greg mckenzie, bbc london.f slade — and incredibly, their hit single merry xmas everybody is 50 years old this year. well, the hands lead guitarist dave hill told us what the song still means to him, as hejoined a sing—a—long with a group of college students. ben sidwell reports. # so, here it is, merry christmas # everybody�*s having fun...# it's not often you get to sing one of the most famous christmas songs of all time with a member of the band who made it. but at the city of wolverhampton college in bilston, that'sjust what the students on the college's future programme got to do when they were joined by slade's very own dave hill. and for the man who organised the singalong, it was a dream come true. the first christmas i ever remember, i was five years old, and it was a case of slade versus wizzard to be number one. and ijust thought it was so incredible. the spirit of 1973 has stayed i think notjust with me, but with all of us, and all the students coming through, we all love merry xmas everybody. # it'

greg mckenzie, bbc london.he said it wouldn't take long before he makes a statement following the high court ruling in central london that saw prince harry awarded over £140,000 in relation to allegations of phone hacking against the mirror group newspapers. 0f hacking against the mirror group newspapers. of the 33 headlines that were up for contention, the prince was found to have won 15 of those allegations in those claims. piers morgan was the editor of the daily mirror between 1995 and 2004, and thejudge mrjustice mirror between 1995 and 2004, and the judge mrjustice fancourt ruled morgan knew about phone hacking and was involved during his time as editor of the daily mirror. for his part piers morgan has repeatedly denied involvement in phone hacking. we have lost the image of the door. we have lost the image of the door. we can show you the live page were all of the information is collated, the insight, analysis and reporting from our correspondence who have been following the twists and turns of this cas

greg mckenzie, bbc news.gaza, delivery and distribution of very basic humanitiarian aid is coming into focus. children are the most affected by fighting in gaza. jason lee is the country director at save the children in the occupied palestinian territory. he explained to me earlier the situation in gaza. that the situation continues to deteriorate further and further. whilst the rest of the world is now approaching the celebrations for christmas, children in gaza, once are again facing death and facing starvation, being killed by diseases and not being able to access medical care. it is imperative that there is a definitive ceasefire and the ability to distribute aid, life—saving aid, to all areas of gaza. you know that ceasefire is not coming — after what we saw at the united nations. another 150,000 people have been told to evacuate a central area of the gaza strip. how dangerous is it to actually move once being told you have to evacuate? there is nowhere for the civilians to move to. many of the people wh

greg mckenzie has this report.en told the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, that as israel continues its military campaign in gaza, there's a critical need to protect the civilian population — including those supporting aid operations. but mr biden said that he did not ask the israeli leader for a ceasefire. i had a long talk with netanyahu today and it's a private conversation. meanwhile, in gaza, this is the new normal. drone strikes in the border town of rafah emptying the local market. 17—year—old joe filming on his phone, still clutching his bag of shopping, and calling on god for protection. israel launched its retaliatory operation after hamas fighters crossed from gaza into southern israel on the 7th of october, killing 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages. since then, more than 20,000 people have been killed, and 53,000 injured in gaza — according to the hamas—run health ministry. its update this weekend says another 201 people had been killed. these gazans are the latest casualties, rushin

just over four hours to go. 0ur correspondent greg mckenzie has been down by the thames in central londone how preparations are going. 100,000 people are expected to be here along london's embankment to experience spectacular from midnight as the london eye lights up the london skyline. 20,000 fireworks, and we are told the theme this year is unity. 100,000 people managed to get those tickets, and many of those have travelled from all over the world. london has come out on top as one of the most desirable destinations to be for new year, so many with those lucky tickets. the fireworks will start at midnight as big ben will chime, the bongs, and at the beginning of 202a. that is true. we will be here to see you into the new year. there is a special live page on the bbc news website with reaction from around the world. in the next 25 minutes or so, we will be live in dubai, where the world's tallest tower will be part of their festivities. they are going to fire 15,682, very precise number, of pyrotechnics, from 365 different positions. we look forward to seeing some of that in the next few

