Minister in tehran. During a two hour meeting, mrjohnson raised his concerns about the detention of a number of british iranians, including Nazanin Zaghari ratcliffe. Shes been in prison since the spring of last year, accused of trying to bring down the iranian government a charge she strongly denies. Our Diplomatic Correspondent James Robbins reports. It could look routine. Borisjohnson and is reign in counterpart shake hands on their way into talks. But there is nothing routine about this encounter. The foreign secretary looking uncharacteristically tense, and with good reason. He was to improve relations, but also criticised overruns actions, while arguing fora rainy criticised overruns actions, while arguing for a rainy and political releases. Good in that of nazanin is are gone. Releases. Good in that of nazanin is are gone. Im sure him being there and raising a case in the context of lots of other stuff can only help improve relations and can only help improve relations and can only help improve relations and a better case for us. I think it is right, though not expecting that on monday morning, he comes back with anything. Boris johnson is not saying anything publicly while he is in iran. Instead, the Foreign Office released a statement following what they called a constructive meeting. They discussed the full range of bilateral issues and they both spoke frankly about the obstacles in the relationship, including the foreign secretarys concerns about the consular cases of british iranian dual nationals. Both emphasised their commitment to continuing to Work Together to improve the bilateral relationship. One good sign irans foreign minister confirmed borisjohnson should be able to meet president rouhani tomorrow. Yeah, hes reciprocating your hospitality. Something that is not automatic on a visit like this. The talks went on for two hours. Positives and negatives in relations were fully aired. We shouldnt expect immediate consequences but iran is in no doubt about british efforts to get Nazanin Zaghari ratcliffe home. Singing Christmas Carols this evening in london, Richard Ratcliffe and supporters have been gently keeping up the pressure to have the family reunited. He says he was not able to sleep last night and may not find rest tonight either, before the talking in tehran resumes in the morning. James robbins, bbc news. Its been reported that the palestinian president , mahmoud abbas, says he wont go ahead with a planned meeting with the us Vice President , mike pence. It follows Donald Trumps decision to recognise jerusalem as israels capital. Palestinians protesting against the change in policy have been involved in further clashes with israels security forces. Tom bateman reports from jerusalem. A display of grief and anger. Funerals were held in gaza for two People Killed in israeli air strikes last night. The Islamist Group hamas said that the men belonged to their armed wing. Weapon stores and a base run by the militant group were targeted, said israel. A new round of hostilities between old enemies. Israel said three rockets were fired from gaza last night. One landed in this southern israeli town. There was minor damage but no casualties. Further disruption took place in jerusalem as palestinians continued to vent their anger at president trump. Police broke up protests before they gained momentum. And for a third day in the occupied west bank, protesters threw stones and burned tyres. Israeli troops responded with tear gas in bethlehem and palestinians answered back. The clashes since mr trumps statement onjerusalem has so far not matched the scale of previous escalations in violence this year. But people here remain wary and diplomatic relations between the palestinian leadership and the white house are under severe strain. President trump appealed for calm and moderation. His critics point to what has happened here in the three days since his announcement and say he has stoked precisely the opposite. Many israelis continue to praise his move, but it comes at the cost of increased tensions. Tom bateman, bbcjerusalem. The Prime Minister of iraq has declared that the war against the Islamic State group is over. Haider al abadi said the iraqi flag was now flying across the whole country, and therell be a Public Holiday in iraq on sunday. At the height of its strength, the militant Group Controlled a third of iraqi territory, and proclaimed a caliphate. Recapturing mosul, iraqs second city, was a bloody conflict. Tens of thousands of people were killed, and a city reduced to ruins. And after more than three years of fighting against the so called Islamic State, iraq has declared the war over. Speaking from baghdad, the Prime Minister said that Government Troops we re minister said that Government Troops were now in complete control of the iraqi syrian border. This announcement comes days after russia declared it had accomplished its mission against is in syria. Translation i think all the countries, as well as humanitarian and International Organisations that stood with iraq and its people in this battle. I salute all those took up this battle. I salute all those took up arms to fight for our land. I salute him mitres and those injured defending a right and its people. Iraq survived, united and victorious. Just over three years ago, and at its peak, is seized large swathes of syria and iraq. It tried to impose rule over 10 million people. But now it has been suffering a series of defeats, losing mosul in the light, and its de facto capital in syria, racket, last month. Injuly. I cant and my family, this man said. Where are they . They are gone. The United States has hailed the end of what it called the vile occupation of iraq, while the British Defence secretary can the Iraqi Security forces, but warned the fight was not over, as the Islamic State could still inspire and plan attacks from across the