09/04/2017 World News Today

I'm Samantha Simmonds with BBC World News.

Egypt's president declares a three-month state of emergency.

It comes after 45 people were killed in two bomb attacks

Thousands attend a vigil against terrorism in Stockholm,

as a British man, Chris Bevington, is named as one of the four people

This is where the truck ended up, smashed against a department store

window. People have been coming to write messages of hope and defiance

on the boards and there have been more tributes to the victims.

Marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge,

members of the British Royal Family attend a special commemoration

And: the Turkish Airlines flight that landed with more passengers

The Egyptian President, Abdul Fattah al Sisi, has announced

a state of emergency, following two bomb attacks

The attacks on two churches were deliberately timed for a day

when millions of Christians in the country were attending

services to mark Palm Sunday, one week before Easter.

So-called Islamic State say it was responsible for the blasts

- the latest in a series of attacks on Egypt's Christian minority.

29 people were killed in the first explosion in the Nile

While 16 more died in the second attack in Alexandria.

This report from our Middle East Correspondent, Yolande Knell.

Egyptian Christians had gathered to celebrate one

But this Palm Sunday brought violence.

The first deadly explosion was during mass at St

George's Church in Tanta, leaving blood everywhere,

Just hours later there was another attack here,

This time just outside the church, the dead included police officers

who had stopped the suicide bomber from entering.

The head of Egypt's Coptic Church, Pope Tawadros, had already left.

In Rome, at Palm Sunday prayers, Pope Francis condemned the bombings.

He's due to visit Egypt later this month.

A recent upsurge in attacks on Egypt's Coptic Christians

They are one of the oldest Christian communities in the world

and they make up one in ten of the country's mainly

In February hundreds fled the Sinai region following a threat

from the so-called Islamic State group which also claimed

And in December, nearly 30 were killed in this

Coptic leaders say Christians feel increasingly threatened.

I'm very blessed to be part of a church that has

faced discrimination systematically for decades.

And the response to that has always been quite gracious,

And I pray this continues, because if we get into a spiral

of violence more and more people will get hurt.

Egypt's government says the latest attacks are another failed attempt

to destroy national unity by causing religious tensions.

But Coptic Christians, grieving once again,

say much more needs to be done to make them feel safe

For more on these attacks, I'm joined by Doctor

He's a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council and

the Royal United Services Institute in London, as well as author

of A Revolution Undone: Egypt's Road Beyond Revolt.

Thank you very much for joining us. Tell us more about this state of

emergency. Wendy you expect it to come into force and how do you think

it will work? I think it comes into force immediately. How it actually

works is a question that is as yet unanswered. I am not sure what the

precise stipulations are going to be. The government is able under a

state news and see to do a number of different things. It's not clear

what they are going to do. -- a state of emergency. There has not

been any discussion around, for example curfews. They could easily

implement that but so far it hasn't been raised. There are different

effects that apply to the legal code but, as yet, it doesn't seem to be

entirely clear what they are going to change from what the status quo

is. What do you think will need to change to protect the 9 million

Coptic Christians in the country? There are two things. First, I think

it's about protecting Egyptians en masse, not just Coptic Christians,

because the whole country is at risk of militant attacks from terrorist

groups. What is specific that these attacks today is that they targeted

the Christian community, in particular, in Tanta and Alexandria,

and that comes after the declaration earlier this year of an increased

targeting of Christians in Egypt by Isis, by Daesh. I think that's

likely to continue. They've been singled out for targets by these

radical groups. Having said that, I'm not sure what can be done in

order to completely defend against such activities taking place. We saw

in Westminster that it's impossible to completely eliminate the risk of

terrorism. We've seem in Stockholm and other places around the world.

The question that remains is, particularly when it came to Tanta,

there are questions relating to whether or not there was a security

breach that was a result of some sort of failure within the system.

The head of security in that area, where Tanta is located, was

dismissed by the state today. That seems to indicate that some sort of

breach had taken place. With Alexandria, that's very different.

There was a huge security presence and seven police officers, men and

women, died as a result of their efforts to try and keep the suicide

bomber out of the church. They succeeded in doing that but they

lost their lives in the process and other people were killed at the end

of the day, there are certain things you can do security wise to minimise

the risk of attacks, but very little that I think you can do to

completely obliterated the risk of attacks. Thank you very much for

your thoughts. 20,000 people have gathered

in central Stockholm for a "lovefest" vigil to remember

the victims of Friday's Swedish police say the Uzbek suspect

was facing deportation and had expressed sympathy

with extremists groups. Talented, compassionate and caring,

Chris Bevington in the words of his father. He chose to marry and to

call Sweden home. He had young children and worked for the music

company Spotify. He was here, in Stockholm's crowded shopping streets

on Friday afternoon when a hijacked truck was turned into a weapon. A

Belgian, and to Swedish citizens were also killed. Today,

investigators revealed more about the man they think was at the wheel.

We know the suspect showed sympathies for extremist

organisations, says the police chief. Among them, Islamic State. He

is a 39-year-old from Uzbekistan, although he hasn't been officially

named. He was on the security services' radar but they say he was

a marginal figure. His application to stay in Sweden was turned down

last summer and police were looking for him because he had avoided being

deported. This is where the truck ended up, smashed against a

department store window. People have been coming to write messages of

hope and defiance on the boards, and they have been more tributes to the

victims, too. Just yards away, a vigil, a chance

to share feelings and try and make sense of them. Sadness, anger, fear

of what might happen next. Quite emotional. I'm very sad, very angry,

but at the same time it's quite wonderful how people come together.

We stand here in solidarity, not just with those in Stockholm, but

around the world, with everyone. We need to feel the love and that we

are together in this and not afraid. There is pride as well in the

response so far. Spontaneous applause. Home's police officers and

a challenge to those who threaten the way of life here. -- some

spontaneous applause for Stockholm's police officers. This is a good

picture of how Sweden reacted. A display of multiculturalism,

kindness and tolerance, things which people recognise could now face a

threat. The US Secretary of State,

Rex Tillerson, has criticised Russia for failing to prevent last week's

poison gas attack Mr Tillerson did not accuse Moscow

of involvement in the attack but he said he would discuss

Russia's international obligations on chemical weapons when he visits

the country on Tuesday.He also clarified there is no change

in the US policy towards Syria. I think the President was very

clear in his message This strike was related

solely to the most recent, horrific use of chemical weapons

against women, children and as the President

said, even small babies. The strike was a message to Assad

that your multiple violations of agreements at the UN and under

the Chemical Weapons Charter in 2013, that those would not go

without a response in the future and we are asking Russia

to fulfil its commitment and we are calling on Assad to cease

the use of these weapons. Other than that, there is no

change to our military. David Willis is in

Washington for us. The US Secretary of State not

exactly trying to smooth a path ahead of his visit to Moscow, easy?

-- is he. Harsh criticism of Russia following the chemical weapons

attack last week, none of it harsher than that from the United States and

from the US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson. He went back to

criticising Russia today on the Sunday talk shows. Particularly

saying that Russia was complicit, if you like, although he didn't go

quite that far, in this chemical weapons attack, by failing to see

through the commitment it gave to the international community to lead

to the ending of the chemical weapons programme in Syria. As far

as that was concerned, Mr Tillerson said that Russia was either

incompetent or outmanoeuvred. He is due to visit Moscow in the next few

days, and he said he will be pressing Russia to live up to that

commitment it gave to the international community, and he will

also be urging Russia to re-examine its current relationship with the

administration of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. The next few days, that

meeting could also illuminate the sort of relationship the United

States will have with Russia going forward. It's almost expansionary,

just a few weeks ago, when he was first taking office, it looked as

though, as far as the Trump administration was concerned, that

Syria wasn't really America's problem, that China might turn out

to be the enemy of Russia the friend. A few weeks later, a lot of

that has changed, it seems. We also hear the winds of change from

another President Trump's top advisers, his national security

adviser, who was on one of the Sunday morning chat shows. He said

with regards to Syria that the restriction will try and change the

Assad regime and destroy Isis in Syria at the same time. That's a

massive shift in policy. Yes, although it's been tempered slightly

by remarks made by Tillerson. They are more or less in lockstep, these

administration officials, but there is some daylight between their

stances on these things. The American stance as far as Syria is

concerned, administration officials are keen to point out that that

remains unaltered, namely that American involvement in Syria is

chiefly aimed at rooting out and destroying so-called Islamic State

and, once that's achieved, then they plan to coordinate with the

international community and seek to engineer the removal of Bashar

al-Assad. But they are making the point that the cruise missile attack

launched by America a couple of days ago was a one-off, and it doesn't

change the basic policy, as far as the US is concerned in Syria.

According to US media reports, Donald Trump's deputy

national security adviser, KT McFarland, has been

Ms McFarland, who previously worked for Fox News, had been

The move comes days after Mr Trump removed his senior

strategist Steve Bannon from the National Security Council.

A car bomb attack targetting the new head of the Somali army has

killed at least 13 people in the capital Mogadishu.

A vehicle packed with explosives was driven towards a convoy carrying

Mohamed Ahmed Jimale, who was only appointed last week.

The car struck a packed minibus, which was destroyed.

The Islamist group al-Shabab said it carried out the attack.

Norway has raised its threat level, after the discovery of a home-made

bomb in the capital Oslo late on Saturday.

A 17-year-old Russian citizen has been detained in connection

The authorities say the man was known to them,

and had expressed support for Islamic State militants.

Stay with us on BBC News, still to come:

Can Sergio Garcia seal the deal? All the highlights from the Masters in

Augusta. Years of hatred and rage, as they

jump up on the statute. This became a massive demonstration of black

power, the power to influence. Today is about the promise of a bright

future, a day when we hope a line can be drawn under the bloody past.

I think that Picasso's works were beautiful. They were intelligent and

it's a sad loss to everybody who loves art.

A state of emergency has been declared in Egypt after

at least 40 people were killed in two separate attacks

And Swedish police say the Uzbek man suspected of carrying out Friday's

deadly lorry attack in Stockholm was wanted for deportation.

Commemorations have been taking place in northern France to mark

the centenary of the battle of Vimy Ridge.

The four-day battle was one of the fiercest

Thousands of Canadian forces under British command died.

Duncan Kennedy reports from Vimy Ridge.

It was the battle that defined a nation, in a conflict whose

Today's commemoration at Vimy Ridge was a chance for Canada to remember

those who fell here and those who rose to the

The burden they bore and the country they made.

Because this, too, is why we're here.

More than 3500 Canadians died in the four days it took

An event later described as the moment Canada came of age.

Today, beneath a World War I fly-past, Prince William

and Prince Harry laids boots and poppies, as symbols

The Canadians at Vimy embodied the true north, strong and free.

In nearby Arras, Scottish losses in the wider fight

That he lay down his life for his friends.

The daily rate of casualties was greater than at the Somme.

Among those to die was 26-year-old Sergeant David Wood from Edinburgh.

We would not be here without them, we would not be free to do

They fought and died for us and we have got to remember

There are no more combat veterans alive from the First World War.

Vimy Ridge and Arras are among the final great

acts of commemoration, to honour their sacrifice,

mourn their loss, and remember their lives.

Duncan Kennedy, BBC News at Vimy Ridge.

The final round of The Masters is moving ahead at pace

with a clutch of players well placed to win the Green Jacket

The overnight leaders, the joint leaders, Justin Rose and Sergio

Garcia, who went in on six under. Justin Rose remains six under

through six. Sergio Garcia leads by two. Paul Casey, a fast mover, four

under for his round today. He has a chance. Rickie Fowler, also an four

under. Manchester United are now

21 matches unbeaten in the English Premier League

after they defeated bottom club Sunderland 3-0

at the Stadium of Light. Zlatan Ibrahimovich opened

the scoring on the half hour mark before Sunderland were reduced

to 10 men when Sebastien Larsson Henrik Makahtarian doubled United's

lead less than a minute after the break before

Marcus Rashford added a 3rd late on moving

Jose Mourinho's side up to 5th. We want to fight in the Premier

League until it is not mathematically possible, but

apparently we cannot win it. In the Europa League, we can. We have eight

teams in competition and a quarterfinal, and it's a competition

that we can win. During this match, we had lots of players that were not

here today. And the most important thing was, after the three points,

not have more injuries. The hardest thing when you are a

manager is when you are losing all the time, and at the moment we are.

That is hard. I have worked at teams which a won a lot of games, but at

the moment it's tough, but it is tough for the players. They care,

and at the moment we are not doing as well as we should be.

Everton were 4-2 winners against Leicester with Belgium

striker Romelu Lukaku collecting two.

Leicester had been 2-1 up after ten minutes but were trailing

by half-time as Lukaku made it 23 in the league so far this season,

while Leicester lost their first match under

Craig Shakespeare since he took over.

We scored at 4-2 and then we controlled the game and had some

great football. I think it's one of the most complete performances of

the team of the season. We have really comfortable feeling, playing

at home. With the support of the fans. It's a tough stadium to come.

That's what we like, to have it. And to put the pressure on every

opponent, and the next one is next week.

In Italy's Serie A, Roma have maintained their chase of Juventus

Did it remains that way, it would open up a 7-point gap.

To motor sport and Lewis Hamilton has won the Chinese Grand Prix

He led from pole to finish for his first win of the year.

It gives him a share of the championship lead

with Sebastian Vettel, who finished in second with Red Bull's Max

Verstappen moving up from 16th on the grid to finish third

as the teams now move to Bahrain for next weekend's third

To two wheels, and in the MotoGP Championship Yamaha rider

Maverick Vinales has won the Grand Prix of Argentina

extending his lead in the World Championship, having also

triumphed in the season-opener in Qatar.

The Spanish rider inherited the lead on the third lap when world champion

and pole-sitter Marc Marquez crashed out on his Honda.

Italian Valentino Rossi, racing in his 350th Grand Prix,

took second place on his Yahama ahead of Britain's Cal

Sergio Garcia still leads by two strokes. Eight under in his final

round at the Masters. It's always nice to be bumped up to

first class on a flight, but maybe not when it's such a surprise as

this. For a crew of a Turkish airlines flight, it meant having to

look after one more passenger after they helped a woman having a baby on

board. That's one flight none of those on

board will forget in a hurry. Congratulations.

The Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al Sisi has announced

a state of emergency, following two bomb attacks

The attacks on two Coptic churches were deliberately timed for a day

when millions of Christians in the country were attending

So-called Islamic State says it was responsible for the blasts.

The state of emergency announced by President Sisi will last

for three months and will expand police powers of arrest

It's expected to get underway immediately. Stay with us here on

BBC world news.