this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories: a fresh wave of russian missiles targets major cities across ukraine, one of the biggest attacks for weeks. here in the uk — the new boss of the british trades union body says all sides will need to compromise to avert a new wave of strikes in 2023. i would urge the government to drop the unions, find a way to get people's wages are rising. a third person is arrested over the christmas eve pub shooting near liverpool which killed elliie edwards — two other people are also being questioned america becomes the latest country to impose mandatory covid tests on chinese tourists.

the eu is considering similar control measures but the uk has so far said it will not introduce new restrictions in sport — erling haaland has became the quickest player to reach 20 premier league goals in a season, with two against leeds as manchester city won 3—1 to move to second in the table. ukraine has been struck by a fresh barrage of russian missiles targeting several major cities. dozens of missiles had been launched from land and sea at the population and civilian infrastructure. several cities from kyiv in the north, odesa in the south, kharkiv in the east and lviv in the west have seen explosions hit their cities. the mayor of kyiv, said 16 missiles had all been shot down

by the capitals air defences but at least three people were taken to hospital. in lviv, officials say the city has lost about 90% of its electricity. earlier, ukraine's military intelligence chief told the bbc the conflict was now at a stalemate. our correspondent hugo bachega has the latest from kyiv. ukrainians have been saying for weeks that this is how russia is responding to military setbacks on the battlefield, by carrying out these air strikes targeting the country's civilian infrastructure. and today we heard from officials who said more than 120 missiles were fired, targeting cities across the country. we had explosions here in kyiv, also the city of lviv in the west of the country, kharkiv in the north—east, which is the country's second largest country, and odesa in the south. so this gives you an idea of how widespread these attacks were. we don't have confirmation yet

of which locations have been hit. we know that air defence systems have intercepted many of those missiles. we have been given the all clear so we are back here in our position in kyiv after spending a few hours in the shelter this morning. people across the country were told to stay in shelters because of those air strikes. so again the ukrainians say they believe these attacks are likely to continue because they say this is how russia is responding to what is happening on the battlefield. i'm joined now by ustyn danchuk in odesa. ustyn is a ukrainian film—makerfrom kherson — who had to flee his city to a safer location. welcome, thank you forjoining us. so you went to edessa and is now odesa is now also under attack, what is the situation where you are? odesa was... the russians decided to attack our energy system, so it

happened every two weeks. there was a bigger blast before this attack and this attack it was announced this was very, one of the biggest attacks, and at the same time i think that ourair attacks, and at the same time i think that our air defence systems and our people who work with the energy system are more well—prepared for this attack. so in odesa electricity was out in the boarding and now it is beginning to come back in a different part of the city. last time the attack was so serious we had to... it was missing forfour days, at least in the place where i lived. now the people who deal with

this, these issues, they are much more confident and much more effective in dealing with russian attacks. but still it is horrifying, you go out in the morning and can see explosions in the air and then large explosions and birds flying in the sky from this and you are looking where is the source of this big explosion and this is what i was witnessing in the morning today. i mentioned you were a film—maker, i don't know what sort of films you make, but... are you continuing to do any work through this will? me and m do any work through this will? he and my friends are do any work through this will? m: and my friends are now do any work through this will? mj: and my friends are now making animations about the occupation, about war, some of them became viral, used to make quite short films and now my team is separated in different cities, some are from

ukraine, some are left in kherson, some in kyiv. but we continue to operate and now we have shifted to making animations and also i work with video platform and we make small documentaries about life in kherson, how it is now, we have already made to back of them and the third is on its way —— when we have already made two of them. kherson is like an open wound because the city is... was under occupation for over a year and now it is bombarded every day by russian missiles, people get killed, people survive without electricity, water, so much attention needs to be given to the city which is suffering and continues to suffer.- city which is suffering and continues to suffer. ., ., ., ., continues to suffer. you managed to leave but you _ continues to suffer. you managed to leave but you know _ continues to suffer. you managed to leave but you know people - continues to suffer. you managed to leave but you know people who - continues to suffer. you managed to leave but you know people who are l leave but you know people who are still there, what are they saying to you about what it is like? everyday

