ican i can see christian fraser nodding.ll under way. and noddy holder's house is no exception. his wife susan told bbc breakfast this morning bbc breakfast this morning how he likes to wake her up on chrismas morning. this is seriously how he wakes me up. it's been 30 years. still twitching?— me up. it's been 30 years. still twitching? how the years have flown — still twitching? how the years have flown by. _ still twitching? how the years have flown by. if— still twitching? how the years have flown by. if you - still twitching? how the years have flown by. if you think- have flown by. if you think it's loud when you hear it in a supermarket, a mansion on the pillow when you're asleep. great is that the first thing that happens? a cup of tea? he does put a cup of tea first. whole house. i5 does put a cup of tea first. whole house.— whole house. is it 'ust 20 ears whole house. is it 'ust 20 years thing? h whole house. is itjust 20 years thing? yeah. - whole house. is itjust 20 years thing? yeah. yes, i whole house. is itjust

hello — i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news...evolution in the uk. metro mayors in england will be given new powers to unblock planning delays — and local and district councils could be merged. hello — i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news... the deputy prime minister — angela rayner — has been spelling out the goveernment�*s proposals on devolution in the uk. metro mayors in england will be given new powers to unblock planning delays — and local and district councils could be merged.

hello — i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news...he deputy prime minister — angela rayner — has been spelling out the goveernment�*s proposals on devolution in the uk. metro mayors in england will be given new powers to unblock planning delays — and local and district councils could be merged. to spain's supreme court — and will now serve a term of four years. austria striker guido burgstaller had his skull fractured after being attacked in the centre of the country's capital, according to his club side rapid vienna. they added he's now expected to be out of action for several months after suffering the serious head injury at the weekend. he was attacked by an "unknown man" and was examined at the scene before being taken to hospital, where he will remain for the next few days. to cricket, where england's women are looking to build a big lead, in their one—off test against south africa. the hosts resumed on 17 without loss on day two in bloemfontein but england performed well with the ball, bowling south africa out for 281, england t

i'm christian fraser, and thisi. ontext. >> allegations, calling them baseless and saying china has always acted with honor in business dealings a barrage. christian: the case has now added a challenge to a political debate here. the government wants to reach out and engage with china, but that comes with risk. >> that it -- there is a chiasm of hostile activity by china, trying to influence not just in the u.k. but around the world. ♪ christian: the alleged chinese spy was linked to prince andrew is named. why did they takes a long to ban him from the u.k. he alleges he did nothing wrong. assad said he never intended to flee to russia. tonight, security brief. a very good evening. the alleged chinese spy links to the duke of york has been named after an order was lifted this afternoon. here's what we know about chinese national yang tengbo. he ran a consulting firm here. he first arrived in britain in 2002. he studied for a masters in public health university and policy at york university. he had been given leave to

announcer: and now, "bbc news" christian: hello, i'm christian fraser. watching "the context." >> as we have been walking along the streets, more and more people are joining in, thousands now, everywhere we go, more people joining the march. >> the situation is a wound that will continue to bleed for the syrians until we can resolve it, answer the questions that remain unanswered. >> i want to avoid sparking any kind of additional conflicts inside syria at a time when we want to see this transition to an interim government enter a better way forward for syria. >> laser focus on the role that we can play with our allies to see a stable, peaceful transition so that t syrians get the government they need for the future. ♪ christian: 65 british nationals linked to islamic state are still detained in prisons and camps in northeast syria but the kurds who guard them are under regular assault from turkish back rebel groups in the north. what future is there for the kurds in syria? will their rights be protected and what wrist does that pose to security here in

announcer: and now, "bbc news" 'm christian fraser and this is the context. >>>> the conflict is nott. we need immediate humanitarian assistance. we need to make sure syria can be rebuilt. >> the country has suffered 13 years of war and its economy has collapsed. the assad regime, a corrupt regime, depleted the resources for its own benefit. >> the situation on the ground is very volatile. it is not clear it is safe for everyone to go back. that decision needs to be made on individual circumstances. ♪ >> the u.n. envoy to syria warns the conflict is far from over amid significant tensions in the north. calling on israel to withdraw from syrian territory which of the upper -- occupied in recent days. the security council is meeting tonight to discuss the situation. we will talk to one of the lawyers investigating the crimes of the assad regime. we will catch up with quentin sommerville who has been in a port city. tonight, a phone call between donald trump and sir keir starmer amid signs of tension in the special relationship and trouble in the arctic as the bears come looking for foo

