0:00:04 > 0:00:07Britain and Russia say relations between their two countries
0:00:07 > 0:00:10are at their worst for many years.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Boris Johnson, meeting his counterpart in Moscow,
0:00:12 > 0:00:21says both sides want the situation to improve.
0:00:21 > 0:00:26The there is no point in simply sitting on the sidelines and
0:00:26 > 0:00:33complaining about each other. We have to engage.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35We'll ask what the Foreign Secretary's visit can achieve.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36Also this lunchtime.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38Theresa May denies knowing about allegations made
0:00:38 > 0:00:40by Kate Maltby about Damian Green before he was promoted
0:00:40 > 0:00:45to First Secretary of State.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48Separatist parties celebrate winning a slim majority in the snap
0:00:48 > 0:00:50Catalonia election - a setback for Spain's
0:00:50 > 0:00:52government in Madrid.
0:00:52 > 0:00:5630 years of burgundy passports is coming to an end -
0:00:56 > 0:00:58the government confirms British passports will revert to blue
0:00:58 > 0:01:02when we leave the EU.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06And millions are expected to be on the move today,
0:01:06 > 0:01:11as the Christmas getaway begins.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13Coming up in the sport on BBC News...
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Leg spinner Mason Crane can start what he hopes is a long
0:01:16 > 0:01:18journey in Test cricket as England consider their options for
0:01:18 > 0:01:22the fourth Ashes Test.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45Good afternoon and welcome to the BBC News at One.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47The Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has acknowledged there are "serious
0:01:47 > 0:01:51difficulties" in the relationship between Russia and the UK.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54He's on the first visit to Moscow by a British Foreign Secretary
0:01:54 > 0:01:56for more than five years.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00In a tense press conference, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Lavrov rejected suggestions that Russia had behaved
0:02:03 > 0:02:07aggressively towards the UK, but agreed that relations
0:02:07 > 0:02:10were at a "very low level".
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Our Moscow correspondent Sarah Rainsford reports.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26The first handshake looked warm enough, but Boris Johnson came here
0:02:26 > 0:02:30promising to talk tough, general war on Russia to stop what he called its
0:02:30 > 0:02:33destabilising actions. It was Russia's Foreign Minister who set
0:02:33 > 0:02:40the tone. Sergei Lavrov said relations with Britain were at a
0:02:40 > 0:02:43very low level and chided the Foreign Secretary for such public
0:02:43 > 0:02:49criticism. Things aren't easy, Boris Johnson agreed, before battling the
0:02:49 > 0:02:54Russians with talk of crisps.There are increasing exports of British
0:02:54 > 0:03:00Kettle crisps to Russia.But both men agreed one thing, that after
0:03:00 > 0:03:05five years without a visit by a UK Foreign Minister it was time to talk
0:03:05 > 0:03:10face-to-face again. Relations broke down over conflict and Ukraine,
0:03:10 > 0:03:14still unresolved, still deadly, after almost four years. Theresa May
0:03:14 > 0:03:18recently accused Russia of fermenting the crisis here. Today,
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Boris Johnson again called the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine
0:03:22 > 0:03:27illegal, then there's Syria and Russia's controversial military
0:03:27 > 0:03:30support for President Assad. This month, Vladimir Putin declared
0:03:30 > 0:03:34mission accomplished in Syria, but the threat of terrorism there, the
0:03:34 > 0:03:37need to build the peace now is one that concerns Britain and Russia
0:03:37 > 0:03:43equally. So it was that sense of common interest that the Foreign
0:03:43 > 0:03:46Secretary underlined, after talks that lasted well over the hour.
0:03:46 > 0:03:51There is no point in simply sitting on the sidelines and complaining
0:03:51 > 0:03:56about each other will
0:03:56 > 0:03:58on the sidelines and complaining about each other will. We have to
0:03:58 > 0:04:02engage, we have to talk to each other.There were some light
0:04:02 > 0:04:07moments. Sergei Lavrov said he trusted Boris Johnson so much, he
0:04:07 > 0:04:11used his Russian name, Boris.Boris! But there were frosty touches, as
0:04:11 > 0:04:17well. TRANSLATION:I cannot recall any
0:04:17 > 0:04:20action by Russia that was aggressive in relation to the UK, but we have
0:04:20 > 0:04:26heard accusations, even insultingly, that we support a criminal regime in
0:04:26 > 0:04:33Syria, that we are aggressors that we are occupiers week annex of the
0:04:33 > 0:04:37territories.Those are all claims Russia denies, even now. Relations
0:04:37 > 0:04:42with Moscow have been bad, verging on hostile. Boris Johnson came here
0:04:42 > 0:04:46to address the reasons for that directly. There were no
0:04:46 > 0:04:50breakthroughs, none were expected, but the first steps towards storing
0:04:50 > 0:04:56the chill has now been taken. Sarah Rainsford, BBC News, Moscow.
