this is bbc news. i'm monika plaha. our top stories... thousands take to the streets of chinese cities to protest against the strict covid restrictions, with some openly calling for president xi to stand down. the government seems to have drastically underestimated popular discontent, yet for the moment has no easy way out. protests take place in london too as many gather outside the chinese embassy. at least seven people are killed in a landslide triggered by torrential rain on the italian island of ischia — buildings and homes have been swept away. while a crane and a whole team are needed to liftjust one vehicle, the mudslide hurled so many of them with its force, when the torrent of debris and

earth came hurtling down here, little could withstand it. the niece of iran's supreme leader calls on all foreign governments to cut ties with tehran as human rights groups say at least a50 people have been killed by security forces. and the british singer dua lipa says she's honoured to receive albanian citizenship in a ceremony hosted by the president in tirana. protests in china against the government's strict covid measures have intensified, with some of those taking part openly calling for the country's leader, xijinping, to stand down. these recent demonstrations

have been prompted by a deadly fire in the western region of xinjiang last week. it's thought rescue efforts were hindered by coronavirus restrictions — a claim the authorities have rejected. many demonstrators have been holding up blank banners as a mark of protest. they gathered in the streets of some of the biggest cities, including shanghai, wuhan and beijing. from there, stephen mcdonell reports chanting. it's not unusual to see acts of defiance in china, but this was something different. a crowd of protesters in shanghai chanted, calling for the country's leader, xijinping, to stand down and for the communist party to give up power. a fire which killed ten residents in xinjiang last week has prompted widespread anger in china. zero—covid restrictions have been blamed for hampering people's escape and slowing the access for fire crews.

whether this is true or not, it sparked waves of protests in the regional capital, urumqi. shouting. this has now spread to other cities and university campuses, as spontaneous memorial services for those who died in the fire have transformed into demonstrations calling for an end to lockdowns. translation: it's all too chaotic. - the implementation has been so messy. it's been three years already. translation: the pandemic policy is prolonging _ our suffering. this policy is neither sustainable nor scientific. this policy won't change unless we speak up. people are also blaming xi jinping personally for not changing the zero—covid approach, which is forcing business after business to shut down. the policy is tied to something that really hits people

in their everyday lives. the question of whether they can get on with going to work, that's where these restrictions have really come up against the idea that it is the leadership that is forcing these policies. protests have been building in china all year, with people here increasingly sick of zero—covid restrictions. the government seems to have drastically underestimated popular discontent, yet, for the moment, has no easy way out of the zero—covid corner it's painted itself into. officially, china's goal is to return each outbreak to zero new infections using strict stay—at—home orders, travel restrictions, and mass testing. but it's been criticised for not prioritising vaccination amongst high—risk groups and not increasing hospital capacity. there's also still no stated plan to open up. stephen mcdonnell,

bbc news, beijing. earlier we spoke tojoanna chiu, who is a journalist and author who covers china, and we got her reaction to the size and scale of the protests. it's nothing i've seen before as a reporter in beijing or covering china from outside china and it is rare because generalised political dissent, including quite a few protesters calling for xi jinping to step down, is unusual because everyone in china pretty much well knows about the risk of doing so. but so far it seems that authorities, having backed down as hard as it could be, perhaps hoping these would fizzle out in time, but i also see it as a long time coming because the west might see it as chinese being like them, in that they don't tolerate covid—i9

regulations, maybe not knowing the scale of regulations and restrictions in china where people had staff because of food shortages because they couldn't even leave their apartments to get groceries —— where people had starved. the focus now _ where people had starved. the focus now are _ where people had starved. the focus now are now widespread across the country. do you think that china will budge on its zero covid policy? the protests now are widespread. would you think will happen? will be interesting to see whether the increasing scale or whether the increasing scale or whether the increasing scale or whether the prominent leader will emerge. so far it seems like it is happening almost spontaneously and there is no clear leadership, so i was surprised that the urumqi did after the potus immediately say that low risk areas, that some of the restrictions would ease —— did after the protests. i would be surprised if over all china lift some of its

