bashar al-assad > welcome to the newshour. we are here in doha. the top stories: a corruption and bribal scandal in turkey claims the job of two top ministers. >> peace keeping in south sudan amid escalating violence. >> winter storms disrupt travel plans for tourists in europe. >> plus - learning the meaning of christmas - we follow a group

of muslim refugees being taught about the christian festival. we'll hear from a football manager looking to keep his team top of the english premier league , and a cricket team aiming to show why they are rated as the world best test side. >> a corruption and bribery investigation in turkey is striking at the very heart of government, and focussing tapes on an increasingly bitter feud between former allies. prominent figures from business and banking, the police and government have been dragged into the scandal. detentions and dismissals and now two cabinet members, whose sons were arrested, have resigned. the economy minister zafer caglayan and minister muammer

guler denied they did big wrong and described the investigation as a dirty conspiracy against the government and the party. >> it shows an rift between recep tayyip erdogan's party. this man, muammer guler lives in the united states. his movement helped the arc party come to power. he wields influence over the police and judiciary. a crackdown on corruption led to the rest of high-profile figures close it the government, including the sons of the two cabinet ministers who now resigned. the prime minister responded by sacking dozens of police chiefs saying, "the corruption probe was nothing more than a smear pain." recep tayyip erdogan

faces election soon. we go to istanbul. tell us about the ministers who have resigned. >> the first minister who resigned is economy minister, zafer caglayan, and the second is interior reserve minister muammer guler, in top of the police department, in charge of investigating all the accusations. there were calls from the public for the last week to resign for the sake of the investigations because until last week there were about 100 policeman - over 100 police men reassigned so the ministers this morning resigned saying that to have the truth to come out, we are resigning, but they still deny the occasions. >> where do the resignations leave the investigation in the

whole affair? >> because these are very significant and important ministers, or they deny the accusations related to bribery about an urban construction project, but that is - especially the interior minister, since the police investigate on the issue, and he's on top of the police dep, his resignation means dash we have to say that the prime minister recep tayyip erdogan, since the start of the scandal was very defiant. he was saying that it's an international plot against his government, against his party and turkey. the country and he was saying that they were internal gangs. the movement is based in the us, so we have to say what has been happening in turkey is very

significant, and we see in the upcoming days how all the things will effect recep tayyip erdogan, who got 50% of the vote in the last election, and there are two more upcoming elections in 2014. >> thank you so much. >> now to breaking news out of iraq. 24 people have been killed in separate attacks on the outskirts of the capital. the first targeted a church in doura, in southern baghdad. the second at a bus stop in the same area. we'll bring you more on this story as soon as we get it. >> the united nations voted to send thousands more peacekeepers to south sudan to protect civilians. it's feared thousands of people may have been killed in more than a week of unrest. the u.n. is calling for an end to hostilities and for talks to

get started. kath turner sends us this report. >> a unanimous vote by the security council, more than 50% in favour of ban ki-moon's plan to double the it troops in south sudan. >> south sudan is grateful for the support of the international community and the united nations expend tended to the nation company. south sudan do not want to full back into the abbize of war for which they suffered for over half a century. >> united nations not always known for the way they acted with speed acted so here. with 5,000 u.s. soldiers and 1300 police on the ground the scernal knows it probably won't be enough.

>> you would need ongoing support. protection capabilities will not happen overnight. even with additional capability, we will not be able to protect every civilian in south sudan. >> the extra forces from places like dar fewer, democratic republic of congo and lib earia. other nations have been asked for support. the u.n. insists reinforcements are temporary, and in no way a solution to the crisis in south sudan. words are of little comfort to tens of thousands caught up in the blood shed. >> while south sudan's governments said the troops recaptured the town of bor, the

captain of jonglei state has been seized by rebels, loyal to the former vice president riek machar. the first international journalist is at bor and joins us on the line. tell us the situation there. >> there is activity outside the un base. people are coming out for a few minutes, to rush home. they say they feel better. the islamists advise they are deserted. there are a lot of dead bodies on the road. some have been dead. vultures pick off them. bodies decomposing the stench of death everywhere. we see a lot of men in military uniform who get on the ground. we ask soldiers who they are. we have no way of confirming whether they are the army or not. things are tense here. people are taking advantage of

the calm. they are saying come nightfall they'll head to the u.n. base where they feel safer. >> just to clarify there, did you say when you asked the armed and uniformed men who they were, they identified themselves as rebel inside bor which is supposed to be recaptured i u.n. troops. >> no. some of the dead bodies are wearing army uniforms. when we ask the military people who they say men are, are they soldiers for the rebels, the arm your persons are rebels. there's none on the floor in the military uniform, are sold yours from the spla. >> thank you for that clarification. what about the thousands of people sheltering in u.n. bases?

