welcome to world news america. the pentagon condemned china for carrying out military exercises around taiwan. in a statement, the defence department's press secretary, major general pat ryder, said... "this military pressure operation is irresponsible, disproportionate, and destabilising." the drills, which have now ended as scheduled, saw beijing's forces practise encircling the island, a self—governing territory that the people's republic considers its own. beijing launched the exercise after accusing taiwan's newly—elected president, lai ching—te, orwilliam lai, of promoting the island's independence. mr lai says independence isn't necessary, because taiwan is already sovereign. with me is? kitsch liao, assistant director of

the global china hub at the atlantic council think tank. he's also a consultant for doublethink lab, an organisation which resesearched what it calls "malign chinese influence" online. thank you so much forjoining us tonight. first of all, let's talk about what president lai said. first about what president lai said. first ou have about what president lai said. first you have to — about what president lai said. f "st you have to understand that his message has never wavered since the election days. each side actually gets to talk about this in a manner irrespective of each other�*s position. irrespective of each other's position-— irrespective of each other's osition. ~ ., ., , position. what china says here is that president _ position. what china says here is that president lai _ position. what china says here is that president lai was _ position. what china says here is that president lai was being - that president lai was being provocative because he was referring to taiwan's independence. is that what you read him as saying? that is definitely not — what you read him as saying? that is definitely not what _ what you read him as saying? that is definitely not what he _ what you read him as saying? that is definitely not what he says, - what you read him as saying? that is definitely not what he says, but - what you read him as saying? that is definitely not what he says, but we l definitely not what he says, but we can assume that china has assumed lai to have ill intent, and irrespective of what he said, whether it is during the

inauguration of a national day celebration, that is the response. what did you think of the us response? they are saying it is a disproportionate response from china to encircle taiwan with his military drills. i to encircle taiwan with his military drills. ., ., drills. i agree with that assessment. _ drills. i agree with that assessment. as - drills. i agree with that assessment. as we - drills. i agree with that - assessment. as we can see, you drills. i agree with that _ assessment. as we can see, you have full coverage from all the media and propaganda outlets from the outset of the exercise throughout the entire 13 hours of the exercise. this means everything is preplanned, they are exercising coordinating what they are going to do in a real operation, which actually coincides with the doctrine of achieving information dominance before the beginning of the campaign. 50 beginning of the campaign. so looking again at what china said about it, it said that the publication came from taiwan. and if you look at how it responded, a year ago this would have been a massive news event, and instead it has now

ended. what does that tell us about the state of cross straits relations? it the state of cross straits relations?— the state of cross straits relations? , , ., ., , relations? it tells us china has already got — relations? it tells us china has already got what _ relations? it tells us china has already got what they - relations? it tells us china has already got what they wanted, relations? it tells us china has - already got what they wanted, but interestingly, especially given the involvement of the coastguard in this particular exercise, 17 different vessels. the previous exercised included some coastguard ships, but never to that extent, and neverin ships, but never to that extent, and never in this coordinated fashion. what you mean by china has got what it wanted here? we what you mean by china has got what it wanted here?— it wanted here? we can see china lasma it wanted here? we can see china plasma intent _ it wanted here? we can see china plasma intent on _ it wanted here? we can see china plasma intent on this _ it wanted here? we can see china plasma intent on this was - it wanted here? we can see china plasma intent on this was to - plasma intent on this was to exercise the military, this is a pretend exercise. they're trying to work more towards the operational side of the justification.— side of the 'ustification. where do thins side of the justification. where do things stand _ side of the justification. where do things stand in _ side of the justification. where do things stand in this _ side of the justification. where do things stand in this relationship? | things stand in this relationship? because it appears incredibly tense right now. is there an avenue for diplomacy of talks between the two sides? , , , ., ., _ sides? there is definitely diplomacy and talk, but _ sides? there is definitely diplomacy and talk, but we _

