0:00:05 > 0:00:08Good evening.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Tens of thousands of people have been left homeless after a tropical
0:00:11 > 0:00:13storm in the Philippines that's left more than 200
0:00:13 > 0:00:14dead and dozens missing.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17Authorities are trying to provide food and shelter to those
0:00:17 > 0:00:19who've been displaced, with rescue teams struggling
0:00:19 > 0:00:21to reach some of the affected areas.
0:00:21 > 0:00:27Our World Affairs Correspondent, Richard Galpin, reports.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31At last, some aid now getting to those most in need,
0:00:31 > 0:00:36after this latest storm to hit the Philippines begins to subside.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40Troops helping deliver supplies here in the southern region of Mindanao,
0:00:40 > 0:00:44which lay right in the path of the storm.
0:00:44 > 0:00:51Reaching these impoverished areas has not been easy.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55They were hit by landslides or mudslides, caused by an inordinate
0:00:55 > 0:00:58amount of rainfall that caused the ground to move and killed
0:00:58 > 0:01:01people innocently, as well as surging currents
0:01:01 > 0:01:04from swollen rivers that overtopped their banks
0:01:04 > 0:01:08and swept people out of their homes and killed many others as well.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11The speed with which the rivers were turned into lethal torrents
0:01:11 > 0:01:16over the weekend caught people here by surprise.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20Many drowning in their own homes, others buried under mudslides,
0:01:20 > 0:01:24including children.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27The call for people to evacuate in good time before the storm
0:01:27 > 0:01:30didn't have an effect.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33The storm passed over some of the poorest areas
0:01:33 > 0:01:36in the whole Philippines.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39At least 200 people are known to have died.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43Large numbers are still missing, and tens of thousands have been
0:01:43 > 0:01:50forced to move away, in search of emergency shelter.
0:01:50 > 0:01:55In Rome today, Pope Francis offered prayers for the people of Mindanao
0:01:55 > 0:02:01in his weekly blessing to the crowd on St Peter's Square.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04TRANSLATION:Merciful Lord, take in the souls of the dead
0:02:04 > 0:02:08and comfort those who are suffering as a result of this calamity.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12Let's pray for these people.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15At least Tropical Storm Tembin has now been moving away
0:02:15 > 0:02:18from the Philippines.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20It's currently over the South China Sea,
0:02:20 > 0:02:23where it's picking up strength again and has been categorised
0:02:23 > 0:02:25as a typhoon.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29It's expected to hit Vietnam later this week.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Meanwhile, the people of the southern Philippines continue
0:02:32 > 0:02:35the search for loved ones.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38They will be hoping for much more help to reach them
0:02:38 > 0:02:40in the coming days.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44Richard Galpin, BBC News.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47North Korea has described the latest United Nations
0:02:47 > 0:02:50sanctions as an act of war, and tantamount to a complete
0:02:50 > 0:02:52economic blockade.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54The UN Security Council imposed the measures -
0:02:54 > 0:02:57drafted by the US - on Friday in response to Pyongyang's
0:02:57 > 0:02:59ballistic missile tests.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01North Korea has vowed to strengthen its nuclear deterrent
0:03:01 > 0:03:03to frustrate America.
0:03:03 > 0:03:12Sophie Long sent this report from the South Korean capital Seoul.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14North Korean state television broadcast the first
0:03:14 > 0:03:16reaction to the sanctions.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19It described the UN resolution as an act of war that
0:03:19 > 0:03:23violates peace and stability on the Korean peninsula.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Please raise their hand.
0:03:26 > 0:03:27Pyongyang promised to punish those that voted for
0:03:27 > 0:03:30the US-drafted resolution.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32That includes China, North Korea's main ally
0:03:32 > 0:03:34and trading partner.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Beijing urged restraint on all sides.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39It's previously called for an end to joint US-South
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Korean military drills, like this one, in exchange
0:03:42 > 0:03:46for a halt to North Korea's weapons programme.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49A so-called freeze for freeze.
0:03:49 > 0:03:51There is little hope either side will agree to that.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Instead, the toughest sanctions yet.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57The Americans had wanted to go further, but they were pleased
0:03:57 > 0:04:00with the support they got.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02I am grateful to my colleagues for the serious measures
0:04:02 > 0:04:06we have enacted on behalf of the North Korean people,
0:04:06 > 0:04:08and I ask you keep them in your thoughts and prayers this
0:04:08 > 0:04:11holiday season, as we continue to fight against this,
0:04:11 > 0:04:15the most tragic example of evil in the modern world.
0:04:15 > 0:04:19The new sanctions include a ban on the import of nearly 90% of oil
0:04:19 > 0:04:21supplies to North Korea, vital to its missile
0:04:21 > 0:04:24and nuclear programmes.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27They demand the deportation of North Koreans working abroad,
0:04:27 > 0:04:31to stop them funding the regime.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35There will also be a ban on exports of some North Korean goods.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38The sanctions come in response to this.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Pyongyang's launch of an intercontinental ballistic
0:04:41 > 0:04:43missile at the end of November.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47One, it said, could reach the US mainland.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51The resolution is intended to push Pyongyang to the negotiating table
0:04:51 > 0:04:55and towards a diplomatic solution.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58But instead, it's vowed to strengthen its nuclear
0:04:58 > 0:05:01capability, and it's got form.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04This is the third set of UN sanctions to be imposed
0:05:04 > 0:05:06on North Korea this year.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Within weeks of the previous two rounds, it carried
0:05:09 > 0:05:12out its biggest nuclear test and fired its most powerful missile.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17Today's response shows little sign it is willing to stop now.
