i'm mariko oi in singapore, the headlines: a final farewell to the white house press corps — and barack obama says he'll speak out to defend his "core values". i think we are going to be ok. we have to fight for it and we have to work for it. we cannot take it for granted and i know you will help us do it. no arrest for the boss of south korea's corporate giant samsung, under investigation for alleged bribery and corruption. i'm babita sharma in london. three diseases that could become global killers, but half a billion dollars pledged to defeat them. and we speak to the first indigenous australian to become a government minister. live from our studios in singapore and london. this is bbc world news.

good morning. it's 9am in singapore, iam in london, and 8:00 in the evening in washington, where president obama has held the final press conference of his eight years in the white hous just 48 hours before his successor is inaugurated, a reflective mr obama, touted his achievements from gay rights to lifting the trade embargo with cuba. he had words of advice for donald trump — don't try and do it all yourself, listen to your advisers. and there was a final thought — "in my heart, i think we're going to be ok". here'sjon sopel. for one last time, barack obama came to the white house briefing room to joust with the press. good afternoon, everybody. but amid reports that his successor wants to limit access and regularly accuses journalists of being dishonest and liars, the outgoing president spoke of the importance of a strong and free media.

you are not supposed to be sycophants, you are supposed to be sceptics. you're supposed to ask me tough questions. you're not supposed to be complimentary, but you are supposed to cast a critical eye on folks who hold enormous power. this picture was released today of donald trump preparing his inaugural address. barack obama was asked what advice he would give his successor. on this, he steered a diplomatic course. this is a job of such magnitude that you can't do it by yourself. you are enormously reliant on a team. that's probably the most useful advice, the most constructive advice, that i have been able to give him. and then the final question, come on, mr president, are you really as sanguine as you are saying publicly about donald trump taking over? this is notjust a matter of no drama obama. this is what i really believe.

it is true that behind closed doors i curse more than i do in public. laughter. and sometimes i get mad and frustrated like everybody else does. but at my core i think we're going to be ok. thank you very much, press corps. good luck. barack obama will spend the next year writing and being around more for michelle and his two daughters. he says he won't be a back seat driver. but he's given this warning, if he sees things that he really doesn't like then he will speak out. it seems that friday won't be the last we see of barack obama. but in the meantime, there's a new home to get ready. moving house is said to be one of life's most stressful experiences. but when you have been president for eight years making life and death decisions, where to hang your favourite picture is probably unlikely to keep you awake at night. jon sopel, bbc news, washington. let's take a look at some of the day's other news. a court in south korea has refused a request by prosecutors to arrest

the boss of samsung, the country's biggest company. it ruled that there was insufficient reason to detainjay y lee, who's being investigated for corruption. simon cullen reports. for the head of the world ‘s largest smart phone maker the fall from grace has been very public for the boss of samsung. jay y lee was ensnared in south korea's ongoing corruption scandal. he spent wednesday night behind bars, waiting for a court ruling on whether he should be formally arrested. a move prosecutors have been pushing for. translation: since we have been doing our best we have expected the judges to make a wise decision. but prosecutors say he made a pledge for a business merger. while the company has admitted making payments worth $36 million, he denied he expected

anything in return. translation: eventually, whether the bribe offering was in return for favours or not, we the council feel we have sufficiently proven our point. after deliberating overnight, the seoul court said they would not approve the arrest warrant. a temporary reprieve for the billionaire businessman and for samsung. the investigation was a fresh source of embarrassment for south korea's most high—profile company. last year, they had to spend billions of dollars recalling the latest smartphone, curbing profit making. it is a profoundly inconvenient time. no company wants to be investigated by state prosecutors. they want to put 2016 behind it. so this is not a good way of starting 2017. this is a setback for prosecutors investigating a scandal already leading to the impeachment

of the president. but, given the deep public anger at south korea's political and business elite, it is by no means the end of the saga. chinese president xijinping has used his final speech on his swiss trip to talk about creating a ‘circle of friends‘ around the world, as he aims to build new relations with the us. mr xi's speech also praised the paris climate deal and he said the major powers should keep their differences under control. the president—elect of the gambia, adama barrow, has issued a defiant message to president yahya jammeh who has refused to step down despite losing last month's election. mr barrow, who is in neighbouring senegal insists his inauguration will go ahead on thursday. the former us president, george bush senior, who's been in hospital in texas since saturday, has been moved to intensive care. he is said to be in a stable condition after being

