hello, i'm christian fraser. ukrainian president volodymyr zelensky has said he is "grateful" to his air force for a missile attack that badly damaged a russian warship in the black sea. the novocherkassk was hit during an attack on the port of feodosiya in russian—occupied crimea overnight. local officials say at least one person was killed. ukraine said the ship was destroyed. president zelensky wrote on telegram, "the occupiers will not have a single peaceful place in ukraine". the uk's defence secretary also commented on the incident. he wrote on x that, "this latest destruction of putin's navy demonstrates that those who believe there's a stalemate in the ukraine war are wrong.

they haven't noticed that over the past four months, 20% of russia's black sea fleet has been destroyed." and he goes on to say that, "russia's dominance in the black sea is now challenged, and the new uk and norway led maritime capability coalition is helping to ensure ukraine will win at sea." our correspondent, james waterhouse — who is in the poltava region in central ukraine — has been explaining what this means. it is significant in the sense that ukraine can still navigate russian air defences and strike in the heart of a peninsula that russia has held so tightly onto since 2014. now, the novocherkassk was in port, in feodosiya, suggesting that it was probably being loaded with men, equipment, or both. now, this is a major vessel, it's enormous, and it will no doubt hamper russia's ability to supply troops further north in ukrainian

territory it occupies. what is less clear is for how long operations will be disrupted. we've seen ukraine launch long—range missiles over the past year to great effect for kyiv. it has undermined russia's presence there and it has also frustrated supply lines. there is no doubt that russia's navy, the dominance it enjoys in the black sea and off the coast of crimea, that has been weakened slightly with these long—range missile strikes, to the extent that some ports are no longer completely blockaded. but i don't think that we are going to see it influenced the front lines immediately, which ukraine would so dearly want to happen. russia has not only held onto the fifth of ukrainian territory it occupies, but it is attacking as well in some areas. but this is much needed good news for kyiv against the backdrop of waning western support. the un's humanitarian agency says a hospital in gaza has been overwhelmed by victims of an israeli air strike.

the hamas—run health ministry says 240 people have been killed in 2a hours. israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, has vowed to intensify the fight against hamas — designated a terror organisation by the uk and us governments. there are again fears that the conflict could spread across the region. the us says it has carried out what it calls "necessary and proportionate" air strikes against pro—iranian militias based in iraq. they were in response to attacks on american bases in the region. our correspondent, shaimaa khalil, is injerusalem. standing in what used to be her home. "ourthings, mum, they're gone." israel's bombing of rafah in southern gaza has continued, leaving those who fled there at a loss of where to go. translation: israel claims | that there are safe residential areas, or secure zones, but this attack shows that that's a lie. israel's military operation has intensified in khan younis, also in the south.

little amal was sleeping with her family. the bomb hit them and killed her uncle. "they were sleeping," she says, "then i heard a big bang. "rocks landed on us." amal�*s baby sister is three days old. baby mariam is bearing the brunt of a conflict she was born into. as the military operation deepens into gaza, tensions have risen on israel's northern border with lebanon. israel's defense minister, yoav gallant, has visited troops in the north, after he said they'd received cross—border fire from hezbollah, with the idf targeting some of the group's infrastructure. translation: hezbollah looks at what's happening in gaza - and understand very well what we did in gaza can also be done in beirut. hezbollah operatives were also targeted by the us in iraq.

the pentagon said us forces carried out air strikes against what it called iran—sponsored militias in response to an attack on the erbil air base. israel's war in gaza is not close to being over, says the prime minister, and in its wake other fronts grow more tense in already volatile areas in the region. shaima khalil, bbc news, jerusalem. the line of breaking those we are getting from new delhi in india. we have been told there has been a blast at close approximately to the israeli embassy in new delhi. no embassy staff have been injured in that explosion. new delhi police and security team say they are investigating the situation. let's speak now to barbara slavin,

