>> "bbc world news" is presented by kcet, los angeles. funding for this presentation is made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its financial strength to work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to major corporations. what can we do for you?

>> and now "bbc world news." >> a car bomb has exploded outside of the christian church in the northern egyptian city of alexandria. there are unconfirmed reports that 11 people have been killed. the nigerian president has condemned the army attacks near the capital. millions of people have welcome in the new year. in london, people gathered along the thames river to watch a spectacular fireworks display. welcome to bbc world news. coming up, time to say goodbye to the iconic new york cabs. it is being modernized.

a car bomb explosion outside a christian church and the northern christian city of alexandria is reported to have killed 27 and injured another four. it happened as people were leaving the church after the midnight mass. the official casualty figures came as the report said that it claimed some muslims. earlier, i spoke to our correspondent in the capital and he told me how the authorities were trying to deal with the attack. >> shortly after midnight, worshipers or coming out of the church in alexandria and the car

bomb exploded killing at least 8 people and wounding another 24. this is according to official figures. i have spoken to the police at the church and they expect the death toll to be much higher than that. they could see body parts all around. he also said that they were fortunate that not many people had gone outside after the mass and had the bomb exploded just a few minutes later, the casualties would have been much higher. alexandria is a city at the north of egypt which has seen sectarian violence. this church had seen violence

when they were attacked. there was counter demonstrations against the muslims and many more casualties. >> tell us a little bit more briefly about the tensions between the christians and moslems at present. >> it has been increasing in recent months and the wife of a priest was reported to have converted to islam and then taken back to the church which led to demonstrations by muslims and increasing tensions. this was followed by a claim from al qaeda in iraq saying that they will target copts in

egypt. the woman has not been released, of course. what happened today might be connected but no official declaration has come from any group claiming responsibility. officials here in egypt are saying that it might be linked to al qaeda in iraq. >> a bomb has exploded in a market close to the military barracks. the 11 people have been killed. local journalist report people being carried away from the scene. it is not clear what caused the blast in nigeria. >> chaos and confusion on the streets of the nigerian capital. the blast happened in a busy marketplace as revelers prepared to bring in the new year. the target and timing were carefully chosen to inflict maximum casualties. >> people are generally unhappy

because of the new year -- people are generally happy because of the new year approaching. there are some devilish people who are going about trying to make life uncomfortable. >> dazed but relieved, survivors were taken to hospitals, many still reeling from the deafening blast. >> i still have the sound in my years. >> a blast has occurred at the containment barracks. >> many nigerians will see the news of a third major bombing in a week as a concerning development. until recently, bomb attacks had been widely announced. it is not clear who was responsible or how many were killed, such violence will cause outrage and fear.

>> our correspondent is in -- and he gave us the latest on the attacks. >> there is no -- we are not hearing anything in particular. police have not been able to confirm it. they are carrying out their investigation but they have not named in a group or individuals or linked anyone to be attacked. we are not sure who was behind it. >> give us some background, some context in all of this. what has been taking place in the weeks and months in nigeria. is any suggestion that this will be linked to anything in the past? >> if we go back to october 1st, during the 50th anniversary of independence, there was a blast that went off and that was linked to a niger delta group. they usually send out a warning before the attacks. there was no indication this time.

there is also a radical islamic sect called boko haram which operates in the north of nigeria. they carried out attacks starting off on christmas eve and they have warned that they will carry out more across the country. it is possible that they're responsible for this. >> in a televised new year address, the leader of ivory coast laurent gbagbo is refusing to step down as president. he is indicating that he will not give up power. he accuses the international community of drying and could talk. north korea has called for a peninsula free of nuclear weapons and for improved ties with the south. confrontation between the north and south should be defused as early as possible, the north said. millions of people in brazil

have been partying on the beach ahead of a traditional fireworks display to welcome in the new year. the display consists of 25 tons of rockets and it is a very and loud and bright display. they have another reason to party, the new year means that their first female president takes over as the outgoing -- it takes over. a quarter of a million people gathered along the thames river to see a fire display centered around the bend. the freezing cold and not dampen the atmosphere as a thousands of people flocked to the eiffel tower in paris. there was cheers as the tower was eliminated and everyone shared a romantic moment with champagne. lithuania became the first former a state to join the euro. they have been preparing for the

switchover. with the rosellen in crisis, this is not the best time to be joined in. -- with the eurozone in crisis. many people gathered in sydney harbour to watch the fireworks. in the yukon -- in the uk, a magistrate has granted investigators more time to look into a case -- the architect was arrested and police are still searching his flat. >> and new year's eve, but at this victorian mansion block tonight, the somber search goes on. exactly two weeks after yates was last seen alive. all day forensic teams have been

