more councils in england step in to help pensioners who no longer qualify for the winter fuel allowance. there are calls for more mental health support for military veterans after a former royal marine takes his own life. good takes his own life. morning. in sport — ending the year on a high: england's cricketers are in fine voice in new zealand with the series in the bag and their bowlers dominate again on the first day of the final test. # i wish it could be christmas every day. and festive friends reunited: the children who sang on wizzard's classic christmas single catch up after more than half a century. weatherwise, sunshine is back more widely today, at least for a time. tomorrow, the cloud is back but it will feel much, much milder. i will have the weekend forecast.

it's saturday 14th december. prince andrew says he "ceased all contact" with a businessman accused of being a chinese spy after concerns were raised by the government. in a statement, the duke of york said the pair met through "official "channels" and had never discussed anything of a "sensitive nature". it comes as the times reports that he was invited to buckingham palace by the duke. the man in question lost an appeal over a decision to bar him from entering the uk on national security grounds. our reporter graham satchell has more. once again, prince andrew is underfire, his judgment called into question as to he was targeted by a suspected spy working for the chinese communist party. a statement issued by the duke of york's office said:

prince andrew has a long history of promoting trade links with china. the revelations that he was in a close working relationship with a man who worked for chinese intelligence have been made public after the man, known only as h6, was barred from the uk on national security grounds. when mi5 became suspicious of h6, they searched his phone. they found a letter from prince andrew's senior advisor, dominic hampshire. it said: and in a note he had written to himself, the alleged spy said: in what may be a significant escalation in this story, the times is reporting that the suspected chinese spy attended events here at buckingham palace, at st james�*s palace and at windsor castle.

it raises the question — how much influence did he have at very highest levels of the british establishment? mi5 has become more worried in recent times about china's influence and intelligence—gathering in the uk. we see that chinese authorities playing the long game in cultivating contact to manipulate opinion in china's favour, seeking to co—opt and influence not just prominent parliamentarians from across the political landscape, but people much earlier in their careers in public life, gradually building a debt of obligation. the chinese embassy has called the allegations of spying "a baseless smear" but there are now growing calls from some politicians of h6 to be named in the interests of national security. it was his girlfriend... prince andrew stopped being a working member of the royal family after details were revealed of his friendship with convicted sex offenderjeffrey epstein. ever since, questions have been asked about how the prince has been funding his 30—room

mansion in windsor. and while there is uncertainty about the prince's finances, it is his judgement that has once again come under the closest scrutiny. graham satchell, bbc news. our reporter graham satchell is outside buckingham palace. good morning to you. as you said in your report, of course, prince andrew is no longer a working boil but there are questions remaining for the royal family —— royal. there are and i think those questions and concerns are broadening this morning, certainly questions about prince andrew, his contacts, his connections, his judgements and his finances. it is not a working member of the royal family so he does not get any of the money that he used to but his outgoings are reported to be huge. he has a 30 room mansion in windsor parks there is a worry he is vulnerable to wealthy people or states who may not have his or the nation's best interests at heart and

i think it is certainly part of what has happened with this story. and more broadly if the times is right, and the suspected sky have access to buckingham palace — i should say the palace are not commenting much on the moment — there are broader questions about the level of chinese intelligence infiltration into the british establishment. this morning the former security minister tom tugendhat is calling for an "urgent investigation into what he calls attempts at subversion in buckingham palace" and he says understanding the level of influence that the chinese have will help us to make sure that this never happens again. for the moment, thank you very much. it's six minutes past six, saturday morning. you have more now on the story that we have covered a lot, to do with their winter fuel allowance? there's been so many discussions with this since the government has moved on the winter fuel payments. now, a growing number of councils in england are stepping in to replace the winter fuel

