and joining us now from sydney is james morris he's a spokesman for the new south wales rural fire service james the weather forecast for you is hot and windy what does that mean for fighting the fires. good afternoon nick obviously that means challenging conditions and certainly somewhat erratic fire behavior expected across a large area of a far grounds some i do you want pushing grass fires continue to burn across new south wales with around $35.00 of those still yet to bake in time and that still a lot of fog that we've got in the landscape giving that predicted a full cost conditions over the next $3.00 to $4.00 days and what have firefighters done to prepare for these worsening conditions. is that there is certainly some work that we can do our forefathers have taken advantage of those 5 routing conditions for the last 4 to 5 days being undertaking back burning hakan time and utilizing heavy machinery to construction timelines but we've also had far far as in the field using pain tools create in time and lines down some very rugged and state trying especially through the blue mansion

that was james morris of the new south wales rural fire service speaking to us. and we've got some sports news now and the german football bunda see a 4th place dortmund have signed one of the most sought after forwards in here that would be 19 year old norwegian. highland highland has been playing with the austrian club salzburg he has scored 16 league goals this magnitude 8 goals in the champions league group stages that 2nd only to buy ins roberts given belsky. and you're watching news from ben coming up next and 11 year old don sophists is he's trained that that is all starts marion skiffy s.s. that's on reports that don't forget you can get the latest news and information around the clock that's on our website debutant com thanks for joining. us. every journey begins with the 1st step and every language with the 1st word published in the. rico is in germany to learn german why not come with him it's simple online on your mobile and free to satisfy d w z learning course nikos fake german made easy.

and joining us now from sydney is james morrison he's a spokesman for the new south wales rural fire service thank you so much for being on our program well 1st like to ask you about these reports of further bush fires erupting overnight and yet we're also hearing that sydney harbor new year's eve fireworks display is still to go ahead as planned from your perspective is that a good idea. oh good afternoon look at this stage obviously way tight precautions working with the pyrotechnics i agencies and organizations are closely with them in regards to our total fire ban exemptions and and their requirements and at this stage given the full cost conditions we don't believe that there will be any she's at this stage in regards to the sydney harbor. going ahead . he continued to work with them and if we need to have a heart and level of response from our forefathers from both the r.f.s. and foreigner a few new south wales throughout the sydney area will do is to say working to the conditions but we are expecting a semi that southerly change to move through needs a number of hours to move through

that was chains morris of the new south wales rural fire service speaking to us. now thousands of families in western kenya are coping with the aftermath of flooding and heavy rains that began on christmas eve many fear the flooding could get worse as they wait for aid to east africa is being battered by abnormally heavy rains to the indian ocean in warmer than usual. in the kenyan county of kisumu the water has crept everywhere residents struggle to find safe and dry places away from the muddy waters they are appealing to the government for help . children food went with the water school shoes and the books for the kids to my belongings outside here and i don't know where i will go to. there's no place to sleep we don't even have tents no water to drink and i have children in college as well as in secondary and primary schools. that don't support it started on christmas night has left homes and businesses sup merged this week's floods are the latest to hit kenya earlier heavy rains had already forced thousands of people to evacuate many had started to return to c

and we spoke to see james morris of the new south wales the rural fire service we asked him about the decision not to cancel sydney's famous neophyte to spray despite outbreaks of further bushfires of the night look at the stage obviously way type precautions working with the current technique i didn't season organizations are closely with them in regards to our total fire ban exemptions and and their requirements and at this stage given the full cost conditions we don't believe that there will be any seas at this stage in regards to the sydney harbor thought i was going ahead we'll obviously continue to work with them and if we need to have a heart some level of response from our forefathers from both the artifice and pharmacy new south wales throughout the sydney area will. working to the conditions we are expecting. to move through needs a number of hours to move through from around to 7 pm on need ryall lockley to say those much cooler conditions on we certainly by the time we reach may not. be mentioned we do have a number of new starting from lightning down in the south eastern

