and national leaders. hello, i'm caitriona perry. for the first time in 150 years, the us house of representatives has impeached a member of the president's cabinet. tueday�*s vote marked the second push by republicans to charge department of homeland security secretary, alejandro mayorkas with willfully refusing to enforce border laws and breaching the public�*s trust. a vote last week fell short. tuesday's margin was thin, just 214 �*for�* and 213 �*against�*. two republicans and two democrats did not participate in the vote. after the vote house speaker mikejohnson said in a statement. "from his first day in office, secretary alejandro mayorkas with

willfully refusing to enforce president biden put out his own statement, saying "history will not look kindly on house republicans for their blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games. instead of staging political stunts like this, republicans with genuine concerns about the border should want congress to deliver more border resources and stronger border security. " this all comes as the us—mexico border is being overwhelmed with record—breaking migrant crossings. in december, us border patrol agents recorded nearly 250,000 apprehensions of migrants who crossed the southern border unlawfully.

that is the most arrests ever made on the southern border in a single month. breaking the record of 212,000 set the previous december. those numbers did steeply drop injanuary. at around 124,000 apprehensions. in the last hour i spoke about this with npr congressional correspondent claudia grisales. this vote failed last week, but pass tonight, what has changed in the meantime?— in the meantime? three republicans _ in the meantime? three republicans joined - in the meantime? three - republicans joined democrats in this republicansjoined democrats in this very narrowly controlled republican chamber who blocked the order to impeach alejandro mayorkas last week. they were missing a key member, who was out battling cancer and he was able to return to the house this evening, giving republicans in the house that one vote margin to be able to push this impeachment across the line and see the secretary alejandro mayorkas impeached

this evening on articles, saying he had failed in terms of his duty as secretary. despite how many impeachment we have seen in recent years, they are incredibly rare, what is significant about what has happened here?— happened here? very significant, _ happened here? very significant, it - happened here? very significant, it has - happened here? veryl significant, it has been happened here? very- significant, it has been 150 years since we have seen a member of a presidential cabinet impeached. this is a big historic moment for house republicans, also for house speaker mikejohnson, he is only a few months into his job but this is something republicans have been talking about ever since they took control of the house last year. and even before then this was a major goal for them and even before then this was a major goalfor them to go and even before then this was a major goal for them to go after alejandro mayorkas. it is an historic moment but it will not go far, we do not expect much from the democratically controlled senate to do with this house action. it controlled senate to do with this house action.— this house action. it wasn't unanimous _ this house action. it wasn't unanimous amongst - this house action. it wasn't unanimous amongst house republicans, three did vote

against it, have they said why? yes, mike gallagher of wisconsin, he is now an outgoing member and this is his last term in the house. he said he did not believe that this claim that alejandro mayorkas failed in his duty enough so that he would be impeached. but the threshold was even breached. and all three republicans who voted against this pretty much said similar in terms of not seeing enough here in terms of impeaching alejandro mayorkas and also some concerns that this is going to become a back—and—forth between democrats and republicans to continue to impeach members of the opposing party. that believe that _ the opposing party. that believe that it _ the opposing party. that believe that it doesn't i the opposing party. that. believe that it doesn't reach the bar to be considered a high crime and misdemeanour, is that a view that some senate republicans may share? yes, that is another _ republicans may share? yes, that is another interesting - that is another interesting wrinkle in all of this. while senate democrats are opposed to

this, there are senate republicans who are opposed to this as well. you need 60 votes for example in the senate to convict. assuming the senate goes forward with some sort of impeachment trial, there just isn't nowhere near that number of senators he would get on board in terms of supporting a conviction of mayorkas. just on that point. _ conviction of mayorkas. just on that point, how _ conviction of mayorkas. just on that point, how do _ conviction of mayorkas. just on that point, how do we - conviction of mayorkas. just on that point, how do we think- conviction of mayorkas. just on that point, how do we think or| that point, how do we think or do we know how the senate is going to handle this?- do we know how the senate is going to handle this? they have a few options — going to handle this? they have a few options here. _ going to handle this? they have a few options here. they - going to handle this? they have a few options here. they could l a few options here. they could hold an abbreviated trial, for example. they are not in for at least two weeks, they just left this morning. so it is very possible this is something they could pick up when they come back. senate majority leader chuck schumer this evening railed against this. said that it was not something that will go very far, he didn't expect.

