and united airlines finds loose bolts during inspections of its boeing 737 max jets. it comes after a section of an alaska airlines flight fell from the sky. a state of emergency in ecuador and a nationwide manhunt after a convicted gang leader vanishes from his prison cell. hello. i'm sumi somaskanda. thank you forjoining us. america's top diplomat antony blinken arrived in israel on monday night in an attempt to prevent the war between israel and hamas from escalating into a regional conflict. his visit comes as a suspected israeli — his visit comes as a suspected israeli drone _ his visit comes as a suspected israeli drone strike _ his visit comes as a suspected israeli drone strike killed - his visit comes as a suspected israeli drone strike killed a - israeli drone strike killed a leading _ israeli drone strike killed a leading military— israeli drone strike killed a. leading military commander for the iran—backed hezbollah

group was killed our correspondent wyre davies has been to the israeli kibbutz of kfar giladi near the lebanon border. the frontier communities of northern israel are like ghost towns. more than 80,000 people have been evacuated because of the border war between israel and hezbollah. people have been killed, houses and property damaged. this businessman and civil defence member has stayed to help his community. the scenery is beguiling but this border has always been volatile. this is one of the most beautiful parts of israel a desirable place to live. but thousands of people and businesses have been forced to leave here because of shelling coming from hezbollah positions across the border. this is notjust the short—term prospect of a wider pool —— war are worried about and why they will not return it is what will happen in the long—term. it is not only me. 85% of the population in israel, this is what they are demanding from our government. it is to take

care and demolish the threat here in southern lebanon. last month we filmed just across the border in lebanon in those frontier villages. they are being hit daily by israel because it says hezbollah is hiding in communities to launch rockets and sophisticated weapons. thousands of people have left these areas too, and many have been killed. there's loss on both sides of the border. and two high—profile assassinations have significantly raised the stakes in this border conflict. an air strike in beirut killing hamas's number two last tuesday and now a senior hezbollah commander, wissam al—tawil, targeted, it is also believed, by israel. i am not allowed to go inside. none of this is good news for those trying to make a living near the front line. this man can't bring in his valuable avocado crop. and this is rarely farmer things a wider war can be

averted. i things a wider war can be averted-— things a wider war can be averted. . ., ., ., averted. i am not afraid, most --eole averted. i am not afraid, most peeple are _ averted. i am not afraid, most peeple are not _ averted. i am not afraid, most people are not afraid, - averted. i am not afraid, most people are not afraid, they - averted. i am not afraid, mosti people are not afraid, they are looking for a solution. army and diplomacy together. you cannotjust make the army go inside and finish the war, no. diplomacy was given little chance today as israel carried out some of the heaviest bombing so far along its northern border, and with a devastating war in gaza and these developments in the north, the challenge for the us secretary of state antony blinken, arriving in israel tonight, seems almost impossible. wyre davies, bbc news, northern israel. the death of wissam al—tawil is the latest escalation linked to the war in gaza. israel's military did not comment on his death but said it had hit hezbollah targets in response to cross—border attacks. tensions spiked after hamas' deputy political leader saleh al—arouri was killed in a drone strike in beirut on tuesday. israel has not confirmed nor denied its responsibility in that attack.

a day later, the head of israel's intelligence authority mossad, vowed to hunt down every member of the massacre including where they are. no matter where they are, including in gaza where human rights group said the humanitarian situation is worsening with millions displaced. they say they say an extraordinary number of people have been killed in air strikes. with the recent string of assassinations on top commanders sparking fears of a wider regional conflict, i spoke with stephen rapp, former us ambassador—at—large for war crimes issues for global criminaljustice. we are seeing strikes that are killing hamas and hezbollah leaders and we are hearing from the israelis that their campaign is shifting somewhat towards targeted assassinations. what do you make of this? there are questions of law and there are questions of whether this is wise in terms of maintaining a limitation on the gaza operation. but in terms of law, the question as always, is it a legitimate military target? and certainly a commander of a military force that is actually involved

in that attack against israel, or any other party, can be appropriately attacked and targeted artillery and they can be done under the laws of war, certainly within the battlefield area, the bigger question is whether it can be done in a third country. if i could jump in there and ask you... that is indeed the question... what if those attacks are carried out in a third country? under international law, it is possible to take action against an imminent threat. that presents itself from the territory of a third country, provided that country is unwilling or unable to do anything to suppress that threat. and in such an operation it is stated it has to be extremely limited and proportionate to the threat that that individual or commander presents.

