01/01/2016 BBC World News

Welcome to BBC News. I'm Mike Embley.

A huge blaze engulfs a hotel in central Dubai,

close to where New Year celebrations were being held.

Eyewitnesses say the inferno spread rapidly through

It just shot up through the entire building.

Officials say the fire has been brought largely under control,

and the traditional fireworks display

And in London, Big Ben is illuminated by a

fireworks extravaganza as New Year celebrations continue across Europe.

Authorities in Dubai say that 14 people have been injured after a

massive fire engulfed a skyscraper, just hours before New Year

It's still not clear how the fire started in the 63-storey

It's part of the same complex in Dubai that the Burj Khalifa,

the world's tallest building, is situated.

Despite the blaze, the firework display to herald

the start of the New Year took place as planned just a few hours later.

An intense blaze sweeping through one of two by's luxury downtown

hotels. A dramatic and terrifying picture, but hardly what the crowds

had come for -- Dubai. The blaze broke out less than three hours

before the city's planned spectacular firework display. Just a

few metres away from the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest

building, the fire apparently started on the hotel's 20th floor.

Before long, flames engulfed the side of the 63 story building,

sending out billowing smoke and scattering blazing debris. Inside,

one resident said as the alarms went off there was absolute pandemonium.

People rushed to get out of the building. Amazingly, with the help

of the fire brigade and civil defence teams, it seems everyone was

evacuated. Officials said a part from one person who suffered a heart

attack, there were only light injuries. One jazz singer was

performing inside the hotel is the blaze started. Absolute stampede.

All the women, all so glamorous, took off their high heels and ran.

Everybody was screaming. I thought it was a film. There were people in

the garden and was who started putting out something about our

head. We could see smoke and then a large piece of debris landed in the

garden and took out some garden furniture in flames. I grabbed hold

of my friend and said, we are going. After little more than an hour, the

fire subsided. What caused it is not clear. There has been no sign so far

it was deliberate despite fears around the world of possible

terrorist attacks. The Dubai authorities did not want to stop the

party. At midnight, the celebrations went ahead. But it will not be the

fireworks at the start of 2016 that will be remembered, but a massive

hotel fire which miraculously did not cause more injuries.

Police in the south German city of Munich have alerted

the public that a terrorist attack

The city's central and Pasing railway stations have been

As people prepared to celebrate the New Year,

police went on social media to warn people to avoid crowds in the city.

In November, a football friendly between Germany and Holland was

suspended and the stadium evacuated in the northern city

New Year's celebrations have been taking place across the globe.

With a round-up of what's been happening,

As the world prepared to see in 2016, there seemed to be a general

consensus on the best way to celebrate. Repair yourself for a lot

of fireworks. -- prepare. The first big display was in New Zealand, the

Auckland sky Tower lit up. But anything the Kiwis can do, the

Australians will try to do that little bit better. Sydney Harbour,

an amazing venue for an amazing display. At one point it looked like

a waterfall of gold, and explosions of light and colour. In Tokyo, they

favoured buildings and confetti, followed by the traditional ringing

of a huge bronze bell. Beijing's forbidden city saw some confetti of

its own, plus a little robotic dancing. In Hong Kong, it was back

to fireworks, lots of fireworks. Smoke filling Victoria Harbour, one

of the world's list impressive skyline is made that little bit more

special. Taipei's celebrations centred on the tallest scarpering --

skyscraper. It looked like a giant Christmas tree, ribbons of light

flying into the sky. Bangkok's table of dawn and other spectacular venue

for New Year celebrations -- Temple. Securities concerns have had an

impact. Moscow's fireworks display was delayed by five minutes. In

Berlin, the fireworks where precisely on time. Doesn't gathering

at the Brandenburg gate to see in 2016. -- thousands. The fireworks

were cancelled in Paris and Brussels, but elimination is as the

New Year arrived. A celebration of defiance. Then to London. Big Ben

ringing out the old year and bringing in the new. The River

Thames lit up in eight spectacle of light and colour. Farewell, 2015,

Wellcome, 2016. American authorities have arrested a

man accused of planning an attack in a restaurant.

Emanuel Lutchman said that joining the Islamic State group would be

He planned to attack a restaurant on New Year's Eve with knives

and machetes, and told his IS contact overseas that he didn't have

He is said to have been the in contact with Islamic State. In that

contact, he said he was willing to do anything to join the ranks. His

contract overseas said he should be tested, and that this was one of the

things he should do. He went to buy the knives and machetes, he planned

which restaurant he would attack, and also recorded a video message in

which he admits planning the attack. That was obviously meant to

be released after the attack. He also pledges allegiance to the

reader of Islamic State. This 25-year-old is a self-confessed with

them comfort. He has a history of mental illness and also a criminal

record. -- Muslim convert. When you read the indictment, one of the

interesting things is he was arrested with the help of an

insider, and undercover agent working with the FBI.

