31/12/2015 BBC World News

I'm Mike Embley. Our top stories:

A city on high alert - New Year festivities

in Brussels are cancelled because of fears of a terror attack.

Last you, there were 100,000 people gathered, and under these

circumstances we have no guarantee of checking every single person who

comes to the event -- last year. Life sentences for the couple who

were planning a terror attack in London.

NASA warns that the current El Nino weather phenomenon could be

as bad as the one in 1998 - the strongest on record.

And the American comedian Bill Cosby appears in court

Brussels has cancelled the city's New Year fireworks and festivities

The Belgian capital has been on high alert since the arrest

on Tuesday of two suspected members of the militant group

Islamic State, and last month's terror attacks in Paris.

Last year's New Year display in Brussels drew a crowd

And in the Turkish capital, Ankara, police have detained two men

suspected of planning a suicide bomb attack targeting revellers.

Steps to reassure people and increase security. Troops on the

streets of Brussels, and now the authorities have cancelled the main

public fireworks display and celebrations. Bowden is on high

alert amid fears of a possible terror attack. -- Belgium.

TRANSLATION: It is the mass gathering aspect of it, an enormous

number of people. Last year, there were 100,000 people gathered, and

under these circumstances we have no guarantee of checking every single

person who comes to the event. It is after two people were arrested

earlier this week suspected of planning and attack during the New

Year celebrations in the capital. On Wednesday, police arrested a man

suspected of involvement in the Paris attacks in November. And the

shadow of those still looms large in the French capital. There is a

strong security presence here as well. Tourists may still be coming,

but cautiously. Obviously New Year's Eve will be different for this city.

I don't think we will be heading out into the main attractions, just

because of the things that have happened. Each additional gathering

will go ahead, but there will be no fireworks. Instead, a short light

display at the Arctic Triomphe. TRANSLATION: Everything is being

done for the celebrations to go well, but we have to be vigilant.

The threads are still there and there are still risks. -- threats.

There was evidence of that in Turkey, what appeared to be

explosive devices seized in Ankara. Two suspected Islamic State

militants were arrested, believed to be planning a attack during

festivities in the capital. Spain is on high alert. Numbers allowed to

attend salvation is image read would be limited, and bag searches carried

out. -- celebrations in Madrid will be limited. People are aware of the

heightened terror alert at determined not to let it stop their

celebrations. A married couple in Britain have

been given life sentences for Mohammed Rehman will spend at

least 27 years in jail. His wife, Sana Ahmed Khan, was given

a minimum term of 25 years. Rehman used social media to discuss

targeting the London Underground and a major shopping centre,

using the name "Silent Bomber". The judge said that Mohammed Rehman

and Sana Ahmed Khan were so dangerous, they might never

be released from prison. He said they had even

tested their explosive devices trace of the explosives

in his garden here. It is still where his family lives

and from where his father runs a taxi business.

Rehman was testing these explosives right in the heart of this

residential area of Reading. This man has known the family for 20

years and says no-one knew Mohammed Rehman had

been radicalised. He got so caught up

in this world and he was thinking to do or might have done

is terrible, really terrible. The judge said they bought these

explosives online and they had never intended to travel to Syria or Iran

to fight, want their faces shown and told me

they believe their son was somebody must have put him

on the wrong track. In a letter to the judge,

Sana Ahmed Khan said she did not know what the man she married

in secret was up to. But the judge said that they were

both Islamic radicals intent The US space agency NASA has warned

that the effects of the current El Nino weather phenomenon could be

as bad as those of 1998 - Here's Peter Gibbs from the BBC's

weather centre. These scenes of widespread flooding

across Missouri are more reminiscent of the spring months rather than

winter. In fact, they are the result of spring like warmth across this

part of the USA. It is fuelling exceptional rainfall amounts.

Missouri had its wettest November on record, most twice the normal

average rainfall. That has been followed by an exceptionally wet

December. All of that water running down the river systems. There are

concerns about water levels on the Mississippi as a result. But news in

terms of weather over the next few days. High-pressure building in to

settle things down, but those automobiles will remain high.

Meanwhile, owning your own is being blamed for the exceptional rainfall

across southern Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and now. This is only the

early part of the rainy season, which extends during January and

February, and it is a well-known fact that during a strong El Nino

such as the one we have at the moment, that tends to enhance

rainfall across this part of the world. They could be more problems

to come in the months ahead. Meanwhile, El Nino potentially to

blame for the storms slamming UK bringing extensive flooding as a

result. The latest storm Frank so powerful with its hurricane force

winds moving across Iceland and pushing warm air on the way up to

the Arctic. In fact, at the North Pole, temperatures getting slightly

above freezing as the warm air pushing northwards. It should

normally be -25 at this time of year.

So as Peter was saying, there have been powerful floods in

In Paraguay, rising waters have forced thousands

A state of emergency has been declared in seven regions to try

In Bolivia, tornadoes and mudslides have caused extensive

In the United States, flooding is also causing major problems.

