arriving into the country on small boats. and tickets for the world famous glastonbury festival sell out in less than a0 minutes. hello, i'm anjana gadgil. welcome. we start with some breaking news. presidentjoe biden has given ukraine the green light to use long—range us weapons to strike within russia. that's according to us media reports. president putin has previously warned that he would consider such a move to be a major escalation in the conflict. several western nations — including the uk and france — have supplied kyiv with weapons capable of striking deep into russian territory, but until now none has given ukraine permission to use them in this way. that's despite repeated pleas by president zeleynsky. he has long argued it could help turn the tide of the war in his country's favour.

let's speak to our correspondent rowan bridge, who's in washington. this represents a reversal, a change in us policy, what has brought about this change? i think one of the factors that has probably driven it is the announcement that 10,000 north korean troops have been moved on to the russia— ukraine border, seen as an escalation of the conflict and up until now there has been a divide within the us administration as to how best to approach this conflict. the concern was if you allowed these long—range missiles to be used, that might lead to an escalation in the conflict was that we had president putin morning, sabre rattling, any such move would be seen as a serious escalation in the conflict. clearly the united states have calculated thatis

united states have calculated that is a risk worth taking. {131 that is a risk worth taking. of course, these long—range missiles capable of striking deep into russian territory have been giving to ukraine previously but now they have permission to use them. under what circumstance might the ukrainian military choose to use them and how soon could they deploy them? i use them and how soon could they deploy them?— they deploy them? i mean, i thinkfor— they deploy them? i mean, i think for the _ they deploy them? i mean, i think for the ukrainians, - they deploy them? i mean, i | think for the ukrainians, they see this gives them effectively a battlefield advantage they didn't have before, allowing them to strike areas of russian territory which they were not able to before and i think the feeling is that will give them an edge they did not have before because as i said the versions have brought in north korean troops into the border with ukraine and that has clearly bolstered russia's capability on the border. i think this is a way of boosting ukraine's ability to respond and attack russia as it sees fit. , �*

fit. president biden has two months left, we _ fit. president biden has two months left, we know- fit. president biden has two - months left, we know president trump has different views, would you expect a reversal of the policy comejanuary? would you expect a reversal of the policy come january? donald trump can _ the policy come january? donald trump can be — the policy come january? donald trump can be a _ the policy come january? donald trump can be a very _ the policy come january? donald trump can be a very difficult - trump can be a very difficult man to read. 0n the campaign trail he talked about he would give a vision of a speech where he would say something about he could end the conflict within 24 could end the conflict within 2a hours. do not think that it's actually realistic. but he has also talked about how he could turn get the two sides together and get a deal. 0ne could turn get the two sides together and get a deal. one of his advisers talked about previously the bbc ukraine needed to understand crimea was lost territory and this was about saving lives and getting about saving lives and getting a peace deal. exactly how donald trump will approach this issueis donald trump will approach this issue is really isn't clear at the moment because he has given very little detail as to what he will do when he is in office. . , , office. finally, president zelensky _ office. finally, president zelensky has _ office. finally, president zelensky has been - office. finally, president| zelensky has been asking office. finally, president- zelensky has been asking for this permission for months, why

now? i this permission for months, why now? ~' ,, ., now? i think the us have clearly made _ now? i think the us have clearly made the - now? i think the us have i clearly made the calculation over where the war in ukraine stand and what their approach to it should be. as i say, there have been concerns within there have been concerns within the us administration that are loving this could lead to an escalation in the conflict. and that missiles wouldn't give a sufficient advantage for that to be worthwhile. clearly they have now decided the ukrainians are in a position where they feel they ought to give them permission. feel they ought to give them permission-— feel they ought to give them ermission. ., ~ , ., ., ., permission. thank you, rowan bride permission. thank you, rowan brid . e in permission. thank you, rowan bridge in washington. - it comes as russia launched a massive attack on ukraine's energy infrastructure — the worst in months — with dozens of drone and missile strikes. in kyiv, people sought refuge underground, as the strikes cut power to the capital. there were blackouts in dnipro, where two railway workers were killed. air strikes cut power in the eastern region of donetsk — and to the west, in lviv, a woman was killed.

in the south, in mykolaiv, drone strikes killed two people. six more were injured, including two children. 0desa was also targeted — resulting in power cuts across the region. and there were attacks too on vinnytsia and volyn — with multiple strikes putting huge pressure on ukraine's defences. with the latest on one of the biggest combined attacks of the war, here's our correspondent, paul adams. this was one of the largest attacks in months. rescue workers pressed into action all across this vast country, especially the south. after almost three years of this, there's exhaustion and fear.

