amid jubilation over the latest hostage and prisoner release, a precarious moment for the gaza ceasefire deal — as israel accuses hamas of breaching its terms. criticism on capitol hill — after president trump fires more than a dozen independent watchdogs tasked with investigating government corruption. thirteen soldiers serving with peacekeeping forces in eastern congo have been killed in clashes with m23 rebels. hello. i'm carl nasman. we start with scenes ofjubiliation in israel and the west bank, after four female israeli soldiers held hostage by hamas were released, in exchange for around 200 palestinian prisoners detained by israel. the release of naama levy, liri albag, daniella gilboa

and karina ariev is the second exchange to take place as part of the gaza ceasefire deal. meanwhile, crowds of palestinians turned out in the west bank to welcome two buses carrying detainees released from two israeli prisons. as part of the ceasefire deal, thousands of displaced gaza residents were supposed to be allowed to return to the north of the strip today. but israel has so far prevented them crossing into the north until(gfx) crossing into the north until a female civilian hostages arbel yehud, is released. israel says she should have been freed today. we have this report from our middle east correspondent lucy williamson. in a theatre of war, the theatre of victory. cheering. four israeli soldiers escorted by hamas to a specially—built stage.

naama, liri, daniela and karina smiling for the cameras after 15 months in captivity, theirfreedom signed moments before. back home and israel they watch them freed. tension breaking into the relief and tears. the childhood friends of liri albag watched together as she was freed — a moment imagined many times. still unreal. when i saw liri's smile, when i saw liri's walking on her two legs, it's everything. it's everything. she's a hero. she's a fighter. and this moment, this couple of minutes, just show me how brave she is.

in exchange gaza released pisoners released by israel in exchange. from inside the red cross vehicles, their first glimpse of post—war gaza, and the people who still make it home. this man's niece and nephew, running to meet him with their mother. "it's been 20 years," she said. "my brother, my heart." but the homecoming of those displaced by the war here was delayed. blocked by israeli forces after israel accused amassed of breaching the deal by not releasing a female hostage held by another militia group. then panic and shots

fired out for the israel does not allowjournalists fired out for the israel does not allow journalists for the suggested one man was killed and one injured. israelis are a set of fired warning shots into the air. across the border, 15 months of waiting ended... ..in the relief of hugging a parent, holding a child. their love and thanks, a reminder of 90 hostages still held in gaza. this is, for israel, the start of a long and precarious road home. lucy williamson, bbc news, tel aviv. for more i spoke with lucy williamson a short while ago. four israeli hostages have now been released. tell us more about how this exchange played out in what more we know about their condition. in many ways this was up to a point

quite a smooth exchange of prisoners between hamas and israel. we saw hamas very much in control of the crowd in gaza city. they set up a special podium, they were really controlling the crowd, there were banners and flags strung up in preparation. cameras were rolling. and then the four women were brought out of the hamas vehicles and taken up out of the hamas vehicles and taken up to the stage. they were all wearing uniform. they all looked in relatively good physical condition, given the length of their captivity. they were waving, they were smiling, some gave a thumbs up before they were put into the red cross vehicles and then sped across the border into israel to meet theirfamilies. 0n the other side of the coin, the release of 200 palestinian prisoners also unfolded fairly smoothly. those prisoners being sent back to the occupied west bank to gaza. also some to egypt. after that things began to hit a snag. israel was due

to withdraw some of its forces from the western coastal road of gaza to allow displaced people in gaza to return to their homes in the north. that part didn't happen because israel accused hamas of not releasing a civilian female prisoner who under the deal should have been released first. they were questioning why this hadn't happened and said they would not withdraw those forces until that hostage was released. . , ., , released. lucy, what will be the effect on the — released. lucy, what will be the effect on the ground _ released. lucy, what will be the effect on the ground of- released. lucy, what will be the effect on the ground of that - released. lucy, what will be the i effect on the ground of that snag? released. lucy, what will be the - effect on the ground of that snag? i think it shows how fragile this deal is. it's very complicated deal even on paper. we're only in phase one for that the beginning of phase one of that deal. it's incredibly difficult and fragile to implement on the ground. i think it shows how easily these accurately two accusations that have occurred at every stage of the deal so far, how

easily it can disrupt the proceedings. there's not a lot of trust between the two sides, that's an understatement. i think what we saw today with the crowds gathering on the coast road to try and move forward and not being allowed to move forward and then reports of the israeli forces firing in some way around the crowd in order to disperse them and put them back. getting reports of at least one man being killed. some others being injured during those incidents. it shows how unpredictable, how febrile the situation is on the ground. and potentially how easily this deal could unravel. joining me live is 0liver mcternan, a conflict and hostage mediator and the co—founder and director of forward thinking, a charity that works on conflict resolution and mediation in the middle east. quite the scenes we saw both in israel and the west bank. what did

