25/02/2018 BBC Weekend News

Labour calls for the UK to remain

in a customs union after Brexit.

The party says it would be

best for trade and for

the Northern Ireland border,

and warns the Government it may not

have parliamentary support

for its vision of Brexit.

With both Jeremy Corbyn

and Theresa May giving

major speeches this week,

we'll be asking where Labour's shift

leaves the Government.

Also tonight...

More fighting between the Syrian

government and rebel groups

in the Damascus suburb

of eastern Ghouta.

In Leicester, emergency services

deal with a major incident

after an explosion and fire.

On the campaign trail in Italy.

How far-right politicians

are drawing big crowds ahead

of next week's election.

Song and celebration,

as the Winter Olympics that mixed

sport and politics come to an end.

And tributes to one of Bollywood's

leading ladies - Sridevi -

who's died at the age of 54.

Good evening.

Labour wants the UK

to remain in a customs union

with the EU after Brexit,

according to the Shadow

Brexit Secretary.

Sir Keir Starmer said

today that a new treaty,

replicating the existing customs

arrangement, would be best

for the economy and respect

the referendum result.

The Prime Minister is committed

to leaving both the single market

and the customs union.

She's expected to outline

the Government's position

in more detail this week.

Our political correspondent,

Ben Wright, reports.

When it comes to trading with the EU

after Brexit, there is now clear

water between the

Government and Labour.

In a speech tomorrow, Jeremy Corbyn

will confirm his party would

keep the UK in a customs

union with the EU.

Crunch time is coming

for the Prime Minister because the

majority in parliament does not back

her approach to a customs union.

Labour's Brexit spokesman said

the UK would be better off teaming

up with the EU to reach new trade

deals with other countries.

Obviously, realistically

it's the only way to get

tariff free access.

It's really important for our

manufacturing base and nobody

can answer the question, how

you keep your commitment to no hard

border in Northern Ireland

without a customs union.

As an EU member we are currently

in the European customs union.

The idea behind it is pretty simple.

A single set of tariffs

is imposed on goods imported

from outside the EU.

Goods can then move freely

without tariffs around

the bloc but members cannot

do their own trade deals.

The EU also has a single market

which allows capital,

services and people to move freely

around member states.

The Government says we will leave

the customs union and the single

market after Brexit.

Some Labour MPs want

their party to commit to both.

It's a massive hit

on our economy if we

leave the single market,

if we leave the customs union.

It's a massive hit to peace

in Northern Ireland if

we leave the customs union.

These are core Labour values.

But Brexit-supporting

Labour MPs argue

the party risks betraying

their own voters.

You've come out, Stella,

with all these things,

we will stay in the customs union,

we will stay in the single market.

The decision was quite

clear to leave.

In the north, Labour voters

voted very, very clearly.

Are you going to rat on them or not?

The Brexit negotiation

is not only a haggle

between the UK

Government and the EU.

Parliament is critical, too.

Theresa May did not have an overall

majority in the Commons and a

number of Tory MPs also

argue that the UK should

have a customs union with the EU.

So, a vote, when it comes,

could force the Government to

change its position.

The Government insists the UK must

be free to have an independent trade

policy after Brexit

outside the customs union.

Labour say they want

to join a customs union,

what does that mean?

Is it like Turkey, which has

a customs union but only in goods,

but not in agriculture,

not in services, not in finance?

Is that what we want for Britain?

Will we take rules in certain

sectors but not in others?

Liam Fox also said the Government

would try to persuade all Tory MPs

about the Government's position

before putting a trade

deal before MPs which,

at the moment, looks like

it could be defeated if Labour joins

Tory rebels in calling

for a new customs union.

Which is why the impact of Labour's

is the shift could be

very significant. Today, a couple of

the Conservative MPs who also want a

customs union between the UK and

European union after Brexit... The

potential is there to allow the

Government's said plan out of the

water. A lot could happen before

then including what is billed as a

very important speech by Theresa May

on Brexit in which ears to set out

in more detail on how the Government

wants to get frictionless free trade

with the EU outside the customs

union that speech would be closely

watched by the EU and sceptics

within the Prime Minister's own

party. Thank you very much, then

right.

-- Ben Wright.

Fighting is continuing

in the Damascus suburb

of Eastern Ghouta, a day

after the UN Security Council passed

a resolution calling

for a ceasefire to be implemented.

The Syrian government is trying

to retake the area from rebels,

some of whom are linked

to extremist groups.

Our Middle East Editor,

Jeremy Bowen, has this report.

You may find some of it distressing.

This was inside eastern Ghouta.

In almost seven years

of war in Syria, real

ceasefires have been rare,

ineffective and short.

The UN couldn't agree on a start

time for the ceasefire.

The best they could do

was to say "without delay".

That is elastic enough to wreck this

ceasefire's chances.

Today is the first day

of the ceasefire resolution.

Still there's warplane, atmosphere,

there is still shelling.

It's less than before.

Civilians are still being killed.

Civil defence workers dug a badly

injured baby out of this bomb site.

Already the Russians say Jaysh

al-Islam, the main armed

group in the enclave,

has broken the ceasefire.

It says it's forced to fight back.

TRANSLATION:

When the regime is not

abiding by the UN resolution

I cannot stand still and watch

and not defend myself

and our families in Ghouta.

This boy and the men with him are,

we are told, victims

of a chlorine attack.

When it's weaponised, chlorine

is banned under international law.

The Russians claim this

is fake, part of a plan

to discredit Syrian army.

Whether you believe these pictures,

or the Russians, it's another bad

sign for the ceasefire.

The Syrian army is dug

in around eastern Ghouta,

reported to be pushing forward.

Ceasefire or not,

it can sense victory.

Ceasefires need both goodwill and

self-interest if they are to have a

chance. The ceasefires of Syrian

regime like best are ones that lead

to surrenders, which is what has

happened and all the other rebel

enclaves around Damascus. Let's hope

it is a proper, humanitarian

ceasefire. I am afraid to say,

history is against it. Thank you.

A major incident has been

declared in Leicester

after a large explosion destroyed

a shop, and a home above it.

Four people have been taken

to hospital, and members

of the public have been told

to avoid the area.

Our correspondent, Jeremy Ball,

is on the scene now.

Jeremy, what more can you tell us?

It is around three hours since the

explosion happened. There is still

thick, acrid smoke drifting across

the scene. People who live here

described hearing such a loud bang

it sounded something like an

earthquake. We heard that the shop,

a Polish convenience store, has been

destroyed. People live above the

shop. We have seen search and rescue

dogs at the scene. Four people have

been taken to hospital but the

building will have to be searched to

find out if anyone else is trapped

in the wreckage was we can still see

flames coming out of the building,

so it is still an ongoing incident.

It will not be until the search is

finished that the investigation can

begin to find out what has happened

here.

Thank you.

After 16 days of competition,

the Winter Olympics in South Korea

have drawn to a close,

with a colourful ceremony featuring

nearly 3,000 athletes.

The politics, which underpinned much

of the Games, were at the fore again

today as North Korea

signalled its willingness to hold

talks with the United States.

Laura Bicker reports

from Pyeongchang.

This is the confident

side of South Korea.

Modern, dynamic, and edgy.

The perfect stage for

a record-breaking British team.

Five medals in these Winter Games.

This year will be remembered

by Russia as well,

its athletes still not allowed

to fly their flag after a doping

ban.

It will be lifted if

no more cases arise.

We were taken on a journey

through time, a mix of old and new.

Vivaldi's Four Seasons,

led by a 13-year-old

shredding his guitar.

And backed by 80 traditional

Korean instruments.

But much of the drama

in Pyeongchang was political.

Entering this arena is the US

President's daughter, Ivanka Trump.

Hugs for the South Korean First

Lady, but no warm reception

for the

North Korean general

sitting behind her.

There was no contact between

the two, but it does seem that

Pyeongyang is now ready

to talk to the US.

A victory for the South Korean

leader, President Moon.

Unlike the opening ceremony,

athletes from the two Koreas flew

their own country's colours,

highlighting the division despite

the diplomacy.

Critics fear the North has

been given too much of a

platform at these Games.

The minister responsible for talks

between the two Koreas says

Pyeongyang is being pushed

on its nuclear weapons.

