20/10/2016 BBC News at Ten

Tonight at ten, France warns Britain not to seek too many concessions

during negotiations to leave the EU. Theresa May is attending her first

EU summit as Prime Minister, an opportunity to meet and address the

leaders of the 27 other member states. Despite a warning from

France that the UK could not expect any favours, Theresa May tried to

strike a reassuring note. The UK is leaving the EU, but we will continue

to play a full role until we leave, and we'll be a strong and dependable

partner after we've left. We'll have the latest from the summit, where

Theresa May has been addressing fellow leaders over dinner this

evening. Also tonight. In the final televised debate of the US

presidential campaign, Donald Trump alleged once again that the election

was rigged. Iraqi forces say they are making progress towards Mosul,

the last major stronghold of so-called Islamic State in Iraq. The

House of Commons has called for the former boss of BHS, Sir Philip

Green, to be stripped of his knighthood. And following Alan

Turing, a pardon for thousands of other gay and bisexual men,

convicted of sexual offences under walls which are no longer enforced.

Coming up in Sportsday on BBC News, Manchester United were looking for

the win they needed to kick-start their Europa League campaign against

Fenerbahce at Old Trafford. Theresa May is in Brussels

for her first European Union summit The 28 leaders are

having dinner tonight, during which the Prime Minister

is expected to update them on the current state

of her government's plans During the day President Hollande

warned her in effect not to expect any favours

during the Brexit talks, while Mrs May insisted the UK

would remain a strong and dependable partner for the EU

after its departure. Our political editor Laura

Kuenssberg reports from Brussels. This is such a cauldron of competing

demands and ambitions without any detail from the UK of what they

really want the future to look like, but the Prime Minister has tonight

tried to assert herself, warning the other 27 countries not to make

decisions or have discussions about issues that affect the whole of the

EU, including the UK, while we are still in, despite the seeming

contradiction that we have decided we are on our way out. As the first

sign really in Brussels really that Theresa May intends to be heard,

whatever our decision was at the end of June. She wants the UK to still

play a full role in the EU. She is demanding that she will not be

frozen out right at the beginning of this relationship. It will matter so

much to her political success and of course to all of us.

She'll make this entrance many times.

The black limousine with the blacked out windows.

A few short steps into the relationship that

This is my first European Council and I'm here with a very clear

The UK is leaving the EU but we will continue to play a full

role until we leave and we will be a strong and dependable

It's in the interests of both the UK and the EU that we continue

to work closely together, including at this summit.

The others promise not the lion's den but a nest of doves.

The Prime Minister doesn't look so sure.

Whatever the UK's hopes, Europe is not ready to talk.

You can be sure she will be absolutely safe with us.

Is there any chance that EU leaders might talk informally before

We will not discuss about our future negotiations today.

Leader after leader, the message to Theresa May -

work out how you are leaving the club and then we'll listen.

We're waiting on the UK, she says, we don't have to get

No negotiation without notification and I hope that Theresa May

If she wants hard Brexit, negotiations will be hard.

Our decision to quit has done a lot more than raise eyebrows,

The main business, migration, trade, what to do about Russia.

But Theresa May wants to use these moments to make new friends

and firm up the old, to ease fears that we'll just

crash out of the EU, even if some are quietly

crossing their fingers we might in the end change our minds.

It is deeply unlikely but, having voted to leave,

some Europeans hope we might decide to stay.

Some of us are keeping that option at the back of our mind.

But that can only happen if the British people

or the British government reverses the decision that has been taken

It can't be the Europeans who reverse that decision.

This isn't a day for detail but a hugely important

Whether she likes it or not, the biggest thing Theresa May

will likely do is lead us out of the European Union,

so ultimately her success or failure as Prime Minister will be

decided here in Brussels, not in Britain.

She takes her place in this line-up, believing she'll be the last

Yet, in this political twilight zone, Theresa May wants to reassure.

