it's the czech republic's deadliest mass shooting in decades. and — a usjudge finds innocent an oklahoma man who spent 48 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. i'm helena humphrey, good to have you with us. the united nations security council's vote calling for "urgent humanitarian pauses" in the israel—gaza war has been delayed again until friday. despite intense talks, the us says it still has serious concerns over the wording. the negotiations come as the world food programme says that all of gaza's 2.2 million people are suffering acute food shortages, and almost 600,000 are starving — as israel continues an almost complete blockade.

to let more aid in has been delayed since monday as member states try to work out a draft that the united states won't veto. the us says it wants to make sure israel still has control over goods moving into gaza, to ensure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. 0ur united nations correspondent nada tawfik has the latest from new york. what i heard from one to promote is that they've made more progress today than they have all week and the gaps. what we have received is the latest draft resolution and it is different in key aspects of the last proposal. instead of calling for a suspension of hostilities the draft now calls for urgent steps to immediate allowance of safe and unhindered humanitarian access with creating conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities so the wording there turndown from the original draft. the resolution on the table now also appointed

a senior humanitarian and reconstruction co—ordinator that will then appoint a un mechanism to try to speed up aid into gaza. so it is all quite a mouthful but these are the proposals on the table. this was made to try to prevent a us veto to get the united states on board with this resolution. nada tawfik reporting fare. meanwhile, the israeli army says that it has destroyed a significant tunnel network used by hamas to move weapons and supplies in gaza. israel says it has killed more than 2,000 palestinian fighters since a week long truce collapsed at the start of this month. as the fighting continues, negotiations are ongoing in egypt to try and broker a new truce and secure the release of more israeli hostages. but hamas has said palestinian groups will reject this prospect until israel ends the war in gaza altogether. meanwhile, israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu has said the war would not stop until israel has achieved all of its goals.

elsewhere, the world health organization has said northern gaza has been left without a functional hospital due to lack of fuel, staff and supplies. a team leader said that hospitals have now become hospices. meanwhile, officials from gaza's hamas—run health ministry say more than 20,000 people have been killed since the israeli offensive began, including thousands of children. yollande knell reports from jerusalem. in khan younis, drones and shelling are the soundtrack of this war. a new day in gaza brings no escape from the relentless bombardment. for little riyan, the attacks have taken a cruel toll. her uncle now cares for her in a local hospital. when herfamily�*s home was hit by an israeli strike last month, she lost her parents and her brother and sister. she was crushed and has had a brain haemorrhage. "her situation�*s very difficult," he says. "she really needs to be taken

abroad for treatment, "but so far we've not managed to send her out." deep in gaza, israeli troops take on hamas fighters in fierce urban battles. israel says the war here won't end until hamas is toppled from power — and eliminated. it believes hamas leaders are now probably hiding in tunnels like these. this footage shows an underground network connecting places where they used to live in gaza city, the israeli army says. we can't independently verify these images, but they appear to show passages with blast doors and electricity. this israeli officer says new extensions were being built. deep down. a tunnel which was built for the last few months. you can see here the lift, heavy—duty lift. with such immense suffering in gaza, there are new international calls for at least a humanitarian pause that could see more aid going in

and the release of more israeli hostages. hamas is insisting on a full ceasefire. britain says it's pushing for a new un resolution. everything that can be done must be done to get aid into gaza to help people in the desperate situation they're in, and on that level we've been talking about the united nations security council resolution, where we are very keen to see consensus arrived at. more than 20,000 people have been killed in gaza in the past 2.5 months, local health officials say. as diplomatic efforts wind on, that number is continuing to grow. yolande knell, bbc news, jerusalem. earlier i spoke about gaza's deepening humanitarian crisis with lecturing fellow at duke university, rachel george — who specialises in international law and diplomacy. welcome. you'll see in the wanted today from the world

