this is bbc news. i'm lewis vaughan jones. our top stories: growing anger in china. quarantine squads detain people suspected of being infected by the corona virus and 80 new deaths in the province at the heart of the outbreak are announced. over 3,000 passengers on the diamond princess are confined to their cabins, as 61 people are treated for the virus off the coast of japan. democrats descend on new hampshire, where the presidenital candidates will debate who is now best positioned to take on donald trump. and, as the film world prepares for the oscars, one female director tells us ho0w and why hollywood is unconsciously racist.

hello and welcome to bbc news. the number of deaths from china's coronavirus epidemic has jumped to 717 surpassing the toll from the sars outbreak on the mainland and hong kong almost two decades ago. and there's been a huge outpouring of grief and anger at the treatment of a doctor who tried to warn the world of the dangers of the virus. hundreds of millions of people have viewed social media posts, on dr li wenliang, who's died after contracting the illness while treating infected patients. he was censored by the authorities in the city of wu ha n after raising the alarm. from beijing, here's our china correspondent, jon sudworth. shouting in some cities those suspected of being sick are being rounded up, with multiple unverified videos

showing the quarantine squads at work. it's all adding to a growing sense of disbelief and dread. "i don't want to be taken away like that," a child can be heard saying. screaming but now the fear is turning to anger. doctor li wenliang was one of the first to report signs of the new strange virus, but his online posts were censored and the police made him sign this confession, along with seven others, for spreading rumours. his death from the virus in this wuhan hospital has prompted an outpouring on social media. the hashtag "i want freedom of speech" viewed almost 2 million times before being blocked. "doctor li was the first whistle—blower, but no one cared," this man tells me.

are you angry? "yes, a bit," she says, "but more hopeless — if they'd listen to him the situation would be better now." on a beijing river bank, we find a tribute to the doctor. "goodbye, li wenliang," it says. there can be no doubting just how sensitive a moment this now is for chinese‘s ruling communist party, the already simmering concern about the mishandling of the crisis exploding into a public wave of anger and grief. in the death of a doctor, the systemic failings have been laid bare. the response, though, is likely to be more censorship. these videos of wuhan‘s hospitals, the conditions inside, and the people queuing for masks were taken by a blogger — chen quishi. i spoke to him

earlier this week. what's your thoughts about how long you will be able to continue providing independent reporting from wuhan? "i am not sure," he says. "the censorship‘s so strict, people's accounts are being closed down if they share my content." his family say he's now disappeared. in this public health disaster, there are real political risks and the orders are already being sent out — maintain stability, tighten control. john sudworth, bbc news, beijing. more than 60 people have tested positive for the virus on board a cruise ship injapan. there are 3,700 people on board the diamond princess, which is quarantined in yokohama. all the passengers have been confined to their cabins for the next fortnight. here's our medical correspondent, fergus walsh. some passengers have called it a floating prison. three days into the 2—week quarantine of japan, passengers are being allowed

to exercise on deck wearing face masks. but dozens on the diamond princess have been removed to hospital for treatment. among them, alan steele, on his honeymoon. he's among nearly 80 british people on board. 41 additional passengers have been found positive tested for the coronavirus, one of whom is a friend of ours, on honeymoon, who has been... who was going to be split from his wife, you know, on honeymoon. he was going to be taken to a medicalfacility and she will have to remain on board. there's still a lot we don't know about this virus and the next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether a pandemic, a global epidemic, can be averted. it's spread through droplets, face—to—face contact within a couple of metres

of an infected person. the incubation period is up to 14 days. it now looks less likely that people spread the infection before they have symptoms. the virus causes a fever and cough. the majority have mild symptoms, but it can cause breathing difficulties and viral pneumonia, as lung tissue becomes inflamed. most of those who've died are elderly, with underlying health problems. but not all. doctor li wenliang, among the first to raise the alarm about the new virus, was just 34. he would've risked repeated infections at close quarters to patients. if a large amount of virus is coming in all at the same time, in the case of a health care worker working very closely with infected patients, it could be that the amount of virus in the body increases very, very rapidly before the immune system has the chance to deal with it,

