european clubs. hello. i'm tanya beckett. homes across scotland could remain without power until friday, following the high winds and heavy snow and rain brought by storm gerrit to large parts of the uk. a major incident was declared, after long queues of vehicles became stranded in the snow. on the roads, trains, ferries, and at airports all over the uk, people have faced delays and cancellations. our correspondent shona mccallum has more. as you can see, we are stuck on the a9, just south of dalwhinnie. thick snow and ice took grip of the a9, the main trunk road between perth and the highlands. a major incident was declared.

richard was at a standstill with his wife and daughter for over six hours, trying to get home to bristol after christmas. so, when we set off from loch laggan, it wasjust raining and the snow was actually melting away, it seemed to be all right. and then as soon as we got to dalwhinnie, itjust was a complete white out. the skies opened and, within minutes, it wasjust complete white out. the traffic had come to an absolute halt and we were going nowhere. away from the white out, and it was the rain that was causing problems in cupar in fife. some residents had to be rescued from their homes, after severe flooding in the town. specialist boats were brought in to help. woke up and i could hear some rustling noises and i looked out and there was two to three feet of water, up to my bed. i'm thinking most things in the lounge will be gone. so obviously, not what you want to wake up to just after christmas. in aberdeenshire and angus,

there were major power outages. winds reached over 85 miles an hour in some parts. across scotland, thousands of people are still without power, with more rural areas being warned it could take 48 hours to restore. it is too early at the moment to say exactly when everyone will be reconnected, but for those especially in rural places, you should be expecting to be without power for some time because of the damage caused and the access challenges our engineers are facing. trains were hit, too. not only were services cancelled, but some passengers were stuck on board for hours. a tree fell down on this line in dumbarton. in bowling, the line remains blocked by flood water and there was a landslip between cupar and leuchars. the operating companies are still working out there, they work 24/7 if they have to, to try and get these roads open as soon and as safely as possible. two top—flight football

games were postponed, including ross county's trip to ibrox. flood warnings will continue into tomorrow and rail inspections for damage will need to be done, so people can expect more disruption. an israeli government minister has warned time is running out to find a diplomatic solution to stop hezbollah firing into israel from lebanon. cabinet minister benny gantz said that the israeli military would take matters into its own hands, if lebanon's government did not act. the israeli military has expanded its ground offensive into palestinian refugee camps in central gaza. heavy fighting is also continuing to the south, in the city of khan younis. the hamas—run health ministry in gaza has said at least 195 people have been killed across the territory over the last day. it says more than 21,100 have been killed — mostly children and women — during 11 weeks of fighting.

our first report is from our correspondent shamaa khalil — a warning you may find some elements distressing. no funeral, no dignified burial, no tombstone. a bulldozer carries their bodies into a mass grave... ..theirfinal resting place. israeli forces are expanding their ground offensive into the densely—populated urban refugee camps in central gaza. and this is the scene at the neighbouring al—aqsa hospital. overwhelmed, they have had to treat the injured on the floor and in hallways. across gaza at the moment, health capacity is at about 20% of what it was 80 or so days ago. so almost all of the hospital beds, almost all of the hospital services, have stopped functioning. on foot, donkey carts are crammed onto the back of trucks, those who fled from northern gaza have come here for safety, but the war

has chased them out again. heavy bombardment continues in the south and there aren't many places left to go. israel says the war will last for months and insists the aims are clear. translation: the next stages of the fighting will also be - powerful, deep and surprising. the campaign will continue and will be expanded as needed to additional locations and arenas. in the west bank, an israeli air strike killed six palestinians. the military says they were armed militants. locals deny it. this, as the palestinian president, mahmoud abbas, has warned that the area could implode. a new refugee camp has now been set up for those twice displaced — first from northern gaza, and now from the centre. this man lost six family members.

