nevertheless, the legislation should head to the senate next. its fate there is uncertain. following the house vote, tiktok urged its 150 million users in the us to lobby against the bill by calling on them to contact their members of congress. tiktok influencers also protested against the bill outside the white house. here's what they told our correspodnent. iam aware i am aware that i'm giving my day dark, i'm aware, i'm 0k day dark, i'm aware, i'm ok with it, let me make that decision, you need to make that for me. ., v decision, you need to make that for me. . �*, , ., ., for me. that's right stand. to be uuite for me. that's right stand. to be quite honest, _ for me. that's right stand. to be quite honest, everything l for me. that's right stand. to | be quite honest, everything on the internet as a security risk and _ the internet as a security risk and so, — the internet as a security risk and so, this may be — have aberrant_ and so, this may be — have aberrant company that is foreign _ aberrant company that is foreign but we have just as many— foreign but we have just as many security risks where domestic companies as well and i would — domestic companies as well and i would love to see a lawmakers spend _ i would love to see a lawmakers spend as — i would love to see a lawmakers spend as much time and to pass more _ spend as much time and to pass more data. _ spend as much time and to pass more data, protection overall for all— more data, protection overall for all americans on all platforms on everything. democratic congressman seth moulton co—sponsored the bill. he told the bbc that he isn't trying to ban the app but wants it out of chinese control. look, understandable of concerns but we should put our country first over politics or political constituencies. that's the first principle that i operate by, the second thing is that users will see tiktok improve, tiktok is trying to say that they were banning tiktok, that's not true, we're trying to say that the chinese communist party cannot own tiktok and if the chinese communist party is not dictating why people media feeds are, then i think that tiktok will be more positive of its users, more positives of the american people, live up to our values as opposed to valleys of the chinese communist party. ——as opposed to the values. to get an idea of the bill's fate in the senate and whether it could be signed into law, i spoke to ashley gold, technology policy reporter at axios. very good to have your weather is here on bbc news, this legislation has passed in the house, if it's taken up by the senate, what fate do you it faces they?— senate, what fate do you it faces the ? ~ . ., ., ., faces they? we have a lot more momentum _ faces they? we have a lot more momentum in _ faces they? we have a lot more momentum in the _ faces they? we have a lot more momentum in the senate - faces they? we have a lot more momentum in the senate than l faces they? we have a lot more j momentum in the senate than i was originally expecting, you have a lot of lawmakers add to see tiktok as a thread that see the influence of china as a threat and they want to get something done and it seems like this is something that could pass and get signed by the president, by the still pretty notable oppositions in the senate and the majority leader is not committed to putting it on the floor so, it's really up to him and if you see this as a valuable use, and this is something at the centre should be doing so, and washing cautiously but it's the most momentum i've seen for a piece of tech —related legislation in a long time. the stock about _ legislation in a long time. the stock about china _ legislation in a long time. the stock about china than, the tiktok ceo released a video in it he says that over recent years, we've invested to keep your data safe so talk to us a bit about the national security concerns, is there concrete evidence essentially that china is been given this data from us users? .., . . is been given this data from us users? _, . g , users? so, concrete evidence is that the chinese _ users? so, concrete evidence is that the chinese government i users? so, concrete evidence is. that the chinese government has used social media platforms like tiktok to spread the vice of messages to the american people but what i personally see, i'm not a people but what i personally see, i'm nota member of people but what i personally see, i'm not a member of the community, is that they are using american user data from tiktok to do so. manipulating social media is something any company can be subject to. we saw this happen in the 2016 election with meta. in connection to the chinese communist party and with the tiktok is actually bending over data to them, tiktok denies that, we have seen evidence here and there of instances with the border between us data and chinese engineers working for bytedance is poorest but i personally haven't seen a smoking report that says, chinese commoners party or even chinese commoners party or even chinese workers at bytedance are axne singh us data on any significant scale.— significant scale. let's talk about the _ significant scale. let's talk about the impact - significant scale. let's talk about the impact on - significant scale. let's talkj about the impact on young people incredibly popular influences using this as a source of income, revenue, do you anticipate resistance if this were to go further? core battles? ~ , ,., , this were to go further? core battles? ~ , , ., this were to go further? core battles? ~ , ., , battles? absolutely, a couple dozen tiktok _ battles? absolutely, a couple dozen tiktok creators - battles? absolutely, a couple dozen tiktok creators and - dozen tiktok creators and influences on capitol hill yesterday, they had meetings with lawmakers and told them how much the app meant to them and help them start a business and help them start a business and sustain their families and now that it's past the house and getting even more national attention, i think you're going to see a very loud community of tiktok supporters, rallying against the bill.