this is bbc news. i'm david eades with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. we will be free! tributes and reflections pour in for archbishop desmond tutu after his death at the age of 90. he was a man of unwavering courage, of principal conviction and whose life was spent in the service of others. the israeli government approves a plan to double the number of settlers in the golan heights, regarded by much of the world as occupied territory. compulsory covid vaccines required for all private companies enters into force in new york city. it's the first mandate of its

kind in the united states. leaders from around the world have been paying tribute to desmond tutu, one of the heroes of the anti—apartheid movement, who's died at the age of 90. president biden praised the courage and moral clarity of the former archbishop of cape town. the un secretary general, antonio guterres, called him an inspiration to generations. our africa correspondent andrew harding looks back at his life. raise our hands and we say we will be free! desmond tutu was an exuberant figure, an outspoken anglican priest who became one of the world's great moral voices. it was during south africa's long and violent struggle against white minority rule that he rose to prominence,

condemning the apartheid government, comparing them to the nazis. the system of this country, apartheid, is immoral. the system of this country is evil. with nelson mandela hidden away in prison, tutu soon became the face of south africa's struggle for freedom and forjustice. he leaves behind a legacy, one of the last of the generation of people who told us that apartheid was wrong and stood up for human rights everywhere. and he never stopped doing that. in 1994, tutu was awarded the nobel peace prize and he used his global platform to criticise britain and america for being too soft on the apartheid government. eventually mandela was released, but the advent of democracy presented tutu with new challenges in a country that he now dubbed

"the rainbow nation". often in tears, tutu presided over south africa's truth and reconciliation commission, seeking to expose and to heal the wounds of apartheid. he was a man of unwavering courage, a principal conviction and whose life was spent in the service of others. he, in many ways, embodied the essence of humanity. he specialised in forgiveness, but with accountability. and that pursuit ofjustice continued, especially when south africa's democratic politicians plunged into corruption. i am warning you that we will pray as we prayed for the downfall of the apartheid government,

we will pray for the downfall of a government that misrepresents us. inevitably, desmond tutu made enemies, but his genius was for winning people over, one could say for provoking love. he certainly wants that when he dies the epitaph will be very clear — that desmond tutu loved, he laughed, he cried, and that is what he was, he was always a man of tremendous joy. the one thing that helps desmond tutu stand out and occupy this unique place in south african history is that he was there at every step of the way through this country's tortuous journey from apartheid to democracy and beyond, with that clear, moral, often angry, sometimes laughing voice, a man defined above all by his sense of hope.

flags will fly at half—mast across south africa with a week of tributes being organised to remember archbishop tutu — or �*arch�* as he liked to be known. his funeral will take place on the first of january. many south africans have been gathering outside his homes in cape town and soweto to lay wreaths and light candles. our correspondent nomsa maseko reports from soweto. paying their last respects, people from all walks of life dropped off flowers at desmond tutu's home. he was the voice of reason, the face of reconciliation and south africa's moral compass. it is a dark day to south africans because he is the light and the icon of this country.

he used to be a father to us. his wife used to be a mother to us. it was desmond tutu, known affectionately as the arch who coined the phrase the rainbow nation to describe south africa's ethnic diversity. if you had a problem you would go to him and he would give you a prayer and then he would go to the chapel and pray for us every day when we had problems. several memorial services are expected to be held in honour of desmond tutu over the next few days. the people here, they remember the arch as a unifying figure who helped south africa become a democracy. flowers were laid in cape town where he died in his home surrounded by family and friends. a seven—day sendoff is being planned including a mass to be planned by the anglican church.

we will have more on tributes to desmond tutu later in the bulletin. israel's government has approved a $300 million plan to consolidate its control of the golan heights. this area is regarded by most of the world as occupied territory. it was captured from syria during the six—day war more than half a century ago and later annexed. the israeli prime minister, naftali bennett, told a special cabinet meeting held in the golan that the aim was to double thejewish population there to nearly 50,000 within the next few years. translation: first, it must be said, the golan heights are - israel's. there is no doubt about it. israeli law has been applied here since 1981. it's beyond all debate. trump administration first recognised this and now, biden administration has made it clear that there is no change in this policy.

