protesters in seoul clash with police as president yoon faces yet another impeachment vote. and us presidentjoe biden commutes sentences for 1,500 people — the largest single day act of clemency in modern us history. welcome to newsday. i'm steve lai. now, we start in syria where parliament has been suspended, along with the constitution, for the next three months. the rebel leaders who ousted the long—time dictator bashar al—assad say the moves are necessary to allow for a smooth transfer of power. but a spokesman says syria's religious and cultural diversity won't be threatened. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, arrived in the us on thursday for meetings withjordan�*s king abdullah and turkey's recep tayyip erdogan. —— middle east. the meetings are part of an effort by the biden

administration to promote an inclusive syrian—led transition among neighbouring countries and avoid any additional conflicts in syria. it comes comes as syrians continue to search prisons and hospitals for news of missing loved ones who disappeared during a sad's rule. from damascus, our international editor jeremy bowen has our top story. and a warning, there are some details you might find distressing. they have to find the missing and identify the dead before they can build a new syria. 35 more bodies of men killed in prison have arrived at the mortuary, and the hospital mortuary is full. the only way to find a missing son, father, or brother is to look for yourself. translation: it is painful. - at the same time we have hope. if we find him between the bodies, anything, as long as he is not missing. we want to find something of him. we want to know what happened to him.

we need an end to this. the examination room is full of bodies too. if they can't be identified easily the medics take tissue samples, building up evidence for dna tests and future prosecutions. have you managed to find out how these men died? most of... sometimes because of fractures, the bodies are not good shape, hard to say the exact reasons, but they have suffered from fractures. so, they have been beaten? yes, we think so. i came here yesterday. this was very difficult for me. what future... we hope it will be better, but this is really hard. the presidential palace built high on a crag above damascus where it can be seen across the city embodies the arrogance of the assads who broke syria to try to save their regime.

it might not be possible to put this fractured country back together. in 2015, i met bashar al—assad at guest palace in the presidential compound. his successors need to act fast to undo the legacy of the war he chose to fight. the same corridor is now a patch of quiet, in a country full of weapons, anger, poverty and calls for vengeance with dozens of armed groups who want their own slice of the syria assad left in pieces. he was extravagantly polite in quite an old—fashioned way. coming into the room, he would leap up off the sofa, then on the way out he would say "after you", then they would hold back the door and walk out first. he didn't seem to be a guy who would be at home in a torture centre, but he certainly seems to be

a guy who would be very happy giving the orders to get people tortured and killed. on a wall outside the hospital in damascus, the photos of dead men. first it is hard to see the person they knew in a gallery of smashed and decomposing faces. the families of the missing get as close as they can, and often all they have are the names and places where they were last seen. mahmoud... sabar, 2012. ahmed, raqqa, 2013. ali, damascus, 2015. 50 years of the assads, 50 years of incarceration, of disappearances, of executions. 50 years of cruelty

to the families, the prisoners, to the syrian people. these people want information. they want a body to bury, and they want a reckoning. "my husband ibrahim", she's saying, "taken in 2012." everyone had a photo, name and a date. the regime drilled so much pain into syrians that some here are terrified assad could even return. a new syria needs to deliver lives without fear. jeremy bowen, bbc news, damascus. an american who'd been missing sincejune has been found in syria after being released from prison by rebels as president assad's regime fell. travis timmerman from missouri was found by locals near the capital, damascus, and said he had been arrested when he entered the country on foot seven months ago. lucy williams has that story.

prisoner of the old syria. proof of the new one. travis timmerman, an american from missouri, released by rebel forces on monday as they swept president assad from power. in the middle of the night or early morning, they came with a hammer and knocked my door in, and there was two men with guns. and then there was another man named eli. and they helped me get out of prison and helped me get into damascus. the men who found him put this video on social media saying he was in safe hands and had been checked by a doctor after seven months in the custody of assad's military intelligence. it wasn't too bad. it wasn't bad. i was never beaten. the only really bad part was that i couldn't go to the bathroom when i wanted to. timmerman was found wandering through this damascus suburb

today by syrians celebrating freedom themselves. locals here in this locals here in this neighbourhood are telling us neighbourhood are telling us that they found a foreigner that they found a foreigner wandering in the streets wandering in the streets outside. outside. they said he was in fairly good they said he was in fairly good condition, but they brought him condition, but they brought him here and gave him some here and gave him some food and some water. food and some water. they said he was very hungry they said he was very hungry and talking in english, and talking in english, but they couldn't understand but they couldn't understand what he was saying, what he was saying, and they didn't know and they didn't know exactly who he was. exactly who he was. they showed us the selfies they showed us the selfies they had taken with him they had taken with him as the militia now in as the militia now in charge here looked on. charge here looked on. translation: they found him translation: they found him barefoot on the road. - barefoot on the road. - he kept repeating that he he kept repeating that he was held by military was held by military intelligence in damascus. intelligence in damascus. we helped him, offered him we helped him, offered him food, treated him well food, treated him well as a human being without any as a human being without any consideration of his american citizenship. travis timmerman�*s story is one among tens of thousands from assad's notorious

prison system. consideration of his

that the turning point was the assassination of hassan nasrallah, the head of hezbollah, as they told me he was bashar�*s strategic mind and once he was gone things started falling apart. hezbollah, as i know, driving into the country, was a key pillar of the assad regime. and of course when the war starts in southern lebanon they're withdrawn to fight the israelis and that prop was knocked out from under bashar al—assad. on top of it they tell me that he had effectively lost his bearings. he was behind most of the torture, he was behind the defeat of the armies, the military, the alawite leadership in the military turned against him and he was pretty much doomed since 7 october when this war started in israel.

so now we are in this phase where the assad regime has fallen and a new government is trying to take shape. we have been reporting parliament has been suspended along with the constitution, are you optimistic that a peaceful transition can happen? not so far. i mean, you have a very large kurdish minority in the northeast, which is going to fight the regime. you also have a sectarian conflict between the alawites, that's a shia sect, and the sunni majority. and the sunni majority, having studied with the muslim brotherhood, looks at the alawites as apostates. i don't know if that has changed. turkey has been a great modifying influence on the fundamentalist, but let's see if that holds. right now if you are a syrian driving into damascus from beirut it is extremely dangerous because nobody knows which faction controls what part of that road

so, a lot of the intellectuals, bureaucrats, and the rest of them that fled syria, damascus, couple of days ago are in beirut but they're very reluctant to go back. they're waiting to see what is going to happen. you mentioned turkey. there is a lot of foreign interest in syria from iran, russia, turkey to israel as well, how does that complement things? —— complicate things? well, they are going to expel the russians. and of course the iranians and is gave up under bashar al—assad weeks ago and they have been pulling out as well. so when he was standing all alone. and the russians, whatever basis they have left, they are going to smooth their stuff out because it is much too chaotic for them and they know these groups could turn on them and, because, course, like i said, the iranians are gone. so, who has the most influence left on what happens in syria? sunni leadership there is dispersed, jelani

is the figurehead of these groups, we simply don't know who is going to be on top or is going to impose order on syria. let's not forget history, the first person to really impose it was hafez al—assad, he did committed by giving the army to alawites, they controlled everything. this is how we got the torture. if there is a new era, not democratic, but a popular leader can control that country without resorting to violence i'd be very surprised. and what role do you think there is for the us in this then, it is also in a predicament where disorder between presence, if you like, although secondary defence antony blinken is in the region at the moment. what role do you see the us plan? we can only play through turkey, we're going to have to take their guidance, they have been with these

groups up and around idlib en the turkish border for a long time. they know who the players are, they know he can be trusted, and turkey has no interest in destabilising syria. so, at this point we are going to have to do defer to ankara. and what you see happening over the next two weeks, several months, going forward? i think this is going to play itself out. i don't trust the politics of the middle east. i spent too long there and it's too easy for situations like this to spin out of control and then sectarian violence will spread. that's probably the best bet. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. now, let's look at some other news making headlines in the uk. the first victims of the contaminated blood scandal will receive final compensation payments in the coming days. ten people have been offered compensation totalling more than £13 million. nearly £12 billion has been set aside to compensate the 32,000 people are contracted hiv and hepatitis from contaminated blood products in the 19705 and

19805. about 3000 people died after being given tho5e product. england's nhs direct 5ay5 product. england's nhs direct say5 ho5pital5 product. england's nhs direct say5 hospitals are being hit by a tidal wave of flu and other winter viru5e5. nhs figures show nearly 1900 hospital beds were taken up by flu patients every day last week, up 70% from the week before which is more than three times the figure at this point last year. a body has been found in the search for former england rugby player tom voyce who went missing in an area flooded during storm darragh. police fear the 43—year—old died after trying to cross the road in a vehicle which was then swept away. you're live with bbc news. south korean protester5 demanding the impeachment of president yoon suk yeol clash with police on thursday, hours after the president gave a defined speech hours after the president gave a defiant speech going to state in office. while earlier protests had been peaceful, this time hundreds

of people tried to break through barricades and reach the embattled present�*s official residence. they are demanding he leave office immediately or is impeded. but president yoon is refusing to budge, telling the public on thursday he said he will fight on to the very end. a second impeachment vote is at fault saturday. the opposition leader, lee jae—myung, said on friday the best way to restore order was to remove president yoon as soon as possible. i have been speaking with joon—hyung kim, and opposition mp from rebuilding korea party. he gave me his thoughts on protesters clashing with lease. —— with police. i heard news because it happened in front of the president — my presidential building but here in national assembly mostly it is very quiet and peaceful and the problem is the national address, giving the address to people by the president

actually agitated them and instigates supporters, so worry about other, yes. what do you make of the speech he did make, a defiant tone, saying he would not leave office. you know, actually this is the third address. first is the declaration first is the declaration of martial law and second of martial law and second is an apology and the third is an apology and the third is to completely reverse is to completely reverse what he said when he what he said when he apologised, so we can summarise apologised, so we can summarise it into two. it into two. one is instigating his one is instigating his supporters and the other almost supporters and the other almost sounds like it is a guideline sounds like it is a guideline for an argument when in his for an argument when in his case in point going case in point going into impeachment case into impeachment case in constitutional court. in constitutional court. we saw an impeachment vote we saw an impeachment vote take place last week take place last week and that was unsuccessful and that was unsuccessful and another one is scheduled and another one is scheduled for tomorrow so do you for tomorrow so do you think that will work? think that will work?

i think so. i think so. at the time the ruling party completely blocked their members to vote but i don't think they can do it again and there was a lot of ruling party members changing their mind and then expressed their intention to vote in favour. what happens if they don't vote in favour and the impeachment fails for a second time?

there were other impeachments as well on thursday with the police chief, the justice minister. it required fewer votes than to impeach the president and they went through. do you think there will be others? we are not sure, but you know, the presidents — indistinct match, there is so much evidence, even aired on tv, don't think even conceive it is judges can reverse this. —— conservative. to the us next. us presidentjoe biden is committing the sentences of nearly 1500 people in his final weeks in office. the white house said it is the largest presidential act of clemency in a single day

in modern us history. he offered pardons to an additional 39 people convicted of non—violent crimes. us president—elect donald trump has one time magazine's person of the year award which recognises someone who they say has done the most influence the events of the year. the winner is invited to ring the winner is invited to ring the bell at the us stock the bell at the us stock exchange. exchange. it is the second time he has it is the second time he has been selected for the award been selected for the award after winning it in 2016. after winning it in 2016. in remarks before ringing the in remarks before ringing the bell he expressed enthusiasm bell he expressed enthusiasm for the economy before bringing for the economy before bringing up for the economy before bringing up global conflict. the up for the economy before bringing up global conflict. the economy. _ up global conflict. the economy, i _ up global conflict. the economy. _ up global conflict. the economy, i _ up global conflict. the economy, i believe, . up global conflict. the economy, i believe, is up global conflict. tue: economy, i believe, is going up global conflict. tte: economy, i believe, is going to economy, i believe, . up global conflict. the economy, i believe, is up global conflict. tte: economy, i believe, is going to be very strong. we do have to be very strong. we do have to solve some problems. we have solve some problems. we have was going on that we didn't was going on that we didn't have. we have a lot of things have. we have a lot of things happening that we didn't have happening that we didn't have that would have never happened that would have never happened at us they would have never at us they would have never happened, but now they have happened, but now they have happened. and i want to get happened. and i want to get themselves a week have to get themselves a week have to get themselves, because ultimately themselves, because ultimately themselves, because ultimately themselves, because ultimately the power of weaponry today is the power of weaponry today is the power of weaponry today is the biggest that we have, in my the power of weaponry today is the biggest that we have, in my opinion. it's not some of the opinion. it's not some of the

other things that you read other things that you read about, it about, it is the power of weaponry. now, the head of nato has warned of the alliance is not ready for the threats it will face from russia and called for a shift to a wartime mindset. in a speech in brussels, mark rutte said future spending

let's ta ke let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. the former coach of china's men's national football league has been jailed for 20 years following a lengthy trial and corruption charges. and corruption charges. he is the latest to fall he is the latest to fall in china's far—reaching in china's far—reaching anti—corruption campaign anti—corruption campaign in the sports sector, especially football. in the sports sector, especially football. us rapper sean �*diddy�* combs us rapper sean �*diddy�* combs has sued by three more men has sued by three more men in new york alleging in new york alleging he drugged and raped them. he drugged and raped them. combs is currently being held combs is currently being held in custody while he awaits in custody while he awaits trial in may on criminal trial in may on criminal charges of racketeering, charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution and has pleaded transportation to engage in prostitution and has pleaded not guilty and denies not guilty and denies all allegations against him. all allegations against him. his lawyer says the latest his lawyer says the latest discharged from hospital allegations were lies. allegations were lies. president lula of brazil has president lula of brazil has undergone further surgery undergone further surgery to prevent bleeding to prevent bleeding on the brain and doctors say on the brain and doctors say there were no complications there were no complications in the 79—year—old is awake and speaking.

