And we celebrate a0 years of christmas classic, the snowman, and its iconic soundtrack, Walking In The Air. Good morning. Its Christmas Eve. Our top story. Around 250 Million People in the us and canada are under Severe Weather warnings, as an unprecedented winter storm sweeps across North America. From alaska to texas, bone chilling temperatures, blizzards and icy winds have caused widespread disruption and left more than a million homes and businesses without power. At least 12 deaths have been linked to the conditions. Tom brada reports. Once ina once in a generation whether out of the worst possible time. Ice, wind, rain and extreme cold are Wreaking Havocin Rain and extreme cold are wreaking havoc in the build up to christmas. Trees have been ripped from the ground and power lines have been knocked out across the country. From maine to texas, more than i Million People are without electricity. People are very frustrated because we pay our bills. All day it has been going in and out. I am really glad i have a fireplace because otherwise i would be freezing right now. ,. ,. , otherwise i would be freezing right now. ,. ,. , now. This is montana where it is so cold that boiling now. This is montana where it is so cold that Boiling Water now. This is montana where it is so cold that Boiling Water thrown now. This is montana where it is so cold that Boiling Water thrown into | cold that Boiling Water thrown into the air freezes instantly. Forecasters warn in some places temperatures could drop to below 50 celsius. Most of the attention is on the snow and ice. But americas east coast is facing another thread, flooding. In new york rain and strong winds have pushed sea water to shore, leaving cars and Homes Underwater. We to shore, leaving cars and Homes Underwater underwater. We have had ice, slidinu , underwater. We have had ice, sliding, snow, underwater. We have had ice, sliding, snow, freezing underwater. We have had ice, sliding, snow, freezing temperatures and everything that Mother Nature could while other adults this weekend. Could while other adults this weekend could while other adults this weekend. ,. , weekend. Travel conditions are treacherous. Weekend. Travel conditions are treacherous. There weekend. Travel conditions are treacherous. There have weekend. Travel conditions are treacherous. There have been. Weekend. Travel conditions are treacherous. There have been several fatal road crashes already. And airports are struggling during one of the busiest times of the year. Thousands of flights have been cancelled. I am delayed here thousands of flights have been cancelled. Lam delayed here because of the cancelled. Iam delayed here because of the crazy cancelled. Lam delayed here because of the crazy storm. Where i am going. Of the crazy storm. Where i am going. I of the crazy storm. Where i am going, ijust heard it has been flooded going, ijust heard it has been flooded. So, it is not the right time flooded. So, it is not the right time for flooded. So, it is not the right time for me to get in now. It is not an easy time for me to get in now. It is not an easy visit time for me to get in now. It is not an easy visit. But i am praying. Trains an easy visit. But i am praying. Trains are an easy visit. But i am praying. Trains are struggling too. American Passenger Rail company amtrak has suspended more than 20 roots. Experts say the Winter Weather could develop into a bomb cyclone, a powerful storm which formed so quickly it resembles a bomb going off. Millions of americans will now be hoping that the extreme cold wont disrupt their christmas plans. Tom braddock, bbc news. Were joined now by dan burritt from cbc news in vancouver. Hello to you. What is the situation like where you are and how are people coping . Like where you are and how are peeple cpi9 . Like where you are and how are people coping . Difficult to say the least. People coping . Difficult to say the least hello people coping . Difficult to say the least. Hello to everybody people coping . Difficult to say the least. Hello to everybody there. I people coping . Difficult to say the i least. Hello to everybody there. We have seen least. Hello to everybody there. We have seen in parts of canada hundreds have seen in parts of canada hundreds of thousands of people without hundreds of thousands of people without power, multiple car crashes, people without power, multiple car crashes, people waiting at airports for days, some people waiting at airports for days, some of people waiting at airports for days, some of them, trying to begin a flight some of them, trying to begin a flight out some of them, trying to begin a flight out after they were all cancelled. Here in british columbia, particularly cancelled. Here in british columbia, particularly on the south coast in vancouver, particularly on the south coast in vancouver, it has been very difficult vancouver, it has been very difficult. We do not get normally the type difficult. We do not get normally the type of snow and the type of cold the the type of snow and the type of cold the rest of the country gets and the and the rest of our province gets and the rest of our province gets there and the rest of our province gets. There arent many people here with winter gets. There arent many people here with winter tyres. We have seen a lot of with winter tyres. We have seen a lot of people struggling in the snow and lot of people struggling in the snow and ih lot of people struggling in the snow and in this wet, heavy, dense how and in this wet, heavy, dense how hour and in this wet, heavy, dense now. Hourtransit and in this wet, heavy, dense