more funding, and ask the home secretary for guarantees, two women are injured when a festive fairground ride malfunctions. santa paws is coming, with sales of christmas pet toys and treats booming, what presnts are in store for arlo and furry friends this festive season? tottenham's rescue act at rangers. spurs sneaking a point at ibrox in a game they feel they should have won. we can do it by satellite but nothing better than someone going up and taking those readings. i and taking those readings. i discover the heights scaled in search of accurate weather data. and today plenty of cloud around. at sweeping away the grey skies this

weekend and more sunshine at least for a time. it's friday 13th december. our main story. police chiefs have warned the home secretary that without further funding, neighbourhood policing could be cut, due to the increased costs of employee taxes and wages. it comes a week after the government pledged to have a named police officer in every neighbourhood. yvette cooper has promised forces will be compensated — but some are facing budget deficits of more than £10 million as political correspondent tom symonds reports. get by successful, get by successful. we now have one—six ahead. lincolnshire, rural in parts, is anything but quiet. when a man stole a motorway service vehicle and raced through four counties, lincolnshire police eventually stopped him. their patch is huge. they say they're severely stretched. it comes all the way round,

all the way up and just finishes below the town of grimsby, which is our neighbouring force area of humberside. we deploy around 67 police officers on neighbourhood patrols in this entire county. that's roughly what they deploy in that single town of grimsby. in just one town? the conservative police commissioner says the difference between lincolnshire and neighbouring humberside is down to the formula used to allocate police force funding. the problem for lincolnshire is that the formula, which decides how much each police force gets, was calculated nearly 20 years ago and, in that time, the population of the county has gone up by around 13%. if it was recalculated by the government, well, lincolnshire would do quite well, but other forces would lose money and it's likely they would complain about that. so for now, the formula is unchanged and some forces say they're struggling. on top of that, chief constables, including lincolnshire�*s, are now faced with funding a police pay rise and the higher employer national insurance payments

announced in the budget. i would need to be taking somewhere between 400, maybe more than 400, police officers and police staff out of the organisation. if the government doesn't help you out with all of these costs, you're going to lose a third of your police officers? yes. at what point does a police force lose its viability? but the bottom line is we can't police on a shoestring. we have to be afforded a reasonable level of resourcing to enable us to do ourjob. now, the home office insists police forces will be fully compensated for the changes to employer national insurance contributions. a funding announcement next week will cover the annual pay award in full and give forces more money to recruit officers and keep our streets safe. but that's just for one year. police chiefs say they need long—term certainty. at least a dozen have written to the government asking for reassurance, including the metropolitan police — by far the biggest in the country —

warning of a potential deficit of £450 million. essex police is facing a £10 million funding gap, it says. and lincolnshire police, which is forecasting underfunding of £57 million over the next few years. under arrest. possession with intent to supply. the government's longer term strategy is a push for better police productivity, more tech for officers, forces sharing resources and buying services together to maximise purchasing power. but it's promising 13,000 more neighbourhood officers. the police say if the funding isn't right, there's a risk green recruits will simply replace experienced officers they've had to let go. tom symonds, bbc news, lincolnshire. charlie is picking up on the story of where emergency services have been called to an unusual rescue.

details coming in now. two people have been taken to hospital after a fairground ride in birmingham city centre malfunctioned last night. west midlands fire service said the city flyer ride dropped to ground level whilst in operation. 0ur reporter graham satchell has more. the immediate aftermath of what must have been a terrifying moment in the centre of birmingham, after a fairground ride failed and crashed to the ground. the ride had dropped a bit. they said someone had fallen out and then, like, it was quite clear, like you can see that, like, the wires have been crossed and like they've obviously like knocked together or something. the city flyer is a regular attraction at this time of year in birmingham. these pictures from the summer show how it climbs to more than 50m and rotates at considerable speed. last night, emergency services cordoned off the area. they said two women had been taken to hospital, although their injuries are not thought to be serious. another 11 were treated at the scene. an investigation has begun to see how the wires of the ride became

entangled and what caused it to fail. graham satchell, bbc news. the government has revealed more details on how it intends to produce green electricity in the uk by 2030. the clean power action plan includes measures to make it easier to build onshore wind farms and connect new infrastructure to the power grid, but critics say the plans are too expensive and won't lower energy bills. here's our environment correspondent, jonah fisher. more than half of the electricity the uk generates is now made without burning fossil fuels. much of that is wind. huge turbines covering areas the size of cities spin out of sight offshore. and more is on the way. but hitting the government's target of 95% clean electricity by 2030 will require more than just lots of solar panels and turbines. the way our electricity gets around

