:00:00. > :00:11.earlier this evening. There will be more on that and any
:00:12. > :00:15.Talks will be held tomorrow to try to prevent a strike
:00:16. > :00:21.employed by Swissport - are planning to strike
:00:22. > :00:24.More than half a million passengers are expected to pass
:00:25. > :00:26.through the airport over the holiday period.
:00:27. > :00:34.This has become one of the busiest times of the year.
:00:35. > :00:39.640,000 people are expected to travel through Manchester Airport
:00:40. > :00:45.That's more than 20% up on last year, it's a record.
:00:46. > :00:48.At Liverpool too, the numbers are on the up,
:00:49. > :00:54.And whether or not you are affected by this dispute over pay is likely
:00:55. > :01:02.First of all, if you're flying from Liverpool, Swissport do
:01:03. > :01:04.operate baggage handlers there, but they're members of a different
:01:05. > :01:07.union, so they're not expected to go on strike.
:01:08. > :01:10.If you fly from Manchester, it may depend on which airline you're with.
:01:11. > :01:16.Ettihad, Monarch, Virgin Atlantic are three of about 30 airlines that
:01:17. > :01:20.are involved with Swissport, whose bags are handled by Swissport.
:01:21. > :01:23.Of course, the company will do their best to minimise any
:01:24. > :01:25.disruption to passengers, and the dispute may not
:01:26. > :01:30.even go to a strike, because there are talks tomorrow at Acas.
:01:31. > :01:33.But the strike is scheduled start at midnight on Thursday
:01:34. > :01:37.going into Friday morning and to finish at midnight on Christmas Eve,
:01:38. > :01:47.And even if this strike is called off, just to warn you,
:01:48. > :01:48.there are two other national disputes threatening
:01:49. > :01:52.one of them involving airline pilots at Virgin Atlantic,
:01:53. > :01:54.and the other involving British Airways cabin staff.
:01:55. > :01:57.So quite a bit of uncertainty if you're heading into the skies
:01:58. > :02:01.on your way to see family or just to seek some sunshine
:02:02. > :02:06.Members of Manchester's Syrian community have met tonight
:02:07. > :02:10.to discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis in their homeland.
:02:11. > :02:13.Greater Manchester has the second-largest Syrian
:02:14. > :02:16.community in the UK, and many are worried about relatives
:02:17. > :02:22.Syria has been at war for over five years,
:02:23. > :02:25.with millions of people forced to leave the country.
:02:26. > :02:27.Those here tonight say they hope their stories will
:02:28. > :02:30.increase awareness of the true plight of Syrians.
:02:31. > :02:32.There's been so much confusion over what's happening in Syria
:02:33. > :02:36.And so much propaganda being promoted.
:02:37. > :02:40.We wanted to take this opportunity today to explain the situation
:02:41. > :02:45.Daher arrived in Manchester from Syria two years ago,
:02:46. > :02:51.They are happy, because they are safe.
:02:52. > :02:54.But we still think about the other members of our family,
:02:55. > :02:59.What do you want people here in Manchester to know about Syria?
:03:00. > :03:02.Just want them to know that the war in Syria is not
:03:03. > :03:08.a civil war, just between an opposition and a regime.
:03:09. > :03:12.People want out the street, just for freedom.
:03:13. > :03:15.Yasser came to the North West from Aleppo last year.
:03:16. > :03:22.We are in the 21st century, and can you imagine that people
:03:23. > :03:25.are killed by barrel bombs, just because they ask for freedom?
:03:26. > :03:29.I think now, our friends in Manchester, especially
:03:30. > :03:33.Manchester, they get to know the reality and they
:03:34. > :03:37.While for Haytham, contacting friends and relatives
:03:38. > :03:43.Everyday, we're looking if they're still alive or not.
:03:44. > :03:46.Because when you talk to them, you listen to the sound
:03:47. > :03:50.of the barrel bombs in the background.
:03:51. > :03:57.It's not easy to listen to that all the time.
:03:58. > :04:00.Meanwhile, a Greater Manchester charity has launched a huge mission
:04:01. > :04:03.to provide aid to thousands of people fleeing Aleppo.
:04:04. > :04:06.As the city's being evacuated under a truce deal, many
:04:07. > :04:11.Up to 8000 people have already arrived in nearby Azaz,
:04:12. > :04:17.Earlier, I spoke to Rehan Salim from the charity and asked him how
:04:18. > :04:23.The word from our ground teams is that people are leaving with only
:04:24. > :04:30.They are carrying what they can carry in terms of foodstuff, etc.
:04:31. > :04:33.Unfortunately, they're going through dire conditions,
:04:34. > :04:37.in the winter it gets down to around minus four degrees.
:04:38. > :04:39.People are freezing, they don't have any food,
:04:40. > :04:45.People are struggling making their way to Azaz.
:04:46. > :04:50.8000 people is a lot to descend on one area,
:04:51. > :04:53.how do you cope with that amount of people?
:04:54. > :04:55.That is the issue, and they're expecting maybe another
:04:56. > :05:02.We and many other charities are working on Azaz.
:05:03. > :05:05.We're working in terms of providing hot food meals,
:05:06. > :05:09.particularly when people are coming from this area.
:05:10. > :05:13.Lack of food and water, we're providing 5000 meals per day.
:05:14. > :05:16.One of the big concerns for ourselves is that
:05:17. > :05:20.a good 30-40% of those leaving are children.
:05:21. > :05:22.The children, many are without their parents.
:05:23. > :05:26.So when they get to Azaz, they don't have anyone there.
