this is bbc news, welcome if you're watching here in the uk or around the globe. i'm maryam moshiri. our top stories... an arctic blast is gripping much of the united states and canada. tens of millions of people are facing blizzards and cancelled travel plans at the start of the christmas holidays. here in the uk the railways are at a standstill as workers walk out over pay and conditions. protests turn violent as thousands of people take to the streets of paris after a gunman with a history of racist violence, with a history of racist violence killed three people at a kurdish cultural centre. the taliban have further tightened the restrictions on women, banning them from working for ngos, days after afghan women were banned from studying at university. and he's made his list, he's checked it twice, yes,

santa claus is coming to town, but where is he at the moment? we'll speak to the team tracking his movements on this programme. tens of millions of north americans are facing blizzards, power cuts and cancelled travel plans at the start of the christmas holidays. much of the united states and canada is in the grip of a fierce winter storm. 19 people have been killed so far. the us state of montana registered a record—breaking low of —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 have had ice, flooding, snow, freezing temperatures and everything that 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've 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 the weekend. many people are reluctantly giving up their plans for the first family christmas since the covid pandemic began. sancha berg, bbc news. let's speak to nate benson now who is a journalist at local tv station wgrz. in new york state. good to talk to you. first of all, how bad is this? is is the fourth generational storm is is the fourth generational storm i have covered in my nine years as a broadcaster, and this is the worst

one i've seen. completely impossible to try to navigate, i have actually been working from my home here in buffalo in western new york, to be able to be live from my first yard, and that is a first for my career. i was able to walk maybe a block away from my house just to be able to capture video for my new station and that was as far as i could get before i had to turn back. it's absolutely impossible for anyone to travel, to the point where emergency services are crippled around buffalo, their executive came out and said that emergency services are at a standstill, they cannot get to people, which is the first time in my career that that has happened. and we are seeing pictures that you and your colleagues have taken right now, nate benson, tell me about buffalo because the weather system itself is impacted by the fact that you have lake erie making the snowstorm worse?— you have lake erie making the snowstorm worse? right, we are caettin snowstorm worse? right, we are getting the _ snowstorm worse? right, we are getting the one-two _ snowstorm worse? right, we are getting the one-two punch, - snowstorm worse? right, we are getting the one-two punch, the i getting the one—two punch, the blizzard conditions of the midwest, which started yesterday at around

10am, and on top of that, like eary is a0 degrees right now, we are getting a certain effect with the warm air coming off the lake and turning into snow and it is really this very narrow band of weather or maybe only ten miles wide, just a narrow strip of snow blanketing northern buffalo and southern areas of buffalo and that then can shift 5-10 of buffalo and that then can shift 5—10 miles over eight or ten hours and produce snow of up to three inches of snow an hour. haw and produce snow of up to three inches of snow an hour. how are --eole inches of snow an hour. how are peeple ceping? _ inches of snow an hour. how are peeple ceping? it _ inches of snow an hour. how are people coping? it must - inches of snow an hour. how are people coping? it must be - inches of snow an hour. how are people coping? it must be so i people coping? it must be so difficult. alsojust people coping? it must be so difficult. also just before the holiday season?— difficult. also just before the holiday season? yes, people are coin: holiday season? yes, people are ceping the _ holiday season? yes, people are ceping the best _ holiday season? yes, people are coping the best they _ holiday season? yes, people are coping the best they can. - holiday season? yes, people are coping the best they can. the . coping the best they can. the messaging here has been to stay at home at all gusts unless it is an absolutely emergency and in that case called 911, but the 911 system is inundated with calls right now with people panicking because they can't get out, some people did try to get out in their automobiles, but