restrictions, which a lot of people in china sea is arbitrary and cruel and leading to things like children suffering and parent suffering because that would seem to justify protesting works. i think that is something the party would be very concerned if that message went out that if that message went out that if you potus you will get what you want from the party. —— if you want from the party. —— if you protest. you want from the party. -- if you protest-— you protest. and if you could exlain you protest. and if you could exolain what _ you protest. and if you could explain what led _ you protest. and if you could explain what led up - you protest. and if you could explain what led up to - you protest. and if you could explain what led up to this . explain what led up to this because the lockdowns and also vaccinations but what about the vaccinations but what about the vaccinations here? why aren't enough people getting vaccinated in china? i think the low vaccination - vaccinated in china? i think the low vaccination rate - vaccinated in china? i think the low vaccination rate is l the low vaccination rate is complicated but i think a lack of trust perhaps in the government, their health authorities may have something to do with it. and also china hasn't really brought in international vaccines that might be a bit more effective than china produced ones, so there is a factors, and it's

also cultural. things like masking are, you know, long—standing practices in china but there might be more scepticism, especially among the older community, to things like vaccinations. but some argue that it's down to government policy that there wasn't better awareness and also not bringing international vaccines. joanna chiu there. demonstrators also blame the restrictions for hampering a huge landslide on the italian island of ischia is now known to have killed seven people. about five others are still missing after homes and vehicles were buried by a torrent of mud on saturday morning. our correspondent mark lowen travelled to the island, which is just off the coast of naples, and sent this report. rescuing the fragments of once tranquil ischia. divers picked out what they could after the mudslide that cascaded through this island, tossing what lay in its path into the ocean or into each other. some cars battered beyond recognition as torrents of mud poured down here.

they scoured the seas for wreckage and bodies. with the number of deaths growing and reports of islanders still missing, the fear is that as more areas are reached, other victims will be found. it began before dawn on saturday after torrential rain, the deepest and most sudden on record here, unleashing the chaos that tore down the hills. from above, the destruction was clear, with houses buried, many of them illegally built and unable to withstand the mud. ——many of them illegally built and buckling from the onslaught. well, this just shows the weakness of man against nature. while a crane and a whole team are needed to liftjust one

vehicle, the mudslide hurled so many of them with its force. when the torrent of debris and earth came hurtling down here, little could withstand it. up the hill, the desolation deepens — a whole square under mud, desperate attempts to save what they can. we found raffaela, devastated by the destruction of her shop that rents motorbikes to tourists. translation: my son has shut himself indoors - because he doesn't want to see any of this. he feels ill because he's seeing all of our sacrifices were worthless. i hope someone will help us. i'm speechless. with rescue teams inundated, her husband and elderly father have had to step in to help clear the mud. translation: i feel destroyed for my daughter, of course. - we'll try and see if someone will help, because we've worked all our lives to build this, and all of a sudden, it disappeared. supplies have been brought for dozens evacuated from their homes, put up in hotels — guests on their own island. larysa, from ukraine, has lived here for 20 years.

translation: i came out shouting to my husband . that our neighbours had lost their daughter and her baby. i was back in ukraine during the war, then i came here and our houses are destroyed and people are missing. i was back in ukraine during the war, then i came here and our houses are destroyed and people are missing. how could this happen? then a mass to bring solace to those seeking answers in tragedy. their minds turned to the moment the earth broke away and engulfed their lives, an island overwhelmed by itself. mark lowen, bbc news, ischia. in an online video, the niece of iran's supreme leader ayatollah ali khamenei, has called on all foreign governments to cut ties with tehran. activists say farideh morad—khani was arrested last wednesday. her brother — who is based in france — posted the video. anti—government protests have swept across iran for more than two months. human rights groups —say at least a50 people have been killed.

