And at 12. 30 its click live, from the new v and a in dundee. More than a quarter of a Million People have signed a petition demanding that sydney cancels its traditional new years eve firework display and spends the money on tackling australias bush fires instead. Dozens of fires are raging across the country with the largest one on the outskirts of sydney. Will batchelor reports. Its one of the biggest and most spectacular parties on earth. Sydneys new year firework display. But now the citys authorities are facing growing calls to cancel the event and divert the money it costs, around £3 million, towards tackling both severe Drought Conditions and the dozens of bushfires which are raging across australia. Close to 300,000 people have signed an online petition, which says the fireworks may traumatise some people who are dealing with enough smoke in the air. Sydneys lord mayor has said the show, which is planned and paid for months in advance, must go on. However, there are reports t
Its arguably the worlds most dazzling fireworks display, but thousands of people want sydney to scrap its new years eve spectacular. They say it would be an insult and could traumatise some of those affected by the bushfire crisis. Sydneys lord mayor, clover moore, said she shared the deep sympathies of those whod signed the petition, but stressed that the fireworks were planned months in advance and most of the budget had already been spent. So, barring catastrophic fire conditions in sydney on new years eve, the event seems certain to go ahead. In between now and then, the authorities are warning of severe to extreme fire dangers across much of south eastern australia, much of the heavily populated parts of australia. That includes south australia, victoria, tasmania and new south wales, where more than 80 fires continue to burn. Volunteers are a vital part of the emergency effort. Many have been fighting the flames for weeks. The government says theyll be able to apply for about £3
it s gold again for laura muir. on another golden night for the brits in munich, muir retains her crown as the 1,500 metre european champion. (organ plays) they were once a key part of going to the pictures. we ll take a look at the cinema organs being raised back to life. good morning. it is a blustery start to the good morning. it is a blustery start to the weekend, especially in the north west of the uk where there are also outbreaks of rain. but not everyone also outbreaks of rain. but not everyone will see wet weather today. all the everyone will see wet weather today. all the details are coming up. good morninu. it s saturday august 20. our main story: train passengers are being warned of more severe disruption across the uk s rail network today as tens of thousands of workers go on strike. it s the sixth day of national walk outs so far this summer in an ongoing dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. network rail says only a fifth of its services will be running
cheering. time for a look at the weather. here s helen willetts. some beautiful weather watchers last night. as you can see from the skies, these are from highlands scotland but it s a strong our rowrah at the moment so if we get clear skies we may see it. towards the north we have that coming in to parts of scotland and perhaps a bit further south as well. we do have cloudier skies here, you see at the moment, on that weather front. lots of showers and still the remnants of the overnight rain, pacific oceany rain in the south. between it, sow good spells of sunshine and we have lost the humidity. so while we have a blustery breeze and showers continuing across scotland, northern ireland, they tend to ease, temperatures aren t quite as high, as they were last night, because we have lost the humidity. sorry, yesterday, but it feels pleasant out there. we should see evening sunshine as the showers fade away, so an opportunity to witness the northern lights in the north but not
in defence of ryan giggs at the former footballer s trial, on assault and coercive behaviour charges. and we re injeddah, as antonyjoshua fights this weekend to regain his heavyweight titles. and coming up in sportsday later in the hour on the bbc news channel: there s a crushing defeat for england at lord s, as south africa go one up in the test series. good evening, and welcome to the bbc news at six. there have been more warnings about serious pressures on the nhs this coming winter. in a letter to ministers, the nhs confederation which represents employers in the health service says the uk is facing a public health emergency because people are having to choose between heating and eating this winter, due to soaring energy prices. the government says it s giving millions of the most vulnerable households £1,200 to help with higher energy bills. but it comes at a time when nhs services are already under intense strain. our health editor, hugh pym, is here. hugh. yes,