syrian border. British defence secretary congratulated. British defence secretary congratulated. Lets take a look at some of the other stories making the news. Police in sweden have responded to reports of an apparent attack on a synagogue in the city of gothenberg. The exact sequence of events is not clear. There are reports that several masked individuals were involved. Burning objects were reportedly thrown towards the building. The incident is said to be under investigation. Opposition parties in honduras have formally demanded the annulment of last months president ial election a poll which triggered street violence, amid allegations of widespread vote rigging. The electoral authorities are accused of tampering with the results in favour of the incumbent, juan orlando hernandez. President trump has visited a new Civil Rights Museum in the state of mississippi in the face of a boycott by critics who accuse him of deepening racial divisions. Two Democratic Party congressmen who pulled out of the ceremony injackson described his presence on the opening day as an insult. Tens of thousands of people have filled the streets of paris for the funeral of the singer Johnny Hallyday who died on wednesday at the age of 7a. He had a career lasting nearly six decades and touched the lives of generations of french people. Our correspondent, Hugh Schofield sent this report. For nearly 60 years, Johnny Hallyday sang his songs to the french and today, in paris, they came to bid him goodbye. Tens of thousands of fans, many of them from the older generation, people who grew up to his sounds in the happy, optimistic days of the 60s. For france, johnny was le rocknroll. He was the first here to open their ears to the thrilling new music coming from the United States. America was his obsession. America and motorbikes. Hence the escort of hundreds of bikers for his funeral cortege down the champs elysees. Translation let him rest in peace and wreak havoc up there. Let him sing, let him get it going and let him open his heart up there, surrounded by family and friends. Stars of music and screen, political leaders past and present all there for the Funeral Service inside the madeleine church. For the french, johnny was their rock hero. The man who, for half a century, was always there with new songs, more performances. With his death, people really do feel that part of the nations life has gone. Hugh schofield, bbc news, paris. And theres much more detail on all our top stories, news, business and sport, on our website. Just go to bbc. Com news for further analysis and background information. Parts of north wales, northwest england and the midlands are bracing themselves for heavy snow. The met office has issued an amber weather warning, urging people to be prepared for possible disruption. Some eastern areas could also be affected. Olivia richwald reports. Layers of thick snow a scene of beauty in shropshire, but the first heavy snowfall of the winter is bringing disruption to parts of the united kingdom. Motorists are being told to avoid driving unless absolutely necessary in parts of the north because of the icy conditions, as temperatures plummet down to minus six tonight in parts of scotland and wales. In oldham, greater manchester, this depot has been working 2a hours a day since thursday. The drivers here grit more than 300 kilometres of road. From busy urban centres to remote routes through moorland. With heavy snow showers forecast overnight in this area, they say theyre prepared. Weve just had the forecast in so the temperatures are going to drop quite significantly. Sub zero. So what were doing this afternoon now is we will pre grit all our primary gritting routes and then overnight then well carry on treating and treating throughout the night, getting as much salt on the ground as possible. Its Trans Pennine routes like this that can quickly become hazardous if theyre not well maintained. Oldham council alone expects to use 600 tons of grit this weekend alone and theres still no guarantee these roads will stay open. Although power was out at some properties in the midlands and scotland, in belfast it was sledges out, instead. I like to do snowballs and make a snowman and make models and go down with sleds. Its very slippery and ive been falling down more scenes like this are forecast tomorrow as heavy snow is expected across central areas. But both the north and south may miss out. Olivia richwald, bbc news, oldham. Police are investigating the deaths of two teenagers at a nightclub in plymouth in the early hours of saturday. Officers believe the deaths were drugs related and are urging people to think twice before taking any unknown substance. Andy birkett reports. Police were first informed that two men had been found unconscious inside the pryzm nightclub at around 1 40 this morning by ambulance crews. The i9 year olds, one from okehampton and one from newton abbot were then taken to Derriford Hospital where they both later died. Police believe theyd taken a drug known as mdma and urged anyone else thinking about taking recreational drugs to think twice before taking any unknown substance. The families of both men have been informed although no formal identification has yet taken place. Police have an 18 year old man in custody awaiting questioning on the matter and stressed theres no evidence to suggest the drugs were taken inside this venue. Teenage migrants in italy are attempting dangerous night time crossings over the alps, in a desperate attempt to reach france. Almost 2,000 people have made the crossing since july, according to a local charity. Many have come from migrant camps in italy, described as over crowded and under resourced. Our paris correspondent Lucy Williamson has been to the Alpine Village of nevache, at the main crossing point into france. After dark, alain and sylvie become a nightly mountain rescue