this is bbc news. the governor of new york, and you, as cold —— cold a stabbing —— called as cold —— cold a stabbing —— called a stabbing an act of terrorism. a man has been arrested and in recent weeks please have actually stepped up weeks please have actually stepped up patrols injewish neighbourhoods following a series of anti—semitic hate crimes. our washington correspondent, chris buckler has the

report. members of new york's largejewish community had gathered to celebrate their religion, only to be attacked because of it. they were at the home ofa because of it. they were at the home of a rabe carey and monsey to mark ona car, of a rabe carey and monsey to mark on a car, when a man forced his way into house and started stabbing the people, in some cases multiple times. he pulled it out from the thing and he started to run into the big room, it was on the left side. grafton thomas was arrested 30 miles away in manhattan. mr thomas, why did you do it? is already appeared in court, but he pled not guilty to five counts of attempted murder. police in new york had stepped up their patrols in response to a series of anti—semitic attacks in recent weeks, and across the us jewish leaders are concerned about what they say is an increase in hate crime. just over a year ago in

pittsburgh, 11 worshippers were killed in a mass using at the tree of life synagogue. in april, there was a of life synagogue. in april, there wasa similar of life synagogue. in april, there was a similar attack at a synagogue in san diego. and another shooting earlier this month that a kosher supermarket in newjersey, also thought to have been viewed at least in part by anti—semitism. thought to have been viewed at least in part by anti-semitism. what are we waiting for? you know, first it was just variable and 0k, we waiting for? you know, first it was just variable and ok, now people are being murdered, now people are being assaulted, now people are being assaulted, now people are being stabbed. so the governor should announce an emergency in the state of new york. new york's governor seems to be listening. he said words were not enough and it was time for action. it is domestic terrorism. these are people who intend to create mass harm, mass violence, generate fear based on race, colour, creed, that is the

definition of terrorism. many claim hate is on the rise in an increasingly fractured america, where differences too often and in not just where differences too often and in notjust division, but violence. he told us about those very strong words from the new york governor. as far as he was concerned, racism, homophobia and bigotry were poisoning america and you can interpret those as being politically pointed given he is a democratic governor and democrats have accused president trump on numerous occasions of causing divisions in this country. that will be strongly denied by the white house and they will point out even in the last month, president trump has signed an executive order to tackle anti—semitism on college campuses. and there's also been a strong statement from him on twitter in which he said that people had to eradicate the scourge of anti—semitism.

but tonight there's a feeling that some practical has to be done and the new york city mayor bill de blasio has announced plans for extra security and policing in some neighbourhoods as well as proposals to teach about hate crime inside schools and perhaps that's an indication that this is about tackling attitudes in america as well as just violence. chris buckler there. london are also investigating a racially motivated hate crime which took place during hanukkah. they found offensive defeat in a number of locations including a synagogue and some shopfronts. dan johnson reports. these are the marks of anti—semitic graffiti that appeared overnight in a part of north london with a large jewish community. the star of david, sprayed on shops, phone boxes and a synagogue. alongside the numbers, 9/11, a possible reference to the warped conspiracy theory thatjews

we re warped conspiracy theory thatjews were responsible to the september 11 attack, or it could refer to the kristallnacht, the ninth of november 1938, where jews kristallnacht, the ninth of november 1938, wherejews were rounded up and synagogues were destroyed. 1938, wherejews were rounded up and synagogues were destroyedm 1938, wherejews were rounded up and synagogues were destroyed. it feels very, very personal. if you like a real attack, it is very threatening. and the people of this synagogue to wa ke and the people of this synagogue to wake up in the morning and find their synagogue attack like this is frightening. it is being treated as a racially motivated hate crime, and police say there will be extra patrols to reassure people here. so far there have been no arrests. this has been a particularly upsetting event because it comes during hanukkah, a majorjewish festival. although the graffiti has been washed away very quickly, it has left a real concern amongst people here. there has been condemnation from politicians amidst the warnings that hate crime of all kinds has increased across the country.

