this is bbc news — i'm david willis. our top stories: hundreds flee the ukranian city of kherson because of intense russian shelling. we'll have a special report from on the ground. more than 60 people are killed in winter storms across the united states and canada. president biden approves emergency funding. in taiwan — all men will be required to serve a year's military service — in response to the growing threat from china. and — who is george santos? we'll bring you the story of the republican congressman—elect who lied about hisjob, his education, and his family history — in order to win an election.

hello and welcome to bbc news. we start this hour with a special report from ukraine, from the southern port of kherson which is under increased bombardment from russian forces, and where — today — the maternity ward of a hospital was among the places being shelled. kherson is often called the gateway to crimea — and, because of its strategic importance, it was one of the first places taken by russian forces at the start of the war. it was liberated last month in a significant gain for ukrainian troops. but civilians are now living with a daily onslaught of russian shelling. our correspondent yogita limaye has spent the last four days in kherson with colleagues imogen anderson, sanjay ganguly and mariana matveichuk, and they sent this special report.

i should warn you — it contains some distressing images. kherson is being pounded. this is where one of more than a0 mortars fell in a single day. a city haunted by relentless attacks. another shell hit nearby between a block of homes. as the firemen worked, we heard the sound of more explosions. after a brief pause, they returned to the job. dousing fire before anyone was hurt. down the road, we found people in a panic. "punish the russians fortheir crimes, punish them their whole lives", a woman cried. they had just seen a neighbour's home being bombed.

she had to be rescued from the debris. over and over the cycle repeats. the day before, a 56—year—old man was killed here while he was sleeping. we met his mother tamara. he was her only child. translation: i must have felt something would go wrong - that morning, because i urged him to wake up and leave the house, but he didn't and that was it. our lives are ruined. she had come to look for his passport amidst the rubble. a document to release his body from the morgue.

we had barely finished the conversation and there is more bombings. where do you live? more started. this is a picture of what's happening literally every single day in multiple locations, this is the constant sound that we hear in kherson of artillery fire being exchanged. this city is essentially now pretty much on the front line, close to the river which has become the de facto front line in the south. behind me actually is where an explosion took place just over an hour ago. five people were killed here, 20 were injured. every single day there are people being killed in this city. six more died later. ordinary people out at the central market. at a spot where just last month they had celebrated being freed from russian control. surviving in kherson is a matter of chance.

victoria, a red cross volunteer, was killed just outside this base, a few feet from safety. in the underground shelter, her mother ludmilla showed us the medal of honour she was given. translation: i'm very happy she helped a lot of people. i she was so kind. but it's also painful for me. i must recover and raise her two children. i tell them they should be proud of their mother, because she's a hero. victoria's son sasha and his sister live here. clearly comfortable with other volunteers. war and loss bind them together. dimitri was victoria's friend. translation: when someone so close dies it is difficult, but if we give up and stop, then her death will have been in vain. we work to make sure people live. everything else is secondary.

the bombs don't stop. while he waits for emergency calls... ..he checks if his wife and children are ok. then he heads out to evacuate those in need. in the few days that we have been here we have seen the sentiment of relief that there was in this city after it was liberated from russian control in november change very quickly to one of fear and terror. when the russians withdrew, they pulled back to the other side of the dnipro river and that's where they're continuously bombarding this city from. hundreds have begun to leave kherson. these roads leading out had been clear until christmas. have you been affected by the shelling? we asked irena why she was going. translation: we stayed this whole time and thought it would pass,

but when the home next to ours and my father's home was hit, it was too scary. at the train station, a mother and three daughters. carrying all they can in small bags and boxes. "it's very difficult to leave, i love ukraine and my dear city, but we have to get out of here somehow now," elena told us. she doesn't know when she might see these friends again. everyone in this city has a painful choice to make. at least 62 people have been killed in winter storms sweeping across north america. us officials are calling it the �*blizzard of the century�* with an additional nine inches of snow expected to fall during the day in new york state, where the city of buffalo has borne the brunt of the arctic conditions. the storm has affected a vast area from canada in the north down through the us and reaching as far as mexico. president biden has approved

emergency measures, providing additional financial support for new york state. with all the latest, our correspondent nada tawfik sent this update from new york. the scenes from across the country have been shocking, communities as far south as florida are completely frozen and now they are starting to thaw out but of course the most affected city has been buffalo and authorities are already warning that it will take several days to get the city back open. they have urged people to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary because they are still getting the ploughs out to clear all the roadways, they are under four feet of snow so it is quite a task and we see basic services

ambulances starting to open back up but grocery stores, lines of people are queueing to get food after running out after the last several days and needing basic essentials. so the conditions there have been quite treacherous. additionally across the country we are still seeing travel greatly affected. in fact thousands of flights remain cancelled or delayed and that is likely to persist into the new year's eve travel period so quite chaotic at the nation's airports at the moment. this bomb cyclone came at the absolute worst time right in the holiday period keeping many people away from family and loved ones and even though the bad weather has started to ease up slightly, problems are likely to persist for days. lets go to buffalo now where we can speak tojosh nichols. he's a meteorologist at �*7 news buffalo'.

many thanks for joining many thanks forjoining us here on bbc news. what is the situation there now, dare i ask? , . ., situation there now, dare i ask? , . w , situation there now, dare i ask? , ., ., , ., ., ask? the situation is no longer ask? the situation is no longer as bad as _ ask? the situation is no longer as bad as it — ask? the situation is no longer as bad as it was in terms of. as bad as it was in terms of whether. we had the last advisory lifted early this afternoon, we still have a little light falling at this time but it is not nearly to the extent of what we have been dealing with. 51.5 inches of snow over four days. there are too many records to describe that 51.5 inches, one of the largest calendar day daily snowfalls in buffalo whether history is part of that whole. we now have more than 100 inches of snow for the season and the season is just started. am i right in thinking that some people were found dead in their cars who were dry —— and a driving ban is still in place? the travel ban is still in effect with the city of

buffalo. they have reopened some main thoroughfares like the 90 which is the new york state thruway and other remain closed at this time. it is remarkable that the storm is worse than one of the biggest storms in buffalo whether history which was the blizzard of 1977. more deaths have unfortunately been ref corded in this blizzard than what place in the historic lizard of 1977. and as the snow melts there is the danger of flooding, presumably. if there was a lot of— flooding, presumably. if there was a lot of rain _ flooding, presumably. if there was a lot of rain in _ flooding, presumably. if there was a lot of rain in the - was a lot of rain in the forecast with this snowmelt then that would be an issue. at this time that does not seem to be the case. we just went through what many are terming its november two .0 which was a very large snow event for buffalo leaving hamburg, new york, with more than 6.5 feet

of snow and there were concerns at that time for flooding. it was a slow and organised melt and the good news is that if we can get some sublimation in association with gusty winds and less rain in the forecast we should be able to see an organised melt. if there is rain in the forecast that would cause issues.— cause issues. and there are warnings — cause issues. and there are warnings of _ cause issues. and there are warnings of heart _ cause issues. and there are warnings of heart attacks i cause issues. and there are i warnings of heart attacks and back injuries on the part of people clearing the snow i understand.— understand. many people tackle that snow with _ understand. many people tackle that snow with shovels - understand. many people tackle that snow with shovels and - understand. many people tackle that snow with shovels and theyj that snow with shovels and they are not up to task, shall we say. as a result with all that exertion blood pressure tends to become an issue and cardiac arrest follows. many of the deaths that have taken place, some of which were people who were just left abandoned in their cars, some of which were people venturing out into the storm which i tried, briefly, just to get from a television station to the hotel and i tell you, i lasted five minutes, i

turned right around. the disorientation factor with whiteouts in conjunction with several hours of near hurricane force wind gusts with that heavy snow and double digit sub zero temperatures made it impossible to get around. i would stay right where you are. thank you forjoining us here on bbc news. let's get some of the day's other news. china is to scrap quarantine for travellers from 8january, marking the last major shift from the country's zero—covid policy. after almost three years of closed borders, the country will reopen to those with work and study visas, or wanting to visit family. covid has spread ferociously in the wake of restrictions being lifted. police in india are investigating the deaths of two russian men, one of them a politician who had criticised the war in ukraine. pavel antov appears to have

