welcome to bbc news. i'm maryam moshiri. our top stories: president trump arrives back in washington and says he's willing to target iranian cultural sites if americans are killed by tehran. in australia, the worst weekend of bushfires yet destroys hundreds of homes. and the prime minister warns the fires could burn for months. more than two years after the first public allegations against him, the trial of hollywood mogul harvey weinstein is set to begin. the golden globes is taking place in hollywood. british comedy flea bag is amongst the winners, picking up two awards. we'll have all the latest.

hello and welcome to bbc news. president trump has issued a new warning for iran. he's said he's willing to target iranian cultural sites in retaliation for the killing of americans. tensions between the two countries are at boiling point following the us killing of iran's general soleimani. iran has announced a rollback of its commitments under the landmark nuclear deal. james robbins has the latest. hundreds of thousands of iranians have been mourning general soleimani and apparently getting behind their leaders, promising revenge. the chants are familiar, including "death to america," but the context has radically changed. the war of words from both sides is intensifying. president trump has now tweeted a new threat of massive retaliation, perhaps disproportionate. earlier, he wrote: "if iran strikes any americans or american assets,

we have targeted 52 iranians sites, some at a very high level and important to iran and the iranian culture, and those targets and iran itself will be hit very fast and very hard." is there still risk of attack? of course there is, there's a tremendous risk. we're doing everything we can to make sure we take that down and protect american lives — that's the mission set. iran's most significant action so far is the announcement that it will no long accept any limit on its ability to enrich uranium, which can be used in nuclear weapons. iran officially denies having such a weapons programme, but the country has steadily been moving away from its nuclear deal with key powers since president trump abandoned the agreement in 2018. in the iraqi capital, baghdad, where the general was killed in the american strike, iraq's parliament has expressed its outrage, voting for the removal of all foreign forces from the country,

although the decision is not necessarily binding. iraq's prime minister said the united states had put his country in a difficult position. translation: after the us pulled out of the nuclear agreement with iran, it started to be more tough with iran and the us started adopting a policy of with us or against us, and no option in between. and that's a hard position for iraq to be in. america is busy sending reinforcements to the wider region. in practice, around 5,000 us forces in iraq are unlikely to leave soon, but the us—led coalition has announced a pause in training of iraqi forces and operations against is, or daesh. the whole focus now will be on protecting its bases. tonight, in iran's holy city of mashhad, many thousands more iranians have turned out to mourn as the remains of general soleimani continue a nationwide journey ahead of his burial on tuesday. fears are growing that a ratcheting

up of violence in the region seems far more likely than the emergence of a new path away from violence. james robbins, bbc news. soolomay anderson is a journalist and author. she joins me from new york. first of all, let me ask you, why do you think the us targeted general soleimani in the way that they did? he has been a target for sometimes. 0bviously he has been a target for sometimes. obviously an extremely high level figure in iran and iranian military. he has consistently worked against us interests, he has been responsible for the deaths us military members, he was very much a thorn in america's side. so it is not a question of why he was on target —— click on the target list, it is just target —— click on the target list, it isjust a target —— click on the target list, it is just a question of risk versus reward. how has targeting him

benefited america's interests, and also the regional stability. what do you think will happen next? iran has obviously been making threats, but rhetoric is rhetoric. what can iran do to make good on those threats? well, there is many things they can do. initially there was a lot of analysis saying that iran mightjust hit a soft target orjust through proxy forces and not claim. there was a lot of speculation and still anyone who tells who they know exactly what is happening is lying. but the capabilities of iran is extremely expensive, especially in the regard proxy groups. so they have now said they will hit military targets, which probably won't happen directly through iranian forces. it will likely happen through a proxy forces like hezbollah, or those in yemen. the fact of the matter is

