entertainer barry humphries. we'll cross to our correspondent in sydney. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news — it's newsday. hello and welcome to the programme. european leaders have agreed to open eu membership talks with ukraine, a decision hailed by president zelensky as a victory for his country and europe. the country, along with moldova, applied tojoin the eu after russia launched its full—scale invasion of ukraine in february 2022. president putin, speaking in his first news conference since the war, said there will be no peace in ukraine, until russia achieves its objectives there. we'll have more from moscow in a moment. but first, our correspondent

abdujalil abdurasulov reports from the frontline in bakhmut, in the east of ukraine, where troops are under pressure because of a dwindling supply of military hardware. in the bitter cold of winter, this deadly war grinds on, and big guns, provided by western partners, still play a crucial role. ukraine's 93rd brigade is stationed near bakhmut. they say the russians attack at least twice a day. theirjob, to stop them advancing. as the conflict turns to stalemate, ukrainian soldiers say they need the support of their international partners more than ever. it is demoralising for them to hear that, instead, america's funding for ukraine has ground to a halt. translation: if there is no support from the western i countries, then it's

going to get really bad. russia will seize ukraine, then it will be the turn of the baltic states and poland. i don't think the russians will stop here. our conversation is interrupted by orders to destroy a new target. the crew has to be quick. after a long silence, they're told to stand down and hide the howitzer. but these soldiers worry their guns will remain silent for much longer without new us funding and supplies. these are 155mm calibre artillery shells, and most western weapons and artillery systems that ukraine has received use these types of shells, and therefore the shortage of these rounds will mean that those big guns will have to fire less, and that, in its turn, will have a huge impact here on the front line.

there's already a serious lack of ammunition for western weapons, and the shortage is worse for old soviet guns. the commander of this ageing soviet howitzer unit admits that they have to use shells carefully. after loading, the crew waits for hours for the command to open fire on a high—value target. they simply cannot afford to waste ammunition on anything else. the difficult days ahead are uncertain, but these soldiers say their determination is not. abdujalil abdurasulov, bbc news, donetsk region, in eastern ukraine. president putin has insisted that russian troops are improving their positions across the entire frontline in ukraine. he spoke in a marathon four—hour press conference, during which our russia editor steve rosenberg tried to pose some questions. there haven't been many —

actually, any — opportunities for western media to get anywhere near vladimir putin since his full—scale invasion of ukraine. but today, the kremlin invited us and otherforeign media to the president's end—of—year tv extravaganza — half press conference, half phone—in. on the war in ukraine, he sounded confident. translation: there will be peace when we achieve our goals. they haven't changed. practically along the entire line of contact, our armed forces are, to put it modestly, improving their position. they are in an active stage of operation. there was a definite military theme to the show, which was broadcast by every main tv channel in russia and went on for hours. the public had plenty of questions about what the kremlin�*s still calling

its special military operation, like would there be a new wave of mobilisation in russia? mr putin said no. this didn't happen last year. the kremlin had cancelled the annual putin phone—in and his end—of—year press conference following the full—scale invasion of ukraine. the fact that the four—hour tv marathon is back reflects his growing confidence nearly two years into the war. he was asked about two americans being held in russian jails — wall streetjournal reporter evan gershkovich and former marine paul whelan. is a prisoner swap possible? translation: we want to do a deal, but these agreementsi should be mutually beneficial. we're in contact with our american partners on this matter. a dialogue is under way. it's not easy. i won't go into detail, but in general i think we understand each other and i hope that we will

find a solution. irina was lucky — she got a question about egg prices. "you're my favourite president," she says. but all i got, afterfour hours, was a sore arm. pity, that. i have so many questions for vladimir putin. another day, perhaps. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. jake sullivan says the governance of the west bank needs to be connected under a revamp and revitalise palestinian authority. he made the comments during a visit to israel where he met prime minister benjamin netanyahu and other officials, during which he also called for restraint. israeli officials told him the wall will take many more months. mr sullivan will hold

talks with palestinian president in ramallah on friday. mahmoud abbas in ramallah on friday. gaza's health ministry says more than 18,500 people have been killed since the war began. internet and phone networks across gaza have gone down again, according to the region's main telecoms company. 0ur international editor jeremy bowen considers whether the war has any chance of ending peacefully. jerusalem, a historian wrote, is the only city where the dead are more important than the living. he meant the weight of its bloody past, but it's the last two months and more of killing that have sent palestinians and israelis into new and unknown territory. and here in the holy city which both sides claim as their capital, they are tense, watchful, waiting. choices lie ahead. a ceasefire will come eventually. will itjust be a pause before the next war? or will israel and the palestinians decide

