this is bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. i'm lewis vaughanjones — the headlines... civilians forced underground as russia hits ukraine with more air strikes, its energy grid once again under attack. the leader of britain's biggest rail union says a deal to avert further strikes is "achievable" as his members took part in a fresh 48—hour walk—out, leaving passengers frustrated. they need to sit down and talk to each other, and stop being a pain to everyone else, basically. police and concertgoers clash at south london's brixton academy. three people are critically ill in hospital after a crush outside the concert venue. lady susan hussey, who repeatedly

asked black british charity boss ngozi fulani "where she was from" during a royal reception, has apologised to her in person today. as protests across iran enter theirfourth month, we hear from those putting their lives at risk confronting the regime. engine ignition, and lift off! a nasa satellite designed to study the earth's water for the first time ever is successfully launced into space. hello, welcome to the programme. we star in ukraine. at least three people are reported to have been killed in ukraine, after a barrage of russian missile strikes against civilian targets. the attacks were aimed at targets right across the country,

including multiple strikes on the capital, kyiv. this is the aftermath of an explosion there. nine energy plants were hit, leading to blackouts. this is the country's second—largest city, kharkiv. the city's mayor says there's been "colossal damage" and the entire city is without power. more than a million people are without electricity in sub—zero temperatures. our eastern europe correspondent sarah rainsford has the latest. the rumble of a russian attack as kyiv was woken by more missile strikes. the danger drove people underground, the metro is the safest place to huddle here when the city is underfire. but as russian missiles hit the power grid, the trains all stopped. i've been sitting here for about three hours. i want to go home. but in southern ukraine, it were homes that were hit,

killing three and trapping others under the ruins. in northern kharkiv, day turns dark. the power went down right across the town. this country now copes with what was once unimaginable. handing out hot food... keeping people warm... and even in kyiv queuing for water in the street. defying russia's efforts to wear them down. but these attacks affect even the most vulnerable. we found this old people's home without heat, light or water. it is running on sheer resilience. her children just brought her here from the south thinking she would be safer. translation: we are all waiting for peace, really waiting. -

putin says let's be friends, but who is the unfriendly one here? he attacked us! our situation here is really miserable. the staff are doing their best to keep things normal, but it is anything but that. they even have to store water now to flush the toilet. translation: it is pretty hard, but we will get through. - tonight, there are no traffic lights and much of kyiv, no lights at all in large parts in the capital as russia tries to force his country into surrender, but somehow life goes on. sarah rainsford, bbc news, kid. —— kyiv. a deal to end the strikes that have been paralysing britain's rail network is "achievable" —

that's the view of mick lynch, the head of the rmt union, whose members are at this moment taking part in a 48—hour walk—out. the current action has hit services across england, scotland and wales, with only about one in five trains running today and the same expected for tomorrow. this report from our transport correspondent katy austin. the frosty conditions didn't stop a picket line forming early this morning in southampton. here there were some trains, but far fewer than normal. it's been frustrating. we've got a lot of work, it's added stress. we spent such a long time planning for this trip, but i understand at the same time. people should get equal pay. some retailers and small businesses worry this strike will take the shine off last shopping weekend before christmas. this was going to be a golden time for businesses to make the money. it affects customers being able

to get to towns and cities, it affects staff being able to get in. it's also a crucial time of year for restaurants, bars and clubs as they try and make the most christmas party season — and venues like this say the train strikes have had a real impact. some large bookings have been postponed or made smaller as fewer guests can make it. we're making less money on those days so we are downscaling — we are still holding a celebration for them but if five are dropping off each party, it has a massive effect. christmas is a big time of year and it's where we take most of our sales. there's still been no breakthrough in the dispute, and key sticking points remain. the rmt has rejected the initial offer put forward by the group representing train companies involving pay rises of 4% this year and next year. the rmt objects to some of the conditions attached, which include closing or repurposing ticket offices, putting sunday working in all contracts and driver only operation in more places, where drivers, not guards, operate train doors. rmt members turned down the latest offered by network rail,

