0:00:03 > 0:00:05This is BBC News.
0:00:05 > 0:00:09The headlines:
0:00:09 > 0:00:12A British woman, Rebecca Dykes, who worked at the UK embassy
0:00:12 > 0:00:14in Beirut has been killed.
0:00:14 > 0:00:19Reports suggest she was strangled.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21The first victim of a car crash in Birmingham -
0:00:21 > 0:00:24in which six people were killed - has been named locally
0:00:24 > 0:00:27as Imtiaz Mohammed.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31Ryanair pilots suspend a planned 24 hour strike as the airlines agrees
0:00:31 > 0:00:35to recognise the pilots trade unions for the first time.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38Athlete Mo Farah wins this year's Sports Personality of the Year -
0:00:38 > 0:00:44and says he was surprised at the result.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46The sports awards ceremony also paid tribute to six-year-old
0:00:46 > 0:00:50football fan Bradley Lowery, who died from cancer
0:00:50 > 0:00:52earlier this year - he was given the Helen
0:00:52 > 0:00:54Rollason Award.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Also in the next hour, Harry meets Barack.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59In his new role as a journalist, the Prince interviews
0:00:59 > 0:01:02the former US President
0:01:02 > 0:01:03If you start using long pauses between answers
0:01:03 > 0:01:07you're probably going to get the face.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Let me see the face.
0:01:09 > 0:01:14LAUGHTER.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16The interview was recorded as part of the Today programme's guest
0:01:16 > 0:01:18editor series to be broadcast later this year.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Good evening and welcome to BBC News.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41A British embassy worker has been killed in Beirut.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44The body of Rebecca Dykes was found by the side of a road
0:01:45 > 0:01:47in the city yesterday.
0:01:47 > 0:01:47Our correspondent Jon Donnison has been following developments.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Our Middle East correspondent Martin Patience joins us from Beirut.
0:01:53 > 0:01:59What is the latest you can tell us? Well, this is
0:01:59 > 0:02:00What is the latest you can tell us? Well, this is a piece of news that
0:02:00 > 0:02:05has stunned the diplomatic communities. It is believed that
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Rebecca Dykes was attending a going away party on Friday night in a
0:02:08 > 0:02:13popular area of the city. After she left the bar, it is understood she
0:02:13 > 0:02:18was then abducted and her body was found dumped close to a motorway
0:02:18 > 0:02:23sometime on Saturday. Police sources we have spoken to say that they
0:02:23 > 0:02:26believe she was strangled. Her family have been notified of her
0:02:26 > 0:02:35death. As I said before, this has stunned the British community in
0:02:35 > 0:02:39Beirut.In governmental terms, has there been any reaction in Beirut or
0:02:39 > 0:02:44here at home?There has, there has been reaction from Rebecca Dykes'
0:02:44 > 0:02:48family. They say they are devastated by the loss and they are still
0:02:48 > 0:02:53coming to terms with what happened, trying to understand what happened.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56The Lebanese police are still investigating. We understand that a
0:02:56 > 0:03:01second autopsy was carried out a couple of hours ago. In terms of the
0:03:01 > 0:03:08British Embassy, the ambassador on Twitter said that the embassy,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12everybody in the embassy was deeply stunned by what happened. He added
0:03:12 > 0:03:14that the British authorities were working very closely with the
0:03:14 > 0:03:18Lebanese authorities that are carrying out the police
0:03:18 > 0:03:20investigation.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Police investigators are trying to find out what caused a car
0:03:28 > 0:03:30crash in an underpass in Birmingham this morning.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32Six people were killed and several others suffered serious injuries.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33Firefighters have described the scene
0:03:33 > 0:03:35as "challenging" and "horrific".
