this is bbc news, the headlines: a us government shutdown looms after dozens of republicans vote against a spending bill backed by donald trump. the labour grandee lord mandelson is expected to be named as the uk's next ambassador to the us. a bbc investigation reveals how myanmar�*s military is cracking from within as spies help pro—democracy rebels make crucial gains. on verified today, we're sharing the data behind our investigation that reveals myanmar�*s military have lost control of large

parts of the country. sue gray, the civil servant who investigated party gate and went on to become keir starmer chief of staff has become a life peer. and the face—off lasted 11 minutes and 20 seconds. now all eyes on usyk and fury ahead of their hugely anticipated rematch tomorrow. more on those stories coming up in the next 30 minutes. now time for all the latest sport. hello from the bbc sport centre. oleksandr usyk and tyson fury�*s highly awaited rematch on saturday is getting closer. in a few hours we'll have the weigh—in in riyadh. that follows thursday's press conference where we saw perhaps the longest face—off in boxing history, neitherwould back down, it lasted over 11 minutes. usyk defeated fury by split decision in march, and that's what former world champion lennox lewis believes will be the main motivating factor for fury this time round.

psychologically, for tyson fury, he doesn't want that to happen again. so mentally he's going to say, "this is not going to happen to me again. i'm going to make sure that i'm fully ready for this guy and he can't beat me. i'm bigger, i'm stronger, i'm faster". this is the stuff that he should be telling himself. next to the english premier league, champions manchester city and yet another injury problem for pep guardiola, with his side on the worst run of his managerial career. just one win in 11 in all competitions and now central defender ruben dias has been ruled out for three or four weeks with a muscular issue after picking up the injury in suday�*s derby defeat to manchester united. city play at aston villa on saturday in the early kick off, they are nine points behind the premier league leaders liverpool, with guardiola eagerfor a turn in fortunes.

of course you have to try again and do it again and sooner or later we will turn it around. i don't know when, because some problems we had in a squad, they are out for a long time, they are out for a long time, they will not be ready tomorrow, and we have to continue. that is what we have to do. tottenham manager ange postecoglou says several senior players could be missing for this weekend's premier league game against liverpool after a make—shift spurs side beat manchester united 4—3 in the quarterfinals of the english league cup. liverpool, training here, will also be their opponents in the two—legged semifinal, though the sides meet at the tottenham hotspur stadium on sunday first. victory would ensure liverpool are top of the premier league at christmas, and the spurs boss is expecting his side to be tested to the limit. they are very settled, as a team we have got quality within the starting 11 in the squad. they have dealt with things, we

saw them last week, they were a man down and they have that belief at the moment. they are the outstanding team in the competition so far, again, on our day, when we play our football, we are a pretty good opposition. southampton are expected to appoint ivanjuric as their new manager on an 18—month deal. it follows the sacking of russell martin with the club currently bottom of the premier league and nine points from safety. juric was sacked by roma last month after 12 games, and was on the shortlist to replace ralph hasenhuttl as southampton boss two years ago. he's 49 and had an impresssive three—year spell in charge of torino. he's unlikely to be in post for this weekend s match against fulham on sunday. lebronjames has broken the record for the most minutes played in nba history as he helped the los angeles lakers beat the sacramento kings 113—100. the 39—year—old surpassed kareem abdul—jabbar when he completed his 57,447th minute on court,

having also beaten abdul—jabbar�*s all—time scoring record earlier this year. it's a pretty cool honour, obviously, any time i'm linked with some of the greats that have ever played this game. and to know i've been available to my team—mates, i've been able to do this at a high level over two decades and continue to put myself in record books in this game of basketball that i love so much in the best league in the world it's pretty cool and it's very, very humbling. and in the last hour we've heard that warren gatland will continue as wales head coach for the 2025 six nations despite the welsh rugby union admitting his position had been "on the line" after a terrible run of results. there's more reaction on the bbc sport website. and that's all the sport for now. back to you, matthew. straight news just coming in from the children's society

here in the uk which said it has respectively decided not to accept a christmas donation from the outgoing archbishop of canterburyjustin welby is canterbury justin welby is doing canterburyjustin welby is doing so would not be consistent with the principles and values that underpin our work. that is quite a development. you may remember the archbishop of canterbury was forced to resign a few weeks ago over the handling of sexual abuse allegations from john smyth. the children's society saying they have respectfully decided not to accept a donation from justin welby at christmas, to do so would not be in line with the principles and values that underpin our work. we will bring you more on that story. the uk government is set to nominate 30 new labour peers to the house of lords. they include sir keir starmer�*s former chief of staff, sue grey and former shadow minister thangham

