the former president says he'll appeal to the us supreme court. the head of hamas arrives in egypt for expected talks on a fresh pause in the fighting in gaza, to allow aid to reach civilians. israel says it's willing to agree to another pause — in exchange for more hostages. the european union reaches a breakthrough deal on new migration rules after years of failed talks. poland s new coalition government dismess the heads of the country s public broadcasters — as it moves to depoliticise the state media. polls have opened in elections in the democratic republic of congo — with president felix tshisekedi seeking a second term in office.

new laws are intended to limit asylum seekers coming into the eu. eu member states and the parliament have agreed on this overall law on an approach to asylum seekers. it is intended to speed up and standardise the amount of people coming into the black. it proposes to do that with five new eu laws. the first of which would be the speedier vetting of arrivals using biometrics. that could be facial recognition technology, fingerprinting. which could be done at one of these new border detention centres that are being thirdly, an accelerated consideration of asylum cases, so the eu wants to speed up the time it takes to determine whether a migrant has a valid asylum claim. they want to do that in six months or less, if

it's not a valid claim, they say they will accelerate the deportation of that person. finally, and crucially, allows its proposed for solidarity measure. this is a way for countries in the eu to financially support or even to help with an influx of migrants by accommodating them in northern european countries for the countries that are bearing the brunt of an influx of migrants, so places like italy or greece. those countries have seen a large number of migrants coming in from the middle east and north africa. many of them filling wasn't. to put that in context, this shows you over the years, the number of migrants coming into the eu from those countries. you will see that the peak, more than a million back in 2015, the numbers have come down dramatically over the years, though we are singing slight uptake here into 2023. this is why it has been a

thorny issue in european politics, to agree on migration laws and why it is been a priority. of course, this latest lot does still need ratification, it's not a done deal, but member states in the eu are taking matters into their own hands. just today, franz�*s parliament passed a tougher immigration bill, making it harderfor migrants in france to bring the family members over and delay the access or impede access to welfare benefits. certainly, migration certainly continues to be a major discussion in the eu. president macron is approaching the media. this breaking news out of france, and the big story there

todayis france, and the big story there today is also on immigration. we had just heard that the french minister of health rousseau has resigned. huge immigration rules were surpassed in france, president macron�*s party saw real splits which was backed by the centre—right republicans but also the far right. it's been very controversial in france and a big discussion points there today. here he is there, the president of the czech republic standing with the president of france, and we will bring you more on bats right now. with me is the bbc world service's europe regional editor, danny aeberhard. the controversy in france is about

this immigration law, they have been trying to pass it. they try to put it to parliament last week, its got voted down without even a debate. then president macron and his government to try to thrash out some sort of compromise with the centre—right republican party, and it reached a compromise. this legislation was then backed by the far right national rally of marie le pen, it's caused a big split in the renascent party, the present�*s party, and also his coalition party. about a quarter of mps either abstained or voted against their own government's legislation on the front, because they are angered about the toughening of immigration law which is following the right—wing's agenda on this issue. i right—wing's agenda on this issue. i have seen right—wing's agenda on this issue. i have seen rights groups and frances inglis is the most aggressive immigration law they have seen in the country for decades, we are hearing some countries coming out of brussels, had as it was late to this

law being passed after years of wrangling to in the in the eu? the connection — wrangling to in the in the eu? tue: connection there wrangling to in the in the eu? tte: connection there is coming up to the european parliament elections next year, and you have seen a number of countries move towards the rights, immigration being the key aspect of that. countries like sweden, italy, the netherlands and so on. i think on both levels in terms of france and in the european union, more widely, there is a realisation that things have to change otherwise you will see an ongoing drift to these matters. i think that has driven a sense of a need to show that you're tough on immigration, whatever party you come from, but also showing that you come from, but also showing that you are actually trying to reach solutions on these. in doing that, you are making a lot of people unhappy, so migrant rights groups in

