this is bbc news broadcasting in the uk on pbs in america and around the globe. our top stories... russia's defence ministry says at least three service personnel have been killed as a result of a ukrainian drone attack on an air force base in the south of the country. north america's severe winter weather claims 38 lives — across the united states and canada. china carries out one of it's biggest incursions to date in the seas and skies around taiwan. in the uk — boxing day is traditionally a busy one for the high street — but will shoppers be cutting back as the cost of living crisis bites?

100 days on from the start of anti—government protests in iran — bbc persian uncovers evidence of torture and mock executions. a bus plunges off a bridge— into a river in galicia in north—west spain. six passengers are killed. hello and welcome to bbc news. russia's defence ministry says three service personnel have been killed in a drone attack at the engels air force base in the southern region of saratov. it said a ukrainian drone had been shot down. there's been no comment from the authorities in ukraine. the russian news agency, tass, said no aircraft had been damaged. the engels airfield is 500 kilometres from the ukrainian border. it's believed to house russian long—range strategic bombers. it was hit along with another military base earlier this month by what russian officials described

as ukrainian drone attacks. live to moscow now with our russia editor steve rosenberg. the second time this base has been hit, 500 kilometres from the border with ukraine. how significant is this this is deep inside russian territory. this this is deep inside russian territo . ~ , this this is deep inside russian territo .~ , ., territory. when the first attack ha--ened territory. when the first attack happened earlier _ territory. when the first attack happened earlier this - territory. when the first attack happened earlier this month . territory. when the first attack i happened earlier this month that territory. when the first attack - happened earlier this month that was embarrassing for the russian authorities that ukraine had the capability to launch a drone attack on an air force base so pack away from the border. the fact this has happened again is doubly embarrassing. ukraine hasn't accepted responsibility but that russian defence ministry issued a statement saying this was a ukrainian drone attack. during the night there were reports of loud explosions in the vicinity of the engels airbase and then unconfirmed

reports that there had been an attack on the base. this morning the defence ministry in moscow confirmed that, saying a ukrainian drone flying at low altitude was shot down by russian air defence systems on the approach to the airbase but the falling debris from the drown had killed three russian servicemen down below. the russians added that no aircraft at the base were damaged and that base, engels, near saratov house long—range bombers which have taken part in missile attacks against ukraine.— taken part in missile attacks against ukraine. taken part in missile attacks auainst ukraine. ., ,. , , against ukraine. you describe this as embarrassing _ against ukraine. you describe this as embarrassing for _ against ukraine. you describe this as embarrassing for russia. - against ukraine. you describe this as embarrassing for russia. howl against ukraine. you describe this i as embarrassing for russia. how did rochette respond last time in what is likely are expected this time? —— russia. is likely are expected this time? -- russia. �* , ., , ., russia. after the previous attacks we saw more _ russia. after the previous attacks we saw more russian _ russia. after the previous attacks we saw more russian missile - russia. after the previous attacks i we saw more russian missile attacks against ukraine but also after the

previous attacks, and it wasn'tjust on the engels airbase, there was also an attack and attack on another airbase, after those attacks there were widespread calls here to tighten security in and around russian military installations. the fact that there has been another drone attack on the engels airbase shows that hasn't happened and that will be an embarrassment for them. is it having any impact on public opinion? how it is being reported there? it opinion? how it is being reported there? , , , , there? it is being reported dryly. the state news _ there? it is being reported dryly. the state news agencies - there? it is being reported dryly. the state news agencies are - the state news agencies are reporting it, the state media is reporting it, the state media is reporting it. i don't think you can take it as having an effect on public opinion here. i think public opinion is divided. there are some people who are firmly in favour of that special military operation, as a kremlin culture, and some people are shocked by what has happened. millions of people in the us

and canada are spending christmas in the grip of a severe winter storm. it's brought extreme frost, heavy snow and strong winds. at least 38 people have died in weather related incidents and around 175,000 homes are without power. 0ur north america correspondent, nomia iqbal, reports. a very white christmas has turned more into a deep freeze. the city of buffalo in new york state is used to tough weather conditions, but this storm has left it paralysed. many don't even have any power to cook their christmas lunch. i'm really glad that i have a fireplace because otherwise i'd be freezing right now. driving is banned, as the blizzard conditions leave roads impassable. power substations frozen, and at least seven people dead. we are in a war, this is a war with mother nature. and she has been hitting us with everything she has since the late hours of thursday and friday, saturday, and this will go down in history

