Hello and welcome to bbc news. Somalias president has pledged his country will not be demoralised after a massive bomb killed more than seventy people in the capital mogadishu. The explosion took place at a security checkpoint in the south west of the city. Its being reported that at least 16 of those killed were university students. No one has yet admitted carrying out the attack but its assumed the Al Shabaab Group a long time threat in somalia is to blame. Our africa correspondent Andrew Harding reports. Moments after the blast, an eyewitness films the scene. Smoke still billowing from a vehicle, the remains of what is thought to have been a massive car bomb. Shocked civilians move in to look for survivors. The attack was timed to catch the morning rush hour in mogadishu. Many students had been heading to classes. Dozens were killed when the bomb exploded at a busy intersection in the somali capital. Attacks like this are not unusual here, but they are seldom so deadly. This man said the blast caught him as he was getting out of a minibus heading to work, his leg injured. Within minutes, emergency workers were at the scene. Somalia, plagued by violence for decades, is still wrestling with extremism. The countrys president quickly blamed the Islamist Militant Group al shabaab. He said their aim was to instil terror and to prevent the country from rebuilding. They will never succeed, he said. Al shabaab, linked to alqaeda, is still a threat in a country plagued by drought, feuding clans, and the aftermath of a terrible civil war. But the group has lost ground in recent years, targeted by American Drones and African Union troops. Todays devastating attack will fuel the fears that somalias Security Forces are too weak and divided to protect civilians in mogadishu and that foreign troops, who are supposed to be on their way out, will be needed here for many years to come. Andrew harding, bbc news. As we heard, somalias president has blamed the islamist militants calling themselves al shabaab for this latest attack. I asked Somalia Security expert Abdullahi Halakhe about the situation involving the group. It is really devastating. This is the third deadliest attack after 2017 were over 500 people were killed and we are still not sure about the death but it really is an opportunity also to ask the hard questions, notjust of the authorities in somalia, of the federal government but also all the countries that have sent in the troops since 2011. Just given that, the number of troops there, the effo rts the number of troops there, the efforts that have been made, just how is the group able to carry out such a deadly attack . how is the group able to carry out such a deadly attack . I think its one thing that we have to bear in mind, some of the territories used to control attacks and get money, the groups still capable of carrying out these kind of attacks, because of the lax level of security inside the country. Just to give you a sense, when these attacks were going on, the government passed the bill, the electoral law, that is not been debated about, just to demonstrate that, the political elite inside somalia are not really at the cynical level at which they would be able to exploit these things and al shabaab able to exploit these things and al sha baab is well aware able to exploit these things and al shabaab is well aware of this and it exploits the so that troops drawdown is next year, the election is next year, with these kind of security situations, its going to be incredibly difficult to conduct a one man, one vote inside somalia. So given that, what needs to happen now to try and prevent more attacks like this . I think one of the things that might not be very popular for a lot of people to hear, particularly at this delicate time, is we are past agreeing that al sha baab this delicate time, is we are past agreeing that al shabaab can be defeated by the use of force. It is a question now of the authorities not just a question now of the authorities notjust inside somalia but also the neighbouring countries, can you, ethiopia and other countries in the east african region and including the regional authorities, the intergovernmental authorities as well as the African Union in the East African Community to figure out a political solution out of this because al sha baab will a political solution out of this because al shabaab will not be com pletely because al shabaab will not be completely defeated using force. And you can find much more on our website including a profile of the Islamist Militant Group al shabaab, suspected of being behind this latest attack. Just log on to bbc. Com news. Us democratic president ial hopeful joe biden has tried to clarify comments in which he appeared to rule out testifying at Donald Trumps impeachment trial. Mr biden told reporters in iowa he had always complied with legitimate requests from congress in the past but he insisted the trial should focus on president trumps conduct. The whole point of this is, anyone subpoenaed relating to this investigation of a president has to be able to have some knowledge to share on whether or not he committed the offences is accused of committing. I have no first hand knowledge, there is no basis to thats my point was, it would be no basis on which to call me as a witness. Joe biden. Our north america correspondent Chris Buckler explains how the former Vice President has been caught up in all this. In this impeachment trial, donald trump stands accused of abusing his power as president by trying to force ukraine into lodging investigations into political rivals including