Voiceover live from our studios in singapre and london. Voiceover live from our studios in singapore and london. This is bbc world news. Its newsday. Good morning. Its 8am in singapore, midnight in london and ham in the morning in eastern australia, where fire crews are assessing the damage from the weekends bushfires. The weather has cooled down a little, but the political debate is raging on. The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, returned home from holiday having been heavily criticised for going away with his family to hawaii. Shaimaa khalil has the story. It feels like a deserted war zone, but this is the aftermath of the catastrophic bushfires that have ravaged New South Wales. And in the village of balmoral, the devastation is everywhere. Russell scholes has been a volunteer firefighter for six years. He was out with his team trying to control the blaze in the village when his own house was burned to the ground. So many of the brigade are tired. Thats the mental side of it when youre continually battling something you cant beat. The only thing that will be this is Mother Nature when she decides to open the heavens up and put it out. The Prime Minister Scott Morrison, appearing for the first time today after fierce criticism of his holiday in hawaii, conceded that more needed to be done to tackle Global Warming, with scientists saying that drier conditions brought about by Climate Change have worsened the impact of bushfires. The catastrophic fires have subsided but the situation is still extremely dangerous here. The roads remain closed off. Balmoral was one of the worst hit areas by saturdays fires and the community is still very much in shock. Many havent returned to see what happened to their homes and what happened to their village. Just opposite the road from russells shattered house is a very different picture. Craig hurley stayed to defend his home during the fires, using up all the water reserves he had. Flames like a five or six storey building and just roaring all around you. Just scared as hell, you dont know what to do. Try not to panic, but yeah, we got the job done, so we saved most of the stuff. Australias bracing itself for a scorching summer, and many are wondering where the next big fire is going to hit. And well be hearing more about the efforts to bring the fires under control in a short while. Lets take a look at some of the days other News Premier League Football Club Tottenham Hotspur has promised a thorough investigation after its match with chelsea was marred by racist behaviour from the crowd. Fans were warned three times during the game after monkey noises and racist chanting were aimed at the chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger. Jon donnison has more. Well, spurs have issued a statement saying they are now conducting a thorough investigation and that will include speaking to the chelsea players. That statement says, any form of racism is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in this stadium. It says they take any allegations like this seriously and the strongest possible action against any individual found to be behaving in any such a way will be taken, including stadium bans. One would imagine with all the cameras and the technology in the stadiums these days it might be easy to catch any alleged perpetrator. Earlier this year and of course england players, black england players, being abused earlier this year when they played in bulgaria. Today, though, just a reminder that if there were people out there who thought that the issue of racism in football had gone away, that doesnt seem to be the case. Jon donnison there. Also making news today afghanistans president , ashraf ghani, is on course for a second term. Preliminary Election Results suggest he won a slim majority in septembers elections, with just over 50 of the votes. His nearest rival, abdullah abdullah, scored just under a0 . The death toll from new zealands white island eruption has risen to 19. Police have confirmed that another victim died in hospital in auckland. The toll includes two people whose bodies have not been recovered. There were 47 people, mainly australian tourists, on the island when it erupted on december 9th. 25 people ares still in hospital, many still in a critical condition. The british Supermarket Chain tesco has suspended production at a factory in china. Its after allegations that forced prison labour was used to pack the firms christmas cards. A 6 Year Old Girl from south london found a message inside a card, allegedly written by prisoners in shanghai. The message said at least 20 people have been injured in a series of explosions in the southern philippines, on the island of mindanao. No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but a military spokesperson said militants linked to the Islamic State group may have been to blame. French Fashion Designer emanuel ungaro, known for his use of bold colours and vibrant prints, has died in paris at the age of 86. He trained under the spanish designer Cristobal Balenciaga and made clothes for celebrities and actresses, including Jackie Kennedy and catherine deneuve. In india, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to calm anger over a controversial new citizenship law, saying Indian Muslims have nothing to fear from it. At least 20 people have been killed in days of protests over the law, which have often been put down with force by police. South asia correspondent rajini Vaidya Nathan reports. Days of deadly violence, as indians continue to oppose a law they say is an assault on the rights of the countrys 200 million muslims. As curfews were imposed and internet was blocked in indias largest state, uttar pradesh, protesters say theyve been brutally silenced. As the death toll rises, reports some victims were shot by the police a charge authorities deny. At a rally today, indias Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, expressed his support for the countrys police, but failed to mention the civilian deaths. And defended his citizenship amendment act, the caa, which offers only non muslim Illegal Immigrants from certain countries a fast track to nationality. Translation muslims who were born on indian soil shouldnt