a distinguished fellow at the stimson center in washington and runs a blog, middle east voices. she's in washington. can we talk about this attack in iraq first of all thethat have been a number of strikes recently on american bases. but in this one there were three americans injured. do you think that factor into decision making?— do you think that factor into decision making? do you think that factor into decision makin: ? . ., , ., decision making? that have been over 100 of these — decision making? that have been over 100 of these attacks _ decision making? that have been over 100 of these attacks since _ decision making? that have been over 100 of these attacks since october - 100 of these attacks since october 7. clearly, these militias in iraq have decided that it is they are too to show some sort of opposition to the us presence in their country. the united states, as the chief ally of israel, is being held responsible throughout much of the middle east and much of the world for israel's actions in gaza, for israel's retaliation for the hamas attacks of october 7. retaliation for the hamas attacks of october7. i retaliation for the hamas attacks of october 7. i think what is scary is it is being kept within certain bounds, but there is always a danger

of greater escalation. apparently in one of these attacks, one of the americans was critically injured. i5 americans was critically injured. is that linked in any way do you think to the israel strike in the syriac race they hit a base there and killed an iranian general. do you think the two attacks in iraq and syria are linked?— think the two attacks in iraq and syria are linked? they are linked in the sense that _ syria are linked? they are linked in the sense that israelis _ syria are linked? they are linked in the sense that israelis continuing l syria are linked? they are linked in the sense that israelis continuing a j the sense that israelis continuing a shadow war it has been involved in with iran for years and years. using syria as the venue for these kind of attacks. but this is also a warning by the israelis, i think, to the iranians, as if they needed one, that an expanded war would not be in their interest. you also mentioned their interest. you also mentioned the clashes across the border in lebanon. all of these fronts have the possibility of greater

escalation. i still believe what we're now is calibrated. it's a way for these groups to show their opposition that i think if the war in gaza were to wind down, these attacks would also wind down. but unfortunately, as benjamin netanyahu has said, israelis not stopping as attacks on gaza and it is not stopping killing hundreds of civilians. live now to juliette touma, director of communications at united nations relief and works agency for palestine refugees. the situation in central gaza is the major concern at the moment i think for the united nations because of this attack on the refugee camp were many people had fled from northern gaza. what do you know about the situation in and around the al—aqsa hospital at the moment? situation in and around the al-aqsa hospital at the moment?- situation in and around the al-aqsa hospital at the moment? according to re orts, hospital at the moment? according to reports. there — hospital at the moment? according to reports, there are _ hospital at the moment? according to reports, there are multiple _ hospital at the moment? according to reports, there are multiple and - reports, there are multiple and several— reports, there are multiple and several attacks over the past 24

hours _ several attacks over the past 24 hours with — several attacks over the past 24 hours with high levels of casualties. the exodus that you and i have _ casualties. the exodus that you and i have seen— casualties. the exodus that you and i have seen since this war began more _ i have seen since this war began more than — i have seen since this war began more than 11 weeks ago, that exodus is repeating — more than 11 weeks ago, that exodus is repeating and more people are being _ is repeating and more people are being forced to flee what we call the middle areas now, going to where it is quite _ the middle areas now, going to where it is quite uncertain. | the middle areas now, going to where it is quite uncertain.— it is quite uncertain. i want to talk about _ it is quite uncertain. i want to talk about the _ it is quite uncertain. i want to j talk about the communication it is quite uncertain. i want to - talk about the communication between the united nations and the israeli side at the moment. just listen to what the spokesman for the israeli government has said in the last few minutes about the role of the un in gaza. on the deeply problematic involvement of the united nations in this conflict, for too long international officials have been deflecting blame on to israel to cover up for the fact that they are covering up for hamas. in failing to condemn hamas for hijacking aid and failing to condemn it for waging war out of hospitals, they have been complicit partners in hamas's human shield strategy. they have let the world down,

