a volcano erupts in a peninsula in iceland after weeks of the seismic activity. this is the scene live there as jets of molten lava continue to spew from the ground. the spewing has declined though since the beginning of the eruption. as aid agencies voiced disruption on worsening conditions for civilians in gaza, the un security council prepares to vote on a new gaza ceasefire resolution. the british prime minister faces one final grilling from mps before christmas as he appears before the liaison committee of senior mps. time for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre. hello from the bbc sport centre. we start with some breaking news in the last few minutes in the english premier league — nottingham forest have sacked

manager steve cooper. the club are 17th in the table, five points ahead of third—bottom luton and have picked upjust one point from their past six games. cooper was a popular figure among forest fans having brought the club up from the championship in 2022 and he kept them in the premier league last season. but he has gone and this is the man who is favourite to replace cooper, the former wolves and tottenham boss who has spoken to nottingham forest about the job and he was sacked by saudi pro league club al etihad last month having won the league title there the previous season and more reaction to this breaking news on the bbc sport website. the english and european champions manchester city are hoping to add the club world cup to their impressive trophy haul in 2023. they're playing japanese side urawa red diamonds injeddah on tuesday for a place in the final against the copa libertadores

winners fluminese. city are boosted by the return of key player kevin de bruyne, finally back in training after injuring his hamstring back in august. erling haaland has also travelled to saudi arabia after his recent injury. no word on whether either will play. it's the first time city are competing in the club world cup but the tournament comes in between a busy festive schedule in the premier league and with injuries already impacting theirseason, manager pep guardiola has his concerns. i'm not against the new competitions, i am against the lack of time to recover between year by year. this is what i'm complaining all the time. it is a pleasure and an honour to be here, it is the first time manchester city is here, so it is difficult and i don't want to take it for granted, take it like a privilege. the english league cup is reaching the business end, with three quarterfinals on tuesday. chelsea are hosting newcastle at stamford bridge in one of

three all—premier league ties. chelsea haven't lifted the trophy since 2015, with mauricio pochettino hoping to win a piece of silverware in his first season, after what's been a difficult start in the league. the two drawers we had previously to this one were probably as difficult as you could get, manchester city, whether home or away, and manchester united away and chelsea away. but i think the beauty of the two games we have had previously is we have proved that we can raise our game against the top teams in a cup competition that brought so many great memories for us last year and i think we are determined to try to progress and try to create more memories. i want to win a trophy here in england _ i want to win a trophy here in england and lift the trophy now if we have — england and lift the trophy now if we have the possibility in this competition because i think it is important _ competition because i think it is important. my wish and my desire is to win, _ important. my wish and my desire is to win, and — important. my wish and my desire is to win, and that is one of the competitions we are involved in and it is possible. but of course we

need _ it is possible. but of course we need to — it is possible. but of course we need to respect our opponents, newcastle will be tough and we need to search _ newcastle will be tough and we need to search the ball through to the semifinah — to search the ball through to the semifinal. ., ., , to search the ball through to the semifinal. ., . , ., semifinal. some other games, everton auainst semifinal. some other games, everton against fulham — semifinal. some other games, everton against fulham and _ semifinal. some other games, everton against fulham and port _ semifinal. some other games, everton against fulham and port vale - semifinal. some other games, everton against fulham and port vale are - against fulham and port vale are playing against middlesbrough. the worlds best male cricketers are going on to the hammer as teams finalise their squads for next year's competition and two australian world cup winners attracted the biggest bids, and pat cummings has been bought by hyderabad and his record didn't last long. that's because his aussie team—mate mitchell starc was then bought by kolkata knight riders for $4.42 million, making him the most expensive player in ipl history.

that much is the ninth over and you can follow it on the bbc sport website. the british prime minister has faced one final grilling from mps before christmas, as he answered questions from the liaison committee of senior mps. the liaison committee who quizzed rishi sunak is a group made up of the chairs of all other committees, and its job is to scrutinise the prime minister's work. it's been a testing couple of weeks for mr sunak, and the pressure will continue to build next year as the general election looms. rishi sunak will ask voters tojudge him on his record, and how well he has delivered the five priorities he set out at the start of the year. bbc verify�*s nick eardley has been digging into the detail. back injanuary, the prime minister set out his five priorities for 2023, focusing on the economy, the nhs and stopping small boats. here's what rishi sunak said. i will only promise what i can deliver. and i will deliver what i promise.

