the usual tree, has been replaced by a nativity scene in the rubble. this is live in vatican, where pope francis is leading a christmas eve mass at the saint peter's basilica. he has said �*tonight our hearts are in bethlehem'. and this is the live position of santa as we track him on his reindeer—powered sleigh around the globe delivering gifts for children. it's the christmas present many manchester united fans will have been hoping for. it has been announced that sirjim ratcliffe is buying a 25% stake in the premier league club, in a deal worth more than a billion pounds,

which, pending approval, will see him take control of football operations. he is also promising over £200 million of new investment. the multi—billionaire founder of the ineos petro—chemicals group, is a lifelong fan of the club. it's hoped by many supporters that it might mean the end of the controlling interest of the glazer family. our sports editor, dan roan, reports. when sirjim ratcliffe toured old trafford earlier this year, the british billionaire was hoping to buy manchester united. instead he will become a minority shareholder of the club he says he has always supported. the founder of petrochemicals giant ineos, ratcliffe has already invested in sailing and cycling teams and owns a third of mercedes in formula 1. the owner of two football clubs, including nice in france, manchester born ratcliffe last year failed in a bid to buy chelsea, at the time hinting to me united was his real goal. some would argue you should be trying to buy the club that

you grew up supporting. yes, i mean, i can understand that but manchester united is not for sale. with its rich history... they were the soccer champions of europe. ..legendary players... cantona! ..and dominance under the managerial great sir alex ferguson, united became a commercial powerhouse with a global fan base. but since 2005 it's been owned by the glazer family and after years of protests from fans unhappy with the club's debt, a lack of investment in old trafford and on field decline, last season the americans put the club up for sale. qatari banker sheikh jassim wanted to buy it outright but withdrew, leaving the way clear for ratcliffe. one of united's top executives explained why fresh investment was needed. we are doing this for a very positive reason. we know we've got new ambition and the talent at united and we wanted to make sure that we attract the right investment to be able to live up to that ambition. after a drawn—out and divisive process that has lasted

more than a year now, many united fans will be dismayed that the glazers remain in overall control here at old trafford, the challenge facing sirjim ratcliffe to convince them that he is the man that can lead a revival in the footballing fortunes of this club. ex—british cycling chief sir david brailsford overseas ratcliffe's various sports teams and is set to have a key role at united, the pair experiencing mixed fortunes at nice since ineos bought it in 2019. some environmental campaigners say the petrochemicals company uses sport to give it a more positive image, but those involved defend the investment. what do you think jim's motivation is? he loves a challenge bigger than any and i guess that's the drive for the america's cup and probably when you look at man united it's a team that has been struggling in recent years. there is no bigger challenge in sport right now than turning man united round. so i think that's what drivesjim. but ten years have now passed since united last won the premier league

and after a difficult start to this season the challenge facing ratcliffe is a formidable one. dan roan, bbc news. there's been reaction from former manchester united right back and club legend, gary neville, who wrote on the social media platform x. "manchester united 2023 has been a disgrace to the end. the timing of this is truly awful. no functioning organisation would even think about it. anyway all the very best to jim ratcliffe. i hope he can somehow work out a way to get the club right again, and back to being something respectable on and off the pitch.�* well our sports correspondent, nesta mcgregor, has more on what happens next for the club. they have agreed a deal but the premier league must still sign this off. the 71—year—old will be subject to the owners and directors test which normally takes 6—8 weeks. they want to know if he has the money and where he got it from. 0nce that's done, maybe fans can fully celebrate

and get to thinking about the glory days that gary neville's tweet has mentioned because united are 8th and are out of european competition. sirjim ratcliffe's 25% stake comes with a £200,000 cash injection, some of which will be spent on refurbishing 0ld trafford but more importantly ineos and sirjim ratcliffe will be in charge of footballing operations, meaning the signing and selling of players and the hiring and firing of managers as well. let's not sugar—coat this, because the glazers are still in total control but many fans are unhappy with how the american family have been running the club since 2005 and will see sir jim's place on the board as a step in the right direction. live now to andy mitten, journalist, author and life—long manchester united fan, who founded the best—selling united we stand fanzine as a 15—year—old.

