this is bbc news — i'm rich preston. our top stories... president biden congratulates the republicans as they secure a majority in the us house of representatives — marking a return to divided government in the united states. disagreement over the poland missile strike as ukraine insists its air defence teams weren't to blame. as protests continue in iran — more death sentences are handed down by the revolutionary courts. and lift off of artemis... and to the moon and back — nasa's most powerful rocket finally blasts off.

welcome to our viewers on pbs in america and around the globe. we begin in the united states, where president biden has congratulated the republican leader, kevin mccarthy for securing a majority in the house of representatives. it marks a return to divided government in america, with democrats still retaining a slim majority in the senate. the white house says the president is ready to work with house republicans to deliver results for working families. let's speak to our north america correspondent, peter bowes. what does this mean for the next two years in washington politics? next two years in washington olitics? , ,

politics? this is, as you say, divided government - politics? this is, as you say, l divided government returning politics? this is, as you say, - divided government returning to washington. not an entirely unusual situation, historically it has happened many times before. but what it means is with the republicans in charge in the house of representatives it will certainly stymie joe biden�*s intentions, his political agenda over the next couple of years with the republicans in a position to block any legislative moves he makes. the republicans will be in charge of the crucial committees in the house of representatives. they can bring forward their own legislation and possibly any inquiries. possibly inquiries againstjoe biden they choose to pursue. it will be a difficult time in washington. we don't expect a huge amount to get through to happen in terms of new legislation, but it is interesting joe biden is reaching out. this is typical of mr biden�*s style, he is

reaching out to the republicans saying he would try to continue to work together. we saying he would try to continue to work together.— to work together. we are talkin: to work together. we are talking about _ to work together. we are talking about divided - to work together. we are . talking about divided politics here, but there has, in the last few hours, show of unity when it comes to the respect marriage bill?— marriage bill? yes, this is a bill that has _ marriage bill? yes, this is a bill that has been _ marriage bill? yes, this is a bill that has been given - marriage bill? yes, this is a bill that has been given the | bill that has been given the green light in the senate, at least to move to the next stage when it will be considered and then move perhaps to the house of representatives, ultimately to joe biden. of representatives, ultimately tojoe biden. this is essentially a bill that would make same—sex marriage legal across the united states. it is in response to concerns that the conservative leaning supreme court may, at some point, step into essentially go back on its decision from seven years ago that gives same—sex couples the right to get married in this country. those

concerns were raised after the abortion decision earlier this year, removing the constitutional rights of women in the united states to have an abortion and there is real concern that at least some of the justices would like to extend that limitation on the rights of americans. uk. extend that limitation on the rights of americans. 0k, teeter in la, thank — rights of americans. 0k, teeter in la, thank you _ rights of americans. 0k, teeter in la, thank you very _ rights of americans. 0k, teeter in la, thank you very much. - there's continued division over the cause of a missile attack which led to the deaths of two people on polish territory. president zelensky insists russia was behind the strike, but nato, poland and the us have all said they now believe the incident was most likely caused by a ukrainian air defence missile. katya adler reports. these have been nail—biting moments for poland and its allies, gathering evidence and intelligence about last night's missile strike close to poland's border with ukraine. yerevan lives nearby. his family heard the explosion, he said, and were really scared.

nato was also nervous. you'll notice almost more emphasis today on who likely wasn't behind the strike than who probably was. we have no indication that this was the result of a deliberate attack, and we have no indication that russia is preparing offensive military actions against nato. to western leaders, immense relief. poland's president says it seems the explosion was caused by ukrainian air defence systems. an unfortunate error, he said. moscow did pound ukraine with missiles yesterday. if it had struck or targeted neighbouring nato member poland, as first suggested in polish media, the whole alliance could have been called on, meaning confrontation with nuclear power russia. nato really wants to avoid

that, while still supporting ukraine's military. nato leaders' carefully crafted, measured response today shows how much they fear europe is on a knife edge. they've had a sharp shock reminder of the ever—present potential of russia's war to escalate and spread beyond ukraine's borders. kyiv sometimes accuses allies of getting too used to all those missiles raining down on its citizens. if that ever was the case, last night was a huge wake—up call. but it's also caused a rift with kyiv, determined russia was behind the strike in poland. translation: i have no doubt that this is not our _ missile, not our strike. i believe this is a russian missile based on our military reports. that's a very rare public break with his international allies. at a meeting of world leaders today, the prime minister assured ukraine support against russia was unwavering, and there were strong words

from his foreign secretary. the house should be in no doubt that the only reason _ why missiles are flyingl through european skies and exploding in european- villages is because of russia's barbaric invasion of ukraine. as the investigation continues on the ground in poland, nato says it's boosting air defences across eastern europe as well as ukraine, just in case. katya adler, bbc news, nato. let's speak to brad bowman, senior director of the center on military and political power at the foundation for defense of democracies. what do you make of the nato response to what has happened in poland? in response to what has happened in poland?— in poland? in the initial hours there was _ in poland? in the initial hours there was a — in poland? in the initial hours there was a lot _ in poland? in the initial hours there was a lot of _ in poland? in the initial hours there was a lot of heated - there was a lot of heated rhetoric and suggestions of how washington and our allies in

europe should respond. i think the right move was to take a deep breath, gather the facts and consult with allies. that is exactly what the biden administration and its nato allies did. it is a good thing we did because as is often the case in war, the first reports are not accurate. if we had responded based on initial conjecture, we could have made a big mistake with far—reaching consequences. for my part i would applaud the biden administration and nato. this could have been a dramatic expansion in the war and because cool heads prevailed, the crisis has been averted for now. , ., , ., the crisis has been averted for now. , ., ., . now. this was a tragic incident, _ now. this was a tragic incident, two - now. this was a tragic| incident, two innocent now. this was a tragic - incident, two innocent people killed but arguably when you are so close to an active conflict zone, things like this, runs the risk of happening, do you think we will see more of the same as this war continues? i see more of the same as this war continues?— see more of the same as this war continues? i hope not, but i do worry _

war continues? i hope not, but i do worry that _ war continues? i hope not, but i do worry that might _ war continues? i hope not, but i do worry that might be - war continues? i hope not, but i do worry that might be the i i do worry that might be the case. any course of action following putin's unprovoked invasion of ukraine has some risk associated. the strategy the us and our european allies have pursued since february the 24th is to arm ukraine, help them defend themselves against this unprovoked invasion, beating up a military posture on the eastern flank of the alliance and try to hold the alliance and try to hold the alliance together as best we can. i think that has been the right approach. we want to do everything we can to help ukraine while avoiding direct combat between russia and nato. something we were able to do during the whole length of the cold war. this was a moment of tension but i think it was well handled. continue to arm ukraine will incur some risks, but the cost of not doing so will be greater.— will be greater. nato says russia still— will be greater. nato says russia still bears - will be greater. nato says russia still bears the - russia still bears the responsibility because ukraine wouldn't be using its air defences if it didn't need to, is that a fair response from

poland? i is that a fair response from poland? ~ , ., ., poland? i think it is more than fair. we poland? i think it is more than fair- we are — poland? i think it is more than fair. we are looking _ poland? i think it is more than fair. we are looking at - poland? i think it is more than fair. we are looking at the - fair. we are looking at the largest invasion in europe since world war ii, and provoked by putin, an illicit war. russia bears culpability for this war, the initiation of war and the way they have conducted it as the g7 put out in a statement today, has been barbaric. i don't think it is a hyperbole to say that. it was on tuesday when roughly 90 missiles were raining down on ukraine, including the capital kyiv and lviv which is close to the polish border. you can sit and criticise, but when you have 90 missiles raining down on you, mistakes can happen. thank you very much for your time. china's president, xijinping, and canada's prime minister, justin trudeau, exchanged tense words on the sidelines of the g20 summit in bali on wednesday. president xi had been meeting

several world leaders, for the first time in person since before the pandemic. but a short follow—up conversation between mr trudeai and mr xi was picked up by the press pool, and it wasn't entirely friendly. let's have a listen.

authorities in iran are trying to contain a wave of protests sparked by the death of a young woman, mahsa amini, while in custody of iran's morality policy. so far, nearly 16,000 protesters have been arrested, and more than 300 have been killed. 0ur news reporter azaday moshiri joins us to discuss. what more do we need to know? we know five people so far have been sentenced to death, accused of waging a war against god. the charge courts typically use when they want a charge that could lead to a death sentence. the court say it is for things like one of the protesters hitting and killing a police officer with the car. another one was supposedly in possession with weapons. another one waged