just isn't up to the job. there is a national grid system which we haven't seen updated for a significant amount of time in the uk and, essentially, it's a little bit like not having enough plug points in the house and everybody in a queue, so i'm waiting behind my partner and my sister to plug something in. and that's the basic thing. we've got, very important — and i would say that our projects are very important — and they need to be plugged in quickly so that they can start providing more powerfor the uk. the government's new plan, being announced today, will see the existing queue to plug in thrown out of the window. those projects that can have the most impact quickly will be given priority. it should also become easier to build onshore wind turbines in england. large wind farms will now be classified as of national significance, making it harder for local objections to hold up projects. energy secretary ed miliband says these are all part

of the most ambitious energy reforms in generations. but there are plenty of sceptics, too, asking if the costs are too high, the pace too fast and whether the government really can deliver both cleaner and cheaper power. jonah fisher, bbc news. we'll be joined by the energy security and net zero secretary ed miliband at 7.30. parliament has been suspended in syria for the next three months. the new administration said it is necessary for smooth transfer of power. it comes as syrians continue to search prisons and hospitals it comes as the us secretary of state, antony blinken, has held talks in turkey with president erdogan on establishing stability in the country.

0ur middle east correspondent lina sinjab is in damascus talk us through the latest steps of how power will work in syria. there are raid how power will work in syria. there are rapid developments _ how power will work in syria. there are rapid developments in - how power will work in syria. there are rapid developments in the - are rapid developments in the country. it seems the islamist rebel led government, interim government and the leader of the rebels are trying to provide quick decisions to ensure a soft and peaceful transition of power. this is also at a time when international and regional powers are announcing support. we have seen a visit by us secretary of state antony blinken to jordan and now turkey. he said he is back to the region to coordinate regional efforts and make sure to support syria's transition into a peaceful government that is inclusive, nonsectarian, a government that protects the rights of minorities and women. he is

sending a strong message to that. also g summit members are meeting later to support, to support syria in the transition of government. jordan is holding a meeting with foreign secretaries and arab secretaries on saturday, and it is happening when this civil society today in syria is holding mass demonstrations across the country so they celebrate what they call the toppling of the regime and a new beginning for syria. a chinese businessman described as a close confidant of the duke of york has lost his appeal against a decision to bar him from entering the uk on national security grounds. the home office said it had reason to believe the man — who was invited to prince andrew's birthday party in 2020 — had been engaged in covert activity on behalf of the chinese communist party. buckingham palace has declined to comment.

the national audit office is calling for electric vehicle charge points to be installed across england. its report warns that so far the focus has been on the south east and the needs of drivers with disabilities have not been met. the government wants to install 300,000 charge points by 2030. a new electronic chip could bring relief for eight million people in the uk who have sleep apnoea. the condition causes the airway to become obstructed, and breathing stops for several seconds or even minutes during sleep. the app—controlled device controls nerves in the tongue, which helps patients breathe overnight. scientists say they've discovered that inter—breeding between neanderthals and early humans while migrating from africa to europe around 48,000 years ago, was critical to the success of our species. the study suggests that the genes modern humans inherited from neanderthals may have helped our ancestors adapt to life away from africa. 0ur science correspondent pallab ghosh reports.

0ur kind evolved into various different types of human, but why were we the only ones to survive? the answer lies in the dna scientists extracted from ancient fossil remains. they show that our species, modern humans, died out several times. often, we are seeing ourselves, modern humans, as a big story of success coming out of africa 50,000 years ago, moving all over the world, expanding into all kinds of ecosystems and really being the kind of most successful mammal on the planet. but that actually shows that at that time, we were not. we've got extinct multiple times in different ecosystems or areas, continents like europe that we moved into. 0urspecies, homo sapiens, evolved in africa around 200,000 years ago. a large wave began to leave the continent around 60,000 years ago, running into the neanderthals on the way, and began to spread across the globe.