team, walking the alpine passes that act as migrant gateways from italy into france. Tonight, they found these six young men, half frozen after walking through the alps. This ghostly picnic their first taste of france. The clothes that carried them from west africa, eritrea, afghanistan, dangerously thin for the alpine snow. It is a good sign if you can still move your hands. I am finding it a little bit difficult, a little bit difficult. Because snow and mountains and night, everything is dark and then we discovered we had snow. Also up on the mountain tonight, the border police. In seconds, the migrants melt away into the trees. A Police Search turns up only one of them. Mamadou took the same path across the alps last year. By the time he was rescued, his feet had frozen. Both had to be amputated. Translation i used to be athletic. I played football, i had threejobs. Now my life is over, as if i were dead. Its all overfor me. France has been tightening controls on its border with italy but Mountain Guides here on the french side say the number of migrants making their way across alpine passes has jumped sharply in the last few months. And that many of them are unaccompanied minors. At the makeshift Migrant Centre in nevache, staff say minors make up more than half the admissions. Many, like 15 year old sheik from ivory coast, left migrant camps in italy, determined as a native french speaker to make a life in france. Translation my older brother died on the way to europe but thank god ive arrived in france. I want to have a Better Future and go to school. My mother is dead and i have no support. Nobody left back home. As temperatures drop, there are fewer migrants arriving here each night. But those who do are in a worse condition. Some unable to stand. Each one a reminder in this tranquil ski resort of the mountain europe needs to climb. Lucy williamson, bbc news, nevache. This is bbc news. The main headline the Foreign Office says borisjohnson and his opposite number in iran have had frank talks about the jailed british woman, Nazanin Zaghari ratcliffe. More now on those talks. Our Diplomatic Correspondent James Robbins has been speaking to nazanins husband Richard Ratcliffe. It is obvious, richard, that nazanin is not coming home with the foreign secretary. But do you think there is any evidence that this meeting, the series of meetings in tehran, could make a difference . I am sure it will make a difference. I am sure him being there, raising her case, raising her case in the context of lots of other stuff, can only help improve relations and improved relations can only lead to a better case for us. I think that is right. I am not expecting that monday morning he comes back with her on the plane. I am looking very closely at who he gets to meet, looking very closely as to what happens tomorrow. Then im looking forward to hearing on monday or tuesday, when he is back, a debrief as to what went on. I dont expect to hear everything, i know some things stay secret. But we are in a place where we are looking at the tea leaves to see what it means. Fingers crossed it can be solved by christmas, which means in the week or so afterwards, nazanin might come home. Were you disappointed that you yourself could not go with him . Obviously as time went on i began to realise it was less and less likely. Yeah, i had always wanted to go. The reason the Foreign Office gave to me was that they felt it would not have been helpful to over politicise the case by having me standing next to him. It could distort other issues in other cases. I still would have wanted to go there, and i still want to go there as soon as possible. But faced with the choice between going with him and her still being in prison, and him going and her coming back sooner, i will take the latter. Do you think borisjohnson and the Foreign Office could have been a bit more forceful with the iranians . I have long criticised the Foreign Office for not being as robust in public as i would like them to be. That is a battle we have had behind closed doors as well. Me saying that they should be tougher, and them saying, look, that is not how things work. And, yeah, i think if he is able, through his charm and his presence, to bring her home, great. Myjob in this campaigning has always been to say this is unacceptable and outrageous and that she should be with her family. She should be with her family for christmas, and please, can that be arranged . That was Richard Ratcliffe, speaking to James Robbins. A so called bat plague has descended on a rural town in australia, with the large colony of flying foxes out numbering residents 25 to i. The town, inland from townsville in far north queensland, is considering drastic measures to remove the creatures, which are protected by National Environment laws. Georgina smyth has this report. It is not a horror movie. It is the sky above a small town in australia. Just over 8000 people live here in Charters Towers and they are overrun by fruit bats. It is actually the stuff of nightmares, 200,000 bats in and around ourcbd, stuff of nightmares, 200,000 bats in and around our cbd, which is terrific for our community. It is likely the fruit bats were attacked to the towns flowering eucalypt trees. Attracted. But the towns says it is fed up of toxic bat droppings which threaten Public Health and damage property. We cull kangaroos, we cull crocodiles, we cull other things. The reason we cull other things. The reason we cull them is to keep them at a manageable level so they do not become a menace to society. But the grey headed flying foxes are threatened, and receive Environmental Protection across the country. There are large fines for anybody caught harming them. Experts say the visitors posed the greater to the public and are likely to move on in to the public and are likely to move onina to the public and are likely to move on in a few