abc news is to pay $15 million to donald trump to settle a defamation case over comments by a host. and coming up, who took home the coveted giltterball trophy? find out who won strictly come dancing. hello and welcome. i'm nicky schiller. we start with the latest on syria. the united states has made direct contact with the rebel group hts which now controls the country after the toppling of the assad regime. the us currently still designates the rebel group as a terrorist group. america's top diplomat, secretary of state antony blinken, speaking in jordan after a summit of syria's furture with representatives from several

arab countries, turkey and europe, said it was important for the us to communicate with the islamist group. here's what mr blinken had to say. america and our partners have an important stake in helping the syrian people chart this new path. we know that what happens inside of syria can have powerful consequences well beyond its borders, from mass displacement to terrorism, and we know that we can't underestimate the challenges of this moment. let's speak to hussein ibish, who is senior resident scholar at the arab gulf states institute. he joins me from washington. is it a surprise the us has made contact with the rebel group even though it is classified as a terrorist organisation? it is and its leader, abu mohammed al—jolani, who is now gone back to his birth name is indeed a specially designated individual, meaning he is

personally listed as the treasury department as a terrorist as well as his organisation, hts, by the state department as a terrorist group. so it is complicated and they have to weigh how they meet and what they say and in particular they have started reconstruction aid or any kind of material transfer, they have to be very careful. on the other hand, people can be put on and taken off and groups can change their names and there are ways around this. it's not at all surprising. all these countries involved, including the united states, and turkey designates ik—3 as a terrorist organisation and has been the main backer of the uprising —— designates hts. let's say they are flexible and the united states retains interest in syria, and doesn't want to exert them through force of conflict and so it has to meet

with the new power centre. what can the international community do to make sure syria doesn't decend into chaos? are there lessons to be learned from what happened in libya? i think more probably from iraq. the main lesson from libya is don't leave a country that is entering into a period of difficult transition, don't leave it alone. and pretend everything will be all right. if it is left up to only those states that have, let's say, self—centred interests, like in this case, turkey, and in libya, and also turkey and others, egypt and the uae, to shape things. it has to be a matter for the shape things. it has to be a matterfor the broader shape things. it has to be a matter for the broader region and international community to help those who really want to stabilise the country, rather than having some political or financial gain out of the

situation and reconstruction is a must but also guidance is a must. benchmarks can be established, as long as they are clear—cut, not confused, not 20 different things but one thing in return for, or a certain form of aid, or lifting of a sanction. as long as it is clear—cut and simple. benchmarks can work. it really is important for the region to do that and for the rural world to do that. the stakes in syria are higher than to do that. the stakes in syria are higherthan in to do that. the stakes in syria are higher than in libya.- are higher than in libya. what about israel? _ are higher than in libya. what about israel? the _ are higher than in libya. what about israel? the de - are higher than in libya. what about israel? the de facto - about israel? the de facto leader has condemned israel for continued airstrikes on syria. here is the thing on israel. i think the west will find its desire to blow up the really heavy weapons that the former

regime had accumulated that remain, chemicalweapons, missiles, what remained of the air force in syria, missile defence, stuff that is a heavy duty and hard to replace and for israel to destroy that on the grounds that it doesn't have any idea on how hostile or not or neutral the new government will be, is sort of understandable, i suppose. government will be, is sort of understandable, isuppose. i think that is the american attitude. but the land grab that the israelis have done, seizing a big buffer zone, much bigger than they had before then they had before the golan heights, which is syrian territory and which is in violation of the un charter, they have seized the highest point and a whole bunch of other territory in the vicinity and it looks like they are hunkering down for the long run. they may be looking at another territorial expansion on top of many other expansions

and it's very important that the world does not let israel bite off parts of syria and take advantage of the chaos. that would be unconscionable. israel is saying it is seeking to prevent weapons falling into the hands of others. medics in gaza say israeli airstrikes have killed at least 22 palestinians. the israel defence forces and hamas say one of those killed was the mayor of deir al—balah in central gaza. 13 others were killed there, including, medics say, at least 10 who'd gathered to receive aid. medics say at least seven people including a woman and her baby were killed in a school in gaza city. israel said hamas was using it as a base. "apocalyptic" — that's how people on the french indian ocean territory of mayotte are describing conditions after cyclone chido tore through the islands. french officials say all makeshift homes there have been completely destroyed.

