former us vice president, mike pence, begins his campaign for the white house by condemning his former boss, donald trump. flood waters rise and tensions flare as russia and ukraine trade blame for a massive dam burst. this is the scene in new york, as hazardous air envelops the city, with tens of millions in north america warned about dangerous air quality. rishi sunak announces the first global summit on artificial intelligence, ahead of talks withjoe biden in washington i'm sumi somaskanda. we start here in washington. former president donald trump says that nobody has told him that he is being indicted. he made that statement on social media following reports in the us that a source close to the former president says he is the target of a federal criminal

investgation of a federal criminal investigation into the possible mishandling of classified information. it's the latest news in a string of legal challenges facing mr trump as he's vying for the republication nomination. with me is our correspondentjess parker. what do we know so far? what we hearing from reports in the us media is that federal prosecutors have notified donald trump's legal team that he is the target of this investigation that is into, as you said, the handling of classified documents after donald trump left office, in his mar—a—lago residence. you will remember documents were seized from that property last summer. thejustice summer. the justice department's summer. thejustice department's rules significantly say the subject of that investigation could be notified ahead of a possible indictment.

people are really into this that could be imminent. we have not had confirmation that is a case so the indictment could follow or could not. but it is read as an important sign. the investigation has been hotting up investigation has been hotting up with various aides called in to be interrogated as well. trump has denied wrongdoing and he has released anymore by his kind of campaign and supporters and he's saying, at the time of writing, no—one has told me that i am being indicted and i watching everything unfold in real time, just as you. as i mentioned before, he has denied wrongdoing in this case so i think he appears, at least according to his e—mail, to be waiting as we. according to his e-mail, to be waiting as we.— waiting as we. there is no confirmation _ waiting as we. there is no confirmation what - waiting as we. there is no confirmation what what i waiting as we. there is no - confirmation what what would this mean?— this mean? obviously donald trum is

this mean? obviously donald trump is facing _ this mean? obviously donald trump is facing a _ this mean? obviously donald trump is facing a variety - this mean? obviously donald trump is facing a variety of i trump is facing a variety of legal battles. the accusation of falsifying business records in new york, related to hush money payments, the accusation of his role in potentially turning the loss in georgia, the alleged role in the us capitol riots. and there is his basic attempts to galvanise around him, saying he has done nothing wrong and that he is the subject of political persecution, witch—hunt but these mounting legal battle start to collide with a 2024 presidential race and he is currently the republican front runner to get the nomination and there are voters who think he is coming with a lot of baggage. he is coming with a lot of baggage-— he is coming with a lot of banaae. , u, baggage. this is a developing sto . baggage. this is a developing story- jessica _ baggage. this is a developing story. jessica parker - baggage. this is a developing story. jessica parker covering | story. jessica parker covering all the latest for us. thank you very much. today, the man who served

as trump's vice president, mike pence, entered the race for the white house. he talked about running against his former boss. it might be fair to ask why i am challenging my former running mate. let me say from my heart, it begins with a promise that i made to the american people and to almighty god, and it ends with different visions for the future of our nation and our party. january six was a tragic day in the life of our nation but thanks to the carriage of law enforcement, the violence was quelled and we reconvened in the congress on the very same day to complete the work of the american people under the constitution of the united states. as i've said many times, underthat states. as i've said many times, under that fateful day, president trump's words were

reckless and they endangered my family and everyone at the capitol. the american people deserve to know that on that day, president trump also demanded that i choose between him and the constitution. now voters will be faced with the same choice. i chose the constitution... applause and i always will. with me now is democratic strategist mary anne marsh and tom lobianco, national political reporter at the messenger. great to have you both. are you surprised to see him come out so strongly against trump? yes, this is something that he has been telegraphing for a while. he has been running the

