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 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, 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 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 crucify people and they drive 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

long it will take but, as we leave 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.