this is bbc news, the headlines. israeli military and kills three hostages in gaza. israel says it's opening the border at kerem shalom for aid — a decision welcomed by washington — and the world health organization. the high court rules prince harry is a victim of phone hacking and awarded £ia0,000 in damages. he describes it — as �*a great day for truth�*. and — hundreds fill the sydney opera house — to remember the comedy superstar, barry humphries. israel's military says it killed three hostages being held in gaza

after they were "mistakenly identified as a threat" in the north of the territory. the bodies have been returned to israel. it came hours after the bodies of three other hostages were recovered in gaza. meanwhile, israel says it will allow aid trucks to enter gaza through the kerem shalom crossing, for the first time since the hamas attacks on october the seventh. this is good news but what we have to work on this is good news but what we have to work on is this is good news but what we have to work on is how this is good news but what we have to work on is how to this is good news but what we have to work on is how to make this is good news but what we have to work on is how to make sure this is good news but what we have to work on is how to make sure that these trucks can go everywhere in gaza and notjust in the south of gaza, but also to the north. data shows that there are three hospitals under staffed at the north.

let's speak to dr abdelkader hammad, who is a surgeon at the royal liverpool university hospital. he is among the hundreds of uk citizens that left gaza last month. now, he is touch with medical staff on the ground in gaza. you are still in touch with friends and colleagues in gaza, what are they telling you about the situation on the grounds where they are? i left gaza around six weeks ago at the time the situation was dire, but they describe the conditions now as deteriorated beyond catastrophic. people have been displaced many times and the areas available to them are shrinking every day. many of up cannot get into the shelters and the schools which are very overcrowded and they are sheltering just out in the open. exposed to the elements. add to that, there is not water, food, sanitation and

unfortunately, over the past couple of days there has been a storm in gaza and many of them have suffered from that. so the situation is getting worse and there is real starvation. they are describing real starvation. they are describing real starvation ends gaza, there is no food for people and the hospitals are getting very thin because many of the hospitals have been out of commission and hospitals which are still operational have no capacity for the number of people who are coming to them wounded, also there is the outbreak of diseases. hepatitis b and an outbreak of gastrointestinal diseases, scabies,

these things. so the situation is catastrophic at the moment. israel sa s it is catastrophic at the moment. israel says it is now _ catastrophic at the moment. israel says it is now agreeing _ catastrophic at the moment. israel says it is now agreeing to - catastrophic at the moment. israel says it is now agreeing to open - catastrophic at the moment. israel says it is now agreeing to open the second border crossing in addition to the proper crossing to allow aid it through, how optimistic are you that this will help people in gaza, doctor? i that this will help people in gaza, doctor? ~ , ,., ., that this will help people in gaza, doctor? ~ , ., ., doctor? i think it is important to net doctor? i think it is important to get humanitarian _ doctor? i think it is important to get humanitarian aid _ doctor? i think it is important to get humanitarian aid into - doctor? i think it is important to get humanitarian aid into gaza l get humanitarian aid into gaza because the situation is deteriorating rapidly and the people are really starving. but the main problem is not only getting v—8 in, but how to distribute this into gaza. —— humanitarian aid. there are areas in the north who have not seen any humanitarian aid come to them and many weeks and also the distributors have to feel safe and people who are going to get the help need to feel safe. so this is a good step, but it needs other steps to

make it on the ground. it step, but it needs other steps to make it on the ground.— make it on the ground. if you can, aid agencies _ make it on the ground. if you can, aid agencies operating _ make it on the ground. if you can, aid agencies operating in - make it on the ground. if you can, aid agencies operating in gaza - make it on the ground. if you can, j aid agencies operating in gaza like unicef or who, how easy it is it for them to do theirjob? it them to do their “ob? it is extremely _ them to do theirjob? it is extremely difficult - them to do theirjob? it 3 extremely difficult because obviously the military operations are continuing, there is a lot of air strikes are continuing, there is a lot of airstrikes in are continuing, there is a lot of air strikes in schilling's and it makes it extremely dangerous for people distributing aid. air strikes and shelling. people distributing aid. air strikes and shelling-— and shelling. thank you for being with us.