we are demanding global accountability and that we are leading by example. the ministry of foreign affairs has announced that these are requests by un employees will no longer be granted automatically and will instead be considered on a case—by—case basis. your response to that? and also this issue of visas and how problematic that could be for your operations. there are a number that speak for themselves. the aid that gaza has been _ themselves. the aid that gaza has been getting over the past 11 weeks has been _ been getting over the past 11 weeks has been very, very little. in fact, probably— has been very, very little. in fact, probably 10% of what gaza used to -et probably 10% of what gaza used to get on _ probably 10% of what gaza used to get on a _ probably 10% of what gaza used to get on a daily basis. so much, much more _ get on a daily basis. so much, much more aid _ get on a daily basis. so much, much more aid is — get on a daily basis. so much, much more aid is to— get on a daily basis. so much, much more aid is to come into gaza. we are seeing — more aid is to come into gaza. we are seeing very worrying reports of hunger— are seeing very worrying reports of hunger and — are seeing very worrying reports of hunger and starvation in some places — hunger and starvation in some places. meanwhile, the war continues, the displacement

continues, the displacement continues and un shelters are overcrowded and overrun. this idea of visas and — overcrowded and overrun. this idea of visas and people _ overcrowded and overrun. this idea of visas and people not _ overcrowded and overrun. this idea of visas and people not being - of visas and people not being allowed in. obviously, with the lack of fuel there are not extensive operations across gaza. what would it mean if staff were not able to go over the border at rafah to replace and replenish the resources you have their? we and replenish the resources you have their? ~ .., and replenish the resources you have their? ~ ., ., ., ., ., their? we call for a humanitarian access not _ their? we call for a humanitarian access not only _ their? we call for a humanitarian access not only for _ their? we call for a humanitarian access not only for supplies, - their? we call for a humanitarian access not only for supplies, but| access not only for supplies, but also for— access not only for supplies, but also for personal, people need to be allowed _ also for personal, people need to be allowed into the territory in question to provide aid and assistance to people in need, including _ assistance to people in need, including in greek shelters that are overcrowded. by the way, getting overcrowded. by the way, getting overcrowded by the men as the expansion— overcrowded by the men as the expansion of the military campaign continues — expansion of the military campaign continues. —— including in unrwa shelters — continues. -- including in unrwa shelters. , ., , .,

shelters. the bombing raid seem to be intensifying _ shelters. the bombing raid seem to be intensifying despite _ shelters. the bombing raid seem to be intensifying despite what - shelters. the bombing raid seem to be intensifying despite what the - be intensifying despite what the white house is calling for. do you have an aid operation of any note at the men inside gaza? can you disperse a two areas that are deemed safe? , ., _, , disperse a two areas that are deemed safe? , ., .., , .., disperse a two areas that are deemed safe? , ., , ., safe? yes, of course we can, our teams continue _ safe? yes, of course we can, our teams continue to _ safe? yes, of course we can, our teams continue to be _ safe? yes, of course we can, our teams continue to be on - safe? yes, of course we can, our teams continue to be on the - safe? yes, of course we can, our. teams continue to be on the ground. we are _ teams continue to be on the ground. we are the _ teams continue to be on the ground. we are the largest un agency on the ground~ _ we are the largest un agency on the ground. we bring and what we can and we cannot— ground. we bring and what we can and we cannot access all areas we should be accessing, including in the north of the _ be accessing, including in the north of the gaza — be accessing, including in the north of the gaza strip because, very simply, — of the gaza strip because, very simply, there is either very little or no— simply, there is either very little or no access to parts of the gaza strip, _ or no access to parts of the gaza strip, including in the north. thank ou for strip, including in the north. thank you for the — strip, including in the north. thank you for the update _ strip, including in the north. thank you for the update on _ strip, including in the north. thank you for the update on the - strip, including in the north. t�*iafia; you for the update on the situation in gaza. we are content to keep an eye on news in new delhi. that has been an explosion in the insanity of the israeli embassy in new delhi.

around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. homelessness among military veterans rose by i4% over the past year, despite government funding to support those facing difficulty with housing and wraparound social care. according to the department of housing, 2iio veteran households were assessed as homeless — up from 1,850 last year. ministry ofjustice figures show that shoplifters would benefit the most from the government's suspension of prison sentences under i2—months. shoplifters account for about 12.5% of sentences that would be suspended under the new rules, which would see offenders punished under community payback schemes. sam allison will be the first black referee in the premier league for 15 years when he oversees sheffield united versus luton town in about 45 minutes. he is just the second black referee in the league's history. the fa have been trying to improve diversity amongst match officials — with only 8% of the 30,000 registered referees identifying

as black, asian or mixed heritage. you're live with bbc news. sport — and for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here's olly foster. hello from the bbc sport centre. all those boxing day fixtures are already up and running. there are five matches in the premier league, the game at stjames park is approaching full—time, and nottingham forest are heading for theirfirst win under new manager nuno espirito santo. newcastle took the lead through an alexander isak penalty, but chris wood equalised by half—time against his former club. he tried not to celebrate as he completed his hatrick in the second half. it's 3-1. two matches kick off at 3pm.

bournemouth against fulham, and sheffield united are at home to luton, more on that game in a moment. leaders arsenal aren't playing until thursday, so there could be a change at the top of the table. liverpool are the first with a chance of doing that. they will find themselves top if they avoid defeat at second from bottom burnley. aston villa could also finish the day on top. they're level on points with liverpool. they go to old trafford later, facing manchester united, who are in action for the first time since the news on christmas eve that sirjim ratcliffe is buying a 25% stake in the club. united have just one win in their last five league games. i think burnley could have easily had much more points because they had so many good spells in the games where they didn't finish the situation off. the young players in some positions. so, i know we that they are much better in the position than the points they have. we all know if you win once and you have the chance to play

three days later again, then you will win again, and that's exactly what we expect. whilst down at the bottom, there's a really significant tie with luton taking on sheffield united. both came up from the championship last season and are currently in the relegation zone, but luton manager rob edwards believes that some of his side's critics have been harsh in dismissing their hopes of staying up. being honest, i probably would have written us off as well from outside. but i think there are ways of doing that, and i think some people were disrespectful with how they did it. and that angered me a little bit. but i don't use that, in the end i can't affect what other people think, talk, write, say, whatever. it's down to us to get results. just one game in the scottish premiership this boxing day. leaders celtic are at dundee — they kick off in the next 45 minutes. celtic can move five points clear of rangers ahead of the old firm

match coming up on saturday, but after today rangers will have two games in hand on their rivals. the boxing day test in melbourne is underway. australia will be looking to seal the series against pakistan after winning the first test in perth. australia, put into bat, made 187—3 on a rain affected first day at the mcg. marnus labuschagne top scoring, on 44 not out. and south africa have started their test series against india. it's day one at centurion. tthe home side are on top. they won the toss, and that looked to be a very good decision. kagiso rabada has taken five wickets. it's currently 176—7. a quick update from stjames's park. nottingham forest still 3—1 up. that will be back—to—back defeats if it stays like that for newcastle united. not having a great

christmas. i will be back with an update in the next hour. high streets across the uk are open after the christmas break hoping to attract shoppers with the boxing day sales. festive spending in high street stores was up 3.5% on last year, according to the latest research from mastercard. the figures suggest online spending declined by more than 2.5%. our business correspondent, theo legget, reports. bells chime christmas is done. the leftovers are in the fridge, and on the high street the sales stickers are out in force. the boxing day sales were once a major annual event, eagerly awaited by bargain hunters. but in recent years, pre—christmas discounting events, such as black friday, have stolen some of that cachet. it is also possible these days to shop online and find hefty reductions throughout the festive period. it's the first time in a long time that we have come out on boxing day for shopping.

we normally do it online. we normally do it online, the missus wanted to come up in the morning, and we just fancied a change and thought why not? all saints had a really good _ black friday sale on, white company, these are places where we shop. and they were so much better, but we were holding out - for boxing day sales - because we always come without the kids and it's time for us, but they are rubbish. i some high street retailers won't be opening today, they include big names such as marks & spencers, next and john lewis. but experts say enticing offers shouldn't be hard to find. a lot of people spent less this year on the christmas shopping because of the cost of living crisis. as a result, retailers have a lot more stock on their hands, so the good news for you and me is there will be bigger discounts post—christmas. the question is whether people will actually have money to spend. polling from barclays suggests they will. it is predicting that shoppers will spend an average of £253 each over the coming days. that would be the highest level in four years. but for high street retailers,

there is another major challenge. many consumers now prefer to do their shopping online, from the sofa. so, persuading them to surrender their phones and tablets and rush into the town centre is not going to be easy. theo leggett, bbc news. nearly 7.5 million people in the uk watched the king's speech on christmas day. and for those who want more royal viewing, the bbc will tonight broadcast a new documentary. cameras followed king charles for more than a year for the programme. it features new video of the king with his grandchildren rehearsing for the coronation, as well as informal moments with the queen. the documentary will be narrated by actress helena bonham carter. the amazon rainforest has been experiencing the worst drought since records began, with one of its main rivers recording the lowest levels in 121 years. the drought is the result of the effects of el nino, coupled with a warmer atlantic ocean and a heatwave in south america.

but scientists fear that this drought means the amazon is moving faster towards its tipping point — where plant and animal life can no longer recover. live now to doctor miriam marmontel, who is a researcher at the mamiraua institue for sustainable development, and an expert on fresh water mammals in the amazon. is this unprecedented as far as you are aware? it is this unprecedented as far as you are aware?— are aware? it is totally unprecedented. - are aware? it is totally unprecedented. it - are aware? it is totally unprecedented. it was| are aware? it is totally - unprecedented. it was very are aware? it is totally _ unprecedented. it was very shocking to find 19 carcasses of dolphins one morning along the margins of a lake, because that is absolutely unusual. we have never seen anything like that. then five days later we found 70 caucuses, which is absolutely extreme and unprecedented. what does that mean for— extreme and unprecedented. what does that mean for people _ extreme and unprecedented. what does that mean for people who _ extreme and unprecedented. what does that mean for people who live _ extreme and unprecedented. what does that mean for people who live in - extreme and unprecedented. what does that mean for people who live in the - that mean for people who live in the amazon region and getting around? i know other people travel by boats.

does that mean they become stranded? several communities became isolated, there was no communication available, there was no access to clean water. people were suffering a lot. the government had to send food and water into the communities. some people even had to spend time in boats to be close to water and away from their communities. in boats to be close to water and away from their communities.— boats to be close to water and away from their communities. in terms of climate change. _ from their communities. in terms of climate change, we _ from their communities. in terms of climate change, we look _ from their communities. in terms of climate change, we look at - from their communities. in terms of climate change, we look at the - climate change, we look at the pattern, obviously this year we have to talk about the plot effect mixed up to talk about the plot effect mixed up in that. but you get the sense we are releasing the diet effects of a warming planet within the amazon basin? irate warming planet within the amazon basin? ~ ., ., ., , , basin? we do. unfortunately it is cominu at basin? we do. unfortunately it is coming at us _ basin? we do. unfortunately it is coming at us very _ basin? we do. unfortunately it is coming at us very much - basin? we do. unfortunately it is coming at us very much faster i basin? we do. unfortunately it is l coming at us very much faster than what was predicted. to us, it was like a slap in the face to see it happening right in front of us,

because the lake where the dolphin mortality occurred is right in front of the city where we live. when we have other in situ of research. it was just so shocking to see it and feel it. in the amazon, everyone depends on the water, notjust the dolphins, but humans as well. so, it was a biodiversity and humanitarian crisis. in the amazon we all depend on the water to drink, to cook. it happened directly to a mammal species, just like us. just like us, they live in the water. so we could see the consequences immediately on ourselves. even diseases, respiratory diseases due to forest fires and also associated with dirty water. ., , , , water. how is the president responding _ water. how is the president responding to _ water. how is the president responding to all _ water. how is the president responding to all of - water. how is the president

responding to all of this? i water. how is the president | responding to all of this? he water. how is the president - responding to all of this? he has been working — responding to all of this? he has been working heavily _ responding to all of this? he has been working heavily on - responding to all of this? he has been working heavily on that, i responding to all of this? he has been working heavily on that, it | responding to all of this? he has . been working heavily on that, it was one of the promises of his election. even when he started, he brought together different countries in the area to talk about the problems. he has been passing legislation to decrease the illegal activities in the area. but the previous presidency was very harmful to the amazon, so it will take a long time to reverse the situation that we have presently.— to reverse the situation that we have presently. to reverse the situation that we have resentl . . ., ., ~' have presently. what would you like to see the international— have presently. what would you like to see the international community | to see the international community do in terms of its response? i to see the international community do in terms of its response? i think we all have — do in terms of its response? i think we all have to _ do in terms of its response? i think we all have to work _ do in terms of its response? i think we all have to work together - do in terms of its response? i think we all have to work together to - we all have to work together to change the situation. i think we have already missed the time to try row for the paris agreement of 1.5 degrees, that we couldn't pass that limit. maybe we can make the 2 degrees limit, but it is going to take everybody�*s effort into it.

from the local to international community, we need to work towards it together. so it is going to take commitment from the government to make changes, we have to reduce drastically of four emissions of greenhouse gases at a world level. at a local level, we have to reduce the degradation and devastation of the degradation and devastation of the rainforest.— the degradation and devastation of the rainforest. ., ,, , ., , . the rainforest. thank you very much. do stay with — the rainforest. thank you very much. do stay with us- _ boxing day brought a lot of fine, dry, settled weather across the country thanks to a ridge of high pressure, but all change into tomorrow. we have a storm expected tomorrow. we have a storm expected to bring gales, heavy rain and significant hills known across scotland. it remains unsettled into first date with windy weather. this is the storm winding itself apart in

the atlantic. widespread sunshine for the rest of today. one or two showers around, light winds. signs of cloud and rain getting into the far south ahead of the storm later in the day. otherwise, it stays dry for most. it is a cold start to the night across the far north of england and scotland with early frost and ice. then wind, rain and cloud spreads northwards tonight, so it turns stormierfor us cloud spreads northwards tonight, so it turns stormier for us all. we will see snow falling over the hills in the north. the storm very much in control of our weather on wednesday, lots of isobars on the chart so very windy indeed. we have concerns about snowfall amounts across scotland. some very nasty conditions to be had

across northern areas, let it windy elsewhere. gales certainly around coastal areas, up to 60 mph through the channel. later in the day, chance of severe gales to develop for northern and the western isles. double figure values for most but cold across scotland. we have some pretty severe weather on the way for wednesday. low pressure hangs around as we head into thursday. another blustery and windy day to come. sunshine and showers mostly in the north and west. some snow on the hills across scotland. the best chance of seeing lengthier rice builds will be across the east of england. unsettled for the rest of the year and the run—up to the new year, with rain or showers at times.

this is bbc news, the headlines... russia admits a missile fired by ukraine has badly damaged one its warships docked in occupied crimea. president zelensky has praised the attack. the us hits three targets in iraq — which they say were being used by iranian—backed militants. the strikes came hours after us personel were injured in a drone strike on an american airbase in iraq. israel carries out

fresh strikes on gaza — where it says it's intensifying its campaign against hamas. meanwhile the un warns medical facilities in gaza are overwhelmed. and — the amazon rainforest experiences its worst drought since records began. scientists worry it's moving faster towards the point — where plant and animal life can no longer recover. now on bbc news, talking movies: the changing face of hollywood. crowd chatters. people were genuinely excited about the movies and about movie stars. on oscar night, it was a big deal. it was huge.

everybody went to the movies and everyone cared.