this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm ben brown. our top stories: cities across ukraine are targeted by russian missile strikes, in one of the largest bombardments since the war began. belarus says its air defences have brought down a missile on its territory — and claims it's from ukraine. israel's new hardline government is sworn in, with benjamin netanyahu becoming prime ministerfor a record sixth time. a huge fire at a casino hotel in cambodia has killed at least 21 people; many others are missing. eu officials discuss imposing covid testing on visitors from china,

following the lead of italy, the us and beijing's neighbours. the uk says it's reviewing whether to bring in restrictions. and the uk government says it will not be "held to ransom" by striking public sector workers, as it defends the use of troops to man border controls. members of the armed forces that have come to help out when the strikes are on are carrying out a very straightforward function and of course backed up by computer systems and scans that allow us to identify people of worry coming into the country. russia has launched a fresh wave of missile strikes on ukraine, in one of the biggest bombardments since the start of the war. the ukrainian authorities say about 70 missiles were launched from air and sea, with many of them intercepted.

even so, towns and cities across ukraine have been hit — 90% of lviv is without power, and 40% of the capital kyiv. but the head of ukrainian military intelligence has told the bbc that russia is running out of missiles. hugo bachega reports from kyiv. on the outskirts of kyiv, tears and anger. the front lines are far from here but this morning war has come to them. this lady's house was hit as russia launched another wave of air strikes. her granddaughter was in her bedroom when the attack happened and was injured. "she was very scared, she was screaming on the phone," she says. "it is a very difficult feeling when you are just waiting "for the next attack to happen." her husband was in this room when the ceiling fell. "i went deaf temporarily.

"everything started to crumble around me. "i run outside... "i run outside and found my daughter screaming." this, ukrainians say is proof of what they describe as russian terror. missiles and drones have brought suffering and destruction to people no matter where they are. attacks like this are unlikely to stop. ukraine's spy chief tells me... kyiv is now returning to normal, but people wonder when their city may be hit again.

belarus' defence ministry has said its air defences brought down a ukrainian 5—300 missile in the brest border region. belarus' state—run belta news agency had earlier reported that a ukrainian 5—300 missile had fallen onto its territory. earlier i spoke to retired air vice—marshal and military analyst, sean bell, who cautioned against seeing an ulterior motive behind the incident. the danger with all of these, a bit like in poland where a missile fell on polish soil, there is a grave risk looks like somebody is targeting something in belarus itself. what we have to do on a military respectively look at the facts. the missile, it does seem to be identified us as was operated

by the former soviet union country, so not only the ukrainian operates that. it was in an open field and there appears not to be any casualties at yet. the real reason is why did it find itself there? the timing of this missile landing was about the same time at the height of the russian missile attacks. so it is likely the ukrainian air defence systems were up and running at the time. so the question is, was there any intent from ukrainians of targeting belarus? from a military perspective there is no reason ukraine would want belarus involved in this war. and likewise, belarus doesn't want to get involved. recent polling showed over 90% of the population and the military do not want to get dragged into this. although putin wants to drag belarus into the war, it looks very unlikely on face value this was not a deliberate attack on belarus. also, why on earth would you send a missile into an empty field, you would choose a lucrative target. it looks like an accident and incident as part of this dynamic and dangerous war that is happening in ukraine.

we have seen, as you have said, this wave of russian missile strikes on ukraine again today, another 69 missile is fired, according to the ukrainians. they are saying they think russia is running out of missiles, do you think it is true? the danger is, i am a military analyst and i get briefed from a number of different sources and none of those are prepared to advise exactly what the war stocks of russia are. what is fair to say, most militaries, every military around the world hold stocks ready to respond to particular set of circumstances. very few nations would hold enough missiles to conduct the sort of rate of targeting over a prolonged period that russia is able to do here. we have already seen examples where russia has been using air defence missiles in the ground attack role, they have been using

