this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. our top stories: plunging temperatures are gripping much of the united states and canada, with more than 250 million people facing life—threating conditions. we have had ice, flooding, snow, freezing temperatures and everything that mother nature could wollop at us this weekend. a second day of protests as thousands of people take to the streets of paris after a gunman with a history of racist violence, killed three people at a kurdish cultural centre. mounting evidence from china of a steep rise in covid cases, with many millions thought to be affected. uk rail passengers are being warned

to avoid travelling unless "absolutely necessary" as further walkouts are set to cause disruption later today. tens of thousands of visitors are expected to gather in bethlehem for the annual christmas procession ahead of midnight mass at the nativity church. and in his first christmas message as monarch, king charles is to pay tribute to his mother, the late queen elizabeth the second. hello and welcome to bbc news. more than a million homes and businesses in the united states are without power — as an intense winter storm sweeps across the country. temperatures in some areas are predicted to drop to as low as minus 45 celsius. hundreds of thousands of people across the border in canada have also been affected.

the rapidly plunging temperatures, heavy snow and fierce winds have complicated the plans of many people travelling home for the christmas holiday. tom brada reports. once in a generation weather at the worst possible time. ice, wind, rain and extreme cold are wreaking havoc in the build—up to christmas. trees have been ripped from the ground and power lines have been knocked out across the country. it's very frustrating because we pay our bills to encore. all day it has been going in and out. i am really glad i have a fireplace because otherwise i would be freezing right now. forecasters warn in some places temperatures could drop to below —50 celsius. but america's east coast is facing another threat, flooding. in new york, rain and strong winds have pushed sea water to shore, leaving cars

and homes underwater. we have had ice, flooding, snow, freezing temperatures and everything that mother nature could wallop at us this weekend. travel conditions are treacherous. and airports are struggling during one of the busiest times of the year. thousands of flights have been cancelled. trains are struggling too. american passenger rail company amtrak has suspended more than 20 routes. experts say the winter weather could develop into a bomb cyclone, a powerful storm which formed so quickly it resembles a bomb going off. millions of americans will now be hoping that the extreme cold won't disrupt their christmas plans. tom brada, bbc news. our north america correspondent, nomia iqbal has more from washington dc. more than half the us population is going into the christmas weekend

under severe weather warnings. wrecking holiday plans from coast to coast. the arctic storm is going to plunge temperatures, it already has done, to really dangerous levels across much of the country. several people are dead and more than a million are without power and every travel type that you can think of has been disrupted, planes, trains, cars. these brutal, icy, windy weather conditions are expected to last right into christmas day. americans have largely had a good run at it when it comes to favourable weather when it comes to holidays, such asjuly the 4th and thanksgiving. but christmas is a different story. people have been warned to rethink their holiday plans, stay indoors and stay safe and prepare for what is expected to be one of the coldest christmas is here in decades. earlier i spoke to our weather presenter nick miller and he talked me through the forecast

for the coming days. it is a historic storm at the worst possible time. the overall weather setup isn't that unusual but the severity is something that is really grabbing everybody�*s attention. let me talk about what is going on, this bomb cyclone. this area of low pressure, you can see it circulating with snow and blizzards sitting around it, snow piling up around the great lakes. this part of canada and the usa closer to that area of deep low pressure is the one being most impacted by the heavy snow, strongest winds and most severe wind chill and just the worst travel conditions. to the west, that temperature in denver, it is going up and that is a sign of things to come. running this forward over the next few days, notice how those temperatures will be heading upwards to warmer colours,

a change of air mass. if you take the top location on the screen, that is a place that is just recorded an all—time record low of —42 fahrenheit, —41centigrade. look at where that temperature is heading, above average for the time of year and many locations seeing the coldest weather having the biggest impact with power outages as well and they will also see that big turnaround is to shoot up again towards the end of the year. there are potentially problems with that quick change, even though it is going back towards normal temperatures. of course, it is hard for people to catch a break because he had been hit by this sudden change to severe winter weather and the arctic air and then it disappears just like that and temperatures head up and that is going to have an impact. thawing so quickly, infrastructure, for what is in some places places an historic chill.