i hear reports _ you about what it is like? everyday i hear reports that _ you about what it is like? everyday i hear reports that close _ you about what it is like? everyday i hear reports that close to - i hear reports that close to someone's house there was shelling, someone's house there was shelling, someone's got killed, some has my friend got killed. the place where i used to worked, library, a cultural centre of kherson, it was located in an area where a missile hit directly and the whole windows in the library and the whole windows in the library and cultural centre were destroyed, and cultural centre were destroyed, and itjust finished reconstruction to make it like a youth centre and now it is... all of our work is destroyed. everyday we hear something like this, every day we hear... there is a district in kherson, it's literally an island

inside the city, and this district is the closest to the bank of the river and it is bombarded every day with russian missiles, all sorts of shelling is, and there is no water there, there is no electricity, no gas, no heating and people are in district are desperate. there are many examples like this. on christmas eve there was a horrible shelling in the city and i must mention that russian missiles hit in the places where there are no army, no infrastructure objects, they knew, because they were in the city for more than half a year, they knew where they attacked, they attacked and the places where there are more

people when the attack was made. people were just going to buy some food, to get some aid from humanitarian funds and they fit in these places. they hit in the central market, peoplejust these places. they hit in the central market, people just go there to buy food. so these are direct terrorist attacks on a population of kherson, they continue everyday. thank you very much forjoining us, painting a very clear picture there of the impact on the civilian population with those missiles. targeting civilians and also infrastructure. we can have more about that. let's get more on this with professor matthew schmidt from the national security department at the university of new haven. welcome, thank you forjoining us, what is very clear is this is a

picture of air strikes hitting civilians, hitting infrastructure, civilians, hitting infrastructure, civilians in some areas that have been quiet for a while and now being targeted again and without power. on the ground, it's pretty much a stalemate, what do you read into what is going on the strategy had? it's important that kinetic force is designed to create political conditions that force populations to pressure governments to negotiate or otherwise change their military policy. that is exactly what putin is doing here. as the film—maker said previously, he is intentionally targeting civilian infrastructure, intentionally targeting masses of civilians at christmas markets, in order to inflict the maximum amount of pain, in order to but zelensky position where they have to think

about the safety and security of present—day ukrainians and the suffering they are going through now versus future ukrainians any freer ukraine. in the end of this comes down to the will of the ukrainian people. it down to the will of the ukrainian --eole. , ,,,, ., down to the will of the ukrainian n-eole. , , ., ., people. it is impossible to imagine what it must _ people. it is impossible to imagine what it must be _ people. it is impossible to imagine what it must be like _ people. it is impossible to imagine what it must be like living - people. it is impossible to imagine what it must be like living through| what it must be like living through that, but what has been extraordinary to witness from the beginning has been the attitudes of the ukrainians that we have spoken to, talking about their pride at withstanding what they are withstanding what they are withstanding and being so strongly behind volodymyr zelensky with his very personal leadership for ukraine here. . , very personal leadership for ukraine here. ., , , ., very personal leadership for ukraine here. ., , ., ,, ., here. that is right. if you talk to military planners, _ here. that is right. if you talk to military planners, if _ here. that is right. if you talk to military planners, if you - here. that is right. if you talk to military planners, if you talk- here. that is right. if you talk to military planners, if you talk to l military planners, if you talk to military planners, if you talk to military commanders they will take you that the number one thing they worry about is morale. it's the will to fight among state troops and the will to support that of the population. that is why everyone believes that in the end ukraine is

going to win this war. because if you look at the russian side morale is terrible, more importantly if you ask russians why are you here, why you are you fighting in ukraine, they don't have a clear answer. but every single ukrainian does. they know they are fighting for their lives, they know they are fighting for their freedom, lives, they know they are fighting for theirfreedom, they lives, they know they are fighting for their freedom, they know they are fighting for their future and, in the end, this will make a one for quite a wild but in the end that is what is going to win. hoar quite a wild but in the end that is what is going to win.— what is going to win. how critical is this window, _ what is going to win. how critical is this window, effectively, - what is going to win. how critical| is this window, effectively, where the fight is coming from the skies rather than on the ground? iidith the fight is coming from the skies rather than on the ground? with at the riaht rather than on the ground? with at the right capacity _ rather than on the ground? with at the right capacity to _ rather than on the ground? with at the right capacity to hit _ rather than on the ground? with at the right capacity to hit back - rather than on the ground? with at the right capacity to hit back at - the right capacity to hit back at that, could that be a game changer moment? what is happening right now is that putin is trying to push this war into a long game, he is trying to spread this out in time in order to spread this out in time in order to degrade ukrainian economy and unity of the west to support ukraine. zelenskyjust gave his state of the union speech a couple