moving evidence from her basement flat. among the items taken away was a rug and bags containing towels and blankets. they have also been upstairs in the flat that belongs to her landlord, chris jefferies. the 65-year-old retired public schoolteacher was arrested yesterday morning on suspicion of murder. he is being held at this police station in the center of bristol. detectives were given more time to investigate him after applying to a magistrate for another extension. they went to the property next door and spoke to his neighbor. he showed detectives two vehicles parked on the driveway. an hour later, he left with a police officer driving away a bmw, apparently for forensic examinations. the police stress he has not been arrested and he is not a suspect and he returned without

the car a short time later. 36 years ago, another young woman was murdered in this neighborhood just half a mile from this flat. she, too, was strangled and her body left at the side of this road. the killer was never caught. the victim then was -- and it has emerged that the team still investigating a murder has been in contact with officers on this case. they are insisting that this is standard procedure and at the moment they are not formally linking the two. the search of this property is likely to continue right after the holiday weekend. it is owner is facing a second night in police custody. -- in police custody. by monday morning, they will have to decide whether to charge him or release him. >> stay with us, americans cross their fingers for a lottery when that is worth $240 million.

the funerals have taken place in baghdad of two people killed in bomb attacks on christian homes on thursday night. this was the latest step in a campaign against christians. the bombing campaign began in october. >> the dwindling christian community bids farewell to the latest victims of a campaign to drive them out. the two people who died in the thursday night bomb attacks were an elderly couple. their only sin was to be christian in the wrong place at the right time. -- at the wrong time. at least half a dozen christian homes or single out for a tax. among those who survived, a mixture of anger and fear. >> enough of terrorism, if they want us to leave, we will leave.

let us live. >> this family has been living here since the 1950's. a bomb went off at their neighbors next door and another in their own garden. now, they're planning to leave but it is not easy. this is a difficult business. it is hard to sell the house. they both have jobs the civil servants. his wife says that she is frightened to send her daughter to school. maybe she will be kidnapped. it is safer to stay in school, -- home, she says. more than 40 worshipers were killed. thousands of christians have fled many to the kurdish areas of northern iraq. for those who remain, there is not much more they can do but pray for better times so that these communities that have lived here since the early years

of christianity can keep clinging on. > you are with "bbc world news," welcome. an explosion at a christian church has killed at least seven people and has prompted an outbreak of violence in alexandra. there has been an explosion at army barracks in the nigerian capital. several have been killed. -- levels are rising in queensland where 200,000 people have been evicted by the worst flooding in decades. the waters are expected to severed road and rail methods. >> event in a country the size of the continent, this is a major crisis as floodwaters stretch to the horizon. from tables and chairs to televisions, people battle to

save whatever they can. inside, they wade through rooms as the reality hits home. >> it just happens. >> i think it is horrendous. there is too much. this is quite frightening. >> the prime minister is in queensland offering hugs and federal government money. >> the purpose is to assist people that have lost their homes and to ensure that they can have some immediate access to cash for all of the expenditures that they will need. >> army helicopters are flying people to safety, sometimes victims have a choice, often they do not. >> and no one knows how it will come. >> the state says that the disaster zone is the size of france and germany combined. the worst is yet to hit some

areas but elsewhere, flood waters are receding. the levels might fall but the cost of the floods will continue to rise. damage estimates are running into the billions of australian dollars. >> western and central areas of the united states have been planted by snow as the winter storm has spread across the entire length of the country from new mexico to the canadian border. tornadoes have struck the midwest. here is our report from washington. >> in arkansas, the new year has come with heartbreak. storms riding unseasonable warmth and gave birth to tornadoes and one touchdown here. three people are reported dead and more injured. the residents are sifting through their homes for what they can salvage. >> this is the worst i've ever seen. this is really hard. you see people standing on their

porches crying and going through stuff. this is what you don't see. >> right behind the warm air, this, a bitter cold front turning from west to east. blanketing southwestern desert with snow. this is arizona. across the west, even temperate regions are in a deep freeze. even in denver, colorado, it is a surprise to some. in new york, they're still digging out from the last big snowstorm or earlier in the week. some neighborhoods are only now getting cleared. in times square, they say that they are ready for nearly a million people to turn up to the nearest celebration and it is not the weather causing anxiety. the square has been surrounded by barricades. every visitor will go through a

checkpoint, backpacks are banned, bomb-sniffing dogs will be on the streets. the temperatures will be above freezing. >> as we mentioned earlier, brazil is going to end of rate of their first female president he will be replacing lula de silva. what policies will the new president seek to pursue? first we will have an implication for the new leadership to china. >> brazil is important to china as an ally and a source of raw materials. last year, china overtook the u.s. as brazil's largest trading partner. some say that this was a historic moment. china was muscling in on a

relationship between the u.s. and brazil that stretched back to the 1930's. china and brazil share many economic and political opinions. they want the developing world to have a greater say in framing and regulating a new world financial system. china has been increasing its ties with south american nations as they scour the world for resources to feed their economy. they have a trade deficit with the brazilians. they sell china more than they buy from here. here in washington, policy makers have a couple of questions about the new brazilian government. first, is economics. will rousseff move to a more state-led economic policy? second is about diplomacy, how reliable a partner is brazil for

the u.s.? under the president lula, they were warm but they cooled recently after brazil and attempted to befriend iran. the american delegation is being led by hillary clinton. >> india increasingly sees brazil as a useful ally to have on the world stage. historically, they have not had a lot to do with one another because of course geographically they are so far apart but that is changing as the two governments realize how much they have in common. they are regional superpowers with fast-emerging economies. of the last few years, they have got together with russia and china. the idea is to try to counter the influence of the west in global negotiations. particularly on two issues,

climate change and global trade. >> though separated by the atlantic ocean, brazil and south africa how much a comment. the host of the most recent and the next football world cups both have former presidents who were firm believers in the value of self diplomacy. they have worth -- they're worth nearly $2 billion a year and is part of their relationship that south africa has been invited to join the -- group of nations. sitting alongside brazil, russia, india, china, is south africa which is a real affirmation of their growing economic power and their clout as a southern hemisphere power. >> 6 numberstand between some people in the u.s. and the perfect start to their new year. the draw for the lottery will be made just before american celebrate the beginning of the

2011. the jackpot is $242 million. >> it could be the best $1 someone spends this year or any year. that is how much a ticket costs for them lottery. this man thinks he spent his dollar wisely. >> this is the winning ticket. >> why wouldn't he dared to dream? brisk ticket sales across the 41 u.s. states or the lottery is played has boosted the jackpot to about $240 million which is the most to change most lives but apparently not all. >> i would not even quit my job, i could keep working and make some investments and put my kids to college. >> whoever wins, it will have to beat the odds of 175 million to one. an hour before the start of the new year is the drying -- drawing.

>> the iconic new york yellow cab is about to get a makeover. they will announce a winning design for the next generation of taxis. the start of many movies and commercials is being made smaller and more fuel-efficient. not all of the drivers are pleased with the force change. >> the yellow cab is one of the defining images of new york. it has had cameo roles and thousands of movies. scrappy and seedy, just like the city itself. they move 600,000 people a day. for the driver, the car is so much more than just a vehicle. >> i look at this as my office, my production line, my source of income. >> he is devoted to his crown victoria cap, his constant companion in gridlock and in good times. the city is looking for

something different. >> the mainstay has been the crown victoria and has done great work at it is time for a new car. this is 12 miles a gallon. this is not the most comfortable ride. while this is a design that everyone associates with new york city, this is time to freshen up. >> ford, nissan, and the turkish company have been short listed in the competition to produce the next cab. the design features fuel- efficient, roomy vehicles. whatever design that the city selects will become the signature for the next 10 years. not everyone is being happy to drive the same cab. >> i have a crown victoria. i'm a lover of having the right to choose. they have taken with the choice that we have now to buy a

toyota, a crown victoria. i don't think that this is right. >> city officials are pressing ahead searching for the taxi of tomorrow. >> people say to me, how about bringing back the -- but this would not be the right car for today for many reasons but i would like to have a car that has that level of affection. >> the energy and fossil and new york is -- by the fleet of yellow cabs. its place in the city fabric is assured. >> a car bomb has exploded at a christian church and egypt following in your mass killing at least seven people and prompting a violent clashes. the nigerian president has condemned a bomb attack in a market. millions of people around the world have been will commit the new year. -- have been welcoming the new

year. all of us here at the bbc news wish you a happy new year. >> hello and welcome. >> see the news unfold, get the top stories from around the globe and click to play video reports. go to bbc.com/news to experience the in-depth, expert reporting of "bbc world news" online. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. the john d. and catherine t. macarthur foundation. and union bank.

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