19/07/2017 BBC News at Six

Millions of people will now have to work a year longer

to get their state pension, as the government brings forward

Six million will be affected by the change in 2037,

that's anyone currently aged between 39 and 47.

We have to face up the fact that if we live longer,

we can't expect the state pension age to be static,

otherwise the costs just build up and build up.

I wouldn't want to work full-time until I was 68 regardless, you know.

Some people will not be in the luxurious position of having

The Government says the change will secure dignified,

The BBC reveals the pay of its top stars, and just a third are women.

Salvaging what they can - the residents of a village

in Cornwall clean up after devastating flash floods.

He had both hands amputated because of a serious infection.

Now Zion Harvey can write, and even play baseball.

And a zoo in Wiltshire joins the fight to save the northern

white rhino, perilously close to extinction.

And coming up in Sportsday on BBC News - the clash

Tournament favourites England take on Scotland in their opening game

at the Women's European Championship.

Good evening and welcome to the BBC News at Six.

Millions of people now in their early forties

will have to work a year longer before receiving their state

The government today announced it's decided to bring

forward plans to raise the retirement age to 68.

It's estimated six million people will be affected,

those currently aged between 39 and 47,

with the rise in the pension age being phased in by 2039, seven years

The government argues the change will save more

than ?70 billion but Labour says the policy isn't fair.

Our Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg reports.

Whether you are paid to dig the roads outside Parliament or park

your posterior on the green benches inside, millions of us will have to

wait longer and pay more before getting the state pension back.

Secretary David Cork. Today, I am announcing the government's

intention to accept the key recommendation of the griddle and

review and increased the state pension age from 67 to 68/2 years

from 27 -- from 2037. In other words, whether it's the cliche of

taking to the Bowling Green, looking after grandchildren, travelling the

world or frankly anything out, another 6 million people are born in

the 70s will have to work an extra year before the state will help

support their old age. We have defaced up to the fact that if we

live we can't expect the state pension age to be static. Otherwise,

the costs just build up and up and become unsustainable and a

government in future is forced to take some kind of panic measure and

we don't want that to have to happen. What would you say though to

younger voters who might look at this and say, look, this is the

Tories again protecting pensioners now and not caring enough about

younger generations? If you try to ignore this, pretend there isn't an

issue, it's not doing any a favour. What we want is a proper, dignified

retirement, but also being fair to future generations of taxpayers.

Anne-Marie Loughridge is a music teacher in Glasgow. As a

39-year-old, she is one of those who will have to keep going for longer

before her pension kicks in. I wouldn't want to work full-time

until I was 68. The thought of being forced to. Some people will not be

in the luxurious position of having enough cash saved to do so, you

know, to stop early and perhaps wait it out for a few years. The Tories

have been accused of trickery by making this announcement after the

election. They know it's not appealing, telling millions of us we

will have to work longer, but they believe it is a must do rather than

a political win. We think it's a real mistake. We want to look at a

more flexible state retirement age, taking into account the nature of

work, so some work being much more arduous, more physically demanding,

but also in terms of how people are, how long they contribute to the

system. The government knows this is controversial and won't try actually

to rewrite the law for months. Not just the change, but making it will

take some time. LaRocca and Bob, Westminster.

