this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm geeta guru—murthy and these are the latest headlines. street clashes have broken out in paris after three people were shot dead at a kurdish community centre — tear gas has been fired at crowds of protesters. police have arrested a 69—year—old man that had previously been charged with acts of racist violence. it is a terrible tragedy for all of us, as well as for the kurdish community, which seems to have been the apparent target. a powerful arctic storm sweeps across swathes of the us and canada — more than 200 million people are under weather warnings, with temperatures dropping to minus 45 degrees celsius in some places. travel disruption in the uk due to border strikes —

union chiefs say the walkouts could go on for six months unless the governmentjoins pay talks. and multiple arrests in afghanistan after protesters marched in outrage at the taliban's latest prohibition on women attending universities. george cohen, who was part of england's 1966 world cup—winning team, has died aged 83. more in the sport later in the bulletin. serious street violence has broken out in paris after a fatal shooting at a kurdish centre, three people were killed and three others injured. these are the latest pictures coming into us, the

prosecutor there has set a possible racist element is being investigated because the suspect has been arrested, the gunman, he had previously involved in racist linked incidents, but as you can see, since that shooting, there is now a stand—off with ongoing violence on the street in that area, a central part of paris, where there had been, we understand from earlier pictures, some of the protest is possibly from the kurdish community, certainly a kurdish democratic council in france which runs the centre which was initially targeted on this street, we believe this is where the attack happened earlier today in paris start they had said there would be a bejewelled this evening to pay tribute to those who had been killed, but we saw —— there would be a radial, we saw protesters not

exactly totally sure who they are, but protesters on the streets, that developed into a more violent stand—off with right police who have fired tear gas, you can see these are some of the earlier pictures, this is what happened at the start of things getting difficult —— riot police. some of those at the front being tackled by riot police in france. this is in paris. groups of people had gathered there after that shooting and it is not clear, even looking at the pictures, exactly why it escalated in the way that it did. whether the protesters built about the police felt provoked, but you can see derek it developed into missiles being thrown —— you can see theyit

missiles being thrown —— you can see they it developed. the interior minister gerald darmanin had been speaking to the press shortly before that demonstration became violent at the scene. let's listen to some of what he was saying. translation: we what he was saying. translation: - don't know the exact motivation of the attacker who has been arrested. i want to thank the police for reacting so promptly because it was less than 15 minutes between the first call and the man being detained. this man witnessed the aftermath of the shooting. translation: we were walking in the street and we heard - a gunshot, we turned around and saw people running left and right, and then five or six minutes later, because we know the people who work at the hair salon, we went into the salon and we saw they had arrested a guy, an old man, elderly, tall, and there were three injured people. i was the one who called the fire department. the police to say that there were wounded people.

our paris correspondent hugh schofield is following events. from what you have seen, why have things developed as they have in the streets? it things developed as they have in the streets? , , .., , things developed as they have in the streets? , , , , streets? it is because the people who died, who _ streets? it is because the people who died, who were _ streets? it is because the people who died, who were kurds, - streets? it is because the people l who died, who were kurds, turkish kurds, people from the community who are very present in this part of paris, very political, very worried about their safety, exactly ten years ago there was a checklist that the nation of three senior figures in the pkk, left—wing opposition movement, they are very worried about their safety, about turkey security services coming after them and so on. there is a lot of kurds very politicised in this area and what happened has reawakened memories of that triple assassination from ten years ago which they blame on the ticket security services, and they also blame the french were not protected

them. what we're seeing now is young kurds, many of them french, kurdish origin, angry, the anger sparked by the deaths of three of them, who they will have known, and by the presence of gerald darmanin in the interior minister, basal him and were out there angry and worried and a saudi interior minister have an hour ago and he became a lightning rod for their anger because part of their grievance is france is not doing enough to protect them from the people who want to kill them, ie turkey. that is what is happening, but basically it is a lot of emotion boiling over and the french police are moving in, they are well used to crowd control, it probably looks nastier than it is, but there are missiles being thrown and the police are responding with tear gas, probably it will go on for abiola died down. probably it will go on for abiola died down-—

