18/12/2016 BBC Weekend News

The evacuation of civilians from the former rebel-held areas

of eastern Aleppo is reported to have restarted.

Hopes for an end to the suffering of injured people who've been trapped

But trouble elsewhere - rebels set fire to vehicles destined

to remove civilians in a similar evacuation from

Also this afternoon - the International Trade Secretary

signals that post-Brexit the UK could keep the same international

Gun attacks in Jordan kill a Canadian tourist

and four police officers - there are fears fellow tourists

And - he was last year's Sports Personality of the Year -

tonight Andy Murray finds out if he's beaten 15 other contenders

Buses are reported to have set off from eastern Aleppo,

taking civilians out of the former rebel stronghold that's now

controlled by Syrian government forces.

The evacuation stopped on Friday because of disagreements

Efforts to revive the deal have been taking place since.

But there are also reports that rebel forces have attacked

and destroyed buses sent to rescue civilians in a similar

evacuation, from the mainly government-supporting villages

Our Middle East correspondent Quentin Sommerville reports -

you may find some of the images distressing.

If only the ceasefire in Aleppo hadn't collapsed, then this might

never have needed to happen. They are doing the best they can hear,

but this hospital is barely functioning. These are not surgeons.

There are none left in eastern Aleppo so nurses perform the

operation. It is a Caesarean. TRANSLATION: The child has a birth

defect. We immediately brought the child to the operating room for a

Caesarean which we are doing now. The mother is in a bad way and her

baby boy even worse. But everyone here is at their wits end. Eastern

Aleppo is out of options. TRANSLATION: Soon as the patient

arrived I told the Red Cross that the patient needed emergency surgery

but there was no answer because the evacuation is still suspended. Some

of the six made it out of here on Thursday but not nearly enough.

After 24 hours, the ceasefire collapsed. There are now 100 badly

injured people trapped here. He has been stuck here for three days says

this man. He has a head injury. We have tried to leave but they stopped

us. And here is one of the hold-ups.

Rival factions attacked buses that were meant to free trapped sick and

injured in Shi'ite villages. Only when they are freed will be regime

allow convoys to again leave eastern Aleppo. And only after Aleppo's

misery would you consider this salvation. This is a camp in Idlib.

Evacuees are brought here. When they arrive they have nothing. The buses

that bring them are so crowded there is no room for luggage, but here,

the relief. TRANSLATION: Rockets, Russian jets and warplanes all

bombing us, barrel bombs dropped over us. We kept fleeing from one

place to another. There was hunger, poverty and sleeping in the streets.

Finally, the Red Cross got us out. This woman made it here with her

twin girls. The camp may be crowded but here the sisters can breathe

again. TRANSLATION: It is better than it was in Aleppo, there is no

bombing. We have new friends walking and playing together. There was a

food shortage back there. We are eating more here. We hated life but

here we are eating biscuits and everything. That is what is at stake

here. Every minute and every hour of the ceasefire that is lost, is

another moment of life denied to the children of Aleppo.

The International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has refused to rule out

Britain remaining a member of the European Customs' Union

after Brexit - which could limit the ability

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr that he was "instinctively a free

trader" and he would have his say in the Cabinet.

Here's our political correspondent Ben Wright.

There's some flash photography in his report.

At the moment, British businesses know the score. We are full members

of the EU single market with its free movement of goods, services and

people. We are also members of the EU's customs union, the biggest in

the world. The huge question is, what will Brexit bring? This

morning, the trade secretary suggested we could remain partial

members of the Customs' Union. I hear people talking about hard

Brexit and soft Brexit as if it is a boiled egg we are talking about. It

is a little more complex. Turkey is in part of the Customs' Union but

not other parts. We need to look at the cost. The Customs' Union

includes all 28 EU nations at all so Turkey, Monaco, San Marino and

Andorra. All can trade freely with each other. But they must impose the

same tariffs on good outside the customs union. They are also barred

from doing bilateral trade deals that other countries. That is why

the trade Secretary would like half way house, but there will be

trade-offs. The former Chancellor, now free to speak without a

government script urged ministers to be careful. We should do this on the

basis of a hard-headed assessment on what is in our national and economic

interests. Yes, it is true that the grass may be greener outside of

those arrangements, and we may be able to conduct new free trade deals

with Australia and the United States and so on, but that should not come

at a price of giving up the existing free trade arrangements with Germany

and France. And you think we can keep those? That is where I would be

starting from. You cannot say we are a beacon of free trade in the world

and then the main thing we can achieve is a huge act of

protectionism, the biggest in British history. Popping up again to

offer his Brexit services, Nigel Farage, friend of President-elect

Donald Trump, the former Ukip leader told the BBC he wanted to be a

bridge between the new trade department and the US

administration. Number Ten said there was no job vacancy. Six months

on after the vote to leave the European Union, everyone agrees that

Brexit will happen but if ministers know how, they are not telling us.

