welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines. classified materials . next to your corvette — what were you thinking? joe biden faces tough questions — and a special counsel investigation — after a second set of classified documents is found at his home. the nhs in england breaks new records for ambulance delays and waits in accident and emergency. building up to a white house meeting betweenjoe biden and fumio kishida, america praises japan's decision to increase its defence budget and military capabilities. and as more storms are forecast to hit california, we look at the human cost of the flooding.

welcome to bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. we begin in america where there are now two special counsels investigating whether two us presidents broke the law in their handling of classified records. after a second set of classified documents were found atjoe biden�*s home, the us attorney general has appointed robert hur to investigate whether any crimes have been committed. former president donald rrump is also facing a criminal investigation for taking classified papers to his mar a lago estate. here's our north america editor, sarah smith. after admitting he was keeping classified documents at his delaware home, stored in the garage alongside his vintage sports car, president biden has a lot

of explaining to do. classified materials next to your corvette, what were you thinking? my corvette's in a locked garage, ok, so it's not like it's sitting out in the street. people know i take classified documents and classified materials seriously. i also said we are cooperating fully and completely with the justice department's review. earlier this week we learned that classified documents had been found in a washington office mr biden used after leaving the vice presidency in 2017. that prompted his lawyers to search his residence in wilmington, where a small number of documents were found, and immediately turned over to thejustice department. wholly different, says the white house, to the hundreds of classified documents uncovered when the fbi raided former president trump's florida home last year. president biden condemned trump's actions then as "totally irresponsible". not once, but now we're finding in two different locations, classified information just out there in the open. anotherfaux pas by the biden administration, but treating

the law differently based upon your political beliefs. america's top lawyer, the us attorney general, has to be seen to apply the law equally. he has already appointed one special counsel to investigate investigation for taking classified papers to his mar a lago estate. today, he appointed another, to look at mr biden�*s retention of documents. the extraordinary circumstances here require the appointment of a special counsel for this matter. this appointment underscores for the public the department's commitment to both independence and accountability in particularly sensitive matters. the white house insists that the case of the biden documents is nowhere near as serious as the trump document saga, but parallels keep emerging. classified material being stored at home and now a special counsel being appointed to investigate. that means this story will now drag on for months, and could well overshadow any plans president biden had to announce soon that he was running for president again in 202a. the white house says it's confident a thorough review will show the documents were inadvertently

misplaced, and were handed over as soon as they were discovered. sarah smith, bbc news, washington. i'm joined now byjaved ali, professor at the university of michigan's ford school of policy, who previously served as senior counterterrorism director on the national security council. the discovery of these documents have been— the discovery of these documents have been called _ the discovery of these documents have been called a _ the discovery of these documents have been called a political- have been called a political embarrassment _ have been called a political embarrassment for- have been called a political. embarrassment for president have been called a political- embarrassment for president biden. how potential— embarrassment for president biden. how potential is _ embarrassment for president biden. how potential is that _ embarrassment for president biden. how potential is that imaging - embarrassment for president biden. how potential is that imaging do- embarrassment for president bideni how potential is that imaging do you think this is for him? —— damaging. i agree it looks like it will be a major political issue for the biden administration to navigate. how much that affects the agenda over the next couple of years is too early to tell but this is something that i would think will put the administration on its back it for quite some time. in administration on its back it for quite some time.— administration on its back it for quite some time. in terms of the

procedures going _ quite some time. in terms of the procedures going forward, - quite some time. in terms of the procedures going forward, we i procedures going forward, we understand that a special counsel has been appointed to this case can you talk us through what we should expect in the next few weeks and months? , , ~ expect in the next few weeks and months? , ~ ., , ., months? just like the appointment of the secial months? just like the appointment of the special counsel— months? just like the appointment of the special counsel in _ months? just like the appointment of the special counsel in the _ the special counsel in the mishandling of classified documents for former mishandling of classified documents forformer president mishandling of classified documents for former president trumped the justice department had no other recourse but to basically apply at the same process for this unfolding development with the current president, but so hopefully the special counsel will try to conduct a fair and impartial investigation thatis a fair and impartial investigation that is insulated from any local influence, white house and even from within the doj to a degree. this is all about getting the facts straight in this matter. how did these documents wind up in these two different locations for president biden who had access to them when they were in these locations, how sensitive was the intelligence in