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Phil Mackie is in Birmingham and sent this report.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41The immediate aftermath of the crash.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43Debris strewn across four lanes.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Medics were desperately trying to save lives,
0:03:45 > 0:03:50but five people were already dead, and a sixth was dying.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54The rest of the footage is too graphic to show.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57In daylight, the scale of what happened became clearer.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00Three of the people who died were in this taxi.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Astonishingly, the man and the woman in the small car crushed between it
0:04:04 > 0:04:07and the wall walked away with minor injuries.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11The sound of the crash woke many of the people who live nearby.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Got out of bed, looked out the window and just saw
0:04:13 > 0:04:15loads of people running towards where the crash was.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18And then the police officers telling everyone to get back, get back,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20so I guess people were trying to help people.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23They pulled two people out of the taxi.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26I didn't realise it was a taxi until today, but they pulled two
0:04:26 > 0:04:28people out of the taxi, resuscitating them straightaway
0:04:28 > 0:04:32for about 25 minutes.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34They took one in the ambulance.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36I didn't see them take the second one away,
0:04:36 > 0:04:39so I don't know if they didn't make it, but yes it was havoc.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44The crash happened on a section of the Belgrave Middleway, a busy
0:04:44 > 0:04:49road in the heart of Birmingham.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51The vehicles collided at an entrance to an underpass
0:04:51 > 0:04:53at the junction of Bristol Road.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Police say the dual carriageway will probably stay closed
0:04:55 > 0:04:57for the rest of the day.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00Investigators will be looking at a number of factors.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04The road was gritted, but eight hours before the accident.
0:05:04 > 0:05:14At 1am, temperatures were close to freezing.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17There is no central barrier - did one of thecars cross carriageways?
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Residents say especially when it is late at night
0:05:19 > 0:05:22and the road is quiet, people will come along
0:05:22 > 0:05:23here at excess speeds.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25It will take some time to unpick the scene and just understand
0:05:25 > 0:05:28exactly what has happened, and it would be unfair for me
0:05:28 > 0:05:30to speculate at this time.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33What I can say is that we are looking to all sorts of conditions,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36the road conditions, we are aware of the road was gritted
0:05:36 > 0:05:395pm last night but that is just one factor of many we need to consider.
0:05:39 > 0:05:4140 firefighters helped free survivors.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Five ambulance crews and three paramedics treated the injured
0:05:44 > 0:05:48at what was described as a complex scene.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51It quickly became apparent there could not be a lot done
0:05:51 > 0:05:55to save the lives of some of those patients unfortunately.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59Again, very difficult circumstances, as you have already alluded to,
0:05:59 > 0:06:01very close to Christmas, so our thoughts are with
0:06:01 > 0:06:07the families and friends of those patients involved.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10There were a total of 13 casualties, including the six who died,
0:06:10 > 0:06:12with six vehicles damaged.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Police described the accident as harrowing.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Investigations into what caused it are likely to take some time.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Within the last hour the name of the first of the six victims
0:06:25 > 0:06:28has been named locally.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Imtiaz Mohammed was a taxi driver from the city,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33he had six children.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37He had just call his wife to say he was on the way home. He was
0:06:37 > 0:06:39described as a hard-working family man.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41He was carrying two passengers at the time of the crash,
0:06:41 > 0:06:47both also lost their lives.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Two police officers have been seriously injured
0:06:49 > 0:06:52after they were hit by a car on the North Circular
0:06:52 > 0:06:53Road in London.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55The Met Commissioner, Cressida Dick, said this evening that such
0:06:55 > 0:06:57incidents give a stark reminder of the dangers of policing.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00The two officers were returning to a marked police vehicle,
0:07:00 > 0:07:03parked near Brent Park in Neasden, when a car collided with them
0:07:03 > 0:07:04early this morning.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06The man and woman are both constables in their 30s.
0:07:06 > 0:07:14The driver of a white Maserati was arrested at the scene.
0:07:14 > 0:07:19We will be taking a look at how all of the big stories are covered in
0:07:19 > 0:07:29different pages.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31In The Papers - our guests joining me tonight
0:07:31 > 0:07:34are the author and journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown and Ruth Lea,
0:07:34 > 0:07:35economic advisor at Arbuthnot Banking Group.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Sir Mo Farah has won this year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40The motorcyclist Jonathan Rea was second, and the paralympic
0:07:40 > 0:07:42athlete, Jonnie Peacock, was third.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44It's the first time Sir Mo has won the award.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47The announcement of his victory was made in Liverpool's Echo Arena
0:07:47 > 0:07:50but the four-time Olympic champion was in a studio in north London,
0:07:50 > 0:07:55with his daughter Rhianna who presented him with his award.
