tedros adhanom ghebreyesus, says he was at the airport in sanaa when it was hit. russia is accused of shooting down a plane over kazakhstan yesterday — killing 38 people. the kremlin says it's wrong to speculate on what happened. former indian prime minister manmohan singh dies aged 92. he governed the country for two terms, and liberalised its economy. and — gavin and stacey win the christmas day tv ratings battle here in the uk — with over 12 million people tuning in to see whether smithy accepted nessa's proposal. hello, i'm sarah campbell. israel has been carrying out air strikes across yemen, including on the international airport in the capital, sanaa.

the head of the world health organization, tedros adhanom ghebreyesus, was at the airport about to board a flight when it came under israeli attack. he was not injured. the israeli military says it has been targeting the houthis, the rebel group backed by iran. houthi rebels say three people were killed in the strikes. houthi fighters in yemen have targeted israel, and ships in the red sea and the gulf of aden, in solidarity with palestinians in gaza. meanwhile in central gaza, health officials say five journalists have been killed by an israeli strike. the strike hit a marked broadcast van outside al—awda hospital in the nuseirat refugee camp. one of the journalists had been expecting the birth of his child. the israeli military said those killed were members of a "terrorist cell". let's speak to our news correspondent shaimaa khalil injerusalem.

take us through what we know about these strikes in yemen. we have seen very dramatic footage from inside sana'a international airport of people running in a panic with their luggage in their trolleys some trying to leave the building through a gate others running in different directions. we also saw one from outside of the building showing smoke rising. in the last hour or so we have also been getting reports that commercial flights are still landing and yemen airport despite reports of damage to the facility. we are getting reports in and image of an airbus a3 20 of the yemeni airlines aircraft landing there. we heard from a head of there. we heard from a head of the world health organization tedros adhanom ghebreyesus who said he was in the airport when the strike happened that he was about to board a plane when the

airport was struck and it resulted in one aircrew member being injured not farfrom where his group was sitting. he said he was ok. we also had confirmation from the israeli army the idf is that they struck targets used by the iran backer to use muggle weapons into the region. we know the airport in sana'a was hit but also other targets in the red sea port city in my car when they hit two power stations, they hit two power stations, the israelis and some key ports as well. this is the second strike on who the targets in yemen as this month has seen a significant increase in houthi launched missiles and drones in the territory one injuring more than one dozen people when it landed in tel aviv on saturday. houthis have vowed time and

again have vowed to continue the attacks until the end of the attacks until the end of the war in gaza and in the past few days we have heard a more determined israeli leadership. we have hurt the prime minister and the israeli defence minister saying they are going to go after the houthis targets and yemen but also the houthi leadership the same way they went after the hamas and hezbollah leadership as well. there has also been another story coming out today of gaza with health officials think five journalists have been killed and conflicting narratives on both sides as to who these people are so what do we know? . , , . , we know? that is the difficulty with a story — we know? that is the difficulty with a story like _ we know? that is the difficulty with a story like this. - we know? that is the difficulty with a story like this. because| with a story like this. because it does not allow international media to report freely within gaza you cannot independently verify those two narratives. but they are very different stories coming out of the gaza —based channel and the israeli

military. we understand that a media tv media vehicle that was clearly marked as press was parked outside al—awda hospital in nuseirat camp and struck five journalists in the camp and they were killed one was expecting his first child and his wife was in al—awda about to give birth in the hospital. we have seen the wreckage of the van, the van barely there, it was mangled and charred, but we've also seen sad scenes at the funerals of those journalists. the committee to protectjournalists has a set that up until from the beginning of the war up until mid december, but 28th of december, hundred 23 journalists were killed, the israeli military said that those five men were posing as journalists and it says it had

intelligence of that and that it struck as what it describes as a terrorist cell. will we also understand from the immediate community varied that these five men were well—known local journalists these five men were well—known localjournalists of these five men were well—known local journalists of the these five men were well—known localjournalists of the people in gaza telling the story of the war. 0ne crucial detail to tell you is that these journalists belong to out cuts today channel and that this channel is affiliated with the palestinian islamichhad group —— al quds channel which took part in the hamas lead attack on october the 7th in 2023 and what israel is saying is that it targeted five people who were involved in propaganda and involved in militant activities. again, it is difficult for the bbc to independently verify that but what you hear from independently verify that but what you hearfrom local journalists who attended the funerals there is that it is a tragedy and whatever the

