this is bbc news. i'm monika plaha. our top stories: free up the food aid. venezuela demands that dollars held overseas be spent on humanitarian programmes. a desparate search for survivors after deadly mudslides on the italian holiday island of ischia. the worry of course is, as more mud is cleared, what or who will be found underneath? pakistan's former prime minister, imran khan, addresses supporters to call for an end to corruption. # remember my name # fame! # i

am gonna live forever. and the singer—songwriter and star of the hit film fame, irene cara, has died. her co—star pays tribute. she was just capable and talented and she had this crazy great voice, and she could do anything. thanks forjoining us. venezuela's government and the opposition have signed a preliminary agreement after meeting in mexico for talks to find a way out of the country's political crisis. on the same day, the united states said that it would allow the american oil company chevron to resume some activity in venezuela. the bbc�*s will grant is following events in mexico city. there are a few elements that are potentially encouraging

about these talks here in mexico city between the venezuelan government and the opposition. venezuelans watching on will be encouraged by the fact talks are taking place at all. they failed about a year ago, and in such a polarised environment between the government and nicolas maduro and the opposition, to simply have them round the table is an achievement. also, they are moving towards trying to find a map towards freeing up billions of funds of venezuelan money that is being held by a un—managed fund and can be used for food aid, support, and all of the different humanitarian needs that have been so desperate in venezuela over recent years. if they can reach agreement on that and those funds become available, that will of course improve the lives of millions of venezuelans. it is, of course, very sticky waters, the two sides have been at each other�*s throats not

just for years but decades now so there is a lot of bad feeling between the two actors but there is some hope that this time it can be improved and the biden administration appears to be backing the talks. they have given the green light for chevron, the oil giant, to resume operations in venezuela, dependent on the outcome of these talks. again, the idea that oil, so key to the venezuelan economy, that that sector picks up again with a major us oil company, is music to the ears of the maduro government. that said, any profits made from those operations won't go to the maduro government, but to servicing debt owed to chevron by the state—run energy company. still, though, from both the position of the venezuelan government, to an extent the venezuelan opposition, and certainly probably most venezuelan people, the very fact things are beginning to move forward is going to be welcome news.

will granted there. earlier i spoke to venezuelan born raul sanchez—urribarri. he is associate dean and senior lecturer at the school of humanities and sciences at la trobe university in melbourne. i asked him how ordinary venezuelans are reacting to the news. as you can imagine, for normal venezuelans, this is a very important development. we've seen 15 months of no progress whatsoever of a significant nature at the international level in dialogues, precisely because they haven't been able to meet. the maduro government refused, abandoned the opportunity for dialogue 15 months ago, and ever since the two parties involved, government and opposition, haven't met. so this is a major news for venezuelans across the political spectrum. the country has been

in turmoil for years. why is it happening now? do you think it should have been done sooner? absolutely. i mean, we are talking about a situation that has been going on for many years, as we all know, but actually it is actually being stable, and unfortunately with really bad effects for the venezuelan people. we don't see it in the public as we used to but that doesn't mean the problem is not there. over 6 million venezuelans have left in the past five, six years, they live in conditions of asylum in different places across the region and in other countries around the world. we are talking about an economy that has lost close to two thirds of its gdp. it has been a complete catastrophe. so any developments that point in the way

of ameliorating the situation now, or even in the future hopefully, are received of course as really good news. what is in the agreement? what difference could it make? i think for the time being, we have to look at it from the point of view of short—term, mid—term, long term. from the point of view of short term, there are some important elements coming out of this agreement. we are talking about $3 billion for example that are going to be able to afford essential basic imports. we don't really have unfortunately a condition of transparency in the use of some of the funds that the government would have access to. on the other hand, the $3 billion will be managed for purposes of solving social problems with the participation of the united nations, and will also bring

to both the government, and forcing them to work together, which is a major development. on the other hand it has ready had an impact with respect to the oil sector, due to a change of the licence of chevron by the us government, chevron, the major oil corporation, is going to resume operations in venezuela, it is going to expand its operations. this will include probably the restarting of work in different oil fields across the country. it might raise the oil output coming from venezuela significantly, probably 200,000 barrels of oil a day. so this is actually big news in the short term. long term, we have to see this as a small step in the course of what we hope one day will be a major comprehensive agreement, or a series of agreements, that will allow the country to move forward, and the opposition and the government to cooperate

in what we hope would be also the restoration of venezuelan democracy at some point. that was raul sanchez—urribari speaking to me a little bit earlier. there's been a rare protest in shanghai against the chinese leadership, with some demonstrators openly demanding that president xi jinping resign. the protest started as a vigil for 10 people killed in a fire on thursday in a high—rise building in the western chinese region of xinjiang. according to witnesses and videos, it turned into a public outpouring of anger against china's zero—covid policy. despite official denials, many internet users have blamed the deaths in urumchqi on the lockdown of residential buildings. at least one person has died, and around a dozen people are missing, after a landslide on the italian holiday island of ischia. the country's interior minister has described the situation as very serious.

