with more on those last two stories, here's marc ashdown with the business news. well, as you've been reporting, hundreds of tractors are blocking major roads leading into paris. similar action is taking place elsewhere in the country as part of continuing protests by farmers against falling incomes, rising bureaucracy and competition from imports. the farmers say their aim is to stop food deliveries to supermarkets. the french authorities say 15,000 police officers have been mobilised to prevent tractors from entering paris and other big cities. farmers have also been demonstrating in germany, belgium, the netherlands and eastern europe. morgane 0dee runs a small organic vegetable farm near vannes in brittany. she explained why she's backing the protests.

we produce food for the people and we take care of the nature, so we deserved to be treated with decency. yet because of free trade agreement and market deregulation, the prices we are being paid for products is being lower and lower, while our cost of production are increasing. so it is not ok any more, we want fair revenues, and for this we need to stop agreements and we need market regulation and minimum pricing. well let's talk now to sylvain chabe—ferret, who is head of the environmental economics group at the toulouse school of economics. farmers feel strongly — what kind of impact is this having on french economy and prices in the shops? well, thanks so much for having me. i am not sure we are still having a

lot of impacts for now, but what i would like to do is maybe take a step back to understand why this is happening now, and why it is happening now, and why it is happening in general, if you allow me. {iii happening in general, if you allow me. u, , happening in general, if you allow me. , so i happening in general, if you allow me._ so i think- happening in general, if you allow me._ so i think we are i me. of course! so i think we are seeinu me. of course! so i think we are seeing two _ me. of course! so i think we are seeing two very _ me. of course! so i think we are seeing two very long-running i me. of course! so i think we are - seeing two very long-running things seeing two very long—running things emerging right now, and one is the fact that you have to be aware that french farmers are heavily supported by government regulations, by government, especially through the common agricultural policy of the eu. you can think about each farmer in france receiving something like 15,000 euros annually forjust being a farmer. and this is basically 75% of income, it comes from the common agricultural policy transfer. so thatis agricultural policy transfer. so that is a huge thing, right? the second thing that you have to think about is, increasingly, eu citizens, france is the same, they are asking

for a lot of environmental regulation, lower pesticide use, more biodiversity, or landscape. and thatis more biodiversity, or landscape. and that is pushing a lot, it is increasing the level of regulation on the common agricultural policy payments. now, most of these payments. now, most of these payments come with conditionality is, they have to respect a lot of environmental regulations, that is why they are protesting. so environmental regulations, that is why they are protesting.— why they are protesting. so how difficult will — why they are protesting. so how difficult will it — why they are protesting. so how difficult will it be _ why they are protesting. so how difficult will it be to _ why they are protesting. so how difficult will it be to resolve? - why they are protesting. so how difficult will it be to resolve? itl difficult will it be to resolve? it feels like a big test for the new prime minister?— feels like a big test for the new prime minister? , i, i, , prime minister? exactly, and that is the last part — prime minister? exactly, and that is the last part of the puzzle, - prime minister? exactly, and that is the last part of the puzzle, like - the last part of the puzzle, like the last part of the puzzle, like the drama, i think, what is going on now is that the new regulation for that eu common agricultural policy just came into application on the 1st ofjanuary, and just came into application on the 1st of january, and so just came into application on the 1st ofjanuary, and so farmers are now protesting against the increased environmental regulations, and we are at a time where we have to understand that farmers are a huge political force in france understand that farmers are a huge politicalforce in france and it is interesting for them to play now,

because as a political clientele, they are generally catered to by the right—wing parties, but now there are two parties that are competing for their votes and influence, which is the majority party of emmanuel macron and the current prime minister, but also the extreme right, who was also competing in the eu elections that will happen this year. so it is this context that explains why they are so determined in trying to regain a lot of conditions from the government. we watch that closely, thank you so much for your time. amazon and robot vacuum—maker irobot are ending plans to merge. the deal has fallen foul of eu regulators. in a joint statement, the two companies said there was "no path to regulatory approval" for the deal. irobot said it would lay off around 350 people — about a third of its workforce. its shares have tumbled by 17% in early trading. let's get more on this with our north america business

