a warm welcome to the programme. the white house national security adviser is expected in israel on thursday amid mounting international criticism of its offensive in gaza. us officials say jake sullivan will call for greater precision in strikes against hamas following the vote in the un general assembly for a ceasefire. the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, has said he'll continue regardless of the mounting international pressure but there's disquiet in the biden administration as the number of palestinian casualties continues to mount. with me is bbc arabic�*s said shehata. if we start with the arrival of

a jake sullivan in if we start with the arrival of ajake sullivan in israel today, what can we expect? what is the region wants from the visits? i is the region wants from the visits? ~ ., , ., , visits? i think it wants to see a another — visits? i think it wants to see a another truce _ visits? i think it wants to see a another truce at _ visits? i think it wants to see a another truce at least - a another truce at least because a ceasefire is now out of the agenda. america also does not support them. we are trying to reach a truce because it seems as if now between abidin and netanyahu because joe biden is seeing israel is losing support inaudible more than 80,000 people die so far, healed, because of the bombardment. jake sullivan is trying to get the two sides together, especially afterjoe biden that the families of american hostages, detained by hamas in gaza. there is pressure on israel to stop the discriminant

barden ridge for gaza in order to open the way for negotiation for a lasting peace or ceasefire because a truce is now practical... ceasefire because a truce is now practical. . ._ now practical... similar to what we _ now practical... similar to what we had _ now practical... similar to what we had before, - now practical... similar to what we had before, a - now practical... similar to i what we had before, a pause now practical... similar to - what we had before, a pause in hostilities, to enable movement to happen, hostages release, that kind of thing. that's you happen again? that is what is hoped for in the region? it will not stop the fighting. a two state solution as joe will not stop the fighting. a two state solution asjoe biden said before. they are not happy to do that. asjoe biden said before, the most conservative government in israel history — there is pressure on israel in order to reach a truce to open the way about a two state solution. the way about a two state solution-— the way about a two state solution. ~ ., , ., , solution. the white house has 'ust solution. the white house has just released _ solution. the white house has just released a _ solution. the white house has just released a statement - solution. the white house has just released a statement to i just released a statement to say that jake sullivan has been there already were he has been

meeting with the crown prince. clearly he is busy in the region ahead of getting to israel, which is interesting. what is the latest happening in gaza overnight?— gaza overnight? there is still more strikes _ gaza overnight? there is still more strikes in _ gaza overnight? there is still more strikes in the _ gaza overnight? there is still more strikes in the rafah - more strikes in the rafah crossing, the place where israel is trying to push palestinians to go there from gaza to clear the way because they suspect hamas fighters are there and try to eradicate hamas. their main goal. they are striking in several places, so it seems that the gaza people are facing more troubles and the hope from jake sullivan and the hope from jake sullivan and the hope from jake sullivan and the pressure from america now in order to make israel go to negotiation, go to at least a truce in order to alleviate this situation. only a third of

the hospitals are working out. there is more pressure to do something. within the next three days, hopefully they will reach another type of truce to release some hostages and let aid and less bombardment for gaza and the destruction and killing of people.— killing of people. thank you very much- _ killing of people. thank you very much. just _ killing of people. thank you very much. just more - killing of people. thank you very much. just more detail killing of people. thank you i very much. just more detail on whatjake sullivan has very much. just more detail on what jake sullivan has been doing so far, he has been meeting with the crown prince, discussing humanitarian response in a gaza, including efforts to increase the flow of critical aid. these are statements coming from the white house about his trip. he will be going to israel as well. there's violence in the occupied west bank too. an israeli raid injenin that lasted more than a day has left at least seven palestinians dead, according to the palestinian health ministry. our correspondent lucy williamson sent this report from jenin, and a warning, you might find some of the material distressing.

when israeli troops come intojenin, the teenagers come out, their flimsy barricades no match for israel's army. some were carrying homemade explosives. the real battles today, between soldiers and palestinian gunmen, were further up the road in jenin�*s refugee camp. but many young people watching the war in gaza feel fresh pride in resistance. translation: what'sl happening here in jenin is we are resisting and we are defending jenin out of love. we are not related to any of the parties. if netanyahu comes with his soldiers, he will fail. several times today, gunfire and tear gas broke the crowd apart. people yelling. the tension is starting to build here again on the second day of the army operation injenin. the young men gathering

in the street have built a barricade here to try and stop the armyjeeps coming down towards the city. but there's tear gas in the air now and rounds have been fired. hundreds have been arrested in house to house searches and residents trapped in their homes have sent desperate messages asking for ambulances, medicine and food. palestinians in the west bank are watching israel's war with hamas in gaza. troops there have been pushing into the southern city of khan younis and shejaiya in the north. an ambush there yesterday left nine soldiers dead. almost two million people have now fled the fighting. the head of the un agency for palestinian refugees described the situation there as "a living hell". he said gaza's people were running out of time and options. the winter weather is adding to the misery.