let's turn now to the war in ukraine — because hungary has blocked more than $50 billion in eu aid for ukraine, hours after agreement before the european council summit planned for the new year.— before the european council summit planned for the new year. people did not manage — planned for the new year. people did not manage to _ planned for the new year. people did not manage to reach _ planned for the new year. people did not manage to reach unanimity - not manage to reach unanimity yesterday. had they been able to support so that it is now a new rendezvous next year and we will use this as a commission the time until then to ensure that whatever happens at this next we will have an operational solution. discussions around the package have dominated the focus of around the package have dominated the focus 0�* , ., ., around the package have dominated thefocuso . ., �* ,, , the focus of peace talks at brussels but the eu has _ the focus of peace talks at brussels but the eu has agreed _ the focus of peace talks at brussels but the eu has agreed to _ the focus of peace talks at brussels but the eu has agreed to start - but the eu has agreed to start membership talks with ukraine something hungary also poses the

option not to veto. members of council also approved with malls over which sits between ukraine and romania. the eu agreed to grant candidates the end is to georgia, the first of the formal steps towards becoming a member state. holdover will help its membership will eventually bring gets to the formal stages. will eventually bring gets to the formalstages. so will eventually bring gets to the formal stages. so what can mould of all for the european union and what is looking to get out of the block i spoke to the moldovan president and she explained her countries reasons for wanting to join the she explained her countries reasons for wanting tojoin the eu. she explained her countries reasons for wanting to join the eu.— for wanting to 'oin the eu. moldova wants to for wanting to join the eu. moldova wants to continue _ for wanting to join the eu. moldova wants to continue to _ for wanting to join the eu. moldova wants to continue to centre - wants to continue to centre democracy. the choice for us is to have this chance within because we see russia is trying to undermine our efforts to strengthen our institutions undermine our efforts to strengthen our institution— our institutions trying to make us so the only _

our institutions trying to make us so the only way _ our institutions trying to make us so the only way to _ our institutions trying to make us so the only way to consolidate i our institutions trying to make us| so the only way to consolidate our democratic gains is to be a part of the eu and of course we are happy with the decision yesterday which for us is like a lighthouse in the sea of challenges that mulled over faces today. sea of challenges that mulled over faces today-— sea of challenges that mulled over faces toda . ., . ., , , faces today. one of those changes is around territory _ faces today. one of those changes is around territory which _ faces today. one of those changes is around territory which sees - faces today. one of those changes is around territory which sees itself - around territory which sees itself as independent though not recognised on the international stage. in the eu and the passive consists of the countries have a unified view of themselves prior to progressing with themselves prior to progressing with the membership. how can you as president solve the issues around this area? first of all i would like to say that we have been able to keep the situation stable there including keep the situation stable there includin: ., . keep the situation stable there includina ., . ., including now that we have the warnin . s including now that we have the warnings and i _ including now that we have the warnings and i think _ including now that we have the warnings and i think this - including now that we have the warnings and i think this is - including now that we have the | warnings and i think this is very important. of course we are very connected to find a solution and to be able to get mulled over in the eu

but at the same time i think we should not focus the question of the way which would give them a decision on the enlargement of the eu so we will be working on the solutions, but we also believe that the republic of moldova which will be closer to the eu which will provide better opportunities for us to solve a conflict. ~ ,., ., , better opportunities for us to solve a conflict. ~ ., , a conflict. while dover has battled with political— a conflict. while dover has battled with political instability _ a conflict. while dover has battled with political instability at - a conflict. while dover has battled with political instability at home i with political instability at home over the last two decades. your predecessor was very proud of his links to the kremlin, you are now moving in a pro—european direction. can the european union if you proceed through these steps rely on moldova as a strong and stable partner in the block was mark eu is helping us. to partner in the block was mark eu is helinu us. ., , _, partner in the block was mark eu is helinu us. ., , ., partner in the block was mark eu is helin us. ., helping us. to become a stronger and stable partner — helping us. to become a stronger and stable partner and _ helping us. to become a stronger and stable partner and this _ helping us. to become a stronger and stable partner and this is _

