there is coming forward for help, there is more awareness. the nhs are making sure there are places available, so support is out there. if people are worried about their loved ones, seek help. thank you. from next month, around 2000 children with severe epilepsy will become eligible for a cannabis based treatment on the nhs in england. the charity epilepsy action said it could be life—changing, as our health editor hugh pym reports. children with two types of severe epilepsy will be eligible for the cannabis—based medicine. they can suffer with multiple seizures each day. epidiolex has been shown by clinical trials to reduce the number of seizures by 40% in some children, if used in combination with another medicine. it will be available on prescription on the nhs in england from 6th january, and is already accessible to patients in wales. epidiolex is still being appraised by regulators in scotland. the medicines contains the cannabis compound cdb, but not

the compound thc. campaigners argue that only medicines with both constituents will help people with epilepsy. no deal has changed on the 1st of november 2018, so that specialist doctors could write a prescription, for something containing both cbc and thc. but shockley, to our knowledge, since the law change, not a single prescription has been issued on the nhs that the medicines that contain both the cbd and the thc. charlie hughes used to have up to 120 seizures a day. but, since he has been treated with cannabis oil, that number is down to single figures. the family, though, has to spend more than £1,300 a month to get the treatment through a private prescription. the latest announcement won't help

them. if you think that reversing into a tight spot can be a tricky job, then take a look at these pictures of two cruise ships in port in mexico. the carnival glory, seen here on the right, was manouvering to dock, when it struck the carnival legend which was already moored in the mexican resort of coza—mel. six guests suffered minor injuries but the operator says both vessels are still seaworthy. now it's time for a look at the weather with alina jenkins. all the details of flood warnings on oui’ all the details of flood warnings on our website. for most, sunshine and a scattering of showers, the fog is slow to left across northern ireland

so slow to left across northern ireland $03 slow to left across northern ireland so a grey slow to left across northern ireland so a grey day here, rain arriving into south—west england and south wales later this afternoon, technically 6—11dc. more rain because south—west england, wales, the midlands, this evening and overnight. a met office yellow warning. valuable cloud elsewhere, clear spells and showers and mist and fog across the northern half of the uk and a touch of frost across the uk and a touch of frost across the far north of scotland. rain clearing from the east coast tomorrow morning and once again, spells of sunshine, but showers around across northern england and wales and south—west england. temperature is very similar to today. goodbye. hello, this is bbc news, with shaun ley. the headlines: a ‘catastrophic fire warning' is issued for parts of eastern australia, including sydney, amid record—breaking temperatures, following months of severe drought. the government approves the takeover of uk defence and aerospace specialist cobham by an american company. a man who confronted

the fishermongers' hall attacker with a narwhal tusk describes his "deep hurt" that he couldn't save the two people who died. prince philip spends the night in hospital in london, to be treated for what's being descrived as a pre—existing condition. now on bbc news, it's the travel show. lucy hedges rounds up some of the team s best adventures from 2019. hello and welcome to this, the last travel show of 2019, so what better time to take a look back on the past year

on the programme? here's a taste of what's coming up. 0h, oh, my days! condors get this view. condors and us. it's incredible. that was like being in a tumble dryer. that was completely insane. all that and more to come here on the show this week, but let's kick off with a trip that mike made over to california back in may. we told him that all he would need was a taste for adventure and a head for heights. here's what happened. here in western california, there are complex beings that have lived for over a millennium. redwood trees have become

an icon of this state. but some fear that our changing climate might threaten their survival. so i've come to the most southern tip of their range, where change could hit the hardest, to join a scientist who has been working here to try to find some answers. it's absolutely amazing being out in the forest, ijust love it, listening to the birds and watching the sun move through the canopy, it's beautiful. and today, we'll be climbing this... so, these are coast redwoods, the tallest tree species in the world, reaching commonly about 380 feet tall is the tallest, they are incredibly tough and

resilient, they‘ re really important ecologically, and they're iconic. so, i've been here trying to get a better understanding of how they are responding to climate change, and how they might respond to future climate change. and how are they responding? as the climate changes, temperatures are increasing, it's drying things out as temperatures get warmer, and that's a big consideration for these particular trees because they need so much water. it's affecting their water balance and their ability to transport more water to the tops of the trees. but now, it's time to get to work. huh! there we go. so, first, we need a sample of the tree's core. this is the halfway mark there, and then when you get to the ground, we can pull that spoon out with the core on it. and the hidden secrets beneath this bark will be ours! the knowledge will be ours! earlier on, anthony showed me some of those secrets this tree had already revealed. wow!

