hello and welcome to bbc news. thousands of holidaymakers have been fleeing coastal areas of new south wales, after being warned it is not safe for them to stay in bushfire—hit parts of eastern australia. there are trafficjams on major roads, although the evacuation is hampered by a lack of fuel. the authorities are urging tourists and residents to leave while they can. saturday is forecast to be another punishing day in south—eastern australia with more hot, dry and windy weather. a "tourist leave zone" has been declared for a 180 kilometre stretch of the new south wales coast from batemans bay to wonboyn. almost 1,300 homes have been destroyed in the state since the fire crisis began. in the last hour the prime minister scott morrison has been paying tribute to the fire fighters and emergecny services who've coordinated recovery efforts. he also called on people to follow the advice when evactuating. i would continue to ask people to be patient, i know you have kids in the carand is patient, i know you have kids in the car and is anxiety and there is stress, and the traffic is not moving quickly. but the best thing to do, the best thing that helps those out there volunteering, out there trying to restore some water to the situations, is for everyone just to be patient. and that help will arrive. there are positive both victoria new south wales which been com pletely victoria new south wales which been completely devastated with the loss of power, loss of communications, every absolute effort is been ——in train to make sure those things can be stood up as villages ——as quick as possible. we have been able to get tankers in to restore fuel supplies, that is now greatly assisted. there are other places which are difficult to get the supplies into but we'll be able to do that as soon as possibly can. phil mercer is in sydney. another pro minister talked about staying calm but he also very much seems to be defending commonwealth response and he has been much criticised over it. what he said was that it's largely in first instance the responsibility of australia's state government to manage these crises. he was saying the federal government would offer and would give any assistance required of it so mr morrison as we have heard, said that he understood the fear and frustrations and the anxieties of those people who were not only stranded in certain communities but who are having trouble leaving the south coast of new south wales following that warning from fire authorities that conditions on saturday could be very dangerous. i think it's safe to say that mr morrison's leadership is under the sort of scrutiny that he has never had before. a lot of people have been linking these fires to climate change, especially with some of the new fire behaviour we are seeing. did you have anything to say about that? he did. he has broadly acknowledged there is a link between global warming and the bushfire crisis. he said that you couldn't specifically say that a fire in new south wales or another one in western australia for example is directly caused by climate change. i don't think too many people are saying that. what the minister did saying that. what the minister did say is that his climate change policies were both adequate and responsible. that australia would meet its international emissions targets. that won't wash with many of mr morrison's ‘s critics. they believe his centre—right government is too supportive of the coal industry that the coal industry isn't taking global warming seriously enough and some of his sterner critics have accused mr morrison of rather intemperate language of being a climate criminal. saturday is predicted to be very troubling. lots of high temperatures. what is the plan for people still in danger? this is part ofa grand people still in danger? this is part of a grand pattern that we've seen for many, many weeks. we see a spike in the fire danger to extreme catastrophic levels. then there is a lull. the temperatures proceed, the wind received and in that time, firefighters ready for the next onslaught because there will be another one on saturday is shaping up another one on saturday is shaping up to be the next spike in this pattern if you like. certainly the fire crews not only here in new south wales but in many australian states do use these milder conditions to prepare for hotter, drier, windy weather that has been forecast here on saturday and so the weekend is shaping up as another dangerous time of fire crews, residents and holidaymakers. feels like it's going to be a very long summer. webster crosses fires for you here on bbc news. ——we will stay across the fires. let's get some of the day's other news. in austria, the conservative party led by sebastian kurz has struck a deal to return to power as part of a coalition, with the greens. the agreement allows mr kurz to become chancellor for the second time in his career, which is quite an achievement given he is still only 33 years old. the former national basketball association commisioner, david stern, who oversaw the huge rise in the game's popularity has died aged 77. mr stern took charge of the sport in 1984 and during his 30 years in office saw basketball‘s revenues increase more than 30 fold. pope francis has apologised for the "bad example" he gave when he slapped a woman's hand to break free from her grip. he confessed that he had lost patience with the admirer. the pacific nation of palau has become the first country to ban sun block that is harmful to corals and sea life. the ban covers the sale and use of lotion containing any of ten common ingredients. several other places, including hawaii, have announced similar plans. protesters in baghdad have all now pulled back from the us embassy, after earlier attacking the compound, for the second day running. the crowd were supporters of a militia, backed by iran, and their protest was against us air strikes last week inside iraq, which killed 25 members of the militia. jonathan josephs reports. the bitter struggle between the us and iran has again been playing out on the streets of iraq. a sizeable crowd of protesters and iranian—backed militias set fire to the perimeter of the american embassy in baghdad for a second day. but us troops have used tear gas and stun grenades to force them back. just some of the thousands of troops it has in the country. translation: this is not the first time the us have hit us. we will never move from here, i swear on god and on my life, until they leave here. translation: we are holding a sit-in for the souls of our martyrs until the departure of the american occupiers. iraq's military says the protesters have now withdrawn and that its forces have completely secured the perimeter. that will be welcomed by president trump, who has urged the iraqi government to take a tough line. nonetheless, around 750 additional soldiers have been deployed to the region and, despite reinforcements being sent in, the us embassy has suspended all public consular operations. amid his new year celebrations, president trump warned he wouldn't allow a repeat of the 2012 storming of the us consulate in the libyan city of benghazi, where four americans were killed. the marines came in, we had some great warriors come in and do a fantasticjob. and they were there instantaneously, as soon as we heard. i use the word immediately, they came immediately, and it is in great shape, as you know. this will not be a benghazi. benghazi should never have happened. president trump blames iran for the death of an american contractor at an iraqi military base last week. he responded with these air strikes against the iranian—backed militia, kata'ib hezbollah, at the weekend. 25 people were killed. that's drawn strong condemnation from iran's supreme leader, ayatollah ali khamenei, who said president trump's threats were hollow. translation: if the islamic republic decides to challenge and fight a country, it will do so unequivocally. we are strongly committed to our country's interest and our peace. we are strongly committed to the dignity of our country. these protests come amid a us—iran relationship that has deteriorated since washington pulled out of the nuclear weapons deal in 2018. and all the while, iraq finds itself stuck in the middle, trying to help the us see off the so—called islamic state group, but at the same time trying to protect its relationship with neighbouring iran. jonathan josephs, bbc news. police in hong kong have arrested around 400 people who took part in a new year's day anti—government demonstration. officers say they detained the protesters for offences including "unlawful assembly and possession of offensive weapons." despite the march starting peacefully, there were violent clashes between a small number of protesters and police. riot police used pepper spray and tear gas, while hardcore protesters threw petrol bombs. 0ur correspondentjonathan head sent this report. the first day of the year and already a mass rally. hong kongers wasted no time in letting their government know that nothing has changed in 2020. they still fear that their city's identity and freedoms are under threat, that they cannot let up the pressure on their leaders and on their backers in beijing. in this huge crowd, they came from all walks of life. what we've seen today is enough to tell us what's in store for hong kong this year. and it's going to be more of the same battle of wills between protesters determined to defend the territory's autonomy and a government that is equally determined not to be seen to make concessions. when all this started more than six months ago, few could have imagined it would last this long. today very few can imagine how this is all going to end. it had been a legal protest, but suddenly the police announced it was no longer approved. the families disappeared, then the masked youngsters ready to confront the security forces took up positions. and in a now all too familiar routine, the riot police took up theirs. unfortunately, again, rioters hijacked the procession today, which resulted in the decision for the police to end the procession earlier this afternoon. but today even the hardcore protesters didn't want to fight. as night fell, they left symbolic barricades and withdrew, the police moving in to clear and reclaim the streets. they and their young adversaries are surely tired of these continuous confrontations, yet it seems they are compelled to carry on playing their part in what looks set to be another year of turmoil. jonathan head, bbc news, hong kong. this was payments are says he will seek immunity from prosecution in three cases in which he is charged bribery and fraud. the immunity requests as he could delete — delay legal proceedings for months. he made his announcement in a live television address. translation: i intend to ask the speaker of the knesset, according to article 4, to let me implement my right, my duty and my mission to continue serving you, for the future of israel. i intend to ask because i am sacrificing my life to you, people of israel. but there are people who, unlike me, did commit grave crimes, and they have lifelong immunity. they are just on the right side of the media and the left wing. still to come: floods in the indonesian capitaljakarta have killed nine people, and forced thousands to leave their homes. the most ambitious financial and political change ever attempted has got under way with the introduction of the euro. tomorrow in holland, we're going to use money we picked up in belgium today. and then we'll be in france and again, it will be the same money. it's just got to be the way to go. george harrison, the former beatle, is recovering in hospital after being stabbed at his oxfordshire home. a 33—year—old man from liverpool is being interviewed by police on suspicion of attempted murder. i think it was good. reporter: it was just good? no, fantastic! that's better! big ben strikes the hour this is bbc news, the latest headlines. australian officials have ordered a mass evacuation from coastal areas of new south wales. thousands have already hit the road — as bushfires close in. pro—iranian militia and their supporters have pulled back from the us embassy in baghdad, after a second day of violence. lets get more on the situation on those fires in australia. i'm joined now byjames findlay, his parents home in bateman's bay was completely destroyed by the bushfires just before new years eve. james, thank you so much for your time. i know this is a really difficult time, if you can describe to me how you found out about your family home? my mother received a call from my neighbour on new year's eve morning and the neighbour asked how my mother was, and she said we are fine, we are in new zealand on holiday, why are you asking? and they said, because you've lost everything, and my mum said, you're kidding? 0ur everything, and my mum said, you're kidding? our house just went up everything, and my mum said, you're kidding? 0ur housejust went up in fla mes kidding? 0ur housejust went up in flames and it is all gone. what did your neighbour say about how the fire started and how the fires approached your family home and what happened? we had some friends staying in the house and they were told to evacuate early in the morning, and my neighbours decided to stay, and protect their property. it wasn't long, it was only a couple of hours before embers started flying from the nearby fire, and then all of a sudden may neighbour says that the palm trees started catching on fire and the next thing you knew she could just see our house go up in flames, so there were other sheds on the street that were also lost as well, and houses in the nearby area as well were lost. it is devastating. in the area where your family are, have they experienced players like that before? there were fires in the late 90s that came close to our health, but the fire service was able to save our house. we didn't think that our house was going to be under that much threat, we knew there were fires close by but there aren't a lot of trees around our property and there is a block of land separating our place from the trees as well, from the bush. we didn't think it would be this bad, and certainly not like, it happened so very fast. was there any warning for your parents before they went away about this fire season, about whether the fires might even reach the area? there was a fire burning in the area for the past few weeks, nearly a month. a huge bushfire. it came close to friends of mine, parents houses, but there have been a lot of places saved. 0n new year's eve, the weather was at catastrophic levels, there was no way to anticipate the fire would move like this. i know it might be difficult to think about the next step, especially as your father, i'd believe, built that family home, but are your parents talking about rebuilding? about staying in the area? absolutely. my parents have been there for 30 years, my brother and his wife live in the area, it is and his wife live in the area, it is a beautiful area stopping my parents we re a beautiful area stopping my parents were planning on building their retirement home in the local area. that will still go ahead, my brother and his wife are going to move into this house next. it'sjust... there are no words to describe how devastating it is to have nothing left, you know? my parents didn't know that this was going to happen, all ourfamily memories, know that this was going to happen, all our family memories, our know that this was going to happen, all ourfamily memories, our photos, our memories from the past, videotapes, everything is gone. the prime minister has been talking about plans and funding to help people like your parents who don't have anywhere else to go. what are their plans now that their home is gone? my parents will live with my brother and his wife as soon as they get back from their holiday in new zealand, but my brother is also worried that the fires on saturday, there are also going to be another catastrophic situation on saturday and the area is being evacuated... we're just and the area is being evacuated... we'rejust hoping and the area is being evacuated... we're just hoping that the other houses are safe as well. we don't know. we have got plenty of friends and family that my parents can stay with, so we are very lucky in that sense, and just lucky that no—one was in the house when it went up. james, thank you so much for sharing your family's story and we do wish your family's story and we do wish you the best of luck at a very difficult time. james there parents house has been destroyed by those fires. in indonesia, floods in the capitaljakarta, have killed at least 16 people and forced thousands to leave their homes. among the dead is a teenager who was electrocuted. sylvia lennan—spence reports. the heavy monsoon rains began lashing the indonesian capital on new year's eve, triggering the worst flooding seen there in almost seven years. houses have been submerged, forcing more than 19,000 people to leave their homes and find shelter elsewhere. more than 700 areas in the greaterjakarta region have suffered from power outages, although the electricity was shut off in many parts for safety reasons after a man died when he was electrocuted. translation: my son's body was covered with newspaper. my second child passed by, and people asked, do you know him? if my other child had not passed by, we would not have known my son had been killed. 0ne ofjakarta's main airports had to be closed as the runway was flooded, meaning delays and diversions for hundreds of passengers. many roads were also impassable, cars and buses submerged by the waters. the president, joko widodo, has instructed government agencies to prioritise the rescue efforts and to try to get public transport running as soon as possible. translation: water has inundated some public facilities, including airports, toll roads and other vital places. the rivers must be stabilised so that their functions can be restored to normal. this is the worst flooding to hitjakarta since 2007, when at least 80 people were killed and more than 300,000 displaced. now schools and offices have been told to provide shelter as the country's weather agency says more rainfall is expected over the next few days. sylvia lennan—spence, bbc news. from life on earth to pushing frontiers in space, developments in science can have a huge impact. so what will 2020 bring? let's look ahead at some of the bigger developments on the horizon. hi, i'm rebecca morelle, and here is what to look out for in 2020. this is going to be a critical year climate change. in 2020 nations will be revealing how they intend to cut their greenhouse gas emissions, which means we will find out if their commitments are ambitious enough to stop the west of climate change. at the moment, what countries are doing is falling far short, and scientist say the window of opportunity to act as closing fast. it will all come to a head at the next round of un climate negotiations which will be held in glasgow. in space, it is going to be all about mars. there are four missions planned stop in the united arab emirates is ending and orbited to study the martian atmosphere. europe and russia havejoined to study the martian atmosphere. europe and russia have joined forces with a rover named after dna pioneer rosalind franklin, and then there is nasser, who in addition to sitting down robots are also bringing along a mini helicopter, a first for the red and it. back on earth, a big focus will be on nature. 0ff red and it. back on earth, a big focus will be on nature. off the back of a major report warning that 1 million plants and animal species are threatened with extinction, nations will be meeting at the convention of biological diversity, or cbd in china. they will try to work out how to address the devastating impact that humans are having on the natural world. and is this the year that we will finally shed light on dark matter? this mysterious stuff makes up a quarter of the universe but no—one has ever seen it. two major underground experiments in the us and europe will wrap up the search. scientists say finding it could transform our understanding of the universe. and in 2020 both boeing and spacex are aiming to take passengers to the international space station. it is pa rt international space station. it is part of nasa's big push for a space flight part of nasa's big push for a space flight programme. we will see whether it is boeing or spacex who flies first, but the hope is that it will ultimately pave the way for getting astronauts to the moon and then mars. and scientists will be keeping a thigh on antarctica. a vastis keeping a thigh on antarctica. a vast is opening up on an ice sheet and will eventually create an iceberg the size of greater london. the antarctic survey has already had to move its research base so it doesn't end up being dumped in the ocean. rebecca morelle there on what to look out for in science in the coming year. you can actually look at that on our website for our top stories including all of the developments on those fires in australia, some very serious development is expected on the weekend. hello there. it was a relatively quiet start to the new year weather—wise, wasn't it? but a change is likely through today, we are going to see some stronger winds and also some rain around as well. now, if i show you the pressure chart you will see exactly what i'm talking about. the wet weather starting to push into the north—west and plenty of isobars here, so that's where the strongest of the winds and the heaviest of the rain is likely to be. now, these weather fronts are really just keeping the cold air for the moment at bay, but with that south—westerly feed at least it's a mild sort, so that blanket of cloud preventing those temperatures from falling too far. so a mild start to thursday, there will be some rain, some of it heavy as it moves through scotland and as one front clears away it will be replaced by yet another. so, by the middle of the afternoon it is going to be windy and often wet at times. the first front moves out of the scottish borders into north wales, ahead of it it will stay rather cloudy and grey, blustery, but the strongest of the winds with gusts in excess of 50—60 mph on exposed coasts into the far north—west. but, as i say, a south—westerly wind, double digits quite widely across the country. those fronts sweep their way south and east and so that's going to open the door to this cooler, fresher air, the isobars open up so by the time we get to friday slightly lighter winds but hopefully a little more sunshine around. early morning cloud and rainjust easing away from the far south—east and then it's a relatively dry, quiet afternoon for many, with just a scattering of showers in the far north—west, some sunshine, but temperatures struggling for many to climb into double digits. so, 6—8 degrees in the north, 9 to maybe 11 if we're lucky in the south—east corner. as we move into the weekend, high—pressure is set to build from the south and that means that a relatively quiet story with the weather fronts toppling across the high, so maybe always the chance of a little more in the way of cloud and outbreaks of showery rain into the north—west, the best of the sunshine on saturday across england and wales. and again those temperature is struggling a little, 6—10 degrees at the very best. now, as we move out of saturday into sunday, it's almost a case of spot the difference but the wind direction changing once again. always the risk of a little more cloud the further north and west you are, the best of the drier, brighter weather into the east and we mightjust see temperatures peaking at around 9—11 degrees. then as we move out of the weekend into next week where most of us are set to go back to a proper week of work, it looks like the north and west will stay blustery and wet, the best of the drier and brighter weather in the south and east. bye— bye. this is bbc news, the headlines: australian officials have ordered a mass evacuation from coastal areas of new south wales. thousands have already hit the road, as wildfires close in. prime minister scott morrison has defended his handling of the crisis. he praised fire fighters and emergency services who are coordinating recovery efforts, and called for calm. protesters in baghdad have pulled back from the us embassy, after attacking the compound for the second day running. the crowd were supporters of a militia, backed by iran. their protest was against us air strikes last week, inside iraq, which killed twenty—five militia members. israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, has said he'll seek parliamentary immunity from prosecution in three cases in which he's charged with bribery and fraud. the request could delay legal proceedings against him for months. mr netanyahu, who denies any wrongdoing, says the charges against him are politically motivated.