good afternoon. around 100 homes have been damaged by a small tornado in greater manchester as storm gerrit swept across the country. police declared a major incident in tameside after roofs were torn off houses, trees blew down and walls collapsed. intensification of fighting across the issue— lebanon border... the international community, if it doesn't stop cross—border attacks by

the hezbollah group. bundles ofjoy in a time of anguish. quadruplets recently born in one of the overwhelmed hospitals. i was away from their home and with supply short, this woman and her husband fit for the safety of the newborns. because there is a lack of baby formula, i tried to breast—feed them but there is no nutritious food they can eat, the man explained, disposable nappies are not available so i only change them three times a day. children continue to suffer in this brutal war. she does not yet know her mother has been killed in her israeli air strike. a battle to save lives close to the southern front line of the fighting. israeli

ground forces are pushing into areas they say are strongholds of hamas and is targeting its command centres. this tunnel was miles long, now destroyed. increasingly, israel's attention is notjust focused on the war in gaza but on its northern border with lebanon. where there are almost daily exchanges of fire with the powerful iran backed armed group, hezbollah. sirens sent israelis in northern towns rushing to shelters. yesterday saw some of the heaviest incoming rocket fire since tensions surged in october. hezbollah aims to tie up israel's military resources that could otherwise be deployed in gaza. israeli ministers warn it's a dangerous strategy. translation: the situation on israel's northern - border demands change. the stopwatch for a diplomatic solution is running out. if the world and the lebanese government don't act in order to prevent the firing on israel's

northern residents, and to distance hezbollah from the border, israel will do it. as israeli fighterjets strike in southern lebanon, in response to the latest rocket fire, a grim pattern repeats itself. but the fear is that this could yet slip into another devastating all—out war. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. to a lecturer in politics at cardiff university — she's originally from lebanon and an expert on hezbollah... who exactly are hezbollah? founded in the wake of _ who exactly are hezbollah? founded in the wake of the _ who exactly are hezbollah? founded in the wake of the invasion _ who exactly are hezbollah? founded in the wake of the invasion of- in the wake of the invasion of lebanon by israel in 1982, has become a large popular political

party, considered a very strong ally of hamas. regarding israel, hezbollah has been established because of the invasion in 1982, 2006 if invaded lebanon and for the deadly war. currently fighting across the border with israel to defend palestinians on the one hand and to pre—empt an invasion, israeli invasion, on lebanon. how active has hezbollah been since october seven? waging between low intensity and moderate intensity war against israel, first started attacking surveillance equipment and towers across the border with lebanon and that gradually increase to attacking

israeli military bases and we see attacks going on for weeks now in retaliation for attacks on military targets, attacking settlements along the northern border, it is said israelis have had to flee those areas. interesting statement by benny gantz singh the israelis will take matters into their own hands and say if the lebanese government and say if the lebanese government and international community doesn't help to stop these cross—border attacks, what swayed as the lebanese government have to stop these attacks? ,., . , government have to stop these attacks? ., , ., attacks? hezbollah is part of the lebanese government _ attacks? hezbollah is part of the lebanese government and - attacks? hezbollah is part of the | lebanese government and state, attacks? hezbollah is part of the i lebanese government and state, it attacks? hezbollah is part of the - lebanese government and state, it is not as if it is an entity close to... for decades now hezbollah has had legitimacy to retain its arms.

there is a case of the lebanese government trying to persuade hezbollah to withdraw, lebanon is wary of israeli attacks, there is a history of this, the israeli government like hezbollah just what is real to anti—military campaign against gazza, a ceasefire, and in that way hezbollah withdraws its troops. in terms of international actors who can have an influence, who are we talking about when benny gantz talks about the international community, who? the gantz talks about the international community, who?— gantz talks about the international community, who? the us, france, great britain. _ community, who? the us, france, great britain, they _ community, who? the us, france, great britain, they have _ community, who? the us, france, great britain, they have been - great britain, they have been sending messages to hezbollah conveying the urgency that it hezbollah has not heeded these threats, has insisted on retaining forces in the area, not withdrawing. they're even have been some reports

that israel is willing to withdraw from occupied lebanese villages in exchange for hezbollah withdrawing but they are not going to budge, it seems. . ~' but they are not going to budge, it seems. . ~ , ., but they are not going to budge, it seems. ., ~ , ., ~ ., ., here in the uk — around a hundred homes have been damaged by a small tornado in greater manchester as storm gerrit swept across the country. police declared a major incident in tameside after roofs were torn off houses, trees blew down and walls collapsed. elsewhere in the uk storm gerrit has brought flooding and disrupted travel, with scotland being the worst affected area. thousands of homes are still without power and two major roads are closed because of flood water and fallen trees. our correspondent fiona trott is in millbrook where the mini tornado struck.

they will evacuate us. the moment their lives turned upside down, described as a localised tornado. it lasted for seconds but the impact of a setting, in millbrook this tree smashed through a house metres from where one stop. it was like a wrecking ball, i opened the door and thought oh, my god.— thought oh, my god. maisie hasn't sle -t a thought oh, my god. maisie hasn't slept a wink _ thought oh, my god. maisie hasn't slept a wink and _ thought oh, my god. maisie hasn't slept a wink and has _ thought oh, my god. maisie hasn't slept a wink and has no _ thought oh, my god. maisie hasn't slept a wink and has no idea - thought oh, my god. maisie hasn't slept a wink and has no idea whatl slept a wink and has no idea what happened to her home. what slept a wink and has no idea what happened to her home. what seems to have happened. _ happened to her home. what seems to have happened, the _ happened to her home. what seems to have happened, the tree _ happened to her home. what seems to have happened, the tree has _ happened to her home. what seems to have happened, the tree has hit - happened to her home. what seems to have happened, the tree has hit the i have happened, the tree has hit the roof, going through my bathroom, the whole roof and ceiling from a bathroom the trees in the bathroom, being held up by one branch, starting to snap currently, i have been told. if it does tap, it is going to go through the whole house. a scene from a movie, that is how they have described it here in stalybridge, it is amazing that nobody was seriously injured. the

nobody was seriously in'ured. the terminator— nobody was seriously injured. tue: terminator has nobody was seriously injured. tte: terminator has been nobody was seriously injured. tt2 terminator has been massively damaging, whence concentrated in a very small area but that is enough to bring down parts of houses, trees, cause massive amounts of damage. in trees, cause massive amounts of damaue. ., ., ,, ., damage. in scotland the shetland isles were hit _ damage. in scotland the shetland isles were hit by _ damage. in scotland the shetland isles were hit by 80 _ damage. in scotland the shetland isles were hit by 80 mph - damage. in scotland the shetland isles were hit by 80 mph windassj isles were hit by 80 mph windass last night and across the whole of scotland more than 7000 homes are still without power. fiona trott, bbc news, stalybridge. i spoke to louise salomon. ijust thought, "oh, it's blowing a bit of a gale out there," like you do. and then the hail started hitting the window and ijust looked out the window and it was just white, the wind was just going that fast and i couldn't see anything. i thought my windows were going to come through. it was that loud.

and itjust was like one lightning strike. and it lasted about 30 seconds, a minute, and stopped. and then all the alarms started and all the neighbours came out and there was just so, so much damage. we've got so many trees around us that were just all snapped. so do you think the actual fast wind, the tornado, only lasted about a minute, you think? yeah, i mean, to be fair, it felt a lot longer because it was just...i was kind of froze, like i didn't know whether to move, whether to run, where to run to. and itjust seemed to happen quite quickly. and the wind was building up and it was just getting louder and louder and louder and it was just really frightening. and it's just nothing that i've seen before. gosh, it must have been absolutely terrifying. how much damage has there been to your property? we're seeing where you are, in the background to where you are, you can't see much, but how badly is your house been damaged? so it's more my car. so unfortunately a lot ofjust slates and tiles off the roof all over. my windscreen took the hit

and my bodywork on my car. so thankfully my house i think is ok. i'm waiting for the roof to be looked at. but we've got roofers up and down inspecting all the properties. everyone's just coming outjust to see what's going on. we couldn't really tell last night because it's quite a poorly lit area anyway, but there's just debris everywhere. but yeah, a lot of the roofs have gone on the houses and there's guttering everywhere. leah solomon. 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 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 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, bbc news.

around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news... holly willoughby will return to television to present dancing on ice with stephen mulhern injanuary, itv has announced. the 42—year—old has been absent from screens since she left this morning back in october after an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her was revealed. dancing on ice is to begin broadcasting on 1a january. 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. fans of benjamin zephyr and i have been asked to plant trees and flowers in his memory, his funeral

being held today, a titan of british literature who did much to popularise the poetry. , benjamin zephaniah. hello from the bbc sport centre. the festive football continues in the premier league later on thursday with arsenal able to leapfrog liverpool and return to the top of the premier league with a win at home to west ham. if they do — it'll be the 15th time this season the lead has changed hands in the english top flight. mikel arteta wants more. that is a natural thing in life, i haven't met anybody that wants less. my wife always wants more, these guys want more at the press conference, my players want more play, more money. these are the positive expectations that we want to be better. it's been a topsy turvy few weeks for tottenham

but they could climb to third if they beat brighton. five games without a win has been followed by three wins on the spin — playing in a manner thats attracting plenty of admirers. their style is clear, i love their style. they have good players. in terms of personality on the pitch, they are one of the best teams in this moment in the premier league and europe. cricket. still finely poised between australia and pakistan at stumps on day three of the second test in melbourne. pakistan were dismissed for 264 in theirfirst innings — handing the hosts a lead of 5a. but australia 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 what proved to be the final ball of the day to leave australia on 187 for 6 — a lead of 241 as pakistan attempt to level the series. a little more one—sided in centurion where south africa are tightening their grip on the first test against india. the home side were bowled out for 408 in theirfirst innings with dean elgar top scoring with 185 and marco jansen�*s test best of 84 not out. yashasvi jaiswal was dropped first ball but he and rohit sharma both fell cheaply.

a short time ago, india were 62—3 — still trailing by 101. the pdc world darts championship continues on thursday, with 2021 champion gerwyn price and world number three luke humphries both in the third round action. they'll be hoping to join teenage sensation luke littler in the last 16. littler won his third match on wednesday beating ca nada's matt campbell 4—1. we asked how he felt about playing raymond van barneveld potentially next. i spoke to raymond just before christmas. looking up to him and phil taylor and obviously michael van gerwen. you have to trust yourself and be confident. novak djokovic says he expects rafa nadal to be

at his competitive best at the australian open next month despite a hip injury that wiped out the spaniards 2023 season. nadal practised in brisbane on thursday ahead of his competitive return this weekend. he'll then compete at the year's first grand slam in melbourne — starting on the 14th january — a tournament where he's won two of his 22 major titles. djokovic believes nadal wouldn't return to the sport just to play at a �*medium level�* going on to call him a �*legend of tennis�* you�*re up to date. lots more on the website. we�*ll have more a little later on. the labour party is reportedly drawing up plans to create thousands of new nursery places for children underfive. 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. we�*re used to seeing wind turbines made of steel — but sweden�*s electricity grid

is now powered, in part, by the world�*s tallest turbine made of wood. it�*s built from thousands of pieces of spruce — held together by glue — and it�*s more than 100 metres tall. our environment correspondent jonah fisher went for a look. having brought us abba, meatballs and flatpack furniture, from sweden comes another innovation thatjust might change the way we generate electricity. welcome to the world�*s tallest wind turbine tower made out of wood. currently almost all wind turbines are made of steel. steel is great material, right? but steel is very heavy. and with this material, we can perform the same task, but with 30% less weight and with more than 100% less carbon emissions. we�*re the first journalists invited inside for a closer look. wind power is already one of the cheapest and cleanest ways to generate electricity.

using wood could make it even greener. i�*m now 105 metres up at the very top of the tower. these blades are — like almost all wind turbines — made out of fibreglass. the generator that i�*m standing on is primarily made of steel. but the company who�*s built the wooden tower say that, by making the tower out of wood, it�*s storing carbon dioxide. it�*s carbon negative. and it�*s that carbon dioxide that�*s warming our planet. but this isn�*t only about being greener. to reach stronger and more consistent winds, turbines need to get even taller. and that means bigger and wider turbine towers. getting those massive pieces of steel on site by road is already a major headache.

and that�*s where wooden towers just might come in. there�*s a huge amount of potential in this. that�*s because the towers are modular. at a factory in gothenburg, more than 100 thin sheets of wood are glued together to make the wall sections. those modular pieces can then be more easily taken to the turbine site. we do not bolt our towers, or screw them together. we glue them together. right? and wood and glue is a perfect combination. so is it alljust a bit of a gimmick? well, maybe not. the project is being backed by vestas — the world�*s largest installer of wind power — and they told us that using wood could end up solving some of the industry�*s transport problems in a more environmentally sustainable way. jonah fisher, bbc news, in gothenburg, in sweden.

the wooden wind turbines from sweden. plenty more to come including the aftermath of the storm and a mini tornado in greater manchester, stay with us here in bbc news. hello there. at its peak on wednesday, storm gerrit brought gusts of winds just shy of 90 miles an hour. and despite the storm pulling away, it�*s still pretty windy out there with gusts of winds generally ranging from 50 to 70 miles an hour across the country. so a blustery afternoon in store and still some showers. here�*s gerrit now off into scandinavia where the warnings here remain in force. but for us, it�*s a case of sunny spells and scattered showers. some of the showers heavy with rumbles of thunder and lightning

across wales and north—west england once again will see that line of persistent showery rain drifting its way slowly, south and east, never really getting into the london area. a fairly narrow but intense line of showers from lincolnshire into south—west england. elsewhere, a windy afternoon with further sunny spells and scattered showers to come. a cooler story in the far north of scotland. once again, top temperatures generally between four and seven degrees. but elsewhere, we�*re looking at 9 to 13 degrees the high. now, as we go through the night, that line of rain will push its way down through the south—east. showers continue into the north and with the wind swinging round to a northerly direction, there�*ll be a wintry component to higher ground in scotland here, low single figures. but elsewhere we�*ll see overnight lows between five and eight celsius. so into friday, wintry showers continue to higher ground in the north. a line of showery rain through northern ireland into northern england, sunny spells and scattered showers for the rest of england and wales. still blustery, but the winds slowly easing down. top temperatures generally

between five and 11 celsius. now, if you�*re heading off for the weekend, travel plans for new year�*s eve, please keep abreast of the forecast. is another area of low pressure, perhaps not quite as intense as storm gerrit, but nevertheless, another spell of wet and very windy weather, widespread gales likely and yes, a combination of rain, sleet and snow, potentially even at lower levels across northern england and parts of scotland. so as we move into sunday, new year�*s eve, that area of low pressure will continue to drift its way steadily eastwards, will see spiralling around that low, a rash of showers. it�*ll be windy across england and wales, slightly lighter winds in scotland, slightly quieter story, but it will start to get just that little bit cooler. and as we move into new year�*s day, the rain will continue, but those temperatures will gradually ease away.

you are watching bbc news. now, we have a look back at some of the biggest stories from 2023. there�*s a huge barrage going

on overhead just at the moment. yevgeny prigozhin seemed determined to march his men to the top of the hill. then, he marched them down again. political persecution like something straight out of a fascist or communist nation. this is southern israel and that is gaza, and the war here has dominated the news agenda since early october. tragic and polarising, it�*s one of the biggest stories of 2023 and one that i have followed here and reported on throughout, speaking to people in israel and in gaza about how they�*re living through it.