washington confirms reports that at least 3,000 north korean soldiers have been sent to russia and are now in training there. turkey says five people have been killed and others injured in a terror attack on a state—owned defence and aerospace firm. kamala harris holds a presidential town hall in the crucial swing state of pennsylvania, as donald trump rallies in georgia. welcome to newsday on the bbc news channel, i'm steve lai. broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. we begin with news that washington has confirmed reports that north korea has sent military forces to russia. speaking on wednesday, defense secretary lloyd austin

warned that if north korean troops join combat alongside russian soldiers, it would have a serious global impact. at a news conference in seoul, the south korean spy chief claimed around 3,000 north korean troops are currently receiving military training in russia ahead of their deployment to the front line. while russia and north korea deny the reports, the two nations have strengthened collaborations in recent years, and signed a major security agreement injune that commits both countries to provide military assistance if either is attacked. white house national security spokesmanjohn kirby has also been addressing the issue. i don't believe we have a very specific assessment at this time of the exact nature of all the training. there's three sites that we assess right now, this first tranche of about 3,000 are being trained. i think i could go so far as to say, at least in general

terms, it's basic kind of combat training. and familiarisation. i can go as far as that, and no further. the united states has warned that north korean troops will be regarded as "legitimate targets" if they fight alongside invading russian forces in ukraine. pyongyang and moscow have denied the claims. the leader of belarus, another russian ally, has also rejected reports of north korean involvement. in an exclusive interview with our russia editor steve rosenberg, the leader of belarus and ally of president putin denied these recent reports. few people know vladimir putin as well as alexander lukashenko, the authoritarian leader of belarus. he has agreed to take questions on the war in ukraine and his role in it. one year ago, i say, you let russia use your country

as a staging ground for invading ukraine — are you prepared to do that again? translation: i'm ready to provide territory - again, but i'm also ready to wage war, together with the russians, from the territory of belarus, but only if anyone, even one soldier, comes to our land from ukraine to kill my people. a year ago, there wasn't any threat to you from ukraine. you don't understand the situation very well. the usa and western europe pushed ukraine into this war. well, they've got the war they wanted. russian troops in belarus. these were only exercises, but they make ukraine nervous. it's watching closely for any sign of belarus becoming the launch pad for another russian push. mr lukashenko enjoys making the russian

troops feel at home. the other thing he does a lot of is accuse the west of fuelling this war. if you continue this escalation, you will get nuclear weapons. and russia has more than anyone. if nuclear war starts, belarus will cease to exist. so i'm saying we need to stop, we need to sit down at the negotiating table, because nuclear war will wipe out the usa, too. he is offering to host vladimir putin and joe biden in minsk for talks. the us leader will be in poland next week. iam inviting president biden to belarus. it's not far from warsaw — 30 minutes and he's here. i will persuade the president of russia to come, too. we will sit down and reach an agreement. that's unlikely to happen. in the eyes of the west

alexander lukashenko is very much in russia's camp, doing russia's bidding. i've been speaking to mark fitzpatrick, a nuclear non—proliferation expert at the international institute for strategic studies about the latest developments. his take is that it's a surprising and significant move. the number of troops being spoken of. these are notjust korean technicians going to help guide north korean drones and ballistic missiles. these are special forces north korean troops, highly trained, highly motivated, ideologically in kind, and i think they will be put to good use by russia. what are the implications? there are implications for the war in ukraine and the korean peninsular. ukraine, i think it's most likely these troops will be sent to the kursk region to push back against ukraine's

incursion into russia. the russian troops there are mostly not very well trained, raw recruits, draftees who are not really motivated in the war. the north koreans will provide an edge to russia, they may be successful in pushing ukraine back. undermining one of ukraine's few advantages in the war so far this year. and then in the korean peninsular, now that north korea had supplied maybe 10,000 troops, or they are planning to do, north korea's going to get something from russia for that. something tangible and something intangible. tangible, they'll probably get something like space launch technology, missile technology, maybe multiple independently targeted vehicles for their missiles. and intangibly, russia will now be committed to defending

