and a bit of intel for you — the uk's intelligence and cyber agency releases its cryptic christmas card puzzle for kids. how hard can it be? we shall find out... hello and welcome to the programme. the number of people killed by the tornadoes that swept through the midwest of the united states through the mid—west of the united states is now known to number more than 90. at least 80 of them were in kentucky. a search for survivors is under way across six states, with emergency crews combing through a vast amount of debris. the small town of mayfield was hardest hit. our correspondent nomia iqbal has the latest from there. there were more than 30 tornadoes but one hurtled down a single track of more than 200 miles. it is thought to be the longest path ever taken by a tornado in us history. it flattened many homes, whilst leaving others untouched. in an instant, this small town of mayfield has been almost entirely wiped out. flattened homes are now buried in their own debris, toys and shoes are scattered amongst the twisted metal and shredded trees by a swarm of tornadoes that no—one had prepared for. deeneen is looking for her cousin who lives downtown. everybody�*s cell phone is down and so i get up early and i'm just so nervous, i couldn't sleep. and just to really see — cause i couldn't get through to her yesterday and i drive a school bus and everything over there is destroyed — it is just heartbreaking. this is one of the main churches that residents here in mayfield attended. it is about 100 years old and people here tell me it only took around ten seconds for the tornado to blow through and destroy so much of it. some people actually took cover in here on the night that the storms came. nearby churches have opened up their doors to give shelter to those who survived. jerry and his father managed to escape. his mother, who is in a nursing home, is unaware of what has happened. my mother still doesn't know the house has gone and we're not going to tell her. why not? it would break her heart to let her know that the dream house that she designed has gone. an operation is still under way at a candle factory in mayfield. more than 100 workers were on the night shift when the tornado tore through. a0 people managed to make it out. in the state of illinois an amazon factory is looking for its missing employees. the amazon founder, jeff bezos, pledged to offer support. the governor here in kentucky says this is the deadliest tornado event the state has ever had. president biden has signed a federal emergency disaster declaration to help this state and others ravaged by the storms. nomia iqbal, bbc news, kentucky. jonathon gregg is the senior multimedia journalist for spectrum news. he's been on the ground in mayfield for the last two days, interviewing survivors and volunteers. hejoins us live. we just look at the images and they are astonishing but i guess that is nothing compared to the impact of see it yourself? it to the impact of see it yourself?— to the impact of see it ourself? , , ~ yourself? it is quite shocking once you _ yourself? it is quite shocking once you get _ yourself? it is quite shocking once you get on _ yourself? it is quite shocking once you get on the - yourself? it is quite shocking once you get on the ground. | once you get on the ground. certainly that first night. also shocking because when you get into the town it was still dark, a couple of hours when the sun rises when you get the full scope of our devastating and powerful this tornado was. when i look at it, i see a lot of timber. is that the problem? was it half the case of what the buildings were made of that meant they were so vulnerable? the governor asked that today and we are expecting these wins to be beyond 200 mph. he said that perhaps no structure survive and i would point out that many large sturdy brick buildings were levelled as well. —— winds. buildings were levelled as well. -- winds.— buildings were levelled as well. -- winds. we understand the force _ well. -- winds. we understand the force of— well. -- winds. we understand the force of this _ well. -- winds. we understand the force of this thing. - well. -- winds. we understand the force of this thing. we - the force of this thing. we were out, you have taken a lot of pictures. we have some of your work which we will play as we keep talking to you. we are talking to survivors here. i mean, how did they get through this? i mean, how did they get through this? ., mean, how did they get through this? . , ., ., , this? i have spoken to many --eole this? i have spoken to many people in — this? i have spoken to many people in mayfield _ this? i have spoken to many people in mayfield and - this? i have spoken to many l people in mayfield and several who do not have a basement, a sublevel into their home, and if they survived miraculously. most of them in hallways, internal hallways away from windows and even so, when their homes collapsed and their roofs were blown off, somehow they survived. a number of people where homes had collapsed onto them. in fact, where homes had collapsed onto them. infact, a where homes had collapsed onto them. in fact, a woman happened to be in the right place. a little milk, little pocket created from the following was and she was not a crutch. —— nook. even though her entire house was gone, was just rubble. house was gone, was 'ust rubble. ~ ~' ., house was gone, was 'ust rubble. ~ ~ ., ., , rubble. we know in many ways the are rubble. we know in many ways they are the — rubble. we know in many ways they are the lucky _ rubble. we know in many ways they are the lucky ones - rubble. we know in many ways they are the lucky ones with i they are the lucky ones with plenty of people still missing. i imagine a lot of that surge if it is off for the moment with darkness.