in the last hour, american prisoners released by venezuela have landed back in the us — they were freed in a major prisoner swap. and the un says at least 250,000 people in sudan are now fleeing an area once considered safe as the country's civil war intensifies. i'm helena humphrey. good to have you with us. hamas says more than 20,000 people in gaza have now been killed since israel began its military campaign in response to the attacks on october 7 that killed 1,200 people. that death toll of 20,000 represents almost 1% of gaza's 2.2 million total population. and it's an average of nearly 300 people per day. hamas, which is designated a terrorist organisation by some western governments, says more than 1a,000 of those

killed are women and children, and it says there have been over 52,000 people injured in the conflict so far. our special correspondent fergal keane reports on the toll that the conflict is taking on families. a warning — you may find this report distressing. the world is debating calls for a ceasefire and a bleak new reckoning of the dead is declared. but for the people of gaza, the suffering is felt. not counted. dead children being touched a final time by their wounded father. a mother comes to mourn a lost daughter. translation: imagine that esterda i was brushing her hair, making her a sandwich for dinner and putting her to sleep.

then you wake up in the morning and there is no fatima anymore. from the beginning, they have known there is no escape. not from gaza orfrom grief... ..or trauma. the wounded now number in their tens of thousands. in al—aqsa hospital, the child holds to symbols of a vanished normality. nearby, this child, aged 13, who lost ten members of herfamily, among them, a two—year—old brother and three grandparents. the fear of death is ever present. people driven from one unsafe place to the next. we interviewed this person

over six weeks ago as she tried to escape gaza with her disabled brother. today, our colleagues in gaza caught up with her. without vital medicine, he is suffering from seizures and is terrified by the israeli drones in the skies above. it's been really hard, like, every time i hear a rocket it's horrible to say this, but it's a sort of relief that it's not us, but it does not mean... ..we�*re fully safe. it's like we are next. today, as every day, they gathered to bury the dead of gaza. for this child, the loss of his father leaves a void to last a lifetime. "dad, why did you leave me?" he asks. fergal keane, bbc news.

amid growing international calls for restraint, israel is continuing to push ahead with its offensive. in southern gaza, an israeli bombardment in the city of rafah has reportedly killed at least five people and injured more than 50. there are also reports of heavy street fighting in the nearby city of khan younis. in the north, the israeli military says it's found a tunnel network in gaza city used by hamas leadership. it comes as the hamas leader ismail haniyeh is in cairo for talks on another humanitarian pause. a senior palestinian official has told the bbc wednesday's meeting "ended without results." the bbc�*s sally nabil has more. well, the talks are hoped to try and find a breakthrough and convince the warring parties to agree on a ceasefire, pressure has been mounting on the israelis in particular to accept the ceasefire and allow more aid into gaza.

the palestinian people are in bad need of almost everything — medical aid, food supplies, fuel, everything. the egyptians have always been key mediators in all the past rounds of conflict between the israelis and the palestinians. but i believe mediation efforts this time are exceptionally difficult. they are met with huge challenges. so far, israel has been reluctant to accept calls for a ceasefire and stop the bombardment that has killed nearly 20,000 palestinians. so, this is why the mediators have huge tasks lying ahead. in addition to the mediation role, egypt has the only border crossing that connects gaza to the outside world, away from the israeli control. the rafah border crossing that connects gaza to egypt has been the main channel that delivers aid to the people inside gaza. this is why there have been mounting calls from different

international parties asking the israelis to try and bring hostilities to a halt and allow humanitarian corridor that delivers more aid to civilians in gaza, whether or not the mediation efforts will succeed in achieving that, that remains to be seen. but, as i said, that mediation efforts currently under way are met with huge obstacles. the united nations security council has postponed another vote on a draft resolution calling for "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses" in gaza. previous versions had opted for the word "ceasefire" — language that the united states had objected to. it is the third time this week that the vote has been delayed following tense diplomatic wrangling over the wording. the main sticking point now seems to also be over the monitoring of humanitarian aid into gaza. in a statement, israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, seemingly ruled out an immediate ceasefire, saying:

0ur correspondent nada tawfik is at the united nations. yet another delay as negotiations continue at the highest levels at capitol. here at the un, diplomats have been furiously and desperately trying to reach an agreement, including the united states, which doesn't want to be in a position to cast a third veto. now, we've already seen over the last few days the resolution be modified to try to accommodate the united states�*s position. that's included language being toned down to call for a suspension of hostilities instead of a cessation of hostilities, but really, the key sticking point now is over the resolution�*s proposal for a un monitoring mechanism. now, the arab group says this is absolutely an essential component of the resolution to make sure it has impact on the ground. but washington says that there are fears

that israel would lose control of the screening process with this mechanism. and so, there are talks now over how to bridge that gap. and, in fact, the united states asked for this latest delay so it could engage directly with egypt in talks over how a mechanism could work to the benefit of all parties. so, really, the success of this resolution now hinges on those talks between the us and egypt. it is worth noting that the overwhelming majority of the council does support the resolution as it is. and the uae, which authored this resolution, says that there is just too much suffering on the ground by palestinian civilians for the council to fail to act. for more on the diplomatic delay, we heard from john negroponte, former us ambassador to the united nations and us director of national intelligence. first of all, we're — we're following israel's lead on this. we're supporting them in their response

to the horrific attacks of october 7. traditionally, we have supported israel at the united nations. we have always found it's better to work with them in a positive way to get some results. i think the quibble right now seems to be over inspection of humanitarian aid deliveries. i should think that that's been done so often, ceasefires, in order to prevent arrival of humanitarian goods, that this problem should be easily — or not easily — but in any event, should be readily resolved. i have hope that an agreement is going to be reached and that we're going to have at least some sort of a temporary ceasefire, which would give a respite to the situation on the ground, allow supplies to get in, humanitarian supplies. us secretary of state

antony blinken has pushed back on criticism of the white house's support for israel, calling for a strong international voice to condemn hamas. at his year—end press conference, mr blinken said that he expects more targeted operations focused on hamas leadership and its infrastructure, and pointed out what he sees as a double standard. i hear virtually no—one saying, demanding of hamas that it stop hiding behind civilians. that it lay down its arms, that it surrender. this is over tomorrow if hamas does that. this would've been over a month ago. six weeks ago if hamas had done that. and how could it be — how could it be that there are no demands made of the aggressor and only demands made of the victim? so, it would be good if there was a strong international voice pressing hamas to do

what's necessary to end this. and, again, that could be tomorrow. after months of negotiations, the us and venezuela have agreed a major prisoner swap. americans released by venezuela have just landed back in the us. the us says that six of the ten freed were being wrongfully detained. also released was the notorious former defence contractor leonard glenn francis known as �*fat leonard' to the us. he's at the centre of one of the us navy's largest corruption cases. in exchange, the us has freed alex saab, an aide and top ally to venezuela's president, nicolas maduro. he was accused of laundering money on behalf of the maduro government, which he denies. mr maduro is also releasing 20 venezuelan political prisoners. it's all part of the biden administration's efforts to improve relations with venezuela and push mr maduro to hold fair elections next year. venezuela thus far is keeping their commitment towards

the democratic elections. it's not over yet. they have made detailed commitments, we'll see if they hold them. but we're going to hold them accountable. venezuela's president, nicolas maduro, celebrated the deal. trans—mac tra ns—mac hopefully they trans—mac hopefully they will find a process of respect, equal treatment and understanding between the united states and venezuela. today, a step has been taken that will hopefully contribute to that path. live now to our reporter mimi swaby. biden emphasized that this is about encouraging venezuela into fair elections — will that work with maduro? does the us have leverage there? this is yet another sign of significant flowing between relations between the us and venezuela after months of really high—level negotiations. this comes as biden is

