this is bbc news — i'm lewis vaughanjones, with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the united states has announced it will require negative covid tests for travellers from china, following growing alarm at the rapid increase in chinese infections. tighter measures have also been announced by italy, japan, taiwan, and india amid concern china's case numbers aren't accurate. it's sparked an angry response from beijing. translation: the argument. you mentioned is a biased smear campaign and political manipulation with a hidden agenda, which does not stand up to scrutiny or facts and runs counter to the truth. as people flee kherson, ukraine says russia has carried out more than 30 rocket attacks in the past 2a hours alone. pope francis asks people to pray

for his predecessor, benedict xvi, who he says is very ill. the vatican says benedict's condition has worsened in recent hours. and britain is on course to record its warmest year ever, after a summer of heatwaves, wildfires and drought. we'll speak to a climate change specialist. hello, welcome to the programme. we start with the fallout from the announcement that china's borders will be reopened next month. in the last hour, the us announced it would require negative covid tests for travellers from china from the 5th of january. that follows tighter measures outlined by italy, japan, malaysia, taiwan, and india.

american officials accuse the chinese authorities of a lack of transparency, as cases of covid have been surging there. our diplomatic correspondent paul adams reports. from the world's most populous nation, alarming scenes — china's hospitals overwhelmed, covid infections soaring. the country's abrupt decision to dismantle much of its strict covid regime apparently yielding worrying results — wards full of desperately ill people. outside this hospital in chengdu, a queue for emergency services. government officials say the situation is under control — that's not what these pictures suggest. at this funeral home, one of the city's biggest, more evidence of the scale of the problem. one funeral procession after another — workers here say they're so busy, they have no time to eat.

and yet, china is opening up — about to relax rules for inbound travellers and making it easier for chinese citizens to travel abroad. welcome news for travel companies after three bleak years. translation: since this morning, we've had lots of inquiries - from oui’ customers. they're asking whether they can travel abroad normally again, whether they'll need to quarantine on their return, and when international tourism will return. it's hard to knowjust how bad china's coronavirus situation really is. china says it recorded 5,231 new covid cases yesterday, and just three deaths nationwide. but people are no longer required to declare infections to the authorities, so the official figures are unlikely to tell the full story. and so neighbouring countries — japan, malaysia, taiwan and india, all worried about the possibility of importing covid cases — have already announced tighter measures for chinese travellers,

including the requirement for negative tests. back in beijing, officials reject any suggestion china has lost control. translation: the argument. you mentioned is a biased smear campaign and political manipulation with a hidden agenda, which doesn't stand up to scrutiny and runs counter to the truth. after last month's nationwide protest, this is the image china wants to project — a country finally turning its back on the virus and on its own draconian response. but china's long, hard battle with covid is far from over. paul adams, bbc news. let's talk to dr daniel kuritzkes, professor of medicine at harvard medical school and chief of the division of infectious diseases at brigham and women's hospital in boston, massachusetts. thanks so much for coming on the programme. thanks so much for coming on the programme-— thanks so much for coming on the programme. so programme. thanks for having me. so what's a reaction _ programme. thanks for having me. so what's a reaction to _ programme. thanks for having me. so what's a reaction to this _ what's a reaction to this announcement in the last hour or so

that the us is enforcing these tougher rules now on passengers coming from china into the us? i can certainly understand _ coming from china into the us? i can certainly understand the _ coming from china into the us? i can certainly understand the concern about the potential for importation of new variants from other parts of the world. but in reality, these measures are very unlikely to have any significant impact in reducing risk. so i think these are more about public relations and perhaps a bit about foreign policy than about public health. bit about foreign policy than about public health-— bit about foreign policy than about public health. interesting, because most peeple _ public health. interesting, because most people watching _ public health. interesting, because most people watching i'm - public health. interesting, because most people watching i'm sure - public health. interesting, because most people watching i'm sure willj most people watching i'm sure will be looking at the increase in case numbers in china and won't want to see that kind of numbers and potential variance being imported into the country. it seemed to make common sense, are you suggesting the evidence from what we know over the last couple years doesn't actually make a great deal of difference casilla i think that's right. unless you impose truly draconian limits, as was done

you impose truly draconian limits, as was don— as was done successfully in australia — as was done successfully in australia and _ as was done successfully in australia and new- as was done successfully in | australia and new zealand, as was done successfully in - australia and new zealand, having testing or other sorts of partial travel bands are really not effective. look what happened a year ago when the us imposed travel bands to south africa and other south african countries in response to the detection of omicron — that did nothing to help the explosive spread of omicron in the united states because it had already spread to other parts of the world. i think the same will be true here, if there is to be a new variant that arises in china, it most likely has spread elsewhere. and because of travel to other countries and the likelihood of someone travelling from china to france could infect someone in france, then infect someone in the us without testing.— us without testing. interesting, what do you _ us without testing. interesting, what do you make _ us without testing. interesting, what do you make of _ us without testing. interesting, what do you make of china - us without testing. interesting, what do you make of china and| us without testing. interesting, i what do you make of china and its handling in recent weeks of the epidemic there? i handling in recent weeks of the epidemic there ?_

handling in recent weeks of the epidemic there? i think that the relaxation of _ epidemic there? i think that the relaxation of their _ epidemic there? i think that the relaxation of their very - epidemic there? i think that the relaxation of their very strict - relaxation of their very strict lockdown measures has happened a bit abruptly considering how vaccination has not been as widespread, and certainly not as effective of a vaccine as indicated in most of europe and the united states. i understand the pressure to relax the very strict shutdowns that they had had, but after so many years you'd thought they might have done so a little bit more gradually and with more forethought. the authorities came out -- _ more forethought. the authorities came out -- have _ more forethought. the authorities came out -- have come _ more forethought. the authorities came out -- have come out - more forethought. the authorities came out -- have come out very l came out —— have come out very strongly criticising foreign countries for turning a blind eye, as it says, to their own measures and problems, instead focusing too much on criticising china's approach. but when you take a step back from the politics of it in different countries criticising each other�*s approaches, where does the

world stand now? it seems like you're saying that actually, all borders should be open, it will spread as it will spread, and it will be as it will be? i spread as it will spread, and it will be as it will be?— will be as it will be? i think the most important _ will be as it will be? i think the most important things - will be as it will be? i think the most important things we - will be as it will be? i think the l most important things we can do will be as it will be? i think the - most important things we can do are to ensure that the world population is vaccinated with effective vaccines, highly effective vaccines, and that where there are high cases of numbers, that appropriate nonbiological measures such as masking and social distancing are implemented in order to minimise the spread. i think the experience has shown that travel bands by themselves are unlikely to have any significant impact in halting the global spread of this pandemic virus. ., , , global spread of this pandemic virus. . , , ., ., virus. really interesting, great to net our virus. really interesting, great to get your analysis, _ virus. really interesting, great to get your analysis, thank - virus. really interesting, great to get your analysis, thank you - virus. really interesting, great to get your analysis, thank you very | get your analysis, thank you very much. just a quick bit of breaking news we're getting here on this topic, given events in china, this

is the eu commission — a bit of copy coming through saying that in light of the covid situation in china, the commission has convened that the health security committee tomorrow to discuss with member states and human agencies possibilities for a coordinated eu approach. we would love to hear what more reaction there will be to covid and china pots opening up of its borders, and we'll keep an eye on that tomorrow. ukraine says russia has stepped up mortar and artillery attacks on the recently liberated city of kherson in the south of the country. kyiv�*s armed forces said in the last 2a hours — 33 rockets had targeted the city. russian forces abandoned kherson last month in one of ukraine's most significant gains of the war, but it's come under renewed attack. on saturday, a russian strike on kherson killed at least ten people and wounded nearly 60.

our correspondent hugo bachega sent this report from kyiv. tears in kherson. a final goodbye for another life lost to the war. this city was liberated by ukraine just last month. but liberation hasn't brought relief. russia's bombing has been relentless. it doesn't stop — even for the dead. natalia was in her flat when a shell hit. she was a7. ukraine's advance pushed russian forces out of kherson. they're now on the other side of the dnipro river, from where they've been pounding the city, day and night. in the last 2a hours, more than 30 missiles were fired at civilian targets. this was one of the places hit — the maternity ward of a hospital.

luckily, no—one was killed. the road leading out of the city used to be clearjust days ago. now, it's full of families fleeing. "we stayed all this time, but when the home next to ours was hit, we became scared", this woman says. the danger is not only kherson. here, in kyiv, the air raid alert sounded again this morning. on the battlefield, neither russia nor ukraine have made significant gains in recent weeks, but away from the front lines, people are being warned of the russian threat coming from the sky. hugo bachega, bbc news, kyiv. well, that's the latest on the ground. ukraine's president zelensky has been making his annual address to parliament — here's some of what he said. translation: ukraine has| united the european union. now, europe is defending itself. europe is overcoming the crises

despite the enormous amount of resources that russia is deploying to break our continent. everything russia has tried to do against europe has not worked. pope francis has asked roman catholics to pray for his predecessor, pope benedict, who he says is very ill. benedict the 16th became pope in 2005, then stepped down nearly eight years later in 2013 — he said it was a "lack of strength of mind and body" due to his age. he's now 95, and his health has been deteriorating. i'm joined now by christopher lamb, vatican correspondent for catholic magazine the tablet, and author of the outsider: pope francis and the battle to reform the church. thanks so much for coming on the programme. thanks so much for coming on the programme-— thanks so much for coming on the rouramme. ., ~ _, ., ., programme. thank you for having me. so let's start — programme. thank you for having me. so let's start first _ programme. thank you for having me. so let's start first of _ programme. thank you for having me. so let's start first of all _ programme. thank you for having me. so let's start first of all with _ so let's start first of all with this announcement itself, i suppose. what do you make of the fact that

the pope has referenced his predecessor's health in this way? i think he wanted to be the first person to give the news that benedict xvi is unwell, seriously unwell, and that the situation that his health situation has deteriorated. so i think it's quite typical of pope francis to want to communicate directly with the flock as it were, with this information. benedict and francis have a very good relationship despite various attempts to make mischief between the two popes, as it were. but i think that francis has always embraced benedict's presence in the vatican, describing him as the grandfather living at home, someone who he goes to for advice, etc. it's

a sign of the relationship they have that francis wanted to announce the news to call for prayer for benedict at this time, and i think itjust shows how it is something that is a serious situation, and at 95 years old, his health has been in decline for quite some time. figs old, his health has been in decline for quite some time.— for quite some time. as you were talkin: for quite some time. as you were talking about _ for quite some time. as you were talking about there, _ for quite some time. as you were talking about there, this - for quite some time. as you were talking about there, this is - for quite some time. as you were talking about there, this is an - talking about there, this is an unusual period of time, the only time in 600 years or so where we have two popes alive at the same time. obviously we need to be very delicate talking about this, but the idea of arrangements for when he does die, is that something we know much about? we don't have much president to go by. irate much about? we don't have much president to go by.— president to go by. we don't, and it's not the _ president to go by. we don't, and it's not the same _ president to go by. we don't, and it's not the same situation - president to go by. we don't, and it's not the same situation as - president to go by. we don't, and it's not the same situation as a i it's not the same situation as a serving pope dying, where there is a prescribed period of mourning, followed by a conclave. this is

different. benedict is a retired bishop of rome, so there's presence for the celebration of funerals of retired bishops. i'm sure it will be somewhere in between a retired bishop's funeral and that of a retired pope, former head of state. so it will certainly be something that's been considered. what we don't know though is what benedict himself wishes for — he may have specified what he'd like to see in his last will and testament, we just don't know. that may also be a factor in what is decided. christopher, thanks very much for coming on the programme.- christopher, thanks very much for coming on the programme. here in the uk, merseyside police have made a new appeal for people to come forward with any information, following the fatal shooting of

a woman on christmas eve. ellie edwards, who was 26, was shot outside the lighthouse pub in wallasey, just before midnight on saturday. police have suggested she was not the intended target of the attack. our correspondent danny savage reports. the lighthouse pub is still as it was on christmas eve — lights on, tv�*s on, vehicles still in the car park. time has stood still at this murder scene. some who were here at the time call by to leave flowers, scared of those responsible, fearful of appearing on camera. it was so loud, nothing like fireworks. i've never heard anything like it. there were girls hiding in the toilets, we were under the table. i saw a guy running with his leg bleeding, and that's when we knew it was serious. a lot of people ran out to try to help — i stayed inside, we were scared, it was so scary. 26—year—old ellie edwards was killed. her family are devastated.

someone with a gun fired at a group of drinkers outside the pub. they were sitting here by some patio heaters. police are still looking for the weapon and information about who was responsible. we will not rest until we bring the offenders to justice. and by that, i mean the person who pulled the trigger of the gun in the most indiscriminate way in this public house on christmas eve. anybody who's responsible for arranging, facilitating, or harbouring this individual, and anybody who continues to withhold information on who has done this, or indeed where the weapon is. two people, a man and a woman arrested two days ago, are still being questioned by detectives. it appears that police believe someone is hiding the gun used in the shooting, and they are piling on the pressure to move this inquiry forward. these people are cowards.

merseyside police have today released this slick video, which they hope will spread across social media to flush out more information about who killed ellie. we will be relentless... a murderjust before midnight on christmas eve has stunned this community. they feel scared. police are now all over this neighbourhood trying to reassure people. danny savage, bbc news, wallasey, on merseyside. a male university professor in afghanistan has torn up his academic certificates live on television. he did it to show solidarity with women banned by the taliban from studying. ismail mashal ripped up his masters and phd documents, saying if women were not allowed to study, he didn't want his degrees any more. sport — and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's holly hamilton. manchester city have taken control

at elland road as they look to keep up the pressure in the premier league title race. they're 2—0 against leeds — despite dominating from the start, it took until the one minute of added time at the end of the first half when rodri broke the deadlock, before erling haaland doubled their lead in the second half. you can follow it all on the bbc sport website. elsewhere, it's a busy night in the scottish premiership. six games under way, league leaders celtic are 3—0 up at hibs, while rangers also have a 3—0 against motherwell. follow all the latest on the bbc sport website, and those watching on bbc scotland can watch the highlights on sportscene later. chelsea and england defender reece james says his run of injuries has affected him mentally, describing this year as his toughest to date.

james is set to miss 3—4 weeks with a knee injury sustained in chelsea's win against bournemouth yesterday. it was his first game since returning from his first knee injury that ruled him out of the world cup. in a post on twitter, he said he was trying to deal with the cards he'd been dealt. novak djokovic is back and training in australia almost a year after he was deported over his covid vaccine status. the nine—time australian open winner had an automatic three—year visa ban overturned in november. djokovic has been practising in adelaide ahead of the first grand slame of the year in melbourne, injanuary. the nfl and their players union are conducting a review after miami dolphins quarterback tua tagovailoa suffered his third concussion of the season. the injury happened during sunday's clash with the green bay packers. the league say he showed no signs of concussion during the game, which he completed.

dolphins head coach mike mcdaniel says they are prioritising his health. mike mcdaniel says they are he is in the building. mike mcdaniel says they are but beyond that, as medical professionals will tell you, anything beyond that day does not behove the process at all. so we'll that very seriously and worry about his health first and foremost. australia are closing in on a series win against south africa after day three of the second test, having declared after reaching 575 for eight. wicketkeeper alex carey scored a maiden century, following on from david warner's 200, as australia replied to south africa's 189. south africa lost the early wicket of their captain dean elgar in the second innings, finishing on 15—1 before play was abandoned because of rain. that's all the sport for now.

