A warm welcome to the programme, briefing you on all you need to know in global news, business and sport. And you can be part of the conversation. As more millennials put off parenting and plump for pets, the ft reports almost half have gone into debt at the vet. Would you put a price on your pup . Or take out a credit card to cure the cat . Let us know, just use the hashtag bbcthebriefing. Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison has cut short his vacation as extreme heat and fires ravage parts of the country. Hed been under huge pressure to return from hawaii, as New South Wales, the most populous state,declared a 7 day state of emergency. Two volunteer firefighters have been killed in a road crash near sydney. Temperatures have hit the forties and could spike again. Tim allman reports. The fires continue to rage. The bush, continues to burn. Among those paying the ultimate price, those sent to fight the flames. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service confirming two of the number, And
Scored in World Leaders for inaction on climate change. And we saw the first picture of a black hole. That is the year in science with me. Good evening. Three and a half years, after the uk voted to leave the eu mps have resoundingly voted in favour of the governments brexit bill. It paves the way for borisjohnson to deliver his promise, that the uk will leave the eu at the end of next month. The Prime Minister won the vote easily, by 358 votes to 234. Six labour mps rebelled and voted with the government. The Withdrawal Agreement now approved in principle by mps says the uk will leave the eu on the 31st of january and allows a transition period until the end of 2020, during which we still abide by eu rules. It says we will pay the eu a divorce bill, of around 33 billion pounds. And it sets out a plan for dealing with the Northern Irish border with what amounts, to a Customs Border down the irish sea. Our deputy political editor, john pienaar, has more. Were leaving. Were through the l
Locals in bethlehem to celebrate christmas in the holy land. Hello and welcome to bbc news. Its Christmas Morning in australia but hundreds of families are spending the day in emergency shelters, unable to celebrate in their homes, as the country battles one of its worst bushfire disasters in years. Figures released by firefighters in New South Wales reveal nearly 1,000 houses have been destroyed. Conditions have eased, but another extreme heatwave is due later this week. Prime minister Scott Morrison was criticised for going on holiday during the bushfires. Hes since returned and apologised for being away. He says volunteer firefighters who work in the federal Public Sector will be given an extra four weeks paid leave. Phil mercer reports from New South Wales. Koalas and other Australian Animals are the unseen victims of the fires. Much of their habitat has been destroyed and the survivors need all the help they can get. The true extent of australias bushfire crisis is gradually emerg
Level up across our great country. Have been singing joy to the world australias Prime Minister but not muchjoy have been singing joy to the world apologises for going on holiday but not much joy if you look at the while the countrys departures board because there are bushfire crisis worsened. Massive cancellations on the main extreme heat and fire continue line that runs south from here to to ravage parts of the nation. Gatwick airport and to brighten. This is about 90 minutes drive from the centre of sydney. Basically, there is severe flooding the bush here has been utterly destroyed. South of the airport on the rail the fires are still smouldering. A short distance away, line and it is affecting the m25 motorway which means that one home has been left in ruins. Effectively the whole area south of america will take another gatwick and crawley is cut off from step towards being able london. Somebody hasjust to launch its own astronauts gatwick and crawley is cut off from london. Someb
Mikel arteta, as their next manager. It is so easy to leave me all alone with the memory. One of Andrew Lloyd Webbers most famous musicals transfers to the big screen today well ask why so many critics have their claws out for cats. Iamat i am at Somerset House. Indoors enjoy the sights of the gingerbread centre. Outdoor, rain, particularly in Eastern England. Yourforecast coming up. Its friday the 20th of december. Our top story the Prime Ministers brexit divorce deal will be put before Parliament Later. It comes in a year where theresa may, then mrjohnson, wrestled with mps over their plans. Today is expected to feel very different as the government now has a strong majority. Officially known as the eu Withdrawal Agreement, it is the legislation needed to make brexit happen. This week, it was announced that the government would add a clause to rule out any extension beyond december 2020, ending what Boris Johnson calls years of deadlock, dither and delay. Now, with a majority of 80,