Thats in half an hour, here on bbc news. Good afternoon. The australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has acknowledged public anger at his decision to go on holiday while his country faces a bushfire crisis. Mr morrison said if he could go back, he would have made a different choice. The fires are expected to worsen with more hot dry weather expected. Mr morrison did acknowledge the role of Climate Change, but said warming temperatures couldnt be connected to any single fire. Gareth barlow reports. This is the remarkable, almost apocalyptic, scene facing firefighters tackling australias deadly and devastating wildfires. Fire chiefs described 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, a trip hes now cut short. 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 kn
Good afternoon. The family behind the British Defence company, cobham, has criticised the government for approving a £4 billion take over by an american firm. A merger between the dorset based manufacturer and Us Private Equity Group advent was agreed injuly, but it was delayed over National Security concerns. Late last night, the business secretary, andrea leadsom, who announced the decision late last night, said it had been taken in conjunction with defence chiefs. Lady cobham said the announcement had been cynically timed to avoid scrutiny. Our Business Correspondent Katy Prescott reports. One of the uks oldest defence companies. A pioneer of air to air refuelling, cobham started life in the 1930s as a flying circus. For the last few months, the government has been grappling with whether to allow its sale to the American Private equity firmed advent. The daughter in law of the founder has been critical. She says this is a deeply disappointing announcement and one cynically timed to
Across New South Wales and the community really is going to have to stay alert and understand what they are going to do if threatened by fires. The government approves the takeover of uk defence and aerospace specialist cobham by an american company. A man who confronted the fishmongers hall attacker with a narwal tusk describes his deep hurt that he couldnt save the two people who died. Prince philip spends the night in hospital in london to be treated for whats being described as a pre existing condition. Seasons greetings the Prime Minister serves a christmas lunch to british soldiers stationed in estonia. These troops here are giving the whole continent protection, support, a guarantee of their security and its quite an amazing thing to see. Everton have their man, Carlo Anchelotti returns to english football after signing a four and a half year deal with the club. And later on i will be looking at the stories we have covered from britains coastal towns. That is in half an hour. Mo
Correspondent, shaimaa khalil. This was said to be one of the worst days australias most populous state has ever seen, and its lived up to every urgent warning. Huge flames spiralling out of control, moved by strong, unpredictable wind. This is a second time in less than two months that New South Wales has seen catastrophic fire conditions. Firefighters have been patrolling this area throughout the day. They have been keeping an eye out on the smoke just behind that tree line. This is where villagers have fires at an emergency level and theyve been told to evacuate and theyre concerned that embers will blow this way. Elizabeth maclaren evacuated her house a few hours ago. She packed the necessities and a few other things she couldnt afford to lose. Her familys ok, but she worries about those she left behind. I hope my house doesnt burn down but, ultimately, all of my friends stayed to fight the fires at their house. They cant get out now, so im just hoping that theyre safe. I can repla
To be treated for whats being described as a pre existing condition. Almost 100 Flood Warnings are in place across england, and the situation is set to get worse, with heavy rain forecast overnight. And coming up, the bbcs media editor meets the editor of private eye magazine at 17 30 a walk through the year in media with ian hislop. Good afternoon. More than 100 bushfires are raging across australias most populous state, New South Wales. Christmas travellers are being urged to delay theirjourneys as record temperatures of more than a0 degrees and strong winds intensify the fires. Australias deputy Prime Minister, Michael Mccormack has said his country must step up its efforts to tackle climate change. Heres our sydney correspondent shaimaa khalil. correspondent shaimaa khalil. This was said to be one of the worst days australias most populous state has ever seen, and its lived up to every urgent warning. Huge flames spiralling out of control, moved by strong, unpredictable wind. This