that was james morris of the new south wales rural fire service speaking to us earlier now let's take a look at some of the other stories making news around the world at least 10 people were killed when a missile hit military parade in a town in southern yemen the ceremony for new recruits was being held by a south yemen sits a script a spokes woman blamed who the rebels for the attack. more than a 1000 demonstrators have gathered in hong kong to mock a turbulent year in the samuel thomas region protests began in june over a proposed extradition law but grew to dumond's for democracy protesters say beijing and the local government all eroding freedom and democracy. a german rescue ship has stocks in sicily after rescuing more than 30 migrants in the mediterranean be alone could even reach the southern port of ports and on sunday the migrants were picked up off the libyan coast last week. new york's governor says a stabbing attack on a group of people celebrating the jewish end of the festival was an act of terrorism 5 people were wounded in the attack at a rabbi's home north of new yo

james morris from the new south wales rural fire service we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us and wish all the best to you and your colleagues. let's get a check now of some of the other stories making news around the world there's been a stabbing attack at a jewish holiday celebration near new york city authorities say 5 people were hospitalized with injuries 2 of them are in critical condition the attack appears to be the latest in a string of anti-semitic attacks in new york this month. in lebanon hundreds of protesters rallied outside the home of the country's new prime minister demonstrators fired flares and demanded the resignation of haasan dion who's backed by the islamist group hezbollah lebanon is facing its worst political crisis in decades protests against corruption and mismanagement have gripped the country since october. well india has been engulfed in mass nationwide demonstrations ever since a controversial new citizenship law was passed in early december the law makes it easier for religious minorities from neighboring countries to get indian citizenship b

fire and rescue services to their limits and the fires are still getting worse. well joining me now from sydney is james morris he's a spokesman for the new south wales rural fire service james thank you for taking the time to talk to us out such a critical time now we understand the high winds have been complicating efforts what does that mean so your firefighters and their walk. good afternoon to you helena look as you mentioned those winds caused a lot of issues for us yesterday afternoon we saw those wind gusts in excess of i t 2100 kilometers per hour which caused very challenging and erratic fire behavior far far as to try and control and slow the spread of we say it's a very incredible footage coming out of they so far grounds of forefathers trying to defend harms and properties where they can some air is residents going down to the local fire station and forefathers are protecting those residents while they still continue to battle the fire as you mentioned unfortunately we've saying 8 people lose a lot of the season so far including 2 of our own far far as i mean recent days unfortunately jeff an andrew of holes leapai brigade who are out are protecting their

james morris from the new south wales rural fire service. you so south wales rural fire service.to you as possible. likewise. merry christmas to you, mike, and all your viewers —— mary. there have been more violent clashes in hong kong between the police and anti—government protesters, who‘ve been holding christmas eve rallies in shopping malls and other areas popular with tourists. the city is reeling from its seventh straight month of protests, originally sparked by a now—scrapped extradition bill. the bbc‘sjon donnison reports. not much evidence of festive cheer in hong kong this year. security forces firing tear gas, once again squared up to anti—government protesters, doing their best to protect themselves with umbrellas. caught up in the chaos, tourists and families out and about to take in the christmas lights. demonstrators also occupied a number of shopping malls in kowloon. but it soon turned ugly. malls in kowloon. but it soon turned as malls in kowloon. but it soon turned ugly, as baton wielding plainclothes undercover police moved in. several protesters were arrested

and james morris speaks for the new south wales rural fire service he told. us is doing to combat these mega blazes base for the bank burning in very very remote and rugged terrain a lot of these areas do not have close can time lines on the way can simply do a direct attack or do close can time and so are now strategies now to fall back to communities and want to areas to protect times as these fires come out into habited areas now the biggest issue at this stage is that these trials asar lauch and with catastrophic fire conditions predicted for tomorrow across a number of areas the only thing that we will be out do tomorrow is to protect law and try and protect property where we can under these conditions because it's simply too dangerous to be able to have far far as trying to control they said was under those conditions. there is morris from the new south wales rural fire service now let's get back to go back to our top story which is the vote in the u.k. prime minister boris johnson's. a you withdrawal bill has passed its 1st reading so let's join barbar