— if it is off for the moment with darkness. what is the latest? there _ with darkness. what is the latest? there is _ with darkness. what is the latest? there is a - with darkness. what is the latest? there is a curfew. with darkness. what is the - latest? there is a curfew right now for mayfield, from dusk to dawn and as far as the candlemaking facility plant, efforts going on around the clock. i spent most my in the residential areas but there is still a lot to be taken from that wreckage and we are still waiting for hard numbers stop unfortunately, the number of deceased in the building collapse. i deceased in the building collapse-— deceased in the building collase. , . " :: collapse. i understand 110 workers — collapse. i understand 110 workers per _ collapse. i understand 110 workers per shift - collapse. i understand 110 workers per shift that - collapse. i understand 110 workers per shift that and j collapse. i understand 110 l workers per shift that and it is almost the epicentre of the worst affected area and i suppose it is probably very sadly true to say that they will be was used to come? == will be was used to come? -- and there _ will be was used to come? -- and there it — will be was used to come? -- and there it will _ will be was used to come? » and there it will be. the governor alluded to that in an afternoon press conference that the best case scenario would be perhaps 50 fatalities from that building collapse and that was the best case scenario but when you do the mathematics, 110 were perhaps in the building at the time and about a0 or so were able to get out, maybe a few more. in the last 36 hours, only one person that was pulled from that wreckage so we have gone more than 2a hours since someone wasn't pulled out alive from that plant collapse. that doesnt from that plant collapse. that doesn't tell _ from that plant collapse. that doesn't tell us _ from that plant collapse. that doesn't tell us something, sadly. thank you forjoining us. i should also say we have comprehensive coverage of all the rescue efforts across all the rescue efforts across all the six us states affected. and the six us states affected. and the latest from our correspondent on the ground in kentucky as well. head to bbc.com/news or download the bbc news app. let's get some of the day's other news: the g7 group of democracies has warned russia of "massive consequences" if it invades ukraine. theirforeign ministers were meeting in the english city of liverpool, with intelligence services suggesting up to 100,000 thousand russian troops have gathered up to 100,000 russian troops have gathered on the eastern border of ukraine. the uk foreign secretary liz truss said they had sent a clear message to russian president vladimir putin. naftali bennett has arrived in the united arab emirates on the first—ever official visit by an israeli prime minister. it comes after the two countries established diplomatic ties last year. mr bennett is due to meet the crown prince of abu dhabi, sheik mohammed bin zayed, on monday. they're expected to discuss ways of boosting cooperation and strengthening economic and commercial ties. one of mexico's most revered singers, vicente fernandez, has died at the age of 81. vicente fernandez was known as the king of mexico's traditional ranchera music and had a career spanning more than five decades. his songs became an essential part of mexican culture. he'd spent four months in hospital, following a fall at his ranch. let's turn now to the uk where there's to be a rapid acceleration of the booster programme, with prime minister borisjohnson warning of a "tidal wave" of infections from the new omicron variant. he said that thousands of extra volunteers and military planners would be brought in to increase vaccination numbers. that could amount to 18 million jabs injust 19 days. the announcement came as the uk's covid alert level was increased from level 3 to level a. although the alert level has been raised it won't result in more restrictions. the prime minister emphasized on the gravity of omicron varient. iam afraid i am afraid we are now facing an emergency in our battle with the new variant, omicron and we must urgently reinforce our wall of vaccine protection to keep our friends and loved ones safe. earliertoday, keep our friends and loved ones safe. earlier today, the uk for chief medical officers raise the covid alert to four, its second highest level, because of the evidence that omicron is doubling here in the uk every 2- doubling here in the uk every 2— three days and we know from experience how these exponential curves develop. no—one should be in any doubt, there is a tidal wave of omicron coming and i am afraid it is now clear that two doses of vaccine are simply not enough to give the level of protection we all need. but the good news is that our scientists are confident that with a third dose, a booster dose, we can all bring our level of protection back up. borisjohnson. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: the uk's intelligence and cyber agency, releases its cryptic, christmas card puzzle for kids. we'll find out how hard it really is. saddam hussein is finished because he killed our people, our women, our children. the signatures took only a few minutes, but they brought a formal end to 3.5 years of conflict — conflict that has claimed more than 200,000 lives. the foreign audience of world leaders, the presidents of bosnia, serbia and croatia put their names to the peace agreement. the romanian border- was sealed and silent today. romania has cut itself off - from the outside world in order to prevent the details - of the presumed massacre in timisoara from leaking out. from sex at the white house to a trial for his political life — the lewinsky affair tonight guaranteed bill clinton his place in history, as only the second president ever to be impeached. this is bbc news. the latest headlines: a desperate search for survivors is under way in six us states devastated by powerful tornadoes. the number of dead is approaching 100. borisjohnson has warned that a "tidal wave" of omicron is coming. he's urged people to get a booster before the new year. now, a special report for you on afghanistan. amid an economic collapse there, the country's drug trade looks to be booming. afghanistan has long been behind the vast majority of the world's heroin. now it's emerged as a major manufacturer of crystal meth, too. the taliban say for the moment, they can't outlaw drug production without being able to offer alternative sources of income to poor farmers. secunder kermani and cameraman malik mudassir have travelled from kabul, across southern afghanistan, for this report. they are one of afghanistan's most lucrative exports, but these drugs are destroying lives here and abroad. there is heroin and, increasingly now, crystal meth. this, an exclusive look at where the meth is coming from. these drugs in southern afghanistan will be smuggled to countries as far away as australia. the amount in this room alone would sell there for around £2 million. this is how it is made. makeshift open—air labs in the desert under the noses of the taliban. these trucks are full of a key ingredient. traffickers here have discovered a common wild plant can be used to produce meth cheaply. last week, the taliban banned farmers from picking it but they are not shutting down the meth labs. this man has links to the trade. "when the taliban announced their ban on this plant," he tells me, "the wholesale price of meth doubled and there are still warehouses full of it." it's another dangerous drug, heroin — from opium from like these — most commonly associated with afghanistan. before the taliban takeover, opium traders paid off corrupt officials and sold the black paste secretly. now, they've been allowed to open up stalls in markets. we're driving through a bazaar where opium is being sold openly. much of it is then going to be processed into heroin. the taliban are not stopping drug production — in fact, they've been taxing it for years, but they don't want journalists seeing it being traded. that's why we're filming from inside the car. you call yourselves an islamic government but you're allowing drug production. isn't that hypocritical? translation: under the islamic emirate, l before 2001, the growing and selling of opium dropped to zero. right now, we are trying to find alternatives. we can't take this away from people without offering them something else. for years, poorfarmers have relied on opium to provide for theirfamilies. now, as afghanistan's economy collapses without international support, and water levels continue to drop, many see it as the safest crop to grow. opium destroys a lot of people's lives. the taliban regularly haul these addicts off to rehab centres, but many end up straight back here. for now, more drugs look set to hit the streets both in afghanistan and across the world. secunder kermani, bbc news, afghanistan. let's change direction a little bit now. a story for you now from the racing world, where the formula 1 world championship has gone dutch. max verstappen has been confirmed as the new f1 world champion after a thrilling and i should say highly controversial end to the final race of the season in abu dhabi. the 2a—year—old beat britain's lewis hamilton on the very last lap to win his first title, denying hamilton a record eighth championship. the final result had been challenged by hamilton's mercedes team, but the result was upheld. mercedes say they intend to appeal. jamie chadwick won this year's formula w title and is also a development driverfor the williams formula 1 team. she's a self confessed lewis hamilton fan and gave her reaction to the race. it was eventful! yeah, i mean, as a self—professed lewis fan, obviously, in the end, not the result i wanted to see. but at the same time, i think everything fans want to see with the spectacle as it was. normally we go to abu dhabi — and i've been in years past — the championships already been decided three races to the wire — well, the last lap — was great to watch. there was confusion on that last lap and i felt like the decision was rushed to bring the safety car in and, as a result, max was left with this advantage of the new tyres, which he was able to get from pitting and obviously won the world championship — which, in my opinion, although it was great for the spectacle, shouldn't have happened. but that said, you know, both were so deserving throughout the year that i think you'll still look back at it in a positive light as a championship. the job that max and red bull have done this year has been remarkable. i think to challenge a team like mercedes like they have has been, you know, a huge thing for the sport to see. but at the same time, i think it takes away nothing from what lewis did today. he, as a young driver, looking up to someone is everything that you want to aspire to be. he's so classy and so professional, and that's how you win world championships. and unfortunately, today, it didn't come off, but i don't think anyone can take away the season he's had. it was an amazing race! the volcanic eruption on la palma has now become the longest on the spanish island since records began more than 500 years ago. the cumbre vieja volcano has now been active for 85 days after bursting back into life in mid september. new drone footage shows lava continuing to flow from vents. more than 2,500 buildings on the island have been damaged or destroyed, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people from their homes on the island, part of the canaries archipelago. gchq — the uk's intelligence and security organisation — is challenging young people to discover their inner intelligence officer. it's all part of a recruitment drive as agencies worldwide look to modernise. well, this year, what's their secret weapon? it's their christmas card. our reporter mark lobel joins me now — and i'm just being told i may be put on the spot. you had better tell us what it is about. it you had better tell us what it is about. , . is about. it is part fund which is about. it is part fund which is why we _ is about. it is part fund which is why we wanted _ is about. it is part fund which is why we wanted to - is about. it is part fund which is why we wanted to get - is about. it is part fund which | is why we wanted to get some tinsel onset because it is christmas and i was going to wear it because of another government quiz under the spotlight at the moment in which someone is wearing tinsel, i thought best for rudolph to wear it so thank you to our world service colleagues, rudolph is four years old and wearing the tinsel beautifully. he carries it off. tinsel beautifully. he carries it off- and — tinsel beautifully. he carries it off. and also _ tinsel beautifully. he carries it off. and also about - tinsel beautifully. he carries it off. and also about gchq, this intelligence _ it off. and also about gchq, this intelligence gathering . this intelligence gathering agency that is meant to keep the uk safer against crime, trial and a quarter and hostile states. a different kind of appeal this year. but look at what its directors arejeremy fleming says. "from enigma to artificial intelligence, gchq's history "is full of talented people tackling the country's "most complex challenges." as you mentioned, the secret weapon is the christmas card. the christmas card, 0k. weapon is the christmas card. the christmas card, ok. so how challenging is this?— challenging is this? whole oint of challenging is this? whole point of this _ challenging is this? whole point of this is _ challenging is this? whole point of this is to - challenging is this? whole point of this is to recruit . point of this is to recruit young people between 11 and 18 using the science, technology, engineering and maths focused quiz. did you ever, by the way, consider this as a career? um... was not expecting that question! finally enough when i was at university, i was vetted, so there you are. and i did notjoin it, that tells you something. did not join it, that tells you something-— did not join it, that tells you somethina. , ., ., , something. they are modernising its that you _ something. they are modernising its that you could _ something. they are modernising its that you could be _ something. they are modernising its that you could be a _ something. they are modernising its that you could be a non- - its that you could be a non— binary bond now and mi6�*s had appeared to explain why they use green inks of the whole thing is changing. what they are trying to do is find out if adults are as clever as 11 —year—olds, they have opened it up —year—olds, they have opened it up to all ages and can you see where i am leading with this? unfortunately.