0:00:05 > 0:00:07On the verge of a Brexit breakthrough in Brussels.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09The Prime Minister is said to be close to reaching
0:00:09 > 0:00:11a deal with the EU.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14After many rounds of talks, sufficient progress appears to have
0:00:14 > 0:00:22been made on the major sticking points - the divorce
0:00:22 > 0:00:24bill, EU citizens' rights and the Northern Ireland border.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28We've put seven months of work, both sides, into getting to this
0:00:28 > 0:00:30point and we're hoping that Mr Juncker, today, will give us
0:00:30 > 0:00:36sufficient progress so we can move on to trade talks.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38The Northern Irish border -
0:00:38 > 0:00:41Now the UK is said to be close to accepting a concession
0:00:41 > 0:00:42that there will be no hard border.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44We'll be live in Brussels, Westminster and Dublin
0:00:44 > 0:00:45with the latest.
0:00:45 > 0:00:46Also this lunchtime.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49Nearly 750,000 pensioners and children in the UK have fallen
0:00:49 > 0:00:52into relative poverty over the past four years, says a charity.
0:00:52 > 0:00:57If you go out, you don't have to have your heating on, do you?
0:00:57 > 0:01:02Trouble is, once it's dark in the evenings now, and cold,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05you have to put your heating on, don't you?
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Allegations about the Prime Minister's deputy
0:01:07 > 0:01:08Damian Green made public.
0:01:08 > 0:01:18The head of the Metropolitan Police says two former officers
0:01:21 > 0:01:22should not have made the claims.
0:01:22 > 0:01:2310p for a tin.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26How Co-op is becoming the first major retailer to sell food
0:01:26 > 0:01:28beyond it best before date to try to reduce food waste.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31And I'm in Adelaide as England's cricketers face an uphill battle
0:01:31 > 0:01:34against Australia in the second Ashes Test.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36And coming up in the sport on BBC News.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38His job is safe, whatever happens in Russia -
0:01:38 > 0:01:41the FA say Gareth Southgate will lead England for
0:01:41 > 0:01:41the next few tournaments.
0:02:02 > 0:02:07Good afternoon and welcome to the BBC News at One.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Britain and the European Union appear close to reaching
0:02:10 > 0:02:12a breakthrough in the Brexit talks, which will clear the way
0:02:12 > 0:02:15for the second phase of Brexit negotiations to begin on trade.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17Theresa May is in Brussels this lunchtime, meeting
0:02:17 > 0:02:23with the President of the European Commission.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Reports indicate the two sides have reached a broad agreement
0:02:26 > 0:02:31on the rights of EU citizens and on the so-called "divorce bill".
0:02:31 > 0:02:34It now appears sufficient progress has also been made on the difficult
0:02:34 > 0:02:37issue of how to avoid a hard border with Northern Ireland.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41Adam Fleming has this report from Brussels.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45There's no such thing as a free lunch. The Prime Minister is here to
0:02:45 > 0:02:51shake on a set of promises made by the UK, designed to get Brexit talks
0:02:51 > 0:02:55of the past and on to the future. Everybody understands that the
0:02:55 > 0:03:01decision to move on to trade talks is vital to everybody, of huge value
0:03:01 > 0:03:05to the 27 members and ourselves.It sounds like there has been some
0:03:05 > 0:03:09progress on the rights of EU nationals living in the UK after
0:03:09 > 0:03:14Brexit and Brits abroad. Talks about how much money the UK owes seem to
0:03:14 > 0:03:18have been unblocked by a more detailed offer from the UK. But the
0:03:18 > 0:03:21big stumbling block is what to do about the Irish border. The Irish
0:03:21 > 0:03:24government does not want to wait for a future trade deal. They want
0:03:24 > 0:03:30written guarantees now. Before the Prime Minister's arrival, members of
0:03:30 > 0:03:33the European Parliament were ushered in for a preview because they will
0:03:33 > 0:03:39get a vote on the final deal.I'm optimistic it is possible, 50-50,
0:03:39 > 0:03:43that is something but we have to be sure that an citizens rights,
0:03:43 > 0:03:48everything is OK.Is there ready on the money?It seems.It seems there
0:03:48 > 0:03:55is a deal on the money? You are with that?I'm cautiously optimistic but
0:03:55 > 0:04:00of course, we have to see the final outcome.Can Mrs May fix all of this
0:04:00 > 0:04:09today?I think that is possible. With goodwill, I think we can have a
0:04:09 > 0:04:13good agreement today.One claimed the British had pledged that
0:04:13 > 0:04:19Northern Ireland would stick closely to the EU's rules on customs.It is
0:04:19 > 0:04:23a meeting again with reality. It is a recognition of reality and what
0:04:23 > 0:04:27they have created is a reality and we have to accept that and that
0:04:27 > 0:04:30reality is full of contradictions and they have to acknowledge that.