which employs signallers and maids and staff, including a 5% rise this year, and 4% next year, plus other benefits. the organisation is pressing ahead with changes to how maintenance teams work. the rmt argues they are detrimental to its members and safety, which network rail disputes. the union's leader said there would be more talks with the rail minister and industry leaders aimed at finding compromises. what we'd like to put some approved proposals to our members and see if they can accept those, and maybe resolve the dispute and get this industrial action lifted. but that means we need to work quickly, and we need a bit of goodwill from all parties, including the employers and the government, and from ourselves. a spokesperson for the train companies said reaching agreement was a painstaking process. we need to make sure we have some reforms that will help pay for those pay increases, whilst making sure the industry is adapting

to the new ways that people are using railways. as things stand the new year will bring more strikes. katy austin, bbc news. it's notjust rail workers on strike in the uk. this comes just a day after tens of thousands of nurses in england went on strike, for the first time in the history of the nhs. the royal college of nursing says it may be forced to announce a fresh wave of strikes, if the government doesn't agree to reopen talks. but the prime minister insists the current pay offer, is "appropriate and fair". here's our health editor hugh pym. it's a pay row with a major impact on the political agenda, striking nurses outside st thomas' hospital opposite parliament yesterday gave their view on the pay award. some conservative mps have called for another look at the issue. but the prime minister today on a visit to belfast stuck to his position, spelling out again his view that the 4% increase for nurses was fair. i know things are difficult right now and that's why the cup it is providing lots of support

for people particularly with energy bills, and why the government accepted in full the recommendations independent pay review body about what appropriate and fair pay levels were. but we will always have our door open and be willing to sit down and be reasonable and constructive. the nurses�* leaders say, if nothing changes next week, further strikes are likely. if the prime minister continues to take the position that he is holding now, along with his secretary of state, then it will be for him and on his shoulders that further action perhaps will have to take place. but this is for him to decide now. there will be more extensive strikes by health workers next week. on tuesday, there will be 12—hour walk—outs again by nurses by 44 trusts in england, six out of seven health boards in wales, and across northern ireland. on wednesday, ambulance staff

will stage strikes covering all areas of england and wales except the east of england. three unions — unison, gmb, and unite — have called the strikes, but not all threat once in area. there are no strikes in scotland, who received a higher offer. military personnel are being trained to drive ambulances during strikes, making sure this can be done safely, as well as helping paramedics move patients. emergency calls will be answered, but there are warnings that some patients with injuries might miss out. i think it's going to be really challenging for people who would ordinarily call an ambulance for a situation who may well need to find alternative means of treatment or accessing treatment. nhs england has written to hospital today urging them to discharge as many patients as possible safely ahead of the ambulance strikes. the aim is to free up beds and avoid logjams in a&e so paramedics get back on the road quickly.

hugh pym, bbc news. meanwhile, workers at amazon's warehouse in coventry have voted to strike in the new year in a dispute over pay. the gmb union says a majority of more than 98% of balloted employees voted in favour of strike action. it's thought to be the first time amazon employees in the uk have taken formal action — although there have been informal protests. gmb says that "amazon can afford to do better" and that it's "not too late" to avoid the walk—outs next year. three people are critically ill in hospital after being injured during a crush outside a concert venue in south london. the nigerian star, asake was performing at the brixton 02 academy, when it's reported some people tried to force their way in without tickets. the concert was abandoned. the mayor of london says an inquiry into what happened is under way. daniel sandford has more. caught up in a dangerous crush outside the famous 02 academy, in brixton,

hundreds of fans of the nigerian singer asake — some with tickets, some without. the fans pushed up against the door, eventually forcing it open. you got 3,000 people to open the door outside and because of security, these have asked us to close the show. a frustrated audience didn't realise what was unfolding. in the foyer, order had broken down as security staff struggled to control the crowd. one woman described what it was like in the crash. i was so scared. they pushed from behind, from outside. they pushed and i went down. on top of me, stepping on me. i thought i was dead for the i took my last breath and passed out. i couldn't breathe. the next thing, i woke up in an ambulance.

a witness thought one problem was duplicate tickets but from resellers. a lot of were frustrated thinking they'd bought tickets, how come they couldn't watch the show? i think when the security came out saying "we have reached capacity," there were hundreds of people outside saying, "how? "we have got our tickets that we bought. "why can't we go in?" 0ne young concertgoer told me she was crushed against the door of the venue with no way in and no way of getting away. eventually the door gave way, and she was pushed the ground and trampled on, as people ran to get through to the concert hall. today, a major investigation was under way. every potential piece of evidence was being gathered. detectives needing to build a picture of where any criminal liability lies for what could have been an even more serious incident. i think the public would rightly expect us to ensure we have the highest quality investigation to establish the facts and that is why we are doing that.

