19/12/2016 BBC News at Six

Russia's ambassador to Turkey is shot dead. More turmoil and

confusion for the Middle East. Andrey Karlov was speaking at a

public reception when he was shot in the back. At the scene, the gunmen

show its support for Syria. Russia calls it a terrorist attack. We

bring you the latest on this story. Safe passage from the death

and destruction of Aleppo - They were bussed from

the last rebel enclave - as the UN calls for its observers

to move in. Also tonight: A week

of industrial action - postal workers are the latest

to walk out, adding to the disruption already

facing travellers. This is the deepest political regret

of my time in this house. An opposition walk out

at Stormont as the first minister explains her role

in a ?400m scandal. And moving house -

the firm hoping to build 20,000 Could it help the housing crisis?

Coming up in sport, England concede 759 the cleared and must bat for the

final day to stop India winning the series 4-0.

Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

The Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andre Karl of, has been shot dead in

the Turkish capital. -- Andrey Karlov. He was speaking at a

reception in an art gallery when the gunmen struck. He was heard shouting

his support for the people of Syria and comes at a highly sensitive time

for the Middle East. Russia is supporting the government and Turkey

is backing the rebel forces. Our diplomatic correspondent has the

very latest. Moments before the shooting, behind the ambassador, his

assassin waits calmly, rising no suspicion. And then this. The

audience scream. The gunman is shouting, he says, do not forget

about Syria. So long at these places are secure you will not taste

security yourself. With the ambassador lying close by his killer

shouts at the audience to stay back. Get away, only death will take me

from here. Eventually, security forces intervene and the gunman is

shot and killed. Amid chaos at the Art Gallery, Moscow is getting

reports of what has happened to their ambassador. He was 62 and had

been a diplomat for 40 years. The ambassador to Turkey since 2013. The

foreign Ministry in Moscow confirmed the ambassador's death. It is a

shocking blow to Russia's relations with Turkey, the countries backing

opposite sides in Syria's war, with Turkey strongly opposed to President

Assad. Our Turkey correspondent is in Istanbul. Reports are coming in

even as we speak. I wonder if you can flesh out any more details on

this. Events have moved fast. It happened two hours ago and within

the last 30 minutes a confirmation that Andrey Karlov has succumbed to

his injuries. We are getting reports that the gunman was a policeman in

Ankara, having shouted Alluha Akbar and Aleppo and revenge. The

government of Russia are calling this an act of terrorism. These

governments are key players in the Syrian crisis. What do you think

could be the wider impact of this shooting? In recent weeks Turkey has

been making much of its political cooperation with Russia after

relations came closer together. There was wrap -- there was much

play of cooperation with Moscow and other brawls in the ceasefire of

Aleppo, evacuating citizens from the besieged areas. In public you will

get Turkey saying it will not throw them off course, they will continue

with cooperation with Moscow, but in private there will be statements to

try to Ali the anger many are feeling towards Moscow -- try to

damp down. Public hatred has very much spilled over to mate with

tragic consequences. Thank you very much. -- tonight.

who were left stranded in the former rebel enclave in Aleppo were among

thousands of civilians who've been given safe passage out

Convoys of buses have been leaving East Aleppo,

each has been packed with around a hundred people.

The evacuation went ahead after government supporters were -

in return - allowed to leave nearby areas besieged by the rebels.

This report from our Middle East Editor Jeremy Bowen

on the final stages of a battle that could mark a turning

The evacuation of beaten fighters as well as civilians started in the

early hours of the morning. It has been going more smoothly but is

still tense and a small hitch could escalate swiftly into a big problem.

Many residents were stranded outside waiting for evacuation. The

displaced and distressed looking for warmth and safety have been a

feature of every war but this is a crisis and all sites are using the

Internet. 47 orphans appealed for evacuation from East Aleppo in a

video posted online. We are afraid, we want to live like everybody else.

