hello, i'm matthew amroliwala. we start in the us — where the prospect of a government shutdown is becoming more likely by the minute as the clock ticks down to a deadline for lawmakers to strike a new deal on funding. it comes after the us house of representatives rejected a spending bill backed by president—elect donald trump, which would have signed—off funding into march. if an agreement to raise the limit on us debt isn't reached by the end of today, then hundreds of thousands of government workers won't be paid from this weekend. and that will remain the case until a new bill can be approved. let's speak to our north america reporter anthony zurcher. anthony, what is the latest? in

about half an hour republicans in the house of representatives are going to hold a closed—door meeting to discuss the best way forward. what we are hearing are they are going to present a stripped—down bare—bones proposal that will be voted on in three different parts. first, they would vote on keeping the government funded through the middle of march, then they would also vote on agriculture subsidies, continuing those, and then finally vote on hurricane relief because a lot of the hurricane, one, has already been spent in places like florida and north carolina that need money as soon as possible. it's an open question as to whether they will get to that vote tonight or if they drag on until tomorrow, vote tonight or if they drag on untiltomorrow, but vote tonight or if they drag on until tomorrow, but because this is basically the bare minimum that republicans and democrats could support, there is a chance that this is the off ramp that everyone, or a large majority of congress, will back this and everything else that they try to do whether it was donald trump

asking for a debt limit increase or democrats looking for other priorities they wanted included, all of that will be put by the wayside. what is been going on behind the scenes? social media have been having a field day with constant references to president musk and vice president musk and vice president trump, which would of course and reach the incoming president. what does elon musk, what is his role in the scheme? elon musk was essentially the instigator on this entire process. he posted on his social media platform acts, and he began posting sharply critical messages and amplifying other messages criticising what was a compromise package of legislation that would not only fund the government but also advance some democratic priorities yes, but also that hurricane aid and the farm bill and some health care fixes that members of congress in both on the left and the right had

agreed on. once elon musk started criticising the outcome of that bipartisan agreement evaporated, republicans got cold feet, by wednesday night donald trump was weighing against it, and republicans in house of representatives were sent back to the drawing board to figure something else out. they came up with that last night and that was voted down, this is now their third try to pick up something in the house of representatives and the senate can support. fix, of representatives and the senate can support. a final thou~ht senate can support. a final thought because _ senate can support. a final thought because i'm - senate can support. a final thought because i'm going | senate can support. a final. thought because i'm going to put on the screen pictures from the last really big shutdown, that came during the first trump presidency, it lasted for 35 days, because the economy about $3 billion. give me an idea of what actually stops if you get a shutdown and also, is this a little preview, an indicator of what 2025 could look like, a sort of chaotic in terms of the way government is

actually done? figs terms of the way government is actually done?— actually done? as you mentioned, _ actually done? as you mentioned, that - actually done? as you | mentioned, that lasted actually done? as you - mentioned, that lasted shut down in 2018—2019, was a big one. it happened at the same time, searching for the holidays and into the new year. this one could be even more damaging than the last one because we also would cut pay to american soldiers, american military personnel, they wouldn't get paid and the new year because their funding would run out as well. you would run out as well. you would see government offices close, only essential personnel having to show up and continue doing theirjobs even though they wouldn't be paid for it. he would see things like passport office was closed and national parks close, and government services curtailed dramatically and if it stretched on for some time it could affect air travel. it could affect air travel. it could affect the processing of government checks to people, all of that would be hit pretty hard. i think it, to your second question, i think this does foreshadow becoming complex over the next year and

a half, two years, with donald trump running the country from the white house. he has a very narrow republican majority in the house of representatives and what was very clear last night is that even when donald trump says something, you got to vote for this, everyone needs to pull together, any republicans who don't will be punished. republicans in the house of resident representatives had still shot down a plan he enthusiastically supported. elon musk wants donald trump to enact his legislative agenda, they are going to have to spend more time building up majorities and coming up with compromises and unity in congress and notjust tearing down agreements that have been reached already. anthony, great to have you on the programme, thanks for being here with us. lord peter mandelson is expected to be formally

—— lord mendelson has been confirmed in the last half hour. — the first politician to be appointed to the role for almost half a century. sir keir starmer�*s announcement means that the former senior labour cabinet minister will take up the postjust as donald trump begins his second term as president. here's our political correspondent, helen catt. peter mandelson has been a familiar face in the labour party for decades. he was one of the driving forces behind the creation of new labour in the 1990s. a trusted adviser to tony blair with a reputation as a master of spin. he'd been rumoured as a potential candidate for a while, but had been cagey when asked about being the ambassador. would you be interested if you were asked? i would be very interested indeed in giving advice about trade to whoever is appointed. elected as the mp for hartlepool in 1992, peter mandelson went on to serve in tony blair's cabinet, but was forced to resign twice. in the noughties, he went to brussels as the european trade commissioner before returning as business secretary under gordon brown. it's his experience of trade that's one of the reasons

