0:00:03 > 0:00:04This is BBC World News Today.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06I'm Geeta Guru-Murthy.
0:00:06 > 0:00:08Our top stories.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12A new escalation of the war in Syria as Turkey says its ground forces
0:00:12 > 0:00:17have crossed the border to target Kurdish fighters there.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20The death toll in the attack on a luxury hotel in Kabul increases
0:00:20 > 0:00:25to 18, after residents had to flee during a 12-hour siege.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28Germany's Social Democrats vote to open talks with Angela Merkel's
0:00:28 > 0:00:37Conservatives to form another grand coalition.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41A second day of women's marches around the world, including here in
0:00:41 > 0:00:42London. We bring you the latest.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54Hello and welcome to World News Today.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58The UN Security Council is due to discuss the worsening crisis
0:00:58 > 0:01:01in Syria, with Turkey opening up a new front against Kurdish militia
0:01:01 > 0:01:05in the north of the country.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07The militia, the YPG, are backed by the United States
0:01:07 > 0:01:16but viewed by Turkey as a terrorist organisation.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18On Sunday, Turkish troops crossed the border over the border,
0:01:18 > 0:01:20from where our correspondent, Mark Lowen, sent this report.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23As if Syria needed more of this.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25Artillery fire from Turkey, launching a new ground
0:01:25 > 0:01:31and air offensive.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33It's called Operation Olive Branch, though it's anything
0:01:33 > 0:01:35but a gesture of peace.
0:01:35 > 0:01:37From the skies, Turkish F-16s struck yesterday, their target,
0:01:37 > 0:01:42the Syrian Kurdish militia known as the YPG.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45Turkey sees them as terrorists, linked to the outlawed
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Kurdish militants, the PKK, and it wants them pushed back
0:01:48 > 0:01:52from the border town of Afrin.
0:01:52 > 0:01:57Turkey's president has his own troops fighting for their hero,
0:01:57 > 0:01:59and with elections next year, war rallies his
0:01:59 > 0:02:00conservative supporters.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04TRANSLATION:This is a national struggle, and in this national
0:02:04 > 0:02:12struggle we will crush anyone who stands against us!
0:02:12 > 0:02:15But the YPG has powerful friends, they are trained
0:02:15 > 0:02:17and armed by the US.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20That has infuriated Turkey, which says the Americans have chosen
0:02:20 > 0:02:25terrorists over their Nato ally.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28In the hills beside the border, we found a further build-up,
0:02:28 > 0:02:32as the offensive shows no sign of ending.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Every few minutes, you hear the thud of an artillery strike.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Turkey has clearly committed militarily to this operation and has
0:02:37 > 0:02:39widespread popular support here, but if the Turks suffer losses,
0:02:39 > 0:02:47or civilian casualties grow, that could change.
0:02:47 > 0:02:48And the risk is clear.
0:02:48 > 0:02:52This border town was hit by a rocket, said to be
0:02:52 > 0:02:55from the YPG, killing one, and injuring more.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Turkey is on dangerous ground, and a long, costly offensive
0:02:57 > 0:02:58is only just beginning.
0:02:58 > 0:03:06Mark Lowen, BBC News on the Turkey-Syrian border.
