as pressure grows for a ceasefire in gaza, intense negotiations at the un security council to agree a new resolution. in hong kong, the media tycoonjimmy lai has gone on trial facing charges of breaching national security. new covid variant is spreading fast across the world — cases soar in asia as singapore encourages people to wear masks. once again encourages people to wear masks. and hundreds of people are rescued from devastating floods in northeast australia. welcome to newsday.

negotiations are continuing at the united nations in new york to agree a new resolution on gaza. a vote had been expected in the last hour, but its been postponed as diplomats try to agree a form of words that the united states may sign on to. on a visit to israel, the u—5 defence secretary lloyd austin has reaffirmed support for its ally, but demanded the country do more to protect civilians. from jerusalem, lucy williamson reports. they say there's nowhere safe in gaza. the children's unit at nasser hospital hit by a shell yesterday. doctors and parents who once raced to get wounded children in here now scrambling to get them out. the epicentre of the dust and panic, a children's bedroom on the second floor. translation: we were seated -

on the bed when something exploded and all the ceiling fell on us. i couldn't do anything. debris fell on us and we couldn't see anything. ijust grabbed my daughter and escaped. i don't know what happened to the others. this was 13—year—old dunia's bed. she was sitting here when an unexploded shell punched through the ceiling. and then the wall. it killed her without ever exploding. her leg had been amputated after a previous attack that also killed her parents. "i lost my family," she said last month, "and i lost my leg. "my dream is to become a doctor and treat children." strikes overnight on the jabalia and nuseirat refugee camps killed more than 100 people, according to hamas government officials. today, a senior hamas figure pointed to growing international calls for a ceasefire and said the us was responsible for deaths in gaza.

the united states administration is totally responsible of those massacres and violation taking place at the hand of the israeli occupation army in gaza through the us unconditional delivery of the weapons to kill palestinians without any form of accountability. america's defence chief has been meeting israel's government today. the us stopped short of calling for a ceasefire, but says it's keen to bring the current heavy fighting to an end. america's commitment to israel is unwavering. and no individual group or state should test our resolve. we'll continue to provide israel with the equipment that you need to defend your country, mr prime minister, including critical munitions, tactical vehicles and air defense systems. israel's troops were reminded by their boss yesterday of the rules of war — when to fire, when to stop.

orders for soldiers. questions for politicians. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. i'm joined now by michael bocicur in vancouver. michael is global affairs analyst and senior fellow at the atlantic council. and was also former spokesperson for unicef covering the west bank and gaza. ifi if i can get your if i can get your reaction if i can get your reaction to if i can get your reaction to the if i can get your reaction to the un if i can get your reaction to the un security council voted being postponed? it security council voted being postponed?— security council voted being --ostoned? , ., , postponed? it could be a good sign because they're — postponed? it could be a good sign because they're intent _ postponed? it could be a good sign because they're intent on - postponed? it could be a good sign l because they're intent on hammering something out that will work, my fear is that it will be watered down so much that it will be basically meaningless. so, this binding resolution is was really needed to

put into the israelis of the international community is very serious and just shopped at the deplorable videos coming out of gaza and seeing some of the draught wording and similarto and seeing some of the draught wording and similar to what the russian foreign ministry car for a few days ago which is basically hostilities and humanitarian problems and the trend to make something where the members will be tempted to use their veto power. the united states calling for israel to make the wall more the us calling on israel to make the war more "surgical" while a senior uk lawmaker says israel has gone beyond self—defence increasingly, the tone is shifting. those who have worked in gaza who

think of these women and children every day as numbers move towards, could be a lot higher once stronger language could be used and mr biden could bring up the phone and sell for him to and out also like to remind and so the other day was if you continue this bombing on civilian, you could deliver them into the arms of the enemy by increasing radicalisation and with a strategic defeat in this way set on israeli television recently is that they risk not only more isolation but also, they could increase the radicalisation of how you would feel

as a child survives this but wakes up as a child survives this but wakes up with no mother and father were brothers or sisters at this the situation is playing on a day by day. the video of elderly hostages, it's estimated still over 100 of them are held in gaza, negotiations are also ongoing to secure their release. it is very important for the families that these hostages are released and a heckuva lot more pressure on benjamin netanyahu and much more careful and in gaza and the way to do this with relations to humanitarian cease—fire and how they thomas is mind—boggling that the biggest the russians are using an