Our place in the EU has often been hard to find but,

as the Prime Minister grapples her way towards the exit,

Laura Kuenssberg, BBC News, Brussels.

The leaders are talking over dinner in Brussels tonight. Let's go

straight to the conference centre and Katya Adler, our Europe editor,

is there. After today's words and exchanges, what is your sense of

where this summit is going for Theresa May? We have to look at this

exit in post-war Europe is one of the most dramatic developments, but

it really is more processed than a single event -- Brexit in post-war

Europe. Until Downing Street launches the formal Brexit

proceedings we are stuck in a holding pattern of screaming

silences. EU leaders are desperate to know from Theresa May the details

of the kind of Brexit deal she wants, but she's refusing to give

that running commentary either at home or abroad. Whereas for their

part, EU leaders will not enter into talks about trade deals either

interim or otherwise, until those formal Brexit talks start, even

though Mrs May really wants to know where you fix ability lies. So while

both sides are sitting at dinner wanting to scream at each other,

just tell me, in fact, all 28 leaders including Mrs May have been

discussing Russia and Syria, as the Prime Minister herself pointed out

tonight, as long as the EU -- the UK remains in the EU it does stay a

full member and we are an infinite number of negotiations, talks and

arguments away from Britain walking out of the door just yet. Katya

Adler with the latest at that summit in Brussels.

Donald Trump has confirmed that he will after all

accept the final outcome of the presidential election -

In the third and final televised debate of the campaign

the Republican candidate repeated that the election system

His Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, had accused him

Our North America editor Jon Sopel reports from Las Vegas.

No handshake, not even grudging respect.

For 15 minutes, though, something novel.

A detailed policy debate without insults.

But, when the subject turned to Russia, their hacking

of Democratic Party computers and Donald Trump's admiration

for Vladimir Putin as a strongman, that all changed.

If we got along well, that would be good.

Well, that's because he'd rather have a puppet as President.

The Russians have engaged in cyberattacks against

She has no idea whether it's Russia, China or anybody else,

But then Donald Trump was questioned about the procession

of women who've come forward to accuse him of sexual assault.

These women, the woman on the plane, the woman...

I think they want either fame or her campaign did it.

Donald thinks belittling women makes him bigger.

He goes after their dignity, their self-worth, and I don't

think there is a woman anywhere who doesn't know

Nobody has more respect for women than I do.

The moderator intervened because the audience was laughing.

There were sharp exchanges on guns, abortion, immigration.

We have some bad hombres here and we're going to get them out.

And this on Social Security benefits.

My Social Security payroll contribution will go up,

as will Donald's, assuming he can't figure out how to get out of it.

But what we want to do is replenish...

Then came the truly astonishing moment of this debate.

Donald Trump has alleged in recent days that the

Both his daughter and his running mate have said they would

of course accept the verdict of the American people.

She should never have been allowed to run for the presidency based

on what she did with e-mails and so many other things.

Are you saying you are not prepared now...?

What I'm saying is that I will tell you at the time.

Well, Chris, let me respond to that, because that's horrifying.

Every time Donald thinks things are not going in his direction

he claims whatever it is is rigged against him.

There was even a time when he didn't get an Emmy for his TV programme

three years in a row and he started tweeting that the Emmys

And it's funny, but it's also really troubling.

In the spin room afterwards, his surrogates were scrambling

So today Mr Trump in Ohio was trying to extinguish the fire

that he himself had set, with a joke.

If I win this election, I'll accept the result.

Of course, I would accept a clear election result, but I would also

reserve my right to contest or file a legal challenge in the case

But as one blaze is damped down, another seems to catch.

Today, another woman has come forward to claim she was subject

to an unwanted sexual advances from Mr Trump.

Or what you did to me so many years ago.

Last night, his family, who are also his closest advisers,

He needed to win big in the final debate but that stern face

Jon Sopel, BBC News, Las Vegas.

