[02:50.47]Pope Francis called for reconciliation and peace in Syria, saying that war was always a defeat for humanity.
[02:57.95]World News from the BBC
[03:00.36]The Italian coastguard says it’s rescued more than 700 people in the last two days from boats carrying migrants and refugees.
[03:09.29]Here’s Alan Johnston.
[03:10.84]This is the time of year when Italians expect to see migrants landing on their southern shores.
[03:17.48]In the summer months, the seas are calmer and more people attempted to take their chance in rickety boats setting out from North Africa in search of better lives in Europe.
[03:29.05]Vessels land in Italy almost every day, but the numbers coming over the past 48 hours have been particularly high.
[03:37.74]Many of these people were from Nigeria, Ghana and Eritrea.
[03:42.37]Protests in Brazil have disrupted Independence Day celebrations in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
[03:48.56]The protesters were demanding better public services.
[03:51.71]The Indian opposition party, the BJP, has asked the government in the southern city of Pondicherry to provide schoolgirls with overcoats to prevent them from being sexually harassed.
[04:02.77]It’s the latest suggestion about how to combat sexual violence against women in India.
[04:07.69]As Joanna Jolly reports:
[04:09.21]In a statement, a local party secretary of the BJP said sexual harassment was a particular problem in government schools and that all teenage girls should be given overcoats for protection.