The good news is they've got out and they are safe. This seven-year-old

girl has been tweeting her fears about what has been happening. Her

mother, who organised the tweets, spoke of her sadness that they have

left their home and their relief that they are safe. The evacuation

has been so difficult to arrange because of all the factors that made

the war in Syria so hard to solve. It is not just a deal between those

who support the regime and don'ts, it is because foreign powers have

intervened, have their own rivalries that go above and beyond the war. In

New York the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for

monitors to watch over what is happening and proper access for

humanitarian aid in Aleppo. It may be too little too late. It is not

clear how soon it can be implemented, if at all. Right now,

it's an important step that I think a couple days ago people would not

have thought the Russian Federation would have allowed to go through the

council, but until it is implemented it is just a piece of paper. The

Syrians, closely allied with Russia, are deeply suspicious of Western

motives. We oppose the attempts of some member states to draft and

submit under humanitarian cover a crafty and vague terms that tolerate

more than one interpretation with the intention of exploiting these

resolutions to achieve hidden agendas. The evacuation from Aleppo

is happening because another set of buses is being allowed to evacuate

another group of civilians from pro-regime villages besieged by

rebels. All this is not the endgame for the war. Many crises lie ahead

but in the sixth year of bloodshed there is still no coherent response

that brings things any closer. A strike by post office workers has

shut down about fifty big branches The members of the Communication

Workers Union join staff at British Airways and Southern Rail

who are either on strike or planning to do so in

the days before Christmas. The government said the strikes

showed contempt for ordinary people. Postal workers brought a special

delivery for the government today. Outside the Department for Business,

mail bags containing 70,000 postcards backing a campaign to

fight closures of flagship post offices. The dispute has been

running for months but the five days of strikes this week represent a

major escalation. We are defending postal services across the UK. The

very future of high Street post offices are under threat. The

government are lining up to make further announcements to close more

high street post offices. This dispute has been going on for months

but the timing of the industrial action is designed to put maximum

pressure on the post office. This is the busiest week for handling

parcels and letters. But there doesn't appear to be much Christmas

cheer elsewhere, with another number of unions calling Christmas strikes.

Holiday getaway could be hit with baggage handler is set to strike on

Friday and Saturday, which could affect some regional airports.

Thousands of cabin crew are also planning industrial action on

Christmas Day and Boxing Day. British Airways insists it will run

a full service. And the months of misery for Southern rail passengers

continues as 400 conductors began a 48-hour walk-out. Should trade union

powers be curbed? There is certainly a growing appetite in parliament and

public to do something. We fully respect the right to strike but it

needs to be proportional and I believe they have been abusing the

power as trade unions and some steps are needed. 2016 has seen a jump in

the number of working days lost to strike. At 300,000, it is up 50% on

the previous year. But compared to the 70s and 80s, strikes are at

historically low levels. We are talking about a tiny number of

disputes that we hope can be resolved. What do you say to members

of the public who see these strikes and think, what are the unions

playing at? I feel enormous sympathy for the public and I really regret

the disruption, as do the unions, who feel they have no alternative

but to take this last resort. Dozens of city centre post offices were

closed today including this one in Glasgow, but the vast majority

remained open and the action is set to continue until Christmas Eve.

The head of the International Monetary Fund has been convicted

over a contentious payment made to business tycoon -

Christine Lagarde authorised the award in 2008, but the court

decided against jail or a fine because the money has

The Justice Secretary Liz Truss has ordered an enquiry into a major

disturbance which took place on Friday at Birmingham prison. She

confirmed that 380 inmates had been moved from the prison and admitted

levels of violence in prisons were too high but said many of the

problems were long-standing and would take time to solve.

There were chaotic scenes at the Northern Ireland Assembly

today, as politicians from most of the main political parties

walked out of the chamber as the First Minister Arlene Foster

She's under huge pressure over her involvement in a botched

heating scheme that's expected to go hundreds of millions

Our Ireland Correspondent Chris Buckler is at

I am taking no points of order at this stage in the proceedings.

Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster went to Stormont today

to try to grasp control of a financial mess. But instead, there

were chaotic scenes with opposition parties walking out and the DUP's

partner in government, Sinn Fein, notable by their absence.

Technically, an official statement does need the support of the Deputy

First Minister, Martin McGuinness. But Sinn Fein's politicians were

outside the chamber, deliberately distancing themselves from a botched

energy scheme that is likely to cost Stormont hundreds of millions of

pounds. We need to establish all the facts and know who benefited from

this field scheme. The First Minister should stand aside to allow

the investigation to take place. The controversial renewable heat

incentive scheme worked like this. For every ?1 of fuel the company

uses they are paid ?1 60. That was to encourage them to buy

environmentally friendly boilers. Because initially there were limits

it is expected to be ?400 million over budget over the next 20 years.

The BBC has seen a confidential report which says the mistakes in

its design have allowed companies to abuse the scheme. There is evidence

of some firms heating buildings just to make a profit. It was launched

under the watch of the current First Minister who was then enterprise

minister. I'm sorry the scheme did not contain cost control measures

and there were fundamental flaws in its design. This is the deepest

political regret of my time in this house. After their brief walk-out,

Stormont's other parties returned to the Assembly to debate a motion of

no-confidence the First Minister. We are, collectively, a laughing stock.

