Nigeria says more strikes could be launched against jihadist groups

Nigeria has indicated that more strikes could be launched against jihadist groups, after the US attacked Islamic State targets in the north west of the country on Christmas Day. In an interview with the Politico news website, President Trump said the strikes were initially supposed to take place on Wednesday, but he delayed them by a day to give the militants what he called "a Christmas present". The government in Abuja gave the go-ahead for the operation - but the two sides differ over whether IS has been specifically targeting Nigeria's Christian community. Casualty numbers are unclear, but both US and Nigerian officials say militants were killed in the operation. A clergyman there tells us IS targets all Nigerians but Christians do face restrictions.

Also in the programme: Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to a ceasefire ‍aimed at ending weeks of clashes sparked by a long-running border dispute; why students in the UK are less inclined to study English to a higher level; and the music of the American singer-songwriter, Carole King.

Joining Julian Worricker to discuss this and more are Celia Szusterman, a Latin America specialist, and Michael Carlson, a British-American writer and broadcaster based in the UK.

(Photo: One strike hit a field near a village in Sokoto state)