option but keep fighting. our troops have eliminated thousands of terrorists so far. we are fighting with full force until the end. the us accuses iran of launching a drone attack that damaged an israeli—affiliated oil tanker, off the coast of india. the uk home secretary james cleverly has apologised afterjoking about spiking his wife's drink with a date rape drug. hello, i'm rajini vaidyanathan. we start with the war in gaza. the israeli military says troops are entering new hamas strongholds in the south of the gaza strip, as the idf expands its operations there. spokesman daniel hagari said underground hamas infrastructure was being especially targeted. israel's bombardment has continued — this the aftermath of a deadly strike in deir el—balah in

central gaza. the israeli military says its forces have killed around 8,000 palestinian fighters in the war so far. the hamas—run health ministry in gaza says the total number of dead since october 7 is now more than 20—thousand 400. speaking at a weekly cabinet meeting, israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu said the war had come at a "very heavy price" for israel. the israeli military says 14 more soldiers have been killed in gaza since friday, bringing the total during the ground assault to 153. these are israel defence forces pictures from operations in khan younis. saturday was one of its deadliest days, but mr netanyahu said his forces had "no choice" but to press ahead. translation: the war has | taken its toll, but we have no option but keep fighting. 0ur troops have eliminated thousands of terrorists so far. we are fighting with full force until the end, until the victory, until we fulfil our goals. those are the elimination of hamas, the return of

our hostages, and the promise that gaza will no longer pose a threat on the state of israel. mr netanyahu also denied suggestions that the us president had persuaded him against further expansion of his military operation. on saturday, the wall streetjournal reported that president biden had "urged the israeli prime minister to halt a pre—emptive strike against his brother forces in lebanon", days after hamas militants launched the october 7 assault on southern israel, warning that such an attack could spark a wider regional war. tensions continue in the israel—lebanon border area. this the view earlier today — where a thick plume of black smoke was seen rising in the sky. hesham al sayyad works for penny appeal — a charity that provides medical aid and emergency food in the middle east and africa. he's just got back from cairo. he began by talking about the hundreds of thousands of palestinians displaced as a result of the israeli offensive. anyone displaced is not right, but we go back to now the amount

of people displaced in gaza, especially now in the rafah governorate because of the bombings that have been happening in the south. you have a place now in the rafah governorate which is basically desert, that people have been displaced. there is 1.2 million people living in a place which can probably house at most 200,000 people in an area the size of heathrow airport. if you can imagine 1.2 million people living in an area the size of heathrow airport, living on top of one another, with no irrigation, no water supplies, no basic essential needs for a human being like myself to survive. we are looking forward here to christmas from the warmth of our own homes, they have no warmth, hardly any shelter, and we are trying to provide for them. the numbers are harrowing. and antonio guterres, secretary general of the un, mentioned that four out of five of the hungriest people in world are 110w now in gaza.

sobering, and we're hearing the warning there could be a famine as well because of the inability to get aid, particularly essential food items, into gaza. you havejust come back from cairo. i assume you have been dealing with getting some aid across the rafah border. tell us more about that. aid is trickling in, it is not enough, it is hardly enough. since the start of the war, the average is roughly 100 trucks a day entering gaza. that is for a population the size of birmingham, manchester and liverpool put together. on a normal day, those cities would not survive on 100 trucks. before the war there were 300 trucks going in and people were just hardly getting by on that. so, 100 trucks a day, it should be ten times that at the moment.

the difficulty of getting aid in has been hard, to say the least. since you have a first—hand perpsective, what is the priority in terms of loading things on to those aid trucks? when we speak to aid agencies, the list of needs is just huge — power, fuel, clean water and food. what are you loading on as a priority at the moment? 0ur priority is food, non—food, so shelter items, we are now providing tents and heavy blankets for the winter in gaza. there is rainfall. in terms of food, we make sure that the food has an expiry minimum of one year, possibly 1—2 years, just for the length of time. also to ensure that the food is distributed in a timely manner. also taking in any delays with trucks getting across the border. we have got food, shelter, also some medical consumables, medical items as well.

