players here, it is important that we make the most of this situation. with the amount of players that have pulled out, it gives other players and opportunity to be here. we're really looking forward to the game, it will be a tough test, and with the amount of pull—outs we have had this window, historically it has been like that in the past. november has always been a challenging window. like you said, the culture and environment that gareth anscombe even the rest of the staff graded as made it a positive environment —— gareth anscombe de. the players here deserve to be here and are ready for the game. —— gareth and steve. also in group 2 of the nations league, belgium face italy on thursday while isreal have an away fixture against france. the aviva stadium will host finland, who are hoping to avenge their 2—1 defeat last month against the republic of ireland. plenty of other matches to bring you as well, and of course, live text coverage will be available on the bbc sport app and website.

mauricio pochettino will take charge of his first competitive game as head coach of the us men's national team. on thursdayteam us face jamaica for the first , leg of the concacaf nations league quarterfinal. the former chelsea boss will be without a handful of key players, through injury, but that isn't the only challenge that he is set to face in kingston. i think the challenge always is improving ourselves, kingston will be a tough game, the condition for sure. it is to adapt to the circumstance, to be a solid team that can challenge them in kingston will be a massive step in improving their mentality, capacity together, fight together, matching them in the motivation. the billiejean king cup will kick off in malaga today, after organisers posptoned yesterday's opening tie between the spain and poland. this was due to a severe weather alert in the southern region of spain. today, japan's first

round tie against romania is scheduled to take place, with slovakia against the usa to follow. elsewhere in the tennis world, alexander zverev claimed a second victory at the season ending atp finals in turin. the german made it two from two in the group stages with a 7—6, 6—3 win against norway's caspur ruud. up next, he faces a tough test in carlos alcaraz. he overcame illness to defeat andrey rublev in straight sets earlier in the day. but if zverev is able to conquer the four—time grand slam champion, he will guarantee a spot in the semifinals. now, over in boxing, former world heavyweight champion mike tyson will face jake paul on friday. the 58—year—old boxing legend hasn't fought professionally in 19 years. in the final press conference before tonight's weigh—in, youtuber—turned—fighter jake paul, dominated the microphone as tyson uttered very few words.

the fear of losing is too much, fighting than dying. what could you lose if you lose this fight? thank you.- you lose if you lose this fight? thank you. you lose if you lose this fiuht? thank ou. �* ., ., fight? thank you. and not going to lose. cheering you said that in the last minute dark i am not going to lose, dig here what i said? and the eagerly awaited rematch between katie taylor and amanda serrano is the co—main event. they go head—to—head for the undisputed super lightweight title. in 2022, the pair fought at a sold—out madison square garden, becoming the first women's fight to headline at the famous venue. taylor came out on top and went on to win the fight by split decision. she aims to repeat that fate tomorrow night. i'm going to go in there and fight and beat her again, i

have put my body through the trenches in these last three months, am proud to be here are a legend in the sport, it is an amazing opportunity that we both have and i can't wait to step in there and showcase what i can do again and get another win. victor wembanyama registered a career—high score taking the san antonio spurs to a 139—130 victory over the washington wizards. the spurs centre became the fourth—youngest player to score 50 points in a single nba game. he claimed his milestone score injust 26 minutes, and also had eight three—pointers. his previous high was a0 points in a 130—126 overtime victory against new york. and the cleveland cavaliers became just the sixth team in nba history to start a regular season winning 13 straight games. they claimed an eight—point victory over the philadelphia

76ers, winning "4—106. the cavalieers are first team to achieve this since the golden state warriors in the 2015—16 season. and that's all the sport for now. don't forget you can keep up to date with all of the latest sport on the bbc sport app orwebsite, including how the tennis unfolds later today in turin. latest figures show waiting list for routine hospital treatment in england has fallen to its lowest level for five months. but a target of eliminating all weights of more than 65 weeks by september was missed. i am joined than 65 weeks by september was missed. iamjoined by than 65 weeks by september was missed. i am joined by our health editor. hello. take us through the stats on what it tells us about where we are with the nhs in england. this is a main _

with the nhs in england. this is a main priority _ with the nhs in england. this is a main priority of— with the nhs in england. ti 3 is a main priority of the government, to cut that waiting list in england, big priority for the nhs and this is the first reduction in that overall list since february. 7.57 million but, down from 6.74, figures for september. that is going to be quite a relief, but they will have to hold fire on making a judgment whether this is a trend or not for a few more months because we have had a few ups and downs this year. we have had this key target for the nhs in england, to eliminate very long waits of more than 65 weeks for an operational appointment. that should have been done by september. as it was, in september, there was still a list of 22,900 waiting 65 weeks or longer. that remains a big issue. the overall picture is that it will take years over this parliament for labour, the government to hit what it needs

