looking at the potentially we are looking at the potentially quite deep area of low pressure patterns in the north of the uk and is this cold front slips southwards it will bring a return of colder air. we will see some wintry showers. in fact snow showers to quite low levels in scotland, coupled with very strong or gale force winds, it would give blizzard conditions. further south, force winds, it would give blizzard conditions. furthersouth, cloud and outbreaks of rain holding onto some mild air in the south, something colder further mild air in the south, something colderfurther north. mild air in the south, something colder further north. and as we head into the christmas period, there is some uncertainty about just into the christmas period, there is some uncertainty aboutjust how long that cold air will stick around. it may be cold enough for some of us to see snow in the run—up to christmas.

this is bbc news. the headlines: israeli air strikes pound the south and north of gaza. us defence secretary lloyd austin says the us has spoken to israel about making the war in gaza are more surgical. so we will continue to stand up for israel's right to defend itself and we will also continue to urge for the protection of civilians during the conflict, and to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into gaza. en verify, we look at how the war is impacting _ en verify, we look at how the war is impacting this trade route for oil in the _ impacting this trade route for oil in the red — impacting this trade route for oil in the red sea. and the bbc understands the democratic unionist party has ruled out any deal to restore power—sharing in northern ireland before christmas. time for a look at the business

news now with tadhg. we are also talking about the potential looming crisis in world oil shipping. the oil giant bp has supended all shipments of oil through the red sea after recent attacks by yemen's iranian—backed houthi militants. the rebel group has been targeting commercial vessels travelling past the yemeni coast towards israel in a show of solidarity for hamas in its war with israel. as a result, some of the world's biggest shipping firms have suspended services through the world's most important route for oil and fuel shipments. here's our business reporter david waddell. let's have a look at the geography of the situation. right here is the bab al—mandab strait. it's right next to yemen, from where those houthi attacks originated. it's at the southern end of the red sea. at the northern end is the suez canal. now, ships cannot pass through the suez canal from the south without first passing through this choke point. a couple of days ago, the maersk shipping container company and hapag—lloyd both announced they wouldn't be

making that transit. they've since been joined by other shipping companies. now, if you're a ship master trying to get your vessel from the indian ocean to the atlantic ocean and you cannot or will not traverse through suez, you need to pass by the cape of good hope. that adds an extra 3,000 nautical miles to thejourney. and there are other issues for ships trying to traverse from the atlantic to the pacific ocean through here. the panama canal is accepting many fewer ships right now because of weather—driven water shortages, which make it much harder to keep the lock system operational. there's now a threat that some shippers will face disruption from both the panama canal and the red sea route. the suez canal authority is very keen for shipping to continue making that passage through the red sea. they've released a statement. they say the navigation through the suez canal flows normally as usual.

the suez canal will remain the fastest and shortest route as opposed to, of course, that route around the cape of good hope. they said that on sunday, 77 ships made the passage through the canal. in recent weeks that number was over 2,100, since the 19th of november, but in the same period, just 55 ships passed around the cape of good hope. we'lljust have to see in the coming days and weeks whether that balance changes. our business reporter lora jones has been watching this story for us. bp adding its names to those suspending shipments in this region in the last couple of hours. how significant is this for global supply chains? figs significant is this for global supply chains?— significant is this for global supply chains? significant is this for global su -l chains? �* , ., ., supply chains? as we heard from david, the _ supply chains? as we heard from david, the red _ supply chains? as we heard from david, the red sea _ supply chains? as we heard from david, the red sea is _ supply chains? as we heard from david, the red sea is one - supply chains? as we heard from david, the red sea is one of- supply chains? as we heard from david, the red sea is one of the i david, the red sea is one of the world's most important trade routes notjust world's most important trade routes not just for world's most important trade routes notjust for oil and fuel shipments not just for oil and fuel shipments but other goods notjust for oil and fuel shipments but other goods like lanes or consumer products coming from china to europe, for example. as we have heard, bp and several major shipping firms have today is that they are either pausing transit through the

red sea region or they are redirecting some journeys around the cape of good hope on the southern tip of africa. that will likely have huge cost implications for these companies, the additionaljourney companies, the additional journey time companies, the additionaljourney time can be some ten days, costing millions of dollars in additional crewing time, additionalfuel and crewing time, additional fuel and much crewing time, additionalfuel and much more. analysts have also suggested that a large oil firms follow the likes of bp�*s lead, crisis could potentially rise in europe and the mediterranean. —— prices. the international benchmark for oil crisis this afternoon has edged up to about $77 per barrel and has also been suggested that the wider shipping industry could pay some knock on effects like higher insurance premiums as well, but generally experts i have spoken with today have been fairly re—insured and they feel the industry is quite well—equipped to do with the situation as it stands today, and that generally covid related supply chain crunches have subsided recently. —— barely reassured. i suppose also the cost of time and we have seen on several occasions in

recent years logjams and shipping have a far reaching consequences. —— fairly reassured. is there any indication at this point how long this could go on for? the ma'ority of companies i this could go on for? the ma'ority of companies we i this could go on for? the ma'ority of companies we have i this could go on for? the ma'ority of companies we have heardh this could go on for? the majority of companies we have heard from j this could go on for? the majority i of companies we have heard from in recent days have described the measures they have brought in as temporary, although of course, in the current context of the ongoing conflict, it is very difficult to say how long they may last in total. at the moment, therefore, it is not quite clear how significant is the impact of these changes will be, although more and more companies divert the traffic, if the disruption lasts for some weeks, analysts said that shipping prices in particular could rise even further. ., ~ , ., in particular could rise even further. ., ~' , ., , in particular could rise even further. ., ~ , ., , . ., further. thank you very much for that. the european union has formally announced it suspects x, previously known as twitter, of breaching its rules in areas including countering illegal content and disinformation. the eu's digital commissioner thierry breton set out the alleged infringements

in a post on the social media platform. he said that x, which is owned by elon musk, was also suspected of breaching its obligations on transparency and in the design of its user interface. here we have the european union, which has set up this digital services act which is meant to try and kind of get to the heart of the problem of social media platforms putting out what is considered either disinformation or hate speech, and this is the first sort of implementation of that. you have thierry breton, the commissioner, who essentially wanted to be the digital policeman and that is what we are seeing taking place here. trying to crack down on a company that the eu had already identified as possibly the worst offender in this particular area, already earlier this year. they are now basically following through on that now the law has come into place.

that is your business update. back to you. let's get more on that news concerning shipping routes let's get more on those shipping routes which has been under threat from rebels in the last few weeks. they have been tackling commercial shipping they believe is bound for israel. bp has joined a number of companies saying they are stopping using those routes because they are concerned of threats. ., ., ., ., , _ threats. footage released by the houthi rebel— threats. footage released by the houthi rebel group _ threats. footage released by the houthi rebel group shows - threats. footage released by the houthi rebel group shows them l houthi rebel group shows them successfully capturing the galaxy leader cargo ship in the red sea and the group supports hamas and they say they are targeting all ships of ownership links to israel as well as any shipping going in and out of israeli ports, and the houthi group still has that boat so we spotted it here on satellite imagery of the coast of yemen and this is the best

image we have from satellite provider planets and it was taken last week. these attacks are huge problems for companies because this region is crucial to global change so the red sea is one of the most crucial routes for oil and fuel shipments. —— global trade. any ship passing through the suez canal to or from the indian ocean has to come this way. about 10% and 200,000 chips passes through it every year. —— about 10% of global trade. they have to go all the way down south, round the south of africa and up again. and that is what several big companies like bp are going to have to do now they have suspended their shipping through the red sea. 0ver shipping through the red sea. over the last month, since the galaxy leader was successfully hijacked, there have been several attempts by houthi rebels to board ships like this one, the central park, and the attack on the swan river was repelled by a us warship and a japanese military vessel in the

area. they have also attacked others with drones and missiles, the houthi rebel group. this graphic shows how busy the route and we will have to wait and see what impact this has on the trades and a precarious situation in the red sea, not only on the price of oil as deliveries are delayed, but also on whether their other products will make their destinations in time for christmas. from the bbc verify hub there. doctor sarah shepard is a supply chain expert and she explained earlier that the impact of shipping operations in the red sea. —— sarah schiffling. what we have seen over the last couple of days, several of the big shipping lines have halted their operations in the red sea going to the suez canal. that was one after the other after several attacks by drones and missiles on merchant vessels in this very,

very small part of the red sea and the southern end close to yemen. what do you think will happen next? we have already seen a response with the us military saying they are going to up their presence in the area to really reassure the merchant vessels and that operation is called prosperity guardian which kind of tells you what it is all about, it is about protecting those important supply chains because so much trade goes through the suez canal, about 12% of the total global trade volume and that is a huge amount with the bp oil vessels but also lots of container ships that really contain everything that is coming from asia into europe and increasingly also, asia to north america because the panama canal has been having issues for a month now. are there other ways to re—route it and how will that impact international supply chains? i assume any other avenues will take a lot longer. absolutely, the way around is all the way around africa, so you are going down

