to tackle what it says is an increased threat by some groups. and the un is evacuating non—essential staff from haiti as gangs continue to control much of the country. hello, i'm sally bundock. a very warm welcome to the programme. we start in the us and the war or words errupting over the future of tiktok in the worlds biggest economy. the boss of the chinese—owned social media giant has warned that any ban on the platform in america would cost small businesses billions of dollars. on wednesday, the house of representatives passed a bill which, if approved by the senate and president biden, could force tiktok�*s owners either to sell up —

or be barred from the us. their concerns centre around the chinese military being able to access american users�* data. here's tiktok�*s shou zi chew. over the last few years we have invested to keep your data safe and our platform free from outside manipulation. we have committed that we will continue to do so. this legislation is signed into law will lead to a band of tiktok in the united states. will put more than 300,000 americanjobs at states. will put more than 300,000 american jobs at risk and will take away your tiktok. the suggestion that tiktok could be shut down in the us has already started to raise concerns among influencers, who use the social media site to pursue their careers. here are the thoughts of beverly hills—based tiktok star, macy eleni. i don't know why politicians are going after it the way they are. it feels to me like they

are. it feels to me like they are focusing on things that i weigh less important than all the things they should be focusing on. it doesn't feel great as someone in this country during an election year for this to be where so much focus is when there's so many more important thing going on. china has described a potential us ban on tiktok as "an act of bullying" that would backfire on america. let's speak to our correspondent in washington, will vernon. hello to you. first of all, this has gone through the house of representatives took us through the process. this is not law yet. _ through the process. this is not law yet, it _ through the process. this is not law yet, it still - through the process. this is not law yet, it still has - through the process. this is not law yet, it still has to i through the process. this is| not law yet, it still has to go through the senate but it did pass the house of representatives with a thumping majority and it has the backing of the white house who say that president biden will sign this if it reaches his desk. why is this all happening? it's because us intelligence agencies as well as many lawmakers say tiktok is a threat to us national security.

they said the fact it is owned by a chinese company means that american�*s personal data could be accessible by the chinese government and also that tiktok could be used to influence public opinion here in the us. that is why this bill is being passed and discussed and it will require bytedance to either sell the app within six months or otherwise face a ban from smartphones. backers of this bill, including the white house, say that the intention here is not a ban, this is about ensuring that the personal data of american users of tiktok and there are 170 million of them, that the data is stored in the us and not in china. tiktok denies all allegations of links to the chinese government, it says it has restructured its business to a ladies concerns but it's also urged its users to call

congressmen and women to urge them not to pass this bill and offices closed their phone systems because they were inundated with calls. find systems because they were inundated with calls. and we saw them — inundated with calls. and we saw them all _ inundated with calls. and we saw them all campaigning i saw them all campaigning outside the white house as well. and outside congress, to early make their voices heard loudly stop how do you think this will play out? many are arguing six months is not a long enough period of time to sell such a huge player such as tiktok in the us. sell such a huge player such as tiktok in the us.— tiktok in the us. that's right. oinion tiktok in the us. that's right. opinion is _ tiktok in the us. that's right. opinion is split _ tiktok in the us. that's right. opinion is split here - tiktok in the us. that's right. opinion is split here whetherl opinion is split here whether it is even possible, whether it's possible to sell the us part of the business, the us assets of tiktok within six months. some say it is possible and some say it is not but on that point you made about tiktok users gathering outside the capital. it turned out that they accommodation and trouble

had been paid for by tiktok because obviously the company wanted those pictures to be shown. as all these people against the bill and another person who was against the bill is former president donald trump, who himself tried to ban tiktok back in 2020 and was not successful in that and it's not completely clear why he has now had this change of heart, some analysts say that speculating he is perhaps trying to attract younger voters by saying that he is against a band but i think if the bill does get past and it does eventually get signed into law i think there will be several legal challenges not only from tiktok itself but also perhaps rom civil liberties organisations, because that is a ready been criticism here that this kind of thing is actually banning a social media platform is authoritarian behaviour. the