In France, more than 100,000 police

have been deployed to secure festivities across the country.

Paris did not stage its usual fireworks display,

but thousands of people lined the Champs-Elysees

since the Islamist attacks on the city last month.

In a televised New Year message, President Hollande promised to

maintain air attacks on Islamic State militants for

He urged French citizens to stay strong.

Russia's involvement in the conflict in Syria dominated President

Appearing against the backdrop of Red Square in Moscow,

Mr Putin gave special mention to Russian military personnel deployed

abroad in what he called the fight against international terrorism.

He said they were defending Russia's national interests.

Russia's air force has been conducting airstrikes in Syria

From the first day of 2016, couples in China can request to have

Although families will still require government-issued birth permits,

40-year-old controversial one-child policy.

Our correspondent in Beijing, Stephen Evans, looks at the legacy -

one of the lowest birth rates in the world and an ageing population.

The children of China may now get brothers and sisters.

For 40 years, the law was one child only.

But the pain of the past policy is still bitterly felt.

This mother was snatched at home by local officials

TRANSLATION: More than 20 people came to my home.

They took me to the population control centre.

I resisted but they told me that the sterilisation had to happen

It's actually an ageing country, and it needs more young people to

What has really changed is the economics of children.

Under the high tide of Maoism, these were mouths to feed in hungry times.

Now that the Chinese economy is going so fast, they are the

But some experts say the change will not boost new births enough.

Currently, China has up to 17 million newborn babies every year.

The new policy will increase the number by 3-5 million.

But after that, the number of newborns will go down sharply.

Mothers and babies in the pool together.

Me and my husband were single kids in our family and we want

our kids to have the experience of having brothers and sisters.

These swimming babies will surely become strong and skilled workers,

but 40 years of restraint on family size could now drag

Stay with us on BBC World News. Still to come:

After a year of racial tension in the United States, we hear about

a new museum celabrating African-American history

The most ambitious financial and political change ever attempted

has got underway with the introduction of the euro.

Tomorrow, in Holland, we're gonna use money we picked up in Belgium

today, then we'll be in France, and again it'll be the same money.

George Harrison, the former Beatle, is recovering in hospital

after being stabbed in his Oxfordshire home.

A 33-year-old man from Liverpool is being interviewed by police

A huge fire has engulfed a skyscraper in the centre

of Dubai, but the traditional New Year's fireworks display went

And New Year celebrations continue across Europe.

London has welcomed in 2016 with a huge firework display,

and a million people are thought to have attended the countdown

Clean-up efforts are continuing in flood-hit areas across the UK

Scotland bore the brunt of the severe weather on Wednesday,

as people were left stranded in temporary accommodation

After being battered by rain and gales, Scotland has been taking

In Ballater in the Cairngorms, there is widespread destruction.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall came to talk to people

This was the A93 on Deeside, swallowed by the water, leaving a

Further south in Newton Stewart, it was a similar picture.

Debbie Scott was just one of many people trying to salvage

This was one of the worst affected towns.

Scotland's First Minister came here to see for herself.

I've been talking to some residents and local businesses and this is

probably the worst flooding episode that Newton Stewart and much

of this region has experienced for some people in living memory.

Northern England missed the worst of the weather yesterday,

In Croston in Lancashire, the RAF was back in action, lowering

Can I shake your hands and say thank you very much.

In York today, the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn came

The only people who have been here helping me is Cleveland Fire

And the Muslims brothers from Bradford and London.

And those left angry because they feel they didn't get enough help.

Do you think it makes a difference for high profile people to come?

We're getting on now and on a cleaning mission now.

But definitely, it makes a big difference

But after the high-profile visitors have

gone, this carries on, and the worry for people living in York and other

cities affected by flooding over the last month is that this will happen

The hope is that the weather will hold for the next few days at least

to allow the northern flood plains to drain and communities to recover.

The lawyer defending the American comedian, Bill Cosby,

has described sexual assault charges brought against her client

More than 50 women have made accusations against

Monique Pressley told CBS that the prosecutor in

the case is not seeking justice, but making good on a campaign promise.

She said Mr Cosby had denied the allegations repeatedly.

It certainly is not admissible in court, but again, 50 women have not

Saying that he rubbed against them at a party is not the same as saying

they were in an ongoing adult consensual relationship and one

evening after multiple interactions I believe I was drugged.

You have to be prepared that they will allow previous other cases

Yes, and those are all allegations for which there is no corroborating

evidence, allegations from decades ago, allegations from women who

never bothered to go in and make a complaint to police, and in most

instances claim they did not tell another living person.

If a judge chooses to allow such testimony, we will

Wright two people have been sentenced to death for killing a

Bangladeshi logger several years ago. -- blogger.

