Saturday as an awful day. As thousands of personnel tackle raging infernos, the countrys Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has been heavily criticised for being on holiday in hawaii, but the pm has cut short his trip to return home. I get it that people would have been upset to know that i was holidaying with my family while their families were under great stress. They know that i am not going to stand there and hold a hose, iam not a trained firefighter. Im conforted by the fact that australians would like me to be herejust simply so i can be here. An areas the size of belgium has been torched by the fires. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed and at least ten people killed. Two firefighters are among those to have lost their lives. This week has seen record high temperatures repeatedly broken. With australia hotting up, the Prime Minister says the government would take action on Climate Change. There is no argument about the links between, in my view and the governments view, and any government in this country, about the links between broader issues of Global Climate change and weather events around the world, but i am sure equally people would acknowledge that the direct connection to any single fire event it is not a credible suggestion to make that link. So we must take action on Climate Change, we are taking action on Climate Change. Arson, lightning strikes, even self combusting piles of manure, have been blamed for triggering the blazes. First though, the authorities have to try and take control of the flames before they can try and control the causes to prevent future fires. Gareth barlow, bbc news. Sixty thousand people have packed into tokyos new National Stadium, to celebrate its opening, ahead of next years olympics and paralympics. They cheered the retired jamaican sprinter usain bolt as he jogged around the track. Mark eames reports. Expect a few more drums when they do this for real next year. In just over seven months time, the Tokyo Olympics get under way and the stadium that will be the centrepiece for the games and also the paralympics has officially been opened. The success of the recent rugby world cup, aided by the host nations run to the quarter finals, has given sport injapan a big boost. The stadium, which cost nearly 1. 5 billion, will hold 68,000 for the olympics. Those lucky enough to get tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies will see more of this nextjuly but on a far bigger scale. If you are celebrating the opening of your Olympic Stadium, you need a highly decorated 0lympian. They dont come much bigger and better than this man, usain bolt certainly knows a thing or two about winning 0lympic titles. The crowd delighted to welcome the eight time gold medallist and he was persuaded to take part in a relay race which used the Olympic Rings instead of batons. Even though the jamaican has been out of the spotlight since his retirement he was impressed with the atmosphere. It was a great experience, actually, to be in here in front of so many people. I was happy and excited because i wont be competing at the olympics so the fact i got to run on the track was an experience in itself. The drums, the dancing in the spectacle. Japan certainly knows how to put on a good show. The stadium hosts its first sporting events, on new years day. The first athletics comes in may with the test event for the games themselves. Mark eames, bbc news the death toll from a storm that battered spain, portugal and france has risen to eight people, with the affected areas bracing for the arrival of more violent weather. With more, heres david campanale. Storm elsa hit the Iberian Peninsula on wednesday with the following day seeing an increase in its intensity. The historic riverfront streets of porto in portugal were flooded as large amounts of rain fell in short time. The deaths occurred when a tree fell, hitting a truck, killing the driver, while the second person died in the north of the country after a house collapsed with the force of the downpours. In the centre of portugal, the worst affected cities in the centre of portugal, the worst affected city seem to be agueda, where shops and restaurants in the centre we re overcome by rising water levels. Translation it was all so quick that we had to leave urgently. I never saw anything like this in agueda. Storm else flooded rivers brought down powerlines and disrupted rail and air travel across the region, as thousands hoped to travel in readiness for christmas. Portuguese authorities have now issued a red weather warning for a new threat, storm fabien. As well as inland cities, they say coastal areas are likely to get a battering from the incoming weather front. Five of the deaths this week have been entered spain where the authorities are also standing by for fresh turmoil. The National Weather office has put the the entire coast of galicia and its neighbouring region on alert. And its neighbouring region on red alert. The highest level warning due to strong winds and high waves. Lets get some of the days other news the cuban president has appointed the countrys first Prime Minister in more than forty years. The post was scrapped by the late leader of the cuban revolution, fidel castro, in 1976. It has now been reinstated and awarded to the tourism minister, Manuel Marrero cruz. Hes overseen a major