this is bbc world news today. i'm ben bland. our top stories: president trump makes a surprise christmas visit to us troops in iraq — his first trip to a conflict zone nearly two years into his presidency. japan confirms it will resume commercial whale hunting next year, in defiance at a global ban, and they'll leave the organisation that aims to protect whales. president putin says russia is ready to deploy a new hypersonic nuclear missile which he claims can penetrate existing defence systems. and the tv star and art critic sister wendy beckett dies aged 88. the roman catholic nun rose to internationalfame in the ‘90s after presenting art shows on the bbc. hello and welcome to bbc world news today.

president trump and the first lady have made a surprise visit to iraq to thank the us troops posted there for their service. the secret trip comes in the midst of a government shutdown — and less than a week after mr trump announced his controversial plans to withdraw us troops from syria, as well as half of those stationed in afghanistan. a short while ago, i spoke to our north america correspondent chris buckler. the president and first lady left washington late on christmas night to go toa washington late on christmas night to go to a rock and they been to the al—asad airbase. they were thinking troops for the sacrifice and their service and also wishing them a merry christmas. you can imagine after last week, whenever the president announced he was pulling all us troops out is to recommend it has been a lot of questions asked of him, particularly as he is on foreign soil with us soldiers. he was asked questions on syria and

that pull—out. he made very clear during comments that he made in iraq as far as he was concerned to me was the right decision and that that other people in his view would come around to his way of thinking. he was also asked about his event secretary. you might rememberjim mattis resigned as a result of him announcing the surprise decision he was going to move troops out of syria. he says the acting replacements forjim mattis will be in place for some time and there is no hurry to appoint a permanent defence secretary. it's really a clear sign from president trump that as far as he's concerned, his foreign policy is right and he made that announcement, really, foreign policy is right and he made thatannouncement, really, if foreign policy is right and he made that announcement, really, if you like standing alongside troops in iraq. after the initial announcement of the planned withdrawal, event into backpedal, didn't he, the sort of say it would be slow and overtime? i think there is also, taking place, amid the future of us

troops inside afghanistan. there've been many reports that currently, the pentagon has been asked to draw up the pentagon has been asked to draw up plans to release reduce the number of us troops that are currently in afghanistan. what president trump has set in iraq, there are no plans to pull out of that country and he said iraq could actually be used as a base if there was to be further us action in syria. as for as us troops are concerned, he has been very clear that it will be a slow, a corrugated pull—out. there are some people in washington, as well as globally, other world leaders like president macron, who have made their view clear they are concerned about how mrtrump is clear they are concerned about how mr trump is viewing foreign policy at the moment. this trip and it is something that has been done by presidents over the years. it is something done to boly up morale. is

also showing the president wants to shore up foreign—policy, that he was foreign—policy to be as he thinks. there is no doubt that many in washington thinks that is what you be more isolationist as before and that certainly american interests, in front of other countries. douglas ollivant was the directorfor iraq at the national security council during both the bush and obama administrations. hejoins me now from washington. were there any big policy announcements during this trip that we heard? the only thing that came close to that was the president making clear he does not intend to pursue a troop withdrawal in iraq in the model of syria or afghanistan. that's news. other than that he appeared mostly in his ceremonial chief of state roll, showing the flags, speaking ceremonially for all of america... flags, speaking ceremonially for all of america. .. we know that the president wants to pull us troops out of syria, there's also talk about it withdrawal of some us

troops from afghanistan. just remind us troops from afghanistan. just remind us where we are as far as the current us presence in iraq. there are about 5000 us soldiers in iraq, plus or minus. the bulk of those are training forces that are working with the iraqi forces on iraqi bases, training them. the headquarters of the coalition is also there in baghdad. there are those forces at the airbase but the bulk of the forces are performing training missions, and the combat forces in iraq are whiny doubt is there's less and less conflict in iraq. given the changes that these troops have seen in terms of the people that ultimately answer to, at the top of the department of defence, how important is a visit like this from the president and the first lady in terms of reassuring them about the future and their role as far as that region of the world is concerned? i think for the

