and there is severe travel disruption across the uk — storm gerrit is causing strong winds, rain and snow to some parts of scotland. and former european commission presidentjacques delors — described as the architect of the modern eu — has died aged 98. hello. the israeli military is keeping up its offensive across the gaza strip, with southern and central areas now the main focus of attack. over the past 2a hours, israel says it has carried out strikes on at least 200 hamas targets in gaza. hamas — which is holding about 130 people hostage in gaza — is designated a terror organisation by the uk and us. the hamas—run health ministry says at least 195 people were killed as a result of those strikes. the united nations human rights office has said it's deeply concerned about the continued

bombing of gaza's middle area. in a further sign of the conflict�*s wider reverberations — turkey's president has lashed out, comparing israel's actions in gaza to atrocities committed by the nazis. in the red sea, the danish shipping company, maersk, says it is prepared to resume sailings, despite the threat of attack by houthi rebels in yemen who are supporting hamas. yolande knell has the latest on the situation in gaza. on the move again. palestinian families now desperately fleeing much of central gaza, as israel's ground offensive expands into a new part of the besieged territory. "me and my kids, everyone is evacuating," says abir benat. "already my niece was killed." casualties fill even the floor of the nearby hospital. the world health organization describing the scenes here as a "bloodbath". and this as israel's army is warning that the war will continue for many more months,

as it insists it will find hamas leaders who masterminded the deadly 7th of october attacks. a government spokesman says israel's aims are clear. we can't destroy hamas�*s ideology, unfortunately, that is not realistic. but we can remove them from power. we can prevent them from having control over this territorial enclave. and that will do a lot to save lives and prevent future conflict in the region. with the number of palestinians killed now in excess of 20,000, according to local health officials, this is one of the most devastating military campaigns in recent history. in rafah yesterday, it was a bulldozer that unceremoniously buried the dead. and there is the constant danger of this war spreading. we've seen more attacks by iran—backed groups across the middle east in recent days. and there has been more violence, too, in the occupied west bank. today, this was an israeli strike

which killed at least six palestinians in the west bank. israel's military says they were armed terrorists. locals deny it. it comes after the palestinian president, a political rival of hamas, warned the area could implode. translation: what is happening in the palestinian territories - is far beyond a disaster and far more than a genocide. the palestinians have never seen anything like this. even during the nakba catastrophe in 1948. what is happening today is far worse. meanwhile, this was a missile being fired at northern israel by hezbollah in lebanon. and israel's military says it shot down this drone, sent by houthi rebels in yemen over the red sea. the fighting now extends across multiple fronts. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. we mentioned incendiary comments from the turkish president, recep tayyip erdogan. at an event in ankara on wednesday, he said this about israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu.

translation: all the values - of humanity have been destroyed before our own eyes over the last 80 days. we saw israel's nazi camps in the stadiums, right? they are in every sense the way we were talking about hitler. how does benjamin netanyahu and hitler differ? is there anything that netanyahu does that is less than hitler? no. mr netanyahu hit back, saying mr erdogan was in no position to preach morality, accusing him of trying to commit genocide against kurdish people and imprisoning journalists. dr brandon friedman is the director of research at the moshe dayan centre at tel aviv university. welcome at tel aviv university. and thank you for being with us. welcome and thank you for being with us. with warnings from the idf their operation could continue for months, what is your assessment of to what extent they are achieving their goals in gaza?—

extent they are achieving their coals in gaza? ., ~ i. ., ., goals in gaza? thank you for having me. let goals in gaza? thank you for having me- let me — goals in gaza? thank you for having me. let me extend _ goals in gaza? thank you for having me. let me extend my _ goals in gaza? thank you for having me. let me extend my wishes - goals in gaza? thank you for having me. let me extend my wishes to i goals in gaza? thank you for having l me. let me extend my wishes to your audience for a happy holidays. i think israel is currently fighting on seven different fronts according to our defence minister. so the war is quite complex, not only is israel deeply engaged on the ground in gaza but we are facing attacks in the north both in lebanon and syria and attacks from iraq as well and to a certain degree you can argue the houthi police have been targeting us for months so i think the is really success should be measured on the basis of their objectives which is to destroy hamas's military and coveting capacity and to return hostages. i want to remind your audience of hot the hostages there are still 130 being held in gaza and theirfamilies are still 130 being held in gaza and their families feel their absence every day. that is a humanitarian issue as well. in terms of whether