— tiktok supporters, rallying against the bill. again, going back to hypotheticals - against the bill. again, going back to hypotheticals bullets| back to hypotheticals bullets to say then it passes the senate, gets to the president's desk, to avoid a band, we are seeing is bytedance having to arrange a sale, guaranteeing the tiktok is not under the influence of what is being referred to as a foreign adversary within six months, that seemed pretty challenging, isn't it? , . . isn't it? it is challenging. not only _ isn't it? it is challenging. not only is _ isn't it? it is challenging. not only is tiktok - isn't it? it is challenging. not only is tiktok not. not only is tiktok not interested in a sale, they have said as much, it's hard to find a buyer that one, can afford it, it's a very valuable company and also, one that would stand up to and i trust scrutiny. here in the us, increasingly, the environment around big business mergers and acquisitions that our current government administration is pretty sceptical so, the buyer would have to be someone that's not already in tachy, doesn't already have a big social networking platform so not to raise any and i trust in competition flakes and i think tiktok is seen getting a buyer as essentially an impossible task and that's why they are calling it a ban.— calling it a ban. take policy reporter. — calling it a ban. take policy reporter, ashley, - calling it a ban. take policy reporter, ashley, thank- calling it a ban. take policy| reporter, ashley, thank you calling it a ban. take policy - reporter, ashley, thank you for being with us. israel says its investigating an attack on a united nations food distribution center in rafah that killed at least five people, including one unrwa staff member. these are pictures verified by the bbc — filmed at a nearby hospital, where casualties were taken. the us and several eu countries are among those urging israel, not to launch a full scale assault on rafah where more than a million palestinians are sheltering. here are images of the warehouse taken in the immediate aftermath of the attack and this is the scene inside, some of the images are too graphic to broadcast. tensions are also high in the occupied west bank and in occupied eastjerusalem where five palestinians were reportedly killed on tuesday night by israeli security forces, including a 12—year—old boy holding a firework. the bbc�*s mark lowen sent this report from jerusalem. it's been a day of islands inside gaza and beyond with the un in gaza reporting that one of its distribution centres in rafah in the southern tip of gaza was struck with at least one member of staff of the un killed and more than 20 people injured, take the total numbers of staff killed to 165. meanwhile in eastjerusalem, neara meanwhile in eastjerusalem, near a refugee camp, 12—year—old boy who was holding a firework was shot dead by an israeli police. the police say he was aiming the firewood towards them and they've been hit by molotov cocktails in riders and the family of the 12—year—old say he was just a kid and this firework in the m presented no threat at all but the policeman has been congratulated by israel's far right national security minister for right national security ministerfor in his words, defending israel from terrace. on the aid front, it is a slightly more positive note with six trucks from the u.n. world food programme managing to reach northern gaza, an area thatis to reach northern gaza, an area that is not received any food aided all since the middle of february and they've taken a route for the first time allowed by israel since this war began. now, the food aid has been slow and ineffective in coming in over ground, israel has been holding up trucks consistently since this war began so that is why western countries are having to resort to air drops but a maritime corridor coming in from cyprus with a shift that's making its way from cyprus to gaza carrying 200 tons of aid which is said to be offloaded into a temporaryjetty that's been built. the having to resort to maritime routes, air drops because the overland routes have been so slow and the need on the ground are dire with the un warning that a quarter of gaza's population are imminent risk of famine. mark lowen there. and now, five months on from the attacks that triggered this latest, deadly conflict — we are learning more about happened on the 7th of october. 18—year—old itay regev and his sister maya were kidnapped by hamas from a music festival in israel and were then held for sa days. itay has been describing in detail what happened to him, his sister, and his best friend, after they were taken hostage. his friend is still being held along with more than 100 others. itay spoke to our special correspondent lucy manning. itay regev is free, but all he thinks about are the hostages he left behind. the teenager was at the nova music festival with his sister maya and friend omer when hamas attacked. translation: we started hearing shooting, and terrorists were surrounding the whole party area. lots and lots of people started running in all directions. i hear shooting going past my head. i heard people screaming. i saw people falling down. a lot of bodies. we were confronted by a van of terrorists spraying our car with bullets without any mercy. i got shot in my leg. my sister also got shot in her leg seconds after me. this, the moment they were tied up