TRANSLATION:

We did convey

the message to the North Koreans

multiple times.

It is necessary that North Korea

and the United States talk

to each other to solve this

in a peaceful manner.

But at the end of this Olympic

reverie there could be

a dose of reality.

This show of harmony has

given South Korea some

breathing space, but tensions

still lurk in the background.

Unfortunately, it's

not going to last.

North Koreans are entirely

separating, they've said it from the

first meeting, that the nuclear

issue has nothing to do with the

cooperation between the two Koreas

concering the Olympic Games.

And so Pyeongchang

bids farewell to the

Olympic flame and many

wonder what could be

next for the two Koreas.

These Games are ending just

as they began, with a major

diplomatic breakthrough.

North Korea has said it's willing

to talk to the United States.

There's still a huge problem

of its nuclear weapons programme,

but this is the first progress made

on this peninsula in years.

Laura Bicker, BBC News, Pyeongchang.

More than a thousand people have

taken part in a march

in the centre of Belfast calling

for action on the legacy

of Northern Ireland's Troubles.

The march was organised by a number

of groups representing people

who lost their lives.

They say promises to

deal with the past,

including a five-year plan

to complete outstanding inquests,

have been broken.

China's ruling Communist Party

is expected to abandon a rule

limiting the time a president can

serve in office - a move

which could see the current leader

Xi Jinping stay on indefinitely.

He had been due to step down

in 2023, after ten years in the job.

The change will be seen as further

evidence of his growing hold on

power.

Italians head to the polls in a week

in a general election

that has the rest of Europe

on the edge of its seat.

Populist politicians are leading

the polls with Italians

angry about migration,

frustrated with the EU and worried

about their sluggish economy.

Our Europe Editor, Katya Adler,

reports from Milan.

In Italy this election season,

populism rather than policy

is the undisputed vote winner.

Italians flock to those

who say they are listening

to their frustrations

with the status quo.

Matteo Salvini leads the hard right

anti-immigration League party.

It's almost more popstar than

politician.

All of Matteo Salvini's

supporters hoping he can make it

to Prime Minister with his

slogan, "Italy First."

"What do you say to those who call

you a racist populist?", I asked.

TRANSLATION:

I don't respond

to insults, but I'm proud to be

a populist if it means being amongst

people, solving their problems.

Immigration is seen

as a big problem here.

Around 700,000 mainly African

migrants arrived here by boat

over the past few years.

Many asylum claims are rejected.

People go underground.

The police said we needed an escort

to visit these illegally

occupied buildings in Turin.

We clearly weren't welcome.

Recent attacks by migrants

and against migrants in Italy,

plus widespread pre-election

anti-immigration rhetoric,

have stoked tensions here.

The Mayor of Turin is from another

populist, big-hitter party,

the controversial Five Star Movement

- anti-migration, Eurosceptic

and very antiestablishment.

Mayor Appendino took me for a spin

in her intentionally

non-bling electric car.

We have had a crisis,

economic crisis.

People don't like the establishment

because there are no solutions

and poverty is increasing,

so what they see in us,

when they were so young

and they never did politics before,

and they see in us a way

to get out of the crisis,

a way to find new solutions.

With populists so popular here,

should Europe brace itself

for turmoil in Italy,

the Eurozone's third-largest

economy, after these elections?

Well, not quite.

Remember him?

Yes, Berlusconi is back,

and the irony of the populist

outbreak in Italy is that a man

who disappeared from politics

surrounded by scandal has now

returned and is able to present

himself as a calm elder statesman.

Silvio Berlusconi can't run

for office because of a conviction

for tax fraud, but his party

will likely have a key

role in forming the next

Italian government.

Which is why, despite all

the political rhetoric here,

young voters fear little

will actually change in Italy

after these elections.

In these elections, nobody

is speaking about young

people in the proper way.

Most of our schoolmates

right now are unemployed.

There's hope in the future.

Voter turnout in these elections

is expected to be high.

Italians are engaged -

and angry.

Katya Adler, BBC News, Milan.

More on the last day

at the Winter Olympics,

and the rest of the sport,

over to Karthi Gnanasegaram.

Good evening.

Manchester City have won their first

trophy under manager, Pep Guardiola.

City beat Arsenal 3-0

in the Carabao Cup final

but Guardiola didn't go up

to collect the trophy, saying

it was for the club and not for him.

Natalie Pirks reports from Wembley.

Winning trophies is nothing

new for Manchester City,

but Pep Guardiola was probably

surprised at just how simple

the first of his reign was.

The day started in

crisp London sunshine.

Yellow ribbons caught the eye,

Guardiola again defying the FA

by wearing his for imprisoned

Catalan politicians.

Arsene Wenger has never

won the League Cup.

He had reason to look pensive.

Manchester City aren't known

for route one football,

but from a goal kick Sergio Aguero

outmuscled Arsenal's

defence with ease.

Sergio Aguero!

That lob was rather cheeky, too.

From woeful defenders to wonderful.

Vincent Kompany, so often

out injured, popped up

with an important contribution.

And just look what it meant to him.

Fans were celebrating,

but City weren't quite done yet.

On a night where City's

old guard came up trumps,

Arsenal's fans were left wondering

just how they got it so wrong.

Arsene Wenger had said this

was Arsenal's chance to show

they were on City's level.

At times, they didn't appear

to be on the same planet.

This trophy remains elusive

for Wenger but, for Guardiola,

it could be the first of many.

The treble is still very much on.

Natalie Pirks, BBC News, Wembley.

Great Britain didn't win any

medals on the final day

of the Winter Olympics but this has

been their most

successful Winter Games.

Andy Swiss reports from Pyeongchang.

Britain's Olympic journey here

hasn't always been the smoothest.

17th and 18th for the much

touted bobsleighers,

a disappointing finish,

but their misses have

been matched by medals.

Yarnold wins gold again!

Laura Deas has won bronze as well.

A record five in total...

Billy Morgan!

Yes!

After some £30 million of funding,

they haven't come cheap,

but the team believe

they are worth it.

We are very happy.

It's a historic Games,

our best ever Winter Olympics,

three medals on that Saturday,

and back-to-back gold

medals with Lizzy Yarnold.

The greatest feat came in the skiing

as Norway sealed their place at the

top of the medals table thanks to

the most decorated Winter Olympian

of all time, winning her 15th medal,

a glorious finale to a glittering

career. And so a spectacular end to

a Games that has seen some stunning

performances and a record tally by

Great Britain.

Andy Swiss, BBC News.

Ben Stokes' bowling has been

described as "brilliant"

by the England cricket captain,

Eoin Morgan.

Stokes played for the international

team for the first time

since September but his two wickets

couldn't save England who lost

the first One Day International

against New Zealand

by three wickets.

The day's football results

and the latest from the Women's Six

Nations are on the BBC website.

The Indian actress, Sridevi,

who starred in nearly

300 Bollywood films,

has died of a heart

attack at the age of 54.

A former child star,

her films had huge box office

success from the 1970s

to the late 1990s.

That was whether or not she had a

prominent male co-star.

Rajini Vaidyanathan

looks back at her life.

For decades, she was

Bollywood's leading lady.

Sridevi captivated audiences

with her charisma and comic timing.

In a male-dominated film

industry, she was one of the

first woman to become

a megastar in her own right.

You know, the audience

just wants a good film.

That's what matters.

Whether it is a heroine-oriented

or hero-oriented film.

Sridevi was attending a family

wedding with her husband and

daughter in Dubai when she suffered

a heart attack late on Saturday

night.

As news of her death broke,

crowds gathered outside her house in

Mumbai.

Across India, fans paid tribute.

It is a loss to our country,

to the film industry.

She was such a role model

to all women across the country.

Now we've got a lot of famous

leading ladies in Bollywood.

Back then, in the 80s and early 90s,

there weren't too many of them.

She was one of the first.

India is mourning the loss of one

of its brightest stars.

One film producer described

the impact of Sridevi's death -

saying she was a pioneer,

who put the early cracks of

the glass ceiling of Bollywood

and paved the way for today's female

film stars.

Sridevi will be remembered

for the way she lit up the screen.

She left the world of Bollywood way

too soon but her legacy is enduring.

Sridevi Kapoor,

who has died aged 54.

That's all from us.