reasons were, it did not justify killing those five men. we also heard from the committee to protect journalists who said it was devastated at the reports at thatjournalists devastated at the reports at that journalists are devastated at the reports at thatjournalists are civilians and that they should be protected. russia has said it won't speculate on claims that russian air defences hit a passenger plane before it crashed in kazakhstan yesterday, killing 38 people. an unnamed us official indicated that early signs suggest a russian anti—aircraft system may have struck an azerbaijan airlines plane. however, president putin's spokesman said it would be inappropriate to comment before the official investigation was complete. the azerbaijan airlines jet had been travelling from baku to chechnya, when it was diverted to kazakhstan, before coming down near aktau. jonathan josephs reports. on board the stricken aeroplane, the passenger filming this notices some damage under the wing. back inside, despite oxygen masks and life jackets being visible, those

on board seem calm. it's not clear how long before the crash this was filmed. there were 62 passengers and five crew on board this azerbaijan airlines flight from baku to grozny in southern russia. amateur footage shows the pilot struggling to control the plane as it tries to land. the force of impact split the plane in two, with the front half destroyed by fire. the key question is why? i spoke to one military expert who said suggestions of a bird strike being responsible were unlikely. at the moment evidence is still coming out, but the most likely hypothesis we see is that it was struck by an air defence missile, um, almost certainly russian, in the area over grozny where the plane was holding. ukrainian drones were active at the time, and this is commensurate with everything we've seen in the pilot's communication with air traffic control. and currently it's the only thing that fully fits the facts that we know.

these holes in the surviving part of the fuselage will be examined by investigators. meanwhile, azerbaijan airlines have suspended all flights in the region. they have not grounded their other six embraer e1905, suggesting the cause was not technical or mechanical. the aircraft has a good safety record. russia's government says no conclusion should be drawn until the kazakh led investigation is complete. amongst those wanting answers will be those survivors who remarkably walked away. this man says his wife had been sitting next to him, but he hasn't seen her since the crash. this is the family of one of the flight attendants. in a video call, he reassures them, saying, "don't worry, tell mum not to worry. thank god we're safe." at baku's airport, large crowds queued up to pay their respects and lay flowers in memory of the dead. as families across the region struggle to understand what caused their loved

ones to perish. jonathan josephs, bbc news. the eu has threatened to impose further sanctions on russia, after one of its cargo ships was blamed for severing an underwater cable. the estlink2 carries electricity between finland and estonia, but stopped working on wednesday. finnish police then boarded a ship which they believe was operating as part of russia's so—called shadow fleet. they say they found evidence there that the anchor had been used to cut the cable in two. i'm joined now by our europe regional editor paul moss. take us through what happened. for once with one of these incidents and there have been several i don't think required in an enormous amount of detective work to work it out because this cable a crucial cable carrying electricity between finland and estonia

stopped working at around lunchtime on what was christmas day in finland and estonia. and exactly the point it stopped working a ship passed overhead. not surprisingly the finnish police acted quickly and boarded ship. this is flagged to the cook islands, a small nation in the pacific. at what they are suggesting is what they are suggesting is what they call a flag of convenience and it was part of the russia shadow fleet used to evade sanctions, but they are suggesting it may also be used to sabotage cables and that is what they are suggesting here as you say that the anchor tracked along the bottom and snap the cable into. i5 tracked along the bottom and snap the cable into.— snap the cable into. is there an wa snap the cable into. is there any way that _ snap the cable into. is there any way that could - snap the cable into. is there any way that could happen l any way that could happen accidentally?— accidentally? the thing is there are _ accidentally? the thing is there are more _ accidentally? the thing is there are more and - accidentally? the thing is there are more and morej accidentally? the thing is - there are more and more cables around in the fact is they do break, howeverthis around in the fact is they do break, however this is the third time it is happening and about a month in november two cables one going from germany to finland the other from sweetman to lithuania both broke in on that occasion it

was a chinese ship which just happened to be passing overhead when the cable snapped so what they are suggesting quite simply as a programme of sabotage. simply as a programme of sabotage-— simply as a programme of sabotage. simply as a programme of sabotaae. , , , ., sabotage. presumably it is an eas wa sabotage. presumably it is an easy way to — sabotage. presumably it is an easy way to cause _ sabotage. presumably it is an easy way to cause quite - sabotage. presumably it is an easy way to cause quite a - sabotage. presumably it is an easy way to cause quite a bit| easy way to cause quite a bit of disruption and people may not know that the is increasingly getting by these increasingly getting by these increasingly important cables. as a society we are increasingly dependent and it is important to remember there are two kinds of cable, power cables and communication cables both have been expanding in number. the power cables because blood electricity is now generated by renewable energy unlike oil and gas you cannot send to wind down a cable see generate it and send it to other countries. this is important because renewable energy is not consistent when you have more wins than you need powerfor you can send electricity to someone else and they may have more solar powered than they need the same with the expansion of the internet meaning there is more

internet meaning there is more internet cables. sometimes when people send an e—mail overseas, they think it bounces off of a satellite and in fact 95% of communications bakole international go through cables not through a satellite. bearing that in mind is that it is that easy tracking and anchor across the sea bed to disrupt the lives how are they going to protect these cables better? i going to protect these cables better? , . ., , ., better? i wish i could give you an answer— better? i wish i could give you an answer right _ better? i wish i could give you an answer right now— better? i wish i could give you an answer right now the - an answer right now the suspicion is that there aren't a lot of politicians scientists and generals trying to work that out. in september there was a un meeting were various western countries agreed that they would take a common approach to protecting underwater cables recognising their importance but it is not clear yet what that common approach is. colin has said that what is needed is constant controls protecting the cables. that sounds great, but think about the pressure on countries military budgets. at the moment to buy more tanks, fighter planes and ammunition and then being told we need more boats

to protect cables, that will be quite and ask. we will have to see if the idea catches on. i suspect this is not the last time we will speak about this. thank you. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

the former indian prime minister, manmohan singh, has died at the age of 92. mr singh was in office for a decade, from 2004 until 2014, and was the first prime minister in india from the sikh faith. a distinguished economist and politician, manmohan singh played a pivotal role in shaping modern india. he championed economic reforms, and oversaw a period of robust growth that lifted millions out of poverty. sophie long reports. almost bankrupt at the time manmohan singh entered party politics, the indian image was to change driven by a booming

it sector. much of this is but down to the liberalisation, the loosening of infamous bureaucratic controls introduced by manmohan singh after he became finance minister in 1991. he put the country on the path to achieving some of the fastest growth rates in the world. it also paved the way for him to become in 2004, india's first sikh prime minister. he will be remembered for making the country talked about as an emergent economic giant. though much of india 1 billion plus population was in reality largely untouched by the economic reforms, and poverty remains deep and pervasive and job creation a massive challenge. in did not hide its place at the worlds high tables and as the global economy faltered and then went into crisis, that role of india and

manmohan singh's experience as an economist and national civil servant was crucial. the signing of the nuclear agreement between india and in the united states was a landmark of his premiership. especially given the concern about south asia as a potential nuclear flashpoint after both india and pakistan carried out underground tests in 1998. but the gun and grenade attacks on luxury hotels and other targets in mumbai which killed around 170 people not only demonstrated india's vulnerability, it also provides the historic mutual suspicion between india and pakistan. a leader traditionally careful with his words, the prime minister was explicit and laying blame for an attack that he believes was meant to damage india's reputation as a rising pro—power. india's reputation as a rising pro-pawn— pro-power. there is enough evidence — pro-power. there is enough evidence to _ pro-power. there is enough evidence to show _ pro-power. there is enough evidence to show that - pro-power. there is enough evidence to show that given j pro-power. there is enough - evidence to show that given the sophistication and military precision of the attack, it must have had the support of

some official agencies in pakistan.— some official agencies in pakistan. �* ., , pakistan. although he became cau . ht pakistan. although he became cau~ht u- pakistan. although he became caught up in — pakistan. although he became caught up in political- caught up in political challenges that have tested every indian prime minister, manmohan singh's particular place in the country's history was equipping it to better embrace globalisation, but he always hoped india would show that does not have to mean leaving the port behind. let's speak to anbarasan ethirajan, the bbc�*s south asia regional editor. take us through his legacy. he presided over a time of enormous change particularly economically in india, he was very much behind that.- economically in india, he was very much behind that. when he took over in _ very much behind that. when he took over in 1991, _ very much behind that. when he took over in 1991, the _ very much behind that. when he took over in 1991, the foreign . took over in 1991, the foreign exchange reserves of india was hovering around $1.5 billion and within three weeks of imports the country was going through a severe economic crisis and he realised what the