to do, bring everything back to target, that the vast majority of patients be treated within 18 weeks, certainly not 65 or longer. 18 weeks, certainly not 65 or loner. �* ., ., , ., , longer. another health story, pharmacies. _ longer. another health story, pharmacies, we _ longer. another health story, pharmacies, we have - longer. another health story, pharmacies, we have been i longer. another health story, i pharmacies, we have been told longer. another health story, - pharmacies, we have been told a lot, but you may not be able to get, release pressure on gp surgeries, but promises saying they aren't a huge pressure at they aren't a huge pressure at the moment and they haven't got the moment and they haven't got the funding to help.— the funding to help. yes, this is a sort of — the funding to help. yes, this is a sort of industrial - the funding to help. yes, this is a sort of industrial action, | is a sort of industrial action, the national pharmacy association which represents nearly half but certainly not all community pharmacies in the uk. they did a ballot in england, wales and northern ireland of community pharmacies, and the owners, and found that more than 90% wanted to take some form of action. they are not a union so it is not a strike, but take some action in protest of what they say is underfunding. they say the real terms funding from government has poland by 40% and they are expected to do more and more things, dispense

more and more things, dispense more prescriptions, and do more treatment for minor conditions. so they are saying if there is no money put forward in the next month or so, they will take some form of action in january which will involve possibly cutting back to a0 hours a week, which means one day a week they might not open at all, affecting patients. talking waiting times, pharmacies, potentially closing, we are approaching the winter period monday are more pressures on the nhs and health services. patient at home might be thinking, will this be another stressful winter? it is another stressful winter? it is a bit of a _ another stressful winter? it is a bit of a gloomy _ another stressful winter? it 3 a bit of a gloomy message for them because the medical director for them because the medical directorfor nhs england has said october was the busiest everfor a&e departments said october was the busiest ever for a&e departments in england, 6% attendance is up on this time last year. that is even before we had cold weather or the normal spread of viruses. so he is mourning the

bill be a lot more pressure this winter. the nhs confederation, representing employers, is saying there are just more patients with multiple conditions needing treatment and there is a possibility of the nhs being overwhelmed again. whatever the long—term policy aims of the government and nhs leaders, there is another winter coming up there is another winter coming up and from what were hearing it will not be easy.— it will not be easy. thank you. we are coming _ it will not be easy. thank you. we are coming up— it will not be easy. thank you. we are coming up to - it will not be easy. thank you. we are coming up to the - it will not be easy. thank you. we are coming up to the top | it will not be easy. thank you. | we are coming up to the top of the hour. you will remember that the king has celebrated his 76th birthday today. he has been visiting a food distribution hub as part of the latest stage of his coronation food project. this designed to redistribute tonnes of surplus food to schools and food banks. i also want to take you, if we can, to green park because as

part of those celebrations it will be very loud in the not—too—distant will be very loud in the not—too—dista nt future, will be very loud in the not—too—distant future, there will be done salutes, the royal horse artillery just will be done salutes, the royal horse artilleryjust making their final preparations for that birthday gun salute which will happen at the top of the hour. stay with us, we will be showing that life. just before that, lovely and sunny in green park, let's get the weather. hello again. it's going to turn colder this weekend, but much colder as we start the new working week. what we have today, though, is a bit more cloud across southern scotland and northern ireland, with some brighter spells, thicker cloud coming in across the far north of scotland and for england and wales and in between these two areas of cloud, something brighter with variable amounts of cloud and also some sunny spells. temperatures, 11 to 15 degrees, so round about average orjust above for this time of year. into this evening and

overnight, we'll see a return to some patchy mist and fog forming in some western areas. there'll be clear skies in parts of the south. temperature falling away low enough for a touch of frost here and there. and although the temperatures will fall down to about three degrees, for example, in aberdeenshire, well, here there'll be more of a breeze, so it won't feel quite as cold as it did with our frosty start this morning. so then into tomorrow, we do have the mist and fog to lift. we've got some clouds slipping southwards with some patchy light rain and drizzle on it. some heavier rain comes in across the far north of scotland. it's a narrow band so it will move through quite quickly. the sunniest skies are likely to be across eastern scotland, central and eastern england and wales, with highs up to 13 degrees. then, as we move through the course of friday, you can see how our weather front in scotland sinks southwards overnight, making progress southwards during saturday, it will introduce colder air, but the next front behind that will introduce a really colder air. so on saturday you can see our

weather front sinking south with its cloud and patchy rain. it's going to be quite a windy day. gales likely across the far north — here too, we'll see showers increasingly wintry across the far north of scotland on the hills and mountains. temperatures here, 7 to 9 but still mild for the rest of the uk. now, that first weather front sinks south during saturday. this one comes in, bringing some rain. we've also got this one sinking south, introducing the cooler air behind it, and that cooler air will continue to filter southwards, not just through sunday. you can see the milder air hanging on in the south, but also into monday. you really will notice the difference in the temperatures. so, recently we've been around or above average, but by the time we get into the early part of next week, our daytime average temperature could be five degrees, much colder at night, with some frosts at minus one.

live from london. this is bbc news. donald trump's plans for government are given a major boost after his republican party takes control of both houses of congress. unease in republican ranks after trump nominates the controversial far—right congressman, matt gaetz, as his attorney—general. the uk chancellor is to announce a major shake—up of pension funds today, with a new system to unlock £80 billion of investment. india's capital delhi has overtaken the pakistani city of lahore as the world's

most polluted city. scientists have discovered the largest single known piece of coral in the southwest pacific ocean. hello, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. before we go to the us, we will take you to central london. where gun salutes are fired by the king's troop royal horse artillery among other locations to mark the 76th birthday of his majesty king charles the iii.