announcer: and now, "bbc news" christian: hello, i'm christian fraser. "the context,." >> i hereby declare an emergency martial law to defend the free republic of korea from the threat of north korean communist forces and to eradicate the shameless pro-north antistate forces that are depriving our people of their freedom. this measure is necessary to uphold our constitutional freedom. >> the speaker of the house was earlier saying that legally, the president must lift the martial law immediately and lled the declaration null and void. although president yoon has to lift it legally, politically it would be a huge gamble. >> every hope and expectation is that any political dispute will be resolved peacefully and in christian: martial law that came and went in south korea. president yoon said he was defending the state from the threat of north korean communist forces, but the decision is overturned by the national assembly, and in the last half hour, the president has rescinded his order. we will bring all the reaction. also tonight, and arabian night at th

hello, i'm christian fraser.ne midnight, welcoming in the new year of 2025. ringing in the bell...

i'm christian fraser, and this is "the context." >> i want you to know that we share the same fight.ted to reduce her to an object, an obsession to be used for his satisfaction. then he could than the subject to the people, and to do that, he needed to drug her. >> all the guilty verdicts chemist no surprise, but it is the length or rather the shortness of some of the sentences that has provoked some consternation. christian: in france, the biggest mass rape trial has come to an end, dominique pelicot jailed for 20 years for raping his wife, gisÈle. luigi mangione, the man accused of shooting debbie health care ceo brian thompson, is flown to new york, where he is facing federal charges. we will get the latest from our correspondent outside the courthouse in new york. lord peter mendelson named as the u.k.'s new ambassador to the united states, and the security brief. rare access denied to a base in england where ukrainian front-line soldiers are being trained for battle. very good evening. the man accused of shooting dead the ceo of america's biggest health insurance company has bee

hello i'm christian fraser, let's take you straight to bangkok.his is over the one world centre in bangkok. where it hasjust gone midnight. this is central world bangkok. quarter of a million visitors pouring in to the thai capital tonight. the fireworks exploding around the national monument in jakarta if you a fireworks aficionado, tonight is the night for you. in the past hour, the new year celebrations have been getting under way across asia. this was the spectacular fireworks display in hong kong. taipei also put on quite the show to welcome in 2025. here's the celebrations in sydney. always a fireworks bonanza focused on the harbour bridge. this one went on for 12 minutes. and this was new zealand with a spectacular fireworks display at the auckland sky tower. we'll bring you plenty more of those celebrations in the hours ahead — as 2024 ticks to an end. across the many time zones it will take us 26 hours if you a fireworks aficionado, tonight is the night for you. in the past hour, the new year celebrations have been getting under way acros

hello i'm christian fraser. new year celebrations in the large parts of the pacific. lets head straight to beijing where the clock has just struck midnight. cheering and applause let's head over to taipei, to the taipei capital, the highest point. —— back to the taipei tower, the highest point in the capital. i think ithinki i think i can take you to kuala lumpur. a pretty colourful as well. and evasion, the country that invented the fireworks, this is the beijing municipal bureau of culture and tourism. at 1.4 billion chinese people ring in the new year —— and in beijing, in the country that invented fireworks. let's bring you back to taipei, i'm seen plenty of fireworks in taipei. and back to hong kong. what an array of music. if that has not got you in the mood, nothing will. this is back to taipei. happy new year! happy new year in taiwan and — happy new year! happy new year in taiwan and they _ happy new year! happy new year in taiwan and they get _ happy new year! happy new year in taiwan and they get to - happy new year! happy new year in taiwan and they get to

hello i'm christian fraser. new year celebrations in the large parts of the pacific.d applause

hello i'm christian fraser, let's take you straight to bangkok. this is over the one

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news.very real and very close to home. one of the questions here, i think, that needs to be asked is whether the ukrainian intelligence and security services have russian agents in moscow who are helping to carry out these sort of attacks. the most senior russian - generals to have been killed since the full—scale invasion of ukraine by russia - in february 2022. a senior russian general killed by a bomb in moscow — and less than ten kilometres from the kremlin. kyiv claim responsibility. a warning to the russian leadership they will be hunted for war crimes committed in ukraine. we will look at the unit that was behind it and the tactics that are being employed. also tonight, a ceasefire in gaza is getting nearer, but still final details to be hammered out. and the special relationship the british government is not so keen on. nigel farage in talks with elon musk at mar a lago. good evening. the kremlin has tonight called the killing of a russian general in moscow an act of terrorism, and

hello, i'm christian fraser. we are going to take you straight to tokyo, japan where the clock has just gone midnight, welcoming in the new year of 2025. ringing in the bell... it is the year of the snake, in the 12—year zodiac of animals. often seen as a symbol of renewal and regeneration. we could all do with a bit of that, i think. in other parts of the world the new year celebrations have come and gone — with some global leaders taking the opportunity to �*send a message�* to the outside world. while president xijinping told china, just ahead of celebrations there, that "no one can stop" unification with taiwan. russia's president putin marking 25 years in power you are hailed the �*proud' achievements of his country, warning that russia "would only move forward" in 2025. here's the celebrations in sydney. always a fireworks bonanza focused on the harbour bridge. rich this one went on for 12 minutes and this was new zealand with a spectacular fireworks display at the auckland sky tower. we'll bring you plenty

hello, i�*m christian fraser. you�*re watching the context on bbc news. we provide whatever we can. translation: in supporting ukraine, and precisely- because we support them i so strongly, we must always prevent an escalation - of the war between russia and nato. yeah, plenty of news in respect of yeah, plenty of news in respect first, the latest bbc news. the united nations special envoy for syria has called for immediate humanitarian assistance and the rebuilding of the country. on a visit to damascus, geir pedersen said there was lots of hope in syria, but it needed a new constitution, followed by free and fair elections. 13 people have died after a crowded passenger ferry capsized off the indian coast near mumbai. almost 100 people have been rescued. the ferry was en route to elephanta island — a popular tourist site — when it was hit by a navy speedboat undergoing engine trials. the uk prime minister says taxpayers can�*t afford to pay billions of pounds in compensation to women affected by rises in the state pension age. sir keir starmer has been d

(pre titles) hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. france. tuna/mom- president and france. translation: �* ., , , translation: i've rarely been afraid and what _ translation: i've rarely been afraid and what is _ translation: i've rarely been afraid and what is important. translation: i've rarely been afraid and what is important is| afraid and what is important is that elective... takes those towards _ that elective... takes those towards each other. no budget, no government, signalling the frances presents tonight— signalling the frances presents tonight with the group looking on nervously. the french prime minister— on nervously. the french prime minister was ousted in a no—confidence vote afterjust no—confidence vote after just three — no—confidence vote afterjust three months in the job. a man under— three months in the job. a man under ne — three months in the job. a man under ne dunlap way in manhattan. what does the resurgence of the civil war and syria _ resurgence of the civil war and syria mean for russia and iran. good eve

hello, i'm christian fraser and this is the context.in business dealings abroad. what the case of yang tengbo and prince andrew has never done is add fuel to political debate. the government wants to reach out to china but the conservatives say that comes with risks. conservatives say that comes with risks-— with risks. there is a pattern of hostile — with risks. there is a pattern of hostile activity _ with risks. there is a pattern of hostile activity by - with risks. there is a pattern of hostile activity by china i of hostile activity by china activated by a so—called united front work department designed to gather intelligence notjust in the uk but around the world. the alleged chinese spy with links to prince andrew is named. yang tengbo said he did nothing wrong and will appeal. we'll find out more about him and in light of what we now know why did the intelligence services take so long to him from the uk? —— to ban him from the uk. also tonight, bashar al—assad said he never intended to flee to russia. and our expert make ek is

