university on thursday, killing 1a people == university on thursday, killing 14 ea .l~. , university on thursday, killing 14 ea .l~_ , , , a university on thursday, killing 14 -eo-l- , , h people -- this is the scene. local olice people -- this is the scene. local police have _ people -- this is the scene. local police have named _ people -- this is the scene. local police have named the _ people -- this is the scene. local police have named the killer - people -- this is the scene. local police have named the killer is i police have named the killer is david kozak and police are investigating his social media posts. the us says it's now ready to support a crucial un resolution on gaza — hours after the vote is delayed for a fourth time. the british teenager missing for six years before he was found in france has spoken for the first time after returning to the uk. and tickets at the ready... it's el gordo. spain grinds to a halt for its christmas mega lottery — with almost 2.6 billion euros up for grabs. hello, i'm nicky schiller. we start in the czech republic where the government declared that saturday will be a national day of mourning following a mass shooting in which at least 14 people were killed and dozens more injured. the shooting happened in the heart

of prague as the gunman opened fire at charles university's faculty of arts — in the city's old town — a major tourist attraction. authorities evacuated staff and students, who were told to stay put and lock themselves inside classrooms. as you can see from these pcictures, some climbed on to rooftops and window ledges to escape the gunfire. police said the gunman was a 24—year—old student who's been named by local media as david kozak. the shooting is the deadliest in the czech republic's history — in a country where gun crime is relatively rare. sarah rainsford reports from prague. the centre of prague was suddenly transformed into a major crime scene. armed police rushed towards a university building as a gunman stalked the corridors there. at this point, he was still on the loose. and these were the scenes at charles university.

desperate students clinging for their lives to a ledge. their fear of falling overtaken by the fear of the gunman metres away on the roof. as the shooting began, students had to barricade themselves into classrooms. told to hide with the lights off. down below, crowds scattered in fear, ordered to clear the area and take cover. although many had no idea what danger they were running from. prague is full of tourists this time of year. some described hearing shots fired and panic. multiple ambulances were sent to the scene. some of those injured are in a very serious condition. so the gunshots, gunshots weren't obvious at first. i remember the, i remember the first one i sort of looked atjoe and i said, "is that...?" almost questioning myself. and then you heard, and you saw people running and heard a few screams and you thought, it can't be. you tell yourself, almost,

you see it on the news, you always think, "i won't be." you always think you're not going to be in it, in that situation. and then you hear another one and another one, and we're like, and then we hear the police sirens, and then it becomes clear that we need to get out of here. the attacker has been named now by local media as david kozak. they say he made disturbing posts leading up to the shooting on a social media account. translation: l have no - understanding of the motive yet. i'm talking about a high performing student who got inspired by another heinous act elsewhere in the world. the czech government announced that the man behind the attack had been eliminated, as they put it. his father had been found dead at his home earlier in the day. the motive isn't clear yet, but the government says there is no link to international terrorism. it is the worst shooting in this country in decades and a huge shock.

that was sarah rainsford reporting from prague. live now to michal tomes, a staff writer for denik newspaper in prague. he made it to the scene after yesterday's attack. thank you forjoining us. we have seen pictures of candles and flowers at the scene, can you describe what it was like when you arrived yesterday?— it was like when you arrived esterda 7~ ., , , yesterday? well, at first nobody knew what _ yesterday? well, at first nobody knew what was _ yesterday? well, at first nobody knew what was going _ yesterday? well, at first nobody knew what was going on - yesterday? well, at first nobody| knew what was going on because yesterday? well, at first nobody - knew what was going on because the city centre was quickly closed by the police, people couldn't go anywhere and the subway station was closed, the tramways had to take a detour, so people were kind of shocked at what was going on that later in the day police announced that there are several victims of the shooting and in the evening they confirmed i4 the shooting and in the evening they confirmed 14 dead people plus the

shooting. at first confusion and later of course shock, because this is something that does not happen in prague. is something that does not happen in prauue. ., ., , , prague. how real shootings in the czech republic? _ prague. how real shootings in the czech republic? very, _ prague. how real shootings in the czech republic? very, very - prague. how real shootings in the czech republic? very, very rare. l prague. how real shootings in the i czech republic? very, very rare. the last big shooting _ czech republic? very, very rare. the last big shooting was _ czech republic? very, very rare. the last big shooting was in _ czech republic? very, very rare. the last big shooting was in 2015 - czech republic? very, very rare. the last big shooting was in 2015 when i last big shooting was in 2015 when an elderly man decided to shoot up a restaurant and eight people died. i think this is a different story because the shooter was a young man and this was not his first murder, as you mentioned in the story. he killed his father sooner in the day and also police announced that he may be linked to the murder of a man and a small child on friday last week. ,., . and a small child on friday last week. . ., ., week. do the police at the moment have any idea _ week. do the police at the moment have any idea of _ week. do the police at the moment have any idea of a _ week. do the police at the moment have any idea of a motive - week. do the police at the moment have any idea of a motive for i week. do the police at the moment have any idea of a motive for this? |

have any idea of a motive for this? well, the police president talked about the possibility of a link at some connection to the russian... the situation in russia in december, that he may be inspired by the massive shooting in russia. but this information, we very closely watch them and police followed his telegram account that belonged to the shooter, but according to the latest information on this telegram account probably didn't even belong to the shooter, so this information cannot be confirmed.— to the shooter, so this information cannot be confirmed. there is a day of mourning — cannot be confirmed. there is a day of mourning in _ cannot be confirmed. there is a day of mourning in the _ cannot be confirmed. there is a day of mourning in the country - cannot be confirmed. there is a day l of mourning in the country tomorrow, what is the mood like this morning? of course, it is a few days before christmas, usually prague is a bit emptier on friday but i had a feeling that prague is even emptier

today, i don't know whether it is because of christmas and family already being on holiday or whether it is because of the shooting yesterday, but definitely in the city centre yesterday the mood was very sad, the christmas markets were empty and tomorrow we can expect more events that people will remember. there are already places with candles near the university and we can expect politicians to go to the streets tomorrow. it is just that the time before christmas is very hard for everybody.- very hard for everybody. michal tomes, thank _ very hard for everybody. michal tomes, thank you _ very hard for everybody. michal tomes, thank you very - very hard for everybody. michal tomes, thank you very much. l very hard for everybody. michal. tomes, thank you very much. the prime minister hasjust tomes, thank you very much. the prime minister has just visited the scene and you can see people are still laying flowers and candles outside the university were that shooting happened yesterday. we will keep you updated on the latest throughout the day on bbc news.

the united nations security council has again delayed a vote on a resolution calling for a halt to the fighting in gaza. it's the fourth time it's been postponed this week. it has been delayed since monday — as member states try to work out a draft that the united states won't veto. our united nations correspondent, nada tawfik, has the latest from new york. what i heard from one diplomat is that they've made more progress today than they have all week and that they are narrowing the gaps. what we have received is the latest draft resolution, and it is different in key aspects from the last proposal. now, instead of calling for a suspension of hostilities, the draft now calls for urgent steps to immediately allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access with creating conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities. so the wording there toned down from the original draft. the resolution on the table now also appoints a senior humanitarian

and reconstruction coordinator that will then appoint a un mechanism to try to speed up aid into gaza. so it's all quite a mouthful, but these are the proposals on the table. this was made to try to prevent a us veto to get the united states on board with this resolution. nada tawfik at the united nations. after the meeting ended the us ambassador to the united nations, linda thomas—greenfield, spoke to reporters. we have that resolution now, we are ready to vote on it, and it is a resolution that will bring humanitarian assistance to those in need, it will support the priority that egypt has in ensuring that we put a mechanism on the ground that will support humanitarian assistance, and we are ready to vote for it.

