live from london. this is bbc news. the uk economy flatlines — revised figures show gdp failed to grow at all in the last quarter. it comes as the cbi says "the uk economy is headed for the worst of all worlds". a woman dies after being set alight on the new york subway in an apparently random attack — police arrest a suspect. the french president emmanuel macron leads a minute's silence for the victims of cyclone chido. this is the scene live in magdeburg, as tributes continue to be laid for the victims of the german christmas market attack. hello. new figures on the state of the uk economy suggest it failed to grow at all in the third quarter of this year. the revised official figures

for gross domestic product or gdp — coverjuly to september — the months after the general election and the run—up to the labour government's first budget. and there are warnings too for chancellor rachel reeves from the influential business groups — the british retail consortium and the confederation of british industry. they predict a difficult economic start to 2025 with data suggesting concerns that the tax—raising autumn budget could affect sales. the government insists it's delivering stability for companies and encouraging long—term investment. our business correspondent theo leggett explained the significance of the ons decision. the first estimate of growth was of 0.1% and it has now been resides downwards to static zero growth. it is not a huge revision but a psychologically significant one. what lies behind is it is that smaller

businesses, businesses in the service sector have performed more poorly than expected. that is why we are seeing these figures today. the understanding is there has been no growth. our political correspondent, damian grammaticas told us more about the significance of these new figures and what the government's response has been to the news. the figures relate immediately to after the election. that was before the government's budget and it reflects their inheritance. it is a small revision. 0.1% has been tweaked down to 0% in the revision. they say what they are doing is tackling things for the long—term and very early this morning the chief secretary to the treasury was out his account.

this government is going into 2025 with absolute resolve to work with investors to stimulate economic growth and improve living standards for workers across their country. this is our number one mission as a government and we start from a disappointing set of economic statistics, but that is why we are going to fight everyday to improve the lives of working people in this when ou talk of working people in this when you talk to _ of working people in this when you talk to people _ of working people in this when you talk to people in _ of working people in this when you talk to people in the - of working people in this when you talk to people in the party| you talk to people in the party they will say that patience is needed. you cannot change things overnight, at the same time, there is concern, isn't there? that is from supportive in common mists to saying that the optimistic language doesn't seem to be there. this the optimistic language doesn't seem to be there.— seem to be there. this is the difficulty the _ seem to be there. this is the difficulty the government - seem to be there. this is the | difficulty the government has found itself in. they came into office and they immediately began talking about this huge

problem they had. the inheritance that was so difficult, politically that was designed to set up the framework they felt they would have to do any budget, but was taken by many as talking things down perhaps too much. that was followed by decisions in the budget, particularly the big tax raising decisions, we have heard businesses feeling it has dented their confidence. in new york police have arrested a suspect, after a woman was set on fire and killed on a subway train. police said the man approached the woman on board the f train at coney island on sunday morning, as she appeared to be sleeping and set fire to her clothes with a lighter. officers responded with fire extinguishers, but the victim died at the scene. here's transit chief, joseph gulotta. that will be part of the investigation. she's definitely there. she's motionless. if she's asleep or not, we're not 100% sure, but she appears motionless at that spot. there's no interaction between the two, and when the incident happens,

there's no interaction between the two. the cbs news correspondent tammy mutasa spoke to us from new york. this was a brutal attack on a woman who just appeared to be sleeping on a public train, and police found that victim when they saw smoke during a routine patrol. after the nypd released images of a person of interest, three young men called 911 when they saw the suspect in a different subway. police stopped the train and arrested the man. there must be strong, swift consequences on this person, and i use that term lightly, who committed this brutal, brutal homicide. nypd said cameras have been installed in every subway car, and it's because of images from those cameras that led to this arrest. this week governor kathy hochul announced an additional 250 national guard members will be deployed on subway cars to make sure everyone is safe.

to germany now and the aftermath of friday's car attack at a christmas market in magdeburg where five people were killed and many more injured. the country's interior minister has promised to leave no stone unturned in the investigation into what happened. this is the scene live in magdeburg, where people have been leaving flowers and candles near the scene of the attack with the growing number of floral tributes stretching across the pavement. our correspondent bethany bell is following developments in magdeburg. the police office said that they had received a warning from saudi authorities from about a year ago they said the police initiating an investigation that the threat was deemed to be too unspecific. there were other complaints about this man and warnings he was not an

unknown quantity in the words of one official. he was known to have been an activist and was active on social media. many questions as to whether more could have been done to alert the authorities about the danger of this. france is observing a day of national mourning for victims of the powerful cyclone which devastated its overseas territory of mayotte. president emmanuel macron has led a minute's silence at the elysee palace. authorities fear the final death toll could be in the hundreds, or possibly thousands. donald trump has threatened to reassert united states control over the panama canal, saying american ships are being charged excessive fees by the central american nation. panama's president has hit back — insisting panama's sovereignty and independence are non—negotiable. the canal — which links the atlantic and pacific oceans — is critical to international trade, with about 40% of american container traffic passing through it. largely built and administered

by the us from the beginning of the last century, it was eventually handed over to full panamanian control in 1999. mr trump made his comments to a conference of the conservative "turning point usa" group in arizona. it's his first political rally since winning the presidential election in november and comes four weeks before he officially takes office on january 20th. he told the audience he is not happy about the panama canal arrangement and is concerned it is falling into quote "the wrong hands". here's a little of what he said: you've got to treat us fairly, and they haven't treated us fairly. if the principles, both moral and legal, 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'm not going to stand for it. so, to the officials of panama, please be guided accordingly. mr trump's remarks prompted

a quick rebuke from panama's president, who had this to say: 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 reject any statement that misrepresents this reality. every single square metre of the panama canal and its adjacent areas belongs to panama and will continue to belong to panama. the sovereignty and independence of our country are non—negotiable. let's speak to rico luman, a senior sector economist examining shipping for ing. he's in amsterdam. first of all, just how important is the panama canal to the us and to global trade? it is an important lifeline for us trade. three quarters of all traffic is connected to the us are one way or another and it

covers five to 6% of global trade, so it is a crucial lifeline in these days of disruption in syria and the suez canal. that is where we are. , , , suez canal. that is where we are. , , ., ., are. just tell us about what has happened _ are. just tell us about what has happened to _ are. just tell us about what has happened to the - are. just tell us about what | has happened to the pricing around it. has happened to the pricing around it— around it. there was a disruption _ around it. there was a disruption at - around it. there was a disruption at the - around it. there was a i disruption at the panama around it. there was a - disruption at the panama canal this year. the number of slots was reduced by 30% because of that and there was a prolonged drop, the rainy season stayed out. there has had to be patients for slots and future resilience was being built to ring in fresh water from a river that was near. the canal decided to introduce a new system of slot allocation with an auction system and it means that the rates are increasing

very rapidly at the moment. what is the effect on that for us businesses?— what is the effect on that for us businesses? the number of slots is limited, _ us businesses? the number of slots is limited, so _ us businesses? the number of slots is limited, so if _ us businesses? the number of slots is limited, so if you - slots is limited, so if you need more slots for ships you need more slots for ships you need to play much more. —— you need to play much more. —— you need to play much more. —— you need to pay much more. it is a simple trade system so demand and supply and this leads to massive increases of rates. they need to pay more because of that. . ., they need to pay more because of that. ., ,, , ., around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

the king's christmas message is set to break from tradition this year, with the monarch expected to record it away from the familiar backdrop of buckingham palace. it'll be only the fourth time in history that this has happened.

with me is our royal correspondent daniela relph. it is interesting that the king has chosen to record his christmas message this year outside of a royal residence. this year it is coming from a small chapel just this year it is coming from a small chapeljust around the small chapel just around the corner from small chapeljust around the corner from us here small chapeljust around the cornerfrom us here in broadcasting house. the fitz ray via chapel which used to be a chapel connected to the middlesex hospital. the hospital was closed in 2005, but the chapel remains. this is what the king wanted. in a year that had been so difficult and turbulent for him, to have his message recorded in a space connected to health care and a community space. he wanted to do something different and that message will come from the fitz rovio chapel. it is a space for all faiths. it is a community space and you can have civil

weddings there as well. people alwa s weddings there as well. people always wonder _ weddings there as well. people always wonder how _ weddings there as well. people always wonder how much - weddings there as well. people always wonder how much of. weddings there as well. people | always wonder how much of the personal reflection will be on it. it has been a tough year for the royalfamily and people want to know about the drama of the two sons. they encompass so many families but they do it all in the public, don't they? yes, and the christmas message becomes a moment of reflection and getting a sense of how the monarchy feels. we do not know exactly what he is going to say, but i suppose the fact that he has chosen this location somewhere that was once a hospital chapel, gives us a clue that he is going to touch on his personal health journey. perhaps about community as well because it is a community space. we are looking for clues for the location. perhaps he has chosen fitzrovia chapel this year because of that. $5 fitzrovia chapel this year because of that.- fitzrovia chapel this year because of that. as they look to the year — because of that. as they look to the year ahead, _ because of that. as they look to the year ahead, the - because of that. as they look to the year ahead, the royall to the year ahead, the royal family, do we know what they're focuses are going to be?

obviously, the politics of the royal family has taken a knock in certain areas, hasn't it? yes, and things are different. the queen was on the throne for 70 years and there was a degree of reverence that perhaps doesn't exist in the same way. in terms of the palace and the king, the plan is to go ahead with a full schedule of engagements next year. he is still having treatment but they say he is on a positive trajectory. say he is on a positive trajectory-— since the overthrow of president bashar al—assad, several european countries — including germany, the uk and denmark — have paused asylum applications from syrians. more than a million people — who fled syria during the civil war — are currently living in the eu. our special correspondent fergal keane has been speaking to some of those he first met after they fled their homes in the early days of the conflict. and a warning — his report contains some distressing testimony. i never imagined that i will witness something like that in my life.

and i'm so happy. very happy. they hit you and they said, "confess, confess." we first met 12 years ago. he'd just escaped syria. gay, pro—democracy, raped by assad's police. they raping me? one by one, i start to say, "please, don't do this. "please, don't do that." then he'd asked to remain nameless, faceless, a voice. but no longer. today, living in holland, rene chauvin celebrates assad's fall by showing his face. you've decided to appear on camera today. why is that? because, um, the republic is...

fear is gone. because i'm... i'm not scared of them any more. because assad is a refugee in moscow. watching the release of prisoners triggered traumatic memories. i witnessed this, and i saw people are free. i was so happy for them. but i saw myself there. i saw when they raped me. when they tortured me. i saw everything. it's a flashback. several hours away, i met another refugee i'd known in the days of the war. one who'd never lost hope.

i was certain nothing lasts forever. darkness is followed by dawn. it's nearly ten years since nujeen fled the kurdish region of syria. and i first met her among hundreds of thousands of refugees heading into europe. 15 years old with big dreams. i'd love to be an astronaut. to go out and see and find an alien. najeen is safe in germany. but berlin has paused syrian asylum claims. assad's fall is welcome, but not the end of the struggle, she says. i would never come back to syria. that has assad as the president and that we would never have the chance to be better. and now with that, with that chapter over, i think the real challenge begins.

what is the big challenge? we can and will be a better nation. we are a nation of love, acceptance and peace, not one of chaos, fear and destruction. there are many good hearts in syria and beyond. hoping she's right. fergal keane, bbc news, cologne. medics in gaza say an israeli airstrike has killed at least five people — two of them children — in a designated humanitarian zone. this was the scene as tents were set ablaze in a humanitarian zone sheltering thousands of displaced people. the idf said they were targeting a "hamas terrorist" and had warned people there to leave. those in the camp were told they were sent to me there for their own safety.

translation: ~ , , translation: we were sleeping in ourtents— translation: we were sleeping in our tents and _ translation: we were sleeping in our tents and none _ translation: we were sleeping in our tents and none of- translation: we were sleeping in our tents and none of us - translation: we were sleeping in our tents and none of us are i in our tents and none of us are wanted by the army. why are they bombing us when we are sleeping in a tense? the idf were the ones who told us to head to tense in this area, so how can they bombard us with missiles. to how can they bombard us with missiles. ., , ., ~' ., missiles. to let you know the re . ular missiles. to let you know the regular figures _ missiles. to let you know the regular figures that _ missiles. to let you know the regular figures that are - missiles. to let you know the | regular figures that are issued by the hammers run health ministry say that 45,317 palestinians have been killed and hundred and 13 injured in the military offensive on gaza since the 7th of october. let me show you briefly some pictures of what is going on in jerusalem. here the christmas message is being delivered.

now there's just two days to go until christmas — but there's a sombre mood amongst some living in bethlehem. it's the second year the city of bethlehem — in the occupied west bank — has marked christmas against the backdrop of war in gaza. so with fewer traditions and twinkling lights.. how are faith leaders preparing to mark christmas day? let's speak to reverend dr munther isaac who's pastor of evangelical lutheran christmas church in bethlehem. how is this year proving in comparison with previous years? thank you for having me. well, it looks like we we are going to have a christmas with a sense of anger and to spare. christmas itself, of course, the faith component cannot be cancelled, but to the christmas decorations are all cancelled

as there is solidarity with our siblings. it is a manifestation of the state of anger, frustration and despair that exist in bethlehem. in frustration and despair that exist in bethlehem. in terms of our exist in bethlehem. in terms of your message _ exist in bethlehem. in terms of your message to _ exist in bethlehem. in terms of your message to people - exist in bethlehem. in terms of your message to people this i your message to people this year, just tell us what you are focusing on. year, just tell us what you are focusing on— focusing on. this year we will focusing on. this year we will focus on _ focusing on. this year we will focus on hope _ focusing on. this year we will focus on hope and _ focusing on. this year we will. focus on hope and perseverance. it is one of the darkest moments in our history of our people. there is so much despair and many families are leaving as a result of the continuous block around bethlehem and the restrictions that are enforced and since october seven. there is a sense of fear as we watch what happens with us and think is this ourfate? we happens with us and think is this our fate? we are trying to encourage the faithful by 1559 00:22:55,06