a huge fire — at a casino hotel in cambodia — has killed at least 21 people. many others are still missing. striking public sector workers in the uk accuse the government of refusing to negotiate with the unions on pay. 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. this woman lives far from the front lines but this morning, the work comes to her. the house was hit and russia launched another barrage of air strikes. russia launched another barrage of airstrikes. she russia launched another barrage of air strikes. she shows that's the renovation work they have just done. my renovation work they have just done. my granddaughter was in this bedroom, and you can see what happened. it isa it is a very difficult feeling when you are just waiting for the next attack to happen. my granddaughter was very scared, she was screaming on the phone, she says. it's a very

difficult feeling when you are just waiting for the next attack to happen. waiting for the next attack to ha en, ., ., , waiting for the next attack to hauen. . . happen. tatiana's husband was in the next room. — happen. tatiana's husband was in the next room, where _ happen. tatiana's husband was in the next room, where the _ happen. tatiana's husband was in the next room, where the ceiling - happen. tatiana's husband was in the next room, where the ceiling fell- next room, where the ceiling fell around him. translation: i next room, where the ceiling fell around him. translation: i went to death for a while, _ around him. translation: i went to death for a while, everything - death for a while, everything started — death for a while, everything started to crumble around me. i ran outside _ started to crumble around me. i ran outside and — started to crumble around me. i ran outside and found my daughter screaming. we outside and found my daughter screaming-— outside and found my daughter screaminu. ~ , ., �* ~ ., ., screaming. we still don't know what ha ened. screaming. we still don't know what happened- this _ screaming. we still don't know what happened. this crater _ screaming. we still don't know what happened. this crater was _ screaming. we still don't know what happened. this crater was likely - screaming. we still don't know what happened. this crater was likely the j happened. this crater was likely the point of impact. in the power of the blast destroyed these cars and all the houses here with personal belongings everywhere. three people were injured, no one was killed. russia's missiles and drones have brought seems like this to places across this country. but kyiv�*s mayor says the attacks won't break people's determination to resist. the russians want to bring depression, especially right now, christmas time, new year, russians

want to bring us to a black time. the ukrainian people are very angry, and they never give up. stand the ukrainian people are very angry, and they never give up.— and they never give up. and from ukraine's chief, _ and they never give up. and from ukraine's chief, a _ and they never give up. and from ukraine's chief, a warning, - and they never give up. and from ukraine's chief, a warning, these j ukraine's chief, a warning, these attacks are unlikely to stop. translation:— attacks are unlikely to stop. translation: they will try to continue them. _ translation: they will try to continue them. can _ translation: they will try to continue them. can they - translation: they will try to continue them. can they do i translation: they will try to | continue them. can they do this translation: they will try to - continue them. can they do this for long? now. because they do not have many missiles laughed. their defence industry is incapable of producing enough missiles to sustain the same scale of strikes. this is another reason they are trying to get missiles from other countries. the strikes, missiles from other countries. the strikes. again. _ missiles from other countries. the strikes, again, have disrupted the lives of millions of ukrainians. they've emerged from underground shelters and wonder when and where the next attack with hits.

let me bring you the very latest, because the afp reported that there has been significant damage, that is the phrase they used, to ukraine's power grid after today's russian strikes. that's come from the operator is on the ground, and of course, that has been the strategy now for months from the kremlin, to target ukraine's energy structure and infrastructure. "significant and infrastructure. "significa nt damage" and infrastructure. "significant damage" that is the phrase being used to describe the impact and effective todayrussian strikes. i'm joined now the ukrainian mp — lesia vasilenko. just describe what it has been like they're in the capital with all of these russian missile strikes today. well, this morning i woke up from explosion sounds, so i live in the downtown of kyiv, but, still, it was very much loud, it woke me up, these

were explosions from our air defence systems shooting down the missiles, and there were a 16 missiles all and all that were launched by russia and kyiv alone. all of these 16 were brought down by our air defence, but as wejust heard brought down by our air defence, but as we just heard in the story before, the remnants of these rockets and missiles, they fell on peoples back yards and housing. so what russia is doing is still waging this absolutely devastating war, keeping the whole population, they are trying to keep the whole population in terror, but instead of inciting terror on ukrainians and fear, they arejust inciting terror on ukrainians and fear, they are just inciting more anger and more hatred towards the enemy, towards the aggressors, which the russians are. the? enemy, towards the aggressors, which the russians are.— the russians are. they are also usin: the russians are. they are also using the _ the russians are. they are also using the winter, _ the russians are. they are also using the winter, the _ the russians are. they are also using the winter, the called - the russians are. they are also using the winter, the called as| the russians are. they are also| using the winter, the called as a

weapon against ukrainian people. i just read at the very latest about significant damage to ukraine's power grade. you are there in the capital. how much of the capital is without power?— without power? well, i am with ower. without power? well, i am with power- you _ without power? well, i am with power- you can _ without power? well, i am with power. you can see _ without power? well, i am with power. you can see there - without power? well, i am with power. you can see there is - without power? well, i am with | power. you can see there is light without power? well, i am with - power. you can see there is light in my apartment. the light usually goes out for a couple of hours a day. it is different apartment to apartment, so for example, the black in front of my house, their power never goes out. the building next to me, their power is almost always out. so there are some districts of kyiv which have been cut off from power for days, and that means that they don't have water as well because the water pumping system is also cut off from power. so it really depends. today we had reports that some 40% of the city remains without stable power,

without stable energy supply, without stable energy supply, without water and heating also. i without water and heating also. i want to put on the screen what you posted last week, a fabulous picture of your kids back in the capital. he had evacuated them at the early part of the war and you were delighted to post this picture that is currently on our screens with a return to the capital. as i say you are delighted last week, any less so after the events of today?— last week, any less so after the events of today? last week, any less so after the events of toda ? ., ., , , ., events of today? no, absolutely not. it 'ust so events of today? no, absolutely not. itjust so happens — events of today? no, absolutely not. it just so happens that _ events of today? no, absolutely not. it just so happens that they - events of today? no, absolutely not. itjust so happens that they are - it just so happens that they are visiting their grandmother since yesterday or the day before yesterday, the grandmother lives in a different region, just outside of kyiv the neighbouring region to kyiv. it has also been under attack, but much less missiles. and that area where they where was quiet. they didn't witness these explosions, although they did witness some of the air raid sirens,

but this is the reality of ukraine. this is the reality. at the same time you know, in spite of all of these things, they are so happy and calm here and they are absolutely ecstatic to see their friends, to reunite, and those who have stayed in ukraine, of course it'sjust home. in ukraine, of course it's 'ust home. �* , ., , ~ in ukraine, of course it's 'ust home. �* , . , ~ ., home. i'm sure that is true. a final cuick home. i'm sure that is true. a final quick stop because _ home. i'm sure that is true. a final quick stop because of _ home. i'm sure that is true. a final quick stop because of course - home. i'm sure that is true. a final quick stop because of course whatl home. i'm sure that is true. a final i quick stop because of course what we have seen across ukraine today is underlined the need for more air defences. we know your president has been calling for that for some time. yes patriot missiles are on their way. you have any sort of insight in terms of the timeline, when you actually have them on the ground helping you protect those various cities? , , , ., ., cities? everything is being done to make sure that _ cities? everything is being done to make sure that the _ cities? everything is being done to make sure that the liberty - cities? everything is being done to make sure that the liberty of- cities? everything is being done to make sure that the liberty of the l make sure that the liberty of the weapons happens as soon as possible —— delivery of the weapons. it's a lot of work done by the us counterparts and by the ukrainians and also by the countries through which the air defence system will be coming in. it will have a major

change on the defence of ukraine and on the covering of the civilians and critical infrastructure of troops on the ground. we are very much hopeful that we will have those systems up and running in no time.— that we will have those systems up and running in no time. thank you so much forjoining _ and running in no time. thank you so much forjoining us _ and running in no time. thank you so much forjoining us live _ and running in no time. thank you so much forjoining us live here - and running in no time. thank you so much forjoining us live here from - much forjoining us live here from the capital kyiv. thank you so much for your time. the capital kyiv. thank you so much for your time-— the defence ministry in belarus says, its air defences brought down a ukrainian s—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 we had 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

perspective 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 those. it was found in an open field and there appears not to be any casualties at yet. the real question 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, if it was, why on earth would you send a missile into an empty field, you would at least choose a lucrative target. it looks like an accident and incident as part of this dynamic and dangerous war that is happening in ukraine. israel's new government has been sworn in. it's the most right—wing government in the country's history. this was the scene inside israel's parliament, as it voted 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 in the country's history. consequently it has stirred domestic and international unease, with protests taking place outside the parliament. the bbc�*s yolande knell — injerusalem — told us more about the new administration: we have a familiar face with benjamin netanyahu, but this is a very new look

government coalition. he has teamed up with ultra—orthodoxjewish parties and ultra nationalist 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 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. 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. the very latest from washington and the white house saying joe biden is looking forward to working with the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu. that is the latest coming from the us administration. i'm joined now by guy ziv — a professor at the american university school of international service. what is your assessment of this new government? saw the rise of the radical ri . ht new government? saw the rise of the radical right is — new government? saw the rise of the radical right is really _ new government? saw the rise of the radical right is really the _ new government? saw the rise of the radical right is really the story - new government? saw the rise of the radical right is really the story of - radical right is really the story of the last election and this new government. the religious zionist party, the far—right party that promotes jewish supremacists premises is now the third party into key partner to it this new coalition, and its leaders were not just given government ministries but

also expanded portfolios, including jurisdiction over civilian policy in the west bank, some of the settlements and the israeli police. this is something that the israeli security establishment is really deeply concerned about, so much so that in the past week, the outgoing idf chief of staff initiated in meeting with benjamin netanyahu to express his concerns about these agreements, concerned that he felt might even break the chain of, and. we also saw an open letter signed by 1000 x air force officials that are concerned about what they are calling the destruction of israeli democracy. the concerns they are not just international but are deeply felt and israel as well.— just international but are deeply felt and israel as well. briefly on this next answer, _ felt and israel as well. briefly on this next answer, given - felt and israel as well. briefly on l this next answer, given everything you've just said, what do you think of the likely policy implications? benjamin netanyahu is going to have

a very difficult time withstanding pressure from his coalition partners, even though he has said repeatedly in the last few weeks in various interviews to the american press into the international press that he is going to have to... that he's going to be in control, both hands on the wheel, he's not going to allow any sort of change in the status quo when it comes to minorities, but i think he is also somebody who is going to put his political interests above everything else, so it's not quite clear yet what changes are in—store, but very these coalition partners that are religious and nationalistic and some of them very extreme in their worldview are adamant about making some changes and preventing certain, for example, the gay march in jerusalem, and certain of their facets of israeli society that we have seen over the years. there

might be some resistance to that among some of these coalition partners. so it will be interesting to see how benjamin netanyahu handles that stop before i came to you, i read at the latest from the white house, and you, i read at the latest from the white house.— you, i read at the latest from the white house, and there has always been a strained _ white house, and there has always been a strained relationship - white house, and there has always i been a strained relationship between joe biden and benjamin netanyahu. we've also had today congratulations from vladimir putin. what do you read into that and that relationship? read into that and that relationshi? �* . ., ., , relationship? ben'amin netanyahu has alwa s made relationship? ben'amin netanyahu has always made it — relationship? ben'amin netanyahu has always made it a — relationship? benjamin netanyahu has always made it a point _ relationship? benjamin netanyahu has always made it a point to _ relationship? benjamin netanyahu has always made it a point to emphasise i always made it a point to emphasise his strong relationship with other world leaders. in fact, in previous rounds of israeli elections, he even had a big billboard placed showing a picture of him and vladimir putin. needless to say, he has been playing that down since the russian invasion of ukraine, but it is not a coincidence that benjamin netanyahu and vladimir putin get along. i don't think it will dramatically

alter israeli policy towards ukraine, but the fact that he gets a along well with putin, the fact that he gets along well with hungry�*s leader and also narrow, other strongmen, tells you about the sort of alliances that have been formed in the less liberal moves that we have seen around the world in europe and beyond, and that includes israel. ~ ., israel. we will leave it there. thank you — israel. we will leave it there. thank you very _ israel. we will leave it there. thank you very much - israel. we will leave it there. thank you very much for - israel. we will leave it there. j thank you very much for your israel. we will leave it there. - thank you very much for your time there from washington, dc. mr; there from washington, dc. my -leasure. ethnic serbs who've been blocking roads in northern kosovo for almost three weeks have been taking down their barricades. a blockade near the main border crossing between kosovo and serbia has now been removed. the decision to end the blockade was made after the protestors held late night talks with the president of serbia, aleksandar vucic. he said mistrust among kosovo's serbian minority remained high. the blockade began after the kosovan authorities arrested a former serb

policeman on terrorism charges, escalating existing tensions. the european union's disease prevention agency has said the screening of travellers from china for covid—19 would be unjustified. it follows an appeal from italy for the rest of the eu to follow its lead and ensure chinese arrivals are tested and quarantined if necessary. china is dealing with a big wave of covid infections — and several countries, including the us, india and japan have imposed new restrictions on chinese arrivals. eu ministers are still considering how to respond, but the european centre for disease prevention and control said the covid surge was not expected to have much impact in the bloc. here's what the italian prime minister had to say a short while ago: translation: the health minister immediately _ translation: the health minister immediately ordered _ translation: the health minister immediately ordered tests - translation: the health minister immediately ordered tests for - translation: the health minister. immediately ordered tests for anyone arriving from china. a measure that however, risks not being completely

affected if it's not implemented at european level. we know that we can do this for flights arriving directly from china, but not for those making i asked ministries, who immediately took action in this regard, to pray to the european commission are responsible for this matter to request that the eu take action. 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. but government ministers, insisted that they 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 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. let's get some of the day's other news. an indian pharmaceutical company has suspended the manufacture of a cough medicine after uzbekistan said it had killed at least eighteen children. the uzbek health ministry said a batch of the syrup — manufactured by marion biotech — was found to contain the toxic

compound ethylene glycol. india is investigating the claims. us carrier, southwest airlines, says it plans to return to normal with "minimal disruption" on friday. the company has cancelled more than 10,000 flights since last week when a winter storm hit the us. stranded travellers have complained of long waits and missing baggage. 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 eyengar 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. tonight is the last opportunity this year to witness a astronomical phenomenon known

as a "planet parade". the spectacle will be visible in the night sky and onlookers will be able to see all the planets in our solar system. five of the planets will be visible with the naked eye, and the two that are furthest away, will be visible through binoculars. that is it for me. back with a full bulletin in just half an that is it for me. back with a full bulletin injust half an hour. don't go away. hello there. it's looking like the last few days of 2022 will be rather unsettled for most of us. low pressure, always nearby, so we'll see some pretty heavy rainfall, some strong winds and also a bit of snow over the high ground of scotland, and we see some cold air engage in at times. now, this first area of low pressure moving through on friday will bring some heavy rain, strong winds and be followed by more weatherfronts and rain rippling in from the southwest as we head into the new year weekend.

some areas seeing quite a lot of rainfall over the next few days. southern, northern, western areas, particularly southwest scotland, northwest england could be very wet over the next few days. and we even have an amber rain warning in force across south—southwest scotland for friday, risk of some localised flooding and travel disruption here. and that rain really will be piling into many northern and western areas as we move through this evening. certainly overnight, it'll be very heavy and persistent across southern scotland. that rain turning to snow over the mountains of scotland as we engage some colder air here. further south and east that you are, tending to stay dry really until we push into friday morning and temperatures recovering in the south, but it will be a windy, cold morning, very cloudy, very wet. some heavy rain across scotland, northern england pushing its way quite quickly into the north sea, and then it brightens up into the afternoon, a few blustery showers, southern and western areas, more persistent rain, some snow in the hills across northern scotland, but a good deal of sunshine around. but it will be a windy day for all. mild in the south, we're up to 11 to 13 degrees. that is above the seasonal norm, closer to the seasonal norm or even below across scotland. so for new year's eve, saturday,

more weather fronts pushing in from the south west. it could be quite wet to start with across all areas. again, a wintry element to the rain across scotland, notjust the even over the hills, even down to lower levels as well. more rain pushing into england or wales later in the day and it will be windy and very mild. ill—15 celsius to end december 2022, something colder in the north. as we push closer to new year's eve midnight, it looks like there will be a dry slot of weather central, northern and eastern areas. but stay tuned to the forecast for the details for that a bit closer to the time. as we push into new year's day, the 1st of january, there will be rain across the far south east, some showery rain in the north. again, a bit of a wintry element to that. colder in the north, but staying on the mild side for england and wales. see you later.

this is bbc world news, this is bbc world news, the headlines. the headlines. russia has launched a major missile russia has launched a major missile attack on ukrainian cities. attack on ukrainian cities. the authorities say dozens the authorities say dozens of missiles were fired of missiles were fired from the air and the sea from the air and the sea during a five—hour onslaught. during a five—hour onslaught. kharkiv, odesa, lviv and kyiv kharkiv, odesa, lviv and kyiv were among the cities targeted. were among the cities targeted. the most hardline the most hardline government in israel's government in israel's history has been sworn in. history has been sworn in. the coalition, led by the coalition, led by benjamin natanyahu for a record benjamin natanyahu for a record sixth time as prime minister, sixth time as prime minister, includes ultra orthodoxjewish includes ultra orthodoxjewish and nationalist parties. and nationalist parties.

tension between serbia and kosovo appear to have eased following a decision to remove barricades blocking