President trump orders the assassination of one of the most powerful men in the middle east, irans top military commander. General Qasem Soleimani was killed in a us airstrike in iraq as he arrived at Baghdad Airport in the early hours of this morning. Iran said the air strike was americas biggest mistake in the region and threatened severe revenge but the white house said general soleimani had been plotting to kill hundreds of americans. We dont seek war with iran but, at the same time, we are not going to stand by and watch the iranians escalate and continue to put american lives at risk without responding in a way that disrupts, defends, deters and creates an opportunity to de escalate the situation. The us has said tonight it is
sending 3500 more troops to the middle east in response to the threat and we will be asking what this could lead to. Safe at last relief as the Australian Navy rescues a thousand people whod been trapped on the coast by bush fires. Tens of thousands more pe
Us forces kill a top iranian general in an airstrike, escalating tension between the United States and iran. Qasem soleimani was the second most powerful person in iran and the countrys strategic mastermind. He was killed as his convoy left Baghdad Airport iran has vowed to take revenge. President trump who ordered the attack has tweeted a picture of the american flag. His secretary of state has defended the killing. President trumps decision to remove Qasem Soleimani from the battlefield saved american lives, theres no doubt about that. He was actively plotting in the region, to take actions, a big action as he described it, that would have put dozens if not hundreds of american lives at risk. Well be asking how dangerous a moment this is for the middle east. Also this lunchtime. Relief for australians rescued by the navy from the countrys wildfires. A judge rules that ethical veganism is a philosophical belief and therefore protected by law. And Prince Williams film urging football f
On the river themes in london without a ticket, as the uk prepares to usher in 2020. More than 100,000 tickets have been bought for tonights sold out fireworks display, where approximately 12,000 fireworks are set to light up the capitals skyline when the clock strikes midnight. The metropolitan police is urging those without tickets to watch from home or attend other events in the city. Hogmanay celebrations got underway in edinburgh last night. The festivities began in the city last night as around 40,000 people joined a torchlit procession which ended with them forming the shape of two humans reaching out a hand of friendship. The events will end with the traditional firework display, with more than 3,600 fireworks being set off at Edinburgh Castle at midnight. Now its time for a look at the weather with carol kirkwood. We will usher in the new year with
some sunshine . No, it will be really cloudy, simon, notjust by night but also by day tomorrow. Starting with also by day tomorrow
Tonight at ten Harvey Weinstein, for decades one of hollywoods most powerful men, is injail, convicted of Sexual Assault and rape. He faces up to 25 years in prison and the lawyer representing some of his victims said their courage had been acknowledged. It is no longer business as usual in the united states. This is the age of empowerment of women and you cannot intimidate them any more. The accusations were at the centre of the Metoo Movement that inspired women to go public with allegations against powerful men. The record will now show the history books will read that Harvey Weinstein isa books will read that Harvey Weinstein is a convicted rapist. Vindication at last for his female
victims. Well have the latest from nick in new york and well be looking ahead to the next case against weinstein in los angeles. Also tonight the latest on coronavirus as people queue for masks in south korea, the World Health Organization warns that other countries, including italy, needed to take toug
Welcome to bbc news, im mike embley. Our top stories the uks Prime Minister Boris Johnson is back in downing street after his own fight against coronavirus to tell the country now is the moment of maximum risk. I refuse to throw away all of the effort, and the sacrifice of the british people and to risk a second major outbreak and huge loss of life and the overwhelming of the nhs. President trump used his first coronavirus News Conference since friday to accuse china of failing to stop the spread of the illness. As the number of confirmed global cases passes three million, we compare how Different Countries are tackling the pandemic. And, as lockdown restrictions begin to ease across a number of us states
we speak to a hair salon owner about getting back to work. Hello. The british Prime Minister, borisjohnson has urged people not to lose patience with the lockdown. He was speaking outside number 10 for the First Time Since recovering from coronavirus. Mrjohnson warned that britain is