live from singapore, this is bbc news. syria's new leader says armed groups will be absorbed into the army as some communities express gear for the future tributes have been paid to one of five victims of the christmas market attack in germany. and in his first rally since winning the presidential election, donald trump says he may demand the return of the panama canal to the us.

a warm welcome to newsday. seria's new leader says all arms are to come under state control and armed factions will be incorporated into the army. his hayat tahrir al—sham was the key rebel group that overthrew president bashar al—assad that it is an islamist organisation once associated with al-qaeda that is causing concern for some minorities. our correspondent visited communities in syria's south as well as the capital, damascus, and sent this report. the dictator has fallen and fled. but what of the community he belonged to? bashar al—assad is from the islamic alawite sect. it's one of syria's biggest minorities, but it's controlled power over a majority sunni muslim country for 50 years.

in a working—class alawite neighbourhood of damascus, a few agree to speak to us. dozens of others refused. i asked if they feared revenge. translation: hayat tahrir al—sham has been respectful to us, but there are groups pretending to be hts who are making threats. we are scared of them. they are careful when they speak, and are keen to distance themselves from the regime. but many from the alawite sect — and indeed this neighbourhood — were a part of assad's brutal forces. "where are they?" i asked. translation: everyone who worked with the military and did bad things has fled. but people who do not have blood on their hands, they are not scared. the rebels, now in control, have said they are not looking for revenge. a group with a jihadist past and an islamist present. hayat tahrir al—sham has also promised that the freedoms of minorities

will be protected. it's a crucial issue for syria's plural society. this is the christian quarter of damascus. now, we have seen christmas decorations up in some parts of the city, but people who live here tell us the decorations here are more muted than they have been before. christians have told us that they do feel reassured by hts's promises, but that there is still uncertainty, and there are still worries about the form of government that this country will have in the future. we met youssef sabbagh, a lawyer from the christian community. i'm so happy because the assad fall. this is like a dream come true. but there is concern, i have to be realistic. a lot of syrians, muslims and all other minorities don't wish that syria will be a new afghanistan. we don't want to live under something like taliban.

70 miles from damascus, we drove to the city of suwayda, dominated by the druze — another religious minority. at the city's central square, the druze have gathered to watch their children perform, celebrating the fall of the regime. translation: we are celebrating now, - but in the event that there is an extreme regime with extreme laws, we are prepared to stay in the square and demand our rights. it's a moment of hope for syria, but also one of uncertainty. yogita limaye, bbc news, suwayda. in guys of the civil defence agency says at least 28 people have been killed in a wave of attacks by the israeli military across the gaza strip. targets hit include a school sheltering

displaced families and the hospital. israel says hamas had been using the school as a command centre. pope francis has condemned the israeli strikes on gaza for a second day in a row, referring to what he called cruelty towards children in the palestinian territory. israel has rejected the pope's double standards. and the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, says israel will continue to act against the houthis in yemen who he accuses of threatening world shipping and the international order. his statement comes a day after missile fired from yemen fell in the tel aviv area, causing a number of injuries. to discuss this and more i am joined by the director of the arabian peninsula affairs programme at the middle east institute. he served at the middle east ambassador to yemen in the obama administration. many thanks for your time. you were

ambassador to yemen. what is the danger of another front opening up in this conflict? {iii opening up in this conflict? of course the houthis in some ways are the last element, the last pillar of the axis of resistance still standing. they have been engaged in this series of attacks on shipping in the red sea ovary are now, as well as continuing efforts to strike at israel itself. the issue has been the ability of the international community to deter further attacks that have had a huge impact on the global economy, shipping through the red sea, the suez canal and also of course yemen in the midst of a civil war is also

vulnerable to this continuation of israeli attacks as well as us and uk efforts to stop the houthis, so one thing you do not want to see off course is this conflict is going to spread and make the situation in yemen even more complicated thanit in yemen even more complicated than it already is. the in yemen even more complicated than it already is.— than it already is. the houthis are one of _ than it already is. the houthis are one of the _ than it already is. the houthis are one of the members - than it already is. the houthis are one of the members of. than it already is. the houthis| are one of the members of the so—called axis of resistance that have not been hammered this year. how strong is their position right now?— this year. how strong is their position right now? they have definitely increased _ position right now? they have definitely increased their- definitely increased their capabilities over the course of the last 13 or 1a months and they have successfully waged a conflict in yemen since 2014. they have improved their capabilities, improved their military capacity over this period and have demonstrated ability to be very effective in