now. Hour Transit Systems have ground now. Hour Transit Systems have ground to now. Hour Transit Systems have ground to a halt. Some of them are working ground to a halt. Some of them are working again but it has been a slow lo, working again but it has been a slow go, particularly for our ferry system go, particularly for our ferry system is go, particularly for our ferry system is going over to Vancouver Island system is going over to Vancouver Island and system is going over to Vancouver Island and other small islands, lots of delays, island and other small islands, lots of delays, simply because sometimes the crews of delays, simply because sometimes the crews cant get to the terminal and they the crews cant get to the terminal and they need a certain number of people and they need a certain number of people to and they need a certain number of people to man the boats to get them around people to man the boats to get them around it people to man the boats to get them around. It has been very difficult, particularly around. It has been very difficult, particularly for those without homes, particularly for those without homes, those experiencing homelessness, they are already vulnerable and this weather has proven vulnerable and this weather has proven ah vulnerable and this weather has proven an even larger burden. How much longer proven an even larger burden. How much longer is proven an even larger burden. How much longer is it proven an even larger burden. Finn much longer is it expected to last command what provisions are put in place . Certain parts of the country not prepared to this kind of weather . Not prepared to this kind of weather . , � ,. ,. , weather . Thats right. The situation has changed weather . Thats right. The situation has changed here weather . Thats right. The situation has changed here in weather . Thats right. The situation has changed here in british has changed here in british columbia, particularly the south coast, columbia, particularly the south coast, where we did have low temperatures between 10 and 15 celsius temperatures between 10 and 15 celsius. That has shifted now to more celsius. That has shifted now to more rain celsius. That has shifted now to more rain. Part of the problem is that with more rain. Part of the problem is that with so more rain. Part of the problem is that with so much snow on the ground, that with so much snow on the ground, we are worried about localised ground, we are worried about localised flooding, not so much from the large localised flooding, not so much from the large rivers and streams, but people the large rivers and streams, but people in the large rivers and streams, but people in and around their homes, whether people in and around their homes, whether you have drainage issues, lrasins whether you have drainage issues, basins being flooded, that is one of the big basins being flooded, that is one of the big concerns. We have seen shelters the big concerns. We have seen shelters opening up, but with the region shelters opening up, but with the region that already has a growing homeless region that already has a growing homeless population, some of those shelters homeless population, some of those shelters are already full. There are also concerns particularly around the spread of covid 19, with rsv and flu circulating, and putting people together flu circulating, and putting people together in the situations, particularly indoors, is also a challenge. Trues are working to keep the lruses challenge. Trues are working to keep the buses and bridges open. But some of them the buses and bridges open. But some of them are the buses and bridges open. But some of them are not ready for that yet. And we of them are not ready for that yet. And we cant forget it is Christmas Eve. People will be keen to spend time with family and loved ones. Did most of the travel happened a few days ago, or is it still significantly a problem . We are riaht in significantly a problem . We are right in the significantly a problem . We are right in the middle significantly a problem . We are right in the middle of significantly a problem . We are right in the middle of its significantly a problem . We are right in the middle of its tail, i right in the middle of its tail, naga, right in the middle of its tail, naga, and we have seen heartbroken stories naga, and we have seen heartbroken stories out naga, and we have seen heartbroken stories out of Vancouver National airport. Stories out of Vancouver National airport, people spending the night there. Airport, people spending the night there. Not airport, people spending the night there, not being able to shower, even there, not being able to shower, even find there, not being able to shower, even find a there, not being able to shower, even find a toothbrush. The Airport Authority even find a toothbrush. The Airport Authority is even find a toothbrush. The Airport Authority is now offering some of those authority is now offering some of those folks Free Hotel Rooms and meals those folks Free Hotel Rooms and meals eto those folks Free Hotel Rooms and meals etc. As you mentioned, people ust meals etc. As you mentioned, people just want meals etc. As you mentioned, people just want to meals etc. As you mentioned, people just want to go home and we have had people just want to go home and we have had people try just want to go home and we have had people try to get flights from here to other people try to get flights from here to other destinations across this massive to other destinations across this massive country, across the pacific. One massive country, across the pacific. 