this is bbc news broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. the headlines: train passengers in the uk face further delays today, as the rmt union continue their 48—hour strike — only one in five services are expected to operate. hospitals are told to free up beds ahead of ambulance staff going on strike in england on wednesday. queues at beijing crematoria and school closures in shanghai as virus cases soar after the lifting of china's zero—covid policy. work is continuing to restore electricity and heating in parts of ukraine — after a wave of russian air strikes hits infrastructure. a 33—year—old woman, rebecca ikumelo, dies after being injured in a crush

at a gig on thursday at london's 02 academy in brixton. welcome. there's been more disruption for train passengers in the uk on the last weekend before christmas. only 20% of services are operating as rail workers continue strike action in an ongoing dispute about pay and working conditions. our correspondent ramzan karmali reports. we will be calling at... this train may be moving, but only 20% of services are running today and it is a service that commuters are getting used to. striking the week before christmas is harsh, but at the same time f

that is what they feel like they need to do. i appreciate they have got a case, but it is affecting a lot of people. i can take shivering in the cold, but some people can't. this dispute is about pay and conditions and though talks are ongoing, the boss of the rmt union said union was needed from all sides. obviously this strike action is on now and we are hopeful in the days to come we will have more discussions. if they're willing to compromise and take a few steps forward, we will see what we can develop. it needs them to move off their positions that we have already rejected. today is the second day of the latest walk out this week. more industrial action is planned to start at 6pm on christmas eve until 6am on 27th and two further strikes are scheduled to affect services next month. the last thing the retail sector

needed was another train strike. yet they're not the only sector that is suffering. restaurants, bars, hotels, all have seen cancellation rates go up and their profits hit. the one thing they need this christmas is a quick resolution to this dispute. this is the most important week for me of the whole year, yesterday i was in london and we had half the foot fall we normally have from the day trippers. the rail delivery group which represents train companies said it was hopeful a resolution could be found. but whether this dispute will be resolved soon remains unclear. ramzan karmali, bbc news. rail expert and journalist, christian wolmarjoins u. we have two unions, the tssa union

and another union who have accepted, is the rmt close to accepting? it comprises of two parts. the pay deal, 4.5 and 5% that the others have been accepting is probably something the rmt can live with. it is the other part that is the sticking point, trying to get productivity changes. in other words, trying to change sometimes long established working practices. i'm sure over the negotiations the rmt would accept that. what they don't accept is to have some sort of blanket statement like we must have driver only operation across the whole network or we must change the number of people going out to do repairs straightaway. those are negotiating points and it is over

those productivity deals that both sides need to negotiate. just ickin: sides need to negotiate. just picking up — sides need to negotiate. just picking up on _ sides need to negotiate. just picking up on the point about the driver only operated trains, you are saying there would be no guards on the trains? . , ., the trains? that is right. there are some trains _ the trains? that is right. there are some trains that _ the trains? that is right. there are some trains that already _ the trains? that is right. there are some trains that already operate l some trains that already operate like that, but there is no way that either technically or practically most of the trains across the network can operate without a guard because of safety reasons and indeed because of safety reasons and indeed because a revenue protection reasons. if you are on a long distance train you need a guard to go along and check tickets. it is a rather foolish thing for the government to suggest, we could have driver only operation throughout the network, we can dispense with lots of these guards. equally, they say we can dispense with the lot of the platform staff. you can't, you cannot cut back on platform staff because it is a safety risk. it is

only quite narrow improvements that can be made, but this is the sticking point. in can be made, but this is the sticking point.— sticking point. in terms of a broader context, _ sticking point. in terms of a broader context, how - sticking point. in terms of a broader context, how does | sticking point. in terms of a - broader context, how does what we are seeing across the uk in terms of the rail networks operate in terms of other countries? it seems that this has been so toxic, the negotiations here and so on going, how do other countries compared to this? ., how do other countries compared to this? . , , , ., ., , this? there are disputes in various other countries _ this? there are disputes in various other countries across _ this? there are disputes in various other countries across europe - this? there are disputes in various other countries across europe at l this? there are disputes in various i other countries across europe at the moment. but what i think is different here is the insistence, essentially it is the government negotiating, it is not the train operator, they don't have the power to do so. it is the government trying to force through quite radical changes in the industry. over the course of the 50 year history of british rail they shed 10,000 jobs every year, 500,000 jobs that went over the 50 year history of rich israel. it is not that the unions are completely intractable,