you make of what you saw and what this means for the ongoing cease—fire process? i this means for the ongoing cease-fire process?- this means for the ongoing cease-fire process? this means for the ongoing cease-fire rocess? , , cease-fire process? i was struck by the contrast — cease-fire process? i was struck by the contrast between _ cease-fire process? i was struck by the contrast between the _ cease-fire process? i was struck by the contrast between the defiant i the contrast between the defiant scene that we witnessed in gaza today in comparison with what we saw in november 23. when the first hostages were released with that that was a much more quiet and carefully orchestrated. there was no big demonstration. for me today demonstrated that military pressure despite what president trump may think, military pressure, it actually increases resistance, deepens resistance rather than helps us to deal. i think today they are

saying they estimate ten to 15,000 young recruits brought in to hamas during this war, which underlines the point that i'm trying to make. you don't think, we heard president netanyahu insists is that military pressure from israel that is not listed done for that that's brought both to the the table but you have a different view? i both to the the table but you have a different view?— different view? i think the qatari prime minister _ different view? i think the qatari prime minister has _ different view? i think the qatari prime minister has a _ different view? i think the qatari prime minister has a different i different view? i think the qatari i prime minister has a different view. when he was interviewed last friday he made the point very strongly that it was mediation and not bombing that brought the hostages home. i misspoke earlier i meant to say president biden, i said president trump. because when he was saying that the deal was on the table in

may said that it was the military pressure actually brought it to an end or brought the deal to fruition. you mentioned the optics and how this all played out. we saw hamas really almost with a show of force, didn't we? so many soldiers with automatic rifles, the green bandannas put up what do you make of the way this handover took place and really almost a show of power by hamas? i really almost a show of power by hamas? ~ , , , hamas? i think it is sending first of all a message _ hamas? i think it is sending first of all a message saying - hamas? i think it is sending first of all a message saying look, . hamas? i think it is sending first of all a message saying look, 15 | of all a message saying look, 15 months of war and we're still around. we're not going to go away, we're resistance movement as long as the root cause of the conflict does not been addressed. and that his occupation. we will be around in some form or another. i think they were also sending a message to the

gangs in gaza. we were told over the past 15 months a number of criminal gangs established themselves and were stealing the food, selling it epic prices, making big money out of the terrible conditions in which people were living. i think there was a message to them too. we're around, your reign of 15 months of robbery and oppression, that is over. , , robbery and oppression, that is over. , ., ., over. just looking at the deal itself, this — over. just looking at the deal itself, this was _ over. just looking at the deal itself, this was in _ over. just looking at the deal itself, this was in exchange l over. just looking at the deal| itself, this was in exchange of over. just looking at the deal- itself, this was in exchange of four hostages on the israeli size, 200 palestinian prisoners released from prisons in israel. could that kind of imbalance affect the perception of imbalance affect the perception of this deal? the fairness of maybe the far right in israel? i of this deal? the fairness of maybe the far right in israel?— the far right in israel? i can understand _ the far right in israel? i can understand that _ the far right in israel? i can understand that but - the far right in israel? i can understand that but it's - the far right in israel? i can . understand that but it's always the far right in israel? i can understand that but it's always been a problem from the days of the shall

eat deal, people were against up at the very same reason. when i was doing the deal it was explained to me that the reason why hamas take israeli soldiers it is to force reviews of long—term lifers in israeli prisons. people who were convicted and given 990 years, no chance of them coming out. this was a way of getting some sort of review of their case. in explaining that i don't endorse it. let me underline that. i think it's important to understand that that is the reasoning behind it.- understand that that is the reasoning behind it. great to get our reasoning behind it. great to get your perspective _ reasoning behind it. great to get your perspective on _ reasoning behind it. great to get your perspective on those - reasoning behind it. great to get| your perspective on those events reasoning behind it. great to get i your perspective on those events of today. thank you very much. in lebanon, israel has

warned people in the south of the country not to return home, after saying its troops would remain there beyond sunday. they're supposed to withdraw under a ceasefire with hezbollah. lebanon's army accused israel of procrastination. pete hegseth, newly sworn—in as president trump s defense secretary, has issued his set of priorities for the department, saying that the pentagon will put america first, and we will never back down. he was confirmed late friday night after a 50—50 vote in the senate — amid allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking, all of which he denies. on saturday, the senate also confirmed former south dakota governor kristi noem as trump's homeland security secretary. separately, the trump administration fired at least a dozen federal watchdogs, a move which could face legal challenges and prompted concern on capitol hill. republican senator chuch grassley releasing a statement which said...