let's speak to our political correspondent, iain watson. sue gray is likely to dominate the headlines.— sue gray is likely to dominate the headlines. yes, because of that headlines _ the headlines. yes, because of that headlines around - the headlines. yes, because of that headlines around her - that headlines around her departure. the party gate... then went to work as chief of staff. did not last as long as chief of staff in downing street, an power struggle, and left in october. nonetheless, she was allegedly going to be given anotherjob, envoy to nations and regions, she never took thatjob up and really since then has been on the cards that she would get some kind of reward for effectively being at keir starmer�*s side in opposition and briefly in government and get elevated to the house of the lords, and thatis the house of the lords, and that is exactly what has happened. some of these other labour names are interesting as well. a whole smattering of mps that stood down at the last minute before the general election to allow a new

generation of a misty loyalist to take their seats up, not long before polling day. in addition to that, there are those close to keir starmer, all the way back to the blair and brown era. did not quite make it into downing street and has been rewarded. labour are saying that their ambition is to get rid of the house of lords entirely. they are consulting these plans and i think it is interesting on two fronts. firstly, something longer term, representative of the nations and regions. two senior scottish politicians, the first minister of wales as well. forthe the first minister of wales as well. for the time being, the balance of power if you like is very much towards the conservatives in the house of lords, they have 200 and 70p is, labour have 175. with this list, they start to narrow that gap and if they get rid of hereditary peers, that gap narrows even further. that is the process thereon that will

help ease the legislation they get through the house of lords. but by and large the people they have chosen are very much loyalists, all the way back to a close aide to tony blair, andrew hunter who becomes... people keir starmer can rely on, the former children's commissionerfor on, the former children's commissioner for england on, the former children's commissionerfor england is commissioner for england is amongst commissionerfor england is amongst those on the list, but amongst those on the list, but a lot of them have a trade union background or a labour party background or a background incredibly close to keir starmer, including the person who is his principal legal adviser who is director of public prosecutions. ian watson at _ of public prosecutions. ian watson at westminster, thank you very much for that. elsewhere in syria, a leading kurdish commander the us says it has killed the leader of islamic state in syria, in an air strike in the east of the coa

leading kurdish commander — who played a major role in defeating the islamic state group in syria — has told the bbc the huge political changes in the country are �*paving the way�* for them to re—emerge. 0ur senior international correspondent 0rla guerin is there. the fall of assad has not freed all of syria's prisoners. with good reason, we were told. this is a maximum securityjail. around 5,000 men are detained here, including some britons, cut off from the outside world and a changing syria. but local authorities warn is is planning its next moves, and could use the current chaos to try a jailbreak. it's very rare to get access inside these walls. this is the biggest prison for is detainees. the men being held here, most of them were with is

until its last stand. kurdish security sources tell us that they were deeply committed to the ideology of is. we were taken to meet a detainee. hello. who didn't want to be identified. he is 28, from australia, and said he was speaking freely. do you have blood on your hands? were you involved in killing anybody with is? no. i wasn't. "no, i wasn't", he said, barely audibly. 0n the key questions, he had little to say. this was is in its heyday. it brutalised one third of syria and iraq. now there are warnings that it's gearing up again. so general mazloum abdi is facing into battle. he helped defeat is in 2019 with his kurdish

forces, backed by the us. translation: of course, | since the fall of the regime, there are more factors allowing is to get stronger. they have more capabilities and more chances. the prisons are more dangerous, and face more threat of attack. the danger has doubled compared to before. and behind the wire, hope has grown that freedom is coming, somehow. this is roj camp, which holds families of is, around 3,000 women and children. sayeeda, from dagestan, tells me she hopes syria's new rebel leader will bring freedom for her and her son ali. 0thers believe is is coming,

says the camp manager, who hides her identity because she fears for her safety. translation: they have - packed their bags, ready to go. they say, "we will get out of this camp soon". even their children have changed. they will say some slogans and swear at you and say "it", meaning is, "is coming soon". "we will come back soon and get you". the new syria has inherited plenty of threats, and much unfinished business. 0rla guerin, bbc news, north—east syria. let's speak to kino gabriel, who is the former spokesperson, syrian democratic forces. thank you for being here on the programme. how big a danger do you think it is of a resurgent