as the most devastating storm in buffalo's long and storied history of having battled many battles, many major storms. in the midwest, four people were killed earlier in the week in a pile—up in ohio. four others died in crashes in missouri and kansas. the nation's capital has avoided much of the worst weather, but the bomb cyclone has left its mark. hundreds of water pipes are frozen, temperatures continue to drop, and many of the city's homeless people have been given emergency shelter. the storm is continuing to barrel up along the east coast here and across much of the us, and the advice remains to avoid travelling unless it is essential. and it's notjust the snow and ice causing mayhem. high winds have brought high tides and flooding on the eastern seaboard. forecasters say the storm will ease off in the next few days, but freezing temperatures are likely to linger for some time. nomia iqbal, bbc news, washington.

the united nations has asked taliban leaders for a meeting today to clarify a ban on afghan women working for humanitarian agencies in afghanistan. five major aid organisations are suspending all their work in the country following the order. islamic relief and the international rescue committee are the latest agencies to halt their activity. earlier, care, the norwegian refugeee council and save the children said they �*could not effectively reach afghans in desperate need' without their female staff. with me now is samira rahman from the international rescue committee. what is your situation? it is a very disappointing _ what is your situation? it is a very disappointing situation. _ what is your situation? it is a very disappointing situation. the - what is your situation? it is a very disappointing situation. the latest tell of an edict banning women from working in ngos comes after months of increasing restrictions on the

participation of women in public life and attending universities. we have seen over the course of the last year that the sidelining of women in the workspace has already cost the afghan economy over $1 billion. as ngos have been working towards delivering services in the midst of one of the worst humanitarian crises on the planet, we are unable to do that without female staff, without our female staff so we have decided it is a difficult decision, to spend our activities currently in the country. what does that mean for the people who you are there to help? it is what does that mean for the people who you are there to help?- who you are there to help? it is a difficult situation. _ who you are there to help? it is a difficult situation. afghanistan . who you are there to help? it is a difficult situation. afghanistan is| difficult situation. afghanistan is in the midst of the worst humanitarian situation, 90% of the country is at risk of poverty, 28 million people are in need of urgent

humanitarian assistance. however, we cannot reach the most vulnerable communities if we don't have a female staff and if we are not allowed to have female staff at all levels of our organisation we cannot continue to operate in the country as is the current situation. 50 continue to operate in the country as is the current situation. so what will ou as is the current situation. so what will you do? _ as is the current situation. so what will you do? we — as is the current situation. so what will you do? we are _ as is the current situation. so what will you do? we are hoping - as is the current situation. so what will you do? we are hoping that. will you do? we are hoping that discussions _ will you do? we are hoping that discussions between _ will you do? we are hoping that discussions between the - will you do? we are hoping that discussions between the united i discussions between the united nations and the authorities bring some results. they are coordinating with other organisations on the ground and the united nations, engaging at the highest levels to push back on this decision. haifa engaging at the highest levels to push back on this decision. how do ou feel push back on this decision. how do you feel about _ push back on this decision. how do you feel about this? _ push back on this decision. how do you feel about this? it _ push back on this decision. how do you feel about this? it has - push back on this decision. how do you feel about this? it has been i push back on this decision. how do you feel about this? it has been a l you feel about this? it has been a very tough _ you feel about this? it has been a very tough year — you feel about this? it has been a very tough year for _ you feel about this? it has been a very tough year for afghan - you feel about this? it has been a | very tough year for afghan women with the restrictions on secondary schools, restrictions on universities, the space for women in this country has been decreasing day by day. and with