and so that could lead to a rapid onset of severe disease. the world health organization has warned of a global shortage of face masks and other protective equipment, in part because people who don't need them are buying them. the world is facing severe disruption in the market for personal protective equipment. demand is up to 200 times higher than normal and prices are up to 20 times higher. a final evacuation flight of british nationals from wuhan, like this one last week, is due to arrive on sunday. passengers will then be taken to a quarantine facility in milton keynes. fergus walsh, bbc news. fresh from the embarrssment of iowa, democrat candidates hoping to take on president trump in november's us election are in new hampshire for another televised debate. on tuesday, supporters in the state will get to choose which one they want to support.

all eyes are on pete buttigieg and senator bernie sanders, who came out ahead in iowa and leading the polls in new hampshire. jane 0'brien is in new hampshire for us. hi, new hampshire for us. jane. this debate getting under hi, jane. this debate getting under way pretty soon, what are you looking out for? well, i think it's whether or not the gloves are going to come off and pete buttigieg certainly has a big target on his front right now as he's no longer the u psta rt right now as he's no longer the upstart candidate, iowa proved that, and he also rising in the polls in new hampshire. i think his rivals on stage will seize the opportunity to try to put him back in his place a little bit, because of course he's relatively inexperienced compared to many of them, he's the youngest candidate. he's only 38 years old, and he's the former south bend mayor. he's got military experience and

he's also openly gay and married to his partner, so if he did win the presidency he would become the first openly 93v would become the first openly gay married president in the united states. so all of these things make him very, very attractive to many voters, but, asi attractive to many voters, but, as i said, got a attractive to many voters, but, as i said, gota big attractive to many voters, but, as i said, got a big target on his front because the others will want to take him down. someone who looks like they're ina bit someone who looks like they're in a bit of trouble now after events in iowa, joe biden. a lot of trouble. he's lying fourth in new hampshire as well and he's got to do something to turn around his campaign because as well as losing momentum, donors are going to lose confidence in him and he's not got that much money compared to the others and can't afford to lose any more donors. he needs the money, he needs the support, he needs the voters and right now he's not showing why he should get any of them. he is a moderate and his one campaign issue was he

was a moderate alternative to donald trump and the only candidate he claimed who could beat donald trump. now mayor pete has loaned that out of the water because clearly voters think he's an alternative, and don't forget bernie sanders, bernie sanders is actually the one in the lead, he declared himself the winner of iowa because he won the popular vote, even though pjudge has more delegates, and he looks likely to win the primary in new hampshire, a big favourite in the granite state. joe biden has a lot of ground to make up to catch the two front—runners. finally, jane, this idea of electability, because people can't just vote for their favourites, they have to have half an eye on which one is going to beat donald trump. this is a problem the democratic party has right now. they have very charismatic candidates who are loved by their supporters, passionately, like bernie sanders, and then

they have... bernie sanders they have... bernie sanders they think might be too far to they think might be too far to the left to actually win the moderates when it comes to a general election. then you've got the moderate candidates, likejoe biden got the moderate candidates, like joe biden and got the moderate candidates, likejoe biden and pete buttigieg, who the democratic party things are far more electable when it comes to a general election, but they run the risk of their own voters, the risk of their own voters, the democratic base, not turning out to support them because they don't feel enthused and passionate about what they stand for. it's the perennial tussle for the democratic party: do they go with their heart or do they go with their heart or do they go with what they think at the moment is the head? interesting, jane. i know will be keeping a eye on that debate, which is kicking off in the next half—an—hour. one of the key witnesses in president trump's impeachment inquiry has been fired from his job at the white house, according to his lawyer. lieutenant colonel alexander vindman is a ukraine expert and so was listening in on the phone call lastjuly between donald trump and ukraine's leader, volodymyr zelensky.

