a pick and mix of horror online — the uk's terrorism chief describes what she calls a "smouldering terrorism threat". there is a bear crossing the road. get in the car! beware the polar bears — we're with rangers in the arctic town where climate change means numbers are declining, and their hunt for food means humans have to be on their guard. chris and diane! cheering. and after lifting the trophy, chris mccausland on the joy of strictly and how he hopes his win will help change expectations. it's not really people's blindness or people's disabilities that is often the problem, it's people's attitudes towards them. and coming up on bbc news, manchester united head coach ruben amorim says he wants marcus rashford to stay at old trafford after the forward

revealed he was ready for a new challenge. good afternoon. the chancellor has defended the government's decision not to grant compensation to women born in the 19505, who were affected by changes to rises in the state pension age. it comes after parliament's ombudsman — which independently investigates complaints against government — recommended pay outs for the group known as the waspi women. kevin peachey reports. it's been a long, often loud, campaign by the so—called waspi women, born in the 19505. and it's one that has been supported and it's one that has been supported by high—profile mps. by high—profile mps. this was when sir keir starmer this was when sir keir starmer and work and pensions and work and pensions secretary liz kendall secretary liz kendall were in opposition. were in opposition. but in power, this. but in power, this. we don't agree with we don't agree with

the ombudsman�*s approach. the ombudsman�*s approach. a case, say the waspi women, a case, say the waspi women, of political leopards of political leopards changing their spots. changing their spots. with the talks that we had had with the talks that we had had with members of parliament with members of parliament prior to them coming into power, prior to them coming into power, and, you know, felt very much like and, you know, felt very much like they were on our side and they they were on our side and they realised the enormity of what had realised the enormity of what had happened to us and they were happened to us and they were prepared to do something about it. prepared to do something about it. so to get to this position so to get to this position now and find they're now and find they're going to renege on it, going to renege on it, yeah, it's heartbreaking. yeah, it's heartbreaking. the age to claim a state pension had the age to claim a state pension had been 60 for women and 65 for men. been 60 for women and 65 for men. from 2010, the state pension age for from 2010, the state pension age for women was due to gradually increase women was due to gradually increase to 65 over the following decade. to 65 over the following decade. but it was then announced but it was then announced the process would happen the process would happen by 2018, two years sooner by 2018, two years sooner than originally announced. than originally announced. campaigners say they weren't campaigners say they weren't properly informed of the change properly informed of the change and had little time and had little time to prepare, affecting them to prepare, affecting them emotionally and financially. emotionally and financially.

the parliamentary 0mbudsman the parliamentary 0mbudsman suggested payouts of up to suggested payouts of up to nearly £3,000 to those affected. the government has ruled that out. chancellor rachel reeves, another to have previously shown her support, was out defending the decision today. i understand that women affected by the changes to the state pension age feel disappointed by this decision. but we looked in full at the ombudsman recommendations, and they said that around 90% of women did know that these changes were coming. and as chancellor, i have to account for every penny of taxpayers' money to spend. and given that the vast majority of people did know about these changes, i didn'tjudge that it would be the best use of taxpayers' money to pay an expensive compensation bill for something most people knew was happening. despite an apology from ministers, that is an explanation that has gone down badly with the campaigners and the ombudsman herself.

it's very unusual for us to have a public body that acknowledges failings, acknowledges they got

i set out concern, of course i do. i set out the history. _ concern, of course i do. i set out the history, mr speaker, but the research— the history, mr speaker, but the research is— the history, mr speaker, but the research is clear that 90% of those impacted did know about the change. and in_ impacted did know about the change. and in those circumstances these taxpayers — and in those circumstances these taxpayers simply can't afford the burden— taxpayers simply can't afford the burden of— taxpayers simply can't afford the burden of tens of billions of pounds of compensation. but _ of compensation. but i _ of compensation. but i do understand the concerns. conservative leader kemi badenoch accused keir starmer of playing politics with the issue, but she did not say the conservatives would pay the compensation. she was keen to tired to other issues with the government has changed positions such as on the winter fuel payment. that is the risk for the government, that a narrative develops where the government does one thing in power. inflation rose to its highest level in eight months. the figure jumped for the second time in a row in november, rising to 2.6%, with hikes in the cost of fuel

and clothing among the main drivers. 0ur chief economics correspondent, dharshini david reports. 0ne gullible penguin. we've got two cheeses and then one chicken. the countdown to christmas has been under way in york market. but the festive cheer has been mixed for rupert, who imports and sells woollen goods. the costs he pays are settling down, but higher prices elsewhere have taken their toll on customers finances. do you want a wee bag for it? i think i've seen more customers, but certainly a lower spend, lower average spend. and a lot are using cash, a lot more are using cash. and i think that's budgetary, budgeting using cash. they're taking the money out of the bank, and once it's gone, it's gone. a take—up atake—up in a take—up in petrol prices, higher rent and other costs pushed up inflation last month. even though some have seen their incomes rise more quickly, they're still wary. i'm going to be honest, i'm in my overdraft. so like, i still bought maybe

like my family some christmas presents, but i'm still keeping it. i'm still skint, i'm still keeping it tight. i'm probably still spending just as much. i think it's — i love christmas, i love buying people presents, but it is a lot tighter. like, your money's not going as far. everybody�*s got to be cautious this christmas because, you know, things are getting worse, aren't they? you will notice prices for good rising more slowly. that is why inflation, the blue line, has come down a long way from p. however, the prices for services, eating out and concert tickets, are still rising more quickly. so services inflation, the red line, is doubly high. that makes it harderfor the bank of england do itsjob of returning inflation to 2% target. while it has started cutting the interest rate in the summer, it is not expected to do so tomorrow to give borrowers the pre—christmas boost. instead it is likely to wait until february because of lingering risks. it's lunchtime in york market.

david is braced for what 2025 will dish up. like many employers he faces a bigger tax bill after the national insurance hike announced in the budget kicks in. that could speu the budget kicks in. that could spell price rises. we're going to wait till we get to that point, see what other prices have gone up, like fat for us, fish for us. we're going to have to take that all into account and then possibly act on that after. yeah, yeah, card's good, yeah. such policies mean it may take longerfor such policies mean it may take longer for inflation to come back to target and so interest—rate cuts are expected to be more gradual. 2024 has delivered lower inflation, but there's still some leftovers lingering into the new year. and we should say that rising inflation is relatively small but it means that prices have been rising faster here than in france, germany or the us. and the chancellor rachel reeves has acknowledged this is

painful for many households. and warned of a "smouldering and painful for many households. and this inflation is still rooted very this inflation is still rooted very much... it is housing costs and rent much... it is housing costs and rent where people are seeing some high where people are seeing some high watering —— high price rises. there watering —— high price rises. there are risks when it comes to the are risks when it comes to the outlook. not least the tax rises outlook. not least the tax rises that are coming through. that too that are coming through. that too could impact growth. and all of this could impact growth. and all of this at a time when we have seen the at a time when we have seen the economy stagnate when it comes to terrorism policing has economy stagnate when it comes to activity over the last few months. activity over the last few months. so we've had the conservatives are so we've had the conservatives are urging the government to change urging the government to change course, perhaps look again at some course, perhaps look again at some of these tax rises. but what we do of these tax rises. but what we do know is those kind of tax rises are know is those kind of tax rises are important when it comes to funding important when it comes to funding the government's priorities on the government's priorities on public spending. we all hope for a public spending. we all hope for a more prosperous new year but we look more prosperous new year but we look ahead to 2025, i'm afraid to say, it ahead to 2025, i'm afraid to say, it could be a slightly shaky start. could be a slightly shaky start. thank you. thank you.

a senior officer in counter a senior officer in counter terrorism policing has warned of a "smouldering terrorism threat" in the uk. deputy assistant commissioner vicki evans said over the last year,

what the thread look asked what the thread picture look like you are at the moment. we are seeing an increase in operational tempo at the moment and we have _ operational tempo at the moment and we have done for the last 12 months. the curreht_ we have done for the last 12 months. the current terror threat remains at substantial, — the current terror threat remains at substantial, which means an attack is likely _ substantial, which means an attack is likely. but i would describe a threat — is likely. but i would describe a threat as— is likely. but i would describe a threat as smouldering. we have a number— threat as smouldering. we have a number of— threat as smouldering. we have a number of different complexity is in our case _ number of different complexity is in our case work. we are seeing more fascihatiorr— our case work. we are seeing more fascination with extreme hate and violence _ fascination with extreme hate and violence —related material linked to terrorist _ violence —related material linked to terrorist material. 50 _ terrorist material. so what does a smouldering thread mean? clearly there is a concern about syria. if there is chaos or a vacuum in syria, what does that mean for groups like the islamic state group? are they able to reorganise again? there is also concern about the extreme right. is there is a big caseload. there was a concern she spoke about for a long time about young people consuming misogyny, racism, extreme pornography online.

not really with an ideology, but still feuding their desire for violence and the risk they could then go out and carry out an attack. daniel, thank you. moscow says it has detained a man accused of killing the head of the russian army's chemical weapons division. general igor kirillov died alongside his assistant after a remotely controlled explosive device was detonated on the streets of the capital yesterday. authorities say the suspect who is from uzbekistan, has confessed to being recruited by ukraine who have claimed responsibility for the attack. a teenager, who was filmed inhaling laughing gas whilst driving at almost 100 miles per hour, has pleaded guilty to causing the death of his three passengers. 19—year—old thomasjohnson admitted three counts of causing death by dangerous driving and is being sentenced at oxford crown court. katherine da costa reports. thomasjohnson inhaling nitrous

oxide, known as laughing gas, from a balloon whilst his passengers film him from the back seat. it was an accident waiting to happen. they were never going to make it round that corner. it was never going to happen. yeah, i'm going to get the laptop. the biggest thing is next of kin and stuff at the moment. right. let's not rush. 0kay, no worries. he was doing an apprenticeship and he was absolutely loving it. 0h, bleep! typical teenage boy. he liked hanging out with his friends. he liked loud music. he wanted to be an engineer, and he always had aspirations to be his own boss one day. 17 year old elliot pullen, and 18 year old daniel hancock and ethan goddard were killed when the car they were travelling in lost control at nearly 100 miles an hour. it doesn't feel like a family any more. it's very difficult. it's so hard.

it has left a massive hole. even like our parents as well. um, it's really affected my dad. if he had any idea that this is how much pain we would be in, - he would have never set foot in that car _ cctv shows a car pulling out of a petrol station. the two sisters inside told officers they heard a car skidding or drifting before they were overtaken at speed by a silver bmw heading towards the village of marcham, near abingdon, just after midnight on the 20th ofjune last year. a matter of seconds later, they've come around the bend to find debris in the road and the same vehicle that's overtaken her in the trees. despite the force of the impact, the driver survived but suffered significant injuries. inside the car, officers found two large canisters of laughing gas and eight more in the boot. cctv revealed the driver and front passenger inhaling the gas in abingdon earlier in the evening.