these are the rings here? yeah, each one of those is an annual ring, one year of growth. so it only grows a couple of millimetres each year? yes, and sometimes, less than a millimetre a year. so, we're back hundreds of years right now? yeah, once we polish this up and sand it and get a better view of the rings, there could be... 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 maybe years here. wow! sp, this section up here, it hasn't seen sunlight for 600, 700 years. yes, it's an amazing archive. all right, i have one end of the tape measure, we are doing the circumference measurement. yes, so wrap it all the way around that, underneath this tubing. 0k, we are at 7.81; metres circumference. that's a

big tree... it is a big tree. 7.8 metres around, and the next plan is to go up to the top. upwards we go, to the top! to the top! this redwood stands at over 70 metres tall. climbing redwoods is forbidden in most places, but in this reserve, we have special permission, and what a privilege it is! 0k, a0 metres. i can't get over how beautiful this tree is. there are marks on this tree, at a0 metres, which boggles my mind... it's incredible up here. and as we inch upwards, i'm faced with more scorched bark. anthony told me that wildfires are another threat these trees are increasingly facing in the modern world.

birds nest. i don't think there's anybody home, though. with anthony already at the top, collecting samples, i make my final push upwards. this view... it's definitely one of the wildest, most incredible views i have seen in my entire life. i can't believe we're 71 metres off the ground right now. condors get this view. condors, and us. it's incredible. this is 700 years old, which is before the colonisation of america, before taj mahal, it makes me feel like a speck of sand in the sandbox,

insignificant. yeah, it's a pretty humbling experience. if the climate change experience dries things sufficiently, then they might start to feel some impacts, they might not grow as well, may not get as tall, and might die back, and that's what we're trying to find out. do i feel the tree shaking a little bit? yeah, it's wriggling. 0k, just a normal thing, i'm assuming? mike being rewarded with some truly spectacular views in california back in may. well, earlier in january, carmen took on her own challenge in taiwan, but this one involved staying firmly on the ground. it's the annual taiwan arts festival, and a local dance company have invited me to take part in a performance that they are doing

for today's parade. you must be roger? i am, let's get changed. 0k! the festival is held every year close to taipei, and teams from all over the country and further afield come to compete in a celebration of music and dance. it's a big high—profile event, so my team are taking a real risk by letting a total novice join their ranks. 0k, round the circle, 0k... with only an hour to go before the start of the parade, troop leader roger walked me through my role. i'd rather be hiding somewhere at the back, but he has me leading the whole team. look at the dragon, swing this way, like an eight? yes. 0k. the idea is that the dragon follows the ball and stick that i'm holding. if only i knew where i was meant to be heading! miraculously, the other performers follow my somewhat frantic lead. let's just hope they'll be this accommodating when we do it for real.

i hope no—one laughs at me! in the first section of the parade, a dozen or so local high schools will compete for best performance. the streets are crammed with friends, families and teachers, all waiting to see their groups perform. they've been working on their routines for months, and today is the day that it all comes together, with an extravaganza of energy, colour and sound. with a great level of showmanship thrown in too, for good measure. and now i can hear my group approaching. i am so nervous! and i don't want to make a total fool of myself in front of this big crowd. 0h, there's at least a thousand people here, it's a lot more than i thought. 0k, tell me when. now? and all of a sudden, i'm on. my mind seems to go totally blank, amid all the noise and colour. luckily, roger is there to give me a push in the right direction. where?