that these groups are spread out across the region in a way that positions them quite close to american and us military assets that are also scattered across the region. so there is a great many attacks that could happen against us bases, any sort of us asset in the region. let's talk about iraq, because iraq obviously has said that it doesn't want, or there has been a lot of pressure for us troops now iraq. do you think that is likely to happen, especially given that president trump has this evening threatened to impose sanctions on iraq if us troops are ordered out. threatened to impose sanctions on iraq if us troops are ordered outlj think it seems hard to conceive that the president is going to do anything he doesn't want to do at this point unless he is forced into it, and in this scenario, the iraqis can't throw us out. but they have

made it clear they don't want us there anymore, we are not they are fighting isis with them anymore because we have suspended those operations due to the crisis that has just, is unfolding operations due to the crisis that hasjust, is unfolding now. so it is unclear what our purpose would be in there. i mean, would we be forced to? no, probably not. we have the most powerful military in the world, so most powerful military in the world, soi most powerful military in the world, so i don't see anybody forcing us out. but staying seems like it would become increasingly complicated and dangerous. 0k, thank you so much for the talking to us. thank you. let's get some of the day's other news. in venezuela, chaos has erupted in parliament after luis parra, an opposition rival ofjuan guaido, proclaimed himself president of the national assembly without guaido's presence. the opposition also said mr parra was sworn in without votes, a move denounced by the opposition as a "parliamentary coup". flooding in the indonesian capital jakarta has now killed 60 people

and displaced thousands of others. the country has seen its most intense rainfall for almost a quarter of a century. environmental groups are calling for action, saying it should be a wake—up call to climate change in one of the world's biggest carbon emitters. the centre left challenger zoran milanovic has ousted the incumbent president, kolinda gra bar—kitarovic, in the croatian presidential election. the post is largely ceremonial, but the president does play a role in foreign policy, defence and security matters. when confirmed, mr milanovic will have a higher profile than usual, as croatia has just taken over the rotating presidency of the european union for six months. a second day of light rain and lower temperatures is giving firefighters in australia battling bushfires a brief reprieve. at least 2a people have been killed since september and there's a warning that the fires could continue for months with hotter, windier conditions

set to return in the next couple of days. 0ur correspondent clive myrie is on the south coast of new south wales, one of the worst hit regions, and has been talking to victims. look at that road. this bushfire season is like no other in modern australian history. i mean, this is unprecedented, what we're having here. i mean, the whole country is alight. within half an hour, it was, "get out, it's too late to leave." you know, "you should seek shelter." this is a thousand times worse. this is catastrophic. like, all the fires up the coast are catastrophic.

worry etches the faces of those who fled to this hotel from the small town of bundanoon. their homes encircled by two monster fires. the smell of smoke is present even here. by 9:30, i thought i was ok. judy coverdale is one of those who escaped with her life. it was just like a volcanic plume, just growing and growing, red. so, it's getting closer and closer, and at this stage, you're thinking, i've got to get out. yes. so then i could hear it. i thought i could hear this large fire. it's a disaster, a national disaster. judy sets out to try to establish if her home's been destroyed. we're going back in to see how far we can get. up ahead, not fog, but a thick wall of smoke from the giant fire a few kilometres away. but she hits a police roadblock.

can we get near bundanoon? she's told it's too dangerous. they won't let her through. it's unclear if her house is still standing. the prime minister, scott morrison, visited a naval base today, having enlisted the military in this unprecedented emergency. this is the largest single call—out ever of defence force reservists, working together with our full—time defence forces, to provide a support which this country has never seen before. but missteps, including going on holiday as parts of his nation burned, have smashed public confidence, especially in those who've had to escape the fires. reallyjust makes you angry when i see on the television our prime minister speaking. ijust would prefer that he didn't. nearby, we came across this trailer belonging to ron murdoch, who's 7a. he packed what mattered to him as he escaped the flames. they were handmade in chile... one of many tens of thousands in australia's biggest

peacetime mass evacuation. it is, it is my life now, and that's what i was trying to salvage — my life. in a country proud of its biodiversity, forests are stripped bare. and half a billion animals have perished, many littering roads. it is really, really disturbing. that is just such a waste. when will this nightmare end? heavy rain isn't forecast for eight long weeks. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: taiwan chooses a new president and parliament on saturday. which is more important to voters — economics or identity? the japanese people are in mourning following the death of emperor hirohito. thousands converged on the imperial palace to pay their respects