the new research shows that around 48,000 years ago, those leaving africa interbred with the neanderthals, who lived in the middle east and europe, and their offspring also migrated. the scientists found that those who arrived before the interbreeding went extinct. you can see straight away, the shape of the skull is different. the results, which have been in the journals nature and science, have surprised independent experts. perhaps getting neanderthal dna was even part of the success, because it gave us better adaptive capabilities outside of africa, because we had evolved in africa in an african environment. these other populations like neanderthals had evolved outside of africa, and they had, for example, immune defences to the local diseases and pathogens. by interbreeding with the neanderthals, we got a quick fix to our immune systems. the analysis of ancient dna has lifted a veil on the mysterious story about evolution.

that story has today been rewritten. pallab ghosh, bbc news. lipstick, factor 30 sunscreen and christmas cards fell out of favour with shoppers this year. ring and sequins dominated the tills, the wash—out summer saw sales of gazebos fall by 25% and there was less demand —— there was more demand for umbrellas. here's matt. you have an impact on what people are buying. it has been such a wet autumn. and i think warm jackets

this week. it has been grey and gloomy but i have good news. it has been grey and quite cold with it. whilst we have grey weather, temperatures remain on the cooler side. below average for the time of year. four degrees in glasgow yesterday. by the end of the weekend, it will turn milderfor all. temperatures in double figures. and for are time this weekend, we will see sunshine more widely. not too much of that this morning. the best of the brighter breaks likely in the north—east of scotland where we start with the frost. temperatures above freezing elsewhere. damp, light rain and drizzle. maybe heavier in devon and cornwall today. and then in parts of scotland today rain pushes in and that brings a change tomorrow.

temperatures down, in single figures. some struggling to get above two degrees. 0vernight, rain in scotland and northern ireland pushes south. clear skies will follow and with that the return of more frost, especially over the mountains in northern england, scotland and northern ireland. and in east anglia, southern counties of england and channel islands, tomorrow a gloomy start but bear with it as sunshine develops. showers in the west tomorrow. but scotland and northern ireland clouding over with light rain later. temperatures feeling better with more sunshine. 0n temperatures feeling better with more sunshine. on sunday, the breeze picks up but it will be milder. the cloud will be back. the family of harshita brella, whose body was found in the boot

of a car in east london last month, say they are overcome by grief. police believe the 24—year—old was murdered by her husband pankaj lamba. in september, lamba was arrested following a report of domestic abuse — he was released and a domestic violence protection order was issued. harshita's family in india say the last time they spoke to her was on 10th of november and her phone was switched off for the next two days. 0n the 14th of november, police discovered her body in a car in ilford, 100 miles from her home in corby. a murder investigation was launched naming her husband pankaj lamba as the prime suspect. 0ur south asia correspondent samira hussain has been speaking to the family in delhi and joins us now. this is a family devastated? it has been a little over a month since

harshita brella was killed, even though her body was found four days later. you can imagine speaking with her mother, father and sister, this is a family that is bereft. the grief is overwhelming. at the same time, all three demand some kind of justice for their daughter. they want to see whoever is responsible face those crimes. this is a clip of myself speaking with her mother in which she makes that case for justice. tell me about the last time you saw her. translation: we took her to the airport. when she was leaving for the uk. she was crying a lot, saying goodbye to me.

as she walked away, she turned her head to look at me. i did not know she was saying goodbye to me for the last time. she said, "mummy, iwill come visit in march or april." i didn't know this was how she would come home. god hasn't been kind to her. my daughter deserves justice. pa nkaj pankaj lamba is 23 and the husband of harshita brella and he is the prime suspect according to northamptonshire police who are leading the investigation. they believe he fled the country. they do not say where he is now. but her family firmly believes they are in india and they are desperate for any

police force, whether authorities in the uk or india to do something to try to bring this man to justice. thank you. let's have a look at today's papers. the i newspaper quotes the recently appointed nato chief warning that european members need to "turbo—charge" defence spending and "shift to a wartime mindset". the paper adds that prime minister sir keir starmer risks a showdown on the issue with donald trump. the daily mail reports that a close confidant of the duke of york has been banished from britain over claims he is a chinese spy. the paper says court documents have revealed that the man was barred from entering the country on security grounds after an investigation by m15. the guardian says jury trials could be axed for some criminal cases in england and wales to help ease backlogs in the crown courts. it reports that intermediate courts could be used, with cases heard by a judge