other missiles without warheads. it does look as if they are scraping the barrel a bit. what i suspect at the moment, we are in the middle of winter, both sides are a bit gridlocked in this war and russia is pushing really hard to get the ukrainians to lose the will to continue fighting. it is incredibly cold and miserable in ukraine. if you take out the energy supplies then potentially you sap the will of the ukrainians wanting to fight and potentially forcing president zelensky to negotiate. the feelings we are getting from your correspondents on the ground, all this is doing is stiffening the resolve of the ukrainians against the russians. it looks very unlikely to prevail, even though it is using a lot of the war stock of russia. the most right—wing government in israel's history has been sworn in. this was the scene earlier inside israel's parliament, voting to approve the new government led by benjamin netanyhu.

the alliance consisting of ultra—orthodox jewish and nationalist parties is seen as the most religious and hard—line israel has ever seen. it's stirred domestic and international unease, with protests taking place outside the parliament. let's speak to the bbc�*s yolande knell — who joins us live from jerusalem. just talk us through the significance of this government, as i say, it is being seen as the most right—wing government in israel's history? right-wing government in israel's histo ? . , ~ . right-wing government in israel's histo ? . , . ., ., history? that is right. we have a familiar face _ history? that is right. we have a familiar face back _ history? that is right. we have a familiar face back as _ history? that is right. we have a familiar face back as prime - familiarface back as prime minister, benjamin netanyahu. this is a very new look governing coalition. he has teamed up with ultra doc's jewish coalition. he has teamed up with ultra doc'sjewish parties and ultranationalists to form his new government. i think now we have his party, right—wing party appearing as

the most moderate in the coalition. it was very much remarked upon that actually they had elected as the new parliamentary speaker, a man who is openly gay and it will be the first time somebody who is gay has taken up time somebody who is gay has taken up position. he addressed his husband and children who were sitting there for the parliamentary session. but then you have new ministers who are being sworn in at the same time who are people very much opposed to his lifestyle. one of the proposals are pushing forward, they have put on coalition agreements is to go for a change in anti—discrimination laws so businesses in israel will be able to refuse to serve people on religious grounds and the concern is that could really affect the lg btq community and also members of israel's arab minority. there are other things which were animating the protesters, who ijoined outside the protesters, who ijoined outside the parliament for a time. they are

very worried about another plan which is to overhaul the legal system so that israel's parliament would have much greater power to overrule israel's supreme court. that affects checks and balances in the system and many people connect that to the corruption trial that mr netanyahu is still on four charges which he denies, but people saying he should not be allowed to make changes that affect the independence of the judiciary because he has at the moment, a conflict of interest when it comes to that. lots more besides, a lot of people mention to me this far right extremist, a man who has been convicted in the past for racism in israel is now israel's national security minister responsible for the police. he will have unprecedented control over the place because of new legislation he demanded to join this coalition. what about extending jewish settlements, what is the new government's plan on that? you have

to remember— government's plan on that? you have to remember there _ government's plan on that? you have to remember there are _ government's plan on that? you have to remember there are key _ government's plan on that? you have to remember there are key members| government's plan on that? you have i to remember there are key members of this coalition who are themselves ultranationalists who are west bank settlers. it was no surprise really when the coalition sort of list of guiding principles was published. we have at the top of that priority is expanding in the west bank, the way it was written suggested the west bank was considered to be part of the land of israel, along with other areas like eastjerusalem, annexed by israel. that will concern palestinians. we have at the palestinians. we have at the palestinian president coming out saying the motto of this new government is extremism and apartheid. this is going to inflame tensions with palestinians. of course, the occupied west bank is part of an area they want for the hoped—for future state and it is a formula for peace where there should

be an independent palestinian state created alongside israel. but you have members of this new government who are opposed to any creation of palestinian statehood.— at least 21 people have been killed in a fire at a casino hotel in north—west cambodia. police say more than 400 hundred people were in the building at the time. about 50 people have been injured, with many of them in a critical condition. aru na iyengar reports. flames and smoke billowing out from the grand diamond city casino in poipet, close to the thai border. it is feared dozens may have died here on wednesday night. rescue workers say they saw people jumping from the building to escape flames. others were huddled on window ledges. a group were also seen packed onto a rooftop. it is thought the fire started on the first floor but spread quickly along carpets and leapt through the multistorey building. firefighters from thailand have been working with local cambodian emergency services to contain the blaze.