ben shepherd from the new south wales rural fire service told us how they are preparing for yet another our volunteers have been out there on the fire line trying to get some level of containment on these fires before we see the onset of another heatwave, unfortunately, where we are expecting temperatures to climb into the a0 degrees and coupled with strong westerly winds, dry winds, from the centre of the continent which tend to drive these fires. so they are doing what they can. they understand this is going to be still another difficult time and the real thing that we obviously need is rain and there is just none of that really on the horizon so it's going to be a difficult few days and a difficult few weeks, while we continue to deal with more than 70 fires burning across new south wales. we are fortunate at this time of year, many of our members do take leave but they're using that leave to go out on the fire ground and actually assist where they can. but the community response this year has been amazing as well. to see people actually preparing their own homes, ensuring they are w

well, sydney's iconic new year's eve fireworks will go ahead after the new south wales rural fire servicere ban. our sydney correspondent shaimaa khalil has more. here in the sydney harbour, preparations are well under way for new year's eve celebrations. thousands of tourists have packed the place, getting ready for the events. however, this year it has been particularly controversial. the issue of fireworks in particular, and this is because more than 300,000 people have signed a petition saying this is not the right thing to do. this is not the time, given the bushfire crisis and given the fact that nearly 100 fires are raging across new south wales, with the biggest one surrounding sydney. this as well as temperature is being expected to rise above a0 celsius across new south wales into tuesday, which is new year's eve, and more fires are expected with the worsening conditions. elsewhere in southern australia, specifically in the state of victoria, more than ten emergency fire warnings have been issued. the area that was under the most threat throughout the day has been the area of ea

the new south wales rural fire service is the world's largest volunteer organisation, with more than 70,000 members. most are local volunteers who have taken on the task to project the rural communities. and many have been overwhelmed by how people responded to their work. just overwhelming support, like. obviously all the presents and stuff for the kids. that's just what they need at the moment. i haven't even got my christmas shopping or anything for my daughter. she's about to turn one injanuary. 0n the 11th. just thank you, thank you very much. last week's catastrophic fires have been fuelled by record temperatures of more than 41 degrees. an extreme heat wave swept across the country, combined with strong winds and dry conditions. australia has been fighting wildfires for months. the early start to the fire season is stretching already scarce water resources. pictures of a thunderstorm in the north—eastern city of brisbane showed some respite in the hot weather. but firefighters say a lot more rain is needed in many more places, with not much for over the next few weeks. bumpy,

fire and rescue services to their limits and the fires are still getting worse. joining me now from sydney is james morris he's a spokesman for the new south wales rural fire service james thanks so much for joining us now a weather front has moved through the state of new south wales overnight it's brought high winds with it can you tell us how that has affected firefighters efforts. yeah good evening once again those wings that we've same move through are coming from the southerly direction of really impacted our far grounds we're seeing very erratic behavior was obviously earlier in the day they pushing in very much of an a silly direction and now with a very large front to the north once these winds from the south have picked up they've really saying they are ready conditions move towards properties to the north which is of sequels significant property protection being required from our forefathers from right across new south wales which are focusing on it on areas rather around the blue mountains west of sydney and northern sydney around the hawks free area and down on the south car east of new south wales around joe spy in sussex inlet there with a number of

ben shepherd from the new south wales rural fire service talking to me from australia.—one likes being ill over christmas. no—one likes being ill before a big game over and this appears to have hit the england cricket team. around eight players in this squad, almost as they landed in south africa for their test series, have come down with flu symptoms. it has affected a lot of the bowlers are now three more players are doubtful for the first test that starts in 1.5 hours time. ben stokes isn't one of those players. but his dad was taken ill, into intensive care in hospital on christmas eve was that he was in doubt for the match as well. his father is still in intensive care although ben stokes to train on christmas day so he is expected to play today. it has been one thing after another for england's players. not the ideal preparations. there are illness concerns over chris woakes, jack leach and ollie pope — all three missed christmas day training due to illness. bowlers jofra archer and stuart broad do look like they've recovered though and captainjoe root is trying t

