the government announces a ten year plan to tackle prison overcrowding in england and wales, with four newjails delivering thousands more cells. wejoin police in spain who rescue women from human trafficking, as the un says there's been a 25 percent rise in the detection of victims. lawyers of the suspect accused of killing a us health ceo in new york say he's pleading not guilty. he has been denied bail. saudi arabia is expected to be confirmed as the host of the 2024 world cup. we start in the middle east, where syrian rebel forces say they have taken control of the oil—rich eastern city of deir

al—zour. they said they had captured the city after us backed kurdish fighters withdrew. it comes as israel says it is carried out hundreds of air strikes and hit most strategic stockpiles in syria to stop them falling into the hands ofjihadists. is that they have destroyed the naval fleet as well as other systems and tanks. the un has called for an end to the attacks. for more on reaction here is our correspondence. lina sinjab was at the syria—lebanon border. there are lots of commodities around me, this is the area where people came every day to pick up their daily needs, i have been talking to some of the people, and is one person told me, we now have oxygen in the air, referring they have been suffocated on the rule of

a side. they said they are now in full celebration, in celebration that is colourful, look at the different fruits and vegetables, it seems that they are getting more commodities from the suburbs, because we know the suburbs of damascus are rich in fruit and vegetables, this is where the main supply comes. there is more and more movement, more and more people coming out and about, as we drove to this neighbourhood, we have seen the early morning government buses taking employees to their work, so it seems that the rebels are wanting to provide services, wanting to provide services, wanting life to go back to normal, that's what they are delivering, and this morning we have also seen news that they are taking over the city of deir al—zour in the east, the north—east, this is basically where the kurdish forces have taken it after the regime collapse, so it is very important for the country and

for the rebels, because it's an oil—rich country, and all supplies of oil and gas comes from the north and comes from the deir al—zour, and supplying fuel into the country and to provide services to the people that need on the ground. let's show you some pictures from the border where people are going through, at the moment signs there is a reasonable peaceful transition coming through. here are some live pictures from the masses, like getting back to normal in the city centre, people clearing up the mess in town, people having coffees, the shops are open and people are out and about on the streets while the political transition starts to take shape, and also we have pictures of the golan heights, this is the area where

israel has sent forces across the border into the demilitarised zone. some discussion, certainly reaction from various, including the kremlin today, condemning the incursion into syria, and the golden heights has clearly been a flashpoint in the area, so we will keep an eye on the golan heights for you. ben saul is the un special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism and gave his assessment about how the new regime is dealing with human rights. it's certainly a positive sign in principle that the you government is committed to bring to justice the perpetrators of such large—scale violence over recent years, war crimes, crimes against humanity,

torture, disappearances, all done on a vast scale. remember the assad regime also remember the assad regime also used chemical weapons, used chemical weapons, barrel bombs, indiscriminately, barrel bombs, indiscriminately, so on the scale of the so on the scale of the violations it was quite extraordinary, and one violations it was quite extraordinary, and one of the reasons i was a revolt of the reasons i was a revolt against the government against the government in the first place. in the first place. of course what needs to happen of course what needs to happen is thatjustice must be blind, is thatjustice must be blind, it must bring to account it must bring to account anybody who committed anybody who committed violations, that includes hts violations, that includes hts itself, and any armed groups itself, and any armed groups or terrorist groups that have or terrorist groups that have committed violations committed violations of their own, so they must of their own, so they must bring to justice everyone bring to justice everyone accused of violations. accused of violations. israeli defence analysts have israeli defence analysts have

been picking over the latest been picking over the latest information that has been information that has been given out by the israeli military, which is said it has destroyed 70 to 80% of

which is said it has destroyed 70 to e airbases, weapon bases, airbases, weapon production and storage sites, the same thousands of rockets have been destroyed, also chemical weapons sites in syria as well, chemical weapons having been so feared under the assad regime. we can speak now to the british barrister sir geoffrey nice, an expert in international criminal law who worked at the international criminal tribunal for the former yugoslavia. some of the human rights abuses were known about over the years, more are emerging now. how hopeful are you that syrians will get justice for what syrians will getjustice for what happened in the past in the number of years of this oppressive regime? it’s the number of years of this oppressive regime? it's hard to focus, i think— oppressive regime? it's hard to focus, i think the _ oppressive regime? it's hard to focus, i think the time - oppressive regime? it's hard to focus, i think the time is - oppressive regime? it's hard to focus, i think the time is come | focus, i think the time is come to the major powers to recognise the regular citizens, you and me, are appalled at the killing of innocent people in various settings, including

now, this one, in breach of international law, and the regular citizen probably hopes and expects that the world as a whole will put it showed us the wheel. so the first thing that should be done is the security council should have a go, by one party or another, referring the matter to the international criminal court. will russia, home to a sad, do what it has done before and use its veto? will china? finally the moment of shame will come upon them. alternatively, we will be left with yet more evidence that the security council needs reforming. if that can't be done, there are ways of referring the matter to the international criminal court, especially given there are cross—border offences between syria, which is not a member of the court and is not see the jurisdictions of the court,

nevertheless there is neighbouring jordan which is a member, and therefore crimes originating in syria can be dealt with in that way. how much evidence _ dealt with in that way. how much evidence do - dealt with in that way. how much evidence do you - dealt with in that way. how much evidence do you think will be available to put together these court cases, if there are any, and how difficult will it be to preserve things in the context of what might be, i mean, it's looking relatively peaceful at the moment, but it could be chaotic period after this initial stage? i’m could be chaotic period after this initial stage?— this initial stage? i'm sure there's plenty _ this initial stage? i'm sure there's plenty of— this initial stage? i'm sure there's plenty of evidence | there's plenty of evidence already, as we have heard much about this in the past decade, and other countries have been effectively taking and using mechanisms to get syria before international accountability processes. also it is about time countries like ours made available what they now hold by way of secure information, even if they are too inclined to think about a secret. there's plenty of evidence, no doubt,

in the form of private films from people's phones, just as there have been in ukraine, also in gaza, that kind of evidence. there's plenty of evidence. there's plenty of evidence. what we need to understand what the international community needs to understand is that it is the investigation that is now of critical value, investigation that is now of criticalvalue, it investigation that is now of critical value, it is value, it has value for what will happen, the benefit of survivors, but the benefit of survivors, but the real value at the moment might be, especially if it was a large—scale invisible inquiry, happening wherever possible on the territory, that further crimes that might be committed by way of revenge or by wave action by one party against another will be deterred, because it is the process. deterred, because it is the process-— process. what about accountability - process. what about accountability for - process. what about - accountability for people who fled? for instance, the assad is no longer in the country, and there is presumably the

possibility that others involved have also left. how do you go about getting accountability for people who are not necessarily going to be handed over to court? if they're not going to be handed over to the court by a country like russia they probably won't be handed over to the court. there is just a be handed over to the court. there isjust a grim and unhappy reality. however, we know that in the past, whether it has been thought of as a likely outcome, the loss of h, charles taylor, things have changed and they have been handed over. it's perhaps hard to forecast. it remains a possibility. what is important in investigations and any other process of criminal jurisdiction is that they are not let off the hook in any way, because if they are let off the hook in any form of process, i will come back to that in the second, then it is harder to proceed against people further down the management chain, the people

actually operate in prisons and torturing prisoners, if the person at the top is allowed to get away scot—free. so, they are to be pursued and they have to be pursued with vigour and the possibility that they will be handed over. this is something you can see arising in israel— gaza and russia— ukraine, where people are looking for some kind of settlement. the settlement terms. this parties by the international community have as paragraph one that president putin will not be pursued in the courts, or netanyahu or the leaders of her mass will not be pursued in the courts, how will it be fair to pursue people further down the chain? whatever else may happen in the process, it needs to be understood that it's the investigation is important at the moment to save further lives that may be lost in revenge or similar, and also that it revenge or similar, and also thatitis revenge or similar, and also that it is important to have the maximum investigation of all people aiming always at the

very top. all people aiming always at the ve to -. . ~ all people aiming always at the ve to. ., ~ ,, all people aiming always at the ve to. . , . very top. thank you very much indeed, very top. thank you very much indeed. we — very top. thank you very much indeed, we are _ very top. thank you very much indeed, we are running - very top. thank you very much indeed, we are running out. very top. thank you very much indeed, we are running out of| indeed, we are running out of time. you can keep up—to—date with all the latest news from syria by going to the live page on the bbc news website for expert analysis on the region. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

let's bring you live pictures of protests from farmers, unusual to have this in this country, they are standing outside there, tractors going up outside there, tractors going up whitehall, food and rural affairs committee is kicking off this morning, a political committee to discuss the

changes in inheritance tax, which has angered farmers in the uk who said it will affect the uk who said it will affect the way they can carry on farming and the way they can hand on farms through within families, there have been protests already, this is a further protest as the first hearing of the environment, food and rural affairs committee looks at the issue. they will look at the effects of the changes to an territory in stacks. we can see the sun whitehall, the main thoroughfare of the parliamentary area a ministry of government being brought to a standstill by the trucks and farmers' tractors with the message being taken straight to westminster. we will keep an eye on those processors a day goes on. the government says it'll create 14,000 more prison places in england and wales by 2031, as part of a ten

year strategy to deal with overcrowding. over 6000 spaces will be created at four new sites, but the justice secretary has said that building alone won't solve the problem. shabana mahmood has warned that jails in england and wales could run out of spaces within three years despite the government's plans. even though we will be increasing supply, even though we are investing in maintenance so that we don't lose cells to dilapidation, on their own that won't be enough. what we have published is both the supply line that shows that going up, but also the demand line, that is to say the demand for prison places which is going up at a much higher rate. the sad reality here is we cannot build our way out of this problem, we are going to build, we are going to maintain the cells that we have, and it still won't be enough, and that's why a few weeks ago i commissioned the independent review into sentencing so that we can try and make sure we are running a sustainable prison system, so there are a prison places available for those who have to be locked up, so that we can do a betterjob of helping some of those people turn their lives around,

so we can cut crime when they come out, and also so that we can expand the range of punishments outside prison as well. fundamentally what we are trying to do is get to a more sustainable prison system. it involves a record amount of building, which is what we will do, but unfortunately building alone here will not be enough. 0ur political correspondent damian grammaticas told me more about the issues surrounding overcrowding in prisons in england and wales. it's a problem the last government face, the conservative government promised these places by 2026, they have done less than half of that, they didn't achieve it, orthe of that, they didn't achieve it, or the labour government is now saying this they will report the balance of 40,000 spaces, but over the next six years, so extending by whole of

the five years that programme, and you have the objections from local communities, they have the power to approve those taken at the very top of government, overwriting local objections, it will be the deputy prime minister in fact who will have the ability to green light a new prison, and they are saying for new prisons will be built, 6500 spaces, the other places to come from expanding within the existing prisons, new blogs, refurbish and spike cells, but even that, as your hearing, it will not provide enough spaces over the very short term, three or four years, how demand is projected to go. lawyers for the man charged with the murder of a high profile health insurance executive in new york last week say he is pleading not guilty.

26—year—old luigi mangione was arrested in pennsylvania, and is fighting his extradition to new york. 0ur cbs correspondent jared hill has more. yesterday when he was going into court we saw mangione relatively erratic, he made an outburst of cameras saying it was a travesty, saying it was going, flying in the face of america, he says this is what's happening. the question is what exactly is happening. he pleaded not guilty and his lawyer has said there has been no evidence that he has seen that connects them to the crime, to the killing, but there is this handwritten note though is found with mangione when he was found at mcdonald's. where he does say that he did this on his own, he says that this was related to some of his misgivings with the health care

and insurance industry here in the united states. it will be interesting to see again how all of this moves forward. this what happens next with the legal process? the legal process, there are a couple of things. there is the case in pennsylvania specifically, which is related to forgery charges, with him for having a false id and saying it was someone he wasn't, then there is a gun charge, the ghost gone and the silent siri had on him, but then there is the process of getting mangione back here to the state of new york where he faces a murder charge. we do know the local districts attorney here in new york says they plan to get a governor's warrant to get him back into the state, he will fight in the court system and we will see how it plays out. the goal at this point

is to get him back to new york so he can face those more serious charges. a stand—off is taking place at the president's office in south korea where presidential guards are refusing to let the police enter the building. the raids are part of an investigation into his failed attempt to impose martial law last week. some of his top officials and military commanders have been arrested and suspended over their alleged role in enforcing the order. and within the past couple of hours prison officials said the country's former defence minister has attempted to take his own life while in detention over his role in last week's controversial martial law declaration. 0ur seoul correspondent jean mackenzie has the latest on the raids. this is as close as we can get right now with our camera to the presidential compound which is just down this road behind us. 18 police officers have raided this compound and they are searching for the minutes of the meeting that president yoon suk yeol had just before he declared martial law and choose a night at the meetings he had during this very short

time period that martial law was enforced. we don't know whether the president is inside this compound because the way time we have seen him since last tuesday is during a very brief speech that he gave on television on saturday where he apologised. we also haven't heard anything from the presidential office themselves. their communication channels have gone dark stop the will bring some live pictures from south korea where protests are continuing as a result of the situation.— are continuing as a result of the situation. people there are protesting _ the situation. people there are protesting against _ the situation. people there are protesting against the - protesting against the president, asking for him to be impeached or to stand down, and the security guards are protecting the south korean present resident and protest continuing there in south korea, where people are calling for the president to stand down, after the whole episode of him trying to bring in martial law. we are also

keeping an eye on the pictures in central london, there, on whitehall, tractors parading up and down there, quite incongruous sight, with the christmas decorations as well, tractors, which you don't normally see in central london, and it's unusual in the uk also thought to have farmers protesting. it's often the case in europe that protest will be taken by farmers straight to the positions of power, but this is unusual in the uk. there was a very large protest last week where a number of people attended, and the main reason they are unhappy is a change the government wanted to bring into inheritance tax laws, which the government say will affect very few farmers, but the insist that many of their farms will be affected, and they will end up with enormous tax bills which will

make it more difficult for them to continue in farming. we will keep on 0unas protest for but first, a lawyer representing the alleged victim of sean collins told the office the he was receiving calls every day and it would eventually go to trial. colmes has denied the accusations. he trial. colmes has denied the accusations.— trial. colmes has denied the accusations. he is the lawyer who told _ accusations. he is the lawyer who told me _ accusations. he is the lawyer who told me that _ accusations. he is the lawyer who told me that they - accusations. he is the lawyer who told me that they could | accusations. he is the lawyer. who told me that they could be as many as 300 potential victims from the course he has received a television hotline, not all of those who go to

trial. the statute of limitations means in some states the alleged victims cannot bring their alleged cases because of the amount of time liable for them to do that has passed but he says he is still receiving tips every day and the number of cases could still go up. it is important to say sean combs has denied all the allegations against him and his lawyers have called tony buzbee the head of a relentless media circus, saying the tip line he set up at the news conference he is giving makes him the ringmaster of these cases against the musician, who says he has never sexually assaulted anyone. this stay wit this h us i here on bbc news. hello. it has been a cold and frosty start today especially across scotland where temperatures widely were below freezing. here there has been some freezing fog.

a lot of that will lift but we could hang onto to some of it. that will peg back the temperatures. for many of us it will be another cloudy day. the best of the sunshine will be where we have had the clear skies and low temperatures in scotland. and as you push further south we could see some breaks in the cloud across north—west england, parts of north—western areas in northern ireland, western parts of wales and also the midlands. the emphasis is on a lot of cloud across england and wales and light winds. if anything a bit breezy through the english channel where we have also got one or two showers. temperatures today if you are stuck under any fog, they will struggle to break freezing but widely we are looking at between five and nine. into the evening and overnight once again we will see a lot of cloud across england and also wales. some drizzle here and there. some clear skies across scotland into north—west england and of course where we have clear skies it is where we will have the lower temperatures. temperatures again where you see the blues

are freezing or below. minus four in glasgow, minus one in aberdeen, six or seven across eastern areas of england. tomorrow we start in a similarvein. still a lot of cloud, still producing some drizzle across england and wales. some brighter skies likely in parts of the south—west and wales. the sunniest skies across the north—east but we also have thicker cloud coming in across the north—west and also the wind picking up a bit. temperatures 2—10. into friday a lot of cloud around. cloud increasing in the north—west as a weather front approaches. here the wind will strengthen and the cloud will be thick enough for some showers or indeed some splashes of rain. temperatures during the course of friday roughly 3—9. this weather front will be sinking southwards during the course of friday bringing some showery outbreaks of rain. behind that on saturday, high pressure builds on and things will settle down

and we will see some sunshine. it will still be cool we head into sunday and into next week, the temperature is actually going to rise.

this is bbc news. the headlines... syrian rebel forces say they have taken control of the eastern city of deir ezzor but israel says it has destroyed syria's naval fleet. police in spain have rescued women from humid trafficking as the un says there has been a 25% rise in there has been a 25% rise in the detection of victims. farmers hold protests in london against proposed inheritance tax rises. unions attacked the recommended 2.8% pay rise for more than a million public sector workers putting them on a collision course with the uk government. saudi arabia is excited to be confirmed as host of the 2034 winds world cup. the un says the number of victims of humid trafficking and forced labourers have risen significantly since 2020 up by 25%. women and girls continue to make up the majority of victims detected worldwide. in spain a transit hub for

thousands of victims trafficked