BBC News

A Nasa spacecraft is attempting to make history with the closest-ever approach to the Sun.

The Parker Solar Probe is plunging into our star's outer atmosphere to try and help us better understand how the Sun works.

It is out of communication for several days and scientists will be waiting for a signal, expected at 05:00 GMT on 28 December, to see if it has survived.

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Today, we’re answering your questions about Christmas, UK politics and what goes on behind the scenes at Newscast HQ.

Adam, Paddy, Alex, Henry and Marianna cram into the Newscast studio for a Newscast Christmas party.

What’s on Henry Zeffman’s Christmas list? Is Die Hard a Christmas film? And where does the UK Prime Minister spend Christmas Day? Newscast answers all this and more.

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Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

02:32 What’s your favourite political system?

09:23 What’s at the top of your Christmas list

13:33 Does the UK Prime Minister get a break over Christmas?

16:45 What’s the most fun you’ve had working this year?

20:36 What drink would you have on Christmas day?

23:47 Best Christmas film?

Ukrainians are marking their third Christmas since the Russian invasion.

It comes as President Vladimir Putin's forces push deeper into the east of the country.

The city of Pokrovsk is Russia's next target, with troops less than two miles (three kilometres) from the city centre.

It's a key military hub and a part of the country's cultural identity - it's the birthplace of a well-known Christmas carol.

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Matt Gaetz spent tens of thousands of dollars on sex and drugs while formerly serving as a US congressman, according to a long-awaited report from the House of Representatives ethics committee.

It follows a years-long investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use by Gaetz, who President-elect Donald Trump wanted to install as the nation's top lawman.

The committee also found evidence that Gaetz, 42, received gifts in excess of permissible amounts in connection to a 2018 trip to the Bahamas.

The former lawmaker has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, saying he is the victim of a smear campaign. Amid the controversy, he withdrew from consideration to serve as US attorney general.

#US #MattGaetz #Congress #USHouse #BBCNews

The suspect accused of killing UnitedHealthCare CEO Brian Thompson has pleaded not guilty to murder and terrorism charges in New York state.

Luigi Mangione, 26, appeared in court on Monday to be arraigned on 11 state criminal counts, including murder as an act of terrorism.

As well as the state-level charges, he is also accused of federal (national-level) stalking and murder offences that could lead to a death penalty sentence.

Prosecutors allege that Mr Mangione shot Mr Thompson in central Manhattan before going on the run. Authorities later arrested him at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania.

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Falling marriage and birth rates have long been an issue in South Korea. Despite the recent rise in matchmaking services, the numbers remain at record lows so the government is now hosting its own.

In 2023, the number of marriages was 40% lower compared to a decade ago.

The country’s total fertility rate - the average number of children a woman will have in her reproductive years - hit an all-time low of 0.72, the lowest in the world.

Experts attribute these figures to South Korea's long working hours, which in 2017 were the second highest globally after Mexico.

Poor work-life balance, high housing prices and costly childcare also make it challenging for women to return to work after childbirth.

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A man has been arrested in New York in connection with the death of a woman who was set on fire on a subway train in Brooklyn.

The woman, who has not been named, was on a stationary train when she was approached by a man who used a lighter to ignite her clothing. Although officers extinguished the flames, the victim died at the scene.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described Sunday's incident as "one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being".

The man, who has not been publicly identified, emigrated from Guatemala to the US in 2018, NYPD's Joseph Gulotta said.

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Since Syria's President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown, several European countries including Germany, UK and Denmark have paused asylum applications from Syria.

More than one million people who fled Syria during the civil war are currently living in the EU.

BBC's special correspondent Fergal Keane speaks to some of those he first met after they fled their homes in the early days of the conflict.

Warning: Distressing content.

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Today, we look at the most significant events in UK politics in 2024.

Adam is joined by Laura and Chris to talk about the events in 2024 that dominated the news headlines.

They look back at the Rwanda bill, the Conservative leadership election, Labour’s freebies row and the summer riots. And they talk about the political leadership changes across the UK with new first ministers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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Chapters:

00:00 Who’s in charge across the UK at the end of the year

02:00 When will the UK general election be called

03:31 How foreign policy dominated in 2024

07:52 Immigration and illegal immigration

11:20 Conservative leadership contest

15:01 Keir Starmer’s first months in office

33:20 Plans for 2025

German authorities are facing questions about security and what they knew about the suspect accused of driving a car into Magdeburg Christmas market.

Five people were killed and more than 200 were left injured following the attack, with the suspect said to have used an access lane for emergency vehicles to enter the market.

On a visit on Saturday, politicians were heckled by members of the public, some seemingly outraged by what was criticised as a security lapse.

German authorities have defended the market's layout and security. The suspect has been ordered into pre-trial detention on counts of murder, attempted murder and dangerous bodily harm.

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