there's been no response from the white house. the senate minority leader, democrat chuck schumer, said it marked the start of what he called a golden age of abuse in government. yesterday in the dark of night president trump fired at least 12 independent inspector generals across the administration. this is a chilling purge. it's a preview of the lawless approach donald trump and his administration are taking far too often as he's becoming president. these dismissals are possibly in violation of federal law, which requires congress to have 30 days notice of any intent to fire inspectors general. these firings are donald trumps way of telling us he's terrified of accountability. let's bring in david willis. let's

start off with confirmation. what start off with confirmation. what does that tie _ start off with confirmation. what does that tie vote _ start off with confirmation. what does that tie vote that _ start off with confirmation. what does that tie vote that either the tie—breaker about the way that he will be perceived as he takes up his new role? 50 will be perceived as he takes up his new role? so tight it required the intervention _ new role? so tight it required the intervention of _ new role? so tight it required the intervention of the _ new role? so tight it required the intervention of the vice _ new role? so tight it required the intervention of the vice president| intervention of the vice president jd vance. after that boat was deadlocked in the senate at 50—50 against, 50 in favor of pete hegseth nomination. and republicans have a majority in the senate so all the more surprising thatjd vance had to be called upon to cast the tie—breaker vote. be called upon to cast the tie—breakervote. 0nly be called upon to cast the tie—breaker vote. only the second time in us history that he tie—breaker vote has been used to confirm a cabinet nominee. and pete hegseth will now head a department with budget of close to $850 billion a year, a staff of 3 million people

after being as i say, edge of the line by after being as i say, edge of the line bij vance who today oversaw him being sworn into that role. pete hegseth face that rather grueling process in the senate put up he faced charges of womanizing, heavy drinking, financial irresponsibility, all of which he denied. he also had to answer for previous comments he had made about the unfitness of women in the us military. the unfitness of women in the us milita . ., , ., ., military. there was another confirmation _ military. there was another confirmation today, - military. there was another confirmation today, kristi i military. there was another- confirmation today, kristi noem will be the next secretary of homeland security. she's a former governor of south dakota. this security. she's a former governor of south dakota-— south dakota. this vote not nearly as close. central— south dakota. this vote not nearly as close. central of— south dakota. this vote not nearly as close. central of course - south dakota. this vote not nearly as close. central of course do i as close. central of course do donald trump's agenda in the second term is beefing up security in the border and deporting record numbers of people who have entered this country illegally. and to make good

on that promise is kristi noem, who was today approved by the senate for that confirmed by a vote of 59—34 as the new us homeland security secretary. she shares president trump's hardline views on immigration. she was one of the first state governors to send dozens of national guard officers to the border with mexico. south dakota is actually closer to canada then it is to mexico but nonetheless, that one plaudits for many conservatives. seven democrats voting to approve her as well. there was backlash today from democrats over another mood by donald trump. a late—night firing of a dozen independent watchdogs. firing of a dozen independent watchdoqs-— firing of a dozen independent watchdois. , ., ., ., watchdogs. tells more about that. we've seen _ watchdogs. tells more about that. we've seen the _ watchdogs. tells more about that. we've seen the tightening - watchdogs. tells more about that. we've seen the tightening come i watchdogs. tells more about that. j we've seen the tightening come of the attempts to tighten control over

the attempts to tighten control over the central, federal government by putting in place these loyalists, donald trump loyalist. we also see evidence of a night of an attempt to put loyalists in place in the federal government. perhaps i should say remove those seen as disloyal. about a dozen inspectors general of some of the largest departments in the federal government, including the federal government, including the department of labor and transportation. some are legally dismissed, it's been reported. it's thought that may even be illegal bearing in mind that it is now the law that congress be given 30 days notice of any such dismissals. there has been no word on this so far from the white house. a lot of consternation expressed over those who believe this really is the thin end of the wedge as far as rooting out opponents of donald trump. the