all the way to south africa and back north again and that adss one to two weeks of time to the journey and of course it costs a lot more and there is also some security risks there maybe as well as weather as well and that is really why the suez canal was built in the first place to avoid this very, very long detail all the way long detour all the way around the continent of africa. are these attacks new or have they been happening in the last few months? there has been about nine attacks on merchant vessels in this last month of december and there have been a couple of other missile, drones that have been intercepted by the military presence in the area but it has been really stepping up hamas against israel so that has been two geopolitical crises tying into each other and there has been a civil war in yemen for the last nine years now so there is a bigger picture here. and we had any sort of reaction from the regional players like iran or other nations?

there has been statements from iran especially about the stepping up of the military presence in the area, very much saying that this is a region which is in their sphere of influence so of course it is not something they welcome, and other regional players are involved in ensuring the ongoing trade through the red sea and the suez canal. this is of course very interesting particularly for egypt which owns and runs the suez canal and of course benefits from the trade through this route. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. ready a stories from across the uk. this is a place that loads of people in our area and beyond have been drawn to in the past. i decided i wanted to paint the piece is a night—time scene because that area is well known for its dark skies and also the night—time scene was a perfect way to say goodbye to the jury. visit

never plans to the painting but she was inundated with requests after the tree was felled. lucy and her team made a pledge, they would plant a tree for every print solves but they were amazed by the response. with the money from the prints, lucy is going to buy 1500 trees and as she is looking for some to replace them. , ., she is looking for some to replace them. , . ., , them. centre stage will ultimately be the sycamore _ them. centre stage will ultimately be the sycamore tree, _ them. centre stage will ultimately be the sycamore tree, replica - them. centre stage will ultimately be the sycamore tree, replica of. them. centre stage will ultimatelyl be the sycamore tree, replica of it. it is my dream to create this beautiful wood tone that is very natural space, a beautiful space for people to come and visit and enjoy. was stories from across the uk, edge of the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. judges at uganda's constitutional court are considering a legal challenge to anti—gay legislation passed this year. those bringing the legal action say the laws, which allow for the death penalty in certain circumstances, violate constitutional

rights and freedoms. at least five people have been charged under the law so far, including two for the capital offence of — what is described as — "aggravated homosexuality", which includes transmitting a terminal illness to someone through gay sex. rights groups say the legislation was not subject to proper parliamentary scrutiny and want it annulled. some western nations imposed sanctions on uganda after the laws were passed. for more on that, i earlier aspects of human rights lawyer in uganda who is working on that case. —— i earlier spoke to. the challenge we have made before the ugandan courts is essentially for the courts to decide whether every single ugandan, including the person who is a member of the lgbt community, enjoys the same protection under law. 0ur argument is that the anti—gay law violates fundamental rights and freedoms of the lgbt community and civil society

organisations, of the media practitioners in this country as well as academic and researchers. and how popular was that law when it came in? what sort of challenge do you face in terms of trying to overturn it? well, for the past ten years the backers of this law have been whipping up public support across the country across the country many times using misinformation, and at the time the law was passed, it appeared that the that the law was extremely popular across the country. many of us who have stood up against the law face a lot of backlash from our communities. there is a appearance of public support for the law but i also hear many people making the argument that this law is not the most important thing to many people across the country and at the backers of the law got their priorities wrong. to northern ireland next,

and the bbc understands the democratic unionist party has ruled out the prospect of a deal to restore devolved power at stormont before christmas. northern ireland has been without a devolved government for almost two years, after the democratic unionist party withdrew support following brexit. the westminster government wanted the devolved assembly to be recalled this week so ministers could be appointed — but its understood the dup 5 position is that the negotiating process is not yet complete. here's our ireland correspondent, chris page. this is a time of year when people tend to think of christmas parties rather than political parties. but in northern ireland, the festive season has often brought frantic negotiations. the 25th of december can be seen as an unofficial deadline. the westminster government had hoped that the devolved power—sharing assembly at stormont would be recalled this week to appoint ministers. there had been signs that a deal to bring back devolution was moving closer. but it's understood the democratic unionist party has now ruled out returning to stormont before christmas. the dup has said it's not being led by calendar dates. other parties say patience has run out.