the us military has claimed a drone launched from iran hit a chemical tanker in the indian ocean last night. iran has been accused of backing houthi rebels, who support hamas in its war with israel. the houthis have been attacking shipping in the red sea in recent weeks. america says it's also shot down four drones in the same waters. iran denies any involvement. anbarasan ethirajan reports. a bruised oil tanker being escorted by an indian coastguard ship in the arabian sea. for the first time, the pentagon blamed iran directly for the drone attack on the mv chem pluto. but iran's foreign minister denies this. translation: for us, _ regional security is very important. we are not seeking to expand the scope of war. the solution to the problem is not to establish a so—called coalition in the red sea, but to stop the bloodshed of women, children and civilians

in the gaza strip and the west bank. iran is also thought by the us to be backing houthi rebels in yemen who have been targeting commercial ships with any connections to israel passing through the red sea. they are an ally of hamas and stoutly opposed the israeli military action in gaza. speaking earlier in the week, america made it clear it was important to all nations that shipping in the red sea was protected. the houthis aren't attacking just one country. they're really attacking the international community. they are attacking the economic well—being and prosperity of nations around the world. the strikes and hijacking of ships by the houthis mark an escalation in a series of maritime attacks, threatening the commercial shipping industry. the us wants international support to patrol the red sea to protect the shipping routes. anbarasan ethirajan, bbc news, delhi.

for more analysis on the risks of the conflict spreading beyond the red sea, i spoke with uk political correspondent rob watson. up until now the attacks have been confined to the red sea. if it was to spread out into the indian ocean, that would really be something. it would also indicate that perhaps iran was willing to up its involvement in the conflict. i think it is worth bearing in mind that despite iranian denials of involvement in any of the attacks on shipping, just a few days ago the head of the iranian revolutionary guard threatened to make the mediterranean unsafe, gibraltar and other shopping areas. plenty of reasons to take it very seriously. 0n the other hand, if you think about it and step back a bit, since october 7, the iranians have been very careful not to push things so far that they would get a retaliation from either israel or the united states.

they have supported proxies in yemen, the houthis, in lebannon, hezbollah. but they haven't done anything to push direct conflict with the united states because anxious not to have a regional war. we have also been reporting that commercial vessels have been targeted in the red sea in recent days. how does that fit into this picture? that's one of the things that makes it so serious. just as things stand, there have been over 100 attacks on vessels from 35 different countries. essentially, what this is done is put up the price of containers. you have already had over 300 ships having to go around africa instead of through the red sea and the suez canal. if you were to suddenly find that problem spreads to the indian 0cean, if you are a commercial shipper, my goodness, it begins to look like a nightmare.

here in the uk, the home secretary, james cleverly, has apologised forjoking about spiking drinks. the remark is alleged to have been made on the same day he announced new measures to tackle the problem. 0ur political correspondent, leila nathoo, told us more from the home office. well, yeah, a spokesperson for the home secretary, james cleverly, has apologised on behalf of the home secretary for what he called an ironic joke made earlier this week at a reception at downing street for journalists, ministers and number ten aides. remarks, comments at these sorts of events normally remain private but the mirror newspaper said it decided to report the home secretary's comments because of what it said was his role and the subject matter. so they say that he joked, as you heard, about the drug rohypnol, the drug commonly used in drink spiking and also joked about his own marriage, saying that a secret to a long marriage was ensuring your spouse was someone who was always mildly sedated

so she could never realise there were better men out there. so, the spokesperson for the home secretary not disputing that he did make a joke about that issue, but said the home secretary couldn't remember the exact wording used, given that it was a private event. but clearly, he has come in for a lot of criticism already. labour are describing his remarks as appalling and women's groups also criticising the home secretary for downplaying a serious issue. we can now speak to colin mackie, the founder or spike aware uk. his son, greg, died as a result of his drink being spiked. thank you forjoining us on bbc news, and of course we send our condolences to your family. what is your reaction to these comments from the home secretary? he has apologised and described it as an ironicjoke. do you see it as that?

