i'm lewis vaughanjones with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. signs that the historic deadlock in the us house of representatives could be coming to an end — frontrunner kevin mccarthy appears to be making progress. ukrainian officials accuse russians of opening fire in several areas — in spite of a temporary ceasefire ordered by president putin. prince harry faces a backlash from former members of the military over his account of killing taliban fighters in afghanistan. britain's growing space industry — the uk gets ready for its first ever satellite launch from british soil. and the flamboyant stars of the drag queen world hit the pink carpet in east london.

the senior republican, kevin mccarthy, says he's confident he'll win enough support today to be elected speaker of the us house of representatives. so far he's failed thirteen times, leading to deadlock in the chamber. it comes on the second anniversary of the january the sixth attack on the us capitol building. the latest session has been adjourned for several hours but mccarthy is just a handful of votes short of victory. with the latest, here's gary 0 donoghue. commemorating the heroes of january the 6th two years ago for their courage in the face of overwhelming odds. it was the moment american democracy teetered on the brink, as protesters, supporters of donald trump, stormed the capitol, bent on preventing the ratification ofjoe biden�*s victory. you know, for those who lost someone on that day, they're proud as the devil that their kin are being

honoured, but, boy, is it hard. up on capitol hill, democrat members of the house marked the moment in solemn silence, while demonstrating a forceful display of party unity. the tellers agree in their tallies that the total number of votes cast is 431. but it's been a week of disharmony among republicans. a number of trumpian right—wingers have held out against electing their leader kevin mccarthy as speaker, but while he seems on the verge of cracking their resolve, it's been a long haul. the speaker has not been elected. this week's battle has come at a huge cost to the republican party, with the concessions already granted to the hard right significantly weakening the role of speaker, and the next two years are likely to be dominated by further internal fights. while the battles have

continued, congress has been at a standstill. no legislation, no committee work, the internal warfare on view for all americans to see. i think you saw we made i some very good progress. we'll come back tonight. and i believe at that time we'll have the votes to finish this once and for all. - itjust reminds me of what my father always told me, - it's not how you start, it's how you finish. . so despite winning a narrow majority in the recent elections in the house, republicans remain hugely divided. donald trump looming large over that divide and the consequences of january the sixth still at the heart of a deeply troubled politics. gary o'donoghue, bbc news, washington. ukraine has accused russia of continuing its offensive — despite president putin announcing a 36 hour ceasefire to mark the russian orthodox christmas.

ukraine never agreed to a truce and they've dismissed it as a cynical ploy by the russians, to resupply their forces. there've been reports of continuing artillery fire on the frontline near the city of kramatorsk — which is in ukrainian hands. our correspondentjames waterhouse sent this update from the area. very few expected this ceasefire to actually work. this is a part of ukraine which is no stranger to war before the full scale invasion. the army had been fighting russian backed separatists here. we are very close to the front line, and we've already heard sirens. a possible symptom of the ceasefire not working, but relatively close by. in the city of bakhmut, where we're seeing some of the heaviest fighting, there have been reports of artillery fire being exchanged by both sides. russian forces have accused ukraine of targeting its positions. ukrainian officials close by have accused russian forces of doing the same. i think these accusations and counter accusations were expected. but look, vladimir putin had said he wanted to allow orthodox christians to celebrate christmas. all the early signs suggest

that this was probably more part of the information war rather than a meaningful gesture of goodwill. earlier, i spoke to former us diplomat elizabeth shackelford, who said most people dismissed this ceasefire from the very start. i don't think anybody really expected this to be a genuine cease—fire offer. i don't think anyone in the west or in ukraine believes the word of vladimir putin and i don't think that putin expected anyone to. i think there are a few reasons why it was a very low risk move by putin and if there was indeed any follow—up on the other side of a cease—fire, then it could give his troops who have been really under a lot of pressure from the ukrainian military it could give them an opportunity to resupply and regroup.

assuming that is going to happen in terms of the cease—fire, it looks good and it's an for them to look like he's taking a peaceful moment in the orthodox holiday moment during the orthodox holiday and likelyjust playing to his domestic audience. playing to his domestic audience, would you make of the progress of the russian military at the moment? they're not making a lot of progress and right now we are working through a very brutal winter period. the winter is just arriving in the last 2a hours and shifting into some of the battleground areas that could be one of the reasons why putin was looking to take some pressure off of his troops. what we have heard in commitments from the us government and german government in terms of fighting vehicles being committed, that could really help boost ukraine's ability

to act more aggressively towards them at period and i don't think the russians are really prepared of the supplies that they need but it's a continuous supply of people towards the front and putin has demonstrated that he does not care how much he loses in that effort. into a year of this conflict, how do you see the ukrainian resistance and more importantly international context, the strength of the support that ukraine is still getting? the support from the west and the us in particular and it's been pretty well organised and i think we can expect that support to continue this year and as you stated earlier

in this story of us government it's in absolute chaos and want to hang my hat on continued us support because we don't really know but this upcoming government in washington is going to do. ukrainian ability to resist is dependent on outside support. if i were president zelensky, iwould be looking at 2023 as being very decisive and there's a real need to get some traction there. and putin wants to hold out for the year but the longer this goes on, likely it is that the western resolve to weaken. so we think that years can be very important and i do not anticipate much in the coming months but the assistance coming in with these fighting vehicles can give ukraine the upper hand. him but i think it's going to be ugly for both but i think it's going to be ugly for both

sides going forward. china is in talks with the drugs company pfizer to secure a licence to manufacture a generic version of their covid—i9 antiviral drug. china is keen to finalise the deal before the january 22 lunar new year when holiday travel will surge. a pfizer spokesperson said the company is actively collaborating with chinese authorities to secure an adequate supply of the covid vaccine for china. britain has reached a deal with the german pharmaceutical company biontech — which is going to start cancer vaccine trials in the uk from september. biontech developed a covid i9 vaccine using mrna technology — and the company plans to use the same technology in trials to target cancel cells. britain is the first country to sign up for the biontech partnership. the mexican president has defended the military operation that captured a drug cartel leader, ovidio guzman — the son ofjailed drug trafficker el chapo. violence erupted in caliacan, a stronghold of the cartel. at least nineteen members of the sinaloa cartel and 10 members of the military

were killed. the arrest comes ahead of a visit by president biden to mexico on sunday. the taliban have responded to claims by prince harry that he killed twenty—five people while serving as a helicopter pilot in afghanistan. a taliban spokesman said the killings amounted to war crimes. there's also been criticism and unease about that claim here in britain. a former british commander called his comments "ill—judged". our royal correspondent daniela relph reports. it is a raw, unflinching story of his life, intimate even embarrassing details shared. pain, anger, sadness explored. prince harry's spare has spared very little and the reaction to it has been polarising. in the book harry describes the day his grandmother the queen died. his family travelled

to balmoral without him after a row. harry eventually charted his own flight. by the time he arrived in scotland the queen had died. he found out as his plane was about to land. it is some of the personal stories that are perhaps the most shocking to read. him him harry tells us in great detail how he lost his virginity aged 17 to an older woman in a field behind a pub. he confirms that he had a relationship with the tv presenter caroline flack who died almost three years ago and in the book and then the interviews to publicise it he describes using drugs as a teenager. there is a fair amount of drugs, marijuana, magic mushrooms, cocaine, that is going to surprise people. but important to acknowledge. elsewhere his main american interview deals with racial bias in the media. i had no idea they were so bigoted.