the recent european legislation, and they are saying that's not going to protect any lives at sea and you have seen the resignation of the health minister in france right now, so manifestations of real upset about how far some of this legislation is going. danny, thank ou so legislation is going. danny, thank you so much- _ legislation is going. danny, thank you so much. one _ legislation is going. danny, thank you so much. one of— legislation is going. danny, thank you so much. one of the - legislation is going. danny, thank| you so much. one of the countries backing the trend is poland. the move comes after a parliamentary resolution was approved on tuesday, calling for independence, objectivity and pluralism" in poland s state media. the vote prompted dozens of opposition law and justice party mps to occupy the state tv headquarters. the vote has prompted the occupation

of state tv headquarters. law and justice, which was defeated in 0ctober elections, politicised state media during its eight years in power. live now to our warsaw correspondent, adam easton. let's delve into that firstly, describe how state media has been politicised over the past eight years or so, what it looks like if you turn onto polish state tv or listen to the radio? this you turn onto polish state tv or listen to the radio?— listen to the radio? this is essentially _ listen to the radio? this is essentially about - listen to the radio? this is essentially about the - listen to the radio? this is essentially about the tv i listen to the radio? this is - essentially about the tv news and its 24—hour news channel. i don't remember the communist era in parliament, but those who do say that the tv news is the equivalent of the ten o'clock news in britain has been transformed into propaganda machines for the law and justice governments, as it was for eight years, and hasjust lost power. what

it did when watching it, you had story after story praising the government's achievements, saying how wonderful it was and then stories denigrating the opposition, saying how poor poland would be if the opposition were in power and how they never did anything when they were in power before. it was very crude, but as i say, it was also labelled by some people here in poland to remember the communist era propaganda which was more crude in those days. the law and justice governments went further, far, far further than any previous administration since 1989 and politicising the tv news. that's important, controlling the narrative of the state public media, because about one third of people here in poland only gets their access to tv news from the state broadcasting. they don't have access to private broadcasting, so controlling that

narrative was very important, and thatis narrative was very important, and that is why they did it. during the 80s power, they fell almost 110 places in the world press freedom index. the current coalition government said they made it a priority to change it back into a true state media, not a party media. this is what it's trying to do, depoliticise, in its words, everything on the tv, radio and news agencies. we everything on the tv, radio and news auencies. ~ ., ., , ., agencies. we apologise for the sound auali to agencies. we apologise for the sound quality to add — agencies. we apologise for the sound quality to add in _ agencies. we apologise for the sound quality to add in there, _ agencies. we apologise for the sound quality to add in there, but _ agencies. we apologise for the sound quality to add in there, but we - agencies. we apologise for the sound quality to add in there, but we can i quality to add in there, but we can show some pictures after that decision was made to depoliticise state media. that was a vote that prompted dozens of opposition lord justice party mps to occupy states had quarters. law and justice, defeated in the elections in october, they were the ones who 0ctober, they were the ones who politicised state media during the 80s and power. they now occupying

the state tv headquarters, taking it in shifts tend to remain there. to the conflict in sudan now. the healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, following the capture of the country's second largest city. wad madhani had been seen as a safe haven from the fighting, which erupted in april. but now its been captured by the paramilitary rapid support forces — or rsf. there have been reports of summary executions, sexual violence and other abuses, perpetrated by the rsf. in the first six months of the conflict the un estimates that more than 9,000 people were killed. 6.7 million people are believed to have been displaced both internally and externally. and 25 million people are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance — with 4.9 million at risk of extreme hunger. live now to alain 0uattara, the deputy head of the un's office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in sudan. good to have you with us, and what it grim picture ijust painted.