earlier i spoke to sussan tamasebi. she's the director of femena, a group advocating for women's rights in the middle east and north africa. i began by asking her, what kind of impact the video could have. the niece of yvan�*s supreme leader turned to court because she was summoned to come and serve her prison sentence and it seems that she had recorded this video before she went into court and probably had agreed with someone to release it if she was actually kept in force to serve her prison sentence. she has a prison sentence of at least a decade long. she was arrested last year and had been arrested last year and had been arrested before that as well but she was arrested last year for a number of reasons because she was supporting the families of prisoners, she had spoken up against the islamic republic but she also participated in an

online event that celebrated the birthday of the former queen of iran and, you know, i guess the totality of her activities and activism had upset the security forces and they arrested her and kept in prison for several months. it is significant in the sense that she is a member of the supreme leader's family, she is the daughter of his sister and she is speaking up in support of the protests and against the regime and it is significant probably her message goes to people who are religious and political and obviously she must have a group of people that she is speaking to that listen to her and probably will heed her call to oppose the regime andjoin heed her call to oppose the regime and join protest. studio: and how ordinary iranians reacting the moment? as you mentioned, it is not the first time that farideh has been arrested and there are lots of concerns for her

safety. i lots of concerns for her safe . ~ lots of concerns for her safety-— lots of concerns for her safe . ~ , .,, ., lots of concerns for her safe . ~ , ., ., safety. i think people are not as aware _ safety. i think people are not as aware of— safety. i think people are not as aware of the _ safety. i think people are not as aware of the background l safety. i think people are not i as aware of the background that she has. she comes from a family that has been historically politically active. her father was historically politically active. herfather was a active. her father was a religious active. herfather was a religious clinic. he was opposed to the regime of bashar but he has also been opposed to the islamic republic been opposed to ayatollah khamenei as well. he lived in exile in iraq for long time and then came back in 1995 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, spent ten years in persian, apparently it was a horrific time and he was treated very badly. this might work spent ten years in —— he spent ten years in prison. i think people are not aware of this history and seats is very influenced by the govan protest but it seems that this family is a family that has a long that has long—time opposition to the islamic republic —— they see this as very influenced by the covenant protests. my make is this at the moment a major

setback for the reigning regime? i don't know if it is a step back because like i said there is a long history of opposition there and it is not an unusual thing that when the supreme leader is also a known reformist, he has often spoken about against the rule of his brother. he was disqualified as running as candidates for parliament and other offices so it is not an unusual thing so i think, you know, it is certainly a call to people who may that grey area who might be supportive or might not might not even be supportive of the regime but they are not supportive of photos so i think in that sense it could encourage some people to join the protests. encourage some people to 'oin the protestafi encourage some people to 'oin the protestefi the protests. stay with us on bbc news- — the protests. stay with us on bbc news. still— the protests. stay with us on bbc news. still to _ the protests. stay with us on bbc news. still to come. - the protests. stay with us on bbc news. still to come. we will have a story behind this world cup picture and tell you who is in and who is out of the

tournament.

this is bbc world news — our main story this hour. thousands have taken to the streets of chinese cities to protest against the strict covid restrictions — with some openly calling for president xi to stand down. let's stay with that story. hundreds of people have also been demonstrating outside the chinese embassy in london where flowers were laid and a vigil was held, the bbc�*s greg mckenzie has been speaking to the protestors and sent us this report protesters came from all over the capital. they say they are to show solidarity with

