live from washington, this is bbc news. in one of his first tv interviews with western media, the de facto leader of syria tells the bbc his country

we haven't committed any crimes thatjustify we haven't committed any crimes that justify calling we haven't committed any crimes thatjustify calling us a terroristic group. in the last 15 years we have not targeted civilian areas.— 15 years we have not targeted civilian areas. speaks with one of most notorious _ civilian areas. speaks with one of most notorious gang - civilian areas. speaks with one | of most notorious gang leaders. plus two astronauts stuck in space will have to wait even longer to return to earth. hello. i'm carl nasman. the head of the rebel group controlling large parts of syria has spoken to the bbc in one of his first tv interviews since his forces toppled president assad two weeks ago. he told ourjeremy bowen that the country is exhausted

by war, and poses no threat. ahmed al—sharaa also said western sanctions had to be lifted for more syrians to come back. already, an estimated 100,000 refugees have returned. the rebel leader again called for the west to stop designating his group, hayat tahrir al—sham or hts, as a terrorist organisation. hts, split from al-qaeda in 2016, but he says they are no longer a jihadist or extremist group. he says they do not target civilians, and consider themselves victims of the assad regime. the de facto leader of syria, ahmed al—sharaa, chose to do the interview in the presidential palace built by the assads. he told me he wasn't surprised that the old regime collapsed so quickly. syrians, he said, needed to keep calm to tackle all the problems they face. the mosaic of different sectarian groups here in syria, minorities as well. are you going to keep those promises?

translation: the syrian . population has lived together for thousands of years. we're going to discuss all of it. we're going to have dialogue and make sure everyone is represented. the old regime always played on sectarian divisions, but we won't. we were welcomed in all the big cities by all the sects. i think the revolution can contain everybody. so this isn't going to be some kind of a caliphate, or you're not going to make syria into a country like afghanistan? because you know there are people who say that maybe you want to behave like the taliban. translation: there are many differences between syria - and the taliban. the way we govern is different. afghanistan is a tribal community. syria is completely different. the peoplejust don't think in the same way. the syrian government and their ruling system will be in line with syria's history and culture. so the culture of syria includes rights for women, it includes education for women, it includes

tolerance for people drinking alcohol? is that all acceptable to you? translation: when it comes to women's education, - of course. we have had universities in idlib for more than eight years. i think the percentage of women in universities is more than 60%. and alcohol? there are many things ijust don't have the right

i understand some countries will be worried by that designation, but it's not true. now, after all that has happened, sanctions must be lifted, because they were targeted at the old regime. the victim and the oppressor should not be treated in the same way. haiti is one of the most dangerous countries in the world with gangs controlling more than 85% of the capital. 0ur senior investigations

correspondent nawal al—maghafi, senior producer jasmin dyer, and camera journalist jack garland are the first western journalists to enter the country since the latest escalation of violence. while they were there, one gang alone killed almost 200 civilians. a warning — their report contains distressing details. downtown port—au—prince — now the scene of daily street fighting between gangs vying for control. once one of the city's most populated areas, it's now a ghost town. we're with the kenyan police on a patrol. they're here to support the haitian forces, as part of a multinational response to restore law and order. it's not long before we come under fire. gunfire we're being shot at by a gang member from that direction, so the guys...

..are just retaliating. and then this. a human body burning in the middle of the street. we're on our way to meet the leader of one of the most prominent gangs here, filming ourjourney under cover. reynold estina, notorious for kidnapping, is wanted by the fbi. your gang and gangs like yours have spread terror across the city. you have raped people, you have killed people. translation: when we capture an enemy, we are celebrating i a victory, so sometimes the group gets excited. they capture somebody and they do things they weren't supposed to do with them, because when it's been the other way round, they would have done the same to us. gang warfare has driven 700,000 people out of their homes, to overcrowded schools like these where sexual violence and drug use is rife. this is the third place negosiat has had to make home. she tells me she's too afraid to sleep here. she stays up to watch

