and islamichhad operatives who've been captured in gaza. rebecca welch makes history, becoming the first woman premier league referee, as she takes charge at this afternoon's match between fulham and burnley. and a piece of street art by the elusive banksy was removed shortly after being unveiled. police in london say they are investigating a report of theft. we start in the czech republic. a minute's silence has been held for the 1a people shot dead by a student at a university in prague. thursday's attack also left dozens injured. the czech prime minister has described the "pain and sorrow" of an entire societyjust before christmas. the gunman killed himself when surrounded by police. from prague, sarah rainsford

sent this report. bells ring a nation paused today to remember the victims of an attack people here can't make sense of, that has brought pain and suffering. church bells rang out across the czech republic to mark the moment. to honour those killed when a student attacked his own university, shooting in the corridors and classrooms. so far, we know three of the dead, including lenka hlavkova, a teacher who was 49. here at the arts faculty that was attacked, some have personal connections to the victims. a friend of these women survived by locking herself into a classroom to hide. translation: she cowered under the table. _ i saw her yesterday and felt sorry for her. she was still shaking.

shouting images from a body camera show the police hunt for the gunman inside charles university. at this point the 24—year—old was prowling the corridors above. we're told most of his victims were female, but we have no idea of his motive. in the end, he turned his gun on himself. many people were seriously injured, carried out of the building by police. so i asked the interior minister, did he think mistakes had been made? when i see, really, the timeline of this crime, i really don't see any empty places where the police could work better than they did. this attack has not only brought horror here to prague, it is a national tragedy. there are still many questions to answer about how exactly it was possible and how to prevent anything like it in the future.

the mass shooting is the worst this country has ever known, and it targeted young students and teachers who should have been returning home to their families now for christmas. sarah rainsford, bbc news, prague. israel says it's interrogating hundreds of hamas and islamichhad fighters it's captured in gaza. according to israel, some of them had been hiding among civilians before surrendering. meanwhile the hamas run health ministry in gaza says more than 200 people have been killed there in the last 2a hours alone. hamas is designated as a terrorist organisation by the uk government. lucy williamson reports. in gaza, this is the new normal. drone strikes in the border town of rafah, emptying the local market. 17—year—old jo, filming on his phone, still clutching his bag of shopping, and calling on god for protection. america has blocked un calls for a ceasefire.

israel says it needs to keep fighting to keep up the pressure on hamas. if you want a ceasefire, that, from israel's perspective, can only happen with the release of hostages. as you know, hamas continues to hold over 100 hostages. there is a chance, because they want that ceasefire, they need that ceasefire, they will agree to the hostages. but to be frank, had we agreed to the un secretary—general�*s proposal over a month ago for this unilateral ceasefire, we would never have got the 110 hostages out that we did in november. israel's army said this week it had killed tens of hamas fighters in an ambush near gaza city. and that it is preparing to expand operations to new areas in the south. israel is keen to show it is making progress against hamas. its security forces say 700 palestinian fighters have been taken to israel for questioning.

200 of them in the past week. but palestinian groups are still firing rockets into israel, and there is no sign of the hamas leaders israel blames for the 7th of october attacks. strikes in khan younis yesterday reportedly killed around 50 people. gaza's hamas run government says most of those killed in the war are women and children. mass funerals are held daily at hospital morgue. "the mask of humanity is falling. what is going on in the corridors of the un security council is nothing more than theatre and farce. it confirms the continued murder and extermination of civilians. this is a genocide." israelis were told this war would bring security. to gazans, it is bringing the opposite. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. the un special envoy to yemen says the warring sides in the long—running conflict have agreed to engage in a ceasefire

to end the fighting. hans grundberg said he welcomed the breakthrough, adding that a nationwide ceasefire would improve living conditions in the war—torn country. in a statement mr grundberg added that the parties had agreed to join preparations for the resumption of an inclusive un—led political process. in the wake of the conflict in the middle east there have been reports of a rise in anti—semitism and islamophobic incidents across the uk. between october 7 and december 13 community security trust, a organisation campaigning against antisemitism in the uk said incidents had increased by over 500 %. tell mama, an organisation that supports victims of anti—muslim hatred, say they have recorded a seven—fold rise in hate incidents over the same period. earlier i spoke to zarah sultana, labour mp for coventry south, about the rise of islamphobia.