lamas came here after her family's house was bombed. "there are swimming pools from the rain now," she said, "and people are suffering in water—filled tents. "we're sleeping in water. "what did we do? "we could have been sitting in our homes now. "shame on them." injenin tonight, mosques have called on people to come out in defence of their brothers in gaza and those at home. palestinians say this conflict did not begin with the hamas attacks and is no nearer an end. lucy williamson, bbc news, jenin. the republican—led us house of representatives has voted in favour of launching a formal impeachment inquiry into the president, joe biden. the resolution is adopted. republican lawmakers accuse

the president of bribery and corruption, alleging when he was vice president he knew of and benefited from the business dealings of his son, hunter biden. in an immediate response, the president described the inquiry as a baseless political stunt, and said the republicans were focused on attacking him with lies. let's get the latest now from our north america correspondent, david willis. he is covering this for us. this informally begins the process of an impeachment for joe biden, the talk of what will happen next?- will happen next? house republicans _ will happen next? house republicans are - will happen next? house| republicans are launched will happen next? house - republicans are launched an unofficial investigation into joe biden�*s is a ceiling three months ago but without a vote on the matter, so what this vote does is formalises that and also gives house republicans greater powers to enforce subpoenas and to garner

additional evidence, including e—mail correspondence, text messages and bank account details. house publicans claim thatjoe biden benefited that joe biden benefited financially thatjoe biden benefited financially from his son overseas business dealings during the time thatjoe biden was vice president under barack obama. now both hunter and a joe biden deny those allegations but house republicans have been burrowing down, in particular into the business dealings that hunter biden had in china and ukraine, amongst other countries. they have so far yet to unearth any evidence of bribery or corruption on the part of the presidents, who as you measure, issued a statement today, calling this impeachment acquiring a stunt and accusing house republicans over wasting time. saying they could be better spent using their time

to deliberate on matters such as enhanced military aid for israel and ukraine.- israel and ukraine. talk us throu~h israel and ukraine. talk us through what _ israel and ukraine. talk us through what is _ israel and ukraine. talk us through what is ahead. - israel and ukraine. talk us through what is ahead. in | israel and ukraine. talk us - through what is ahead. in 2024, what is the risk for the president? will it be as he says, time—consuming? taking attention of the issues he wants attention on? there is no risk of joe _ wants attention on? there is no risk of joe biden _ wants attention on? there is no risk of joe biden thing - wants attention on? there is no risk of joe biden thing removed | risk ofjoe biden thing removed from office because of this impeachment investigation. if he is impeached by the house, it would then require a majority of two—thirds of the other house, the senate, in order to remove him from office, and the senate is a democrat hands. that will not happen. what this could do is it could cause some voters in america to question the morality ofjoe biden, going into a vital yearfor morality ofjoe biden, going into a vital year for him as morality ofjoe biden, going into a vital yearfor him as he seeks real action and is likely of course to go toe to toe with his old rival donald trump, a

man who is himself facing some sort of legal woes. what this could do is distract from donald trump's political and legal travails and castjoe biden in a rather unfavourable light as these proceedings go on. ~ ~' . light as these proceedings go on. ~ ~ , ., light as these proceedings go on. ~ , on. we will keep a close eye for nova _ on. we will keep a close eye for now. thank _ on. we will keep a close eye for now. thank you. - now to russia. and president vladimir putin is due to hold his first year—end news conference since the full scale invasion of ukraine. the event will be carried live on all main russian television channels. at the same time, eu leaders will be meeting in brussels to discuss further funding for ukraine. live now to moscow and our russia editor, steve rosenberg. you are headed to this news conference shortly. what can we

expect? conference shortly. what can we exect? ~ ., . expect? we are. it is interesting _ expect? we are. it is interesting because i interesting because traditionally there are two major events in a rush in the tv calendar. the putin phone in any putin end of year press conference. last year the kremlin it cancelled both after the full—scale invasion of ukraine. this year the two shows a combined into what we are expecting to be one of marathon on events later today, with vladimir putin taking questions both from the russian public and journalists, including possibly western journalists from countries that russia labels unfriendly. there is no guarantee we'll get a question but this is the first time we have been invited to a kremlin event since russia's full—scale invasion of ukraine. it will be fascinating to hear what he has to say. we assume it is quite stage, is it? it is

