25/12/2013 BBC News

Power cuts and flooding affect tens of thousands of people across the

UK. 24,000 homes are still without electricity - and more bad weather

is forecast. The Queen reflects on her 60-year

reign - and the latest addition to her family.

And the final festive lunch for British troops in Afghanistan -

before next year's pullout. Good evening. Tens of thousands of

people across the UK remain affected by power cuts and flooding, caused

by the severe storms that swept the country earlier this week. Nearly

24,000 homes are still without electricity, in the east and

south-east of England. There are 95 flood warnings in place in England

and Wales, and 15 in Scotland. And there's a warning of more bad

weather later this week - as bands of heavy rain and strong winds move

across the UK. Jon Brain reports. It wasn't Santa Claus they were waiting

for in Kent this morning, it was the rescue teams. Dozens of residents

here had to be plucked from their homes as the floodwaters rose. The

emergency services were called out across large swathes of the South of

England to deal with the aftermath of the Christmas storms. In Kent,

the river burst its banks bringing disruption for miles around. In

Sussex and Surrey, the culprit was the River Mole. One of its victims

was the local football club in Leatherhead. We have been hit by at

least four foot of floods in my opinion and the damage is immense.

At this pub, they had been due to host Christmas lunch. Instead, the

day was spent pumping out the beer cellar. The most widespread problem

has been power cuts. The Hood family, one of thousands, who spent

Christmas Day by candlelight. It is really inconvenient now because the

lads are starting to think about tea, I don't know what I'm going to

do them because everything that I had planned I was going to cook. I

can't because I'm without electric. Although they may have been dealt an

unlucky hand this Christmas, they are grateful that at least they have

escaped the floodwater which has hit their neighbouring villages. After

delivering its unwelcome festive gift of flooding across two

counties, the River Mole is be grinning to subside. It's been a

miserable Christmas Day for thousands of people and for many,

Boxing Day will be about the clear-up. The respite could be

short-lived. There is a warning that more bad weather and more potential

flooding is on the way. In her Christmas message, the Queen

has spoken of the need to pause for reflection - as she looked back at

some of the notable Royal events of the year, including the 60th

anniversary of her Coronation, and the birth of her great-grandson. Our

Royal correspondent, Nicholas Witchell, reports.

Morning service at Sandringham Church and pretty much everyone was

there, with one exception - Prince George had been left in his nursery,

more interested his parents told the crowds in the wrapping paper than

his presents and at five Monday who can blame him! In her Christmas Day

broadcast, recorded a few days ago, the Queen spoke of the importance of

pausing occasionally to take stock. We all need to get the balance right

between action and reflection. She looked back across 60 years. I

myself had cause to reflect this year at Westminster Abbey on my own

pledge of service made in that great church on Coronation Day 60 years

earlier. All this I promise to do... After reflecting on the past and the

many changes that have occurred since she came to the throne, a

nudge towards the future. Prince Charles was shown deputising for the

Queen at a Commonwealth Summit. And then the birth of the new third in

line to the throne. Here at home, my own family is a little larger this

Christmas. The arrival of a baby gives everyone the chance to

contemplate the future with renewed happiness and hope. After the

christening, we gathered for the traditional photograph. This is

video footage which has not been seen before. Its significance is it

shows three future monarchs. It was a happy occasion, bringing together

four generations. 2013 has been the year when the hitherto transition

will continue into 2014. Egypt's military-backed interim

government has declared the former ruling party, the Muslim

Brotherhood, a terrorist organisation. The Brotherhood's

candidate, Mohamed Morsi, won the country's first democratic

presidential elections, before being deposed by the military in July.

Thousands of its supporters have been arrested in a crackdown.

At least 37 people are reported to have been killed in two separate

bomb attacks against Christians in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. One

exploded near a church as worshippers left a Christmas

service. Another bomb ripped through a market in a Christian area of the

city. In South Sudan, the United Nations

has agreed to almost double the size of the peacekeeping force. An extra

6,000 soldiers and police officers will be sent there. It's believed

thousands of people have been killed in the last ten days.

Pope Francis began the Christmas day messages with a call for humility

and peace. The Archbishop of Canterbury has also given his first

Christmas Day sermon as Archbishop, highlighting what he described as

the injustices facing Britain's poor. Our religious affairs

correspondent, Robert Piggott, was watching.

For the popstar Pope on his first Christmas in Rome, a rapturous

reception from the crowd packing St Peter's Square. In nine months,

Francis has captured the imagination of young and old alike and

transformed the face of the Roman Catholic Church. His message, a plea

for an end to the violence afflicting South Sudan, the cent

African Republic, Nigeria and Iraq. TRANSLATION: Wars shatter and hurt

so many lives. Too many lives have been shattered in recent times by

the conflict in Syria, fuelling hatred and vengeance. We must

continue to ask the Lord to spare the blessed Syrian people from

further suffering to enable all parties in the conflict to put an

end to all violence. In his first Christmas sermon as

Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby told Anglicans to challenge

the greed and selfishness that contributed to poverty in Britain.

Where people are measured in their words by only what they can produce,

by what economic value they have, Christ is dive anied -- denied and

our own humanity corrupted. About 5,000 British troops

celebrated Christmas Day in Afghanistan - getting through more

than 1,700 kilogrammes of turkey and nearly 8,500 mince pies. It's likely

to be the last Christmas British forces spend in the country - the

pullout begins next year. Karen Allen reports from Helmand.

The last Christmas in Afghanistan. Morning. Uniform restrictions eased,

in time-honoured fashion soldiers woke to senior officers serving them

tea, a gesture of thanks. Merry Christmas. Then, Santa arrived with

a bang marking the start of a charity run to lift the spirits of

the troops missing family back home. Merry Christmas! The end may be in

sight for Britain's long war in Afghanistan, but there are still

Taliban attacks as these soldiers know only too well. The cost is

being counted in lives lost. And despite the festivities and presents

this Christmas, that sacrifice hasn't gone unnoticed by their

comrades here. Even though we are thinking about Christmas, we are

thinking about everybody back home as well. It is a really hard time

for all our friends and family and especially the families who have

lost loved ones this year. As Britain's combat role in Afghanistan

draws to a close, this will be a Christmas they will never forget.

You can see more out all today's stories on the BBC News Channel. But

from me, good evening. Good evening. After a recent weather

events, any quieter weather will be welcome and that is what most of us

had. Through the night, with clearer skies, things will turn quite

frosty, a cold night to come. We will see one or two showers

continuing to