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 prince's office said no sensitive information was ever discussed. and the mystery is continuing to grow in the us after repeated sightings of unkown drones in several states on the east coast. the governor of new jersey has urged president biden to investigate. the united nations agency for children is warning that more children are dying in gaza because they can't leave to get urgent medical care. unicef says 2500 children in gaza need medical evacuation, but since may, when the rafah crossing was closed, few have been able to leave. and those that do often have

to make the journey alone, without their parents. our reporter ru abbass examines the cases of two children scarred by the war. a warning that this report contains distressing scenes right from the start. it was meant to be a time of tranquil prayer at dawn. but on the 10th of august, 6,000 displaced palestinians in eastern gaza city woke to horror and carnage. among them was 14—year—old anas, who witnessed the devastation as dozens were killed in the israeli airstrike on the al—tabi'in school. when the missile struck, anas was hurled into cement columns. he sustained third degree burns covering more than 50% of his body. israel said the school was a legitimate target, claiming hamas fighters were based in the compound. the impact left shrapnel embedded in anas�* body

and multiple fractures, injuries he continues to endure to this day. translation: i have severe pain in my right leg and hand. - along with these large scars which cause significant disability. touching or tapping them triggers immense pain. these scars require injections for treatment. but the hospital can't help because i need plastic surgery on both hands. anas has endured hours of surgery without painkillers or anaesthesia, but doctors now say they are unable to help him with the limited medical resources available. his family, who've been displaced ten times now wander from pharmacy to pharmacy, desperately searching for ointments to soothe his scars, often leaving empty handed. anas underwent a two—hour . surgery last week, but doctors revealed they could do little due to gaps in the bones . of his right leg. they warned him not. to walk until he receives treatment abroad.

gaza also lacks the medical capabilities to treat patients like seven—year—old ibrahim. in late april, he was helping his mother prepare breakfast when a severe airstrike hit the house next door. the force was so intense it reached their home, engulfing ibrahim in flames. israel says it does all it can to minimise civilian casualties. ibrahim screamed mama, save me, save me! the fire, the fire! i looked down and saw flames on my stomach and his head and face. i grabbed a prayer mat and wrapped it around him to extinguish the fire, then put out the flames on myself. he was deeply upset and terrified and kept repeating, "mum, i'm disfigured." he would open his eyes and say, "i feel my face is ruined. ifeel like i've melted." ibrahim was taken to carmel at one hospital in north gaza,

which is now under siege, he has since endured many failed skin graft surgeries. i can't move much, especially my neck. my feet hurt me so much every night and i can't sleep because of it. my sister is scared of me. she doesn't want to kiss me. i need to get medical treatment abroad so i can be handsome like my brother. with little access to medicine, ibrahim suffers with wounds that keep tearing open. he feels different from other kids. on our way to the hospital, children would pity him and point and say look at his face, making him cry. he would tell me, "mum, i used to be handsome." ibrahim is unable to cope alone. his mother says despite being ajordanian citizen, she has been denied permission to accompany her traumatised son for his critical medical treatment abroad. but for now, there is no escape from the cage of this war

as relentless dangers close in on the children of gaza. some figures coming through in the past few minutes on the number of deaths and injuries in gaza reuters is reporting that at least 44,930 palestinians have been killed and 106,624 injured since the start of israel's military offensive in gaza, which started on october the 7th. that is according to gaza's health ministry. those are the latest figures on the numbers of deaths and injuries in gaza. the uk home secretary yvette cooper is travelling to italy for talks on migration, as hundreds of people continue to cross the

channel in small boats. thursday was the busiest december day on record, when 609 people arrived, bringing the total so far this year to more than 34,500, a 19% increase on last year. 0ur political correspondent damian grammaticas told me what the home secretary was hoping to gain from this meeting. her visit is not so much a formal visit for discussions with the italian government, it is part of an outreach that the uk government is doing trying to build relationships with other european governments as the uk and other european countries are trying to tackle the irregular migration. she is that she there for a conference. there is a political conference run by the italian government, that brings together right—wing politicalfigures, the uk home secretary will be part of the panel there with interior ministers from southern europe, france, malta and italy, all discussing the migration issue. and then while she is in this meeting, she is meeting the italian interior minister

on the sidelines of that, and represention from unhcr. this is much more about building these kinds of partnerships than the way the previous conservative government did, which was looking at countries like rwanda and outsourcing. the uk home secretary is not likely to get much sympathy from the italian government. doesn't the uk proportionately have a far smaller amount of migration in italy? it is true that italy being a front—line state in the medaterrainian, which these arrivals coming across by boat from libya particularly and tunisia to a lesser extent, has always had a bigger role, if you like. the uk is further down the chain. i think what you will see is a fairly sympathetic response, actually, because both countries, all countries here are

looking for partnerships and like—minded administrations, so while italy has been trying to find ways of tackling it, some of them very controversial, it has to be said, the approach is taken to stop boats leaving libya and tunisia, talking about getting migrants processed, paperwork processed in places like albania. the uk is looking at new approaches also. there is a kind of meeting mind there and ultimately, really, the countries alljoin in that this is a big priority. she she damian grammatica there. 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. despite not qualifying for the new means—tested winter fuel payment, money is still very tight for 80—year—old rita, so getting several hundred pounds from her local council to put towards her gas and electric bills has been a lifesaver. it was extremely important. a, because i do have quite a serious heart condition and my body must be up to a certain temperature in order for me to walk or to do anything. so, yes, it was vitally important. rita is one of around 10 million pensioners who will no longer qualify for the winter fuel payments, worth either £200 or £300, now it's means tested. but 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. the local government association doesn't have a specific number of councils offering help this way, but money box checked the websites of 50 of them and around one in five are doing exactly that, including rita's. we are writing to all of those residents. again, it's over 2,800 residents, and we are offering them some support around the winter fuel, and that will 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 to use as best they see fit. the department for work and pensions told us more than a million pensioners will still receive the winter fuel payments, and that its drive to boost pension credit take up means an extra 40,000 people are now claiming it. money box reporter dan whitworth explains who can apply for this payment. the best way is for them to approach the local authority

in england and find out if they are eligible for this kind of help. again, as you head in the report, there is no specific number on the amount of councils or local authorities in england that are offering this help. we have approached directly 50 of them and around one in five are offering something similar to this kind of scheme. there is also social company called policy in practice that works with dozens of councils and are trying to get people better access to benefits and say a third of councils they are working with are doing schemes like this. local authorities, charities like citizens advice or age uk that people can go to for advice and help to see if they make qualify. again, this is targeting pensioners who are just missing out on the winter fuel payment, or are just above the threshold of pension credit introduced by the government. this is targeting very much financially vulnerable people,

and certainly one council we have been in touch with, north tyneside council, that is writing letters to several thousand pensioners they think might be applicable and their council member for health and well—being, counsellor karen clark, talked me through exactly what they are doing. we're doing this because we are caring _ we're doing this because we are caring about our pensioners will stop— caring about our pensioners will stop and ultimately, thars— will stop and ultimately, that's why i'm here, why am a councillor_ that's why i'm here, why am a councillor and a cabinet member, i am councillor and a cabinet member, lam passionate councillor and a cabinet member, i am passionate about the borough and its people. of course, — the borough and its people. of course, we highly value our pensioners and we want to do their— pensioners and we want to do their best _ pensioners and we want to do their best to support our pensioners owning other time, notiust— pensioners owning other time, not just in _ pensioners owning other time, notjust in the winter period, but we — notjust in the winter period, but we realise the winter period _ but we realise the winter period is a particularly pressured time. stickers are differeni— pressured time. stickers are different pressure points for different pressure points for different residents who are struggling throughout the year. families, for example, in the long — families, for example, in the long summer holidays is a real pressure — long summer holidays is a real pressure point. we have to look at what — pressure point. we have to look at what resources we have and how _ at what resources we have and how to — at what resources we have and how to allocate those to make sure _ how to allocate those to make sure we — how to allocate those to make sure we are protecting our most vulnerable — sure we are protecting our most vulnerable residents from the harsh— vulnerable residents from the harsh impact of poverty and the

cost of — harsh impact of poverty and the cost of living and rising fuel prices _ cost of living and rising fuel rices. �* �* , cost of living and rising fuel rices. . �*, ., ., prices. and it's important to sa that prices. and it's important to say that this _ prices. and it's important to say that this is _ prices. and it's important to say that this is how - prices. and it's important to say that this is how it - prices. and it's important to say that this is how it works| say that this is how it works for english councils because they can access that has full fund from the government, a £500 million fund, directly. when it comes to the devolved nations, scotland, wales and northern ireland, their proportion of that £500 million is going to the respective governments to use as they best see fit. it's also important to say the uk government told us that essentially what's happened is that more than a million people are essentially still going to be getting this winter fuel payments which will go out a rant about this time of year as well, and they've also done a huge campaign to try to get more people accessing pension credit, which is a gateway benefit. so if you get that pension credit, you get that pension credit, you get a lot of other benefits and you qualify for the winter fuel payment. because of that take

up payment. because of that take up campaign from the governments, this is an extra 40,000 pensioners are now getting pension credits, that will open at the winter fuel payment to them, which is very good news for those 40,000 pensioners. 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 house—builder barratt redrow said tens of thousands of new recruits across bricklaying, groundworks and carpentry are needed to get anywhere near the target. neiljefferson, ceo of the home builders federation, explains why there is such a shortfall in builders. in the last couple of years, house—building delivery in the uk stalled after a long period of growth. in fact, house doubled in the period after the globalfinancial doubled in the period after the global financial crisis, doubled in the period after the globalfinancial crisis, is doubled in the period after the global financial crisis, is the moment we're putting approximately 200,000 homes a year as a post of 350 thousand homes a year that the government would like industry

to build. all authors of played their part. this a fantastic opportunity for people to join in the industry. there is a wide range ofjobs available and a joint mission here for governments and the industry to make those proof recruits over the next few years and to get the next few years and to get the additional new homes which i desperately needed built. but the shortage seems a vast. if you look at the estimated number of new workers needed based on the cover and's plans, 20,000 bricklayers — and we've covered in the past on the news that shortage of bricklayers for years now — it to a 2000 ground workers, 2500 voucher saloons, 8000 carpenters, how long would it take to get those numbers back up? it long would it take to get those numbers back up?— numbers back up? it will take ears. numbers back up? it will take years- in _ numbers back up? it will take years. in terms _ numbers back up? it will take years. in terms of— numbers back up? it will take years. in terms of increasing | years. in terms of increasing the build right that the government are so keen to do, that won't happen overnight other. they do recognise that. there is a lot of work going on across the industry, especially bricklayers, carpenters and a

grant workers. bricklayers, and are trying to surmount a work in the industry by industry itself in terms of setting up hopes to train apprentices and trainees on site to try and get thousands of new bricklayers into the industry, but also in colleges. we want to improve the quality of the education thatis the quality of the education that is received at building colleges so that we actually get more people converting from going through building college and into the industry. if you pull all enclosed together and also add the increased use of technology, many of the largest builders in this country have factories where they produce panels that go into homes, reducing the need for so many construction workers as we have had in the past if we come on in those parts together, with a decent chance of getting somewhere towards this target. briefly, that is a lot of ifs. do you think there is any possibility it will be all accelerated enough to meet the government's pleasure 1.5 million new homes in england by 2029? i

million new homes in england by 2029? 4' ., , 2029? i think the target is ambitious _ 2029? i think the target is ambitious but _ 2029? i think the target is ambitious but we - 2029? i think the target is ambitious but we can - 2029? i think the target is ambitious but we can get. 2029? | think the target is - ambitious but we can get near that kind of run rate of over 300,000 times a year, that sets us well for the future. we need that to be continued. the problem with the previous government was that after many good years of housing delivery, tolling fell away, capacity was lost and that is why this difficult conversation about getting so many people back into the industry so quickly. to the us, and a mystery that has been gripping large parts of country involving drones. the governor of the state of newjersey has written to president biden saying he has growing concerns about repeated drone sightings in recent weeks. the fbi has received over 3000 tips about the flying objects. here's our north america correspondent david willis. all this started a few weeks ago with reports of a drone flying over an army base in northern newjersey, and in the days that followed, officials were inundated with similar such reports of mysterious objects in the skies overhead,

loud, low flying objects with unusual lighting often reported to be flying very close to each other. and indeed, one eyewitness described seeing something that he said was the size of a school bus flying about 150ft above the trees. now, state and federal officials are investigating, but they do not believe that there's anything unusual with this. they say that these sightings are probably unmanned aircraft or helicopters, and they've said that there is they're confident there is no risk to the public from this, but they've not said where these objects have come from and who they belong to. and that has fuelled considerable speculation on social media and indeed has led to calls from, amongst others, the president—elect, donald trump, for officials to either be more forthcoming

about what is behind this phenomenon or to shoot these objects down. a facebook group devoted to what's going on in the newjersey area has already accumulated 46,500 followers, and indeed, drone hunting or drone spotting has become the new pastime for many in that part of the world. all very strange. that was what the north america correspondent. 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's the grand final. after weeks of tangos, salsas and foxtrots, one celebrity will get their hands on the glitterball trophy in strictly�*s 20th anniversary year. so who's in the running?