a thai rescue team here in a stairwell put on masks and hoods before entering a smoke—filled corridor. many victims were taken to hospital, amongst them cambodians, thais and indonesians. poipet is a popular holiday destination for visitors from thailand where most forms of gambling are illegal. casinos are a key part of cambodia's tourism industry. this blaze follows two other fatal incidents in entertainment venues in thailand and vietnam this year. aruna iyengar, bbc news. european union health officials are meeting today to decide on a coordinated reponse 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. the uk defence secretary ben wallace says the government is keeping its policy on travel

restrictions for international arrivals under review. he was asked whether the uk might follow other nations and tighten entry rules on travellers from china. i think the government have said it will keep that under review and review whether different countries with covid outbreaks should face different restrictions. i think as we speak it is being reviewed and i will inspect to see some clarification today or tomorrow. if that is indeed a decision we have seen at the last hour or so that india will now be covid testimg from several countries from asia, that is that the decision we want doing so, how can we be sure that is not going to put too much pressure on an already overloaded nhs? that is a matter for the department for transport to work out the balance between medical advice

it receives and indeed the flow of travel. there are hundreds of country were not seeking to do that and i think it is very important at this time of year what we do is make sure that those countries that don't have covid can travel freely to the united kingdom and vice versa, there are thousands of british tourists right now who will be flying back to the uk and then of course making sure you target restrictions we do when there are places of greater concern, notjust with covid and we do that already with other medical conditions that have come elsewhere. but at the moment we are keeping it under review, look at the traffic and where people are coming from into this country, then we will make our views known. simon clarke, an associate professor in microbiology at the university of reading. i think if the government doesn't want to do it and i sense there isn't the political will, they need to be clear why they are not doing it and where they would need to be in order to need to bring it back. the situation in china, we don't

really know what is going on. so i think other countries are putting a safety valve in in order to control what is going on and try and control what is going on and try and control what is going on and try and control what is going on before they find out the situation is worse than they thought. the new leader of the trades union congress, which represents dozens of unions in england and wales, has accused the government of refusing to negotiate on public sector pay. paul novak also says ministers are using pay review bodies as "a human shield" to deflect proper wage rises. but the defence secretary ben wallace insisted those bodies are independent and that the government will not be "held to ransom". katy austin reports. picket lines have become a familiar sight this year as an increasing number of workers take part in strikes. the new leader of the tuc, the umbrella organisation for dozens of unions in england and wales, says more transparency was needed around the process by which independent review bodies

recommend pay for nhs staff and other public sector workers, such as teachers and police officers. it is important if the pay review body is going to continue that they have real credibility. and they seem genuinely independent. the pay review body process is in danger of being brought into disrepute, because the government is hiding behind the pay review bodies, refusing to negotiate on pay and refusing to reach a reasonable settlement with our public sector unions. at the moment, there is no end in sight to industrial action in a number of sectors. today, a strike by border force staff in the pcs union at six major airports continues. driving examiners have walked out in some areas of england. other action in the diary includes national strikes by rail workers in the rmt and aslef unions in the first working week ofjanuary, and also injanuary, more strikes involving ambulance workers and nurses. this morning, the defence secretary visited military personnel covering

