14/11/2017 BBC News at Six

Guilty, the antique arms dealer

whose weapons were linked to 100

violent crimes. Paul Edmunds said he

did not care who bought guns and

bullets off him. His weapons were

involved in three murders and even

an attempt to shoot down a police

helicopter.

We have now been able to stop

what was a major supply route

of these firearms and ammunitions

onto our streets.

Also tonight - Iran's deadliest

earthquake in a decade.

Thousands are left homeless,

struggling with freezing

night time temperatures.

Inflation stays steady at 3% -

but food prices continue to rise.

From EU rules on health

and safety to finance -

MPs debate a bill that aims to turn

them into British law.

The Iittle tricks that

could save a mountain of food waste.

A national humiliation -

how Italians are reacting to missing

out on the World Cup for the first

time in sixty years.

Coming up on Sportsday on BBC News.

"We must score goals" -

Ireland manager Martin O'Neill's

plea to his players ahead

of their crucial World Cup

qualifying play-off against Denmark.

Good evening and welcome

to the BBC News at Six.

Police are calling it a major

victory against gun crime in

Britain. Tonight dealer Paul Edmunds

is facing a lengthy jail term. He

has been found guilty of supplying

guns and ammunition that had been

linked to more than 100 crime scenes

across the country, including three

murders.

But police warned that more than two

hundred weapons he sold

are not accounted for.

In police interviews Paul Edmunds

has shown no sympathy towards those

who have been shot by using his

guns. Around 1000 of his bullets

have been found at crime scenes

across the country, including him in

the West Midlands, greater

Manchester, and London. Tonight 's

barrister has said that his client

expects a significantly lengthy

sentence. -- tonight, his barrister.

An expert in guns, enabling him to

make bullets from his house in

Gloucestershire. Inside, police

found over 100,000 rounds of

ammunition and almost 200 guns. But

it's well scattered around his

bedroom and attic. Today, following

a six-week trial, Paul Edmunds was

found guilty of supplying guns and

home-made ammunition to gangs across

the country. The 66-year-old made

bullet for firearms that were

classified as antique and then sold

them for a hefty profit. He supplied

them to his compass, this

56-year-old, who admitted selling

them on to gangs.

These weapons and

ammunition have appeared in over 100

crime scenes in the UK between 2009

and 2015. This involved murders and

other serious crimes. He abused his

position. He abused his knowledge of

ammunition and firearms. Undoubtedly

this operation, which began in 2014,

has saved many lives as we have been

able to stop what was a major supply

route for these firearms and

ammunition onto the streets.

The

bullets were found at the scenes of

fatal shootings, including a night

in Birmingham last year. As

ammunition was also used to shoot at

a police helicopter in the 2011

riots. Ballistics experts carried

out microscopic investigations.

Certain tools are used. These tools

impart markings on to the modified

rounds. We started to notice that

there is a pattern of tool marks.

When we look at lots of different

criminal incidents we to see the

same patterns again and again. You

can start linking them together

forensically with a microscope.

This

building contains thousands of

firearms that have been seized by

police from across the country. This

gun was imported by Paul Edmunds

from America. Now he has been

convicted it will also be stored

here. At the National ballistics

intelligence service they are firing

one of the antique revolvers with

the bullets made by Edmonds. Casings

found at two of fatal shootings in

Birmingham over the last couple of

years were also handcrafted by the

pensioner who will be sentenced next

month. -- bullets made by Edmunds.

At least 460 people are now known

to have been killed by Sunday's

earthquake on the border

between Iran and Iraq.

Officials have called off

the rescue operation,

saying it's unlikely that more

survivors will be found.

There have been more than 200

aftershocks in the area

since the earthquake,

as James Robbins reports.

In many authorities say they are not

expecting to find any more

survivors. -- Iranian authorities.

Work now is to clear ruined homes,

demolish, and then rebuild. Local

people are in shock. Thousands are

homeless. They are in desperate need

of shelter and supplies. Iran's

president has visited the worst hit

areas. He promised whatever

assistance was needed, and criminal

action if any public housing is

found to have been substandard.

TRANSLATION:

We will provide tents

for those who need them and give

loans and grants to all those whose

houses were damaged and are unsafe.

We'll give money to everybody who

needs temporary accommodation.