weeks. Pose no great threat. Realistically speaking it is no great risk to health. Hendra virus is something people mention a lot, but in reality that is a problem when dealing with horses, not bats. Staying in australia now. To the man whos discovered more than 20 of the worlds coral species over the last 50 years. Charlie veron was also one of the first scientists to document coral bleaching. Here he is at the Great Barrier reef. A remarkable piece of work by charlie the wrong. Veron. Egyptian officials have unveiled a new discovery, dating back to the time of the pharoahs. A mummy and burial artefacts have been discovered in a tomb which its thought was created more than 3,000 years ago. Rahuljoglekar has the story. Once a senior egyptian official, now an exciting new find by the countrys ministry of antiques. This mummy was found in one of two tombs discovered in the 90s. Left untouched until now, the tombs are possibly 3,000 years old. The Ministry Said one of the two tombs has a courtyard lined with mud brick and stone walls. Translation in the dra abu el naga area, the Egyptian Archaeological Mission uncovered three tombs in the past six months. We were able to excavate all of these. We found artefacts and burialfurniture. Several objects and some skeletal remains were also found. On the wall, art which depicts a ritual offering of flowers, possibly to the man who now lives in the tomb, first seen centuries after it was first painted. Egypts Tourism Industry relies on relics found in sites like these and authorities hope that new discoveries will help attract more tourists. That is the way it is looking. Dont forget, you can get in touch with me and the rest of the team on twitter. Im duncangolestani. Now lets take a look at the weather. Hello there. More disruptive weather on the cards through the second half of the weekend thanks to ice and snow as well. Here are some pictures from saturdays snow. This is mellor in lancashire, and the second picture is thornton near bradford. Scenic pictures, but the snow may well cause significant disruption through the day on sunday. First thing in the morning, temperatures as low as 12 across parts of scotland. This rain in the south increasingly turning to snow as it bumps into the cold air. Its really through the central slice of the country that we see disruptive snow. To the north of that, ice could well be an issue through the day on sunday. The met office has issued an amber weather warning for the snow, affecting parts of mid and north wales, through the midlands and into parts of northern england. We could well see 5 10 centimetres, or perhaps double that over the higher ground. We could well see snow out of this area but the central slice is where it will be most disruptive. Some uncertainty about how far the snow will go. On the southern edge, for south wales and the southern counties of england, we could see some sleet and snow, but it is more likely to turn back to rain, especially later in the day. Here winds will also be gusting at 60 miles an hour or more, through the English Channel and the bristol channel. Enough to cause some disruption. Snow will certainly be the hazard further north with icy conditions across northern england, scotland and northern ireland. Here, a return to wintry sunshine. Temperatures will struggle to get above freezing in the north, whereas it will turn milder in the south. Heading through sunday night, as the sleet and snow gradually eases, ice once again becomes a problem with a widespread frost into the early hours of monday. During sunday we turn our attention to this low pressure, affecting portugal, spain and france. That could be very disruptive, with strong winds and heavy rain, and just on the northern flank of that system we could well see heavy rain and severe gales towards southern and eastern parts of england. Something we are keeping a close eye on. Elsewhere across the country it is a quieter day by the time we get to monday. Still a few showers, perhaps a wintry element, especially over the hills, and it will not be as cold as it was over the weekend. During tuesday it is a quieter day across all of the country. Dry, still chilly, some places struggling to get above freezing, especially where we have lying snow. Then this band of rain works east across the country, followed by heavy downpours and thunderstorms possible in the west. Temperatures milder than the weekend. Goodbye. This is bbc news, the headlines the uks foreign secretary Boris Johnson has held talks in tehran where hes pressed for the release of the british iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari ratcliffe. Shes accused of working against the regime which she denies. The Foreign Office said the discussions had been frank and constructive. Theres been a third day of protests by palestinians in the west bank and gaza after Donald Trumps decision to recognisejerusalem as israels capital. Four people are now known to have died in the violence. Palestinian leaders have cancelled a meeting with the Vice President mike pence. Iraq says its war against so called Islamic State is over. Government troops say they now have complete control of the iraqi syrian border. The group seized large parts of syria and iraq in 2014, declaring it a caliphate, but has suffered a series of defeats in the last two years. Now its notjust footballers who are in training for the world cup. So are some of the animal kingdom. Next years tournament will be in russia and in the host cities the search is on for creatures who can accurately predict the soccer scores. Everyone, it seems, wants to emulate paul the german octopus, made famous for his forecasting skills during the 2010 world cup. Both our moscow correspondents Sarah Rainsford and Steve Rosenberg have been finding out more. Forget lionel messi or reynaldo
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