striking at international shipping. they are absolutely a threat, not only to the people of yemen but the global economy. of yemen but the global economy-— of yemen but the global economy. of yemen but the global econom . ., ., ., , economy. you have held a number of positions _ economy. you have held a number of positions in _ economy. you have held a number of positions in the _ economy. you have held a number of positions in the middle - of positions in the middle east. turning to syria, what is your read on hts and how it has been operating so far? i your read on hts and how it has been operating so far?— been operating so far? i think so far people _ been operating so far? i think so far people are _ been operating so far? i think so far people are watching - so far people are watching carefully. i know here in the us, we have had some senior us state department officials who have visited damascus and met with the senior leadership of hts. i think it is probably too early to make an assessment, but there is some hope at least that they will move syria in the right direction. whether they are rarely invested in

building a more democratic, more open society remains to be seen. —— reallly. i hope the international community will engage with this new leadership in syria and help them move along the track but as your own journalist reported, i think within syria itself people are watching carefully, waiting to see which way this new leadership moves and what direction they take.- leadership moves and what direction they take. yes, and briefl , direction they take. yes, and briefly. if _ direction they take. yes, and briefly. if you _ direction they take. yes, and briefly, if you can _ direction they take. yes, and briefly, if you can on - direction they take. yes, and briefly, if you can on gaza, i direction they take. yes, and briefly, if you can on gaza, a | briefly, if you can on gaza, a palestinian official has told the bbc a ceasefire deal is 90% there. do you expect it before donald trump takes office and if not, what are the sticking points? if not, what are the sticking oints? ., ., , ., points? unfortunately, we have been 9096 _ points? unfortunately, we have been 9096 there _ points? unfortunately, we have been 9096 there for _ points? unfortunately, we have been 9096 there for quite - points? unfortunately, we have been 9096 there for quite some | been 90% there for quite some time. this is not the first time. this is not the first time people have been optimistic. it is a question of the will of the two parties of

the will of the two parties of the israelis and hamas whether they have come to the conclusion it is betterfor them to make a deal or not. donald trump has made certain threatening noises over his desire to see this finished soon, but each of the sides is making their own calculations, what is in their best interests.— what is in their best interests. �* ., ., interests. ok, i'm afraid we will have — interests. ok, i'm afraid we will have to _ interests. ok, i'm afraid we will have to leave _ interests. ok, i'm afraid we will have to leave it - interests. ok, i'm afraid we will have to leave it there. i will have to leave it there. ambassador, many thanks for your time. ambassador, many thanks for your time-— ambassador, many thanks for your time-_ a - your time. pleasure. a nine-year-old - your time. pleasure. a nine-year-old boy - your time. pleasure. aj nine-year-old boy who your time. pleasure. a - nine-year-old boy who died in nine—year—old boy who died in friday's attack on a german christmas market has been named. andre gleason was killed in the city of magdeburg.

—— he was andre gleissner, killed along with four adults in the city of magdeburg. the man suspected of carrying out the attack, taleb al—abdulmohsen, has been remanded in custody on charges including murder and attempted murder. he moved to germany from saudi arabia 18 years ago. police say he had posted islamophobic comments online. the german government says it will investigate whether more could have been done to prevent the tragedy. anna foster is in magdeburg and sent this report. this is andre. nine years old, looking forward to christmas, enjoying a night out at the festive market when he was killed. a fundraising account for his devastated family has raised thousands of euros. 0n social media, his mum said: "let my little teddy bear fly around the world once again." taleb al—abdulmohsen has been charged with andre's murder and that of four other people at the christmas market. german investigators are building up a picture of the saudi doctor, including in his own words. my name is taleb. i'm from saudi arabia. i'm an activist. in 2019 he was interviewed by the bbc. he talked about how he used his free time to help people. i created a website to help people seeking asylum, especially from saudi arabia

and the gulf region. now he's been charged with killing five people at magdeburg's christmas market, speeding a powerful car through the packed alleys between the stalls, causing terror and panic. the attack unfolded in the city's central square at around seven o'clock on friday evening. the car turned off a nearby road and onto a pedestrian crossing, entering the market through a gap in the concrete security perimeter that had been left open for emergency vehicles. it drove into the celebrating crowds, injuring more than 200 people, 40 of them seriously. minutes later, the car left the market on the east side and joined the main road. but the suspect couldn't get through the traffic, and this video shows armed officers arresting him, telling him not to move from the ground. taleb al—abdulmohsen lives in this quiet town, bernburg, around 25 miles away

from the site of the attack, and more detail is coming to light about his background and his views. he came to germany from saudi arabia nearly 20 years ago, and works at this clinic as a psychiatrist. ulrika's relative is being treated here. she was shocked when she heard the link. yes, i was very shaken. it's horrifying, terrible. it's made me sad, it's made my whole family very sad, and everything i know is sad. from his home on this peaceful street, taleb al—abdulmohsen built an online presence which will be key to the police's investigation. in 2019 he spoke to a german newspaper about what he called his activism, telling them, "i'm history's most aggressive critic of islam. "just ask any arab if you don't believe me." attention is now turning to safety and security, whether this market was protected

enough and whether authorities had any warnings that taleb al—abdulmohsen may have posed a threat. germany is waiting for the answers. anna foster, bbc news. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. let's take a look at some other stories making news in the uk. the bbc has found a church of england priest with a history of child sexual abuse allegations against him was twice reappointed to a senior position in his diocese ease while the current archbishop of york was the bishop of chelmsford. a woman who say she was groomed by the priest has described the renewal of his contract as an insult to all his victims. more flights to and from heathrow airport have been cancelled and strong winds in the uk continue to disrupt travel during the busy holiday season. more than 100 flights

were cancelled across the weekend, affecting about passengers. air travel has also been disrupted in northern ireland. all flights in and out of belfast city airport were cancelled sunday evening. the cancellations came after an air lingus plane suffered an emergency incident while landing during strong winds. it appears the nose wheel of the plane collapsed as the aircraft landed. you are live with bbc news. the president of panama has rejected threats from us president—elect donald trump about the sovereignty of the panama canal. mr trump says he will demand the return of the waterway to us hands if panama doesn't cut transit fees. you have got to treat us fairly, they haven't treated us fairly, if the principles

of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the panama canal be returned to the united states of america in full, quickly and without question. i am not going to stand for it. so to the officials of panama, please be guided accordingly. the president of panama, jose raul mulino, has since responded to president elect trumps comments. take a listen. translation: the canal is not under the direct i or indirect control of china, the european community, the united states, or any other power. as a panamanian, i strongly represent any statement that misrepresents this reality. every single square meter of the panama canal belongs to panama and will continue to belong to panama. the sovereignty and independence of our country are non—negotiable.

0ur reporter was at the donald trump speech in phoenix. our reporter was at the donald trump speech in phoenix. donald trump speech in phoenix. donald trump says _ trump speech in phoenix. donald trump says the — trump speech in phoenix. donald trump says the fees _ trump speech in phoenix. donald trump says the fees are - trump speech in phoenix. donald trump says the fees are to - trump says the fees are to high. that is the main read between the atlantic and pacific ocean. he called them a rip—off and vowed to take action. the history here is that the us built the canal more than 100 years ago. a series of treaties exceeded it back to panama in 1999 so panama charges fees for us to go through the canal. last year fewer boats were able to do that due to a drought so the fees went up and donald trump is not happy about this.- is not happy about this. there is not happy about this. there is now only — is not happy about this. there is now only 28 _ is not happy about this. there is now only 28 days _ is not happy about this. there is now only 28 days until - is now only 28 days until inauguration day when donald trump officially makes his return to the white house as the 47th president of the united states of america. countries around the world are watching and waiting to see what the second term brings, including those indo—pacific where there is a particular

concern about his views on climate change. during his last term in office, he pulled the us out of the paris agreement. during the campaign he promised to "drill baby drill" ramping up to "drill baby drill" ramping up oil exploration in the us and his pick for energy secretary is the head of fracking company. global temperatures continue to rise at an alarming rate. 2024 set to become the hottest year on record. and the first year that earth has warmed 1.5 celsius above preindustrial levels which will lead and scientists hope to avoid surpassing the paris agreement. i am joint by a former prime minister of the tuvalu, an island in the

pacific. he was a critic of donald trump when he was last in office. one of the first major decisions donald trump made the last time he was in office was pulling out of the paris climate accord. do you have concerns about trump to .0? ., ~ , ., y have concerns about trump to .0? ., y a , .0? thank you very much. it is certainly _ .0? thank you very much. it is certainly a _ .0? thank you very much. it is certainly a worry _ .0? thank you very much. it is certainly a worry for— .0? thank you very much. it is certainly a worry for the - .0? thank you very much. it is certainly a worry for the small| certainly a worry for the small island countries in the pacific and caribbean, all over the world, certainly in tuvalu. the collective efforts, and urgent actions to deal with climate change are being stalled and subtle interview coming the newly elected president of the united states is of great concern to the people, the

people of the pacific island countries, certainly to my country tuvalu. we are deeply concerned about this and i certainly hope that under the new administration in washington, it would seriously reconsider their position. we're very grateful the positive progressive position taken by the joe positive progressive position taken by thejoe biden government, which shows that these things can be done if we work collectively as a global community to address this very, very serious global concern to everybody on planet earth, so it is certainly michael... i apologise for interrupting ——my call. if you could paint a

picture of the kinds of things to follow in particular is facing when it comes to climate change especially this year and last year being terrible for climate change events? —— tuvalu. climate change events? -- tuvalu. .,, climate change events? -- tuvalu. , ., , , tuvalu. the most serious things as the sealevel _ tuvalu. the most serious things as the sealevel rise _ tuvalu. the most serious things as the sealevel rise and - tuvalu. the most serious things as the sealevel rise and the - as the sealevel rise and the erosion on very, very vital lands of the island country tuvalu and more frequent cyclones and king ties, inundation of land, are really effecting and creating a lot of uncertainty amongst the people of tuvalu. ., , ., of tuvalu. how should policymakers - of tuvalu. how should policymakers like - of tuvalu. how should - policymakers like yourself deal with donald trump and his

