raised concerns. and the mystery grows around repeated sightings of unknown drones in several states in the northeast us. hello, i'm luxmy gopal. a former manchester city footballer has been elected in a vote in georgia's parliament, despite denunciations from the incumbent president and the pro—eu opposition that the process is illegitimate. mikheil kavelashvili is a former mp from the increasingly authoritarian ruling georgian dream party and was the only candidate for the job. it comes after 17 days of pro—eu protests

our south caucasus and central asia correspondent rayhan demytrie is outside parliament in the georgian capital, tblisi. a short while ago the head of the central election commission announced the results of the election that took place this morning. it was the electoral college that voted for georgia's next president. it is the first time the head of state is chosen by the electoral college. the nominees were from the current ruling party that has been in power for the last 12 years. the opposition seems to have turned against the ruling party. mikheil kavelashvili is a loyal candidate and part of the ruling party. people have been standing in the state since this morning.

people are kicking a football around. i am speaking to one of the protesters. i wanted to ask you now that you have a new president, what do you think of his presidency? we have been protesting for more than 15 days. not only from this morning. he is without education. he has no diploma or higher education. he does not speak any do not have any skills. he isjust a puppet. he only knows one side. he is a footballer. he only knows about red cards. we know that the incumbent president has refused to step down.

she says people will be on her side. what you expect to happen next? i don't know what she thinks. but we are definitely on her side. if you come here in the evening and see all these protests, you can see that more than this number of people are protesting against this. a short while ago i was talking to one of the government mps and he described the protest as artificially created. he said that it was somehow directed from abroad. what would you say to that? we are not people who came here under the pressure of someone. we are standing here

of our own accord. i have come from the eastern part of georgia. i i have come from the eastern part of georgia.— part of georgia. i can hear every day _ part of georgia. i can hear every day to _ part of georgia. i can hear every day to express - part of georgia. i can hear every day to express my l every day to express my opinion _ we are standing on ourown here. that was one of the protesters. right now, it is late afternoon, but it is expected that larger crowds will gather here as they have done over the past two weeks. once again, to protest, not only the new president who was voted in by the electoral college, and also to protest this latest crisis was sparked by the government's decision to put georgia's eu accession talks on hold, and here the protest we can see a lot of the people are flying the eu flag.

they believe that this government is turning its back on europe, and it will deepen the political crisis in this country. as people are protesting that they do not recognise mikheil kavelashvili as a president. given that this development moves georgia further away from hopes of eu accession. what is the likely reaction from other western leaders? right here, at the protest, i see people holding signs saying eu and us to impose sanctions. this is on the protesters and from the country's opposition. a couple of the baltic states have already imposed sanctions.

including the founder of the georgian dream party. the presidential office has been considered by the protesters and the opposition as the last remaining independent institution and they believe that the appointment of this president, mikheil kavelashvili, who is loyal to the government will end georgia's democracy once and for all. we can take you life to the current scenes they are outside the parliament building. it is looking a lot busier is a lot fuller than earlier. we have seen the numbers go up in the past few hours. it was a lot emptier earlier. since the announcement day of the new

president being named. the x footballer. there has been a higher turnout with more people turning up outside the parliament building. life scenes they are from the pc. members of parliament in south korea have voted to remove president yoon suk yeol from power over his short—lived declaration of martial law 12 days ago. yoon will be immediately suspended from office and south korea's constitutional court has 180 days either to reinstate him or back his removal. the prime minister will become the acting president. these were the jubilant scenes as tens of thousands of protestors — who had gathered outside the national assembly — received the news. people have been singing �*into the new world' by k—pop group �*girls generation' as fireworks broke out overhead. here was the moment the results of the impeachment vote was announced. 20a in favour, out

of 300, against is 85. and i announce it has passed. in an address to the south korean people after the vote, mr yoon asked politicians to improve the political culture in the country away from confrontation — while also urging support for the acting president. not everybody will be celebrating today. our reporter yuna ku has been hearing from president yoon's supporters who have been gathered outside seoul city hall. have a listen.... here i stand in central seoul, a few kilometres away from the national assembly. here the anger and disappointment are palpable after the assembly voted to pass the impeachment bill against the president. tens of thousands of ante impeachment protesters are together here to express their outrage over the recent proceedings. the cross chant of this assemble, this ruling

the crowds chant of this assemble, this ruling party, many people immediately leaving the location, expressing their deep frustration. many of these demonstrator are staunch supporters of the president and the conservative party. largely although citizens with more direct experience of the korean war and north korean provocation. they believe that the declaration of martial law was necessary for national security, as the president himself explained. this is a stark contract to the scene unfolding outside the national assembly, where people have been urging lawmakers to pass the impeachment bill and the president's resignation. they seem to represent the majority of the public who, according to various polls oppose the president has meant decisions to declare martial law and support the impeachment. but whether here or outside the national assembly, these demonstrations reflect a society wrestling with questions ofjustice and democracy.

let's speak to jean mackenzie who's in seoul. we saw some union supporters there. you were among the protesters who are opposed to him. this is a huge meant moment ofjubilation for them. moment of jubilation for them. hundreds moment ofjubilation for them. hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people turned out today to sit outside the national assembly in freezing temperatures. but it is felt like a party all day. as is so often the case with protest in south korea. even though they were wrapped up, they were still singing and dancing and cheering. there was hope right from the beginning of the day that the president was going to be impeached, that this was going to go through. when this unit impose martial law on his country last tuesday night, it not only stand this country, but it scared people. people

felt he had taken south korea back to a chapter in its history. when this impeachment vote was eventually announced, there was just euphoria. people were overcome with emotion. they were crying and saying to us that they have saved their democracy. that was how much they felt was at stake here. it was a reallyjoyous scene. it looked a bit like a raver. given that they were all unified by this common aim of ousting yoon and that is happening now, how likely are they going to be to rally around a replacement? there is around a replacement? there is a lona around a replacement? there is a long road _ around a replacement? there is a long road ahead _ around a replacement? there is a long road ahead in _ around a replacement? there is a long road ahead in this - a long road ahead in this process. they are not going to get a replacement quickly. the president has been suspended for nine. he has not gone for good. the prime minister taken over the running of the country. what happens next is

that the decision was the constitutional court and it has six months to decide what to do. whether to finalise its impeachment or not. if it does not, mryoon impeachment or not. if it does not, mr yoon can return to office. he has been defined throughout this whole period. he says he will fight it until the end. he came out tonight and said it was a temporary suspension of his power. this is a victory for the protesters tonight, they are treating it as a victory, but this is going to ramble on and on. it may not be as clear cut as people are hoping it will be. his defiance notwithstanding, _ hoping it will be. his defiance notwithstanding, is _ hoping it will be. his defiance notwithstanding, is there - notwithstanding, is there really any possibility that he could return to that position, given that his own ruling party have not been onside with some of the details and have been revealed by what he did? the issue now _ revealed by what he did? the issue now is _ revealed by what he did? the issue now is that _ revealed by what he did? the issue now is that it _ revealed by what he did? tie:

issue now is that it it revealed by what he did? tue: issue now is that it it leaves the fray of politics and go to the fray of politics and go to the courts. it is not up to the politicians and people any longer. it is up to the judiciary. mryoon longer. it is up to the judiciary. mr yoon is a prosecutor by trade. he knows the law inside out. he had a sound system is bound to fight it. ., ~ sound system is bound to fight it. . ~ , ., sound system is bound to fight it. . ~ g ., sound system is bound to fight it. thank you, jean, for your time. prince andrew says he "ceased all contact" with a businessman accused of being a chinese spy after concerns were raised by the uk government. in a statement, the duke of york said the pair met through "official channels" and had never discussed anything of a "sensitive nature". the man in question lost an appeal over a decision to bar him from entering the uk on national security grounds. graham satchell reports once again, prince andrew is underfire. hisjudgment called into question after he was targeted by a suspected spy working for the chinese communist party. a statement issued by the duke of york's office said the duke of york followed advice from his majesty's government

and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised. the duke met the individual through official channels, with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed. he is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security. 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 m15 became suspicious of h6, they searched his phone. they found a letter from prince andrew's senior adviser, dominic hampshire. it said, "outside of the prince's closest internal confidants, you sit at the very top of a tree that many, many people would like to be on." and in a note he'd written to himself, the alleged spy said, "manage expectations. "really important to not set too high expectations. he is in a desperate situation and will grab at anything."

