:00:00. > :00:07.This is BBC World News Today, broadcasting in the UK
:00:08. > :00:15.A suicide attack kills more than 60 people near a children's
:00:16. > :00:22.The Pakistani Taliban claim responsibility.
:00:23. > :00:24.Far-right protestors storm a square in Brussels dedicated to the victims
:00:25. > :00:36.Syria says its forces have recaptured the city of Palmyra -
:00:37. > :00:39.famous for its ancient ruins - from so-called Islamic State.
:00:40. > :00:41.Also coming up - Dublin marks the one hundredth anniversary
:00:42. > :00:48.And in one of the highlights of the British sporting calendar, Cambridge
:00:49. > :01:05.beat Oxford for the first time in four years in the men's Boat Race.
:01:06. > :01:07.More than sixty people have been killed and hundreds injured
:01:08. > :01:12.by a suicide attack at a busy park in the Pakistani city of Lahore.
:01:13. > :01:16.Police say a suicide bomber detonated explosives close
:01:17. > :01:18.to a children's playground, some families were celebrating
:01:19. > :01:22.Many of the victims are women and children.
:01:23. > :01:24.A state of emergency has been declared at all major hospitals
:01:25. > :01:30.A faction of the Pakistani Taliban has claimed responsibility.
:01:31. > :01:37.Here's our correspondent Shaimaa Khalil who is in Lahore.
:01:38. > :01:46.A senior police official has told us that this appears to be a suicide
:01:47. > :01:56.bombing, a man has detonated explosives in the middle
:01:57. > :02:04.In. It is a popular bar. It would have been crowded. It is a
:02:05. > :02:11.residential area. It is very near a playground. -- it is a popular park.
:02:12. > :02:16.People talked about horrific scenes, pools of blood in the park,
:02:17. > :02:20.scattered body parts, bodies were being collected by rescue workers.
:02:21. > :02:24.Quite consistently we have been hearing sirens as ambulances have
:02:25. > :02:27.been rushing to the scenes, trying to get casualties to hospitals. A
:02:28. > :02:34.state of emergency has been declared in the hospitals in Lahore. Families
:02:35. > :02:39.rush to these hospitals trying to find their loved ones and find out
:02:40. > :02:44.what has happened to them. This is Easter Sunday. We understand that
:02:45. > :02:48.many Christian families would be out and about celebrating. We were just
:02:49. > :02:53.out on the streets driving around. It was very busy. This is just
:02:54. > :03:01.speculation that this could be targeting the Christian community.
:03:02. > :03:05.Another speculation connects this attack to the man who was the former
:03:06. > :03:10.police guard who killed the governor of Punjab because he spoke out
:03:11. > :03:13.against blasphemy law. He was hanged 40 days ago. Today is the
:03:14. > :03:17.commemoration, the 40 day commemoration, of his death.
:03:18. > :03:19.Police in Belgium have carried out 13 separate anti-terror raids,
:03:20. > :03:22.in the hunt for more suspects after last week's
:03:23. > :03:26.Also riot police used water cannon at far right protestors in a Square
:03:27. > :03:29.Some confronted Muslim women, paying their respects to 31 killed.
:03:30. > :03:45.Our Europe Correspondent Damian Grammaticas reports.
:03:46. > :03:47.Belgians of all creeds and colours, Muslims, Christians,
:03:48. > :03:49.Jewish and more, they all came together today.
:03:50. > :03:51.They had been told not to march so they gathered quietly.
:03:52. > :03:55.Suddenly, the serenity was shattered.
:03:56. > :04:02.Far right thugs seizing the opportunity.
:04:03. > :04:04.A couple of hundred had come from outside Brussels
:04:05. > :04:12.to spread their anti-immigrant message.
:04:13. > :04:15.This man tried to stop them trampling the memorial.
:04:16. > :04:28.Officers here are overstretched already by the terror alerts.