0:03:06 > 0:03:12With me is Sebastian Usher, our Arab Affairs Editor.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Talking about a long and costly offensive and we heard from the
0:03:15 > 0:03:20Turkish leader that he thinks he can keep this limited.Erdogan said the
0:03:20 > 0:03:24opposite and said it could be relatively brief, but the pain he
0:03:24 > 0:03:29has said himself, rhetorically, which she reaffirmed today is to
0:03:29 > 0:03:34crush all of Turkey's enemies and that is the Kurds both in Syria and
0:03:34 > 0:03:42in Turkey so that is a huge game and not just about this region. It goes
0:03:42 > 0:03:50further and that is about 50 kilometres east. And we saw the
0:03:50 > 0:03:54Turkish forces carry out an offensive of more limited nature in
0:03:54 > 0:03:582015 to prevent the Kurds from bringing that to Canton is together
0:03:58 > 0:04:02into one and they backed off to some extent. At the moment it is
0:04:02 > 0:04:07difficult to see which forced, beside the Kurds themselves will
0:04:07 > 0:04:16stand up to them.YPG are known for battling against the militants,
0:04:16 > 0:04:20tough opponent. How far could the repercussions spread and how long
0:04:20 > 0:04:24will it go on?I think Mark is correct that this could be a long
0:04:24 > 0:04:30campaign. The YPG is more battle hardened than it was and it was the
0:04:30 > 0:04:40force that drove Isis out of rack. -- Raqqa. They are well ensconced
0:04:40 > 0:04:44where they are, the Kurdish area, where they got support from the
0:04:44 > 0:04:48local population. There are other Kurdish forces near and other parts
0:04:48 > 0:04:57of the alliance which they lead that could join them. Although Turkey, on
0:04:57 > 0:05:01paper, has overwhelming force, it would be hard to use that to have a
0:05:01 > 0:05:06quick victory unless they essentially bomb are thin to the
0:05:06 > 0:05:14extent that we saw the Russians do when they were attacking the rebels.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18That would provoke a huge international outcry and already
0:05:18 > 0:05:24Turkey is very isolated. Perhaps not dangerously so because it is not as
0:05:24 > 0:05:27if the Russians or the Americans are about to start shooting their planes
0:05:27 > 0:05:33down in the air but with the UN
0:05:33 > 0:05:34Security Council speaking tomorrow there are bound to be strong words
0:05:34 > 0:05:40against what has happened and the longer it goes on at the moment,
0:05:40 > 0:05:43countries calling for restraint, they will up their rhetoric just as
0:05:43 > 0:05:49Mr Erdogan has upped his rhetoric. How ultimately would the US react?
0:05:49 > 0:05:53We have heard that they were warned that these aircraft would be
0:05:53 > 0:06:00launched.The US doesn't have that many options. It backed the YPG,
0:06:00 > 0:06:04believing they were the most effective force against IS on the
0:06:04 > 0:06:09ground. The only practical effective force it could use. But the history
0:06:09 > 0:06:14of the Kurds, when they have served their purpose, after that, the
0:06:14 > 0:06:17outside forces have abandoned them because they do not have the power
0:06:17 > 0:06:23of a state like Turkey or Iraq.They threaten the whole redrawing of
0:06:23 > 0:06:27this.So in a sense the Kurds are cynical because they know when it
0:06:27 > 0:06:29comes down to is they would be fighting the battle themselves even
0:06:29 > 0:06:32though they will have some international support but it does
0:06:32 > 0:06:38make the US not -- look not very good. It makes them look as though
0:06:38 > 0:06:43they cannot call the shots or protect their own clients in Syria.
0:06:43 > 0:06:47Very different from the way Russia has manoeuvred into a position of
0:06:47 > 0:06:50strength.Very complex, thank you forces -- explaining it.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52Authorities in Afghanistan say 18 people, including 14 foreigners,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56are now confirmed dead after gunmen attacked a luxury hotel in Kabul.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Afghan troops fought through the night, over more than 12
0:06:58 > 0:07:02hours, to free those trapped inside.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04The Taliban says it carried out the attack.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Zia Shahreyar has the story.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11EXPLOSION.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13The final moments of a fight that had lasted all night.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15GUNFIRE.
0:07:15 > 0:07:16Gunfire and explosions, as Afghan special forces
0:07:16 > 0:07:21battle to regain control of the Intercontinental Hotel.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24One soldier throws a grenade.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26He moves away, then the explosion.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29EXPLOSION.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34The room is soon on fire, evidence of the struggle
0:07:34 > 0:07:38that had taken place.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40The Afghan national flag waving from the roof,
0:07:40 > 0:07:50proof that the building has been retaken.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55More than 150 people were inside yesterday evening when gunmen burst
0:07:55 > 0:08:02in and opened fire. Eyewitnesses said they were after foreigners.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04TRANSLATION:The attackers were knocking on the door of each
0:08:05 > 0:08:06room, trying to reach their targets.
