Jose.

Sara Ali Khan, who jetted to the tropical heaven of Maldives with brother Ibrahim Ali Khan and mother Amrita Singh, has returned to habitat post a family time off. As the brother-sister duo returned with their mum, Ibrahim seemed conscious of the shutterbugs leaving the Simmba actress in splits. Sara responded to the paps with smiles, however Ibrahim tried best to evade the flashes. In a recent clip, where the trio was spotted leaving the Mumbai airport, Sara looked amused. While, Ibrahim tried hard to duck the cameras. The Kedarnath actress even greeted the paps ‘Happy New Year’ before getting inside her car. Amrita Singh could be seen covering her face to avoid the media as she walks along with her children. The diva got us mesmerized with her casual airport look, clad in a tangerine crop top, blue shorts and flats. Ibrahim, on the other hand, played it cool with a tee and shorts. These days, the young starlet has been keeping fans hooked to her Instagram handle with pictures from her latest getaway. From enjoying jet-ski rides to relishing breakfasts, Sara’s holiday was hitting headlines every now and then. Meanwhile, Sara Ali Khan is busy working for David Dhawan's Coolie No 1, co-starring Varun Dhawan and Paresh Rawal. She will be soon seen opposite Kartik Aaryan in Imtiaz Ali's yet-untitled film, which will be releasing this year on February 14.

What is it? The current generation of Mazda 2 dates back to 2014 and, with its age beginning to show, the Japanese firm has in recent years attempted to extend the supermini’s life with a series of relatively minor updates. Mazda has made a relatively substantial change for 2020, albeit one that is, quite literally, mild: it’s fitted a mild hybrid belt-integrated starter generator to bring a dash of electrification to aid the 1.5-litre petrol engine (which has been the sole powertrain option since last year). There are a number of other changes, albeit ones that are mild in terms of execution. There are tweaks to the dampers and steering, in a bid to boost the 2’s already well-regarded driving dynamics, plus a few styling flourishes to bring it closer in line with newer models such as the Mazda 3. But are a hint of electric power and a few minor tweaks enough to keep the 2 competitive in a class that's packed with newer rivals, such as the Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 208, Renault Clio and Seat Ibiza? What's it like? You wouldn’t exactly call the 2's restyling a radical reinvention, but that’s no bad thing to this tester’s eyes: it’s remains a pleasingly clean and clear design. The descriptor 'clean and clear' can also be applied to the interior of our Sport Nav-spec test car. For those used to the larger touchscreens and ergonomic features of newer cars, there’s a slightly retro feel about it (the infotainment system still includes an actual CD player, for example), and that’s not actually a bad thing. The controls are well placed and easy to use, all-round visiblity is great and the interior is comfortable and relatively spacious. The dashboard-mounted 7.0in touchscreen isn’t the largest in class, but the infotainment works well, and there’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, allowing those who forgot to pack their CD wallets to stream music through their smartphones and so on. The Mazda M Hybrid system utilises a belt-integrated starter generator that can capture kinetic energy from regenerative braking, which is then used to boost the efficiency of the engine. Because it’s a small unit, the output of the 1.5-litre engine is unchanged, with either 74bhp or, as in the case of our test car, 89bhp. The system doesn’t make a dramatic difference to the driving experience, with its influence mostly felt in quiet and smooth low-speed acceleration. It adds extra refinement to the engine, which offers decent performance in a car of this size. The main benefit is in fuel economy and emissions: Mazda cites WLTP figures of 53.5mpg and 94g/km CO2 emissions for the 89bhp engine. That seems realistic, because we averaged close to 50mpg during our test. That said, the powerplant is somewhat hamstrung by the six-speed manual gearbox through which power is sent. Its gearing is so long that that frequent shifts are required to gain access to the engine’s power, and even on motorways there’s little need to trouble sixth; in fact, try to accelerate at A-road speeds and you’ll occasionally need to drop to fourth. It’s a shame, because it makes it harder to both engage with the powertrain and, in turn, enjoy the decent ride and strong handling dynamics that the 2’s well-honed chassis continues to offer. Should I buy one? There's much to like about the 2. While it can’t match newer rivals for sheen, it’s unpretentious, likeable, immensely usable and refreshingly simple, while offering both decent handling and efficiency. Unfortunately, the benefits of the mild hybrid engine are hamstrung by the gearbox to which it's attached, while the £17,495 list price of our test car is uncomfortably close to those of newer, more polished rivals. Mazda 2 1.5 Skyactiv-G Sport Nav specification Where Somerset, UK Price £17,495 On sale now Engine 4 cyls in line, 1496cc petrol Power 89bhp at 6000rpm Torque 109lb ft at 4000rpm Gearbox 6-spd manual Kerb weight 1141kg Top speed 114mph 0-62mph 9.7sec Fuel economy 53.3mpg CO2 94g/km Rivals Ford Fiesta, Seat Ibiza

At least two airbases housing US troops in Iraq have been hit by more than a dozen ballistic missiles, according to the US Department of Defence. Iranian state TV says the attack is a retaliation after the country's top commander Qasem Soleimani was killed in a drone strike in Baghdad, on the orders of US President Donald Trump. The Pentagon says at least two sites were attacked, in Irbil and Al Asad. It is unclear if there have been any casualties. "We are aware of the reports of attacks on US facilities in Iraq. The president has been briefed and is monitoring the situation closely and consulting with his national security team," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement. Live updates Crude oil prices jump after missile attacks How did US-Iranian ties get here? A quick guide Voices from Iran: 'Qasem Soleimani did not deserve such a fate' Iran's Revolutionary Guard said the attack was in retaliation for the death of Soleimani on Friday. "We are warning all American allies, who gave their bases to its terrorist army, that any territory that is the starting point of aggressive acts against Iran will be targeted," it said via a statement carried by Iran's state-run IRNA news agency. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif later issued a statement on Twitter, claiming the attack was self-defence and denied seeking to escalate the situation into war. President Trump tweeted shortly afterwards, insisting "all is well", while adding that they had not yet assessed possible casualties. The attacks took place hours after the burial of Soleimani. The second attack occurred in Irbil shortly after the first rockets hit Al Asad, Al Mayadeen TV said. Earlier in the day, President Trump said a US withdrawal of troops from Iraq would be the worst thing for the country. His comments came in the wake of a letter, which the US military said had been sent in error, to Iraq's prime minister, apparently agreeing to a request by Iraqi MPs to pull troops out. The US has around 5,000 troops in Iraq. The UK foreign office told the BBC: "We are urgently working to establish the facts on the ground. Our first priority is the security of British personnel." The UK has put the Royal Navy and military helicopters on standby amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said earlier. How did we get here? The assassination of Soleimani on January 3 was a major escalation in already deteriorating relations between Iran and the US. The general - who controlled Iran's proxy forces across the Middle East - was regarded as a terrorist by the US government, which says he was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American troops and was plotting "imminent" attacks. Iran vowed "severe revenge" for his death. Mr Trump, meanwhile, warned the US would respond in the event of retaliation "perhaps in a disproportionate manner". "He was a monster. And he's no longer a monster. He's dead," Mr Trump said, defending his decision. "He was planning a big attack, a bad attack for us. I don't think anyone can complain about it." Millions of Iranians turned out for the commander's funeral, with mourners chanting "death to America" and "death to Trump". A stampede at the burial in Soleimani's hometown Kerman killed 50 people and injured 200 more on Tuesday. After the event resumed, top Iranian officials renewed their threats of revenge. "The martyr Qasem Soleimani is more powerful... now that he is dead," the Revolutionary Guards' top general, Maj Gen Hossein Salami, told the crowds. How does Iraq fit into this? Iran supports a variety of Shia militia groups in neighbouring Iraq. On Friday, Soleimani had just arrived at Baghdad airport and was travelling in a convoy alongside officials from such groups when their cars were hit by several US missiles. Iraq now finds itself in a difficult position as an ally both of Iran and of the US. Thousands of US troops remain in the country to assist in the broader struggle against the Sunni Muslim Islamic State (IS) group but Iraq's government insists the US has acted beyond the terms of this agreement. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi labelled the missile strike that killed Soleimani as a "brazen violation of Iraq's sovereignty and a blatant attack on the nation's dignity".

Pink emerged as a common choice among celebrity attendees at the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards, and Priyanka Chopra was among the stars to take on the bold hue. She hit the Golden Globes 2020 carpet in a floor-length, off-the-shoulder Cristina Ottaviano gown, with a flowing train behind her. She teamed the bubble gum pink dress with sparkly Bvlgari diamonds. Priyanka matching the diamonds with crystal embellishments on her sandals by Christian Louboutin. Priyanka wore her hair in retro-style glamorous curls and bold maroon lips. She was accompanied by husband Nick Jonas on their first Golden Globes date together. The Jumanji actor went the dapper route in a double-breasted suit and a Prada bolo tie, reported Harper's Bazaar. The Quantico actress showed off her accessories on her Instagram story as she was getting ready for the awards. She also shared a photo of her pet dog Diana, saying that her "best girl is here to help me get ready." A few days back, the was spotted a darker shade of pink for their New Year celebrations in Miami. She wore a dress with a plunging neckline and cutouts all along her torso for the bash. At the Golden Globes, celebrities like Tiffany Haddish and Isla Fisher also opted for shades of pink on the red carpet. Nick Jonas was a presenter at the Golden Globes this year. Before walking into the auditorium, he spoke to Ryan Seacrest about being unable to bring his new puppy Gino to the awards. The German Shepherd puppy was a gift from Priyanka to him on their first wedding anniversary.

What is it? Nobody behind the wheel of an AC Schnitzer ACS5 Sport could claim ignorance of what they were letting themselves in for. It’s a brutal thing – based on an already heaving performance saloon, the BMW M5 Competition, only splattered with an industrial degree of carbonfibre bodywork and, in this case, touting conspicuous negative camber because AC Schnitzer’s custom suspension is in its track-day setting. The carbonfibre rear valence, with its Formula-1-style rain light, is almost grotesquely contoured and frames the four canon-style tips of the sports exhaust. It's fair to say that, out on the public highway, there are less obtrusive mid-engined supercars. But there's quite a bit more to this car than looking like something you might find at SEMA. If you’ve read our story about the ACS2 Sport, based on the M2 Competition, you’ll know a bit about AC Schnizter’s motorsport pedigree and its approach to tuning BMWs. An additional control unit for the engine piggybacks the existing BWM software and unlocks extra power and torque. Some variation of Schnitzer's Nürburgring-honed suspension is then fitted, invariably with even bigger wheels that leave only an illicit veneer of sidewall rubber. AC Schnitzer's cars tend to be carefully developed, and so despite the aftermarket aesthetic, the driving experience is usually worth getting out of bed for, or even travelling to Aachen, where the firm has been based since 1987 and where we're picking up this fully loaded but still – somehow – relatively subtle ACS5 Sport for the day. As always with Schnitzer, you can mix and match a host of equipment. For the M5 Competition, that means spending as little as £90 for a branded bumper-protection strip or going for the whole £30,500 'ACS5 Sport' party, which apart from an awkwardly dainty carbonfibre rear wing is what you see here. It’s all available from Rossiters in Kings Lynn, which is the point of contact for Schnitzer owners in Britain and manages the fitment of parts and the three-year warranty. Nobody would mistake this particular ACS5 Sport for the regular M5 Competition, then, although as with all top-end Schnitzer models, M’s carbon-ceramic brakes are left untouched, as are major body panels – such as the doors, bonnet and wheel arches – and BMW’s tuning for the Active M differential. What's it like? It’s mostly good, extroverted fun, but what the ACS5 Sport doesn’t quite do is overwrite any preconceived notions you may have about what 710bhp feels like in an executive saloon. This is more to do with the donor car’s already red-raw speed than any shortfall on Schnitzer’s part. When we road tested the standard M5, with 'only' 591bhp, it recorded a 0-60mph time of 3.3sec (in the damp and in spite of the malfunctioning launch control programme) and then hauled itself well into triple figures with supercar-grade aggression. There was then the 616bhp M5 Competition, the basis of this Schnitzer test car, which was even quicker. Last year, we used one as a subjective benchmark for a head-to-head test involving the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 4-Door Coupé and Porsche’s Panamera S E-Hybrid, and it made each of its offensively heavy compatriots (combined weight is an almost incredible 4.5 tonnes) feel as though they’d each dropped a cylinder. It means you wouldn’t necessarily notice the Schnitzer’s extra 94bhp or 70lb ft in the UK, and neither would you really want to. But in Germany, it’s a different matter, where beyond 150mph, the extra grunt is detectable, even if it remains somewhat surplus to requirements. For something with a frontal area more akin to that of an Audi Q7 than a McLaren 720S, the ACS5 Sport thunders its way to 190mph (governed, but "we're working on it") with very little fuss. The steering is also good at high speed. Here, you have the same slightly artificial heft but a greater sense of stability than you’ll find in an M5 Competition. This is useful on the autobahn. Schnitzer’s revised suspension geometry is largely responsible, but the driver also benefits from these changes at much lower speeds and on smaller roads, because although turn-in response isn’t any quicker than before, it’s now more crisply defined and gives the ACS5 accuracy that's rare in such a big car. Combined with a front axle that doesn’t seem to recognise the concept of understeer, the ACS5 goes down rat-runs looking like a B52 entered into one of Red Bull’s air races but moving like the real deal. Such is the traction that little could escape it. Much of this extra agility and composure, and ultimately the car's staggering point-to-point pace, owes its existence to the KW spring and damper coil-over units (Variant 4, for those in the know) Schnitzer fits. The hardware is manually adjustable for rebound as well as low- and high-speed compression and is height adjustable by 30mm. Our example was set up for a track session the day after our drive and theoretically brooked no compromise, but the ride was rigid without rifling road imperfections into the cabin – the M5's generously padded seats undoubtedly help – and you could easily live with it. And the pay-off is that this chassis, originally engineered for long-distance refinement and comfort, wears its big body like a glove. The ACS5 Sport turns in to corners like a sports car, taking up so little slack in the suspension that it requires a moment or two to acclimatise to it. With four-wheel drive and the M5's characteristic balance, there are no trap doors in terms of drivability, except perhaps that the tyres are that much more susceptible to tracking on more corrugated surfaces. For something so big and potent, it's remarkably easy to drive fast: confidence-inspiring, in short. Naturally, there’s plenty of potential for unsticking the rear tyres, which is true whether you’ve got the front driveshafts disengaged or have the powertrain in its default four-wheel drive mode. The long wheelbase and the engine’s huge cushion of twin-turbo torque make all contemporary hot 5 Series contenders – BMW M5, Alpina B5 and this AC Schnitzer – happy to oversteer, but in the ACS5, there’s more of a ledge between grip and slip, making it less casually playful and less willing to flatter. It's the price you pay for tighter handling within the car's high limits of grip. Other things to consider are that there are only a handful of options for the interior – the Meccano-esque paddle shifters and branded iDrive rotary control chief among them – so the ACS5 Sport's cockpit feels far less individual than the outside, and probably better for it. The more freely flowing sports exhaust should also be optioned with care. True to the donor car, it's not particularly tuneful but in Sport mode thumps and bangs as though a foul-tempered Tyson Fury was trying to smash his way out of the boot. Should I buy one? For £130,000, nine out of 10 people in the room would take an Alpina B5 BiTurbo plus a good amount of change, or an M5 Competition and even more change, instead of the AC Schnitzer And understandably so. Those works-developed cars ride with genuine fluency are usefully subtle in appearance and handle more freely. On the public road, they are also every bit as stupidly quick as the Schnitzer, despite the long spec-sheet shadow the tuner car casts. The ACS5 Sport nevertheless has its place and it’s an esoteric but surprisingly well-defined one. At any speed, on any road, there’s more bite to the driving experience than with the others and a welcome sense of connection to the road beneath those epically proportioned wheels. The ACS5 Sport is also usefully low riding, with tightly controlled vertical body movements. Together, these go a long way to addressing one of the few 'criticisms' one can have of the BMW M5: that despite the mad performance, it never quite escapes the tall-feeling saloon-body physics. In this sense, to drive, Schnitzer’s creation feels more of an XL M3 Competition than any traditional M5, which is an impressive feat and something those owners who want one car to drive year round and sometimes maybe even on track days will appreciate. For my money, I’d leave the engine mods but take the KW suspension with a sensible wheel and tyre package. Too sparing? Perhaps for your average AC Schnitzer owner, but you're still getting something brain-out fast, broadly usable and unambiguously monstrous. AC Schnitzer ACS5 Sport specification Where Cologne, Germany Price £128,571 On sale Now Engine V8, 4395cc, twin-turbocharged, petrol Power 710bhp at 6000rpm Torque 627lb ft at 2500-1800rpm Gearbox 8-spd automatic Kerb weight 1865kg Top speed 190mph (governed) 0-62mph 3.3sec (est) Fuel economy 26mpg (approx) CO2 na Rivals Brabus 800, ABT Audi RS6

