of 2024 lights up the night sky in hanoi, vietnam. hello, i'm sarah campbell. president—elect donald trump has continued to shock the political establishment in washington by naming loyalists from the fringes of american politics to topjobs. among the latest nominations — and perhaps the most controversial yet — is robert f kennedyjunior — a vaccine sceptic — for health secretary. trump said rfkjr has a "great mind". mr trump made the announcement on his truth social platform saying mr kennedy will restore agencies to the traditions of gold standard scientific research, and beacons of transparency — to end the chronic disease epidemic — and to "make america great and healthy again". but there has already been backlash — the executive director of the american public health association says

he and his organisation will "absolutely oppose" donald trump's appointment of robert f kenneder as health secretary. let's remind ourselves of some of the other key announcements — made in the last few days — marco rubio as secretary of state, the former democrat, tulsi gabbard, for director of national intelligence and the controversial appointment of matt gaetz as attorney general. several of the posts will require senate approval. our correspondent rowan bridge has the latest. america could soon have a vaccine sceptic who repeated covid—19 conspiracy theories running its health department. robert kenneder comes from democratic party royalty. his uncle was presidentjohn f kennedy and his father was attorney general. mr kennedy made his own name as an environmental lawyer and activist, but that's been overshadowed by his controversial views on vaccines. do i want children to get measles? of course i don't. why do you spread this doubt? because...

i'm asking you to be responsible and ask the question. the questions have been asked. the vaccines are safe. the vaccines are safe from what? cause autoimmune disease. i'm in court right now arguing the case. there's no evidence they do. well, there's plenty of evidence that they do. you're just not looking at it. last year, he launched an independent bid for the presidency before dropping out and throwing his weight behind donald trump. he was one of the speakers at mr trump's new york rally, where he condemned the party his family had dedicated their lives to. today's democratic party is the party of war. it's the party of the cia. you have kamala harris giving a speech at the democratic convention that was written by neocons. it was belligerent, pugnacious and they talked about the domination of the world by the united states through our weapons of war and it is the party today that wants

to divide americans. it is the party that is dismantling women's sports by letting men play women's sports. it is the party of wall street, it is the party of bill gates who just gave $50 million to kamala harris. his loyalty to the trump cause has now been rewarded. in a speech at his mar—a—lago resort, the president—elect praised mr kennedy. ijust look at the news reports, people like you, bobby. don't get too popular, bobby. you know it has reached about that level now. we want you to come up with things and ideas and what you've been talking about for a long time, and i think you're going to do some unbelievable things. nobody's going to be able to do it like you. and, boy, does he feel it in his heart! so congratulations also to your family.

during his campaign, donald trump said he would let robert kennedy go wild when it comes to the nation's health. mr trump vowed to shake up the establishment — this latest pick shows he plans to do just that. rowan bridge, bbc news, washington. i spoke to lord kim darroch, former uk ambassador to the us about the trump picks — he said that naming vaccine sceptic rfkjr for health secretary was the "wildest" announcement so far. this guy is an anti—vaxxer who has said that he believes that vaccines cause autism. and he's a conspiracy theorist. and putting him in charge of of the health department — i mean, i always thought he would get a job. trump more or less promised it, but i thought it would be something outside the government machinery. but now he's actually in charge of the health department machinery, so it's going to be a bumpy ride. yeah, it has to be nominated by the senate. it has to be approved by the

senate, although there are ways around that by putting the senate into recess. but they're still amused. but the senate will have a challenge with a number of these appointments, and some of them have already been criticised. and trump will feel that with republican majorities in both houses, he would stay on the coattails of his election victory that the senate should simply approve his nominations, because he's he's the guy who got them their majority and he's now in charge, and this is what he wants to do. so it'll be quite a clash if the senate really does attempt to block any of these of these appointments. yeah. let's look at some of the implications outside of the united states. some of the other people that trump has nominated. let's start with his pick for us ambassador to israel, mike huckabee. a nomination which has certainly been welcomed by the far right in israel. what would you say or how would you say this

might change the way the us has approached israel, israel—gaza and the conflict with lebanon? mike huckabee is an evangelical christian. so in a sense, trump is looking towards that community who voted for him in the election and say, one of yours is going to do, do this important job. he's the father of sarah huckabee sanders, who was the press secretary in trump's first term. and he is an absolutely committed and total supporter of israel to the extent that he basically thinks that...he has said publicly there is no such thing as a palestinian and has implied that he would support israel annexing the whole of the west bank and gaza as israeli territory. so he's right out there in the same place as the far right in israeli politics. but we shouldn't overstate the importance of an ambassadorial job.

the secretary of state marco rubio will be in charge of policy on this underneath, of course, the white house. and i would expect donald trump to take a very close interest in issues like this. you know, he was the strongest supporter of israel in his first term and moved the american embassy from tel aviv to jerusalem. i think he'll be, you know, phone lines to netanyahu, trump—netanyahu. they'll be they'll be much used over the next four years. yeah. you mentioned marco rubio. of course, we've seen antony blinken, the current secretary of state, travelling to the middle east numerous times over the last year to try and broker a ceasefire there. how do you think marco rubio might approach thejob? yeah, it's a good question. and i'm not aware that rubio has said anything very definitive about what he thinks, except he is, again, a very strong supporter of israel and has supported the israeli military operation in gaza. so he's already out there in that sense, giving more or less unconditional

support to to israel. and obviously, trump and his administration would like to do something that stopped the fighting there. trump has said that on the campaign trail. so i think rubio will undertake some diplomacy there. he will go there. i'm not sure that i can see this administration putting as much pressure on the netanyahu government as the biden administration has tried to, although all that's been ineffective. so honestly, i can't see much change in what is happening in the middle east as a result of the change of administration in the us. but you can always expect the unexpected with donald trump. the governor of the bank of england andrew bailey has called for britain to �*rebuild relations�* with the eu — �*while respecting the decision of the british people�* to leave the bloc. in a speech in the city of london, he said brexit had �*weighed�* on the economy.

our economic editor faisal islam reports. there have been many reasons why the british economy has been sluggish in recent years. extra goods trade barriers with our nearest neighbours after brexit haven�*t helped, and the government says it wants to do something about them. but when britain�*s top financiers gathered in the city of london to hear the famous mansion house address from the chancellor and the bank of england governor, andrew bailey went further than he has before on this topic. now, i�*ve said many times as a public official, i take no position on brexit per se, and that�*s very important. but i do have to point out consequences. the changing trading relationship with the eu has weighed on the level of potential supply. the impact on trade seems to be more on goods than services, which i don�*t think is particularly surprising, but it underlines why we must be alert to and welcome opportunities to rebuild relations while respecting that very important decision of the british people.

well, those opportunities are coming — spain�*s finance minister is meeting the chancellor today. he told the bbc, a better relationship could be struck, for example, on travel and work for young people. can a better deal be done? would you encourage the british government to look at it? undoubtedly. i think we need to be positive here and optimistic that a better deal can be actually closed on that front. there was an intense movement in terms of young people travelling between the eu and the uk and i think there is a lot of room for improvement there and hopefully we can find a route for that. the word tariff, properly used, is a beautiful word. but the arrival of a new us president with plans to tax all incoming trade creates a new dilemma. the governor of the bank of england is normally rather shy to talk about brexit, but he will see this as a statement of the economic reality rather than any sort of political intervention. but it comes at a sensitive time. if the stated plans of the incoming trump administration to apply a blanket tariff

to all imports does cause some sort of global trade war, many fear the uk will have to make a choice between closer trade relations with europe or trump�*s united states of america. the message from the chancellor is that the uk might be able to have it both ways. i look forward to working closely with president—elect trump and his team to strengthen our relationship in the years ahead. and, of course, our biggest trading partner is the european union. we will not be reversing brexit or re—entering the single market or customs union, but we must reset our relationship. rachel reeves also promised to boost the financial industry, saying that some regulations seeking to prevent crisis had gone too far, as she looks over the channel and over the atlantic at the same time for how to boost the economy.