when it was announced he was dead. good grief! after half a century of delighting fans around the world, charlie brown and the rest of the gang are calling it quits. the singer paul simon starts his tour of south africa tomorrow in spite of protests and violence from some black activist groups. they say international artists should continue to boycott south africa until majority rule is established. teams were trying to scoop up lumps of oil as france recognises it faces an ecological crisis. three weeks ago, the authorities confidently assured these areas that oil from the broken tanker erika would head out to sea. it didn't. the world's tallest skyscraper opens later today. the burj dubai has easily overtaken its nearest rivals. this is bbc news. the latest headlines:

iran says it will no longer abide by limits on its uranium enrichment, abandoning its central commitment under the international nuclear deal reached in 2015. australia's prime minister, who's been criticised for his slow response to the country's bushfire crisis, has warned the blazes could last for many months to come. the trial of the disgraced hollywood mogul harvey weinstein, on charges of sexual assault, begins in new york on monday more than two years after the allegations against him emerged. the proceedings relate to just two of his accusers — allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against him by more than 80 women. he has pleaded not guilty, as nick bryant reports from new york. if hollywood were to stage the trial of harvey weinstein, maybe it would look something like this. the once all—powerful movie mogul looking feeble and using a walking frame as he appeared at a manhattan court house in december ahead of his criminal trial. weinstein has been charged with raping a woman in a new york hotel room in 2013 and sexually

assaulting another woman in 2006. he has repeatedly denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex. just because a woman makes a claim does not mean that it is true and just because mr weinstein is accused of a crime does not mean he is guilty. some of the biggest names in hollywood have accused him of harassment and assault — angelina jolie, gwyneth paltrow, and ashleyjudd among them. i really hope that justice is served. writerjasmine lobe is also one of the silence breakers who has accused weinstein of sexual assault. cases are sometimes hard to prove. her fear is he could be acquitted. i would be really afraid if he is not held accountable. and i think a lot of silence breakers will be, and just, you know, survivors in general. it will hurt. it will hurt to know that we have been hurt and that nothing would happen. so, i hope the court

does the right thing. the fall of harvey weinstein didn't only upend hollywood. it spawned a global metoo movement on the streets, in the workplace, and online. one that ignited a conversation about consent, equal pay and toxic masculinity, one that demonstrated the magnitude of the sexual harassment problem around the world. this must be very humiliating, mr weinstein? mr weinstein, this must be very humiliating for you ? far from being ashamed after being arrested and charged, harvey weinstein has bragged about being a champion of women. he told a new york tabloid ahead of his trial he has long been a trailblazer who promoted female film—makers — a boast victims have found sickening. harvey weinstein has apparently told

friends he is planning a post—trial comeback but that seems delusional, given the number of women who have accused him of sexual assault. the charges in his trial relate to just two of his accusers and, if found guilty, he could face the rest of his life in prison. nick bryant, bbc news, new york. police have been called to restore order at one of india's most prestigious universities, in the capital, delhi. about 20 students are said to have been injured at the javaharlal nehru university, leading to at least seven being taken to hospital. the indian home minister has ordered an enquiry. rhodri davies reports. this masked mob is wielding poles and sticks at one of india's leading universities. witnesses say that more than 50 people entered the campus at the jawaharlal nehru university in the capital, delhi, leaving results like this. i've been bleeding. i'm not even in a condition to talk. but the motives are unclear. the students union she represents alleges activists from

the right—wing body, the abvp, that's linked to india's ruling party, the bjp, carried out the attack. while the abvp accuses leftists of aggression against its members. translation: today, the way in which left has attacked teachers and students and members of abvp linked to bjp is a very shameful incident. several victims are in hospital and police and protesters are at the university gates. as demonstrators massed outside, the education minister has called on students to maintain peace on campus. protests have recently been held at the university over the bjp's controversial new citizenship law. whether or not that's connected, this latest incident will do nothing to ease the discord.

