australia is bracing for more bushfires. prime minister giulio could -- julia gillard has warned new south wales of catastrophic conditions. protests and vigils are continuing across india over the gang rape of a student. people want tougher laws to deal with cases of sexual assault. the father of the victim has her in a wants to name th newspaper. others say she should only be named its the new law is named after her. the founder of the human rights organization says what is needed now is a total revamping of the police force and judiciary. >> i would like to prioritize police reform and judicial reform, because for us tampering with that, it will receive next to nothing if the police force remains as incompetent and corrupt and dysfunctional as it is, and are forced continues to drag ordinary cases for decades, and even extraordinary cases, including crimes relating to terrorism. they let them drag on for decades on end, and the judicial system, which is incapable of delivering short and speedy justice, should not be trust

the bushfire is continuing in the southern marshes part.id you showers in news out wells, but some of the lightning strikes have been causing problems with the bushfires and it's quite possible they have sparked a few of those fires in recent days. there will still be a few showers close to the coastal fringes of new south wales. there is some cause for good news there. further north, this is where we are talking about flooding. you can see this circulation that may well develop in the northern areas of queensland. this is also affecting indonesia. they say they are in the process of easing a bit now. making its way into the southeastern part of sri lanka, nothing nearly as wet as it was a few weeks ago. 5 inches across the portion of southeast asia. >> the top stories on al- jazeera. after a four-day siege in the saharan desert, algeria is warning the number of debt is expected to rise. 23 hostages killed and another dozen unaccounted for. west african countries did indeed urgent financial help from the united nations to help fight rebels

the bushfires in the australia -- in australia. the prime minister warns the crisis is far from over. five men accused of gang raping and killing an indian medical student have formally been charged in the delhi -- in delhi. a sixth accused, under 18, will be tried in a juvenile court. , the five accused were brought to court under very tight security -- >> the five accused were brought to court under very tight security. the case is receiving quite a lot of interest. they have been presented to the magistrate and have their charges read out against them, which include rape, murder, unnatural offenses, kidnapping, and robbery, amongst others. two lawyers offered to represent them. the lawyer we spoke to said he would want to represent them. he says he would do it because he believes they deserve a fair trial. jama they are not convicts until it is proven so in a court of law -- >> they are not convicts until it is proven so in a court of law. i know the whole country has branded them as criminals and the evidence is against them, b

. >> still ahead, battling bushfires pin australia. more than 100 homes destroyed with warnings of more to come. and taking on one of the last remaining challenges in a venture. that's coming up. it 9:00 p.m. eastern and 6:00 pacific. the top stories. u.s. president barack obama has nominated former soldier and republican senator chuck hagel for defense secretary. he has chosen john brenan to head the cia. both are considered controversial choices. rebels in northern myanmar say the military is continuing its air and ground assault against them. the armed forces on monday reported a attacked hilltop positions belonging to the caller independents army. firefighters are on standby across the australian state of new south wales. temperatures are soaring and that there are fears of wildfires. fires have already been burning in tasmania four days. the new year is almost a week- old. there have already been three drawn attacks in pakistan. the latest has killed at least seven people in the north. last year there were 122 strikes. while the u

hundreds of bushfires are out of control, threatening to engulf the southeast of the country and the island of tasmania. authorities have closed down national parks, a first in a country that is no stranger to+ wild fires. even for seasoned firefighters, it is a worst-case scenario. >> the weather conditions are such that we cannot do any act of firefighting at the moment. the wind is too strong. it is just too hot, and the fire danger rating is just too high. >> the fire chief is telling people to be diligent and he weather warnings. >> it is very important that people keep themselves safe, that they listen to local authorities and local warnings. this is a very dangerous day. >> fires are a regular occurrence in australia, but this time, it is different. officials are already calling conditions catastrophic, and the worst may yet be to come. >> some soccer news now, and hungary and bulgaria will be taking to the field in and the -- in empty stadiums because of racist and behavior. >> the look somebody said both teams must play the games behind closed doors. hungary has been sanctio

hundreds of bushfires are out of control, threatening to engulf the southeast of the country and the island of tasmania. authorities have closed down national parks, a first in a country that is no stranger to+ wild fires. even for seasoned firefighters, it is a worst-case scenario. >> the weather conditions are such that we cannot do any act of firefighting at the moment. the wind is too strong. it is just too hot, and the fire danger rating is just too high. >> the fire chief is telling people to be diligent and he weather warnings. >> it is very important that people keep themselves safe, that they listen to local authorities and local warnings. this is a very dangerous day. >> fires are a regular occurrence in australia, but this time, it is different. officials are already calling conditions catastrophic, and the worst may yet be to come. >> some soccer news now, and hungary and bulgaria will be taking to the field in and the -- in empty stadiums because of racist and behavior. >> the look somebody said both teams must play the games behind closed doors. hungary has been sanctio

still to come -- the battle goes on in australia to get bushfires under control before more hot weather blows in. journalists at one of china's top newspapers have ended their protest against censorship. they had gone on strike after a government official replaced the new your editorial calling for guaranteed constitutional rights. it was the first strike in 20 years. >> we are just inside the offices of the southern weekly. as you were sitting, the journalists have gone back to work. the newspaper has come out today. but here down in the street -- against government says ship, but also freedom of expression. we are seeing some people turning up. police have put four men into a police van. one of the men was in a wheelchair. journalists are back at work and for police, business as usual. they are not letting people protest outside. >> could it be said one side or the other has won the battle of wills? >> it is very difficult to know because the agreement, theent, e not been made public. what the journalists were calling for was the propaganda chief in guangdong province step down. it do

huge bushfire is burning out of control across the israeli and state of victoria the blaze that started in a national park destroyed up to twenty five thousand hectares and is now predicted to move fast in a north easterly direction carried by strong winds several homes have been raised and manny fires still remain on contained prompting fears of more to come the wave of bushfires hit us rail you nearly two weeks ago sparked by soaring temperatures that reached over forty degrees centigrade. the us now northeastern states ravaged by superstorm sandy in late october have been promised a were fifty billion dollars a buy a lawmaker's the senate has yet to prove the measures passed earlier this week in the house of representatives despite manny opposing the bill and while politicians are bickering over kashmir the storm survivors are left with almost no support as he's an associate you're going to now reports. a gorgeous beach turned coast area the rockaways in queens one of the places hit hardest by hurricane sandy to want to have months ago still in shambles today miles and miles of devas

homes have been raised and manny fires still remain on contain fears of more to come the wave of bushfires history a nearly two weeks ago sparked by soaring temperatures that reached over forty degrees centigrade. the u.s. northeastern states ravaged by superstorm sandy in late october have been promised over fifty billion dollars aid by lawmakers the senate has yet to approve the measures passed earlier this week in the house of representatives despite many opposing the bill now while politicians are a bigger ring over cash the storm survivors are left with almost no support and r.t. is an associate you're going to now reports. a gorgeous beach turned coast area the rockaways in queens one of the places hit hardest by hurricane sandy two and a half months ago still in shambles today miles and miles of devastated businesses residential buildings and houses like this one a place some family probably used to call home now almost literally hanging by a thread with almost zero chance of ever being rebuilt few locals on the collapsed boardwalk most of them in dire need of help this man who chos

hundreds of local tourist have set forth -- bushfires in tasmania.thousands are stranded by the blaze on the eastern side of the island. the temperatures have eased for now. firefighters are warning it will take a long time to contain the place. dozens have been less -- left homeless by the blazes. >> record temperatures and wind have driven the blaze. tasmania and and tourists alike have fled the blazes. firefighters were confronted by the aftermath of the bush fires. dozens of buildings and burned to the ground. worst hit was a seaside town. one-third of the homes have been lost. even the school is gone. residents are struggling to cope. >> i've lost both my houses. my brother has lost his. >> there is hope the government will help them rebuild their lives. >> we are working with them, as with the state government, to support people through. >> rescuers apart people to safety by ferry. but thousands are still threatened. >> we will have loads of winter sports, but first, some news around the world. a nato mission to deploy air missiles to turkey is

a large and fast moving bushfire doubled in size today hhndreds of resideets continue to evacuate...pfficcals ay tte fire is expected to urn for at eass two moreeweekk. and it doesn't look liie a cool-down is in the foreeast anytiie reachiig a record breaking one hundred oortten degrees on mondaa. 3 american idol is in full swwig. the fox singing competition returned for season 12 this week and there's one contestant with a shocking story.candace dolddreveals his past nd his talent in today's . lowdown. there'' one 3 lowdownand thats your lowdown ,3 3 3---natt--- ---nats--- &psize simply doesn't matter. these two to five year oldd showing their ravens spirit- hoping their team goes all he a man's metal detector pays off... where he found this 12 pound gold nugget.... and how much its worth.. 3 --adblib weather tz-- ñ)jgpnñ>pwxo3xtxx ittsspuuple friday... and even the littlest ravens fans are getting in on the action. action. at liberty rrad recreation and parks c

. >> in southern australian states bracing for more bushfires. officials and tanzania said they're searching for bodies. about a hundred people are still missing three days after the fire started. >> tomorrow, it will not be an ordinary day. it will be perhaps the worst fire danger day the state has ever faced. sydney's temperature is expected to be 43 degrees. >> twitter is being taken to court in france to get to hand over the names of people who posted anti-jewish tweets. from paris, we have this report. >> the small paris office only has five permanent staff and relies entirely on donations. the french union of jewish students is preparing to take on one of the giants of the internet. they expect to win. they want them to reveal the names of people who posted anti- semitic tweets so they can be prosecuted for hate crimes. >> the internet has become a forum for racist speech. people are free to say what they want with impunity and we need to stop that. that is why we expect the french legal system. >> it began in october with one or two people

it is mainland australia that is bracing itself for its own battle against the summer bushfires. >> there is nothing new about press censorship in china. it is new when journalists go on strike to protest against it. a message was changed by propaganda officials. the strike is being seen by a new test of china's new leadership. >> they lay fighters outside the newspaper's office and saying in support of the striking journalists. it is the first walkout by staff of a major chinese newspaper in more than 20 years. a new generation is challenging the old way of doing things. minnie wants greater freedom of expression. this woman says the demonstrators share a common cause with the journalists. if we do not support them, she says, no one will speak out for us when something goes wrong. all chinese media is censored. in this newspaper has a reputation for pushing the boundaries, making it china's most respected newspaper. when propaganda officials changed and an editorial calling for political reform to one praising the communist party, journalists said it was the final straw. they sent more t

. >> the new south wales bushfires are being fanned by ferocious wind and some of the highest temperatures the state has witnessed. four large regions are placed at the highest state of alert. it means the bush fires are not controllable and fast moving. residents have been strongly urge to escape their path. at ground level we saw for cells how terrifying and unpredictable the fire fronts can be. this is one of that made roads. the princess highway. highway.'s off it, the country homes and properties most at risk. you get a sense of the conditions the firefighters are dealing with. the swirling, vicious winds. 45 degrees and there is a sudden change in the wind and that is what makes these fires and predictable. in the small town, they have decided to stay and protect her home. our garden hose your main defense. >> with roads shut and communities isolated, many face a different kind of agony. stranded from family members as the fires closed in. >> they cannot get out and i cannot get in. >> helicopters bombarded the fires with water. raced from blaze to blaze. to little avail. the weather

the bushfires are sweeping across the state of south australia, victoria. the island of tasmania has been the worst affected place in australia. andrew thomas has more on that. >> forecasters warned tasmania was about to endure its hottest temperatures in years. as feared, they produced the states worst wildfires in almost half a century. carried on by hot wind, the flames swept through the southeast of the island state destroying at least 100 homes. some escaped by spending hours in the water. in the worst affected town, the

a heat wave has affected much of the country and invited many huge bushfires. it has affected new south wales and victoria. >> for the people of victoria, these fires are especially terrifying. they were devastated by the black saturday disaster in 2009 in which more than 170 lost their lives. the 40 degree temperatures and raging winds are of similar one wins and intensity. many are of risks from the fast advancing fire france. one person had to be rescued after being trapped in a burning house. a fire crew survived what is called a board over, when flames leaped over their truck. -- a. byrne over, when flames leaped over their truck. for the local wildlife, too, the combination of heat, winds, and dry bushland is potentially deadly. in neighboring new south wales, where fires have been raging since the beginning of the year, residents are confronting the same hazardous conditions. this week around a rural town, some 50 properties are been destroyed and today, fires are jumping containment lines. sydney is experiencing the hottest day on record. these are some

. >> in southeastern australia, firefighters are battling nearly 200 bushfires as hundreds of people have been forced to leave their homes. one family who escaped the blaze that destroyed their home by hiding under a jetty, and they watched as several of their neighbors' houses burned down. the town in tasmania is one of the worst affected by the fires. andrew thomas has more. >> firefighters are racing to and through the latest blaze before it could get out of control. more than 150 wildfires raged in a study overnight and into wednesday morning. given the extent of the fires, in the worst conditions australia has had in many years, damage to buildings was remarkably light. this historic house in the southern state of victoria was the exception rather than the roll. although daylight revealed the devastation, it was one of just a handful of properties destroyed. new south wales got off more lightly still. plenty of land scorched but -- scorched but few homes, thanks to a mass of firefighting effort coordinated from a central control room on the scale of a space mission. the remarkab

save see winds and very high temperatures nationwide have provided optimal conditions for brush for bushfires to break out authorities warned that the extreme really hot and dry weather is likely to continue throughout the week. security forces in the philippines have gone down thirteen suspected gang members who were trying to break through a highway tried point while firing at guards at least three police personnel were among the gunman and the talks are thought to be a case where criminal syndicates plot a bank robberies using security forces and corrupt politicians. yes christmas celebrations in western countries are now over for follows of the also look around the world the seventh of january monks the biggest day of celebration that includes many millions in russia and the country's main cathedral has been a child to mark the occasion he is told but an hour. here at the course to save you cathedral the main cathedral in the russian capital in churches and cathedrals both here across russia and in all three docs communities across the world it isn't fact christmas it could be offered up

evacuated to safety winds and very high temperatures nationwide provided optimal conditions for bushfires to break out the authorities warned of the extremely hot and dry weather is likely to continue throughout the week. now as christmas celebrations in western countries are now over for the followers of the orthodox church around the world the seventh of january marks the biggest day of celebration and that includes many millions in russia the country's main cathedral has been packed to mark the occasion artists on bart and went to report. here at the christ the savior cathedral the main cathedral in the russian capital in churches and cathedrals both here across russia and in all three docs communities across the world it isn't fact christmas it would be awful lot church in the in the crisis a few cathedral worshippers have packed in to take part in to listen to the liturgy chanted and to feel the presence of of the spirit of christmas eve which is here celebrated on the sixth to the seventh of january not the twenty fifth of december because of the use of the julian calendar here but

chelators winds and very high temperatures nationwide have provided optimal conditions for dangerous bushfires to break out the weather bureau warned that the extremely hot and dry weather is likely to continue throughout next week. in bangladesh demonstrators led by a coalition of political parties have protested against a nine percent rise in fuel tanks twenty five people were hurt and several vehicles were set on fire police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the angry crowds it is the fifth time since two thousand and nine that the government has hight fuel duty. big screen superstars or a deputy who has finally got his very own russian passport he celebrated the occasion over dinner in his new homeland with none other than the russian president himself the movie icon left his native france over what he called punishing tax rate pushed on the rich by the new president a radio station in paris has claimed five thousand french citizens have fled the country since francoise hollande took office in part thanks to his tax policies and just like their produce one of the countries they

evacuated to safety winds and very high temperatures nationwide have provided optimal conditions for bushfires to break out your storage is warned that the extremely hot and dry where there is likely to continue throughout the week. in bangladesh demonstrators led by a coalition of political parties have protested against a nine percent rise in fuel tanks twenty five people were hurt and several vehicles were set on fire police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the angry crowds it is the fifth time since two thousand and nine that the government has high fuel duty. now it's been a week of new year's celebrations around the globe with fireworks and cheering crowds greeting twenty thirteen there were mixed emotions regarding the year that's passed with some sad to see it end but many more hopeful of better times artie's lucy careful of takes a look at the world that could have been. twenty twelve was certainly full of disappointing headlines hope fueled by the arab spring turned into the turmoil of the arab autumn the war in syria claimed countless lives and a fiscal crisis all the e

evacuated to safety with on a very high temperatures nationwide have provided optimal conditions for bushfires to break out authorities warned that they really hot and dry weather is likely to continue throughout the week. security forces in the philippines have gone down thirteen suspected gang members who were trying to break through a highly checkpoint highway checkpoint while firing at gods at least three police personnel were among the god-man tonks of thought to be a case what criminal syndicates plot by and grab reason security forces and to corrupt politicians. as christmas celebrations and western countries in are over for lose of the orthodox church around the world this seventh of january marks the biggest day of celebration that includes many millions in russia and the country's main cathedral has been parked out to mold their cajun oh she's tall but not reports. here at the christ the savior cathedral the main cathedral in the russian capital in churches and cathedrals both here across russia and in all three docs communities across the world it isn't fact christmas it would be aw

australia winds and very high temperatures nationwide have provided optimal conditions for dangerous bushfires to break out evacuation centers in tasmania have had to take in thousands forced to flee from the flames. rather thousand loyalist protesters have been wreaking havoc in the northern irish capital belfast a thirty eight year old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder as police investigate reports of shots being fired at officers and the city has been witnessing unrest since a decision by the local authorities in december to fly the british union flag only on designated occasions rather than go around. well it seems everyone wants a piece of tibet while beijing rues the region with riches the western media focuses on human rights abuses you got a pretty good off went to see what the people there think about what's happening all around. look at quality of china a slogan so widespread in tibet it's even displayed on taxis here everything is an ambiguous mix of modern technology and tradition communism and religion. six his son is a buddhist monk but ten years ago this elderly

australia winds and very high temperatures nationwide have provided the perfect conditions for dangerous bushfires to break out evacuation centers in tasmania have been inundated. by a coalition of political protest. the twenty five people were hurt in the demonstrations and several vehicles were set on fire it's the fifth time since two thousand and nine that the government has hiked. up ahead for you know it's a wonder for anyone who can. take you now to discuss russia's amazing. just. the. technology innovation. around russia. wealthy british style. was. financed scandal find out what's really happening to the global economy. financial headline news to report on our. secret laboratory tim curry was able to build the world's most sophisticated robot fortunately dorna found anything mission to teach the creation why it should care about humans and. this is why you should care only. you. a small and ancient russian merchant city sits at the confluence of three rivers. it's not quite europe but it's not a nation either. native of congo or he heads off to work each day at the same time. constant in

evacuated to safety winds very high temperatures nationwide have provided optimal conditions for bushfires to break out your thirty's do warn that the extremely hot and dry weather is likely to continue throughout the week. big screen superstar gerard depardieu has finally got his very own russian passport he celebrated the occasion over d.n.a. in his new homeland with none other than the russian president himself the movie icon left his native france over what he called a punishing tax rates pushed on the rich by the new president a radio station in paris has claimed five thousand french citizens have fled the country since francois hollande took office in part thanks to his tax policies and just like their produce one of the countries they've been moving to is russia my colleague spoke to r.t. sean thomas about what the largest country on earth has to offer new migrants. let's look at the taxes and that's the question at hand right now if you look at russia at the current laws we have a flat tax rate here of thirteen percent in fact france and germany they both have complicated tax codes

evacuated to safety winds and very high temperatures nationwide have provided optimal conditions for bushfires to break out borne that the extremely hot and dry weather is likely to continue throughout the week. chile has pushed through emergency anti terror measures following a fatal arson attack on the elderly cut on an elderly couple it appears the pair were broad in a dispute with local approaching indians who laid claim to their land that was a similar spate of attacks over the weekend local indians have already described the deaths as senseless and of horror and. big screen superstars are at the producer has finally got his very own russian passport he celebrated the occasion over dinner in his new homeland with none other than the russian president himself the movie icon left his native france over what he called punishing tax rates pushed on the rich by the new president a radio station in paris has claimed five thousand french citizens have fled the country since francois hollande took office in part thanks to his tax policies and just like their produce one of the countries they be m

australia winds and very high temperatures nationwide have provided optimal conditions for dangerous bushfires to break out evacuation centers in tasmania have been inundated. in bangladesh crowds led by coalition of political parties have protested against a nine percent rise in fuel tax twenty five people were hurt in the demonstrations and several vehicles were set on fire it's the fifth time since two thousand and nine that the government has height the g.t. on feel. it's as a as a sunday roast but the church of england isn't as strong as it used to being and as people leave the institution in their droves. looks at whether it can still justify its special status in the u.k. . one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world with one official state religion to some it's a paradox i think any institute any faith institution like the church of england is going to have some potential threats on the horizon and those threats on the horizon are basically around its relevance to communities in general other faiths are significant and growing in not only population but voice in a social a

australia winds and very high temperatures nationwide provided optimal conditions for dangerous bushfires to break out evacuation centers in tasmania have been inundated. and in fact the crowds led by a coalition of political parties have protested against a nine percent rise in fuel tax twenty five people were hurt in the demonstrations and several vehicles were set on fire it's the fifth time since two thousand and nine that the government has hight the duty on fuel. venezuela's president hugo chavez who's currently battling cancer may be too ill to attend his own swearing in ceremony on thursday his political rivals are demanding a new election if he doesn't show up to be inaugurated for his fourth term of office but jim political analyst eric draitser believes the opposition is taking advantage of the situation to undermine the government. what is important is the fact that the opposition is using this as a political mechanism by which they can try to deal agenda mys the government in venezuela remember that in two thousand and two when the united states and spain and other powers aro

hundreds of people in south east australia are being force out of homes by bushfires, burning in the new south wales. it includes the city of sidney and the australian capital territory, act in new south wales as well where the capital of the country is. 100 homes destroyed so far. the officials say that the fires were fueled by record-breaking heat wave. also very dry conditions in december. this is the worst heat wave, actually in new south wales in living memory. yesterday the hottest average temperature across the country ever. australia, is, of course the world's driest inhabited continent, vulnerable to bushfires, every year you see them. scientists believe creeping climate shift for even hotter temperatures globally and that includes australia. i spoke with matt inwood superintendent of rural fire services in new south wales. here's part of what he told me about the sheer size of the blazes. >> apparently we have just over 130 fires burning across new south wales. 30 of those fires at this stage remain uncontained. fire crews are continuing to work throughout the night over he