a reaction from death penalty. a reaction from the united nations as other states look to follow suit. hello. welcome to the programme. us presidentjoe biden is vowing to respond to a drone attack that killed three us troops and injured at least 34 us troops and injured at least 3a more. while campaigning in south carolina, president biden called for a moment of silence. i want to

we shall respond. president biden said _ we shall respond. president biden said it _ we shall respond. president biden said it took _ we shall respond. president biden said it took place - we shall respond. president biden said it took place in i biden said it took place in northeastjordan near the northeast jordan near the border with syria northeastjordan near the border with syria but others say it took place at the location of a larger us base in its southeast syria. since october seven there has been more than 160 attacks on us troops or bases in the region but this is the first time us soldiers have been killed in those abstracts. no—one has claimed responsibility for the attack. biden says it was carried out by iran—backed groups in syria and iraq. jordan, an ally of the united states, has condemned what it calls a terrorist attack and says it is cooperating to secure the border. it is a sharp escalation and it is a deeper conflict. our correspondent paul adams has more. the americans say the attack happened at a base known

as tower 22, right on the syrian—jordanian border. it is one of many american bases across the region. there have been dozens of drone and missile attacks in recent months, but no american personnel had been killed until now. joe biden, seen here attending church this morning, was quick to point the finger. "we know it was carried out by radical iran backed militant groups operating in syria and iraq," he said. it's not necessarily a tipping point into uncontrolled escalation between the united states and iran, but is another very dangerous step because, as i say, the us will have to respond more strongly than it has done to previous attacks. carefully cultivated over years, iran has a wide network of allies and proxies operating in countries across the middle east. they are all opposed to israel and the united states — it's sometimes called the axis of resistance. there are pro—iranian militias in lebanon, the palestinian territories, gaza and the west bank, plus iraq and syria, and far to the south there's

also the houthis in yemen. over the weekend, the houthis have been launching their own attacks, hitting a tanker in the gulf of aden. last night, a british warship, hms diamond, used an air defence missile to bring down a houthi drone. with british help, the us had been hitting houthi military targets for weeks, so far the houthis seem undeterred. they say they will stop attacking ships if and when there's a ceasefire in gaza. the problems america is dealing with across the region aren't all about gaza, but the war there has left the whole middle east a lot more dangerous. paul adams, bbc news here is some reaction from members of the senate here in the united states. chris goons posted on x : republican

senator dan solomon who sits on the armed services committee says that and proxies have crossed a red line. i spoke with barbara starr, a senior fellow and veteran pentagon correspondent. barbara starr, welcome to the programme. do we have any sense of what the biden administration's red line is? it biden administration's red line is? , , ., ., ., biden administration's red line is? , ,~ is? it is very traditional but for the us _ is? it is very traditional but for the us government - is? it is very traditional but for the us government the | is? it is very traditional but. for the us government the red line is if us citizens or us military personnel are killed as a result of an attack and thatis as a result of an attack and that is exactly what happened in this case. we have three us soldiers killed in action, a great number wounded and injured and now the biden administration is in the position finally of having to determine what it wants to do

to respond to that because we have seen all of these attacks over the last several weeks but these are rani and backed militias. there have been drones, missiles. the us has been able to counter them, shoot down the incoming fired by the iranian—backed militias today, that did not work. us troops got killed and tonight here in washington all eyes are on what the next step will be. we know president biden has said the us will respond and the question will be what is that going to look like? earlier this month a senior militia leader was killed in baghdad and secretary lloyd austin and president biden have said that they will about retaliation at a time and place of their choosing. so, given that, none of that worked to deter them. what options are be looking at now? that deter them. what options are be looking at now?— looking at now? that is really the critical — looking at now? that is really the critical and _ looking at now? that is really the critical and unanswerable| the critical and una nswerable for the the critical and unanswerable for the rest of us question

right now. you are right. deterrence clearly has not worked. this was a military escalation by these iranian—backed militias. the us has been collecting intelligence on then, surveillance reconnaissance, pinning down about their locations are, where they are firing from, where the fighters are assembling, their command and control. all the targets that you might expect the us to now turn around and hit, but will that be enough? i think thatis will that be enough? i think that is a very significant question. it has not been enough so far. getting the iranian—backed militias in syria or in iraq simply has not deterred them. but the alternative of basically going into iranian airspace and striking targets in iran has the possibility of an escalation entering the middle east into security chaos even

