17/12/2011 BBC Weekend News

Good afternoon. Governments around Europe are

assessing another bleak prediction about the state of the eurozone.

The credit ratings agency Fitch says it believes a solution to the

crisis is now beyond reach. It's warned that it may downgrade the

credit-worthiness of six eurozone members, including Spain and Italy.

Our Business Correspondent Joe Lynam has the details.

Few of the comments on this eurozone crisis have been as

pessimistic as those from the credit ratings agency Fitch, which

says that a comprehensive deal to save the single currency is now

beyond reach. More pressingly, 6 eurozone countries face an

immediate downgrade. That meet Italy, Spain, Ireland, Belgium,

Slovenia and Cyprus may soon have to pay even more on the markets for

their government to borrow money. What Fitch had done his state the

number of conditions they would like to see before considering the

eurozone crisis as being properly resolved, and what strikes them at

the moment is they don't find the kind of co-ordination in the

eurozone they would like to see. Although firms like Fitch and

Standard & Poor's played a huge role in causing the financial

crisis for that great years ago, they once again find themselves at

the centre of the current eurozone crisis, which could affect us all.

Even though they are seemingly far removed from our daily lives,

credit rating agencies that the because banks listen closely to

their opinions. If the agency low as their rating, the cost of

borrowing for the country off company goes up and governments

have less money to spend on governments, schools or even wages.

Norman Lamont knows a thing or two about recession and currency blocs.

He was Chancellor when Britain was forced out of the European

exchange-rate mechanism in 1992. Almost 20 years later, he is very

concerned. This has to be taken very seriously by the eurozone. So

far, they have been in a state of denial about the nature of the

crisis and the extent of the crisis. The treaty designed to save the

euro and controversially agreed at last week's summit may already be

unravelling, with the detrimental impact on all European citizens.

More than 400 people have been killed in a tropical storm in the

Philippines. Tens of thousands of people on the island of Mindanao

have moved to evacuation centres. Soldiers have been mobilised to

help with the rescue effort. Gabriel Gatehouse has more details.

The people of the Philippines are no strangers to flooding. But

tropical storm Washi caught the island of Mindanao by surprise.

Most people were asleep when the flash floods struck on Friday night

in the towns of County Down -- Cagayan de Oro and Ilie Dam.

Residents searched desperately for higher ground, some were stranded

on rooftops waiting to be rescued. TRANSLATION: All we could see were

lights flashing while we made a hole through the roof to climb out.

We stayed on the roof the whole time. The Filipino military says

thousands of its soldiers are involved to the rescue effort, but

for many, if they help has come too late. -- they help. This they're

just as they found two bodies over there and three more over there and

now they are looking for bodies in the neighbouring village. The

islands in the Philippines are battered by around 20 major storms

each year, but most to take a more northerly route. Rescue workers say

it is possible the number of dead may be so high this town -- this

time because the people of Mindanao are not used to the full brunt of

50 mph winds like those of tropical storm Washi.

There's controversy this evening over calls by the Prime Minister

for a revival of traditional Christian values. David Cameron the

values of the bible "go the heart" of what it meant to be British. But

the National Secular Society has urged him to be cautious about

endorsing specific religions. Our Religious Affairs Correspondent

Robert Pigott is with me here. Robert, why do you think he has

made this intervention? It is curious. For years, senior

politicians have been very reluctant to do God, Sir David

Cameron's assertion that Britain is a Christian company is quite

surprising -- country. It comes for two reasons. One is that he is

quite worried about what he calls the slow-motion moral collapse of

Britain, he is thinking about the expenses, at the banking industry

collapse and the August riots and he is aware that people are quite

tired of the moral free way of life and even those who go to church,

they associate themselves with a moral Christian code. It is

interesting that he delivered the speech about being too tolerant,

passivity in the face of bad behaviour, to the crowd of church

people at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. He said by extension

that Rowan Williams at the church weren't doing enough to stick up

for these Christian values. The Archbishop of Canterbury has often

exercised Christian leadership but pence to emphasise the social

justice elements, like caring for the poor and the marginalised.

David Cameron has chosen a strict moral code of behaving in a right

or wrong way from the Bible and nothing but they could advocate

Christian principles but come to very different conclusions about

how government policy will put it into operation. Robert, thank you.

New fishing quotas have been announced for the UK after all-

night talks in Brussels. The deal includes increases in quotas for

catching cod and haddock. In Scotland, the Fisheries Minister

said the result was the best that could be achieved. But some

Scottish fishing communities are still unhappy about limits to the

number of days they can spend at sea. James Shaw reports.

This is a strenuous job for the crew, particularly when a fishing

in rough weather... Not so long ago, fish stocks around the coast of

Britain were plentiful. That was before dramatic reductions were

caused by other fishing. Now, what species can be caught and when are

matters for closely argued negotiation and amongst the fishing

nations of Europe. The UK government says this year's bill is

the best possible. Scottish ministers are less convinced and

industry leaders in Scotland say it is not a good deal at all. We are

now facing fortified % of the time to catch the fish that we had three

years ago -- 45%. It is not good enough. We have already been hit by

a tsunami is, if you like, but we have ended up half drowning. It is

not what we expected and it is not what we thought would be delivered.

Under this new deal, Age UK fisherman will be allowed to catch

more of some species -- UK. There have been increases in the amount

of cod and haddock that cannot be caught. Generally, we are appalled

that political incentive is being used to manage fish stocks. It

should be based on science and nothing else. Recent figures

suggest there is growing demand for fish from sustainable sources.

The British appetite for fresh fish will not change as a result of this

deal, but it could mean us paying more for some of our favourite

dishes. The Labour Party in scotland has

elected a new leader. Johann Lamont said her priorities are tackling

youth unemployment, getting the economy to grow and providing more

support for carers. What's expected to be the busiest

shopping day of the year is drawing to a close, with around 11 million

people having hit the shops. One estimate puts today's Christmas

spending at more than �1 million a minute. Fiona Trott joined the

shoppers in Gateshead. Only a week ago, and here in

Gateshead, the bravest of the brave are hitting the shops. But which

shops are luring them in? Some are offering 40 and even 50% off. It is

tempting, but is it tempting enough to bring out the credit card and

throw caution to the wind? haven't got the money and we can't

haddock. I used to have a credit card but I lost it because I paid

more interest. It adds a band you don't realise how much you are

spending. On a credit card, I try not to get overdrawn too much and

have been careful. The next few days are vital. Some retailers tell

us they rely on Christmas for up to 30% of their annual turnover and

that they use those discount incentives. Customers Mallett and

that is why they wait until the last minute. -- customers know it.

It is a game and it seems to work. I think we have been pleasantly

surprised. The year has been a picture of doom and gloom and they

have now they have to work harder to actually drive sales, but they

are seeing some really positive results, so they are all smiling at

the moment. And retailers are happy on London's Oxford Street, which is

as busy as ever for this time of year. The British Retail Consortium

estimates that shoppers across the UK will spend �2.5 billion today. A

welcome boost following poor sales in November. And with Christmas Eve

falling on a Saturday this year, panic buyers will be putting even