19/01/2017 BBC News at Six

From paramilitary to peacemaker - Martin McGuinness says

he is stepping down permanently from political life.

A former leader of the IRA, his political journey took him

to an unlikely partnership in government in Northern Ireland.

Recently it's been revealed Mr McGuinness has been suffering

The question I ask myself is, are you physically capable

of fighting this election with the intensity elections

The answer is, I am not physically capable.

We'll look back at the career of man who has been loved, loathed,

feared and revered in Northern Ireland.

Buried under the snow - dozens are feared dead in Italy

as an avalanche crushes a hotel, rescuers search for survivors.

Theresa May talks business in Davos as a big high street bank says

London will remain the top financial centre post Brexit.

Donald Trump and Melania touch down in Washington in a government plane

And after over 70 days sailing solo around the world,

the British man set to complete what's known as the

And coming up in Sportsday later in the hour on BBC News:

It's a one-day series defeat for England's cricketers in India.

They fall short in what would have been a record run chase.

Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

It has been a political journey that has taken him from the leadership

of the IRA and prison, to negotiations with Westminster,

to one of the most senior positions in Northern Ireland politics.

Today Martin McGuiness has announced he is stepping down permanently

He resigned as Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister last

week following a dispute with First Minister, Arlene Foster.

Mr McGuinness has been suffering from a serious

Martin McGuinness is one of the most controversial leaders in British and

Irish politics. He has been a central figure in Northern Ireland's

pain and peace. Now he is standing down due to illness. I have to be

honest with myself. The question I ask myself, are you physically

capable of fighting this election with the intensity elections need to

be fought? Be honest and says, I not physically capable. His background

lay in the civil rights riots in Londonderry, but Martin McGuinness

chose violent resistance. By the age of 21 he was second-in-command of

the IRA in Derry, talking about the bombing campaign. Can you say

whether the bombing will stop in the near future in response to any

public the man? I always take on the considerations of people with Derry

and these feelings will be passed on to Dublin. He served two prison

sentences in the Irish Republic and was convicted of IRA membership. He

openly attended IRA events. He denied he was the IRA chief of

staff, but regarded it as a compliment. We don't bring winning

any elections votes will bring freedom to Ireland. It'll be the

cutting edge of the IRA that will bring freedom. Today he was asked if

he had any regrets about his days in the IRA? People have too consider

the circumstances in the city when I did join the IRA. We had a city

where people were being murdered the RUC and they were murdered

wholesale, as it were on bloody Sunday by The Parachute Regiment and

the fact many people like myself, thousands of people in the city

decided to fight back. I don't regret any of that. But he was one

of the leaders who recognised that continued violence would not bring

further political gains. In 1994 there was a ceasefire. It laid the

foundation for peace talks. Sinn Fein nominated him as its chief

negotiator, leading to the Good Friday agreement and eventually

power-sharing. Bitter foes sat alongside each other in a new

assembly. My journey has been a long journey. Over 25 years working on

building the peace. His departure from politics comes at a sensitive

time for Northern Ireland. Its power-sharing assembly has collapsed

and Brexit poses difficult questions about the future of a border with

Ireland. Many people struggle to forgive an man who played such a key

role in a violent campaign. But he earned grudging respect for his

commitment to peace and the gunmen who turned politician had the

authority to make compromises. Joining me from Londonderry

is our Northern lreland political You were talking to

Martin McGuinness today, for decades he has been a powerful

though controversial figure That is absolutely true, the owner.

There will be people, possibly relatives of IRA victims hearing

Martin McGuinness is stepping down will maybe say, good riddance. He

did play a key role in organising the IRA during those years in the

1970s and the 90s -- 1980s. But he told me in the interview this

afternoon he shouldn't be judged by people who didn't understand the

circumstances when he was growing up. And because of that hands-on

role he played, he had an authority in delivering that these that maybe

the new generation of Republican leadership, which he will be handing

over two, won't have. They are of course heading into different times.

We don't know who will take over from him as Northern leader or

taking over from Gerry Adams south of the Irish border. But they have a

fluid situation to deal with now with the power-sharing experience,

which Martin McGuinness put so much effort to in recent years with the

Stormont institutions having crumbled over the recent heating

scandal. Thank you very much. Dozens of people are feared dead

after an avalanche buried a hotel At least three people

have been killed - rescue teams are searching for up

to 35 people still trapped The avalanche happened

after a series of powerful earthquakes struck the area

of Abruzzo yesterday The hotel was moved almost 10 metres

downhill as the huge wall of snow hit it directly as it raced down

the Gran Sasso mountain. It's the third in a series

of earthquakes in the region since last summer killing

almost 300 people. Our correspondent James Reynolds

is in the nearby village of Penne. Is there any sign of

survivors inside the hotel? No sign of them and no sign of

family members either. They are waiting for news in a private area.