joe biden and obstructing congress in their investigation by ordering officials in the white house and other parts of the administration to ignore subpoenas, legal demands for information or for people to come and give testimony to congress. It has been widely criticised by democrats and in a newspaper interview in the last couple of days, joe biden, who was one of the partys leading contenders to become the president ial candidate to challenge donald trump in 2020, he said that he would defy a subpoena if he was asked to testify during Donald Trumps upcoming impeachment trial. That has been widely criticised and has led to some allegations of hypocrisy. As a result, mr biden has 110w hypocrisy. As a result, mr biden has now released a statement on twitter trying to clarify. He says he has a lwa ys trying to clarify. He says he has always complied with legal orders and what he calls legitimate requests from congress but he said there was no legal basis to give testimony in this case. Republicans have suggested that at times they might try to turn this whole impeachment trial on its head and ask questions about the bidens. You might remember donald trump is made unsubstantiated investigations of corruption regarding joe biden and his son hunter during business dealings in ukraine, they have strongly denied that an statement, joe biden said its important to recognise this impeachment process should focus on Donald Trumps conduct, and not his. Riot police have clashed with protesters inside a Major Shopping Centre near hong kongs border with mainland china. The Retail Outlet near the chinese city of shenzhen is popular with shoppers from the mainland. Our asia pacific regional editor Michael Bristow reports. In a few days, it will be a new year, but in hong kong its now an old story violent clashes between police and protesters. Plainclothes officers arrested just over a dozen activists at a Shopping Centre near hong kongs border with china. The protesters have been trying to disrupt trade that takes place with the mainland. Chinese shoppers travel to hong kong, buy Cheaper Products in bulk and then go back across the border to sell. Shops had to close their doors, trapping some customers inside. Pictures will do little to dispel the criticism that on occasions they use too much force. The man in the red shirt gets a full burst of pepper spray. Demonstrations, violence, arrests and injuries, its been the story of the last six months. There have been few concessions from the authorities, either in hong kong or beijing. It is difficult to imagine the pattern of this year not being repeated in the next. Michael bristow, bbc news. Parts of east africa are struggling to cope with the effects of more than two months heavy rain that has caused widespread flooding and landslides. Its thought that at least 265 people have died in the region since october and tens of thousands more have been displaced. One of the worst affected areas is around the kenyan town of kisumu. Kathryn armstrong has more. Scenes like this are an all too common sight in kenya at the moment. Residents searching through their flooding homes for anything they can salvage. Translation theres no place to sleep, we dont even have tents, no water to drink and i have to take care of my children. Translation all our food went with the water, school shoes and the books for the kids too. My belongings are outside here and i dont know where i will go. For more than two months, heavy rain fall has plagued east africa, due to warmer water on the western side of the indian ocean. Part of a climate system known as a dipole. Scientists say its of a magnitude not seen in years, maybe even decades. Many other countries in the region have been affected, including somalia, tanzania and south sudan, where the rain has pushed a country devastated by drought to the brink of famine. With further rain forecast, there are now growing fears that water borne diseases could make the situation much worse. Kathryn armstrong, bbc news. A german mother and daughter have been killed in an avalanche in the italian alps near the austrian border. Another 7 Year Old Girl was dug out of the snow in a critical condition, but she died on her way to hospital. Two other people from the same skiing party were also injured. The incident happened around 2,500m up on the val senales glacier. The British Government has apologised for inadvertently publishing online the addresses of a number of prominent people awarded new years honours. When the list was uploaded on a government website the addresses were mistakenly included. One expert has described the Data Security breach as stunningly bad. Katy austin reports. Among more than 1,000 people to receive an award in the new years honours list this year are celebrities and sports people but also senior politicians, police and security personnel. A list containing recipients addresses was published, meaning some people were able to download the information. Many appeared to be personal addresses although no Contact Information appears for six ministry of defence staff. The document was discovered by a member of the public. You i saw the new years honours list was coming out, wondered who was on it, went to the gov. Uk website and downloaded a csv file of all of the recipients, opened it up and it had full names and addresses of all the recipients including street numbers, names and postcodes, everything, which was quite remarkable. A Cabinet Office spokesperson said its believed the document was online forjust under an hour before being removed, but there are questions to answer about how it got there in the first place. Katy austin, bbc news. Stay with us on bbc world news. Still to come a glimpse of some of the rarest birds in the world how careful conservation may save the spoon billed sandpiper. 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 bongs this is bbc news. The latest headlines at least 76 people are reported to have been killed by a car bomb during morning rush hour in somalias capital. The president has blamed al Shabab Militants for the attack. Democratic president ial contender joe biden has said theres no legal basis to force him to testify at Donald Trumps impeachment trial. Nearly 2000 people have taken shelter in Evacuation Centres as Tropical Cyclone sarai batters fiji. The cyclone has brought high winds and rain, causing flooding to rivers and coastal areas on the Pacific Island nation. One man is believed to have drowned and another man is reported missing. James ra nsley reports. Tropical cyclone sarai wreaking havocin Tropical Cyclone sarai wreaking havoc in mvg. This vehicle, carrying six people and a cow, washed into a raging river. It is thought they all made it to safety. Winds of up to 90 mph and swells up to five metres have parted the small island nation, calling flooding and widespread damage. Authorities are urging people to remain vigilant. An 18 year old student is believed to be the countrys latest drowning victim. The man is believed to have been swept away by strong currents when he was swimming with his friends. More than 2000 people are in Evacuation Centre s across the country and aid agencies have been out in force. Volunteers have been going out into some of the worst affected areas to assess what people need and have been delivering things such as extra shelter items, or torches, there have been some Power Outages in both the west and central divisions and trees down on the roads and flooding in low lying areas. As the cleanup begins in fiji, the category 2 storm is expected to reach tonga next. James ransley, bbc news. Lets get some of the days other news. A day of mourning has been held in kazakhstan for the 12 victims of fridays plane crash. 47 other people remain in hospital. Flags are flying at half mast and many events have been cancelled. The plane was carrying more than 90 passengers and crew when it crashed shortly after take off. Doctors in the syrian province of idlib say their hospitals are full and they lack the resources they need to cope with close to a quarter of a Million People whove been displaced by the lastest fighting. Syrian government forces, supported by russian warplanes, have been advancing on rebel held positions in the south of the province. Protesters marching against the french governments planned pension reform clashed with the police in paris on saturday. Trade unions have spearheaded nationwide strikes since early december. The yellow vests, an Anti Government movement, joined the rally of several thousand people. Algeria has a new Prime Minister after months of policial upheaval. Academic and former diplomat abdelazizjerad on the left here was named by algerias recently elected president , abdelmadjid tebboune. Jerad previously served in an administration in the 90s, before apparently falling out of favour. A new high security hospital has opened in the uk, replacing the notorious broadmoor psychiatric facility, which housed some of the countries most dangerous offenders. Past inmates have included Charles Bronson and killers such as ronnie kray and the yorkshire ripper, peter sutcliffe. Bbc news has been given exclusive access to the new facility, where staff and patients contributed ideas for the design. Our Health Editor hugh pym reports. Broadmoor has as much security as a prison, but its reluctant to discuss its business because the patient there are patients. The old image of broadmoor, a bleaker Security Institution housing, among its patients, some notorious killers since it opened in the 19th century. But as a Mental Health hospital the building latterly was unfit for purpose. I think broadmoor, building latterly was unfit for purpose. Ithink broadmoor, its fairto purpose. Ithink broadmoor, its fair to say, has been criticised about the environments for quite a long time now. Have been modified as best as we could modify them, but patently they didnt have the room that patients require, they didnt have the space for things Like Group Therapy or interviews or even boardrooms so by this is the original broad more building, based have been accommodated here for more than 150 years, the building will 110w than 150 years, the building will now be sold off in the patients have been moved to the new broadmoor, which is right next door broadmoor. We were given an exclusive tour of the new hospital shortly before patients moved in. There are large open plan communal areas designed for easier monitoring by staff, workshops, and a multifaith room, and enhanced cctv. One former patient involved with others on the design of the new facilities explained the likely benefits. Because of the way the wards have been created, with better lines of sight, is more spacious, more comfortable, friendly environment, it should make for happier patients and that is quite possibly going to result in people getting out quicker. Whether patients have been sent to broadmoor from the courts and Prison Service oi from the courts and Prison Service or have been referred by the nhs because they are a danger to themselves or the public, the aim in themselves or the public, the aim in the new hospital is more effective care. I think the opportunities that