Music plays and the next president of zimbabwe, emmerson mnangagwa, is back in the country and will be sworn in on friday. And coming up on sportsday on bbc news countdown to midnight the ashes series gets underway. England captainjoe root says theyre ready to go. Good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. A britain fit for the future thats what the chancellor has promised in todays budget. It had a few giveaways but was delivered against the backdrop of a faltering economy with lower than expected growth and falling productivity. Among Philip Hammonds announcements from now, First Time Buyers in england, wales and Northern Ireland will pay no stamp duty on homes up to £300,000, more in london. Scotland has a different system. For the nhs in england, the chancellor promised an extra £1. 6 billion over the next year, though thats still short of what the nhs says it needs. The wait for the welfare benefit universal credit which has attracted criticism from both sides of the house
The International Community now had to engage with zimbabwe. Well, we expect the International Community to be our underwriters and guarantors, to make sure that there is the holding of credible, legitimate, free and fair elections. Tonights speech was an appeal to a divided party, not a wounded nation. Zimbabweans are waiting for mr mnangagwa to outline a vision that breaks with the repressive politics of his past. Fergal keane, bbc news, harare. In just under two hours time in brisbane, the England Cricket Team will walk out to face australia, at the ground called the gabba, in the first test match of the ashes series. It can be an intimidating venue, where australia havent lost to england since the 1980s. Live to brisbane and our sports correspondent, andy swiss. Yes, huw, welcome to brisbane where its very nearly the moment that cricket fans have been waiting for. 40,000 supporters deaccepteding on the gabba for the late latest chap term of one of sports most famous sagas. England
Been hoping for and less than labour had been demanding. Economic growth has been revised down, productivity growth has been revised down, Business Investment revised down, peoples wages and Living Standards revised down. What sort of Strong Economy is that . Well have the detail, and reaction to the second budget delivered by Philip Hammond this year. Also tonight mr mladic, sit. In the hague, the former bosnian serb commander, ratko mladic, is convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity. Zimbawes former Vice President , emmerson mnangagwa, has returned home to succeed Robert Mugabe as head of state. And, were all set for the start of the first ashes test, in brisbane. And coming up on sportsday on bbc news chelsea are through to the last 16 of the Champions League with celtic and Manchester United also in european action. Good evening. The chancellor, Philip Hammond, has delivered his second budget this year, warning that the economy is expected to grow more slowly than previou
Briefing you on all you need to know in global news, business and sport. And you can be part of the conversation. Tell us what you think about the stories we are covering today or what you are spotting just use the hash tag bbcthebriefing. Although Syrian Government forces appear to have gained a decisive upper hand in the countrys 7 year long civil war, the fighting is far over. Syrian activists say dozens of civilians been killed over the past 2a hours in Eastern Ghouta. The United Nations has warned that the situation is spiralling out of control in the damascus suburb, and demanded the government end the bombing of civilians 400,000 people are still living there. A warning lina sinjabs report contains some distressing images. Sirens wail. Syrias war is intensifying in Eastern Ghouta. Government air attacks rained down again today. Scores more dead, hundreds more injured. Another desperate search for survivors here in the neighbourhood of hamouriyah. Its hell, activists have told us
Rain down toward the monterey peninsula. That is a sign of some things to come. 60s on the temps. Almost everywhere. Maybe a few 50s but a lot of 60s. The breeze has cranked up big time out of the west. Cooler out to the sacramento valley. A lot of cloud cover today and tomorrow. Low and high clouds, some sun. The cooling continues not only today but into next week. 70s and 80s for most. All right sal. Youre on a role with your duets. Thank you, steve i appreciate that. We have to give credit top the viewers. Lets take a look at what we have with the morning commute. Traffic is going to get busier especially driving into San Francisco. I can tell you it already looks like a lighter than usual friday. There is a little delay but its not that bad get into San Francisco. Also looking at a commute on the san mateo bridge. That looks good heading out to the highrise. As we take a look at the south bay commute northbound 101 and 280 are doing very well. And there are no problems on highway 1