payment for financially vulnerable pensioners who no longer qualify for government support. research by radio 4's money box programme has found that around one in five councils are using their own hardship funds, as well as the government's household support fund to offer a direct replacement. 0ur reporter dan whitworth has more. getting several hundred pounds from her local council to put towards her gas and electric bills has been a lifesaver for retail. it gas and electric bills has been a lifesaver for retail.— lifesaver for retail. it was extremely _ lifesaver for retail. it was extremely important - lifesaver for retail. it was - extremely important because i do have quite a serious heart condition and my body must be up to a certain temperature in orderfor me and my body must be up to a certain temperature in order for me to walk or to do anything. so, yes, temperature in order for me to walk orto do anything. so, yes, it temperature in order for me to walk or to do anything. so, yes, it was vitally important.— vitally important. peter is one of around 10 million _ vitally important. peter is one of around 10 million pensioners - vitally important. peter is one of| around 10 million pensioners who will no longer qualify for the winter fuel payment, worth either 200 £300 now it is tested. at her

local authority, 200 £300 now it is tested. at her localauthority, north 200 £300 now it is tested. at her local authority, north tyneside council, is one of the councils accessing the government's £500 million household support fund to help pensioners who are just missing out. there are still qualifying criteria, though. things like getting housing benefit or council tax reduction. local government association does not have a specific number of councils help this way but money box checked the websites of 50 of them and around one in five are doing exactly that, including retail�*s. doing exactly that, including retail's. ~ . ., ., ., retail's. we are writing to all of those residents _ retail's. we are writing to all of those residents again, - retail's. we are writing to all of those residents again, it - retail's. we are writing to all of those residents again, it is - retail's. we are writing to all of| those residents again, it is over 2800 residents, and we are offering them some support around the winter fuel, and that would be funded through the household support fund. the devolved administrations in scotland, northern ireland and wales all received a proportional share of the household support fund as best they see fit. the department for work and pensions told us more than i work and pensions told us more than 1 million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payment and that its drive to prove pension

credit take up means an extra 40,000 people are now claiming it. dan whitworth, bbc news. two men have been arrested after a christmas fairground ride crashed to the ground in birmingham on thursday night. two women who were on the city star flyer were treated in hospital. the men, aged 55 and 21, are being questioned on suspicion of perverting the course ofjustice and obstructing officers. industry leaders have warned that the uk does not have enough construction workers to build the 1.5 million homes promised by the government. the home builders federation and the uk's largest housebuilder barratt redrow said tens of thousands of new recruits across bricklaying, groundworks and carpentry are needed to get anywhere near the target. ceremonies will be held in belgium and luxembourg today ahead of the 80th anniversary of the start of one of the key battles of the western front during the second world war. the battle of the bulge, a german counteroffensive designed to split allied forces, began on the 16th of december 1944.

syrians have been celebrating into the night to mark the downfall of former president bashar al—assad. thousands of people packed into the main square in damascus. regional and international leaders are meeting injordan to discuss syria's future. 0ur middle east correspondent lina sinjab is in damascus. lina, the focus now is on creating stability? good morning. it's interesting that these discussions are taking place as now i suppose people can celebrate but it's what next, what stability is in prospect? exactly, but that was the exact move yesterday where thousands of people took to the street in demonstration and celebration —— the mood. it was like an explosion of celebration. everyone we spoke to said today is celebrating and tomorrow is action and even the leader of the opposition al—jalali, he sent a 0pposition al—jalali, he sent a message to invite everyone to come to the street, he told i'm out today

and enjoy the victory and tomorrow, we will work together —— al—joulani. this is the first day after the date of victory, the day of celebration and we will have to watch how they are entering government —— how the entering government will act today. lots of civil society are trying to engage with them but also regionally, todayjordan is hosting the foreign minister meetings with presented tips from eu, turkey and us and arab governments to discuss syria's stability and transition and we have also seen visits from us diplomats, whether the foreign secretary or defence, in the region also trying to send the same message that no—one should interfere in syria and allow syrians to lead their own peaceful transition for a government that is conclusive, representative of the whole society, rejects the rights of minorities and the rights of women so is not only the rights of women so is not only the syrians are watching, everyone is watching how the rebel led government is going to perform. lina

sinjab in damascus. tens of thousands of people are protesting outside parliament in south korea, demanding president yoon�*s resignation. they're urging mps to vote to impeach the president after his failed declaration of martial law. he survived the first attempt to suspend him last week, when loyal mps boycotted the vote. this time several governing party mps have promised to support the motion. after weeks of intense competition, the remaining four couples on strictly come dancing are preparing to take part in tonight's final. they'll each perform three routines with their sights set on the glitterball trophy. the 20th anniversary series has faced serious scrutiny following claims of a toxic work culture. here's more from our reporter noor nanji. it is the grand final. after weeks of tango, sulphur and foxtrot, one celebrity will get their hands on the glitterball trophy in strictly�*s 20th anniversary year. so who is in

