hungry palestinians loot aid trucks entering gaza through the rafah crossing as israel opens another crossing for aid. israel's prime minister dismisses the latest calls for a "sustainable ceasefire" in gaza, insisting they will "fight to the end" to eliminate hamas. former conservative peer baroness mone admits she stands to benefit from £60 million of profit from personal protective equipment sold to the government during the pandemic. i wasn't trying to pull the wool over anyone�*s eyes and i regret and i am sorry for not saying straight out, yes, i am involved. this is the third winter in afghanistan since the taliban retook control there and its expected to be the bleakest in decades because of huge cuts in humanitarian aid. early results in serbia's elections suggest president aleksandar vucic�*s

party will keep its majority in parliament. and ukrainians gathered in london's trafalgar square this evening for their traditional carol singning service. hello i'm tanya beckett. in a sign of the growing hunger and desperation in gaza, crowds of people have looted aid trucks entering the besieged strip through the rafah crossing. for the first time since the war began, israel has also opened one of its crossings into gaza to aid. it's hoped the opening of the kerem shalom crossing will double the amount of food and medicine reaching gazans. until now, aid has only been able to reach the territory through the rafah crossing from egypt. israel has kept up its bombardment

of gaza, killing dozens more people. gaza's hamas—run health ministry says 90 people were killed injust the jabalia area of gaza city. in a change of tone, the uk and germany havejoined calls for a "sustainable ceasefire". prime minister benjamin netanyahu insists israel will fight to the end, but the reuters news agency is quoting egyptian security sources as saying israel and hamas are both open to a ceasefire but still disagree over details. our correspondent lucy williamson has more. the target for israel in gaza is hamas. for palestinians, it's survival. the rafah crossing point exploded in desperation today, each aid truck a lifeline, each minute of the journey, a lifetime of waiting. the border town of rafah has swelled to four times its normal size as people flee the fighting elsewhere. empty stomachs filled with hope,

empty bowls held out for food. the un estimates almost half the households here are facing very severe hunger. translation: what is happening in gaza is of the utmost _ concern to france. too many civilians are being killed. but the israeli prime minister is so far standing firm. translation: we are guided by the will of the fallen. - we will fight until the end and we'll achieve all our objectives — eliminating hamas, releasing all our hostages and ensuring that gaza will not become again a centre for terror, incitement and attacks against the state of israel. israel has released footage of what it said is the biggest hamas tunnel found so far, two and a half miles long and just inside the main erez crossing point to israel.

this, the army says, is a hamas video showing how the tunnels were built, a major construction project using industrial tools. and the man on the right of this video, it says, is the project manager of gaza's tunnel network, muhammed sinwar, brother of the hamas leader blamed by israel for the 7th october attacks. but pressure for a ceasefire is growing in israel too, as funerals are held for three hostages mistakenly shot dead by israeli forces this week. in gaza, the continued conflict is pushing hospitals to breaking point. pictures like this rarely make it to israeli tv screens, but they're shaping opinion abroad as each day, the war leaves more of gaza's dead and injured buried under the rubble and israel under more pressure to find a way out. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem.

i spoke to the senior emergency coordinatorfor unicef, hamish young, who is in gaza. he welcomed the opening of the kerem shalom crossing but said more needed to be done. here they are not saying how many trucks are coming through. the more trucks are coming through. the more trucks is obviously a good thing, but it is important to stress it is not going to make any difference really to the overarching need for a humanitarian ceasefire. for example, an increase in trucks is not going to change the fact that it has started raining here and that nearly 2 million people are displaced, living in really tough conditions, and when the rains come obviously it will make that much tougher and spread disease around. so more trucks are good but it is not going to change the underlying dynamic. we have been hearing from the shifa

hospital in the north of gaza today and exactly how overwhelmed it is, not least the lack of medical staff and equipment, but also people sheltering there. that and equipment, but also people sheltering there.— and equipment, but also people sheltering there. that is correct, eo - le sheltering there. that is correct, peeple are _ sheltering there. that is correct, people are sheltering _ sheltering there. that is correct, people are sheltering in - sheltering there. that is correct, | people are sheltering in hospitals right across gaza. in the north and in the areas to the south they are sheltering in hospitals. the humanitarian community is providing tents to make extra space in car parks. they are sheltering in schools and right around where i am staying now there are people in makeshift shelters. children just outside here living in really, really tough conditions. you outside here living in really, really tough conditions. you say now this opening — really tough conditions. you say now this opening of _ really tough conditions. you say now this opening of the _ really tough conditions. you say now this opening of the crossing - really tough conditions. you say now this opening of the crossing will - this opening of the crossing will not alleviate the situation, what is needed now is a ceasefire. how hopeful are you given what we are hearing today that that might be achievable?— hearing today that that might be achievable? , ., _ ,. ,, ., ,

achievable? obviously discussions about a ceasefire _ achievable? obviously discussions about a ceasefire are _ achievable? obviously discussions about a ceasefire are going - achievable? obviously discussions about a ceasefire are going on - achievable? obviously discussions about a ceasefire are going on at i achievable? obviously discussions | about a ceasefire are going on at a much higher political level. down here on the ground we are just concerned with delivering aid for children especially and civilians. we are very focused on that. but what i can say is what i see on the ground, the suffering of the children of gaza and what they are going through is unfathomable. i have been to a couple of the hospitals and i've seen for myself a couple of days ago kids being treated for horrendous war wounds, lying in corridors because there isn't enough bed space. medics and doctors doing an outstanding job under horrendous conditions. kids suffering something that no child should ever, ever have to suffer. but a ceasefire would decrease or even stop the flow of patients but it wouldn't help increase the flow of aid into gaza, medical aid and food aid? fix, of aid into gaza, medical aid and food aid? �* . .,, ., food aid? a ceasefire would definitely — food aid? a ceasefire would definitely help _ food aid? a ceasefire would definitely help because - food aid? a ceasefire would . definitely help because without