but they would address it in the senate in terms of how procedure demands them too. but it is something that he and other democrats are very much frustrated and angry that this is an issue that they now have to take up in the higher chamber.— to take up in the higher chamber. ., ., chamber. 0k, we will wait to see what _ chamber. 0k, we will wait to see what happens _ chamber. 0k, we will wait to see what happens next. - chamber. 0k, we will wait to i see what happens next. thanks so much forjoining us.- so much for “oining us. thanks for having — so much forjoining us. thanks for having me. _ staying on capitol hill now — a showdown over foreign aid is looming in the us house. a bipartisan group of senators approved a $95 billion aid package for ukraine, israel, the indo—pacific, and global humanitarian efforts. the next stop for the bill is the house — but it's unclear if the lower chamber will vote on or adopt the provisions after the house speaker mikejohnson dismissed it. before the passing senate vote — speakerjohnosn criticized the current iteration of the legislation for not addressing issues at us—mexico border — which has seen a record number of migrants crossings under the biden adminsitration.

mrjohnson implied he wouldn't schedule a house vote any time soon — though president biden called on the speaker to act quickly. i urge speakerjohnson to bring it to the floor immediately, immediately. there is no question that the senate bill was put on the floor and house of representatives it would pass. it would pass. for republicans in congress who think they can oppose ending for ukraine and not be held of history is watching. failure to support ukraine at this critical moment will never be forgotten. the bill allocates $95 billion — or more than £75 billion — in aid for america's national security interests. roughly 60 billion is earmarked for kyiv,

1a billion for israel. 10 billion for humanitarian efforts including gaza, and 4 billion for indo—pacific allies. 22 republican senators joined with democrats to pass the package, but not all democrats praised the bill. some left—wing democrats criticized the measure becase of concerns over supporting israel's offensive in gaza. tuesday's supplemental is a stripped—down version of the 118 billion dollar aid package that senate republicans voted down last week, after it drew criticism from former president trump and speakerjohnson. in kyiv, ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky applauded the senate's passage of the deal, writing on x. i spoke earlier with john herbst — former us ambassador to ukraine who currently serves as senior director of the atlantic councils eurasia center — and he outlined what those consequences might be. 0ne, we have to worry about a much more aggressive kremlin that might strike against nato allies, which are harder to

defend than ukraine, which is a large country. two, american leadership will be seen as weak and it will encourage president shih to move on taiwan. it will encourage iran to reduce more provocations against the united states and israel in the middle east. it would make the consequences of a disastrous exit from afghanistan seems small. it is odd that politicians who criticise the withdrawal from afghanistan are advocating policies that are far more dangerous to american security. john herbst there. turning now to the middle east, and talks are ongoing in egypt — over a potential ceasefire between israel and hamas. senior intelligence officials from the us, egypt, and israel along with the qatari prime minister attended. a us official tells our news partner cbs, that those conversations were productive, but there were no significant breakthroughs.

0ne sticking point is around how many palestinian prisoners will be released in exchange for israeli hostages. since the start of the conflict in gaza, at least 339 health workers and paramedics have been killed while trying to save the lives of others. that's according to the health ministry which is run by hamas — designated a terrorist organisation by the uk government. the israel defence forces told the bbc that "any claim that they intentionally target red crescent or medical workers is baseless and untrue and that they act in accordance with international law. during the first six weeks of the war, a journalist who lives in gaza called feras al—aj—rami started filming for bbc arabic — he captured the lives of paramedics working for the palestinian red crescent in the north of gaza. one of them is alaa al halaby, who's worked as a paramedic

for the last eight years. this is his account of life in gaza. just to warn you, there are very distressing scenes throughout this report.