>> they are still here, and the u.n. is struggling to take care of them. one reason why some are managing to come out is they have been stuck in the compound for days. there's no water, food. they are hungry. the soldiers recaptured bor. unfortunately when they get to the homes, they have been looted or ransacked, there's nothing much to salvage, so they go back to see if the u.n. can distribute more understood and water. it will take a long time for things to get back to normal. the u.n. is struggling. troops are coming in, extra bodies. >> thank you so much. >> egypt's former prime minister has been arrested. he was appointed in 2012 after

mohamed morsi won the democratic elections. he was sentenced to a year in gaol for failing to implement a court order relating to the textile form. >> angry crowds in the city of mansoura targeted shops linked to the muslim brotherhood. another group claimed responsibility. peter grest reports. >> after the blast, the anger. demonstrators marched through the streets, targeted in the bombing. they set fire to vehicles belonging to members of the muslim brotherhood. >> anyone collaborating with

them, they were terrorists. whether inside or outside europe. it is the people's just re-j >> at the city's main hospital, those caught in the explosion struggled to take sense of it. >> while i did the work, i hit the wall and the table and back to the wall again. i tried to stand up. i fell. i felt like i couldn't breathe, like someone is coming out in a rhythm of blood. >> the interior minister said it was an attempt to derail the referendum. he insisted it will go ahead. >> the security plans has been made. >> what happened will not effect the lerched um process. >> the car bomb hit the security services main headquarters after midnight. among the casualties, a group of

senior officials meeting to discuss how they'll keep control. >> the muslim brotherhood has been the target of public anger. they have condemned the attack. a military group said it was responsible. >> the angry crowds - there is no distinction. a funeral for some of the 14 people killed in the blast, mourners blame the brotherhood and supporters. the attackers hoped to deepen the political decisions and it seems to have worked. >> you're watching the al jazeera. still ahead - after decades of isolation myanmar's industry is booming, not everyone is cashing in. >> and i'm jane ferguson in kandahar city in afghanistan. a major success in women's education is threatened with closure. >> plus in short, why a new age of professionalism could hit the future of an historic spanish

sport. >> now, the yemeni government signed a document with political parties and civil groups that would give more autonomy to the south of the country ahead of elections. it would see the creation of a federal state. there is disagreement over where the north and the south lay. this is what yemen would look like three or four regions in the north and the south one or two. each region would have their own institutions. >> we are joined on set. will it make it through parliament. >> it depend if the important

factions agree on the principle. >> what does it look like for you? >> you have the socialist party, the separatist movement, activists who insist that they will only join this initiative if it's stating in specific terms what the future will be, about a federal state based on two regions, one in the south, one in the north. >> if this goes ahead, what does it mean for the bigger picture of the transition for democracy, a process that is not completely resolved. >> if you look at countries engulfed. it had its own problems and issued. it is now moving nrds india in a significant moment. they have to change the face. if he succeed. they'll graft the government. it will no longer be the im,

uppress dented. >> if this fails, you will a loads of impacts offer the region and the rest of the world. >> if this bows to plan will the federal government be freed up to include the parties and the people. >> absolutely. they'd tackle other issues. they have al-qaeda which is expanded in the south of the country. you have also the rebels. asking for similar out on my in the north. by the end of the day. the united nations develop a program providing daily assistance. these are genuine issues. now that we are on track, let's

look into the issues. >> plenty on that. >> hospital workers in gaza say a 3-year-old palestinian girl has been killed. israel said a citizens then shot dead by a sniper across the border. >> these pictures are said to show the aftermath of strikes. 30 people died in this neighbour hood in syria. syrian forces dropped barrels filled with explosions and shrapnel. >> the freed russian former oil tycoon applied for a swiss visa from berlin. the critic was released on friday as part of a wider amnesty, spending 10 years in prison for fraud and tax

evasion. >> mikhail khordorkovsky was russia's richest man at the time of his arrest. a greenpeace protestier anthony peret was arrested for trying to storm an oil rig. prosecutors dropped all charges against him. the rest of the group is expected to be freed. >> president putin has been building bridges with ukraine, to steer the former soviet republic away from europe. ukraine received the first part of the $15 billion bail out. russia bought bonds worth $3 billion. prosecutors rejected the trade. thousands have been on the treats after president viktor yanukovych dropped an e.u. deal to improve ties with russia. >> thailand's prime minister unveiled a plan that threatened

