20/03/2017 BBC World News America

This is BBC World News America, reporting from Washington.

I'm Tim Willcox. No information support base, and we have looked

inside the FBI carefully. The head of the FBI says there is no

evidence of wiretapping. The bureau is investigating possible Russian

meddling in the US elections and any ties to the Trump campaign.

Iraq's Prime Minister visited the White House to talk strategy against

Islamic State, and how the two leaders hope to fight back against

the militant group. # The White Cliffs of Dover #

Celebrating the forces sweetheart, Dame Vera Lynn on her 100th

birthday, her voice the soundtrack to the Second World War.

Hello, and welcome to our viewers on public television in America and

around the globe. The allegations had been explosive

but the question today, would be testimony be equally so? Straight

out of the gates, the director of the FBI confirmed his agency is

looking into possible into parents by Russia in the US presidential

elections. He also made clear there is no

evidence to back up President Trump's claims of wiretapping at

Trump Tower. Both of these issues have consumed

the US public and been the talk of Washington for weeks.

Jon Sopel has this. Big questions for a big man, at 638

inches, James Comey stands head and shoulders above all of those around

him, would he stick his neck out at the hearing today?

The answer is yes. The FBI, as part of our counterintelligence mission,

is investigating the Russian government efforts to interfere in

the 2016 presidential election. That includes investigating the nature of

any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign,

and the Russian government, and whether there were any coordination

is between the campaign and Russia's efforts. On the detail of the

investigation into Russian pollution, James Comey would not be

drawn. What about the President's claims that his predecessor, Barack

Obama, wiretapped Trump Tower? He was more forthcoming here. With

respect to those tweets from the president about alleged wiretapping

directed at him from the prior administration, I have no evidence

to support those and we have carefully looked inside of the FBI.

Resident Obama could not unilaterally order a wiretap of

anyone? -- president. No president could. President Obama has been

accused of engaging in McCarthyism, do you? I tried very hard not to

engage in any isms of any kind. Then, they turned to the director of

the National Security Agency to answer questions about British

security involvement, but the responses were unequivocal.

Could you ever request that your counterparts at GCHQ should wiretap

President Trump on behalf of Barack Obama. That would break the FISA

agreement that has been in place for decades. They called this nonsense,

would you agree? Yes, sir. Does it damage the relationship with one of

our closest intelligence partners for the president to make a bailiff

-- baseless claim that the British participated in this against him? It

frustrates a key ally. This relationship is strong enough, we

can deal with this. Donald Trump didn't wait for the committee to

start but -- before tweeting his verdict.

At the White House briefing, were they getting ready to hoist the

white flag? Of course not. Is the president prepared to withdraw that

accusation and apologise? No, we started a hearing. It is still

ongoing. As for collusion with the Russians, what pollution? There is

no evidence, according to the people who have been briefed, of any

collusion or activity leading them to believe it exists. The president

had a public meeting today with the Iraqi Prime Minister, and even he

got in on the act, grabbing the arm of the president at the end and

said, we had nothing to do with the wiretapping. It is not recorded

whether or not the president laughed at the joke.

Let's go straight to Capitol Hill, and Laura Trevelyan.

After those allegations and speculation, a significant

development about the investigation? Yes, we now know the FBI had

sufficient evidence, whether circumstantial or what, we don't

know, to decide to open a counterintelligence investigation

into whether there were links between a foreign power, Russia,

which we know intelligence agencies concluded, tried to interfere in the

election with the aim of helping Donald Trump against Hillary

Clinton. Remember, Vladimir Putin does not like her. An investigation

into foreign powers, Russia, and the Trump campaign to see if officials

colluded or coordinated at all with Russian agents during the campaign.

We now know the existence of this enquiry. Before it had been reported

by media outlets, but now it has been officially confirmed.

Potentially this is a criminal investigation, right at the door of

the White House. Upstart involving those currently in the White House

but those who were known to the Trump campaign or part of it.

Where it leads or how long it takes? We have no idea. All we know is the

FBI director has said he will follow the facts wherever they may lead.

And, the existence of this? Of course, it's not good news for the

White House as it revives the whole question of whether or not be

relationship with Russia was to close, and the president is very

sensitive about the election and the fact he lost the popular vote to

Hillary Clinton and doesn't want the issue of Russia revived.

And, difficult for the White House, saying there was no evidence of

wiretapping Trump Tower. Another big hearing today, Neale

course edge, do we expect him to be blocked as a supreme court judge by

the Democrats Russian market is a question as to whether they invoke

the filibuster, talking out that. The nominee by Barack Obama was not

given a hearing by Republicans, they correctly counted that they could

win the election and have the chance to fill the vacancy. What he does

isn't changing the ideological balance of the court. The court

would still be split 4-4 with a swing justice. It is the possibility

of more vacancies opening up in the next couple of years that could tip

the balance. Do they go for broke now, or do the Democrats wait and

save their energy for the next fight? That is big question, he is

doing his best to appear like the best judge you can appealing to

central Democrats. Thank you. And as we saw earlier,

much of the world's media attention was focused on congressional

hearings but Donald Trump welcome to the Iraqi Prime Minister to the

White House. His visit comes as the Trump Prime Minister --

administration has meetings on fighting Isis. He sought financial

and military assistance from the prior administration. I spoke to a

an expert on the matter. What is he seeking from President Trump? I

think Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is looking for President Trump,

something that he will be wanting to hear, it is all Daesh Daesh Daesh,

or Islamic State. You will want there to be programmes to keep it

from being as effective as a terror group, they had a terrible coming in

Baghdad today that killed over 40 people. He will want some help. It

looks like Mosul may finally be retaken but he is also looking for

Reconstruction and that. -- money for that as well. How does it have a

with President Trump and his proposed budget cuts which would see

the State Department losing a lot of money which would be responsible for

reconstruction in Iraq? When it comes to the reconstruction,

President Trump may tell them to look elsewhere, like the Gulf states

and possible donors, Germany and other European countries. But the

USA has pulled most of the weight on the security side which is where

they should expect to see contributions. With proposed 54

billion US extra for the Pentagon, more money could be earmarked for

the fight against Daesh, Islamic State, in Iraq and Syria? Yes, they

could request a long-term military presence to train their army and

police forces. It could easily fit into the new budget proposals. Where

are we at the moment in terms of US forces fighting in Iraq? How many

thousands are there? In Iraq? There are about I've thousand, 5500. Most

of them in a kind of training role. Mostly high-end special forces with

Iraq on the battlefield. We've heard of these conversations with Haider

al-Abadi asking Donald Trump in the early days about these restrictions

on Iraqi forces. He has won a battle against the USA

administration? Or has found allies. Secretary matters, the new National

Security Advisor, General McMaster, they work well and I expect the

Prime Minister had a receptive audience and people to carry his

water into the administration and make his case.

And we have President Trump hosting this meeting, 68 countries in the

fight against Islamic State, what do we expect America will offer to

spearhead any agreement with all of those different countries? I expect

the 68 countries are going to be looking less at Iraq, as you

mentioned. That fight is nearly done, and focus more on Syria where

that problem is more complicated and answers are more difficult to find.

America promises more cash in the fight against Islamic State as well?

Possibly, but money can only take you so far. What you need our boots

on the ground and good allies, not American boots but local forces who

carry the fight to Islamic State. On the Syrian side of the border, they

are more difficult to find. It's a pleasure talking to you.

Pope Francis has asked for God 's forgiveness for what he called the

sins and failings from the Roman Catholic Church during the Rwanda

genocide, and it came after he met the president of Rwanda.

He asked for an apology for the role that some Catholic priests played in

the manner scope -- massacres. Some of the biggest consumers of

Brazilian meets have. In a meeting with ambassadors from

Europe, the USA and China, the Brazilian president said that the

government is confident in the meat's quality, the biggest red meat

exporter in the world. The five main candidates for the

French presidency are taking part in the first of three televised

debates. The frontrunners in the opinion

polls, Marine Le Pen and her opponent, they are hoping.

The divorce date is set, the UK will start the Brexit process on March

the 29th. The Prime Minister will notify the

EU that Britain is leaving the union.

Downing Street says Theresa May will write a letter to the European

Council to make it official and earlier she spoke about the expected

benefits of Brexit. When people voted in the referendum

last year it wasn't just about leaving the EU but voting for

change, they wanted a change in how the country works, to make sure it

works for everyone, not just the privileged few. As part of that, we

have a plan for Britain and part of it is about building a stronger

economy. Against the backdrop of Brexit,

President Trump made it clear he wants to renegotiate the North

American Free Trade Agreement which could be bad news for Texas cattle

ranchers, as the trade agreement eliminates trade barriers between

the US, Canada and Mexico. Since the introduction in 1984, US

beef exports have soared. Coleman Lock is a fifth-generation

Texas cattle rancher. My family have been raising cattle since 1915, a

little over 100 years. His fortunes are tied to International Trade

Commission significant number of his Brahman cattle are sold abroad,

including just south of the border in Mexico. We've been dealing in

international trade since 1933 when we first expect -- exported cattle

to Australia. The export market is important to you? It is very

important to our organisation. Some years, I've seen our international

sales be 85% of all of our business that we did that year. The North

American Free Trade Agreement is really important for those exports.

It allows his beef to enter Mexico duty-free. So any changes could hurt

him and other American cattle owners. Donald Trump enjoyed strong

support in rural communities like this one, as well as the rust belt.

Now, the challenge is, can he come up with a trade policy that helps

both manufacturing and farming? In the state capital of Austin, the

Texas agriculture Commissioner called for calm. Syd Millar was part

of the Trump campaigns advisory Council, and like the president he

believes changing the trade agreement is a good thing, even if

it shakes things up. I predicted that, I said when the president

takes office, it will be a rocky start, he will upset people and rock

the boat, we will renegotiate deals, people won't want to re-negotiate

deals if they don't have a sweet deal. The honeymoon isn't over yet,

but is the cattle industry is beginning to fray? According to this

cattle dealer, Trump's decision to walk away from the transpacific

partnership, a trade pact with Asia, means lost dollars for ranchers. We

can qualify TPP today, what could be going to those countries today is

about $400,000 worth of beef or that would

be going. It is not. It is a quantifiable

number. They are hoping his tough stance on the trade agreement is an

opening negotiation tactic. You are watching BBC World News

America and still to come... A region in peril in Nigeria. Our Boko

Haram has put hundreds of thousands of lives at risk in the country's

north-east. The hundreds of years, the unique

language thrived in the Malayan archipelago but now there are only a

handful of people who speak his language. One group from Singapore

want to stop that. And bring it back.

We are trying to teach this language to a new generation of learners, so

we rebuild the critical mass. These new learners pass the language onto

their children so it will be used future generations.

We use social media like Facebook to reach out to young people and keep

the land which relevant so their generation cares enough about the

language to keep it going. There are gaps in the language

because it is critically endangered, it hasn't been spoken for many years

but what we are trying to do is create new terms which fill the gaps

and leave the language relevant. The UN says hundreds of thousands of

people are at risk in north-east Nigeria as the army continues to

push fighters from the Islamist group Boko Haram out of towns and

villages. Food shortages have forced many people to flee their homes and

farms. The BBC's Clive Myrie has this report.

Farmers fields in north-east Nigeria, known to yield crops but

pity. They are dusty brown patches because farmers for years have been

unable to use this land due to conflict. On the ground in this

town, bullet riddled buildings and homes ransacked. Lives destroyed.

This city used to have a population of close to 300,000 people but now

you walk down the main street here and there is nothing but trouble.

It's a ghost town. A shell, empty of life. Residents had to flee the

Islamist group Boko Haram, and now the grounds of the derelict hospital

many call home. This woman escaped the blood let. She is 14.

TRANSLATION: They started killing people and burning houses, so we

hide. They said that they would be safe, don't be afraid. But when they

found us, they hacked my father, cutting his neck and cutting his

throat. Excels in their own country, the rituals of life continue. But so

many people are paying the price for the twisted ideology of the few that

the camps for those displaced by the fighting are struggling. This one

houses 11,000 people and was so overcrowded with malnourished and

new arrivals a few months ago, there was not enough food. More than 1000

died. Nevertheless, hundreds of thousands are arriving at camps like

this daily, as the Nigerian military continues to push Boko Haram back

and liberating villages. A woman had walked with her three children from

10pm one evening, and it took her until 9pm to reach the camp. It is

estimated there are up to 800,000 people trapped out there without

access. They are left to their fate. What is needed is more international

help, and crucially farmers being able to tell their land. But Boko

Haram is still out there and the farmers are scared. The chances of a

decent harvest this year is zero. Planting season begins in less than

two weeks. This town is being rebuilt, after the wanton

destruction of Boko Haram. But this place holds terrible memories for

those who fled for their lives. For this 15-year-old girl. TRANSLATION:

I have no mother. I have no father. I have nowhere to live. I'll never

go back. Clive Myrie, BBC News. You were watching BBC World News

America. Hers was the voice of a generation under fire, dame here

Lynn provided hope and reassurance to millions during the Second World

War through her songs -- Dame fear relent. Veterans have been taking

place at events Dame fear Lynn says she is thrilled by tributes from

veterans at the white cliffs of Dover. The face of defiance blended

with the voice of hope. 100 years of Day grid three projected onto the

last piece of England that the troops saw as they left to battle

for England's -- Dame Vera Lynn. A heartbreaking lullabies became the

soundtrack for a nation in peril. # Will meet again

# Don't know where, don't know when #

She soothed fears and stiffened resolved

. Some sunny day... But Dame Vera Lynn

can still recall her brush with a demanding voice coach.

She heard me sing and said no, I cannot train that voice! It's not a

natural voice! I said well thank you very much, madam. And left! Today in

Dover, above the cliffs that inspired one of her greatest songs,

veterans and friends came to celebrate her milestone birthday.

And, recall her life affirming sound. Her voice came through clear

and with it was a story as she sang. It gave you hope of coming home. If

you listen to her voice in a jungle clearing, it takes the fright away

by making you think of other parts of your life and hopes for the

future. The bracing winds of the channel did not deter a salute above

the cliffs that Dame Vera Lynn sang to mortality. A grand gesture for a

grand dame still on a journey as she continues to share it with a

grateful nation. Duncan Kennedy, BBC News.

# All over the world will #

Dame Vera Lynn is 100 years old. That's all for today, more stories

available on the website. From all of us, thank