is studio in singapore. this is bbc news. it's newsday. welcome to the programme. our top story today, us officials say they have approved plans for a series of strikes against iranian personnel and facilities in syria and iraq but not in iran itself. they so the action will be carried out a number of days and weather will be a factor when the strikes begin. washington has been preparing to hit back at iran militias after three us troops were killed in a drone strike injordan. run macro denies the attack. the american secretary of defence said the us had the right to retaliate after the recent attacks. this is a dangerous _ after the recent attacks. this is a dangerous moment - after the recent attacks. ti 3 is a dangerous moment in the middle east. we will continue to work towards avoiding a wider competition the region. we will take all necessary actions to defend the united

states, our interests, and our people. we will respond when we choose, where we choose and how we choose. choose, where we choose and how we choose-— we choose. our north america correspondent _ we choose. our north america correspondent told _ we choose. our north america correspondent told me - we choose. our north america correspondent told me earlier| correspondent told me earlier what these attacks could look like. ~ ., �* ~ ., like. we don't know when exactly this _ like. we don't know when exactly this action - like. we don't know when exactly this action will. like. we don't know when exactly this action will be | exactly this action will be launched, depends on the weather and on intelligence but weather and on intelligence but we understand that these strikes will take place over a number of days. and they will include a range of targets, they include iranian personnel and facilities in iraq and syria. those two countries from where these iran backed groups have been operating and it is those groups which washington accused of being responsible for those deadly drone attacks on the us base injordan on sunday that was when three us service members were killed, dozens more were injured and ever since that attack, joe

biden has been under increased pressure to respond. he's been under pressure from republicans who say some of whom say that perhaps direct strikes against iran should be launched. according to cps reporting that is not on the table, no direct strikes on iranian territory according to them but that is something most us officials want to avoid. they want to avoid a direct military confrontation with iran and thatis confrontation with iran and that is why it appears that the strikes will just target those locations in iraq and syria. 50 locations in iraq and syria. so we're looking for a proportionate response, that the term to get used to this? you mentioned it doesn't want to address or attack iran specifically. does the ministration believed that by going after these indirect militias that they will be in stop further attacks?- militias that they will be in stop further attacks? does the objective. _ stop further attacks? does the objective. one _ stop further attacks? does the

objective, one of _ stop further attacks? does the objective, one of them, - stop further attacks? does the objective, one of them, to - objective, one of them, to dissuade these groups from carrying out further attacks. and to degrade the capabilities to do so. president biden is under a lot of pressure, under pressure from all sides from hardline republicans who say that he should hit iran hard, former president donald trump, this is one of his favourite sticks with which to hit president biden, donald trump saying that he was much tougher and something like this and what happened on sunday would never have happened under his watch. and thenjoe biden is under pressure from progressives in his own party who have urged caution and said that america should not be ratcheting up tensions at such a time in the middle east. and then there are those congressmen and women who have said thatjoe biden should seek congressional approval before launching military action. he is under attack from all sides, an election year, a crucial

closely follow polarising election year here. anything he does and any decision he takes will be under extra scrutiny and the other thing to bear in mind is the us is currently engaged in very tense negotiations over a potential ceasefire in gaza and i'm sure us officials will be careful to not do anything to upset those two. ~ . ., , ., not do anything to upset those two. meanwhile as iran backed fiuhters two. meanwhile as iran backed fighters are — two. meanwhile as iran backed fighters are given _ two. meanwhile as iran backed fighters are given continue - two. meanwhile as iran backed fighters are given continue to i fighters are given continue to want attacks on commercial ships in the red sea, the us and uk responded with its own strikes on houthi positions here. it is superb i have analysed the impact of the strike and if they are making a difference. our correspondent has more. difference. our correspondent has more-— has more. there have been 11 sets of strikes _ has more. there have been 11 sets of strikes in _ has more. there have been 11 sets of strikes in yemen - has more. there have been 11 sets of strikes in yemen in i has more. there have been 11| sets of strikes in yemen in the past three weeks, many have been limited, the most recent work last night focused on houthi military targets. uk has been involved in two sets of strikes so far, but are they working?— strikes so far, but are they workin? �*, , ., working? let's start off back