active ongoing conflict we could move around, we could move the aid we have got around much more easily. all humanitarian actors should have free and unfettered access to all people in need and a ceasefire would enormously facilitate that. the -roblem enormously facilitate that. the problem at _ enormously facilitate that. the problem at the _ enormously facilitate that. the problem at the moment is the safety of getting the food or medical aid around in the gaza strip, not simply entering it? around in the gaza strip, not simply enterin: it? , around in the gaza strip, not simply entering it?— entering it? yes, absolutely. there are a whole — entering it? yes, absolutely. there are a whole range _ entering it? yes, absolutely. there are a whole range of _ entering it? yes, absolutely. there are a whole range of constraints i are a whole range of constraints once the food does get in and humanitarian assistance. for example, they used to be around a50 trucks working inside gaza and it is now only 120 that are functioning. there are some simple maths in that that shows you how hard it is to get food around. the cell phone network has been down for the last three days which has made delivery of

assistance extremely difficult. although we have delivered a truck of hygiene supplies to a camp today to meet the needs of about 2500 people. so it can be done but to give you an indication what a drop in the ocean that is, in rafah where i am now and where we delivered that, there are about 900,000 people in need, or more than that. so eight to 2500 people shows it can be done but it shows that also how overwhelming the needs actually are. the humanitarian needs in gaza. as we've mentioned, the uk and germany have joined together to call for a sustainable ceasefire in gaza. in a joint article in the sunday times the british foreign secretary, lord cameron, and the german foreign minister, annalena baerbock,

said they'd support a ceasefire that was sustainable in the long—term, and pushed for more humanitarian pauses to get aid in and hostages out. meanwhile, france has already taken a stronger position on the war. the french foreign minister reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire in gaza, saying too many civilians are being killed. lord ricketts, peter ricketts, was the first national security adviser during david cameron's government between 2010 and 2012, before becoming uk ambassador to france until 2016. i asked him what he made of lord cameron's call for a sustainable ceasefire in gaza. this is a significant intervention by two countries that have been the staunchest supporters of israel in europe and i think what they mean is that however much we all want this awful fighting to end as soon as possible, there is no point in an

immediate ceasefire which will only break down because hamas will continue to attack israel and israel would respond. so a sustainable ceasefire is one that comes at the point where the two sides are willing to stop the fighting. in the meantime, there is a very strong call from the two foreign ministers to stop this terrible killing of civilians, that israel should be conducting the war in a different way, more targeted, and also a sustainable ceasefire needs a plan for what happens after the fighting and it is the clearest statement yet i think of the uk approach on what that should be. i5 i think of the uk approach on what that should be.— that should be. is there an implication _ that should be. is there an implication here _ that should be. is there an implication here on - that should be. is there an implication here on the - that should be. is there an l implication here on the part that should be. is there an - implication here on the part of britain and germany that the israeli forces are not conducting the war in sufficiently careful manner, that they are being reckless? i sufficiently careful manner, that they are being reckless?- they are being reckless? i think there is a clear _ they are being reckless? i think there is a clear indication - they are being reckless? i think there is a clear indication that l they are being reckless? i think. there is a clear indication that the two countries think that israel is not taking anything like enough care

to protect civilians, which is what their duty is under international law. the continuing enormously high casualty level in the humanitarian catastrophe in gaza shows that israel has not been thinking enough about that. they are getting the same pressure from the americans. antony blinken has been calling for weeks on israel to reduce sharply the attacks that lead to civilian casualties. yes, there is a clear message that, coupled with a recognition that israel does have a right to defend itself and will need to go on reducing hamas' military capacity, striking its rocket science and its leaders, but avoiding civilian casualties. it diverges somewhat from what france is saying, doesn't it? yes. diverges somewhat from what france is saying, doesn't it?— is saying, doesn't it? yes, and the french have _ is saying, doesn't it? yes, and the french have always _ is saying, doesn't it? yes, and the french have always been - is saying, doesn't it? yes, and the french have always been a - is saying, doesn't it? yes, and the french have always been a bit - french have always been a bit further along from us on calling for a ceasefire. they have an enormous muslim community in france and many of them are very angry. they have had a lot of street demonstrations and the first act of terrorism there, so they are very conscious of

there, so they are very conscious of the domestic context of all of that. the differences are not enormous, but, yes, there's a nuance of difference. but, yes, there's a nuance of difference-— but, yes, there's a nuance of difference. ., ., ., difference. for those calling for a ceasefire or— difference. for those calling for a ceasefire or otherwise _ difference. for those calling for a ceasefire or otherwise is - difference. for those calling for a ceasefire or otherwise is it - ceasefire or otherwise is it incumbent upon them to suggest how they might move beyond that in order to sustain that ceasefire? that they might move beyond that in order to sustain that ceasefire?— to sustain that ceasefire? that is the other important _ to sustain that ceasefire? that is the other important part - to sustain that ceasefire? that is the other important part of - to sustain that ceasefire? that is the other important part of what| the other important part of what david cameron is saying. you have got to look at all the elements in this enormously difficult puzzle, and one of them is what happens when the fighting stops? i think this article today is the clearest indication from the uk side that the government expects it should be the moderate arab countries, the gulf states, egypt, to step up and take a major role in the post—conflict work, as they have been doing in the humanitarian work, and the israelis have to make it possible for that to happen after the fighting stops. in other words, the way israel conducts the fighting will determine largely