to split her country. randall pinkston says -- yingluck shinawatra says it will not be a new government. >> there has been a surge in foreign investment in myanmar following pit call and financial re -- political and financial reforms. property and rental prices are at a high. >> it's different to the city life they know. there's no running water and no electricity here. >> translation: life is harsh. we have communal toilets, bamboo houses are not strong enough to resist rain and wind. >> they had to move to the outskirts because they can no longer afford rent in the city.

an increase of 37% was too much of a financial burden. their neighbours have similar stories, driven out of the city by high rental prices. they live on a land opened by a mon aftry, in small bamboo huts they had to g themselves. >> translation: this is driven by philanthropic community. >> the new neighbourhood is an hour's drive from the city. the mon aftry runs a school to ease travel costs. >> this township has been around for less than three years and has gone from housing 70 families, to 2,000. there's no space for new arrivals and the monastery is planning to buy another pot of land for separate community. >> an easing of sanctions resulted in an inflow of foreign

investment. while constructions is taking off, it will be some time before supply catches up with demand. it's not just residential, but office space highly sought after. >> what we have seen is is a turn around in command. everyone is interested in myanmar, and a lot of companies are taking space. it will continue for the next three, four, five, six years. >> for property owners the boom times look set to condition. she's on the look out to invest in more properties. >> i'm not worried about a bubble in housing prices because there's not much space leftin town. >> for the poor, the sudden surge is difficult. it's also showing how it benefits onlied a few. >> improving women's education

is considered a stand-out success in afghanistan since the invasion of nurses in 2001, as foreign troops prepare to lead, that is looking less surgeon. >> it's a place offering more than these girls know. a quality education in real tangible skills. a path away from poverty and early marriage, and towards university and a career. since 2002, the kandahar institute of modern study has been teaching young women subject like languages, signs, and computer skills - skills that speak of ambitious. which, in the heart of taliban country, is remarkable, and dangerous says their teacher. >> we are a unique school. our school is preparing women to go to jobs. our school is preparing women to

go to universities. our school is preparing women to take part. here the conservatives are op stit to the idea that women come out and play a role in the public. >> the journey to school is risky. those travelling in buses have been attacked and city-based schools have been attached. >> we look forward, many other girls come, still they come. if they are not coming now, they will come and their parents will let them get education. >> after surviving conservative heart owners, it's money problems that will likely end the studies. >> a favourite subject by far is comfuture skills. there's plenty of computers in the school. the classes are popular.

the girls are learning to use internet and spreadsheets and programs. but this room in here used to be the most special classroom of the school. here they had a pioneering project where girls would skype online with girls from the u.s. now those running the school say they cannot afford high-net internet speed. >> funding from abroad has dried up. much of the aid that came with the forces are leaving. >> unless we get funding we will close. all these women today that you saw in the classes, that is going to close. >> assad says he has to charge the girls a dollar a day. >> several hundred dropped out. the lucky ones run to their

conservative lives. unsure if the next one will offer promise. >> a severe storm in parts of northern europe shut down transport networks disprupted holiday plans. hundreds of thousands of homes have been without power. >> the impact of a night of torrential rain. things are no better for people hoping to travel by train, with water on many railway tracks. at one of the bus yist airports, a power outlet is causing delays. people are asked to check flights before they set off. >> in london, cancellations at many train stations.

there is confusion here as people try to work out how to get home. >> there has been - trying to get home at christmas is important. >> we got here. we were trike to take a coach after trains had been delayed. they are not good. >> not great. >> i have a bag full of presents. in north-west france more than 200,000 homes have no electricity. ferries from france to britain have been cancelled. this is an example of the impact of winds of more than 100km per hour. tens of thousands of people in the region have been left without power. stormy weather is heading to northern island and scotland. >> whether forecasters are

preticketing a big storm soon. >> the next storm is on the way friday. set to bring wet and windy weather with more than an inch of rain in place and further damaging winds. >> people are preparing themselves for more bad weather. and a very wet christmas. >> let's find out where the holiday whether is heading. >> thanks, well, i'm afraid the words happy christmas and weather don't fit comfortably into the same area. eastern areas are not too bad. i'll focus on the u.k. there's bad conditions in france. we had record-breaking rain fall in the south.

