25/12/2016 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today, broadcasting in the UK

Russia looks for answers after a military plane with 92

Benjamin Netanyahu orders ambassadors of UN Security Council

members to be reprimanded, after THEY voted against Israel's

Also coming up...in his Christmas message the Pope calls for an end

We catch up with a family of Syrian refugees one year

A day of national mourning is being held in Russia for the 92

President Vladamir Putin has ordered an investigation into why it went

The transport minister says investigators aren't ruling out -

any possible reasons for the crash - that includes terrorism.

Among those on board were members of the famous Red Army Choir.

Vigils have been held, this one at the Os-tan-kino TV

station to remember the nine journalists who were

The authorities say the location of the wreckage has been pinpointed,

and more than a hundred divers were exploring the sea bed.

So far, eleven bodies have been recovered.

This is one of the final images of the Tupolev-154 jet.

It was taken by a journalist before he boarded the plane.

The aircraft crashed into the Black Sea.

The Russians scrambled helicopters and ships but the search became

The plane had taken off from a military airfield near Moscow.

It flew south, stopping in Sochi to refuel.

The final destination was Syria, and Russia's airbase near Latakia,

but minutes after leaving Sochi, it crashed.

At the Russian Defence Ministry, a spokesman said that more than 90

He said the recovery operation was continuing.

On board were more than 60 members of the Russian army's famous

song and dance ensemble, once known as the Red Army Choir.

They had been due to give a concert at the Russian airbase in Syria.

Most civilian airlines have stopped using the Tupolev-154,

once the workhorse of the Russian aviation industry.

In 2010, a Tupolev-154 carrying the Polish President crashed

The following year, a similar plane caught fire

Now the investigation begins into another disaster,

to find out why this Russian plane fell from the sky into the sea.

People in Moscow brought flowers to the headquarters of the Russian Army

choir. It has left Russia stunned and silo. The Kremlin has promised a

thorough investigation into this tragedy. It has also declared Monday

to be a day of national mourning. Olga Ivshina of the BBC's

Russian Service told me more about those

on They are trying to find black boxes

to see if this will shed light on the probable reasons for the crash.

We don't really know what happened so far. The recording of

conversation between the aeroplane and the base was published, but it

sounds like a routine check their voices are calm and there is no sign

of alarm warning, which probably means it happened quite abruptly.

But the investigators have not ruled out every possibility here? Bred

yes, the Russian transport minister said they are looking into all

versions and there are three versions which is quite as usual.

Technical failure, a mistake on the pilot's part a something else,

possibly a terror attack. They did not specify which is the priority

one, so they are looking at all possible versions. If we look to

those on board who sadly perished in the crash, they were journalists

covering the red Army choir travelling to Syria to perform. The

majority of the people on board were members of the red Army choir who

are members of the military and actually this was quite a

significant thing, so they lost one third of their members and most of

the members of the choir. They were well known and well respected and

loved in Russia. They were respected all over the world for their

professionalism and well performing a lot in Russia and the Russian

military bases in the country and abroad, boosting military spirit and

also giving concerts in other countries. Their image became more

controversial since 2014, because being a member of the Russian army,

they praised the actions of Russian soldiers during a annexation of

Crimea and some politicians in eastern Europe said they must

boycott it, but it did not happen. They kept performing. Once again,

they were well known and recognised for their professionalism as

artists. We have seen some rituals in Rush already, come with them all?

Bred Monday will be a day of national mourning Russian state has

changes programmes buggy programmes are nothing like this. Many

Muscovites are shocked and coming to the base of the red Army choir are

bringing candles. The famous Russian doctor was on the plane are bringing

some humanitarian aid for Syrian hospitals. She was really respected

and loved by many Russian because she was helping people in need,

homeless people, children. She was also involved in some minor

controversies, but so humanitarian efforts was widely recognised. It

seems that people were not expecting this to come, it was a huge shock

coming just before days of celebration, just before the New

Year which is a big deal in Russia. And you can get more details

on the crash and hear some of the music from the Red Army Choir

on the BBC website. You can also download the BBC News

app on your smartphone The Israeli leader

Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered his Foreign Ministry

to summon and reprimand ambassadors from countries on the United

Nations Security Council, The move is a response to the UN

vote on Friday that condemned Israel's building of Jewish

settlements in the American and Israeli governments

have disagreed about settlers, but we grew the Security Council was not

the place to resolve this solution. We knew that going there would make

negotiations harder and dry these further away.