0:08:06 > 0:08:07They killed ordinary people and officials,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10they were also targeting foreigners.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13These images, filmed by local TV, show people escaping by climbing
0:08:13 > 0:08:20down bed sheets that they'd tied to balconies.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22This telecoms engineer fell from the sixth floor
0:08:22 > 0:08:25as he tried to get away.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29TRANSLATION:When the sixth floor caught fire this morning,
0:08:29 > 0:08:35my roommates told me to either burn or escape.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37I got a bed sheet and tied it to the balcony.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40I tried to come down, but I was heavy, and my arms
0:08:40 > 0:08:41were not strong enough.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45I fell down, and injured my shoulder and leg.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48This has been probably the deadliest attack on foreign civilians
0:08:48 > 0:08:52in Kabul since the US invasion of Afghanistan.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54We've been told that the attackers spoke local languages,
0:08:54 > 0:08:56and shouted at Afghans to be separated from foreign
0:08:56 > 0:09:01nationalities.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03This sustained and complex assault will prompt urgent questions
0:09:03 > 0:09:05as to how the gunmen got through.
0:09:05 > 0:09:14Zia Shahreyar, BBC News, Kabul.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18Germany has moved a step closer to forming a new government.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21The centre-left Social Democratic Party has voted to enter
0:09:21 > 0:09:23into new coalition talks with Chancellor Merkel's
0:09:23 > 0:09:27conservative bloc.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30At a party meeting in Bonn, the SPD's Martin Schulz had urged
0:09:30 > 0:09:33many sceptical delegates to press ahead, describing a new coalition
0:09:33 > 0:09:35as the best way to combat hard right politics in Europe.
0:09:35 > 0:09:41Angela Merkel welcomed the development.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46The CDU already cleared the way for coalition talks last week
0:09:46 > 0:09:49after concluding the exploratory talks, now we are pleased
0:09:49 > 0:09:53and welcome that the SPD did so today at its congress.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56Today, we are preparing for this coalition negotiation.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Tomorrow, within the CDU we will work together,
0:09:59 > 0:10:01and then quickly enter into joint discussion with
0:10:01 > 0:10:02the Social Democrats.
0:10:02 > 0:10:12That's what today's decision of the SPD allows.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Jenny Hill in Berlin says that with party leader, Martin Schulz,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17convincing the conference to support the idea of a coalition,
0:10:17 > 0:10:21talks to form a government could begin as soon as tomorrow.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25His view is that if they can pull this off, if they go
0:10:25 > 0:10:28into Government, in his view it's the responsible thing to do to try
0:10:28 > 0:10:30and form a government, but that it's possible,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33in his view, to renew the party within that coalition,
0:10:33 > 0:10:39but their task is going to be huge.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42They are very low in the polls, they will have to distinguish
0:10:42 > 0:10:44themselves from Mrs Merkel's Conservatives if they are to try
0:10:44 > 0:10:46and rebuild their electorate, many of whom, of course,
0:10:46 > 0:10:48disappeared off to vote AFD, the far right party.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52There is a lot of work to be done, and he's going to have to do
0:10:52 > 0:10:55something to unite the party, that is if they still want him
0:10:55 > 0:10:58as leader, because of course he has presided over this real controversy.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Worth just pointing out, when it comes to coalition talks
0:11:00 > 0:11:04which will take place later this week, if and when the two sides can
0:11:04 > 0:11:10get some kind of deal drafted, the party base, all 440,000 members
0:11:10 > 0:11:14of the SPD will have to approve it, via postal ballot before any actual
0:11:14 > 0:11:17coalition Government can be formed.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21So, Mrs Merkel isn't out of the woods just yet,
0:11:21 > 0:11:23but I think today you have seen her overcome
0:11:23 > 0:11:25a significant hurdle.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27They have taken a step towards, I suppose, delivering
0:11:27 > 0:11:37the Government, the stability she has promised Germany all along.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42Let's take a look at some of the other stories making the news.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46The US Senate is resuming its debate on funding the US government. They
0:11:46 > 0:11:52are sitting for a rare Sunday session to try and force the opening
0:11:52 > 0:11:55of government agencies shut down because of the impasse over military
0:11:55 > 0:11:59funding and health care. It was said there would be a vote early on
0:11:59 > 0:12:00Monday.