somehow, the team follow my lead, although i really have no idea where i'm going. ok, now in the middle? nice. sorry! it's ok! and then, my big dragon stick seems to develop a mind of its own! oh, sorry! i was really, really nervous, and it was quite stressful. oh, my gosh! i tried to remember my moves. i think i only hit two people with the ball. i was in a state of panic. sorry to the people that i hit with the ball, it seemed to go on forever. and i can't believe i was part of a dragon dance on the streets of taiwan! who would have thought? carmen causing trouble with her dragon stick in taiwan,

back at the start of the year. time for something with a bit more horsepower now, and in march, ade made his first ever visit to dubai. and let's just say he got to travel style, very, very quickly. good to see you. look at this! jump in. all set? yep, let's do it! i'm just seeing, what's that? we have a rolls—royce going past here, that is standard, superca rs everywhere? what is it with dubai? why are people so in love with the supercars here? there are a couple of different reasons. one is to show off, as much as no—one wants to admit it,

people do like showing off, partly why people drive supercars, to show off a little bit. then there is the most amazing driving roads here in the uae, you head out to the local areas, there are amazing driving roads here. danny's ninth degree group of local supercar owners hold regular track days and events here. they'll even let you hire one of their top—of—the—range models, so that you can get behind the wheel — for a few hours, at least. we're going to go for a spin in this car, and this car is the real deal. it's almost £1 million worth of raw, brutal, unadulterated power. dan, let's do this, man! let's go. oh, yes!

oh, my days! ade not quite breaking the sound barrier, but almost, in dubai earlier this year. stick around, because there is plenty more to come, including this. i know they said i'm not going to feel the cold, but i'm really nervous. agh! oh, my goodness! now, if you're a fan of winter

sports, you're going to love this next one, because back in march, christa headed to latvia — to try her hand on one of the very few professional bobsleigh tracks that are open to tourists, and it was quite a ride! welcome to sigulda's bobsleigh track, one of the very few in the world where tourists can get the same adrenaline rush as professional races. we're about to set off, 100 kilometres, down a very icy slope. luckily, i've got an expert pilot, so fingers crossed that it goes very smoothly. apart from the pilot steering the bobsleigh from the front, a team also includes pushers and a brakeman. but tourists get it easy. theyjust need to duck in and hold — very tight. this track is almost 1,500 metres long and you need a pretty strong stomach to manage its 16 curves.

she laughs oh, man! i think that's one of the most intense experiences of my entire life. that was like being in a very, very active, very cold tunnel dryer for a minute and a half. i didn't even know how long it was. that was completely insane. phew! another winter sport that can take your breath away is this, the skeleton. imagine a luge with no brakes or steering aid that you ride headfirst. well, i don't think i'm ready to try one of the full—blown skeletons, but there is a tourist version available that's a little bit more my speed. wish me luck. it's called a frog, and for this

one, there's no crew to make me feel safe. 0h! oh, my goodness! oh, god! laughter oh, god! how was it? so cool! i could go again! right now, let's go. christa, in latvia, back in march. and keeping within the icy theme, it was my turn to feel the cold

when i headed to the french alps to try my hand at ice diving. i still can't believe i somehow got talked into that one! well, the good news is, i can't feel how cold it is out here. the lake i'll be diving into is right in the ski village of tignes le lac, just a stone's throw from the lifts. bye— bye! the more i stare at the icy abyss, the more ijust want to stick my foot in just to get a taste or a feel of how cold it is. i know they said i'm not going to feel the cold, but i'm really nervous about my body going into some kind of shock once i get into the water. i'm sure it will be fine, but my mind is currently in overdrive. ijust want to get in now. you're in? perfect. davan will be staying above the ice, helping me and another instructor go under. it's not an activity

you can do as a group. rather, one person at a time, with an instructor, for safety reasons. 0k. we rotate into the water... now. my initial worries of freezing to death quickly went away. perfect! bye— bye! but it didn't quite go to plan, and i had to surface. so, my mask started to fill with water... and i started to panic. so, i was like, help! after a little reminder about what to do — namely, don't panic — i was mentally prepped for another go. i'm ready to go

back in. i was only down there fora minute orso, but it's so pretty down there. and just being able to touch all the bubbles under the ice is really cool. this time, my mask stayed put, but we decided not to stray too farfrom the ice hole, and my confidence returned. it's an otherworldly experience under the ice, cut off from the noise and distractions above. and it's surprisingly relaxing. 0nly towards the end did my toes and fingers start to tingle a little, but otherwise, the drysuit really did keep the cold out. for the really daring, it's possible to also free—dive. probably not for me, though. i much prefer having the oxygen tank. a truly amazing experience, but one i'm not in any kind of hurry to repeat, you won't be surprised to hear. well, let's finish this look back at 2019 by heading to malaysia,

