Accurately than doctors. The smartwatch is no threat to switzerlands luxury watch makers. We hearfrom the president of the most prestigeous of them all, patek philippe. A warm welcome to the programme, briefing you on all you need to know in global news, business and sport. Also in the programme, how about this for a new years resolution altruism, doing good apparently it makes you less susceptible to pain. Scientists suggest it could be prescribed by doctors. Well tell you more details later but in the meantime tell us what you think just use bbcthebriefing. Residents and tourists in the australian state of New South Wales have been given less than 48 hours to leave some eastern coastal areas, ahead of more ferocious fires that are forecast on saturday. The fire service is telling people to get out while they can. At least eight people are known to have died since monday, but several others are missing and there are fears the number could rise. The Emergency Services have warned that conditions are still too dangerous for them to reach some areas. Our correspondent, Shaimaa Khalil reports from one of the worst affected communities. The extent of the damage that these huge fires have caused here is all around. Homes have been ravaged, the earth is scorched, still smouldering, still hot, you can feel the smoke. Three people died in the Small Community alone, one of them just up the street over here. This is one of the coastal towns where tourists have been given 48 hours to evacuate. Many of them have been trying to get out. It has been very ha rd trying to get out. It has been very hard for them to leave because the conditions around us are still quite hazardous. Residents are still in shock at what happened to their town. Some have left in the fires hit. Stayed to defend their homes. And then we could see it coming and it was jumping from house to house. There were plants like. Underneath the front or at the front of the houses and it had just. Theyjust exploded into flames. And then there was embers everywhere and that house just, bang, it caught fire. They we re just, bang, it caught fire. They were going this would appear went behind, and then to down below. So we had nearly eight houses alight. You know. Did be sort of cheated . That we were survived. Its pretty traumatic. Did be sort of cheated that we survived as mac . Live now to sydney and our correspondent, phil mercer. Dozens of people are heeding the emergency warning to leave before dangerous conditions that are forecast for saturday arrive. More hot, windy and dry conditions, a very warm wind is to blow in from central australia, temperatures into the 40s celsius. And of course, here in eastern australia we have had a long standing drought so already conditions underfoot tinder dry. There are people in the southern parts of New South Wales who dont wa nt to parts of New South Wales who dont want to leave but have heard in the last couple of hours of fire authorities are extending this evacuation zone to go further inland to ta ke evacuation zone to go further inland to take on more mountainous areas and also National Park as well. And we also hear that from friday a state of emergency will be imposed across New South Wales for seven days. That gives the authorities, fire authorities additional powers to cope with what they expect to be more ferocious conditions. And its ha rd to more ferocious conditions. And its hard to comprehend when we not there. Just how tough these conditions are for the fire services, for those who are facing the threat of the fire. Took us through the pressure on the government, the Prime Minister scott morrison, as he tries to handle this situation. I think this pressure on the federal government, on the said government, and the fire authorities to the firefighting effort in so many instances has been truly erotic, that Emergency Line is being stretched ever thinner. There have been warnings that the fire authorities wont be able to respond to each and every emergency, that is why the authorities are urging residents and holidaymakers to leave a vast area of New South Wales. Weve never seen anything like this before here in eastern australia. Thousands are heeding the warning and its not just thousands are heeding the warning and its notjust in New South Wales. There are fires burning in the state of victoria, other emergencies, catastrophic morning today here in western australia, difficult conditions to in the state of South Australia and tasmania. So its safe to say that a brutal summer its safe to say that a brutal summer in australia is far from over. Thank you phil. We will have more on this later on in the programme. The israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Neta nyahu, says he will seek parliamentary immunity from prosecution in three cases in which hes charged with bribery and fraud. Mr netanyahu, who has denied any wrongdoing, said the charges against him were politically motivated and that he was entitled to the protection of parliament. 