you for that. the top un official says _ you for that. the top un official says the - you for that. the top un - official says the humanitarian system in gaza may soon collapse, provoking a rebuke from israel's foreign minister. and a blow for president biden as republican members of the us senate block billions of dollars of aid for ukraine and israel. good to have you with us. the gloves were off at the fourth and final republican presidential debate hosted by the tv network news nation. the event at the university of alabama featured the smallest group of candidates qualify for a debate so far, just for. ron desantis, former un ambassador nikki haley, entrepreneur and a former us governor. once again, leading gop contender former president donald trump skipped the debate, instead opting to

host a rabbit fundraiser in florida. the candidates came out swinging against nikki haley, launching a range of verbal attacks on her record and against each other. you were bankrupt _ and against each other. you were bankrupt when - and against each other. um, were bankrupt when you left the un. after you left the un you became a military contractor, you actually started joining service on the board of boeing is back you scratched for a very long time. that maths does not add up. it adds up to the fact that you are corrupt. there is nothing to what he is saying. — there is nothing to what he is saying, and in terms of these donors— saying, and in terms of these donors that are supporting me, they— donors that are supporting me, they are — donors that are supporting me, they are jealous. they wish they— they are jealous. they wish they are _ they are jealous. they wish they are supporting them but i will not — they are supporting them but i will not sit there... applause. the notable — will not sit there... applause. the notable absence _ will not sit there. .. applause. the notable absence of- will not sit there... applause. the notable absence of donald| the notable absence of donald trump loomed large over the debate as most of the candidates to pains to avoid criticising the former president. a full 17 minutes elapsed before anyone on tried mentioned him in chris christie became the only candidate to directly question his record and influence.—

and influence. this is an an: , and influence. this is an angry. bitter _ and influence. this is an angry, bitter man - and influence. this is an angry, bitter man who l and influence. this is an i angry, bitter man who now and influence. this is an - angry, bitter man who now wants to be back as president because he wants to exact retribution on anyone who has disagreed with them. on anyone who has disagreed with them-— on anyone who has disagreed with them. anything to deny's debate, likely _ with them. anything to deny's debate, likely republican - debate, likely republican voters showed 18% of them would choose ron desantis as their 2024 gop nominee. 12% chose former south carolina governor and un ambassador nikki haley. 4% chose entrepreneur vivek ramaswamy. 2% choosing form us governor chris christie. keep in mind these numbers are far behind former president donald trump who in the same pole sits at 58%. joining me life is amber phillips from the washington post who has been watching that debate. good to see you. let's start with how this debate keep off then. a raft of attacks on key hayley. does that tell us anything? yes, it does. it tells us what the polls are showing, and when you just shared with us which

is that nikki haley has had momentum since really the first debate in august and there were eight candidates on stage. she is a good debater. i talked to a lot of republican strategists here in dc who echo what donors are saying in the republican party which is they so wish the primary electorate would pick he hayley. she has had some momentum and this is a debate for second place and everyone there is trying to lock down nikki haley and get second place. but i think it is so important to zoom out as he dusted and pointed out that nikki haley and ron desantis according to an average of november polls that the washington post has put together are an average of 43 percentage points or, nikki haley's points, seven percentage points behind donald trump, six weeks before voting begins in the first state of iowa. his lead is insurmountable. it iowa. his lead is insurmountable. , ., insurmountable. it is a huge lead and _ insurmountable. it is a huge lead and this _ insurmountable. it is a huge lead and this we _ insurmountable. it is a huge lead and this we now - insurmountable. it is a huge lead and this we now know. insurmountable. it is a huge l lead and this we now know as the actual final debate before

the actual final debate before the iowa caucuses. candidates will know that was their last chance to come out, to be more fiery. any firework moments? aha, fiery. any firework moments? ton of them, and they all surrounded nikki haley, who i think she has done a good job and had a lot of practice, that she is the only woman running for president in two attacks on the men, kind of pitching them as trying to claw at her which she is above the fray. but it got really hated however when they started talking about donald trump, no surprise, and chris christie is running almost purely as the wake—up republican party, we can't support donald trump candidate. he was demanding, along with moderators, that ron desantis say whether he thought trump was fit for office, and that turned into a huge fireworks

