this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. 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 walkout, leaving passengers frustrated. they need to sit down and talk to each other and stop being a pain to everyone else, basically. lady susan hussey, who repeatedly asked black british charity elon musk is threatened with possible sanctions by the eu afterjournalists are kicked off twitter. and 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. welcome to the programme. 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 subzero 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's under fire. but as russian missiles hit the power grid, the trains all stopped. i've been sitting here about three hours. i want to go home. but in southern ukraine, it was 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's running on sheer resilience. this woman's 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's anything but that. they even have to store water now to flush the loo. "it is pretty hard, olga tells me, "but we will get through."

tonight, there's 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, kyiv. i spoke to maria, ukrainian disinformation and security expert based in kyiv, and she said the current winter weather conditions make the latest attacks even worse. today, russia was deliberately hitting power generation capacities of ukraine. and in the upcoming winter months, this is especially critical. now, only one third people in kyiv have water and heating and the temperatures are around zero, which makes vulnerable people like children, elderly, people with different health conditions, especially in a difficult situation.

people try to help each other and cooperate and go to the locations where there is still some power, like around the city. but of course, we understand this is very difficult to go through these attacks. but ukrainians are resistant. i've been today to ukrainian metro station, where people are gathering since the beginning of the air raid, where people were gathering since the beginning of the air raid, which lasted for four hours. people were waiting in the metro station until it will be safe to go out. they were reading books, trying to do something normal. how it could be normal in this circumstances? exactly. what do you make of the russian forces�*s tactics? what are they trying to do and will they be successful? russia is not capable of doing anything on the front lines,

so they are deliberately trying to strike civilian infrastructure. ukrainian air defence is doing amazing job today. around a0 missiles were fired only at kyiv, making it the largest attack on the capital of ukraine, and only three of the rockets initially hit their targets. the russians�* tactics are not broken. so, russians�* tactics are not broken. ukrainians became even more resilient and angry, but what russia trying to do is put ukraine on its knees, using winter and the cold as a weapon. just briefly, how long can this go on? how long can you try and live a normal life under these conditions? ukrainians are remarkably resistant, and we will continue surviving, we will continue resisting russia. they won't be able to break this

resilience, but they will try. for this, we need more help, especially in more air dispense. this is most crucial. 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 walkout. 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 to do, 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 really going to be . a golden time for businesses to make the money. it affects customers being able i to get to towns and city centres, it affects staff being able to get in to man places. i 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. —— and pubs. 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're 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. 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 also turned down the latest offered by network rail, which employs signallers and maids and staff, and maintenance 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're 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 what we'd like to do is 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 that we've got 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. while making sure the industry is adapting i to the new ways that - people are using railways. as things stand, the new year will bring more strikes. katy austin, bbc news, in southampton. 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 government 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 said if nothing changes next week, further strikes are likely. if the prime minister continues to take the position that he's 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 — the same as yesterday. 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 three at 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 that it's going to be really challenging for people _ who would ordinarily call—

an ambulance for a situation who may iwell need to find alternative meansl of treatment or accessing treatment. nhs england has written to hospitals 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. in the uk, 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 britain have taken formal action, although there have been informal protests. the mayor of london, sadiq khan, says an urgent investigation is under way after three people were critically injured during a crush thursday night at a concert at the brixton 02 academy in south london.

a performance by nigerian star asake had to be abandoned as people tried to force their way in. large crowds gathered around the venue with reports of people turning up without tickets. stay with us on bbc news, still to come... a giant freestanding aquarium in berlin, containing one and a half thousand exotic fish, has exploded, causing a wave of destruction. singing saddam hussein is finished because he killed our people, our women, our children. the signatures took only a few minutes, but they brought a formal end to three and a half years of conflict, conflict that has claimed more than 200,000 lives. before an audience of world leaders, the presidents of bosnia, serbia and croatia put their names to the peace agreement.

the romanian border was sealed and silent today. romania has cut itself off from the outside world in order to prevent details of the presumed massacre in timisoara from leaking out. from sex at the white house to a trial for his political life — the lewinsky affair tonight guaranteed bill clinton his place in history as only the second president ever to be impeached. this is bbc news. i�*m lewis vaughan jones. here are the latest headlines. russia launches another major missile attack on ukraine, hitting multiple power stations. the country�*s second city, kharkiv, is now completely without power. only one in five trains in the uk are running as unions and bosses continue to argue, leaving travellers stuck in the middle.

the un has added its voice to the many critics of twitter�*s suspension of accounts belonging to journalists. a spokesperson said the action sets a dangerous precedent at a time that press freedom is under threat. earlier, the european union warned twitter owner elon musk that the social media platform couldn�*t be hit with sanctions after he ordered the suspension of several journalists. —— could be. on twitter, vera jourova said that eu laws respect "media freedom and fundamental rights", and elon musk "should be aware of that". she added: "there are red lines. and sanctions, soon." reporters from the new york times, cnn and the washington post have been locked out of their accounts. many of those suspended had criticised musk�*s twitter takeover, or had commented on an account that tracked the movement of the his private jet.

steve herman, one of those who lost his access to twitter, told me how he learned about the suspension. something popped up on my twitter account on thursday evening which said my account was suspended. this happened when i tried to tweet something, and i had been tweeting about the otherjournalists who were suspended and who had been tweeting about this one particular account that follows elon musk�*s jet around. and so, what did you make of it? make of the suspension? i thought it was possible because the other journalists who had been tweeting about this were being suspended. it was sort of like a big snowball rolling down the hill, and i thought it�*s possible it could roll over me, too. were you expecting to be reinstated? are you expecting to be reinstated?

i�*m told, according to the pop—up, that i am, "permanently suspended." i have seen that elon musk is saying this is a seven—day sentence in twitterjail, so to speak, and there�*s a poll about whether we all should be reinstated quicker than that, so i don�*t know what is going to happen. what you make of the argument that he�*s bought the company, he owns it, he�*s bought the company, he owns it, he could do what he wants? absolutely, that�*s a fact. the question is, is twitter a large, private country club, or is it some sort of public institution with responsibilities to the world at large? and which of those do you think it is? well, legally, that�*s for lawyers and judges and courts to determine. there could be some legal consequences as a result of that.

you alluded to some of the action going on with the eu and other places. i obviously believe it�*s a very valuable global institution, it�*s been an important part of my reporting for years. both for newsgathering and dissemination of my stories in the stories of others that i tweet out, including those of the bbc. what do you make of the allegations of hypocrisy here? he comes on and talk about the importance of free speech, and then takes action like this. well, one of my final tweets yesterday was a retweet of an elon musk tweet from back in late april of this year when he said he hopes his fiercest critics stay on twitter because it is a platform for free speech. so, make of that what you will.

thanks to steve herman there. 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. our royal correspondent, nicholas witchell, reports. 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�*s 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. cheering the first ever satellite to survey all of the earth�*s surface waters from space blasted off from california on a spacex rocket. injured ignition, and lift off. lift up injured ignition, and lift off. lift up of— injured ignition, and lift off. lift up 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. well, our science correspondent, jonathan amos gave us more details. this is an 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 lakes, and even get detail on the movement of ocean water. and this brings a new type of instrument that�*ll 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 across. we�*ll be able to see the features on this ocean surface like the eddies that swirl around down to about 20 km. 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 in the deep ocean, which kind of tempers the march of global warming. and in those rivers and lakes in particular, millions of them we will see 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 the rivers, how much is held in their lakes, and this mission will help them do that. and is there any kind of timeframe on when we�*ll be able to get to evaluate any results? well, they�*ll need to set satellite up, first of all, and this is a role that british scientists will play in particular. they�*ve got to use the bristol channel, this estuary in the west of the country, which has one of the largest tidal ranges in the world. it�*s a great sweeping water that comes up and down that estuary every day, and as the satellite flows over the top, they will be making measurements in the bristol channel. they�*ll want to see that both

parties are seeing exactly the same thing, and if they do, then they�*ll release swot to go and do its business around the world. so, an important role for uk scientists in this mission. thanks to jonathan for that. a giant freestanding aquarium in berlin, containing one and a half thousand exotic fish, has exploded, causing a wave of destruction. the tank which was 14 metres high was a well—known tourist attraction, on show in the lobby of a luxury hotel. jenny hill in berlin has that story. this aquarium was built to impress — i million litres of water, more than 1,000 tropicalfish — there was even a lift in the middle. all towering over the lobby of a berlin hotel. my god! but early this morning, it seems the tank simply shattered. glass and metal ripped through the building. water and fish gushed out onto the street. extraordinarily, just two people were hurt, neither of them seriously.

the hotel actually shook inside. i could describe it as a... imitates explosion. and ijolted out of bed and turned around... i didn�*t see any movement so i didn�*t know what the heck was going on. i looked outside the window, i saw a lady running. investigators are trying to establish what went wrong. look at this footage, taken when the aquarium was first built. "you could fire a gun at this tank," says this architect, "and it would only cause a small hole, not burst the whole cylinder. "such a hollywood scenario is impossible." the authorities suspect material fatigue may be to blame, but they are not yet sure. there is a sense, i think, of relief amongst many here that this happened when it did. an hour or so later and that lobby, the street outside the motel would have been packed with visitors, many of them children. there�*s shock at the destruction, regret at the loss of so many fish,

but an acknowledgement, too, that this could have been so much worse. jenny hill, bbc news, berlin. that�*s it. this is bbc news. 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, some 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 1—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. the european union has implied that twitter�*s owner, elon musk, will face sanctions after the platform closed the accounts of severaljournalists. a commission vice—president said, on twitter, that eu laws required respect for media freedom. 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