of days ago and that was a major concern is maintaining the economy throughout this time period. the second thing that is important is that the united states has agreed to send patriot missile batteries a few weeks ago. those missile batteries will be capable of shooting down many of the russian missiles that are used with these attacks against infrastructure. the problem is they are going to take months to be put into place and have crew strained. so putin has this three six month window where he is going to try to make as much advantage as possible. thank you very much forjoining us. here in the uk a wave of strikes continues, border force officials, driving instructors and some rail workers are not working today — and the new head of the british trades union body, the tuc, has warned that more industrial action is likely in the new year. he's called on the government to negotiate with the unions. let's speak to roger siefert, emeritus professor of

industrial relations at wolverhampton university. thank you forjoining us. obviously these are all individual strikes, different situations in each area, but the unifying issue is, of course, extremely high inflation and pressure therefore on wages. so how much of a joined up approach should the government take? it’s much of a joined up approach should the government take?— the government take? it's very difficult, because _ the government take? it's very difficult, because the _ the government take? it's very - difficult, because the government, as you say, sends mixed messages. sometimes it says... is sometimes it saying it is sticking with pay review bodies, sometimes it's also saying something they will negotiate. this is a government sometimes a few weeks ago was saying to negotiate and get on the table. so the government seems to be absent. in contrast the unions are very fearful, members are losing pay and they have made it quite clear

particularly the health service that they are fighting for the future of they are fighting for the future of the service, notjust for their immediate pay talks. they overwhelmingly come to appear, the public is with the strikers and is not really impressed by government that has been showing little leadership and very, very reluctant to negotiate on very serious matters. how do you things unfolding? as has been said, the strikes will definitely go ahead in january and the pressure is building on the prime minister and government, that is with the pressures. at the moment the emphasis is overwhelmingly that those striking will stay on strike and that more groups mayjoin them and that more groups mayjoin them and that more groups mayjoin them and that the government is being held responsible by most people for the ensuing chaos and the chaos is severe. we are in a crisis. we are

heading for a deeper recession, people are hurting and we have a government that it simply says i will not sit down at the table and discuss pay and i will not sit down at the table and discuss the future of services and it's not a good look. . ~ of services and it's not a good look. ., «i , ., , of services and it's not a good look. ., «i i. , . sport, and for a full round up from the bbc sport centre, here's jane dougall. good morning. let's start down under, where australia's cricketers have sealed a series win over south africa with one match still left to play. the aussies bowled south africa out for 204 on day four in melbourne, to win the second test by an innings and 182 runs. spinner nathan lyon took three wickets while temba bavuma's 65 proved to be in vain for south africa. the third and final test in sydney starts on the 3rd of january.

meanwhile over in karachi, new zealand declared on 612—9 against pakistan in the first test — a lead of 174. kane williamson getting his double century. a few moments ago pakistan were 46 without loss in their second innings. the tennis season started in australia on thursday, with a new mixed team event called the united cup. 18 countries have been drawn in six groups, played in sydney, perth and brisbane. each of the group ties is spread over two days, with two singles on the opening day, all building up to the final on the 8th of january. the usa got off to a flying start with taylor fritz beating the czech republic'sjiri lehecka in straight sets in group c. madison keys followed that up with a 6—4, 6—3 win over marie bouzkova, so the us just need to win one more match to take the tie. over in group a in perth, greece have a had a good start against bulgaria, opening up a 2—0 lead. stefanos tsitsipas won the second match, coming from a set down to beat grigor dimitrov.

meanwhile, novak djokovic has said he'll neverforget being deported from australia earlier this year. the serb insists his willingness to return for next month's grand slam at melbourne park shows the depth of feeling he has for the country. djokovic was deported on the eve of the 2022 australian open injanuary, for not being vaccinated against covid—19. he received a three—year travel ban from the country. the former world number one's visa ban was waived last month, which means he can now target a tenth australian open title to attempt to match rafa nadal�*s 22 grand slams. you can't forget those events, is one of those things that sticks with you, it stays with you for the rest of your life, as i said something i have never experienced before and hopefully never again. but it is a

