pope francis uses his christmas mass at st peter's basilica to warn that peace in the middle east is being drowned out by the futile logic of war. and — as santa sets off to deliver presents around the world — we'll talk to the team tracking his progress. welcome to newsday, from bbc news — broadcasting live from singapore, where it's seven o'clock in the morning on christmas day. we start in gaza where the hamas—run health ministry says at least 70 people have been killed in an israeli air strike

at al—maghazi refugee camp in central gaza. the injured have been taken to al aqsa hospital in nearby dair al—balah. the health ministry says the strike hit three houses and the death toll is likely to rise given the large number of families living the area. it also says more 20,400 have been killed since the war began in october. let's speak to shaimaa khalil who is in bethlehem in occupied west bank. tell us more about what's happened at al maghazi refugee camp. we understand from the hamas run health ministry is that the air strike hit this densely populated residential block. so several buildings in very close proximity. as you said, the death toll is

likely to rise according to the spokesperson and essentially because of the large number of families living in that block, but also because many, many people are still stuck under the rubble. we have seen footage of first responders from the palestinian red crescent walk through narrow areas trying to navigate the rubble to get to people and try used torchlight and moving the rubble with their hands with the help of others around them. we've also seen footage of the image or to the hospital mac, the nearby hospital, there was no space and some people were being treated on the ground, the floor. one man who had lost his daughter, his grandchildren and his son—in—law had said that, his family was ordered to evacuate from gaza city because of the israeli military operation, he said, we came to central gaza only

to die. you said that there is just no safe place. there are two big challenges ahead after this. one, the palestinian red crescent said that the air strike has caused the main road connecting these refugee camps to shut down. that will make it very difficult for rescue teams and ambulances to get through, but also remember that the hospitals in gaza are struggling will stop whether fuel or lack of supplies or water so as this risky operation scribbles on, it will also be difficult for the medical staff. has there been _ difficult for the medical staff. has there been any — difficult for the medical staff. has there been any response from the israeli army?— israeli army? yes, the idf has responded _ israeli army? yes, the idf has responded saying _ israeli army? yes, the idf has responded saying they - israeli army? yes, the idf has responded saying they are - israeli army? yes, the idf has - responded saying they are looking into the incident, but they also say that they are committed to international law and they take feasible actions to make sure that civilians are safe. essentially they

are looking into the incident and we are looking into the incident and we are waiting to hear more from them about exactly what happened. thank ou so about exactly what happened. thank you so much — about exactly what happened. thank you so much for— about exactly what happened. thank you so much for the _ about exactly what happened. thank you so much for the update - about exactly what happened. thank you so much for the update on - about exactly what happened. thank you so much for the update on that latest development in the war in gaza. meanwhile, the israeli military says it's killed more than 8,000 hamas fighters during its campaign to date. on the israeli side too, it says it's experienced one of the highest losses in a single day. more than a dozen soldiers have died in the territory since friday — bringing the total who have died in the ground assault to 154. after months of speculation about the future ownership of manchester united — the club has announced that the british billionaire, sirjim ratcliffe, is buying a 25% stake — for around 1.6 billion dollars. under the terms of the agreement, he'll take control of football operations — like recruiting players and management staff. 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'll become a minority shareholder of the club he says he's always supported. the founder of petrochemicals giant ineos, ratcliffe's already invested in sailing and cycling teams and owns a third of mercedes in formula one. 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 that 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's not for sale. with its rich history... they were supreme soccer champions of europe. ..legendary players... cantona! ..and dominance under 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're doing this for a very positive reason. we know we've got real ambition and a plan at united and we wanted to make sure that we attract the right investment to be able to deliver that ambition. ratcliffe has spent more than £1 billion acquiring 25% of united and taking control of the football side of the club's business. and many hope this represents a new era. the glazers have still got a controlling interest. they're very clever business people and jim ratcliffe knows this deal isn't ideal, but he felt that it's the only deal that he could get done. it's a very complicated one. is it better than nothing? i would like to think that, yes, it is. i'd like to think that this

heralds a brighter future for manchester united. but that's the optimistic fan in me. after a drawn out and divisive process that's 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 to lead a revival in the footballing fortunes of this club. ex—british cycling chief sir dave brailsford oversees ratcliffe's various sports teams and he's 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 investments. what do you think jim's motivation is? he loves a challenge, bigger than any, and that's, i guess, the drive for the america's cup and probably when you look at man united, that's a team that's been struggling in recent years. there's no bigger challenge in sport right now than

turning man united around. 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." i'm joined now by football journalist zach lowy who's in el paso, texas.