Our Economics Correspondent Andy Verity is at the Department

Andy, if you are under 47 on the face of it, this seems like a bad

day? If you are under the age of 47 or above the age of 38, because if

you are 38 or younger, this was already happening. It's just that

half generation in between those being -- born between April 1970 and

April 1978 who thought they were going to be able to draw their state

pension at the age of 67 until today when they found out it would be

closer to 68. Against that, the government said, yes, but that

generation will live longer, so they will draw their late pension for

longer than today's pensioners and end up with a bigger benefit on

their state pension. On the other hand, it is also the generation who

has been paying for austerity. There are incomes have stagnated and they

are bearing the brunt of cuts to working age benefits whilst

pensioners benefits aren't really being cut at all. The generational

contrasts are now becoming starker and darker and this reform is

unlikely to change that. Andy, thanks for that. Andy Verity at the

Department for Work and Pensions. Today, for the first time,

the BBC has unveiled the earnings The move, forced by the government,

means the corporation must outline how much it pays on-air talent

earning more than ?150,000. Chris Evans is the highest

paid presenter, with up Gary Lineker is next,

earning up to ?1.8million. Then comes Graham Norton,

on ?900,000, though that figure Other well known faces

include Jeremy Vine, who's paid up to ?750,000,

John Humphrys on up to ?650,000, and Huw Edwards, who earns

between ?550,000 and ?599,000. But there's controversy

over how many women make Claudia Winkleman is the highest

paid, with up to ?499,000, then Alex Jones on up to ?449,000,

with Fiona Bruce receiving up Well, the BBC's Director General,

Lord Hall has been defending the payments, saying

the Corporation is operating Our Media Correspondent David

Sillito has more details. His report contains some flashing

images. The secrets are out -

Gary Lineker of Match of the Day is the second highest-paid star

in the BBC. But at number one, it's Chris Evans

on ?2.2 million for presenting There was a little crowd

of reporters waiting We are the ultimate

public company, I think. And therefore I think it's

probably on balance, right and proper that

people know what we get paid. Gary Lineker's deal is heading

towards ?1.8 million. Radio 2's Jeremy Vine takes

on just under ?750,000. Huw Edwards earns

between ?550,000-?599,000. And John Humphrys from the Today

programme and Mastermind gets almost ?650,000,

and today he was the one facing On paper, absolutely nothing that

justifies that huge amount of If you compare me with lots of other

people who do visible... If a doctor saves a child's life,

or if a nurse comforts a However, we operate

in a market place. I think I provide

a fairly useful service. Somebody has to do the job of trying

to hold power to account. What's also notable

are the names that are missing. No David Attenborough,

no Mary Berry. Anyone paid through an independent

production company or the BBC's commercial arm isn't on the list,

so Graham Norton's earnings from his production company are

probably not included. But it is still a list of 96 names

earning more than ?150,000. We are constantly working

at ensuring that we get the balance right between our public, who want

to have great shows presented by stars and great presenters,

and they also wanting to know that their money,

and it's their money, public That's always a balance,

and over the last two or three years, yes,

some key presenters and others have On the BBC tour today

in Salford there were some who felt

it could go further. They're doing high-pressure

jobs, a lot is expected of them, but it's hard

to imagine earning sums like that. So I'm going to say, no,

they're not worth that. It's really important, so we should

be able to pay competitive I am a bit shocked at

what Chris Evans gets paid. They are on large amounts,

but I've noticed that Indeed, the highest-paid

woman only just Claudia Winkleman

at around ?450,000. Indeed, looking at the list,

two thirds of the names are men. In the top 20, there

are just five women, and when it comes to black or Asian

or BAME presenters, there's They need to know where the money

is being spent and that they're getting that value for money,

and I think by having that transparency,

we have the opportunity to see where there's maybe gender pay gap,

and where there's issues about BAME presenters perhaps not being paid

as much as others. Meanwhile, at Radio 2,

the listeners were turning Are you embarrassed

to pick up your paycheque? I'm just sorry, I think the BBC's

really hurting today. Derek Thompson,

Charlie from Casualty. Of course, most actors are off

the list, because they work for independents, and with Amazon

and Netflix, talent It's not just ITV outbidding the BBC

any more, but for those paying the license fee, today has been

an eye opening glimpse into This is clearly an uncomfortable day

for the BBC. They didn't want to do this and had its reservations. One

wonders what the longer term ramifications of this might be. The

politics of it out of bad making. As you say, the BBC didn't want to do

this. They fought a strong fight against the government saying they

shouldn't be forced to make disclosures. They said this was

going to be inflationary and would lead to pay rises and that it would

also be a poacher 's charter, and that people would sweep in other

BBC's talent. If that doesn't happen over the coming weeks and months,

the government would say the BBC made these arguments, but that

hasn't happened and they may say that it was a good thing and they

were lower the transit -- the threshold next year. Based on the

conversation I have had here at the BBC and at Westminster, I would say

this is the start of a pretty long ordeal for the corporation. Thank

you very much. You can see the full list

of salaries, published today There's also a longer

version of Amol's interview with the Director General,

Tony Hall. From January, businesses will be

banned from charging fees on transactions made by debit

and credit card. It follows a directive

from the European Union to end the charges often imposed

by airlines, food delivery The Treasury says the fees cost

consumers ?473 million a year. British Airways cabin crew have

announced a new 14-day strike next month, in their ongoing

dispute over pay. The walkout by members

of the Unite union will start on the 2nd of August,

when their current The dispute is becoming one

of the longest-running in the aviation industry,

with 46 days of strikes so far. The flooding has been

described as "devastating," in the coastal village of Coverack

on the Lizard Peninsula Three hours of torrential

downpours yesterday, sent a four-foot wall of water

crashing through the village, with some people having to be

rescued from the roofs Look at the mess, all

this mud everywhere. Back home, but it's not

the home they know and love. Chris and Penny's place

has been trashed. The water was higher

than their heads. And here they are last night,

as the water raged below, the couple airlifted to safety

by the coastguard. I just wanted to get

out and get away. They told me it was heartbreaking

to look down from the helicopter It was just like the Titanic

sinking, you know? That made me upset,

and he was crying and upset. He worked so hard and made it

so nice, and then we get Torrential rain, then

tonnes of water thundering down from the hills,

carrying everything in its wake. Mary has found her elderly

mother's walking frame among It's happened, we can't put it back,

we've just got to get on and carry It will get back to normal,

we're Cornish - that's what we do. The mud and rocks can be cleared

quickly, but major structural The main road into Coverack looks

like it's been ripped At this time of year,

there'd normally be thousands of holiday-makers

driving down this road every day, to get to the harbour,

but it's going to be a while before Caroline Davies was

rescued from this car. Today, she realised how close she'd

been to where the road collapsed. It really is, to think one day

you're just driving along They're used to bad weather here,

but they hope they won't have to deal with anything too extreme

for a while. Tonight it is raining again, not as

heavily as it was yesterday, but again it makes people here and

others. The authorities have spent all day clearing the roads. Tonight,

as you can see, the Environment Agency clearing the rivers and

Brooks of those stones and boulders that were washed down from the

hills. There seems to be a determination here to get things

done and to reassure people that things are getting done.

Many thanks, John Kay live in Coverack in Cornwall.

Six million people will now have to work a year longer

The Government says it'll rise from 2037.

The 10-year-old who had a double hand transplant,

we'll hear about his remarkable recovery.

The Open Championship starts tomorrow.

Who will emulate last year's champion Henrik Stenson,

and walk off with the famous Claret Jug on Sunday?

A zoo in Wiltshire, is taking part in a radical plan,

to save the northern white rhino from extinction.

There are just three left in the world,

but at Longleat Safari Park, the rhino's closest relatives,

Our Science Correspondent Rebecca Morelle has this exclusive report.

Meet Ebun - a seven-year-old southern white rhino who could

The one and a half tonne animal is sedated.

A little agitated at first, but soon she is sound asleep.

She is ready to take part in an experimental

Scientists are harvesting her eggs to be fertilised in a lab.

The team here are keeping an incredibly close eye on this rhino.

It is essential she stays under heavy sedation.

Over the last week or so she's been given hormone treatment,

but what's been done today requires millimetre precision.

Egg collection is really only a technique that has been

This is conservation science at its most extreme.

Here's the animal Ebun could save, her closest living relative,

Once widespread across central Africa, today there are just

Back at long bleat in a makeshift laboratory, the researchers check

for eggs. They find one. They will take this southern white rain I egg

and mix it with sperm from one of the last northern white rhinos,

creating a hybrid. Scientists say it is better than losing the species

altogether. The last three can diet at any time, they are not as old but

anything can happen to them and then all the genetics would be lost. If

we have at least 50% of this species preserved in a hybrid embryo, we

would preserve at least half of this for future generations. With her job

done, Ebun is soon back on her feet. The safari park is proud of the role

she will play. With the northern white rhino being so jeopardised in

numbers, these techniques is a huge advance the science and

conservation, I suppose. It's a real honour to be able to help. The eggs

are now being rushed back to a laboratory in Italy. There is a 20

hour window to prepare them for fertilisation. They could be

implanted back into Ebun, but with her northern cousins so close to

extinction, it's a race against time.

One of the country's leading providers of care,

to people with serious learning disabilities, says demands

to backdate pay for carers who sleep at their place of work,

could force the sector "to the brink of disaster."

Mencap says the change in pay rules, will cost 400 million

and could ruin many smaller providers.

The government says it's considering the issue carefully.

The Duke and Duchess of Kent have arrived in Germany on the second leg

of the European tour. Crowd of well-wishers greeted them at the

famous Brandenburg gate in Berlin. Earlier in the day they met with the

German Chancellor Angela Merkel. North Sea cod, caught

by English and Scottish boats, has been reclassified

as a sustainable fish stock. The Marine Stewardship Council says

stocks had recovered enough for it to be sold

with their "blue tick" label. It follows a decade-long recovery

plan drawn up by the fishing industry and European and Scottish

authorities. A 10-year-old boy, who was the first

child in the world to have a double hand transplant, is now able

to write, dress himself Zion Harvey underwent surgery

in Philadelphia two years ago, after losing his hands and feet

following a sepsis infection. Doctors say the key to his recovery,

has been Zion himself, and his Zion was already remarkable in the

way he dealt with the loss of both his hands and feet. At the age of

eight, was elected to undergo pioneering surgery. He spent ten

hours having a double hand transplant, a world first in such a

young patient. I just want to write a letter to the parents, for giving

me their son's hands, because they didn't have to do that if they

didn't want to. The operation was just the start and there followed

months of intensive rehabilitation. Here we've had weeks of

hospitalisation, but the only request for him to interact, to do

therapy, to undergo testing, and again, there's never been one iota

of resistance or I don't want to today, or I don't feel like it.

Zion's body rejected the donor hand eight times but despite the

setbacks, his recovery has gone well beyond his medical team's

expectations. Now I can get myself dressed without anybody helping me.

Now I can get a snack out the refrigerator without anybody helping

me. Tests have shown that Zion's brain is connecting with his new

hands, allowing him control over how they move. His progress has been

watched by transplant experts around the world. He's done very well, he's

a remarkable young boy, but it's a remarkably successful surgery. And

as impressive as the surgery has been Zion and his determination to

make it work. If any kid is watching this, and you're going through a

rough time, never give up on what you're doing. You'll get there

eventually. The world's best golfers

are gathering at Royal Birkdale, near Southport, ahead of the 146th

Open Championship, One of the favourites

is the Englishman Tommy Fleetwood. Originally from Southport,

he played on the course as a child. Now he's in the form of his life

Andy Swiss has been to meet him... He's the Birkdale boil hoping to

become a hometown hero. -- Birkdale boy. The rise of Tommy Fleetwood is

one of sport's most raptors are, from nowhere to 2017 top European

golfer and this year's open is barely a tea shop from where he grew

up. Fleetwood one of their favourites at a course where when he

was seven he told me he used to sneak onto practice. I used to sneak

on, which is only come out recently. I can't go back on my word now! I'd

love to speak to my seven-year-old self and outs and tell him what was

going to happen in 20 years. How exciting is it going to be for your

friends and family, I assume a lot of them will be here? A lot of

people's home tournament isn't the British tournament, so that's an

amazing feeling and experience, having that as the home event. I

hope I can give them something to cheer about, that's the main thing

to do, but it will be great. The fans here will be an Tommy

Fleetwood's side but the history books won't. An Englishman has an

won the open for 25 years, but this is a course where anything is

possible. Remember this? 1998 and a teenage amateur called Justin Rose.

Rose finished fourth, the start of a stellar career. And guess what? That

famous moment has now been immortalised in Lego, to the delight

of a now model professional. That was the moment you can show your

children. My kids are five and eight and my nephew is three. When you see

them watch it and see them impressed because it is now a Lego is seen,

that's when you know it was a call achievement. Rose is now a major

winner and Olympic champion. He says he has unfinished business here, but

those hunting for a home at victory have faith in the Fleetwood factor.

The boy who used to play here in secret now ready for the biggest

stage of all. Andy Swiss, BBC News, Birkdale.

Hopefully they will have good weather on Merseyside for the start

of the Open tomorrow. A lot of folks in Cornwall worried about the

weather. Yes, You can see how this line of

thunderstorms just kept coming in around the Coverack area. Those

storms really were torrential. The story has now moved a little further

northwards across North Wales we have had torrential rain over the

course of this afternoon. Reports of localised flooding in real and

flooding you can see here on one of our pictures sent in by Alex Jones,

showing the waters and the car struggling to get through. Over the

last hour or so those torrential downpours have worked into

Lancashire, particularly in Blackhall and ligaments and hands.

Those storms will also work across parts of Cumbria is bigger through

the next hours. The rain will move into Scotland overnight and some

damp weather pushing eastwards across England. It will stay humid

in eastern areas, temperatures 18 or so in Norwich, fresher conditions in

the West. Looking at the picture for tomorrow, the fresher air will blow

the crowd and rain away from Scotland and England. And improving

weather picture. Some sunshine and it will feel fresher, temperatures

not far off average and it will feel pleasant. The winds pick up towards

the west and that will bring cloud and rain into Northern Ireland.

Highs just 17 degrees, and that is a taste of what we have to come. Low

pressure will be in charge on Friday, the weekend and beyond.

Outbreaks for rain for Northern Ireland. Cool weather, temperatures

of 16-17. Warm sunshine across eastern areas. The weekend looking

showery, quite a bit of cloud and it will be on the cool side.

Many thanks. A reminder of our main story tonight... 6 million people

will now have to work a year longer to get their state pension. The

government says it will rise from 2037. That is it, so goodbye from

the BBC News at six. Now on