grappling with a worsening situation on the southern us border largely driven by venezuelan migrants pushing us federal resources to the brink. the leveraged the us has over venezuela is that washington has some economic sanctions to hold fair presidential elections next year as well as release prisoners, he says or the uss are being unfairly imprisoned in venezuela. venezuela is suffering with a severe economic crisis as hyper inflation, the economy has basically collapsed but it does have a very large oil reserves. the easing of sanctions has been welcomed really happily by venezuelans in the country who are hoping that this country whose income already heavily relies on fossil fuels finding time, that these sanctions will revive the oil economy in venezuela. i revive the oil economy in venezuela.— revive the oil economy in venezuela. ., ., ., venezuela. i want to touch on who has been _ venezuela. i want to touch on who has been released, - venezuela. i want to touch on who has been released, mrs i venezuela. i want to touch on i

who has been released, mrs -- who has been released, mrs —— specifically alex saab, a key ally of maduro. is that a win for the election? it ally of maduro. is that a win for the election?— ally of maduro. is that a win for the election? it is seen as a hue for the election? it is seen as a huge win- _ for the election? it is seen as a huge win. he _ for the election? it is seen as a huge win. he is _ for the election? it is seen as a huge win. he is a _ for the election? it is seen as a huge win. he is a closer - for the election? it is seen as| a huge win. he is a closer ally of mr maduro. he was welcomed back by the prime minister's wife as well as them being hosted at the presidential palace by maduro himself. it is thing that he has demonstrated his willingness to go to any lengths to ensure that his own members of party or allies are protected, even if that means giving up resources. that is seen is really bolstering his political support especially internally and that what he is doing is we have seen the start of the month with a referendum, trying to claim sovereignty over a large area of their neighbours. is trying to boost internal image, really showing that he is a powerful president and he can mobilise supporters in times of need, which venezuela is currently experiencing right now. i want to touch on a fugitive

essentially returning to the united states. what will he face back in america? the malaysia and businessmen, leonard francis, has been accused of corruption in a huge scandal involving the us navy. he was arrested back in 2013, he pleaded guilty to corruption charges, but while under house arrest waiting for his sentence, managed to escape. he cut off his ankle tracking tag and fled to venezuela via mexico. before his escapee was a very cooperative person with authorities, however this escape will have definitely soured and weakened his position and could be facing decades injail. he has pleaded guilty to the corruption charges he is facing but he has also been very vocal about his angerfor also been very vocal about his anger for other also been very vocal about his angerfor other us also been very vocal about his anger for other us officials, high—ranking us officials who have not been in court. we will hear more as the case develops.

thank you for unpacking that for us. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. dozens of people killed during eight months of ethnic violence in the northeastern indian state of manipur have been laid to rest in a mass ceremony. coffins were lowered into graves dug into a hillside. at least 180 people have been killed in fighting between members of the majority hindu meitei and minority christian kuki communities since may. voting in the democratic republic of congo's presidential election has been marred by delays and claims of fraud. president felix tshisekedi is facing 18 candidates as he seeks a second term. voting is not taking place at all in some parts of the country, due to the presence of armed rebel groups. voting has been extended into thursday in some areas. the us senate has confirmed 11 senior generals and admirals nearly a year after republican senator tommy tuberville delayed their nominations.

he'd been protesting the pentagon's abortion policy, but dropped his objections to the promotions following mounting pressure from those in his own party. you're live with bbc news. the united nations is saying at least 250,000 people in sudan have fled fighting in a state that was once seen as a safe haven for those escaping the ongoing civil war. the paramilitary rapid support forces — or rsf — have advanced into the east—central city of wad madhani on monday. the city housed people seeking safety from fighting in the capital, khartoum. the rsf has been accused of looting homes, raping women, and arbitrary killings and detentions in khartoum. in the first seven months of the conflict, the un estimates that more than 9,000 people have been killed. to get a better idea of the toll that the civil war is taking on sudan, i spoke to william spindler, spokesperson for the united nations high commissioner for refugees.