where as in gaza, israel is a much more dense population areas and bombs and casualties. this has to stop. thank you forjoining us and we'll have more on the hostages later in the programme. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. the us has announced plans to form an international coalition to protect merchant shipping in the red sea. the assaults by rebels based in yemen have been taking place since the conflict began in gaza, and they're beginning to disrupt global maritime trade. the oil giant, bp announced on monday that it will stop running its ships through the red sea. the roman catholic church has granted approval for priests to perform blessings for same—sex couples. it said they must not be linked to weddings or civil unions, and would not be part

of regular church rituals. the decision still marks a significant change in policy, as the vatican said it totally rejected such ceremonies two years ago. it remains opposed to gay marriage. a jury in new york has found the hollywood actor, jonathan majors, guilty of assaulting his ex—girlfriend. grace jabbari said she was attacked earlier this year in the back of a car, leaving her in "excruciating pain". she suffered injuries including a broken finger. majors, who is best known for his role as kang in the marvel superhero franchise, didn't testify, and now faces up to a year in prison. emergency services in north—eastern australia have rescued hundreds of people trapped by flooding — after record levels of rain over the past week. in the state of queensland, people were stuck on roofs as rising waters cut off entire areas.

tourists in cairns were also left stranded after their flights were cancelled. i'm joined now by michael kerr, the mayor of douglas shire, he's in the town of port douglas in queensland. what s the latest on the ground? were very lucky that the water is receiving and dropping back now it's surely getting aircraft sending helicopters are going across at the moment and able to give more crew and oedipus are now combivent the same people on the ground since last tuesday in small and people are absolutely exhausted and we drive a lot of committee still isolated from a landslide and we would not be able to get to them until the water

recedes further and clearing those roads and a landslide 20 acres long. what sort of emergency support is on offer for people who are still stranded ? the australian defence force be coming in this afternoon will build or deploy them in making these clean—ups as quickly as possible very tourist destination and rely on it and we need to be back up and running as quickly as possible so our economy keeps going and that is very important to us. and the iconic port we've been very lucky in this part of only part that has been seriously damaged in a lot of areas with no water or power, communications that are just getting through now. we have seen images of a crocodile in the middle

of an urban area ? are you concerned about wildlife coming into contact with people at this time? it's always disconcerting we live in a crocodile area and we get things like this, the crocodiles can go swimming through the water and yes, it is dangerous but also the debris thatis it is dangerous but also the debris that is under the waters dangerous tell people, stay away from all flooded waters. thank you forjoining us. a volcano in southwest iceland has erupted following weeks of intense earthquake activity. here are the pictures — you can see the yellow lava eruptign from the ground like a fountain. fearing an eruption the authorities have already evacuated the nearly 4,000 inhabitants of the fishing town of grindavik. the areas is a volcanic and seismic hot—spot southwest of the capital reykjavik. in march 2021, lava fountains erupted spectacularly from a massive

fissure on the ground. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the bbc understands russell brand has been questioned by police for a second time investigating allegations of sexual for a second time investigating allegations of sexual offences. the comedian is believed to have been interviewed by detectives from the metropolitan police under caution over six non—recent sexual offences. in september, brand was accused of rape, assault and emotional abuse, which he has strongly denied. thousands of xl bully owners have been told they will not need to put down their dogs when a ban on the breed comes into force.

from december 31st, the dogs will have to be muzzled in public and it will be illegal to breed, sell or abandon them. councils in england will receive an extra 4 billion pounds in funding in the next financial year — giving them 6.5% more on average to spend on services — assuming they also put up council tax. the local government association says the settlement will not be enough to meet demand for services. you're live with bbc news. in hong kong, the veteran pro—democracy media tycoonjimmy lai has gone on trial facing charges of breaching national security and colluding with foreign forces. the 76—year—old self—made billionaire, who founded the pro—democracy newspaper apple daily, has been held in solitary confinement since december 2020 and faces life in prison if found guilty.

he denies all charges. this is being seen as a landmark trial and lai faces charges under the national security law beijing brought in making it easier to prosecute protesters. it followed the massive pro—democracy uprising in hong kong three years ago. pro—democracy uprising in hong kong at the "politically motivated prosecution of british national jimmy lai. from hong kong, danny vincent reports. record numbers of police lined the streets of hong kong for the city's most high—profile national security trial. supportjimmy lai! outside court, a lone protester, surrounded in silence by the police. another activist targeted by the authorities. translation: hong kong has turned into a useless city. _ there is nojustice now, there is only a crackdown. they only understand the language of force and they imprison people every day. they have imprisoned jimmy lai for two or three years. pro—democracy campaigners say a beijing—imposed security law has ushered in a new political era in hong kong. critics say that hong kong's legal system has been weaponised in order to silence anyone that dares to speak out. over the last three decades, jimmy lai has been the biggest critic of beijing. his supporters say this is simply a show trial but the authorities sayjimmy lai

has endangered national security. in 2020, jimmy lai became the most high—profile activist arrested under a sweeping national security law. for 25 years, he ran hong kong's most popular opposition newspaper. when arrested, he was paraded through apple daily�*s newsroom. in 2020, i was the lastjournalist to intervieinmmy lai, just hours before his detention. fear... ..is the most inexpensive and convenient way of ruling people and controlling people. you know, if they can induce fear in you, that's the easiest way to control you. that's the cheapest way to control you and the most effective way. today, his son, sebastien lai, is living in self—imposed exile in taiwan, campaigning for his father's release. last week, he met with lord cameron. freedom of speech as in freedom

from, you know, freedom to say what they want you to say. it is freedom to say what they don't want you to say. and that's what it is, that is the message, that you can't hold jimmy lai, you can't hold jimmy lai injail and tell everybody that hong kong is still fine, that people are safe to go to hong kong, people are safe to hold that firm beliefs in hong kong _ jimmy lai's trial is set to last for 80 days, in what is seen as a test for hong kong's judicial independence. if found guilty, he could face life in prison. danny vincent, bbc news, hong kong. christmas is just around the corner, but there s another c word that nobody wants to hear at this time of year: covid. this most unwelcome of guests has hampered festive celebrations in recent years ? but should we be concerned this time around? here in singapore, mask wearing is being strongly encouraged in crowded areas ? with the newjn. i variant driving up cases.

the ministry of health talks about an increase of 75 per cent compared to the previous week, with over 50,000 cases recorded between the 3rd and the 9th of december. public hospitals are now building contigency plans, as well as opening a new treatment facility in an expo hall. singapore is not alone in this situation as many countries, including the uk, see a spike in numbers well for more on this, we can cross live to cambridge and join clare bryant who is a professor of innate immunity at the university of cambridge. are we at the start of a new wave of infections? and ? if so ? what is driving it? it is possible, i cannot say for certain, the appearance of this

variant is a potential driver of this but the key factor driving cases of the moment is unlike previous years red white coverage of strong vaccination campaigns and in the uk, they've been restricted to those overly susceptible and there is less immunity in the environment which means viral kisses are going up which means viral kisses are going up and in the uk, it is cold and are trapped inside that is an ideal situation for the virus to spread this is the mix, and ovarian coming along as well we have the right kind of conditions to drive them. but along as well we have the right kind of conditions to drive them.- of conditions to drive them. but do we know about _

of conditions to drive them. but do we know about this _ of conditions to drive them. but do we know about this new _ of conditions to drive them. but do we know about this new variant - we know about this new variant is more contagious than before? it’s more contagious than before? it's the more contagious than before? it�*s the grandson of omicron it has some mutations and we know some of those mutations and we know some of those mutations are in the spiked protein and generated against it. it is possible that it has mutations in other places and it is possible to be more transmissible and more infectious and also it can stick onto cells more easily and more infectious but before we are panic, we should still have some immunity from our vaccines and if you have not been vaccinated recently, you only have so many antibodies but it is possible that it might not be as sensitive to the antibody binding because of the spiked protein however, we still have t cells is are special cells in the body and what they do as they bind onto until

anyone infected with the virus and still be functioning again even if you have not been vaccinated recently, you should still have some degree of immunity shouldn't see a big burst in hospitalisations and hopefully, that would not be the case if you have an opportunity to get vaccinated, getting vaccinated is a great strategy to help reduce disease risk from this virus. i5 is a great strategy to help reduce disease risk from this virus. is the advice two — disease risk from this virus. is the advice two mask— disease risk from this virus. is the advice two mask wearing? - disease risk from this virus. is the advice two mask wearing? it - disease risk from this virus. is the advice two mask wearing? it is . advice two mask wearing? it is something _ advice two mask wearing? it is something that _ advice two mask wearing? it 3 something that people are much more sensible about napping to wear masks and unfortunately, it's not quite as popular in the uk but masks particularly in crowded places or a plane, people travelling this time of year, that will help good hygiene, otherthings of year, that will help good hygiene, other things encouraged is a great idea and travelling back

wearing masks the way to protect other people because i'm recovering from a cold and so, these kinds of things are sensible strategies to protect other people as well as yourself. protect other people as well as ourself. ~ , ., ,., protect other people as well as ourself. ~ i. ,., . protect other people as well as ourself. ~ ,, . ., yourself. think you so much for “oininu yourself. think you so much for joining us- _ thank you so much forjoining us. let's return to where we began — the war in gaza, and the 23 thai hostages released last month. our south east asia correspondent jonathan head has been to meet one of them, a farmworker. it turns out he was abducted and held with three young israeli men who were mistakenly shot dead by the israel defense force last week. he's been giving a picture of what their captivity was like. giving thanks for his escape. is one of those released _ giving thanks for his escape. is one of those released by _ giving thanks for his escape. is one of those released by hamas - giving thanks for his escape. is one of those released by hamas and . giving thanks for his escape. is one of those released by hamas and he j of those released by hamas and he was out internals for 51 days after

being captured where hundreds of others, including most of his fellow type farm were killed —— thai. i shouted thailand, thailand, but he kept beating me, all he could do was keep my— kept beating me, all he could do was keep my face down. another guy trampled — keep my face down. another guy trampled on me, i crawled under the bed to _ trampled on me, i crawled under the bed to hide _ trampled on me, i crawled under the bed to hide her nuts with the text my wife _ bed to hide her nuts with the text my wife to — bed to hide her nuts with the text my wife to say i was being taken but then, _ my wife to say i was being taken but then, they— my wife to say i was being taken but then, they dragged me out by my leg. then began— then, they dragged me out by my leg. then began his long ordeal underground. made worse that he speaks no english and could not understand his captors or his fellow hostages. i understand his captors or his fellow hostaues. . , ~' . . . hostages. i was like a madman, there was no one — hostages. i was like a madman, there was no one to — hostages. i was like a madman, there was no one to talk _ hostages. i was like a madman, there was no one to talk to, _ hostages. i was like a madman, there was no one to talk to, to _ hostages. i was like a madman, there was no one to talk to, to be _ hostages. i was like a madman, there was no one to talk to, to be honest, l was no one to talk to, to be honest, i started _ was no one to talk to, to be honest, i started talking to myself. i did a lot of— i started talking to myself. i did a lot of thinking, i wanted to ask questions _ lot of thinking, i wanted to ask questions but i could not communicate with anyone. the only

way i _ communicate with anyone. the only way i got _ communicate with anyone. the only way i got through this was by thinking _ way i got through this was by thinking of the faces of my wife and my moihen — thinking of the faces of my wife and my mother. i was hungry all the time because _ my mother. i was hungry all the time because we _ my mother. i was hungry all the time because we only got one meal a day and i_ because we only got one meal a day and i had _ because we only got one meal a day and i had to— because we only got one meal a day and i had to sit through water, they .ive and i had to sit through water, they give us _ and i had to sit through water, they give us one — and i had to sit through water, they give us one large bottle which at the last— give us one large bottle which at the last four to five days or one small— the last four to five days or one small bottle which at the last two days _ small bottle which at the last two days -- — small bottle which at the last two days. —— had to last. he small bottle which at the last two days. -- had to last.— small bottle which at the last two days. -- had to last. he was freed in november- _ days. -- had to last. he was freed in november. he _ days. -- had to last. he was freed in november. he was _ days. -- had to last. he was freed in november. he was held - days. -- had to last. he was freed in november. he was held with i days. -- had to last. he was freed i in november. he was held with three israelis, who he now realises with the same three young men mistakenly shot dead by israeli forces last friday. shot dead by israeli forces last frida . y shot dead by israeli forces last frida . g ., , shot dead by israeli forces last frida. g ., friday. my foreign friends always tried to support _ friday. my foreign friends always tried to support each _ friday. my foreign friends always tried to support each other - friday. my foreign friends always tried to support each other and l friday. my foreign friends always i tried to support each other and we would _ tried to support each other and we would shake hands into fists palms and they— would shake hands into fists palms and they would cheer me up by hugging — and they would cheer me up by hugging me and patting my shoulder but we _ hugging me and patting my shoulder but we could only communicate by using _ but we could only communicate by using our— but we could only communicate by using our hands. he but we could only communicate by using our hands.—