0ne family massive country, across the pacific. One family was going to manila. Their one family was going to manila. Their father drove ten hours to get there their father drove ten hours to get there and their father drove ten hours to get there and they cant get there. Others there and they cant get there. Others try there and they cant get there. Others try to go to taipei, and particularly in the middle of this covidi9 particularly in the middle of this covid 19 pandemic, with people being restricted covid 19 pandemic, with people being restricted for so long and not being able to restricted for so long and not being able to fly restricted for so long and not being able to fly as much as they used to, there able to fly as much as they used to, there is able to fly as much as they used to, there is the able to fly as much as they used to, there is the pent up desire to get where there is the pent up desire to get where they are going, particularly around where they are going, particularly around the holidays, very difficult for a around the holidays, very difficult for a lot around the holidays, very difficult for a lot of around the holidays, very difficult for a lot of pupils. Dan. For a lot of pupils. Dan, thank you very much. Rail passengers have been warned not to travel today unless absolutely necessary, as continued Strike Action is set to cause disruption. Staff are set to walk out from six oclock this evening. Elsewhere, there is ongoing industrial action over pay, working conditions and job security, including staff at Passport Control and postal workers. Simon browning reports. Its the day before christmas, and all around the country Train Services are finishing early because of more strikes. Rmt members walk out at 6pm. Trains wont resume again until the morning of the 27th of december, with a later start than normal. The rail network must be clear before crews leave their posts, meaning Many Services will end by 3pm, and some of the last services of the day depart in the morning. From here in leeds to london without lner, the last service is at 09 16 in the morning. The advice from operators is to check before you travel. The dispute between rail bosses and unions about pay, job security and terms and conditions, shows no sign of a breakthrough. Yesterday, the Rmt Union Accused ministers of blocking Rail Employers from making a deal to break the strikes. Rail bosses say everyone is suffering. The rmt dispute, and the industrial action and the strikes, are having a really heavy impact, both on passengers, on their own members, who are losing thousands of pounds. And, of course, on on the economy, which is losing millions and millions of pounds every time theres a strike. And its damaging the Railway Industry as well. Limited trains on Christmas Eve is a worry for retailers, keen to maximise every penny from last minute high street shoppers. The problem with losing shoppers on such a key trading day like Christmas Eve, is that you cant really recover that spend. However much you want to, and however long you stay open, shoppers want to buy on Christmas Eve, and if they cant buy, theyll buy elsewhere. So some of that will be diverted to other businesses and other destinations elsewhere around the uk. But some of it will be lost for good, and particularly in hospitality, where you have to be in the restaurant, in the cafe, in the bar, to spend that money. And if youre not there, it is never spent. And its Notjust The Railways where travellers could struggle today. Members of the public and commercial services union, including staff at Passport Control, begin their second day of walk outs at six major airports and the port of new haven. The military is covering striking workers. Im really sad and im disappointed about the disruption that is being caused to so many peoples lives, particularly at christmas time. When it comes to its a difficult question of setting Public Sector pay. The government has acted fairly and reasonably in accepting all the recommendations of the Public Sector pay review bodies. Next months Strike Calendar already includes more from rail workers, nurses and a rescheduled ambulance strike. As christmas arrives, the friction across the Public Sector continues to crackle. Simon browning, bbc news. There were clashes between protestors and police on the streets of paris last night, after a fatal gun attack yesterday. Three people were killed when a gunman opened fire at a kurdish cultural centre. Violence later broke out between the police and a group who had gathered at the scene in the aftermath of the attack. A 69 year old man has been arrested and a possible racist motive is being investigated. King charles will deliver his first Christmas Speech as monarch tomorrow, in an address which is expected to pay tribute to the legacy of his mother, Queen Elizabeth. A picture has been released of the king delivering his speech at st georges chapel in windsor. Our religion editor, Aleem Maqbool reports. Another moment of history, as, in st georges chapel at windsor castle, King Charles Records his first ever christmas message, a chance to reflect on the year, but also talk about faith. Given its importance to him, were likely to hear about interfaith relations. One of the first gatherings the new king convened, even before the queens funeral, was of 30 faith leaders. He told them he viewed britain as what he called a community of communities. At the start of the year, he commissioned portraits of holocaust survivors, including rachael levi, whose mother and three siblings aged ten, eight and three were all kill