0:04:30 > 0:04:33Now they acknowledge it. Good.If you look at all this activity, you
0:04:33 > 0:04:42would think a final Brexit deal was just around the corner. It isn't.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44This is all about the EU feeling that enough progress has been made
0:04:44 > 0:04:47in the first phase of Brexit talks about divorce issues to trigger the
0:04:47 > 0:04:49start of the second phase which is all about trade, the transition deal
0:04:49 > 0:04:52and the future relationship. That decision won't be made here today.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56It will be for EU leaders at a summit in ten days' time but be in
0:04:56 > 0:05:03no doubt, this is a big day in the history of Brexit.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07Adam Fleming, there.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10The last key sticking point has been what to do
0:05:10 > 0:05:11about the Irish border.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13The government in Dublin wants a written commitment
0:05:13 > 0:05:15that there will be no new border controls, something
0:05:15 > 0:05:18the Irish Cabinet has been meeting this morning to discuss.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar says he will make a
0:05:20 > 0:05:21statement later today.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25Our Ireland correspondent Chris Buckler reports.
0:05:25 > 0:05:32On the way to a Brexit deal. The UK and the EU will have to find a way
0:05:32 > 0:05:36through the many problems posed by these border roads. The Irish
0:05:36 > 0:05:40government are insisting that there should be no change along the 310
0:05:40 > 0:05:44miles that connect Northern Ireland and the Republic, that this should
0:05:44 > 0:05:49remain an invisible border. Once it marks the start and end of the
0:05:49 > 0:05:52European Union. It is clear the Irish Prime Minister regards this as
0:05:52 > 0:05:56a crucial day in the negotiations. Leo Varadkar called a special
0:05:56 > 0:06:00meeting of his Cabinet and the Taoiseach arrived ready for action,
0:06:00 > 0:06:06dressed in his gym gear. The Irish Foreign Minister, Simon Kovinic,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09says there has been progress, but there remain some potential doubling
0:06:09 > 0:06:14blocks.We believe we have a responsibility to the island of
0:06:14 > 0:06:17Ireland as a whole to make sure we work with the British government to
0:06:17 > 0:06:21get a wording that can settle nerves on this issue so that as we move
0:06:21 > 0:06:26into phase two, people know that the result, even if it is an unintended
0:06:26 > 0:06:31consequence, is not going to be a hard border.Once there were customs
0:06:31 > 0:06:34posts on these border roads and there is a fear they could return
0:06:34 > 0:06:41unless there's a deal ensures rules and regulations will not be the same
0:06:41 > 0:06:45between Northern Ireland and the EU. That would include industries like
0:06:45 > 0:06:49agriculture and food manufacturing. But what worries Unionists if that
0:06:49 > 0:06:53could mean over time differences would emerge between Northern
0:06:53 > 0:06:58Ireland and the rest of the UK and potentially new checks for ships
0:06:58 > 0:07:01travelling across the Irish Sea, something they have described as
0:07:01 > 0:07:06politically unacceptable.You can't have two separate regimes in terms
0:07:06 > 0:07:11of regulation. You've got to have a choice there. What we want to have
0:07:11 > 0:07:14is as much regulatory compliance with the biggest market we are in so
0:07:14 > 0:07:19that no barriers put up to create sales, export and all the rest of
0:07:19 > 0:07:26it, within the United Kingdom single market.A danger of the Conservative
0:07:26 > 0:07:29government getting caught between the DUP, whose support they need at
0:07:29 > 0:07:33Westminster, the Irish government, who have to give the OK to allow
0:07:33 > 0:07:37talks to head on to trade. This border always has the potential to
0:07:37 > 0:07:47cause division. Chris Buckler is in Dublin now and this agreement or
0:07:47 > 0:07:53deal looks close but what would it mean in practice?It would mean the
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Irish catchment have got their way in practice because they have been
0:07:57 > 0:08:00pushing for regulatory convergence on the island of Ireland.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03Effectively it would mean that rules and regulations for trading would
0:08:03 > 0:08:07remain the same in the north as well as the Republic and therefore,
0:08:07 > 0:08:10Northern Ireland would stick very closely to EU rules. They had been
0:08:10 > 0:08:13calling for Northern Ireland to remain inside the single market and
0:08:13 > 0:08:18inside the customs union. This wording that is coming out, it does
0:08:18 > 0:08:22not seem that is the case but it is as close as can be and will allow
0:08:22 > 0:08:27the border to remain completely open as it is now. However, you heard
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Nigel Dodds, there, and that interview was taken from before this
0:08:30 > 0:08:35concession was talked about. Nonetheless, it gives you the sense
0:08:35 > 0:08:39that the DUP are not happy about this idea, that the island of
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Ireland would remain the same but potentially there could be
0:08:42 > 0:08:46divergences, different regulations and rules in other parts of the UK.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49They have already been talking about that, saying that is not something