just so you know, the team in the ambulance there did survive. alaa now works in rafah — in the south of gaza — and mohamed has stayed in the north. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at a top story in the uk. radio listeners are mourning the loss of steve wright, the bbc presenter who's died at the age of 69. wright hosted bbc radio shows for more than four decades. he also fronted television programmes, including top of the pops. peter bowes worked with wright back in the 1990s, and shared his memories. people felt as if they knew

him, it was a one—to—one relationship that his comedy, often times is very everyday comedy, related to them. i think that's what made him special. he wasn't as he described himself, he wasn't the jock, he wasn'tjust spinning the discs as they met said in the olden days with him he had a conversation, light—hearted conversation about life sometimes. he was fun to be with, fun to listen to. wright's career at the bbc began when he started working as a clerk. he then got his own show called �*steve wright in the afternoon�* in 1981. wright was last on air on sunday. you're live with bbc news. voting is under way in indonesia, in one of the world's largest presidential elections. jobs seem to be the biggest concern for younger voters, who make up more than half of the country's 205 million registered voters. in the last hour i spoke with our correspondent steve lai, who's injakarta.

the polls closed and the count has started beyond that. the official results don't always come out for 35 days after that but the quick count does give us an indication as to who will be winning and candidates have claimed and conceded victory based on these quick counts. hopefully we will have a clearer picture later this evening. it took about the key issues and jobs is one of them, especially for the young population here. and the front runner, i want to get more on that for you now with my guest, jonathan head. more known on the international stage than the international stage than the other candidates, but not necessarily for the best reasons?— necessarily for the best reasons? , ., ., , ., reasons? he is a controversial character. _ reasons? he is a controversial character, special— reasons? he is a controversial character, special forces - character, special forces commander and was the son—in—law of the dictator who ran indonesia during the cold war and _ ran indonesia during the cold war and was ousted 26 years ago — war and was ousted 26 years ago he _ war and was ousted 26 years ago. he has a chequered past and is — ago. he has a chequered past and is an— ago. he has a chequered past and is an outspoken man, often talked _ and is an outspoken man, often talked about how western—style

democratic values shouldn't apply— democratic values shouldn't apply to _ democratic values shouldn't apply to indonesia. there were some _ apply to indonesia. there were some concerns about what would happen _ some concerns about what would happen to — some concerns about what would happen to this young and very lively— happen to this young and very lively democracy if he wins the presidency. he has been ahead of his— presidency. he has been ahead of his other candidates for much _ of his other candidates for much of— of his other candidates for much of the campaign. he has refashioned himself in this campaign as an older, more avuncuiar— campaign as an older, more avuncular figure, campaign as an older, more avuncularfigure, quite campaign as an older, more avuncular figure, quite quirky, slick— avuncular figure, quite quirky, slick social _ avuncular figure, quite quirky, slick social media campaign and that has— slick social media campaign and that has appeal to a lot of younger— that has appeal to a lot of younger indonesians. the president, has done a very successfuljob at building up infrastructure and advancing the economy. most of the key policies — the economy. most of the key policies he is saying you will -et policies he is saying you will get most _ policies he is saying you will get most of the same and the voters — get most of the same and the voters like that.— voters like that. tiktok is what he _ voters like that. tiktok is what he has _ voters like that. tiktok is what he has used - voters like that. tiktok is what he has used for - voters like that. tiktok is what he has used for hisl voters like that. tiktok is - what he has used for his medium to reach out to younger voters. indonesia is the world's third largest democracy after india and the united states and a muslim population, it is an ally of the us. depending on who wins, do you see a change in its relationship with the united states? i

in its relationship with the united states?— in its relationship with the united states? i don't think that will change. _ united states? i don't think that will change. indonesia | that will change. indonesia prides— that will change. indonesia prides itself on being a good, global— prides itself on being a good, global citizen and they do feel caught— global citizen and they do feel caught in the us china rivalry. china's— caught in the us china rivalry. china's critical economy, a lot of the — china's critical economy, a lot of the infrastructure he was buiit— of the infrastructure he was built with chinese investment. but indonesia, like a lot of countries _ but indonesia, like a lot of countries worry about china's ambitions _ countries worry about china's ambitions in the south china sea and _ ambitions in the south china sea and has been a key partner for the — sea and has been a key partner for the us— sea and has been a key partner for the us along with places like vietnam in this kind of balancing act. it is a pluralistic country, it is inclusive, lots of religions and — inclusive, lots of religions and cultures here. that is something in the selection we haven't— something in the selection we haven't seen the division between islam and secularism we have seen— between islam and secularism we have seen in the past. we have seen _ have seen in the past. we have seen inclusiveness and it is part— seen inclusiveness and it is part of— seen inclusiveness and it is part of the indonesian package. 0ne part of the indonesian package. one quick— part of the indonesian package. 0ne quick word from you about a misconception about indonesia when it comes to democracy, what should the international audience know? it is what should the international audience know?— audience know? it is a lively democracy. _ audience know? it is a lively democracy, young _ audience know? it is a lively democracy, young one - audience know? it is a lively democracy, young one they| audience know? it is a lively - democracy, young one they have only had — democracy, young one they have only had three elections for the last—