william, thank you forjoining us on bbc news. of course, since the civil war broke out in april in sudan is been a great deal of suffering. but i wonder what your colleagues now see on the ground in sudan and the neighbouring countries as well when people have been forced to flee to? the impact of ei . ht forced to flee to? the impact of eight months _ forced to flee to? the impact of eight months of _ forced to flee to? the impact of eight months of civil - forced to flee to? the impact of eight months of civil war l forced to flee to? the impact| of eight months of civil war in sudan has been catastrophic for the population. sudan today holds the largest number of internally displaced people in the world and the impact has been devastating in the economy, the health situation and people are suffering and as you said, the situation is affecting notjust sudan but also the neighbouring countries and the possibility of the whole region being destabilised is getting nehra and nehra. we

are extremely worried about what is happening —— cause and closer. we are considered about the difficulty of responding to the difficulty of responding to the humanitarian crisis which is intensifying by the day and as the fighting spreads, though does this displacement and more and more people are being displaced and fleeing to neighbouring countries which are themselves facing huge challenges. i are themselves facing huge challenges.— are themselves facing huge challenges. i want to ask you about some _ challenges. i want to ask you about some distressing - challenges. i want to ask you . about some distressing accounts that we have been hearing happening in the west of sudan right now. accounts of civilian men being rounded up and killed, women being raped, we heard from the uk government on this saying that the attack spare all the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing, the state department also saying that this has the echoes of the genocide which began 20 years ago. what are your colleagues on the grounds hearing about these kinds of reports? the accounts — these kinds of reports? the accounts that _ these kinds of reports? the accounts that we _ these kinds of reports? the accounts that we are -

these kinds of reports? tue: accounts that we are hearing from refugees fleeing and arriving in neighbouring countries match the accounts. the kind of stories that they tell our huge, massive scale atrocities, human rights violations, brutality, torture, sexual violence against women and children and the situation is really worrying. particularly the effects on the people who are suffering, the vast majority of the refugees who are arriving our women and children, more than 80% of them are women and children. it is really the most honourable people who are getting the brunt of this brutality. t brunt of this brutality. i wonder how you go about helping them because we have also heard

reports from other un agencies saying that we have millions of people in sudan who are on the brink of admin right now and we look at the pictures outside of the capital, khartoum, continued as strikes. are you able to get aid in right now when all of this is going on? 0nto very recently, wad madhani, where the situation is now deteriorating was relatively calm and in fact it was the humanitarian hub for operations inside sudan. wad madhani is the second largest city in the country and after the conflict started in the capital, about 500,000 people fled from the capital khartoum to the city, and this again on the move, fleeing for a second time. our capacity to help them is very limited, because of the

insecurity and the lack of access to this population and also because we don't have the resources and operations, among the organisations in sudan have been badly underfunded in the case of the refugee appeal, only about 38% of the funds that they need to do our work had been received. this is an additional concern and an additional concern and an additional challenge that we are facing. additional challenge that we are facing-— are facing. lastly, you were talkin: are facing. lastly, you were talking about _ are facing. lastly, you were talking about the _ are facing. lastly, you were talking about the refugees. talking about the refugees spreading out to neighbouring countries. and then a complicated situation with all the needs in those countries, do you also think that a possibility for the conflict itself to spread to those countries?— countries? well, the possibility _ countries? well, the possibility of - countries? well, the possibility of those l countries? well, the - possibility of those countries becoming destabilised by the conflict in sudan is a real one. if you take countries like south sudan for instance, which

had a brutal war of its own and where hundreds of thousands of people fled to sudan as refugees in the past, those people are now returning to sudan, to south sedona now they are also going there. at two south sudan. it's a complex situation where people are already fragile because of conflict, drought, instability becoming watch more prone to being destabilised and the possibility of the conflict affecting whole region is a real one. affecting whole region is a real one-— affecting whole region is a realone. ~ ., ., ~ affecting whole region is a real one. ~ ., ., ~ real one. william, thank you so much. thank— real one. william, thank you so much. thank you. _ the european union reached a breakthrough deal on wednesday on new migration rules after years of failed talks. the new laws are intended to limit the numbers of people coming in to the eu and make it easier to deport people seeking asylum. 0ur news reporter,