Almost 2,000 houses have been confirmed destroyed in Australia's months-long bushfire crisis, as crews prepare frantically for more forecast danger. After ferocious conditions last week, firefighters are using milder weather to boost containment lines around fires engulfing south-eastern Australia. Temperatures are likely to soar again on Friday, prompting fears that two fires could form a new "mega blaze". At least 25 people and millions of animals have died since September. Australia is fighting an unprecedented bushfire season, fuelled by record temperatures and widespread drought. On Tuesday, New South Wales (NSW) officials said fires there had claimed 1,588 homes and damaged 653 more. About 200 homes have been destroyed in neighbouring Victoria, adding to more than 100 lost in other states. The Insurance Council of Australia estimated the damage bill had reached A$700m (£370m; $485m), but said it expected the cost to rise significantly. Crowe send fires climate message to Golden Globes A visual guide to the bushfire crisis Australia bushfires: A very simple explanation With smoke tormenting cities including Canberra, Sydney and now Melbourne, doctors have warned of increased respiratory dangers - especially to vulnerable people, including pregnant women. On Monday, the Bureau of Meteorology warned that visibility in Melbourne was less than 1km (0.62 miles) in many parts of the city and its surroundings. What's the current fire threat? Rain has fallen in NSW and Victoria and temperatures have dropped - but officials have warned that blazes will "take off" again. They fear large blazes in both states could merge, creating unpredictable fire fronts and posing heightened danger to lives and homes. "There is no room for complacency," NSW state Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned on Monday. Hundreds of properties were destroyed at the weekend. Rural towns and major cities saw red skies, falling ash and smoke that clogged the air. How do you fight extreme wildfires? The sacrifices of Australia's unpaid firefighters How bad is bushfire smoke for health? Have you been affected by the fires? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. The easing of conditions has allowed valuable supplies to be taken to affected areas. The army said it had sent supplies, personnel, and vehicles to Kangaroo Island near the city of Adelaide in South Australia. The island has been devastated by bushfires, with two people killed last week. The NSW Rural Fire Service said it had more than 2,600 people deployed on Tuesday to bolster containment lines between fires and po[CENSORED]ted areas. Victoria Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp has warned people to expect "a changing, dynamic situation" later in the week. What is the government doing? On Monday, after warning the crisis might go on for months, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said A$2bn ($1.4bn; £1.1bn) would be committed to recovery over the next two years. He announced the creation of a recovery agency to help those who have lost homes and businesses in the fires. The government has also pledged some compensation for volunteers who take leave to fight fires, and more money for waterbombing aircraft. But Mr Morrison has faced fierce criticism for his response - including for taking a holiday to Hawaii during the crisis. Critics have also accused him of underplaying the impacts of climate change. The public ire falling on Australia's 'absent' PM Is climate change to blame for Australia's fires? How about others? At the weekend, a fundraiser launched by comedian Celeste Barber for fire services in NSW raised more than A$35m in just 48 hours. A number of celebrities have also donated money to support firefighting efforts in recent days - among them US singer Pink, and Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman, who pledged $500,000 each. And on Monday, pop star Kylie Minogue tweeted she had donated too:

Priyanka Chopra welcomed year 2020 with her husband Nick Jonas at the Jonas Brothers' concert. For the occasion, she sported a bright pink cutout gown with a plunging neckline and a long flowy skirt. Indian actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas rocked in a neon pink cutout gown for the New Year's bash which costs over a whopping Rs 60,000. Priyanka welcomed year 2020 with her husband Nick Jonas at the Jonas Brothers' concert. For the occasion, she sported a bright pink cutout gown with a plunging neckline and a long flowy skirt, which accentuated her svelte body. According to timesofindia.com, the bright pink cut out ensemble that Priyanka wore for the concert costs around Rs 64,000 approximately. Priyanka teamed her look with a gold watch. She completed the look with pink lips. According to Priyanka's closet fan page, she wore the neon cutout gown, which costs approximately $895, from a label called PatBo.

