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Saudi Arabia condemns US shift on Jerusalem

US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital city has provoked an angry reaction from Saudi Arabia. In a statement, the country, an ally of the US, described the move as "unjustified and irresponsible". Meanwhile, eight of the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council have called for a meeting to discuss Mr Trump's decision by the end of the week.

The Arab and wider Muslim world have joined in the condemnation, but Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called recognising Jerusalem as his country's capital a "historic landmark". Israel has regarded Jerusalem, rather than Tel Aviv, as its true capital since the country was created in 1948. But Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.

In his statement, Mr Trump said he judged his "course of action" as being "in the best interests of the United States of America, and the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinians". Here's a look at how and why capital cities are chosen.

May under pressure to break Brexit deadlock

Nineteen Conservative MPs who support a "soft Brexit" have written to Theresa May urging her not to allow Eurosceptic colleagues to "impose their own conditions" on talks with the EU. The group, including several former cabinet ministers, accuses its opponents of being "highly irresponsible". This follows the decision by some Conservatives to back the Democratic Unionist Party - whose support Mrs May needs for a parliamentary majority - in opposing a draft deal with the EU on the future of the Irish border. This issue needs to be resolved before talks on future EU-UK trade can start.

Meanwhile, time pressures on Mrs May are increasing. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has suggested she come up with new ideas within 24 hours. And, with an EU summit taking place next week, the BBC understands ambassadors for the other 27 member states want "something from London" within 48 hours to present to their own governments.

Big 'end-state' Brexit discussion looming for PM

By Laura Kuenssberg, political editor

Chancellor Philip Hammond has told MPs the cabinet has not yet had its big bonanza conversation about the "end state", when the prime minister will have to put her cards on the table finally, and explain the kind of relationship she wants with the EU after we leave, and after the transition period.

She will then have to try to persuade her cabinet colleagues to back her view. It is a conversation that she has delayed for months, holding it back because she knows the cabinet is divided, and bringing them together could be extremely hard.

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UK's IS fighters 'shouldn't be allowed back'

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has said that no UK citizen who fights abroad for so-called Islamic State should be allowed back into the country. He told the Daily Mail that everything possible should be done to "eliminate" the threat posed, saying: "Quite simply, my view is a dead terrorist can't cause any harm to Britain." At least 800 UK citizens are known to have gone to Syria and Iraq to fight for IS and 130 of those have been killed in conflict.

Scotland braced for Storm Caroline

Disruption is expected to road, rail and ferry transport in Scotland as Storm Caroline brings winds predicted to reach 90mph. All schools on Lewis, Harris and Uist in the Western Isles are closed as a precaution and the Met Office has issued amber and yellow warnings. Snow, ice and strong winds are forecast for large parts of the UK on Friday and Saturday.

What the papers say

There's much reaction to the latest round of Brexit news. The Daily Telegraph reports that European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker feels Theresa May might not last much longer as prime minister unless she reaches a deal with the EU. The i uses the punning headline "Cl-EU-less" in reference to Brexit Secretary David Davis saying the government has not yet carried out assessments of Brexit's impact on the economy. And City AM says patience is wearing thin in the financial sector over a deal being reached. Meanwhile, the Times says a shortage of some medicines is forcing cancer patients and people with mental health problem to be turned away from pharmacies.

Daily digest

Childhood obesity "Stark" increase in number of overweight youngsters

A&E times Long waits have more than doubled in four years, BBC analysis shows

Vice-chancellor's pay Bath Spa boss received £808,000 package during final year

Sexual harassment Fashion models reveal mistreatment

If you see one thing today

Sushi croissants? Stuff you might eat in 2018

If you listen to one thing today

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Britain's withdrawal from Aden

If you read one thing today

Image copyright Getty Images

The lost children of IS

Lookahead

11:30 Singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is at Buckingham Palace to receive his MBE for services to music and charity.

19:15 The winner of the competition to be 2021 UK City of Culture is announced, with Swansea, Coventry, Sunderland, Paisley and Stoke-on-Trent the contenders.

On this day

1941 Japan launches an attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and declares war on Britain and the United States.

From elsewhere

Libby Purves on the life of Christine Keeler (Daily Mail)

As Greenland melts, where's the water going? (New York Times)

The sanctuary for bears (Huffington Post)

Why the French are arguing over a small dot (Economist)