be concerned by the caa order. A national nrc would introduce citizenship checks for everyone in the country, something many protesters fear could target muslims. Today, the Prime Minister said his government had not discussed once since he came to power in 2014. But his close ally, home minister amit shah, has repeatedly promised to introduce an nrc, even in parliament. While the status of that is now unclear, experts say the partys wider agenda is not. There is no question that the bjp government, through its legislative agenda, is moving india in the direction of becoming a hindu state. When you introduce a law that brings religion into determining who is an indian, all indians become vulnerable. Indians from all backgrounds have taken to the streets as the movement against the citizenship law and the Modi Government grows stronger. We are united like never before. We will continue to fight for as long as it takes. Protesters say they are fighting for the future of indias secular constitution. They believe the governments trying to divide this country, and say about this show of unity is the only way to stop that from happening. Rajini vaidyanathan, bbc news, delhi. Special trains for children travelling alone in france during the Christmas Holidays have resumed service. Prolongued nationwide strikes had led to the National Rail operator calling them off. Rhodri davies reports. 0h, oh, what 0h, whatfun oh, what fun it is to ride on a french train this december, but that almost wasnt the case for these passengers. Their special service for children travelling alone this christmas was reinstated amid prolonged national strikes, providing some yuletide relief. Translation i would have been very disappointed if the train had stayed cancelled because i dont see my father often. I miss him sometimes. I really want to him. Hes one of 5000 children who would have been affected. Sncf, the National Rail operator, cancelled the service earlier this week, leaving parents bereft. Translation it was unfair for the children. We shouldnt deprive children of christmas and prevent them from being with their families. I dont know who made the decision, but it was decided in a rush and without thinking it through. And transport union is holding the strikes were outraged about sncf calling it off. Its an Outsource Service unions said their strike shouldnt have affected. So the snc was forced into putting on the snc was forced into putting on the trains in order that the children, who may have parents living in different regions, could get home. Its all caused further disgruntlement in get home. Its all caused further disgru ntlement in france get home. Its all caused further disgruntlement in france over the strikes that have already lasted two weeks and caused widespread disruption. President macron this weekend appealed to unions to suspend the strike against government Pension Reforms over the holidays. He said in respect for families and family life. But the two sides next plan to meet in early january, meaning many people will need alternative transportation to get home for christmas. Rhodri davies, bbc news. Google has published its annual list of key search trends for the year, which showcases what people across the world were looking for in 2019. And according to the companys analysis, the top trends were searches relating to sport and pop culture, and many were from india. So, how did india rise in the worlds digital consciousness . Ive been speaking to Robin Moroney from google, who gave me more details about the popular searches. This year was very sudden, the arrival of india. I will say, of course, like most years you have the normal hollywood and celebrity trends you would normally see, things like avengers endgame, game of thrones, but it was a surprise in the top ten globally to the cricket world cup, which you would kind of expect, a lot of countries follow cricket, but above that you have two Indian Sports matches in isolation, both for cricket. If you look at television itself, you see things like the Umbrella Academy and you would say, well, this is a story about global streaming but stuck in there are two indie language children. Was there any change in the policy rules that actually contributed to this rise . Its the law of large numbers. The fact is the indian internet is one of the cheapest in the world now having been one of the most expensive two oi been one of the most expensive two or three years ago, i which i mean now finally indians can get online in huge numbers. As they do that, thats transforming the nature of the internet and for people like latin america and india, using the internet in the same way, as they arrive in is transforming what people are searching for when you look at it from a global level. Given the trade war, hong kong protests, you would expect the chinese president , for example, xi jingping, making that list . In some countries, theres no doubt xi jingping was searched more than other people and a lot of the countries around us, singapore, southeast asia, obviously xi jingping is the most searched leader. No rendering modi guschina rendering, if you look at numbers, apart from donald trump, if you look at the leaders who have been around since 2014, angela merkel, xi jingping and modi, modi is globally the most searched but on country by country basis, if you said who is the most searched leader in this country, merkel wins in both countries. In fact, country, merkel wins in both countries. Infact, not country, merkel wins in both countries. In fact, not that its a competition. Where you look at where modi is most searched, often in countries where there is a lot of expat indians living abroad, another credit to the fact the internet allows you to take your culture with you wherever you go. Robin moroney speaking to me a little earlier. Youre watching newsday on the bbc. Still to come on the programme another christmas in makeshift churches. We report on the plight of christians in the indonesian province of aceh. Also on the programme a safe landing for Boeings Starliner space capsule, after its failed mission to the International Space station. The world of music has been paying tribute to george michael, whos died from suspected