welcome to newsday, i'm katie silver. america could be heading towards a government shutdown just days before christmas, after the first attempt to pass a federal spending bill was heavily defeated in congress. despite donald trump backing the bill, 38 republicans broke rank and voted against it. it failed to reach the required two—thirds majority. now we are waiting to see if a second vote on friday which would requirejust a simple majority, will happen, and if it does — will it receive enough support to pass with such a slim republican majority? here's speaker of the house mikejohnson speaking after the first vote. it is, i think, really irresponsible for us to risk on theseissues irresponsible for us to risk on these issues that they are already agreed upon. i think you need to be asking them the questions about that. crosstalk. we will regroup and

come out with another solution so stay tuned. the stakes here are high. if a bill can't be voted through congress by midnight on friday, government departments will start running out of cash. hundreds of thousands of federal employees could be sent home or have to stay on the job without pay just ahead of the holidays. including transport, postal and border patrol workers. i'm joined now by peter bowes, our north america correspondent. peter, thank you forjoining me. there has been his boat already. what is the latest? we “ust already. what is the latest? we just heard. _ already. what is the latest? - just heard, it will come up with another solution, stay tuned. really, politicians in washington are back to the drawing board, not quite a blank piece of paper. what a lot of certainly democrats are saying is they should revert back to earlier version of the bill which was agreed by both sides, it had bipartisan agreement, but that didn't go ahead and elon musk certainly

was donald trump's appointed czar to reduce spending. and the result that make the revised edition of the bill which donald trump supported significantly included an extra clause that raised the debt ceiling for the us government. that is the amount of money the government can borrow to fund services and make democrats say that donald trump wants that so that donald trump wants that so that when he moves into the white house and his administration is in a position to lower taxes which democrats say will benefit the better off in this country but possibly also raise the national deficit. he is doing that, they say, free of the debt ceiling and that is why he was so insistent on it being in. the problem is for both donald trump and many republicans is that there are many in the republican party in the conservative wing of the partly

—— party simply don't like the idea of the debt ceiling being suspended for a couple of years. it suspended for a couple of ears. ., ., ~' ~' years. it did look like there was a deal _ years. it did look like there was a deal that _ years. it did look like there was a deal that was - years. it did look like there was a deal that was agreed j was a deal that was agreed earlier this week. how did we get here and for those of us who remember the 2018— 2019 shutdown, what is it like there in the us when these things actually happen? i in the us when these things actually happen? i remember it well also and _ actually happen? i remember it well also and it _ actually happen? i remember it well also and it depends - actually happen? i remember it well also and it depends on - actually happen? i remember it| well also and it depends on how long the shutdown goes on for. if it is just for a few days, most americans probably won't notice any difference but if it drags on for a number of weeks thatis drags on for a number of weeks that is when some serious problems can occur. workers like the security people you see at an airport. they will still be working because security is involved but they will go without pay. many tax officials, they might be laid officials, they might be laid off from theirjobs and they won't be paid as well stop the longer it goes on, the more it will affect every day people in terms of their dealings with

the government. it seems like that intervention of elon musk had a significant impact. he spoke out very strongly against the first bill to the point that he is being ridiculed now by some democrats in washington who are describing him as president mask. it is a sarcastic comment but it shows what is happening in washington with donald trump. —— president musk. with donald trump. -- president musk. . ~ , ., with donald trump. -- president musk. . ~ , a court in france found 51 men guilty at the end of a mass rape trial. all but two of them are now in jail for what they did to one woman — 72—year—old gisele pelicot. her ex husband got the longest sentence

of 20 years for drugging his wife and allowing dozens of strangers to rape her, repeatedly, over a ten year period. gisele pelicot said she waived her right to anonymity during the three month trial so that society could see what was happening. 0ur correspondent andrew harding sent this report from outside the court in avignon. the accused arrived early at court, faces masked as usual. some with their prison bags already packed. a few showing open contempt for this trial. but the crowd here in avignon and the forest of cameras were not here for the men. this trial has in so many ways now become all about this woman — gisele pelicot. herface at least seemed serene this morning. the rape victim who refused to feel shame. inside the crowded courtroom, thejudge quickly got on with the business of the day. verdicts first, then sentencing for all 51 men. dominique pelicot sat quietly in his glass cage as the judge