The debate was the last chance for a mass television audience,

with tens of millions watching, to see both candidates

The Republican polling expert Frank Luntz assembled

a group of undecided voters in Las Vegas to watch the debate

and to get their instant reaction to the exchanges.

Our correspondent James Cook was there.

If you lean towards Trump, turn your dial to one.

If you lean towards Clinton, turn your dial to three.

Some two dozen floating voters reacting to every sigh

Because based on what she's saying and based on where she's going...

The lines show approval ratings second by second, red for those

leaning to Donald Trump, green for those inclined

to Hillary Clinton, and yellow for the undecided voters.

So what difference did the debate make?

I went from Trump to Clinton, because Clinton proved to be more

of an adult and actually I think she did better than Trump.

Because she's been in office with Obama, they've been there long

enough, and not enough has gotten better over that period of time,

so in essence he's saying you didn't do anything, so I'll give a guy

But what of the most controversial moment, when the Republican

suggested yet again that the poll would be rigged?

I'm not looking at anything now, I'll look at it at the time.

How many of you had a problem with Donald Trump saying

that he would not affirm the election results,

I think because our country is built on a fair election

and when the results come in, yes, there can be evidence

of voter fraud sometimes, but we have to trust that it's

working the way it should and the results stand.

Why didn't what Trump said bother you?

There's a lot of disconnection from the population

How many of you wished there were two other

candidates, that would replace both of them?

The pollster running this focus group is a horrified Republican,

who says both candidates are limping to the finish line.

If the rest of the world wanted to see America humbled,

A broken system, broken candidates and an electorate that is afraid,

After the final debate this small slice of the American electorate

remains pretty evenly divided between Donald Trump

and Hillary Clinton, but most of them are united

For millions of people in this country this has been a depressing

Our North America editor Jon Sopel is in Las Vegas tonight.

18 days to go, we've had the three televised debates. What's your sense

tonight of the state of this race? Well, Hillary Clinton very clearly

left Las Vegas last night feeling very buoyant indeed. Her team around

her were celebrating a bit, there was quite a few drinks taken on the

plane going back to New York. How this manifests itself is Hillary

Clinton is expanding her ambitions. She is looking at Republican states,

like Utah, Arizona, Midori, as possible targets as they sensed

support for Donald Trump is crumbling -- Missouri. For Donald

Trump, he needs to get his campaign on an even keel and get back to the

issues that have served him well in the run-up to this presidential

stage of the campaign. But he's coming under attack and those

comments last night about not perhaps accepting the result have

brought fresh criticism from Barack Obama. But with 18 days to go,

there's still a high degree of unpredictability. Jon Sopel with the

latest in Las Vegas after that debate.

The Iraqi Prime Minister says the operation to recapture

the city of Mosul - the last major stronghold

of so-called Islamic State in Iraq - is progressing faster than planned.

IS controls a large area around Mosul, where 1.5 million

In the past 48 hours Iraqi government forces have made

significant gains to the south of the city.

Today, their Kurdish Peshmerga allies began a major advance

on three fronts - to the north and east.

Our correspondent Orla Guerin is with Kurdish forces attacking

Singing of bravery on their way into battle.

Kurdish Peshmerga fighters shoulder to shoulder, knowing dawn

could bring them face-to-face with so-called Islamic State.

And, with first light, the Kurds began attacking IS positions,

The militants replied with tracer fire.

The Peshmerga tried frantically to shoot it down.

A drone, apparently rigged with explosives, killed two

But there was little time to celebrate.

As IS is pounded with heavy weapons, the Kurds listen

Here, they try to coordinate a counter-attack on the troops.

Target them on the bridge, one commander says, fire missiles

Then there is a plea for reinforcements.

But IS couldn't muster any here and the assault continued.

Soon the extremists were losing ground.

We are entering an area that the Kurdish forces

They came in about half an hour or so.