in november. _ working? let's start off back in november. in _ working? let's start off back in november. in this - working? let's start off back in november. in this area i working? let's start off back in november. in this area of| in november. in this area of the cost of yemen. this is where houthi's backed by iran have been watching attacks on ships. mostly in the red sea, many now a pinch point. when they seized this cargo ship, they seized this cargo ship, the wettability east this footage. after the initial attacks, us and uk launch the strikes on the houthi pullback in january, strikes on the houthi pullback injanuary, morejoint strikes on the houthi pullback in january, more joint strikes ii injanuary, morejoint strikes 11 days in january, more joint strikes 11 days later. they've launched several attacks on its own, intercepting disposal which says it was transporting iranian weapons to houthi groups. all the while, attacks continue. they are starting to move south into the golf, one example, a tanker that links to the uk. it was set on fire after being hit by a soul. the frequency of houthi attacks has not fallen. in the three weeks before the first us and uk

strikes, there were six. in the three weak since the accident has been done. as less action going through the straight now, instead selling around africa which takes longer. and it costs a lot more. this is the increased cost for transporting freight, costs a lot more. this is the increased cost for transporting freight, it costs a lot more. this is the increased cost for transporting freight, it has costs a lot more. this is the increased cost for transporting freight, it has shot costs a lot more. this is the increased cost for transporting freight, it has shot up. costs a lot more. this is the increased cost for transporting freight, it has shot up. the growing costs will have an impact here stop will take longerfor some goods get impact here stop will take longer for some goods get to the uk and it could mean higher costs for customers. elsewhere in the middle east, the united states has imposed sanctions on jewish settlers that carried out by islands against palestinian civilians in the occupied west bank. joe biden signed an executive order targeting four people. they will have their assets in the united states blocked, americans will be forbidden from doing business with them, joe biden said violence in the west bank had reached an intolerable level, threatening peace and stability in the region. state department correspondent explains why this move is significant. it is correspondent explains why this move is significant.— move is significant. it is a first and _ move is significant. it is a first and i _

move is significant. it is a first and i think _ move is significant. it is a first and i think it - move is significant. it is a first and i think it is - move is significant. it is a first and i think it is a - move is significant. it is a | first and i think it is a sign of the general levels of irritation a frustration by the us administration, with parts of benjamin netanyahu's government and particularly the ultranationalist that i've made up ultranationalist that i've made up a key part of the israeli government who, the political base of which has made up of some of the most strident and ideological we aggressive settlers and it's that part of the government that has seen no secret from joe biden himself but he's had enough of these people being a part of the israeli administration. that has become very much aggravated over the past few months and particularly as the response to the attacks on october seven and what happened in gaza and the war in gaza, the huge loss of civilian life and the number of civilian life and the number

of civilians being killed, you've seen in the west bank are very severe situation where the israeli or a continued military rates into cities there. at the same time the rates of settler violence has ramped up, the people that killed over that period by settlers. this is a response by the us administration where it is saying it has had enough. they slapped these travel bands already, that's been announced on some settlers. now we are getting this announcement of four individuals they are saying to start with we will be sanctioned by the us treasury, notjust sanctioned by the us treasury, not just them sanctioned by the us treasury, notjust them but sanctioned by the us treasury, not just them but anyone who makes donations towards those individuals or entities associated with them. as you say, it is unprecedented. on the other hand are all sorts of limitations because it cannot affect us citizens and there are americans who make up some

