25/12/2015 World News Today

In his Christmas message, the head of the Anglican Church

warns Christians in the Middle East are threatened by what he calls

India's prime minister makes a surprise trip to Pakistan,

the first visit by an Indian PM in more than a decade.

One of Syria's most powerful rebel commanders has been killed

And we report from Sydney, where sailors are gearing up

for the annual 1,100 kilometre sprint through the South Pacific.

Pope Francis has given his traditional Christmas Day address

He said the world was facing a "monstrous evil", and called

for peace in some of the most troubled parts of the planet.

It was a theme picked up by the Archbishop of Canterbury too.

He warned that Christianity could be eradicated from its birthplace

in the Middle East, as our religious affairs

Goodwill, a cheery greeting from the Archbishop of Canterbury

as he arrives at Canterbury Cathedral.

But as Christians gather to celebrate the birth of Christ

at services across the world, his message today was a sombre one.

The Archbishop focused on the devastation unleashed

by the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq saying it used force

He compared it to a modern-day Herod, the biblical king

who massacred babies while trying to kill Jesus.

They hate difference, whether Muslims who think

Because of them, the Christians face elimination in the very region

That was a message echoed in Rome today.

Pope Francis was greeted with enthusiasm on

TRANSLATION: My thoughts also turn to those affected by terrorism,

particularly the recent massacres in Egyptian airspace,

The Pope asked for prayers and strength for all Christians

persecuted for their faith, calling them the martyrs of today.

Closer to home in north Yorkshire, there was a Christmas service

for those who couldn't go to one at this prison.

He offered words of hope to those imprisoned,

lonely and feeling lost or abandoned, saying the message

of Christmas was one of hope and salvation.

Now to a brief, surprising and potentially historic visit

by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to Pakistan.

It's the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister

to the country in more than a decade.

Apparently it was only arranged hours before and Mr Modi broke

He travelled to Lahore from Kabul, from where our correspondent,

Narendra Modi's visit to Pakistan was always going to be

It is the spontaneous, impersonal nature of the visit that

He announced his visit through a tweet saying

he was going to drop by to see President Nawaz Sharif,

The two countries have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir.

It has been a flash point for more than 60 years and clashes there have

Many see his visit as a solid step into the warming of relations

But there is a long way to go before that is transferred into peace

What added to the confusion of Narendra Modi's stopover

was that it came after a visit to the Afghan capital.

He inaugurated a new parliament complex built by India

and in a speech he spoke about security in Afghanistan

and said that terrorists should stop flowing across the border,

That is deep mistrust between India and Pakistan, especially over

the competition over influence in Afghanistan.

There is always talk of gestures when it comes to the warming

of relations between the two rivals, the handshakes, the photo

opportunities, the sideline conversations at international

As far as gestures are concerned, Narendra Modi's surprise visit

An earthquake has hit parts of northern Afghanistan and Pakistan

The quake struck near the town of Feyzabad, close to the border

with Tajikistan and lasted for just under a minute.

Tremors were also felt in the Afghan capital Kabul

The quake was first reported as having a magnitude of 6.4,

but that's now been revised to 6.2 by the US Geological Society.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or extensive damage.

Reports from Syria suggest the leader of one of the country's

most powerful rebel groups has been killed in an air strike.

Zahroun Alloush, the head of the Jaysh al-Islam organisation,

died at his headquarters in a rebel-held district

Reports said a number of other key figures in the group were also

killed in the attack which activists claim was carried out

She's says it is possible the air strike could have been conducted

by Syrian troops, who use Russian-made fighter jets.

It was definitely a Russian warplane but who conducted the air

strike we have to confirm, whether the Syrian government

We know from the past that since the start of the Russian

air strikes inside Syria, they have targeted several locations

of rebels who oppose President Assad and also,

Russia has provided a list of rebel groups

that they consider as terrorists, and Islamic Army, which this man led

before he was killed, was one of them.

Zahroun Alloush is a name that many of us won't have

What do we know about him as the leader of this group?

Zahroun Alloush is one of the leaders of the most effective

and influential armed groups in the suburbs of Damascus,

He is part of a bigger formation including other groups

who are basically Islamic groups backed by Saudi Arabia and Qatar,

but his group is mostly backed by Saudi Arabia.

His group was represented at the talks that aimed at forming

a group that would be in the negotiating team

But for the Russians, this is a group that they consider

as terrorists and the attack today comes as a blow to any peace efforts

to get the two conflicting and warring sides at

In neighbouring Iraq, security forces are conducting

a third day of operations against so-called Islamic State

fighters as they try to liberate the city of Ramadi.

The strategically important city is just 100km west of Baghdad

and has been under the control of the Islamists since May.

Government forces are reported to have surrounded the last

Many civilians are trapped in the midst of the fighting.

The Nigerian government says dozens of people were killed

after an explosion at a butane gas depot in the south of the country.

The fire raged for more than five hours before being extinguished.