probably it will go on for abiola died down. ~ ., ., ~ ., ., died down. what do we know about the attack itself and _ died down. what do we know about the attack itself and the _ died down. what do we know about the attack itself and the gunman? -- - died down. what do we know about the attack itself and the gunman? -- it - attack itself and the gunman? -- it will probably _ attack itself and the gunman? -- it will probably die _ attack itself and the gunman? -- it will probably die down. _ attack itself and the gunman? » it will probably die down. there was nothing yet to suggest the man was targeting kurds in particular but we don't know, what we know is the man has a racist far right past, he is a former train driver who has had convictions, one conviction and another affair he is facing a court case for violence with arms, and the last of these incidents a year ago wasn't migrant campaign which he attacked people with the sword, slashing ten, he got help from jail, on provisional detention, only a couple of years ago eight seems once again motivated by some kind of antiforeigner healing, carried out this attack was to —— feeling. he has a thing about foreigners in general bar in the kiddie community they are saying, we particularly were targeted —— kurdish community. we don't know the case but from

their point of view they feel very vulnerable, they remembered the death of their three senior figures, three women nine years ago, almost the ten year anniversary, passions are running high.— are running high. thank you. the french interior _ are running high. thank you. the french interior minister- are running high. thank you. the french interior minister said - are running high. thank you. the french interior minister said the | french interior minister said the attacker was not known to the secret services and he wasn't known in terms of political extremism as he was known to the authorities, so information obviously failed coming out on that attack, and thou street clashes ongoing. we will keep you up—to—date. —— those street clashes. this a fierce arctic winter storm has triggered emergency alerts across large parts of the united states and forced the cancellation of more than 2000 flights. forecasters say the cold snap could bring the coldest christmas in decades, with wind blasts taking it even as low as minus 55 celsius in places. presidentjoe biden has encouraged everyone to heed warnings and bring forward christmas travel

plans where possible. 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 countryjust 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. if you are in a crash and stuck out in conditions like this, it can be very, very dangerous for you to be in air temperatures this cold. and so, we are seeing that people aren't dressed for the conditions or at least prepared to be out in it. and that's one major thing that people need to think about. there's 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. some people have been forced to abandon their plans to travel, while others are scrambling 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 will take us about 21 hours. so, that's really inconvenient but anything we can do just to get there is what we are going to do. president biden has urged people to take extreme care. this is really a very serious weather alert here. and 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. patrick ellis joins me. he is a meteorologist for the wlbt3 tv station injackson, mississippi. thank you forjoining us. what are you saying at the moment? == thank you forjoining us. what are you saying at the moment? -- seeing. good morning. — you saying at the moment? -- seeing. good morning. it _ you saying at the moment? -- seeing. good morning, it is _ you saying at the moment? -- seeing. good morning, it is very _ you saying at the moment? -- seeing. good morning, it is very cold _ you saying at the moment? -- seeing. good morning, it is very cold us, - you saying at the moment? -- seeing. good morning, it is very cold us, we i good morning, it is very cold us, we got down to about 12 arran high, 11

below celsius this morning, the coldest we have seen in the jackson area since 2018. it has been awhile since we have been so cold across our area, since we have been so cold across ourarea, not since we have been so cold across our area, not only that, we also have the frigid wind coming across the north and west, pushing windshield down several below zero, which also has not been experienced for a long time —— wind chill, we got seven below this morning when it came down, wind gusts at the front moved through.— moved through. what are you expecting _ moved through. what are you expecting to _ moved through. what are you expecting to see _ moved through. what are you expecting to see in _ moved through. what are you expecting to see in the - moved through. what are you expecting to see in the next l moved through. what are you - expecting to see in the next 24-48 expecting to see in the next 24—48 was? expecting to see in the next 24-48 was? ., , �* , . was? for us, we're expecting temperatures _ was? for us, we're expecting temperatures below - was? for us, we're expecting| temperatures below freezing, probably until morning, christmas morning, where we finally will get back above freezing, might get close to it tomorrow but it will be a close call. we still expect temperatures to stay below freezing until sunday, midday, once we get

past that we are well on our way very quick mississippi flip and be back close to 70 fahrenheit by the time we get towards the end of the week and once the upcoming weekend, short lived but will be a long duration, power outages across the state, over15,000 duration, power outages across the state, over 15,000 customers without power in mississippi, one county is almost 50% without power. what power in mississippi, one county is almost 5096 without power. what is the reason for _ almost 5096 without power. what is the reason for that? _ almost 5096 without power. what is the reason for that? a _ almost 5096 without power. what is the reason for that? a couple - almost 5096 without power. what is the reason for that? a couple of. the reason for that? a couple of thins, the reason for that? a couple of things. there — the reason for that? a couple of things, there is _ the reason for that? a couple of things, there is a _ the reason for that? a couple of things, there is a strain - the reason for that? a couple of things, there is a strain on - the reason for that? a couple of things, there is a strain on the l things, there is a strain on the panel agreed, a lot of people just trying to heat their homes. —— on the power grid. wind pushing through, pushing down trees, so tree limbs and things of that nature have caused that to be a factor. thankfully for our area, we did not experience any ice, so that is not causing the issues, at least in our area, but further to the north,

closer to tennessee, there has been icing issues from the snow last night but for us we don't have any implications with that, just a cold and the wind going along with it. briefly, water pipes, is that a worry? briefly, water pipes, is that a wor ? , . , briefly, water pipes, is that a wor ? ,. .,, worry? yes, always a worry in jackson. _ worry? yes, always a worry in jackson. we — worry? yes, always a worry in jackson, we have _ worry? yes, always a worry in jackson, we have had - worry? yes, always a worry in jackson, we have had a - worry? yes, always a worry in| jackson, we have had a storied worry? yes, always a worry in - jackson, we have had a storied past within recent months, a lot of conversation about the water pipes here in the city of jackson. even whenever we have had cold snaps before, we have had issues with pipes bursting and things of that nature, so far this morning, i was checking in with newsroom, we have not heard of anything major happening, we will do a story later today about what is happening without water treatment plant, they were doing winterisation on that in the last couple of days and weeks, hopefully it is holding up and we will stay held up, but we have heard sporadic reports around the area

with larger power outages but also minor water outages so far this morning but not to the extent is where we were a couple of months ago. where we were a couple of months a a 0. ., " where we were a couple of months ato. ., ~ , ., 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. 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. 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.

health officials are recommending that people with flu symptoms stay at home to avoid passing the bug onto others over christmas. there are now more flu patients in intensive care in england than people with covid. the uk health security agency is worried about the extra pressure both flu and coronavirus could put on the national health service this winter. iamjoined by i am joined by a couple of guest, james wallace and doctor gwyneth rogers, thank you forjoining us. james, what is your situation at the moment? ., ., , ., , ., moment? you have plans. yeah, we did have plans. _ moment? you have plans. yeah, we did have plans. we — moment? you have plans. yeah, we did have plans, we have _ moment? you have plans. yeah, we did have plans, we have had _ moment? you have plans. yeah, we did have plans, we have had to _ moment? you have plans. yeah, we did have plans, we have had to cancel- have plans, we have had to cancel them, my wife has got the flu virus that has been doing the rounds. bedridden since monday. plans to visit family on christmas day are now unfortunately on the back burner. , ., , , ., , now unfortunately on the back burner. , ., _ ., , ,, burner. obviously that is upsetting, we can see — burner. obviously that is upsetting, we can see your— burner. obviously that is upsetting, we can see your son, _ burner. obviously that is upsetting, we can see your son, how— burner. obviously that is upsetting, we can see your son, how is - burner. obviously that is upsetting, we can see your son, how is he - we can see your son, how is he

doing? can you hear us?- we can see your son, how is he doing? can you hear us? we're 'ust t in: to doing? can you hear us? we're 'ust trying to keep �* doing? can you hear us? we're 'ust trying to keep it fl doing? can you hear us? we're 'ust trying to keep it as i doing? can you hear us? we're 'ust trying to keep it as a i doing? can you hear us? we're 'ust trying to keep it as a specialist h trying to keep it as a specialist possible. back having fun, as you can see, sad that we won't be able to see family as intended. fiend can see, sad that we won't be able to see family as intended. and what our son to see family as intended. and what your son "s — to see family as intended. and what your son 's name? _ to see family as intended. and what your son 's name? aidan. _ to see family as intended. and what your son 's name? aidan. how- to see family as intended. and what your son 's name? aidan. how are l to see family as intended. and what i your son 's name? aidan. how are you your son �*s name? aidan. how are you enjoying christmas opera, aidan? —— so far. enjoying christmas opera, aidan? -- so far. ., ., . enjoying christmas opera, aidan? -- so far-_ yes. - so far. having a nice time? yes, tood, so far. having a nice time? yes, good. i'm _ so far. having a nice time? yes, good. i'm sure _ so far. having a nice time? yes, good, i'm sure it— so far. having a nice time? yes, good, i'm sure it will— so far. having a nice time? yes, good, i'm sure it will happen - so far. having a nice time? yes, | good, i'm sure it will happen one way or another. we good, i'm sure it will happen one way or another.— good, i'm sure it will happen one way or another. we will make sure of it. ve way or another. we will make sure of it- very good. — way or another. we will make sure of it. very good, doctor _ way or another. we will make sure of it. very good, doctor gwyneth - it. very good, doctor gwyneth ro . ers, it. very good, doctor gwyneth rogers. it _ it. very good, doctor gwyneth rogers. it is — it. very good, doctor gwyneth rogers. it is a _ it. very good, doctor gwyneth rogers, it is a time _ it. very good, doctor gwyneth rogers, it is a time people - it. very good, doctor gwyneth i rogers, it is a time people want it. very good, doctor gwyneth - rogers, it is a time people want to gather in small one places, but this

flu season, covid, it is really taking off. it flu season, covid, it is really taking off-— flu season, covid, it is really taking off. it is, there is a big eak in taking off. it is, there is a big peak in hospital— taking off. it is, there is a big peak in hospital admissions, | taking off. it is, there is a big l peak in hospital admissions, as taking off. it is, there is a big - peak in hospital admissions, as you said before, — peak in hospital admissions, as you said before, patients in itu with flu. ., ., , , said before, patients in itu with flu. ., , flu. how worrying is it? people will think a bit of— flu. how worrying is it? people will think a bit of a _ flu. how worrying is it? people will think a bit of a cough, _ flu. how worrying is it? people will think a bit of a cough, a _ flu. how worrying is it? people will think a bit of a cough, a bit - flu. how worrying is it? people will think a bit of a cough, a bit of- flu. how worrying is it? people will think a bit of a cough, a bit of a - think a bit of a cough, a bit of a cold, temperature, don't want to ruin ourfamily cold, temperature, don't want to ruin our family gatherings. absolutely, i think it is an individualjudgment call, proper individual judgment call, proper flu, you — individualjudgment call, proper flu, you ache, have a high—temperature, you are in bed, basically — high—temperature, you are in bed, basically. coughs and colds, clearly you still_ basically. coughs and colds, clearly you still don't want to spread them to vulnerable relatives and friends, so we _ to vulnerable relatives and friends, so we are _ to vulnerable relatives and friends, so we are well practised in this. through— so we are well practised in this. through the pandemic. so coughing into through the pandemic. so coughing iuto your— through the pandemic. so coughing into your elbow or into a tissue, washing — into your elbow or into a tissue, washing your hands, practising good hand hygiene, if you're visiting somebody who is quite valuable then consider_ somebody who is quite valuable then consider wearing a mask so that if you do— consider wearing a mask so that if you do cough or sneeze near them,

most _ you do cough or sneeze near them, most of— you do cough or sneeze near them, most of the — you do cough or sneeze near them, most of the droplets are caught in the mask — most of the droplets are caught in the mask. ~ most of the droplets are caught in the mask. . , ., ., ., most of the droplets are caught in the mask. . ., ., , , . the mask. when you travel on public transort, the mask. when you travel on public transport. it — the mask. when you travel on public transport, it doesn't _ the mask. when you travel on public transport, it doesn't seem _ the mask. when you travel on public transport, it doesn't seem like - transport, it doesn't seem like anyone is wearing masks, should that change? it anyone is wearing masks, should that chance? , ' . ., ~ ., change? it is difficult to know, i think people — change? it is difficult to know, i think people are _ change? it is difficult to know, i think people are reassured - change? it is difficult to know, i think people are reassured by l change? it is difficult to know, i - think people are reassured by seeing other people wearing masks and it is also a _ other people wearing masks and it is also a useful reminder that there are still— also a useful reminder that there are still bugs out there causing problems. it is a kind of mental check_ problems. it is a kind of mental check of. — problems. it is a kind of mental check of, yes, i do need to be a bit more _ check of, yes, i do need to be a bit more careful— check of, yes, i do need to be a bit more careful that i would have been previously _ more careful that i would have been previously and do the hand hygiene and throwing away tissues and all those _ and throwing away tissues and all those sensible things we have been well practised in doing. going those sensible things we have been well practised in doing.— well practised in doing. going back to james, well practised in doing. going back to james. i— well practised in doing. going back to james. i hope — well practised in doing. going back to james, i hope your _ well practised in doing. going back to james, i hope your wife - well practised in doing. going back to james, i hope your wife is - well practised in doing. going back to james, i hope your wife is not i to james, i hope your wife is not too unwell, has it been difficult keeping everyone separate? obviously you're trying to protect her mother your mother, i think. mr; you're trying to protect her mother your mother, ithink.— your mother, i think. my mother, eah, we your mother, i think. my mother, yeah, we thought, _ your mother, i think. my mother, yeah, we thought, maybe - your mother, i think. my mother, yeah, we thought, maybe she - your mother, i think. my mother, | yeah, we thought, maybe she will your mother, i think. my mother, - yeah, we thought, maybe she will be well by christmas day but there is still the risk of passing something on, we don't want anybody else to get it, the little one here has had it, luckily, it seems to affect the

young ones less so. keeping fingers crossed that i escape, so far, so good. it crossed that i escape, so far, so aood. , ' . crossed that i escape, so far, so aood. ,m ,, good. it is difficult because we have all had _ good. it is difficult because we have all had a _ good. it is difficult because we have all had a really _ good. it is difficult because we have all had a really tough - good. it is difficult because we i have all had a really tough three years, not had proper relaxed christmases for a while now, how are you feeling about it? it christmases for a while now, how are you feeling about it?— you feeling about it? it 'ust seems aware, you feeling about it? it 'ust seems eewe. we — you feeling about it? it 'ust seems wae we had * you feeling about it? it 'ust seems aware, we had two _ you feeling about it? itjust seems aware, we had two years - you feeling about it? itjust seems aware, we had two years of- you feeling about it? itjust seems aware, we had two years of being | aware, we had two years of being fearful of covid stopping us from meeting up, now covid seems to be less prominent, less of a story, we have been passing on something else, so it feels a bit unfair, but we are conscious a lot of people have it worse, so we're just trying to make the best of it and we will try and delay rather than cancel.- the best of it and we will try and delay rather than cancel. yes, well, aidan, delay rather than cancel. yes, well, aidan. anything _ delay rather than cancel. yes, well, aidan, anything quickly from - delay rather than cancel. yes, well, aidan, anything quickly from you? | aidan, anything quickly from you? what are you hoping for from father christmas? the, what are you hoping for from father christmas? �* ., ,., what are you hoping for from father christmas?- well, _ what are you hoping for from father christmas?- well, good - what are you hoping for from father| christmas?- well, good luck. christmas? a robot. well, good luck. if ou are christmas? a robot. well, good luck. if you are good. _ christmas? a robot. well, good luck. if you are good, i'm _ christmas? a robot. well, good luck. if you are good, i'm sure _ christmas? a robot. well, good luck. if you are good, i'm sure you - christmas? a robot. well, good luck. if you are good, i'm sure you are, - christmas? a robot. well, good luck. if you are good, i'm sure you are, i l if you are good, i'm sure you are, i am sure father christmas will come

and see you. james wallace, aidan and see you. james wallace, aidan and doctor gwyneth rogers, thank you. across the uk, several work sectors are being hit by strike action in the run—up to christmas — including rail, trains and post. we'll get more on the disruption to air travel shortly. first, a planned strike by ambulance workers at the gmb union across large parts of england and all of wales next wednesday has been postponed. they'll walk out on the 11th of january instead. meanwhile, another walkout over pay has been announced by the royal college of nursing in england. and now scottish nurses are to take industrial action in early 2023 — it's not clear exactly when, but the anouncement follows a decision by the scottish government to impose a pay offer. strikes across airports and ports by border force staff are disrupting domestic and international travel as eight days of industrial action get underway. our business correspondent theo leggett reports. passengers arriving at london gatwick today. they had been warned to expect delays in passport control, but this morning, there was no sign of that. it was really smooth

and really nice. unexpected, because we'd received lots of warnings that they were going to be big queues. i was watching the news as i flew in and it said there were going to be two—hour delays and all that stuff, but there was nothing. it was super easy, super open, quick and efficient. it was really easy, so maybe it will get worse later or tomorrow. but so far, i had a chilled experience. the public and commercial services union said about 1000 border force staff were expected to walk out. six airports are affected. they include london heathrow and gatwick as well as manchester, glasgow, birmingham and cardiff. workers at the port of new haven, which has daily ferry services from france, are also taking part. the action by border force staff is part of a much wider dispute between the government and civil servants overpay in the pensions and possible job losses. —— over pay.