naomi choy smith, has more. eu member states and the european parliament have agreed on this major overhaul of their immigration policy. at its core it is intended to speed up and standardise the vetting of asylum and migrants coming into the eu from outside the block. the eu is proposing to do this with five new laws, the first of which is this preinjury screening procedure which would take place at new border detention points along the eu borders. it would involve taking biometric data from migrants, things like facial recognition technology. secondly, that you want to speed up the processing of asylum cases and also expedite the deportation of anyone who is not bound to have a valid or legitimate asylum claim. 0nly, legitimate asylum claim. only, and perhaps most crucially is what is being called this solidarity mechanism. it's a fund that eu countries would be asked to pay into to help share

and ease the burden across you countries of housing migrants that are allowed to stay within the block. eu countries would also be asked perhaps to take the overflow of migrants from southern eu countries like greece and italy, should they be unable to cope with an influx of migrants. let's look at the numbers now. of migrants coming into the eu over the years, you will see the big point on the graft is 2015, when an all—time high of1 million people came into the eu that year, mostly from war—torn countries like syria and iraq. the numbers have steadily declined but there's a slight uptick now as we 202a. you declined but there's a slight uptick now as we 2024. you are watchin: uptick now as we 2024. you are watching bbc — uptick now as we 2024. you are watching bbc news, _ uptick now as we 2024. you are watching bbc news, i'm - uptick now as we 2024. you are watching bbc news, i'm helena humphrey. join us at the top of the hour. hello. the weather in the run—up to christmas now is looking fairly unsettled, especially so over the next 24 hours because we've got a spell

of really windy weather right across the uk. the danish met service have named storm pia. now, that's moving to the north of us, but it's going to bring really windy conditions wherever you are, especially the further north. some heavy showers in the mix, too. and there's the potential for some significant travel disruption on thursday. so there's that area of low pressure, storm pia, heading towards denmark. lots of isobars on the map here and we've got really windy conditions for scotland, northern ireland, northern england, north wales too. even further south, it's going to be a blustery sort of day. so some heavy showers, especially towards the north and the west. a bit more sunshine returning across scotland through thursday morning. but look at the gusts of wind — 65—75mph, even 80mph up towards the northern isles. really windy, too, for northern ireland, the isle of man, into northern england — 50—60mph gusts. more around the exposed coasts and hills. windy too, but not quite as windy as further north for the likes of south wales and southern england. so cloud and patchy light rain in the south, sunshine and blustery, squally showers moving into the north.

even a little bit of snow over the highest ground of scotland. temperatures just 5 degrees in aberdeen, but still up to around 12 down towards the london region. so we've got the mild, cloudy and fairly damp weather in the far southwest overnight. clearer skies elsewhere as we head through into thursday morning, but then more rain returns from the west through the early hours. i think it's going to be frost—free again heading into friday morning, but the lowest temperatures will be across the northeast of the uk. so we're in the colder air there, but further towards the southwest, we've got milder air, this weather front that is the dividing line between those two air masses. heading through friday, and this area of milder air will spread its way across the uk, the winds coming in from a westerly direction. so that weather front will bring some rain initially across northern ireland, parts of england and wales, tracking its way eastwards — perhaps a little bit of snow fora time, again, over the highest ground across the north of scotland. but for most of us, it'll be rain showers and, again, temperatures between around about 5 to 12 degrees. colder than that, though, towards the northern isles.

and then looking ahead towards the festive period, it's a little bit up and down, it's fairly unsettled. mild for the next few days, perhaps things a little bit colder into boxing day. bye— bye.

red sea disruptions cause oil prices to rise.

we take a look at the impact on energy markets. and the corrupt malaysian businessman who's been extradited to the us as part of a venezuela prisoner swap. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm suranjana tewari. prepare for 90 days of red sea disruptions — that is what shipping advisors are warning clients following the recent attacks on ships by iran—backed houthi rebels. beyond supply chain and consumer good disruptions, one sector that has been feeling the heat is oil. the price of brent has climbed about 6% since they began with many energy giants like bp having to stop exporting crude through those crucial waters. 0vernight, oil prices have dipped — a slight reprieve

—— around 0.32%.