health organization talking about northern gaza and saying essentially there is no more functioning hospitals there. talk to us about what that means for anyone i suppose he was still in the area civilians who have not managed to get out? �* , ,., , ., who have not managed to get out? �* , , ., ., ~ who have not managed to get out? �* , ., ., ~ out? absolutely and thank you, it is a really _ out? absolutely and thank you, it is a really horrific _ it is a really horrific situation. as you said, there are reports of no more functioning hospitals in northern gaza, the closure of a likely hospital and al—shifa hospital means there are simply no areas that the civilians, those that you remain are able to seek the care they need, the world health organization has had hospitals are becoming hospices and indeed the lack of fuel, power, medicalsupplies fuel, power, medical supplies and fuel, power, medicalsupplies and health workers means that there really is no fair chance for getting medical care that people need in that area. israel did claim that some five hospital buildings were directly involved in harbouring

hamas terrace, wind 20 hospitals in not evacuate but there are civilians and need there are civilians and need there and there are special concerns for women, there and there are special concerns forwomen, children and those requiring support in the area. figs and those requiring support in the area. �* , and those requiring support in the area. ~ , ., and those requiring support in the area. �* , ., . the area. as you would have been tracking _ the area. as you would have been tracking this _ the area. as you would have been tracking this week - the area. as you would have been tracking this week as l been tracking this week as well, we know diplomats in the united nations have been in these negotiations all week, try to get the resolution for a halt and fighting to get the atm. it's been delayed once again. at this stage, you've studied humanitarian system, what do you make of the un system's ability to make any impact on this situation right now? ~ , ,., , , ., impact on this situation right now? ~ , ,., ., now? absolutely. it is a great question- _ now? absolutely. it is a great question- we _ now? absolutely. it is a great question. we know _ now? absolutely. it is a great question. we know this - now? absolutely. it is a great question. we know this has i now? absolutely. it is a great. question. we know this has been a delayed vote, it is down to technicalities, the idea we are hearing now that the idea of the wording for steps toward humanitarian access for suspension of hostilities rather than cessation, it is a small move to try and support some sort of solution here to

get immediate access for the humanitarian crisis. the issues that we know that humanitarian corridors, ceasefires and pauses are really quite limited tools and conflicts and in fact between 1989 and 2000 more than 2000 ceasefires were declared globally. each year about a third ongoing civil conflicts observe at least one ceasefire by the evidence is that they are pretty limited in their impacts and in fact if temporary they can lead to future escalations. so here thatis future escalations. so here that is where my concern is. we know this is a really important chore but if surgically and creatively delivered can halt violence but look to sudan where we have seen at least 16 failed ceasefires in that conflict, we've seen violations of humanitarian corridors in many areas so even just getting to the step is going to be a hurdle. the next step would be successfully delivering it. before you even get that, if you look at international

humanitarian law and study it as you do of course, what we know is that civilian infrastructure, hospitals, they are all meant to be protected under international humanitarian aid law. the idf there has said that hamas has been using hospitals for example as bases, command centres and so on, so does that complicate things in this instance?— instance? absolutely. unfortunately - instance? absolutely. unfortunately it - instance? absolutely. j unfortunately it does. instance? absolutely. i unfortunately it does. so instance? absolutely. - unfortunately it does. so as you've said, international law is cleared, article 18 of the first geneva conventions guarantees that civilian hospitals may in no circumstances be the object of an attack and article 20 goes on to protect healthcare workers. however, the bloodline that israel can point to end this law is when these hospitals move from being purely hospitals to being sort of military areas of military activity and in fact launch attacks. this is where the grey area of international law is failing this humanitarian needs

of this crisis. well we have seen violations before in ukraine, some 15% of medical facilities have been attacked, sudan again, maybe 70% of sudan's medical facilities no longer functions sudan's medical facilities no longerfunctions are longer functions are international law is failing to protect medical facilities and that's where we're seeing israel able to sort of point these bloodlines and the human civilian costs that are assuming really tragic. rachel georue, assuming really tragic. rachel george, lecturing _ assuming really tragic. rachel george, lecturing fellow - assuming really tragic. rachel george, lecturing fellow at. george, lecturing fellow at duke university. thank you for walking us through all of that. appreciate it. walking us through all of that. appreciate it— the czech government has declared a national day of mourning after a mass shooting in which at least 1a people were killed and dozens more injured. it happened in the heart of prague and is the deadliest attack in modern czech history. on thursday afternoon, the gunman opened fire at charles university's faculty of arts in the city's old town. an area that is a major tourist attraction. authorities evacuated staff and students, who were told to stay put and lock

themselves inside classrooms. some climbed out on to rooftops and window ledges to escape the gunfire. police killed the gunman at the scene and say he was a student at the university. the gunman�*s father had been found dead at his home earlier in the day. gun crime is relatively rare in the czech republic. the country's president says he was shocked by the mass shooting and has declared a day of mourning on december 23. the bbc�*s sarah rainsford has more. the centre of prague was transformed today into a major crime scene. armed police rushed towards a university building as a government stalked the corridors there. at that point, he was still on the loose. these were the scenes at charles university — desperate students clinging for their lives to a ledge. their fear of falling overtaken by their fear of the gunmen, metres away on the roof.

as the shooting began, students had to barricade themselves into classrooms, told to hide with the lights off. students had to lock up themselves in their room. they put furniture in front of the doors. they were ready to fight with the suspect that the suspect will come inside the room where they have been locked. down below, crowds scattered in fear. ordered to clear the area and take cover, although many had no idea what danger they were running from. prague is full of tourists this time of year. some described hearing shots fired and panic. multiple ambulances were sent to the scene. some of those injured are in a very serious condition. gunshots weren't obvious at first. i remember the first one, i looked atjoe and said,

"is that... 7" — almost questioning myself. then you saw people running and heard screams and you thought, "it can't be". you tell yourself, you see it on the news and think, you are not going to be in it. in that situation. and then you hear another one, and another one. and we were like — and we heard police sirens and it became clear we need to get out of here. the attacker has now been named as local media as david cossack. he made disturbing posts leading up to the shooting on a social media account. translation: l have no - understanding of the motive yet, i'm talking about a high performing student who got inspired by another heinous act elsewhere in the world. this evening the czech government announced the man behind the attack had been eliminated, as they put it. his father had been found dead at his home earlier in the day. the motive is not clear yet but the government says there is no link to

international terrorism. it is the worst shooting in this country in decades. and it is a huge shock. sarah rainsford, bbc news, prague. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. ukraine's capital came under a russian drone attack early friday morning. kyiv�*s mayor reported strikes on several residential districts. vitaly klitschko says a drone hit a block of flats south of the city centre, sparking a fire. two people were injured. the strike marks the sixth drone attack on kyiv this month. thousands of people have protested in argentina's capital buenos aires after the country's new president announced an emergency plan to prop up the ailing economy. the decree issued by javier milei includes measures to privatise state—owned companies and cut funding to social programmes. mr milei says the order is aimed at averting hyperinflation. europe's highest court has ruled that football's governing

bodies uefa and fifa acted unlawfully when banning a breakaway super league. the league's organisers said that football clubs were now free to pursue other options without fear of sanctions. fifa's president says nothing has been changed by the ruling. you're live with bbc news. 48 years after being wrongly imprisoned for murder, an american man, glynn simmons, has been declared innocent by a judge in the state of oklahoma. at one stage, he had even been on death row. mr simmons is now understood to be the longest—serving inmate to be declared innocent of a crime in the history of the united states. joining me live nowjohn coyle, an attorney for glynn simmons and ali meyer, kfor 0klahoma reporter and anchor, who has investigated this case for decades. welcome to you both.

john, i'd like to start with you if i may. this is undoubtedly a moment in us history. what does it mean to you, most importantly, as well, what does it mean to glynn simmons? how is he feeling right now?— simmons? how is he feeling right now? well, glynn is one ofthe right now? well, glynn is one of the most — right now? well, glynn is one of the most gracious - right now? well, glynn is one of the most gracious people | of the most gracious people that i've had the privilege of knowing. and hejust walks around with this glow on his face. he can't believe that after that long in prison, he's free. free now for the rest of his life. i mean, of course, bothjoe norwood, the other lawyer, and myself, we take great pride in what happened to glynn, and when he got out. but