Lamborghini’s first series-production hybrid models are set to feature pioneering electric technology, with the supercar firm focusing on lightweight supercapacitors and the ability to use carbonfibre bodywork to store electrical energy. The Italian manufacturer has teamed up with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on a number of research projects focused on supercapacitor energy stores – which can be charged faster and store more energy than similarly sized lithium ion batteries – and ways of storing energy in new materials. Riccardo Bettini, Lamborghini’s head of R&D project management, said that although it is clear that electric power is the future, the current weight requirements of lithium ion batteries meant that “at the moment, it’s not the best solution” for the firm. He added: “Lamborghini has always been about lightness, performance, enjoyment and engagement. We need to keep that in our super-sports cars in the future.” The technology was previewed on the Terzo Millennio concept car, shown in 2017, and a small supercapacitor will be featured on the forthcoming limited-run 808bhp Although the supercapacitor used on the Sián is relatively small, Lamborghini and MIT are continuing their research. They have recently secured a patent for a new synthetic material that can be used as the “technological base” for a more powerful next-generation supercapacitor. Bettini told Autocar the technology remains “at least two to three years” away from being production ready but supercapacitors are “the first step in the roadmap” to electrified Lamborghinis. A related MIT research project is studying how to use carbonfibre surfaces infused with synthetic materials for energy storage. Bettini said: “If we can capture and use energy much faster, the car can be lighter. We could also store energy in the bodywork, using the car as a battery, which means we can save weight.” Although Lamborghini aims to roll out hybrid powertrains in the coming years, Bettini said it is still working towards a target of 2030 for its first full-electric car while the firm studies how “to keep Lamborghini’s DNA and emotion”. Despite that, Autocar understands the marque is considering making its planned fourth model line, set to be a four-seat grand tourer due around 2025, fully electric. It is also likely to launch a conventional plug-in hybrid version of the Lamborghini Urus using the powertrain featured on the closely related Porsche Cayenne. Lambo wants EVs to sound right Lamborghini is undertaking research to develop a sound for its electric cars that will ensure maximum driver engagement. The firm has long regarded the sound of its V10 and V12 engines as key to their appeal. “We’ve tested with professional drivers in our simulator and switched the sound off,” said Lamborghini R&D’s Riccardo Bettini. “We know from the neurological signals that when you stop the sound, the engagement falls because the feedback disappears. We need to find the sound of Lamborghini for the future that can allow our cars to retain emotion and engagement.”

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said troops have begun moving into Libya after parliament approved the move last week. He said their mission was to ensure stability for the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli. The Libyan government is fighting an insurgency by rebel forces under Gen Khalifa Haftar, based in eastern Libya. Gen Haftar is backed by Egypt and the UAE, while the UN-backed government is supported by Turkey and its ally Qatar. Rebel forces have been trying to capture Tripoli and were blamed for an air strike on a military academy on Saturday that killed at least 30 people. They denied any involvement. Turkey risks falling deeper into Libya conflict Libyan warlord Haftar releases Turkish citizens "Our soldiers' duty there is co-ordination. They will develop the operation centre there. Our soldiers are gradually going right now," President Erdogan told the CNN Turk TV channel. He said Turkey's objective was "not to fight" but "to support the legitimate government and avoid a humanitarian tragedy". Israel, Greece and Cyprus had warned against any Turkish deployment. They called it a dangerous threat to regional stability, and warned that it breached a UN arms embargo. The UN Security Council is expected to meet behind closed doors on Monday to discuss the situation in Libya, AFP news agency reported, citing diplomats. MPs in Turkey approved the bill allowing the deployment of troops last Thursday with 325 in favour and 184 against. Who is military strongman Khalifa Haftar? Why is Libya so lawless? Mr Erdogan said Tripoli had requested military assistance. The Turkish government has given no details about the scale of the military deployment. Libya has been torn by violence since long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011 by Nato-backed forces. The country has two rival administrations, one based in Tripoli and the other in the eastern city of Tobruk.

Lately, Tara Sutaria and Aadar Jain have been spotted together at many events that sparked off the rumours of their relationship. Rumoured couple Tara Sutaria and Aadar Jain were spotted at the Mumbai airport on Friday, while returning from their New Year vacation. While the duo have maintained ambiguity on their affair, their public appearance yet again sparked the rumours of their romance. While both avoid posting anything on social media, Tara had shared a story on her Instagram account, from her vacation. In the picture, she wrote, “Bye for now, London. You’ll be missed.” Earlier, the duo seemed to make their love Instagram official when they attended the U2 concert together in December. Sharing a video of the band performing their song Beautiful Day, Aadar had shared a story which read, “When I’m with you…@tarasutaria.” Tara had shared the same on her account and wrote, “Always with you,” with a heart emoji. Tara and Aadar have been spotted together from time to time; at Amitabh Bachchan’s Diwali Party, Malaika Arora’s Birthday bash and the recent one being at Armaan Jain’s Roka ceremony to Anissa Malhotra. In an earlier interview with Mumbai Mirror, the actress had responded to the rumours saying, “We enjoy each other’s company.” It’s important to say this, we enjoy going out and spending time together. Aadar is special to me and both of us are foodies, so we are going to be spotted at restaurants. We met for the first time last Diwali and have a lot of mutual friends,” she added.

Lamborghini has revealed a new rear-wheel-drive version of the Huracán Evo supercar, which the firm claims has been engineered to offer a “more engaging” experience for the driver. The Evo Rear-Wheel-Drive packs the same naturally aspirated 5.2-litre V10 engine as the four-wheel-drive variant, tuned to produce 602bhp at 8000rpm. That’s the same output as the standard all-wheel-drive Huracán, but 29bhp down on the Evo version introduced last year. The powertrain produces 413lb ft of torque at 6500rpm, delivered entirely through the rear axle using a specially tuned version of Lamborghini’s Performance Traction Control System (P-TCS). Top speed is a claimed 202mph, with the 0-62mph sprint dispatched in 3.3 seconds. Company boss Stefano Domenicali said that the Evo RWD “reminds the driver of Lamborghini’s pure engineering origins”, while offering “unfiltered feedback and an emotive and more engaging driving experience.” The P-TSC system maintains the same Strada, Sport and Corsa drive modes as the all-wheel-drive Huracán, although the system is tuned to continue delivering torque when the car is realigning itself after drifting. It is also programmed to deliver torque in advance to ensure better traction when exiting a corner. The lighter rear-drive system means the Huracán Evo RWD has a dry weight of 1389kg, 33kg less than the regular model. It offers a 40/60 front/rear weight distribution, and maintains double wishbone suspension with passive shock absorbers. The Lamborghini Dynamic Steering system is also tuned for the Evo RWD in order to increase driver feedback. The machine has also been given a number of design tweaks to differentiate it from the all-wheel-drive versions. These include a new front splitter and front air intake. The rear bumper also features a new diffuser design. It sits on 19in Pirelli P Zero tyres, with 20in versions optional. Inside, the Evo RWD features an 8.4 inch touchscreen, which includes Apple CarPlay compatibility. The Huracán Evo RWD is available to order now, with deliveries beginning in the spring. It will cost £137,000 excluding taxes.

