we are less than 2a hours away from the casting of the first votes of the first stage of 2024 us presidential election. here in iowa, republican voters will gather across the state for its caucuses monday evening to kick off the party's nomination process. this town—hall style voting with secret ballots is a critical indicator of how voters here are feeling and the results here can have a significant impact on the momentum of presidential campaigns. the democratic party will also begin its candidate nomination process here. former us president donald trump begins caucus day with major momentum to win the state, with candidates such as governor ron desantis and former governor and ambassador nikki haley competing to take his place as leader of the party. it's set to be a historic night, notjust because of the political drama surrounding former president donald trump and his republican primary challengers but because of the frigid weather. in the past week,

iowa has been rocked by blizzards, with life—threatening temperatures. heavy snowfall has made travel difficult and dangerous. and on monday, when voters head to the in—person caucuses the temperatures will fall dangerously low. here in des moines, the national weather service predicts a high of —1 degree fahrenheit. that's —18 degrees celsius. the low is forecast to be —10 degrees fahrenheit, or —23 degrees celsius. things are more dire when you consider wind—chill effects. those stepping out the door may feel like they are experiencing temperatures of —30 degrees fahrenheit, or —34 degrees celsius. that hasn't stopped some volunteers who continued to canvass through the snow in the race's final days. but will the majority of voters brave the bitter temperatures to attend the in—person caucuses? experts are watching to see if and how turnout in monday's voting is impacted by the extreme weather. the candidates spent sunday imploring voters to plan to vote monday while giving their closing

arguments to voters on why they should lead the party forward. no matter how hard they try it does not make any difference we will never give up, we will never surrender. will never give up, we will neversurrender. in will never give up, we will never surrender. in the end we're going win, win, win. if you want to win with us and caucus_ you want to win with us and caucus if_ you want to win with us and caucus if you bring friends and family— caucus if you bring friends and family with you when you do it, i promise — family with you when you do it, i promise you our best days are yet to— i promise you our best days are yet to come. i promise you our best days are yet to come-— yet to come. three i will help us to victory _ yet to come. three i will help us to victory across _ yet to come. three i will help us to victory across the - yet to come. three i will help us to victory across the land. | us to victory across the land. i will— us to victory across the land. i will be _ us to victory across the land. i will be a _ us to victory across the land. i will be a leader— us to victory across the land. i will be a leader you - us to victory across the land. i will be a leader you can- us to victory across the land. i will be a leader you can bel i will be a leader you can be proud — i will be a leader you can be proud of— i will be a leader you can be proud of and _ i will be a leader you can be proud of and as _ i will be a leader you can be proud of and as your - i will be a leader you can be . proud of and as your president i will_ proud of and as your president i will win— proud of and as your president i will win these fights - proud of and as your president i will win these fights for - proud of and as your president i will win these fights for utdi i will win these fights for utd i will win these fights for utd i will— i will win these fights for utd i will leave _ i will win these fights for utd i will leave this _ i will win these fights for utd i will leave this country - i will win these fights for utd i will leave this country and l i will win these fights for utd i will leave this country and i | i will leave this country and i promise _ i will leave this country and i promise i_ i will leave this country and i promise i not— i will leave this country and i promise i not let _ i will leave this country and i promise i not let you - i will leave this country and i promise i not let you down. i i want to take al america first movement to the next level. america first does not belong to me it does not belong to trump. it belongs to you. donald trump has led

the republican field since he entered the race in late 2022. throughout the last year, a slew of republicans threw their hats in the ring as alternatives to the former president. debates were held without the former president, who declined every invitation tojoin his rivals on stage. but his support remained remarkably steady — he has led by a wide margin in poll after poll among likely republican primary voters. in the well—respected des moines register poll with nbc news released saturday night, 48% of respondents said they would vote for donald trump. 20% for former south carolina governor nikki haley. 16% for florida governor ron desantis. and less than 10% said they will vote for businessman vivek ramaswamy. the bbc�*s carl nasman is here in iowa, currently following florida governor ron desantis. what can you tell us? how has he been received over voters. people they intend to caucus for him? i

