this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories... a huge wave of russian missiles targets cities across ukraine in one of the biggest attacks since the war began. israel's new hardline government is sworn in, with benjamin netanyahu becoming prime ministerfor a record sixth time. uzbekistan�*s health ministry links the deaths of 18 children to a cough syrup made by an indian drug company. 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. and one for all rail enthusiasts — a new european sleeper service

is to launch next year. set off from london — wake up in berlin. welcome to bbc news. cities across ukraine have been targeted by a huge wave of russian missile strikes in one of the largest bombardments since the war began. at least three people — including a 14—year—old girl — were injured after explosions hit the capital kyiv. other cities targeted include kharkiv, odesa and lviv in the west. 90% of lviv is now without power. ukraine's military says 69 missiles were launched from air and sea, with air defences intercepting 5a of them. it comes as the head of ukraine's 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. there will be more on those attacks in the next while. belarus says it's summoned the ukrainian ambassador after its air defences brought down what it claims to be a ukrainian 5—300 missile in the border region. the country's state—run news agency, had earlier reported that a ukrainian missile had gone into belarusian territory during today's russian bombardment.

retired air vice—marshal sean bell — who's also a military analyst — 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 it looks like somebody is targeting something in belarus itself. what we have to do as a military respectively is 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 an incident as part of this dynamic and dangerous war that is happening in ukraine. a short while ago the uk defence secretary ben wallace was asked about how the uk is helping ukraine. britain is at the forefront of the effort to help. we only recently put in thousands of anti—iran missiles to help bring down these iranian drones that russia is firing, rather

indiscriminately without critical infrastructure and civilian areas. and we will continue to use our know—how and training and any hardware support we can in 2023 to make sure ukraine can defend itself. it is important to note that the targeting of civilian and national info and civilian areas is against the geneva convention, russia is breaking international law, not only with the invasion but also with the targeting at is carrying out. there will be a response from the rest of the world to that type of behaviour. in cash terms, how much of the uk's aid has cost so far? 2.3 in cash terms, how much of the uk's aid has cost so far?— aid has cost so far? 2.3 billion last year— aid has cost so far? 2.3 billion last year and _ aid has cost so far? 2.3 billion last year and from _ aid has cost so far? 2.3 billion last year and from 2023 - aid has cost so far? 2.3 billion last year and from 2023 we i aid has cost so far? 2.3 billionl last year and from 2023 we will putting another 2.3 billion. some of thatis putting another 2.3 billion. some of that is non—military, the likes are few support such as generators and some is obviously military hardware and some is training. we train 10,000 ukrainians in the uk and will train another 20,000 10,000 ukrainians in the uk and will

train another20,000 in 10,000 ukrainians in the uk and will train another 20,000 in the uk and some is effectively backfilling british stock, stocks we have given away we need to replace to make sure our armed forces or up—to—date on being able to defend ourselves so that makes up the 2.3 billion and we are committed to another 2.3 billion for 2023 because it is vital for all of our security that russia fails in ukraine and a strong message centre in the world that breaking international law and brutality and torture and rape is not acceptable and we will deal with it together. that was the defence secretary. i'm joined now ukrainian disinformation and security analyst, maria avdeeva. thank you forjoining us. you are in kharkiv, one of the places targeted by russian missiles. talk me through the intensity were those missiles have struck and the damage done. the attack have struck and the damage done. tue: attack started have struck and the damage done. tte: attack started yesterday, late evening, and the first attack was

made by iranian made drones and they were used for two reasons, one was to hit the critical infrastructure facilities and the other was possibly to realise for the russians, for the ukrainian air system, to know where they are located and then aim their missiles more precisely. and they did so and today was attacked, kharkiv, several times through the day, but only through cruise missiles but also 5-300 through cruise missiles but also s—300 missiles and one of the last attacks killed two civilians, a man on the spot and the other one died in the ambulance because doctors were unable to save him and the air raids and kharkiv happened five times only today and it is still not the end of the day. possibly more