President Trump has warned the US is "targeting" 52 Iranian sites and will strike "very fast and very hard" if Tehran attacks Americans or US assets. His comments followed the US assassination of Qasem Soleimani, a top Iranian general, in a drone strike. Iran has vowed to avenge his killing. Mr Trump wrote on Twitter that Iran "is talking very boldly about targeting certain USA assets" in response to the general's death. He said the US had identified 52 Iranian sites, some "at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD" if Tehran strikes at the US. "The USA wants no more threats!" Trump added. What is Trump's strategy on Iran? Who was Qasem Soleimani? Your questions: Will Soleimani killing spark war? The president said the 52 targets represented the 52 Americans held hostage in Iran for more than a year from late 1979, after they were seized at the US embassy in Tehran. Shortly after Mr Trump's tweets, a US government website appeared to have been hacked by a group calling itself "Iran Cyber Security Group Hackers". A message on the American Federal Depository Library Programme site read: "This is a message from the Islamic Republic of Iran. "We will not stop supporting our friends in the region: the oppressed people of Palestine, the oppressed people of Yemen, the people and the Syrian government, the people and government of Iraq, the oppressed people of Bahrain, the true Mujahideen resistance in Lebanon and Palestine, [they] will always be supported by us." The web page contained a doctored image of President Trump, depicting him being hit in the face and bleeding at the mouth. "This is only small part of Iran's cyber ability!" [sic], the hackers wrote. What happened earlier on Saturday? Mr Trump's tweets followed a huge funeral procession for General Soleimani held in Baghdad, where he was killed on Friday. Mourners waved Iraqi and militia flags and chanted "death to America". Several rocket attacks shook the area shortly after the procession, including one in the Green Zone near the US embassy. The Iraqi military said nobody had been hurt. No group has yet said it was behind the development. Pro-Iranian militants have been blamed for other recent attacks. With Iran already threatening harsh reprisals for the killing of the Quds Force commander, President Trump has clearly determined that the best way to de-escalate is to raise the stakes in advance, making clear what will happen if Tehran follows through on its threats. The Trump tweet is curious in many ways - not least the symbolic mention of 52 Iranian targets being held at risk - a reference to the 52 US hostages seized in the US Embassy in Tehran back in November 1979. His mention of targets important "to the Iranian culture" suggests a much wider target list than just leadership, military or economic sites. President Trump is struggling to establish some kind of deterrence. But the ball is now very clearly in Iran's court and it is very hard to see how Tehran can fail to act. Mr Trump has pursued a contradictory policy ever since he abandoned the nuclear agreement with Tehran - increasing economic pressure, threatening military action, but actually doing very little, even when Iran shot down a sophisticated US drone and struck oil installations in Saudi Arabia. Above all, he has repeatedly underscored his and Washington's fatigue with its military involvement in the region. This as much as anything else has undermined US deterrence, something Mr Trump is now seeking, belatedly, to restore. Why did the US kill Soleimani? General Soleimani was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran, behind Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The 62-year-old spearheaded Iran's Middle East operations as head of the elite Quds Force, and was hailed as a heroic national figure. But the US branded the commander and the Quds Force terrorists, holding them responsible for the deaths of hundreds of US personnel. Speaking on Friday afternoon, President Trump said Soleimani was "plotting imminent and sinister attacks" on US diplomats and military personnel in Iraq and elsewhere in the region. The general was killed by an air strike at Baghdad airport early on Friday, on the orders of President Trump. The president said the action was taken to stop, not start, a war. Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei said "severe revenge awaits the criminals" behind the US attack. Soleimani's death would double "resistance" against the US and Israel, he added. Iraqis are also mourning the death of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, an Iraqi who commanded the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah group and was killed along with Soleimani. On Saturday the group issued a warning to Iraqi security forces to "stay clear of American bases by a distance not less [than] 1,000m (0.6 miles) starting Sunday evening", al-Mayadeen TV reported. In response to Iranian threats of revenge, the US has sent 3,000 more troops to the Middle East and advised its citizens to leave Iraq.

Ayushmann Khurrana shared a bunch of pictures from his New Year trip to the Bahamas with wife Tahira and their kids. Ayushmann Khurrana and wife Tahira Kashyap welcomed the New Year 2020 in bohemian style. The much-in-love couple is currently chilling in The Bahamas. Ayushmann signed off 2019 with a postcard in which he is seen clad in beach shorts flaunting his new hairdo. Sitting on the yacht, he seems to be having the time of his life while his ride carries him through the sea. The Vicky Donor star shared the picture on his Instagram stories and wrote, "Paani da rang badlega 2020 mein." The next picture shows Ayushmann all geared up for a dive in the sea along with the caption," Diving into 2020." He then shared a picture of Tahira, who is engrossed in her phone. He wrote," She says Happy New Year." Tahira had also shared a video in which she can be seen waving at her daughter, who is taking diving instructions from father. The couple also shared an adorable picture of them on a yacht as the sunset makes for the perfect backdrop. He captioned it, “New Years was also a day later in the Bahamas. Watching the last sunset of 2019. Heart is full of gratitude. Happy 2020 from us!!" Tahira looked gorgeous in the solo picture sporting a bikini. The couple has treated their fans to plenty of updates from the family holiday. Ayushmann will next be seen portraying a gay character in Hitesh Kewalya's Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan. The homosexual love story will release on February 21, 2020.

BMW has ceased production of its 3 Series Gran Turismo with no direct replacement on the cards, as the model is removed from price lists for 2020. With bosses originally claiming demand for the model is still at the desired levels, the decision to ditch the model is instead part of a major cost-cutting efficiency drive. The hatchback version of its best-selling executive saloon was launched in 2013, and sold alongside the saloon and Touring estate variants of the 3 Series. A revised version was launched in 2016. BMW launched a new 3 Series saloon last year, with a Touring version following that, but BMW chairman Harold Krüger confirmed that "there won't be a successor" to the current 3 Series GT in a statement accompanying an interim financial report. Designed to combine the looks of the saloon with the practicality of the Touring, the GT was longer and wider than both those variants, with greater interior space. It was offered in the UK only with all-wheel drive. BMW's ever-expanding range of SUVs, offering a similar mix of extra space and a higher-driving position, was likely a factor in the decision not to replace the model. The move was one of a number of cost-cutting measures being undertaken by BMW that Krüger listed as part of his statement. The firm is making the moves to save more than €12 billion (£10.1bn) in costs. Other cost-saving measures include reducing up to half of BMW’s current drivetrain variants by 2021, enabled by the firm’s shift to two new flexible platforms, reducing complexity in vehicles and shortening the development process for new vehicles by up to a third.

