28/12/2017 BBC World News

This is BBC World News Today.

I'm Sharanjit Leyl.

Our top stories: Supporters

of George Weah celebrate

as the former international

footballer wins Liberia's

Presidential election.

41 people are dead and many

others are wounded in

a Kabul suicide attack.

The Islamic State group said it

carried out the attack.

This is the building

where the explosion happened,

and you can see the building

has been destroyed.

An easing of the diplomatic tension

between Turkey and the United States

as both countries say

they will restart visa services.

And coming up: Te social media

campaign which helped to reunite

a Christmas wage packet

with its very grateful owner.

We were just astounded how quickly

and how far it went.

Hello and welcome to BBC World News.

We start with Liberia,

where it was announced a short time

ago that the former international

football star George Weah has won

the Presidential election.

His supporters celebrated

as the electoral commission

announced that with almost

all the ballots counted, Mr Weah had

won more than 60% of the vote.

George Weah

made his name playing for AC Milan,

he was the first and only player

from Africa to win the coveted

Ballon d'or award.

But for the last three years

he has been a Senator

in Liberia.

When he becomes President next

month, it will be Liberia's

first democratic transition

in more than 70 years.

Umaru Fofana is in the Liberian

capital Monrovia.

Obviously this has been a huge

reaction. What is it like on the

ground?

Absolutely. Wild

celebrations. Minutes after the

Electoral Commission announced the

result, hundreds of people

celebrated in front of the building.

And then, across the city, you could

hear the sound of jubilation,

honking horns. It has been 12 years

of waiting. It is going to go on

until tomorrow morning.

This is the

first democratic transition in 70

years. How ground-breaking?

It is

very ground-breaking. Liberia is the

oldest Republic. First time since

1944, democratic handover. Even the

last one was questioned. It was not

universal. Technically speaking, in

the real sense, some people argue

this is the first time it is

happening. Watershed. 12 years ago,

the first female elected president,

and now an ex footballer. Liberia is

proud.

Any concerns about the

transition, from being a well known

footballer - to leadership?

In 2005,

two years after retiring, the

question was asked. It was said that

he had been lacking academic

wherewithall. He won the fourth

ballot. He went back to school. Came

back six years later. Second shot

but lost. He believes he has learned

on the ropes. He has been senator

for the last three years. Going to

make a good leader because he has

got the team to be able to do that.

It is interesting, his running mate,

the former wife of the war lord

Charles Taylor. How is the

international community going to see

him?

A lot of discussion around

that. The fact that Mrs Taylor, ex

wife of the convicted war criminal

was his running mate. Apparently a

telephone call from the jail in

England to George Weah, but he

denied he was going to be

influenced. Mrs Taylor has said that

she has her own woman.

Those

celebrations are likely going to

continue.

A suicide bombing in the Afghan

capital, Kabul has claimed the lives

of at least 40 people and injured

more than 80 others.

Women and children are

among the casualties.

The Islamic State group says it

carried out the attack,

which targeted a cultural

organisation and news agency

in the west of the capital.

Our correspondent in Kabul,

Zia Shahreya, has sent this report.

The force of the explosion

is clear to see.

Among the rubble, relatives

desperately search

for their loved ones.

But there was little left behind.

The bomb went off inside this

building, a cultural centre and also

home to an Afghan news agency.

Students had been marking the 38th

anniversary of the Soviet

invasion of Afghanistan.

The suicide bomber apparently has

entered through that way,

inside this hall, where the seminar

was happening and the hall was full

of people, students,

male and female, from different

universities in Kabul.

TRANSLATION:

I saw many dead

in the area, I was looking

for my cousin but could not

find his body.

I'm not sure what happened to him.

The number of dead

people has increased.

After the explosion,

ambulances took the injured

to the hospitals nearby.

This man, one of dozens badly

hurt in the explosion.

Some of the wounded

were taken in for surgery.