very long- _ it is quite stage, is it? it is very long- we _ it is quite stage, is it? it is very long. we are - it is quite stage, is it? it 3 very long. we are expecting it to last at least three or four hours possibly. there is no guarantee will get a question. obviously we are expecting the president to talk about what he calls the special military operation, in other words the war in ukraine, but also talking about social issues, economic issues, apparently more than 2 million questions have been submitted by the russian public in the lead—up to this event and traditionally russians want to ask about the state of healthcare in russia, pensions, things like that. this is an important platform for him because when you think of three months' time he is seeking re—election as russia's president, so what better platform would you hope for, a four hours show, live at all the main tv channels? it will

be wall—to—wall putin in russia for a big chunk of today. figs be wall-to-wall putin in russia for a big chunk of today.- for a big chunk of today. as we have mentioned, _ for a big chunk of today. as we have mentioned, this - for a big chunk of today. as we j have mentioned, this coincides with the eu leaders gathering in brussels, theirfinal eu council meeting of the year, it is be, they will talk about a lot of funding for ukraine. expecting to veto more military aid for ukraine. to what extent for this be closely watched in moscow as well? will they try to ignore it all? they will be watching. russia is watching closely what is happening away from the battlefields. what is happening in europe, in america, particularly, and russia likes but it is seeing. it is watching very closely president zelensky�*s visit to washington and it can see the difficulties he is having in securing extra military aid, additional

funding for the war. he can see the subtle change in language from washington. joe biden said his administration would continue to help ukraine, as long as it could. whereas in the past he said his administration would help ukraine for as long as it took. russia says this and i think this is feeling president putin's confidence and that is why he has gone ahead with this marathon tv show today. i think he's feeling he is sensing a degree of ukraine fatigue in the west and that is why he holding it today. we the west and that is why he holding it today.— the west and that is why he holding it today. we better let ou no holding it today. we better let you go because _ holding it today. we better let you go because you _ holding it today. we better let you go because you have - holding it today. we better let you go because you have to i holding it today. we better let| you go because you have to be there for that free— hour event. we will see if you get a or not. thank you. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news.

a person remains unaccounted for after a large fire broke out at an industrial estate in south wales. police responded to a serious incident at treforest industrial estate, pontypridd, around 7pm, on wednesday, and said roads in the area would remain closed for some time. eyewitnesses reported hearing a massive explosion and the area's mp said there were walking wounded. police searching for a mother of three who went missing almost a week ago in norwich, have released cctv of her last known movements. 55—year—old gaynor lord disappeared after failing to return home from work. norfolk constabulary also said it was linking in with police in lancashire because of similarities with the nicola bulley investigation. the government has decided to extend talks with political leaders in northern ireland to try to secure a return of devolution. it made the decision

after round—table discussions with the four biggest local parties last night. you're live with bbc news. there's a warning patients in england are being put at risk because of dangerous delays as winter pressures begin to hit the national health service. ambulance service leaders say crews are struggling to attend calls and facing long waits outside accident and emergency departments. the nhs says it has recruited more staff and increased bed capacity, but acknowledged the system was under considerable strain. sharon barbour reports. it has been a long night for margaret. they were ambulances backed up outside. tiara margaret. they were ambulances backed up outside.— backed up outside. two hours in an ambulance. _ backed up outside. two hours in an ambulance. finally _ backed up outside. two hours in an ambulance. finally being i an ambulance. finally being able to get into a&e, she then faced a long wait. she told us she has been here for 14 hours. margaret is 73 and has had no sleep. what was it like last

night when you came into a&e? there were ambulances parked out there, there are ambulances parked out there today. there's no bed. you know, and there are people on trolleys into the corridors. people on trolleys into the corridors-_ people on trolleys into the corridors. ~ ., ~ corridors. weight at a&e here have been _ corridors. weight at a&e here have been as _ corridors. weight at a&e here have been as long _ corridors. weight at a&e here have been as long as - corridors. weight at a&e here have been as long as 30 i corridors. weight at a&e here i have been as long as 30 hours, with hospital bosses of warning it will be worse to come as they cope with the sharp rise in patients arriving this week. at this infirmary, it is the largest a&e in cumbria but it is not big enough, already a capacity and there is no more beds, no more room with around 50 patients waiting to be seen. health bosses are working around the clock, trying to discharge patients. currently, do not beds — discharge patients. currently, do not beds free _ discharge patients. currently, do not beds free in _ discharge patients. currently, do not beds free in the - do not beds free in the hospital and we have patients waiting ined and it is a concern for us and also for

