astronauts are being put in danger of a collision —— with satellites launched by elon musk. hello and welcome. the supreme court in russia has banned one of the country's best known and oldest human rights organisations, memorial, accusing it of violating a law requiring groups to register as foreign agents. it comes at the end of a year in which the kremlin has cracked down vigorously on its critics. our moscow correspondent steve rosenberg reports. more and more, it feels as if russia is turning the clock back. "liquidate," the judge says, as she orders one of russia's oldest civil rights groups, international memorial, to shut down. the n60 was found to have broken russia's draconian foreign agents law. "disgraceful decision," the reaction from the gallery. it's100% a political thing. and the substance of this political decision is just one more step from authoritarian regime to totalitarian. for more than 30 years, memorial has been shining a light on one of the darkest chapters of russian history, what became known as the great terror. it's been painstakingly cataloguing the victims ofjosef stalin's mass repressions. up to 20 million soviet citizens are believed to have been sent to the gulag, to stalin's prison camps. hundreds of thousands were executed. memorial was set up to keep their memory alive. the founding of memorial in the late 1980s was a symbol, a symbol of the soviet union opening up and facing up to its past, to the crimes ofjosef stalin. the shutting down of memorial is a symbol, too, of how in russia today the past is being reshaped, rewritten, and how civil society is under attack. vladimir putin has been using history to try to foster patriotism, so he focuses on the glories of russia's past, like the victory in world war ii. through this annual reading of names of the victims of political repression, memorial has tried to remind russians of their tragic past. now, though, it's being silenced. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. the uk government has defended its decision to hold off on introducing new coronavirus restrictions in england before the new year, saying it will monitor the situation closely. there are restrictions on socialising in the other nations that form the uk: wales, scotland and northern ireland. the latest data shows that there have again been record numbers of cases across the country. our health correspondent, sophie hutchinson reports. a vaccination centre in lambeth in london. among the boroughs worst affected areas by omicron in the uk. the staff here say there is no shortage of demand for the jabs. i'm a schoolteacher, i've got to go back. there's zero mitigation in class. i don't want to get sick. i'm 57, so i'm quite frightened of that and i don't want to pass it on to my loved ones. it's really important because i'm a recently retired senior head of education at university college so i preach it to my staff so i have to jolly well do it as well! unlike the rest of the uk which has increased restrictions, the government in england is relying on vaccinations to get the country through the latest wave of covid. we do watch carefully all of the data and we have had some good news that it seems to be a bit milder in terms of severity but we do watch the hospitalisations and watc the number of people in hospitals all the time. the data that the government in england are monitoring in particular are the hospitalisations which are increasing, but are still far from the peak of previous waves. and in london, which has been worst hit by omicron, the number of patients in icu beds at hospitals like this and others are still well below worrying thresholds. despite the latest figures showing record high infections in the uk relating to the christmas period, some scientists say that the spread of the virus in england seems to be slowing. cases are still rising. i think suggestions a few days ago that we might have peaked, i think that was maybe not borne out yesterday, but on the other hand cases are not increasing as rapidly as a week ago and i think we can be fairly certain that they're not doubling every couple of days now. but the virus in wales is now growing exponentially, mirroring what happened over the last few weeks in england. our rates were quite stable, around the 500 per 100,000 mark until a week or ten days ago but it's now heading towards the 1,000 per100,000 mark. this data we've published today isjust before christmas so we still have to watch and see what the christmas mixing and new year mixing is going to produce. back in england the decision not to add further restrictions has been described as a lifeline for pubs, bars and clubs by the hospitality sector. it also says allowing people to go out on new year's eve signals better times ahead. it's notjust about new year's eve for us, it's bigger than that. it's the start of a recovery and we believe that we've created a safe environment for people to come out and socialise and we think it's the best scenario, given the fact that if we'd closed potentially we would have seen more house parties and illegal events which would have been counter—productive. but there are concerns about the wider impact of 0micron on the nhs. hospital leaders say while many people are coming in to hospital with covid but not because of covid, staff are also getting infected. it's very clear that as soon as you get 0micron circulating significantly amongst the community, of course it will be circulating amongst nhs staff. we are now having to redeploy staff to fill the gaps being left in critical and essential services by staff who are off with covid—related absences. along with vaccinations, the government in england is urging people to remain cautious and if possible to celebrate outside on new year's eve. it will assess whether more restrictions are needed injanuary. sophie hutchinson, bbc news. so — a different approach to covid restrictions, depending on which nation in the uk people live in. 0ur uk political correspondent, jonathan blake, explains. not jonathan blake, explains. for the first time during the not for the first time during the pandemic, there is a clear contrast between the approach of the government at westminster for england devolved administrations around the uk. there does seem to be a cautious confidence in downing street that they will be able to hold off imposing similar measures that are now in place in scotland, wales and northern ireland. ministers say that at every turn, they are keeping a close eye on the data and won't hesitate to act if need be, but for now, the focus is very much on the boosterjab programme to keep the omicron variant at bay. the true test of that strategy won't come until we know the severity of it for sure and see how many people it posts in hospital and in turn how the nhs can cope if it can't, then borisjohnson can't, then boris johnson decides can't, then borisjohnson decides further measures are necessary, while than a true test of his political authority will also come because there will also come because there will be conservative mps lining up will be conservative mps lining up in big numbers to oppose and vote against any move of that nature. the prime minister will be hoping that they doesn't come. he will also be hoping that his advice to go out and celebrate, albeit cautiously this new year's eve won't come back to hunt ten. 0ne this new year's eve won't come back to hunt ten. one other thing to watch, the availability of lateral flow tests now a key part of the government's message to take one before you go out and socialise. it's been patchy in places. sources in whitehall except that there is a hugely increase in demand by officials seem confident that supply is fair to cope with that. france has reported a record high number of new confirmed coronavirus cases on tuesday. nearly 180,000 new cases have been reported in the last 2a hour period — the highest since the pandemic began. it comes as the french government has announced that it will introduce tighter restrictions amid concerns over the 0micron variant. from three january, remote working will become compulsory for those who can . demonstrations have taken place in eastern germany, against new coronavirus restrictions. they include a limit on private gatherings to ten vaccinated people — and the closure of night clubs. students of all ages will have to wear masks in school — and sports competitions will be held behind closed doors. unvaccinated people are already banned from much of public life and only two people are allowed to meet in private. us health authorities have halved the recommended isolation period, for people who test positive for covid, but don't exhibit symptoms. the change comes as the us recorded more than 440,000 new cases on tuesday, a record high since the start that isolation time goes from ten to five days. 0fficials insist this is being guided by the science. here's our north america correspondent, aleem maqbool, with the details. the centre for disease control says that people at their most infectious a couple of days before the exhibit symptoms and for that three days after they start to exhibit symptoms, and that's why they say it is right to advise people who test positive that they only need to now i sleep for five days as long as on that fifth day, they are not exhibiting any symptoms of cold dead they are not exhibiting any symptoms of covid or if their fevers have gone and the other symptoms are resolving themselves. but they have changed other guidance as well, they have said that for those who are unvaccinated and feel they have come into contact with someone who's tested positive, they also on need to isolate for five days, after which theyjust have to be careful and should try to test themselves. for those who are vaccinated and have had the boosterjab as well, if they feel they have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for covid, they don't have to isolate at all. again, they have just been advised to wear masks and get tested five days after that point. this is in recognition of the fact that we have seen a huge surge in cases, but of a variant that may be more infectious but appears to be leading to milder symptoms and of course, recognition there's a large proportion of the population vaccinated. but it comes with pressure, also other sectors including the airline industry say if you are to function as a society, but there have been critics, those who say that by reducing these isolation and quarantine stay with us on bbc news, still to come:like father like son? a new uk study finds the children of smokers are four times more likely to take up smoking. we'll have all the details. the most ambitious financial and political change ever attempted has got under way with the introduction of the euro. tomorrow, in holland, were going to use money we picked up in belgium today, and then we'll be in france and again, it will be the same money, it's just got to be the way to go. george harrison, the former beatle, is recovering in hospital after being stabbed at his oxfordshire home. a 33—year—old man from liverpool is being interviewed by police on suspicion of attempted murder. i think it was good. just good? no, fantastic. that's better. this is bbc news, the latest headlines... protests in moscow — after russia's supreme court decides to close memorial international, the country's most prominent rights organisation. new covid cases in england and wales hit record highs — the british government says it will keep under close review its decision not to impose further curbs. as the humanitarian crisis in afghanistan deepens this winter, many families are turning to their children to try to make ends meet — by sending them out to earn money on the streets. 0ur correspondent, secunder kermani and camera journalist, malik mudassir, sent this report from kabul. wherever you go in this city, you see children working. wafting incense into cars. picking through rubbish. even when billions were pouring into this country, many children had to help provide for theirfamilies. now amidst an economic collapse, the number is growing. coughing. it's 8am, and 13—year—old pervez is getting ready for work. he and his young cousins only started polishing shoes in the last few months. pervez�*s father spends his days waiting for work as a labourer on the corner of the road. in the past, he earned just enough to get by. translation: i come here every day, but don't earn . enough to afford a piece of bread for lunch. it's the same for everyone here. pervez and his cousins walk the streets, sticking together in case other boys start fights with them. business is slow. with no customers, the boys take a break at a playground in the centre of kabul. they still have big dreams for the future. what do you want to do when you're older? when school starts again, will you go back to school or will you just carry on working? the boys walk past the city's kebab vendors. and the displays on kabul�*s flower street. as well as civil servants demanding unpaid salaries. and huge queues outside banks. have you had lunch today? why? so, what will you do now? eventually they buy a single piece of bread to share between them. soon after, they find a customer, too. translation: from morning to evening, most of those - coming to my shop want to shine shoes or are begging. _ maybe 150 people like that come here every day. - the money pervez earns will help feed his family today, but food prices are rising and the rent is overdue. are you happy you're helping yourfamily? secunder kermani, bbc news, kabul. let's get some of the day's other news.. turkish authorities have detained 16 people, on suspicion of operating a religious book store linked to islamic state. there were clashes with police, as they tried to shut the store down — it was accused of operating without a licence. an investigation is under way after a private jet crashed in a residential area near san diego in california. officials say no—one on board survived, although they haven't confirmed how many people died, or their identities. local reports say there could have been four fatalities. a huge operation is taking place on the island of la palma, in spain's canary islands, to remove the lava which flowed from a volcanic eruption. activity at the cumbre vieja volcano has now stopped — just in time for some of these buildings in la laguna cross. young doctors at public hospitals in india have threatened to shut down medical services, accusing the police of excessive force during protests on monday. they say they were thrashed, dragged and detained by authorities in delhi when they were demonstrating against a one year delay in the induction of thousands of new graduate doctors. nitin srivastava reports. chanting. the peaceful march eventually turning ugly. hundreds of protesting doctors are now blaming the police of india's capital, delhi, for using force without any provocation. on social media, we know that there was a brutality being done on doctors, and that is a bad day in the history of medical brutality. a lot of female doctors have been manhandled and manhandled by theirforces. chatning: we wantjustice! resident doctors, mostly in government hospitals, want authorities to resume admission for higher courses. results of a nationwide selection process remain unannounced after being challenged in india's top court on grounds of ensuring morejobs for the economically weaker sections. but protesters claim medical services, including emergency, is presently short—staffed by almost 115,000 doctors across the country, having seen a terrible shortage of medical facilities in dealing with the covid virus. they all are resident doctors. they want to specialise, and they say for at least a year, the admission process has been stuck. they say all this is actually going to make situation worse in hospitals, especially government hospitals, where most of these are employed. because of 4.5 years, no - new first year residents have ——delhi police have denied using brutal force against the doctors and claim their own staff were injured during the clash. meanwhile, bad press over handling the issue and a spike in covid cases seem to have propelled the government to make a quick appeal. translation: | regret| if our protesting doctors were mistreated by the police. while supporting them, we also appeal to doctors to return to work due to the ongoing covid crisis. the government plans to submit our report in the supreme court before the hearing next week so that the admission process can resume. it's over to the young doctors for now, but one thing is certain, they are deeply hurt by the way their protest has been handled by the government. nitin srivastava, bbc news, delhi. china has issued a complaint about the us tech entrepreneur, elon musk, over his activities in space. beijing says that there have been two near mrs between its new orbiting space station, and satellites launched by mr musk�*s companies. the chinese have raised the issue with the un's space agency. here'sjonathan mcdowell, an astrophysicist at the harvard—smithsonian centre for astrophysics under the outer—space treaty of 1967, anything that a private company does and space is sort of the responsibility of the un member state that licensed it to go up in the first place. there is a governmental role here. the question is, is the us correctly regulating what space x is