President Donald Trump said the US killed Iran's top military commander Qasem Soleimani "to stop a war, not to start one". He said Soleimani's "reign of terror is over" following the strike at Iraq's Baghdad airport on Friday. Soleimani spearheaded Iran's Middle East operations as head of the Quds Force. Iran has vowed "severe revenge" on those responsible for his death. The killing marks a major escalation in tensions between Iran and the US. US officials said 3,000 additional troops will be sent to the Middle East as a precaution. Meanwhile, Iraqi state television said there has been another air strike in the country, 24 hours after the killing of Soleimani. However, there has been no comment on this from Washington. An Iraqi army source told Reuters news agency that six people were killed in the fresh strike, which hit a convoy of Iraqi militia in the early hours of Saturday morning (local time). What did President Trump say? Speaking at a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Mr Trump said of Friday's attack: "The United States military executed a flawless precision strike that killed the number one terrorist anywhere in the world Qassem Soleimani." What is Trump's strategy on Iran? 'Sorry Iran', escalation fears and other US reaction He said: "Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel but we caught him in the act and terminated him." How has Iran reacted? In a statement following Soleimani's death, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said: "His departure to God does not end his path or his mission, but a forceful revenge awaits the criminals who have his blood and the blood of the other martyrs last night on their hands." In a letter to the UN Security Council, Iranian ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi said that Tehran reserved the right to self-defence under international law. How does Iraq fit into this? Iran supports a variety of Shia militia groups in neighbouring Iraq. Soleimani had just arrived at Baghdad airport and was travelling in a convoy alongside officials from such militia, when their cars were hit by several US missiles on Friday. Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was also killed in the strike. He commanded the Kataib Hezbollah group - also backed by Iran - which Washington blamed for a rocket attack that killed a US civilian contractor in northern Iraq last week. Why the US had Soleimani in its sights Jeremy Bowen on Iran's options for response Your questions: Will Soleimani killing spark war? Iraq is in a difficult position, as an ally both of Iran and of the US. Thousands of US troops remain in the country to assist in the broader struggle against the Islamic State (IS) group. However, the Iraqi government insists that the US has acted way beyond the terms of this agreement. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi labelled the missile strike as a "brazen violation of Iraq's sovereignty and a blatant attack on the nation's dignity". Iraq's parliament will hold an emergency meeting on Sunday. The US State Department has warned Americans in Iraq to leave "immediately". Who was Qasem Soleimani? The 62-year-old was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran, behind Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Quds Force, an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported directly to the ayatollah and Soleimani was hailed as a heroic national figure. Iran's network of influence in Mid-East 'growing' Iran's Revolutionary Guards - a profile UK urges calm after Iranian general killed Under his 21-year leadership of the Quds Force, Iran bolstered Hezbollah and other pro-Iranian militant groups in Lebanon; expanded its military presence in Iraq and Syria; and orchestrated Syria's offensive against rebel groups in that country's long civil war.

Celebrities are busy enjoying their vacations and welcoming the new year with their loved ones but are also extending their wishes to their fans. Some are sharing pictures from their celebrations while others are sending snapshots from their new year holidays. Actresses Alia Bhatt and Bhumi Pednekar have shared pictures from the beach as they welcomed 2020. Alia, who is enjoying her vacation at an undisclosed location has shared a picture welcoming 2020. The actress can be seen dressed in a multi-colored floral beach-wear. With wet hair and eyes closed she faces towards the sky. The breath-taking view in the backdrop made the picture absolutely perfect. Alia shared the picture and wrote, "The light is coming." Bhumi Pednekar can be seen posing in a green bikini with hair tied back in a pony tail as she enjoys the waves at the sea. She wrote, "My mood for the next decade." Actress Mithila Palkar posed in a dark red outfit paired with a hat. She shared the picture and wrote alongside, "Sunshine and Sparkles."

Audi is set to have a busy 2020, with four electrified RS models due to make their debuts along with several new mainstream additions to the brand's line-up. The E-Tron GT is a first step in this direction. I can imagine steps like this. Let’s see what happens – there are great chances. The energy in the battery is limited at the moment, so you need a jump in technology for [supercars]. How are you developing the styling of electric cars? We have a big decision to make on how EVs look. It’s a myth that electric cars don’t need cooling and they don’t need a face – it’s not true. The battery and motor with this level of performance needs the cooling. It’s also a myth that electric cars need a short bonnet and a long A-post. If you do that, the dashboard gets bigger and you have more heat inside the car from the size of the glass windscreen. Then you can’t get the heat away as the energy management in an electric car is very low. To that, a Defender is a good design for electrification… And what will they look like? Our belief is to invert everything, with the grille and the grille surround. So the grille isn’t a black hole any more. The volume inside the grille instead shows the battery is bright, and then the surround is a black mask around it. Being black means we can hide the sensors in there, and it’s not easy to hide sensors. This is very clever. You can still recognise it as an Audi even at 100 metres. Staple model of Porsche’s icon doesn’t have quite as much power as the better... Audi had one of the most innovative concepts of 2019 with the AI:Trail. Will you keep creating concepts like this? We want to be progressive. The AI:Trail was very futuristic. People either loved it or hated it. We wanted to go to the future and show what could be done thinking differently. It’s like a helicopter on four wheels, like sending something sneaking through the forest rather than a 4x4 to smash through the terrain. It’s the opposite to the norm. Off-roaders are ideally suited to EVs; there is no gearbox and you always have low torque.

Thousands of people are fleeing a vast "tourist leave zone" in Australia amid forecasts of ferocious bushfire conditions in coming days. Since September, Australia's bushfire crisis has killed 18 people and destroyed more than 1,200 homes. At least 17 people remain missing after fires tore through Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) this week. The latest evacuations on the NSW south coast have been called "the largest relocation out of the region ever". On Thursday, long lines of cars clogged highways leading back to Sydney and Canberra. Many were filled those who had abruptly aborted holidays. Local media reported hour-long queues for petrol in the town of Batemans Bay, while fuel was being trucked in to the region to offset dwindling supplies. A visual guide to Australia's bushfire crisis Australia zookeepers save animals from bushfire The beach town where fires turned day to night Many roads remained closed due to continuing fires and other dangers, such as unstable or fallen trees. Though conditions have eased slightly, officials fear a dangerous forecast for Saturday will once again threaten lives and homes. "If you are holidaying... you need to leave before this Saturday," the NSW Rural Fire Service said, referring to a 260km (160 miles) stretch of coast. The state government warned that conditions were likely to be "at least as bad" as New Year's Eve, when hundreds of homes were destroyed. Workers were clearing roads, restoring power, and conducting "backburning" operations to thin out bushland near fire fronts. NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance urged people to drive slowly amid thick smoke. In an emotional interview with the ABC, he added that his own friends had lost homes. This week's fires have destroyed at least 381 homes in NSW and 43 in Victoria, but officials say that number will grow. The seven deaths in NSW include: Two people found in separate cars on Wednesday morning A father and son who stayed behind to defend their home and farm equipment A 28-year-old volunteer firefighter who was killed when wind flipped his fire engine Family members of Mick Roberts, a 67-year-old Victorian missing since Monday, confirmed that he had been found dead in his home in Buchan, East Gippsland. "Very sad day for us to (start) the year but we're a bloody tight family and we will never forget our mate and my beautiful Uncle Mick," his niece Leah Parson said on Facebook. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said there were "significant fears" for 17 people unaccounted for in his state. What is happening elsewhere? Two regions of Western Australia (WA) face catastrophic fire danger on Thursday, and parts of South Australia are expected to see extreme conditions on Friday. The ABC reported that bushfires had forced the closure of a 330km stretch of a highway in WA, forcing traffic to bank up. Due to bushfire smoke, Canberra's air quality was rated worse than any major global city on Thursday, according to Swiss-based group AirVisual. Australia Post has suspended deliveries there "until further notice". In Mallacoota, Victoria - where thousands fled to the beach on Tuesday - a navy boat was expected to begin evacuating people who have been cut off from roads. On Wednesday, police boats arrived with 1.6 tonnes of water, food, a paramedic and medical supplies. Fire services in Victoria and NSW warned they had been unable to reach some people in remote areas. On Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison repeated his calls to people not to panic and to trust emergency workers. "I understand the fear that is there for many and the frustration, but this is a natural disaster, and natural disasters are best dealt with through the methodical, well-coordinated response that we are seeing today," he told a press conference. Amid criticism that he has "gone missing" during the crisis, Mr Morrison added that Cabinet would meet on Monday to consider a long-term bushfire response. Why Australia's PM is facing anger over bushfires Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia. However many parts of Australia have been in drought conditions, some for years, which has made it easier for the fires to spread and grow. The smoke from Wednesday's fires was visible from the South Island of New Zealand, more than 2,000km (1,200 miles) away, where the haze tinted the sky orange.