protesters in china who came to the streets after several years of strict locked arms. we should stand _ of strict locked arms. we should stand out - of strict locked arms. - should stand out for fighting the dictatorship because everyone has the right. we only care about who is suppressed, who is under unfair treatment, because during the covid—safe oh policies, many chinese people are living in hell. —— covid zero policies. people are living in hell. -- covid zero policies.- people are living in hell. -- covid zero policies. some lay flowers in — covid zero policies. some lay flowers in memory _ covid zero policies. some lay flowers in memory of - covid zero policies. some lay flowers in memory of the - flowers in memory of the victims who died in an apartment block fire in the western city of urumqi earlier this week. western city of urumqi earlier this week-— western city of urumqi earlier thisweek. �* , . , this week. because the city was in lockdown _ this week. because the city was in lockdown and _ this week. because the city was in lockdown and under- this week. because the city was in lockdown and under the - in lockdown and under the bureaucratic control of the government the five engines can actually get to put out the fire and as a result many people died and also as a fact five exits were sealed as part of this brutal zero covid policy. of this brutal zero covid toli . , , , of this brutal zero covid oli . , , , , policy. despite being here in london, many _ policy. despite being here in london, many get _ policy. despite being here in london, many get their- policy. despite being here in| london, many get their faces covered for fear of retaliation. some say they will

return to continue to support those who they claim are being repressed. greg mckenzie, bbc news, outside the chinese embassy, london. snow is falling in kyiv and temperatures are hovering around freezing— as ukraine battles to cope with power cuts after a barrage— of russian missile strikes targeting ukraine's energy grid. the cold weather is pushing up energy needs —even as repair workers —fix wrecked power facilities. jessica parker reports from kyiv. woman exclaims. it's almost a novelty — the lights come on. the water, too. ludmilla, who lives on her own, had, like millions, been without power for days. these outages could keep happening again and again this winter. is it bearable? translation: it's impossible to live in the city _ without electricity and water. the radiators don't work, the water is cold, it's cold everywhere. only one hope remains —

that we will win. we'd found her here the night before, in a tent by a main road, one of the many public refuges springing up across ukraine. it's a lifeline for everyday contact, but also emergencies. irena, who's nine months pregnant, wants to know she can call for help just in case. we come here because we need extra call to 911, for emergencies, because i am pregnant, and after today, i am... due? yes, i am due. here there is heat — a chance to work, or play. some just sit in silence. this war could be a long wait.

vlodymyr and his mother are here to get hot water for his child, who's unwell. olga says the strain of it all is getting to her. translation: it was already very difficult for me, - i used to hold on, but now, my nervous system can't i cope with this load. it's so hard. this morning, - i could barely get up. slava ukraine! she chuckles. winter brings a few guarantees, except the cold, and fears russia will keep targeting ukraine's energy system, driving people here to shelter from their own homes. jessica parker, bbc news, in kyiv. in the football world cup now, and there were 4 matches in the group stages on sunday. there was another upset with morocco beating one of the pre—tournament favourites belgium

—and a dramatic draw between spain and germany. rhia chohan is in doha. it was the headline match in the group stages, and spain were looking for that win to send them straight through after that emphatic victory over costa rica, the 7—0 win. and it was, as you mentioned, a great finish for alvaro morata in the 62nd minute, putting them ahead. but even more was riding on it for germany — and that was because they wanted to avoid a second group stage exit in successive world cups. and it was germany's best player on the night, jamal musiala, that did set up that crucial equaliser. nicholas fullkrug making it a draw, germany clenching it with that one point that they crucially needed. so if you talk about permutations now, germany still need to win the final game against costa rica. and it will come down to the goal difference betweenjapan and germany. and it's spain that do playjapan.

now, back to that sensational result from morocco — as the team defeated belgium 2—0. morocco's win marks their first world cup victory since 1998 — moving them above belgium in their group. and in the following game, croatia made easy work of canada — with a li—1victory. that means canada is out of the world cup. dua lipa has received albanian citizenship in a ceremony hosted by the albanian president in tirana. the singer was born in london, but her roots go back to kosovo. wendy urquhart reports. # i got you, moonlight. # you're my starlight... dua lipa is famous all over the world, and her disco—pop songs have won her a clutch of awards, including three grammies, two mtv europe awards, and six brit awards. her family are kosovan—albanians who fled to london in the 1990s

and returned briefly in 2008 — but dua lipa has never forgotten her roots. on sunday, she was welcomed to tirana by the president, who presented her with albanian citizenship and said she had made her country proud. translation: it is a special pleasure today in the - presidency to welcome the greatest artist, dua lipa, and herfamily. i say a great artist, a simple girl whose fame is known all over the world. she has given us the greatest pride. # i wanna stay at home cos i was doing better alone... dua lipa grew up listening to david bowie, bob dylan, radiohead and the police — mainly thanks to her dad, who's also a singer—songwriter. and she was inspired by madonna, gwen stefani, and blondie. but getting her albanian citizenship was clearly a precious moment for the singer. translation: it is a great |

honour for me and my family to have an opportunity to represent my country and people. this girl is no wallflower — she has frequently spoken out against sexism in the music industry, and is an avid supporter of the lgbtq community. # midnight conversations... # dua lipa has clearly found her potion for success — she's top of the charts all over the world, modelled for several top fashion countries, featured on the cover of numerous magazines, and even designed her own clothes. now she's officially albanian too. wendy urquhart, bbc news. good on dua lipa. before we go — let's just bring you a look at the start of this season's festivities. seven villages across cyprus unveiled their christmas makeover as part of an initiative by the ministry of tourism. estonia is hoping to retain it's best market in europe award as the christmas stalls opened over the weekend in tallinns's old town square prague has decided this year —

less is more — as they scale back on the number of illuminated ornaments used —due to the ongoing energy crisis. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @ monika plaha hello there. november has been very mild, it's also been very wet. but as we head towards december, the weather pattern will change over the week ahead. it's going to be turning drier. it's also going to be turning colder. there may well be some mist and fog around, as well. we've got a few patches of that developing already, particularly across northeast england. it will be a colder start, i think, to monday morning. temperatures could be 3—4 celsius. there'll be a few showers around it, as well. mist and fog will slowly lift during the morning. we'll see the showers fading away from scotland and northern ireland — sunshine around here. a few more showers coming in off the irish sea into west wales, south west england, and the odd one in the afternoon through the midlands

and southern england. but large parts of the uk in the afternoon will be dry with some sunshine — the winds will be lighter. it may be a touch cooler though, although still temperatures reaching 10—11 celsius, which is on the mild side for this time of the year. but things are going to get colder. we're going to find the showers are fading away and skies will clear overnight as this ridge of high pressure builds in in time for tuesday morning. and where the skies do remain clear, there may well be a risk of frost, particularly across parts of scotland. but given all the moisture after all that rain, we're more likely to find some mist and fog forming, particularly through the midlands, perhaps even into the central belt of scotland. and that fog could linger in a few places, keeping it particularly cold. where the fog does tend to lift in across large parts of the country, there will be some sunshine coming through, and we still could see temperatures reaching 9 celsius in belfast. where it stays grey and murky, though, with that mist and low cloud, temperatures will be nearer 6—7 celsius. weather fronts are trying to push in from the atlantic,

not making a great deal of progress. we've got the weather blocked off by that high pressure extending from scandinavia. there's still a lot of cloud on the scene on wednesday, but the fog signal is much reduced because there's maybe a little bit more of a breeze and some places will see some sunshine. for many, though, still cloudy, and those temperatures only around 7—8 celsius. the mild atlantic air that we've had through much of november really not making much progress in the uk. big blocking area of high pressure extends from scandinavia, keeping us in that colder weather as well. so if we look at the city forecast, you can see how those temperatures drop away. there's going to be a lot of cloud through the week ahead. by the end of the week, maybe a few showers as we pick up an easterly wind.

this is bbc news, the headlines: thousands have taken to the streets of chinese cities to protest against the strict covid restrictions, with some openly calling for president xi to stand down. the demonstrations follow a fire in xinjiang last week, where it's thought rescue efforts were hindered by coronavirus restrictions. at least seven people have been killed in a landslide triggered by torrential rain on the italian island of ischia. five others are still missing. some residents say they've been digging mud from shops and houses without official help, because the rescue operation has been overwhelmed. the niece of iran's supreme leader has called on all foreign governments to cut ties with tehran. anti—government protests have swept across iran for more than two months.