this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the arctic freeze continues across the us and canada. president biden approves an emergency declaration. moscow says at least three of its personnel are killed in a ukrainian drone attack on a russian airforce base. lost at sea. 180 rohingya refugees are feared dead on a boat adrift in the indian ocean. two people are arrested after a woman is shot dead at a pub in merseyside, in northern england, on christmas eve. and a call for free school meals for all pupils in england whose parents are

on universal credit. more than 50 people have been killed in winter storms across the united states. president biden has approved an emergency declaration allowing federal support for new york state, where the city of buffalo has borne the brunt of the arctic conditions. 27 bodies have been recovered there and more are expected to be found in cars buried in the snow. blizzards have blocked roads and power lines making it hard to get food and medicine. sean dilley reports. for five days blizzard conditions have just dropped life and travel across america. dozens of deaths have been reported, more are expected in the coming days. emergency services are among those struggling with the weather. a

quarter of a million homes and businesses are estimated to have been it by power cuts on christmas eve and christmas day. the impact of the storm has stretched from canada to the mexican border. montana has experienced the coldest weather with temperatures dropping to -45. the with temperatures dropping to —45. the most impacted residents live here in buffalo, upstate new york, where half of all deaths have been reported. the staples make governors as they are at war with mother nature. �* , ., ., they are at war with mother nature. �* ,, ., . ., , nature. anyone who declares victory and — nature. anyone who declares victory and says _ nature. anyone who declares victory and says it's - nature. anyone who declares victory and says it's over, - nature. anyone who declares victory and says it's over, it l victory and says it's over, it is way too early to say that it is way too early to say that it is at completion. the severity is at completion. the severity is downplaying and it may not have been as bad as the last couple of days, but it is still a dangerous situation to be out. ., . . , , a dangerous situation to be out. ., , n, a dangerous situation to be out. ., ,., ., out. forecast is a condition should improve _ out. forecast is a condition should improve in - out. forecast is a condition should improve in the - out. forecast is a condition should improve in the daysj should improve in the days ahead. but until then authorities say people should only travel if it's totally essential. sean dilley, bbc news. holly paolicelli is an artist based in buffalo and they're currently volunteering

in the community. i asked them how they've been coping the past few days. well, today has been really the first day that i've been able to get out myself. we were snowed in. we luckily never lost electricity at my house so we were able to celebrate christmas with the lights and the heat on, but we were out was pretty amazing to see everybody out and about trying to just see what was going on outside for the first time in about three days.— outside for the first time in about three days. and people are really _ about three days. and people are really coming _ about three days. and people are really coming together i about three days. and people l are really coming together and helping each other at the moment, aren't they? you have been volunteering in the shop, as a mention. what have you been doing?— as a mention. what have you been doing? this morning we decided to — been doing? this morning we decided to mobilise, - been doing? this morning we decided to mobilise, we - been doing? this morning we| decided to mobilise, we really had no plan, we made a post on social media and decided to go for it. we opened up our store in the village, where a gift shop with local artist, but two of us were the neighbourhood and decided to show up, ask for donations, we had somebody from the neighbourhood with a pot of spaghetti, we had hot cocoa, we had toilet paper, we had

vegetable products, we had a lot of different donations, people were constantly bringing things in. and we were encouraging people to take anything they needed all day. and our people still without power? and our people still without ower? , ., �* , and our people still without ower? , ., �*, . ., power? yes, that's correct. you know that — power? yes, that's correct. you know that in — power? yes, that's correct. you know that in the _ power? yes, that's correct. you know that in the village - power? yes, that's correct. you know that in the village we - power? yes, that's correct. you know that in the village we are l know that in the village we are with power, but there are people on the east and west side of buffalo, communities right next door to us, and they are without power. some are without heat. no pipes have been burst because without heat, without power, there are people still stuck in their cars, it's really tragic that there are still these things happening. we're very grateful we are any circumstance we are, but it is sad to see our neighbours going through this as well. ~ ., ., neighbours going through this as well. ~ . ., , as well. what are the roads look like — as well. what are the roads look like at _ as well. what are the roads look like at the _ as well. what are the roads look like at the moment? l look like at the moment? i don't know if you have been able to see much of them, there were so many problems even with the emergency vehicles and the snowploughs getting stuck on the roads. we snowploughs getting stuck on the roads. ~ snowploughs getting stuck on the roads-_ the roads. we did see the national _ the roads. we did see the national guard _ the roads. we did see the national guard passed - the roads. we did see the national guard passed by | the roads. we did see the i national guard passed by for the first time today on the elm wood strip itself. the sidestreets have been the main problem in the city itself. but