well, obviously it's the dup that we're all waiting for to make a decision. but in northern ireland politics, we're well used to those deadline points. and there have been instances in the past where at the very last minute, when it looked like the light was going out, the light came on. and i would urge my dup colleagues to actually put people first. what we've had instead is rising waiting lists in the health service, we've had public sector workers out on strike because they haven't been paid properly and all because we don't have a government. so there really is no reason to wait any longer. the people are bored of all of this and they're quite angry that politicians who are being paid to go to work, aren't going to work. people working in the public sector in northern ireland say their pay has fallen behind england, scotland and wales. a series of strikes is continuing, the most recent by transport workers at the weekend. we have seen teachers out. we have seen nurses out and now

we're seeing transport workers out. there's a serious crisis in the public finances in northern ireland. the trade union movement is on record as saying of course it would be better to have local institutions in place for all those things like local democracy, accountability. they should have all. their salary taken away if they will not help us move forward with our lives and progress. there are so many important issues going on that we need to deal with. and i feel everything is being swept by the wayside. whether stormont does return depends on whether the dup lifts its veto on power—sharing. the party's been pushing for the trade border with great britain to be eased. it says brexit arrangements have damaged northern ireland's place in the uk. the dup is being told not to budge by more hard—line unionists. the negotiations today will focus on financial support for a new devolved government. but the politicians who are here still don't know if they'll get to spend the money.

you are watching bbc news. the uk government this month announced that from next spring, british citizens and those settled in the uk must earn at least £38,700 before their overseas partners can live with them here — a jump of more than £20,000 from the present threshold. ministers say the increase will help cut immigration levels, but campaign groups criticised the move saying couples could be punished for falling in love. now, the government could face legal action to overturn the new requirements. legal action to overturn live now to paige ballmi. legal action to overturn her partner is due to obtain his indefinite leave to remain next year and — should the rules be applied before the process is over — they won t meet the income needed to complete the application. thank you very much forjoining us on bbc news. just tell us more about your specific situation with you and

your specific situation with you and your partner. your specific situation with you and your partner-— your partner. yes, we have been here, your partner. yes, we have been here. my — your partner. yes, we have been here. my partner— your partner. yes, we have been here, my partner has _ your partner. yes, we have been here, my partner has been - your partner. yes, we have been here, my partner has been here | your partner. yes, we have been i here, my partner has been here for almost five years now, and a five year route a settlement as a spouse, and we are so very close to the end, so the next of his rehab to article it is indefinite leave to remain. should these rules be changed before the date of our application, it would push us backwards rather than forwards. my husband would either have to leave the country or he would be pushed onto another route which is what's more, really financially not an option for us. it also means we be placing another ten years rather than a five year route that we are almost so close to the end of, and everything we have already done beforehand will have counted for nothing. what already done beforehand will have counted for nothing.— counted for nothing. what is your husband was _ counted for nothing. what is your husband was my _ counted for nothing. what is your husband was my claim _ counted for nothing. what is your husband was my claim and - counted for nothing. what is your husband was my claim and where

exactly was he his name is tom and he he is from albania. what will happen then? because i presume tom's doesn't pay him the £38,000 also yet to be able to qualify for that threshold. so what would happen then and what would you do? we threshold. so what would happen then and what would you do?— and what would you do? we “ust don't know and the — and what would you do? we “ust don't know and the anxiety h and what would you do? we “ust don't know and the anxiety of _ and what would you do? we “ust don't know and the anxiety of it _ and what would you do? we just don't know and the anxiety of it all - and what would you do? we just don't know and the anxiety of it all is - know and the anxiety of it all is kind of ripping its ugly head again. he would either have to leave, meaning we will be separated again. we have already been separated for a year would be first applied back in 2017. -- year would be first applied back in 2017. —— when we first applied. if these rules come into place, it means i have a to find a job to make up means i have a to find a job to make up the shortfall that he earns. correct like it means i have a week. it is unrealistic and impossible and we also have a little girl who was two years old and to push the track evenif two years old and to push the track even if i am to go back to work,

everything i would only go on her childcare, so it wouldn't make any difference anyway. there are no words for it, really. it is just really cool, especially when you're already on a future settlement here and we have already. as already contributed and the ways things are at the moment, he is the one supporting the, so if it is good enough for him to support me all these years, why all of a sudden have they decided to pull this figure out of thin air and just apply to everyone? i know they have sort of said there might be a possibility that families like mine would space it, but the fact you have already said it and try to introduce it doesn't give any of us, any families like mine any hope. what does tom do? is there any way he could look what i have a job that pays that threshold? i5 he could look what i have a job that pays that threshold? is a he could look what i have a 'ob that pays that threshold?h pays that threshold? is a builder, but why should _ pays that threshold? is a builder, but why should you _ pays that threshold? is a builder, but why should you have - pays that threshold? is a builder, but why should you have to - pays that threshold? is a builder, but why should you have to do? l but why should you have to do? he has already given this country so much and why is it still not good enough? forthe much and why is it still not good enough? for the last five years, he