0:12:00 > 0:12:01Six people have been killed during opposition
0:12:01 > 0:12:04protests in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Police used teargas and live ammunition to disperse
0:12:06 > 0:12:08demonstrators in Kinshasa, who were demanding that President
0:12:08 > 0:12:11Joseph Kabila give up power.
0:12:11 > 0:12:16Mr Kabila's term of office expired more than a year ago.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said the West's
0:12:18 > 0:12:20"unprecedented Russiaphobia" was worse than at the
0:12:20 > 0:12:23height of the Cold War.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26He was speaking in an interview with the Russian daily Kommersant,
0:12:26 > 0:12:28after a two-day visit to New York.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30He said that back during the East-West tensions of the second
0:12:30 > 0:12:38half of the last century, there was at least "some decorum".
0:12:38 > 0:12:44Stay with us on BBC World News, still to come.
0:12:44 > 0:12:45Not just any visit from the neighbours -
0:12:45 > 0:12:48a North Korean delegation heads South to check on the
0:12:48 > 0:12:50Winter Olympic venues.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08The reaction of American servicemen was predictable.I am going home. I
0:13:08 > 0:13:10am going home.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19Demonstrators waiting for Mike Gatting and his rebel cricket team
0:13:19 > 0:13:23were attacked with tear gas and set upon by police dogs. Anti-apartheid
0:13:23 > 0:13:27campaigners said they would carry on the protests throughout the tour.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31They call him the Butcher of Lyon. He is being held on a fraud charge
0:13:31 > 0:13:35in Bolivia but the West Germans want to extradite him for crimes
0:13:35 > 0:13:40committed in wartime France. There he was the Gestapo chief.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49Millions came to bathe as close as possible to this spot, a tide of
0:13:49 > 0:13:52humanity that was believed by officials to have broken all
0:13:52 > 0:13:54records.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06This is BBC World News Today.
0:14:06 > 0:14:07The latest headlines.
0:14:07 > 0:14:08Turkey says its forces have entered
0:14:08 > 0:14:10a Kurdish-controlled enclave in northern Syria.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14President Erdogan says he hopes the incursion will be brief.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17Afghan authorities say the death toll has increased to 18 in
0:14:17 > 0:14:21a militant attack on a luxury hotel in Kabul.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32Thousands of protesters have taken part in a women's March as part of
0:14:32 > 0:14:37an international campaign to combat gender inequality.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40It follows similar marches that took place yesterday in the US -
0:14:40 > 0:14:43on what was the anniversary of Donald Trump's inauguration.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45Those marches have entered a second day now,
0:14:45 > 0:14:48with one of the biggest events is planned to take place
0:14:48 > 0:14:51in US city of Las Vegas, Rajini Vaidyanathan is there for us.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54The main focus is this event in Las Vegas. It has not kicked off yet,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57but as you can see over there, thousands of women have packed into
0:14:57 > 0:15:04the stadium just outside the centre of Las Vegas. The focus of the event
0:15:04 > 0:15:09is actually trying to get women to register to vote, because it last
0:15:09 > 0:15:12year was a rallying cry, this year is all about getting things done and
0:15:12 > 0:15:16getting more people in positions of power and also encouraging people to
0:15:16 > 0:15:20run to office. I'm joined by two people who have travelled from afar.
0:15:20 > 0:15:29Emily.Thanks to having me.And Katie. Thanks to having me. You are
0:15:29 > 0:15:32both sisters who have come from Connecticut and California. Starting
0:15:32 > 0:15:36with you, Emily, why is it so important to come here?As a mother
0:15:36 > 0:15:44of two little boys, raising them, we want our attention to good values. I
0:15:44 > 0:15:49want little boys that are kind and caring, and my boys are adopted a
0:15:49 > 0:15:54minority children that is a very specific cause bus about being what
0:15:54 > 0:15:57is happening in our country right now. When I sit down at the dinner
0:15:57 > 0:16:04table with them I have a hard time helping them seaways that they can
0:16:04 > 0:16:08emulate their president right now. But aside from people's political
0:16:08 > 0:16:12stances, when I look at the leader of a country, I want to look at
0:16:12 > 0:16:16someone I can show my children I want represented in my own home.
0:16:16 > 0:16:22Katie, many people who support Donald Trump say that is his style
0:16:22 > 0:16:25and even if what Emily says might be the case that some people, it is
0:16:25 > 0:16:30about results and the economy is doing well.I think we need to take
0:16:30 > 0:16:35a look at that in a couple of years from now and really demand more from
0:16:35 > 0:16:40our president. I am not convinced that the moment that we are headed
0:16:40 > 0:16:46down right path. Becoming a new mother has meant trying to deepen my
0:16:46 > 0:16:50own understanding of where we are headed as a country for her future.
0:16:50 > 0:16:55What do you think needs to change the most? What are you agitating
0:16:55 > 0:16:59for?I'd like to see more women involved in their local politics. I
0:16:59 > 0:17:03think the national stage is taking a lot of air in the room right now and
0:17:03 > 0:17:09if we have a voice we must use it. It is important to get engaged. I'm
0:17:09 > 0:17:13here to deepen my own understanding of various perspectives to try and
0:17:13 > 0:17:18take that to the polls with me and also take that to my daily and
0:17:18 > 0:17:24weekly routine at work and at home and in my life in my community in
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Berkeley, California.I need to get more involved. Some of the
0:17:26 > 0:17:28supporters of the women's March in the US.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30France's president, Emmanuel Macron, has told the BBC he shares
0:17:30 > 0:17:33the outrage of African countries about reports Donald Trump used
0:17:33 > 0:17:36a vulgar and offensive word to describe them.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Mr Trump was forced to deny being a racist when he was accused
0:17:39 > 0:17:41of making the comments during an Oval Office
0:17:41 > 0:17:42meeting on immigration.
0:17:42 > 0:17:51He was speaking to Andrew Marr.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55Let me ask you about another leader, and I wondered what you thought when
0:17:55 > 0:18:01you got up in the morning and saw what Donald Trump had said about
0:18:01 > 0:18:04certain African countries. He denies using it but a lot of people said he
0:18:04 > 0:18:09did. Among the African countries out rays were many Francophone countries
0:18:09 > 0:18:17in Africa and did you share their outrage?For sure. It is not a word
0:18:17 > 0:18:29you can use and if we want precisely to build peace and development in
0:18:29 > 0:18:33these countries and respectful relationships...You cannot use
0:18:33 > 0:18:39those words.By definition. And a lot of the issues in the Middle East
0:18:39 > 0:18:50and Africa is due to a lot of frustrations and due to a lot of and
0:18:50 > 0:18:53we have -- past humiliations. We have to respect all of these
0:18:53 > 0:18:58countries.I wonder what you make of him as a person, having come across
0:18:58 > 0:19:05him personally?He is not a classical politician. First of all,
0:19:05 > 0:19:09he was elected by his own people and he is the President of the United
0:19:09 > 0:19:14States. And that is a great country and a great responsibility. That is
0:19:14 > 0:19:18where I want to work with him and I think we can build a long and strong
0:19:18 > 0:19:25relationship. We disagree on many topics. I call him regularly and I
0:19:25 > 0:19:30am direct and Frank and sometimes I managed to convince him, and
0:19:30 > 0:19:33sometimes I fail.President Macron speaking to Andrew Marr. It is worth
0:19:33 > 0:19:36a look at the website if you want to see that in full. Let's catch up
0:19:36 > 0:19:47with all of the sport.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Cristiano Ronaldo ended a miserable run of form with a late double
0:19:50 > 0:19:52to help Real Madrid thump La Coruna 7-1.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Ronaldo had only scored four league goals before Sunday's clash
0:19:55 > 0:19:56with third-from-bottom Deportivo.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Gareth Bale and Nacho also bagged braces each side of half-time.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01So Real move back above Villarreal and into the Champions
0:20:01 > 0:20:02League places.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Leaders Barcelona are playing Real Betis right now.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07Barca have scored three times in quick succession
0:20:07 > 0:20:10for a 3-0 lead.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12Ivan Rakatic, Lionel Messi scored the second and
0:20:12 > 0:20:17Luis Suarez the third.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Over in Italy, Dries Mertens ended a long goal drought to give Napoli
0:20:21 > 0:20:24a 1-0 victory at Atalanta, that saw the Serie A leaders
0:20:24 > 0:20:29move four points clear.