over her five children. translation: my neigbourhood was taken over by gangs. - i left and went to live in solino for safety. today, again, i'm on the run to save my life and my children. the violence is escalating, a clear sign the kenyan strategy is failing. 2,500 personnel were due to be deployed, but only 400 are here. they tell us they're making progress and take us to see a former police station that they've now retaken. but the area is still surrounded by gang snipers. the police fire some warning shots. they can shoot from here. so just that building over there, the red with the blue, is where the snipers are shooting at you? you heard the shot? yeah. stay down now. the violence permeates every stage of life here. shayna is two years old. she, like 760,000 children

in haiti, is starving. translation: i would like my kids to be able to eat bread, . even if i can't. i would like to get proper care for my child, too. i don't want to lose her. but as the situation here continues to deteriorate, haiti risks losing an entire generation. nawal al—maghafi, bbc news, port—au—prince, haiti. joining me live is alice ribes, international rescue committee emergency country director in port—au—prince. thank you for being on the bbc. i know the receipt thank you for being on the bbc. i know the receipt paused thank you for being on the bbc. i know the receipt paused its operations in haiti last year due to violence. what is the situation like now? is it safe to be operating?— situation like now? is it safe to be operating? yes. thank you for making _ to be operating? yes. thank you for making time _ to be operating? yes. thank you for making time to _ to be operating? yes. thank you

for making time to talk - to be operating? yes. thank you for making time to talk about. for making time to talk about it. we definitely need that now. we have been operating for the last two years. the situation is hard. i think we just heard some of your reporters. my team and partners at the irc is working with our extremely courageous, they work under a lot of pressure and threats but i think most importantly, the people we are trying to serve our themselves in a dire situation so this association we are at now. what are haitians— association we are at now. what are haitians themselves - association we are at now. what are haitians themselves facing? the situation is often to say the least, may be to begin with i'm calling from a country where half the population, i'm talking about 6 million people, its entire population of los angeles and chicago together who are facing humanitarian

needs, starving, don't have access to water, to basic healthcare, and that is the situation for everybody. among that you will have also and we talked about that also in the images that you just showed that women and girls are especially threatened right now, rate used as a weapon, a weapon of terror to control people, to control territories. 0n people, to control territories. on top of that, the situation, the dye needs and i'm calling from a capital where we do not have access to a functioning airport, two ports, and it is not so much a question of infrastructure, it is a question of gangs attacking it. there are reports about gangs shooting at planes, had a un helicopter so we cannot use that. you can imagine the consequence when you're trying to bring aid, and medicine. we heard another striking statistic in the piece —i700 and 60,000 children in haiti

are hungry. —— 760,000. the are hungry. -- 760,000. the first are _ are hungry. -- 760,000. the first are being _ are hungry. —— 760,000. tue: first are being affected, are hungry. —— 760,000. tte: first are being affected, the first are being affected, the first inaudible starving and not have access to basic healthcare from a very early age. a lot of women are at risk in pregnancy cannot give birth in pregnancy cannot give birth in a safe way, so they lose their child first of all and then let's not forget that they are exposed to violence, physical violence, are exposed to violence, physicalviolence, but are exposed to violence, physical violence, but also the long—term consequences of ——on their mental health is awful. we are trying with the irc and our partners to create safe spaces where they can have some kind of peace, have a place to play, talk to psychologists, but it is very complicated for them. ~ ., ., ., but it is very complicated for them. ~ . ., ., i. “ them. what more would you like to see the _ them. what more would you like to see the international- to see the international community doing? there is a kenyan police force but other

countries including the us and the next president come january, donald trump? t the next president come january, donald trump? ithink the message — january, donald trump? ithink the message is _ january, donald trump? ithink the message is the _ january, donald trump? ithink the message is the same, - january, donald trump? i think| the message is the same, which administration is coming, the situation is dire, the needs are high, very basic needs, access to food, water, health and that is not the main problem. don't make the situation is worsening and we are entering a circle of crisis and to be able to break it we will need resources, attention and sustained attention. thank ou ve and sustained attention. thank you very much- _ around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. inflation has risen to an eight—month high of 2.6%. the rate is still well down on recent highs

during the energy crisis. but it's thought it will go up further in the new year which could mean interest rates are cut more slowly than had been expected. a 19—year—old man who killed three of his friends in a car crash after inhaling nitrous oxide has beenjailed for more than nine years. daniel hancock and ethan goddard — who were both 18 — and elliot pullen, who was 17, died in marcham last summer. thomasjohnson had been inhaling the drug, which is also known as laughing gas, while driving greg wallace will by greg —— at almost 100 miles an hour. gregg wallace will be replaced by the restaurant critic grace dent in the next series of the bbc�*s celebrity masterchef. the guardian columnist willjoin the regular masterchef presenter john torode next year. wallace has been accused of inappropriate behaviour and faces a review into his conduct. you're live with bbc news.

here in washington, a stopgap funding bill that would keep the us government funded past a looming friday deadline may be dead in the water after president—elect donald trump said he plans to fight it. he doesn't take office until next month, but he still has a lot of influence with republicans in congress. and he's been urging lawmakers to torpedo the deal after his ally elon musk expressed concern about the extra spending contained in the bill. the white house has weighed in saying, republicans need to stop playing politics with this bipartisan agreement all they will hurt hard—working will hurt ha rd—working americans will hurt hard—working americans and create instability across the country. us lawmakers have put forward more than 80 reccomendations on how the us should regulate artificial intelligence. the us house of representatives task force on artificial intelligence submitted the end—of—year review this week. it highlights the risk of threats such as misinformation, biases, privacy, loss ofjobs, and synthetically generated content like deepfakes. it proposes solutions like governement agencies determining the appropriate

regulations for how ai is used in their respective sectors, and clear disclaimers of the legal liability in intellectual property laws for people who create ai—generated content. for more on all this, i spoke to the co—chairman of house task force on al, republican congressman from california jay 0bernolte. __my ——my colleague spoke to. on data privacy there were concerns about the amount of data are used to train ai models and the concerned there are not the right regulations and legal framework in are not the right regulations and legalframework in place are not the right regulations and legal framework in place to protect users. what could happen on a federal level to do that? ., ., , , , that? there are two issues at -la that? there are two issues at play with _ that? there are two issues at play with data _ that? there are two issues at play with data and _ play with data and artificial intelligence. the first is the one — intelligence. the first is the one you _ intelligence. the first is the one you highlighted where copyrighted material is some tintes— copyrighted material is some times used to train ai algorithms and the question has arisen _ algorithms and the question has arisen does that create a derivative work and... 0r arisen does that create a derivative work and... or is that— derivative work and... or is that the _ derivative work and... or is that the use of material publicly available? this is an

issue — publicly available? this is an issue making its way through the courts and the report goes into a — the courts and the report goes into a lot — the courts and the report goes into a lot of detail on different actions congress might— different actions congress might need to take in the future _ might need to take in the future to resolve that issue and — future to resolve that issue and greater legal landscape that is— and greater legal landscape that is fair for everyone. what the other— that is fair for everyone. what the other issue that we are highlighting in the report is theissue highlighting in the report is the issue of ai being used by malicious actors to pierce through digital data privacy and re—aggregate data supposedly disaggregated. ai is a very— supposedly disaggregated. ai is a very powerful tool for patent recognition and people are starting _ recognition and people are starting to use it that way. that — starting to use it that way. that is _ starting to use it that way. that is a _ starting to use it that way. that is a serious concern of ours— that is a serious concern of ours and _ that is a serious concern of ours and so we feel strongly that— ours and so we feel strongly that we _ ours and so we feel strongly that we need pre—emptive, federal. _ that we need pre—emptive, federal, digital data privacy legislation to establish standards that pre—empt that kind — standards that pre—empt that kind of— standards that pre—empt that kind of material. standards that pre-empt that kind of material.— kind of material. what about the national _ kind of material. what about the national security - kind of material. what about i the national security concerns? is this an area where you see the need to act more quickly than other areas? absolutely, national security _ than other areas? absolutely, national security and - than other areas? absolutely, national security and the - national security and the potential are geopolitical adversaries might develop ai

that could be used maliciously against — that could be used maliciously against united states is what we are — against united states is what we are concerned about and highlight the need to ensure innovation and our development continues— innovation and our development continues to thrive in america and _ continues to thrive in america and the — continues to thrive in america and the united states remains the worldwide leader in al development.— development. your report su: est development. your report suggest regulation - development. your report suggest regulation by - development. your report i suggest regulation by sector and if you look at the european union and what they have put in place, they suggest a risk—based approach and also one that looks at al as a technology as a whole. why is the sector—based approach the way to go? the sector-based approach the way to go?— the sector-based approach the watoao? way to go? obviously the system in the us is _ way to go? obviously the system in the us is different _ way to go? obviously the system in the us is different so - in the us is different so things— in the us is different so things that will work will work differently in the us than in europe _ differently in the us than in europe but the reason we believe _ europe but the reason we believe so strongly in sectorial regulation is the risks— sectorial regulation is the risks of— sectorial regulation is the risks of ai deployment are highly— risks of ai deployment are highly contextual which means something that is unacceptably risky— something that is unacceptably risky in— something that is unacceptably risky in one usage context like. — risky in one usage context like. for— risky in one usage context like, for example, ai used in medicai— like, for example, ai used in medical device might be completely benign in another usage — completely benign in another usage context like a video game, _ usage context like a video game, so that really highlights the benefits of taking a sectorial approach and also

consider— sectorial approach and also consider the fact, using medicai— consider the fact, using medical devices as an example, the fda — medical devices as an example, the fda has spent decades learning about how to ensure patient — learning about how to ensure patient safety in the way they regulate, so we have to ask ourselves, would it be easier to teach— ourselves, would it be easier to teach a _ ourselves, would it be easier to teach a brand—new agency everything the fda already knows _ everything the fda already knows about patient safety or would — knows about patient safety or would it — knows about patient safety or would it be easier to teach the fda what _ would it be easier to teach the fda what they do not already know — fda what they do not already know about artificial intelligence? i think it is pretty— intelligence? i think it is pretty clear the latter are not the former. it pretty clear the latter are not the former-— the former. it is a global technology. _ the former. it is a global technology. where - the former. it is a global technology. where are l technology. where are opportunities to align with allies and partners in this regulation?— allies and partners in this regulation? clearly we will have to liaise _ regulation? clearly we will have to liaise with - regulation? clearly we will have to liaise with our- regulation? clearly we will. have to liaise with our allies throughout the world on preventing the spread and proliferation of malicious ai is that— proliferation of malicious ai is that is— proliferation of malicious ai is that is something that will be is that is something that will he a — is that is something that will be a serious concern to the entire _ be a serious concern to the entire world wide community and that will— entire world wide community and that will require united states taking — that will require united states taking a — that will require united states taking a leadership role on the worldwide stage in doing that and we — worldwide stage in doing that and we think the us is well positioned to do that. i saw ou positioned to do that. i saw you said — positioned to do that. i saw you said you _ positioned to do that. i saw you said you had _ positioned to do that. i saw you said you had issued - you said you had issued specific recommendations for

types of bills that could be produced off this report because there would have been disagreement over the language used in the bill and this was a bipartisan task force. what opportunity do you think there is in the next congress to actually act upon some of these recommendations? we actually act upon some of these recommendations?— recommendations? we are in ho es recommendations? we are in hopes the _ recommendations? we are in hopes the reports _ recommendations? we are in hopes the reports we - recommendations? we are in hopes the reports we issued l hopes the reports we issued will he — hopes the reports we issued will be used in future congresses, starting with a 119th, _ congresses, starting with a 119th, as _ congresses, starting with a 119th, as to do list of the things— 119th, as to do list of the things that need to effectively artificial intelligence. to be clear, we are recommending specific hills — are recommending specific bills. we just do not recommend specific— bills. we just do not recommend specific language because we did not— specific language because we did not want to have to pre—negotiate exactly what the verhage — pre—negotiate exactly what the verbage on each one of those bills— verbage on each one of those bills would be so richly our plan — bills would be so richly our plan was _ bills would be so richly our plan was to reference specific bill language for each of the different areas and we have abandoned that because it was so important to us that this broadly— so important to us that this broadly bipartisan and the report— broadly bipartisan and the report was. i think you heard in the — report was. i think you heard in the press conference we have 24 members of congress evenly split between republicans and democrats agree on what the

oath — democrats agree on what the path forward is for al regulation in the united states and pretty remarkable. what about the — and pretty remarkable. what about the incoming - and pretty remarkable. what about the incoming trump i about the incoming trump administration? i know your task force met with the transition team, understand you plan to meet with the incoming ai czar. full this lie with what we will see in the trump administration? the what we will see in the trump administration?— what we will see in the trump administration? the task force did not have _ administration? the task force did not have those _ administration? the task force did not have those meetings i did not have those meetings because _ did not have those meetings because it was winding down. i met— because it was winding down. i met with — because it was winding down. i met with a _ because it was winding down. i met with a trump technology transition team last week and dave — transition team last week and dave sykes, the incoming ai czar— dave sykes, the incoming ai czar yesterday and the point i made — czar yesterday and the point i made to— czar yesterday and the point i made to both of them is we need to make — made to both of them is we need to make sure all of our efforts align— to make sure all of our efforts align and _ to make sure all of our efforts align and the executive branch and congress is pushing together in the same direction together in the same direction to he — together in the same direction to be able to get this done and i'm highly optimistic we will be able _ i'm highly optimistic we will be able to achieve that. two astronauts stuck in space since the summer will have to wait even longer to get home. suni williams and butch wilmore arrived at the space station injune and were originally due to return to earth

after just one week. their initial stay was extended to february 2025 because of technical issues. i spoke to former nasa astronaut leroy chiao a little earlier. how do you think they will be handling and other delay in the return? tt handling and other delay in the return? , ., ., ._ handling and other delay in the return? , ., ., , return? it is another delay but this is a relatively _ return? it is another delay but this is a relatively small- return? it is another delay but this is a relatively small one. | this is a relatively small one. there is a complicated situation with which ports we need to relocate a vehicle from to open up another one and so a small ripple or hiccup can ripple through the entire schedule so it is really not that unusual. they have been up and make this long, would have been up eight months now, it will be closer to our belief may be closer to nine but it is not that much more and they seem in good spirits, doing productive work and at the end of the day astronauts like to be in space, so even though they are delayed, i think they will be fine. this

they are delayed, i think they will be fine.— will be fine. as you said good sirits, will be fine. as you said good spirits. we — will be fine. as you said good spirits, we are _ will be fine. as you said good spirits, we are seeing - will be fine. as you said good spirits, we are seeing this - spirits, we are seeing this video of them arriving on the iss, celebrating their arrival. you say delays, but how common is a delay of this length? you said nine months and counting her. ~ ., ., said nine months and counting her. . . ., ., , ., her. what i meant was a delay from february _ her. what i meant was a delay from february to _ her. what i meant was a delay from february to march - her. what i meant was a delay from february to march is - her. what i meant was a delay from february to march is not| from february to march is not that unusual, just a few weeks, but yes, of course, expecting to fly a seven to ten day flight and ending up spending eight or possibly nine months aboard the station is quite a long delay but what we are trained to and we have our mindset of a can—do attitude of adjust to the situation and even though this was not anticipated and certainly disrupted their personal lives and the personal lives of people around them, but they adjusted and are doing great and we are all professionals and we are all professionals and that is what we do. you former astronaut. _ and that is what we do. you former astronaut. are - and that is what we do. you former astronaut. are there any

health considerations being in space for that long?— health considerations being in space for that long? there are -h sical space for that long? there are physical and — space for that long? there are physical and medical - physical and medical challenges, particularly during a long duration flight. after six months i can tell you when i came back down from the station it took me a little longer to recover than a two week shuttle mission but are protocols are pretty good, we have exercise protocols that help to take care of the negative effects that would happen to you. one path we cannot do too much about is the radiation environment, much harsher without the atmosphere to help attenuate the radiation coming from both our son and galactic's raise, but the space station is still under the inaudible the radiation belt capture a lot of that radiation so in pretty good shape. it willjust be higher than here on earth. willjust be higher than here on earth-— willjust be higher than here on earth. ., ., ., , on earth. you alluded to this, there is a _ on earth. you alluded to this, there is a personal _ on earth. you alluded to this, there is a personal side. - on earth. you alluded to this, there is a personal side. we l there is a personal side. we saw footage of suni and butch