Apologies were replaced by anger. The tone of this debate is not

fitting of what the public mood is, and the debate so far is a disgrace

to this house. The motion of no confidence was always going to feel

because it needed the support of unionists but the fiery exchanges

show that the scandal of this scheme could cause problems for Stormont.

Russia's ambassador to Turkey has been shot dead in Ankara -

Moscow is calling it a terror attack.

And a treble for Murray as he wins Sports Personality of the Year.

Coming up on Sportsday on BBC News, Merseyside Monday as Ronald Koeman

and Jurgen Klopp go head-to-head as Everton host local rivals,

Liverpool. Six months since the referendum,

Theresa May has been updating MPs on her discussions with EU leaders

about Britain's departure She says she wants a "smooth

and orderly exit" from the EU. And her comments come as people

in communities up and down the country reflect on what Brexit

will bring for them and the divisions

that the vote exposed. In the first of three

reports this week, our Special Correspondent Ed Thomas has

been gauging the mood, For some, it's all a bit too slow.

Especially in the West Midlands, the most Eurosceptic area in the UK.

Here, even the cities wanted out of Europe. In Coventry, many who voted

for change six months ago now feel a sense of frustration and mistrust.

All I feel is that our vote is a waste of time. And you voted to

leave? Yeah. Have you got any faith in the politicians to get it right?

I think they are clap, the government is a joke to be perfectly

honest with you. I don't think Brexit will go the way we wanted to,

either. And what about Coventry's new minority, those who wanted to

stay in the EU? Has time he'll divides. I am deeply disturbed by

it, I really am. It is not the country I thought I lived in. Sunday

was a great opportunity in Brexit, do you not see that? Now, I see

nothing, it is a black, nasty future. This part of Coventry is one

of the most deprived in England and desperately needs more jobs. Many

look to small businesses like this for work, but already the Brexit

vote is having an effect. That machine over there is ?1 million. It

has just had ?200,000 added to it. If we buy a new machine, it has got

20% on it, and it is made in Vergeer -- in Germany. How serious is that?

A lot. And consider this is a boss who voted to leave. It was that

meant more to him than pounds. And you still think it was the right

decision to leave? Yes. Even if it costs you your business you think it

is the right thing to do? Yes. And what next for this lady, a Polish

work in the UK, a single parent now trying to answer her daughter's

questions. I just said to her if we have to leave, then we leave. What's

that like for a mother, having to say that to a child? I know it's not

easy for me, and it will not be easy for her, especially for her. Move

away from Coventry and had to Warwick. A historic town, and the

only place in the West Midlands to boat remain. -- to vote remain. Six

months on, is Brexit any sweeter? A lot of people have been listening to

a lot of anti-European and racist rhetoric, and some people who look

back afterwards and saw what they had done may have actually thought

twice if they had known what was going to happen. Is that not a bit

unfair? I do think so. If it happened again I think the result

might be quite different. Here, though, there was also optimism even

when patient is being tested. All the while we are tidy -- tardy and

we hang back we're losing great opportunities. The government never

promised a rush and today said Brexit is on course and will be a

success. A brief look at some of the day's

other other news stories... A man, aged 101, has

been jailed for 15 years at Birmingham Crown Court

for historical sex Ralph Clark is believed to be

the oldest person in British legal He'd admitted nine charges

and was found guilty of 21 others. The Welsh government

has been granted powers to change its own income

rates, after a deal The change, that'll come into effect

in April 2019, will also And American broadcaster has used a

photo of a seizing Ed Miliband to illustrate a new story about flu. Mr

Miliband has yet to comment. The shortage of affordable housing

is one of the biggest issues facing Britain,

and modular housing - where homes are pre-fabricated,

then quickly installed on site - Today, plans were announced to build

six factories in England that Behind the venture is an investment

of ?2.5 billion, from China, as our It's a house on the back of a lorry,

turning heads in Derbyshire today, but in what is hailed as a game

changer for Britain's housing sector, massive new investment in

factory built homes may mean this will soon be as unremarkable as a

cement mixer on a building site. ?2.5 billion of Chinese investment

in six British factories producing 25,000 modular houses like these

every year. That is the deal announced today. In their factory

built offices in Warrington, one of the UK partners in the joint venture

says the factory built homes will cost less than half of what it takes

to build a traditional brick house. Currently in this country to build

property it is usually about ?1000 a square metre. Once our plans are up

and running it will come down to about ?400 per square metre, a

massive quantum shift in our ability to provide affordable housing. The

running cost of these houses because they are highly energy efficient

will be reduced by 75%. Cost and availability of land will still be a

factor but if the consortium can deliver on their promise, something

like one new British house in every six or seven won't be built on a

building site but in a factory. In the jargon, today's announcement is

said to be "Sector disruptive", changing the UK housing market

forever. The billions in new investment come from the China

National building company based in Beijing. Their factory made homes

are a familiar feature in the Far East may have seen an opportunity to

expand the business to the UK. Six factories are planned across

Britain, one in Scotland, another in South Wales and Cornwall dotted

around England. 1000 more jobs and a boost for suppliers, including

Britain's steel industry. If we are going get this country to build the

homes we need we need to make maximum use of their -- modern

methods of construction, but also homes can be built much more

quickly. In Britain, we tend to associate factory made homes with

cheap and drafted post-war prefab plural Fackrell but 20% troop

modular homes are very different, designed to be aspirational places

to live. These factory made homes being launched in South London are

seven to the kind of product the new factories will produce. Residents

say they love them. I invited my friends to say come and see, they

said wow, is this your house? It is very spacious. I did not expect it,

properly soundproofed, I live on the high street and you can hardly hear

any noise. Some might question why Britain needs Chinese investors to

solve its housing crisis, but if actions match the words, today may

go down as the day when British homes no longer meant bricks and

mortar. Football's world governing

body, Fifa, has fined the Football Associations

of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales

for displaying poppies during World Cup qualifying

games last month. England was given

the biggest penalty - more than thirty-five thousand

pounds. The world governing body the foot

regards the poppy as a political symbol, something that is banned.

The FA has said it intends to appeal.

It's been a year in which he won Wimbledon, claimed Olympic Gold,

And now Andy Murray's become the first person to win

Sports Personality of the Year for the third time.

He described 2016 as "an amazing year" for both

Andy Murray! One final victory for perhaps 2016 Fozz Schmid winner, so

what has become the secret to Andy Murray's sensational year? Tactic

's, technique? The answer lies closer to home. Back in February, he

and his wife Kim became parents to baby Sofia, a moment, which changed

his mind said. Family is the most important thing. When I win

tournaments, it's really nice, it is a great feeling, but I'm still there

and looking forward to getting back to see my wife. When I lose, I'm

down, obviously, but it's just not as drastic as it was before. And I

feel like that has helped my tennis a lot. The last six months on the

court has been the best of my career. Omid Reading he's there! His

Wimbledon triumph back in July proved the start of a remarkable

success story. Andy Murray is a double Olympic gold medallist! A

string of trophies took him all the way to the world number one spot.

Murray now says he is looking forward to spending Christmas with

his mum, even if the presence may not be particularly exciting. She

always struggles a bit with presents, but we are always get in

our stocking, we get what is now I think a ?2 coin, it used to be 50p.

A couple of Tangerines, and then the usual stuff, socks, pants. But that

is about the only ordinary thing about his extraordinary year.

Undoubtedly the Christmas 11. Andy Swiss, BBC News. Nice one.

In the run-up to Christmas the weather will change its children. We

had a spell of settled weather and now things will be developing across

the Atlantic at a rate of knots. I will show you first the jet stream,

which will be roaring out of the United States across the north

Atlantic, making a beeline in the direction of the UK. All of these

ripples of a jet screamed tend to spin up areas of low pressure below.

There is one nasty low here around about Christmas Eve, and then during

Christmas there will be another one from behind me developing heading

our way. So now is the time just to have in the back of your mind that

during the Christmas period, things will turn quite unpleasant as far as

the weather goes across the UK. But in the short term it is a lot

quieter. So across England and Wales, this evening and tomorrow,

not talking about any bad weather yet. There will be some mist and fog

around and some drizzle but that is it. Across Scotland and Northern

Ireland it is a different story, a touch of frost. It has been a clear

end to the day. Clear night, frosty morning. These are the gales in the

north, they will be pushing this weather front through in that

election of Scotland and Northern Ireland, so we are in for some rain

here, a bit of sunshine developing across England and Wales. That last

calm day, if you like. And then from Tuesday night and certainly through

Wednesday, Gale force winds that are really ramping up in the Atlantic,

they will push this first weather front through. This is a cold front.

Hide it comes a shot of cold air. We get some snow showers across the

hills of Scotland and then some sunshine as well stop gale force

winds midweek. Still for a time relatively mild across the south,

and then from Thursday, Friday, Saturday into Sunday, the weather is

just going to go up and down, up and down. Remember it could be even

disruptive. We did not want to hear that. That

is all from