whether moderate palestinian judiciary can be created, that it is prepared to turn its back on violence, and the arab states come in behind them with financing, with maybe military, peacekeeping forces to help produce a more peaceful, stable situation in gaza. a ceasefire without a plan afterwards will fail. ~ , ., ceasefire without a plan afterwards willfail. ., ., , will fail. will this call have any info impact — will fail. will this call have any info impact if _ will fail. will this call have any info impact if it _ will fail. will this call have any info impact if it doesn't - will fail. will this call have any| info impact if it doesn't include the voice of the united states? itruihat the voice of the united states? what this does is pretty — the voice of the united states? trust this does is pretty much a line in the uk and germany with the us. antony blinken and president biden have moved the americans on further than the uk was prepared to go in calling out the terrible civilian casualties, in demanding action from the israeli government to change the way they have been fighting. i think now the uk, germany and the us are very well aligned on that. i can't pretend that this intervention today is going to change minds in the

israeli government, but it will add to increasing global pressure on the israeli government, which they can't defy indefinitely. irate israeli government, which they can't defy indefinitely.— israeli government, which they can't defy indefinitely. we understand the death toll is close _ defy indefinitely. we understand the death toll is close to _ defy indefinitely. we understand the death toll is close to 19,000 - defy indefinitely. we understand the death toll is close to 19,000 in - defy indefinitely. we understand the death toll is close to 19,000 in the l death toll is close to 19,000 in the gaza strip and this operation has been going on for some time and there has been consternation almost right from the start, if not right from the start. so why ask for a sustainable ceasefire now? because the oint sustainable ceasefire now? because the point would _ sustainable ceasefire now? because the point would be _ sustainable ceasefire now? because the point would be that _ sustainable ceasefire now? because the point would be that israel- sustainable ceasefire now? because the point would be that israel will. the point would be that israel will have done enough damage to the military capacity of hamas to be able to think of a situation where the fighting will stop, we will move to the post—conflict period, it will not go straight back to violence. any earlier and the israelis have justifiably said all that will happen is hamas will continue to fire rockets, it will continue to be attacking and we will need to go in and retaliate. so the conditions for and retaliate. so the conditions for a ceasefire have to be created where both sides are prepared to stop the

fighting and have some confidence that then there will be a period of relative calm in which the international community can get on with the crucial humanitarian work. i think it is fair enough to say that situation has not existed yet, but i think the american, british and german position now is it is getting very close to the point where we will get to that. lord peter ricketts. _ here in the uk, after years of denials, the former conservative peer baroness mone has admitted that she stands to benefit from tens of millions of pounds of profit made from personal protective equipment, that was sold to the government during the coronavirus pandemic. the company was led by her husband, doug barrowman. she says she did help broker the deal, but claims she was made a scapegoat for the government s failings. 0ur political correspondent laura kuenssberg has more. questions about the pandemic, profit and politics have followed baroness mone and her husband to southern europe. for years, they denied links to a firm that received £200 million in taxpayers' money for desperately

needed masks and gowns. only now the truth — that she does stand to gain. if one day, if, god forbid, my husband passes away before me, then i am a beneficiary as well as his children and my children. so, yes, of course. my family will benefit in due course. our family will benefit. that's what you do when you're in the privileged position of making money. a successful businesswoman and member of the lords, she didn't tell parliament she was helping broker a ppe contract. she now admits she didn't tell the truth when her links to the deal first emerged. you both denied it — why? we were simply listening to our advisers. hindsight�*s a wonderful thing. i wasn't trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes. and i regret and i'm sorry for not saying straight out, "yes, i am involved".

my family have gone through hell with the media over my career and i didn't want another big hoo—ha in the press and my family to be involved in it. i don't honestly see there's a case to answer. i can't see what we've done wrong. doug and the consortium have simply delivered a contract — a delivery contract of goods. but after everything, you can't see what you've done wrong when you've admitted today that you lied to the press? that's not a crime. essentially, you lied to the public. laura, saying to the press that i'm not involved to protect my family, can ijust make this clear? it's not a crime. the company's being taken to court by the department of health. the pairare under criminal investigation. but the government wouldn't comment on the couple who only now want to have their say. laura kuenssberg, bbc news. 0ur political correspondent damian grammaticas has more

on the reaction from the government. so the government has been speaking today on the record, but not addressing directly this case. the deputy prime minister 0liver dowden was on the laura kuenssberg programme today. he didn't want to go into this case, he said, because of the ongoing proceedings relating to it and i remind you they are a criminal investigation by the national crime agency looking at conspiracy to defraud and bribery, and separately a civil claim from the department of health which is seeking to recoup £122 million because it is alleging breach of contract and unjust enrichment. baroness mone and her husband deny they have ever done anything wrong. what the government has been saying today, the deputy prime minister mr 0liver dowden, he said generally, broadly in the pandemic, with the handing out of contracts there was no cronyism, no favouritism, he said,

and he said now the government was where it should be trying to recoup the money. there were no favours or special treatment, everyone had ultimately the same tests applied to them. and indeed if it is the case where allegations of fraud and misconduct have occurred there is either the civil or criminal, which you can see going on in respect of the interview that you have just broadcast. in addition to that we set up the public sector fraud authority which already in its first year has recovered double its initial target. the labour party says there was shocking incompetence and recklessness from the government in the way it behaved in the pandemic, it claims, in the way it handed out contracts through a vip fast lane. this was the labour shadow health secretary, wes streeting. the fact is that people ripped our country off and we have to get our money back and also send a signal to people in the future that you don't get away with this.

