from household electricals could be put to better use. i'm sarah campbell. israel is broadening its ground offensive across the centre and south of gaza. the hamas—run health ministry says more than 50 people have been killed there today — with well over 21,000 killed in the last 11 weeks. there's also been an intensification of fighting across the israel—lebanon border in recent days — sparking fears of a wider conflict. a member of israel's war cabinet has warned that the military will take matters into its own hands if the lebanese government, and the international community, doesn't stop cross border attacks by the hezbollah group. benny gantz said time for a diplomatic solution was running out.

earlier, i spoke to our middle east correspondent yolande knell about the fears of a regional escalation of the fighting. since october seventh of course much attention has been focused on the gaza strip and what has been happening there, but right at the other end of israel, on the northern border with lebanon, we have seen the worst cross—border violence since the devastating 2006 war between israel and the powerful iran—backed lebanese militant group hezbollah. just yesterday we saw something like a barrage of more than 30 rockets fired across that border by hezbollah, israel's iron dome system being used to intercept some of them. nobody was hurt, but this is partly because a lot of those northern towns in israel have already been evacuated. just yesterday we saw something like a barrage of more than 30

rockets fired across that border by hezbollah, israel's iron dome system being used to intercept some of them. nobody was hurt, but this is partly because a lot of those northern towns in israel have already been evacuated. this came a day after three people were killed in an israeli strike on southern lebanon, said to have been a hezbollah fighter and two of his relatives. we had then warnings from the israeli army's chief of staff who was visiting that border area that the army was ready for any scenario. we also had, politically, the member of the war cabinet benny gantz himself, a former israeli military chief of staff, coming out telling the world that if the lebanese government and other international players don't get more involved here to stop hezbollah�*s attacks and to move hezbollah away from its positions along the border, then the israeli military would act and we could see a further escalation. which countries do you think benny gantz is directing those comments at specifically? he knows there are different countries around the region that will have some influence over iran, because arab countries themselves are very worried about what is happening here and this idea of regional escalation. also israel's western allies, he is hoping, will put some pressure on iran if they can,

also on the lebanese government which is relatively weak and has found it difficult itself to rein in hezbollah, which is such a big military and politicalforce in lebanon. yolande knell. in the uk there's disruption on the roads and rails today after storm gerrit battered many parts of the uk — with scotland badly affected, and dozens of houses in greater manchester damaged by what the police are calling a localised tornado. engineers in the north of scotland are working to reconnect up to i6—thousand properties which lost power but some residents in remote areas may be cut off for as—hours. aruna iyengar has the latest. storm gerrit swept across much of scotland, bringing heavy snow, flooding homes, causing power cuts and travel misery for many. the major a9 route has reopened after it closed in the highlands for several hours.

meanwhile, thousands of homes across scotland have suffered power cuts. scottish and southern electricity networks said they'd restored power to more than 25,000 homes — but at least 16,000 are still cut off. for some customers — especially those in rural areas — it could be up until friday before power supplies are reconnected. but it is far too early for us to say at the moment, with storm gerrit continuing to cause damage to the power network. 0n the railways, lner — which runs services up the east coast from london to scotland — is warning of major disruption this morning, with some services arriving several hours late. this tree fell on the line at dumbarton, but has now been cleared. in bowling, the lines were flooded. customers stranded by the disruption were told to book hotels, which they can claim back. the west coast has also been badly affected. avanti west coast said its route to scotland was impassable. it stopped services north of preston

yesterday and put on coaches. this couple got stuck in preston after getting on a train at euston. supposed to go all the way through to glasgow, but unfortunately we're here. my granddaughter's birthday tomorrow, so i need to get up there. there was widespread flooding. this was cupar in fife. and in the north of england there was significant damage to homes across stalybridge, after what greater manchester police called a localised tornado. trees and walls came down in what police described as a major incident. 0oh! air travel has been affected, too, with these american airlines passengers experiencing a particularly bumpy landing at heathrow. 0ther flights had to be cancelled. and the rnli is urging people visiting coastal areas to be careful along exposed cliffs, seafronts and piers. aruna iyengar, bbc news.