the us military has confirmed three of its personnel were killed in an attack in kenya. the somali militant group al—shabaab stormed an army base used by kenyan and american forces in manda bay. 0ne service member and two defence contractors died in the attack. one of asia's most vibrant democracies, taiwan, will elect a president and new parliament next saturday. beijing sees the island as a chinese province which makes some taiwanese very nervous. president tsai ing—wen's party, the democratic progressive party supports formal independence for taiwan while the opposition kmt party, wants closer relations with china. 0ur taipei correspondent cindy sui looks at one key factor that could influence the outcome. this mansion sits majestically in the city. its owner is a family whose

ancestors moved to taiwan from south—eastern china in the 18th century. derek is the ninth generation in his family. his family history is filled with loyalty and service to china, starting with the typing rebellion in the 19th century when the family patriarch sided with the government. later ancestors prevented french troops from taking over taiwan, trying to maintain chinese culture during japanese colonial rule and built up the republic of china. they saw themselves as chinese, do you see yourself as chinese, taiwanese or both? i think it is both. because we cannot get rid of, i am not a chinese, cannot. 0n the campaign trail, president tsai ing—wen said the mainland is a threat

to taiwan's way of life. at temples like this one, the deities she prays to may be from chinese culture, but she insists taiwan is to keep its distance from the mainland to safeguard what it has that china doesn't, democracy and freedoms. at the heart of these elections, is the issue, the sense of identity of taiwanese people. they have traditionally found support from people who see themselves as only taiwanese. those who see themselves as both taiwanese and chinese have voted for the kmt. how voters identify themselves could decide the outcome of these elections. surveys show that in the last 20 years, the chinese government actions and politics in taiwan have changed how people identify themselves. many more people now see themselves as taiwanese instead of chinese or both. this is especially true among young people, including at the universities.

i take myself as taiwanese. the reason is, i think the political system in the two countries is too different. translation: i don't consider myself chinese. one reason is that governments are separated and another reason is, when we speak our accents are different and our cultural distances pull the two sides fell apart. back at the mansion, which is open to the public, the family pray to their ancestors, not only for the well—being of their own family but for peace between china and taiwan and prosperity for future generations. the golden globe awards are under way in hollywood. seen as the ceremony that marks the start of film award season, the globes are the second—most important date in the calendar — but certainly the rowdiest. ricky gervais is hosting again as cast and crew of the big screen blockbusters hope to bag prizes and build momentum ahead of the all—importa nt 0scars next month. david willis is our

correspondent in los angeles. david, bring us up on the big winners so far. well, i have to see there has been a theme of the a cce pta nce there has been a theme of the acceptance speeches tonight, there has not been anything political, per se, it has been about the australian wildfires and those fires actually one of the winners tonight, russell crowe, away from hollywood and the golden globes ceremony itself. a statement was read on his behalf about the effect and his concerns about the effect and his concerns about the effect and his concerns about the effects of global warming. but elsewhere we have seen victories tonight golden globe was for quentin tarantino, tricia tonight golden globe was for quentin tara ntino, tricia arquette, tonight golden globe was for quentin tarantino, tricia arquette, sam mendes, and eltonjohn, and ponytail plan in the film categories, and in the tv categories, a very good night for phoebe waller—bridge. she got an award herself as did her series, amazon and bbc series, flea bag. and 0livia colman has been named best actress in a tv series. big awards

still to come, including that for best picture. but these golden globes going down as perhaps one that has spread its awards fairly thinly. and there is no big winner on the night, at least not yet. and these awards were touted as a big yearfor these awards were touted as a big year for netflix, once they? yes, that was a prediction very much going into these awards. netflix picked up 3a nominations out of a total of 55. that's extraordinary. among those were three of the best film nominees, the marriage, the irishman, and the two popes. they are all netflix films. just six is ago netflix was not in the business of making films or television dramas, for that matter, but they