Front do not take offence to the Security Council. I'm encouraged by

the statements of Republicans and Democrats alike in the United

States. They understand how reckless and destructive the resolution was

that they understand the Western Wall is not occupied territory. I

look forward to working with those front and with the new

administration when it takes office next month. That was Benjamin

Netanyahu. Earlier the BBC's Middle East

analyst Alan Johnston explained This was a big moment at the United

Nations on Friday. Real diplomatic drama. Year after year we've watched

the Americans use their veto to protect Israel against resolutions

of this kind, but not this time. Suddenly, the Israelis found

themselves without a friend in the world on that very important

diplomatic stage and the message that the international community

centre could hardly have been stronger. It condemned the Israeli

settlement building project in the occupied territories as a legal and

a flagrant violation of international law. Now, the Israelis

see the legal position entirely different layout will not accept

that verdict for one moment. They argue that they are endlessly

mistreated by the UN in which they say is biased against Israel again

and again. They are now on a major diplomatic offensive and they are

reprimanding -- the reprimanding of the ambassadors on Christmas Day.

Benjamin Netanyahu has the UN itself in his sights and has ordered a

review of his country's relations with the world body and some funding

will be cut to some of its agencies. One of the smaller countries behind

the moving of the resolution, Senegal, has felt Israel's Raff in

the funding and economic aid projects which have been cut. Israel

are showing that they are diplomatically and economically

hitting back. Fake news has hit the headlines

a lot recently - it's been blamed for influencing the US election

and even led to an attack Now it appears it has caused

diplomatic twitter tension Pakistan's defence minister

Khawaja Asif directed a tweet at Israel believing it had

threatened Pakistan with a nuclear attack

for its role in Syrian conflict. He tweeted that 'Israel should not

forget that Pakistan But the story at the heart

of all this, was, in fact - fake. Israel's Defence Ministry -

which maintains a position of nuclear ambiguity -

tweeted back to say the article Evacuations have been taking place

in Chile after a powerful earthquake The US Geological Survey says

the quake struck southwest The first readings indicated

a seven-point-seven magnitude - but that's since been

revised down. In Nigeria, to people were killed

when a section of a two-storey building in a police

training college collapsed. The collapse in Lagos

happened around 4am. Building collapses are frequent

in Nigeria and they are often blamed by officials on the use

of cheap materials. Earlier, in December,

more than 100 people were killed when a church collapsed

in the south-east of the country. German police have defused

a World War to bomb that caused the evacuation of more than 50

thousand residents of Residents of the southern German

city had been forced to leave their homes

on Christmas Day so that the huge This was the biggest evacuation

in Germany for an unexploded bomb Church leaders have used

their Christmas messages to reflect on the emotional impact of global

events this year. Pope Francis called

for an end to the fighting in Syria when he spoke

at the Vatican on Sunday. He said "far too much blood has been

spilled" in the conflict. Meanwhile the Anglican leader --

The Archbishop of Canterbury -- Justin Welby, told his congregation

that the end of the year leaves people - in a more

unpredictable world. Our Religious Affairs Correspondent

Martin Bashir reports. Entering Canterbury Cathedral

in time-honoured fashion, Archbishop Justin Welby

focused his Christmas Day sermon on the uncertainty and division that

has marked both domestic and international politics

over the last year. He described 2016 as a year

of unpredictability and uncertainty, where fear and division

were in danger of overwhelming us and went on to suggest

that our anxiety is a clear sign that placing our trust in material

prosperity has failed. In Rome, where additional

security was in place following the Berlin attack,

Pope Francis also criticised materialism, and appealed

to Christians to stand out as people TRANSLATION: It is times for weapons

to be a silver of an international community to actively seek a

negotiated solution so that civil coexistence can be restored in the

country. Why might be the Pope concluded by appealing for

Christians to stand out as people of compassion and self-sacrifice.

The Queen misses her traditional Christmas Day service

as she recovers from a heavy cold - but in a recorded speech she pays

tribute to "ordinary people doing extraordinary things".

Thousands went to midnight mass where there were anti-Communist

riots ten days ago. The latest headlines: Russia looks

for answers after a military plane with 92 people aboard crushers. The

day of mourning has begun. Venturing met in Yahoo as ordered ambassadors

of the UN Security Council to be reprimanded after they voted to

condemn Israel's settlement building.

The Queen misses her traditional Christmas Day service

as she recovers from a heavy cold - but in a recorded speech she pays

tribute to "ordinary people doing extraordinary things".

In her pre-recorded Christmas message, the Queen said she often

draws strength from meeting ordinary people, doing extraordinary things.

Our Royal correspondent, Nicholas Witchell, reports.

Also absent issue the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their

children at Charlotte. They attended church at Bucklebury in Berkshire

where they have spent Christmas Day with the Duchess's family, the

Middleton 's. Inspiration was the theme of this year's Christmas

broadcast by the Queen which was recorded at Buckingham Palace days

ago. She cited the achievements of Olympic athletes and said she also

found inspiration from daily life. I often draw strength from meeting

ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Volunteers, carers,

community organisers and good neighbours. Unsung heroes who quiet

dedication makes them special. She recalled this have been the year off

her 90th birthday and paid tribute to the aspiring local charities she

has been associated with. She also said much more could be achieved

globally by acting with others. It is understandable that we sometimes

think the world's problems are so big we can do little to help. Alone,

we cannot end wars or wipe out injustice. But the cumulative impact

of thousands of small acts of goodness can be bigger than we

imagine. She said her own life are being guided by the inspiring

message of Christianity. Christ's example helps me see the value of

doing small things with great love. Whoever does them and whatever they

themselves believe in. Why McRae was broadcast by a monarch who although

usually indisposed this Christmas shows little sign of yielding to the

passage of years. For the Queen this year there has been a 90th birthday

and some lightning of her workload. There is no expectation whatsoever

that she will step away from the core duties of the role as monarch

and head of state. More than one hundred

people have been rescued after being trapped in cable cars

above Italy's ski slopes. One of the lifts

failed in high winds. These skiers in Italy were saved and

winched to safety. It happened in northern Italy at the Alpine resort.

It was close to the Swiss border. It is one of your's highest ski resort

and skiers were stuck at an altitude of over two and thousand metres. The

fee heavy wind meant rescuers could not use helicopters to help those

trapped. TRANSLATION: There was much wind. We

stopped at the pillar and remained there for two hours and now there

are the first rescue operations. Why McRae took over eight hours to bring

down more than 130 stranded skiers. Fortunately, the weather was mild

and not suffered from cold exposure. TRANSLATION: We have been unlucky,

the gondola was heavy, but there were moments with gusts of 150

kilometres per hour during which we were almost horizontal and it was a

scary moment. The result set on social media that no one was in

danger during the rescue. Those who are safely out were just pleased to

be back before Christmas. One year since they arrived in the UK, the

BBC has caught up with a Syrian families or one of the first to be

brought up as part of the Government's resettlement programme.

This family now living in the Midlands found it was a big change

to adjust to. Tee-macro their children have visible scars from a

suicide bomb. One year on and with a new addition to the family. They

were some of the first Syrian refugees to come to the UK under a

Government scheme. TRANSLATION: It is a big change for

us. It made's forget our concerns, especially for the little girls.

They are now much happier. The UK has been good for us and the only

issue is the language, but we are trying to learn it. It is very

different from our country. The family have spent the year settling

into their new home in Coventry. TRANSLATION: The community is nice,

the people are quite nice. We miss home. But what can we do? The

children go to school and they are happy. We are happy. There were

forced to leave Syria after a bomb exploded while they were out with

others celebrating a Kurdish spring festival. Their nine-year-old

daughter and their sexual daughter were seriously injured and taken to

Iraq for urgent treatment before being brought to this country. The

Government pledged to resettle an extra 20,000 refugees last year,

more than 150 people are making this it then you home. The girls are now

a school in the local area. It is fun. They treat us really well. The

teachers are good. It is fun. Is the weather different? Yes, sometimes it

rains. And it is cold. Both girls still need to undergo surgery, but

for this family, their focus is on the new lives on what the future may

bring. There island and 50,000 people here

in the UK with dementia. That is likely to rise. There is no cure and

a virtual allowed to compare the group of girls are collaborators

Adela Busey is a bit reality experience to help those living with

dementia. This year's theme comes with a

virtual twist. This man is a former nurse who was dementia. This is his

first time trying out a virtual reality headset as part of a trial

that may revolutionise dementia care. Good fun. Here we have the

underwater scene. As you can see, we have got the coral and the rocks and

everything like that. Joe can virtually swim underwater with this

device, visit a forest or even the beach. Along with other experiences

that may be tricky otherwise. Isn't a gorgeous? -- isn't it gorgeous?

The idea came from Alex Smail after he was inspired by his neighbours

who are housebound. It created as for the elderly because I had

neighbours who had not left their house for quite a long time. I

thought wouldn't be great if we could give them an experience out of

the house without having to leave it. Dementia affects 50 million

people worldwide. 70% of those living in UK care homes are thought

to have the condition. They kick-start a campaign has been

launched in the hope of raising enough fronts to have the headset is

widely available in care homes. These headsets are not a cure for

dementia. What they do do is help to alleviate symptoms people can

experience such as stress, depression and others. Users of the

trial are medically assessed by their body movements. With this we

are giving them a reality we can both relate to which makes it more

authentic. It is not disorientating them, it just takes them to a place

they can both be involved in. I wonder if I'll ever see this again

in reality? As many of us travel abroad this Christmas, some of our

most vulnerable can still enjoy these experiences at home.

Wonderful. The mother of Carrie Fisher has said the 60-year-old

actress is in a stable condition after suffering a heart

attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles on Friday.

Debbie Reynolds used Twitter to update fans and thank them

for their ongoing support and best wishes.

Ms Fisher played the iconic Princess Leia

She was flying home after finishing a tour

That is all for now. Goodbye. Merry Christmas.

A windy and to Christmas Day. Storm force winds right now. Boxing Day,