the running? first up, chris mccausland, it was their first blind contestant. the comedian has emerged as the bookmaker�*s odds—on favourite to win. he and his professional partner dianne buswell will reprise their couples choice routine to the john lennon classic instant karma, which went viral on social media. after a blackout moment praised by judge craig level wollert is absolutely spectacular. but they face stiff competition. also in the final is actress sarah hadland, she is paired with last year's winner better complement. hadland has earned praise during the series for her strong as it is about women living in themselves. if her strong as it is about women living in themselves.— her strong as it is about women living in themselves. if you think ou living in themselves. if you think you cannot _ living in themselves. if you think you cannot do — living in themselves. if you think you cannot do something, - living in themselves. if you think you cannot do something, oh! i living in themselves. if you think i you cannot do something, oh! you living in themselves. if you think - you cannot do something, oh! you can always push yourself. you set your own limits. always push yourself. you set your own limite— always push yourself. you set your own limits. ., . ~ ~ ., own limits. you make me feel like a natural woman. _

own limits. you make me feel like a natural woman. also _ own limits. you make me feel like a natural woman. also in _ own limits. you make me feel like a natural woman. also in the - own limits. you make me feel like a natural woman. also in the running | naturalwoman. also in the running is former love _ naturalwoman. also in the running is former love island _ naturalwoman. also in the running is former love island entrance - natural woman. also in the running l is former love island entrance tasha ghouri. ten! she and her dance artner ghouri. ten! she and her dance partner aljaz — ghouri. ten! she and her dance partner aljaz gord downie enter into a strong position as the first pair to get a score of ten and a perfect 40 this series with their americans moved to someone you loved by lewis capaldi. moved to someone you loved by lewis ca aldi. capaldi. ten! cheering i capaldi. ten! l cheering and capaldi. ten! _ cheering and applause . last but not least, it isjln singo jb . last but not least, it isjln singojb gill. . last but not least, it is jln singo jb gill-— singo jb gill. dancing in the moonlight- _ singo jb gill. dancing in the moonlight. his _ singo jb gill. dancing in the moonlight. his original- singo jb gill. dancing in the l moonlight. his original dance artner moonlight. his original dance partner amy _ moonlight. his original dance partner amy dowden - moonlight. his original dance partner amy dowden was - moonlight. his original dance i partner amy dowden was forced moonlight. his original dance - partner amy dowden was forced to pull out of the series last month after a foot injury, being replaced by fellow pro— lauren 0akley. despite changing partners, jb gill has consistently scored highly in the leaderboard. this years series has been full of twists and turns.

highlights have included bollywood music coming to the ballroom. there was also controversy when dancevic katie jones appeared was also controversy when dancevic katiejones appeared to move her partner when evans's hand from her waist. she later said it was nonsense that the moment made her feel uncomfortable in any way. it came after a difficult summer when a number of former contestants made claims about their experiences on the show. the bbc apologised to amanda abington and upheld some of her complaints against her former dance partner giovanni pennyj, but cleared him of the most serious allegations. it also is introduced a number of new measures including putting chaperones in rehearsals. but tonight, all eyes are on the finalists as they take to the dance floor one last time. all of them will perform three routines with the winner being decided by a public vote. noor nanji, bbc news. it is 6:15. east 17 singer tony mortimer has surprised commuters

at london's st pancras station by performing the christmas number one stay another day. have a look. # don't leave me alone like this... # don't leave me alone like this... # don't leave me alone like this... # don't say is the final kiss... backed by the london community gospel choir, the performance celebrated the song's 30th anniversary. afterwards, tony said it was a "magical experience". he was braced for the cold, wasn't he, in his giant pufferjacket? trier? he, in his giant puffer “acket? very similar to he, in his giant puffer “acket? very similarto the h he, in his giant puffer “acket? very similar to the outfits _ he, in his giant pufferjacket? - similar to the outfits they were in the video. why similar to the outfits they were in t