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
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
Thousands of worshippers have packed st peters basilica in rome for Christmas Eve Midnight Mass. Pope francis told the faithful that god loves everyone, even the worst of us, and urged them to give thanks. The pope, generally seen as a reformist leader of the catholic church, also spoke of change. This from our rome correspondent mark lowen. In the gilded splendour of st peters basilica, this was a solemn Christmas Eves mass. The seventh that pope francis has led. He talked of gods love, you may have made a mess of things, but the lord continues to love you. That may be seen as continues to love you. That may be seen as some as a reference to church scandals, including sex abuse. Perhaps then, there was a pointed message in his words, we change, the church changes, history changes, once we stop trying to changes, once we stop trying to change others, but change ourselves. Among those taking part in the liturgy were children chosen from countries including venezuela, iraq and uganda, a
Well have all the latest on the us iranian tensions and well be talking to a state department spokesperson. The other main stories on bbc news at 5. On her way home the 19 year old british woman convicted of lying about being raped in cyprus is allowed to fly back to the uk after receiving a four month suspended sentence. A teenager admits killing Andrew Harper, a Police Officer who was a newlywed, in berkshire last summer joker leads the pack this years bafta film nominations are published but theres criticism of the lack of diversity. And coming up england has won the second test against south africa by 189 runs. Ben stokes took three wickets in the final hour. Its 5 00pm. Our main story this afternoon the house of commons has been debating the escalating tensions between iran and the us following the killing of the Top Commander Qassem Soleimani in a us drone strike. The defence secretary ben wallace repeated the uk governments calls for calm. Tonight, thousands of mourners are in s
NSW coroner releases findings into 25 Black Summer deaths | news com au — Australia s leading news site news.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from news.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.