about an hour ago i did see an actual plough come through, they were escorted by state troopers as well. you know there are cars on the road and people trying to get out of their houses, so they are just trying to organise and it's good to see them finally out there on the roads, because they have been about two feet above the ground for the last two days. above the ground for the last two days-_ above the ground for the last twoda s. ., ., , .,, ., two days. you are used to snow there in buffalo, _ two days. you are used to snow there in buffalo, aren't- two days. you are used to snow there in buffalo, aren't you, - there in buffalo, aren't you, but it has been extraordinary how we continued, that blizzard went on for so many hours, didn't i think 36 hours in total. it'sjust been didn't i think 36 hours in total. it's just been pretty much unlike what people are seen before, hasn't it? absolutely. they know people have compared it to the blizzard of 1977 in buffalo. but it is nothing they have seen. electricity, the wind happening, the rain happening, for two days i could not cr my window. it was amazing for it to clear up and you see what happened outside in the two days we couldn't get out. hailing days we couldn't get out. holly paolicelli talking _

days we couldn't get out. holly paolicelli talking to _ days we couldn't get out. holly paolicelli talking to me - days we couldn't get out. holly paolicelli talking to me a - paolicelli talking to me a little earlier in buffalo. 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 ta rgetted by ukrainian drones. russia says it shot down the drones, but three of its servicemen were killed by falling debris. the base contains russian long—range bombers, of the type which launched numerous missile 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 meanfor 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. the united nations refugee agency says it fears 180 rohingya refugees may have died aboard a boat that was adrift for weeks in the indian ocean. two other boats carrying hundreds of rohingya have reached the shores of indonesia in the past two days, as naomi choy smith reports. and a warning — you may find some of the images in this report distressing. afterfour weeks adrift in the andaman sea in a fishing refugees finally made it ashore, many weak and in poor health from battling extreme hunger and thirst on the open ocean. on monday, indonesia allowed them to disembark in the western province of aceh, providing emergency medical help and shelter.

but the un says another rohingya boat is lost at sea, all 180 aboard feared dead. and in indonesia, the boats keep coming, four have landed in aceh since november, setting off from bangladesh where rohingya are crowded into refugee camps. tens of thousands left myanmar after a deadly military crackdown in 2017. now they are boarding wooden boats in hopes of a better life in malaysia or indonesia. just last week, the sri lankan navy rescued more than 100 rohingya adrift in rough seas. now the international organisation for migration is urging more action. we have called on governments in the region to co—ordinate efforts for safe demarcation and make sure all these people are given safe passage, and get the support

that they need. we are very thankful to the authorities in indonesia, who have welcomed some of these boats, we hope there is more effort from the other countries in the region. as for the rohingya refugees who have found land, theirfuture still looks uncertain. naomi choy smith, bbc news. severe flooding in the southern philippines has left 13 people dead. tens of thousands of people have been forced from their homes. more than 20 people are missing. flash floods triggered by heavy rain were concentrated on the southern island of mindanao. damage to livestock is estimated at more than $1 million. two people are being questioned by merseyside police following the fatal shooting of elle edwards at a village pub near liverpool on christmas eve. a 30—year—old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder and 19—year—old woman has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. fiona trott reports.

"a beautiful angel." that's how elle edwards has been described by colleagues. a beautician who was shot and killed while celebrating christmas here with family and friends. a man opened fire at the entrance, four others were injured, one is in a critical condition in hospital. at a time of year when relatives come together to celebrate, herfamily came here to express their condolences. the police say what they are going through is incomprehensible. the card from her parents reads "to my beautiful elle, you are the light of my life, you will never be gone." people living nearby have also paid their respects, they are struggling to understand how a family pub just a short walk from their own front door is now a crime scene. , , .,, .,

own front door is now a crime scene. , ., �*, scene. just astounded it's happened _ scene. just astounded it's happened here. _ scene. just astounded it's happened here. never- scene. just astounded it's i happened here. never heard scene. just astounded it's - happened here. never heard of this m50-60 happened here. never heard of this m50—60 years. everyone is upset the blue it's just shocking that it has happened. we don't want guns in this community. i'vejust literally community. i've just literally pick some stuff up for a neighbour because she is going to go out. neighbour because she is going to to out. , to go out. yesterday the investigator _ to go out. yesterday the investigator move - to go out. yesterday the l investigator move quickly, first forensic teams search the local area and community leaders issued a fresh appeal for information. then by the evening there was police activity across the city. these were two addresses in the tranmere area. merseyside police have said they don't believe elle edwards was deliberately targeted. it makes her death all the more difficult for herfamily her death all the more difficult for her family to comprehend. fiona trott, bbc news i , merseyside. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: the head of the un in afghanistan asks the taliban to allow afghan women to work for humanitarian agencies.

the most ambitious financial and political change ever attempted has got under way with the introduction of the euro. tomorrow in holland, we're gonna use money we picked up in belgium today and then, we'll be in france and again. _ it'll be the same money. it's just got to be the way to go. crowd yelling george harrison, i the former beatle, is recovering in hospital after being stabbed - at his oxfordshire home. a 33—year—old man from - liverpool is being interviewed by police on suspicion of attempted murder. - i think it was good. just good? no, fantastic. big ben bongs

this is bbc news, the latest headlines: the arctic freeze continues across the us and canada — president biden approves an emergency declaration allowing federal help. moscow says at least three of its personnel are killed in a ukrainian drone attack on a russian airforce base. the united nations has warned that they could stop delivering aid to afghanistan, if the taliban stands by its decision to ban afghan women from working for humanitarian agencies. several major aid organisations are suspending their work in afghanistan, saying they could not effectively reach afghans in desperate need without their female staff. the bbc�*s tom brada reports. for women in afghanistan, the world seems to get smaller by the day. more rights and freedoms

are gradually being removed with the latest taliban degree targeting women in work. women have been banned specifically from working for aid agencies, accused by the taliban of breaking dress codes, something the organisations deny. we have done everything important to the book and still they come with this out of nowhere and it is devastating. it is paralysing. all work, all organisations, will in the end follow us in suspending work. several aid organisations have already suspended operations. around 20 million people in afghanistan, half of the entire population, rely on humanitarian assistance. by acting in unison, aid agencies may hope to persuade the taliban that this time they have gone too far. to have access to women and children you need to have female health staff, and so if you do not have female health staff, you won't have access to those people. so, essentially, it isjust not

possible for us to do ourjob if our female colleagues are not able to get out there. the united nations has added its voice to a chorus of international condemnation. a spokesperson called the move: and said they could stop delivering aid in the country unless the decision is reversed. and the uk foreign secretary accused the taliban of trying to erase women from society. but the taliban do not typically respond well to criticism. just last week they banned women from attending university, adding to the ban which already stops girls from going to secondary school. responding to international outcry, the taliban's higher education minister said they will not change their mind on girls�* education even if they drop an atomic bomb on us, adding: there have been protests,

but the taliban are resolute. when the taliban seized control of afghanistan last year, they insisted the regime would be softer than their rule in the 1990s, but the gradual erosion of women's rights suggests they are not afraid to go back on their promises. tom brada, bbc news. a month on since a coroner concluded that a two—year—old boy died from exposure to mould while living at his home in rochdale, in the uk, campaigners say racism could be putting more lives at risk. awaab ishak died in 2020 after living in a flat with severe mould, despite his family raising the issue for more than three years. the housing association responsible for the property has apologised for making assumptions about the family's lifestyle but bbc news has discovered there are many more families going through similar experiences. latest government figures show black and asian people in england are three times more likely to live in homes with damp. our community affairs correspondent adina campbell reports.

ifa if a nightmare. we had two buckets for the bathroom, one to patch the bowl and one to flush the toilet.— flush the toilet. the ceiling has been — flush the toilet. the ceiling has been leaking _ flush the toilet. the ceiling has been leaking for - flush the toilet. the ceiling has been leaking for more | flush the toilet. the ceiling - has been leaking for more than five years and this is how she leaves every day. i five years and this is how she leaves every day.— five years and this is how she leaves every day. i have these two buckets — leaves every day. i have these two buckets are _ leaves every day. i have these two buckets are contained - leaves every day. i have these two buckets are contained asl two buckets are contained as much as i can of this. she moved — much as i can of this. she moved into _ much as i can of this. she moved into this _ much as i can of this. she moved into this tower - moved into this tower block flat in west london with a ten—year—old daughter in 2012 and there are other serious problems. and there are other serious problem-— and there are other serious roblems. ., , , ., problems. you basically need an umbrella- _ problems. you basically need an umbrella. she _ problems. you basically need an umbrella. she is _ problems. you basically need an umbrella. she is not _ problems. you basically need an umbrella. she is not allowed - problems. you basically need an umbrella. she is not allowed to | umbrella. she is not allowed to go the toilet without an umbrella when the legs are in the bathroom because i do not know what that substance is and i don't want her to touch it. she has spent years raising this repair issues with the council but no—one from the council has been able to fix a serious problem since before the pandemic. i serious problem since before the pandemic.— serious problem since before the pandemic. i drive past gran fell auoin the pandemic. i drive past gran fell going to — the pandemic. i drive past gran fell going to work _ the pandemic. i drive past gran fell going to work and - the pandemic. i drive past gran fell going to work and you - the pandemic. i drive past gran fell going to work and you talk| fell going to work and you talk about never forgetting and you