i was probably bigoted before the relationship with meghan. this would be familiar territory for diana in many ways. she cooperated on her own book filled with revelations. almost 30 years on the shock factor has been repeated. do you think this book is going to be very damaging for the royalfamily? i think it will be, because remember diana always used to say to me that harry was the back—up, in the nicest possible way. and she wanted harry to be william's wing man, not as we have seen, his hitman. reflecting on his army service in afghanistan, harry says he believes he killed 25 taliban fighters, a claim many in the military view is a misjudgment.

i think he is wrong when he says in his book that insurgents were seen as being inhuman and just as chess pieces to be knocked over. that is not the case at all and not the way the british army trains people as he claims. and in an extraordinary development the taliban has criticised harry saying the people he killed were human, with families waiting for their return. the publishers promised in revelation and self—examination. the book seems to have delivered than there may be more to come as his well trailed tv interviews are broadcast in the coming days including a more light—hearted turn on the late—night american chat show. tuesday in a late—night exclusive, that's an exclusive, prince harry right here on this show. prince harry's truth is well and truly out there. from the royalfamily, still no comment.

daniella relph, bbc news. you are watching bbc news, the main story this hour: signs that the historic deadlock in the us house of representatives could be coming to an end — frontrunner kevin mccarthy appears to be making progress. a little bit of british space history is happening next week in cornwall. for the first time the uk is attempting to launch a rocket into space from british soil — and send satellites into orbit. the blast—off will take place at spaceport cornwall in newquay. britain's space industry is growing quickly and this is just the first of a number of launches planned. our science editor rebecca morelle reports. coming in to land at spaceport cornwall, a jumbo jet with a difference — getting ready to make history. the plane will release a rocket mid—air, which will fire its engines and send satellites into orbit. the first time this has been done from british soil. matthew stannard will be at the controls.

it's incredible. a huge amount of pride that i get to be involved in this. it's a big dealfor the uk. it's a big dealfor cornwall. and the idea that i get to be the pilot on this mission is incredible. this is what's on board the rocket. small satellites. the uk is a leader in this industry. it's driven the growth of a space economy worth £16.5 billion, employing nearly 50,000 people. but until now, british—made satellites had to be sent abroad to launch. for the first time, the uk has all the pieces of the jigsaw to be able to design and develop satellites, launch them from the uk, operate them from the uk. we can operate an entire ecosystem in a really fantastic closed loop. a vital part of that is building rockets. in cumbernauld, just outside of glasgow, skyrora havejust opened up a new facility. they're busy working on a prototype before building a larger rocket to launch

in the uk. and this is attracting a young workforce. i think it's a really fast growing industry. a lot of young people are really interested in this, so really putting a lot of work into working in the industry. for example, me, the hands—on experience as well as designing things as well as working on all sorts of engineering projects — it's really good. what you see here really is the start of the uk's space launch industry. the rockets are starting to take shape and the idea is to bring everything to britain — from building the satellites to the rockets that carry them and the spaceports where they launch. there are a lot of opportunities, but challenges, too. one of these is building a launch site at the northernmost tip of the uk. in unst, one of the shetland islands, the saxavord spaceport is aiming for the uk's first—ever vertical rocket launch. this isolated location has been selected because it means the rocket can fly

without passing over populated areas. there's a hive of activity, and the concrete�*s just set on a launch pad — one of three planned. i think the first response from the locals was probably maybe it was an april fool or something like that. and then there's been real excitement about what we've been doing. and there will be jobs. the rocket companies that we're working with are already identifying those roles that can be fulfilled by local people, that they don't bring somebody in as part of their team to do some refuelling of the rocket. that actually those skills, those people can be trained locally to perform them. shetland and cornwall aren't the only new spaceports. more are planned around the uk — and other countries are doing this, too. the global space market is getting increasingly crowded. not every venture will make it. there's a long way to go for the uk, but the hope is that high risk can bring sky—high rewards. rebecca morrelle, bbc news. dr david whitehouse is a space scientist and author of space 2069: after apollo:

back to the moon, to mars, and beyond. i asked him about the significance of the planned rocket launch. this is very significant because as we said, this is very significant because as we said, this this is very significant because as we said, this is this is very significant because as we said, this is the first time that a satellite, a series of small satellites will be in orbit from uk soil. we are very good at building the small satellites but this launcher will take into space and it is hoped that with the ability to launch them, this will prime the market for small companies who want to develop space capabilities and new technologies which they can build into small satellites and test so as we said, the uk space industry can turn the small companies into larger companies. if small companies into larger companies-_ small companies into larger comanies. , ., , , companies. if performing pretty well in terms _ companies. if performing pretty well in terms of _ companies. if performing pretty well in terms of the _ companies. if performing pretty well in terms of the technologyl well in terms of the technology and companies that are doing that already, doesn't make that much of a difference where

they're actually launch from? they�* re actually launch from 7 it's they're actually launch from? it's due to convenience. many of these companies that are satellites, the small satellites, the small satellites on the bottom of the jumbo jet and launched satellites on the bottom of the jumbojet and launched on monday and the vertical rockets launched from scotland, many of these companies are start up companies. they arejust companies. they are just beginning companies. they arejust beginning in their living off investment and promises and they really do need to demonstrate that they have a future with many of them will not succeed and in order to do that, they need local facilities, they need cheaper launch facilities, they need for convenience instead ofjust taking it to the united states and south america or austria, they can destroy few hours and take it to a base in the uk. that is a very hopeful time and these companies are very great plans for the future and without the ability to launch uk soil, there is no market for them here.

the former italian football star, gianluca vialli, has died, following a long battle with pancreatic cancer. the striker, who was fifty—eight, won league titles with sampdoria and juventus in italy. he finished his playing career in london with chelsea, winning several cups as player and manager. this was gianluca vialli triumphant with his countrymen as italy lifted the euros trophy at wembley. commentator: italy arej the champions of europe. he had been part of italy's backroom staff but shortly afterwards, he announced his cancer had returned. as a player, gianluca vialli was considered one of the most dynamic and versatile strikers. he signed for chelsea in 1996 as part of a new wave of foreign stars to english

football. and the led chelsea to be fa cup final and this time, as their manager. they won, beating aston villa i—0 and giving him a significant piece of silverware. in giving him a significant piece of silverware.— giving him a significant piece of silverware. in terms of this is the most — of silverware. in terms of this is the most successful - of silverware. in terms of this l is the most successful manager that chelsea had ever had. his international career was not quite so impressive and vialli missed a penalty against the usa and was subsequently dropped from the team. but he was brought back for the semifinal against argentina, where his skill shone through, pulling apart and the goal. 2017, vialli was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, can i get an unwanted travel companion. in 2020, he announced that he was in remission and continued as assistant coach for italyjust

over a year later, the cancer returned. tributes flooded in this morning with chelsea saying, his impact as a player, a coach and most importantly as a coach and most importantly as a person will be forever written across our clubs history. he passed away at the age of 58, leaving a wife and two daughters. his final public image will be of him celebrating a trophy for his beloved country. drag has a long history here in london. and on friday the stars of the drag queen world — and their biggest fans — gathered to hit the pink carpet in east london, as wendy hurrell has been finding out. hello from the pink carpet, laid out for dragcon at the london excel centre, brightening up the grey months are the sequence in the wings of the flamboyant artistry of the finest drag queens. and this is an important convention because it is where people can feel accepted and be themselves.

having 150 queens from the phenomenally successful tv show rupaul�*s drag race in the same room? there is some energy. and we were left to marvel at a parade of elaborate costumes and make—up that adorn these performers. which allows forfull expression of their extravagant persona. some fans got quite emotional. i have been nervous ever since i found her! solidarity with the weirder girls, you know? that is why i got so emotional. it is such an escape from reality, having so much fun watching them perform, ijust love it. the queens are no less excited to be here to meet them. this time of year is tough to keep motivated and smiling and keep going. how do you do it, darting? the biggest thing today is paint on your smile, the biggest thing to do is paint on your smile, but your favourite colour on and have a gorgeous time.

january is tough on everyone, especially with the cost of living crisis, christmas is over, it is bleak so it is so important to do something that makes you feel fabulous and to give you those endorphins that make you feel happy and positive. if you smell, the world smiles with you. if you smile, the world smiles with you. in a wider context, this kind of gathering is important to the lgbt communities. this is a safe place. this is a place where drag, your tribe can come together and be whoever you want to be and the thing about drag is becoming the image of your imagination is one of the most powerful things you can do and that is what dragcon is all about. it is just a really good way to build community with other people, especially if you don't really know anybody who is queer in your hometown. it is important that it isl accessible for everybody and to show that this is something that. should be celebrated. it celebrates women, it does not make fun of us.

obviously the majority are gay men but it is more like cisgender queens getting into the limelight and i love that. ru paul is now djing, overdue taste to sell it. we have been queens, me and you, we have got you lot succumb over here baby and have a gorgeous time. love you! see you! they are busy ladies! wendy hurrell, bbc london. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @lvaughanjones. hello there. friday was a calm and settled

day, thanks to a ridge of high pressure. fine and to the working week, however, into the weekend, low pressure firmly in control. it's going to be windy with gales, certainly around the coast, and there will be some rain followed by bands of heavy showers. that's the early rain that will move through today and that will be followed by the rest of saturday and sunday with blustery showers, strong winds and some sunny spells in between. most of the showers in the south and west. you can see the rainfall accumulations over the next couple of days where most of those showers will be followed. it's going to be a very wet start for saturday across more central and western areas. that rain been gradually pushing its way eastwards, affecting eastern england during the latter part of the morning. right around lunchtime it should clear out into the north sea. all areas are brighter with sunny spells, scattered showers, some heavy ones across southern and western areas, and it will be windy with gales around coast. you can see the wind speeds even further east,

but touching gail force around southern and western coast. some huge waves crashing on shore as well. temperatures started mild and dropping back into the afternoon, highs of eight — 11 degrees. it stays blustery through the overnight here in saturday night, windy gales in the north and west, plenty of showers in southern and western areas, drier interludes further east. temperatures falling to those of 5—8 degrees, that is really typical. then for sunday, an area of low pressure to the north of scotland, lots of isobars on the charts. not quite as many as saturday. so it's not going to be windy, not as windy, and weather fronts towards the south will enhance the shower activity stop so, it could be southern and western parts of england and wales seen the heaviest of the showers through the day. some heavy, some rumbles of thunder, some hail mixed in as well, but there will be some sunshine around to. it's going to be a chilly date across the board, highs of seven to maybe nine or 10 degrees in the south. monday is a little bit quieter, we are in between weather systems. still quite blustery in the north and west. here is where we will see most of the showers in northern ireland and scotland,

could be a wintery element to some of these over the high ground, as it would be cooler, the air on monday. highs of five — 8 degrees here, up to around 10 degrees in the south. this is a bit closer to the seasonal norm. so, the weather is up and down as we head through the new week. tuesday is mild, wet, windy again. that will be followed by some slightly cooler weather on wednesday.

this is bbc news.

the headlines: there are signs that the historic deadlock in the us house of representatives could be coming to an end. the senior republican, kevin mccarthy, says he's confident he'll win enough votes to be elected speaker. so far, he's failed 13 times. mr mccarthy has been repeatedly blocked by hard—line conservatives. ukraine has accused russia of continuing its offensive despite president putin announcing a 36—hour ceasefire to mark the russian orthodox christmas. ukraine never agreed to a truce and they've dismissed it as a cynical ploy by the russians to resupply their forces. prince harry is facing a backlash from former members of the military over his account of killing taliban fighters in afghanistan. in his new book, prince harry describes them as "chess pieces