tonight, the anti—semitic graffiti sprayed here has been replaced with positive messages of hope and support. dan johnson, bbc positive messages of hope and support. danjohnson, bbc news in hampstead, north london. we will be finding out how many of the stories are being covered in samara's front pages at 11:30pm this evening in though papers. —— the papers. i hope you canjoin though papers. —— the papers. i hope you can join us though papers. —— the papers. i hope you canjoin us for though papers. —— the papers. i hope you can join us for that. sydney's lord mayor has said the city's famous new year's eve fireworks display will go ahead despite a call for the event to be cancelled. more than a quarter of a million people have urged the government to spend the money on fighting bushfires instead. in some regions of australia, the fire prospect is

described as catastrophic. this report from phil mercer in sydney contains lashing images. —— flashing images. scorched and scarred, parts of australia have been left in ruins by the bushfires. flames up to 40m high tore through bilpin in the blue mountains near sydney. the intensity and scale of the fire crisis have unnerved many australians. thousands have signed a petition calling on sydney to scrap its dazzling new year's eve fireworks display. they insist the event would be an insult and could traumatise some of those affected by the bushfires. the city's lord mayor, clover moore, said the fireworks were planned months in advance and that most of the budget had already been spent. so, barring catastrophic fire conditions in sydney on new year's 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. volunteers are a vital part of the emergency effort. many have been fighting the flames for weeks. the government says they will be able to apply for about £3,000 in compensation, for taking time off work to battle the blazes. this is a very prolonged fire season. this is putting additional demands on ourfirefighters in particular, and it means that the turn—outs, and the call—outs have been far more extensive than in previous years going well and beyond and above what is normally expected of those who are engaged in volunteer service. the money and the gesture from the government are broadly welcomed by volunteers on the front line. it is tough, it's tough. and the payment is just a recognition of what we're doing. it doesn't compensate us

for what we're losing but it's recognition. it's really strenuous, hard work, you really do feel like you want to be helping, and you really do feel like you are obliged to do that. so like, for me, it means i use my annual leave. their work is far from over. dangerous fire conditions and extreme heat are forecast for south—eastern australia from tomorrow. phil mercer, bbc news, sydney. the fires are also having a devastating effect on wildlife. professor david lindenmayer leads a team of ecologists at the australian national university in canberra. you are near the area where many of the fires are burning. thank you for speaking to us here at bbc news, professor. first off then, talk us through the impact these fires are having on ecosystems and the wildlife? well, these are no doubt unprecedented fires in a0 years i've

never seen unprecedented fires in a0 years i've never seen anything like this, where we have a pharisees and in south—eastern australia that starts in september. and it's still blazing. we know in east gippsland, on the border between new south wales and victoria, we will have catastrophic fire conditions today. the impact on ecosystems is enormous, we are seeing some systems that should never burn being burnt at very high severity. and the impact on wildlife is also massive. which ecosystems? would you talk as do that a bit more? there are a whole range of ecosystems in new south wales, subtropical rainforest that are being burnt that shouldn't be burnt. in east gippsland, in victoria, we are seeing cool, temperate rain forest and warm, temperate rain forest and warm, temperate rain forest that shouldn't be burnt, but also extensive areas of forest, woodland, native grasslands burnt and burnt at very high severity, which is not always appropriate for some of these ecosystems. why does this matter, then? why is it devastating that

these ecosystems are being ravaged by these fires? why should australia be worried? well, in some parts of australia this is not the first fire, high severity fire, some parts of victoria for example had three, four or even five fires in the last 35 years. really, too much fire in these particular systems. yes, these ecosystems will recover, but often the recovery will take some time is up the recovery will take some time is up to 150 years in the absence of another fire. but if that system is burnt again and then again and again, it's too much disturbance and some of the species and some of the ecosystems a re some of the species and some of the ecosystems are simply not geared to deal with such extensive, recurrent wildfire like we are seeing now. what would be the knock—on effect? let's you remove the ecosystems you have described there, what does that due to the balance of the climate and the environment? well, we know there would be very large greenhouse gas emissions from these extensive fires. people should be aware we are