"our houses have been destroyed," he says. "this is what's left. it's worse than hell here." the hamas—run health ministry says more than 21,000 people have now died in gaza. those who've survived are running out of places to flee. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, jerusalem. the colorado republican party has asked the us supreme court to intervene, after the state's top court disqualified former president donald trump from appearing on the state's republican primary ballot. earlier this month, colorado's supreme court ruled that mr trump was not an eligible candidate because of his role in the january 6th attack on the us capitol by his supporters in 2021. it was the first—ever use of a section of the us constitution's14th amendment,which was ratified after the american civil war to block secessionists from returning to previous government roles. trump, the frontrunner for the republican 2024 presidential nomination, is expected to file his own appeal. it comes as michigan's supreme court has rejected an attempt

to remove donald trump from running for president in the state next year. us secretary of state antony blinken has held talks with mexican president andres manuel lopez obrador, as a growing migration crisis causes chaos on their shared border. the high—level meeting came as pressure grows on the white house to stem the influx of migrants to the us. us officials said last week that up to 10,000 people were crossing the southern border every day, with an estimated 6,000 walking from tapa—chula to the us border. mr lopez obrador is willing to limit people crossing mexico towards the us.but, speaking ahead of the summit in his country's capital, mexico city, he called for more efforts to address the root causes of migration and warned that it could become a key issue in the 2024 us election.

our mexico correspondent will grant gave his analysis. make no mistake, these are crisis talks, in essence. i think these were very much a crisis talks, won't they? they will grow very hastily between christmas and new year, that is unusual in and of itself. we don't know exactly the specifics of what they spoke about because we weren't allowed to talk to the delegations afterwards, there is no media conference, no press conference. we don't know that there was any major policy decision is reached, because they haven't announced any. we would find it unlikely that that would have been, but clearly there is value in sitting down face—to—face between the two sides when there's all going on at the us border with mexico. some 10,000 people a day being detained, and of course a caravan of somewhere between six and 10,000 migrants from central america and other nations making its way through mexican territory at this moment, so

clearly there was a benefit i think seen by both sides of actually discussing this face—to—face. actually discussing this face-to-face._ actually discussing this face-to-face. will grant, there. the taiwanese government has accused china of mounting a huge misinformation campaign, to try and influence the outcome of the island's presidential election in a little over two weeks' time. taiwan's ruling democratic progressive party is attempting to win an unprecedented third consecutive term. the party is disliked by beijing, which claims taiwan as its own. the dpp�*s presidential and vice—presidential candidates have both been banned from travelling to china or hong kong. from taiwan, rupert wingfield—hayes reports. it's 6am, and this fighter base on the coast of taiwan is already a hive of activity. on the apron mirage 2000 fighter jets from taiwan's rapid ryan jack —— rapid reaction squadrons. theirjob, to meet any incoming threat to taiwan �*s airspace. these taiwanese

fighter jets �*s airspace. these taiwanese fighterjets being scrambled fighter jets being scrambled behind fighterjets being scrambled behind me here are heading out into the taiwan strait to confront chinese aircraft that are coming across the strait macro and probing taiwan �*s airspace. it is now happening multiple times every day. these pictures are from chinese television, showing their fighterjets, and that down below is the coast of taiwan. just over the horizon there is another game of cat and mouse. this man puts up a long antenna to radio eavesdrop on the traffic coming from china's navy. that's the chinese navy talking to the taiwanese navy, saying your territorial waters that you claim do not exist, that you claim do not exist, that the people �*s republic of china is the only legitimate government of china and that taiwan is an inseparable part of china. translation: the?