further than it is right now. barbara starr, thank you so much for your time.- barbara starr, thank you so much for your time. thank you. with me in _ much for your time. thank you. with me in the _ much for your time. thank you. with me in the studio _ much for your time. thank you. with me in the studio is - much for your time. thank you. with me in the studio is former| with me in the studio is former army cachetjordan adam army cachet jordan adam clements. army cachetjordan adam clements. thank you for the programme. iran backs hamas, hezbollah, militias as well as the houthis. but what point does the united states need to hit back directly?— hit back directly? thank you for having — hit back directly? thank you for having me _ hit back directly? thank you for having me and _ hit back directly? thank you for having me and i - hit back directly? thank you for having me and i want. hit back directly? thank you for having me and i want to| for having me and i want to extend my condolence to everyone who was killed or injured. this is a good question and i think the biden administration does face something significant here now because us forces have been injured and killed. this has happened many times where these iranian—backed groups have attempted to kill or injure us forces but there is a point now where there will have to be further strikes just to sew the us will not stand for when its

servicemembers have been, in this case, injured or killed. there have been strikes since october 7 and this is still happening, as barbara starr just said. it has not acted as a deterrent. could you argue as republicans do at congress right now that the strategy of containment and the approach the biden administration is taking towards iran is failing? iam taking towards iran is failing? i am not sure necessarily as far as detainment or deterrence. these are subjective measures. it is hard to measure and know where the lines are drawn but i do think suggesting a strike inside of iran, that would definitely be escalatory and given the context of what is happening on the lebanese border with israel, what is happening in the red sea, what is also happening elsewhere in the region that that would be escalatory and there is a balancing act here that need to take place and there are other strategic priorities at the us has to address as well going on

with ukraine and russia.- with ukraine and russia. right. when can i _ with ukraine and russia. right. when can i ask _ with ukraine and russia. right. when can i ask - _ with ukraine and russia. right. when can i ask - troops - with ukraine and russia. right. when can i ask - troops have . when can i ask — troops have been killed. if this were a concerted decision by iran to escalate things rather than perhaps eight militia gone rogue from that direction, with that, in your view, rogue from that direction, with that, in yourview, make rogue from that direction, with that, in your view, make a difference in terms of the required military response? in my mind right now, it depends, and of course i don't have access to all the intelligence to understand some of the thinking, but it is very difficult to understand this thinking and line of thinking from national leadership in iran, but there are other contextual issues at play here as well. very definitely war and conflict is not an interest for other gulf states, for other states in the peninsula, forjordan. i think it is in their interests as well that there is not a conflict. so, there is not a conflict. so, there are very definitely incentives on all sides that we find a way to lower the temperature, find some way to de—escalate and i think that's not a lot in gaza, of finding a

way to get these hostages released and that at least gives political space for the israeli government and also from a military standpoint as well, because that is right now it very difficult thing in the military context because they are so many hostages still in gaza. ., ., are so many hostages still in gaza. . , are so many hostages still in gaza. ., ,, gaza. can i ask - because you mentioned — gaza. can i ask - because you mentioned russia _ gaza. can i ask - because you mentioned russia and - gaza. can i ask - because you mentioned russia and china l mentioned russia and china there — what will president vladimir putin as well as xi jinping be looking at right now when they are looking at the way things are escalating in the middle east? i way things are escalating in the middle east?— the middle east? i think strategically _ the middle east? i think strategically this - the middle east? i think strategically this is - the middle east? i think strategically this is the l the middle east? i think - strategically this is the most important question that we are asking because it is notjust about military escalation in name or some type of tactical operational operation here. we are talking about resources, so when the united states and other allies like the united kingdom and other allies had to remove resources such as from ukraine then that is a victory. that is something positive for russia, and, of course, china is watching closely and the

more resources that the united states has to devote, in this case at the middle east conflict, that plays into russia and china sphere. we are runnina russia and china sphere. we are running out _ russia and china sphere. we are running out of _ russia and china sphere. we are running out of time _ russia and china sphere. we are running out of time but - russia and china sphere. we are running out of time but can - russia and china sphere. we are running out of time but can i - running out of time but can i just ask — if we know now that us troops have been killed, that there has been this escalation, and you believe that the biden administration should continue with the strikes, is there a red line in your view that would require more response? i5 your view that would require more response?— more response? is very difficult — more response? is very difficult to _ more response? is very difficult to say. - more response? is very difficult to say. i - more response? is very difficult to say. i think. more response? is very| difficult to say. i think it depends on the location. if we have more escalations, obviously something we had in the past where iran's proxies targeting services or resources in the united states, or other basis, notjust in the middle east or other places in europe or around the world, so i think those are other things to continue? consideras those are other things to continue? consider as we evaluate what this red line means. it can be a difficult thing to ascertain whether that

is in the grand of strategy in the geopolitical understanding of what is going on.— of what is going on. colonel adam clements, _ of what is going on. colonel adam clements, thank - of what is going on. colonel adam clements, thank you | of what is going on. colonel - adam clements, thank you very much for your time. around the world and across the uk, this is a bbc news. let's look at some of the other stories making the news in the united kingdom. an mp has been suspended from the labour party after a post about the holocaust memorial day in which she listed gaza along with other genocides. kate is more who represents edmonton in north london apologise for any offence caused by the comments. the jewish labour offence caused by the comments. thejewish labour movement has condemned the inappropriate and offensive remarks. two boys aged 15 and 16 had died after being stabbed in bristol last night. police say they were attacked by a group who fled the northwest area of the city. altli—year—old man and 15—year—old boy have been arrested. the chairman of the post office henry staunton was sacked by the business

secretary following what she called various disagreements with the board. ms badenoch said the departure was about more than the horizon it scandal by hundreds of sub— postmasters and mistresses were wrongly accused of fraud and false accounting. many were jailed. you are live with bbc news. hundreds of thousands of people across germany had taken to the streets once again this weekend to protest against the rise of the far right. the rallies were sparked by activists allegedly discussing the mass deportations of immigrants, even if they held citizenship. the controversy has prompted questions of the far right alternative party which is pulling strongly at the moment, capitalising on concerns about the economy and immigration. our correspondence jessica parker reports. in the 80s, renato speaks that

one of the many protests sweeping germany. she survived the holocaust. many of herjewish family did not. translation: it's very important that we jews | raise our voice. the situation in germany has become threatening because of alternative for deutschland and other far—right groups. notjust for usjews. these demos were sparked by revelations that senior figures from the alternative for deutschland party met with right—wing extremists where the mass deportation of asylum seekers and so—called non—germans was allegedly discussed. there's a debate about whether to ban the afd or deprive them of state funding. where do you stand on that? i'm against the ban of afd. i think we have to tackle them on the political wave because if we ban them, i fear that they attract more attention and that more people try to support them. for all these shows of staunch mass resistance

against the afd, there is great uncertainty, even a nervousness about how to tackle the rise of the far right, particularly here in germany's east. a sense of disaffection lingers in the once—communist part of this country, where the afd is leading the polls ahead of key elections. translation: they never had a chance to be in power - because no—one wants to work with them. maybe if they got into power, it would be good for us all. the afd, designated by domestic intelligence as extremist in saxony, says it's being smeared by its opponents. what do you think about the fact there are hundreds of thousands of people protesting against your party and some people at those demonstrations saying they're scared by what they've heard? translation: we're aware of it. but we believe that many of these demonstrators do not know our programme. we are in the absurd situation where people demonstrate with the government against the opposition.

that's unheard of. this city of chemnitz was once named after karl marx. that was reversed, but the monument remains. the father of communism now watching over the rise of the far right. jessica parker, bbc news in chemnitz. in turkey, one man has been killed at a shooting at a catholic church in istanbul. two masked attackers attacked during morning mass. authorities say both suspects have now been detained after police launched a massive manhunt for the attackers. the islamic state group has claimed it was behind the attack. our senior international correspondence orla guerin bought from istanbul. the report contained some distressing images. two attackers in masks, captured on cctv, walking casually towards the church. a man enters. the gunmen follow and appear to target him.

the congregation ducking for cover. the victim had intended to become a christian according to a relative, but was not baptised yet. police move in to seal off the streets around the 19th—century church the local mayor told us there was no tension in the area between different religions. "the church doors are always wide open," said sukru genc, "even during mass." "muslims visit the church, as well as christians. "from time to time, "you see the priest having tea in someone's house." and from the vatican, a message of support from pope francis. "i send my sympathy to the congregation "of the church of santa maria..." he said. "..which suffered an armed

attack during mass." the motive for the attack is unclear. but churches in this overwhelmingly muslim country have been targeted in the past. orla guerin, bbc news, istanbul. to finland now where presidential election is heading towards a run—off. with more than 80% of the first round votes counted, the candidate of the main governing party, the coalition party, is leading. a conservative former prime minister, he has won over a quarter of the vote so far. in an's public broadcaster is projecting he will face a green politician standing as an independent in a second round independent in a second round in a week's time. it is the first presidential election held in finland since itjoined nato in april of last year. this week saw the first ever execution by nitrogen hypoxia

in the united states in the state of alabama. there has been a global reaction. the united nations condemned the act, as did the european union and the white house here in the united states. but now the top law enforcement official in alabama is promising more such executions to come, vowing to also share the method with other us states. after 35 years in prison for murder, kenneth eugene smith was put to death thursday night. alabama's thursday night. ala bama's attorney thursday night. alabama's attorney general called the new method —— method remain and said 43 other death—row inmates in the state have requested to be executed by nitrogen. but human rights groups have condemned the method is cruel and torturous. one media witness was there and described the moment. he witness was there and described the moment-— the moment. he appeared conscious _ the moment. he appeared conscious for _ the moment. he appeared conscious for several - the moment. he appeared i conscious for several minutes into the execution. for about two minutes following that, he shook for two minutes on a gurney. that was followed by several minutes of deep breaths

on the journey. following that, hip slowed until it was no longer perceptible for media witnesses. the governor's office pronounced the time of death at 8:25.— death at 8:25. the united nations condemned - death at 8:25. the united nations condemned the l death at 8:25. the united | nations condemned the use death at 8:25. the united - nations condemned the use of nitrogen to execute smith. earlier i spoke to the un special literature on extrajudicial arbitrary executions. i would like to first ask you, because you are coming to this not only from the perspective of a special rapporteur, but also someone with a medicalforensic background. with a medical forensic background. what is your concern with the method that was used?— was used? well, i have exoressed _ was used? well, i have expressed with - was used? well, i have expressed with other . was used? well, i have - expressed with other united nations special procedure mandated holders absolute condemnation of the execution of mr kenneth eugene smith with

this novel and untested method of nitrogen hypoxia, which was known, is known to cause suffering, intense suffering in animals, and infact, the suffering, intense suffering in animals, and in fact, the use by the alabama department of corrections of mr kenneth eugene smith as a guinea pig actually to test this new method amounted on one hand to unethical human experimentation and was nothing short of state sanctioned torture. hence we are calling on a bad to the use of nitrogen hypoxia is a method of nitrogen hypoxia is a method of execution alabama and other states, and the horrific death suffered by mr smith last thursday evening actually is a

stark reminder of the barbaric nature of the death penalty, and a very, very potent call to step up efforts to abolish the death penalty in the united states and the world over. oklahoma and mississippi have also authorised nitrogen gas. other states may follow suit. biden administration already has a moratorium on federal executions, but do you believe that the white house would go further? ~ , ,., , that the white house would go further? ~ , a, , ., further? absolutely. i mean, this case _ further? absolutely. i mean, this case is — further? absolutely. i mean, this case is absolutely - this case is absolutely shameful on a country which regards itself as a beacon of human rights. this was clearly also a violation not only of the eighth amendment of the united states constitution, but of its obligations under international law, in particular the international covenant on civil and political rights, which the united states

actually signed in 1992 and has since been supreme law of the country. article seven of the international covenant on civil and political rights very clearly prohibits the use of torture or cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, and in particular, it prohibits the use of experimentation without free consent from medical or scientific purposes. so this was a blatant, blatant .my rapid blatant violation of the us international and internal obligations. i do hope that this case, as i said, will lead to an abolition of the death penalty. to an abolition of the death enal . �* ., , to an abolition of the death enal . �* . , , ., penalty. and finally, before i let ou penalty. and finally, before i let you go. _ penalty. and finally, before i let you go, what _ penalty. and finally, before i let you go, what you - penalty. and finally, before i let you go, what you say - penalty. and finally, before i let you go, what you say to l let you go, what you say to people would argue that this man killed someone and that the

punishment should fit the crime and that executions, death penalties are also a way of deterring future criminals? well, they should first of all look at neighbouring countries, in particular, canada, which does not have the death penalty and has a much lower crime rate than the united states. first and foremost. second, the retributive argument for punishing for crimes would mean that rapists should be raped, torturous should be tortured, and that is not what the state and that is not what the state and its laws exist for. rather, to administerjustice in accordance to international law, including human rights, and the united states is party of that. ., ~ , ., and the united states is party of that. ., ~ i. and the united states is party of that. ., ~' ,, . of that. thank you so much for our of that. thank you so much for your time- _ of that. thank you so much for your time. we _ of that. thank you so much for your time. we really _ of that. thank you so much for| your time. we really appreciate it. it your time. we really appreciate it. , , , your time. we really appreciate it. it is my pleasure. good evening- _ it. it is my pleasure. good evening. the _ it. it is my pleasure. good evening. the annual- it. it is my pleasure. good. evening. the annualvenice carnival has _ evening. the annualvenice carnival has been _ evening. the annualvenice carnival has been kicked i evening. the annual venice j carnival has been kicked off evening. the annual venice i carnival has been kicked off by a giant rat. take a look. it is

a giant rat. take a look. it is a giant rat boat. hundreds of vessels departing the parade along the famous waters. this year the carnival is marking the 700th anniversary of marco polo's death. one of the greatest travellers who died in 1324. that is all from us for now. but there is plenty more on our website, including on our top story of the recent strikes in syria, jordan. stay with us on bbc news. hello there. we did expect it to get a bit warmer today, but it may well turn out to be a record—breaking day with some sunshine and a southerly wind ahead of a band of rain. in highland scotland, temperatures reached close to 20 degrees earlier on, and that would smash the previous january temperature record in the uk. now, the winds are dropping, actually, and the temperature is going to be dropping too. this band of rain moving through scotland and northern ireland is heading

into northern parts of england and wales. and following on from that, in the lighter winds, we're getting into colder air — so much so that in northern parts of scotland there's likely to be a frost overnight tonight, whereas ahead of the rain across england and wales, it's still a mild start to monday. but this rain is going to hang around in northern england and wales, heavy over the hills, particularly in the northwest of england. much of scotland and northern ireland likely to be dry with some sunshine, lighter winds but much colder than today. temperatures typically 7 or 8 degrees, whereas where it's dry across the midlands and southern england, it's still mild, temperatures of 14, maybe 15 degrees. now, it's notjust rain that we're going to see, though, on monday. after dark, there could be some snow in the southern uplands leading to icy conditions by tuesday morning, by which point that area of low pressure will have taken the wet weather away and we're left with a cloudy start for england and wales. some sunshine for scotland and northern ireland will push its way southwards through the day. that very mild air is

going to get pushed away, but 12 degrees is still possible in the southeast. but for many in the afternoon it's going to be nearer eight degrees or so. so it's turning chillier from the north. but if we look to the north again by the middle part of the week, we've got more isobars, some weather fronts. it's turning wet and windy, particularly in scotland. widespread gales here on wednesday and across northern ireland, northernmost parts of england. the really strong winds are in the far north of scotland, but over the highlands this time we could see a couple of inches of rain. that wet and windy weather in scotland will sink down into northern ireland. england and wales looking dry, the winds much lighter further south and some sunshine, temperatures of 10 or 11 degrees. now, the weatherfront bringing that rain is going to move southwards overnight. the rain petering out. chilly weather for a while, but then we change the wind direction by thursday, bringing in a milderair and also more cloud.

a hong kong court has reportedly asked for the liquidation of evergrande. we look at what this means support the developer. plus, moving to a country at war — we look at why thousands of men in india are signing up to work in israel.

welcome to asia business report. i'm steve lai. we begin with breaking news from hong kong by a high court judge has reportedly ordered the liquidation of chinese property china evergrande after the developer failed to come up with an acceptable restructuring plan for its overseas creditors. trading in evergrande's shares has been suspended on the hong kong stock exchange. let's bring in mariko oi. what does this mean for evergrande going forward? this is the big question, isn't it, steve? this news has been reported by various news agencies including reuters, afp and bloomberg and south china morning post, quoting the judge, saying that due to the obvious lack of the progress on the part of the company in putting forward a viable restructuring proposal this liquidation has been ordered. it basically means that its assets will be seized and sold off in order to repay some of

its