boost in tourism to the island over the past sixteen years. The american secretary of state, mike pompeo, has condemned russia and china for blocking a Un Resolution that would have kept humanitarian aid flowing to millions of syrians. The resolution would have extended an arrangement that by passes the government in damascus. Russia had suggested a more limited aid channel. pres lets get more now on the devastating wildfires lets get more now on the devastating wildfires burning in australia. Shaimaa khaliljoins me now from hill top in new south wales. Bring from hill top in new south wales. Us up to date e know bring us up to date about what we know about these devastating fires . The weather has changed quite a bit here. Temperatures have dropped but we are still getting quite a bit of smoke and haze. Firefighters have been rushing out to areas for Damage Assessment anything areas with him. In hilltop many houses have been spared but many people have been evacuated and the village next door has been quite devastated. Even though the weather has changed and temperatures have dropped, firefighters are telling us it is still quite dangerous for anybody to go there. Many roads have been blocked and the reason for that is because the fires have been so devastating in these areas, a large number of trees have been bad and they pose a great risk of falling either on houses or on clouds. People are not permitted. Those in the area have been told to stay indoors. On cars. It is that teams on the ground, firefighting teams and Police Investigators who are looking to assess the damage to make sure everybody is accounted for and essentially to see how many homes have been destroyed. There are smaller pockets of buyers but not nearly as big as yesterday. The problem is for many of the firefighters, it is not only the number of fires but also the sheer size of some of these fires as well . It is interesting i was speaking to the Division Commander at this fire station and he said something quite telling, we know longer use the word control, we can manipulate them to areas that are not densely populated to limit the damage. That is just how huge these fires are and spread out but also how unpredictable. He said when the changes are not our friends and when changes is what has been happening. Small fires could turn into big flames that are very ha rd to turn into big flames that are very hard to control. It is also very ha rd to hard to control. It is also very hard to know where it is going to hit next and how big it is going to be. That is why it has been quite challenging for firefighters in the area. It is the fact that so many of the conditions that determine the size of these fires are not in anybodys control because they are controlled by the weather. Thank you very much for that update. Martin peters, one of the all time greats of english football and one of the goal scorers in the world cup winning side of 1966, has died at the age of 76. Peters won 67 caps for england and made over 700 appearances for clubs throughout his career. West ham, the club he first joined as a 15 year old, said he passed away peacefully after a long and courageous battle with illness. Our Sports Correspondent Natalie Pirks reports. With all eyes on hurst, the danger from Martin Peters went unnoticed. Commentator and a chance on goal peters Little Wonder they called him the ghost. Theres Martin Peters, the man who scored the goal which could well win the world cup for england. It didnt, of course. Geoff hurst claimed that accolade. But though many called peters strike the forgotten goal, he had a different take. If i hadnt scored, we would have lost 2 1. So, yeah, it was an important goal because of the situation. His journey to world cup greatness had begun seven years earlier. Instead of following in his fathers footsteps to become a lightmerman on the river thames, west ham came calling. He made his debut for the hammers in 1962 and won the european cup winners cup in 65. Sir alf ramsey said his style and ability was ten years ahead of his time, yet, amazingly, he didnt receive his first cap for england until the may of 1966. Peters has scored by 1970 his legend at west ham was secure. He left for spurs in a deal that made him britains first £200,000 midfielder. Oh, what a beautiful goal what a glorious header that was from Martin Peters with tottenham, he went on to win the league cup twice, the uefa cup, and he became club captain. He lived and breathed football. His family said they would find him practising headers in his sleep. But there are fears heading the ball helped cause his disease. Like some of his former team mates, he had been suffering with alzheimers. In the last few years he had withdrawn from public appearances. Dementia had robbed him of many of his most precious memories. But he remained one of only two englishmen to ever know the joy of scoring in a World Cup Final. The emotion wasjust like being struck with lightning. It was just unbelievable. Hursts hat trick may have made history and bobby moore may have lifted the trophy, but peters also left his indelible mark on footballing history. Martin peters, who has died at the age of 76. The Prime Minister has defended the decision to approve a £4 billion takeover of the British Defence company cobham by an American Private equity firm. Speaking as he visited british