white house denies that and says this is a matter of national security. well, thank ou ve national security. well, thank you very much _ national security. well, thank you very much for _ national security. well, thank you very much for putting - national security. well, thank| you very much for putting this all into perspective. just to say that in 25 minutes time we will have a lot more on this in our business coverage and we will hear from our correspondent based in new york on the matter and also we will be like to social media company in california as well. all of that to come. here in the uk, the government has set out a new definition of extremism — as part of its promise to tackle what is says is an "increased threat" since the hamas attacks in israel last october. the intention is to stop extremist groups or individuals from having a platform to spread their views. but concerns have been raised that any definition could be seen as unfair — and undemocratic. with the details, here's our political correspondent damian grammaticas. the aftermath of the october

seven attacks on israel, the government says, has been increasing concern about radicalisation here in this country. it has come up with this new definition of extremism, saying it means "the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance." and to negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, undermined the uk system of democracy and democratic rights, or intentionally create a permissive environment for others to do that. this month outside downing street, rishi sunak promised robust action. we will redouble our support in the prevent programme to stop young minds being poisoned by extremism. we will demand university stop extremist activities on campus, we will also act to prevent people entering this country whose aim is to undermine its values. this is not a new legal standard, the government will draw up a list of extremist

groups. neo—nazis whose actions while not a legal are deemed threatening. some conservative worry it will impinge on rims. it poses a serious threat to our security and i agree with my friend that we must urgently address this but reports of the government wishes to broaden the definition of extremism are concerning because in separating the definition of extremism from actual violence and harm we make a nice people with a wide range of which emit pews and have a chilling effect on free speech.— on free speech. this is absolutely _ on free speech. this is absolutely not - on free speech. this is absolutely not about i on free speech. this is - absolutely not about silencing those — absolutely not about silencing those with private and peaceful beliefs — those with private and peaceful beliefs noblet impact free speech. beliefs noblet impact free s - eech. beliefs noblet impact free seech. . ., ., beliefs noblet impact free seech. ., , , , speech. the common insists the bible be high — speech. the common insists the bible be high so _ speech. the common insists the bible be high so individuals- bible be high so individuals intending marchers will not be named, religious police and strongly held convictions will be unaffected. it's as groups seeking to organise events that subvert the moxie will not be listed, so they can be

identified and marginalised. critics say the governments should be digging a broad consensus, not deciding on its own what constitutes extremism. more than 700 investigations have been launched by britain's biggest police force after nearly 3,000 calls to an anti—corruption hotline in the first 18 months of its operation. the figures for the metropolitan police have been revealed as the police anti—corruption and abuse reporting service rolls out nationally. our correspondent nicky schiller is in the newsroom with more details. tell us more. as you said, this olice tell us more. as you said, this police hotline _ tell us more. as you said, this police hotline has _ tell us more. as you said, this police hotline has been - tell us more. as you said, this police hotline has been in - police hotline has been in operation since november 2022, created after a series of scandals including the murder of sarah by serving police officer when cousins. since it has been in operation they have had more than 2800 reports, that in turn has led to 728

investigations within the map force. what is happening today is the hotline is being rolled out nationwide and it is operated by a charity crimestoppers and what they allow people to do is either ring in or report online anonymously any concerns they have, that might be about an abusive officer, corrupt officer orjust a criminal officer orjust a criminal officer orjust a criminal officer or member of a police force. what the charity will then do is pass that information on to the relevant force, they can then launch an investigation themselves. the police and the government admit that the scandals brought about the met police hotline have caused public confidence to dip in the police and they hope that the hotline will help restore campaigners meanwhile want to know how many corrupt officers are identified by the hotline and indeed if any of them are actually fired as part

of the process of reporting to the hotline and then passing the hotline and then passing the information onto the relevant force.— the information onto the relevant force. ., ~ , ., , relevant force. thank you very much for _ relevant force. thank you very much for the _ relevant force. thank you very much for the detail— relevant force. thank you very much for the detail on - relevant force. thank you very much for the detail on that, i much for the detail on that, nicky schiller in our newsroom. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. the prime minister is resisting pressure for the conservatives to return £10 million donated by the businessman frank hester, who allegedly said the mp diane abbott made him want to "hate all black women" and should be shot. rishi sunak told the commons that the alleged remarks were racist but that mr hester�*s apology for making rude comments should be accepted. ms abbott has attacked both the conservatives and labour for their response to the controversy. here's our political editor chris mason. diane abbott is suspended from the pulmonary labour party of allegations of anti—semitism

that she has apologised for, remind a very recent embarrassments of that issue and something of an expert issue for her criticisms of labour. forthe issue for her criticisms of labour. for the conservatives as exasperation from many mps, they think that a lot of them, they think that a lot of them, the primers should have legal remarks as racist and the holby may have blown over so much more. ——so much more quickly. you're live with bbc news. in a sign that the security situation in haiti is continuing to deteriorate, the united nations says it is evacuating non—essential staff. only those who carry out what the un says are "life—saving" activities will remain. but the united nations has also announced that it is setting up an air—bridge from the dominican republic, to deliver aid to haiti. talks are continuing to try to form a new leadership councilfor haiti, after the prime minister, ariel henry, resigned — with violent gangs now

seemingly in control of much of the country. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, says he hopes an international peacekeeping operation — which would be led by kenya — could be in place soon. we should be in a place where the mission can go forward, it can, we believe help re—establish security, take back control of the country from the games and meanwhile political transitions moving with this interim council and prime minister, with tracking towards elections and that in turn create a better environment in which we can get assistance into people who need and development moving again and development moving again and create opportunity for people. you heard mr blinken there say he hoped that control of haiti could be taken back from the gangs. that may be a difficult thing to achieve. one of the most powerful gang leaders in haiti,

jimmy cherizier, who is also known as �*barbecue' — has said he will continue to fight for haiti's didn't indicate any willingness to work with any other group, whetherfrom haiti or overseas. meanwhile the government of the dominican republic, which shares the island of hispaniola with haiti, has increased. correspondent will grant sent this update from the border between the two countries. life at the border crossing between the dominican republic and haiti is taking on a certain rhythm that every day, throughout the day, several trucks carrying undocumented haitian migrants come to this point and deport those migrants back into the country. they are being deported into an impoverished nation facing its biggest crisis in over a decade. now the situation in the capital, port—au—prince, remains critical — the food security situation, of course, the gang violence on the streets,

the problems in the hospitals and schools being closed — it is as bleak a picture as at any time since the 2010 earthquake, in the haitian capital. there is, for example, the effort by the us state department and member states of the caricom group of nations to see an interim administration take power in the coming days, but that's running into difficulties because the gang members themselves, the powerful gangs that are in control of much of the capital dispute who will be in that council, and may well want representation themselves, for example, in search of an amnesty. so it is an intractable situation for the time being, it may take several days from this point onwards to resolve, and in the meantime, ordinary people in the streets of port—au—prince are simply trying to make a living, make ends meet amid the violence.

will grant there with the latest. let's speak to sasha filippova, senior staff attorney at the institute forjustice and democracy in haiti. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. what is your take on the hope of a transitional council being in place within the next few days, how likely is that? thank you for having me on and for covering the situation in haiti. i think that is important to note that in your framing of the story that the us government was one of the first that you mentioned, because what that shows is the us has been calling the shots in haiti and mostly setting the policy pursued by other international actors that tend to be involved in affairs. it was us and foreign support for a series of corrupt and

repressive and unconstitutional governments that is rooted in direct ways in the crisis. these are the actors who with international support deliberately dismantled the institutions, exchanged in corruption and suppress popular democratic and anticorruption mobilisation throughput a by once using some of the very actors terrorising today such as jimmy actors terrorising today such asjimmy cherizier you as jimmy cherizier you mentioned earlier. asjimmy cherizier you mentioned earlier. until recently the us government and international actors have been propping up in place the latest instalment of the actors in the form of an illegitimate to factor government which haiti oppose and is only one supporting who became untenable, the us has shafted stop the transitional presidential council came out of a multi— day consultation let by the us secretary of state and other governments including the caribbean and other stakeholders by soon. you can probably hear that this is

the latest creature of foreign efforts to dictate it haiti how to run the country with true being prioritised are those of foreign actors rather than the people of haiti. what been proposed as the council to preside over democracy which will elect an acting prime minister. u.s.—led process in jamaica decided on several groupings of political actors. sorry to interrupt, because time is tight as you can appreciate i'm sure. what you are saying is international intervention led by the united states is partly the reason why haiti is in the mess it is in now and therefore it will not be the right answer for it going forward? however, given what is happening in haiti currently, doesn't not need some help from outside to restore democracy and peace?

