this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm geeta guru— murthy our top stories: plunging temperatures are gripping much of the united states and canada, with more than 200 and 50 million people facing life threatening conditions. we have had ice, flooding, snow, freezing temperatures and everything that mother nature could wollop at us this weekend. here in the uk rail travellers have only a few hours left to complete theirjournys as more rail strikes begin. protests turn violent 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. we catch up with the ukrainian couple who married at an army checkpoint early in the war — what are their hopes for the future? hello and welcome to bbc news. plunging temperatures, blizzards and icy winds are gripping much of the united states and canada, with more than 250—million people facing life—threatening conditions. 19 people have been killed so far. the us state of montana registered a record breaking low of minus 45 celsius. the storm extends from quebec to texas. sancha berg reports.

a blinding snowstorm in buffalo. this is what zero visibility looks like. no planes could land or take off. this northern part of new york state has been hit hard by the bomb cyclone in an enormous winter storm. further south, there have been floods. ~ . ., . floods. we have had ice, flooding, snow, floods. we have had ice, flooding, snow. freezing _ floods. we have had ice, flooding, snow, freezing temperatures - floods. we have had ice, flooding, snow, freezing temperatures and l snow, freezing temperatures and everything mother nature could hit us with this weekend. the everything mother nature could hit us with this weekend.— everything mother nature could hit us with this weekend. the storm had already swept _ us with this weekend. the storm had already swept across _ us with this weekend. the storm had already swept across the _ us with this weekend. the storm had already swept across the country - already swept across the country forcing traffic off the road, bringing down power lines, with temperatures so low getting stranded can be life threatening as residents of midwestern states know well. don't travel under these conditions unless you have too. because anything can happen at any moment and you have got to be on your toes.

this is the time of year when many people usually head home for christmas. but with the storm stretching 2000 miles, many flights were cancelled or delayed. people needed determination and look to make it. ., ., ,., needed determination and look to make it. ., ., ., , make it. the whole airport to shut down so we _ make it. the whole airport to shut down so we drove _ make it. the whole airport to shut down so we drove to _ make it. the whole airport to shut down so we drove to omaha, - make it. the whole airport to shut - down so we drove to omaha, nebraska and got on a flight there, then dc. delayed in dc and now we are here. the snow storms are forecast to ease in the next few hours, but the dangerously cold temperatures are expected to last weekend. many people are reluctantly giving up their plans for the first family christmas since the covid pandemic began. earlier i spoke to our weather presenter nick miller and he talked me through the forecast for the coming days. it clearly 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. here in th uk, people hoping to travel by train today are being urged to complete theirjourneys in the next few hours, before more rail strikes begin. services will finish later this afternoon, before rmt union members walk out at 6pm. the industrial action will continue until the early hours of tuesday the 27th. noor nanji is at paddington station. christmas eve and the festive decor is up. but with another rail strike looming, passengers here are feeling anxious. these people are hoping to spend their first christmas with their family after years of covid disruption. their family after years of covid disruption-_

their family after years of covid disru tion. ~ �* my disruption. we're quite lucky, we would have _ disruption. we're quite lucky, we would have booked _ disruption. we're quite lucky, we would have booked for _ disruption. we're quite lucky, we would have booked for this - disruption. we're quite lucky, we i would have booked for this morning anyway so hopefully we going to get through without having to change our plans. but we were really anxious when we heard about the strikes, so we have been checking all week to make sure that the trains were not going to be cancelled and we'd be able to get there.— able to get there. across britain, --eole able to get there. across britain, peeple have _ able to get there. across britain, people have had _ able to get there. across britain, people have had to _ able to get there. across britain, people have had to change - able to get there. across britain, people have had to change their| people have had to change their plans. people have had to change their lans, , ., , people have had to change their lans. , ., , ., plans. yesterday we went to the station in york, _ plans. yesterday we went to the station in york, i _ plans. yesterday we went to the station in york, i don't - plans. yesterday we went to the station in york, i don't think - plans. yesterday we went to the | station in york, i don't think they were on strike yesterday but all the trains were cancelled. we booked two lots of tickets because we wanted to try and get earlier. we ended up paying £65 in a taxi to get here. we booked at tpm, it was cancelled so we booked — booked at tpm, it was cancelled so we booked for 9.45. this booked at tpm, it was cancelled so we booked for 9.45.— booked at tpm, it was cancelled so we booked for 9.45. this is the last train? yes. — we booked for 9.45. this is the last train? yes. it— we booked for 9.45. this is the last train? yes, it is— we booked for 9.45. this is the last train? yes, it is the _ we booked for 9.45. this is the last train? yes, it is the last _ we booked for 9.45. this is the last train? yes, it is the last train - we booked for 9.45. this is the last train? yes, it is the last train and i train? yes, it is the last train and we are worried _ train? yes, it is the last train and we are worried it _ train? yes, it is the last train and we are worried it will— train? yes, it is the last train and we are worried it will still- train? yes, it is the last train and we are worried it will still get - we are worried it will still get cancelled. we are worried it will still get cancelled-— we are worried it will still get cancelled. ., ~ ., , ., ., cancelled. the work-out is part of a long-running _ cancelled. the work-out is part of a long-running dispute _ cancelled. the work-out is part of a long-running dispute over- cancelled. the work-out is part of a long-running dispute over pay, - long—running dispute over pay, conditions and job security for that union has accused the government of

blocking the deal. network rail urged the union to think again. the rmt urged the union to think again. tue: rmt dispute urged the union to think again. he rmt dispute and urged the union to think again. tt2 rmt dispute and industrial action of the strikes are having a really heavy impact, both on passengers, on their own members who are losing thousands of pounds and also on the economy, which is losing millions and millions of pounds every time there is a strike and it is damaging there is a strike and it is damaging the railway industry as well. christmas eve is a big day for restaurants, cafes and bars as well as last minute shopping. the restaurants, cafes and bars as well as last minute shopping.— restaurants, cafes and bars as well as last minute shopping. the fact we are losin: as last minute shopping. the fact we are losing shoppers _ as last minute shopping. the fact we are losing shoppers and _ as last minute shopping. the fact we are losing shoppers and quite - as last minute shopping. the fact we are losing shoppers and quite a - as last minute shopping. the fact we are losing shoppers and quite a key i are losing shoppers and quite a key trading day like christmas eve is you cannot recover the spend. however long you want to, however long you stay open, shoppers wanted by christmas eve and if they can't, they buy elsewhere. some of that will be diverted to other businesses and destinations around the uk. some of it will be lost for good and particularly in hospitality, where you have to be in the restaurant, in the cafe at the bar to spend the money. if you are not there, it is never spent. money. if you are not there, it is never spent-—

never spent. with many people avoidin: never spent. with many people avoiding the — never spent. with many people avoiding the railways, - never spent. with many people avoiding the railways, some . never spent. with many people - avoiding the railways, some people have opted to travel by road instead. as for the railways, services will not resume until the morning of the 27th of december when many people are heading back home for christmas. with me now is lisa minot — travel editor for the sun. thank you forjoining us, and rail services, do you think people have anticipated this and made their journeys earlier, has caused a lot of disruption? tt journeys earlier, has caused a lot of disruption?— of disruption? it has caused disruntion _ of disruption? it has caused disruption but _ of disruption? it has caused disruption but because - of disruption? it has caused disruption but because it. of disruption? it has caused l disruption but because it was of disruption? it has caused - disruption but because it was so well publicised and people knew so far in advance it was going to happen, the majority of people chose to have theirjourneys earlier in the week. even yesterday it wasn't as busy as people were expecting. from now there will be no more trains all the way through until the 27th and expect trains to start much later than they normally would on the 27. the eurostar services this boxing day are completely cancelled, 43 services. it has still had a huge

impact. th 43 services. it has still had a huge im act. , ., 43 services. it has still had a huge imact. , ., , ., impact. in terms of roads, are we seeinr impact. in terms of roads, are we seeing more _ impact. in terms of roads, are we seeing more traffic— impact. in terms of roads, are we seeing more traffic on _ impact. in terms of roads, are we seeing more traffic on the - impact. in terms of roads, are we seeing more traffic on the roads l impact. in terms of roads, are we | seeing more traffic on the roads or have people don their travelling already? tt have people don their travelling alread ? , , _ already? it is looking busy, there has been a _ already? it is looking busy, there has been a couple _ already? it is looking busy, there has been a couple of _ already? it is looking busy, there has been a couple of accidents i already? it is looking busy, there| has been a couple of accidents on the m2 and the m6. it is busy and where there aren't delays and accidents, it could be a problem in the south—east because you have highways agency staff on strike at the moment so you could have less people out there trying to clear up the debris or managing traffic after accidents. it is very busy, i7 accidents. it is very busy, 17 million accidents. it is very busy, i7 millionjourneys accidents. it is very busy, 17 million journeys today, according to the aa. million “ourneys today, according to the aa. , ., ., million “ourneys today, according to theaa. ,., ., , million “ourneys today, according to theaa. ., ., million “ourneys today, according to theaa. ., , ., ., the aa. roads and air staff also on strike, we the aa. roads and air staff also on strike. we saw— the aa. roads and air staff also on strike, we saw the _ the aa. roads and air staff also on strike, we saw the airports, - strike, we saw the airports, continuing to work quite well with the help of the military? yes. the help of the military? yes, thins the help of the military? yes, things are _ the help of the military? yes, things are far— the help of the military? yes, things are far better - the help of the military? yes, things are far better than i the help of the military? t2: things are far better than anyone anticipated. the government will warning of lengthy delays but that doesn't seem to have materialised. they have staffed them correctly and we haven't seen any of the scenes we thought we were going to see. nothing like what we saw in the summer when staff shortages did

create a lot of problems. but things seem to be running relatively well at the moment. itruiiiiii seem to be running relatively well at the moment.— at the moment. will the military heled at the moment. will the military helped out _ at the moment. will the military helped out in — at the moment. will the military helped out in the _ at the moment. will the military helped out in the coming - at the moment. will the military| helped out in the coming months at the moment. will the military i helped out in the coming months if the strikes continue? that helped out in the coming months if the strikes continue?— the strikes continue? that is the rub of it, the _ the strikes continue? that is the rub of it, the union _ the strikes continue? that is the rub of it, the union have - the strikes continue? that is the rub of it, the union have said i the strikes continue? that is the l rub of it, the union have said they will continue to strike into the new year, they have a mandate to strike up year, they have a mandate to strike up until may and how much longer do the unions expect the soldiers to be able to sort of take up their place. will the government expect the soldiers to do this all the way through or is it something that has been organised specifically for this festive period when of people are off? if they choose not to have their military back, and strikes are called in january and their military back, and strikes are called injanuary and february, that is when you can see some issues. we still have february half term and holidays coming up. we still have february half term and holidays coming up.— still have february half term and holidays coming up. we have had multile holidays coming up. we have had multiple strikes _ holidays coming up. we have had multiple strikes in _ holidays coming up. we have had multiple strikes in this _ holidays coming up. we have had multiple strikes in this country i multiple strikes in this country across many sectors, critically in the health sector, do you think, or is it ever the christmas period, do you think people still need to get around and that can also be to do for health, work, how frustrating is

it to see all this industrial action? tt it to see all this industrial action? , ., ., , , action? it is going to be extremely frustratin: action? it is going to be extremely frustrating for _ action? it is going to be extremely frustrating for people _ action? it is going to be extremely frustrating for people who - action? it is going to be extremely frustrating for people who do i action? it is going to be extremely frustrating for people who do rely | frustrating for people who do rely on the railways. an increasing number of us have not relied on the railways, when we have had strike action this week, many people chose to work from home. the only people it is hurting hospitality, the economy. people cannot get into town to go shopping, go to restaurants and bars. it is going to have an impact. whether it has an impact in terms of the trains, outside of london, outside of the commuter territory, most people take their car to go to work. it is not having the same impact and that is why the government wants to make these changes to working condition so the railway is fit for the next century. 0k, wishing you and yourfamily a very good christmas, thank you for joining us. there's mounting evidence that there's been an explosion of covid infections in china since the country relaxed its execptionally tight

restrictions two weeks ago. the who has said that hospitals seem to be filling up and there's been long queues outside pharmacies as covid treatments are in short supply. but if you believe the authorities the outbreak is under control with officials reporting a few thousand cases daily and very few deaths. rebecca chung wilkins is the asia government correspondent, bloomberg news based in hong kong. shejoins us now from london. thank you for your time today. what are you hearing about what is going on on the ground in china? tt certainly does look like we are seeing an extraordinary surge in cases. but as you say there is a disparity between how the official government figures are calculating this, and to put it into proportion, one city in southern chinese province have gone down, reported 250,000 cases a day, shandong saying it is 400,000 cases a day. but official figures today, wednesday,

only about 4000 infection cases have been officially recorded. there is also some discrepancy in how the government is officially calculating covid cases. essentially meaning that less are being recorded but because they reduce a lot of these very stringent covid zero restrictions, there is less testing. sources have said one of the meetings in one day, 37 million cases were recorded. so there is troubling discrepancy between what official numbers are recording but what we are seeing local governance record at a province by province level. , record at a province by province level. t tt record at a province by province level. t ., ., , record at a province by province level. t .t ., , . level. this will have a big impact on the population, _ level. this will have a big impact on the population, how - level. this will have a big impact on the population, how many i level. this will have a big impact i on the population, how many people will lose their lives here? also the economy and exports from china? tt is certainly a real concern. in some

ways, if xijinping and the party could turbo—charge the economy by lifting covid zero restrictions there would be an economic boost. we did see this economic meeting recently, every emphasis on growth once again. but of course, the worry is we see millions of people struck down by covid and there will be significant disruptions to supply chains as factories close and manufacturing engine grinds to a halt. qt manufacturing engine grinds to a halt. t t, t t halt. of course, there will be worries on — halt. of course, there will be worries on the _ halt. of course, there will be worries on the health - halt. of course, there will be worries on the health front . halt. of course, there will be i worries on the health front about new variants, if millions of people are exposed to this and the ft is saying report of 250 million and there is a huge population? yes. there is a huge population? yes, when we see _ there is a huge population? yes, when we see so _ there is a huge population? yes, when we see so many _ there is a huge population? yes, when we see so many cases i there is a huge population? t2: when we see so many cases surging all at once, there is a risk that new variants will emerge. it is worth highlighting that from the authorities point of view they have stuck to this narrative in the state

media that this was the right time to lift some of the restrictions and that they have taken the moral high ground in some ways ever countries like the us and europe and lifted it early. they saw enormous mortalities. but mortality estimates have been quite varied but they are somewhere between 700 upwards to 2 million deaths that potentially could be recorded. tqm. million deaths that potentially could be recorded.— million deaths that potentially could be recorded. 0k, thank you very much — could be recorded. ok, thank you very much for— could be recorded. 0k, thank you very much forjoining _ could be recorded. 0k, thank you very much forjoining us. - protests have been turnign violent in central paris after the murder yesterday of three members of the kurdish community in an attack which police believe was racially inspired. they were shot dead on the street by a retired train driver, who had a police record for racial violence. these are pictures from paris.

the protesters asking for more protection from the french government, whist holding portraits of the victims of yesterday's attacks. joining me now is our correspondent hugh schofield. we have been saying some of these pictures unfold, the demonstration started earlier and then things became ugly?— started earlier and then things became ul ? t , t, became ugly? yes, they have. the demonstration _ became ugly? yes, they have. the demonstration by _ became ugly? yes, they have. the demonstration by the _ became ugly? yes, they have. the demonstration by the kurdish i demonstration by the kurdish community which is near to where the murders took place yesterday. this is a community that pledges allegiance broadly to the pkk, the kurdistan workers party, radical left—wing organisation and is in constant conflict with the turkish authorities. it is a very politicised community. in any case, these people have been protesting

their anger after yesterday's killings and there is evidence of the community who have broken apart and are engaging in acts of urban violence against the police. we have seen cars overturned and set on fire. the shelter smashed, classic urban warfare stuff that we saw a few years ago. no doubt the police will be intervening quite soon because they don't normally allow this stuff to go on very long without stepping in and firing tear and charging with batons to make arrest and deter further succession. it is hard to know if people carry out this violence are part of the kurdish movement or the black box, far left agitators who attach themselves to many political groups, it is impossible to say.— it is impossible to say. there have been important — it is impossible to say. there have been important questions - it is impossible to say. there have been important questions raised l it is impossible to say. there havel

been important questions raised by the fact this gunman who has described himself as a racist and hated foreigners, was released after attacking a migrant camp last year? yes, he was out of prison just a few days ago having been held for exactly a year after this attack with a sword on a migrant camp of africans in paris. he got left out because of the slowness of the french judicial system. and because of the slowness of the frenchjudicial system. and his lawyer said following the law you have held my client for a year without trial and he has to come out now. that is the law, indeed. we had to, because the trial has been constantly deferred. but being back at large, it allowed him to do what he did yesterday, so there are questions about that.- questions about that. hugh schofield. _ questions about that. hugh schofield, thank _ questions about that. hugh schofield, thank you i questions about that. hugh schofield, thank you very i questions about that. hugh i schofield, thank you very much indeed. chetan has all the sport.

brentford have confirmed their manager thomas frank has signed a new contract which will keep him at the club until 2027. he's been at the club for four years, with brentford currenty tenth in the premier league, following their 2—1 win at the champions manchester city before the world cup break. last season, which was frank's first in the top flight, he guided brentford to a 13th place finish with memorable wins over arsenal and chelsea. i decided to extend my contract until 2027, that's a long time. but i'm looking forward to continue, hopefully, the focus, hopefully create more magic moments. i would like to say thank you to the fans for the support you give us, the players, the staff, everyone involved in the club. the warm, the support, the kindness from these fans has been amazing, at the

stadium, the streets, everywhere. it gives me extra energy to continue the work going forward. manchester city manager pep guardiola says england midfielder kalvin phillips was "overweight" when he returned from the world cup, and that he didn't arrive in the condition needed for training sessions and to play. phillips has featured just four times for city — all from the bench — and came on as a substitue twice for england in qatar. the former leeds player wasn't in the squad for their 3—2 league cup win over liverpool on thursday. he arrived overweight. why is he overweight? _ he arrived overweight. why is he overweight? i — he arrived overweight. why is he overweight? i don't _ he arrived overweight. why is he overweight? i don't know. it i he arrived overweight. why is he overweight? i don't know. it is l he arrived overweight. why is he i overweight? i don't know. it is the -la er's overweight? i don't know. it is the player's responsibility, _ overweight? i don't know. it is the player's responsibility, is - overweight? i don't know. it is the player's responsibility, is that i player's responsibility, is that what you say? he player's responsibility, is that what you say?— player's responsibility, is that what ou sa ? tt t, �* what you say? he arrived and wasn't read for what you say? he arrived and wasn't ready for training _ what you say? he arrived and wasn't ready for training sessions _ what you say? he arrived and wasn't ready for training sessions and i ready for training sessions and play. ready for training sessions and -la . ready for training sessions and . [a , , ready for training sessions and .la , , t, ready for training sessions and play. the is an as, he has been at the world — play. the is an as, he has been at the world cup _ play. the is an as, he has been at the world cup but _ play. the is an as, he has been at the world cup but my _ play. the is an as, he has been at the world cup but my absolutely, j the world cup but my absolutely, when he is ready, he will play, we need him. we

when he is ready, he will play, we need him. ~ when he is ready, he will play, we need him-— when he is ready, he will play, we need him-_ is i when he is ready, he will play, we| need him._ is it when he is ready, he will play, we l need him._ is it a need him. we need him a lot. is it a disappointment _ need him. we need him a lot. is it a disappointment to _ need him. we need him a lot. is it a disappointment to you? _ football matches in scotland over this christmas period will see all teams wear their away kits, as part of a homeless awareness project. it's shelter scotland's nohomekit campaign — and there are two matches underway. celtic are looking to restore their nine—point lead over rangers at the top of the premiership and they're currently 3—0 up against fifth—placed stjohnstone. aberdeen have had a man sent off and it is 1-0, aberdeen have had a man sent off and it is 1—0, the half—time score in the scottish premiership. ed slater says he feels pride ahead of the first ever slater cup in his honour. the 34—year—old was forced to retire from rugby earlier this year after he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. his two former sides — gloucester and leicester — play this afternoon in the premiership — with the trophy awarded to the winner in this game and the reverse fixture later in the season. that's all the sport for now.

we will have more later, but for now, back to you. thank you, have a good christmas. king charles delivers his first christmas address as monarch tomorrow, in a speech expected to pay tribute to his mother, queen elizabeth the second. the king recorded this year's message in the chapel where a committal service was held during the queen's funeral in september. now to a story of love in time of war. back in march, lesya and valeriy, two volunteers of ukraine's civil defence forces, got married in a military—style ceremony at a checkpoint, days after russia invaded ukraine. video of their wedding went viral. nine months later, she has left the army although he continues to serve. hugo bachega met the couple in kyiv. they celebrated their love at a checkpoint in kyiv. this was in march, russia's invasion of ukraine was in its early days.

the capital was under threat. their wedding became a symbol of ukrainian defiance. but the war keeps them apart. while valeriy is on duty, lesya waits for him to come home. today, they are meeting again. it's always emotional for her to see him alive. for him, to return to safety. translation: there is | a sense of peace for me. we are not young people any more. so i want to rest, to switch off my brain. i like the times when valeriy isjust near me, just sitting, reading, watching tv. just near me.

this christmas they are trying to carry on as normal, but their wishes are different. we can't plan our future now. of course, we wish peace, but notjust peace, we want peace after our victory. it only one desire which unites all our nation. it's a special evening at st michael's monastery. for lesya, the ceremony offers a moment of hope among the horrors of war. we share this light, like we share our love and kindness and peace. so the idea is to share the good feelings, especially important during the war. just to remind them about a deep

sense of christmas. it's about life, love and this love which fights and wins. i'm back with the headlines in a moment. hello, it is going to be a very mild christmas. sunny spells and a few showers thrown into. having said that, later in the day tomorrow and christmas day in the highlands we could have some snow. it could be a white christmas for some of us. this is the satellite picture and the weather system is streaming in from the south—west. that is a very mild direction, the air is coming and almost from the subtropics, so sub tropical maritime air over us right now.

yesterday it was around 14 degrees in the south—east and another very mild day to come today. the forecast for the afternoon, for christmas eve, a lot of fine weather across the bulk of england, wales, eastern scotland but in the afternoon we are expecting showers to spread in off the atlantic and some of them could be quite heavy. temperatures around six in lerwick and 12 in london. this is the forecast for this evening and overnight... low pressure close by and all the weather front and all the weather front circling the uk, it will hit and miss, heavy showers and clear spells here and there aren't a very mild end to the night and start to christmas day. 9 degrees on the south coast of england, 6 degrees in stornoway. that is the air of low pressure with the weather fronts close by, hit and miss weather to come on sunday. sunshine in the forecast but be prepared for a few showers. there could be some persistent rain for a time in the morning

and into the afternoon. roughly from the isle of wight through london and into east anglia here, possibly better times. elsewhere it is the mixed bag of sunny spells and showers on christmas day and very mild, 11 degrees in the south. the showers in scotland, in the evening the wind will switch direction and christmas day evening some of the snow will settle across the highlands. the temperatures into boxing day, close to freezing. we will see some snow lying on the ground. that is mostly in the hills, blustery, boxing day, at least temporarily in scotland, temperatures four or 5 degrees. milder in central england, around six and on the south coast. after the brief colder spell it will turn mild once again and you can see the run—up to the new year is looking 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. thousands of people are in bethlehem for the annual christmas procession ahead

of midnight mass at the nativity church.