patients. we are doing work ined to look at how we can maximise space. it is not a situation we would want to have here. . . . situation we would want to have here. , , , ., here. the pressure are multiple- _ here. the pressure are multiple. no _ here. the pressure are multiple. no beds- here. the pressure are multiple. no beds are | here. the pressure are i multiple. no beds are not enough doctors as the hospital is increasingly reliant on locums. is increasingly reliant on locums— is increasingly reliant on locums. ., , ., ., locums. how is it going today? it is busy _ locums. how is it going today? it is busy today. _ locums. how is it going today? it is busy today. and _ locums. how is it going today? it is busy today. and all- locums. how is it going today? it is busy today. and all of i it is busy today. and all of this is bad news for patients. not only waiting in a&e but operations having to be counselled, i9 operations having to be counselled, 19 in the last week. the cancelled. a few months away, there is a team working a solution. here, they working a solution. here, they work around the clock trying to stop patients from going into hospital in the first place and they try to get them out. we will no they try to get them out. we will go and — they try to get them out. we will go and do _ they try to get them out. - will go and do everything we can to prevent anybody going to hospital. referthem can to prevent anybody going to hospital. refer them to the services they need.- hospital. refer them to the services they need. across the count , services they need. across the country. there _ services they need. across the country, there are _ services they need. across the country, there are fears i services they need. across the country, there are fears about| country, there are fears about how the nhs will cope this

winter. ~ ., ., , how the nhs will cope this winter. ~ ., ., . ~ winter. we are always thinking about patient _ winter. we are always thinking about patient safety. - about patient safety. ambulances reaching patients at home who have not seen a clinician are probably the area of greatest risk and that is what we are improving times we can get patients back out. itruiith can get patients back out. with doctors about _ doctors about to extract, the nhs forecast is bleak. —— two strike. sharon barbour, bbc news. let's get some of the day's other news now. japanese media say three government ministers have resigned in connection with a corruption scandal in the governing liberal democratic party. the reports say the ministers of economy, internal affairs and agriculture have all stepped down. the government's chief spokesman, hirokazu matsuno, is also expected to resign. there's been no official word from the government. scientists monitoring the world's biggest iceberg say they now have solid numbers to describe its bulk. satellite measurements reveal the frozen block to be just shy of a trillion tonnes and to cover an area twice

the size of greater london. on an extraordinary story coming out of australia. the supreme court of the australian state of new south wales has cleared a woman of murdering her four children. the judges ruled that the evidence used to convict kathleen folbigg — who spent 20 years in prison — was not reliable. the case has been described as one of australia's greatest miscarriages ofjustice. she gave this statement outside court. iam i am grateful for the i am gratefulfor the huge efforts of my friends and families, my legalteam, families, my legal team, scientific professionals families, my legalteam, scientific professionals and concerned individuals. the time this is taken in seeing today's results has because many people a lot, notjust financially but emotionally. foralmost a lot, notjust financially but emotionally. for almost a quarter of a century i face

disbelief and hostility. i suffered abuse in all its forms a stop i hoped and pray that one day i would be able to stand here with my name cleared. live now to our correspondent phil mercer who joins us from sydney. i described this as extraordinary and yet she seemed so together when she was delivering that statement. it has been an incredible journey has been an incrediblejourney for kathleen folbigg, once upon a time described as the most hated woman in australia and australia's worst female serial killer. today, judges into the appeal court here in new south wales have said that the evidence upon which her conviction was based 20 years ago was not reliable. kathleen folbigg was convicted in 2003 of killing her children and at the time the prosecution

alleged that those toddlers and babies had been smothered but earlier this year there was a landmark enquiry that said the children quite possibly could have died of natural causes because of a rare genetic condition. injune, kathleen condition. in june, kathleen folbigg condition. injune, kathleen folbigg was released from prison and pardoned by the new south wales state government here in australia and today we have the final, perhaps the final legal chapter in this story, and that appeal court judges have officially overturned those convictions. the legal team for her are confirming they will seek compensation on her behalf. she thanked the legal team, she thanked the legal team, she thanked the legal team, she thanked the friends who stood by her for those deckers, we rent this really enter their fight for her.— rent this really enter their fight for her. -- relentless. we heard — fight for her. -- relentless. we heard from _ fight for her. -- relentless. we heard from supporters, | we heard from supporters, including the australian academy of science which is

campaigning to have certain criminal cases based more on the science to prevent these sorts of miscarriages of justice. between 1989 and 1999, kathleen folbigg's for children died unexpectedly. there were aged between 19 days and 18 months and she was convicted of those three counts of murder and one count of manslaughter in 2003. she always maintained herinnocence in 2003. she always maintained her innocence and over the years has garnered support from eminent scientists and other people who really believed her conviction was on very shaky ground and today we have the new south wales court of criminal appeal agreed, overturning her conviction and it now leads the way for kathleen folbigg to apply for compensation.— kathleen folbigg to apply for compensation. kathleen folbigg to apply for comensation. ., ,, , ., ., compensation. 0k. thank you for the latest on _ compensation. 0k. thank you for the latest on that. _ compensation. 0k. thank you for the latest on that. we _ compensation. 0k. thank you for the latest on that. we have i compensation. 0k. thank you for the latest on that. we have the i

the latest on that. we have the top business tourism next. we are getting more detail on national security adviserjake sullivan's trip to the middle east where he has been meeting with leaders in saudi arabia. you are on bbc news. hello there. given all the rain that we've had over the past few weeks, it's still pretty wet out there. but the next few days at least will turn drier and also the temperatures will be rising. now, this area of low pressure brought cloud and some rain and drizzle to eastern parts of england. that's moving away. the next weather system is coming in from the atlantic. but in between the two, well, we did have some sunshine earlier on, particularly in northern ireland and here in scotland. but where we have the clearer skies in the first part of the night, there's the risk that temperatures could fall just below freezing in places. but that window of clearer skies will close as the night goes on because all that cloud will come in from the atlantic. it's going to bring some rain and briefly some snow over the scottish mountains, perhaps the northern pennines, but it should turn back to rain

later on in the night as temperatures start to rise. so these are the numbers by first thing thursday morning. and by this time, the rain will have cleared away from northern ireland and just about the whole of scotland. but we will see some further patchy, mostly light rain and drizzle affecting england and wales, and that cloudy, damp weather could continue across the southeast well into the afternoon, but otherwise, we'll get some sunshine following on behind, a few showers for northern ireland and scotland, mostly in the north of scotland, where it's still quite blustery. but if anything, temperatures are going to be a degree or two higher than what we had today. as one weather system moves away, we look to see another one coming in from the atlantic as we move into friday. this is going to be focused more to the northwest of the uk. we'll see more cloud coming in to northern ireland and also in scotland, showers in the north of the country being replaced by some rain and drizzle. elsewhere, it should be dry and a lot more sunshine more widely across england and wales, where the winds will be lighter. still, temperatures 7 or 8 degrees across eastern parts of england, but further west, it is much, much milder. and this milder atlantic air

on some brisk winds will come rushing in across the whole of the country in time for the start of the weekend. we've got colder air to the north of that weather front, which may move southwards on sunday to bring some patchy rain. but on saturday, it's staying to the north of us, just bringing the chance of some rain in the north of scotland. again, it looks like it's going to be windy here and across northern ireland. the winds are lighter as you head further south, but there won't be as much sunshine for england and wales on saturday. but it is mild air and those temperatures will be widely 12 or 13 celsius.

live from london, this is bbc news. a turning point for interest rates? the us fed says it's now discussing when to cut the cost of borrowing. will there be similar hints from the bank of england and the european central bank at their meetings today? also coming up: ukraine's financial war. europe debates 50 billion euros of funding for kyiv over the next four years as well as over 21 billion in military aid. plus, working near home: could local hubs in towns and suburbs provide a real alternative to the commute?

let's focus on the top business stories. we start with the global cost of borrowing. after a steep rise over the past 18 months, has it finally reached a turning point and could it soon be on the way down? on wednesday, us shares hit a new record high after the federal reserve left its main rate on hold for the third month in a row, and said it's now talking about when to cut. in the next few hours we get policy decisions here in the uk, from the bank of england and also from the european central bank. they are both widely expected to follow the fed and leave rates on hold. but markets will be looking for any hint about when they might start to ease the cost of borrowing. more on that in a moment — first here's michelle fleury in new york. policymakers inside the us

federal reserve believe interest rates are at