noor nanji, bbc news. 0ur correspondent greg mckenzie has been down by the thames in central london toreparations are going. 100,000 people are expected to be here along london's embankment to experience spectacular for midnight as the london eye lights up the london skyline, 20,000 fireworks, and we are told the theme this year is unity. 100,000 people managed to get those tickets, and many of those have travelled from all over the world. one that has come out on top is one of the most desirable destinations to be for new year, so many with those lucky tickets. the fireworks will start at midnight as big ben's chines will shine, the bronx, and at the beginning of 202a. that is true. me and my director roger in my ear will be here for the beginning of the new year. lets get an update on the weather. hello there, good evening. blustery showers across the uk for much of the day. heavy thundery downpours for many, but also some sunny spells, so some beautiful rainbows spotted by our weather watchers, and very windy conditions across the south coast of england and wales. now, the ground al

greg mckenzie reports.that as is real continues its military campaign in gaza, there is a

greg mckenzie reports. president biden told the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu that as is real continues its military campaign in gaza, there is a critical need to protect the civilian population. including those supporting aid operations. mr biden said he did not ask the israeli leaderfor a ceasefire. israeli leaderfor a ceasefire. i had a long talk with benjamin netanyahu today and it was a private conversation. meanwhile in gaza, private conversation. meanwhile in gaza. this _ private conversation. meanwhile in gaza, this is _ private conversation. meanwhile in gaza, this is the _ private conversation. meanwhile in gaza, this is the new - in gaza, this is the new normal. drone strikes in the border town of rafah emptying the local market. 17—year—old joe filming on his phone, still clutching his bag of shopping and calling on god for protection. israel launched its metallic tory operation after hamas fighters crossed from gaza into southern israel on the seventh of october, killing 1200 people

in a moment we�*ll hear from greg mckenzie in central london, but first our correspondent lorna gordont of me, behind me a part of the crowd 50,000 strong here to celebrate new year in scotland�*s capital city which builds its name as the home of hogmanay. there are street performers, there is a k lee, a scottish country dancing party if you like, there is also the big band on the stage, and then of course the fireworks at midnight. a tonne of fireworks are going to be lit off tonight. what a spectacular backdrop of edinburgh castle. a good couple of hours still to go in terms of the celebrations, less than an hour of go, of course, until we celebrate the new year. and, greg, in central london, how is it going there? we and, greg, in central london, how is it going there?— it going there? we are literally 30 odd minutes _ it going there? we are literally 30 odd minutes away _ it going there? we are literally 30 odd minutes away from _ it going there? we are literally 30 odd minutes away from saying - it going there? we are literally 30 - odd minutes away from saying goodbye to 2023, _

greg mckenzie has this report.ing the local market. 17—year—old joe filming on his phone, still clutching his bag of shopping, and calling on god for protection. explosions. israel launched its retaliatory operation after hamas fighters crossed from gaza into southern israel on the seventh of october, killing 1200 people and taking about 240 hostages. since then, more than 20,000 people have been killed and 53,000 injured in gaza, according to the hamas—run health ministry. its update this weekend says another 201 people had been killed. shouting and clamouring. these gazans are the latest casualties, rushing to khan younis hospital following an israeli air strike. israel says it has arrested 200 members of the hamas and islamichhad groups in the past week and has taken them into its territory for questioning. israel's bombardment and ground assault has displaced some 1.9 million gazans, according to un figures. that's over three quarters of the population. but it is hunger that cries in rafah, a city at the southe

greg mckenzie on the banks of the river thames and you will be able to follow the fireworks here on bbcwebsite. and i will bring you the celebrations in order to live under a hours' time. we will have the nation that makes elevations across the united kingdom. some of the rest of the day's the news. the us military says its helicopters have destroyed three small boats in an attack on a container ship in the southern red sea. it's the second assault by iran—backed houthi rebels on the ship within 24 hours. the us says the gunmen, who launched the raid from yemen, attacked in four boats, coming within 20 meters of the vessel. the fourth craft fled the area. the houthi rebels say their actions are in protest against the gaza war, where there have been more airstrikes by israel. 0ur correspondent shaimaa khalil is injerusalem, a little earlier she sent us this report on the situation in gaza, and a warning you may find parts of her report distressing. street by street, the battles on the ground in gaza rage on. israel is concentrating its ground offensive on the centre and the south of the