mayotte sits in the indian ocean, about 500km east of mozambique and about 350km west of madagascar. the storm brought heavy rain and winds that peaked at more than 220km/h at least two people have been killed. the french interior minister said he feared a heavy death toll. the cyclone has also wrecked homes, brought down electricity poles and trees and smashed boats. france's transport minister called the situation extremely worrying, and that ships were being deployed to ensure supplies. paris is sending military and medical reinforcements. earlier, prime minister francois bayrou held an emergency meeting with ministers. it's been described as the worst storm in mayotte in years. translation: winds of over 200 kilometres an _ translation: winds of over 200 kilometres an hour, _ translation: winds of over 200 kilometres an hour, public- kilometres an hour, public facilities badly damaged or

destroyed at the prefecture, the hospital, the airport, making a very large number of air links impossible. very serious, very violent risks incurred for homes and for precarious housing. let's speak to stormchaser josh morgerman. his work involves collecting data on hurricanes in the field, which is especially valuable during storms that strike remote regions in developing nations — areas that often lack measuring stations. josh joins me from bay saint louis, in mississippi. give us a sense of how powerful this cyclone that has hit mayotte is.— this cyclone that has hit ma otte is. , ., ., ., mayotte is. this was a ma'or im act mayotte is. this was a ma'or impact on d mayotte is. this was a ma'or impact on basically i mayotte is. this was a ma'or impact on basically there h mayotte is. this was a major i impact on basically there were two important factors, one was that it was very strong. for viewers who may not know this, this is what we call a hurricane, exact the same thing but we call the a cyclone below the equator and if we use the atlantic scalpel classification, this was a category for hurricane so very strong. and it hit an extremely

vulnerable location —— category four. i looked at a study of 40% of the study of the housing there are corrugated metal shacks and those structures are no match for cyclonic winds like this so strong cyclone making a direct impact on a venerable place. == making a direct impact on a venerable place.— venerable place. -- - vulnerable _ venerable place. -- - vulnerable place. - venerable place. -- - i vulnerable place. when venerable place. -- - - vulnerable place. when that happens, how hard is that for an area like mayotte to recover because they have had cyclones in the past? it because they have had cyclones in the past?— in the past? it is very hard. mayotte — in the past? it is very hard. mayotte is _ in the past? it is very hard. mayotte is very, _ in the past? it is very hard. mayotte is very, it - in the past? it is very hard. mayotte is very, it is - in the past? it is very hard. mayotte is very, it is a - in the past? it is very hard. l mayotte is very, it is a small target and does not get it often. yourfolks target and does not get it often. your folks are saying before i came on that the last cyclone event was 90 years ago, 1934, that is correct. the last time they got a direct hit by a cyclone was 1984 bombing 40 years ago. when it does not get it for a long time, there is

collective amnesia about the threats and risks involved and it makes recovery hard and the infrastructure has not kept pace with what is needed to withstand an impact like this. the fact it is a single, it is a group of a couple of islands, the fact it is isolated, makes recovery, very, very difficult because it is hard to get supplies and aid their. to any other areas _ supplies and aid their. to any other areas have _ supplies and aid their. to any other areas have to _ supplies and aid their. to any other areas have to worry - supplies and aid their. to any i other areas have to worry about whether cyclone is heading? absolutely. as we are talking, it is making a mother landfall on the coast of mozambique and i was watching the satellite before i came on and fortunately it looks like the intense inner core has passed south, just missed the major port city of pemba, and i'm thinking just based on the satellite imagery so that may be a near miss but it also came ashore very intensely there. any villages in the path that will experience devastation as

well. this thing has been on a rampage across several nations. i thank you for your insight. abc news in the united states has agreed to pay $15 million to donald trump for libel. the legal action was brought after the tv host george stephanopoulos inaccurately said the incoming president had been found liable for rape in a civil suit. e jean carroll, mr trump was found liable for sexual abuse as well as defamation, but not rape. in a statement, abc said: "we are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing." to france now. five people have been killed in shootings in the north of the country, including four near a camp for migrants close to dunkirk. a 22—year—old is said to have confessed to the killings. with me is our news correspondent, simonjones. what do we know?

