Tuesday, December 31, 2019 - a podcast by TRT World

*)Raging wildfires trap 4,000 at Australian town’s waterfront

Wildfires in Australia’s two most-populous states have trapped 4,000 people in a seaside town and left at least two people dead.

The fires in Mallacoota town are part of several burning across Victoria state's East Gippsland region, an area half the size of Belgium.

Australia's bushfire crisis has destroyed more than 4 million hectares since the start of the summer season.

*)Iraq warns US ties at stake after deadly strikes

Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi has condemned US air strikes on several bases belonging to Kataib Hezbollah militia group.

Mahdi has warned the attacks will have dangerous consequences. The militia says nearly 30 fighters were killed on Sunday.

The US strikes were launched against five targets in Iraq and eastern Syria belonging to the Shia group that has close ties to Iran.

*)Police charge Hannukah suspect with hate crimes charges

Authorities in New York charged a man suspected of stabbing five Jewish people with hate crimes.

Police say Grafton Thomas attacked a rabbi's home north of New York City during Hannukah celebrations on Saturday night.

Police say the 37-year-old’s journals and mobile phone contained searches related to Nazis, Adolf Hitler and antisemitism.

*)Bolivia expels Mexican ambassador and two Spanish diplomats

Bolivia's interim President Jeanine Anez has announced the country is expelling Mexico's ambassador and two Spanish diplomats.

Bolivia accuses the Spanish embassy staff of trying to extract the former aid of ex-president Evo Morales out of the Mexican mission.

The Mexican embassy has become the centre of a diplomatic row after it gave refuge to nine officials from Morales's former government

And finally,

*)Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn leaves Japan for Lebanon

Former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn has arrived in Lebanon after leaving Japan in what he calls an escape from "injustice and political persecution".

He was awaiting trial in Tokyo over charges of financial misconduct and was barred from travelling abroad under strict bail conditions.

The charges include the allegation that he diverted money for his own gain.

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