obviously this is controversial, countries don't want attacks on their own soil. it most often happens when that country does not control its own territory or where the armed group is essentially supported by political leadership of the country or that political leadership is too weak to counted that for. to counter that force. israel is continuing to bomb gaza. the us president calls this an indiscriminate bombing campaign. we have seen the un and other international organisations accusing israel of collective punishment of civilians in gaza. is this campaign — does it constitute a war crime? whether particular actions constitute war crimes is a legal question and it depends upon the target and it does not depend unnecessarily what the outcome of the attack was. there is in conflict always situations in which innocent

civilians are killed unintentionally, and particularly that happens when the conflict is fought in built up urban areas. law requires however that the attacking force distinguish between military and civilian targets, that it only goes after the military target or if there is a possibility of civilian loss it is maximises the maximum precautions to prevent it and any sort of civilian loss of life that can't be prevented through precaution — i just want to be clear that sometimes seeing it is impossible to give a satisfactory answer when one would like to know yes or no. when there is loss of life it is tragic, it inflames a population. it alienates them for ever, has diplomatic repercussions

around the world and certainly the kind of guidance the us administration is giving is solid on the law to make sure that every attack, everything that occurs is consistent with the law, but also to look at the political and human repercussions, which go outside the law but can affect the possibility of ever having a lasting peace in this region. we will have to leave it there. thank you so much for joining us on bbc news. us defense secretary lloyd austin was still in the hospital monday, a week after he was admitted to intensive care for an undisclosed illness. the pentagon says he has returned to full duties. however, the secrecy of austin's hospital stay has raised concerns about transparency problems from the nation's top security establishment. here's what we know so far. on december 22, austin had an elective medical procedure while on leave, returning home the next day.

the secretary was admitted to the intensive care unit at walter reed medical center on new year's day after experiencing �*severe pain�*. on january 2, austin transferred his authority to deputy defence secretary kathleen hicks, but it would not be until three days after his hospitalisation that the defence department officially notified hicks and the white house national security council of austin's hospitalisation. four days after austin's visit, the pentagon notified congress and the public. 0njanuary 6, austin released a statement taking full responsibility for the delay, saying he "could have done a betterjob" of informing the public. president biden is not considering firing the defense secretary according to reporting by the bbc�*s us partner, cbs. nebraska congressman don bacon told the bbc why he believes the top us defence official failing to communicate a serious hospital stay poses a national security risk.

thank you forjoining us. you are a former air force general and aware of the chain of command. what is your view of this apparent communications reach down? —— breakdown. it was a failed judgement by the secretary of defense ata minimum. to be out of pocket for three days where the white house did not know he was unavailable for any kind of emergency, command and control communications, and that his own deputy did not know he was really unavailable. she was on vacation in puerto rico. it is a terrible mistake in judgement and i want to just relay the importance of this — i used to work with nuclear weapons and russian and china have weapons today that can strike our country, indeed all of our allies, within 15 minutes. we have to have a very confident nuclear command and control capability and have to know where that chain of command is that

at an all—times. and for the president to not know who is the number two person in the chain of command for the military, with the president being number one, that is a disaster. and the people underneath the secretary of defence not knowing either. so with the nuclear command control that is zero fail mission and it showed a disregard and carelessness from our leadership here. but we also have russia, china, iran, we have rebels shooting ships in the red sea and conduct strikes against the iranians back to militia ups in the east. how is this happening that there was nobody in the secretary of defence role clearly in the seat. there were a lot of questions and a failure ofjudgement at minimum.— failure ofjudgement at minimum. ., , minimum. how should president biden have _ minimum. how should president biden have handled _ minimum. how should president biden have handled this, -

minimum. how should president biden have handled this, do - minimum. how should president biden have handled this, do you| biden have handled this, do you think? i biden have handled this, do you think? ~' biden have handled this, do you think? ~ , ., think? i think it is a little early to _ think? i think it is a little early to say _ think? i think it is a little early to say but - think? i think it is a little early to say but thus - think? i think it is a little early to say but thus farl think? i think it is a little | early to say but thus far all we have heard from him is that he does not plan on relieving the secretary of defence and i think we should hear more. he has not really... relayed to the american people the importance of having a clear chain of command. not only for the public to see but also behind—the—scenes. the president should know where that number one person in the chain of command for the military who reports to him and those beneath the secretary should know if that leader will be there. i've not heard the seriousness of what happened being conveyed by the white house and they should do a betterjob. house and they should do a betterjob— house and they should do a betterjob. better 'ob. should secretary austin betterjob. should secretary austin himself _ betterjob. should secretary austin himself be _ betterjob. should secretary| austin himself be sanctioned betterjob. should secretary - austin himself be sanctioned or perhaps even offered to step down? i perhaps even offered to step down? ~ , ., , .,