north korea in the event of any conflict. that could make north korea more aggressive. we just heard there from belarus leader lukashenko talking about the threat of nuclear potential war. do you think this ups the stakes in regard to that? i'm not sure it directly ups the stakes with regard to nuclear war, but it does show putin is crossing one red line after another. king charles and queen camilla have arrived in samoa on the second leg of their royal tour — the biggest overseas trip for king charles since his cancer diagnosis. the couple have a day of engagements on thursday, before meeting commonwealth leaders at the end of the week. i'm joined now by sala george carter, a samoan high chief. he's also director of the anu pacific institute. thank you so much for speaking

to us. i understand king charles was himself made a samoa high chief on this visit. tell us more about the role, and the significance of the owner he has received. samoa is very proud _ owner he has received. samoa is very proud of— owner he has received. samoa is very proud of its _ owner he has received. samoa is very proud of its history, - owner he has received. samoa is very proud of its history, and - very proud of its history, and being part of the commonwealth. the highest gift not only the country but the people is bestowing a chiefly title, it makes king charles one of our own. that cultural connection. there were a few villages offering bestowing titles, and it esteemed title was bestowed today by a village which creates that cultural bond of the king to the people of samoa. there will be more villages tomorrow. but of course this is a day of

celebration, that we have on the shores of this island nation aching from the uk. —— a king. it nation aching from the uk. -- a kina. , nation aching from the uk. -- a kin. _ , . , ., nation aching from the uk. -- a kina. , . , ., ._ king. it is reception equally warmly received _ king. it is reception equally warmly received across - king. it is reception equally - warmly received across samoa? we shall protest in australia, ijust we shall protest in australia, i just wonder if there is any anti—monarchy sentiment in samoa? anti-monarchy sentiment in samoa? ~ , ., ., samoa? absolutely not, we are roud in samoa? absolutely not, we are proud in samoa _ samoa? absolutely not, we are proud in samoa of _ samoa? absolutely not, we are proud in samoa of our - samoa? absolutely not, we are proud in samoa of our cultural. proud in samoa of our cultural heritage. we have our own head of state and head of government, but the celebration in terms of being part of the commonwealth is important, vital to samoa. wejoined commonwealth is important, vital to samoa. we joined the commonwealth in the 1970s. in part navigating a way to international relations. without the commonwealth, we wouldn't have what we have, the treaty of climate change, because it was through countries like samoa and the alliance of small states, using coalitions such as the

commonwealth, this advantage to pursue foreign policies. we see in this very meeting the elevation of climate change. this is an issue that's important to this part of the using the commonwealth, through the leadership of samoa, the countries hope we see more climate action, especially within the commonwealth family. this is a four—day state visit. this is a four—day state visit. this provides samoa a platform to raise these issues that are close to your heart. tell us more about what the king will be doing during these four days? be doing during these four da s? , ., days? the king will be “oining the people. i days? the king will be “oining the people. ithink_ days? the king will be joining the people. i think that - days? the king will be joining the people. i think that the i the people. i think that the theme and direction which not only the prime minister but also the people want. a lot of activities. currently he is that a village, sitting at the moment, able to witness what village life is like. also able to see conservation areas. but

i think what's also important is for king charles, queen camilla and all the leaders coming is to taste the impact of climate change on the island. today there was a bout of strong winds and rain, and they were able to see flooding first hand. the nature of the weather, the climate here on the island, changes very rapidly. it's important to talk and to create climate action, but it's also important for them to experience both the culture but also these challenges of climate change, which islands like samoa have been advocating through international spaces. the pacific islands _ international spaces. the pacific islands very - international spaces. the pacific islands very much on the front line, the forefront of the impacts of climate change. thank you so much for your time today.