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. Lets brief you on some of the other stories making the 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, an achievement given he is still only 33 years old. Flooding in the indonesian capital jakarta is now known to have killed at least 16 people. There were more heavy downpours there on wednesday night, and residents are braced for another influx of water from nearby dams. Figures published by a Dutch Aviation consultancy show that the number of People Killed in large airliner crashes fell by more than 50 percent last year. 257 people were killed in plane crashes last year, more than half of them in the Ethiopian Airlines disaster in march. The former National Basketball association commisioner, david stern, who oversaw the huge rise in the games popularity has died aged 77. Mr stern took charge of the sport in 1984 and during his 30 years in office saw basketballs revenues increase more than 30 fold. A Study Suggests Artificial Intelligence is as accurate as humans in diagnosing Breast Cancer from mammograms. A Machine Learning Computer System was trained to read x rays and proved better than one doctor working on their own, and as good as two experts. Researchers say the system has the potential to get even better and could reduce the number of false positive results. Fergus walsh reports. Reading a mammogram is highly skilled work, done by specialist doctors. Two radiologists analyse every womans x rays but now Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning computer designed by Google Health can do is just as well as humans. Compared to a single radiologist working alone, Artificial Intelligence was actually more accurate at detecting Breast Cancer. Ai produced i. 2 fewerfalse positives, were a healthy mammogram is incorrectly diagnosed as cancerous. And there were 2. 7 fewer false negatives where a cancer is missed. The study shows us that in the future it might be possible to make the Screening Programme more accurate and more efficient, which means accurate and more efficient, which m ea ns less accurate and more efficient, which means less worrying time waiting for patients results and Better Outcomes overall. Helen edwards has been clear Breast Cancer for 15 years. She was a patient representative on the panel which approved Google Healths access to the Anonymized Healths access to the Anonymized Health data. Initially i was concerned, google, what are we going to do this information, what are we going to do with the data but when i thought about it, longer term it can only benefit women and having less records when you havent got cancer. Doctors will always have the final say over a diagnosis but ai seems set to play an increasing role in cancer detection. It certainly is when it comes to medical tech but to what extent is this going to change our lives . Eileen burbidge whos a partner at passion capital and a technology entrepreneur, joins me now. Hgppy happy new year good to see you. Just talk us through the story because youve got a real insight into this. I was previously on the deep bind Health Individual independent reviewers panel so im a big optimist about how technology and specifically Artificial Intelligence can supplement human practitioners experts, physicians, and discuss radiologist. I think working together, humans can be helped or assisted with diagnoses by our Artificial Intelligence technology. This doesnt surprise me and im pleased to see the results. When the stories emerge as a lot of questions, there is fear out there, they think, google is behind us, they think, google is behind us, they will have more Vital Information about me, sensitive private information about me that was the case, this was to go forward. Its those issues but if it is saving lives, you kind of wonder, youve got to balance this out. One angle about this particular story is that weve got a shortage of radiologists here in the uk and in the uk when you are looking at Breast Cancer and mammograms, you a lwa ys Breast Cancer and mammograms, you always have more than one radiologist for the cat scans which is different to what they do in the us. But that means the fact that we have a shortage she and the uk of radiologist, we feel that even more strongly and so having some times may be Artificial Intelligence map being being the second expert looking at a mammogram, it can really help. And it can save lives. Fashion capital, you specifically look at you take, and companies to invest in for top medical tech, it isa invest in for top medical tech, it is a big area . Its a huge area and have invested in Artificial Intelligence and we are recognising patterns and imaging, we looked at agriculture and things like tomato picking, we havent done anything thatis picking, we havent done anything that is specifically on health, it feels early fast because we are a an early stage investor, but i believe its the Way Technology is going. That is what we should be looking to do and is thus supplementing where existing experts can already do today. Weve got lots of really interesting stories to discuss including doing good to counter pain. Iwant including doing good to counter pain. I want to hear your views on that. Stay with us on bbc news, still to come sun, sea, and selfies with wildlife. Rafael nadal and team spain relax ahead of australias atp cup. The most ambitious financial and political change ever attempted has got under way with the introduction of the euro. Tomorrow in holland, were going to use money we picked up in belgium today. And then well be in france and again, it will be the same money. Its 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 thats better big ben strikes the hour youre watching the briefing. Our headlines israels Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says hes seeking immunity from prosecution over charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Australian officials have ordered a Mass Evacuation from coastal areas of New South Wales. Thousands have already hit the road as bushfires close in. Lets stay with that now. Lets cross to mallacoota now, we can join brendan who is a resident there. Brendan was at the Community Town meeting there. We town meeting there. Estimate at least 100 homes been we estimate at least 100 homes have been destroyed, over the Christmas Period, 10,000 people come here to make their holidays, to have the Christmas Period in this beautiful National Park. We still have those people here, but our town is not really equipped to handle them in a crisis, so the government has sent a navy ship that you can see behind me, and they are going to be running evacuation, optional evacuations