24/11/2017 World News Today

This is BBC World News Today.

I'm Alpa Patel.

Our top stories:

More than 230 people

have been killed

in a militant attack in Egypt.

Gunmen stormed a crowded

mosque in the Sinai peninsula

during Friday prayers.

The Egyptian president has vowed

to respond with brute force,

saying the army and police

would avenge the victims.

Emmerson Mnangagwa

has been sworn in as

Zimbabwe's new president,

three days after the

resignation of Robert Mugabe

We should never remain hostages of

our past.

I humbly appeal to all of us that we

let bygones be bygones.

I humbly appeal to all of us

that we let bygones be bygones.

British prime minister

Theresa May meets the President

of the European Council

for the first time since she secured

backing to increase Britain's

divorce payment from the EU.

And we have the latest

on the submarine that went missing

in the South Atlantic,

as the Argentine government promises

a full investigation

into its disappearance.

Hello and welcome

to World News Today.

A deadly terror attack at a mosque

in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt has

killed at least 235 people.

More than 100 people have been

injured, many critically.

It happened in a remote

town in Northern Sinai,

near the city of el-Arish.

Militants entered the mosque

during Friday prayers,

opening fire and detonating a bomb.

They were armed with

automatic rifles and rocket

propelled grenades.

It is the deadliest attack

yet in the three year

insurgency in Sinai.

James Landale has the latest -

a warning there are some

distressing images in his report.

These were some of the chaotic

scenes after the attack,

as hundreds of wounded people

were rushed to nearby hospitals.

Survivors of one of the most deadly

attacks on civilians in Egypt.

Witnesses said the militants stormed

the mosque in northern Sinai

and exploded a bomb inside.

They said around 40 gunmen then

fired on worshippers

as they tried to flee.

They came here to kneel in prayer.

Instead, they lay down in death.

President Sisi sent his condolences

to the families of those who had

died and said the attack would only

increase Egypt's determination

to face up to terrorism.

Many of the dead and wounded

were said to be Sufi Muslims,

whose brand of Islam is rejected

by jihadi extremists.

But a mass attack on a mosque,

with such devastating consequences,

is very rare in Egypt.

This is unprecedented.

I can't see any particular

imperative behind it

in the slightest.

You haven't had this sort

of attack take place before.

You've seen the rhetoric about Sufis

and Sufism from these radical groups

for years but you've never seen

an attack like this.

The militants have long targeted

religious opponents such

as Coptic Christians,

particularly by mounting

attacks on their churches.

They've also killed civilians who

work with the authorities in Sinai.

Until tonight, Egypt's deadliest

terror attack was the downing

of a Russian passenger jet over

Sinai in October 2015.

IS said they were behind the bombing

that killed 224 people.

But so far no one has claimed

responsibility for today's

attack, which has now left

even more people dead.

James Landale, BBC News.

Joining me in

the studio is Professor Fawaz Gerges

from the London School of Economics.

This area has seen some

intense violence -

This is the most savage attack, in

skill of savagery it is unique. More

than 400 people killed and injured.

Dozens of attackers using not only

automatic weapons but also rocket

grenades, targeting the ambulances

that came to take the victims,

hunting the worshippers. The first

time that they have attacked the

mosque. Muslims attacking other

Muslims, even though most of the

worshippers belong to the Sufi

sacked. Two or three million

objective is -- Egyptians are Sufis.

Hardliners think that Sufis are

heretical. IIS has decided to attack

now the Sufis, not just the

Christian context.

This region has

seen intense violence over the past

few years. What do you think the

root cause of this violence is?

It

is easy for us to say Al-Qaeda,

Isis, Al-Qaeda, Isis. There is an

insurgency that has been going on in

north Sinai for more than a decade.

This particular area of Egypt is

populated mostly by Bedouins. Dave

Phillips colluded and marginalised,

treated as second-class citizens, so

they have been revolting against the

central authority in the past ten

years so. What has happened in the

last few years, the insurgency has

become radicalised. Despite taken on

the of Isis. In fact, the Sinai

province pledge allegiance to Isis

in 2014, so the spectacular rise of

Isis in 2014 has resonated with

radicals, in particular in North

Sinai, and outside of Syria and Iran

for this Sinai province, which is

part of Isis, is one of the most

powerful affiliate site I -- outside

of Iraq and Syria. There are more

than 1,000 skilled fanatical

determined to kill their own,

including Muslim believers. If

Chelsea a great deal about how

difficult the situation in Egypt is

today.

