dealing drugs and asking inmates for sex — why a record number of prison staff have been sacked for misconduct. we have a special report. and scientists have discovered the largest single known piece of coral in the southwest pacific ocean. hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. the us republican party has retained its majority in the house of representatives, giving donald trump a clean sweep of both chambers of congress. but there's been shock in washington after more of mr trump's picks for his new cabinet became public. mike gaetz is the president elect�*s choice for attorney general. he's been facing accusations of sexual misconduct and drug use. a report on that was due to be published in the next two days. tulsi gabbard has been put forward as the administration's

new intelligence chief. she's been accused of peddling pro—putin's positions. (let's speak to our correspondent, jessica parker, at mr trump's base at mar—a—lago. in at mar—a—lago. terms of those appointments, more in terms of those appointments, more names and more controversy.— more names and more controversy. more names and more controvers . , ~ controversy. yes. i think we probably — controversy. yes. i think we probably had _ controversy. yes. i think we probably had the _ controversy. yes. i think we - probably had the announcement over the last 2a hours that has caused the most shock and the most chose to be dropped on the floor and that is matt gaetz, proposed as the attorney general. that is a position that means you are the top prosecutor in the us, you give legal advice directly to the president and heads of other government departments so an extremely powerful position. as you were saying, matt gaetz has been facing an ongoing inquiry, house inquiry, ethics inquiry into alleged financial

misconduct, alleged sexual misconduct. he has denied wrongdoing. what seems to have happened as well is that he has resigned his position in the house and there was a suggestion from the speaker that that wrapped things up because they wouldn't really have any power over that individual any more, but i see reports now in us media floating the idea that somehow that report could still emerge into the public domain will stop its not really clear if that's going to happen at the moment. but certainly his appointment by donald trump looks set to potentially be a rocky ride because technically he should have to seek a senedd approval process. donald trump has talked about bypassing the process through something known as a recess appointment. we don't know if he will be successful in doing that. there has been a bit of speculation that maybe the selection of matt gaetz as a shock appointment helps those other appointments that donald trump wants to get through proceed.

it is a bit of a distraction. but it gives you a sense of the frantic discussions going on at the moment as donald trump announces people in this top team. some of whom have been more expected and more conventional and some of them who have not been. let's speak tojoe walsh, former republican presidential candidate and congressman who served one term in the united states house of representatives, illinois's 8th congressional district. what did you think when you first heard of those two big appointments, matt gaetz and tulsi gabbard? hat appointments, matt gaetz and tulsi gabbard?— tulsi gabbard? not at all shocked _ tulsi gabbard? not at all shocked and _ tulsi gabbard? not at all shocked and not - tulsi gabbard? not at all shocked and not at - tulsi gabbard? not at all shocked and not at all. shocked and not at all surprised. i want the world to pay attention. eight days ago donald trump told us he was going to do this. eight days america elected a lawless, authoritarian person to put backin authoritarian person to put back in the white house who was

going to spend four years seeking retribution. period. against our intelligence community, against ourjustice community, against our justice department community, against ourjustice department who he feels wrongly investigated him. none of this is surprising. it's scary. the world should be scared, america should be scared. but this is what we elected.— what we elected. let's talk about matt _ what we elected. let's talk about matt gaetz - what we elected. let's talk about matt gaetz first - what we elected. let's talk about matt gaetz first of i what we elected. let's talk i about matt gaetz first of all. it is two days before their ethics committee was due to publish that report, the allegations of six trafficking, do you think that report will see the light of day? somehow i think it will. — see the light of day? somehow i think it will. i— see the light of day? somehow i think it will. i have _ see the light of day? somehow i think it will. i have no _ see the light of day? somehow i think it will. i have no doubt - think it will. i have no doubt that this was part of donald trump is my calculation, was to appoint him now before that report comes out. but this is the deal. donald trump

committed crimes trying to overthrow an american election. the justice department overthrow an american election. thejustice department indicted him for those crimes. he has not been put on trial yet, he should have been put on trial. but what donald trump did was he picked matt gaetz to declare war on ourjustice department. our top law enforcement agency in the country. the attorney general is supposed to be an independent person who duty is to the constitution and the law. what donald trump did here was he picked somebody, matt gaetz, who will be his personal lawyer. that is frightening. let me turn to tulsi gabbard. i will read a quote from the atlantic that said she has every right to her personal views, however inscrutable they may be, but as a security risk she is a walking christmas tree of warning lights. is that an assessment you would share in