people they intend to caucus for him? . ., ., ., for him? i am hot on the trail and ou for him? i am hot on the trail and you can _ for him? i am hot on the trail and you can probably - for him? i am hot on the trail and you can probably see - and you can probably see governor desantis over my shoulder there. governor desantis over my shoulderthere. he governor desantis over my shoulder there. he is in the middle of a campaign speech right now making a last—ditch pitch to voters in iowa to get them to turn out tomorrow night on caucus night despite the cold temperatures. he got a raucous welcome here and a big round of applause and a lot of cheers from the audience here. we are always trying to read the tea leaves and read the level of enthusiasm among voters. he says that the voters who deserve a nominee that will fight for them not for his own issues and he says that donald trump is a nominee that will not put you first. he also says a decision made tonight, tomorrow night, excuse me, will affect the country for the next 20-30 affect the country for the next 20—30 years. in terms of support as i can see some of them here, they are not worried. they say it will

favour desantis —— desantis. in favour desantis -- desantis. in m favour desantis —— desantis. in my opinion he has proven he can -et my opinion he has proven he can get things— my opinion he has proven he can get things done and i like the way somebody else commented that he — way somebody else commented that he will continue with some of the — that he will continue with some of the policies that were put in place _ of the policies that were put in place and priorities that were — in place and priorities that were put in place by trump but without — were put in place by trump but without all the drama and i thought— without all the drama and i thought that was a perfect way to say — thought that was a perfect way to say it — thought that was a perfect way to say it. he is a man of his word — to say it. he is a man of his word i_ to say it. he is a man of his word i love _ to say it. he is a man of his word. i love that he is not about _ word. i love that he is not about himself but about the peopie _ about himself but about the people he always says i am doing — people he always says i am doing this for you. i am not doing — doing this for you. i am not doing it _ doing this for you. i am not doing it for me. that is why. i doing it for me. that is why. think his doing it for me. that is why. i think his record in florida over the last few years has proven enough. he is the only candidate that has led in counties and i think he will do well tomorrow.— counties and i think he will do well tomorrow. raucous support there for the _ well tomorrow. raucous support there for the governor _ well tomorrow. raucous support there for the governor at - well tomorrow. raucous support there for the governor at that i there for the governor at that rally big given that the polls

are showing potentially a record victory for donald trump here in some way has the focus of the governor moved on to what comes next?— of the governor moved on to what comes next? thank you. thank you _ what comes next? thank you. thank you so _ what comes next? thank you. thank you so much. _ what comes next? thank you. thank you so much. that - what comes next? thank you. thank you so much. that was| thank you so much. that was desantis _ thank you so much. that was desantis wrapping _ thank you so much. that was desantis wrapping up - thank you so much. that was desantis wrapping up his - thank you so much. that was i desantis wrapping up his speech here in iowa but speaking of donald trump his focus right now is on trying to achieve a massive victory here in iowa, potentially a record victory and perhaps even more than 50% for the former president who believes that that could show that there is no legitimate challenger to him in this primary nomination process as we move towards november. he's back out on the campaign trail after skipping a couple in—person events due to the weather. this is the scene being played out across the state now. 2a hours left to go. briefly, the weather does not seem to have had an impact on

people turning out where you are. perhaps these fears about caucus night are unfounded? taste caucus night are unfounded? we have caucus night are unfounded? - have been speaking with people hear about that whether in these temperatures are very cold and what many people have told us is that they still intend to come out and caucus for their candidate of choice. let me give you a little tidbit about how cold it is. we saw a big campaign bus pull up outside and the front of the bus was literally frozen with ice right over it. but many iowans here say it is cold but they are used to cold weather and they can do this. there are so many caucus sites around they can find one nearby. but they can find one nearby. but the enthusiasm here tonight for ron desantis is strong.- ron desantis is strong. thank ou ve ron desantis is strong. thank you very much _ ron desantis is strong. thank you very much for _ ron desantis is strong. thank you very much for that. -

for more on iowa and the significant impact it will have on the campaign, i am joined by erin murphy, des moines bureau chief for the gazette. we have heard so much discussion about the weather and i know that iowans are tough and i used to this but the caucus will see people having to travel at a very specific time for a very small period of time. what impact do you think it will have? it period of time. what impact do you think it will have?- you think it will have? it will be interesting. _ you think it will have? it will be interesting. you - you think it will have? it will be interesting. you are - you think it will have? it will| be interesting. you are right. we have been through winters like this so to a certain degree we're used to it but that are talking about, you know, spectacularly low windchill here. in the 30—a0 below zero range. that is dangerous levels and that is stuff that could make some people think twice about going out on monday night at 7pm, having to drive perhaps in one of the rural areas of the state where you are notjust going down the street to a church or school but you may have to drive 15 miles to your site. so thatis drive 15 miles to your site. so that is the big question to

watch, how much does that affect turn out? we are a hardy bunch but we do have our limits. �* , ., limits. and if there is an im act limits. and if there is an impact on _ limits. and if there is an impact on people - limits. and if there is an - impact on people decide that it is too dark and dangerous will that benefit? i is too dark and dangerous will that benefit?— that benefit? i could make an argument _ that benefit? i could make an argument for _ that benefit? i could make an argument for any _ that benefit? i could make an argument for any number - that benefit? i could make an argument for any number of i argument for any number of candidates. donald trump has brought in his own kind of group to the republican party and maybe they are not the traditional long time party caucus —goers so maybe some of those people. nikki haley has been appealing to moderates and independents voters and that is part of her lua. perhaps some of them are not motivated. so i think, i don't know that we know that for show and it will be interesting and places a bigger emphasis on campaign organisations, the people whose job it is on campaign stuff to get people to turn out. those people will be put to the test tomorrow. people will be put to the test tomorrow— people will be put to the test tomorrow. now we have seen donald trump _ tomorrow. now we have seen

donald trump so _ tomorrow. now we have seen donald trump so far- tomorrow. now we have seen donald trump so far ahead i tomorrow. now we have seen donald trump so far ahead ofj donald trump so far ahead of the other candidates in all of the other candidates in all of the polls and in the two poles we have seen over the last 2a hours or so. is there any twist of the universe that sees the final outcome being different to that was to mark i have a really hard time believing, projecting that donald trump does not win tomorrow night. the open question is what does the margin look like? he had a massively and boldly that meant lead in pulling throughout this and i think the big question is can nikki haley or ron desantis close that gap and do a little better. does donald trump maybe lose a little of his support and does that gap shrink a little bit and then make this look a little more competitive moving out of iowa into new hampshire. that is the big question but i do not see donald trump not finishing anything but first place in iowa. ~ �* , ., ., iowa. we've been here for a few da s iowa. we've been here for a few days talking _ iowa. we've been here for a few days talking to _ iowa. we've been here for a few days talking to people _ iowa. we've been here for a few days talking to people around i days talking to people around iowa and there is massive support for the former president and people have said things to me like we know what we're getting with him and we liked what he did before. they

may not have liked everything he did before. but the voters in this state do bend conservatively, and they like what they think there. i have been saying _ what they think there. i have been saying for— what they think there. i have been saying for a _ what they think there. i have been saying for a long - what they think there. i have been saying for a long time i what they think there. i have i been saying for a long time now that i know some people have a distrust of poles that i have not seen anything on the ground here in iowa that suggests the poles are off. we go to events with the former president and they are huge events and at other people show up, people who are there are excited to see him and they are firmly in his corner and nothing will change their mind. so, yeah, he still clearly has a strong measure of support within a large share of the republican party here and you see evidence every time he comes here. the caucus starts — every time he comes here. the caucus starts at _ every time he comes here. the caucus starts at seven o'clock local time. caucus starts at seven o'clock local time-— caucus starts at seven o'clock local time. ~ .. , . local time. when can we expect the result? _ local time. when can we expect the result? we _ local time. when can we expect the result? we will— local time. when can we expect the result? we will start - local time. when can we expect the result? we will start to - the result? we will start to see the smaller precincts in the more rural areas rolling in around eight o'clock local time and then the bigger communities

will take a little longer because they have more to count. so i would say in the 9-10 count. so i would say in the 9—10 range local time we start to have a pretty good feel for the direction that things are heading. the direction that things are headina. , ., . , heading. the democratic party has no particular— heading. the democratic party has no particular contest - heading. the democratic partyj has no particular contest there this year but they start their processor tomorrow as well don't they?— processor tomorrow as well don't they? processor tomorrow as well don't the ? , ., , ., , don't they? they do but what is interesting _ don't they? they do but what is interesting about _ don't they? they do but what is interesting about it _ don't they? they do but what is interesting about it is _ don't they? they do but what is interesting about it is the - interesting about it is the national democratic party did make a little change the schedule so iowa democrats will meet and they are going to vote for the presidential candidate but they are not going to announce the results of those democratic votes until a few weeks down the road because the national party moved iowa and south carolina is now going first. this is not a huge deal because there is an incumbent president so there is not expected to have any drama in that outcome.— expected to have any drama in that outcome. and we move onto the next stage — that outcome. and we move onto the next stage after— that outcome. and we move onto the next stage after that. - that outcome. and we move onto the next stage after that. but - the next stage after that. but iowans are proud of their position, aren't they as first in the nation.—

in the nation. they are and they take _ in the nation. they are and they take it _ in the nation. they are and they take it seriously - in the nation. they are and they take it seriously and l they take it seriously and folks often go out to see these candidates multiple times, they like to be able to shake their hands and look them in the eye and ask them a question that they have so iowa ands are very dedicated to this process. we will wait to — dedicated to this process. we will wait to see what happens. thank you so much forjoining us on bbc news. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. thousands have attended a pro—israel rally in london to mark 100 days since the seven october attacks and call for the release of all hostages from gaza. people gathered in trafalgar square carrying israeli flags and holding pictures of some of the 132 people still believed to be being held. the french coastguard says five people attempting to cross the english channel in a small boat died early

on sunday morning. it's understood more than 70 people, including children, were on board when the boat got into difficulty in french waters. dozens were rescued. on saturday, the british authorities brought about 50 migrants ashore in what was the first attempt to cross the english channel since the middle of december because of poor weather. six people have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to disrupt the london stock exchange after police were passed information by a newspaper. scotland yard says activists from the palestine action group, were allegedly plotting to target the building to prevent its opening tomorrow. you're live with bbc news. sunday marked 100 days since hamas launched its attack on israel, when more than 1200 people were killed. the attacks sparked israel's deadliest war against hamas to date. over 200 people have been taken hostage and are now captive in gaza. the families of those hostages held a 24—hour rally in tel aviv, renewing calls that the remaining 136 hostages be returned home. hamas has released footage showing three of the hostages seized on october 7.

in the footage, the woman and two men appeal for israeli authorities to take action to ensure their release. it's unclear when the footage was filmed. this is a still taken from that footage. meanwhile, israel's military campaign has reduced much of gaza to rubble with the hamas—run health ministry saying that in the last 2a hours, 125 people have been killed in fresh attacks. nearly 2a,000 palestinians have been killed since the war began. israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu remains defiant in his stance to continue the war until a "total victory". wyre davies reports. a solemn commemoration as israel marked its most traumatic period since independence 75 years ago. 0ver 2a hours, thousands of people gathered in tel aviv in a collective sense of grief to mourn the dead of october 7 and to support the families of those abducted to gaza 100 days ago.

there's three generations of my family that has been disappeared. three generations of my family that disappeared. and the world is keeping silence and asking us to stop and stay calm. i cannot... i cannot get it any more. many here say that october 7 changed israel forever. israelis feel more vulnerable than ever. and while their priority remains releasing the remaining hostages, they support their government's war aims in gaza and there are very few voices now calling for tolerance and coexistence. just after dawn 100 days ago, thousands of heavily armed hamas fighters stormed through the border fence, attacking kibbutzes, military bases and a music festival. 1,200 people were killed along the length of the border as israeli defences were caught

completely by surprise. later that same day, israel embarked on an unprecedented bombing campaign in gaza. its goal — the complete destruction of hamas and its support structure. much of the territory from gaza city in the north to khan younis in the south has been destroyed and the number of civilians killed in gaza has been huge — very nearly 2a,000 dead, according to the hamas—run health ministry, many of them women and children. it's a situation the un's humanitarian chief has described as "intolerable". faten abu shahada needs regular kidney dialysis and her family has been forced to move south. home is now a plastic tent in khan younis.

translation: gaza j has been destroyed. there is no gaza left, no hospitals, no education. our children have lost their school year. gaza is no longer alive. it is not alive anymore. israel says it won't stop fighting until hamas is completely defeated. the war could continue for weeks, perhaps months. the immediate future across the region, and especially in gaza, looks very bleak. wyre davies, bbc news. reports from yemen say that there have been more strikes on sites under the control of the houthis. a houthi—controlled news website says air strikes have again hit the port city of hudaydah. the us has not yet confirmed that it's carried out another wave of strikes in its bid to stop the group from disrupting global trade with attacks on shipping in the red sea.

the us—led strikes in recent days have also involved support from allies, including the united kingdom. earlier, the british foreign secretary david cameron told the bbc that london was ready to take part in any further action if the need arose. no, the escalation has been caused by the houthis. i mean, the point is since the 19th of november you have had these 26 attacks and there have been more of them and they are getting worse and not acting is also a policy and it's a policy that doesn't work. we've seen the escalation take place. what we are doing is saying your actions have a consequence. we've given these warnings. we very much treated military action as a last resort. strike themselves were limited, proportionate, targeted, legal, but they were also necessary. two female iranian journalists who were jailed for reporting on the death of mahsa amini have been released on bail. niloufar hamedia and elaheh mohammadi have spent 17 months in detention after being given sentences of 13 and 12 years

in prison respectively. anger over mahsa amini's death sparked months of mass protests demanding an end to the compulsory hijab for iranian women. a volcano has erupted near the fishing town of grindavik, in the south—west of iceland. these pictures, from a little earlier today, show some houses set on fire by the molten lava. this eruption follows a similar eruption in the same area last month but this time, it's much closer to the town. people living in homes nearby have already left the area and local authorities have declared an emergency. grindavik lies about aokm from iceland's capital, reykjavik. 0ur correspondentjessica parker has the latest. this was a worst—case scenario that's now unfolding in front of the world's eyes. a wave of molten rock is carving its way into what was a thriving fishing town. grindavik�*s been evacuated — again — but abandoned homes and businesses lie in the path of an overwhelming natural force. this, it appears, was

the first house to fall. translation: while this i is a bit surreal to watch your family home just disappear, i'm still realising what's happening. trucks building defensive barriers against the lava suddenly found it surging towards them. fiery liquid burst out into the open on sunday morning. another fissure then tore up through the earth. the icelandic president tonight addressed the nation. translation: today is a black day for grindavik and today - is a black day for iceland but the sun will rise again. together, we will deal with this shock, whatever may happen. we reported from grindavik back in november, before eruptions began. people had to pack up their belongings as earthquakes ripped the town apart. this is now the second eruption on the reykjanes peninsula

within a month and follows several others in recent years. before that, this part of iceland hadn't seen volcanic activity for 800 years. there was a period called the reykjanes fires, and that's when multiple fissures just opened up on the peninsula, kind of sporadically, and did pretty much what we're seeing today. and then, it went quiet for 800 years and then, it now seems, since 2021, we've began a sort of new volcanic era. people here are no strangers to earthquakes and eruptions but this kind of potential destruction of people's homes and livelihoods hasn't happened for half a century. translation: i think the point is that we've had quite a lot - of experience in dealing with this, even though this is perhaps the most serious threat of volcanic eruptions in iceland since january 1973. the land of fire and ice

is an endless display of nature's awesome power. this time, what's playing out makes for an astounding but awful sight. jessica parker, bbc news. the swearing—in of guatemala's anti—corruption president—elect bernardo arevalo has been delayed by his opponents in congress amid tense scenes outside. his supporters have been threatening to storm the chamber, unless deputies move forward. they say there's a last—ditch attempt to keep him from power in central america's largest country, which has been plagued by corruption for years. mr arevalo — who won august's vote by a wide margin — has faced numerous legal challenges brought by an attorney general seen as loyal to the previous administration. he's called these challenges an attempted coup. washington has threatened sanctions against guatemalan officials, unless the transition of power is allowed. the security forces in ecuador are working to regain control of prisons that have been taken over by drugs gangs. video footage released by the army moving into one

