w aid official says there the un's top aid official says there is no longer any meaningful humanitarian operation in southern gaza. however, it does appear that the israeli border crossing could soon be open to improve the flow of aid. documents reveal that the united kingdom has given veranda a further £100 million as part of its deal to relocate asylum seekers to the african nation —— rwanda. the funeral of singer songwriter shane mcgowan will take place and i today. the musician died last week at the age of 65, there will be a procession through the streets of dublin —— shane macgowan. we heard earlier about attempts to reach new agreements at the climate summit.

scientists say that 2023 is certain to be the warmest year to date, with record emissions of carbon dioxide and the rising impact of the el nino weather phenomenon. dioxide and the rising impact here's our environment correspondent matt mcgrath. the biggest reason to be cheerful about climate change as the sun. solar panels are producing the cheapest electricity in history, and in china this year, they have put up more panels than the united states has ever installed. all across the uk, there is a secret solar revolution going on. on the street in london, around 15 homes have installed solar panels over the last year. not only are the panels cutting energy bills on the street, they are allowing people to take practical steps in the fight against climate change. it is practical steps in the fight against climate change.— practical steps in the fight against climate change. it is not 'ust about renewable energy, _ climate change. it is not 'ust about renewable energy, but _ climate change. it is notjust about renewable energy, but it _ climate change. it is notjust about renewable energy, but it is - climate change. it is notjust about renewable energy, but it is about | renewable energy, but it is about people power, to do something practical to counteract the effects of climate breakdown in the economic crisis. . . u,

of climate breakdown in the economic crisis. . . , ., crisis. electric car sales are booming. _ crisis. electric car sales are booming, there _ crisis. electric car sales are booming, there is - crisis. electric car sales are booming, there is great - crisis. electric car sales are l booming, there is great hope crisis. electric car sales are - booming, there is great hope for the emerging idea of using these vehicles to power our homes. smart tech means we can now send the energy stored in car batteries back to the grid when a demand is at its highest. selling this electricity at peak times can save you some money as well as curbing emissions. from small batteries to much bigger ones, giant battery farms like this one in bucks are springing up all over the uk. they may not look very dynamic, but at the end of this decade, but a little store enough energy to power 18 million homes across the uk. in many areas of the green transition, britain is a leader, but getting the rest of the world to speed up their efforts is now the bigger challenge. the focus of those efforts is here. at cop28. just eight years ago, the

palace agreement was signed, but this remarkable document contains no mention of coal, oil, or gas. here and buy, there is a growing belief that these fuels will be consigned to history, giving the world a chance of staying safe. pat mcgrath, bbc news, to buy. —— dubai. —— paris agreement. let's shift our focus to the democratic republic of congo. the central african nation heads to the polls in two weeks' time amid security concerns in the eastern side of the country. president felix tshisekedi is up for re—election, after a first term focused on fighting the m23 rebel group, in the north kivu region, on the border with rwanda and uganda. seven million people have been internally displaced as a result of the conflict. in the hope of putting an end to the rebellion, an east african regionalforce was deployed to free areas taken by the rebels, and its mission, led by kenya, is due to come to an end today, after failing to restore peace.

live now to our senior africa correspondent anne soy who's covering the story for us from nairobi. what do these latest developments mean? it what do these latest developments mean? . , , what do these latest developments mean? , ., ,, what do these latest developments mean? , ., , mean? it raises doubts about the exercise getting _ mean? it raises doubts about the exercise getting under _ mean? it raises doubts about the exercise getting under way - mean? it raises doubts about the exercise getting under way on - mean? it raises doubts about the | exercise getting under way on the 20th of december, the elections, but i do understand that some of the areas where this insecurity has been going on have not... night registration of voters did not take place there, and therefore people will not be voting there. is already there is an impact from that. what understand is that some of the kenyan troops have already returned, and this exercise will continue until the 7th of january. we and this exercise will continue until the 7th ofjanuary. until the 7th of january. we know there's an _ until the 7th of january. we know there's an election _ until the 7th of january. we know there's an election taking - until the 7th of january. we know there's an election taking place, | there's an election taking place, what do these developments mean amid that happening? it is what do these developments mean amid that happening?— that happening? it is very interesting _ that happening? it is very interesting that _ that happening? it is very interesting that the - that happening? it is very - interesting that the authorities in the drc decided that this is the time to let go of their forces from

the east african community. they have also recently agreed with the un peacekeeping mission that has been based there for many more years that they will start with drawing towards the end of this year, early next year, and therefore it is a very interesting development. considering that this is a troubled region that has had on security for decades, and the government is saying that both forces have been effective in dealing with their own security there, we understand that forces from the south african development community, of which the drc is a member, will be replacing the east african force. however, the timelines are not clear how that exercise will go is not clear, but there has already been a response from one of the armed groups, the m23, they are already extending their territory after a long lull.

they had agreed to give up some of their territory which was to be taken over by the east african force, but now they are withdrawing, we are seeing that they are starting to extend that territory again, and the re—took a town about a0 kilometres from the capital of the region. some disturbing developments on that front, but also very interesting that these decisions are being made very close to the election. �* ., , election. and how it is felix tshisekedi _ election. and how it is felix tshisekedi viewed - election. and how it is felix tshisekedi viewed in - election. and how it is felix tshisekedi viewed in the . election. and how it is felix - tshisekedi viewed in the country, could all these developments cost him the election? if is could all these developments cost him the election?— him the election? it is very mixed comedy drc _ him the election? it is very mixed comedy drc is — him the election? it is very mixed comedy drc is accommodated - him the election? it is very mixed . comedy drc is accommodated place. just for context, this is a country the size of western europe, it is very large —— a complicated place. just travelling from east to the west or vice versa is very difficult. of late, the european union has withdrawn its mission because they wanted to deploy people across the country, some of the

observers were already here but they said they were not given security guarantees, and so insecurity is a big challenge in the country, and so is logistics. even though the un peacekeeping mission as withdrawing, they have already been asked to help distribute some of the electoral materials and some of the troubled areas. so it is a complex situation on the ground. and going into the election, there are many questions that are being asked. previously they had an election, they have troubles there, some part not take part in that election at all, so thatis part in that election at all, so that is really situation on the ground in the drc, where you have a large country going to elections, but some areas will not take part because of insecurity. {lila but some areas will not take part because of insecurity.— but some areas will not take part because of insecurity. 0k, anne soy, thank yom — let's get some of the

day's other news now. portugal's president has dismissed the country's government, one month to the day after the prime minister tendered his resignation on learning that his name had come up in an investigation by public prosecutors into suspected corruption. president marcelo rebelo de sousa announced in october that he would dissolve the country's parliament this month and hold early elections in march next year. the us has reaffirmed unwavering support for guyana's sovereignty after venezuela announced plans to annex the essequibo region. a white house spokesman confirmed that the us would carry out air force drills with guyana, but insisted they were routine. venezuela described them as a provocation. brazil — which has borders with both countries — has announced that it's deploying more troops in the area. supporters of the former peruvian president pedro castillo have staged protests across the country on the first anniversary of his arrest on charges of conspiracy and rebellion. thousands of people took to the streets of lima and other cities to demand his release.

she danced with vladimir putin at her wedding — now austria's former foreign minister karin kneissl has moved to russia. she says she was forced out of austria by political pressure and describes president putin as "the most intelligent gentleman." steve rosenberg reports. dancing the waltz, vladimir putin and karin kneissl in 2018. then austria's foreign minister, she'd invited russia's president to her wedding. a private visit — strictly. butjust months after the salisbury poisonings, which the eu, like the uk, have linked to the russian state. now, with her boxer winston churchill, karen kneissl has moved to st petersburg. she claims that after leaving office, she had problems at home. she was seen as too close to russia. it was all about not being able to work. so this was number one

and that was political pressure. she's running a russian think tank. controversial considering russia's war in ukraine. isn't there a danger that by being here that you are legitimising the invasion, the war and also the domestic repression that takes place in russia? well, so far, i have not seen any sort of repression in my immediate surrounding. i can work here in a kind of academic freedom, which i started missing when i was still teaching at various universities. just a few days ago in this city, a young russian woman was sent to prison for seven years for replacing some price tags in a supermarket with anti—war slogans. yeah. and so what do i have to do with that? i just explained at length the situation that i have been going through. and what about that dance? you see, i've done other things in my life before and after, and honestly, it's so boring.