:04:29. > :04:31.When the riot squad moved in and there were cheers.
:04:32. > :04:55.I am really shocked. It is a place of mourning and showing respect. I
:04:56. > :04:59.suspect they are football hooligans. They don't have to show up here.
:05:00. > :05:01.Calm has returned here and people are actually
:05:02. > :05:03.restoring the tributes they had left here which were damaged.
:05:04. > :05:06.The scenes we saw here were exactly what the Belgian
:05:07. > :05:12.An increase in tensions following the attack.
:05:13. > :05:13.In Brussels Cathedral, they paused, as well.
:05:14. > :05:15.The city's Archbishop said that the attacks
:05:16. > :05:25.TRANSLATION: They attacked the very foundations of our society,
:05:26. > :05:33.Across the continent in Italy, another arrest.
:05:34. > :05:35.An Algerian man accused of providing false
:05:36. > :05:44.identity papers for the Brussels and Paris attackers.
:05:45. > :05:46.The far right thugs gone, Belgians formed a human
:05:47. > :05:48.chain to show that they stand together against both fear
:05:49. > :05:54.The Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says the recapture of Palmyra
:05:55. > :05:56.by Syrian government forces shows the success of the army's strategy
:05:57. > :06:03.seized the ancient city in May last year -
:06:04. > :06:05.drawing international outrage when it destroyed ancient
:06:06. > :06:21.The three-week battle for Palmyra appears to be all but over.
:06:22. > :06:24.Syrian state television and other local channels have been showing
:06:25. > :06:26.soldiers patrolling the streets of the modern city today.
:06:27. > :06:28.As with other IS-held towns, progress is cautious,
:06:29. > :06:31.navigating the bombs and booby-traps the jihadists have left behind.
:06:32. > :06:34.It's not only a major strategic victory, but also a big propaganda
:06:35. > :06:40.coup for the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and his Russian backers.
:06:41. > :06:44.Mr Assad was quoted on state TV as telling a visiting French
:06:45. > :06:48.delegation that the recapture of Palmyra showed the success
:06:49. > :06:51.of the strategy pursued by the Syrian army and its allies
:06:52. > :06:57.World attention was focused on Palmyra for one reason -
:06:58. > :07:05.the fabled ruins of a 2,000-year-old city on its outskirts.
:07:06. > :07:08.The colonnades and columns are still standing, but no one yet
:07:09. > :07:11.knows how much damage IS has done since it seized control
:07:12. > :07:18.The jihadists taunted world opinion by carrying out and filming a mass
:07:19. > :07:20.killing in the Roman theatre, and the destruction
:07:21. > :07:27.For IS, the loss of Palmyra follows that of one of its main strongholds
:07:28. > :07:33.It's yet another big blow to the jihadists' aura
:07:34. > :07:41.Well let's get more - we can speak to Diana Darke
:07:42. > :07:57.Palmyra, historically important, but strategically important, as well.
:07:58. > :08:02.That's right. Across the ages it has always been in this strategic
:08:03. > :08:07.location on a desert oasis. The largest oasis in Syria. Halfway
:08:08. > :08:12.between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates valley. Weather controls
:08:13. > :08:18.that strategic crossroads can control is so much of the country.