0:07:55 > 0:08:03However, all did not go entirely according to plan.
0:08:03 > 0:08:10Mo I hope you can hear us. Rhianna has the trophy to present. Please
0:08:10 > 0:08:14don't tell me he has gone to bed?
0:08:19 > 0:08:28I think that sums up his evening. I am sure that is Hussein pulling out
0:08:28 > 0:08:34the plug.The most brilliant non-interview that ever happened.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36When the line was finally re-established to Sir Mo,
0:08:36 > 0:08:38this is what he had to say.
0:08:38 > 0:08:44It's pretty amazing. It's hard to think about, over the years, what
0:08:44 > 0:08:54I've done. To win this, I didn't honestly come out tonight thinking,
0:08:54 > 0:08:59yeah, maybe top three, see how it goes, because we've got amazing
0:08:59 > 0:09:03superstars in sports. We've got Anthony Joshua, Lewis, Johnnie
0:09:03 > 0:09:07Peacock, all of the boys. It's been amazing. When you look at it,
0:09:07 > 0:09:12comparing yourself with other athletes, you think I could finish
0:09:12 > 0:09:16in the top three. I didn't imagine I was ever going to win this. Come so
0:09:16 > 0:09:21close in 2012, and I guess anything can happen. You just have to dig
0:09:21 > 0:09:25deep and keep working. I just want to thank everybody who has supported
0:09:25 > 0:09:29me. It has been an incredible journey and it's very exciting. I'm
0:09:29 > 0:09:35looking forward to the marathon. It's very exciting. Gary, my coach
0:09:35 > 0:09:39is out there tonight, as you know, preparing for the London Marathon
0:09:39 > 0:09:43and helping me out. It's tough, it's not as easy as I thought it was
0:09:43 > 0:09:46going to be, the marathon training. It's getting there, it's about
0:09:46 > 0:09:49understanding each other and working. It is hard work. But
0:09:49 > 0:09:55anything can happen. You know, myself, as an athlete, what I have
0:09:55 > 0:09:58achieved has been incredible over the years. For all of the youngsters
0:09:58 > 0:10:02out there, the people out there, you can work hard and you can achieve
0:10:02 > 0:10:07your dreams. Anything is possible in life. If you believe in it, work at
0:10:07 > 0:10:12it and keep grafting, grafting, anything is possible. What an
0:10:12 > 0:10:15amazing night. I wish I was there. Unfortunately, sorry, I can't be
0:10:15 > 0:10:24there, guys. The kids haven't been well. But it's all exciting for us.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28I just can't believe I won!
0:10:28 > 0:10:30Earlier in the evening there was an emotional tribute
0:10:30 > 0:10:32to Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34The six-year-old died earlier this year of neuroblastoma -
0:10:34 > 0:10:38a rare type of cancer.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41He became a well known figure among the sporting community, becoming
0:10:41 > 0:10:43a close friend of the England striker Jermain Defoe.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45His parents Gemma and Carl picked up the posthumous
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Helen Rollason award - given "for outstanding
0:10:47 > 0:10:50achievement in the face of adversity" at the ceremony.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Gemma Lowery spoke to the audience after she was given the award.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56Wow.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58I'm slightly overwhelmed but I'm absolutely honoured to receive this
0:10:58 > 0:11:01on behalf of Bradley.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03Bradley was only here for six short years.
0:11:03 > 0:11:09But the nation took him into their hearts.
0:11:09 > 0:11:10He raised so much awareness for childhood cancer,
0:11:10 > 0:11:13it was unbelievable.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15I'm so proud of him.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18To continue that, we've set up the Bradley Lowery Foundation
0:11:18 > 0:11:22because we want to continue the good work that he's done.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Not only are we going to be supporting people fundraising,
0:11:25 > 0:11:27we're going to be giving grants out.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31We've also got the For Bradley Campaign going,
0:11:31 > 0:11:34because we want to build an amazing house for sick children to go
0:11:34 > 0:11:36and be able to enjoy, have some normality and have
0:11:36 > 0:11:40some special memories.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42All we've got left now is them special memories.