they will negotiate away about jobs, but they need good redundancy terms, they need good deals for the remaining staff and they need stability. i think what the problem is, the government is trying to rush through quite major changes without any negotiation. holding the unions to ransom by saying you cannot have your pay rise unless we have rather kind of unspecific modernisation. always good to get your perspective on this. we do have a list of the dates on our websites in terms of the strikes are taking place. but for the being, thank you. china is seeing an explosion of positive covid cases, just 10 days after suddenly easing its strict lockdown measures following a wave of protests. the capital, beijing is one of the worst affected areas. hearses bearing the dead lined the driveway to this designated

covid crematorium as the city's funeral homes also report being busier than normal. residents are also receiving booster shots in the form of a nasal spray. in china's largest city, shanghai, officials have ordered most of its schools to take classes online as covid cases soar. nurseries and childcare centres will also shut from monday, according to the education bureau. now, the easing of strict lockdown measures has led to growing concerns over the spread of covid across the country. our asia pacific editor celia hatton says it's become difficult to keep track of the number of cases. even the chinese authorities admit they don't know what the numbers are. the national health commission which is china's top health body has had to admit there has been a breakdown in the testing and recording systems across china. so they are not even quite sure what the true numbers are. anecdotally, many people are reporting that everybody they know has covid.

those are the messages i have been receiving from contacts all over china for the past few days. many chinese cities are eerily quiet because shops and businesses are closed. many people are isolating at home, may be because many people have covid or they don't want to get covid. that is the real concern. you mentioned schools have closed in shanghai. now the difference here, schools were closed before of anybody getting covid. now schools are closing simply because so many teachers and staff members are ill that the school simply cannot stay open. ukraine's energy operator says the ninth wave of rusian air strikes on friday, has caused continuing, significant power shortages. the governor of the northeastern region of kharkiv says power has been restored there, and work on restoring electricity is continuing elsewhere, including the capital, kyiv. from where our correspondent

hugo bachego reports. we had an update from the mayor of kyiv who says water has now been restored as parts of the city remain without electricity and heating. and all day this thick fog has covered kyiv and that makes it difficult for residents who remain without electricity and heating. power has also been restored in kharkiv, the country's second largest city. the authorities say russia launched 76 missiles in this ninth wave of air strikes, targeting essential infrastructure. they say 60 of those missiles were intercepted by air defence but more than a dozen hit facilities across the country. they say russia is using winter as a weapon with those attacks and last night president zelensky said russia still had enough missiles to carry out more heavy strikes, but he said this campaign would fail and he said the ukrainians are determined to resist.

the country has managed to restore power to almost 6 million people in the last 2a hours after the massive russian air strikes against the electricity generating system. in a video address, president zelensky says repair work continues without a break of day yesterday's what he describes as a terrorist attack. the kremlin says president putin spent friday holding meetings with the military commanders who are running russia's war in ukraine. his visit to operational headquarters came a day after kyiv said moscow was planning a broad offensive early in the new year. russia's suffered a string of defeats on the ground in ukraine recently, with only minor adves in the east. but for more than two months, it's been targetting ukraine's

energy infrastructure intensively with missiles and explosive drones. in iran, the well known film actress taraneh alidoosti has been arrested, as anti—government protests continue into a fourth month. an iranian news agency said ms alidoosti, who's best known for her starring role in the oscar winning iranian film, the salesman, was detained for publishing what it called false and distorted content and inciting chaos. ms alidoosti publicly condemned the first execution of a protester earlier this month. in the irish republic, leo varadkar has been voted in as the new prime minister. mr varadkar, who has been the deputy prime minister, swaps roles with the taoiseach micheal martin as part of an historic coalition agreement, made injune 2020. earlier, our ireland correspondent chris page gave us his analysis. it's a swap at the top that has