have spent a lot of money, billions of dollars, in the hope is, from their point of view, but it will pay off tonight with some statuettes in the cabinet at their offices here in hollywood. i can see you addressed to impressed. are you invited to an after party, perhaps because hello there will be after parties. it is a bit of a knees up, the golden globes, compared to the much more button—down academy awards, which ta ke button—down academy awards, which take place in just button—down academy awards, which take place injust five button—down academy awards, which take place in just five weeks liberal time. but take place in just five weeks liberaltime. but that, make no mistake, is the big night out for hollywood. as always, thank you very much. david willis in los angeles. you can get plenty on all the stories you have heard here on bbc news on our website, bbc .com/ news. the latest on who the winners and losers are in the golden globe awards also on the website. you can reach me on twitter to give me your opinion or to have a chat.

i'm @bbcmaryam. thanks forjoining us on bbc news. bye— bye. hello. red sky for some on sunday night but not a huge amount of delight for the shepherds or indeed the rest of us for the weather over the next few days. quite a turbulent spell with the potential for disruption from notjust heavy rain at times but more especially or severe gales, particularly to the north and west. it will bring with it, during the next few days, some very mild conditions before things turn chillier later in the week. first spell of turbulent weather comes from this area of low pressure, it's to the south of iceland. heavy snow here. but gales and heavy rain push to the west of ireland by the end of the night. most, though into the morning rush hour, cloudy, a few spots of rain or drizzle and frost free. but through the morning rush hour itself, northern ireland, some heavy bursts of rain and gale force winds, spreading across scotland from mid—morning onwards. not too much rain in the east. as for wales and western england, it's really from lunchtime onwards we will see that heavy rain

before sunshine returns to the west later on. it's to the north and west where we'll see the strongest of the winds, potential for gales, maybe 50 mile—per—hour gusts or more for some. not quite as windy for east anglia and the south—east. but the breeze will pick up by the end of the afternoon and into the evening rush hour we will see this band of narrower but quite heavy rain spread its way eastwards. it does mean we finish the day in south—west england, wales, and northern england with a greater potential for some sunshine. a few showers in northern england, and we'll see a few showers in northern scotland, northern ireland, maybe wintry over the tops of the scottish mountains. and temperatures drop away a little bit through the afternoon but not as windy for the evening rush hour as it will have been for the morning one. and then as we go into the evening, that rain spreads across east anglia and the south—east, clear skies for a time, a brief dip in temperature. could rule out a touch of frost and there but temperatures rise later as more wet and windy weather spreads its way in from the west. and that's this area of low pressure. our next one, which is a deeper bigger area of low pressure, that means the winds are stronger, extent further away from the centre, which will still be around iceland, producing snow here, but for us dragging in exceptionally

mild airfrom the mid atlantic, rocketing temperatures from what will have been a chilly start for some in the south—east. here though it should stay dry and bright through much of the day. it's northern england, scotland, northern ireland, outbreaks of rain at times, the biggest disruption could come from the winds. widespread gales, strongest the winds north and west of scotland, 75—80 mile—per—hour gusts not out of the question. those winds coming over from the mid atlantic and will bring some exceptionally mild weather to the north—east of higher ground, so north—east wales, the north of northern ireland, and to the north—east of scotland we could see 15—16 degrees. that milder air swept away as we go through the night and into wednesday morning. a chillier start on wednesday morning with a touch of frost around. rain returns from the south—west later. more wet and windy weather around on thursday before a quieter end but a colder end to the week.

this is bbc news, the headlines:

president trump has stressed that he is willing to target iranian cultural sites, in retaliation for any future killing of americans by tehran. the iranian government has vowed retaliation following the us assassination of general qasem soleimani. rockets exploded near the us embassy in baghdad on sunday night. australia's prime minister has warned that the bushfires in the south—east of the country could last for many months. the overall death toll has climbed to 2a and hundreds more properties have been destroyed. light rain and lower temperatures made little difference in the two worst—affected states. golden globes awards ceremony taking place in hollywood. 0livia colman has won the prize for the