for most, but colder air edges mild for most, but colder air edges into the north—west of scotland. it is just the north—west of scotland where there is a chance of snow showers, late on christmas day. this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the world. i'm maryam moshiri. our top stories? our top stories... plunging temperatures are gripping much of the united states and canada, with more than 250 million people facing life than 250 million people facing life—threatening conditions. we've had ice, flooding, snow, freezing temperatures and everything that mother nature could win at us this weekend. 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.

here in the uk the final few rail services will be departing over the next hour as more rail strikes begin. hello and welcome to bbc news. more than 250 million people are facing life—threatening conditions as plunging temperatures, blizzards and icy winds grip much of the united states and canada. 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. driving was banned. no planes could land or take off.

this northern part of new york state has been hit hard by the bomb cyclone, an enormous winter storm. while further south, there have been floods. we've had ice, flooding, snow, freezing temperatures and everything mother nature could wallop at us with this weekend. the storm had 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 to. because anything can happen at any moment and you have got to be on your toes. this is a time of year when many people usually head home for christmas. but with the storm stretching 2,000 miles, many flights were cancelled or delayed. people needed determination

and luck to make it. our whole airport is shut down so we drove to omaha, nebraska and got on a flight there, then dc. delayed in dc and now we're 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. sancha berg, bbc news. there have been more disturbances 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 in the last hour. the protesters asking for more protection from the french government whist holding portraits of the victims of yesterday's attacks. a 69—year—old man has been arrested and authorities report the gunman

described himself as a racist. president macron ordered the city's police chief to meet kurdish community leaders, a meeting that happened this morning. for the latest, our correspondent hugh schofield. 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 let out because of the slowness of the french judicial system, his lawyer said, and following the law, you've held my client for a year without trial, he has to come out now. and that is the law indeed. he had to come out because the trial had been constantly deferred. but being back at large allows him to do what he did yesterday. 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 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 in bristol after years of covid disruption. we were quite lucky, we'd 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've been checking all week to make sure that the trains were not going to be cancelled and we'd be able to get there. across britain, people have had to change their 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'd booked two lots of tickets because we wanted to try and get earlier. an earlier train.

and we ended up paying £65 in a taxi to get here. we booked like 3pm train, it was cancelled so we booked for 9.45. and this is the last train? yeah, this is the last train, we're still worried that it won't get cancelled. the walk—outs are part of a long—running dispute between rail bosses and unions about pay, conditions and job security. the rmt union has accused the government of blocking rail employers from making a deal. the department for transport rejected that, saying it has facilitated talks. network rail urged the union to think again. 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 the economy, which is losing millions and millions of pounds every time there is a strike and it's damaging the railway industry as well. christmas eve is also a big day for restaurants, cafes and bars as well as for last—minute shopping. losing shoppers on such a key

trading day like christmas eve, you can't recover that spend. however much you want to, however long you stay open, shoppers want to buy on christmas eve and if they can't, they'll buy elsewhere. so, some of that will be diverted to other businesses and destinations 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 or the bar to spend the money. if you're not there, it is never spent. with many people avoiding the railways, some people have opted to travel by road instead. as for the railways, services won't resume until the morning of 27th december when many will be heading back home after christmas. noor naji, in paddington. anisa kadri is at paddington station for us. what is it like where you are, is it busy now with people trying to get away as quickly as they can before this evening?— this evening? clearly, there are a few travellers _ this evening? clearly, there are a few travellers about, _ this evening? clearly, there are a few travellers about, you - this evening? clearly, there are a few travellers about, you can - this evening? clearly, there are a

few travellers about, you can see| few travellers about, you can see them behind me with their suitcases, but i wouldn't say it is swarming with people, perhaps people have taken on that advice that has been doing the rounds to travel as early as possible, if indeed you need to travel at all on a day like christmas eve, when there are rail strikes as well. and we are expecting services to wrap up earlier than usual today, the last train from here i am told, the last passenger train, train from here i am told, the last passengertrain, is train from here i am told, the last passenger train, is to reading at 3.56 and a lot of people use this station to get towards the west of the uk, we met people on their way to devon, to swansea, to the cotswolds, some tourists told me that they did not realise there was industrial action happening so they felt quite lucky that they happened to arrive on time for their train, because they said very easily, it could have gone the other way. and more people could get caught out yet by the strike action. find more people could get caught out yet by the strike action.— by the strike action. and anisa, of course, by the strike action. and anisa, of course. the _ by the strike action. and anisa, of course, the strike _ by the strike action. and anisa, of course, the strike action - by the strike action. and anisa, of course, the strike action has - by the strike action. and anisa, of course, the strike action has been j course, the strike action has been planned, the rmt has said it is

going to walk out, talk us through exactly how we got here? yes, so, this is part of a long—running dispute between the rmt union which represents rail workers and the rail companies and the government. 50. companies and the government. 50, the companies and the government. sh, the striking companies and the government. 55>, the striking rail companies and the government. 553, the striking rail workers who will be walking out from this evening, they feel that the pay offer being made to them is not keeping up with the rising cost of living, they don't think they are being offered a pay increase which is large enough to reflect the rate of inflation at the moment. as for the rail bosses and the government, well, they think what is being offered is a fair deal, so there have been a number of strikes that we have seen this year around this very same dispute, and it doesn't really look like there is an agreement any time in the imminent future, because the various sides are not finding agreement. so, this isjust another sides are not finding agreement. so, this is just another strike sides are not finding agreement. so, this isjust another strike in sides are not finding agreement. so, this is just another strike in a number of strikes we have seen over

the past few months, with more planned. the past few months, with more lanned. �* ., . the past few months, with more lanned.�* ., . 3 , the past few months, with more lanned. ., . 3 i, planned. anisa, how much sympathy is there for those _ planned. anisa, how much sympathy is there for those who _ planned. anisa, how much sympathy is there for those who are _ planned. anisa, how much sympathy is there for those who are striking - there for those who are striking from people you have spoken to? it is interesting because i think passengers i am meeting here, their focus is very much on getting out of london and getting their christmas plans under way. but there has been sympathy for the striking workers, because some people do feel it themselves, that their money perhaps isn't going as far, their wages aren't going as far, they are feeling the pinch as the cost of living rises. but of course with a debate as heated as this, there are always opinions on both sides but i think the priority for a lot of people has been trying to get away on time for christmas and i'm sure some people will be caught out yet, there is expected to be more pressure on the roads as a result of the strike action, and just

generally it being the day before christmas, so, if people's only option is to drive home for christmas this year, then their journey could be longer than anticipated.— journey could be longer than anticipated. journey could be longer than anticiated. . anticipated. anisa, thank you so much. with me now is simon calder, travel correspondent for the independent. thank you forjoining us. so, in normal years, trains finished later in the evening, so what kind of impact will be seen with these trains finishing a lot earlier this year? trains finishing a lot earlier this ear? ~ . , ., , year? well, as we have been hearing, it is absolutely — year? well, as we have been hearing, it is absolutely devastating _ year? well, as we have been hearing, it is absolutely devastating for - it is absolutely devastating for people who depend on the railways. from london waterloo, the busiest station in the uk, you can go anywhere you want to this afternoon, as long as it is woking, and let's just check, yep, the last train is

going in eight minutes, and that is your lot, until tuesday. these are unprecedented times, this combination of the strike by the rmt, which starts at 6pm tonight, an overtime ban which in any case has been depleting services, anybody who commutes in and out of london were to will hatfield that for the last week or so they have been having very, very few services, the whole station stays closed until seven in the morning —— london waterloo —— and then the last trains go at 10pm. 0ver and then the last trains go at 10pm. over at chiltern railways you have a situation where, unbelievably, the entire midlands network north of banbury is just off, it is not running at all, until the 9th of january. and indeed network rail has just tweeted in the past hour, we advise against all but essential travel, this is network rail at euston station in london, all but essential travel, up to and

including eighth january. so, yes, we've got this strike and no trains will be running until tuesday morning, there will be a slow start after the strike, that then merges into the engineering works which always happen at this time of the year, so for instance liverpool street station, one of the busiest in the uk, is going to be completely closed until the 2nd ofjanuary, and that will bring things to the start of the next five days of industrial action by the rmt union and the train drivers union is left. so, absolutely no end in sight for these strikes which have now been going on for more than six months, and of course, as we have been hearing, the pressure on the roads is increasing, the losses suffered by the railway are having to be met by the taxpayer, and they are increasing. so, pretty dismal, and ifi taxpayer, and they are increasing. so, pretty dismal, and if i mayjust also make a mention of the skies, the strike by uk border force has not had the effect that people

thought it might, heathrow, gatwick, manchester, birmingham, glasgow and cardiff airports running absolutely smoothly, but there are several hundred passengers who unfortunately will not be back when they thought they would, there is a whole planeload, a superjumbo worth of passengers and crew, about 400 of them, still in baku in azerbaijan, they were due to get to heathrow yesterday morning very early, their plane had a technical problem and it is beside the caspian sea, and the rescue plane to go and get them is only halfway from sydney. they are now due to get back 48 hours later than expected, tomorrow morning, christmas day, into heathrow, where they will just be christmas day, into heathrow, where they willjust be in time to meet they willjust be in time to meet the passengers on the british airways flight this afternoon which has been postponed until tomorrow morning to new york, lots of weather difficulties of course for anybody heading across the atlantic. simon calder, as always, _ heading across the atlantic. simon calder, as always, thank _

heading across the atlantic. simon calder, as always, thank you - heading across the atlantic. simon calder, as always, thank you very l calder, as always, thank you very much indeed. king charles iii is due to deliver his first christmas message on sunday. the british monarch is expected to pay tribute to the late queen, but he will also reflect on his views about the importance of faith. 0ur religion editor aleem maqbool has more. another moment of history, as, in st george's chapel at windsor castle, king charles records his first ever christmas message, a chance to reflect on the year, but also talk about faith. given its importance to him, we're likely to hear about interfaith relations. one of the first gatherings the new king convened, even before the queen's funeral, was of 30 faith leaders. he told them he viewed britain as what he called a community of communities. at the start of the year, he commissioned portraits of holocaust survivors including rachael levi, whose mother and three siblings — aged ten, eight and three — were all killed on arrival at auschwitz. she talks of her surprise at being

honoured by the man who's now king. i appreciate it. and i appreciate that the prince of wales at the time should do this for all of us as survivors. and he goes on doing things and being so, so very, very hospitable in every way towards the survivors. that is a great thing, absolutely. and that gives us courage. but of course, the king has long shown an intense interest in people of many faiths. he's often thrown himself into celebrating other cultures. but the king's regard for people of other religions doesn't always go down well. when he suggested, in the 90s, he looked at the constitutional role as defender of faith, not defender of the faith,

some suggested he was sidelining the country's christian heritage, even wondering about his own beliefs. others say that's just a misunderstanding. all i can say is that he's been very explicit about his own faith, and from what i see of him, he does take faith and worship extremely seriously and is profoundly thoughtful about it. and i don't personally see any contradiction between the two. as i've said, the more you dig deep into your own faith, the more you're able to be open to others. and that has always been the king's point — that he feels it's part of his christian duty to protect the practice of all faiths and none. aleem maqbool, bbc news. a former royal marine and triple amputee mark 0rmrod appears to have smashed the world record for the fastest open water one—kilometre swim using only one arm. his time of around 35 minutes

which is yet to be confirmed by guinness is half that of the previous attempt. john maguire reports. cold, exhausted but elated, subject to authentication, mark smashed the world record for the fastest one kilometre swim in open water by a triple amputee. that kilometre swim in open water by a triple amputee-— kilometre swim in open water by a triple amputee. that is the warm-up one! 35 triple amputee. that is the warm-up gone! 35 minutes, _ triple amputee. that is the warm-up gone! 35 minutes, the _ triple amputee. that is the warm-up gone! 35 minutes, the world - triple amputee. that is the warm-up gone! 35 minutes, the world record. gone! 35 minutes, the world record stands at an _ gone! 35 minutes, the world record stands at an hour. _ gone! 35 minutes, the world record stands at an hour. you _ gone! 35 minutes, the world record stands at an hour. you have - gone! 35 minutes, the world record l stands at an hour. you have smashed it, you _ stands at an hour. you have smashed it. you have _ stands at an hour. you have smashed it. you have done _ stands at an hour. you have smashed it, you have done whatever— stands at an hour. you have smashed it, you have done whatever north - stands at an hour. you have smashed it, you have done whatever north of. it, you have done whatever north of smashed _ it, you have done whatever north of smashed it — it, you have done whatever north of smashed it is! — it, you have done whatever north of smashed it is! super— it, you have done whatever north of smashed it is! super smashed - it, you have done whatever north of smashed it is! super smashed it! i smashed it is! super smashed it! happy— smashed it is! super smashed it! happy days, _ smashed it is! super smashed it! happy days, merry— smashed it is! super smashed it! happy days, merry christmas! i smashed it is! super smashed it! i happy days, merry christmas! the landmine that exploded on christmas eve 2007 while his royal marines unit was on foot patrol in afghanistan almost took villainy�*s life. he lost both legs and his right arm, devastating injuries. but with single—minded determination, he set and achieve goals many would

think impossible ever since. last year, he took on three major challenges, firstly a five kilometre run. this fall in training was another example that mark does not stay down for long. and then a sea swim off limit, propelled byjust one arm. —— off plymouth. and then finally a 100 mile overnight hand cycle ride, three very different but equally very tough endeavours. let’s equally very tough endeavours. let's no. this equally very tough endeavours. let's go this morning. — equally very tough endeavours. let's go. this morning, he _ equally very tough endeavours. let's go. this morning, he returned - equally very tough endeavours. let's go. this morning, he returned to - equally very tough endeavours. let's go. this morning, he returned to the water with the _ go. this morning, he returned to the water with the record _ go. this morning, he returned to the water with the record in _ go. this morning, he returned to the water with the record in his - go. this morning, he returned to the water with the record in his sights, l water with the record in his sights, determined to commemorate the anniversary his way.— anniversary his way. good visibility. _ anniversary his way. good visibility, the _ anniversary his way. good visibility, the yellow - anniversary his way. good visibility, the yellow hat l anniversary his way. good - visibility, the yellow hat helps, so i am happy. he visibility, the yellow hat helps, so i am happy-— i am happy. he is continuing to raise money — i am happy. he is continuing to raise money for _ i am happy. he is continuing to raise money for the _ i am happy. he is continuing to raise money for the charity - i am happy. he is continuing to| raise money for the charity that helps veterans, service personnel and emergency services staff through

the martial art brazilian jujitsu. and on this 15th anniversary of the day that changed his life, mark 0rmrod has proved once again not what can't be done, but, with determination, drive and downright stubbornness, can be done. john maguire, bbc news, plymouth. for william verden, this will be a very special christmas. a year ago, he was given just 12 months to live unless he had a kidney transplant. at first, he couldn't have the operation because medical professionals were worried that it was too risky because of his autism and adhd. now he is alive and well, because his mother fought in the courts for him to be given a chance. jayne mccubbin reports. william's christmas will be especially special this year, because he very nearly made it.

merry christmas, everybody. welcome to the opera house.— to the opera house. access all areas. to the opera house. access all areas- merry _ to the opera house. access all areas. merry christmas. - to the opera house. access all areas. merry christmas. a - to the opera house. access all| areas. merry christmas. a year to the opera house. access all - areas. merry christmas. a year ago, william was — areas. merry christmas. a year ago, william was given _ areas. merry christmas. a year ago, william was given just _ areas. merry christmas. a year ago, william was given just a _ areas. merry christmas. a year ago, william was given just a year- areas. merry christmas. a year ago, william was given just a year to - william was given just a year to live without a kidney transplant. today, he is alive and well because his motherfought today, he is alive and well because his mother fought for him to today, he is alive and well because his motherfought for him to be given a chance and because a kidney donor gave him that chance. it is 2800 seats, — donor gave him that chance. it is 2800 seats, but _ donor gave him that chance. it 3 2800 seats, but for this afternoon only, you have this entire auditorium to yourself, a special performance just for you. the auditorium to yourself, a special performance just for you. performance 'ust for you. the last 12 months performance just for you. the last 12 months have _ performance just for you. the last 12 months have been _ performance just for you. the last 12 months have been a _ performance just for you. the last l 12 months have been a rollercoaster for amy and william. a year ago he was dying with end renal failure. his hospital said that a kidney transplant what his only chance, but not in his best interests, they believed his learning disability, autism and adhd, meant he was unlikely to be able to cope with the

complexity. in march, we challenged reporting restrictions to be able to tell you about amy's court battle to convince authorities to give william a chance, a case she fought and won. but that was when the real challenge began, finding william a donor, a race against time.— began, finding william a donor, a race against time. yeah, definitely. in au . ust, race against time. yeah, definitely. in august, against _ race against time. yeah, definitely. in august, against all _ race against time. yeah, definitely. in august, against all odds, - race against time. yeah, definitely. in august, against all odds, i - in august, against all odds, i received this message. it was touch and go, but in late august, amy messaged back. did you think you might die before this chance happened?— think you might die before this chance happened? think you might die before this chance ha ened? . ., , ., . chance happened? yeah. it was touch and no, it chance happened? yeah. it was touch and go. it was- _ chance happened? yeah. it was touch and go, it was. you've _ chance happened? yeah. it was touch and go, it was. you've been _ chance happened? yeah. it was touch and go, it was. you've been through i and go, it was. you've been through the mill, haven't _ and go, it was. you've been through the mill, haven't you? _ and go, it was. you've been through the mill, haven't you? yeah, - and go, it was. you've been through the mill, haven't you? yeah, but. and go, it was. you've been through the mill, haven't you? yeah, but it i the mill, haven't you? yeah, but it was worth — the mill, haven't you? yeah, but it was worth it. _ the mill, haven't you? yeah, but it was worth it. i— the mill, haven't you? yeah, but it was worth it, i would _ the mill, haven't you? yeah, but it

was worth it, i would do _ the mill, haven't you? yeah, but it was worth it, i would do it - the mill, haven't you? yeah, but it was worth it, i would do it again i the mill, haven't you? yeah, but it was worth it, i would do it again in | was worth it, i would do it again in a heartbeat. was worth it, i would do it again in a heartbeat-— was worth it, i would do it again in a heartbeat. �* , ., ., , a heartbeat. he's doing well, he has had a few bumps — a heartbeat. he's doing well, he has had a few bumps in _ a heartbeat. he's doing well, he has had a few bumps in the _ a heartbeat. he's doing well, he has had a few bumps in the road - a heartbeat. he's doing well, he has had a few bumps in the road with i had a few bumps in the road with infection— had a few bumps in the road with infection and stuff but hopefully we are getting there. he�*s infection and stuff but hopefully we are getting there.— are getting there. he's doing 0k. he's doing _ are getting there. he's doing 0k. he's doing 0k- — are getting there. he's doing 0k. he's doing 0k. the _ are getting there. he's doing 0k. he's doing 0k. the authorities i he's doing 0k. the authorities did not think he _ he's doing 0k. the authorities did not think he would _ he's doing 0k. the authorities did not think he would get _ he's doing 0k. the authorities did not think he would get to - he's doing 0k. the authorities did not think he would get to this i not think he would get to this point. not think he would get to this oint. ., , �* not think he would get to this oint. ,, , �* it not think he would get to this point-_ it is i point. no, they didn't. it is christmas. _ point. no, they didn't. it is christmas. it— point. no, they didn't. it is christmas. it is. _ point. no, they didn't. it is christmas. it is. you i point. no, they didn't. it is christmas. it is. you have. point. no, they didn't. it is i christmas. it is. you have been liven christmas. it is. you have been given the _ christmas. it is. you have been given the greatest _ christmas. it is. you have been given the greatest gift. - christmas. it 3 you have been given the greatest gift. what would you like to say to the family of the deceased donor? just you like to say to the family of the deceased donor?— you like to say to the family of the deceased donor? just thank you so much, deceased donor? just thank you so much. because _ deceased donor? just thank you so much, because without _ deceased donor? just thank you so much, because without that, i deceased donor? just thank you so l much, because without that, william probably wouldn't be here for much longer. thank you from the bottom of my heart. longer. thank you from the bottom of m heart. ., �* , i. my heart. you weren't sure you were auoin to my heart. you weren't sure you were going to have — my heart. you weren't sure you were going to have another— my heart. you weren't sure you were going to have another christmas. i my heart. you weren't sure you were | going to have another christmas. no. it's not going to have another christmas. firm it's not about presence or anything, it's just about william being here, and he has got another chance, and on his christmas list he just wants paper and sellotape. that on his christmas list he 'ust wants paper and sellotape._ on his christmas list he 'ust wants paper and sellotape. that is what he has asked for? _ paper and sellotape. that is what he has asked for? yeah, _ paper and sellotape. that is what he has asked for? yeah, printer- paper and sellotape. that is what he has asked for? yeah, printer paper, | has asked for? yeah, printer paper, and sellotape- _

has asked for? yeah, printer paper, and sellotape. i _ has asked for? yeah, printer paper, and sellotape. i hope _ has asked for? yeah, printer paper, and sellotape. i hope you're - has asked for? yeah, printer paper, and sellotape. i hope you're saving | and sellotape. i hope you're saving me some! . and sellotape. i hope you're saving me some! , �* and sellotape. i hope you're saving me some!_ e-scooter. l and sellotape. i hope you're saving me some!_ e-scooter.. me some! , isn't it? . e-scooter. i heard santa _ me some! , isn't it? . e-scooter. i heard santa say _ me some! , isn't it? . e-scooter. i heard santa say that _ me some! , isn't it? . e-scooter. i heard santa say that you _ me some! , isn't it? . e-scooter. i heard santa say that you also i me some! , isn't it? . e-scooter. i heard santa say that you also ask| heard santa say that you also ask for sellotape. fishd heard santa say that you also ask for sellotape.— heard santa say that you also ask i for sellotape._ what for sellotape. and paper. yes. what do ou like for sellotape. and paper. yes. what do you like making _ for sellotape. and paper. yes. what do you like making out _ for sellotape. and paper. yes. what do you like making out of _ for sellotape. and paper. yes. what do you like making out of sellotapel do you like making out of sellotape and paper? do you like making out of sellotape and --aer? ., , do you like making out of sellotape and --aer? . , ., ., , do you like making out of sellotape and paper?_ doi and paper? plains, aeroplanes. do ou? i and paper? plains, aeroplanes. do you? i think _ and paper? plains, aeroplanes. do you? i think it— and paper? plains, aeroplanes. do you? lthink it is— and paper? plains, aeroplanes. do you? i think it is going _ and paper? plains, aeroplanes. do you? i think it is going to - and paper? plains, aeroplanes. do you? i think it is going to be i and paper? plains, aeroplanes. do you? i think it is going to be a i you? i think it is going to be a good christmas for you, isn't it? the best yet. ami wants her son's story to make a difference, to prove that all children deserve the same chance, whether they are neuro typical or not. and in the new year william turns 18, a milestone he very nearly never made.- very nearly never made. merry christmas. _ very nearly never made. merry christmas, everyone. - very nearly never made. merry christmas, everyone. from i very nearly never made. merry i christmas, everyone. from william, merry— christmas, everyone. from william, merry christmas.— christmas, everyone. from william, merry christmas. jayne mccubbin, bbc news.

it's truly a christmas classic. this year marks 40 years since the release of the snowman and its magical soundtrack. that's right. walking in the air was first released back in 1982 and now it's being given a new lease of life. tim muffett reports. 40 years ago, an animated christmas film was shown on telly, the tale of a boy, james, and the snowman he builds. it was enchanting. # we're walking in the air # we're floating in the moonlit sky... the story, the drawings, and the music. # our people far below... but its most famous tune had been composed more than ten years before, by howard blake. working flat out in films and commercials, he'd been warned by his doctor to slow down.

when i wrote it, it was my recovery from what could have been a fatal breakdown of my whole life. ten years later, when channel 4 decided to turn a picture book by raymond briggs into a film, howard was asked to provide the music. when violinist and tiktok star esther ebrahimi moved to the uk from france, aged 14, unable to speak english, it was the music of the snowman that spoke to her. to mark 40 years since the release of the film, howard has created this new arrangement for esther.

for the video, just like the snowman himself, estherwent high above brighton, performing on top of the city's i360 attraction. one of the most stunning views, you could look at the stars and then the whole city of brighton lit up below. it just honestly felt like i was walking in the air, you know? it really, really did. a christmas classic with a classical update. a tune that can still make hearts melt. tim muffett, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather. yes, iam yes, i am old enough to remember that one first time around. the weather, no good for snowmen, that

is for sure, it is pretty mild today, tonight and for many of us could, christmas day as well. with just one or two exceptions. rain gathering at the moment, turning heavy for northern ireland, pushing into western scotland, overnight there will be some further bursts of rain putting eastwards, staying quite breezy, and so it is a mild and frost—free kind of night, temperatures drifting down to between 6—9 c. tomorrow, we start off on a mild note and with low pressure to the north of the uk, we are going to continue with the south—westerly winds for most areas for most of the day. that means it will be mild again. bursts of rain mostly across western areas, just a few getting towards the east. in between, bright and sunny spells. as the band clears southwards across scotland, it is here in the north—west that the weather will start to turn colder gradually through christmas day afternoon, and there is a chance you could see a few show showers —— snow showers,

but arriving really like, otherwise, it is a mild one for christmas day. plunging temperatures are gripping much of the united states and canada, with more than 200 and 50 million people facing life threatening conditions. we've had ice, flooding, snow, freezing temperatures and everything that mother nature could win 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? you are watching bbc news. now on bbc news, it's time for review 2022 and it's been a year where health news has again dominated the headlines. 0ur correspondent, dominic hughes, looks back now on some of the biggest challenges faced this year by the uk's health services. was 2022 the year we finally learned to live with covid? clock chimes at the start of the year, driven by the highly infectious 0micron variant, the virus still had us in its clutches. even as the new year's eve fireworks faded into the night,

an estimated one in every 15 people in the uk tested positive for covid.