and joining me now from sydney is james morris he's a spokesman for the new south wales rural fire service thanks so much for being on our program well there's been a bit of good news for the volunteer firefighters with the government saying they are now going to be paid just how much of a difference is this going to make to their lives. it's a mighty huge difference for those volunteers who have given so much time in the last 5 to carve a half month or so without bush was as you mentioned a lot of them taking on paid leave taking time out from the jobs especially those who were a business sina's small business owners in the walks who have lost income so they saw our forefathers who have been out for more than tend. to be able to climb up to $300.00 a day with a maximum of $6000.00 off a time and say look they're making huge difference to the diety living in and support the family and those people who have arm fortunately missed out during that on the helping communities of youth off oil. well unfortunately we are getting reports of further bushfires are updating just overnight and still a

there was a lot riding on whether or not these club work should go off well earlier today the rural fire service said yes the father works in sydney probably could go ahead but that's about the only one that will lots of other display public displays in other parts of sydney and in regional new south wales has been cancelled there's going to be a lot of attention all on the one and on city hall but all right roger thanks very much for that from senator. let's get you a brief down some of the other stories making the news at this hour the united states says it has bombed 5 locations in iraq and in syria controlled by a paramilitary group with suspected ties to iran secretary of state on pails of the strikes were in response to earlier attacks that threatened u.s. forces in iraq didn't rock the authorities were people killed by the u.s. airstrike over the course of the last a chinese court has jailed a scientist who claims to have created the world's 1st gene edited babies whose young choir was sentenced to 3 years in prison for practicing medicine illegally last year he shocked the international

pull out all the stops to try to restore his image this morning he went immediately to the rural fire service headquarters in sydney to meet officials and also to discuss strategy with them also there were up fighters from america and canada who arrived in australia over the weekend to try to offer a helping hand during his press conference scott morrison accepted the criticism levelled at him and apologise for any offense corps has done here ted to concede that climate change might have been a contributory factor in all this he emphasised that it was not possible to make a direct connection between climate change and any particular incident how australia and about $60000000000.00 a year from the export of coal so there's a lot riding on this debate and he is not prepared to give that sort of business away immediately anyway well mercifully temperatures around sydney have dropped hasn't helped firefighters much. yeah it's a lot cooler in sydney it's about $2324.00 degrees celsius compared with $4445.00 degrees yesterday so there's a drop in temperature and that certainly helped firefighters w

james morris speaks for the new south wales rural fire service he told t.w. what firefighters are doing to combat these mega blazes based far burning in very very remote and rugged terrain a lot of these areas do not have close can time lines other we can simply do a direct attack or do close can time and so our strategy is now to fall back to communities and want to areas to protect times as these fires come out into habitat areas now the biggest issue at this stage is that these fires the sorry large and with catastrophic fire conditions predicted for tomorrow across a number of areas the only thing that we will be out tomorrow is to protect law and try and protect property where we can under these conditions because it's simply too dangerous to be able to have firefighters trying to control these fires under those conditions. i was surfing most instead of you and the summer olympics next year and the world league is that qualification route brazil prove that i'll be a force to be reckoned with in tokyo with mile for surface finishing 1st and 2nd in hawaii.