of china. translation: they tell us the _ of china. translation: they tell us the taiwan _ of china. translation: they tell us the taiwan strait - of china. translation: they tell us the taiwan strait is - tell us the taiwan strait is peaceful, he says. then why are there chinese ships and aircraft harassing us over time? how is that peaceful? backin time? how is that peaceful? back in taipei, the former head of taiwan �*s armed forces is china's tactics are designed to intimidate the alan permane voters and send a warning to its allies. i think china is sending a very strong signal to the united states, evenjapan, this is our area, our territorial area so i can do whatever i want. but they also in the meantime can use this kind of aggression to make taiwanese people scared and make taiwanese people capitulate. i5 make taiwanese people capitulate-_ make taiwanese people capitulate. is polling day approaches. _ capitulate. is polling day approaches, there - capitulate. is polling day approaches, there is - capitulate. is polling dayl approaches, there is little sign the intimidation is working. at this rally supporters of the front runner to untie taiwan �*s presidency said they would rather fight than capitulate to beijing. i’m

than capitulate to bei'ing. i'm very wary * than capitulate to bei'ing. i'm very wary but h than capitulate to bei'ing. i'm very wary but i'm h than capitulate to beijing. i“n very wary but i'm not than capitulate to beijing, “r.” very wary but i'm not afraid very wary but i'm not afraid because i will volunteer to be a soldier. if they invade our beautiful country.— beautiful country. sunday review or _ beautiful country. sunday review or something - beautiful country. sunday | review or something else, beautiful country. sunday - review or something else, i'm not afraid _ review or something else, i'm not afraid because i think i'm taiwanese, i need to protect my country — taiwanese, i need to protect my country. on taiwanese, i need to protect my count . . , taiwanese, i need to protect my count . w., g , country. on the coast, the jets are returning _ country. on the coast, the jets are returning from _ country. on the coast, the jets are returning from yet - country. on the coast, the jets are returning from yet another| are returning from yet another patrol. taiwan has fewer than 300 fighterjets. china more than 2000. whoever wins taiwan's presidential race will face a military balance tipping ever more in china's favour. rupert wingfield—hayes, bbc news, taiwan. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. the gunman, who killed 14 people at a university in prague, confessed to an earlier double murder in his suicide note, czech police have said. the note, found in david kozak�*s home, contained a confession he had shot dead a man and his baby daughter

in woods near the city on the 15th of december, six days before the charles university attack. north korean leader kimjong un has ordered the country's military, munitions industry and nuclear weapons sector to accelerate war preparations to counter what he called unprecedented confrontational moves by the us. that's according to the state—run broadcaster krt. speaking on the policy for the new year at a key meeting of the country's ruling party, kim also said pyongyang would expand strategic cooperation with "anti—imperialist independent" countries. new british coins for 2024 have been unveiled by the royal mint. 50p, £2 and £5 coins have all been created to mark special occasions, including the 200—year anniversaries of both the national gallery in london and the royal now let's move on with avenues. you're live with bbc news.

more than 50 french actors, writers and cinema producers have signed an open letter in support of gerard depardieu, who faces accusations of sexual assault. there've been calls for him to be stripped of his legion d'honneur, the highest french order of merit. the letter denounces what it calls the "lynching" of depardieu, one of france's most famous, and most divisive, actors. he denies any wrongdoing. meghan owen has more. gerard depardieu is one of the most famous faces of french film. the oscar— and bafta—nominated actor is famous for his work in over 200 films and tv series. but since 2020, he's been under investigation for rape. he also faces allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment from over a dozen women. and a documentary released in december revealed sexual comments that he'd made to and about women. now, he strongly denies all of the allegations and there's no court

ruling against him, but it's continued to spark controversy across france. now, the french president, emmanuel macron, came underfire for a tv interview he did in december where he defended the actor, saying that it was all a man—hunt. and most recently, over 50 french actors and other a—listers have written an open letter to le figaro, which is a french newspaper, saying, "don't cancel gerard depardieu." they say that it's a case of lynching. now, here are some of the famous faces who have signed the letter, including former first lady and singer carla bruni. yannis ezziadi is one of the other actors to have signed the letter. translation: gerard depardieu is part of the history _ of french heritage. he has left an indelible mark. so whatever you do, you won't be able to erase it. and we don't want to cancel him and we don't want to do without him. he's essential to the artistic history of our country. the letter has sparked backlash from feminist critics and has divided opinion, including on the streets of paris.

translation: why should he be protected just because he's - an important figure? translation: it's notjust one person making accusations, - there are quite a few, so i don't think it's a lynching. i think there are real questions to be asked about depardieu, who was a brilliant, sublime actor in the '70s and '80s and who's become a real wreck. translation: as long i as he hasn't been judged, we cannot attack him and take him down. i but on the other hand, - we have to stop it taking too many years for him to be brought to trial. i depardieu himself has called the signatories "courageous" and has praised the letter. but mounting accusations against the actor suggest he won't be out of the spotlight any time soon. here in the uk, more than 30 thousand children under five are admitted to hospital with a common winter virus called rsv every year. it usually causes a mild infection with symptoms similar to a cold, but it can lead to bronchiol—itis and pneumonia — and results in between 20 to 30 deaths a year. now an international trial of a new antibody treatment

suggests that number could reduced by more than 80% if babies were given a single injection. our medical editor fergus walsh reports. lion! anda...? keylen�*s mum knows how worrying rsv can be. when he was eight months old, the virus gave him a serious chest infection and temperature and he struggled to breathe. keylen was admitted to hospital in southampton twice and needed oxygen each time. it was very stressful, it brought a lot of anxiety, a lot of doubt, especially as a first—time mother. you're constantly questioning what to do, and i didn't really understand what rsv was, all the symptoms. jessica and ellie from southampton are among 8,000 children who took part in an international trial of the antibody jab. the study showed that a one—off

injection meant children were 83% less likely to be admitted to hospital with an rsv—related infection. jess got the antibodyjab, but they both remained healthy. and i hoped that in the long term, if it was shown to be effective, that it would prevent families from their babies being ill and lots of hospitalisations. a paediatrician in southampton who helped lead the trial said the results were stunning and could bring huge benefits for children and the nhs. every year, rsv has an absolutely huge impact on children's hospital services in the uk. so, to have a drug that we can give as a preventative treatment even during the rsv season that can stop children being admitted is really amazing. this antibody treatment gives children instant protection against one of winter's most common viruses.

the jab, called nirsevimab, contains antibodies against rsv which fight infection. it's not a vaccine — they work by priming the immune system to create antibodies but take a few weeks to be effective. thejcvi, which advises the government on immunisation, is considering whether the antibodyjab or an rsv vaccine for pregnant women should be introduced by the nhs. keylen�*s parents are hoping their one—month—old rhian could get the antibodyjab, but things will need to move fast if an immunisation programme is to be ready ahead of next winter's rsv season. fergus walsh, bbc news. newly released government papers show how the former prime minister tony blair was keen on an idea to relocate wimbledon football club — who at the time were playing in the english premier league — to belfast. they would have been renamed belfast united. our correspondent

mark simpson reports. a brand—new sports stadium in belfast — with a premier league football team. that was the plan 25 years ago, to help bring people together as the peace process improved. the idea of turning wimbledon fc into belfast united fc was discussed openly at the time. what the state papers released today show is the extent of the political discussions behind the scenes.— the scenes. there certainly were differences _ the scenes. there certainly were differences of - the scenes. there certainly were differences of opinion the scenes. there certainly i were differences of opinion on that — the secretary of state was not keen on the idea. in fact, she used the phraseology that she didn't think it was a particularly safe proposal. by contrast, the prime minister, tony blair, was extremely enthusiastic. and he wrote in the middle ofjuly 1998 enthusiastic. and he wrote in the middle ofjuly1998 that he thought it would be excellent if wimbledon moved to belfast and that the government should try to do everything to make that happen. in

try to do everything to make that happen-— that happen. in the end, of course. _ that happen. in the end, of course. it _ that happen. in the end, of course, it didn't _ that happen. in the end, of course, it didn't happen. i that happen. in the end, of. course, it didn't happen. the building of sports stadiums is still a topic of debate these days — as is lochne. and it cropped up too in the old government files. in 1958, it was discussed as the site for a nuclear power plant. lochne, sports stadiums, and disagreements between politicians. these old files show how the present can have echoes of the past. the africa cup of nations kicks off next month in ivory coast. while this international tournament is on, european football will still be underway. we spok to brentford and nigeria star frank onyeka, we spok to brentford and nigeria star frank onyeka. if you're a fan of any of these

players, likejurgen klopp, players, like jurgen klopp, you're players, likejurgen klopp, you're likely to be a bit upset they'll be leaving your club for an entire month to play for the african cup of nations. it doesn't help african players. but does this put european clubs off from signing african players? clubs off from signing african rla ers? ~ w, . players? we will not sell sadeo, mo, _ players? we will not sell sadeo, mo, or— players? we will not sell sadeo, mo, or ali - players? we will not sell i sadeo, mo, or ali because players? we will not sell - sadeo, mo, or ali because they sadeo, mo, orali because they have a tournament in february. but if you have to make a decision to bring in a player, it's a massive one. i decision to bring in a player, it's a massive one.— it's a massive one. i know a lot of coaches _ it's a massive one. i know a lot of coaches that - it's a massive one. i know a lot of coaches that refuse . it's a massive one. i know a| lot of coaches that refuse to sign — lot of coaches that refuse to sign african players because of this _ sign african players because of this. sign african players because of this, . , ., sign african players because of this. . , this. so, club or country - what is — this. so, club or country - what is it _ this. so, club or country - what is it like _ this. so, club or country - what is it like for- this. so, club or country - what is it like for the - what is it like for the players? we've caught up with some familiar faces of african football. . . , . . some familiar faces of african football. . . , . , . football. yesterday there was a boy playing _ football. yesterday there was a boy playing on _ football. yesterday there was a boy playing on the _ football. yesterday there was a boy playing on the streets - football. yesterday there was a boy playing on the streets of i boy playing on the streets of nigeria. now i'll be representing nigeria in afcon. the last afcon in cameroon was onyeka's first experience of leaving brentford to play at the tournament.— leaving brentford to play at the tournament. last time, it was quite _ the tournament. last time, it was quite difficult, _

the tournament. last time, it was quite difficult, because i was quite difficult, because getting back, the team is settled, the team are playing well, so getting back into the team again takes a long time. mentally, it's also something that a player needs to be — you need to be strong. it's not easy leaving your team for four weeks. w, w, weeks. one, two, three, four! # everywhere _ weeks. one, two, three, four! # everywhere we _ weeks. one, two, three, four! # everywhere we go - # everywhere we go # everywhere we go # west ham are massive # west ham are massive # everywhere we go # everywhere we go. # everywhere we go. # # everywhere we go. #. # west # everywhere we go. # west ham's mohammed kudus, who's on fire right now, faces the same dilemma. the lions want him to stay, but fans of the black stars will be dying to see their star man. just imagine being a fan of both...! i don't really like the way we fuse — i don't really like the way we fuse afcon and european football. i think we should have — football. i think we should have a _ football. i think we should have a calendar that could help both _ have a calendar that could help both of— have a calendar that could help both of us. i —— what about

south — both of us. i —— what about south america? the tournament... if they can move afcon to— tournament... if they can move afcon to december to suit the nations— afcon to december to suit the nations that are participating because _ nations that are participating because of the heat, why can't they— because of the heat, why can't they do— because of the heat, why can't they do something about nations cup? _ they do something about nations cup? let's work together and try and — cup? let's work together and try and fix— cup? let's work together and try and fix this tournament at an appropriate time that will not affect anybody.- an appropriate time that will not affect anybody. when you call some _ not affect anybody. when you call some players, _ not affect anybody. when you call some players, they - not affect anybody. when you call some players, they will i call some players, they will not play. it will do to come to our opponent and you're not getting permission to play. current ghana manager chris hutan thinks club versus country is not as important as it once was. country is not as important as it once was-— country is not as important as it once was. most clubs, head coaches. _ it once was. most clubs, head coaches, managers _ it once was. most clubs, head coaches, managers accept - it once was. most clubs, head | coaches, managers accept now that when they take an african player, particularly an african player, particularly an african player of a particular level, that there is a chance that they will lose them for a period during the african cup of nations.—

of nations. so, with afcon around the _ of nations. so, with afcon around the corner, - of nations. so, with afcon around the corner, which. around the corner, which players from europe do you think will light up the tournament?- think will light up the tournament? . ,, . tournament? can i think about that? i tournament? can i think about that? i have — tournament? can i think about that? i have one _ tournament? can i think about that? i have one in _ tournament? can i think about that? i have one in mind. - that? i have one in mind. should i— that? i have one in mind. should i say _ that? i have one in mind. should i say myself? - that? i have one in mind. | should i say myself? yes! laughs — laughs i say vitor osimhen, v —— myseifm _ i say vitor osimhen, v -- myself- - -_ i say vitor osimhen, v -- myself... i say vitor osimhen, v -- m self... ,, , ., myself... stay with us here on bbc news- — hello. storm gerrit has certainly made its presence felt across the uk, with a combination of significant snow, flooding rain and some exceptionally strong winds. just a selection of the gusts recorded during wednesday and on into the evening. wind gusts of close to 90mph in the northern isles. now, on the satellite picture, this storm looks beautiful, this swirl of cloud here. the main body of the wet and windy weather is now sliding away northeastwards, up towards scandinavia, but low pressure is still firmly in charge.

lots of isobars on this chart. that means it is going to stay windy for many of us during thursday, and there will be lots of showers. those showers heavy, possibly thundery, wintry over hills in the north of the uk. across england, wales and northern ireland, some very gusty winds, gusting to 40, 50, maybe 60mph around some irish sea coasts, but certainly not as windy as it has been across scotland. temperature—wise, well, 5 or 6 degrees in the north of scotland, 12 or 13 in south wales and southern england, and then, as we head through thursday night, there will be further showers or longer spells of rain. still some wintriness mixing in across the northern half of the uk with this northerly wind kicking in. that will bring a somewhat chillier feel. in fact, i think we'll see quite a lot of rain, sleet and snow developing in northern scotland by the start of friday morning. that is a sign of things to come. we'll see this showery and, at times, wintry, weather continuing to affect northern parts of scotland with a strong northerly wind. pretty windy in other areas as well. a band of showers across northern ireland, into northern england, something wintry mixing in here over higher ground,

sunshine and showers further south. a slightly chillier feel to the weather on friday, and then into saturday, here comes our next weather system. some heavy rain in places where we really do not need it. some snow developing over high ground in northern england and scotland. we could see some snow to quite low levels for a time in scotland. 5 degrees for aberdeen, 12 degrees for plymouth, and so low pressure will be firmly in charge of our weather as we head towards the end of the year, towards the new year's eve celebrations. in fact, this low could well bring another bout of very windy weather indeed. so this is the forecast through new year's eve and into new year's day. it looks quite unsettled.

now on bbc news, women in hollywood: styling the stars. a warm welcome. i'm kim chakanetsa. there are many ways that someone can make their name in hollywood. it could be an award—winning performance, or even a headline—making appearance. and behind any memorable look is often a team of talented creatives who've worked tirelessly to bring it

all together, both on—screen and on the red carpet. today, i'm in hollywood to meet two incredible women who are responsible for some of the most iconic looks of the past few years. zerina akers is an emmy award—winning fashion stylist and costume designer. she's best known for her work with beyonce. she was queen bey�*s personal wardrobe curator for seven years. and you can see her creations on the visual album, black is king. in 2020, zerina founded black owned everything, a platform supporting black artists and creators. zerina, welcome. thank you. and camille friend is a renowned hairstyle designer. and she's been nominated for an oscarfor her work on black panther: wakanda forever. she's worked on seven other marvel titles, including captain america, and on otherfilms, like the hateful eight, django unchained, and the little mermaid. she also trains younger generations of hairstylists through her academy, hair scholars. camille, welcome. thank you so much. welcome to you both, ladies. thank you. now, you both work with strong, powerful women, from

angela bassett to michaela coel.