— where i am leading with this? unfortunately. what i thought i would do. _ unfortunately. what i thought i would do, before _ unfortunately. what i thought i would do, before we _ unfortunately. what i thought i would do, before we get - unfortunately. what i thought i would do, before we get to - unfortunately. what i thought i j would do, before we get to this your�*s card we started last yea r�*s your�*s card we started last year's cards a look at the board. it's simple to start with, look at the letters, it's in a sequence of tommy the next one in the sequence. shy. good one in the sequence. a. good start, good. can _ one in the sequence. a. good start, good. can i— one in the sequence. a. good start, good. can i go- one in the sequence. a. good start, good. can i go now? i start, good. can i go now? let's go. — start, good. can i go now? let's go, straight - start, good. can i go now? let's go, straight onto - start, good. can i go now? let's go, straight onto the | let's go, straight onto the next one, and here it is. um... i have not— next one, and here it is. um... i have not got— next one, and here it is. um... i have not got that. _ next one, and here it is. um... i have not got that. come - next one, and here it is. um... i have not got that. come on, i i have not got that. come on, david. i have not got that. come on, david- you — i have not got that. come on, david. you have _ i have not got that. come on, david. you have to _ i have not got that. come on, david. you have to finish - i have not got that. come on, david. you have to finish it i i have not got that. come on, david. you have to finish it in | david. you have to finish it in a shorter time than this. let me give you a clue, walking in the air... me give you a clue, walking in the air- - -_ the air... 0h, snowman, so... backwards. — the air... 0h, snowman, so... backwards, isn't _ the air... 0h, snowman, so... backwards, isn't it? _ the air... 0h, snowman, so... backwards, isn't it? 5. - backwards, isn't it? s. perfect, you are doing well. this was also on the quiz, without a clue which is impossible to wake up without the clues i will tell you it has to do with animals and the chinese zodiac.— chinese zodiac. 0h, crikey! year of the _ chinese zodiac. 0h, crikey! year of the what _ chinese zodiac. 0h, crikey! year of the what then? i chinese zodiac. 0h, crikey! year of the what then? do | chinese zodiac. 0h, crikey! i year of the what then? do you know what _ year of the what then? do you know what they _ year of the what then? do you know what they are? - year of the what then? do you know what they are? monkey, j know what they are? monkey, rooster, dog, pig, rad and... what 2021 have been? £33... rooster, dog, pig, rad and... what 2021 have been? {1331}... and it what 2021 have been? 0x. and it is ti . er what 2021 have been? 0x. and it is tiger next year. and if we look at the next one before we get to this year's the 12 days of christmas, the carole, 12 drummers drumming... 11 pipers piping... the hell? more than leaping. piping... the hell? more than leainu. , ., leaping. thing is, five gold rinas, leaping. thing is, five gold rings. have _ leaping. thing is, five gold rings, have we _ leaping. thing is, five gold rings, have we got... i leaping. thing is, five gold i rings, have we got... nakama six. this allaying. _ rings, have we got... nakama six. this allaying. we - rings, have we got... nakama six. this allaying. we have i rings, have we got... nakama six. this allaying. we have to| six. this allaying. we have to rush you, david. this is this your�*s. the first of this year's cards. your's. the first of this year's cards.— your's. the first of this year's cards. your's. the first of this ear's cards. , ., ., ., year's cards. ok, you have to start at the — year's cards. ok, you have to start at the top _ year's cards. ok, you have to start at the top there? i year's cards. ok, you have to l start at the top there? reading initials spell these messages's answer is simple. what reading initials? . ., , answer is simple. what reading initials? . , initials? read the initials is the clue- — initials? read the initials is the clue. what _ initials? read the initials is the clue. what initials? i initials? read the initials is| the clue. what initials? the initials perhaps of the words? of what word? at}! initials perhaps of the words? of what word ?_ initials perhaps of the words? of what word? of the words on the screen? — of what word? of the words on the screen? i _ of what word? of the words on the screen? i think— of what word? of the words on the screen? i think people i the screen? i think people are screaming- i _ the screen? i think people are screaming. i don't _ the screen? i think people are screaming. i don't even i the screen? i think people are screaming. i don't even know| screaming. i don't even know what i'm looking at! read those initials? which initials? maybe clue, do you mean c h r customer christmas. williams, we will run _ customer christmas. williams, we will run out _ customer christmas. williams, we will run out of _ customer christmas. williams, we will run out of this. - customer christmas. williams, we will run out of this. look. we will run out of this. look at the venn diagram, this could do it for everyone. you could win this. tell us what the? represents? which word? represents? which word? represents? premier league teams, can you spell one of them out?— teams, can you spell one of them out? , , , ,., them out? 0h... this is beyond me. them out? 0h... this is beyond me- mark. _ them out? 0h... this is beyond me. mark, being _ them out? 0h... this is beyond me. mark, being extremely i me. mark, being extremely helpful to make leads. united. you. helpfulto make leads. united. you. ,, . helpfulto make leads. united. you, ,, ., ., helpfulto make leads. united. you. ,, ., ., , you. started and you finished, well done- _ you. started and you finished, well done. newcastle - you. started and you finished, well done. newcastle and i well done. newcastle and manchester where the other two words. full details on the website, gchq .gov .uk and there are really difficult one, those were the easy ones. if we do exactly _ those were the easy ones. if we do exactly that _ those were the easy ones. if we do exactly that in _ those were the easy ones. if we do exactly that in the _ those were the easy ones. if we do exactly that in the next i do exactly that in the next hour, i'm in with a shoe! well done. hour, i'm in with a shoe! well done- ask— hour, i'm in with a shoe! well done. ask rudolph _ hour, i'm in with a shoe! well done. ask rudolph next i hour, i'm in with a shoe! well| done. ask rudolph next time. indeed for _ done. ask rudolph next time. indeed for that. _ done. ask rudolph next time. indeed for that. well - done. ask rudolph next time. indeed for that. well done, i indeed for that. well done, gchq. goodbye for now. hello there. it was noticeably mild today right across the country, now, we look to the north—west through this evening and overnight. this deep area of low pressure — small system but very vigorous, passing to the north—west of the uk — will bring a spell of gales to northern ireland and in towards scotland as well. stormy conditions for the hebrides and the northern isles, perhaps severe gales for a time, some blustery showers. it will turn a bit drier here by the end of the night but for england and wales, it'll stay cloudy with outbreaks of rain, certainly through wales and into the midlands. mild in the south — double figure values here. a little bit cooler further north. and that's how things look into monday. we hold on to the cloud for large parts of england and wales. we'll continue with this persistent rain as well for parts of wales, the midlands, into northern england. some areas pretty wet all day. brightest weather will be across scotland and northern ireland. a few blustery showers, wintry on the hills, it will be milder, though, across the south. single figures across the north. that weather front for england and wales clears away into tuesday. high pressure begins to build in here. it stays unsettled over the northern half of the country — lots of isobars and weather fronts. so windy for scotland and northern ireland and some rain, particularly for the north and the west of scotland. england and wales, though, closer to that area of high pressure, should be largely dry, some cloud around but also some good spells of sunshine. those temperatures will be around orjust a little above the seasonal norm. so as we head out of tuesday into wednesday, we continue with that area of high pressure across the south of the country so here, settled with light winds. still quite windy across the northern half of the country with further outbreaks of rain, thanks to that weather front. so, some wet weather northern ireland, certainly for northern and western scotland, maybe a little bit of brightness at times. it stays windy here. lighter winds in the south. again, variable cloud, some good spells of sunshine. those temperatures perhaps a little bit higher again — double figure values for most — and i've also got to exmpahsize nights will be much milder as well — frost—free for most of us. —— emphasise. then beyond wednesday, we see this area of high pressure we think start to really take its force across the uk and that'll push the weather fronts away from the north and it'll be sitting on top of the by friday and into the following weekend, so it means winds will turn very light. so, there's a chance it turns really grey and gloomy by the end of the week. turning a bit colder as well as we head on into the new weekend and we will see some problems with mist and fog. this is bbc news, the headlines: i'm david eades. more than ninety people are now known to have been killed by the devastating tornadoes that have swept through the mid—west of the united states. at least eighty of the deaths were in kentucky. the national guard has been deployed to look for survivors. borisjohnson has announced plans to accelerate britain's coronavirus booster programme, due to the rapidly spreading omicron variant. all adults in england will be offered a booster by the end of the month, rather than by the end of january. mrjohnson acknowledged that some other health services would have to be delayed. the dutch racing driver max verstappen has secured his first formula one world title. he beat lewis hamilton, on the last lap of a thrilling season finale in abu dhabi. verstappen then had to wait while the briton's mercedes team had two protests against the result rejected by stewards. now on bbc news it's time for political thinking with nick robinson.