thousands of protesters are on the streets of georgia for a fourth night, in response to the government suspending talks tojoin the european union. these are the live pictures from the capital tblisi where demostrators are outside parliament. some protesters threw fireworks towards police officers crouching behind shields. the latest protests come after georgia's prime minister seemed to contradict the very comments that sparked this week's demonstrations. he denied that his government is suspending moves to join the european union. our russia editor, steve rosenberg is in tbilisi and spoke to the prime minister. he sent this report. fireworks explode. in tbilisi, now, every night is fireworks night. a fourth night of protests outside parliament, while inside, police try to keep protesters at bay. a brolly helps at moments like these. so the police right now are firing streams of water from inside the parliament,

and going the other way, fireworks hurled by the protesters. it is the most surreal stand—off. the crowds are huge. so is the disappointment that the government here has frozen accession talks with the eu. but people are still hoping. every single day, there is more and more people coming. and it gives me hope that this government will finally go away. no sign of that. earlier, the head of the government praised the police and condemned the protests. many of the protesters have said to me that by suspending until the end of 2028 georgia's bid tojoin the european union, you have stolen, your government has stolen their european dream, their european future. people feel betrayed. can you understand that?

the response is very clear. so, we have not suspended anything related to the european integration. it'sjust a lie. and there are the opposition leaders, there are the media outlets linked with the opposition, who are just lying to these people. you suspended this until 2028. no, it's not true, it's not true. really? here's what he said three days ago. translation: today, we have decided not to put the issue i of opening negotiations with the european union on the agenda until the end of 2028. we also refuse any budgetary grants from the european union until the end of 2028. it was that announcement that sparked the protests and violence. here, a makeshift firework gun fires at police, while police officers have been accused of assaulting protesters. you must have seen videos of the brutal way in

which the police have treated some of the protesters in the last few days. what is your reaction to that? an investigation will happen against this kind of incidents, but also, in this case, it's important to have a clear position with regard to the violence from both sides. the protesters accuse the government of selling out to russia, which the authorities deny. neither side shows any sign of backing down. steve rosenberg, bbc news, tbilisi. for more, i spoke to stephenjones, the director of the georgian studies progam at the davis centre at harvard university. we have seen a fourth night of protests. how much longevity do these demonstrations have? well, the demonstrations themselves, i suspect those in

themselves, i suspect those in themselves, i suspect those in the streets will continue this demonstration until they see this government fall. the question is how long can the government last? right now the government last? right now the government has the riot police, control of the riot police, the army is neutral. in theory it can stay in power but is facing a population that is massively against their policies and rejects the european union. we heard yesterday from the georgia president and she said she will now not be stepping down at the end of her term, calling the current parliament illegitimate. what do you make a valid? to think she could face risks?— a valid? to think she could face risks? ~ ., _, , , face risks? well, of course she could. face risks? well, of course she could- right — face risks? well, of course she could. right now— face risks? well, of course she could. right now what - face risks? well, of course she could. right now what is - could. right now what is happening are two governments. you've got the government of georgian dream, which is claiming legitimacy based on the 27th of october actions and do you have another government thatis

do you have another government that is emerging that, this is the opposition party, who are also claiming to be legitimate. the reason for their legitimacy claim is the illegitimacy of the october 26 elections. so you have two divided, you have two groups divided, contesting the sovereignty of the country of georgia. a very difficult situation and one hopes that does not end in violence, although my sense is that one side will have to give in, otherwise they will be forcibly removed. �* , . ~ otherwise they will be forcibly removed. �*, ., ~ ., ., removed. let's talk more about that polarisation, _ removed. let's talk more about that polarisation, how- removed. let's talk more about that polarisation, how far - removed. let's talk more about that polarisation, how far does | that polarisation, how far does it extend into society among the population, how much support are we seeing for the georgia dream party? 50. support are we seeing for the georgia dream party?- support are we seeing for the georgia dream party? so, 's we could argue _ georgia dream party? so, 's we could argue based _ georgia dream party? so, 's we could argue based on _ georgia dream party? so, 's we could argue based on the - georgia dream party? so, 's we could argue based on the polls| could argue based on the polls in the october 26 election that georgia dream probably have something like... much of that