only had three elections for the last 25 years. but they're not going _ the last 25 years. but they're not going to buy all of the western package. people don't like conflict, they worry it can — like conflict, they worry it can get _ like conflict, they worry it can get out of hand and what the president has done, he has brought— the president has done, he has brought everyone in and you haven't _ brought everyone in and you haven't had a lot of debate about _ haven't had a lot of debate about a _ haven't had a lot of debate about a lot of policies. it is the — about a lot of policies. it is the indonesian style, find a consensus it is not the rowdy, democratic politics we are used to in_ democratic politics we are used to in the — democratic politics we are used to in the west. not democratic politics we are used to in the west.— to in the west. not as confrontational - to in the west. not as confrontational in - to in the west. not as confrontational in the | to in the west. not as - confrontational in the public space. so that's quite a bit of stake here, regarding the indonesian elections. we will be watching closely here on bbc news and i will be out on the ground injakarta and into the evening and reporting as the results come in. here in the us, the annual inflation rate has fallen to three—point—one percent. that's from a recent peak of more than nine percent in 2022. but consumer prices are still going up faster than most economists expected. and that will make it more difficult for the us central bank to cut interest rates. following the news, financial markets in the us had their worst day since march 2023.

earlier i spoke to erica groshen, senior economics advisor at cornell and former commissioner of us bureau of labor statistics. thank you for being with us. how concerned should consumers be that the inflation cooldown seems to have stalled and may be could even reverse higher? i would say it is too early to worry. it is clear that inflation is declining at a slowing pace. but over the past few months it has continued to decline. and one lesson i learned from my years and something ifound myself something i found myself saying, something ifound myself saying, one month is not a trend. you have to look at any number in the context, recent numbers. and this onejust looks like part of a slowing trend in the decline of inflation. i trend in the decline of inflation.— trend in the decline of

inflation. , , inflation. i suppose squashing inflation. i suppose squashing infiation or— inflation. i suppose squashing inflation or reducing _ inflation. i suppose squashing inflation or reducing the - inflation. i suppose squashing inflation or reducing the rate | inflation or reducing the rate of inflation is not an easy task, either, sure it's not? no, it's not easy reducing it and it is not easy measuring it either. so the normal standard errors that you have on inflation measures, they look larger when the amount of inflation you have is smaller. so the standard error on, of a tenth of a percent on a 12 month change is larger when you are talking about changes around 3.1%, which is what we got when we were up around eight or 9%, that standard error didn't look so large. but now when you see these declines you say, well, some of these declines and these increases are not that far from the

standard error. so he really just have to remind yourself that one month is not a trend and keep watching. not assume that inflation is going down fasterjust because one month it went down and not assume that it it went down and not assume thatitis it went down and not assume that it is going back up just because one month you didn't see much of a change. people are watching _ see much of a change. people are watching these _ see much of a change. people are watching these numbers l are watching these numbers closely and in particular in the context of the fed reducing interest rates, something people are watching out for with a keen eye. bearing in mind what you said about not reading too much into one month's figures, do you think the fed is still on course to perhaps reduce rates? i think that probably _ perhaps reduce rates? i think that probably they _ perhaps reduce rates? i think that probably they haven't . that probably they haven't changed their plans very much on the basis of this number. remember, a lot of the market analysts were saying, they will be cutting rates very soon because of last month's number. the fed said, not so... you

know, they said one month is not a trend, we will not change our course on the basis of one month. now we have gotten this number, if you look at the last few numbers, it looks not so different. i think that they are staying the course and it is more the analysts that are overreacting. brute is more the analysts that are overreacting.— overreacting. we are in an election — overreacting. we are in an election year, _ overreacting. we are in an election year, of— overreacting. we are in an election year, of course, l overreacting. we are in an i election year, of course, and something voters consider is the impact of policies on their wallets and their pocket books. in real life tactical terms, what does this mean for the consumer?— consumer? there are a few thins. consumer? there are a few things. first _ consumer? there are a few things. first of _ consumer? there are a few things. first of all, - consumer? there are a few things. first of all, you - consumer? there are a few| things. first of all, you have to understand that we are looking at an average of an average of an average. it is a highly average number and everybody�*s experience with price changes is going to be different. everybody has a different. everybody has a different market basket. that said, realwages different market basket. that said, real wages are up and at the same time this inflation