terror on the streets. but what their families terror on the streets. but what theirfamilies have terror on the streets. but what their families have said two statements and comments to bbc persian, these were essentially sham trials, these protesters didn't have access to their lawyers and were not able to mount a credible defence. their fate was essentially sealed the moment they were indicted. that is not new from the revolutionary courts, it is typically something that happens to political prisoners. we know more than 1000 indictments have been issued so far. some of those, dozens of them can lead to death sentences. it is important to stress this is just the beginning of one of the most brutal and violent phases of the islamic republic�*s crackdown on protesters, that more death sentences are to come. that is because the momentum of these protests is not waning, people are still putting their lives on the line in order to challenge the system. in order to challenge the system-— in order to challenge the s stem. ~ ., , in order to challenge the

s stem. ~ . , ., ., system. meanwhile, news out of the uk about _ system. meanwhile, news out of the uk about iran's _ system. meanwhile, news out of the uk about iran's influence - the uk about iran's influence on british security?— the uk about iran's influence on british security? yes, there was a warning _ on british security? yes, there was a warning by _ on british security? yes, there was a warning by the - on british security? yes, there was a warning by the head - on british security? yes, there was a warning by the head of l was a warning by the head of mis, the was a warning by the head of m15, the british intelligence service, that iran is continuing to silence its critics. but that isn'tjust happening within iran but it is crossing its borders. it is worth listening to what he had to say and this was during his annual address about the current and most pressing security threats that are facing the united kingdom right now. ., facing the united kingdom right now. . , ., . , ., ., now. iran pro'ects threat to the uk now. iran projects threat to the uk directly _ now. iran projects threat to the uk directly through - now. iran projects threat to the uk directly through its| the uk directly through its aggressive intelligence services. at its sharpest this includes _ services. at its sharpest this includes ambitions to kidnap or even _ includes ambitions to kidnap or even kill— includes ambitions to kidnap or even kill british are uk based individual is perceived as enemies of the regime. we have seen _ enemies of the regime. we have seen at — enemies of the regime. we have seen at least ten such potential threats in january alone _ potential threats in january alone. the foreign secretary made — alone. the foreign secretary made it_ alone. the foreign secretary made it clear to the iranian regime _ made it clear to the iranian regime last week, that the uk will not — regime last week, that the uk will not tolerate intimidation or threats towards journalists or threats towards journalists or any— or threats towards journalists or any individual living in the

uk — or any individual living in the uk. ~ ., or any individual living in the uk. . ., �* , or any individual living in the uk. . ., �*, ., ~ or any individual living in the uk. what he's talking about there is a — uk. what he's talking about there is a raining _ uk. what he's talking about. there is a raining intelligence services have targeted british citizens as as people in britain through murder plots or attempted kidnap. they have used spies and sometimes conduits and they have tried to lure people to run to then target them there. and the issue is, this isn'tjust happening in the uk, the head of mis happening in the uk, the head of m15 said it is happening across europe and has been happening for many years. it has taken heightened importance to the islamic republic because they are trying to neutralise a threat to their system that so far they haven't been able to contain. this also comes off the back of the fact that uk police told uk—based iranian journalist, especially ones who are broadcasting like bbc

persian that they have potential threats to their lives. ., ~ potential threats to their lives. ., ,, , ., stay with us on bbc news, still to come: a rousing reception as brazil's president—elect tells the un climate summit there can be no climate security without a protected amazon. benazir bhutto has claimed victory in pakistan's general election and she's asked pakistan's president to name her as prime minister. jackson's been released on bail of $3 million after turning himself in to police in santa barbara. it was the biggest demonstration so far of the first growing european antinuclear movement. the south african government i has announced that it's opening the country's remaining whites—only beaches i to people of all races.

this will lead to a black majority government in this country and the destruction of the white civilisation. part of the centuries—old windsor castle, one of the queen's residences, has been consumed by fire for much of a day. 150 firemen have been battling the blaze, which has caused millions of pounds worth of damage. this is bbc world news, the latest headlines... presdient biden has congratulated the republicans after they regained control of the us house of representatives. it could limit the president's ability to get his legaslative programme through. let's stay with that story now and turn to us political analyst, max kutner.

was this expected, where did it come from? it was this expected, where did it come from?— was this expected, where did it come from? it was expected, the -a come from? it was expected, the party opposite — come from? it was expected, the party opposite always _ come from? it was expected, the party opposite always gains - party opposite always gains control of the house and often the whole congress in the mid—term elections. this was expected, president biden and his administration had plenty of time to prepare for this. joe biden went through a similar thing when he was vice president under 0bama and the republicans gain control of congress then. this was expected. what wasn't expected was just how slim this republican majority would be. right now they only have one seat and we will see in the coming days as the final races of cold weather the republican majority expands. i of cold weather the republican majority expands.— majority expands. i think i'm riaht majority expands. i think i'm ri . ht in majority expands. i think i'm right in saying _ majority expands. i think i'm right in saying it _ majority expands. i think i'm right in saying it was - majority expands. i think i'm right in saying it was a - majority expands. i think i'm right in saying it was a six i right in saying it was a six seat gain for the republicans, where did they win those? it was mainly in the west. in recent days we have been looking at california. 0ne perhaps thinks of california as

a blue state, a lot of democratic areas but it really came down to a lot of seats in california. that said, this republican majority is not looking like it's going to be as big as the republicans had hoped and this was a bit unexpected. 0f hoped and this was a bit unexpected. of course, the results in the senate where even more unexpected with democrats flipping a seat there and taking the majority and still one race in georgia to be called. the republicans almost always take control of the house in the midterms, but some surprises here. now president biden and the democrats are going to have to deal with that for the next two years. indeed, the president _ for the next two years. indeed, the president says _ for the next two years. indeed, the president says he - for the next two years. indeed, the president says he is - the president says he is looking forward to working with republicans to push through his agendas, especially for hard—working families. is he going to be able to do that in practice? i going to be able to do that in ractice? ., , ., practice? i saw that message of congratulations _

practice? i saw that message of congratulations that _ practice? i saw that message of congratulations that just - practice? i saw that message of congratulations that just came i congratulations that just came out. but that is going to make things difficult for president biden and the democrats in this progressive agenda, these campaign promises thatjoe biden said he was going to pursue. so now to pass the less controversial legislation in the house is going to be difficult for democrats and they can forget about passing they can forget about passing the more controversial matters. president biden will have to rely on what is signing his executive orders and executive orders and agency rules are more evenly, easily overturned in the courts and in other ways than an act of congress. president biden is also going to deal with oversight from house republicans. that is one of the biggest takeaways of today. the republicans in the house have said they would go after hunter biden, they would go after the afghanistan

withdrawal, they would go after the origins of covid. when i say go after, i mean look into. these are things that republicans want to look into and will now have an opportunity to do so. great to net our opportunity to do so. great to get your analysis, _ opportunity to do so. great to get your analysis, thank - opportunity to do so. great to get your analysis, thank you | get your analysis, thank you very much. brazil's president—elect has vowed to fight deforestation of the amazon. speaking at the cop27 summit in egypt, luiz inacio lula da silva said there would be no climate security for the world if the amazon was not protected. 0ur climate editor, justin rowlatt, reports from the conference in egypt. # 0le, ole, ole, ola! # lula, lula! lula received a hero's welcome as he arrived here in egypt. "brazil is back" was his message. he said fighting climate change will be his number one priority and he promised to start rebuilding the agencies that police the forest as soon as he takes office injanuary. translation: it's time to act. we have to stop this rush to the abyss. what we need is hope,

hope combined with immediate and decisive action for the future of the planet and for humankind. # lula, lula! there is no question that lula is the star of this conference, but he faces real problems at home — brazil's finances are in trouble, he doesn't have control of the parliament and there's no doubt his rival, jair bolsonaro, will be making trouble for him. under bolsonaro, rates of deforestation rose rapidly. he was accused of encouraging loggers and miners to go into the forest and of hobbling the environmental police. lula says his target is zero deforestation. he promised to start rebuilding the agencies that police the forest as soon as he takes office in january. but his team acknowledges there is hard work ahead. translation: this won't be an easy process. -

there was a dismantling of all policies related to the environment. but if we rebuild the budget, if we rebuild the teams, i am confident we will be able to achieve our goals. that change cannot come quickly enough, say the indigenous communities who are on the front line of the conflict in brazil's forests. they are illegal miners, they are poisoning our rivers and deforesting our forests. the crowds surged around the brazilian president—elect after his speech. lula says he's urging the un to allow brazil to host the 2025 un climate conference, and he says he wants it to be held in the amazon itself. nasa's artemis rocket

has finally launched, our science editor, rebecca morrelle, was watching. it was the moment they have been waiting for. after months of setbacks, nasa's most powerful rocket was finally on its way. the start of humanity's return to the moon. we rise together, back to the moon and beyond. it is we rise together, back to the moon and beyond.— moon and beyond. it is an incredibly _ moon and beyond. it is an incredibly complex - moon and beyond. it is an i incredibly complex machine. moon and beyond. it is an - incredibly complex machine. it has so — incredibly complex machine. it has so many components to get 8.8 million pounds of thrust off the — 8.8 million pounds of thrust off the ground requires many systems— off the ground requires many systems to work together perfectly. it systems to work together perfectly-— systems to work together erfectl . ., ., perfectly. it did that today. no people _ perfectly. it did that today. no people are _ perfectly. it did that today. no people are on _ perfectly. it did that today. no people are on board - perfectly. it did that today. | no people are on board this time, but this test flight will show if it is safe for adults. they want to land the first woman in the first person of

colour on the moon. i woman in the first person of colour on the moon. i wanted to be an astronaut _ colour on the moon. i wanted to be an astronaut since _ colour on the moon. i wanted to be an astronaut since i - colour on the moon. i wanted to be an astronaut since i was - be an astronaut since i was five years old. for anybody who wants a dream, if they can see somebody they can identify with a little bit, to put it into a totally different perspective and they say, wait a minute, that person is just like and they say, wait a minute, that person isjust like me, and they did it. i can do it, too. �* , , ., ., and they did it. i can do it, too. �* ,,. ., ., too. and this station has an important _ too. and this station has an important role _ too. and this station has an important role to _ too. and this station has an important role to play. - too. and this station has an important role to play. this| important role to play. this huge dish is part of a network of antennas around the world tracking the spacecraft. the data it receives is vital. it will help nasa to work out exactly where the spacecraft is and how fast it is moving as it heads towards them in. and this is the first signal sent back. this doesn't look like very much to most people, but to the communication engineers this is pure magic. what you would normally see is a flat line of noise, but we are picking up the signalfrom the noise, but we are picking up the signal from the artemis spacecraft. the signal from the artemis spacecraft-— spacecraft. with a last look back at the _ spacecraft. with a last look back at the outcome - spacecraft. with a last look back at the outcome of - spacecraft. with a last look back at the outcome of the | back at the outcome of the spacecraft has a 26 dayjourney

ahead. this isjust the beginning. the start of1 million milejourney that beginning. the start of1 million mile journey that is being described as apollo for a new generation. that is it from us, thank you for watching. hello there, the weather is looking pretty unsettled, quite a lot of rain in places and the risk of localised flooding. it is all because of an area of low pressure which is expected to hang around for thursday and friday, even into saturday morning before it eventually fizzles out. this is the low pressure system i'm talking about, moving eastwards and then pulling back northwards and westwards across the country during thursday and friday where it will weaken, but it will bring a lot of rain and fairly strong winds at times. we stopped thursday on a chilly note for western scotland, northern ireland and there is frost and fog but elsewhere where we have the

cloud, wind and rain, temperatures between five and 9 degrees. a thoroughly wet day to come for thursday, area of low pressure, as you can see, pushing northwards and west. east england, strongest of the winds along the north sea coast. the best of any brighter weather of the start is in northern ireland but there were particularly warm, nine to 11 degrees. and then threw thursday night the rain continues to pile into eastern scotland and a few showers elsewhere into northern ireland. wet weather for northern england and north wales. probably the driest weather towards the south of the country. because there is more cloud and wind across the whole of the uk, it will be quite as cold for many, seven to 9 degrees. for friday there is our area of low pressure, starting to weaken, but it will bring a lot of rain to the northern half of the country, especially the east of scotland. by this point, rain really will be accumulating

across angus, aberdeenshire and risk of localised flooding here. something quieterfor england generally. best of the sunshine on friday again a part of northern ireland, wales, central and southern england. up central and southern england. up to 12 degrees, but chilly further north where it will continue to be windy, especially for the northern isles. that fizzles out on saturday and a brief spell of quieter weather before the next frontal system moves through on saturday night into sunday and followed by sunshine and blustery showers. it starts off fairly dry for many on saturday and quite chilly. wet and windy weather sweeps through saturday night to sunday and that will be followed by sunshine and showers.

this is bbc news, the headlines. president biden has congratulated the republican party after they secured control of the us house of representatives, following last week's midterm elections. the democrats still hold the senate. the republican majority in the lower house will limit president biden's ability to push through his legislative agenda. ukraine's president volodymyr zelensky says he's in no doubt the missile strike that killed two people in poland on tuesday was not caused by ukrainian air defence. nato, poland and the us believe the incident was most likely caused by a ukrainian air defence missile. and brazil's president—elect, luiz inacio lula da silva, has told the cop27 summit in egypt that fighting

climate change will be his number one priority. he said there would be no climate security for the world