this is bbc news broadcasting in the uk and around the globe. i'm frankie mccamley, and these are the latest headlines. the us braces for its coldest christmas in four decades as a major storm sweeps across the country with temperatures plummeting to minus 45 degrees celsius in some places. misery awaits passengers arriving at britain's busiest airports — with warnings of delays at passport control as border force officials begin an eight day strike over pay and pensions. i over pay and pensions. know things are difficult, b is i know things are difficult, but it is right that there is an independent body that makes recommendations to the government, and the government accepted those. it increased its offer, match those recommendations, i think that is the

right thing to do, and the right thing for the country to help it beat inflation. arrests continue in afghanistan as protests persist against the new ban by the taliban on women and girls attending universities. police in pakistan say at least two people, including a police officer, have been killed in a suicide blast in the capital, islamabad. china insists it has its current covid outbreak under control reporting fewer than 4,000 new cases and no deaths for the third day running. but forecasters warn the true number could be as much asi million, with 5,000 deaths a day. a fierce arctic winter storm has triggered emergency alerts across large parts of the united states, and forced the cancellation of more than 2,000 flights.

forecasters say the cold snap could bring the coldest christmas in decades. presidentjoe biden has encouraged everyone to heed warnings and bring forward christmas travel plans where possible. 0ur north america correspondent peter bowes reports. this is what it looks like when a bomb cyclone descends on north america. these huge banks of snow in north dakota are the result of an intense blizzard that swept through the state. conditions that are set to engulf almost the entire country, just in time for christmas. but this is no winter wonderland. the storm could prove deadly. great swathes of the us will experience some of the lowest temperatures ever recorded here. there is already chaos at the airports. this is new york. for many, it should have been the first normal christmas after covid. but across the country, thousands of flights have been cancelled.

while others are scrambling to find another way to get to find another way to get to theirfamilies. flustered. we are trying to search on our phones, figure out other routes, maybe even taking a bus from here to atlanta, which it'll take us about 21 hours, so that's really inconvenient, but anything we can do just to get there, it's what we are going to do. president biden has urged people to take extreme care. this is really a very serious weather alert here. it goes from oklahoma all the way to wyoming, and wyoming to maine, and it's of real consequence, so i encourage everyone, everyone, please heed the local warnings. the rapidly deepening low pressure system will bring snow, strong winds, ice and frigid conditions all the way from canada to the deep south, including texas and the border with mexico. the midwest will be particularly

badly hit, where it could be the coldest christmas since the 1980s. even florida, the sunshine state, will experience temperatures well below freezing. in new york, intense blizzards are expected to last for several days. americans are being advised to travel earlier than planned, or hunker down for christmas. peter bowes, bbc news. 0ur weather presenter susan powell is here. how long do you think we are going to see this weather front last four�*s to see this weather front last four' - to see this weather front last four' , , ., , ., four's the spell of severe weather will last across _ four's the spell of severe weather will last across the _ four's the spell of severe weather will last across the north-east - four's the spell of severe weather will last across the north-east of| will last across the north—east of the us, and also eastern canada, we're hearing a lot of talk about the us, but canada also vary widely affected by the frigid weather at the moment, but the weather bomb, the moment, but the weather bomb, the area of low pressure will sit and play through the course of the holiday weekend, sort of a critical period for travel on christmas eve

and christmas day, there are warnings out today for a torrential rain, even ahead of the system that could cause problems, very strongly across the canadian maritime, and blizzard conditions across ontario, quebec, two orfourfoot blizzard conditions across ontario, quebec, two or four foot of snow down, blowing around, not easy travelling at all. find down, blowing around, not easy travelling at all.— travelling at all. and really low temperatures, _ travelling at all. and really low temperatures, -45 _ travelling at all. and really low temperatures, -45 celsius, - travelling at all. and really low. temperatures, -45 celsius, what, travelling at all. and really low- temperatures, -45 celsius, what, due temperatures, —45 celsius, what, due to someone? temperatures, -45 celsius, what, due to someone?— to someone? obviously lacks the fiaure ou to someone? obviously lacks the figure you would _ to someone? obviously lacks the figure you would read _ to someone? obviously lacks the figure you would read on - to someone? obviously lacks the figure you would read on the - figure you would read on the thermometer, but you have to factor in that this deep area of low pressure gives you gale force winds, so the way you feel that you're looking another 20 degrees offered. exposure to that kind of temperature, two or three minutes you will start losing feeling in your skin, you will start losing feeling in yourskin, and you will start losing feeling in your skin, and much longer we will start losing feeling in your flesh. in these conditions, the advice would be to avoid going out, you

have to slip on something for, and then there is a very dangerous conditions. then there is a very dangerous conditione— then there is a very dangerous conditions. ~ . ., conditions. might affect any other countries? there _ conditions. might affect any other countries? there are _ conditions. might affect any other countries? there are signs - conditions. might affect any other countries? there are signs that i conditions. might affect any other. countries? there are signs that may come across — countries? there are signs that may come across the _ countries? there are signs that may come across the atlantic, _ countries? there are signs that may come across the atlantic, but - countries? there are signs that may come across the atlantic, but not i come across the atlantic, but not with the cold air that is coming. the cold air weather event is just north america, canada and the us that are seeing these bitingly cold temperatures.— that are seeing these bitingly cold temeratures. ., ~ , ., , . across the uk, several work sectors are being hit by strike action in the run up to christmas — including rail, trains and post. we will start our coverage of the idustrial action with a look at the borderforce. passengers using some of the uk's busiest airports are being told to expect delays at passport control as border force staff begin eight days of strike action. around 1,000 staff at six airports, including heathrow and gatwick — and the port of newhaven — are taking industrial action

as part of a row about pay, pensions and job security. duncan kennedy is at london gatwick airport. duncan, so far today it seems to have been running quite smoothly, i things changing? i have been running quite smoothly, i things changing?— things changing? i think that is the fear word to _ things changing? i think that is the fear word to use, _ things changing? i think that is the fear word to use, it _ things changing? i think that is the fear word to use, it is _ things changing? i think that is the fear word to use, it is going - things changing? i think that is the fear word to use, it is going pretty| fear word to use, it is going pretty smoothly. we are at the north terminal here, going through international arrivals. as for them to a couple of people have come in from flights from amsterdam and barbados, we spoke to a dutch family from amsterdam, they said they came through smoothly. i spoke to a british crown the same flight, he said he had to show his passport to a chap dressed in military fatigues, as obviously the army are involved in checking passports. he said it took a little longer than expected as the chap seemed a little and familiar with the computer, but he had a supervisor behind him. another couple came through from bridgetown barbados and came through the

electronic channel, they did not need a person to check their passports, it went smoothly, and theyjust happen to notice that there are several military dressed people standing around. the journey went smoothly, they said there was no chaos or anything backstage in international arrivals, although of course the union have pointed out, the pcs union involved in the straight, it is notjust a case of checking someone's passports. they are trained to spot forged documents, people who may be involved in modern slavery or sex trafficking, all this kind of expertise they build up over many years, and they say you cannotjust bring in a few army people expecting them to offer the same level of service. certainly, at the moment, in terms of travel coming through the international ngo, it is pretty smooth. her passengers feeling as they come through? == her passengers feeling as they come throu~h? ., ., ., ., ., , through? -- international arrivals. the all through? -- international arrivals. they all knew—

through? -- international arrivals. they all knew about _ through? -- international arrivals. they all knew about the _ through? -- international arrivals. they all knew about the strike, - through? -- international arrivals. they all knew about the strike, it i they all knew about the strike, it is getting a lot of coverage, because places like manchester, heathrow, glasgow, gatwick, they have huge numbers of international travellers coming through. they're aware of it, they are all pretty relaxed about it, theyjust want to get home for christmas, the union say they will be doing this until the 31st of december. they say they want to do this because the 2% pay offer and they are given simply isn't enough. there are many other issues to do with pensions, redundancy, working practices. this in the border force and the government have got to do better on the offer, but the borderfor sale government have got to do better on the offer, but the border for sale a top priority today is security, they do not went to risk the uk borders. there were a lot of contingency plans in place, and so far they say things are going smoothly.-