0:20:29 > 0:20:30Second-placed Juventus clash with Genoa on Monday.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34Harry Kane struck his 99th Premier League goal
0:20:34 > 0:20:36to save Tottenham with a 1-1 draw against Southampton.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39Kane's now just a goal away from becoming the 27th
0:20:39 > 0:20:43member of the '100 Club'.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45The result moves Spurs to within two points of fourth-placed Liverpool,
0:20:45 > 0:20:47who have a game in hand.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Mauricio Pochettino wasn't happy with the loss of two
0:20:49 > 0:20:52vital points in the push for a Champions League place.
0:20:58 > 0:21:02We must give credit to the opponent but our performance was not great
0:21:02 > 0:21:08and I am not happy with our performance.What in particular?In
0:21:08 > 0:21:13possession we need to move the ball quicker and create more. I think we
0:21:13 > 0:21:17made a lot of mistaken decisions and it's impossible to win the game when
0:21:17 > 0:21:21you make many mistakes.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24Watford have appointed Javi Gracia as their new manager
0:21:24 > 0:21:25following the sacking of Marco Silva.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27Silva became the eighth sacking in this Premier League season.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29Watford claimed Everton's "unwarranted approach" for Silva
0:21:29 > 0:21:31as their replacement coach for Ronald Koeman,
0:21:31 > 0:21:33was the "catalyst" behind their decision to sack him.
0:21:33 > 0:21:39The Spaniard Gracia last managed Russian club Rubin Kazan and has
0:21:39 > 0:21:41signed an 18-month deal.
0:21:41 > 0:21:43It's the final of the Masters Snooker with Kyren Wilson
0:21:43 > 0:21:50and Mark Allen gunning for a maiden title in London.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53Wilson and Allen shared the opening eight frames before Allen hit
0:21:53 > 0:21:56the final's first century in frame 12.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58He leads 7-5 at the mid-session interval.
0:21:58 > 0:22:03The winner is first to 10 frames.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Tommy Fleetwood played with some back-nine brilliance
0:22:05 > 0:22:08to defend his Abu Dhabi golf title.
0:22:08 > 0:22:09The European number one finished on 22-under-par,
0:22:09 > 0:22:13two strokes clear of Ross Fisher.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Four-times major winner Rory McIlroy finished tied for third
0:22:15 > 0:22:19alongside Matt Fitzpatrick.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22McIlroy said Fleetwood's finish was "obscene" as he carded six
0:22:22 > 0:22:28birdies over the closing nine holes.