government are concerned. daeid government are concerned. david willis, government are concerned. david willis. always _ government are concerned. david willis, always great _ government are concerned. david willis, always great to _ government are concerned. david willis, always great to see - government are concerned. david willis, always great to see you. i thirteen u—n peacekeeping soldiers have been killed in the eastern region of the democratic republic of the congo. that's where congolese forces are clashing with the rwanda—backed m—23 rebels. the group is steadily advancing on the city of goma, a regional hub that is home to around 2—milion people. it comes as the un peacekeeping mission evacuates non—essential civilian staff in the area. the armed milita has already captured the towns of sake and minova. the rebels are now calling on congolese troops in goma to surrender in order to avoid bloodshed. the un says that more than 400—thousand people have fled their homes since the start of this year. and human rights watch is warning that civilians are at increased risk. the m—23 is a prominent rebel group that has been operating in the north kivu province since it turned against the drc�*s government in 2012. the armed milita has been gaining a stronghold in the mineral—rich eastern congo, which shares a border with uganda and rwanda.

for more on the situation, let's bring in the senior advocate for the horn and southern africa at refugees international, abdull—ahi halakhe. great to have you in studio. where does this conflict stand? has this been going on for a while but it feels like we're close to seeing a major city falling?— feels like we're close to seeing a major city falling? ma'or city falling? right. that will be major city falling? right. that will be catastrophic _ major city falling? right. that will be catastrophic for _ major city falling? right. that will be catastrophic for very _ major city falling? right. that will be catastrophic for very many i be catastrophic for very many reasons yes, the conflict in the drc has been protected. 0ver reasons yes, the conflict in the drc has been protected. over the last few years we have not come this close to the city falling into the hand of rolando backed m 23. if that happens, in a region that is already under severe humanitarian crisis this is catastrophic. haifa under severe humanitarian crisis this is catastrophic. how powerful is this group? _ this is catastrophic. how powerful is this group? do _ this is catastrophic. how powerful is this group? do you _ this is catastrophic. how powerful is this group? do you think- this is catastrophic. how powerful is this group? do you think it's i is this group? do you think it's capable of fully taking on government forces? capable of fully taking on

rovernment forces? , . ., ., , government forces? yes. in january last ear government forces? yes. in january last year at _ government forces? yes. in january last year at me — government forces? yes. in january last year at me and _ government forces? yes. in january last year at me and my _ government forces? yes. in january last year at me and my colleague i last year at me and my colleague could feel it even in the air that m 23 if they really wanted they could take over for the them taken over means they can do it. the cynical part of all places they know that the eyes of the international is focused here. they are taking advantage of what is the transition going on to really make their moves. by going on to really make their moves. by transition do you mean donald trump taken office?— by transition do you mean donald trump taken office? donald trump takini trump taken office? donald trump taking office- _ trump taken office? donald trump taking office. under _ trump taken office? donald trump taking office. under the _ trump taken office? donald trump taking office. under the previous l taking office. under the previous government they took a fairly hardline with the rwandan government telling them to respect the territory of drc. notwithstanding some maybe really old two overplayed hand of saint the air for attracting their population inside the drc. the

next question is, what is driving the fighting near? we heard it's a mineral rich area. there are many factors, i guess. mineral rich area. there are many factors. i guess-— factors, i guess. indeed. if we really want — factors, i guess. indeed. if we really want to _ factors, i guess. indeed. if we really want to resolve - factors, i guess. indeed. if we really want to resolve this, i factors, i guess. indeed. if we really want to resolve this, we factors, i guess. indeed. if we i really want to resolve this, we can go back to 1994 in recent history, the government that came into power in rwanda from 1994 and the government they post, that government they post, that government completely went to the eastern part of the drc. rwanda thinks and rwanda says that that government in exile, which was a general see a government wants to take over rolando. that's not necessarily the issue. rwanda does not want that against any military problem from the eastern part of the drc. i think rwanda has overplayed its hand. the international community really needs to step in otherwise were going to witness a

dire situation spiral out of control. ~ �* ., dire situation spiral out of control. ~ �* . ~ control. we're hearing the african union calling _ control. we're hearing the african union calling for— control. we're hearing the african union calling for a _ control. we're hearing the african union calling for a halt _ control. we're hearing the african union calling for a halt in - union calling for a halt in fighting. the un security council expected to meet soon to discuss the situation. what role do you think we might see or should we see from the international community? there might see or should we see from the international community?— international community? there are two iece international community? there are two piece of — international community? there are two piece of the _ international community? there are two piece of the diplomatic- international community? there are two piece of the diplomatic process| two piece of the diplomatic process going on. the east african led process that really focuses on the rebel groups led by the formula kenyan president. the second process really looks at the differences between rwanda and the drc led by rwanda, which is called the rwanda first. these two processes if they do not move quickly will see problems. the un security council, france and they need to move quickly and call for secession of hostilities for this political process to go. even more importantly, just yesterday the trump administration cut most of the

