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.

it's his actual birthday taking place today, while an official one falls on the second saturday in june. viewers across the uk can watch more of these gun salutes and the proceedings surrounding the 76th birthday of his majesty king charles on the iplayer and on our website. we are going to bring you today's main news from the us now. donald trump's republicans have taken control of both houses of congress, the body which passes laws in the united states. it means his party will control all the elected levers of power which will make it easier to fulfill his agenda when he becomes president in january. among his latest nominations, the president—elect has picked

congressman matt gaetz as his attorney—general. he'd previousely been under investigation for sex and drug offences, which he denies. mr trump also plans to nominate florida republican senator marco rubio as secretary of state. he's chosen the former democratic congresswoman tulsi gabbard as his director of national intelligence. on wednesday, the president—elect returned to the oval office for a meeting with presidentjoe biden. they both promised a smooth transfer of power injanuary. let's speak to cbs news correspondent — jarred hill who's in new york. and the republicans have officially won the house of representatives — a major boost for donald trump. how will it affect his ability to pass legislation? it how will it affect his ability to pass legislation?- to pass legislation? it will make it easier _ to pass legislation? it will make it easier for - to pass legislation? it will. make it easier for president elect trump to create legislation. he has been talking about massive deportation plans as well as

other immigration plans he would like to push. another of those would be a number of tax proposals that he has been bringing up as well as some major tariffs. that will be significantly easier. one question is whether senate democrats are able to sway any of the sway able republicans to their side. to try and block some of these measures. a more egregious one, for example. there is a bit of a firewall that republicans have because it is not quite as tight in the senate as we saw when democrats were just in power. senate as we saw when democrats werejust in power. republicans can still stand to lose one or two votes on the republican side and push through policies. and a controversial pick in matt gaetz, what more do we know about him? he has a firebrand. in many ways he is on the more

conservative end of the republic party. he did side with democrats on some issues, but his personal situation has made him more controversial. he was under investigation by the department ofjustice for quite some time in terms of allegations of sexual conduct, six trafficking and drug use, allegedly with women under the age of 18. he has denied all allegations. there was another internal ethics investigation happening within congress around some of the allegations. there was a report that was due out in a few days, but with him being named as the attorney general, that report likely won't see the light of day.

let's get more on one of those major picks announced by donald trump. florida senator marco rubio has been tipped to replace antony blinken as secretary of state — america's top diplomat. he currently serves on the senate intelligence committee and foreign relations committee. rubio and trump were opponents in the 2016 nomination race — but a bitter rivalry dissolved and he eventually endorsed and campaigned for the president—elect in 202a. on that, let's speak now to the former chief of staff for marco rubio's presidential campaign — matt terrill. thank you for being with us. your reaction to marco rubio's appointment. what will it mean? it is a great pick and one that makes sense and certainly he is a qualified individualfor the role, somebody who will be able to come are present trump with his agenda here in his presidency. if we look at his appointment and other appointments, the records of

statesmen, and inform policy. then again, these individuals join the cabinet, bottom line, they will bejoining join the cabinet, bottom line, they will be joining present trump's agenda, and will be doing more with his agenda, rather than the other way around. particularly looking to ukraine and russia, the middle east, china. the president will be driving policies on that. many would argue a great pick. instead of marco rubio, other pics could have been made instead. �* , ., instead. and will he be on board with _ instead. and will he be on board with those - instead. and will he be on| board with those decisions around ukraine and russia? is he supportive with everything donald trump has pointed to on those key battlefield so far? here is what i can tell you. if you look at his record on those issues, it largely maps with what president elect trump will

likely do. with ukraine and russia, many republicans have been discussing how to negotiate a settlement there to resolve that conflict there. if you look at marco rubio, but also present elect trump, many republicans across the board had been talking about negotiations being key there. on israel, i think you will see by large a very pro—israel administration in the incoming administration in the incoming administration here. that also means in terms of potentially giving israel additional runway for military use, particularly as relates to combat. with iran, for example. bottom line, on both issues, president elect trump will go back to when he discussed on the campaign. he said he would not start any new walls, ending wars is the key

theme. that will be his drive once he is sworn in, and his secretary of state and other key leaders as well. just . uickl key leaders as well. just quickly on _ key leaders as well. just quickly on ukraine, - key leaders as well. just quickly on ukraine, we l key leaders as well. just quickly on ukraine, we talked about negotiations and donald trump mentioned doing this within 2a hours of swearing in. does that notjust mean conceding to russia? it depends, my guess is that present trump is already moving pieces with respect of what needs to be done there. he talked about during the campaign and peoplejoining his administration and many in congress have talked about the importance of negotiation there. negotiation and settlement. we will see what that means in terms of the final outcome of that, but we saw recently here over the past couple of hours, present elect trump having someone, a piece on boy from ukraine. these are