for border force workers at manchester airport. he said ministers would not ignore the advice of independent pay review bodies to suit the agenda of trade union leaders and it was for unions to negotiate with employees. to negotiate with employers. and he rejected any suggestion that borders were less secure when manned by the armed forces. the borders are safe and secure, members of the armed forces that have come to help out when the strikes are on are carrying out a very straightforward function, backed up by computer systems and scans that allow us to identify people of worry coming into the country. the tuc boss said today he hoped compromise could be reached, but as things stand, the new year will bring further walkouts. katie austin, bbc news. holly hamilton has all the sport. 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, in the first test in karachi, pakistan were 77 for 2 in their second innings at the close on day four — trailing by 97, after new zealand declared their first innings on 612 for 9. kane williamson made an unbeaten double century. brendan rodgers believes tomorrow night's clash with liverpool gives them an opportunity to bounce back from the boxing day defeat. he is

hopeful his side can show their belief ahead of their trip to anfield. �* . , , belief ahead of their trip to anfield. �* , , . belief ahead of their trip to anfield. �* , . ' . belief ahead of their trip to anfield. ~ , . , . ., belief ahead of their trip to anfield. ~ . , . ., ., anfield. always a difficult game and nobody knows _ anfield. always a difficult game and nobody knows that _ anfield. always a difficult game and nobody knows that more _ anfield. always a difficult game and nobody knows that more than - anfield. always a difficult game and l nobody knows that more than myself at anfield. but it is a great challenge for us and that is what, looking at the newcastle disappointment for us, it was disappointing, like i said but the challenge is there to be overcome and this is a great opportunity for us. meanwhile, novak djokovic has said he'll never forget being deported from australia earlier this year. djokovic was deported on the eve of the 2022 australian open in january 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 10th australian open title to attempt to match rafa nadal�*s 22 grand slams.

you can't forget those events, you know. it is one of those things that sticks with you, it stays with you, i guess for the rest of your life. as i said, something i have never experienced before and hopefully never again. experienced before and hopefully neveragain. but experienced before and hopefully never again. but it is a valuable life experience for me and something that, as i said, it will stay there, but i have to move on. and coming back to australia speaks how i feel about this country, how i feel about playing here. the three time olympic champion skier matthias mayer has shocked the sport by announcing his retirement with immediate effect. the austrian was scheduled to take part in the men's super—g race in bormio, even conducting the course inspection this morning, before revealing that he will no longer be racing. after four top—five finishes in six starts this season, the 32—year—old said he had been thinking about the decision over

the last few days. and that is all the sport for now. the captain of the england women's football team, leah williamson, says she feared missing games during the team's successful euro 2022 campaign because of her endometriosis. the 25—year—old lioness was diagnosed with the condition last year and highlighted how debilitating it can be in an interview with women's health magazine. endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows elsewhere and can cause extreme pain, as well as infertility. we can speak now to the ceo of the charity endometriosis uk, emma cox. just tell us more about the condition and the sorts of obstacles in their places in the path of many women around the country?

endometriosis, the cells cannot exist in the same way a period can exit so they can cause chronic pain and bowel problems and pain. it is not a bad period, it is a disease that impacts people. as leah talked about, it can impact on work, education and people not living the lives they want to or do the activities they want to do. for example. _ activities they want to do. for example, employers, do they properly understand this when they are really suffering extreme, chronic pain? i am pleased to say we do have some employers who are endometriosis friendly. but most employers don't recognise it and sadly, society doesn't recognise it. it takes a shocking eight years to get a diagnosis of endometriosis because the pain is believed, the seriousness isn't believed.