0:08:49 > 0:08:53they would accept. They want to keep Northern Ireland in line with the
0:08:53 > 0:08:57rest of the UK because they say that is Northern Ireland's biggest
0:08:57 > 0:09:01market. So potentially you do have political problems there and given
0:09:01 > 0:09:04the Conservatives are relying on the DUP for support at Westminster, that
0:09:04 > 0:09:11could be a significant one.Chris Buckler, thank you, from Dublin.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15Adam Fleming is in Brussels. We heard in your earlier report that
0:09:15 > 0:09:19this is potentially a big moment in Brussels. Does this mean that going
0:09:19 > 0:09:24forward, it unlocks the door and trade talks will begin?It certainly
0:09:24 > 0:09:28feels like that today in Brussels but the EU does not run on feelings.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32It runs on documents with lots of words in them. We will have to wait
0:09:32 > 0:09:35and see this joint document which will be published at some point
0:09:35 > 0:09:39after lunch by both sides which will show all the commitments they have
0:09:39 > 0:09:43made in the first phase of Brexit talks, for example, what wording
0:09:43 > 0:09:51have they actually agreed to solve, for now, the Irish border issue? The
0:09:51 > 0:09:53wording will really matter. We understand that in something like
0:09:53 > 0:09:56paragraph 45, what is in the preceding 44 paragraphs that could
0:09:56 > 0:10:00go down well or badly back home in Westminster for the buy minister.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04Quickly, the action will move from the European Commission, where
0:10:04 > 0:10:07Jean-Claude Juncker and Michel Barnier work, the 27 remaining EU
0:10:07 > 0:10:11member states because they are the ones that will really be in driving
0:10:11 > 0:10:15seat for this process as they make the big decisions. There will be a
0:10:15 > 0:10:19meeting of officials from member states in about an hour. On
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Wednesday, ambassadors from member states will meet and start working
0:10:22 > 0:10:25out what they are going to do at this summit, when all of the leaders
0:10:25 > 0:10:30will meet next Friday, the 15th of December, to decide if sufficient
0:10:30 > 0:10:33progress has been made on the divorce related part of the talks to
0:10:33 > 0:10:38move the trade related part of the talks. That summit will be chaired
0:10:38 > 0:10:43by Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council. Earlier today, we
0:10:43 > 0:10:49heard he had cancelled a planned trip to the Middle East this week
0:10:49 > 0:10:52because he wanted to handle Brexit. People were saying that is surely a
0:10:52 > 0:10:55bad sign. He's actually just tweeted that he's really encouraged by
0:10:55 > 0:10:57progress so far so actually, a good sign that things are really picking
0:10:57 > 0:11:02up and as I said in my piece, this is a big day in history Brexit.Adam
0:11:02 > 0:11:07Fleming Brussels, thank you.
0:11:07 > 0:11:12Norman Smith is in Westminster now. Lots of positive noises coming out
0:11:12 > 0:11:15of Brussels this lunchtime, we don't know the detail but the Prime
0:11:15 > 0:11:19Minister will have to sell this to her party and the DUP.And on the
0:11:19 > 0:11:22face of it, you would think that will be a difficult task, certainly
0:11:22 > 0:11:27when it comes to the Brexiteers, when you are having to talk about
0:11:27 > 0:11:30maybe handing over 40, 50 billion euros as part of the divorce Bill,
0:11:30 > 0:11:36you would think they were going to go, no. But the story of Brexit so
0:11:36 > 0:11:40far is that the Brexiteers by and large have gone along with all the
0:11:40 > 0:11:44compromises Mrs May has had to make, not just on money but on the
0:11:44 > 0:11:50European Court, on the transitional deal and maybe, too, on the Northern
0:11:50 > 0:11:54Ireland border. The reason for that, I think, is because they view Mrs
0:11:54 > 0:11:58May as their best bet for getting Brexit because if they were to
0:11:58 > 0:12:02attack her and destabilise her, the fear is that could jeopardise Brexit
0:12:02 > 0:12:06under renewed Tory leader or maybe even under a Jeremy Corbyn
0:12:06 > 0:12:12government. -- a new Tory leader. The difficulty for Mrs May is not
0:12:12 > 0:12:18the 300 or so Tory MPs, it is the ten DUP MPs because they have pretty
0:12:18 > 0:12:22much got Mrs May by her political windpipe. Her government depends on
0:12:22 > 0:12:26them and if they don't like the sort of deal that she is putting
0:12:26 > 0:12:30together, then they have the power not just to scupper that deal but
0:12:30 > 0:12:35potentially even to bring down the government. So over the next few
0:12:35 > 0:12:39weeks and months, I think you can expect oodles of metaphorical
0:12:39 > 0:12:41affection and love and custard creams and lots of other things to
0:12:41 > 0:12:46be heaped on those ten DUP MPs. Norman Smith in Westminster, thank
0:12:46 > 0:12:48you.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Nearly 750,000 children and pensioners in the UK have fallen
0:12:51 > 0:12:53into relative poverty over the past four years, according to a report
0:12:53 > 0:12:55from a social policy charity.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59The left-leaning Joseph Rowntree Foundation says it's the first
0:12:59 > 0:13:03sustained rise affecting these age groups for two decades.