TRANSLATION:

A total of 35

dead were registered

here and 20 others wounded.

There are men, women

and children among the injured.

For some waiting outside for news

it was all too much.

Back in the area, to

the west of the capital,

where the bomb went off,

armed guards patrol.

The initial blast was followed

by two other explosions

but nobody was hurt in those.

So who was behind the attack?

So-called Islamic State has

claimed responsibility,

saying it targeted the centre

with a suicide bomber

and other bombs.

It has behind a number of other

attacks on Shia targets

across the country in recent months.

The President's spokesman called

the attack an unpardonable crime

against humanity and pledged

to destroy terrorist groups.

Let's take a look at some of

the other stories making the news.

Officials in Alabama have formally

certified Democrat Doug Jones

as the winner of the state's US

Senate race, after a judge

denied a legal challenge

by his Republican opponent.

Roy Moore, whose campaign had been

plagued by allegations

of sexual misconduct,

lost narrowly and had

claimed voter fraud.

His lawyers said there'd been

a higher-than-expected turnout.

India's lower house of parliament

has approved legislation to outlaw

the Muslim tradition

of instant divorce.

A Supreme Court ruling has banned

the right of Muslim men

to divorce their wives by simply

speaking the word

"talaq" three times.

It means divorce in Arabic.

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella

has dissolved parliament ahead

of an election scheduled

for March the 4th.

Immigration is likely

to be the key issue,

with the anti-establishment

Five Star movement currently

leading in opinion polls.

Turkey and the US are to

resume issuing visas

to each other's citizens.

They'd been suspended after a bitter

row, when Turkey arrested a local

embassy employee in October.

But in statements earlier,

the Turkish embassy in Washington,

and the US embassy in Ankara said

the issue had been resolved.

Earlier Seref Isler from the BBC's

Turkish Service explained

the background to the problem

between the US and Turkey.

Back in October, the government of

Turkey detained an American embassy

employee. This led to an argument

with the US embassy. The US embassy

as a diplomatic compound. The

government of Turkey had detained

the employee because in the

aftermath of the coup attempt, a

series of raids and operations

against people that Turkey considers

to be terrorists. Apparently led by

a man in the US. The United States

is not extraditing him. It has been

asking for more evidence. It had

been back and forth, discomfort

between the two. The American

embassy stopped issuing visas to

citizens of Turkey and vice versa.

The disagreement between the

countries only affected each other

diplomatically. It was the first

time it had a practical impact on

citizens.

The relationship has not

always been good. What does this

particular story say about the

relationship going forward?

The

Embassy of Turkey is denying that

they had given any security

assurances to officials, in return

for these to resume. But the embassy

in the capital of Turkey has said

that they had received security

assurances. We do not know what

happened behind closed doors. Some

sort of conversation must have taken

place. Turkey and the United States

are natural allies, close for a long

time, but some disagreements when it

comes to Syria. An also Russia.

Turkey is against Donald Trump

recognising jewellery as long as the

capital of Israel. Donald Trump also

has the Tower in Istanbul. It is an

uncomfortable collation shot.

What

happens next?

From this point, the

visa services are going to resume.

The regular lives of those who want

to travel - more. But more is going

to be discussed when it comes to

Israel. An also the Syria issue.

United States is going to need

Turkey to on board. Turkey will want

a better relationship with American

officials.

More than 2,000 cases of diphtheria

have been recorded among

Rohingya refugees who fled

to Bangladesh from Myanmar.

The World Health Organisation says

at least 20 people have already died

from the highly contagious disease.

The UK is sending an emergency team

to help fight disease

as Claire Fallon reports.

Leaving Manchester, British medics

heading for Bangladesh.

Now, another threat - diphtheria.

The makeshift home to thousands

of Rohingya Muslims,

this is the refugee camp.

Those living here left Myanmar

and a situation described by the UN

as a textbook example

of ethnic cleansing.

6,000 people have been

killed, a figure denied

by the Government in Myanmar.

Wonderful...

Among the 40 plus staff,

sent by Britain, Becky, a children's

nurse at Watford General.

I know from my experience

as a paediatric nurse

and as a mother, families

will be feeling desperate.

I know there are loads

of children involved,

75% of the people affected

by diptheria are

under the age of 15.

We need to act fast.

When the team arrives,

medics will be working

in tough conditions.

Diphtheria has been spreading

rapidly, up to 160 new cases

reported every day.

It will be tough, 40 of us going out

in its first tranche,

more people coming later.

We will be working with other

organisations, not just 40 of us.

This is the UK response,

one of the fastest because of

the critical nature of the emergency

and the speed at which the disease

can spread, because of the need

to do something very quickly.

The situation facing

the Rohingya people has been

described as the fastest

growing refugee crisis.

With equipment and expertise,

the British medics hope

they will make a difference,

and save lives.

Stay with us on BBC

World News, still to come...

All the sport.

Including Arsenal against Crystal

Palace. Two goals scored. We'll tell

you by who.

Tomorrow, we are going to use money

we picked up today.

George Harrison is recovering in

hospital after being stabbed. A man

is being interviewed by police on

suspicion of attempted murder.

I

think it was good.

Just good?

Fantastic.

That is better.

This is BBC World News Today.

The latest headlines: The former

footballer George Weah has won

Liberia's presidential election

with 61% of the vote,

easily defeating his main rival -

Vice President Joseph Bokai.

A bomb attack in the Afghan capital,

Kabul, has left 41 people dead

and more than 80 others wounded.

Islamic State says it was behind it.

And we have got the sport.

One match in the Premier League this

evening, with Crystal Palace aiming

to move further away

from the relegation places,

at home to Arsenal,

who are currently sixth.

Bit is currently 1-1. Arsenal took

the lead in the first half. Mustafi

with the goal. It had been parried

by Speroni. But Crystal Palace

equalised. Andros Townsend. George

Weah, the only African player to

have won the Baldor, has been

confirmed as the president of

Liberia. 61% of the vote. He played

for AC Milan, PSG, as well as

Chelsea and Manchester City.

England's cricketers will begin

the fourth day of the fourth

Ashes Test in Melbourne in control

and with a great chance

to seal the victory that

would at least restore some pride.

Alistair Cook is 244 not out,

with England on 491

for nine, a lead of 164.

Still plenty of work

for England to do, but for Cook

it was the highest total any batsman

has made against

Australia at the MCG.

It is all about trying to put in a

good performance as a team. Banged

on about it. Brisbane, it was level.

Three days. Fourth we struggled. It

was the scene with the other two

Test matches. We have got another

opportunity tomorrow to come back

with a good lead. Try to put some

pressure on Australia.

He looks

exhausted. Rafael Nadal's ongoing

knee injury has forced him to pull

out of the Brisbane International,

the warm up event for the student

open. He pulled out of next version

event this weekend. But he still

hopes to be fit in time for the

Australian open. The man who

defeated Rafael Nadal in this year's

Australian Open, Roger Federer, is

in Perth. He has been enjoying the

sun, sea, sand. Roger Federer

stealing typically grounded.

Expectations are higher but I try to

remind myself, it is not normal and

realistic to look for the same

things that I have done in 2017. I

am going to try to keep it cool. Try

my best. We will see what happens.

The preparations have been good. We

will see what happens at Perth.

At

skiing, the dominance continued,

third straight win. Finished a first

run second clear. Extending the lead

at the top of the overall standings.

She has got an astonishing 20 of the

last 25 races.

Homewinner in the men's, Paris

winning by four 100ths of a second.

The writ for the next race. Still

1-1 at Selhurst Park. That is the

sport. Thank you.

The UN Children's Fund has said

the scale of attacks on children

in the world's conflict zones,

reached shocking levels in 2017.

In a new report, Unicef says

all sides blatantly disregard

international laws designed

to protect the most vulnerable.