a big pledge, but how has the government done so far? let's start by looking at inflation. as you can see, at the start of the year, it was high. 10%, went up to just below ii%. but on this one, the government is doing pretty well. you can see that inflation has come down. in the latest figures, it was 4.6%. so it has more than halved. now, we're still waiting for the overall figures for the final three months of the year. it's worth pointing out this is the job of the bank of england rather than the government, but it looks like this one is going to be achieved. the second big economic pledge was to get the economy growing. we're going to say that this one is unclear. if you look at these figures, they're quite up and down. but if you look at october 2023, growth is pretty flat over the course of the year. so this one — a question mark. it's in the balance.

finally, on the economy — debt. the government said it was going to make sure that debt was falling when compared to the size of the economy. you can see here as things stand, it's actually gone up a bit since january. now, ministers are saying that they will bring debt down in a few years' time. forecasts say that is likely to happen, but it would involve some unpopular spending cuts. so again, with this one, we're going to say it's in the balance. now, if we move on from the economy, it actually gets a bit trickier for rishi sunak. let's start with the nhs. rishi sunak said he would bring waiting lists down. have a look again. it's not happening. when he made that pledge, waiting lists were just over 7.2 million, now there just above 7.7 million. they've gone up by 500,000. strikes haven't helped. there's a covid backlog involved in this. and we should point out that some of the longer waits have been cut.

but for ministers to achieve this, there's a long way to go. finally, small boats. this is something we've talked a lot about in the last few weeks. but if you have a look at this, 2022 — record highs. the number has dropped this year so far, but it's still pretty high. it's still around 30,000. so that doesn't really equate to stopping the boats. the government did pass legislation earlier in the year, as it promised, but so far ministers can't actually remove people from the uk in large numbers because the courts of course blocked the rwanda plan. so this one, we're going to say not on track at the moment. so to summarise our report card for rishi sunak — one tick, two question marks, two crosses. rishi sunak didn't say all of this would be done this year, but as 2023 draws to a close, there's a lot to do if the government is going to turn that into five ticks. questioned by his conservative colleague alicia kearns about the role of the uk

in the israel and hamas war, this is what the prime minister said. from the beginning of this, from my first visit to israel, we have made repeated calls for israel to adhere to international humanitarian law, to take every practical... where have we achieved restraint or a change in their behaviors, because that's the goal of raising it with them, is to achieve an actual effect. i mean, i'm obviously not the one making operational decisions on the ground, but we have consistently urged israel where they can to avoid harming innocent civilians. far too many have died and it's about providing notice, providing safe areas, safe passage during the early phases of the conflict, but also about making sure that aid reaches those people who need it. live now to geri scott who's senior political correspondent at the times. good to see you. let's talk about the prime minister's overall delivery against his five pledges over the last year. how delivery against his five pledges over the last year.— delivery against his five pledges over the last year. how would you ureet over the last year. how would you greet him? _ over the last year. how would you greet him? i _ over the last year. how would you greet him? i think— over the last year. how would you greet him? i think it— over the last year. how would you greet him? i think it is— over the last year. how would you greet him? i think it is clear - over the last year. how would you greet him? i think it is clear that i greet him? i think it is clear that not all of them have been met yet

and that inflation one has, and there is a? 0ver others. but of course, that's big when we heard about today is stopping the boats and what rishi sunak said is that there is no firm date on that and there is no firm date on that and there were various other points made about the money spent on the rwanda scheme and things like that, but i think that is the one that will be the key issue add to the election next year and it is what the tories will probably focus on and it really seems that rishi sunak didn't want to put a deadline on when he might change that. to put a deadline on when he might change that-— change that. how much does his abili to change that. how much does his ability to deliver _ change that. how much does his ability to deliver on _ change that. how much does his ability to deliver on these - change that. how much does his i ability to deliver on these promises determine when he might call that the next election, which has to be pretty much within the 12 months, doesn't it, the next 12 months? it does, the latest data can be is january 2025 but last night rishi sunak did said it would be next year and it will really be the economy which will dictate when that will be

