Australias bush fires we report from cobargo in New South Wales where an area larger than denmark has been completely destroyed by the blaze. And how running your first marathon could add years to your life particularly if you start when youre older. And coming up on bbc news, ben stokes takes the final three wickets to propel england to a memorable victory in the second test against south africa in cape town. Good evening and welcome to the bbc news at 6 00. The british teenager convicted of lying about being gang raped in cyprus lastjuly is flying home tonight. The 19 year old who we are not naming was given a four month suspended sentence in court this morning which meant she could finally leave the island. She claimed she was attacked by 12 israeli tourists in a hotel room in the party town of ayia napa last summer but days later retracted her statement. But she says she was forced to change her account and still maintains she was raped. Anna holligan is in ayia napa for us tonight. Thejudge said she had the judge said she had wasted police time, the british teenager may be heading home but with a criminal record. She is understood to be suffering from post Traumatic Stress disorder. This experience has caused her irreparable damage but it also highlights how vulnerable british teenagers can be when they travel overseas. The end of a six month nightmare. just want to thank each and every one of you for turning up today having belief, having faith, making sure that we get justice. Having belief, having faith, making sure that we getjustice. Her mother said it should never have come this far. Shes coming home with a guilty verdict and four month suspended sentence. Her lawyers described it as a miscarriage of justice. She was left with nobody in the world, left stranded on the island of cyprus with no support. The world, left stranded on the island of cyprus with no supportm was the summer of 2019. The teenager accused of a group of israeli tourists of pinning her down, raping her inside this budget hotel. They we re her inside this budget hotel. They were brought to court but allowed to fly home as soon as the young woman withdrew her initial statement. She said it was only retracted under police pressure. With no lawyer interpreter orfamily police pressure. With no lawyer interpreter or Family Member by her side. This case has galvanised and united women, cypriot and israeli, who believe the british teenager was violated first by the israeli men and then the entire system. We all felt very sorry am very angry, with the result of a system that blames women who are the complainants for rape or violence, and they seek the protection of the state. Sitting here in court, thejudge referred to the mitigating circumstances. Her young age, the fact she had no previous run ins with the law and her mental health. He also acknowledged the fact she had been. And over her passport and stay on the island, which meant she had missed out on the start of the university course. While he said none of this was any excuse for what he described as distracting police from their duties, in suspending the four month sentence, the judge said he was giving her a second chance. believed this vulnerable young lady will now be returning home to begin the process of recovery, given all shes been through. There is a broader issue for brits travelling not just broader issue for brits travelling notjust in broader issue for brits travelling not just in cyprus broader issue for brits travelling notjust in cyprus or in europe but travelling abroad whether on holiday, backpacking, to make sure they can do so as safely and securely as possible. This young woman travelled to ayia napa for a summer woman travelled to ayia napa for a summerjob, a woman travelled to ayia napa for a summer job, a chance woman travelled to ayia napa for a summerjob, a chance she told me to grow up before starting a university degree. There has been International Condemnation over the way this case was handled by the cypriot authorities and it raises questions about the safety of a holiday destination visited by over a million british tourists every year. And our World Affairs correspondent caroline hawleyjoins me now. Caroline, a number of government concerns about this case . Thats right. It has had diplomatic ramifications, there has been disquiet over her treatment, about her trial. The Foreign Office took the unusual step of calling the case deeply distressing. Dominic raab the foreign secretary spoke to his cypriot counterpart on friday and the uk government says it will be working with cyprus to make sure a case like this can never happen again. Cyprus is a former uk colony and attracts huge numbers of british holiday makers every year. There have been calls for a boycott. But its also a country that has been forging closer ties with israel of late. It recently signed a gas deal for a pipeline and that has led some to question whether this could have had any bearing on the handling of the case. Campaigners point out that a rape claim would potentially be a pr disasterfor a rape claim would potentially be a pr disaster for the holiday island. Tonight the woman at the centre of all of this is heading home, she heads home with a criminal record but it is a conviction but her lawyers say they will do everything they can to overturn and will take it if they have to do to the European Court of human rights. Thank you. More than 50 people have been killed in a stampede in iran, as vast numbers of people turned out to attend the burial of qasem soleimani, the iranian commander killed in a us drone strike in iraq. Soleimani was considered the second most powerful man in iran, and his assassination has raised fears of a conflict between the us and iran. 0ur middle east editor, jeremy bowen, reports from baghdad. Another enormous crowd turned out in kerman, Qasem Soleimanis hometown for his burial. The last stage of irans long goodbye. Millions have been on the streets to mourn, pray and shout their anger as his coffin has been taken round the country. But the passion of the people of kerman for a local hero was too much, they pressed forward, leading to the tragedy and many more deaths. This was an accident, but iranians will add the blame to the american account. Irans government says the us is not interested in stopping escalation, the slide to war. I dont think the United States has chosen the path of the escalation. Talking about the escalation is different from choosing the path. The United States killed a number of people, important personalities, both iraqi officials as well as iranians officials in foreign territory. Thats an act of war. Even before the crisis, baghdad was not a peaceful city. Its centre is full of memorials to hundreds of demonstrators, who since october have been shot dead demanding reform and an end to foreign interference. This evening, the marchers slogans were against both iran and the United States. So, iraq was in deep crisis before the assassination at baghdad airport. Imposed new layers of complexity and danger. These people here think they are in a revolution. Now all of this isnt just a problem for iraqis, it should be worrying for the rest of us as well. Because foreign interference in iraq has a history of sending shock waves, notjust across the region, but further afield as well. This mother was mourning her dead son, a demonstrator. Too many lives in the middle east are wrecked by political turmoil and violence. In tahrir square, protesters lined up for food hand outs, in a country where people, once again, fear tomorrow. Jeremy bowen, bbc news, baghdad. Meanwhile, here the government has repeated its call for restraint on all sides and says it is putting measures in place to protect british nationals in the gulf. 0ur deputy political editorjohn pienaar is in westminster for us. There has been criticism over the way the government has handled this. There is. Ministers have been chorus in the case for constraint and theres a lot of talk going on. The foreign secretary in touch with cou nterpa rts foreign secretary in touch with counterparts in the region and in europe and Boris Johnson counterparts in the region and in europe and borisjohnson has been on the phone to President Trump and to the phone to President Trump and to the iraqi leadership but he hasnt spoken publicly. He was conspicuous by his absence in the house of commons today which laid him open to mockery and accusations of weakness from jeremy corbyn. The official line is ministers are being left to do theirjob. Senior conservatives point out that past Prime Ministers tended to be front and centre when dealing with the crisis on this kind of scale. When you remember how President Trump didnt just fail to inform london but didnt consult them on what he did when it came to this attack, you can see where a lot of this criticism is coming from and its easy to argue that this Prime Minister has much less clout in the white house than past Prime Ministers have had with past president s. Its true that british officials and british diplomats have got a very direct line to cou nterpa rts got a very direct line to counterparts in washington, but not necessarily to the people that President Trump tends to listen to. Thats assuming listens to anyone. So, ina thats assuming listens to anyone. So, in a time of crisis, at a defining time for this country and its place in the world, but it looks not just like a its place in the world, but it looks notjust like a country dangerously exposed but one with less influence thanit exposed but one with less influence than it would like. That may or may not be a cause for political criticism but is certainly a fact. Thank you. Rebecca long bailey has become the latest labour mp to join the contest to be labour leader. A key member ofjeremy corbyns team, she said labours agenda during the Election Campaign was undersold to the electorate, and that the partys failure at the polls had been due to a lack of strategy, rather than issues with its leadership. Any leader who leads us into a general election defeat needs to take ultimate responsibility. But he also set out a radical platform for policy development that involved the grassroots in our trade unions and develop some of the most exciting and innovative policies that we seen in a generation. A teenager has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a Police Officer who was dragged along a road by a van in berkshire. Pc Andrew Harper was killed last august as he investigated a burglary. But prosecutors want the 18 year old to be put on trial for murder, as Daniela Relph reports from the old bailey. The death of pc Andrew Harper last august prompted an outpouring of sympathy and grief for both his family, his Police Colleagues and the wider public. Just a month earlier, he had married his partner, lissie, and the newlyweds were about to head off on honeymoon. But on the evening of the 15th of august, pc harper and a colleague were called to reports of a break in near sulhamstead in berkshire. As they investigated, pc harper got caught under the wheels of a vehicle, was dragged along the road, suffered multiple injuries and died. Today, henry long, seen here at a previous hearing, appeared before a judge at the old bailey. When the manslaughter charge was put to him, he replied, i plead guilty, guilty. Although henry long has said he is guilty of manslaughter in relation to events here last summer, crucially, he has pleaded not guilty to the murder of the Police Officer. It means he now faces a murder trial in march. Two other teenagers, both 17, are due to stand trial with him charged with killing the 28 year old Police Officer. Daniela relph, bbc news, west berkshire. The time is 8 15. Our top story this evening the teenager convicted of lying about being gang raped in cyprus last summer receives a suspected sentence and is allowed to fly home to the uk. And coming up. Its no laughing matter joker leads the nominations for the baftas but theres criticism as its revealed all the main acting nominees are white. Coming up on sportsday on bbc news, we will be live at old trafford ahead of the League Cup Semifinal first leg between Manchester United and manchester city. In australia, firefighters are taking advantage of milder weather and some rain to create fire breaks while they can. But temperatures are forecast to soar again later this week. In New South Wales the Rural Fire Service said an area larger than denmark has been destoyed in the state. Clive myrie is in New South Wales in the town of cobargo. It is little more than a week now since that huge fireball blew through this area. The 19th century timberframes through this area. The 19th century timber frames in much through this area. The 19th century timberframes in much of the village, they didnt stand a chance. 0ften village, they didnt stand a chance. Often it is this chimney stacks that made it. But this is a Community Pulling together and determined to get through this. They have set up their own Relief Centre over at the showground providing food, clothing and feel with contributions as far afield as western australia. They are trying to get things sorted and it is aid that is highly, highly desperately needed, as he found out the minute we arrived. The reach cobargo late at night after a seven hour drive. Theres no electricity, the only illumination, solar powered christmas lights. A few hours later, dawn. Birdsong 0n scorched farmland, the sound of gunshots mingled with birdsong, as local farmers had to put down hundreds of injured animals. I grew up here, i planted that tree. Ronnie leads me through the shattered village. Its pretty tough to live next to this and see all of the things that were in my street. Herfear is, while many stayed to defend their properties, others will now want to leave. Do you want to live among the asbestos . Would you, would you want to do that . Our community is still fighting to survive. This is what her village endured. The video was filmed by ronnies father brian, a highly decorated former volunteer firefighter. The flames, just metres from his house. The heart and soul of a little rural village just ripped out. Paying tribute to the firefighters who try to save his village, brian invokes winston churchill. When our main street had finished and the buildings were smouldering and i saw the red and blue flashing lights downtown, and frustration, i wished i was with them. And i thought to myself, this was their finest hour. And one of those whose hour had come, was his own son mark, a volunteer firefighter captain. He has been praised for his work by the australian Prime Minister, but there is still a gnawing feeling inside. It isa is still a gnawing feeling inside. It is a horrible feeling. I cannot feel it, i cannot describe it, the feeling of helplessness. The feeling of guilt. I know i did everything i could, but you still wish you could protect everywhere. That was the most difficult thing i had ever faced. To see mark downtown and not be able to do anything for him. He was by himself. I am so proud of what he did. We have told the story of one familys journey through the nightmare of the bushfires. There are so many more. Nightmare of the bushfires. There are so many more. But what unites them all is a desire for communities to heal and move on. If we go, what remains is gone. We cannot do that. Not yet, you know. We will fight the second fight. We fought a fire front and now we have to fight to rebuild this place. Clive myrie, bbc news, cobargo, New South Wales. Large numbers of train journeys connecting the biggest cities in the north have been cancelled this month because of the late delivery of new rail carriages. The provider, Transpennine Express, which runs trains between liverpool, Manchester Victoria, leeds and edinburgh already has one of the worst track records for delays. 0ur north of england correspondent danny savage reports. The train arriving at platform four at Manchester Victoria this lunch time was running on time, but many of these services operated by Transpennine Express are not as punctual. This is a Transpennine Express service to scarborough. Already today, more than a quarter of Transpennine Express services have been late, very late, or canceled. And this has been ongoing for months. So the company has agreed to compensate season ticket holders. They will get a 3 rebate, but its not what passengers really want. Youre getting to work late, so your boss is angry with you. Youre getting home late, so your partners angry with you. Its not a great time to be traveling with transpennine, its about putting this right and recognizing that the compensation package is welcome, but, actually, what passengers really want is stable service. For a few months last year, Transpennine Express was the worst performing Train Company in britain, with only 40 of services arriving on time. Its been poor again in recent weeks, this is anything but first class. Its every week. Yeah. Its every week, would everyone agree . Last month, a hospital consultant told us how bad it is. All the cancellations and delays really impact on my working week. To the point where i, sometimes, its really quite embarrassing how late we arrive. I get there to a packed waiting room, staff are waiting for me. Its actually quite upsetting. Transpennine has signs on board trains, saying it is truly sorry for its poor performance. But Civic Leaders say passengers have had enough. They say to you, in tears, that, you know, theyve been at risk of losing theirjobs. They havent been able to get home to pick their kids up from childcare. We are all at the point well beyond receiving explanation, something needs to change. The late delivery of some of its new trains means transpennine has also axed about 35 of services on its liverpool to edinburgh route. The transport secretary is demanding explanations. Theres a feeling that politicians are running out of patience with train operators in Northern England. Danny savage, bbc news. The film joker leads the way in this years bafta film nominations with the war epic 1917 hot on its heels. But the nominations have prompted criticism including from bafta itself with no female directors in the line up yet again and only white actors nominated in the main categories. 0ur arts editor Will Gompertz reports. Laughing. Joaquin phoenix in his bafta nominated performance asjoker. The comic book origin story has been shortlisted in the best film category and leads the way with 11 nominations in all. Everyone laughed at me, well no ones laughing now. And theyre not laughing at bafta, which is coming under heavy criticism after announcing an all male best director line up, and four acting categories made up of exclusively white performers. Did you find the shortlist, the headlines of the shortlist a bit embarrassing . I wouldnt say embarrassing, but i would say infuriating, 0k . I think its immensely frustrating and infuriating. Its not as if there was a porosity of choice. Theres been plenty of critical acclaim for several recent films with female directors, not least Greta Gerwigs little women. But no bafta nomination for her. The same applies to diversity in the acting categories. While Margot Robbie received two nominations, one for this performance in Quentin Tarantinos once upon a time in hollywood, which is also up for best film. God was watching, but my feet was my home. Cynthia erivos much praised acting in harriet was overlooked. Nothing to eat for days and days, but i made it. Its not that bafta isnt doing anything in this arena, were actually probably doing more than any other academy, globally, in terms of finding those talented individuals and supporting them, and we will continue to do more. I think you have to. I think thats what today has done for us. Itsjust to show, you know, were not taking anything we do and saying, this is good enough, its all going to have to work harder. So, on the one hand, the film business feels its adapting too slowly to the modern world, but on the other, it is changing dramatically. The studio with the most nominations this year isnt disney, or fox, or sony its the new kid on the block, netflix, which has 23 including five for marriage story, which is about the break up of a white middle class family. Will gompertz, bbc news. Englands cricketers have won the second test against south africa in dramatic fashion. It was their first victory in cape town since the 19505. The teams are now level in the four match series after england bowled south africa out for 248 today. Heresjoe wilson. Englands followers in cape town werent born when they last won a test match here most of them. The final day was measured in minutes and wickets. Maharaj, the first. Then came the big ones. South africas captain, faf du plessis. Taken peter milan had resisted everything until this. Good catch from stokes. But quinton de kocks slowest ever 50 was perfect for the occasion. After tea, england desperately needed inspiration or a mistake. 0h, he caught him. 0h, quinton. James anderson looked far below par bowling, but he could still catch. Van der dussen out. Cut to the home dressing room. Right. Now, over to ben stokes. Roots catch. Two more wickets needed now. Very next ball, crawley, the incredible catcher, one hand and then the other. Gone imagine ben stokes had seen everything in cricket . No. Ben only in the last glow of a test matchs fifth day would you get this drama. Catch that yes the winning wickets, stokes. the winning wickets, stokes. I am just trying to influence the game in a positive way. Everything has thrown everything at south africa today and that has gone a long way today and that has gone a long way to was making sure we win this game. He is part of the team, he is the heart of the team. Joe wilson, bbc news. If your new years resolution is to run a marathon for the first time in 2020 medical Research Suggests it could be a great a idea. Researchers at barts health nhs trust and University College london have found that training for and then running your first marathon can add years to your life by reducing your Blood Pressure as well as taking four years off the age of your arteries. This morning i put on my trainers and went to find out more. A new year brings new resolutions, and for many people in londons hyde park today, that means getting fit. But the idea of running a marathon, 26. 2 miles, fills many with fear. Ifind running really hard, its not easy for me. I prefer to go down to the gym and lift weights. Thats easy, but, hopefully, the smaller i get, the easier it will become. If i were to do like a Half Marathon, marathon, think i would need months and months of practice. I got a place in the ballot to run the marathon this year, and im actually doing a Half Marathon on the 8th of february at victoria park. How are you feeling about the first marathon . Terrified. In fact, researchers now say marathon running can add years to your life. They studied more than 100 first time runners at the London Marathon and found it rejuvenated their arteries. It was those older, more sedentary individuals, potentially with higher Blood Pressure at baseline, that seemed to derive the most benefit. So those with the most to gain, seemed to get the most benefit, thats an important finding. I only took up marathon running in my early 405. Before that, i did almost no exercise at all. A decade later, im faster and fitter than ive ever been. Jackie millet started running even later than i did, she was 57, when a cancer scare prompted her to take exercise for the first time. Ten years later, shes addicted. At first, its very difficult. I started running on a treadmill, and it took a long time for me to have the confidence to go outside and run. And once i did, i never looked back. Its fantastic. Jackie is extreme. She has run 200 marathons in the past ten years, but she goes to show that age is no barrier, and the body can often achieve far more than you ever thought possible. Time for a look at the weather heres darren bett. He is looking very nervous. You are looking very smug. I will run through the weather as quickly as i can. In north wales, temperatures reached 50 in celsius but it has also been very windy. The winds have come from the azores and pushed wind across the whole of the uk but the strength of the wind has caused travel disruption. For the next few hours it is going to be very windy across the north west of scotland weather has been some very disruption. If youre travelling into yorkshire, the winds could be gusting 50 or 60 miles an hour during this evening. 0vernight the winds do ease. Wet weather in scotland, then it turns more showery. We get clearer skies across many parts of the country and for northern areas, it gets a bit colder after the warmth of today. Still mild where it is cloudy across most southern parts of england and wales. Here it looks like being a cloudy day tomorrow. Cloud thickening from the south west to bring outbreaks of rain and drizzle that will develop more widely and push towards the midlands and eventually the south east of england. Head further north, the show was easing for Northern England and northern ireland. In scotland, wintry over the hills. Temperatures across the uk back to where they should be for this time of year. As we head into thursday, there is uncertainty over an area of low pressure developing and heading towards the uk. It could potentially get deeper and we get stronger winds, but at the moment we are not expecting that to happen. The strongest of the winds are likely to happen through the English Channel and where we see rain on thursday it will push northwards. The main ring band pushes into scotla nd the main ring band pushes into scotland and northern ireland. Maybe sleet and snow in scotland. Figures further south and across the uk. Back to you. 00 29 37,831 4294966103 13 29,430 that is
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