has paid his taxes, paid every application fee, paid all these other charges that are included with an application fee, which includes nhs charges as well. why is that still was good enough for us to... this is our home. why should we have to beat? why should we have to leave these rules that are being put in place to appease other people that actually needs these rules? —— should he have to leave? actually needs these rules? -- should he have to leave? thank you for sharin: should he have to leave? thank you for sharing your _ should he have to leave? thank you for sharing your story _ should he have to leave? thank you for sharing your story and _ should he have to leave? thank you for sharing your story and tom's - for sharing your story and tom's story of course. thank you for joining us on bbc news. we have a statement from the home office on this, which is the prime minister has made clear current levels of migration uk are currently far too high which is by the government has announced a plan to cut net migration and system that works for the british people. we have a long—standing principle that anyone from independence to live in the uk must be financially able to support them. the minimum income requirement ensures families are self—sufficient

instead of relying on public funds with the ability to integrate if they are to play a full part in british life. —— everyone bringing dependence. addressable by diana princess of wales has sold more than £900,000 at auction in los angeles, the highest price paid for any hope addresses. the dress features metallic embroidered star you ballerina skirt. it was worn on a visit to italy in 1985. let's take a quick look at the weather with ben rich. hello, the big day is just a week away. but the weather isn't currently looking particularly festive, lots of cloud, some outbreaks of rain. it's going to become very windy over the next few days. but as colder air tries to tuck in from the north we have the chance for some snow in some places late in the week.

we find ourselves in something of a battleground, cold air to the north trying to dig in, milder air trying to push in from the south, and in between thejet stream, the stream of very strong winds high in the atmosphere spinning up in various areas of low pressure. we end monday on a pretty mild note in most places, a lot of cloud, still some patchy rain across england and wales, clearer skies in parts of the north of england, northern ireland and scotland, albeit with this weather front pushing southwards. overnight, cloud and heavy rain develop across england and wales. clearer skies across northern ireland and scotland, showers could be wintry of a high ground in scotland, may be cold enough for frost and ice in parts of northern scotland, whereas further south it remains very mild into tuesday morning. with some outbreaks of heavy and persistent rain. but that rain will tend to clear southwards through the day. behind it the skies will brighten, and spells of sunshine, but scattered showers rushing in on quite a brisk north—westerly wind, some of those showers will be wintry over high ground in scotland and temperatures dropping away, colder air

pushing its way down from the north. however, by wednesday we get back into milder air. wednesday is going to be a windy day, quite a cloudy day, there will be some bits and pieces of rain around, some heavier rain across some parts of western and northern scotland and temperatures back up into double digits for many. and then through wednesday night and into thursday, we are looking at potentially quite a deep area of low pressure passing into the north of the uk and is this cold front slips southwards it will bring a return of colder air. we will see some wintry showers. in fact snow showers to quite low levels in scotland, coupled with very strong or gale force winds, it could well give blizzard conditions. further south, cloud and outbreaks of rain holding onto some mild air in the south, something colder further north. and as we head into the christmas period, there is some uncertainty aboutjust how long that cold air will stick around. it may be cold enough for some of us to see snow in the run—up to christmas.

live from london. this is bbc news.

as air strikes continue across gaza, the us states its unshakeable support for israel, insisting a two state solution is necessary for a stable future. we state solution is necessary for a stable future.— state solution is necessary for a stable future. we will continue to stand u- stable future. we will continue to stand up for _ stable future. we will continue to stand up for israel's _ stable future. we will continue to stand up for israel's bedrock - stable future. we will continue to | stand up for israel's bedrock right to defend itself and we will also continue to urge the protection of civilians during the conflict, and to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into gaza. figs to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into gaza-— aid into gaza. as oil giant, bp, sto -s all aid into gaza. as oil giant, bp, stops all transfers _ aid into gaza. as oil giant, bp, stops all transfers during - aid into gaza. as oil giant, bp, stops all transfers during the l aid into gaza. as oil giant, bp, i stops all transfers during the sea, we look at how the war is impacting this. and we hearfrom the this. and we hear from the family that hosted alex batty, the british teenagerfound in france after six years missing.

hello, welcome to verified live —