causing horrific damage to is causing horrific damage to england's waterways. hello and welcome. we start with a developing story coming out of kenya with several people feared to have been killed and two confirmed dead and almost 300 injured in the capital nairobi. this after an explosion at a gas depot. the government spokesperson said gas cylinders were being refilled when the fire broke outjust before midnight on thursday. the blaze is reported to have spread through several apartment complexes. firefighters and emergency services have been tackling the fire and witnesses have been describing what happened. translation: i got burned by an exploding gas cylinder as i was trying to escape. it exploded

right in front of me. the impact knocked me down and the flames engulfed me. i am lucky that i was strong enough to get away. that's an unfolding story with two people confirmed dead in the explosion in nairobi and we will speak to our correspondent and makoi, who i believe is actually on the line, —— anne. a, believe is actually on the line, -- anne.— believe is actually on the line, -- anne. a deputy africa correspondent, _ line, -- anne. a deputy africa correspondent, and _ line, -- anne. a deputy africa correspondent, and soy. --. l line, -- anne. a deputy africa i correspondent, and soy. --. can correspondent, and soy. ——. can you tell us what has happened? shortly before midnight, people around the southeast of nairobi heard the tremors and an explosion and videos that we have seen shared on social media show a huge fireball rising above apartment blocks and people running to safety. we now understand from the

government spokesman that there was a lorry carrying lpg gas that exploded and nearby commercial buildings were set on fire, vehicles as well and some residential houses. people have been evacuated, the area has been cordoned off and at least 200 people who were injured have been moved to hospital. i5 injured have been moved to hosital. , ., ., hospital. is it fair to say that at this _ hospital. is it fair to say that at this stage, - hospital. is it fair to say that at this stage, the l hospital. is it fair to say - that at this stage, the police believe this was a tragic accident and no foul play was involved?— accident and no foul play was involved? ~ , , ~ involved? we will be very keen to see what — involved? we will be very keen to see what the _ involved? we will be very keen to see what the investigationsl to see what the investigations revealed. it's still very early to come to any conclusions at this point. initially, there was a report that has now been corrected that it involved an explosion in a gas refilling plant and people were already beginning to ask questions why the plant was in a residential area but the government

spokesman has corrected his earlier statement and said it involved a lorry which was carrying lpg gas.- involved a lorry which was carrying lpg gas. anne soy in nairobi, thank— carrying lpg gas. anne soy in nairobi, thank you _ carrying lpg gas. anne soy in nairobi, thank you for - carrying lpg gas. anne soy in | nairobi, thank you for bringing us that update. i'm sure we will speak to you later in the day as we hear more about the cause of the explosion and the death toll. presidentjoe biden has approved sanctions on four israeli settlers accused of attacking palestinians in the occupied west bank. the sanctions what individuals from accessing all us property assets and the american financial system. violence in the west bank has spiked since hamas launched an unprecedented attack on israel on october seven. mr biden signed a broad executive order, saying that violence in the west tank had reached intolerable levels. it threatened peace and stability in the region. meanwhile, hamas has given initial positive

confirmation to a proposal for the release of hostages and a pause in the bombardment of gaza. that's according to qatari officials. us, egyptian and qatari mediators that with israeli intelligence officials in paris on sunday, where they proposed a six—week pause in the gazan war and a hostage prisoner exchange. a source close to hamas said however there was still no consensus on there was still no consensus on the proposal. families of the israeli hostages have made greater demands for their release. i'm joined greater demands for their release. i'mjoined by greater demands for their release. i'm joined by a senior adviser at australian national university's national security college, and he has also served as the australian representative to the palestinian authority and the third secretary of the australian embassy in tel aviv so quite a lot of expertise in the area stop we are glad to have you, ben. let's talk about the sanctions against these four individuals. what impact

would you actually expect those targeted sanctions to have? i think the immediate practical impact of those sanctions would be quite limited, except of course for those four individuals. but this executive order, if you look at it, it has potential to really expand and it certainly could have much more far—reaching effects if the scope is indeed used. it also sends a signal to israel, one of the signals we're getting from washington of us displeasure with israel at the moment and willingness to apply some more pressure. if the pressure is applied more using this executive order, it could be used to expand the number of individuals being sanctioned but also potentially, to list some organisations and some of those organisations have very strong financial links with the united states and could begin to suffer. , . .,