troops, the appearance of president trump is just about them knowing that america remembers them. the pictures that we see from this are a conglomeration of america. we see black, white, brown, male, female, soldiers all wanting to take selfies the president. it's a unifying, a political kind of moments. i think the troops... not nearly as invested in the washington discussions as the folks in washington are. douglas, your to the national security council. just on a practical note, we talked about this being a surprise visit, these candidates must be weeks or days in the planning. how on earth be keeping under wraps for as far as policy is concerned until they get there? the people who are involved in these trips are very serious about the security of the presidents and they ta ke security of the presidents and they take a very serious approach and

know that if word spread, people will track down to spread that word. those who are involved in the media understand the same thing. we have press on a plane with the president. they know the deal. into this trip was embargoed. they did not tell theirfamilies. people was embargoed. they did not tell their families. people are was embargoed. they did not tell theirfamilies. people are pretty good about keeping these trips quiet. president trump from president obama before him from president obama before him from president bush or president clinton going to kosovo in the nineties... douglas, thank you very much. douglas, thank you very much. douglas ollivant there. president trump has been speaking. but have a listen to what he just been saying. to share our eternal gratitude for everything you do to keep america safe, strong and free. president trump they're addressing the troops during a surprise visit. there's been widespread international condemnation after the japanese government decided to resume commercial whaling from july next year.

tokyo has confirmed it will withdraw from the international whaling commission. the move has prompted anger from nations like australia, whose foreign minister said she was "extremely disappointed". our science reporter victoria gill reports. they're the ocean's gentle giants, but these majestic mammals are now at the heart of an international dispute. it's all about the bloody business of commercial whaling — business that japan says it will resume in the summer of 2019. translation: at the international whaling commission meeting in september, it became obvious that it is not possible for states with different views to exist side by side, which led to our decision to leave. the international whaling commission is the body that banned the hunting of whales in 1986 after many species were almost wiped out. but countries, including iceland and norway, still hunt primarily minke whales, which are not endangered. japan already catches between 200 and 1,200 whales every year under

a programme of what it calls scientific research. the country's hunted whales for centuries and the meat was a key source of protein during desperately poor years immediately after world war ii. translation: people around my age remember the old times when we would eat whale meat. there are shops that sell it and i sometimes buy some, but it's not like people are queueing up for it. officials, though, still say that eating whales is a part of japanese culture and that it can be done sustainably. but this decision has sparked condemnation. conservationists say it could threaten populations of whales that have recovered since the ban. it's not just about what japan does, it's now about whether other countries will follow suit, whether other countries will also step outside of the whaling commission. because ifjapan, if you like, gets away with this, other countries may want to try and do the same thing, and then more and more populations

could be exposed to whaling. so we are very concerned about the potential for an expansion, again, of whaling outside of any international control. japan says commercial whaling will be restricted to its own territorial waters and economic zones, so its ships will cease whaling in the antarctic ocean. despite the reassurances, though, many are calling on the country to reconsider. victoria gill, bbc news. here in the uk, scientists in cambridge have created a 3d digital model of a cancer. the tumour sample — taken from a patient — can be studied using virtual reality. researchers hope it will provide new insights into how cancers spread. our medical correspondent fergus walsh reports. this is 21st—century pathology. on the conveyor belt is a wafer thin slice taken from a human tumour. multiple slices, each just one cell thick, are analysed to reveal all the characteristics of the cancer. then, the sample is reassembled digitally so it can be studied,

using virtual reality. we are on the bleeding edge of nearly every technology. greg hannon, director of cancer research uk's cambridge institute, showed me round his virtual lab, where we are transformed into avatars. this giant multicoloured cloud of bubbles is the virtual tumour. the tissue sample it came from was the size of a pinhead. the purpose of this project is to understand how each of these cell types influences each other. what messages do they send to each other and how does that influence their behaviour? this shows how the incredible diversity of cancer cell types interact in order to evade the body's defences. now that knowledge may ultimately help in the search for new treatments. at this point, we decided to go and explore the tumour in more detail. i think here, you can really start to appreciate its structure.

i'm noticing something interesting here. we willjust move around. it looks to me like there are sets of tumour cells that are floating above the ductile structures, almost as if they are streaming out. it is when those cells leave the duct to become invasive disease that they become really dangerous. so, here, are you capturing potentially the moment when this cancer begins to spread? yes. i think that's what is really remarkable here, because i think unless we're looking at the tumour in this detail, this resolution, in this many cells in this dimension, we would never be able to find such an event. researchers at the crick institute in london say that the virtual tumour will help explain how cancers interact with healthy cells and eventually spread. it is a huge step forward. it is so much more dynamic and real than what we've been able to do

in the past by looking at very static analyses of what is happening in essentially two dimensions. this virtual pathology lab can be accessed by researchers anywhere in the world, helping scientists share knowledge in the fight against cancer. let's get more on this from professor greg hannon, who's director of cancer research uk cambridge institute. professor, in your view, professor, in yourview, how significant is this 3—d model as far as its practical application to help treat cancer patients?” as its practical application to help treat cancer patients? i think it is really just the first step. this is one model of the small piece of one patient‘s cancer. and the goal of this project funded by cr uk, is to create thousands of such models. looking in retrospect and one model for one patient is actually not that

informative. we really need to do is looking at recurrence patterns, things that are common to hundreds oi’ things that are common to hundreds or thousands of different patients. and so then we can use those to help us and so then we can use those to help us find diagnoses and predict a treatment for vertigo some of the treatments that are focused on harnessing the body's on defences, can be improved. in order for this to have a widespread benefit them it would require this kind of model to be done many multiple times for many different types of cancer. is that what you're saying? i think we will start to understand some principles after ten or a dozen different samples are looked at. i think where this starts to really have a clinical and if it's —— benefit will require us to go to the tens of thousands of samples. because this can be accessed all around the

world, do you think this remodel is going do anything to help people, say, in developing countries access better cancer treatment or is it too early to say? i think if you're looking at situations in developing countries, we will not be creating a personalised model for your patience. at least not in the current circumstances. i think some of the principles we learned could be quite broadly applicable. and so, i think there will be a benefit, as there is to all quite significant technological approaches. as one moves forward. it will be the general principles that are learned and not the specifics of a model for individual patients that can be applied. the genomics is applied in the countries, not so much in developing countries, but the principles that we learn you have a

knock on effect. and professor, thank you very much or share your thoughts with us. the russian president vladimir putin says russia will deploy nuclear missiles capable of flying at ten times the speed of sound next year. it comes after he observed the final tests of a new missile known as avangard. moscow said the rocket was launched in the ural mountains and hit a target 6000 kilometres away in the russian far east. mr putin also told a government meeting that the new missile can evade missile defence systems. translation: the new avangard missile system is invincible for today's and future air defence systems and missile defence systems. this is a big success, and a big victory. stay with us on bbc world news. still to come: we'll look back at the life of sister wendy, the nun and art historian who became an unlikely tv star. the world of music's been paying tribute to george michael,

who's died of suspected heart failure at the age of 51. he sold well over 100 million albums in a career spanning more than three decades. the united states troops have been trying to overthrow the dictatorship of general manuel noriega. the pentagon said that it's failed in its principal objective to capture noriega and take him to the united states to face drugs charges. the hammer and sickle was hastily taken away. in its place, the russian flag was hoisted over what is now no longer the soviet union, but the commonwealth of independent states. day broke slowly over lockerbie, over the cockpit of pan am's maid of the seas nosedown in the soft earth. you could see what happens when a plane eight stories high, a football pitch wide, falls from 30,000 feet. business has returned to albania after a communist ban lasting more 20 years. thousands went to midnight mass in the town of shkodra, where there were anti—communist riots ten days ago.