The earthquake, which struck the

mountainous region bordering Iraq

was one of the most powerful in the

world this year, as well as the

deadliest. At least 70,000 people

need shelter. The UN says it is

ready to assist if required. And

with night-time temperatures close

to freezing its not just the

homeless who are sleeping outdoors,

many families won't return to

buildings they do not trust, fearing

more after-shocks. Up to 200 have

already been recorded since this

magnitude 7.3 earthquake on Sunday

night.

This was the moment the earthquake

struck.

A birthday party ends in terror.

But this Kurdish family escaped

unharmed. And northern Iraq was hit

less hard. Read Crescent groups are

offering help to their Iranians

neighbours. -- Red Crescent.

If our

help is needed, we will definitely

supply help across the border if we

are asked.

Aid has been pouring in.

A combination of aircraft and Iran's

special ambulance coaches are

transferring some of the injured for

specialist treatment elsewhere in

the country. But the painful process

of grieving for entire communities

is only just beginning. James

Robbins, BBC News.

MPs have begun what will be more

than a week of debate on key

legislation that will pave

the way for Brexit.

At the moment EU laws

and regulations affect almost

every part of our lives -

whether it's agriculture or finance.

The bill before the Commons now will

bring all of that under British law.

But as Jon Pienaar reports -

there are already plenty of signs

that the bill will not have an easy

passage.

This report contains flash

photography.

Brexit, still a work in progress

comments about Westminster taking

back control. But the planning and

scheming is now intense. And tonight

it is clear that big questions of

how, even when, Britain finally

leaves are up for grabs. Is this a

meaningless vote? Brexiteers like

Liam Fox and Boris Johnson are now

told that the Brexit deadline of

March 2019 will be met by law, but

the Brexit secretary would love to

know if the way is clear to leave on

schedule. And tonight there is still

no knowing.

European Union withdraw

Bill...

In the House of Commons they

have stopped weeks of line by line

debate on the law to leave. Tory and

Labour MPs saying a heart Brexit

deadline could cut negotiations

short, even force Britain to leave

without a deal. -- hard Brexit.

Everybody has become more brittle.

More unwilling to listen. More

unpersuaded that every suggestion

made some form of treason.

Does he

understand how impossible it is for

me to explain to my constituents

that they can have certainty about

nothing about Brexit as the

government planned it, except,

according to him, the date when it

will happen?

The Labour leadership

does not want to appear to obstruct

Brexit. We all know we are leaving,

they say, so why the deadline?

If

negotiations go to the wire, both we

and the EU 27 might recognise the

need for an extra week, an extra

day, an extra hour, even an extra

minute.

The battle lines are drawn.

Brexiteers keen for victory.

Millions of people who died in both

world Wars died for a reason. It was

to do with sustaining the freedom

and democracy of this house.

Brexiteer ministers pledging Brexit

with a good deal if possible but no

deal if a must.

We want to make sure

as a responsible government that our

country is ready to leave the

European Union without deal, if that

proves necessary.

The pro-European

of the Tories let rip.

I am the

rebel. I espouse the policies the

Conservative Party.

Brexit sceptics

loved it. Today Theresa May met

another critic Brexit, Nicola

Sturgeon. In the coming weeks she

may yet see off the attacks on her

Brexit deadline closer to home. She

better, her authority is at stake.

John Pienaar, BBC News.

Inflation remained unchanged

last month at 3% -

but it may not feel like it

if you've just been

to the supermarket.

Food prices continue to rise -

up by more than 4%.

Other prices - such fuel -

have come down which is why

the overall inflation

figure remains steady.

Our Economics Editor Kamal

Ahmed is here with me.

Are we seeing the end of this period

of high inflation?

Certainly the

foot has come off the inflation

accelerator to an extent. Inflation

was pushed up by one big thing, that

was the falling value of the pound

after the referendum. That produces

an inflation spiked. But because it

is a currency change, that Spike is

pushing through the economy quite

quickly. As you suggest, in the real

world people are still feeling that

income squeeze. Household incomes

are only going up by 2.2%. Well

below the rise in prices. And, as he

said, on things like food inflation

that's the highest figure since

2013. People are still feeling the

impact of those price rises in their

pocket. But it does seem we have

reached the top of that curve on

inflation rates. And that probably

means the Bank of England, thinking

about when it might next raise

interest rates, which are used to

control inflation, probably put that

date off again, probably now not

until the end of next year.

Thank

you very much.