ukraine's electricity grid the main target, triggering power cuts. a long trudge to the nearest emergency supply. i don't think we will get water today, sastulia, maybe tomorrow, in the evening. president zelensky congratulated the men and women of ukraine's air defences. including natalia, shooting down her very first cruise missile. "did it hit?", someone asks. "yes", comes the answer. translation: it is difficult - to find any place round ukraine where the missiles were not targeting and one of the missiles even crossed the moldova border. in kyiv, parts of a missile shot down by ukraine's air defences, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. when the sirens sounded, some headed for the capital's

famously deep underground. after almost three years most now stay at home but winter is approaching and russian forces are advancing in the east, there is a renewed sense of pessimism and danger. paul adams. let's speak to 0leksiy goncharenko, ukrainian mp for 0desa. president putin sees this as a major escalation, is this welcome news for you? you are s-ueakin welcome news for you? you are speaking about _ welcome news for you? you are speaking about the _ welcome news for you? you are speaking about the possibility i speaking about the possibility for us to attack inside russian territory? for us to attack inside russian territo ? , for us to attack inside russian territory?— for us to attack inside russian territo ? , , ~ territory? yes, president biden aaivin territory? yes, president biden giving ukraine _ territory? yes, president biden giving ukraine the _ territory? yes, president biden giving ukraine the green - territory? yes, president biden giving ukraine the green light l giving ukraine the green light to use long—range missiles that could strike into russian territory. could strike into russian territory-— territory. yes, that is fantastic _ territory. yes, that is fantastic news, - territory. yes, that is fantastic news, veryl territory. yes, that is - fantastic news, very good and very important. it is a pity it

took 1000 days to make this decision finally. but better late than never. we all understand that president biden is leaving and his administration is leaving, we don't know what the incumbent inept administration of donald trump thinks about it but it is a very important step anyway that can help us. and i hope this will not be just a right to attack but also the united states will deliver these long—range missiles in order to make possible for ukraine to attack military objects deep inside russian territory. what is the importance _ inside russian territory. what is the importance of - inside russian territory. what is the importance of these - is the importance of these weapons and how much could they help push the momentum back to ukraine? it help push the momentum back to ukraine? , ., , ukraine? it is really important, - ukraine? it is really i important, especially ukraine? it is really - important, especially to have enough of them are sows, that is very important. when the united states gave the tanks,

20 or 30 altogether, which is for more than 1000 miles front line, it is nothing, so it also depends how many missiles will be received. in any case this will push russian military objects further from the border which will quite seriously be a problem for their logistics. it will give us the possibility to protect our cities near the front line, big cities, from russian attacks by the air bombs and missiles. so that will save hundreds of lives, maybe thousands of lives of civilians and that will help us militarily to stop the russian advance. this is very important. again, you know, it is a pity, if we would receive everything in the spring of

2022, and the right to take inside russian territory, we would have finished this war at that time when we were... unfortunately we did not receive at that time but it is better to receive enough. fiur better to receive enough. our ukrainian _ better to receive enough. 0ur ukrainian soldiers trained to use these long—range missiles and, if not, how quickly can they be trained to use them? no, we, our military know how to do this, probably one of the best in the world if not the best. because we have the biggest experience. they ukrainian military, no they are fighting for their own life. only two countries in the world have this kind of experience. ukraine, the second is russia but their weaponry is different. we know how to use

british storm shutters. we clearly know how to use it and will use that very effectively before in occupied recurring territory so we know how to use inside russian territory too. —— inside occupied ukrainian territory. -- inside occupied ukrainian territory-— -- inside occupied ukrainian territo . , . ., ., territory. they have an attacks this weekend _ territory. they have an attacks this weekend including - territory. they have an attacks this weekend including the - territory. they have an attacksl this weekend including the area which represent, what is the situation like when you are just now? in situation like when you are just now?— just now? in 0desa, no electricity _ just now? in 0desa, no electricity in _ just now? in 0desa, no electricity in most - just now? in 0desa, no| electricity in most parts just now? in 0desa, no i electricity in most parts of the city, almost the whole day i also didn't have electricity, no water supply or heating, electric transfer down the street doesn't work. children will not go tomorrow to school. it is a complete blackout in 0desa. and in some of our other cities of ukraine but 0desa is probably the worst for the

moment. this was again part of the campaign of vladimir putin against the civilians. i think the ability to hit inside russian territory is exactly the right answer. it russian territory is exactly the right answer.— the right answer. it is naturally _ the right answer. it is naturally of _ the right answer. it is naturally of course i the right answer. it is i naturally of course that you welcome these long—range missiles and their use. if not a danger looking at it from outside ukraine that this could escalate the war, make it into a longer, wider conflict? tile. a longer, wider conflict? no, it is not- _ a longer, wider conflict? no, it is not. to _ a longer, wider conflict? no, it is not. to make _ a longer, wider conflict? no, it is not. to make it - a longer, wider conflict? no, it is not. to make it a - a longer, wider conflict? iirr, it is not. to make it a longer and wider conflict means not to help ukraine. in this case vladimir putin will attack the next countries, it is so easy. don't be afraid of all the russian bluffing. if somebody will attack crimea, what should happen? nothing. many other