strong winds in the north and an area in the north down to 990 mill bars. it's in the northern portion of the north sea. must be horrendous. further south on shetland, 105 kph. it's a bit of a respite. it's interesting with the alps, that there's a lot of snow. i think we'll have blizzard conditions. as much as it 1.2 metres of snow in places. watch what happens behind me. running up through the irish sea. heavy rains, strong winds, winds of 70 to 85 miles per hour. severe conditions. i'll keep you posted. >> thank you so much. more to come on the al jazeera newshour - including a fragile coalition unravelled in mali.

plus on the trails of bears in peru. how deforestation threatens their survival. and can this player keep his team on top of the english premier league are. anxie anxie anxiety -- andy will be here with that story.

>> welcome back, you're watching the al jazeera newshour. two senior members of the turkish government resigned over a high-profile corruption investigation. the economy minister and interior minister described the case as a dirty security.

more peacekeepers have been sent to south sudan. the troops have recaptured the strategic town of bor. 24 people have been killed in separate attack on the outskirts of the iraqi capital. both targetting doura in southern baghdad. >> let's return to our top story out of turkey. we are joined by a columnist for imam newspaper. how do you think the resignation will impact the scandal? will itened it? probably not. the debate is intensifying as is the tense situation goes between prime minister and the judiciary and the police force, and two ministers resign after eight days of exchanges of words for puck lick row.

and the graft probe is still continuing against all odds, which means the prime minister has now replaced more than 400 police officers and 150 police chiefs. a lot of pundits are arguing that the program itself is in jeopardy. but the genie is out of the bottle. facts are on the table. allegations are public. we are expecting debate and earth quags in the political landscapes. >> is this whole case about corruption or a power struggle between the movement and the arc party. >> it's obvious that there is - there are deep frictions within the state. we can speak about internal

warfare in this state security apparatus, judiciary and legislative or executive power. at the same time this corruption case, which has been going on for about 14 months from september 2012 reveals a lot of sphere evidence wire tappings, also other evidence which points out clear cases of bribery, rehabilitation et earring and this is as explained to the prime minister himself, by the judishry officials. grounds of evidence are strong. suspicions are strong, and tentacles as the probe indicates are reaching into the government. nobody at the moment knows clearly whether it also involvement other ministries,

other departments, but we are speaking about case of perhaps $150 million at the maximum about the bribery, the money, allegedly given to the ministers or their sons, so this is a very serious case. so corruption case is top of the agenda. then you have the power struggle between the judiciary police and the government as the second layer. >> thank you so much for your thoughts on that. >> let's take you back to the breaking new that is we are talking about under iraq where 24 people have been killed in bomb attacks in christian areas of baghdad. imran khan, our correspondent is on the line from northern iraq. what can you tell us? i can tell you about the attack on a church in doura neighbourhood. this church was the main place

of worship for the baghdad christmas community in 2006. it really emptied out. today, being christmas, there was a parked car bomb that went up outside the church. as the worshippers came out, that's when the bomb took place. and 47 people injured. it's a christian community. already that the government is not enough to protect and secure. however, what the government said it's difficult. you have to realise car bombs are made of domestic materials. things you can fly in any kitchen it's very difficult to detect them. these are pretty much things that you can make in your own backyard, put into a car and drive. that's really the pattern that

we are seeing across iraq. but this particularly on christmas is very brutal attack. >> imran khan. >> france is preparing to pull many of its troops out of mali. the conflict began two years ago. they want independence. some large cities were captured. they were attacked by groups that wanted islamic law in the region. >> by july they controlled most of the north. france sent troops to mali. within a month territory was understand government control. in june it oversaw a peace deal with the rebels. the group backtracked after three months. now they are caught between a

malian army. >> in the desert of mali a check point is symbolic, more than prac cam. it's a strong hold. the malian army is trying to assert itself. >> you can only keep it safe using this. >> the national fighters lost control. a french led military campaign routed al-qaeda. now, the fighters find themselves doing battle on two fronts. with the army and rem naned of the al-qaeda mors. >> the bodies were thought to be fighters. they've been arrested when

mallian fighters took control of the village. >> they arrested our people. we were forced to attack them. they killed people that were tied up. >> toorak feeghters share intelligence. >> we changed numbers and information. anything we have we call them. the biggest threat is al qaeda. >> much of it now is calm. the french are pulling out from here and will hand over of the malian fors and that could be the end of the coplation that kept al-qaeda at bay. >> pope francis is celebrating the first christmas ahead of the

church, holding people in the st. peter's basilica, calling on peel to shun pride and selfishness and open their hearts to god and fellow man. the first non-european pope in 1300 years. thousands of christians are marking christmas in beth le mem in the israeli occupied west bank. this is a city where jesus was born. >> here in what's believed to be the place of baby jesus, the sounds of midnight's mass filled the shoppel. >> politicians, pilgrims and others gathered to pray. thousands lined up. the spot where jesus is believed to have been born. >> midnight mass is the highlight of christmas eve. people are queueing to see the

birthplace of jesus. thousands of tourists, attending mass here is a dream come true. palestinians say they can't bring the church to its full splendor while under occupation. land owned by churches and christian families has been lost to settlement. so many palestinian christians moved to the country hoping for a better future. >> i'm not worried as a christian, but a palestinian. >> that is why people are fearful for the future. many leave the country. people travel around the world to celebrate christmas >> my family is roman gath lick. i feel like i'm getsing an experience i have not had. >> it's a new step. >> this church is a unesco

heritage sight. for the next four to five years it's being renovated. by the time it's finished many hope there'll be peace in the holy land. >> catholics in a suburb of mexico city are celebrating christmas in their own way, representing baby jesus through the streets. it reenacts the biblical story of mary and joseph's search. >> pakistan's minority community is celebrating christmas for the tight security. hundreds of worshippers are attending midnight maths. in september '96 people were killed when suicide bombers attacked the church in peshawar. >> in iraq christians celebrated

christmas eve. during the service christians were urged not to leave iraq, despite the violence against them. >> a group of muslim children are celebrating an unusual holiday at a syrian rev gu camp. for many, it's the first time they've been taught about christians. >> these children from syria are reciting christmas wishes. they don't include new toys. "santa, i want my old clothe back, my old toys, and to go back home." >> in the freezing cold of a lebanon valley, in a makeshift school, it's gone for the children. almost 500 students come here

get an education and even food. a nongovernmental organisation called beyond uses money to try to create a safe haven. they are under tremendous pressure. the goal is to alleviate some suffering and give emotional support. >> we can watch buildings destroyed, neighbourhoods wiped. to see a nation drivewayed is not suitable. children are muslims, maria says it's important to celebrate christmas like other holidays. >> translation: to teach them coexistence, to celebrate each other's holidays. >> last year in girl lost her father and her mother died during a snow storm that hit

lebanon. yet she still can sing. this girl is four. these an orphan. most of these children lost something or someone. >> translation: i want to forget the suffering. i want my toys back. 12,000 children across lebanon receive gifts like these - dolls and cars, and maybe what is more precious of all, hats to stay warm. hundreds of thousands of children are dependent on charity for basic needs. they had much more in the search of christmas. >> coming up, andy with the sport, including australia's ambitious to inflict more ashes misery on england.

>> welcome back. a rare species to south america is under threat of deforestation. one-third of bears live in peru. as we report from the jungles, their numbers are on the decline. >> robin appleton and her team are looking for spectacle bears. they are elusive so the team intalled cameras to help find them. >> this is nora and her cub martina. >> no two look the same. so each bear is given a

different name. >> a unique feature of speck tagle bears have markings on their face. biologists have identified and tagged 40 bears since they started the work in 2006. >> what is important is they have to come out and come down. >> this is crucial for the bars. biologist say support has proteins and fats, spectacle bears need. it's the best food. people are using it for looking. in rural areas villagers have to because the wood. >> i use it every day because it produces a strong flame. >> the biologists have implemented a program in schools and among villages to teach them

to protect the bears by protecting the trees. >> spectacle bears are the only species of bears in south america. a third live in peru. biologists believe this could disappear in 20 years if deforestation continues. >> let's catch up with the sport. here is andy. >> liverpool's ambitions to win an english premier league title will be put into perspective, facing away games at manchester city and chelsea. liverpool will be top, the first time since 2008, when they became the last side not to win. they'll need suarez to be at his best. >> we know where we want to be. we are working towards that. as i said, no more so than the players. they've been working brilliantly.

