hello, i m geeta guru—murthy, welcome to bbc news now, 3 hours of fast—moving news, a us government shutdown is just hours away if lawmakers in washington can't agree a spending plan for government funding. president—elect donald trump is mounting pressure on congress to pass a federal spending bill in an attempt to avoid the shutdown. the first attempt to pass such a bill was heavily defeated in congress but mr trump has since taken to social media to urge congress to scrap what's known as the debt ceiling, or extend it to 2029. this would mean there'd be no limit on the amount of money the us government can borrow to pay for services, such as social security, medicare and the military. but there are concerns that would make it more difficult to contain the country's budget deficit, which is how much a government's expendture exceeds its revenue by. in the us this has reached $1.8 trillion for the year 202a. 38 republicans voted against trump's efforts to suspend the federal debt

limit for two years, and his bill did not reach the required two thirds majority. failure to find consenus in congress on how to deal with the issue of spending, means the us government is facing its 15th shutdown since 1980. 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. let's speak to jarred hill, political correspondent at cbs news. explain how significant it is that 38 republicans did not support this. that 38 republicans did not support this-_ that 38 republicans did not support thie— that 38 republicans did not support this. one of the big thins support this. one of the big things with _ support this. one of the big things with this _ support this. one of the big things with this is _ support this. one of the big things with this is that - support this. one of the big things with this is that it. things with this is that it starts to raise some questions about the mandate that president elect trump will have in congress, despite the fact

that republicans will be in control of the senate and the house when he comes into power this coming year. just in the practical sense this means that it's going to be more difficult for republicans and democrats to push through whatever spending package they are able to pin down on. because you have this breaking of the wall amongst republicans at least at this point. amongst republicans at least at this oint. , ., ., , this point. explain to us the involvement _ this point. explain to us the involvement of _ this point. explain to us the involvement of donald - this point. explain to us the i involvement of donald trump this point. explain to us the - involvement of donald trump and elon musk in this whole question. elon musk in this whole question-— elon musk in this whole cuestion. . �*, ., ., question. that's one of the interesting _ question. that's one of the interesting things - question. that's one of the interesting things here. - question. that's one of the i interesting things here. elon musk is not an elected official. he has been tasked by president elect trump to look at spending and efficiency... president elect trump has been

doing a lot on social media trying to steer the republican party into a direction with this bill that would extend the debt ceiling. basically saying this is president biden's problem. we do know that in the past these debt ceiling conversations can stall an administrations ability to push other things through. he wants to make sure this is but under president biden's rock watch not trumped. republican lawmakers who were supporting the previous measures... saying they should be primary,... what

kind of influence will that have going forward. is going to be a big question. what is going to happen today? today we will see presidentjohnson bringing another built of floor. keep watching we will see what happens. that is going to be the question. will there be another bill bought to the floor? lawmakers have said they are going to be working throughout the day to try get something passed. can they is the question will stop us diplomats are making their first official visit to damascus in more than a decade for talks with syria's new islamist leadership. the diplomats will meet representives of the group which is effectively in charge of the country after overthrowing president assad. washington still designates hts as a terrorist group —

but delegations from the un and countries including the uk, france and germany have already been in damascus to meet the new leaders. let's go live to damascus now and speak to our correspondent lina sinjab. first of all, traditionally one understands that if a group is designated as a terrorist there is no direct contact.— is no direct contact. obviously we are in _ is no direct contact. obviously we are in a — is no direct contact. obviously we are in a very _ is no direct contact. obviously we are in a very specific - we are in a very specific situation here under us law they can talk to them but they cannot support them. for they can talk to them but they cannot support them.- they can talk to them but they cannot support them. for a us delegation — cannot support them. for a us delegation to _ cannot support them. for a us delegation to arrive _ cannot support them. for a us delegation to arrive here - cannot support them. for a us delegation to arrive here and l delegation to arrive here and show direct meetings with hts is significant. if sending a signal that they are willing to engage further in diplomatic relations but also because we have heard from the american