correspondent michelle fleury, who's in new york. why has this deal fallen apart? hello i mean, look, it is a question about regulation, _ hello i mean, look, it is a question about regulation, they _ hello i mean, look, it is a question about regulation, they were - hello i mean, look, it is a question | about regulation, they were worried about regulation, they were worried about a veto from eu regulators, in other words they didn't think that eu regulators would lead the deal moved forward, so rather than get to that stage, they have called it off. as a result, amazon is going to have to pay $91i as a result, amazon is going to have to pay ”a million in a termination fee to irobot, but it is very difficult for irobot, because now it faces the future as a stand—alone company, the ceo, who also founded the company more than 30 years ago, has said he is stepping down and that they will have to make significant cost savings, and that includes laying off about a third of the workforce.— includes laying off about a third of the workforce. ,, . ~' ~ ., ., the workforce. sticking with amazon, another push — the workforce. sticking with amazon, another push to _ the workforce. sticking with amazon, another push to get _ the workforce. sticking with amazon, another push to get them _ the workforce. sticking with amazon, another push to get them to - the workforce. sticking with amazon, another push to get them to reveal. another push to get them to reveal who is accessing their data centres

to train ai models.— to train ai models. yes, this is the latest phase _ to train ai models. yes, this is the latest phase in _ to train ai models. yes, this is the latest phase in the _ to train ai models. yes, this is the latest phase in the biden - latest phase in the biden administration's tech war with china, and the us commerce department wants to stop china from using us data centres to train their ai models, so they are asking cloud computing companies do essentially know their customers, and it puts a lot of responsibility on their shoulders, they will have to verify customers' identities, maintain that information and certify their compliance annually. that has led to some worried from these companies, whether it is, in this case, you mentioned amazon, but there's also microsoft, which owns azure, and alphabet, which owns google cloud. the us government is worried that china will use ai for malicious cyber attacks in the future. china, for its part, says, look, it isjust

trying to develop its economy and it is kind of america trying to hinder that effort. so it is the latest regulation in this digital tech wall. thank you very much indeed. "enough is enough." those were the words of a high court judge in hong kong who ordered the liquidation of chinese real estate developer evergrande. the ruling comes after the struggling property giant failed to come up with an acceptable restructuring plan for its overseas creditors. its shares plunged more than 20% on the news before trading was suspended. evergrande was the poster child for china's real estate boom but has become the worst casualty of the bust — with debts of more than $300 billion. duncan wrigley is chief china economist at pantheon macroeconomics. he says it's going to be difficult for investors to recover their money. well, the next step is a hong kong court will appoint liquidators who will take over the running of the top level of the company from the management.

the company has two sets of assets. 0ffshore assets, things like shareholdings and some other subsidiary companies, those assets are very readily accessible. the issue is that most of the company's assets are onshore in mainland china, they're land, properties — the company had 1,200 projects at different stages of development as of 2022. but those assets are going to be tricky to access. in theory, hong kong and mainland have a 2021 arrangement for resolving insolvent companies like evergrande, but in practice what needs to happen is mainland courts will need to recognise this liquidation, but they also need co—operation from local governments. i think it will be very tricky. this is just one stage in what is likely to be still quite prolonged process if the offshore creditors wish to get hold of ultimately money which comes

from mainland property assets. irish airline ryanair says it's still on course for record profits this year, despite a few headwinds on the radar. europe's biggest airline by passenger numbers is facing higher fuel costs and is still embroiled in a row with online travel agents which has seen its flights taken off some apps and websites. despite this, ryanair says it expects to make around $2 billion in annual profits. a higher proportion of uk—listed companies issued profit warnings last year than at the peak of the financial crisis in 2008. new data from ey—parthenon shows that 18% of public firms issued warnings in 2023. the increase has been blamed on higher interest rates, which are at a 15—year peak, and weakening business confidence.