united states and could begin to suffer. , _, ., ,~' to suffer. yes. if i could ask ou to to suffer. yes. if i could ask you to unpack— to suffer. yes. if i could ask you to unpack a _ to suffer. yes. if i could ask you to unpack a little - to suffer. yes. if i could ask you to unpack a little bit - to suffer. yes. if i could ask. you to unpack a little bit more of what you've mentioned there about american displeasure with israel commodity thinkers has about the relationship? certainly, allies in public. joe biden says he stands. where behind israel. but what do you think the situation is looking like inprivate?— like inprivate? yes, well, i think you _ like inprivate? yes, well, i think you need _ like inprivate? yes, well, i think you need to - like inprivate? yes, well, i think you need to look - like inprivate? yes, well, i think you need to look at l like inprivate? yes, well, i i think you need to look at this executive order in the context, as you say, of overall us strategy to the conflict which is still unfolding. the first phase of that was very much what they call the bear hug, to hold as as possible, to be the country were supportive of israel in the world in the hope that the us would influence as well down the road and it's really going to be put to the test now and we are starting to see the second phase, i would say, of the us strategy which is more focused on trying to isolate the extremists in israel and to keep the kind of bulk or mainstream israeli public opinion close.- bulk or mainstream israeli public opinion close. talk if we can now _

public opinion close. talk if we can now about - public opinion close. talk if we can now about the - public opinion close. talk if - we can now about the potential ceasefire, the potential progress towards a ceasefire that we've been hearing about. what do you see is the likelihood of success there? right, well, deals like this are never done until they are done. we are certainly hearing much more optimistic noises coming out of qatar which has a vested interest and of course has been a very active and i would say successful brokers so far of these negotiations. but hamas is sounding much more cagey, as is prime minister netanyahu, who is making positive sounds in principle but also giving himself lots of out by saying he will not agree to a deal which imperils israel's security or doesn't progress israel's interests which give him room to back out at what you see is a real division in israel now about how to approach the conflict and the main division really is between those who think the priority should be following through on the initial war aims

which is to destroy hamas essentially and those who think the higher priority should be getting the hostages out while israel can. �* getting the hostages out while israel can-— getting the hostages out while israel can. 0k, ben scott from the australian _ israel can. 0k, ben scott from the australian national- the australian national university, thank you for joining us. staying in the region, not too far away, the united states forgive me, that is the wrong script that i am reading. us officials have approved plans for a series of strikes on iranian targets in syria and iraq. they told the bbc�*s us syria and iraq. they told the bbc�*s us partners cbs news that the action will take place over a number of days with weather conditions likely to dictate when they are launched. this all comes after a drone attack killed three us soldiers in jordan close to the syrian border on sunday. us blamed an iranian backed militia group for that attack. the american secretary of defense lloyd austin says the us had the right to retaliate after the

recent attacks.— right to retaliate after the recent attacks. this was a dangerous _ recent attacks. this was a dangerous moment - recent attacks. this was a dangerous moment in - recent attacks. this was a dangerous moment in the recent attacks. this was a - dangerous moment in the middle east. we will continue to work to avoid a wonnah conflict in the region. but —— wider conflict. we'll take all necessary actions to defend the united states, our interests and our people. and we will respond when we choose, where we choose and how we choose. more on this, i'm joined by bbc arabic�*s sayed. we've been waiting for this announcement, haven't we. iran of course denies any involvement in the original drone attack. what response has there been from tehran to this us warning of retaliation?— tehran to this us warning of retaliation? the latest report said that they _ retaliation? the latest report said that they have _ retaliation? the latest report said that they have told - retaliation? the latest report said that they have told the l retaliation? the latest report i said that they have told the us through channels that if the united states strikes in the soil, iran will hit back at the

american interests. this is in the middle east. and it will lead to a greater conflict. so far there is no conflict between iran and the us so if this happens, i think it will be a very big conflict and that the same time, there is pressure on mr biden to launch attacks inside iran but as the american administration tries to avoid that due to escalating tensions and tries to contain what is happening what's happening in gaza not to go outside of gaza but the problem is it is spreading.— is it is spreading. three us soldiers died, _ is it is spreading. three us soldiers died, us - is it is spreading. three us soldiers died, us says - is it is spreading. three us soldiers died, us says it i is it is spreading. three us. soldiers died, us says it has to respond. lloyd austin says they do want to respond in a way that avoids escalation. do you think the matter what the iranians say that they, too, share that objective? they also want to avoid an escalation? both of them, iranians you know cannot face the united states

and always denying involvement and always denying involvement and saying they are inaudible group, because of differences especially the war in gaza and defending the palestinian people so iranians all the time are like that. they have no interest to do that, the united states, because the elections are coming and there is a problem inside america and more pressure on mr biden so i think america is not willing to go to war especially with iran because iran has different groups, houthis in yemen, hezbollah and other groups who are accused by this united states and automatic wanting more than 160 attacks on american bases in iraq and syria and the latest one hit directly and killed three soldiers. directly and killed three soldiers— directly and killed three soldiers. ~ ., ., ., soldiers. we will have to leave it there but — soldiers. we will have to leave it there but thank _ soldiers. we will have to leave it there but thank you - soldiers. we will have to leave it there but thank you for - it there but thank you for joining us. back in the uk, it has emerged the man police are hunting in connection with a corrosive liquid attack in london is a convicted sex

offender who was granted asylum to stay in the country, having twice been refused. abdul ezedi, 35, remains at large after the attack in clapham in south london on wednesday. 12 people were injured, including two young people. he also suffered a serious facial bone during the incident. he is the latest. ., , ~ ., during the incident. he is the latest. ~ ., , latest. the last known sighting of abdul ezedi _ latest. the last known sighting of abdul ezedi at _ latest. the last known sighting of abdul ezedi at a _ latest. the last known sighting of abdul ezedi at a tesco - latest. the last known sighting of abdul ezedi at a tesco in - of abdul ezedi at a tesco in north london. his of abdul ezedi at a tesco in north london.— of abdul ezedi at a tesco in north london. his right eye is scarred by _ north london. his right eye is scarred by what _ north london. his right eye is scarred by what could - north london. his right eye is scarred by what could be - north london. his right eye is scarred by what could be the l scarred by what could be the same chemical he is accused of using in a horrific attack. the street in clapham in south london, where a corrosive substance was thrown at a woman and her two young children on wednesday evening. this cctv footage appears to show the distressing sequence of events. a man is seen taking a child from the back of the car before fleeing the scene as he is

chased. police believe the victim was known to the attacker. victim was known to the attacker-— victim was known to the attacker. ~ ., ~ ., . attacker. we take violence a . ainst attacker. we take violence against women _ attacker. we take violence against women and - attacker. we take violence against women and girls . attacker. we take violence i against women and girls very seriously and this was someone who commits a vulnerable position she was in and it would have been horrifically frightening, we will do our utmost and we will, i am totally confident, capture the man. �* , totally confident, capture the man. ~ , ., man. as the hunt for him continues, _ man. as the hunt for him continues, questions - man. as the hunt for him | continues, questions over man. as the hunt for him - continues, questions over abdul ezedi's past. convicted of a sex offence in 2018, he was later granted asylum here in the uk after two failed attempts. what happened here hasn'tjust attempts. what happened here hasn't just shocked this attempts. what happened here hasn'tjust shocked this corner of south london but an entire nation. police say the victim's injuries were not life—threatening but that they could be life—changing. regine yvonne yalata there. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's have a look at some other stories. two boys

have been charged with the murders of 15—year—old mason wrist and 16—year—old max dixon. the teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will appear in the youth court in the morning. a total of five people have now been charged in connection with the deaths. two teenagers will be sentenced today for the murder of the transgender generator —— teenager rhianna ghey. they are known as gill x and boy why. the 16—year—old was stabbed 28 times in a park near warrington in february of last year. and the funeral of the former labour party advisor and author derek draper will take place today. the husband of the itv presenter kate garraway had been living with extreme complications after contracting coronavirus at the end of the pandemic back in 2020. he died last month at the age of 56. more on our website.

