welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore. i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines... president zelensky returns home from the us after a quick stopover in poland, one of kyiv�*s closest allies. bogged down in ukraine's winter war — we have a special report from the front line. but for all the sophisticated weaponry and all the ammunition, this is what it comes down to in the end — men, mud and an enemy which is within rifle range. the coldest christmas in four decades in parts of the us as a major winter storm sweeps the country.

shame on you! heated scenes in the scottish parliament as it passes controversial legislation, making it easier for people to change their legal gender. live from our studio in singapore... this is bbc news. it's newsday. it's 7 in the morning in singapore and 2am in moscow, where the kremlin has strongly criticised president zelensky�*s visit to washington, accusing the us of fighting an indirect war against it. in a speech, president putin said a new patriot missile defence system — which the us has agreed to supply to ukraine as part of a $1.8 billion aid package — would simply prolong the war, and that russia would find an antidote.

the ukrainian leader is now back in ukraine. en route, he stopped off to meet the polish president, andrzej duda. he said they spoke about a year of "historic challenges due to a full—scale war", and about "strategic plans for the future". he also took the time to send a message to the people of ukraine. translation: good health to you, fellow ukrainians. l today will be a very short address and in unusual conditions, but as always, about what we have achieved. we are returning from washington. we are coming with good results, with something that will really help. when we say patriots in ukraine and in the united states, we equally mean the protection of the state and people. this issue has been settled for ukraine. there is financial support, too. ten months on since the start of the conflict, ukrainian forces have regained some areas taken by russia. but families across the country are without power because of russian

aerial attacks, and some are without family members, killed in the conflict. the bbc has been following one soldier — lieutenant eugene gromadskyi — as he fights to defend his country at great personal cost. our correspondent quentin sommerville and camera—journalist darren conway joined him at an undisclosed location near kupyiansk in the country's east, where fighting continues amid appalling winter conditions. when the enemy is on your doorstep, sacrifices must be made. this is home for a platoon from ukraine's 92nd brigade. they have a few small rooms in an abandoned house. they're crammed in. meals are eaten standing up. not that senior lieutenant, eugene grabowski, gets to spend much time here.

he's had only two hours�* sleep, but again needs to head out to the front. there's a russian counter—attack under way. this war has shaken the world and ukraine, but the 22—year—old lieutenant hasn't wavered. he's been fighting since the war�*s very beginning, when his army veteran father was killed when his army veteran father was killed on the first day of the invasion, he didn't falter. this was nine months ago, when i first met eugene at the start of a conflict that would transform him and his country. he'd just recently graduated. he and ukraine were ill prepared. today, eugene and his country bear the scars of lessons learned. there've been a lot of casualties in this war. you've lost a lot of people. do you fear death? translation: the person who is not afraid is already dead. _

if you meet death with open arms, it will avoid you because death loves the brave. that's why i don't think about death. i only think about life — the lives of my comrades and the lives of those in my unit. these are the men who have eugene's back. we stand at the ready in this winter wasteland exposed to russian firepower and the elements. they're trying to hold a russian breakthrough. there's hardly any cover here, so they move as fast as the cold allows... ..knowing that russian guns will soon find them. the enemy's positions are being hit by fire.

explosion. translation: translation: the enemy's positions they're trying to advance, but our artillery is helping our infantry with a counteroffensive, and we will keep fighting until the end. it's our land. it's our blood. time is up. the russians are targeting them. let's go. their aim for now is off, but it's closing in. artillery strikes a nearby tree line. eugene's comrades hit the trenches. there's fierce fighting up ahead. the ukrainians have taken a lot of ground here. but for all the sophisticated weaponry and all the ammunition, this is what it comes down to in the end — men, mud and an enemy which is within rifle range. ukraine is still advancing here, but winter is coming and the next few months are going to be

a slow, hard grind. but in these conditions, it's tough maintaining momentum when ukrainian soil turns into soup. regaining every step of territory is a slog. translation: we need to work on that village over there. - gunfire. it's one of only a couple of dozen villages still in russian control in kharkiv region. every day is a battle for the upper hand. the road they must travel is dangerous, pitted with russian hits and misses. in the freezing cold, everything is an effort. they've lost men in this route. and the bitterest months

still lie ahead here. movement is spotted. translation: a little bit to the right. _ on the corner over there, right behind the hanger. these are the daily battles the men face. today, some ground is won, but tomorrow, it may be lost. and so it repeats as the casualties mount on both sides. translation: to be honest, - there were many comrades who died, who i knew personally. they were ideological people who kept moving forward, who never stopped. but it's a war, so there is no time to be sad. some 13,000 soldiers have already died defending ukraine. and away from the front, millions

more will spend a freezing winter in darkness because of russian missile attacks. and this christmas, it will be candles for the fallen that light the homes of ukrainians. natalia had two heroes in her life. her first, her husband. he was killed on the first day of the war as he defended the city. can you describe your husband to us? what kind of a man was he? translation: a patriot. a real patriot of our country. he was a ukrainian. and natalia's trials are far from over. her other hero is her only child.