around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. bringing different stories from across — bringing different stories from across the uk. i bent down, it's fixed on my shoulders and give me a kiss. i thought, this dog needs to come home. it's a case of better late than never for nine year old akita cross humbug. he's spent almost his entire life at an animal sanctuary in outside kennels. well, now he's experiencing a warm home for the first time, thanks to his new owners, ken and sandra. he loves it. absolutely loves it. he has two beds. he has one up on the landing. he has one downstairs. he's just fit in so well. but despite humbug's close bond with ken, it has come as a bit of a surprise,

as part of the reason he was so difficult to rehome was because of his fear of strangers. after nine years, he needs a proper home. he's loved already. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. more now on our top story — the drone attack on an american military base injordan near the syrian border. tehran has denied any involvement in the attack in which three service personnel were killed and 3a injured. 0ur correspondent merlyn thomas can explain more about what we know of the drone attack. a drone attack has killed three us troops and injured 31i others. this is one of the most serious signs of escalating tensions in the middle east since the israel—gaza war began. the us has confirmed that the attack was in northeastjordan on this airbase, tower 22 in bahrain. now there are several thousand us troops based injordan, which is a key us ally in the region.

and the us says they're there as part of a coalition to prevent a resurgence of the islamic state group. this drone attack marks the first time us soldiers have been killed by strikes in the region since the hamas attack on israel on october the 7th. but there have also been reports that two other us bases in the region were also attacked, but we haven't been able to independently verify them. so big question is, who's behind this attack? well, a militia group called islamic resistance in iraq has claimed responsibility. they are an umbrella group made of several militias that emerged late last year, all backed by iran. but the iranian government had said it had nothing to do with the attack on the us base and said that they're not involved in the decision making of resistance groups or how they choose to defend palestinians or their own countries. the us has vowed retaliation at a time and place of their choosing. but this isn't the first attack on american bases in the middle east in the past few months. the us has thousands of troops across the region and there have been over 150 attacks on american

forces since october the 7th, according to us officials. the institute for the study of war has been tracking these attacks by iranian backed militias on us bases in the middle east. have a look at this map. you can see these attacks taking place right across iraq, syria and jordan. the bigger circles here show as many as 39 attacks on the same target. this appears to be a notable increase in the number of attacks on us bases. now that three american troops have been killed, all eyes will be on the us and president biden and whether this will lead to further escalations in the region. hundreds of members of the israeli settler community gathered for a convention injerusalem on sunday calling for israel to rebuild settlements in gaza and the northern part of the occupied west bank. the gathering included far—right ministers and allies of prime minister benjamin netanyahu. mr netanyahu has in official statements rejected resettlement in the palestinian territory, but the rally shows

that the once—fringe position has gained momentum within his hard—right government. there has been little clarity about israel's longer—term intentions for gaza, and countries including the united states have said that it should be governed by palestinians. earlier i spoke to our correspondent injerusalem about the conference. well, hundreds of people attended that conference and we think about a dozen government ministers as well, and they were showing maps that would delineate future jewish settlements that they would hope to build in the gaza strip. they talked about how a total victory against hamas could only be achieved by resettlement of gaza. remember that israel pulled out, withdrew, from gaza in 2005 which then was followed of course by elections in gaza that led to the victory of hamas 2007. it is not official government policy to resettle gaza, and i have to say that, you know, the international community would almost

certainly not accept it, although if there is a donald trump administration from the start of next year, you never know. but it would be seen... it would be completely rejected by the united nations and by the vast majority of the international community. and of course this comes just a couple of days after the international court ofjustice told israel to do everything in its power to prevent possible genocide in gaza, which would of course include forcible displacement of the palestinians. the conference has been criticised by members of mr netanyahu's war cabinet, including benny gantz, who is thought likely to be the successor of benjamin netanyahu, who said that it presents a terrible image for the israeli government. the fact is that there are far right ministers in mr netanyahu's cabinet and there is of course an important pro—jewish settlement voice both within the government and in the wider country that would be in favour of that. and, mark, of course this is all happening at the same time as the other news coming out of gaza