fallen from his hotel room window, while his friend, vladimir bidyonov was said to have had a heart attack two days earlier. the un security council has condemned recent taliban restrictions on women. in a statement the council members call for �*the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls'. the statement says the restrictions imposed on female aid workers contradict commitments made by the taliban to the afghan people, as well as the expectations of the international community. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: say you'll not be there. why is mel c withdrawing from a new year's eve concert in poland? 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. hundreds of people are fleeing the ukrainian city of kherson because of intense russian shelling attacks. more than 60 people have been killed in winter storms across the united states and canada. president biden has approved emergency federal help. taiwan's president, tsai ing—wen, has announced that all men will be required to serve one year's military service. the announcement came after china carried out one of its biggest incursions to date in the seas and skies around taiwan on sunday, with fighterjets and warships deployed around the island. the taiwanese leader said it was needed to counter the growing chinese military pressure. our news reporter, azadeh moshiri, joins us now. welcome. what's prompted all

this? several— welcome. what's prompted all this? several ratcheting - welcome. what's prompted all this? several ratcheting up - welcome. what's prompted all this? several ratcheting up of. this? several ratcheting up of tensions over the years. especially in this past year. this does not start until january 2024, it's worth mentioning about. but it signals how much of a direct taiwan views china. china which does not recognise taiwan as an independent country, despite the fact it has its own constitution, its own elected leaders, china sees taiwan as a breakaway province that needs to be reunited. the events of the past year, things like the visit of the former speaker of the house nancy pelosi to taiwan in august, something that deeply upset china and caused china to launch one of its biggest military exercises around the island, have very much concerned china as well as taiwan. they have had strong rebukes from politicians on both sides. taiwan clearly views this as something that has to prepare for, danger and

conflict that could be coming and the war in ukraine has changed people's leaders' mines, lead puzzling minds, that the status quo may not be the status quo for long. you mentioned _ the status quo for long. you mentioned nancy _ the status quo for long. you mentioned nancy pelosi and has been tendered between the us and china. been tendered between the us and china-— and china. how has the us reacted? _ and china. how has the us reacted? the _ and china. how has the us reacted? the main - and china. how has the us i reacted? the main response and china. how has the us - reacted? the main response now is from the american institute in taiwan. the united states does not have an embassy in taiwan that's the closest to get to an intermediary and they have repeated things the united states typically says, things like this are about self defence, this is about deterrence, that the united states supports a peaceful resolution between these two parties. but the united states has long walked a difficult tightrope between the two remark parties. on the one recognises only beijing has the one china policy, which means they only magnetise one chinese government, but on the other hand it has what it calls an unofficial robust relationship with taiwan, which is why it sells taiwan weapons to defend

itself and recently approved $10 billion in spending for taiwan over the next five years. the tensions between china and the united states are at the heart of this. do you know how _ at the heart of this. do you know how those _ at the heart of this. do you know how those likely - at the heart of this. do you know how those likely to l at the heart of this. do you | know how those likely to be affected by this in taiwan feel about it and the wider international community? and about it and the wider international community? and i won it is not — international community? and i won it is not a _ international community? and i won it is not a threat _ international community? and i won it is not a threat they - international community? and i won it is not a threat they are l won it is not a threat they are surprised about. it is intrinsic to society in taiwan, they have always lived by the fear that china may one day decide to take a stronger military action. but in terms of the rest of the international community, countries and industries have been preparing for the fact that china may, as it stupid little situation is precarious, it may not be the best actor to rely on so heavily. carmakers have started to look at different supply chains. �* , ,., ., chains. it's something that many parties _ chains. it's something that many parties are _ chains. it's something that| many parties are preparing. chains. it's something that - many parties are preparing. as

a missionary, thank you for joining us. there have been calls in the us for a newly—elected republican congressman to resign, after he admitted embellishing his resume. throughout his campaign, george santos, who is set to represent a district on long island, said he'd worked for major banks and graduated from a university. but an investigation by the new york times found that many of his claims were false. on monday, george santos spoke to the podcast political personalities with skye about being caught out. did i embellish my resume yes, i did. and i'm sorry and it shouldn't be done and words can't express 100% how i feel. but i am still the same guy, i'm not a fraud, i'm but i am still the same guy, i'm nota fraud, i'm not i'm not a fraud, i'm not a cartoon character, i not some mythical creature that was invented. i apologise if anybody feels hurt or betrayed. i will gain everybody�*s trust back by delivering results for

them and making sure they do not forget why they voted for me in the first place which was to get stuff done. skye ostreicher, who conducted the interview with george santos, joins me now from new york. thanks very much your company on bbc news. the democratic opponents there has called for mr santos to resign. he won't do that, will he?— do that, will he? taia, thank ou for do that, will he? taia, thank i you for having me. no, he does not plan to resign and like you mentioned, democrat versus republican, the problem leading up republican, the problem leading up to the election and many of our elections here in new york and throughout the united states focus on whether a candidate is a republican or democrat and less attention is paid who they are as a human and characteristics they possess besides the fancy title or party lies. if we paid more attention to that, perhaps some of these problems would have been avoided in the first place. i5 been avoided in the first lace. , , ., , , , been avoided in the first lace. , , ., place. is it possible that other revelations - place. is it possible that other revelations about| place. is it possible that i

other revelations about mr santos' background could sa ntos' background could emerge? santos' background could emerge? could there be other shoes to drop? i emerge? could there be other shoes to drop?— emerge? could there be other shoes to drop? i suppose so. it seems as _ shoes to drop? i suppose so. it seems as if— shoes to drop? i suppose so. it seems as if he _ shoes to drop? i suppose so. it seems as if he exaggerated - shoes to drop? i suppose so. it seems as if he exaggerated a l seems as if he exaggerated a lot of things on his resume. i don't know what there is left to exaggerate but who knows? he plans to be sworn in onjanuary the third ndc as a member of congress are presenting long island from the district where island from the district where i was born and raised. then it's up to the house ethics committee and lawyers and they will take it from there. now it is a question of ethics and morals. �* , , ., morals. but the simple truth of the matter— morals. but the simple truth of the matter is _ morals. but the simple truth of the matter is that the house i the matter is that the house republican leader or leader to be kevin mccarthy needs mr santos and so does their republican party and its majority in the house of representatives.- majority in the house of representatives. majority in the house of reresentatives. . �* , ,., representatives. that's true so it'll be a test _ representatives. that's true so it'll be a test of _ representatives. that's true so it'll be a test of the _ representatives. that's true so it'll be a test of the american l it'll be a test of the american people and of our democracy here in the us as far as what happens next. but to avoid this in the future, i think the public need to take a better

look at who these candidates are as people and that's why i have the platform political personalities with sky to know the characters behind the let us in the name. he the characters behind the let us in the name.— us in the name. he has said that he plans _ us in the name. he has said that he plans to _ us in the name. he has said that he plans to deliver - us in the name. he has said that he plans to deliver on i us in the name. he has said i that he plans to deliver on the promises he made during this campaign and all this has got nothing really to do with, got everything to do with politics but nothing to do with reality. does he have some sort of claim in that regard? he does he have some sort of claim in that regard?— in that regard? he does not have political experience i in that regard? he does not| have political experience but in that regard? he does not i have political experience but a lot of voters are sick of politics. they elected him knowing he did not have little experience, just because the fact he is a republican. it remains to be seen if he is sworn in and if he will hold up some of those promises that he has made to constituents, he said he wanted to meet with the mayor of new york city, for example, to talk about crime. as it stems from manhattan to long island it impacts the district which encompasses queens on the city border. we

will see if the mayor meets with him, will his colleagues trust him, all this remains to be seen if he is sworn and. and if he wishes to co—operate with his colleagues in the congress. an intriguing story. skye ostreicher, thank you for joining us here on bbc news. thanks for having me. the pop—star mel c has announced she's pulling out of a new year's eve concert in poland. she didn't specify why, but her decision has been praised by members of the lgbt community. the bbc�*s tim allman reports. # i felt that we would just be friends # things never be the same again. friends # things never be the same again-— friends # things never be the same again. the more than 25 ears same again. the more than 25 years both _ same again. the more than 25 years both as _ same again. the more than 25 years both as a _ same again. the more than 25 years both as a solo _ same again. the more than 25 years both as a solo artist - same again. the more than 25 years both as a solo artist and j years both as a solo artist and as part of the spice girls, mel c has been performing all around the world. but now she has decided there is at least one place where she does not want to perform. in a statement on twitter she said:

mel c is melcisa mel c is a high—profile supporter of lgbt rights. even being named as honorary gay by attitude magazine earlier this year. gay rights have become something of a flashpoint in poland with demonstrators on both sides taking to the streets. same—sex marriages and civil unions are not recognised in the country and same—sex couples have no legal right to adopt children. earlier this year amnesty international said the atmosphere of hostility towards the community is growing dangerously worse. the issue of pop stars performing in countries with a conservative attitude to lgbt rights was recently highlighted by the world cup in qatar. big

names like robbie williams and the black eyed peas held concerts during the event, even though homosexuality is illegal in the country. as for mel c, her decision was welcomed by some in poland. one oxygen policy politicians say equality is equality. no discussion or compromise. tim allman, bbc news. now it's december and we've spent a lot of time recently looking at the blizzard conditions in the united states. but this is how to really have fun in the snowy conditions. the giant panda research centre in northwest china's shanxi province is the place where the world's only captive brown giant panda lives. and as you can see, he and his friends have rather enjoyed the conditions. this is bbc news. hello. on tuesday, it was cold enough for snow in parts of scotland. through the rest of this week, and indeed the rest of the year, there will be some snow, but only really over hills in the north,

because elsewhere it'll be too mild for that — some spells of heavy rain instead and some strong winds. a lot of rain to come, actually, particularly over the hills in wales and the western side of england. some places here could see over 100 millimetres of rain over the next five days, so that could cause some flooding and some disruption. and this bout of wet weather will move its way northwards and eastwards during wednesday, a frontal system pushing in quite quickly from the south—west. rain moving quickly northwards across england, wales, into northern ireland, southern and central parts of scotland. we may see some snow mixing in over the highest it's going to be windy, particularly across england and wales. those are the gusts we can expect through the afternoon. but it will be mild for most, 11 or 12 degrees for much of england and wales, ten there for northern ireland. for scotland, highs of six or seven degrees. now, as we go through wednesday night, this band of rain — with some snow over the mountains in scotland — will continue

to drift northwards. plenty of showers following on with some blustery winds. overnight, temperatures generally between 4—8 degrees. but as we go into thursday, a subtle change because as this area of low pressure drifts through and we end up on the back edge of it, well, the winds will shift direction to a north—westerly, so it's going to feel a little bit chillier on thursday. nothing exceptional for the time of year. it's certainly not going to be a cold day butjust a slightly chillier one, 6—10 degrees, sunny spells, some showers, which will be wintry over high ground in the north. and then for friday, another weather system. an area of low pressure hurtles in from the atlantic. that will bring some very heavy rain, again, moving its way quite quickly northwards and eastwards, with some snow over the mountains in scotland, clearing to sunshine and showers. the risk of gales in places on friday. but with the winds broadly coming from the southwest, it is going to be a mild day. now, for the end of 2022 and into the start of the new year, northern parts of the uk will see something a little

colder and there could be some snow over the hills. further south, it'll be milder with some rain at times.

this is bbc news, the headlines: hundreds of people are fleeing the ukrainian city of kherson because of intense russian shelling. bombardment of the city has increased sharply over the past few days. on tuesday a shell hit the maternity ward of a hospital. president zelensky said russian airstrikes would not harm the spirit of ukrainians.