this is bbc news, welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm luxmy gopal. our top stories. street clashes have broken out in paris after three people were shot dead at a kurdish community centre — riot police have fired tear gas at crowds of protesters. earlier, french police arrested a 69—year—old man — whom the paris prosecutor says had previously been charged with acts of racist violence. the french interior minister also visited the scene. we do not know the exact motivation of the attacker who has been arrested. i want to thank the police were reacting so promptly because it was less than 15 minutes between the first call and the man being

detained. 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. china is continuing to grapple with a major covid outbreak following a lifting of restrictions — with growing questions about the government's official death tally. george cohen, who was part of england's 1966 world cup—winning team, has died aged 83. more in sport later in the bulletin. clashes have erupted in the french

capital paris after a fatal shooting at a kurdish centre. capital paris after a fatal shooting three people were killed in the incident and three others injured. these are live pictures from the scene in the tenth arrondisement where crowds of angry protesters almost immediately filled the streets. riot police have been deployed, and tear gas fired. this was the moment the violence started, when demonstrators gathered near the kurdish centre — some carrying banners — pushed towards a line of police and projectiles were thrown. the clashes began shortly after the french interior minister gerald darmanin spoke to the media at the scene. he said the 69—year—old gunman — who's been arrested — was clearly targeting foreigners: it is not certain that the killer who wanted to assassinate these people and there's little doubt that he wanted to assess the people here in paris. it's a specifically targeting the kurds. he was

targeting the kurds. he was targeting foreigners. and we need to know from thejudicial targeting foreigners. and we need to know from the judicial inquiry presided over the prosecutor, for the moment, there is no evidence to show this. we need to know from the judicial inquiry presided over by the public prosecutor whether it was specifically for the kurds, but for the moment there is no evidence to show this. 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 correspondent in paris, hugh schofield, has been explaining why the disturbances became violent. it is because the people who died, in short, were turkish kurds, people from this community who are very present in this part of the tenth arrondissement. very worried about their safety —

exactly ten years ago there was a triple assassination of three senior figures in the turkish left—wing opposition movement and they are paranoid but very worried about their safety and the security services coming after them and so on. there are a lot of kurds very politicised in this area and what has happened has re—awoken memories of that triple assassination from ten years ago, which they blame on the turkish security forces, and also they blame the french for not protecting them. so we can see young kurds, people from this community — many will be french but of kurdish origin — angry. and their anger, sparked by the deaths of three of them, who they will have known, and by the presence of the interior minister. they saw him, they were angry and worried and they saw the interior minister an hour ago and he became a lightning rod

for their anger because part of their group says that france is not doing enough to protect us from people who want to kill us, turkey. basically it is a lot of emotion boiling over and the french police are moving in with force, but they are well used to crowd control. it probably looks nastier than it is. but there are missiles being thrown and police are responding with tear gas and it will probably go on for a while and then die down. i'm joined now by paris based journalist anne—elisabeth moutet. thank you forjoining us. first of all, how shaken are people in the city feeling at the moment? it is very much, where the neighbourhood for the attack happened. the cultural centre, the kurdish cultural centre, the kurdish cultural centre, the kurdish cultural centre has been establishing that for several

decades it was one of the projects of was very much involved in human rights and it was essentially known as something extremely peaceful and cultural and the feeling that they can be attacked there is shocking. we are hearing a few seconds before from our correspondent that their documents and the clashes that had been taking place and emotion boiling over and is that something that you have observed? tests, tell us about what your sense of what is happening at the moment. find us about what your sense of what is happening at the moment. and people who have come — happening at the moment. and people who have come because _ happening at the moment. and people who have come because they - happening at the moment. and people who have come because they felt - happening at the moment. and people who have come because they felt they| who have come because they felt they were under attack. and this was supposed to be a haven for kurds since the 1920s and immediately after the end of the first world war when the board is to reach produced and was forgotten by the and the agreements. this is a place that is very symbolic for them in the field they're not being protected by the

police and they worry about the fact that people give lip service to kurdish human rights and nothing is done. overthere, kurdish human rights and nothing is done. over there, we know perfectly well that turkey is extremely belligerent to the kurds and there have been battles. and it feels as if the fight is been taken to paris and at the same time, it is also the feeling that this man was in jail until the last of december and how could he have been freed so fast. this is someone who the people have been inmates within and say, he was an accident waiting to happen. he was put injail, condemned to jail because he had attacked a migrant with a sword. were talking about someone who is completely obsessed. thank you for your time and thank you forjoining us. 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 — 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 report from peter bowes. trying to keep people safe but ist, trying to keep people safe our weather presenter darren bett is here. what has caused this? we have seen bitterly cold. — what has caused this? we have seen bitterly cold, desperately _ what has caused this? we have seen bitterly cold, desperately cold - what has caused this? we have seen bitterly cold, desperately cold and i bitterly cold, desperately cold and dangerous air coming down from the arctic. and come across the whole of north america, it's being helped by the winter storm, the steep area of low pressure that is become a bomb cyclone. and on wednesday, for example, the temperature in wyoming

fell from six celsius to —25 celsius in the space ofjust four hours. a staggering drop in temperature in the cold air swept its way southwards and it really is freezing cold, dangerously cool because parts of north america, not this reports the united states but also parts of canada. ., , ., , , canada. people will have seen this matt graphic _ canada. people will have seen this matt graphic showing _ canada. people will have seen this matt graphic showing how - canada. people will have seen this matt graphic showing how far - canada. people will have seen this| matt graphic showing how far south the swathe of cold arctic air has reached and it is down as far as florida. how unusual is this? court industry probably _ florida. how unusual is this? court industry probably down _ florida. how unusual is this? court industry probably down to - florida. how unusual is this? (ifflj'ii industry probably down to florida, it's not that unusual. what is unusual cold the air has been the nuts been helped by this winter storm for this rapidly deepening area of low pressure and people are wondering when a bomb cyclone is. used to call it years ago exploitative psychogenesis. a more catchy phrase is bomb cyclone. the central pressure of the slow pressure needs to drop by 2a

millibars and 2a hours. so, when it does that, to get rapidly rising air which means pressure rises at the surface and you get a lot more wet weather in this case, snow across the winter storm in the wind strength. and when you are tracking down on the port area you add in stronger winds, down on the port area you add in strongerwinds, not down on the port area you add in stronger winds, not only is it damaging because in travel disruption but it's also really dangerous that you can get frostbite within the matter of a couple of minutes. if you are out in that extreme weather.— ryan lampa is ceo and founder of homelessness charity people loving nashville. it helps disadvantaged and homeless people. thank you very much for joining us and people, the most vulnerable people been affected by this? irate vulnerable people been affected by this? ~ , ., vulnerable people been affected by this? . , ., ., vulnerable people been affected by this? ~ , ., ., ., ., vulnerable people been affected by this? , ., ., ., ., , this? we still have a lot of reports cominu in this? we still have a lot of reports coming in as _ this? we still have a lot of reports coming in as to — this? we still have a lot of reports coming in as to the _ this? we still have a lot of reports coming in as to the effects - this? we still have a lot of reports coming in as to the effects of- this? we still have a lot of reports coming in as to the effects of all. coming in as to the effects of all of this and has a lot of different folks who have chosen to stay outside during this time and we are still compiling and still

communicating in so far, the people we have communicated with, everyone has been 0k we have communicated with, everyone has been ok but we have teams and her right next to me and we are right after this call going to be checking in on more folks. hora right after this call going to be checking in on more folks. how bad are the conditions _ checking in on more folks. how bad are the conditions are _ checking in on more folks. how bad are the conditions are for _ checking in on more folks. how bad are the conditions are for where - checking in on more folks. how bad| are the conditions are for where you are? and we talked about the whole of the united states but once that situation like there was is probably the coldest i've ever experienced here in nashville and i've been here for over 20 years and expect to see some injury out there. anyone who's been outside, no matter what resources we've been able to get to them, gloves, sleeping bags and everything, i still, them, gloves, sleeping bags and everything, istill, sadly them, gloves, sleeping bags and everything, i still, sadly i would expect that maybe some frostbite out there, if not even worse and is probably the worst they'd seen as far as the and how fast it happened. i was outside of my kids and then started sleeting and the temperature dropped dramatically. i've never experienced anything like that here

in nashville. do you feel you have the resources you need to help the people through the slides you're fearing for? irate people through the slides you're fearing for?— people through the slides you're fearin: for? ~ ., , fearing for? we are drumming it up. we have a very _ fearing for? we are drumming it up. we have a very good _ fearing for? we are drumming it up. we have a very good base _ fearing for? we are drumming it up. we have a very good base here - fearing for? we are drumming it up. we have a very good base here in i we have a very good base here in nashville and right now, were meeting with people to continue to brainstorm and distribute preemptively as many folks as possible but we are trying to gear up possible but we are trying to gear up more and you can imagine you're in nashville, a lot of folks and even those who are still gearing up for the court is well and resources are slim but we are scrappy and were going to be cleaned every walmart in every tractor supply we possibly can to get more propane units to make sure that we have everything we need to serve those who are the most vulnerable on the streets. thank you for takinr vulnerable on the streets. thank you for taking the — vulnerable on the streets. thank you for taking the time _ vulnerable on the streets. thank you for taking the time to _ vulnerable on the streets. thank you for taking the time to speak- vulnerable on the streets. thank you for taking the time to speak to - vulnerable on the streets. thank you for taking the time to speak to us . for taking the time to speak to us and help those who need it. thank you. international and domestic travel

over christmas into and out of uk cities is being disrupted by industrial action. border force staff have begun eight days of strikes. 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 there 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 over pay, pensions and possible job losses. they want a 10% wage rise was that they have been offered much less. the government has given its own workforce a 2% 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 16,000 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. other strike action is also taking place across the uk — in sectors including, rail, health and the royal mail. 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. they'll walk out on the 11th meanwhile another walk—out over pay has been announced by the royal college of nursing in england. scottish nurses are now joining the 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. and the latest in a wave of rail strikes takes place tomrrow. 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.

authorities are also predicting extra strain on the country's health system as cases surge. i'm joined now by professor yenjong hawang, senior fellow for global health at the council on foreign relations and a professor at seton hall university's school for diplomacy and international relations. what you think is behind this increase in infections.- what you think is behind this increase in infections. china has such an its _ increase in infections. china has such an its population. - increase in infections. china has such an its population. exposed j increase in infections. china has. such an its population. exposed to the virus before the information was lifted and vaccines, even though they have a high vaccination rate in also, most of the people have received their shot more than six months ago.

received their shot more than six months ago-— received their shot more than six months ao. ~ ., ., " months ago. with the zero covid-19 oli months ago. with the zero covid-19 policy having _ months ago. with the zero covid-19 policy having been _ months ago. with the zero covid-19 policy having been in _ months ago. with the zero covid-19 policy having been in place - months ago. with the zero covid-19 policy having been in place for- months ago. with the zero covid-19 policy having been in place for so i policy having been in place for so long, how much of a factor do you think that is playing in this? i think that is playing in this? i think the main impact is that because of the single—minded pursuit of zero covid—i9, the local government and the central government and the central government have not been well prepared for that abrupt opening. there was a lack of preparation in the health care system, and the capacity and vaccination rate for the elderly remained unchanged and of the past month before reopening. so, there is also a lack of effort to stockpile enough medication for those people. haifa to stockpile enough medication for those people-— to stockpile enough medication for those people. how accurate do you think the figures _ those people. how accurate do you think the figures are _ those people. how accurate do you think the figures are that _ those people. how accurate do you

think the figures are that we're - think the figures are that we're getting from the chinese authorities?— getting from the chinese authorities? ~ , ., ., ., ~' getting from the chinese authorities? ~ , ., ., authorities? well, if you look at 'ust the authorities? well, if you look at just the official _ authorities? well, if you look at just the official infection - authorities? well, if you look at i just the official infection numbers, it's completely unreliable. the death toll remains very low. over the past weeks, they've only increased by eight, which is, that may be largely because their definition of covered deaths —— covid—i9 debts, the only count those cases with pneumonia symptoms respiratory failure. and those are counted as covid—i9 debts. very likely have a large percentage of those who would be counted as covid—i9 deaths here but not be included in the official stats. thank you so much forjoining us.

sport, and a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre now with hugh ferris. sir geoff hurst has led the tributes to his england world cup—winning teammate george cohen, who has died at the age of 83. hurst scored a hattrick in the 1966 final and says cohen was a dear friend who will be sadly missed. and that "everyone without exception said her was a lovely man". cohen played in every game of that tournament on home soil 62 years ago as the england team's right back, including the 11—2 win over west germany in the final. he spent his entire club career with fulham and was also awarded an mbe in the year 2000. george was pure class. he was a gentleman and he had big standards and pass that on to many people, myself included and he would always wear a suit and a tie but he was a classy person and just a great

player and a classy man. he was fantastic for us. our hearts and minds go out definitely in the family and wishing him our love and the whole film community are in morning but we will miss him terribly. greater manchester police are investigating a number of incidents that occured during and after manchester city's league cup win against liverpool on wednesday. a 15—year—old girl was treated for head injuries at the match at etihad stadium while one male was also arrested for a racially aggravated public order offence. another man was also assaulted after the game and required hospital treatment. sam curran has become the most expensive player in the history of the indian premier league. in fact the previous record was broken by both the england all rounder. who cost the punjab kings the equivalent of around 1.9 million pounds. and australia's cameron green. who is now the second most expensive player. while curran's international team—mate harry brook became the first millionaire of this year's auction. when he was brought

for nearly 1.3 million pounds by the sunrisers hyderabad. india have the edge after the second day of their second test against bangladesh in mirpur. bangladesh closed on seven without loss in their second innings — still 80 runs behind. earlier, india were bowled out for 314, with rishabh pant top scoring with 93. after becoming a dad and missing their series win in pakistan, stuart broad is back in the england test side for the tour of new zealand in february. matthew potts and olly stone are also included. but there's no place for mark wood, who will take a break from all cricket injanuary. he is expected to tour bangladesh in march. despite an impressive debut against pakistan, 18—year—old rehan ahmed is also not in the squad as he'll play in a t20 tournament in the uae as part of his continued development. the governing body for world snooker has suspended an eighth chinese player from competing as part of their ongoing investigation

into allegations of match—fixing. chen zifan is the latest player to be banned with immediate effect. the suspension will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation. that's all the sport for now. the kurdish institute of paris and i don't know if you can hear me 0k. hello, hi, ican don't know if you can hear me 0k. hello, hi, i can hearyou. don't know if you can hear me 0k. hello, hi, i can hear you.— don't know if you can hear me 0k. hello, hi, i can hear you. thank you forjoining — hello, hi, i can hear you. thank you forjoining us. _ hello, hi, i can hear you. thank you forjoining us, nina. _ hello, hi, i can hear you. thank you forjoining us, nina. must _ hello, hi, i can hear you. thank you forjoining us, nina. must be - hello, hi, i can hear you. thank you forjoining us, nina. must be a - forjoining us, nina. must be a really shocking time, given what is happened in paris, how are you in the community feeling? the community and i feel all very _ the community feeling? the community and i feel all very much _ the community feeling? the community and i feel all very much traumatised - and i feel all very much traumatised with what's happened today. this is the second time that kurds became the second time that kurds became the aim of the shooting in paris in

the aim of the shooting in paris in the first one was ten years ago in 2013 in paris. and we are very, very much traumatised and we are in shock. , ., , ., ,., shock. tell us a bit wide about the kurdish neighbourhood, _ shock. tell us a bit wide about the kurdish neighbourhood, what- shock. tell us a bit wide about the kurdish neighbourhood, what is. shock. tell us a bit wide about the l kurdish neighbourhood, what is the community like?— community like? actually, the kurdish neighbourhood - community like? actually, the kurdish neighbourhood is- community like? actually, the - kurdish neighbourhood is situated in the tenth district of paris we can find all the kurdish restaurants in kurdish cultural centres and institutions and everything like we are all close to each other here in the same neighbourhood. what are all close to each other here in the same neighbourhood. what are community relationships _ the same neighbourhood. what are community relationships like - the same neighbourhood. what are i community relationships like between the kurdish community and other communities that the rest of the population is there.— population is there. kurdish community _ population is there. kurdish community is _ population is there. kurdish community is very - population is there. kurdish community is very closely i population is there. kurdish - community is very closely related there and we are always, we eat in

kurdish cafes, will go to kurdish restaurants we have friends, we exchange we have very good relations within the community here. irate exchange we have very good relations within the community here.— within the community here. we have been seeing — within the community here. we have been seeing images _ within the community here. we have been seeing images of _ within the community here. we have been seeing images of people - been seeing images of people protesting in the streets, tell us a bit about how that feels, seeing that and what kind of emotion that draws up. that and what kind of emotion that draws u -. , that and what kind of emotion that draws u. , ., that and what kind of emotion that draws u. , . ., ., draws up. there is a huge anger and that's because _ draws up. there is a huge anger and that's because this _ draws up. there is a huge anger and that's because this is _ draws up. there is a huge anger and that's because this is the _ draws up. there is a huge anger and that's because this is the second i that's because this is the second time that it's happening. the first time that it's happening. the first time it happened in 2013, three kurdish women were killed in the same neighbourhood but in a different address in this time, it is three kurdish people who have been shot dead. so, the people are very much angry at the government and this is why there protesting in the streets and showing their anger. thank you so much, nina, for taking

the to speak to us from the kurdish institute of paris. he will have more on that story coming up. there should be a bit more sunshine around on christmas eve but will be following a bed of cloud that has been pushing its way northwards and it's going to be going into scotland into colder air. notjust rain here but also some sleet and snow, mainly over the hills to the north of the central belt in a few centimetres by the end of the night. we will find a few sharp showers and those will die away later in the skies were clear and temperatures will be around five or 7 degrees and a little bit cauldrons, but i desperately cold which is why most of the snow will be over the high ground in that mix around northern parts of scotland on christmas eve morning and that should move away and will see bands

of showers coming in on northern ireland and into scotland, around some more western parts of england and wales much present of england and wales much present of england and wales much present of england and wales should be dry and some sunshine at times, still mild and temperatures in the double figures not milder air is pushing its way northwards in the scotland as well. quite brisk through the eye receipt and that's a wind is pushing him out there across the country by christmas day morning and later the day, there'll be some colder air arriving in the far northwest. for england and wales will be mounted on christmas day, maybe some early sunshine and a few showers and in the south, cloud with the can and we have some rain pushing and especially towards the southeast later and if you scotland and northern ireland. so, temperatures here will be around 7 degrees and gets a bit colder in the far northwest of the country in the northwesterly breeze will push colder air across northwest scotland and later in the day, it is here where we could see a white christmas later on. other parts of the sting of the mild air. not so much on

boxing day because of colder air in the northwest is going to push colder air across northwest scotland and later in the day, it is here where we could see a white christmas later on. other parts of the sting of the mild air. not so much on boxing day because of colder air in the northwest is going to pushed conditions for routes in the northwest of scotland. across england and wales, for a few showers and some sunshine even though temperatures are going to be a bit lower and it will feel a bit colder. that cold air briefly, i suspect, as we head into tuesday we have a south—westerly when developing the some rain bring some windy weather as we head into the new year.

even before 2022 began, this looked an extraordinary year. a sporting calendar still catching up, rebuilt and rescheduled after being ravaged by covid. but as the new year began, the australian open reopened the debate. you shouldn't be allowed to come. it's his choice not to be vaccinated, which is fine. and it's i think the government here has made the choice that, you know, you should be vaccinated. i support the freedom of choice. and novak is the symbol of freedom of choice at this particular moment. we have someone that's come i from overseas and all of a sudden he's been exempt and can play. and i think it's- an absolute disgrace. and i won't be watching it. january was melbourne and the will he, won't he saga of novak djokovic.

visas granted and then denied, quarantined and then released