lieutenant vindman told the inquiry he was concerned with what he had heard. his lawyer added that vindman‘s twin brother, yevgeny, who did not give evidence, had also been sacked. gary 0'donoghue has more from washington. it seems that colonel vindman was due to stay in his post until the summer of this year, when he was due to head back to the army staff college, but he has been, as his lawyer puts it, escorted out of the white house and the president said this morning, you know, "am i supposed to be happy with him? that will be dealt with someone later on, he clearly knew this was going to happen. and stephanie grisham, his press secretary, said yesterday he had been treated horribly and may be people should pay a price. that sounds like a threat. vindman may be the first but not the last to suffer these threats. some of those who gave evidence have

already left the white house, some of those officials. it's worth pointing out vindman didn't go voluntarily, he was subpoenaed by congress to give evidence and his lawyer said he didn't speak to anyone else apart from that appearance in front of the committee. he didn't do press interviews or anything like that. effectively his lawyer is saying that this is the president exacting revenge on someone who is the president exacting revenge on someone who did their duty. gary 0'donoghue in washington. let's get some of the day's other news. a senior united nations envoy says spain is completely failing the poor. philip alston is the un's special rapporteur on extreme poverty. after a 12—day tour of the country, he says there's a completely inadequate social protection system that leaves people in poverty by design. he also said there's a housing crisis of stunning proportions. premier league side manchester united has reported one of britain's best—selling newspapers to the uk press regulator, claiming it knew in advance of plans for an attack on the home of a senior club official. a flare was thrown at the house of executive vice—chairman

ed woodward last month. man united claims the sun knew the attack was coming, but didn't tell police. the paper has rejected the allegations, and says at no time was its reporter made aware of what was to take place at mr woodward's home. apple has been fined $27 million by the french authorities for deliberately slowing down older iphones. prince harry and his wife meghan have appeared for theirfirst joint public engagement since quitting as working members of the british royal family. harry gave a speech at this hotel in miami at an event organised by american bankjpmorgan chase. it's not known if he was paid. the couple left britain in a shock move last month, and are now living in canada. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: heading for the sun. scientists prepare to send an unmanned craft into the burning heart of our solar system.

there is mr mandela, mr nelson mandela, a free man taking his first steps into a new south africa. iran's spiritual leader, aya tyler camino, has said he has passed a death sentence on said he has passed a death sentence on salman said he has passed a death sentence on salman rushdie, the british author of a book which many muslims say is blasphemous. —— ayatollah khomenei. the people of haiti have flocked to church to give ousting for the —— thanks for the ousting of the former president, baby doc. because of his considerable value as a stallion, shergar was kept in a secure box. he was driven away ina secure box. he was driven away in a horsebox the thieves had brought with them. they're stepped down from the plane a figure in morning. elizabeth ii, queen of this realm and all her other realms and territories, head of the

commonwealth, defendant of the faith. this is bbc news, the latest headlines: quarantine squads in china are detaining people suspected of being infected by the corona virus as authorities confirm over 700 deaths. democrats are in new hampshire where the presidential candidates will debate who is now best positioned to take on donald trump. the united nations says nearly 600,000 civilians have fled their homes to escape fighting in north—west syria since the start of december. and it expects thousands more will be forced to join them as syrian government forces, backed by russia, continue to seize ground from rebels. alan johnston reports. the frontline in syria's was

owned. the scene of weeks of fierce fighting. —— syria's war zone. these rebels have been waging a losing battle. they have been retreating from towns like these. advancing russian backed syrian government forces have been moving on. the bombing goes on. and the civilians, the people who had made their lives here, have abandoned these buttered places. they have gone north, filling the roads. countless families, suddenly homeless and bullying. what little they have is loaded in the back, and they have no way of knowing when or if they will ever return to their old lives. for many, camps like this, close to the turkish border, will be their new home, where they will find flimsy shelter from the cold winter rain. we only came with

our clothes. we don't have bla nkets our clothes. we don't have blankets or pillows. i swear to god the situation is very tragic. we arrived yesterday and the children, well, there is nothing to warm them up. there is nothing, really, nothing. 0rganisations work ha rd nothing. 0rganisations work hard but nobody supports them. i call on arabs, arab countries, turkey and the world to look at our situation. the united nations says that 600,000 people have been uprooted by the fighting in italy in the last two months alone. —— idlib. it describes what is happening here is an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe. the un is begging the world to take notice. botswana has raised more than $2 million from its first auction of licences to hunt elephants since lifting a ban last year.

the auction allowed companies registered locally to bid for the right to kill ten elephants. the government says the hunting will take place in the areas where there has been the most conflict between elephants and humans. conservationists fear it could fuel poaching, as nomsa maseko reports. botswana, home to 130,000 elephants, more than any other country. with this year's hunting season less than two months away, the government has sold seven licenses for a tale of ten elephants at peace and controlled hunting areas. —— a kill of ten elephant apiece. and hunters will be allowed to export the trophies. bidders in the online auction who must become companies registered and botswana are expected to put down a refundable deposit of 18,000 us dollars. shortly after coming into office in 2018, the president revoked the hunting ban, which came into force in 2014.

he argued that with an increasing human population, elephants were threatening people's lives and crops in rural villages. but animal activists have condemned the move. they say hunting is not an effective long—term population control method. many rural communities believe a return to commercial hunting will help keep the elephant population away from their villages and bringing much—needed income and place is not suitable for a high—end tourism. nomsa maseko, bbc news. a new mission is set to launch next week that will reveal the sun as never seen before. the spacecraft, called solar 0rbiter, is a joint european space agency and nasa mission and was assembled in the uk. it's been said to be the country's most important mission for a generation. 0ur science correspondent rebecca morelle reports.

incredible images of the sun, it's turbulent surface revealed in fiery detail. the view of our star is about to get much better. this is solar 0rbiter, it is jam—packed with instruments and will take images from closer to the sun then any spacecraft has before. temperatures will reach 500 degrees which means the use of unexpected materials. obviously it gets extremely hot. we had to develop special technologies and coatings for the spacecraft because the environment is going to be so hostile. one of the coatings we had to develop was based on baked animal bones and that is at the front of the heat shield to stop it from getting too hot. solar 0rbiter has a long and difficult journey ahead. after leaving the earth, it will take about two years to get into prime position, orbiting closer than the planet mercury to the sun, but every time the spacecraft passes behind our star, it will lose contact for weeks and if anything goes wrong it could be burned to a crisp. but gradually the spacecraft will lift its position, letting us sun's poles

for the first time. what i love is that you can see the fantastic structure on the site here, a structure that is lofted up into the atmosphere which we call the prominence. at the royal astronomical society, solar records reveal dramatic activity, which can impact us, it is called space weather and can knock out navigation and communication satellites and cause power failures. in the same ways we have terrestrial weather in the earth atmosphere, we have space weather in the sun's atmosphere. so, we are excited about getting up close and personal with the sun so we can understand the origins of space weather and ultimately develop our physical knowledge so we can better predict space weather in the future. the spacecraft‘s instruments will be switched on soon after launch

and it will take years for all of their results to come back. only then will we be able to truly shed light on our star. rebecca morelle, bbc news. hollywood is preparing for the film industry's biggest night of the year, the oscars on sunday. and like other award ceremonies this season, it's facing criticism for failing to recognise people of colour. among the omissions is the director of the acclaimed film harriet, a biography of harriet tubman, who helped free hundreds of slaves in the american south. 0ur arts editor will gompertz has been to meet the director, kasi lemmons. god was watching but my feet was my own. running, bleeding, climbing, nearly drowned. nothing to eat for days and days but i made it. i thinkjust having a black woman in the title role has been challenging, you know, for hollywood, you know. you be ready. but why is it challenging? i think that just believing that women in leading roles, women, not to mention black women, can be... ..can really be a box office

draw, a woman—led picture, you know, can make money at the box office and be successful. her film harriet did just that, although it did take a very long time for the movie about the famous 19th—century abolitionist to get made. in hollywood, i learned that, actually, people are frightened easily... intimidated is the word i should use. people are very intimidated of black women. i need thoughts here, it's almost like, i need ideas. would you say hollywood is intrinsically racist and sexist? well, yeah, of course, i mean, we have to look at it, it's very provable. i think people are unconsciously racist. just hold on. and suck in. a feeling that hollywood perpetuates racial stereotypes goes back a long way, with classics such as gone with the wind caricaturing