it's been a long process, did the news come as a surprise? i think it was only a matter of time before glazerfamily i think it was only a matter of time before glazer family removed some percentage of the control. it was clear that they were not willing to commit to a full seal which is why we saw the move breakdown from jassim. but from a united's fan perspective is done with the perfect be the enemy of the good. yes, the glazer family be the enemy of the good. yes, the glazerfamily are be the enemy of the good. yes, the glazer family are involved be the enemy of the good. yes, the glazerfamily are involved in glazer family are involved in a commercial capacity, but, sirjim ratcliffe has a 25% and he and his ineos group are going to be in charge of the sporting decisions being made at the club. that has been united's fans biggest frustrations. all of the money being spent since the glazer family takeover, they have really been going nowhere. in fact they have been going backwards. a club like united should not be finishing

bottom of their champions league group behind others. they should not be where they are in the primarily table having spent so much money. so i think that they need a group that has direction. that has a project ahead of them. and that is notjust concerned with making money which is quite frankly, that is what glazer family has been. 5ir quite frankly, that is what glazer family has been.— family has been. sirjim ratcliffe also said that _ family has been. sirjim ratcliffe also said that he _ family has been. sirjim ratcliffe also said that he is _ family has been. sirjim ratcliffe also said that he is a _ family has been. sirjim ratcliffe also said that he is a lifelong - also said that he is a lifelong supporter of the club but he also try and failed to buy chelsea last year, so does it make sense from a business perspective for him to be buying it was back i think so. i think that there is always that bit of romanticism and going to buy a football club that you supported as a child. as far as business goes, he had been trying his luck out with a football club in nice and that has been very much a stop start. a lot of misses and i have had a very good

season but i think that is been a very big concern with nice. coach is coming and going, so in many ways there are similarities that can be drawn with his ownership of nice and what united have been going through but overall i think united fans will be very happy to see that glazer family are no longer going to be making the sporting decisions because, quite frankly, there needs to be somebody who was going to put in a clear—cut recruitment plan, who was going to be able to plan, not just for the present, but for the future. i know that sirjim ratcliffe has been critical of some of the decisions and i know he voiced concerns about paying that much money for casemiro at 30 years of age and i would imagine you would have said the same thing for a few of these players. so i think they'll be a big concern for united. how will they move forward. we have seen them spend quite a lot of money spent on veterans who have reached their peak and as well as spending a

lot of money on up—and—coming tablets which has not quite work out either. —— up—and—coming talents. so it will be a big mission for them putting a recruitment plan in place thatis putting a recruitment plan in place that is going to make sure notjust short—term success but also long—term success. and united are a long—term success. and united are a long ways away from challenging for the primarily titles so i think you can't necessarilyjudge the rack with ownership based on one or two years. we will have to wait for five years. we will have to wait for five years down the line to see where our united that, had they been able to bridge the gap on the likes of city in liverpool and overall, how is not just the spot doing but also the infrastructure. he is stated that he is going to commit notjusti billion to make this field possible but also making 300 billion in terms of improving infrastructure and improving the training ground and i think these are absolutely massive things that are going to make a

