This is bbc news. Im lukwesa burak. The headlines at 3 hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets in iran to mourn the assassinated military leader general soleimani. President trump warns that the us has a list of 52 targets that will be hit very hard if iran decides to retaliate. The Iraqi Government has summoned the Us Ambassador over the airstrike that killed the general. Meanwhile, Royal Navy Warships are ordered to escort british flagged vessels in the persian gulf as Prime Minister returns to the uk from his caribbean holiday. The australian Prime Minister warns that the bushfire emergency could last for months. 2a people have now died since the crisis began and thousands have lost their homes. I didnt see any flame. I saw this great white ball of fire. That is all i can describe it as, just this white hot ball of fire. The costs of h52 are out of control and its benefits overstated, according to the deputy chair of its review panel. Hollywood prepares for the Golden Globes ceremony as the awards season gets under way this evening. And in a special edition, talking movies looks back at highlights from the world of cinema in 2019. Thats in half an hour, here on bbc news. Good afternoon. Welcome to bbc news. President trump says the United States has a list of 52 iranian sites which will be hit very hard and very fast if theres retaliation for the killing of qasem soleimani. Irans most senior military commander was killed on thursday in a us airstrike in the iraqi capital, baghdad. The iraqi Prime Minister has called the killing a political assassination and its Foreign Ministry has summoned the Us Ambassador. Heres our diplomatic correspondent, james robbins. Tens of thousands of iranians are mourning general soleimani and apparently getting behind their leaders in promising revenge. The chants are familiar, including death to america, but the circumstances are radically changed. The war of words is intensifying. President trump has tweeted, this threat of massive retaliation if iran strikes any americans or american assets, he says,
we have targeted 52 iranian sites. Some at a very high level and important to iran and the iranian 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 sympathetic 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 major war in the middle east. The only group or players that would benefit from that would be the terrorists and daesh. Labours shadow foreign secretary said she shed no tears for general soleimani. He had the blood of many people on his hands. However, to take him out at this stage, when there has been escalating tensions, seems to me
to not be making the world safer, actually we are taking a major lurch towards war. In tehran, Irans Parliament has ta ken up the chant of death to america. Its been familiar for many years, but its now being shouted in very changed circumstances, as american reinforcements are sent to the region and both Countries Exchange threats of more violence to come. James robbins, bbc news. Professor Mohammad Marandi is an iranian American Academic and political analyst at tehran university. Speaking to my colleague shaun ley, he accused america of arrogantly using its power and said it will pay the price for killing general soleimani. The attack where one american was killed,
the iraqi Prime Minister asked the us secretary of defence to give evidence that it was these military groups that were attacked on the subsequent day, that they were behind it. The us secretary of defence refused to give the iraqi Prime Minister the information. The iraqi Prime Minister told him not to carry out the attack, he said, i am not here to consult with you, im here to state to you that we are going to carry out an attack and then the americans killed some 30 iraqi soldiers who were on the front lines against isis, 500 kilometres away from where the single american was killed. And then the americans, of course, they want to empower isis on the border between syria and iraq because they want to strangle the Syrian Government because that is their long term policy objective, but then the americans have the audacity to subsequently go and murder a high ranking iranian official. If a foreign country was to assassinate a high ranking British Military official, what
would the response in britain be . So what the americans have done is unheard of in contemporary history, and this is the arrogance of power, and i think there is no way that anyone in the world can justify this sort of action. If this is going to be. If from now on the americans can be judge, jury and executioner, then the iranians can tomorrow say, the americans are about to carry out an attack, or the saudis are about to carry out an attack, were going to attack the saudis, or the emiratis are going to carry out an attack, we are going to bomb the united arab emirates, so that is the law of the jungle. If that is what western countries want, that is what they are going to get. We are showing you pictures live coming to us from the town of mashhad in iran, where large crowds have been gathering. They are mourning general soleimani, weeping
and beating their chests. You can see the posters of him that are being held up. There was also meant to be an event held in tehran. That has been cancelled because they were not expecting such large crowds. It has been described as a glorious crowd at the ceremony by Iranian State television. The remains of soleimani and those of five other iranians, all quds force guards that we re iranians, all quds force guards that were killed in that air strike, they arrived in the afternoon. They are due to be flown to iran for more tributes, due to take place tomorrow. Tehran. Tomorrow, ayatolla h tomorrow. Tehran. Tomorrow, Ayatollah Khamenei is expected to pray over the generals remains before a procession to a square. You can see the pictures from mashhad in
iran, large crowds have gathered to mourn the death of the general and five of his colleagues. Lets speak to the defence editorfor the times newspaper, lucy fisher. Thank you forjoining us. First, the ramifications of what has taken place are now being played out. The latest news where healing is that iraq has called for us troops to leave iraq. What does that mean . It isa leave iraq. What does that mean . It is a Huge Development this afternoon, that 170 lawmakers in iraq have passed a resolution asking the Us Led Coalition to leave the country. What we will see now, we will have to wait and see whether the Iraqi Government acts on that parliamentary motion, but it seems that Public Opinion is turning against the west in iraq in the wake of the strike and soleimani and i know there will be many meetings going on in the ministry of defence
today, scenario planning for that eventuality of the 400 ish 400 british troops in the country potentially having to leave at quite short notice. Is the un seen as fair game as faras short notice. Is the un seen as fair game as far as iran is concerned, because the uk is part of the task force protecting the gulf . What are the implications for uk troops and citizens the region . We have seen the Foreign Office advice warning people not only in iraq to be very careful, leave the country, but also in the wider region, in saudi arabia and turkey. In case they become targets for any iranian or pro iran militias in the region. In the eyes of iran, the uk is inextricably linked to the us. In that sense, british targets may be considered fairgame. British targets may be considered fair game. Britain is loathed by many quarters of Iranian Society so it could be in place well with the
domestic audience in iran to hit out at british targets even though the us were behind the strike on qasem soleimani. A second important thing to note is that iran sometimes has lashed out at the uk when it has not wa nted lashed out at the uk when it has not wanted to provoke the us, but again, it would play well with its domestic audience and we saw that last september when a british flagged tanker was seized in the gulf, near the strait of hermes. That was a targeted attack on the uk, to avoid bringing down the wrath of the us military might, down on iran. As the Prime Minister returns home, can we expect the uk terrorist risk to be reviewed . It is possible. I imagine borisjohnson will reviewed . It is possible. I imagine Boris Johnson will want to reviewed . It is possible. I imagine borisjohnson will want to call a cobra meeting in the coming days. We know that iran is sophisticated in terms of the hybrid warfare and
purses, cyber attacks, funding proxy groups and militias in the region, and subversion is something that the Islamic Revolutionary guard are well practised in. What sort of reaction has there been to what donald trump has there been to what donald trump has done from its allies . has there been to what donald trump has done from its allies . I think there has been a great deal of surprise. Downing street was not warned in advance of the strike, and the massive ramifications it would have would mean that ordinarily you would want a lot of policy planning in the run up to an event like this. It has been a very cautious response from british ministers so far. We have seen both dominic raab and ben wallace, the foreign secretary and defence secretary, underlined the us legal right to pursue the strike and self defence. That is based on the pentagon and the cia saying there was intelligence showing that soleimani was planning imminent attacks on americans, so the uk is
backing washington on legal right to do it, but we have held back so far from going any further. There is a massive weariness in westminster around the idea of britain being dragged into a kinetic conflict is all the emphasis so far has been stressing the need for de escalation by all sides and urging iran to pursue a diplomatic route forward and not seek revenge. Lucy fisher, defence editor for the times newspaper, thank you very much. These are the live pictures to us coming from mashhad in iran as mourners have been gathering for general soleimani he was killed in the us air strike. We understand the iranian cabinet has declared monday a Public Holiday within the tehran province as tehran prepares to hold a state organised funeral ceremony for qasem soleimani. The government invites all people to take part in the funeral, is how part of the
statement reads. Thousands of people have been gathering in mashhad. They we re have been gathering in mashhad. They were not expecting as many people as you see on the screen, so events that were planned for tehran later today have been cancelled and moved forward to tomorrow. A Public Holiday, where we can see an increase, most likely, in the numbers on the streets of the iranian capital. Australias Prime Minister has warned that the bushfires emergency could last for months. Scott morrison announced the creation of a Recovery Agency to help those whove lost homes and businesses. There are fires around the country, but amongst the worst are those concentrated in its most populous state, New South Wales. Some rain has brought a little relief, but not enough to extinguish the flames. Phil mercer reports. The damage inflicted by australias bushfires is immense. Lives have been lost, while a growing