the town mayor of dunkirk has described what happened as a tragedy. is that the fibre lost their lives had been murdered in cold blood. the shootings took place in three different locations, the first on saturday afternoon at around three pm. the gunmen went to a house of a 29—year—old businessman. apparently the wife of the businessmen had a commotion on the street and the businessmen went to investigate what was happening and there he was shot in the street. the gunmen according to the french authorities then drove to another area of dunkirk to a migrant camp, a makeshift clap and shot two migrants believed to have been of kurdish origin who were walking along the road. then in his car he drove to the port area and shot dead two security guards. before driving to a nearby police station and handing himself in. according to the french

authorities, the man is 22, believed to be of french origin and he is said to have confessed to the killings. do we have any idea about emotive? the town mayor is saying at the moment that is a mystery and there are many questions. why were three different areas targeted? was there any link? when they random attacks? with they targeted? why particular did the gunmen go to this migrant camp? was that deliberate? was that singled out on purpose? many questions. the police will be carrying on the interrogation and questioning the suspect during the course of today but still a lot of questions about why this happened and a real sense of shockin happened and a real sense of shock in the community in northern france. let's get some of the day's other news now. south korea's acting president, han duck—soo,

has assured president biden that seoul will carry out its security policies without disruption. he took on the role after parliament voted to impeach president yoon suk yeol for trying to impose martial law, which sparked massive protests across the country. the defence ministry in niger says two recent attacks in the west have killed 39 people including several children. the area's recently seen many killings by islamist militants. it's not yet known who carried out the latest attacks. at least five people have been found dead and dozens are still missing, after a dinghy carrying migrants capsized off the southern coast of crete. according to the greek authorities, 39 people have been rescued while search and rescue operations are ongoing. eight people have been injured, one of them critically, when a bus crashed into a railway bridge in glasgow city centre. part of the vehicle's roof was torn off in the accident yesterday evening. it's thought the bus may have taken a wrong turn. let's turn now to the political crisis in georgia. opposition supporters have

continued their protests in the capital, tbilisi, and other cities — something they've been doing since the end of last month. a rally outside parliament was addressed by the pro—western president salome zourabichili, who told the crowd that new elections were needed to achieve peace and justice. earlier, a new president was elected by georgia's disputed parliament — the former manchester city footballer mikheil kavelashvili, who's known for his nationalist, anti—western views. the protesters claim his election was illegal and some of them showed him the red card, saying this was the only language he understands. our correspondent, rayhan demytrie, is in the georgian capital, tblisi. the turmoil deepens after the new president was appointed? that is right. the protests have continued across georgia in the black sea coastal town

in the black sea coastal town in western georgia and protesters mopped the election of mikheil kavelashvili by playing football or holding soviet—era red diplomas and poking fun at the fact that the new president—elect does not have higher education. on saturday, the former footballer, 53—year—old mikheil kavelashvili was voted in by the electoral college in georgia's parliament and that electoral college largely consisted of loyalists to the georgia dream party. it was the only candidate on the ballot and elected as the country's next president. meanwhile, outside parliament, and freezing temperatures, people have continued to protest and there were more people towards there were more people towards the night, there was some confrontations brewing with a large number of police because

there was a plan by the town mayor of the capital, tbilisi, to light a giant christmas tree outside parliament and that did not happen because the protesters were building at any not happen because the protesters were building at any attempt by the government to attempt by the government to like christmas decorations —— like christmas decorations —— booing. like christmas decorations -- booina. , ., ., , booing. like christmas decorations -- booina. , ., ., , booing. he is going to be booing. he is going to be inaugurated _ booing. he is going to be inaugurated on _ booing. he is going to be | inaugurated on december booing. he is going to be - inaugurated _ booing. he is going to be inaugurated on _ booing. he is going to be | inaugurated on december booing. he is going to be - inaugurated on december 29. what will happen between now inaugurated on december 29. what will happen between now and then in terms of those and then in terms of those protests? i and then in terms of those protests?— protests? i and then in terms of those protests?— and then in terms of those protests? i think very likely that the protests _ protests? i think very likely and then in terms of those protests? i think very likely that the protests _ protests? i think very likely that the protests will - that the protests will - that the protests will that the protests will continue. last night, the continue. last night, the presidents of belarus and presidents of belarus and azerbaijan were one of the azerbaijan were one of the first leaders to congratulate first leaders to congratulate mikheil kavelashvili and these mikheil kavelashvili and these former soviet countries are not former soviet countries are not known for upholding democratic known for upholding democratic principles or leading up to principles or leading up to european values, and that is european values, and that is why people are protesting in why people are protesting in georgia. they want to see their georgia. they want to see their

country as part of country as part of the european union, moving away from the soviet past, and they see all of the steps that have been taken by the

of drugging and attacking her at a house party following the mtv following the mtv video music awards. video music awards. in an interview with nbc, in an interview with nbc, the woman acknowledged making the woman acknowledged making some mistakes in her some mistakes in her accusation, but said she stood accusation, but said she stood by her claim. by her claim. jay—z�*s attorney told the bbc jay—z�*s attorney told the bbc it was stunning that a lawyer it was stunning that a lawyer would not only file such would not only file such a serious complaint a serious complaint without proper vetting, without proper vetting, but would make things worse but would make things worse by further peddling this by further peddling this false story in the press. false story in the press. a spectacular meteor shower has been lighting up the night sky. the night sky. the meteors associated the meteors associated with the geminids are some with the geminids are some of the brightest and most of the brightest and most abundant in the skies. abundant in the skies. this year they're visible this year they're visible

from the fouth until the 20th from the fouth until the 20th of december but the peak is between friday and sunday, depending on your time zone.

whilst most meteor showers .. not -.... to reveal fee any whilst most meteor showers a; not my: to reveal her; eng... whilst most meteor showers a; not my: to reveal her face. did not want to reveal her face but what she did say is she stood by her claims. however, the tv network found major inconsistencies in her stories. two of her main inconsistencies, one, she said after the alleged assault which took place in 2001, 24 years ago, that herfather took place in 2001, 24 years ago, that her father picked took place in 2001, 24 years ago, that herfather picked up after she was able to leave the house of sean combs and escape to a local gas station is what she says she called her father and herfather she says she called her father and her father picked she says she called her father and herfather picked her up. she told him about it. apparently, they contacted father and herfather apparently, they contacted father and her father said he probably won't remember anything like that happening. another thing she alleges in the lawsuit is that after, while at the party, she ran into the musician benji madden and got into a conversation with him back into thousand after the video music awards about a tattoo he hard and

benji madden was on torah at the time and did not attend the awards or go to a party — as she was on a music to and they followed up with her and she said that she is not right about everything but she does remember the alleged assault and she is standing by her story —— music tour. naturally, jay z story —— music tour. naturally, jay z and his attorney are jumping on that and they have filed a motion to have her entire lawsuit dismissed. that is where we stand right now. and the lawyer forjay z saying, attacking the lawyer who has taken on the suit? yes. basically saying _ who has taken on the suit? yes. basically saying that _ who has taken on the suit? yes. basically saying that he - who has taken on the suit? yes. basically saying that he is - who has taken on the suit? jazz basically saying that he is not venting his client and saying that these attorneys looking for his 15 minutes of fame taking anyone who comes forward and taking anyone making allegations against jay z or

sean combs and it remains to be seen but what we are waiting for is a judge to make a decision as to whether or not there is any validity to this woman's lawsuit.- there is any validity to this woman's lawsuit. you mentioned sean combs- _ woman's lawsuit. you mentioned sean combs. he _ woman's lawsuit. you mentioned sean combs. he is _ woman's lawsuit. you mentioned sean combs. he is about - woman's lawsuit. you mentioned sean combs. he is about part - woman's lawsuit. you mentioned sean combs. he is about part of| sean combs. he is about part of a litigation on dozens of lawsuits against him. dozens and dozens. _ lawsuits against him. dozens and dozens. right _ lawsuits against him. dozens and dozens. right now, - lawsuits against him. dozens and dozens. right now, this| and dozens. right now, this lawsuit filed against jay z initially was filed in october and did not mentionjay z. they recently refiled the lawsuit and added his name to it. we have sean combs still in jail waiting for his upcoming trial and denied bond numerous times and denied bond numerous times and will probably have to stay there until may of 2025 which is when they believe one of the trials will start. after weeks of tangos, salsas and foxtrots, the winners of strictly come dancing were announced