and that's why we're doing that. what potential offences are they looking at? i'm not going to speculate at this time. shack eight and asked people not turn up without tickets. the venue will be in the spotlight. it security company said it was providing information to detectives. and the police are also under scrutiny for how at least one of their officers dealt with the crowd. daniel sandford, bbc news, brixton. breaking news from the met police here in london, the bodies of two children have been found. an investigation has been launched into the depths of two children and deck services were called around 2pm this afternoon uk time. the blotters of two young children found in a

residential address, two young children found in a residentialaddress, —— two young children found in a residential address, —— the bodies of two young children. as we have any more details on that, we will bring them to you. buckingham palace has confirmed that the former lady—in—waiting lady susan hussey has apologised in person to ngozi fulani, the head of charity sistah space, after the pair met today. lady susan resigned from her honorary role in the royal household after it was alleged that she had repeatedly asked ms fulani where she was from during a reception at the palace. 0ur royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. the purpose today was to allow lady susan to make a their last meeting caused deep offence. at buckingham palace today, lady susan hussey and ngozi fulani met again. the purpose today was to allow lady susan to make a personal

apology for her racially insensitive comments to ms fulani at a palace reception. in a statement, the palace said... it was at a palace reception at the end of last month that the british—born ms fulani was asked repeatedly by lady susan what part of africa she was from. lady susan, a senior member of the royal household who served the late queen for more than 60 years, immediately stepped down. today, the king was visiting a jewish community centre in north london. for decades, he has promoted racial tolerance and understanding between different faiths. he and his officials will hope that today's meeting will draw a line under an unpleasant episode. for its part, the palace has said it will continue its focus on inclusion and diversity. nicholas witchell, bbc news. the first ever satellite to survey all of the earth's surface waters from space blasted off from california on a spacex rocket. and liftoff of swot.

nasa's surface water and ocean topography satellite — or swot — should improve weather forecasting, help to manage freshwater supplies in regions suffering drought, and give us new insights on the consequences of climate change. 0ur science correspondent jonathan amos joins us from chicago. so so just talk us through the significance of the satellite? fist significance of the satellite? at the significance of the satellite? git the experimental mission but it's a big advance on what has gone before. we've really struggled to see some of the rivers around the world, some of the rivers around the world, some of the rivers around the world, some of the lakes, and even get detail on the movement of ocean water. and this brings a new type of instrument, a radar instrument that will have much greater precision and accuracy when it looks at water bodies. so we should be able to see

all rivers on earth down to about 50 metres of grass post we will be able to see the features on this ocean service, like the areas that swirled down to around 20 km across. that's really important if you want to understand climate change because it's those eddies that pull carbon dioxide and heat out of the atmosphere and bury it deep into the ocean which are the hallmarks of global warming. those rivers and lakes in particular, millions of them we will see you for the first time. water is such an important resource, many countries around the world have no idea precisely how much water is flowing through their rivers, how much water is held in their lakes. and this mission will help them do that. find their lakes. and this mission will help them do that.— their lakes. and this mission will help them do that. and is there any kind of timeframe _ help them do that. and is there any kind of timeframe on _ help them do that. and is there any kind of timeframe on when - help them do that. and is there any kind of timeframe on when we will. help them do that. and is there any i kind of timeframe on when we will be able to evaluate any results? they'll need to set the satellite up first of all, and this is a role that british scientists will play in particular. they'll use the bristol