but we could only communicate by using our hands. he has come back to the industrial — using our hands. he has come back to the industrial suburbs _ using our hands. he has come back to the industrial suburbs where - using our hands. he has come back to the industrial suburbs where his - the industrial suburbs where his wife still works in a factory. also needs a job you did pay off the loans which funded his trip to israel and he had only been there ten days. but he is grateful to be back with family and friends again and to enjoy proper food knowing how many more hostages have yet to be freed. a volcano in southwest iceland has erupted following weeks of intense ea rthquakeactivity. here are the pictures, you can see the yellow lava eruptign from the ground like a fountain. fearing an eruption the authorities have already evacuated the nearly 4,000 inhabitants of the fishing town. that's all for now — stay with bbc news. hello there. it's a rather cloudy

start to the new week, but there should be a lot more sunshine emerging for most of us on tuesday. that's quite a mixed week of weather ahead. it will be tricky for travelling at times in the run up to christmas with more rain to come in. the forecast turning very windy too, on thursday and friday and in the colder feeling air. there could even be a few wintry showers at times, especially over the high ground, of course. and there's currently cold air sinking southwards. milder air lasts across southern areas of england and south wales for a time too, but then it's gradually moving again. it's a soggy, very wet start to the day on tuesday across southern england and wales. that heavy rain eventually clearing, but not until we get to the afternoon. it's still a legacy of cloud across parts of kent and sussex until the end of the day. but lots of more sunshine emerging further north and west with a brisk northwesterly wind and some showers just moving through into north west scotland. again, wintry over the hills, temperatures dropping through the afternoon, but it's only a brief colder spell because then things will start

to turn a lot milder from the west as we head through tuesday night. temperatures dropping lowest out towards the east, rising through the night for these western spots with that warm front gradually pushing further eastwards through the day on wednesday, you can see the winds turning a little bit more westerly and there will be some rain across north west scotland, north west england and northern ireland, western wales for a time the further south and east you are, the drier your wednesday is likely to be, but there'll be a lot of cloud around some rather murky conditions and some mist and fog too. but temperatures rising back up again into double figures pretty much across the board. but again, that mild air is not set to last because it's going to turn colder again, very cold for some spots on thursday with this cold front sinking southwards. a very brisk northwesterly wind tight squeeze on the east of us there and there'll be gales across the far north of scotland, gusts of wind here of up to 70 to 80 miles an hour. very brisk winds for irish sea coast and also for north sea facing coast. there could be a coastal surge to possibly blizzard like conditions with wintry showers across parts of scotland. again, a very tight squeeze on those isa bars as we head into friday. so strong winds yet again.

we're into colder feeling air and there'll be plenty of added wind chill. but as you can see, the mild air is still not too far away and that will be working its way in from the west again as we head through saturday, possibly turning colder once more for the second half of the weekend. bye bye.

this is bbc news.

we'll have the headlines at the top of the hour, as newsday continues straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. 50 years ago, london had a terrible reputation forfood. generally, it was bland, stodgy and overcooked. but all of that has changed and now this city is a gastronomic destination. my guest today, michel roux, has played a big part in that transformation. his restaurant, le gavroche, has won michelin stars and international acclaim, but now, he's closing it. so is this the end of a golden age of master chefs and fine dining?