that the only way to avoid more sorrow and death is to try again to make peace? arabs and jews have contested the land between the mediterranean and thejordan river for more than a century. this is hebron, on the israeli—occupied west bank. do you have many families left here? i can see since october seventh... and this is issa amro, a palestinian activist. since the seventh of october, palestinians who live near hebron�*s illegaljewish settlement have been mostly under a curfew. so, the army's coming. what do you think they want? intimidation. yeah? everything they do, it's about intimidating the palestinian population and make them scared, to make this area empty. that is what they do. issa is well—known in hebron, and the army regard him as a troublemaker. they didn't want us to film, but we did when one of the soldiers butted into our conversation. you don't know what it's like to grow up in israel with neighbours like this.

i know them. i live with them. i want peace. they don't want peace. even the ones working for me, they hate me. take your mask off. i'm not your enemy. confrontation is built into israel's military occupation of the palestinian territories. peace is impossible while it continues. can you have peace? with them? no, we should force them to peace, pressure them. you should...? pressure them. pressure them? yes. the international community and international law must be implemented. the international community should make israel accept peace. do you think that the shock of the war in gaza and everything that's happened — the hamas attacks, everything that israel did in response — do you think that will change things orjust make them deeper and worse? i think its two opportunities. it's either we choose to make it deeper and worse, or we make it as an opportunity

to solve the conflict and to solve the occupation, to solve the apartheid and make living together possible, because their security solution failed. israel says it has a right to be in hebron and this is security, not apartheid. this was kibbutz be'eri just after the seventh of october. the government here says the only response is to destroy israel's enemies. vivian silver lived at the kibbutz. she was one of israel's best—known peace campaigners. she believed israelis would never have real security until palestinians had their own state. 0n the seventh, she was at home, in the place where she'd brought up her two sons. the bodies of israelis killed by hamas were still being recovered when we went there to try to find vivian's house. her family hoped she was a hostage inside gaza. as hamas shot their way into be'eri, she texted her son, yonatan, that she feared a massacre.

her house was burnt. a month later, vivian silver's remains were identified in the ash left by the fire. so, you were there, i was there afterwards, and her bones were in the safe room all the while. yonatan believes the war lacks a political objective. war, if we're not naive, it should be a means, right? but it feels like this war is a cause in itself, of revenge, of... ..of making a point. you are still a believer in peace even though these people came over into your country and killed your mother? they came into my country and killed my mother because we didn't have peace, so, to me, thisjust proves

the point that we need it. after the war, the americans want israel's walls and fences, here between jerusalem and bethlehem, to go from a security measure into an international frontier with an independent palestine. the current israeli government says the two—state solution will not happen. so, when the war is over, what needs to go right to give peace a chance? well, first of all, a change of leader on both sides. there's too much bad history, and they don't trust each other. next, there has to be even—handed mediation, something the americans have never managed to do. and as well as that, both israelis and palestinians are going to have to accept painful compromises on things that really matter to them, especially territory. so much has to go right to move from war to peace. so much has already gone wrong that peace might just be impossible. jeremy bowen,

bbc news, jerusalem. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. finland has closed its land border with russia to stem the flow of asylum seekers just days after it re—opened two crossings. finland says russia is deliberately trafficking the refugees to the border in retaliation for helsinki's decision tojoin nato. the presidents of venezuela and guyana have have finished a two—hour meeting focused on how to avoid escalating their border dispute. there are disagreements over the oil—rich region of essequibo. the president of guyana said he would continue to facilitate investments in the area, despite venezuela's renewed claims to the territory. the french film star isabelle adjani has been convicted of tax fraud. a court in paris found the star had evaded more than $1.5 million in tax by falsely claiming residence in portugal.

