it's the second assault by iran—backed houthi rebels on the ship within 2a hours. the us says the gunmen who launched the raid from yemen attacked in four boats, coming within 20 metres of the vessel. the fourth craft fled the area. the houthi rebels say their actions are in protest against the gaza war, where there have been more air strikes by israel. the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, is insisting that the war in gaza will continue until all hostages have been released and hamas has been dismantled. this report is from shaimaa khalil injerusalem — and a warning you may find parts of her report distressing. street by street, the battles on the ground in gaza rage on. israel is concentrating its ground offensive on the centre and the south of the strip,

with hamas fighters continuing to resist the idf�*s advances. translation: the war is at its height. - we are fighting on all fronts. we have huge success, but we also have painful cases. central gaza is the latest focus of israel's military operation, with heavy bombardment on the densely populated al—nuseirat refugee camp. further south, in neighbouring deir al—balah, palestinian rescue workers stand around the body of their colleague. he was killed in a strike near the al aqsa hospital, where many of the wounded are being treated. this is one of what israel says are safe areas, where palestinians were told to go to escape the fighting in the centre. but as the military operation expands, safe areas for gazans keep shrinking. the southernmost city of rafah has now become the last stop for hundreds of thousands

of displaced people fleeing the heavy bombardment in khan younis, many using makeshift shelters near the border with egypt. there is nowhere else to go from here. translation: | hope - that the war would end soon. i hope we can return to our homes, go back to school, return to everything that is familiar in the new year. the fallout from the war in gaza continues to be felt in the red sea, with yet another houthi attack. the us central command said that navy helicopters destroyed three of four small boats used by the iranian—backed militants as they attempted to board a container ship. this footage released last month shows some of the group's armed militias dropping from a helicopter and seizing a cargo ship in the southern red sea. the houthis have claimed that their attacks on this vital shipping route are directed at vessels linked to israel, in response to its conflict with hamas. as this year draws to a close

there is no end in sight for the war in gaza or the suffering of its people. shine and gave me an update a short time ago on the intensifying ground offensive shaimaa. the? time ago on the intensifying ground offensive shaimaa.— offensive shaimaa. they have been intensi in: offensive shaimaa. they have been intensifying the _ offensive shaimaa. they have been intensifying the ground _ offensive shaimaa. they have been intensifying the ground offensive, i intensifying the ground offensive, intensifying the ground offensive, in khan younis, in the south, which is why you see this further exodus from khan younis, which is a place where people fled from the north in the beginning of the conflict. now people are fleeing again, this time from khan younis to the small southernmost city of rafah. as it stands, it is the most densely populated city in gaza right now, completely overwhelmed by people who are coming in and fleeing, but also the un saying they are now using makeshift shelters in open areas for people to stay because there basically is nowhere to go. it was interesting, just before we came on

air, i saw some testimony from children in gaza talking about their new year wishes and all of them have said their wish is for the work to stop, but one actually said, what do i want for 202a? i want someone to wake me up and tell me the war has ended and we are going home. she has fled from the north to the south of gaza at the moment and, as it stands, with the situation in the strip, there is no home to go back to. strip, there is no home to go back to, ,, ., ., ., ., strip, there is no home to go back to. ,, ., w, ., g james cunningham is the former us adbassador to israel. he told me earlier that attacks on ships in the red sea were very concerning for the us but manageable. it is concerning in that area and

reaching, but i think it is something that is manageable in the end. ,, ., ., m, something that is manageable in the end. ,, ., ., .,, end. the us on a wider scale has uraed to end. the us on a wider scale has urged to scale — end. the us on a wider scale has urged to scale back _ end. the us on a wider scale has| urged to scale back indiscriminate bombing. benjamin netanyahu has said that they were bugs go on. i'm interested from your perspective how much behind—the—scenes pressure will be usb putting on israel the moment? i lived through an earlier less violent version of this when i was a to israel in 2009 when the first incursion in gaza took place. we have seen a scenario developed before, although now it is incredibly more violent and dangerous and painful. the key aspect i think from the american international point of view will be to do everything possible to lessen the amount of suffering among the civilian population. that is incredibly difficult under any

circumstances. one has to remember that this problem, this terrible problem is being caused by hamas and what hamas did and is doing. they are fighting a war in a highly congested urban area using the civilian population as a shields. dealing with that is a terrible, terrible problem for the israelis and i think one can expect the biden administration will keep pushing israel to everything possible to move to another phase of the conflict that is more focused and do everything possible to get humanitarian access for food and other things the population needs. how much do you think us policy will be driven as we move into 2024, by the fact there are —— it is an election year in the us? the fact there are -- it is an election year in the us? election alwa s election year in the us? election always make _ election year in the us? election always make things _ election year in the us? election always make things more - election year in the us? election - always make things more complicated, no doubt that, but although there

are varieties of opinion in the united states by the conflict and how it is being conducted, by far and away the polls show that most americans support israel and its right to defend itself and will continue to maintain that support going forward. james cunningham, the former us ambassador to israel talking to me a little earlier. europe's longest reigning monarch, the queen of denmark, has announced that she will abdicate the throne injanuary. queen margrethe made the unexpected announcement during her annual new year's address to the nation. the monarch has on the throne for 52 years and is europe's only reigning queen. she said her son, crown prince frederik, would take over on the fourteenth of january. the 83—year—old queen said her decision to pass the throne to the next generation had been influenced by her health. she had back surgery earlier in 2023. live now to betty kandindima, a journalist based in copenhagen. thank you very much forjoining us.

what a way to announce your application, live on television on new year's eve! how unexpected was it? —— your abdicat. new year's eve! how unexpected was it? —— yourabdicat. it new year's eve! how unexpected was it? —— your abdicat. it was very unexpected. it? -- your abdicat. it was very unexnected-— it? -- your abdicat. it was very unexpected. it? -- your abdicat. it was very unexected. ,, �*, ,, . , ., unexpected. the queen's speech is a seech unexpected. the queen's speech is a speech that — unexpected. the queen's speech is a speech that all _ unexpected. the queen's speech is a speech that all people _ unexpected. the queen's speech is a speech that all people in _ unexpected. the queen's speech is a speech that all people in denmark i speech that all people in denmark traditionally gather together to hear and people have guessing games on which topics you will touch upon. usually she talks about topics that have marked the year this year and in the speech this year, she was very serious in her tone of voice from the get go, speaking about the war in ukraine, the war in gaza, and at the climate crisis. i would say the highlights, the positive things she spoke about in her speech was her grandson, prince christian, in connection with his 18th birthday where he held a very praised speech and by mentioning him, she gave a nod to the new generation. it was

actually right after she spoke about prince christian that she mentioned her health, her back issues, and basically said that she was ready to retire from royal duties.— retire from royal duties. she is also a renowned _ retire from royal duties. she is also a renowned chain - retire from royal duties. she is also a renowned chain smokerl retire from royal duties. she is i also a renowned chain smoker as well, isn't she?— also a renowned chain smoker as well, isn't she? well, yes! that is uuite well, isn't she? well, yes! that is quite true- _ well, isn't she? well, yes! that is quite true- so _ well, isn't she? well, yes! that is quite true. so this _ well, isn't she? well, yes! that is quite true. so this happened - well, isn't she? well, yes! that is quite true. so this happened a - quite true. so this happened a coule quite true. so this happened a couple of _ quite true. so this happened a couple of hours _ quite true. so this happened a couple of hours ago. - quite true. so this happened a couple of hours ago. we - quite true. so this happened a couple of hours ago. we have | quite true. so this happened a - couple of hours ago. we have been monitoring social media. what has been the reaction from the public there? most people are very shocked because she is a very gathering figure, but people also feel as if it is ok because she has been on the throne for over 50 years and has done a really good job. {lin throne for over 50 years and has done a really good job.— throne for over 50 years and has done a really good job. done a really good “ob. on the other hand, a lot _ done a really good “ob. on the other hand. a lot of— done a really good job. on the other hand, a lot of people _ done a really good job. on the other hand, a lot of people expected - done a really good job. on the other hand, a lot of people expected her l hand, a lot of people expected her to stay until her death, which, i mean, she's not going to do that. so now it hands over to crown prince of frederik. what sort of money do you think he will be? that

frederik. what sort of money do you think he will be?— think he will be? that will be very interesting. _ think he will be? that will be very interesting. -- — think he will be? that will be very interesting, -- what _ think he will be? that will be very interesting, -- what sort - think he will be? that will be very interesting, -- what sort of - interesting, —— what sort of monarch. he is very popular because he is very down to earth and usually you will see him at festivals, that we have here in denmark tony summertime. he also has a royal run where goes around different cities in denmark and a lot of people sign up in denmark and a lot of people sign up because they want to run with the new crown prince, the future king of denmark. so he is very down to earth and a very modern pursing. most of his kids went to public school instead of private skills of people feel very connected to him —— a very modern person. feel very connected to him -- a very modern person-— modern person. crown prince of frederik, _ modern person. crown prince of frederik, there _ modern person. crown prince of frederik, there has _ modern person. crown prince of frederik, there has been - modern person. crown prince of| frederik, there has been support water, some rumours around him, we have to stress it is rumoured, but that has been big in the press over there? it that has been big in the press over