never been done before. the two parties that dominated irish politics through most of the last century, fianna fail led by micheal martin, fine gael now led by leo varadkar went into government together for the first time. and when you consider that those parties grew out of different factions in the irish civil war 100 years ago, well, it does make it all the more remarkable. so, voluntarily today, micheal martin has handed over the most importantjob in ireland to leo varadkar. the proceedings took about two and a half hours in the irish parliament here in dublin. mr martin formally resigned. he, as you would expect, went through what he saw as his list of achievements, not least leading ireland through the covid pandemic. and then members of the parliament voted in mr varadkar to take over as taoiseach for the second half of this coalition government's term. mr varadkar has now left here, gone to see the irish president michael d higgins in his official

residence in phoenix park in the north of the city. but he will be coming back here later on this afternoon where there will be some sort of cabinet reshuffle. and it is thought that micheal martin will retain a very prominent role in the government as deputy prime minister. he will be given charge of the department of foreign affairs. basically, he will become ireland's chief diplomat. that of course will be particularly important in the context of negotiations between the uk and the eu, still ongoing, over the brexit arrangements for northern ireland. doctors are warning that a plan to free up hospital beds to mitigate wednesday's strike by ambule workers will be "really difficult" to achieve. nhs england hopes that by discharging as many patients as safely as possible, handover times will be kept to a minimum. the walk—out about pay will affect virtually all of england and wales. ministers say the wage offer they've made to ambule workers has been recommended independently.

i'm joined now by professor of health and nursing policy at king's college london and former president of the royal college of nursing, dame anne—marie rafferty. before we talk about what is being planned for wednesday, seeing as you all the former president of the royal college of nursing, could you give is your assessment of what you saw, nurses going out on strike for the first time in the history of the rcn. i the first time in the history of the rcn. ., ., ., ,, the first time in the history of the rcn. i am not a spokesperson for the rcn, i am rcn. i am not a spokesperson for the rcn. i am here _ rcn. i am not a spokesperson for the rcn, i am here in _ rcn. i am not a spokesperson for the rcn, i am here in my _ rcn. i am not a spokesperson for the rcn, i am here in my academic- rcn, i am here in my academic capacity. i was at a picket line during the week and i was also on a picket line when nurses went on strike in northern ireland in 2019. i saw a kind of action replay of the

same sentiment, the same strength of resolve, determination and solidarity the nurses felt with each other, but also public support for nurses action on the day from colleagues who were there, passers—by putin horns and people coming up with drinks and offers of support to nurses who were striking. i think it is gratifying to see that actually the public support does seem to be holding up in polls and the position the government has been, i think occupying thus far, digging in and refusing to talk about pay, with the hope that as strikes progress, public opinion might wane and whether, doesn't seem to be happening, at least not yet. when we look towards wednesday's

strike, we are talking about ambulance workers, paramedics and the staff in the control room at the support workers, just how much of an impact will that have on the nhs? i think estimates from the chief operating officer of the nhs and others say it's going to be very disruptive. i have no doubt it will be, because we have had about 13,000 beds, so—called blocked by people, patients who cannot be moved out although they are medically fit to be moved out of the system, for a whole variety of reasons but one of them is the exit block from social care because many care homes and other facilities just haven't really recovered from cove idiot. and we have, even though, are funding

crisis in social care. —— covid. which is very interesting. jeremy hunt, when he was chair of the health committee wrote a very compelling report on recommending about £7 billion increase of investment in social care to help reduce that block and allow social care to function effectively. but the other issue is we actually have fewer beds than most of our european peer countries, so that capacity gap and the lack of a buffer zone, which many other countries did have before covid hasn't actually been boosted in the interim and so i think that is another issue where the pressure on beds in the uk within the nhs is actually much greater than it is in other european countries. and that

certainly doesn't help. you other european countries. and that certainly doesn't help.— certainly doesn't help. you are highlighting — certainly doesn't help. you are highlighting the _ certainly doesn't help. you are highlighting the pressure - certainly doesn't help. you are highlighting the pressure we i certainly doesn't help. you are i highlighting the pressure we are seeing on hospital bed so what do you make of it when nhs england says they hope to discharge as many patients as possible in order to relieve the pressure, mitigate wednesday's strike action. doctors are warning it will be hard to achieve. i am assuming you are of the same thinking? yes. i honestly don't know how that is supposed to happen. but don't know how that is supposed to ha en. �* , , , don't know how that is supposed to hauen.�* , , , happen. but suddenly he will be able to unblock what _ happen. but suddenly he will be able to unblock what has _ happen. but suddenly he will be able to unblock what has been _ happen. but suddenly he will be able to unblock what has been blocked. . happen. but suddenly he will be able to unblock what has been blocked. i | to unblock what has been blocked. i note there is definitely going to be increased beds brought in to hospitals, in observation units but the detail is quite sketchy and vague and i haven't seen anything further on that. hopefully it's not going to be a mirage or a conjuring trick we are relying on, that there will be firm contingencies in place.

but i think again the government refusing to sit down and get round the table and negotiate is drawing out this crisis even further. dialogue is the only way for nurses and ambulance workers and paramedics and ambulance workers and paramedics and other workers in the public sector to really resolve this. everyone seems to be wanting to resolve it and come up with creative solutions. even senior tories themselves, even pat cullen, who has made an offer of arbitration, everybody but the government seems to want to resolve this dispute. thank you. a 33—year—old woman has

died after being injured in the crush at a concert at london's brixton o2 academy on thursday. the met police have released this picture of the woman, rebecca ikumelo. two other people remain in critical condition in hospital. the concert, by singer asake, had to be abandoned pa rt—way through. the met police say a "large number of people" tried to force their way inside. here's matt cole reporting. these were the out of control scenes on thursday from what is believed to be 1000 people tried to get into the concert by asake. the concert was a sell out. despite his request that people without tickets stay away, hundreds and more still came. the pushing, shoving, trampling, led to three people being critically hurt. you could see two people out here getting treatment from the police, giving cpr to a young lady. it was awful to see

someone who went out for a night of fun and they end up not spending christmas with their family. this morning, rebecca ikumelo died from her injuries. she was 33. she was from newham in east london. two others remain critically ill. the debris still lines the street and police cordons remain in place. all day police officers from the met�*s specialist crime command have been working here at the site, trying to figure out what happened, what went so badly wrong to cause this tragedy? asake has released a statement, speaking of his devastation at rebecca ikumelo's death. with so many people at the venue, police think they have 4,000 potential witnesses and they're keen to hear from them. they especially want images people took, in the hope they will offer clues. a special web—site has been set up so people can submit footage and photographs.

croatia have secured third place at the world cup in qatar, beating morocco 2—1 in a tightly fought and exciting match. morocco still made history by becoming the first african or arab nation to make it to the semifinal, where they lost to france. croatia were the runners—up in the 2018 world cup. tomorrow fre will be defending their title against challengers argentina. lisa leroux is a football journalist and she's in paris ahead of tomorrow's game. iamjust i am just going to assume you are supporting france, how do you think they are going to do? irate supporting france, how do you think they are going to do?— they are going to do? we are 'ust hoinu we they are going to do? we are 'ust hoping we can i they are going to do? we are 'ust hoping we can win i they are going to do? we are 'ust hoping we can win the i they are going to do? we are 'ust hoping we can win the title h they are going to do? we are just hoping we can win the title back. they are going to do? we are justl hoping we can win the title back to back and make history. i think it will be a very, very tough match but i think argentina and lionel messi will give it their all. like you said it is his last world cup match ever, so i think it can be tough.

but if any team can beat them it is france, so i am confident. itruiith france, so i am confident. with kelly and _ france, so i am confident. with kelly and mbappe _ france, so i am confident. with kelly and mbappe on _ france, so i am confident. with kelly and mbappe on board, we have been seeing stunning football, given how young he is as well? yes. been seeing stunning football, given how young he is as well?— how young he is as well? yes, he is at his peak — how young he is as well? yes, he is at his peak at _ how young he is as well? yes, he is at his peak at the _ how young he is as well? yes, he is at his peak at the moment. - how young he is as well? yes, he is at his peak at the moment. he - how young he is as well? yes, he is at his peak at the moment. he just| at his peak at the moment. hejust wants the world to see him shine, he wants the world to see him shine, he wants to win everything, break records. he wants to be compared to pele, so he wants the second world cup and go for the third one. it will be fascinating to watch tomorrow, but in terms of the build—up to it, of course. there was so much excitement across france when they were playing morocco. what is the atmosphere like now in the build—up to tomorrow? it is is the atmosphere like now in the build-up to tomorrow?— build-up to tomorrow? it is very festive and _ build-up to tomorrow? it is very festive and the _ build-up to tomorrow? it is very festive and the christmas - build-up to tomorrow? it is very festive and the christmas lights| festive and the christmas lights have just come on so it is definitely a different atmosphere from 2018 with some final. it is very festive and the flags of sold out most of the stores, so people feeling very patriotic and confident

in this team. most of the cafes will be full tomorrow.— be full tomorrow. ideally, there is a lot of excitement _ be full tomorrow. ideally, there is a lot of excitement but _ be full tomorrow. ideally, there isj a lot of excitement but argentina, lionel messi, not bad?— lionel messi, not bad? yes, it is definitely a _ lionel messi, not bad? yes, it is definitely a final— lionel messi, not bad? yes, it is definitely a final people - lionel messi, not bad? yes, it is definitely a final people wanted | lionel messi, not bad? yes, it is. definitely a final people wanted to see. it is going to be incredible football and it will be a very tough match. lionel messi wants to win this, he wants to become the greatest of all time and to be able to say that, he wants to win the world cup trophy and also wants to win another ballon d'or, so there is a lot at stake. they will give it their all but this french team also wants to make history. it will make for great football and we will see what happens. for great football and we will see what happens-— what happens. there is so much excitement. _ what happens. there is so much excitement, enjoy. _

hundreds of people turned out for a vigilforfour young boys, who died after falling through a frozen lake in solihull last sunday. eight—year—old finlay butler, and his six—year—old brother samuel, their cousin, thomas stewart — who was 11 — and 10—year—old jackjohnson were discovered in icy waters at babbs mill park in solihull. the council there has raised concerns about children being seen on frozen water in other places in recent days. campaigners gathered on the beach in folkestone this morning calling for the government to provide safe routes for migrants trying to reach the uk. it follows the deaths of four people attempting to cross the channel in a small boat earlier this week. nickjohnson reports. a sombre gathering followed by a rallying cry. a sombre gathering followed by a rallying cry-— rallying cry. everyone of you that is here today _ rallying cry. everyone of you that is here today is _ rallying cry. everyone of you that is here today is with _ rallying cry. everyone of you that is here today is with me - rallying cry. everyone of you that is here today is with me in - rallying cry. everyone of you that| is here today is with me in saying enough is enough, no more deaths. people of all ages braved the bitter