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 the very highest levels of the british establishment? m15 has become more worried in recent times about china's influence and intelligence gathering in the uk. we see the chinese authorities playing the long game in cultivating contacts 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 and 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 for h6 to be named in the interests of national security.

it was his girlfriend that was the key element in this. 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 judgment that has once again come under the closest scrutiny. graham satchell, bbc news. now it's time for a look at today's sport with xxxx we start with cricket — england have already won their test series in new zealand but they are hoping to make it a 3—0 clean sweep. on the opening day of the final test in hamilton their bowlers have been chipping away — taking nine wickets. gus atkinson once again shining, taking 3 for 55 — the same number of wickets that fell to matthew potts — 3 for 75, the best moment of the day, was when the world's best batter harry brook showed his juggling

abilities, taking a superb catch on the boundary... but the new zealand tail has dug in — mitchell santner unbeaten on 50 — a half century earlier from tom latham too — the hosts 315 for 9 at the close of play. there are periods where we go through a phase of not taking any wickets. but if you look at the fielding input and the energy, they are toiling away, not doing a nicejob, but grafting away. not being rewarded for it. they are backed up by the fielders. we know if we stick to our guns and we are meticulously will come away eventually. we will wrestle the day back a little bit. ~ ., ., , bit. we have to bowl extremely well tomorrow. _ bit. we have to bowl extremely well tomorrow. the _ bit. we have to bowl extremely well tomorrow. the pitch - bit. we have to bowl extremely well tomorrow. the pitch may l well tomorrow. the pitch may flatten— well tomorrow. the pitch may flatten out a bit. we will have to build — flatten out a bit. we will have to build pressure, which is have — to build pressure, which is have to _ to build pressure, which is have to do against the english.

it was a frustrating day for australia and india, as the opening day of the third test in brisbane was abandoned due to rain. the weather meant only, 13 overs were possible, as openers usman khawaja and nathan mcsweeney, guided australia to 28 without loss. the five—match series is level at 1—1 after australia's10—wicketwin in adelaide last week. there are five games in the english premier league on saturday — impacting both the top and bottom of the table. wolves and ipswich are both in the bottom three — and have both lost their last three — they go head to head at molineux whilst arsenal will be looking to keep pace at the top when they face everton. the league leaders liverpool are currently six points ahead of them with a game in hand. fulham are the visitors to anfield — they took a point off arsenal in their last game — which is why liverpool boss arne slot is wary

of the threat they pose: you can only take away points on this team is if you have quality yourself. you have to have a good game plan. they work very hard even when they don't have the ball. that is one of the reasons not to concede goals. that is what they have dead against arsenal. celtic and rangers are preparing for sunday's league cup final but in the scottish premiership. there are three games to come later — including fourth place dundee united at fifth place motherwell. hibernian are at home to ross county whilst stjohnstone face st mirren. naoya inoue's planned christmas eve defence of his world super—bantamweight titles has been postponed after australian challenger sam goodman suffered an injury in training. goodman's gym announced that he cut his eye

while sparring, with reports saying he needed four stitches. a new date has been set for friday, 2a january, at the ariake arena in tokyo. you can keep across all the sport on the bbc sport website. there's confusion over persistent reports of drone sightings in the skies over the eastern united states. the governors of new york and newjersey say they're in touch with federal officials over eyewitness concerns. the president—elect donald trump has taken to social media to demand either an official explanation or for the objects to be shot down. white house officials have played down the reports. these are the drones have been reported by the people living in newjersey. loud, low flying aspects with unusual lighting. it also has a few weeks ago with reports of a drone flying over an army base. in the days

are followed, officials were inundated with reports of mysterious objects in the skies. it mysterious ob'ects in the skies. �* . ., skies. it didn't concern me at first. ididn't_ skies. it didn't concern me at first. | didn't think _ skies. it didn't concern me at first. i didn't think anything l first. i didn't think anything of it— first. i didn't think anything of it in_ first. i didn't think anything of it in till it started coming every— of it in till it started coming every night at the same time in the same — every night at the same time in the same places. i thought maybe _ the same places. i thought maybe it was a militaryjail. | maybe it was a militaryjail. i saw clusters last night. about eight — saw clusters last night. about eight apple _ saw clusters last night. about eight apple here. _ saw clusters last night. about eight apple here. but - saw clusters last night. aboutl eight apple here. but normally i eight apple here. but normally isee _ eight apple here. but normally isee them _ eight apple here. but normally isee them a _ eight apple here. but normally i see them a little _ eight apple here. but normally i see them a little spread - eight apple here. but normally i see them a little spread out. i i see them a little spread out. the low— i see them a little spread out. the low flying _ i see them a little spread out. the low flying objects - i see them a little spread out. the low flying objects are - the low flying objects are often reported to be flying very close to each other. on thursday, the white house said the sightings were probably unmanned aircraft or helicopters. and said they are confident there is no risk to the public. confident there is no risk to the public— confident there is no risk to the ublic. ~ ., ., . the public. we have no evidence at this time _ the public. we have no evidence at this time that _ the public. we have no evidence at this time that the _ the public. we have no evidence at this time that the drone - at this time that the drone sightings pose a risk to national security or a public safety — national security or a public safety threat. 0r national security or a public safety threat. or have a foreign _ safety threat. or have a foreign nexus.— safety threat. or have a foreign nexus. safety threat. or have a forein nexus. ' . ., , foreign nexus. officials in new jerse foreign nexus. officials in new jersey are _ foreign nexus. officials in new jersey are pushing _ foreign nexus. officials in new jersey are pushing for - foreign nexus. officials in new jersey are pushing for more i jersey are pushing for more information to discuss the public about the mysterious