helping us. to become a stronger and stable partner and this is where - helping us. to become a stronger and stable partner and this is where the l stable partner and this is where the names about strengthening security and cementing the democratic gains in our countries. it is in the interests of the eu countries to have moldova as a democratic stable strong country. rather than a country which is unstable and controlled by russia and present a threat. a, ., ., ., , controlled by russia and present a threat. ., ., ., threat. moldova has done well with this relations _ threat. moldova has done well with this relations in _ threat. moldova has done well with this relations in the _ threat. moldova has done well with this relations in the us _ threat. moldova has done well with this relations in the us with - this relations in the us with emergency funds from washington to stabilise the country if you have such good links with america why do you need the european union membership? we you need the european union membership?— you need the european union membershi? ~ ., ., , ., membership? we want to be part of the eu to have _ membership? we want to be part of the eu to have the _ membership? we want to be part of the eu to have the chance to - the eu to have the chance to continue to develop as a democratic country. i do believe russia will be a source of instability for many years to come and we understand, but for us the real chance of staying

part of the free world as being part of the eu. we of appreciate the support of the us and other democratic countries. talk about strengthening — democratic countries. talk about strengthening democracy - democratic countries. talk about strengthening democracy and . strengthening democracy and stabilising moldova, the eu is of course a predominately political and trade block, not a military alliance. if you are looking to strengthen the country, shouldn't you perhaps be looking more towards nato and focusing your reference on membership of that military alliance instead? �* ., , instead? although there is neutrality _ instead? although there is neutrality in _ instead? although there is neutrality in the _ instead? although there is i neutrality in the constitution instead? although there is - neutrality in the constitution in so far the majority of the population believe that it should stay neutral and we do respect the will of the people. we have been working very hard to strengthen our defence system. today, the parliament has adopted the new national security strategy which has a significant commitment on improving our defence system. we are working with nato and with nato member states and will continue to do so to increase the

production of our country. has continue to do so to increase the production of our country.- production of our country. as we mentioned. _ production of our country. as we mentioned, russia _ production of our country. as we mentioned, russia not - production of our country. as we mentioned, russia not ip - production of our country. as we mentioned, russia not ip on - production of our country. as we | mentioned, russia not ip on this. kremlin describing this move by the eu as a political action. are you concerned about a potential fallout with this when it comes to russia and its response to moldova as you proceed with eu membership? russia ist in: to proceed with eu membership? russia is trying to do — proceed with eu membership? russia is trying to do stabilise _ proceed with eu membership? russia is trying to do stabilise our— is trying to do stabilise our country every day. russia is trying to undermine our efforts every day. we are not relying on russian guests any more and we have made this change over the last 12 months. our experts, most go to the eu. so we are working to increase our resilience and we count on the support of the democratic world to resist and to become less vulnerable to these russian threats.

around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. london's newest railway station on the mount. it sits on the rail line between. you the mount. it sits on the rail line you can go from here on to any destination _ you can go from here on to any destination and the north to the airport— destination and the north to the airport which is fantastic for travellers.— airport which is fantastic for travellers. , . ., , ., ., travellers. he is excited about that and obviously _ travellers. he is excited about that and obviously it _ travellers. he is excited about that and obviously it becomes - travellers. he is excited about that and obviously it becomes the - and obviously it becomes the entire family— and obviously it becomes the entire family excited _ and obviously it becomes the entire family excited. i— and obviously it becomes the entire family excited.— family excited. i love it, one straiaht family excited. i love it, one straight line _ family excited. i love it, one straight line going _ family excited. i love it, one straight line going home. i family excited. i love it, one - straight line going home. overseen by permanent _ straight line going home. overseen by permanent council— straight line going home. overseen by permanent council and - straight line going home. overseen by permanent council and funded i straight line going home. overseen i by permanent council and funded with £419 million of government money although it has red cross in its name, visitors for the shopping centre will find that a 20 minute walk away. centre will find that a 20 minute walk away-— centre will find that a 20 minute walk away. this is about the new trim es walk away. this is about the new trim yes we _ walk away. this is about the new trim yes we are _ walk away. this is about the new trim yes we are near— walk away. this is about the new trim yes we are near the - walk away. this is about the new trim yes we are near the new - trim yes we are near the new shopping _ trim yes we are near the new shopping centre and yes we can get to the _ shopping centre and yes we can get to the shopping centre. the shopping centre and yes we can get

to the shopping centre.— to the shopping centre. the hope is that it will become _ to the shopping centre. the hope is that it will become a _ to the shopping centre. the hope is that it will become a visitor - that it will become a visitor destination in its own right. you're live with bbc news. police searching for a missing woman in norwich have recovered a body from the river wensum. gaynor lord, who's 55, was reported missing last friday after her belongings were found scattered across a public park. norfolk police say the body has not yet been formally identified, but that her family have been informed. navtej johal reports. a quiet morning, woken by a sudden burst of activity. officers, divers, equipment all deployed to a small section of the river wensum in norwich in search of a missing woman. gaynor lord, a 55—year—old mother—of—three, has not been seen for a week. the river and wensum park have been the scene of a significant police presence since last friday.

this river has been the focus of most of the police activity over the past week. and it's here where a body was discovered this morning. gaynor lord went missing after leaving work early at a department store. she was captured on cctv in the afternoon, walking through norwich city centre, seemingly in a hurry. a member of the public said she saw her in wensum park at around 4:00 and her belongings, including clothes, jewellery and phone, were found in the park later that evening. four days before today's discovery of a body, police have said that they believed she may have entered the river that runs alongside the park. we remain open—minded to the circumstances i am also satisfied at the moment based on the evidence that we have that gaynor did not meet anybody on the way to the park. this remains a missing person inquiry at this stage. i'm also satisfied at the moment, based on the evidence that we have, that gaynor did not meet anybody on the way to the park, and we now have a better understanding of her movements through the city centre.

formal identification is yet to take place. but police say gaynor lord's family have been informed. the news today has led to a sense of shock and sadness in this tight knit city, where people have been laying flowers. how are you feeling right now? devastated. i mean, when i heard the news not long ago, ijust broke into tears. more answers are expected in the coming days in a case which has prompted so many questions. navteonhal, bbc news, norwich. at least 26 people were injured in a grenade attack, at a village council meeting in ukraine's western zakarpattia region. a warning we're about to show you some very dramatic pictures. these images released by the national police of ukraine, showing the moment of the attack. reuters is reporting that no one in the room was killed. a man a deputy of the village council enters a meeting room and takes grenades out of his pockets.

there's obvious fear and panic in the room, before the grenades explode. local media are reporting that the police have now launced a terror investigation. reporting that no one has been killed in the attack. the french coastguard says that one person has died, and another is in critical condition, after a boat carrying 66 migrants began sinking in the early hours of friday morning in the english channel. in a statement, a spokeswoman for the prime minister rishi sunak said, "our thoughts are with all those affected." before adding that, "it serves as a stark reminder of how dangerous these crossings are and just how crucial it is that we work together to stop the boats and clamp down on the organised criminal gangs." uur correspondent simonjones provided an update of the condition of those on board.

these crossings are continuing even though it is december and it is cold out in sea conditions can be bad for making these crossings and we have not seen many crossing so far this month. so saw a few hundred make it across at the start of december, but for the past 10—11 days it has been very windy and the channel so there have not been any crossings at all. today, the sea has been, and once again we have seen boats being launched from the beaches of northern france attempting to get to the uk. these come with the latest deaths in the channel. last month, two people lost their lives attempting the crossing. we know in the summer, four people when their boat capsized. uk authorities also involved in this rescue operation. they have sent a helicopter from the uk over french quarters to try to make sure everyone is accounted for. hundreds of people have filled the sydney opera house to celebrate the life of barry humphries — also known, of course,

as dame edna everage. among those sending tributes were king charles, who said "life really won't be the same" and the australian prime minister anthony albanese. our correspondent phil mercer reports. one of australia's brightest stars has been remembered as a comic genius. hello, possums. yes, it's me, dame edna, and aren't i looking gorgeous?! barry humphries introduced the world to many brilliant. and unforgettable characters. the state memorial at the sydney opera house brought together family, friends and hundreds of fans. well, it's in honour of edna, of course, and the extraordinary talent of barry humphries. yeah, we idolised him. there were tributes from royalty to music and comedy. king charles said in a message that barry humphries was a cultured and erudite man who, through his creations, punctured pomposity. dame edna everage!

hello, possums! his most irrepressible creation was dame edna, an outrageous suburban housewife who would define his career. barry humphries was one of the funniest people in the world, but you all know that. but he was also one of the kindest and most generous person to me. we always hit it off. we always got on so well. he was the best. he was the master. there is nobody better than barry humphries. the prime minister anthony albanese said this comedic giant brought such joy to every part of australia... # why do i love australia? ..and showered it upon the world. phil mercer, bbc news, at the sydney opera house.

quite the singing voice. computer feelings are causing patient harm. it errors have become one of the most pressing issues facing hospital trips across england and is calling for urgent action. the government since the reports are concerning and that it will work with nhs england to take necessary action. martin dawe had been waiting for weeks for his hospital test results. to see if he could find out any information, he checked his nhs app and was shocked to discover he had three serious medical conditions, including cancer. there were prostate cancer and cirrhosis of the liver and also pulmonary fibrosis. all three of these i have never been told about. i was never informed that i had any

of these conditions. i made an appointment with my local gp. i was told that i don't have any of these conditions. it's not on their systems. the words were, "we have no idea why this has not been updated. we can't explain why it's not on your record." but martin isn't the only person to have suffered from problems caused by communications and it issues. i think it's a major driver of potential harm to patients. we have seen evidence of patient deaths as a result of it systems not working. the health services safety investigations body, which examines serious incidents across england, says it failures have become a critical issue. we looked at people getting lost in the system after their outpatient appointments and found that was due to different it systems not speaking to each other. and we've also seen impact of delayed diagnosis of important illnesses like cancer. it's a serious problem and it needs urgent action. last year, one of the country's biggest and busiest trusts,

guy's and st thomas's in london, suffered a catastrophic failure when their it system went down. a critical incident report showed some patients were put at serious risk after operations were cancelled because doctors couldn't access their records. a new £450 million it system has just been launched at the trust. it issues in general are a very big problem. professor mamode was the lead transplant surgeon at st guy's until he retired last year before the critical incident. what we've not been very good at in the nhs is instituting a proper back—up system which is not going to be susceptible to the failures of the it system. it's one of the most urgent issues that the nhs faces. they really need to address it as soon as possible. martin has since been told he doesn't have prostate cancer.

tests are now being carried out to see if he does have cirrhosis or pulmonary fibrosis. his local hospital has apologised for the incorrect cancer diagnosis on his app and his gp surgery admits it has been confusing. sharon barbour, bbc news. the emmerdale actor steve halliwell, who played zak dingle in the yorkshire—based soap, has died. he was 77. known for his flat cap, wellies, and wax jacket, steve halliwell played the head of the dingle household for 27 years. before retraining as an actor, steve halliwell had worked in cotton and paper mills. reminder of our top story this hour, the israeli military says it has

killed three of its own hostages being held by hamas in gaza in an incident of, quote, friendly fire. they see the bodies now have been returned to israel. to have been named. the family of the third victim have requested that that name is currently kept private. israel says it accepts responsibility for the deaths of their own hostages and the deaths of their own hostages and the idf has expressed its deep remorse and says that there may be an investigation. the military says the hostages were killed with militants in gaza when it mistakenly identified hostages as a threat. three hostages in gaza have been killed in an incident of friendly fire by israel. much more on that story and others still to come here on bbc news. that's it for me for

now. hello. we've seen some drier weather developing over the past 24 hours or so, and many of us will hold on to the fairly quiet theme to the weather into the weekend, too. so mostly dry, breezy and mild, often fairly cloudy, but the exception will be across the northwest of the uk, particularly northwest scotland, where we've got some really wet and pretty windy weather on the cards. so high pressure holds on to the south, keeping things mostly dry, but these weather fronts moving in at times through the weekend across the far north of the uk will be quite persistent as they produce that heavy rainfall. now for friday evening, overnight into saturday, a lot of cloud across the board generally. some light rain and drizzle for the west of scotland. we'll see a few clear spells here in there further south, but i think enough of a breeze, enough cloud to keep things well and truly frost—free. so temperatures in the south between about 4—8 celsius, but we're staying in double figures for parts of scotland and northern ireland, with the wind and the cloud —

and the winds are coming in from a very mild south westerly direction. importing this mild air, you can see the orange colors across the map — blue colours, colder air to the north there and where those two air masses meet, that's where we've got this frontal system, which will be a bit of a troublemaker in the far northwest. so saturday, that rain becomes quite persistent across the northwestern parts of highland, into parts of the western isles, the northern isles also seeing some rain. 1—2 splashes of rain for the likes of the cumbrian fells, perhaps northern ireland, but further south and east, we're going to be staying at dry. a bit milder than it was on friday — temperatures in double figures across the board. but then, as we move through saturday night into sunday, that rainfall continues to pile in. we could see up to about 175 millimetres of rain falling across parts of highland, towards argyll and bute. and the met office have issued an amber weather warning for that heavy rain, which is likely to cause some flooding problems across the region. so moving through sunday, then, it's looking drier further south, but a bit of rain for northern england, northern ireland. should be dry too for the east of scotland and mild — 14 there for aberdeen, around about 11 in london.

into the new week and for monday, then, that weather front slips its way further south. it's quite a weak affair, so tending to fizzle out, but it will bring a fair amount of cloud once again, a few showers around, as well. and then, further ahead, a pretty wet day for many of us, especially in the south on tuesday. stays reasonably mild and unsettled, though, through the course of next week. bye for now.

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. today's ruling is vindicating and affirming. i've been told that slaying dragons will get you burned, but in light of today's victory and importance of doing what is needed for a free and honest press, it is a worthwhile price to pay. i for a free and honest press, it is a worthwhile price to pay.— for a free and honest press, it is a worthwhile price to pay. i also want to reiterate. _ worthwhile price to pay. i also want to reiterate, as _ worthwhile price to pay. i also want to reiterate, as i've _ worthwhile price to pay. i also want to reiterate, as i've consistently - to reiterate, as i've consistently said, _ to reiterate, as i've consistently said. we — to reiterate, as i've consistently said, i've never hacked a phone or told anybody else to hack a phone, and nobody has produced any actual evidence _ and nobody has produced any actual evidence to prove that i did. theres— evidence to prove that i did. there's a _ evidence to prove that i did. there's a sense in my head, where are they— there's a sense in my head, where are they getting _ there's a sense in my head, where are they getting it _ there's a sense in my head, where are they getting it from? _ there's a sense in my head, where are they getting it from? what - there's a sense in my head, wherel are they getting it from? what am i doing _ are they getting it from? what am i doing wrong? — are they getting it from? what am i doing wrong? i_ are they getting it from? what am i doing wrong? i thought _ are they getting it from? what am i doing wrong? i thought it— are they getting it from? what am i doing wrong? i thought it was- are they getting it from? what am i doing wrong? i thought it was quitej doing wrong? i thought it was quite .ood doing wrong? i thought it was quite good at _ doing wrong? i thought it was quite good at my— doing wrong? i thought it was quite good at myiob! _ doing wrong? i thought it was quite good at myiob! i_ doing wrong? i thought it was quite good at myjob! i feel— doing wrong? i thought it was quite good at myjob! i feel slightly- good at myjob! i feel slightly better— good at myjob! i feel slightly better about _ good at myjob! i feel slightly better about myself - good at myjob! i feel slightly better about myself that - good at myjob! i feel slightly better about myself that i-