From the crew. As chiles president gives in to one of the key demands of Anti Government protesters, we have a special report on how months of unrest have changed what was once one of latin americas most stable nations. The United Nations estimates that nearly a quarter of a Million People have fled syrias Idlib Province in the past three weeks. The government and Russian Forces are intensifying their attacks on what is the rebels last stronghold. The un says the Maaret Al Numan region in Southern Idlib is now almost empty as the bbcs tim allman reports. Before the war, more than 50,000 people lived and worked and thrived here, but now it looks more like a ghost town. The streets almost empty, the houses deserted. Convoys of cars and vans and lorries snaking out of this town and others like it as the people of idlib flee for their lives. From the end of april until the end of august, we had more than 400,000 people displaced at that time. So the latest displacement figures comes on top
The government has announced that from april, thousands of nhs patients, visitors and staff will benefit from free parking at hospitals in england. Most visitors to hospitals in scotland, wales and Northern Ireland are already exempt from charges, as our correspondent James Waterhouse reports. For nhs patients and those who visit them, its an age old complaint. Paying to park at hospitals. During the election, the conservatives promised to do something about it in their manifesto for specific groups. So, from april, all 206 hospital trusts in england will be expected to give free parking to those being described as in the greatest need. This includes blue badge holders, frequent visitors to outpatient clinics, parents of Sick Children staying overnight and staff working night shifts. And lets not forget, hospitals make a lot of cash from parking. According to freedom of information requests, trust in england last year made more than £254 million from charges, a further 1. 5 million fr
The United Nations estimates that nearly 250,000 people have fled syrias Idlib Province in the past three weeks. The government and Russian Forces are intensifying their attacks on what is the rebels last stronghold. The un says the Maarat Al Numan region in Southern Idlib is now almost empty as the bbcs tim allman reports. Before the war, more than 50,000 people lived and worked and thrived here, but now it looks more like a ghost town. The streets almost empty, the houses deserted. Convoys of cars and vans and lorries snaking out of this town and others like it as the people of idlib flee for their lives. From the end of april until the end of august, we had more than 400,000 people displaced at that time. So the latest displacement figures comes on top of that, so what we have is one crisis compounding another. These are desperate times, people taking what they can, what few possessions they are able to carry with them. Many have fled north, heading to refugee camps like this one ne
Are on the honours list but, of the more than 1,000 people receiving honours this new year, around two thirds are being recognised for their work in the community, as Kathryn Stanczyszyn reports. Olivia newton john says she is grateful beyond words to be made a dame for services to charity. A damehood too for former tv presenter Floella Benjamin for her lifelong work with childrens charities. Volunteering always features heavily in honours lists, with many who arent household names being rewarded. Im no hero, i was lucky. Im here. All the heroes are dead and ill never forget them as long as i live. Thank you, darling. People like d day veteran harry billinge, who becomes an mbe in recognition of his efforts fundraising for veterans. When im doing this collection, a wonderful calm comes over me, because im doing something for the boys. Back in 2012, rhiannon mannings one year old son george died. Her husband paul took his own life five days later. She now runs a charity in wales to help
Also coming up, germanys president gives his annual Christmas Day address, asking citizens to overcome differences and respect each other as equals. Also, pope francis delivered his christmas message from the vatican. He told thousands of worshipers packed in st. Peters square to let the light of christmas pierced the darkness in human hearts. He also made an appeal for peace around the globe. And the open wounds of romanias christmas revolution. The country marks a grizzly revolution, the exexecution of a commmmunist ctator 30 years ago today that helped bring the countrys bloody revolution to an end. Im laila her rock im laila harrak. So glad you could join us. A very warm welcome. We begin this broadcast in syria. More than 200,000 people have fled a government assault on Idlib Province. Most have been heading for the Turkish Border. Syrian Regime Forces backed by tanks are continuing their ground offensive against rebel held offenses in southern and eastern idlib. About 250 have be