doing? i think there is... the problem here is that the satellites are being moved around actively, much more so than most, so the chinese couldn't figure out in advance whether to dodge or not. it is really bursting at the seams. space is big, right? and low earth orbit is huge, but it's not infinitely huge. it's what we used to think about the oceans, right? oh, throw all the stuff you want in there, it will never fill out. wrong. because everything is travelling at 17,000 mph in all different directions, you know, you know, the old saying about how far you should be from the car in front of you, right? you need to leave some space, so they are now almost 5000 working satellites. we are tracking over 20,000 pieces ofjunk, and there are little pieces ofjunk we can't even see on the radar. so it's a mess up there. teenagers whose parents smoke are four times more likely to take up smoking, according to new research. in a uk government campaign, doctors urge parents and other caregivers to kick the habit. tim muffet has more. our children are watching what we do much more than they are listening to what we say. so if we say to them, don't smoke cigarettes, and we are smoking ourselves, our behaviour is going to have a much greater impact. a new film from the nhs aimed at parents who smoke. why do children seem to take up the behaviour of the adults around them? despite a huge drop in smoking over the past 50 years, around one in eight adults in the uk still smoke, according to the office for national statistics. and new research shows that teenagers whose parents or caregivers smoke are four times as likely to take it up. smoking is a habit, it is something that can be passed down through families. so the additional motivation to quit for parents will be knowing that if they do that, they substantially reduce the risk of their own children taking up smoking. this campaign is targeting conventional smoking rather than vaping. electronic cigarettes are widely seen as a safer alternative, although most do contain nicotine, which is addictive. the pandemic has also affected smoking habits. there had been higher rates of quitting, but also high rates of relapse and signs of an increase in smoking among younger people. that bad food that you're probably eating, not being motivated enough to do exercise, smoking, all of those behaviours are little bits that your children are picking up. campaigners also stress that giving up smoking is one new year resolution that also benefits others. tim muffett, bbc news. you are watching bbc news. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @lukwesaburak goodbye. the run up to the new year is going to be really exceptionally mild, near record breaking in fact. and notjust on one or two days but really quite a prolonged spell of very mild weather, some four days or so. it's not really going to cool off until around the third or 4th of january. but this is the map showing the warmth in the atmosphere. if you look at the subtropical atlantic here, just to the west of the canaries, south of the azores, there is a current of warm air that is spreading in our direction and spread across western parts of europe and then deeper into more central and eastern parts of europe. in england, for example, this is how mild or warm it could actually get, 17 degrees. compare that to the average of eight celsius. now, at the moment, it's not quite so mild. in fact, in scotland with the clear skies in some eastern areas quite a nippy start to the day and not desperately cold for this time of the year. but still temperatures, i think, around freezing or below in some of the glenns, five degrees and some of the eastern parts of england. but 14 degrees in plymouth at 6am, so that's the mild air which is following this warm front here which will be moving across the uk bringing a spell of rainy weather for many of us. then that weather front will clear to the north, the skies should also brighten up a little bit. and temperatures mid teens, mid teens widely across england, wales, a little bit fresher in the north, but they could max out at around 17 celsius in the southeast of the country on wednesday and also on thursday. now here's another weather front that's coming in from the south, some wet weather particularly reaching parts of wales. in fact, that warmer weather moves further north too. we are talking about 16 degrees in hull, 17 degrees in the east and the southeast of the country. now, here's new year's eve, and it does look as though we are on track for one of the mildest new year's eves on record. i mean, it remains to be seen how mild it will be, but by day, we are talking around 15—16 degrees. you get the sense that it's notjust the one day that's going to be mild. we are talking about multiple days here with mid teens across many parts of the country. so a near record—breaking, i think, new year's eve on the way. bye— bye. this is bbc news, the headlines. russia's supreme court has banned one of the country's oldest human rights organisations. the court ruled that memorial must be disbanded for breaking the law on foreign agents. there have been protests outside the court and human rights groups say they are outraged by the decision from moscow. new covid infections in england and wales have hit a record daily high, as the british government defends its decision not to introduce further restrictions in england before january. greater restrictions have already come into force in scotland, wales and northern ireland. there's also been a record number of covid infections in france — almost one hundred and eighty thousand new infections recorded in a single day. the french government has already announced new measures there, including a mandatory work from home order.

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