channel, this estuary in the country which has one of the largest title ranges in the world. so it's a great sweeping water that comes up and down that estuary every day. as a satellite goes over the top, they'll be making measurements in the bristol channel. i want to see that both parties are seeing exactly the same thing, and if they do, they'll release swot to do its business around the world. so an important role for uk scientists in this mission. , ., . . role for uk scientists in this mission-— role for uk scientists in this mission. , ., ., ., ., , mission. jonathan, thanks very much for that. let's get more on this with dr paul bell, principle investigator for the swot uk project. thanks very much for coming on the programme. thanks very much for coming on the programme-— thanks very much for coming on the programme-_ 50 - thanks very much for coming on the programme._ so whatj thanks very much for coming on the l programme._ so what is programme. good evening. so what is our role? programme. good evening. so what is your role? i'm — programme. good evening. so what is your role? i'm leading _ programme. good evening. so what is your role? i'm leading a _ programme. good evening. so what is your role? i'm leading a team - programme. good evening. so what is your role? i'm leading a team of - your role? i'm leading a team of researchers _ your role? i'm leading a team of researchers from _ your role? i'm leading a team of researchers from the _ your role? i'm leading a team of researchers from the national i researchers from the national oceanography centre at university of bristol, and we are working as a team to measure the water levels

within bristol channel and the severn estuary and quite a lot of detail, and a pair of those with the readings that come from the new swot satellite. in the idea is we want to make sure that what we measure on the ground tallies up with what the satellite is measuring, and we will have lots more confidence it's doing what it's supposed to do all over the planet. what it's supposed to do all over the planet-— the planet. and if you do those measurements _ the planet. and if you do those measurements and _ the planet. and if you do those measurements and it - the planet. and if you do those measurements and it is - the planet. and if you do those measurements and it is doing i the planet. and if you do those - measurements and it is doing what it is supposed to, and you get a bit of confidence the satellite is working properly, what are some of the advantages it will bring? that properly, what are some of the advantages it will bring? at one of the big ones _ advantages it will bring? at one of the big ones is _ advantages it will bring? at one of the big ones is that _ advantages it will bring? at one of the big ones is that at _ advantages it will bring? at one of the big ones is that at the - advantages it will bring? at one of. the big ones is that at the moment, there is no consistent way of measuring water levels all over the planet particularly the freshwater regions. a lot of rivers are well monitored by all different systems, but that's the point, this will give us the one consistent method of measuring things all over the planet. t measuring things all over the lanet. ., �* ., ., , planet. i don't want to be too

dismissive — planet. i don't want to be too dismissive here _ planet. i don't want to be too dismissive here but - planet. i don't want to be too dismissive here but it - planet. i don't want to be too dismissive here but it seems| planet. i don't want to be too - dismissive here but it seems fairly obvious, shouldn't something like this have been sent up before? to an extent it has. — this have been sent up before? to an extent it has, we've _ this have been sent up before? to an extent it has, we've had _ this have been sent up before? trr an extent it has, we've had satellite altimeters for almost 30 years now, and the results from that have, amongst other things, demonstrated quite clearly that levels have risen by ten cm in those years. the difference between those alternatives and the swot satellite is that those... the inter—auditor produces... so it literally adds a second dimension to everything we see and we can start looking at patterns on the ocean surface, and look at actually getting to the maps of lakes and rivers. we might even catch things like the seven title bore. ~ . . g catch things like the seven title bore. ~ . bore. we will check back in with you as and when — bore. we will check back in with you as and when it's _ bore. we will check back in with you

as and when it's up _ bore. we will check back in with you as and when it's up and _ bore. we will check back in with you as and when it's up and running. - as and when it's up and running. thank you very much, paul bell. thank you. this week, iran carried out its second execution over the anti—government protests. the protests — which began after a young woman, mahsa amini, died in custody — have now entered their fourth month. 23—year—old majidreza rahnavard was hanged in the city of mashhad, accused of killing two militia members. more than 20 other protestors have been sentenced to death, hundreds have been wounded in the demonstrations, the bbc'sjiyar gol has the story of two injured protesters who recently escaped iran. translation: watching these videos takes me back to those moments. - i was there, i experienced that. we were out for freedom. we decided to join the protest. we vowed, even if we face death, we will continue.

peyman gulabi is a veterinarian. many people like him with medical expertise, nurses and dentists, have been helping injured protesters in the streets. in october, peyman's home town — mahabad, a kurdish city in the north—west of iran — was the epicentre of the protests against the islamic regime. this is the street where peyman treated injured protesters. medicines are smuggled between cities. many injured protesters are afraid to go to a hospital. people like peyman will treat injured people in safe houses. while treating protesters, peyman was shot multiple times by bird shotguns.

translation: l was hit i with more than 200 shots. four orfive police ganged up over my head and beat me up. i felt i was unconscious. i was in a coma. but i could hear them saying, "he's dead. we killed him. take him to a morgue." it was too risky for peyman to go to a hospital. to iran's mountainous border region, with his open wounds, he was smuggled out of iran on a mule to iraqi kurdistan. the islamic republic revolutionary guard are positioned in and around hospitals. many injured protesters have been arrested in the emergency rooms. sources inside iranian prisons have told us so many young injured protesters have been kept in small rooms. a doctor in fashafouyeh prison, near tehran, told us some of those young detainees should be

in an intensive care unit, but the prison officials refuse to transfer them to a hospital to be treated. translation: still, - i dream about those moments when we were beaten up and dragged on the ground. in one narrow alley, more than six people were shot in front of my eyes. three of them died right there. we couldn't even retrieve their bodies. peyman is suffering from nightmares. he escaped iran physically, but his psychological trauma hasn't left him alone. jiyar gol, bbc news. a landslide that engulfed a campsite close to the malaysian capital, that's it for me for a moment, i'll be back in a few moments with the headlines and back at the top of the hour. check out the bbc news website and download the bbc news app

through our online. i'm louis yvonne jones, bbc news, bye—bye. hello there. change is on its way as we head through the weekend, with some milder air pushing in from the west. but today, bitterly cold again with some more snow around, especially in scotland. here's st andrews, as recorded by a weather watcher. further south and east, lots of blue sky and sunshine, but even here, temperatures didn't make it out of low single figures yet again. so this weekend it will be turning milder, but there's some more snow in the forecast, and very icy conditions around, as well. this is the radar picture showing us the snowfall from earlier on today — so you can see across the higher ground of scotland, still continuing, to lower levels, turning back to rain, but still the possibility of some more hill snow here overnight tonight, and also a few centimetres possible for the pennines too. a bit of a wintry mix in some of these showers

out towards the west. clearest of the skies tonight again for east anglia, the southeast of england. temperatures here could drop as low as perhaps —7—8 celsius. but there's more of a south—westerly breeze, and that should help to keep any freezing fog at bay. still, these showers across western areas of wales, a line of showers just drifting southwards into the midlands, and again, a bit more hill snow across scotland. northern ireland on saturday should see a largely dry day, the chance of i—2 showers out towards the west, and temperatures starting to creep up into mid—single figures for many as our weather front approaches from the southwest, and we've got the milder air tied in with this wind and rain. so the milder air — represented by the yellow here — will gradually squeeze out that colder air, but it will still linger on towards eastern areas, even into the end of the day on sunday. some really hazardous driving conditions on sunday — if you are travelling then, do take care. the risk of some freezing rain and an awful lot of ice, as well. some of this rain, particularly on the leading edge, is likely to fall as snow as it

bumps into the colder air — that's especially true over the higher ground, of course, but it's gradually pushing its way eastward, subzero temperatures on the ground. so as the rain hits it, it will freeze, some slippery surfaces around, and these are the temperatures by the end of the day on sunday — look at devon and cornwall, 10—12 celsius. and these will be the temperatures with that mild air pretty much across the board on monday morning. so a lot milder as we start off next week, and the mild air looks as if it's set to last. still some uncertainty, so keep an eye on the forecast.

this is bbc world news, the headlines: ukraine says a huge wave of russian missile strikes has damaged nine of its power facilities and energy consumption has dropped by more than half. it says mosow fired 76 mostly cruise missiles but 60 were intercepted. the leader of britain's biggest rail

union says a deal to avert further strikes is "achievable" as his members took part in a fresh 48 hour walk—out. but tens of thousands of passengers have been left frustrated. nasa has launched a mission to undertake the first survey of all of the earth's surface waters from space. data gathered will be used to improve weather and climate predictions, and to help manage fresh water resources. fifa is to reconsider the format of the 2026 world cup in the united states, mexico and canada. fifa's president said plans would be looked at, after the success of this years' tournament. you are watching bbc news — now it's time for newscast. chris, put your phone down and stop whatsapping rishi sunak or whoever it is. no, i wasjust... because... oh, yeah. yeah, good point. just on self—promotion? yeah, it was actually. guilty as charged. so, in this episode of newscast, we have got the world premiere

of the newscast christmas advert.