sides? there is definitely diplomacy and talk, but we have _ sides? there is definitely diplomacy and talk, but we have to _ sides? there is definitely diplomacy and talk, but we have to recognise l and talk, but we have to recognise china is the provocative one. all over the world, people are asking what lai saying, but that is what china wants. the problem is not asking what lai is saying, it is asking, what has china been doing? they're trying to shift the rhetoric to becoming essentially blaming the victim. ~ ., ., ., ., ., victim. what about how taiwan responded _ victim. what about how taiwan responded here? _ victim. what about how taiwan responded here? is _ victim. what about how taiwan responded here? is there - victim. what about how taiwan - responded here? is there anything we saw that tells us about its military readiness? . . saw that tells us about its military readiness? ., ., ., , , ., readiness? taiwan has been given a treat readiness? taiwan has been given a great opportunity — readiness? taiwan has been given a great opportunity to _ readiness? taiwan has been given a great opportunity to demonstrate i readiness? taiwan has been given a| great opportunity to demonstrate its recent preparation in all sorts of different readiness, and i think they did a greatjob. essentially they did a greatjob. essentially they got all the information it before the japanese, before the us, before the japanese, before the us, before the japanese, before the us, before the koreans even get a chance to release some of the information, and they have some of the most exhaustive analysis out right now. and all the responses are proportional response is towards this military operation which has

already commenced. and this military operation which has already commenced.— this military operation which has already commenced. and one quick last question. _ already commenced. and one quick last question, what _ already commenced. and one quick last question, what impact - already commenced. and one quick last question, what impact if - already commenced. and one quick last question, what impact if any i already commenced. and one quick| last question, what impact if any do you think the us election has on these tensions? it is you think the us election has on these tensions?— you think the us election has on these tensions? it is definitely not a coincidence _ these tensions? it is definitely not a coincidence that _ these tensions? it is definitely not a coincidence that china _ these tensions? it is definitely not a coincidence that china would - a coincidence that china would choose this particular point, this particular time frame, to conduct their exercise towards the us election. i do believe irrespective of who actually won the election, china would have something to say, and it would be one of the first questions a winning candidate would have to answer. as i talked about before, the important part is not to let china control the rhetoric. all let china control the rhetoric. all riaht, let china control the rhetoric. all right, will have to leave it there today, but thank you so much for joining us tonight on bbc news. thank you for having me. president volodymr zelensky accused north korea of sending personnel to work alongside russian troops in occupied ukraine. mr zelensky said he was briefed on the country's involvement on monday, after emphasising that north korea's collaboration was, quote, "no longerjust about transferring weapons" in his nightly address on sunday. the kremlin called the reports of pyongyang sending troops fake news. on the ground in ukraine's eastern donetsk region, russia has advanced swiftly

in the last few months. fighting is intense, with the ukrainian military reporting nearly 150 battles every day as it tries to stall russia's momentum. in southern ukraine, russia continues a barrage of missile and drone attacks on ukraine's port city of odesa, killing at least 1a people this week. the bbc�*s ukraine correspondent, james waterhouse, sent this report. we are seeing the southern ukrainian city of odesa come under almost unprecedented missile strikes on its port infrastructure. this is a coastal city which is on what's left of the ukrainian coastline which is still under ukrainian control. president zelensky has acknowledged the attacks in his addresses, and he's also talked about his concerns about russia strengthening its relationships with north korea, notjust in terms of ammunition and military equipment, but in terms of soldiers as well.

it's really hard to kind of establish whether that is the case. but there is a broader picture here. we're seeing president zelensky have a frustrating diplomatic tour of late in terms of trying to secure permission to use western missiles on targets deep inside russia. that green light has yet to materialise, and there is a fast approaching us presidential election where further support for ukraine is far from assured. president zelensky says he is presenting what he calls a victory plan, a template for peace. we don't really know what's on it yet, but it's thought to contain something along the lines of a, for example, territorial concession in exchange for security guarantees. but that is a difficult equation to solve, because this is an anxious time for ukraine. its troops are going backwards, and the geopolitical picture is farfrom clear.

the bbc�*s james waterhouse reporting there. now back to the middle east. over the past year, 23—year—old aya and father of five khalid have been filming their lives in gaza. aya and herfamily are now displaced in southern gaza, while khalid has stayed in his home in the north. a new bbc documentary, life and death in gaza, a film by world service's bbc eye investigations for storyville, is made almost entirely from their footage and airs tomorrow across the bbc. here's a first look at their stories.

the full documentary, life and death in gaza, can be seen on bbc iplayer for viewers in the uk.

the film forms part of a group of programmes marking one year on from 7 october and the war between israel and hamas. another bbc storyville, surviving october 7th: we will dance again is also available to watch on iplayer. a public inquiry has begun into the poisoning with novichok of a british woman in salisbury in 2018. the death of dawn sturgess was blamed on two russian agents who used the nerve agent to try to murder the former spy sergei skripal and his daughter. dawn sturgess was inadvertently exposed to the novichok when it was found in a discarded perfume bottle. duncan kennedy reports. it's been six years since caroline and stan sturgess lost their daughter dawn. today, they came to the inquiry to find answers. in the ornate surroundings of salisbury�*s guildhall, the chair of the public inquiry started with an expression of sympathy.