support was in their regions. but the situation has changed dramatically since elections. originally, much, now the protesters all around the country. it's in the major cities, even smaller cities than the major ones. it looks like the mood has become much more than it was before. before as i say, largely urban based on the capital city. now it is beginning to be much more challenging to the government. the , ., challenging to the government. the ., ~' ., challenging to the government. the you talk about the response we've seen _ the you talk about the response we've seen from _ the you talk about the response we've seen from authorities, . we've seen from authorities, towards journalists, protesters, we have already seen a level of violence. so how do you see this unfolding further for them how do you see this unfolding furtherfor them if how do you see this unfolding further for them if they take to the streets?— to the streets? well, in my view it's — to the streets? well, in my view it's remarkable - view it's remarkable that nobody has been killed. people have been hurt, systematically

people have been beaten up by the riot police along with journalists. so it's a very dangerous, situations like this can tip over into confrontation and one hopes that does not happen but i think the longer this goes on it is more likely, and that of course will change everything. once somebody gets killed, whoever starts the shooting, that side will probably lose coming and the reason i say that is because there has been a long tradition in georgia of resistance and revolt against governments that spill blood. looking at the live scenes in georgia, where it is of course the early hours of the morning and you can see it has just gone foura:m.. nevertheless, people still outside of parliament protesting the fact

that the prime minister said they were stopping those talks to join the they were stopping those talks tojoin the eu. he has since reversed on that. still people coming out in the capital today. syria's president, bashar al—assad, is turning to his allies — iran and russia — for aid after opposition fighters took control of large parts of the country. on sunday, mr assad welcomed iran's foreign minister to the syrian capital, damascus. in his first public appearance since the rebels' offensive began, the president welcomed iran's support. russia, mr assad's other major ally, is carrying out intensive air strikes on opposition forces: this is the aftermath of a strike on the rebel—held city of idlib. the syrian defence ministry said dozens of rival fighters had been killed. monitors say civilian casualties have also been reported, including in aleppo, which has fallen to the rebels. the syrian army says it's preparing a counter—offensive. barbara plett usher has more, and a warning: her report contains images

of children in distress. they are alive. rescued from the wreckage moments after the bombs struck. footage posted by the syrian civil defence group, the white helmets, shows the aftermath of an attack on the rebel stronghold of idlib, south—west of aleppo. the regime is fighting back. thousands of people have been displaced, fleeing aleppo and areas around idlib. their lives suddenly upended by this escalation in syria's civil war. translation: we are following the battle news and god willing | the regime will fall. we count night and day to return as the kids are tired and shocked. we left and came here in our clothes and nothing else. the speedy capture of aleppo took everyone by surprise. a devastating blow

to the assad regime. the rebels continue their advance, but here the city is coming to terms with a new normal. some are fearful of the anti—government rebels, but so far people continue with their daily lives. and for those driven out by previous battles, a chance to come home. translation: | returned to| aleppo after it was liberated, after we were driven out. after we were driven out. i came back to experience this i came back to experience this joy, to witness its greatness, joy, to witness its greatness, its old neighbourhoods cleaned its old neighbourhoods cleaned up after being desecrated up after being desecrated by the assad regime by the assad regime and its collaborators. and its collaborators. it isn't clear if the it isn't clear if the insurgents can hold insurgents can hold on to the territory captured, on to the territory captured, but they have exposed but they have exposed the weakness of bashar the weakness of bashar al—assad's rule. al—assad's rule. this is the first sighting of this is the first sighting of him since the fall of aleppo, him since the fall of aleppo, meeting iran's foreign minister meeting iran's foreign minister — a crucial ally — a crucial ally along with russia. along with russia. both consumed by their own both consumed by their own conflicts but trying conflicts but trying to bring the situation to bring the situation back under control. back under control. the front lines of syria's the front lines of syria's civil war have been civil war have been redrawn and no one knows redrawn and no one knows what comes next. what comes next.

barbara plett usher, bbc news, beirut. for more, i spoke to wafa mustafa, senior communications and advocacy lead at the ngo the syria campaign

and advocacy lead at the ngo the syria cam civilians as later to target civilians as the action and the response that we have been seeing for years. we are talking about devastated health care system, we are talking about a number of hospitals, whether in it liberal or aleppo, families have to flee again, unfortunately experience this displacement many times over the past years. displacement many times over the past veere— the past years. currently the bbc has not _ the past years. currently the bbc has not been _ the past years. currently the bbc has not been able - the past years. currently the bbc has not been able to - bbc has not been able to independently verify, of course, we have seen those multiple reports of civilian casualties. you were just talking to me there about how long the civil war has been going on for. with all of this in mind, what state is the humanitarian infrastructure, the levels of aid, what kind of resources are there when this has been going on for such a

long time. has been going on for such a long time-— has been going on for such a long time. unfortunately, we are talking — long time. unfortunately, we are talking about _ long time. unfortunately, we. are talking about humanitarian aid to crossings that have been closed for years that are the only path for civilians in that region. we are talking about civilians in aleppo, the city of aleppo, in 2016, lisbon was heavily bombed by the asad regime and his allies were talking about, you know, doctors, for example who had been for years talking about the devastated health care system. they have been talking about the lack of... they been talking about lack of medicines. they are talking about how they cannot deal with the unending number of victims every single day. there is a

huge urgent need for emergency response, whether by the un or by medical agencies. this is another moment to save the failure of the international community in the past years is show them that the lack of real action is leading towards suffering and fear. people in aleppo don't know where it's coming from.— aleppo don't know where it's coming from. talk to us more about the _ coming from. talk to us more about the rebels _ coming from. talk to us more about the rebels advancing i coming from. talk to us more | about the rebels advancing and did it also feel a level of uncertainty about what kind of rule that could bring? we uncertainty about what kind of rule that could bring?- rule that could bring? we are talkin: rule that could bring? we are talking about _ rule that could bring? we are talking about on _ rule that could bring? we are talking about on the - rule that could bring? we are talking about on the one - rule that could bring? we are| talking about on the one hand talking about on the one hand talking about on the one hand talking about the asad regime and his allies whether we are

talking about hezbollah, that have... and crimes against humanity for syria for years but on the other hand we are also talking about groups like... have also been committing violations and crimes whether in the lib or other areas and other regions, but in the past few days from civilians, from people, we know in aleppo and in other cities as well is that they are terrified because they don't really know what is happening, but i think unfortunately we can only wait and we can only hope that there will be an international emergency

declared and what we know of is that society groups and other groups who are inside syria today are also doing their best today are also doing their best to make sure that the rights and dignity of all civilians are protected. the un agency for palestinian refugees says it's halting aid deliveries through kerem shalom, the main crossing between israel and gaza. the head of unrwa, philippe lazzarini, said the decision had been taken because two convoys had recently been held up by armed gangs. he added that obstacles by israeli authorities and israel's ongoing siege are also making humanitarian operations impossible. israel says only a small amount of aid into gaza last month was coordinated by unrwa: under a law passed by the israeli parliament in october, israel's civil servants must cut contact with the organisation in less than a month's time. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other

stories making news... more allegations have been made about inappropriate behaviour by the masterchef presenter gregg wallace. it comes after he hit out in a statement on social media, saying claims about him have been made by "a handful of middle—class women of a certain age". his lawyers previously said the allegations are false. 13 women have complained about him to a bbc news investigation. figures show more than 20,000 migrants have arrived in the uk by crossing the channel in small boats since sir keir starmer since sir keir starmer became prime minister. he said ministers had inherited an utter mess in the home office. became prime minister. it comes after the pm announced a major overhaul of the immigration system of the immigration system and accused the conservatives and accused the conservatives of running "a one—nation of running "a one—nation experiment in open borders". experiment in open borders". former world snooker champion terry griffiths former world snooker champion terry griffiths

has died at age of 77, has died at age of 77, after a long battle after a long battle with dementia. with dementia. from south wales, he came from south wales, he came through the qualifying rounds through the qualifying rounds to win the 1979 crucible title to win the 1979 crucible title as a qualifier, and also won as a qualifier, and also won the masters and the uk the masters and the uk championship to complete championship to complete the sport's illustrious the sport's illustrious �*triple crown'. �*triple crown'. in later years, he also became in later years, he also became an accomplished coach. an accomplished coach. you're live with bbc news. you're live with bbc news. donald trump has nominated his donald trump has nominated his daughter's father—in—law about using the agency daughter's father—in—law to become a senior adviser to become a senior adviser on arab and middle on arab and middle eastern affairs. eastern affairs. massad boulos is a lebanese—american businessman massad boulos is a lebanese—american businessman who moved to us as a teenager. who moved to us as a teenager. his son, michael, is his son, michael, is married to mr trump's married to mr trump's youngest daughter, tiffany. youngest daughter, tiffany. mr boulos — who's from mr boulos — who's from lebanon's maronite christian lebanon's maronite christian minority — helped the trump minority — helped the trump campaign mobilize arab—american campaign mobilize arab—american voters, particularly voters, particularly in the swing state of michigan. in the swing state of michigan. meanwhile, mr trump is facing meanwhile, mr trump is facing pushback from the white house pushback from the white house over his plan to sack the fbi over his plan to sack the fbi director and replace him director and replace him with a loyal stafer with a loyal stafer when he takes power injanuary. when he takes power injanuary. kash patel would be the fbi's kash patel would be the fbi's first non—white director first non—white director in its 90—year history. in its 90—year history. he served as a national he served as a national security official in the first security official in the first trump administration, trump administration, and he's since become a vocal and he's since become a vocal critic of the agency, critic of the agency, claiming ih has been weaponised claiming ih has been weaponised to go after mr trump. to go after mr trump. mr patel has also spoken mr patel has also spoken

about using the agency to target mr trump's enemies in the media and government. the fbi director is an apolitical position appointed to a ten year term, so mr trump's plan to sack the current director, christopher wray, is raising eyebrows. speaking to nbc news, jake sullivan, us presidentjoe biden's national security adviser, said he wouldn't comment directly on mr trump's plans, but he had this message for the president—elect. current fbi director was actually appointed by donald trump. he... executed his responsibility �*s as the director of the fbi and allowed him to serve out the term over the biden administration, so that's how we approach things to ensure the fbi remains an

independent institution insulated from politics. votes are still being counted in ireland's general election — with more than half the parliamentary seats now filled. centre right parties fianna fail and fine gael seem most likely to form a coalition government for the second time. this election saw 59.7% of the electorate cast a ballot — the lowest figure in more than a century. our caitriona perry has more from dublin.

been an expectation — perhaps there could have been a rise in far—right or anti—immigrant sentiment, but the candidates that ran on those platforms have had an unsuccessful time of things. now, the one thing all parties do agree on is that the next stage, the horse trading, the discussions to try and build a government — well, that's not going to happen any time soon, and it's unlikely that there will be a government in place this side of christmas. let's turn to some other news around the world. the chief executive of car manufaturer stellantis, is stepping down with immediate effect. the world's fourth biggest car maker, which owns brands including chrysler, vauxhall and fiat said it had accepted the resignation of carlos tava res. last week it was announced that vauxhall would close its van—making plant in luton, putting 1,100 jobs at risk. talks aimed at negotiating a global treaty to reduce plastic pollution have failed. the negotiators from 175 countries, meeting in south korea, were unable to reach agreement on key issues, including reducing the amount of plastic produced in the first place.