some extraordinary pictures here. two dams have collapsed in north—eastern brazil, bringing more severe flooding to the state of bahia. more than 11,000 people have been forced to leave their homes after weeks of heavy rain which have killed at least 17 people. daniel wittenberg has more. christmas is well and truly overin christmas is well and truly over in the city of atabula. two months of intense rain. instead of the traditional december festivities, instead of the traditional decemberfestivities, a instead of the traditional december festivities, a season of flooding. residents try to get out and get about however they can. it get out and get about however the can. , . ., , , they can. it is crazy. it is like the _ they can. it is crazy. it is like the sea. _ they can. it is crazy. it is like the sea. there - they can. it is crazy. it is like the sea. there was l they can. it is crazy. it is| like the sea. there was a they can. it is crazy. it is - like the sea. there was a way up like the sea. there was a way up almost two metres high. it is very sad to see our town like — is very sad to see our town like this, _ is very sad to see our town like this, very sad. i have never_ like this, very sad. i have never seen anything like it in my life _ never seen anything like it in my life |l— never seen anything like it in m life. , my life. it is the extreme weather _ my life. it is the extreme weather pattern - my life. it is the extreme weather pattern often - my life. it is the extreme i weather pattern often linked my life. it is the extreme - weather pattern often linked to climate change. the rainfall

six times greater than average was already overwhelming coastal areas across the state of bahia. the swollen rivers have forced two dams to give way within the space of 2a hours, swamping the surroundings. it is a challenge for emergency teams trying to rescue people trapped in homes now largely underwater and provide relief to those with nowhere to go. the states governor ruy castro says almost 400,000 people have been affected. bridges and roads have been damaged, making it harderfor have been damaged, making it harder for people to move to higher ground and there are fears of furtherflash higher ground and there are fears of further flash floods before the new year. as the year draws to a close, migrant deaths are brought back into focus. global migrant deaths have risen this year, reaching

nearly 4500 but the organisation is warning the final toll is likely to be a lot higher. you will find some of these images distressing. each community in the morning, clutching a coffin carrying one of their own. bodies of 16 iraqi kurds who drowned will return to iraq after their boat sank killing 14 others. the iraai sank killing 14 others. the iraqi kurds _ sank killing 14 others. the iraqi kurds have _ sank killing 14 others. tue: iraqi kurds have no—one sank killing 14 others. tte: iraqi kurds have no—one here who is at peace. nobody here is at ease with their lives. the kurdish government and iraqi government should stop this exodus and people should not be pushed to risk their lives. yes. this was a family of four. the _ yes. this was a family of four. the mother_ yes. this was a family of four. the mother and her three children— the mother and her three

children wanted to migrate and have _ children wanted to migrate and have a — children wanted to migrate and have a better life. it is a tragedy— have a better life. it is a tragedy that they met their end at the _ tragedy that they met their end at the sea. tragedy that they met their end at the sea-— at the sea. the un says this was the largest _ at the sea. the un says this was the largest single - at the sea. the un says this was the largest single loss | at the sea. the un says this | was the largest single loss of life in the channel since the agency started recording migrant deaths eight years ago but tragedies like these have not stopped more migrants from fleeing hardship. this boat was taking migrants from turkey to greece last week. at least 16 people drowned. 14 others died in the greek waters in the past week alone, risking their lives on overcrowded and unreliable votes. this is a beach on libya's coast. 0n votes. this is a beach on libya's coast. on saturday, the bodies of 28 migrants washed up here. the labs were taken on one of the most dangerous routes for migrants from libya to italy. 0verall, at least 4470 migrants died this year globally because of these dangerous journeys.

globally because of these dangerousjourneys. that globally because of these dangerous journeys. that is more than the 4236 lives lost in 2020. that is why the international organisation for migration is calling for urgent action from states, asking for increasing search and rescue efforts, establishing predictable disembarkation mechanisms and ensuring access to safe and legal migration pathways. the un agency is warning that until the steps are taken, more lives will be lost. a covid vaccine mandate for workers in new york city city comes into force on monday. the measure, which is the first in the us, applies to about 184,000 businesses. public sector employers already have to be inoculated, but the city's mayor earlier this month extended the mandate to include all private sector employees. children aged 5 to 11 are also required to show proof of vaccination to access certain places. dr danielle 0mpad is

the associate professor of epidemiology at the new york university's school of global public health. she says it's a necessary step despite some pushback. i think it is being excepted in some circles. we actually have a pretty high vaccination rates in the city, but there is definitely pushback, and as an epidemiologist who has watched this pandemic from the beginning, iam happy this pandemic from the beginning, i am happy to see vaccine mandates for people in congregate settings, restaurants congregate settings, restau ra nts a nd congregate settings, restaurants and gatherings because i am really worried about the pandemic continuing. do you think it should be more targeted than in terms of the mandate because as you point out there are those who will provide pushback, as he put it? we are hitting the deadline now, and i suppose wejust we are hitting the deadline now, and i suppose we just have to wait to see how many people are prepared to go through with