0:04:56 > 0:05:01Our diplomatic correspondent James Landale is here.
0:05:01 > 0:05:06Given some of the test and as we saw there, what can be achieved by a
0:05:06 > 0:05:11trip like this?Very simply, dialogue. When you have relations at
0:05:11 > 0:05:14such a frozen level you need to do something to improve that. Because
0:05:14 > 0:05:18for all the differences and there are genuine differences between UK
0:05:18 > 0:05:23and Russia, there are areas of commonality, where there an interest
0:05:23 > 0:05:28to cooperate with the Russians. It could be the Iran nuclear deal, if
0:05:28 > 0:05:32it went pear shaped the UK would need to talk to the Russians to see
0:05:32 > 0:05:38they could help resolve it. Also on the future of Syria, when there is
0:05:38 > 0:05:42some kind of political settlement in the future, the UK wants to be able
0:05:42 > 0:05:45to talk to the Russians about that. The Russians want to talk to us
0:05:45 > 0:05:50about some of the funding. There's a whole issue of North Korea. The UK
0:05:50 > 0:05:53has to talk to Russia to put pressure on the regime in Pyongyang,
0:05:53 > 0:05:58also on the Chinese to put pressure on themselves. These are all areas
0:05:58 > 0:06:06where the UK needs to have a channel of communication with the Russians,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09despite all of those differences, and that's why you have to have
0:06:09 > 0:06:12these kinds of meetings. I think the fact it has happened might have led
0:06:12 > 0:06:14to a recitation of always differences, we have just seen in
0:06:14 > 0:06:16the report, but at the same time officials now have another
0:06:16 > 0:06:19relationship. It means Boris Johnson and Sergei Lavrov can talk to each
0:06:19 > 0:06:22other a bit more easily on those areas where we have a national
0:06:22 > 0:06:25interest and let's not forget all the British football fans going to
0:06:25 > 0:06:29Russia next year for the World Cup. We need to be able to talk about
0:06:29 > 0:06:33visas and stuff like that.James Landale, thanks very
0:06:33 > 0:06:41Theresa May James Landale, thanks very much.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45Theresa May has denied she knew about claims that the former First
0:06:45 > 0:06:48Secretary of State Damian Green made inappropriate advances towards the
0:06:48 > 0:06:56Conservative activist Kate Maltby before she promoted him to serve as
0:06:56 > 0:06:59her deputy.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Yesterday Ms Maltby told the BBC that she had raised concerns
0:07:02 > 0:07:04about him with a Downing Street official last year.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06Speaking this morning on a visit to a British air
0:07:06 > 0:07:09force base in Cyprus, the Prime Minister said she only
0:07:09 > 0:07:11knew about the allegations when they were published
0:07:11 > 0:07:12in a newspaper last month.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14I first learnt of these allegations when Kate Maltby wrote
0:07:14 > 0:07:17about them in The Times.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22Ms Maltby was clearly distressed, he has apologised and that's the right
0:07:22 > 0:07:28thing to do.Theresa May, speaking in Cyprus. Let's get the latest from
0:07:28 > 0:07:30our political correspondent Leila Nathoo. Where does this go from
0:07:30 > 0:07:35here, given what the Prime Minister was saying there?The official
0:07:35 > 0:07:40investigation triggered by Kate Maltby's claim that Damian Green
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Centre are suggestive text and fleetingly touch-tone knee, is now
0:07:43 > 0:07:47over. It found Kate Maltby's account was plausible and although that
0:07:47 > 0:07:53wasn't the reason Deb Ian Green eventually had to resign, it --
0:07:53 > 0:07:55Damian Green eventually had to resign, it did find the encounters
0:07:55 > 0:08:00between Kate Maltby and Damian Green were inconclusive but her account
0:08:00 > 0:08:05was plausible. Damian Green is now gone. He still disputes her version
0:08:05 > 0:08:07of events and has apologised for making her feel uncomfortable, but
0:08:07 > 0:08:14Theresa May will hope this is a line drawn over the whole matter. She has
0:08:14 > 0:08:17sacked her closest political ally. She's denied knowing anything about
0:08:17 > 0:08:22the claims made against him before she promoted him to be the effective
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Deputy Prime Minister, but the idea that Kate Maltby may have told a
0:08:25 > 0:08:30senior Downing Street official about her concerns speaks to the idea that