we should begin by assuring them of our understanding, so far as we are able, and of our sympathy. today, the inquiry released a series of unseen photos, including these ones of dawn the day before she became ill. the inquiry heard she'd unwittingly sprayed the deadly nerve agent novichok on her wrist from a perfume—like bottle her boyfriend had found. the real possibility emerged that she'd been caught, an innocent victim, in the crossfire of an illegal and outrageous international assassination attempt. the real target lived here on the outskirts of salisbury, which became a massive crime scene. the inquiry released these photos of sergei skripal and his daughter yulia on the day they were poisoned with novichok, four months before dawn sturgess. for the first time, we see them slumped on a bench as they became seriously ill. and in anotherfirst today, we heard

the views of sergei skripal himself. it came in the form of a written statement to the inquiry, in which mr skripal, who once worked for russian military intelligence, said he never thought that the russian regime would try to murder him. he went on to say... he was a close and a clear and obvious target of an attack from mr putin and his henchmen. russia has always denied sending these two agents to kill sergei skripal. the inquiry will spend six weeks examining every piece of evidence. duncan kennedy, bbc news, in salisbury. the american rapper sean diddy combs is facing fresh allegations of rape, sexual abuse and sexual assault.

at least six new lawsuits were filed in a new york federal court on monday, involving allegations spanning from 1995 to 2021. the accusers — two women and four men who are remaining anonymous — allege that some of the assaults took place at mr combs' parties, which were attended by high—profile celebrities. the rapper is currently in pre—trial detention for charges of sex trafficking and racketeering — which he denies. our correspondent emma vardy is in los angeles with the details. a lot of these latest allegations centre around the notorious parties that sean combs held, and in one of these lawsuits a man who was 16 at these lawsuits a man who was 16 at the time claimed that sean combs groped him at one of these parties, saying he could help it into the music business. in another lawsuit, a woman alleges she was raped by sean combs in a hotel room. a lot of the latest allegations are centred around new york and a sean combs

property in the hamptons, but there are also previous claims linked to la and to the parties that he held here in la that a lot of hollywood celebrities had attended too. in months there has been this picture of sean combs as somebody who had allegedly been using his power and influence to coerce people into sex, and alongside the civil lawsuits, he is also facing a criminal trial too. he is accused by the criminal authorities of sex trafficking and of drugging his alleged victims. and now he is going to be facing trial next year for that. his legal team have denied the allegations against him. one of the other key questions hanging over this whole thing, really, is who wells, perhaps the facilitators were, who may have looked the other way at this alleged behaviour, and who else could be held accountable in the months to come. let's turn to some other news around the world.

marine le pen, the figurehead of france's far—right national rally party, has been giving evidence in a trial in which she and 2a others are accused of misappropriating european parliament funds. party officials, employees and former lawmakers are accused of using money designated for european union employees to pay domestic party staff, violating eu regulations. ms le pen said she firmly believed she had done nothing wrong. the trial comes almost a decade after initial investigations started. the acting us labour secretary is in seattle to intervene in a labour dispute between boeing and about 33,000 striking workers. the trip comes days after the plane maker unveiled plans to cut 17,000 jobs, as the strike enters its fifth week. it is the secretary's first in—person meeting with both sides. nearly 95% of the union rejected boeing's offer in september of a 25% pay raise over four years. and india and canada have expelled each other's top envoys along with other diplomats. it comes afterjustin trudeau's government accused india's ambassador and other agents

of homicide and other acts on canadian soil. canadian police said the criminal activity particularly targeted sikh separatists, but did not link those named to a murder of a separatist leader last year. delhi rejected the accusations as preposterous. a spacecraft has blasted off from florida on the hunt for signs of alien life. its destination is europa — a deeply mysterious moon orbiting the distant planetjupiter — with potentially twice as much water as earth. the clipper won't arrive until 2030, but what it finds could change what we know about life in our solar system. here's pallah ghosh. two, one. ignition. and lift off. up and on its way, on a mission to see if life could exist on another world. unveiling the mysteries of an enormous ocean. the europa clipper spacecraft sets off on a 1.8 billion milejourney. it'll passjupiter and head

towards the ice covered moon the spacecraft is named after. europa is almost the same size as our own moon, but that's where the similarity ends. it doesn't have any craters. instead it has an icy surface because it's so far away from the sun. and you can see cracks and ridges, which has been caused byjupiter�*s powerful gravity stretching and squashing it. and it's that movement that scientists believe has melted the ice underneath to create a vast, salty ocean, which has got twice as much water than all the earth's oceans combined. and that is what makes your rope at the most likely place in the solar system to support alien life. these telescope pictures show what seem to be jets of water spurting from europa, more than 100 miles into space. europa clipper is making 50 different flybys around the moon's surface, catching any particles that might have been thrown up

into the atmosphere, and then it can do a chemical composition analysis to find out, are there any amino acids? are there any sulphites? those really key building blocks that we know are essential for life here on earth. professor michelle doherty has a separate mission on its way to study notjust sean combs. you can find water, but it is in the interior_ you can find water, but it is in the interior of— you can find water, but it is in the interior of the moons ofjupiter. i'd interior of the moons ofjupiter. i'd be _ interior of the moons ofjupiter. i'd be very— interior of the moons ofjupiter. i'd be very surprised if we didn't find the — i'd be very surprised if we didn't find the ingredients for life somewhere in our solar system. it somewhere in our solar system. [it will somewhere in our solar system. will be at somewhere in our solar system. it will be at the end of this decade before the spacecraft get to the jupiter system. they are not expected to recover life, but their results will take as a giant step

forward in knowing whether life is possible on one of these icy worlds. pallab ghosh, bbc news. that is our programme at this hour. thank you very much for watching bbc news. remember you can find more on all the days news at our website, bbc.com/news. plus to see what we're working on at anytime make sure to check us out on your favourite social media site. thank you for watching world news america. hello. we've had some big contrasts in the weather throughout monday. across much of scotland, northern ireland, northern england, it's been glorious with plenty of sunshine — a bit of snow here on the tops of the scottish mountains. further south, though, for wales, midlands, east anglia, southern england, we've had extensive cloud, some heavy rain around in the morning, but most of that cleared off. just an odd patch of drizzle left over into the afternoon. but cloud was certainly reluctant to break up.

and overnight, this zone of cloudier weather is going to be pushing back northwards across northern england into northern ireland. with that, there will be some hill fog patches and occasional spits of drizzle. as the cloud works in, well, it will become increasingly mild — temperatures about 9—11 degrees by the end of the night. in parts of scotland, though, cold enough for a nip of frost into the countryside. tomorrow, overall, it's quite a cloudy—looking weather picture and, ok, there might be a few breaks in the clouds to allow some hazy spells of sunshine — probably the best of that across northernmost areas of scotland. temperatures are coming up with a strengthening south to south—easterly wind. we're looking at highs widely15—18 celsius, so it will turn quite mild. and that mild theme is with us for wednesday. the uk finds itself sandwiched between low pressure in the atlantic and an area of high pressure in the baltic area. strong south to south—easterly winds will be bringing very mild weather conditions our way, but these weather fronts ensure it's notjust going to be mild, it's also going to be very wet. now, heavy outbreaks of rain in the forecast for many areas.

it could be that parts of east anglia and south—east england stay away from the rain, maybe, and temperatures could still reach the low 20s. however, for most of the uk, more typically, temperatures are going to be into the upper teens. it will be wet and quite a windy kind of day. by thursday, that rain will have cleared out into the near continent, and there could be one or two mist and fog patches to start off the day, but a much better chance of seeing at least a bit of sunshine. a few showers popping up into the afternoon, particularly for scotland and northern ireland, maybe an odd one for western parts of england and wales as well. temperatures still on the mild side — 17 in aberdeen, in newcastle and cardiff, we're up to 18 and 19 for london and for norwich respectively. friday, a very windy kind of day, with gales developing across western areas, more heavy rain on the cards. and into the weekend, it stays wet and windy, too, with the heaviest rain and strongest winds in the north—west.

live from washington, this bbc news. conflicts spread to the country's more than what is believed to be an israeli strike killing 21 people. we have a special report from gaza, where intensifying military operations are killing dozens of civilians. israel says it is targeting hamas fighters. the us and taiwan condemn china's military

drills. thank you forjoining us. we begin in the middle east, with his been more intense fighting. in rate on lebanonnorth, 21 people were killed and eight others injured on what is continue to be an israeli air strike. it would be the first time israel had targeted the northern regions of the war escalated following the october the 7th attacks. the military has been targeting the armed group hezbollah in the south, carrying out thousands of strikes.

israel is fighting on at least two fronts further to the north