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President Biden has urged the Republican- controlled Congress to unblock new military aid for Ukraine, saying Friday's massive bombardment by Russia showed Kyiv needed more air defence capability. At least thirty people were killed in the strikes which also wrought significant material damage. Also in the programme: Brazil moves closer to decriminalizing abortion; keeping swimmers safe from sharks in South Africa; and when our voice is no longer ours - cloned by AI.(Photo: Smoke clouded the skies of Kyiv after Russia launched aerial attacks across the country on Friday. Credit: Getty Images)

Powerful explosions have been heard and felt across Ukrainian cities as Russia launched a large-scale coordinated attack on civilian centres overnight.At least 18 people have been killed and dozens wounded across Ukraine. The country's military says Russia launched a "massive" attack with 158 drones and missiles and its air force says it has "never seen so many locations targeted simultaneously". We'll look at what this tells us about Russia's capabilities and tactics.Also in the programme: The US state of Maine becomes the second to ban Donald Trump from standing there in next year's election, saying he's violated insurrection rules. And Hamas delegation is in Cairo discussing a new Egyptian proposal to end the conflict, can it work?Photo shows firefighters working at a heavily damaged shopping mall that was hit by a Russian missile strike in Dnipro, Ukraine on 29 December 2023. Credit: State Emergency Service of Ukraine via Reuters)

Lebanon's ambassador to the UK says no country can stand idly by when it is facing provocation and aggression. The Lebanese response comes after Israel warned that it will take military action to push Hezbollah militants away from its northern frontier if cross-border fire does not stop. Also in the programme: Is it time for Ukraine and its western backers to focus more on consolidating territory rather than forcing all Russian troops out? And from the gay clubs of Chicago to pop charts around the world, we track the enduring influence of Hi-NRG music.Photo: this picture taken from a position along the border in northern Israel on December 27, 2023 shows smoke billowing in the southern Lebanese village of Marwahin following Israeli bombardment, amid ongoing cross-border tensions as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. (Credit: Jalaa Marey / AFP via Getty Images)

More than 200 deaths have been reported in the 24 hours, taking the total casualties in the war to almost 1% of the territory's population. Israel has also warned that it will take military action to push Lebanese Hezbollah militants away from its northern frontier if cross- border fire does not stop. Also in the programme: The US releases a new package of military aid for Ukraine, but would the cash keep coming? We hear from an American and an Ukrainian; and as electronic dance music has crowned sales charts around the world in 2023, we take a look at its roots with the so-called genre ‘high-energy’.(Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a press conference with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz. Credit: Reuters.)

The Israeli military shifts its focus to southern and central parts of the Gaza Strip, as it warns the war with Hamas will last for months.Also in the programme: A high level US delegation is in Mexico to address the ongoing migration crisis on their shared border; and an increase of sexual violence cases among women who are making this journey. And we speak to a South Korean psychiatrist after the apparent suicide of South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in the Oscar-winning film Parasite.(Picture: Residents of Al Nusairat and Al Bureij refugee camps begin to evacuate following an Israeli warning of increased military operations in the camps in the Gaza strip. Credit: MOHAMMED SABER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

The Israeli military is keeping up its offensive across the entire Gaza Strip, nearly three months after the conflict began. In the north, it's again bombarded Jabalia. Israel has also further expanded its ground operation in central and southern Gaza. The United Nations has again voiced concern for the safety of thousands of Palestinians who've gathered in urban refugee camps.We will hear from an Israeli official and an UNWRA representative. We will so examine how public opinion is evolving, in Israel, as the Gaza war continues. Also in the programme: Parasite actor, Lee Sun-kyun, found dead in apparent suicide; and we discuss the social and intellectual meaning of playing board games. We include a few tips for winning Monopoly.(Photo: Israel's military chief said the war with Hams would last "many more months". Credit: REUTERS)

The head of the Israeli army, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, says the war in Gaza will continue for months. General Halevi told a news conference that while the IDF was close to dismantling all the Hamas battalions in northern Gaza, arresting or eliminating the group's top leaders would take time.Also in the programme: UN monitors are reported to have observed a significant increase in Iran's production of highly enriched uranium; and Apple has been banned to sell its latest Apple Watch series in the US after President Joe Biden’s administration declined to veto the ban today.(Pictures: Smoke rises above Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip following Israeli army shelling. Credit: ATEF SAFADI/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Also in the programme: A black football referee takes charge of an English Premier League match for the first time in 15 years, what’s wrong? ; and as in some regions of the world people live longer than in others, we discuss the secret to a long life.(Picture: Explosion as Russian warship hit by Ukrainian missile in Crimea. Credit: Ukrainian Ministry of Defence.)

Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.

There are reports from the Hamas-run health ministry that more than 70 people were killed in an explosion at a refugee camp in the centre of Gaza. Hamas claims it was an Israeli air strike. The Israeli military says it's looking into the incident. In his first public statement since Hamas attacked Israel in October, its leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, says the group is facing a “fierce, violent and unprecedented battle.” Also in the programme: Police in Indian-administered Kashmir say they've launched an investigation into the deaths of three civilians, who were reportedly detained by security forces; and the Newshour presenters compete in a quiz of the year, including a mystery guest.(Picture: People in Al-Aqsa Hospital after the reported air strike. Credit: AP)