0:08:30 > 0:08:35perhaps in the past there was not a culture in Westminster of taking
0:08:35 > 0:08:39allegations of inappropriate behaviour seriously enough. The
0:08:39 > 0:08:42Prime Minister, since we had this wave of people coming forward and
0:08:42 > 0:08:47allegations, has talked about renewing, a renewed push to tackle
0:08:47 > 0:08:51harassment in Westminster, to make people feel safe at work. The
0:08:51 > 0:08:52political parties themselves have brought in new complaints
0:08:52 > 0:08:56procedures, but it remains to be seen whether there will be a
0:08:56 > 0:09:00significant cultural shift in terms of the way people are treated, in
0:09:00 > 0:09:05terms of the willingness for people to come forward with complaints, and
0:09:05 > 0:09:10to take action when complaints are made.Leila Nathoo at Westminster,
0:09:10 > 0:09:13thank you.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15The Spanish government has been meeting to discuss the results
0:09:15 > 0:09:18of regional elections in Catalonia which saw separatist parties win
0:09:18 > 0:09:19a slim majority in the new assembly.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22The result is a setback for the government in Madrid,
0:09:22 > 0:09:23which called the election after an independence
0:09:23 > 0:09:25referendum held earlier this year was ruled unlawful.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28Our Europe correspondent Gavin Lee is outside the Catalan regional
0:09:28 > 0:09:31assembly in Barcelona.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43Well, after these extraordinary weeks, this was the moment today the
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Spanish government had hoped they would settle the independence
0:09:47 > 0:09:52crisis. It hasn't turned out that way. After a record number of votes,
0:09:52 > 0:09:574.5 million people here voting, a region the size of Belgium, it seems
0:09:57 > 0:10:00it's a very splintered, fractured result. There was one singular party
0:10:00 > 0:10:04that was the all-out winner, a Unity party. The separatist parties are
0:10:04 > 0:10:10claiming victory. Having followed the result for the past 24 hours.
0:10:10 > 0:10:16Smiling and on the face of it triumphant, the pro-Spain leader of
0:10:16 > 0:10:18the citizens party has taken the most seats in the Catalan
0:10:18 > 0:10:24parliament, but not enough for a majority. Is this your victory?It's
0:10:24 > 0:10:31a victory.Your moment?We have won elections in Catalonia.And you can
0:10:31 > 0:10:38form a coalition?It's difficult, but we will try.This may be a
0:10:38 > 0:10:41fleeting moment in the limelight for her, because the power balance now
0:10:41 > 0:10:45belongs to the party in second place, the self exiled ex-president
0:10:45 > 0:10:50Carles Puigdemont, who is watching and waiting in Belgium having fled
0:10:50 > 0:10:54following his attempt to break the region away. Collectively the three
0:10:54 > 0:10:57separatist parties that declared independence and triggered these
0:10:57 > 0:11:01elections are the only party is likely to be able to form a
0:11:01 > 0:11:04coalition for a majority. But the ex-president is setting conditions
0:11:04 > 0:11:12first. TRANSLATION:I am ready to meet in
0:11:12 > 0:11:24Brussels with Rajoy. I'm ready to do so, because there have to be new
0:11:24 > 0:11:33policies in Spain and Europe for political solutions, not repression.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36While the politicians work out their next moves, Catalans will continue
0:11:36 > 0:11:40to feel the impact. Thousands of companies have temporarily left the
0:11:40 > 0:11:44region, blaming a stability. The constant adversity and global
0:11:44 > 0:11:50headlines has led to a 10% drop in tourism as well.From the outside it
0:11:50 > 0:11:54seems like a lot of revolutionary dramas, but we are losing business a
0:11:54 > 0:12:00little bit in the last months because of Spain and Catalonia, and
0:12:00 > 0:12:06they find a way to work it. Everybody has something to lose.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy held an extraordinary cabinet
0:12:08 > 0:12:12meeting this morning, his government gambled by calling these elections
0:12:12 > 0:12:17and temporarily placing the region and its direct rule. That gamble
0:12:17 > 0:12:20appears to have failed. Catalonia is still under emergency measures and
0:12:20 > 0:12:25that will now be down to weeks of coalition talks to see how the
0:12:25 > 0:12:32independence crisis plays out. Gavin Lee, BBC News, Barcelona.
0:12:32 > 0:12:37There has been a development in the past few minutes. Mario Gaspar Rajoy
0:12:37 > 0:12:40says he acknowledges Unity parties have lost, it's in the hands of
0:12:40 > 0:12:44separatist parties to go forward and he will speak in a dialogue with
0:12:44 > 0:12:48Carles Puigdemont. We are potentially entering a new phase of
0:12:48 > 0:12:51talks ahead of the attempt to build a coalition government.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53Thank you, Gavin Lee.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56A 44-year-old man is being questioned on suspicion of murder,
0:12:56 > 0:12:59after a woman was stabbed to death while at work in a supermarket
0:12:59 > 0:13:00in Skipton in North Yorkshire.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02The victim - who has been named locally as
0:13:02 > 0:13:0430-year-old Jodie Willsher - was attacked in the Aldi store
0:13:04 > 0:13:10in front of shoppers yesterday afternoon.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14For nearly 30 years, Britons have been carrying these -
0:13:14 > 0:13:17burgundy passports - the common colour of the EU.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20But it's been confirmed this will change when Britain leaves.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22The Home Office has announced that the covers will
0:13:22 > 0:13:24revert to blue from 2019.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27The new design won't carry the EU insignia, and for some Brexit
0:13:27 > 0:13:29campaigners the colour blue has become a symbol of independence.
0:13:29 > 0:13:39Our home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds reports.
0:13:42 > 0:13:47The great British passport, shortly not to be available in European
0:13:47 > 0:13:53burgundy, because, it turns out, Brexit means blue. And the E word
0:13:53 > 0:13:58nowhere to be seen. Some never liked, well, the pink one, as this
0:13:58 > 0:14:03BBC USENET report in 1995 made perfectly clear.And for some people
0:14:03 > 0:14:09pocket sized burgundy simply isn't British.The passport is something
0:14:09 > 0:14:12so many people still have fond memories of, the British passport,
0:14:12 > 0:14:16that blue companion on your travels with the family for many years. I'm
0:14:16 > 0:14:20pleased to let people know we are going back to that classic blue and
0:14:20 > 0:14:25gold design.Well, not quite. The last British passport was much
0:14:25 > 0:14:29bigger, hardbacks, and a very dark blue. The European one which
0:14:29 > 0:14:35replaced it way back now in 1988 was floppy, smaller and easier to put in
0:14:35 > 0:14:39a pocket. The new one, and this is just a mock up, is of roughly the
0:14:39 > 0:14:44same design, but it will keep all of the security features that are
0:14:44 > 0:14:50currently built into passports to make them hard to copy, and it will
0:14:50 > 0:14:54add some.My first passport.Wow, that's interesting. It seems going
0:14:54 > 0:15:00blue is largely about showing we are going it alone. Reaction?Blue,
0:15:00 > 0:15:05isn't it, back to England.I think it's a shame. We had a fantastic
0:15:05 > 0:15:08ability to travel around the rest of the world and we looked upon
0:15:08 > 0:15:10favourably with our immigration policy and now it's a bit
0:15:10 > 0:15:15embarrassing be honest.I think the decision was a huge aspect of the
0:15:15 > 0:15:18country moving forward and I think in order to move forward there needs
0:15:18 > 0:15:21to be changes and if that is distinguished by a simple colour,
0:15:21 > 0:15:27then why not?What's the difference? It's a different colour.I preferred
0:15:27 > 0:15:31it when we were in Europe, everything. Just everything, yeah.I
0:15:31 > 0:15:38don't think it was needed but we wanted to give a message that we are
0:15:38 > 0:15:42different and to that extent it sails above us.He says things are
0:15:42 > 0:15:46looking up.It's the first bit of good news Brexiteers have had for a
0:15:46 > 0:15:50long time. The last few months have been very frustrating.The new
0:15:50 > 0:15:55passports will be issued from late 2019, when older ones are renewed or
0:15:55 > 0:15:59people simply apply for one. The new column will may split the country as
0:15:59 > 0:16:04much as Brexit itself, perhaps this, the winner of an unofficial passport
0:16:04 > 0:16:08design competition might have been an even better choice. Tom Symonds,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11BBC News, at the passport office.
0:16:11 > 0:16:16Our top story this lunchtime:
0:16:16 > 0:16:19Britain and Russia say relations between the two countries are the
0:16:19 > 0:16:22worst for many years.
0:16:27 > 0:16:28And still to come...
0:16:28 > 0:16:29An Ode to Joy.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34Why 10,000 Japanese singers gather to perform Beethoven's 9th Symphony.
0:16:37 > 0:16:38Coming up in sport...
0:16:38 > 0:16:40Mark Hughes insists he isn't one game from the sack.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43His Stoke side are only just above the Premier League's
0:16:43 > 0:16:47bottom three after one win in the last eight games.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58Drivers, rail passengers and coach travellers are being warned
0:16:58 > 0:17:04to expect delays as many people begin the Christmas getaway.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07Highways England has suspended 400 miles of roadworks,
0:17:07 > 0:17:11but says busy road conditions should be expected.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Virgin Trains says strikes which were due to affect
0:17:14 > 0:17:17the West Coast Mainline have been called off, but the company
0:17:17 > 0:17:19expects there will still be some cancellations.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Our Transport Correspondent, Richard Westcott, has the latest.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27It's not the white Christmas the kids were hoping for.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31The Midlands motorway, shrouded in fog today.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33But despite the warnings, a Christmas getaway seems
0:17:33 > 0:17:38to be running smoothly.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41So, a busy day for you guys?
0:17:41 > 0:17:42Yes, busy.
0:17:42 > 0:17:43Of course, not everyone gets Christmas off.
0:17:43 > 0:17:48The motorways still need patrolling.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50Well, they had called this Frantic Friday,
0:17:50 > 0:17:52because they thought that the commuter traffic would be
0:17:52 > 0:17:55mixing with all the holiday traffic, creating millions more journeys.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57Touch wood, though, despite the fog, the roads haven't
0:17:57 > 0:18:00been too bad so far.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02At the nearby services, some were taking a little
0:18:02 > 0:18:04break from the driving.
0:18:04 > 0:18:09It's been quite quiet, hasn't it?
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Yeah, not too bad at all.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14It hasn't been busy at all, really.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16We've come from Chippenham, and it's been straight through.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18Even the junction M4 to M5 was fine.
0:18:18 > 0:18:21It's been quite busy, just zipping about the roads and stuff.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24The motorway's not been too bad, but the side roads with the snow
0:18:24 > 0:18:25and stuff will be quite slippy.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28Highways England are temporarily lifting 400 miles of road works
0:18:28 > 0:18:31to help ease any jams.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34Airports will also have the busiest day of the season -
0:18:34 > 0:18:41with the biggest, Heathrow, handling 130,000 passengers.
0:18:41 > 0:18:42Another Christmas holiday tradition is engineering
0:18:42 > 0:18:45works on the railways, with a £160 million upgrade
0:18:45 > 0:18:48programme starting tomorrow.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51If you're travelling, check online.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Some services will be cut.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57Some London stations will be shut or partly shut,
0:18:57 > 0:19:04including London Bridge, where they are putting the finishing
0:19:04 > 0:19:09touches to a £1 billion rebuild.
0:19:09 > 0:19:17If you've used London Bridge Station over the last few years,
0:19:17 > 0:19:19you know how stressful it's been as they've tried to redevelop it
0:19:19 > 0:19:21whilst keeping it open as best they can.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24There's going to be lots of work going on over here over Christmas
0:19:24 > 0:19:27so that these five platforms can open on January the 2nd.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29It's more frustration for holiday travellers.
0:19:29 > 0:19:30So why do it at Christmas?
0:19:30 > 0:19:33We do it at this time of year because the railway is closed anyway
0:19:33 > 0:19:35on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38But also, at this time of year, about 50% fewer people travel
0:19:38 > 0:19:41by train, so in terms of the overall level of impact on passengers, this
0:19:41 > 0:19:43is the best time of year to do it.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46Back on the roads, it could be busy later today,
0:19:46 > 0:19:48tomorrow and when the shops are back open after Christmas.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51A bit worrying for adults...
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Well, yeah, it was kind of hyped up, but we were going to have to make
0:19:54 > 0:19:56the journey either way.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59We kind of prepared for it, but it's been a lot better
0:19:59 > 0:20:03than we thought it would be.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06But some have got other things on their mind.
0:20:06 > 0:20:07Happy Christmas!
0:20:07 > 0:20:08Richard Westcott, BBC News, on the M5.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10In a moment, we'll hear more from Richard,
0:20:10 > 0:20:18who is at Highways England's headquarters in Birmingham.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23-- he's at the National traffic operation centre in the Midlands.
0:20:23 > 0:20:24But first, let's talk
0:20:24 > 0:20:26to Ian Palmer, who is outside Euston Station in London.
0:20:26 > 0:20:33How has it been and how is it looking, Ian?Jane, a lot better now
0:20:33 > 0:20:36that virgin train cancel the planned industrial action that they
0:20:36 > 0:20:40announced earlier. -- Virgin Trains. The main headline as you have been
0:20:40 > 0:20:46hearing in Richard's report is that London Bridge station will be
0:20:46 > 0:20:51completing the third phase of its upgrade. That means there will be no
0:20:51 > 0:20:54services into London Bridge one London Charing Cross station is
0:20:54 > 0:21:00between, well, from tomorrow until January, end of play January the
0:21:00 > 0:21:061st. That is really going to disrupt all mainline routes right across
0:21:06 > 0:21:09Britain. The West Coast Main Line is urging passengers to complete their
0:21:09 > 0:21:15journeys by the end of play on Saturday because London Paddington
0:21:15 > 0:21:23station will be closed between the 27th of December and Christmas Eve.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26And if you are travelling on the West Coast Main Line, there is going
0:21:26 > 0:21:32to be no service between Preston and Lancaster West. If you have to
0:21:32 > 0:21:36travel between London and Glasgow, you are being urged to travel via
0:21:36 > 0:21:41Edinburgh. And that will add an hour to your journey. As far as the
0:21:41 > 0:21:44airports are concerned, there are going to be 4.3 million people
0:21:44 > 0:21:49trying to fly to different climbs over the festive period. Heathrow
0:21:49 > 0:21:53Airport is expected to deal with 130 passengers today alone. Gatwick
0:21:53 > 0:21:59Airport will deal with 67,000 passengers. There are no specific
0:21:59 > 0:22:03problems if you are travelling by air today, but the advice is that if
0:22:03 > 0:22:09you are going to fly, then arrive at least an hour before you normally
0:22:09 > 0:22:14would. Jane.E-on, thank you. Richard Westcott, how was it looking
0:22:14 > 0:22:20on the roads?Well, that board behind me sums it up. This is the
0:22:20 > 0:22:24nerve centre of Highways England, you can see all of the roads and all
0:22:24 > 0:22:30of the cameras. We have the M1, the M60, the M25. As you can see, pretty
0:22:30 > 0:22:34free-flowing at the moment. I suspect most people see things on
0:22:34 > 0:22:38the papers, the TV on the radio that it's going to be really bad, and I
0:22:38 > 0:22:42suspect a lot of people stay awake or stagger the journey across the
0:22:42 > 0:22:45weekend. Because obviously you have got Saturday and Sunday to get where
0:22:45 > 0:22:49you want to go as well. We will see what happens later on tonight when
0:22:49 > 0:22:59the commuters darted in grade as well. But as it stands at the
0:22:59 > 0:23:02moment, touch wood, it's been OK. Touchwood indeed! Thank you very
0:23:02 > 0:23:04much, Richard Westcott and Ian Palmer.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07People should pay a deposit for using plastic bottles
0:23:07 > 0:23:09to help protect the seas from the "devastating effects"
0:23:09 > 0:23:12of plastic pollution - that's the call from a group of MPs.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14The Commons Environmental Audit Committee recommends a deposit
0:23:14 > 0:23:16of between 10p and 20p, which consumers would get back
0:23:16 > 0:23:17when they returned the bottle.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20It also wants more public water fountains and all cafes
0:23:20 > 0:23:22and restaurants so people can top up refillable bottles.
0:23:22 > 0:23:23Here's our Environment Analyst, Roger Harrabin.
0:23:27 > 0:23:32The UK uses around 13 billion plastic bottles every year.
0:23:32 > 0:23:37Nearly half are put into landfill, incinerated or left as litter.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Many ultimately find their way into the sea.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44The MPs are urging the Government to introduce a deposit-and-return
0:23:44 > 0:23:47scheme for bottles as soon as possible.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51They want a new rule obliging all cafes, pubs and restaurants
0:23:51 > 0:23:54to provide free tap water so people can top up their own
0:23:54 > 0:23:56refillable bottles.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00And they want many more public water fountains.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02We want people to think before they leave the house,
0:24:02 > 0:24:04will I be needing water?
0:24:04 > 0:24:05To re-use the bottles they've got.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09We want people to be able to fill up for free in cafes and restaurants.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12And we want then to capture the bottles that we do use,
0:24:12 > 0:24:14so we have a sustainable, resource-efficient economy.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17But crucially, so that we end up with far fewer of these bottles
0:24:17 > 0:24:23in our streets and on our beaches and in the sea.
0:24:23 > 0:24:28The MPs also propose a sliding scale of charges on plastic packaging -
0:24:28 > 0:24:31so firms using easy-to-recycle materials pay least,
0:24:31 > 0:24:38and those using complex materials paid most.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Ministers say they're consulting with firms to find the best
0:24:42 > 0:24:44solutions to what they acknowledge is a serious problem
0:24:44 > 0:24:46with plastic waste.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Roger Harrabin, BBC News.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54How can we keep the memories, and lessons, of the Holocaust
0:24:54 > 0:24:57for future generations?
0:24:57 > 0:25:00One idea is to capture survivors' stories on film.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04One Holocaust survivor, Eva Schloss, the step-sister of Anne Frank,
0:25:04 > 0:25:06has been taking part in an interactive project
0:25:06 > 0:25:09that will allow people to ask her questions about her life,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12and preserve her testimony long into the future.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Reeta Chakrabarti has been to meet her.
0:25:17 > 0:25:18Three, two, one, go ahead.
0:25:18 > 0:25:19Meet Eva Schloss.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23She's 88, and survived the horrors of Auschwitz.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27She spent days being filmed recounting the past,
0:25:27 > 0:25:30so that people now and in the future can question her virtual self
0:25:30 > 0:25:35about what happened.
0:25:35 > 0:25:36My name is Eva Schloss.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39Would you like to ask me some questions about my life?
0:25:39 > 0:25:41Survivors are worrying what will happen when we are not around
0:25:41 > 0:25:45anymore, who is going to continue telling the story?
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Because we think it is very important.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Now, at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York,
0:25:54 > 0:25:58people can directly ask Eva about what it was like in Auschwitz,
0:25:58 > 0:26:02how she survived, and how it's affected her since.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04One of the questions, what was your most terrible
0:26:04 > 0:26:07moment in the camp?
0:26:07 > 0:26:10One day, my mother was selected to be gassed.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13And we were separated.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17And I thought, you know, I had lost her.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19But through a miracle she was saved.
0:26:19 > 0:26:24And about three months later, we were reunited.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28Over five days, Eva answered more than 1000 questions about her story.
0:26:28 > 0:26:33And while she was doing so, a film-maker recorded the process.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37I think what's different about this experience is it puts the viewer
0:26:37 > 0:26:38in a really active role.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41So instead of sort of passively watching a movie or reading a book,
0:26:41 > 0:26:44you're sort of forced to think of your own question,
0:26:44 > 0:26:46what you want to ask.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49And this is more or less the only picture I have
0:26:49 > 0:26:53with my mother and my father.
0:26:53 > 0:26:58Because my father usually took all the pictures.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00Eva Schloss lost her father and her brother in the Holocaust.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04Remarkably, she say she has no hatred or bitterness in her heart.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07But she does want people to listen and to learn.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10This is what we have to teach our young people,
0:27:10 > 0:27:13to get involved with what goes on.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18And to, if they see things going on, to speak out.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22Technology is helping to prepare for the time when the survivors
0:27:22 > 0:27:25of this monstrous crime are no longer alive.
0:27:25 > 0:27:27It means Eva Schloss can continue telling her story
0:27:27 > 0:27:29for many decades to come.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33Reeta Chakrabarti, BBC News.
0:27:35 > 0:27:39A policeman in the US state of Florida has been dragged clinging
0:27:39 > 0:27:42to a car door after he tried to search a driver who was
0:27:42 > 0:27:45suspected of taking drugs.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47He has survived the incident.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50The driver sped off, but the policeman held on to the car
0:27:50 > 0:27:52for more than half a mile before falling off onto
0:27:52 > 0:27:54the side of the road.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57The whole incident was filmed on his body-camera.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59The driver was later arrested, and the police officer
0:27:59 > 0:28:00is recovering in hospital.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Andrew Plant reports.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09Now, here is a festive tradition you may not have heard of.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11Every year, 10,000 singers in Japan come together to perform
0:28:11 > 0:28:13Beethoven's 9th Symphony.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16The tradition is thought to have emerged during the First World War,
0:28:16 > 0:28:19when a group of German prisoners of war being held in the country
0:28:19 > 0:28:22sang Ode to Joy at Christmas.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25Now, every year, hundreds of professional and amateur choirs
0:28:25 > 0:28:30from across the country meet for a spectacular performance.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32Jon Donnison has the story.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39# Freude, schoner Gotterfunken
0:28:39 > 0:28:42# Tochter aus Elysium #.
0:28:42 > 0:28:47It is music to lift the soul.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49Each December, 10,000 choristers pack the Osaka Arena to perform
0:28:49 > 0:28:53Beethoven's Ode to Joy.
0:28:53 > 0:28:58A tradition with its origins a century ago.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02TRANSLATION:I'm told it started among German prisoners of war
0:29:02 > 0:29:05during World War I in Tokushima.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08So they'd sing it in prison, despite the sad circumstances.
0:29:08 > 0:29:15I think that is how it became an important part of our culture.
0:29:19 > 0:29:24In Japan, Beethoven's 9th Symphony is known simply as kyu -
0:29:24 > 0:29:26literally, "number nine".