back to you. thanks, holly. 2022 will be categorised as the warmest year on record for the uk, according to the met office. this summer saw temperatures reach a0 celsius for the first time. the national trust, which manages vast areas of land in england, wales, and northern ireland, says the prolonged droughts, and the repeated storms have affected many species, and described this year's weather conditions as "the new normal". we can speak now to the climate change adviser at the national trust, keith jones. thanks very much for coming on the programme. thanks very much for coming on the programme-— thanks very much for coming on the rouramme. ,., ., ., ., ~ programme. good evening, and thank ou. so programme. good evening, and thank you- so the — programme. good evening, and thank you- so the new— programme. good evening, and thank you. so the new normal, _ programme. good evening, and thank you. so the new normal, flesh - programme. good evening, and thank you. so the new normal, flesh that. you. so the new normal, flesh that out a little — you. so the new normal, flesh that out a little bit. _ you. so the new normal, flesh that out a little bit. what _ you. so the new normal, flesh that out a little bit. what are _ you. so the new normal, flesh that out a little bit. what are you - out a little bit. what are you expecting the weather in the uk to be like? ~ ., ., ~' expecting the weather in the uk to be like? ~ . ~ ., be like? well, if we look back to when the met _ be like? well, if we look back to when the met office _ be like? well, if we look back to when the met office started - be like? well, if we look back to | when the met office started with their climate projections, where in those projections now —— we are in those projections now —— we are in those projections now —— we are in those projections now. we've always had extreme events, but this year,

it's all been concentrated into one year. i hardly remember a 16 degrees january, then three back—to—back storms in february, than on and on and on. so that litany of impacts that's hit us — what was projected and what was the measure is here, as we carry on, we know it will get worse. ii we carry on, we know it will get worse. . h we carry on, we know it will get worse. ., �* , ., ., worse. if that's the new normal in the es worse. if that's the new normal in the types of _ worse. if that's the new normal in the types of conditions _ worse. if that's the new normal in the types of conditions we've - worse. if that's the new normal in the types of conditions we've had | the types of conditions we've had this year are fairly consistent in the years ahead, what impact will that have? ,,, . , the years ahead, what impact will that have? . , ., , the years ahead, what impact will thathave? . , ., , ., that have? species inhabitants have develo ed that have? species inhabitants have developed to _ that have? species inhabitants have developed to certain _ that have? species inhabitants have developed to certain climates. - that have? species inhabitants have j developed to certain climates. what we can see is that anything that can fly is moving north in the uk. it's leaving behind the things it's pollinating, by the impact we've seen this year have been extreme and across the range. we have winters —

you've got generalists, such as certain bird species, or specialists requiring certain climate and a certain time of year for breeding and feedstock, they've been really challenged this year. fiend and feedstock, they've been really challenged this year.— challenged this year. and you say really challenged _ challenged this year. and you say really challenged - _ challenged this year. and you say really challenged - is _ challenged this year. and you say really challenged - is that - challenged this year. and you say really challenged - is that level. challenged this year. and you say | really challenged - is that level of really challenged — is that level of challenge in the year i had a threat to them? if they need certain conditions, as you say, for example, to breed, are we looking at seeing species disappear? ii are to breed, are we looking at seeing species disappear?— to breed, are we looking at seeing species disappear? if we look at an exam - le species disappear? if we look at an example of a _ species disappear? if we look at an example of a certain _ species disappear? if we look at an example of a certain toad, - species disappear? if we look at an example of a certain toad, it - example of a certain toad, it reclines the mcrib requires the dune slats in order to get wet and spohn, for the... slats in order to get wet and spohn, forthe... one slats in order to get wet and spohn, for the... one year doesn't make a disaster, but year in and year out, that means that family there has nowhere to go, it's not got a future. as i've said, we've always had extreme events, but then there's recovery time for animals and species, and habitats, and we are not getting that now. this year has

been a really good example. what the met office said a couple of weeks ago is it's looking like 2023 globally will be even hotter, so more droughts, more peak temperatures. so at the moment, the canary in the mind is singing, and we've got to listen, we've got to adapt and allow space for nature to do this adaptation.— adapt and allow space for nature to do this adaptation. interesting, and resumabl do this adaptation. interesting, and presumably there _ do this adaptation. interesting, and presumably there isn't _ do this adaptation. interesting, and presumably there isn't exactly - do this adaptation. interesting, and presumably there isn't exactly a - presumably there isn't exactly a great deal of time for this adaptation?— great deal of time for this ada tation? ~ ., . ., great deal of time for this ada tation? . ., . ., . ., adaptation? we are in climate change now, it's adaptation? we are in climate change now. it's not — adaptation? we are in climate change now. it's not or— adaptation? we are in climate change now, it's not or sometime _ adaptation? we are in climate change now, it's not or sometime in - adaptation? we are in climate change now, it's not or sometime in the - now, it's not or sometime in the future. we've got to start adapting as adapting as quickly as we can. but more importantly, we've got to lessen our carbon emissions as well. we've got to get our habitat into really good, healthy conditions so they can tolerate and recover faster, as well.— they can tolerate and recover faster, as well. g ., , ., faster, as well. keith jones, thanks for bein: faster, as well. keith jones, thanks for being on — faster, as well. keith jones, thanks for being on the _ faster, as well. keith jones, thanks for being on the programme, - faster, as well. keith jones, thanks for being on the programme, we i for being on the programme, we appreciate your time. that's it, plenty more on the website as always, download the bbc news app if

you're online, get me on social media. this is bbc news. hello there. we've seen cloud and outbreaks of rain sweeping north eastwards across the uk today. just about everyone has had some soggy weather, and there is a bit more rain that come through the next few days. as we close out 2022, it will often be windy. some snow is possible, but only really over hills in the north of the uk. in fact, as this weather system continues to pivot through, we will see some snow continuing to fall over high ground in the north of scotland. some further rain showers further south, but some of those could be on the heavy side, maybe even with the odd rumble of thunder. overnight temperatures between 4—7 celsius. and it is going to stay windy, particularly around some of these western and southern coasts. and tomorrow is going to be a blustery day. there will be some spells of sunshine, but there'll also be some showers, in fact, some quite frequent showers

pushing across scotland through the afternoon. again, some of these will be wintry over high ground. those are the wind gusts we can expect. it is going to be a windy day pretty much across the uk. and temperatures, well, just a little down on where they have been today, but still, 5—10 celsius is not bad going for this time of year. now, as we move into friday, we see another weather system hurtling in from the atlantic. that will bring some heavy rain and, again, some strong winds. but for many places, that rain will sweep northwards and eastwards quite quickly. we will see some snow mixing in for a time over northern scotland, particularly over high ground. something a little brighter following on behind and turning milder again, 6—13 celsius. now, as we get into the new year period, we develop something of a split in our weather fortunes, because whilst southern areas will stay mild, northern parts will see some colder air trying to dig in with the chance for some wintry showers. but for southern areas, in the mild air, these weather fronts bring the chance for some outbreaks of rain.

so quite a messy weather picture, actually, for new year's eve. we will see rain threatening southern parts of the uk, maybe another band of rain across central areas, northern ireland into northern england. cold enough for some wintry showers across northern parts of scotland. as we head towards midnight, southern areas may see rain, northern areas are likely to be cold. and through new year's day, if this wet weather does drift northwards into the cold air, it does give the chance for some snow over high ground in scotland. it'll be rain further south. temperatures north to south, 5—12 celsius.

this is bbc world news, the headlines the united states has announced it will require negative covid tests for travellers from china, following growing alarm at the rapid increase in chinese infections. tighter measures have also been announced by italy, japan, taiwan and india. as people flee kherson, kyiv says russia has carried out more than 30 rocket attacks in the past 2a hours. air raid sirens have sounded across ukraine. people have been asked to stay in shelters. pope francis has asked people to pray for his predecessor, benedict xvi — who he says, is very ill. the vatican says benedict's condition has worsened in recent hours. and britain is on course to record its warmest year ever,

after a summer of blistering heatwaves and a mild