—— a piece on boy. notjust on the policy but the personnel that he will be needing for the negotiation. the bottom line is that people can expect present elect trump for championing peace, he campaigned on piece and here's a welcome negotiator on the table, we will see that with russia, time will tell when he is sworn in, but what that means is negotiation is key, that something he campaigned on. backing netanyahu, _ campaigned on. backing netanyahu, if _ campaigned on. backing netanyahu, if that - campaigned on. backing i netanyahu, if that requires further response against iran, how far is trump willing to go if that escalate? i how far is trump willing to go if that escalate?— how far is trump willing to go if that escalate? i don't know. we will have _ if that escalate? i don't know. we will have to _ if that escalate? i don't know. we will have to see _ if that escalate? i don't know. we will have to see when - if that escalate? i don't know. we will have to see when he l if that escalate? i don't know. | we will have to see when he is sworn in. ultimately he did

commit to defending against iran. in the past, he did go in the sanction route. that did mount pressure on iran. this is a different world that he will be entering in his second term. this is very different than what he entered in his first front, so the bottom line is there are different things at play in terms of israel in this second term. we will see what happens, particularly with iran and israel, but particularly could be a situation where he allows israel more runway. this could be a pro—israel administration. at the end, going back to administration... and china, marco rubio is hawkish. what does that mean? we have heard about potential high tariffs on china. taiwan

is an ongoing concern as well. what do you think marco rubio's policy in china will entail? he has had policy in china will entail? he: has had his positions on china. he will bring his thoughts are table, certainly, as other key members of the personalised team will figure out and put together pieces of the policy related to china. part will be on economics, tariffs, president elect trump talked about tariffs during the campaign. one bucket is the economic bucket, and the other is taiwan and the philippines. potential conflict there. could taiwan be invaded? potential invasion. the reality is all these individualsjoining present elect trump's team,

they will be supporting his agenda at... they will be supporting his agenda at. . ._ they will be supporting his auendaat... :, , :,':, agenda at... can i 'ust ask on these otherh agenda at... can ijust ask on these other names. - agenda at... can ijust ask on these other names. we - agenda at... can ijust ask on these other names. we lookl agenda at... can ijust ask on | these other names. we look at matt gaetz who has caused concern within the party, we look at tulsi gabbard, and we look at tulsi gabbard, and we look at tulsi gabbard, and we look at the other secretary from the fox news. at these people been picked for appropriateness or loyalty? i think loyalty is a big part of it. some would argue that pixie is making out qualified for the pics delete my position is they are taking. —— they are qualified for the positions are taking. qualified for the positions are takina. ~ , qualified for the positions are takin~.~ , qualified for the positions are taking._ there j taking. will they pass? there have been — taking. will they pass? there have been some _ taking. will they pass? there have been some people - taking. will they pass? therel have been some people within the republican party expressing concerns there. here's what i can tell you. i think that trump learned a lot of lessons in his first term. we value was

burned in lot of choices, to be blunt. but he made personnel, and what he wants, what any president once really, is happy have people that are loyal to him, tears agenda and his position... him, tears agenda and his position. . ._ position... just in a word, intends — position... just in a word, intends seconds - position... just in a word, intends seconds set - position... just in a word, intends seconds set in - position... just in a word, | intends seconds set in ten seconds. is it safe in his hands?— seconds. is it safe in his hands? , , :, , :, hands? the president has a mandate — hands? the president has a mandate to _ hands? the president has a mandate to make _ hands? the president has a mandate to make the - hands? the president has a l mandate to make the choices that he wants. the american people gave and that and so they should have confidence. this is bbc news, thank you for staying with us.

the uk chancellor will unveil plans later on thursday for a big pensions shake up. rachel reeves wants to create pension "megafunds" — designed to help unlock billions of pounds of investment in businesses and infrastructure. she says britain's pension funds are currently "too small" and are holding back the economy. she outlined her plans

to the bbc�*s faisal islam. let's speak to baroness ros altmann who was the uk pensions minister from 2015 — 16. we don't have the outline yet, but what do you make of it it sounds unworthy, but whether it sounds unworthy, but whether it turns out to be a major and radical shake—up that helps bill boost growth depends on what has been proposed. joining funds together themselves if not invested in any way will not invested in any way will not boost britain. but if having biggerfunds in place and requiring them to invest a certain proportion in the uk, that could be a game changer. we have not heard whether or

not that will happen. and it is not that will happen. and it is not going to be a quick exercise to merge all these funds together. this is very complicated. of course, it might help, but it is not a guarantee. one of the things i would love to see is if the government were to say, look taxpayers are putting £70 billion a year into everybody pass pensions, what about if at least some of the money has to be invested into uk assets, whether in stock markets, small companies, infrastructure or social housing or other projects that will help to boost growth. and if there is a minimum requirement, let's say a quarter of 1531 00:16:51,682 --> 00: