ukraine says russia has targeted the country with a "record number of missiles" in one day. president volodymyr zelensky says ukrainian defences shot down 114 of the 158 missiles and drones fired. at least 12 people have been killed after cities across ukraine came under attack. this was the scene this morning in the capital, kyiv, where at least three powerful explosions were heard in the city centre. ukraine's air force says it has "never seen so many locations targeted simultaneously." lviv, odesa, dnipro, kharkiv and zaporizhzhia were among other cities hit. and the polish military says an unidentified aerial object entered the country's airspace from the direction of ukraine at hrubieszow. poland — which is a member of nato — says the object was tracked by its radar until the signal disappeared. we'll have more on poland shortly, but first

our correspondent in kyiv, james waterhouse, gave me the latest on where the air strikes had happened — and what had been hit. it's the first time in more than a year since a russian missile was able to penetrate kyiv�*s air defences, for example, and i think that is a reflection of air defences across ukraine being overwhelmed in the way that they have, you have heard what the air force is saying and i think that it's really telling something. more than 18 strategic bomber aircraft were used by russia, it says almost every type of missile was launched, the only ones weren't used were the ones launched from the sea and you take all of these things together, living things together, lviv in the west, that was

far from the conflict, once a city for millions of ukrainians escaped to go on to the border to poland and romania, we have seen damage to a high—rise building in odesa, some extensive damage in dnipro, where we are told a shopping centre was hit, kharkiv in the north east, which is hit more regularly because it's only a0 miles from the russian border. people get used to living with this aerial threat there, school children are taught in the city subways there. in the north, an area left alone since russia's initial retreat from central kyiv. nowhere is untouched and i think this is vladimir putin and russia exercising a familiar flex in that it can target the whole of ukraine and it has done so in a week when ukraine has thanked the us for receiving the last of its approved military packages, which includes ammunition for air defences. it really has been another difficult morning, but

especially so for ukraine. that was james waterhouse in kyiv. let's return now to those reports from the polish military, who say an unidentified aerial object entered the country's airspace from the direction of ukraine. we can speak to our poland correspondent, adam easton. adam, what can you tell us about what happened and how seriously this has been taken? flat what happened and how seriously this has been taken?— has been taken? not a lot. the first art of has been taken? not a lot. the first part of your — has been taken? not a lot. the first part of your question. _ has been taken? not a lot. the first part of your question. the - has been taken? not a lot. the first part of your question. the second . part of your question. the second part, very seriously. the president has convened an emergency meeting of the defence minister and military chiefs in about an hour's time. what the polish army's operational command have said in a very brief statement, as you mentioned, was this unidentified aerial object entered polish airspace, it was tracked by radar, it had entered from the direction of ukraine and then the signal was lost. we do know

that a search is under way. we have had no reports of any injuries, we still have no report that this object has been found, but the searches, according to media reports, at least, is under way near the border with ukraine, in south—eastern poland, and a spokesperson for the operational commander said, spokesperson for the operational commandersaid, it spokesperson for the operational commander said, it may be associated with russia's missile and drone attack overnight against ukraine. let's remember that in just about over a year ago, let's remember that in just about overa yearago, in let's remember that in just about over a year ago, in november 2022, a missile which was fought to be a ukrainian missile landed in poland, killing two people, polish farmers, which was an attempt by ukraine to shoot down a russian rocket, so obviously people are speculating that this might be some sort of similar incident.— that this might be some sort of similar incident. yes, adam, thank ou. similar incident. yes, adam, thank yom clearly _ similar incident. yes, adam, thank you. clearly more _ similar incident. yes, adam, thank you. clearly more details _

similar incident. yes, adam, thank you. clearly more details to - similar incident. yes, adam, thank you. clearly more details to come. similar incident. yes, adam, thank. you. clearly more details to come on that one. thanks for the moment. joining me now is phillips o'brien — professor of strategic studies at st andrews university. thank you forjoining us. let's talk about this more generally, what is happening in ukraine, the strikes overnight and what seems to be really striking is the geographical spread of these missile hits by russia. what do you think is the message that vladimir putin is trying to send out?— message that vladimir putin is trying to send out? well, we don't know the exact _ trying to send out? well, we don't know the exact numbers _ trying to send out? well, we don't know the exact numbers yet, - trying to send out? well, we don't know the exact numbers yet, but. know the exact numbers yet, but early indications are this might be the single largest russian attack of war in terms of using their highly developed in the most expensive cruise missiles, that there are some calculations that 100 missiles were used in this attack, which seems to have been aimed at every major ukrainian city going. now, why the russians would have done such an expensive attack right now is probably politically as a way of responding to the destruction, the

very pinpoint accurate destruction of russian war strip death warship earlier in the week by ukrainians, which putin didn't really take very seriously, and it was very embarrassing for the russians. so this seems to be something that you could say is a massive retaliation for that. we also by the way have to put this operation into some kind of context. as far as we can tell, the lights are still on you ukraine. we are not seen reports of large power outages. the factories are still working. this attack in the end doesn't actually damage ukraine in a material way. the economy is functioning, the people are fighting. it is a massive expenditure for russia, but with very little gain beyond some destruction. but very little gain beyond some destruction.— very little gain beyond some destruction. . . , destruction. but clearly, the impact on the population, _ destruction. but clearly, the impact on the population, i— destruction. but clearly, the impact on the population, i am _ destruction. but clearly, the impact on the population, i am just - destruction. but clearly, the impactj on the population, i amjust looking on the population, i am just looking at a tweet by the us ambassador to ukraine who has shared a picture of her phone screen with a series of critical air raid alert messages,

talking about the effect on the ukrainian population in terms of undermining confidence and bring that sense of fear back. i undermining confidence and bring that sense of fear back.— that sense of fear back. i don't think it, i _ that sense of fear back. i don't think it, i mean, _ that sense of fear back. i don't think it, i mean, if— that sense of fear back. i don't think it, i mean, if you - that sense of fear back. i don't think it, i mean, if you have i that sense of fear back. i don't i think it, i mean, if you have been to ukraine, and i have been to ukraine, you get these air raid warnings and look, this was an extreme event, but if it is just one night and the russians actually have fired off a huge amount of missiles and don't have the kind of stocks to follow this up, it will be seen as just one night. ukrainian population has remained remarkably strong in its conviction that they have to fight this war. they are not going to lose that conviction because of one night of mass missile attacks. to them, this is about the survival of their country and their existence, and so, i think we need to be very careful when saying, oh, this will have a political effect. there have been many major events during this war that don't have a political effect and the ukrainians have remained absolutely committed to the fight. have remained absolutely committed to the fiuht. ., , , ., , to the fight. computers have been ”ointin to to the fight. computers have been pointing to the _ to the fight. computers have been pointing to the fact _ to the fight. computers have been pointing to the fact that _ to the fight. computers have been pointing to the fact that the - to the fight. computers have been j pointing to the fact that the stroke of course comes the day after the us

have signed off what at the last tranche of aid orfunding, which is far less than ukraine says it needs. would you see an equivalence between that or a link to tween the timing on that front? it that or a link to tween the timing on that front?— on that front? it is a great question. _ on that front? it is a great question, but _ on that front? it is a great question, but actually - on that front? it is a great question, but actually if. on that front? it is a great l question, but actually if the russians didn't think ukrainians would get a lot of aid going forward from the us, they probably wouldn't do one major attack and expend a lot of their missiles. what they would do is spend a period trying to make the ukrainians use up a lot of air and thai airammunition, the ukrainians use up a lot of air and thai air ammunition, knowing they wouldn't get more, and then in a few weeks or months from now, when ukraine stocks are running low, then do more of a massive attack. so i think it is an interesting time and coincidence, but actually if the russians are trying to take advantage of that, this wouldn't be the way to do it. fik. advantage of that, this wouldn't be the way to do it.— the way to do it. ok. phillips o'brien. _ the way to do it. ok. phillips o'brien, thank _ the way to do it. ok. phillips o'brien, thank you, - the way to do it. ok. phillips| o'brien, thank you, professor the way to do it. ok. phillips - o'brien, thank you, professor of strategic studies at st andrews university. strategic studies at st andrews universi . . ~ strategic studies at st andrews university-— strategic studies at st andrews university._ moving | strategic studies at st andrews l university._ moving to strategic studies at st andrews - university._ moving to the university. thank you. moving to the

us. .. the top election official in the us state of maine has ruled that donald trump cannot run for president there in the upcoming elections. the reason — mr trump's actions leading up to the riot at the us capitol in washington in 2021, which the ruling in maine says the top election official in the us state of maine has ruled that was enough to trigger a constitutional clause banning anyone from holding office who's "engaged in insurrection." maine is the second us state to take this course of action. colorado did so earlier this month. but similar efforts to prevent mr trump from running have been thrown out in michigan and minnesota. the decision in maine was taken by the secretary of state, shenna bellows — she told the bbc why she had acted as she did. no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection. the events of january 6th were tragic and unprecedented, and the evidence presented in the hearing before me that i was duty—bound to rule upon indicated that january 6th 2021 was, in fact, an insurrection

and mr trump did, in fact, engage in that insurrection. maine's secretary of state, shenna bellows, there. mr trump has not yet commented on this latest turn of events, but his campaign has previously accused mrs bellows of being a hyper—partisan, biden—supporting democrat, and says it will take legal action. let's take a look at how the decision in maine might affect the presidential election. maine is one of only two states in the us which does not operate a winner takes all policy when it comes to presidential elections. it means the four electoral college votes can be split. this happened in both of the last two elections, with donald trump taking one vote each time, and his democratic opponent three votes. for context, america's 50 states share out 538 electoral college votes in total — the majority needed to win the presidential election

outright is 270. for more on this i'm joined by chris carman — stevenson professor of citizenship at the university of glasgow. hello. it can sometimes seem a little bit murky or rather difficult to understand, the whole electoral couege to understand, the whole electoral college vote system, so let's talk about how significant it might be, these decisions in colorado and maine in terms of trump and the presidential election.— presidential election. well, we should say _ presidential election. well, we should say there _ presidential election. well, we should say there are _ presidential election. well, we should say there are 14 - presidential election. well, we should say there are 14 states| should say there are 1a states actually where there are different lawsuits pending relating to whether or not trump can appear on the primary ballots, the ballots that select to the nominee will be fully republican party. so, with colorado, probably we would have expected it to go democratic, but with maine, as you said, it is one of these few states that splits its electoral couege states that splits its electoral college vote. donald trump did pick up college vote. donald trump did pick up one electoral college vote in

2016 and 2020. it doesn't sound like much, but when we expect the electoral contest to be quite close, that electoral vote and perhaps, depending on what happens on the other states with pending lawsuits, really good be quite important. yes. really good be quite important. yes, so is there the _ really good be quite important. yes, so is there the potential for some sort of domino effect here, that yes, it starts in maine and colorado, but others follow suit? and how would that actually happened?— and how would that actually hauened? _ happened? possibly. it was the case that a few hours _ happened? possibly. it was the case that a few hours of _ happened? possibly. it was the case that a few hours of the _ happened? possibly. it was the case that a few hours of the main - that a few hours of the main decision was announced, california, the largest of these states, certainly in terms of electoral couege certainly in terms of electoral college votes, said that they could not elect a state electoral, the officials could not ban donald trump from appearing on the ballot. so what has been happening is campaigners have been targeting states such as colorado and main where it is easier to exclude people from the ballots will be state election officials have more power in excluding candidates from the ballot. so across the entire us, the

election laws vary across the states, how easy or difficult it is to get on the ballots varies across the states, and so campaigners have been trying to identify those states where they would have a shot of excluding donald trump from winning the nomination to be the republican candidate. find the nomination to be the republican candidate. �* ., ., ., , candidate. and what role does the sureme candidate. and what role does the supreme court — candidate. and what role does the supreme court play _ candidate. and what role does the supreme court play in _ candidate. and what role does the supreme court play in this? - candidate. and what role does the supreme court play in this? it - candidate. and what role does the supreme court play in this? it is l supreme court play in this? it is somewhat _ supreme court play in this? it is somewhat unclear _ supreme court play in this? it 3 somewhat unclear at this supreme court play in this? it 1 somewhat unclear at this stage. this is all, as you said at the beginning, based on a particular interpretation of section three of the 14th amendment, which was ratified in 1868, following the civil war. this is a completely unprecedented area of law. the courts have not weighed in on how to interpret this particular clause and so, there are a variety of questions that the supreme court will have to deal with relating to whether or not section three even applies to the

president stop it certainly applies to other named officers, but the president of the united states is not an office specified in section three, so it is unclear how that could go. it is also depends on whether or not this is considered to be a self—executing provision in the constitution, much like, say, an age requirement for serving as president, whether this would be self—executing, should trump be found to have been involved in this interaction. so there are a variety of issues the court is going to have to wrangle with. the court is really between a rock and a hard place on this. we can anticipate that almost no matter how it rules, it is going to be very difficult to formulate a ruling that isn't seen to be partisan in one way or the other. 0k, chris, thank you for taking us through that. looks like there's been plenty more for the courts in the us to wrangle with, very nicely put. thanks, chris. you can find much more on the us presidential election in a special

section of our website. it's called "a really simple guide" and you'll find everything you need to understand how the process works, from getting chosen as a candidate to the debates, and what it takes to win. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a clean—up operation is taking place after around 100 homes were damaged by a tornado in stalybridge in greater manchester during storm gerrit. it tore roofs off some houses, blew over trees and damaged cars. thousands of homes in wales and scotland were left without power. the chief inspector of prisons for england and wales has called for a fundamental re—orientation in the way the system is run. charlie taylor said the high availability of drugs in some prisons was a barrier to rehabilitation. he said many inmates were failing to learn to read and not developing the skills they need for a life of work, rather than crime.

the french tycoon francoise bettencourt meyers has become the first woman to amass a fortune of $100 billion. it comes after shares in l'0real, the beauty empire founded by her grandfather, rose to a record high. you're live with bbc news. sport and, for a full round—up from the bbc sport centre, here'sjohn. good morning. good morning, sarah, many thanks. hello, welcome to bbc sport. they say a title challenge can hang on small margins. this was one of them. technology could not prove that ball was fully out in the build—up to west ham scoring their first goal against arsenal in the premier league and so it stood, as arsenal went on to slip up in the title race. they could have returned to the top of the table, but were left to rue not

just that goal, but a tonne of missed chances as west ham came out 2-0 missed chances as west ham came out 2—0 winners and therefore the title race remains very much open with six points separating the top five sides, as arsenal falter here. points separating the top five sides, as arsenalfalter here. but there is a special win for david moyes and west ham, who climbed to six. we came back here to _ ham, who climbed to six. we came back here to make _ ham, who climbed to six. we came back here to make sure _ ham, who climbed to six. we came back here to make sure that - ham, who climbed to six. we came back here to make sure that west l ham, who climbed to six. we came . back here to make sure that west ham didn't get relegated. i think that was about three or four years ago now. and i think since then we have grown and i think the team going, getting better, and we will not do, we will not be challenging all the top teams will be time because we don't, we are not dining at that table, but we are coming now and again to these teams and giving them again to these teams and giving them a game. again to these teams and giving them a name. �* , , ., , , a game. let's 'ust remind ourselves how ti . ht a game. let's 'ust remind ourselves how fight it — a game. let's 'ust remind ourselves how fight it is— a game. let'sjust remind ourselves how tight it is in _ a game. let'sjust remind ourselves how tight it is in fact _ a game. let'sjust remind ourselves how tight it is in fact looking. - so this is how the top six in the premier league is looking after that setback for arsenal. just six points separating those top six sides. they missed the chance to move above liverpool to the top

and they could be overtaken by manchester city, should they win their game in hand. confirmation that result moves west ham into the top six, just three points behind tottenham, ange postecoglou's side lost 11—2 at brighton on thursday night. we looked like a tired team today, which is understandable. you know, we have pushed a lot of these players for a very long time and... we lacked a bit of energy today. and brighton are a good side, they played well. it is quite demanding to play the football we play physically. we are asking a lot of the players week in, week out, and i cannot ask any more of them. yes. the players week in, week out, and i cannot ask any more of them. yes, a lot of tired — cannot ask any more of them. yes, a lot of tired bodies _ cannot ask any more of them. yes, a lot of tired bodies over _ cannot ask any more of them. yes, a lot of tired bodies over this - lot of tired bodies over this christmas — new year period. now to the united states and a piece of unwanted history for one side in the nba — the detroit pistons lost for the 28th time in a row, equalling the record run of defeats in the league's history. their latest setback was against the boston celtics, with the pistons losing 128—122, despite at one stage being ahead by 21 points. they've now matched that 28 game

mark set by philadelphia between 2015 and 2016. and on that sort of run, the last thing you want is to face questions, but that is what the pistons coach has had to do. we have lost a lot of games, everybody knows that. they bring a spirit, they hear everything that people have to say about them and us because they are on social media and it doesn't sway them for doing their jobs. we arejust it doesn't sway them for doing their jobs. we are just so close to not just winning one game, but winning a lot of games if we play that way. there is work to do. australia's cricketers have sealed a series win over pakistan. they've beaten the tourists by 79 runs in melbourne, with their captain pat cummins finishing with 10 wickets for the test match. he helped bowl pakistan out for 237 in their second innings, as they chased 317 for victory. pakistan had looked well set to get close to that target at 219—5, but they then

lost wickets quickly, as australia take an unassailable 2—0 lead in the three match series. the third test starts in sydney on tuesday. finally, he's back, but for how much longer? rafa nadal returning to action for the first time in a year at the brisbane international, ahead of a year which could be his last. at 37 years old, his last competitive match was last january in melbourne at the australian open, which he's preparing for here. he missed the other three slams with injury and after almost a year out he's slipped out of the top 600 in the world rankings, and says he's realistic about his chances of winning more slams in 2024, when he could bid farewell to tennis. for me it is impossible to think about winning tournaments today, but what is really possible is to think to enjoy the come back to the court. no, i don't expect much. it is going

to be a tough process at the beginning. nothing is impossible, but at the end, for me, just to be here is a victory and i hope i am going to have the chance to enjoy and the crowd as well. going to have the chance to en'oy and the crowd as mud going to have the chance to en'oy and the crowd as well. indeed, so en'o and the crowd as well. indeed, so enjoy watching — and the crowd as well. indeed, so enjoy watching him _ and the crowd as well. indeed, so enjoy watching him when - and the crowd as well. indeed, so enjoy watching him when you - and the crowd as well. indeed, so j enjoy watching him when you can. and that's all the sport for now. back to you, sarah. fighting in central gaza has led to an estimated 150,000 palestinians fleeing the area. the israeli military had called for the evacuation of a strip of land stretching across central gaza, including two large refugee camps. witnesses have reported seeing israeli tanks reaching the outskirts of one of them. according to the un's humanitarian office, the majority of those who have fled in recent days have gone to rafah at gaza's southern border. they've been forced further south following that increase in fighting around deir al balah and khan younis. gaza's health ministry, which is run by hamas, an organisation considered to be a terrorist group by many countries,

says 20 people were killed on thursday evening by an israeli air strike on a building in rafah which was housing displaced civilians. the un agency which works in gaza, unrwa, says one of its aid convoys was fired upon by israeli soldiers. its spokesman, tom white, says it was using a route designated by the israeli army. no—one was injured, but one vehicle was damaged. meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue. egypt has confirmed that it has put forward a three—stage proposal to stop the fighting, which ends with a ceasefire. a hamas delegation is said to have arrived in cairo to give its response to the plan. with details on that, here's our middle east correspondent, yolande knell. some potentially important developments happening next door in egypt, which often acts as a mediator between israel and hamas. and we understand that a hamas delegation has arrived there to give its response to a new egyptian proposal. it's three stages, we understand, that would start with kind of renewable ceasefires that would see

the release of more of the 100 plus israeli hostages still held by hamas in gaza in exchange for palestinian prisoners in israeli jails. but it could lead to another stage where there would be a full ceasefire in gaza and ultimately a new technocratic government, as it's being called, to govern there. now, there's a very long way to go, i should stress, before either side agrees to this, but it's being seen as encouraging that at least there are some of these talks taking place, because on the ground at the moment, what we have is fighting still raging. we have israeli ground troops that are pushing into locations in the centre and in the south of the gaza strip. 0vernight, we saw israeli air strikes in those locations, including in rafah, where reportedly 20 people were killed in a building housing displaced people. and in rafah, on the border with egypt, we've had the un saying that in just the last few days, another 100,000 people have crammed in there. already it had become the most densely populated part

of gaza as people had gone there desperately fleeing the fighting. here in the uk, tributes have been paid to christian marriott who died after a car hit a group of people in sheffield — while he was trying to help others. simonjones reports. the police say what happened in this street on wednesday afternoon was utterly heartbreaking. christian marriott, described as a good samaritan, was out walking with his wife and two young sons when he saw a woman lying unconscious in the street. it's thought she had been involved in a row between a group of people. as mr marriott was giving her first aid, he was hit by a car and killed. the car also struck the woman. she is in a critical condition in hospital. six other people were injured, including an off—duty midwife. when i came out, the car was there. i didn't know there were some people underneath. but one lady, she was before me outside. she said to me, "there's people underneath the car." it was very, very sad and also very upsetting

and i couldn't believe it. a 23—year—old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. another man, who's 55, has been detained on suspicion of attempted murder. the police say they are absolutely determined to secure justice for christian marriott's family. simon jones, bbc news. stay with us here on bbc news. now i look at the whether with matt taylor. hello. whilst we'll still see blustery showers around today it's relatively quiet compared to what is either side of it. after the storms earlier in the week, another deep of low pressure this weekend. if you're on the move, keep across the forecast because there'll be some further heavy rain risk of flooding and maybe impacts from snow, too.

strong to gale force winds, main impact from that will be at the centre of the low, though, out towards the west of ireland as we go through saturday, but can still see gales top and tail the country as that rain and snow sweeps eastwards. so that's coming up. more details in a minute. back to the here and now. we continue with the rest of the afternoon, cloud across northern parts of england, northern ireland, far south—west of scotland. outbreaks of rain. to the south of it, some sunshine, a few staying dry, a few scattered showers around and a blustery wind. to the north of it, a chilly day with wintry showers in the north of scotland, but through central and areas into glasgow, edinburgh region. into glasgow, edinburgh region, this is where we'll stay dry with the sunshine. now, tonight, that band of cloud, rain and hill snow will fizzle out, wet, windy with some wintriness in the far north—east of scotland. and then as the next area of rain pushes in, temperatures will rise later in the night, but not before they drop down into lower single figures, maybe as low as —7 through parts of scotland. so a cold start to the weekend, dry and bright start for the early risers in the north and the east. but cloud and rain already developing in the west, heaviest in northern ireland and then spreading its way northwards and eastwards.

could see snow for a brief time in northern ireland, the hills of northern england before turning back to rain, and temperatures, well, rising towards the south and east where we'll see some of the drier weather through the afternoon, up to around 15 degrees. but lots of cloud here. cold all across scotland and again, some of the roads could be impacted by some heavy snowfall as we go through the second half of saturday. so the a9, a82/83, that sort of thing. but it will turn back to rain later on, as you see, another band of rain sweep eastwards through the latter stage of saturday across england and wales. that clears out into sunday. sunshine and showers the name of the game for many on new year's eve, windiest towards the english channel and across shetland again, could see winds gust 60—70 miles an hour. lighter winds, slower moving showers in the centre, so we could see some large rainfall totals for one or two, but others may stay dry. and then as we head up to the midnight hour and welcome in 2024, it's going to be on the cooler side, but nothing desperately chilly but some further showers around and still windy in the far south. take care.

this is bbc news. the headlines: ukraine says russia has launched a massive air attack overnight with explosions across the country. 16 people are reported killed, with at least four deaths in the city of dnipro. the top election official in the us state of maine has ruled that donald trump cannot run for president next year in the state. officials say they have banned him because he incited his supporters to storm the capitol building in january 2021. israel has expanded its military operation into palestinian refugee camps in central gaza.

thousands of people have fled the area. it comes as a hamas delegation heads to cairo to give its response to an egyptian ceasefire plan. now on bbc news, bbc 100 women visits malawi in "12 million girls".