Heart Failure at the age of 53. He sold well over 100 million albums in a career spanning more than three decades. The United States troops have been trying to overthrow the dictatorship of general manuel noriega. The pentagon says its failed in its principle objective to capture noriega and take him to the United States to face drugs charges. The hammer and sickle was hastily taken away. In its place, the russian flag was hoisted over what is now no longer the soviet union, but the commonwealth of independent states. Day broke slowly over lockerbie, over the cockpit of pan ams maid of the seas, nosedown in the soft earth. You could see what happens when a plane eight storeys high, a football pitch wide, falls from 30,000 feet. Christmas has returned to albania after a communist ban lasting more than 20 years. Thousands went to Midnight Mass in the town of shkoder, where there were anti communist riots ten days ago. This is newsday on the bbc. Im mariko oi in singapore. Im ben bland in london. Our top stories firefighters in australia are struggling to control raging bushfires. More than 100 are still burning in New South Wales. Lets take a look at some front pages from around the world. Dubais gulf news is leading with the reaction to indias controversial new citizenship law. They claim indian Prime Minister modi is seeking to pacify muslims, following deadly clashes sparked by the bill. The japan times runs with a fresh push by shinzo abe to resolve tension between the us and iran. They report that the japanese Prime Minister spoke to President Trump over the weekend, shortly after hosting iranian president Hassan Rouhani in tokyo. And the phillipines star runs with a holiday ceasefire between Government Forces and communist insurgents in the country. They write that president duterte sees this as a prelude to a lasting peace process. In the past few hours a series of explosions that at least 20 people injured on the southern island. No one has claimed responsibility for that. Lets get more now on our top story the bush fires in australia. Our correspondent phil mercer is in sydney for us. These fires have been reading since september. Is there any sign of them being brought under control or even just containing them to stop them spreading and causing damage . On sunday and today, monday, weve seen cooler temperatures in New South Wales. That is helping the firefighting effort. Whats happening now is that the authorities are building containment lines, they are conducting operations called backburning, the said this is when fires are deliberately that to burn in to the mainfire deliberately that to burn in to the main fire front so the aim is to deprive those main blazes of the fuel they need to rage as we have been seeing them in recent days. So i think been seeing them in recent days. So ithink in been seeing them in recent days. So i think in New South Wales we were seeing a lover. The danger isnt over. The catastrophic conditions for saturday forecast and fortu nately for saturday forecast and fortunately conditions are a lot more benign today but we are now hearing about 100 homes have been lost here in New South Wales since friday and also in the adelaide hills. Now adelaide in south australia, at least 86 homes have been lost in fires down there. This is very much a nationwide crisis. What do we make of the Prime Ministers latest comments . To be said that as a shift in his position on the connection between Climate Change and extreme weather events like this . Its been a conversation that Prime Ministers Scott Morrison has been reluctant to have. A few weeks ago he criticised the local Council Leaders for linking deadly bushfires in the areas to Climate Change. The Prime Minister now acknowledges that Global Warming is acknowledges that Global Warming is a factor in the bushfire crisis. He says that Climate Change cannot be directly linked to any individual plays. Well be see australias Climate Change policies being altered . I dont really think so. Mr morrison, the Prime Minister, says that australians say that he expects australian say he they expect him to keep his promises. Australians, if theyre hoping for the government to embark on ambitious new Climate Change policies, under the current government, i think they will be disappointed. I corresponded in sydney, thank you very much. Christians in the indonesian province of aceh are preparing to celebrate christmas, in makeshift tents in the jungle. Their churches were destroyed, four years ago by islamic vigilante groups and the police. Church leaders say they want to rebuild, but theyve been stopped from doing so by the local authorities. The bbcs asia editor Rebecca Henschke reports. This is the last service the community were allowed to hold in the church. Built in the 1960s. The next day, she had to stand by and watch authorities destroyed. Destroy it. We were all afraid. We felt so sad. It was heartbreaking. Now we have nowhere to pray. A week before angry mobs burnt down this thereby church after holding protests calling for all churches in the region to be demolished. Someone threw a molotov cocktail from a car and demolished. Someone threw a molotov cocktailfrom a car and everything caught on fire. They also threw a bomb at the cross. Then people came from everywhere. The police tried to hold them back but they couldnt. The president called for the violence to end, saying it was against the countrys sounding principles of unity and diversity. For yea rs principles of unity and diversity. For years on, new places of worship have not been built. The services 110w have not been built. The services now take place here, in makeshift churches in the jungle. The only province in indonesia that has islamic law brought in regulations two years ago that require at least 100 non christians to support the building of the church. Something christian leaders hearsay is impossible. But a law, the local mayor defence. There should be an agreement from both sides if the christians want a church permit, then permission from the muslims. In my opinionjust follow the rules. Thats the right way. Indonesia, once known for its muslim and multifaith society, has seen growing intolerance in recent yea rs, seen growing