Do you think the government

is doing enough to protect

minorities in Egypt?

It is very

easy, time and again, Isis and

Al-Qaeda and militants have targeted

minorities in Egypt. Why? Because

they want to show that the

government is impotent. They want to

humiliate the government, should the

Egyptians that the government does

not have the capacity to protect

them. They want to plunge Egypt into

sectarian warfare, exactly what

happened in Iraq and Syria. Think I

easy it is to kill civilians. It

just takes the will to kill. To go

into an mosque, explode a bomb and

then basically hummed the

worshippers who are fleeing. No

government in Britain or the United

States can protect civilians

periods. The underlying theme of

your question, even though the

Egyptian government has thrown

everything that the militants, can

put an end to the multiple

insurgencies, not only in this

Sinai, but you have another faction

and other freelancers who are

carrying out attacks in Egypt. It is

a very complicated story and that is

why the Egyptian government is

facing a major dilemma.

Thank you very much.

Zimbabwe has a new president.

Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn

in at a ceremony in the national

stadium in the capital Harare.

It of course marks the end

of the Mugabe era.

Robert Mugabe, who had been

in power for 37 years,

did not attend the ceremony -

the official reason given

that he was "too tired".

Our Zimbabwe Correspondent,

Shingai Nyoka, reports.

The changing of the

guard in Zimbabwe.

And long-time leader

Robert Mugabe was not

there to witness it.

But newly-elected President

Emmerson Mnangagwa doesn't

need his blessing.

I, Emmerson Mnangagwa...

The moment Zimbabweans

have been waiting for,

the swearing in of this country's

second leader in nearly 40 years.

This is Zimbabwe's new president,

not through an election

but with the help of the military.

It caps the most dramatic two weeks

in Zimbabwe's history,

and a surprise comeback from a man

who just a fortnight ago fled

the country in fear of his life.

With Mugabe's departure,

Mnangagwa will serve

as interim President

until next year's election.

But he inherits a fragmented party

and a country broken under Mugabe's

isolationist policies.

In his inaugural speech there

was praise for his predecessor.

He led us in our struggle

for national independence.

He assumed responsibilities

of leadership at a formative

and a very challenging time,

at the behest of our nation.

That is to be lauded and celebrated.

But also a pledge to

break from the past.

I am not oblivious to the many

Zimbabweans from our political,

ethnic and racial divides,

who have helped make this day.

So, what do we know

about Emmerson Mnangagwa?

Jailed for ten years in 1965,

he met Mugabe in prison.

There, the two men formed

a close association.

After independence in 1980,

he became Mugabe's right-hand man.

In 1983, he was implicated

in the mass murder of thousands

of opposition supporters

in Matabeleland,

something he denies.

More recently, he was accused

of orchestrating a violent crackdown

on opposition supporters.

Those who are very close to him say

that he listens more than he speaks.

He is a soft-spoken man,

a gentleman, contrary

to what the reports say about him.

A God-fearing family man.

We have to give him some time

because an improvement

is something which cannot be

improved like overnight.

After two weeks of uncertainty,

Zimbabwe seems to be

returning to normal again.

No one knows what the future

holds, whether Mnangagwa

is the man to bring a new era

of democracy and freedom.

Police here in London say

they've found no evidence to support

reports of shots being fired around

Oxford Circus Underground station

and have stood down their response.

The station and nearby Bond Street

were closed and the local area

placed on lockdown as part

of a major operation.

Here's our Home Affairs

Correspondent June Kelly.

It was just after 4:30pm

when the alarm was raised.

There were reports of two bangs

which sounded like gunshots

close to Oxford Circus Tube station.

This was an alert on one of London's

most crowded streets

in the rushhour on Black Friday,

one of the busiest

shopping days of the year.

Hundreds of people were left

frightened and confused

as they were told to get off

the street and take

refuge in nearby shops.

People who did appear to know

what may have happened said

they thought they heard a gunshot

and I think you could just see

the panic was just spreading.

People were sprinting

and crying and running.

It was very distressing to watch.

Armed officers were

quickly on the scene.