will come and the situation is quite critical with energy because according to the officials, one energy infrastructure facility at least was actually hit and the metro has stopped stuck it has resumed and is working but still the electricity outages are frequent in different districts around this area. we are showin: districts around this area. we are showing viewers _ districts around this area. we are showing viewers pictures - districts around this area. we are showing viewers pictures that - districts around this area. we are| showing viewers pictures that you filmed a little earlier and very clearly through the residential streets you can see the damage. by what you are describing, it does sound terrifying not knowing where the next missile is going to come from, and when? this the next missile is going to come from, and when?— the next missile is going to come from, and when? this is the central heart, the damage _ from, and when? this is the central heart, the damage was _ from, and when? this is the central heart, the damage was made - from, and when? this is the central| heart, the damage was made before this but why i showed this and shared this video is for you to realise how deserted the city centre is because it is the second—largest

ukrainian city, more than i is because it is the second—largest ukrainian city, more thani million inhabitants, and the streets are completely empty and people are hiding, all the time they can hear air sirens hiding, all the time they can hear airsirens and hiding, all the time they can hear air sirens and this is a normal working day and no one is on the streets, people try to take cover as quickly as possible and try to stay inside. we quickly as possible and try to stay inside. ~ ., ., ,., quickly as possible and try to stay inside. ~ ., ., , ., , . , inside. we are also showing pictures at the moment _ inside. we are also showing pictures at the moment of _ inside. we are also showing pictures at the moment of kyiv, _ inside. we are also showing pictures at the moment of kyiv, the - inside. we are also showing pictures at the moment of kyiv, the capital i at the moment of kyiv, the capital that was also hit and we know that 0desa and tel aviv was hit and in those parts of the country, tel aviv, without power, 90%, the capital, a0%. how much power and electricity and heating do you currently have where you are? in currently have where you are? t�*t kharkiv the situation is more or less stable and the power supply is quite critical because the outages are often and in some areas the electricity is restored and others do not have electricity at all and this is a big problem, especially

for those who live in private houses because without power they cannot have water, they cannot have heating, they cannot cook anything, and this means that a lot of residents of kharkiv are still unable to return to the city, especially those who have families, who have children, because in the situation it is very difficult to continue living in the big city area. at continue living in the big city area. �* . . continue living in the big city area. ~ , ., ., , , area. a brief final thought because this, these — area. a brief final thought because this, these missiles _ area. a brief final thought because this, these missiles came - area. a brief final thought because this, these missiles came from - area. a brief final thought because | this, these missiles came from the air and the sea and president zelensky has long been asking for more air defences that we know the us patriot missiles are coming but i suppose what we have seen in the last 2a hours underlines the urgent need for those defences? last 24 hours underlines the urgent need for those defences? absolutely. this is critical. _ need for those defences? absolutely. this is critical, more _ need for those defences? absolutely. this is critical, more air _ need for those defences? absolutely. this is critical, more air defence - this is critical, more air defence is critical to defend ukrainian cities because ukraine has a large territory and what we have is not enough and russia understands that and every time they do these

strikes, attacks on civilian infrastructure, trying to bring as much suffering to ukrainian civilians as possible, and the only way to stop this terror is to defend and get more defence weapons for ukraine to stop it and protect ukrainian civilians.— ukraine to stop it and protect ukrainian civilians. thank you so much forjoining _ ukrainian civilians. thank you so much forjoining us _ ukrainian civilians. thank you so much forjoining us live - ukrainian civilians. thank you so much forjoining us live from - much forjoining us live from kharkiv. thank you for your time. the most religious and hard—line government in israel's history — led by benjamin netanyahu — will be sworn in shortly. this was a scene inside the parliament as they voted to approve the new government led by benjamin netanyahu. the alliance consisting of ultra—0rthodoxjewish and nationalist parties is seen as a most religious and hardline in the history of the country. consequently it has stirred domestic and international and with protests taking place outside of the same parliament building.—

taking place outside of the same parliament building. yolande knell told us more- _ parliament building. yolande knell told us more. we _ parliament building. yolande knell told us more. we have _ parliament building. yolande knell told us more. we have a _ parliament building. yolande knell told us more. we have a very - told us more. we have a very familiarface back as prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, but this is a very new look governing coalition. he has teamed up with ultra—0rthodox and ultranationalist parties to form his government and now we have his right—wing party appearing as the most moderate in the coalition, and it was very much remarked upon that actually they had elected as the new parliament respeaker a man who is openly gay and it will be the first time that someone who is gay has taken up that position. he addressed his husband and children who were sitting there for the parliamentary session and then you have new ministers who have been sworn in at the same time who are people who are very much opposed to his lifestyle. and one of the proposals they are pushing forward, they have put on the coalition agreement, is to go

