this is bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. one of the worst winter storms in living memory is gripping much of the united states and canada — tens of thousands are without power — and christmas travel plans cancelled for many others. here in the uk the railways have come to a standstill, earlier than usual this chrismas, after another walk out by workers over pay and conditions. the taliban clamp down further on women's rights in afghanistan. after banning them from studying at university they're now also barred from working for ngos. the pope remembers those suffering from war as he holds his christmas eve mass in the vatican. and looking ahead to the inevitably stressful cooking

of christmas dinners — we'll be getting tips from a chef from inside his restaurant kitchen. hello and welcome to bbc news. an icy blast is affecting nearly 250 million people in the us and canada, as one of the most severe winter storms in living memory takes hold — with snow blizzards, strong winds and freezing temperatures. at least 19 people have died. more than 1.5 million american households and businesses are without electricity — and thousands of flights have been cancelled. the us state of montana registered

a record breaking low of minus 45 celsius. nomia iqbal reports. for much of america, this is the coldest christmas eve. millions of them had plans to get away for the holidays. but the powerful bomb cyclone has thrown everything into chaos, causing car accidents, destroying power lines, leaving millions without electricity. the warning is, don't travel unless you need to. 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. some places like new york have gone further and banned driving due to low visibility. across the region there is a state of emergency. we've had ice, flooding, snow, freezing temperatures, and everything that mother nature could wallop at us this weekend.

to make things worse, the winter storm has caused coastal flooding on the eastern seaboard in newjersey and new england. travelling by air has been hugely impacted as well. the storm has stretched for nearly 2000 miles, meaning there's been thousands of flight cancellations with hundreds more on christmas eve. many people have been trying to take their chances to get home. our whole airport is shut down, so we drove to omaha, nebraska. got on a flight there. then dc, delayed in dc. the storm is expected to last another day yet with temperatures easing, but it's left americans facing another disrupted christmas after the pandemic ruined the last one. the weather conditions have beenjust as bad north of the us, in canada. anne—marie provost is a jounalist at the newspaper le devoir. shejoins me now from montreal.

thank you forjoining us here on bbc news. how bad are things there? welcome in montreal right now, the worst is past, but there's also a lot of weather warnings across quebec right now and also in the province of ontario which is just next to quebec. we are expecting heavy snow falls during the day today and also tomorrow, and the conditions on the road are really, really bad. there is a lot of blowing snow indivisibility is almost zero in many areas. there's icy roads and many car accidents all across quebec and ontario. and also a lot of wind gusts up to 100 kph. it's quite bad right now and everybody is trying to spend christmas eve the best they can and many people are cancelling because transportation is just very complicated right now. transportation is just very comlicated riaht now. , complicated right now. most people would assume _ complicated right now. most people would assume in _ complicated right now. most people would assume in canada, _ complicated right now. most people would assume in canada, i - complicated right now. most people would assume in canada, i mean i complicated right now. most people | would assume in canada, i mean you have winter proper, don't you, how

does that compare to what is happening now?— does that compare to what is happening now? does that compare to what is ha enin: now? ~ , ., , happening now? well, it is not very ical. happening now? well, it is not very typical- these _ happening now? well, it is not very typical. these kinds _ happening now? well, it is not very typical. these kinds of _ happening now? well, it is not very typical. these kinds of storms, - typical. these kinds of storms, especially during this time of the year, usually we have storms, but more later on during january or february, but on christmas eve like that, it is really unusual. i'm 35 years old, and i don't recall something like that. but we are canadians, you know, so we kind of a just come people will be spending christmas in warming centres because there is a lot of power which is right now. many people are missing their trains, theirflights. so it's quite a bummer, even for us canadians. quite a bummer, even for us canadians-— quite a bummer, even for us canadians. , ., . ., , canadians. just to clarify can you mention something _ canadians. just to clarify can you mention something there, - canadians. just to clarify can you mention something there, a - canadians. just to clarify can you - mention something there, a warming centre, could you tell us a little bit more about those.— centre, could you tell us a little bit more about those. yeah, because we have many _ bit more about those. yeah, because we have many areas _ bit more about those. yeah, because we have many areas right _ bit more about those. yeah, because we have many areas right now- bit more about those. yeah, because we have many areas right now in - we have many areas right now in quebec in the province of quebec that are without power, without electricity, and it is quite cold right now, —10 or —15, so houses and