first up, chris mccausland, who is strictly come dancing's first blind contestant. the comedian has emerged as the bookmakers odds on favourite to win. he and his professional partner, dianne buswell, will reprise their couples choice routine to thejohn lennon classic instant karma, which went viral on social media. after a blackout moment, praised byjudge craig revel—horwood, as absolutely spectacular. but they face stiff competition. also in the final is actress sarah hadland. she's paired with last year's winner, vito coppola. hadland has earned praise during the series for her strong messages about women believing in themselves. if you think you can't do something, you can always push yourself. you set your own limits.

also in the running is former love islander tasha ghouri. she and her dance partner aljaz skorjanec enter into the final in a strong position as the first pair to get a score of ten and a perfect 40. with their american smooth to someone you loved by lewis ca paldi. last but not least, it'sjls singerjb gill. 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 year's series has been full of twists and turns. highlights have included

bollywood music coming to the ballroom. there was also controversy when dancer katya jones appeared to move her partner wyn evans' hand from her waist. she later said it was nonsense that the moment made herfeel uncomfortable in any way. it came after a difficult summer, with a number of former contestants making claims about their experiences on the show. the bbc apologised to amanda abbington and upheld some of her complaints against herformer dance partner giovanni pernice, but cleared him of the most serious allegations. it also 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.

now, you've no doubt already heard lots of the classic christmas songs being played pretty much wherever you go. one of the most loved is i wish it could be christmas every day, which was a huge hit for birmingham band wizzard back in 1973. the original record included vocals from primary school children, who have now been reunited to record a new version. 0ur reporter sarahjulian has been to meet them. # well, i wish it could be christmas every day.# the soundtrack to everyone's christmas since roy wood and wizzard got to numberfour in the charts in 1973, but the stars of the song, the kids with the cute voices are not these ones with bobble hats and toy instruments. they were from a london drama school. the real vocals belong to a group of children, now in their 60s, from inner city birmingham, who never got their moment of fame. it was a bit disappointing because everybody watched thursday night top of the pops, didn't they? and the thing that i get now is people ask, like,

if i tell anybody, they say, "oh, i saw you on top of the pops." and you go, "no, no, it wasn't us." # when the snowman brings the snow...#. i the former pupils of stockland green have gone back to school to sing again and to reminisce with the original keyboard player from wizzard. we were a brummie band, all brummies. roy's a brummie and we're very proud of him, of course, and he wanted to get some kids involved in the record. and then we took them to london and recorded. what they remember mostly is going to the hard rock cafe afterwards. it had just opened in london and had burgers or whatever. we bought them a bit. i was one that was lucky enough to travel in the bus, the little, their sort of bus. the band's bus? yeah. yeah, yeah. wow. with coke and lots of sweets and mars bars and you name it. we were well sugared up. forfive decades, their singing has gone unrecognised.

despite this being one of the biggest christmas songs of all time. i've heard it injapan. i've heard it in in the states, various places in the states, indonesia, i heard it once. and not always feeling the need to tell everybody that, "this is us." they sing. this christmas, the school choirs, past and present, are recording a new version for a special programme. oh, this song. i love this song. i really like the song. and it pretty much happens every christmas when i'm l decorating the house. it makes me think so much of christmas and my family. and ijust think it's such a happy and joyful song. and the grown—ups who've not seen each other since school have loved the experience too. really lovely to meet up again because we haven't met each other for years and it's fantastic. it's like we've never been apart, really. yeah. i it's mad.

now it's time for a look at the weather with stav. after a week of gloomy weather, ex—reference to see the sunshine. we start of the sunshine. we start of the sunshine for many today. it tomorrow, the cloud makes a return, quite breezy but you will notice turning milder with winds from the southwest. a sunnier slice of weather across england and wales for the rest of today, cloudy skies in scotland and northern ireland with patchy drizzle but it is a warm front so temperatures will rise. best assumption in wales, some showers in the south with rain started to get into northern ireland and western scotland is the warm front pushes on. temperature setting here, turning breezy but chilly for most the sunshine. tonight, at the cloud and patchy drizzle and low cloud push on across all areas. the winds picking up across scotland and northern

ireland and by the end of the night, turning milderfor most, temperatures into double figures. sunday starting mild note but cloudy once again. the best of the sunshine towards high ground, eastern scotland, east of the pennines but turning wetter across the north and west of scotland and winter with gales on the north. a breezy day for the but rather cloudy. look at these temperatures, up to 14 or 15 degrees, so mild for the time of year. high pressure to the south, low pressure to the north of us as we get more heavy rain across scotland, persistent rain and windy again with gales here. in the south, breezy but drier because you are closer to high pressure, so some sunny spells breaking