terms of all of those positions she has taken around vladimir putin? a she has taken around vladimir putin? , ., ., putin? matt gaetz is a danger to this country _ putin? matt gaetz is a danger to this country domestically. l to this country domestically. tulsi gabbard in charge of america's intelligence? that is a danger to the world. i can't emphasise this enough. to the point where if i am one of america's allies comejanuary, america's allies come january, france, america's allies comejanuary, france, the uk, iam america's allies comejanuary, france, the uk, i am thinking twice about sharing intelligence with america. think about what i just said. but that is how a questionable and compromised somebody like tulsi gabbard is. she is privately and publicly with vladimir putin. if i am one of our allies, vladimir putin. if i am one of ourallies, iam not vladimir putin. if i am one of our allies, i am not sharing intelligence with her.- our allies, i am not sharing intelligence with her. that is an incredible _

intelligence with her. that is an incredible thing _ intelligence with her. that is an incredible thing to - intelligence with her. that is| an incredible thing to actually say. in terms of donald trump, he seems to somehow onto short circuit the senedd oversight in terms of some of these appointments. do you think you will find a way of doing that? yes because right now donald trump owns the republican party. his election eight days ago pretty much made every republican now bow at his feet. and what we know because donald trump promised to do this, america did not walk into this blind, donald trump told us he was going to be an authoritarian. he told us he wanted to turn the presidency, the american presidency, into a dictatorship. so he is going to do is best to weaken the other branches of government and he is going to do is best to strengthen the power of the presidency and he has a republican party now in the palm of his hand. we republican party now in the palm of his hand.— republican party now in the palm of his hand. we saw some reaction on _

palm of his hand. we saw some reaction on capitol— palm of his hand. we saw some reaction on capitol hill - reaction on capitol hill yesterday when those names began to emerge. some republican lawmakers, their response when they were told, they spoke profanities. do you think we will see a repeat of the indictment days? a lot of hand—wringing hang the scenes but when it came to actual action in public and standing up action in public and standing up to donald trump, it never happened. up to donald trump, it never happened-— up to donald trump, it never ha ened. ., , .,. , ., happened. that is exactly what ou will happened. that is exactly what you will see- — happened. that is exactly what you will see. that _ happened. that is exactly what you will see. that has - happened. that is exactly what you will see. that has been - happened. that is exactly what| you will see. that has been the tale of the type these last nine years. every single republican privately acknowledging what donald trump is an privately saying donald trump needs to be stop. but publicly they bow to him. this will continue. i can't say this enough. many republicans in congress trump to lose eight days ago. they really did. they wanted him gone. now that he's one, the party as his. he has been validated. and remember,

he told is who he was going to be in this country still elected him. so he is unchained right now. we should be scared but the world should be scared. do you anticipate just about all of the name is actually going through and becoming his new cabinet or do you see a world where matt gaetz becomes a lightning rod and he will not be installed but all of the others are?— be installed but all of the others are? a, , others are? matt gaetz, tulsi gabbard, _ others are? matt gaetz, tulsi gabbard, all— others are? matt gaetz, tulsi gabbard, all of _ others are? matt gaetz, tulsi gabbard, all of them, - others are? matt gaetz, tulsi gabbard, all of them, if - others are? matt gaetz, tulsi gabbard, all of them, if they | gabbard, all of them, if they get to a vote in the senedd the senedd will approve all of them. i can't imagine republicans voting against any of them. the hope is, with matt gaetz or tulsi gabbard, it won't even get to the vote. meaning more and more stuff will come out these next two