but during his police interview, johnson couldn't recall using the drug. do you remember that? no recollection at all. it's tragic. i've got a son the same age. and you just hope that they don't put themselves into positions of vulnerability. you hope that they don't drive excessively. you hope they don't use any drugs. it really is a tragic case. it was an accident waiting to happen. it was just completely reckless, dangerous behaviour. he's ruined everyone's life. he's taken three, ruined his own life, devastated ours. _ i know he'sjust a cocky teenage boy, you know? i know he's not an awful person, but he made some awful decisions. and i really hope that he feels guilty for what he's done. this is his fault. he's done this. he's killed them. and i hope it stays with him forever. in a split second, it

could be your reality. so don't, don't drive dangerously and don't consume drugs while driving because it's never worth it for this outcome. katherine da costa, bbc news. the time is 13.16. our top story this afternoon. the chancellor has defended the decision not to compensate the group known as the waspi women over changes to the state pension age. still to come, we'll meet the residents of a canadian town known as the polar bear capital of the world as fears grow over the impact of climate change. coming up on bbc news. "i respect him, but i don't think about him." undisputed heavyweight champion 0leksandr usyk on tyson fury as they prepare to meet again for a rematch in saudi arabia on saturday night. until the fall of the former syrian president bashar al—assad, only one place in the country

was being governed by the opposition. since 2017, the north western city of idlib was led by authorities linked to the rebel group hts, which is now forming a new administration in damascus. the way they have governed idlib could offer clues to how they're now planning to run the wider country. as our middle east correspondent hugo bachega reports. idlib. this was the rebel stronghold in northwest syria, run by the islamist group hayat tahrir al—sham. hts is now in power in syria, and trying to take its way of governing to the entire country. this is the ccu, cardiac care unit. doctor hamza al—musawi moved from aleppo early in the war, and has witnessed all the changes in idlib since hts took control in 2017. including this hospital set up

in an old warehouse. when hts came to us, we see a lot of development in idlib. we have a lot of things that we didn't have in the assad regime. we have a college of medicine. we have the college of pharmacy. we have the college of architectures. here, they run an economy like any country. they tax goods, border crossings and trade, and run telecommunication and energy companies. the income allows them to provide public services and fund their military operations. we tried to interview a local official, but were told all of them had gone to damascus to help in the formation of the new government. hts has its roots in al qaeda and is considered a terrorist organisation by the uk, the us and the un.

for years they've been trying to convince the world they've changed and that they want to build a syria for all syrians. an hour's drive from idlib, in the small christian village of kanaya, the church bells rang for the first time in a decade on the 8th of december, to celebrate the fall of the assad regime. people here don't seem concerned that minorities like them could be at risk, with islamists now in charge. 0urfears, they lived under hts before, it was very hard, let us say. but for the last two years things started changing. they gave them more freedom to practice their faith. they called for other christians who were refugees in latakia and aleppo to come back to take their land and to take their homes back. do you think they've changed? we hope.

we trust, we trust in god, and we trust in the goodwill of the people. hts's dominance has not been without discontent. protests like this one in march have been held against the detention of rivals, and what some say is their authoritarian rule. i'm talking to a lot of people here and everybody is very positive. everybody is very optimistic. and there's almost no criticism of hts here. no, no, they are no the heroes, to be honest.w the syrian revolution people, the rebels also, who were fighting assad for 1h years till this day will not allow any dictators to come again. if they act as dictators, the people are ready to say no. from the ruins of a war and a dictatorship, a nation is being reborn. but what kind of nation will it be?

hugo bashegha, bbc news, idlib. the uk government says it is confident a deal can still be struck with mauritius over the sovereignty of the chagos islands. it comes after the new mauritian prime minister rejected the agreements original terms. in october, it was announced that the islands would be returned to the east african country, but britain would lease diego garcia — which is home to a uk—us military base. at least 1a people are known to have died and hundreds have been left injured following a powerful earthquake which struck the pacific island nation of vanuatu yesterday. the 7.3 magnitude tremor flattened multiple buildings and triggered landslides. officials say the full extent of the damage is still being assessed. two astronauts who were due to return from the international space station in the summer will now have to wait even longer to get home. butch wilmore and suni williams were supposed to be back on earth injune but had their stay extended

until february after technical issues. nasa says the pair will now remain on board until late march at the earliest. the health secretary, wes streeting has reiterated a promise he made on bbc breakfast — that the funding allocation for hospices in england next year will be announced before christmas. hospice leaders have talked of a financial crisis and some have been cutting services. 0ur health editor, hugh pym joins us — how important is this assurance? i think very important for the hospices. the leaders of the sector have worn for some time of real financial problems and deficits looming. just one third of their money comes from the nhs and the rest from charitable fundraising. some have been planning cuts to services and jobs cuts. it is the rising cost that they are faced with including pay but also this higher

national insurance contribution which is coming in at the beginning of the next financial year which has caused real concern they're having to write budgets now and plan further cuts they say unless they get a £100 million investment immediately. from the government for the wes streeting had said last month that an announcement of an allocation will come before christmas and as of monday this week nothing more had been heard and hospice leaders told us that they were worried and there was confusion about what was going on. but earlier today wes streeting spoke to mps and a commons select committee and had this to say. i a commons select committee and had this to sa . _ a commons select committee and had this to sa . ., this to say. i did say to the hospices — this to say. i did say to the hospices that _ this to say. i did say to the hospices that we _ this to say. i did say to the hospices that we would - this to say. i did say to the i hospices that we would make this to say. i did say to the - hospices that we would make an announcement before christmas and that is— announcement before christmas and that is next— announcement before christmas and that is next week and i intend to keep— that is next week and i intend to keep that — that is next week and i intend to keep that promise. and then more broadly— keep that promise. and then more broadly i'm — keep that promise. and then more broadly i'm mindful of people needing — broadly i'm mindful of people needing to make decisions around their organisations for the year ahead — their organisations for the year ahead so— their organisations for the year ahead so i_ their organisations for the year ahead so i think we need to come to this early— ahead so i think we need to come to this early in — ahead so i think we need to come to this early in the new year at the

latest _ this early in the new year at the iatest~ 50— this early in the new year at the latest. ., this early in the new year at the latest, ., ., , this early in the new year at the latest. ., ., , ., this early in the new year at the latest. ., . , ., , latest. so not many more days until christmas and _ latest. so not many more days until christmas and any _ latest. so not many more days until christmas and any announcement . latest. so not many more days until. christmas and any announcement will be watched closely. there was further confusion when the prime minister in the commons said that the announcement would not be until the announcement would not be until the new year but it has since been clarified that wes streeting will indeed come up with something before christmas. ~ ., ~ indeed come up with something before christmas. ~ ., ,, , ., for hundreds of years, residents in the canadian town of churchill have lived side by side with the native polar bear — but now scientists are warning that changes to their habitat as a result of our changing climate could bring them dangerously close to humans. 0ur science correspondent victoria gill reports. there's a polar bear under our tundra buggy, right now. he's very curious about us. oh, my word! at the height of polar bear season in churchill, manitoba, conservation scientists are out on the tundra monitoring one of the most southerly polar bear populations in the world.

so the polar bears are starting to gather in this area because there's going to be sea ice here first. and for polar bears, sea ice means food. the bears are waiting for the bay to freeze so they can use it as a platform to hunt seals. but as the climate warms up here, the bears are having to wait for longer. we had about 1,200 polar bears here in the 1980s. and now we have closer to about 618, so we've lost almost about 50% of these polar bears in the last several decades. and we've tied that to these bears are on land about a month longer than their grandparents were. in the long term, this threatens the survival of this polar bear population. but in the short term it means the bears here are getting hungrier. the longer they're on shore, the longer they're fasting, and the longer they might need to start looking for alternative sources of energy and food. and sometimes those sources are us. that poses a particular challenge for churchill and the team of rangers who run its polar bear alert programme. i came down this trail

and i caught him up on this deck. it was testing the door. what did you do? so at that point, you you haze them, right? you use your vehicle horns, cracker shells, and you chase them in a desirable direction, which in this case would be away from town. this is a place that takes pride in setting an example for how humans can coexist with these big predators. everyone here that we've spoken to is very aware of it all the time. and, uh... should we go? i can hear cracker shots over there. that means that they may be moving a bear. there's a bear there. it's crossing the road. get in the car. we heard crackers going off, and now the polar bear alert team are moving around. so we're going to get back in the car. so you can just see it through the trees there. we could see the polar bear alert team's quad bikes and their trucks moving the bear along.

while a loss of sea ice threatens the survival of churchill's polar bears, it could also open up the bay and the town's port for more of the year. the new marine observatory here that opened just this year, is carrying out experiments that aim to better understand what winter conditions on the bay will be like in the future. the bay is open water, essentially, on average, essentially about five months a year, and it's on the trajectory to become all year round. and my colleague right there, and he's actually working specifically on improving the projection of ice conditions to facilitate, to help make better decisions on the shipping season. this is a town preparing for a future without sea ice in the bay. the town's mayor, mike spence, says that could present opportunities. what do you think this place could look like in ten years time? it will be a bustling port. the future looks bright.

the fate of the polar bears of the polar bear capital of the world, though, depends on us and whether we can rein in rising temperatures and preserve the ice that they depend on. we can keep arctic sea ice in the north and protect the species as a whole. sea ice is so much more than just like frozen ocean. it really is, it's a garden. it's a platform. it's access to food. it's life, really. victoria gill, bbc news in churchill, manitoba. and you can watch the full documentary, called �*where the polar bears wait' on bbc iplayer now. grace dent has been announced as the judge of the next series of celebrity masterchef alongside john torode. i would eat this every day. i do not think the doctor would recommend it! the restaurant critic has appeared regularly as a guest on the show, and last year competed on masterchef, battle of the critics. it comes after gregg wallace stood down from the role amid a review into historical

allegations of misconduct. when the blind comedian chris mccausland lifted the strictly come dancing glitter ball trophy on saturday, it was a seen as a pivotal moment in the effort to improve representation of those living with sight loss. the 47—year—old dedicated his win to his dance partner, dianne buswell as well as anyone who had ever doubted themselves. he's been speaking to our culture reporter noor nanji. the moment of victory. chris and diane! chris mccausland, the first ever blind contestant on strictly come dancing getting his hands on the glitter ball trophy. this come dancing getting his hands on the glitter ball trophy.— the glitter ball trophy. this is for eve one the glitter ball trophy. this is for everyone out _ the glitter ball trophy. this is for everyone out there _ the glitter ball trophy. this is for everyone out there that - the glitter ball trophy. this is for everyone out there that just - the glitter ball trophy. this is for everyone out there that just got | everyone out there thatjust got told they could not do something or thought they could not do itjust shows that opportunity and support and just determination anything can

happen. he and just determination anything can ha en. ., and just determination anything can ha en. . , and just determination anything can hauen. . , and just determination anything can ha en. . , ,., happen. he and his partner dianne buswell were _ happen. he and his partner dianne buswell were among _ happen. he and his partner dianne buswell were among 15 _ happen. he and his partner dianne buswell were among 15 couples . happen. he and his partner dianne buswell were among 15 couples at| happen. he and his partner dianne i buswell were among 15 couples at the start. but they quickly impressed. including with their blackout dance moment which went viral on social media. in the end it came down to the public vote and history was made. at last time to rest those sore feet and catch up on some sleep. everyone was blown away by your dance moves. how did you learn the routines?— your dance moves. how did you learn the routines? dianne never had spent an time the routines? dianne never had spent any time with — the routines? dianne never had spent any time with anyone _ the routines? dianne never had spent any time with anyone who _ the routines? dianne never had spent any time with anyone who was - the routines? dianne never had spent any time with anyone who was blind l any time with anyone who was blind and i had never danced so we were, neither of us had a clue and it turned out really that she had to use a lot of descriptions for use a lot more words than she's used to when teaching people to dance. and i would often have to get my hands and

knees and feel her legs and feet and see what you want me to do and sometimes she would just pick up one of my limbs and put it where she wanted like i was the kind of bendy spider—man toys! xyour wanted like i was the kind of bendy spider-man toys!— wanted like i was the kind of bendy spider-man toys! your blackout dance went viral on — spider-man toys! your blackout dance went viral on social _ spider-man toys! your blackout dance went viral on social media. _ spider-man toys! your blackout dance went viral on social media. the - spider-man toys! your blackout dance went viral on social media. the idea i went viral on social media. the idea was not to — went viral on social media. the idea was not to put _ went viral on social media. the idea was not to put dianne _ went viral on social media. the idea was not to put dianne into - went viral on social media. the idea was not to put dianne into the - went viral on social media. the idea was not to put dianne into the dog l was not to put dianne into the dog but the viewers and the audience. and reallyjust surprise them with what was possible in the dark and coming out of the darkness. it was just a brief moment but one of those things that i had the idea and i hoped it would be received in the way it was intended. and people loved it and it really connected with people. i never expected dancing to be emotional. ijust i never expected dancing to be emotional. i just expected i never expected dancing to be emotional. ijust expected it to be this entertainment show with dancing and if you are good that people were entertained but i did not expect people to be moved and for people to

cry. i did not expect to cry on it! and so it has just been so much cry. i did not expect to cry on it! and so it hasjust been so much more than i ever thought it would have been. ., . , , been. you are the first blind contestant _ been. you are the first blind contestant and _ been. you are the first blind contestant and now - been. you are the first blind contestant and now you - been. you are the first blind| contestant and now you have been. you are the first blind - contestant and now you have won the competition do you like being seen as a role model in that way or does it get tiring?! as a role model in that way or does it get tiring?— it get tiring? i do not see myself as a role model— it get tiring? i do not see myself as a role model for _ it get tiring? i do not see myself as a role model for blind - it get tiring? i do not see myself| as a role modelfor blind people, it get tiring? i do not see myself i as a role modelfor blind people, i as a role model for blind people, i do not think blind people need inspiring really. ithink do not think blind people need inspiring really. i think my approach and my hope really was it was more exposure for everyone else. because it's not really blindness or disability that is often a problem but attitudes towards it.- but attitudes towards it. there's been controversy _ but attitudes towards it. there's been controversy surrounding i been controversy surrounding strictly, did you have reservations in taking part? i strictly, did you have reservations in taking part?— strictly, did you have reservations in taking part? i think the bbc have one out in taking part? i think the bbc have gone out of — in taking part? i think the bbc have gone out of the _ in taking part? i think the bbc have gone out of the way _ in taking part? i think the bbc have gone out of the way to _ in taking part? i think the bbc have gone out of the way to listen - in taking part? i think the bbc have gone out of the way to listen to - gone out of the way to listen to what has happened and try to make it and create a supportive environment and create a supportive environment and i had no problems but you cannot get away from the fact that it is

hard and physically hard and mentally hard. and as i found towards the end it is emotionally draining as well. noor nanji, bbc news. a reminder of our top headline this afternoon. the chancellor has defended the decision not to compensate the group known as the waspi women over changes to the state pension age. and still to come, we'll meet the pianist from swansea who is bringing christmas concert joy to those receiving treatment in hospices. we ll have a full forecast in the next half hour, but it's time now for a quick look at the weather. here's ben rich. at the weather. we've at the weather. seen some strong wind across some we've seen some strong wind across some parts of the uk today and actually strong wind may disrupt some travel plans between now and christmas. a week to go until the big day course and this is what the weather has in store. it is changeable tomorrow, it will be colder and friday bring some rain

and then over the weekend that is when we see some strong wind which could bring some disruption. i christmas itself things are quieter and milder, more details later in the programme. there are nowjust a few days left to apply for pension credit in order to receive winter fuel payments, after the benefit became means tested earlier this year. if approved, claimants are entitled to up to £300 to help with energy bills, but not everyone who's entitled looks set to receive it. as ben boulos now explains. winter fuel payments are means tested only from this year. the chancellor said the government needed to save money and fill what she described as a £22 billion black hole. these winter fuel payments are worth up to £300 to help with energy bills over the winter. the number of people eligible for them is nowjust 1.5 million. that's 10 million fewer than before the rules changed.

in order to qualify now you need to be of state pension age and be receiving certain benefits. one of those being pension credit. now, while there's no deadline to apply for pension credit as such, if you want to get the winter fuel payments this year, you need to apply before a minute to midnight on saturday night. the latest government figures show 150,000 applications for pension credit have been made since the chancellor announced changes to the winter fuel payments back in the summer. butjust 42,500 applications have been successful. we spoke tojohn, he thinks he should be eligible, but his application was rejected. it's either put the heating on, or do i have something to eat, in fact. it really is like that sometimes. that £300 is a lot. because of the heating, you know, and the bills going up. plus the bills going up. and because i don't get out

so much now, my mobility, i can't use the bus, so i have to use a taxi and taxis cost a lot. so in other words, if i had a ride out once a week, i'm having to cut it down now to once a month. analysis by bbc verify has found there was a backlog of more than 90,000 unprocessed applications in mid—november. so those who have qualified may find they're still waiting till the new year to get their money. the department for work and pensions said its deployed an extra 500 staff to speed up the process. sojust a reminder that deadline is at one minute to midnight this saturday. don't leave it right until the last minute, though, because it's quite a lengthy form. you can find all the details on the government's website. still to come on today's programme... we'll meet the young competition winners designing the christmas lights for their hometown. now it's time to join our colleagues with the news where you are. i don't talk about the future, i just talk about the present. i want the best of each one of them and

thatis the best of each one of them and that is the key point for me. ijust hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm hugh ferris. our top stories... marcus rashford says he might have to leave but manchester united head coach ruben amorim says he wants the player to stay as the forward's old trafford future becomes ever murkier. a surprise goodbye. r ashwin quits international cricket half way through india's tour of australia and, "i respect him but i don't think about him." heavyweight world champion 0leksandar usyk talks to us about tyson fury as the two prepare for their rematch. hello again. well come along. ruben amorim says he wants marcus rashford to stay at manchester united

after the forward revealed he was �*ready for a new challenge'. it's the latest twist in the ongoing uncertainty between the club and a player who's been there since the age of 10. but has appeared disillusioned with recent life at old trafford. rashford has scored 138 goals since making his debut in 2016 but he played no part in united's win against rivals manchester city at the weekend and has said should he leave the club, he would do so with "no hard feelings". but amorim has called rashford a "big talent" who he wants to help return to his best form and that he'd rather keep him as part of his squad. i don't talk about the future, i just talk about the present. i want the best of each one of them and that is the key point for me. i just want to win and to help the team to be better. so we are better with marcus rashford and that is simple and we will try different things to push marcus to the best level that he has shown in the past, so that is all. rashford's next chance to play is in the efl cup quarterfinal tomorrow night against spurs while the other three matches are tonight and there'll be an unfamiliar look to the touchline

at st mary's where southampton play liverpool for a place in the semi finals. the home side will have interim boss simon rusk in the dugout after russell martin was sakced — while arne slot won't be alongside him because he's been banned for picking up three yellow cards already this season. not as much as i thought. it should impact me because if you holland are suspended in holland then you are not allowed to be in and around the dressing room, you cannot do the media as well. so this is a lighter version of suspension. i would say i'm used to but i have never been used to being suspended so it is the first time i am. so i think i'm still able to do the things i want to do. the moment you have less impact on your team is during the 45 minutes and the most impact you can have is at half—time or before the game and those are the things i can do. but in an ideal situation, i would have just been on the sideline. but i got a yellow which i probably deserved again as well and,

yeah, this happens. elsewhere, arsenal continue their attempts to win a first major trophy since 2020 with a quarter final against crystal palace. that was in mikel arteta's first season in charge and as he prepares to mark five years since becoming manager, arteta claims winning the efl cup could lead to more success. i fully believe in that, the fact that you are winning, you'll get into the next round, the next competition. it builds, it creates something different around the team, that is why these kind of games are really, really important. and it creates, i think, the right path to go and do something, especially because of the timing and where that competition is played in this country, it gets that momentum going, i think, yeah. midway through his team's test tour of australia, india spinner ravichandran ashwin has announced his surprise retirement from internatoinal cricket. his 537 wickets in tests has the now—38—year—old seventh on the all time list but he's decided to immediately stop playing for india in all formats after being left out of two

of the first three tests against australia. i do feel there is a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer but i would like to showcase that in club level cricket but this will be the last day and i have had a lot of fun, i must say i have created a lot of memories alongside rohit and several of my other team—mates. even though i have lost some of them over the last few years, we are the last bunch of 0gs, if we can say that, left in the dressing room. i will be marking this as my date of having played at this level. well, india's third test against australia ended in a draw — and a soggy one at that in brisbane — leaving the series 1—1 with two of the five matches to go. australia had a first innings lead of 185 early on the final day at the gabba and tried to force a result with some attacking batting. it didn't quite work because 18 overs and 89 for 7 later, after the home side had left india a target of 275, they could only manage a couple of overs before the bad light and rain came.

they'll next meet in melbourne for the boxing day test. i think we can take a lot from this week. a couple of great partnerships. to be sent in on a wicket and score 450 and then be a bowler down and managing to bowl india out for 250 when the wicket, the conditions, were probably a little bit better, i think we can take a lot from that. it has been a good week. unfortunately we missed so much time through rain but a lot of positives. obviously it is a little victory for us, looking at how the weather was going to play, looking at where the game was heading. to avoid that follow—on.

eventually, we have ended up in a draw with australia being ahead in the game, they didn't manage to get the result. obviously for us to celebrate that, it was a little victory for us and there is no harm, we enjoy each and every moment. andrew flintoff will be coaching his son on the england lions tour of australia next month after 16—year—old rocky was named as part of the squad. it's flintoff senior�*s first tour as the team's coach and he's selected rocky — who only signed his first professional deal for lancashire injune. he'sjoined in the party by shoaib bashir who'll get experience of australian conditions before being the likely first choice spinner in the senior team for the ashes next winter. two other england test players are also included — tom hartley and josh tongue. 0leksandar usyk says his rivalry with tyson fury is good for boxing. the two will meet for the second time in saudi arabia on saturday with the ukrainian's three heavyweight world titles on the line with fury having already suggested there could be a third encounter in the future. and usyk told our reporter ade adedoyin how much he learnt about the british fighter from their first meeting which he won on points. little bit. a little bit learn. but i not...talk to you now.

you're not going to tell me any secrets? it's not secret, but maybe... ..my greedy belly watches tv at home, 0k. but do you respect him as a fighter? yes, of course. i must respect all my opponent because i know it's not easy. it's hard. boxing is hard sport. it's a tough sport. after that fight, he's not sending any messages on social media. no instagram about you. nothing. he'sjust quiet. do you think the way you performed, you made tyson fury humble? i don't know. i don't think about this. i don't think about tyson fury. maybe it's new plan for tyson fury. i don't know. for me, this doesn't matter. what do you think about the way he is as a person?

"sometimes usyk�*s a good guy." sometimes he says usyk is a bad guy. sometimes he says he fights for money. he fights for legacy. what do you... what do you think about all that? bad guy. good guy. bad opponent. good opponent. win. not win. i don't know. how important is it to have a rival like tyson fury? because you need a good partner to show how great you are. 0h.. tyson fury very important for my for boxing career. yeah, it's very strong opponent. big... mm... it's important for me. it's not only for me. it's important for future history. for boxing in the world. that is a saturday night in saudi arabia. now...

if you want to win a one—off cup final then you need your big players to turn up and the milwaukee bucks had just that with giannis antetokounmpo in the nba cup. he top—scored for his team as they beat the oklahoma city thunder 97—81 in the final in las vegas as the bucks claimed the second edition of the league's in—season tournament. we had this goal as a team and we accomplished it. i'm very proud of everybody, i am so happy for the team that we got our first trophy together. and this isjust the beginning. we have to keep improving and keep on getting better and we will be better. there's more at our website where you can also see all the highlights from last night's sports personality of the year ceremony, including spoty winner keely hodgkinson's claim the 800 metres world record is in her sights. but that's all the sport for now. now it's time to rejoin the news at one team.

you might be heading to a school, church or community hall for a carol concert this christmas— but one pianist from swansea is bringing festive joy to those receiving treatment in hospices. joe cavalli—price founded the music in hospices group following the death of his mum, and this christmas he's received the backing of one of the world's biggest classical stars. as jon kay reports. one day i went on a walk around the hospice and in the corner of the room ifound an old piano covered in blankets and books. and even though it was honky tonk and out of tune and there were notes missing, i wheeled the piano to my mom's bedside and i began to play.

and it had this transformative impact. it was a moment that was just meant for mum and i, but i had families and patients coming up to me and thanking me. even the staff were saying how beautiful it was to hear music, and i knew then that we had done something very special. afterjoe's mum died, he started contacting other hospices to see if they would like him to play music for patients. they loved the idea. and soon he was taking fellow students from the royal academy of music to hospices all over the uk. # hey, hey and up she rises.

# and up she rises early in the morning. hospices are a place of love and joy and life. and we all need to know that. five years on, joe's project music in hospices is applying to become a national charity. and this week, a festive concert at the greenwich and bexley community hospice in south london. patients like 89 year old jean and her daughterjane wanted to share the experience with us. what does it mean to both of you to be able to have a concert like this today? the music is so important, i think, isn't it? yeah. you love music? yeah. how does it make you feel inside, the music? incredible.

beautiful. and then a surprise. the global superstar lang lang has sent a video performance from china. hello, everyone. it's lang lang here. he tells the audience that his charity foundation is going to work withjoe to bring music to more hospices around the uk. i truly hope these performances will bring you moments ofjoy, i and i would love to send a lot of love to you all right now. l what do you think your mum would have made of this afternoon? ijust kept thinking of her. it'sjust, ijust... ijust have no words.

and this is for her. and this is for every family that has ever experienced palliative care. for more than 20 years children at one primary school in fife have been entering a competition to design their town's christmas lights — with the winner's version then made a reality, thanks to one of the world's most renowned decoration manufacturers. 0ur scotland correspondent catrina renton reports. meet some of the previous winners. arlo, who's nine, won in 2021. conrad, who's11, won in 2022. and mason, who's eight, was last year's winner. he took inspiration from his cuddly carrot and made it christmassy. 0n the top there's a christmas hat with like a little bauble.

yeah, a bauble. and then there's a little smile with two eyes which are black. then we've got him waving his hand to say hi. over the years, kids from newbury primary have come up from newborough primary have come up with all sorts of ideas for christmas lights. not always what you might expect. my light is a fish and i got inspiration from newborough and its history of fishing. do you associate fish with christmas? no, but i think that's a good thing, though, when it comes to a light competition, because you've got to sort of think outside the box, i think. arlo was also thinking outside the box, and he loves dinosaurs. a tree has baubles and stars. and a dinosaur and a christmas tree are big, green, and all that. and so why can't a dinosaur have star and a bauble on it? and so why can't a dinosaur

have a star and a bauble on it? this angel was designed by isla when she won in 2011. i still live here and every year i see it each year and it's just it's christmas once you see your light. and i think that even in like years to come, when i come back here, i'll always see it and it willjust feel like christmassy. the company that makes the lights for newborough makes them for some of the biggest exhibitions in the world. i love seeing the other things that we do, the shard, blackpool, the champs elysees, airports, that sort of thing. but i also love seeing the fact that these people fundraise and they put the lights on and they work so hard during the year to get this event, and it's just fantastic. 0ver there is lamppost 15 and it's a really special place because every year it's where the winning light gets put up and this year it's ten year old lachlan�*s christmas goose. lachlan was poorly while we were filming, but he sent us this message. so i couldn't make it.

but that's my christmas goose that i designed for the light competition right here. and this is the trophy that i won for it. ijust thought i should do a goose, but like christmas themed, like with lights and a hat on it. and the lights will be back next year. and this is a highlight for previous winners. every year it comes around again. i always get excited to see where they put it, like in the street, because last year it was in front of my gran's house. when you win, you just feel really excited and you kind ofjust feel famous on that one day. what is your favourite light that you see outside? mine. katrina renton, bbc news, newborough. now the weather with ben rich. lam i am feeling so festive after that. but there's a lot of weather to come between _ but there's a lot of weather to come between now and christmas. tociag.t but there's a lot of weather to come between now and christmas. today we have some blustery _ between now and christmas. today we have some blustery wind _ between now and christmas. today we have some blustery wind and - between now and christmas. today we have some blustery wind and some i have some blustery wind and some larger showers around. we are

between weather systems, one clearing to the north—east and another approaching from the south—west. some heavy rain spreading in into wales and parts of the midlands going through the afternoon. further north we keep the sunshine and showers. the cost of uk turning colder after mile start. we cling on to the mild airfurther south but going through this evening and tonight that weather that weather where weather pushing east across england and wales with a strong wind through the english channel for the easing through the second half of the night but staying windy across the north of scotland. some wintry showers as colder air will be digging in. a frost for some in the northern half of the uk. but a very different day to come tomorrow. a lot more in the way of sunshine. there will be showers in areas exposed to the strong north—westerly wind. some of those will be wintry of a higher ground but most places sing fine weather and spells of sunshine but feeling

quite a lot colder. single digit temperatures around five, 9 degrees. and feel even colder with the wind strength. and then another change for friday, a band of rain pushing in from the west with briefly some mild air tucked in. in from the west with briefly some mild airtucked in. turning in from the west with briefly some mild air tucked in. turning chilli again from the west. clearing to a mix of sunshine and showers and then as we head into the weekend if you have pre—christmas travel plans it is worth staying in touch with the forecast because of this deep low hurtling towards the north of scotland. a lot of isobars here on the chart and some very windy weather. the north coast of northern ireland, parts of scotland is likely to see gales of up to 80 miles an hour. quite a few showers across the uk as you can see, some of them wintry of a higher ground. a bit milderfurther wintry of a higher ground. a bit milder further south. and then wintry of a higher ground. a bit milderfurther south. and then into sunday lots more of the showers, some wintry with some sleet and snow over high ground. widely a windy day with gusts of 40, 60 miles an hour.

feeling cold with single—digit temperatures. that's all from today's bbc news at one. enjoy the rest of the day. goodbye.

live from london — this is bbc news. a suspect�*s arrested following the assassination of a russian general in moscow and more details about the killing are released. a desperate search for survivors continues in mayotte — four days on from a cyclone which devastated the island. inflation in the uk rises to more than 2.5%, going up for the second month in a row. controversial social media star andrew tate is forced to hand over millions after a court finds he failed to pay his taxes. and a close encounter with the king of the arctic — we visit the polar bears struggling to cope in a warming world.

hello, i'm lucy hockings, welcome to bbc news now. authorities in moscow investigating the killing of russian general igor kirillov say they've arrested a 29—year—old suspect. kirillov and his assistant were blown up as they left an apartment block just a few kilometres from the kremlin in the early hours of monday. a warning, some viewers may find the pictures we're about to show you upsetting. the explosives were attached to a scooter parked on the street. moscow says the arrested man is an uzbek, who confessed to having been promised $100,000 to kill the general, and then travel to a european union country. ukrainian security sources have said they planned the attack, saying the general was a legitimate target because he was responsible

for russia's use of chemical weapons on the battlefield. the bbc�*s vitaliy shevchenko has been monitoring the response