of mayotte. hello. i'm helena humphrey. syria's former president, bashar al—assad, has issued what appears to be his first statement since he was forced out of power a week ago. in what is believed to be a telegram post from moscow, the statement explains how he left after rebels took over, and that he never intended to seek refuge in russia. it's not certain that the post was written by him. here's our russia editor steve rosenberg. where is bashar al—assad 7 he hasn't been seen since he fled syria. today, a statement purporting to be from him appeared on the social media accounts of the former syrian president, dateline moscow. it's unclear who controls the accounts and whether assad wrote this:

president putin, who met army chiefs today, has reportedly granted assad asylum. but the kremlin leader has said nothing publicly about it. most of this speech was about the war in ukraine, not a word about syria. despite having this naval base in syria, in tartus, and a major airbase, events there seem to have taken moscow by surprise. was russia too distracted by its war in ukraine? if you think that we focussed on ukraine and lost syria, no, we didn't lost syria. we still have bases in syria. but you don't know what the future of those bases will be? of course, and you don't know.

for moscow, the issue of the bases is urgent. a kremlin spokesman said moscow was in contact with what he referred to as "representatives of those forces who now control the situation in syria". it is a dialogue that will decide the fate of russia's military presence there. if russia loses its bases, it will lose its foothold in the eastern mediterranean. president putin had invested heavily in syria. what might the russian elite be thinking about the fall of assad? i think they understand that this is putin's failure. they can't be vocal, they can't say it openly. but this is a precedent, this is an example how the autocratic regime could fail, could fall. as president, bashar al—assad was a regular visitor to moscow. his exact whereabouts now remain a mystery.

steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. henri barkey is adjunct senior fellow for middle east studies on the council on foreign relations. i asked him what he makes of the statement�*s claim that assad did not intend to leave to russia it is pathetic statement. what did he think he was doin- when did he think he was doing when he boarded a plane to moscow from the russian base? but i do think, however, this is not a statement written by him, not that he would have written necessarily a better one but it looks like a bureaucratic or bureaucrat�*s statement, somebody who made up word to him so i would not put a great deal of emphasis on it. i think the russians may be felt they needed some statement coming out of bashar al—assad's mouth, so they inscribed it on

telegram, so if you want to make a statement, he can do it himself. i don't really think this is his. as syria seeks to rebuild, civilians there are in desperate need of aid. it's one of 20 countries facing the world's most urgent humanitarian crises, according to an emergency watchlist published by the international rescue committee. those countries include sudan and gaza. i've been speaking to the irc�*s president and ceo, david milliband. i would like to begin with syria because it has been on the irc emergency watchlist those of the last 13 years ever since the beginning of the civil war. now with the fall of assad, if we checked in next year, do you foresee syria still been on that list? how confident are you the situation will improve? we confident are you the situation will improve?— will improve? we have never bou~ht will improve? we have never bought the — will improve? we have never bought the argument - will improve? we have never bought the argument the - will improve? we have never| bought the argument the war will improve? we have never - bought the argument the war was over and assad has one. it is clear now we were right to be

pointing to the inherent instability when the 16 million people are in humanitarian need, when swathes of the country our out of government control. in 12 months, syria could be a country where the extreme poverty rate is going down, where refugees are going back to the country rather than fleeing and where the rebuild has started. of course, that all depends on how the new government comes into place, whether it does embrace all of syria's diversity because if it does not, the alternative course is syria remains a humanitarian hotspot and we are very much of the view our experience in the north—west of syria and the north of syria where we have been working for the last 13 years, our experience is there is a way to harness the energy and thoughtfulness of syrians and rebuild that society. you mention _ rebuild that society. you mention all— rebuild that society. you mention all of _ rebuild that society. you mention all of those - rebuild that society. you | mention all of those open questions now when it comes to the future of syria. we have seen several european countries, the uk included,

pausing decisions for them. from a humanitarian perspective, is it the right thing? i perspective, is it the right thin ? ~ , perspective, is it the right thin? ~ , ., thing? i think it is important to upheld — thing? i think it is important to uphold the _ thing? i think it is important to uphold the principle - thing? i think it is important l to uphold the principle returns to uphold the principle returns to syria should only be voluntary. refugees have been fearful of going back to syria. they fear their sons or husbands would be dragooned into assad's army. it is unclear what the situation will be. i hope in weeks or days it becomes clear syria is a safe place for people to go back to. people are still leaving, minority stakes and an enormous responsibility on those who have taken power to show all parts of syrian society, with christian, muslim, druze orany denomination are able to find safe harbour there. i denomination are able to find safe harbour there.— denomination are able to find safe harbour there. i wonder if we look more _ safe harbour there. i wonder if we look more broadly - safe harbour there. i wonder if we look more broadly at - safe harbour there. i wonder if we look more broadly at the i we look more broadly at the geopolitical context of all of this, president elect donald trump, who said his administration will be carrying out mass deportations on day

one, do you think that could embolden other world leaders to take a harder stance on immigration? i take a harder stance on immigration?— take a harder stance on immiaration? ~ , .,, immigration? i think people around the _ immigration? i think people around the world _ immigration? i think people around the world look- immigration? i think people around the world look to - around the world look to america and american leaders often say they are setting an example for the wider world. in some areas, like humanitarian aid delivery, america is a leader, spends more to save human lives than any other country. in respect of the migration and asylum and refugee issues, we will be making the case there are impactful, purposeful, constructive programmes that can make america a place that does notjust welcome refugees but turns them into patriotic and productive americans. obviously that is a discussion to be had with the new administration but we have evidence on our side in respect of the deportation issue, i think it is very important to get granular about this. every american administration has deported those who do not qualify to be able to stay and

obviously we have to see what the administration does when it takes office afterjanuary 20. i think the most important message from ice from a humanitarian point of view is untended humanitarian crises around the world are what is producing this large flow of people and most refugees are actually in not rich —— poor countries, not rich countries. how concerned are you about mass deportations?— how concerned are you about mass deportations? some of the numbers are _ mass deportations? some of the numbers are large. _ mass deportations? some of the numbers are large. to _ mass deportations? some of the numbers are large. to talk - numbers are large. to talk about millions takes one into a whole new category. i think it is important to sort through the actual practicalities of the actual practicalities of the refugee and asylum system. for example, one part of the system is how quickly asylum claims are dealt with, an essential part of asylum management. in the us at the moment it still takes five or six years to process a claim. that makes no sense at all. we

should talk about sudan. there the second year in a row, we are discussing a country that remains at the top of your emergency watchlist. —— why are people not talking about sudan? why are they not doing more about sedan? it why are they not doing more about sedan?— about sedan? it is the doing rather than _ about sedan? it is the doing rather than talking - about sedan? it is the doing rather than talking that - about sedan? it is the doing i rather than talking that counts for us as a humanitarian organisation. sudan and syria are avatars for the modern day sound humanitarian need, based on civil wars. those civil wars have been fuelled by outside actors, nonstate as well as state actors. civilians have borne more of a brunt of the fighting than soldiers and the economic and climatic conditions, the climate crisis only add to the difficulties both incident and syria. sudan is a staggering example of humanitarian neglect. people in humanitarian neglect. people in humanitarian need, various regional powers supplying arms

and support a different site, whether the sudan armed forces all the rebel group. the essential need is for those supporting the fighting to stop supporting the fighting to stop supporting the fighting to stop supporting the fighting, for the arms flow to stop so some kind of compromise can be forged because... kind of compromise can be forged because. . .- forged because... david miliband _ forged because... david miliband from _ forged because... david miliband from the - forged because... david miliband from the irc. l a chinese businessman accused of spying for beijing and with close links to prince andrew has agreed to his identity being made public. until today, yang teng—bo was known only as h6. he had been banned from the uk last year on national security grounds. the release of his name and photo comes as it's revealed that prince andrew will not nowjoin the royal family for their traditional christmas celebration at sandringham. damian grammaticus has the latest the royal and the alleged spy, this is glossy video from the prince himself, designed to drum up business. throughout, we see yang — we can now name him — banned from the uk as a risk

to national security. mr yang is accused of working for china's communist party, using his ties to build contacts. on his desk, photos. he met theresa may and david cameron. dealing with foreign threats was already on the prime minister's agenda today. here in norway, the immediate issue, russia's war against ukraine. but he's been seeking closer ties with china. so, he was asked, what about its activities? of course, we are concerned about the challenge that china poses. our approach, as you know, i had a meeting with the presidentjust a few weeks ago now, our approach is one of engagement, of cooperating where we need to cooperate, particularly, for example, on issues like climate change, to challenge where we must and where we should. mr yang is appealing his ban from the uk. he asked today for his own anonymity to be lifted, insisting he's an entrepreneur trying to build bridges between east and west.

in a statement, he said: what the case of yang tengbo and prince andrew has now done is add charge to a political debate here. the government wants to reach out and engage with china. conservatives say that comes with risks. how was it that somebody who was known to the security forces was allowed to get so close to a member of the royal family without proper scrutiny, exposing them? the rather sycophantic tone the prime minister took with president xi at the 620 a few weeks ago may not be very wise. china offers economic opportunities. keir starmer wants to seize those. but should he be wary of the true cost that might bring? damian grammaticas, bbc news, westminster.

a new yorkjudge has ruled that president—elect donald trump's hush—money case should not be dismissed. trump's lawyers argued that the case would hinder his ability to govern during his upcoming second term. they tried to have it dismissed based on a supreme court ruling that grants presidential immunity for official acts. mr trump was scheduled to be sentenced on november 26, but a previousjudge pushed this back after trump won the election. in maya in may a new yorkjury found trump guilty falsifying business records. the conviction stemmed from trump's attempt to cover—up reimbursements to his ex— lawyer, michael cohen, who in 2016 paid off an adult film stars remain silent about an alleged sexual encounter with trump. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news. a woman who threw a milkshake

over the reform uk leader nigel farage has been given a 13—week suspended prison sentence. victoria thomas bowen, who's 25, had admitted assault by beating and criminal damage at an earlier hearing. nigel farage criticised the sentence, saying it shows "you can assault a member of parliament "and not go to prison". a man has been arrested after a two—year—old boy died in a crash in the west midlands that involved a stolen porsche. police say the 30—year—old is being held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. the crash happened on dartmouth road in smethwick on saturday evening. a woman, aged 29, and a 30—year—old man remain in a serious condition in hospital. deputy prime minister angela rayner has set out plans for a redesign of local government in england. district councils will be incorporated into wider authorities and new elected regional mayoralties created. ministers say the changes would empower local leaders and could save up to two billion pounds. but opponents say that so—called "mega—councils" will take power away from local communities. you're live with bbc news.

two people are dead and six others injured after a school shooting in the us state of wisconsin. the victims are a teacher and a teenage student. police say the shooter is also dead. the shooting happened at a private christian academy in the state capital, madison. police said the suspect was a juvenile who they believe was a student at the school. a nearby resident had this to say. you always see it on the tv that it happened somewhere else. you know, you feel bad but you don't realise the situation. when it's here in your back yard, it's basically a block away from me, so it's in my back yard, and it's very scary. president biden said the shooting was "shocking" and called for congress to enact stricter gun laws. he said... us school shootings have increased dramatically over the past six years. this year, there have been 322 school shootings in the us, according to the k—12 school shooting database website. that's the second highest year on record, topped only by last year's

total of 349 school shootings. the white house has insisted that all drones spotted around the northeastern united states have been operating lawfully. the national security spokesman john kirby said the activity was commercial, hobbyist or by law enforcement. he added that some of the reports were planes and even stars mistaken for drones. the fbi has in recent days received thousands of tips over drone sightings in a mass frenzy fuelled by conspiracy—theory—laden discourse on social media. the agency said barely a hundred were deemed worthy of investigation. hundreds are feared dead after the worst cyclone to hit the indian ocean islands in nearly a century. cyclone chido battered the french island territory of mayotte, where around 300,000 people live, many of them in shanty towns made up of flimsy structures. the cyclone brought heavy winds and damage as it crossed the island,

before making landfall in mozambique. president macron says he intends to visit the island, which is also part of the european union, as rescue and recovery work continues. for more, i spoke with tommasso della longa, spokesperson for the international federation of red cross and red crescent about the work they're doing and relief efforts in the region. now, this is the worst cyclone to hit mayotte in 90 years. what are you and your teams hearing about the situation on the ground? thanks so much, helena, for letting me in today. well, the situation has been described with very difficult words to hear, something like apocalyptic situation, dramatic situation, reminding of a war zone.

what my colleagues what my colleagues at the french red cross, at the french red cross, who are leading the who are leading the response are telling us response are telling us is it's a situation where is it's a situation where basically, the entire island basically, the entire island is lacking the basics, is lacking the basics, internet and phone connections. internet and phone connections. even buildings like hospitals, even buildings like hospitals, even the airport has even the airport has been heavily damaged. been heavily damaged. and about, if i'm not wrong, and about, if i'm not wrong, 75% of the population already 75% of the population already live below the poverty line live below the poverty line there, there, so surely thatjust makes so surely thatjust makes the impact of what's happened the impact of what's happened all the more devastating? all the more devastating? yes, indeed, it was already of the french red cross, yes, indeed, it was already a complicated situation that's a complicated situation that's been going on for several been going on for several years, but then, years, but then, as you correctly said, as you correctly said, it's the worst cyclone it's the worst cyclone in almost the last 100 years. in almost the last 100 years. just to put into context, just to put into context, winds of 220km/h, winds of 220km/h, so talking about entire areas, so talking about entire areas, if not the whole island, if not the whole island, completely destroyed completely destroyed and washed away. and washed away. and what's really scary and what's really scary is the number of people is the number of people

that are still missing. that are still missing. even the volunteers even the volunteers of the french red cross, more than 200 volunteers are affected and missing, so we have no contact with them. a very distressing situation. i hope you are able to regain contact with them soon. just tell us more about the needs on the ground, what kind of help do we know is on the way? will it get there in a timely fashion? of course geographically, as well, this is an island. i wonder if that complicates the response. absolutely, helena, it's a logistics nightmare. french red cross colleagues have already deployed some teams before the cyclone, so they were there last week, but of course, being prepared for such a heavy impact is very complicated. and now, it's really a logistics nightmare because first and foremost,

you need to assess

are increasing and the violence is increasing. and notjust when it's coming to the cyclones, hurricanes are lasting more, they're more violent, and are simply destroying entire communities. and then it's worth also mentioning that the countries who are contributing the least to the climate crisis are the ones hit the most. german chancellor olaf scholz has lost a vote of confidence in parliament, putting the country on the path to early elections. elections are now set to take place in february, some seven months earlier than scheduled. mr scholz called monday's vote and had expected to lose it to trigger an early vote. mr scholz�*s fractious governing coalition collapsed last month, in a row over spending. our correspondent, damien mcguinness, has more from berlin. the german chancellor lost his photo in the parliament and thatis photo in the parliament and that is what he wanted. that is because it is the only way to

spark early elections. since his government collapsed in november he has been leading a minority government effectively a lame duck administration because he needs the opposition conservatives to pass any new laws. for mr schultz, the only way forward is early elections. he appears convinced he can win these although his poll ratings are absolutely terrible. his only hope is his main rival, the conservative leader, is also pretty unpopular, but the conservatives are in the lead according to current polls, so as things stand, they could well lead the next coalition government, but previous elections in germany have shown things are very unpredictable and the mood can change very quickly. a lot of voters even now say they are undecided and do not know who devote for so a lot can happen between now and february. now, there may some festive cheer when it comes to the cost of christmas dinner at the uk's tables this year. the price of turkey has been

falling, so the main meal of the day for many may set us back a little less than last year. but the overall bill may vary depending on your favourite vegetables, as our cost—of—living correspondent colletta smith explains. happy christmas! they're loading the trays, pulling the crackers, and getting stuck in, because everyone's got a favourite bit of christmas dinner. pigs in blankets, ijust wish i could marry pigs in blankets. definitely the yorkshire puddings. the yorkshire puddings? you're a girl- after my own heart. probably the gravy and the chicken thing. the chicken thing, the turkey, do you mean? yeah, whatever. but for those behind the counter making sure all the kids are well—fed, it's not easy keeping the costs down. let's start with the good news. the price of turkey has fallen by nearly 6% this year, and for those that like them, sprouts are down 12%. but this year, potatoes have seen the biggestjump, up a whopping 26%.

and carrots are up 13%. so, i've pulled on my boots to try and find out why. if it's cold and wet, it can affect germination of the crop, so the crop doesn't gain as much weight as what it needs to. sometimes we've had to redrill some of the fields as well, where it's been that wet. and it's notjust veg that's gone up in price. christmas puddings are up 11% and mince pies are up 5%. although the total costs of a plate of christmas dinner hasn't changed that much since last december, when you look at the prices compared to five years ago, this plate is 16% more expensive, and that sort of price rise is hard to swallow. supermarket competition is fierce at this time of year, so it's worth shopping around to try and bag the best deal for whenever you're sitting down to eat yours. colletta smith, bbc news, in leigh.

that is making me hungry here in the studio. for all the latest news, you can head to our website for our top story there including those allegations of a chinese spy scandal. allegations of a chinese spy sca