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. _ share the same fight. he wanted to reduce her to an object, i to reduce her to an object, position— to reduce her to an object, position to be used for his satisfaction, he needed to drug her in _ satisfaction, he needed to drug her in orderto satisfaction, he needed to drug her in order to lend her. it is the event — her in order to lend her. it is the event of _ her in order to lend her. it is the event of a _ her in order to lend her. it is the event of a brotherly i the event of a brotherly shortness of some of the sentences handed out that has provoked some consternation. joining me tonight are former mi6 intelligence officer, christopher steele and former speech writer for president obama, david litt. the perfect panel in mind of everything that is going on, but before that the latest bbc news. the veteran labour politician lord mandelson is expected to be named the new uk ambassador to the us. he served in multiple ministerial roles under prime ministers tony blair and gordon

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. donald trump's pick for defence secretary, pete hegseth, struggles to gain the support of senate republicans. lots going on with the trump transition team at the moment. this line of breaking news from reuters only from readers at this moment saying trunk�*s middle east envoy is steve wycoff new to the post has today met the qatari and israeli prime minister in order to push for a gaza cease—fire deal before the inauguration. a source briefing reuters. so qatar really assuming its role as lead negotiator in the gaza talks and steve wycoff the donald trump man a meeting qatar and israel today to discuss what can be done, when to watch. in the last 2a hours, donald trump has lost his pick to lead the drug enforcement administration. and the word is his choice for defence secretary, pete hegseth, is now struggling to gain support of senate republicans. this was lindsay graham on tuesday. i think, you ithink, you know, some of these — ithink, you know, some of these articles are very dist

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. the white house national security spokesperson says the us government has no evidence the drone sightings in newjersey pose a threat to national security or public safety — we'll ask an expert in combating drones for his analysis. it isa it is a friday night, so we will look at quirky stories tonight. and here is one of them... and here is one of them... the bbc has complained to apple about a new iphone feature that generated a false headline about the murder of the universal health care boss in the united states. apple intelligence, which was launched in the uk earlier this week, uses artificial intelligence to summarise and group together notifications. but this week, take a look at this, the ai—generated summary made it appear that bbc news had published an article claiming luigi mangione, the man arreste,d had shot himself. he has not. well, a spokesperson from the bbc said the corporation have contacted apple to raise this concern and fix the problem" but it seems the bbc is not

hello — i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news.here have been more sightings of drones over the east coast of the united states. the senate majority leader — chuck schumer — said the aircraft were now �*in the skies all over the place' — and he's co—sponsoring legislation to regulate drones better. the archbishop of york, stephen cottrell, is facing calls to resign over his handling of a sexual abuse case, days before he takes temporary charge of the church of england. as bishop of chelmsford, mr cottrell let priest david tudor remain in post in the diocese despite knowing he had been barred by the church from being alone with children and had paid compensation to a sexual abuse victim. in a statement, stephen cottrell said he was deeply sorry he hadn't been able to act sooner; and had suspended david tudorfrom office "at the first opportunity". i wanted to touch on this because stephen cottrell knew about david tudor, and he didn't do anything about it, he made in an unarmored —— honorary cameron at the church, and keeping in the

hello, i'm christian fraser. you're watching the context on bbc news. cnn confirms the identity of a freed syrian prisoner they filmed as being an assad intelligence officer. we take a look at the hazards of reporting in take a closer look at how the network say they were originally misled about who he was. injust over a month, tiktok is due to be banned in the us, if its chinese owners bytedance fail to sell in the us, if its chinese owners bytedance fail to sell the social media platform to an american buyer. a day after that deadline, donald trump will be inaugurated as us president. how significant is it then that donald trump has been meeting with tiktok�*s chief executive, at his mar—a—lago estate in florida? during his first term, mr trump was a keen supporter of the ban, because of its alleged links between bytedance and the chinese state, links that both tiktok and bytedance have denied. but this time around mr trump's views appear to have shifted, which might have something to do with the role it is perceived to have played in his re—election: