cricketing authorities here also say there will be fundraising efforts during the syd ney test be fundraising efforts during the sydney test match similar to those that raised money for breast cancer, the charity set up by glenn mcgrath. australian cricketing authorities well aware that this test match is coming ata well aware that this test match is coming at a time of great crisis for this country and we also hear that ina this country and we also hear that in a practical way, the umpires will

able to suspend play if smoke from the bushfire sweeps over the ground as it has done in the city of sydone in the city of sydney many, many times in recent weeks. as you just mentioned, air quality will be a concern. will pollution affect the match if referees or umpires see things? if you weeks ago we had a big match in canberra affected by smoke. it was absolutely hideous. it was choking smoke, not only for players but supporters as well. i would imagine if we have that sort of situation at the sydney cricket ground, swift action would be taken by the umpires. they would be well aware that this smoke is a horrible toxic haze that can be extremely uncomfortable and health officials say it can be quite dangerous as well so one would have thought umpires will be extremely wary of the threat of the smoke and the smoke could affect visibility. when it comes to balls being bowled at the ferocity of these test match players, visibility is extremely important. let's have a quick look at some of the day's other sports stories. and staying with the australian bushfires, nick krgios has pledged

teams were ousted by the australian prime minister, scott morrison, at his official residence here in sydar black arm bands in acknowledgement of the bushfire crisis that is sweeping many australian states. cricketing authorities here also say that there will be fundraising efforts during the sydney test match. similar to those that raised money for breast cancer the charity set up by glenn mcgrath. australian cricketing charities well aware this test match is coming at a time of great crisis for the country and we also hear that in a practical way, the umpires will be allowed to suspend play if smoke from the bushfire sweeps across the ground, as it has in syd ney across the ground, as it has in sydney many times during recent weeks. arsenal defender calum chambers will be out for the rest of the season after rupturing a cruciate ligament. he was injured in last sunday's defeat at home to chelsea, and he's had surgery today on his left knee. they'll look to find cover for him in the transfer window. liverpool will be looking to re—establish their 13 point lead at the top of the premier l

of course, it is new year's day there and we saw the syd ney year's day there and we saw the sydney fireworkss, a fantastic display, but there was a lot of controversy about whether that should have happened. what has been the reactions and then? pretty mixed, actually. before the fireworks went ahead, there was an online petition that attracted tens of thousands of signatures, believing that the event would have been inappropriate, an insulted bushfire affected regions. the city council here in sydney was adamant that the event should go ahead stoppage said that it was spreading a message of hope and optimism about $1.5 million has been raised from the fireworks to bushfire relief, but there will be many australians will be very uneasy that the country was my biggest city should celebrate in sucha was my biggest city should celebrate in such a spectacular, such a fla m boya nt in such a spectacular, such a flamboyant way when there are other australians who are fearing for their lives, hiding in halls, for example, hiding at home waiting for the fires to come. so it is very uneasy time for m

going into town to my uncle's place, we will stay here for a while and see how we go, we might go to sydydney or canberra in the next few days otherwise we willjust camp and see how we go here. do you feel like there has been enough of a firefighting efforts, in a firefighters to really deal with this? the problem is there are so many fires. where do they go? every little town has a brigade. if you have 300 fires across the state, where do they all go? they are prioritising safety, i guess, and it is really very frightening. well, thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us, and we wish you the very best and we hope you can stay safe. thank you. that is anna clark, she was on a farm in tathra in new south wales, forced to evacuate those terrifying fires in new south wales. we will keep you up—to—date as the situation continues to develop in both new south wales and victoria. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: we'll have more on the us and plans to send reinforcements to help defend its embassy in baghdad. the most ambitious financial and political change ever attempted ha

this is kangaroo valley, is about two hours‘ drive to the south of syd ney two hours‘ drive to the southf the most famous landmarks in this particular region, this bridge. this area should be bustling with tourists. there are many attractions here for visitors but it is very, very quiet here and this is a scene thatis very quiet here and this is a scene that is being repeated in many other holiday parts of australia given that it holiday parts of australia given thatitis holiday parts of australia given that it is just over half way through australia‘s summer. it should be an area that is generating lots of money for local people. just to give you a sense mike as to the lay of the land over here, we have the local museum, we have a business hiring kayaks and bicycles. these are businesses that rely on the summer are businesses that rely on the summer trade here. a few weeks ago, there were very serious bushfires not too far away from here and the net result is that many visitors have either been scared away all worried about the fires returning. it's worried about the fires returning. it