down? i think it is early to sa . down? i think it is early to say- too _ down? i think it is early to say. too early _ down? i think it is early to say. too early to - down? i think it is early to say. too early to ask - down? i think it is early to say. too early to ask for i down? i think it is early to say. too early to ask for a | say. too early to ask for a resignation or to be fired but we have not heard from the white house or the secretary of defence in the pentagon and communicating as such the seriousness of what this is about. we are a world superpower with 400 intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine launched missiles. you have to know where the secretary of defence is out. and for him be out of pocket for three days and he was missing at meetings of the wild —— white house and there was no number two there. this whole thing leads us to ask who was in charge and how could they not know he was unavailable for these meetings? i want to hear the white house communicate just how important this is an figure out that they have learned this valuable lesson and if they are going to

fix it. �* . ., lesson and if they are going to fix it. �* _, ., a lesson and if they are going to fixit. �* fix it. and if i could ask you about something _ fix it. and if i could ask you about something else, - about something else, the bipartisan spending agreement that has >> johnson that has >>johnson and others announced yesterday, dashmac speaker mike johnson. is there, what is looming there? it johnson. is there, what is looming there?— johnson. is there, what is looming there? it is not 100% ofthe looming there? it is not 10096 of the republicans, _ looming there? it is not 10096 of the republicans, hundred l looming there? it is not 10096| of the republicans, hundred 96 of the republicans, hundred % of the republicans, hundred % of the republicans, hundred % of the democrats but i think you will get two—thirds of congress voting for this. i will support it. it was the agreement that speaker mccarthy at the time made with president biden. it is a balanced compromised that cut spending by $2 trillion but it is within both the republican and the democratic power levels with those reductions so i think it is a smart consensus plan. we should have been able to do this in september and october,

frankly, but we allowed a few people to drag us around needlessly. i guess all along from summer until now we will fall back on the agreement that mccarthy and biden had. it will have overwhelming support in the house. have overwhelming support in the house-— have overwhelming support in the house. thank you for that. what this _ the house. thank you for that. what this space _ the house. thank you for that. what this space to _ the house. thank you for that. what this space to see - the house. thank you for that. what this space to see what i what this space to see what happens next. thank you very much forjoining us. during inspections ordered by the federal aviation administration. alaska airlines is also reported loose hardware on a number of the aircraft. airlines began inspecting more than 100 boeing 3737 max nine jets on monday after an explosive depressurisation incident happened on the weekend. investigators have also revealed that alaska airlines had placed

restrictions on the airline on the days before the accident, preventing it from making long—haulflights preventing it from making long—haul flights over water. and after days of searching, investigators said they have now found the missing section of the plane. i am excited to announce that we have found the door plug. thank you, bob. bob — i will not give you bob's last name — but bob contacted us with two photos of the door plug and said he found it in his backyard. we're going to go pick that up and make sure we begin analysing it. a number of personal items have been found from the flight, including a apple iphone. it was discovered in a bush perfectly intact, not even a cracked screen. 21 people have been injured in a major gas explosion at the sandman hotel in fort worth, texas. as you can see, the explosion caused extensive damage

to the hotel. authorities say one person was in critical condition and two are in serious condition. the local fire department said witnesses reported smelling gas before the explosion. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. idris elba is calling on the british government to immediately ban the sale of certain knives and machetes. the actor says such actions could help prevent further deaths among young people. elba has teamed up with victims' families to launch a campaign to address the increase in serious knife crime. it is a nationwide issue and the government needs to just look at it as an issue that is not proportionally black, is not london. the highest crime rates are in the midlands right now. we really need to think about this outside the colour of our skin. i'm not here is a celebrity, i'm here as a human being, as a parent. as part of the don't stop your future campaign, piles of neatly folded

