A rare show of defiance against the regime also coming up. Tight security measures are being put in place here in berlin and other german cities ahead of new years eve celebrations after the mass Sexual Assault of two thousand and fifteen we asked women if they feel safe. Plus unusually low temperatures are making life difficult in many parts of the United States and forcing some to put their new years plans on ice. And. To the program clashes are reported to have broken out at antigovernment protests in iran social media footage shows demonstrators confronting police and attacking government buildings in the capital tehran Security Forces are also reported to have shot dead two demonstrators in the western part of the country the protests are the largest in the Islamic Republic since two thousand and nine. Protests against unemployment inflation and corruption went into the third day in several cities across iran the capital tehran saw burning bins on a burning building. At the gates of the University Hundreds of students and others clashed with riot police. Earlier state television finally reported the demonstrations that have been spreading over the last few days the newsreader blamed what she called hostile websites and alien media for stirring up just as his faction called the protests illegal state television showed a peaceful demonstration but there were clashes earlier with police in the western city of come on show. The government does not like support tens of thousands of iranians took part in rallies planned for weeks they commemorate progovernment demonstrations eight years ago that put an end to unrest following a disputed election rallies were shuttled in more than one thousand two hundred locations on saturday but some supporters did acknowledge that there were valid reasons to protest and what people are protesting because they are under economic pressure the government must be responsive in the face of rising inflation and economic hardships. To get them out of it the people have protested against inflation and other problems but that doesnt show that people have turned on each other or are against the ruling says time and the leadership. Security police are everywhere in the Islamic Republic so open political protest is rare but this crowd in the port of banda shouted we dont want a clerical regime that suggests that what began as frustration over unemployment inflation and corruption has become something more revolutionary. Meanwhile here in germany preparations are underway in cities across the country for new years eve celebrations and in berlin tight security measures are being put in place a Brandenburg Gate where the main festivities will take place. The finishing touches on preparations for new years eve in berlin and the Brandenburg Gate is getting ready to host hundreds of thousands of people a Massive Party and an even bigger security concern. Course there will be police at the event especially outside as well as five hundred security personnel we have strict admission policies will be checking all visitors and their bags and no fireworks glass bottles large bags or suitcases will be allowed and there will be concrete poles outside the event as well as vehicle road blocks. And. The blocks are to prevent truck attacks like the one on a Christmas Market at bright side plots last year but another major concern is womens safety during the celebrations for the first time organizers in berlin are setting up a place for women to seek help at attention run by the german red cross volunteers will be on hand to help anyone who has been sexually assaulted or just needs a place of refuge celebrations are also planned at the cologne cathedral near the citys main train station this is where hundreds of women were assaulted or robbed on new years eve two years ago many of the suspects were recent immigrants or Asylum Seekers fueling criticism of chancellor Angela Merkels decision to let more than a million migrants into germany. But after the masses salts in cologne do women feel less safe. Im not the kind of person to be afraid and so honestly i havent really thought about it i wont be at the clone cathedral but i live in cologne and i go out at night without any worries. Because im not worried about it i think there are enough security measures after what happened. Yeah i dont know something should be done about this but i think its clear that you wont be safe anywhere. Germany isnt taking any chances its beefing up security with more police on the streets and Video Surveillance cameras hoping to usher in a happy and peaceful new year. Now to some of the other stories making news around the world at least one person has been injured in a fire in an apartment in the Northern City of manchester twelve fire engines were sent to tackle the blaze which of dorothys say started on the ninth floor of the twelve Story Building before spreading it comes six months after a massive fire at a london tower block which killed seventy one people. Catalonia former leader carr last voyage to mont has urged spain to accept the result of this months Regional Election the vote gave a slim majority to Pro Independence parties but its unclear if they can form an administration is in selfimposed exile in brussels and faces arrest in spain for organizing the independence referendum in october. Authorities in russia have reportedly a rest of the men in connection with a bomb attack at a supermarket in St Petersburg last week more than a dozen people were hurt in the bombing some severely socalled Islamic State says it carried out the attack but provided no evidence to back up its claim. Russias Supreme Court has apel the decision to ban opposition leader. From running in the countrys two thousand and eighteen president ial election a court rejected his appeal to a prior ruling which barred him from registering as a candidate evolve he responded on twitter calling on russians to boycott the march vote. You know while a deep freeze has taken hold across much of the United States record breaking snow fall and subzero temperatures have hit communities hard across the northeast and midwest the cold spell will make the start of this new year a tough one especially for those at risk. A safe haven away from the life threatening cold the rescue misson in milwaukee is bursting with people in need of a hot lunch and most importantly a place to warm up car to navigate outside you know standing you know. You know hypothermia on the side and pretty quickly the deep freeze continues across much of the country and authorities are urging the public to help those in need. The extreme weather is not only a threat to humans even fish are freezing to death these sharks were found dead on the coast of massachusetts experts say cold shock may have led to their demise. And this place made the news earlier this week with a new record of its own erie pennsylvania had one point five meters of snow in two days some residents are still digging their way out and even more snow is underway. Experts say the weather is linked to Climate Change from his private resort in florida prison trump tweeted that the u. S. Could use a little bit of Global Warming the u. S. Leader publicly denies the existence of Climate Change. Those who can are trying to make the best out of the unusual weather and illinois family turned their backyard into an ice rink to the delight of their children and forecasts indicate they wont lose it any time soon. Joining me now from minneapolis minnesota is w c c o radio journalist long Martin Sloane its good to see you harsh winters of course are nothing new to minnesotans but how has this particular deep freeze affected people there. Right now were at minus eight degrees and thats fahrenheit by the way and to be honest things are really running as normal im looking out my window here in Downtown Minneapolis i still see people walking on the sidewalks it was hard for me to find a parking spot this morning to come to work it doesnt really interrupt life all that much its just about taking those extra precautions layering up even more than usual because you definitely dont want any part of your skin exposed because frostbite can set in in just a couple of minutes i think really the concern is about Vulnerable People people who are experiencing homelessness who maybe dont have proper shelter and just kind of looking out for them letting authorities know if they do find someone who may need some help and needs to find some more in shelter but people are still going to be going to the vikings game tomorrow in basically going about their regular weekend activities its an its an annoyance a lot of complaining for sure but i think people think it makes them hearty and tough and we do love living here. Yet you mention that for most people perhaps that its business as usual but you also mention the homeless whats the city been doing to help the most vulnerable the people at risk who a lot of private organizations nonprofits they are going to be having what are called warming shelters where basically theyre opening their doors extending their hours trying to get those hot meal and then those extra beds trying to fit literally as many people as possible as they can inside their building to make sure they dont turn anyone away and there are certain organizations here that have outreach efforts where they will send people out find people because sometimes people who have Mental Illness who may be deal or Substance Abuse issues theyre a little bit more reticent to find shelter so got to help folks out so there are people who are going out and trying to do that but also the police are out looking for people firefighters to they say call nine one one our Emergency Services number if you do see anyone who needs help its really dangerously cold in there asking people to look out for one another one martin in minneapolis thank you. International Airlines Group which operates British Airways and iberia has confirmed that it will buy austria as low cost holiday carrier nikki the airline declared itself insolvent this month after german carolus bonzo would true its takeover offer for the airline it was an Eleventh Hour rescue and is now the Austrian Airline nikky has become Spanish InternationalAirlines Group or i. A. G. Based in madrid is paying thirty six Million Euros for the former air berlin subsidiary twenty million will go to nickys creditors while the rest will stay with the airline as a cash injection i. A. G. Owns iberia British Airways air lingus and the Budget Airline veiling chief executive willie walsh said the purchase of nicky made Good Business sense nicky was the most profitable subsidiary of air berlin and its focus on the leisure sector fits in perfectly with the wedding strategy nicky will be absorbed into willing about seven hundred forty of its one thousand employees will keep their jobs and thats a good result says nickys works council. To get the formosa i think ground staff in vienna will have a very good chance of staying there because the new owners seem to want to make it an Operational Base for flight personnel the main focus will be germany and austria. Air berlins insolvency administrator originally planned to sell nikita germanys flagship carrier lufthansa but that deal collapsed after European Union authorities rejected it because it would have reduced competition nikky then filed for bankruptcy in mid december now competition will be maintained done coveted holiday routes such as those to majorca passengers should be pleased because more competition usually means lower ticket prices. One of the most prestigious events and crosscountry skiing underway in lends to switzerland on saturday round one of the tortoise whiskey or loudoun fun to go off when the womens one point five kilometer freestyle sprint she edged out american Sophie Caldwell and norwegian mike in cast person. Meanwhile in the mens event circuit in steel golf of russia beat out italys better rico pelligrino and frenchman lucas shot of the tour as he continues on sunday with a ten kilometer classic interval start. To tennis now or Serena Williams is back on the hard court just four months after giving birth to her first child she put up a fight but ended up losing to french open champion yellen asta penco at an exhibition tournament in aboud dobby williams lost her first set six two she did strike back to claim the second set and nearly set up a dream come back when but also penco wasnt on that plan dispatching the seven time wimbledon champion in a match deciding tie break. Thanks for watching t w news will leave you now with some images of the more attractive sides of wintry weather footage from the Worlds LargestIce Sculpture festival and harbin china enjoy. I think theres a real meeting with journalists that people trust that can make sense of all this and can explain whats actually happening. And its not just about being say