0:13:03 > 0:13:09The government says the number of people living in absolute
0:13:09 > 0:13:11poverty has fallen by more than 500,000 since 2010.
0:13:11 > 0:13:21Our social affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan has the details.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25For always Singleton on this drop-in centre has many benefits. She can
0:13:25 > 0:13:29meet friends, have a laugh, grab a bite to eat and by being here, the
0:13:29 > 0:13:3384-year-old does not have to spend money heating her own home.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36If you go out, you don't have to have your heating on, do you?
0:13:36 > 0:13:39Trouble is, once it's dark in the evenings now, and cold,
0:13:39 > 0:13:42you have to put your heating on, don't you?
0:13:42 > 0:13:44So you go on the bus just to keep warm?
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Yeah.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49Well, you know... LAUGHTER.
0:13:49 > 0:13:53Yeah, it's lovely and warm on the bus!
0:13:53 > 0:13:56And then you sort of try and extend it as long as you can.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58Even though you've got to nowhere to go?
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Yeah.
0:14:01 > 0:14:10It's mad, isn't it? LAUGHTER.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13Today's report said that successful efforts to tackle poverty over the
0:14:13 > 0:14:18past 20 years are in danger of unravelling. It says that since
0:14:18 > 0:14:232013, an extra 300,000 pensioners and an additional 400,000 children
0:14:23 > 0:14:28are now living in poverty. In total, 14 million people in the UK are in
0:14:28 > 0:14:33poverty.What our report is now showing is that we are at a
0:14:33 > 0:14:37significant turning point. Two years of sustained increases in the number
0:14:37 > 0:14:40of children and pensioners in poverty is a real red flag to
0:14:40 > 0:14:45government that they really have to do something now.Absolute poverty,
0:14:45 > 0:14:51not having enough food or water to live on, as fallen by 500,000 since
0:14:51 > 0:14:542010. Today's figures refer to relative poverty, having a lot less
0:14:54 > 0:14:57than most other people and many researchers believe that is going to
0:14:57 > 0:15:02get worse. Experts say the number of people living in poverty is likely
0:15:02 > 0:15:06to rise markedly in the coming years, particularly among children.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11Wages, they say, will not keep pace with prices. Benefits will remain
0:15:11 > 0:15:17frozen and housing costs are likely to increase. The Joseph Rowntree
0:15:17 > 0:15:21Foundation say ending the freeze on benefits would make the biggest
0:15:21 > 0:15:24difference to reducing poverty. Ministers say they are already
0:15:24 > 0:15:28spending tens of billions of pounds each year helping those in need.
0:15:28 > 0:15:33Caught in the middle, the poor themselves.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35That fellow keeps hassling me from the water company,
0:15:35 > 0:15:36because I have not paid them.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38So I'm going to have to...
0:15:38 > 0:15:42Dig into the funeral account.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49Michael Buchanan, BBC News.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51The Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has criticised two
0:15:51 > 0:15:54former senior officers for disclosing information
0:15:54 > 0:15:56about an investigation into the First Secretary of State,
0:15:56 > 0:15:57Damian Green.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Bob Quick and Neil Lewis claimed that pornography was found
0:16:00 > 0:16:03on a computer seized from the MP's Parliamentary office nine years ago.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07Mr Green denies watching or downloading pornography
0:16:07 > 0:16:08on the machine.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Our home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw is here.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20How significant is this? I think this statement by Cressida Dick is
0:16:20 > 0:16:24really what you would expect the commission of the Metropolitan
0:16:24 > 0:16:29Police to say. She can't be seen in anyway to condone former officers
0:16:29 > 0:16:31going around doing unofficial briefings of confidential
0:16:31 > 0:16:37information that they have acquired during an investigation. The two
0:16:37 > 0:16:40officers, Bob Quick, confirmed the details of a story about to be
0:16:40 > 0:16:44printed in the Sunday Times last month, and Neil Lewis did an
0:16:44 > 0:16:49interview with the BBC, giving further details about allegations.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Pornography was an Damian Green's work computers. And Cressida Dick
0:16:52 > 0:16:56said it was possible both men could be prosecuted but the final decision
0:16:56 > 0:17:02would be with the Crown Prosecution Service service.This is a case from
0:17:02 > 0:17:06nine years ago. All police officers know very well that they have a duty
0:17:06 > 0:17:10of confidential allergy, duty to protect personal information. That
0:17:10 > 0:17:18duty in my view clearly enjoys after you leave the service. It is my view
0:17:18 > 0:17:24that what they have done based on my understanding of what they are
0:17:24 > 0:17:28saying, what they have done is wrong. And I condemn it.The most
0:17:28 > 0:17:32likely charges they could face would be under the Data Protection Act,
0:17:32 > 0:17:36but there is a defence for someone who discloses information if that is
0:17:36 > 0:17:41a public interest defence, and Neil Lewis would argue that his
0:17:41 > 0:17:44information was in the public interest. The Cabinet inquiry into
0:17:44 > 0:17:49Damian Green's conduct had been made aware of Neil Lewis and the possible
0:17:49 > 0:17:52evidence that he could give and he was not contacted, which fuelled his
0:17:52 > 0:17:55concerns that there could be some kind of cover-up or certainly that
0:17:55 > 0:18:04the full facts would not be you.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09Our top story this lunchtime:
0:18:09 > 0:18:13On the verge of a Brexit breakthrough in Brussels. The Prime
0:18:13 > 0:18:18Minister is on the verge of signing a deal.
0:18:18 > 0:18:19And coming up: A parliamentary proposal.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21The moment an Australian MP goes off-script during a speech
0:18:21 > 0:18:23to ask his partner to marry him.
0:18:23 > 0:18:24Coming up in sport:
0:18:24 > 0:18:27A long way to go but there's a glimmer of hope,
0:18:27 > 0:18:29as England take four quick wickets on day three of the
0:18:29 > 0:18:33second Ashes Test.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45A foreign aid project for civilian police in Syria has been
0:18:45 > 0:18:47suspended by the government after an investigation by the BBC's
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Panorama programme found that some of the money had been
0:18:50 > 0:18:52diverted to extremists.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Britain is one of six countries which have been funding
0:18:54 > 0:18:57the Free Syrian Police.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00It was set up to bring law and order to parts of the country controlled
0:19:00 > 0:19:01by opposition forces.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04The Foreign Office says it's looking into the allegations.
0:19:04 > 0:19:10Jane Corbin reports.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Britain is one of six countries that funds the Free Syrian Police,
0:19:13 > 0:19:19set up to bring security to opposition-held areas.
0:19:19 > 0:19:24For eight months in 2016, British aid money meant to pay
0:19:24 > 0:19:27salaries for the police was handed over by them to an extremist group,
0:19:27 > 0:19:34Nour al-Din al-Zenki.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36Zenki used to get a percentage from the salaries
0:19:36 > 0:19:37of the Free Police members.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39It was just about taking a percentage in return
0:19:39 > 0:19:42for the services and to create a sort of equilibrium
0:19:42 > 0:19:45between the police and the fighters.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49The police we fund also provide support for Zenki's
0:19:49 > 0:19:51barbaric justice system, which stands accused of torture
0:19:51 > 0:20:01and summary killings.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05The company which runs the aid project, Adam Smith International
0:20:05 > 0:20:08or ASI, told us the government was aware of cash going to Zenki
0:20:08 > 0:20:11and ASI has strict guidelines in place to ensure detainees
0:20:11 > 0:20:16are being treated fairly and humanely.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Panorama also discovered that in 2014, officers from the British
0:20:19 > 0:20:21funded police were present at the stoning of two
0:20:21 > 0:20:28women in northern Syria.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31Someone who worked for ASI in Syria agreed to speak to me about it,
0:20:31 > 0:20:33although he didn't want to be identified.
0:20:48 > 0:20:56ASI said the stoning was only five weeks after the company took over
0:20:56 > 0:20:59the project and the men were not formally officers and have
0:20:59 > 0:21:02since been removed permanently.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05The Free Syrian Police also cooperate with the so-called
0:21:05 > 0:21:09justice system of Al-Nusra, the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12So how did a British aid project ever get involved
0:21:12 > 0:21:15with extremist courts?
0:21:15 > 0:21:18People being sentenced to death for homosexuality.