mud and debris swept through the region after a night of torrential rain. mark lowen sent this report from naples. through the night came the rain, torrential and fast. and then the mud, a landslide pouring through ischia before dawn, burying and upturning what lay in its path — cars, trees, debris flung aside and uprooted. the rescue boats set off early, but were hampered by strong winds and rough seas, buffeting attempts to reach the island from naples. as they came ashore, the impact was clear. morning light revealed the torrents of mud and what they'd buried. man speaks italian "this mountain has fallen on the homes that are no longer "there," he says. houses were engulfed with people trapped beneath the mud, dozens of firefighters helped evacuate those they could.

a rescue and a search for those still missing. the fear is that as more areas are unearthed, the number of confirmed victims could rise. for the islanders, their tranquillity was shaken by a nightmare. translation: there are some cars facing upwards and have . shifted to the side. looking at them, one can't explain how it was possible. vehicles were tossed aside and battered, hurled by a wave of mud into the waves of the ocean. houses have been cut off, some without power. the authorities calling on residents to stay inside. ischia's narrow streets are caked in the chaos, many of its homes, illegally built over the years, unstable and vulnerable. now an anxious wait

for the weather to lift to see the extent of the damage wreaked, turning ischia from island idyll into rivers of mud. the rain has finally stopped. we drove through a deluge coming up here from the far south of italy. access across from naples to the island because ferries tonight are still suspended on that route. the latest figures we have are one person known to have died and 11 people still missing, but the worry, of course, is that as more mud is cleared, what — or who — will be found beneath? mark lowen reporting there. the former pakistan prime minister, imran khan, has addressed hundreds of thousands of supporters in rawalpindi, telling them his one regret from his time in office was failing to bring the corrupt and the powerful to justice. the rally brings to a close the so—called long march by imran khan's pti party, aimed at pressing the government to call

a snap election. the bbc�*s samira hussein reports. they came by the hundreds and hundreds quickly became thousands. all converging on a 3km strip of road. security was tight. the last time imran khan spoke in public, he was shot. the government warned of possible attacks today. his supporters came anyway. that's how strongly they believe in the cause. his cause is the people of pakistan. not himself. he is out for us. so, that's why we are supporting and we are coming here for our leader who is supporting us. there is one man only that has been raising his voice against all of the establishment. he is there to look forward. he has given us a vision. as day turned to night, the excitement was building. when he finally arrived at the rally, crowds erupted in cheers. people waited here for hours

to hearfrom imran khan. this is the first time he is addressing supporters since being shot. there is no doubt he remains exceptionally confident. even though he was pushed out of office earlier this year. since then, khan has been holding protests demanding fresh elections. now he is considering dissolving the two provincial governments under his party's control. an unprecedented move that is sure to plunge pakistan into further political crisis. and that is just how quickly things can change in this country. the immensely popular leader may have been knocked down physically, but he continues to fight politically. samira hussain, bbc news, rawalpindi. you are watching bbc news. a reminder of the headlines: venezuela's government and the opposition have signed a preliminary agreement to find

a way out of the country's political crisis and to free up dollars held overseas to be spent on humanitarian programmes. one person has died and at least i! are missing after a mudslide on the italian holiday island of ischia. ukraine's president, volodymyr zelensky, says six million ukrainian households are still without power, after russia launched a wave of missile strikes across the country this week. the number of affected households has reduced, but many have been left without light, water or heat as winter sets in. the bbc�*s ukrainian service correspodnent in kyiv, zhanna bezpiatchuk, says the authorities have been urgently trying to restore water and electricity supplies. we know that so far, 75% of the ukrainian demand for electricity has been

already met by the supply which has been restored in many regions and cities of ukraine. today we got to know that the city of kherson is on the grid again and that's very important news. people were cut off from early electricity supply, heating and water for weeks after the liberation while the retreating of the russian forces that have destroyed all three main electricity supply lines around kherson. for example, i know such stories from the city of kherson where doctors and nurses and maternity units had to boil water and pour it in bottles and bring these hot bottles to their patients, mothers and newborns to warm them up. now the hospitals in kherson and in the region of kherson will be the first recipients

who will get this electricity back these days and then there are potential blocks of residential houses and private houses in kherson who might get the electric supply that is absolutely essential. as for kyiv, yesterday at night, finally, many residential areas in the eastern bank of the ukrainian capital got access to electricity after about 30 hours without heat or electricity and water supply. so it's very important to understand that people could not call their relatives, families and friends when the electricity is off so it's very difficult psychologically when you cannot call your family to ask them what is happening to them and where they are. the same was also with regards to isolation from news because wifi and mobile internet was not running and people didn't know what was happening in the city.