weeks to the point where matt gaetz or tulsi gabbard have to step down. that is where their opponents are going to fight. but if it gets to a vote republicans will approve it. we have to leave it there. thank you forjoining us. plenty more from washington on the programme in the next while. let's take a look at some of today's at the main stories. a turkish man has been arrested in the netherlands on suspicion of supplying significant quantities of small boats and equipment to people smugglers. the 44—year—old was detained at schipol airport on wednesday, following an international operation. britain's national crime agency said he's suspected of importing engines and boats from turkey and storing them in germany, before they're brought to northern france when needed. anna holligan has more on this arrest from schiphol airport. this arrest is as a result of combined action by belgian and

uk authorities working as part of a joint investigation team set up by euro just here of a joint investigation team set up by eurojust here in of a joint investigation team set up by euro just here in the hague. the man who was arrested was a 44—year—old turkish national, he was detained at amsterdam airport and he is suspected of moving small inflatable boats and engines from turkey to germany where they were stored in warehouses before being transported down to the beaches of northern france. then they were used to take people illegally across the english channel to the uk. we have heard from the british prime minister who said this was a significant piece of the jigsaw but that he was not pretending it was the silver bullet. earlierthis pretending it was the silver bullet. earlier this month he announced an extra £75 million to police the uk's body's. he said people smugglers would be

treated like terrorists. we've also heard from the national crime agency director who said the man is thought to be a major supplier of highly dangerous boats. these boats are not designed for the open waters and more than 50 people have already died this year trying to make that treacherous voyage. approximately 32,000 people have been transported across the english channel in these inflatable boats by people smugglers so far this year. higherthan in people smugglers so far this year. higher than in 2023. the director—generalfor year. higher than in 2023. the director—general for the national crime agency robjones has also said this arrest is a milestone in one of the agency's most significant investigations into organised immigration crime ever. the suspect will be extradited to belgium where he will face

those people smuggling charges. britain has been trying to clampdown on migrants arriving across the channel on small boats. sir keir starmer says the arrest was a "significant piece of the jigsaw" in reducing channel crossings. i want to thank the uk national crime _ i want to thank the uk national crime agenoy— i want to thank the uk national crime agency along _ i want to thank the uk national crime agency along with - i want to thank the uk national crime agency along with their i crime agency along with their dutch— crime agency along with their dutch and _ crime agency along with their dutch and belgian _ crime agency along with their. dutch and belgian counterparts for all — dutch and belgian counterparts for all their— dutch and belgian counterparts for all their hard _ dutch and belgian counterparts for all their hard work- dutch and belgian counterparts for all their hard work and - for all their hard work and their— for all their hard work and their crucial— for all their hard work and their crucial role - for all their hard work and their crucial role in - for all their hard work and their crucial role in this i their crucial role in this investigation. - their crucial role in this investigation. it's- their crucial role in this l investigation. it's exactly what _ investigation. it's exactly what we _ investigation. it's exactly what we want _ investigation. it's exactly what we want to - investigation. it's exactly what we want to see. - investigation. it's exactlyl what we want to see. and investigation. it's exactly. what we want to see. and it shows — what we want to see. and it shows that _ what we want to see. and it shows that our— what we want to see. and it shows that our approach - what we want to see. and it shows that our approach ofl shows that our approach of working _ shows that our approach of working with _ shows that our approach of working with internationall working with international partners _ working with international partners to _ working with international partners to smash - working with international partners to smash the - working with international- partners to smash the people smuggling _ partners to smash the people smuggling gangs— partners to smash the people smuggling gangs is— partners to smash the people smuggling gangs is bearing . smuggling gangs is bearing fruit — smuggling gangs is bearing fruit in— smuggling gangs is bearing fruit. injust _ smuggling gangs is bearing fruit. injust over— smuggling gangs is bearing fruit. injust over four- smuggling gangs is bearing. fruit. injust over four months since — fruit. injust over four months since the _ fruit. injust over four months since the election, _ fruit. injust over four months since the election, we - fruit. injust over four months since the election, we have i since the election, we have rapidly— since the election, we have rapidly set _ since the election, we have rapidly set up _ since the election, we have rapidly set up a _ since the election, we have rapidly set up a new- since the election, we have rapidly set up a new border rapidly setup a new border security— rapidly set up a new border security command, - rapidly set up a new borderl security command, bringing together— security command, bringing together key— security command, bringing together key agencies - security command, bringing together key agencies to - together key agencies to disrupt— together key agencies to disrupt people _ together key agencies to | disrupt people smuggling together key agencies to - disrupt people smuggling gangs.

around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

you are watching bbc news. the threat of corruption in the uk's jails as �*very real�* after the number of officers sacked for misconduct rose by more than a third. there have been several high profile cases which have seen prison officers convicted of having sexual relationships with inmates, or selling them smuggled—in drugs and phones. 0ur senior uk correspondent sima kotecha has the story. last year beatrice was convicted of money—laundering and served ia months in prison before being released in september. she says while inside a prison officer made passes at her and other inmates. passes at her and other inmates-_ passes at her and other inmates. . ., ., passes at her and other inmates. _, ., , inmates. he commented on my appearance _ inmates. he commented on my appearance a — inmates. he commented on my appearance a lot, _ inmates. he commented on my appearance a lot, he _ inmates. he commented on my appearance a lot, he suggested he wanted to come into my cell. what did he to do? i

he wanted to come into my cell. what did he to do?— what did he to do? i feel if i had been — what did he to do? i feel if i had been up _ what did he to do? i feel if i had been up for _ what did he to do? i feel if i had been up for it _ what did he to do? i feel if i had been up for it he - what did he to do? i feel if i had been up for it he would| had been up for it he would have wanted sexual favours. and i spoke to several of the women since then who have all experienced the same thing from the same guy, comments about the same guy, comments about the size of their breasts. i was away with one girl that he told her to hold out her hands and closed her eyes and he went in for a kiss. sorry. and closed her eyes and he went infora kiss. sorry. it and closed her eyes and he went in for a kiss. sorry. it upsets me because there are a lot of vulnerable women in there. bruntsfield is a private prison run by sodexo. it said it cannot comment on individual cases but that it will undertake all appropriate investigations and take necessary actions as needed. we

managed to speak to a serving prison officer in one of england's largestjails. they england's largest jails. they said england's largestjails. they said beatrice's not surprising. there is a power dynamic and prison— there is a power dynamic and prison officers feel they can do that— prison officers feel they can do that -- _ prison officers feel they can do that —— what they want. they can make — do that —— what they want. they can make life difficult for those _ can make life difficult for those inside.— can make life difficult for those inside. then there are those inside. then there are those staff— those inside. then there are those staff selling _ those inside. then there are those staff selling phones i those inside. then there are i those staff selling phones and drugs, lucrative business behind bars.— drugs, lucrative business behind bars. , ~ ., , behind bars. they know better than anyone — behind bars. they know better than anyone how _ behind bars. they know better than anyone how to _ behind bars. they know better than anyone how to get - behind bars. they know better than anyone how to get drugs| behind bars. they know better i than anyone how to get drugs on phones _ than anyone how to get drugs on phones in — than anyone how to get drugs on phones in because they know the checks— phones in because they know the checks you — phones in because they know the checks you have to go through. it's checks you have to go through. it's easy— checks you have to go through. it's easy money making and it's -ot it's easy money making and it's got worse _ it's easy money making and it's got worse. i it's easy money making and it's got worse-— got worse. i have 'ust come off the phone h got worse. i have 'ust come off the phone from _ got worse. i have just come off the phone from speaking - got worse. i have just come off the phone from speaking to - got worse. i have just come off the phone from speaking to a i the phone from speaking to a former prison governor who used to be in charge of an anti—corruption unit in prisons and he says the drug trade inside is worth up to £1 billion per year with prison officers playing a significant part in making it happen. lee used to be a prison officer. he was caught delivering cannabis, steroids and phones to inmates and served two years in jail. you were a corrupt prison

