0:00:20 > 0:00:22Good afternoon.
0:00:22 > 0:00:26Russia says it will expel 23 British diplomats.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29The move is one of the measures in response to Britain's decision
0:00:29 > 0:00:32to throw out the same number of Russian officials
0:00:32 > 0:00:35following the nerve agent attack in Salisbury.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37In the last hour, Theresa May says Russia's response doesn't change
0:00:37 > 0:00:39the facts of what happened.
0:00:39 > 0:00:47Our correspondent, Sarah Rainsford, is live in Moscow now.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52That's right, we have heard more strong language from Theresa May
0:00:52 > 0:00:54today describing the poisoning in Salisbury is an act of Russian
0:00:54 > 0:00:59aggression. That is not how it looks to officials here in Moscow, who
0:00:59 > 0:01:05have been accusing the UK of Risse phobia, and also saying that Russia
0:01:05 > 0:01:11is innocent, insisting on Russia's innocence and saying the UK is
0:01:11 > 0:01:14guilty itself of an act of provocation. -- guilty of
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Russophobia.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21Moscow took its time to respond. Three days after the expulsion of
0:01:21 > 0:01:26Russian diplomats, the British ambassador here was summoned to the
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Foreign Ministry. The meeting lasted just minutes as officials handed
0:01:29 > 0:01:32over a list of names and informed Britain of the additional measures
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Russia was taking. The ambassador emerged to underline why relations
0:01:36 > 0:01:42with Russia have plummeted to this new low.We will always do what is
0:01:42 > 0:01:45necessary to defend ourselves, our allies, and our values against an
0:01:45 > 0:01:50attack of this sort, which is an attack not only on the United
0:01:50 > 0:01:54Kingdom, but upon the international rules-based system upon which all
0:01:54 > 0:01:58countries, including Russia, depend for their safety and security.
0:01:58 > 0:01:59The Russian sanctions were then made public.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02The decision to expel 23 British diplomats was expected,
0:02:02 > 0:02:06after Britain expelled 23 Russians from the embassy in London.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Shutting down the British Consulate in Russia's second city
0:02:08 > 0:02:11of St Petersburg, though, is an extra step.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14And the British Council, which fosters cultural
0:02:14 > 0:02:16and educational ties with the Russian people, will now be
0:02:16 > 0:02:23forced to end all activity here.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27Targeting the British Council will affect Russian citizens, though, not
0:02:27 > 0:02:30their government. It helps stage British cultural events here, and
0:02:30 > 0:02:35promotes language learning. Its work was restricted, though, a decade ago
0:02:35 > 0:02:40after the last crisis over the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44Now Sergei Skripal, another former Russian spy, has been poisoned, this
0:02:44 > 0:02:50time by a nerve agent. Theresa May has blamed Russia directly.The
0:02:50 > 0:02:54attempted assassination of two people on British soil, for which
0:02:54 > 0:02:57there is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state
0:02:57 > 0:03:04was culpable. It is Russia that is in flagrant breach of international
0:03:04 > 0:03:07law and the chemical weapons Convention.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09The response by the Foreign Ministry here in Moscow is robust,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12and it does go beyond the measures announced in the UK.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15But given the mood and the language here in recent days,
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Moscow might have gone even further.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Officials here called the poisoning in Salisbury a provocation.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23And they say comments linking Vladimir Putin directly to attempted
0:03:23 > 0:03:29murder are unforgivable.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34But this row could yet escalate. Moscow will continue to deny
0:03:34 > 0:03:38everything, and officials here warned they are ready to impose
0:03:38 > 0:03:42further sanctions and match any moves made by the UK. Sarah
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Raynsford, BBC News, Moscow.
0:03:45 > 0:03:46STUDIO:
0:03:46 > 0:03:48Well, our Diplomatic Correspondent, James Robbins, is with me now.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51James, what's likely to happen next?