five people have been killed and more than 20 injured during an attack in turkey on the headquarters of a defence company. it happened at an aerospace complex north of the capital ankara. turkey's interior minister said a woman and a man had been "neutralised" in what he said was a terrorist attack. no—one has claimed responsibility. caroline hawley has the details. from the car park outside the headquarters of turkey's state—run aerospace company, someone filmed as the attack unfolded. first came the shooting. then the explosion. followed by more gunfire. the attackers appear to have arrived in this taxi. to the right of it, one of the first casualties. cctv showed two attackers — one a man, one a woman — just outside the building, carrying large rucksacks

and automatic weapons. the man then enters the headquarters. security forces rushed to the scene as employees took refuge in shelters. the company makes both civilian and military aircraft, as well as drones. this is the aftermath. no group has yet said it was behind it, but officials are pointing the finger at the kurdish militant group the pkk, which has fought a long insurgency against the turkish state. president erdogan had just arrived in russia to attend the brics summit of emerging economies. from those here and from other allies, including the us and eu, came a chorus of condemnation. translation: | thank. you for your condolences. i condemn this heinous terrorist attack and wish god's mercy to our martyrs. the two attackers were killed by the security forces,

and as another of their victims died of their injuries, the defence minister vowed there would be a stern response. caroline hawley, bbc news. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a 60—year—old woman has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after three people died at a care home in dorset. four other people were taken to hospital as a precaution, and the remaining residents at gainsborough care home in swanage have been moved to safety. police confirmed that "possible carbon monoxide poisoning" is the main line of inquiry. the government has confirmed the sale of disposable vapes will be banned by next summer in england. new legislation is being put before parliament, with the date ofjune 1st, 2025 to ban single—use vapes. ministers say they hope to reduce the appeal of vapes to children. scotland, wales and northern ireland are also moving ahead with bans of their own.

the prime minister has said he wants to focus on the future of the commonwealth, after ruling out compensation for the uk's historical role in the slave trade. a group of caribbean nations has indicated it will push for the issue to be discussed at a summit of commonwealth leaders in samoa this week. the call for reparations was also dismissed last year by former prime minister rishi sunak. you're live with bbc news. turning to the us election, kamala harris is currenty facing questions from undecided voters at a town hall in the battleground state of pennsylvania. at the start of the event she was asked if she believes donald trump is a fascist, to which she answered "yes, i do". her rival donald trump has been holding a rally in another battleground state georgia. earlier he took part in a town hall in zebulon, georgia, about 50 miles south of atlanta. i

, lara's public comments come after trump's former chief of staff said he would like a dictator in a second term. john kelly said he had heard trump saying, hitler did good things too. all of this is further evidence for the american people of who donald trump really is. this is a window into who donald trump really is. from the people who know him best, from the people who worked with him side by side in the oval office and in the situation room. donald trump has responded tojohn kelly's accusations tonight. he went on to call his former chief of staff "dumb," "a lowlife" and a "bad general". joining me live is daniel lippman, white house reporter at politico. what's the main thing we should

understand about whatjohn understand about what john kelly understand about whatjohn kelly has said, and the credibility he holds from his previous position? he credibility he holds from his previous position?— previous position? he is a former 4-star _ previous position? he is a former 4-star general, i previous position? he is a former 4-star general, so previous position? he is a - former 4-star general, so you former a—star general, so you don't really get to rise up to that unless you have great intelligence and dedication to the country. this is someone who works for trump for more than a year. that was generally seen as one of the adults in the room. so he has lots of credibility in washington. he has also sacrificed personally, his son died in war. and he has long been a critic of trump since he left office. he has doubled down and wants to make a difference by speaking publicly, and notjust being an anonymous source. this is kind of creating some earthquake in washington right now.- of creating some earthquake in washington right now. trump has responded. _ washington right now. trump has responded, perhaps _ washington right now. trump has responded, perhaps predictably, | responded, perhaps predictably, saying he is a total degenerate, he is dumb and a