Russia has rejected allegations

that it uses the internet to meddle

in elections around the world.

Last night Theresa May accused

President Putin's government

of "planting fake stories" to "sow

discord in the West".

Similar accusations have

been made in America.

So is Britain affected -

what about the last election

or the EU referendum?

Our Security Correspondent

Gordon Corera reports.

Allegations of Russian

interference in elections have

been gathering pace.

Claims that the Kremlin

sought to influence

politics across the West.

But did that campaign also

reach British shores?

Last night, the Prime Minister

issued a stark warning to Russia.

It is seeking to

weaponise information.

Deploying its state-run media

organisation to plant fake stories

and photoshopped images

in an attempt to sow

discord in the West

and undermine our institutions.

So I have a very simple

message for Russia -

we know what you are doing

and you will not succeed.

Today, the Prime Minister's

spokesman was careful to stress

that they hadn't seen any evidence

of successful interference

in Britain's democratic process

and Russia, as always,

denied the allegations,

but last night's speech was a step

change in language -

a reflection that evidence may

slowly be emerging of at least

attempts to influence debate here.

Today, the US Congress was holding

more hearings about Russia.

Its investigations have identified

fake social media accounts linked

to Russia pushing divisive messages.

It's now emerging that some of those

accounts also pushed out

messages related to Britain.

For instance, the South Lone

Star Twitter account,

claiming to be a proud Texan

and American, but thought to be

Russian, tweeted this image

of a Muslim woman wrongly accused

of ignoring the Westminster

Bridge attack in March.

The same account also

posted about Brexit.

In Parliament, the MP chairing

a committee investigating the issue

says the extent of the problem has

to be established.

There's already strong evidence

to show that Russia-backed

organisations were involved

in putting out fake news messages

through Facebook and Twitter

during the US presidential election.

There is a small amount of evidence

emerging now about similar activity

during the Brexit referendum.

I think we have a right to know

what was being done.

The evidence so far of Russian

political interference

is fragmentary, but unlike America,

investigations here are only

just gathering pace.

Gordon Corera, BBC News.

Our top story this evening.

The 60 year-old antiques dealer,

found guilty of supplying weapons

linked to a hundred violent crimes.

And still to come...

From the running track to Buckingham

Palace, Mo Farah becomes Sir Mo

Farah. Britain's four-time Olympic

champion, Mo Farah, received his

knighthood from the Queen. He

describes it as a dream come true.

Last night we reported

on how throwing away food,

whether by shops or families,

costs up to £17 billion a year.

Campaigners say much of that

waste could be avoided.

Tonight, we're looking

at the simple steps that farmers,

retailers and we, the consumers,

can take to stop so much food ending

up in the rubbish bin.

Jeremy Cooke reports.

If you want to stop food

waste, down on the farm

is a good place to start.

These fields are part of a trial

to find new ways to make sure these

potatoes end up on our plates

and not in the bin.

I hate waste because it's costing me

money and so I don't

want to see waste.

So that's why we're striving

all the time to cut out

waste in the field.

So Ian, I've got

some VA data here...

Jeff is comparing notes,

sharing hi-tech data with Ian

from the supermarket.

So we're looking good, low waste.

Even before the potatoes

come out of the ground,

detailed computer analysis means

they know, for instance,

the yield and so how much

shelf space in store,

how much marketing

to shift any excess.

We're working with technology

to allow that information flow

from what's happening in the field.

So our growers can tell us

what they think they're going to be

producing and then we can match that

to what we want to sell and,

hopefully, take that waste out

of the supply chain.

There are now big efforts throughout

the process to reduce food waste,

whether it be on the farm,

in processing, in storage

or in the supermarkets.

But perhaps the biggest difference

can be made by us consumers

because most of the food that gets

thrown away is from

our own kitchens.

Kate's a self-confessed foodie,

she took part in a scheme to reduce

waste and now puts 20% less food

in the bin.

But how?

Well, Kate measures ingredients

so there's no waste,

keeps the fridge at optimum

temperature, so things stay fresh,

uses DIY vacuum packs in the freezer

for long-term storage.

Ta-da!

And, keeps leftovers for week

day lunch and super.

You save food, you save

money and you save time.

So if you want to do any of those

three things, it's worth it.

And then also, we should feel

a little bit responsible

for the planet as well.

But what happens if you still have

food heading for the bin?

Well, how about a community fridge.