i certainly don't see as a joke at all. i was assured and found it hard believe that he would say it. then it has gone from shock to anger. find it has gone from shock to anger. and wh is this it has gone from shock to anger. and why is this so — it has gone from shock to anger. and why is this so significant because? tell us about your story. obviously as a father — tell us about your story. obviously as a father who _ tell us about your story. obviously as a father who has _ tell us about your story. obviously as a father who has lost _ tell us about your story. obviously as a father who has lost his - tell us about your story. obviously as a father who has lost his son . tell us about your story. obviously as a father who has lost his son to | as a father who has lost his son to spiking, we have been campaigning. we started spike aware uk because there was nothing out there, so we started the group, spike aware uk, to help other parents like myself and to help victims, give them a bit of support. it has been importing over the last few years to get the support in place for victims. but we have also been campaigning to make spiking a stand alone offence. what spiking a stand alone offence. what exactly happened — spiking a stand alone offence. what exactly happened to _ spiking a stand alone offence. what exactly happened to greg? greg - spiking a stand alone offence. what| exactly happened to greg? greg was at edinburgh — exactly happened to greg? greg was at edinburgh college, _ exactly happened to greg? greg was at edinburgh college, it _ exactly happened to greg? greg was at edinburgh college, it was - exactly happened to greg? greg was at edinburgh college, it was a - at edinburgh college, it was a student at night, and they were all just in the halls of residence, it wasn't a big party or anything. his soft drink was spiked with the

equivalent of five ecstasy tablets, which unfortunately greg then lost his life to. ~ , .,, his life to. were the people responsible _ his life to. were the people responsible taken - his life to. were the people responsible taken to - his life to. were the people responsible taken to task, l his life to. were the people - responsible taken to task, which they polished? is there enough in law to make sure those guilty of this are held to account? unfortunately the police couldn't get hold of enough evidence to actually charge anybody with greg's death. that is part of the reason why we want spiking to be a stand—alone offence. what we have found from talking to victims is across the country, police officers reacted differently to every victim. we feel a stand—alone offence will make sure that all police forces react the same way. somebody spiked in portsmouth will be treated the same way as a one in newcastle or manchester. same way as a one in newcastle or manchester-— manchester. briefly, what do you think should _ manchester. briefly, what do you think should be _ manchester. briefly, what do you think should be changed - manchester. briefly, what do you think should be changed in - manchester. briefly, what do you think should be changed in the i manchester. briefly, what do you i think should be changed in the law? what is your message to james

cleverly given all this?— what is your message to james cleverly given all this? let's make s-aikin a cleverly given all this? let's make spiking a stand-alone _ cleverly given all this? let's make spiking a stand-alone offence. - cleverly given all this? let's make spiking a stand-alone offence. i l spiking a stand—alone offence. i doubt we are taking steps and we have not seen the full dossier on what exactly the future steps are going to be, but i would still maintain need it as a stand—alone offence. we need to bring perpetrators to justice. because offence. we need to bring perpetrators tojustice. because if there is no deterrent, it willjust continue. we need prosecutions to stop it. there must be a deterrent. colin, thank you for sharing your story and your reaction to those comments today. we send all your family all the very best. now it's time for a look at today's sport with chethan pathak. we start with a rare christmas eve game in the english premier league, the first one for 28 years. chelsea have been beaten, it is the

eighth defeat in the premier league this season from 18 matches. all the goals coming in the second half. wolves went to in front in stoppage time. then a chelsea pulling one back, but it was too little, too late to two late. more struggles for mauricio pochettino. in scotland, rangers have closed the gap on the leaders, celtic, at the top of the premiership. they've won 2—0 at second—from—bottom motherwell, thanks to goals from kieran dowell and todd cantwell in the first half. it means rangers are now two points behind the leaders, celtic, but still have a game in hand. anthonyjoshua says he knows everyone still wants to see him face deontay wilder — despite a night of mixed fortunes for both fighters in saudi arabia. joshua himself took another step back to the top of heavyweight boxing, after a terrific performance to stop 0tto wallin early on — the swede's corner pulling him out of the fight

