12/01/2017 Outside Source

Hello, I'm Ros Atkins, this is Outside Source.

Let's look through some of the main stories here in the BBC Newsroom.

Just a week until he's inaugurated and Donald Trump continues to make

headlines that he'd no doubt prefer not to.

The former British spy who produced a dossier about Mr Trump's alleged

behaviour while in Russia has gone into hiding.

We've been following the Cyprus reunification talks all week.

Today at talks in Geneva, the UN Secretary General has said

The EU is planning to draw up rules for how humans might get

along with artificial intelligence or robots.

And sports news - former England football manager

Let's talk about this dossier again which continues to dominate news

He details allegations that Russia has compromising material

on Donald Trump that could be used to blackmail him.

The dossier was written by a former UK intelligence agent

Here's our security correspondent Frank Gardner, with more about him.

He's a former intelligence officer at MI6, he is a specialist in

Russia. His firm was hired by a Washington lobbyist, initially they

were hired by the Republicans, who were looking to come up with some

dirt about Donald Trump. Eventually it was the Democrats who were

interested. What he found in tapping up his old Russian contacts in the

Russian successor to the KGB, he eventually got the document passed

to the FBI. That was in August last year. In October it started to leak

out, partly from a security conference that took place in

Canada. It is congregated. Then there are the allegations, without

any caveat, and normally an intelligence officer would say "Not

quite sure what the degree of reliability is about this."

Unfortunately it's been taken rather like the dossier about weapons of

mass destruction as being true. What do your contacts today tell you

about this man's reputation? He is quite well-regarded. He is

said to be quite intelligent aspect very intelligent. He left MI6 around

ten years ago to set up this form, did a lot of work on corruption

within football. He actually helped the FBI investigate corruption in

Fifa. And he is well-regarded. Now, I think this report, which is about

35 pages long, contains some unredacted sort of extracts from his

Russian contacts, there's quite a few spelling mistakes in there. But

I suspect that contained some elements of truth and some elements

that are completely fictitious. There are all sorts of allegations

of sex scandals, but also money purse -- changing hands. You can see

why the FBI and CIA are concerned about this, because if there was any

truth in it, that would imply that people in the Kremlin have got a

hold of a future president, something to blackmail him with.

That is why Donald Trump is saying it is absolutely untrue. James

Klapper, the director of national intelligence hasn't exam is said

that, he says we can't substantiate it, and we deny the leak comes from

us. -- James Clapper. Talks aimed at re-unifying

Cyprus go on in Geneva. are at the turning point. It is my

hope that there will be a breakthrough. And I think that that

is what the people of Cyprus deserve, and I think it is also what

the world needs today. We are facing so many situations of disaster, we

badly need a symbol of hope. I strongly believe that Cyprus can be

the symbol of hope at the beginning of 2017.

The south is Greek Cypriot, the north is Turkish Cypriot.

In a moment we'll be live in Geneva with James Landale - first let's

get a history lesson, with Paul Adams.

Cyprus was once a British colony but by 1974 the Greek

Turkey launched an invasion, after Greek Cypriots declared

Thousands of people were killed, and as many as 2000 -- 200,000 people

from the north on the south were displaced. People lost their homes,

their businesses. The UN was called in to patrol the so-called green

line, which divided the island into two parts, and it stayed that way

ever since. Why should we care? Well, you have

to remember Cyprus is a member of the EU. And clearly a member that is

divided in the way that Cyprus is is always going to be a problem. We've

been here before, there was a referendum on a peace deal back in

2004. The Turkish Cypriots agreed to aid, the Greek Cypriots said no. --

agreed to it. What he is talking about is the

presence at the talks of three important people. The Greek Foreign

Minister, the Turkish Foreign Minister, and the UK Foreign

Minister. All the stakeholders are up the table. That means the deal

has the best possible chance of getting done. But nonetheless,

inevitably, there are obstacles still in the way. Here's our

diplomatic correspondent explaining what they are.

The obstacles are the ones that have been there for so long. Above all,

how do you guarantee the security of both communities in Cyprus, North

and South, if there is any kind of a settlement? If they reach a deal to

share power and divide up the territory and deal with all the

compensation fund changing borders and what happened all but way back

in 1974, how then do they ensure that both sides feel safe? In other

words, the don't feel there is going to be any sort of return to the

violence that gripped Cyprus throughout the 1960s and 1970s. That

ultimately boils down to this question. At the moment there are

about 30,000 Turkish troops stationed in the north. What happens

to them? Do they stay, do they go? Turkish Cypriots to the north, they

want some of those trips to stay to ensure their safety. But the Greek

Cypriots to the south side that in a modern EU member state, which is

what Cyprus would fully become if it reunified, you cannot have foreign

troops on your territory. So that is what they are discussing right now

in this building. Trying to work out, is it possible to bridge the

gap between the two. Do you have some kind of external guarantee of

security? Which countries are involved? Do you have some new

police force, how do you do at? That's where they need to make

progress. What's the timetable here?

Well, the timetable is get a deal as soon as possible, get some tech

sorted. And anything agreed here has to go to the people in both North

and south, so the expectation is that if there is a deal, there'll be

some sort of referendum next year. So this will be decided on the

ground, in Cyprus. Follow James on Twitter if you want

updates from Geneva. Some sad news in sport.

Former England football manager Graham Taylor has

He spent just over three years in the job in the early '90s,

and also had successful stints at Aston Villa and Watford.

Tributes have been pouring in all day.

Sir Elton John has a long connection with Watford -

and in 1977, while he was chairman, he appointed Graham Taylor

Here's some footage of them from the BBC Sport archive.

We are both committed, and he's mentioned about the passion that he

has for Watford football club, and football. Well, of course I'd like

to feel I have the same passion. On that basis I think you will get a

very good relationship. Do people think you've put a lot of

money in? I think they think they've -- I've

put in more than I have. But I am passionate about this club.

Olly Foster is at the BBC Sport Centre.

Graham Taylor's time as England manager can overshadow the

achievements he had at Watford. That's very notable in all those

tributes we've had today. Very quick to point out he was a fantastic club

manager, we saw him and Elton John in the vicarage Road dressing room.

That was 1977. Many people thought it was a bit of a gimmick, with

Elton John taking over, but six years later after three promotions

it was a fantastic double act that took Watford to second in the First

Division. An amazing feat. He went on to Aston Villa, finished second

in the First Division as well. And that double act was reunited in the

1990s when Watford were in all sorts of bother, two more promotions

between the two of them, they got them back into the Premier League as

well. So yes, Graham Taylor was ridiculed for his three years in

charge of England, and failing at Euro 9092, failing to get the World

Cup in 1994, but so many people have said what a true football man he

was, what a gentleman, and he is known to so many of us here from

working on BBC radio five live, everybody knows of his energy,

enthusiasm and his wisdom for the game. He was an absent a fantastic

pundit in the commentary box. So genuine sadness, and non-of course

more shocked and sad than his family. He passed away very suddenly

from a suspected heart attack. -- non-of course more shocked. Thank

you very much. Wherever you are watching in the world, if you search

for BBC Five Live, you can see a special programme paying tribute to

Graham Taylor. Not long to go now before

the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off Ed Harry is covering the tournament

for us; here he is in Libreville. This is where it all kicks off on

Saturday am when Gabbert -- Gabon opens the tournament against

Guinea-Bissau. TRANSLATION: It's an experienced

team. We seem that in their training and in previous tournaments. Gabon

definitely have a chance to win the cup. No one's allowed to see -- said

here yet, but there's more than a quiet confidence that this could be

a great showcase for Gabon as a country.

TRANSLATION: In 2012 and 2017 -- between 2012 and 2017 we have

improved Internet access. We have led many of final -- fibre-optic

cable. We have developed new skills. Five years ago, as co-hosts, Gabon

equalled the best ever performance here. Reaching the quarterfinals.

The expectation this time will be towards the last four, and then who

knows? By the voices of their fans will not be the only ones heard

around this country when the finals are played next month. -- but the

voices. If you are into this tournament, I recommend BBC Sport

and BBC Africa on Twitter. Still to come: We'll get into EU

plans to set out rules for how Snow and strong winds

are causing travel disruption Severe flood warnings

are also in place in coastal Powerful winds packed -- piled up

the drifts, adding eight inches in some places. To create scenery

beyond postcard perfect but sending temperatures way below zero.

In Northern Ireland, the critters struggled to keep roads covered. In

Cumbria, multiple trips were needed after the grip was blown or washed

away. Because we are trying to get salt on the network, every time we

are doing that, the rain is washing it off. So we have to top it up.

That is why people will see the critters constantly going around

trying to build up that salt level. Head south, and a mixture of sleet

and snow has been coaching the Midlands. But in Worcestershire, not

everybody felt lucky. When it comes to driving, we don't do it. Won it's

so pretty. That is the first time she's seen snow. The snow came late

in the day to Heathrow, but the authorities had already decided to

take no chances, and cancelled over 80 flights. But this wintry surge is

not just about snow. Alan and Elizabeth Mitchell are among

thousands of people on Britain's east coast preparing for flooding.

As high seas threaten to pour in. I'm upset and frightened. After the

last flood, I had a couple of strokes. I don't want that again.

Sorry, I'm going to cry... Hundreds of soldiers are in Lincolnshire

tonight warning people about the possibility of flooding as well.

They will be on alert for the next 24 hours; all part of this midwinter

for the multiple weather experiences being supplied to the British Isles.

This is Outside Source, live from the BBC newsroom.

Our lead story: Donald Trump has said that the US Director

of National Intelligence has told him that reports that Russia

held compromising information about the president-elect were false.

The director of intelligence had said they had not taken a position

on the veracity of the allegations. They'll be playing

an interview with the writer and director of La La Land -

the film that cleaned up at this Here in the UK, the

News at Ten is next. They'll have more on

the latest revelations Investigators say 23 people

and organisations could face prosecution for Britain's worst

football disaster, Let's take on another element of the

story surrounding Donald Trump becoming president of America.

Here's what the head of the US office of Government ethics thinks

about Donald Trump's plans to avoid conflicts of interest relating to

his businesses. Next, let's see what a leading

constitutional lawyer at Harvard has been saying.

I could have found you plenty more legal criticisms of what Mr Trump

announced yesterday. Of course Mr Trump's lawyers

might see it differently. I've been discussed that point

with Michelle Fleury. We heard from one of them yesterday

at the press conference, Donald Trump introduced her standing next

to a stack of Manila folders. He pointed to those and said those were

some of the agreements he had signed trying to separate himself from his

business interests. He said he was going to pass on his Empire to his

sons. If you talk to ethics experts, they have been saying the only way

for Donald Trump, who has a global Empire, to resolve these ethics

issues is to actually sell the business completely and put the

assets from that sale into a blind trust. Something he is not prepared

to do, and his lawyers say he should not have two destroyer at the

business he built up. Is this about what is seeing -- seen as the right

thing to do, or the legal thing to do? This is where it -- you get into

some of the debate we are seeing. If you look -- Donald Trump said

repeatedly that presidents and vice presidents are exempt from conflicts

of interests. That is true if you look at one specific law, but ethics

lawyers say there are other clauses, other legal statutes that are in

place, which the president -- which means the president is not exempt.

One constitutional clause is something that has been talked about

a lot here. It involves Donald Trump's extensive foreign interests.

They say that if you basically benefit from foreign governments,

then that would be illegal under the emollients clause. Donald Trump

would still know what foreign interest the company has, and how

they would benefit. If you look at his hotel in Washington, each time a

foreign dignitaries days that he is indirectly benefiting there. That is

the sort of concern that has been raised, but no other president has

had before. The European Parliament

has raised the issue of whether to give robots legal

status as "electronic persons". Go to its website and you'll find

a set of proposed rules on how Those rules take inspiration

from the works of this man, Isaac Asimov -

he's famous for writing the science The EU report also says artificial

intelligence is "poised to unleash a new industrial revolution,

which is likely to leave no stratum All sounds a bit scary, doesn't do?

We to Jane Wakefield. -- we turn to. Lots of people are

surprised by the depth they've gone too, even considering when robots

might get intelligence is a long way off, but they are definitely

thinking about it. How do we define artificial

intelligence? It is something that is either a machine or a programme

that can land for itself in some form or other. It mimics the actions

of the human brain. -- but can learn. What is the European

Parliament want but we don't have right now? It is trying to protect

humanity, I suppose... Just that?! Yes, they want to say, this is

happening, this is a real thing. How do we make sure that we interact in

the right way with these? Take jobs, which robots already are taking.

Lots of spheres in society, lots of different medicine, insurance,

finance, or uses AI. -- all uses AI. The EU have posed the question, do

we need a basic universal wage that is paid to us by the state, because

we might not be able to get a job in future? How's the EU going to take

this issue on to the point where we might actually get something from?

This was a group of MPs that ratified this report, it will now go

to the European Parliament for the rest of the MPs to consider, and

then to individual member States to see whether they also agree with the

basic tenets of it. Is anyone else looking at it's the UK will have to

look at it separately if it leads Europe! And MPs have started to have

debates around skills and whether we need more skills if we are not doing

the same jobs in 20 or 30 years' time.

Thanks for watching. I will see you next week. Goodbye.

It was a mild December,