and taken. translation: we entered gaza, and the terrorists started shouting and screaming and celebrating. it was as if it was a big party. itay says they were taken to a house with a shaft, then through a tunnel and driven to a hospital. translation: they threatened my life. they looked at me doing this, that they are going to kill me, that they are going to behead me. i still had a bullet in my leg. they put the forceps into my leg. they pulled out the bullet without anaesthetic. they told me to keep quiet because if i won't keep quiet, they'll kill me. it was a day that i thought i wouldn't come out of alive. i came to terms with the fact that i wasn't going to live. i see my sister, maya, injured and crying. maya also said her goodbyes and told me if i come out of this alive, to tell our parents that she loves them. what were the conditions like where you were being kept? translation: you don't really know if you're going to wake up in the morning, if a missile is going to fall on you, if they're going to come in with a kalashnikov and start spraying us with bullets. the conditions are very, very difficult there. sometimes no water, and the hunger was very, very difficult. hamas wants a total ceasefire and the withdrawal of the troops for the hostages to be released. do you think that israel should agree? translation: i think we should do anything we possibly can to get them out of there, whatever the cost. we need to do anything that will bring the hostages out of there. you can't put a price on it. it's people's lives. itay says he must now shout out in the name of all the hostages who can't be heard. translation: i was there for two months, and every day felt like an eternity. to be there for five months, it's horrible, and they are really going through dreadful things and dreadful feelings. in november, maya was released and reunited with herfamily and is learning to walk again. itay was freed a few days later. omer, theirfriend, and around 130 others are still held. itay says the world has forgotten the hostages. lucy manning, bbc news. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at a top story in the uk: britain's prime minister is resisting pressure for the conservatives to return £10 million, or about $13 million, that was donated by the businessman frank hester, who allegedly said the mp diane abbott made him want to "hate all black women" and should be shot. rishi sunak told the commons that the alleged remarks were racist but that mr hester�*s apology for making rude comments should be accepted. here's our political editor chris mason. the government's current position is theirs, they say that the remarks were racist, the marks were racist but that doesn't make frank hester himself erases. if you take half a step back, it is a position in which he says there should be a tolerance to an articulation of alleged intolerance as long as there is some contrition. meanwhlie, ms abbott was not called on during wednesday's prime minister's questions. that's despite standing up 46 times. a spokesperson for the speaker said he "ran out of time" to call on her. you're live with bbc news. the united nations says it's started evacuating its non—essential staff from haiti — although workers who carry out life—saving activities will remain. the un is also setting up an air bridge from the dominican republic to help deliver aid — amid ongoing unrest and gang violence. political leaders are negotiating the formation of a transition council — set to take over after the prime—minister, ariel henry, stands down. there's hope that following henry's resignation, the violence in haiti will recede. but in the meantime, the humanitarian situation there is worsening. at least four million people are facing severe food insecurity. gangs are in control of roughly 80% of the capital port—au—prince and in just the last couple of weeks, more than 15,000 people have been forced to leave their homes to escape the violence. the bbc�*s central american correspondent will grant has more from haiti's border with the dominican republic. life at the border crossing between the dominican republic and haiti is taking on a certain rhythm that every day, throughout the day, several trucks carrying undocumented haitian migrants come to this point and deport those migrants back into the country. they are being deported into an impoverished nation facing its biggest crisis in over a decade. now the situation in the capital, port—au—prince, remains critical — the food security situation, of course, the gang violence on the streets, the problems in the hospitals and schools being closed — it is as bleak a picture as at any time since the 2010 earthquake, in the haitian capital. there is, for example, the effort by the us state department and member states of the caricom group of nations to see an interim administration take power in the coming days — but that's running into difficulties because the gang members themselves, the powerful games that are in control of much of the capital dispute who will be in that council, and may well want representation themselves, for example, in search of an amnesty. so it is an intractable situation for the time being, it may take several days from this point onwards to resolve — and in the meantime, ordinary people in the streets of port—au—prince are simply trying to make a living, make ends meet amid the violence. russian president vladimir putin has reiterated his position that he's ready to use nuclear weapons — if russia's sovereignty or independence is threatened. the comments came just days before the country's presidential elections — in a wide—ranging interview with russian state television released on wednesday. mr putin also said — russia will deploy troops and strike systems