there? . , , , that has been big in the press over there? .,, , , , ,, there? it has been big in the press. amon: there? it has been big in the press. among peeple. _ there? it has been big in the press. among people. it — there? it has been big in the press. among people, it is _ there? it has been big in the press. among people, it is not _ there? it has been big in the press. among people, it is not that - there? it has been big in the press. among people, it is not that big - there? it has been big in the press. among people, it is not that big of| among people, it is not that big of an issue because people know that he stands for something else and as i said before, he is very down to earth and the fact that people are able to identify with him i mean, for the most part, the view it as gossip. but it is the talk of a time, to be honest.- gossip. but it is the talk of a time, to be honest. betty, thank you for “oininu time, to be honest. betty, thank you forjoining us— time, to be honest. betty, thank you forjoining us live _ time, to be honest. betty, thank you forjoining us live from _ time, to be honest. betty, thank you forjoining us live from copenhagen l forjoining us live from copenhagen on the news that the queen of denmark is abdicating. russia's president vladimir putin says his country will never back down — as he addressed the nation in a new year's eve speech. this ukraine came under attack from russian air strikes again overnight, mainly in the eastern kharkiv region. ukraine has disputed russia's claim it was targeting military targets in its latest attack on the country — with kyiv claiming "not a single one was hit". our correspondent james waterhouse has the latest on the recent strikes in ukraine

and russia it is certainly not like for like, with russia always being able to mount the larger attacks. this week has been no exception and the most deadly of terms, really. any week where we saw its biggest ever aerial bombardment, with saw ukraine respond, then russia hit back, and it seems a north—eastern city of kharkiv over the past 48 hours has really bore the brunt with several dozens of missiles landing in the city, causing extensive damage to medical buildings, we are told, residential blocks, including a hotel popular amongst foreign journalists. our team where they are only a few days ago, so i think this is a deadly tit—for—tat in the aerial sense, is a deadly tit—for—tat in the aerialsense, but is a deadly tit—for—tat in the aerial sense, but it almost takes place in tandem with what goes on on the front line when you have

vladimir putin, as you say, saying he will never retreat. i don't think anyone expected him to say otherwise, but certainly there were fears russia had been stockpiling missiles as we approach the new year celebrations, but i think that moment has already arrived. i'm interested because you talk to local ukrainians every day, people in the country, how have they taken the latest attack? is it a case of psychological warfare from the russians on them? it psychological warfare from the russians on them?— psychological warfare from the russians on them? it certainly is. it reall russians on them? it certainly is. it really does _ russians on them? it certainly is. it really does vary. _ russians on them? it certainly is. it really does vary. what - russians on them? it certainly is. it really does vary. what amazesl russians on them? it certainly is. i it really does vary. what amazes you it is when you watch people what —— live with sirens, sometimes they have to act on them, they get the all clear, then they carry on with their days. there are parts of the country, in the west, north even with the chernihiv, which still is not immune from missile strikes, it was targeted only a few months ago,

people in the main can live a regular lives. in the sense of there being curfews every evening, so you can't really go out and stay late, but it changes drastically the closer you get to the 700 mile long front line where people really are afraid, where people see a scale of death they have never seen before, and yet they choose to remain in their homes. in their words, they would rather die at home than as a refugee in a foreign country, so it really does vary. but i think in terms of the broad emotion that you encounter, it is one of fatigue. but ukrainians really do see it as having their backs against the wall, they see it has a choice between survival, which russia's invasion is a story of extraordinary survival on the ukrainian part, but the problem for tf is that this is a story which is not over and it could still lose,

with russia remaining only war footing and a western support continuing to starter, which is directly affecting ukrainian front line operations.— directly affecting ukrainian front line operations. directly affecting ukrainian front line oerations. , . ., ., , line operations. james waterhouse in k iv. this live now to hanna shelest, director of security programmes at ukrainian foreign policy think—tank ukrainian prism, and editor in chief of academic journal ukraine analytica. thank you very much forjoining us. i wanted to start off by getting your reaction to the attacks from russia over the last couple of days. just right now we are in the middle of the tenth or 11th air raid since yesterday we have had. we are just... but at the same time reading the telegraph channels where we have the telegraph channels where we have the notifications and we know rushing makes in the air and russia just started several ships coming close to territorial waters and we

know discussions amongst the press say where something nice to feel the m say where something nice to feel the joy of survival and the holidays but also to be comfortable in in how people in odesa are managing to cope at the moment, particularly as we head into 2024. just to cope at the moment, particularly as we head into 2024.— to cope at the moment, particularly as we head into 2024. just two days a . o as we head into 2024. just two days a . 0 when as we head into 2024. just two days ago when we _ as we head into 2024. just two days ago when we had — as we head into 2024. just two days ago when we had the _ as we head into 2024. just two days ago when we had the biggest - as we head into 2024. just two days ago when we had the biggest strike | ago when we had the biggest strike against ukraine in 2023 when russian sent more than 100 missiles a different calibre is plus 50 drones, odesa was hit and people were killed. all these are definitely influencing the mood of the people. we understand thanks to the heroic work of our armed forces we can be with ourfamilies. but work of our armed forces we can be with our families. but people not only in odesa and the ukraine are

resilient. people are trying not to panic, but the immediate reaction after each strike that is the increased numbers of the nations towards the different volunteer organisations her helping armed forces of ukraine. yesterday one of the banks published a report where they said that ukrainians today to twice more this year than last year to project supporting the armed forces of ukraine. that is probably the mood that your understanding that it the mood that your understanding thatitis the mood that your understanding that it is an existential work in a warfor that it is an existential work in a war for survival as a nation, that it is an existential work in a warfor survival as a nation, as human beings. that is probably the best demonstration of all those false wishful thinking that we had a few weeks ago when one western media publish an article that putin is sending silent signals about negotiations. you saw what type of negotiations. you saw what type of negotiations we are expecting. the biggest strike of the year and knew

your night again with the air raids. it is why we do not have another chance. yes, you're wearing nice dresses, your opening good sparkling wine, but your waiting ellipse is niger with yourfamily, but wine, but your waiting ellipse is niger with your family, but your waiting for the very heavy and happy night not with the virus, but with missiles. . ~ night not with the virus, but with missiles. ., ,, , ., , night not with the virus, but with missiles. . ~' , ., , . night not with the virus, but with missiles. ., ,, , ., , . , missiles. thank you very much, stay safe, missiles. thank you very much, stay safe. hannah _ missiles. thank you very much, stay safe, hannah shelest. _ the un says around 300 people die every year from lightning strikes in bangladesh. that's in comparison to fewer than 20 people annually in the us, which has almost double the population. lightning is now considered a natural disaster in the country alongside cyclones, floods and earthquakes. officials say climate change is leading to an increase in extreme storms, driving up the number of lightning strikes. our correspondent rajini vaidyanathan reports from bangladesh. a day of celebration turned into a lifetime of grief. mamun was due to get married when a storm struck. his family took shelter under a tin shed.

it was hit by lightning. instead of his wedding, mamun was arranging funerals. translation: i ran to the river bank and found bodies lying everywhere. l i was at a loss. i couldn't even decide who to go to first. all the dead and injured were my close relatives. when i found my father's body, i simply burst into tears. all the dead and injured were my close relatives. when i found my father's body, i simply burst into tears. lightning is a big killer in bangladesh, claiming more lives than floods annually. the government says extreme storms due to global warming have led to a rise in fatal lightning strikes over the years. a singed football shirt — a painful reminder of how deadly lightning can be.

it belonged to abdullah, a farmer who worked these fields when a thunderbolt struck him. for his wife, rehana, a loss that's hard to even understand. he was in the field? translation: my husband fell down i here when the lightning hit him. i some otherfarmers brought him to this roadside shop. by then, he was dead. this is an irreplaceable loss for me. he won't come back. how do i raise my little boy now? he's only 14 years old. now she's terrified every time she sees a cloud in the sky. the majority of victims of lightning strikes in bangladesh are farmers. working in the open, they're more

vulnerable to the elements, especially in the monsoon months. despite the risks, farmers here say they have no choice but to work these fields, even if it leaves them exposed. so what can be done to protect them? well, the government says it's planting more tall trees to attract lightning and it's developing an early warning text message system. but with hundreds of deaths in bangladesh every year due to lightning, is that enough? it's hoped these workshops, run by a local lightning awareness group, can help educate people about what to do in the face of a storm. but for families like mamun's, it's all too late — 16 relatives taken by lightning. rajini vaidyanathan, bbc news, bangladesh.

now, are you in 2024 yet? countries around the world are celebrating the new year. auckland in new zealand was the first major city to mark the start of 2024. and in australia, huge crowds gathered in sydney for one of the world's most spectacular fireworks displays over the harbour bridge and the opera house. countries across parts of asia the latest to welcome in 2024 as rachel mcadam reports. five, four, three, two, one! new year celebrations have officially begun. auckland in new zealand became the first major city to mark the start of 2024 with this light show on its harbour bridge and sky tower. sydney followed on from auckland with huge crowds gathering to watch a spectacular firework display over the harbour bridge and the opera house. japan has welcomed in the new year with this bell—ringing ceremony in tokyo.

followed shortly after by seoul in south korea. fireworks then lit up the sky in hong kong, while in taiwan crowds enjoyed this display at the taipei 101 skyscraper. countries across the rest of the world are still gearing up for midnight celebrations, and in some places preparations are still under way. in london, the fireworks display later is over in minutes, but it's been months in the making. planning started in august, but a small team of 22 have spent three long days on the final touches. 10,000 fireworks are loaded onto three barges ready to head down the thames to the london eye, where they'll be set off at midnight. we've got over 30 tonnes of equipment that gets loaded onto the barges, 50 kilometres of cable and wiring, 4,500 cues that all need to be wired in and tested all ready for the midnight moment.

preparations on the day itself are often close to the wire, with the london eye rigged just two hours before the display starts. four, three, two, one! with everything set, the sky a blank canvas, the teams will be hoping it all runs like clockwork. rachel mcadam, bbc news. and india, pakistan and sri lanka are amongst the nations to welcome 2024. and don't forget you can follow along with new year celebrations happening around the world on our special live page on the bbc news website or app. later we have paris, berlin, london and new york, amongst others. very shortly, and about the next half an hour's time, we will have the fireworks from dubai, the burj khalife, the world's tallest tower

will light up. they will use a total of 15,682 pyrotechnics off they will�*s tallest tower. stay with bbc news we welcome in in 2024 around the world. hello there, good evening. blustery showers across the uk for much of the day. heavy thundery downpours for many, but also some sunny spells, so some beautiful rainbows spotted by our weather watchers, and very windy conditions across the south coast of england and wales. now, the ground already pretty saturated from all of the recent rain. there are a number of flood warnings in place, particularly across the welsh marches down into south—west england. all of the details on those on the bbc weather website. we've seen low pressure gradually push its way eastwards across the uk. in the centre of the low pressure across northern england and scotland, the winds are light but still very blustery towards the south coast overnight tonight. still plenty more

showers around as well. the focus for that wet weather across north—west england stretching down through into the north midlands and some more showers for parts of argyll and bute as well. some clearer skies for many. it's a cold, frosty start to new year's day after the hogmanay celebrations in scotland, but it is milder further south. let's take a look at new year's day. for most of us, i think it will be a nicer looking day of weather. if you fancy a new year's stroll, there will be quite a lot of dry weather around, some sunshine. that will last longest across east anglia for northern england, the midlands, northern ireland and for much of scotland. but the cloud will start to build towards the south—west of england through the late morning. there'll be outbreaks of heavy rain here by the time we get to the mid afternoon. temperatures starting to slip a little — 5 to 11 celsius. the milder air, of course, where we've got the cloud and the rain and those heavy downpours of rain falling on saturated ground, of course, in many places. starting to drift northwards and eastwards as we head through monday evening, eventually clearing the south coast.

but there's more rain just waiting in the wings and we'll be seeing that on tuesday morning. as you can see on the pressure chart here, again, it's tending to move its way northwards and eastward. so some more heavy rain across much of england and wales as we go through the first part of tuesday. that drifts into northern england by the end of the day. another feed of rain, some wintry showers perhaps over the tops of the hills into parts of aberdeenshire with the brisk southeasterly wind. temperatures turning milder, of course, towards the south, underneath the cloud and the rain — 11 to 13 celsius, but still colder across scotland and northern ireland. but here is the outlook for our capital cities. as we head through the start ofjanuary, things will be turning a lot colder for all of us by next weekend. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. the headlines... the us navy says it's sunk three houthi rebel boats in the red sea after they attacked and tried to board a container ship off the coast of yemen. the american military says the boats got within metres of the maersk ship, which has come under attack for the second time in 24 hours. president putin says russia won't back down in ukraine as moscow carries out more drone attacks. in kharkiv, officials say at least 28 people were injured after russian missiles hit the north eastern city. the queen of denmark announces she will step down — after 52 years on the throne. queen margarethe is europe's longest—reigning monarch and will abdicate in two weeks' time. a spectacular fireworks display in bangkok

as celebrations take place around the world to welcome in 2024. a few hours before we enter 2024 here in the uk, but there is plenty of sport to catch up on new year's eve. now on bbc news, sportsday. hello and welcome to sportsday. coming up on the programme... arsenal miss their chance to end the year top of the premier league table as they lose at fulham. while there's an emphatic win for their north london rivals — as spurs see off bournemouth to move to within a point of the gunners. and leicester tigers beat bath to deny them the chance to go top

of rugby union's premiership.