that is in the financial review, it is also in the syd ney financial review, it is also in the sydneyan take you through to the daily telegraph, you will recognise this man if you are a cricket man, it is shane wawn, promising to sell his treasured green cricket cap. he isjust promising to sell his treasured green cricket cap. he is just one of many celebrities promising money to communities ravaged by the bushfires 01’ communities ravaged by the bushfires or to help the firefighters as well. he said, i thought someone might get i°y he said, i thought someone might get joy out of it and it means a significant amount of money can go to those in need of help. we have seen to those in need of help. we have seen lots of the tennis stars here in australia right now, everyone from maria sharapova to ash barty promising some of their winnings to help with recovery efforts as well and those celebrities in hollywood like nicole kidman as well, offering to give money and kylie minogue as well donating money. finally, as a mention, it has been raining and in the australian, after the horror, rai

the military has been called in, the navy ship left syd ney has been called in, the navy ship left sydneyn the last few hours heading south to the south coast of new south wales and also the coast of victoria, too, and we know that military helicopters are flying in as well so, in many ways, australia is on as well so, in many ways, australia isona as well so, in many ways, australia is on a war footing, there are people stranded, people trapped, the military is being deployed and this crisis shows no sign of ending. phil mercer, a sombre beginning to 2020, thanks very much for that update. people living in the path of ferocious bushfires in australia, have described the scene as "like the end of the world". it's feared hundreds more homes have been lost, as the fire continues to spread. billy tusker howarth is visiting family in new south wales and described the conditions. thank you very much for talking to us. thank you very much for talking to us. this isn't quite the trip you we re us. this isn't quite the trip you were expecting. no, definitely not. iam from were expecting. no, defi

as parts of australia are ablaze amid relentless wildfires, the political firestorm focused on syd ney political firestorm focused on sydney's display but the fireworks did go for the city's harbour bridge. bright lights amid dark days. and in scotland, an alternative take on new year's celebrations. a flaming, spinning spectacular, you shouldn't try at home. gareth barlow, bbc news. let's see what the weather prospects are. a little duller for us, let's see what the weather prospects are. a little dullerfor us, but never dull with carol kirkwood. happy new year to you, and you are still remembered at barometer world in north devon. i was there last week and they said to say hello. how lovely! happy new year to them, to you and to you at home. it is a dull start of the day to day. we have had some fog and frost this morning and if you are out and about, there is a lot of cloud around. some of the cloud is thick enough to produce spots of drizzle. sunny intervals gci’oss spots of drizzle. sunny intervals across parts of east anglia. overnight, the wind is strengthening and we have a ban

this is about 500 kilometres to the south of syd ney about 500 kilometres to the south of sydney andcular region, an emergency was issued for a very large and fast—moving bushfire so if these reports are correct of an aircraft crashing in that part of southern new south wales, it will mean that is very long and destruct have bushfire season long and destruct have bushfire season here in australia would have taken potentially season here in australia would have ta ken potentially another catastrophic turn. and the weather seems to have taken another turn. a senior government minister saying this is a return to the bad old days. in the last week or so, we've had very heavy rain in parts of eastern australia and the authorities were worried it could lead to a sense of complacency among people in fire prone areas. as you say, one senior member of the new south wales government says today's very hot and windy conditions were returned the bad old days of months gone by and you have to remember this bushfire crisis began back in september. of these 30 people have been killed, hundreds of ho

we've seen a bit of respite from the extraordinary temperatures we have had in the western parts of sydy alone, temperatures of 48.9 degrees, and we saw the wind speed gusting up to 60 and 70 kilometres an hourand a gusting up to 60 and 70 kilometres an hour and a dramatic change in the wind late yesterday evening from the south and that push the fires in a whole new direction and we saw a further spread of the fires and it's likely at this point we saw 60 additional homes burned yesterday but more favourable conditions today and that looking to continue over the coming days towards the weekend where we are likely to see temperatures starting to push up into the high 30s again coupled with some strong westerly winds that really co m e some strong westerly winds that really come out of the centre of the nation and causes the driving of these fire conditions we have seen over the previous weeks and months. it's not that you are not used to dealing with bushfires but the scale of this must be unlike anything you've ever experienced in your professional career? yeah, across new south wales

this article in the syd ney australia.ld saying the prime minister says australia ‘s environmental policies will protect the environment and seek to reduce the environment and seek to reduce the hazard of fires, while the country is burning at the moment.” don't know how many australians will be happy to hear this, he seems quite sure what they have got in place at the moment is enough and will be enough to continue supporting australia through the current devastation and in the future. people are obviously calling for more and more action from the australian government to do something. i think you see it all over the news this morning, the challenge with traffic in getting out when they've been told to get out when they've been told to get out and big fuel shortages and probably what people want to hear something a lot more progressive than what has been said and there will probably keep calling for it in the weeks to come. no matter what happens in these fires are expected to last for weeks to come which is such a scary

plenty of showers and stretching from syd ney of showers and stretching from sydney and melbourne aserly cold air sitting across the northwest coming out of canada bumping into some warm moist air from the southeast and that brought some record breaking heat over the weekend to florida. in naples florida we sought temperature is 32 celsius, the hottest january florida we sought temperature is 32 celsius, the hottestjanuary day ever. but, where he does to eysseric it was a frontal system which brought heavy flooding rains, take a look that up, this weekend with significant rainfall and it did bring some devastation as well. there is more rain to come in the forecast as well for tuesday and into wednesday you can see some intense rain stretching pretty intense rain stretching through oklahoma up through the mississippi valley and towards washington as well. here we will see some rain and to the south of that it still stays pretty warm, temperatures in florida are likely to peak at 28 degrees and by contrast just take a to peak at 28 degrees and by contrastjust take a look to peak at 28

three people have been killed after an aircraft crash south of syd ney after an aircraft crash southorate the 70 with anniversary of the liberation of auschwitz. it is first visit to the country in an official capacity. the service of the holocaust memorial centre will be attended by other leaders to pay homage to the millions of dues killed by the nazis. movie mogul harvey weinstein has been described asa harvey weinstein has been described as a seasoned sexual predator by prosecutors in new york. he appeared in court accused of rape and sexual assault against two women. if found guilty, he could face the rest of his life behind bars. the trial is expected to finish in march. an nhs hospital trust has apologised for preventable baby deaths after a bbc investigation discoverd at least seven deaths at the east kent nhs foundation trust since 2016. the trust apologised to the parents and said it has "not always provided the right standard of care for every woman and baby". our social affairs correspondent michael buchanan reports. archie powell was born last february, a twin brother to

allowed to suspend play if smoke from the bushfires sweeps over the ground as it has done the city of sydel wray has retired. the club was found to be in breach of the salary cap rules last november. they were fined just over £5 billion. he said in a statement he felt it was time to step down and just enjoy being a fan of this incredible rugby club. he will continue to bankroll the club offering what he says is the required financial support. edward griffiths is interim chief executive. the new pdc darts world champion peter wright said he took on his snakebite image to act as a mask to hide his shyness. he beat world number one michael van gerwen ad alexandra palace last night to win the title for the first time at the age of 49. it's crazy. it has been a dream of mine to be the world champion. now i have finally done it and it's just... i champion. now i have finally done it and it'sjust... i didn't sleep at all last night. it was terrible. i have had no sleep. it has actually sunkin have had no sleep. it has actually sunk in that i am world champion. i am over the moon. a great achieve

penrith in australia which isjust on saturday in penrith in australia which is just on the outskirts of syd talk about the australian weather because thatis about the australian weather because that is where we take our viewers next. wildlife experts estimate that 500 million mammals, birds and reptiles have been killed in the australian bushfires, with some endangered species in sanctuaries like kangaroo island lost forever. the area was also a safe havan for koalas before the fires, but blazes raged out of control on friday, and it's thought at least half their population have been wiped out. locals and firefighters have been taking the injured animals to kangeroo island wildlife park, which is battling to keep them alive. we can speak now to the owner of the centre, sam mitchell. just to warn viewers, we have been having a bit of trouble with the line. you have a koala with you. tell us about how many creatures you are having to look after. absolutely. this guy came in as you we re absolutely. this guy came in as you were trying to get through to me. pretty large male with some severe bu