filling the gaps for us, tell us what it's like in sedan the moment. thank you for having me. you can see currently the situation is terrible. as the rapid supports forces advancing similar areas, what we see is the civilian to pay a high price of these conflicts. we observe and hear reports of conflict relative cases and increase in high mortality that civilians pay for because of the conflict. all the assets and infrastructure that came to be

looted and damaged in the advance of rsf. we looted and damaged in the advance of rsf. ~ ., ~ ., ., rsf. we talked about some of the basics, 5 million _ rsf. we talked about some of the basics, 5 million people _ rsf. we talked about some of the basics, 5 million people are - rsf. we talked about some of the basics, 5 million people are at - rsf. we talked about some of thej basics, 5 million people are at risk of extreme hunger at the moment, are you able to get any kind of aid or food aid into these areas to help them? ., .,. them? the nature we face in the country is _ them? the nature we face in the country is getting _ them? the nature we face in the country is getting supplies - them? the nature we face in the| country is getting supplies across lines. we tend to be prevented by the area where we have huge logistical issues. we do also have... the cost of the conflict in the ground that has become very challenging for us to be able to

operate in those conflict areas. indie operate in those conflict areas. we had heard reports that the rss overstepping people from leaving the area, and they trapped there? indie area, and they trapped there? we can't area, and they trapped there? - can't confirm those reports because we are not able to verify them, but looking at previous examples when surveillance became trapped in the middle of a fight, we observe the tendency of trying to avoid people fleeing in the area across the lines. that still remains to be verified, but we had about looting in the area, which is very worrisome. we have warehouses of supplies in the city.— supplies in the city. thank you very much forjoining — supplies in the city. thank you very much forjoining us. _ around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

bringing you different stories from across the uk. this bringing you different stories from across the uk.— bringing you different stories from across the uk. this is a place where loads of people _ across the uk. this is a place where loads of people in _ across the uk. this is a place where loads of people in the _ across the uk. this is a place where loads of people in the area - across the uk. this is a place where loads of people in the area and - loads of people in the area and beyond have been drawn to in the past. it's meant such a lot to people. i decided i wanted to paint the piece is a night—time scene, because the area is well known for the dark skies. it was a perfect way to stay connected to the tree. luci; to stay connected to the tree. lucy never planned _ to stay connected to the tree. lucy never planned to _ to stay connected to the tree. lucy never planned to do _ to stay connected to the tree. lucy never planned to do the _ to stay connected to the tree. lucy never planned to do the painting, but was inundated with requests after the tree was felled. her team made a pledge, they were amazed by the response. with many from the prince, she is going to bite 1500 trees, and is now looking for somewhere to plant them. the centre stare somewhere to plant them. the centre sta . e would somewhere to plant them. the centre stage would ultimately _ somewhere to plant them. the centre stage would ultimately be _ somewhere to plant them. the centre stage would ultimately be a _ somewhere to plant them. the centre stage would ultimately be a sycamorej stage would ultimately be a sycamore tree, a replica of it. it's my dream to create this beautiful woodland thatis to create this beautiful woodland that is very natural space, beautiful space for people to come and and enjoy. for beautiful space for people to come and and enjoy-— beautiful space for people to come and and enjoy.

and and en'oy. for more stories from across the and and enjoy. for more stories from across the uk. _ and and enjoy. for more stories from across the uk, head _ and and enjoy. for more stories from across the uk, head to _ and and enjoy. for more stories from across the uk, head to the _ and and enjoy. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc- across the uk, head to the bbc website. you're live with bbc news. polls have opened in the democratic republic of congo as the country's president felix tshisekedi seeks a second term in office. he is expected to win the contest as opposition is divided with eighteen candidates standing against him. the poll comes despite some calls for the elections to be postponed amid fears about violence in the east of the country and concerns about voting materials being illegible and not reaching polling stations in time. looking at life picture right now from kinshasa scott. but we believe this is where president she shifts arrives. the president makes his way there to cast his ballot. to remind

you, to the drc is one of the largest countries in africa with more than forty million people registered to vote but it also remains one of the world's poorest with dire infrastructure and a long history of violence and civil war. as we wait for the president to arrive to vote, how was it going and the rest of the country, what are you hearing from different polling stations about how polling is going? there have been delays here in kinshasa, the capital. many polling stations opened about two hours late, but as we speak, things are under way and voting is continuing. in the eastern part of the drc, there have been delays, but

step—by—step, the elections is ongoing. the president of the independent national election committee, they were given a chance to everyone even if there is a delay, giving a chance to anyone standing in the queue 11 hours after polling time. b5 standing in the queue 11 hours after polling time-— polling time. as there are lots of election observatory _ polling time. as there are lots of election observatory people - polling time. as there are lots of| election observatory people there polling time. as there are lots of. election observatory people there to supervise the election? qt election observatory people there to supervise the election?— supervise the election? of course, there are many — supervise the election? of course, there are many observation - supervise the election? of course, i there are many observation missions, from the african union to others, and also this time, there are many local observation nations, for example the catholic church and the protestant church have lined up at more than 25,000 observers who are monitoring these processes from

various places in the country. the drc is the second largest country here in africa, but the country is four times the size of france. we have very poor infrastructure. there are 75,000 polling stations scattered all around the country, and it's been very difficult for the election commission to deliver the material to all the polling stations around the country. tt is material to all the polling stations around the country.— around the country. it is a huge count , around the country. it is a huge country. the — around the country. it is a huge country, the size _ around the country. it is a huge country, the size of— around the country. it is a huge country, the size of western i around the country. it is a huge - country, the size of western europe to put into perspective for people, the president who we are waiting to vote, is expected to win. what has been his campaign message? president felix tshisekedi _ been his campaign message? president felix tshisekedi is _ been his campaign message? president felix tshisekedi is secant _ been his campaign message? president felix tshisekedi is secant for _ been his campaign message? president felix tshisekedi is secant for a - felix tshisekedi is secant for a second term, and says he would like to bring more employment to the us

in particular who are finding it difficult to find any formal job after their studies, difficult to find any formal job aftertheirstudies, but difficult to find any formal job after their studies, but there is a pressing issue, the country is having 7 million people who are internally displaced because of the war. if he is given a second term, he said he will tackle the ongoing war and conflicts and insecurity in the eastern part of the drc. taste war and conflicts and insecurity in the eastern part of the drc. we will keep across — the eastern part of the drc. we will keep across the _ the eastern part of the drc. we will keep across the voting _ the eastern part of the drc. we will keep across the voting as _ the eastern part of the drc. we will keep across the voting as it - keep across the voting as it progresses throughout the day. an american man in prison in russia has told the bbc that he feels abandoned by the us government. paul whelan, who is also a british citizen, was detained five years ago on espionage charges. president putin said last week that moscow hoped to find a solution to the dispute over american citizens in prison in russia. both paul whelan and the jailed wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich have been declared wrongfully detained , by the us state department.

0ur correspondent sarah rainsford spoke to mr whelan. this is where an american's holiday to moscow ended up. in a remote russian labor camp, convicted of espionage. the us government calls paul whelan wrongfully detained. he's always said he's a political hostage. how are you doing? you all right? i followed his story since he was arrested in moscow. but for five years, all negotiations to try to free him have failed. now speaking to me from prison, paul whelan says he feels abandoned by his government. you know, it's serious betrayal. it's extremely frustrating. i've never heard him talk like this before. i know that the us has come up with all sorts of proposals, serious proposals, but it's not what the russians are after. so they keep going back and forth. the only problem is, it's my life that's draining away. why would you do this?

you know, it's five years. it's unfathomable to me that they'd left me behind. the us can get its prisoners back. last year, an american basketball star was swapped for a convicted russian arms trader released by the us. but paul whelan was left behind. and now it seems like russia is collecting hostages. evan gershkovich was detained in march, accused of espionage for doing his job as a journalist. his newspaper, his government are clear. the charge is false. dear evan, i didn't take my laptop. polina writes to evan in prison every week. they started out together as reporters in moscow. now he's locked up and she's abroad for safety. evan's friends collect and translate letters of support for him from all over the world, helping keep his spirits up and their own.

evan is not a spy. evan as a journalist. and my greatest hope is that evan is released as soon as possible and can go home, can go back to work and go back to his family, can come and spend time with all of us again, as he should be doing right now. that's the greatest hope. the conditions in the camp have declined seriously. the barracks look like mold. but paul whelan is now facing his fifth christmas as a prisoner. are you worried that there's going to be another deal that you're going to be left behind again? yeah, i am worried that there'll be a deal to leave me here. with each case, my case is going to the back of the line that's being left in the dust, dragging me along. it is russia that put him here, but paul whelan wants america to push harder to get him home. sarah rainsford, bbc news. a usjudge has ordered the release of the names of more

than 150 people linked to the american financier and sex offender, jeffrey epstein — including victims, associates and suspected accomplices. court documents containing the identities are part of a settled civil lawsuit brought against epstein's former girlfriend ghislaine maxwell, who was sentenced last year to 20 years in prison on sex trafficking and other charges. those named have until january 1st to appeal. taking you to tokyo, some lovely pictures from the capital. this is tokyo tower, surrounded by thousands of blue and white led lights, making it look the trees are covered in frost. it's a pale mashed to an area noted for its craftsmanship. the event is a on the first floor plaza,

created in collaboration with local illustrators as well. some papier—mache craftsmen. christmas and new year festivities stretch right across december and well into january. but beautiful scenes there from tokyo. scenes of a different sort coming from iceland, nature at her fire raced sort coming from iceland, nature at herfire raced here, this is the volcano that we have been watching from the south—west of iceland, we are hearing although still at the maca active, it is weakening and we are told new events could open at short notice. they have been weeks of earthquakes and tremors, so this was expected but continues to spit out fiery lava into the air as you can see. hello there. as we head into christmas, we've got a spell of a windy weather to come.

and the strongest of the winds are likely to be overnight tonight into thursday. and it's during this period that we've got the higher risk of some travel disruption. now, what we're seeing at the moment is a lot of clouds streaming our way, bringing some rain and drizzle over western hills and coasts in particular. but the winds are strengthening already, this run of westerly winds around the top of that area of high pressure. but it's this low pressure that we've got here towards iceland that is going to run to the north of scotland and then into scandinavia. that has been named storm pia by the danish weather service. but there will be some impacts here in the uk as well. so we've got windy weather through this evening, very mild, ten, maybe 11 degrees, some more rain over these western coasts and hills where it's a bit misty, too. most of the wet weather is going to be across western scotland, but overnight it does turn wetter more widely in scotland and that rain will push down into northern england and northern ireland replaced by squally showers. as the winds really start

to intensify, it does turn a bit colder in scotland, but otherwise temperatures aren't going to change much. it'll be a mild start to thursday, but a windy day on thursday. everywhere, the strongest of the winds as you head further north, widely gusting to gale force. but we could see gusts of 70 or 80 miles an hour in northern and northeastern parts of scotland. so some windy weather on thursday. we've got the band of cloud and rain pushing further south towards southern parts of england and wales, followed by some sunshine and streams of squally showers, some snow over the higher ground in scotland as it turns colder here. but we've still got temperatures of 12 degrees in the milder air further south across the uk. now, as the storm pushes towards scandinavia, we could see the surge of stronger winds pushing down those north sea coasts. that weather front there is still producing a little bit of rain and it's the boundary between milder air that's trying to push in from the atlantic and that colder air that's still across the north east of the uk. so this is where we have that boundary. this is where we've got this patchy rain to the south of it.

still a lot of cloud, but maybe a bit of sunshine further north, particularly in scotland. this is where we'll see showers and there will be some snow falling in the northern isles. temperatures barely getting above freezing here, but for large parts of the uk, those temperatures will still be in double figures.

in the uk falls sharply, mainly because of a drop in the cost of fuel.

but the christmas dinner will still cost you more as some food prices remain stubbornly high. this was the chancellor's assessment of inflation. the lowest for over two years, and that shows the government's plan for the economy is working. but nonetheless it is very tough for a lot of families. we'll be looking at how our rising costs compare with other countries. also on the programme... what do we want? fair pay. when do we want it? now! _ junior doctors in england stage the first of three days of strikes, with more to come injanuary. a court rules that donald trump can't run for president in colorado because of his role in the storming by supporters of the capitol building in 2021. and she's eight years old and now crowned the best female european chess player — we hear how the girl from london discovered her talent.

and coming up on bbc news...