so, to maybe finish up but thought and respond to your question, part of the way that the transitional residential council is being formed is through essentially dictated conditions by foreign actors that are disregarding haiti autonomy and ability to mobilise towards the solution that would be sustainable. yes haiti need support but what it needs as a first step is void to national actors to create and yield space for haitian decisions about what the right path forward is, because one of the primary drivers of the crisis today is us and foreign supported actors who have captured the state and enabled actors who are terrorising haiti today and if you continue on that part of dictation to haitians on how to be governed it is not a sustainable solution.— it is not a sustainable

solution. ., ~ , ., ., solution. thank you for telling us our solution. thank you for telling us your thoughts _ solution. thank you for telling us your thoughts on _ solution. thank you for telling us your thoughts on what - solution. thank you for telling us your thoughts on what is i us your thoughts on what is happening in haiti. the institute for justice and democracy in haiti, to make it clear that that is her view on why haiti is in the situation it is in and we have analysis and loss of detail on our website, will grant he was there at the scene so you can see the bbc analysis on our website. what is happening in haiti. let's move on to israel. israel says it's investigating an attack on a united nations food distribution center in rafah, in southern gaza, that killed at least five people — including one unrwa staff member. these are pictures verified by the bbc — filmed at a nearby hospital, where casualties were taken. the us and several eu countries are among those urging israel not to launch a full scale assault on rafah, where more than a million palestinians are sheltering. here's unrwa's spokesperson, juliette touma.

this is a distribution centre for food, and also a warehouse where we store food supplies, but also other critical supplies. we know that it is the israeli forces who were responsible — it happened this morning, our teams were on—site and they reported back the casualties. it comes at a critical time, as hunger spreads across the gaza strip, and as famine looms in some parts of gaza, including in the north. with me is mohamed taha from bbc arabic. to give us more detail on what is happening in the ground, hello to you. if we start with the aid situation, lots of reports coming in about attempts to deliver aid, attacks, etc?— attempts to deliver aid, attacks, etc? indeed. first around the _ attacks, etc? indeed. first around the world - attacks, etc? indeed. first around the world and - attacks, etc? indeed. first.

around the world and across attacks, etc? indeed. first - around the world and across the uk happy rumba dump for everyone who is observing the month —— ramadan this was relies around ad for several days, there are attacks which is the un secretary general said is systematic on aid distribution centres that happened in rafah also happened around the city of gaza. we saw the failure of parachuting, dropping a few days ago. we saw aid go into c and then trying to fetch it and some people drowned trying to get the aid. we also saw overnight antony blinken, the us secretary of state saying that the seaport would not replace aid by land solutions. but until now, we

don't know exactly how they would be able to build the port which they said will take two months or how the ship from cyprus will go without platform at the moment, the ship did not go ahead yet. overnight also we saw a meeting between aid agencies and heads of tribes and families in south gaza trying to sort out the aid distribution and the agencies suggested that the distribution would be helped by the israeli forces and the families refuse that. a bit of a dilemma around aid, how the aid would reach gaza, how the aid would be distributed to gaza and in the month of ramadan which everyone needs food. i month of ramadan which everyone needs food-— needs food. i was going to say, talk as to _ needs food. i was going to say, talk as to what _ needs food. i was going to say, talk as to what that _ needs food. i was going to say, talk as to what that means - talk as to what that means because obviously it changes what people eat, when, they have to be diligent about their

routine in order to see through the holy month?— routine in order to see through the holy month? indeed, people should eat _ the holy month? indeed, people should eat two _ the holy month? indeed, people should eat two good _ the holy month? indeed, people should eat two good meals, - the holy month? indeed, people should eat two good meals, one| should eat two good meals, one before dawn and one on sunset to be able to manage their diet and to be able to do the fast. this chaotic situation of aid would not allow people to manage this well. however i saw lovely pictures to be honest coming from gaza, people celebrating and having lights and amongst all of what is happening in gaza from shelling and dying from malnutrition, people are celebrating the month of ramadan.- people are celebrating the month of ramadan. . ~ , ., ., , month of ramadan. thank you, as ever, for month of ramadan. thank you, as ever. for the _ month of ramadan. thank you, as ever, for the latest _ month of ramadan. thank you, as ever, for the latest on _ month of ramadan. thank you, as ever, for the latest on what - month of ramadan. thank you, as ever, for the latest on what is - ever, for the latest on what is going on in israel and in gaza of course. let's quickly squeeze this in before we move on to business and tiktok in more detail. could an underwater chorus hold the key to saving our coral reefs?

take a listen to this. popping and crackling these pops and crackles i'm not rice crispies. they are the sound of healthy, thriving coral reefs. scientists have found that recording these sounds and replaying them in areas of decline encourages larvae to settle there — helping the reef to regenerate. here's nadege aoki — one of the scientists who discovered the sound of coral. this is a recording from healthy coral reef, the crackling in the background that you would hear is mostly snapping shrimp and every once in awhile you hear some pops or grants... who knew? i'll be back with — grants... who knew? i'll be back with more _ grants... who knew? i'll be back with more on - grants... who knew? i'll be back with more on tiktok i grants... who knew? i'll be | back with more on tiktok in grants... who knew? i'll be l back with more on tiktok in a moment. stay with us. hello there. the rain has been pouring down on wednesday in snowdonia, in wales — there was about a third of a month's worth of rain injust 12 hours.

things are not looking quite so dramatic over the next few days. there will be some further wet weather, rain or showers, and for many parts of the country, it's going to be mild — particularly across england and wales, where we've seen the milder air coming from a long way south. things are a little bit chillier to the north, in northern scotland. in between, we've got the weather front — that's been bringing the rain, but that's moving northwards, taking wet weather into scotland and northern ireland. there's the wet weather that we've got in northern ireland and southern scotland — that moves its way northwards. for england and wales, there may be a bit more sunshine arriving in a southerly breeze before those showers push across from the west. but we're introducing some slightly drier air from france, hence the cloud breaking up more than it did on wednesday. and so, temperatures could reach 16, even 17 celsius. quite chilly underneath that rain, though, in the central belt of scotland. and that wet weather is still around as we head into thursday evening. that low pressure will slowly pull away — we've got another one waiting in the wings here, as we head towards the weekend. but this is how friday looks, and we've got wet weather in scotland

sinking into northern england. a bit of snow over the mountains. we see some heavier showers developing further south, particularly in the south—east of england, with the risk of thunder. drier, though, for northern ireland becoming drier in scotland, but we're getting a northerly wind here — hence the temperatures will be dropping a bit through the day. won't be quite as warm in the south—east, but still temperatures of 13—14 celsius. as that area of low pressure moves away, things will calm down just for a while before the next weather system pushes in from the atlantic. but ahead of that, we'll have clear skies and light winds, so it's going to be cold. and there may be a frost around as well, particularly in scotland, with temperatures down as low as —3 or so. and there may be 1—2 mist and fog patches, too — but those will lift. we'll have some sunshine for a while, but we've got the weather system coming in from the atlantic — the cloud will tend to increase, rain for northern ireland coming into south west scotland, wales, and the south—west of england. eastern areas still generally dry, but after that cold start, it'll only be around seven celsius in north east scotland. most of the rain over

the weekend will actually be on saturday night. and then, as we head into the early part of next week, it looks like it could be a bit drier, and it should stay on the mild side.

live from london. this is bbc news. the clock ticks — for tiktok. its ceo vows to keep fighting after the house of representatives passes a bill that could see the app

banned in the us. we will not stop fighting and advocating for you. we will continue to do all we can including exercising our legal rights to protect this amazing platform that we have dealt with you. we believe we can overcome this together. also coming up, hold the front page! foreign governments will be banned from owning uk newspapers under new laws after concerns about a bid for the telegraph backed by abu dhabi. plus, third time lucky? countdown for elon musk�*s giant starship as it prepares for its latest test flight after the last two came to a fiery end. hello, if you havejustjoined us, you are very welcome.

we start with the social media app tiktok because its ceo has