unfortunately, people lump it together with a period. you shouldn't confuse it with a period that affects your everyday life. unfortunately, employers don't see it that way. the other thing is, because it is linked to the menstrual cycle, the hormonal cycle, the symptoms, the severe chronic pain, things like that may be different at different times of the month. unfortunately, employers think people are just making up to have a bit of extra time off work. they are just not believe. also a lot of people are embarrassed about talking about it because it is linked, not only with periods but painful bowel movements, linked with urgency going to the toilet. people don't feel they can talk about it at work. �* , ., , don't feel they can talk about it at work. �* , . , ., work. briefly, what is the treatment for it? unfortunately, _ work. briefly, what is the treatment for it? unfortunately, there - work. briefly, what is the treatment for it? unfortunately, there is- work. briefly, what is the treatment for it? unfortunately, there is no i for it? unfortunately, there is no cure at the _ for it? unfortunately, there is no cure at the moment. _ for it? unfortunately, there is no cure at the moment. in - for it? unfortunately, there is no cure at the moment. in terms i for it? unfortunately, there is no cure at the moment. in terms of| cure at the moment. in terms of diagnosis, that can be done through

a laparoscopy, having a look inside to see if the endometriosis is growing. although if it is impacting in certain ways it may be seen on scans, but not always. the treatment of having it removed by surgery, or sometimes the condition, the symptoms can be managed through using hormonal contraceptive pills or hormonal different products, so it mimics, if you like, the different menopausal or other things like that. for some people, painkillers can work but for many over—the—counter painkillers don't touchit over—the—counter painkillers don't touch it and it would need a lot of pain management. there are other things like physio that can help but unfortunately it is not generally available, as i say. it is a disease that has not been looked into and there hasn't been enough research on it. there is a lot more we need to know about it.— it. there is a lot more we need to know about it. emma, thank you so much and very _ know about it. emma, thank you so much and very interesting - know about it. emma, thank you so much and very interesting to - know about it. emma, thank you so much and very interesting to talk i much and very interesting to talk to. that is it from me for now, you have

been watching bbc news. hello again. today really is a day of sunshine and showers. some of the showers wintry on the tops of the hills in scotland, we could see a bit of wintriness on the tops of the pennines as well today. all of this is pushing slowly eastwards and we got showers and other western areas being blown in on a brisk wind, gusty wind, the strongest of which is through the irish sea and english channel. and if anything, temperatures are a little bit lower today than they were yesterday. through this evening and overnight we lose the showers, we have a drier period and heavy rain starts to come in from the west. heaviest across southern scotland but as it engages with the cold air in the north, it will readily turn to snow above 200m. some of us could have as much as ten

centimetres of snow. the met office has issued an amber weather warning for the heavy rain, there's the risk of flooding, likely to be travel disruption from this as well and this warning is valid from 3am in the morning on friday until midday. snow falling across the north of scotland, the rain moving away from northern ireland, england and wales. it is still going to be windy but we will see a return to some sunshine and if anything, temperatures up a touch for most than they are going to be today. as we head into saturday, new year's eve, we have rain in the south, we still have some snow falling especially on higher ground across the far north of scotland, pushing northwards through the day, as indeed is the rain in between something drier and brighter. these temperatures in norwich getting up to 15 degrees, average at this time of year is seven. as we head towards the midnight hour we still will have some rain around across parts of england and wales.

this forecast could still change as it has been doing in the last couple of days. drier further north where it is going to be cold. as low as minus seven or minus eight. you can keep up to date where you are on bbc weather app. as we head into new year's day itself, it remains unsettled. this band of rain has been giving us a headache as to how far north it is going to travel. this is what we think at the moment. a band of showers also pushing northwards depositing some hill snow on the hills in the north and cold in the north, fours and fives to 12 as we pushed down towards the south.

this is bbc world news, the headlines: russia has launched a major missile attack on ukrainian cities. the authorities say dozens of missiles were fired from the air and the sea during a five—hour onslaught. kharkiv, odesa, lviv and kyiv were among the cities targeted. belarus says it has downed a ukrainian anti—aircraft missile in its territory. it said it was investigating whether its air defence systems had shot down the s—300 rocket, or if it was misfired. the most hardline government in israel's history has been sworn in. the coalition, led by benjamin natanyahu for a record sixth time as prime minister, includes ultra orthodoxjewish and nationalist parties.

the european union's health agency has said it believes having