biden address, presidentjoe biden response to the findings of a special counsel investigation into his handling of classified documents.— into his handling of classified documents. , w a, documents. they reached a firm conclusion _ documents. they reached a firm conclusion that _ documents. they reached a firm conclusion that no _ documents. they reached a firm conclusion that no charges - conclusion that no charges should be brought against me in this case. ,, ,, , ., this case. the us supreme court hears a case _ this case. the us supreme court hears a case on _ this case. the us supreme court hears a case on whether - hears a case on whether colorado can block donald trump from the ballot in the 2024 presidential election in the state. though counting gets under way in a tabular general election in pakistan. —— the vote counting gets under way in the general election in pakistan. joe biden has defended his handling of documents in special counsel investigation and his fitness for leading the country. there was an announcement today that

he wilfully retained and disclosed classified documents on matters including national security, which stems back to 2017 and his role as vice president. the special council has decided not to pursue criminal charges against mr biden. he said he opted against criminal charges because mr biden co—operated with his investigation and guilt could not be established beyond a reasonable doubt. mr biden previously admitted that a handful of documents were filed in the wrong place, and said that he had immediately turned them over to thejustice department. he defended keeping hold of them saying they were locked in the garage at his delaware home. he defended himself in a televised address from the white house. i have seen the headlines about my wilful retention of documents. this is not only misleading, butjust plain wrong. the special counsel said the

president had presented himself as an elderly man with a poor memory. i'm an elderly man, i'm well—meaning but i know what the hell i'm doing, i put this country back on its feet. my memory is fine. look at what i've done since i became president. none of you thought i could pass the things that i have passed. how did that happen? i guess i forgot what was going on. president biden�*s political opponents seized on thursday's report to call for charges against donald trump to be dropped. for legal analysis we can go to an attorney specialising in national security cases. very good to have you with us. firstly your assessment on what you made on the long—awaited report with regards to biden�*s handling of the classified documents.— handling of the classified documents. . documents. the ultimate finding that no charges _ documents. the ultimate finding that no charges were _ that no charges were recommended is what we expected, so long as new fact

did not emerge, as they did not, from what we knew at the outset. but it is a damning portrayal of irresponsibility of how president biden mishandled these documents over this period of many years. if this period of many years. if this had been my normal client, a civil servant of the united states government, even at a fairly senior level, this would not be the same result. this was not acceptable somewhat biden did. . ., ~ biden did. the argument from mr biden did. the argument from mr biden in the _ biden did. the argument from mr biden in the press _ biden did. the argument from mr biden in the press conference, i biden in the press conference, his staff were handling the documents. he said he wished he had been overseeing it. are you saying that he does bear ultimate responsibility? there are some aspects _ ultimate responsibility? there are some aspects of _ ultimate responsibility? there are some aspects of it, - ultimate responsibility? there are some aspects of it, he - ultimate responsibility? there| are some aspects of it, he was in wilful retention of the documents. i have no doubt that staff took care of most of it, and he may not have even known some of it was there. but there is evidence within the report about his sharing of

information, likely classified, with his ghost writer. i will say, this is common for vice president to mike and presidents and cabinet administrative date—macro officials of prior administrations. —— vice presidents. when they leave office, what documents they take home... inaudible. another aspect of this report was speaking about the president's mental acuity, his memory. pointing out what they said was limited recourse. in your legal experience, is it normal to pronounce on such things? normal to pronounce on such thins? ., . , normal to pronounce on such thins? ., .,, , things? no, iwas very surprised _ things? no, iwas very surprised with - things? no, iwas very surprised with that - things? no, i was veryl surprised with that type things? no, i was very - surprised with that type of language in the report. it made it look political. and this was a republican us attorney who was appointed to oversee this by the attorney general. it put in an extra level of unnecessary inflammatory ad

