is being drowned out by the futile logic of war. and — as santa sets off to deliver presents around the world — we hear from the team tracking his progress. welcome to newsday, from bbc news — broadcasting live from singapore, where it's eight 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. our correspondent shaimaa khalil has been following developments from bethlehem in the occupied west bank. what we understand from the hamas—run health ministry is that the air strike hit this densely populated residential block. so it's several buildings in very close proximity to one another. as you said, the death toll is likely to rise. that's according to the spokesperson, 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've seen footage of first responders from the palestinian red crescent walk through really narrow areas, trying to navigate the rubble to get to people and try using torch lights and moving the rubble with their hands with the help of others around them. we've also seen footage of the injured being rushed into the al aqsa hospital, the nearby hospital. there was no space in the hospital that some people were being treated on the ground, on 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." he said, there's just no safe place. there are two big challenges ahead after this. one is that the palestinian red crescent said that the airstrike has caused the main road connecting these refugee camps,

to shut down. that's going to make it very difficult for rescue teams, for ambulances to get through. but also remember that the hospitals in gaza are struggling, whether it's fuel or lack of supplies or water. so as this rescue operation scrambles on, it's also going to be difficult for the medical staff. and has there been any response from the israeli army? yes, there has the idf has responded. they said they are looking into the incident, but they also said that they are committed to international law and the uptake feasible actions to make sure that civilians are safe. essentially, they are looking into the incident and we're waiting to hear more from them about exactly what happened. 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 percent 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... ca nto na! ..and dominance under managerial great sir alex ferguson, united became a commercial powerhouse with a globalfan 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 drives jim. 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.

so — the end of a long process. i asked footballjournalist zach lowy whether he was surprised by the outcome. i think it was only a matter of time before glazers removed some percentage of the control. it was clear that they were not willing to commit to a full sale which is why we saw the move breakdown from jassim. but from a united's fan perspective it's fan perspective it's don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. yes, the glazerfamily 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. with all of the money being spent since the glazers�* 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 premier 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 glazers has been. sirjim ratcliffe 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. 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 very much stop start. a lot of false dons and i have had a very good season but i think that is been a very

big concern with nice. coaches, players 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 glazers 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, notjust for the present, but for the future. i know that 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 talents which has not quite

work out either. so it will be a big mission for them putting a recruitment plan in place that is going to ensure notjust short—term success but also long—term success. united are a long ways away from challenging for the premier 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 down the line to see where our united that, had they been able to bridge the gap on the likes of city or liverpool and overall, how is notjust the squad 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 million 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.

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. still to come on newsday — we'll look at how christmas is being celebrated around the world — and i'll ask the president of east timor what it means for his country. 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. midnight mass is being held in bethlehem this evening to mark the start of christmas, despite the ongoing midnight mass has been held in bethlehem, in the west bank. many of the traditional events surrounding the nativity have been cancelled, while the war in gaza continues. the patriarch of jerusalem discussed the war in his homily. my my thoughts go to gaza and its 2 million inhabitants. it has been described very well, their situation which is known to all. no place or home is safe

for anyone. thousands of people have been deprived of their basic needs. they are hungry, they are even more exposed to incomprehensible violence. we arrive about 20,000 people dead and children, elderly, women living in terrible situations. 90% i have heard tonight, 90% of the population is displaced. the chronicle... there seems to be no place for them, not only physically, but also in the minds of those who decide the fate of nations. i don't know how it is possible not to think about them and their future and their lives. this is the situation also in which the

palestinian people have been living in for too long. even if they are living in their own land, the palestinians continually here and state are told there is no place for them. for decades, they have been waiting for the international community to find solutions to end the occupation under which they are forced to live and its consequences. yes, it is about time to end the occupation and all of its consequences. i don't want to be too political about some things, but i have to say,. as christmas day arrives first in asia, we want to tell you abut the celebrations in timor leste where the majority of the 1.5 million catholic population enthusiastically marks the day, with family and friends — at mass, and at home, or the beach. we're joined now by the country's president,

jose ramos—horta, from the capital dili. thank you forjoining us on christmas day, which of course is a key event in your country. firstly, what does christmas mean to you and how do you celebrate with your fellow citizens?— celebrate with your fellow citizens? ., " ~ ., citizens? we are 99.6% catholic nation that _ citizens? we are 99.696 catholic nation that that _ citizens? we are 99.696 catholic nation that that is _ citizens? we are 99.696 catholic nation that that is the _ citizens? we are 99.696 catholic nation that that is the second i nation that that is the second most catholic country in the world after vatican city. and i personally have been engaged in tradition from the last five years or so which has been dormant because of covid but other decisions made, traditionally throughout the country everywhere in the country, on the roadside, thousands of people particularly youth build a replica of the nativity scenes in the incredible creativity

representing the birth ofjesus christ. right now, ongoing at the garden of the presidential palace we have an exhibit of nativity scenes. and already, for almost two weeks, we have had many different activities, but most importantly was last night and today. last night hundreds of thousands of people came to the churches from all over the country and in dili, the capital, around 250,000 people. he couldn't say around 99% of the people went to church last night. —— you could say around. church last night. -- you could say around-— say around. we were 'ust showingi say around. we were 'ust showing some i say around. we were just showing some pictures i say around. we were justj showing some pictures of say around. we were just - showing some pictures of the celebration. i want to ask you some political questions, if i may. because you are now on a path to join the association of

south east asian nations or asean. what will that mean for east timor and he hoped to get that signed and sealed in 202a? between myself as president and the prime minister, we have a set target tojoin the prime minister, we have a set target to join in 2025. that will give us more time to prepare our resources, both infrastructure as well as human resources to meet the obligations of a full membership. we already participate in all of the summits, all of the meetings at every level and in a 2025, it will only be the formality of joining as the 11th member. what this means is that we will be part of a market of 700 million people. with a joint gdp of about $4 trillion.

already, we have numerous of investors flocking to timor leste from the southeast asia and north—east asia and goal country regions. in particular from the united arab emirates as well as australia, new zealand, japan and korea and china. so i expect that our asean expression will boost our gdp many times. at asean expression will boost our gdp many times.— gdp many times. at the same time, southeast _ gdp many times. at the same time, southeast asia - gdp many times. at the same time, southeast asia is - time, southeast asia is grappling with many issues geopolitics, economy and also issues like man mark lamont military rule as well as china possibly growing influence as well. how do you read the landscape of the region in the year ahead?— landscape of the region in the year ahead? the big challenge and embarrassment _ year ahead? the big challenge and embarrassment for - year ahead? the big challenge and embarrassment for all - year ahead? the big challenge and embarrassment for all of. year ahead? the big challenge i and embarrassment for all of us in southeast asia and for the international community is the

unresolved conflict where tens of thousands of people have been brutalised by the military regime and elected military regime and elected military regime houthi think they are a law unto themselves acting with absolute impunity and who are completely isolated in asean, but they are getting military hardware from russia. so it is russia providing military hardware to myanmar to prosecute the war. china tried to help pacify the situation, but the military is not listening to asean leaders neither china.— neither china. president of east timor, _ neither china. president of east timor, thank - neither china. president of east timor, thank you - neither china. president of east timor, thank you so l neither china. president of - east timor, thank you so much forjoining us on newsday today. and before we go —

let's take a look at santa's journey around the globe — courtesy of the north american aerospace defence command — or norad. i spoke to brigadier general derek o'malley of norad — so this started back in 1955. a child had a wrong number and accidentally called our combat operations center. the colonel who answered that call didn't want to disappoint the child who was asking about santa, so he pretended he was santa. and from there the tradition began, which we've continued over the past 68 years, and it has grown today. and it has grown, today. we've had just this week we've had about 1000 volunteers that are participating. and also to look at this for norad our mission is to monitor and defend our airspace in north america 24 hours a day, seven days a week. so really, this is just a natural extension of that mission. obviously, we're tracking a very important track.

and that, of course, is the big guy, santa claus tonight. incredible. now, my six—year—old son was asking me via the day, how can santa tell who's being naughty and who's being good? so does he really have that list? so i got to be honest with you, santa keeps that information incredibly classified at the highest santa classification level. so he doesn't even share that even with me here in the norad, his chief santa tracker. i've asked him, i want to know how he does it. the big guy, he won't leak that information. and before we let you go, does he stop by at norad or he's too busy? yeah, you know, he'll check in from time to time just to say hi over the radio. but, no, he doesn't ever stop in. he's too busy, focused on all those wonderful children out there. by the way, he does ask me to relay to you, please try to be in bed between eight and midnight, ideally around 8.30. so he doesn't have to bypass your house. he will come back, he's not going to forget about you. but why make him double back, be asleep, or at least pretend

you're asleep so he can deliver those toys. let's show you where santa claus is before we go. it is showing he is in the south atlantic near south georgia. so those children there are getting their presence is delivered. so you can check that out on their website. it also a lot more on our website so do check that out as well. but for now, thank you so much for watching newsday. 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. 14 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. can you see me in here? laughing: yeah. oh, yeah. ruining another camera.

my name is godfrey henry oliver palmer and i was born injamaica in1940. gosh, it's a big setting. carmen esme, e—s—m—e, steele. i am mrs monroe. laceta alexander reid. 20th may 1931, in manchester, jamaica. yeah.