edict, it is a very difficult situation for us. we... we have over 3000 female staff in afghanistan. they are generally, most of them are the breadwinners for theirfamilies. the breadwinners for their families. they the breadwinners for theirfamilies. they are supporting multiple households with this income and if they are not allowed to work, it is only going to exacerbate the humanitarian situation in the country. i humanitarian situation in the count . ., humanitarian situation in the count . . ~ ., country. i am assuming, i don't know what our country. i am assuming, i don't know what your circumstances _ country. i am assuming, i don't know what your circumstances are, - country. i am assuming, i don't know what your circumstances are, but - country. i am assuming, i don't know what your circumstances are, but i'm| what your circumstances are, but i'm assuming some working for the organisation will be able to leave the country and pick up work elsewhere but as you are describing, there are many more in a very different situation.— different situation. that is the case. different situation. that is the case- this _ different situation. that is the case. this edict _ different situation. that is the case. this edict at _ different situation. that is the case. this edict at this - different situation. that is the case. this edict at this point l different situation. that is the i case. this edict at this point only applies to afghan national staff, which is 99% of our staff. they can pick up and go anywhere. there needs to continue to be discussions around

this without de facto authorities and we urge them to this decision. thank you very much forjoining us. china is carrying out one of its biggest incursions to date in the seas and skies around taiwan. the taiwanese defence ministry says it has detected 71 chinese aircraft, the majority of them fighterjets, and seven chinese warships around the island. it added that 43 chinese airforce planes had crossed the median line of the taiwan strait, marking the de facto border between the island and the chinese mainland in a 24—hour period. let's get more on this from our correspondent mariko 0i who's in our singapore bureau. tell us more about what has been happening and how significant it is. it is quite significant and tensions between taiwan and beijing have been quite a tent and have been escalating this year, especially after some very high—profile visits by western officials, including

nancy pelosi of the united states. also uk lawmakers, japanese lawmakers visiting taiwan, sparking very angry reaction from beijing. 0n very angry reaction from beijing. on sunday, christmas day, we saw this intrusion into taiwan's air defence force, so we're talking about fighterjets and drones. beijing calls it a strike drill and they this was a response —— in response to provocations by taiwan and the united states. the office of taiwan is that you will be holding a high—level meeting tomorrow to reinforce its civil defence system. how are people in taiwan feeling about this?— about this? despite this early mornin: about this? despite this early morning report _ about this? despite this early morning report on _ about this? despite this early morning report on monday i about this? despite this early - morning report on monday morning by taiwan's defence ministry, it has been reported there is no major alarm because tensions have been

quite tense but still the fact this happened on christmas day, this is definitely worrying and this follows on friday a china conducting military drills nearjapan and japan has recently increased its defence spending. joe biden hasjust signed a new defence bill to establish a defence and modernisation programme for taiwan so well tensions have been quite tense, even though we had joe biden meeting with the president recently, it seems like tensions and are going to eat anytime soon. band are going to eat anytime soon. and what are the _ are going to eat anytime soon. and what are the expectations and where this go? is it seen as sabre rattling which will mostly pass? {iii rattling which will mostly pass? of course, china claims taiwan as its own territory and has said it will not rule out using force to reunite

the island. taiwan has strongly rejected beijing's sovereignty claims and it has its own democratically elected government. tensions have been on and off for many decades but especially this year we have seen that release biking, especially after nancy pelosi's visited taiwan and it feels like a lot of the regional powers as well as the united states are just monitoring how china may react. after russia's invasion of ukraine some observers in this part of the world were saying that beijing might be watching how russia has treated —— russia is treated very closely. so we will see how it goes in the new year but tensions remain high at the end of 2022. china's national health commission is no longer releasing daily covid 19 case figures, and will only report what it calls "releva nt data", despite a new surge

in the number of cases. according to one government official, 250 million new cases were reported in the first 20 days of december. joining me now is xiangwei wang, who is a china watcher and former reporter for the south china morning post. if that reporting is going to stop on the numbers, what is a sense of what the numbers are and where things are going?— what the numbers are and where things are going? certainly there is a lack of festive _ things are going? certainly there is a lack of festive spirit _ things are going? certainly there is a lack of festive spirit in _ things are going? certainly there is a lack of festive spirit in china - a lack of festive spirit in china right now. the coronavirus infections have spread like a wildfire in china across the country. i think according to the latest report i get from friends and relatives in beijing and official sources, in the major cities, beijing and shanghai, where infections have already reached over

70 to 80% of the population and right now it is spreading to the rural areas where china's public health infrastructure is the weakest, so the situation is very grim. weakest, so the situation is very rim. ., ., , ., , grim. how are the hospitals, the medics coping — grim. how are the hospitals, the medics coping with _ grim. how are the hospitals, the medics coping with the - grim. how are the hospitals, the medics coping with the number i grim. how are the hospitals, the l medics coping with the number of cases? i medics coping with the number of cases? ., . medics coping with the number of cases? ~' ., ., cases? i think we have written about this that i cases? i think we have written about this that l think— cases? i think we have written about this that i think right _ cases? i think we have written about this that i think right now— cases? i think we have written about this that i think right now the - this that i think right now the hospitals are overwhelmed and there is a severe shortage of feedback medicine and the morgues are overflowing with bodies. the issue that was also a lot of people is

that was also a lot of people is that china is the last major economy to reopen, so china has nearly three years of preparing to have the covid restrictions lifted and learning from other countries, but what we have seen over the past 20 days is that there is not much of a plan. there was a lack of planning, coordination and communication on the part of the government. thank ou ve the part of the government. thank you very much _ the part of the government. thank you very much for _ the part of the government. thank you very much forjoining - the part of the government. thank you very much forjoining us. - the most successful female golfer of all time, kathy whitworth has died at the age of 83. she won a record 88 ladies professional golf association titles, including six majors in a career which started in 1959. whitworth was also the first

woman to earn a million dollars on the lpga tour. she died suddenly while celebrating christmas eve with family and friends. police are appealing for information after a gunman shot and killed a 26—year—old woman at a pub in wallasey village on merseyside. 0fficers believe the woman, who was out with her sister and friends, was not the intended target. four men were wounded, one is in a critical condition. war has transformed life for millions of young ukrainians, many of whom are still living as refugees 10 months after russia invaded their country. among them is teenager nika, who now lives in the uk and is coming to terms with the fact that she won't be able to return home anytime soon. sarah rainsford has been following herjourney. nobody here understands what i experienced. i hope they never will understand

what i experienced. when russia invaded her country, nika played piano to drown out the sound of the explosions. i was hearing bangs, bombs. it was quite loud. yeah, unfortunately, kharkiv is one of the most attacked cities in ukraine. we first met as her family were fleeing kharkiv. nika was leaving her city and friends behind to become a refugee. she is now at a school in england and we went to see how she is doing. i needed time to understand that now i am in a safe place, i don't hear alarms every hour and i don't need to think about what if in the next second a bomb is going to be near me. the bombing of kharkiv was intense for months. hundreds of missiles fired by russian forces who only retreated in september.

we found nika's old school there, eerily empty. her teacher still comes in. but she is the only one because all lessons are online. most of nika's classmates fled too when war broke out here. maria is trying to stay positive it will end soon, but that is hard. kharkiv life is still a long way from normal. i went to meet nika's grandmother, who has no light or lift for hours a day because russian missiles are now targeting ukraine's power supply. it was nika's 16th birthday, so she called her at a school to tell her she loves and misses her and urge her to

study well. it is the first time they have not celebrated together. what have they done to us and what for? she wants to know. and she means russia. nika is meeting new friends in england, impressing new teachers, making the most of a life she never chose, but kharkiv is never far from her thoughts. i want my home back. i want my previous life back, but of course i know it is not really possible. i would like peace and calmness in ukraine and i would like people to stop dying. it is 100 days since anti—government protests began in iran. thousands have been arrested, and according to the human rights activists' news agency, at least 500 people have been killed since protests started in september. two young people have been executed and many more are reportedly on death row,

or facing what amnesty international describes as "sham trials". parham ghobadi reports. a grieving mother in iran. security forces killed her 20—year—old son, he was shot at close range, one on his waist and then on the forehead. she says she will not keep quiet even if she gets arrested or killed. he was one of more than 500 protesters who, according to rights groups, have been killed. 100 days on, and despite the deadly crackdown, protesters are still on the streets, chanting slogans against the regime and executions. the position of the state has hardened.