hominem attacks on him. there were other witnesses who had recall problems and there wasn't anything indicating their credibility or mental acuity was at risk or a problem. so i don't know why that was put in there. i normally would not say that in a justice department investigative report, and that was unfortunate because, as we've seen by today's news, while this should have been a legal report, it's become a political one.— legal report, it's become a political one. let's talk more about that — political one. let's talk more about that perceived - about that perceived politicising of the report and the potential for it. politicising of the report and the potentialfor it. also cognizant of the fact donald trump is facing his own classified documents trial. lay out for us the distinction between these cases because it is important. it between these cases because it is important-— is important. it is very important. _ is important. it is very important, and - is important. it is very important, and the . is important. it is very - important, and the distinctions are significant. in fact, if donald trump had simply co—operated with the national archives when he was first asked, heck, when he was

secondarily asked to return the documents back to the national archives, even though the archives would have probably said, oh, my god, ican�*t believe you have so many classified, highly classified documents, some of which he had no control to even declassify, had he even mentally wanted, as he said he did. everything would have been signed. no charges would have been bought. it was the obstruction, the lying, the alleged, using a legal term, lying, the alleged, using a legalterm, hiding lying, the alleged, using a legal term, hiding the documents that led to the prosecution that exists now. they are very much apples and oranges. that is why former vice president mike pence will also not be charged for his handling, mishandling of classified information. more broadl , classified information. more broadly, what _ classified information. more broadly, what do _ classified information. more broadly, what do you - classified information. more broadly, what do you think i classified information. more i broadly, what do you think this means for the country, essentially? trump supporters have already been saying and will continue to say that it shows the justice system in the us is two tears essentially.

how difficult does this make it for the department ofjustice to navigate this. it for the department ofjustice to navigate this.— to navigate this. it makes it very difficult. _ to navigate this. it makes it very difficult. more - to navigate this. it makes it very difficult. more politicalj very difficult. more political difficulty than legal. this result, and the truncated cells are very reflective of current policy practice and the law. —— and the trump case. the way this was written, it placed political aspects in, it's going to further divide the country because there is fodder for both sides to point to. i was hearing on networks all day long, those entrenched on the democratic side are just democratic side arejust exaggerating democratic side are just exaggerating what the report says, and those on the republican side are exaggerating what the report said as well, for two different reasons. �* ._ , said as well, for two different reasons. ~ , ., ., ., reasons. always great to have our reasons. always great to have your analysis. _ reasons. always great to have your analysis, thank _ reasons. always great to have

your analysis, thank you. - the supreme court heard arguments on thursday in a landmark case that to determine the outcome of the 2024 election. thejustices the outcome of the 2024 election. the justices are weighing up whether to overturn the decision by the top court in colorado that blocked mr trump from appearing on the state's presidential ballot. the 14th amendment to the us constitution bars those... it is unclear when the court will rule, howeverthe is unclear when the court will rule, however the former president's legal troubles don't seem to be slowing down. recent polling shows only 51% of americans are concerned about his legal troubles. 0n about his legal troubles. on thursday he is running unchallenged in the nevada republican caucuses. his last remaining rival, former south carolina governor nikki haley, suffered a stinging defeat in the primary earlier this week

in the state. the nevada gop has chosen not to recognise the primary and will award all 26 of its delegates from thursday's caucus. to break it all down, we canjoin thursday's caucus. to break it all down, we can join anthony zurcher in las vegas, where donald trump is holding his watch party. great to have you with us this evening. walk us through the distinction, the fact nevada had a primary, it is now holding its caucuses. it seems a little bit confusing, just put it all into perspective. what's going on? it isa it is a little bit confusing, and the reason is the nevada state legislature decided they wanted to hold a primary, because more voters could participate in a primary. the republican party in this state decided to stick with the caucus, in part because donald trump supporters control the republican party here, and it provides in their view a greater advantage for donald trump, because his supporters

are more loyal, and loyal people tend to show up at caucuses, because there is a much more narrow time for participation. it's only in the evening today. in a primary, people can vote earlier in the day or days before. so a strategic decision, but it's created a meaningless primary that nikki haley didn't even win, none of the above won on tuesday. and the caucus today which donald trump will dominate. figs which donald trump will dominate.— dominate. as you say, potentially _ dominate. as you say, potentially coming - dominate. as you say, i potentially coming away dominate. as you say, - potentially coming away with those 26 delegates and coming off the back of a stinging defeat for nikki haley in the primary. she does appear to be continuing on to south carolina at this stage, however. amid dwindling odds. what is her campaign looking to achieve? well, i think her campaign is hoping something changes in the

fundamental dynamics of this race. it's hard to envision what that might be. donald trump has a stranglehold on this race since the beginning of last year. indictments didn't change that. various bits of news didn't change it. polls suggest right now donald trump is comfortably ahead not only in south carolina but in all the state that will hold primaries in early march on what is called super tuesday. that could be the knockout blow. perhaps nikki haley's campaign hoping there is a surprise in the next two weeks. people counted her out when she ran for governor of south carolina years ago and she won a surprise upset there, so they are hoping a little bit of that magic will reassert itself come the end of february.— the end of february. talking about the — the end of february. talking about the potential - the end of february. talking about the potential for - about the potential for something to change. as you know, today there was the hearing at the supreme court with regards to whether donald trump can actually be on the

ballot in colorado. just judging from what we had heard in those initial hearings, what is your gut telling you? any indications about the way in which the justices may pronounce?— which the justices may ronounce? ~ , . , pronounce? well, the 'ustices seem scepticalfi pronounce? well, the 'ustices seem sceptical of _ pronounce? well, the 'ustices seem sceptical of the h pronounce? well, the justicesl seem sceptical of the assertion by the colorado republican voters and the state of colorado that donald trump should be struck from the ballot in colorado. some of the reasons they were concerned was they wondered whether the section of constitution, the 14th amendment, actually applied to presidents. they were also wondering if colorado had the power on its own to strike donald trump from the ballot. that would create a different situation where different situation where different states could make different states could make differentjudgments, a hodgepodge of ballots, and the confusion there could result in chaos. it seems unlikely that the court will uphold the colorado decision and keep

donald trump off the ballot, although where you are mentioning scenarios nikki haley might be successful in, she could be counting on the court to say something like donald trump can't be on the ballot. we should hear a decision from the supreme court very soon. in a week or two, those ballots go out to colorado voters. so something has to be decided or donald trump will be on the ballot no matter what happens. anthony zurcher in _ matter what happens. anthony zurcher in las _ matter what happens. anthony zurcher in las vegas, - matter what happens. anthony zurcher in las vegas, where i zurcher in las vegas, where donald trump is holding his watch party, great to talk to you. turning now to the israel—gaza war. the us says it will not support any plans for an israeli military operation in gaza's southernmost city, rafah, without proper planning. a ground offensive has not yet started, on wednesday the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, said he'd instructed israeli forces to prepare for an offensive in the city. israeli planes have continued to bomb parts of rafah, which has also been coming under tankfire. both the white house and the state department say that they have made it clear that such an operation risks

disastrous consequences for the more than one million palestinians who've fled there. more than half of the strip�*s population is sheltering in rafah. aid agencies are warning of a worsening humanitarian catastrophe. meanwhile, the us senate has voted to begin work on a $95 billion international security aid package which includes $14.1 billion in security assistance for israel and $60 billion of military aid to ukraine. this move follows the failure of a bipartisan package which included us border security reforms. our state department correspondent tom bateman sent this update. rafah, remember, is the city on the border with egypt in the south of gaza. it is where the only crossing point is into egypt. its population has at least tripled since the start of the war. up to 1.5 million people there, most of the population of gaza, now crammed into the south. they have fled the fighting, many displaced multiple times. these are people many of whom are living in the open or in tents.

it's the middle of winter, desperate humanitarian conditions, the un and others warning people are on the verge of famine. prime minister benjamin netanyahu said he had ordered his troops to start to plan an operation into rafah. he described it as one the last strongholds of hamas. it is very rare for the us to forecast ahead of israeli military operations in gaza, but today, pointedly, the state department and the white house and the national security council warning against this in an unplanned way, saying it would be, in their words, a disaster if there was no plan to evacuate civilians, and to deal with the dire humanitarian situation. so very strongly worded from the us. mr netanyahu said there would be an evacuation of civilians. the question is, how do you do that?

i asked the state department deputy spokesman today, where would these people go? he said, this is an issue for the israelis. he is saying, if there is an operation without any sir keir starmer has confirmed that labour is ditching a pledge to spend £28 billion a year on environmental projects if it wins the general election. the conservatives have described it as a major u—turn on a flagship policy. 0ur political editor chris mason spoke to the labour leader. the £28 billion was announced when interest rates were very low. now they are very high because of the damage done to the economy. maybe it was a silly comment in the first place? even the interest on the debt is measured in tens of billions of pounds. what i'm interested in is not the money, the exact

sum, but the outcomes. you are interested in the exact sum until this morning. i have always been... my mission is clean power by 2030. enviromental groups have slammed the policy change, calling the labour party short—sighted on climate change. more the action on our website. —— more reaction. you're live with bbc news. russian president vladmir putin has suggested for the first time that he's open to a swap that would free wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich. as you may remember, mr gershkovich has been imprisoned in russia for 317 days after being arrested on espionage charges, which he denies. us officials have repeatedlly called for mr gershkovich's immedate release. and in a wide ranging interview with tucker carlson released just a few hours ago, mr putin says he also doesn't rule out gershkovich's

return to the us. translation: i do not rule out that the person you referred - to, mr gershkovich, may return to his motherland. at the end of the day, it doesn't make any sense to keep him in prison in russia. we want the us special services to think about how they can contribute to achieving the goals our special services are pursuing. we are ready to talk. moreover, the talks are under way. and there have been many successful examples of these talks crowned with success. probably this is going to be crowned with success as well. but we have to come to an agreement.

volodymyr zelensky has appointed a new military leader, the biggest change to ukraine's military leadership since the russian invasion in february 2022. some important news around the world. police in brazil are investigating former ministers and military officers associated with former presidentjair bolsonaro. they president jair bolsonaro. they were presidentjair bolsonaro. they were served with search and arrest warrants after being suspected of participating in an attempted coup. mr bolsonaro is accused of trying to amend and overturn the election. he has denied wrongdoing and his lawyer said mr bolsonaro agreed to surrender his passport. the pentagon announced us forces struck ii pentagon announced us forces struck 11 new targets in yemen that were threatening american navy ships and merchant vessels. live pictures of a

volcano in south—western iceland that has erupted for the second time this year. it's not clear if it will affect local town that was evacuated in the middle ofjanuary. local town that was evacuated in the middle of january. votes are being counted in pakistan after a general election marred by intimidation and militant attacks that killed at least nine people. thousands of troops were deployed at polling stations and results have been slow, prompting a lectern officials to warn local officials to warn local officials to warn local officials to speed up the process. —— election officials. the party imran khan blames the on vote rigging. the suggestion is that his allies are in the lead. this vote was already overshadowed by questions of whether it's credible. then, as the polls opened, the internet shut down. pretty much on the dot of eight o'clock, all of our

phones stopped working. we don't have internet, we can't call anybody. the authorities said this was for security, others called it deliberate disruption. some voters told us they struggled to find out where they were meant to vote and candidates had issues, too. we had created whatsapp groups, for them to be able to inform us centrally of what they see there. those groups are obviously not working. akram raja is one of imran khan's lawyers and is backed by his party. mr khan is in prison on three long jail sentences. he couldn't run in this election. his party say they've been targeted. gatherings like this last month broken up with tear gas. supporters arrested and intimidated. the authorities justified their reaction, saying the gatherings didn't have permission and called the wider claims absurd. the reality of covering an election day when there is no internet is that it's difficult for us to

communicate with people, too. so we have just spotted a convoy of cars that looks like it's a senior person from the pmln and we are following to see where they're going. the pmln is the party thought to be favoured in this election by pakistan's powerful military. pmln's leader nawaz sharif has been prime minister three times. last election, he was seen as out of the military�*s favour, in prison when khan won. their fortunes have changed. mr sharif, are these elections free and fair? the elections are free and fair. and the elections have been always free and fair. except many years ago, but now, today, i think it's absolutely fair. mr sharif, have you made a deal with the military? there's no need for a deal. actually, i have never any problems with the military. the polls have closed. pakistan awaits. has the election brought some faith in democracy or broken it?

caroline davies, bbc news, lahore. the biggest mass migration in the world is under way in china. laura becker has been speaking to people in beijing about their hopes for the new year. some new year wishes need spiritual intervention. many young people in beijing come to the lama temple to pray for a job. a slowing economy means millions of graduates are out of work. this dragon year, they're clinging to the hope that will change, as well as dressing up for the occasion. translation: the economy has been sluggish. _ you need to have good ideas and back yourself, but praying to the buddha and the burning incense, that will also help. all: happy new year! even the very young have theirfuture in mind.

"i want to get top marks in my exams every time," says this ten—year—old. at beijing train station, families are bundled up and loaded up for the long journey back to their hometowns, and with good reason. the sun may be shining in the capital, but heavy snow and ice brought some highways in the south of china to a standstill. thousands were stranded in their cars, dozens of trains were delayed or suspended, and passengers were stuck at wuhan railway station for hours. these ladies have a long journey north to see their 90—year—old mum, and they're doing all they can to ensure this year is lucky. translation: l was born | in the dragon year, so this year i've bought red clothes i and red pants for a prosperous and thriving new year. translation: i hope everyonej has a safe new year and you all get money in your pockets.

those left in beijing settle in to their celebrations. traditional costumes have become popular with young people, along with this one new year wish. "money, big money," she says. whatever their dreams for the future, this week is for food and for family. and for many, this will be theirfirst new year together since the start of the pandemic, and they're determined to savour it. laura bicker, bbc news, beijing. you are watching bbc news from washington. more at the top of the hour, join me then if you can. goodbye for now. hello there. a wide range of temperatures on thursday with mild air towards the south, much colder feeling airfurther north. there was some snow, particularly over the peak

district and over the pennines too — here's hebden bridge in west yorkshire. most of the snow came over the high ground. but misty, mild conditions further south. plenty of heavy rain, too. you can see that on the radar picturejust piling into the south of england and south wales earlier on through the night. lots of flood alerts in place here. there's the snowfall further north, most of it over the higher ground, but some of the snow towards the south just turning back to sleet and then to rain with that milder feeling air. but still the risk of some travel disruption as we head into friday, with an ice risk from northern england northwards and still some falling snow over the very highest peaks as well. the snow riskjust transferring into central southern areas of scotland, too, and some brisk easterly winds. so perhaps some more problems over the high routes in particular with drifting snow. this is how we're starting off the day on friday. a range of temperatures — below freezing in scotland, but very mild in the south. now as we head through friday, that warm front continues to push its way further

northwards, just dragging in the milderfeeling air. still very brisk easterly winds blowing across eastern scotland, northeast england. this should be falling as rain. but across the grampians and the highlands, we're likely to see some accumulations of snow, even to low levels from the central belt northwards, but it will turn back to rain. some early wintriness too, perhaps across northern ireland. once more, quite a wide range of temperatures — between 4 and 13 degrees celsius as we go through the afternoon, and still maybe a bit of wintriness, particularly across caithness and sutherland and across shetland as we head through saturday. now, there will be a lot of dry weather on saturday, but low pressure is close by and there will be some showers, maybe some heavier rainfall across the far south—east of england a little later on in the day. but coming back up into that milderfeeling air, so most of our temperatures will be between 6 and ii. still double figures in the south. watch out for some heavy rain again across northeastern areas of scotland as we head through sunday. but it will be falling as rain. the air now a lot milder, some scattered showers elsewhere, along with some

spells of brightness. and by the time we get to the end of the weekend, those winds, brisk in the north, will have eased down somewhat, maybe turning more settled into the start of next week with high pressure building in.

in september 2014, 43 students disappeared from passenger buses in the mexican town of iguala, guerrero. they were in police custody, and then they're just gone. the federal government took charge of the case. police started finding many places with clandestine graves. it was just horrifying. just three months after the disappearance, the government announced they had solved the case.

we were analysing the evidence.