report came out, the bls issued the real wage estimates and real wages are, over the past yearfor all workers, and year for all workers, and particularly yearfor all workers, and particularly for nonproduction workers. so this is good for the workers and interestingly enough, it is another month where we have a bit of decline of inequality in our economy, which is probably salutary after four or five decades of almost nonstop rising inequality. almost nonstop rising inequality-— almost nonstop rising inequality. almost nonstop rising ineuuali . ., inequality. 0k, we will leave it there for _ inequality. 0k, we will leave it there for the _ inequality. 0k, we will leave it there for the moment. - inequality. 0k, we will leave i it there for the moment. thank you forjoining us on bbc news. you are welcome, my pleasure. democrats have picked up the us house seat formerly held by republican george santos.

the state of new york held a special election on tuesday, with republican mazi pilip conceding the race to democrat tom suozzi.both parties poured millions of dollars into the race. the win cuts the slim republican majority in the us house even further. thank you for watching, i'm caitriona perry. i'll be back in 30 minutes with more. stay with us here on bbc news hello. it is right, it is mild and it will get even milder across some parts of the country. but this story _ some parts of the country. but this story is — some parts of the country. but this story is not _ some parts of the country. but this story is not true for scotland. it has been quite the opposite. at the moment we have clear skies it is very cold in the highlands and early on wednesday morning temperatures in some spots could be minus eight celsius. a knot in

northern ireland, england and wales. the air current is coming in from the south—west, whether france are crossing is here and a lot of cloud and outbreaks of rain. the clear skies will be across scotland through the early hours and this is where we have light winds and recently had snow showers in the last 2a hours, hence the temperatures are pretty low close to the ground. just to the south of that we have the weather fronts, layers of cloud, outbreaks of rain and 10 degrees in the south, around about six by the time we get to belfast and a couple of degrees above freezing in the morning in glasgow and edinburgh. 0n in glasgow and edinburgh. on wednesday, rain bearing clouds will be shifting northward through the course of the day. winteryness across the highlands. to sum up wednesday, rain possible almost at any time, almost anywhere across the country, but one or two glimmers of sunshine. temperatures should reach 1a, 15 celsius across parts of england. 0n 15 celsius across parts of england. on thursday, substantial area of rain fell across scotland. these are conference the air behind it is slightly cooler. ahead of it

here around east anglia, lincolnshire and the south—east, the sky is clear with a bit of sunshine it is possible temperatures may reach 16 or 17 celsius. not unheard of at this time of year and it is happening more often. why so mild? if we track this air stream we can see it is coming in from portugal and spain at the canaries. you can trace it back all the way into the subtropical atlantic, back all the way into the subtropicalatlantic, i back all the way into the subtropical atlantic, i really mild air mass streaming our way over the next few days. i mentioned the cold front but this is it as it moves over the course of friday. introducing something a little less mild. it's not going to be cold just not a smile. the outlook over the next few days, the peak of this mild spell will be around thursday. but after that it looks as though the temperatures will ease a little bit, staying on the mild side but very changeable with rain at times.

i'm steve lai injakarta, as one of asia's largest democracies is heading to the polls. we'll bring you the latest on what it means for businesses and jobs. signs the us economy is still running hot but may be further away than anticipated.

hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm arunoday mukharji. voters in southeast asia's largest economy — indonesia — have begun casting their votes for the country's next president. polls opened at 7am local time across the archipelago. but whoever wins will have big challenges ahead — including improving growth and creating jobs. injakarta, my colleague steve lai has the story. polling is under way and closes at one when counting will begin. you mentioned it's southeast asia's largest economy, ranks 15th in the world. it's just below spain and just above turkey. it's a sizeable country when it comes to its economic weight and what happens in indonesia obviously has an impact around the region as well. like most countries from the pandemic, key concerns our growth and unemployment. i've been speaking to young people here and they

sayjobs are on their minds when it comes to choosing their