weather to remember those who lost their lives crossing the channel earlier this week. but it is also a call for change in government approach. it call for change in government approach-— call for change in government auroach. ,. .,., approach. it is a political decision not to offer— approach. it is a political decision not to offer safe _ approach. it is a political decision not to offer safe routes. - approach. it is a political decision not to offer safe routes. it - approach. it is a political decision not to offer safe routes. it is - not to offer safe routes. it is forcing people to take these perilous journeys and ultimately people are dying. this whole system seems inhumane and there are better ways to solve it which could stop deaths. we ways to solve it which could stop deaths. ~ ., ways to solve it which could stop deaths. ~ . ., ,~ ways to solve it which could stop deaths. ~ . ., , deaths. we are asking people in france be given _ deaths. we are asking people in france be given paperwork - deaths. we are asking people in| france be given paperwork which means_ france be given paperwork which means they can get a ferry, some kind of— means they can get a ferry, some kind of safe — means they can get a ferry, some kind of safe route that brings them across _ kind of safe route that brings them across without them having to get into a _ across without them having to get into a small boat. we need to be giving _ into a small boat. we need to be giving everybody that need sanctuary one route _ giving everybody that need sanctuary one route to safety. both campaigners _ one route to safety. both campaigners and - one route to safety. both campaigners and the - one route to safety. ifizf7ii�*u campaigners and the government want to avoid more scenes like this. the conservative mp for ashford, damian green, said the government should consider setting up new routes for those seeking asylum. thea;r consider setting up new routes for those seeking asylum.— consider setting up new routes for those seeking asylum. they have to be from places _ those seeking asylum. they have to be from places where _ those seeking asylum. they have to be from places where people - those seeking asylum. they have to be from places where people are i those seeking asylum. they have to be from places where people are in| be from places where people are in genuine fear of persecution, which is what asylum is for. rather than simply i could have a better life in

this country. simply i could have a better life in this country-— this country. this man arrived in the uk from _ this country. this man arrived in the uk from iraq _ this country. this man arrived in the uk from iraq 20 _ this country. this man arrived in the uk from iraq 20 years - this country. this man arrived in the uk from iraq 20 years ago i this country. this man arrived in l the uk from iraq 20 years ago and knows what it means to flee oppression. it knows what it means to flee oppression-— knows what it means to flee ouression. , ., ., ., oppression. it is not easy to leave our oppression. it is not easy to leave your country. _ oppression. it is not easy to leave your country, this _ oppression. it is not easy to leave your country, this is _ oppression. it is not easy to leave your country, this is a _ oppression. it is not easy to leave your country, this is a journey - your country, this is a journey between life and death. the home office sa s between life and death. the home office says nobody _ between life and death. the home office says nobody should - between life and death. the home office says nobody should be - between life and death. the home i office says nobody should be putting their lives at risk by making these dangerous crossings and people to claim asylum in the first safe country they reach. campaigners hope this protest draws a line under any further loss of life in the channel. now on bbc news, the weather. hello, it looks like this bitterly cold spell of weather is finally coming to an enduring part two this weekend. wetter, windier and milder weather will spread up gradually on sunday but it will take its time and we will see a transient spell of ice and snow through central and northern areas. the met office have

issued an amber warning for ice across northern england, particularly pennine routes, but even to lower levels as well. likely to see some significant disruption from this on sunday. rain and sleet fall on freezing surfaces giving rise to slippery conditions on roads and pavements for a time. in the short term this evening and overnight will be another cold one across the country, vertically central, northern and eastern areas. signs of the weather from pushing into the south with stronger winds. temperatures recovering here but another bitterly cold night elsewhere. with the cold air in place and with this wet and windy weather moving up from the south, it is going to be the recipe for this ice and snow risk. certainly a transient risk. exhibit orange colours as the milder air in the south—west feeding north and east through the course of the day. it will take its time. initially we will take its time. initially we will have rain across southern and western areas but as this rain bumped into the cold air we could see winteryness over north wales,

the midlands northwards and it is this area of northern england likely to see the worst of the ice and snow falling over the hills, the southern uplands into the highlands and grampian is later. a cold day for many when you factor in the wind but milder across the south and the west ijy milder across the south and the west by the end of the afternoon. through sunday night watch the milder air, the orange colours creep northwards. by the orange colours creep northwards. by monday morning it will feel very different, temperatures in double figures across england, wales and northern ireland. chilly in scotland but much milder than it has been. a different feel to the weather on monday, yes very mild but it will feel different by the fact it will be cloudy, very windy with gales, and outbreaks of heavy rain and could see some localised flooding across south—western areas and the rain combined with the snow and ice melting, of course. i'm out there to come, mid—teens across many areas on monday. it stays generally mild and unsettled across the board. signs of something called a just nudging into the north of the uk for the

christmas period, but stay tuned.