for tourists, visitors, or resident out of mallacoota. They have the capability to land craft and evacuate a lot of people at a time. They can take between 501,000 people out of the town per trip and the information session that you just mentioned was about the details of how people can register to be on the evacuation, and what they need to prepare. What do you think most people will do . Will they evacuate, given the Weather Report for this saturday . I am really hoping that the visitors at least to take up this opportunity. They are aware that the roads in and out of malla coota that the roads in and out of mallacoota are heavily compromised. We have one road out of town stopping the other main, the a1 highway north and south of malla coota highway north and south of mallacoota has also been heavily damaged, to looking at a period of up damaged, to looking at a period of up to weeks of isolation here with very limited resources coming in and out of the town by air or by boat, so we really do hope that most people will take up that opportunity. The police and Australian Defence force are pushing for registration right now to get a number of how many people want to be evacuated. And in terms of supplies going forward, you say that you are very stretched, what does that look like in terms of the basics, food and water . Water, we are in a really good position with water. The east gippsland water court that he has a really strong contingency plan. They know how isolated and how remote we are and how easy it is for us to get cut off in a state of emergency. 0n the first day we had bottled water distributed by the local supermarket by east gippsland water, and we also had Drinking Waterfill by east gippsland water, and we also had Drinking Water fill up by east gippsland water, and we also had Drinking Waterfill up points provided by gippsland water, but right now our Drinking Water is back to full service. We are on restricted use but the tapwater is drinkable again. We dont know how long that will last if we cant get diesel into the town. Food wise we have a bit more of a problem because we dont really have anything coming and other than what is already on the market shelves and what they have got an stock. We have two small supermarkets and town and they are doing the best they can to stay open for us but they will run out eventually. Brendan, thank you so much for talking to us and the very best to you all there and mallacoota. The gender wage gap exists in many industries, but one sector thats particularly tough is hospitality. A recent report found that its unusual to find women in the senior ranks of International Hotel management. But one well known hotel here in singapore is making a difference, and i went to find out more. Good afternoon, my name is grace, im your butler. Shes not your stereotypical idea of a butler. She leads a team of 29 who serve some of the poshest guests at singapores famous Raffles Hotel. When i introduce myself to our guests and i introduce myself as the head butler of Raffles Hotel usually they take a second glance. They would say. Wow. But grace isnt the only one defying stereotypes. At the hotels long bar where the singapore sling was invented more than 100 years ago, things have come full circle. Its most famous pink cocktail may have been invented by a male bartender to attract more female patrons, but today its a woman who helms the bar. Despite its traditional facade, the raffles has always been a hotel that has defied tradition. Nearly 30 years ago, it was among the first hotels in asia to appoint a woman in charge. Singaporean jennie chua blazed a trailfor the others. Women and hospitality, the two dont quite match. You probably need to make a choice that is, you are either a hotelier or you are a wife mother, and if you want be a general manager or in a serious Senior Management position, you probably need to be focused on just that career for that amount of time. Add in asias cultural context and it is even harderfor women to get to the top. Most businesses in asia have always been male dominated. Women are lacking confidence to ask for that promotion compared to their male counterparts. And i think that is more pronounced in this part of the world in asia where culturally, tooting your own horn is not really something that youre taught to do. It is very difficult but women need to be bold in a very male dominated industry such as hospitality. Now, with one of asias most Famous Hotels taking the lead, its a view thats quickly changing. Raffles is sometimes affectionately called la grande dame. And with so many women in charge, its putting a new spin to that term. Now its time to get all the latest from the bbc sports centre. Hello, im Tulsen Tollett and this is your thursday sport briefing where we start with the footballing news that arsenal have picked up their first win under new boss mikel arteta beating Manchester United 2 0 in north london. Both goals came in the first half through nicolas pepe and sokratis as the gunners move into the top half of the table. I think their performance the last two games were getting better, and we started to see things that we are trying to implement at the football club, and today was perfect stopping new year, new opportunity against a big club, behind a fence we were delighted to get a when. David moyes made a winning return to west ham as they thrashed bournemouth 4 0 in london taking them out of the relegation zone. Moyes replaced the sacked Manuel Pellegrini on sunday, returning to the club he led to premier League Safety at the end of the 2017 18 season. Three first half goals including a double to captain mark noble means bournemouth drop in to the bottom three. Liverpool will look to take their recent form into 2020 when they host Sheffield United later on thursday. Jurgen klopps can side reassert a 13 point lead at the top of the premier league with all three points at anfield. But as the reds chase a first title in 30 years their manager isnt underestimating their opponents. That is a really good organised team. Of course, every team so far, not only city last week but a few days ago as well, will be with us tomorrow like this, they are just too good to have no problems and a Football Game but we have to fight and we have some quality as well and thatis and we have some quality as well and that is what we want to show. The inaugural atp cup gets underway in australia in the next 24 hours. Its a Team Competition taking place in sydney, brisbane and perth over the course of a week or so featuring 24 nations. Spain are one of the favourites with world number one rafael nadal leading their team. He took some time to visit Rottnest Island off the coast of perth and grabbed a selfie with one of the residents. And as you can see hes pleased to be starting his tennis year in australia. People are very supportive, its a great atmosphere all around the country when we are playing tennis, and for me personally, just excited to play this new competition and share all these moments with great tea m share all these moments with great team around. We will see how things go. Peter wright has beaten top seed and defending champion Michael Van Gerwen 7 sets to 4 to claim his first ever pdc world darts championship trophy. And after the social media spats with seen in the past between players this one was refreshing to see. The vanquished champion from the netherlands took to twitter to show his appreciation for wrights play and congratulate the new champion who overturned the result the last time they met in the final six years ago. You can get all the latest sports news at our website, thats bbc. Com sport. But from me, Tulsen Tollett, and the rest of the team that is your thursday sport briefing that is indeed, and i believe that is the first one of this year, perhaps. Lets have a look at what you have been saying about this story which we will unpack a little later in the news briefing, which is all about this idea that altruism or doing good lessons pain, and there is some scientific experiments that have been done to prove the point, we ask what you think about this. Janet says, thinking of others and taking action to help other people especially to relieve their suffering always helps. Altruism gives us much needed perspective on life, what others are going through, it s. Also, doing good can lead to more pain. I dont think doctors should prescribe it, isnt this more psychological than scientific . We will talk about the science and about 20 minutes. Before that, its the Business Briefing so do stay with us. Hello there. The new year of weather broke us in quite gently, wasnt it . A lot of cloud around but it was relatively quiet. Now, as we go through the day today, we are going to see certainly an increasing wind and there will be some rain around, for some of us, not for all. Now, it looks as though the heaviest of the rain is likely to be the far north west and you can see the isobars squeezing together. Thats where the strongest of the winds are likely to be. These weather fronts, well, behind it, introducing something a little bit cooler. Thats going to arrive on friday, but ahead of it with a southerly flow, it means that today is going to be quite a cloudy start and a relatively mild one. And thats going to be the theme throughout the day. The first batch of rain pushes its way through scotland and Northern Ireland during the morning, and then going to be replaced by another one as we move into the afternoon. And the winds really quite a feature here, gusts in excess of 50 miles an hour on exposed coasts. So that rain pushes its way into north west england and to wales. For much of england and wales, yes, its going to be a blustery afternoon but it should be relatively dry. And relatively mild for the time of year. So temperatures will probably peak widely into double digits, 10 12 degrees. As we move out of thursday into friday, those weatherfronts push their way south and east. Thats going to allow the door to open to this cooler weather but the isobars will open up, so lighter winds on friday. We could start off cloudy and damp in the south east early on, but that eases away quite quickly. There will be some brighter, sunnier weather around i suspect, on friday. So despite it being a little bit cooler, im sure that will come as welcome news. A few scattered showers to the far north west, here, 6 8, further south were likely to see highs of eight to possibly ten or 11. As we move into the weekend, High Pressure is set to build from the south, so this quiet theme of weather is set to continue. Weather fronts always threatening across the top, so well have more cloud here and if you outbreaks of showery rain up into the far north west. But generally speaking, saturday is going to be a dry, sunny day across much of eastern scotland, england and, but cooler with 6 10 degrees the high. On thursday, its almost a case of spot the difference but as the winds swing around to move a southerly again, a little bit milder on west facing coasts, here it is likely to stay rather cloudy. The rest of the sunshine in sheltered south and eastern areas. Thats it. Take care. This is the Business Briefing. Im sally bundock. As tensions over a us china trade war are easing, will the next trade battleground be europe. The smartwatch is no threat to switzerlands luxury watch makers. We hearfrom the president of the most prestigeous of them all, patek philippe. Financial markets have started a brand new year. Well japan is closed for a public holiday, elsewhere you can see there are gains. Well go to our Asia Business hub shortly for the reasons why
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