shadow campaign basically since january, going around the country giving speeches and for a long time, his advisers would say, wait, wait, wait and, well, he finally did it. the question is, will that actually have an impact? we do not know the answer to that yet but he finally uncorked it and as mike pence goes, this is probably the most visceral we will see from him. the most visceral we will see from him-— from him. do you agree? probably _ from him. do you agree? probably but _ from him. do you agree? probably but you - from him. do you agree? probably but you have i from him. do you agree? probably but you have to| from him. do you agree? i probably but you have to do us a question, to what end? that is what — a question, to what end? that is what tom is basically alluding to. mike pence is in political— alluding to. mike pence is in political purgatory. in the pre- _ political purgatory. in the pre— trump era he would be a strong — pre— trump era he would be a strong candidate to win the nomination for the republican party, — nomination for the republican party, a — nomination for the republican party, a former member of congress, former governor, vice president. — congress, former governor, vice president, christian evangelical, perfectly made for iowa _ evangelical, perfectly made for iowa but — evangelical, perfectly made for iowa but that is not whether republican party is today with donald — republican party is today with donald trump in its froze. even

today— donald trump in its froze. even today alone, every time mike pence — today alone, every time mike pence tried to define himself ended — pence tried to define himself ended up contradicting himself because — ended up contradicting himself because of about donald trump. everywhere he goes it keeps bumping into him. at a town hall— bumping into him. at a town hall meeting today, he was saying _ hall meeting today, he was saying no—one is above the low, dearly _ saying no—one is above the low, clearly be — saying no—one is above the low, clearly he was talking about donald _ clearly he was talking about donald trump and then he said but if— donald trump and then he said but if that— donald trump and then he said but if that was wrongdoing found, _ but if that was wrongdoing found, i_ but if that was wrongdoing found, i would but if that was wrongdoing found, iwould hope but if that was wrongdoing found, i would hope the department ofjustice would not indict _ department ofjustice would not indict him so we could get pebble _ indict him so we could get people to restore their faith in the — people to restore their faith in the law again. he said the same — in the law again. he said the same thing about the constitution as well. you have to choose, _ constitution as well. you have to choose, i chose a constitution, and clearly he implied _ constitution, and clearly he implied trump did not but if trump — implied trump did not but if trump is _ implied trump did not but if trump is a nominee, mike pence has agreed — trump is a nominee, mike pence has agreed to support him. i think— has agreed to support him. i think it — has agreed to support him. i think it would be a difficult path — think it would be a difficult path for— think it would be a difficult path for mike pence and i do not see _ path for mike pence and i do not see him winning the nomination in any shape or form — nomination in any shape or form. ., , ., nomination in any shape or form. ., ., ., , form. tom, you have also been watchin: form. tom, you have also been watching the — form. tom, you have also been watching the town _ form. tom, you have also been watching the town hall. - form. tom, you have also been watching the town hall. is i form. tom, you have also been watching the town hall. is it i watching the town hall. is it hard for him to get the nomination?—

hard for him to get the nomination? . ., ~' hard for him to get the nomination? . ., ~ _ nomination? excellent work by nash, my _ nomination? excellent work by nash, my former _ nomination? excellent work by nash, my former colleague, i l nash, my former colleague, i listen to that and mike pence, i have been covering him for 12 years and he is a master of the filibuster. in an interview, what have you, i do not think that works here because january six is too big, too big for talking points. even if, hypothetically, you make it out of a republican primaryjust talking about the economy, immigration, orthe talking about the economy, immigration, or the issues playing with republicans right now, by the time you get to a general, joe biden and the democratic national committee with millions of dollars in at daytime pre— pod and playing footage of the rioters and donald trump feeling them and spurring them on, marching into the capitol it is unavoidable

so he has to find a better way to speak about this.— so he has to find a better way to speak about this. that is an interesting — to speak about this. that is an interesting point. _ to speak about this. that is an interesting point. i— to speak about this. that is an interesting point. i want- to speak about this. that is an interesting point. i want to i interesting point. i want to ask you something about something i read anything atlantic. in the atlantic, david graham wrote, "mike pence's presidential campaign makes no ssense "mike pence's presidential campaign makes no sense because he is running to be the nomimee of a repubulican party that no longer exists — one he he helped destroy." what do you think? he sat by forfour what do you think? he sat by for four years what do you think? he sat by forfour years and what do you think? he sat by for four years and seated a lot of the power. remember why he was picked for the ticket to begin with, he was picked to make sure that all of the quite conservative midwestern evangelical, who were planning to stay home, would show up at the ballot box and it worked. and in that process he made it to vice president and probably, i mean, david's analysis sounds exactly right and killed his chances by doing that at the

white house.— chances by doing that at the white house. what is the vice president _ white house. what is the vice president responsible - white house. what is the vice president responsible for? i white house. what is the vice president responsible for? hej president responsible for? he nets president responsible for? he gets no benefit for having done any of — gets no benefit for having done any of it — gets no benefit for having done any of it. he did the right thing _ any of it. he did the right thing on _ any of it. he did the right thing onjanuary six but republicans will punish him fight — republicans will punish him fight. that was the he delivered the evangelicals but he abandoned them and they are now putting in a lot with donald _ now putting in a lot with donald trump. he will not reap any of— donald trump. he will not reap any of the _ donald trump. he will not reap any of the benefits.— any of the benefits. what do ou any of the benefits. what do you think — any of the benefits. what do you think of _ any of the benefits. what do you think of his _ any of the benefits. what do you think of his chances i you think of his chances against the other candidates? he has no chance. even today he is barely— he has no chance. even today he is barely inside, single digits _ is barely inside, single digits. anyone else would be doing — digits. anyone else would be doing much better but dissenters is in front of him and — dissenters is in front of him and he _ dissenters is in front of him and he will never be able to take — and he will never be able to take out _ and he will never be able to take out donald trump. —— ron desantis — take out donald trump. —— ron desantis. mike pence has had a

good _ desantis. mike pence has had a good day— desantis. mike pence has had a good day but it has been the best— good day but it has been the best day— good day but it has been the best day he will have in this campaign. best day he will have in this campaign-— best day he will have in this campaign. laughter i think about dan — campaign. laughter i think about dan quayle, _ campaign. laughter i think about dan quayle, when i campaign. laughter | think- about dan quayle, when george w about dan quayle, when george w bush picked him, it was initially because the conservatives were ascendance and then quayle back then, he was a young conservative rising star. trump picked mike pence while conservatism and conservatives were on a decline in power in the party so you have book. dan quayle ran in 99 and lost. he got outjust after and lost. he got outjust after a few months. hands could potentially win but it does not look very good for him right now. i look very good for him right now. ., look very good for him right now. . ., ., ,~ look very good for him right now. . ., ., ., ., now. i have to ask about that other use _ now. i have to ask about that other use of _ now. i have to ask about that other use of the _ now. i have to ask about that other use of the day. - now. i have to ask about that other use of the day. a i now. i have to ask about that| other use of the day. a source close to the former president saying trump is the target of a federal criminal investigation into the possible mishandling of classified information. we

do not know if an indictment is coming down. we have to say that. if they were to be an indictment, how serious would be for the former president? we do not be for the former president? - do not know exactly how that would play in terms of galvanising or driving voters away from him in the primary. what i have heard in other campaigns, and this is what they are all prepping for, it is the possibility becomes a logistical nightmare for trump. wejust logistical nightmare for trump. we just found out there is another grand jury, we just found out there is another grandjury, one we just found out there is another grand jury, one in florida so we know hypothetically he does not have to leave mar—a—lago for that one but he had georgia, new york, potentially washington, dc. which legal team to see work west? and your courts impose gag orders on the front runnerfor the republican runner for the republican nomination while runnerfor the republican nomination while he's in the middle of the republican and potentially even before the