Scotland Yard issued a brief

statement saying that the police

were responding as if the incident

was terrorist related

and they were working

alongside colleagues

from British Transport Police,

but then came news that the Met's

Counterterrorism Command Unit

were not getting involved.

The police also said there was no

evidence of shots fired or any trace

of casualties or suspects.

Amid the mayhem, the Selfridge's

department store, at the other end

of Oxford Street, was evacuated.

Just after 6:00pm, the whole area

was declared safe and people

were allowed to leave buildings

where they had sought shelter.

Let's take a look

at some of the other

stories making the news.

A court in South Africa has

increased the jail sentence

handed out to athlete

Oscar Pistorius for

murdering his girlfriend.

The Court ruled that his

sentence be increased to 13

years and five months.

Prosecutors argued that the six-year

term for murdering his girlfriend

Reeva Steenkamp was too short.

Saudi Arabia's de-facto ruler has

called Iran's supreme leader

the "Hitler of the Middle East".

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

said the European experience shows

that appeasing Tehran will not work.

Saudi Arabia and Iran accuse

each other of fuelling

instability across the region.

North Korea appears to be

fortifying its border

in the Demilitarised Zone

with the South.

It's after a soldier defected

by running across the zone.

A US diplomat to South Korea

has tweeted a picture,

showing workers digging a trench.

The defector was shot multiple times

by border guards from the North

at this spot last week.

He is still in hospital.

Moroccans gathering

in mosques across the country

are praying for rain.

Earlier this week King Mohammed VI

called for the prayers.

There has been a severe shortage

of rain in the past few months,

which has hit agriculture and rural

employment - both central

to the country's economy.

An escaped circus tiger

has been shot dead

on the streets of Paris.

Members of the public phoned

the emergency services around six

o'clock in the evening to say

they had seen the animal loose

near the River Seine

in the west of the city.

The tiger's owners shot it

near the Gariliano bridge.

Stay with us on BBC

World News, still to come:

The latest on the submarine

that went missing

in the South Atlantic,

as the Argentine government promises

a full investigation

into its disappearance.

This is BBC World News Today.

I'm Alpa Patel.

The latest headlines:

More than 230 people

have been killed

in a militant attack in Egypt.

Gunmen stormed a crowded mosque

in the Sinai peninsula

during Friday prayers.

Emmerson Manangagwa

has been sworn in as

Zimbabwe's new president.

Addressing a packed stadium,

he vowed to serve all

of the country's citizens.

The President of the

European Council has said

the British government's hopes

of an agreement next month to begin

Brexit trade talks remain

a "huge challenge".

Following meetings with the British

Prime Minister, Theresa May,

in Brussels, Donald Tusk said

progress was still needed

from the UK "on all issues",

within the next 10 days.

Our deputy political editor

John Pienaar reports from Brussels.

An amicable divorce from a roomful

of partners, but it's getting tense.

So, now Theresa May is hinting to EU

leaders, starting with Donald Tusk

in the summit chair,

that Britain might up and some say

double its offer of £20 billion

in a separation deal.

Dig deeper into the nation's purse.

If only the EU is

ready to talk trade.

Or this long goodbye

could end in tears -

the last thing she wanted.

These negotiations are continuing,

but what I am clear

about is that we must

step forward together.

This is for both the UK

and the European Union to move

onto the next stage.

Brexit negotiations could, maybe

will, turn to trade next month.

Leaders here need more persuasion.

Mr Juncker, are you

worried about Brexit?

Brexit is a tragedy.

I will meet the British Prime

Minister on the 3rd of December

and then we will see if there has

been sufficient progress.

Are you at all confident that

progress will be made?

Yes.

But every country must agree

to start talking trade,

and Ireland's minority government

is facing the risk

of collapse at home,

but was sounding tough here.

Suggesting Brexit talks could stall

without clear guarantees

there will be no hard

north-south customs border.

Is Ireland prepared

to block progress?

I don't think Ireland will have

to block anything on its own.

There is absolute solidarity

across 27 countries here.

Germany is not much more supportive.

Angela Merkel was

already firm on Brexit.

Now she has her hands full

forming a new government.

She met Mrs May today,

another leader looking for more give

on the British side.

In her one-on-one talks

with the EU Council president,

no final proposals, no breakthrough.

And they may not settle hard

numbers on the divorce

bill for months to come.

But they explored the case

for more compromise.

There are still issues

across the various matters

that we are negotiating on to be

resolved, but there has been a very

positive atmosphere in the talks

and a genuine feeling

that we want to move

forward together.

Neither side wants the Brexit talks

to end in stalemate,

but without more give and take

it could happen.

And then the risk would grow

of negotiations ending with no

EU trade deal at all.

And that's the outcome business

leaders, who are worried

about Brexit, say they fear most.

So, more talking to do ahead

of the next big summit next month.

The slow march of Brexit goes on.

Its course and destination

being decided one step at a time.

John Pienaar, BBC News, Brussels.

The Argentine president,

Mauricio Macri, says he had ordered

a thorough investigation

into what happened to

a submarine that disappeared

more than a week ago.

Relatives of the 44 crew members

of the San Juan say they've

lost any hope of seeing

them alive again.

The Navy says it believes

there was an explosion

close to its last known location.

Earlier, I spoke to Candace Piette,

BBC Online's Americas editor.

She told me what we know

about the investigation.

The president was careful to say

that this investigation was

something that he had ordered but it

wouldn't start immediately. We have

to be aware that there are still

conducting an enormous surge in the

South Atlantic for this submarine, a

search that involves over 30 ships

and aeroplanes and involves a large

international group of countries

that have come out to help. So, he

wanted to give over the idea that he

is concerned about criticisms of the

family -- and that the families have

had about the way the Navy has

managed this sort the fair, but that

he would not interfere with the

search as it is at the moment.

Now, the sport. In the next few

hours the Australian captain, Steve

Smith, will look to build on his

innings that saved his side on the

second day of the first Ashes Test.

Smith will resume on 64. His team

165-4, trailing England by 137 runs.

At one stage aside and 76-4, so a

real the's innings to revive his

side. It has been a topsy-turvy

match so far. The men from switching

either way.

What an enthralling second day we

had at the Gabba. The pendulum has

swung, but it has ended with honours

pretty much even. England's begun

the day in a decent position,

batting really well for an hour and

a half, but then it all went wrong.

They lost their last six wickets for

just 56 runs in barely an hour. 302

all out at lunch. Australia seem

very much in the ascendancy. But

then the English bowlers help them

fight back, Stuart Broad taking the

first wicket. Australia subsided to

76-4 at one stage, but then her

recovery thanks to his captain Steve

Smith and Shaun Marsh. They guided

Australia through to 105-4 at the

close, so another day of fluctuating

fortunes, but the match is

intriguingly poised going into day

three.

Sri Lanka were dismissed for 205 in

their first innings against India on

the first day of the second test.

Qualification for the woman's World

Cup in 2019 is continuing around

Europe. England played their second

match in group A. They beat Bosnia

4-0. Portugal have beat Moldova yet-

zero.

The draw for the quarterfinal stage

of the woman's Champions League has

pledged Lyon against Barcelona. Will

spark this Prague, Montpelier will

play Chelsea and Manchester City

will play the Swedish champions, who

have never been part of the last

eight. Belgium and France are level

after the first day of the Davis Cup

final. David Goffin beat Lucas

Pouille. That end the run of three

defeats to the Frenchman, given

Belgium the best possible start as

they hope to end what has been a 16

year run of three defeats to the

Frenchman, given Belgium the best

possible start as they hope to end

what has been a 16 year brands

without ever winning the title.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga -- Jo-Wilfried

Tsonga did manage to win his game.

The Frenchman dropping just six

games in the match. The

International Olympic Committee has

given for more Russian athletes life

bans for doping violations. The most

high-profile of these is the

bobsleigh athlete Alexander's took

off. It means Roger have now lost

nine medals, including four of their

13 golds from the games, which they

hosted back in 2014. The IOC said it

avoided -- have avoided those

results. That is all the sport for

now.

Thank you.

US actress Uma Thurman has sent out

a Thanksgiving message

venting anger at movie mogul

Harvey Weinstein.

Thurman said on Instagram:

"When I'm ready, I'll say

what I have to say...

stay tuned", adding that she had

a few reasons to be angry.

Her message wished a happy

Thanksgiving to everyone except,

she said, "You Harvey

and all your wicked conspirators".

Weinstein denies all allegations

of non-consensual sex.

Don't forget you can get

in touch with me and some

of the team on Twitter -

I'm @alpapatel