29/12/2013 BBC Weekend News

A huge explosion rips through a train station in southern Russia. At

least 14 people are dead. The authorities say a woman suicide

bomber carried out the attack, which raises new security fears ahead of

the Winter Olympics. A fire on board a North Sea ferry

forces its return to Tyneside. Two men are arrested.

And Australia celebrates victory in the fourth Test - England could face

an Ashes whitewash. Good afternoon. At least 14 people

have been killed in a huge explosion at a train station in southern

Russia. Anti-terrorism officials say a female suicide bomber carried out

the attack in the city of Volgograd. It's the latest in a series of

bombings by separatist Islamist groups in the North Caucasus ahead

of the Winter Olympic Games in the Russian city of Sochi, which begin

in six weeks' time. From Moscow, Daniel Sandford reports. Volgograd

central railway station and the moment a bomb went off in the

entrance hall at lunchtime, instantly killing many of the

passengers. Investigators quickly said it was the work of a female

suicide bomber who had blown herself up at the metal detectors just

inside the building. It was clear almost immediately that some people

had been killed by the explosion. One body could be seen lying on the

pavement outside. With the winter Olympics looming, the Russian

Government immediately ordered security to be stepped up at

stations and airports across Russia. President Putin ordered that all

necessary measures should be taken to help those affected and, if

necessary, the wounded should be taken to hospitals in Moscow. This

is a time when millions are on the move in Russia because of the new

year celebrations. But perhaps most importantly the Sochi winter

Olympics are only six weeks away. One of the leaders of the Islamist

insurgency in the Caucasus republics in southern Russia has called on his

supporters to use maximum force to disrupt what he calls the sat an

games. We know that on the bones of our ancestors, of the many Muslims

who died and are buried on our territory on the Black Sea, they

plan to stage the winter Olympic games. We as the mujahideen must not

allow this to happen by any means possible. It is not clear whether

the bombing was linked to that statement but there does seem to

have been an increase in attacks in Russia as the winter Olympics draw

nearer. Two

Six people were flown to hospital by RAF helicopter, and the ferry was

forced to return to Tyneside. Richard Lister reports. There's a

fire on board, everybody is coming to the lifeboats... Cold and scared,

a thousand people on the MS King Seaways were moved to the safety of

the up thor decks after a fire in a cabin. One of them shot this footage

as the drama played out in the middle of the night. Two passengers

and four crew members were airlifted to hospital suffering from the

effects of smoke. 17 others were treated on board, as the ship headed

back to Tyneside, where it arrived this morning. It has left North

Shields bound for Amsterdam yesterday afternoon but had only got

as far as Flamborough Head when the fire was discovered and the ship

declared an emergency. At that point the Captain turned the vessel around

and it headed back to North Shields. The police were waiting for them and

held everyone on board while they began their inquiries. It was more

than four hours before the first passengers were allowed off. Some

were emotional, some angry, all exhausted. Very tired. We slept on

the floor all night. Our cabin was close to the fire. Really thick

smoke, you could smell it. There was a lot of panic from some people.

Women kids, obviously, were panicked. We got out to the

starboard side where the lifeboats were. It was well done, the staff

got everyone out quick. We were going away for a weekend, just a

couple of friends, to Amsterdam and come home tonight. Never mind, back

to Carlisle. The ferry company says everyone will get their money back

and it is relieved that the fire didn't spread. We have training

every week so the crew know what they were doing and they were able

to put it out very quickly. But of course, potentially a fire on a ship

is always dangerous. The investigation is continuing, and

Northumbria police say two men in their 20s have been arrested, one of

them on suspicion of arson. Five men have been arrested by

police investigating the death of a man at a house in

Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire. The five were

detained at the house. The leader of the UK Independence

Party, Nigel Farage, has said some refugees from the civil war in Syria

should be allowed to come to Britain. He said western countries

had a duty to offer a number of them sanctuary. The Government has

refused to let any Syrian refugees into the UK, saying it's better to

offer financial support. Our political correspondent Arif Ansari

reports. It is a conflict that's created hardship and displaced

millions. The United Nations has launched its largest ever

fund-raising effort and wants rich countries to allow refugees in.

Here, the Government has refused. The UKIP leader, Nigel Farage, says

Britain should be more generous. I think refugees are a very different

thing to economic migration and I think this country should honour the

spirit of the 1951 Declaration on? Refugees Status that was agreed. And

there is a responsibility on all of us in the free West to try and help

some of those people fleeing Syria, literally in fear of their lives.

Some Syrian refugees spent Christmas in Jordan. This man didn't want to

be identified, but he complains the West has done nothing to help.

TRANSLATION: They were supposed to facilitate our immigration process

as Christians and I'm very sad they haven't. But the Prime Minister has

visited refugees in Jordan and pledged ?500 million in aid, making

Britain one of the world's most generous donors. In Calais some

Syrians are desperate to come over. Labour said it would allow some 500

people in. Some Conservative MPs are urging Ministers to unlock the

borders. Nigel Farage remains strong opposed to lifting immigration

controls on Romania and Bulgaria in the new year.

A voluntary register of all breast implant operations to be set up in

England. It follows the scandal involving dangerous im plants

supplied by French company PIP. New qualifications will be introduced

along with rules on the marketing of procedures.

Seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher has been

injured in a ski accident in France. The German who retired from Formula

One at the end of the 2012 season has been taken by helicopter to a

hospital. The local official has said his injuries are not serious.

Cricket - and England are facing the prospect of a humiliating 5-0 Ashes

series defeat after losing the fourth test in Melbourne. Set 231 to

win, the Australians won comfortably by eight wickets, helped by a string

of dropped catches by the England fielders. From Melbourne, Dan Roan

reports. Melbourne the morning and the Fourth Test had reached a

crucial junction. Time and time again on this tour England had

failed, now finally it seemed like things could go either way. With

Australia resuming on 30 without loss but still needing a tricky 201

runs to win, England had genuine hope, but knew they had to take

every chance. Sadly for them Captain Alastair Cook squandered two

immediately. The first unfortunate, the second unforgivable. England's

lamentable fielding would now cost them. Having been handed a reprieve

David Warner was snared by Ben Stokes. After two English batting

collapses yesterday, Chris Rogers was proving that the pitch was no

excuse. The opener calmly steering his side to victory with a brilliant

century as England rand out of ideas. With Shane Watson in one-day

mode the end was quick. Having trailed by 51 after the first

innings Australia romped home by 8 wickets. On a tour that's brought

daily disappointment this is arguably the most painful defeat of

all, with England throwing away a winning position. With the Ashes

already gone, this could have been a fresh start. Instead, the

humiliation of a 5-0 whitewash in Sydney next week now feels

inevitable. There's been a huge explosion at a

railway station in Volgograd in southern Russia. The authorities say

that a woman suicide bomber was behind the attack.

You can see more on all of today's stories on the BBC News Channel. The

next news on BBC One is at 5.35pm. Bye for now.

Good afternoon. Let's start with the good news for the weather for the

week ahead. It is not going to be quite as stormy as last week.

However, low pressure system is set to spin our way, so expect further

heavy rain at times, gales, if not severe gale-force winds, and the

potential for further travel