a black woman as a deferential domestic servant, known as mammy. so she would often be this sassy black woman with a kind of broken vernacular, so a lot of "honey child" and things like that. hattie mcdaniel won an oscar for her performance. that was 80 years ago. cynthia erivo could win for playing harriet on sunday at an academy awards where she's the only person of colour to be nominated in the acting categories. it's embarrassing, you know? hollywood, that is supposed to be, you know, this is our dreams, this is our best self, this is our most aspirational self that we are presenting and, hopefully, related to who we really are in the time capsule of this moment, so it's bizarre, it's weird and it's embarrassing. it does take time to change but the feeling here as we approach sunday's academy awards is, for the oscars, that time really is up. will gompertz, bbc news, los angeles. the 0scars get under way on sunday evening, and of course bbc news will be there and bring you everything you need to know. in the meantime get in touch with me and send me a message on twitter.

i'm @lvaughanjones. this is bbc world news. bye— bye. hello there. we've got some very strong winds indeed coming our way this weekend. all courtesy of storm ciara, which will arrive on sunday. that is when we are going to see the strongest winds, with met 0ffice warnings already in force. these could yet be updated through the weekend so make sure you stay in touch with the forecast over the course of the weekend. now, storm ciara itself will develop underan storm ciara itself will develop under an incredibly strong chap streams, one of the strongest atla ntic streams, one of the strongest atlantic jet streams i've streams, one of the strongest atlanticjet streams i've seen, with the winds in the jetsetting 250 miles an hour. that is what will make this intense area of low pressure on sunday, which is storm ciara. before we get there, over the next few hours, we will see the winds pick up as well. it will become quite blowy. a band of push east while in intensity, followed by some blustery

showers across western areas. because it has been quite a windy start on saturday morning. it is not adjustment the cold start. temperatures between 4— eight celsius. the rest of saturday they will be a fair bit of sunshine for a time, especially across england and wales, but further north across ireland and scotland, the cloud will thicken through the cloud will thicken through the afternoon. 0utbreaks the cloud will thicken through the afternoon. outbreaks of rain and hill snow in scotland and strong gust of wind. northern ireland and scotland. that could reach up to 70 miles an hour. strong enough to cause some disruption. from there it becomes very windy overnight as well across england and wales. a band of rain pushes its way in. storm carer doesn't really start arriving until later on sunday. —— on ciara. let's take a look at ciara, here it is under pressure charts. you can see how tightly packed the isobars are on this weather system, always a sign of strong winds. the strongest winds will come along in two batches, but really, it is going to be windy on sunday, pretty much across the whole of the uk, with gusts for most of us in the range of

something like 60—80 miles an hour. we are going to see some impacts, some disruptive weather, on sunday. the strongest winds for scotland, along through the afternoon, certainly on the southern flank of this area of low pressure. that is where we will see the sign of strong winds. notice how that comes through, especially through the central belt, late in the day on sunday. that could cause problems. further south for england and wales we have got a cold front that is going to be bringing a squally band of heavy rain through, and that is on and head of this band of rain but we will get the strongest wind gust. with gusts of 60-80 strongest wind gust. with gusts of 60—80 miles an hour, and the strongest winds potentially lasting some 6— nine hours, the risk of impactjust increases. transport disruption is to be expected. weather on roads, rails, at airports or even the ferries, we could see significant problems on sunday.

this is bbc news, the headlines:

quarantine squads in china are detaining people suspected of being infected by the new corona virus while authorities in beijing have banned large social gatherings to control the outbreak. the number of deaths from the epidemic has jumped to over 700, surpassing the toll from the sars outbreak two decades ago. democrat candidates trying to be the one to take on president trump will debate each other in new hampshire. on tuesday supporters there will get to choose which one they support. all eyes are on pete buttigieg and senator bernie sanders. a key witness in president trump's impeachment inquiry, lieutenant colonel alexander vindman, has been sacked from his white housejob. another witness, us ambassador to the eu, gordon sondland, issued a statement saying he was being recalled from his post. tv presenter phillip schofield has revealed he's gay.