attitudes towards climate change? attitudes towards climate chan . e? ., , attitudes towards climate chance? ., ., change? people are now urging, the cause made _ change? people are now urging, the cause made by _ change? people are now urging, the cause made by regions - change? people are now urging, the cause made by regions of. the cause made by regions of the cause made by regions of the united states, that we are really falling backwards on our words, on our commitments under the paris agreement, that we would collectively work together in the spirit of goodwill and cooperation to address this because it may be tuvalu's the first to suffer feel the impact of this phenomenon, but everybody, the whole globe, everybody on the planet are going to suffer and feel the impact and effects of climate change. everyone. and we are already seeing this

happening in parts of the world. certainly in tuvalu there is growing concerned. we feel very concerned about the possible loss of our culture, the violation of human rights. it is certainly a great concern and the impacts under the security and long—term survival of the communities in tuvalu. so we hope that urgent action is being taken by particularly those who can make a difference, including of course the highest polluter of greenhouse gas, to take action, is what we have seen underjoe biden's very progressive climate change policies. are grateful for that but...

talking of people who can make a difference, elon musk is a key ally of trump. he was at one time a climate champion, you're expecting anything from him during trump the term? we ho -e him during trump the term? - hope these leaders, these moguls can come to they might that of world lead by them, turning away from progressive outlooks on climate change, will be felt by their children in the future and affect grandchildren in the future. it will leave a very massive and insecure world, if nothing is done urgently to shift away from fossil fuels and move to renewable energy, two more cleaner and perhaps energy

efficiencies and we encourage this, but these achievements which run more on batteries, perhaps these other sort of technologies innovations urgently needed in order to shift away from fossil fuels dependent economies in the future and we can make a difference by doing the right thing and thinking about the security not only of the immediate but the whole world is already feeling the impact of this very serious threat to our security and survival. i go. we will have to leave it there, the former prime minister of the pacific island nation of tuvalu, many thanks

for your time on newsday. do state with bbc news. that is all for now. ——to stay. hello. it's been a chilly, windy and showery sort of weekend, but, thankfully, the weather is looking a little bit quieter now in the run—up to christmas. so for christmas week then, a change to the weather. things are turning milder, less windy than they have been and things looking mostly dry for many of us towards christmas. but we're going to be starting off with that cold air still in the east. milder air is going to be working in through the day on monday. still a few wintry showers, a little bit of ice first thing monday, i think across parts of northeast scotland in particular. but this system is a warm front, so it's bringing the milder air. it's also bringing some patchy outbreaks of rain on monday to western areas. these are the sort of temperatures we'll start the day with — 2 to 4 degrees for northern and eastern areas, 5 or 6 towards the south and west, a little bit colder than that for the more rural spots, particularly where we had the wintry showers.

could be some icy stretches in the far northeast. we'll keep the sunshine longest across parts of eastern england on monday. the cloud builds from the west, bringing some patchy rain and some hill fog around western coasts and hills. could be a little bit of snow on top of the highest ground for the highlands, scotland, for a time. only about 4 or 5 degrees around that east coast, but in the west, 9 or 10 degrees. things are turning a little bit milder as that warmer air moves in from the atlantic. high pressure is going to be building in as we head through to christmas eve on tuesday as well. so that's keeping most places dry. we will see a little bit of patchy rain across the north and northwest of scotland. perhaps around other western areas, a little bit of drizzle here and there. a fairly cloudy picture for many of us on christmas eve. best of any sunshine will be to the east of higher ground. so aberdeenshire, perhaps parts of the welsh marches, seeing a little bit of blue sky here and there. temperatures, though, 13, 14, possibly 15 degrees for some of us. so one of the warmest christmas eves on record, i think. and then that mild air stays with us through into christmas day as well. we've got a front just trying to move in towards the northwest. it's going to be quite breezy here, and there'll be some outbreaks of rain

across the northwest of scotland, i think, for christmas day. for most of us, it's not going to be a white christmas. more of a grey one, really. mostly dry, though, quite a lot of cloud around. again, some breaks in that cloud generally to be found to the east of higher ground. so the likes of yorkshire, for instance, around the east coast of england could see a little bit of brightness developing. top temperatures between 11 to 13 for christmas day, perhaps a degree or so down on christmas eve. but most of us looking dry and settled into boxing day and towards the end of the week too. it's mild, it's cloudy, but it's not going to be a white christmas. bye— bye.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme.