phil mercer, i know ou'll eight days. phil mercer, i know you'll keep _ eight days. i know you'll keep a close _ eight days. phil mercer, i know you'll keep a close watch - eight days. phil mercer, i know you'll keep a close watch on . you'll keep a close watch on that. thank you very much for sharing that story. let's look at other stories in the headlines in the uk. the uk has signed a trade deal with 11 countries in asia and the pacific, including japan and australia. the business secretary, kemi badenoch, defended the decision to join the trading bloc, known as the cptpp, despite government estimates that it will add just 0.08% to the uk economy over ten years. she's described it as a momentous occasion. labor party leader sir keir starmer has refused to say whether labour government would spend more money on public services. he said while the party would always invest in public services it needed to be focused, laserfocused, rather, ungraded economy first. prioritised big reforms are not expanding. he was speaking to dominic sunday with laura coopersburg. it dom

phil mercer for _ off the coast of queensland. phil mercer for us _ off the coast of queensland.hil mercer for us in sydney, thank you mercerfor us in sydney, thank you very much. let 5 get some of the day 5 other news now. the president of peru, dina boluarte, has apologised for the deaths of dozens of people in protests since she took office. up to 80 peruvian civilians and members of the security forces have died in clashes after the former president pedro castillo was ousted in december. ms boluarte's speech was met with protests in the capital lima, even as she called for national reconciliation. typhoon doksuri made landfall in southern china on friday after wreaking havoc in the philippines and taiwan earlier this week. as many as 36 people were killed in the philippines. doksuri has affected nearly 725,000 people just in china — with almost a quarter of a million people evacuated and causing serious economic damage. the ceremony for america's 75th emmy awards has been postponed due to writers and actors�* strikes for better pay and working conditions. striking actors are

sydney corresponded phil mercer. thanks a _ agreement. sydney corresponded phil mercer.he next cabinet reshuffle. he's been one of the most consistent advocates of western military aid to ukraine. mr wallace says he's standing down due to the toll the job had taken on his family. he was widely tipped to be the next head of nato, but more recently ruled himself out. twitter owner elon musk said saturday that advertising revenue has fallen just as competition between the microblogging platform and emerging rival threads intensifies. musk tweeted: he said his social media site will "need to reach positive "cash flow before we have the luxury of anything else." turning to israel now where prime minister benjamin netanyahu says he is feeling "very well" after experiencing dizziness and being rushed to hospital. he was taken to sheba medical centre near tel aviv, his office said he was in "good condition and undergoing medical evaluation." the preliminary assessment is that he was dehydrated. but he's being kept in overnight and an israeli cabinet meeting is being postponed fr

here in the southern _ sydney, phil mercer. here in the southern pacific- sydney, phil mercer.outhern pacific there i sydney, phil mercer. here in the southern pacific there is | the southern pacific there is anxiety— the southern pacific there is anxiety and concern that plans to release that waste water from — to release that waste water from japan's stricken nuclear power— from japan's stricken nuclear power plant in the south pacific _ power plant in the south pacific. fishermen have been explaining that they fear a legacy— explaining that they fear a legacy of toxicity if these plans _ legacy of toxicity if these plans go ahead and they fear that— plans go ahead and they fear that the _ plans go ahead and they fear that the release of this waste water— that the release of this waste water will harm not only their lives — water will harm not only their lives but _ water will harm not only their lives but also their livelihoods and they are not convinced by the assurance, the assurances _ convinced by the assurance, the assurances given byjapanese assurances given by japanes

live now to sydney and our correspondent phil mercer. latest you can tell us about the helicopter accident? well, the helicopter accident? well, the accident _ the helicopter accident? well, the accident took _ the helicopter accident? well, the accident took place - the helicopter accident? well, the accident took place about| the accident took place about 16 hours ago and as of the australian defence minister richard marles was explaining, a huge search and rescue mission is under way. it involves both the australian military and the us military as well as the queensland police service in the north of australia along with civilian boats as well. so, this accident took place around 10:30pm local time. accident took place around 10:30pm localtime. it accident took place around 10:30pm local time. it was a night—time drill as a part of exercise talisman sabre. these massive wargames involving australian and us forces, along with armed personnel from around one dozen countries. mostly in northern australia. now, the helicopter came down in

phil mercer reporting.h a message to russian president vladimir putin. you lost. speaking after the summit with nordic leaders in finland, president biden downplayed the chances of a lengthy stalemate in ukraine, adding he believed president putin would eventually decided it was not in russia's interest to continue fighting. president biden also insisted ukraine would one dayjoin the nato military alliance but not while the country is still at war. the foremost winner of thailand's elections in may peter ridd of the move forward party has failed to win enough support in parliament to become the country's ex—prime minister. he needed the endorsement of the unelected senate when members either stayed or voted against him. jonathan head gave us the latest on the political manoeuvring in bangkok. these are all supporters of the reformist party move forward who gathered here at this park at cybertip parliament throughout today to watch the vote as it came in through a big screen behind me and there were cheers e

let's speak to our correspondent in sydney, phil mercer.ries 2—0 at one point. it's just after 8am and many australian cricket fans will be quietly crying into their cappuccinos this morning. a great deal of disappointment that history could not have been made in that fifth and final test match at the oval grounds in london. given that 0val grounds in london. given that one point on the final day come australia was in a strong position with steve smith. arguably australia's most accomplished batsmen still at the crease, but a collapse followed and history was denied. so i think right across this sports assessed country of australia there will be mixed emotions. disappointment of the opportunity loss, but also a sense that australia is certainly in the latter part of the ashes series has been quite fortunate to escape with that 2- quite fortunate to escape with that 2— to draw given that in that test match in old trafford, they were down and almost out and saved by the rain. so disappointment for australia, but satisfaction as well that the

live now to sydney and our correspondent phil mercer. this move been received in australia? these drugs were approved by australia's medical regulator, the therapeutic goods act illustrator, in february of this year and the move did take many people in the psychiatric and psychological community by surprise. the therapeutic goods administration was aware of concerned about a lack of research or a lack of definitive research in this field but it said that there was emerging evidence that these treatments could help people with psychological and psychiatric disorders that were not touched or helped by current treatments. so, what it means in australia from today is that approved psychiatrists can prescribe mdma — this is the active ingredient in a party drugs such as ecstasy — to treat post—traumatic stress disorder and also a compound found in those magic mushrooms can also be treated from today for people suffering from depression that has not been able to be treated with other forms of therapy. so, it is quite a controversial move. some

here's phil mercer in sydney with the latest.t in party drugs such as ecstasy — to treat post—traumatic stress disorder. there's also a compound from those magic mushrooms called psilocybin and that will be used to treat depression or people with depression who have had other treatments that haven't worked. so there is a difference of opinion among many practitioners. some believe psychedelic drugs have the power to transform the treatment of certain psychiatric conditions. other experts here in australia and beyond believe that australia has been too quick to appprove these feel—good chemicals and some of those critics believe if things don't go right, these drugs could exacerbate those mental health conditions. so an awful lot of discussion, as the therapeutic goods administration has noted. this is australia's medical regulator. it says that the research in this field is inconclusive, but there are promising signs that these drugs could help people with those debilitating conditions, ptsd and depression. just stop 0il protesto

joining me now with the latest on this is the bbc�*s phil mercer.rs are accused of. they are accused — operators are accused of. they are accused of— operators are accused of. they are accused of serious - operators are accused of. they are accused of serious health | are accused of serious health and safety breaches. by new zealand's brick —— workplace safety. six residents have been on trial in new zealand to's biggest city, they have denied the charges. this relates to awful events in december 2019, an eruption of new zealand's most active volcano also known by its maori name, 22 people were killed. 47 people where on the island at the time and on most all of the survivors suffered a very, very serious burn, and this week we have been hearing some very graphic evidence as to exactly what happened as the court tries to establish exactly why these charges have been brought and whether or not the defendants are guilty or not. can whether or not the defendants are guilty or not.— are guilty or not. can you tell us about _ are guilty or not. can you t

phil mercer is in sydney.mes, going ahead. the federation will somehow have to come up with a new solution?— will somehow have to come up with a new solution? yes, they have only _ with a new solution? yes, they have only three _ with a new solution? yes, they have only three years - with a new solution? yes, they have only three years to - with a new solution? yes, they have only three years to find i with a new solution? yes, they have only three years to find a | have only three years to find a plan b, according to the victorian state premier, daniel andrews the event in 2026 would have been for the southern australian state, or cost and benefit, does come down to calculations the victoria state has made, last year very few countries, if any showed interest in hosting the event. victoria stepped in but now we have the situation now it is walking away because of financial constraints. the authorities in victoria believe their original bus —— budget estimates have blown out up to three times in the state gove

our correspondent, phil mercer, has the latest from sydney.f the helicopter has been discovered, in usually a very popular tourist area. the wreckage was found near hamilton island, north of brisbane. what happens next is that navy divers will tomorrow, sunday, and begin to scour the sea bed. there is still no sign of the four people who were on board this australian army helicopter when it dates into the sea. it was taking part in night—time manoeuvres with a second aircraft off the queensland coast, and it is part of talisman saber, this massive military operation, war drills involving australian and united states troops along with lt personnel from almost along with lt personnel from almost a dozen other countries —— military personnel. the investigation is now ongoing, and of course the search for those missing aircrew will also continue over the weekend. figs for those missing aircrew will also continue over the weekend. as we mentioned. _ continue over the weekend. as we mentioned, this _ continue over the weekend. as we mentioned, this c

our correspondent, phil mercer, has the latest from sydney.y a very popular tourist area, and the wreckage was found near hamilton island off the course of brisbane. what happens next is that navy divers will begin to scour the sea bed. there is still no sign of the four people who were on board this australian army helicopter when it ditched into the sea. it was taking part in night—time manoeuvres when a second aircraft of the queensland coast, and it is part of talisman sabre, this massive military operation of war drills involving australian and united states troops, along with military personnel from a dozen other countries, involving military personnel. the investigation is now ongoing, and the search for those missing aircrew will now also continue over the weekend. studio: and re mentioned this comes as antony blinken and lloyd austin meet their counterparts, penny wong and richard morris. what were they talking about? the and richard morris. what were they talking about?— talking about? the helicopter crashes certainly _ talking about

live now to our sydney correspondent, phil mercer. how significant is this announcement?overnment, _ announcement? according to the uk government, this _ announcement? according to the uk government, this accords - uk government, this accords with 11 members across the indo—pacific region, is a massive opportunity for uk businesses to potentially sell goods and services to 500 million people. the comprehensive, progressive agreement for trans—pacific partnership, that is their ctp pp now has its first european member, the united kingdom has formally signed up at a meeting in the new zealand city of auckland. certainly, when you look at the details, the short—term games for the british economy are likely to be fairly modest, even according to government figures, overthe according to government figures, over the next decade or so, adding figures, over the next decade orso, adding to figures, over the next decade or so, adding to britain's income will be fairly small. but looking into the future, the future success if you like of britain's entry could well depend on the worl