i'm sure we will come on to talk about this in the context of the nhs, but it also applies to the broader public services. money is tight in this country, the public finances are a disaster thanks to this government. and this evening the labour party have written directly to the government. they are asking for an urgent statement in the house of commons before mps go away for their christmas break because they say there are now questions that need to be answered about michelle mone, about her contacts with government ministers, her contacts with civil servants, and labour is taking a step back. they say were they to win the next election they would create the post of a covid corruption commissioner to try to claw back money where they could from the contracts that were given out. vote projections following a general election in serbia suggest that president aleksandar vucic�*s party will keep its majority in parliament. the projections suggest his serbian progressive

party will win almost forty—seven percent of the vote. turnout appears to have been similar to last year's election, at about 60%. live now to our balkans correspondent guy de launey, who's in belgrade. good to see you. what are the results telling us?— good to see you. what are the results telling us? they are telling us that the voters _ results telling us? they are telling us that the voters still _ results telling us? they are telling us that the voters still like - results telling us? they are telling us that the voters still like what i us that the voters still like what they see from the progressive party and to get double the number of votes of the opposition who have come together in opposition, that does indicate you still have a strong appeal to a lot of voters around the country. the progressive party and aleksander vucic in particular have a strong appeal for older voters and voters in the smaller cities, towns and villages. we have heard the comments they make about aleksander vucic and they like what they see from him. they think

he represents serbia in a strong and charismatic way and broadly speaking a lot of people are happy with the way the economic development of the country has been going. isine way the economic development of the country has been going.— country has been going. one could sa it is a country has been going. one could say it is a fractious _ country has been going. one could say it is a fractious part _ country has been going. one could say it is a fractious part of- country has been going. one could say it is a fractious part of the - say it is a fractious part of the world, or internal politics in that region are quite complicated, so where does aleksander vucic stand on that? he where does aleksander vucic stand on that? , ., , ., ., that? he stands in the middle of all of it. that? he stands in the middle of all of it- serbia — that? he stands in the middle of all of it. serbia is _ that? he stands in the middle of all of it. serbia is the _ that? he stands in the middle of all of it. serbia is the largest _ that? he stands in the middle of all of it. serbia is the largest country i of it. serbia is the largest country and it has got the strongest military and it has a lot of political and military cloud. aleksander vucic has long been trying to work a balance among all the different interest groups that have an interest in serbia, whether thatis have an interest in serbia, whether that is the european union, the united states, russia, china, or neighbouring countries. and he said in the run—up to this election that he wants serbia to join the european union and he wants to maintain friendship with russia. this in a

way is incompatible with what brussels has been asking him to do. he has been asking him to harmonise foreign policy with the european union. aleksander vucic says he is independent and we are not going to do that. there is also the issue of kosovo. we'll serbia, as the eu has been urging it to do, make some de facto recognition of kosovo? aleksander vucic says it will not. where does that leave its relationship with the european union? it is a very difficult balance for the president and the governing party to make, but the voters seemingly have put their trust in them to handle these things going forward. the trust in them to handle these things going forward-— going forward. the other part of that trust is _ going forward. the other part of that trust is dependent, - going forward. the other part of that trust is dependent, or - going forward. the other part of that trust is dependent, or has l going forward. the other part of - that trust is dependent, or has been gained by the performance of the economy. what has been driving that? for a start you have to look historically and serbia got absolutely battered economically

speaking in the late 1990s because of the international sanctions, so it has always been starting from a fairly low base. you would expect serbia's economy to be doing well, but it has had a lot of inward investment. for example, from china and aleksander vucic talks a lot about how chinese investment in serbia has broughtjobs, has brought economic success. we have also seen a big project in belgrade, very controversial, which has the money from the gulf. this inward investment has been one of the main drivers of this economic progress. very briefly, given what you have told us about serbia's relationship with russia, how will this be interpreted in the west? well, they know what aleksander _ interpreted in the west? well, they know what aleksander vucic's - interpreted in the west? well, theyl know what aleksander vucic's stance is. this is very much the case of them being content to continue with him.