Locals had come to the butane gas plant to fill up the canisters in

preparation for Christmas Day meals and a huge inferno erupted. It was

so powerful that it damages house -- that are damaged houses in the

nearby area. It also got those passing by and many who had come for

their gas supplies. -- involved. Survivors describe seeing bodies,

including those of children, and they had suffered terrible burns. I

said that we had to run in this thing was very dangerous. I started

to get her to the back and fall down. The blaze was so fierce it

took more than five hours to put out. The Nigerian president

expressed his sadness in a statement Cormack

the gas plant was in south-east Nigeria. Police are still

investigating the cause of the explosion. Finding out what was

behind this herbal accident will be difficult because many who were

there to Kosovo. It is not known what the final death toll will be,

but the number is likely to go up. Here in the UK, Queen Elizabeth has

used her annual Christmas message to speak of there being hope

for the future, despite the world having confronted moments

of darkness during 2015. The Queen said she was looking

forward to the coming year when she will turn 90,

and the joy of sharing it with the youngest

members of her family. On a damp day, the Queen departed

promptly after the service, leaving younger members

of the family to spend a few moments In her Christmas broadcast,

the Queen looked back at 2015. There was much to be thankful for,

she said, but although she did not identify any particular incidents,

there had also been tragedy. It is true the world has had

to confront moments of darkness this year, but the Gospel of John

contains a verse of great hope, often read at Christmas

carol services. "The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has 70 years after the end

of the Second World War, she paid tribute to

those who had served. The strong Christian theme continued

when she spoke about people forced Despite being displaced

and persecuted throughout his short life, Christ's unchanging message

was not one of revenge or violence, but simply that we should

love one another. There was also a reference

to the birth of a great grandchild, One of the joys of a long life

is watching one's children, then grandchildren, then

great grandchildren, decorate the Christmas tree,

and this year my family has And she looked ahead to next year

and a significant personal landmark. I am looking forward to a busy 2016,

although I am warned I may have Happy Birthday sung to me

more than once or twice. That was in reference

to the fact that the Queen Despite the passing of the years,

2016 will, as she said, Stay with us on BBC

News, still to come: The charity single sung

by a hospital staff choir that's beaten Justin Bieber to take

the official Christmas number one United States troops have been

trying to overthrow the dictatorship. The operation was 90%

successful Butterfield on this principle objective, to capture him

and taken to the United States. The hammer and sickle was taken away

and a Russian flag was hoisted over what is no longer the Soviet Union

but, wealth of Independent states. Today broke slowly in Lockerbie to

show the aeroplane nose down in the soft earth. You can see what happens

when and in a plain false and 30,000 feet.

Business has returned to Albania after the commonest bandmaster more

than 20 years. -- Christmas. Thousands went to Christmas Mass.

In his Christmas message, the head of the Anglican Church

warned that Christians in the Middle East are threatened

by what he called an Islamic State "apocalypse".

India's prime minister makes a surprise trip to Pakistan -

the first visit by an Indian PM in more than a decade.

A record 28 foreign boats will compete in this year's

It's one of the world's most challenging ocean events.

It began in 1945, and pits amateur sailors against professional crews.

Phil Mercer reports from Wild Rose, last

The Sydney to Hobart is one of the toughest yacht races

in the world, and it starts here on beautiful Sydney Harbour.

From here, the fleet will head into open water and head south and,

ahead, an 1,100 kilometre journey down eastern Australia heading

The beautiful thing about the Rolex Sydney to Hobart

is you can mix the super professionals, the massive elegant

supermaxis, right through to the amateur boats,

We don't see much of them, but we do the same event.

And I think that's what's absolutely magic about ocean racing in general.

Of course, taking control of the helm and steering

on Sydney Harbour is one thing, but dealing with the wild conditions

en route to Tasmania is something completely different.

In 1998, six sailors died when a wild storm lashed the fleet.

The race record is one day and 18 hours, but every boat

is at the mercy of conditions that are notoriously unpredictable.

We go from this beautiful weather off New South Wales

into Bass Strait, which can be lovely or horrible,

down into Tasmania, which is gorgeous, but it can be

And so, the race holds a mystery, a myriad of mysteries weather-wise.

20-year-old Sam Scott competed for the first time last year.

There was an early bout of nausea and then the boat lost its steering

and fell on its side, but still went on to become

Very hard work, very beautiful, but very, very tough work.

The first night, I was horribly seasick.

We lost our steering, we blew up a spinnaker.

But everyone just worked so well together as a team to get the boat

back upright and to get everything done that gets you through.

The dash to Hobart may be dominated by the multi-million dollar

supermaxis, but it's the amateur sailors in their smaller boats that

are the soul of this famous old race.

It is as popular as ever, attracting yachts from Britain,

Phil Mercer, BBC News, at Rushcutter's Bay in Sydney.

In Paraguay, the authorities say thousands of people who live

by the country's main river may have to be evacuated as water levels

In the capital, Asuncion, the Paraguay river is just

30 centimetres away from overtopping its banks.

Heavy summer rains have caused rivers to swell across a vast area.

More than a 150,000 people in Paraguay,

Argentina, Uruguay and Brasil have been driven from their homes.

