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 tycoon jimmy lai has gone on trial facing charges of breaching national security. volcano in iceland erupts, sending fountains of lava into the air. and a new covid variant is spreading fast across the world. cases soar in asia as singapore encourages people to wear masks once again. voice—over: live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news. it's newsday.

hello, thank you for being with us. 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 it's 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 us defense secretary lloyd austin has reaffirmed support for its ally but demanded the country do more to protect civilians. from jerusalem, lucy williamson reports. greipel hugo bachega. there was criticism of the israeli military in gaza by the defense secretary lloyd austin, alongside the israeli defense minister when they gave a statement earlier today but i think he gave a hint of the frustration at the high number of civilian casualties in gaza, frustration there microphone that's already been as —— addressed by the by that administration. he said he had

discussions with the israeli leadership about how to reduce harm to civilians but he said he had not travelled to israel to dictate timelines or terms but that he had discussions about goals and objectives and he also said they talked about transitions from a major combat operation to lower intensity and more surgical operations in gaza. he also talked about the situation in the west bank, where violence has been on the rise since the october attacks by hamas. he said that attacks by hamas. he said that attacks by extremist settlers on palestinians must stop and that those people involved in those attacks must be held accountable. this has been a long—running accusation by palestinians, by human rights organisations operating in the west bank, that many of those people have been able to act with impunity. and again, he repeated the barnett administration's position that the two state solution is the only solution for this

israeli—palestinian conflict, which is the preferred international proposal that would see the creation of an independent palestinian state living alongside israel. but it's very interesting that he made these remarks just days after president biden said that some members of the netanyahu government were against the two state solution and against the creation of a palestinian state. and the israeli defense minister yoav gallant said the war was going to take time but that israel would gradually transition to the next phase of the operation, particularly in the operation, particularly in the north of gaza, that some residents would be allowed to return to those areas. this was the main focus of the israeli operation at the beginning of the war — entire neighbourhoods have been destroyed. but again, he said that the goals here are to destroy hamas and to rescue the hostages who remain in captivity in gaza but that he

said israel would not control gaza in any civilian way. hugo bachega. united states has commercial trucks have entered the gaza strip for the first time since this all started on the seventh of october. the us state department called it a critical step to improving the lives of palestinians to have commercial goodsin palestinians to have commercial goods in addition to humanitarian aid. calls for a ceasefire are increasing in the international community. the hamas run health ministry in gaza says 110 people were killed in strike at the jabalya refugee camp on sunday and that over 19,000 people in gaza have died since the conflict started. 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. dunia's 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 defence 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. last month 23 thai hostages were released by hamas and jonathan head has been to meet one of them. he was held with three israeli men who are mistakenly shot dead by the israel defense forces last week. he has been giving a picture of what they captivity was like. giving thanks for his escape. he's one of 23 thai hostages

released by hamas last month. he was held in tunnels under gaza for 51 days, after being captured where hundreds of others, including most of his fellow thai farm workers, were killed. translation: i crouched down like that and i shouted - "thailand, thailand ! " but they kept beating me. all he could do was keep my face down. another guy trampled on me. i crawled under the bed to hide. i was about to text my wife to say i was being taken but then, they dragged me out by my leg. then began his long ordeal underground. made worse by the fact that he speaks no english and could not understand his captors or his fellow hostages. translation: during the first. two weeks, i was like a madman. there was no one to talk to. to be honest, i started talking to myself. i did a lot of thinking.

i wanted to ask questions but i could not communicate with anyone. the only way i got through this was by thinking of the faces of my children, my wife and my mother. i was hungry all the time because we only got one meal a day. i had to sip the water. they give us one large bottle which had to last 11—5 days, or one small bottle which at the last two days. he was finally freed on the 26th of november. throughout his captivity he was held with three israelis who he now realises were the same three young men mistakenly shot dead by israeli forces last friday. my foreign friends and i always tried to support each other every day, we would shake

hands and do fist bumps. they would cheer me up by hugging me and patting my shoulder but we could only communicate by using our hands. he has come back to the industrial suburbs south of bangkok, where his wife still works in a factory. he also needs a job here to pay off the loans which funded his trip to israel. he had only been there ten days. but he's grateful to be back with family and friends again and to enjoy proper food, knowing how many more hostages have yet to be freed. jonathan head, bbc news, bangkok. china state media says more than 110 people have been killed in an earthquake in the north—west of the country. the quake hit zhengzhou province late on monday night and according to the european—mediterranean seismological centre, it was 6.1 in magnitude. according to state media rescue and relief

work is under way and a working group was dispatched to assess the impact of the earthquake —— gansu province. a volcano in southwest iceland has erupted following weeks of intense earthquake activity. here are the pictures. you can see the moment now of the eruption captured by a webcam from the public channel when that yellow lava started to erupt from the ground like a fountain. this was the scene a few moments later. the authorities have already evacuated the nearly 4,000 inhabitants of the fishing town of grindavik. i'v e i've been speaking to an icelandicjournalist. as it looks now, this seems to be the most powerful

of the eruptions of the peninsula for the past three years and the latest information that and it has reached 3.5 kilometres —— i have is the lava crack that is north of grindavik has reached 3.5 kilometres and that is like two miles and this looks to be the biggest of all the eruptions that have recently been taking place in the peninsula. many of our viewers will remember the volcanic eruption in 2010 in iceland which created an ash cloud that led to the closure of most of the european airspace. is there any danger of that this time? as of now, no. when the eruption in 2010 created this huge habit, it was an eruption under a glacier which creates a much

finer ash which is up in the airfor a long time and there were worries that it could have an effect on the engines and this is nothing like that and this is a typical lava crack eruption which doesn't reach as high in the air, it's much bigger, and it shouldn't reach the height. the only chance of that happening in this case if it would erupt under the sea but that is highly unlikely right now. so, there is a very slim chance that this will have any effect on flight traffic. how long can an eruption like this last? no real way to say. you only have to look at the history of these last

eruptions to realise the first eruptions and the biggest until this one that started tonight, it lasted six months and we've had eruptions that lasted only three weeks and so, there is no way to tell but the worries are now that this is very close to grindavik, and it's to grindavik, on the outskirts, and apart from the inhabitants there which have been evacuated, there are no inhabitants there now but it is also the electricity infrastructure that is very close to where the eruption is taking place right now. what about the impact on the tourism sector? should visitors be concerned? in tourism sector? should visitors be concerned?— be concerned? in general, no, but by chance _ be concerned? in general, no, but by chance the _ be concerned? in general, no, but by chance the sort - be concerned? in general, no, but by chance the sort of- be concerned? in general, no, but by chance the sort of the l but by chance the sort of the biggest tourist attraction in this area, the blue lagoon, only reopened on sunday after

being closed with three weeks because of the big earthquakes that took place there and the eruption that we were kind of all expecting to happen, but did not happen at the time. so what will happen after this, we don't know. i expect it at least temporarily to close but apart from that it really should not affect tourists right now, apart from the fact that we just found out that the road that connects the capital area to the international airport has been closed because of the eruption, so there is now no way to drive to the airport. how long that will remain remains to be seen, but

thatis remain remains to be seen, but that is at least the only way that is at least the only way that it should affect tourists that it should affect tourists that are in iceland right now. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. voice-over: bbc news, bringing ou voice-over: bbc news, bringing you different _ voice-over: bbc news, bringing you different stories _ voice-over: bbc news, bringing you different stories from - you different stories from across the uk. start with the dream produced that was happily eating but a strong connection to the natural world. it started with a few? to the natural world. it - started with a few? edited and in a time when _ started with a few? edited and in a time when you _ started with a few? edited and in a time when you could - started with a few? edited and in a time when you could do i in a time when you could do that because of the farmers markets were popping up everywhere which allowed me to start a very rough patch of land, get some sales and fattening pigs, and go straight to market. the field behind you? cluster old spots, large blocks, oxfords anti—vax and saddlebags. i blocks, oxfords anti-vax and saddleba95-_ blocks, oxfords anti-vax and saddlebags. i know along the wa that saddlebags. i know along the way that you _ saddlebags. i know along the way that you have _ saddlebags. i know along the way that you have become i saddlebags. i know along the way that you have become a l saddlebags. i know along the l way that you have become a bit of a campaigner. you care about the politics and all of this.

completely. ourfarmers the politics and all of this. completely. our farmers are so important only but also dealing with the crisis we find ourselves in with the claim and we only have to look at the war in ukraine and how important producing your own food is. voice-over:— producing your own food is. voice-over: for more stories from across — voice-over: for more stories from across the _ voice-over: for more stories from across the uk, _ voice-over: for more stories from across the uk, head - voice-over: for more stories from across the uk, head to i voice-over: for more stories. from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you are live with bbc news. to hong kong whether trent democracy media take unitjimmy lai has gone on trial placing trails of breaching national security including with foreign forces. ~ , ., ., security including with foreign forces. ~y ., ., ., forces. the 76-year-old a self-made _ forces. the 76-year-old a self-made billionaire - forces. the 76-year-old a self-made billionaire who j 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. the us and the uk have called for him to be released. 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 in jail and tell everybody that hong kong is still fine, that people are safe to go to hong kong, people are safe to hold their 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. let's look at other stories in the headlines. in north korea it's been confirmed the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on monday was a drill to confirm its war readiness. the north korean state newsagency said the missile reached an altitude of 6500 kilometres, flying just over 1,000 kilometres. the roman catholic church has granted approval for priest 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. but the decision still marks a significant change in its policy as the vatican said it totally rejected such ceremonies only two years ago. it still remains opposed to gay marriage. ajury in new york has found the hollywood actor jonathan major guilty of assaulting his ex—girlfriend. she said she was attacked earlier this year in the back of a car, leaving her in excruciating pain. majors, best known for his role as a character in the marvel superhero franchise did not testify and faces up to a year in prison. christmas isjust around the corner but there is another c—word that no—one wants to hear at this time of year. covid. here in singapore, mask wearing

is being strongly encouraged in crowded areas, with the newjn.1 variant driving up cases. the ministry of health talks about an increase of 75% compared to the previous week. singapore is not alone in this situation as many countries, including the uk, see a spike in numbers. earlier we heard from clare bryant, who is a professor of innate immunity at the university of cambridge, who began by explaining what is driving this. the appearance of this new variant is a potential driver of this but probably the key factor driving up cases at the moment is unlike in previous years we had wide coverage of the strong vaccination campaign, not as many people have been vaccinated in the vaccine roll—out is restricted to the over 65s or people particularly susceptible, and as a consequence, that means that less immunity and

environment means that federal cases are going up and the uk, it is cold, we are all trapped inside and as an ideal situation for the virus spread and add into the mix, a new variant coming along and the right conditions in order to drive another peak. what do we know about this new variant? is it making people sick or as contagious as before? that is hard to describe. we know it's such a grandson of omicron, we know it's got mutation and we know some of these mutations are in the spike protein and a vaccine has been generated again spike protein and it's got mutations in other areas it will be more transmissible and more infectious and it's also possible that spike protein mutations needs and stick onto body cells more easily and potentially be

more infectious but before we panic, we should still have some immunity from our vaccines. if you have been vaccinated recently, you'll not have as many antibodies but it may not be quite as sensitive from the antibody binding because of the spike protein, but we still have t cells in special cells that come out and what they do is bind onto and kill anybody cells that are infected with the virus in they should still be functioning, and if you have been vaccinated and you should have some immunity

against the virus and we should not see big hospitalisations and hopefully, that would not be the case and obviously, getting vaccinated is a great strategy to produce from this virus. is there any advice that you have? mask wearing? does that help still? i think it's something that people a lot more sensible about this and are happy to wear masks and in the uk and the states. certainly mask wearing even the crowded places and also in this time of year, that will help and good hygiene, washing hands, all these things that we were encouraged to do during the pandemic is a good idea and break masks and just recovering from a cold and this kind of thing is sensible strategies to do to protect people as well as yourself. professor crabb prior to speaking to me earlier. i'll be back with business news shortly so join me if back with business news shortly sojoin me if you can. for now, thank you so much for watching newsday.

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 north—westerly wind and some showersjust 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 north—westerly wind, tight squeeze on the isobars 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 coasts, and also for north sea—facing coasts, there could be a coastal surge too, possibly blizzard—like conditions with wintry showers across parts of scotland. again, a very tight squeeze on those isobars 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.

the united states promises to form an international coalition to protect merchant shipping in the red sea from attacks by houthi rebels. and the bbc gained exclusive access to the netherlands' first legal cannabis cultivation plant. we'll take you behind the scenes. hello and welcome to asia business report. i'm mariko oi. the united states plans to form an international coalition to protect commerce in the red sea. this comes after iranian—backed houthi rebels in yemen attacked a number of ships passing through the area. many of the world's biggest container shipping companies have diverted their vessels, having to go the long way around africa and playing havoc to global trade.