the us ambassador at the un. let's cross to jo floto, our middle east bureau chief, joining me live from jerusalem thank you forjoining me. how significant with this resolution be if the un signs up to eight? i think at the moment _ if the un signs up to eight? i think at the moment we _ if the un signs up to eight? i think at the moment we are _ if the un signs up to eight? i think at the moment we are seeing i if the un signs up to eight? i think at the moment we are seeing in i if the un signs up to eight? i think l at the moment we are seeing in new york diplomacy meeting reality. what we have here are two sides violently opposed to each other but with very different views on when the next ceasefire should happen. hamas and the other palestinian factions fighting in gaza have come out very publicly in association with egyptian mediators to say there will be no pause or negotiation for a transfer of hostages unless the

conflict finishes, unless the ceasefire is permanent. the israeli side say they will not agree to that because they are fighting an enemy who inflicted a huge amount of suffering and damage in our country on october the 7th, it continues to fire rockets into israel. israeli prime minister says, we will not stop until hamas is destroyed. but israelis are open to a longer ceasefire in exchange for hostages. but we have to be realistic, last night an israeli senior official told us they are not in negotiation at the moment although they are having useful talks with mediators. the two sides are very, very far apart as in the middle we had 2.5 million people in gaza, 1.9 million of them displaced from their homes and the un is reporting severe hunger and disease spreading among those people, not to mention the death toll is climbing as a military operation continues every day. haifa

operation continues every day. how much aid is — operation continues every day. how much aid is getting on at the moment? we know quite a bit gutted during the pause in fighting, but since that resume are any trucks getting in, day to day?— since that resume are any trucks getting in, day to day? trucks are auoin on, getting in, day to day? trucks are going on. they — getting in, day to day? trucks are going on. they vary _ getting in, day to day? trucks are going on, they vary day _ getting in, day to day? trucks are going on, they vary day to - getting in, day to day? trucks are going on, they vary day to day i getting in, day to day? trucks are| going on, they vary day to day how many go on, sometimes up to 200 per day and then that flow goes down. the un is saying we need to speed this up as if israel was to open fully its main terminal with gaza on the israeli side it could be fulfilled. currently there is a very slow and cumbersome operation to check every single truck of aid which is controlled by israel, israel says that it is necessary because it does not want anything going to hamas which would help it prosecute its war and at the moment there is not enough age going through by anyone's assessment apart from israel. israel says there is plenty of food in gaza, the markets

have food and the un could speed—up a supply of drugs for inspection, something the un flatly rejects and says it is not true. ja something the un flatly re'ects and says it is not truei says it is not true. 10 floto in jerusalem. — says it is not true. 10 floto in jerusalem, thank _ says it is not true. 10 floto in jerusalem, thank you. i we can speak now to sam bloch, director of emergency response for world central kitchen in gaza , which has been working to provide meals for citizens inside gaza. you are in rafah in the south of gaza, what is the situation like where you are? irate gaza, what is the situation like where you are?— gaza, what is the situation like where you are? we are in rafah, workin: where you are? we are in rafah, working both _ where you are? we are in rafah, working both in _ where you are? we are in rafah, working both in northern - where you are? we are in rafah, working both in northern and i working both in northern and southern gaza but in southern gaza we have seen an incredible condensing of the population, the whole southern part of gaza normally has around 280,000 people living here and we now have well over a million, so there are people absolutely everywhere seeking some sense of safety, we are feeding as

many of them as we can, currently providing enough food for one meal a day for about 22% of the population, but that is obviously not even close to enough. we are doing all we can, we have lots of trucks in the pipeline, around 400 have entered gaza already, and we have a lot waiting on the egyptian side to come in. there is food on the markets, lots of little street vendor lots of which are reselling humanitarian food which has been donated, it has become an economy, you sell or trade some things you receive, but all of the food coming from within gaza is in very, very short demand and while there is food in those markets it is

three to four times what the average cost would have been, there is a severe scarcity. in addition, some people may know there has been very, very little propane, means for people to cook food. here in rafah, southern gaza, every time you drive anywhere, every day you see less and less trees, so people are reverting to anything possible to create heat. the world central kitchen is bringing in alternatives, we are bringing in alternatives, we are bringing in alternatives, we are bringing in an alternative to propane cooking stoves and fuel resources. ., propane cooking stoves and fuel resources-— propane cooking stoves and fuel resources. ., ., , ., ., resources. you mentioned you are in the south of — resources. you mentioned you are in the south of gaza, _ resources. you mentioned you are in the south of gaza, what _ resources. you mentioned you are in the south of gaza, what is _ resources. you mentioned you are in the south of gaza, what is the i the south of gaza, what is the situation like in the north? is it much worse?—

situation like in the north? is it much worse? , ., ., , much worse? the reports are really, reall hard much worse? the reports are really, really hard to _ much worse? the reports are really, really hard to handle. _ much worse? the reports are really, really hard to handle. i _ much worse? the reports are really, really hard to handle. i will- much worse? the reports are really, really hard to handle. i will be i really hard to handle. i will be going up to gaza city tomorrow, especially in the hospitals, we are getting reports from the hospitals that they would prefer water over medical attention because that is the immediate need, so we will be taking food and water. it has been trickling up, it is very challenging to get the food into southern gaza, to get the food into southern gaza, to get the food into southern gaza, to get it to the hospitals in northern gaza it is extremely challenging. we were able to, during the last ceasefire, to get as much as we possibly could to northern gaza and gaza city. pare as we possibly could to northern gaza and gaza city.— as we possibly could to northern gaza and gaza city. are you hopeful ofthat gaza and gaza city. are you hopeful of that happening — gaza and gaza city. are you hopeful of that happening at _ gaza and gaza city. are you hopeful of that happening at any _ gaza and gaza city. are you hopeful of that happening at any point i gaza and gaza city. are you hopeful of that happening at any point in i of that happening at any point in the nearfuture? of that happening at any point in the near future?— of that happening at any point in the near future? hopeful is a big word. the near future? hopeful is a big word- things _ the near future? hopeful is a big word. things are _ the near future? hopeful is a big word. things are changing i the near future? hopeful is a big word. things are changing dailyl the near future? hopeful is a big i word. things are changing daily so we have to be addressing every

situation from day to day, moment to moment. we have multiple contingency plans every single day of every action that we do, so hopeful but also constant planning and back—up plans. also constant planning and back-up lans. �* . ., ., plans. sam bloch, director of emergency — plans. sam bloch, director of emergency response - plans. sam bloch, director of emergency response will- plans. sam bloch, director of. emergency response will world central kitchen, thank you for joining us. let's look at some other stories making news. ukraine's capital — kyiv — suffered a russian drone attack early on friday. kyiv�*s mayor reported strikes on several residential districts. at least two residential builsings in the city were struck by falling debris during the attack. at least one person has been taken to hospital. the strike marks the sixth drone attack on kyiv this month. the american actor vin diesel has been accused of sexual assault by his former personal assistant. in a lawsuit, asta jonasson claims the incident happened during the filming

of fast five in 2010. a lawyerfor the actor, who's real name is mark sinclair, said his client "denies this claim in its entirety." eurostar says it is operating a normal timetable today — after a last minute strike by french eurotunnel workers caused the cancellation of 30 services between london, paris and brussels on thursday. eurostar said it had reached an agreement with trade unions. they've said they'll operate an additional two trains per day, each day until christmas day to help the affected passengers. you're live with bbc news. the britih teenager missing for six years before he was found in france has spoken for the first time after returning to the uk. alex batty has now given an interview to the sun newspaper explaining how he started to have doubts about his nomadic lifestyle. he was just 11 when he went missing in 2017 with his mum and grandad. with more on this, we can speak to our reporter nickjohnson from the newsroom.