they want a 10% wage rise was that they have been offered much less. the government has given its own workforce pay rise even though they know that it's the lowest anywhere in the economy and they know that 40,000 of their own workforce use food banks and 115,000 of them claim in—work benefits. but the government insists it needs to keep a lid on public sector pay as it struggles to curb inflation. when it comes to the 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. that is an independent process the government has listened to. i would urge everybody who is travelling at the moment to please check before you make yourjourney so you know what is happening. the home office says thousands of extra staff, including military personnel, has been drafted in. the union says that is worrying, as they won't be as well—trained as regular staff. so far today here at gatwick and other major airports across the country, things do seem to be running smoothly. but the concern is that next week, when people flock home from their christmas holidays,

there will be more passengers to cope with and the contingency plans will be put under greater pressure. so we could see much more serious delays in few days' time. the border force strike comes at a time when travellers across britain are already facing plenty of other challenges. the latest in a series of walk—outs at network rail means services on many lines will end early on christmas eve. strikes at several regional train operators will also cause disruption before the new year, and the rac is warning of severe traffic as millions take to the roads. whatever happens at the airports, getting home for christmas has rarely been less challenging. theo leggett, bbc news. in paris, it looks like things potentially have calmed a little there on the street, as far as we can see, getting dark, in paris will

be no gunman opened fire in the centre of the capital, three people were killed, three others wounded, the attacker targeted a kurdish cultural centre, shooting members of the local there with a possible racist motive being investigated because of his past, he was known to the authorities and had been previously picked up on to —— on two medications. after the attacks, number of protesters gathered at the scene and in the interior minister was visiting, scuffles broke out with police that we saw, who pushed back with right field, things escalated, still some flames on the streets there, police still on the scene, objects have been thrown at the police who responded with tear gas, not totally clear why it is likely that it did but the kurdish community were feeling very much unprotected by the police, fearful for their own safety, and three

people killed today. a69—year—old suspect has been arrested and it has emerged he was only freed from prison in matter of days ago. this is bbc news ulster street. hello there. today we are following a band of cloud and rain that is moving its way northwards into the uk. following that, we have seen some clearer skies already arriving in the south—west as that thick cloud moves northwards, bringing some quite steady and heavy rain still this evening across much of northern england, northern ireland and heading into southern scotland. south of it, the air is milder, quite breezy in the south—west. to the north, things are a little bit colder. and as that wet weather moves into the colder air in scotland, not only will we see rain, but we will also see some sleet and some snow falling over the hills to the north of the central belt. several centimetres i think by christmas eve morning. things are a little bit colder in scotland. not desperately cold. further south, it will be milder even with those clear skies. still some blustery winds

on the way in the south—west. but the promise of some sunshine. first of all we have that wintry mix of rain, sleet and hill snow in northern scotland. that should tend to push away. we will see bands of showers sweeping across northern ireland, pushing into scotland and affecting the western part of england. the midlands, eastern england, you may get away with a dry day with some sunshine. here, temperatures in double figures. but that milder air is following that band of wet weather across the whole of scotland with temperatures here 8c or 9c. southerly winds freshening will bring in milder air, push it northwards. heading into christmas day though that colder air is moving down from the north—west a little bit quicker. there are some changes in the forecast for christmas day. for a start, in england and wales we are likely to find much more cloud, some rain developing across western areas and then across the south as well. further north, some sunshine and a north—westerly wind will introduce colder air more quickly so we have a greater chance of seeing some sleet and snow showers in the north—west of scotland. to the south, it's still mild, just for a while. that colder air and that west to north—westerly wind that is coming to scotland

and northern ireland will sweep down across the whole of the country in time for boxing day. that will mean more widespread wintry showers across scotland, northern ireland, coming into north—west england and perhaps north wales. most of the snow over the hills and there could be some travel disruption over the high routes in the north—west of scotland. further south across the uk, fewer showers, more rain and it's going to feel colder in that wind on monday. then the wind direction changes. the cold air doesn't last too long. from monday into tuesday we change to a west to south—westerly winds, lifting the temperatures again but bringing more rain.

this is bbc news. i'm geeta guru—murthy and these are the headlines: clashes have broken out in paris after three people have been shot dead at a kurdish community centre in paris. police have arrested a 69—year—old man with a history of acts of racist violence. the us faces its coldest christmas in four decades as a storm sweeps across the country, with temperatures dropping to minus 45 degrees celsius in some places. in the uk, the head of the union representing striking border force staff says walkouts could go on for six months, unless the government enters talks about pay. police in pakistan say at least two people, including a police officer, have been killed in a suicide blast in the capital islamabad.