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 the usual tree, has been replaced by a nativity scene in the rubble. 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. we had a few technical problems at the top of the hour but we are back on and broadcasting live. we are going to continue with a story coming to us from manchester united and the sale of that 25% stake to sirjim ratcliffe and his group. 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. andy mitten, is a journalist, author and life—long manchester united fan, who founded the best—selling united we stand fanzine as a 15—year—old. he gave me his reaction to the deal, and gary neville�*s comments about the timing. i think because it is on christmas eve, that may be an inconvenience. gary's sentiment would be echoed by a lot of manchester united fans. it has been a very poor year for manchester united. there is very little trust in the glazers family have owned the club since 2005. fans want to change. is what is going to happen ideal? no, it is not. is it

going to be an improvement on what we have seen since 2005? hopefully so. gary is very passionate what appears a big manchester 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. what decade for manchester united. what was the first — decade for manchester united. what was the first issue _ decade for manchester united. what was the first issue with the glazers? was it the way they bought manchester united question mark they acquired it. it was very predatory. is it the lack of investment was it the debt that they loaded on the club? mil the debt that they loaded on the club? �* ., w the debt that they loaded on the club? ., club? all of those factors were important _ club? all of those factors were important i — club? all of those factors were important. i think _ club? all of those factors were important. i think highly - club? all of those factors were - important. i think highly leveraged buyouts should not be allowed in sporting organisations. i think the way that it was allowed to happen was an absolute scandal and the feelings of manchester united fans around the world were discarded. the glazers basically took a huge mortgage out on a house in the fans paid it off. so, looking at it

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 raise, never communicated with fans whatsoever. they took out huge dividends as well and that is another point. i've been writing about the lack of investment and old trafford for 15 or 20 years. it is the biggest club stadium in england. it is full every single week. it 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 requires investment for the medium and long term and the glazers have never been about that or at least that is what the fans think at manchester united. gaza's health ministry says at least 60 people have been killed in a strike on maghazi refugee camp in central gaza at least three houses have been destroyed in the strike. 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. the health ministry says more 20,1100 have been killed since the war began in october. israel says 1a more soldiers have been killed in gaza since friday, taking the total during the ground assault to 154. speaking at a weekly cabinet meeting, prime minister, benjamin netanyahu said the war had come at a heavy price for israel. 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, untilthe fighting with full force until the end, until the victory. fighting with full force until the end, untilthe victory. untilwe 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 dismissed reports that the us has convinced israel not to expand its military activity. on saturday, the wall streetjournal reported that president biden 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.

christmas is subdued this year in bethlehem, the biblical birthplace of, 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. 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. earlier, a large palestinian flag

was carried around manger square. it followed the inauguration of an art installation �*nativity under the rubble�*, showing figures among the ruins of buildings, in solidarity with palestinians in gaza. pope francis has appealed for peace in the middle east during his christmas eve mass at st peter�*s basilica in the vatican. he said our hearts are in bethlehem and jesus�* message of peace was being drowned out by what he called the "futile logic of war". for the third year running, the service has been held in the early evening, rather than what is otherwise known as midnight mass�*. tonight our hearts are in bethlehem by the prince of peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war. by rejected by the futile logic of war. by the clash of arms that, even today, prevents him from finding room in the world.

now it�*s time for a look at today�*s sport. hello from the bbc sport centre the chelsea manager maurico pochettino has called on his players to be more clinical. they created plenty of chances but lost 2—1 at wolves in the first premier league christmas eve match in almost 30 years. wolves will consider themselves fortunate that it was goalless at the break but goals from mario lemina and a stoppage time second from matt doherty saw them home. christopher nkunku pull one back on his prmier league debut but that�*s now a 11th 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 a team like chelsea and notjust sit and defend, but go toe to toe was yeah, a big

effort. i have a belief in the group and what they can do and achieve. sometimes that�*s why we turn the ball over a lot because i ask them to do complicated things and ask them to act and behave like a big team and today we were able to compete with one. is not about shape, it's not about quality _ it's about being strong in your mind and compete, being really tough. we are missing to compete a little bit in this way. we need to improve there, but it's a normal process when you want to build a new team. 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 weekend. 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. i�*m not too sure what can happen from here. but i�*m sure from a fan perspective, they will be more annoyed. for me, i always understand how this game is. you never know, this is elite level boxing. the day of reckoning was an amazing card, wilderjust came up short, but he will live to fight another day. me and him could still get it on, we could still get it cracking. i believe i�*m a massive threat, i still think wilder�*s a threat, and i still 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. lots more on the website looking had told the boxing day fixtures the premier league and lots more reaction coming into our top story here on bbc news, said sirjim

ratcliffe getting his percent of manchester united. will he be able to hire and fire? that is what the manchester united fans want to find out. and who would he be firing? that is what we want to know. thank you. the authorities in uzbekistan have issued another official notice to their citizens, warning them it�*s illegal to get involved in russia�*s invasion of ukraine. last month an uzbek man was sentenced to prison for five years, after social media posts appeared to suggest he�*d been fighting on behalf of russian—backed separatists. ukrainian armed forces also say they�*ve captured uzbek fighters. russia has offered fast track citizenship to any men from former soviet republics who sign up for military service. live now to los angeles to speak to steve swerdlow, professor of human rights at the university of southern california.

thank you forjoining us. so just give us a little bit more detail about what is actually happening with the story.— about what is actually happening withthesto .~ , . ,, with the story. well, since russia's invasion back _ with the story. well, since russia's invasion back in _ with the story. well, since russia's invasion back in february _ with the story. well, since russia's invasion back in february 2022 - with the story. well, since russia's invasion back in february 2022 the | invasion back in february 2022 the central asian governments were pretty swift to remind our citizens that they are banned from participating in russia�*s invasion of ukraine but there are millions of central asian migrants including then eking out a living in russia and the lower are fighting the army is mostly economic, they pay that they receive is a lot more than they could make the same amount of time backin could make the same amount of time back in uzbekistan or central asia. in terms of the government issuing this warning, is it illegal? 0n in terms of the government issuing this warning, is it illegal? on what grounds? this warning, is it illegal? on what rounds? ~ , grounds? well, they view their citizens fighting _ grounds? well, they view their citizens fighting in _ grounds? well, they view their citizens fighting in russia's - grounds? well, they view their i citizens fighting in russia's army citizens fighting in russia�*s army as mercenaries and they have threatened long prison terms of 5—10 years. i think it is tied to the

fact that russia is still very much the imperialformer fact that russia is still very much the imperial former overlord. there�*s been a lot of tension in the relationship. russian nationalist politicians suggesting that russia should just go ahead and annex uzbekistan, that was a statement made a few days ago by russian nationalist by chance the central asian governments are understandably very sensitive about any attempts to really violate their sovereignty and i think they are made very nervous by this idea that they could have large numbers of uzbeks gaining russian citizenship and then their loyalty shifts to moscow. 1ng russian citizenship and then their loyalty shifts to moscow.- russian citizenship and then their loyalty shifts to moscow. as well as uzbekistan what _ loyalty shifts to moscow. as well as uzbekistan what other _ loyalty shifts to moscow. as well as uzbekistan what other former - loyalty shifts to moscow. as well as | uzbekistan what other former soviet republics have been, well, been. going to russia for citizenship? well, in the last 30 years there are very large numbers of people from tajikistan and kurdistan, the poorest of the former soviet

republics and they have, even though they had to deal with incredibly high rates of racism and neo—nazi attacks against central asians for years they�*ve gone to russia for work and now they have been drawn on as he speaks to the population is least likely to resist being drafted into the russian army. fik. least likely to resist being drafted into the russian army.— into the russian army. ok. we believe it _ into the russian army. ok. we believe it there _ into the russian army. ok. we believe it there but _ into the russian army. ok. we believe it there but thank - into the russian army. ok. we believe it there but thank you | into the russian army. ok. we - believe it there but thank you very much for that. thank you.- believe it there but thank you very much for that. 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. lucy thompson campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of drink spiking , she gave me her take on the home secretary�*s comments. it is absolutely sickening. saying something like this, thinking it is a laughing matter. it is something. within, you know, how the day are putting out a call for survivors to share their stories the account i set up is inundated with hundreds of responses and, if you ask any of your friends, responses and, if you ask any of yourfriends, that responses and, if you ask any of your friends, that hasn�*t happened to them, they will know someone who has been affected by this so it is really upsetting. so has been affected by this so it is really upsetting.— has been affected by this so it is really upsetting. so when you have comments like _ really upsetting. so when you have comments like this _ really upsetting. so when you have comments like this brushed - really upsetting. so when you have comments like this brushed aside i really upsetting. so when you have | comments like this brushed aside as banter or a joke, what is your response to that? i

banter or a joke, what is your response to that?— banter or a joke, what is your response to that? i think the main issue with how _ response to that? i think the main issue with how we've _ response to that? i think the main issue with how we've been - response to that? i think the main issue with how we've been dealing issue with how we�*ve been dealing with spiking is that victims are not listened to. i think people go for help and club venues are, you know, the people of authority and it is brushed aside and they are often greeted with banter like this which itjust hasn�*t been taking seriously and we made so much progress in the past two is just so heartening to see and itjust feels like we�*re going backwards a little bit, really. king charles will deliver the second christmas message of his reign from a buckingham palace room decorated with a living christmas tree. natural and sustainable decorations including hand—turned wood, dried oranges, and pine cones hang from its branches. the king is a long—term environmental campaigner so the tree will be replanted after the broadcast.

next, let�*s take a look at the santa�*s journey around the globe. he is heading for rome in italy at the moment. north american aerospace defense command website features "updates" on santa�*s travels around the world. tradition began in 1955 when a child phoned the continental air defense command operations center asking for santa claus. 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. 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 at least 60 people have been killed in an air strike on al—maghazi refugee camp.

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. �*jesus�*s message drowned out by futile logic of war�* says pope francis as he appeals for middle—east peace in christmas eve mass. now on bbc news — year in review, sport. 2023 was a remarkable year for sport. up here, an historic treble.

down under, a women�*s world cup.