in the live final on bbc one last night. chris mccausland! chris mccausland became the first blind winner of the dancing competition in the uk. he beaths singeer gill, actress sarah hadland and former love islander tasha ghouri to lift the glitterball trophy. the comedian, who was the bookmakers' favourite to win, performed three dances with partner dianne buswell. he said his win was for her, "and for everyone out there who's told they couldn't do something or thought they couldn't do it". i don't know what to say. i honestly thought i would go out in the first week or two and i know i didn't go out in the first week but i still thought

i could. we have lasted and lasted and she has got so much out of me. i mean, she deserves this so much. there is an article on the bbc news website and it's amazing that he is blind and he also won and some say it is the best series and final of the series. read more on the bbc news website. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. well, finally, some blue sky and some sunshine for many parts of england and wales through the day on saturday. and it was a beautiful end to the day — lots of red skies around, including here in gosport in hampshire, with our approaching weather front. but it's that weather front that's introducing a lot more cloud as we head through sunday, so it's not such a nice day of weather.

there'll be a brisk westerly wind, many places will stay dry and the air is going to turn a lot milder — and that's because it's a warm front — marked here with the red circles — gradually slipping southwards and eastwards for the rest of saturday night, introducing that milder—feeling air — marked here in yellow — squeezing the blue, colder air well out of the way. we're staying in that milder air for the next few days. and here it is on sunday morning. a lot of cloud, some coastal, some hill fog around, gales across the northern isles, and it's breezy with that brisk westerly wind further south, too. heavy rain pushing into northwest scotland. but elsewhere, largely dry away from these northern and western coasts. the best of any breaks in the cloud will be to the east of higher ground, so eastern scotland, north east england, eastern wales should see at least some brighter spells. temperatures will be mild — 12 to 14 degrees celsius — in the best of any brightness. and it's just more of the same as we head through sunday night and into monday. the rain continues across northwest scotland. a few breaks in the cloud perhaps further south with the strength of the breeze but temperatures won't drop much below nine or ten degrees celsius as we kick off the new working week. and if we just take a look

at the pressure chart then you can see that this rain is just set to continue across northwest scotland. there is a met office yellow weather warning in place for heavy rain here. there could be some localised flooding because the rainfall totals will really start to rack up, particularly as we head through monday and into tuesday. and because of the snow melt with that milder air, there could be some localised flooding. the rain gradually pushing across caithness and sutherland later on. a few more breaks in the cloud, i think, further south on monday. it does stay breezy but i think we'll stand the chance of seeing more sunshine across east anglia and parts of the east midlands in particular. as we head through monday and into tuesday, we look out towards the south—west. it's turning really very wet and windy with this deep area of low pressure starting to sweep through. the winds turn more southwesterly and it will be very blustery, unsettled as we head through the middle of the week and then, it all turns cooler with a northwesterly wind developing on thursday, so a drop in temperature again. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. the headlines: the united states says it's made direct contact with the rebels now in charge of syria — despite designating them as terrorists. it comes as the new de—facto leader of syria condemns israel for continued air strikes on the country.

territory of mayotte, devastating homes and uprooting trees throughout the islands. french officials say there could be a high numbers of casualties. five people are killed in shootings in northern france — including four near a camp for migrants close to dunkirk. a 22—year—old man has turned himself in. and abc news is to pay $15 million to donald trump for libel to settle a lawsuit over comments by one of its hosts. the money will go towards funding the trump presidential library. now on bbc news — talking business. hello and welcome to talking business. let's take a look at what's on the show this week. as millions turn to weight—loss jabs to fight the fat, could the drugs have a heavy impact on the world of business? everyone wants to be thinner. everyone wants to be, you know, prettier. everyone wants to be more, more, more, and we all

want it immediately. i keep seeing a lot about it on social media.