a lot of snow has fallen and that will melt so there could be flooding as a result. so make no mistake, in the cold now and coming out of it there are huge problems still to come over the next few days. much more about this story on our website. including details of what a bomb cyclone is — how it forms — and how long it might last. just head to the bbc news website — or go via the bbc news app. hundreds of people are demonstrating for a second day in central paris following friday's fatal shooting at a kurdish cultural centre. three people were killed and another three wounded, all of turkish—kurdish descent. these are the live pictures from paris, the protesters asking for more protection from the french government, whist holding

portraits of the victims of yesterday's attacks. it looks like it has taken off a bit. people throwing things. the demonstration did become violent yesterday. tia —— tear gas is being fired, it is more unsubtle. three people were killed and three injured in an attack yesterday. a 69—year—old man has been arrested, and authorities report the gunman described himself as a racist. president emmanuel macron ordered the city's police chief to meet kurdish community leaders, meeting that happened this morning. we had some sort of shot there. it was a tear gas being fired. we can

hear some sort of shots going off, we don't know what it is. we cannot see where it is coming from. yesterday there were clashes with a group of protesters which did calm down quickly. this was a peaceful march until a few moments ago. but we know the gunman who was involved in yesterday's offence was reported to have had previous racist incidents and was imprisoned a year ago but was released a few days ago because of the delay in the court system. we cannot tell if it is tear gas being fired, we cannot make it out from these images at the moment. a lot of people on the streets, the

kurdish community gathering and clearly in the centre of the city, it is becoming quite ugly again. tear gas is being fired. the kurdish community are very politicised, fearful of reprisals from the turks and have long felt themselves under threat. it is not clear whether the attack yesterday was targeted at them or if it was a general, wider attack but the tear gas is being fired by the police. we will keep you across what is happening in the centre of paris and update you. but let's get the latest from the uk. here in the uk, rail passengers

have been warned not to travel today unless "absolutely necessary" as continued strike action is set to cause disruption. trains servicesd will finish at around 3pm before workers walk out at 6pm. elsewhere, there are ongoing strikes over pay, working conditions and job security — including airport staff at passport control and postal workers. it's the day before christmas, and all around the country train services are finishing early because of more strikes. rmt members walk out at 6pm. trains won't resume again until the morning of the 27th of december, with a later start than normal. the rail network must be clear before crews leave their posts, meaning many services will end by 3pm, and some of the last services of the day depart in the morning. from here in leeds to london with lner, the last service is at 09:16 in the morning. the advice from operators

is to check before you travel. the dispute between rail bosses and unions about pay, job security and terms and conditions, shows no sign of a breakthrough. yesterday, the rmt union accused ministers of blocking rail employers from making a deal to break the strikes. rail bosses say everyone is suffering. the rmt dispute, and the industrial action and the strikes, are having a really heavy impact, both on passengers, on their own members, who are losing thousands of pounds. and, of course, on on the economy, which is losing millions and millions of pounds every time there's a strike. and it's damaging the railway industry as well. limited trains on christmas eve is a worry for retailers, keen to maximise every penny from last minute high street shoppers. the problem with losing shoppers on such a key trading day like christmas eve, is that you can't really recover that spend. however much you want to, and however long you stay open, shoppers want to buy on christmas eve, and if they can't buy, they'll buy elsewhere. so some of that will be diverted to other businesses and other destinations elsewhere around the uk.

but some of it will be lost for good, and particularly in hospitality, where you have to be in the restaurant, in the cafe, in the bar, to spend that money. and if you're not there, it is never spent. and it's notjust the railways where travellers could struggle today. members of the public and commercial services union, including staff at passport control, begin their second day of walk—outs at six major airports and the port of new haven. the military is covering striking workers. i'm really sad and i'm disappointed about the disruption that is being caused to so many people's lives, particularly at christmas time. 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. next month's strike calendar already includes more from rail workers, nurses and a rescheduled ambulance strike. as christmas arrives, the friction across the public sector continues to crackle. simon browning, bbc news.

the aa is predicting that nearly 17 million cars will be on the uk's roads today, as railway services wind down earlier than usual because of industrial action. let's look at the impact on the roads with jack cousens, head of roads policy at the aa. what are you seeing today? good afternoon we _ what are you seeing today? good afternoon we are _ what are you seeing today? good afternoon we are seeing - what are you seeing today? (emf. afternoon we are seeing traffic is moving fairly well. there have been pockets of congestion on the a13, the m25 across stroud but as things stand, traffic is moving 0k. the m25 across stroud but as things stand, traffic is moving ok. but our amber traffic warning is still in place until about five o'clock this evening when we are expecting more traffic on the roads, as people look to go and visit friends and family across the country. [30 to go and visit friends and family across the country.— across the country. do you think --eole across the country. do you think peeple have _ across the country. do you think people have heeded _ across the country. do you think people have heeded the - across the country. do you think. people have heeded the warnings about rail disruption and may be done some of their travelling already in the last couple of days,

certainly london has felt much quieter in the last couple of days? i think they have. yesterday was a particularly busy day on the roads, where a similar number was predicted by ourselves, around 17 million and our own breakdown service that around 13,500 jobs yesterday, well above our usual averages. we chose people are jumping above our usual averages. we chose people arejumping into above our usual averages. we chose people are jumping into their cars because they don't want to take the risk of what is going on with the rail service. they don't know what service they are going to expect and therefore they are jumping in their cars because they feel that will give them a consistent and convenient way of getting to their destination. it is convenient way of getting to their destination-— destination. it is winter here, we have had icy _ destination. it is winter here, we have had icy temperatures, - destination. it is winter here, we have had icy temperatures, lot i destination. it is winter here, we | have had icy temperatures, lot of rain as well, what are your advice to anyone making a long journey today or in coming week? the advice is to check your _ today or in coming week? the advice is to check your vehicle _ today or in coming week? the advice is to check your vehicle before - today or in coming week? the advice is to check your vehicle before you i is to check your vehicle before you set. many of the breakdowns we have intended have been ones that can be avoided by carrying out some pre—vehicle checks. checking your

tyres, making sure the tread is good and the tire pressure is good. making sure you have enough fuel before you set off and indeed, if you are in an electric car, make sure you have enough charge. and because we are in winter, making sure your screen wash is topped up and your wipers are in a good condition well. those checks for ten minutes could collectively save everybody i was on theirjourneys because breakdowns ultimately lead to congestion. find because breakdowns ultimately lead to congestion-— to congestion. and of course, we know rail strikes _ to congestion. and of course, we know rail strikes are _ to congestion. and of course, we know rail strikes are due - to congestion. and of course, we know rail strikes are due to - know rail strikes are due to continue, potentially into the new year when people are back at work. have you seen a lot of increased traffic on those days are train strikes in the normal working days and everyone is back at work and back at school? we and everyone is back at work and back at school?— back at school? we have seen a sliuht back at school? we have seen a slight mick— back at school? we have seen a slight uptick of _ back at school? we have seen a slight uptick of traffic _ back at school? we have seen a slight uptick of traffic went - back at school? we have seen a slight uptick of traffic went to i slight uptick of traffic went to train strikes have been in place. but we need to remember, the way of working has shifted since the pandemic. people who have got the opportunity to work from home have also exercised that right as well.

whilst we have seen an uplift in traffic, it is not as bad as it could have been had the nation's working practices not changed or been impacted as much because of the coronavirus pandemic. so been impacted as much because of the coronavirus pandemic.— coronavirus pandemic. so much going on, but coronavirus pandemic. so much going on. but have — coronavirus pandemic. so much going on. but have a — coronavirus pandemic. so much going on, but have a very _ coronavirus pandemic. so much going on, but have a very good _ coronavirus pandemic. so much going on, but have a very good christmas i on, but have a very good christmas and thank you forjoining us. find and thank you for “oining us. and ou, and thank you for “oining us. and you. thankh and thank you for “oining us. and you. thank you. _ at least 20 people have died in a fire at a russian care home for the elderly in the siberian city of kemerovo. emergency services say another six people were injured. initial reports say it may have been caused by a faulty heating boiler. officials were quoted by tass news agency saying the private home for the elderly was operating illegally, and a criminal inquiry has been launched. a french serial killer convicted of two murders and linked to 20 others has returned to france after serving almost two decades behind bars in nepal. charles sobhraj preyed on western tourists travelling on the hippie trail of south asia in the 1970s and 80s. nepal's supreme court ordered the 78—year—old's release earlier this week on the grounds of health.

sobhraj�*s crimes were dramatised in the tv series the serpent. there's mounting evidence of an explosion in covid infections in china, despite limited official information. social media posts, and even reports in china's censored news outlets, suggest a surge in cases. unconfirmed news reports claim tens of millions of chinese people could have caught the disease since restrictions were relaxed two weeks ago. there's mounting evidence of an explosion in covid infections in china, despite officialfigures that show the opposite. ericjeung is the president of the american chamber of commerce in shanghai, he told me the surge is bound to expand over the coming holiday period. china just relaxed its controlled so it was quite an abrupt change from zero covid to practically no control measures as far as preventing the virus. so there is a spread for sure, starting from the north

and moving down to the south. i am based in shanghai so it is spreading, there is a surge. we don't have official, accurate numbers but we seek more and more people around us who are getting sick, so the good news is most people, 0micron, most people have no symptoms are very slight symptoms and the worry is older people, the vaccination rate for the elderly is rather low so that is a concerning path, but most people are trying to figure is a concerning part, but most people are trying to figure out how to survive in the next few weeks. i think, given the holidays coming up, and particularly the chinese new year in late january, so you will see more cases coming up. the ft saying one estimate of 250 million people getting covid.

the difference in china's approximations have not been rolled out as widely as in the west so they are more vulnerable. exactly right and china for three years have stuck to this zero covid policy. i think they should have done more in terms of encouraging people, particularly the elderly, to take vaccine shot and particularly this year when they continued to impose these pretty strict measures as far as covid, they could have done more to get ready for this change and the scent is that people are not quite ready in terms of getting all the health kit ready,

the medicines, so i think for businesses they are trying to get ready for a surge certainly, even for a shortage of labour and supplies in the coming weeks and months. after a pause in festivities during the coronavirus pandemic, bethlehem — revered by christians as the birthplace ofjesus, is once again celebrating. thousands have been gathering in manger square. 0ur middle east correspondent yolande knell is there. these are the live pictures we have been getting in. those festivities continue. lots of people out once again. the official band marching through the streets and it always attracts lots of tourists to come and see this annual event. i think

we can get more on this now. i can see there are thousands around us but actually the whole of bethlehem as large crowds because people turn out, line the streets to greet church leaders arriving from jerusalem. they have now passed, coming through the israeli military check—point that separates it from jerusalem next door and then they come through the city alongside stark street which is a traditional route that is believed that mary and joseph passed along here before mary gave birth tojesus, according to the nativity story, and they will be met by local dignitaries. some of them have already gathered in the square and lot of local people, palestinian christians, palestinian muslims out here and also the palestinian scouts that you can hear very loudly.

they lead this, playing the drums and bagpipes. and this year what has made it extra special, is that for the first time after two years when pilgrims, because a town relies on them for the economy, they couldn't come here because of the covid lockdowns and now are back and forth. i met people who delayed their trip because of the pandemic, from parts of europe, north america and parts of africa, alljust delighted to be here and that is very good news for the souvenir sellers, for the falafel shop i went to and also for the hotels which say thatjust as in the nativity story, there is not a room to be had in the city this evening. the former fijian army colonel sitiveni rabuka has been confirmed as fiji's prime minister, after a coalition of parties

voted to support him, ending frank baini—marama's 16 years in power. the appointment ends ten days of uncertainty in fiji, when the election delivered a hung parliament. rabuka accused the outgoing government of stoking �*fear and chaos' to derail his return to power. king charles will deliver his first christmas address as monarch tomorrow, in a speech which is expected to pay tribute to the legacy of his mother, queen elizabeth. a picture has been released showing the king as he recorded this year's message in the chapel where a committal service was held during the queen's funeral in september. let me show you the pictures live in paris. we are still seeing a lot of disruption on the central streets of paris with the kurdish community who have been protesting peacefully untiljust have been protesting peacefully until just a have been protesting peacefully untiljust a short time ago. a lot

of tear gas has been fired by the police. this comes after a gunman, who described himself as racist, attacked central paris yesterday. seem to be targeting the kurdish cultural centre, three people were killed and three injured. the kurdish community feeling very unsafe now. president macron and the police trying to issue reassurance, but also questions why the gunmen was released. he has been released from custody after a violent attack on a migrant camp last year. it seems he was targeting international members of the french population. you can see the anger and the frustration from some parts of the kurdish population who have not felt protected by the authorities and the anger is clearly showing itself on the streets at the moment. very

politicised part the kurdish population in paris and we will keep you updated as these protests continue. this is bbc news. hello. it's going to be a very mild christmas for many of us. we have some sunny spells, a few showers thrown in, too. having said that, later in the day, tomorrow on christmas day in the highlands, we could have some snow. so it could well be a white christmas for some of us. here's the satellite picture and you can see the weather systems streaming in from the southwest. that's a very mild direction. the air is coming in almost from the subtropics. so subtropical maritime air over us right now. yesterday, it was around 1a degrees in the southeast and another very mild day to come today. so the forecast for the afternoon for christmas eve, a lot of fine weather across the bulk of england,

wales, eastern scotland, too. but come the afternoon we are expecting showers to spread in off the atlantic, some of them could be quite heavy. temperatures between around six in lerwick and 12 in london. so here's the forecast for this evening. and overnight, with low pressure close by and weather fronts circling the uk. it will be quite a miss on the weather front. so heavy showers, clear spells here and there and a very mild end to the night and start to christmas day. nine degrees on the south coast of england, six degrees in stornoway. now, here's that area of low pressure with the weather fronts close by. so very hit miss weather to come on sunday. certainly some sunshine in the forecast, but be prepared for a few showers, too. there could be some persistent rain for a time in the morning and into the afternoon. roughly from the isle of wight through london into east anglia here. so possibly wet at times, but elsewhere it's that mixed bag of sunny spells and showers

on christmas day and very mild — 11 degrees in the south. so on those showers in scotland come the evening, the wind will switch direction and christmas day evening we'll see some of that snow settling across the highlands and the temperatures into boxing day, you can see are close to freezing. so we will see some snow lying on the ground, but that's mostly in the hills. a very blustery, cold day on boxing day, at least temporarily. in scotland, temperatures four orfive degrees, a little bit milder there in central england, around six and south on the south coast. and then after that, after that brief colder spell, it's going to turn milder once again. and you can see the run up to the new year is looking pretty unsettled with gale force winds and rain at times. bye— bye.

this is bbc world news, the headlines. plunging temperatures are gripping much of the united states and canada, with more than two hundred and fifty million people facing life—threating conditions. a second day of protests as thousands of people take to the streets of paris after a gunman with a history of racist violence, killed three people at a kurdish cultural centre. uk rail passengers are being warned to avoid travelling unless "absolutely necessary" as further walkouts are set to cause disruption later today. tens of thousands of visitors are expected to gather in bethlehem for the annual christmas procession ahead of midnight mass at the nativity church. and in his first christmas message as monarch,

king charles is to pay tribute to his mother, the late