laura bicker in seoul, thank you very much indeed.so much hot, hot, hot, but more, ho, ho, ho. why thoughts are turning to christmas despite the record temperatures. ok, coming down the ladder now. that's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. a catastrophic engine fire is being blamed tonight for the first crash in the 30—year history of concorde, the world's only supersonic airliner. it was one of the most vivid symbols of the violence and hatred that tore apart the state of yugoslavia. but now, a decade later, it's been painstakingly rebuilt, and opens again today. there's been a 50% decrease in sperm quantity, and an increase in malfunctioning sperm, unable to swim properly. thousands of households across the country are suspiciously quiet this lunchtime, as children bury their noses in the final instalment of harry potter. you're watching the briefing. our headlines: north korea appears to be dismantling part of an important rocket engine testing site in the north west of the country. and our top story, officials in

we can now talk to our correspondent laura bicker in seoul.lain more about what we are seeing in the satellite images and the significance of the rocket testing facility. these images come from the monitoring site 38 north. they are very good at continually monitoring sites across north korea. and in the middle of the night here in seoul they released these images which they say shows the sohae site being partly dismantled. part of it isa being partly dismantled. part of it is a standard used to launch what the north koreans have set our satellites and part of it is an engine facility where it is believed that they developed fuel for those satellites, for the rocket launchers, and it is believed they used fuel for ballistic missile is their too. so this could be a significant step forward. remember backin significant step forward. remember back in singapore injune kim jong—un is said to have promised president trump that the site would be dismantled. since then we have been watching and waiting. it would appear that these are the first steps t

laura bicker based in seoul.een an abject failure in the aid sector to deal with sexual abuse, according to british mps on the international development committee. their report follows revelations that a group of oxfam workers had used young prostitutes in haiti in 2011 when they were there to help the country recover from a major earthquake. our global affairs correspondent, naomi grimley has more. it was in the aftermath of 2010 haiti earthquake that of oxfam's aid workers severely compromised its much cherished values. they used young prostitutes when they were supposed to be helping the local population bounce back from a disaster. the charity did an internal investigation. they dismissed some members of the staff and let others quietly resign without properly flagging out what had happened to the authorities or other charities. today, mps said it wasn't an isolated episode. we have reached the conclusion that in the aids sector there has been a complacency verging, frankly, on complicity with what has happen

laura bicker reports.med home with an honour guard. one by one the small caskets, wrapped in the united nations flag, were carried back onto american soil, a us airbase in south korea. this is just the start of their final journey. next week they will be taken to hawaii to be examined, to check they are the remains of us soldiers. this appears to fulfil a key pledge made by kimjong—un to president trump during the singapore summit. and it comes in the same week as north korea appears to be dismantling one of its main missile launch sites. but what does north korea want in return? kim jong—un chose his date well to keep his word. today marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the armistice which officially ended the korean war. in north korea, they call it the day of victory. "in tears and rapture, veterans run into the arms of chairman kim," announced state media. mr kim is trying to persuade the world his focus is on building his country's economy rather than building nuclear weapons. some doubt his s

going to bring you some breaking news from our correspondent in seoul, laura bicker, coming from north started to dismantle part of a key rocket launching site. we understand that satellite images of the station in the north—west of the country, seen by the monitoring group, 38, suggest kim jong—un may seen by the monitoring group, 38, suggest kimjong—un may be fulfilling a promise made to president trump at the singapore summit last month. north korea has a lwa ys summit last month. north korea has always said the site was used to launch satellites for the space programme and that america has a lwa ys programme and that america has always suspected it was used to test ballistic missile. this information commissioner us and we understand they are dismantling part of the key rocket launch —— this information coming to us and we understand they are dismantling part of the key rocket launch and we hope to speak with laura bicker in seoul in the next edition of newsday, so stay with us for that. the uk has dropped its demand for assurances that two men from london won't face the death pena

laura bicker reports.rapped in the united nations flag, were carried back onto american soil, a us airbase in south korea. this is just the start of their final journey. next week, they will be taken to hawaii to be examined, to check they are the remains of us soldiers. this appears to fulfil a key pledge made by kimjong—un to president trump during the singapore summit. and it comes in the same week as north korea appears to be dismantling one of its main missile launch sites. but what does north korea want in return? kim jong—un chose his date well to keep his word. today marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the armistice which officially ended the korean war. in north korea, they call it the day of victory. "in tears and rapture, veterans run into the arms of chairman kim," announced state media. mr kim is trying to persuade the world his focus is on building his country's economy rather than building nuclear weapons. some doubt his sincerity. president trump, however, will see this as a promis

laura bicker reports. laura: finally these foreign -- fallen soldiers are making their way me. it has been over 65 years since they were killed fighting a war that many feared had been forgotten. one by one, 55 caskets wrapped in the united nations flag are carefully carried into a cargo plane. but until the remains are tested, it is unclear how many have been returned. still, today will be seen as progress by a u.s. president who t a priority during his summit with the north korean leader. donald trump took the chance to publicly thank him. pres. trump: i want to thankfr chairman kim it of the media for fulfilling a promise he made to me, and i'm sure he will continue to fulfill that promise. laura: but the fundamental problem remains -- north korea astill has nuclear materi nuclear missiles. in pyongyang, kim jong-un was exald by war veterans as he marked the anniversary of the armistice that ended theorean war, something described here as a day of victory. in seoul, the repatriation raised hopes among veterans that peace will one dni come to the ula. 15 countries fought alon

here's laura bicker.55 caskets wrapped in united nations flat work carefully carried from the cargo plane. until the remains are tested, it is unclear how many have been returned. still, today will be seen as progress by a us president who made ita progress by a us president who made it a priority during his summit with the north korean leader. donald trump took the chance to publicly thank him. i want to thank chairman kim and all of the media for fulfilling a promise that he made to me, and i'm sure that he will continue to fulfil that promise. but the fundamental problem remains. north korea still has nuclear material, and nuclear missiles. in pyongyang, ken johnson material, and nuclear missiles. in pyongyang, kenjohnson exalted by vetera ns as pyongyang, kenjohnson exalted by veterans as he marked the anniversary of the armistice which ended the korean war —— kimjong—il. something described here as a day of victory. in seoul the repatriation raised hopes among veterans that peaceful one day come to t

our seoul correspondent, laura bicker, joins us now. has always maintained this site is used to test missiles and create fuel for those missiles, so this dismantling could be quite significant. in terms of what was agreed in singapore in june, this was a pledge made by kim jong—un to donald trump, and on the face of it it appears to have been kept. however, there's a couple of caveats to this and pouring cold water on it, analysts say, well, hang ona water on it, analysts say, well, hang on a second, independent experts aren't be being allowed to see this site and the punggye—ri site that's been destroyed, and they could be... when it comes to the promise made, promise kept, donald trump will be able to say this is what kim jong—un is trump will be able to say this is what kimjong—un is doing, he promised me he was doing it and it's been fulfilled. experts and analysts will say that's well and good, but this overall aim of getting north korea to give up its nuclear weapons is not being fulfilled by this one site being dismantled. laura b

laura bicker in seoul.hat could have massive consequences for the global car industry. do cars, trucks and parts shipped into america pose a threat to its national security? that's what the commerce department will be determining after it weighs all the evidence. their answer was yes when it came to steel and aluminium imports and led to tariffs being imposed earlier this year. linda dempsey is vice president of international economic affairs policy at the national association of manufacturers. she has been giving evidence at the hearings today and joins me now from washington. a very warm welcome to you. what was the atmosphere like in these hearings? it was a really unique opportunity. there was widespread agreement across most of the witnesses today. unanimity from the business and manufacturing sector that we are seeing a lot of strength in manufacturing and automotive manufacturing in general and his friend washington disease at unanimity —— to see such. there was also that among the business sectors t

laura bicker, bbc news, south korea.ose british father was murdered by their chinese mother. the family of michael simpson want jeremy hunt to appeal to chinese officials when he visits the country next week — as katharine da costa reports. seven—year—old jack and six—year—old alice are at the centre of an international custody battle. their british father, michael, seen here with them, was stabbed to death in his shanghai apartment in march of last year by his estranged chinese wife. she is now serving a life sentence for murder. since their dad's death, jack and alice have been living with their chinese grandparents, unaware of what has happened to their parents. happy birthday, grandpa! wait a minute, wait... but their english granddad wants to raise them back in the uk. he's fighting for them to be brought back here, which he says is what his son michael would so desperately have wanted. # happy birthday to you! they do not know what has happened to their father. they do not know where their mother is. so they need t

from where our correspondent laura bicker now reports. of what is thought to be around 50 soldiers have now been returned to us soil here at the osan airbase in south korea. there were brought out in small caskets onto ca i’s brought out in small caskets onto cars and there were a number, thousands of soldiers, here at the airbase who stood in silence and saluted as the remains were taken out a. they will now be tested to see if they are indeed the remains —— remains of us soldiers. there are still 5000 unaccounted for in north korea, some of the remains have been returned over the years on the has been a lull since the peace process has not exactly gone smoothing. all of this takes place of the 55th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that would not have bypassed north korea. this is a major concession and a pledge from kim jong—un to donald trump at that summit in singapore. it may be now that pyongyang is looking for concessions of its own from washington. they want the peace process moved forward, but the fundamental problem r

earlier i spoke with our correspondent, laura bicker, who gave her assessment of the latest development from seoul. well, this is a site based in the north—west of north korea, right by the chinese border. they have been monitoring it sometime because it was at the centre of a promise allegedly made to president trump in singapore. the north koreans said they would dismantle the site and everybody has been watching it several weeks wondering if any activity would be seen. now we are seeing it. it is certainly activity, it is not major activity but there appears to be dismantling of one of the rocket launch test sites, thought to be at the centre of the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles. many people will say, what about its nuclear programme and yes, there are thought to be hundreds of sites hidden throughout north korea and still processing nuclear material however this site is at the centre of a promise and it's this site that we are monitoring right now and when it comes to those intercontinental ballistic missiles, those other missiles, certainly here in seoul injapa

here is laura bicker. finally these fallen soldiers are making their way home. fighting a war many feared had been forgotten. 0ne fighting a war many feared had been forgotten. one by one, 55 caskets come iraq in the united nations flag, are come iraq in the united nations flag, a re carefully come iraq in the united nations flag, are carefully carried from the cargo plane. —— wrapped in the united nations flag. today will be seen as progress by the us president who made this a priority during his meeting with the north korean leader. donald trump publicly thanked him. i want to thank chairman kim for fulfilling a promise he made to me, and i'm sure he will continue to fulfil that promise. but the fundamental problem remains. north korea still has nuclear material and nuclear missiles. in pyongyang kimjong un was insulted by war veterans as he marked the anniversary of the armistice which ended the korean war, something described here as a victory. in seoul, the repatriations remains hopes that peace will one day come to this peninsula. 15 countries fought along

earlier, i spoke with our correspondent, laura bicker, who gave her assessment of the latest developmentl. well, this is a site based up in the north—west of north korea right by the chinese border. they've been monitoring it for some time because it was % ofa monitoring it for some time because it was % of a promise allegedly made to president trump in singapore. its activity, not major activity at the moment but they're appearing to be dismantling one of the rocket launch test sites. this is the site is thought to be at the centre of the development of intercontinental ballistic missile isles. now, many people will say, hang on a second, what about its nuclear programme? there are thought to be hundreds of sites hidden around north korea still processing nuclear material, but this site is at the centre of a promise and it is this site we monitoring right now. when it comes to those intercontinental ballistic missile isles, they are the missiles certainly here in seoul and japan that they are also concerned about, because they would be within range. it isa because they would be within r

laura bicker reports.merican soil, a us airbase in south korea. this is just the start of their final journey. next week they will be taken to hawaii to be examined, to check they are the remains of us soldiers. this appears to fulfil a key pledge made by kim jong—un to president trump during the singapore summit. and it comes in the same week as north korea appears to be dismantling one of its main missile launch sites. but what does north korea want in return? kim jong—un chose his date well to keep his word. today marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the armistice which officially ended the korean war. in north korea, they call it the day of victory. "in tears and rapture, veterans run into the arms of chairman kim," announced state media. mr kim is trying to persuade the world his focus is on building his country's economy rather than building nuclear weapons. some doubt his sincerity. president trump, however, will see this as a promise kept, and publicly thanked him in a tweet. "after so many

here‘s laura bicker.00 people have been taken to hospital with heat related problems, and it‘s thought at least ten people have died in this global heatwave on the korean peninsula. next, sweden, with maddy savage. stockholm‘s usually one of the most visibly green cities in europe. about 40% of it is made up of parks. but a lot of it is now yellow and crispy after the hottestjuly since records began. sweden simply isn‘t set up for high temperatures. the buildings are designed to insulate, to keep people warm in snowy winters, and very few offices have air conditioning. but it‘s the countryside that‘s been worst affected. the worst wildfires for decades are still being tackled by firefighters from around the eu, after sweden called for international assistance, and more hot weather is on the way in the coming week. wildfires are also engulfing parts of yosemite national park in the united states. and it‘s desperate times forfarmers in texas, where parts of the southern state are experiencing drought. anne

laura bicker witnessed the ceremony at osan airbase in south korea. returned over the yea rs. remains have been returned over the years. there has been a load. the peace process has not exactly gone smoothly. all of this takes place on the 65th anniversary of the signing of the armistice. that will not have bypassed north korea. this is a major concession by pyongyang and pa rt major concession by pyongyang and part of a pledge made by kimjong—un to donald trump at the summit in singapore. it may be now that pyongyang is looking for concessions of its own from washington, perhaps an easing of sanctions. they wanted peace process to move forward. the fundamental problem remains. north korea still has nuclear and nuclear material. a controversial move to privatise some probation services in england and wales is to be reversed, costing the government £170 million. the contracts will end two years early, after ministers admitted they are not delivering the reduction in reoffending they promised. here's our home affairs correspondent, tom symonds. this is

live to seoul, and our correspondent laura bicker. we shouldn't be surprised, should we?o give up his country's nuclear programme. what are these intelligence official saying is going on? there are two reports. those from the intelligence agency and washington post. there is also satellite imagery that has been analysed. what they told us is that they have seen a lot of activity both before the summit in singapore and after. these vehicles going in and after. these vehicles going in and out. there are two new buildings at this facility. the reason they focused at this facility is because this is where the first missiles we re this is where the first missiles were created. they are thought to be capable of reaching the united states. donald trump said the threat from north korea was over. when it comes to what was agreed, it was vague. kim jong—un centres comes to what was agreed, it was vague. kimjong—un centres named to denuclearisation of the korean peninsular. both the united states and north korea have different meanings. north korea believes it means getting rid of n

our seoul correspondent laura bicker witnessed the ceremony at osan airbase in south korea.l, a us airbase in south korea. this is just the start of their final journey. next week they will be taken to hawaii where they will to check that they are the remains of us soldiers. this appears to fulfil a key pledge made by kimjong—un to president trump during the singapore summit. it comes in the same week as north korea appears to be dismantling one of its main missile launch sites. but what does north korea want in return? kim jong—un chose his date well to keep his word. today marks the 56th anniversary of the signing of the armistice which officially ended the korean war. in north korea they call it the day of victory. in tears and rapture, veterans run into the arms of chairman kim. mr kim is trying to persuade the world that he's focused on building his country's economy rather than building nuclear weapons. some doubt his sincerity. presidents trump however will see this as a promise kept and thanked him in a tweet. "after so many years, this will be a great moment "for so

here's our seoul correspondent, laura bicker.g to these images, that the pledge made by kim jong unto donald trump in singapore injune, that jong unto donald trump in singapore in june, that the jong unto donald trump in singapore injune, that the site would be destroyed, it would be dismantled, is the process of being fulfilled. this is a site based on the north—west of the country, right near the border with china. it is very rural so the only thing that we have a verification so far are these images. and it comes to if you want to look at the optimistic picture, this shows in terms president trump's pledges that he received from kimjong trump's pledges that he received from kim jong un trump's pledges that he received from kimjong un that he trump's pledges that he received from kim jong un that he appears to be getting what he wants from kim jong un. to poura be getting what he wants from kim jong un. to pour a little bit of cold water on this, it does not mean that this site is being fully dismantled because we don't have an

we can now speak to our seoul correspondent laura bicker.lysts had seen these images. there are two new buildings. all in all, activity has continued at this site where the first intercontinental ballistic missiles we re intercontinental ballistic missiles were built which are capable of reaching the united states. on the face of it, alarming. 0n the face of it, it may even break the promise made to donald trump 2—d nuclear is the korean peninsula. 0r made to donald trump 2—d nuclear is the korean peninsula. or does it? if you look at what kim jong—un has signed up for, its vague. he never said he would stop making weapons, he said he would stop testing missiles. in his new year ‘s address, he talked about putting mass production of nuclear missiles on the agenda so when it comes to how to move forward, the united states needs to nail down details of how they go about trying to compel zhong yang to give up its nuclear weapons. the father of the missing airman corrie mckeague says he believes his son will never be found. in a post on facebook