and we spoke to james morris of the new south wales rural fire service we often about the bush fires and the decision not to cancel sydney's famous new year fire. despite outbreaks all for the bush bias of a nice look at the stage obviously way type precautions working with a partner a technique i didn't seize an organizations are closely with them in regards to our total fire ban exemptions and and their requirements and at this stage given the forecast conditions we don't believe that there will be any she's at this stage in regards to the sydney harbor fireworks going ahead we'll obviously continue to work with them and if we need to have a heart and level of response from our forefathers from both the r.f.s. and foreign rescue new south wales throughout the sydney area i will do is to say working to the conditions but you know we are expecting certainly that southerly change to move through needs dave can take a number of hours to move through from around 5 to 7 pm on needs a so we are likely to see those much cooler conditions by the time we certainly by the time we reach me not

months to go before we start to say and easing conditions james morris from the new south wales rural fire service we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us and wish all the best to you and your colleagues thanks for it's our marian our. let's get a check now some of the other stories making news around the world in chile police used tear gas and water cannons to break up anti-government protests demonstrations against president sebastian pinera have rocked the country since october on friday he did a key demand of the protesters and set a date for a referendum on a new constitution. russia's defense minister says its new intercontinental hypersonic missiles became operational on friday according to the kremlin the missiles travel up to 27 times the speed of sound and can make sharp turns allowing them to evade missile intercept systems. in the gulf of oman iran has begun naval exercises with its russian and chinese allies the drills are taking place near a vital transit route for the world's oil tankers and the rain and admirals says the drills show that the country cannot be isolated on th

me now from sydney is james morris he's the spokesperson for the news of the new south wales rural fire service james thanks so much for joining us authours he say things have reached a catastrophic level sydney which is where you are is surrounded by raging bushfires can you describe to us what this means for people living in the affected areas. good evening and you look terrible conditions he for areas across new south wales today as you mentioned catastrophic fire danger declared for parts of new south wales for us that makes it easy as bad as it gets we still soaring temperatures today up in the mid to high forty's winds in excess of id to 100 kilometers after a southerly buster southerly wind chimes coming through a number of areas which even at the moment i was doing new far as in central and northern new south wales flaring up threatening homes due to that wind chimes we've seen a number of areas threatened our right across there is in western sydney and through the blue mountains through northern sydney through our whole sri area and even down on our new south wales south coast as well

date with the latest. 1st a tragic development in the past couple of hours the new south wales rural fire service there's a bill that will until it was killed and 2 others injured when their up trucks 2 trucks collided. on the new south wales dictorial border so that brings the total death toll so far in this witch fire crisis to 10 because all this will only add to the concern the gloom of the stress being felt by a stray and as fires continue to rage along much of the country's eastern seaboard there's no news of the developing crisis in the northern millburn suburbs with fires breaking out in several locations there it's a very well populated area and the reports and claims of being again as high as 20 to 30 meters in the air of the sea it's a crisis of great concern are but the main focus of concern is in the east gets land area of victoria in the south of it's origin or the new south wales border and there are the biggest of multiple fires of a broken out over the past 24 hours those fires are spreading road across the region prompting the evacuation of thousands of people many others have d

the new south wales rural fire service is the world's largest volunteer organisation, with more thanto project the rural communities. and many have been overwhelmed by how people responded to their work. just overwhelming support, like. obviously all the presents and stuff for the kids. that's just what they need at the moment. i haven't even got my christmas shopping or

james maurice of the new south wales rural fire service we also know about the bush bias and the decision not to cancel sydney's famous ni a fireworks display despite outbreaks off for the bush of the night. oh good afternoon look at this stage obviously way type precautions working with the pyrotechnics i agencies and organizations are closely with them in regards to our total fire ban exemptions and and their requirements and at this stage given the full cost of conditions we don't believe that there will be any she's at this stage in regards to the sydney harbor. going ahead. he continued to work with them and if we need to have a heart and level of response from our forefathers from both the r.f.s. and foreigner a few new south wales throughout the sydney area will do is to say working to the conditions we are expecting that southerly change to move through needs a number of hours to move through from around 5 to 7 pm on needs a so we are lucky to say there is much cooler conditions and we certainly by the time we reach me not on trees dine on the stages you mentioned we do have a num