at the end of the fifth round. that bout was the headline event. but former heavyweight champion deontay wilder suffered defeat tojoseph parker, who won on a unanimous points decision. wilder, who's 38 now, saying he came up short, but doesn't believe it's the end. and anthonyjoshua insists their fight against each other could still be on the cards. i'm not too sure what can happen from here, but i'm sure that the fans will be more annoyed. for me, i always understand how this game is, you never know. this is elite—level boxing. it was an amazing card. wilderjust came up short, but he will live to fight another day. me and him can still get it on, get it cracking. i believe that he is a threat, i'm a massive threat, and it could be amazing numbers if we get it on. in cricket, india's women have made history, getting their first test win over the number one side australia in a one—off match in mumbai.

the tourists began the final day with five second innings wickets in hand and a lead of a6, but india ruthlessly dismissed them for 261. the hosts then chased down a modest target of 75 shortly after lunch, thanks to smriti mandhana's unbeaten 38. india's win is their first in 11 women's tests against australia, with the sides first playing each other in 1977. they now play each other in three 0dis and three t20s starting on thursday. tom curran's appeal against a four—game ban in australia's big bash league has been dismissed. the england player was suspended by cricket australia for intimidating an umpire during a warm—up for his sydney sixers side earlier this month. the conduct commisson found he "attempted to perform a practice run—up and ran at pace straight towards the umpire, with the official having to step away to avoid the risk of collision." curran says he deeply regrets the incident. and as it's christmas, let's bring you this.

it's what organisers call the largest santa themed race in the world. held in the centre of madrid every year, thousands of people took part in the five kilometre race to raise money for the red cross. we don't know for sure if father christmas was racing in that or not. he might have other things to do. we all love a good christmas gag. health workers from across the uk have gathered at kings cross this afternoon to hold a multi—faith vigil for those suffering in the conflict in the middle east. leaders from the jewish, muslim and christian faiths are uniting to call for a ceasefire and pay their respects to the lives lost. live now to our reporter tom brada, who's at the vigil at gasholder park in kings cross. bring us up to what is happening there. we bring us up to what is happening there. ~ ., bring us up to what is happening there. ~ . , ., ;;:: , there. we are “ust about 30 metres awa from there. we are just about 30 metres away from where _ there. we are just about 30 metres away from where the _ there. we are just about 30 metres away from where the vigil - there. we are just about 30 metres away from where the vigil took - away from where the vigil took

place. between 100—200 people attending, organised by health workers for palestine and showing solidarity for health workers who have been killed in the conflict. i am joined by three people who attended today's vigil. first of all, doctor simon whitman, would you mind telling me what was the aim for the vigil today? the would you mind telling me what was the aim for the vigil today?- the aim for the vigil today? the aim ofthe the aim for the vigil today? the aim of the viail the aim for the vigil today? the aim of the vigil today _ the aim for the vigil today? the aim of the vigil today was _ the aim for the vigil today? the aim of the vigil today was to _ the aim for the vigil today? the aim of the vigil today was to highlight i of the vigil today was to highlight the fact that there have been many hundreds of people who work in the health care and medical professions who have been killed in this conflict. but also more broadly to highlight that the violence in this area has been so extreme over the last few months and to call for peace. just over a year ago i was in palestine, i was in bethlehem and they were just putting up the christmas decorations. this year there are no christmas decorations in bethlehem, they have decided not

to put them up in solidarity with the crisis in gaza. i think the key message this year as we approach christmas day to remember that christmas day to remember that christmas should be a time of peace and this should be the right time to call for an end to violence and for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in gaza. d0 a peaceful resolution to the crisis in gaza. ,, , in gaza. do you mind telling me why it is important _ in gaza. do you mind telling me why it is important that _ in gaza. do you mind telling me why it is important that the _ in gaza. do you mind telling me why it is important that the different - it is important that the different face are showing solidarity here today? i face are showing solidarity here toda ? ., , , today? i think it is extremely important. — today? i think it is extremely important, particularly - today? i think it is extremely important, particularly as - today? i think it is extremely important, particularly as a l today? i think it is extremely - important, particularly as a jewish activist _ important, particularly as a jewish activist i _ important, particularly as a jewish activist i thought it was crucial to be here — activist i thought it was crucial to be here in— activist i thought it was crucial to be here in solidarity with palestinians and with palace health workers _ palestinians and with palace health workers. there are unfortunately too many _ workers. there are unfortunately too many narrative driven by politicians and part— many narrative driven by politicians and part of— many narrative driven by politicians and part of the immediately to divide — and part of the immediately to divide our communities, seek to suggest — divide our communities, seek to suggest thatjewish divide our communities, seek to suggest that jewish safety can only be secured through palestinian suffering, and i am here to reject that sentiment wholeheartedly. and later reaffirm all people regardless

of religion, background, creed, to beat_ of religion, background, creed, to beat united here in our shared humaniix _ beat united here in our shared humanity. and to take a moment as we enter this _ humanity. and to take a moment as we enter this very busy festive period to ensure — enter this very busy festive period to ensure that we don't become complacent. that we take a moment and that_ complacent. that we take a moment and that the celebrations to recognise the unfathomable loss and devastation is taking place in gaza i’ilht devastation is taking place in gaza right now — devastation is taking place in gaza riaht now. �* i. ., devastation is taking place in gaza riaht now. �* . . devastation is taking place in gaza riaht now. �* ., ., ., devastation is taking place in gaza riahtnow. �* ., ., ., right now. and you are a health care worker. right now. and you are a health care worker- can — right now. and you are a health care worker- can you _ right now. and you are a health care worker. can you explain _ right now. and you are a health care worker. can you explain to - right now. and you are a health care worker. can you explain to me - right now. and you are a health care worker. can you explain to me why i right now. and you are a health care | worker. can you explain to me why it is important you have held a vigil today? i is important you have held a vigil toda ? ., is important you have held a vigil toda ? ~ . , ., today? i think as health care workers we _ today? i think as health care workers we deeply _ today? i think as health care l workers we deeply understand today? i think as health care - workers we deeply understand the human— workers we deeply understand the human cost— workers we deeply understand the human cost of— workers we deeply understand the human cost of what _ workers we deeply understand the human cost of what is _ workers we deeply understand the human cost of what is unfolding. i human cost of what is unfolding. ultimately— human cost of what is unfolding. ultimately what _ human cost of what is unfolding. ultimately what connects - human cost of what is unfolding. ultimately what connects us - human cost of what is unfolding. ultimately what connects us as l human cost of what is unfolding. . ultimately what connects us as our humaniix — ultimately what connects us as our humaniix we _ ultimately what connects us as our humanity. we have _ ultimately what connects us as our humanity. we have more - ultimately what connects us as our humanity. we have more in- ultimately what connects us as our. humanity. we have more in common than what _ humanity. we have more in common than what divides _ humanity. we have more in common than what divides us. _ humanity. we have more in common than what divides us. we _ humanity. we have more in common than what divides us. we really - than what divides us. we really wanted — than what divides us. we really wanted to— than what divides us. we really wanted to create _ than what divides us. we really wanted to create a _ than what divides us. we really wanted to create a space - than what divides us. we really wanted to create a space you . than what divides us. we really - wanted to create a space you today with free _ wanted to create a space you today with free face, _ wanted to create a space you today with free face, through _ wanted to create a space you today with free face, through art, - wanted to create a space you todayl with free face, through art, through everything — with free face, through art, through everything that _ with free face, through art, through everything that is _ with free face, through art, through everything that is peaceful- with free face, through art, through everything that is peaceful and - everything that is peaceful and safe, _ everything that is peaceful and safe, we — everything that is peaceful and safe, we wanted _ everything that is peaceful and safe, we wanted to _ everything that is peaceful and safe, we wanted to create - everything that is peaceful and safe, we wanted to create a i everything that is peaceful and i safe, we wanted to create a space for heating — safe, we wanted to create a space for heating so _ safe, we wanted to create a space for healing so that _ safe, we wanted to create a space for healing so that we _ safe, we wanted to create a space for healing so that we can - safe, we wanted to create a space for healing so that we can come . for healing so that we can come together— for healing so that we can come together and _ for healing so that we can come together and really— for healing so that we can come together and really use - for healing so that we can come together and really use this - for healing so that we can come together and really use this as. for healing so that we can come i together and really use this as an opportunity— together and really use this as an opportunity to— together and really use this as an opportunity to feel— together and really use this as an opportunity to feel us, _ together and really use this as an opportunity to feel us, to - together and really use this as an opportunity to feel us, to keep i opportunity to feel us, to keep going. — opportunity to feel us, to keep going. to — opportunity to feel us, to keep going. to keep— opportunity to feel us, to keep going, to keep moving -

opportunity to feel us, to keep| going, to keep moving towards justice — going, to keep moving towards justice and _ going, to keep moving towards justice and peace. _ going, to keep moving towards justice and peace. i— going, to keep moving towards justice and peace.— going, to keep moving towards justice and peace. i saw some of the viuil, justice and peace. i saw some of the vigil. there — justice and peace. i saw some of the vigil, there were _ justice and peace. i saw some of the vigil, there were poems, _ justice and peace. i saw some of the vigil, there were poems, songs, - vigil, there were poems, songs, speeches. was the message is that people were time to put across? 50 people were time to put across? so much i think really highlighting that shared _ much i think really highlighting that shared common _ much i think really highlighting| that shared common humanity. much i think really highlighting - that shared common humanity. we have all been _ that shared common humanity. we have all been so _ that shared common humanity. we have all been so deeply— that shared common humanity. we have all been so deeply affected, _ that shared common humanity. we have all been so deeply affected, and - that shared common humanity. we have all been so deeply affected, and i - all been so deeply affected, and i think— all been so deeply affected, and i think so— all been so deeply affected, and i think so many— all been so deeply affected, and i think so many people _ all been so deeply affected, and i think so many people count - all been so deeply affected, and i. think so many people count resonate with this, _ think so many people count resonate with this, that— think so many people count resonate with this, that really— think so many people count resonate with this, that really speaks - think so many people count resonate with this, that really speaks to - think so many people count resonate with this, that really speaks to our. with this, that really speaks to our core of— with this, that really speaks to our core of who— with this, that really speaks to our core of who we _ with this, that really speaks to our core of who we are _ with this, that really speaks to our core of who we are as _ with this, that really speaks to our core of who we are as humans - with this, that really speaks to our - core of who we are as humans without the labels _ core of who we are as humans without the labels we — core of who we are as humans without the labels. we can— core of who we are as humans without the labels. we can all— core of who we are as humans without the labels. we can all come _ core of who we are as humans without the labels. we can all come together. the labels. we can all come together with different — the labels. we can all come together with different face, _ the labels. we can all come together with different face, ethnicities, - with different face, ethnicities, backgrounds _ with different face, ethnicities, backgrounds. we _ with different face, ethnicities, backgrounds. we are _ with different face, ethnicities, backgrounds. we are all- with different face, ethnicities, backgrounds. we are all reallyl with different face, ethnicities, i backgrounds. we are all really not that different. _ backgrounds. we are all really not that different.— that different. thank you all so much for sharing _ that different. thank you all so much for sharing your - that different. thank you all so | much for sharing your thoughts today. a christmas carol lost for nearly 90 years has been performed in the south yorkshire town where it was originally composed. the song, christmas eve, was written by arthur godfrey, a factory worker from barnsley. here's a quick taste. # the chime of bells inspires the midnight breeze # and greets with fond caress the whispering trees # the moon—white hills around

in snow—shine splendour crowned # with pealing joys resound of christmas bells # glad tidings of the saviour bring # peace reigneth as ye gaily ring # ring on, ring on # ring on while the merry breezes sing of christmas bells.# tegwen roberts, who you just heard singing there, from barnsley museums, told us about how the carol was discovered. it was an absolute team effort. so, michael obviously spotted it and realised it was something really special, and then he gave it to me knowing i am a singer and also a really enthusiastic carol singer. we are really lucky that we have got a really strong carolling tradition in south yorkshire, which i am part of. so, he gave it to me, i took it home, and i had a little sing through, and i thought, what an incredible tune, how beautiful. and we came back the next day and we just recorded a little

version on the town hall main stairwell, which has got beautiful acoustics, just thinking that it would be a nice thing to share with the museums team and a few other people. and we never really thought that it would go as big as it has. but today, this morning, we have had the barnsley youth choir singing a version on the town hall steps. my soul is full of christmas music, it's incredible. from giant glowing figures in colombia to spinning projections in australia, the world's cities are embracing christmas. have a look at some of the best sights across the world.

before we go — i want to show you some spectacular pictures from the new york neighborhood of dyker heights. the locals there have lit up the night sky with an amazing display of festive illuminations. the south brooklyn neighborhood, has become a holiday tourist attraction — there are even tours and street vendors selling treats. it's all because of the over—the—top decorations with houses featuring elaborate light displays, inflatable snowmen, santa scuplture, and even snow machines. stay with us here on bbc news. hello, christmas isjust around the corner but many of us are still travelling. really do take care today, the weather is rough in many parts of the country, very strong winds particularly across northern england, scotland and northern ireland. on top of that, outbreaks of rain.

strong westerlies have also brought some very mild air. we could be breaking temperature records as far as christmas eve is concerned, particularly in england, wales and northern ireland. this is the air mass, yellows and orange colours indicating just how mild it is across the uk. the forecast for the rest of the day and the evening, very strong winds across northern part of the country, mild and damp in the south. these are the temperatures at 6pm. through the course of the night, eventually winds will ease from the very far north of the uk, but it will remain damp in places, particularly across northern ireland, perhaps the western isles and the south of the country. a touch of iciness, frost possible in scotland early on christmas day. in the south, it is a very mild start.

the big day itself, a lot of cloud across the uk, outbreaks of rain, strengthening winds. certainly not a white christmas for the vast majority of us. the possibility of some flakes of snow across the scottish highlands. towards the evening on christmas day, a weather front moves away to the east and the weather tends to improve, so we should have some clear skies later on christmas day in the evening. then boxing day is looking much quieter, more promising on the weatherfront, more sunshine around, but a little bit colder. rain is expected in cornwall and devon, maybe southern parts of wales towards the end of the day. the outlook in the run up to the new year, it is looking really rough, particularly

wednesday into thursday. heavy rain and gales on the way once again. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. the headlines: israel's military spokesman says israeli troops are entering new hamas strongholds in the southern part of the gaza strip. earlier, joe biden said he told mr

netanyahu, of the �*critical need' to protect the civilians in gaza, including aid, as the heavy bombardment continues. the us has accused iran, of launching a drone attack that damaged an israeli—affiliated oil tanker, off the coast of india. a fire on board the ship was extinguished and no casualties were reported. iran has denied any involvement. christmas celebrations have been �*called off�* in bethlehem, the usual tree, has been replaced by a nativity scene in the rubble. 0rganisers had asked their congregations to forget the customary celebrations, while still upholding the spiritual aspects of christmas. now on bbc news: nobel minds 2023: episode two. hello and welcome to nobel minds with me, zeinab badawi, from the royal palace in stockholm. we'll be hearing from this year's nobel laureates. alsojoining us are their royal highnesses, the crown princess victoria of sweden and prince daniel,