let's get some of the day's other news. taiwan's president has resigned as leader of the governing party, saying she takes full responsibility for her party's poor showing in the local elections. president tsai had framed the election as a vote for democracy, amid rising tensions with china, but the voters were not convinced. the vatican has accused china of breaking a landmark agreement signed four years ago over the administration of chinese catholics. the vatican expressed surprise and regret after beijing appointed a bishop without its approval. although details of the deal were never made public, it gave both sides a say in the assignment of new bishops in china. nasa's orion spacecraft has broken the record

for the furthest distance travelled from earth by a vehicle that is habitable by humans. this test flight is part of a wider space programme, as stephanie prentice reports. it isa it is a selfie, but not as we know it. just after faith watches went wild for the self taking images of nasa's orion aircraft leaving the far side of the men, they announced they had gone one right one further, breaking the record for reading the further as distance from earth in a vehicle that could technically have humans inside. that beats the record held by the apollo 13 mission before a famously encountered difficulties.— difficulties. we have a problem- _ difficulties. we have a problem. have - difficulties. we have a problem. have lost i difficulties. we have a - problem. have lost precious. it reached just over 400,000 kilometres from earth. right now the orion flight is almost 406 kilometres away. it is all part of the artemis one programme, trying to get astronauts back to the moon as

early as 2025 and after that, one day two miles, but first nasa have to stress test the limits of the orion vessel. so far that has included sitting within a more distant orbit to make sure that key systems like navigation and thermal control can work in deep space. next, it needs to navigate its way back around the moon, using deep thrust technology. the orion capsule is expected to splash down at sea on december 11, bringing with it a new set ii, bringing with it a new set of targets or putting humans further into space. stephanie prentice, bbc news. a number of europe's ski resorts are opening for the season this weekend, much to the delight of winter sports enthusiasts. but there's concerns with rising energy costs, with some resorts struggling to keep their energy bills in check. emer mccarthy reports.

we can't bring you that report right now. but we hope to bring it to you soon. now if you're over a certain age, you'll surely remember this: song: you'll remember my name. fame! i'm gonna live forever i'm gonna learn how to fly, high! the voice of american actress and singer irene cara who has died at the age of 63. the musical fame, in which she sang that title track, made her indeed famous. four years later, irene cara won an oscar and a grammy for the title song in the movie flashdance. well, earlier, we spoke to the us actor and director mario van peebles, who worked with irene cara and counted her as close friend. i asked what it was like to to know her and work with her.

it's funny, with the sort of kindred spirits in that we both had a similar backgrounds. i had a similar backgrounds. i had directed tv shows and worked on tv and she had done roots and then sparkle and then she did fame, and ifelt like she did fame, and ifelt like she had already been through and suffered the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune in the business they saw both sides when you get bitten a little bit you are more cautious than i feel like with me directing her, she was comfortable. i'm from new york and i think she felt she was with a spiritual big brother. it's really lovely to hear. to become one of the most awarded artists of her generation, didn't she, grammy awards and asa didn't she, grammy awards and as a vocalist and as a songwriter. tell us more about the legacy she leaves behind. you know, ithink

the legacy she leaves behind. you know, i think some people, we look from the outside and with the someone as an overnight success but she had really been onstage since she was a kid. a father was a performer as well. she was bilingual. she lived a full life. they say birth is a miracle and it is a tragedy but the real tragedy is to not do what you came here to do when your life. and i think irene cara had a big career and look at the lyrics. the song i liked from irene was out there on my own and i thought she did a beautifuljob but look at own and i thought she did a beautiful job but look at these lyrics. i'm going to live forever. i'm going to learn how to fly. i feel it coming together. people see me i'm going to make it to heaven. people will remember my name. it's interesting that people will remember her forever and part of that was fame. exactly.