People in Colorado are hoping that early snowmelt will solve problems

of drought in California. An airline has been forced to turn back in

midflight after a passenger said he had spotted a rat on board. The air

India playing was on its way from Mumbai to London when the road and

were seen. Air India said the aircraft will be fumigated as a

precaution, but a spokesman said the presence of a rat had not been

confirmed. Rats can pose a serious threat on flights as they choose to

Oar chew through wires. The National Museum of

African American History and Culture will open its doors in Washington DC

in 2016, after years of planning, political wrangling,

and fund-raising. It will feature artefacts

and exhibitions exploring The BBC's Razia Iqbal has been

speaking to the museum's architect and director, as well as Congressman

and Civil Rights icon John Lewis, to learn more

about the project's rich history. It is important that this museum

will be on America's front porch. The Smithsonian's national museum of

African American history and culture is taking pride of place on the

national mall in Washington, DC. Alongside great museums and

monuments of the American capital. It was a dream long before my time

to have a museum, someplace in Washington, on the mall, near the

White House, neither Congress, to tell the story and history since the

days of slavery to the present. Congressman John Lewis has

championed the idea of the museum for decades. It is the continuation

of another dream from his days marching with Doctor Martin Luther

King, the civil rights movement who delivered his famous speech on the

steps of the Lincoln Memorial, just a short walk from the site where the

museum is being built. The country's first African-American

president will inaugurate the museum in 2016. It is the culmination of

years of fundraising and argument between politicians. It is hoped

this will help the world understand, not only Americans, but what it

means to demand freedom, equality, and to work hard to make that come

true. This is the building's architect. Born in Africa but raised

largely in the UK, he tells me it is in Marsh to the -- it is a homage to

the ironworkers. We took traditional ironwork and used an algorithm to

track the organising principles of the pattern. We used that to be the

ornamental framework of the building. It is not just ornament,

it protects the building, by creating a solar Shade. It is

entirely sustainable and is of the highest standard. The museum's

planned opening comes as racial tensions in the US are higher. The

killings of unarmed black men has sparked protests in city centres and

given rise to the black lives matter movement. I would say to young

African-Americans, hang in there. Some of us went through a struggle

in the 60s, we were beaten, we were arrested and jailed. Some people

were murdered. But we didn't become bitter or hostile, we continued to

push. And what of the museum's opportunity to engage people who

wouldn't normally engage on issues of race, but they will because it is

at the Smithsonian. The museum believes very strongly that this

museum has to be as much about believes very strongly that this

and tomorrow as it is about yesterday. When it opens in 2016,

the issue of race and its long and often painful history will occupy a

central and contemporary place for debate and reflection in the heart

of America's capital. For many of you, as well as us

here in London, it's already 2016. So how will you remember

the past year? Here are some of

the more memorable stories of 2015. TRANSLATION: If the Turkish

government has decided to lick the US government's you-know-what,

that is for you to decide. I just want to say everyone else

can get stuffed if they think We have been putting up with this

for years and now when we start talking about it,

everyone is pretending TRANSLATION: There is no tolerance

towards those who are not willing We need the world to know that

we are headed to a low-emissions Yesterday, America's space programme

took another historic leap If

the other team is better than us... Our common future in Europe is

not the future of austerity. It is the future of democracy,

solidarity and cooperation. We are going to compromise,

compromise, compromise without I know I have always carried

a habit of submissiveness with the idea that it makes me more likeable

but we have to talk about this. It is now time

for us to do our bit in Syria. On Friday night,

you stole away the life of an exceptional human being, the love

of my life, the mother of my son, I am officially running

for President of the United States. The majority of votes in favour

of the proposal, 467,307. Hello and from everyone at the

Weather Centre, a happy New Year. Now, if you've been out late,

you'll have been struck You will be waking up to a

widespread frost to kick off 2016. Quite a shock to the system after

what has been such a warm December. A frosty and icy start

in some places. Still some snow showers across the

highlands of Scotland for a time. And then our attention turns to

the south-west, But we start the day on a dry,

bright, Enjoy that,

as it will not last all day long. Generally Northern Ireland

seeing some dry weather. Snow showers for a time

across Highland Scotland, but most places will be drier,

bright, crisp and sunny and cold, cold all the way down through

the spine of northern England. Dry for the Midlands,

East Anglia and the south-east but those temperatures much,

much lower than they have been At this stage, the wind is not too

strong, quite light, but it will freshen across the south-west

quickly, turning blustery and chilly, particularly as it starts to

cloud over through the morning and Some of that rain could turn heavy

across south-west England Northern Ireland

and Wales will also see some damp A wet

and windy evening to come here. Some heavy rain with warnings

in force. This will be extending

in pulses further north as we go through the night,

turning to snow over the high ground Not as cold because of the cloud,

wind and rain, but not a very Further pulses of wet weather

revolving around a centre of low They could well be gusting over

45-50 mph in one or two places. Persistent rain and mountain snow

across the east Scotland will linger into Sunday before the next batch of

rain comes in from the south-west. Some very wet

and windy weather pushing its way south-west into the north-east and

feeling cold in that blustery wind.