0:03:51 > 0:03:55Theresa May has made clear that Britain's response to this Russian
0:03:55 > 0:03:59action, any action that Britain might take in retaliation, will only
0:03:59 > 0:04:03be decided after a meeting of the National Security Council next week.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05The council normally meets on Tuesday. It could be changed, but
0:04:05 > 0:04:11that's normal. We will wait to see what they decide. On one level, this
0:04:11 > 0:04:15is a tit-for-tat expulsion of 23, the same number as was expelled from
0:04:15 > 0:04:19London. On the other hand, it has gone further with the consulate
0:04:19 > 0:04:23closure in Saint Petersburg. Perhaps most important of all in some
0:04:23 > 0:04:27respects, the closure of British Council operations in Russia. That
0:04:27 > 0:04:32is the scientific, cultural and educational soft power department,
0:04:32 > 0:04:37if you like, agency. It teaches thousands upon thousands of Russians
0:04:37 > 0:04:41English through its classes. It has a lot of outreach and is seen as a
0:04:41 > 0:04:45real way of spreading Britain's idea of democratic values across Russia.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49That's quite a serious blow. I think because of those extra moves, we
0:04:49 > 0:04:53will have to wait and see whether Britain things it has to go a little
0:04:53 > 0:04:58bit further in its action.James Robbins, thank you very much indeed.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00Police have launched a murder investigation after two women
0:05:00 > 0:05:02were shot and killed at a house in East Sussex.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Officers responded to reports of a shooting at an address
0:05:05 > 0:05:06in St Leonards-on-Sea last night.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Two other women - including one who is pregnant -
0:05:08 > 0:05:12were taken to hospital suffering from shock.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17A 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Forecasters say snow could cause further
0:05:19 > 0:05:21problems across swathes of the UK this weekend.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Amber weather warnings have been issued in parts
0:05:23 > 0:05:25of England and Wales.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28More than 70 flights have been cancelled at Heathrow.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Live now to our correspondent Sarah Walton, who's at Ainley Top
0:05:31 > 0:05:35in West Yorkshire.
0:05:35 > 0:05:42Battling the wind there, Sarah!Yes, that's right. The snow has been
0:05:42 > 0:05:45falling in flurries throughout the morning. Another little one is
0:05:45 > 0:05:49starting now. It's lying on high ground in places like here in West
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Yorkshire. We are being warned this is just the beginning and conditions
0:05:52 > 0:05:56will get worse through the afternoon, tonight and into tomorrow
0:05:56 > 0:06:00morning. Those Amber weather warnings mean that many places will
0:06:00 > 0:06:04get about three centimetres of snow, but there could be 10-15 centimetres
0:06:04 > 0:06:12over the hills, and that will come with strong winds. We are feeling
0:06:12 > 0:06:16that a bit right now, but gusts of 70 mph predicted later and that
0:06:16 > 0:06:17could cause problems. Blizzard conditions and even some drifting
0:06:17 > 0:06:21snow. Highways England warning drivers to take extra care and leave
0:06:21 > 0:06:25yourself extra time if you are heading out on a journey. West
0:06:25 > 0:06:29Yorkshire Police here asking drivers to avoid roads over the Pennines and
0:06:29 > 0:06:33high ground, we have already seen closures and gritters out across the
0:06:33 > 0:06:37county. We told the cold snap will not last as long as three weeks ago.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41It should be back to normal temperature is for this time of year
0:06:41 > 0:06:45by Tuesday. But before it gets better, with those weather it will
0:06:45 > 0:06:48get worse.You have been warned.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50The former FBI deputy director, Andrew McCabe,
0:06:50 > 0:06:52has accused the Trump administration of acting with political malice
0:06:52 > 0:06:56after he was fired just days before he was due to retire.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00An internal review said that Mr McCabe leaked information
0:07:00 > 0:07:03and misled investigators - claims that he has denied.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05President Trump called his sacking a great day for democracy.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Our Washington correspondent, Chris Buckler, reports.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10As deputy director, Andrew McCabe was heavily involved in some
0:07:10 > 0:07:12of the FBI's most controversial and politically contentious
0:07:12 > 0:07:17investigations.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20And it's one of those enquiries that's led to his dismissal.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23In 2016, as Hillary Clinton was running for president,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26she was being investigated because of questions about e-mails
0:07:26 > 0:07:29she received on a private server while she was US Secretary of State.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31Mr McCabe authorised information to be given to the media.
0:07:31 > 0:07:39Something the Department of Justice said he was not entitled to do.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45And an internal FBI investigation found he had not been completely
0:07:45 > 0:07:46honest when asked about it.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Firing him, the US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said: "The FBI expects
0:07:49 > 0:07:51every employee to adhere to the highest standards of honesty,
0:07:51 > 0:07:58integrity and accountability."
0:08:00 > 0:08:04But Andrew McCabe says he's been sacked for political reasons,
0:08:04 > 0:08:06and he claims that President Trump brought much of that pressure.
0:08:06 > 0:08:11In a lengthy statement, he accused the White House
0:08:11 > 0:08:15of declaring war on both the FBI and the special counsel's
0:08:15 > 0:08:16investigation into allegations of Russian interference
0:08:16 > 0:08:19in the election two years ago.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22It's less than a year since his boss - the former FBI
0:08:22 > 0:08:24director James Comey - was fired by President Trump.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27And Mr McCabe claims what he witnessed then was another
0:08:27 > 0:08:29reason for his dismissal.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33Andrew McCabe had served more than 20 years in the FBI.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37But just over 24 hours before his retirement
0:08:37 > 0:08:39and his 50th birthday, he's been sacked in the full
0:08:39 > 0:08:40glare of publicity.