behind his appointment as ambassador. donald trump has talked of imposing big tariffs on imports into the us, which the prime minister yesterday told mps the uk needed to avoid. it won't come as any surprise to you that i'm not a fan of tariffs. and therefore we have to make sure that we avoid tariffs. we've got very good trade with the us as we've got very good trade with other countries around the world. i want to improve on that. a government source said that lord mandelson was close to the prime minister, with unrivalled political and policy experience, particularly on the crucial issue of trade. it's also thought his political nous will help him handle what could be a tricky relationship with an unpredictable president. one thing that is a certainty with the trump government is in that sam tweet storm that comes most mornings of the week, at some point, trump will say something, will tweet something, that will be quite a story in the uk. he did so several times

in his first term. so peter mandelson, i'm sure, will be prepared for that and be prepared for a bumpy and difficult ride. but he clearly wanted thejob very much, so i'd say good luck to him. not everyone is going to welcome this appointment. peter mandelson remains divisive within labour, particularly for those on the left of the party. but it is how he gets on with donald trump and his administration that will really matter. he and the white house had already been told about the appointment. helen catt, bbc news. let's speak to former ambassador to the us, peter westmacott. ambassador from january 2012 untiljanuary 2016. thank you so much for being here on bbc news. we are about to have probably the most consequential presidency of our age, so how important is this appointment, do you think was mark hello, and thank you for having me on. i mark hello, and thank you for having me on.— having me on. i think it's a very important _

having me on. i think it's a i very important appointment, having me on. i think it's a - very important appointment, of course. i would say that the british ambassador to washington has always been an important position but right now with the incoming donald trump and the importance of the international agenda and the ups and downs as we've had in the relationship and relationships with other countries around the world, it really does matter who we have got there. as it happens, the outgoing ambassador had a very good relationship with the trauma team and clearly helped keir starmer and his team to get alongside the situation. —— with the trump team. a vast amount of experience not least in trade policy which is going to be a big part of this job and the first appointment we've had in washington for 50 years, thatis had in washington for 50 years, that is an important signal i think. �* , that is an important signal i think. �*, ., ., , that is an important signal i think. �*, ., ., think. it's going to be a huge test of his— think. it's going to be a huge test of his political— think. it's going to be a huge test of his political and - test of his political and diplomatic skills. in terms of what he has to navigate, a huge amount, because you not only

have the trade issue and potential tariffs under a new trump presidency, but you also have ukraine and that is going to need immediate action, isn't it, if all the indicators from donald trump turn out to be true in terms of his approach to that war.— true in terms of his approach to that war. yes. he has said that he is _ to that war. yes. he has said that he is going _ to that war. yes. he has said that he is going to _ to that war. yes. he has said that he is going to find - to that war. yes. he has said that he is going to find a - to that war. yes. he has said| that he is going to find a deal on the russia ukraine crisis on day one of his new presidency. he takes office on the 20th of january. will it be that quick and easy, i doubt it. he is fundamentally someone who likes to do deals and likes being given credit for those deals. frankly, we do need to have an end to the slaughter between russia and ukraine, this is an illegal invasion that was supposed to last a few days according to putin, it's gone on for two and a half years, and people are running out of equipment and money and everything else and ukraine is badly damaged. so there is a need movement. will for it be the right kind of movement, it

is donald trump going to be moving towards a settlement or at least a freeze of the conflict of the kind that people of ukraine and the president of zelenskyy can live with, i don't know. but it will be a very big part of peter mandelson�*sjob. not because mandelson�*s job. not because it's mandelson�*sjob. not because it's wrong to a ward a aggressor but because it's fundamental to your�*s security and that really does matter to the united kingdom. in and that really does matter to the united kingdom.- the united kingdom. in the oli the united kingdom. in the policy toward _ the united kingdom. in the policy toward china - the united kingdom. in the policy toward china that. policy toward china that undoubtedly will be important in the coming months, what are the major bear crops?— the major bear crops? well, obviously — the major bear crops? well, obviously the _ the major bear crops? well, obviously the personal- obviously the personal relationship will be important. we should not fool ourselves into thinking that the british ambassador, even one of the cloud and of the international reputation if you like of lord mandelson, it is going to be seeing the president of the

united states every other day, things don't really work like that. there are machinery in government, and different experts that go on all the time. nevertheless, the profile thatis time. nevertheless, the profile that is enjoyed by the ambassador on the spot is an important part of trying to ensure that the uk's perspective is understood and that we have influence in addressing these questions. the downside if you like, the risks as you would say, is that you know, if president trump decides that he doesn't like you and you had my immediate successor on the programme earlier, kim decided he couldn't carry on doing the job there. got to be very careful about personal chemistry. but of course lord mandelson is somebody with a massive experience of those things, and a great deal of experience dealing with complex personalities and complex issues. so i think he's well—placed to deal with that. it won't just be well—placed to deal with that. it won'tjust be immediately dealing with ukraine come he's going to have to deal with tariffs, trade policy and

protectionism of america first. the threats to nato as an institution, and we sometimes forget there's an awful lot going on in the middle east which needs america's attention, and whether the uk has a great deal of expertise and relationships with a lot of different people, not least by the way the people who now take overin the way the people who now take over in damascus in syria where we are very well—placed to try and make a difference. those are cards the incoming investor will be able to play to try and ensure that the united kingdom makes a difference in washington. figs makes a difference in washington.- makes a difference in washington. as you are completing _ washington. as you are completing that - washington. as you are | completing that answer, washington. as you are l completing that answer, i washington. as you are - completing that answer, i also noticed that the reuters news agency is saying that donald trump wants a 5% nato defence spending target, he is of course talk to many many times about how the europeans needed to do more and all the worries about the us walking away from nato, peter, we have to leave it there, but thanks for joining us on bbc news. thank you for your time. around the world and across the uk, you're watching bbc news.