:08:19. > :08:23.-- whether controls. The Isis strongholds are in the east. So
:08:24. > :08:30.Palmyra opens the road up to that. You have visited Palmyra. How have
:08:31. > :08:34.you experienced the city? I have been many times. Since the 70s I
:08:35. > :08:40.have been going. Before the revolution began five years ago
:08:41. > :08:43.Palmyra was the crown jewel of Syria's tourism industry. It had a
:08:44. > :08:51.bigger concentration of hotels there than anywhere outside Damascus. It
:08:52. > :08:56.is very important to the future economy of Syria. To rebuild it and
:08:57. > :09:06.come you know, it is a massive propaganda coup, however you look at
:09:07. > :09:11.it, whatever your view is on how President Assad lost it. This timing
:09:12. > :09:16.is fitting his narrative. The perception is he is the good guy,
:09:17. > :09:21.bringing back the crown jewel of Syria to the Syrian people. As you
:09:22. > :09:27.point out, it is good PR for President Assad. Does this shore up
:09:28. > :09:33.his position now? It is bound to, inevitably. The timing is spot on
:09:34. > :09:38.for him. The Russians were helping him to secure his position by
:09:39. > :09:42.bombing the moderate opposition up in Adan and the Northern areas. Now
:09:43. > :09:45.with the ceasefire that has been agreed, the Russians are not allowed
:09:46. > :09:50.to do that any more, but they can now with the eyes of the world upon
:09:51. > :09:58.them focus entirely on Isis. Moderate opposition up in --
:09:59. > :10:02.moderate opposition up in Idlib. The timing now is absolutely spot on for
:10:03. > :10:07.them. Thank you very much for being with us.
:10:08. > :10:09.Religious and political leaders have used their Easter messages to call
:10:10. > :10:12.for hope, in the face of terror and violence.
:10:13. > :10:14.In Rome, Pope Francis said people shouldn't let fear imprison them,
:10:15. > :10:17.a thought echoed in a sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury,
:10:18. > :10:20.And David Cameron says the UK should stand together,
:10:21. > :10:26.Here's our Religious Affairs Correspondent,
:10:27. > :10:36.On a square bathed in sunshine, the pilgrims gathered to hear
:10:37. > :10:39.a message of hope after a week in the shadow of death.
:10:40. > :10:42.At this, the Easter celebration of the risen Christ,
:10:43. > :10:44.Pope Francis reminded the faithful not to forget the migrants,
:10:45. > :10:53.the men, women and children fleeing from war.
:10:54. > :10:55.Then, from the balcony, he urged the faithful to use
:10:56. > :11:00.the weapon of love, as Christ did, and fight the evil of terrorism,
:11:01. > :11:05.TRANSLATION: May he draw us closer on this Easter feast
:11:06. > :11:07.to the victims of terrorism, that blind and brutal form
:11:08. > :11:10.of violence which continues to shed blood in different
:11:11. > :11:22.It was a theme echoed by the Archbishop of Canterbury
:11:23. > :11:26.Justin Welby said that after Brussels, hope could seem far
:11:27. > :11:28.away, with fear and natural human reaction.
:11:29. > :11:29.But, he told worshippers, Jesus Christ overcame death,
:11:30. > :11:40.Easter proclaims to us in flesh and blood that fear and death
:11:41. > :11:53.God has spoken life, hope and purpose.
:11:54. > :11:55.The Royal family attended their Easter service
:11:56. > :11:58.at Saint George's Chapel in Windsor, with an Easter bouquet for the Queen
:11:59. > :12:20.Stay with us on BBC World News, still to come:
:12:21. > :12:27.The 100th anniversary of the Easter rising. It has been commemorated
:12:28. > :12:29.with the largest public event in the country's history.
:12:30. > :12:32.The bodies of three people have been found at a house in Leeds.
:12:33. > :12:35.They are believed to be those of two women and a man.
:12:36. > :12:38.Police said there had been a small fire at the property.
:12:39. > :12:46.East Park Street in Leeds where the bodies of a man and two
:12:47. > :12:50.Emergency services arrived here, there had been a fire
:12:51. > :12:52.in the property behind me, it is understood
:12:53. > :12:55.there were no signs of violence in the house but police have
:12:56. > :13:01.stressed enquiries are at a very early stage.
:13:02. > :13:05.The fire is thought to have started in the living room and later burnt
:13:06. > :13:06.out, police believe the three people may
:13:07. > :13:10.have died in the early hours of Saturday morning.
:13:11. > :13:12.Detectives don't yet know exactly what happened that night.