0:08:40 > 0:08:48Chris Buckler, BBC News, Washington.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51With all the sport, here's John Acres at
0:08:51 > 0:08:55the BBC Sport Centre.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57Starting with rugby...
0:08:57 > 0:08:59We've reached the climax of this year's Six Nations Championship.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02Three matches today, including a huge game at Twickenham.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04Ireland are looking to complete the Grand Slam, but England
0:09:04 > 0:09:05have a record to defend.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08Our sports correspondent Joe Wilson is there.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12And Joe, this is a hard one to call, isn't it?
0:09:12 > 0:09:17A huge game for both teams for different reasons.Absolutely. I
0:09:17 > 0:09:20think so, John. The first thing I saw when I came in to Twickenham
0:09:20 > 0:09:24this morning was an advert for cold beer. I think it's very much a hot
0:09:24 > 0:09:28chocolate kind of day. You might be able to see the pitch markings
0:09:28 > 0:09:33behind me, the lines painted blue, very unusual to see that, but it's
0:09:33 > 0:09:36in anticipation of more snowfall here today. Ireland come here
0:09:36 > 0:09:41knowing that whatever happens in this game they are the Six Nations
0:09:41 > 0:09:44champions and will be paraded around Twickenham with the trophy. But what
0:09:44 > 0:09:48lies ahead possibly for them is a rarity, a precious Grand Slam,
0:09:48 > 0:09:52perfect Six Nations. They have only done that twice ever. They come into
0:09:52 > 0:09:56the game on a record of consecutive wins, with continuity and
0:09:56 > 0:10:01confidence. In contrast, England have back-to-back defeats. They have
0:10:01 > 0:10:05picked a team by their own admission, just to try to win this
0:10:05 > 0:10:10game, recalling players just try to beat Ireland in the match. Remember,
0:10:10 > 0:10:14just a few weeks ago England were talking about Eddie Jones being gone
0:10:14 > 0:10:17a long-term contract and building to the World Cup, continuity, but the
0:10:17 > 0:10:21future for them is just trying to get through this game. England
0:10:21 > 0:10:26suddenly need the oxygen of victory. And let's say, before the game
0:10:26 > 0:10:31starts, from both sides.Everyone is aware of the significance it has for
0:10:31 > 0:10:36Irish rugby and this group of players. But, yes, there's nervous
0:10:36 > 0:10:40energy, but it's very exciting. You want to pick yourself against the
0:10:40 > 0:10:47best teams.No team is perfect in the world. Rugby is an imperfect
0:10:47 > 0:10:53game. Every team has a certain area of weaknesses, and we have to be
0:10:53 > 0:10:57good enough to exploit those areas of weakness.The first game of the
0:10:57 > 0:11:00day is already under way. How Scotland getting along against
0:11:00 > 0:11:07Italy?Knowing the way Scotland have played through this Six Nations,
0:11:07 > 0:11:11which is fast and loose, perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that have
0:11:11 > 0:11:14been tries galore already in Rome. Two of them for Italy before
0:11:14 > 0:11:23Scotland could respond. Its seven -- it's 17-12 a few minutes ago as they
0:11:23 > 0:11:28approach half-time. Scotland playing a brave and risky type of rugby, but
0:11:28 > 0:11:33if they can come away with a win from Italy, and a bonus point
0:11:33 > 0:11:39victory, they will look back on this Six Nations with some satisfaction.
0:11:39 > 0:11:45Wales are in pole position to finish second going into their five BM
0:11:45 > 0:11:47kick-off against France. And the French have some confidence of their
0:11:47 > 0:11:52own after beating the English last weekend.
0:11:52 > 0:11:54ParalympicsGB are still one short of their medal target,
0:11:54 > 0:11:57after the penultimate day of the Winter Games in Pyeongchang.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59Scott Meenagh finished 14th in the cross country event and
0:11:59 > 0:12:03James Whitley was 10th in the slalom.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Britain have won five medals so far, all in the visually impaired skiing,
0:12:06 > 0:12:12and the three British pairs will race again tomorrow.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Tottenham are leading Swansea 2-0 at half-time in the first
0:12:15 > 0:12:16of the day's FA Cup quarterfinals.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20Christian Eriksen put them ahead after just 11 minutes.
0:12:20 > 0:12:28Erik Lamela doubled their lead just before half time.
0:12:28 > 0:12:29The odds are definitely stacked in Tottenham's favour.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32They're unbeaten in their last 15 games against Swansea -
0:12:32 > 0:12:34that's a run going back to 1991.
0:12:34 > 0:12:35That's all the sport for now.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Back to you.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41The next news on BBC One is at the later than usual time
0:12:41 > 0:12:42of 7:00pm this evening.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44Goodbye.