troops in estonia, borisjohnson said he was satisfied the deal didnt raise National Security issues. The company employs 10,000 people here in the uk. Lady nadine cobham, from the family which set up the company, is among those strongly criticising the decision. She called the takeover deeply disappointing. Our Business Correspondent Katy Prescott reports. One of the uks oldest defence companies. A pioneer of air to air refuelling, critical to the uk military. Providing High Tech Engineering jobs at their headquarters in dorset. For the last six months the government has been grappling with whether to allow its sale to the American Private equity firm, advent, which aims to buy companies, improve them and sell them on. Borisjohnson, having christmas lunch with uk troops in estonia, defended last nights decision. A lot of checks have been gone through to make sure that in that particular case, all the Security Issues that might be raised can be satisfied. The uk will continue to be a very creative and dynamic contributor to that section of industry and all others. Cobham started life in the 1930s as a flying circus. Shareholders voted for the sale. The founders daughter in law is critical. She says. In a heavily redacted document in the run up to the sale, the ministry of defence said this raised National Security concerns because of access to information and ongoing defence projects. The Home Office Said they were concerned about access to the uks Emergency Services radio systems, which they said could prejudice ongoing operations. To allay those fears, the government says advent has agreed to keep sensitive government information protected, honour the terms of existing contracts and tell the government if it plans to sell the business. But critics say the sale is a mistake. This is an amazing British Company. It is a world leading British Company that has very important, nationally sensitive contracts with the ministry of defence. Yet it has taken just a week after the election for the conservatives to sell out to donald trump. The government says that the agreement with advent is legally enforceable and any breach could be pursued through the courts. The low pound has made British Companies attractive to american buyers and this is a high profile example of the latest sale. Katie prescott, bbc news. This is bbc news. The headlines the australian Prime Minister cuts short his holiday as devastating bushfires continue to rage across three states. And one of englands world cup winning heroes. Martin peters, who scored in the 1966 final, has died at the age of 76. West African Leaders have been meeting in the nigerian capital abuja to discuss the deadly upsurge in islamist violence in the sahel region. Just over a week ago, more than 70 soldiers were killed in an attack in niger. The french president emmanuel macron, on a visit to the region, has promised to help. The bbcs ishaq khalid reports. The west African Leaders gathering here at nigerias president ial palace are under local and International Pressure to act decisively, as violence by militants escalates in the sahel. Fighters linked to alqaeda and the so called Islamic State as well as boko haram are stepping up attacks. They have killed at least 200 soldiers in niger, mali and burkina faso in the last three months. Thousands of civilians have been affected too and are killed or displaced, creating a humanitarian crisis. The regional leaders say they are worried. Terrorism remains the major threat to the peace and progress of our region. Recurring attacks by terrorist groups remind us of the urgency to build an enduring Security Partnership to confront and defeat the evil of cross border terrorism. Currently there are thousands of regional and International Troops in the sahel backed by france, they have been battling the militants but it appears theyre making little progress and recently, the us and the uk have criticised the African Leaders for not doing enough, saying military action alone could not solve the problem. They urged them to focus on issues of governance, corruption and development, a view shared by many. Lets return now to our top story the wildfires burning in australia. Werejoined by lisa davies, whos the editor of the sydney morning herald. Lisa, thank you so much for your company. We start by asking you, obviously we have been hearing from oui correspondence obviously we have been hearing from our correspondence about how catastrophic fires are, but looking at it from a political perspective, it has been a really, really tough time for Scott Morrison right now. How her people reacted to his very public apology about being on holiday while these fires are raging in australia . Yes, so the Prime Minister returned from his holiday last night. And he has been out and about this morning. His First Press Conference at eight oclock. He did a tour of the Rural Fire Service had orders and get got a full and detailed briefing. He was quite. He was very apologetic at his press conference. He spoke of the lessons he has learned in not being around for this most awful time over the last week or so. He plans to obviously still remain here for the duration now and he is currently out atan duration now and he is currently out at an Evacuation Centre with some families and people who have been severely affected by the blazers west of sydney, most