clothes were laid across london's parliament square to represent those who've died from knife crime. police figures for england and wales show that around 247 people lost their lives due to knife crime in the year ending lastjune. the number of people treated for stabbing injuries from black, asian and "other ethnicities" was far higher than for white patients. you're live with bbc news. a maximum—security prison cell. daniel noboa announced a 60 day order on monday, a day before fito vanished. a police commander said he could neither confirm or deny and escape. he was sentenced to 34 years in prison back in 2011 for various

crimes, including murderand crimes, including murder and drug crimes, including murderand drug extortion. authorities have linked los choneros to lots of different crime, again including extortion, murder, drug trafficking dash they also accuse this organisation of controlling the main gangs in the country. how did he manage to escape?— to escape? details are still emerging- _ to escape? details are still emerging- we _ to escape? details are still emerging. we are - to escape? details are still emerging. we are not - to escape? details are stilll emerging. we are not 10096 to escape? details are still - emerging. we are not 10096 sure emerging. we are not 100% sure yet. because this huge powerful gang is thought to control many of the prisons across ecuador, many people think that would have had a part to play. with seen videos on social media circulating of un— uniformed guards in prisons being surrounded by inmates hoarded with knives and machetes. a lot of violence at play here. were not sure exactly on the details but this man—hunt is under way for him. he is considered the

most dangerous and the most wanted criminal in ecuador. so a huge effort has gone on trying to find him. alongside the sick security crisis, this escape of fito has been seen as a bit of an embarrassment for the president as he took office in november promising to tackle organised crime and is searching rise of gang—related violence in recent years, ecuador has been plagued by violence feuds between inmates of rival gangs, which has often resulted in really bloodied massacres of inmates. 0fficial massacres of inmates. official figures say that more than 400 inmates have been victims, have died in such massacres in such clashes between rival gangs in prison since 2001. a huge surge of violence which is the recently new president is trying to grapple with again.

we are seeing this emergency as we said, tell us what is happening in ecuador as they try to find this escaped fellon. , , ., ., fellon. this state of emergency. - fellon. this state of emergency, filing i fellon. this state of l emergency, filing this fellon. this state of - emergency, filing this decree basically means that search and rescue, search operations, this man—hunt, can go ahead across ecuador without needing a warrant. really given all the political help needed to try to find this individual. this state of emergency could last up state of emergency could last up to 60 days and it also includes overnight curfew. people are being told to stay inside during certain hours. are taking it extremely seriously. it is not the first time ecuador has seen state of emergencies, especially nature and wide, as they has been a surge in violence. the surge in violence both inside and outside of its prisons has been linked to fighting between different drug cartels, local and foreign, over the control of cocaine routes to both the us and uk.

of cocaine routes to both the us and uk-_ us and uk. let's get a quick look at other _ us and uk. let's get a quick look at other headlines - us and uk. let's get a quick| look at other headlines now. political commentators say macron is under pressure to overhaul his government before european elections injune. that's especially after recent legislative setbacks and widespread public protest over pension reform. franz beckenbauer, widely recognised as the best defendable time, has died at the age of 78. e1 the world cup as captains of west germany in 1974 and again as manager in 1990. he wonder ballon d'or as manager in 1990. he wonder ballon d'0rfor being as manager in 1990. he wonder ballon d'or for being the best player twice. ballon d'or for being the best playertwice. dozens ballon d'or for being the best player twice. dozens of farmers are blocked city centres across germany and a nationwide protests in protest against your subsidy. protests in protest against yoursubsidy. pharma protests in protest against your subsidy. pharma say the loss of the payments will make them uncompetitive by raising their cost. the government says it is a necessary fixed to a

budget crisis after its spending plans were ruled unconstitutional. as our jessica parker reports, the dispute is threatening to bring down the coalition government, with support for the growing right—wing party. this is not your average monday in germany's autobahns. some farmers are even taking their fight and their tractors into the heart of berlin. like yen's who grows crops in germany's northeast. who grows crops in germany's northeast-— northeast. politics for the last 10-15 _ northeast. politics for the last 10-15 years _ northeast. politics for the last 10-15 years that - northeast. politics for the last 10-15 years that had l northeast. politics for the - last 10-15 years that had only last 10—15 years that had only a negative approach to farming. full of rules and regulations, thatis full of rules and regulations, that is a problem. there is no other industry in germany that is limited by red tape.- is limited by red tape. these rotests is limited by red tape. these protests were _ is limited by red tape. these protests were sparked - is limited by red tape. these protests were sparked by - is limited by red tape. these i protests were sparked by plans to phase out certain diesel fuel subsidies as the three party traffic light coalition government grapples with a budget crisis. that there is a wider wave of political discontent that the far—right