they couldn't get down the street so now they asked rand in, causing a bigger problem forfirst now they asked rand in, causing a bigger problem for first responders and those emergency services are crippled right now. so, western new york, buffalo, is at a standstill, nobody can really move around. i was readin: nobody can really move around. i was reading about — nobody can really move around. i was reading about the _ nobody can really move around. i was reading about the famous _ nobody can really move around. i was reading about the famous blizzard of 1977 in buffalo, and i was also reading earlier that people who were there then are saying this is worse? yes, some of the generational western new yorkers who hire spoken to who lived through the 1977 storm, they were young kids at the time, they were young kids at the time, they say this is the worst they have seen since then, i wasn't alive for that but i have covered four major storms in my career, this is the worst one i have seen. i covered november 201a, and the one which was just a month ago, which is hard to believe that we had one of these less than a month ago and here we are again. anyone who has been in this area for long enough knows that snow can be very severe, 77 was that

one for the next generation, and the blizzard of 2022 the next generation is the one that we are going to be talking about. here in th uk, most train services have finished for the day ahead of a walk out in a few hours time by rmt union members. 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 on their way to bristol to spend their first christmas with their family after years of covid disruption. we were quite lucky, we've booked for this morning anyway so i think hopefully we're 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 then 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. and if you're not there, it's 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.

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, by a retired train driver who had a police record for racial violence. these are pictures from paris a few hours. from paris a few hours ago. the protesters are asking for more protection from the french government. many were holding portraits of the victims of friday'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, and that meeting happened this morning. 0ur correspondent hugh schofield has more on the suspected attacker. 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. a four—year—old boy has died after a serious medical incident at center parcs resort. wiltshire police said officers had attended the leisure complex at longleat, wiltshire, on the morning of christmas eve. police added that the boy's death was not thought to be suspicious. now to a story of love in times of war. back in march, lesya and valeriy, two volunteers of ukraine's civil defence forces, got married 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.

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's 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 these good feelings, especially important during the war. just to remind them about the deep sense of christmas. it's about life, love and this love which fights and wins. the christmas schedule is very much under way in scotland with the football, celtic beat stjohnstone a-i. football, celtic beat stjohnstone a—1. st football, celtic beat st johnstone 4-1. ,, ' football, celtic beat st johnstone 4-1. ,, ~ .. ., football, celtic beat st johnstone 4-1. ,, ~ ., , ., 4-1. st mirren came from behind to beat aberdeen _ 4-1. st mirren came from behind to beat aberdeen 3-1. _

4-1. st mirren came from behind to beat aberdeen 3-1. st _ 4-1. st mirren came from behind to beat aberdeen 3-1. st mirren - beat aberdeen 3—1. st mirren extending their unbeaten home league record to nine matches. a big win for hibs, beating livingston a—0. hearts came back to draw with dundee united. some positive news for brentford, in the premier league, their manager, thomas frank, has signed a new contract which will keep him at the club until 2027. he has already been at brentford for four years, the club are currently tenth in the premier league after beating manchester city before the world cup break. last season thomas frank guided his club to a 13th place finish with memorable winds over arsenal and chelsea. 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 substitute twice for england in qatar. he was not in the squad for their 3—2 league cup

win over liverpool on thursday. he: arrived overweight. win over liverpool on thursday. he arrived overweight. why _ win over liverpool on thursday. he arrived overweight. why is - win over liverpool on thursday. he arrived overweight. why is he - arrived overweight. why is he overweight? _ arrived overweight. why is he overweight? i— arrived overweight. why is he overweight? i don't _ arrived overweight. why is he overweight? i don't know. - arrived overweight. why is he overweight? i don't know. it. arrived overweight. why is he | overweight? i don't know. it is arrived overweight. why is he - 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, you - overweight? i don't know. it is the player's responsibility, you are - player's responsibility, you are saying? he player's responsibility, you are sa inc? �* player's responsibility, you are sa in: ? �* ., saying? he didn't arrive in the condition to _ saying? he didn't arrive in the condition to train _ saying? he didn't arrive in the condition to train and - saying? he didn't arrive in the condition to train and to - saying? he didn't arrive in the condition to train and to play. | saying? he didn't arrive in the i condition to train and to play. he has been away at the world cup, he has been away at the world cup, he has been away at the world cup, he has been around fizzy is, nutritionists... ~ , ., �*, nutritionists... absolutely. that's wh he nutritionists... absolutely. that's why he cannot — nutritionists... absolutely. that's why he cannot play. _ nutritionists... absolutely. that's why he cannot play, when - nutritionists... absolutely. that's why he cannot play, when he - nutritionists... absolutely. that's why he cannot play, when he will| nutritionists... absolutely. that's i why he cannot play, when he will be ready, he will play, but we need him. we need him a lot bass is that a disappointment to you, surprise? it is a private conversation. liverpool have re—signed defender gemma bonnerfrom us side racing louisville, subject to approvals. she captained the side to two women's super league titles in her first spell with liverpool, spending six years at the club before joining manchester city in 2018. and that is just about it. there is premiership

rugby going on, leicester against gloucester and exeter against bath, updates from those games are on the bbc sport website. it's truly a christmas classic. this year marks a0 years since the release of the snowman and that 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. a0 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. # 0pen—mouthed, taken by surprise...# ten years later, when channel a 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 1a unable to speak english, it was the music of the snowman that spoke to her.

to mark a0 years since the release of the film, howard has created this new arrangement for esther. for the video, just like the snowman himself, esther went 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.

us ,ilitary officials have assured anxious children the arctic blast and snowstorm that has been wreaking havoc on us airline traffic this week will not prevent santa claus from making his annual christmas eve flight. the north american aerospace defense command, or norad, tracks santa's yuletide flight every year. he's currently in mongolia and over a billion presents have been delivered so far. we can now speak live to a norad spokesperson. it is so good to talk to you. where is santa right now? according to our tracker he was last seenin according to our tracker he was last seen in mongolia and it looks like he is heading up into russia right now. . , ., ,.,

he is heading up into russia right now. . , ., ., ,, now. tell me a bit about how your track santa _ now. tell me a bit about how your track santa because _ now. tell me a bit about how your track santa because obviously - now. tell me a bit about how your track santa because obviously it i now. tell me a bit about how yourj track santa because obviously it is a key event every year for millions of children around the world, how is it you are able to tell people where he is at the moment?— it you are able to tell people where he is at the moment? sure. 24 hours a da , 365 he is at the moment? sure. 24 hours a day. 365 days _ he is at the moment? sure. 24 hours a day. 365 days a _ he is at the moment? sure. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, _ he is at the moment? sure. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, norad - a day, 365 days a year, norad defends north america and tracks aeroplanes, missiles, space launches et cetera, as they happen, all around the world. we use our satellites, fighterjets and radar systems to do that. rudolf�*s no gives quite a heat signature which helps us lock straight into him and santa and allows us to track his path throughout the globe as he does his deliveries. i path throughout the globe as he does his deliveries.— his deliveries. i can imagine rudolf's nose _ his deliveries. i can imagine rudolf's nose is _ his deliveries. i can imagine rudolf's nose is very - his deliveries. i can imagine rudolf's nose is very red - his deliveries. i can imagine | rudolf's nose is very red and his deliveries. i can imagine - rudolf's nose is very red and shiny. what about santa himself, is he happy about being tracked? you have been doing it for about 70 years but he has been delivering presents for thousands of years?— he has been delivering presents for thousands of years? absolutely, he alwa st thousands of years? absolutely, he always try to _ thousands of years? absolutely, he always try to communicate - thousands of years? absolutely, he always try to communicate with -

thousands of years? absolutely, he always try to communicate with us| always try to communicate with us and give us an idea of what his path might be, i don't think he well and truly locks his path in until he is out and about but i know that when he comes over north america, and the norad aircraft go out to find out what is approaching us, he does slow down a little bit, because we can't keep up with him without fighter jets. he will wave to us and we will to power wings and off he will go. we have been talking about north america, ourtop we have been talking about north america, our top story is that really cold weather snap in the area, how worried are you about santa's progress right now? this area, how worried are you about santa's progress right now? as you said, he santa's progress right now? as you said. he has _ santa's progress right now? as you said, he has been _ santa's progress right now? as you said, he has been doing _ santa's progress right now? as you said, he has been doing this - santa's progress right now? as you said, he has been doing this for. santa's progress right now? as you said, he has been doing this for a l said, he has been doing this for a very long time and i am sure there is not a system he has not seen yet somewhere in the world. the fact that he lives at the north old, i can't imagine that the cold will scare him away, but i am sure the weather will give him a bit of a challenge but i am pretty sure he will get thejob done. challenge but i am pretty sure he will get the job done. let’s challenge but i am pretty sure he will get the job done.— will get the “ob done. let's talk about the will get the job done. let's talk about the history _ will get the job done. let's talk about the history of _ will get the job done. let's talk about the history of this, - will get the job done. let's talk about the history of this, in - will get the job done. let's talk i about the history of this, in terms of how it all started, because before norad started to check on

santa there was a phone call from a little girl, tell me the story? yes. little girl, tell me the story? yes, was, so little girl, tell me the story? yes, was. so we _ little girl, tell me the story? yes, was. so we are — little girl, tell me the story? yes, was, so we are based _ little girl, tell me the story? yes, was, so we are based in - little girl, tell me the story? 1a: was, so we are based in colorado springs, colorado, so here in our local newspaper there was an advertisement to have kids call in, in 1955, and talk to santa. it so happens the advertisement had a miss typed phone number and the kids started calling our command centre, and so the kernel on duty that night picked up the phone and realised that it was not a joke that these kids were calling and started to explain to the kids where we thought santa was based on our radar signatures that we were already tracking anyway, and we have been doing it any sense, ever since, we are on our 67th year. find doing it any sense, ever since, we are on our 67th year.— are on our 67th year. and as you 'ust said are on our 67th year. and as you just said to _ are on our 67th year. and as you just said to me _ are on our 67th year. and as you just said to me earlier, - are on our 67th year. and as you just said to me earlier, santa i are on our 67th year. and as you i just said to me earlier, santa claus is currently around mongolia i think it is, or has he made progress? we still have it is, or has he made progress? - still have him last seen, and we show him in russia in about a minute

and a half, two minutes, he should be there. ., , ., be there. so, for the uk viewers who are watching — be there. so, for the uk viewers who are watching in _ be there. so, for the uk viewers who are watching in britain, _ be there. so, for the uk viewers who are watching in britain, what - be there. so, for the uk viewers who are watching in britain, what time i are watching in britain, what time can we expect him to be dropping off toys here? can we expect him to be dropping off to s here? . can we expect him to be dropping off to s here? ,, ., ~ ., toys here? sure, let me take a look at our chart. — toys here? sure, let me take a look at our chart, and _ toys here? sure, let me take a look at our chart, and we _ toys here? sure, let me take a look at our chart, and we can _ toys here? sure, let me take a look at our chart, and we can project i at our chart, and we can project about every 15, 20 minutes, we would say probably between ten o'clock and midnight tonight, but there is that one caveat, the kids all have to be asleep for santa to do his job. explain that to me, because what happens if they are not? he explain that to me, because what happens if they are not?- explain that to me, because what happens if they are not? he is going to no on happens if they are not? he is going to go on by- — happens if they are not? he is going to go on by- we _ happens if they are not? he is going to go on by. we know— happens if they are not? he is going to go on by. we know he _ happens if they are not? he is going to go on by. we know he will- to go on by. we know he will double back once the kids do fall asleep, but you don't want to be that one kid who slows him down for the night. kid who slows him down for the niuht. ., , , kid who slows him down for the niuht. . , , ,_.._ kid who slows him down for the niuht. . , , , night. that must be physically and mentally exhausting _ night. that must be physically and mentally exhausting for _ night. that must be physically and mentally exhausting for him i night. that must be physically and mentally exhausting for him to i night. that must be physically and i mentally exhausting for him to have to double back on all these kids, so clearly the message right now to children around the world watching this is what?— children around the world watching this is what? ~ , ,, ., ,, this is what? make sure you do your “ob and be this is what? make sure you do your job and be asleep _ this is what? make sure you do your job and be asleep prior _ this is what? make sure you do your job and be asleep prior to _ this is what? make sure you do your job and be asleep prior to santa's i job and be asleep prior to santa's arrival, and in the uk we expect that will be between ten o'clock and

midnight. min that will be between ten o'clock and midniuht. ~ ~' ., , that will be between ten o'clock and midniuht. ~ ~ ., , ., ~ , midnight. will know is from norad, it has been so _ midnight. will know is from norad, it has been so good _ midnight. will know is from norad, it has been so good to _ midnight. will know is from norad, it has been so good to talk - midnight. will know is from norad, it has been so good to talk to - midnight. will know is from norad, it has been so good to talk to you, l it has been so good to talk to you, thank you for everything, and if you can pass the message father christmas, say hello from bbc news please. we christmas, say hello from bbc news lease. ~ ., ., , , king charles delivers his first christmas address as monarch tomorrow, in a speech expected to pay tribute to his mother, queen elizabeth ii. the king recorded this year's message in the chapel where a committal service was held during the queen's funeral in september. family members will be gathering in sandringham, they will be attending a church service at st mary's magdalen church. in fact the royal standard was seen flying on the estate on thursday, which indicates that the king has already arrived. in a break with tradition, this year, the king and queen consort will apparently been adding to their home on the balmoral estate in scotland after christmas, the queen

usually remained in sandringham. that is it from me in the team, fix the watching, stay with us. the weather is going tuesday mild for the rest of today, tonight and for the rest of today, tonight and for christmas day, for most, although it will stay pretty cloudy. earlier on this morning, our weather watcher spotted some of these clouds over the skies in cumbria. the satellite picture picks up the extent of cloud that we have across the country, the thickest of which is across the north—west. that is where we are seeing some fairly heavy bursts of rain at the moment. the winds are coming in from the south—west, pumping mild air across most of the uk. the rain is turning quite heavy at the moment. one or two showers elsewhere.

but the winds are coming in from a south westerly direction, pumping this mild flow of air across pretty much all of the uk. now we do have rain around. the rain is turning quite heavy at the moment in northern ireland and it will continue to get heavier in western scotland as well over the next few hours. 1 to 2 showers elsewhere across parts of england and wales. but overnight we get a band of rain that pushes its way eastwards for a time. overnight, there'll be more rain to come then for northern ireland, west scotland and the north west of both england and wales. so rain on and off for quite a few of you. temperatures holding up at around 5 to 9 degrees celsius heading into christmas day. so it will be a mild start to the day and with low pressure staying to the north of the uk, we continue to have south—westerly winds across most parts of the country. so it's going to be a mild day for most of you now. there will be some bursts of rain

around on christmas, the wettest weather always likely across western areas. a few bright or sunny spells breaking through across central and eastern areas. but as this band of rain slips its way across, scotland we'll start to get some colder air working in here. and towards the end of the day, into the evening time, yes, you could see some wintry showers, maybe a little bit of snow mixed in. so if one or two of you a white christmas is possible, then it turns colder as we head through christmas night, cold enough frost and some icy patches and heading into boxing day. well, there certainly will be some snow around across parts of scotland, in particular with accumulations one to three centimetres at low levels. but over the hills, 5—10 centimetres possible, with blizzard conditions.

this is bbc world news, the headlines: an arctic blast is gripping much of the united states and canada. tens of millions of people are facing blizzards and cancelled travel plans at the start of the christmas holidays. here in the uk rail passengers rushed to catch the last trains as christmas eve services end due to further strikes. 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. the taliban have further tightened the restrictions on women, banning them from working for ngos, days after afghan women were banned from studying at university.