it's a decision that the arab world and cloche at close allies cautioned against, but the president has gone ahead, and so he stressed his commitment to peace, whether via a two state solution or any other solution. we want an agreement that is a great dealfor the israelis, demonstrations so far have been relatively low—key, but us citizens have been warned not to go to the west bank or the old city in jerusalem, the president well aware of the reaction this speech might provoke. so, today, we call for calm, for moderation, and for the voices of tolerance to prevail over the purveyors of hate. our children should inherit our love, not our conflicts. there has been a fierce international backlash to what the president is proposing, even though donald trump insists it's just accepting what is present—day reality. so far, the arab world, nato, the pope, the un, russia and turkey have spoken out against the move. the white house is on a charm offensive, but so far, the only country that has been charmed is israel. and onjerusalem's ancient walls, a very modern projection of israeli sentiment tonight. this is a historic day. we are profoundly grateful to the president for his courageous and just decision to recognise jerusalem as the capital of israel, and to prepare for the opening of the us embassy here. this decision reflects

the president's commitment to an ancient but enduring truth, to fulfilling his promises and to advancing peace. six months ago, the palestinian leader hosted donald trump on his middle east tour. that early optimism replaced by disappointment today. translation: jerusalem is a palestinian city. christian, muslim, jewish — and it is the capital of the state of palestine forever. jerusalem, a city 6000 miles and two continents away from the us, was the subject of an unusual campaign pledge from donald trump to a very narrow constituency, to move the us embassy from tel aviv tojerusalem and recognise the ancient city as israel's capital, but in keeping that promise, he seems to have made his other goal of advancing middle east peace a whole lot more complicated. jon sopel, bbc news, washington.

well, let's get some reaction to this from laura bicker in washington. just how isolated is the us now over this? you heard from our colleague that the un, nato, the arable world had united against this decision. the united kingdom has also released a statement saying that it has no plans to move its embassy from tel aviv to jerusalem. and tonight, members of the un security council are calling for an emergency meeting to discuss this decision and let me give you a list of those countries. bolivia, egypt, france, italy, senegal, sweden and uruguay want a meeting by the end of the week. now, donald trump. to where he is in the white house because of his policy of america first. ——. to. this was a

campaign promise that he made. within the last hour there has been a press release from his campaign saying promise made, promise kept. so when it comes to keeping his domestic audience happy, that is what he is seen to do. but it looks like the america first policy looks increasingly like america alone. how does he see this as helping at vance his other aim to finding peace in the middle east? during his speech he made several mentions of the peace process and it puts his son—in—law in a difficult session at the start of his presidency he tasked him with the middle east peace process. when it came to his speech today, he emphasised that that peace process is still undergoing, that he did not want to show one side or the other. what

does this mean? for palestinians who are sitting and wondering whether or not their claim to the east jerusalem is still there, still on the table with regards to negotiations, perhaps they do not know because it was stated in the speech today. again, no strategy was mentioned whether he is looking for a two state solution where israel and palestine live side—by—side. all of this strategy was unclear in his speech today. when it comes to the pre—serve sets —— peace process, he has made it difficult for that to go ahead to. what happens now with the moving of the us embassy?m ahead to. what happens now with the moving of the us embassy? it could ta ke moving of the us embassy? it could take some time. we already know they will need to find a new site in jerusalem to build the embassy, there will need to be a building process and regulations will need to go through and staff moved. remember, president trump will be up for re—election in 2020. it is a

long process to go through and certainly some wonder whether or not this will even happen before trump is upfor this will even happen before trump is up for re—election. when it comes to the actual timescale of this, he wa nts to the actual timescale of this, he wants it done as quickly as possible but it is hard to say how you rush something like this. thank you, laura from washington. also making news today: hong kong democracy activists joshua wong and lester shum are to be sentenced in the latest umbrella movement prosecution. they were among 20 activists found guilty by the high court of criminal contempt, for refusing to clear mongkok district during the 2014 0ccu py protest. wong, shum and nine others pleaded guilty in october, while nine more pleaded not guilty. president putin says that he will allow russian athletes to compete at next year's winter olympics under a neutral flag, after the ioc banned russia over allegations of a state—sponsored doping programme. the international olympic committee accused russia of an unprecedented systematic manipulation of the anti—doping system. he commented on the allegations surrounding athletes in the 2014 sochi 0lympics.

translation: i have never set a task, for example for the minister of sport or other organisations or federations to win at the olympics. there was no such task. we had a task, that was to prepare the sochi 0lympics task, that was to prepare the sochi olympics and put it on a presentable level for athletes, sports fans and those who love sports all around the world. time news magazine has awarded its annual person of the year to the people around the world who have broken their silence on sexual assault and harassment. calling them silence breakers, time said their collective anger had spurred immediate and shocking results. let's return to our lead story. president trump's announcement a few hours ago that the united states now recognises jerusalem as the capital of israel. victor kattan is senior research fellow at the middle east institute,

national university of singapore. he explained what this announcement might mean for the peace process. well, it doesn't look good at the moment becausejerusalem well, it doesn't look good at the moment because jerusalem is well, it doesn't look good at the moment becausejerusalem is a final status issues. usually one of the last things you discuss this topic this time they have reversed that process and are discussing it before other issues. it has or has been a point of contention and that is why people try to avoid it. palestinians are very concerned about this issue, abbas and other officials have come out and said that the us are no longer a broker of the. president trump said that by moving the capital, this could be a catalyst for peace. they said it won't change theissue for peace. they said it won't change the issue of the boundaries or the status of the city, although it is difficult to see that without more

clarity on the issue of the embassy. hasn't spoken about the consulates office in eastjerusalem, it is possible in the future it could become an embassy to a palestinian state but he didn't say too much about that. is statement about realities on the ground is problematic because one could read that as applying to other troubled spots in the world. so it could really have wider repercussions, not only for the middle east but around the world? absolutely. i think it is a bonus contention and that is why the un secretary general has expressed concern, so the un secretary general has expressed concern, so has many other world leaders. will there be any room for peace negotiations here in the near to medium term? it is difficult to say unless this is followed up by diplomatic action swiftly. there was talk of a wider peace plan involving saudi arabia

and other arab countries but the saudi king warned that the trump administration not to address this, speak about the specific issue right now which is what has happened. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: one of australia's most senior catholics goes on trial, accused of covering up child abuse in the 19705. we'll be live in sydney. also on the programme: getting ready to vote. we'll take a look at the historic elections taking place in nepal. cheung man was shot here in new york. —— john lennon.

cheung man was shot here in new york. -- john lennon. the 14th ceasefire of this wall and it in the old city. this morning, witnesses said shells were lending every 20 seconds. people are celebrating the passing of a man they hold responsible for hundreds of deaths and oppression elsewhere, people have been gathering to mourn his passing. the widow of the former president of the philippines has called on trial in manila, facing seven charges of tax evasion, she pleaded not guilty. the prince and princess of wales are two separate, a statement from buckingham palace said the decision had been reached amicably. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm rico hizon in singapore. i'm karin giannone in london. our top stories: donald trump reverses decades of us policy and recognises jerusalem as the capital of israel.

there's been almost universal criticism from other world leaders. the palestinians say it's the end of the peace process. let's take a look at some front pages from around the world. the japan times features an artist's impression of a new supersonic aircraft, which aims to be faster than a concorde. the company behind the jetjust landed a $10 billion contract with japan airlines. it could cut the journey time from new york to london to just over three hours. britain's daily telegraph reports on the death of one of the most famous faces of the swinging ‘60s. the former model christine keeler was caught up in the notorious profumo affair, which contributed to the downfall of the conservative government. and according to the south china morning post, a certain italian plummer might be making an appearance in the country soon.

nintendo has agreed to let people play mario brothers on another compa ny‘s console. their hoping access to china's market will power—up their already impressive profits. now, what stories are sparking discussions online? the end of the era of throwaway plastic may have arrived. that's after un environment ministers agreed the flow of plastic into the oceans must end. they say the deal shows governments and the public realise change is needed. scientists welcomed the agreement, but pointed out there were no firm targets or timetables. one of australia's most prominent clerics, the catholic archbishop of adelaide, philip wilson, has appeared in court accused of covering up child abuse in the 19705. he says he's innocent. the trial started on wednesday and continues today.

let's get more from the bbc‘s phil mercer in sydney. well, phil mercer in sydney. prosecutors at the court in newcastle, well, prosecutors at the court in newcastle, this is an industrial city to the north of sydney, allege that archbishop philip wilson covered up abuse in the hunter valley region of new south wales in the 19705. it's alleged that he knew about the crimes of a fellow prie5t who has since died who was abusing an altar boy. it's also alleged that on top of the cover—up, the archbishop back in the 19705 paid thousand5 archbishop back in the 19705 paid thousands of dollars to silence complainants from making their voices heard against abu5e within the catholic church. and, as you 5ay, the catholic church. and, as you say, these are charges that archbishop philip wilson denies and his legal team says that given his fragile phy5ical his legal team says that given his fragile physical and mental state, they don't believe he should be fit enough to stand trial in the first

place. phil, i believe he's the most senior catholic official in the world to be accused of the cover—up of sexual abuse of children? that's right. and legal observers believe that the hearing in newcastle here in eastern australia could well be a landmark te5t in eastern australia could well be a landmark test case. we've heard over recent yea r5 landmark test case. we've heard over recent years from a royal commission investigating institutional respon5e5 investigating institutional responses to child abuse in australia, not just in responses to child abuse in australia, notjust in religious organisations but in schools, in the military, in charitie5 organisations but in schools, in the military, in charities and other institutions, and there have been allegations that abuse in the past has been covered up. so it's not only a case pertinent to archbishop philip wil5on, but observers do say that this case could have ramifications for many other cases that that royal commission has been an thing in its almost five years of working. -- been unearthing. the second phase of elections in nepal takes place on thursday. it's the first legislative election

since since a civil war ended and the monarchy was abolished. the first phase took place in november. a5 preparation5 continue across the country for the elections, there's hope that this will bring much—needed stability to nepal. voters will be choosing a 275—member parliament and provincial assemblies. turnout was more than 65% in the first phase. editor of the nepali time5, kunda dixit, explained to me the importance of these elections. just before dawn here in kathmandu, rico, and many would say nepalis waking up to a new political dawn. undoubtedly the5e waking up to a new political dawn. undoubtedly these are a milestone elections, they represent the last 5tage elections, they represent the last stage of a peace process that 5ta rted stage of a peace process that started 11 stage of a peace process that 5ta rted 11 yea r5 stage of a peace process that started 11 years ago when the violent conflict ended and in many ways in that period we have gone

from, well, war to peace, monarchy to republic, and the country itself has been mired in in5tability to republic, and the country itself has been mired in instability and yet i think there's a lot of hope the5e elections will bring a new era of stability and that the country will finally move forward with economic growth and job creation. kunda, what is the representation like among the candidates 5tanding in this election? are there many old politicians or are we seeing new fa ce5 politicians or are we seeing new face5 who will inject vibrancy into the political system? well, one reason for a bit of cynicism i5 the political system? well, one reason for a bit of cynicism is that although there is hope that this will bring in a new era, there are a lot of old face5 who have not performed in the past, people tainted with corruption, a lot of candidates who are businessmen and contractors and that is one reason

for the cynicism. the other is that we're going into really uncharted territory because be5ide5 we're going into really uncharted territory because besides the national parliament, we're also electing members into seven federal assemblies. and federalism, no one really knows how it's going to work. thi5 really knows how it's going to work. this is indeed a wide—ranging election and of course now we are in a so—called millennial era, kunda, how has the election played out on 5ocial how has the election played out on social media? how has the election played out on social media ? ha5 how has the election played out on social media? has it been a social media driven election campaign? indeed. i think what you see in the run—up to the day's election especially is the very strong showing of one of the alternative partie5, showing of one of the alternative parties, which is an alliance of two anticorruption parties, which is an alliance of two anticorru ption pa rties, parties, which is an alliance of two anticorruption parties, which has a lot of fresh faces, a lot of people who have returned from abroad back to nepal and who represent the younger voter5. it remains to be

seen whether, and this is the test, this election is a test of how met police will convert their outrage with the current system and the current crop of leaders into votes at election time —— nepalese. whether this new party, which is doing very well on social media in term5 doing very well on social media in terms of exposure, will be able to get votes and how many votes they get votes and how many votes they get will be the crucial te5t. whoever 5it5 get will be the crucial te5t. whoever sits in this new parliament and whoever becomes the new prime minister, kunda, what should be their top three priorities?” minister, kunda, what should be their top three priorities? i think we've done box box,,,, vox pop5 from the street about what people expect from these elections and stability i5 from these elections and stability is number one, stability is needed for economic growth, investment and job creation at home so nepalese don't have to migrate by their million5 abroad to work. don't have to migrate by their millions abroad to work. what about

the new constitution, which was adopted a couple of years ago, kunda? how much change in the political system have you seen since then? we haven't seen much because this is the last election of the three tiers of government under the new constitution so that remains to be seen as to how inclu5ion new constitution so that remains to be seen as to how inclusion and autonomy will work under the new federal 5y5tem. autonomy will work under the new federal system. but the fact that this is the first series of elections under the new constitution i5 elections under the new constitution is definitely a milestone. kunda dixit. in california, more than a thousand firefighters are battling huge wildfires. hundreds of buildings have already been destroyed and thousands of homes are under threat. the worst of the fires have been in ventura county about 80 kilometres north of los angeles. from there the bbc‘s north america correspondent, james cook reports. no one can no one can escape no one can escape from nature, not evenin no one can escape from nature, not even in belair, no one can escape from nature, not even in bel air, one of the wealthiest suburbs on earth. all day there's been a battle to save home5 here and the owners have been

rushing to grab what they can as they flee from their mansions. wheedle this house 13 years ago, never seen anything like it. do you think the firefighters are going to save think the firefighters are going to 5aveit? think the firefighters are going to save it? they're my heroes, i'm hoping, it's in god's save it? they're my heroes, i'm hoping, it's in gods and the firefighters' hands. and they are being helped by much lighter wind5 for now. with the winds and the fire developing tho5e ember5 can fly a distance away, spot firing canyons below u5. distance away, spot firing canyons below us. and you're worried that might be what happens because the wind5 might be what happens because the winds are forecast to get up? that's correct. the media mogul rupert murdoch's vineyard property is one of those smouldering butt helicopters have been making good use of the lull in the weather. the5e firefighters are now battling a blaze in one of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in los angeles. we're 5urrounded neighbourhoods in los angeles. we're surrounded by expensive home5 neighbourhoods in los angeles. we're surrounded by expensive homes and this fire is likely to get worse this fire is likely to get worse this afternoon when the winds picked up. it was in the beach side city of a crow three were the first wildfire

exploded with terrifying 5peed. —— ve ntu ra. exploded with terrifying 5peed. —— ventura. driven by wind5 going down the dusty canyons. la5t ventura. driven by wind5 going down the dusty canyons. last night it jumped the main coastal motorway, causing terrorfor jumped the main coastal motorway, causing terror for drivers. this is literally 15 feet away from us right now. this is the cross. we need to get out as soon as possible, that fire is right there. only one thing could stop the blaze, the pacific 0cean. thi5 could stop the blaze, the pacific 0cean. this is how the fires look from space, thick 5moke streaming out to sea. it has barely rained here in la for six months and you can tell. many 5cienti5ts here in la for six months and you can tell. many scientists say climate change is driving more frequent and more destructive wildfires. for california this is yet another grim wake—up call. jame5 cook, bbc news, los angeles. you've been watching newsday. coming up: we'll be taking a look at the person behind one of the most 5ucce55ful shops in the world. stay with us to find out who it is. and before we go, let's take a look at these pictures. one of the world's oldest

and most complete skeletons of our ancient ance5tor5 has been unveiled in johannesburg. south african 5cienti5t5, who have spent 20 years excavating and preparing little foot, say the fo55ili5ed remains are more than three million years old. that's all for now, 5tay with bbc world news. hello. the day ahead will bring some very windy weather and then we get plunged into the deep freeze. storm caroline, a deep area of low p ressu re caroline, a deep area of low pressure is drifting to the north of the british isles. a band of rain 5inking south and east but look at

all the light lines, the isobars on the chart, very very windy, storm force wind5 the chart, very very windy, storm force winds are possible in northern areas and then we opened the floodgates to this very cold air plunging all the way in from the arctic. we're starting thursday on a fairly mild note, a wet note for some and a windy night for all of u5. some and a windy night for all of us. the mild weather will not last, those, because our5 us. the mild weather will not last, those, because ours are bands of rain clearing south and east and we will all get into cold air, wintry showers in northern ireland and scotla nd showers in northern ireland and scotland but the real concern here i5 scotland but the real concern here is the strength of the wind. a5 scotland but the real concern here is the strength of the wind. as you can see, we're expecting wind gu5t5 in excess of 80 mph acro55 northern scotla nd in excess of 80 mph acro55 northern scotland particularly and it could well be enough to cause some disruption but also some damage. so the met office has issued an amber be prepared warning for the strength of the wind and even further south in central part5 of the wind and even further south in central parts of scotland, fringing into northern ireland, there a yellow warning in force, gu5t5 70 mph po55ible there a yellow warning in force, gu5t5 70 mph possible here. elsewhere it starts wet and windy acro55 elsewhere it starts wet and windy across the south—eastern corner,

that rain will take a while to clear and then the skies will brighten and then we get into the wintry showers blown in on this strong north—westerly wind, could easily be blizzard conditions in the snow showers and those temperatures coming down as the afternoon goe5 on. now, into thursday night, the5e 5now on. now, into thursday night, the5e snow showers will drift further south and east. we could see a covering of snow south and east. we could see a covering of 5nowju5t south and east. we could see a covering of snow just about anywhere, but mostly in places expo5ed anywhere, but mostly in places exposed to this north—westerly wind. there could be some icy stretches around as well so a very wintry look to the weather on friday. ye5, around as well so a very wintry look to the weather on friday. yes, some sunshine, 5till to the weather on friday. yes, some sunshine, still some 5now to the weather on friday. yes, some sunshine, still some snow showers, a bitterly cold north—westerly will wind, your thermometer will read five degrees but it will feel 5ubzero for many. saturday look5 like it will be quieter, the winds ea5ing from the west. still very cold but not as many showers at this stage, 1—5, tho5e cold but not as many showers at this stage, 1—5, those are the maximum temperatures. then into the second half of the weekend, all highs on this front of system hurtling in

from the atlantic. ye5, this front of system hurtling in from the atlantic. yes, it's going to wring 5ome from the atlantic. yes, it's going to wring some rain but as it interacts with the cold air there's the potential for some significant 5now. the potential for some significant snow. don't take these graphics to seriously, there's que5tion5 snow. don't take these graphics to seriously, there's questions about the5e positioning of this, some significant 5now po55ible the5e positioning of this, some significant 5now possible on sunday and we will keep you posted. donald trump has announced a major us policy on israel, he has announced jeru5alem us policy on israel, he has announced jerusalem is recognised as the capital, saying it is a longer that you step that will bring about peace between israel and pale5tinian5. israel's prime minister say5 pale5tinian5. israel's prime minister says it is a historic day, but leaders from around the world have been warning of possible violence, the palestinian state it mark5 violence, the palestinian state it marks the peace process. and this trending on bbc .com. wildfires in california have destroyed hundreds of buildings, home5 under threat and the fire is born in about 80 kilometres north of los angeles. nearly 40,000 people had been forced from their homes, the state's

governor has declared a state of emergency. now on