They know their relatives in the hotel survived the initial

earthquakes, because they were gathering in a hotel lobby waiting

to be rescued and then the avalanche hit. The landslide destroyed and cut

off the hotel. At night, the quickest

way through the wall These rescuers are among the most

experienced in Europe. Step-by-step, they shovelled their

way up towards the Rigopiano hotel. They went further in and came

to where the avalanche hit. A six foot high wall

of snow and rock broke Several miles away,

a father waited for news Straight after yesterday's

earthquakes, they texted each other. "I think the worst has already

happened", he reassured her. His daughter and many other

people, may be trapped These pictures, filmed

after daybreak, show the Rigopiano Do you think it's possible

to find more people alive? In the past, we found

people after three days And especially in this case,

there could be some Rescuers are helped by the fact that

conditions here have improved. We haven't felt any more

earthquakes or tremors. Relief workers a few miles up

the hill, will hope the snow holds And those rescuers continue

on their path to and from the destroyed hotel,

searching for survivors or bodies. James Reynolds, BBC News,

Penne, central Italy. The head of the metropolitan police

Sir Bernard Hogan Howe says the "warning lights are flashing"

over crime after new figures revealed there were nearly

12 million offences last year. For the first time fraud and cyber

crime has been included in official crime figures and there's also been

a jump in violent offences recorded 1,000 British holidaymakers

have arrived back in the UK from The Gambia,

which is facing a political crisis. The Foreign Office is advising

people to avoid all but essential The outgoing President refused

to meet a midnight deadline to hand over power after losing

last month's election. Donald Trump has arrived

in Washington ahead of his inauguration tomorrow

as the 45th President Hundreds of thousands of people

are expected to attend, some to support him,

some to protest against him. And it will be watched around

the world by millions. Our North America Editor,

Jon Sopel is in Washington, what can you tell us

about the preparations? Add to that as well the tens of

thousands of security personnel who will be on duty for this

extraordinary moment in American politics, in American public life,

the transfer of power, peacefully, that takes place after a

presidential election. What was striking today was seen Donald Trump

arrive on a plane, not with Trump emblazoned on the side, but with the

United States of America. That is the brand he is promoting and

selling as he saluted as commander-in-chief as he came down

the steps. And in that future role he will be going to Arlington

military cemetery to lay a wreath to commemorate all those people who

have lost their lives serving the country. Then there will be a party.

What happens after that, there is a whole series of parties and balls to

celebrate the incoming of the new president. He has been writing a

speech, is there any indication what we might expect from it? We have

been given clues, we have been told not to expect a policy agenda. I

think there will be less of building a wall, less of ripping up trade

deals. We have been told it will be philosophical, his vision for the

country, a vision of what it is like to be an American, what it is like

to be a citizen and the role of government. We are told it will be

personal and sincere. It marks a different Donald Trump from what we

maybe got used to during the campaign trail when he was very

combative and quite aggressive. He says he wants to unify the country.

There will be a lot of demonstrations on the streets. He

will have his work cut out to do that, maybe his inaugural address

will give him a start in that direction? We shall see, thank you.

The head of Barclays Bank says he expects the City of London

to remain the financial centre of Europe, despite Brexit.

And despite a number of other banks and financial institutions

suggesting they will move thousands of jobs away from London.

Theresa May has been talking to business leaders in Davos

and urged them to restore faith in globalisation, arguing the world

economy must be made to work for everyone.

Our Economics Editor Kamal Ahmed reports.

Wrapped up warm, to meet bankers and millionaires, it is hard not to come

to Davos and not look like the global elite. But although the Prime

Minister was here to insist Britain was open but business, she was here

with a warning. Talk of greater globalisation can make people

fearful. For many, it means their jobs being outsourced and wages

undercut. It means having to sit back as they watch their communities

change around them. And in their minds, it means watching as those

who prosper seem to play by a different set of rules. Theresa May

came to the World Economic Forum, Davos, not so much to celebrate

business, but to warn it. She backs globalisation, free trade and deal

with the European Union, but she has another message for this privileged

audience, do more to make globalisation work for everyone. If

you don't, she will be willing to intervene to ensure businesses

change their behaviour. It was sunny here today, yes, but the Prime

Minister's visit to Davos was overshadowed as a number of

international banks including Goldman Sach's and JP Morgan were

reducing investment or planning to cut jobs as Britain plans for

Brexit. Publicity is a big place with different voices. For Barclays

Bank, London is still in the lead. I think the UK will continue to be the

financial lungs for Europe. We may have to move certain activities, we

may have to change the legal structure we used to operate in

Europe, but I think it will be at the margin and will be manageable. I

caught up with the Prime Minister later. What have the banks said to

you why they are moving jobs? I had a good and positive discussion with

banks about the benefits of the City of London. What it is that brought

them to the City of London and how we can build on that for the future.