0:11:42 > 0:11:46But we treasure them every single day and we want to be able to give
0:11:46 > 0:11:49back to the people of the nation.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51I would just like to finish by saying thank you so,
0:11:51 > 0:11:53so much for the continued support.
0:11:53 > 0:11:54Everyone's been fantastic.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58We couldn't do it without you.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00Please continue to support.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02Together, we can make a difference.
0:12:02 > 0:12:11APPLAUSE.
0:12:11 > 0:12:17Gemma Lowery, remembering her son, Bradley. Ryanair pilots have
0:12:17 > 0:12:20suspended a one-day strike planned for just before Christmas. The
0:12:20 > 0:12:24Impact union, which represents Irish -based pilots, has agreed to meet a
0:12:24 > 0:12:29line management on Tuesday evening. 117 pilots are involved in the
0:12:29 > 0:12:34dispute, making up the majority of the firm's captains in Ireland,
0:12:34 > 0:12:38meaning any walk-out would have severely affected flights. I'm
0:12:38 > 0:12:42joined now by the industrial relations correspondent for the
0:12:42 > 0:12:47Economist. How significant a decision is this to suspend the
0:12:47 > 0:12:50strike?Well, it is very significant if you are heading home for
0:12:50 > 0:12:55Christmas next year on a Ryanair flight. A lot of Ryanair customers
0:12:55 > 0:13:00will be very cheered by this news. However, shareholders are not
0:13:00 > 0:13:05necessarily as pleased. On Friday, when Ryanair announced that it was
0:13:05 > 0:13:13going to recognise the union, the airline share price dropped by 5%,
0:13:13 > 0:13:18because there is a fear that it will cause higher costs for the airlines
0:13:18 > 0:13:23longer term, if it results in higher paid pilots over time.Given the
0:13:23 > 0:13:30impact on the company, why have they decided to recognise the unions?
0:13:30 > 0:13:33Well, essentially, there is a shortage of pilots in Europe. This
0:13:33 > 0:13:40is because other airlines are rapidly growing. Earlier this year,
0:13:40 > 0:13:43Ryanair had to announce 20,000 flight cancellations because other
0:13:43 > 0:13:51airlines such as Norwegian and easyJet were stealing some of the
0:13:51 > 0:13:57pilot by offering them better pay and conditions. So, whether or not
0:13:57 > 0:14:05Ryanair was going to recognise the pilots union, it was going to have
0:14:05 > 0:14:12to pay more money to keep a lot of pilots. It has been spending
0:14:12 > 0:14:15thousands and thousands of euros in extra bonuses and pay to keep some
0:14:15 > 0:14:23of its pilots. So, whether or not it recognised the unions, it was going
0:14:23 > 0:14:28to have to pay more for pilots. So, therefore, I think the market did
0:14:28 > 0:14:34overreact on Friday. So these costs were going to be born whether or not
0:14:34 > 0:14:38it recognised the pilots unions or not.Given the fact that the costs
0:14:38 > 0:14:43will presumably have to be passed on, as you say, born somewhere, are
0:14:43 > 0:14:47we as customers and consumers going to have to get used to a slightly
0:14:47 > 0:14:52different idea of the Ryanair offering?Well, Ryanair is one of
0:14:52 > 0:14:55Europe, if not Europe's most profitable airlines. It has Europe's
0:14:55 > 0:15:04lowest unit costs per passenger. So, I think Ryanair can pay for these
0:15:04 > 0:15:11extra costs out of some of its profits. Remember, if paying pilots
0:15:11 > 0:15:15a little bit better allows the airline to grow more, that means it
0:15:15 > 0:15:22can grow revenues more, grow profits more in longer term. So, it doesn't
0:15:22 > 0:15:27necessarily mean higher fares for the consumer, particularly in the
0:15:27 > 0:15:32shorter term.Thanks very much for your time.