held. the debates being had about whether he will wait till longer until say 0ctober, giving the economy more time to recover, more money in peoples pockets and ability to meet those pledges, or do you go earlier in sometime like a maze so you don't suffer embarrassing defeats may be in the local elections. so there are a lot of different matters at play. —— in sometime like may. the question is whether he thinks will things will get better or worse and at will to take the timings.— take the timings. what you think about the prime _ take the timings. what you think about the prime minister's - take the timings. what you think. about the prime minister's position now? just a few days ago we were talking about how it might not be able to hold on as prime minister because of the whole rwanda conversation. are you confident now he will be the leader of the conservative party that will take us into the next general election? i think you bill and i think any suggestion that won't be the case is a bit absurd because there is no clear candidate to go for rishi sunak at the moment and anyone we

talk about in terms of potential leadership bids, we are really talking about after the next election, not really decide a bed, and those that i speak to, both in the centre and on the right of the party, so that if they wanted to change the leader again, they don't think the public would have the kind of appetite for it and there is not actually much appetite in the party either, so i think rishi sunak will be the conservative lead the party into the next election, but he may not be the conservative leader for much longer afterwards. what not be the conservative leader for much longer afterwards. what does that suggest _ much longer afterwards. what does that suggest then? _ much longer afterwards. what does that suggest then? are _ much longer afterwards. what does that suggest then? are you - much longer afterwards. what does | that suggest then? are you implying that suggest then? are you implying thatis that suggest then? are you implying that is naturally much of a chance of them winning that election? your mac i think the polls really imply that, and with labour's leader it isn't looking great for the conservatives and the prime minister. never count chickens, there is a long time to go potentially for voters to go to the polls on a lot of things, but if we look at the polls currently, labour look at the polls currently, labour look like they will win. what comes after that for the tories is really

after that for the tories is really a search for the soul of the party and what will be interesting is to see whether they lurch to the right or whether those centrist moderate tory mps cling on to control. fiifi tory mps cling on to control. 0k, geri scott, _ tory mps cling on to control. 0k, geri scott, really _ tory mps cling on to control. 0k, geri scott, really intriguing to get your analysis. thank you for being with us there. it's three months since tens of thousands of ethnic armenians fled from nagorno—karabakh since the territory surrendered to azerbaijan. the territory is recognised internationally as part of azerbaijan but large areas of it have been controlled by ethnic armenians for three decades. localforces in karabakh agreed to be disarmed and disbanded after an azerbaijani military offensive triggered intense fighting. the breakaway republic and its institutions will "cease to exist" from the first of january 2024, the region's separatist leader has said. both countries have promised to sign a peace treaty by the end of this year. live now to the newsroom where i'm joined by olga ivshina from the bbc�*s russian sevice.

remind us what happen in this disputed territoryjust remind us what happen in this disputed territory just three remind us what happen in this disputed territoryjust three months ago. this disputed territory 'ust three months auo. �* , ., , disputed territory 'ust three months auo. a ., , , disputed territory 'ust three months auo. ., , disputed territory 'ust three months ago. as you mention, this is one of the longest — ago. as you mention, this is one of the longest conflicts _ ago. as you mention, this is one of the longest conflicts and _ the longest conflicts and hostilities have been going on for over 30 years ago. this september, the territory of nagorno—karabakh was finally, azerbaijan got full control of the territory of nagorno—karabakh. because of that, ethnic armenians who lived in the region, nearly100,000 of ethnic armenians who lived in the region, nearly 100,000 of them have escaped to armenia, being afraid of ethnic cleansing and possible repressions. authorities in baku have promised they are ready to welcome armenians to azerbaijan but they had to accept as every citizenship and i think the core thing here is that because this conflict has been going on for decades and decades, there is a huge mistrust and a lot of bad memories on both sides. —— azeri citizenship. both sides accuse each other of war crimes and slaughtering civilians and bearing in mind that, it is very

hard to build civil negotiations and it is very hard to stick to the diplomatic process.- it is very hard to stick to the diplomatic process. what is the latest on any — diplomatic process. what is the latest on any peace _ diplomatic process. what is the latest on any peace talks? - diplomatic process. what is the latest on any peace talks? as l diplomatic process. what is the l latest on any peace talks? as you riuhtl latest on any peace talks? as you rightly said. _ latest on any peace talks? as you rightly said, both _ latest on any peace talks? as you rightly said, both sides _ latest on any peace talks? as you rightly said, both sides have - latest on any peace talks? as you rightly said, both sides have said| rightly said, both sides have said they are eager to sign a peace deal however there are a lot of hardships and challenges remaining, and both sides seem to be quite reserved in trying to find a way out. first of all, there will still no prisoner exchange and both sides haven't agreed on how the border should be marked between azerbaijan and armenia and what is the exact status of the region. so there are a lot of questions remaining and despite negotiations going on on several levels, the stumbling block as this mistrust and accusations which remain and it really prevents finding peace and stability in the region. finding peace and stability in the reuion. . ~ finding peace and stability in the reuion. ., ~ ,., finding peace and stability in the reuion. . ~' ,. , finding peace and stability in the reuion. ., ~ y., , . finding peace and stability in the reuion. . ~' ,. , . .,

region. 0k, thank you very much for u -adatin region. 0k, thank you very much for updating us. — region. 0k, thank you very much for updating us. olga — region. 0k, thank you very much for updating us, olga ivshina. _ region. ok, thank you very much for updating us, olga ivshina. i- region. ok, thank you very much for updating us, olga ivshina. iwill- region. ok, thank you very much for updating us, olga ivshina. i will be i updating us, 0lga ivshina. i will be speaking to the president of azerbaijan and armenia's deputy minister of foreign affairs later in the programme. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. bring you different stories from across the uk. cold and alone, the winter months are particularly bleak for people experiencing homelessness, and figures from the charity shelter suggests numbers are rising. adam's been sleeping rough for several weeks. it's really tough. it's degrading. because you can sleep in a doorway with a mat and people are walking up and down. research shows that across the wider south east region, hastings has the highest proportion of people experiencing homelessness, with one in 79. this is followed by brighton and hove, where one in 88 people are homeless.

and then crawley, where one in 111 people are without a home. every homeless person, all they really want, is just normal life. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. you're live with bbc news. christmas is nowjust days away and this time of year is normally the busiest in bethlehem where tourists and religious pilgrims gather to remember the birth ofjesus. but due to the war in gaza things haven't quite been the same. yasmin khatun dewan is in the newsroom with more. 0n the streets of bethlehem and outside the church of the nativity, throngs of tourists join pilgrims and rub shoulders with costumed santas and palestinian scout marching bands. you can see them here. but these scenes aren't from this year. the quiet streets of bethlehem are markedly different this year.

bethlehem is actually sad, no people, no locals, actually, even, no tourists and no decorations, no any kind of festivals. there is normally a huge fir tree that sits in manger square outside the church of nativity built on the spot where christian teachings sayjesus was born. there, as the bombardment of gaza continues some 60 miles away, church leaders injerusalem and bethlehem city took the decision to cancel what they called unnecessary festive christmas celebrations. access to the city has also been restricted with additional security at israeli checkpoints restricting movement into the occupied west bank where bethlehem lays. bethlehem is completely closed from all direction, checkpoints. even no local people, especially the community from galilee, from nazareth, is coming to bethlehem. the story of babyjesus in his

manger is a familiar one to many. but in bethlehem, this figurine lay in rubble in what the church of nativity says is a message to the world. dame esther rantzen has said she's considering the option of assisted dying, and has called on mps to update the law. the 83—year—old broadcaster — who has stage—4 lung cancer — said she's currently receiving a "miracle" treatment. but she said she has joined the clinic dignitas, which is based in switzerland, where assisted dying is legal, in case her condition gets worse. helena wilkinson reports. dame esther rantzen, best known for presenting the bbc show that's life, became a household name during her decades—long broadcasting career. injanuary she revealed she had been diagnosed with lung cancer, now at its most advanced stage. the 83—year—old's diagnosis has made her think about her own death.