treated for pneumonia. mr bush is 92. his wife, barbara, has also been admitted to the same hospital as a precaution because of fatigue. liberty media's takeover of formula i has cleared another key hurdle with the sport's governing body unanimously approving the deal at a meeting in geneva. the deal, which needed the approval of the fia and european anti—trust regulators, has been valued at up to $8 billion. the world's oldest panda has just celebrated her 37th birthday—equivalent to 100 in human years! basi's ripe old age is being credited to her breeders in fuzhou city, east of china. her team of carers have had basi on a special diet and routine for the past seven years, which has helped her maintain

a healthy weight of around 100 kilograms. it's a race against time for scientists — come up with a vaccine — before the next global epidemic strikes. on wednesday, they named the diseases they're targeting so they don't become the next ebola. to help them, $1160 million has been pledged by governments and private foundations. but they need even more money as our global health correspondent tulip mazumdar reports. what was will be the next global epidemic, a virus we already know about, ora new one? the ebola outbreak in west africa showed how unprepared the world is for new epidemics. more than 11,000 people died, partly because there were no vaccines to protect them. the research charity, the wellcome trust, is part of a new coalition urging people to look at a new epidemic being even more deadly, especially if it is airborne.

we are lucky that the world has reacted so well. we have but this could happen again. this puts the world in a very vulnerable place. scientists have identified three obscure viruses that they want to fast track vaccines for. the nipah virus spread from fruit bats to humans. it's mainly occurs in bangladesh. lassa fever is common in west africa. the last is middle east respiratory syndrome. it is believed to be spread by camels. it has killed more than 650 people, mostly here in saudi arabia. this lab in oxford is one of the research facilities trying to come up with a vaccine to help people suffering from mers. this is the clinical by manufacturing facility. this is the basis

for the mers vaccine. it will be scaled up in the coming months. it is expected that hundreds of files will be ready for human trials in the coming year. is this vaccine does work, it could still take a decade or so to get to those who needed. historically, money for these obscure viruses has not been forthcoming, and the regulatory process is long. they are working on an ebola vaccine. we found it frustrating we were testing ebola vaccines in people and getting good safety data in people in oxford and yet it was not being used in west africa where the ebola outbreak was happening. people were dying of the disease while we were testing the vaccines. we do not want to be in that situation again. this type of research takes years and costs hundreds of millions of dollars.

it may not be any of these three viruses that cause the next epidemic. but if it is, putting the time and money in now could stop a small outbreak becoming the next global health emergency. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: the first indigenous australian to become a government minister tells us that community relations are the best that he's ever seen. also on the programme, the cost of mobility in thailand — home to the world's second—worst road safety record. the people of saigon have just heard there is to be a ceasefire. the reaction of american servicemen was predictable. i'm going home! demonstrators waiting for mike gatting and his rebel

cricket team were attacked with teargas and set upon by police dogs. anti—apartheid campaigners say they will carry on the protests throughout the tour. they called him the butcher of lyon. klaus altmann is being held on a fraud charge in bolivia but the west germans want to extradite him for crimes committed in wartime france. there he was the gestapo chief klaus barbie. millions came to bathe as close as possible to this spot, a tide of humanity which is believed by officials to have broken all records. welcome back. you are watching newsday. thank you forjoining us. the headlines for you this hour

were—at his final news conference, president obama has said he will continue to speak out to defend what he called core values after he leaves office will not a court in south korea has refused a request by prosecutors to arrest the boss of samsun, it the country's biggest company who is being investigated for alleged bribery and corruption. the first rail service from china to britain has pulled into a station in london. the containers took more than two weeks to make the 12,000 kilometre journey delivering clothes and household goods. the train takes about half the time of a sea journey. let's take a look at some front pages from around the world. the international new york times goes with donald trump, ahead of his inauguration on friday. the paper says he goes into office unbent and unpopular. it also carries an investigation into mr trump and his family's business deals in moscow, saying he had tried to do deals in russia as far back as 1987.

the japan times also leads on mr trump, this time on the possibility that as president, he may end the us policy of maintaining a strong dollar. the paper quotes mr trump saying us companies can't compete with china now because our currency is too strong. and, he says, it's "killing us." and the south china morning post continues its coverage of the battle for hong kong's top job. it says outgoing chief executive cy leung has announced a raft of new policies, in an effort to cement his legacy. now babita, what stories are sparking discussions online? mariko, take a look at what is popping up in museums around the world. yes, it's the donald trump waxwork. this one's been unveiled at the famous madame tussauds in london.