the two batches or pools of documents? is there a potential risk to sources and methods or has national skin you already been compromised as a result of the documents were outside of their normal sensitive storage areas and facilities? these are things that require a thorough investigation and likely be american public will get some click cancel. == likely be american public will get some click cancel.— likely be american public will get some click cancel. -- clear answers. you have worked _ some click cancel. -- clear answers. you have worked with _ some click cancel. -- clear answers. you have worked with these - some click cancel. -- clear answers. you have worked with these kinds i some click cancel. -- clear answers. you have worked with these kinds of documents before how unusual is this? how much security is involved when dealing these source of documents? my when dealing these source of documents?— when dealing these source of documents? ~ , ., .. ., , when dealing these source of documents? g ., ., , , , documents? my whole career was spent around dealing — documents? my whole career was spent around dealing with _ documents? my whole career was spent around dealing with the _ documents? my whole career was spent around dealing with the most _ around dealing with the most sensitive intelligence we had in the us intelligence community and making sure every day we treated it the right way to make sure it never left our sensitive facilities that when documents needed to be destroyed

even within keep facilities they would be destroyed or we would lock them up in safes or cabinets. but at no time did any of us as intelligence professionals think about walking out of the front door of an intelligent organisation to keep these documents and our possession. so beth in the case of former president trumped and now as it appears in the case of president biden something completely different has happened and at least the case of president biden it seems that this was the suggestion of that staff work or unintentional mishandling which may be true but we need a special counsel to get those types of insoles to get clarity. == types of insoles to get clarity. -- answers- — types of insoles to get clarity. —— answers. these are both incidences of classified documents and to upward they should not be, should not the same principles be applied to both cases? i not the same principles be applied to both cases?— to both cases? i think that same --rincile to both cases? i think that same principle will _

to both cases? i think that same principle will apply _ to both cases? i think that same principle will apply through - to both cases? i think that same| principle will apply through these parallel special counsel investigations and based on media reporting, it suggests that the special counsel investigation with foreman or president trumped's mishandling may potentially incur criminal charges. they may go forward or may not and perhaps that same principle will apply here with the case of the mishandling with president biden. are they the same potential criminal violations what it is obstruction ofjustice or espionage act will any of those be brought forward in the case of president biden, we did not know. obviously this council of ossetian is just but it will perhaps proceed in the same direction as the one of former president trumped. i in the same direction as the one of former president trumped. i assume we will speak _ former president trumped. i assume we will speak to _ former president trumped. i assume we will speak to you _ former president trumped. i assume we will speak to you again _ former president trumped. i assume we will speak to you again soon. - we will speak to you again soon. thank you so much forjoining us.

the average wait for an ambulance including and suspected cases of stroke and heart attack was over 90 minutes when the target is 80 minutes. —— i8. we will come out them in the ambulance so it will be one nurse coming out to each patient. sue has worked here in a and e for over 30 years. worked here in a and e for over 30 ears. . , , worked here in a and e for over 30 ears, ., , , ., worked here in a and e for over 30 ears. . , , ., ' worked here in a and e for over 30 ears. , ., ' ., , years. the last six or 12 months have been _ years. the last six or 12 months have been more _ years. the last six or 12 months have been more challenging - years. the last six or 12 months i have been more challenging than years. the last six or 12 months - have been more challenging than all of the time i have worked here. this department was _ of the time i have worked here. this department was built to treat 21 patients and right now there are 60 waiting. ladle patients and right now there are 60 waitinr. ~ ., ., ., waiting. we are running two and three times _ waiting. we are running two and three times about _ waiting. we are running two and three times about our— waiting. we are running two and three times about our capacity. |

three times about our capacity. continually. and often more than that. we're running two and three times above our capacity continually, is it sometimes so busy that you can't prevent delays for the ambulance crews? yes, it is, yes. and then that's when we have the big delays and the backlogs and when we get to that point, we're very often having to go out to the ambulances to see and assess them. we can't even get them in. and how much has that happened in the last few weeks? it's happened quite a lot, quite a lot, yes. away from the noise of a&e is intensive care — the sickest patients. and it's nearly full. we have got one empty at the minute. a lady has just gone down to the ward. sojust one empty bed.

it's manic, to be honest. obviously, there's significant pressure on the nhs, but it's felt busy in as much as it's been really difficult to try and get people home and get discharged from the ward and discharged from here. erm, it'sjust felt blocked everywhere. it's been really, really difficult. back in a&e... ..the noise of staff and machines is striking. so, as you can see, erm, this is the quad. all the bays are full. we've even had to have some people waiting by the triage area, the assessment area. this is the heart of a&e — patients tucked into any available space. they've made it off the corridor. some are waiting to be assessed. most are waiting for a bed. sometimes, we can have trolleys in all the spaces. so we have had trolleys all around, all around the assessment areas. here, there's never a quiet moment, with so many patients to care for. a&e is full because bolton, like other hospitals we've been into, says beds are hard to find. here, 100 patients are fit

to leave but can't, because of community care issues. the government's recently given £200 million for extra social care beds in england. how much will it help here? it may be a little bit too late to deal with the current pressures we're facing. but money is always welcome. that's your zimmer frame. royal bolton is doing all it can to prepare patients for leaving the hospital. oh, you're doing marvellous. we saw how soon after they arrive, staff begin the rehab process. perfect. but flu is adding to the pressure. diane was so poorly, her husband took her to see a gp, who told him to get her to hospital fast rather than waiting for an ambulance. he were holding me up. i couldn't walk straight. and the gp saw me and she got the... typed the note out and sent me straight to a&e. so, so i'd say that gp saved my life. staff say flu and covid pressures mean it's harder

than during the worst of the pandemic. the staff is exhausted. it feels as difficult as it was during covid. but in fact, slightly more difficult because during covid, a lot of services, we stopped, but now we are keeping on all elective services, plus we are managing the pressures at the front end. the hospital's pointing as many patients as possible who are less seriously ill to other areas of care, but the corridor still looks like this. despite everything, susan is philosophical. the workload's tough. we've had to adapt and change our ways of working. but we're a&e nurses, and we take what's put in front of us, and we deal with it the best we can. if you want to get in touch with me, i'm on twitter — @bbckarishma

japan's prime minister fumio kishida is due to meet us presidentjoe biden later today in talks where the two are likely to discuss increasing security cooperation and the global economy. japan has alerady signed major defence deals with the us and the uk to counter what they say are rising threats from north korea and increasing aggressiveness from china. the deals come as japanese prime minister fumio kishida is on a tour of g7 allies for security—focused talks. japan holds the g7 presidency this year and mr kishida has vowed the group will maintain support for ukraine. for more on this i am joined now by michael wesley, professor of politics at the university of melbourne. great to get you on the programme, professor. what is the main reason that japan is increasing professor. what is the main reason thatjapan is increasing defence ties with its g7 allies? i that japan is increasing defence ties with its g7 allies?— ties with its g7 allies? i think e5pecially — ties with its g7 allies? i think especially since _ ties with its g7 allies? i think especially since the -

ties with its g7 allies? i think especially since the outbreakj ties with its g7 allies? i think i especially since the outbreak of ties with its g7 allies? i think - especially since the outbreak of the war in ukraine most countries are feeling less secure than they were a year ago. feeling less secure than they were a yearago. i feeling less secure than they were a year ago. i think that russia's launch of a war in ukraine took a lot of people by surprise. many such as myself thought that it was completely irrational for russia to attack ukraine. and i think the big lesson coming out of russia's attack on ukraine is that we cannot rely on authoritarian regimes like russia simply to behave rationally. that we have to prepare for them to behave irrationally as well. i think that is why countries such as japan happened shoring up security ties other countries. this happened shoring up security ties other countries.— other countries. this all coming auainst other countries. this all coming against the _ other countries. this all coming against the backdrop _ other countries. this all coming against the backdrop of - other countries. this all coming l against the backdrop of increased concerns in this part of the world about china's actions when it comes to taiwan. how much do you think

thatis to taiwan. how much do you think that is a factor? i to taiwan. how much do you think that is a factor?— that is a factor? i think it is a ma'or that is a factor? i think it is a major factor. _ that is a factor? i think it is a major factor. not _ that is a factor? i think it is a major factor. not only - that is a factor? i think it is a major factor. not only is - that is a factor? i think it is a l major factor. not only is there china's intentions but also their rapidly growing military capabilities. we have been watching for about three decades now rapid growth of all arms of china's military capabilities. those are of particular interest to countries like japan, china's maritime in naval capabilities as well as its missile in air capabilities. all growing at a formidable pace. and making countries like japan think about their own preparedness and think about their ability to defend themselves were china to decide to become even more assertive. is themselves were china to decide to become even more assertive. is there a dancer, become even more assertive. is there a danger. do — become even more assertive. is there a danger. do you _ become even more assertive. is there a danger, do you think, _

become even more assertive. is there a danger, do you think, professor, - a danger, do you think, professor, with each country boosting their defence capabilities you end up in an arm race all countries increasing defence spending when conversation may help more? i defence spending when conversation may help more?— may help more? i think it is more than a danger- — may help more? i think it is more than a danger. i _ may help more? i think it is more than a danger. i think _ may help more? i think it is more than a danger. i think it _ may help more? i think it is more than a danger. i think it is - may help more? i think it is more than a danger. i think it is a - than a danger. i think it is a reality. my own belief, looking at the patents of armament spending for at least the last 20 years is that there is a substantial build—up of weaponry in this part of the world. it has been facilitated by the very rapid economic growth of most asian economies. which means they are able to afford more and more sophisticated military capabilities, particularly in those areas i mentioned, maritime, missile, submarine and air capabilities. so

what it means is that if were were to break out in this part of the world it would be a very high intensity work, high stakes war. and it is hard to tell which side would prevail on the stage. thank you so much forjoining us on the programme. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme... we'll update you on the floods in california and hear from the family of a five—year—old swept away by a storm. day one of operation desert storm to force the iraqis out of kuwait has seen the most intense air attacks since the second world war. tobacco is america's oldest industry, and it's one of its biggest. but the industry is

nervous of this report. this may tend to make people want to stop smoking cigarettes. there is not a street that is unaffected. huge parts of kobe were simply demolished as buildings crashed into one another. this woman said she had been given no help and no advice by the authorities. she stood outside the ruins of her business. tens of thousands of black children in south africa have taken advantage of laws passed by the country's new multiracial government and enrolled at formerly white schools. tonight sees the 9610th performance of her long—running play, the mousetrap. when they heard of her death today, the management considered whether to cancel tonight's performance, but agatha christie would have been the last person to want such a thing. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. our headlines... the us attorney—general has appointed an independent special

counsel to review classified materialfrom joe biden's time as vice president, found at two addresses. new figures show record waiting times in england for an ambulance — with many patients waiting five times longer than they should. lisa marie presley has reportedly been rushed to a california hospital after suffering cardiac arrest. the daughter of rock and roll legend elvis regained her pulse after receiving cpr, according to entertainment outlet tmz. lisa marie presley, a singer and songwriter in her own right, was last seen in public attending the golden globes ceremony with her mother priscilla. to california now where cyclones continue to batter the state. now the tragic stories of those caught up in the disaster is emerging. they include five—year old kyle doan, who told his mum to "be calm" before he was swept away by floodwaters. at least 19 people have been killed

by flooding and mudslides. our correspondent james clayton reports from san francisco. a brief lull in the rain in northern california has allowed authorities to assess the damage from successive storms. a search had been under way for kyle, a five—year—old boy living in sonoma. he liked people. he liked to dance. he was very outgoing, active. on monday, the floods submerged the car he and his mother were in as she drove him back from school. rescuers were able to get to his mother, but kyle was swept out into the water. and my wife just happened to be closer to them. and when she was able to reach out to the rope that they were able to have and the flow of my son was farther down and they saw him. he was face up. he was floating face up. it's hard to process. elsewhere, a 43—year—old woman, daphne fontenot, was found dead in her car after floodwaters submerged her vehicle. at least 18 people have now died

from the storms in san francisco. some of the city's homeless have been living through relentless rain. we're at a flyover here. and as you can see, it gives a little bit of shelter to people who were living on the streets. but even here, it's been raining so much that a lot of ground water has swept in. and we've been told that some of the tents here were flooded over night. the flood water came up to morris's tent. was this bit here was flooded last night? yeah, the centre island here. the water was coming over the top. so these are your clothes here? yeah. yes. and are they ok? are they dry? all wet. ashley has been sleeping rough and says she's used to her tent flooding now. has your tent been flooded at all? yes, it has. terrible. everything has to go most of the time. it's not raining at the moment,

but there's more rain forecast here for friday and the weekend as the city and those who don't have homes brace for yet more flooding. james clayton, bbc news, san francisco. a russian mercenary group fighting in ukraine claims its found the body of one of two uk aid workers who've been reported missing. the bbc hasn't been able to verify the claim. 28—year—old chris parry, seen here on the left and andrew bagshaw, who's a8, were last seen on friday, reportedly heading to the town of soledar in the east of the country. soledar is the scene of fierce fighting at the moment, along with the neighbouring town of bakhmut. the bbc�*s james waterhouse, who's in kyiv, gave us his assessment of the situation. the town of soledar and nearby bakhmut a city have become the focal points on the eastern front of ukraine. it is an area where contract soldiers, a private army called the wagner group, is doing the bulk of russia's fighting

and they are throwing everything at the town of soledar and bakhmut to try and achieve some immediate gain. we're in a phase of this conflict where they are throwing everything at it at a huge human cost. and i wouldn't be surprised to see ukraine make some kind of tactical retreat to wait for russian forces to exhaust themselves, if you like. for now, kyiv is adamant the defensive lines are holding and they say the wagner group are putting some of their best soldiers into soledar to try and make more immediate gains. the russians are claiming that it has control, but there are, as ever, conflicting reports in terms of the military significance. i wouldn't place too much on soledar. this is about a propaganda trophy for vladimir putin to present to critics back inside russia. the direction of the war i don't think will be influenced greatly by what we are seeing in the east. but the fighting is fierce and the human cost is great.

in brazil the president has accused security— in brazil the president has accused security forces of opening the door of the _ security forces of opening the door of the presidential palace where thousands of opposition demonstrators who vandalized the building _ demonstrators who vandalized the building on sunday. in a demonstrators who vandalized the building on sunday. ., demonstrators who vandalized the buildin: on sunda . ., , building on sunday. in a news conference — building on sunday. in a news conference he _ building on sunday. in a news conference he said _ building on sunday. in a news conference he said there - building on sunday. in a news conference he said there was| building on sunday. in a news i conference he said there was no evidence of forced entry. supporters of the former president both narrow also the president described it as a huge warning. let's head to australia where a man has well and truly earned the title of wildlife warrior after rescuing a cuddly need this is the moment where queensland man dashed out onto a busy highway barefoot to escort a koala safely across. he spotted the animal from his balcony and bolted down to stop the cars in the baroque man says he is just the cars in the baroque man says he isjust glad the cars in the baroque man says he is just glad the quality made it

safely. that brings us into the end of our programme thank you so much for watching. hello there. week two of january 2023 has been another wet one, and in fact we are starting to see the signs of that. out to the west, there's been some localised flooding. this was carmarthenshire thursday afternoon. and through north—west england and parts of wales, some areas have already exceeded their monthly average rainfall totals and we're not even halfway through the month yet. now, thursday's low pressure continues to pull away. this little ridge of high pressure builds and quietens things down for friday until the end of the day — more wet weather waiting in the wings. so we'll start off with a northerly wind, driving in some showers on exposed coasts here. a narrow band of showery rain into northern ireland, south—west scotland, north—west england. but elsewhere we will still see blustery winds, but some sunny spells coming through and pleasant

enough, mostly dry, with temperatures peaking between 6—11 celsius. but as we move out of friday, into the early hours of saturday morning, we'll start to see more wet weather. and unfortunately, the heaviest of the rain is likely to push across those areas that have already exceeded the monthly rainfall totals, so that mightjust exacerbate any potential flooding. so that frontal system is going to move away and then a trail of showers tucks in behind. so it's a wet start for england, wales, for northern ireland, southern scotland. the rain pushes off to the north sea, a trail of showers packs in along north and west—facing coasts, but there will be some sunny spells into the afternoon. still mild in the south—east, with 12 celsius, but somewhat cooler conditions starting to kick in now across the far north. and that is going to be the tone into the third week of january. so, from sunday onwards, noticeably colder. we will start to see some frost and we haven't seen those so far this year. and, yes, any precipitation may well turn wintry because we're

going to see that northerly flow. and with any little weather fronts moving into that cold air, some of those showers could turn wintry even at lower levels, so you need to keep abreast of the forecast over the next few days. on sunday, we'll see some showers, rain, sleet and snow along north and west—facing coasts. a noticeably colder afternoon — just a couple of degrees above freezing in scotland, highs of 7 celsius further south. cooler with further wintry showers to come, monday into tuesday. take care.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines and all the main news at the top of the hour, straight after this programme. i am michaela strachan, a wildlife presenter who is passionate about conservation. my work has taken me all over the world. and in that time, i have seen huge changes, many due to climate change. in extreme conservation, we meet inspirational people who've dedicated their lives to protecting the natural world. this time, i'm in turkey.

this country's stunning forests are facing devastating losses.