difference. things that are going to make a difference-— things that are going to make a difference. ., ,, i. . ., difference. thank you so much for “oininr us difference. thank you so much for joining us and _ difference. thank you so much for joining us and happy _ difference. thank you so much for joining us and happy holidays. - let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines.... protestors in serbia — who are claiming that the government manipulated last week's local and parliamentary elections — have tried to force their way into belgrade's city hall. thousands of people had gathered in front of the national election commission, to demand a re—run of the votes. they are accusing the progressive party of serbia's president vucic of bussing in people from outside belgrade, to rig the election. police in sri lanka say they have arrested more than 13,000 suspects during a week—long drive against drug traffickers across the country. they say the operation led to the seizure of almost 4a0kg of various types of narcotics, including heroin. more than a thousand addicts have been sent to a military—run rehabilitation centre. ukraine is celebrating christmas

on december the 25th for the first time — after the government changed from the orthodox christian date, which is on the 7th of january. president zelensky said it would allow the people of his country to abandon the russian heritage of imposing the date for christmas. ukraine's orthodox church formally severed links with its russian equivalent after moscow annexed crimea in 2014. the home secretary james cleverly has said sorry — after criticism following a joke he made at a downing street christmas reception about spiking his wife's drinks. he said his comments were only meant ironically. the were made on the same day he announced a government policy to tackle the issue. with the details — here's our political correspondent ione wells. it has been quite a backlash today after the mirror newspaper reported these comments last night. now, they say that at this

reception, which happened on monday, it was a christmas reception forjournalists, political aides and ministers. they say that james cleverly was speaking to some of the other guests there and made a joke about drink spiking the act of putting drugs or alcohol in somebody�*s drink or body without their consent. now, they say that he said to some of these fellow guests that the ideal spouse was one that was always mildly sedated. 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, a drug that is frequently used in drink spiking. now, as you mentioned there, this came on the same day as the government announced a raft of new measures to try and tackle drink spiking. a spokesman for the home secretary has said that as what was understood to be part of a private conversation, he made what they described as an ironic joke, which he has now apologised for. but the comments have faced widespread criticism today. labour have called them appalling

and said that it is inappropriate to make jokes about drink spiking and also charities too, including the charity women's aid, that have said that ministers have a duty to show survivors of drink spiking, that they take the issue very seriously rather than try to downplay it. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's take a look at some of the stories in the headlines in the uk. a second man has been arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage, after a road sign featuring an art work by the street artist bansky was removed in south east london. a man in his forties was detained after footage of the incident appeared on the internet. a man in his 20s was arrested on saturday over the same alleged offences — he was bailed pending further inquiries. a man has been arrested after a mother was killed in a suspected hit—and—run crash in essex.

48—year—old marie theobald from hainault was walking with two dogs named riley and honey in chigwell, when she was hit by a car. the dogs were also killed. the met police say the driver of the white see—at leon failed to stop. king charles will deliver the second christmas message of his reign from a buckingham palace room featuring a "living" christmas tree. the king is a long—term environmental campaigner and the tree will be replanted after the broadcast. you're live with bbc news. for many people around the world — it's already christmas day — and we here at newsday wish you all the best. many religious services have been taking place. pope francis has led the christmas mass at st peter's basilica. he appealed for peace in the middle east and said it was being drowned out by the futile logic of war, in the very land wherejesus was born.

translation: tonight our hearts are in bethlehem, l where the prince of peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by the clash of arms that even today, prevents him from finding room in the world a larger and more. from finding room in the world. midnight mass is being held in bethlehem this evening to mark the start of christmas, despite the ongoing israel—hamas war. these are live pictures. of course we were bringing you the latest development in the war and how the hamas run health ministry said at least 70 people have been killed in an israeli air strike at al—maghazi refugee camp in central gaza. a lot of the celebrations of course happens cancelled but you are watching live pictures from

bethlehem where the christmas mass is taking place to mark the start of christmas, despite the ongoing conflict that has been taking place since october. four months ago the christian community in pakistan saw nearly two dozen of their churches and tens of homes ransacked by protestors in the punjab city of jaranwala. in the aftermath, the government promised money to help rebuild. but as they prepare for christmas, many are still living with the damage and shock of the attack, as our pakistan correspondent, caroline davies, reports. joy and christmas hats. familiar celebrations mask painful memories. jaranwala's christians have lost much this year. this woman lives in the only room left of her family home. rebuilding is slow. life in this charred space, exhausting.

translation: we are tired now. in this one room, there is no facility. there is no light. no water. everything is finished. we don't have anything. she and her family received two million rupees from the government, just over $7,000. she says that's not enough. translation: it takes a whole lifetime to build a house. - our parents saved each and every penny for the house and now it's all burned. whatever we had you can look at the house. it's all burned. for two million rupees, you can't rebuild this whole house. jaranwala's authorities told us that the amount given to families was based on an assessment of the loss of each house. this is what caused that loss. hundreds gathered injaranwala after two christians were alleged to have desecrated the koran.

allegations of blasphemy. it turned violent. churches, homes, burnt and ransacked. four months on, the authorities say all the churches have been rebuilt. this was the...this was the church. now, this looks...this looks completely different to the last time we were here, when the walls were completely blackened. and instead, of course, it's been completely redone. more than 350 were arrested, but none have yet stood trial. do you think the police should have moved faster? this is a process of law. the biggest stakeholder may be public, but there's one hidden, bigger stakeholder, which has much more stakes than the people actually know. that is the police department. that's the government itself, because we want to show people that such acts will not be tolerated in future. if we don't ensure justice in these cases, such like incident will keep happening. prayers, thoughts on a better year.

buildings are repaired, but trust, they tell us, will take far longer. caroline davies, bbc news, jaranwala. and before we go — let's take a look at the santa's journey around the globe. courtesy of the north american aerospace defence command — or norad... joining me now is brigadier general derek o'malley, who's deputy director of operations at norad and chief santa tracker. thank you forjoining us today. firstly, tell me why you started doing this and how much interest you get from people. so doing this and how much interest you get from people-— get from people. so the started back in 1955, a child _ get from people. so the started back in 1955, a child had _ get from people. so the started back in 1955, a child had a _ get from people. so the started back in 1955, a child had a wrong - get from people. so the started back in 1955, a child had a wrong numberl in 1955, a child had a wrong number and asked bentley called our combat

operations centre. the colonel who answered that call did not want to diss up with the child who was asking about santa so he pretended he was sent to and from there, the tradition began which we have continued over the past 60 years and has grown. today we have had just the speak about 1000 volunteers participating and also to look at this for norad, our mission is to monitor and defend our airspace in north america, 2a hours a day seven days a week so this is just a natural extension of that mission. obviously we tracking a very important package that is the big guy, santa claus tonight. 51am important package that is the big guy, santa claus tonight.- guy, santa claus tonight. such a cute story _ guy, santa claus tonight. such a cute story on — guy, santa claus tonight. such a cute story on how _ guy, santa claus tonight. such a cute story on how it _ guy, santa claus tonight. such a cute story on how it started - guy, santa claus tonight. such a cute story on how it started but| cute story on how it started but since 1955, how have things change? have they delivered more presence, for example? 50 have they delivered more presence, for example?— for example? so of course, the resent for example? so of course, the present count _ for example? so of course, the present count has _ for example? so of course, the present count has gone - for example? so of course, the present count has gone up, - for example? so of course, the l present count has gone up, don't have specific statistics. for us in terms of volume, from that one call, this year we now have received over 260,000 calls. so it is growing exponentially and on our website,

over 60 million people from all over the world have logged in to see where santa is the same life he knew see behind me. where santa is the same life he knew see behind me— see behind me. incredible. my six-year-old — see behind me. incredible. my six-year-old son _ see behind me. incredible. my six-year-old son was - see behind me. incredible. my six-year-old son was asking i see behind me. incredible. my. six-year-old son was asking me see behind me. incredible. my - six-year-old son was asking me the six—year—old son was asking me the other day, how can santa tell who has been naughty and who has been good. so does he really have that list? i good. so does he really have that list? ., ., , ., , i. list? i have to be honest with you. santa keeps _ list? i have to be honest with you. santa keeps the _ list? i have to be honest with you. santa keeps the information - santa keeps the information incredibly classified. at the highest classification level so we did not show that even with me at norad. i have asked them, i want to know how he does it. the big i will not leak that information.- know how he does it. the big i will not leak that information. before we let ou no, not leak that information. before we let you go. does _ not leak that information. before we let you go, does this _ not leak that information. before we let you go, does this stop _ not leak that information. before we let you go, does this stop by - not leak that information. before we let you go, does this stop by at - let you go, does this stop by at norad or is he too busy? he will check in from _ norad or is he too busy? he will check in from time _ norad or is he too busy? he will check in from time to _ norad or is he too busy? he will check in from time to time - norad or is he too busy? he will. check in from time to time just to see high over the radio, but he does never stop in. he is too busy focused on those wonderful children out there. either way, focused on those wonderful children out there. eitherway, he focused on those wonderful children out there. either way, he does ask me to relay to you, please try to be bed between eight and mid light

ideally around 830 so he does not have to bypass your house. he will come back he will forget about you but by making a comeback. so please pretend you are asleep so he can deliver those toys. mr; pretend you are asleep so he can deliver those toys.— pretend you are asleep so he can deliver those toys. my kids passed out at 9pm — deliver those toys. my kids passed out at 9pm so _ deliver those toys. my kids passed out at 9pm so i — deliver those toys. my kids passed out at 9pm so i think _ deliver those toys. my kids passed out at 9pm so i think they - deliver those toys. my kids passed out at 9pm so i think they got - deliver those toys. my kids passed| out at 9pm so i think they got lucky there. thank you so much forjoining us on newsday. and with that, we and this addition. we will leave you with live pictures of where santa claus is. thank you so much for watching the programme. hello there. it is going to be a white christmas, but only over the hills of northern scotland. it's too mild elsewhere. and on sunday, it was the warmest christmas eve since 1997. temperatures in the south reached 15.3 celsius. and these are the temperatures that we've got first thing on christmas morning, ranging from maybe close to freezing in north—east scotland to 12 degrees across southern england, where we're going to see some cloud and we're going to see some rain developing,

and more rain develops in that cloud across england and wales. northernmost parts of england and northern ireland seeing sunshine and showers. just gets wetter through the day in scotland — mostly rain, but over the hills in the north. there will be some fresh snow falling here and that's where we've got some cold air. but otherwise it is going to be a mild day, particularly across the south—east. 1a degrees here, but some gusty winds as well. so we're seeing cloud and rain across many parts of the country on christmas day. boxing day is going to look and feel quite different. mind you, the weather systems that are bringing in the cloud and bringing in that wetter weather are going to slide away and things will calm down a bit as we head into tuesday. there's still going to be a few wintry showers blown in on those brisk winds across the far north of scotland on boxing day. and there may be a few icy patches, but for large parts of the country, it's going to be dry with some sunshine. there is more cloud and rain in the channel that will edge back into the south—west of england in the afternoon.

and some cloud will push ahead of that into parts of england and wales, turn the sunshine a bit hazy. temperatures are going to be lower, but the winds are going to be lighter as well. now, things change again for wednesday because that rain that's in the south—west is going to come northwards again on that weather front wrapped around the area of low pressure and the winds will be strengthening as well. the strongest of the winds, actually, on wednesday could be through the english channel and along the south coast of england — gusts of 50, 60 miles an hour. it's going to be wet across many places, briefly some snow over the pennines. but as that wet weather continues northwards into scotland, here, we could see the snow lasting a little bit longer. now, for many, it may well be rain, but over the hills above about 200 metres, there could be 10—15 centimetres of fresh snow. and of course, it's going to be colder here. elsewhere, though, it is going to be a mild day. despite that wet and windy weather, particularly in england and wales, temperatures will widely be into double figures, but we're going to turn a little cooler later in the week.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme.

there's a huge barrage going on overhead just at the moment. yevgeny prigozhin seemed determined to march his men to the top of the hill. then, he marched them down again. political persecution like something straight out of a fascist or communist nation. this is southern israel and that is gaza, and the war here has dominated the news agenda since early october. tragic and polarising, it's one of the biggest stories of 2023 and one that i have followed here and reported on throughout, speaking to people in israel and in gaza about how they're