recently yesterday. When somebody like that makes a decision to go on holiday when Something Like this is happening in their country, it makes it difficult to some people to trust they can handle the situation. How much trust there among australian people that he can actually deal with what is going on with yellow look, i think people would generally think he was capable of it. Think this a misjudgement on his part about how anxious and upset people are about what is going on. There we re are about what is going on. There were perfectly valid reasons for him to be on leave, in the sense that he would normally have a decent break injanuary, would normally have a decent break in january, but he would normally have a decent break injanuary, but he is travelling to both india and japan on visits for work in his role as Prime Minister, so work in his role as Prime Minister, so he wanted some time with his children and his wife before christmas. I dont think anyone begrudged him the holiday itself, but at a time when his home city and australias biggest city is com pletely australias biggest city is completely shrouded in smoke and there is an unprecedented threat of bushfires all over new south wales, think it was definitely a misjudgement. But i think now he is back most australians think he will support this he will provide the support this he will provide the support and leadership they are asking for. Very briefly, before you 90, asking for. Very briefly, before you go, how worried are people in sydney of the fires and the fact that this could be something that happens more and more often in the future, given the Climate Change factor . |j and more often in the future, given the Climate Change factor . I think people are really worried. I was talking earlier with some people about this is the time of year when syd ney about this is the time of year when sydney is usually at its most beautiful. Of course, all your viewers will be familiar with the sparkling harbour and blue skies we have almost all year round. And we have almost all year round. And we have had weeks and weeks of incredibly difficult air quality, among the worst in the world. So its really challenging. I think people are anxious and a bit frightened if this is the new normal. The bushfires themselves, we are not predicted to have any kind of decent rain even until the end of january or early february. So this crisis is really far from january or early february. So this crisis is really farfrom over, i will say, and we have a really difficult summer ahead. Lisa davies, editor of the sydney morning herald. Thank you so much. Thank you. The Trump Administration has overturned the phasing out of old fashioned, incandescent light bulbs in the us. It says Replacement Energy efficient bulbs would be too costly to consumers. The regulation was to come into effect next year. 16 states including new york and california have challenged the move, saying it would harm state efforts to reduce emissions. Detectives are linking a fatal stabbing in hertfordshire and the discovery of a mans body in a car in london. A 30 year old man was found with stab wounds in the boot of a car in barnet, in north london, on thursday evening. He died a short time later. A 35 year old man was also discovered with stab wounds in elstree in hertfordshire on friday and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say they believe both victims are Eastern European and cannot rule out a potential organised crime element. The British Government is to have another go at issuing a coin designed to commemorate the uks departure from the European Union at the end of next month. The first set of coins was melted down because the uk failed to leave earlier this year. The coin features the slogan peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations. Liverpool have become the second english team to win the club world cup. The final against brazilian side flamengo went to extra time. Olly foster watched the match in doha. Many fans say they support the best team in the world. Liverpools now have a title to back them up. They questioned the timing of this tournament. Would their push for the premier league be compromised by their week in the gulf . From the very first minute, the gulf between the sides looked very clear. Roberto firmino should have scored. His Charity Towards his fellow brazilians continued in the second half. The skill was sublime. That was the easy bit. But his time would come. Flamengos diego alves was voted the best keeper in brazil last season, just in case Jordan Henderson was wondering. Everyone was wondering what var was looking at in injury time. Penalty, no penalty, inside, outside the box . Lets have extra time. And it was there that liverpool found a way again. The winning groove is difficult to get out of, no matter what the continent or the competition. Thats two winners in a week for firmino. Room for another trophy tattoo. Flamengo fluffed an opportunity to equalise. Its a long flight to rio to wonder what might have been. Its been a remarkable year forjurgen klopps side. The european champions have now gone global. So, liverpool are world champions, but its not going to change them. The priority remains exactly the same get home and resume the pursuit of the title that they really want. Olly foster, bbc news, in doha. One of itvs most popular