intolerance in recent years, and Rights Groups say that 200 churches across indonesia have been shut down in the last 12 years. With no hope of getting permission to rebuild the church, the minority Christian Community here is preparing to celebrate christmas here in the forest. Nasa says its pleased with the performance of its unmanned starliner capsule, even though it failed to reach the International Space station. The capsule successfully landed in the desert in new mexico on sunday. Our north america correspondent peter bowes reports. Stalin a successful landing followed a failed attempt to reach the International Space station. Style liner. A major test for the parachute opening after enduring the intense heat of the crafts re entry into the earth s atmosphere. They successfully slowed the capsule down and ensuring a safe arrival in new mexicos white sons desert. A cushioned landing, much to the relief of ground staff. We didnt make it to the International Space session, we didnt dock. But the spacecraft flew exceptionally well and of course we brought the spacecraft home stop for the first time, landing a capsule on land in the United States, we have not done that as a nation. And liftoff. The rise of style liner. The mission started on friday, the liftoff went to plan. The capital propelled into orbit on itsjourney to plan. The capital propelled into orbit on its journey to this position. But when it came to separating from its engine, 50 minutes into the flat, a Software Problem occurred, confusing the crafts internal clock, causing it to burn too much fuel. It meant getting to the space session was impossible. This was a setback and is assessed, a Software Problem to solve but a 48 hour mission that generated valuable data. Its too early to say whether the next starliner fight early to say whether the next sta rliner fight flight will early to say whether the next starliner fight flight will have astronauts on board. You have been watching newsday. Im ben bland in london. And im mariko oi in singapore. Dont go away, because ill be back with business news, and you can count onjapan, china and south korea to keep us busy this christmas week, as their leaders meet in china. And before we go, wejust want to mention spains great christmas lottery, a tradition going back more than 200 years. Thousands of people have been celebrating in spain after winning a share of the 2. 64 billion prize pot in the worlds richest lottery. Millions of spaniards take part each year in the draw, known as el gordo or the fat one. The jackpot structure is designed to allow as many people as possible a win. What a great treat at this time of yearfor what a great treat at this time of year for them. Thats all for now. Stay with bbc world news. Hello. Sunday saw the winter solstice, that means that at least from an astronomer s point of view we are officially into winter. The days are starting to get that little bit longer. How about the weather . The start of christmas week a bit of a mixed bag, sunshine and showers on the way. Were in between weather systems, one moving towards the east and another one heading our way for later on monday. But during the day on monday we are in the sort of clear a slight year but is not com pletely clear a slight year but is not completely clear. You can see speckles of cloud. Those are showers coming off the atlantic and thats whats happening right now. Across western scotland, and of the night, start of the morning, one or two further supper generally speaking the weather is dry and a particularly cold. Six or seven in the south, a touch of frost as youd expect. In scotland. The weather is approaching but its to the south west of our neighbourhood, that means the weather is largely dry during the daytime itself, apart from showers which may affect western scotland for a time, there may be one or two moving to the la kes may be one or two moving to the lakes but theres more clear whether then but whether iran on monday. So a very decent way from cardiff and birmingham, but as i say if you show is there for glasgow, edinburgh, 11 degrees in the south, nine in glasgow. We are watching the next with different approach the neighbourhood, the thinking is sunny after dark, cloudy and wet in cornwall, devon, throughout wales, that iran will move across other parts of the uk as well. With it also comes mild air and is notjust across the uk but also spreading deeper into europe too. So the weather is very mild throughout the continent. Lets have a look at Christmas Eve. The extent of the crowd early in the day, outbreaks of rain, the rain will probably come and go from thick cloud during the afternoon as well across the south but the trend will be for the weather to gradually improve through the day on Christmas Eve and thats a hint of things to come. The big day itself, Christmas Day is expected to be a fine day throughout the country. High pressure is expected to build, the winds will fall flight, the son should be out for the morning, a bit of mystery start with but on the whole, a fine day to walk off those calories. Temperature is around nine or 10 degrees in south, six degrees in the north. So we dont get the snow but forget the sunshine. Goodbye. Im ben bland with bbc world news. Our top story more than 100 bushfires are still burning in New South Wales in australia. As firefighters struggle to control blazes, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has acknowledged a link between Global Warming and extreme weather. Hes apologised for being on holiday during the crisis. Indias Prime Minister has accused his political opponents of spreading lies about the new citizenship law which has led to deadly protests across the country. At least 20 people have been killed. And the premier league match between tottenham and chelsea has been marred by allegations of racist behaviour. Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger said he was targeted by monkey chanting. Tottenham have said they will conduct a thorough investigation. Thats all. Stay with bbc world news. Ill be back at 1am for more newsday with mariko, but now on bbc news its hardtalk. Ill be back at 1am for more newsday with mariko,
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