see this going into such this repair and you don't know lessons have been learned and you don't really care. —— grenfell. you don't really care. -- grenfell.— you don't really care. -- grenfell. . , , grenfell. the council says they are sorry _ grenfell. the council says they are sorry they _ grenfell. the council says they are sorry they are _ grenfell. the council says they are sorry they are living - grenfell. the council says they are sorry they are living in - are sorry they are living in such appalling conditions and has been working for some time to reserve complex plumbing problems in the building. it's a it will now urgently review options available and reassess her situation. options available and reassess hersituation. race options available and reassess her situation. race equality campaign sa it is not an unusual story.— campaign sa it is not an unusual story. campaign sa it is not an unusualsto . . ,, ., unusual story. -- say. we know that racism _ unusual story. -- say. we know that racism continues _ unusual story. -- say. we know that racism continues to - unusual story. -- say. we know that racism continues to be - unusual story. -- say. we know that racism continues to be a i that racism continues to be a factor in the experience of people and where they are able to live and housing deprivation is a killer and it is a long—term killer as well and it shortens lives. long-term killer as well and it shortens lives.— shortens lives. latest government - shortens lives. latest government figures i shortens lives. latest - government figures shows shortens lives. latest _ government figures shows people from ethnic minority groups in england are three times more likely to live in damp homes compared to white people. it is

supported by more evidence in a report carried out by the housing charity, shelter, last year, finding black people are almost five times more likely to experience discrimination when looking for a safe, secure and affordable home than one people, while asian people are three times more at risk and both groups are three times as likely to live in a home with condensation and damp problems than white people. this is what happened to two—year—old awaab ishak who died after being exposed to mould at his home in rochdale. the housing association responsible for the property has apologise about making assumptions about the family's lifestyle. they case and others were addressed by the housing secretary michael govein the housing secretary michael gove in parliament last month. there have been other examples of individuals and both the private rented sector and

public, who have been treated with significantly less respect than desert because of attitudes that are prejudiced and we have responsibility across this house to colette out when it occurs. — at call out when it occurs. - at call it out. ., , it out. in east london, this family have spent - it out. in east london, this i family have spent thousands it out. in east london, this - family have spent thousands of pounds of their money repairing that council house because of ongoing mould problems. see if ou would ongoing mould problems. see if you would be — ongoing mould problems. see if you would be comfortable - you would be comfortable spending the night here and then ask if we should be living here day in and day out. the council has _ here day in and day out. the council has apologise and after visiting the property last week plans to start work to resolve them. it plans to start work to resolve them. , , ., , ., them. it triggers my asthma, i suffer from — them. it triggers my asthma, i suffer from pneumonia, - them. it triggers my asthma, i suffer from pneumonia, i - them. it triggers my asthma, i suffer from pneumonia, i am | them. it triggers my asthma, i j suffer from pneumonia, i am a sufferfrom pneumonia, i am a severe asthmatic and i cannot breathe, literally cannot live here. adina campbell, bbc news. 17 years on from his war on the turkey twizzler, celebrity chef jamie oliver is now calling forfree school meals for all pupils in england whose parents

are on universal credit. the campaigner, who is guest editing the today programme on radio 4 this morning, argues that investing in free school meals for children will improve their health and will help the economy in the long term. jamie has been back to school with nick robinson, to st mary madalene's in westminster, where the council have announced that any child attending primary school in the borough will be eligible for free school meals from the new year. brilliant food, lovely kitchen, lovely cook — just as it should be. brilliant food, they are doing a greatjob and they are meeting standard. it is not just theirs, it is ours. they are complained to the standards we fought for 17 years ago. every school, 32,000 can be just like this. this is ours to celebrate so of course i am proud of what they are doing here. it is not rocket science. you need that leadership from

the c8 team, to put the energy through —— ceo, and have the relationship with the. kids do not fake. look how they are tucking in, look at the colour. as a chef, nutritionist and campaigner, it isjust like, campaigner, it is just like, this campaigner, it isjust like, this is normal, this is right, this is normal, this is right, this is normal, this is right, this is good. it this is normal, this is right, this is good.— this is good. it is not for lots of _ this is good. it is not for lots of kids _ this is good. it is not for lots of kids to _ this is good. it is not for lots of kids to get - this is good. it is not for lots of kids to get a - this is good. it is not for i lots of kids to get a skilled mill because you have to be really poor to get a free school meal in this country. i don't think people realise. i think 71100 pounds per household, that is how little they earn so there is this epic gap with the universal credit. and that is where the 800,000 kids of the hard—working for, as you had described earlier, are struggling with. these are still families in need, kids in

need, vulnerable children, so i think that make the senior team at the school can duck and dive but they shouldn't and they are not here to make decision about feeding a child or not but to have westminster acknowledge that so they can get on with the business, which is ever—changing and wide, that is right. from my point of view as a campaigner, yes, there's a handful of councils that i think this is notjust right but logical and cost—effective, either way, so we want to see it go across the rest of england. it it go across the rest of england-— it go across the rest of encland. ,., ., ., england. it costs a lot of money to _ england. it costs a lot of money to give _ england. it costs a lot of| money to give everybody england. it costs a lot of l money to give everybody a england. it costs a lot of - money to give everybody a free school meal or even the extra 800,000. there will be some people watching sang, it is mums and that that should prepare the food for kids, that should feed their kids, not the state, council or school. what say to them?— state, council or school. what say to them? that can only come from a land _ say to them? that can only come from a land of — say to them? that can only come from a land of someone - say to them? that can only come from a land of someone who - say to them? that can only come from a land of someone who has| from a land of someone who has ever been hungry or struggle. , as i have, you have looked into

the eyes of parents worried about their child being fed, whatever values you put around a society we are in, forget them. if parents worry about feeding their children, chaos and shoes, in many, many different ways that are not measurable directly. —— ensues. everything you read in the paper you do not like probably could come from a family that is worried about their child being fed. i am not exaggerating, i have seen it time and time again for many, many years so, again, when you are looking at your own country and your own democracy, i think you can onlyjudge a democracy and how bad that is and this is exactly what this conversation ease. these 800,000 kids, i think, everyone that knows is in agreement where the treasure point is and the discussion today has been about those children. that is all for me for now.

thank you for your company. you can reach me on twitter — i'm @ lucyegrey. hello. boxing day delivered a colder interlude, in fact, it was cold enough for wintry showers in places, but through the day on tuesday, mild air returns with outbreaks of rain spreading east. there will be some snow in northern parts, as that wet weather bumps into some relatively cold air. this speckled cloud on the satellite picture brought the showers of rain, sleet and snow during boxing day. this shield of cloud behind me, bringing wet weather into northern ireland first thing. ahead of that, some icy conditions likely in parts of northern england and scotland. could be rather slippery on untreated roads and pavements and, as this wet weather slides into the cold air over the highest ground of northern england and southern scotland, we could see some snow

for a time. that is likely to turn back to rain, though, as the milder air works in. this snow developing across the grampians and the highlands, well, is likely to stick around for a little bit longer because something a bit colder will cling on in the northern half of scotland. but elsewhere, northern england, wales, the southwest turning very, very wet indeed. east anglia and the southeast staying mainly dry for a good part of the day, brightening up in northern ireland through the afternoon. but it is going to be windy, especially in the southern half of the uk — temperatures ranging from 4 degrees there in aberdeen to 11 in plymouth. now, as we go through tuesday night, we'll see these outbreaks of heavy rain continuing to journey southwards and eastwards, lingering across the south of england, and then the rain returning into the southwest and the southern half of wales by the end of the night. some rain will also linger for a time in the northern isles. but for the majority, it is going to stay frost—free, a milder night in prospect. and then for wednesday, well, we bring this next batch of heavy rain northwards and eastwards across the uk, accompanied by strong winds, particularly windy for some southern and western coasts.

northern scotland will stay drier and little colder, but northern ireland seeing highs of 9—10 degrees, england and wales, 11—13, so it is going to feel mild, particularly in the south. thursday, a day of sunny spells and showers. for friday, here's another area of low pressure bringing heavy rain and potentially some really strong winds. we'll be keeping an eye on that weather system. and then, as we head into the weekend and the end of the year, it will stay relatively mild, there'll be rain at times and it will often be windy.

this is bbc news. the headlines: more than 50 people have been killed in winter storms across the united states. president biden has approved an emergency declaration allowing federal support for new york state, where the city of buffalo has borne the brunt of the arctic conditions. blizzards have blocked roads and power lines. russia says at least three technical staff have been killed by falling debris following a ukrainian drone attack on an air force base south—east of moscow. the russian defence ministry says the engels base, in the southern saratov region, was targetted by ukrainian drones during the night. two people are being questioned in connection with the shooting dead of a woman, at a pub on merseyside,

in northern england, on christmas eve. the victim has been named as 26—year—old elle edwards.