honestly, it's very boring. to talk about the wedding? yes. so we should just... i mean, i think there are other more interesting topics we can discuss. honestly. you have no regrets about it? i consider it as honestly boring. and the dog just fell asleep and was snoring because he knows the topic. and her view now of vladimir putin? he is the most intelligent gentleman, with the focus on gentleman, and i've met a few, in the sense of what jane austen wrote about the accomplished gentleman in pride and prejudice, he amounts to this standards. we're seeing a wave of repression domestically and we've seen russia invade ukraine. it's hard to classify that as a gentlemanly action. well, tony blair, cameron, they all were involved with the governments being involved in military actions. finally, i mean, you say that there are people in austria who've accused you, or accuse you of high treason,

accuse you of being... a russian spy. ..a russian spy. can you, to an extent, understand? no, not to an inch. not to, not even to an inch. i don't understand it. it's just dirty fantasy. the former austrian diplomat, who claims to have been hounded in the west and moved east. at a time when the gulf between russia and europe feels wider than ever. steve rosenberg, bbc news, st petersburg. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

you're live with bbc news. saudi arabia's sports minister says claims of sportswashing against the country are "very shallow." he's been defending the right to host the 203a world cup. critics say unprecedented spending

on sport has been used to improve saudi arabia's reputation over its human rights record and environmental impact. 0ur sports editor dan roan has been in the country, accompanied by saudi ministry of sport officials, and he spoke to prince abdulaziz bin turki al faisal, in an exclusive interview. from a football league learning some of the biggest names in the game, and a takeover of golf to the hosting of some of boxing's biggest fights, saudi arabia has spent william's of pounds change in the sporting landscape, and with the country now set to host the world cup in 203a, the man overseeing the sporting revolution told me what lay behind the investment. fiur sporting revolution told me what lay behind the investment. our ambition is to host the — behind the investment. our ambition is to host the best events _ behind the investment. our ambition is to host the best events around - is to host the best events around the world for the people of the kingdom to see, but also to invite the world to the kingdom. d0 the world to the kingdom. do you want to be _ the world to the kingdom. do you want to be the _ the world to the kingdom. do you want to be the number— the world to the kingdom. do you want to be the number one - the world to the kingdom. do you i want to be the number one sporting superpower in the world? i do want to be the number one sporting

superpower in the world?— superpower in the world? i do not see it that — superpower in the world? i do not see it that way. — superpower in the world? i do not see it that way, competing - superpower in the world? i do not see it that way, competing with l see it that way, competing with others. i see it as us playing our role was in the world. but others. i see it as us playing our role was in the world.— others. i see it as us playing our role was in the world. but there are also fears of— role was in the world. but there are also fears of an _ role was in the world. but there are also fears of an environmental - also fears of an environmental impact of staging the world cup here, and concern that sport is being used to improve the reputation of a country where women's rates are restricted on homosexuality is illegal. forthose restricted on homosexuality is illegal. for those who say that saudi arabia is not a suitable host, what would you say to that? we have hosted a lot — what would you say to that? we have hosted a lot of _ what would you say to that? we have hosted a lot of events _ what would you say to that? we have hosted a lot of events in _ what would you say to that? we have hosted a lot of events in the - what would you say to that? we have hosted a lot of events in the past, . hosted a lot of events in the past, more than 85 events. everyone is welcome in the kingdom, and like any other nation around the world, we have rules and regulations that everyone should abide by. so when ou are everyone should abide by. so when you are accused _ everyone should abide by. so when you are accused of _ everyone should abide by. so when you are accused of sportswashing? | everyone should abide by. so when i you are accused of sportswashing? it is very shallow. i think a lot of people who accuse us of that have not been to saudi and have not seen what we are doing on the ground. human rights campaigners will say, look at the imprison of campaigners for women's rates. ila look at the imprison of campaigners for women's rates.— for women's rates. no one is perfect. _ for women's rates. no one is perfect. and _ for women's rates. no one is perfect. and it— for women's rates. no one is perfect, and it knows - for women's rates. no one is perfect, and it knows that, i for women's rates. no one is l perfect, and it knows that, and for women's rates. no one is - perfect, and it knows that, and we are reforming, these events help us