shows, dancing on ice, is to feature a same sex couple as contestants when it goes to air with its latest series tomorrow. The steps singer Ian H Watkins is teaming up with professional dancer matt evers. Our correspondent lizo mzimba reports. Dancing on ice is one of tvs most popular shows, often producing memorable moments of all different kinds. Ian h watkins and matt evers have been rehearsing for weeks and when the programme returns tomorrow night, theyll be the first same sex couple seen competing on a prime time british show like this. Its about time. If we had Something Like this when we were children, maybe i wouldnt have felt so isolated. I wouldnt have run away from home. You know, in everyday life we see gay couples and we see same sex couples. So it should be no different with what we are trying to do. It something that has already been embraced in other countries on similar shows. Israels dancing with the stars featured a same sex celebrity couple back in 2009 and was followed by austria, italy, and australia. Last months strictly here saw two male professionals dancing together. It prompted around 200 complaints. 200 people complained, but there were millions of people that stood up and applauded. Ten million. Ten Million Viewers and there was 200 complained. Perhaps the strongest message so far has come from denmarks dancing with the stars. Where, last month, a celebrity same sex couple not only took part but won, with the public deciding the vote. Something that h and matt will be hoping to repeat here in the uk. Lizo mzimba, bbc news. The weather now with helen willetts. Hello. Fog is again a concern throughout the rest of the night and into sunday morning, lingering for some all morning. And the flood warnings are numerous across england and wales with weather warnings out that you can get on the website and it has been so wet this december as the rain makes its way into the River Systems we expect those flood warnings to increase. Certainly spray and standing water. Look at this area of cloud. That heavy rain easing away through sunday. But this area of low pressure to the north west still driving in showers. It is likely we will have fog issues as i said earlier, particularly Northern Ireland, but some of the south as well around this area of rain and ice on the north because temperatures are below freezing here. Fog could be just about anywhere. The rain really drags its heels in clearing and once it clears away, brighter spells to come through, sunshine wants the fog lifts and there will be a scattering of showers around that risk westerly wind continuing in the south taking the edge of this temperature here. Decent spells of sunshine around through the second half of sunday. However, as we go through sunday night, it will continue to blow this westerly wind in, that area of low pressure close by so nothing too mild over the Christmas Period and nothing too chilly either. But with the westerly wind the showers continue. As i mentioned, we will see many of them gathering across Northern Ireland and scotland and a wintry element to them, hail and wonder through the day ahead in the showers and certainly so through the night and into monday. That continuation of heavy showers, particularly in the north. The south will hes off ahead of that next area of rain. The timing on that are still uncertain but likely to come in, we think, through monday night and into tuesday. So that gives us another period, wet period of 5 10, possibly 15 millimetres of rain. Again on the saturated ground, nowhere else for it to go. Further north, fog with lighter wind as well and it mayjust linger on Christmas Eve, that tailback of cloud and patchy rain but we are hopeful it will be a decent day for Christmas Eve with a lot of dry weather to be found as well. Not especially warm. As we get into christmas day, the next area of low pressure starts to wind itself up and later in the day and into boxing day could intentionally bring more rain, hill snow and strong wind as well. Stay tuned. This is bbc news, the headlines the australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has cut short a family holiday in hawaii after hed been heavily criticised for leaving the country in the middle of a bushfire emergency. Fires are burning across three states and are expected to get worse. Tokyos Olympic Stadium has officially been opened. Sixty thousand people were given a glimpse of how the 2020 Opening Ceremony might look, with traditional drummers and a parade of dancers in vivid colours. The first sporting event to be held at the National Stadium will be the emperors cup soccer final on new years day. The death toll from a storm that battered spain, portugal and france has risen to eight people, with the affected areas bracing for the arrival of more violent weather. A strengthening storm, given the name fabien, is expected to bring downpours and strong winds to parts of western europe. Now as weve been reporting, Martin Peters who scored englands second goal in the 1966 World Cup Final against west germany, has died aged 76. Hed been diagnosed with alzheimers disease. He spent a large part of his career at west ham. The club saying the 1966 world cup winner passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of saturday morning following a long and courageous battle with illness. Tributes have been paid. On twitter