02/12/2017 BBC Weekend News

Good evening.

Criticism is growing of two former

police officers who leaked

allegations that legal pornographic

images had been found on a work

computer of the Cabinet

minister Damian Green.

The former Chief Constable

of Greater Manchester,

Sir Peter Fahy, strongly rejected

suggestions it was in the public

interest to disclose information

allegedly found during the course

of an unrelated

investigation in 2008.

Sir Peter said in his view

the officers were entering

"dangerous territory".

Here's our Political

Correspondent, Alex Forsyth.

Nine years ago, a police operation

that had unforeseen consequences.

This raid was part of an inquiry

into government leaks.

No one was charged,

but computers were seized

and examined.

And on Damian Green's work

computer there was allegedly

legal pornography which he has

repeatedly said wasn't down to

him.

The claims were first made public

by former Met Assistant

Commissioner Bob Quick,

who feared they would be covered up.

Then yesterday this

retired Met detective

also spoke out, saying he had no

doubt Mr Green viewed the material.

It's ridiculous to suggest that

anybody else could have done it.

He had examined the computer

and thought it was in the public

interest to reveal

what he had found.

The computer was in Mr Green's

office, on his desk.

Logged in, his account, his name.

But today the former

Chief Constable of Greater

Manchester Police condemned

the pair's actions.

Most police officers would be very

uncomfortable about the

police getting involved in making

judgments about whether a politician

is lying or not.

That is ultimately a matter

for the courts and for public

opinion.

Or breaching this duty of keeping

matters confidential,

which are gathered

in an investigation

unless they end up as evidence.

I didn't download or

look at pornography.

Damian Green has always

denied the claims.

His conduct is currently

subject to a Cabinet

Office investigation, the outcome

crucial.

He is a close ally of Theresa May.

How she deals with this

will be closely watched.

So questions now, not

just over his political

future but the handling

of this whole affair.

Alex is in Downing Street this

evening. In the past half-hour we

have had a statement from the Chief

Inspector of Constabulary, Sir

Thomas Windsor. What does he say?

He's issued a statement in which he

effectively says the public confer

special trust on the police to keep

confidential anything they discover

in the course of investigations. He

that does not end when police

officers retire. He is effectively

criticising the actions of these two

retired officers. But does not mean

there will be further repercussions,

nonetheless he is whose word will be

listened to. That is one aspect of

this. The other is the conduct of

Damian Green. Theresa May could

receive a report about that within

the next few days and then it will

be up to her to decide what action

to take. Weighing up the fact that

she will not want to lose her de

facto Deputy Prime Minister, a close

Cabinet ally, with the need to be

seen to assert authority in this

situation. So while it is Damian

Green's actions which are under

investigation, the actions of

Theresa May will be just as closely

scrutinised.

Alex, thank you. Alex

Forsyth in Downing Street.

In the United States -

the Senate has passed

a sweeping tax reform bill,

clearing the way for the first big

legislative achievement

of Donald Trump's presidency.

The plan includes a sharp cut

in corporation tax and reductions

for some individuals; it's estimated

the measures will add more

than a trillion dollars

to the budget deficit.

From Washington, Laura

Bicker has the story.

Finally Donald Trump is on course

for a much-needed win. It looks like

he will claim a victory on tax

reform.

We passed the largest tax

cuts in the history of our country

and many other things along with it.

The vote was close, the arm-twisting

continued until dawn. There were so

many last-minute changes that

senators had to scramble them in the

margins. Democrats say the package

will benefit big business and the

wealthy but Republicans believe it

will slash corporation taxes and

help the middle classes. For

Republicans and the President tax

bill was a welcome distraction from

the other Washington drama. Donald

Trump's former national Security

adviser Michael Flynn pleading

guilty to lying to the FBI about his

meetings with Russians. The former

three star general had played a key

part in Donald Trump 's campaign and

lead this chant about his rival,

Hillary Clinton, which will live in

infamy.

If I did one tenth of what

she did, I would be in jail today.

In court Mr Flynn apologised for

lying about his meetings with

Russians. But more worryingly for

the White House prosecutors say that

he will testify that he was told to

contact Russia by the Trump team of

officials, one of whom is believed

to be the President's son-in-law

Jared Kushner. But the president

remains defiant.

What has been shown

is no collusion. No collusion. There

has been absolutely no are very

happy.

President Trump has treated

that he fired general Flynn because

of his lies and said it was a shame

because his actions were not

unlawful and he had nothing to hide.

This should have been a momentous

day for Mr Trump. After all

Republicans finally united behind

tax reform. But instead the spectre

of this Russian investigation

continues to loom over the White

House. Laura Bicker, BBC News,

Washington.

Barclays Bank says it will no longer

offer Russian anti-virus software

free of charge to its customers.

It comes after officials

recommended that government

departments stop using Kaspersky Lab

products because of fears they could

be exploited by the Kremlin.

The National Cyber Security Centre

says the advice doesn't

apply to domestic users.

Kaspersky Lab denies any links

to the Russian government.

Our Business Correspondent

Joe Lynam is here ...

What more can you tell us?

Hundreds of thousands of customers

have this software.

For the software

to work it must have access to

hundreds of thousands of files to

protect from malware. Yet the

National Security Council believes

that in itself may be exposed to

Russian hacking, potentially from

the Kremlin. They have written to a

public sector body, as you say,

saying, we don't think you should

use this software. Get Barclays has

gone further. It is written to its

new users, it is written to the

290,000 people who already have this

software, saying, this is the

advice, we won't be giving this out

to new customers. However, the bank

and the National cyber Security

Centre are stressing not to

instantly uninstall the software

less it exposes you to the malware

unless you have got new antivirus

software in place. We are

disappointed, they say, that

Barclays has discontinued offering

Kaspersky Lab software, note that

the national cyber Security council

is not cancelling business against

using Kaspersky Lab software.

Thank

you Joe.

Cricket news.

Australia will be the happier

of the two sides at the close of day

one of the second Ashes Test.

Craig Overton made

a superb start in Adelaide

to his England Test career.

He claimed the wicket of Australia

captain Steve Smith on his

debut.

After being put in to bat,

the hosts eventually closed a

rain-interrupted day on 209-4.

England's first Rugby League World

Cup final since 1995 has

ended in a disappointing

defeat to Australia.

They were narrowly beaten 6-0

by the hosts in Brisbane,

who are crowned world champions

for the 11th time.

Adam Wild reports.

When you've come so far,

got so close, defeat can

feel almost unbearable.

But sometimes you have

to go that distance

to show just how far you've come.

For England, a first

Rugby League World Cup final

in more than 20 years,

but against Australia in Australia,

there is no tougher test.

COMMENTATOR: England hope for glory.

Australia expects.

From the very first,

this was always a battle,

brutal at times.

James Graham here feeling the full

force and bearing the early scars.

With the stakes so high,

the scoreline remained

frustratingly low.

Boyd Cordner the only

one to break through,

Australia ahead by

the very tightest margin

but England unable

to close that gap.

Their World Cup summed up perfectly

in one agonising moment.

Kallum Watkins finally

clear, a huge chance

but falling painfully short

with the very faintest final touch.

Those England players sink

to their knees,

but it is Australia

who are world champions again.

Come a long way the last few years,

certainly very disappointing,