around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. new figures show improvements in britain's health service compared to this time last year, but patients needing emergency care are still facing long waits in england. the waiting list for treatments fell slightly to 717 1 million from a record of 717 8 million the previous month. the father, step—mother, and uncle of ten—year—old sara sharif, who died at her home in woking in august, have pleaded not guilty to her murder. urfan sharif, beinash batool, and faisal malik appeared at the old bailey by video link. they also pleaded not guilty to a second charge of causing

or allowing the death of a child. the european central bank and the bank of england have both decided to keep interest rates on hold. in the uk, interest rates have been kept at 5.25% for the third time in a row. the bank of england governor suggested it was too early to say when rates could be cut. you're live with bbc news. leaders from across southeast asia will head to tokyo this weekend for a summit hosted by japanese prime minister fumio kishida. the event will mark 50 years of relations between asean nations and japan and comes as tokyo looks to deepen its engagement with southeast asia to counter the growing dominance of china in the region. for more on this we cross live to canberra and joined the deputy programme directorfor joined the deputy programme director for asia joined the deputy programme directorfor asia at the director for asia at the international crisis group. thank you so much are coming on

the programme today. how does japan view is relationship — relationship with asean nations, rather, especially in the context of concerns about china's rising influence in the indo—pacific region? china's rising influence in the indo-pacific region? southeast asia is very _ indo-pacific region? southeast asia is very important - indo-pacific region? southeast asia is very important for - asia is very important for japan and they thinkjapan has been very successful in its diplomatic efforts towards the region, in fact, japan is the most trusted partner of southeast asian countries, according to a number of studies. so when you put in the context of us china competition, for example, japan is a clear winner there, the regional countries don't want to choose china orjapan, china or us, but clearly their preference and trust towards japan stands out. so i would see this upcoming summit is really a cherry on the cake because japan's efforts to

build that trust and relationship with southeast asia nations has been a long—term one and the summit is only to highlight all the achievements and good trajectory that the relationship has been on in the last 50 years. so there will be a lot of new initiatives to be announced, but so far a thing japan is playing a very crucial role in being stable, trusted, but also a partner that is interested in empowering the southeast asian countries. the asean grouping has been criticised in the past for talking a lot, but not doing much. do you think that is changing now?— much. do you think that is changing now? much. do you think that is chanauin now? �* ,, �* , ., changing now? asean is what it is, it has been _ changing now? asean is what it is, it has been evolving - changing now? asean is what it is, it has been evolving for - is, it has been evolving for the past decades, it's not going to change immediately in any way, in fact, it is struggling with many of its internal issues, including the

ones that are challenging its internal cohesion and unity from the myanmar crisis to start with, but also how to respond to external challenges including the south china sea the among others, and also it is considering expanding its membership to a new member, timor—leste, so there are many issues that asean is a group will have to grapple with and obviously individual national interests do differ and sometimes it is quite heightened when it comes to tensions, the south china sea, again, but overall the group, the region is interested in regional stability, peace, the region is interested in regionalstability, peace, and regional stability, peace, and prosperity, regionalstability, peace, and prosperity, with some exceptions, of course, but is not going to change overnight and it is on a trajectory at this long—term already designed how it should work with its

traditional weaknesses. huong le thu from — traditional weaknesses. huong le thu from the _ traditional weaknesses. huong le thu from the international i le thu from the international crisis group, many thanks for your time. crisis group, many thanks for your time-— crisis group, many thanks for your time._ in - your time. thank you. in australia, _ your time. thank you. in australia, a _ your time. thank you. in australia, a state - your time. thank you. in i australia, a state memorial your time. thank you. in - australia, a state memorialfor barry humphries is under way at the sydney opera house. the australian entertainer passed away at the age of 89 following away at the age of 89 following a seven decade career, was known for iconic characters including dame edna everage and sir les patterson, as well as being a run—out actor, poet, musician, and artist. live now to our correspondent phil mercer, who is outside sydney's opera house where the memorial is being held. great to have your new programme. what can we expect from this memorial service? we just saw andrew lloyd webber giving a video message. yes. just saw andrew lloyd webber giving a video message. yes, we have had tributes _ giving a video message. yes, we have had tributes being - giving a video message. yes, we have had tributes being made i giving a video message. yes, we have had tributes being made in| have had tributes being made in person by barry humphries�*s

family members, one of his sons said that his father had harnessed the power of being outrageous. we also heard from the british comedian rob bryden, who said simply that barry humphries was the best, he was the master. this is the order of service today, that's what barry humphries looked like, but you might well remember him better looking like this. this is dame edna everage, the comic creation that really defined barry humphries�*s korea. this was a man who was born in melbourne but forged a career in london and hundreds of people have gathered at the sydney opera house for this official state memorial service today. 1200 people winning a ballot to secure tickets for the event. and this is what some of them had to say earlier.— had to say earlier. well, it is in honour—

had to say earlier. well, it is in honour of _ had to say earlier. well, it is in honour of edna, _ had to say earlier. well, it is in honour of edna, of - had to say earlier. well, it is| in honour of edna, of course, and_ in honour of edna, of course, and the — in honour of edna, of course, and the extraordinary talent of barry— and the extraordinary talent of barry humphries. we idolised him and — barry humphries. we idolised him and so, yeah, the most fitting — him and so, yeah, the most fitting tribute we could do was to replicate. fitting tribute we could do was to replicate-— to replicate. 0h, he is an icon. to replicate. 0h, he is an icon- it's _ to replicate. 0h, he is an icon. it's a _ to replicate. 0h, he is an icon. it's a bit _ to replicate. 0h, he is an icon. it's a bit like - to replicate. 0h, he is an icon. it's a bit like the i icon. it's a bit like the queen _ icon. it's a bit like the queen. he _ icon. it's a bit like the queen. he should i icon. it's a bit like the queen. he should not icon. it's a bit like the i queen. he should not have icon. it's a bit like the _ queen. he should not have died. so i queen. he should not have died. 50 i came — queen. he should not have died. 50 i came up— queen. he should not have died. so i came up last _ queen. he should not have died. so i came up last night _ so i came up last night especially— so i came up last night especially to— so i came up last night especially to come i so i came up last night especially to come to i so i came up last night i especially to come to this memoriat— especially to come to this memorial service. - especially to come to this memorial service. he i especially to come to this i memorial service. he brought especially to come to this - memorial service. he brought so much _ memorial service. he brought so much life — memorial service. he brought so much life and _ memorial service. he brought so much life and love _ memorial service. he brought so much life and love to _ memorial service. he brought so much life and love to everybodyl much life and love to everybody and i'm — much life and love to everybody and i'm so — much life and love to everybody and i'm so sad _ much life and love to everybody and i'm so sad he's— much life and love to everybody and i'm so sad he's gone. - much life and love to everybody and i'm so sad he's gone. iiiiliihaitj and i'm so sad he's gone. what made him _ and i'm so sad he's gone. what made him so — and i'm so sad he's gone. what made him so special, _ and i'm so sad he's gone. what made him so special, do - and i'm so sad he's gone. what made him so special, do you i made him so special, do you think? ~ , think? well, he captured her we were and he _ think? well, he captured her we were and he took— think? well, he captured her we were and he took us _ think? well, he captured her we were and he took us to - think? well, he captured her we were and he took us to the i were and he took us to the world — were and he took us to the world and everyone got to love and get — world and everyone got to love and get our humour, it's not easy, — and get our humour, it's not easy, but— and get our humour, it's not easy, but he did it, very nice to he — easy, but he did it, very nice to be here _ easy, but he did it, very nice to be here-— to be here. clearly a lot of fans have _ to be here. clearly a lot of fans have turned - to be here. clearly a lot of fans have turned out i to be here. clearly a lot of fans have turned out to i to be here. clearly a lot of i fans have turned out to mark his death. but he has a glittering legacy that he leaves behind, but there have been some controversies in his career, right?

been some controversies in his career. right?— career, right? yes, later in his career— career, right? yes, later in his career barry _ career, right? yes, later in his career barry humphries career, right? yes, later in i his career barry humphries made remarks about the transgender community that did provoke quite a backlash here in australia and beyond. he said that gender affirmation surgery was self—mutilation and that transgender identity was a fashion. but those comments have not, certainly in the eyes of people gathered here, stained his reputation. they did provoke controversy at the time and upset quite a few people, but people here today are remembering a comic genius. the australian prime minister, anthony albanese, said simply that this man was an absolute gift, an absolute one of a kind. and for those 2000 odd people in the sydney opera house, where we are, they would agree wholeheartedly. we have seen tributes, music, poetry also remember a man who wasn't simply an entertainer, he was a

satirist, and author, director, a playwright, and also a landscape painter. he grabbed an awful lot into his life and barry humphries died earlier this year here in sydney in april following complications from hip surgery. he was 89 years of age. from hip surgery. he was 89 years of age-— from hip surgery. he was 89 years of age. yes, we can see some live _ years of age. yes, we can see some live images _ years of age. yes, we can see some live images from - years of age. yes, we can see l some live images from sydney. that is sydney's 0pera some live images from sydney. that is sydney's opera house. the memorial of barry humphries taking place right now. lots of people have been sending video messages, including andrew lloyd webber and australia's prime minister, anthony albanese. if they could just ask you quickly, he died in april of this year and, briefly, if you can, because we're running out of time, why did they wait so long for the memorial service? did they wait so long for the memorialservice? i did they wait so long for the memorial service?— did they wait so long for the memorial service? i think its lo . istics memorial service? i think its logistics and _ memorial service? i think its logistics and also _ memorial service? i think its logistics and also there i memorial service? i think its logistics and also there was| logistics and also there was a bit of a tussle between

melbourne, where barry humphries was born, and sydney as to where the memorial service should be. in the end it was decided that the memorial would take place today and i think the thing we are taking away is that many of the people have gathered today saw some of themselves in barry humphries�*s humour and that is why he had a career spanning seven decades.— why he had a career spanning seven decades. 0k, phil mercer live in sydney — seven decades. 0k, phil mercer live in sydney at _ seven decades. 0k, phil mercer live in sydney at the _ seven decades. 0k, phil mercer live in sydney at the memorial i live in sydney at the memorial for barry humphries. many thanks. before we go. the geminid meteor shower, famous for its multi—coloured streaks of light across the night sky, has wowed stargazers across the globe. visible around the world, the meteors can be seen with the naked eye as long as the sky isn't too cloudy or affected by light pollution. in perfect conditions, viewers can spot up to 120 meteors an hour. nasa has called the geminids one of the year's "best and most reliable annual meteor showers".

that's all for now. stay with bbc news. hello. milder weather is set to develop across many parts of the uk over the next couple of days. that mild air spreading from the west — with it, a lot of cloud. yes, there'll be some sunshine, but i think it will often be cloudy. and the further north and west you are, particularly the north—west of scotland, we can expect strong winds and some heavy rain. but for friday, high pressure dominating to the south of us, keeping things mostly dry in southern parts. this warm front here introducing more cloud, cloud through the morning across northern ireland. that cloud then working its way up into a good part of scotland, clouding over across parts of north—west england, wales and the southwest. maybe the odd spot of rain or drizzle for coasts and hills, but for central and eastern parts of england, we should hold on to some spells of sunshine. not especially windy down towards the southeast, whereas the winds will be picking up all the while across the north—west of scotland. temperature—wise, eight or nine

degrees in some eastern parts, 12, maybe 13 out towards the west. and that mild air in the west continues to push further east as we head through friday night. with it, extensive cloud cover, some mist and murk, some spots of rain and drizzle, particularly across hills in western scotland. very windy in the north of scotland as well, but a milder night in prospect. temperatures generally between four and 11 degrees as we start saturday morning. that feed of mild air coming from the southwest and that mild air will be wafting across all parts of the uk as we head through the weekend. saturday will bring a lot of cloud. as you can see, that cloud producing some spots of rain and drizzle. it may be that things brighten up a little bit down towards the south with some sunshine. equally, though, this frontal system here will bring heavy and persistent rain into the north—west of scotland. and those temperatures, 12, 13, maybe 1a degrees, very windy up towards the north. now, that rain in the north—west of scotland just keeps on coming through

saturday night and into sunday. it may be that over some high ground in western scotland, we see up to 175 millimetres of rain. that could well bring some localised flooding and some travel disruption. a bit of rain into northern ireland and northern england. the further south you are, drier, brighter, a bit more in the way of sunshine, highs of 13 or 1a degrees. but after that milder weekend and a mild start to next week, it actually looks like temperatures will then drop away. we may start to see some wintry showers developing over high ground.

the us treasury secretary unveils her strategy for relations with china in the new year. plus, spending on the good things in life. what 2024 holds for consumers in the asia—pacific. hello and welcome to asia business report, i am suranjana tewari. janet yellen has revealed her plans for managing relations with beijing next year. they include a second visit to china and efforts to speed up cooperation on climate

change and financial markets. from new york, here is michelle flurry. the speech but you are secretary janet yellen highlights how america hopes to minimise a drama between the world's two biggest economies after what is after all a presidential election year. she said that when we disagree, when shocks occur, we prevent misunderstandings from leading to escalation and causing harm. her remarks come as the biden administration is continuing its review of the tariffs that former president donald trump impose on more than $300 billion worth of chinese goods, to decide whether or not any changes should be made. janet yellen did not address the tariffs directly but said the us was not seeking to decouple from china. the treasury secretary said the biden administration would continue to press china for clarity of economic policy such as how beijing interns to respond to

local government that