debate stage in august. is potentially even before the debate stage in august. is this auoin to debate stage in august. is this going to be — debate stage in august. is this going to be a _ debate stage in august. is this going to be a logistical- going to be a logistical nightmare or is this something where trump emerges stronger? this would be an issue for donald _ this would be an issue for donald trump. none of the candidates running have the skills— candidates running have the skills or— candidates running have the skills or standing to take up donald _ skills or standing to take up donald trump and neither will pending — donald trump and neither will pending indictments or potential convictions do that either~ — potential convictions do that either. there was a poll they came — either. there was a poll they came out— either. there was a poll they came out this afternoon that's said _ came out this afternoon that's said 60% _ came out this afternoon that's said 60% of americans did not see it — said 60% of americans did not see it as— said 60% of americans did not see it as an issue. donald trump _ see it as an issue. donald trump is _ see it as an issue. donald trump is going to be the nominee. and you're going to have — nominee. and you're going to have a — nominee. and you're going to have a rematch between donald trump _ have a rematch between donald trump and joe biden and donald trump _ trump and joe biden and donald trump has been masterfully taking — trump has been masterfully taking this and turning them into— taking this and turning them into his _ taking this and turning them into his favour and it only whips— into his favour and it only whips up— into his favour and it only whips up the fervour of 40% of republicans who are with donald trunrp _ republicans who are with donald trunrp no — republicans who are with donald trump no matter what, it feels

conspiracy_ trump no matter what, it feels conspiracy theories about him and he — conspiracy theories about him and he will use this to his advantage but there is no—one in the — advantage but there is no—one in the field nor any other issue _ in the field nor any other issue that can stop donald trunrp _ issue that can stop donald trump right now and i do not see _ trump right now and i do not see any— trump right now and i do not see any of— trump right now and i do not see any of it coming up, from being— see any of it coming up, from being the— see any of it coming up, from being the nominee. basically, at this— being the nominee. basically, at this point, he could have this— at this point, he could have this wrapped up by super tuesday in march. it this wrapped up by super tuesday in march.- this wrapped up by super tuesday in march. it will only aet tuesday in march. it will only get more _ tuesday in march. it will only get more interesting. i tuesday in march. it will only get more interesting. thankl tuesday in march. it will only i get more interesting. thank you so much forjoining me on the show. great to have you on. ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky says he is shocked by the lack of help from international aid agencies, following the destruction of part of the kakhovka dam. water continues to surge down the dnipro river, which divides russian and ukrainian—controlled territory, and thousands of people have been moved from their homes in the region of kherson. ukrainians and russians are blaming each other for the damage. water levels are still rising rapidly, and ukraine's prime minister has urged the united nations, the international red cross and other agencies to act immediately to help those in areas controlled by russian occupiers. president zelensky says hundreds of thousands of ukrainians have been left without drinking water. emergency services are searching far and wide

for people stranded by the floods. 0ur ukraine correspondent james waterhouse reports from kherson. this eastern bank of the dnipro river is currently a no—man's—land. neither russia nor ukraine control here. now, no—one can live here. the ukrainian army drone spotted catalina trapped in her home. they tried to drop her water — no luck. her son then makes the crucial catch. they're both taken to kherson, along with her daughter, maria. a city once occupied by russia, then liberated by ukraine, now on its knees. translation: we managed to find the simplest boat, i but my father and a neighbour got carried away in it. it came loose and the current was too powerful yesterday. rowing didn't help. so we were left with my kids, the three of us, for the night. it feels like we lived a whole life in one day.

0therwise, we're very grateful to everyone. this once innocuous road, now a slipway for rescue boats. as people are brought to safety from submerged streets, the relief is palpable. to move through the streets now, you need one of these. the silence reflects just how uninhabitable pockets of the city have now become. that sign would normally be at head height. the trunks of those trees are completely submerged. rescue teams are trying to help people, and you can see how they'd be trapped. the water is cloudy. kherson, after everything it's gone through, is a city on its knees. shelling is a common occurrence in kherson. the russians might have left, but they're never far. it takes a lot for locals to be forced to leave here, but, for a growing number, that moment has come. president zelensky has criticised the international response to what's happened,

accusing the un and red cross of not being here. in two days, kherson has partly been submerged by the dnipro river. the flooding is more extreme on the eastern bank — part of ukraine, but controlled by the russians. there is a military dynamic to the kakhovka dam's destruction — it makes any ukrainian offensive from here more complicated. as for those living here, it's gone from difficult to the verge of impossible. james waterhouse, bbc news, kherson. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bbc news — bringing you different stories from across the uk. nearly 5,500 miles of roads in kent — a network in a state of decline. here in deal, residents say the roads are so bad, they're no longer safe.