>> the effort that they are putting into the work, empi learning, which is important. they are continually getting the rewards for that. >> all 20 premier league teams in action. manchester united travelled to halt. second-place arsenal are away to west ham. >> they go and protect ourselves on arsenal's ability. then we try to ex-ployed some of the weaknesses that are, i have to say, not as apparent as they used to be defensively. i think the term is a lot of work carried on. >> it's one of the biggest days as team's meat. dating bag 0 years. carmelo anthony faces off. >> they are on the road to face the la lakers. the la clippers take a 5-game

winning streak into golden state to play the warriors. >> thursday sees the top two cricket team. south africa and india. they do well to repeat the drum of the first test. the match saw south africa come within eight. that game finished on sunday. the home captain is hopeful his layers will be ready. >> as a team, perspective is important. putting things into context. i feel that we are ready. today's training session is part of that and hopefully today's training session is really good and high intensity. we'll be ready for boxing day. >> that theory is in the balance. australia will take a 3-0 lead.

it's a turn around for australia, that's all. suffering heavy defeats. >> two months ago the worst australian team we were to tour india. two months on, i think ricky ponting may have said in an article could be the greatest ever ashes win for an australian cricket team. too much, things can change. >> we are straight to turn it around. you don't get a chance to play a test match. that's on incredible opportunity >> now an age-old fannish sport finds itself facing modern problems. it could be described as squash played with yourhands professionalism and gambling could be threatening the future. what are the hands to do with

the ball. flick it towards on opponent wearing blue. pin to, tta is like squash out a rack ement. it's played before the 14th century. recently players turned professional. >> translation: things are different for me now. as a professional player. i can make a living on the salary they pay me. >> like the old bull-fighting stars pinotta players are revered and bet on. a bookmaker is master of ceremony. the match stopped for wages to be made point by point. the sums that exchange hands can be huge. >> you can never know before a match how much betting will take place. people will thing before a met.

then a lot of money can change hands. as much as 70,000 has been changed on a pilotta game. the victoria's player takes a percentage about the bookmaker's profit, an incentive to win. >> any sport with money involved is open to allegations. they are aimed at an organization handing out professional contact. favouritism is right. >> this man works for the organization handing out lucrative and controversial contracts. >> translation: taking a station on who gets a contract is not easy now the sport is professional. we would like to choose more players, but that is not possible. we'd be criticised less. you may have made mistakes, but

you can't please everybody all the time. >> they opened the museum, laying testament to the glorious past. the dishing out of contracts is flighting a professional future. >> plenty more, of course, on the website. check it out aljazeera.com. the top story there and the ongoing india versus south africa test series. in the last few minutes south african all-rounder jacques kallis will quit after the second test. he's been key to south africa's rise to the stop test-playing nation in the world. >> more sport later. that is it for now. >> now it's been 60 years since the u.n. got into the acting business. danny kay was the first good-will ambassador. now singer katy perry has taken

on the job. james bays has more. >> throughout its existence the u.n. has been trying to help the most needy people in the world and has been looking for ways to highlight the plight. >> 60 years ago it tried what was then a novel approach. it was in 1964 the danny kay, one of the world's famous actors and singers became the first goodwill ambassador for uni self, and his path was followed by many others. stars from hollywood. >> from audrey hepburn to angelina jolie. sijers and sports stars acting -- singers and sports stars acting as ambassadors and each an agent. >> my name is moore, roger moore, an agent for the united nations. >> the corridors have been packed with politicians and documents.

many celebrities visited u.n. headquarters in new york. in this building you never know who you will bump into. the latest goodwill ambassador, the pop star katy perry. >> i have a lot of attention and spotlight. it would be easy and lazy for me to put that on something that is kind of, you know, material or funny or not really meaningful, but what i do want to do is take all this extra tension and put it on something that needs that illumination, that needs that light. >> some may question her insight on the issues facing children around the world, but not her impact. it's here that the idea of celebrity ambassadors is getting a new boost. katy perry has 49 million

followers on twitter and 60 million likes on facebook. >> when she tweets it's interesting. she'll get 5,000-6,000 engagements, whether it's refeets, favourites or people tweeting back. >> uni self wants to engage a younger audience. katy perry is the perfect person to do that. >> so in this new age of communication the celebrity's social media reach gives the u.n. a big reach. katy perry follows on twitter with the old media. 60 million media is fi times more than the best sirkulation in the world. >> stay with us here now. we have another full bulletin of news in a couple of minutes.

don't go too far.

>> the united nations is nearly doubling peacekeeping forces in south sudan as the violence and death toll rises. pope francis cell bris his first christmas as pontiff and is about to deliver his sermon. >> target's credit and debit scanedal. >> some of the youngest hurricane sandy survivors get a special christmas gift to replace some of what they lost