low life and a bad general, and he is making up stories. less than two weeks to go until election day, how is this going to play out, do you think, in the minds of voters?- the minds of voters? well, there's been _ the minds of voters? well, there's been so _ the minds of voters? well, there's been so many - the minds of voters? well, - there's been so many criticisms thrown at donald trump, and he seems to be pretty teflon don. so most people who think trump is a fascist are going to vote against him anyways. i think ultimately this may hurt harris a little bit, because right now, her campaign is riding on, can she reassure americans that she has the right agenda to help them economically? whether she can distance herself enough from the current administration, which is not very popular. more people approve of thejob very popular. more people approve of the job donald trump is doing than her, so she is not in a honeymoon phase any more this campaign. so the more

the campaign is focused on trump, the less attention is on her. but we should not lose sight of the fact that he is the only president in american history who, after his time in office, has had so many senior officials from defence secretaries, national security advisers, chiefs of staff, who have said this is a person dangerous to the republic. bill clinton, george w bush, none of them had similar situations. i suppose we won't know what the american people think until the results start to come in and how much weight they put behind the latest developments. as i mentioned, undertwo the latest developments. as i mentioned, under two weeks to 90, mentioned, under two weeks to go, what do you think is likely to move the needle if at all in the last run into the election? so far, 25 million americans have already voted early. republicans are doing a little better in the early vote than in 2020. trump has kind of waffled a little bit, provided mixed messaging. sometimes he says early voting is bad,

people have to vote on election day, he is against mail in voting sometimes, but there seems to be a lot of energy on the republican side, and there is going to be second—guessing about whether biden should have left the race earlier in the spring or early summer instead of waiting... spring or early summer instead of waiting- - -— of waiting. .. that ship has certainly _ of waiting. .. that ship has certainly sailed, _ of waiting. .. that ship has certainly sailed, although | of waiting. .. that ship has i certainly sailed, although we will be going down that road, we have to leave it there, thanks for your time. israel has continued to carry out raids in lebanon, with several explosions reported in beirut on wednesday evening. state media reported at least ten strikes on the city's southern suburbs. tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in the southern port city of tyre, where israel has struck what it called hezbollah targets. it's the first time the historic city centre has been targeted. the world health organization has postponed

a polio vaccination campaign in northern gaza, blaming continued violence and a lack of humanitarian pauses that would allow health teams to reach people. our special correspondent fergal keane has been working with bbc verify to bring you this report — a warning, it contains distressing images. it is a vast, unfolding crisis. israel filmed these images of people fleeing the offensive by its forces in northern gaza. tens of thousands. hungry, frightened, told by israel to leave. they carry what they can away from their homes, with no knowing when they will be allowed to return. elsewhere, the israeli military screens the men for anyone suspected of links with hamas. insidejabalia's kamal adwan hospital today. the wounded.

this man is crying, "all my children are gone". another says to him, "i've been telling you for a week that you should leave your house". an exhausted nurse sent this voice note. we don't have water. we don't know what will happen tomorrow. i am so tired. the situation is very, very, very bad. there was supposed to be a polio vaccination campaign today. not a procession of wounded children. nearly half of gaza's population is under 18. and child casualties appearagain and again. it is hard to look upon such suffering but it is a fact of this war. the israel defense forces blame hamas for this, the israel defence forces blame hamas for this, saying they use the population as human shields. we spoke about the crisis

with one of britain's most senior war crimes lawyers, who has led cases against myanmar for genocide, and on israel's occupation of the palestinian territories at the international court ofjustice. professor philippe sands kc says israel has the right to self—defence after the october 7th attacks, but it is now breaking international law. it has to be proportionate, it has to meet the requirements of international humanitarian law, it must distinguish between civilians and military targets. it doesn't allow you to use famine as a weapon of war, it doesn't allow you to forcibly deport or evacuate large numbers of people. it's impossible to see what is going on now in gaza, as it's impossible to see what happened on the 7th of october, and not say crimes are screaming out. there is little public dissent over the army's conduct of the war. but a former security official is speaking out.

eran ezion served underfour israeli prime ministers, and was deputy head of the country's national security council. a critic of prime minister netanyahu, he fears vengeance is leading israel into war crimes. do you believe war crimes are taking place? i fear that they might be, yes. and what should they do? they should refuse. if a soldier or an officer is expected to commit something that might be suspected as a war crime, they must refuse. we were attacked savagely on october 7th and there is no question, not about the savagery, not about the brutality, not about the malicious intentions of hamas, there is no question about that, and we obviously had and still have the full right of self—defence. again, that's beyond any question. but this doesn't give us the right to... obviously not to commit war crimes.

and also not to sink to the level of the terrorist organisations. some aid has crossed the border. people are still fleeing jabalia. we asked the idf for an interview, but they said no spokesperson was available today. they did refer us to an earlier statement which said, "the idf will continue to act as it has always done, according to international law." and today, the army's humanitarian relief wing said they were committed to allowing aid into gaza without limit. this is israel's narrative, but with scenes of civilians suffering flowing out of northern gaza, it is being widely challenged. fergal keane, bbc news, jerusalem. that's all for now — stay with bbc news. business today is next, we have an update on that boeing deal. hello there.

apart from a few showers across central and southern parts of england, most places were dry today and there was some decent spells of sunshine, a bit of rain, fairly strong winds for the north—west of scotland too. now tonight, it looks like many places will turn dry. there'll be clear spells and i don't think we should have many issues with dense fog, because there'll be a little bit more of a breeze, and it'll certainly be quite breezy across scotland and northern ireland through the night. so quite blustery here with further cloud, the odd shower as well, particularly north—west scotland. but england and wales, winds will be a little bit lighter and we'll see lengthy clear skies. temperatures here single digits once again, but not as chilly as recent nights, and milder further north and west. you'll see double figures to start thursday. so another fine day thanks to high pressure on thursday, with plenty of sunshine, particularly towards central and eastern areas, always more cloud. scotland, northern ireland, wales, south—west england see a little bit of rain just getting into the far north—west later on. but again, pretty decent temperatures, quite mild at the mid—to—high teens in the warmest spots. we start to see some changes now for the end of the week.

for friday, this area of low pressure begins to develop just to the west of the uk, and that will start to bring outbreaks of rain. but a dry start with light winds across eastern areas means friday, we could see some fog patches early on across northern and eastern england, but we'll have to see bands of light and showery rain pushing northwards across the country. that will be followed by some brighter skies towards the south and south—west. here, it will be windy in the far south—west. further north, winds will be lighter. we could be up to 16 or 17 degrees where we have the sunshine, but i think temperatures a degree or so down on what we've had the last few days. now, pressure chart for saturday — we've a new area of low pressure pushing into the north of the uk. that will bring wind and outbreaks of rain for scotland and northern ireland. the majority of england and wales should be dry with some sunshine, just a few showers towards the south—east. that's the remnants of friday's low pressure system. temperatures closer to the mid—teens at this point. sunday probably looks drier for most. there'll still be some showery rain across scotland and northern ireland, we'll have more of a breeze, but eastern scotland, england and wales mostly dry,

again with some sunshine around, lighterwinds and temperatures around 14 or 15 degrees in the south, low teens in the north. so it's not looking that bad for the weekend. into next week, we start to see high pressure building back in, so a lot of dry and settled weather around, with some sunshine, and we'll see a return to overnight fog.

striking workers at boeing have wrapped up voting on a new deal which could end a six—week long stand—off. plus — the imf warns the world to avoid a global trade war. hello and welcome to business today. i'm steve lai. some breaking news, 64% of boeing workers have rejected a contract offer which included a 35% pay rise over the next four years. ritika gupta is live in new york with the latest — 64%, it wasn't even close. 6496, it wasn't even close. it 64%, it wasn't even close. it wasn't. boeing machinists have rejected the latest offer, thereby extending the strikes and as you mention, it wasn't even close, 64% voted in favour

of rejecting even close,