It says children are being targeted

and exposed to attacks and brutal

violence in their homes,

schools and playgrounds.

Justin Forsyth, Deputy Executive

Director of Unicef in New York, told

us why children are often targeted.

Children have always been victims of

conflict. What we have at the

moment, if huge amount of complex

emergencies, from Yemen, Sudan,

Syria, Iraq. Increasing reports from

staff on the ground about children

being specifically targeted.

Becoming human bombs in Nigeria. 130

children have been used as bombs by

Boko Haram. Also human shields.

Children also deliberately targeted

by snipers. Even in playgrounds. We

have this terrible situation that

Syria, very few children evacuated,

and just 30 minutes away from a

hospital. We are particularly

worried about how children are

becoming brutalised by war on this

huge scale.

Tens of thousands of children have

been affected by the war in Syria

but there's been hope for a few

in the last few days in the besieged

rebel-held area near Damascus.

12 seriously ill children

were evacuated on Wednesday.

Aid agencies expect thirteen more

to leave Ghouta over

the course of today.

Among the dozens of children still

waiting to be rescued is baby Karim,

he lost an eye when artillery shells

struck a market.

This is his story.

That was the story of the baby

waiting to be evacuated in Syria.

Now...

The immense power of social

media was once again

in evidence at Christmas -

when a welder from London

left his Christmas wage

packet in a local pub

in Wimbledon.

More than a million people

responded to an appeal

on Twitter and Facebook

and identified Marius so that

the pay packet could be returned,

six days after he lost it.

Our correspondent Chi Chi Izundu

takes up the story.

This is the story of a welder,

a pub and lost wage packet.

Last Thursday after a few

hundred people had been

here at The Alexandra pub

celebrating their Christmas parties,

at the end of the night a small

brown envelopes stuffed with cash

was spotted on the floor.

The only reason I realised

it was a wage packet

was because I used to get paid

in a similar packet when I first

came to the country.

All they had was the name

Mariusz and £600.

The landlord and his wife posted

a picture on social media

which is reposted by author JK

Rowling and then hundreds

of thousands around the world

joined in the search.

We did not find him straightaway

and a couple of celebrities

retweeted it and it went bonkers.

My phone was like a fridge buzzing!

Has we were getting messages

from all over the world,

so much interest trying to find this

guy, people contacting

asking if we found them?

From Canada and America

and Australia, everywhere.

And then what happened?

Lo and behold, yesterday, he walked

in the door and said hello,

I'm Mariusz and I believe you've

got my money!

It was like the biggest

anti-climax in history,

he just wandered in!

He said, I think

you've got my money.

Mariusz explained he took

out his phone to take pictures

of his Christmas party

and that is probably when his wage

slip fell from his pocket

and under this chair,

and he did not notice

until about a day later.

He had not seen the social media

posts, it was his son

who alerted him to them and he may

have kept the loss quiet

from his wife to have,

as he called it, a stress-free

Christmas!

He came in yesterday and got it.

In a show of gratitude,

he gave Nobby a generous tip.

Lucky man!

American Airlines has apologised

to two professional basketball

players who were kicked off a flight

after being wrongly

accused of theft!

Marquis Teague and

Trahson Burrell boarded

a plane on Christmas Eve,

en route to a game.

But before take off,

a flight attendant claimed the men

had taken blankets from the first

class cabin - and they

were forced off.

It later emerged the

pair had been given

the blankets by passengers.

Neither of the athletes,

who play for the NBA's minor league

team Memphis Hustle, have commented.

Now how about this for

an alternative Christmas tree...

It's at a depth of five metres

in the chilly waters

of Lake Ohrid in Macedonia.

The decoration of an underwater tree

has become a tradition among local

divers dressed as Santa Claus

and has lately become quite

a tourist attraction.

And just to keep you up-to-date with

those football results, Arsenal

ahead of Crystal 3-1.