At the moment, all options seem to be on the table. This is not

question of the UK asking for a deal, in the spring Britain will

begin discussions with 27 other countries what is Herman to get a

deal that works for them. -- who are determined to get a deal that works

for them. A Canadian woman has been killed

in a shoot-out between police and gunmen in Jordan at a castle

popular with tourists. Four police officers

were killed in the attack There are reports some people

had been taken hostage. Armoured personnel carriers racing

through the streets of Karak. They are responding to series of

shootings in and around the town by several gunmen. The security forces

desperately tried to establish who is firing and from where. There is

panic, confusion and more gunshots. This amateur footage shows police

and special forces closing in on the gunmen who have now taken refuge in

the Crusader castle and are still firing on those around them. The

medieval citadel draws tourists from around the world, and there were

initial unconfirmed reports that some had been taken hostage. Others

were able to get out as the battle raged around them. This is where

most of the casualties were found. All were Jordanian except for one

Canadian woman who was killed. Tonight, the city appears calm

although it is unclear what happened to the gunmen. There will be relief

the attack is contained but it will be another blow to Jordan's

reputation as a sea of calm in a region of crisis.

A suicide bomber has killed at least 40 soldiers in Aden in south Yemen.

The Islamic State group says it carried out the attack,

which targeted a crowd of soldiers as they were queueing up

to receive their salaries near a military base.

It's the latest in a string of such attacks on army recruits.

A week ago, Islamic State militants killed 50 troops in Aden,

which is under the control of the internationally-recognised

The government is drawing up plans to make all civil servants

and holders of public office swear an oath to uphold British values.

The Communities Secretary Sajid Javid says he wants people

to set an example to newly arrived migrants.

But Labour dismissed the idea as a "gimmick".

The General Secretary of the RMT transport union Mick Cash

has dismissed claims that it's organising strikes

as part of a conspiracy to bring down the Government.

He distanced himself from reported remarks

by the RMT's president, Sean Hoyle, suggesting trade unions

were co-ordinating industrial action to oust the Conservatives.

Here's our business correspondent, Joe Lynam.

Some media reports suggest that trade unions are trying to bring

down the government. The RMT National president was pretty clear

on the subject. We are talking about the left trying to bring the

government down and how the national shop stewards network and the RMT,

other organisations are coordinated to bring the government down. Shock

horror, guess what, we bloody are! But his RMT colleague Mick Cash

dismissed the idea. We are not looking at conspiracies to bring

down the government. Southern conductor members are on strike this

week because they have concerns about safety and concerns about the

safety of the travelling public. But the public are faced in the middle

as they face a Christmas of discontent. 400 guards at Southern

Rail will start another stoppage tomorrow. Around 3500 Crown Post

Office workers are on strike this week and 1500 baggage handlers could

disrupt holiday plans before Christmas as could 4500 British

Airways cabin crew who are set to park their trolleys on Christmas

Day. One former Conservative Transport Minister thinks there is a

link between these industrial disputes. I don't think it is a

coincidence these disputes are happening now. I think there is

quarter nation and they are determined to bring misery on people

who will be travelling this year at this time. Here on Downing Street

they will be more than aware of how annoying Christmas strikes are to

the public. Even though this government has introduced new rules

to make it tougher for trade unions to go out on strike, some ministers

want to go further. That could be tricky. It may feel as if there is a

spike in industrial disputes, but compared to the 1970s, this year

barely scratches the surface in terms of total number of days lost

to strikes. That will be cold comfort to Southern Rail passengers

who will endure a fourth day of disruption this week.

There are three matches in the Premier League today.

Second-placed Arsenal are drawing 1-1 at Manchester City,

while Tottenham and Burnley are drawing 1-1.

In the day's early game a superb late goal from Jay Rodriguez helped

earn Southampton a 3-1 victory against

England's hopes of a consolation victory in the fifth and final test

against India look slim, after a frustrating

Rahul struck 199 to frustrate the tourists.

The innings helped his side to 391-4, 86 runs behind.

But the opening batsman fell agonisingly short

of his double century, falling to Adil Rashid

India hold an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.

The 2016 BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be announced

People can vote for 16 contenders, who've been shortlisted

Andy Swiss joins us from Birmingham where the ceremony

Yes, the big names are arriving thick and fast here on the red

carpet. We are expecting around 12,000 people here tonight to

celebrate what has been an incredible year for British sport.

The big question on everyone's lips, who will be the BBC Sports

Personality of the Year? Final rehearsals for a famous night.

Robbie Williams among those providing the entertainment after a

year in which British sport has certainly hit the high notes. There

is a bumper 16 contenders for 2016. Boxer Nicola Adams, footballer

Gareth Bale, triathlete Alistair Brownlee, dressage star Sophie

Christiansen, cyclist Kadeena Cox and athlete Mo Farah. There is the

golden couple Jason Kenny and Laura Kenney formerly Lawro trot. Andy

Murray, slimmer Adam Peaty and hockey captain Kate Richardson

Walsh. How about show-jumper Nick Skelton, Dame Sarah Storey,

footballer Jamie Vardy, gymnast Max Whitlock or golfer Danny Willett?

Reviewers will decide tonight. One thing is already settled, Michael

Phelps will receive a lifetime achievement award, the American

swimmer finishing his career in Rio with a record 23 Olympic titles. But

the main Tracy is very much up for grabs. After Andy Murray's Triumph

told months ago, whose name will be etched on this special sporting

year? There's more throughout the evening

on the BBC News Channel, we are back with the late

news at 11.00pm.