apartments are getting colder and colder, so it for security reasons, authorities are opening warming centres all across quebec right now, in the areas where the power outages are the most intense, like in quebec city so people just gather their and they have food and they have warmth. very quickly, i know that in north america, you have people who are very well prepared when winter hits, you have the winter ties, the chains that are put on, what aspect is that in particular of this storm? is at the wind, is at the speed with which it's hit? what is at? it’s it's hit? what is at? it's especially _ it's hit? what is at? it's especially the - it's hit? what is at? it's especially the wind, - it's hit? what is at? it's especially the wind, i l it's hit? what is at? it�*s especially the wind, i would say, because of the wind. there is a lot of snowfall and with many wind gusts. the visibility on the road is next to zero in many areas. so it is

quite complicated, even if you are used to driving in the winter. and used to driving in the winter. and marie, used to driving in the winter. and marie. thank— used to driving in the winter. and marie, thank you very much indeed. stay warm. marie, thank you very much indeed. sta warm. ,, marie, thank you very much indeed. stay warm-— stay warm. sure, it's been a pleasure- — stay warm. sure, it's been a pleasure. merry _ stay warm. sure, it's been a pleasure. merry christmas i stay warm. sure, it's been a | pleasure. merry christmas to stay warm. sure, it's been a - pleasure. merry christmas to you. merry christmas. a new strike by members of the rmt union working for network rail is now under way. christmas eve trains stopped running earlier than usual because of the industrial action. the walk—out is part of the dispute over pay, conditions and jobs. services will resume on tuesday but some of them will be affected by engineering works. noor nanji reports dashing home for christmas. this train to swansea was one of the last to leave london today. all around britain rail services have finished early because of more strikes. for passengers here it was a race against time. it's the last train so it's a little bit nerve—racking, but either way, i support the people striking. i understand what they are going through. it'sjust frustrating that it has

to have an impact on christmas and going home to see family and stuff. around the country it was a similar picture with many people forced to change plans. yesterday we went to the station in york and i don't think they were on strike yesterday but all the trains were cancelled. we ended up paying £65 in a taxi to get here. we booked our 3pm train and it was cancelled so we are now booked for 9:45. and this is the last train? the last train, and we are worried it will 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 says it's offered a fair dealand urged the union to think again. christmas eve is also a big day for restaurants, cafes and bars as well as for last—minute shopping. the problem with losing shoppers on such a key trading day like christmas eve, is 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. with many people avoiding the railways, some people have opted to drive home for christmas instead. we are seeing a lot of congestion over this period and that's because people don't want to use the rail. they are not sure what sort of service they will get. we are expecting today to be particularly busy. yesterday we did over 13,500 jobs, which is more than our usual daily average. we expect a similar number again today. with roads busier than usual the advice to motorists is to check before you travel. noor nanji, bbc news in paddington. a spokesperson for the duke and duchess of sussex says an apology from the sun newspaper regarding a column, in whichjeremy clarkson said he "hated" meghan, is "nothing more than a pr stunt". on friday, the newspaper issued a statement expressing regret for the publication of the column.among other things

clarkson wrote that he had dreamed of meghan being paraded through towns in the uk and publicly shamed. the spokesperson said the paper had not contacted the duchess of sussex which showed their true intent. the united nations in afghanistan has condemned an order by the taliban rulers to ban women from working for local and international aid agencies. it said the move would violate the most fundamental rights of women, as well as breaching humanitarian principles. this decision by the taliban comes just days after women were banned from studying at universities. the bbc world service's south asia regional editor anbarasan ethirajan joins us now. hello there. so, this is a second move by the taliban and obviously international condemnation. yes.