what has alex batty been saying? everything we have heard about alex batty and his story over the past six years has been rumour, hearsay, speculation, through second—hand information. alex is now 17, this is the first time we have heard from him directly and he has spoken to the sun newspaper and describe the off grid lifestyle he has been living with his mum and grandfather in france and spain. he said initially he thought the experience was amazing, he got to go to the beach all the time and not to school, but as he got older he had to take on manual labourjobs in exchange forfood and to take on manual labourjobs in exchange for food and rent and became increasingly frustrated, isolated and disillusioned with a nomadic way of life. he talked about seriously contemplating his return to the uk over the past two or three years, and as we know, earlier this

month he slipped out of the french farmhouse in the middle of the night and was eventually picked up by a delivery driver on the side of the road. our delivery driver spoke to the bbcjust after this happened and said that alex told him he had been walking along those roads in the pyrenees in southern france for four days and four nights, sleeping by day, walking by night. alex said in an attempt to remain undetected. speaking to the sun alex now admits he misled the police in terms of the details about the logistics of the geography of that journey details about the logistics of the geography of thatjourney in an attempt to protect his mum and grandfather. speaking to the sun, alex described his mum is a great person but not a great mum. thank ou.

now if you haven't bought your christmas tree yet, well you d better get a move on. but before you do ? have you thought about the environmental impact? millions of young trees are being harvested every year from plantations which in most cases are being treated with chemicals to encourage growth. in france, where the growing area is the burgundy mountains, local activists are demanding that we change our habits and stop the christmas tree monoculture. hugh schofield reports. for some people up here in the hills, christmas trees are not an ancient festive symbol, but an ecological danger. in this small plantation, you can see the effects of chemical treatment. the ground beneath is dead. good for the trees — no competition, no predators — bad for wildlife, bad for rivers. for muriel, a local farmer and activist, the conclusion is clear — we must wean ourselves off our seasonal need for baby firs. translation: we all- remember our childhood - the decorations, the smell of the christmas tree.

but, come on, times have changed. we are in an ecological transition, a climate transition. everything that pollutes has got to stop. more than a million saplings are being cut every year in the burgundy hills and then transported in lorries down to cities like here in paris, where there is evidence that consumers increasingly are asking questions about how christmas trees are cultivated and the potential consequences for the environment. translation: the environment is definitely part of my - decision, but it's tough. do i buy a tree which will last for two weeks, or something plastic, which has to come from a factory? translation: where they grow the trees, i guarantee they're i using a heap of chemicals, and that's land that could be used for other purposes. back in the burgundy hills, that growing awareness among consumers is having an effect. here at one of the biggest producers two weeks before christmas, and it's the end of the rush.

most of this year's trees have been netted and dispatched. it's a moment to show off what they say is the progress that has been made towards more responsible cultivation here. for example, by reducing treatments, they've ensured there's still life among the trees. translation: we've made huge progress, and today our- plantations have become a refuge for biodiversity. there are plants and animals. it's out of respect for this beautiful countryside, which we love too. producers argue that christmas trees take up only i% of viable agricultural land in this area. that's true, but it's also true that the cultivation is almost entirely non—organic and that inevitably has some consequences on the natural world all around. hugh schofield, bbc news in the burgundy hills. spain is kicking off its festive period today with the world's richest lottery.