to reform. the are reforming, these events help us to reform. ,,., are reforming, these events help us to reform. ., ., , to reform. the saudi authorities insist that _ to reform. the saudi authorities insist that this _ to reform. the saudi authorities insist that this is _ to reform. the saudi authorities insist that this is one _ to reform. the saudi authorities insist that this is one of - to reform. the saudi authorities insist that this is one of the - insist that this is one of the principal reason is that they are now pumping so much money into sport, to try to inspire a youthful population it to become more physically active. the critics, however, say it is a lot more complicated than that.- however, say it is a lot more complicated than that. sport can be a driver for — complicated than that. sport can be a driver for positive _ complicated than that. sport can be a driver for positive change, - complicated than that. sport can be a driver for positive change, and - complicated than that. sport can be a driver for positive change, and i i a driver for positive change, and i think_ a driver for positive change, and i think that — a driver for positive change, and i think that is — a driver for positive change, and i think that is right. it can also be used _ think that is right. it can also be used to— think that is right. it can also be used to launder reputations, and to change _ used to launder reputations, and to change an— used to launder reputations, and to change an image of a place without changing _ change an image of a place without changing its human rights record. but amid — changing its human rights record. but amid the scrutiny, more competitors are being enticed by the riches on offer here, as saudi arabia tightens its grip on the sporting world. dan roan, bbc news. to the video games business now, because one of the most successful titles in the world could be about to get bigger. fortnite already has more than a00 million registered players. now its developer, epic, has joined forces with toy giant lego to try to appeal to younger players. but the move is proving controversial. our technology correspondent marc cieslak has more.

the massively popular video game fortnite has launched a high—profile collaboration with lego. while fortnite is famous for last play of battle royale, this new game is a crafting title, heavily leaning into the crafting element using lego bricks. fortnite is no stranger to controversy. questions have been raised against —— about child safety in the game since it first launched. it has the ability to talk to other players, so when i'm talking to parents, what i want to make sure that they understand that experience before they handed over to their child. 50 before they handed over to their child. ., .,, , .,, child. so how has its developer epic games addressed _ child. so how has its developer epic games addressed these _ child. so how has its developer epic games addressed these concerns i child. so how has its developer epic. games addressed these concerns when working with famously family friendly lego?— working with famously family friendl leno? ., ., ., ., ., friendly lego? you do not to mentor these features _ friendly lego? you do not to mentor these features in _ friendly lego? you do not to mentor these features in a _ friendly lego? you do not to mentor these features in a week _ friendly lego? you do not to mentor these features in a week or- friendly lego? you do not to mentor these features in a week or a - friendly lego? you do not to mentor these features in a week or a day, i these features in a week or a day, these _ these features in a week or a day, these are — these features in a week or a day, these are things we have been building — these are things we have been building for years, so one of the things—

building for years, so one of the things we — building for years, so one of the things we recently implemented was a ratin- things we recently implemented was a rating system, so each piece of content — rating system, so each piece of content is — rating system, so each piece of content is rated appropriately for the audience, and we allow, through our parental— the audience, and we allow, through our parental controls, the parents to decide — our parental controls, the parents to decide what type of content their kids will_ to decide what type of content their kids will be able to see today. it kids will be able to see today. [i is kids will be able to see today. is clear kids will be able to see today. it is clear that this collaboration between lego and fortnite is about making the fortnite ecosystem more appealing to younger players. but for a game which has attracted criticism from a wide variety of different courses, p' groups, even prince harry, is seeking ever younger players a wise move? —— parents' groups. a, younger players a wise move? -- parents" grows-— parents' groups. a lot of the criticism _ parents' groups. a lot of the criticism is, _ parents' groups. a lot of the criticism is, how _ parents' groups. a lot of the criticism is, how they - parents' groups. a lot of the criticism is, how they are . criticism is, how they are interacting with other people on the internet? it is a battle royale, by its very nature you will be in combat, and there are many people for whom that is not what they are interested in, that is not what their tastes are. other people like with lego are already a bit too

young for that.— with lego are already a bit too young for that. there are already lots of video _ young for that. there are already lots of video games, _ young for that. there are already lots of video games, but - young for that. there are already lots of video games, but does i lots of video games, but does collaborating with fortnite create a particular risk for the company? —— there are already lots of lego video games. there are already lots of lego video names. . . there are already lots of lego video names. ., ., ., ., ~ ., , games. there are a lot of unknowns because we — games. there are a lot of unknowns because we do _ games. there are a lot of unknowns because we do not _ games. there are a lot of unknowns because we do not yet _ games. there are a lot of unknowns because we do not yet know - games. there are a lot of unknowns because we do not yet know exactlyj because we do not yet know exactly how the _ because we do not yet know exactly how the game is going to land. let�*s how the game is going to land. let's see if it manages _ how the game is going to land. let's see if it manages to _ how the game is going to land. let�*s see if it manages to build its maker is an even bigger audience. marc cieslak, bbc news. the cop 28 summit is happening in dubai, and the president of the summit said in a moment ago that the next 2a to a8 hours will be crucial for the future of our planet. i next 24 to 48 hours will be crucial for the future of our planet. i hope ou have for the future of our planet. i hope you have seen _ for the future of our planet. i hope you have seen the _ for the future of our planet. i hope you have seen the letter _ for the future of our planet. i hope you have seen the letter that - for the future of our planet. i hope you have seen the letter that has l you have seen the letter that has just been released only a couple of hours ago signed by over 1000

scientists, ceos, indigenous peoples, mayors, governments, youth, health professionals, and faith leaders, all urging parties to come together around a rapid response. this is the challenge that parties must rise to against the clock. in fact, it is fast moving. and we need to adapt and shift gears... you fact, it is fast moving. and we need to adapt and shift gears. . .— to adapt and shift gears... you are watchin: to adapt and shift gears. .. you are watching bbc— to adapt and shift gears... you are watching bbc news. _ to adapt and shift gears... you are watching bbc news. spent - to adapt and shift gears... you are watching bbc news. spent every l watching bbc news. spent every moment focusing _ watching bbc news. spent every moment focusing on _ watching bbc news. spent every moment focusing on enabling, i moment focusing on enabling, facilitating, supporting most ambitious outcome, and i am very optimistic about the new spirit we have generated here is helping make

this cop 28 a transformational cop, to have a chance of changing begin. allow me to open before and then there will be happy to take your questions —— changing the game. thank you. good afternoon. time is of the _ thank you. good afternoon. time is of the essence, sol thank you. good afternoon. time is of the essence, so i will be brief. we will— of the essence, so i will be brief. we will have updates on cop 28 throughout the day. the funeral of the singer—songwriter shane macgowan is taking place in ireland today. the musician, who was best known for fronting the pogues, died last week at the age of 65. there'll be a procession through the streets of dublin, before a church service in nenagh in county tipperary. from there, our ireland correspondent chris page reports. ireland is paying tribute to its punk poetic songwriting genius.

shane macgowan first made his name in london, but his talent was forged here in county tipperary, where he had family roots and was steeped in irish folk music. # it was christmas eve, babe # in the drunk tank # an old man said to me # "won't see another one"...# his most famous song is now synonymous with this time of year — fairytale of new york by the pogues and kirsty maccoll was recorded in the band's heyday in the 19805. # they've got cars big as bars # they've got rivers of gold # but the wind goes right through you # it's no place for the old...# # as i wander down the long lonesome highway...# shane macgowan's career was affected by problems with drugs and alcohol, but his music's been praised across the world. today, thousands of people

are expected to line the streets of south dublin for a funeral procession. then the singer's coffin will be driven to tipperary for a service in this church in nenagh. # i kissed my girl by the factory wall. ..# people are walking around the town centre of nenagh to the tune of music by the pogues playing out over speakers. everyone seems to be really proud of the role this place played in the life of one of ireland's greatest—ever cultural icons. i'm delighted to hear his music being played today. it's really very cheering, you know. it's sadness for his family, all right, you know. he's a sort of a national institution, you know? and he really kind of captured something about that experience of being betwixt and between, being irish and english or english and irish and so on. he caught that in, i think, a very beautiful way, a very poetic way. and i thank him for that. it was really fantastic.

great to give him a good send—off, and it's lovely that the town are celebrating his life. and, yeah, so it'll be lovely to have the funeral through his home town. i play a bit of music myself, but we all look up to shane macgowan. we always will. his family have said they hope to give people who admired shane macgowan the chance to wish him godspeed. this will be a day to remember a unique radical artist. chris page, bbc news, nenagh. we will be following that procession which is expected to take about a5 minutes here on bbc news. a live image and out of gaza, and that is from southern israel. this morning, within the last hour, we have seen two very large explosions, large plumes of smoke over that broken skyline of there. this comes as washington has stepped up its criticism of the way that israel is carrying out its military offensive

in gaza. antony blinken said there was a gap between the government's declared intentions to protect civilians and the casualties, and what was actually happening on the ground there. you can take a look at our website for more detail on that. there are live updates as they progress there. now it's time for a look at the weather. hello. if you have done any cross—country travel recently, you will notice how high the rivers are, how waterlogged the fuels are. there will be more this weekend, but the weather is chopping and changing a bit more at the moment. this is the bank of cloud that brought persistent rain yesterday, that is out of the way. further shower clouds, then the next bank of cloud and more persistent rain coming in for tomorrow. and more persistent rain coming in fortomorrow. more and more persistent rain coming in for tomorrow. more shall be conditioned, showers fairly frequent, north and west england, wales, longer spells potentially in

scotland and northern ireland, but to the south and east of england, a few showers, some will stay dry throughout the day, but it is to the north—east we have not only got the rain of the strongest of the winscombe 0rkney, shetland, gusts of 50 mph, and added wind—chill here, but for many, attempt is above where we should be at this stage in december. tonight, still some showers around to begin with, any clear skies will lead to some of and fog patches, but that batch of cloud i should on the satellite images, it comes on tomorrow's wet weather, across wales and later northern ireland by the end of the day. at the weekend does bring more rain around, but those sunny moments in between one to be a complete wash—out. winds will become a feature as wiggled through saturday, quite blustery day throughout parts of ireland, england and wales, rain initially in the south and south—west as well as wales, pushing northwards, so great a condition tear through the afternoon, but the rain setting in, southern scotland and northern ireland. again north—west scotland largely dry.

very mild in december in the south, 1a celsius potentially across the south—east. as the rain starts to move south and east again into the evening, this is where we will see the strongest of the winds, but any time from mid afternoon onwards, we could see gales quite widely throughout wales and ireland, but here we could see potentially damaging gust even higher than 65 mph, worth keeping a close eye on the forecast, it depends exactly for the forecast, it depends exactly for the low pressure tracks. moves out of the way, slightly quieter spell, then the next batch of wet weather through sunday. for many on sunday, early risers getting the best of the early risers getting the best of the early weather, some mist and fog patches, but then some heavy showers push their way northwards, even some longer spells of rain, the honourable funder nixon, before turning brighter or later, and again another mild day. take care.

live from jerusalem, this is bbc news. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, urges israel to do more to live up to its promises to minimize civilian casualties in gaza. there does remain a gap between exactly what i said when i was there, the intent to protect civilians and the actual results that we're seeing on the ground.

the un's top aid official says there's no longer any meaningful humanitarian operation in southern gaza. and i'm kylie pentelow in london. the headlines this hour: documents reveal that the uk has given rwanda an extra £100 million for an asylum deal. president biden' son, hunter, has been indicted on nine tax—related charges for allegedly taking part in a scheme to avoid paying nearly $1.5 million. as the un climate summit enters its final stages, nations are urged to step up and get thejob done. you are live with bbc news. i'm anna foster injerusalem. washington has stepped up its criticism of the way israel is carrying out its military offensive in gaza.

antony blinken said there was a gap between the government's declared