near the border of finland and sweden which have eachjoined nato. the russian president singled out neighbouring finland, arguing its accession to the military alliance was at odds with the country's own interests. translation: why they needed this, ifrankly don't understand. this is an absolutely meaningless step from the point of view of ensuring their own national interests. but nevertheless, it's up to them to decide. that's what they decided. we didn't have troops there. now they will be there. there were no systems of destruction there. now they will appear. so why? the finnish prime minister rejected mr putin's comments, saying that russia under his leadership poses an existential threat to western countries. russia is evidently preparing for a long conflict and represents a permanent annex sensual military threat to europe. if we, as united europe, failed to respond to this challenge, the coming years will be filled with danger and a looming threat of attack. the finnish prime minister urged all european union countries to keep helping ukraine in its fight against russia. that message has been similar here in washington. the us government this week unveiled a stopgap $300 million military aid package, but presidentjoe biden says it is not enough and has urged congress to pass a $60 billion military aid bill. to discuss putin's troop deployment and kyiv�*s ability to fight the war, i spoke to kurt volker, former us special envoy to ukraine and former us ambassador to nato. ambassador, great to have your back with us here on bbc news, either to stay with the comments that we heard from russian president vladimir putin saying that russia would deploy troops, strike systems near the border with finland. are you concerned about that? no, not really. they used to have a strike systems and things with finland, they actually withdrew them in order to conduct the war in ukraine, i think they are saying this now as a gesture because of finland joining nato but the reality is that russian troops are struggling in ukraine, they had to mass forces and a wave after wave of efforts to take even the small city like a difficult. i don't think they have the forces despair to line them up and unthreatening finish border. ——at the diff car. finish border. --at the diff car. ., ., �* ., finish border. --at the diff car. ., ., �* ~ car. you don't think something that the nato _ car. you don't think something that the nato members - car. you don't think something that the nato members should car. you don't think something i that the nato members should be planning for, talking about a strategy? it's different and yes commentators should be paying attention to what russia says, looking at any force movements and putting in place proper forces so that there is a response capability in the event russia want invade. i think the idea of such an an invasion is extremely unlikely because russia has stretched militarily. because russia has stretched militaril . ., . , because russia has stretched militaril . ~ ., , ., militarily. ukraine is also stretched _ militarily. ukraine is also stretched militarily - stretched militarily particularly in terms of weapons supplies and the us has agreed to send some 300 million in assistance, that president biden has been calling for, with the level of funding and weaponry, do you believe that ukraine can still win the war? first off, ukraine will win the war regardless, they are fighting for their homes, their lives, the country, the russians are on an expeditionary mission to take somebody else's country and so, the ukrainians will prevail here but the question is, what cost? because with the right equipment, with the right level of support should be able to defeat the russian forces that are invading in the sense of cutting them off from their supplies so there are no longer available, the something ukraine should be able to do with the right equipment. but without that, they will have to go into a very different mode of sustain and continuing to fight in lower scale, more of a conventional tactic in order to prevent the russians from coming in further and to try to make the russians pay a higher cost for the invasion as well. as for what happens, i had recent conversations with congress and everyone is very adamant that this funding will be approved, it is taking time, too much time but everyone is out of meant that it will be done within the next several weeks. �* �* , ., done within the next several weeks— if i done within the next several weeks.— if it's weeks. and if it's not? if it's not, the _ weeks. and if it's not? if it's not, the administration - weeks. and if it's not? if it's not, the administration has| not, the administration has just shown that there are options for how to continue to get other things i would look at the fence articles, things we can declare unnecessary or maybe have even already declared unnecessary they could be transferred to ukraine. i look at emergency authorities of the pentagon has as to use its resources, fresh authorisation, we have that on the books for 2022 and 2023, it was never used. but we could reauthorise a position to lend ukraine the money with which to buy the weapons that are neither so there are a lot of options that are still out there but the right thing to do, the best option is with a supplemental appropriations to be approved. we supplemental appropriations to be approved-— be approved. we know that president _ be approved. we know that president biden _ be approved. we know that president biden and - be approved. we know that president biden and his - be approved. we know that l president biden and his state of the union address has said that that you proved it set—asides further than ukraine, ukrainian subset of the negotiated settlement, they believed that britain will be back for more at a later date, do you see that as a significant risk? do you see that as a siunificant risk? ~ , ,., , significant risk? absolutely. there was — significant risk? absolutely. there was no _ significant risk? absolutely. there was no question - significant risk? absolutely. | there was no question about ladder mia perkins invention ——he made them time after time and so has are the people of the kremlin, they have said that vladimir putin is rebuilding the russian empire, the view that these territories as russian lands, that i am view the existing is of an independent government on russian lands as acceptable and they intend to take all of them back. this is a recipe for continuous war and genocide which is wide as a throne early to ukraine but all of europe. i think most leaders in europe are now realising this which is why you see this increase defence spending in europe, the statements by president macron about not allowing ukraine to fail because if we do, the war wide and so, that is very real and needs to be taken seriously and needs to be taken seriously and prevented.— and prevented. from a us secial and prevented. from a us special on _ and prevented. from a us special on to _ and prevented. from a us special on to ukraine, - and prevented. from a us i special on to ukraine, great and prevented. from a us - special on to ukraine, great to have you here with your thoughts. and finally, it's been quite an exciting day for pope francis. as many christians observe lent — the period leading up to easter, his holiness has been travelling around the vatican in the popemobile. here he is waving to the public until his cap flies off into the distance. and while we watch that again, in close—up — here's a fun fact, the pope's skullcap is actually called a zucchetto. well, luckily for the pontiff, all�*s well that ends well. a kind member of the public was able to retrieve the cap and hand it back to its rightful owner. you are watching bbc news, more world news here at the top of the album, join me then if you can. bye for now. —— top of the hour. hello there. the rain has been pouring down on wednesday in snowdonia, in wales — there was about a third of a month's worth of rain injust 12 hours. things are not looking quite so dramatic over the next few days. there will be some further wet weather, rain or showers, and for many parts of the country, it's going to be mild — particularly across england and wales, where we've seen the milder air coming from a long way south. things are a little bit chillier to the north, in northern scotland. in between, we've got the weather front — that's been bringing the rain, but that's moving northwards, taking wet weather into scotland and northern ireland. there's the wet weather that we've got in northern ireland and southern scotland — that moves its way northwards. for england and wales, there may be a bit more sunshine arriving in a southerly breeze before those showers push across from the west. but we're introducing some slightly drier airfrom france — hence the cloud breaking up more than it did on wednesday. and so, temperatures could reach 16, even 17 celsius. quite chilly underneath that rain, though, in the central belt of scotland. and that wet weather is still around as we head into thursday evening. that low pressure will slowly pull away — we've got another one waiting in the wings here as we head towards the weekend. but this is how friday looks — and we've got wet weather in scotland sinking into northern england, a bit of snow over the mountains. we see some heavier showers developing further south, particularly in the south—east of england, with the risk of thunder. drier, though, for northern ireland are becoming drier in scotland, but we're getting a northerly wind here — hence the temperatures will be dropping a bit through the day. won't be quite as warm in the south—east, but still temperatures of 13—14 celsius. as that area of low pressure moves away, things will calm down just for a while before the next weather system pushes in from the atlantic. but ahead of that, we'll have clear skies and light winds, so it's going to be cold. and there may be a frost around as well, particularly in scotland, with temperatures down as low as —3 or so. and there may be 1—2 mist and fog patches, too — but those will lift. we'll have some sunshine for a while, but we've got the weather system coming in from the atlantic — the cloud will tend to increase, rain for northern ireland coming into south west scotland, wales, and the south—west of england. eastern areas still generally dry, but after that cold start, it'll only be around seven celsius in north east scotland. most of the rain over the weekend will actually be on saturday night. and then, as we head into the early part of next week, it looks like it could be a bit drier, and it should stay on the mild side. tiktok�*s future in the us hangs in the balance after lawmakers vote to pass a bill that could see a ban. plus we catch up with the ceo of booking.com as the post—pandemic travel boom continues, with no end in sight. welcome to asia business report. let's begin in the united states where lawmakers in the house of representatives have overwhelmingly voted to pass a bill that could lead to a ban on popular social media app, tiktok. that is despite the chinese social media company calling on millions of teenaged users in the us to oppose the bill. our correspondent has been following the proceedings on capitol hill and has more on what is ahead. the house vote sets the stage for what could become an ultimatum to tiktok chinese owned parent company bytedance. so off the app or it will be banned. there is a way to go