she is currently undergoing what she describes as a miracle treatment, but if that doesn't work, dame esther says she might go to dignitas, an assisted dying clinic in switzerland which she hasjoined. i have joined dignitas. i have in my brain thought, "well, if the next scan "says nothing is working, i might buzz off to zurich." if you watch someone you love having a bad death, that memory obliterates all the happy times. and i don't want that to happen. i don't want, you know, to be that sort of victim in their lives. the law around assisted suicide is one that sharply divides opinions on both sides. campaigners say it would give people with terminal illnesses, or those who are suffering, greater control over how and when they die. 0pponents argue a change in the law would threaten vulnerable people.

we hear all the time about an nhs which is pushed to the limits, that's on its knees, and then some people are proposing taking doctors away from providing care, making things even worse for people who are waiting for treatment, and having them be the gatekeepers on whether people get given lethal drugs or not. last december an inquiry was launched to examine different perspectives in the debate around assisted suicide. the health and social care committee is due to publish its report. for now, dame esther says she is looking forward to christmas — one that she didn't expect to have with herfamily. helena wilkinson, bbc news. live now to lloyd riley from dignity in dying, a uk campaign group calling for assisted dying to be made legal for terminally ill adults. thank you for being with us and welcome to you. as i said there, you

have been a campaignerfor assisted dying for terminally ill patients. can you explain the difference between that and euthanasia? yes. can you explain the difference between that and euthanasia? yes, we are campaigning _ between that and euthanasia? yes, we are campaigning for — between that and euthanasia? yes, we are campaigning for assisted _ between that and euthanasia? yes, we are campaigning for assisted dying - are campaigning for assisted dying lauper terminally ill or mentally competent adults, people who are at their end of life you want to exercise control over how that stuff happens and the level of assisted dying we have seen in us states for over 20 years and more recently adopted in australia. —— and assisted dying law for terminally ill. ithink assisted dying law for terminally ill. i think when people like esther rantzen speak out it is incredibly powerful and moving but we should also recognise that this is an issue that affects terminally ill people and their families up that affects terminally ill people and theirfamilies up and down that affects terminally ill people and their families up and down the country so we are campaigning so people don't have to join membership organisations in switzerland to access this choice, so people don't have to take matters into their own hands in this country, which we know hundreds do every year, and so that people don't have to suffer at the

end of their lives even when they do have access to the best possible care. the current law isn't working in this country and i think esther rantzen is right to recognise that and call for a parliamentary debate on this issue so we can make it safer and more compassionate. ladle on this issue so we can make it safer and more compassionate. we do have periodic— safer and more compassionate. we do have periodic debates _ safer and more compassionate. we do have periodic debates over _ safer and more compassionate. we do have periodic debates over this - have periodic debates over this issue and it is understandably extremely emotive, isn't it? critics say legalising assisted dying is a slippery slope and people could try to end their lives before they should, in some people's opinion, or could be pressured into it by relatives. what are the safeguards that could or should be put in place to protect people? that could or should be put in place to protect purple?— that could or should be put in place to protect people? these arguments don't line up — to protect people? these arguments don't line up of the _ to protect people? these arguments don't line up of the evidence - to protect people? these arguments don't line up of the evidence we - don't line up of the evidence we have on the jurisdictions that have already changed the law. they are upfront and transparent so doctors assess people to make sure they have assess people to make sure they have a terminal illness and mental capacity and they explain to people what their potential other options are for end—of—life care and they

are for end—of—life care and they are empowered to make decisions about how their lives end. if you contrast that with the current law and any concerns about safety have to be made looking at the current law, there are no protections and it is incredibly dangerous that we outsource this problem to switzerland or turn a blind eye to dying people ending their own lives in this country. we aren't providing transparent choices to people which is cruel, and we are doing it in a way that comes with no oversight, regulation, no scrutiny of people's decision—making so i don't accept arguments that that is a threat, the assisted dying. it is a problem with the current law, the blanket ban on assisted dying and it is why we need legislation in place to offer people the choice but to offer them protection as well. i’m the choice but to offer them protection as well.— the choice but to offer them protection as well. i'm sure those in switzerland _ protection as well. i'm sure those in switzerland to _ protection as well. i'm sure those in switzerland to back _ protection as well. i'm sure those in switzerland to back digne - protection as well. i'm sure those in switzerland to back digne tass would say it is regulated and a safe choice in their view. but we did here a few months ago from baroness finlay who said our doctors are under enough pressure without having to make these kind of life or death