from ias? you think it is of a resurgent from ms?— from ias? good evening. of course, from ias? good evening. of course. i — from ias? good evening. of course, ithink_ from ias? good evening. of course, i think the - from ias? good evening. of course, i think the threat i from ias? good evening. of. course, i think the threat from isis... very huge. you should not forget that they still have... �* . , not forget that they still have- - -_ not forget that they still have...�* . , , �* have... i'm really sorry. i'm auoin have... i'm really sorry. i'm going to _ have... i'm really sorry. i'm going to have _ have... i'm really sorry. i'm going to have to _ have... i'm really sorry. i'm going to have to interrupts l going to have to interrupts you. the line is really terrible. we can't really make out what you are saying. i am going to have to come away from that and perhaps try to re—establish the line and come back to you. apologies, we have to leave it there for now. around the world and across the uk, you are watching bbc news.

the malaysian government says it has agreed to resume the search for a passengerjet that vanished 10 years ago in one of aviation's greatest mysteries. the malaysia airlines jet carrying 239 people vanished in 2014. despite an extensive search of coastlines and the ocean floor, neither the aircraft, nor the people on board, were found. 0ur correspondent theo leggett gave us this update. this was a quite normal flight that lifted off from kuala lumpur en route to beijing, made it to the edge of malaysian airspace and then, for no reason that can be understood at the moment, turned around, changed course and started flying in a different direction, almost the opposite direction to where it was supposed to be heading. at the same time, its main radar was transponder was turned off, so it effectively went dark. it was tracked by military radar for a short period of time, but after that its whereabouts was unknown. now, we do now know that this aircraft came down in the indian ocean, and parts of it have

washed up on the shores of east africa. but the only reason we knew that the aircraft had even headed in this direction was based on some pretty impressive detective work done based on a number seven, in fact, very short data transmissions between the aircraft and a satellite. so calculations were made that interpreted this data that suggested the plane had gone thousands of miles off course and ended up in the southern indian ocean. based on that information, some 200,000km2 of ocean floor have been searched and nothing's been found. but you have to remember, the ocean is vast. it's also miles deep, kilometres deep, and it isn't flat. there are mountain ranges in there, so searching that area with sonar with remotely operated vehicles is extremely difficult. what's changed is that now there seems to be a little bit of extra data and as i understand it, that extra data is basically analysis of thousands of daily

amateur radio transmissions that are circulating and recorded each day for completely different reasons, but which can be used, some experts believe, to work out as a kind of radar to work out the flight path of this aircraft, and based on that and some other factors, they think they've narrowed down the area where the search should be taking place down to an area of some 15,000km2. now, that might sound like a lot, but in terms of the ocean floor and what's already been searched, it's actually pretty tiny area, which makes it sound as though there is a reasonable degree of confidence at 0cean infinity. at least that this is where the plane actually came to a rest. finding it though, that's another question. gisele pelicot�*s lawyer says her client would have no fear of a new trial should any of the men convicted of raping her decide to appeal. it follows the conviction of her ex—husband and 50 other defendants yesterday. president macron hs praised gisele pelicot in a social media post,

saying she had "moved and inspired france and the world." dominique pelicot received the maximum twenty—year sentence for organising the repeated drugging and rape of his then wife by dozens of strangers for almost a decade. under french law the men have ten days to decide whether to appeal. a formal inquiry into the fall of the banking giant credit suisse last year has blamed complacency and greed by its managers. the parliamentary report shows the bank lost $37 billion dollars in the 12 years leading up to its collapse, while bank bosses were paid more than 44 billion in bonuses in the same time period. the report found no evidence of misconduct by switzerland's financial regulator, but said it did not have the powers to intervene quick enough. now, boxing fans don't need me to tell them about tomorrow's big fight.