and magistrates, to speed up trials. and the metro — �*as the uk's problems pile up. out to lunch!�* the paper says conservative leader kemi badenoch has sparked a bizarre food fight with sir keir starmer by declaring that lunch is for wimps — especially sandwiches. a spokesman for the prime minister calls the sandwich a great british institution. not to get involved in that row, thatis not to get involved in that row, that is safer. shall we talk about food anyway? i have a food story. from the telegraph who are reporting about breakfast. the merits of breakfast and when you should eat it, how big the meal should be. the report looked at around 380 overweight spaniards and when they eat breakfast. data collected on their health, weight and breakfast habits and they found a substantial

breakfast accounting for 20—30% of daily calorie intake is better than a tiny breakfast. a huge meal or skipping entirely. when? the study says it did not find a perfect time for breakfast. it could be now at 6.22. it could be later. they did not find the answer but they said eating a good sized breakfast irrespective of how early or late in the morning will do you good. when is it breakfast, when is it brunch? the scientists say a full english does not meet the criteria of a balanced breakfast. they do not say when. but eat breakfast. i am in favour of that. eating it too early is impossible. i take your breakfast and bring you donkey cheese. have you ever had donkey

cheese? it is a delicacy. the reason is because donkeys do not produce, female donkeys do not produce a lot of milk. do you know what a female donkey is called? i am not sure. what do you think it is. i do not know. what is it. it is a jenny. it is a jenny. i did know that. they produce a small amount of milk, half a litre a day. we are looking at donkey's milk, which cleopatra bathed in. 60 euros per litre. there is a restaurant demanding that if customers want it they have to reserve a 2—3 days ahead, 100 grams of this cheese. 150 euros per plate. of this cheese. 150 euros per plate. of this cheese. 150 euros per plate. of this cheese. of this cheese. what does it taste like? the milk is

more translucent, has a hint of lemon, orange, mint, depending on herbs the donkeys have been eating. i can say i do not want donkey cheese for breakfast. 25 litres make a kilo of cheese from a donkey but ten litres is enough from a coward to make a of cheddar. —— from a cow. dozens of tiny seabirds — usually found in the arctic circle — have been crash—landing in people's gardens along the east coast of england. rescuers say the little auks were blown off—course by powerful winds during storm darragh. our environment correspondent paul murphy has been to a rescue centre where some of them are being cared for. hungry, weak, and 1,000 miles from home. these little birds have been battered by recent storms, crash landing all along the east coast. rescue centres have rarely seen so many. there are three here in mablethorpe. i've been here for 19 years now and i think i've seen two in that entire time. the main care that we can give them,

which is most important, is warmth, security and unlimited amount of food. these guys have obviously been blown off course because of the storm. we need to make sure that they've got nice full bellies before they can go anywhere else. storm darragh brought winds of up to 80mph and these little birds were no match for it. they were blown off course as they migrated west from islands in the arctic. the birds have some noisy roommates — rescued seal pups that were also stranded in the storm. and when the auks gain enough weight, they'll be released. we tend to release them at flamborough head or bempton cliffs, because obviously they can jump off the cliff and away they go. it's where they would go naturally in the wild, anyway, so it gives them their best option of releasing them there. until then, it's hoped a diet of small fish and rest under a heat lamp will give a big boost to the little birds.

paul murphy, bbc news. to the little birds. they to the little birds. are very cute. we will be talking they are very cute. we will be talking to chris hoy later in the programme. last month, sir chris hoy shared his terminal prostate cancer diagnosis and since then he's been speaking out to encourage others to check for symptoms. he's described it as the toughest year of his life — but says he's grateful for every day and is focussing on the positives. no matter what challenges you're facing, you can get through them. you can get through them. and it doesn't mean that there's going to be a happy ending. i'm not saying... look, i'm not i'm not delusional. i'm not i'm not delusional. i know what the end result will be, but that's not changed. you know, we all... nobody lives for ever. our time on this planet is finite. don't waste your time worrying about stuff that isn't that important. focus on the things that are important. focus on your family,

the people in your life. that thing that you've always planned to do one day. why not do it today? my perspective on life has changed massively. you know, i am more thankful. i'm more grateful for each day. it's been a tough year and it's going to be tough ahead in the future, too. but for now, right here, right now, we're doing pretty well. a lot of people will have been moved watching that interview with sir chris hoy. but it also meant a watching that interview with sir chris hoy. but it als