turned to address him. translation: the defendants will stand up in turn _ to hear the verdicts. mr pelicot first. the court finds him guilty of aggravated rape. inside the courtroom here, the verdicts have been coming at a furious pace. guilty, guilty, guilty. dominique pelicot has just stood up to be told that he will be sentenced to 20 years in prison, the maximum here in france for rape. he showed no emotion, nor did his former wife gisele, sitting quietly on the other side of the courtroom. outside the courthouse, some people celebrated the news. crowd chants. but others were angry that many of the men got lighter sentences than anticipated. "shame," they shouted. back inside, dominique pelicot�*s lawyer told me

her client was considering an appeal. i asked what his mood was like. "fatalistic," she replied. "the way he's always been throughout the trial." and then, after a pause, gisele pelicot emerged to give her reaction. translation: it is with deep emotion that i speak - to you today. this trial was a very difficult ordeal. i think first of all of my three children, david, caroline and florian. i also think of my grandchildren, because they are the future, and it's also for them that i have led this fight. i want to express my deepest gratitude to all the people who have supported me throughout this ordeal. i was overwhelmed by your support and from it i drew the strength to come back each day to face these court hearings. i wanted to open the doors

of this trial last september so that society could see what was happening. i have never regretted this decision. i have confidence now in our capacity, collectively, to find a better future in which men and women alike can live harmoniously together with respect and mutual understanding. thank you. it's half a century now since the pelicots met and fell in love. she described him as a perfect husband. but at a supermarket in 2020, dominique pelicot was caught in this footage filming up women's skirts. police soon discovered computer files, with other videos, proving he'd been inviting dozens of strangers to rape his wife after he drugged her. in prison, he was assessed by a psychiatrist. translation: mr pelicot desired total control over his wife. - he wanted to reduce her

to an object, a possession to be used for his satisfaction. then he could lend this object to other people. and to do all of that, he needed to drug her. and these were not his first crimes. dna evidence soon proved pelicot had begun attacking women years earlier. he's being investigated for the 1991 rape and murder of sophie narme, which he denies. he also took indecent images of his daughter caroline, who was in court today, along with her two brothers. she's convinced her father also raped her. this afternoon, pelicot and most of the other rapists were taken away to begin their sentences. among them — firemen, a journalist, a nurse, all ages, three quarters of them fathers. there was a moment of tension outside when one of the defence lawyers taunted the crowd...

calling them hysterical, then swearing at them. here comes gisele pelicot now, leaving the courthouse for the last time. she has achieved something quite extraordinary here. this courageous public stance — the impact of that will surely ripple through society here, perhaps for decades. she could, like most rape victims, have chosen to remain anonymous at the trial. instead, listen to the reaction she now receives. cheering. she wanted to change attitudes, and perhaps she has. singing. "rise up," they sing. and with that, madame pelicot, engulfed by gratitude, walks on. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

let's look at some other stories making news. a 26—year—old man accused of murdering three members of the family of the bbc racing commentator, john hunt, has been further charged with raping his daughter. kyle clifford pleaded not guilty to stabbing to death mr hunt's wife, carol, at their home injuly. he has also denied killing the couple's daughters with a crossbow. four teenagers have beenjailed for life for the murders of two friends, max dixon and mason rist, who were killed in a case of mistaken identity. riley tolliver, who is 18, and kodi—shai westcott, who is 17, will serve minimum terms of 23 years for the stabbing. the other two teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will serve at least 15 and 18 years behind bars. eight people have been hurt after a double decker bus crashed into a railway bridge tearing its roof off in kilmarnock. it comes just days after another double decker bus crashed into a railway bridge in glasgow, leaving one man

critical in hospital you're live with bbc news. luigi mangione has been arraigned for first—degree murder in a new york court — as prosecutors submitted evidence they claim, shows his attack was planned months in advance. the 26—year—old is alleged to have shot and killed the chief executive of the insurance company unitedhealthcare earlier this month. he arrived in manhattan from pennsylvania after waiving his right to contest his extradition. mr mangione is now facing four new federal charges — in addition to several other state charges in new york and pennsylvania. 0ur north america correspondent nada tawfik has the latest. there was such a dramatic parade of luigi mangione in front of the cameras