now looking at well over 3 million hectares of australia having been burnt, so this is equivalent to perhaps somewhere like wales in terms of the scale of this. that's one of the big issues is the amount of emissions that come from these fires, but also the extent of the change in the systems, so, for example, many of these forests should really be old growth forests, 200, 300 —year—old trees. these fires me many of those fees get knocked out. those trees are important for a whole range of australia's unique biodiversity, and therein lies a severe problem. a lot of not only rainforests i was i was saying before, the extent of old—growth forests. saying before, the extent of old-growth forests. so you are talking about flora, but what wildlife species are most at risk? we have seen pictures of koala bears, just talk us through the

risks? well, there are estimates that perhaps close to 10,000 koalas have been lost and other people have estimated very crudely that perhaps half a billion animals, individual animals, have been lost due these are animals, have been lost due these a re events. animals, have been lost due these are events. that's and enormous loss of wildlife, directly from the fire itself, having been directly burnt. but habitats also change quite dramatically. so any species that do survive the wildfire may not be able to survive soon after because their habitat has been so extensively burnt. the other issue in australia in particular is many species of feral animals, these are introduced carnivores like foxes and cats, actually hunt specifically around these recently burnt areas because they are much more efficient.

inaudible some species are really going to struggle as a consequence of this. to close up the conversation, professor. what is the human impact on the environment done to aggravate the impact of the bushfires? well, we know that not only is there the effect of climate change on increasing fire, but also how we have logged the forest in the past makes some of these forests more prone to high severity fire. so therein lies a really significant problem because we know that forest, for a0 yea rs problem because we know that forest, for a0 years after logging operations, are more likely to burn at higher severity. the human disturbance does add to the impacts of natural disturbance. inaudible the headlines on bbc news.

the fireworks will be going ahead. lot of a british woman drowned in is doing full the sponge resort on christmas eve has said she made pursue an independent investigation. 0ne pursue an independent investigation. one of the managers too, back at the clu b one of the managers too, back at the club 18 months after leaving, after he was sacked, he has unfinished business at that and instead him and

willaim to business at that and instead him and will aim to help out. and one point above the allegation. they were going to do itjointly with a 20 point lead, the only girl in a one nil lead after ver has it equalises aloud. it is a physician, it's hard it's confusing because his nice villages feature but you don't have clarification what's happening. we don't know what's going on. it's happened twice now. the best teams in the modern space a few days and also what goes on. from the

goalkeeper. got the winner, four minutes later. recording his 100th, and burn and finding the back of the net. 0ften points of the top of the table. call in his place to find out what on. would it be derby, draw against aberdeen, but that 2—0 win. the second half to lose. they drew with ross county, manoa. therapy is to blame and sickness bug for the defeat in the sickness against south

africa. jessica 376 to win, bowled out shave the target, struggling with a full frs, the second test sta rts with a full frs, the second test starts in cape town on friday. ten quys starts in cape town on friday. ten guys i was glad, when out with them, matters with little things but first it up especially the last two days and the —— would come out and that's all i've got to take matt. they will start 2020 on the top of the rugby union. three of the last four premiership finals. the points deduction forfinancial misdemeanours, they wanted today bottom of the table can better tries

either side of exeter, heater towards end of the game, finishing with 1a men after a mass brawl. defending his title of the dance chapter of —— darts championship. and he will play next. peter wright will face him and the next match. a picture and has that right because husband and children drowned so she may pursue an independent

investigation. a spanish police report has said that have found nothing wrong. they suggested, is known daughter and six enrolled son met their death. we've had very different conflicting accounts on the weekend of what happened of what happened. three members of the family who came here for a week on trip dies in the swimming pool and the spanish police have said it is tragic, bizarre accident because of a lax expertise, the band members weren't able to set themselves and there was no fault. we've heard since from the mother who returned from that fracture the uk said to be deeply distressed. as one can only