Now, the further they go forward, the more resistance they expect

to face from suicide bombers and from snipers,

and we've heard some sniper fire just in the last few moments.

The troops believe that IS has spent months planting roadside

There will be many more hazards on the journey ahead,

and Kurdish sources say IS is now regrouping in some areas.

Orla Guerin, BBC News, north of Mosul.

An American soldier was killed today in a bomb attack near Mosul. More

than 100 US troops are advising Iraq each -- Iraqi forces as they

advance. The American commander of coalition forces is helping to

coordinate operations from an airbase at Qayyarah and he told our

defence correspondent that defeating IS was not going to be easy.

The fight for Mosul is being led by Iraqi forces but with America's

help. Supported by Apache gunships, we travelled with the most senior

coalition commander in Iraq, Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend,

now keeping a close eye on the battle. The BBC is the first media

to begin this access since the offensive was launched. Our first

stop, and austere base from where the US is supporting Iraqi and

Peshmerga forces as they push towards the city. Their artillery

and these shells being used to target so-called Islamic State.

There are days when we are going to do our well and there are days we

are going to get to vote. This is a big operation in a long war. So,

when you pull back and look at it, here's what I see. I see the Iraqi

security forces have largely encircled Mosul and they are

imposing their will on the enemy in Mosul now. There are 5000 US troops

in Iraq but not to directly join the fight. All general Townsend tells me

is the offensive, an American imposed plan, but he is in close

contact with Iraqi commanders. At his next meeting with a rock's chief

of defence staff, he looks for reassurances that they have enough

equipment and men. Defeating IS in Mosul won't be easy. They are

adaptable, creative and cunning. We have seen all kinds of examples of

that. It's a challenging opponent. They burn people alive in cages.

They crucify people and they drive over people on the street with

bulldozers. Are they using human shields? Yeah, probably. This is a

brutal opponent that has to be stopped. He will not be drawn on how

long it will take but, as we leave with Mosul in the distance, any

victory still looks some way off. The House of Commons has called

for the former owner of British Home Stores,

Sir Philip Green, to be The vote by MPs isn't binding,

but it will add to the pressure Sir Philip, who was knighted

for 'services to retail' a decade ago, sold BHS for ?1 last year -

shortly before it collapsed. He's accused MPs of misrepresenting

the facts, as our business editor This knight of the realm has

been described by many as more like an emperor,

and today, they came to bury him, I see Green as a billionaire spiv,

a billionaire spiv who should never have received a knighthood,

a billionaire spiv that has BHS is one of the biggest corporate

scandals of modern times. I think the whole House has sympathy

for the thousands of workers and pensioners who've lost

their jobs and seen their benefits reduced as a result of greed,

incompetence and hubris. Strip Philip Green of his

knighthood, take him to task and maybe get him to sell

a few of his superyachts so my constituents and everybody

else's constituents can get the pensions and retirement

they worked so hard for. To be honest this wasn't

really much of a debate To call for another committee

to strip somebody of an honour when the normal process is that

an honour is only taken away if somebody has committed

a criminal offence is an abuse Jane Costello from South Shields

was one of 11,000 people who lost their jobs and she was very

clear about what should happen. I think he should be stripped

of his knighthood, 100%. He doesn't realise what he's done

to everybody and he's swanning It's not fair for what everybody

else is going through. Today's motion does not mean that

Sir Philip Green will Any decision on that will be made

here, in Whitehall. It's also very rare for people not

found guilty of doing anything Fred Goodwin of RBS fame is the last

and possibly most famous example, but it seems Sir Philip has become

the new poster boy for popular During her party conference

Theresa May made a thinly disguised A director who takes out massive

dividends while knowing that the company pension

is about to go bust. One possible route to redemption may

lie in honouring a pensions promise It's resolvable, sortable,

we will sort it. Sir Philip Green was watching today,

and I understand a new attempt at a pensions settlement

is imminent, but at this stage cash may save his knighthood

but not his reputation. A brief look at some of the day's

other other news stories. The Scottish Government has

published its draft bill on a second The move doesn't guarantee

another referendum, but First Minister Nicola Sturgeon

said Scotland should be ready to hold a vote,

if it's in Scotland's interests. The European Space Agency says it

still doesn't know the fate of a robotic probe which was due

to land on Mars yesterday. Scientists say that signals

from the robot were lost less than a minute before it was expected

to touch down. They believe its parachute

was jettisoned too early. Community pharmacies in England

will have their budgets cut by more Reports earlier this year suggested

that 3000 chemists could close as a result of the funding shake-up,

but that figure has been Labour described the plans

as "short-sighted". A Royal Navy destroyer and a frigate

have been sent to shadow a group of Russian warships

which are passing through the North The ships, including Russia's

only aircraft carrier and a battle cruiser,

are believed to be heading Tonight Nato said there was concern

the vessels might launch attacks Our diplomatic correspondent

James Robbins is in Moscow tonight. James, what is your reading of the

situation there? Well, the decision originally to deploy Russia's only

carrier for the first time to a combat zone was taken, we believe,

about three months ago by President Putin and the Kremlin, but the fact

is deployment is going ahead at a time when Russia says it is

extending by another 24 hours its military pause in Syria, suggested

Nato and its Secretary General that the longer term plan may be much

grimmer, from the point of view of the people of Aleppo. The

Secretary-General suggested Russia could be about to inflict even

greater human suffering on the city. The military purpose is clear. It

will give Russia a far greater firepower in the region, there is

also a clear political message. It isn't actually necessary to send a

carrier to the eastern Mediterranean to achieve that increase in

firepower. It could be done with land-based aircraft. Part of the

political message is partly to Britain and France, particularly

Britain, taunting the Royal Navy for not having an operational aircraft

carrier of its own and, to France and Nato allies, saying that Russia

has the will to fight in Syria, and you have shown that you don't. I

think that is the message President Putin wants to send out. James

Robbins with the latest from Moscow. Thousands of gay and bisexual men

who were convicted of sexual offences under laws which have

since been abolished Campaigners say around 65,000 men

were convicted, of whom The government says anyone found

guilty of consensual same-sex relationships

would have their names cleared, and for those still living

the offences would be removed Our correspondent Judith

Moritz has the story. There's nothing to hide

in Manchester's gay village, 50 years ago, doing this

could land gay men in jail. The World War II code breaker

Alan Turing was prosecuted for gross This memorial to Alan Turing

in Manchester remembers him as the father of computer science

and as a victim of prejudice. After Turing was pardoned in 2013,

his family campaigned for other prosecuted gay men to be

given the same treatment. Now, the so-called Turing Law

will be extended to thousands of men Men I spoke to in Manchester

welcomed the decision. Some of my friends that grew up back

then, they had to hide away. They were made to be criminals

and they weren't criminals, but they were made to feel

like they were. It wasn't nice, I imagine,

to be walking down the street If it wasn't for those people,

we wouldn't be able to do that today, so we have to remember

what they went through for us. But not all campaigners feel that

pardons are enough. We introduced two of them,

young activist Daniel Harris What I'm most interested in,

which pleases me, which drives me more than anything is the posthumous

apology to all those that have gone before,

all those that have died before, Alan Turing, and going back

as far as Oscar Wilde. I see a pardon as kind of a way

forward but it's not enough, and I completely ask

for the Government to actually give an official apology and put right

the wrongs from the past. Men eligible for pardons will have

to apply through the Home Office. Alan Turing's family say they're

glad other men will finally receive Judith Moritz, BBC News,

Manchester. Here is Kirsty. Tonight, we are

rewarding the wrong headteachers with big paycheques and knighthoods

when the best teachers are paid the worst. Join me now on BBC Two.

Here on BBC One it's time for the news where you are.