in space with these floating packets of food are now spending christmas and new year away from their family. how difficult can that be?- difficult can that be? sure. when -- — difficult can that be? sure. when -- when _ difficult can that be? sure. when -- when i _ difficult can that be? sure. when -- when i flew- difficult can that be? sure. when -- when i flew my i difficult can that be? sure. i when -- when i flew my long when —— when i flew my long duration fright it was from october to april so we spend those holidays away too, something part of the job and it is ok. you must birthdays may be with your family, the holidays, like christmas, thanksgiving, new year, things like that, but it is ok. this is part of the job and it is pretty thrilling to be in space so it is worth it.— so it is worth it. before i let ou so it is worth it. before i let you go. _ so it is worth it. before i let you go. i — so it is worth it. before i let you go. i saw— so it is worth it. before i let you go, i saw headline - so it is worth it. before i let you go, i saw headline the i you go, i saw headline the china set the record for the longest spacewalk in history. how does this latest delay, all the drama with boeing's starliner, what does it say about the space race and whether or not the us is failing to keep up with china? china has made great strides, operating their own space

station, astronauts on board permanently for a while, i want to say at least a year may be longer, and as far as its record of the longest spacewalk, that is not necessarily a record to be proud of. usually they are planned between five and 6.5 hours and if you go beyond that that means it is because something did not go right and you are limited by either the oxygen you have left all the battery power you have left. the american stated, the russian space suit and the chinese space based heavily on the russian one, they can last close to nine hours and so they were pushing the limit on this. i'm not sure what they didn't get done or were having difficulty with but not necessarily a record you want to hold. ., necessarily a record you want to hold. . ., ., . stay with us here on bbc news. hello. after the overnight rain across england and wales, thursday promises to bring lengthy spells of sunshine. it'll be a little on the chilly side, particularly across the north of the uk with a noticeable breeze,

but overall, not a bad day. now, here's the satellite picture of that weather system earlier on, spreading across the uk. the rain has been mostly across the southern half of the country — in the north, we've had showers and clear spells. by the middle of thursday, that weather front is way towards the east of us — and in its wake, we're in that north westerly airstream. so, this is what it looks like early in the morning — still the remnants of the rain there across east anglia, but 1—2 showers also further towards the west. frost—free for england and wales, typically five celsius, closer to freezing in northern ireland and scotland. so here's that weather, then, on thursday — sunshine, particularly across eastern and central england, but notice a few showers in scotland, and 1 or 2 elsewhere. but on the whole, a fine day. the temperatures — around eight for cardiff and for london, about that for liverpool. in edinburgh and belfast, it'll be a shade cooler than that. and then, friday, we're expecting more rain to sweep in.

this next weather front crosses the country — middle of the day, it'll be in central areas of england. gusty winds for a time, too, before it clears away and the skies turn clear, as well. now, let's have a look at the forecast for the weekend, because it will be very blustery. a nasty area of low pressure is expected to sweep just to the north of us — it'll introduce really strong winds to northern and western scotland, and really blustery elsewhere. 60—70mph gusts there in the north of scotland, 50mph across many central parts of the uk. the temperatures may reach 12—13 in some spots — but, because it'll be windy and there'll be showers, some of them wintry over the hills, it won't feel particularly warm. and it's notjust saturday that'll be windy, another very blustery day on sunday to come — look at that, gusts approaching 50mph further south, too. but it will be colder on sunday, you really will feel that wind chill. those temperatures will dip to six celsius — add on those 40—50mph gusts,

and you'll need your thick coats. now, here's christmas week — it turns out that christmas day will be about the mildest day, but it is going to be generally settled. bye— bye.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight

after this programme. so, this is the velodrome? this is it. this is where i spent 20 years of my life. i this week, alasdair's talking wheels with cycling legend sir chris hoy. we're watching how wind is helping wheelchair racers. i think building the chair around you and your needs is incredibly important. and we whip up a chat with the new voice and face of indiana jones. the thing that is universal is that there is, somewhere in all of us, an adventurer. so, this is the velodrome?

this is it, this is where i spent 20 years of my life. i've raced the commonwealth games here in 2002, world champs in �*96, 2000, 2008. i've become world champion here, commonwealth champion. yeah, loads of great memories. but also my place of work. i used to come here five days a week, you know, 50 weeks of the year. so it's... so many memories, so many people, so many friendships. so, yeah, always have a nice, warm feeling when i come back to the velodrome.