0:15:35 > 0:15:41Let's look at the headlines. A British woman, Rebecca Dykes, has
0:15:41 > 0:15:46been killed and Beirut, the Foreign Office says. She worked for the
0:15:46 > 0:15:50Department for International develop on. The first of six victims in this
0:15:50 > 0:15:55morning's car crash in Birmingham has been named locally as taxi
0:15:55 > 0:15:59driver Imtiaz Mohammed. Ryanair pilots have suspended a planned
0:15:59 > 0:16:0324-hour strike as the airline agrees to recognise the pilots trades
0:16:03 > 0:16:05unions for the first time.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11A big day in the world of sport. Let's cross to the BBC sports
0:16:11 > 0:16:12centre.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16Good evening.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers said his players would go down in history
0:16:19 > 0:16:24after their unbeaten run in Scotland ended. There were thrashed 4-0 at
0:16:24 > 0:16:28Hearts in the premiership. The last time Celtic lost a league game was
0:16:28 > 0:16:34an incredible 585 days ago. 16-year-old Harry Cochrane gave them
0:16:34 > 0:16:42the lead. David Miller got a couple of goals as well. It brings to an
0:16:42 > 0:16:45end the longest unbeaten run in Scottish history.
0:16:45 > 0:16:50They've gone through 69 games.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52For this, in 18 months, to be the first defeat,
0:16:59 > 0:17:01of course it is a sore one, especially when you
0:17:01 > 0:17:02are beaten like that.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04But they can hold their heads up.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06They've been absolutely amazing in that 18 months.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09To set a record, 69 games, that may never be beaten,
0:17:09 > 0:17:10they can be very proud of that.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12Now we hit the reset button again.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Manchester United have closed the gap on top of the table
0:17:15 > 0:17:17Manchester City to 11 points with a 2-1 win over
0:17:17 > 0:17:21relegation threatened West Brom at the Hawthorns.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23An unfortunate deflection helped Jesse Lingard to United's second
0:17:23 > 0:17:29before half-time.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32Romelu Lukaku's header opened proceedings.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Gareth Barry scored West Brom's first goal under
0:17:35 > 0:17:41Alan Pardew but it was just consolation as they stay 19th.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45You do your best, you try to win matches, you try to play the best
0:17:45 > 0:17:49possible. You try to do all you can as a team. You try to give kids a
0:17:49 > 0:17:54big chance to become an important player at Manchester United. At the
0:17:54 > 0:17:58end of the season, we will see what happens, not just in the Premier
0:17:58 > 0:18:04League but also in other competitions.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07Liverpool got back to winning ways, with a comfortable 4-0 win away
0:18:07 > 0:18:08at Bournemouth in the Premier League.
0:18:16 > 0:18:22Mohamed Salah, netting his 20th goal in all competitions this season.We
0:18:22 > 0:18:26need to be really consistent. We need to be steady and on track. We
0:18:26 > 0:18:34need to show all the time while we are together. Today, we are really
0:18:34 > 0:18:37happy, because we have the Christmas party tonight. It is the first time
0:18:37 > 0:18:44I think that we can celebrate Christmas.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46England's cricketers are not going to be celebrating, it seems.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48England's hopes of retaining the Ashes are fading fast.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51They must bat through tomorrow's final day if they're to avoid defeat
0:18:51 > 0:18:54in the third test in Perth and snatch a draw to
0:18:54 > 0:18:55keep the series alive.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Weather could play its part, rain stopped play towards the end
0:18:58 > 0:19:00of the fourth day, at the close England were 132-4.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Mitchell Marsh didn't add to his 181 overnight.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06Whilst Aussie Captain Steve Smith was out for 239.
0:19:06 > 0:19:11Australia declared on 662 for nine - a lead of 259.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13In reply, England lost Mark Stoneman, Alastair Cook
0:19:13 > 0:19:16and Joe Root cheaply.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19James Vince made a half century before he was bowled by a terrific
0:19:19 > 0:19:22ball by Mitchell Starc.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25Defeat for England would leave them 3-0 down and handing
0:19:25 > 0:19:30the Ashes back to Australia.