standing imperiously in the oval office, it's all in place — the suit, the tan and of course that flowing hairstyle. grab that selfie now. the threat of global warming is getting ever more real. scientists say 2016 was the hottest year since records began over a century ago. temperatures are now 1.1 degrees higher than pre—industrial levels. the third consecutive year that record has been broken. scientists believe increasing levels of greenhouse gases are mostly to blame. our science correspondent rebecca morelle has more. our planet is warming, fast, and the latest data suggests that 2016 was a record—breaking year. this winter, parts of the arctic have had a heatwave, temperatures were above freezing, when they should have been far below. while australia's great barrier reef was transformed to this. vast swathes of coral were killed off, as the waters warmed. 2015 was the warmest year

on record up until now, and 2016 has just beaten that. it's beaten it by about 0.1, 0.12 degrees celsius. which doesn't seem like a lot, but in terms of the yearly variations, it is actually huge. part of this rise was caused by an el nino event, a warm ocean current that disrupts the world's weather. but scientists say greenhouse gases were the main driver. this shows how global temperatures have increased since the industrial revolution. the bigger the circle, the hotter the year. and the latest data, collected by nasa and meteorological agencies around the world, suggest 2016 is the third year in a row to break records. the global temperature is edging ever closer towards some worrying figures. scientists say a rise of two degrees celsius above pre—industrial levels could lead to dangerous impacts around the world. so a lower limit of 1.5 celsius was set by the paris climate agreement, a global deal that came

into force last year. but with carbon dioxide at record levels, scientists say this is a temperature threshold we are on course to surpass. to tackle global warming, the world is being urged to move away from fossil fuels, like coal. but in the us, donald trump has said he wants to revive the industry, and has threatened to pull america out of the paris climate agreement. the woman who brokered the deal is concerned. if the us chooses to exit the road and the path that is being pursued by every other country in the world, it is only going to damage itself, because it will become less competitive. we are moving toward a de—carbonised society. all eyes will now be on this year's data. already, scientists forecast that 2017 won't be as warm, because the el nino event is over. but they say longer term,

unless action is taken, the earth will continue to heat up. rebecca morelle, bbc news. here's something to think about if you're travelling to thailand — the country's roads are the world's second—most dangerous to libya. more than 60 people a day are killed by traffic accidents. and that number rose even further over the new year period. our south—east asia correspondent jonathan head reports. for so many people in thailand this was a new year touched by grief. these are friends and family of a 26—year—old. she was one of a78 people killed on thailand's roads in a single week. the van she was travelling in, from her hometown to bangkok, was involved in a fiery collision. the driver lost control at speed, swerving into oncoming traffic. 25 people lost their lives.

the particular horror of the collision that happened here is attracting a lot of attention for now, but if past experience is anything to go by it will soon be forgotten. thailand's roads are killing about 16 people every day and yet there is such half—hearted driver education, almost non—existent law enforcement. how can they bring those numbers down? police to set up occasional speed traps, like here just north of bangkok. but they only target the most blatant violations. if we strictly follow the law, the sergeant told us, we would have to fine everyone. so just one ticket this morning, for a driver doing 130 in an 80 kilometre per hour zone. the fine may not even be paid.

we need to go back to change the dna of the country about this. we have to make strong law enforcement, because right now you have a ticket and after one year, if you don't go to pay the ticket, itjust disappears. the burnt wreckage of the van in which the 26—year—old died lies inajunkyard. successive thai governments have spoken about road campaigns but never given them enough resources or political backing. her bereaved mother thinks nothing will change this time either. translation: after the accident, people got excited for a while. but once it becomes quiet again everything will go back to the way it was before. 50 years of development has given the thai people access to great roads and affordable personal transport. now they need to find

the will to cut the terrible human cost of this mobility. many high—profile personalities have been gathering at this week's weld economic forum in davos, which aims to discuss the globe's most pressing issues. i like them as microsoft founder bill gates, whose foundation is investing millions in the coalition for academic preparedness to help combat infectious diseases. here is some of what he had to say about his push to develop new vaccines. historically it has taken yea rs vaccines. historically it has taken years for a new vaccine to be created for several reasons. one is that the science has been so complicated. it involves special manufacturing. the second is that the approval, how people are indemnified, who should take charge,

that has not been clear. but after the ebola epidemic, lots of people in the global health community, including all the founders of this new effort, sepi, said we should do something in advance. and in fact there is a new type of vaccine platform, a dna— rna platform, which we believe, although it has not been proven yet, will allow us to move much faster, have a generic factory, and perhaps get that time down to under one year. that was bill gates in davos. ken wyatt has been in australian politics for a while but today he's getting a lot of attention because he has become the country's first indigenous minister. its not the first time mr wyatt has set a precedent — he was also the first indigenous member of the house of representatives. a big moment for him and for australian politics. earlier i spoke to him about his appointment. you feel immense pride at the fact that, as a 10—year—old kid growing

up that, as a 10—year—old kid growing up in that, as a 10—year—old kid growing upina that, as a 10—year—old kid growing up in a country town, you never thought you would occupy a seat in the australian parliament. and when you have the prime minister ring you and say, i would like to appoint you to the position of minister for aged care, and minister for to the position of minister for aged care, and ministerfor indigenous health, would you accept it? i became emotional and i managed to get other words, yes, it would be a privilege and honour. i think the other thing is, it is a poignant time in australia's history. aboriginal and torres strait islander people have been on this continent for 60,000 years, and to have the incredible privilege of being the first is something that i will cherish always. they lost is often focused, in terms of attention, regarding australian politics and its relationship with the indigenous community. —— a lot is often focused. how would you describe it today? would you say it is in describe it today? would you say it isina describe it today? would you say it is in a better state than it has been before? it is better in many insta nces. been before? it is better in many

instances. but there are still practices that have to be changed. working with aboriginal peoples it find solutions, as opposed to government policies going on over the top of them, and the unfortunate deaths in custody, and the way in which some of the circumstances have arise have been extremely frustrating. generally, on the whole, there is a far better relationship in this decade then i saw in my years growing up. do you have an analysis of perhaps why it has taken so long for an indigenous minister to be appointed to government? i think it isjust a matter of many of us standing up, competing for a seat in the house of representatives, winning that seat, showing your credentials, that you have skills equal to your peers, and then, when the time is appropriate, a leader recognising the qualities you have and appointing you. but pa rt you have and appointing you. but part of the challenge, neville

bonner was the first senator, and then aidan roach way, so there have been periods when we have not had representation in the federal parliament. what is great now is that there are five of us. that caucusing of the five of us are certainly influenced our positioning on many issues within the australian parliament and it is a great way forward for australia. you have been watching newsday. stay with us — we will be finding out what imf head christine lagarde's predictions are for economic growth in 2017. and before we go, some spectacular pictures from mexico, where the colima has erupted. lava and ash was thrown more than 2,000 metres into the air. the volcano is one of the most active in the pacific ring of fire. that's all for now. stay with bbc world news. there is definitely a pattern emerging with the weather.

i will say that for the weather over the last few days. here is monday's satellite picture. a lot of cloud across the uk under building high pressure. spot the difference on tuesday. a bit of sunshine coming in the south—east of england. and yesterday's satellite picture also shows a lot of cloud. again, the south—east poking out in the sunshine. you can guess what the forecast will be for thursday. another cloudy day for much of the country. the cloud will be thick enough as we go through the first part of the morning to give a few spots of rain in the midlands, maybe west england and wales. under this cloud it's a mild start for most. a touch of frost in aberdeenshire and certainly for southern wales and southern counties of east anglia it will be a cold day, under relatively clear skies. a widespread frost. but just as we've seen for the past couple of days there will be sunshine working across southern counties of england. cold but bright.

the weather front continues to move across central portions of wales and england, where the thickest cloud is. that's where we could see the odd spot of morning drizzle. temperatures about 6—9 celsius as we push in the northern parts. in scotland the cloud produces a few spots of rain. this is the picture through the rest of the day. a cloudy day weatherwise for most of the uk, but again some faring better for sunshine than others. southern counties keep the sunshine. breaks in the cloud across scotland. the best for eastern areas. generally the cloud a little bit higher in the sky across the northern half, compared to yesterday, so at least it will look brighter underneath the cloudy skies. that's thursday. through the night we've got this cloud through thursday night. again there could be a few mist and fog patches forming, a bit of drizzle through the night. with the clearest skies across southern england and wales we will have pockets of frost. maybe a bit of frost through northern ireland, but where it stays cloudy about 5—7 degrees. on friday the high pressure is still with us and so is the cloud for a good part of the country.

again, some breaks. the best towards southern england and parts of scotland. certainly it is cold underneath the cloud. temperatures near normal for the time of year. through the weekend and into the start of next week don't expect any major changes. we keep a lot of cloud, and at least there will be bright or sunny spells and a little bit cooler through the weekend as well. that's the forecast. i'm babita sharma with bbc world news. our top story — president obama has warned his successor, donald trump, not to lift sanctions against russia. at his final press conference as president, mr obama said vladimir putin had created an "adversarial" relationship between the two countries reminiscent of the cold war. a court in south korea has refused a request by prosecutors to arrest the boss of samsung. it ruled that there was insufficient reason to formally detain jay y lee. and this video is

trending on bbc.coom — the first freight rail service from china to britain has arrived. it took more than two weeks for the containers to make the 12,000 kilometre trip. the train takes about half the time of a sea journey. that's all from me now. stay with bbc world news. and the top story here in the uk — two investment banks have confirmed they will transfer jobs from london to mainland europe. hsbc and ubs said it was a response to theresa may's plans for britain