for the change in anti—discrimination laws so that actually businesses in israel would be able to refuse to serve people on religious grounds, and the concern is that could really affect the lgbtq community, also members of israel's arab minority, and there are other things which were really animating the protesters who i joined 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. for charges which he denies and others say he should not be allowed to make changes that affect the independence of the judiciary because at the moment he has a conflict of interest when it comes to that. lots more besides. a lot of people mentioned to me the

fact that this far—right extremist man who has been convicted in the past for racism in israel is now the national security minister, responsible for the police and will have unprecedented control over the police because of new legislation that was passed which he demanded to join this coalition. uzbekistan�*s health ministry says 18 children have died after being given a cough syrup manufactured by the indian drug maker marion biotech. the ministry said preliminary tests showed a batch of the medicine contained a toxic substance. india's health ministry says it's conducted an inspection of the facility in uttar pradesh state. here's the legal representative of the company earlier today. translation: everything is under process and there is no sale - or anything else taking place. there is nothing wrong from our side but we cannot comment on what happened over there. the claim from uzbekistan comes weeks after the gambia also linked 69 child deaths to cough syrups made by another indian firm — maiden pharmaceuticals — which were also found by the gambian government to be contaminated

with a toxic substance. both the indian government and the company have denied the allegations. our correspondent in delhi, arunoday mukharji, told us more. well, india's health ministry shared a statement earlier in the day on thursday saying that drug controllers had visited one of the facilities of marion biotech and picked up samples of the cough syrup and sent them for further testing. they said that appropriate action would be taken once they get the results. they also said that they were in touch with the authorities and drug controllers in uzbekistan and are looking at the matter very closely, they have also sent a report about what exactly happened. but why this becomes even more significant is because this is coming just 2 months since the incident took place in the gambia, in africa, where nearly 70 children passed away, again, after being administered cough syrup that was made by another indian pharma manufacturer. at that time, who also issued

an alert as well about the use of these cough syrups, following which indian labs did conduct a test but they said that all global norms were complied with and there was absolutely no problem, even though the gambian authorities have asked for prosecution of that particular company. why is this more significant? because india has always projected itself to be a pharmacy of the world which produces nearly 1/3 of global medicines. and it provides affordable medicines, especially to developing nations. so when repeated incidents like these do come to light, it certainly affects the reputation of india as a leader in the pharmaceutical field. 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 has 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 expect to see some clarification today or tomorrow. if that is indeed a decision we have seen in the last hour or so that india will now be covid testimg from several countries from asia, if that is the decision, 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 countries

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 we target restrictions we do where 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. here in the uk, 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. ministers insist those bodies are independent and the government will not be held to ransom. here is katy austin. 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 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.

in just five months�* time, passengers will be able to travel from london to berlin on board a new european sleeper train service, with only one change in brussels. in 2024, the service is expected to reach prague in the czech republic — and with stopovers in amsterdam and dresden, this comes a step closer to realising the dream of pan—european eurostarjourneys, dreamt of more than 30 years ago. joining me now isjonn elledge — a journalist and book author specialising in transport and debunking conspiracy theories. this is really one for rail aficionados, you must be very excited? t aficionados, you must be very excited? ., ., ., , , excited? i am, i love a sleeper train, i excited? i am, i love a sleeper train. i often — excited? i am, i love a sleeper train, i often have _ excited? i am, i love a sleeper train, i often have taken - excited? i am, i love a sleeper train, i often have taken the i train, i often have taken the caledonian sleeper from london to the highlands and it is a lovely way of getting about because you don't have to do all of that annoying mucking about into airports and spending ages going through security. you just have a nice meal and it would be the most comfortable