And there are huge benefits for investment in the UK. We have a very

strong economy, we have a service sector that is important, but valued

around the world. I believe that global Britain can bring jobs and

prosperity to the UK across the board, including in financial

services. Many are reflecting on one of the big test of Mrs May's clean

Brexit. Hard Brexit does a London damage, does the country damage, but

the point I am making to our European friends, businesses and

political leaders, if businesses decide to leave London, they will go

to Paris, Madrid and Frankfurt, they will be going to Hong Kong,

Singapore or New York. A hard Brexit is a lose, lose and bad for London

and the EU as well. Mrs May said she was an optimist and free trade deal

discussions had already started with India and Australia. She admitted

the journey ahead would be uncertain, but would the right deal,

the future was bright. Our top story this evening: Martin

McGuinness, the former IRA leader, turned Deputy First Minister of

Northern Ireland is stepping down from politics for good. And still to

come: I'm in Les Sables d'Olonne in West France where a Frenchman has

won the toughest yacht race on Earth but a British sailor made it an

exciting finish. Coming up in Sportsday.

Novak Djokovic is stunned assal wild card player knocks him out of the

Australian Open. A local authority is to hold

a referendum on whether to increase It claims cuts in Government funding

and the crisis in social care have Surrey County Council - a

Conservative-controlled authority - says it has a huge gap

in its budget and wants the extra money to fund improved social

care for the elderly, services for people

with disabilities and for children. Our Deputy Political Editor,

John Pienaar, reports from Esher. You don't get a choice

about getting old but how to pay Councils pay most of it and now one

authority's had enough of Government cuts and paying for more and more

with less and less. Surrey's asking council

tax payers - yes or no, I think it's important

that politicians stand We have to pay for these services.

with the rest of us, It's not easy finding people

here who are keen to pay what will be nearly ?200 a year more

on an average home, though no-one Good afternoon, the council

want 15% increase... I heard it on the One

O'Clock News today. How about more of that money

for the council for social care? There's lots of money in Surrey

but that doesn't mean to say we'll accept a 15% rate increase,

it's not on. I can't afford to pay

because my pension is frozen. More council tax to pay for social

care, do you fancy that, yes or no? I think we live in

a very affluent area. I know lots of people around

here need it more than we do. The sign of a civilised society

is one that looks after and cares I think it's a problem that's

going to escalate over the years, it's not going to go away,

and we have to address it. The Labour Leader also agrees

all tax payers should bear It's not right that we should thrust

the social care crisis on local authorities,

all of whom have different levels It's a central Government

responsibility and central Government should face up

to its responsibility. Local voters have been asked to vote

on a council tax rise just once in England in the last five years,

the answer was no. Local MPs here include the

Chancellor and the Health Secretary and they'll be watching closely. If

Surrey votes no, it could mean more cuts to local services. But, it

could also force ministers to confront difficult, maybe unpopular

choices, about the long-term future funding of social care that many say

Government after Government have avoided for far too long.

Six British people have died and several more have been injured

The group were on their way back from a pilgrimage to Mecca.

Our correspondent, Judith Moritz, is in Manchester,

Is Well, Fiona, we now know that this group, it was a group of 12

people in total, all members of the same extended family, booked their

trip through this tour operator, Haji Tours who tonight have given us

information about those involved. They say that the family group

ranged from pensioners down to a tiny baby, Adam Anis, just two

months' old, who has sadly died, alongside his grandparents, they

were 64 and 69 and they were from Manchester. And another person from

this city, who was 57, also died alongside them as well and members

of their family from Glasgow were on board. That was Mohammed and Talat

Aslam and the Glasgow Central Mosque have said that they were very

popular members of the community and they leave behind five children who

were also injured in the crash, including baby Adam's mother, his

siblings, we understand who were four and two years' old and a

pensioner who is in a critical condition. Now the Foreign Office

said it's providing consular assistance to relatives of those

involved and to the family there. They went over to Saudi Arabia. They

were there on a pilgrimage to Mecca. They spent five days in Mecca and

were en route we understand to the second leg of their trip over to the

Prophet's Mosque, another site, when this happened and Haji Tours say

they believe one of the tyres on the minibus they were travelling in,

brew out. But they are still trying to get information and they say

they're making arrangements for relatives from the UK to fly out

there to find out more. In the last few minutes the founder

of the Wiki leaks website, Julian Assange says he sands by his offer

to go to the United States now it has been announced that the American

soldier, chesscy Manning has been released. He has been hold up for

four years in London. He had been concerned about travelling to

America, because his website leakedk do uments leaked by Manning, but he

hasn't formally been charged by the American authorities.

A strike by conductors on the Southern Rail network will go

ahead next week after the RMT union said it was barred from talks.

The strikes planned for next week by the train drivers' main union,

Aslef, have been suspended to allow the talks to take place.

But the 24-hour strike next Monday by the RMT union

Tennis, and there was a big upset at the Australian Open

when defending champion Novak Djokovic was knocked out

Djokovic - a six-time winner of the tournament,

who's ranked number two in the world, lost

Istomin from Uzbekistan, who's ranked a 117th.

It's nicknamed the Everest of the Seas - a gruelling solo

round the world yacht race, which after 73 days, finishes today.

British sailor, Alex Thomson, turned round a disastrous start

and looks set to come second in the prestigious

Our Sports correspondent, Natalie Pirks, is at the finish line

at Les Sables d'Olonne on France's Atlantic coast.

We're expecting him in the early hours of tomorrow morning and as you

have already said this is the toughest test in ocean racing.

Thousands of people have gathered. You may well be able to see the

winner has come into the port and they're well used to celebrating a

French victory because no-one other than a French person has won this

race, but a British sailor came very close to changing that, like Dame

Ellen MacArthur in the past. After ten unpredictable

weeks in the world's most inhospitable seas,

a Frenchman celebrating victory What wasn't was the plucky Hampshire

yachtsman who gave him For three months Alex Thompson

has battled everything Eating only freeze dried noodles

and jelly and survived on as little as 20 minutes' sleep

every few hours. At stake was his life's obsession -

the chance of becoming the first Briton to win the Vendee Globe

in the race's 27-year history. Thompson set off from here,

Les Sables d'Olonne on 6th November, heading out of the Bay of Biscay,

down to the equator He headed round Antarctica,

under the Cape of Good Hope and passed round Australasia,

across the South Pacific, where he passed Point Nemo,

the furthest place from civilisation on Earth, before heading

round Cape Horn, back up the Atlantic and negotiating

the equator once more. When he arrives back

here at Les Sables early tomorrow morning,

he'll have notched up somewhere For Alex there has

been good moments. it's the Southern Ocean and it's

sunny, look at this. And moments over Christmas

where his family worried Jingle bells, Alex sails,

round-the-world he goes. His wife is simply

desperate to get him home. I have been in contact with him

but actually seeing him Just two weeks into the race his

boat got so badly damaged, it hugely affected his speed yet

he still smashed the World Record for the greatest distance

sailed solo in 24 hours. But what's perhaps better

than a World Record His team have promised

to have on hand a hot We are looking ahead to the

Australian Open. It looked cold in France. Cold here. Somewhere warmer,

Melbourne, which is quite stormy compared with our weather but

hopeful the rain will clear out of the way before Andy Murray's match

tomorrow. In complete contrast in the UK, high

pressure. Very little happening with the weather but interestingly, some

quite contrasting weather. Sunshine in the south, to something more like

this from our weather watcher in Leek in Staffordshire, grey and

misty. Of course we did have the sunshine in the south and in the

north as well. Look at this lovely shot recently from Surrey. What a

wonderful sunset. Now as I say very little changes in the weather. So

we'll repeat it again, through the evening and overnight, cold in the

south, zero, minus-1 in the towns and cities, minus-6 in the

countryside and frost and fog further north but it could be foggy

for the likes of Midlands, East Anglia and Wales already seeing that

form. So potentially freezing fog, scraping of the ice in the morning

but rewarded by sunshine and tomorrow it looks like more places

will see sunshine. Underneath that front the protension for drizzle.

Cloud thicker in Northern Ireland. And frost and fog potentially here

first thing. It looks like more areas, the like of Wales and the

Midlands will join in with the sunshine tomorrow compared with

today T may be brighter for Northern Ireland, more sunshine but it's not

going to be warm. It's only 5-7. Ironically, temperatures will start

to fall further as we move into the weekend. High pressure with us, very

little changes. Don't forget this weather front which could give us a

few wintry flurries through the weekend but very little to worry

about. Just reminding us it is winter. For most it looks like a

newspapery weekend. As it is dry, it'll be very useable weather if you

are out and build. -- out and about.

Martin McGuinness is stepping down from politics for good.