let's go live now to our reporter phil cunliffe, who's in the village of carrbrook near stalybridge in greater manchester where the tornado hit. good morning to you, we can see in the background a fairly damaged looking building, take us through how extensive the damage has been across that area.— across that area. yes, we are in the north-east — across that area. yes, we are in the north-east of _ across that area. yes, we are in the north-east of manchester _ across that area. yes, we are in the north-east of manchester city - north—east of manchester city centre, i'm told around 50 properties you have been badly damaged by the tornado last night, police calling it a localised tornado but no official confirmation from the met office, you can see the damage to the gable ends of this building here and further along as well. lots of damage to roof tiles,

strewn all over the place, lots of debris, trees, branches, twigs all over the place, lots tidied up but people waking this morning to a scene of devastation, massive damage notjust here but further down the valley in millbrook and also stalybridge where our house actually had its roof blown off last night, just before midnight, one gentleman in the last few minutes told me it sounded like an aircraft taking off, a huge swell of noise resulting in all this damage. people have been evacuated, the majority of those people evacuated have been staying with family and friends, an invitation from the local council of staying in a rest centre in dukinfield town hall but most people are staying with relatives as they await permission to return here when

it has been made structurally safe, they have been told they will have to stay away from your the minute. fences ripped from their post, damage to walls, a car was crushed by a tree in millbrook. this community was affected by fire five years ago, and now they are counting the cost of what looks like a freak, a piece of freakish nature. h0 a piece of freakish nature. no in'uries, a piece of freakish nature. no injuries, which seems extraordinary when you look at some of those pictures. when you look at some of those ictures. , �* ., pictures. yes. at the minute we are not hearing — pictures. yes. at the minute we are not hearing any... _ pictures. yes. at the minute we are not hearing any... yes, _ pictures. yes. at the minute we are not hearing any... yes, we - pictures. yes. at the minute we are not hearing any... yes, we are - pictures. yes. at the minute we are not hearing any... yes, we are notl not hearing any... yes, we are not hearing anything about injuries at this stage. hearing anything about in'uries at this staue. . , , this stage. really good news, phil, thank yom — let's also talk to leah solomon — a resident in millbrook who has been affected by the tornado. how are you this morning? did you

get a decent night's sleep last night? i get a decent night's sleep last niuht? ., ., ., ~ night? i would imagine not. we went to sleep about _ night? i would imagine not. we went to sleep about 2am _ night? i would imagine not. we went to sleep about 2am but _ night? i would imagine not. we went to sleep about 2am but the - night? i would imagine not. we went to sleep about 2am but the council . to sleep about 2am but the council were great, out to tell about 4:30am sewing trees down, they are all out is now finishing off, trees everywhere, lots of debris but thankfully everyone is safe and no injuries which is remarkable, really. it is a mystery... for those who have — really. it is a mystery... for those who have never _ really. it is a mystery... for those who have never slept _ really. it is a mystery... for those who have never slept or _ really. it is a mystery... for those who have never slept or lived - who have never slept or lived through a tornado, what did it feel and sound like? it through a tornado, what did it feel and sound like?— through a tornado, what did it feel and sound like? it was 'ust so loud. it 'ust and sound like? it was 'ust so loud. njust happened _ and sound like? it was 'ust so loud. itjust happened really _ and sound like? it wasjust so loud. itjust happened really quickly. - and sound like? it wasjust so loud. itjust happened really quickly. the| itjust happened really quickly. the wind started, i thought it was blowing a bit of a gale out there and then the hailstones started hitting the window and i looked out the window and it was just white, the window and it was just white, the window and it was just white, the wind was going that fast and i could not see anything. i thought my windows were going to come through it was that loud. one lightning

strike, lasted about 30 seconds or one minute and stopped and the alarms started and all the neighbours came out and there was so much damage, so many trees around us snapped. you much damage, so many trees around us sna ed. ., ~' much damage, so many trees around us sna ed. ., ~ ., , .,, snapped. you think the really fast bit of wind. _ snapped. you think the really fast bit of wind, the _ snapped. you think the really fast bit of wind, the tornado, - snapped. you think the really fast bit of wind, the tornado, only - bit of wind, the tornado, only lasted about a minute? to bit of wind, the tornado, only lasted about a minute?- bit of wind, the tornado, only lasted about a minute? to be fair it felt longer. — lasted about a minute? to be fair it felt longer. i _ lasted about a minute? to be fair it felt longer, i didn't _ lasted about a minute? to be fair it felt longer, i didn't know _ lasted about a minute? to be fair it felt longer, i didn't know whether l felt longer, i didn't know whether to move, run, where to run two. it seemed to happen quite quickly. the wind was building up, getting louder and louder and louder. it was really frightening. like nothing i have seen before.— frightening. like nothing i have seen before. , . , seen before. gosh, it must have been terri in: , seen before. gosh, it must have been terrifying. how _ seen before. gosh, it must have been terrifying, how much _ seen before. gosh, it must have been terrifying, how much damage - seen before. gosh, it must have been terrifying, how much damage has - terrifying, how much damage has there been to your property? in the background where you are you cannot see much but how badly been damaged? it is more my car, slates and tiles off the roof, the bodywork on my car

was hit. i am waiting for the roof to be looked at, roofers are up and down inspecting all the properties, everyone is coming out to see what has gone on. it is quite a poorly lit area anyway, we couldn't tell last night, debris everywhere, lots of the roofs have gone, guttering everywhere. it of the roofs have gone, guttering everywhere-— of the roofs have gone, guttering everywhere. it sounds like you are iioin to everywhere. it sounds like you are going to spend _ everywhere. it sounds like you are going to spend a _ everywhere. it sounds like you are going to spend a bit _ everywhere. it sounds like you are going to spend a bit of— everywhere. it sounds like you are going to spend a bit of time - going to spend a bit of time clearing up, layout, property damage but no people, nobody hurt? luckily, everyone is well. leah solomon in millbrook, thank you very much for talking to us and good luck. the taiwanese government has accused china of mounting a huge misinformation campaign to try to influence the outcome of the island's presidential election, which will be

held next month. china says the claims are being "hyped up." taiwan's ruling democratic progressive party is attempting to win an unprecedented third consecutive term. 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 reaction squadrons. theirjob to meet any incoming threat to taiwan's airspace. these taiwanese fighter jets being scrambled behind me here are heading out into the taiwan strait to confront chinese aircraft that are coming across the strait and probing taiwan's airspace. this is now happening multiple times every day. these pictures are from chinese television showing their fighter jets 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 eavesdrop on the radio traffic

coming from china's navy. radio chatter. that's the chinese navy talking to the taiwanese navy saying, "your territorial waters 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. "they tell us that the taiwan strait is peaceful," he says. "then why are there chinese ships and aircraft harassing us all the time? how is that peaceful?" back in taipei, the former head of taiwan's armed forces says china's tactics are designed to intimidate the island's voters and send a warning to its allies. i think the china is sending a very strong signal to the united states, even to japan. "this is our area, our territorial area. so i can do whatever i want." but also in the meantime,

they can use this kind of aggression to make taiwanese people scared and make taiwanese people capitulate. as polling day approaches, there is little sign the intimidation is working. at this rally, supporters of the frontrunner to win taiwan's presidency told me they would rather fight than capitulate to beijing. i'm very worried, but i'm not afraid, because i will volunteer to be a soldier if they invade our beautiful country. someday, we may be at war or something else. i'm not afraid because i think i'm taiwanese. i need to protect my country. on the coast the jets 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. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a 46—year—old man has died after a car hit a crowd of people outside a property in the burngreave area in sheffield. another person is also seriously injured. two men, aged 23 and 55, are being held by south yorkshire police — and the authorities are appealing for witnesses. more than 86,000 nhs appointments, including hospital check—ups and operations, had to be cancelled because of last week's junior doctors' strike in england. 1500 community and mental health appointments were also affected. next week, junior doctors will take part in a six—day walkout — the longest in the history of the nhs. uk sales of vinyl music albums

increased by almost 12% this year, with sales returning to levels last seen in 1990. taylor swift's 1989 was the best—selling lp, followed by the rolling stones' hackney diamonds. while the vast majority of recorded music is consumed via streaming, fans are choosing vinyl for its better sound quality and its collectible status. you're live with bbc news. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's hugh. it's shaping up as potentially the most thrilling premier league title race for many years. we're almost at the halfway stage of the season and defending champions manchester city, fresh from their club world cup win, have reminded us that they're still very much in the mix. they came from behind to beat everton 3—1 at goodison park on wednesday. second half goals from phil foden, julian alvarez and bernardo silva mean that city are now five points behind leaders liverpool with a game in hand.

i'm really pleased about how we react and prove it again how special is this group of players and club, the mentality, i know we are not top of the league, a lot of things are going to happen every game in the premier league, the team is down low and the medal table can beat everyone. there will be a lot of surprises. meanwhile arsenal could go top on thursday with a win at home to west ham united. if they do, it'd be the 15th time the premier league lead has changed hands already this season. they could go above liverpool, who they drew with in their last game, and their manager is still striving for improvement. that is a natural thing in life, i haven't met anyone who wants less.

my haven't met anyone who wants less. my wife always wants more, my players want more play, more money, more of this. no one wants less so we have positive expectations and we always want to improve. arsenal's north london rivals tottenham could go third with a big win at brighton. after a rough patch of five games without victory, spurs will be looking for a fourth win on the trot. their manager knows he's up against an impressive counterpart in roberto de zerbi this is probably the toughest league competition in the world, he always brings a lot. i don't know the man, i have never met him but i have been told he is pretty determined to do things his own way and they provide a different challenge from a lot of other clubs. autralia just about have the edge after an engrossing third day of their second test

against pakistan in melbourne. pakistan were bowled out for 264 in their first innings, giving australia a lead of 5a, but the home side were reduced to 16 for 4 in their second innings with shaheen shah afridi and mir hamza tearing into the aussie top order. that could have then been 46 for 5 if mitchell marsh hadn't have been dropped. he and steve smith combined for a crucial stand before marsh went for 96. smith was dismissed by the last ball of the day to leave australia on 187 for 6 — a lead of 241, as pakistan attempt to level the series. meanwhile south africa are tightening their grip on day three of their first test against india in centurion. a few moments ago they were 396 for eight in theirfirst innings — a lead of 151 runs — opener dean elgar made 185. and that's all the sport for now. follow the live sport on our website. 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. the appeal comes after colorado's supreme court ruled that mr trump was not an eligible candidate because of his role in the january sixth attack on the us capitol by his supporters in 2021. trump is the frontrunner for the republican 2024 presidential nomination, and is expected to file his own appeal. the labour party is reportedly drawing up plans to create thousands of new nursery places for children under five. the times newspaper says sir keir starmer is looking to create new nurseries in primary schools to provide continuity of education. our chief political correspondent henry zeffman has more. we have known for some time that the issue of childcare is a huge issue forfamilies up and down the country, but also politically. we have seen both parties, the conservative party in government

and the labour party, talking about ways to make childcare cheaper. what you now have the labour party talking about here is not necessarily the cost of childcare but the availability of childcare. there are 20,000 fewer registered childcare providers in england now than there were eight years ago. the labour party has commissioned a review by a former chief inspector of schools to look at ways to increase childcare provision, and one of the things they are looking at is finding ways to incentivise nurseries — or incentivise primary schools, i should say, to have nurseries or expand nurseries if they already have them so that a child would be at the same educational setting from the start of nursery right through to the age of 11 before they move on to secondary school. every year we throw away millions of old or broken electrical itemas of old or broken electrical items and the christmas period is a notoriously bad

time for tech waste. but much of the precious metals, plastics and hardware contained in these items are reusable and that's led some to call for an easier recycling system. we can speak now to scott butler. he's the executive director of material focus, which runs the recycle your electricals campaign. thank you forjoining us, we were saying christmas time, lots of people will have got new things for christmas and are wondering what to do with their old things and they are more valuable than you might think. , , ., , �* ., . ~ think. yes, the period between black frida think. yes, the period between black ffida and think. yes, the period between black friday and christmas _ think. yes, the period between black friday and christmas is _ think. yes, the period between black friday and christmas is notorious - friday and christmas is notorious for a lot of purchasing and buying and tech as part of that. what we are getting a is technology is useful and adds entertainment and value but contain some of the most pretentious —— precious materials on the planet, copper and lithium, important to the green future we are all aiming important to the green future we are allaiming for. important to the green future we are all aiming for-—

all aiming for. difficult to get our all aiming for. difficult to get your head — all aiming for. difficult to get your head around. _ all aiming for. difficult to get your head around. tech - all aiming for. difficult to get your head around. tech in . all aiming for. difficult to get| your head around. tech in the all aiming for. difficult to get - your head around. tech in the same way that fashion became quite cheap and disposable, electrical is in many way have gone the same way so how can they be so cheap but contain such valuable parts? it is how can they be so cheap but contain such valuable parts?— such valuable parts? it is a phrase we have coined _ such valuable parts? it is a phrase we have coined fast _ such valuable parts? it is a phrase we have coined fast tech, - such valuable parts? it is a phrase we have coined fast tech, we - such valuable parts? it is a phrase we have coined fast tech, we have had fast food, fast fashion and we know the challenges posed by that. cumulatively they can be made relatively cheaply, on average around £4 and you can buy earphones and charging cables, many fans popular in the summer on public transport but collectively half a billion items were sold in the last year, 90% of them thrown away, sometimes even marketed as disposables, single—use vapours, it is not throwaway it is full of valuable material. —— vapes.

is not throwaway it is full of valuable material. -- vapes. whose reaponsibility _ valuable material. -- vapes. whose responsibility is _ valuable material. -- vapes. whose responsibility is it, _ valuable material. -- vapes. whose responsibility is it, manufacturers i responsibility is it, manufacturers or local councils?— responsibility is it, manufacturers or local councils? there is a low in lace in or local councils? there is a low in place in the _ or local councils? there is a low in place in the uk — or local councils? there is a low in place in the uk and _ or local councils? there is a low in place in the uk and the _ or local councils? there is a low in place in the uk and the making . place in the uk and the making producer is responsible for financing the cost recycling. retailers have a role to play in offering easier take back for the public and we work with local authorities and others to make it easier at household level is too. around 15% of the uk have kerb—side collections and we want to promote that. and get more people conscious of the fact that, yes, it is great when it is in the news but please never bin it, it is full of precious material. ~ ., ., never bin it, it is full of precious material. ~ . ., ., , , material. what are the worst things that net material. what are the worst things that get thrown _ material. what are the worst things that get thrown away, _ material. what are the worst things that get thrown away, most - material. what are the worst things l that get thrown away, most common things which could easily be recycled?— things which could easily be re cled? , , ., recycled? the biggest thing at the moment is vapes, _ recycled? the biggest thing at the moment is vapes, 270 _ recycled? the biggest thing at the moment is vapes, 270 million - recycled? the biggest thing at the moment is vapes, 270 million of l recycled? the biggest thing at the - moment is vapes, 270 million of them thrown away every year, wasting the copper and they let him inside of them. it is that charging cable you buy in an emergency that breaks quite quickly and really it is a mixture of all this technology, the

big ticket items are mainly well looked after like fridges and tvs but it is the small stuff we are focusing on with the recycle your electricals campaign.— focusing on with the recycle your electricals campaign. scott butler, thank ou, electricals campaign. scott butler, thank you, don't _ electricals campaign. scott butler, thank you, don't throw _ electricals campaign. scott butler, thank you, don't throw these - electricals campaign. scott butler, | thank you, don't throw these things away, recycle them. more to come on bbc news. hello. after a wild wednesday courtesy of storm gerrit, thursday a little bit quieter, but still a blustery day out there with a mixture of some sunshine, hazy in places, but also some showers, even some longer spells of rain. this is the area of low pressure, which is still with us and will be with us as we go through into friday, keeping the winds quite strong across the country, but shoving batches of showers across the uk. and through this afternoon there could be a longer spell of rain in a band which stretches through eastern scotland, moving away from northern england, north wales, through the midlands towards the south west. doesn't quite reach east anglia

and the south east, and some longer spells of rain and hill snow in the west of scotland. your wind gusts today 40, 50 miles an hour, maybe a little bit more, down on yesterday's values, but still a blustery day and still quite mild for late december — temperatures seven to around 13 degrees, of course tempered by that wind. this evening, east anglia, the south east, a batch of heavy rain for a time, that could linger in the channel islands through the night. and then another area of cloud, rain and hill snow pushes through scotland into parts of northern ireland and the far north of england as we head into friday morning. north of that, we'll see some wintry showers and the risk of some ice. so, the country into almost three tomorrow, one zone through parts of northern ireland and southern scotland, northern england, cloudy. outbreaks of rain on and off, some hill snow. to the south of it, hazy sunshine and blustery showers, most frequent in the west. to the north of that band, some more in the way of sunshine, but a few wintry showers. a colder feel here. temperatures only five or six degrees. frost then to take us through into saturday morning. but the next batch of wet and windy weather pushing its way

in could cause some travel problems for the start of the weekend. brief spell of snow in northern ireland and on the hills of northern england, quickly turning back to rain early in the day, but heavy rain across many areas, more snow across scotland, and more strong winds. the snow and the winds won't be quite as significant as they were with storm gerrit, but certainly through saturday, saturday night and into sunday, as this area of low pressure pushes its way eastwards, the winds will remain a key feature, with gales in many places. sunday, at the moment, the winds lightest across parts of scotland, but more in the way of rain, sleet and snow in the north. and temperatures starting to drop as the winds go more into a north westerly direction. new year's eve itself, as the bells toll in 2024, could be driest across southern areas. and then, for the first week of 2024, it will start to feel a bit cooler again with a mixture of sunshine and potentially some wintry showers.

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