night but you wake up somewhere new and that is always exciting. tt is a and that is always exciting. it is a resurgence _ and that is always exciting. it is a resurgence going _ and that is always exciting. it is a resurgence going on _ and that is always exciting. it is a resurgence going on in _ and that is always exciting. it is a resurgence going on in europe i and that is always exciting. it is a i resurgence going on in europe with sleepers? t resurgence going on in europe with slee ers? ~ ,., resurgence going on in europe with slee ers? ~' ,., ~' resurgence going on in europe with sleeers? ~ ~ sleepers? i think so. i think so in last year's _ sleepers? i think so. i think so in last year's federal— sleepers? i think so. i think so in last year's federal election - sleepers? i think so. i think so in last year's federal election the i last year's federal election the green party campaigned on a platform of re—establishing a european super network and you can see why because there is more consciousness around there is more consciousness around the need to stop taking short—haul flights and obviously europe is a reasonably small and compact continent and high—speed rail is a logistical challenge there and people are thinking more about, if you are going for a weekend away, you are going for a weekend away, you canjust get you are going for a weekend away, you can just get the train on a friday night and wake up in your destination on saturday morning. there really are something romantic about trains and sleeper services but i read, is this right, that the biggest problem with the european sleeper initiative is the lack of sleeper initiative is the lack of sleeper carriages across europe, is

that right? t sleeper carriages across europe, is that riuht? . sleeper carriages across europe, is that riuht? , ., , that right? i believe that is correct. yes, _ that right? i believe that is correct. yes, i— that right? i believe that is correct. yes, i have - that right? i believe that is correct. yes, i have read i that right? i believe that is i correct. yes, i have read the that right? i believe that is - correct. yes, i have read the same reports. it has gone out of fashion. think of the golden age of rail travel and murder on the orient express sort of trains. that is 70 years ago. here in the uk in the 19605 years ago. here in the uk in the 1960s he ripped up a lot of the network under the beeching act. just because most people started buying private cars in large numbers, rail travel started to look at the past. we are seeing a correction, partly for environmental reasons and partly because it is just nice to sit and read a book while travelling. tote read a book while travelling. we were showing pictures of the inside of the sleepers and this new initiative, there will be compartments for six or four or three occupancy but i suppose that means you could be sleeping with

strangers in the same compartment. i'm not sure i fancy that! no, obviously you pay more for a higher level of comfort. as i said, the caledonian one from london to scotland, it is set a similar range of features, the lowest fee is a seat sitting upright and then a cabin in the posh cabins come with weird combined toilet arrangements. i don't know if i would fancy travelling with strangers either but there will be other options. you wrote a piece — there will be other options. you wrote a piece not _ there will be other options. you wrote a piece not long ago, the joys wrote a piece not long ago, thejoys sometimes of travelling light night train. it is not always go to plan. i remember your inter—railing experiences. you said you were a little less grumpy now so perhaps it will work better? the little less grumpy now so perhaps it will work better?— little less grumpy now so perhaps it will work better? the problem was, i went into railing _ will work better? the problem was, i went into railing at _ will work better? the problem was, i went into railing at the _ will work better? the problem was, i went into railing at the age _ will work better? the problem was, i went into railing at the age of - will work better? the problem was, i went into railing at the age of 18 - went into railing at the age of 18 with my grumpiest friend and i'm fairly grumpy to start with, and the

problem was basically that neither of us were enthusiastic. we spent the week trotting around europe and making each other miserable. it would be horribly unfair to blame the network for that!— would be horribly unfair to blame the network for that! john, we have to leave it there. _ the network for that! john, we have to leave it there. thank _ the network for that! john, we have to leave it there. thank you - the network for that! john, we have to leave it there. thank you for - to leave it there. thank you for joining us and we will see what comes of this new initiative and whether it is a step closer to that pan—european initiative we mentioned in the introduction. we will take a short break and i'm back with a summary in a moment or two. we will also have a full bulletin in 30 minutes' time. 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 today as well.

all of this is pushing slowly eastwards and we've got showers in other western areas being blown in on a brisk wind, a 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 is risk of flooding, there is likely to be travel disruption from this as well and this warning is valid from 3am in the morning on friday until midday. there is 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 — the 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. drierfurther north, where it is going to be cold, as low as —7 or —8. you can keep up to date where you are on the 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 push 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.