tight security outside the court in hong kong as media tycoon and pro—democracy campaigner jimmy lai goes on trial for criticising china's communist leaders. this is the israel—gaza border this morning as the hamas—run health authorities say israeli air strikes have killed 90 people in a single day in the jabalia refugee camp. we have a special report from afghanistan on what could be the bleakest winter in decades because of cuts to humanitarian aid. and later in the programme, all i want for christmas is you — mariah carey makes a fortune at this time of year — we look at her growing festive empire. hello.

i'm sally bundock. a very warm welcome to the programme. we start in hong kong where the high—profile trial of the former media tycoon and pro—democracy campaigner jimmy lai has, in the last few hours, got under way. the 76—year—old was originally arrested in 2020, accused of undermining the territory's national security through articles published in his apple daily newspaper and on social media. mr lai has been held in solitary confinement for the past three years since his writing was deemed to be illegal under new legislation imposed by beijing. security was tight around the court for the start of his trial. mr lai — who is also a british citizen — has pleaded not guilty to all charges. the united states and britain have condemned the trial and have urged the authorities in hong kong to release businessman. we'll be live outside the court in hong kong shortly. first, this report

from our diplomatic correspondent james landale. jimmy lai used to be a powerful media boss in hong kong, and he used his apple daily newspaper to criticise china's communist party. he also took part in and supported pro—democracy demonstrations in the former british colony, which led the authorities to impose tough national security laws. three years ago they arrested him and jailed him forfraud, which he denied. now they are trying him for sedition in collusion with foreign governments, which he also denies. jimmy lai, who is 76, was born in mainland china but he is also a british national. last week lord cameron met his son, sebastian, the foreign office. in a statement, the foreign secretary said...

who had been targeted for expressing himself. his supporters do not expect a fair trial. if convicted, he could face life in prison. the proceedings, which may last months, will be seen as a fresh challenge to media freedom in hong kong and will shape its reputation for global investors. china has urged the uk to stop meddling in its affairs. james landale, bbc news. for more on this, let's go to our reporter in hong kong, martin yip, who is outside the court. what has happened so far? there is some activity _ what has happened so far? there is some activity going _ what has happened so far? there is some activity going on - what has happened so far? there is some activity going on right - is some activity going on right behind me as you can see because it is a lunch hour and the court has paused for lunch break. this morning, quite a lot of people were queueing up, dozens of them so early in the morning waiting to go inside

and attend this trial, to see what is going on withjimmy lai. and as the court begins the session, jimmy lai was seen in the dock surrounded by at least three prison guards, literally surrounding him with no—one else sitting anywhere near him. there are only three judges for this trial, three judges, a high court trial which normally would have seen a jewry, but that is not the case this time in hong kong because under the national security law imposed by beijing injune security law imposed by beijing in june 2020, security law imposed by beijing injune 2020, the government has the power to request the court not to hold a trial with a so it happens. they are sitting behind some sort of squeeze, which we are not sure if it is just a covid error thing that prevents any spread

of disease or anything like a bullet—proof screen, but they are sitting behind this kind of protection to hear the arguments from both sides. find arguments from both sides. and how does he _ arguments from both sides. and how does he seem? what are people saying about how he looks? he has been in solitary confinement for three years. we can't quite _ confinement for three years. - can't quite see clearly how he looks like, because the court, those seats available for journalists in the public area has been filled up, but he doesn't show much emotion, but he has reportedly been waving to people in the public gallery, saying hi, but there is no more than that. it has been three years, there are reports of concerns of his health status, but not much do we know what kind of state of

his mind is in or if he is suffering from any significant ailment, we don't know. very briefl , ailment, we don't know. very briefly. how _ ailment, we don't know. very briefly, how long _ ailment, we don't know. very briefly, how long is _ ailment, we don't know. very briefly, how long is this - ailment, we don't know. very briefly, how long is this court | briefly, how long is this court is expected to last, the hearing?— is expected to last, the hearin: ? _, .,, hearing? the court has said they will — hearing? the court has said they will take _ hearing? the court has said they will take 80 _ hearing? the court has said they will take 80 days, - hearing? the court has said they will take 80 days, 80. they will take 80 days, 80 working days to hear this trial, so that might go all the way into march 2024, but that is only an estimation at this moment, 80 days from now. ok. moment, 80 days from now. 0k, outside the _ moment, 80 days from now. 0k, outside the courtroom in hong kong, thank you very much indeed. we will speak to martin as this case continues. next, the latest developments in the israel—gaza war. the hamas—run health authorities in gaza say israeli air strikes have killed 90 people in a single day in the jabalia refugee camp. it's understood that many were killed during a strike on a residential block housing two families. local people have been searching for survivors trapped under the rubble.

some of them with their bare hands. air strikes have also been launched on central and southern gaza where the majority of the territory's more than two million people have sought refuge. there has been no immediate comment from israel, which insists it is only hitting what it calls terrorist targets. the israeli military released this footage, which it says is the biggest hamas tunnel yet found in gaza. hidden up to 50 metres below ground, it's said to run for more than four kilometres and be wide enough at some points to drive large vehicles through. in a sign of the growing hunger and desperation, crowds of people scrambled for food from aid trucks that entered through the rafah crossing on sunday. for the first time since the war began, israel also opened one of its crossings into gaza — the kerem shalom crossing — to aid. this drone footage shows the many tens of gazans that

were queuing forfood in rafah on sunday. the united nations world food programme says around half of gaza's population is now facing very severe hunger. the un security council is expected to vote later on a draft resolution that calls for an "urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities" to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access in the gaza strip. israel, meanwhile, says the three hostages it mistakenly killed in gaza on friday used leftover food to write signs pleading for help. officials have admitted that killing the men who were holding a white flag was a breach of "rules of engagement". a lot to discuss. with me now is bbc arabic correspondent said shehata. once again, good morning to you. let's talk about jabalia to begin with. 90 people killed

in a day according to the two officials. it in a day according to the two officials. , ., ., officials. it is another tragedy _ officials. it is another tragedy adding - officials. it is another tragedy adding to - officials. it is anotherj tragedy adding to the officials. it is another- tragedy adding to the death toll, which is more than 18,500 according to a health authority in gaza. one of the 90 people, 35 were killed in one house, one building, which the pictures over social media and some erratic channels show how people are affected, weeping and crying and saying goodbye to their loved ones. the french foreign minister is calling for immediate ceasefire, adding to the calls by lord cameron, the british foreign secretary and his counterpart, calling for also a ceasefire is the only way, and adding to the uae, the draft resolution to be discussed by the security council about also this

decision of stopping fighting in order to allow aid. so they are paying the price for the strikes. the pressure from the united states than other countries who are strong allies to israel i think make israel think very seriously about going to a truce and helping to ease the situation because it is in many eyes of the people in the media and politicians who think it cannot be any more, so it needs to be stopped. more, so it needs to be stepped-— more, so it needs to be stoned. �* ., , stopped. and of course the film we have seen, _ stopped. and of course the film we have seen, the _ stopped. and of course the film we have seen, the pictures - stopped. and of course the film we have seen, the pictures we | we have seen, the pictures we have seen, the people are desperate for aid. i have seen, the people are desperate foraid. i mean, you couldn't elevated it more powerfully than what we saw on sunday at the rafah crossing. the programme said about 50% of the people in gaza are facing really severe hunger because of the lack of food and water and medicine. so people help themselves, they couldn't wait

to be distributing because when there is someone hungry, you can't stop them. but what is helping to ease the situation is using the other crossing to allow more aid because this crossing was used before the seventh of october two that more than 60% of the trucks of goods to go inside gaza. it is going to help. at the most important thing to help in stopping fighting because it will allow the health aspect to be treated because hospitals are in a bad situation in the north and south and there are some reports about only for hospitals are not income poor capacity in the north out of 24. in the south although it is a problem. it is a critical situation, it needs urgent intervention from the international community. thank ou so international community. thank you so much- — international community. thank you so much. just _ international community. thank you so much. just to _ international community. thank you so much. just to say - international community. thank you so much. just to say that i you so much. just to say that later in our business coverage we will look at the situation in egypt, the survey egyptians

will be learning, it is expected the president will be present for a third term in egypt. they have huge economic challenges there so we will be looking at that little later in this programme. japan and south korea say that north korea appears to have launched a ballistic missile over the sea of japan. if confirmed, it would be the north's fifth such launch in 2023, the largest number it has carried out in a single year. japan says the missile flew for over an hour before falling into the sea outside japanese waters. a few hours earlier, north korea launched a shorter range missile. in argentina, at least 14 people have been killed in a powerful storm. winds of up to 150km/h and heavy rains caused flooding and disruption. a large number of trees were uprooted. most of those who died when the roof of a sports facility collapsed. more than a dozen others were hurt.

screaming this is the moment that the storm hits a party in buenos aires. party goers were screaming and try to flee and as you can see, a giant inflatable teddy bear flies away. i don't know if you can see that. at least two people were also killed in neighbouring uruguay. in two another story now. —— onto another story now. ukraine has admitted shortages in artillery ammunition will continue while doubts over funding from its international allies continue. the country's deputy defence minister has told the bbc ukraine is confident that funding will continue. but general ivan gavryliuk told abujalil abdurasulov that is it making plans to increase its domestic military production.

translation: the problem of ammunition — translation: the problem of ammunition shortages, - ammunition shortages, particular with artillery rounds, will not go away. in the short—term, ukraine has decided to address this by increasing the production of kamikaze drones. that will compensate the lack of artillery shells. besides, we are ramping up domestic production of ammunition for almost all —— calibres used by our soviet guns. also, are planning to launch production of nato calibres and in 2024 we aim to produce enough of those shells to cover the difference between what is required on the front line and the number of shells western partners can supply. shells western partners can su .l _ �* ., shells western partners can su--l.�* ., ., supply. american and european military and _ supply. american and european military and financial _ supply. american and european military and financial support i military and financial support packages stopped untoward that there _ packages stopped untoward that there will be a decrease of military— there will be a decrease of military supplies. translation: it military supplies. translation: ,

translation: it is not 'ust the eu is an organisation _ translation: it is notjust the eu is an organisation that - eu is an organisation that supports us. we also get assistance on a bilateral level. for example, last month, generally provided assistance with 1.5 billion euros, which included air defence systems, artillery shells and so on. next year we have an agreement with the netherlands, and they plan to provide 2 billion euros in support. as for the us, the congress is supposed to approve new funds. they haven't gone on a winter break get down and are staying to solve the issue. so we are confident that our partners will continue to assist ukraine. a conference of russia's governing united russia party has voted unanimously to adopt vladimir putin as its candidate for next year's presidential election due in march. mr putin's selection for a fifth term in the kremlin will put him

in power until 2030. no real opposition is expected. the president's main political opponent, alexei navalny, is in prison serving a 19—year sentence. speaking at the conference, president putin said that russia must remain strong and would never cede its sovereignty to become the satellite of another nation. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. more training for door staff and funding for testing kits are among a package of measures announced to crack down on spiking. the government says the law will also be "modernised" to make it clear it is a crime. independent retailers fear a big spike in shoplifting over the festive period. the british independent retailers association says any increase could send some shops under. the national police chiefs council said it was "committed

to tackling offenders and supporting retailers in reducing shoplifting." luton town have said their captain, tom lockyer, remains in hospital where he is undergoing more tests after a cardiac arrest. the wales international collapsed on the pitch during a premier league match in bournemouth on sunday. liverpudlians are the biggest fans of a late—night snack, and the people of milton keynes are the nation's biggest nando's fans. that's according to data from the bank monzo. it's released details of how its more than eight million customers spent their disposable cash this year. you're live with bbc news. to afghanistan next, and it's the third winter since the taliban takeover, and it is expected to be the worst in recent decades because of staggering cuts in humanitarian aid. donations are 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 role. for those relying on international handouts, it means millions are now going hungry. three 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. this special report from kabul is by our 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 ten million afghans who've stopped receiving aid from the world food programme this year. translation: it's been two months l 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's now being withdrawn too, including from here, where zubaydah has brought her malnourished baby habisa. it's afghanistan's only children's hospital. in a corner is somaya. at 14 months, she weighs as much as a newborn. they are among the more than three 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 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, "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 first—hand 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 bare bones of hospitals up and running, and now, they're facing significant cuts because of a lack of

funding 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'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 tool to 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. i they should at least allow us to go out and earn an honest living. we are not going out to do anything bad. if i don't work, what will my four children eat? 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. let's get some of the day's other news now.

emergency services in australia are trying to rescue hundreds of people trapped by flooding in the state of queensland. the authorities say people are stuck on the roofs of their homes and a hospital near daintree, and rising waters have cut off entire areas. votes are being counted in chad's constitutional referendum, which is seen as a step towards a return to civilian rule. some opposition parties and civil society organisations had called for a boycott. they fear the referendum will allow chad's transitional president, general mahamat deby, to strengthen his grip. voters in chile have rejected a second proposal to replace the current constitution, written during the military government of augusto pinochet in the 1980s. the draft constitution has been rejected by fifty—five percent of those taking part in the referendum. it was a sweet start at the us box office for wonka. the prequel of the classic roald dahl movie about

the famous chocolatier willy wonka staring timothee chalamat was number one movie in its opening weekend in north america. it made $39 million adding to the $110 million it's made globally. we want to leave you this half hour in a festive mood with not one, not two, but three mass santa runs. first to kosovo where thousands of santas the annualfun run in pristina. around 3,500 father christmas�*s of all ages took part next to mexico city where some 2,500 runners and 250 pets jogged through the mexican capital. finally to caracas in venezuela where young and old took part in the festive race there.

i will be back shortly with the business stories. hello there. the mostly cloudy and mild conditions that we've had over the weekend will continue into the start of this upcoming week, and there will be some rain about too — some of it quite heavy across the south on tuesday. by the middle part of the week onwards, it turns very windy with widespread gales developing, and then by the end of the week, it'll be turning colder for most of us, particularly across the north of the uk, with an increasing chance of wintry showers. now, we have a load of weather fronts poised to push in for monday — one across the northwest of the country with cooler air behind it, another one which is associated with this milder air — and it will be bringing some patchy rain initially to wales, and then into the midlands, northern england at times through the day. there will be some rain, as well, for southern scotland, but brighter for the rest of scotland, northern ireland compared to what we've had over the weekend before this weather front starts to push into the west with some scattered showers. again, 11 to 13 degrees, so quite mild for the time

of year, and there will be some glimmers of brightness to the east of high ground. as we head through monday night, though, rain peps up across england and wales, becomes quite heavy and persistent for a time. scotland, northern ireland, clear spells, a few showers. here, it'll be chillier, but less cold further south. does mean tuesday will start quite wet for england and wales, but the rain should clear away eastwards fairly quickly through the day. so, a wet start to much of england and wales tuesday. that rain becomes confined to the southeast, eventually clears away, i think, late in the afternoon. and then, it's brighter for all, the sunny skies across the northwest pushing down towards the southeast, but there will be some blustery showers across scotland and northern ireland. they will be turning increasingly wintry as the air does turn cooler for many. as we push into wednesday, we pick up brisk westnorthwesterly winds, and this weather front will bring some wet weather to scotland, northern england at times. i think northern ireland, central southern england and wales will see cloud coming and going. a little bit of brightness particularly to all these, but it will be quite a blustery day, and temperatures perhaps up a degree or so for england, wales, northern ireland.

still on the cool side across northern scotland. but then, it changes again as we head into thursday, and friday turns very windy, widespread gales developing. our air switches to a more northwesterly, and colder air will push its way southwards on thursday, and certainly on friday and into the following weekend. so, things will be turning cooler, colder towards the end of the week with an increasing chance of wintry showers across northern areas even into the christmas period. partners will continue to assist ukraine.

live from london, this is bbc news. not willing to take the risk: big players in international shipping give the suez canal a wide berth despite assurances shipping traffic is flowing normally. a third term in office for president al—sisi of egypt: that's expected to be announced in a few hours, but what of the ongoing economic crisis? and sellafield: it's europe's most hazardous nuclear site. its top boss addresses claims its systems have been hacked by groups linked to russia and china. # all i want for christmas is you... she is called the queen of christmas: we look at her growing festive empire. hello. i'm sally bundock with the top business stories.

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