter of minutes. how could you tell the image - in a matter of minutes. how| could you tell the image was fake? , . , , fake? open source researchers at bbc verify — fake? open source researchers at bbc verify quickly _ fake? open source researchers at bbc verify quickly spotted . at bbc verify quickly spotted the tell—tale signs that the images workforce. if you zoom in on the photo, we can show

you details that clearly looks unreal. the centres around the pentagon, the cars driving around, if you zoom in, they looked like boxes on wheels. they didn't look real. some of the landmarks didn't correspond to reality. you can check on a map. you don't need to be an open source expert to realise this was classic fake news. there were no people in the photographs. odd on a monday morning. and no other news organisations or eyewitnesses were reporting on it. there were reporting on it. there were no stories for the details, written stories or eyewitnesses and whatnot. these are classic signs it was a hoax or a fake. are classic signs it was a hoax or a fake-— or a fake. do we know who created — or a fake. do we know who created these _ or a fake. do we know who created these images - or a fake. do we know who created these images and l or a fake. do we know who - created these images and why? we haven't pinpointed the exact origin yet. but i found an even earlier copy on a facebook

account devoted to qanon. it is popular on the far right and among dedicated fans of donald trump. it's tough to tell why the person may have been spreading it without first, i suppose, getting a read on what exactly the image originated, where it originated. usually in these cases, we find there are a number of reasons, right? it boils down to people chasing lights and views and follows, or people want to be first with the news and they don't really check it properly and spread it that way. and sometimes they are deliberately trying to cause trouble with an online prank. probably one of those reasons behind this.- reasons behind this. very interesting. _ reasons behind this. very interesting. thank - reasons behind this. very interesting. thank you i reasons behind this. very| interesting. thank you for reasons behind this. very - interesting. thank you for that analysis. that is our programme at this hour, thank you for watching bbc news. we will be

back at the top of the next hour with more on the us debt ceiling negotiations, continuing tonight in washington. thank you for watching. hello. our spell of fairly settled late spring weather is set to continue for another few days yet. so high pressure in charge and through the next couple of days then, things looking largely dry and fine. spells of sunshine around, the sunshine really quite strong at this time of year. we did have largely clear skies in norfolk as the sun set. had a bit more cloud elsewhere during monday evening. but as we head through into the early hours of tuesday, here's the high pressure in the atlantic that's pushing its way in, just a couple of fronts at times, just pushing around the north of that area of high pressure. so there is a bit more cloud. we've got a warm front bringing more cloud to northern ireland through tuesday morning. some early brightness for the east of scotland, but it will cloud over through the day. a few splashes of light

rain in the far north. for england and wales things are looking mostly dry with some sunshine. but as the cloud bubbles up, just produce a rogue shower here and there, perhaps through parts of wales, the midlands, east england temperatures 19 or 20 degrees in the warmest spots, but a bit cooler around the east coast and under the cloud further north. but where you do see the sunshine come through, moderate to high levels of uv. so certainly another day for the sun cream, with that strong sunshine breaking through. tuesday evening, any rogue showers fading away, so it's looking dry and settled once again. another very weak front, or the remnants of an old front here, just bringing more cloud across the far northwest as we head into the early hours of wednesday. but again, most places looking frost—free with temperatures generally about five to ten degrees, could be a little bit lower than that where you do keep the clear skies. wednesday brings us another dry day with light winds. it'll probably be a little bit warmer compared to tuesday because we've got a bit of a different air mass, bit of a change in wind direction under the cloudier skies in the north, 17 or 18 degrees, but further south willl likely see 21, possibly 22 degrees through the middle part of the week. moving into the latter part of the week, then,

another couple of very weak fronts moving to the north of that high pressure. but as we move into friday, it sits right across the uk. so for thursday then, another largely dry day, bit of cloud around here and there, fairly light winds and you'll probably notice those temperatures just starting to creep up by a degree or so. so, across scotland and northern ireland, 18, possibly 19 degrees, england and wales, we're looking at 23 inland, but a little bit cooler close to the coast. and it looks like the fine settled weather continues through the end of the week into the bank holiday weekend and temperatures are going to be on the up. bye— bye.

belgorod the us president said talks with a top republican leader was productive. they have ten days left to make a deal. and a new movie explores the creation of tetris. we spoke to the man who invented it. welcome to asia business report with me mariko oi. our top story this morning, no signs of a debt deal in washington just

yet. this is after president joe biden met with