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 are meeting representives of the group hts, which is effectively in charge of the country, after overthrowing president assad. washington still designates it 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. our middle east correspondent lina sinjab told us that — according to sources — today's meeting had been "positive". well, the meetings took place this afternoon, and the us undersecretary was planning to do a press conference with some journalists, but it was cancelled due to security reasons. however, there will be a virtual briefing at 8:30pm

local time here to brief journalists about the outcome of this meeting. but some sources have already mentioned it was positive. both sides, what do they need from each other? the americans want to ensure that this interim government will not impose one sided rule, and will be an inclusive government, protecting minorities and women's rights, and for the leadership, the de facto leader, ahmed al—sharaa, he wants to focus on rebuilding the country, he wants refugees, 6 million refugees to come back, but people want cut to come back to their homes that have been destroyed. the economy has collapsed. 90% of the population

under the poverty line. so all of these are on the agenda and in the minds of the interim leader, the de facto leader, ahmed al—sharaa. he has called for a national unity dialogue, a conference to take place soon where he invites all spectrum of syrian society for talks to discuss the future of syria, and to discuss how to build a constitution and the political spectrum of the country. an islamic state group leader in syria is reported to have been killed by the us military. american officials say abu yusif was one of two people targeted in an air strike in the east of the country. it comes as the bbc has been told by a kurdish commander — who's played a major role in fighting is in syria — that the political upheaval there could �*pave the way�* forjihadists to re—emerge. our senior international correspondent orla guerin sent this report.

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. on 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. others 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. orla guerin, bbc news, north—east syria. a man has been arrested after a knife attack at a zagreb primary school in croatia. a seven—year—old child was killed — and several other people injured — including pupils and a teacher. back injuly, a gunman killed six people at a nursing home in eastern croatia, in an attack that horrified the country. croatian authorities say they plan to hold a national day of mourning on saturday.

the malaysian government says it has agreed to resume the search for the passenger jet mh370 ten years after it vanished — in one of aviation�*s greatest mysteries. the malaysia airlines jet carrying 239 people disappeared in 2014. despite an extensive search of coastlines and the ocean floor, neither the aircraft, nor the people on board, were found. the family of two men — charged over an altercation at manchester airport — say they have instructed the lawyer who represented the family of murdered teenager stephen lawrence, to represent them. mohammed amaaz, who is 20, and muhammed amaad, who's 25, have been charged with actual bodily harm over the altercation with police.

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. sue gray is among 30 labour piers nominated to the house of lords. formeracts piers nominated to the house of lords. former acts labour mps as well as the former first minister of wales. therese coffey is among six peers nominated by the conservatives. after the news conference, this face—off, we've got the counter

there because this face—off lasted for her, wait for it, 11 minutes and 20 seconds. it is real beef between the two, and it is a rivalry that of course goes back to that first about back in may when you're sick became the first undisputed champion in years. they are do to actually have a way and in the next little while so we'll keep an eye on those pictures after these pictures, and of course it is incredibly difficult to call how this one will go. it was tight last time and fury has put on some pounds, he is promising a knockout but usyk said the fight lasted longer the time so he is stronger. he

hates training, it he loves boxing, fury saying he hasn't talked to his wife and three months as he went into the boxing camp. only one minute 22 seconds, as i say, it went on for 11 minutes. seconds, as i say, it went on for11 minutes. i'm back seconds, as i say, it went on for 11 minutes. i'm back with more here injust a moment. 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.

this is bbc news, the headlines... hours away from a us government shutdown — after dozens of republicans vote against a spending bill backed by donald trump. myanmar�*s government is cracking from within as rebels make crucial games tobacco gains. the labour grandee — lord mandelson — is appointed as the uk's next ambassador to the us. will have all the latest travel tips on the busiest weekend of the year.

# last christmas, i gave you my heart... and it's that moment you've been waiting for all year — stay tuned as the hugely—anticipated uk christmas number one is about to be announced. now with all the latest sport, here's lizzie. hello from the bbc sport centre. thanks we're starting with rugby union — and the wales head coach, warren gatland, who will continue in his role for the six nations, despite the wru admitting hisjob had been on the line. gatland's most recent stint has produced statistically the worst wales side in their international rugby history, slumping to a record 12 successive test defeats. his contract currently runs until the 2027 world cup. wales' six nations campaign starts on 31 january. meanwhile — sir bill beaumont has been put in interim chair of england's rugby football union. the appointment follows tom ilube's resignation as chair this morning,

which was in response to growing unrest with the sport's grassroots