this is bbc world news today. welcome back to bbc world news today. this is bbc world news today. some breaking news on wall street. the dow has gained over 1000 points editing a training session for the first time ever. there had been some nervousness following the us i —— us- nervousness following the us i —— us— china trade row. doubts about whether president trump had been considering firing the head of the federal reserve. white house has tried to settle investor nerves. it appears to have had the desire

effect. it is consumer stocks any rebound in the price of oil that have help for more positive sessions trading in new york. just to recap that breaking news. the dow on wall street has gained more than 1000 points ina street has gained more than 1000 points in a single trading session for the first time ever. more development on that little later. now, though, all the sport. ben croucher. good evening. it's getting better and better for liverpool. what a week it's been. they are now six points clear at the top of the premier league after a comfortable 4—0 win against newcastle united at anfield. they're still yet to lose a game in the league. looking rock solid defensively and they'll be top for the new year. their next couple of games, though, mean jurgen klopp isn't getting the party poppers out just yet. we play man city still in eight days or in a week. so if i would be man city, i would think there is only four. because we have to play them and before we play that game, we play against arsenal.

so that means absolutely nothing. the only thing that is important to us is the performance, the level of performance, which we obviously can keep in the moment. we have to keep it. that is how it is. and for the moment, it is obviously good. but that's all. liverpool extended their advantage after manchester city lost for the second time in five days. beaten 2—1 at leicester city, despite taking the lead at the king power stadium. it's the first since in two years the defending champions have lost back—to—back league games. it leaves city seven adrift of the leaders. we do not open up too much and they punished us every time. mentally, we lack a little confident in front, in the situations, except 5—10 minutes of the first half. they had chances that were better and the second half was the same. we have many, but we are there and we need to score a goal. so we have to accept it, we have to realise that we have

to work harder and try to change immediately one good result, and after, we are confident we will be back and we are going to make a good result. city slip to third. tottenham are now second having beaten bournemouth 5—0 at wembley. now 11 goals in their last two games. spurs play wolves next. elsewhere, brighton came from behind to hold arsenal. burnley‘s defence shipped five at home to everton. no goals between crystal palace and cardiff. fulham are off the bottom after a 1—1 draw with wolves. two paul pogba goals helped in ole gunnar solskjaer‘s first home game in charge of manchester united. 3—1winners of huddersfield, who slip to the bottom. in the late game, eden hazard made it 101 goals for chelsea as they lead 2—1 at watford. just a couple of minutes of stoppage time to play at vicarage boxing day football's never

been a thing in italy. until 2018, that is. a busy day of games in serie a where, for only the second time this season, juventus dropped points. they're still unbeaten but needed cristiano ronaldo's header 12 minutes from time to earnjuve a 2—2 draw with atalanta. ronaldo had come off the bench. ac milan struggled against lowly frosinone. in the late game, it's inter 0, napoli 0. napoli down to ten men. australia opening batsman cameron bancroft has told fox sports it was david warner who told him to tamper with the ball during the test between australia and south africa in march. bancroft was later banned for nine months for attempting to manipulate the ball with sandpaper. warner and then captain steve smith were both banned for a year. bancroft was speaking to former australia wicketkeeper adam gilchrist. definitely, i was asked to do it. i guess i didn't know how to be true myself in that moment,

so i didn't actually know any better. at the time, dave suggested to me to carry the action out on the ball, given the situation that we were in in the game, and i didn't know any better. i didn't know any better, because, yeah, i just wanted to fit in and feel valued, really. that is all your sport for now. thank you very much. sister wendy beckett — the nun whose passion for art made her an unexpected television star — has died at the age of 88. her broadcasting career began in the early 1990s and she went to appear in several bbc series. i'm joined now by xinran xue, a close friend of sister wendy's. xinran's late husband, toby eady, was sister wendy's lifelong agent. how will you remember sister wendy? since my husband spent the last time with her, she spent a lot of time with her, she spent a lot of time with us as well at our home, and we discussed about art and drinks, horse racing and many other funny things. 30 working together,

particularly her chinese art, i was delighted and touched by her beliefs and also unique thinking of arts. and what was it that she particularly liked about chinese art? for example, we both loved this kind of, based on women... it's beautiful. whenever being asked about anyone, but a woman's care, every time, she did not need to prepare anything. she needed to be sideman in front of the piece of art, that she distorted talking in a very unique way, without preparing any papers or whatever. everything from her heart and these. and was it just that she had denied for critiquing and spotting things and other people are? did she ever... do

you ever see her doing any artwork or sell? well, how do you say, what is art? this is why learn from her. art is, as she said, full of your life. when we're watching the horse racing shejust... which he held up a glass of wine, she can see the spirit and the soul from the drink. that kind of thing gave me, "where is the art or what is art?" it's full of your life. this is why learn from her. one profound note you and the bulletin on. xinran xue, thank you very much indeed. thank you for watching. don't forget you can get in touch with me and some of the team on twitter. i'm @benmbland. for me and the team, thanks for watching. good evening.

it may not have been a white christmas, but it wasn't always a particularly bright christmas either. many of us have had large amounts of clouds to contend with. this is how it looked earlier on this boxing day from a weather watcher in derbyshire. and the next few days, more of the same on the way. mostly dry but often quite cloudy. high pressure is still with us, sitting down to the south. frontal system dancing across the far north, the british isles, a little bit of patchy rain here. generally a west of south—westerly flow of air across the country. that continues to bring mild conditions. generally rather cloudy conditions through the night. some mist and murk and hill fog and drizzle. for southern england and the south of wales, as the sky clears a little bit through the night, it is going to turn it a bit chilly. towns and cities maybe three or 4 degrees. in the countryside, there could be a touch of frost. also something, a little clearer, building across the northeast of scotland.

in these areas, northeast scotland or south of england and south wales likely to see some sunshine during tomorrow, although for some areas, there could be some dense fog patches to start off. those were generally large areas of cloud. that ground—breaking ability during the day, perhaps for northeast england for example, some sunny glimpses here. those temperatures around where they have been, 9—12d. on thursday night, it will be that mixture of low cloud, mist, a little bit of drizzle. some fog patches developing. similar story for many on friday. but a weak front just works its way across scotland, a bit of patchy rain for a time. as that front clears away, the sky should clear a little bit. we will see some sunshine for northern ireland and mother england. further south more cloud, generally high, highs of 9—11 degrees. pressure.

a familiar friend by now. still sitting in place down here to the south. however, this frontal system approaching northern parts of the uk could bring some slightly heavier rain. the potential for a fairly wet today across scotland on saturday. some of that rain into northern ireland and perhaps northern england, a bit of insurgency about that. the further south you look generally cloudy, generally dry and it will be milder on saturday. maybe 12 degrees. for the last two days of 2018, we stick with the same thing. a lot of dry weather, a lot of cloud, some spells of sunshine and generally, it will be mild. hello. assist bbc news. the headlights. president trump and the first lady make a surprise christmas visit to us troops in iraq. it is the president's first trip to the conflict zone, nearly two years in his presidency. the dow breaks a record in games more than 1000 points ina record in games more than 1000 points in a single trading session. japan confirms it will resume commercial whale hunting next year and devise a global ban and it will leave an organisation to aim to

protect whales —— an organisation that tames to protect whales. president putin says russia stands ready to deploy a new hypersonic nuclear missile with the waves can penetrate existing missile defence systems. those are the latest headlines on bbc news this hour. coming up at10pm coming up at 10pm on bbc news. a round up of all the latest news for you with sophie raworth. he for