where mike got the chance to get up close to the orangutans of sarawak back in october. and i'me it's an experience he won't forget. i've come to the semenggoh nature reserve, where the rangers are preparing for the morning feed. the reserve took orangutans that have been rescued from captivity, or suffered from habitat loss, and taught them how to live wild in the surrounding forest. since then, the rehabilitation programme has been moved elsewhere, but the forest is still home to 33 orangutans. and tourists have a chance to glimpse those tempted back by a free meal. it's very different to a zoo, then? there's no orangutans in cages here? yeah, it's totally different than the zoo. luckily for us, we don't have to wait long for a sighting. this is edwin, one of the biggest males in the park. like the ranger said, this is not a zoo. the orangutans can come from any direction, at any time,

so you have to be a little careful, especially around the big males like edwin here. while these orangutans are used to people, they‘ re still unpredictable, so tourists are kept at a safe distance. edwin is 23 years old, born in 1996, and he was the first male orangutan born in semenggoh. sadly, despite conservation efforts, orangutans face an uncertain future. over a 16—year period, the numbers in borneo fell by more than 100,000 — a decline blamed on hunting and deforestation. it's now estimated that there arejust over 100,000 orangutans left on the island. and so, the facility here, how does it help? so, by having a sanctuary

like semenggoh, people still get the sense of seeing the wild orangutan, and not disturb it in its natural habitat. the feel of excitement of seeing wild orangutans brings you closer conservation efforts, it really means something. mike, in malaysia, back in october. and i'm afraid that's it for this programme and for this year. so, all that's left to do is to say thank you forjoining us on our travels in 2019. and on behalf of everyone here on the programme, in front and behind the camera, we'd like to wish you a happy and healthy new year, and we'll all see you again in 2020. bye— bye.

yay! i mean, this is 2,000 years old! definitely worth the ungodly wake—up call. oh, if you insist! there you go. whale burps 0h! hello, some parts of england and wales have had almost a month's worth of rain in a few days and with the ground already saturated and more rain in the forecast, flood warnings continue to rise. in excess of 100 across england, two in wales, the details on our website. the bigger picture for saturday, heavy showers this morning. longer spells of rain clearing away, but more persistent rain arriving into wales, central and southern england later this afternoon. before then, for most, an afternoon of sunny spells with a scattering of showers. the

fog has been quite so to left across northern ireland, a grey day here in this rain settles into south—west england and south wales slated this afternoon. temperatures typically six to nine celsius across the northern half of the uk and 8—11dc further south. the winners for most are fairly light, they will start to strengthen across parts of south wales, south—west england and along the channel coast this evening and overnight as the rain put it in. gusty winds around the channel ireland and the channel coast. the rain stretches north and eastwards and becomes more patchy retainer. a mixture elsewhere of variable cloud, clear spells, showers and mist and fog across northern england, scotla nd fog across northern england, scotland and northern ireland. a touch of frost across the far north of scotland, most stay frost free. further south, around six or seven celsius. tomorrow, more cloud and rain to clear away from eastern coast. when it does, spells of sunshine for most of us. still showers in the forecast physically

because northern england and parts of wales and south—west england. but for most, and they need dry day and temperatures under part with today. looking at hayes typically six to 11 celsius —— a mainly dry day. into christmas week, monday and christmas eve, a mixture of sunny spells, but showers further west and quite blustery, with a noticeable west or south westerly wind. into christmas day, we see this ridge of high pressure building. christmas day itself is mainly dry spells of sunshine, we could see frost in places and mist and fog patches. christmas week, a shower restart, dry for christmas week, a shower restart, dryfora time christmas week, a shower restart, dry for a time around christmas day. later in the week, turning wet and windy again. goodbye.

this is bbc news. the headlines: a "catastrophic fire warning" is issued for parts of eastern australia — including sydney — amid record—breaking temperatures following months of severe drought. these are very difficult and trying

times. we are now to day 105 of this bushfire emergency across new south wales. the community really needs to stay alert and understand what they are going to do as we are threatened by fires. the government approves the takeover of uk defence and aerospace specialist cobham by an american company. a man who confronted the fishermongers hall attacker with a narwal tusk describes his "deep hurt" that he couldn't save the two people who died. prince philip spends the night in hospital in london, to be treated for what's being descrived as a pre—existing condition. and coming up — dateline london looks at the effect impeachment could have on donald trump's support base — that's in half an hour here on bbc news.