decisions and they don't have enough resources to be able to fulfil this in the uk. —— to back foot. i resources to be able to fulfil this in the uk. -- to back foot. i think they have — in the uk. -- to back foot. i think they have completely _ in the uk. -- to back foot. i think they have completely missed - in the uk. -- to back foot. i think they have completely missed the | they have completely missed the point of this debate and this is about empowering dying people to exercise choices in their lives. —— to back dignitas. we empower people throughout their lives to exercise choices and this is about extending that to the end of life too, and the vast majority are people in this country that we see from people in this country in polls, good end—of—life care includes assisted dying. but we also see is the opinion of the medical profession has shifted dramatically recently and many have dropped their opposition and that is why 2024 will be a year that has debates across the british isles. ladle be a year that has debates across the british isles.— the british isles. we are out of time but thank _ the british isles. we are out of time but thank you _ the british isles. we are out of time but thank you so - the british isles. we are out of time but thank you so much i the british isles. we are out of| time but thank you so much for the british isles. we are out of - time but thank you so much for being with us from nottingham. to stay with us from nottingham. to stay with us from nottingham. to stay with us here on bbc news where there is plenty more to come. —— do stay with us.

hello there. it's been a wet day for many southern parts of the uk, 30 to 40 millimetres of rain falling in the brecon beacons and over the moors of the south west of england. and for a while we had this shield of cloud across england and wales, but that cloud and the rain is continuing to push away south east. it's clearing the south east eventually early this evening and following that, we've got some cooler air. we've got westerly winds bringing clearer spells and some showers. those showers will continue overnight. and again, they could be a touch wintry over the mountain tops in scotland. later in the night, some cloud will come in from the atlantic, bringing some rain to northern ireland and western scotland, but a bit chilly overnight in the northeast of scotland. and typical temperatures elsewhere will be around six or seven degrees. heading into wednesday, and we're going to find cloud increasing through the day. some outbreaks of rain mainly for the northern half of the uk and most of the rain probably over the hills in the west where it's going to be quite misty and murky as well.

but it's milder air that's heading our way on wednesday. temperatures typically ten or 11 degrees. but i think it's going to be turning out to be quite a windy day on wednesday. there are stronger winds, though, to come overnight and into thursday. the winds will be strengthening and that brings the risk of some travel disruption as well. the reason we've got stronger winds overnight and into thursday is because that deep area of low pressure is going to run to the north of scotland and then head into scandinavia. and we've got the really strong winds wrapped around the low. so for many parts of the country on thursday, the winds will be gusting 50 or 60 miles an hour, but those winds could be touching 80 miles an hour in northern scotland, particularly for the northern isles. and it's going to be a day of sunshine and showers in scotland. again, they could be wintry over the hills of scotland. some sunshine and showers further south, although wales and southern england could stick into cloudy air with a little rain from time to time. temperatures here may reach 13 degrees, but it's going to be colder out further north, only six in the north east of scotland. now, our area of low pressure is going to head away into scandinavia and that's going to draw down this storm surge on thursday night.

some big waves and rough seas, and even the risk of some coastal flooding around some north sea coasts. at least, though, we are not seeing spring tides. that would make things much worse. the winds will tend to ease during friday. we're still in chillier air with some sunshine and some showers before milder air arrives later on.

live from london. this is bbc news.

volcano erupts in a peninsula in iceland after weeks of intense seismic activity. as aid agencies voiced frustration and worsening conditions forcibly siblings in gaza, the un security council prepares to vote on a new ceasefire resolution. this is the seen live in new york where members of the council are grappling with the language that they can agree on. ukrainian president apollo dima zelensky prepares to hold an end of year news conference as the war in his country grinds towards the two—year mark. and a quarter of a million people flee the new war in sudan and aid workers say it is a humanitarian catastrophe. worker says humanitarian catastrophe. hello, i'm samantha simmonds. welcome to verified live — three hours of breaking

stories, and checking out the truth behind them.