0:19:30 > 0:19:35European Champions Cup holders Saracens look like they'll now need
0:19:35 > 0:19:38to try to reach the quarter-finals as one of three best pool runners-up
0:19:38 > 0:19:41after losing 24-21 to group leaders Clemont Auvergne in France.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Sarries were keen to avoid a repeat of the home
0:19:43 > 0:19:47thrashing in the reverse fixture and helped by Ben Spencer's try,
0:19:47 > 0:19:51they soon built a 13-0 lead.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54But Clermont chipped away at the advantage
0:19:54 > 0:19:57and although they managed no tries to Sarries' two, Scott Spedding's
0:19:57 > 0:19:58late penalty earned a 24-21 victory.
0:19:58 > 0:20:03Saracens, did at least pick up a losing bonus point.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05Wasps have kept their hopes alive with a 21-3
0:20:05 > 0:20:06victory over La Rochelle.
0:20:06 > 0:20:08Leicester remain bottom of their pool - they lost
0:20:08 > 0:20:12at home to Munster 25-16.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14Northampton lost their first match after the dismissal
0:20:14 > 0:20:16of their director of rugby Jim Mallinder - beaten
0:20:16 > 0:20:2032-15 at Ospreys.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23World number six Justin Rose won the Indonesian Masters by eight
0:20:23 > 0:20:28shots in Jakarta to seal his third tournament victory in seven weeks.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32The Englishman posted eight birdies and an eagle in the first 13
0:20:32 > 0:20:33holes of his final round, eventually finishing
0:20:33 > 0:20:41on 29 under par.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44That is all of the sport for now. Back to you.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56The Prime Minister says events over the last few days have marked a
0:20:56 > 0:21:01watershed in the departure from the European Union. Theresa May said
0:21:01 > 0:21:03that the Government is proving doubters wrong after the EU agreed
0:21:03 > 0:21:08to move onto the next phase of negotiations. Labour say the Brexit
0:21:08 > 0:21:09plans are a mess.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11Earlier I spoke to our political correspondent, Chris Mason,
0:21:11 > 0:21:13who began by telling me about a recent interview
0:21:13 > 0:21:15with the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier,
0:21:15 > 0:21:16in Prospect magazine.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Nothing in here that is a million miles from what we have
0:21:19 > 0:21:20heard from him before.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22And quite striking in its language.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24We've approached Mr Barnier's offers to make sure there isn't anything
0:21:24 > 0:21:25lost in translation.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28The expectation is that he will have given this interview in French.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30Just to bring you this quote from Prospect.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33He says, they, referring to the UK, have to realise there
0:21:33 > 0:21:34won't be any cherry picking.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36He's talking here about a future arrangement and future deal.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39We won't mix up the various scenarios to create a specific one
0:21:39 > 0:21:41and accommodate their wishes, mixing, for instance, the advantages
0:21:41 > 0:21:45of the Norwegian model - Norway is not a member of the EU
0:21:45 > 0:21:47but is a member of the single market and accepts free
0:21:47 > 0:21:49movement of people - with the simple requirements
0:21:49 > 0:21:51of the Canadian model.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53You'll know that there has been some discussion.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, talked about the idea
0:21:55 > 0:21:57of the Canadian model plus, plus, plus.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Canada has a free trade arrangement with the EU in goods,
0:22:00 > 0:22:02but not in services, but doesn't have to accept
0:22:02 > 0:22:05free movement of people.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07He ends this particular paragraph saying they -
0:22:07 > 0:22:10again, referring to the UK - will have to face the consequences
0:22:10 > 0:22:11of their own decision.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14In other words, is effectively saying, look, things cannot stay
0:22:14 > 0:22:19the same because you, the UK, have chosen to leave and
0:22:19 > 0:22:23that was your decision, not ours.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26When you talk about the idea of a bespoke solution,
0:22:26 > 0:22:29that won't necessarily come easy in terms of what the EU is willing
0:22:29 > 0:22:30to put on the table.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32Theresa May has been writing in two British papers today.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34What has she had to say?
0:22:34 > 0:22:36What kind of position is she setting out?
0:22:36 > 0:22:38Yes, two articles, one in the Sunday Telegraph,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41one in the Sunday Express.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43You often get Prime Ministerial pieces in the Sunday newspapers.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46It's not often they take to two different newspapers.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48The message was broadly the same but the audience,
0:22:48 > 0:22:49I guess, is a bit different.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51What was striking about the Prime Minister's words
0:22:51 > 0:22:52is how defiant she was.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54Kind of understandably, up to a point.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57There's been a huge number of headlines in the last few weeks
0:22:57 > 0:22:59about that aborted attempt to get a deal in Brussels.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02She went over there, she had to come back and go over
0:23:02 > 0:23:03a few days later.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Then the defeat in the Commons last week, and all of the accompanying
0:23:06 > 0:23:08negative headlines, from her perspective.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11In reality, she can point to, and she does in these articles,
0:23:11 > 0:23:12that she has got to where she set out to buy Christmas.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18The negotiations will move on to phase two, the future,
0:23:18 > 0:23:20after Christmas, despite the bumps on the road that we've had over
0:23:20 > 0:23:22the last couple of weeks.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24But what we haven't got yet, and we might start to get
0:23:24 > 0:23:27this week, is a sense from the British Government,
0:23:27 > 0:23:29privately at first, then publicly, about what they actually want.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31What is that end state that the British Government
0:23:31 > 0:23:33is seeking to have?
0:23:33 > 0:23:35We know the broad parameters, we know the Government wants
0:23:35 > 0:23:38to leave the single market and the customs union,
0:23:38 > 0:23:40and those economic relationships that are bound up with our current
0:23:40 > 0:23:42membership.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45But we don't know any specifics.
0:23:45 > 0:23:46Brussels is clamouring for those specifics.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Plenty of people in the UK are as well.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52The Brexit super cabinet, if you like, the War Cabinet
0:23:52 > 0:23:55of main cabinet ministers involved in Brexit, meeting tomorrow
0:23:55 > 0:23:57morning in Downing Street.
0:23:57 > 0:24:03There a full cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06That will be the first time that the full Cabinet meeting have
0:24:06 > 0:24:08had a proper discussion about that end state.
0:24:08 > 0:24:09That might surprise you.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11There is, arguably, a political savviness from the Prime Minister
0:24:11 > 0:24:14to have put it off for as long as she has.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16If you know you're facing a row about something,
0:24:16 > 0:24:18arguably it's pragmatic to postpone it for as long as possible,
0:24:19 > 0:24:26and that's what she's done.
0:24:26 > 0:24:31The White House has confirmed that the CIA helped Russia thwart a bomb
0:24:31 > 0:24:37attack on a cathedral in St Petersburg.
0:24:37 > 0:24:42This is the moment security forces raided a flat allegedly used
0:24:42 > 0:24:43as logistical base to plan the attack.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45Seven people were held, charged with being members
0:24:45 > 0:24:46of so-called Islamic State.
0:24:46 > 0:24:52The officers also seized explosives, weapons and propaganda material.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54The Government is considering extending automatic enrolment
0:24:54 > 0:24:57into a workplace pension, to 18 year olds, from 2020.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Currently the starting age is 22, for anyone earning more
0:25:00 > 0:25:02than £10,000.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Workers can opt out, but the change could affect
0:25:05 > 0:25:08around 900,000 people.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10Joe Lynam reports.
0:25:10 > 0:25:11Ollie and Nate are both 21.
0:25:11 > 0:25:16Ollie, on the left, has not yet started saving for his retirement.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19It has not really crossed my mind yet.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23I move jobs quite frequently, tend not to stay in one place too long.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25So pensions have been lower down the list of things
0:25:25 > 0:25:31I have been conscious of.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33Nate, though, has been saving for his retirement
0:25:33 > 0:25:35since he was 16.
0:25:35 > 0:25:40I grew up with a family on welfare, so I was quite aware of the effects
0:25:40 > 0:25:44being reliant on government money can have.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47And how insecure it can be sometimes.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50If the Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke has his way,
0:25:50 > 0:25:53young people like Ollie and Nate could soon be automatically enrolled
0:25:53 > 0:25:55for a pension at their employers.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58That, I think, will get more people into the habit of saving.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01It will mean younger people will be saving for those extra years,
0:26:01 > 0:26:07so that is significant when it comes to their retirement.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10At the moment, only those aged over 22 are automatically
0:26:10 > 0:26:13included in a pension scheme by their employers,
0:26:13 > 0:26:17but the Government wants that age lowered to 18.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Soon, 8% of our salaries will be going into a pension pot,
0:26:20 > 0:26:25something that employers are worried about.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29I think what the Government needs to bear in mind however is how much
0:26:29 > 0:26:32of the cost of that is going to be falling on employers in the future,
0:26:32 > 0:26:35because already the cost for employers is on course
0:26:35 > 0:26:37to treble by 2019.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39Today's announcement means the cost for employers will be
0:26:39 > 0:26:41even higher than that.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44To 18, or even 21-year-olds, retirement must seem
0:26:44 > 0:26:48a very long way off, especially if they don't earn much,
0:26:48 > 0:26:51but if this plan proceeds, it could help prevent younger people
0:26:51 > 0:26:53depending on the state in decades to come.
0:26:53 > 0:26:57Joe Lynam, BBC News.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Two senior members of South Africa's governing ANC have been
0:27:00 > 0:27:03chosen as candidates to be the next party leader.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07The process to find a successor to President Zuma had
0:27:07 > 0:27:09been delayed because of divisions among delegates.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Our correspondent, Milton Nkosi, in Johannesburg, says it's not
0:27:11 > 0:27:16clear when the new leader will be announced.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19I was in the plenary, earlier on, when the nominations were conducted,
0:27:19 > 0:27:22and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa agreed to stand for
0:27:22 > 0:27:23the position of president, and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
0:27:23 > 0:27:32did the same.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34The Electoral Commission has gone away to start
0:27:34 > 0:27:40printing the ballot papers, and voting will start pretty soon,
0:27:40 > 0:27:43because the delegates, I don't know if you can see some
0:27:43 > 0:27:46of them mingling behind me, they have gone to dinner in the meantime.
0:27:46 > 0:27:51When they go back, then they will begin the process of voting.
0:27:51 > 0:27:56There are 5000 of them, plus minus 5000 voting delegates,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59and Cyril Ramaphosa, as far as we know, is inching away
0:27:59 > 0:28:02with about 500 nominations, but that is not to say that those
0:28:02 > 0:28:12numbers won't change.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18Prince Harry has taken on a new role as a journalist and interviewed or
0:28:18 > 0:28:23Obama. It was recorded at the Invictus Games in September, as part
0:28:23 > 0:28:29of the Today Programme's guest editor series. He takes over the
0:28:29 > 0:28:33show on the 27th of December and gave the politicians and interview
0:28:33 > 0:28:35advice ahead of the discussion.
0:28:35 > 0:28:36Do I have to speak faster?
0:28:36 > 0:28:37Because I'm a slow speaker.
0:28:37 > 0:28:38Not at all.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40Should I do a British accent?
0:28:40 > 0:28:42If you start using long pauses between answers
0:28:42 > 0:28:44you're probably going to get the face.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46Let me see the face.
0:28:46 > 0:28:49LAUGHTER.
0:28:49 > 0:28:50I don't want to see that face.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54It will be 40 minutes.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57It will be a 20 minutes package for the BBC for after Christmas,
0:28:57 > 0:29:00and we hope to use the whole thing as a podcast afterwards.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02Excellent.
0:29:02 > 0:29:03OK.
0:29:03 > 0:29:04I'm ready.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07Do you guys have sound?
0:29:07 > 0:29:10Sounding great.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12You're excited about this, I'm nervous about this.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14It's fine.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16I'll interview you, if you want.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19Let's keep it this way, I'd much prefer that!