valuable life experience for me and something that, as i said, will stay there but i have to move on. and, coming back to australia, speaks to how i feel about this country, speaks about how i feel about playing him. speaks about how i feel about playing him-— speaks about how i feel about .la in him. ., , ., playing him. that is the sport for now. i playing him. that is the sport for nova i will _ playing him. that is the sport for now. i will be _ playing him. that is the sport for now. i will be back— playing him. that is the sport for now. i will be back later. - a third person has been arrested over the christmas eve pub shooting near liverpool that killed a 26—year—old woman and injured four men. police have been given more time to question two other people — a man and a woman. merseyside police said elle edwards was not thought to have been the target when she was shot and killed outside the lighthouse pub in wallasey. police have arrested a third man on suspicion of murder following a fatal stabbing in a birmingham nightclub. 23—year—old cody fisher — who was a non—league footballer — was attacked on the dance floor of the crane on boxing day. his family says his death has broken their hearts. european union health officials are meeting today to decide on a coordinated response after china announced it was easing its foreign travel restrictions next week, despite its rising covid cases.

the us and several other countries have already imposed covid testing for chinese visitors. earlier i spoke with didi tang, the beijing correspondent at the london times on the latest. china opens up and all over we see a huge spike in a number of infections and i think there are concerns that both inside and inside china —— mike outside and inside, that this mass infection will result in some mutations, what is going to happen? we have never seen infections on such a large scale in the past. so now we are seeing this in china and those concerns are very legit and we want to admit, i really hope chinese authorities are monitoring the situation. i'm starting to see

surveys by local disease prevention centres, trying to engage in what is going on because people once they are in fact that they're not reporting those biggest authorities, not like in the past. so i have seen there are some effort and how they are trying to gauge the situation, using the search models to try to see if people they're setting for medication, forfever, for colds, i think there is a way they can guess how many people get infected. the most religious and hard—line government in israel's history is set to be sworn in later. it's an alliance led by prime minister—designate benjamin netanyahu, and includes the religious zionism and jewish power parties. it will be mr netanyahu's record sixth term in office. despite reassurances that he will promote tolerance and pursue peace, there has been international and domestic unease about the approach of his coalition partners to palestinian statehood and minority rights. a large fire has engulfed a casino

hotel in north—west cambodia on the border with thailand. the authorities in the city of poipet say at least seven people are confirmed dead after the fire in the gambling complex raged for several hours. 30 people are being treated for injuries, and local reports say that people were trapped in the grand diamond city hotel as the fire spread. new analysis suggests the government won't meet its current target to curb the number of smokers in england by 2030. ministers have set out an ambition to become "smoke—free" by the end of the decade — which means fewer than 5 per cent of adults smoke. but cancer research uk said it may take another nine years. alizee froguel is from cancer research uk, and joins us now. welcome, thank you forjoining us. what otherfigures now, then? the figures now show that we are nearly nine years off to reach this target and to reach the target, smoking

rates we need to go down 70% faster than they currently are. and what is behind the fact that the figures are not at where they don't like the government wants them to be? we note that most peeple — government wants them to be? we note that most people who _ government wants them to be? we note that most people who smoke _ government wants them to be? we note that most people who smoke want - government wants them to be? we note that most people who smoke want to - that most people who smoke want to quit but they need support to do so. but because of underfunding there are another services and measures that will help them to make the choice to quit stick. that is why we have launched a new campaign asking for steve barclay to urgently publish a new tobacco control plan with more action to prevent people from starting to smoke and more funding for the measures and services needed to help people quit. if government cannot fund this themselves then the tobacco industry must pay, but importantly with out giving industry any choice whether funds go. it’s giving industry any choice whether funds no. i ., giving industry any choice whether funds i0. 3 ., , ., giving industry any choice whether funds io. �*, ., , ., .,«' funds go. it's not 'ust about making i-eole funds go. it's not 'ust about making ieoile can funds go. it's not 'ust about making people can quit — funds go. it's notjust about making people can quit and _ funds go. it's notjust about making people can quit and stay _ funds go. it's notjust about making people can quit and stay that - funds go. it's notjust about making people can quit and stay that way, l people can quit and stay that way, but also stopping young people from starting smoking. what is going on there? we starting smoking. what is going on there? ~ «i ., .,

starting smoking. what is going on there? «i ., ., ., there? we know that most people who start smoking — there? we know that most people who start smoking start _ there? we know that most people who start smoking start as _ there? we know that most people who start smoking start as children - there? we know that most people who start smoking start as children and - start smoking start as children and likely many people who started smoking today smoked following aggressive marketing tactics from the industry. smoking is still the biggest cause of cancer and death in the uk, but it is preventable. and we believe we have a duty to help prevent a new generation from a lifetime of ill health and disease are. �* , ., , , ., are. but in terms of the numbers of mm are. but in terms of the numbers of young people _ are. but in terms of the numbers of young people smoking, _ are. but in terms of the numbers of young people smoking, the - are. but in terms of the numbers of young people smoking, the picture| are. but in terms of the numbers of. young people smoking, the picture is very different from what it was, isn't it? and in terms of the freedom of tobacco manufacturers to aggressively market to young people, how much scope do they have? and what are the numbers of young people starting to smoke? the what are the numbers of young people starting to smoke?— starting to smoke? the new numbers are definitely — starting to smoke? the new numbers are definitely much _ starting to smoke? the new numbers are definitely much smaller— starting to smoke? the new numbers are definitely much smaller than - are definitely much smaller than they used to be but there is still around 100 new people starting to smoke each day. what we have seen with those decline is that government action will lead to a decline in smoking rates, but as our new analysis showed, this is not

happening fast enough to reach the smoke target and that is why we need more action from government. there is of course — more action from government. there is of course the _ more action from government. there is of course the alternative, - is of course the alternative, vaping, does that make it easier for people to stop smoking and you have a kid that? the people to stop smoking and you have a kid that? . ,., ., a kid that? the evidence so far shows that _ a kid that? the evidence so far shows that vaping _ a kid that? the evidence so far shows that vaping is _ a kid that? the evidence so far shows that vaping is a - a kid that? the evidence so far shows that vaping is a far - a kid that? the evidence so far shows that vaping is a far less| shows that vaping is a far less harmful than smoking and can help people to quit. however it is a relatively new product and we don't know the long—term effects yet and thatis know the long—term effects yet and that is why we recommend that people that is why we recommend that people that don't smoke and young people in particular don't take that up. thank ou for particular don't take that up. thank you forjoining _ particular don't take that up. thank you forjoining us. _ at the vatican, pope francis has urged people to pray for his predecessor, pope—emeritus benedict, whose health has worsened. pope francis was speaking at wednesday's �*general audience'. officials say the former pope's health has deteriorated overnight. benedict xvi , who is 95 , left office in 2013 , the first pope to resign in six centuries. travel and power remain

severely disrupted in parts of the us, after the storm blizzards that struck over christmas. thousands of flights have been cancelled in eastern and southern states as airports begin to dig themselves out of the snow. at least 59 people were killed by the superstorm. travel bans in some areas may be lifted today, as temperatures have begun to rise, but there are new fears of flooding from melting snow. thank you for your company here on bbc news, don't forget you can stay up—to—date around the clock on the bbc news website and if you want to get in touch with me directly you can e—mail or twitter. goodbye.

hello again. as we head up towards the new year the weather does remain unsettled, it will be wet and windy at times, some of us are seeing some snow. this afternoon a lot of dry weather around, we have some showers being blown quite quickly on a brisk wind and some of the showers aligning themselves moving from the west to east across northern ireland, scotland northern england. falling snow in the tops of the hills and mountains. the strongest winds today in the west and through the english channel. if anything, temperatures starting down on yesterday. overnight this line of showers moves away, some dry conditions before this next batch of weather front moves and introducing heavy rain, especially across the west of northern ireland, southern

scotland, there is... as it bumps into the cold air we will see that readily turned to snow above about 200 metres or so. again we could have as much as ten centimetres. tomorrow that continues to push steadily northwards, to make bands of rain moving eastwards, still brisk winds but behind all of this rain what you find is when we see a return to a lot of dry weather, some sunshine, still some heavy showers across the north—west. temperatures are by touch, looking at falling rates to 13 in london. as we head on into new year's eve, we will have a runner done i ran across the south, we will have some rain moving across northern ireland, central and northern ireland, central and northern ireland, central and northern ireland, we will also have some rain in the north of scotland following snow on higher ground. very mild in the south, chilly in the north. as we head up towards the midnight hour, a lot of our rain tends to fade. for many of us it

will be dry by the time we get to new year's day and it is going to be cold in the north of scotland, temperatures falling away to —7. if you want to find out more details about where you are going to be at the time, or during the next few days, you can also check out our bbc weather. on sunday, new year's day, weather. on sunday, new year's day, we have some rain coming in across southern areas, again the northern extent of this open to question, worth checking out the app, we have more coming in across northern ireland, northern ireland and southern scotland which might prove to be wintry in nature on higher ground.

this is bbc news. we will have the headlines and the main news stories at the top of the hour after this problem.