she's eugene's mother, the young lieutenant fighting at the front, seen here with 0leg, his father, who died in battle. she has given everything for ukraine. 18 months into this war, do you have a message for other ukrainian mothers? translation: i want to wish them l to always believe that everything l will be ok with our children, and to always wait for them. mothers' love is a big power. we need to believe that everything will be fine. surely. quentin somerville, bbc news, kharkiv.

to the us now, and forecasters say a major winter storm which is sweeping the us this week may bring the coldest christmas in four decades to parts of the country. there has already been major snowfall in many areas. more than 90 million people in 37 states are set to experience sub—zero temperatures, including places as far south as texas — prompting warnings from officials. and the cold snap could become what's known as a �*bomb cyclone' by tomorrow. i'm joined now jaden pappenheim. he's with live storm chasers, and joins me live from south bend, indiana. thank you so much forjoining us on the programme, jaden. what is the situation on the ground where you are? are you, yourfriends situation on the ground where you are? are you, your friends and family safe? yes, we are, and i'm in southend indiana right now under a blizzard warning. snow has started to fall

around four o'clock. conditions are worsening by the minute out here. i've noticed a car crash a block away from my hotel, so things are going from zero to 100, and really much of the us is under the gun for this big winter snowstorm. what much of the us is under the gun for this big winter snowstorm. what are authorities saying about _ this big winter snowstorm. what are authorities saying about how - this big winter snowstorm. what are authorities saying about how bad - this big winter snowstorm. what are authorities saying about how bad it i authorities saying about how bad it might get over the next couple of days, particularly over the christmas period? at a time and loved ones and families try and travel and get together? it loved ones and families try and travel and get together?- loved ones and families try and travel and get together? it can get reall bad, travel and get together? it can get really bad, especially _ travel and get together? it can get really bad, especially holiday - really bad, especially holiday travel. that's a big story. my area could see anywhere from 6—12 inches with 25 mph gusts. that rate to problems when you have a huge influx of traffic. slightly to might east

in buffalo, new york, experience 1—3 feet of impactful snow, 65—75 mph winds. not only that, the arctic blasts through much of the region, in montana yesterday, a small town got to —72 degrees fahrenheit. anybody that's travelling through the holiday period here, definitely stay warm, have your urgency gear in your car and stacy or get printed —— in case you get stranded. your car and stacy or get printed -- in case you get stranded.— in case you get stranded. we're seeinu in case you get stranded. we're seeing some — in case you get stranded. we're seeing some images _ in case you get stranded. we're seeing some images of- in case you get stranded. we're seeing some images of what i in case you get stranded. we'rel seeing some images of what the situation is there right now. and your time monitoring the weather, how bad is this in comparison? to how bad is this in comparison? trr what i've seen before, and my young storm chaser career, i think this is just the start. who knows what we can see out of this? i have no problem calling this the start of a historic event.—

historic event. jaden, how much ressure historic event. jaden, how much pressure do _ historic event. jaden, how much pressure do you _ historic event. jaden, how much pressure do you think _ historic event. jaden, how much | pressure do you think ambulance services and emergency services have been under, and what are they saying about how people should keep safe? they're under a lot of pressure right now. big workload. you could only have i guess so many emergency careers at one nine, and a new start get all these crashes stacking up —— at one time, and then you start. i think at this time, responders definitely have a lot of pressure on them to keep everything in working order. jaden, i wish you the very best of luck over the next couple of days and do stay safe. thank you so much forjoining us on the programme and a merry christmas in advance. thank ou, a merry christmas in advance. thank you. merry — a merry christmas in advance. thank you, merry christmas _ a merry christmas in advance. thank you, merry christmas to _ a merry christmas in advance. thank you, merry christmas to you - a merry christmas in advance. thank you, merry christmas to you as - a merry christmas in advance. thankj you, merry christmas to you as well. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme:

the rising cost of living has made families around the world downscale their festive plans. i'll be speaking live to a charity leader here in singapore about how they're helping those living below the poverty line. the world of music's been paying tribute to george michael, who's died from suspected heart failure at the age of 53. he sold well over 100 million albums in a career spanning more than three decades. the united states troops have been trying to overthrow the dictatorship of general manuel noriega. the pentagon said it's failed in its principal objective — to capture noriega and take him to the united states to face drugs charges. the hammer and sickle was hastily taken away. in its place, the russian flag was hoisted over what is now no longer the soviet union, but the commonwealth of independent states. day broke slowly over - lockerbie over the cockpit of pan am's maid of the seas, nose down in the soft earth. l you could see what happens

when a plane eight- stories high, a football pitch wide falls from 30,000 feet. - christmas has returned to albania after a communist ban lasting more than 20 years. thousands went to midnight mass in the town of shkodra, where there were anti—communist riots ten days ago. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm karishma vaswani in singapore. 0ur headlines... the scottish parliament has passed controversial legislation which makes it easierfor people to legally change gender. they'll no longer have to get a medical diagnosis before being allowed what's called a gender recognition certificate. the vote was greeted with cheers in the chamber from supporters of the bill, and cries of "shame on you" from opponents. here's our scotland editor, james cook. for years, this nation has been divided politically. now there's a social split, too, on that hottest of topics — gender.

trans rights! not everyone in scotland is invested in this debate, but those who are tend to be fired up. and so, here at holyrood this afternoon, there was both delight and disgust. and the gender recognition reform scotland bill is passed. applause thank you. shame on you! that followed days of delay and debate, not least about people born male accessing female—only spaces. i will do everything i can to protect women's rights for as long as i live, but i also think it's an important part of my responsibility to make life a little bit easier for stigmatised minorities in our country. while there may be a majority in this chamber later today to support this legislation, a majority of the public oppose the bill, including most snp, labour and liberal democrat voters. this bill reduces women's rights and potentially

risks women's safety. but what is the new process for changing gender in scotland? well, it will be faster. instead of living for 2h months in your new gender before applying, adults will now have to wait only three months. younger people will also be able to apply — the age limit drops from 18 to 16, although the process will be slowerfor this group. and it will be easier, because the requirement for medical reports to back up an application is being dropped. but will holyrood have the final say? the uk government says it's considering whether it can block the legislation or challenge it in court. if it does, expect yet another row. viewed from afar, some of history's great social upheavals look much less contentious. votes for women, gay rights. supporters of this change say that's going to happen here, that controversy will fade over time, but opponents say it will intensify as the impact of this new law becomes clear. either way, perspective often shifts with distance. james cook, bbc news, edinburgh.

spanish lawmakers have passed the trans rights allowing anyone 16 and over change their gender on their id card, dividing the government and the feminist movement. the bill moves to the senate, where it will become law if left unchanged. one of the biggest stories we covered this year is the cost of living crisis, and in many countries around the world, the costs of everyday goods and services are still rising, causing many families to downscale their festive plans. some are cutting back on the number of dishes at their christmas dinner, while others are giving fewer presents and spending less on decorations. but for those living below the poverty line and the charities that look out for them, the bite of rising

costs cuts deeper. for more, i'm joined here by vivien chan, ceo of willing hearts, a soup kitchen in singapore. wonderful to get you in the programme. it's wonderful work that you do. i've been out to see the soup kitchen myself. it strikes me that at a time like this when costs are rising, you serve up to 9000 meals a day. that's going to be having an impact on the kind of help that you're going to be able to provide? that you're going to be able to rovide? .. , thanks for having us here. the 9000 meals that we prepare every day for distribution as well, it has come to a point that we need a lot of help, whether be at the volunteers that come day by deed, the regulars we

have. we need drivers for the deliveries, door—to—door, and also donations. we should required to prepare a wholesome meal for the beneficiaries. i prepare a wholesome meal for the beneficiaries.— beneficiaries. i know you've been involved in _ beneficiaries. i know you've been involved in this _ beneficiaries. i know you've been involved in this work _ beneficiaries. i know you've been involved in this work for - beneficiaries. i know you've been involved in this work for a - beneficiaries. i know you've been involved in this work for a long i involved in this work for a long time, but in terms of how bad the crisis has been this year, and what families living below the poverty line in singapore and might need, just talk a little bit about that. ok, i'm on the ground. basically meeting the beneficiaries themselves. i do see a lot of food struggles. those falling between the cracks, the needy ones, they have been struggling, they have lost theirjobs. they seek help been struggling, they have lost their jobs. they seek help from been struggling, they have lost theirjobs. they seek help from us, and even the government are helping us. the government is helping the

beneficiaries as well. we do see the impact on the everyday life basically with the help they get from us. it basically with the help they get from us. , , , . ., basically with the help they get fromus. ,,,. ,, from us. it must be such a stressful time for so — from us. it must be such a stressful time for so many _ from us. it must be such a stressful time for so many people, _ time for so many people, particularly over what is meant to be the festive period. what are people in need of most of the moment, do you think? i people in need of most of the moment, do you think?- people in need of most of the moment, do you think? i like to mention a particular _ moment, do you think? i like to mention a particular company. | moment, do you think? i like to - mention a particular company. they came up with the approach myself, and they said we went to give to your beneficiaries, what do you need? so we gave them a wish list, like eight sheets, quite a fair bit

of beneficiaries —— like clean sheets, diapers, most of them probably need a pack of diapers for two days. things like food, we provide wholesome, hot meals. 0ther provide wholesome, hot meals. other than that, it will be some christmas cheer because most of our bishop in —— beneficiaries live alone and... crosstalk it strikes me that singapore is actually one of the wealthier countries in asia. this is happening here. what your sense of what might be happening elsewhere? what my people need there?— people need there? willing hearts use to suoport _ people need there? willing hearts use to support southeast - people need there? willing hearts use to support southeast asians, l people need there? willing hearts i use to support southeast asians, but because of our status, we've had to

focus on singaporeans. elsewhere, i think it'll be the same. 51am focus on singaporeans. elsewhere, i think it'll be the same.— think it'll be the same. such good work that you're _ think it'll be the same. such good work that you're doing. _ think it'll be the same. such good work that you're doing. and - think it'll be the same. such good work that you're doing. and you l think it'll be the same. such goodl work that you're doing. and you so much forjoining us. i want to turn out to another story for you. he's one of the most popular and influential artists of our time, and now david hockney, yorkshire—born and well into his 805, is pushing the boundaries once again, of what's possible in art. our culture editor, katie razzall, has been to meet him. david hockney gets a first glimpse of his new show. colour is a joyful thing. i want my art to be joyful. we're on an immersive journey, as the final tweaks are under way, with one of britain's best—loved artists. the show�*s called bigger & closer, not smaller & further away — 60 years of his life and art. have you just always been better at looking than the rest of us? i do look closely at things. i can look at a puddle and get

pleasure out of them. most people think it's just raining, don't they? hockney has been painting on his ipad in recent years, he wanted me to paint him. he had a few little outfits, and i chose this yellow sweater. yellow is a hockney favourite. how many pairs of crocs have you got? well, i've only got one, actually. these are the only shoes he wears now, he says, deemed "beautifully chosen" by king charles when they met — a rare outing for hockney. i'm usually drawing or painting, yeah. i mean, it's all i want to do now. i mean, i'm 85.

yeah, i've had a very, very good life. katie razzall, bbc news. that's all for now — stay with bbc world news. hello there. for most of us, temperatures for the runner—up to i'll have the christmas day forecast later but today has been quite a great day for many of us. a lot of cloud streaming in from the atlantic, bringing most of the rain and drizzle to england and wales. it is moving its way is worse, so by the time to get if the evening, most places will be dry. temperatures on the higher side in the south, but sillierfurther north. we the higher side in the south, but sillier further north. we got some showers which will continue overnight, could turn a bit wintry. —— chillier. as the wind picks up in the southwest, we've got some rain arriving. elsewhere, mildest of all. in scotland, there could be a touch of frost, and given the showers, maybe one or two icy patches as well. it's going to be a cloudier

day. this band of rain briefly sweeps northwards across england and wales, and that it slows down in northern ireland. a band of rain followed by some sunshine, one or two sharp showers, blustery winds as well. southworth, it's mild. north, it's cold. that band of wet weather due to a weather front that will push northwards. into the cold air, we'll start to see some snow falling. severalsimple we'll start to see some snow falling. several simple metres likely during christmas eve. 0therwise, likely during christmas eve. otherwise, we will work fine showers following on behind for the western parts of the uk. temperatures here double figures. we're going to find the winds picking up through the day on christmas eve. strongest means to the irish sea around coaster and hills. we're in mild air in

christmas day itself. that holder having been pushed away. if you are planning to walk, more likely to have some blustery showers out to the west. but it's a mild day, temperatures 9 degrees in the central belt of scotland, and 12 in southern england and wales. colder air pushes in here, and we could see air pushes in here, and we could see a few more wintry showers on boxing day. that cold air doesn't last long. back to mild conditions by tuesday.

this is bbc news, the headlines vladimir putin has said new us military aid package for ukraine which includes a key missile defence system willjust prolong the war. moscow accused the us of fighting an indirect war with russia. president zelensky has returned home from the us after a quick stop of in poland. with the closest allies of ukraine. he spoke to the president about strategic plans the future. scotland has approved a self identification system for this want to change their legal gender and simplify the process of transitioning in the uk government says it might step in. us states are bracing for the court is

christmas and decades as a major winter storm