showers in this is bbc news. i'm lukwesa burak with the latest headlines. at least 50 people have died in the united states and canada — as a deep freeze and severe winter weather sweeps across north america. new york states�*s governor, warns the danger is not over yet. we have been through a lot of wars together, and this blizzard is one for the ages. certainly it is the blizzard of the century. this is the scene live, in downtown buffalo. we'll be bring you all the latest from the city. in the uk — police confirm they have arrested two people in connection with the murder of ellie edwards, who was shot dead at a pub in merseyside, in the north of england, on christmas eve. russia says at least three servicemen have been killed in a ukrainian drone attack,

on an air force base, in the south of the country. the un tells the taliban to reverse its decision banning afghan women working for humanitarian agencies — after five major organisations suspend their work in afghanistan. hello if you're watching in the uk — on pbs in the us — and around the globe. welcome to bbc news. we start in america — where at least 50 people are now known to have died due to the severe arctic freeze, that continues to affect the us and canada. one of the worst—hit areas is the city of buffalo, in new york state, where the governor called

the storm an �*epic, once in a lifetime event'. the bbc�*s, emily unia, has the latest. the arctic storm pummelling the us and canada caused christmas chaos for millions. thousands of flights were cancelled, and roads and railways were closed or impassible, preventing people from reaching friends and family. emergency services battled treacherous conditions to carry out rescues. fatalities have been confirmed across the us. one of the worst—hit areas was new york state, especially in buffalo and hamburg in erie county. snow blanketed streets, and driving was banned. more than two dozen people are now known to have died in the greater buffalo region. to all who've lost a loved one, and some of those folks may not even know it yet, just, you have our deepest condolences. this has just been a horrible, the worst type of storm you can imagine, and you have my deepest condolences on behalf of the people

of erie county for the loss of a loved one on christmas day. rolling blackouts left more than 1.5 million people without power on christmas day. connections are now steadily being restored. in south florida, iguanas froze and fell from trees. they won't get moving again until temperatures rise and they can thaw out. much further north, stunning ice formations appeared on lake michigan. and although the storm is starting to ease, freezing conditions are still expected for some time to come. emily unia, bbc news. earlier, new york states�*s governor, kathy hochul, gave an update on the situation. we have been through a lot of wars together, and this blizzard is one for the ages. certainly it is the blizzard of the century. i know how hard this is. you've been doing what we've asked you to do by and large, and again the end is almost here. but let's make sure we get

through the final days safely, and keep all of our first responders and the snowplow drivers and everyone else who's out there in a uniform to keep all of us safe, keep them in your prayers. thank you very much. do stay with us — i'll be getting the latest from a meteorologist in buffalo, shortly. two people have been arrested in connection with the death of a woman who was shot dead, at a pub in merseyside, in northern england, on christmas eve. the victim has been named as 26—year—old ellie edwards. she died after a gunman opened fire at the front of the pub. a 30—year—old man is being questioned on suspicion of murder and attempted murder — and a 19—year—old woman has been arrested, on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. the bbc�*s, fiona trott, reports. a young woman shot and killed whilst celebrating christmas with family and friends.

ellie edwards was at the lighthouse pub in wallasey village when a man opened fire at the entrance. merseyside police say they do not believe she was a target. today, around 30 relatives arrived at the scene to lay flowers. the police say what they're going through is incomprehensible. one of the cards reads, "to my beautiful elle, you are the light of my life, you will never be gone, mum and dad." the killing took place at a family pub at the heart of the community. local residents have described their shock. things like this don't really happen on the wirral, so i think everyone�*s shocked. you don't expect it on your own doorstep, you know? this pub is a nice pub. you know, you never hear of any trouble. i've got a 21—year—old son, and, you know, it's devastating to be honest. forensic teams have been searching the area throughout the day.