it's the showdown that they've all wanted since 0leksander usyk fought tyson fury in what they called the ring of fire back in may. to give you a flavour of this grudge rematch, have a look at this. this was the face—off after yesterday's news conference. 11 minutes 20 seconds, it was incredible, neither boxer speaking or looking away. we're going to leave those pictures there as i talk to tom gray the deputy editor at sporting news as we look ahead to what's likely to be an epic encounter. great to have you on the programme. that stare off between the two, is that height or real beef?— or real beef? well, it's real, but what _ or real beef? well, it's real, but what i — or real beef? well, it's real, but what i think _ or real beef? well, it's real, but what i think happened . or real beef? well, it's real, i but what i think happened after they reached may be the two—minute mark it becomes a battle of ego and nobody wanted to look away and lose any

psychological points. but ultimately, none of that will be remembered once the drama coalesces in the ring, that's when it counts.— when it counts. that first fi . ht, when it counts. that first fight. you _ when it counts. that first fight, you were - when it counts. that first fight, you were there, i fight, you were there, ringside, how close was it? very close. 0n the night, i had 7-5 to very close. 0n the night, i had 7—5 to 0leksandr usyk plus a knockdown. i re—watched it when i got home and i had a 6—6 with the knockdown to 0leksandr usyk ultimately giving him the victory. it won by split decision and it was close. we knew going in, it was the best two heavyweights in the world, it should be close and we are looking at the same thing again. looking at the same thing aaain. ., , ., �* again. you shouldn't detract in terms of oleksandr _ again. you shouldn't detract in terms of oleksandr usyk - terms of 0leksandr usyk becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 25 years. it was an extraordinary achievement, wasn't it? magnificent. and the fact that he has come up from cruiserweight to do it, we are in an era of heavyweight goliaths when tyson fury was

£262 for that fight, usyk had spotted 30 pounds in weight, that was a tremendous amount to give away. and by the looks of it, tyson is coming in heavier on this one. it, tyson is coming in heavier on this one-— on this one. just as you are finishing — on this one. just as you are finishing your _ on this one. just as you are finishing your answer, - on this one. just as you are finishing your answer, i - on this one. just as you are | finishing your answer, i was still looking at the face. they are absolutely extraordinary the way there is not much movement, absolute eyeball to eyeball as they stare each other out. in terms of the conditions of the two fighters, usyk was interesting, he admitted he hates training but loves boxing and fury has said that he has not spoken to his wife of three months while he has been in the boxing camp. what sort of shape are both of them in? ~ , ~ what sort of shape are both of them in? ~ _ ~ ., ., , them in? well, usyk, a heavy weiaht them in? well, usyk, a heavy weight does— them in? well, usyk, a heavy weight does not _ them in? well, usyk, a heavy weight does not need - them in? well, usyk, a heavy weight does not need to - them in? well, usyk, a heavy| weight does not need to make weight does not need to make weight obviously, but he always fluctuates around 223 pounds. he gets into self ultimate condition, orthe he gets into self ultimate condition, or the heavyweights have been around the same weight. tyson fluctuates a bit,

but by his weight going up it looks like he has piled on extra muscle on top of what he already had to give himself a significant strength advantage. the only downside to that is that if the fight goes a long and tyson is carrying... if he is carrying anywhere near 20 stone, that is a lot of weight to carry for 12 rounds. we saw in the first fight that tyson did very well in the first half of the fight and usyk came on in the second half. that is not by accident. the overall conditioning to usyk. perhaps that exoiains _ conditioning to usyk. perhaps that explains why _ conditioning to usyk. perhaps that explains why fury - conditioning to usyk. perhaps that explains why fury is - that explains why fury is promising a knockout. that is perhaps what he needs in terms of your previous description. how do you think this actually goes? how do you think this actually toes? ., , , ., �* how do you think this actually oes? ., , , 4' ., goes? honestly, i don't know. yesterday. — goes? honestly, i don't know. yesterday. i— goes? honestly, i don't know. yesterday, i was _ goes? honestly, i don't know. yesterday, i was tyson - goes? honestly, i don't know. yesterday, i was tyson fury, i yesterday, i was tyson fury, today i am usyk and tomorrow it will probably be a draw. when all the marbles are at stake, it is the heavyweight championship of the world, the biggest prize come the greatest prize in sport, you should be torn. if one guy is going to be

a runaway winner, that kind of sucks the drama out of it, but today, usyk, tomorrow, like i say, it could be a different story. say, it could be a different sto . ~ ., say, it could be a different sto . ~ . , ., say, it could be a different sto .~ ., ., story. what you make of the fi . ht story. what you make of the fight being _ story. what you make of the fight being in _ story. what you make of the fight being in saudi - story. what you make of the fight being in saudi arabia? | story. what you make of the i fight being in saudi arabia? we have seen all the controls controversy about sports washing, golf, football, now this. , , , this. the biggest fights, the best possible _ this. the biggest fights, the best possible fights - this. the biggest fights, the best possible fights are - this. the biggest fights, the | best possible fights are being put on in saudi arabia at the moment. it is good for boxing right now, and ultimately, without saudi arabia's involvement we would not have seen the first fight, never mind the second, so that is the upside. a, mind the second, so that is the u side. �* . ~ mind the second, so that is the uside. �* w ., mind the second, so that is the uside. �* ., ., upside. a quick final thought. do ou upside. a quick final thought. do you think _ upside. a quick final thought. do you think this _ upside. a quick final thought. do you think this is _ upside. a quick final thought. do you think this is the - upside. a quick final thought. do you think this is the final l do you think this is the final bout between these two whoever wins? ., , ,., , , bout between these two whoever wins? ., , , , ., wins? no. if tyson fury is to wins? no. if tyson fury is to win the fight. _ wins? no. if tyson fury is to win the fight, then - wins? no. if tyson fury is to win the fight, then the - wins? no. if tyson fury is to i win the fight, then the rumours i'm hearing is that they will engage in a trilogy and that will happen in sometime in 2025. ., ., ., ., ~ ., 2025. tom, great to talk to ou. 2025. tom, great to talk to you- perhaps _ 2025. tom, great to talk to you. perhaps we _ 2025. tom, great to talk to you. perhaps we will - 2025. tom, great to talk to you. perhaps we will talk . 2025. tom, great to talk to - you. perhaps we will talk again after the fight itself. we will end this half hour and staying

on these pictures. look at that clock, four minutes and 43 seconds. you're only halfway through that stare. 11 minutes and 20 seconds in total. great to actually preview that fight. more of the headlines on the programme in a moment or two. hello there. today showers are following a band of rain that's moving across the country and it's breezy too, but, over the weekend, the winds are going to be much stronger. it could well bring with it some travel disruption and the air is turning colder, so the showers that will be pushing in will be turning wintry by the time we get to sunday. we've got this area of cloud. everything is rattling in from the atlantic. this area of cloud will be arriving overnight. this is the cloud that's been bringing the rain today and keeping temperatures around about nine or ten degrees after what was quite a cold start across some eastern parts of the uk. it's across eastern parts of england that we'll see that rain to end the day. that moves away. skies will clearfor just a short while. then that area of cloud comes in from the atlantic

fairly quickly. it'll bring some more rain in from the west and the winds starting to pick up, as well. so probably not quite as cold as it was last night for the eastern side of the uk. temperatures will be down to around six or seven degrees. the windy weather on saturday is going to be more across the northern half of the uk. widely gusts 50 to 60mph, it could be getting close to 80mph in the far north of scotland. very windy conditions, though, across the whole of the uk. this is all that's left of the rain as it moves down into southern parts of england. showers following on behind and those beginning to turn wintry over the hills in northern scotland, where it's going to be very, very windy. we've got temperatures in scotland and northern ireland falling away to seven or eight degrees. further south just about making double figures. but the air is getting colder through the weekend. we are drawing in polar maritime air, the air coming all the way from greenland and iceland. it's that area of low pressure running to the north of scotland that's bringing the really windy weather. further south it will be windier on sunday. it will be windy across eastern

parts of england, but it's elsewhere that we will see those winds gusting widely 50 to 60mph, perhaps a little bit stronger than that. squally showers coming in and those will be heavy, possibly thundery, and there will be some wintriness in there, as well. some hail too. frequent showers coming into northern parts of scotland. another windy day on sunday and it will feel colder, as well. widely those temperatures at sixes and sevens. so getting colder over the weekend, but heading into the christmas week temperatures are going to be rising. milderair coming infrom the atlantic, less windy, many places will be dry, but pretty cloudy.

live from london, live from london, this is bbc news. this is bbc news. a us government shutdown looms a us government shutdown looms after dozens of republicans after dozens of republicans vote against a spending bill vote against a spending bill backed by donald trump. backed by donald trump. the labour grandee lord the labour grandee lord mandelson is expected to be mandelson is expected to be named as the uk's next named as the uk's next ambassador to the us. ambassador to the us. american diplomats make theirfirst official american diplomats make theirfirst official visit to damascus in more visit to damascus in more than a decade for talks than a decade for talks with syria's new with syria's new islamist leadership. islamist leadership. and the face—off lasted 11 minutes and 20 seconds. now all eyes on usyk and fury ahead of their hugely anticipated rematch tomorrow.