of these groups in the west bank. weekly, none of the sanctions can apply to them so there are significant imitations but this is a first. hamas has given initial positive confirmation to a proposal for the release of positives in a pause of the bombardment of gaza, according to officials. us, egyptian and qatar officials met in paris on sunday, whether proposed a six week pause in the war. and a hostage prisoner exchange. a source close to hamas said they will still be no consensus on the proposal. earlier i spoke to ben scott, senior advisor at australia national securities college. they set as the austral eden representative to the palestinian authority's and the palestinian authority's and the secretary at the embassy in tel aviv. he told me how like leaders a deal would be reached. leaders a deal would be reached-— leaders a deal would be reached. . ., ., ., reached. there are a lot of positive — reached. there are a lot of positive signs _ reached. there are a lot of positive signs now- reached. there are a lot of positive signs now that - reached. there are a lot of positive signs now that a l reached. there are a lot of i positive signs now that a deal

is in the table but beverly given in principle agreement, still gives us reason for caution. the basic essence of any deal is they will be a ceasefire in return for hostages but there's still a lot of debate about what that ceasefire means and which hostages are involved and which prisoners on the israeli side. in terms of the ceasefire, hamas is demanding what they call a permanent ceasefire, israel is refusing that. in practice, no—one really thinks a ceasefire will be permanent but israel was to agree to what is called a permanent ceasefire that would mean that have to withdraw troops from gaza, that be much harder to start any conflict and it would also mean on israel's side and effectively acknowledgement that it failed to achieve its war objectives which were to destroy and eliminate hamas. in terms of the prisoners, there is always an issue exactly

which prisoners are involved stop from what we understand, the first phase of the steel would be release of about 35 of elderly women, children, injured. the most at risk prisoners in return for some equivalent prisoners or on the israeli side and after that will they deal with the more serious exchange where hamas is demanding in return for what they do to be soldiers that they do to be soldiers that they say our soldiers a what is being referred to often as quality prisoners and these are the ones that israel is most reluctant to release. because they are the ones that have most blood on their hands as israel would say. if most blood on their hands as israel would say.— israel would say. if we zoom out, a israel would say. if we zoom out. a two — israel would say. if we zoom out, a two state _ israel would say. if we zoom out, a two state solution i israel would say. if we zoom | out, a two state solution that gives palestinians a home and has been supported by israel's ally, the united states and other countries, what other prospects that it may produce a different outcome on that issue

and in the past? it’s different outcome on that issue and in the past?— and in the past? it's a curious aradox and in the past? it's a curious paradox at — and in the past? it's a curious paradox at the _ and in the past? it's a curious paradox at the moment i and in the past? it's a curious| paradox at the moment where almost everybody agrees that this conflict cannot and in the way that all the previous ones have stopped which is just going back to a short—term truth and another round of violence following after that. it has two and differently but there's really almost no agreement on what the difference means. , , difference means. keeping focus on gaza, there _ difference means. keeping focus on gaza, there are _ difference means. keeping focus on gaza, there are around i on gaza, there are around 900,000 children are thought to be internally displaced that, according to the charity save the children. gaza's youngest jailers is among them, she is the document in herjourneys around her as they unfolded. __'s around her as they unfolded. ——'s youngest journalist. at nine years old, she has acquired a huge following on social media, post exhibits of her white in gaza and her aspirations to become a

journalist. she joined us from journalist. shejoined us from gaza close to the crossing. what made you want to do this? translation: j want to do this? translation: ., ., translation: i want to document the struggle _ translation: i want to document the struggle going _ translation: i want to document the struggle going through. - translation: i want to document the struggle going through. so i the struggle going through. so the struggle going through. so the world can see it. all we wish is to go back to our school. to seek education, even our school for displaced people. our school for displaced eo - le. our school for displaced people-— our school for displaced eo - le. . ., , , people. her father has been helinu people. her father has been helping the _ people. her father has been helping the nine-year-old i helping the nine—year—old document herjourney. navigating the changes around her as a family were displaced from her home in northern gaza. she told us so much in her life has changed. but her dream is to continue the work she is doing now. translation: l doing now. translation: , translation: i wish when the war and i can — translation: i wish when the war and i can turn _ translation: i wish when the war and i can turn into - translation: i wish when the war and i can turn into a i translation: i wish when the war and i can turn into a greatl war and i can turn into a great journalist. and work so i can grow more and more. she continues _ grow more and more. she continues to _ grow more and more. she continues to find - grow more and more. she continues to find comfort in sharing stories of her community. her portfoliojust

community. her portfolio just keeps community. her portfoliojust keeps going. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories that are making news, turkish police have released a seven factory workers taken hostage by gunmen and a plant near istanbul. the factory is owned by the us cosmetic giant. the local government said that police detained it unharmed when he took a bathroom break, officials say the suspect wanted to draw attention to the war in gaza. the regional government in catalonia has the claddagh state of emergency omit the drought that lasted three years. the measures include destructions on water use for many years in barcelona and surrounded policies. people will be limited to 200 litres of water per day, farmers will have to reduce their use by 80%. crummer campaign greta thunberg has defended climate activists facing prosecution, saying we must remember who the

real enemy is. the 21—year—old was arrested during a demonstration outside a hotel in london. which was hosting a meeting of oil executives. she has pleaded not guilty to a public order offence. you are live with bbc news. to pakistan, it will be holding the general election in a weaker, the political party is busy with the campaigns but there are questions aboutjust how free and fair the election will be. just this week, former prime minister imran khan was sentenced to 111 years in prison and the voting comes at a time of economic instability, caroline davies reports. the role of a campaigning crowd. pakistan's elections are one week away, among the contenders, this man with a dynasty behind them. his grandfather, his mother, former leaders of pakistan, his running to be prime minister

for the first time. this site is a place where blood was spilt. this is a significant moment for bilawal bhutto. it is the first occasion he is addressing an election rally at the same location where his mother, benazir bhutto, was assassinated in 2007. so when my mother delivered her final speech in liaqat bagh, she provided a sense of hope at a time when pakistan was at crisis point. i believe once again today we are at a crisis point. bhutto says he can keep his expensive manifesto promises at a time when pakistan's economy is on the edge. there are questions about the election he is running in. imran khan is currently in prison, unable to contest. yes. the bti are not on the ballot. yes. is this a free and fair election? these elections

are just as free and fair as the 2018 and the 2013 elections. democracy is not a switch that you flick on and off. it is a process. it has to improve over time. do you think it would be better for pakistan if imran khan was on the ballot paper? why is mr khan not on the ballot paper? because those laws were never amended. as he used to say, the courts in pakistan are free. they take their own decisions. i am sure if he is innocent, he will prove himself in court. just a few days later, imran khan was given multiple sentences for over a decade in prison. in karachi this weekend, police used tear gas on a rally for khan's supporters. the authorities said they did not have permission to gather. many see imran khan's rise and fall as being in and out of favour with pakistan's powerful military. this is the man thought most likely to win the election, nawaz sharif. if he does, it would be his fourth time as prime minister.

the last election he was the one in jail when khan won. translation: as all of you know, nawaz sharif was innocent. he was punished deliberately. thejudges who gave this punishment have gone away, one by one. despite repeated requests, mr sharif did not give us time for an interview. known names, deep—seated rivalries, an election with an old pattern and seething frustrations. caroline davis, bbc news. to avoid ukraine and the european union has given substantial aid to ukraine to help in its war with russia. $54 billion package has been approved after being held up because of objections from hungary. the eu has nanima slipped past the deal, us presidentjoe biden has phone european commission president to congratulate her on steering the deal through. she said this

funding sent a powerful message to russian leader vladimir putin. ., , ., , putin. today is indeed a very s - ecial putin. today is indeed a very special day- _ putin. today is indeed a very special day. the _ putin. today is indeed a very special day. the european i special day. the european council reconfirmed that europe's unwavering commitment to stand with ukraine, we will know that ukraine is fighting for us so we will support them with the serey funding and provide them with a much needed predictability and they deserve. and i think he is 50 billion euros forfour deserve. and i think he is 50 billion euros for four years, also sent a very strong message to put in. just ahead of the second anniversary of his brittle invasion. hungary's prime minister _ brittle invasion. hungary's prime minister -- - brittle invasion. hungary's. prime minister -- president prime minister —— president closest ally in the year who, said he wanted to force a rethink of the policy towards ukraine and question the idea of committing fines of kyiv for the next four years. ukraine doesn't only need missile and tanks and bullets, in its cash

to kyiv life behind the lines running as smoothly as possible. this package will help to pay pension, salaries and other costs and it comes as us aid for ukraine, the largest provider of military support for kyiv is being held up by congress. while elder ms zelenskyy called this a signal of european union they wouldn't allies, ukraine can withstand any challenge. —— volodymyr zelenskyy. any challenge. -- volodymyr zelenskyy-— any challenge. -- volodymyr zelens j.�* ., ., zelenskyy. i'm grateful on your financial instrument _ zelenskyy. i'm grateful on your financial instrument for - zelenskyy. i'm grateful on your financial instrument for us, i financial instrument for us, for all the people for ukraine, ukraine with 50 billion euros for a year., this is a clear signal that ukraine will withstand and that europe will stand. it is also really important that this decision was taken unanimously by all, all of you, all 27 members and it is another clear sign of your strong unity and support

of ukraine. your strong unity and support of ukraine-— of ukraine. police are searching _ of ukraine. police are searching for - of ukraine. police are searching for a i of ukraine. police are searching for a man l of ukraine. police are i searching for a man who is believed to have thrown a corrosive substance are two young children and their mother in south london. leaving them with what could be life changing injuries. the 35—year—old from newcastle is a suspect, he is thought to have significant burns on his face caused by the substance. he was convicted of a sex offence in 2018, our correspondent has the latest. the report contained some distressing images. on the run and dangerous. the latest picture of abdul ezedi, last night in north london in a tesco shop. his injury to the right eye clearly visible, red and raw from the chemical he's alleged to have thrown. the screams of a mother filled this quiet south london street. "i can't see, i can't see," she shouted, as she and her two young daughters were attacked with a chemical substance. abdul ezedi was known to the victims and it's thought

previously known to police in newcastle. last night, just off clapham common, police believe abdul ezedi attacked the woman and her three and eight—year—old girls with an alkaline substance. trying to escape, he crashed into another car. neighbours came to help. the man was saying, "i can't see, i can't see." that's when she got acid thrown in herface. so i shouted for my partner to get some water. i was holding the little girl, i think obviously it transferred onto me. it was on my face and my arm and my lips. my lips are still burning. cctv footage shows some of the attack. the suspect appears to run someone over. then he gets out of the car and takes one of the children out from the back. he then runs off, chased by others. another eyewitness who also didn't want to be identified gave chase. he pulled a two or three—year—old out of the car, and he lifted her up as high as he could, and he just body slammed her to the ground, twice. i saw red and started chasing him down the road. i saw the mother, i believe,

of the child, and herface was just covered with something — only god knows what it was. you could see it was obviously burning her, her lips were really black. so ijust started pouring water all over her face. yeah, it was just. ..crazy. police believe 35—year—old travelled down from newcastle and may be trying to return. if you see him, i plea to not to approach him. call 999. he has significant injuries to the right side of his face. how many officers are trying to search for him? we take violence against women and girls very seriously in the met police, and we have got a significant asset looking for this male. we will catch him, i am wholeheartedly confident. police have praised the bravery of local people who rushed out here to what they describe as a terrifying situation. four members of the public came out to help the woman and her children, and three of them required hospital

treatment for minor burns. five police officers who answered the 999 call also needed hospital treatment. they have all now been released. the crashed car was removed early this morning from the quiet residential road. police have described the injuries suffered by the woman and one of her daughters as potentially life—changing. they also say the mother was vulnerable. a hotel at the top of the road is used by councils for temporary accommodation. left in the grounds, bottles used to treat chemical burns. the hotel confirmed some of the injured were staying there. a dangerous man is still on the run and a mother and her daughters left with terrible burns. lucy manning, bbc news. before we go, a major announcement from the world of formula i as lewis hamilton will leave mercedes at the end of the current season to join ferrari in 2025. of the current season to 'oin ferrari in 2025.i of the current season to 'oin ferrari in 2025. hamilton has won six of— ferrari in 2025. hamilton has won six of his _ ferrari in 2025. hamilton has

won six of his seven - ferrari in 2025. hamilton has won six of his seven world i won six of his seven world title striving for mercedes, he has been offered a multi—year contract in ferrari which are widely seen as the world's most traditional motor racing team. and that's it for here on bbc news, bye for now. hello. full uk forecast in a moment. first of all, i thought i'd reflect on storm ingunn that came across the north atlantic wednesday and hit sweden and norway wednesday night, bringing what looks like being record—breaking winds, sustained winds of 122 miles an hour, parts of norway, and 116 miles an hour in sweden. unimaginable strength of the winds. there were even stronger gusts. the gusts that we recorded were even much stronger than those that hit southern england in the great storm of 1987 — one of the most powerful storms i've ever seen, storm ingunn. now it's the lovely end to the day on thursday, fine sunsets many of you spotted caused by the clear skies illuminating the cloud out west. but it is the cloud that's going to be winning the battle, i suppose, over the next few hours, progressively turning

quite cloudy, a few patches of drizzle around, some rain into western scotland, but very mild air, again flowing in off the atlantic. we see high pressure to the south, weather fronts to the northwest where it will be windy. gusts of wind reaching 50 odd miles an hour across northern scotland, where it'll be damp and drizzly across western areas. elsewhere, a lot of cloud to start the day. but given it's quite windy, i suspect we will see some sunny breaks breaking through across parts of east scotland, to the east of the pennines, probably eastern parts of wales, and maybe eastern side of both antrim and downs. so you might see some glimmers of sunshine. either way, it will be a very mild day. the air gets a little bit cooler across northern areas on saturday, say cooler, temperatures coming a bit closer to average, sunshine and showers working in here. again, it's quite blustery. england and wales having the thickest of the cloud with some patches of light rain coming and going. temperatures 14 degrees, again, well above average for this time of the year. the average in london is nine degrees.

for sunday's forecast, again, we've got the mild air with us, but thicker cloud this time, so probably a higher chance of seeing some damp weather at times. the far north of scotland, again, quite blustery with some showers working in here. for most of us, temperatures again on the mild side, ten to 14 degrees pretty widely. but then after this mild run of weather, might be something of a shock to the system to see the weather turns a lot colder next week. and for some of you, that means a return of seeing some snowfall. now it's a little bit less certain just how cold it gets further southwards across england and wales. but it could be that we see some snow. for the time being, the models are picking up thick cloud with outbreaks of cold rain at times.

big tech gets bigger, better, apple and amazon reported earnings that they have been expectations, we'll have the letters. look at india's last budget head of the country's elections. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm steve lai. we begin today with the focus on the tech sector, with major names in the industry reporting quarterly earnings stop with suman on meta, the social media giants shares sold more than 40% after the bell after the company that owned space ——

facebook beat analyst expectations. the revenue was 25% adjusted over $40 billion. the company announced its first ever dividend assent at 50 cents per share. this comes days before meta, which was one of the first tech unicorns celebrate the 20 anniversary of facebook. it all started like this, facebook, orthe it all started like this, facebook, or the facebook as it was known, launched from mark soccer bugs digs at harvard. more mortgages have been added and the design slowly tweet into what it is today. but the impact of the app was almost instant. and in the last 20 years, its altered society, politics and business. in profound ways. here are four ways that facebook has changed our world. ways that facebook has changed ourworld. facebook ways that facebook has changed our world. facebook was a social media game changer, other networks existed like

myspace but