aid that goes out put up with this conflict without aid coming in, without any serious diplomatic security processes being supported we're leading this desperate men and women and is in part of the drc to the devices of this group. let’s the devices of this group. let's address the — the devices of this group. let's address the humanitarian i the devices of this group. let's address the humanitarian situation. there's been a pause for review and funded by the us. you were on the ground for the what is the situation?— ground for the what is the situation? , ., ., , . situation? the situation is dire. we went to three _ situation? the situation is dire. we went to three sites _ situation? the situation is dire. we went to three sites for _ situation? the situation is dire. we went to three sites for the - situation? the situation is dire. we went to three sites for the in i situation? the situation is dire. we went to three sites for the in one i went to three sites for the in one of those sites we met women and children who have been sexually abused multiple times. 0ne children who have been sexually abused multiple times. one woman looked me in the eye and said, the people who are doing this to us are people who are doing this to us are people who are as young as our children. ., , ., , ., ., children. really a dire situation

here. abdull-ahi _ children. really a dire situation here. abdull-ahi halakhe i children. really a dire situation | here. abdull-ahi halakhe senior here. abdull—ahi halakhe senior advocate for the horn to refugees international, thank you for bringing us up—to—date on the situation. before we go — news of a museum heist in the netherlands. thieves there broke into a museum, using explosives, and stolen ancient treasures from romania. three gold bracelets and the centrepiece of the exhibition — the helmet of cota-fenesht — were taken. the helmet, which is around two—and—a—half—thousand years old, was on loan from romania's national history museum. detectives believe it was a carefully planned operation and warn it is part of a worrying trend. romania says it will do everything possible to recover the ancient artefacts. if you want to follow all the days stories you could go online to our website. bbc .com/ news. why not get a look at the pandas in dc while you are at a? more coming up.

hello. saturday was a day where the clean—up could begin from that incredibly powerful storm eowyn that battered parts of the uk and the republic of ireland on friday. a much calmer end to the day saturday. we had a fine sunset across southern areas. it was quite cold across northern portions of the uk on saturday, cold enough for some snow in the showers across high ground. now, eowyn is continuing to disintegrate just to the west of norway, but this is our next weather system that's coming in off the atlantic. and this is another named storm. it's been named by the spanish authorities as storm herminia, and it's going to be bringing wet and windy weather over the next few days, with rainfall totals building up, particularly across parts of wales, the midlands, and south west england, where we could see some localised flooding concerns as we head into the early part of the new week. now, at the moment we've got a little trough pushing eastwards, bringing rain, a bit of sleet and hill snow, mostly above 200 metres

elevation across northern england and scotland, could be a few centimetres actually in scotland and a risk of some icy surfaces wherever we see a frost. so, into sunday morning, actually most of us having a fairly decent start to the day. there will still be some showers and blustery conditions for conditions for northern scotland, and it won't be long before we see the rain and winds pick up across england, wales, and northern ireland. gusts through the irish sea coast reaching around 60 to 70 miles an hour. winds that strong could topple one or two trees, bringing some localised disruption, but it won't be on the same scale of disruption that eowyn brought on friday. that really was an exceptional system. monday, the same area of low pressure is with us. we've still got further outbreaks of rain and the wind is still blowing at the same kind of levels around coastal areas. it will be, i suppose, a fairly mild kind of day, but probably not feeling so, given the strength of those winds. by tuesday, a lot of the rain will start to work a little bit further northwards, affecting parts of scotland by this stage. but the worst of the weather should

clear through from wales and south west england. still a few showers left over, still breezy, but the worst of the wind, the worst of the rain should start to push away. temperatures ranging from around seven to ten degrees, so a few degrees above average for the time of year. now, looking later in the new week, it looks like the weather should tend to settle down as the week goes by and into the following weekend, it might be dry for most of us.

this is bbc news. we will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour which is straight after this programme. welcome to talking business. here's what's on the programme. crowd cheers he's back. donald trump is once again in charge of the world's biggest economy. but what will that mean for the us and the rest of us? new tariffs against its biggest trading partners, the prospect of tax cuts and drilling for more oil. just some of the ways america is set to change over the next four years. we'll assess what trump 2.0 could mean for the world economy with our panel of experts this week. this week, the head of policy at the us chamber of commerce gives us their assessment of the impact on business and trade. a former head of the american government's energy agency explains what, "drill, baby, drill," really means for energy prices and supplies.