At least 14 people have been killed in the state of Missouri,

With the latest, here's Janey Mitchell.

Eureka Missouri where the rental industry has taken lives, in golf

communities, and submerged vital transport links. It follows what

meteorologists describe as the wettest December in history. There

are warnings several major rivers including the Mississippi may rise

another two metres before picking on Friday. It means automotives

downstream, so we are concentrating on those areas we expect to see a

continual rise over the next 18 hours and all the way to tonight.

The heavily populated Saint-Denis area is now under threat with a

state of emergency declared in Louisiana as the waters move south.

Dozens have been evacuated and people want to stay out of the fast

moving water. Many of the victims died as they tried to escape in

their vehicles. Volunteers are bracing to place sandbags on their

views before the rising water overtakes them. The flooding follows

a week of monster storms and tornadoes in the US caused by the El

Nino weather pattern. This is in takes us. -- takes

Nino weather pattern. This is in takes us. -- Forecasters are warning

that the destructive weather system may not done yet.

Hundreds of people have been evacuated

from their homes and thousands are without power, after Storm Frank

brought heavy rains, strong winds and more flooding to the UK.

Scotland bore the brunt of the third storm to hit Britain

this month, but Northern Ireland and parts of northern England have

Our Scotland correspondent Kevin Keane spent the day in

But some still needed a last minute lift to dry land any way.

It floods here a lot, but rarely like this,

with up to 120 millimetres of rain forecast over 24 hours.

At the marina, the quayside vanished from sight.

In terms of intensity, it is much bigger.

It is an impressive sight that people have come down here to see,

but if you are one of the businesses on the opposite side

of the river there, then you will not be impressed one

Earlier, property owners did what they could but with

Trying to get everything off the ground, as high as you can.

By mid afternoon the flood was lapping at dozens of businesses.

A saving grace is few residential properties have been affected,

Some of the businesses will suffer badly.

to get going again. There will be a clean up exercise.

We will get together to clean the place back up.

Further afield, and Newton Stewart in south-west Scotland was the first

People tried to salvage what they could.

In Ayrshire police said ten passengers were airlifted

Who would have foreseen this end to a routine shopping trip?

The driver seemed to think it was OK to go through the flood,

and it was like big waves - you could see the current.

left a trail of destruction, forcing hundreds to leave

the speed with which the water rose was a surprise, even to those

I am Peebles born and bred, and I have never seen it

Tonight, the floodwaters are still high.

Only tomorrow's daylight will truly reveal what damage has been caused.

Stay with us on BBC News. Still to come:

Rescue teams in China make contact with eight miners

found alive after being trapped underground for five days.

We'll have the latest on efforts to free them.

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

New Year festivities in Brussels are cancelled after two

people suspected of plotting an attack there are arrested.

Life sentences for the British couple who were planning a terror

attack in London to mark the tenth anniversary of the 7-7 bombings.

One of the world's best known entertainers has appeared in court

The American comedian Bill Cosby is accused of drugging

and then sexually abusing a woman at his home near Philadelphia in 2004.

After months of accusations, it's the first time he's been

His lawyers insist the charge is unjustified

He's been freed on bail of a million dollars.

Our Washington correspondent, Laura Bicker, reports.

He was once the most watched man on television.

For decades, the funny family entertainer,

Now he must face the cameras once again, to hear details of

They involve Andrea Constand, who has waived her right to anonymity.

She said she went to his house for career advice.

Mr Cosby urged her to take pills that he provided to her,

and to drink wine, the effect of which rendered her unable to

move or respond to his advances, and his committed aggravated

There had been allegations and rumours for years,

Charges today are based on a deposition from a civil case

where Bill Cosby admits giving women drugs before a sexual encounter.

But nearly 60 women have come forward.

Many high profile models, entertainers and actors.

His behaviour was like that of a predator.

I woke up in the back of my car, alone.

My clothes were a mess, my bra was undone.

Legally, many of his accusers have run out

For many of my 29 clients who allege they are victims of Bill Cosby,

seeing him criminally charged and having to face a trial,

is the best Christmas present that they have ever received.

He has always denied the allegations and is free on $1 million bail.

If convicted, this once global star could face the

Professor Anthea Butler, from the University of Pennsylvania,

She told Alice Baxter more about these particular accusations and why

First of all, the accusations were bought because of the transcript

that Kmart when he had had their position in one of the cases. This

was many years back, and it outlined the things that Bill Cosby said he

did, but Andrea was paid out, and the other women in the suit did not

get any funds whatsoever. Since then, because of all the uproar, and

the poignant cover on the New Yorker magazine that happened, I think this

has put it in the public eye, and the rerelease of the transcript of

his statements before the trial made it impossible for people to ignore.

