This is bbc news. Im Nancy Kacungira with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. Huge crowds attend friday prayers at hagia sophia in istanbul the first time the site has been used as a mosque in over than eighty years but many outside turkey are critical. Been used as a mosque in over eighty years but many outside turkey are critical. Britains Prime Minister Boris Johnson says that his government didnt understand coronavirus at the start of the pandemic and could have handled things differently the single thing that we did not see at the beginning was the extent to which it was being transmitted asymptomatically from person to person. That was not clear to us, or to anybody. A court in hong kong has found a couple not guilty of rioting during last years pro democracy protests. The verdict could set a precedent for hundreds of others charged with similar offences. And also coming up. The two life time friends who kept a 20 year old pledge to share a big lotter
This is bbc world news. Im simon pusey. Our top stories President Trump defends the killing of irans top military commander in an airstrike. The us says general Qasem Soleimani was actively plotting an attack and their decision saved hundreds of american lives. We took action last night to stop a war, we did not take action to start a war. As iran vows revenge, tens of thousands of iranians take to the streets in protest. In other news safe at last. Relief as the Australian Navy rescues 1,000 people whod been trapped on the coast by bush fires. Hello. Iran has vowed severe revenge against the United States after the killing of Iranian Military commander Qasem Soleimani. He was blown up outside Baghdad Airport in the early hours of friday morning on the orders of President Trump. Us Officials Say the general had been plotting to kill americans in the region. Iranian leaders have called the killing an act of International Terrorism. The pentagon is sending an extra 3,500 troops to the re
Firefighters on the front line. The trial begins of the disgraced hollywood Film Producer harvey weinstein. And the golden globe goes to. Fleabag, prime video and a great night for british stars at the Golden Globes in hollywood. And coming up on bbc news, sibley the best. A maiden century as england set south africa a test record. 0n track to level the series in cape town. Good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. Police have called him the most prolific rapist in british criminal history. Ajudge has called him a monster who should never be released. Reynhard sinaga has been sentenced to a minimum of 30 years after being convicted of 159 offences against 48 victims. All his victims were men, the vast majority were heterosexual. 0ver several years, sinaga lured men from outside manchester nightclubs back to his flat, where he drugged and assaulted them filming the attacks. Police believe there are far more victims, though at least 190. They are appealing for anyone who thinks th
A p pa re ntly moaning general soleimani and apparently getting behind the leaders in promising revenge. The chance are familiar, including death to america, but the circumstances are radically changed. The waterboards is intensifying. President trump has said, this threat of massive retaliation if iran strikes any americans or american assets, we have targeted 52 iranians sites. Some at a very high level and important to iran and the iranians culture. Those targets and iranians culture. Those targets and iran itself will be hit very fast and very hard. The usa wants no more threats. Under enormous american pressure, britain is adjusting its political stance. The foreign secretary is now sounding increasingly synthetic to the United States, but still stops short of outright support. We understand the action they took, but we also need to be very clearly focused on what happens next. We want to de escalate the tensions. We want to see a route through this crisis. We do not want to see a
Now on bbc news, Hardtalks Stephen Sackur speaks to douglas silliman, former Us Ambassador to iraq. Welcome to hardtalk, im stephen sackur. Though the fear of imminent war has receded, the middle east has been profoundly destabilised by the american assassination of iranian general Qasem Soleimani. The unfolding us iran conflict will impact the whole not least iraq, where the iranians are intent on hastening the end of America Military presence. Much now depends on the Strategic Vision of the Trump Administration. My guest, douglas silliman, was Us Ambassador in iraq until one year ago. Does trump have a strategy . If so, what is it . Ambassador Doug Silliman in washington, dc, welcome to hardtalk. Steven, im very happy to be here. Well, you have a very special perspective of whats happened over the past ten days or so as the last retiring ambassador in baghdad, you leftjust one year ago. From your perspective, does the assassination of Qasem Soleimani in baghdad appear to you both law