:13:13. > :13:14.Forensic postmortems will take place to determine how the people
:13:15. > :13:16.died and West Yorkshire Police is asking anyone with information
:13:17. > :13:44.A bomb blast in a crowded park in the Pakistani city of Lahore has
:13:45. > :13:46.killed at least 50 people and wounded many more.
:13:47. > :13:48.Far-right protestors have stormed a square in Brussels where people
:13:49. > :13:51.have been paying their respects to the victims of last
:13:52. > :14:00.Hundreds of thousands of people have lined the streets in Dublin to watch
:14:01. > :14:06.commemorations marking the centenary of the Easter Rising.
:14:07. > :14:12.The failed rebellion against British rule left almost 500 people dead,
:14:13. > :14:15.but is seen as key stepping stone - to the creation of the Republic of
:14:16. > :14:36.Our Ireland Correspondent Chris Buckler reports.
:14:37. > :14:38.In 1916, O'Connell Street was at the centre of conflict.
:14:39. > :14:40.100 years later, it has become the focal point
:14:41. > :14:43.for the commemorations, a place to remember the Rising.
:14:44. > :14:45.Its leaders made Dublin's General Post Office its military
:14:46. > :14:49.It was here they declared a rebellion, a republic and the end
:14:50. > :14:51.of British rule with these words, the proclamation.
:14:52. > :14:53.We hereby proclaim the Irish Republic as a sovereign independent
:14:54. > :14:57.And we pledge our lives and the lives of our comrades
:14:58. > :15:02.Today people lined the streets of Dublin for a parade that passed
:15:03. > :15:04.some of the sites where there was battle, honouring those who died
:15:05. > :15:10.during six days when the city was engulfed in chaos.
:15:11. > :15:19.By the time the revolt was defeated, much of Dublin was destroyed.
:15:20. > :15:22.But just years later, a republic did emerge.
:15:23. > :15:25.In part, that was as a result of the execution of some
:15:26. > :15:26.of the Rising's leaders at Kilmainham Gaol.
:15:27. > :15:34.We cherish, 100 years later, the principles and ideals contained
:15:35. > :15:45.in our proclamation for which they fought.
:15:46. > :15:48.Among those remembering the events of 1916, relatives of those who took
:15:49. > :15:52.The century since has seen the city change and the birth
:15:53. > :16:12.Our correspondent Nuala McGovern is in Dublin where commemorations
:16:13. > :16:26.In the rebellion took place here in the GPO 100 years ago. I won't
:16:27. > :16:28.introduce you to my guest John Connelly, the youngest grandson of
:16:29. > :16:33.James Connolly, one of the signatories, one of the seven, on
:16:34. > :16:37.the proclamation that declared an Irish state. Just a few steps away
:16:38. > :16:44.from where we are now. Absolutely, just up the road. Tell us about your
:16:45. > :16:50.grandfather and how he changed probably the tide of history in
:16:51. > :16:56.Ireland after he was captured. My grandfather was a general at the
:16:57. > :17:03.Dublin forces in GPO. After he got wounded he was taken not to Dublin
:17:04. > :17:09.Castle. He was taken to a hospital. Then after he was taken away. This
:17:10. > :17:18.was one of the turning moment in world opinion for the sympathies to
:17:19. > :17:23.go with the rebels and the fighters. Whereas a week before they were all
:17:24. > :17:27.being castigated. With that it has to be said that that moment has been
:17:28. > :17:31.dramatised. It is something people find incredibly poignant, the death
:17:32. > :17:35.of James Connolly. What about all of the people who came out today. They
:17:36. > :17:42.say a quarter of a million people lined the streets, something your
:17:43. > :17:47.grandfather stalked -- started. Thank you to everyone for coming
:17:48. > :17:52.out. It was great. The Army did its duty well. They performed admirably
:17:53. > :17:57.as they always do. What is next? They want people to reflect and
:17:58. > :18:00.reimagine. Is there a lot of work to be done to reach the goals of
:18:01. > :18:06.proclamation? Of course. Democracy is a work in progress. You have to
:18:07. > :18:11.go step-by-step, step-by-step. We will get there eventually. Denied
:18:12. > :18:15.you are going to Dublin Castle, also up the road, the seat of British
:18:16. > :18:25.rule at one point, but tonight? It is the seat of Irish rule. And you
:18:26. > :18:31.will? Be there. And it is a state function for the descendants of...?