The situation is most serious in Paraguay,

where President Horacio Cartes declared a state of emergency.

Now, what's the weather like where you are?

Well, many parts of the world are experiencing near record warm

From New York to Moscow, coats, hats and mittens are being discarded

in favour of t-shirts and other summery clothes.

The unseasonably high temperatures have contributed to the severe

storms in the US mid-west and flooding here in Britain.

In northern England, the Army has been called

in to support efforts to protect flood-hit areas of Cumbria.

Weather experts are saying it's because of the El Nino phenomenon.

Alex Deakin from the BBC's Weather told me more.

El Nino is the warming of the ocean in the southern Pacific over huge

area. It happens every few years and it is not a regular pattern. But

every few years that the warming of the Pacific ocean by a number of

degrees. How does that affect anything in Europe? It is all

linked. That has a knock-on effect as it changes the wind patterns and

that has an effect throughout the atmosphere. It is a huge fluid

dynamic problem around the globe and it does change the weather patterns

around the world. The warming leads to warming elsewhere and that is

what we have seen this year but also has individual smaller producing

mudslides in the western United States, heavy rain in California

forest fires in Australia and the high temperatures we've seen

elsewhere. There is also a link to El Nino and cold of team in Europe

that haven't seen. There are some links that are not as you would

imagine. You can see the storms from the United States. A warmer

atmosphere is more volatile and has more energy. You can see a mother

and nature producing those energetic results with tornadoes. A warmer

atmosphere can also carry more moisture which can be to flooding.

How long does this climate set the pattern for the weather?

It tends to last for around a year but it can be shorter or longer than

that. This is a strong one so will last into 2016 we will continue to

see weather patterns being disturbed by this very strong El Nino.

You can see the pictures from Moscow in December of the flowers

blossoming. We've had that in the UK as well, it

is Christmas but it feels like Easter. There is not very much so in

Moscow at the same year. There was a record-breaking temperature in the

United States. It is 20 Celsius in southern Spain, well above the

average. It is causing hardship for some

people in Cumbria. It has led to a warmer atmosphere.

You cannot say that one weather event the centre El Nino, but all

the signs are there. You get stormy conditions and this very wet weather

and the sad news is that there is an amber weather warning out again for

Cumbria with the likelihood of more rain. They could do more for them to

come tomorrow. Here in the UK, a group of doctors,

nurses and hospital staff from south London has reached the top

of the music charts, taking the Christmas

number one spot. The Lewisham and Greenwich National

Health Service Choir, fought off stiff competition

from the Canadian singer, I can officially announce

that the UK's official Christmas The single was released to raise

money for health charities and pay tribute to the National

Health Service. That was what it was all about,

for all of the other people in the NHS, so I hope it

gives them that lift. I hoped, but I really didn't

think it would happen. Justin Bieber is such

a superstar worldwide. Bieber, last week's number one,

had asked his 70-million-plus Twitter followers to

help the NHS Choir win. Charity singles offering top

the Christmas chart. It also celebrates the work of

the NHS across the entire country. With the new number one announced

on Christmas Day itself, it seems appropriate that this year

in particular should see people at all levels of music together

with members of the public using the chance to send

their own seasonal message. Whether you celebrate

Christmas or not, the day is seen as a time for peace

and a chance to spread some much Kristina Zarich takes a look at how

different people around the world have been spending their Christmas

day. Christmas Day, at home to relax and

spend time with loved ones, another hot day in Sydney source Chileans

take to the ocean for a Christmas dip. In warm Northern Hemisphere

winter saw people in Europe being able to do the same. This annual

cold weather slam in Berlin was more pleasant than usual. In the Big

Apple, people still did winter activities but in T-shirts. For

some, Christmas is a time of loneliness. In Rome they fed the

homeless at the annual gathering where everyone is welcome. It is

very beautiful because we are united. We are from different

religions, Muslims, Christians and Orthodox, all colours like the

colour of our skins. But peace and uses kids is united and we are all

brothers and sisters. While people celebrate the family and friends

around the world are the people are not so lucky. Many soldiers are

serving overseas amber given a Christmas feast and a chance to call

home. I missed being with my husband and my family. We have been doing

this for many years. They face time and other things a Christmas. In

countries where Christian communities feel under threat,

licking and Pakistan, people still came together to celebrate. And

despite an increased security presence for the half a million

Christian minority in Bangladesh but still a colourful Christmas. While

leaders urged peace... Treating each other with peace and compassion...

Others had hoped for a fresh start. The Cypriot leader delivered a

letter with another single vehicle to be unified the island. With a

difficult year behind us there is hope that the joy brought today can

resonate around the world in the New Year.

If you haven't been with family or friends you may have spoken to them

some other way to give them your season's greetings. The first

British astronaut on the International Space Station has not

been successful with making contact with Earth. When he phoned home, he

asked the woman who answered if you were speaking to planet Earth. It

turned out not to be his wife, Rebecca. Any treat he apologised to

the woman he called. He also couldn't speak to his parents who

when he called. Don't forget you can get in touch

with me and the team on Twitter. This is BBC News. Thank you for

watching.