it's just horrendous. they don't give two hoots about what happens to vehicles and people. people are tripping up in the potholes. and the conservation area — it's not very well lit at nights, anyway. over the years, repairs haven't kept up with the potholes. the maintenance backlog is now nearly half a billion pounds. road resurfacing costs 30% more than it did last year, and government funding is still lower than two years ago. the department for transport says it's giving kent over £40 million to invest in its roads for next year alone. the council says, if government funding doesn't increase, it will have to consider closing some roads. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. officials have warned tens of millions of people across north america they're

at risk of breathing in hazardous air. ottawa and new york are facing the brunt of the dangerous air quality, in fact they briefly had the worst air quality in the world overnight — in these live pictures of manhattan you can see the smog over the city. major league baseball games have been called off in new york and philadelphia. and this is a timelapse of new york city captured by earthcam earlier, and shows just how quickly the orange haze covers that famous skyline. this all stems from what officials say is likely the worst wildfire season on record in canada, with climate change increasing the risk of hot and dry weather. hundreds of american firefighters have landed there to help battle the fires raging across the country. after the white house pledged support— after the white house pledged support for— after the white house pledged support for canada. _ after the white house pledged support for canada. thousands have _ support for canada. thousands have been— support for canada. thousands have been evacuated - support for canada. thousands have been evacuated and i support for canada. thousands have been evacuated and fires| have been evacuated and fires have _ have been evacuated and fires have already _ have been evacuated and fires have already burnt _ have been evacuated and fires have already burnt more i have been evacuated and fires have already burnt more thanl have already burnt more than 3.3 have already burnt more than 33 mitiion— have already burnt more than 3.3 million hectares- have already burnt more than 3.3 million hectares of- have already burnt more than 3.3 million hectares of land. i all along the northern us and canada, people have stepped outside and found a strange and surprising site. fires have

been raging across canada sending smoke into the skies drifting as far west as wisconsin and as far south as virginia. first glance it does not seem like much but residents will tell you this is not normal and scientist with an essay it causes stinging eyes, headaches and coughing, especially in sensitive group for older adults, children, people with asthma other respiratory conditions. 0fficials respiratory conditions. officials say it is important to monitor air quality. you can use with apps or forecasts. below 100 conditions a safe healthy people. from 101210 50 it is unsafe or sensitive groups and above 151 is level red, unhealthy for everyone. the air quality in cities like 0ttawa new york and washington, dc has reached over 150. at that level officials say everybody should stay indoors and live —— limit outdoor activities. when inside the cdc recommends using an air filter or avoid burning candles and try not to vacuum because i can stir up particles. for those

who need to go outside, and n 95 mask will offer some protection but a paper or cloth mask will not do much to keep our dangerous smoke particulates. the uk's prime minister has begun a two—day trip to washington. support for ukraine, ai and economic cooperation are high on his agenda. rishi sunak — who arrived in washington in the early hours of wednesday morning — is due to meetjoe biden on thursday. after his arrival he visited arlington national cemetary — where he laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier. and he met the speaker of the united states house of representatives, kevin mccarthy. the speaker lauded the "long history," and shared beliefs shared by the two nations. the prime minister also met us senate majority leader chuck schumer, a senior democrat. during talks with president biden tomorrow, he's expected to renew pledges of british support for ukraine. he will also lobby for the uk to play a leading role in regulating artificial intelligence. he's been speaking with our political editor chris mason — who asked him this question on al.

i want to make sure that in the uk we can realise clear benefit of aib at that in drug discovery other areas but the same time we must put guard rails in place to protect ourselves our people, from the very real risk that opposes, risks that the creators of ai itself has highlighted. i will talk to president biden about that tomorrow. i think the uk is well placed to lead and shape the conversation on this. i spoke to chris after his interview with mr sunak. the uk will host a global summit in the fall on al. is this a priority for the prime minister? it is a demonstration of the uk, personified at the moment by rishi sunak as prime minister, it would be the same challenge for any future prime minister, of the uk trying to find its place in the world after brexit, having left the european union. even though the referendum

on brexit was back in 2016 with a lot of turbulence immediately after, then there was covid and then the british governments falling over themselves every 45 minutes and being replaced with new prime ministers and it is only now that we are beginning to see, in rishi sunak, an attempt to find a place in the world where the uk has a sovereignty that it did not have before and is not part of an international block that comes with something of a megaphone. that is why, particularly on the subject of artificial intelligence prime minister makes the argument he thinks the uk is relatively well—placed, given the scale of the sector in the uk, to try and argue we can be some sort of international convener around the question of ai and its regulation. do you think that effort is working to establish the uk again on the global stage, especially from the washington perspective? it is just starting and it is hard to be certain of that. when you speak to the prime minister as i did earlier and you say to him, hang on, look at this

from the perspective of washington, a superpower here in america, who does it pick up the phone here in america, who does it pick up the phone to when it wants to talk about artificial intelligence or anything else when it looks in europe's direction? it will often pick up the phone to brussels, to the eu. how does the uk find space in that world? the argument, and brexit proponents have made this argument for years, is about being distinctive and not falling under the umbrella of an organisation that will find a way of calibrating its view on something like ai through the prism of the different views of over 20 different member states as opposed to what might specifically be in the interest of the uk. i think it is a case, the question about al and its regulation, of the uk trying to find its place when it comes to these global issues in which the uk may attempt to say that it has some sort of competitive advantage that it can bring to the wicket

in international discussions. great to have you in the studio here in washington. there was a trip to the ballpark to round of the day for the prime minister today. he watched washington nationals take on the diamondbacks during his trip. fans were treated to a military fly past and god save the queen and the star—spangled banner played by royal marines and us military. a fitting end to the day for rishi sunak stop you are watching bbc news. don't forget to download our app for all the latest analysis and news and follow us on twitter for the latest breaking news and headlines. thank you for watching and stay with bbc news.

hello. well, our weather's been stuck on repeat a bit over the past few weeks, hasn't it? it's been largely dry and settled, with the best of the sunshine towards the west. but things are changing, as we head through the latter part of the week and into the weekend, the heat and the humidity are going to build, and there's a chance of some thunderstorms, as well. now, heading through the course of the weekend, these are the sort of temperatures we could see — mid—to—high—20s, very small chance, one or two places possibly getting near 30 celsius. but we do have a heat health alert that's been issued by the met office and the uk health and security agency, too. so, high pressure has been in charge of our weather, but cast your eyes down towards the southwest — this is storm oscar, and over the next few days, that low pressure is going to push closer towards the uk — and as it does so, we'll draw in these winds for more of an easterly, or even southeasterly direction, so that is what is bringing us the warmer weather. but for the here and now, still in that cooler air mass at the moment, so thursday morning dawns with quite a bit of cloud for central and eastern areas, and, like recent days, that cloud will burn back towards the east coast

through the day. so lots of strong sunshine — you'll notice the breeze blowing through east anglia, southern england, through the english channel, too — but the warmest spots probably getting up into perhaps the mid—20s, still mid—teens, though, for parts of eastern scotland and northeast england. and grass pollen season will be reaching its peak soon, so very high levels of pollen — you'll notice that across england and wales, if you suffer from hay fever. now, thursday evening and overnight into friday, the cloud rolls back westwards once again, as it has done over previous nights. it's probably a little bit less cold, though, temperatures staying up around about 8 or 9 degrees for most of us into friday, we'll see that subtle change in wind direction. so friday, mostly dry again, still a bit of cloud lingering in the northeast, but not as much as recent days. breeze blowing in from the east or northeast, across the southern half of the uk, but look at those temperatures — more widely, we're getting up to about 24—25 celsius, still a little bit cooler than that again in the northeast. heading into saturday, a few showers start to work in,

initially for the far southwest, they'll creep their way northwards and eastwards — perhaps northern ireland, central parts of england and wales could catch some of those hit—and—miss thundery downpours. so we're looking at temperatures probably warmest for many central and eastern areas on saturday. temperatures above average for all of us, as we head through the next five days or so. chance of some heavy showers — it looks like they ease away for many of us through the course of next week. bye— bye.