:05:27. > :05:28.This is a concern for people like Unicef, who are
:05:29. > :05:40.Reports are saying, because Idlib is right next to Aleppo,
:05:41. > :05:42.there is potential this could be the next target in
:05:43. > :05:48.This is something we're preparing for, but for the time being,
:05:49. > :05:55.We saw you're providing shelter and food, what can people here do?
:05:56. > :06:04.So far, we've had such great reaction to the Aleppo appeal,
:06:05. > :06:06.I think, in the first three days, we raised around ?250,000,
:06:07. > :06:11.that is a testament to the people of Manchester and the UK,
:06:12. > :06:13.the majority of the donations have come from here.
:06:14. > :06:16.People are feeling it, with the Facebook videos.
:06:17. > :06:18.I think people feel a responsibility,
:06:19. > :06:29.A man and a woman in their 20s have been arrested after a baby was found
:06:30. > :06:30.A Warrington-based housing association has signed
:06:31. > :06:33.a ?2.5 billion pound deal to build thousands of flat-pack
:06:34. > :06:36.Your Housing Group are linking up with the
:06:37. > :06:38.Chinese National Building Company to build factories in the UK
:06:39. > :06:43.Its expected at least one of the factories will be
:06:44. > :06:48.A plaque has been unveiled at Liverpool Town Hall to the memory
:06:49. > :06:51.of the hundreds of local people who supported the anti-fascist cause
:06:52. > :06:56.The new memorial marks the 80th anniversary of the war
:06:57. > :07:01.Of the 130 that went to fight for the International
:07:02. > :07:06.Brigade against Franco - 28 were killed.
:07:07. > :07:10.Timothy Broadhurst loves playing sport and socialising with friends -
:07:11. > :07:18.Now, thanks to a new scheme, he's become a valued member of staff
:07:19. > :07:21.at the head office of shoe repair firm Timpson in Manchester.
:07:22. > :07:28.Timothy Broadhurst is 25, and has been working
:07:29. > :07:33.It's down to DS WorkFit, an organisation which helps
:07:34. > :07:37.employers to connect with people with Down's syndrome.
:07:38. > :07:41.This is one of my jobs, car park managing.
:07:42. > :07:45.This is the postroom, where I sort the post out.
:07:46. > :07:47.When he first started, his colleagues were given additional
:07:48. > :07:50.training to understand the challenges facing someone
:07:51. > :07:57.One of the main objects for us is finding a manager who really
:07:58. > :08:03.wants to employ someone who has Down's syndrome.
:08:04. > :08:05.Although his colleagues insist he's treated
:08:06. > :08:11.He just seems to get in and get on with it, kind of thing.
:08:12. > :08:15.Every so often, he might need an arm round his shoulder or even
:08:16. > :08:19.And earlier this year, Timothy received a special award
:08:20. > :08:24.Presented by none other than Coronation Street
:08:25. > :08:32.Can I have a pork and turkey, please?
:08:33. > :08:40.It's made me proud, how I'm working here.
:08:41. > :08:45.A fun-loving character to have round the building.
:08:46. > :08:48.Timpson has an opportunities for all policy, and considers anyone
:08:49. > :08:52.for a role, as long as they're able to do it.
:08:53. > :08:55.After seeing Timothy successfully hold down a job,
:08:56. > :09:05.it's hoped other employers may be prepared to do the same.
:09:06. > :09:08.If you don't want to now the result of the Merseyside derby,
:09:09. > :09:13.Highlights are on Match Of The Day after this bulletin.
:09:14. > :09:18.Sadio Mane got Liverpool's winner in injury time for a 1-0 win.
:09:19. > :09:24.The Reds are now second in the Premier League.
:09:25. > :09:36.That's it from me, here's Eno with the weather.
:09:37. > :09:44.Not looking too good. The week ahead looks fairly unsettled. Expect
:09:45. > :09:49.outbreaks of rain from time to time, and quite strong winds as well.
:09:50. > :09:53.Tonight it is cloudy and a little breezy, fog patches will form and
:09:54. > :09:59.temperatures down to three degrees. A cloudy start tomorrow, fog patches
:10:00. > :10:03.lingering for a time. It will be cloudy throughout the afternoon,
:10:04. > :10:07.light breaks here and there, breeze picking up. Some drizzly rain in
:10:08. > :10:16.places, temperatures peaking at 7 degrees. Tomorrow night, we will see
:10:17. > :10:20.a band of rain pushing through, strong winds behind that rain,
:10:21. > :10:25.temperatures down to 4 degrees. Heading into Wednesday, a breezy
:10:26. > :10:31.day, blustery showers, bright spells, temperatures peaking at 8
:10:32. > :10:36.degrees. We continue in this vein. For Thursday, looking cloudier,
:10:37. > :10:40.still quite breezy with bright spells, temperatures around 8
:10:41. > :10:46.degrees. For Friday though, a change on the way. A big brand of rain
:10:47. > :10:52.pushing through, some very heavy rain and possibly gales as well.
:10:53. > :10:58.Disappointing temperatures in places, 10 degrees, but feeling
:10:59. > :11:00.colour. Christmas Eve looks fine at the moment, but for Christmas Day,
:11:01. > :11:04.unsettled, expect rain, The rest of the weekend, some rain
:11:05. > :11:12.around, windy, but with dry and bright spells.
:11:13. > :11:18.Heavy weather is brewing, it will not reach us just yet. It will take
:11:19. > :11:23.a good few days before the stormy weather reaches us. At the moment,
:11:24. > :11:24.it's just potential, nothing is certain, but it will be different to
:11:25. > :11:26.what