0:21:18 > 0:21:19Clearly that is completely and utterly unacceptable
0:21:19 > 0:21:22by any standard.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25The idea that British taxpayers' money was associated with that
0:21:25 > 0:21:29would of course be wholly abhorrent.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31The Foreign Office has suspended funding while it investigates
0:21:31 > 0:21:36but says the work in Syria is important to protect our national
0:21:36 > 0:21:38interest and it robustly monitors all aid programmes.
0:21:38 > 0:21:45Jane Corbyn, BBC News.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47And you can watch the full programme Panorama:
0:21:47 > 0:21:52Jihadis You Pay For tonight at 7.30 on BBC One.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54Authorities in Malta have arrested 10 people in connection
0:21:54 > 0:21:56with the murder in October of a prominent
0:21:56 > 0:22:00investigative journalist.
0:22:00 > 0:22:0353-year-old Daphne Caruana Galizia, who wrote about alleged
0:22:03 > 0:22:05corruption among politicians, was killed when her car was blown
0:22:05 > 0:22:07up close to her home.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10The Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, said all the suspects
0:22:10 > 0:22:18were Maltese nationals and were already known to police.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21Facebook says it's creating 800 new jobs in the UK next year,
0:22:21 > 0:22:23as it opens a new office in central London.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25It will become the social media company's biggest engineering hub
0:22:25 > 0:22:28outside of the United States.
0:22:28 > 0:22:32It will also house developers, marketing workers and sales teams.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36More than 2000 people are expected to be employed by Facebook in the UK
0:22:36 > 0:22:39by the end of next year.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42The retailer Toys "R" Us has put forward plans to close at least
0:22:42 > 0:22:4626 of its UK stores, putting up to 800 jobs at risk.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49The closures would form part of a deal to renegotiate debts owed
0:22:49 > 0:22:52by the company to its landlords.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54The company said there would be no disruption to customers
0:22:54 > 0:23:00throughout the Christmas and New Year shopping period.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Would you consider buying food that's past its best before date?
0:23:03 > 0:23:06The East of England Co-op is to become the first major
0:23:06 > 0:23:08retailer to stock items beyond their best before date
0:23:08 > 0:23:11on their shelves.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14125 stores in East Anglia will sell dried foods
0:23:14 > 0:23:16and tinned products for just 10p following a three-month trial
0:23:16 > 0:23:18in 14 of its stores.
0:23:18 > 0:23:25Our business correspondent Simon Gompertz reports.
0:23:25 > 0:23:31This supermarket where they are busting the best before dates. In
0:23:31 > 0:23:37125 East of England Co-ops will tell items beyond their dates for just
0:23:37 > 0:23:4110p each, saying waste not, want not.We tried giving it away. Nobody
0:23:41 > 0:23:45wants you to give them anything. They expect you to pay for it.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49Customers are suspicious when it is free but when you charge them 10p,
0:23:49 > 0:23:53people feel there is a transaction taking place and they pay something.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56We thought the product would last quite a while in the special display
0:23:56 > 0:24:00beans we have set up, but it lasted a couple of hours. Nothing lasts
0:24:00 > 0:24:10more
0:24:43 > 0:24:45than a day now and it will probably just sell through and the customers
0:24:45 > 0:24:49are really pleased about it.The aim is to do more to cut the quantity of
0:24:49 > 0:24:52food that is chucked out. The UK throws away over 7 million tonnes of
0:24:52 > 0:24:54it every year, and around £30 billion worth is edible. East of
0:24:54 > 0:24:57England Co-op thinks it can save 50,000 items a year. This is what
0:24:57 > 0:24:59you are likely to see an supermarket food. If it is perishable, there
0:24:59 > 0:25:02will be a use by l abel. Here it is the 10th of December, and after
0:25:02 > 0:25:05which it is not safe to knock-down prices. The director of the
0:25:05 > 0:25:07anti-food Sainsbury donated to local good causes. Waitrose does that and
0:25:07 > 0:25:09sells some to staff at knock-down prices. The director of the
0:25:09 > 0:25:11anti-food waste group welcomes the Co-op's approach. This is a really
0:25:11 > 0:25:14good step forward. Let's see how the public response and see what
0:25:14 > 0:25:17imprecations this could have for a wider roll-out. At the moment, the
0:25:17 > 0:25:2110p food past its best before date is only for Co-op customers in East
0:25:21 > 0:25:26Anglia, but if the idea works, there is likely to be pressure on others
0:25:26 > 0:25:29welcomes the Co-op's approach. This is a really good step forward. Let's
0:25:29 > 0:25:31see how the public response and see what imprecations this could have
0:25:31 > 0:25:34for a wider roll-out. At the moment, the 10p food past its best before
0:25:34 > 0:25:37date is only for Co-op customers in East Anglia, but if the idea works,
0:25:37 > 0:25:48there is likely to be pressure on
0:25:48 > 0:25:50It wasn't perhaps the most romantic of settings
0:25:50 > 0:25:52for a marriage proposal but it was certainly a memorable one
0:25:52 > 0:25:53and it made history.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56An Australian MP, Tim Wilson, has used a parliamentary debate
0:25:56 > 0:25:58on same-sex marriage to propose to his boyfriend.