and two young protesters were hanged after being sentenced to death. it is feared at least 26 others could face the same fate. bbc persian has obtained an audio file of a 26—year—old protester who is on death row. he says he has been subjected to three mock executions. translation: they blindfolded me and said it's time for your execution. - let's go. as i entered the prosecutors office, he said that execution is written all over his face. hang him! bbc persian has also learned of another 23—year—old protester who died in police custody in the south—western town of izeh. his name was hamed salahshoor. at night, the authorities buried his body 30km away from his hometown, but after exhuming his body, his family discovered signs of torture.

translation: his face was totally smashed. i his eyes, eyebrows, jaw, nose, cheeks, his mum fainted when she saw him. to this day, she is still not feeling well. as they exhumed the body, his torso, from his neck to his naval and over his kidneys, had been sewn up. in addition to these testimonies, more accounts of torture and killings are emerging as the authorities increase their determination to put an end to the protests. and for iranians protesting against the islamic republic, the crackdown and separation have only added fuel to the fire. dozens of rohingya refugees have drifted onto a beach in the indonesian province of aceh in a boat with a broken engine.

the wooden boat with 57 men on board landed on sunday morning. it's not clear if they're part of a group of nearly 200 rohingya who became stranded at sea weeks ago, without food or water. immigration officials described them as hungry and weak after many days at sea. the united nations says it fears many of that group have drowned. six people have died after a passenger bus plunged into a river off a bridge in galicia, in northwest spain. there were two survivors — the vehicle's driver and a passenger. strong currents due to heavy rains hampered the rescue operation in the river lerez. the coach was travelling between the cities of lugo and vigo. all ten members of a group of skiers who were caught in an avalance in austria have been rescued. authorities had been searching overnight for two people who remained unaccounted for in an off—piste area around the lech—zurs resort in the west of the country. you are watching bbc news.

there are some wintry showers, especially in scotland and to low levels in places here. after it was to start to tuesday, milder air is coming back. well spread wet and windy weather. snow showers in scotland, brisk north—westerly wind, piling into northern and western parts today. some accumulations to low levels, especially on the hills and there could be snow drifts and blizzards. met office weather warning enforce, check the details before you go out. an icy start in northern ireland, further wintry showers, the high parts of northern

england and north wales will have showers too. the midlands, eastern and south east england, dry it with and south east england, dry it with a few showers in the midlands and east anglia late in the day. temperatures reaching highs of mid single figures and feeling colder in the wind. gales or severe gales in the wind. gales or severe gales in the northern isles. showers will fade tonight, it could be icy in places, a widespread frost setting in. the most wildly cold night left for the rest of the year. late in the night, temperatures rise as the breeze picks up, wet and windy weather is starting to move in. rain spreading across all parts, clearing out of the way quickly in northern ireland in the morning. some snow in scotland before it turns to rain, parts of the higher parts of the pennines too, late in the day before east anglia and england sees significant rain. the high ground of wales and the west of england. northern ireland, sunny spells and a

few showers. a slow process to lift the temperatures, much of northern ireland and england and wales get into double figures. a lull on tuesday night before windy weather moves in on wednesday, cooler on thursday, sunshine and showers, some high ground in the north before more wet and windy weather moves in for friday, another system at the weekend. 0verall, friday, another system at the weekend. over all, for the rest of the year, after today, scotland and northern ireland temperatures average, mild in england and wales but very active weather with spills of wind and rain on the way.

this is bbc news, the headlines: russia's defence ministry says at least three service personnel have been killed as a result of a ukrainian drone attack on an air force base in the south of the country. millions of people in the us and canada are spending christmas in the grip of a severe winter storm. at least 38 people are known to have died. 175,000 homes are without power. china carries out one of it's biggest incursions to date in the seas and skies around taiwan. the taiwanese defence ministry says it's detected 71 aircraft and 7 warships around the island. in the uk — shoppers are expected to spend less at the boxing day sales as households are squeezed by the cost of living crisis. it comes as disruption is expected on roads around shopping centres

because of the latest round of rail strikes.