plans in place, and so far they say things are going smoothly. thank you ve much things are going smoothly. thank you very much duncan _ things are going smoothly. thank you very much duncan kennedy— things are going smoothly. thank you very much duncan kennedy reporting| very much duncan kennedy reporting from gatwick airport. also taking action overwinter, royal mail staff, who are part of the communications workers union, are back on the picket line again today and tomorrow. it's over an ongoing dispute about pay and job conditions — but as many of these strikes have taken place in the run—up to the festive period, businesses relying on christmas sales say they've suffered as a result. joining me now is dave ward, general secretary of the communications workers union. thank you forjoining us. just talk to me about the talks going on at the moment. are you also at a stalemate?— the moment. are you also at a stalemate? ., ~ ., ., stalemate? good morning. we have not been able to _ stalemate? good morning. we have not been able to find _ stalemate? good morning. we have not been able to find enough _ stalemate? good morning. we have not been able to find enough progress - stalemate? good morning. we have not been able to find enough progress in - been able to find enough progress in order to suspend the strike action. we did make an offer to royal mail to suspend the current strikes, it was the second offer we have made in the last three weeks to suspend strike action, we asked the company to confirm in response that they

would stop introducing an agreed change to enable the talks to reach a full and final agreement. we asked them to confirm that they would not be bringing in an alternative resourcing model, in other words what they have been trying to do is bring in unlimited numbers of self—employed workers who have to pay for these of their own vans, who do not get holiday pay, sick pay or pensions, and we have asked them to not introduce an army of agency workers, an army of casuals, and to allow our members to actually do the work they can do best. unfortunately, the company would not agree to those conditions, so the strikes went ahead. however, we did make a bit of progress, and we are going to offer the company again a further opportunity for a period of calm, and we hope this time they will pick it up. we are willing to

carry on talking after christmas, between now and the new year, and early in january. between now and the new year, and early injanuary. i would have to say, we have agreed in principle other strike dates, but whether that goes ahead, we have not announced and yet, because we want to get involved in meaningful negotiations to conclude an agreement. the strikes have _ to conclude an agreement. the strikes have been taking place over christmas, a lot of people will be worried that may be the christmas presents and christmas cards are not going to make it on time. are you concerned that you might lose some sort of support of striking especially over the christmas period? especially over the christmas eriod? ~ ., �* ~' period? we don't think we will, because we _ period? we don't think we will, because we think _ period? we don't think we will, because we think that - period? we don't think we will, because we think that people i because we think that people understand, as a lot of our posties talk to the customers on a daily basis, apart from when, unfortunately, we are on strike action. even then, the amount of customers that come off and talk to people on line showing their support, i think more and more

people in the uk understand this particular dispute is really about the very future of the jobs of posties across the uk, and also the future of the service. 0ne posties across the uk, and also the future of the service. one of the things royal mail want to do around the service is they want to introduce three hour later start times for deliveries. we know that will lead to the end of daily deliveries in the uk, and the company want to turn royal mail effectively into another parcel courier. what we are seeing is that is not a good proposition for customers. what i will say to customers. what i will say to customers is that our members are fighting for the service as well as their own jobs.— fighting for the service as well as their own “obs. ., ~ , ., , . their own “obs. thank you very much, dave their own jobs. thank you very much, dave ward. — their own jobs. thank you very much, dave ward, general— their own jobs. thank you very much, dave ward, general secretary - their own jobs. thank you very much, dave ward, general secretary of - their own jobs. thank you very much, dave ward, general secretary of the i dave ward, general secretary of the medication workers union. —— communications workers union. the uk prime minister rishi sunak says he's disappointed by the disruption being caused

by all the winter strikes. let's hear what had to say about the public sector industrial disputes. i'm really saddened and disappointed about the disruption that is being caused to so many people's lives, particularly at christmas time. you know, when it comes to... it's a difficult question of setting public sector pay. the government has acted fairly and reasonably in accepting all the recommendations of the public sector pay review bodies. it's an independent process the government has listened to. i'd urge everybody who is travelling at the moment to just please check before you make yourjourney so you know what's happening. you're risking a dangerous escalation, though, aren't you? you're obviously trying to hold your nerve with the unions, but the fact that more strike dates have been announced is a sign of failure, right? what i'm trying to do is make the right long—term decisions for the country, for everybody�*s benefit. and i think we all know the major economic challenge we all face now is inflation. it's inflation that is eating into everyone's pay packets, rising the cost of living, and i want to make sure we reduce inflation. part of that is being responsible when it comes

to setting public sector pay. that's why we have an independent process. i know things are difficult but it's right that there is an independent body that makes recommendations to the government and the government accepted those. it increased its offer, matched all those recommendations. i think that's the reasonable thing to do. and in the long term, it's the right thing for the whole country that we beat inflation. are you ruling out a one off pay offer? there's a great deal of sympathy, when it comes, including from tory voters, to nhs workers striking. are you ruling out a one off pay offer there? i'm really grateful to all our public sector workers, including those in the nhs for the fantastic job they do for us. and as the health secretary and i have previously said, our door is always open. you know, the government is always wanting to talk to people, to engage with them about, you know, what we can do to make sure that theirjobs are fulfilling, rewarding. there's lots of things that people have raised as things we might make a difference too and we would be happy to talk about all of those things. the health secretary has been clear — his door and the government's door is always open to have those talks. staying with strike action, a second day of ambulance strikes planned in england and wales

for next week has been called off by the gmb union. that date has now been suspended and a further day of strike action is now planned for 11th january. the union said it was scrapping the action next week so that "the public will be able to enjoy christmas without "additional anxiety". let's speak to our health correspondentjim reed about the strike involving ambulance staff and paramedics. just tell us what more we know. the gmb was just tell us what more we know. tie: gmb was planning just tell us what more we know. tue: gmb was planning to just tell us what more we know. tt2 gmb was planning to strike across wales and most of england, apart from london and the east of england next week, next wednesday. as you said, that's been scrapped or postponed, pushed back to the 11th of january and postponed, pushed back to the 11th ofjanuary and said. the postponed, pushed back to the 11th of january and said. the reason they gave us so that the public would be able to enjoy christmas without anxiety, but we do know the nhs and ambulance services have been under tremendous pressure recently, and that might have gone on to some of the thinking. holding our second day of strikes in their 11th is an interesting date is pick, as it is

when another ambulance union is planning on striking, so it looks like coordinated action. and planning on striking, so it looks like coordinated action.- planning on striking, so it looks like coordinated action. and we have 'ust had an like coordinated action. and we have just had an update _ like coordinated action. and we have just had an update from _ like coordinated action. and we have just had an update from the - like coordinated action. and we have just had an update from the nurses l just had an update from the nurses union, haven't we? this just had an update from the nurses union, haven't we?— union, haven't we? this is action across northern _ union, haven't we? this is action across northern ireland, - union, haven't we? this is action across northern ireland, wales, | union, haven't we? this is action . across northern ireland, wales, and some of england, not all of england. we have already had two days of nurses strikes, just announced another two for the 18th and 19th of january, two consecutive days, a wednesday and thursday. also, more trusts in england are involved, it will go up from 44 trusts in england last time round to 55. pat callan, the general secretary, say i do not wish to prolong the dispute any longer, but the prime ministers left us with little choice but to go ahead with these extra strike dates. and we've been hearing from unions, and a lot of them are saying that the talks at the table just aren't going anywhere? iiit the talks at the table 'ust aren't going anywhere?— the talks at the table 'ust aren't auoin an here? ., . ., going anywhere? in scotland as well. in scotland going anywhere? in scotland as well. in scotland you _ going anywhere? in scotland as well. in scotland you have _ going anywhere? in scotland as well. in scotland you have hamza - going anywhere? in scotland as well. in scotland you have hamza yusuf, . in scotland you have hamza yusuf, the health secretary, and the royal

couege the health secretary, and the royal college of nursing have rejected an increased pay offer in scotland. some quite intense talks are going on to avert a strike there. in england, the stocks don't seem to have gone very far, which is why you're seeing these extra strike dates and ends for the start of next year. at the moment, it is like an exceptionally busy january for the health service anyway, but also with the strikes on top of that. tt is the strikes on top of that. it is alwa s a the strikes on top of that. it is always a busy _ the strikes on top of that. it is always a busy time _ the strikes on top of that. it is always a busy time for- the strikes on top of that. it is always a busy time for the health service. thank you very much. now to afghanistan, where security forces have arrested several women as protests continue against the new ban by the taliban on women attending universities. social media is awash with videos showing women protesting in kabul. the taliban have since stopped the protests and have arrested at least five women. joining me now from kabul is journalist ali latifi.

i think we may have just lost the line. we will try and join up with her a little bit later to get an update on that story which we will be following throughout the day. police in pakistan say at least two people, including a police officer, have been killed in a suicide blast in the capital, islamabad. they said the suspect travelling in a vehicle detonated his explosives when he was stopped by security personnel during a surprise check. china is continuing to grapple with a major covid outbreak following a lifting of restrictions. health officials say they're expecting a peak of infections within the next week, but despite this, they've reported no new deaths for a third day running. joining me now to discuss this is emily feng, beijing correspondent for npr. what more can you tell us about what is going on, what do we know? we are continuin:

is going on, what do we know? we are continuing to — is going on, what do we know? we are continuing to see a _ is going on, what do we know? we are continuing to see a string _ is going on, what do we know? we are continuing to see a string of _ continuing to see a string of ongoing infection is notjust in beijing, but in other cities like shanghai. a hospital in shanghai warned this week that it was preparing for up to half of shanghai's population, about 12.5 million people total, who could be infected by the end of this week. all of this is put a strain on china's health care system, one which was just not repaired to deal with this. predictions came out in may that showed if china opened up, what it's doing now, rolling back restrictions, within the first six months of that, there would be 15 times the amount of demand for i see you beds than china has available. what i've seen is that the health care service is holding up, but there is supposed to be more in the coming weeks. haifa there is supposed to be more in the coming weeks-— there is supposed to be more in the coming weeks. how people reacted to the restrictions, _ coming weeks. how people reacted to the restrictions, i— coming weeks. how people reacted to the restrictions, i understand - coming weeks. how people reacted to the restrictions, i understand there i the restrictions, i understand there have been anger around, but other

people are not so angry? must people have a sense — people are not so angry? must people have a sense of _ people are not so angry? must people have a sense of relief, _ people are not so angry? must people have a sense of relief, but _ have a sense of relief, but ironically, know they can go out, many people are opting to stay at home, because covid is so prevalent in the community. there's been a significant labour crunch as a lot of people i have had to shut down businesses because too many people are getting sick. now the line for the chinese government is, even if you are infected, go out and work evenif you are infected, go out and work even if you have light symptoms. this completely contrary to what they were saying before, and what public experts in the us and the uk were saying. —— public health experts. india is going to make negative covid—19 test reports compulsory for some people entering the country. india's health minister has said they're planning on making a negative test report mandatory for passengers arriving from countries with high number of positive cases. health officials in the uk are warning people with flu symptoms to stay at home this christmas,

to avoid passing illnesses on to elderly people. the uk health security agency says anyone with a cough or a cold should also wear a mask in enclosed spaces, such as on trains or in supermarkets, to stop infections spreading over the festive period. let's return to this protests in afghanistan. joining me now from kabul is journalist ali latifi. we are seeing arrests being made, but are there any new protests propping up?— propping up? there aren't necessarily _ propping up? there aren't necessarily new _ propping up? there aren't necessarily new protests, | propping up? there aren't. necessarily new protests, but propping up? there aren't— necessarily new protests, but people are taking different actions, more than 60 faculty members at universities in kabul and other provinces across the country have resigned in protest. we saw

yesterday students at a medical faculty refusing to take their final exams, and being told they would not be allowed to resume their studies. we saw similar actions in kandahar. people are finding ways of making a statement. the protests are difficult to keep going, because as you said, people get arrested, they could get beaten. the taliban has basically covered the street with police and security officials to make sure the nominee might —— that not too many people gather. you mentioned _ not too many people gather. you mentioned that _ not too many people gather. you mentioned that women may be beaten, what could happen to people who have been arrested for protesting? the sca thin been arrested for protesting? tt2 scary thing is that we do not know what happens when they get arrested.

they are usually held for weeks if not months at a time. once they are released, they are very scared to speak, with good reason. they have beenin speak, with good reason. they have been in detention for... i mean, we had one female activist who was in detention for more than a month, may be almost two months. two of her other colleagues are still in detention until very recently, and herfamily could detention until very recently, and her family could not even visitor to see her physical state.— see her physical state. there are re orts see her physical state. there are reports what _ see her physical state. there are reports what they _ see her physical state. there are reports what they may _ see her physical state. there are reports what they may be - see her physical state. there are reports what they may be going l reports what they may be going through, but first—hand accounts are very difficult to come across. 0nce very difficult to come across. once you have been held by the taliban for a long lead time, you're not likely to write and speak, especially if you're instilling the country or you have family in the

country or you have family in the country who have not been able to get out. country who have not been able to net out. 2, ~' ,, , country who have not been able to net out. ., ,, i. , . ., get out. thank you very much for s-ueakin get out. thank you very much for speaking to _ get out. thank you very much for speaking to us- _ george cohen — who was part of england's 1966 football world cup winning team — has died. he was 83. cohen, who played all of his club football for fulham, was described by the late george best, as "the best full back" he ever played against. a french murderer who admitted to killing several western tourists has been freed from jail in nepal. known by the nickname of the serpent, he was serving to life sentences for the murder of our backpacker and a tourist. these are the latest pictures of him

leaving prison in nepal. his lawyer says he will be flown to france later on friday. that is it from us, have a great day. hello, again. today, we've got a band of heavy rain pushing northwards, and as it does so, it's going to drag in some milder air behind it. and this mild weather is set to continue right the way up until christmas day evening when the cold air in the north of scotland sweeps south across us all. so these weather fronts bringing in some rain, pushing northwards, engaging with the cold air. we'll see some hill snow for a time. and then as we head on through the next few days, you can see how the mild air stays with us, except for in the far north of scotland, but it's on christmas day evening that all pushes south in time for boxing day. this morning, though, we've got this heavy rain that's been fairly persistent through the course of the morning, some thunder and lightning embedded in it. and as it crosses the hills

in northern england, you'll find that it will have some transient snow in it. ahead of it, the cloud will build, but for the rest of scotland, largely dry with some sunshine, a few wintry showers in the north and behind it, sunshine and showers. but generally today, it's going to be a windier day than of late. now, tonight, we've got this band of rain continuing to push northwards, taking its sleet and hills snow with it. might lead to some disruption in some of the higher routes in scotland where, of course, the snow will be starting to accumulate behind it. still in the comparatively mild conditions and we're not anticipating any frost. we'll also have some clear skies. so as we head through christmas eve, this band of rain, snow mainly on the hills and sleet pushes northwards, getting into the northern isles. there'll be a lot of dry weather, a fair bit of sunshine, still some pokey showers out towards the west where it will still be windy. and these are our temperatures 5 to 12 degrees. so you can see how the milder air is slowly pushing northwards. then, of course, we head into christmas day itself. now, what's happening on christmas day is we've got this area of low pressure.

you can see this weather front wrap round it and its as this comes south, the colder air follows on behind. we've also got another weather front close to the southeast. so during the course of boxing day, look at the blues crossing us, indicating that it is going to turn colder across the board. so as we head up towards the christmas weekend and beyond, you can see that it does remain unsettled. it does stay mild for a time, but then it turns colder. but as we move on into next week, while temperatures will rise a bit again. but if you are on the move don't forget, you can find out what the weather is like where you are or where are you going on our bbc weather app.

this is bbc news. i'm frankie mccamley and these are the latest headlines... the us braces for its coldest christmas in four decades as a major storm sweeps across the country with temperatures plummeting to —45 degrees celsius in some places. misery awaits passengers arriving at britain's busiest airports, with warnings of delays at passport control as border force officials begin an eight—day strike over pay and pensions. soldiers and civil servant volunteers have been trained to conduct checks to try to minimise disruption. arrests continue in afghanistan as protests persist against the new ban by the taliban on women and girls attending universities. tuesday's late—night announcement has triggered international outrage.