:18:32. > :18:37.Yes. Thank you. One of the grandsons of James Connolly. One of the
:18:38. > :18:41.signatories who took part 100 years ago. Ireland will continue to
:18:42. > :18:48.commemorate this moment in the days and weeks to come.
:18:49. > :19:02.India are through to the semifinals of the world the 20 cricket. The
:19:03. > :19:07.hosts produced a late surge of runs to beat Australia by six wickets.
:19:08. > :19:13.Skipper Virat Kohli finished unbeaten. India chased down
:19:14. > :19:18.Australia's total of 260-6 with five balls to spare. Our correspondent is
:19:19. > :19:23.in India. Can one man and one cricket bat lift
:19:24. > :19:28.the nation of 1.3 billion? Answer is, if it is Virat Kohli definitely
:19:29. > :19:32.yes. You may get a sense of the fireworks going off around Delhi
:19:33. > :19:38.this evening. They are all for Virat Kohli. India's progress has had this
:19:39. > :19:41.country transfixed with cricket, even more than normal. India were
:19:42. > :19:46.outplayed in their first game, beaten by New Zealand. Then all the
:19:47. > :19:50.tension from the game against Pakistan. Against Bangladesh they
:19:51. > :19:54.had somehow lost but somehow came back to win. And now this
:19:55. > :19:58.performance against Australia. The semifinal is also a dream scenario
:19:59. > :20:01.for the organisers. The only other team which attracts crowds to
:20:02. > :20:05.anything like the same level as India is the West Indies. Especially
:20:06. > :20:09.when Chris Cairns is playing. Virat Kohli against Chris Gayle, I am sure
:20:10. > :20:14.that is the way the media will sell that match if it needed selling. --
:20:15. > :20:17.Chris Dale is playing. One philosophy which I think will exist
:20:18. > :20:25.throughout India, when it comes to the final the T20, just set India
:20:26. > :20:31.any target, if Virat Kohli is at the crease they can chase it down.
:20:32. > :20:37.The semifinals take place in Mumbai on Thursday.
:20:38. > :20:42.England's women set up a semifinal with Australia at the women's T20
:20:43. > :20:50.after finishing at the top of their group. England made 148-5 and
:20:51. > :20:55.Pakistan were bowled out for just 80 with 13 balls to spare. West Indies
:20:56. > :20:59.women secured their place in the semifinals, beating India in a tight
:21:00. > :21:07.game. The home side falling just three runs short of their target. It
:21:08. > :21:12.is Australia against England in Delhi on Wednesday. The second
:21:13. > :21:17.semifinal between New Zealand and the West Indies takes place on
:21:18. > :21:22.Thursday in Mumbai. The annual Oxford Cambridge boat race has taken
:21:23. > :21:27.place. The first was held in 1829, it has been held annually since
:21:28. > :21:31.1856. Cambridge, the heavy abode in both races, won the men's. But for
:21:32. > :21:42.the women's eight nearly meant they went underwater.
:21:43. > :21:45.It seemed anyone watching, never mind taking
:21:46. > :21:48.part in the boat race, would need oil skins and an anchor.
:21:49. > :21:50.By the time the women's race started in its
:21:51. > :21:52.second year on the famous course the skies were clear.
:21:53. > :21:56.But the wind kept the water turbulence.
:21:57. > :21:59.In such conditions it is about plotting
:22:00. > :22:12.-- a path as much as producing power.