jail in the city of machala. hundreds of inmates were shown stripped to their underwear with their hands tied. there were also emotional scenes as authorities secured the release of nearly 180 prison staff who'd been taken hostage in prisons across ecuador. earlier this week, president daniel noboa declared a state of emergency, saying ecuador was in an armed conflict with violent criminal gangs. to denmark now, where huge crowds have gathered to see their new king crowned on sunday. tens of thousands of people turned out to watch king frederik x succeed his mother as monarch in a historic moment for the nation. blinking back tears, king frederik told a cheering crowd outside christiansborg castle that he hoped to become "a unifying king" for the future. his mother became the first danish monarch to abdicate in over 800 years. stay with us here on bbc news. we will have lots more for you here in iowa.

in the meantime, you can keep up in the meantime, you can keep up to date with us on bbc news/ — the bbc.co.uk/news and you can check us out on your favourite social media platforms as well. thank you for watching. take care. hello. we have got a cold, wintry week of weather ahead. we may well see a bit of disruption down to the fact that we've got plenty of snow showers in the forecast, particularly towards the north — mainly across parts of scotland, in fact. fewer showers around further south. but it is going to be cold and we're going to see some sharp overnight frosts. could be some icy conditions around, too. cold weather down to the fact that low pressure is out towards the east of the uk, opening the doors for these cold winds to come in from the arctic, so i think wind chill will be a significant factor through the next couple of days. next few hours, more of those snow showers pack in, particularly across the north of scotland. temperatures overnight

are falling to —2 or —3 widely, even in our towns and cities — colder than that in the countryside. through monday, then, more snow showers across the northern half of scotland, gales up towards shetland still and some snow and icy conditions across northern ireland, so we have got yellow warnings in force here. could be the odd wintry shower around exposed parts of these irish sea coasts, perhaps around the east coast of england, down towards norfolk and the north york moors. temperatures for most of us about 2—5 degrees but when you add on that wind chill, it is going to feel bitterly cold. it'll feel more like —7 or even —8 across the north—east of scotland. as we continue through monday evening and overnight into tuesday, we're watching this area of low pressure, this weather system, which moves its way from west to east across the northern half of the uk. now, that could cause a bit of disruption on tuesday. tuesday morning, we're expecting snow to be quite persistent through the central belt of scotland — could be about 2—5cm centimetres of snow here, pushing slowly across scotland. across the higher ground, there could be 10cm to even 20cm of snow on tuesday. a mix of rain, sleet and snow for northern ireland

and for northern england, too. we've got some sleet, some snow over the higher ground. it looks drier with some sunshine further south. but tuesday, again, feels cold wherever you are. into the middle of the week, we're keeping a close eye on this area of low pressure. most of the computer models keep it over france but we've got the cold air in place with those northerly winds across the uk. if this system's a bit further north, we could see some snow around southern counties of england for a time. but i think it will predominantly be heavy snow showers again for the north of scotland, northern ireland and around any of those coasts exposed to that northerly wind. it is going to feel cold again, not quite as windy, but temperatures only a few degrees above freezing. more wintry showers for many of us on thursday. perhaps a little milder for some of us, though, by friday.

economic and political pressures. taiwan's president—elect face challenges that could affect the global semiconductor industry. and we look at the risk from the latest tensions in the red sea and what it means for the global economy. hello and welcome to asia business report. as we have been hearing on newsday, william lai has won

taiwan's presidential election. the third consecutive term for his ruling democratic progressive party. at the same time, two former us officials are visiting taipei for post—election talks, underscoring washington's long—standing interest with the territory. but china views the president—elect as a dangerous separatist and warned any move towards independence will be severely punished. my colleague spoke to a taiwanese analyst at the economist intelligence unit about how the results of this election will impact the island's relationship with beijing. china is suspicion of his intentions and much of this ties back to his past. he is infamous in that he has been vocally supportive of independence but it is also