times, what will he do? he will attack nato countries? he doesn't have the capacity for this. he will be destroyed completely, he knows this, you cannot compete with later today at least. he wants to but the ukrainian army and resources, later can't afford to lose ukraine, giving it to vladimir putin. it should be not a half measure, it should be a right to attack and the missiles to attack because often ukraine was receiving just very small amounts, just enough to make some small, may be important attacks but not to change the picture. i hope this time it will be a complete picture, real big decision.— will be a complete picture, real big decision. make you very much _ real big decision. make you very much for _ real big decision. make you very much for your - real big decision. make you very much for your time, i real big decision. make you. very much for your time, the ukrainian mpfor very much for your time, the ukrainian mp for 0desa.

0leksiy goncharenko. now it's time for a look at today's sport with chetan. we start with football — england have been promoted to the top tier of the nations league, finishing as group winners, after beating republic of ireland 5—0. harry kane scored after the visitors had a player sent off and they didn't look back... anthony gordon scoring his first goal for his country helped them to an emphatic victory at wembley. also among the scorers was connor gallagher and substitute jarrod bowen here — with his first senior england goal. it was also a night to remember for taylor harwood—bellis' who scored on his debut. the perfect way for interim boss lee carsley to sign off, with thomas tuchel taking charge from the new year. to rugby and wales are now on their worst run of results in their 143—year international history after a record defeat by australia in cardiff. losing 52—20 — it's their 11th straight defeat, and makes it 407 days since they last won a test match.

meanwhile in rome, italy beat georgia 20—17. great britain have beaten canada to reach the semi—finals of the billiejean king cup. emma raducanu gave them a great start beating rebecca marino in straight sets. raducanu, top of your screen here, playing for only the second time in almost two months following a foot injury, opened the quarterfinal tie against marino — taking the first set 6—0. the second set was tighter but raducanu ground out the victory — winning it 7—5 — giving britain the first point of the tie against the defending champions. that left katie boulter just needing to beat canada's leylah fernandez to confirm britain's place in the semifinals. the world number 2a made a great start winning the first set by 6—2. fernandez fough harder in the second set but was unable to keep up with boulter who took the second set 6—4 to give britain victory. she was the player beaten in the us open final by raducanu..

ifeel like we have been building for some time, it is finally coming out, all the girls are great people, we have a great chemistry going on. yes, so proud of everyone here. great britain will face slovakia in the last four. after viktoria hruncakova won the opening rubber, rebecca shramkova ensured their place in the semi—finals with a straight sets victory over australia's ajla tomljanovic 6—1, 6—2. meanwhile, jannik sinner has become the first italian to win the atp finals title after a commanding straight—sets win over america's taylor fritz in turin. the world number one capping a superb year, in which he has also won the first two grand slam titles of his career, with a 6—4 6—4 win over fritz. cricket, and rain has stopped play in the fifth and final t20 international in st lucia. england won the toss and put west indies in to bat,

they were 44 without loss before the rain came after just five overs. england have already won the series 3—1. rory mcilroy says it's a fitting end to 2024, after his season ended in style, winning his third dp world tour championship — and the sixth race to dubai title of his career. the northern irishman only needed a top—11 finish to reach the summit of the season rankings, but won the tournament, finishing two shots clear of rasmus hojgaard. the world number three joins the late seve ballesteros in second place in the all—time list, with six triumphs, only colin montgomerie is ahead of the pair, with eight victories. a day after drawing the opening match of their four—match series with jamaica, england have rebounded with a win in game two. after finding themselves level after the first two quarters, the roses edged ahead in the penultimate 15 minutes and extended that advantage in the last quarter to take the win 55—47. the remaining two matches

in the series take place in kingston jamaica later this month. and that's all the sport for now. thanks, chetan. keir starmer has promised that ukraine will be �*top of the agenda' at this week at a meeting of leaders from the world's most powerful economies — in rio de janeiro. high on the agenda too — will be brazil's president lula da silva's suggestion for a tax on the �*super rich'. the left—leaning think tank new economics foundation is one of the organisations at the summit — let's speak to its chief executive danny sriskandarajah. the texan billionaires, could the uk weigh in on this. it is

the uk weigh in on this. it is hiuh the uk weigh in on this. it is high time — the uk weigh in on this. it is high time but _ the uk weigh in on this. it is high time but some - the uk weigh in on this. it 3 high time but some governments need to high t