as he was handed back to new york — it's something i've frankly not seen in the past. of course, he is a special defendant, given the circumstances of the alleged crime. but he was flown to new york, taken off the helicopter, and flanked by heavily—armed law enforcement from several agencies, followed by new york mayor eric adams, then brought straight to that federal courthouse. i can tell you that outside the federal courthouse, there were several people that supported him, holding up signs, one of them that said "health over wealth." so, he remains a folk hero to some, but for prosecutors in new york, they have branded him a terrorist. there were details about the notebook he carried, made a month—and—a—half before he allegedly killed bryan thompson, talking about how he wanted to whack a ceo from one of the big insurance companies, that it would be a perfect target to send a message. what happens now is he did not enter a plea in this

arraignment, where he was formally read the charges against him, so he'll have to come back into court in mid january, we will then get further details about how and what a trial would look like and if he would try to seek bail. russia's president putin says he is ready for talks at "any time" with the us president—elect donald trump, who has vowed to bring the war with ukraine to a swift end, but hasn't said how. president putin was speaking at his lengthy end of the year press conference. 0ur russia editor, steve rosenberg was there. it would have been hard not to notice vladimir putin today. his marathon, end—of—year event was live on all the main tv channels in russia. it was half phone—in, half press conference. he used it to make his first public comments on events in syria, with a message for those calling the fall

of assad a blow to russia. a message too for donald trump — putin was ready for talks, any time. after more than four hours, it was my turn to ask a question. "exactly 25 years ago," i said, "when boris yeltsin resigned "and handed you power, he told you, take care of russia. "but what of the significant losses suffered in your "so—called special military operation in ukraine "and the ukrainian troops now in russia's kursk region, "and sanctions and high inflation? "do you think you've taken care of russia?" translation: yes, i haven't just taken care of it. - i think we've pulled back from the edge of the abyss. with everything that was happening to russia before that, we were heading towards a complete, total loss of our sovereignty, and without sovereignty, russia cannot exist as an independent state. from the public, there were video messages asking putin to fix their everyday problems. from the president, there was praise for russian soldiers fighting against ukraine.

so, what did we learn from four hours of live televised putin? that in his mind, he can't put a foot wrong. events in syria are not a defeat. the war in ukraine is going russia's way. yes, putin admits there are problems, but the whole point of this event was to convince russians that he has the solutions. and when it was over, well, it wasn't over for me. i was mobbed by russian media wanting my reaction, this is what happens if you've managed to ask the kremlin leader a question. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. the bbc has gained rare access to the unheard stories of women inside iran's notorious evin prison — including accounts of torture and threat of execution. thousands of women in iran were arrested after the woman, life, freedom movement in 2022. from multiple reliable sources, bbc 100 women has built

a detailed picture of life inside the prison walls — revealing the stories of women who continue to protest for their rights despite the risks. this is nasim's story, narrated by nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, who was herself held in evin prison. and a warning, some viewers may find this distressing. they stopped my taxi, handcuffed and blindfolded me. before the protests, nasim lived an ordinary life. a hairdresser who loved rap music. i'm interrogated 10—12 hours every day. i survived by rapping protest songs to myself. but there were moments i thought this darkness would never end.

nasim has been waiting for her sentence for 500 days. there are other women, too, suspended between life and death. every tuesday, the women protest against executions. even though the prison has caged us, it cannot cage our voices. today they announced my sentence — 7a lashes, six years in prison, 20 years in exile. i could breathe again. i embraced the life i felt i would lose at any moment. but the flow of executions has not stopped, so neither have our protests. and every tuesday, it repeats. the iranian government routinely denies allegations of human rights violations, and rejects claims that prisoners are mistreated. watch the full film, songs from inside, by bbc 100 women, on the world service youtube channel, and on bbc

iplayer in the uk. french president emmanuel macron arrived in mayotte on thursday to assess the damage from cyclone chido. the country, which lies just off the southeastern coast of africa, has been battered by the storm since the weekend. mayotte is france's poorest territory and one of the poorest countries on the planet. nearly 80% of its population live in poverty. officials are scrambling for resources as aid agencies struggle to begin searching for bodies and other recovery efforts. after taking an aerial and ground tour with emergency officials, president macron promised set up a field hospital by friday and vowed to help rebuild mayotte. 0ur correspondent mayeni jones is on the ground in mayotte and sent us this update. an entire island destroyed. being here it is apparent how devastating cyclone chido was.

people live in houses made of wood and they couldn't stand the 220 kilometres an hour wind speeds we saw last weekend. now lots of people find themselves without shelter, sleeping out in the open or even in some makeshift accommodation. we managed to speak to people who found shelters in schools and gyms but they say they need to make their needs are bigger, that children are terrified and that children are terrified and that food and security are an issue. �* ,, �* ~' ., issue. translation: rd like to no back issue. translation: rd like to go back home — issue. translation: rd like to go back home or— issue. translation: rd like to go back home or take _ issue. translation: rd like to go back home or take my - go back home or take my children_ go back home or take my children somewhere because it is not — children somewhere because it is not normal to sleep like this— is not normal to sleep like this so_ is not normal to sleep like this so sometimes i worry for my children's safety and that they— my children's safety and that they will_ my children's safety and that they will try to steal from us. friends— they will try to steal from us. friends president emmanuel macron is in mayotte today. he was to send the message that he was to send the message that he was to send the message that he was to support the people of mayotte, that he will notjust lay in and fly out and i think that gesture is being

appreciated but people say they need more, that for a long time mayotte has suffered from underinvestment and that if houses are going to be rebuilt, they need to be rebuilt stronger and better so they can withstand future cyclones stop that makes life very difficult for mr macron because at home he is stealing with an unstable government but there is also a raging debate about immigration. an estimated 100,000 people living here are migrants coming from elsewhere. and some say that french —— france suit should not censor much aid here because it might encourage people to come and seek asylum here. but people desperately need aid. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines: veteran labour politician lord mandelson has been named as the new uk ambassador to the united states. he will replace the outgoing ambassador dame karen pierce. peter mandelson was a prominent figure during the new labour

years, but he has not served in government since 2010. authorities in southwestern nigeria say 35 children have died in a crush at an end—of—year fair at a school. more people than expected are thought to have turned up for the event, after organisers promised free food and money. the organisers of the event have been arrested. us authorities have banned drones in 22 newjersey cities until 17 january, allowing authorities to use deadly force against aircraft deemed a security threat. the move follows mysterious drone sightings across the state and other parts of the us, which sparked public concern. a google street view image of a man loading a large white plastic bag into the boot of his car has helped unravel a murder case in a northern spanish town. police say the google cameras happened to be recording the street at the exact moment the body of the victim was allegedly being removed a group of care home residents — average age 94 — have set a new guinness world record for being the world's oldest choir.

0ur correspondent phil mackie watched them in action in stratford—upon—avon. # good tidings we bring, to you and your kin... warming up in the green room. this was going to be a very big day in some very long lives. all 17 singing nonagenarians live in residential care homes. known as the prime timers, the choir was getting used to some late life fame. chris, at 91, is a mere youngster. in the first place, when they just talked about it in the home, i thought, do i want to be part of the oldest anything? and then when i heard them practising, i thought, well, i do like to sing. i love choral music. i decided to come along and enjoyed it. it's been good fun. # here we are with a song to sing... #a # a story to be told.

then the big moment came, with a bit of stage fright at first before they got into the swing of things. # it's christmas... around half of the members of the group have dementia, and singing is a great help. one thing that people always say is that they might forget your name or your face, but they'll never forget how you make them feel. when they were first asked to do this, they thought it was a bit of a laugh. now they're in the guinness book of world records. they have an official average age of 94, making this a new guinness world record. cheering and applause. congratulations! few of us, at any age, get to have an attempt at your world records, leave alone at 90 and more, so it really is quite something. we got through it, eventually. i think we did not too bad. and you're now a guinness world record holder. pardon? you're now a guinness world record holder. yeah, it's wonderful.

phil mackie, bbc news, stratford—upon—avon. if that won't get you in the spirit then nothing well. stay with bbc news. business today up with bbc news. business today up next. hello there. some very blustery weather over the next few days and it is looking particularly windy wherever you are through the weekend. and a whole range of temperatures, too. milder again on friday and saturday, briefly colder on sunday, then temperatures are set to rise as we head into christmas itself — which is not looking white at all. but until then, a lot of weather to get through, including tonight. there is an approaching couple of weather fronts, bringing some outbreaks of rain and plenty of cloud. also, milder—feeling air as well, marked in yellow.

so, rising temperatures for many for the rest of the night but still a chilly start across eastern areas of england. here, some early brightness but it's not set to last. it will cloud over as our fronts continue to push their way further southwards and eastwards into england and wales by the afternoon. blustery showers, brighter conditions following on behind but brisk westerly winds, particularly for western coasts. but because the winds are westerly, the air is going to feel a little milder. again, 8—11 degrees celsius — higher temperatures than on thursday. that front clears away as we head through friday night to be followed in quick succession by more. the winds will really pick up, particularly for the north and the west. this is how we'll start off the day on saturday but what you'll really notice about saturday is just how blustery it is, wherever you are across the uk. a tight squeeze on the isobars a tight squeeze on the isobars here, especially out here, especially out towards the northern isles, towards the northern isles, the western isles, parts the western isles, parts of caithness and sutherland. of caithness and sutherland. here, we could be looking here, we could be looking at gusts of wind of up to 80mph at gusts of wind of up to 80mph — it's enough to cause some — it's enough to cause some

disruption and some damage. disruption and some damage. gusts widely of 50—60mph gusts widely of 50—60mph across northern ireland, across northern ireland, north west england and north west england and into northwest scotland. into northwest scotland. there will be blustery showers, there will be blustery showers, some sunshine in the north, some sunshine in the north, more sunshine across more sunshine across northern england but staying cloudy with outbreaks of rain further south. northern england but staying but here, it's mild — but here, it's mild — 12 or 13 degrees. 12 or 13 degrees. however, this is sunday. however, this is sunday. notice that the winds are now notice that the winds are now coming down from the northwest coming down from the northwest — cold arctic air — — cold arctic air — and there will be some and there will be some wintriness in those showers, especially over the higher wintriness in those showers, especially over the higher ground. ground. and this time, it's windy, too, and this time, it's windy, too, in the south with gusts of wind in the south with gusts of wind of 60mph, perhaps across of 60mph, perhaps across western wales and down western wales and down through south west england, too. through south west england, too. there are met office there are met office weather warnings in place. weather warnings in place. also here, the air is cold. also here, the air is cold. there will be some sunshine, there will be some sunshine, however, butjust 6—8 degrees however, butjust 6—8 degrees celsius temperature—wise. and it's still rather chilly celsius temperature—wise. and it's still rather chilly on monday but a pretty nice day on monday but a pretty nice day of weather with lighter of weather with lighter winds and some sunshine. winds and some sunshine. and then, it all turns milder and then, it all turns milder again on christmas eve again on christmas eve and christmas day. and christmas day. bye— bye. bye— bye.

thousands of amazon workers walk out just days before the christmas rush. and — what did you google this year? we'll look at asia's top search trends. hello, and welcome to business today. i'm katie silver. in the us, thousands of amazon's warehouse workers walked out, starting a strike during the busiest time of the year for the online retailer. the industrial action is happening in key cities like new york, atlanta and san francisco in what the teamsters union is calling the largest ever strike against amazon. for more on how this could impact holiday shopping,

let's hear from the bbc�*s ritika gupta. thousands of amazon workers walked off the job at seven facilities on thursday morning to protest against what they say is unfair treatment over pay and working conditions. this comes after the company refused to negotiate with the union over a labour contract. workers in cities including new york, atlanta and san francisco took part in what the teamsters union called the largest ever strike against the firm, with demonstrations at hundreds of warehouses across the country. yet amazon, one of the largest us employers, said its services would not be disrupted during the crucial holiday shopping period. it also said that they don't directly employ the teamsters' members on strike. the retail giant — which denies the employees' claims of unfair practices — has long faced criticism of its working conditions and been the target of activists. the teamsters union, with more than1 million members overall, is well—known for winning contracts for

members at firms such as ups.