this is bbc news, the headlines: president trump meets a potential plan to relocate more than 1 million palestinians from the gaza strip to arab countries. palestinians have expressed shock at his suggestion but it's been welcomed by the israeli far—right. in belarus, polls have begun to open in the presidential election. leader alexander lukashenko is all but certain to secure a seventh term. mr lukashenko has been in power for over three decades. tens of thousands of homes and businesses across the uk remain without power,

two days after storm eowyn ripped through the north of the uk. and the rare alignment of five planets offers stargazers a spectacle in the skies. after sunset, venus, jupiter and saturn and mars will be visible in an arc—like formation and can be seen with the naked eye. hello and welcome. president trump has said he'll speak to sir keir starmer by phone in the next 2a hours. speaking on air force one he insisted the pair get along very well — saying quote "i may not agree with his philosophy, but i have a very good relationship with him." trump's ally elon musk has criticised the starmer government over its response to child exploitation cases. here's more of what president trump said on board air force one.

if you go to the uk, do you think you'll get along with keir starmer and the labour government? i do, i mean, i've met him already three times. he's come over to see me twice. i have a call. he and i have a call over the next 2a hours. no, i get along with him. well, i like him a lot. he's liberal, which is a little bit different for me, but i think he's a very good person. i think he's a he's done a very good job thus far. he's very new in the job, but he's represented his country in terms of his philosophy. i may not agree with his philosophy, but i have a very good relationship with him. i've seen him twice at dinner with him in trump tower. as you probably know. you know that, right? president trump made the comments as he returned from a visit to nevada, a state that flipped republican in the recent presidential election for the first time in two decades. he told a rally of his supporters he might re—join the world health organization — days after he ordered the us

to withdraw from the un's global health agency. but he said it would have to be — as he put it — cleaned up. president trump also spoke about his plans to tackle illegal immigration. he's sending hundreds of troops to states along the us—mexico border — such as arizona — to boost security. these are new pictures of soldiers arriving at fort bliss in texas, just across the border from mexico — as they prepare to deploy. there's been criticism from some members congress after the trump administration fired at least a dozen federal watchdogs, a move which could face legal challenges. for more on this here is our north america correspondent david willis. well, we've seen the tightening of, attempts to tighten the control over the central the federal government by the, putting in place of these loyalists, donald trump loyalists. well, we're also seeing evidence overnight of the attempt to put loyalists

in place in the federal government, or perhaps i should say, remove those seen as disloyal, with about a dozen inspectors general of the some of the largest departments in the federal government, including the departments of labour and transportation, summarily dismissed. it's been reported, and it's thought that 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. well, there's been no word on this so far from the white house, but a lot of consternation expressed by those who believe that this really is the thin end of the wedge. as far as rooting out opponents of donald trump in the government are concerned. here in the uk — bbc�*s laura kuenssberg asked the chancellor, rachel reeves, if she will take lessons from us

president donald trump who has she said she wouldn't comment on speculation and that you will see the plans when we set them out. earlier, the conservatives accused her of driving down growth and business confidence. however many times you have said it, and you have said it a lot, the latest growth is only i%, how have the last six months gone? our economy has essentially flatlined for more than a decade now. i don't believe low growth is our destiny, though. i know we can do so much better than that. my optimism for britain has never burned brighter than it does now, and that's why we are going further and faster in removing those things that are blocking investment and blocking businesses from creating the wealth and prosperity in our