It's a simple idea, food that's

still good is donated instead

of discarded and then it's given

for free to anyone who wants it.

This one is in Swadlincote,

it's one of two already operating,

but the plan is to have 50 up

and running by the end of the year.

Good news for people like Lizzie.

If obviously it's going in the bin

it's wasted, especially for those

that haven't got enough money to go

and get a full food shop.

There are people who are desperately

in need and yet there are other

organisations that are just throwing

food down into skips.

There are people that have come

in here that have talked

about the days when they used

to have to go into the skips

and the amount of the food

they get out of the skip.

Producing food takes hard graft

and major investment,

but it's massively undervalued

and reducing waste will take

a huge shift of attitude

in our throwaway society.

Jeremy Cooke, BBC News.

Police investigating

the disappearance of a teenager

in Dorset have released

a 71-year-old woman.

A 19-year-old man, believed to be

the woman's grandson,

is still in custody.

19-year-old Gaia Pope

was last seen a week ago.

Jon Kay is in Swanage for us.

Jon.

It was about this time last

week that Gaia Pope was last seen.

He was caught on CCTV on this area

of swannage running past a camera

wearing a red shirt and grey

leggings. Police have been looking

for ever since. It seems today that

that investigation has stepped up a

gear. They seem to be focussing on

two addresses here behind me. We

have seen forensic officers going in

and out in white suits. In the last

few hours we have seen sniffer dogs

and a major incident vehicle turned

up a short time ago. Dorset Police

confirmed they arrested two people

from this local area, a 71-year-old

woman and a 19-year-old man. Both of

whom it's thought are known to Gaia.

The woman has since been released,

pending further police

investigations, but the young man

remains with police and is being

questioned by them. Dorset Police

are stressing this disappearance is

completely out of character. Gaia is

a young woman who suffers from.

Epilepsy. She is are hopeful she

might be in this area. Her family

issued a direct appeal saying it's a

care scary and worrying time and

appealing for her to come forward

and promising to find their "darling

Princess." Jon, thank you very much.

In Northern Ireland, the trial

of a man accused of the murder

of two Catholic workmen

during the height of the Troubles is

to go ahead using evidence provided

by a so-called loyalist supergrass.

The two men were shot

dead in May 1994.

Former Ulster Volunteer Force

Commander Gary Haggarty,

who has admitted 200 offences,

including five murders,

will be the star witness in the case

against James Smyth.

Our Ireland correspondent,

Chris Buckler, reports.

Gary Haggarty was a leader

within the Ulster Volunteer Force,

a notorious loyalist paramilitary

group, responsible for hundreds

of murders during years

when conflict and killings

were all too common

in Northern Ireland.

Haggarty was responsible

for some of them.

Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty

to more than 200 crimes.

Among them, shootings

and kidnappings, conspiracy

to murder and directing terrorism.

He was given five life sentences

for the five murders he admitted,

but those jail terms will be

significantly reduced

because Haggarty has agreed to give

evidence against a former friend,

James Smyth, from

Forthriver Link, in Belfast.

The reported suspect

will be prosecuted for

the following offences.

The murder of Gary Convie.

The murder of Eamon Fox.

Gary Convie and Eamon Fox

were shot dead simply

because of their religion.

They were Catholic workmen,

murdered in 1994 by the UVF

as they ate their lunch

in their car.

But more than a dozen other people

that Haggarty said were involved

in murders are not to be tried

because the prosecution service

say his evidence is not sufficient

to secure a conviction.

That includes both paramilitaries

and police officers,

who he says protected him

when he was a police informer.

What we want to know is,

are the police officers in the dock?

To me, they're as guilty

as the gunman and Gary

Haggarty in this case.

They're now exempt from prosecution,

which is hard to take.

The case will be what's known

as a supergrass trial.

A case where the word of another

offender is key to the prosecution.

There were a series of them

here in Belfast in the 1980s,

however the system collapsed

because of concerns

of the credibility of the evidence

given by the so-called supergrasses.

The law was changed a decade ago

to put in place new safeguards

for these kind of prosecutions.

Cases where people know more

than they've ever told,

and in Northern Ireland there's

still much to learn about that long

history of violence.

Chris Buckler, BBC News, Belfast.

The Olympic champion,

Mo Farah, is now Sir Mo

after receiving his knighthood

from the Queen at Buckingham

Palace this morning.

Sir Mohammed Farah for services to

athletics.

Farah came to the UK from Somalia

as a young boy and went on to become

Britain's most decorated athlete.

Sir Mo, who's now concentrating

on marathon running,

said today was an amazing moment.

That was an incredible day for me,

I really enjoyed coming here.

Quite nerve-wracking

at the beginning, but it's a lovely

day for me and my wife

and for the Farah family,

particularly because I never

dreamed of having the title

and to meet the Queen.

It's just been unreal.

Now football.

For the first time since 1958,

four-time champions Italy will not

be playing at the World Cup

which takes place

in Russia next year.

Fans were stunned when their team

drew against Sweden last night

and crashed out of the competition.

The Italian media are calling it

a national humiliation.

But as our sports correspondent

Joe Wilson reports, Italy aren't

the only top-tier team to miss out

on a trip to Russia.

Italy on Tuesday -

the newspapers all said

goodbye in their own way.

What could cheer the country?

SINGING

Well, nice try, but even

the national anthem includes

the line, "Where is victory?"

Where, indeed.

Like night without day,

like seasons without summer,

like a game without goals,

Italy now face life

without the World Cup.

0-0 against Sweden in Milan last

night meant they lost the two-legged

play-off and a nation

loses its identity.

Yep, really.

Today, Italy woke up in a depression

mood and it is something

psychological, something social.

We are talking about and we know

we can't understand, really - why?!

Italy may be the most notable

absentees from next year's

World Cup, but they're not alone.

Three times World Cup finalists

the Netherlands failed to qualify.

Their form's been awful recently.

In South America, Chile,

ranked ninth in the world

with Alexis Sanchez as star

player, missed out.

Another world-famous player

who won't be there, Gareth Bale.

Wales finished below Ireland

in their qualifying Group.

So there is one European place

still up for grabs at the World Cup

and tonight it will be settled

here in Dublin.

The Republic of Ireland actually

are the play-off experts.

This is their eighth play-off.

Denmark the opponents tonight.

It's a great opportunity to qualify,

but beyond this game,

what will the World Cup be like?

If we got the World Cup,

I couldn't care less who's there,

I have to be honest

with you about that one.

I really couldn't care less.

But I think, from a neutral's

perspective, I think you do

want to see the big nations.

You do want to see Holland there.

You want to see the best players,

the Gareth Bales, Alexis Sanchezes.

You want to see them

playing on the world scene

because the World Cup,

when I was a boy growing

up, it was everything.

Qualification is a competition not

a certainty and while Italy suffers,

witness what it meant to Sweden

to get through.

Well if the Irish players try

something similar this evening I

think I'm a safe distance from the

stadium. 0-0 after the first leg,

any win would do for the Republic of

Ireland to go through this evening.

Many thanks, Joe.

Time for a look at the weather,

here's Phil Avery

Time for a look at the weather,

here's Phil Avery

Hello. Not the most sparkling of

days. This picture tell as dreary

tale. At its best, there was a fair

am of cloud. You get the sense on

the big picture that we've got an

awful lot of cloud streaming in on a

breeze across many parts of the

British Isles. That is the way it

will stay. We will pep up the

showers to northern parts of

Scotland, further south a lot of

cloud around. So that's going to

help to keep us in double figures

for the most part across the British

Isles. My concern is where the cloud

breaks. We could see fog patches

forming just in time for the morning

commute. I will not be too clever

about where I think that will be, it

will just be a thought in your

minds. It will be a grey start. I'm

hopeful as the day gets going, some

of these spots are bright. Others

may join them as we get on through

the morning. Watch out for the

chance of fog first up. It will be

patchy and in places quite dense. As

we get on through the morning so I

think northern and western parts

will be in with the best chance of

seeing brightness. One or two

showers to the west of Wales. It

will stay dark across the Midlands

and over towards the Wash where, if

you are stuck with a bit of fog it

could be at eight or nine or ten

degrees only. Elsewhere 12-13. The

cold air to the north will become an

increasing player having had a mild

spell of weather. Thereby a cold

front introducing cold air. You will

have rain for a time. It will

brighten. To the south the last of

the mild air. Temperatures will drop

into single figures, a fresher end

to the weekend. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

to the weekend. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Before we go, here's

a look at a special

report coming up at Ten.

Clive Myrie reports

on the crisis in Yemen.

In Yemen