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tv   BBC News  BBC News  December 30, 2023 9:00pm-9:31pm GMT

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hello, i'm anjana gadgil. ukraine has carried out a series of deadly air strikes on targets in south—west russia over the past 2a hours. these pictures show smoke rising above the city of belgorod where russia's emergency ministry says 18 people including three children have been killed, and 111 others were injured. the claim can't be independently verified. the city is located approximately a0 kilometres north of the border with ukraine — 80 kilometres away from the ukrainian city of kharkiv. this dashcam video has been verified by the bbc. it shows an explosion on a street in the city, and people running from the scene. otherfootage and images show damage to buildings and vehicles gutted by fire. a ukrainian security source has confirmed to the bbc that kyiv fired 70 drones at russian military targets — but blamed russian air defences for fragments falling in belgorod. it comes a day after friday's
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massive bombardment of ukraine, the biggest of the war so far. ukraine's president zelensky says at least 39 people were killed when 150 russian missiles and drones were launched at cities across ukraine. our ukraine correspondent james waterhouse gave us this update from kyiv. the kremlin promised that these drone attacks by ukraine wouldn't go unpunished, in its words, and it hasn't hung around in its response. a day after launching more than 150 missiles on cities across ukraine, we are told by authorities in kharkiv, in the northeastern city, also close to the russian border, that a medicalfacility, residential blocks and other public spaces have been hit, including a hotel that our team was staying at four days ago. and itjust reminds you of the risk that city's civilian areas face. and you don't necessarily need to be close to the border or the front lines for that threat to go away.
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it is a threat that faces the whole of ukraine. and we've seen this, the more than 70 launched by kyiv earlier today, on the south eastern belgorod region, around the city of belgorod, and nearby, where kyiv has said it was targeting military sites, including a microchip factory. but what's clear, if you look at the concentration of russian deaths, is that kyiv has felt emboldened, if you like, to to target cities as well, as a direct response to what the country endured yesterday. since speaking to our correspondence we have had the latest update from ukrainian officials just a couple of minutes ago. the kharkiv regional
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prosecutor says that two boys, aged 14 prosecutor says that two boys, aged 1a and 16, and the the missiles came from the direction of belgorod in russia. they say twin russian missile strikes on central kharkiv injured at least 21 people in total including these two boys and the security adviser. russian officials say a ukrainian attack on the provincial capital of belgorod killed 18 people and injured 111, so detail from the russian and ukrainian sides about people injured in the attacks on both sides. peter dickinson is from the atlantic council's eurasia center. i asked him about the significance of this ukrainian attack to russia. at this stage it is very much the fog of war. there are competing claims, but it certainly appears that there has been a significant strike on bell growth, 1a dead reported, and the ukrainian side claim they were attempting to strike military targets.
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they blame russian anti—air defence systems for malfunctioning orfalling in correctly and basically bringing debris and rockets down onto the civilian population. we will hear a lot more of such claims going forward but what is clear is it is the biggest civilian death toll in russia in almost two years since the invasion began. putin has been very careful to shield the russian population from the war and to maintain a business as usual stance. this will shatter that and send shock waves through russia, i am sure, and calls for vengeance so it will certainly lead to escalation, but it will also send a strong message that russians cannot simply wage war on ukraine and not expect to receive any retaliation from the kremlin side. let's talk a bit motivation from the kremlin side, is that what related to
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what happened yesterday? generally we would say yes but in terms of civilian casualties, we do need to be cautious because ukraine has been very careful throughout the campaign to strike military targets, primarily in deference to ukraine's own allies who are very cautious about arming ukraine to strike against russian civilian targets, so they are careful to avoid any complications with western partners who are the main supplier. so you would think there is some credibility to their claims, but certainly in ukraine today i would say there is widespread, i suppose satisfaction is the only world. people not necessarily glorifying in the loss of civilian lives but saying, now you know how we feel. they are facing bombing on a daily basis for the last two years, almost.
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to the crisis in the middle east. israeli gunfire and airstrikes have continued to pound the gaza strip — with the focus on khan younis in the south. gaza's health ministry, says that 165 people have been killed and 250 people injured in the past 2a hours. thousands of palestianians have moved towards rafah near the border with egypt in a bid to find safety. israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu has reiterated that israel's war on gaza would last many more months. yolande knell reports. a giant campsite for the displaced crammed into an ever shrinking area. tens of thousands of gazans who fled the fighting have set up makeshift tents and shacks by the egyptian border. israel says it's not restricting aid for gaza, but the un complains the amount getting in is woefully inadequate. it's a very long and convoluted process with numerous checks before the aid actually gets into gaza.
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and then once the aids in gaza, you know, it's very difficult to get aid to people. essentially, we're delivering aid under fire. gaza's streets have been turned into battlegrounds as hamas fighters try to block the advance of israeli soldiers. the main focus for israel's ground troops is now the southern city of khan younis and the central urban refugee camps. translation: we arrested dozens of terrorists in a school. _ they were hiding among civilians, hamas and islamichhad. we took them to israel to continue their interrogation. large numbers of gazans have been detained by israel. the men here were picked up near their homes in the north. they claim they were beaten, stripped to their underwear and mistreated, even burnt with cigarettes. we can't independently verify their accounts. "they used obscene words," says ibrahim yassin. "they'd hold you like a dog and make you crawl. "then there'd be five soldiers
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who'd hit you alternately "in the head and body." israel insists it treats detainees according to international law. for now, there's no sign that israel is lowering the intensity of its attacks on gaza. it says its aim remains to dismantle hamas. hamas says it won't give up the remaining israeli hostages it's holding unless there's a full ceasefire. and with a new year about to begin, for those living close to gaza's front line, the suffering continues. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. earlier the bbc spoke to mark schwartz, the former us security coordinator for israel & the palestinian authority and senior fellow with the rand corporation. we asked him about egypt's three—phase proposal that they have put forward to try to end the israel—gaza war. well, i think it's admirable that they're still remaining very engaged, as is the kingdom ofjordan, i think. i think the king visited president al—sisi earlier in the week. the principal tenant to hamas
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and the palestinian islamichhad really fell dead on arrival. and that was that they would relinquish control both militarily and from an administrative standpoint of the gaza strip and hamas leadership and are not going to agree with that. so. but i think the fact that egypt is working very hard with obviously the government of israel to find some conditions to start another military pause to allow the exchange of hostages is is very positive. and that's part of the first stage of this three phase negotiation that are proposal that egypt has put on the table. so we talk there about the types of things that will be discussed. but in these ceasefire talks that could be discussed in ceasefire talks. of course, there's been a lot of focus on on civilians in gaza as well.
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the idf has asked them to move south, telling them to get out of the central gaza strip. however, they they say there is simply nowhere to go. what are your thoughts as to the situation regarding civilians in gaza? well, it's extremely dire. and the commitment that the israeli government and the idf have made to enable a significant increase of humanitarian aid has not occurred. i think what. the idf either failed to understand or the government of israel fails to understand that. so you can have the military objective that you want to eliminate the military and security capability of hamas inside of gaza and all the other factions. well, when you made the decision to conduct the ground incursion, the offensive, you own that responsibility for security, and that includes securing the humanitarian aid that's coming into the to the populace of gaza.
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the first order is you have the protection of innocent life and providing the necessaryjust basic needs of the population inside of gaza. that is the first order. that's part of the the laws of armed conflict. and right now, that is not being adhered to. and from what we're seeing play out on the ground. so there's lots of challenges. i certainly recognize that as a former military professional. but, you know, the security of those convoys inside of gaza to get to the point of need, medicalsupplies, etc., that that responsibility doesn't fall on the united nations. that falls on the force, the military force that is in there now, that is taking control. and that is the israeli security forces. south africa has filed a case at the international court ofjustice alleging that israel is engaging in "genocidal acts" in gaza.
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the un court has confirmed the proceedings concerning alleged violations of israel's obligations under the genocide convention. the move has been welcomed by the leader of palestinian national initiative party mustafa barghouti. we appreciate and we support the decision of the south african government to take the case of genocide against palestinian people in gaza to the international court ofjustice. israel is committing three terrible war crimes against the people in gaza — the war crime of genocide, the war crime of collective punishment, and the war crime of ethnic cleansing. and it is high time to hold israel responsible and accountable in front of the international community. but israel has responded with fury. israeli foreign ministry spokesperson lior haiat says "israel rejects with disgust the blood libel spread by south africa in its application to the international court ofjustice". he goes on to say "south africa's claim constitutes a despicable and contemptuous
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exploitation of the court." eurostar says all services to paris, brussels, london and amsterdam will run tomorrow. it comes after thousands of eurostar passengers were left stranded, on one of the busiest travel days of the year. a flooded tunnel meant all services to and from london's st pancras station, were cancelled. in a statement the company says: flooding in the thames tunnels has been brought under control by network rail high speed meaning at least one tunnel can now be used and a full service can operate. there will be some speed restrictions in place in the morning which may lead to delays and stations are expected to be very busy. unfortunately, this unprecedented event has caused major disruption to customers today. eurostar has been working to ensure everyone affected has been supported in all of our stations. customers have had the option to re—book onto alternative services or opt for a refund.
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here's marc ashdown. crowded platforms, frustrated faces. eurostar passengers hoping for a new year's break, orjust trying to get home, faced a day of disruption. all 41 services scheduled to run today between london st pancras and paris, brussels and amsterdam were cancelled — leaving thousands of people with their travel plans in tatters. i am just devastated, - i have just had a little cry. ijust want to get home. it is new year's eve tomorrow. it is because i am desperate to go to paris. i am really, really desperate to be with my family. we could have booked flights today, and i wish we had! so, yeah, iwill question whether eurostar is the best option. a lot of people are just sitting down and waiting. it seems like they are in for the long haul. we will have to wait and see if it goes or if it doesn't. tannoy: due to an infrastructure issue... oh, look, there's an announcement now. fingers crossed.
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this was the cause. a train track turned into a river. water cascaded into the thames tunnel near ebbsfleet. track operator hs1 described it as an unprecedented volume. engineers with pumps and tankers worked through last night and all day today to bring the water levels down and tried to get things moving. this is not the first bout of major travel disruption over the festive period. a last—minute strike by french workers on eurotunnel saw major problems in the days running up to christmas day, for those trying to travel between europe and london. and storm gerrit caused widespread havoc across the uk last week. there has also been major disruption on thameslink rail services today across london and the south east due to staff shortages. and tomorrow, there will be no services on northern rail also because of a lack of staff, and delays are expected on london northwestern, and chiltern railways. eurostar has apologised for the disruption and said customers with tickets could exchange them
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or apply for a refund. some might be able to claim compensation. the operator said the situation regarding tomorrow's services was evolving and it would contact customers directly with more information. with the met office issuing yellow weather warnings for wind, rain and snow for large parts of the uk, it is unlikely we have seen the end of the travel trouble. there have been clashes between protesters and police in south london, after a demonstration which scotland yard said was related to "tensions in the eritrean community". 50 people gathered outside a private venue in camberwell — with some protesters wielding sticks against police officers. southwark police tweeted that a section 35 dispersal order has been put in place in the area of camberwell road until 7am tomorrow. now it's time for a look at today's sport.
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lots of football today. yes, there was. let's start in the premier league where there's been a huge result for nottingham forest who've beaten manchester united 2—1 at the city ground. morgan gibbs—white scored the winner late on to give them the win. forest now move five points clear of the relegation places to 15th. it's the first time since 1994 that forest have beaten manchester united in the league. for eric ten hag's united, it was a frustrating result — they've now lost nine times in the league this season. disappointing. you are losing 1—0 and you get a goal back and in that moment i think we were quite good in the game and you are waiting for 2—1 and we gave a goal away. it was unnecessary, this loss, but i think already we lose the game in the first half. we were not energised enough,
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we didn't create chances. aston villa left it late but a late douglas luiz penalty against 10—man burnley gave them a 3—2 win at villa park. it put them level on points with leaders liverpool at the top of the premier league. both have 42 points but liverpool have a superior goal difference and a game in hand to come against newcastle united on new years day. through the match, they were close to get something and we needed to push it a push in the last minute but we were playing and trying to continue building, doing passes, trying to get that best motion to get the box and then we got the penalty and it was fantastic. and even winning at the last moment, with some emotion, it is important. talking of the top of the table, defending champions manchester city also closed the gap to the leaders liverpool with a 2—0 win over sheffield united. elsewhere, wolves were comfortable winners against everton.
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crystal palace eased the pressure on their manager roy hodgson with a 3—1win over brentford, and chelsea held on to win 3—2 against luton. staying with football — goalkeeper hugo lloris is to leave tottenham for los angeles fc after more than 11 years at spurs. lloris, who skippered france to victory in the 2018 world cup, made a47 appearances for tottenham and served as club captain but hasn't played since last season. he'll be on the pitch at half time in tomorrow's game against bournemouth so supporters can show their appreciation. rangers have contacted the scottish fa about an incident in their 2—1 defeat to celtic to ask why no penalty was awarded, despite a clear hand ball by celtic s alastair johnston. celtic�*s win puts them eight points clear of their rivals, who have two games in hand. elsewhere, lawrence shankland scored for the fifth game in a row to help rescue a point for hearts against ross county, and st mirren picked up a rare away win at an unhappy pittodrie
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as they beat aberdeen 3—0. to tennis now and the united cup where alexander zverev and angelique kerber have led germany to victory over italy. after a strong singles win over lorenzo sonego, zverev teamed with kerber to win the deciding mixed doubles rubber in straight sets. this was kerber�*s first time back on court after giving birth to a girl in february. greece's preparations for the 2024 united cup included paying a visit to the iconic taronga zoo, where they fed the giraffes and met the koalas. they are the second seeds for the tournament and they'll take on chile on tuesday. very nice to see, and that sunshine. and that's all the sport for now. we are alldreaming we are all dreaming of a bit of
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sunshine, thank you very much. 0pposition parties have strongly criticised lis truss's resignation honours list, which includes peerages for a conservative party donor and a former special adviser. but labour said the list was a slap in the face for working people after she only served 49 days in office. here's our political correspondent iain watson. in september 2022 liz truss became prime minister but she spent less time and number ten than any of her predecessors. i time and number ten than any of her predecessors-— predecessors. i am resigning... after six weeks _ predecessors. i am resigning... after six weeks she _ predecessors. i am resigning... after six weeks she quit - predecessors. i am resigning... after six weeks she quit as - after six weeks she quit as conservative leader and after serving as prime minister she was entitled to a resignation honours list. she made one for about every four days she spent in office and three of them are given seats in the house of lords. matthew elliott, a long—time supporter of tax cuts. join moynihan, a business man who donated to her leadership campaign,
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and liz porter, an adviser who previously worked for a free market think tank. in a statement liz truss said i'm delighted these champions for the conservative causes of freedom, limited government and a proud and sovereign britain have been suitably honoured. liz truss faced opposition from her own mps after a mini budget pushed up borrowing and scrap the top rate of tax. 0pposition parties say her time in office should not be honoured. families across the country pay more on their mortgage, more in tax, more on their mortgage, more in tax, more on credit cards is a consequences of decisions taken by liz truss and these are rewards for failure. some sa prime these are rewards for failure. some say prime minister _ these are rewards for failure. some say prime minister shouldn't - say prime minister shouldn't automatically be able to put their nominees into the house of lords. this isn't the only peerages that she has— this isn't the only peerages that she has made, she made 29 earlier while _ she has made, she made 29 earlier while serving as prime minister so it really— while serving as prime minister so it really highlights the problems we have in_ it really highlights the problems we have in the system at large. this former minister _ have in the system at large. ti 3 former minister said she have in the system at large. t1151 former minister said she was have in the system at large. ti 1 former minister said she was only following convention. liz
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former minister said she was only following convention.— former minister said she was only following convention. liz truss took on the most — following convention. liz truss took on the most senior— following convention. liz truss took on the most senior political- following convention. liz truss took on the most senior politicaljob - following convention. liz truss took on the most senior politicaljob in i on the most senior politicaljob in the country. _ on the most senior politicaljob in the country. of— on the most senior politicaljob in the country, of being _ on the most senior politicaljob in the country, of being prime - the country, of being prime minister. _ the country, of being prime minister, which _ the country, of being prime minister, which is - the country, of being prime minister, which is a - the country, of being prime minister, which is a job - the country, of being prime| minister, which is a job that the country, of being prime - minister, which is a job that comes with enormous _ minister, which is a job that comes with enormous responsibilities. - minister, which is a job that comesl with enormous responsibilities. but privately with enormous responsibilities. privately some of her colleagues wonder whether it was responsible to remind people of her time in number ten. british 0scar—nominated actor tom wilkinson, best known for his role in the full monty, has died aged 75, his family have announced. he played the former steel mill foreman, gerald cooper, receiving a bafta for the role. the british actor was also nominated for two oscars for "in the bedroom" and "michael clayton". entertainment correspondent colin patterson told us about some of tom wilkinson's biggest roles. one of the standout scenes in that film for people who have not seen it is when he goes to the dole office, where you sign on for unemployment benefits, and all the male strippers are standing in a queue and the song their routine is to starts playing and they can't help themselves dancing. they all start shuffling in the queue and the scene ends at the climax with tom wilkinson spinning round right after he has collected his dole cheque.
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that movie brought him to the attention of hollywood and the following year he was in shakespeare in love, playing a financier in a film that won best picture at the oscars and suddenly lots of american directors were wanting to cast him in roles that would bring gravitas to their film. you mentioned his 0scar nominations, both for roles where this man born in yorkshire had an american accent. americans were casting him to play americans. there was in the bedroom playing a doctor whose son ends up in a relationship with an older woman, and then opposite george clooney in michael clayton where he plays a lawyer who is bipolar, and looking at his career so many of his roles are playing characters full of inner turmoil. a british army officer is believed to have become the fastest woman to ever complete
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a solo ski expedition to the south pole. captain preet chandi — or "polar preet" as she is known on social media — says she covered 1,130km of antarctic ice in a record time ofjust over 31 days. hello, there. good evening. some very wet, very windy weather for much of the uk today with tricky travelling conditions, particularly across much of the central belt of scotland with snow to low levels, that snow pushing further northwards and eastwards through the afternoon. it all comes courtesy of this deep area of low pressure working its way eastwards from the atlantic. a tight squeeze on the isobars here. so strong, gusty winds, heavy rain and still the cold front to come through overnight tonight across central southern england, east anglia and the far south east of england. there will be some heavy rain for a short while and some squally gusts of wind as the front comes through. particularly blustery towards the south coast. gusts of wind here towards more exposed locations could get as high as 50—60mph. potentially blustery showers
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following on behind. turning dry for scotland and here, not quite as cold as it was last night. now, this is how we'll start off new year's eve, sunday, of course. there will be a lot of dry weather out towards the east, i think, through the morning. staying dry across scotland for much of the day, but blustery showers still swirling around this area of low pressure, lighter winds across the centre of low pressure. but again, towards the south coast of england and wales, there'll be some strong, gusty, brisk south—westerly winds blowing throughout the day. temperatures for most a little lower than they were earlier on today. and still some more blustery showers, i suspect, as we head into the evening. if you're out celebrating new year's eve, watch out because you may well catch a good scattering of showers towards the south as we head through the first part of the night. but then they'll gradually fade away. so, fewer of them by the time we get to midnight, still very windy towards the south coast, could cause some disruption with fireworks, but mild here. we'll see more of the showers as we head into northern england and across parts of northern ireland. scotland looking largely dry.
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the winds a little lighter here, perhaps some of the showers a bit wintry over the tops of the hills where we see them. and then into new year's day itself, monday, well, another area of low pressure will approach from the south—west by the end of the day. but i think for much of the day, it should be largely dry and there'll be some sunshine around as well, particularly across wales, parts of central southern england, perhaps a legacy of cloud still stretching from south west scotland into north—east england for a time through the day. the winds will be lighter and the temperatures a little lower as well, 5—10 degrees celsius north to south. now, as we head through the rest of the week, then, it is gradually going to be turning a little colder. it stays unsettled. more showers at times. bye— bye.
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this is bbc news, the headlines: russia accuses ukraine of shelling the border city of belgorod. officials say 18 people were killed and dozens injured. and 21 injured later in kharkiv after russia launched rocket attacks on the city in response. tank fire and air strikes have been reported in central and southern gaza. the un says around 150,000 palestinians are being forced to flee as israel's ground offensive advances. thousands were stranded after eurostar cancelled saturday's train services to and from london st pancras. flooding in the thames tunnels has now been brought under control and services will now
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resume on sunday. british actor tom wilkinson, known for films like the full monty, shakespeare in love and the best exotic marigold hotel, has died aged 75. he received six bafta nominations in total as well as two 0scar nominations. now on bbc news, kevin sinfield: 7in7in7. cheering he had run further before, he had run longer before, but for this, kevin sinfield's for the marathon challenge, it was going out on the road notjust to run back to tour around the uk and ireland. we will cive it our around the uk and ireland. we will give it our best _ around the uk and ireland. we will give it our best shot _ around the uk and ireland. we will give it our best shot and _ around the uk and ireland. we will give it our best shot and see - around the uk and ireland. we will
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give it our best shot and see what | give it our best shot and see what we have got. give it our best shot and see what we have got-— give it our best shot and see what we have not. , �* , ~ ~ ,,

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