If a party is not on your list here are a number of things you can do to end the year in a fun note without partying. The year 2019 is coming to an end, and everyone is pretty excited to bring in the New Year with a bash. However, not all of us will be busy welcoming 2020 with a party. While some of you might be cheering among the crowds, others might be in a mood to take the road less travelled. And if you belong to the latter category and a party is not on your list here's how you can kickstart the coming year. Take some cues from the list below and spend your New Year’s 2020 Eve in your way. : 1. Reflect on your long pending travel bucket list and embark on a solo trip. 2. Step out and explore your city, visit famous monuments. 3. Take yourself out for a long drive to some quiet place. 4. Watch your favourite shows on re-runs. 5. Start to watch a show that you have been holding back for a while. 6. Renovate your space and give a new makeover to it this New Year. 7. Boost your culinary skills with some elaborate cooking. 8. Learn to make yourself a new cocktail/mocktail. 9. For just a day, ditch the diet regime and indulge in the guilty pleasures with some savoury dishes. 10. Treat yourself with a rejuvenating spa session. 11. Spend a peaceful day at home, relaxing with some scented candles. 12. Take a nice, long bubble bath. 13. Video call and talk to some of your friends, who might have similar plans like you. 14. Let your hair down and dance on your favourite songs without hesitation. 15. Get dressed in your favourite outfits and capture thousands of pictures without any judgment. 16. Take out a blank canvas and paint your heart out. 17. Revisit old childhood albums and memories. 18. Go out on a shopping spree and enjoy your own company. In all put efforts in doing things that have been on your to-do list for quite some time and do whatever you feel like, without being bothered about socialising.

Former industry giant, who has been under house arrest, emerges in Beirut Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn has escaped Japan, where he has been held on bail while awaiting charges for financial misconduct, and emerged in Beirut, Lebanon – from where he has vowed to fight to clear his name. Ghosn was arrested in Japan on November 2018 on charges relating to his time as chairman of Nissan. After spending 108 days in custody he was released on bail, with strict conditions that barred him from travelling abroad. His trial was due to begin in April 2020. It is not clear how Ghosn managed to leave Japan. He was under constant surveillance, with restricted phone and internet usage, while his three passports – he has French, Brazilian and Lebanese heritage – are held by his Japanese lawyer. After arriving in Beirut, the 65-year-old issued a statement to the media, saying: “I have not fled justice. I have escaped injustice and political persecution.” He went on to attack the Japanese legal system, in which he claims “guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied, in flagrant disregard of Japan’s legal obligations under international law and treaties it is bound to uphold”. He continued: “I can now finally communicate freely with the media,” adding that he would start to do so next week." One of Ghosn’s Japanese lawyers, Junichiro Hironaka, told reporters in the country that they knew nothing about Ghosn leaving the country, and were still in possession of his passports. Hironaka said: “We told the court that we are in a bind as well. If he actually left this country, it violates the conditions for bail.” He added: “I don’t even know if we can contact him.” According to the Japan Times, the Tokyo District Court has confirmed that the terms of Ghosn’s bail remained unchanged, which suggests he left the country without permission. According to further reports, the Japanese Immigration Services Agency has no records of Ghosn’s departure. The Lebanese Al-Joumhouriya newspaper said that Ghosn arrived in the country on a private jet.

Australian military aircraft and vessels will be deployed to help emergency services in the fire-ravaged states of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria. Thousands of people fled to beaches in the south-eastern states on Tuesday as emergency-level fires spread. In Mallacoota, Victoria, about 4,000 people sought shelter on the coast. Two more people have been confirmed dead in NSW, bringing the fire-linked death toll to 12. Authorities say four people are missing in Victoria and another in NSW. "We've got literally hundreds, thousands of people up and down the coast, taking refuge on the beaches," said Shane Fitzsimmons, commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service. Mr Fitzsimmons said it was "the worst fire season we have experienced here in NSW". The sacrifices of Australia's firefighters A visual guide to Australia's bushfire crisis Sydney mayor defends New Year fireworks Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds have agreed to send military aircraft and vessels at the request of the Victorian government. The Australian Defence Force will send Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and navy vessels to Victoria and NSW, the two worst-affected regions. The military is expected to provide humanitarian assistance and carry out evacuations if needed in the coming days. The US and Canada have also been asked to provide "specialist aviation resources" to help the emergency effort. In his New Year message, Mr Morrison hailed the "amazing spirit of Australians" but warned that the weeks and months ahead would "continue to be difficult". The bodies of the latest victims - a 63-year-old man and his 29-year-old son - were found near the town of Corbargo in NSW. Police said the men, named as Robert Salway and his son Patrick by Australian media, had stayed behind to protect their family home, where their bodies were found on Tuesday. In Mallacoota, the local fire service said a change in wind direction had taken the worst of the fires away from the town. "I understand there was a public cheer down at the jetty when that was announced," said chief officer Steve Warrington. About a dozen "emergency-level" blazes stretch across NSW and Victoria. Several holiday spots along the coast have been cut off and the main road in the region - the Princes Highway - has been closed. At midnight on Tuesday, Sydney's A$6m (£3.1m; $4.2m) fireworks display, renowned worldwide, went ahead despite calls for it to be cancelled given the scale of the bushfire crisis. Temperatures exceeded 40C (104F) in every state and territory at the start of the week, with strong winds and lightning strikes bolstering the flames. Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia. What has happened in Mallacoota? Residents fled to the beach or took up shelter in fortified homes when they heard the warning siren go off at 08:00 local time on Tuesday. "It should have been daylight but it was black like midnight and we could hear the fire roaring," said David Jeffrey, a local business owner. "We were all terrified for our lives." The fire was kept back from the shore, where firefighters had gathered for a last line of defence, by the change in wind. The beach town where fires turned day to night Victoria's state emergency commissioner Andrew Crisp told reporters there were "4,000 people on the beach". Many of those trapped on the beach could be forced to spend the night there. Why extreme wildfires are so dangerous How do you fight extreme wildfires? Fire chief Warrington said there had been "significant property losses" across the entire East Gippsland region in the past days. Authorities said bushfire had destroyed 43 properties in Gippsland, where more than 400,000 hectares have been burned. Hundreds of massive blazes have destroyed millions of hectares in the eastern states of Australia since September.

Miss Jamaica Toni Ann-Singh was crowned the Miss World 2019. Ophely Mezino of France and Suman Rao of India were the first and second runners up of the beauty pageant respectively. One of the biggest beauty pageant events, Miss World 2019 was held at the ExCeL London on December 14. The winner of the competition was Miss Jamaica Toni Ann-Singh, who was crowned by former Miss World Vanessa Ponce from Mexico. Ophely Mezino of France and Suman Rao of India were the first and second runners up of the pageant respectively. British journalist and TV personality Piers Morgan was the head judge at the event. 120 countries had participated in the event out of which 10 had reached the finals. Miss Nigeria and Brazil had also qualified for the top 5, out of which the winners were selected on the basis of questions asked by Morgan. Suman Rao, who hails from Rajasthan won the Miss India 2019 title, in June this year. Expressing her happiness, she had earlier told IANS, "The fact that I am Miss India is sinking in... I am doing fine now. Of course, it is a dream, right? For me, before the competition started, winning was important and that is why I was working towards it. I am always focused and sincere. But now I know that more than the result, the desire of winning is important because that drives me to stay focused." Suman had also said that she wanted to be the voice of gender equality in her community and try acting. "I want to be the voice of gender equality. I come from a community where girls go through quite a lot due to inequality, and that also regarding some of the very basic choices. I want to create awareness among them because freedom is about equal opportunity. "I am very fortunate to be born in a family where my parents let me do everything that I want, but not all girls are as lucky as I am. The point is that when it comes to our right, we should be aware of it, and stand for ourselves first. "When it comes to gender discrimination, in any part of the world, the root cause is a mentality that needs to be changed. Once the mind is in the right direction, it reflects on society," Suman said. Here are some pictures from her Instagram account:

Mini looks to add size to the next-gen estate to help it appeal more to US buyers, and will shrink 3dr hatchback to improve its styling Mini is considering an increase in the size of the Clubman for its next generation, turning it into an SUV, while at the same time working on ways to reduce the external bulkiness of its three-door hatchback model. In the US, Mini is losing sales because it has only one SUV – the Countryman – which many Americans perceive to be too small to justify its purchase price. The shift towards SUVs has triggered a steep decline in hatchback and saloon sales, necessitating a dealer retrenchment. Chief designer Oliver Heilmer hinted to Autocar that the next Clubman could move towards an SUV format. Currently, the six-door estate is only slightly shorter (4.26m) and wider (1.82m) than its Countryman sibling, and both occupy the same market pricing level. It’s unclear at this stage whether the Clubman will become substantially bigger to differentiate it from the Countryman, or whether the latter will grow to provide two SUVs of distinctly different sizes. Heilmer refused to comment on Autocar’s report on the return of the Traveller name as an electric MPV sharing parts with the BMW i3. He did talk about the efforts being made to improve the space efficiency of Mini’s next three-door hatchback. Heilmer said: “For future architecture, we’re having weekly discussions to improve interior space and reduce the car’s footprint. But it’s not solved yet. Maybe next year.” He also noted that the “development cost is also an issue”. “It’s not necessarily the internal combustion engine that needs the space – even with an EV (which has a smaller motor) you still need a crash box,” Heilmer continued, referring to the progressively deformable and substantial structure around the powertrain. “Crash performance is the bigger issue.” Another challenge is dealing with “an electric motor that might keep running”. This is a post-crash circumstance that does not usually affect cars with internal combustion engines. Heilmer was able to provide a bit of detail on how the next hatchback’s space efficiency – and proportions – might improve, with the news that Mini is considering a new type of energy-absorbent foam between the front bumper skin and the crash bar that could potentially reduce the hatch’s much criticised and excessive front overhang. That the foam is more expensive is an issue, but Heilmer said “everyone is pushing to improve space efficiency”. Of the five-door hatch, which is the bigger seller of the pair, he says that the design team is working to improve its aesthetics “quite a lot”. “The footprint is most crucial with the hatch,” he said. “Size is less of a problem with the other models.” “I want each model to be the smallest in the segment, or visually the smallest. But small may not be helpful for sales,” he admitted – hence the possibility of a larger Clubman. Heilmer said that the design team has also been reconsidering the Mini’s “iconic features”, adding: “The face recognition is very important, but the tail-lights may not stay iconic. We’ve got to be proactive, not reactive.” The clamshell bonnet is not necessarily a must-have and, inside, the toggle switches are being re-evaluated. “They’re good on the hatch, less so on the others perhaps,” Heilmer said, suggesting that future larger models could ditch the retro cabin touches.

A minute's silence has been observed in New Zealand, marking one week since the deadly eruption of White Island volcano. The tribute was held at 14:11 local time (01:11 GMT), the exact moment of the eruption. Sixteen deaths have been confirmed while two bodies are still missing, believed to be in the water off the island. About 20 people remain in intensive care with severe burns. On Sunday, teams returned to White Island, also known by its Maori name of Whakaari, and divers searched the water but, again, were unable to locate the missing bodies. "This is a difficult and ongoing task," Deputy Commissioner John Tims said in a statement, adding that police remained committed to retrieving the bodies. What we know of the victims Volcano tourism in the spotlight Why skin is being imported On Instagram, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern paid tribute to "many people who did extraordinary things to save lives", saying: "Those who have been lost are now forever linked to New Zealand, and we will hold them close." Skip Instagram post by jacindaardern Report End of Instagram post by jacindaardern Ms Ardern, who visited some of the first responders last week, marked the minute's silence during her cabinet's weekly meeting. What about the identification of the victims? The identification process is being carried out in Auckland by experts including a pathologist, a forensic dentist and a fingerprint officer. The first victim officially named was Krystal Eve Browitt, a 21-year-old Australian from Melbourne who was visiting the island with her family. Other victims named by police so far are: Tipene Maangi, 24, from New Zealand Zoe Ella Hosking, 15, from Australia Gavin Brian Dallow, 53, from Australia Anthony James Langford, 51, from Australia Matthew Robert Hollander, 13, a US citizen and Australian permanent resident Berend Lawrence Hollander, 16, a US citizen and Australian permanent resident Martin Berend Hollander, 48, from Australia Karla Michelle Matthews, 32, from Australia Jessica Richards, 20, from Australia Jason David Griffiths, 33, from Australia Kristine Elizabeth Langford, 45, from Australia