imagine. all the fan members above myself could swim. 0nce imagine. all the fan members above myself could swim. once a consumer to pull and the problem she believes was fault with the pool and they could have done more to help. we spoke to the lawyer for the family in the uk and he said the fact that the persists the police believe it was a straightforward drowning, he believed testing, the twinkle, he said there wasn't a love: the scene as well. the first responders were three cleaners at the hotel who page they couldn't swim on they waited several more minutes to wait for help. we've spoken to the hotel staff and they said they felt it was deep tragedy but they couldn't put any light on allegations that it was any light on allegations that it was a pool. the police report seem to

show it was a traffic accident they're still waiting until tomorrow morning to have a full publication as to what happened on christmas eve. the officers — by contacting all the offices. the maximum optional mine. and then, removed on—site levels of the government has apologised and referred the data breach to the regulator. as the nhs basis for the new year period, his busiest time, binary scheme in wales is aiming to ta ke binary scheme in wales is aiming to take the pressure of hospitals and doctors surgeries, five members of the welsh ambulance service graduated to become that you can's

first prescribing paramedics and attempt can be deployed across the nhs. wejoined attempt can be deployed across the nhs. we joined them attempt can be deployed across the nhs. wejoined them on the road. it enhances it greatly, patients don't a lwa ys enhances it greatly, patients don't always phone number because they have a life—threatening emergency. we would see an average 19, 20 patients a day. do with them, do what the complex patient. rather than put them on the back of the ambulance, we take one of our cars to attend. i guess one of a new breed of prescribing paramedics. 0ne of the first five. the job are possible is to keep people out of hospital. here he is called to a diabetic patient with an infected wound. you're an n - -- independent

diabetic. she can stay at home. a less qualified ambulance stem might have had to take her to amd. she submitted the strain of gps, who chipped on this occasion is in a surgery chipped on this occasion is in a surgery single range of different patients with the new qualifications, she can write the prescriptions. previously i would say but they need but it have to go and wait, knock in the doctor's dog, wait for them to fish the patient, was now it's my decision, an autonomous prescriber. exact flexing the doctor. they qualified people, you can use them. this ambulance control centre in south—east wales, around 700 because comment is shake,

some of life that in cases by the challenges to identify those patients who can be treated? and you won't need to be to hospital. elton, is to put here to help people the most efficient use of resources. this new approach was essential. anyone typically take them to the emergency department, but now we've overwhelmed the service so we've had to change the way we approach this. & post them appropriately. came from an ageing population and topics of need is an events challenge for the nhs. empowering stuff like these is one of the responses. more we trained on the drive to cope with the demand on service. it will take an in—depth look at the paper

shortly with the reviewers. informants time. just after headphones and after the weather. as a method to fund figures of 2910 the weather was looking largely dry, we simply mailed as well. this is the picture assess and sat in bromley, stunning sunsets around the country. as matthew that our monday. we have high pressure sitting across continents of europe dominating the weather most places but with the front pushing from the north, summary and from monday morning this matter front beside further south, coming item passion, monitor showers across by the end of the day, it remained stray all day, such an breaking of the club later

on, spells of sunshine coming through. a present 1112 degrees. genetic pressure — make tannic pressure. it's another fine dry day, if you show us around to the su btlety of if you show us around to the subtlety of england, south wales as well, quite cloudy for central and southern eglinton and wales but further north and east you will have sunny skies but it will turn a bit cooler so most of us in this temperature is single figures. heading to the evening. if you're celebrating new year's eve, going to see fireworks, we not expecting disruptive weather. we submit mailed, we may see some mist and fog forming or new year's eve things are looking mostly dry. do watch out for some reduced visibility in one of two places. headington millions day and we have the weather fronted by

the wednesday, and she had outdoors, it weather can make a full —— a fine day. permits a cloud but that should then and break into the afternoon. temperatures are reasonably mild but not as martyrs and has been through the weekend, many of us in single figures but because seized 10 degrees down to the south—west, that i was looking an hour.

this is bbc news. i'm lu kwesa i'm lukwesa burak. the headlines: man has appeared in court in the united states after five people were stabbed at the home of a rabbi in new york state. the mayor has called domestic terrorism. the sydney new year's eve fireworks will go ahead despite a petition against it. the mother of