international condemnation. yes, indeed. international condemnation. yes, indeed- at _ international condemnation. yes, indeed. at the _ international condemnation. yes, indeed. at the un _ international condemnation. yes, indeed. at the un has _ international condemnation. is: indeed. at the un has strongly condemned this move by the taliban because this will have a far—reaching impact on the ground. there are dozens of ngos, health ngos and food aid ngos working on the ground and not allowing women to work means people cannot access the services, for example, when women worker was saying women can easily relate with us about asking for medicines, for example, if they want to get a vaccination committee can go into the houses and they were rural areas, go into the houses and they were ruralareas, but go into the houses and they were rural areas, but now they cannot express these things freely to any male health record or even food aid. so this has become a huge issue. this has been a very bad week for women's rights in afghanistan because a couple of days ago, the taliban ruler is, they banned women from studying at universities, and within two days committee announced this far—reaching position to ban women to work for ngos. and it is not on the local and domestic

foreign ngos also because the un contracts work to local ngos and distributing a humanitarian aid. there is a cute food insecurity in rural parts of afghanistan following taliban takeover, the economy has collapsed there. how to distribute the food, that is why the un says it is going to call for a meeting on monday with the tele— ban authorities and have urged the taliban to reverse the decision immediately. iiii taliban to reverse the decision immediately.— taliban to reverse the decision immediatel . , , ., ,, .,~ immediately. if ngos were to speak out, aart immediately. if ngos were to speak out. apart from _ immediately. if ngos were to speak out, apart from the _ immediately. if ngos were to speak out, apart from the un _ immediately. if ngos were to speak out, apart from the un into - immediately. if ngos were to speak out, apart from the un into the - immediately. if ngos were to speak| out, apart from the un into the work and collaborations they have on the ground, have any of them spoken out to? is there a risk to their work and their workers if they do speak out against the taliban? {line and their workers if they do speak out against the taliban?— and their workers if they do speak out against the taliban? one of the a . encies out against the taliban? one of the agencies which _ out against the taliban? one of the agencies which did _ out against the taliban? one of the agencies which did not _ out against the taliban? one of the agencies which did not want - out against the taliban? one of the agencies which did not want to - out against the taliban? one of the agencies which did not want to be l agencies which did not want to be identified involved in food distribution and says it is going to be a difficult task for them to do the work, because many of the workers will not be allowed to work, and going and talking with families and going and talking with families and understanding that this is going

to be a problem. already, women are bailing because of this been on studying in universities, also in private centres. the secondary schools for girls have not yet opened and women cannot go to the universities, women cannot go to public places like gins, bathhouses and other areas, and they have been banned from working in several government departments, now they cannot even work with ngos. 0ne cannot even work with ngos. one woman worker was asking him imagine, there are many people, men do not support theirfamilies there are many people, men do not support their families or there is no man in the house. what will happen to those families if they have to leave theirjobmake the decision on stopping when then going to universities, many islamic countries, iran, saudi arabia, turkey, they have all condemned us. they said this is not islamic, it's against sharia law and taliban should reverse the decision, but they seem to be ignoring the international criticism and instead, step—by—step, have gone back to the conservative role which they had in

the late 1990s. {lilia conservative role which they had in the late 1990s.— the late 1990s. ok, thank you very much for that. _ the late 1990s. ok, thank you very much for that. thank _ the late 1990s. ok, thank you very much for that. thank you. - ukrainian officials say russian shelling has killed at least ten civilians in the city of kherson. 0ne attack struck the central market as people were shopping, before mortar fire targeted other areas. dozens were wounded. the strikes are among the deadliest on kherson since russian forces were driven out last month. ukraine's president, volodymyr zelensky, accused moscow of killing for pleasure and intimidation. the pope has held his annual christmas eve mass at st peter's basilica in the vatican. in his sermon the pope remembered those suffering from war. particularly those in ukraine. this year marks the tenth year of his papacy and tomorrow the pontiff will be speaking to the faithful who will be gathered below the balcony. the christmas day blessing urbi et 0rbi around noon. here's a little bit of what the pope said in his speech.

translation: men and women in our world and their hunger. for wealth and power consuming even their neighbours, even their brothers and sisters, how many wars... ..and in how many places even today are human dignity and freedom treated with contempt? as always, the principal victims of this human greed are the weak and the vulnerable. police and protesters have clashed in central paris after the murder on friday of three members of the kurdish community in what police believe was a racist attack. a 69—year—old man was arrested and he has now been taken to a police psychiatric unit for health reasons. earlier protesters gathered and held up photographs of the victims of friday's attack they have been demanding tighter security. this morning president macron asked the city's police chief to meet with community leaders.

at least nine people have been killed in south africa after a fuel tanker exploded. emergency services say the blast happened as fire crews were trying to extinguish a blaze caused by the tanker hitting a bridge. around ll0 other people were injured in the incident in boksburg, a city to the east ofjohannesburg. maxi jazz, the lead singer of british dance band faithless, has died — at the age of 65. the group were best known for club classic "insomnia", take a listen. music plays. his former bandmate sister bliss said he died "peacefully in his sleep" last night. faithless formed in 1995 and had a number of hits, including "insomnia" and "we come

0ne". king charles the third 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. while christmas day is meant to be full ofjoy and laughter,

it can always be a bit hectic and now that the presents are wrapped, it's time to think about the food. whether it's the blankets slipping off their pigs, forgetting to defrost the turkey, or setting more than just the christmas pudding on fire, many of us can find happy memories overshadowed by the expense and stress of putting together the christmas dinner. executive chef of la cala's 0livia's restaurant, steven saundersjoins me now. hello, stephen,, hello, stephen, , —— hello, stephen,, —— how are you? hello, stephen,, -- how are you? we had a hello, stephen,, —— how are you? - had a busy night, 150—160 people tonight, something like that. it's going really well and i'm really chuffed. �* , , ., chuffed. it's either very hot in the kitchen or you _ chuffed. it's either very hot in the kitchen or you are _ chuffed. it's either very hot in the kitchen or you are somewhere - chuffed. it's either very hot in the . kitchen or you are somewhere warm. i'm in spain, i meant near mar bay, and it is fantastic, ie as love

living here, the weather is, like, it is perfect. living here, the weather is, like, it is perfect-— living here, the weather is, like, it is perfect. you don't need to rub it is perfect. you don't need to rub it in, ou it is perfect. you don't need to rub it in. you are _ it is perfect. you don't need to rub it in. you are in — it is perfect. you don't need to rub it in, you are in the _ it is perfect. you don't need to rub it in, you are in the best _ it is perfect. you don't need to rub it in, you are in the best place, - it is perfect. you don't need to rub it in, you are in the best place, we get the hint. laughter of that one of the busiestjobs. a big night tonight with christmas eve and a lots of christmas eve ks, and tomorrow, of course, christmas day lunch, 300 people here tomorrow and i want to serve them really fantastic food for 300. it is a big job. fantastic food for 300. it is a big 'ob. , ., ., fantastic food for 300. it is a big 'ob. ,., ., ., fantastic food for 300. it is a big 'ob. ., ., , fantastic food for 300. it is a big 'ob. ., job. ok, so, how do you stay calm then? do you _ job. ok, so, how do you stay calm then? do you use _ job. ok, so, how do you stay calm then? do you use the _ job. ok, so, how do you stay calm then? do you use the foil - then? do you use the foil containers?— then? do you use the foil containers? ., , , , containers? now, i use the best crockery- _ containers? now, i use the best crockery- we — containers? now, i use the best crockery. we stay _ containers? now, i use the best crockery. we stay reasonably i containers? now, i use the best. crockery. we stay reasonably calm. i'm not going to say extremely calm, but we have a number of people in the kitchen, there's about 12 of us in here, and that helps. i tom you haven't got that, and it does help a lot. also, we use a lot of tricks,

like we both sous vide the turkey, cooking it and a water bath and plastic, which most people can if you watch master chef, you've seen that hundreds of times, but the reason for that is we can cook in bulk and we can make sure the turkey is really lovely and moist. we finish on the char grill over here forflavour finish on the char grill over here for flavour and with that a number of shafts, as you can see, cooking for christmas eve tonight, which is a bit chaotic, but it is organised chaos, one of the things i would love to say and about we talk about that a lot to me don't have to spend a fortune. i know you have already spent it now, but let's be ruthless with what we are wasting tomorrow and don't throw everything away. in my dens as a professional chef, you don't see anything. he is even the cauliflower, even the green from the cauliflower, even the green from the cauliflower i use as a vegetable, and i know it sounds... but the flavour of this is really good, why

throw it away? the leaks, for example, people cut off the spit here and throw it away. this would make great soup. in spain, we have a culture of eating and using everything. if we buy a fish, we use the head for the soup. everything is eaten, and that culture is discipline and what i'm trying to get you guys at home. on boxing day, you have a fantastic meal made up of the leftovers most of this is just a bit of bread that i need tonight made with flour and water and olive oil and baked it. made with flour and water and olive oiland baked it. a made with flour and water and olive oil and baked it. a little bit of flour is nothing and you end up with fantastic bread and a bit of spiced cream. ,, , , ., fantastic bread and a bit of spiced cream. ,, , ., , , fantastic bread and a bit of spiced cream. . , ., , , ., cream. stephen, you obviously have not lots of cream. stephen, you obviously have got lots of tips _ cream. stephen, you obviously have got lots of tips and _ cream. stephen, you obviously have got lots of tips and tricks _ cream. stephen, you obviously have got lots of tips and tricks there, - cream. stephen, you obviously have got lots of tips and tricks there, i i got lots of tips and tricks there, i totally agree with saving the leaves and the greens because they are often really tasty, but handling the stress and eating healthily is really important. this is something that matters to you because you have had a bit of a scare, haven't you? my had a bit of a scare, haven't you? my heart scare, yes. i've got a fed,

and when they go through a lot of stress, it kicks off. honestly, i am getting old now, so i have to go and sit down. 0r getting old now, so i have to go and sit down. or have another drink. no, i didn't say that. my doctor is probably watching. i do have to take it easy. but here, i am more directing, like a conductor would conduct a musical piece, so i'm standing around here saying, but way, i need that, i need that out now, mario, where are you? get this out now, this can't wait any longer. now, please. out now, this can't wait any longer. now. please-— out now, this can't wait any longer. now, please._ that - out now, this can't wait any longer. now, please._ that is i out now, this can't wait any longer. | now, please._ that is the now, please. stephen... that is the level of stress _ now, please. stephen... that is the level of stress i'd _ now, please. stephen... that is the level of stress i'd having. _ now, please. stephen... that is the level of stress i'd having. the i level of stress i'd having. the check i'm _ level of stress i'd having. the check i'm hearing _ level of stress i'd having. the check i'm hearing is - level of stress i'd having. the check i'm hearing is to get some help? i check i'm hearing is to get some hel ? ., ., , check i'm hearing is to get some hel? ., . , , , help? i love that! yes! get help! that is the _ help? i love that! yes! get help! that is the solution, _ help? i love that! yes! get help! that is the solution, surely, i help? i love that! yes! get help! that is the solution, surely, and| help? i love that! yes! get help! | that is the solution, surely, and if you have to do it on your own, just

be as organised as possible. pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy, enjoy cooking it, don't get stressed, because christmas isn't about stress, it should be about being with your loved ones, being with their family and enjoying yourself stop we all deserve it after the year we have had. absolutely, and the wine is good for your heart in moderation. stephen, thank you very much indeed, and i admire your directing skills in your kitchen. have a fantastic christmas. i wish i was there in the sun. and i wish i was there in the sun. and ou! a i wish i was there in the sun. and you! a great _ i wish i was there in the sun. and you! a great spread. _ i wish i was there in the sun. and you! a great spread. love - i wish i was there in the sun. and you! a great spread. love to i you! a great spread. love to everybody — you! a great spread. love to everybody in — you! a great spread. love to everybody in the _ you! a great spread. love to everybody in the uk - you! a great spread. love to everybody in the uk can i i you! a great spread. love to everybody in the uk can i doj you! a great spread. love to i everybody in the uk can i do miss you all. i have to say, it's quite nice here-— nice here. laughter you get _ nice here. laughter you get to _ nice here. laughter you get to stop i nice here. laughter you get to stop now. | nice here. laughter - you get to stop now. thank nice here. laughter _ you get to stop now. thank you very much. merry christmas. you've been watching bbc news, and we are in the uk, where it's cold, wet and miserable, but it's christmas. plenty more coming up shortly. don't go away come in the meantime, get in touch with me on social media. plenty more

coming up here on christmas eve. hello there. for most of you, the weather will continue to be pretty mild overnight tonight and for christmas day as well. mind you, we have seen some rain today, particularly across north—western areas of the country. that was the weather turning rather wetter in cumbria this afternoon. and you can see the rain—bearing clouds really piling into the north—west of the country with some heavy bursts of rain associated with this cloud. all the while the wind is coming in from a south—westerly direction, hence the relatively mild air we have across all parts of the country at the moment. looking at the weather charts right now, we have got some fairly heavy rain working into northern ireland and scotland. through the night, these bursts of rain will very gradually move eastwards, so there will be some rain crossing england and wales, but the wettest weather always likely across small north—western areas. the winds continue to come up from a south—westerly direction so it stays mild overnight

and a frost—free night as well with temperatures drifting down to between six and nine celsius. heading into christmas day, it's going to be a mild start to the morning pretty much everywhere. low pressure stays to the north of the uk on sunday, christmas day, and we will keep these south—westerly winds. but with that comes bursts of rain. the wettest weather will be across western portions of the uk. central and eastern areas occasionally seeing a few bright or sunny spells breaking through the cloud. and as this band of rain slowly moves its way southwards across scotland, eventually we will start to get some colder air into the north—west of scotland and with some showers in the forecast, it's not out of the question we could see one or two of those turn wintry, but later in the day, more towards the evening time. so one or two could have a white christmas, but for most it will stay mild. mind you, heading overnight, christmas night and into boxing day, there will be quite a widespread frost around. watch out for some icy stretches, particularly into scotland where snow showers are going to become increasingly widespread into boxing day with

accumulations expected. a few centimetres at low elevations but up in the mountains, 5—10 centimetres building in with blizzards and drifting of the snow in the strong winds. temperatures here struggling to get much above freezing in places, but generally across the uk it's going to be a colder kind of day, a blustery feel with a number of showers around. really between christmas and new year, it's often going to be mild, but cloudy with some heavy rain around and often pretty windy, particularly for wednesday with gales and maybe severe gales affecting some western areas.

this is bbc world news, the headlines. one of the worst winter storms in living memory is covering much of the united states and canada, bringing heavy snow and freezing temperatures. minus 45 celsius was recorded in one town in the us state of montana. here in the uk the railways came to a standstill, earlier than usual this chrismas, after another walk out over pay and conditions. roads were expected to be disrupted but the aa said it was "not as bad as expected." the un has criticised a ruling by the taliban to bar afghan women from working for aid agencies, saying it violates their most fundamental rights.

last week the hard line rulers announced women were banned