0:25:58 > 0:25:59Australia's Parliament is debating the legislation,
0:25:59 > 0:26:01after last month's nationwide vote to legalise same-sex marriage.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03Mr Wilson's partner of nine years, Ryan Bolger,
0:26:03 > 0:26:06was listening in the public gallery, when he got something
0:26:06 > 0:26:07of a surprise.
0:26:07 > 0:26:08Our Sydney correspondent Hywel Griffith reports.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10For most people, a 20-hour debate on legislative amendments probably
0:26:10 > 0:26:12sounds like a bit of a turn-off.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15But for Australian MP Tim Wilson, it provided the perfect opportunity
0:26:15 > 0:26:16for a little romance.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18This debate has been the soundtrack to our relationship.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20As his 30 minute speech reached its conclusion,
0:26:20 > 0:26:21he knew his chance had come.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24His voice started to falter as he turned to the public gallery.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28So there's only one thing left to do.
0:26:28 > 0:26:33Ryan Patrick Bolger, will you marry me?
0:26:38 > 0:26:46Chuck that in the memoirs on the Hansard.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49I should let Hansard note to record that was a yes, a resounding yes.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Congratulations.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56Last month, a public vote in favour was celebrated with gusto after 62%
0:26:56 > 0:26:59of people supported the change.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01Australia may have said I do, but there is still plenty
0:27:01 > 0:27:06of detail to be worked out.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09In Parliament, the focus has been on religious freedom and the right
0:27:09 > 0:27:12of some people to opt out of working at a same-sex wedding,
0:27:12 > 0:27:14but the Prime Minister is still confident the bill
0:27:14 > 0:27:19will pass soon.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22Few issues have divided Australian politics in recent years as much
0:27:22 > 0:27:24as introducing same-sex marriage.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Today at least the debate managed to bring one couple closer together.
0:27:27 > 0:27:33Hywel Griffith, BBC News.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35It's not all happiness down under though.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38Well, not for the England cricket team.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40They collapsed on day three of the second
0:27:40 > 0:27:50Ashes test in Adelaide.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55Australia bowled them out for 227, giving them a lead of 215.
0:27:55 > 0:28:01to do the same. Simon Gompertz, BBC four in
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Our sports correspondent Andy Swiss has been watching the action.
0:28:04 > 0:28:08Australia have the upper hand heading into day four in. The home
0:28:08 > 0:28:12of the great, the fans when it comes to batting, Adelaide have seen the
0:28:12 > 0:28:16best. The home of the great, the threw away their wickets, their
0:28:16 > 0:28:21hopes and perhaps the descending on the Oval were about to see how not
0:28:21 > 0:28:24to do it. As England threw away their wickets, their hopes and
0:28:24 > 0:28:26perhaps the Ashes, and the captain went tamely. England were staring at
0:28:26 > 0:28:31humiliation. If they were brittle, Australia were brilliant. And the
0:28:31 > 0:28:33captain went tamely. England were staring at humiliation. If they were
0:28:33 > 0:28:35brittle, Australia were brilliant. Nathan Lyon's dazzling caught an
0:28:35 > 0:28:39even better one. Mitchell Starc showing the reflexes of a juggler as
0:28:39 > 0:28:42Australia tightened their grip. By the time the final wicket fell,
0:28:42 > 0:28:47England was still a massive 215 behind. Game surely over. But then a
0:28:47 > 0:28:52twist. Australia could have made the visitors bat again but decided not
0:28:52 > 0:28:56to. Bad choice. Under the floodlights, England's bowlers
0:28:56 > 0:29:00sparkle. Two early wickets were Jimmy Anderson and two for Chris
0:29:00 > 0:29:14Woakes including the big one, captain Steve Smith. Australia
0:29:23 > 0:29:2553-4 at the close. Followed by an even better one. Mitchell Starc
0:29:25 > 0:29:28showing the reflexes of a juggler as Australia tightened their grip. By
0:29:28 > 0:29:30the time the final wicket fell, England was still a massive 215
0:29:30 > 0:29:33behind. Game surely over. But then a twist. Australia could have made the
0:29:33 > 0:29:35visitors bat again but decided not to. Bad choice. Under the
0:29:35 > 0:29:37floodlights, England's bowlers sparkle. Two early wickets were
0:29:37 > 0:29:39Jimmy Anderson and two for Chris Woakes including the big one,
0:29:39 > 0:29:42captain Steve Smith. Australia 53-4 at the close. It may be fate, but
0:29:42 > 0:29:44England finally have a sliver of hope. Australia's fans will be
0:29:44 > 0:29:46heading home pretty happy with their team's position but England's
0:29:46 > 0:29:56bowlers have at least given them heart after that
0:29:56 > 0:30:02There was a treat for stargazers in our skies last night -
0:30:02 > 0:30:04the appearance of what's called a super moon.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06The moon was at one of its closest points
0:30:06 > 0:30:08to Earth and was full, looking bigger and
0:30:08 > 0:30:09brighter than usual.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11It's the first super moon since November last year.