officer. , ., ., ., officer. yes. i let a lot of people — officer. yes. i let a lot of people down _ officer. yes. i let a lot of people down and - officer. yes. i let a lot of people down and it - officer. yes. i let a lot of| people down and it didn't officer. yes. i let a lot of- people down and it didn't take its toll on you.— people down and it didn't take its toll on you. how much money were ou its toll on you. how much money were you making? _ its toll on you. how much money were you making? for _ its toll on you. how much money were you making? for a - its toll on you. how much money were you making? for a packagej were you making? for a package in the prison _ were you making? for a package in the prison you _ were you making? for a package in the prison you are _ were you making? for a package in the prison you are looking - in the prison you are looking at around a00 or £500 per package. that is what you were making? yes. the snowball effect of when i agreed to bring in a package the first time, it then became two and three and after package for it was about the money. there has got to be bigger spoke —— go. i was searched twice in three years and it's not good. taste years and it's not good. we need to stop _ years and it's not good. we need to stop it _ years and it's not good. we need to stop it at the gates. the ministry ofjustice said the majority ofjail staff are hard—working and honest and they are catching the small minority who break the rules. it said it has bolstered its corruption unit and is strengthening its vetting. the way things — strengthening its vetting. the way things are _ strengthening its vetting. tue: way things are in strengthening its vetting. tte: way things are in prisons strengthening its vetting. "tt2 way things are in prisons at the moment is not going to make people better. it is making people better. it is making

people worse. it's a hopeless place. and sima is with me now. there is a startling report when you see the detail in it. what about the scale of this? in the last year 165 prison staff have been sacked for misconduct, that is up 3a% from the previous year. when you look at the total number of prison officers there are about 23,000, you think that's a real minority, but the damage they are doing is immense. that is what people of served sentences and what i've heard from people have come out of the spending years inside or prison officers as well. we had from lee who said it still going on, it's still very rife and he says that prison officers are not being checked properly so instead of checking them thoroughly when they enter the prison they are just letting them in. he says no technologies needed to make sure those checks are more thorough. sure those checks are more thorough-— sure those checks are more thorough. that is one of the wa s thorough. that is one of the ways they — thorough. that is one of the ways they could _ thorough. that is one of the ways they could come - thorough. that is one of the ways they could come back| thorough. that is one of the i ways they could come back to thorough. that is one of the - ways they could come back to ct

but if the authorities have known about this for such a doing about it?— known about this for such a doing about it? they say they have an anti-corruption - doing about it? they say they have an anti-corruption unit i have an anti—corruption unit but they are not giving too much away as to what they are doing. that might mean people can get around those rules. that unit is doing all it can to weed out corrupt officers but i think that's a lot easier said than done. these are people working inside the institution who know the system inside out. the prison service is really trying hard to weed them out but i think it's going to be easier said than done. thank you very much for that. human rights watch says israel's. this placement of palestinians in gaza has been so widespread and systematic that it amounts to a war crime and crime humanity. in a report the group says the displacement is likely to be permanent to make way for buffer zones and security corridors. they said says amounts to ethnic

cleansing. israel has previously rejected those accusations and he has been no comments so far to today's report. let's get more from our reporter injerusalem. this reporter in jerusalem. this re ort reporter in jerusalem. this report is — reporter in jerusalem. this report is looking _ reporter in jerusalem. this report is looking at - reporter in jerusalem. this report is looking at the - report is looking at the situation in gaza and the consequences of israeli military operation. they have some strong language about the consequences of the displacement of palestinians. that 90% of population of gaza has been forced to their homes more than once. human rights watch say the consequences of this are crimes against humanity and war crimes. people are moved in order to create roads or buffer zones which human rights watch say they fear are going to be permanent and they say this displacement is an abuse of the human rights of these people. 0bviously is an abuse of the human rights of these people. obviously this is something that israel has denied. they have not commented on this report yet but they have said these buffer zones are not going to be permanent. and that obviously they have a

right to defend themselves. but for human rights watch a very influential group, they say there is clear evidence of war crimes. the largest single known piece of coral has been discovered by scientists on a research trip in the southwest pacific ocean. the national geographic expedition went to explore the remotest parts of the oceans and find out how many coral reefs are being damaged by climate change. the discovery comes as nations met at the un climate talks in azerbaijan. 0ur climate reporter, georgina rannard, has the details. this isn't a reef. it's one single piece of coral, seen for the first time. it's lived down here in the pacific ocean for perhaps 500 years, growing uninterrupted from the time that henry viii ruled england. and it's mega. measuring 3am long, it is bigger than a blue whale. it was found by accident. 0n the map its location used to be marked as a shipwreck. manu saint—felix was diving

with his son in yago in the solomon islands when he discovered it. well, i have behind me. speaking from his research ship, he told me he is in awe of the coral. to be there and looking at it i was blown away, fascinated and looking to this amazing coral and with a big smile and excited and thinking, wow, this is really special. this discovery has happened at the same time as the un climate talks in baku in azerbaijan. this virtual background and these people here are all part of small island nations and their governments coming here to say that coral reefs and their communities are at real risk from the ocean warming caused by climate change. coral reefs is very important. our economy depends very much on marine and fisheries for its survival. we take heart from it. we take pride from it. and it's important for the world to know that we.

it's a special place and it needs to be protected. in shallower waters, nearby reefs are dying because of climate change, but this centuries old coral has managed to survive. scientists call it a beacon of hope that they want to learn from georgina rannard, bbc news in baku. in about five minutes we will get the latest from that gathering in baku and we will talk to the representative from colombia for climate change and of course colombia is the tenth most vulnerable country in the globe in terms of impacts from climate change. we have that important interview coming up in the programme. india's capital has shut all primary schools due to the smog they have seen there. so a whole variety of issues clearly they are addressing at cop 29. king charles is marking his 76th

birthday today. the king is treating his birthday as a working day visiting suppliers and volunteers and users of that new food hub in south london and conducting a virtual opening ceremony for another on merseyside. it's part of his coronation food project. you are watching bbc news. hello. rest of thursday and into friday, it's more of the same. thick clouds, some sunnier moments too. we've had mist and murk across northern parts of england and northern ireland, but the high pressure, which has been around for such a long time now, will be replaced by a big low and screaming winds from the north. so this time next week is going to feel very different across the uk. so here's the forecast, then, for the end of the afternoon — some clearer, sunnier breaks here and there, of course, before the sun sets. and then we've got some clear spells overnight

across eastern scotland, central and southern parts of england, wales too. where the skies clear for any lengthy period of time, temperatures could dip to, say, two or three degrees, but with the south—westerly breeze here in northern ireland and western scotland, as a weather front approaches, it'll be a little bit milder in the morning. so, stronger winds and some damp weather for northern and western scotland. but to the south we've got some sunshine for places like birmingham, hull, norwich and london. temperatures will be around ten celsius. now, the weekend sees the onset of the cold weather. it is going to be a gradual process. the colder winds will first reach scotland, northern england, and it will be quite chilly along the north sea coast as well. so here's the weather map for saturday, shows that big low across scandinavia, sending those stronger winds from the north and that arctic air spreading across the country. it's a weak weather front, so not an awful lot of rain, just cloud, and i think patchy rain, middle of the afternoon, across central and southern parts of england and wales. to the north it's brighter with some late sunshine and with showers increasingly

turning wintry. and then we've got that stronger wind from the north. look at that. five degrees in aberdeen. chilly winds and again showers becoming wintry across the scottish hills, but temporarily. look at this damp, really unpleasant weather spreading into central parts of the uk. and then the following nights will be really chilly. widespread frosts are expected north or south, away from the coasts, and then this cold arctic air establishes itself across the uk during next week. so, we're all in for some colder weather. is it going to snow? well, it does look as though parts of scotland, especially the hills and the mountains, will get some snow, the pennines, possibly too. in the south, it's more likely to be rain, but the winds will be quite unpleasant, so a really messy picture on the way.

this is bbc news, the headlines... donald trump's plans for government are given a major boost after his republican party takes control of both houses of congress. there is controversy over his nominations for senior posts, with a far right congressmen matt gates sparking controversy as his attorney general. cop29, the climate conference, enters its fourth day in azerbaijan we speak with colombia's environment minister.

the uk chancellor is to announce a major shake—up of pension funds today, with a new system to unlock £80 billion of investment. scientists have discovered the largest single known piece of coral in the southwest pacific ocean. now, with all the latest sport, here's pippa horn. now, it's all eyes on the football because tongight, england head to greece for an away clash in the nations league. this follows the withdrawal of nine england players for the matches against greece and the republic of ireland. captain harry kane says he isn't happy with the number of dropouts, but interim manager lee carsley insists that there aren't any problems. the focus has been on the players that are 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 an opportunity to be here.