challenge was at that time. in fact today we are talking about india having $600 billion in reserve and one of the top economies in the world. it is mainly due to the policies taken by a manmohan singh in the early 905. so what he called the liberalisation proce55 called the liberalisation process where he allowed foreign investments and then privatisation of public sector undertakings and big companies and boosted growth and all of this economic growth really helped india to come out of the woods in the early 19905. then he came back in 2004 as the prime minister and he was a surprise choice when the party 5urpri5e choice when the party won the power that then leader did not want to take up the job so it came up to him and from 2004 until 2014 mr manmohan singh wa5 2004 until 2014 mr manmohan singh was the prime minister once again. indio witnessed one of the fastest growth rates around that time from 2004

until 2000 ten when the economy was growing 7—8% and he introduced some 5cheme5 was growing 7—8% and he introduced some schemes with far—reaching consequences with a unique identification number and rural employment scheme that really played a key role during the covert cri5i5 when million5 during the covert cri5i5 when millions of workers were without jobs. millions of workers were withoutjobs. so manmohan singh will always be remembered of being the architect —— architect of modern india who took india out of trouble when he was the finance minister and during his partnership when he was able to build con5en5u5 with the political parties to take india forward and he's one of the few leaders in india that was not directly touched by any corruption allegations. so ties internally but also credited with improving or increasing the standing of india on the broad 5tage increasing the standing of india on the broad stage with diplomatic relations with big world powers at the time.

india's ri5e world powers at the time. india's rise as an economic power al5o coincided with how india boosted its relations particularly with the united states. in the previous 19905, before 19905 india was very much in the soviet bloc supporting ru55ia. but after the liberalisation proce55 the liberalisation process started, you saw how the american companies invested in al5o diplomatically the two countries coming together both solid vapour natural partners and allies and even that led to and allies and even that led to a landmark nuclear agreement between the two countries in 2007 and eight. so india and the us also started engaging in different production and the us 5tarted different production and the us started selling modern weaponry to the indian armed forces which even now 5till relies on for a majority of russian imports of four but then the modernisation happened but i can with the rest of the world which we saw with the japan or the european union, that is

where manmohan singh, when he came to the table that was a lot of respect and that he boosted the indian image around the world and that is what you will be remembered for. taste the world and that is what you will be remembered for. we will have to leave _ will be remembered for. we will have to leave it _ will be remembered for. we will have to leave it there. _ will be remembered for. we will have to leave it there. i - will be remembered for. we will have to leave it there. i know i have to leave it there. i know there is bunch more to say, but thank you. more than 450 people crossed the english channel in small boats on christmas day, according to home office figures. new data shows 451 migrants arrived on 11 boats. to 35,491, more than 21% higher than last year. uk'5 prime minister sir keir starmer has made "smashing the gangs" — who are responsible for small boat cro55ing5 — one of his top priorities. now, what did people here in the uk watch on christmas day? for many, the answer seems to be gavin and stacey. the show had a whopping overnight audience of 12.32 million — making it the biggest non—5ports overnight of 2024. million5 tuned in for the final ever epi5ode of the beloved british 5itcom.

the number doesn't include those are yet to watch the episode on catch up. wallace & gromit had the second highest overnight viewing figures — 9.38 million tuned in to watch the duo's tv return. let's speak to caroline fro5t a tv and film critic and columnist for radio time5. hello. there was a lot of hype in the run—up to the finale of gavin and stacey but it got a lot of people watching. i think the bbc can — lot of people watching. i think the bbc can count _ lot of people watching. i think the bbc can count their- lot of people watching. i think the bbc can count their lucky| the bbc can count their lucky 5tar5 the bbc can count their lucky stars that it has all come good that a lot of hype happen for sure that, they threw the kitchen seek added they were everywhere and i think the bbc realised this was their biggest gem in the christmas bag. but the prayers have been answered. the audience game and not only are those figures ma55ive, they have superseded the audience figures for 2019, five years ago, but it also looks at to dwarf the 18 million consolidated figure if these numbers continue to rise. sibbald and everybody, the

critics have been kind, everyone seems to have gone home happy. everyone seems to have gone home happy-— home happy. yes, i did. i watched _ home happy. yes, i did. i watched it _ home happy. yes, i did. i watched it and _ home happy. yes, i did. i watched it and thought i home happy. yes, i did. i watched it and thought it| home happy. yes, i did. i- watched it and thought it was great but i thought it was was to be domestic tv was supposed to be domestic tv was supposed to be domestic tv was supposed to be going down and yet here we are, these figures are pretty extraordinary, bearing in mind the competition from streaming and etc. the in mind the competition from streaming and etc.— streaming and etc. the more remarkable _ streaming and etc. the more remarkable thing _ streaming and etc. the more remarkable thing is - streaming and etc. the more remarkable thing is if - streaming and etc. the more remarkable thing is if you - streaming and etc. the more. remarkable thing is if you look at the top ten list for yesterday's tv all of those top ten not to shout from inside of the tent, but they are all bbc titles so a bravo and a big performance of scheduling and marketing and all of those things came good and it puts into doubt that linear tv is dead. i think chri5tmas into doubt that linear tv is dead. i think christmas is particularly the time that you prove will perhaps compromise a put down your iphone or ipad or personal way of watching tv and binging for streaming programmes at your convenience and to sneak into the living room and perhaps sit down next to someone that you may not have smoking too for the rest of the year and watch something together and i think that is