we have seen home office data, saying that religious hate crimes are targeting the muslim community. there is a survey that also reported that anti—muslim hate crimes have doubled in the last decade. so, this is horrific. we need to stamp out both islamophobia and anti—semitism. as an mp of muslim background i have experienced a wave of hatred directed towards me, especially speaking up for the rights of the palestinian people, i have had people accusing me of supporting hamas even though i have repeatedly condemned hamas. i have been told to go home even though i was born and raised in this country. it has been deeply horrific

for so many people. live now to michael wegier the chief executive of the board of deputies of britishjews. i was looking at the data. it says, according to the community security trust that anti—semitic incidents have increased by more than 500%. i would say that the community is feeling more vulnerable now than it has at any time probably since the end of world war ii. 0ne has at any time probably since the end of world war ii. one can barely go into a jewish conversation whether in a synagogue or community organisation or around a sabbath table and the conversation will dwell on anti—semitism. there is real concern. alongside that concern we are a resilient community and we

will continue to live ourjewish lives to our synagogues, our organisations, our schools, the best way that we can. in organisations, our schools, the best way that we can-— way that we can. in what form of these incidents _ way that we can. in what form of these incidents taking _ way that we can. in what form of these incidents taking place? - way that we can. in what form of these incidents taking place? in | these incidents taking place? in person, someone shouting insults, and one abuse? tell me more about the scale and the form of abuse that people are receiving. you make sure. in numbers terms can be mentioned correctly, 500% increase since this time last year that has been broken down into 2093 incidents in which this is a combination of physical assaults, damage to property, verbal threats, abusive behaviour, and a huge amount of online abuse as well. what you see think can be done to protect people from this kind of hate crime? set on protect people from this kind of hate crime? se— protect people from this kind of hate crime? set on the good side, let's say that _ hate crime? set on the good side, let's say that government - hate crime? set on the good side, let's say that government and - hate crime? set on the good side, let's say that government and the | let's say that government and the opposition have both been absolutely rock solid in their support and as

the british jewish rock solid in their support and as the britishjewish community think we feel very privileged to be living in this country. the primary responsibility for dealing with anti—semitism is not dues. it is people who are notjewish. i would say, we would call on anybody in this country he wants thejewish community to be a proud integral connected part of british society, they must stand up against anti—semitism. 0f they must stand up against anti—semitism. of course, we as the jewish community look after ourselves. we had the wonderful csd that you mentioned at the start of this interview which provides protection for the jewish community but, ultimately, it is the responsibility of british institutions, governments, the police and people in the public to call it out when they see it. since we asked our— call it out when they see it. since we asked our other _ call it out when they see it. since we asked our other guest - call it out when they see it. since we asked our other guest about | call it out when they see it. since we asked our other guest about her personal experiences and she shared some when it comes to a samba fabia, i wonder if you have experienced any anti—semitic hate in the past few

weeks yourself as well? fin a weeks yourself as well? on a ersonal weeks yourself as well? on a personal level, _ weeks yourself as well? on a personal level, i— weeks yourself as well? on a personal level, i have - weeks yourself as well? on a personal level, i have not. i weeks yourself as well? on a - personal level, i have not. people in my happened if i was to look at the incoming e—mails and twitter, facebook page that come into the board of course it is full of horrific anti—semitic abuse but it has not been aimed at me personally. the chief executive of the board of deputies of britishjewish people, thank you for bringing us up to date. an incredible story. finally this half hour to a story that is one of the most read today on the bbc news website and app. and it's quite a remarkable story. a mother from alabama in the united states with rare double womb gives birth to two babies in two days. kelsey hatcher delivered one daughter on tuesday and a second on wednesday after a total of 20 hours in labour. experts say it's a "one in a million" pregnancy, a double uterus affects 0.3 % of women.

kelsey and husband caleb called them "miracle babies", thanking the medics at the university of alabama hospital. the girls are described as fraternal twins, with rare separate birthdays. earlier, i spoke to dr shweta patel who's assistant professor in the obstetrics and gynecology department at uab and was one of the doctors who helped manage the delivery. kelsey was coming in for her first new visit and we knew she had a condition with a double uterus. that is when we found out that not only was she pregnant in one uterus, she was also pregnant any other uterus. that must be incredibly rare. it is very, very rare. that is something that obstetricians go through their whole careers and never see. how that is actually work biologically? biologically her uterus developed in an atypical way. a normal uterus forms by having two ducts that fuse together. hers did not fuse and that led

to two separate uterus is and two separate cervixs. she likely ovulated separately with separate eggs going down each uterus and spurn being fertilised separately as well, leading to two separate babies in each uterus. wow, that is incredible. but they didn't come out at the same time same day, so you now have twins that don't have the same birthday. no, they didn't. as most babies they had a mind of their own and one came... the first baby on the right uterus came in about ten hours later the baby came by c—section. and the babies have names and how is mum doing? mum is great and both babies are doing well. the baby on the right is called roxy and the baby on the left side, who came by c—section, is called rebel. appropriately named.

now with news of some history being made in the premier league and the rest of the sport, here's 0llie at the bbc sports centre. hello from the bbc sport centre. the manchester united manager eric ten hag says his team have to stay calm and stick together after another defeat. they lost 2—0 at west ham and it's nowjust one win in five premier league matches in december back to back wins for david moyes side means that the hammer�*s move above united in the table into sixth jarod bowen scored the opener, his thirteenth of the season, inside the final 20 minutes and mohammed kudus ensured his side took all three points with a great strike shortly. united stay eighth for now with aston villa to come on tuesday. we didn't take our chances. we should have gone in the lead. but we did it in one moment.

i think the team played over a long period a good game but that game is over. 96 minutes today and you'll have to keep the focus. we had a tough week. one is a half 12 kick off. we had to juggle that around. we are disappointed but i had to save players for the game today and see if we could get three points and we have done that for. first keep going as a big thing. that is what i do and i want to keep building the team and making them better. rebecca welch has become the first female referee to take charge of a premier league match she was in the middle for the match at craven cottage between fulham and burnley. burnley won 2—0 to move off the bottom of the table tottenham are back into the top four

after beating everton 2—1 at home. spurs were 2—up inside the first 20 minutes with goals from richarlsion and son. andre gomes pulled one back for everton late on and spurs were hanging on at the end with guigelmo vicario pulling off an extraordinary save on the line it was an emotinally charged gamne at kenilworth road, luton were playing their first premier league game since their captain tom lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch at bournemouth last week. he is now recovering at home. andros townsend scored the only goal as they beat newcasrtle united 1—0 . nuno espirito santo's first game in charge of nottingham forest eneded in a 3—2 defeat at home to bournemouth. dominic solanke scored a hatrick with his winner coming in injury time. forest were down to 10 men from midway through the first half after willy boly was sent off for a second booking. the leaders arsenal kicmk off at liverpool in the next 15 minutes

this will decide who is top of the table for christmas. the gunners haven't won at anfield since 2012, when manager mikel arteta was playing for arsenal. they were 2—0 up last season, before liverpool fought back to get a 2 all draw. it's arguably the result that led to arsenal falling off in the title race, but arteta believes things can turn out differently this time: yeah, we have done it, in old trafford, we have done it in stamford bridge and many other places that we haven't, that is the next challenge, go there and win, and, you want to be at the top, you are going to have to go to those places and be dominant and win the games and that is what we will try to do. massive game. great. great to have them, great to meet them, we met obviously quite frequently, and, yeah. it's good. but we have to make sure we make it a proper home game,

a proper anfield experience, that is all i want. it's a big night for britain's anthonyjoshua as he gets ready to face 0tto valeen in a must—win heavyweight contest. joshua cut a lean and muscularfigure, weighing in at 17 stone 13 pounds. a win over sweden's valeen at the kingdom arena in riyadh could set up a long—awaited fight with deontay wilder who'll be fighting joseph parker on the same card on a blockbuster night of boxing. and that's all the sport for now. a work by the artist banksy has been removed from a london street as people looked on, less than an hour after it was confirmed as a genuine installation.

the piece of street art, a red stop sign with three military drones on it, was unveiled on the corner of commercialway, peckham, on friday. but within an hour it was removed by a man with bolt cutters as witnesses took photos, with this video emerging on social media. the incident has been reported to police by southwark council. 0ne gallery owner has said the artwork could be worth up to 500,000 pounds. live now to brentwood to speak with art dealer and gallery ownerjohn brandler, who has several of banksy�*s works, to get his thoughts on the sign being taken. welcome to bbc news. what do you make of all of this? i welcome to bbc news. what do you make of all of this?— make of all of this? i think it is fun. i make of all of this? i think it is fun- i think— make of all of this? i think it is fun. i think banksy _ make of all of this? i think it is fun. i think banksy put - make of all of this? i think it is fun. i think banksy put an - fun. i think banksy put an interesting piece. it is no coincidence he did it on a stop sign, he is making a comment about the war and what i find interesting is that within an hour somebody was able to turn up with bolt cutters,

remove it and the police haven't done anything about it because, the cameras we have in our world today, it is easy to trace people and, in fact, the front page of to the newspapers today is a big story, criminals snared by new face recognition camera so, you know, why haven't the police been able to say this is mr fred bloggs of whatever address something? i suspect that it was arranged for the publicity. banksy�*s political views are extremely well known. he owns, controls, runs, whatever it is, the hotel in palestine and you don't run a business in that part of the world without money going to various people. let without money going to various eo - le. . , ~ without money going to various neale, without money going to various --eole. , without money going to various neale, , . people. let me ask you this. we soke to people. let me ask you this. we spoke to a _ people. let me ask you this. we spoke to a counsellor— people. let me ask you this. we spoke to a counsellor earlier - people. let me ask you this. we l spoke to a counsellor earlier today

and i asked her, put it to her, is this a standby banksy because he often pulls the stunt as you say, to get attention and of course it drives up the value. she said that her people are expected banksy�*s people and it was definitelyjust as stolen. this is no stunt, she said. and what would you expect banksy�*s people to and what would you expect banksy's --eole to and what would you expect banksy's ”eole to ,., and what would you expect banksy's ”eoleto �* people to good point. but the council says _ people to good point. but the council says it, _ people to good point. but the council says it, too. _ people to good point. but the council says it, too. yeah, - people to good point. but the| council says it, too. yeah, but people to good point. but the - council says it, too. yeah, but that is another — council says it, too. yeah, but that is another conversation. _ council says it, too. yeah, but that is another conversation. , - council says it, too. yeah, but that is another conversation. , think - council says it, too. yeah, but that is another conversation. , think it i is another conversation. , think it is another conversation. , think it is worth? — is another conversation. , think it is worth? if _ is another conversation. , think it is worth? if it _ is another conversation. , think it is worth? if it had _ is another conversation. , think it is worth? if it had certification . is worth? if it had certification from banksy. _ is worth? if it had certification from banksy, which _ is worth? if it had certification from banksy, which it- is worth? if it had certification from banksy, which it bowed, | is worth? if it had certification - from banksy, which it bowed, because just retired. he has been known to give certification to sam. i would say between 400 and £500,000. thank ou for say between 400 and £500,000. thank you forjoining — say between 400 and £500,000. thank you forjoining us _ say between 400 and £500,000. thank you forjoining us here _ say between 400 and £500,000. thank you forjoining us here in _ say between 400 and £500,000. thank you forjoining us here in bbc news. thank you. british traditions, such as panto,

hogmanay and cheese rolling could be in line for united nations protected status. the government is beginning a consultation on which activities should go on an official list of the uk's cultural highlights, when it signs up to a un convention. live now to martyn knight who's been involved in panto for 30 years. this christmas he's playing dame in "beauty and the beast" at eastbourne's devonshire park theatre. i understand you are on stage and about half an hour so we better be quick with this interview. why should panto be considered a national treasure deemed by the un? well, pantomime has been going in united kingdom since the 17th century and originated in italy and greece and it is an art form that is very interactive, where the audience can engage with the actors on stage, it isjust a can engage with the actors on stage, it is just a captivating form of theatre. you get swept away by the

magic and charm of all these wonderfulfairy stories magic and charm of all these wonderful fairy stories and, you know, we stick to traditions as much as we can hear in devonshire park where we have, you know, the principal boy is played by a lady, which is what it was done like in the 16th and 17th century and it is invariably like the first experience of theatre that children have. and of theatre that children have. and it is uuite of theatre that children have. and it is quite peculiar a british thing. and i lived in the states i mentioned widow twankey to somebody and they gave me a very blank look. what difference do you think, though, getting in this un register, will make, to panto? ijust though, getting in this un register, will make, to panto?— will make, to panto? i 'ust think it will make, to panto? i 'ust think it will make, to panto? i 'ust think it will make sure h will make, to panto? i 'ust think it will make sure it h will make, to panto? ijust think it will make sure it never— will make, to panto? ijust think it will make sure it never dies - will make, to panto? ijust think it will make sure it never dies out. l will make sure it never dies out. because, you know, it is a tradition and most families love to come and escape. you know, the real world. and become, you know, introduce their children to the theatre and for them, also, to rekindle their memories of when they went

pantomime. it is a very lucrative form of performance for each and every theatre and in order to keep the british theatre is going pantomime needs to be done. [30 pantomime needs to be done. do younger audiences still appreciate panto in the same way? i was asking my knees the other day, she is only nine, she wanted to see a panto, and she kind of rolled her eyes. you make the majority of them, yeah. the majority of them that come get swept away in believing that if they wiggle their finger something good is going to happen and the baddie will be defeated. it is is going to happen and the baddie will be defeated.— will be defeated. it is lovely to see their faces _ will be defeated. it is lovely to see their faces every _ will be defeated. it is lovely to see their faces every year, - will be defeated. it is lovely to | see their faces every year, just come along and just enjoy two and a half hours of absolute fun, magic and charm and wit. bnd half hours of absolute fun, magic and charm and wit.— half hours of absolute fun, magic and charm and wit. and you think anto and charm and wit. and you think panto should _ and charm and wit. and you think panto should go _ and charm and wit. and you think panto should go on _ and charm and wit. and you think panto should go on this _ and charm and wit. and you think

panto should go on this list - and charm and wit. and you think| panto should go on this list ahead of things like morris dancing or cheese rolling, which are the other contenders to go on?— cheese rolling, which are the other contenders to go on? well, i mean, i definitely think— contenders to go on? well, i mean, i definitely think it _ contenders to go on? well, i mean, i definitely think it is _ contenders to go on? well, i mean, i definitely think it is up _ contenders to go on? well, i mean, i definitely think it is up there. - contenders to go on? well, i mean, i definitely think it is up there. i - definitely think it is up there. i agree morris dancing is something thatis agree morris dancing is something that is really important and a couple of them could go on to the list but definitely pantomime because, obviously, i have been involved for over 30 years in pantomime and it means so much to all of us actors here that perform. you are about to go on stage so we will let you go. should panto be on the list? 0h, will let you go. should panto be on the list? oh, yes, it should. that is it for this half hour. hello there. we've got typical festive fare to come over the next few days. i'll show you that in a moment. today was another mild one, temperatures widely in double figures. there was even a bit of sunshine coming through the cloud as well.

different story in scotland where we've had a wintry scene across northern parts of the mainland. the snow that was falling here has since turned to rain. and it's quite misty and murky, very wet at the moment. but the rain will ease off in scotland and northern ireland. the main rain band pushing down towards southern parts of england and across the northern isles. it'll be followed by some clearer spells for northern parts of the uk and a few showers. and it's going to be a mild start to sunday morning, christmas eve, but it's going to be a windy day for all of us on christmas eve, particularly so over and to the east of the pennines, could be quite difficult for driving high sided vehicles up and down the ai. very windy conditions also, widely in scotland with the strongest gusts 70 miles an hour in northern parts of the mainland and across 0rkney. and those really strong winds will drive in lots of blustery showers across scotland. sunshine and showers will follow to northern ireland, northern england and eventually north wales and the north midlands as our main band of clouds sinks southwards, bringing rain for a while in wales and then more towards the south west of england in the afternoon.

temperatures could actually reach 15 degrees across eastern parts of england, but those numbers do drop a little bit during the afternoon. cooler air is coming in behind that weather front there. that's bringing the rain and the cloud across southern areas. it's going to sit around overnight and will still be there into christmas morning. but we've got another weather system to the north and the two will combine to bring a lot of cloud, rain developing quite widely, some snow over the hills across northern scotland where the air is that bit colder, but otherwise, another mild day. temperatures could reach 14 degrees in the southeast with the blustery winds. now, those two weather systems will sweep away overnight. things will calm down as we head into boxing day. the winds will be lighter. it's still a bit blustery across the north and west of scotland with a few wintry showers here just for a while. otherwise, a lot of dry weather, plenty of sunshine around. there is some rain in the channel, that'll push back towards the far south west of england. temperatures will be a little bit lower. so let's summarise the next few days. we've got the strong winds and mild weather for christmas eve could bring some travel disruption, then rain develops

for christmas day. if you're out on boxing day, it looks sunny.

this is bbc news. the headlines... the czech republic holds a minute's silence for the 14 people who died in thursday's mass shooting at a university in prague. church bells also rang out across the country as a mark of respect, as they did across

the european union and nato nations. israel says it's interrogating hundreds of suspected hamas and islamichhad operatives who've been captured in gaza. the military said the men, some of whom had been hiding among the civilian population, have been transferred to israel for questioning. meanwhile, israel's bombardment of gaza continues. ukraine is celebrating christmas on the 25th december instead of the 7th of january for the first time since 1917. earlier this year, president zelensky signed a parliamentary bill into law that aimed to "abandon the russian heritage of imposing christmas celebrations". now on bbc news — the year in sport.

2023 was a remarkable year for sport.