they expect him to be in the 79—year—old is awake

out several times. so, often, we are seeing ourselves — modern humans — as a big story of success, coming out of africa 50,000 years ago, moving all over the world, expanding into all kind of ecosystems and really being the kind of, like, most successful mammal on the planet. but that actually shows that at that time, we were not, right? we got extinct multiple times in different ecosystems or areas, continents like europe that we moved into. our species, homo sapiens, evolved in africa around 200,000 years ago. a large wave began to leave the continent around 60,000 years ago, running into the neanderthals on the way, and began to spread across the globe. the new research shows that around 118,000 years ago, those leaving africa interbred with the neanderthals

who lived in the middle east and europe, and their offspring also migrated. the scientists found that those who arrived before the interbreeding went extinct. you can see straight away the shape of the skull is different. the results, which have been in the journals nature and science, have surprised independent experts. perhaps getting neanderthal dna was even part of the success, because it gave us better adaptive capabilities outside of africa because we had evolved in africa in an african environment. these other populations, like neanderthals, had evolved outside of africa and they had, for example, immune defences to the local diseases and pathogens. by interbreeding with the neanderthals, we got a quick fix to our immune systems. the analysis of ancient dna has lifted a veil on the mysterious story about evolution. that story has today been rewritten. pallab ghosh, bbc news.

now, before we go, an indian teenager has become the youngest ever world chess champion. cheering. atjust 18 years old gukesh dommaraju is four years younger than the former record holder. he beat the defending champion, china's ding liren in a 1k game world championship contest in singapore. dommaraju has long been a prodigy in the chest world, becoming a grand master at 12 years old. stick around on bbc news in the next hour gukesh dommaraju will bejoining me for a special interview. we look forward to seeing you. business uses next. —— news. hello. thursday was a very grey, gloomy day, really — a lot of low cloud, some mist, some hill fog and some drizzle. in fact, during thursday, we actually had a weak warm front that moved across england, introducing some more humid air — and that's

what resulted in the drizzle. at the moment, the computers are underdoing the amount of drizzle out there as well. it's pretty extensive, really, across much of england, into parts of eastern wales, and we've got mist and fog patches around as well. frost is relatively rare but there are a few patches in scotland — that's where the lowest temperatures are heading into friday. now, the next 36 hours sees this cold front dive southwards. that's going to introduce some patches of rain and again, some slightly colder air following that feature through for a time. here's the weather picture, then, into friday. we start off grey and gloomy with some low cloud, some hill fog patches and remember that extensive drizzle — england, eastern areas of wales, there'll be a few patches elsewhere, too. now, through the day, we get this weather front move into the northwest of scotland. that will bring some heavier rain and the winds will tend to pick up here. for most, temperatures will range between six and eight celsius but there will be some colder spots in scotland. heading into the weekend, we'll get this cold front move southwards. it's going to be very weak, bringing some patches of rain, some colder air following that through during saturday. but as the front pushes southwards, taking the patchy rain with it, actually, behind that feature, it'll be a much brighter kind of day with a slice of sunshine for a time before we see

the next system start to move into western scotland and northern ireland with cloudier weather returning back into the afternoon, so grab the sunshine when it does appear in the sky. now, heading into sunday, we see a big change in the weather patterns as these milder southwesterly winds start to move in off the atlantic — and these are here to stay for quite some time. now, sunday itself will probably have quite a lot of cloud, still with some bits and pieces of rain left over across western areas of the country. there'll be a few breaks here and there, so you might see some glimpses of sunshine but overall, it looks like it'll be turning cloudier and we've got some heavy rain that will end up across the northwest of scotland. temperatures, though, much, much higher — 11—13 degrees, turning a great deal milder. and that milder weather is here to stay next week as well but often, as we see at this time of year with these kind of mild weather spells, we often have a lot of cloud and bits and pieces of rain and that's certainly in the forecast next week.

bell rings. bell rings. cheering. cheering. ringing in a new era: ringing in a new era: president—elect donald trump president—elect donald trump opens the us stock market. opens the us stock market. and as president yoon digs in, and as president yoon digs in, south korea's striking workers south korea's striking workers keep the pressure on. keep the pressure on.

hello and welcome to business today. i'm i' m steve i'm steve live. —— i'm steve lai. president—elect donald trump rung the opening bell at the new york stock exchange on thursday, cheered on by an audience of america's business elite. trump is preparing to take office in january. he is positioning himself as a president to be friendly to big business in america. the us markets are enjoying a record run.