our environment correspondent jonah fisher has more. this was supposed to be the moment the world came together to tackle its addiction to plastic. but after two years of talks, the last week of it in south korea, there was no sign of a global plastics treaty. a few critical issues still prevent us from reaching a comprehensive agreement. the key one, whether we need to reduce the amount of plastic we make. this year, the world made 430 million tonnes of plastic and that figure could triple by 2016 — member 2060. just 9% of it ends up being recycled, with the rest going to landfill, being burnt or dumped at sea. plastic is mostly made from fossil fuels and at the talks it was oil producing countries who blocked any

attempt to put cutting production in the treaty. there should be no problem with producing plastics, because the problem is the pollution, not the plastics. it has not addressed the issue of cutting pollution risks - undermining the global progress and exacerbating _ economic inequality. those who wanted action were left wondering if there was time to move ahead without the oil producers. high ambition countries need to step up and prevent a minority of groups from holding the rest of the world hostage from achieving the type of agreement that we all know we need to. the only way to end plastic pollution is to reduce plastic production. this could have been a turning point for plastic pollution. it is nowjust another missed opportunity. jonah fisher, bbc news.

which were lit up. brussels kicked off a spectacular light show with the lighting of the christmas tree and in the czech republic out in prague, christmas markets this is the scene in mexico as well. we will have more at the top of the hour. hello. meteorologically speaking, sunday was the first day of winter. now, there were a number of showers around, but it was a pretty mild day. indeed, across wales, we had temperatures of 15.4 celsius recorded at both hawarden, in flintshire, and also in cardiff — those temperatures way above the december average. and those mild weather conditions were brought to us by these south—westerly winds, which are still across a good part of the country. however, look at this band of rain sinking

south across scotland. behind that, we start to see the winds turn more to a northerly direction — and it's those northerly winds that, through monday, will push this zone of colder air southwards. so, it will feel much colder as we go through the day, across northern areas in particular. so, the rain starts today — southern scotland, pushes southwards across northern england, reaches north wales and the midlands through the afternoon. brighter conditions follow, but it will be gusty around irish sea and north sea coasts, gusts of around 40—50mph. temperatures in england and wales about 8—11 celsius, so still relatively mild. through the afternoon, it turns colder for scotland and northern ireland — temperatures here around 4—6 celsius. and then, that cold air surges southwards — monday night, a much colder night than we've been used to, with a widespread frost. so, a frosty and cold start to your day on tuesday, but with plenty of sunshine for most areas. however, band of rain is going to move in off the atlantic, so it turns wet in northern ireland,

and eventually, the rain reaches western scotland, as well. temperatures really struggle — 4—7 celsius — it will be a chilly day on tuesday for most. then tuesday night, the rain starts to turn to snow — and that's especially the case in scotland, and especially for eastern areas, we could have some accumulations of snow, potentially bringing some localised disruption. but ultimately, the snow will turn back to rain, as milder air works its way in. and, as we head through wednesday, that milder weather pushes in from the west, we'll have a lot of low cloud, some mist and fog. quite a murky—looking day, perhaps turning a bit brighter as we head into the afternoon for some. but it's another day with struggling temperatures, particularly for central and eastern areas. starts to turn a bit milder in the west. and then, thursday and friday, areas of low pressure on the way could bring some very strong gusts of wind, but certainly will be bringing some pretty wet weather our way.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. london is a melting—pot city. you see it on the streets, you see it in the restaurants. there is an almost overwhelming variety of international cuisine on offer here. the brits have a particularly

ardent and long love affair with south asian food, and my guest today is the renowned indian—born chef asma khan, who is also a pioneer. she created the first all—female, high—end indian restaurant in the world. she says she was born to set the world on fire. how does that work in a professional kitchen? asma khan, welcome to hardtalk. thank you very much. well, it is a great pleasure to be in your restaurant. i just wonder if the young asma, say, teenage asma, could see you now — with your own restaurant, a bit of a food guru in the united kingdom, a social activist as well —

would she believe it could be possible?