israel will ultimately be able to destroy hamas's military and governing capacity, it is a question of time. i think the big question is how much time israel will have to complete its mission, we heard from our chief of staff, it is going to take, it may take a couple of years even to finished assuring hamas's military infrastructure. they have reportedly 45 km of underground tunnels in gaza which makes basically gaza and underground launching pads for on is really infrastructure. so on one hand i think there is a demand within israel to return the hostages and obviously, the entire country, near 360,000 people are mobilised as part of this core which takes a toll on the economy. so there isn't some pressure on the work to have some

quick success, but i think the security establishment and the political elites were elected —— recognise it will take time. you political elites were elected -- recognise it will take time. you are the exert recognise it will take time. you are the wed in _ recognise it will take time. you are the expert in regional _ recognise it will take time. you are the expert in regional politics. - the expert in regional politics. what is your thought about what neighbouring arab countries want, how much longer they are willing to tolerate this and in particular, saudi arabia which is moving towards a normalisation of relations with israel before october the 7th. i think most of the air countries want to see a cease—fire now because from their perspectives the war is destabilising regionally and i think the houthi mac escalation over the last few weeks, for them, is an indicator of the dangers of this war and the potential expansion and escalation which they see as a huge risk. so on one hand a country like saudi arabia, to some extent the emirates have no love lost for hamas and would like to see them defeated by israel. on the other hand there is widespread public support for the

palestinians in both countries, which their leaders are very attentive to. so there is a bit of attention there in what they would like to see happen in a strategic sense and i think they're fierce in terms of the destabilising effects of the war. ,, . , _, . of the war. since this conflict started to — of the war. since this conflict started to come _ of the war. since this conflict started to come with - of the war. since this conflict started to come with the - of the war. since this conflict . started to come with the attacks of the war. since this conflict - started to come with the attacks on october the 7th and the retaliatory campaign in gaza, there have been repeated calls and warnings of a possibility of a conflict spreading regionally, escalating to the north of israel, but also a wider regional conflicts. and we see more attacks by iranian backed militias in different parts of the regions of what is your assessment of what could happen next in terms of an escalation? i could happen next in terms of an escalation?— could happen next in terms of an escalation? i think the american, the size of— escalation? i think the american, the size of the _ escalation? i think the american, the size of the american - the size of the american mobilisation and the operation to guard from the houthi attacks in

yemen, they are in ukrainian partner is an encouraging sign —— iran partner. and the americans deter greater involvement from libya bully other regions as well. but the question is how they will continue to test the americans, as i see it, and that deathly prevents the —— definitely presents the greater escalation. and it really is israel versus iran in all of its partners in yemen, iraq and syria and lebanon and to some degree in west bank and gaza. so i think whether this war ultimately expands into a regional iran versus us backed and

potentially others, it remains the essential question moving forward. brilliant to get thank you. one of largest newspapers in the us, the new york times, is suing the companies behind chat gpt — open aland microsoft. the times alleges that the powerful artificial intellegence models used millions of articles for training without permission. the newspaper is seeking damages, as well as an order that the companies stop using its content and destroy the data they've harvested. the lawsuit says the ai companies "seek to free—ride on the times' massive investment in itsjournalism." the defendants are yet to respond to the lawsuit. live now to professor of intellectual property and innovation law at bournemouth university, dinusha mendis. welcome and thank you for being with us. explain what this case is all about for us.— us. explain what this case is all about for us. ,, , , about for us. sure. this is the new york times — about for us. sure. this is the new york times suing _ about for us. sure. this is the new york times suing chat _ about for us. sure. this is the new york times suing chat gpt-

about for us. sure. this is the new york times suing chat gpt p - about for us. sure. this is the new york times suing chat gpt p which j about for us. sure. this is the new l york times suing chat gpt p which is created by openai and their allegation is that openai has used millions of their articles for their outputs and of course, chat gpt will argue that they can't do that under the fair use exception —— that they can. and the times will argue that they cannot do that because the material is under a pay wall. so it is an interesting case in the first of its kind and the start of such cases we will see in the future. explain a bit around the interpretation of the laws and rules around ai because they are very new and in their infancy stage, are they able to deal with this kind of thing? able to deal with this kind of thin ? ~ , ,., , able to deal with this kind of thin? ~ , ., able to deal with this kind of thing? absolutely. that is a great cuestion. thing? absolutely. that is a great question. currently _ thing? absolutely. that is a great question. currently we _ thing? absolutely. that is a great question. currently we do - thing? absolutely. that is a great question. currently we do not - thing? absolutely. that is a great. question. currently we do not have any ai specific laws, as such. they have the eu ai act which was passed

around two and half weeks ago, but thatis around two and half weeks ago, but that is the first ai act two behalf, but apart from that, for example in the us it is the current copyright law that will be used in that is the fair ai use exception so it will be the use of the material fair, how much has been used, questions like that. of course the law has to catch up that. of course the law has to catch up as well so these are the tricky situations that we currently have with al technology.— situations that we currently have with al technology. what could it mean for the _ with al technology. what could it mean for the future _ with al technology. what could it mean for the future of _ with al technology. what could it mean for the future of ai, - with al technology. what could it mean for the future of ai, do - with al technology. what could itj mean for the future of ai, do you think? 50 mean for the future of ai, do you think? ~ . ., , think? so i thinki certainly continue — think? so i thinki certainly continue to _ think? so i thinki certainly continue to grow _ think? so i thinki certainly continue to grow and - think? so i thinki certainly continue to grow and we i think? so i thinki certainly i continue to grow and we have think? so i thinki certainly - continue to grow and we have seen the great benefits of ai and of course that will be the same, but what we see is similar cases coming out. so we have sought a similar case in the uk against getty images sued nai company and whilst it is

going to be a situation where ai will grow, i think the law will certainly, we will see more laws in this area and the first is the ai act that i have just spoken aback, but there will be similar laws coming out in the us and in other countries as well.— countries as well. interesting to net our countries as well. interesting to get your thoughts _ countries as well. interesting to get your thoughts there. - countries as well. interesting to get your thoughts there. thank| countries as well. interesting to . get your thoughts there. thank you forjoining us. the south korean actor lee sun—kyun — best known for his role in the oscar—winning film parasite — has been found dead. police say his body was discovered in a car in the capital seoul. the star — who was a household name in south korea — was recently questioned by police about alleged drug use. nick marsh reports. we simply won't go out there. lee sun—kyun was a man at the top of his game. he played the father in the park family in the searing social satire parasite, which won the oscar for best picture in 2019. even before that, he was a household

name in south korea, playing the leading man in well—loved romcoms and dramas. but his life was turned upside down two months ago when reports emerged that he'd been visiting an escort karaoke bar. i'm sorry for the concern i caused. he was accused of taking marijuana and ketamine with one of the women. mr lee strenuously denied the drug use and said he was being blackmailed. south korea has strict laws on drugs. this weekend, he was questioned by police overnight. it lasted 19 hours. celebrities are held to a high standard in south korea. using drugs, visiting escort bars — those kinds of things can ruin the career of a public figure. but there's also been sympathy for a man who, in a western country, at least, might not have found himself in this situation.

this is where lee sun—kyun was found alone in his car in one of seoul's main parks. police had received a report that he'd left his home and written what appears to be a suicide note. his family have asked the public to respect their wishes and allow them to grieve. nick marsh, bbc news, seoul. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. rail passengers are experiencing major disruption to theirjourneys because of planned engineering works being carried out at london st pancras. east midlands railway have cancelled all services towards luton airport because of a signalling issue. the midland main line from st albans has also been hit by similar problems. network rail has apologised for the delays. people will soon be able to buy pint—sized bottles

of wine from supermarkets, pubs, and restaurants. the new 568ml size will sit alongside those already available, as part of a government drive to allow more choice for consumers. it will not apply to wine sold by the glass in pubs and restaurants. renowned australian chef bill granger — known as the �*godfather�* of avocado toast — has died at the age of 5a. a self—taught cook from melbourne, granger became a celebrated global restaurateur and food writer. he died in a london hospital on christmas day — with his wife and three daughters by his side. you're live with bbc news. more than 18,000 homes in scotland are without electricity, as storm gerrit continues to cause disruption across the uk. people have had to be rescued from their homes in fife because of flooding. and a "major incident" was declared on a major road in the highlands, when miles of vehicles were stuck in snow.

thick snow and ice took group of this highway in a major incident was declared. richard was at a standstill with his wife and daughter for over six hours trying to get a hold to bristol after christmas. 50 to get a hold to bristol after christmas.— to get a hold to bristol after christmas. , y ., , christmas. so when we set off it was 'ust rainin: christmas. so when we set off it was just rnining and _ christmas. so when we set off it was just raining and the _ christmas. so when we set off it was just raining and the snow _ christmas. so when we set off it was just raining and the snow was - just raining and the snow was actually— just raining and the snow was actually melting away and seemed to be all— actually melting away and seemed to be all right and as soon as got further, — be all right and as soon as got further, it— be all right and as soon as got further, itjust was be all right and as soon as got further, it just was a complete white — further, it just was a complete white out _ further, it just was a complete white out. the skies opened and within_ white out. the skies opened and within minutes it was complete white out. within minutes it was complete white out the _ within minutes it was complete white out. the traffic had come to an obsolete — out. the traffic had come to an obsolete halt and we were going nowhere — obsolete halt and we were going nowhere. �* ._ obsolete halt and we were going nowhere. �* ., ., ., nowhere. away from the white out and it was the rain — nowhere. away from the white out and it was the rain causing _ nowhere. away from the white out and it was the rain causing problems. - it was the rain causing problems. some residents had to be rescued

from their homes after severe flooding in the town. specials boats were brought in to help. look flooding in the town. specials boats were brought in to help.— were brought in to help. look up to some rustling _ were brought in to help. look up to some rustling noises _ were brought in to help. look up to some rustling noises and _ were brought in to help. look up to some rustling noises and i - were brought in to help. look up to some rustling noises and i looked l some rustling noises and i looked down and two or three feet of water up down and two or three feet of water up to my bed and i? obviously not what you want to wake up to for after christmas. in what you want to wake up to for after christmas.— what you want to wake up to for after christmas. in aberdeen sure and an . us after christmas. in aberdeen sure and angus more _ after christmas. in aberdeen sure and angus more than _ after christmas. in aberdeen sure and angus more than 20,000 - after christmas. in aberdeen sure - and angus more than 20,000 people are without power. winds reached over 85 miles an hour in some parts. storm gerrit has mainly impacted scotland at the moment with around 20,000 customers without power, access proving a real challenge for engineers and weather is expected to be worse again overnight. we are keeping a close eye on that. if you are an area affected by a weather warning, we would urge you to meet preparations just now and know that engineers and customer service teams are working around the clock to

reconnect power as quickly and safely as they can.— reconnect power as quickly and safely as they can. trains were hit as well. safely as they can. trains were hit as well- not _ safely as they can. trains were hit as well. not only _ safely as they can. trains were hit as well. not only were _ safely as they can. trains were hit as well. not only were services i as well. not only were services cancelled, but some passengers were stuck on board for hours. a tree fell on this line and it remains blocked by flooding as well. advice to passengers _ blocked by flooding as well. advice to passengers as — blocked by flooding as well. advice to passengers as always _ blocked by flooding as well. advice to passengers as always is - blocked by flooding as well. advice to passengers as always is to - blocked by flooding as well. advice | to passengers as always is to check before _ to passengers as always is to check before you — to passengers as always is to check before you travel. check on the scotland — before you travel. check on the scotland website or download the app. disruption will continue into tomorrow— app. disruption will continue into tomorrow in some parts of the country — tomorrow in some parts of the count . ., ., , tomorrow in some parts of the count . ., country. two top-flight football names country. two top-flight football games were — country. two top-flight football games were postponed - country. two top-flight footballl games were postponed including country. two top-flight football - games were postponed including cross county. a series of met office yellow rain and snow warnings are still in place tonight. flood warnings and alerts will continue until tomorrow.

here in the uk, the chancellor jeremy hunt will unveil his spring budget on march 6th, in what could be his last chance to introduce tax changes before a general election. the conservative party has been hinting it could make pledges on housing and taxes, as rishi sunak struggles to turn which he delivered last month in the end he did not do that. but we are seeing that come back again a suggestion that he is considering doing that in the budget. there are certainly conservative mps who would like to see inheritance tax go. they don't like it as a tax and they think it would draw a dividing line and see it as a challenge to leave her. but there are other conservative mps were publicly saying to the chancellor, no, it should not be considered and instead he should be focusing on things like reducing income tax. the total tax burden at the moment is at an historic high. so the budget will be the last opportunity for the government to set out those big

plans. what in it is like to shape the election campaign all the labour is saying that whatever the government does in march is not going to be able to repair the damage that it has done to the economy. the lib dems saying likewise it is too late for to turn the tide on flatlining growth and public services at breaking point. there's been a lot of spec elation as well about what the data being announced here, the 6th of march could mean, does that tell us there is going to be an election in may, i don't think it does that, but what it does do a certainly leave that as an option that is open for the government to do. one less thing to talking about inheritance tax and the speculation. downing street has addressed that today he was asked about the story, it said that it would not comment on speak elation and pointed out that it is only paid by a small number of households. so it feels like it might be slightly dampening that down. the former european commission presidentjacques delors — described as the architect of the modern eu — has died aged 98.

he helped create the single market allowing the free movement of people, goods and services within the eu. and he was also a key figure in the creation of the euro. adam fleming looks back at his life. he was the architect of modern europe. in the 80s and 90s, the president of the european commission thought the eu should come more closely together, socially, economically and politically. some british conservatives reacted in horror. no! no, no! born to a working class devoutly catholic family, jacques delors first became a banker. in 1981, president mitterrand appointed him finance minister. four years later he headed for brussels. good friends theyj certainly aren't... margaret thatcher signed up to the single european act, which tore down barriers to trade. but jacques delors then championed something she couldn't stomach. this government has no intention of agreeing to the imposition of a single currency.

the iron lady saw him as europe's new bonaparte. that would be entering a federal europe through the back delors. the sun said the same in less diplomatic language. in 1992, the maastricht treaty laid the foundations of the euro. translation: let's look. to the future, with economic and monetary union, the 12 member countries can hope to draw the greatest possible benefits of a common economic area, with its social dimension too. arguments over that future led to the downfall of margaret thatcher and john major. tony blair and gordon brown disagreed onjoining the euro. in 2016, britain decided enough was enough and left. the british people have spoken and the answer is we are out.

at times, financial crises in europe have been blamed on the way the single currency was constructed. but the high priest of european integration never had a doubt. finally, we want to show you a huge statue of the colombian singer shakira unveiled in her hometown. the bronze culture is more than six metres tall and shows the star swiveling those famous hips of hers. secure and her parents have been to visit it. the placard praises her for all of her musical and charitable work. in reference to her hit song, hips that don't lie, you know you know it, shakira is among

them names most search this year, before the statute she settled a tax fraud case and released a song about her ex footballer. a year to rememberfor many her ex footballer. a year to remember for many different reasons. stay with us here on bbc news. thank you for watching. hello there. storm gerrit has brought quite a bit of disruption up and down the country, with heavy snowfall, blizzards across scotland, some road closures there — certainly the a9 — some localised flooding and some trees down from the strong winds. we're likely to see further disruption from this system as we move through the overnight period. now, the strongest of the winds will be confined to the north—east of scotland, the northern isles, through the evening. but overnight, we hold on to the windy weather. in fact, renewed gales for southern and western coastal areas, bands of showers, blustery showers, spreading their way

from west to east. severe gales with further blizzards across north—east scotland, certainly for the northern isles. it'll be a little bit chillier, ithink, tonight than it was the previous night. lengthier clearer skies at times across more central and eastern parts. thursday, we've still got low pressure nearby. it's going to be another windy day, not quite as windy as today, but still gales, north—west england, north and west wales, bands of showers merging together to produce longer spells of rain as they spread towards the east. and we'll see further wintriness over the hills of scotland. and very gusty winds to come for all, but certainly around southern and western coasts. temperature—wise, 11 to 13 degrees. it won't feel like that because of the strength of the wind. another chilly day to come across scotland. thursday night, we see further showers rattling their way in from the west. it stays blustery. longer spells of rain across scotland with snow on the hills. turning very windy again, far north of scotland into the northern isles. and it will be cold here.

temperatures ranging from around 5 to 7 degrees further south with further clear spells. friday, we see this area of low pressure bring gales again to the north—east of scotland, with showers of rain and certainly some snow, so we could see blizzard conditions again here. further south, the cold air will be moving down in towards central areas, so it could turn this band of showery rain a little bit wintry on the hills. southern britain will see sunshine, a few rain showers, but it will be chillier across the board — single figure values, i think, for most of us. then we will look to the atlantic, to this new area of low pressure, deep low which will move in for saturday, and that's likely to last into new year's eve as well, we think. so it could bring some disruptive weather both saturday and sunday. again, snow on the hills in the north, gales, heavy rain. it'll be turning chillier for all areas as we move into the 1st of january.

this is bbc news. the headlines: israel is expanding its operations in central gaza, as it warns the war with hamas will last for months. it says it has struck 200 targets in the last day. the hamas run health ministry says... the new york times is suing

microsoft and openai, claiming chatgpt has used millions of newspaper articles without permission. a major incident has been declared in scotland, as storm gerrit sweeps across the uk, bringing strong winds, snow and heavy rain. and former european commission presidentjacques delors — described as the architect of the modern eu — has died aged 98. now on bbc news, it's sportsday. hello, welcome to sportsday. i'm adam wild. the new club world champions are back in premier league action at goodison tonight. manchester city face everton looking to make up ground at the top. australia take the upper hand in melbourne, thanks to skipper pat cummins. and at the ally pally, former world champion rob cross is through to the next round. tonight, it's the turn of

teenage sensation luke littler.