is trying to catch, the alternative for deutschland party has been reaching record highs in the poll. do you mind that your cause is being harnessed by the far—right? translation: we make agricultural policies and political demands. whoever su - orts political demands. whoever supports these _ political demands. whoever supports these demands . political demands. whoever supports these demands is| supports these demands is beyond our control.- supports these demands is beyond our control. farm trucks and tractors _ beyond our control. farm trucks and tractors parked _ beyond our control. farm trucks and tractors parked up - beyond our control. farm trucks and tractors parked up right - and tractors parked up right next to berlin's iconic brandenburg gate. it is bank incongruous but striking image and wonder plays into this sense that germany's coalition government is beleaguered, even under siege and playing right into its political enemy's hand. there are fears of a drift into a darker more radicalised politics. last week a very carrying germany's vice chancellor was mary storm by a angry crowd. the manage charges criticism is part of democracy

but... in criticism is part of democracy but... ., ., . criticism is part of democracy but... ., w ., but... in view of the fact that the government _ but... in view of the fact that the government has - but... in view of the fact that the government has made i the government has made concessions to farmers, i think it is also important to keep things in proportion and strike the right balance. this should also be a concern for all democrats.— also be a concern for all democrats. , ., democrats. there will be more rollinu democrats. there will be more rolling travel _ democrats. there will be more rolling travel disruption - democrats. there will be more rolling travel disruption this . rolling travel disruption this week, trained ragas due to go on strike. 2024 brings gloomy economic forecast for germany, but the sound of political discord has already arrived. jessica parker, bbc news and berlin. that is a show at this hours. thank you for watching bbc news and do stay with us. hello. the week has got off to a cold start. some of us even got to see some snow on monday. tuesday will be another cold day, but it should be largely dry with a bit more in the way of sunshine. high pressure is in charge of the scene right now, centred across the north

of the uk, where you can see the isobars squeezing together further south. well, that shows quite a strong wind. and where you're exposed to that wind, it is going to feel very cold indeed through the day ahead. a widespread frost and some icy stretches through tuesday morning. fog could also be an issue in the northern half of the uk, especially in the north of scotland, where some of that fog could linger for a good part of the day. this area of cloud across the southwest of england producing some wintry showers, more cloud rolling in across the eastern side of scotland and northeast england through the afternoon. again, that could bring some wintry showers. most places, though, dry with some spells of sunshine. temperatures on the thermometer — 3, 4 or 5 degrees. but when we factor in the strength of the wind, particularly across southern areas, these are the feels—like temperatures, including that wind chill, it will feel subzero for many. now, as we head through tuesday night, clear skies for the most part, although more cloud rolling in across scotland and northern england. that may hold the temperatures up to some degree, but for the majority,

it is going to be a cold night. temperatures dropping below freezing in many locations. so quite a widespread frost to take us into wednesday. again, there will be some spells of sunshine, but we will see more cloud filtering its way in from the northeast, affecting scotland, northern england, perhaps getting into the midlands, wales, maybe even northern ireland through the day. best of the sunshine down towards the south. still feeling quite cold, but notice those temperatures not quite as low further north. we will have some slightly less cold air feeding in around our area of high pressure, the high slightly changing shape, so that's what will be bringing some slightly less cold air, but also more in the way of cloud. so thursday and friday, generally quite cloudy but not quite as cold. temperatures getting up to around 7 or 8 degrees, around the seasonal average. however, as we go through the weekend, it looks like this cold front will slip its way southwards and that will reintroduce some cold air from the north. as that cold air floods its way southwards, well, it will bring the chance of snow showers as we head through next week.

bye for now.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk.

i'm stephen sackur. politicians in the west scanning the 2024 horizon see storm clouds gathering. war in the middle east could easily escalate. putin's determination to crush ukraine's resistance is undimmed. taiwan's coming election adds to fears of china's intentions. and in america, democracy itself is going to be tested in the presidential race. my guest is alicia kearns, conservative mp and chair of the uk house of commons foreign affairs select committee. is the weakness and vulnerability of liberal democracy about to be exposed?