it was the most beautiful thing i've ever seen in my whole life when the judge i've ever seen in my whole life when thejudge ordered i've ever seen in my whole life when the judge ordered that the shackles be we moved from his hands and that he be freed. ali, i hope you don't mind me quoting something that i saw the former governor of oklahoma, david walters, write 0klahoma, david walters, write about in x, formerly known as twitter. he called your reporting efforts, "like a dog with a bone"", because you had been at this case, reporting on it for years. what kept you investigating this all this time? :: investigating this all this time? ii , . , investigating this all this time? i] ., �*, investigating this all this time? i, �*, ., ., time? 20 years. it's hard to imagine _ time? 20 years. it's hard to imagine sticking _ time? 20 years. it's hard to imagine sticking with - time? 20 years. it's hard to imagine sticking with any i time? 20 years. it's hard to i imagine sticking with any story for 20 — imagine sticking with any story for 20 years, is it not. i first— for 20 years, is it not. i first interviewed glynn in prison— first interviewed glynn in prison in— first interviewed glynn in prison in 2003 — a 25—year—old pup— prison in 2003 — a 25—year—old pup reporter. what kept me going — pup reporter. what kept me going was knowing that something wrong had gone on in this case — something wrong had gone on in this case. knowing that his trial— this case. knowing that his trial was_ this case. knowing that his trial was unfair, and knowing that— trial was unfair, and knowing that an — trial was unfair, and knowing that an innocent man was imprisoned for a crime he did not d0~ — imprisoned for a crime he did not do. that would keep anyone going _ not do. that would keep anyone anoin. ~ . not do. that would keep anyone main, ~ ., not do. that would keep anyone hoin,. ., ., not do. that would keep anyone hoin _ . ., .,, ., going. what was that feeling? was it gut _ going. what was that feeling? was it gut instinct? _ going. what was that feeling? was it gut instinct? was - going. what was that feeling?

was it gut instinct? was it - was it gut instinct? was it sifting through the evidence? i would say the facts of the case _ would say the facts of the case. we're all familiar with dna— case. we're all familiar with dna exoneration over the years. we know— dna exoneration over the years. we know that mistakes happen. but the — we know that mistakes happen. but the difficult thing about glynn's _ but the difficult thing about glynn's case is that there was no dna _ glynn's case is that there was no dna. there was no physical evidence — no dna. there was no physical evidence introduced in trial at all. evidence introduced in trial at alt the — evidence introduced in trial at all. the entire case rested on the eyewitness testimony of an 18—year—old girl who had been shot— 18—year—old girl who had been shot in— 18—year—old girl who had been shot in the back of the head. and — shot in the back of the head. and in— shot in the back of the head. and in 1975, that was good enough _ and in 1975, that was good enough to get a death penalty conviction and send a man to death— conviction and send a man to death row _ conviction and send a man to death row. but what we know today— death row. but what we know today is — death row. but what we know today is eyewitness testimony is flawed and trauma is a factor~ _ is flawed and trauma is a factor. what she could see at the time _ factor. what she could see at the time was a factor. and he would — the time was a factor. and he would just— the time was a factor. and he would just never be convicted under— would just never be convicted under what we now know today to be fair _ under what we now know today to be fair in — under what we now know today to be fair in trial.— be fair in trial. john, tell us more about _ be fair in trial. john, tell us more about that. _ be fair in trial. john, tell us more about that. what - be fair in trial. john, tell us more about that. what did | be fair in trial. john, tell us - more about that. what did that breakthrough feel like? when did you know that you were at the turning point?— the turning point? well, i thou~ht the turning point? well, i thought because - the turning point? well, i thought because of - the turning point? well, i thought because of all. the turning point? well, i| thought because of all the work, really, almost all of the work, really, almost all of the work in this case was done by

ale meyer and her reporting — it was terrific. we knew that we had a chance in this last year if we really pushed this case hard because of the flawed eyewitness testimony. and we learned that police had actually withheld from us a report where one of the witnesses did not, in fact, identify glynn simmons. they identified another person. and as we went through the evidence, much like ali has, and through all of it, itjust appeared that glynn didn't do the crime. so we got all of his relatives that saw him in louisiana at the time that the murder occurred. he was in louisiana at a family gathering