lovely to have you with as he ran bbc news. ijust want lovely to have you with as he ran bbc news. i just want to lovely to have you with as he ran bbc news. ijust want to go back very quickly, first off, to gary neville's comment. what did he mean about the timing of this is truly awful? i about the timing of this is truly awful? ~ , u, , , ., awful? i think because it is on christmas _ awful? i think because it is on christmas eve, _ awful? i think because it is on christmas eve, gary's - awful? i think because it is on i christmas eve, gary's sentiment awful? i think because it is on - christmas eve, gary's sentiment will be echoed by a lot of manchester united fans for most of 2023, it has been a very year for manchester united. there is very little trust in the owners. fans want change and it is not going to be ideal but it might be a improvement. gary is very passionate and is a big manchester united fan as well as being a lifelong playerfor the united fan as well as being a lifelong player for the club and i think he genuinely wants what is

best for the club. i still see him at matches and he has been as frustrated as any fan this year. and in previous years as well. this has not been a good decade for manchester united. i'd make what was the trust issue with the glazers? was it the way they bought manchester united and acquired it? it was very predatory. was it the lack of investment or was it the debt that they loaded on the club? all of those factors were important. i think highly leveraged buyouts should not be allowed in sporting organisations. i should not be allowed in sporting organisations.— should not be allowed in sporting organisations. i think the way that it was allowed _ organisations. i think the way that it was allowed to _ organisations. i think the way that it was allowed to happen - organisations. i think the way that it was allowed to happen was - organisations. i think the way that it was allowed to happen was an l it was allowed to happen was an absolute scandal and the feelings of manchester united fans around the world were discarded. the glazers took a huge mortgage out on house and the fans paid it off so looking at it in another way, they were business geniuses but i don't think football is like any other business. football fans don't change and support another club because they are not happy with what is going on at their own club. the glazers in

addition to the point you made, never communicated with fans whatsoever. they took out huge dividends is one that is another point. i've been writing about the of investment in old trafford for 15 or 20 years. it is the biggest club stadium in england, it is full every single weekend are needed to be invested in far more than it has been. it is still a very good stadium but it should be bigger, it should be more modern and other clubs have invested heavily but that inquires investment for the medium and long term and the glazers never been about that where that is what the fans thing and had manchester united. :: :: ., ., ,, g united. 200 million what sirjim ratcliffe is coming _ united. 200 million what sirjim ratcliffe is coming with - united. 200 million what sirjim ratcliffe is coming with for - ratcliffe is coming with for investment. how far will that go and as any of the debt, how should they chip away at that?— as any of the debt, how should they chip away at that? well, 200 million miaht no chip away at that? well, 200 million might go that _ chip away at that? well, 200 million might go that far— chip away at that? well, 200 million might go that far because _ might go that far because construction is extremely expensive and the one side which is ripe for redevelopment as the most complicated side because the main

liverpool to manchester railway runs behind it and liverpool to manchester railway runs behind itand i liverpool to manchester railway runs behind it and i am told it can be done but 200 million would not cover the cost and i spoke to architects about that over many years. so it would need even more investment. but it would be paid back. there is a demand there. the stadium are sold out. it is hard to get a ticket even though manchester united have been less than spectacular. 0n though manchester united have been less than spectacular. on a consistent basis. the average attendances across english football attendances across english football at every level are booming to record levels though manchester united have always been the best supported teams in the second world war for the most part and had benefited from that as well. recruitment needs to be much smarter. united have actually spent a lot of money on players but squandered a lot of it. the success rate and the players that have been low. none enhanced their reputation during the time at old trafford. since sir alex ferguson left a decade ago there has not been a

single serious title challenge from manchester united. it has not been good enough. 0ver manchester united. it has not been good enough. over a billion has been squandered on players and more than that amount on interests to the glazers. �* , , ., ~ ., that amount on interests to the glazers. �*, , ., ~ ., ., , glazers. there's been talk that many fans are heping _ glazers. there's been talk that many fans are hoping this _ glazers. there's been talk that many fans are hoping this is _ glazers. there's been talk that many fans are hoping this is the _ fans are hoping this is the beginning of the end of the glazers. is it? and, in general, how herfans reacted to this news? fans is it? and, in general, how her fans reacted to this news?— reacted to this news? fans would certainly hepe — reacted to this news? fans would certainly hope it _ reacted to this news? fans would certainly hope it is _ reacted to this news? fans would certainly hope it is the _ reacted to this news? fans would certainly hope it is the beginning | certainly hope it is the beginning of the end or at least a pathway towards that by the glazers have still got a controlling interest. they are very clever business people and sirjim ratcliffe knows this deal is not ideal but he felt that it is the only deal that he could get done. it is a very complicated one. is it better than nothing? i would like to think that, yes, it is. i would like to think that this heralds a brighter future for manchester united but that is the optimistic fan in me as much as the football journalist who optimistic fan in me as much as the footballjournalist who has covered this club for a long, long time. the

glazers use manchester united as a cash machine on a consistent basis. i cannot see them walking away. but sirjim ratcliffe has been extremely successful in business and he is a manchester lad. i think he wants to be known as the man who helped return manchester united back to the status they enjoyed for so long. for status they en'oyed for so long. for eo - le status they enjoyed for so long. for people who are not into football or sports, you know, big die—hard sports, you know, big die—hard sports fans there will be looking at this and saying, this is a huge, huge amount of money. he was actually benefiting out of this and why does it matter?— why does it matter? football matters. why does it matter? football matters- i've _ why does it matter? football matters. i've watched - why does it matter? football - matters. i've watched manchester united in 45 countries around the world and i am a manchester lad and i've been absolutely astounded at the popularity of the club. we are talking beatlemania in places like thailand and china. i've watched them in south america, and africa, north america, united are absolutely huge. the club's story is so incredible and triumphant in tragedy

intertwined and it is the same at liverpool. liverpool are a huge club of the global support as well that at the premier league has become even more popular globally and it is seen as being the best in the world and a lot of emotion and passion of you can be seen as the man writing the good ship manchester united, there is a lot of kudos that goes with that globally. money cannot buy that except it can because sirjim ratcliffe has said that the amount of investment that goes into a team should equal success. that has not happened at manchester united. why is a businessman would say that there are better places to invest your money than football but the glazers have not done too badly out of manchester united. they have not enjoyed the kudos of the fans, though. enjoyed the kudos of the fans, thou . h. , ., ., �* enjoyed the kudos of the fans, thouuh. ,, ., �* f though. everyone united, don't they? thank ou though. everyone united, don't they? thank you very _ though. everyone united, don't they? thank you very much _ though. everyone united, don't they? thank you very much indeed. - though. everyone united, don't they? thank you very much indeed. thank . thank you very much indeed. thank you. gaza's health ministry says 166 people have been killed and 384 wounded over a period of 2a hours as israel's bombardment continues. these are pictures of maghazi

in central gaza where hospital officials say 16 palestinians were killed and several houses damaged. this is the aftermath of an air strike in deir el—balah in central gaza. the united nations estimates 1.9 million of gaza's 2.4 million population have been displaced — that's nearly all of the population. the world health organization says the decimation of the gaza health's system is a tragedy. israel says 1a more soldiers have been killed in gaza since friday, taking the total during the ground assault to 153. speaking at a weekly cabinet meeting, prime minister, benjamin netanyahu said the war had come at a heavy price for israel. translation: the war has - taken its toll but we have no option but to 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

to the state of israel. mr netanyahu also dismissed reports that the us has convinced israel not to expand its military activity. had "urged the israeli prime minister, to halt a pre—emptive strike against hezbollah 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." this was the view across the israel—lebanon border earlier today, where we saw a thick plume of black smoke in the sky, as hostilities continue in the border area. hesham al sayyad works for �*penny appeal�*, a charity that provides medical aid and emergency food in the middle east and africa. he told us 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 tp 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.

earlier i spoke to dr victoria williamson who�*s a lecturer at king�*s college london. i asked her about the impact of trauma of those affected by the conflict in gaza. people who have experienced traumatic and challenging events can develop mental—health problems like post—traumatic stress disorder or ptsd. they can also develop other difficulties like major depression and anxiety difficulties too. is ptsd a big risk for many of them? so, a number of people, after traumatic and challenging events can experience psychological difficulties and symptoms after trauma. i think it�*s really important to emphasise that experiencing psychological difficulties, symptoms, nightmares, difficulty with sleeping, things like that, is very normal after traumatic events and for most people those symptoms will come down after 6—8 weeks but for those people

who find that their symptoms are very severe or they don�*t improve in a month, six weeks, post—trauma, that would be the time to start thinking about reaching out to a medical practitioner to get some sort of formal psychological support. can you tell us more about the kind of help they will need to cope. the vast majority of people will recover on their own, post—trauma, but people who feel like they need extra formal support, some of the treatments available, like trauma—focused cognitive behavioural therapy or cbt, those sorts of treatments, are available, there are talking therapies and they have good evidence. it�*s important to stress that disorders like ptsd are treatable and the treatments available work for the majority of people. how do people know that they are suffering from ptsd?

so, one of the key signs that you may be suffering with ptsd is you may experience nightmares, you may have a lot of trouble with intrusive or unwanted thoughts. you may have difficulty with hypervigilance, a feeling of being constantly alert and you may have difficulties with blame and feelings of fear. it�*s important to stress that you can only diagnose ptsd after four weeks, four weeks after an event. if at that time, after 4—6 weeks post trauma or you feel like your symptoms are very bad and not getting better, that�*s the time to reach out to a medical practitioner. christmas is subdued this year in bethlehem, the biblical birthplace ofjesus after christian leaders in the town cancelled all public festivities as a mark of solidarity with the people of gaza. the town, in the occupied

west bank, would normally be packed with pilgrims and tourists celebrating christmas. but a senior catholic leader, the latin patriarch ofjerusalem, did pay his traditional christmas visit to bethlehem. this is some of what he had to say, speaking in manger square. we are here to pray but also, tonight, notjust for the ceasefire. a ceasefire is not enough. we have to stop these hostilities and turn the page because violence generates only violence and the message of christmas is not violence. it�*s peace.

they lost to one at wolves in the first premier league christmas eve match in almost 30 years. they will consider themselves fortunate that it was goalless at the break but goals from two players saw them. christopher nkunku pull one back on his prmier league debut but that�*s now a 4th away defeat in a row for chelsea . they are 10th level on points with wolves who are up to 11th. to be able to play against a team like chelsea and notjust defend but you able to go toe to toe was a big effort. i have a big believer in the group and what they can do and what they can achieve and sometimes that is why we turn the ball over there a lot because i ask them to do complicated things and i ask them to try to act and behave like a big team and today were able to compete with them. it is team and today were able to compete with them. , ., ., ,., team and today were able to compete with them. , ., ., , ., , with them. it is not about shape, it is not about — with them. it is not about shape, it is not about quality, _ with them. it is not about shape, it is not about quality, it _ with them. it is not about shape, it is not about quality, it is _ with them. it is not about shape, it is not about quality, it is about - is not about quality, it is about being really strong in your mind and

compete and being really, really tough. yes, we are missing to compete a little in this way. we need to improve their but this is a normal process where you will want to be. rangers are still in touch with scottish premiership leaders celtic. they won 2—0 at second from bottom motherwell, thanks to goals from kieran dowell and todd cantwell in the first half. celtic had stretched their lead to five points after winning on saturday, but that�*s now back to two, although rangers do have a game in hand and they play each other next weeknd. anthonyjoshua is a step closer to a world title shot but who he fights next is up in the air. joshua did his bit on a blockbuster night of boxing, beating 0tto wallin in saudi arabia. he stopped the swede in the fifth round. the expectaion had been that another former champion deontay wilder would won his bout on the same card, but the american was beaten on points byjoseph parker. sojoshua wilder next year, an eliminator fight for one of the world titles,

has to be in doubt now. iam not i am not too sure what can happen from here. buti i am not too sure what can happen from here. but i am sure, from a fan perspective, they will be more annoyed. for me, i always understand how this game is. you never know. this is the elite level boxing. it was an amazing card. while just came up was an amazing card. while just came up short but he will live to fight another day. me and him can still get it on. we can still get it cracking. i believe i am a massive threat. the wilder is a threat and i think it does amazing numbers if we get it on. in cricket, india�*s women have made history , with a first test win over the number one side australia. the tourists began the final day in mumbai with five second innings wickets in hand and a lead of 46 but india dismissed them for 261 leaving

a modest target of 75 to chase . smriti mandhana�*s unbeaten 38 helped them get there easily. 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. there is a lot more on the bbc sport website of course including a lot more on sirjim ratcliffe�*s investment united here as we have been hearing on bbc news that that £1 billion to get 25% and quite importantly for the fans, he becomes, he takes charge of all the sporting operations, the football operations as well. how that works in practice, well, that is a story for another day, in practice, well, that is a story foranother day, i in practice, well, that is a story for another day, i think.- in practice, well, that is a story for another day, i think. what 80s ou are. for another day, i think. what 80s you are- thank— for another day, i think. what 80s you are. thank you _ for another day, i think. what 80s you are. thank you very _ for another day, i think. what 80s you are. thank you very much - for another day, i think. what 80s - you are. thank you very much indeed. thank you.

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 correspondent ione wells has more. quite a backlash today after the daily mirror reported these comments last night. they say that at the reception which happened on monday, a christmas reception forjournalists, political aides and ministers, they say that james cleverly was speaking to some of the guests and made a joke about drink spiking, the act of putting drugs or alcohol in somebody�*s drink without their consent. they say that he said to some of these fellow guests that the ideal spouse is one that was always "mildly "sedated so she doesn�*t know that there are better men out there." the newspaper also claims that he mentioned the drug rohypnol, which is frequently used in drink spiking. this came on the same day the government announced a raft of measures to try and tackle drink spiking. a spokesman for the home secretary has said that it was understood

to be part of a private conversation and he made what they described as ironicjoke for which he has apologised but the comments have faced widespread criticism today. labour have called them appalling and say it is inappropriate to make jokes about drink spiking and also charities too including the charity women�*s aid who say ministers have a duty to show the survivors of drink spiking that they take the issue seriously rather than downplaying it. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. the winds have been howling across northern britain today. and in the south of the country it has been one of the mildest christmas eves on record. temperatures have exceeded 15 celsius. and we may have beaten records, as well, but the met office will verify that in due course. here is the forecast, then, for the night. still some wet weather out towards the west and the south,

winds easing in scotland and northern england. pretty chilly here in the highlands, close to freezing, but look how mild it is elsewhere, 8—12 celsius. now, to sum up christmas day, it is going to be overall cloudy with outbreaks of rain and very mild indeed. if there is any chance of a white christmas, it is going to happen across the scottish highlands. in fact, here in the north, some snow possible around lunchtime, possible also for braemar with temperatures not far off freezing. but by the time you get to edinburgh and glasgow, it is much too mild. showers of rain here. showers and some sunny spells for belfast. cloudy conditions there for the lakes and lancashire. and lunchtime on christmas day is wet across wales, the midlands, and indeed much of the south. breezy, cloudy, with rain at times. if you want an evening walk and dry weather, you might have to wait for a while before that weather front clears away towards the east. how about boxing day?

it is looking very promising indeed. well, there is a lull in the weather. the winds will die down, some sunshine there for belfast, liverpool, for hull. in the south i think some hazy sun. if you want a dry walk, do it quick in the south—west because rain should reach you by the early afternoon, and that is a precursor of a rather large and strong area of low pressure. strong winds and very heavy rain coming our way midweek. in fact, look at all of that rain sweeping across the country. yes, that is snow across the pennines, across the highlands as well. gales in the south and the west. a really unpleasant picture, and of course many of us will be travelling through wednesday and into thursday again. so, bear in mind the weather could turn rough midweek, certainly wednesday, that will last into thursday, as well. heavy rain, snow across the mountains in the north, gales for many of us, and travel disruption is possible. here is the outlook that takes us into 2024, so the 1st of january. and indeed it has a very unsettled one. from me, it is a merry christmas.

this is bbc news. the headlines... manchester united confirm british billionaire, sirjim ratcliffe, has agreed to buy a 25% stake in the club in a deal worth over $1.5 billion. ratcliffe�*s ineos group will take control of the club�*s football operations. gaza�*s health ministry says 166 people have been killed and 384

wounded over the last 24 hours, as israel�*s bombardment continues. the united nations estimates 1.9 million of gaza�*s 2.4 million population have been displaced. christmas celebrations have been �*called off�* in bethlehem, in solidarity with the people of gaza. the usual tree has been replaced by a nativity scene in the rubble. the uk home secretary, james cleverly, has apologised afterjoking about spiking his wife�*s drink with a date rape drug. the home office had onlyjust unveiled plans to crack down on the problem of spiking. now on bbc news — click.