faisal islam, bbc news. the uk�*s economy grew by 0.1% betweenjuly and september, according to the latest official figures. growth was lower than expected and the office for national statistics said activity was subdued across most industries during the three months. our business correspondent marc ashdown talked me through the numbers. it was a really strong start to the year. we had a couple of good quarters of growth and now it seems to have sort of spluttered or gone a bit flat. gdp, of course, is a sort of temperature test really, for the economy, how fast it�*s growing or not. we get monthly and we get quarterly figures that are monthly ones

do tend to sort ofjump around a bit. so september dipped into reverse overall went into negative growth. but it�*s the quarterly ones. you get four readings over the course of the year, which are the key. if you look at that chart now, which has just popped up there very handily. back end of last year, we had two consecutive negative quarters of growth. that�*s the red blocks. that means we officially entered a recession but pretty quickly bounced out. as you can see, the start of this year was quite strong, though, wasn�*t it? 0.7% and 0.5%. so as i say, we�*ve spluttered a bit. so why the dip? well, various factors. the budget, in a word, really. i think leading up to the budget there was all that doom and gloom, wasn�*t there? businesses put investment on hold, hiring expansion, on hold, hiring, expansion, and consumers sort of dried up the spending really, as everyone was sort of a little bit worried about what might be in the budget. so it was a bit sort of doom and gloom really. the general pathway overall, though, is still looking like i% growth this year, expected then to sort of accelerate in 2026. a lot of that budget detail was front loaded, a lot of big spending up front, but then growth should tail off after that. unfortunately, into the sort of end of the decade.

and we know that the chancellor has put the emphasis on growth. you know, this is a government for growth. so this this doesn�*t sort of fit the headlines. not really, no. i mean, she was talking last night. rachel reeves, the governor of the bank of england, andrew bailey, he grabbed the headlines really saying, you know, articulating really for the first time or the strongest he�*s ever done, really the sort done, really, the sort of impact of brexit on some of these trade barriers. he said we need to start looking, being alert for the chances to build closer ties, while of course respecting the referendum vote. i mean, of course, entering stage left is donald trump talking trade tariffs — 20% potentially on us imports. what impact will that have as well? behind the scenes there�*s a suggestion possibly the uk may have to make a decision. do we get closer to the eu or closer to the us? certainly looking across the world, labour�*s mission is to have the fastest growth in the g7 leading economies. they�*re the big players really in global markets. the targets are a bit sketchy. by the end of the parliament, they�*re saying, if we look at it today, we�*re now second just behind the us, still ahead of canada, france, italy, japan and germany, but certainly work to do. i think the government wants to sort of highway

tailwinds pushing us, accelerating towards growth. i think at the moment i describe it as more like a sort of cobbled side street, a few brambles in the way still. that was our business correspondent. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

welcome back. the head of the regional government of valencia in spain has admitted to �*mistakes�* in the handling of the deadly floods at the end of october and apologised for the response. these are live pictures of people protesting as he has been addressing the local parliament this morning. carlos mazon has been heavily criticised for not sending out warnings after a red alert was issued by the spanish meteorological agency. at least 220 people died and last weekend tens of thousands took to the streets of valencia, demanding he resign. air strikes have hit the southern suburbs of beirut in the past few hours —

sending plumes of smoke into the sky. an attack killed at least 12 rescue workers. the striker at a building of the civil defence agency which is linked to the lebanese government and not affiliated with hezbollah. the israeli military has not commented on the attack. israeli drones fired two missiles at the beirut suburb before the air force carried out what was described as a very heavy strike that levelled a building near municipal officers. i�*ve been speaking to the bbc�*s hugo bachega, who�*s in beirut. he began by giving me more details about that attack in baalbek. yes, the attack that happened last night in baalbek was the latest in

a series of israeli air strikes that have hit emergency responders here in lebanon. so this attack hit a building that was being used by the civil defence agency, an agency that is linked to the lebanese government, it is not affiliated with his brother. affiliated with hezbollah. the lebanese health ministry reacted to the attack, calling it a barbaric attack by the israeli military. again, there has not been any reaction from the israeli authorities. one of the victims in that attack was the head of the civil defence agency in the region of baalbek, who had become well known here in the country. we here at the bbc interviewed him a number of times during this war. what the lebanese authorities are saying is that these attacks have killed more than 180 emergency and medical workers across the country in recent weeks is this conflict between israel and hezbollah escalated. we have seen in recent days the israeli military has intensified its air strikes across the country. this morning new attacks here in beirut, the fourth consecutive day of attacks hitting this city. this is happening amid new efforts to

try to reach a ceasefire here in this conflict. yesterday, american officials delivered a letter with a proposal for a ceasefire to the lebanese authorities. we have seen some indications from hezbollah the group is interested in reaching a ceasefire here in this conflict, but what hezbollah has been saying and what lebanese authorities have been saying is they will only agree to a deal that is based on the terms of the united nations resolution 1701, which is the resolution that ended the 2006 conflict between israel and hezbollah. it requires hezbollah to remove its fighters from areas near the border with israel. but one sticking point in these talks is that israel wants the right to act inside lebanon should any deal be violated — something that the authorities here consider unacceptable. so this seems to be the first step in what is likely to be a very difficult and long process for a ceasefire.

south africa�*s government says it won�*t help a group of illegal miners inside a closed mine in the country�*s north west province who have been denied access to basic supplies as part of an official strategy against illegal mining. located in stilfontein, the police closed off the entrances used to transport their supplies underground and they are believe to be suffering from a lack of food, water and other necessities. our correspondent nomsa maseko told us more about the situation from stilfontein. it is turning out to be a humanitarian situation at this stage because the police and the military have been putting together an operation whereby they have been trying to shut down disused mine shafts. but because of the high unemployment rate, and it is mostly some of the people who are going underground are people who are sacked from the mines they were working in.

others are undocumented migrants trying to make ends meet. what has happened in the last couple of weeks is that water and food and other necessities have been shut down. nothing has been allowed underground. people have been saying that they have been eating literally toothpaste and the vinegar just to eating literally toothpaste and the vinegarjust to keep alive. many of the people that are underground, even though it started out as a situation of people refusing to get out of the mind because they did not want to be arrested, they are now apparently too weak and too frail to even be able to do that themselves. that is why there are now volunteers here who have gathered. in factjust on my right there are tents that have been put up, families as well have been staying put here because there are some relatives who are on the surface, saying that they know

their husbands or brothers are still underground and they are wanting to know whether they are alive and safe and that they will be able to be retrieved and come out. scientists and former political leaders say the un climate talks are �*no longer fit for purpose�* and need urgent overhaul. they want countries hosting future cop talks to be committed to phasing out fossil fuels and for summits to be smaller and more frequent. this follows remarks from the azerbaijani president who told world leaders, gathered in his country for cop29, that natural gas was a �*gift from god�*. an official also appeared to try to arrange a meeting to discuss fossil fuel deals. our climate editorjustin rowlatt, who is in baku, told us more about this letter. these are really senior people, there�*s scientists

and lots of other luminaries among them, who are surprised by azerbaijan�*s conduct at these talks, that reference to fossil fuels being a gift from god, which is an unusual way to open a conference designed to get the world to kind of tackle the climate issue. and that story i did about the chief executive of cop29. they are saying they need these big reforms. when you look at the reforms, smaller conferences happening more often, more focused on delivery, countries that are committed to reducing fossil fuels hosting them, they all sound very sensible. countries held to account for their promises they make. they are sensible until you remember that this is designed to be a multilateral process, drawing in every nation on earth. drawing in nations of all sorts of different opinions on fossil fuels, all sorts of different positions in the economy, producers, consumers — everybody is drawn in. the idea is even if you are sceptical you are part of the process and you are drawn

in and you begin to discuss the issue and hopefully recognise it is a huge global challenge that will affect every country in the world and we all need to be part of the solution. that is the hope and some of the things they are talking about appear to run a bit contrary to the idea of a big, open forum where everyone comes in whatever their views. that has caused a bit of upset, it has caused quite a bit of upset in the un here. the indicator of how they feel is the word is that simon steele, the current head of the un climate process used when he opened the conference. he said it was not happening fast enough, we need to be more focused on delivery but cop29 is working. he said the forecasts where the temperatures would rise by five celsius and they will now rise by three celsius. that is still a catastrophic level of warming, but he would say there is progress, not fast enough, but there is progress.

ijust want i just want to finish this half hour of pictures from vietnam. this is the super moon. the fourth and final super moon of the year. seen there in vietnam and seem to be moving over to karachi. seen here later on today. what a view to leave you with. stay with us on bbc news. first taste of winter forest. the first wave takes place this weekend. northerly winds develop, the colder air rushes southward through saturday and sunday. through sunday into monday a bit of a complication. an area of low pressure crosses the country. that could cause a few issues as i will show you later. is that clears away the real cold arctic air will take hold from tuesday onwards. the first wave of colder air is across iceland at the moment behind this weather front which

is approaching into the north—west of scotland as we go through the afternoon and into the evening, with strengthening winds. south—westerly before they arrive. that will break they arrive. that will break the cloud in eastern scotland and a mild day here. 14—15. otherwise that wind brings an extensive pad, patch like rain and drizzle. some of the sunniest weather further south but temperatures just 9—11 c. this evening and overnight strong to gale force winds on the far north of scotland. the weather front works its way south and outbreaks of rain for a time. clearer later. that weather front sits across northern ireland, wales into the morning and here temperatures around 7—9. the morning and here temperatures around 7—9 . chile either side of it with a frost in the sheltered glens of scotland. much more sunshine through scotland on saturday. there will be some cloud around bringing showers will stop sleet and hail possible. snow on the hills. turning sunny after a cloudy start. fairly cloudy day certainly compared to today in southern counties of england and wales. the cloud

thickenerfor some patch of england and wales. the cloud thickener for some patch light rain or drizzle. 13 here, single figure temperatures in the north. that colder air with all of us by sunday. a chilly start was not bare that in mind if you�*re off to stand on the side of a rugby or football field. there will be some wintry showers in scotland. a few showers down the west but after a sunny start counting overin after a sunny start counting over in the west. temperatures though are single figures for many. cold air is in place for sunday. this weather system pushing its way in. that will cause a bit of a hiccup in the early part of next week. the lower. on the northern edge we could see a spell of significant, potentially disruptive snow for some. where that happens is one thing that will have to keep an iron. where that low pressure crosses will be crucial. the rest of next week much colder, overnight frost and some wintry showers for some of you.

summer slowdown uk economy clocks in just 0.1% growth between july to september. so how to get britain growing? the bank of england governor suggests our relationship with europe is a key factor. now i�*ve said many times as a public official, i take no position on brexit, and that is very important, but i do have to point out consequences. and tis the season to — spend. in our look ahead to christmas,

we�*ll explore some of the adverts enticing us to buy into the season. welcome to business today. i�*m lukwesa burak. let�*s start in the uk, where the economy barely grew between july and september, with uncertainty about the budget being blamed for the weak growth. the uk economy grew byjust 0.1% over the three month period and shrank during september itself. the latest growth figure was weaker than expected and was a sharp slowdown from the 0.5% growth seen in the april tojune period. chancellor rachel reeves was less than impressed with today�*s figures. the truth is, our economy has not grown in the way it should do, and in the way our competitors have these last few years. i am determined to turn that around, which is why i have

announced a comprehensive package of measures on planning