i think that _ part of that was fame. exactly. | think that is _ part of that was fame. exactly. i think that is her _ part of that was fame. exactly. i think that is her legacy - part of that was fame. exactly. i think that is her legacy that i i think that is her legacy that she will be remembered forever. and she will be so remembered for many who grew up in that generation. as someone who directly knew her, do you have any special, fond memories? she had a good _ any special, fond memories? sue: had a good sense any special, fond memories? sie: had a good sense of humour. i was directing her with james doyle jones, the was directing her with james doylejones, the actor, and i was directing her in a show called gabriel's fire and she was paying the daughter of james ljones, and he has that great voice. irene has a very feminine voice and we were playing with how they sounded together sonically. playing with how they sounded togethersonically. but playing with how they sounded together sonically. but she was almost kind of shy and i felt at times she was reluctant to, to plane a role and i was surprised by it all. when she was very humble. and there was a wisdom to her but there was a quiet, inner child, there

still. i have my inner voice and we used to give off a lot and we used to give off a lot and i think she had seen all sides of the business and that, in a way, forces you to grow up sometimes faster than you may want to. and back to our report on the ski slopes. hitting the runs for the first rounds of the season and a perfect bluebell day. translation: , ., ., ., translation: great weather and erfect translation: great weather and perfect stapes! — translation: great weather and perfect slopes! we _ translation: great weather and perfect slopes! we love _ translation: great weather and perfect slopes! we love skiing! i perfect slopes! we love skiing! but snowstorms could be brewing. across the alps in france, half of the country's ski resorts have had to renegotiate their long—term electricity contracts amid red—hot inflation. according to the countries ski resort association, they expect an

annual bill that could increase 5- annual bill that could increase 5— six fold in 2023. translation: 5- six fold in 2023. tuna/mom- 5- six fold in 2023. translation: ~ ., ~ ., ., translation: we talk a lot about energy _ translation: we talk a lot about energy but _ translation: we talk a lot about energy but costs - translation: we talk a lot about energy but costs have j about energy but costs have gone wild in various sectors. it will penalise us. we will let this wash over us and wait for it. i would not say we won't do nothing but we know this season will not be easy, but we are mounting people and our motto is that we always get out of difficult situations and it will be this case this time again because we will adapt. lift passes will also increase by around 5% across france and in a bid to conserve energy, some resorts have pledged not to produce artificial snow when international energy consumption is high. but after seasons interrupted by the pandemic, skiers and snowboarders are still ready to take to the pistes. thank you forjoining us me.

you can reach me on twitter — i'm @ monikaplaha. do not forget, if you want to catch up with any of the news stories, do go on the website. hello there. strong, southerly winds brought mild air across the whole of the country on saturday. temperatures reached 15 degrees in the moray firth in scotland. now, we still have some windy weather around at the moment. low pressure to the west of the uk. that band of cloud has been catching up with the main band of cloud that's been bringing some rain but that weather front is sweeping that wetter weather down towards the south—east and along that weather front, that rain could hang around during sunday but we've got clearer skies following to the north and a few showers and scotland, northern ireland starting off with temperatures six degrees on sunday morning, much milder towards the south—east, and it looks like it's going to be a cloudy day for east anglia and the south—east of england. still could be some rain left

overfrom overnight, may extend its way into hampshire as well, possibly easing off a bit in the afternoon. a shield of cloud extends through the midlands towards lincolnshire. other parts of england and wales seeing some sunshine. a few showers coming in off the irish sea. one or two showers for northern ireland and mainly western scotland, but some sunshine as well. now, the winds aren't going to be as strong on sunday, still quite blowy in the north—west of scotland for a while, and it's still going to be a mild day on sunday — temperatures 11 to 13 degrees. that's a few degrees lower, though, than it was on saturday for scotland and northern ireland. still got that rain threatening the south—east of england. could see some wetter weather moving in during the evening, actually, and before that weather front finally moves away in time for monday and then, we're left with some lighter winds, some clearer skies. temperatures are going to be a bit lowerfor the start of the new week. and with lighter winds and clearer skies could be some mist and fog forming as well here and there, more especially across north—east england, which will be a little slow to clear. otherwise, i think we should see some sunshine breaking through. a few showers coming in, mainly across more western parts of england and wales, and then running eastwards across southern england, too.

large parts of the country, though, will be dry, i think, in the afternoon and the temperatures are going to be a little bit lower — around 9—1! degrees — so it's beginning to cool off just a touch. the mild atlantic air is struggling to reach us. essentially, we've got this big blocking area of high pressure that extends across scandinavia and pushes colder air our way. now, it's not desperately cold but after a very mild and very wet november, as we head into the start of december — the start of winter — things are looking much drier and also a little colder.

this is bbc news, the headlines: venezuela's government and the opposition have signed a preliminary agreement to find a way out of the country's political crisis. on the same day, the united states said that it would allow the american oil company chevron to resume some activity in venezuela. rescue teams are searching for survivors after a mudslide on the italian island of ischia. at least one person has died and eleven people are missing. mud and debris swept through the region after a night of torrential rain. the former pakistan prime minister imran khan has addressed hundreds of thousands of supporters in rawalpindi, telling them he regretted not being able to bring the corrupt

and the powerful to justice. his party, the pti, organised the rally to urge the government to call a snap election.