which is that unrwa, the aid agency, is getting its funding from more countries halted in light of allegations. what is the latest on that? well, the european union has now become the latest donor to unrwa, luxmy, to say that it's halting future funding, at least until the end of february, and it's called for an urgent audit of the un palestinian refugee agency following allegations made by israel that at least 12 members of staff of unrwa were involved in those 7th of october attacks on hamas which of course sparked the current conflict. israel has passed a dossier of evidence which it says implicates these people, including allegations that... israel said they had tapped the phones of these people, and allegations of one of the members of staff that he was told to bring rocket—propelled grenades on that day that he apparently stored at his home. now, the un has immediately dismissed nine of the 12. the un says one other person

is already dead and two are being identified, but of course it has prompted real concern among western donors. i have to say that there is a sense, i think, that even though western governments, several western governments, have frozen funding, they also of course acknowledge the vital work that the un mission there does. it distributes aid, it provides shelter. it is not in their interests, the western governments' interests, for the un mission to cease operations, which is what they have warned could happen if the funding is completely cut. it is also probably not in israel's interests, frankly, for the un to stop operations in gaza, because then israel would have to shoulder the burden of distributing aid, so i think the sense is that this temporary halt in funding is a sort of transitory move, a temporary gesture to some extent, rather than a fatal blow against that un mission. but, you know, undeniably now the un mission now is in crisis.

just imagine — you're in a pakistani boy band, you've just had your first break—out hit, and then a global pop star calls up to say he wants to collaborate with you. well, that's exactly what happened to the group 0rr, and moor nanji has been finding outjust how it all came together. sings in urdu. the song that won hearts around the world. tu hai kahan was already a massive hit in pakistan and india. singing in urdu. but then zayn malikjumped on board, singing in urdu on a song. suddenly, a whole new audience discovered the song. for the three artists he teamed up with, it's a dream come true. i asked them how they're doing. so what does it feel like to collaborate with one of the biggest stars in the world?

translation: i mean, - some people have this dream that we have achieved. translation: previously, - we just had pakistani audiences. now we have people from the uk, brazil, china. so it's very good. very nice. so you're known around the world now. what has been the reaction at home from your friends and your family? translation: no-one was believing it. - the reaction has been very good. notjust friends. the whole of pakistan has given us a great reaction. _ # you don't know you're beautiful... # zayn malik is better known for pop songs like what makes you beautiful and pillow talk. but his fans were thrilled that the bradford—born singer is also fluent in urdu. the original version of tu hai kahan gained more than 100 million views on youtube. but the remake is catching up fast

with more than 8 million views. aur say zayn was a delight to work with. translation: he is so down to earth. ok, so you've partnered with zayn malik. which western stars are next for you? well, i got 21 savage, and drake, the weeknd. translation: we will do it with anyone. noor nanji, bbc news. well, spoiler alert, if you haven't yet watched traitors, look away now. the bbc�*s hit reality series the traitors ended on friday, with traitor harry clark scooping the £95,150 prize money. the second traitors series has averaged over six million viewers per episode, more than doubling the figures from the previous series. three international versions of the show have been

picked up in australia, new zealand and the us. we now go live to jaz singh, one of the finalists on the show who gained the nickname, jazatha christie from fans due to his detective skills in identifying traitors. welcome, jaz. has it been a bit of a whirlwind over these past few days? whirlwind would be an understatement, it has been absolutely incredible. it has just been too overwhelming. we didn't understand the level of the scale which this is going to reach, so it hasjust been which this is going to reach, so it has just been unbelievable. which this is going to reach, so it hasjust been unbelievable. now, what i want _ hasjust been unbelievable. now, what i want to _ hasjust been unbelievable. now, what i want to do, _ hasjust been unbelievable. now, what i want to do, jaz, _ hasjust been unbelievable. now, what i want to do, jaz, is - hasjust been unbelievable. now, what i want to do, jaz, isjust - what i want to do, jaz, is just remind viewers of you in the final, questioning the traitor, let's have a listen. �* . , questioning the traitor, let's have a listen. �* ., , ., a listen. and finally, turn one. let's find _ a listen. and finally, turn one. let's find out _ a listen. and finally, turn one. let's find out your _ a listen. and finally, turn one. let's find out your decision. i a listen. and finally, turn one. | let's find out your decision. -- a listen. and finally, turn one. - let's find out your decision. -- and let's find out your decision. —— and finally, _ let's find out your decision. —— and

finally, jaz. — well, very dramatic, why do you think it has become such a big phenomenon? season two doing much better than season one, even. great iuestion! better than season one, even. great question! i — better than season one, even. great question! i probably _ better than season one, even. great question! i probably would _ better than season one, even.

to get involved, you want to play, and there are so many possible outcomes, and i think that is the beauty of it, that we didn't have a clue, you know, what we would be going into, so the fact that the audience are able to have a look and get involved in terms of what is going to happen next, it is getting everyone excited to see what is next, what is going to happen, but yeah, how it captures a variety of different groups, that is why it has done so well. but credit is due to studio lambert, what an unbelievable team to create that. you studio lambert, what an unbelievable team to create that.— team to create that. you 'ust mentioned i team to create that. you 'ust mentioned the i team to create that. you 'ust mentioned the audience h team to create that. you just - mentioned the audience involvement there, and it was shown in the fact that jazatha christie was the name given to you, did you ever think that you would be trending in that way? that you would be trending in that wa ? ., , ,., , ., that you would be trending in that wa ? ., , , ., �* way? 0h, absolutely not, i didn't even way? oh, absolutely not, i didn't even know— way? 0h, absolutely not, i didn't even know who _ way? 0h, absolutely not, i didn't even know who agatha _ way? 0h, absolutely not, i didn't even know who agatha christie i way? 0h, absolutely not, i didn't. even know who agatha christie was, which is a shock to everyone out there! but it is just immense, the

response, i can't believe it. people have been messaging me, saying we need you back on the screens, we need you back on the screens, we need you back on the screens, we need you to have a detective series, we want you to go into law! i mean, i might have to take overjudge rinder! i do not know what is next for me, but to give more fulfilment, to give the fans what they want, i would love to just see where this journey takes me. but it has been incredible, i mean, jazatha christie was a joke at the start, and i found it hilarious myself, but now it is turning into something. just briefl , turning into something. just briefly. you _ turning into something. just briefly, you mentioned how much it meant to people, something that really resonated with people was something you said on the show, have a listen. i something you said on the show, have a listen. , ., ., , ., ., a listen. i 'ust wanted to show what a listen. i 'ust wanted to show what a british a listen. i just wanted to show what a british sikh _ a listen. i just wanted to show what a british sikh lad — a listen. i just wanted to show what a british sikh lad is _ a listen. i just wanted to show what a british sikh lad is about. - a british sikh lad is about. everyone i have met has seen a side of me where they have seen may be

vulnerable, just be myself, and they have accepted it. so i have found that quite nice, mate. that have accepted it. so i have found that quite nice, mate.— that quite nice, mate. that was really celebrated, _ that quite nice, mate. that was really celebrated, how - that quite nice, mate. that was really celebrated, how much i that quite nice, mate. that was| really celebrated, how much did that quite nice, mate. that was - really celebrated, how much did that representation mean to you? it was representation mean to you? it was the bottom _ representation mean to you? it was the bottom line _ representation mean to you? it was the bottom line of _ representation mean to you? it was the bottom line of me _ representation mean to you? it was the bottom line of me applying - representation mean to you? it was the bottom line of me applying to l the bottom line of me applying to the bottom line of me applying to the show, growing up in manchester, you know, having a variety of different groups of friends, it is just a shell casing, you know, what i am about, and to be accepted, but not only to be accepted, but to be appreciated, because the other contestants were so amazing to me, you know, it was such an experience that money cannot buy, so for me, it wasjust phenomenal to that money cannot buy, so for me, it was just phenomenal to even embrace and immerse myself in such a phenomenal... and immerse myself in such a phenomenal. . ._ and immerse myself in such a phenomenal... oh, you are right, what i phenomenon _ phenomenal... oh, you are right, what i phenomenon it _ phenomenal... oh, you are right, what i phenomenon it was. - phenomenal... oh, you are right, what i phenomenon it was. thankj phenomenal... oh, you are right, - what i phenomenon it was. thank you so much, jaz, really good to speak

to, and i'm glad you know who agatha christie is now, go and read some of her books! , ., ., ., ,., christie is now, go and read some of her books! , ., ., ., y., ., her books! great to have you on. thanks for— her books! great to have you on. thanks for your _ her books! great to have you on. thanks for your time, _ her books! great to have you on. thanks for your time, take - her books! great to have you on. thanks for your time, take care. | her books! great to have you on. - thanks for your time, take care. now time for the — thanks for your time, take care. now time for the weather _ thanks for your time, take care. now time for the weather with ben rich. hello. it is mild in the south of the uk today, but not as mild as it was yesterday. in the north of the uk, kinlochewe in the highlands getting to 19.6 celsius — provisionally a new uk record forjanuary. but by this morning temperatures in kinlochewe had dropped all the way down to freezing, back to normal, if you like, because the very warm southerly winds of yesterday were replaced by chillier conditions from the west. the dividing line between the mild air which remains in the south and those colder conditions further north and west marked out by this weather front, which is producing some pretty heavy rain, i have to say, particularly across parts of northern england, but also into southern scotland, parts of wales. a little bit of snow mixing in over high ground in northern england and southern scotland. chilly in the north as we end the day, mild down towards the south. as we head through the night,

our weather front weakens, pushes southwards and eastwards. it means a lot of cloud, some spots of rain for england and wales. for northern ireland and for scotland, with clearing skies, temperatures will really drop — minus two in glasgow, some spots down to minus five. that could mean some icy conditions as we start tuesday morning. the remnants of our weather front still bringing some cloud, particularly across central and eastern parts of england through tuesday morning. that tending to break up. actually, for many of us tomorrow we will see some spells of sunshine — not a bad looking day. temperatures generally in a range between six and 11 degrees, so not as mild in the south by this stage. as we head into the middle part of the week, well, it's all eyes to the north—west for a developing area of low pressure and a lot of isobars squeezing together on this chart. that means some very strong winds in scotland on wednesday. gales quite widely, gusts of 80mph or possibly a little bit more than that in exposed spots in the north, with a band of really heavy rain pushing its way southwards and eastwards. some wintry showers following on behind as some colder air tucks in once again behind that weather system. ahead of it, temperatures in double

digits — ten or 11 degrees. that weather front will clear during wednesday night and thursday. a ridge of high pressure topples through. a little bit of sunshine for a time and then this next warm front works in from the atlantic. that will bring a renewed surge of very mild air as we end the week, so temperatures by friday widely up to 12, 13, 1a degrees. with that, quite a lot of cloud and just the odd spot of drizzle.

live from london, this is bbc news. following the debbiejones strike in the us space injordan, president biden blames iran and south america will respond —— drone strike. and she for an enlarged prostate as i was up to the prince of wales is discharged following abdominal surgery. chinese property giant is ordered to liquidate by hong kong high court with $300 billion in

debt. we take a look at what is believed to be a newborn great white shark captured on film for the very first time. hello, welcome to verified live. three hours a breaking story in checking out the truth behind them. president biden says the united states will respond to a drone attack on the american military base near the syrian border at a time of its choosing. mr biden plans the attack on radical iran backed militant groups operating in syria and iraq. they have denied involvement in the attack in which three service personnel were killed 34 three service personnel were killed 31i injured. the americans say the attack happened at a base known as tower

22, right on the syrian—jordanian border. it's one of many american bases across the region.