this is bbc news. the headlines: hundreds of people are fleeing the ukrainian city of kherson because of intense russian shelling attacks. bombardment of the city has increased sharply over the past few days. on tuesday, a shell hit the maternity ward of a hospital. at least 62 people have been killed in winter storms across the united states and canada. president biden has approved emergency federal help for new york state, as the arctic freeze continues. in china, people will be able to travel abroad from the 8th of january. the move will end one of china s last covid restrictions, which had been in place for nearly three years. and serbia has put troops on high alert over rising tensions with kosovo. president vuchich said
this is a holiday season no one will soon forget. it should have been a time for cheer. instead, the bomb cyclone has brought misery. nada tawfik, bbc news, new york. china is to scrap quarantine for travellers from the 8th of january, 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. reports say hospitals are overwhelmed and elderly people are dying. earlier the china analyst, jake werner, told me that the decision to open up will have an impact on the country. it could potentially make a really big difference. china has essentially been cut off from the outside world for the last three years. this is in line with the very rapid complete reopening, from zero covid policy internally. this is going to open
service from 2024, applicable to male draftees born afterjanuary the 1st 2005. china has announced it is scrapping quarantine for travellers from the 8th of january, marking the biggest shift from the country s zero covid policy. it comes as covid cases continue to surge in china s capital beijing.the authorities are rushing imported coronavirus tablets to treatment centres. earlier i spoke to former uk ambassador to north korea, john everard, about whether this step was inevitable and how it might help the chinese economy. 0nce china is that it was going to release the restrictions then it made no sense to maintain those restrictions on international travel. sure enough, the other shoe fell off. ~ ., ., ., .,
fell off. what would it mean to the chinese economy fell off. what would it mean to the chinese economy the fell off. what would it mean to the chinese economy the fact - fell off. what would it mean to the chinese economy the fact that - chinese economy the fact that people can come as cool as they please don t? can come as cool as they please dont? can come as cool as they please don t? , ,., .,, can come as cool as they please don t? , ,., , ., , don t? the big boost to the chinese economy will don t? the big boost to the chinese economy will be don t? the big boost to the chinese economy will be the economy will be the relaxation on domestic travel. up until the 8th of january, it was difficult to move from one city to another in china. that has not become a great deal easier. and straightaway people have taken advantage of new freedom to see friends, business associates, family in different cities. there has been a great deal of trouble. of course, the timing of these an
this is bbc news. the headlines: at least 62 people have been killed in winter storms across the united states and canada. president biden has approved emergency federal help for new york state, as the arctic freeze continues. in china, people will be able to travel abroad from the 8th of january, ending one of china s last covid restrictions. serbia has put troops on high alert over rising tensions with kosovo. president vuchich said he would take all measures to protect his nation. in taiwan, all men will be required to serve one year s military service, in response to the threat from china.