0:05:17 > 0:05:22Sophie Long, BBC News, Seoul.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Police are appealing for witnesses after two men died and several
0:05:24 > 0:05:27people were injured in a crash on the M40 involving
0:05:27 > 0:05:29a number of vehicles.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31Emergency services were called to the scene,
0:05:31 > 0:05:33just before midnight yesterday, on the northbound stretch
0:05:33 > 0:05:36of the motorway in Oxfordshire.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39The motorway reopened this morning.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42Opponents of President Putin have held a series of mass rallies
0:05:42 > 0:05:44in cities across Russia in support of a candidate to challenge him
0:05:44 > 0:05:46in elections early next year.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50The opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who's been jailed
0:05:50 > 0:05:52in the past for criticising the president, told supporters
0:05:52 > 0:05:55he will stand against Mr Putin.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58But it's not yet certain if he'll be able to run
0:05:58 > 0:06:01as he is officially disqualified.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Plans to ditch the Army's slogan, 'Be the Best', have been stopped
0:06:04 > 0:06:07by the new Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11Half a million pounds had been spent on a re-branding exercise that
0:06:11 > 0:06:14would have got rid of the slogan because it was felt to be elitist.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18Andy Moore reports.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20A well-known slogan at the heart of army recruiting for
0:06:20 > 0:06:24more than two decades.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27There's more than one way to be the best.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30The army spent more than £500,000 on market research and found that
0:06:30 > 0:06:31message wasn't getting through to many in
0:06:31 > 0:06:33its target audience.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36It's not clear when the new Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39saw these plans for a rebrand, but he clearly didn't like them.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43The research reportedly showed that the "Be
0:06:43 > 0:06:46the Best" slogan was dated, elitist and non-inclusive.
0:06:46 > 0:06:52These plans for a rebrand were well advanced at a senior level
0:06:52 > 0:06:55here at the Ministry of Defence, then there was a sudden about turn.
0:06:55 > 0:06:59A statement was issued last night, saying the Defence Secretary
0:06:59 > 0:07:02believes the British Army is the best of the best, and these
0:07:02 > 0:07:04proposals have been put on hold.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06Colonel Richard Kemp was the commander of British
0:07:06 > 0:07:08troops in Afghanistan.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11He says a lot can be improved in the recruitment process
0:07:11 > 0:07:14but there is nothing wrong with the slogan.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16If the army is not an elite, it is hardly likely
0:07:16 > 0:07:18to defeat our enemies.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21If it is not better than our enemies, all of our enemies,
0:07:21 > 0:07:25then again it is not going to win, it is not going to win in the war.
0:07:25 > 0:07:26It has to be the best.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28Young people who are thinking about joining,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31they want to join the best, they don't want to join anything
0:07:31 > 0:07:32that is second rate.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35This rebranding exercise was said to have the support of the army's
0:07:35 > 0:07:37most senior officer, but now his authority has
0:07:37 > 0:07:38been publicly undermined by the Defence Secretary.
0:07:38 > 0:07:43Whatever the argument on tactics, the crisis in recruiting remains.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Every year for seven years now, more soldiers have left
0:07:45 > 0:07:48the army than signed up.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Andy Moore, BBC News.
0:07:51 > 0:07:59Pope Francis has held midnight mass in Rome.
0:08:12 > 0:08:18He carried out the service in St Peter's Basilica.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20His sermon included a condemnation of human traffickers,
0:08:20 > 0:08:22who were described as modern day Herods.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Meanwhile, pilgrims are celebrating Midnight Mass, in Bethlehem.
0:08:24 > 0:08:25This year's celebration takes place amid rising
0:08:25 > 0:08:27tensions in the region, following the US decision
0:08:27 > 0:08:30to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital earlier this month.
0:08:30 > 0:08:36Our Religion Editor Martin Bashir is in Manger Square for us.
0:08:36 > 0:08:47Is there something of a different
0:08:53 > 0:08:55atmosphere there this year?Well, despite the inclement weather, as
0:08:55 > 0:08:58you can see, there are no spaces in the pews of the church behind me for
0:08:58 > 0:09:00midnight mass which started a few minutes ago. Donald Trump is matter
0:09:00 > 0:09:04decision to recognise jury slimmers the capital city of Israel has had a
0:09:04 > 0:09:10stark effect across the city. Many hotels which are generally
0:09:10 > 0:09:13oversubscribed are closed and empty for the traders complained of a lack
0:09:13 > 0:09:19of business. The threat of violence has had a great effect on pilgrims
0:09:19 > 0:09:24who might normally have wanted to be here to mark the birth of Christ and
0:09:24 > 0:09:30Christmas Eve. Instead the fear of violence has kept them away.Thank
0:09:30 > 0:09:36you. Apologies for the sound of that that was the rain causing that.
0:09:36 > 0:09:37That's it from us.
0:09:37 > 0:09:46From everyone here at BBC News, have a very happy Christmas.