hello there, good evening. it's been cloudy, windy and mild this weekend. some sunshine spotted today, particularly across the southeast of england and generally to the lea of high ground. but across western scotland, a very wet weekend with rain sinking south—west this afternoon into dumfries and galloway, northern ireland and into northwest england as we head into this evening, particularly that mild air still streaming in on a very brisk south—westerly wind. still windy conditions across northeast england, south east scotland and towards irish sea coast. and that rain is just kept on feeding in on that brisk south—westerly wind, slowly sinking southwards and will continue to do so as we head through the rest of this evening and overnight. so it will turn a lot drier for much of scotland, some clear spells, too, emerging towards the north, and here it will feel colder. some rain across the hills of wales as we head into tomorrow morning. and it's a frost—free start to the day on monday, turning a little colder towards the north of scotland. some of our temperatures

still in double figures. so, as we start off monday morning, still some weather fronts towards the south across parts of wales and stretching across the midlands into east anglia. also a bit of rain towards the far southwest of england. it's a dry start to the day across scotland, but there will be another weather front approaching the northwest of scotland by the end of the afternoon. some sunshine across northern ireland, eastern scotland, and it's still mild for most, some colder airjust digging in behind that weather front towards the far north. and this is the situation on tuesday. we look out towards the west, where there'll be some rain pushing eastwards, so a very soggy start to the day on tuesday across much of the south of england and wales. we start to draw more of a northwesterly wind across scotland. so, here, there could be some wintry showers just pushing southwards and eastwards. for much of northern england, though, some sunshine. further south, that rain will eventually clear as we head through the afternoon. the air is still mild towards the south and the east, but of course it has turned colder further north, highs of seven

or eight degrees celsius and there'll be plenty of added wind chill around as well. as we head through wednesday, though, that cold air is displaced further eastwards and we start to bring in those mild conditions again from the west, so everything that falls out of the sky on wednesday should be falling as rain. here's the temperature outlook for our capital cities as we head through the week and we approach the christmas period, watch out for some colder weather as we head into christmas day, perhaps. bye— bye.

here are the headlines. hungry palestinians scramble for food in aid trucks entering gaza through the rafah crossing, as israel opens another crossing for aid. israel's prime minister dismisses the latest calls for a "sustainable ceasefire" in gaza, insisting they will "fight to the end" to eliminate hamas. we have a special report from afghanistan. it's the third winter since the taliban retook control there and could be the bleakest in decades because of cuts in humanitarian aid. and a site in the shetland islands becomes the uk's first spaceport for vertical rocket launches. it has been given approval to begin launches in 202a from the small island of unst.

in afghanistan, this is the third winter since the taliban takeover, and its expected to be the worst in recent decades because of staggering cuts in humanitarian aid. aid revenue is falling due to difficult global economic conditions and international sanctions on the taliban government, but the taliban's harsh restrictions on women have also played a major role. for those relying on international hand—outs, it means millions are now going hungry. 3 million children in afghanistan are now malnourished, with 90% of afghans not having enough food to eat. one third of the population, around 15 million people, are suffering from acute levels of hunger and food insecurity. the bbc has been documenting the collapse of health and humanitarian structures in afghanistan since the taliban seized power and this is our latest report from kabul by south asia correspondent yogita limaye. nearly all the people in this country live on less than $2 a day.

half of those are women, but you wouldn't know it if you stood on a kabul street. women have all but disappeared from public life under the taliban government. denied the right to work outside their homes, they were most reliant on charity, and are now hardest—hit by aid cuts. we went up the hills surrounding the city, where some of the most vulnerable communities live. crude homes dot the landscape. sewage flows by the side of mud tracks. sohaila niyazi's husband was killed in fighting during the taliban takeover. baset and baby husna are two of her six children. she's one of 10 million afghans who've stopped receiving aid from the world food programme this year.

translation: it's been two months since i was able - to buy milk for my baby. i give her green tea in a feeding bottle and i give her medicine which makes her sleep from one morning to another, because if she wakes up and asks for food, i have nothing to give her. that medicine is an anti—allergy drug that sohaila is using as a sedative. now she relies entirely on food donated by her relatives and neighbours. aid has so far also prevented healthcare from collapsing. but that is now being withdrawn for including from here, where zubaydah has brought her malnourished baby habisa. it's afghanistan's only children's hospital. in a corner is somaya.

where zubaydah has brought her malnourished baby habisa. it's afghanistan's only children's hospital. in a corner is somaya. at 1a months, she weighs as much as a newborn. they are among the more than 3 million malnourished children in the country. it's an unprecedented ravaging of afghanistan's youngest. both of mohamed shafy�*s parents are dead. he weighs less than half of what he showed at 18 months. of what he should at 18 months. his grandmother, hayat bibi, said the taliban helped her bring the boy here, but doesn't know how she will get by now. "i'm relying on the mercy of god, i have nowhere else to turn to, i'm totally lost", she told us. at this hospital, doctors and nurses have already had their pay cut by half. over the past two years, we have seen firsthand the situation deteriorating all across this country.

we've witnessed how aid agencies are providing the only humanitarian link, keeping people away from famine, keeping the barebones of hospitals up and running, and now, they're facing significant cuts because of a lack of funding from a world that is distracted by so much else, but which also from a world that's distracted by so much else, but which also doesn't want to give money to a country where the taliban government is imposing restrictions on women. i asked the taliban's main spokesman zabihullah mujahid, who is now based in their seat of power, kandahar, who's now based in their seat of power, kandahar, about their policies. do you recognise, though, that it's your government's policies, especially your restrictions on women, that is a part of the problem, that is a part of the reason why donors do not want to give funds for afghanistan? translation: if aid is being used as a toolto pressure us, -

then the islamic emirate has its own values which it will safeguard at any cost. afghans have made big sacrifices in the past to protect our values and will endure the cutting of aid, too. those words offer no comfort for this mother. her husband died and she must provide for her children. she told us she's been stopped multiple times by the taliban from selling fruit on the street, and even detained once. she doesn't want to be named, but she wants to be seen and heard. translation: i'm tired of this life. they should at least allow us to go out and earn an honest living. - we are not going out to do anything bad. i if i don't work, what will my four children eat? i her 12—year—old boy now has to work to earn for the family.

like most nights, they'll go to bed on bread and water, with millions of other afghans. yogita limaye, bbc news, kabul. qatar has reaffirmed its ongoing diplomatic efforts to renew the humanitarian pause between israel and hamas. israel's spy chief is reported to have spoken to the prime minister of qatar, which mediated the truce that saw hostages exchanged for palestinian detainees last month. earlier, i spoke to mahjoob zweiri about the latest diplomatic efforts. he is the director of the gulf studies center and professor of contemporary middle east politics at qatar university in doha. it is the fact that the two parties are talking about ceasefire after the previous seven days' ceasefire. the talk has stopped completely. what happened in the last 78 hours,

the debate has come has come back. the debate has come back. and a meeting took place in a european capital between the prime minister of qatar and the director of mossad. and there is a discussion happening now in israel about the outcome of that meeting and what should come after that. so, coming back to the debate about ceasefire, that itself is an achievement. but what elements do you think are in place in order to achieve any successful negotiation? are there any elements in place? i do believe that it's a very difficult and a complicated negotiation. the two parties, as your colleague has mentioned, have their very strong position of what's happening on the ground. hamas has put this condition complete ceasefire, growing the withdrawal of the israeli forces

to the border 6th of october. and the israelis want the release of captives immediately. i think that is a very difficult position. however, considering the fact that israelis are not enjoying the same international support, considering the fact that hamas also has finished its own goals, which is basically the achievement, according to them, a definition of victory has been done. and basically now, they have no interest to cease palestinians suffering more. if you consider the fact that there is a serious division within israeli politics and that weaken the position of netanyahu, if you put all of those elements together, i think those forces, the two parties to step a little bit back and think of how they can handle the debate and negotiation about ceasefire. so, that brings them to the table, but it doesn't really and even may deliver a ceasefire in the short term. but the really tough question

is the longer—term one, isn't it? of course. i mean, this is a conflict of when it comes to gaza. 56 years when it comes to the palestinian issue for 70 years. so, it's a long—time conflict. so it will not happen for forever. i think the issue now is how to end the disaster in gaza and stop the killing of civilians. i think that is the debate in all capitals, they took they they have the same narrative. even even of those countries who are supporting. they took they they have the same narrative. i think now the priority is to stop this operation and bring it back to the table and trying to get some humanitarian aid to people in gaza, 2 million people trying to bring back some element of life. i think the other issues can come gradually, but i think now all parties, they they want to have this moment moment to stop bombarding,

stop basically destruction of what's remaining of gaza. pope francis has also been speaking about the war in gaza. at his weekly blessing, the pontiff again suggested that israel was using �*terrorism' tactics in gaza. he was referring to the reported killing by the israeli military of two christian women who were sheltering inside a church in gaza. the israeli army says it found no evidence to show the incident took place. the pope's statement was the second time in less than a month that he used the word �*terrorism' when discussing the events in gaza. translation: let us not forget our brothers and sisters suffering from war in ukraine, palestine, israeland other conflict zones. may the approach of christmas strengthened our commitment to open paths of peace. i continue to receive from gaza very serious and painful news. unarmed civilians are being bombed and shot at. and this has even happened inside the holy family parish

compound, where there are no terrorists but families, children and sick people with disabilities and nuns. a mother and her daughter were killed and others wounded by the snipers as they went to the bathroom. the house of mother teresa's nuns was damaged. some say it's terrorism. it's war. yes, it's war. it's terrorism. that's why scripture says that god stops war, breaks bows and breaks spears. let us pray to the lord for peace. i spoke to canon richard sewell, dean of st george's college injerusalem about the christian community in gaza. i have no information about the attack on the christian community in the holy family church beyond what you have heard already. but we do not christians there are incredibly vulnerable. they've been sheltering in the grounds of the roman catholic church since the beginning of the

war. in life has gotten increasingly difficult — lack of food and water and electricity, desperately short. to the point of starvation and the older ones really struggling with thirst, and now with the information about the attacks by a sniper and others in and around the grounds of the roman catholic church. it's just really, really worrying. if christians are in the way of that, then they also can end up being killed, quite simply. it then they also can end up being killed, quite simply.— then they also can end up being killed, quite simply. it seems to be that wa . killed, quite simply. it seems to be that way- right _ killed, quite simply. it seems to be that way. right from _ killed, quite simply. it seems to be that way. right from the _ killed, quite simply. it seems to be that way. right from the very - that way. right from the very beginning, this church complex has been a place for christians to shelter. the idea that there would be hamas terrorists in a month that

is inconceivable to me. certainly, the pope is certainly explaining it that way, too, and every other account we have in terms of eyewitnesses laying around the family there. she's been very clear... from herfamily members who are there. in the absence of independence this journal is of no access to a northern gaza, this is all we've got to go on some white the population within the region, christian population, _ the population within the region, christian population, i _ the population within the region, christian population, i read - the population within the region, christian population, i read thatl the population within the region, | christian population, i read that is diminishing. christian population, i read that is diminishing-— christian population, i read that is diminishina. , . diminishing. very much so. over the last 20-30- — diminishing. very much so. over the last 20-30- 40 _ diminishing. very much so. over the last 20-30- 40 years, _ diminishing. very much so. over the last 20-30- 40 years, the _ diminishing. very much so. over the last 20-30- 40 years, the christians last 20—30— a0 years, the christians who would have been 20% of the whole population of palestine israel in the past now in gaza, probably about