:22:13. > :22:14.Oxford headed for the safe shallows, Cambridge almost succumbed
:22:15. > :22:18.By the time Oxford crossed the line for a fourth straight win,
:22:19. > :22:20.Cambridge were more concerned with staying afloat.
:22:21. > :22:26.The men could use that as a cautionary tale for their race.
:22:27. > :22:29.Cambridge have lost the last three so made their move over
:22:30. > :22:33.At times it became about hanging on and hoping.
:22:34. > :22:35.These are not waters to keep chasing.
:22:36. > :22:38.Oxford fought their bodies and the waters to keep in touch.
:22:39. > :22:42.It is a feeling like nothing I've experienced before.
:22:43. > :22:50.These were the boat races when the river fought back.
:22:51. > :22:52.To all crews credit, there were no sinkings,
:22:53. > :22:55.but tradition has it that not everyone can stay out of the Thames.
:22:56. > :23:04.That is all of your sport for now. Thank you very much. Let's go back
:23:05. > :23:08.to that victory by India in the world 2020 semifinals after they
:23:09. > :23:10.knocked out Australia. -- the world T20.
:23:11. > :23:21.A great victory for India, especially given the fact it has
:23:22. > :23:26.been played on Indian soil. Yes, that's right. You join me in a
:23:27. > :23:28.GB did and somewhat relieved Delhi. It is always said that cricket is a
:23:29. > :23:39.religion here. -- in the capital, fans are, as you can
:23:40. > :23:43.imagine, packed around TV sets, moved by the drama unfolding on the
:23:44. > :23:48.pitch. They had an extra interest because it was a local boy Virat
:23:49. > :23:52.Kohli, who we heard was the star of the show tonight, he was born and
:23:53. > :23:56.raised here in Delhi. He once again proved India's here on the pitch by
:23:57. > :24:01.backing up that unbeaten 80 runs leading India to the victory and a
:24:02. > :24:05.place in the semifinals. We were looking at some of the
:24:06. > :24:12.reaction by Indian fans. What has been the mood there?
:24:13. > :24:16.As you would expect, the mood was nervous early in the evening. India
:24:17. > :24:19.went into this tournament as favourites but hadn't really found
:24:20. > :24:24.their gear in the tournament up until now. As a result, it got more
:24:25. > :24:27.and more clear India would do this, they were safe and in the
:24:28. > :24:33.semifinals. It became very excitable. Delhi is never quite at
:24:34. > :24:38.the best of times, but it was particularly noisy. We had a routing
:24:39. > :24:41.of horns, cheering fans and even if you fireworks. I think these were
:24:42. > :24:44.probably seems echoed right across the country.
:24:45. > :24:50.Have they got a chance of winning this?
:24:51. > :24:53.Chances of winning? Well, they face the West Indies next in the
:24:54. > :25:01.semifinal on Thursday. The West Indies suffered a shock against
:25:02. > :25:05.Afghanistan. West Indies fans thought it would be theirs for the
:25:06. > :25:10.taking. There is a cent in India that maybe, whisper it quietly,
:25:11. > :25:14.India could be peaking just at the right time to do this. Take this
:25:15. > :25:20.title in front of their home fans. Imagine what the reaction would be
:25:21. > :25:24.if that happened. -- there is a sense in India.
:25:25. > :25:28.Thanks very much. A bomb blast in a crowded park in
:25:29. > :25:32.the Pakistani city of Lahore has killed at least 60 people and
:25:33. > :25:38.wounded many more. The explosion took place in an area popular with
:25:39. > :25:41.families. It is thought it may be targeting Christians celebrating
:25:42. > :25:45.Easter. The Pakistan president has strongly condemned the act of
:25:46. > :25:49.terrorism and has said that such cowardly acts could not shake the
:25:50. > :25:54.nation's resolve against the menace of extremism and terrorism. That is
:25:55. > :25:56.it from me. Thank you very much for being with us.