where the figures i've become so massive —— spoken to. we have seen doctor who, strickler triply convincing even a children's programme and we should not forget wallace and grommet returning after 20 years. it seemed to be something for everyone so i can only crotch to relate the schedulers for putting that together and has really paid off. _, ., ., together and has really paid off. ., ., , off. -- congratulate. of course this was the — off. -- congratulate. of course this was the finale _ off. -- congratulate. of course this was the finale so - off. -- congratulate. of course this was the finale so what - this was the finale so what does the bbc do next year? if they have learned anything from this is business to invest their money into new comedy and writers and start creating the families that will be tuning in next year and for years to come. ., ~' next year and for years to come. . ~ ,, , ., come. thank you. there is no more gavin — come. thank you. there is no more gavin and _ come. thank you. there is no more gavin and stacey - come. thank you. there is no more gavin and stacey but i come. thank you. there is no l more gavin and stacey but stay with us here on bbc news because there is plenty more to come. hello there. boxing day has been another relatively quiet one. mostly dry. a lot of cloud around.

best of the sunshine across northeast england and wales and the only place seeing rain, scotland and northern ireland. the next few days look very similar. it's mostly dry thanks to high pressure, staying on the mild side with any rain focussed across northern areas. that's because we've got this weather front pretty much stationary across the north of the uk. not just today, but for the next few days even as we head into the weekend. to the north of it, there is some colder air looming, but most of us will be in this wedge of less cold air with less cold nights as well, particularly where we hold on to the cloud. so, as we head through tonight, it does look like it stays damp for parts of northern and western scotland, maybe northern ireland. elsewhere, where we hold on to the cloud, temperatures no lower than around 5 to 8 degrees, but under clearer spells, say north east england, we could be close to freezing, 1 or 2 spots, 1 or 2 degrees. so, for friday, again, still high pressure dominates the scene across the south. this weather front loiters across the north and west of scotland, perhaps northern ireland. i think for friday, looks like most of the rain will be across argyll and the highlands. elsewhere mostly dry.

a lot of cloud again with limited spells of sunshine. probably the best of the sunshine, eastern scotland northeast england. winds light for most and temperatures, again, 8 to 11 degrees. and then as we move through friday night, we start to see that rain picking up a bit across scotland and northern ireland. to the north of here, skies turn clearer, but it will be colder air with some blustery showers running into the north and west. now, elsewhere, its business as usual. it's light winds. a lot of cloud around. just the odd clear spell here and there. so, as we head into the weekend, we've got that weather front across the north of the uk pushing into high pressure so it will begin to fizzle out. to the north of it, we may see more sunshine across scotland and northern ireland on saturday, but there'll be some blustery showers in the northwest of scotland. elsewhere south, that weather front looks like being another benign day. light winds. a lot of cloud around. limited sunshine. temperatures eight to 11 or 12 degrees. then as we head through sunday, there'll be some wet weather in the north. into next week, the run up to new year, we could see

colder air spreading south across the uk, and with low pressure systems moving in off the atlantic, we're likely to see weather turning more unsettled, wetter and windier, with the chance of some snow mainly across central and northern areas. but still some uncertainty to the forecast into next week, so stay tuned.

now on bbc news, it's sportsday.

hello and welcome to sportsday — i'm gavin ramjaun. who can stop the rot at manchester city? the club fail to beat everton at the etihad... with haaland failing from the penalty spot. fulham come back to get the better of title challengers chelsea... their long wait for a win at their west london rivals is over. dwight gayle scores the winner as hibs break hearts at tynecastle. .. in the edinburgh derby. and, standing his ground... young opener sam konstas hits an impressive half century, against india in melbourne.. hello there and welcome along to the programme on a bumper boxing day feast of football for fans today. the famine — when it

comes to victories — goes on for the premier league champions manchester city.