this. , ., ~ ., ., , this. yes. you know, i actually think at least _ this. yes. you know, i actually think at least two _ this. yes. you know, i actually think at least two doses - this. yes. you know, i actually think at least two doses is - this. yes. you know, i actually think at least two doses is a i think at least two doses is a good idea, and we know immunity begins to wane after x months after the second dose, so i actually anticipate that boosters may be mandated as well. , boosters may be mandated as well, , ., boosters may be mandated as well. , ., . well. sorry. you anticipated. you would — well. sorry. you anticipated. you would support _ well. sorry. you anticipated. you would support it - well. sorry. you anticipated. you would support it as - well. sorry. you anticipated. | you would support it as well, presumably?— you would support it as well, presumably? yes because i do not want the _ presumably? yes because i do not want the hospital - presumably? yes because i do not want the hospital is - presumably? yes because i do not want the hospital is full. not want the hospital is full and i do not want my neighbours to die from covid.— to die from covid. sorry to keep interrupting - to die from covid. sorry to keep interrupting you. - to die from covid. sorry to keep interrupting you. is l to die from covid. sorry to i keep interrupting you. is that the message you are getting, though, at the moment, in terms of hospitalisations? we though, at the moment, in terms of hospitalisations?— of hospitalisations? we are not seeinu as of hospitalisations? we are not seeing as many _ of hospitalisations? we are not seeing as many in _ of hospitalisations? we are not seeing as many in new - of hospitalisations? we are not seeing as many in new york. of hospitalisations? we are not seeing as many in new york as| seeing as many in new york as we are seeing in some other places but there is concern about that, obviously. my personal circle is filled with people who are focused on a public health, so our internal conversations are a little bit different than the general population, but even among some of my friends and family, they

are pretty pleased to see the encouragement to get vaccinated because they want to get on with their lives.— with their lives. this is a question _ with their lives. this is a question you _ with their lives. this is a question you must - with their lives. this is a question you must have| with their lives. this is a - question you must have been asked a thousand times. what do you think you can say to those who really do resist the idea of being vaccinated, and certainly would resist a mandate to say — sorry, you have got to do it. what do you say to them? t have got to do it. what do you say to them?— have got to do it. what do you say to them? i understand that eo - le say to them? i understand that people don't — say to them? i understand that people don't like _ say to them? i understand that people don't like being - say to them? i understand that people don't like being told - people don't like being told what to do. generally, i don't like being told what to do either, but if we don't all work together on this pandemic, and that means masking and vaccination, then this is going to keep happening and, quite frankly, i am to keep happening and, quite frankly, iam not to keep happening and, quite frankly, i am not prepared to lose anybody else. neighbours, friends, family, fellow citizens of the world, it is time for us to pull together and bring this to an end and we can only do that together. you talk about _ can only do that together. you talk about working _ can only do that together. you talk about working together and

you are just about to jump from one new york mets to another. do you have confidence that there is a uniformity of approach now? t there is a uniformity of approach now?- there is a uniformity of approach now? there is a uniformity of auroach now? ., , approach now? i really hope so. i am approach now? i really hope so. i am very _ approach now? i really hope so. i am very hopeful— approach now? i really hope so. i am very hopeful that _ approach now? i really hope so. i am very hopeful that our - approach now? i really hope so. i am very hopeful that our new. i am very hopeful that our new map will continue with policy thatis map will continue with policy that is really aimed to get the pandemic under control in new york and elsewhere will stop —— mayor. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: and christmas in colombia. how the salsa dancers have been able to return to the streets once more. the most ambitious financial and political change ever attempted has got under way with the introduction of the euro. tomorrow in holland, we're going to use money we picked up in belgium today. and then we'll be in france and again, it will be the same money. it's just got to be the way to go.

george harrison, the former beatle, is recovering in hospital after being stabbed at his 0xfordshire home. a 33—year—old man from liverpool is being interviewed by police on suspicion of attempted murder. i think it was good. reporter: just good? no — fantastic! that's better! big ben bongs this is bbc news. the latest headlines: the tributes are flowing for archbisop desmond tutu who has died at the age of 90. the nobel laureate was

a veteran of south africa's struggle against apartheid. helen clark is the former prime minister of new zealand. speaking from waihi in the north of the country, she says "the arch" was an inspiration to young anti—apartheid activists like her in the 1970s. desmond tutu was one of the greatest living beings of our lifetimes. . ., lifetimes. the anti-apartheid movement — lifetimes. the anti-apartheid movement was _ lifetimes. the anti-apartheid movement was very - lifetimes. the anti-apartheid movement was very strong l lifetimes. the anti-apartheid| movement was very strong in lifetimes. the anti-apartheid - movement was very strong in new zealand from the 1960s on and as a student i was involved in that and we took great inspiration from those who were so prominent and outspoken against it. we knew of mandela and his comrades suffering on the island and the exiles in the island and the exiles in the soweto uprising. we began to hear of the

bishop tutu's voice, a voice of reason. and he was an inspiration to the movement around the world both at home in south africa and thousands of miles away in new zealand where people took up because for human rights and democracy in south africa. than in south africa. an inspirational - in south africa. an inspirational and i in south africa. an inspirational and challenging voice for new zealand at the time through the 70s and 80s when the springboks and the old bot —— all blacks were still prepared to compete against one another and i presume that was part of the reason for your own to the cause? tt part of the reason for your own to the cause?— to the cause? it is shocking, reall , to the cause? it is shocking, really. that _ to the cause? it is shocking, really, that new _ to the cause? it is shocking, really, that new zealand - really, that new zealand accommodated white touring teams from south africa all that time up until the mid—19 80s and, of course, teams went from new zealand to south africa as well. bishop tutu's voice was heard against that and helped to mobilise the in

new zealand for change and that change began to happen with the government elected in 19 84 and with our prime minister of the time, david longley, himselfa monumental human being, visiting the frontline states in southern africa and new zealand changed course, officially, tojoin zealand changed course, officially, to join the officially, tojoin the movement for change. but without those voices coming from within south africa, powerful voices like desmond tutu, the world would not have rallied the way it did and that is how we will remember him. he put his own life at risk to do what he did and this must never be forgotten. filo} what he did and this must never be forgotten-— be forgotten. fw to cloak died recentl , be forgotten. fw to cloak died recently. of — be forgotten. fw to cloak died recently, of course, _ be forgotten. fw to cloak died recently, of course, and - be forgotten. fw to cloak died recently, of course, and you . recently, of course, and you gave a tribute to him as well. it is a complex picture in south africa.— it is a complex picture in south africa. , . ., , south africa. very complex. i was rereading _ south africa. very complex. i was rereading what _ south africa. very complex. i was rereading what desmond south africa. very complex. i - was rereading what desmond tutu said about fw to cloke. he did

welcome his announced reforms and the release of mandela and he said words to the effect that someone has emerged here who is greater than we expected. so out of an unpromising background of the national party which brought apartheid to south africa had come a reformer. and in the bleakest hours someone who will emerge from a system like that and say we got it wrong. the base had to be laid in south africa for that to happen and, again, let's not un—as that might underestimate the huge role contribution of desmond tutu. ~ , , role contribution of desmond tutu. ~ ,, ., tutu. with the passing of desmond _ tutu. with the passing of desmond tutu _ tutu. with the passing of desmond tutu and - tutu. with the passing of desmond tutu and he - tutu. with the passing of desmond tutu and he is| tutu. with the passing of - desmond tutu and he is someone who represents the passing of this era in many ways, what sense of hope or otherwise do you have for south africa, for a country where you spent many decades focusing on. as a political motif for you? times

are challenging _ political motif for you? times are challenging for _ political motif for you? times are challenging for all - political motif for you? times are challenging for all the - are challenging for all the reasons that we are aware of. but one of the great legacies of nelson mandela and of desmond tutu was to create our south africa with a strong constitution and human rights and the rule of law embedded in it so that no matter what dreadful things we hear about with corruption, in particular, we know that there is a system ofjustice we know that there is a system of justice which we know that there is a system ofjustice which can stand up to that and a strong constitution. so i think that is where we put our hope. i think the current president is of hope that he stands for something that is better than his predecessor did, much better. so let's hope that south africa works its way through to what those who worked so hard for a free south

africa most worked for. helen clark, thank you very much for sharing your views on the of desmond tutu. let's get some of the day's other news. a fire has caused widespread damage at a major shopping centre in the nigerian capital, abuja. a huge column of black smoke rose over next cash and carry. an eyewitness told reporters that firefighters arrived two hours after the blaze broke out. the cause of the fire is unknown. there are no reports of any casualties. people in more than 100 cities in the philippines are without power, following typhoon rai — which ripped through the country 10 days ago. disaster officials warn it may take till february to restore all electricity supplies. tens of thousands of homes were damaged and there's still a lack of food and clean water. 378 people are now known to have been killed by the typhoon. the coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on social and cultural events over the last two years — with many cancelled

or postponed. for some — things are getting back to normal — or near to normal. that's certainly true in colombia — where a very important event has resumed. the bbc�*s tim allman explains. in the south—western city of cali, this is how they do christmas — a spectacle of colour and dance. they call this the salsodromo, the opening of the feria de cali, or cali fair. for more than 60 years, they have come here to dance and dance, and dance some more. salsa music plays. a celebration of the region's cultural identity, said to promote ethnic and musical diversity. everyone gets involved, no matter what their age. cheering and applause.

but last year, the cali fair was cancelled, the covid pandemic bringing the music to a halt, so this year, they're making up for lost time. the attention to detail is obvious, the excitement of the crowds even more so. these celebrations will continue throughout the week and the dancing will not stop. for the people of cali, now, more than ever, the show really must go on. tim allman, bbc news. i wonder if this following show will go on. unusually rough waves and high winds in the waters off southeastern australia have forced a quarter of the sailing boats competing in the annual sydney to hobart yacht race to withdraw. of the 88 vessels that set out on sunday morning, just sixty four are left to battle out the final eight hundred or so kilometres to tasmania. the event was cancelled last year for the first time since it began in 1945

because of the pandemic. and that is bbc news. hello there. a few of us got to see a white christmas but, for many more, it was too mild for snow. we had a lot of mist and murk and we had some outbreaks of rain. this stripe of cloud on the satellite picture brought rain and some hill snow in the north during boxing day. there's more cloud and rain waiting in the wings down to the south—west. but the big story, i think, for this week will be this surge of very, very mild air wafting up from the south, affecting all parts of the uk as we move towards the end of 2021. it will be turning increasingly mild this week, but with some wind and rain at times. now, many of us will start off monday with some cloud, some mist and fog, some quite murky conditions again. rain into the south—west of england which will push northwards towards parts of wales, the midlands and east anglia through the day, tending to weaken as it goes. elsewhere, some of the mist and fog and cloud will tend to lift and break and we will

see some spells of sunshine in the far north of england, northern ireland and scotland, albeit with some showers in the far north. temperatures ranging from 6 degrees in aberdeen to 12 in plymouth through the afternoon. and then through monday night, a bit more rain potentially down towards the south. another lump of wet weather starting to push into northern ireland, parts of northern england, southern scotland. the winds will start to pick up down towards the south and the west as well. very mild in the south. a little bit chilly up towards the north. and then, as we go through tuesday, this area of wet weather will spread out of northern ireland into southern scotland, northern england, parts of wales, perhaps into the midlands as well. we will see some sunny spells to the far north and to the far south but it will be really quite windy across parts of england and wales. some of these western coasts could see gusts of 40 to maybe 50 mph. quite mild in the south — 12 degrees. further north, a little bit cooler but those temperatures still quite respectable for the time of year. however, there is even milder weather on the way. as we move out of tuesday into wednesday, we see this next frontal system pushing in from the south—west, a band of rain that'll drive its way north—eastwards, some snow for a time over high ground in scotland, but this will mostly be rain

because that mild air will be working its way in. temperatures down towards the south on wednesday afternoon up to 16, maybe 17 degrees. still a little bit chilly for some northern areas but as we move towards the end of the week and the end of the year, that mild weather spreads to all parts. there will still be some rain at times.

this is bbc news. the headlines: leaders from around the world have been paying tribute to desmond tutu, one of the heroes of the anti—apartheid movement, who's died at the age of 90. president biden praised his courage and the un secretary general, antonio guterres, called him an inspiration to generations. israel's government has approved a $300 million plan to consolidate its control of the golan heights. this area is regarded by most of the world as occupied territory. the israeli prime minister, naftali bennett, told a special cabinet meeting that the aim was to double thejewish population there within the next few years. an order for compulsory covid vaccines for all private companies comes into force in new york city. it's the first mandate of its kind in the united states and applies to about 184 thousand businesses. children as young as five are also required to show proof of vaccination to access certain venues.

now on bbc news: the sporting l word.