number of homes and businesses have been ruined. Trapped by the fires under ominous orange skies, people in eden in New South Wales have sought to escape by sea. There is stress, fatigue, and fear. Cooler conditions and some rain are helping the firefighting effort, but the danger is far from over. Many blazes continue to burn and the land still smoulders. This long bushfire crisis is inflicting deep scars on australia, and theres no end in sight. Lives have been turned upside down. In kangaroo valley, ken stewart lost his home to the fires that raced through this part of New South Wales. He is lucky to be alive. Next minute, i looked up. I didnt see any flame. I saw this great white ball of fire. Thats all i can describe it, as just a white hot ball of fire. I had to drive up that driveway, and by the time i got up
to our bottom gate, the entire driveway was lit up with fire on both sides. Parts of sydney have also been threatened. The fires are an unpredictable enemy. No one knows for sure when, where or if they will strike. Australia is fighting back, but its impossible to tell when the battle will be over. Phil mercer, bbc news, kangaroo valley. The headlines on bbc news hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets in iran to mourn the assassinated military leader, general soleimani. President trump warns the us has a list of 52 targets that will be hit very hard if iran decides to retaliate. The Iraqi Government has summoned the Us Ambassador over the airstrike which killed the general. The australian Prime Minister warns that the bushfire emergency
could last for months. 24 people have now died since the crisis began. And in sport the lowest ranked team left in the fa cup this season, non league afc fylde, could be on their way out of the compeition theyre losing 1 0 at premier league side sheffield united. Middlesbrough have taken the lead against top flight oppiostion, spurs. Ahsley flethccer scoring for the champkionship side chelsea women beat reading 3 1 ni the womens super league, chesleas second goal was a fantastic lob from guro reiten, a maiden 50 from Dominic Sibley has helped england extednd their lead aganist south africa to over 200 on day three of the second sir keir starmer says the country needs a radical Labour Government after announcing his intention to run for the labour leadership. The shadow brexit secretary said the party had lost the Publics Trust as a force for good and change. This report from Tony Bonsignore contains flashing images. Into the spotlight, the latest contender for the labour leadership. Sir keir starmer is promising to restore voters faith in labour whilst keeping some of its radical manifesto policies. But as a staunch remainer who campaigned for a second referendum, he faces questions after the partys election defeat. The argument has to move on, and the argument now is, can we insist on that close relationship with the eu, close economic relationship, but collaboration in other areas, and also, what is the framework now for future trade relations . Its becoming a crowded field. Jess phillips, a long standing critic ofjeremy corbyn, says she can communicate with voters who have abandoned the party. This has got to be about
whether the labour party can speak and connect and be trusted by the public. None of it matters, about this fight with this person in the labour party, unless we can win an election and labour values is what matters. And another backbencher launched her campaign, promising to reconnect with voters in the midlands and north. I think there is definitely a disconnect between the hierarchy of the labour party and the country. What we havent understood is that take back control resonated like no other slogan in my lifetime. Why did it resonate . Because people lack the means to effect change in their own lives. With Emily Thornberry and clive lewis having already declared, there are now five confirmed contenders. And shadow business secretary rebecca long bailey is also expected to join the contest. Labours ruling body meets tomorrow to decide the rules for the election, an election which may decide the future direction of the party
for a generation to come. 0ur political correspondent, Tony Bonsignore, is with me now. Another name added to the list but how does his message differfrom others we have heard . All these candidates, its a delicate balance. They have got to promise a fresh start of some kind because the election defeat was so devastating for the labour party, but on the other hand they have another issue which is the next leader will be picked by the members who are corbin supporters, so there has to be a bit of continuity there. They are trying to undertake this balancing act in a different way. Today, keir starmer was reaching out to labour members more than we thought. We have the likes ofjess phillips and lisa nandy talking about moving away from
london and reconnecting with voters, a different message from Emily Thornbury and clive lewis. They are all trying to deal with this balancing act in that way because they know before they can change the labour party they have got to win the leadership contest but it is the members that decide that. Here starmer has been too close to that model up brexit policy of labour kiss macro . It was the first question on the andrew marr show. Do you regret it . He said, yes, we should have had more clar