you are live with bbc news. the mother of a boy who killed four people is ada's high school in the us state of michigan in 2021 has put the blame on her husband, jennifer is the first parent in the us to face a manslaughter trial for a mass shooting carried out by a child. ethan crumbly was 15 at the time of the shooting and serving life in prison. our north american correspondence sent this update. back in november 2021, sent this update. back in november2021, ethan sent this update. back in november 2021, ethan was 15 years old when he shot dead four of his fellow students and wounded seven others. four days before the shooting, he had been given a handgun by his parents as a present, a nine millimetre weapon that of course became the murder weapon. testifying in court jennifer crumbley said it was a husband i purchased that

handgun and that it was intended for use at a local shooting range. prosecutors allege thatjennifer crumbley allege that jennifer crumbley ignored allege thatjennifer crumbley ignored her sons downhill spiral into serious mental health problems, on the morning of the shooting, her hannah husband got called into the school after some concerning drawings were discovered. there, they were told that their son required counselling but they didn't take him home and took no action, of course, he went on to carry out that masculine. prosecutors also say thatjennifer crumbley did nothing when her son asked for help with his mental health problems. he told her that he saw demons in the house, she said, in court, that she thought he wasjust said, in court, that she thought he was just messing around. jennifer crumbley denies all allegations of involuntary manslaughter, she said she couldn't possibly have foreseen what her son was about to do. her husband james crumbly will be tried separately and as for ethan

crumbley, he pleaded guilty to first—degree murder and last month was sentenced to life in prison without parole. let's have a look at some of the stories making the news around the world now and in northeast spain, the state of emergency has been declared because of a worsening drought after three years with no significant rainfall in catalonia. you can see the reservoir near barcelona look like two years ago and what it looks like now. what restrictions are being posed on 6 million people, those in catalonia will be limited to 200 litres per person per day. officials in turkiye say the police have freed seven workers held by a hostage, held hostage by gunman at a plant in istanbul, the local governor told reporters that police are staged a raid when the loan gunmen took a bathroom break. no—one was injured in the nine hours siege, the government has been detained and is unharmed. and the second day of greta

thunberg's trial sites today over a protest in central london last october, the 20—year—old from sweden was erected during a demonstration act at a hotel where all executives were meeting. she and four others pleaded not guilty at westminster magistrates court last year to breaching section 1a of the public order act. the bbc has found that a toxic mix of oil, chemicals and bits of tire from roads is polluting english waterways and no—one is regularly monitoring it. heavy rain forces run off into streams and rivers campaigners say is causing absolutely horrific damage in some parts. our correspondence reports. the river land born in berkshire, a stream known for its crystal clear water and instruct fishing. clear water and instruct fishin: . ., , clear water and instruct fishing-— clear water and instruct fishinu. , ., , fishing. people paint streams and rivers _ fishing. people paint streams and rivers but _ fishing. people paint streams and rivers but they _ fishing. people paint streams and rivers but they can - fishing. people paint streams and rivers but they can do - and rivers but they can do streams, can they?- streams, can they? just upstream _ streams, can they? just upstream is _ streams, can they? just upstream is the -

streams, can they? just upstream is the great . streams, can they? just upstream is the great british break off tent. what a few slaves the other way and rule paradise turns into a pollution that most of us just drive past. —— walked a few steps the other way. the corporate, run—off from the motorway, one of tens of thousands of trains that take water of our road network whenever it rains. this is the apple — network whenever it rains. this is the apple from _ network whenever it rains. t�*i 3 is the apple from the m4 so the motorway goes over the bridge above us. ., ., , above us. charlotte campaigns for cleaner— above us. charlotte campaigns for cleaner rivers, _ above us. charlotte campaigns for cleaner rivers, she - above us. charlotte campaignsj for cleaner rivers, she showing me how the rain flows straight off the road, coding the riverbed with a toxic brand sledge. riverbed with a toxic brand sled . e. �* riverbed with a toxic brand sledae. �* ., �* , riverbed with a toxic brand sledae. �* ., v , sledge. and that's 'ust quite . rim. sledge. and that's 'ust quite grim. we-ve _ sledge. and that'sjust quite grim. we've tested - sledge. and that'sjust quite grim. we've tested it, - sledge. and that'sjust quite grim. we've tested it, we i grim. we've tested it, we assented to the national laboratory to be tested to see what sort of things are in their anderson really scary pollutant those things like arsenic, lots of heavy metals,

mixture of tires and oil and all the things that cast shed. straight off the road? straight off the road into the river. it shows that run—off from roads and urban areas is the third most damaging source of water pollution after agriculture and sewage. there's not much greater awareness information about the volume of raw sewage that spills into our rivers and seas. by contrast, there is very little monetary of the run—off and pollution that washes from our roads into all the same places. in response to a freedom of information request from the bbc see, the environment agency says it doesn't have any specific monetary programmes assessing the impacts of roadrunner. it said it did look for chemicals related to run—off and a general test of water quality. and that responsibility for the

outfalls rest with national highways and the local authorities. ii highways and the local authorities.— highways and the local authorities. if you are all riaht authorities. if you are all right with _ authorities. if you are all right with the _ authorities. if you are all right with the discharge l right with the discharge pollution towards environment, would be prosecuted in a heartbeat.— would be prosecuted in a heartbeat. �* ., , , would be prosecuted in a heartbeat. , , ., heartbeat. joe bradley used to work for the _ heartbeat. joe bradley used to work for the agency, _ heartbeat. joe bradley used to work for the agency, we - heartbeat. joe bradley used to work for the agency, we meet| heartbeat. joe bradley used to i work for the agency, we meet up with her where water drains of the m6. in two brook. this with her where water drains of the m6. in two brook.- with her where water drains of the m6. in two brook. this is a watercourse. _ the m6. in two brook. this is a watercourse, a _ the m6. in two brook. this is a watercourse, a little _ the m6. in two brook. this is a watercourse, a little stream, l watercourse, a little stream, it should be beautiful and it's absolutely horrific. and it literally keeps me awake at night. we've got 18,000 of these that we know about, that's from the motorway network and the motorway network and the motorway network is 3% of our road network is 3% of our road network so they are not being monitored and so, because they are not monitored, nobody knows the extent of the pollution and the extent of the pollution and the nobody�*s doing anything about it. the nobody's doing anything about it. ., ., ., , about it. national highways manages — about it. national highways manages england's - about it. national highways manages england's major. about it. national highways i manages england's major road network. and has a legal responsibility to make sure that discharges from its network do not cause pollution. we diverted the drainage from

the 838. ~ , ., ., the 838. were shown one solution _ the 838. were shown one solution in _ the 838. were shown one solution in devon, - the 838. were shown one solution in devon, a - the 838. were shown one | solution in devon, a rebate the 838. were shown one i solution in devon, a rebate is being used to filter pollution from the road. the being used to filter pollution from the road.— being used to filter pollution from the road. the water comes in here, from the road. the water comes in here. this _ from the road. the water comes in here, this particular— from the road. the water comes in here, this particular basin i in here, this particular basin is to filter out the solids, the polluted solids will sing to the bottom.— the polluted solids will sing to the bottom. there are some sins it's to the bottom. there are some signs it's working, _ to the bottom. there are some signs it's working, the - to the bottom. there are some signs it's working, the nearby l signs it's working, the nearby lake that used to receive the run—off. it's almost like a painting weather is nice water release flinching to the back. the ranger tells me that once a bond and water lilies have started to return. this is a good news story. national highways has identified 254 outfalls as having a higher risk of pollution. but only about 30 of them will have any mitigation in place by the end of next year. we mitigation in place by the end of next year-— of next year. we do take this seriously. — of next year. we do take this seriously, with _ of next year. we do take this seriously, with its _ of next year. we do take this seriously, with its important| seriously, with its important and we think there is more for us to do, we have set in place

as this plan to identify those outfalls which present a risk to design the medications they need to be put in place and to deliver them before 2030. i thought this yesterday when it was raining. the thought this yesterday when it was raining-— was raining. the outfalls that we visited — was raining. the outfalls that we visited with _ was raining. the outfalls that we visited with joe _ was raining. the outfalls that we visited with joe and - we visited withjoe and charlotte are not in line for mitigation. now, afterfive days, roaming the scottish highlands, eating nuts for birdfeeders, a missing japanese monkey has been recaptured, his back at the scottish highlands wildlife park where ian mckenna's reports from. this was the moment the highland adventure came to an end. the mischievous monkey has been on the one for five days. relieved, very relieved. really proud of the team that we were able to go and get them. he’s able to go and get them. he's been spotted _ able to go and get them. he's been spotted in _ able to go and get them. he's been spotted in this _ able to go and get them. he's been spotted in this garden just a few miles from the part. he was just right at the window

looking enemy. he wasjust right at the window looking enemy.— looking enemy. what did look like? did happy? _ looking enemy. what did look like? did happy? he - looking enemy. what did look like? did happy? he looked i looking enemy. what did look like? did happy? he looked a| like? did happy? he looked a little bit sad. _ like? did happy? he looked a little bit sad. he _ like? did happy? he looked a little bit sad. he wasn't - little bit sad. he wasn't worried, i don't think. looked a little bit sad.— worried, i don't think. looked a little bit sad. he's now been checked over _ a little bit sad. he's now been checked over by _ a little bit sad. he's now been checked over by vets - a little bit sad. he's now been checked over by vets at - a little bit sad. he's now been checked over by vets at the i checked over by vets at the highland wildlife park. is in fantastic condition, - highland wildlife park. is “i fantastic condition, doesn't seem to have suffered anything whatsoever. we have all the peanuts and the birdfeeders of thing for that. these guys don't realise what historic this power has caused but i'm sure they will give him a good welcome back now he's done monkeying around. now, before we go on bbc news, will bring you to live pictures coming to us out of nairobi, the small remains here of after that gas explosion that we reporting at the beginning of the programme. two people have been killed, confirmed killed by the our fears that the death toll could be much higher, hundreds of people have been injured, the explosion happening at a gas

canister refilling depot which was situated in the midst of lots of the apartment building so you can understand the concern that the death tour will become higher. stay with us here on bbc news, update on that story. hello. full uk forecast in a moment. first of all, i thought i'd reflect on storm ingunn that came across the north atlantic wednesday and hit sweden and norway wednesday night, bringing what looks like being record—breaking winds, sustained winds of 122 miles an hour, parts of norway, and 116 miles an hour in sweden. unimaginable strength of the winds. there were even stronger gusts. the gusts that we recorded were even much stronger than those that hit southern england in the great storm of 1987 — one of the most powerful storms i've ever seen, storm ingunn. now it's the lovely end to the day on thursday, fine sunsets many of you spotted caused by the clear skies illuminating the cloud out west. but it is the cloud that's

going to be winning the battle, i suppose, over the next few hours, progressively turning quite cloudy, a few patches of drizzle around, some rain into western scotland, but very mild air, again flowing in off the atlantic. we see high pressure to the south, weather fronts to the northwest where it will be windy. gusts of wind reaching 50 odd miles an hour across northern scotland, where it'll be damp and drizzly across western areas. elsewhere, a lot of cloud to start the day. but given it's quite windy, i suspect we will see some sunny breaks breaking through across parts of east scotland, to the east of the pennines, probably eastern parts of wales, and maybe eastern side of both antrim and downs. so you might see some glimmers of sunshine. either way, it will be a very mild day. the air gets a little bit cooler across northern areas on saturday, say cooler, temperatures coming a bit closer to average, sunshine and showers working in here. again, it's quite blustery. england and wales having the thickest of the cloud with some patches of light rain coming and going. temperatures 14 degrees, again, well above average for this time of the year. the average in london is nine degrees.

for sunday's forecast, again, we've got the mild air with us, but thicker cloud this time, so probably a higher chance of seeing some damp weather at times. the far north of scotland, again, quite blustery with some showers working in here. for most of us, temperatures again on the mild side, ten to 14 degrees pretty widely. but then after this mild run of weather, might be something of a shock to the system to see the weather turns a lot colder next week. and for some of you, that means a return of seeing some snowfall. now it's a little bit less certain just how cold it gets further southwards across england and wales. but it could be that we see some snow. for the time being, the models are picking up thick cloud with outbreaks of cold rain at times.

live from london, this is bbc news. i reset for apple. the textron returns to growth thanks to its latest iphone after one year of falling sales but a slump in china worries wall street. also coming up — rate relief on the way. the bank of england leaves the cost of borrowing at a 15 year hire but the boss says a cut is now on the agenda.— but the boss says a cut is now on the agenda. the question for us is changed — on the agenda. the question for us is changed from _ on the agenda. the question for us is changed from how - us is changed from how restrictive do we need to be, how high do we need to go for how high do we need to go for how long do you need to maintain that before you cut them? that's a very good move forward. , ,

forward. delivering big numbers: _ forward. delivering big numbers: amazon i forward. delivering big - numbers: amazon celebrates a record holiday season and an eye—watering $570 billion in annual sales. and happy birthday facebook. 20 years after its launch, it is back on investors's friend list. ajump investors's friend list. ajump in profits have meant meta shares have soared. hello. here's your top business stories and we are starting in the united states where apple has pressed reset on a year of falling sales, returning to growth in the last three months of 2023. it's thanks to strong demand for the iphone 15. that's its latest handset. later today the tech giant will launch with vision pro headset which it hopes could become the next must have gadget but for wall street the party has been spoiled by much weaker than

expected sales in china,