diplomats and the state department saying that this government should be inclusive and protective of minorities and protective of minorities and women's rights. they are also coming here to tell them that we are going to support you if you adhere to the gender that syrians want who do not want to see an islamic government that are excluding other denominations of islamic society. the deaf actor leader really wants a lifting of the sanctions. the us has imposed sanctions. the us has imposed sanctions on syria because of the behaviour of bashar al assad. 90% are under the poverty line and there are so many cities and towns reduced to rubble because of the assad air strikes and people want to go back to their homes. the

government needs money and international support, and that's where the us comes in. in return for lifting sanctions this government should adhere to the agenda that the syrians and the international community wants. ., ., wants. how does that get measured. _ wants. how does that get measured, how _ wants. how does that get measured, how much - wants. how does that get - measured, how much confidence does the international community have? it was really fast moving developments. only 11 days since the toppling of the assad regime. 11 days a new government has been in place. there was a soft transfer of power, many diplomatic missions have arrived. the french, the

germans, the british, and today the americans have come here and met with the new de facto leader. all of this is sending signals that peace can move quickly and the un special envoyis quickly and the un special envoy is stressing the need to the end of sanctions to have an operational country. there is a momentum that everyone wants to hold on. the leader of hts called for a national unity dialogue conference to take place so that all the spectrum of syrian society can be taking part in the political process. in the coming months, the three months that i said to be a transitional period. it is very important to watch their actions and how they going to respond to demands so that the international community does step in and give the support for the country.

today marks the start of the last weekend before christmas, which also means it is the busiest travel weekend of the year. projections say there will be 1a million drivers hitting the road, with millions more travelling by rail, air and ferry. let's speak to transport correspondent for the independent simon calder, who's been keeping a close eye on this weekend's travel. how is it looking and where are you at the moment? i how is it looking and where are you at the moment?— you at the moment? i am in beautiful— you at the moment? i am in beautiful vienna _ you at the moment? i am in beautiful vienna austria. . you at the moment? i am in beautiful vienna austria. i l beautiful vienna austria. i fled the country yesterday, getting outjust in time before frantic friday, which is absolutely going to be the peak day of the winter at the airport and according to the motoring organisations, on the road, as well. if you haven't started off and you're thinking, oh will set off this afternoon, please stay in and watch the news channel and head off perhaps around six or seven

tonight because it is going to be really, really busy on the roads. that's because you have for an awful lot of people at a normal commute which is going to merge with the start of the great getaway, so it's going to be very messy. tomorrow, snarl up be very messy. tomorrow, snarl up saturday is what the rac is calling the day, they're warning particular between one and six in the afternoon is going to be tricky. there warning especially around the big shopping centres, bluewater in kent, meadowhall in south yorkshire, trafford centre in greater manchester, in terms of the biggestjams it's the usual suspects. the m25 western part, between the m1, between gatwick and... around heathrow. heathrow is having its busiest day of the winter today. across

to london and bristol, the a 34, the m25 southampton denote portsmouth. who could forget the m6 in the west midlands, junctions four to 11 are going to be particularly tricky. also the m 53 gets a mention. chester to liverpool. wherever you're going in a car, hope for the best, be prepared for disruption and delays. the same applies to trains. it is disruption and delays. the same applies to trains.— applies to trains. it is truly remarkable _ applies to trains. it is truly remarkable that _ applies to trains. it is truly remarkable that you - applies to trains. it is truly remarkable that you can i applies to trains. it is truly i remarkable that you can keep all those routes in your head even though you're in lovely vienna. i hope you have a lovely time there. thank you so much for being with us. and for anyone in the uk. do pay attention i am recalibrating my weekend having just listened to that. we are here all throughout the christmas period if you do feel the need to stay with us rather than going out and about. much more in line two. around

the world and across the uk this is bbc news.

some breaking news coming out of croatia, where a man has been arrested after a knife attack at a zagreb primary school, in which a 7—year—old child was killed and several other people injured, including pupils and a teacher. let's speak to our balkans correspondent guy delauney. tell us what we know about this. ~ ., tell us what we know about this. ~ . ~ ., , ., this. what we know is that shortly before _ this. what we know is that shortly before ten - this. what we know is that shortly before ten o'clockl this. what we know is that i shortly before ten o'clock this morning a young man aged according to the media around 19 years old, entered the elementary school in the west of zagreb and he made his way to the first year classroom, and once he got there he attacked the teacher and a number of the students. he was using a knife, so the teacher was stabbed and the students were stabbed as well. according

to croatia's health minister, one student who was just seven years old died at the scene. a number of other students were taken to hospital, their condition is not believed to be life threatening. the teacher and also the suspected perpetrator are both in hospital, as well. the teacher's life is in dayjur according to the hospital. she is ago going an operation at the moment after receiving wounds to the chest. obviously a shocking _ wounds to the chest. obviously a shocking incident _ wounds to the chest. obviously a shocking incident and - wounds to the chest. obviously a shocking incident and a - a shocking incident and a unimaginable distress for the parents and the people involved.— parents and the people involved. a ., involved. as you can imagine arents involved. as you can imagine parents turning _ involved. as you can imagine parents turning up _ involved. as you can imagine parents turning up at - involved. as you can imagine parents turning up at the - parents turning up at the school not knowing where their children were, with being a scene of violence at the school. the evidence of that, parents being greeted with sites of blood in the corridor and in the classrooms. that wouldn't have been what they were expecting to see in the

last friday before the brisk christmas break. this is not what people are used to seeing in zagreb or anywhere else in croatia. this is an event which is completely out of the ordinary for croatia which hasn't had any experience of this sort of attacks before. the crown prosecution service say that two men have been charged, following an altercation at manchester airport, which took place injuly of this year. mohammed amaaz, who is 20, and muhammed amaad, who is 25, have been charged with actual bodily harm. mobile phone footage had shown one of the officers kicking and stamping on the head of one man while he was lying on the floor, as the incident came to an end. the cps says it took the combination of evidence and expert opinion into account, before deciding that no charges will be brought against any of the police officers involved.

let's look at some of today's other news, malaysia has authorised another attempt to find the missing flight, mh—370, the plane at the centre of one of the world's great aviation mysteries. it's commissioned a private company, ocean infinity, to search for the aircraft on a no—find, no—fee basis. the plane was carrying 239 people when it disappeared 1o years ago on its way from kuala lumpur to beijing. russia s central bank has left its benchmark interest rate at 21%, holding off on further increases as it struggles to snuff out inflation fueled by the government s spending on the war in ukraine. the decision comes amid criticism from influential business figures, including tycoons close to the kremlin, that high rates are putting the brakes on business activity and the economy. russia has launched a massive air attack on ukraine, with at least 25 civilians injured and three killed in kyiv, kherson and kryvyi rih, president zelensky�*s home town. russia has used artillery, including ballistic missiles, according to ukrainian officials. critical infrastructure has been damaged, leaving thousands without public

transport and electricity. france's president macron has praised the dignity and courage of gisele pelicot following a mass rain trial in which her ex—husband and 50 other defendants were found guilty. in a social media post mr macron said she had moved and inspired france and the world. dominique pelicot was jailed for 20 years for organising the repeated drugging and rain of his then wife by dozens of strangers over a decade. under french law the men have 10 days to decide if they will appeal against the convictions. our correspondent hugh schofield has been following the story. gisele pelicot left the court to the cheers of supporters. this has been a long ordeal. she could have chosen to stay anonymous, but she insisted the trial be in public so that the shame of rain should, as she put it, be felt by the other side. translation: 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 i drew from it the strength to come back every day to face these long days of hearings. others left court in a different way. all the accused, including her ex—husband, dominique, were found guilty. most were taken straight to jail. a handful were freed because of time served in pre—trial custody, and they had to run the gauntlet of the public outside. 50 men were identified who had come to her bedroom to rain or abuse the drugged gisele pelicot. 50 men forming a cross—section of society, said some. a psychiatrist who interviewed many of them had a more nuanced view. translation: one thing - i want to debunk is the notion that these are all just ordinary men. that's what we've heard, right? that they could have been anyone. but committing acts like this is not possible for everyone. it is simply not true. across france, people reacted to the news of the convictions

with satisfaction. translation: i think it's good thatjustice has been done. - it's so rare for people to be convicted. i hope this is an example. i hope this will be useful and that it will enable women's rights and all forms of sexual and gender—based violence to be recognised and to go to trial. translation: now, ithink we have to be aware - of the danger and, above all, we have to believe the women who testify to this kind of thing. we have to support them. gisele pelicot said she wanted the trial to change attitudes, change attitudes to rape and male predatory sex. the respect and admiration with which this unassuming womann is so widely held here give hope that she may be right. hugh schofield, bbc news, in avignon. for more on the reaction to the trial let's speak to the ceo of women for women france, sarah mcgrath.

a day on from those verdicts as everyone digests what happened, what impact do you think it will have in practical terms? there isn't a lot of hope that the change that we need will happen unfortunately. what this case has shown us, certainly within our sector, fighting for women's rights, is how horrific these cases are treated, and how not fit for purpose the french justice system is when it comes to prosecuting these sorts of crimes. the reason this case showed us this even though there was full convictions, is that when we followed the trial of a case of a victim who has so much evidence on her side, hours and hours of footage of the crimes, an admission from the main orchestrator, in this case her

husband, she was still met with such horrid behaviourfrom the defence lawyers. she was accused of lying, they victim blamed, she had to face such an awful ordeal, horrific comments coming from some of the perpetrators. shocking stuff. this is a woman who had all this evidence. for the majority of victims in france... it shows the lack of trust in the justice system in how they are treated. ., , , ., treated. how is this not raised these questions _ treated. how is this not raised these questions to _ treated. how is this not raised these questions to the - treated. how is this not raised these questions to the fore, i treated. how is this not raised| these questions to the fore, to these questions to the fore, to the point where any new french government, as it settles, obviously france is in some political turmoil, obviously france is in some politicalturmoil, but obviously france is in some political turmoil, but will they not be pressure to look at

they not be pressure to look at the legal system and the reporting system and the confidence that women should be able to have in all of that? i think you put your finger on theissue think you put your finger on the issue in terms of getting reform, is that it is the political situation in france. it is going to be really hard to get through the french assembly at the moment with such a divided parliament. that will be a challenge. i think what we could see that is positive is a reckoning, a cultural reckoning within french culture. for the longest time, we haven't been talking about consent in france. nor have we been talking about coercive control. those two concepts are very new in french culture. as is the idea as we saw earlier, with one of the defence lawyers, that actually these are ordinary men. these are men that we know and they'll mend that work with

their men in ourfamilies. i think the culture is going to be extremely important and we are already seeing that with the discussions that we are seeing online and in the public sphere, and in the media. this is a positive thing, even if we are not holding out hope for the justice system to reform, sadly. it the justice system to reform, sadl . , the justice system to reform, sadl. , _ ., sadly. it is possibly that there could _ sadly. it is possibly that there could be - sadly. it is possibly that there could be an - sadly. it is possibly that l there could be an appeal sadly. it is possibly that i there could be an appeal in this case. what is your sense of the reaction to that if that was to happen? mi of the reaction to that if that was to happen?— was to happen? all of the eo - le was to happen? all of the people who _ was to happen? all of the people who have - was to happen? all of the people who have been i was to happen? all of the i people who have been found guilty have ten days from yesterday to appeal the decision. we do expect to see that a few will appeal the decision, and that's what victims have to face unfortunately. that is the guilty party's right to appeal under french law and that can be further traumatising for the victims. gisele pelicot has

already gone through so much and to reopen this would be, for me, indecent and disrespectful of those found guilty of these crimes to go forward with an appeal. titers; forward with an appeal. very briefl , forward with an appeal. very briefly. it's _ forward with an appeal. very briefly, it's a _ forward with an appeal. very briefly, it's a difficult - forward with an appeal. very briefly, it's a difficult case i briefly, it's a difficult case to even watch and to read about. i think her lawyer has said she doesn't want to be seen as an icon, but she is going to be known for a long time isn't she? film going to be known for a long time isn't she?— going to be known for a long time isn't she? oh yes. gisele pelicot is _ time isn't she? oh yes. gisele pelicot is a — time isn't she? oh yes. gisele pelicot is a national— time isn't she? oh yes. gisele pelicot is a national treasure l pelicot is a national treasure and a global treasure. what she has done with her bravery is simply remarkable. she has inspired women in france and around the world, by making these trials open and open to these trials open and open to the media, she has really shone a spotlight on some key issues and we are so grateful to her. incredible woman. [30

and we are so grateful to her. incredible woman.— and we are so grateful to her. incredible woman. do stay with us here on _ incredible woman. do stay with us here on bbc— incredible woman. do stay with us here on bbc news _ incredible woman. do stay with us here on bbc news we - incredible woman. do stay with us here on bbc news we are i incredible woman. do stay with i us here on bbc news we are back in a few moments. you are with the bbc. hello. a band of rain is pushing its way eastwards across the uk today. the rain associated with an area of low pressure and this cloud on the satellite picture. it's not the only low, though, in the north atlantic. further west, we've got a more powerful system developing just here, and that's going to be bringing some very strong winds to parts of the uk this weekend, potentially disrupting some of your christmas travel plans. now, we started off with rain today across scotland and northern ireland, but the afternoon here looking a lot brighter, sunshine and blustery showers as our rain band works its way eastwards across england and wales. temperatures around eight to ten degrees and it will be quite windy. gusts reaching around 40mph—odd for the western side of scotland. that rain clears through overnight but then clear spells for a time.

the next area of rain works in later in the night, accompanied by some really quite strong winds. and it's on saturday that we'll see this next area of low pressure really flex its muscles, bringing some particularly windy weather to north—western areas of the uk, and especially parts of north—west scotland, where for parts of the hebrides, the orkney islands, parts of highland, we'll likely see gusts of wind reaching around 70mph to 80mph, maybe even a bit stronger than this. winds this strong will cause some transport disruption and could bring down some trees as well. and elsewhere across the north west of the uk, the winds strong enough to cause one or two issues as well. weather—wise, elsewhere we see a band of rain clearing south—eastwards on saturday, followed by sunshine and blustery showers. the showers most frequent across the northwest of the uk, and it will be cold enough for some hail and a bit of wintriness over some of the highest mountains as well. heading into sunday, the same area of low pressure is still on our weather charts.

it's going to be another windy day. if anything, the winds a little bit more widespread. gusts of around 50mph to 60mph, but still 70 for parts of western scotland. again strong enough to bring some localised disruption in terms of the fact that we could see some tree branches being brought down. still a blustery day with plenty of showers around, with hail and some sleet mixed in with those showers and temperatures six or seven celsius. it will be a colder feeling day, especially when you factor in those winds. once that windy zone of weather is out of the way, though, next week it turns very mild in the run—up to christmas, with temperatures often well into double figures.

this is bbc news. the headlines: a us government shutdown looms as 38 republicans are among lawmakers who have rejected a spending bill backed by donald trump. a bbc investigation reveals how the myanmar military is cracking from within, as spies help pro—democracy rebels make crucial gains. if you have got a slightly bigger budget for your christmas shopping, we take a look at what's hot and what's not in the world of luxury gifts. hello, i'm geeta guru—murthy. a bbc investigation has revealed that the myanmar military now only has full control of less than a quarter of the territory, nearly four years after seizing power

ina coup. a patchwork of resistance groups and ethnic armies now have full control over more than 40% and the rest is mostly contested. for over a year bbc eye has been following one of the rebel units and reveals that spies in the military are helping the resistance. rebecca henschke reports. this pro—democracy rebel unit is preparing to attack. their leader daeva has received intelligence from a spy inside the military — the enemy camp. translation: we've been told about their capabilities, - where their reinforcements will come from and which route they will use to withdraw. our strategy is to mentally pressure the enemy day and night.

they keep up the pressure for nine days.