Afghan Security Forces have been fighting through the night to gain control of the Intercontinental Hotel in kabul that was stormed by militants about 13 hours ago. These are the latest pictures from the scene. The siege is ongoing. A government Spokesman Says five people have been killed and six people have been injured. Over 100 guests, including 16 foreigners, and staff have been rescued so far. Two attackers have been killed. The latest information we have is five floors of the hotel have been cleared, but the not the sixth floor. Andrew plant has more. The Intercontinental Hotel in kabul, at dawn on sunday morning, blackened and smoking after an 11 hour siege that has seen at least five People Killed and several more wounded. The shooting started after nightfall on saturday, several gunmen armed with grenades and automatic weapons. Translation at first i heard some gunfire and then after 15 minutes per worker from the hotel approached and said that suicide attackers into the hotel. Security forces were fighting the gunman floor by floor with reports of hostages being taken. We now know that around 100 guest have been allowed to leave. It is thought that security guards at the entrance to the 5 storey building are among those who came underfire. The building are among those who came under fire. The Intercontinental Hotel in kabul is popular with foreign guests, situated on a hilltop a few miles outside the city, it has been the target of an attack before in 2011, when 21 people died including nine attackers. Security forces said two of the gunman had been shot and killed, two men were thought to be hiding in the building. It isnt clear whether they are still on the loose. The attack comes days after the us embassy in kabul issued a warning about hotels in the city, saying extremist groups could be planning an attack, saying hotels as well as public gatherings could be potential targets. Officials have not yet said if all the guest and staff are accounted for all whether the situation is still ongoing. Andrew plant, bbc news. Turkey has begun a new intervention in the conflict in syria by launching an offensive against kurdish held territory near its border. It has long fought kurdish separatists within its own country and is now shelling Kurdish Militia in the afrin region of Northern Syria. Bill hayton reports. Heading to the border, a turkish invasion force is getting ready. So far, these tanks have not crossed into syria. The turkish government wants the world to see what it is doing, releasing this video of leaders directing the operation. Translation depending on the developments, our land forces will carry out necessary activities as well. Apart from the Turkish Armed forces, there are also components of the Free Syrian Army participating in this operation. These are some of those Free Syrian Army fighters moving through turkey to join the battle. Just like the turkish government, they are opposed to the kurdish ypg setting up enclaves inside syria. Some of the fsa factions have already joined the fighting against them. Turkey sees a huge threat in Northern Syria because of the kurdish forces, and these forces are supported by a us Led International coalition which includes britain and some european countries. They see a threat in that region. This is what they are fighting over the area around afrin. The ypg has been expecting an attack for almost two years and they are well prepared, but turkey has air power and artillery on its side and its pounding the kurdish positions. This battle pits two american allies, the ypg and turkey, against each other, and trapped in the kurdish enclave, more than 1 Million People waiting for peace. Bill hayton, bbc news. Lets take a look at some of the other stories making the news thousands of Anti Government protesters have held rallies in cities across romania. Theyre angered at what they see as attempts by the governing coalition, headed by the social democrats, to dilute judicial independence. The largest demonstration took place in heavy snow in the capital, bucharest. Two people have died and several others were injured in a fire at a hotel in central prague. The fire occurred at the Eurostars David hotel, a block away from the vltava river and near the czech capitals national theatre. The cause of the fire is not yet clear. Heavy snow has disrupted traffic and left thousands without power and Water Supplies in many regions across ukraine. Buses and trucks were restricted from travelling in several cities, while the highway between the capital kiev and odessa was temporarily closed. More snow is forecast over the next few days. A delegation from north korea has arrived in south koreas capital, seoul, in preparation for next months winter olympics. The two koreas will march under a single flag and will field a joint womens hockey team. North koreas participation is seen as a diplomatic breakthrough after tensions over its Nuclear Weapons programme. Both us houses of congress will be back in session on sunday to try to rectify the failure to pass a new spending bill. A vote in the senate is then scheduled for 1 00 in the morning local time, or earlier, if democrats and republicans can find agreement. If the vote is passed, it would end the current shutdown, allowing Government Services to begin working normally on monday morning. Our washington correspondent david willis reports. Marking the First Anniversary of President Trumps inauguration, protesters took to the streets here in washington and across the country, as the government of the largest economy in the world went into shutdown. The yays are 50, and the nays are 49. A stopgap funding measure came up ten votes short. That after the democrat leader in the senate, chuck schumer, met with President Trump at the white house. Progress was made, he said, before the dealmaker in chief changed his mind. Negotiating with this white house is like negotiating withjell o its next to impossible. As soon as you take one step forward, the hard right forces the president three steps back. The white house branded the democrats obstructionist losers what weve just witnessed on the floor was a cynical decision by Senate Democrats to shove aside millions of americans for the sake of irresponsible political games. The Government Shutdown was 100 avoidable. As the vote collapsed, outside on the streets of the capital were the people whose fate democrats wanted to tie to this Funding Agreement young people brought into the United States illegally, whom President Trump is threatening to deport. Republicans want their fate linked to funding for a wall along the Mexican Border a pet project of President Trump. Members of congress are working over the weekend to try to find a solution to the crisis. Hundreds of thousands of non essential government workers will be placed on temporary unpaid leave. And not even members of the military will be paid until a breakthrough is reached. President trump took issue with that today, tweeting that democrats are holding the military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration, cant let that happen. The last Government Shutdown here, in 2013, caused the closure of National Parks and led to around 800,000 government workers being placed on leave. Nobody here wants to see history repeat itself. A year ago, the president was celebrating sweeping to power on the platform as the ultimate deal maker. He starts his second year with the government in shutdown and his Approval Ratings at an all time low. David willis, bbc news, washington. Ijust want i just want to take you back to oust top story and breaking news on the siege but the Intercontinental Hotel in kabul. The Afp News Agency quoting official sources saying the siege is over. You are looking at my pictures of the intercontinental there in the distance and just again, officialforces there in the distance and just again, official forces saying the afp news wires that the siege is now over, the last figures we got were that gunmen had killed at least five people and wounded eight others. Over 100 hostages were earlier released. That has been going on for about 30 hours at the latest development we are getting from trouble is that the siege is now over and wejust trouble is that the siege is now over and we just saw what looked like an explosion coming from the top of the hotel but officials are a p pa re ntly top of the hotel but officials are apparently telling the news wires that this siege is over but i dont do if you caught it there, about ten seconds ago, some kind of explosion just happening from the top of the Intercontinental Hotel. We know that in the last few hours, the afghan Security Forces have been literally trying to clear the hotel floor by floor and it has taken them about one hour or two to clear the sixth and last floor and apparently, that is being done but as you just saw the air, some kind of explosion coming from the top of the building. Just to give you a sense of this hotel, it is one of the two big Luxury Hotels in kabul where often foreigners will stay, where conferences will be held, it is heavily fortified but as you will know from watching this channel regularly, the security situation in kabul is never good. We will come back to this when we receive more information. A Major Military operation is under way injamaicas north west parish of stjames, which includes montego bay, the countrys second city and one of its top travel destinations. The area has seen a recent surge in gang related killings and a state of emergency has been declared. Troops have been deployed to restore public safety. Britain and canada have advised holidaymakers to stay inside their resorts. The increase in violence is connected to criminal gangs running lucrative lottery scams an Industry Worth an estimated 1 billion a year. Pope francis has celebrated a huge outdoor mass in perus northwest Coastal Region of trujillo, which was badly hit by floods last year leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless. From there, he headed to lima, the final stop on his week long south american tour. Tim allman reports. Devotion, dedication and worship by the seaside. An estimated 200,000 people turned out for this open air mass on a beach in trujillo. A festive, joyous spirit, almost a year after much of this area was devastated by flooding and landslides. A desperate situation recognised by pope francis. Translation you know the power of nature, youve experienced its force, you had to face the brunt of el nino, whose painful consequences are still present in so many families, especially those who are not yet able to rebuild their homes. Afterwards, the pope visited buenos aires not the argentinian city of his birth, but another town in this region which was badly affected by last yea rs catastrophic weather, some hoping his visit will bring a new sense of optimism and renewal. I am really happy, said this woman. We were able to come and see him and be here with all our brothers and sisters. I think they needed it. The fact the pope chose this community is a blessing for everyone. A little stumble but soon the pope was back in the capital, lima, for the final stage of his trip. On sunday, more huge crowds are expected for another open air mass. Tim allman, bbc news. Stay with us on bbc news. Still to come the rust belt towns that helped put donald trump in the white house what voters think of his performance so far. The people of saigon have just heard that, at last, there is to be a ceasefire. The reaction of american servicemen was predictable. Im going home. Demonstrators waiting for mike getting and his rebel cricket team were attacked with tear gas and set upon by police dogs. Anti apartheid campaigners say they will carry on the protests throughout tour. They called him the butcher of lyon. Klaus altmann is being held on a fraud charge in bolivia. But the west germans want to extradite him for crimes committed in wartime france. There, he was the gestapo chief klaus barbie. Millions came to bathe as close as possible to this spot, a tide of humanity that is believed by officials to have broken all records. This is bbc news. The latest headlines. These are live pictures from kabul where gunmen have killed at least five people in an attack on the citys Intercontinental Hotel. The latest reports say the 13 hours siege has now come to an end. Turkey says the first day of the Bombing Campaign against kurdish militants in Northern Syria has seen its air force hit more than 100 targets. Tens of thousands of women have been protesting in cities across the United States to mark the First Anniversary of President Trumps inauguration. In washington, demonstrators heard speeches by a number of politicians including Hillary Clintons running mate, senator tim kaine. Theres been a march in new york too. But the total number of participants was much lower than the estimated 5 million who marched onjanuary 21 last year, one of the largest protest in us history. Well, one year on from President Trumps inauguration were looking back at his first year in office. Pennsylvania was one of the key states in delivering his victory. He inspired hope among many working class voters in places like bethlehem, a former steel town that hadnt voted for a republican for president since the 1980s. Nick bryant went there to see how people rate his performance so far. It was rust belt towns that helped put donald trump in the white house one time steel powerhouses such as bethlehem, pennsylvania, which hadnt gone republican since the 1980s. Democratic strongholds that became trump country. So, all this is new . All this is new, all this is new. Keith hornik runs his own Construction Firm and has built 300 new apartments since donald trump became president. He knows theres been a rise in business and consumer confidence. Its seen him double his workforce. As long as i see builders happy, shovels going in the ground and there is work ahead of me, im happy. Youre seeing a trump bump . Absolutely. 100 . No doubt in my mind. This is a direct result. He might turn out to be one of the greatest president s we ever had. Joe dambrosio runs a barber shop but keeps a close eye on the stock market, which has reached record highs and has risen about 30 since this time last year. A registered democrat, he is proud to have voted for the billionaire. Hes getting all of the politicians shook up. No business as usual. And i like what hes doing. What about his behaviour . Well, you know. What are you going to do . I mean, you dont like his tweeting nobody likes his tweeting but in my mind, for my customers and everybody else, its what everybodys thinking but wont say. But there are people in bethlehem who regard donald trump not as a messiah, but a pariah. Pensionerjulie rhea is worried about the new president s temperament. Its a common complaint from republicans as well as democrats. I dont think he has a real grasp on any kind of reality, in a way. You know, in a theatrical reality, yes, hes great, you know, but as far as leading our country, i think he has no clue what hes doing, and i dont think he realises the seriousness of it. People in these communities arent consumed by the fire and fury gossip coming from the white house. They are not following every twist and every tweet. Manyjudge this presidency with an economic yardstick and, financially, many feel better off than they did this time last year. For all the chaos and controversy in washington, theres a sense of resurgence in the rust belt. Nick bryant, bbc news, pennsylvania. Paul bocuse, one of frances most famous chefs, has died aged 91. His restaurant held a three star michelin rating for more than half a century, earning him the nickname the pope of gastronomy. Rhodri davies has more. Paul bocuse was lauded for most of his life as a great of french cuisine. He was twice named chef of the century, he was a moderniser of french food, and he revolutionised the idea of the chef. And those in power, and in kitchens, are feeling his loss. The countrys president tweeted that chefs throughout france are crying in their kitchens. Spanish american Chefjose Andres said the angels will have a feast today, while celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain said bocuse was a hero. He reportedly died in his restaurant, lauberge du pont de collonges, near lyon, where the insignia reads at the bottom of the pot lies the truth. Truths learned at home. Bocuse inherited the restaurant from his father part of a family whose cooking was known since the 17th century. This long lineage led to his restaurant having three michelin stars by 1965. Ten years later, he received frances highest award, legion dhonneur. Thats after pushing forward nouvelle cuisine that advocated reducing calories and Portion Sizes of frances traditional dishes. Ahead of his time, he was also a great self publicist and his stature grew to global fame. That led to having the bocuse dor competition, or so called chef olympics, named after him. He inspired people across generations and borders from france to japan and the usa. He really changed the perception for chefs. For years was kind of considered to be the role of, like, a domestic servant, he really thrusted, or evolved that perception as, of a chef to be elevated at a very prestiged level which so many of us today have, really, him to thank for that movement. I mean, he looked at the role of a chef very differently than anyone else ever did. Bonjour. Ca va . A large but disarming personality who was also known for his affairs at least two long term ones and many others. Bocuse died aged 91 after several years with parkinsons disease. Rhodri davies, bbc news. The Irish Political Party sinn fein has announced a successor to its Party President gerry adams. Mary lou mcdonald, whos a member of parliament in the irish republic, was the only candidate for the role. The two come from very different backgrounds, as our ireland correspondent chris page reports. Many would say gerry adams has been handing over to Mary Lou Mcdonald for some time. And today, sinn fein confirmed she would be the new leader of irish republicanism. Please welcome the president elect of our party, Mary Lou Mcdonald. She indicated shed put her own stamp on the job. I wont fill gerrys shoes. Will but the news is that i brought my own, and we together will walk a journey which marks a defining epoch, a defining chapter in our achievement of a united ireland. Her own politicaljourney has been very different to her predecessor. Gerry adams comes from a working class area of west belfast, the crucible of the conflict in Northern Ireland. Security sources believe he was a senior ira member, though mr adams has always denied being in the organisation. Mary lou mcdonald was brought up in an affluent suburb of dublin. Shejoined sinn fein during the peace process, just as the party was starting to score electoral success in the irish republic. Shes become a robust parliamentary adversary of the prime minister, leo varadkar. Sinn feins opponents still focus on the partys links to the ira and sinn fein is continuing to defend the ira campaign, but it prefers to talk about the present rather than the past. As well as being the Second Biggest Party here in Northern Ireland, it is also now the Third Largest in the republic. The first challenge for Mary Lou Mcdonald will be negotiations to restore power sharing with unionists at stormont. But in the coming years, shell be talking a lot about brexit, which republicans believe has changed the picture and renewed the debate about irish unity. Chris page, bbc news, belfast. Six women from the british army have become the largest all female group to ski coast to coast across antarctica. The Ice Maiden Team began the 1000 mile expedition on november 20. Theyve been battling winds of up to 60 mph and temperatures as low as 40. Breaking news this hour, the siege in kabulat breaking news this hour, the siege in kabul at the Intercontinental Hotel has ended according to newswi res. Hotel has ended according to newswires. You are looking at live pictures of the hotel in the distance. The siege has been going on for around 13 hours. According to the interior ministry, all three attackers have been killed but five people have been killed in their including one foreigner. We presume they are guest and staff of the hotel. That siege going on for the last 13 hours. The Hotel Manager saying that gun men burst through the kitchen and fired at the hotel death. Thank you for watching and we will be back soon. Hello there. Theres something milder on the way through the next few days but with the way things feel at the moment, you may need some convincing of that. Some cold air still in place across many parts of the country. Mild air, though, trying to push in from the south west but as it does, its bringing a band of rain. And this could be quite a troublemaker, actually, because running into the cold air, it is going to bring some snow and, indeed, some ice particularly across central and northern parts of the British Isles through the day ahead. So that could cause some travel disruption bear that in mind if you do have plans to get out and about. So this is how the day shapes up then. This wet weather pushing northwards and eastwards anywhere from north wales, the midlands, northwards, especially over high ground, theres likely to be a spell of snow, much of that though, turning back to rain by the end of the day as the milder air begins to win out and pushes in from the west. At 3pm, there will still be significant snow falling across a good part of scotland but down to the south west, something more mild, turning the wintry weather back to rain and a wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow across northern england, down into east anglia, could be some icy conditions also. Temperatures two, three, four degrees. A chilly six in london. But mostly, it will be rain here. Certainly rain across the south west of england, some heavy rain continues through the afternoon but look at the temperatures, 12 degrees for plymouth. Windy weather here, 9 in cardiff, some wet and windy weather into south wales, and for north wales as things turn more mild in the afternoon, therell be some mist and fog likely to develop across parts of Northern Ireland as well. As we get through sunday night, we will push away the rain and what is left of the snow. Many areas will end up dry. A fair amount of cloud around. This area of rain always close to the south coast and certainly the Channel Islands so some wet weather continuing and look at the temperatures for monday morning, 1 10 degrees, a much less chilly start. Monday will bring this rain scraping perilously close to the south of england. Otherwise not a bad day. A fair amount of cloud, some sunshine about, always patchy rain at times for hills and coasts in the west. Temperatures 5 10. Just the first sign of the milder air winning out and it will continue to do so for the most part through the week ahead, something colder never too far away from Northern Areas so temperatures in the north will tend to go up and down but not as cold as it has been. Certainly mild further south, 12 13, but with the mild air, we will see some wet and windy weather continuing at times through the week ahead. Thats all from me for now. This is bbc news. The headlines reports from afghanistan say a militant attack at one of kabuls top hotels is now over. Gunmen killed at least five people and wounded six others after storming the Intercontinental Hotel. The attackers burst in, shooting at guests and staff and detonating bombs. More than 150 people were rescued. Turkey has carried out airstrikes in Northern Syria against more than 100 targets belonging to kurdish militants as it opens a new front in the syrian conflict. The Turkish Military said that dozens of warplanes were involved in the attacks against the Syrian Kurdish ypg militia. After intense negotiations, republicans in the United States have scheduled a new senate vote on spending to try to end the Government Shutdown by monday morning. Now on bbc news, its politics europe