months to go before we start to see and easing conditions james morris from the new south wales rural fire serviceand we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us and wish all the best to you and your colleagues. all right some soccer news now and veteran striker is lot of h. is returning to his former club ac milan now that his contract with the l.a. galaxy has ended and the 38 year old swede signed a deal with the italian outfit until the. end of the season with the option to extend for another year ibrahim vich played a key role in the last 2011 sciri title he scored 56 goals for them in 85. but the club is currently stuck in 11th place. a reminder now our top story. police in somalia say dozens of people have been killed and many others injured by a massive car bomb in mogadishu the bomb was detonated during the morning rush hour at a busy security checkpoint. that's the latest from d.w. news at this hour of american and for me and the entire news team here in berlin thanks for the company. the people. going for come from tarski. joined as they set out to save the environment learn from one

. >> and the rural fire service warning people along the coast taking refuge are facing a, quote, long, difficult, dangerous night. across new south wales, more than 100 fires burning with reports of people unaccounted for, and so the fear is that they may be dead. as the day wore on, the skylightened to that bright orange that you see there, so ominous as the fire spreads. in new south wales, smoke as far as the eye can see. simon is there. >> reporter: christine, leyla, this is a fire crisis that continues to get worse every day. as you can see behind me, the air is thick with smoke, there is bush fire ash falling from the sky. in fact, the nearest fire front is just a few miles behind me over the hill. now, this is a state, new south wales, where dozens of fires are continuing to burn out of control, tragically claiming more lives, including that of a young fireman who died when the truck he was in flipped over in hot, gusty winds. he sadly leaves behind a young, pregnant wife. now, further south in the state of victoria, thousands of people there have been forced to flee their home

james morris is a spokesperson for the new south wales rural fire service, he explains that although es across the region, there is cause for some christmas cheer. thankfully we have seen a bit of respite care across the state. in the last 2a hours we have seen 30—15 millimetres of rain falling across much of northern new south wales, which will hopefully put an end and certainly for some time to fires across northern parts of new south wales. but certainly around the sydney area, central parts, and southern parts of new south wales we still have a long way to go with next to no moisture falling across those areas. currently we still have around 79 bush and grass fires burning across new south wales, with around 30 of them still to be contained. thankfully we do have much cooler conditions today, which is allowing ourfirefighters to get the upper hand, start really working on containment lines, and are doing direct firefighting, which we haven‘t been able to do for some time, due to those deteriorating conditions. james, we are hearing from some firefighters that a little bit of rain

helena: james morris is the new south wales rural fire service.e told us what firefighteters e doing to combat these mega blazes. >> thehese fes a are burning i n very remote and d rugged terrai. a lot of these areas do not have closed conontainment lines thate can simply do a didirect attacor do close containment. our strategy is s now to fall bk to comommunities in wider ars so protect homes as these fires come to habited arareas. the e biggest issue at this stae is these fireses are so lae e ad we have cacatastrophic firire coconditions predidicted for tomorrow acrcross a number of areas. the only thing we will be able to do tomorrow is to protect life and t a and protect property where we can. it is simply too dangerous to be able to have firefighters trying to control these fires under those conditions. helena: at least have been -- at least 11 people have been killed during growing demonstrations against india's new citizenship law. protesters have clashed with police in cities across the country despite arch gatherings being banned in many

the new south wales rural fire service is the world's largest volunteer organisation, with more thanhe task to protect the rural communities and many have been overwhelmed by how people responded to their work. just overwhelming support, like. 0bviously, all the presents and stuff for the kids. that's just what they need at the moment. i haven't even gone christmas shopping or anything for my daughter. she's about to turn one in january, on the 11th. just thank you, thank you very much. last week's catastrophic fires have been fuelled by record temperatures of more than 41 degrees as an extreme heatwave swept across the country, combined with strong winds and dry conditions. australia has been fighting wildfires for months. the early start to the fire season is stretching already scarce water resources. pictures of a thunderstorm in the north—eastern city of brisbane showed some respite in the hot weather but firefighters say a lot more rain is needed in many more places, with not much forecast over the next few weeks. shaimaa khalil, bbc news, in sydney. kaya yongen lives in nymboid