country. wealth and prosperity in our count . �* , ,, wealth and prosperity in our count .m ,, , country. business people say that things — country. business people say that things you _ country. business people say that things you chose - country. business people say that things you chose to - country. business people say that things you chose to do, | that things you chose to do, like putting national insurance up, making it more expensive for employers to hire staff, that has shaken business confidence, consumer confidence tumbled. sainsbury�*s this week cut 3000 jobs, business optimism is at a two—year low, and that is after your decisions over the last seven months. i ask you again, do you think the last six months have been a success?— think the last six months have been a success? when i became chancellor _ been a success? when i became chancellor of _ been a success? when i became chancellor of the _ been a success? when i became chancellor of the exchequer - been a success? when i became chancellor of the exchequer i . chancellor of the exchequer i think that most people would recognise that the inheritance was pretty tough. public finances were in an attempt. this is about the impact of the decisions you took.— decisions you took. yes, but those decisions _ decisions you took. yes, but those decisions were - decisions you took. yes, but those decisions were to - decisions you took. yes, but those decisions were to put | decisions you took. yes, but i those decisions were to put our public finances back on a firm footing, and the worst thing i could have done in the budget was to have swept those problems under the carpet, pretend they didn't exist and leave us in a situation where our public finances were precarious. now, why do i say that would have been a risk? because we have seen what has happened in the past in the

last few years when governments have lost control of the public finances and interest rates and inflation go through the roof. that is no good for working families in britain and no good for businesses either. we have now stabilised the public finances which mean we can go further and faster on that bedrock of stability to grow our economy.— our economy. the debt is absolutely _ our economy. the debt is absolutely anomalous. i our economy. the debt is| absolutely anomalous. we our economy. the debt is - absolutely anomalous. we can now move _ absolutely anomalous. we can now move on. _ absolutely anomalous. we can now move on. borrowing - absolutely anomalous. we can now move on. borrowing is . absolutely anomalous. we can now move on. borrowing is at| now move on. borrowing is at its highest — now move on. borrowing is at its highest for _ now move on. borrowing is at its highest for four _ now move on. borrowing is at its highest for four years, - now move on. borrowing is at its highest for four years, the | its highest forfour years, the national its highest for four years, the national debt its highest forfour years, the national debt is enormous. that is the debt _ national debt is enormous. that is the debt i _ national debt is enormous. t�*isgt is the debt i inherited as chancellor. yes, i have to get a grip of those problems with public finances, but growth is essential for that, because an economy that is growing is an economy that is growing is an economy that is growing is an economy that can service those debts which is why economic growth is so important. most of all, economic growth matters because that means more money in the pockets of ordinary working people in our country. but if it was going so well and everything had been perfect so far, why are you shifting your time? viewers will hear that you are shifting your tone and talking much more about

optimism, ripping up red tape and those kind of things and you are even easing off on your plans to make it harderfor wealthy non—dom is to do business here. did you make a mistake in underestimating the number of wealthy people who create jobs and wealth here who would leave the uk because of what you did?— what you did? first of all, you 'ust what you did? first of all, you just played — what you did? first of all, you just played some _ what you did? first of all, you just played some clips - what you did? first of all, you just played some clips of- what you did? first of all, you just played some clips of me | just played some clips of me speaking during the general election campaign when i was shadow chancellor and my first speeches in parliament and on all those occasions i said grace is a number—one mission, that has always been the number—one mission of this government. at the first thing to be able to grow the economy is to return stability to the economy. we did that in the budget and we are now tackling those things that are stopping investment coming by reforming our economy, ripping up the planning system. just today, we are announcing more changes to get housing built, particularly around commune her railway stations to help businesses access a skilled workforce. —— commuter railway stations. and ensure more people can take up

those good jobs at decent wages. i those good 'obs at decent wa . es. ., , ~' those good 'obs at decent wanes. ., i. ., ., wages. i will ask you again, did ou wages. i will ask you again, did you make _ wages. i will ask you again, did you make a _ wages. i will ask you again, did you make a mistake - wages. i will ask you again, did you make a mistake or. did you make a mistake or underestimate the number of wealthy people who might pack up wealthy people who might pack up from the uk because of the decisions you make. because you have changed your mind on the rules you would bring in on non—doms. it rules you would bring in on non-dom— non-doms. it is a basic principle _ non-doms. it is a basic principle for _ non-doms. it is a basic principle for me - non-doms. it is a basic principle for me that i non-doms. it is a basic- principle for me that people who made their home in britain should pay their taxes here and under this government people getting rid of their non—domiciled status in the tax system. what we announced this week is around the temporary repatriation facility which is enabling people, including those who have been non—doms to bring money into this country from abroad without paying punitive rates of taxes. what might you have shifted your position. that does not cost uk taxpayers any money and it does not result in any dent in the public finances, but it does make it easier for people to bring money in from overseas in a way that the previous government did not commit. but did ou government did not commit. but did you get _ government did not commit. but did you get it wrong, because you changed your mind? we are

makin: you changed your mind? we are making changes _ you changed your mind? we are making changes to _ you changed your mind? we are making changes to one - you changed your mind? we are making changes to one part - you changed your mind? we are making changes to one part of. making changes to one part of the way in which very wealthy people from abroad are taxed. but it is a principle of this government, and the previous government made changes around non—dom rule is that if you make britain your home you should pay taxes here. we want to be an attractive place for some of the wealthiest and most talented people around the world is white when we publish our immigration white paper later this year we will be consulting on —— is why when we publish. to make sure britain is a welcoming place for global talent. ~ ., ., ., _, talent. what about a welcoming lace for talent. what about a welcoming place for people _ talent. what about a welcoming place for people who _ talent. what about a welcoming place for people who have - talent. what about a welcoming place for people who have had l place for people who have had businesses here for hundreds of years, many of them family farms. your controversial inheritance tax are pencilled inheritance tax are pencilled in to only raise £500 million. of in to only raise £500 million. of course, that is a huge amount of money for any normal person in terms of government spending, that is tiny and you have shaken our whole sector, you have made farmers are very unhappy. we had an e—mailfrom

a family, who wrote to us last night saying everybody now has to put aside anything they to counter the year of the inheritance tax be build that hit at an unknown time. they are not investing in funds, not buying equipment. let are not investing in funds, not buying equipment.— are not investing in funds, not buying equipment. let me answer those questions _ buying equipment. let me answer those questions directly. - buying equipment. let me answer those questions directly. in - those questions directly. in the most recent year of tax data, 40% of the benefits of agricultural property relief went to just 7% of the states. 37 estates got more than £100 million worth of tax relief, thatis million worth of tax relief, that is not affordable and it is not fair. agricultural property relief will still be a more generous system of inheritance tax than anyone else pays, pay atjust half the rate, and unlike everybody else, you will have ten years to pay that tax bill, interest free. �* ,., , to pay that tax bill, interest free. �* , .,, free. but the point is, was it worth over _ free. but the point is, was it worth over 500 _ free. but the point is, was it worth over 500 pounds? - free. but the point is, was it| worth over 500 pounds? the supermarkets have gone public and said this is an issue. laura, i had to take decisions

to raise taxes to put public finances and a firm footing. they were the right changes, because otherwise we would be on this programme talking about what tax changes would we have to bring in in the future to stabilise the public finances. i have now drawn a line under the economic and fiscal mismanagement of the previous government. oursums mismanagement of the previous government. our sums add up in a way they did not with the plans i inherited from the previous government, and we are now cracking on doing the things on regulation, on planning, on al, on pensions and capital markets reform to make britain the best place in the world to grow and start a business and to bringing inward investment creating good jobs putting more money in peoples pockets. putting more money in peoples ockets. ., ., , _ putting more money in peoples ockets. ., ., , , , ., pockets. you are visibly going to start doing _ pockets. you are visibly going to start doing a _ pockets. you are visibly going to start doing a big _ pockets. you are visibly going to start doing a big push, - pockets. you are visibly going to start doing a big push, andj to start doing a big push, and over to push to get things done, but there have been all sorts of projects, public projects, sitting on the shelf notjust projects, sitting on the shelf not just for the seven projects, sitting on the shelf notjust for the seven months since you have been in charge, but also for years. they are some of the ones, viewers might

spot things around the country near them. they are all sorts of projects, but they have been blatantly obvious need a shove to get on with. why has it taken you seven months you have to put your foot down? taken you s