merseyside police are continuing to appeal for information and want to hear from anyone who may know the male driver of a dark—coloured vehicle, possibly a mercedes a—class, that was seen leaving the pub car park. four men were also injured in the attack. a 28—year—old from beechwood is in a critical condition in hospital. elle was a beautician. her colleagues have described her as "a beautiful angel". her whole life and career have been cut short, and at a time when her family, like many families, had come together to celebrate. fiona trott, bbc news. a russian air base hundreds of kilometres from ukraine has come under attack for the second time in less than a month. the russian defence ministry says the engels base in the southern saratov region — was targeted by ukrainian drones during the night. russia says it shot down the drones,

but three of its servicemen were killed by falling debris. the base is host to long—range russian strategic bombers — the type of which have launched numerous missiles strikes on ukraine. from moscow, our russia editor, steve rosenberg, reports. caught on cctv... ..an explosion at a russian airbase. russia says it shot down a ukrainian drone, but that three russian soldiers were killed. engels airbase is deep inside russian territory, hundreds of miles from the ukrainian border. the base hosts long—range bombers which are believed to have launched missile attacks against ukraine. state tv reacted to the news with a familiar warning to kyiv. russia, she says, would exact revenge by carrying out more strikes on ukrainian infrastructure. russia can rattle those sabres

and flex its muscles, but it doesn't change the fact that what happened at engels airbase is embarrassing for the kremlin. for the second time in less than a month, what is an important military installation has come under attack. quite a contrast to the image of military might that president putin's been portraying in recent days. the kremlin leader has promised his generals all the resources they need for the war in ukraine. he's determined to secure something he can present as a russian victory. putin is not going to back off, and nobody else is going to give him a reason to back off. and therefore he's going to take steps necessary to him to win, whatever that victory may mean for him. but ten months after russia invaded ukraine, there is no sign of that victory. instead, the war the kremlin started is moving closer to home.

steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. donald jensen is the director for�* russia and strategic stability�* — at the us institute of peace — and a former diplomat at the us embassy in moscow. earlier, he told me what impact this attack will have had on russia. ukrainian and some once again showing they can push back effectively and shatter the morale of russian people and elites. i would know that key after a sort of is a longer distance than kyiv to moscow. this implies that ukraine can hit the capital if he chooses. of course here they attacked him military target and not civilian targets because ukraine knows to keep the moral high ground and his support in the west it needs to act

properly and that means avoiding attacking civilians. find properly and that means avoiding attacking civilians.— attacking civilians. and with the west support — attacking civilians. and with the west support this _ attacking civilians. and with the west support this attack? - attacking civilians. and with the west support this attack? i - attacking civilians. and with the | west support this attack? i think the west won't _ west support this attack? i think the west won't comment. - west support this attack? i think the west won't comment. i - west support this attack? i thinkj the west won't comment. i think west support this attack? i think - the west won't comment. i think the west probably informally is kind of pleased the russians can get a black eye. but they won't say anything at all. this is, as you say in your report, not the first attack on anglos it is not even the first in recent months. the ukrainians have record of the russians. they have embarrassed the kremlin and have made them very nervous. it is ironic that after the attacks today one of the very prominent ultra perisic right—wing critics of putin has said what is our army worth? we can even stop this. where is our air defence? this question is now being asked among the russian elites and their signs in recent weeks of dissatisfaction in the way putin is the conduct in the war. he dissatisfaction in the way putin is the conduct in the war.— dissatisfaction in the way putin is the conduct in the war. he said the taruet the conduct in the war. he said the target was — the conduct in the war. he said the target was deep — the conduct in the war. he said the target was deep into _ the conduct in the war. he said the target was deep into russian - target was deep into russian territory. grumbles about the state

of the military. and obviously highlighting the vulnerability of russia. i of pretension has been placed on the troops currently operating on ukrainian soil. what is the assessment of the russian military itself?— the assessment of the russian military itself? back in russia? back in russian _ military itself? back in russia? back in russian it _ military itself? back in russia? back in russian it shows, - military itself? back in russia? | back in russian it shows, again, military itself? back in russia? - back in russian it shows, again, to other russian and the russian high command that they are not ready to kick which the kind of war that is needed to defeat ukraine. they don't have the infrastructure or the supplies and now they can even defend what putin claims is sacred russian tears are. this is injurious to russian morocco. we have seen it on the troops on the line in ukraine from east to west all the way south. russia will fight hard but ukraine clearly has the military advantage for now and when you hit surprisingly as they did last night, as they did on december five the question comes what is next? and

really, the russians are pointing fingers at each other and ultimately kremlin not protecting them properly. kremlin not protecting them --roerl . ~ ., kremlin not protecting them --roerl . ~ . ., kremlin not protecting them --roerl .~ ., ., kremlin not protecting them --roerl. ., ., , properly. what would you say is next, donald? _ properly. what would you say is next, donald? how— properly. what would you say is next, donald? how do - properly. what would you say is next, donald? how do you - properly. what would you say is next, donald? how do you see | properly. what would you say is i next, donald? how do you see this conflict going question mark what is going to flip to give either site the advantage? i going to flip to give either site the advantage?— going to flip to give either site the advantage? going to flip to give either site the advantaue? ~ ., , ., ., the advantage? i think what you are seen in ukraine _ the advantage? i think what you are seen in ukraine itself _ the advantage? i think what you are seen in ukraine itself is— the advantage? i think what you are seen in ukraine itself is the - seen in ukraine itself is the gradual slowing of combat operations. ukraine has the initiative. russia is beginning. ukraine hopes to gradually push back to crimea and in the east. you said in your report that putin is now talking about negotiations. the problem is it's negotiations on his terms. and even ukrainian officials today talked about negotiations maybe in february. we are a long way from that. even if there are talks, something has to happen more decisive on the battlefield and we are not there yet. i think if there are not there yet. i think if there are any talks and meaningful talks it would be a few months in the future perhaps the middle of next year or perhaps the end. once things

happen on the back first and we're not there yet. the acting head of the united nations mission to afghanistan, has asked taliban leaders to reverse a decision to ban afghan women working for humanitarian agencies in the country. five major aid organisations are suspending their work in afghanistan following the order. islamic relief and the �*international rescue committee' — are the latest agencies to halt their activities. earlier — care, the norwegian refugeee council and save the children — said they �*could not effectively reach afghans in desperate need�* without their female staff. jan egeland, the secretary general of the norwegian refugee council, told us his organisation could not work in afghanistan without the female workforce. we have nearly 1500 staff. about one third are women, 470. we cannot operate without our

committed, hard—working, professional female colleagues. they are the ones who assess needs among women and children. they are the ones who communicate to the women, for example single—mother households and so on. so, our message back to the taliban authorities who gave us this order on christmas eve, the 24th of december, was that we have to suspend our work. we cannot work without our female colleagues. and this is in a situation of desperate need. millions and millions need our emergency relief through this winter. it is a 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 30 kilometres 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 exhume 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.

this is bbc world news. the headlines. at least 50 people have died in the united states and canada as a deep freeze and severe winter weather sweeps across north america. new york states�*s governor, warns the danger is not over yet. russia says at least three servicemen have been killed in a ukrainian drone attack on an air force base in the south of the country. the un tells the taliban to reverse its decision on banning afghan women working for humanitarian agencies, after five major organisations suspend their work in afghanistan. let�*s cross over to buffalo in new york state now. it is significant that you can

actually see it. power has been restored. there power has been restored. there power has been restored across buffalo and much of the united states affected by the storm. i�*m joined by patrick hammer, chief meteorologist at local television station wgrz. thank you forjoining us here on world news. each has been described as a war zone. it looks like a wash—out, or rather the remnants of the wash—out i wiped out behind you. how bad is it? i�*ve got to tell you. i have been covering the weather in this country for a long time in other cities including here in buffalo. this is by far the worst blizzard i have ever seen. i blizzard i have ever seen. i blizzard is a storm that we term here, where you have pierced arm with no invisibility and heavy snow for a long duration. and this storm

exceeded every expectation of what we thought the storm could be. behind me, i�*m about 15 miles south of buffalo where the buffalo bills play. there is about 2.5 feet of fresh snow that fell on christmas day alone. this is on top of snow we already had in the season that led to this. father to the north in buffalo is where power outages were as situation. and unfortunately a significant loss of life. 27 people have perished in erie county in buffalo because folks are stranded in their car or stuck at home without power. it has been a truly crippling, paralysing and unfortunately deadly situation here in buffalo. ., w' unfortunately deadly situation here in buffalo. . a , ., in buffalo. patrick in terms of precipitation. _ in buffalo. patrick in terms of precipitation. you _ in buffalo. patrick in terms of precipitation. you have - in buffalo. patrick in terms of- precipitation. you have described the snow, so you had snow. had the weather systems been coming in

stages or waves? and which one do you dread the most? {eek stages or waves? and which one do you dread the most?— stages or waves? and which one do you dread the most? 0k well i fired the blizzard — you dread the most? 0k well i fired the blizzard is _ you dread the most? 0k well i fired the blizzard is the _ you dread the most? 0k well i fired the blizzard is the worst. one - you dread the most? 0k well i fired the blizzard is the worst. one thing | the blizzard is the worst. one thing that we get here and maybe it�*s a term you�*ve have her debts or not. it's term you�*ve have her debts or not. it�*s a peer point of snow where snow slicks on one end of the lake and cold wind travels along the lake and picks up moisture and deposits it in the form of snow. we often can get one .5 metre or two metres of snow and we know how to deal with that. this was a combination of lake effect snow as well as a strong low pressure area that produced heavy snow, the wind that was hurricane force, i�*m not kidding. over 90 kph. and bitter cold temperatures of

almost 15 below 0 celsius. and the combination of that is a blizzard. one thing i wanted to add, we had blizzard conditions here in buffalo for 36 straight hours. that is in a day and a half. not an hour or two, 36 straight hours.— 36 straight hours. patrick, obviously. _ 36 straight hours. patrick, obviously, this _ 36 straight hours. patrick, obviously, this will - 36 straight hours. patrick, i obviously, this will eventually 36 straight hours. patrick, - obviously, this will eventually come to an end. how are you forecast and it coming to an end? there has been talk about if it happens too fast there could be flash flooding what�*s going to happen? that there could be flash flooding what's going to happen?— going to happen? that is a very good oint. b going to happen? that is a very good point- by the — going to happen? that is a very good point- by the way. — going to happen? that is a very good point. by the way, this _ going to happen? that is a very good point. by the way, this storm - going to happen? that is a very good point. by the way, this storm is - going to happen? that is a very good point. by the way, this storm is not i point. by the way, this storm is not done. we will get, tonight, another five to eight inches. were talking maybe ten to 16 cm of additional snow and that will be it. by the time we get to the end of the week are temperature here would be about 10 celsius which was met lots of it. it will not get rid of it but it

will melt a lot of it and that could cause or rivers and streams to swell and a lot of basements to flood as well. a lot of moisture messing quickly. well. a lot of moisture messing cuickl . ., , , well. a lot of moisture messing cuickl . . , , ., quickly. 0k, and very quickly. i am in the uk where _ quickly. 0k, and very quickly. i am in the uk where in _ quickly. 0k, and very quickly. i am in the uk where in the _ quickly. 0k, and very quickly. i am in the uk where in the us - quickly. 0k, and very quickly. i am in the uk where in the us is - quickly. 0k, and very quickly. i am in the uk where in the us is the i in the uk where in the us is the storm predicted to move to. 10096. often times — storm predicted to move to. 10096. often times even _ storm predicted to move to. 10096. often times even though _ storm predicted to move to. 10096. often times even though it - storm predicted to move to. 10096. often times even though it you - storm predicted to move to. 10096. often times even though it you are | often times even though it you are downwind of us, we look to see what is happening in the uk because somehow that affects our weather here too. this storm, actually, it is spinning itself over quebec in canada and will kind of fizzled out and not necessarily move your way. having said that, the weather pattern that is developing now will warm up and eventually you will have warmer air too. warm up and eventually you will have warmerairtoo. but warm up and eventually you will have warmer air too. but i am wary of january and the beginning of february. i think a cold weather pattern returns, not only here, but possibly for you as well. it

pattern returns, not only here, but possibly for you as well.— possibly for you as well. it was auoin so possibly for you as well. it was going so well— possibly for you as well. it was going so well unto _ possibly for you as well. it was going so well unto you - possibly for you as well. it was going so well unto you said - possibly for you as well. it was | going so well unto you said that patrick did. you had me at one weather. thank you very much, stay safe and warm thank you.— weather. thank you very much, stay safe and warm thank you. thank you. like i said safe and warm thank you. thank you. like i said i — safe and warm thank you. thank you. like i said i am _ safe and warm thank you. thank you. like i said i am here _ safe and warm thank you. thank you. like i said i am here in _ safe and warm thank you. thank you. like i said i am here in britain. - here in britain, most shops have been open again, after being closed on christmas day, boxing day sales have previously been a popular date for for shoppers in search of bargains. but retail experts say they�*re expecting shoppers to spend less this year as the cost of living crisis continues and we see a change in shopping habits. katy austin reports. in liverpool this morning, the shoppers were out and about early. i was there at half seven. have you got anything so far? yeah, i�*ve got shoes in my car already, and then clothes. cost of living, you know, you've got to grab a bargain. these days, not all retailers open on boxing day. some started their sales well before christmas, and more and more customers choose to buy online. but for this big shopping centre in liverpool, it�*s still a crucial week.

it's very important - for retailers and ourselves. boxing day gives the retailers . the chance to clear some of that stock that they perhaps didn't sell before christmas. - boxing day is actually one - of the quieter days of the week. it builds up throughout this week into some quite - extraordinary numbers. cost—of—living pressures are expected to put a dampener on spending this year, but the manager of this store is optimistic. i think people are now looking into what they�*re buying a lot more than what they used to be, but we are still trading quite well. central london�*s oxford street filled up as the day went on. have you come out for the sales? yeah, i always come out, it's my birthday today, and i don't think it's as busy as it used to he — it used to be a lot busier before. people had a lot more bags before. the shops have started giving sales maybe a bit earlier than usual, - but there are still quite a few discounts. - what have you found? anything good? just socks so far. a company that tracks how many people are out at shopping destinations says compared to last year when covid badly affected trading, it�*s an optimistic picture,

numbers are up. however, footfall hasn�*t recovered to what it was before the pandemic. hello. a fine end to boxing day across many parts of the country, especially further east and south across the uk. wintry showers in scotland. how about the next few days? well, it is going to be very unsettled. rain and wind at times. risk of gales, in fact, in the run—up to the new year. but let�*s have a look at the short—term. so, through the course of this evening, lots of clear weather about, the temperatures will dip away quite sharply as well. just a few showers there still, wintry ones across scotland, but a weather system is approaching from the west. so milder conditions starting to spread into parts of wales and south—western england by the early hours of tuesday morning. but this weather system, as it sweeps across the country in the morning, it will still encounter the cold air in scotland

and parts of northern england. so, with that clear night there and the low temperatures, as the weather front overrides that cold air, anything that falls out of the sky will be snow across the highlands, maybe for a time in the pennines, too. but to the south of that, that mild stream of that south—westerly wind, it is going to be rain, so really unpleasant around welsh coasts, south—western england through the afternoon — gusty winds, heavy rain. the last place to see the rain on tuesday will be the far south—east. this is, i think, where the rain will reach you early evening. and then out towards the west, on the other hand, it should clear up come the evening. now, here�*s wednesday�*s weather map, and the next area of low pressure sweeps in. quite a few isobars there, pressure lines, big pressure gradients. so, strong winds blowing in and again another dose of gale—force winds, particularly around western and maybe southern areas. a really changeable day. in the south, relatively mild, 12 degrees celsius, but further north, the other side of the weather front, it�*s pretty chilly there for northern scotland and the northern isles.

the low pressure still with us on thursday, quite a large area of low pressure, blustery winds. a cold front will have swept through by then, so i think slightly colder, particularly in the north. even some wintry showers around, temperatures around 6—7 degrees there for glasgow and for aberdeen. in the south, might still make double figures in london and norwich. so, the run—up to the new year, new year�*s eve there, saturday, it stays relatively mild, but it�*s not going to feel like it, of course, because of all that wind, rain and risk of gales. bearthat in mind. bye— bye.

this is bbc news. the headlines. at least 50 people have died in the us and canada as severe, freezing winter weather sweeps across north america. the region around buffalo, in upstate new york, has been worst affected. russia says at least three technical staff have been killed by falling debris following a ukrainian drone attack on an air force base in the south of the country. in the uk, police confirm they have arrested two people in connection with the murder of ellie edwards, who was shot dead at a pub in merseyside in the north of england, on christmas eve. the united nations tells the taliban to reverse its decision on banning afghan women working for humanitarian agencies, after five major non—governmental organisations suspend

their work in afghanistan.