and we had about 15 of them who made the sacrifice, came to oklahoma and testified to what happened those 23, 2a years ago. happened those 23, 24 years a a 0. ,, ., happened those 23, 24 years aao_ i happened those 23, 24 years auo. ~ ., ago. so, ali, here we are today- — ago. so, ali, here we are today. you've _ ago. so, ali, here we are today. you've followed i ago. so, ali, here we are - today. you've followed every nuance and twist and turn of this casement and i knowjohn has described glynn essentially radiating happiness. but it can't be easy, you know. he was imprisoned since he was 22. how has he been trying to get his life back on track? what's that been like for him? this life back on track? what's that been like for him?— life back on track? what's that been like for him? as john has said, he been like for him? as john has said. he is _ been like for him? as john has said, he is ecstatic. _ been like for him? as john has said, he is ecstatic. glynn - said, he is ecstatic. glynn will— said, he is ecstatic. glynn wititelt— said, he is ecstatic. glynn will tell you — he manifested these — will tell you — he manifested these past few months his whole life. these past few months his whole life he _ these past few months his whole life. he knew he wasn't guilty of this— life. he knew he wasn't guilty of this crime and he envisioned and he — of this crime and he envisioned and he dreamed about this day and he dreamed about this day and his— and he dreamed about this day and his dream came through when he had _ and his dream came through when he had two — and his dream came through when he had two capable lawyers who helped — he had two capable lawyers who helped him win this case in court _ helped him win this case in court he _ helped him win this case in court. he is gracious. he is

giving _ court. he is gracious. he is giving back to the community. we all— giving back to the community. we all thought that he would probably decide to go back to louisiana, his home town, but he decided _ louisiana, his home town, but he decided instead to stay in oklahoma and to make a difference in this community. he is— difference in this community. he is speaking to other groups of people about his wrongful incarceration, and really wants to contribute to the criminal justice — to contribute to the criminal justice movement.— to contribute to the criminal justice movement. and john, we've got _ justice movement. and john, we've got about _ justice movement. and john, we've got about a _ justice movement. and john, we've got about a minute - justice movement. and john, | we've got about a minute left. but what about financial compensation? of course, you can't get that time become. but is there financial compensation for something like this?- for something like this? yes, he sure will. _ for something like this? yes, he sure will. he'll _ for something like this? yes, he sure will. he'll get - he sure will. he'll get financial compensation, of only $175,000 from the state. but then, we are planning now to file a federal lawsuit on his behalf against the jurisdictions and the police departments that locked him up in the first place. and for that, we hope to get enough money to really make glynn to be able to live comfortably in

the last years of his life. you know, we got to set some kind of example around this country about locking up people wrongfully, and about picking on black people particularly. and it's better than it was 23 years ago, but it's got a long way to go. years ago, but it's got a long way to 90-— years ago, but it's got a long way to go. years ago, but it's got a long wa to no. . ~' . ., way to go. thank you so much to ou way to go. thank you so much to you both- — way to go. thank you so much to you both. great— way to go. thank you so much to you both. great to _ way to go. thank you so much to you both. great to talk _ way to go. thank you so much to you both. great to talk to - way to go. thank you so much to you both. great to talk to you. i you both. great to talk to you. thank you. you both. great to talk to you. thank you-— before we go, a new film about an extraordinary life. in the months leading up to world war ii, one man helped save nearly 700 children from the nazis by bringing them from prague to london. sir nicholas winton's humanitarian actions first came to light 50 years later in the bbc�*s that's life programme. that story is now a film called one life starring the oscar—winning actor, sir anthony hopkins. he spoke exclusively

to our culture editor katie razzall. there was nothing heroic about it. sir nicholas winton saved 669 children from the nazis. it's just a question of organisational work. now a new film, one life, charts the story of the modest london stockbroker who helped manyjewish children flee czechoslovakia as hitler closed in. johnny flynn plays the young winton. do you ever think about the children and what happened to them? sir anthony hopkins is a tour de force as the older nicholas winton. it meant something to me in a different way because i'm old enough to have remembered the war and remember the holocaust. i was speaking to sir anthony from the vienna holocaust library, the uk's largest holocaust archive. winton had no sentimentality about it. he didn't want to be regarded as a hero. he just hoped that we would learn from it. nicholas winton kept what he

did secret for 50 years. but in 1988 he appeared on the bbc�*s that's life programme. can i ask, is there anyone in our audience tonight who owes their life to nicholas winton? if so, could you stand up, please? it's believed 6,000 people are alive today because of winton's efforts. like nicholas winton says, the only way through is compromise. give thought and heed the other person's point of view instead of the culture we now live in — "no, you're wrong, i'm right." it's appalling. ordinary people wouldn't stand for this if they knew what was actually happening. i think he wasn't somebody who ever crowed about his achievements. the last train with 250 kids was due to leave the day that germany invaded poland and all the borders shut. i think only two of them survived the war. so that was a deep shame that he had to overcome. and if you notice, they've got the swastika on the back. - renate collins was on the last

kindertransport train that did make it out. 64 of her family members, including her parents, were murdered by the nazis. she showed me the last letter her mother sent her from a concentration camp. "many birthday wishes we think continually of you." can you forgive what happened? i have to. i have to, i can't forget it. but i can't hold the present generation responsible for what happened. save one life, save the world, you know? well, it's nothing to brag about. i i've been the most fortunate person in the world. - the funny thing now, - at 86 years of age and facing, and you know, the inevitable, and i feel more at peace - with that than i've ever done. i can't really take i credit for any of it. so when whenever anyone young asks, "how do you do it?" - i say, "i don't know, - learn your lines and bump into the furniture." but use compassion, compassion, compassion and understanding. i

thanks so much. katie razzall, bbc news. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. at long last, we've reached that turning point to the year in which days gradually start to stretch out. once again, it is the winter solstice today, barely five hours and 50 minutes of daylight at lerwick. but come the 20th ofjune next year, there'll be nearly 19 hours. now, the weather today, though, not quite as windy as it was yesterday, this is the remnants of storm pia and it's going to cause huge problems around parts of north east germany and poland. we're though still in the wake of it with plenty of cloud pushing its way in and weather fronts, which will stop the temperature from dropping too much tonight across much of the uk, the exception being northern scotland. so cold and winter here, icy conditions around, more snow flurries in shetland and a bit of snow mixed in with the rain in northern scotland but turning bright at later in the day. brightening up too across wales, southern parts of england, the channel islands after a cloudy start with some patchy drizzle.

but this zone from south west scotland, northern ireland through northern england towards east anglia, staying rather cloudy throughout the day. outbreaks of rain. now, whilst it's not as windy as yesterday, that northwest wind is still going to be quite gusty in places and it will limit the way things feel. maybe not quite as mild as it was during thursday, but barely above freezing in shetland. now with that cold air in place, weatherfront pushing its way in through friday night into saturday, we could see some significant snow in the mountains of scotland, icy conditions around as well. but you can see just how limited that cold air is placed — the blue colours on the chart elsewhere, another very mild night to take us into the weekend. but for the weekend, high pressure is established way towards the southwest, toppling around it, the cloud, more weatherfronts, but also much, much milder air. if anything, temperatures will creep up even further this weekend. the exception being on the northern side of that weatherfront, significant snow, as i said, in parts of scotland, even to lower levels for a time, never reaching the mild air towards shetland through the day and rain will continue

to fall across western scotland throughout. so, there could be some flooding issues here. six degrees in aberdeen, three in lerwick, most though around 12 or 13 degrees. as we go into sunday, well, we've got a weather front which willjust straddle the country bringing more cloud, outbreaks of rain. so christmas eve, there will be some scattered rain, a little bit of brightness, but it could potentially be one of the warmest christmas eves on record. temperatures up to around 15 degrees. that warmth continues into christmas day, a grey one rather than a white one. but if you wanted to get out for a good walk on boxing day, it's looking good.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. wendell pierce is one of the most accomplished actors in america today. you probably know him from the wire, suits, his role injack ryan. we flew down to new orleans to talk to him about what it takes to become a great actor, but also his love of that city and his time there in hurricane katrina. wendell, it's so good to see you. so good to see you. welcome to new orleans.

thank you. thank you for having me to your home town.