And it is a different time, also, I think. Just remind me as to how big

a figure Bill Cosby years in America. Especially as our moral

figure, if you like. He is iconic in the US, his show was watched by

millions of people. He was a father figure to many African-Americans,

and because of the philanthropy and things he did, the issues about

respectability that he talked about, you need to pull your pants

up, stop having babies, get an education... He became a large

figure because of the messages he put out as well. Therefore, these

allegations have been very difficult for him. . How has his own family

reacted? It is interesting, because his wife tried to besmirch the

stories a few years ago of the women who were accusing him. She has been

a staunch supporter of his, involved in a lot of black university in

America. For the family it must be very embarrassing, because before

the Obama is, they were the first black family. This is what has

really troubled a lot of people, and for many it is difficult to think of

Bill Cosby with these alleged charges against him. Of course, and

could this be the start of legal proceedings? You think we will see

other accusations? I think so, he has recently sued a few of the women

who accused him, and I think that will take an interesting term. That

was two weeks ago. Yes, and I think now we will see more women come out

of woodwork. I think whatever happens in the case, his public

reputation is destroyed. That is something you can't get back, even

sometimes when you are pronounced not guilty it is difficult to get

that reputation back in the public eye. And he is an older man, so even

the mugshot we saw today shows how much this has taken a toll on him.

How much do you think Bill Cosby has handled himself throughout this

entire proceedings? If I had to put it in one word, it would be

arrogant. What he has done is basically said, I haven't done this,

which he has the right to do. But also he has had this high and mighty

position against others who have had transgressions. To watch in this

position is very terrible in a certain sense, but in another sense

you might say that he has reaped what he sowed.

In China, eight miners have been found alive after being trapped

Rescue teams in Shandong province have not yet

been able to free the miners but they have got supplies to them.

From Beijing, Stephen Evans has the story.

Rescue workers board a series of holes down into the ground where

they think miners are trapped. A total of 17 miners were caught

behind a massive rockfall, which was so severe that it was detected at

China's earthquake monitoring centre. After five days of

relentless effort, infrared cameras detected signs of life. Boreholes

were made and contact established. Please be calm and wait patiently.

We are sending food soon. What are you saying? Everybody, be quiet.

What do you need? OK, minor's lights. We will send lights and food

right now. Wait a second, please drink some nutrition liquid first.

OK, we got it. It emerged that at least eight are still alive. Food

and lights have been sent down, but conditions on the ground are

treacherous. Rescuers are having to retreat in the face of further

rockfalls, and sudden in rushes of water. The authorities are keen to

be seen to be doing everything possible. There is sensitivity about

the safety record of China's heavy industry. Chinese TV is playing

pictures of officials at the scene, directing operations. Parallel to

the rescue, a criminal investigation is under way to see if negligence

caused the emergency underground. Over the weekend, the mine owner

jumped down a shaft to his death. Police said it was suicide.

At least one person has been killed and two others injured after

a huge wave slammed into a drilling rig off the west coast of Norway.

Around 50 workers had to be evacuated from the platform

after the wave damaged the area where they eat and sleep.

The rig, which had been based in the Troll gas field, was making

At least 20 passengers have been injured on a flight from China

The Air Canada flight from Shanghai to Toronto was forced to make

332 passengers and 19 crew were onboard.

Some of those hurt have been taken to hospital for treatment.

Vast numbers of migrants and refugees have made their way across

the Mediterranean to Europe in 2015, most fleeing the conflict in Syria.

This huge migration has roused compassion, horror,

and much debate about how best to resettle so many people.

Today is the last day in office for Antonio Guterres, after 10 years as

He's seen the world's refugee population rise

He spoke to the BBC World Service about Europe's response.

For the first time in meaningful numbers refugees and other migrants

came to Europe, and Europe was totally unprepared for that. But not

only it was unprepared then, it is still unprepared today, and it was

unable to get its act together and the conditions in Europe did not

allow for a European response. So the refugees came to the developed

world and that came an issue in the public opinion and in politics, and

that is probably the only positive thing about this tragedy. For the

first time, political leaders all over the world took it seriously.

The point is that we do not yet have an adequate response to that, so it

is clear that this problem could have been managed, but to be managed

it would be necessary to have all European countries assuming a common

responsibility. First of all, doing their best to address the root

causes, to contribute to the peace in Syria, but at the same time

recognising that many who come, preparing the arrival with adequate

conditions at every point, this will require a important investment. If

that was the case, this crisis would have been perfectly managed. What we

are seeing is that countries are trying to solve the problem by

themselves, trying basically to avoid refugees to come into their

borders and to go into the neighbours. Some countries that are

trying to have a regime that is a bit worse than the neighbours'

regime, to make sure that the refugees go into their neighbours

instead of their own. 80% of the world's refugees in the global

south, and it would be fair for the global North to also take on some

responsibility, sharing this effort. I believe that now... In my opinion,

by the Europe is able to put together a massive admission

programme from neighbouring countries of Syria, in the months to

come, to replace that tragedy in the Aegean and the chaotic movement in

the Balkans. Or, if that is not put in place, with adequate negotiation

with Turkey and Lebanon and Jordan, my interpretation is that the

European asylum system is at serious risk of collapse.

And you can get in touch with me and most of the team on Twitter,