large queues formed outside of kiosks ahead of the nationally televised draw for the christmas lottery, which features children singing out the winning numbers and matching prizes. the lottery will dish out more than two and a half billion euros. the top prize, known as el gordo — or the �*fat one' — pays out 400,000 euros to the winning ticket holders. our spain correspondent guy hedgecoe is following the draw. as they always do at this time of year, there's a huge amount of expectation, people buying tickets often for weeks ahead of the draw. and what they tend to do is they often gather together with friends or family or colleagues from work in order to buy strips of tickets, because they're quite expensive. these tickets, a single ticket is 20 euros, a ten series ticket is 200 euros. so what they do is they gather together with friends and buy them. and then the idea is

that they share out the winnings if they do actually win. and you mention there that this is the biggest prize draw in the world, 2.6 billion euros this year, we're told. people do get very excited about it and they do follow the draw, this televised draw throughout the morning, which takes place throughout the morning, over several hours very closely. and this is very much a christmas tradition, as much as christmas carols or christmas trees. so there's a lot of excitement this morning here in madrid and across spain. this is the scene live as the trial continues. it takes about four hours in total. . ., ., in total. the children are drawing the numbers _ in total. the children are drawing the numbers and _ in total. the children are drawing the numbers and they _ in total. the children are drawing the numbers and they will i in total. the children are drawing the numbers and they will sing . in total. the children are drawing i the numbers and they will sing then, we will keep you updated. hello, there. we have seen the longest night of the year. it's the winter solstice today. and from today onwards, daylight hours are set to turn longer, so some more sunlight around.

but today, we've typically got somewhere between around aboutjust shy of 6 and just shy of 8 hours of daylight. storm pia has now cleared away towards the east. we've still got a weather front across us which is easing its way east. quite a few isobars as well. so a windy day once again, mild for most of us with a lot of cloud around. and we've got patchy rain for northern ireland, southern scotland, through northern england down towards east anglia, some brightness developing later on for southern england and south wales too. but it's across the north—east of scotland where we've got that colder air in place. blustery conditions, we could see gusts in fact about 40, even 50 miles per hour and exposure in the north west. but temperatures in single figures in the north—east, some sleet and some hill snow across the north—east of mainland scotland, even to low levels. for a time we could see some sleet and snow towards shetland. through tonight the rain continues to pile in to the north and it's for a time it'll turn to snow, even to low levels across parts of north—east scotland. some icy conditions developing here as well.

so really cold across the far north—east. you can see the blue colours, but a real contrast for the rest of us. it's very mild as we start off the weekend with a lot of cloud generally and still we've got the breeze, and patchy outbreaks of rain. so through saturday, this weather front�*s going to be quite slow moving i think across parts of scotland. eventually it will push its way northwards and the colder airjust holding on in the far north there. but the yellow colours that shows that milder air that is in place for most of us. so saturday, some rain and some snow for a time. some icy conditions in the far north—east. probably turning back to rain later in the day. that rain also piling in further south across scotland and the odd spot further south, as well. but much of southern and eastern england looking dry, breezy but reasonably bright. temperatures are mild, 12 or 13 for most of us. into christmas eve on sunday and it looks like this area of cloud and rain just pushes a bit further south, northern ireland, northern england, wales seeing a bit of rain as well. further north, though, a return to sunny spells and a few blustery showers. so it's still unsettled. it's still mild. in fact, very mild. 15 could make it one of the warmest christmas eves on record. into christmas day and it still looks like it's unsettled.

could be a bit of rain in both the north and the south. things do look a bit colder, a bit brighter by boxing day.

this is bbc news, the headlines... the us says it's now ready to support a crucial un resolution on gaza — hours after the vote is delayed for a fourth time.

the uk government is rowing back plans to hike the minimum salary amount needed for visas for foreign family members and sportswear giant, nike�*s shares slump after it promised to cut costs by $2 billion dollars in three years. let's get more on one of our top stories — the us has indicated that it is ready to support the latest draft of a un security council resolution about the war in gaza. but the us ambassador to the united nations, linda thomas greenfield, has not clarified if she would vote yes or abstain. the wording of the resolution has been significantly watered down. it's the fourth time the vote has been postponed this week. it has been delayed since monday — as member states have been trying to work out a draft

that the united states won't veto.