0:30:11 > 0:30:13That photograph was taken by our own Frank Gardner.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15But if you missed it, don't worry.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17There will be two more before the end of January.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20Time for the weather with Ben Roach. I try to look at the
0:30:20 > 0:30:20Time for the weather with Ben Roach. I try to look at the moon last night
0:30:20 > 0:30:25but it was quite cloudy. To cloudy for some of us but some part in the
0:30:25 > 0:30:28East or the moon which has translated into sunny skies for some
0:30:28 > 0:30:32areas today, eastern Scotland doing pretty well. That was Carnoustie
0:30:32 > 0:30:36earlier but there is more clout further west in some places as
0:30:36 > 0:30:40Sophie was talking about last night, that is what it looks like in
0:30:40 > 0:30:44Cornwall during this morning, the cloud producing the odd spot of rain
0:30:44 > 0:30:49but essentially it is a quiet start to the week. It will not stay that
0:30:49 > 0:30:52way. Things turn wet and windy for the middle of the week and then
0:30:52 > 0:30:56dramatically colder at the end of the week and some of us will see
0:30:56 > 0:31:00some snow. This is the satellite picture, confirmation of quite a lot
0:31:00 > 0:31:03of cloud around, the best breaks and sunshine further east but through
0:31:03 > 0:31:07the afternoon, large areas of cloud will continue to drift through. It
0:31:07 > 0:31:11will be breezy in the finals, generally light winds and
0:31:11 > 0:31:15temperatures not bad for the time of year, seven or eight, up to 11
0:31:15 > 0:31:19degrees. This evening and overnight, a pretty cloudy story with large
0:31:19 > 0:31:24areas of cloud, some spots of patchy rain in the West and some more
0:31:24 > 0:31:27persistent rain developing across the northern isles later. If skies
0:31:27 > 0:31:30clear where you are, there could be the default patch and temperatures
0:31:30 > 0:31:34might drop close to freezing but most places will stay several
0:31:34 > 0:31:37degrees above and tomorrow is another fairly quiet day. Lots of
0:31:37 > 0:31:40cloud around the best chance of any breaks across parts of south and
0:31:40 > 0:31:45east. The wind picking up through the day across the Northwest with
0:31:45 > 0:31:49some rain into northern Scotland and again, temperatures about where they
0:31:49 > 0:31:54should be at 8-10d. This is where things stepped up a gear on
0:31:54 > 0:31:57Wednesday, wind picking up further in western areas, likely to be gales
0:31:57 > 0:32:00at times, some rain pushing in from the west, you will notice a very
0:32:00 > 0:32:05mild day on Wednesday but that is not going to last. This is the big
0:32:05 > 0:32:12change. This area of low pressure, a deep low that could bring some very
0:32:12 > 0:32:15wet and windy weather on Wednesday night and on the back of that, we
0:32:15 > 0:32:19start to draw in cold air, in fact really opening the floodgates,
0:32:19 > 0:32:23Arctic air plunging right across the country. Thursday will start off
0:32:23 > 0:32:26fairly mild, wet in the south-east as well but as we go through the
0:32:26 > 0:32:30day, skies will brighten with some sunshine and also some wintry
0:32:30 > 0:32:33showers in areas exposed to the strong north-westerly wind.
0:32:33 > 0:32:39Temperatures will drop away as the day goes on. By the afternoon, 4-10
0:32:39 > 0:32:42but let me show you Friday, these North north-westerly winds whistling
0:32:42 > 0:32:46across the country, a fair amount of sunshine dummy Eskimo by just about
0:32:46 > 0:32:49anywhere, you could see some snow showers, most likely for Western and
0:32:49 > 0:32:53eastern coasts and northern Scotland. Your form on the tour will
0:32:53 > 0:32:56read 3-6 but when you add the strength of the wind, it will feel
0:32:56 > 0:33:00subzero across many parts of the country. It may be a fairly quiet
0:33:00 > 0:33:04start to the week but something much more dramatic is on the way.