sightings. t public about the mysterious si . htin . s. , sightings. i believe the government _ sightings. i believe the government need - sightings. i believe the government need to i sightings. i believe the i government need to brief sightings. i believe the - government need to brief the public— government need to brief the public about these drugs. where are they from? _ public about these drugs. where are they from? speculation - public about these drugs. where are they from? speculation on . are they from? speculation on social media has increased in recent days as people want to know where these objects have come from and who they belong to. it's no secret that cycling is good for your physical health — but could it help with loneliness too? that's exactly what it did for one sudanese refugee living in glasgow. when nahla abdulla, settled in the city she felt isolated and alone — until she learned to ride a bike. aileen clarke has this report.

when nahla abdulla fled the war in her home country of sudan, she arrived here knowing no—one. at glasgow's kelvingrove, as the art project boxes of hope goes on show, she told me how it was learning to ride a bike that gave her hope of a brighter future. when i arrived, it was difficult. i was alone, i don't have family here. ijust i left my family in sudan. the bike, it helped me to see the beauty of this city and to discover the life here. i was not a cycle person or i start from the scratch as our culture, it's forbidden for girls to cycle. but here, it helped me to feel a sense of belonging. let me feel like there is many things to discover here in this city. and it pushed me to go out. it was a glasgow cycling group who got nahla peddling and it's touching for them to know the huge difference they've made. people don't realise just the impact of something so simple as teaching someone to ride a bike,

but it's really great to know and just really kind of heartwarming to think that that's the impact that you've had on someone. and as a group, that that's what we can do and can help other people do as well. out on the bike, nahla's confidence was built up and it gave her a community. meanwhile, she was granted refugee status. she's able to work and she's working with a charity helping ethnic minority women. and guess what? she's asking them to get on their bikes. it made me be happier. it helps physically and mentally, emotionally, giving me friends, of course. all from a bicycle? yes, all from the bicycle. east 17 singer, tony mortimer, has surprised commuters at london's st pancras station by performing the christmas number one — stay another day. singing

backed by the london community gospel choir, the performance celebrated the song's 30th anniversary. afterwards tony said it was a "magical experience". there is often debate as to whether it's a is a christmas song. but it is associated with christmas because of its snowy video. stay with us here on bbc news. hello. after a week of gloomy weather, it does make a difference to see the sunshine. we start off the weekend with sunshine for many today. but tomorrow, the cloud makes a return, quite breezy but you will notice it turning milder with winds from the southwest. a sunnier slice of weather across england and wales

for the rest of today, cloudier skies in scotland and northern ireland with patchy drizzle, but it is a warm front so temperatures will rise. the rest of the day, england and wales will see the best of the sunshine, some showers in the south west, wales and the north west, with rain starting to get into northern ireland and western scotland is the warm front pushes in. temperature lifting here, turning breezy but chilly for most despite the sunshine. tonight, the cloud and patchy drizzle and low cloud push in 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 on a mild note but cloudy once again. the best of the sunshine towards the lea of high ground, eastern scotland, east of the pennines, but turning wetter across the north and west of scotland and windy with gales in the north. a breezy day further south but rather cloudy. look at these temperatures,

up to 1a 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 into monday, bringin 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 through from time to time. western hills rather grey, hill fog and patchy rain at times, but mild for the time of year, temperatures in the low teens widely. moving through the week, staying mild and unsettled for the first half of the week, deeper areas of low pressure from the southwest, so heavy rain and gales at times, interspersed with some drier and brighter moments, but looking unsettled for the upcoming week, staying mild. just hints of it turning cooler again as we push closer to next weekend. take care.

this is bbc news. the headlines: the former manchester city footballer mikheil kavelashvili is elected as georgia's new president by the country's disputed parliament. it comes amid weeks of mass pro—eu protests by the opposition. mps in south korea vote to impeach president yoon

over his failed attempt to impose martial law. speaking after the vote — he vowed to never give up. 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 unknown drones in several states on the east coast. the governor of new jersey has urged president biden to investigate. now on bbc news, undercover people smugglers. people talking. the face of a migrant in the middle of the channel, trying to reach safety in the uk. behind every migrant, there are people smugglers.