0:29:26 > 0:29:31It's become the traditional anthem to celebrate the end of the year.
0:29:31 > 0:29:36SINGING SCALES.
0:29:38 > 0:29:42Many of those performing are not professional singers.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45For months beforehand, they practice in smaller groups.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47I really love it.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49It's so powerful, energetic.
0:29:49 > 0:29:50I love it!
0:29:50 > 0:29:54It empowers me and encourages me in the bad times and good times.
0:29:54 > 0:29:58And singing in German is no mean feat.
0:29:58 > 0:30:10# Freude, schoner Gotterfunken# Tochter aus Elysium# Wir
0:30:10 > 0:30:13betreten feuertrunken# Himmlische, dein Heiligtum!
0:30:18 > 0:30:20When it all comes together, it is something to behold.
0:30:20 > 0:30:30The conductor reckons he loses seven kilos during the performance.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33His reward - an Ode to Joy like you've rarely heard before.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35Jon Donnison, BBC News.
0:30:37 > 0:30:45Glorious! Let's have a look at the weather, I wonder whether that is.
0:30:45 > 0:30:46Here
0:30:46 > 0:30:48weather, I wonder whether that is. Here is Sarah Keith Lucas. It's
0:30:48 > 0:30:50actually quite mild over the next few days in the run-up to Christmas
0:30:50 > 0:30:55with a lot of cloud around. Here was the scene in Worcestershire taken by
0:30:55 > 0:30:59one of our weather watchers. There has been some fog. It has lifted
0:30:59 > 0:31:03across many parts of the country, and there is some brightness to be
0:31:03 > 0:31:06enjoyed out the too. Please guys and lots of sunshine in St Andrews in
0:31:06 > 0:31:11Fife at the moment. Clear skies, particularly Cross Keys departs of
0:31:11 > 0:31:14the country, but right across the board because we have a big area of
0:31:14 > 0:31:20high pressure. -- dry across the board. This area will be more of a
0:31:20 > 0:31:24player as we head into Christmas Day, particularly across parts of
0:31:24 > 0:31:28Scotland. Now, dry and somewhat cloudy weather. Cloud and the fog
0:31:28 > 0:31:32around the coast and hills of the West. The cloud is big enough to
0:31:32 > 0:31:36produce outbreaks of rain across the North West of Scotland, Eastern
0:31:36 > 0:31:39Scotland in drawing the line's share of the sunshine through the
0:31:39 > 0:31:43afternoon. Parts of Northern Ireland and northern England, quite grey and
0:31:43 > 0:31:50murky. There are some clear spells breaking through, particularly
0:31:50 > 0:31:53anywhere to be is the firebrand. A bit of sunshine for the likes of
0:31:53 > 0:31:55Lincolnshire down towards Kent too. Slightly thicker cloud further west
0:31:55 > 0:31:59into Devon and Cornwall and across Wales. For North Wales, we should
0:31:59 > 0:32:04seek some clear spells into the evening. Through this evening and
0:32:04 > 0:32:08tonight we see the cloud thickening up from the West, quite a lot of low
0:32:08 > 0:32:14cloud bringing the fog. Towards the south and East of the UK, patchy
0:32:14 > 0:32:19mist and fog. Mild and frost free to start off your Saturday morning.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23Chilly Thursday across the East of Scotland with clear spells.
0:32:23 > 0:32:29Tomorrow, similar to today, persistent rain pushing into the far
0:32:29 > 0:32:33north of Scotland. But the wind picking up too. Much of the country
0:32:33 > 0:32:39seeing a dry day with a breeze help and -- helping to break up the
0:32:39 > 0:32:46cloud. Temperatures around 10-12dC. Not much change into Christmas eve.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49We have a weather front bringing outbreaks of persistent rain to the
0:32:49 > 0:32:54West of Scotland. Also for Northern Ireland and north-west England,
0:32:54 > 0:32:58there could be rain. Further south and east you are likely to be
0:32:58 > 0:33:02staying dry and mild. That continues into Christmas Day as the band of
0:33:02 > 0:33:06rain pushes further south into parts of northern England, West Wales, to
0:33:06 > 0:33:11the south and east of that it is mild and windy. We could just see a
0:33:11 > 0:33:15flurry of snow on top of the mountains of Scotland. Little ranks,
0:33:15 > 0:33:20Sarah. -- thanks, Sarah.
0:33:20 > 0:33:21mountains of Scotland. Little ranks, Sarah. -- thanks, Sarah.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24A reminder of our main story this lunchtime: