create yet more catastrophic bushfire conditions extreme fire warnings have been issued in victoria south australia and new south wales but many people have already been told it's too late to leave their homes as the flames get closer. reports. strong winds and record heat this fire season in australia is being described as kind of strong thick and now there's a new threat columns of smoke and heat from the flames are causing thunderstorms and lightning that could spread the fires and spark new ones we have recently issued a severe thunderstorm warning for central victoria including a specific warning for some severe thunderstorm cells that are moving towards the melbourne area. the fire threat is high in the states of new south wales south australia and to toria tens of thousands of people including tarus have been told it's too late to leave as out of control fires burn year by they've been advised to immediately seek shelter police are already very strong to get people out of those environments get the wife from the bush environment but as you know once you go on hold out sometimes you disconnec

catastrophic bushfire conditions extreme fire warnings have been issued in the states of victoria south australia and new south wales many have been told it's too late to leave their homes as fires get near and drew crisp victoria's emergency management commission on the says the fires including one do the princes highway in particular are displaying extreme behavior within about $44.00 and a half hours that 5 travelled by the case so that 24 kilometers he put up a column punching into the atmosphere 14 kilometers hawick. we just recently looked at the columns and they're generating their own way that there is not need coming out of these homes. it is unpredictable it's dangerous out there and people need to stay tuned to their local conditions and stay across that good information so that i can make good decisions. libya's un recognized government has called on the united nations and the international criminal court to stop warlord to leave for half his offensive on tripoli hundreds of civilians have been killed or wounded since have to launched his campaign in april. judges in sudan have senten

catastrophic bushfire conditions extreme fire warnings have been issued in the states of victoria south australia and new south wales and bolivia is expelling mexico's ambassador and 2 spanish diplomats interim president jennie 9 years accuse the diplomats of interference by trying to extract a former aide of x. president evo morales mexico criticized the decision and recalled its ambassador for her own safety back with the news hour in about 25 minutes time inside story is next. soften your stance so will take offensive measures the warning from north korea to the u.s. over stalled nuclear talks how will washington respond and what is the new approach from the un says it's considering this is inside story. hello welcome to the show i'm sam is a than north korean leader kim jong un has called for positive and offensive measures to protect the country's security and sovereignty that's ahead of a year end deadline he sent for the u.s. to soften its position on stalled talks aimed at pyongyang dismantling its nuclear and missile programs kim also warned during a ruling workers' party meeting that he

sizes of people in southern australia extreme far warnings are in place in the states of victoria south australia and new south wales many have been told it's too late to leave. and libby is here to recognise governments cold only united nations and the international criminal courts to stop or a lot of money for have to the fence of tripoli hundreds of civilians have been killed or wounded since have to launch this campaign in april. by ukraine's government's i'm pro russian separatists in the east have completed a swap of prisoners on the 5 year conflict 200 fighters from both sides for exchanged as nicholas cage reports. an emotional return that for many was a long time coming ukrainian prisoners finally free to leave the territory they fought to keep but still controlled by pro russian separatists they were welcomed by family members and president told me selenski as they landed in kiev a young girl but. she may leave the room the main thing is that the people at home we did what we said they will to liberate new year with their families i'm happy i'm sure that too. security was tied. the pris

thousands of people in southern australia extreme far warnings are in place in the states or victoria south australia and new south wales many residents have been told it's too late to leave as bush fires burn out of control and crispus victoria's emergency management committee commissioner he says conditions will worsen throughout the day . what we've seen up until today is more than 70 new fires in the state more than 20 of those are going far as at the moment. we have got a long way to go we're only part way through the day in terms of the fire risk to the state and to our communities. we know the changes start to move through the the southwest of the state and we would see into melbourne to about 77 pm this evening and it won't be till closer to midnight they will see the fog we'll see the change on air force in east keep slowed. libya's un recognized governments as calls on the united nations and the international criminal court system for the $24.00 have to is offensive on tripoli hundreds of civilians have been killed or wounded since have to launch that his campaign back in april. ukrainian g

sizes of people in southern australia extreme far warnings are in place in the states of victoria south australia and new south wales many have been told it's too late to leave. libya's un recognized government has called on the united nations and the international criminal courts to stop or logical if i have to is offensive on tripoli hundreds of civilians have been killed or wounded since have to launched his campaign back in april the vote counting is underway in guinea-bissau his presidential runoff 2 former prime ministers are competing to replace president jose maria of us to fail to get through the 1st friend last month one candidate has accused the interior ministry of stuff and ballot boxes. and the un has sent a rapid response team to the central african republic due to fighting between armed groups and shop owners being forced to pay the money at least $40.00 people were killed in the capital bangui on thursday in the mainly muslim p.k. 5 districts the un is warning against an escalation of violence that's how it states the news continues not just syria after witness. counted the cost

catastrophic bushfire conditions extreme fire warnings have been issued in the states of victoria south australia and new south wales where one volunteer firefighter died battling a blaze many have been told it's too late to leave their homes as the fires get near spain's attorney state attorney is calling for the temporary release of a jailed cattle politician already owe you a terrorist was sentenced to 13 years in prison or 27 cattle on independent spirit he was elected to the european parliament in may while he was awaiting his verdict in jail splaying the solicitor general's office has requested that you terrorist be able to travel to brussels to be sworn in as a member of the european parliament. the u.n. has set a rapid response team to the central african republic after violence between shop owners and fighters demanding money at least 40 people were killed in the capital bangui on thursday with the headlines the news continues here after talk to al-jazeera. from sunrise to sunset across asia. and the pacific explore untold fascinating stories one on one its on al-jazeera. the world to. s

there are active firthe states of victoria and south australia.hil mercer, bbc news. >> i have been speaking to ben shepherd fm the fire service who told me how people are coping. x many volunteers have been out there on the fire le, trying to get some level of containment on the fires. before we see the onset of more, we are expecting tperatures to climb into 40 degre, and coupled with strong westerlyry winds,inds from the center of the continent, which tend to s,drive the fi they have been doing what they can. they understand this will be a difficult tim the real thing we need his reign and theres none of that on the horizon. it will be a difficult few days and a difficult few weeks as we deal with more than 70 fires rning. ask what difference have a slightly cooler temperatures made over the last few days? x it enabled t get containment lines built and actually undertake back burning. that is where we light fireso remove the fuel ahead of the main fire front. that work needs to continue as conditioow a as we move into the back end of the weeken

again creating catastrophic bush fire conditions extreme fire warnings have been issued in victoria south australia and new south wales. a sudanese court has sentenced 29 members of the security services to death they were convicted of torturing and murdering a protester in february the death of the teacher who was an important moment in the uprising against the former president omar bashir him a morgan is in sudan's capital where people are celebrating the verdict hundreds of people erupted in joy outside the courtroom here in undermanned the tent city of sudan's capital khartoum they're celebrating the very dick that the judge issued when he sentenced 29 members afghan security services to death over the killing of a protester in february now the story of the schoolteacher who was killed in february i gripped the nation especially when witness testimonies came out detailing how he was tortured to death by the security forces protesters have been demanding in february now for then president almost. to step down now he was ousted by the military in april and a transitional government was formed in

create yet more catastrophic bushfire conditions extreme fire warnings have been issued in victoria south australia and new south wales with many people people being told it's too late to leave their homes as the flames get nearer the yellow pages or the young. strong winds and record heat this fire season in australia is being described as kind of traffic and now there's a new threat columns of smoke and heat from the flames are causing thunderstorms and lightning that could spread the fires and spark new ones we have recently issued a severe thunderstorm warning for central victoria including a specific warning for some severe thunderstorm cells that are moving towards the melbourne area. the fire threat is high in the states of new south wales south australia and for toria tens of thousands of people including tarus have been told it's too late to leave as out of control fires burn year by they've been advised to immediately seek shelter police and far already very strong to get people out of those environments get the wife from the bush environment but as you know once you go on holiday sometim

thousands of people in southern australia extreme fire warnings are in place in the states of victoria south australia and new south wales many have been told it is too late to link. libya's un recognized government has called on the united nations and the international criminal court to stop warlord alif a half dozen offensive on tripoli hundreds of civilians have been killed or wounded since have to launched his campaign in april. and some news just in 31 people have been sentenced to death for the torture and murder of a schoolteacher in february it happened during this year's anti-government protests that forced president bashir to step down here morgan is live in khartoum and he but this is something that people have been calling for they wanted to see justice as a result of of these days that have occurred during the protests what's been the reaction there and tell us more about these sentences. well there has been a lot of people feeling of euphoria people are saying that they feel that their demands and calls for justice is being listened to finally and that this is the 1st step now people are

here in australia's more probable state, 70 plays a burning but this is a nationwide crisis. there are active buyers in the state of victoria and southalia. i've been speaking to ben shepherd from the new south wales rural fire service, he told me how they are preparing for yet another heatwave. we are expression temperatures decline, coupled with strong westerly winds, dry winds from the centre of the continent, it tends to drive a continent — mugford drive the fires. them standards going to bea the fires. them standards going to be a difficult time, the real thing we need is rain. and there's none of that on the horizon. so difficult few days but are difficult few weeks while we continue to deal with more than 70 fires burning causes of wealth. what difference has the cooler temperatures made over the last few days? i want to enable -- what enabled us to do is to get containment lines build and undertake some bug burning, that is where we live fires to remove the fuel head of the main fire front so that it needs to continue as conditions allow. it is bizarre to review the back end of the week and injune you review the back end of t

south wales, since friday, 100 houses have been destroyed. there are fires still burning in the state of victoria. in south australiaere lost in the adelaide hills. this is an area quite close to the city of adelaide that is blanketed in smoke. so the fires still rage. conditions are more favourable today, but many people just wondering when the next extreme bout of weather is likely to hit and what that will mean for the fires. and, phil, we heard in shaima's report that prime minister scott morrison has conceded a link between climate change and events like this, but on the other hand, he has absolutely doubled down on his defence of climate change industries like coal? australia's centre—right government, led by the prime minister scott morrison, is an ardent supporter of the coal industry. coal generates the lion's share of australia's electricity and also billions of dollars for the australian economy. there is clearly a political dimension to this. in may of this year, mr morrison won a federal election. no—one was really expecting him to succeed at that poll, but that was in large part due to support from min

here, in australia's most populous state, more than 70 blazes are still burning but this is a nationwide crisis. there are still active fires in the states of victoria and southercer, bbc news, in bilpin, the blue mountains. ben shepherd from the new south wales rural fire service told us how they are preparing for yet another heatwave. many of 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

here, in australia's most populous state, more than 70 blazes are still burning but this is a nationwide crisis. there are still active fires in the states of victoria and southil mercer, bbc news, in bilpin, the blue mountains. fifteen years ago today, more than 230,000 people died in a massive tsunami along the coast of the indian ocean — triggered by an earthquake, magnitude 9.1, off northern sumatra. there've been memorial services in indonesia, thailand and sri lanka — some of the worst—affected countries. since then money has been spent to improve systems, to give better warning of a similar disaster. olivia crellin reports. 15 years, the images of devastation brought by the indian ocean soon i'm you no less shocking. waves as high as 17 metres steer on into pristine beaches, homes and entire communities, killing more than 230,000 people and displacing more than 2 million. while the physical landscape has recovered and development has returned to thailand, sri lanka and indonesia, among other areas affected, a psychological trauma remains. this child at lost both parents and five other relatives. i'm still scared, very scared, i want to go to live somew

here in australia's most populous state, more than 70 blazes are still burning, but this is a nationwide crisis. there are still active fires in the states of victoria and southil mercer, bbc news, in bilpin, the blue mountains. this week marks the century of women being accepted into the legal profession. during that time, the number of women practising law has increased. however, figures show that they still hold less than 25% of the top jobs. sian lloyd has been finding out about some of the changes that have taken place. and i'm introduced to somebody very charming, very pleasant, and they'll say, "what do you do?" and i'll say, "well, i'm a judge," and quick as a flash, they'll say, "do you work in family?" it tells you a lot, doesn't it, about subconscious assumptions that are still being made that we need to battle against. this piece of art is an emblem of how the change has happened and how the future has got to be different because law has to reflect the world that we live in, and it's getting there. the first—ever artwork commissioned to celebrate women's contribution to the legal profession, marking the centenary of them being allowed to practise

here in australia's most populous state, more than 70 blazes are still burning, but this is a nationwide crisis. there are still active fires in the states of victoria and southcer, bbc news in bilpin, the blue mountains. police say a man, shot dead on christmas eve, was killed in front of his family as they returned home from a night out. police were called to reports of shots being fired in battersea church road at about 9pm on tuesday and found a 36—year—old man with gunshot wounds. no arrests have been made and detectives are continuing to appeal for information. the israeli prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, is a facing a vote today, for his leadership of the likud party, from long—time rival, gideon saar. it's said to be the biggest challenge mr netanyahu has faced to his 20 year rule of likud. yesterday evening a rocket fired from the gaza strip, interrupted a party rally in the border town of ashkelon. the prime minister and his wife were escorted from the stage, after sirens went off. 0ur middle east correspondent, barbara plett usher, is injerusalem. she explained a little earlier, why support for benjamin netanyahu could be showing signs of weaken

here in australia's most populous state, more than 70 blazes are still burning, but this is a nationwide crisis. there are still active fires in the states of victoria and southbc news in bilpin, the blue mountains. a man shot dead in front of his family in south—west london on christmas eve has been named as swedish national flamur beqiri. police say the 36—year—old man was attacked in battersea as the family returned home from a night out. no arrests have been made and detectives are continuing to appeal for information. in israel the prime minister is facing a political struggle, his party is choosing a new leader, because the country is about to face its third general election in a year. there has been a united front behind him despite a lot of problems in the past year including two elections after which he was unable to form a government and then charges of corruption. against him was that he is very popular still, a lot of loyalty to him, but this is beginning to show a crack, and that is a challenge that is not expected to unseat him necessarily, that would be a big upset, but one that shows disquiet among some members of the party. not senior members

here in australia's most populous state more than 70 blazes are still burning, but this is a nationwide crisis. there are still active fires in the states of victoria and south bbc news in bilpin, the blue mountains. a real challenge in australia. the return of gavin and stacey to our tv screens saw the highest christmas day ratings for more than a decade. more than 11 million people tuned in for the show‘s christmas special comeback, according to initial figures. seven of the top ten most watched programmes yesterday were made by the bbc. 0ur entertainment correspondent lizo mzimba is here — was this a festive surprise for the bbc? with gavin and stacey it is a huge win for the bbc, the biggest overnight audience of the year. the biggest christmas day overnight audience for more than a decade, since 2008. in recent years, the story we have been telling is of christmas day viewing figures slowly declining on terrestrial tv but gavin and stacey has really reversed that trend this year. unlike most of the recent offerings on recent christmas days, this related feel like event, must see television. the first new episode for nine years, unlike for instance, havi

here in australia's most populous state more than 70 blazes are still burning, but this is a nationwide crisis. there are still active fires in the states of victoria and south the blue mountains. the headlines on bbc news... spanish police have named the three british holiday—makers who died in a swimming pool on christmas eve. gabriel dee—yaa and his two children drowned at a hotel on the costa del sol. more than 60 migrants in small boats have been rescued trying to cross the channel to the uk. at least 16 dead and many missing after a typhoon rips through the philipines leaving a trail of devastation behind it. police say a man shot dead on christmas eve was attacked in front of his family after a night out. 36—year—old flamur beqiri, who was a swedish national, was killed in battersea in south—west london at about 9pm. neighbours described hearing multiple gunshots followed by a woman screaming for help. patients diagnosed with cancer in england are to be given the option of a fitness programme to help them cope with their treatment. as part of a trial over the next few years, its hoped 4,000 people will be prescribed three weeks of exercise. for twenty

here in australia's most populous state more than 70 blazes are still burning, but this is a nationwide crisis. there are still active fires in the states of victoria and southuntains. for 20 years israel's longest serving prime minister benjamin netanyahu has led his likud party with an iron grip — but now he faces a challenge to his leadership. more than 100,00 members of israel's governing party, are eligible to vote on whether the veteran prime minister should lead them into the next election. barbara plett usher reports from jerusalem. the man who would be king. gideon saar has issued the most serious challenge to the party in a decade. i feel a great awakening on the ground. people understand that a change has to come today. with the help of god, together we will make that change today. he once party members to vote for change because he says he wants party members to vote for change because he says the prime minister failed to form a government after two general elections and has no chance of doing so in a third. there is a growing sense of disquiet. this is an important day because there hasn't been any voting for this party for the past five years.

fires are menacing communities in the states of south australia and victoria. western australia and queensland have had dangerous days, too. bushfires have always been part of the australian ory, but this fire season is not only started earlier than usual, it intense and could get worse. nada: in the former soviet republic of georgia, a film about a love aair between two male fences has led to widespread protest. csomerch leaders have voiced disapproval, but lgbt campaigners say that their are victims of matches prejudice but hypopoisy, too. rerter: a gentle touch but not in public. being gay ihageorgia means ng to hide who you really are. >> when i told my mother i was gay, she said i o brought shame to the family. she said, "i wish you were dead. it is better not to have a son thatou have someone like you." reporter: in fear for their safety, this couple did not want to reveal their identity. this is why, the opening night of georgia's first film about gay romance. far-right nationals tried to storm the cinema, thrtening those with tickets. they set the film a

south—eastern australia. much of the heavily populated parts of australia, that include south australia, victoria, tasmania andres continue to burn. dangerous fire conditions and extreme heat are forecast for south—eastern australia from tomorrow. phil mercer, bbc news, sydney. stay with us on bbc world news. still to come — where scottish and hindu culture meet in harmony. how an indian pipe band is taking a community in north—west england by storm. george harrison the former beatle is recovering in hospital after being stabbed in his 0xfordshire home. a man from liverpool is being interviewed by police on suspicion of attempted murder. interviewed by police on suspicion of attempted murderlj interviewed by police on suspicion of attempted murder. i think it was good. just good? no, fantastic. that's better. this is bbc world news today. i'm lewis vaughan jones. the latest headlines: president trump has urged unity in the fight against anti—semitism, following a knife attack on the house of a rabbi in new york state, in which five people were injured. ukraine and pro—russian separatists have completed a long—

it is notjust a problem for new south wales, active fires in the australian state of victoria and south australia nationwide crisis which shows no end in sight. thank you for keeping us up—to—date, phil mercer there. did you see it? millions tuned in last night for the return of gavin and stacey after ten years and it ended on a huge cliff—hanger. the christmas special has been a hit with the critics and fans who are hoping for another series. but the show‘s writers, james corden and ruthjones, said there are currently no plans to bring it back as it's difficult to find time to write more. but the pair did get together to watch the programme go out last night. let's return to one of our main stories this morning. the owners of a hotel in southern spain, where a british father and his two children drowned yesterday, have described it as a "tragic accident". an investigation into what happened is underway. localjournalist gerard couzens joins us now from marbella. thank you for taking the time to talk to us today, what more do you know about what might have happened? the exact circumstances are sti

we have been battling so many places, notjust here in new south wales, there are active fires in the states of victoria and also south australiaouth australia too and hearing new south wales, this is the epicentre of australia's bushfire crisis. today, conditions are better and the authorities are trying to use this to contain more than 30 fires that still burn out of control in this state and another 30 or so are under control. so call the conditions are allowing the authorities to try to get the upper hand on his fires before more hot and windy weather comes back and we expect that in the next few days —— cooler conditions. so it is a lull today but we expect there will be more dangerous days ahead in the weeks to come. there will be more dangerous days ahead in the weeks to comem there will be more dangerous days ahead in the weeks to come. itjust feels relentlessly with the weather adding to the problems. phil, thank you so much. the royal navy skipped yesterday's festive celebrations to monitor a russian ship as it made its way through the english channel. the hms tyne was sent at short notice from portsmouth to monitor t

fires burning to in the state of victoria, also in south australia and on the other side of the continentn western australia fire crews battling blazes there too. so it's another brutal day in australia's summer. amid all this the prime minister, scott morrison, criticised for going on holiday to hawaii, is on his way back now. he is. and one would imagine that he will get quite a reception when he gets home. many australians very angry that their prime minister decided to take a holiday to hawaii at a time of crisis. mr morrison has issued a statement saying that he deeply regrets any offence caused to those australians affected by the bushfires. and it's not just the fact that mr morrison has gone on holiday during this emergency. many australians wondering about his attitude to climate change and the role that they are playing in australia's bushfire crisis. mr morrison has acknowledged that global warming is a factor in australia's emergency. safe to say when mr morrison lands today, here in australia, his handling of this emergency will come under immense scrutiny. and of course ther

control but it's not just here in new south wales that is enduring this crisis there are also emergency warnings in the neighboring states of victoria and south australia as well a difficult time for us surely at this moment just. let's also to come on the news hour including as hong kong slides further into recession we meet retailers are finding new opportunities in the city's protest movement plus. and i'm nicholas hark at victoria falls by the rainbow the world's largest waterfall is in some parts a slow trickle find out next how the worst drought in a century is affecting 45000000 people across 14 nations in southern africa. suffer the heaviest league defeat in 20 years has all those details a little bit late. now some that deadline for iraq's president to name a new interim prime minister has now passed with no announcement on who's been chosen earlier thousands of protesters blocked roads in baghdad and basra demanding the appointment of an independent prime minister they say one of the nominees is is closely linked to iran which is to say they're fed up with corruption for services and a lack of jobs hundreds have been killed since anti-governm

australia is going through at the moment? well, this is an unprecedented bushfire crisis. and in the next 2a hours a vast swathe of south—eastern australia, including the states of south australia, victoriales are expected to face extreme fire dangers and also extreme fire dangers and also extreme heat. and we are hearing that one particular part of the state of victoria, a place called east gippsland, the authorities down there are urging all residents and all tourists to leave as soon as they can because of that extreme fire danger that is forecast for monday. here in new south wales more than 80 fires are still burning. here in sydney, that petition has attracted almost 300,000 signatures. we are on sydney harbour. we are not showing you at its best. there is a slight smoky haze in the air today. many tourists we have been speaking to believe that the show should go on. in one city official was telling us on. in one city official was telling us earlier that if the new year's eve extravaganza was cancelled there would be little practical benefit for the victims of the bushfires. the lord mayor of sydney, clover moore, said that she sympathised with the signatories of the petition but s

severe—to—extreme fire dangers across much of south—eastern australia, much of the heavily populated parts of australia. that includes south australia, victorian. volunteers are a vital part of the emergency effort. for about £3,000 in compensation — for taking time off work to battle the blazes. good morning, ladies and gentlemen. this is a very prolonged fire season. this is putting additional demands on ourfirefighters in particular, and it means that the turnouts and the callouts have been far more extensive than in previous years, going well and beyond and above what is normally expected of those who are engaged in volunteer service. the money and the gesture from the government are broadly welcomed by the volunteers on the front line. it's tough. the payment isjust a recognition of what we're doing. it doesn't compensate us for what we're losing, but it's recognition. doing 12—hour shifts and it's really strenuous, hard work, you really do feel like you want to be helping, and you really do feel like you're obliged to do that. so, like, for me, it means i use my annual leave. their work is far from over. dangerous fire conditions and ex

australia are bracing themselves for another period of hotter, drier and windier weather. temperatures are forecast to exceed a0 celsius in several states, including new south wales, south australia and victoriaptember. it's feared that a third of the koala population of new south wales, about 10,000 animals, may have been lost in the bushfire crisis as their habitat has been destroyed. this thirsty koala found a passing cyclist in adelaide hills who shared her water bottle. a member of the rescue team who saved 12 boys and their football coach from a flooded cave in thailand last year has died. petty officer beirut pak—bara, a thai navy seal, contracted a blood infection during the operation. a british man who won one of europe's biggest lotteryjackpots, has died after a short illness. colin weir, who was 71, and wife chris, from largs in north ayrshire, took the £i6i—million euromillions prize in 2011. at the time it was one of europe's biggest ever lottery wins. labour's former deputy leader, tom watson, has said he quit parliament at the general election earlier this month, in part, because of the "brutality and hostility" in the party. in an interview with the guardian, mr watson said th

south australia, in adelaide, they have temperatures of over a0 celsius. these heatwave conditions are expected to affect all of the australian states currently fighting major fires, south australia, victorias. 0ver victoria and here in new south wales. over the weekend we expect the heat here to start developing. monday and tuesday expected to be particularly dangerous. in new south wales about 75 are still burning and more than 30 are uncontained. this is amount for courier in the blue mountains, —— mount victoria. the smoke you can see behind me is coming from the ruined castle bushfire which has been burning for weeks and weeks and driving up from syd ney weeks and weeks and driving up from sydney earlier today, one major hwy up sydney earlier today, one major hwy up into the blue mountains and when you get here, it is smothered in smoke, you can feel it, you can swell it and the smoke is everywhere and sometimes it feels pretty overpowering. we are quite close to the town of keith and they have been serious fires in the last week or so. “— serious fires in the last week or so. —— blackheath. early next week dangerous conditions likely to return, very hot temperatures and very dry wint

temperatures aceve 40 degrees ius are expected in several states, including new south wales, south australia, and victoriafires have destroyed areas in more than five state since september. >> almost 3000 firefighter have been working around the clock since the firstarted in september. many volunteers have given up their christmas break to try to contain the fires. sporadic rain in parts of eastern australia has helped -- has done little to help extinguish the flames. firefighters have tried to take advantage of recent temperatures, but this is the forecast for monday. temperatures up to 38 celsius or higher across most of the country. mid-40's across a lot of areas, and dry air ago well. that ig to elevate fire danger. so much work is being done over the last week while temrares are mild. >> the crucial work involves back burning of dry grass,. that is seen as a last resort and an indication of how desperate the situation is getting. in new south wales, there are more than 100 fires burning, the largest just west of sydney. fires are also burning in southwest australia. temperatures are above 40 degrees.

to extreme conditions in a vast area of south—eastern australia, where many millions of australians live. so that includes the states of south australia, victorian new south wales, where more than 80 buyers continue to burn. in victoria, there is a region called east gippsland, this is near the coast, it is quite a way east of melbourne, the authorities are urging residents and visitors there to leave before those extreme conditions arrive on monday. so i think it is safe to say the last few days of 2019, for many australians, will be pretty anxious. and in some circumstances will be pretty anxious. and in some ci rcu msta nces pretty will be pretty anxious. and in some circumstances pretty dangerous as well. thank you. phil mercer in sydney. the lawyer representing the family of a british father and his two children who drowned in a resort swimming pool in spain on christmas eve wants a more detailed investigation into their deaths. the hotel on the costa del sol insists the pool was working normally, but the mother of the children says all three could swim. helena wilkinson has more. this is gabriel diya with his nine—year—old daughter, comfo

that it's notjust new south wales that is being impacted by the fires, there are fires in south australia, victoriaand. it has been going on since october. it probably will continue right through to the end of february. what did you think needs to change in the way that australia confronts these types of fires? because clearly they are getting a lot worse, aren't they? that's right. it has been said that the best way to fight a bushfire is to fight it five years in advance. and what that means is you have got to do and what that means is you have got todoa and what that means is you have got to do a lot of preparation, both in the housing stock to make the houses less prone to being burned down, better garden design, and then a better garden design, and then a better interface with the bushland to reduce the fire hazard in the bushland by using various techniques, including burning the fuels under controlled conditions, mechanical removal, and then, in some cases, using herbivores to eat grass and other combustible vegetation. so there's a big programme ahead of us, i think, to really get on top of

australia are bracing themselves for another period of hotter, drier and windier weather. temperatures are forecast to exceed a0 degrees celsius in several states, including new south wales, south australia and victoriaes since september. it's feared that a third of the koala population of new south wales — about 10,000 animals, may have been lost in the bushfire crisis as their habitat has been destroyed. this thirsty koala found a passing cyclist in adelaide hills who shared her water bottle. a british man who won one of europe's biggest colin weir, who was 71, and wife chris, from largs in north ayrshire, took the £161—million euromillions prize in 2011. at the time it was one of europe's biggest ever lottery wins. the headlines on bbc news... grease—star olivia newton—john is made a dame in the new year honours list — she's one of 11 hundred people recognised for their work. a woman whose husband and two children drowned on christmas eve in a swimming pool at a resort in spain says all three could swim. she blames a fault with the pool concerns for australia's wildlife as an extreme heatwave hits the country, putting increasing pressure on firefighters battling the bushfires. labour's former depu

walls of fire in new south wales and tens of thousands urged to leave their homes and victoria as australia's bushfires worse. tit for tat expulsions over a runaway president the escalating dispute between spain bolivia and mexico. a powerful shia group is vowing retaliation for u.s. airstrikes on its camps in iraq and syria hezbollah has promised revenge for what it calls the aggression of evil american raven's sunday's bombings targeting 3 of us bases in iraq and 2 in syria at least $27.00 fighters were killed and $51.00 were injured when the strike sparked protests in kirkuk and basra and iraq's national security council says it's reconsidering its relationship with the u.s. led coalition against eisel the u.s. secretary of state mike pompei are called the strikes a decisive response to threats by iranian backed forces against u.s. personnel as want to further action to protect them if necessary. we'll have an update from washington in a moment but 1st to mona fulton begins our coverage in iraq's anbar province where some u.s. troops are based. and unprecedented confrontation between the u

i think the conditions by sfard south australia victoria and new south wales are the result of a very extensive period of drought probably over decade of drought where we just have not had soil moisture we've had a very early onset of high temperatures adelaide for instance 3 days ago i was the hottest capital city in the world. so extreme temperatures very draw a and there's been very little humidity in the year and no running form of aints you put all that together and vegetation he's kinda drawing across the something and southeastern part of the whole of the straw area and really we must include western australia by that catastrophic fall as is well over a light to the impact of drought on a vegetation and we need to recognize that this part of a stride it is a naturally a far cry an area even in a good year right do you think there's that direct link between these wildfires and climate change. there's a direct link between these fawas drought draw of vegetation high fuel lloyd's and high temperatures but if you look across the sort of 100 year history of fall as a strong idea we

the conditions by 5th south australia victoria and new south wales are the result of a very extensive period of drought probably over decade of drought where we just have no soil moisture we've had a very early onset of high temperatures adelaide for instance 3 days ago i was the hottest capital city in the will. so extreme temperatures very dry in these being very little humidity in the air and not running for my veins you put all that together and vegetation he's drawing across the something and southeastern part of the whole of australia and really we must include western destroyed and i think catastrophic cause as well over a light to the impact of drought on a vegetation and we need to recognise that this part of a stride it is naturally a far cry an area even in a good year right do you think there's that direct link between nice wildfires and climate change is a direct link between these fall as drought drop vegetation high fuel lloyd's and high temperatures but if you look across the sort of 100 year history of fall as in a strong we have had these events before each state has