0:22:28 > 0:22:33It was just important that we carried on going forward and it's
0:22:33 > 0:22:37all well and good having a great year and it was the best year of my
0:22:37 > 0:22:41life but we want to keep pushing and like I say, I want to know where my
0:22:41 > 0:22:45potential will take me but I wanted to keep pushing and make sure that
0:22:45 > 0:22:50we just kept improving and it was important to do that and this week
0:22:50 > 0:22:54feels like another step along the way.Playing some excellent golf at
0:22:54 > 0:22:55the moment.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57England captain Eoin Morgan says their one day cricket
0:22:57 > 0:22:59win against Australia is probably their best
0:22:59 > 0:23:01as a group yet.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03England have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series,
0:23:03 > 0:23:05thanks largely to an unbeaten century from wicketkeeper
0:23:05 > 0:23:06Jos Buttler in Sydney.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09He was helped by 53 not out from all rounder Chris Woakes
0:23:09 > 0:23:11as England posted 302-6 from their 50 overs.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13Australia fell 16 runs short in their reply,
0:23:13 > 0:23:19with controversy over Steve Smith being caught out.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22Mark Wood picked up two wickets.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25The final two one-dayers take place in Adelaide on Friday
0:23:25 > 0:23:26and Perth next Sunday.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29And now to Priests on the Piste.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31Yep, you heard it right.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33The 21st annual Alpine Skiing Championships for Clergymen took
0:23:33 > 0:23:38place in Poland this weekend.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40They compete for the John Paul II cup.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44Competitors are divided not on their beliefs but on age.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49They compete on the 800 metre slalom course.
0:23:49 > 0:23:55The cassocks aren't the most aerodynamic outfits.
0:23:55 > 0:24:00Pretty cool pictures. Back to you. It looks fantastic.
0:24:00 > 0:24:01North Korean officials have been inspecting winter olympic
0:24:01 > 0:24:02venues in South Korea.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05It's the first such trip by a delegation from the North since
0:24:05 > 0:24:08South Korean President Moon Jae-In, took office last May.
0:24:08 > 0:24:09Sophia Tran-Thomson reports.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12A warning it contains some flash photography.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15The symbolic torch is already doing the rounds in South Korea,
0:24:15 > 0:24:20but with less than three weeks until the opening ceremony
0:24:20 > 0:24:23of Pyeongchang's winter Olympics, there has been plenty of speculation
0:24:23 > 0:24:25that the North wouldn't be taking part.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29On Sunday, a sigh of relief for organisers and athletes
0:24:29 > 0:24:36as a North Korean delegation crossed the border under heavy police guard.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39The officials, led by a North Korean girl band star, will spend two days
0:24:39 > 0:24:45inspecting the venues and preparing cultural performances.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Boarding a train in Seoul, the representatives avoided
0:24:47 > 0:24:53answering questions about why they previously postponed the visit.
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Regardless, the trip is somewhat of a breakthrough,
0:24:56 > 0:25:00after a year of escalating tension over the north's nuclear missile
0:25:00 > 0:25:03programme and a milestone announcement from the IOC
0:25:03 > 0:25:08in Switzerland on Saturday, confirming that the two nations
0:25:08 > 0:25:10will march together at the opening ceremony and compete under
0:25:10 > 0:25:12a unified Korean flag.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15The north will send 22 athletes to the Winter Games
0:25:15 > 0:25:20and compete in three sports and five disciplines.
0:25:20 > 0:25:24TRANSLATION:North Korea's participation in the winter Olympics
0:25:24 > 0:25:29will present the most dramatic scene in the history of the Olympics.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32It can be a chance to show the value and power of sport,
0:25:32 > 0:25:34when players from two Koreas march together and compete
0:25:34 > 0:25:44as a unified team.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Seoul and the organisers hope that the games,
0:25:46 > 0:25:48which they are calling the Peace Olympics, could ease
0:25:48 > 0:25:51tensions with their northern neighbour, who they have never
0:25:51 > 0:25:53officially made peace with, since the Korean War ended
0:25:53 > 0:25:54with Armistice in 1953.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Don't forget you can get in touch with me and some
0:25:56 > 0:25:58of the team on Twitter.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01I'm @Geetagurumurthy.