they are. this is bbc news, the headlines: after months of deadlock — reports that israel and hamas could be moving closer to a gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal. ukrainian security sources say they were behind a remotely controlled bomb attack that's killed a top russian general. we have been looking at what we know and what we do not know about the killing of that russian general in moscow.

the eu will reopen its syria delegation in damascus — a day after eu officials began engaging with hts. we'll bring you more from damascus. how art is notjust uplifting — but it can be good for your mental and physical health — new research shows the positive impact it can have. we'll be speaking to its co—author. now with all the latest sport here's hugh. chelsea have revealed their ukrainian forward mikhailo mudryk has failed a drugs test. he's been provisionally suspended after the premier league club were contacted by the football association to say there'd been an "adverse finding in a routine urine test". mudryk denies knowingly using any banned substance. our reporter nizaar kinsella has more. in his statement he said it has come as a complete shock.

chelsea have said it is a failed routine, and they have spoken to the player who did not knowingly take any adverse substances, but they showed support also for the fa's testing process so we don't really know any more. the fa did not want to say any further on what the substance was and how long the ban would be and when the next test would be because mudryk is reportedly according to the reports in ukraine, failed the initial a test but there will be a b test to come and we don't know what the outcome will be. but we suspect there will be further clarification on this in the coming weeks. it is a huge story around chelsea who have been going very well this season and now have this off field drama to contend with. vitor pereira has agreed

a deal to become the new manager of premier league side wolves replacing the sacked gary o'neil. the former porto boss will sign an 18—month deal and joins from al shabab in the saudi pro league. pereira's first game will be at leicester on sunday with the team second from bottom of the table after ii defeats in their 16 league games so far this season. the series might have already been lost but new zealand ended it with a thumping victory over england in the third test in hamilton. england started day four needing an improbable 658 to win and already two wickets down. but there was some early resistance from jacob bethell who made 76. joe root�*s half century also delayed the inevitable but once mitchell santner dismissed him to provide the first of his four wickets, it wasn't long before the tourists were all out for 234. england's 423 run defeat is their largest defeat by the black caps in terms of runs and fourth—biggest by anyone.

we know we just didn't play anywhere near our capability. it's obviously disappointing to end the tour and end the year with a loss, but what we came here to achieve we managed to achieve and it's no mean feat coming to new zealand and beating them because they are a very, very strong team in their own conditions. such was the way england's last few wickets fell, tim southee didn't bowl after lunch on what proved to be his final day of test cricket on his home ground. he'll retire as new zealand's second—highest test wicket—taker and he wasn't a mug with the bat either — the 98 sixes he hit is bettered by only three men. every opportunity to play for new zealand has been a special moment and i've been very fortunate to do this almost 400 times which not many people get to do, so very honoured and privileged to have done it and fulfilled a childhood dream and i have loved every moment. the ups and downs are part

of the journey and i guess that is what makes you the cricketer and the person that you become. england's women have won a test match for the first time in a decade, and their victory over south africa by 286 runs is the team's biggest winning margin in a women's test. after setting the home side 351 to win the one off test in bloemfontein, south africa's chase never got going. lauren bell took four more wickets to end the match with eight, while two run outs helped england along the way to bowling south africa out forjust 64 in their second innings — their lowest ever test total. and that's all the sport for now. now back to that breaking news from the middle east — the white house says talks on a ceasefire deal in gaza and the release of israeli hostages are making progress. the national security spokesman, john kirby, says he thinks negotiators in qatar are getting close to a deal.

let's speak now to moshe emilio lavi, who's brother—in—law was taken captive on october 7 by hamas. thanks forjoining us. what are thanks for “oining us. what are our thanks forjoining us. what are your thoughts? _ thanks forjoining us. what are your thoughts? we _ thanks forjoining us. what are your thoughts? we try - thanks forjoining us. what are your thoughts? we try to - thanks forjoining us. what are your thoughts? we try to be i your thoughts? we try to be cautious because _ your thoughts? we try to be cautious because we - your thoughts? we try to be cautious because we have i your thoughts? we try to be - cautious because we have heard these sentiments before, in may and july this year, we don't want be disappointed yet again with the failure to have a breakthrough in the negotiations but it does seem like promising signals from both the upcoming administration in the us, donald trump's team, and also from our own government, we hope that we will see the war ending with the release of the hostages, providing humanitarian relief to the people of gaza. it

humanitarian relief to the people of gaza.— humanitarian relief to the --eole of gaza. , , , people of gaza. it is suggested this would _ people of gaza. it is suggested this would be _ people of gaza. it is suggested this would be a _ people of gaza. it is suggested this would be a three - people of gaza. it is suggested this would be a three stage - this would be a three stage plan and the first stage would include civilians and women soldiers being released in the first 45 days with israel moving out of city centres. in terms of your brother—in—law, is your hope that he would be in the first category? he is your hope that he would be in the first category?- in the first category? he is unlikely to _ in the first category? he is unlikely to be _ in the first category? he is unlikely to be in _ in the first category? he is unlikely to be in the - in the first category? he is unlikely to be in the first i unlikely to be in the first category because he is below the age of 50 and at least according to what we know, he is not believed to be injured, so he is not in the humanitarian category. we do think every hostage held in captivity should be in the humanitarian category after 438 days, they are all at risk of their life is at risk every second they spend in captivity, but it seems that if israel and hamas agree on a phased deal, that we will not be in the

first round of release. we hope and we have directly addressed the prime minister last week, we really want a comprehensive deal, we need to know that a deal, we need to know that a deal will make sure that every hostage is going to be released by the last day to come if we are going into a phased agreement. fix, are going into a phased agreement.— are going into a phased aareement. �* ., ., agreement. a final thought, when was — agreement. a final thought, when was the _ agreement. a final thought, when was the last _ agreement. a final thought, when was the last bit - agreement. a final thought, when was the last bit of- when was the last bit of information that you heard about your brother—in—law and whether you know he is still alive? 438 days, that is more than 14 months, and for families like yourselves, how do you get through each day? it has been tremendously difficult. i'm in israel with the family, seeing how my nieces and daughters are growing up without him being

present, speaking to him as if he is there but they are actually speaking to a poster of him. his son is one and a half years old and they know who their father is but she cannot actually see him so you cannot actually see him so you can imagine how difficult it is to take care of the girls and also as a family deal with the trauma of what is going on. the last time we heard about 0mr was in april when hamas released a psychological warfare video featuring him —— 0mri. we have not received any news that suggests he is not alive. israeli intelligence provides families with updates and we have no reason to believe he is not with us and

we hope to see him home as soon as possible, as promised by our own government and the international community. let's hope it is going to happen this week already in an agreement. i know these interviews are very tough to do for all the families but we are grateful for your time and your thoughts on a day like today. thanks for joining us. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

syria continues to change at pace. today, in damascus, it's been european diplomats who've been beating a path to the new rulers of the country — the rebel alliance headed by hts. syria continues to change at pace. today, in damascus, it's been european diplomats who've been beating a path

to the new rulers of the country — the rebel alliance headed by hts. and just outside the capital, there are more and more reports of possible mass graves. that sense of a new beginning and a new accounting is felt across the country. homs became known as the capital of the revolution when protestors took to the streets there in the spring of 2011. 0ur chief international correspondent lyse doucet made regular trips to homs throughout the war and is now back in the city. what is it like to be back there now? it what is it like to be back there now?— what is it like to be back there now? , , ~ ., there now? it is striking how more than — there now? it is striking how more than a _ there now? it is striking how more than a week— there now? it is striking how more than a week on - there now? it is striking how more than a week on that i there now? it is striking how - more than a week on that people are still celebrating here and you can feel the happiness, their sense that this is truly a new start, and this is a people who have suffered enormously in the last decade and a half, notjust of war but economic privations and more than 90% of syrians are living under the poverty line, and thatis under the poverty line, and that is why the message coming from the new leadership which is meeting a procession of european and arab ministers and delegations coming to the capital, asking for sanctions to be lifted, even though the main islamist group dominating the caretaker government is a

proscribed terrorist organisation. in homs people are notjust looking to the future but also trying to deal with the wounds of the past and this is what we found out when we visited. we met up again with a little girl we met when we were here in 2014. in 2014, we reported on the end of the old city siege. 1,000 starving civilians rescued in a temporary truce, including a little girl named bara. we've stayed in touch from afar since then. nice to see you. translation: they were the hardest times. even now, when i think back, i wonder how did we survive?

it was a nightmare and it ended, thank god. but their suffering didn't stop there. theirfather farhan raised his daughters on his own. their mother was killed when a rocket slammed into their kitchen. all of them have been striving for a betterfuture. the starving girl we met is now studying food science at university. i never thought that i'd find a job here in the days of the regime, i always thought that i'd go to europe to work. but now there's a chance to live here with dignity. translation: we want a civilian government, not even an islamic one. we want to live together, to coexist. we want whoever the president is to pack up and leave at the end of their term. we don't want another president for life. someone they build statues of. they insist we must visit their place of refuge in the siege. the jesuit monastery which opened its doors. a nativity scene now.

the new syrian pastor finds christmas hope in their story. this is what is about the grotto wherejesus and the holy family, they find a refuge. and this now comes to something very beautiful, a very beautiful story, the story of farhan and his family. it's the story of homs — the city they called the capital of the revolution. now a crucible for syria's new start. what lies ahead ? joining me now isjoost hilterman — middle east and north africa program director at the international crisis group. he's an expert on this region. as you are watching this new caretaker administration taking shape, how do you see this rush to damascus even though this is a proscribed terrorist

organisation?- a proscribed terrorist oruanisation? , ., organisation? good question. it is interesting, _ organisation? good question. it is interesting, yes, _ organisation? good question. it is interesting, yes, and - organisation? good question. it is interesting, yes, and it - organisation? good question. it is interesting, yes, and it is - is interesting, yes, and it is because _ is interesting, yes, and it is because syria is a free for all in international terms, and country— in international terms, and country see that turkey has the advantage having replaced iran and russia, and i think everyone wants to make sure that _ everyone wants to make sure that their — everyone wants to make sure that their own interests are preserved, and the only way to do that— preserved, and the only way to do that is— preserved, and the only way to do that is to actually engage with— do that is to actually engage with the _ do that is to actually engage with the new powers in damascus and i_ with the new powers in damascus and i think— with the new powers in damascus and i think what we will see, we are — and i think what we will see, we are already seeing, is a lively— we are already seeing, is a lively discussion about the need — lively discussion about the need to— lively discussion about the need to remove sanctions but also _ need to remove sanctions but also remove the terrorist designation from hts, and it will he — designation from hts, and it will be based on conditions, but that— will be based on conditions, but that discussion is happening. but that discussion is happening-— but that discussion is haueninu. ., , , happening. the conditions seem to be, at least— happening. the conditions seem to be, at least those _ happening. the conditions seem to be, at least those said - happening. the conditions seem to be, at least those said in - to be, at least those said in public, there has to be a more inclusive government, there has to be respect for the minorities including the christians, so are these

conditions one is that the new leader of the hts will want to meet? , ., , ., leader of the hts will want to meet? , . , ., ., meet? yes, he has made all the riaht meet? yes, he has made all the right noises. _ meet? yes, he has made all the right noises, he _ meet? yes, he has made all the right noises, he has _ meet? yes, he has made all the right noises, he has said - meet? yes, he has made all the right noises, he has said all - right noises, he has said all the — right noises, he has said all the right— right noises, he has said all the right things and he said them — the right things and he said them from the beginning and for some _ them from the beginning and for some time, but the proof of the pudding — some time, but the proof of the pudding is— some time, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and that— pudding is in the eating, and that is— pudding is in the eating, and that is what the government is, the european and arab governments, and the us, that is what — governments, and the us, that is what they have said, that they— is what they have said, that they need to see concrete steps that show — they need to see concrete steps that show that what you are saying. _ that show that what you are saying, that you mean what you say, _ saying, that you mean what you say, in — saying, that you mean what you say, in terms of inclusivity and — say, in terms of inclusivity and protection of the various minorities and syria is a mosaic— minorities and syria is a mosaic of ethnic and religious groups. — mosaic of ethnic and religious groups, and some type of democratic process so no president for life and nothing more — president for life and nothing more than an interim government for now. _ more than an interim government for now, and he has said these things— for now, and he has said these

things but— for now, and he has said these things but we need to see. many are asking. _ things but we need to see. many are asking, will— things but we need to see. many are asking, will we _ things but we need to see. many are asking, will we see - things but we need to see. many are asking, will we see the - are asking, will we see the plunge into different malicious that we saw in libya? will we see the battle among great powers and not so great powers like in iraq? can it syria be different? we certainly hope so and millions of syrians will fervently hope so, that this experience can be different and we know it will be difficult but unlike iraq we do not see an american occupation, and we see syrians _ an american occupation, and we see syrians have taken fate into — see syrians have taken fate into their own hands. that is already— into their own hands. that is already very promising. they need — already very promising. they need to— already very promising. they need to make sure to limit external— need to make sure to limit external interference in their country — external interference in their country and i'm sure they will make — country and i'm sure they will make every effort to do so. how it will_ make every effort to do so. how it will pan— make every effort to do so. how it will pan out is the guest of anyone — it will pan out is the guest of anyone at— it will pan out is the guest of anyone at this point, and clearly— anyone at this point, and clearly the country is going to be unstable for some time, and

there _ be unstable for some time, and there are — be unstable for some time, and there are competing militias that— there are competing militias that we _ there are competing militias that we will try to possibly challenge hts, the group in power. _ challenge hts, the group in power, but for now, we take it day by — power, but for now, we take it day by day _ power, but for now, we take it day by day and so far the signs are really— day by day and so far the signs are really quite encouraging. turkey— are really quite encouraging. turkey is— are really quite encouraging. turkey is taking credit for having been the power that supported these rebels over many years and it has also said it is sending the messages now, so will they continue to hold this unrivalled position? i cannot make predictions but clearly— cannot make predictions but clearly turkey has a great advantage, having supported the syrian _ advantage, having supported the syrian national army rebels who were _ syrian national army rebels who were part — syrian national army rebels who were part of the rebel offensive, but the party that played — offensive, but the party that played the greatest part is hts, — played the greatest part is hts, and they were living under

turkish — hts, and they were living under turkish protection but was never— turkish protection but was never really allied with turkey and turkey actually considered it a terrorist group, so we will— it a terrorist group, so we will have _ it a terrorist group, so we will have to see how that relationship pans out. secondly, rel