1000 north so out of 2 million. it's absolutely tiny. they are the historic remnant of the long—established christian community. there been christians in palestine israel since the time of christ. there has never been a period where indigenous christians have not been there. i'm a british priest serving here in the diocese ofjerusalem, but the vast majority ofjerusalem, but the vast majority of our clergy and our people are all palestinians and they trace their heritage back to the very beginning of the christian church here. so there are voices now asking for a cease—fire. we've heard this from the uk and from france and germany and dissenting voices from a number of quarters. would you add your voice to what the pope has to say and those calling for a cease—fire?

absolutely i would. there is a humanitarian disaster taking place in the full view of the media and the knowledge of the world. babies, women, children and men are dying in vast numbers and there is worse potentially still to come without a cease—fire. thatjust cannot be justified. 0nce cease—fire. thatjust cannot be justified. once the cease—fire is established, whenever that might be, as soon as possible, then there is the incredibly challenging work of working out what the future will look like, how to rebuild gaza and how to begin to look at the new reality, whatever is the reality on the ground. but whilst people are getting killed and dying from a variety of causes, none of that can

take place. it's intolerable.- take place. it's intolerable. canon richard sewall_ take place. it's intolerable. canon richard sewall from _ take place. it's intolerable. canon richard sewall from jerusalem. i the committee to protectjournalists says at least 6a journalists and media workers — mostly palestinians — have been killed since the 7th of october. some estimates say that number is much higher. 0ur reporter yasmin khatun dewan has more from the newsroom. an ever—growing list of names behind me. in unprecedented numbers of journalists have been killed in the israel gaza war. the committee to protectjournalists israel gaza war. the committee to protect journalists said israel gaza war. the committee to protectjournalists said it has led to the deadliest month for journalists since the cpa began that gathering data in 1992. journalists since the cpa began that gathering data in1992._ gathering data in 1992. journalists are civilians _ gathering data in 1992. journalists are civilians need _ gathering data in 1992. journalists are civilians need to _ gathering data in 1992. journalists are civilians need to be _ gathering data in 1992. journalists are civilians need to be rejected, l are civilians need to be rejected, and this is not happening in many senses in this conflict. what we are seeing is one of the most dangerous conflicts for journalists we've ever

documented, withjournalists bearing documented, with journalists bearing the documented, withjournalists bearing the brunt of the attacks, most of them palestinian, who are the only source we have, the only witness we have on the ground to bear witness to what's happening. this have on the ground to bear witness to what's happening.— to what's happening. this is a camera operator _ to what's happening. this is a camera operator for - to what's happening. this is a camera operator for the - to what's happening. this is a camera operator for the newsj to what's happening. this is a - camera operator for the news network camera operatorfor the news network aljazeera these emotional scenes from his funeral. network said he was killed by an israeli drone strike while he and his colleagues were reporting on a school for shelter in khan younis in gaza. adding the paramedics were prevented from reaching him, he bled to death after being wounded by the strikes. when the israel lebanon border, a reuters investigation found that there journalists was killed reuters investigation found that therejournalists was killed by israeli tank shells that wounded six others. rights groups say israel should be investigated for possible

war crimes over his death. the idf says it takes full operation feasible measures to protect both civilians and journalists. it has never and will never deliver the target journalists. never and will never deliver the targetjournalists. at least 6a journalists have been killed, 13 reported injured and three reported missing. 19journalists have been worried a restaurant and multiple insults, threats, for cyberattacks, censorship and killing of family members. the committee to protect journalists have called to the situation unattainable. this is the total of such attacks has not been fully grasped by world leaders in a war that is proving to be one of the most dangerous for journalists war that is proving to be one of the most dangerous forjournalists in recent times. british teenager alex batty, who was found in france after being missing for six years, has returned to the uk.

a french couple who owned a farmhouse where he stayed on and off over the last two years have spoken about his time there. they say he did odd jobs for them in return forfood and accommodation and was part of theirfamily. alex vanished with his mother and grandfather while they were on holiday in spain when he was 11. his mother was not his legal guardian and police are yet to decide whether there will be a criminal investigation. alex was found on wednesday by a motorist, who spotted him on a road in the foothills of the french pyrenees. 0ur correspondent lorna gordon is in toulouse and gave us this report. a couple who run a guest house in the french pyrenees — frederic and ingrid — say they knew alex zach and that he stayed with them on and off along with his grandfather over the past two years. they said as that time went on,

they came to see alex as part of theirfamily, that he had a good relationship with their children they used to go cycling, they'd go to the beach, they'd take them to the local river, and on a sunday they'd visit a nearby market where he would visit his mum. they said they felt he appreciated the security and stability they gave him. in their comments on their website, they said they'd encouraged him to learn french and study and that alex had shown an aptitude for computers and had wanted to go back to school in order, they said, to have a normal life. they'd offered to drive them to the british consulate to get an id, which he would need to get back into formal education. but that alex had said to them that he would return to the uk on his own to get papers and go back to school. well, in their comments they said that when he left them, they told him if they if he ever needed them, they would be there to help him and that he would always be welcome back. well, of course, alex batty is now back in the uk. police in manchester say that one of their priorities going forward

is to support alex and his family in the north of england and to aid his integration back into society. alex bakke, who has returned to the uk. early results in chile show that a majority voted to reject a new conservative constitution to replace its dictatorship—era text. efforts to reform the current document, which dates back to the pinochet dictatorship, began four years ago after large sometimes violent protests against social inequality. an initial draught, written by a left—wing dominated assembly, was rejected as too radical in a referendum last year. the new text has been overseen by chile's right—wing opposition. the uk could soon have its first operating space port after a site on the shetland islands was granted a license by the civil aviation authority. the spaceport on unst, the uk's most northerly inhabited island, is the first vertical launch site in western europe to be given the go—ahead. saxavord's operators say several rockets from around the world are being prepared to blast off

from the site. laura goodwin has the story. unst in the shetland isles, home to around 700 people, and now the uk's first licensed spaceport for vertical launches. construction has been under way for some time. one of three huge launch pads is already built, but getting the green light from regulators is a big moment. disbelief in a way that it's finally come through because we've been waiting for it for so long, and then just waiting for it to sink in because it has been such a journey and so, yeah, to finally have it, it is a huge sense of relief. the licence allows up to 30 launches a year, with rockets taking small satellites into space. from a business perspective, that's huge. the licence allows up to 30 launches a year, with rockets taking small satellites into space. from a business perspective, that's huge. that's probably twice as many

as any other prospective spaceport in europe, and it's certainly over three times as many as some of the spaceports in the us — so it gives us a real fighting chance at building a sustainable business. the caa say rigorous safety and environmental conditions were a key part of their approval. the caa say rigorous safety and environmental conditions were a key part of their approval. this is a really important milestone i for the already very significant uk i space industry that exists. saxavord has become the first spaceport to be licenced - for vertical rocekt launches. that's the first in western europe and paves the way from rocket i rocket launches from uk soil and scottich soil. i suborbital launches will begin next year with full launches planned for 2025. laura goodwin, bbc news. let's get into the christmas mood now with some carols sung early in london's trafalgar square — and sung in ukrainian. 0ur reporter 0lga malchevska spoke to those taking part — and a warning, there is some flash photography. we're here in trafalgar square and there are hundreds of people here singing christmas songs in

ukrainian. here is why, there are several organisations who decided to tell british people thank you for your support and also to introduce some songs in ukrainian because that's the first year when ukrainian celebrates christmas at the same time with all the... behind me, there are these beautiful singers in ukrainian traditional close, and they're going to sing good evening to you in ukrainian. all seeing in ukrainian all sing in ukrainian ukrainian carols earlier today. this is bbc news.

hello there, good evening. it's been cloudy, windy and mild this weekend. some sunshine spotted today, particularly across the southeast of england and generally to the lea of high ground. but across western scotland, a very wet weekend with rain sinking south—west this afternoon into dumfries and galloway, northern ireland and into northwest england as we head into this evening, particularly that mild air still streaming in on a very brisk south—westerly winds. still windy conditions across northeast england, southeast scotland and towards irish sea coast. and that rain is just kept on feeding in on that brisk south—westerly wind, slowly sinking southwards and will continue to do so as we head through the rest of this evening and overnight. so it will turn a lot drier for much of scotland, some clear spells, too, emerging towards the north, and here, it will feel colder. some rain across the hills of wales as we head into tomorrow morning. and it's a frost—free start to the day on monday, turning a little colder

towards the north of scotland. some of our temperatures still in double figures. so, as we start off monday morning, still some weather fronts towards the south across parts of wales and stretching across the midlands into east anglia. also a bit of rain towards the far southwest of england. it's a dry start to the day across scotland, but there will be another weather front approaching the northwest of scotland by the end of the afternoon. some sunshine across northern ireland, eastern scotland, and it's still mild for most, some colder airjust digging in behind that weather front towards the far north. and this is the situation on tuesday. we look out towards the west, where there'll be some rain pushing eastwards, so a very soggy start to the day on tuesday across much of the south of england and wales. we start to draw more of a northwesterly wind across scotland. so, here, there could be some wintry showers just pushing southwards and eastwards. for much of northern england, though, some sunshine. further south, that rain will eventually clear as we head through the afternoon. the air is still mild towards the south and the east, but of course it has turned colder further north — highs of seven or eight degrees celsius and there'll be plenty of added wind chill around as well.

as we head through wednesday, though, that cold air is displaced further eastwards and we start to bring in those mild conditions again from the west, so everything that falls out of the sky on wednesday should be falling as rain. here's the temperature outlook for our capital cities as we head through the week and we approach the christmas period. watch out for some colder weather as we head into christmas day, perhaps. bye— bye.

you're with newsday, live from singapore, the headlines... desperate scenes — palestinians scramble for food from aid trucks entering gaza through the rafah crossing. israel says the three hostages it mistakenly killed in gaza used leftover food to write signs pleading for help. a special report from afghanistan on what could be the bleakest winter in decades — because of cuts to humanitarian aid. early results in serbia's elections suggest the party of president aleksandar vucic — will keep its majority in parliament. and a site in the shetland islands becomes the uk's first spaceport for vertical rocket launches. live from our studio in singapore — this is bbc news.