about why everyone but chris christie refused to criticise donald trump. of course we know the answer. he does has an insurmountable lead within the republican primary, bad politics to criticise trump. talking about that insurmountable lead if it does come down to it and former president donald trump is indeed the nominee, and what we end up seeing is a trump biden rematch, how do you expect that to play out? do we have any indications from that town hall we saw with donald trump, and also biden's fundraisers in boston this past week? yes, it will be a close _ boston this past week? yes, it will be a close race, _ will be a close race, absolutely. i spend my days talking to strategists and politicians on both sides who say it will be a very close race with president biden and probably however comes out of the republican nomination, almost certainly donald trump, and it will come down to

thousands, tens of thousands of votes within a couple of states. again, this is out of tens of millions, more than 100 plus million votes are being cast, it will be a very tight race, and i have talked to a lot of democrats who say donald trump is stronger than we might think he is, and right now, the average of polls show he is about even with president biden. so he is a good chance of winning back the white house next year. of winning back the white house next ear. �* ., next year. before we get there, we have the _ next year. before we get there, we have the iowa _ next year. before we get there, we have the iowa caucuses - next year. before we get there, l we have the iowa caucuses which will be kicking off on the 15th of january. will be kicking off on the 15th ofjanuary. there will be kicking off on the 15th of january. there we will be kicking off on the 15th ofjanuary. there we have will be kicking off on the 15th of january. there we have any indications who is doing particularly well there, and how much that could help their chances to become nominee? we do. it is chances to become nominee? , do. it is donald trump, and he is doing really well. ron desantis, the governor of desa ntis, the governor of florida, desantis, the governor of florida, who has been bowling for the most part in second place but well behind donald trump, as it's all of his hopes and dreams on having a breakout moment in iowa, much like

barack obama did when he was running for president in 2008. if he does it would surprise all of us. i will say that here in washington, dc. so when we see voting happen and donald trump when the first state in new hampshire, if that does happen, i think the republican party will start having conversations very quickly about how they in this summary and move on supporting donald despite all his trials and potential convictions coming up. potential convictions coming u.-�* , potential convictions coming u.-~ , ,, ., up. amber phillips from the washington _ up. amber phillips from the washington post, _ up. amber phillips from the washington post, thanks i up. amber phillips from the washington post, thanks so up. amber phillips from the - washington post, thanks so much for your analysis.— for your analysis. thank you. turnin: for your analysis. thank you. turning now _ for your analysis. thank you. turning now to _ for your analysis. thank you. turning now to the _ for your analysis. thank you. turning now to the middle i for your analysis. thank you. i turning now to the middle east, and intense fighting continues in gaza as the israeli army continued to push into khan younis. a spokesperson of the health ministry say residence in northern gaza are now without any access to health services. united nations said 600,000 people are under evacuation in southern gaza, but there is nowhere to go to

despite the pressure on israel to avoid civilian casualties, displacement, and israeli warplanes are bombarding parts of southern gaza. meanwhile, israeli forces say they have and circled the home of one of the wednesday, the israeli by minister benjamin netanyahu said he may not be there, but it is only a matter of time before they find him. our middle east correspondent sent this update from jerusalem. it was another day of strong warnings from un officials about situation in gaza. the un human chief described the situation as apocalyptic, the agency responsible for palestinian refugees said that humanitarian assistance in the territory had virtually stopped because of limited delivery of humanitarian aid into gaza. in a dramatic, the un secretary general antonio guterres said

that the situation in gaza was at risk of humanitarian collapse, saying that the war is causing catastrophe in gaza and that the territory may never recover from that. and he also called for a ceasefire in gaza, something that has been rejected by the israeli authorities and also by the biden administration. in gaza, fighting continues, and khan younis in the south of the territory is a key target of the israeli forces. this is where the israeli authorities believe that members of the one leadership are hiding, and the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, said israeli tanks were and circling the health of the top hamas leader in gaza, and it is unclear whether there is anyone inside this house, and the prime minister appeared to be referring to that when he said

that the leader may not be in this house, but that it was a matter of time before he was captured. now, obviously, the goal of the israeli military is to eliminate hamas, so ring or killing the hamas leadership is one of the objectives of the israeli military in gaza. in a rare move, the un secretary general told the security council it must act immediately to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in gaza. in a letter to the security council's president, antonio guterres warned that the war my aggregate threats to international peace and security, even though he condemned the attacks on israel and called for the remaining hostages to be released, his focus was primarily on the humanitarian crisis in gaza. in response to that letter, israel's foreign minister simply, sharply to sized him, saying his tenure was a danger to world peace. following the letter, the security cabinet approved a minimum increase of fuel to enter gaza to prevent a

humanitarian collapse. one of the few international reporters remaining in gaza file this report. the situation in gaza continues to be an extremely dire situation. in the north, and in the duvalier camp known has been shelled, killing around 100 people, including women and children —— jabalia. in the town of jabalia, 15 people were killed from my own family. this includes my cousin, his wife and children. the israeli tanks continue to surround the hospital. it is the only government and hospital remaining in the north. the general manager of the gaza health ministry said there are around 100 dead bodies still remaining inside

the hospital. in the israeli forces are not allowing anyone to bury the bodies outside the hospital. in the middle of gaza city, four houses have been sheuedin city, four houses have been shelled in an area, killing around 20 people. in some other areas, 70 people have been killed after a series of heavy shelling in these areas. in the south of gaza, tens of thousands of people are seen fleeing khan younis, heading towards rafah. this continues a continuous israeli ground incursion in the city. many are heading to rafah without knowing where to go. i have also seen several people lying on the floor in a very dire

humanitarian situation around schools and hospitals. as all the schools and hospitals are now overly packed with people. our correspondence there reporting. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's take a look now at some other stories making news. venezuela's president has ordered the creation of a new state following a controversial referendum on sunday where voters approved a plan that alex's land from neighbouring guiana. the densely forested and oil—rich area represents nearly two—thirds of the national territory. they call the move and existential threat. in zambia, rescue workers have pulled the first survivors out of a copper mine after a landslide stop the 38 people who were working inside were trapped after heavy rains triggered the landslide. officials say the rescue team

also retrieved two bodies. zambia's president said they were still hopeful the trapped miners were still alive. alice republican house speaker kevin mccarthy has announced today that he will leave congress at the end of the year was not mr mccarthy served as speaker for nine months before the right—wing members of his caucus came together to oust him for working with democrats on a bill to prevent a government shutdown. you are alive with bbc news. us senate republicans have blocked a $110 billion security assistance bill destined for ukraine, which was backed by democrats. it also included funding for israel and taiwan and more money for us border security programmes. republicans want to be built to include tougher border policies to curb immigration. it comes after ukrainian president lorimer zelenzky cancelled a

meeting with us lawmakers on tuesday. it is unclear why he cancelled but he did address a virtual meeting of g7 leaders today with the group announced a new ban on russian diamonds and financial sanctions. here is democratic senator mark warner talking to my colleague, sumi somaskanda, earlier, about the funding package. senator, very good to have your bbc news today. we have seen republicans block is funding package from being passed. what happens now? well, i was disappointed, because i think this is an historic moment and the united states and our allies like the uk and others need to stand with the people of ukraine. i'm hopeful, though, we can't give up, so my republican colleagues want to make some changes on the border policy and it is an unrelated issue, but the southern border in this country is a problem. so count me in on reforms there. what we can't do, though, is part of this

until after christmas. the ukrainians are in an extraordinarily challenging position. we need to stand with them. if we don't then, you know, what nato country would ever trust america again? senator, can you help us understand why this didn't pass. you see this order as a priority, we saw president biden seen today "iam willing to make significant compromises on the water. we need to fix the border situation." mitch mcconnell seen today let's finally start reading america's national security priorities, including right here at home. so what is the sticking point here? b. so what is the sticking point here? �* .., , so what is the sticking point here? �* , ., so what is the sticking point here? ~ , ., , here? a couple of things. ironically. _ here? a couple of things. ironically, there - here? a couple of things. ironically, there is - here? a couple of things. ironically, there is about| here? a couple of things. i ironically, there is about one third of the republicans in the house and the senate that under no circumstances will support aid for ukraine. we will never get them if we gave them the sun and the moon and the stars. and many of those individuals are the ones who are most strained of our body changes. so we need to change what is called the annecy process, we need to change something called

the parole process, but what we don't want to do or i won't support is this extreme bill that was supported only by republicans that would literally shut down the border. this is stuff that even president trump didn't try to put in place. so is there a middle ground here? absolutely. but, again, it is more than a little bit ironic that the loudest voices on the board are the very republican members that will under no circumstances support ukraine. so let's get the folks that can get to yes and get this result as soon as possible. interesting. they want to ask you about the bigger picture. congress approved more than 102 and billion dollars in military and billion dollars in military and economic aid for ukraine since the invasion. most of that money has been distributed. we had the white as the morning, earlier this week, that the war is ground to a standstill and money is running out. how does the us know that tens of billions of dollars more will actually make a difference in this war?-

a difference in this war? well, remember _ a difference in this war? well, remember we're _ a difference in this war? well, remember we're talking - a difference in this war? well, remember we're talking about just american investment, but ourfriends in the uk, virtually every nato nation, there are literally 50 nations that have contributed to the war effort in ukraine. and look at ukraine, in 21 months it has literally cut rusher�*s military capacity in a half without the loss of a single american, british, or nato soldier. i think that's remarkable. if we were to walk away today, though, putin has a believe, believe for a long time that the west will get bored and give up. if we that narrative and walk away not only will it undermine nato but it will give a green light to president xi in china, who has aspirations in china, who has aspirations in that region. will this amount of funding finish the war? i can't guarantee that. i can guarantee that if the united states doesn't step up the wall will be finished on

vladimir putin's terms and that is not good for democracies anywhere in the world. senator, there was _ anywhere in the world. senator, there was a _ anywhere in the world. senator, there was a gallup _ anywhere in the world. senator, there was a gallup poll- anywhere in the world. senator, there was a gallup poll for- there was a gallup poll for about a month ago showing that the share of americans xavier woods is doing "too much to help ukraine" is rising. we know americans don't feel great about the economy. what is your message to them about why this is important is an tens of billions of dollars to ukraine? well, the message is ukraine is not a nato nation. we have nato nations right next door in the baltics and in poland. and what ifear baltics and in poland. and what i fear is if we don't stand by ukraine we could see those nato nations involved in conflict with putin because if you can take one country will try to take one country will try to take others and that will put americans' lives in danger and a level of financial commitment exponentially greater. the remarkable thing is, even when you add in all of the military spending, because the american

spending, because the american spending has been both military and economic, if you add up all of the american military spending, even over a two year period, you are talking at about 4% of our defence budget. i'm old enough to have grown up my whole life where russia, the soviet union was i was going to be potentially adversarial. the fact that ukraine has taken down rusher�*s military capacity by almost half and only 4% of our military budget cost, beyond the moral issues, they need to stand with our allies, on a doll and sense analysis, ukrainians have been remarkably successful. ukrainians have been remarkably successful-— successful. senator, thank you so much- _ successful. senator, thank you so much. interesting _ successful. senator, thank you so much. interesting to - successful. senator, thank you so much. interesting to get - so much. interesting to get your perspective on bbc news tonight stop police say that at least three people have been killed and one has been injured in a shooting at the las vegas campus of the university of nevada. the gunmen is also dead. police say another person is in a critical condition at a hospital. there is no clear indication of a motive and in a white house statement president biden called the shooting a

terrific gun violence. the us says that it will ground its military fleet of v—22 osprey aircraft following a fatal crash last week off the coast of japan. crash last week off the coast ofjapan. the us air force said that this is a precautionary move as it continues to investigate the cause of the crash and make recommendations. eight american servicemembers were on board the tilt rotor aircraft when it crashed during aircraft when it crashed during a routine training mission. turkey has voiced concern about osprey flights. a north korean family who escaped this year's told the bbc there has been a great deal of suffering since the country sealed its borders at the start of the pandemic. defections, which were once fairly common, have become almost impossible and this family led by sea end is the first to have escaped this year and made it to the south. one family member spoke to our correspondent in seoul, jean mackenzie and we have read voiced his words and are not using his full name to protect

the family in song and north korea. and although we cannot intimately verify all of his account, some of the details are in line with what we have been told by other sources. every escape from north korea is remarkable. but mr kim took a stomach churning risk. with the border sealed because of the border sealed because of the pandemic, he fled by sea with his entire family on board this ship. his wife pregnant, his brother's young children hidden below the deck. translation: we hidden below the deck. translation:- hidden below the deck. translation: we put the children to _ translation: we put the children to sleep - translation: we put the children to sleep with - translation: we put the - children to sleep with sleeping pills and hid them in sacks. why was almost paralysed by fear. they knew my entire family could be executed if they made one mistake. the vote was very loud, but all they could hear was my heartbeat. the family crossed into south korean waters undetected and were rescued by the navy. with defections now at a trickle, they pulled off the seemingly impossible.

this is the sea between north and south korea, where mr kim's family crossed. it is so unusual for escapees to come this way, directly to south korea. most go through china, meaning mr kim and his family are the first to have escaped this year and made it here. and so their testimony is so important because it's some of the most up—to—date information we have about what's happening in the country. the border closures have brought immense suffering, he told me. two farmers he knew starved to death as food prices soared, while the pandemic restrictions made life more desperate. translation: when there were cases of covid, - everyone would be locked up and the entire area sealed off. the people inside had little or nothing to eat. after they had starved for a while, the government would bring in truckloads of supplies to sell so people would praise them. it's like starving your baby, then giving it a small amount so it would thank you. people started asking whether this was the state's plan to profit

from the pandemic. now safely in seoul, and these streets aren't as unfamiliar as they should be. mr kim grew up watching south korean television in secret. this, like for so many, was his source of enlightenment. but now, he says, the authorities are ruthlessly cracking down on anyone caught watching it. translation: people started calling the crackdown officials| mosquitoes, like vampires sucking out our blood. they're ruthless. they'll shoot you, kill you, or send you to a labour camp. last year, they publicly executed a 22—year—old man for listening to south korean songs and sharing them with his friends. they said they were punishing him harshly to set the right precedent. everyone is afraid. in south korea, the government has criticised its neighbour for violating its people's human rights. but with pyongyang shunning diplomacy, there's little seoul or anyone can do.

this new freedom hasn't quenched mr kim's fear. he worries about repercussions for speaking out. his baby daughter is only a month old. she gave mr kim the final push to escape, to free her from what he calls a hellhole. jean mckenzie, bbc news in seoul. you are watching bbc news. i'm helena humphrey in washington. dojoin me again helena humphrey in washington. do join me again at the top of the hour if you can. goodbye for now. hello there. while wednesday was a pretty chilly day for many of us, again, we had some blue skies and sunshine, especially towards northern and eastern areas of the uk. a lovely scene there in perth and kinross, but it wasn't quite as sunny as that further south and west, where we had rain spreading in, well, courtesy of these weather fronts pushing in from the southwest.

now, we could see a spell of snow in the central lowlands into thursday morning. that could be disruptive, just one to keep an eye on first thing on thursday, and maybe a touch of frost here. but elsewhere, you can see temperatures above freezing. so a frost—free night. as we go through thursday, though, we will see further heavy rain moving in from the west. notice these green colours here. really quite intense rain for a time, and a windy day, really, for many of us. those winds really picking up, particularly around the irish sea coast. gales here, severe gates in the far northeast of scotland. but it's through thursday that we'll see that milder air, really, spread to all parts. so temperatures a bit higher, 7 or 8 celsius for many, but double figures towards northern ireland, wales and the southwest of england. but the rain could be a little bit disruptive. we could see some localised flooding as we go through thursday. into the evening, that rain does spread away to the east, but some really quite high rainfall totals for some of us. but the milder air firmly with us because it'll be

a frost—free night into friday morning. temperatures no lower than about 5 to 7 or 8 celsius. and there's that milder air i've been talking about. you can see the colder condition is just limited to the very, very far northeast of scotland. the southwesterly winds bring those milder conditions or less cold conditions, i should really say, because it's not exactly mild. but we do have on friday further pulses of rain moving its way in from the west, all linked in with that area of low pressure. just situated across northern ireland. some sunny spells, especially towards the southeast of england during the day, and many more of us will see temperatures getting up into double figures. how about the weekends then? well, it's going to stay unsettled. there'll be further bouts of rain coming their way in from the atlantic. you can see the southwesterly airflow moving those weather fronts in. now, the weekend isn't going to be completely wet. there will be some sunny spells in between some spells of rain. but you notice those temperatures will stay up in double figures for many of us with rain at times.

bye— bye.

better than expected. china's trade data shows growth in exports. a sign that factories might be getting back on track. and how artificial intelligence

is helping farmers reduce emissions and stay productive in the face of extreme weather. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm arunoday mukharji. we begin this hour with news from china trade data just released shows an uptick in exports for the first time in seven months. that is according to china's customs agency, and this is a sign that factories are finally finding their footing after a bruising slump in demand. domestic demand still is low at the moment with imports down and lower than what many analysts were expecting. the chief economist at hunting bank china is back to discuss all of this with us. thank you very much for coming back here on asia business report for the better—than—expected export numbers at least. what are you making of it?— making of it? the economy in the us and — making of it? the economy in the us and europe _ making of it? the economy in the us and europe probably. making of it? the economy in| the us and europe probably is

more resilient and people have thought,