31/12/2013 BBC News

Michael Schumacher's condition improves slightly after a second

operation on his brain. But doctors in France treating the former world

Champion driver say he is not yet out of danger following his skiing

accident on Sunday. TRANSLATION: We can't say he is out

of danger, but we have now gained a bit more time in the development of

of his injuries, the hours to come are still critical. The stores giant

Debenhams predicts a sharp fall in profits after disappointing

pre-Christmas sales. This one is on me, I insist. Money, Jerry. Now it's

Dame Penelope Keith in recognition of her Good Life, one of many women

awarded a nur year's honour. 3, 2, 1. And 2014 is welcomed in by

spectacular fireworks around the world.

Good evening. Surgeons in France, who are treating Michael Schumacher,

say he is showing a slight improvement following a second

operation last night to relieve pressure on his brain. His condition

is now said to be better controlled, although the former Formula One

World Champion is not yet Ouattara of danger. He suffered a serious

head injury after a skiing accident on Sunday. Richard Conway is outside

the hospital in Grenoble now. Richard. Michael Schumacher is a

seven-times Formula One World Champion. He is beloved by millions

of fans around the world. He is a father, a husband, a brother, and a

son. Tonight, his family stand guard here in Grenoble as he recovers from

a second operation. It started as a quiet Sunday morning skiing with his

son. After falling and sustaining a violent blow to the head, it's

thought this helicopter carried Michael Schumacher to hospital for

urgent treatment. His father has now arrived at the hospital, joining his

wife and brother, who agreed to go-ahead with the second operation

last night. Something which doctors say relieved pressure on his brain.

TRANSLATION: The situation is better controlled than yesterday. We can't

say he's out of danger, but we've now gained a bit more time in the

development of his injuries. The hours to come are still critical.

Schumacher is no stranger to risk. A love of speed, danger and living

life on the edge led him to to be described by one Juan Manuel Fangio,

his closest rival, has "the greatest of adventurers." This area of France

is a skiers paradise. Accidents on the near by slopes leave the

University Hospital in Grenoble a busy place at this time of year.

Mary's husband suffered a brain haemorrhage after falling while

skiing last week and is being cared for in the same unit as Michael

Schumacher. He is on course to make a full recovery and will soon return

to Britain. From the minute he had his accident last Friday the care

has been superb. From the transfer to the first hospital, then on to

here, it has been just so efficient and so caring. Those close to

Michael Schumacher though recognise that he still has a long way to go.

There was a slight improvement, a slight improvement compared to the

situation yesterday. Which doesn't mean that we can be optimistic yet.

Michael Schumacher transcended his sport in the way few drivers do. He

faces his toughest fight yet with doctors enable at this stage to give

a long-term prognosis. Debenhams, Britain's second large department

store chain, in terms of sales, says half yearly pre-tax profits could be

down by auto nearly a quarter. Shares in the company fell 13% today

in response to the warning issued after Debenhams failed to generate

strong sales in the last week of Christmas trading. Here's Emma

Simpson. Gifts, glamorous dresses and glossy TVads, Debenhams has been

trying to entice shoppers. Whatever you wish for this Christmas, make it

fabulous with Debenhams. It wasn't what Debenhams had wished for. The

this household name is well-known for its promotions, but this

Christmas many others were doing the same thing. Today, it issued a

trading statement warning investors that this year the going had been

tougher than expected. Debenhams said an anticipated surge in

spending failed to materialise in the final week. Meaning, it would

now have to cut costs even further over the next few months to clear

stock. That is likely to mean a big fall in profits. City analysts had

expected Debenhams to make ?110 million in pre-tax profits in the

first -- half of the year. The company said it would be nearly ?85

million, 23% less than expected. With many shoppers still feeling the

financial strain, and ever more canny it hasn't been an easy

Christmas season for other retailers either. The big story will be

profits under pressure for a lot of retailers. There is ferocious

discounting in the run-up to Christmas. The consumer got Great

Barr gains, the retailers have probably taken a hit. I don't think

Debenhams will be the last to feel pain on profits. There will be

winners on the high street too. The The question is, how much? Nearly

1,200 people have had their work and achievements recognised in the new

year honours, for the first time women make up more than half the

list. They include the actress Penelope Keith, who has been made a

Dame. I should tell you that Lizo Mzimba's report contains flash

photography. She has enjoyed the Combood Life, now she is heading to

the Palace. Penelope Keith becomes a Dame for services to the arts and to

charity. I feel it's a recognition, not only for my 54 years being an

actress. Which is extraordinary when I say it out loud, for all the

charities with which I'm associated. I think they will be thrilled. Also

becoming a Dame, actress Angela Lansbury for services to drama. It's

a lovely thing to be recognise and given that nod of approval by your

own country. I really cherish it. Award-winning sculptor, Antony

Gormley, the man behind the Angel Of The North receives a knighthood. A

knighthood too for Marcus Setchell. Gavin Stacey Nessa, Ruth Jones, is

appointed MBE. After their son Jimmy was murdered in south-east London,

Barry and Margaret Mizen set up the Mizen Foundation for Young People.

They both become -- MBE. We will work for peace for our beautiful

young people. Are like most of the names on this list, people not in

the public eye, but who made a significant contribution to their

community. The Government has urged political parties in Northern

Ireland to continue their efforts to find a solution to a number of

contentious issues in the peace process after months of talks failed

to produce final agreement. Our correspondent Chris Page is in

Belfast for us now. Chris, what has gone wrong? Well, there was no deal

because of disagreement about details. These negotiations were

aimed at resolving three issues, flags, parading and to deal with

unsolved killings from the Troubles. Richard Haass said there was

significant progress, the parties had positive things to say about the

general outline of what was being proposed. In Northern Ireland every

word and detail matters so no final agreement. The politicians will work

on the issues in 2014. In the next three years elections will be held

here. The parties will be mindful of what potential voters might think of

any compromise. Overcoming these differences not impossible. It will

certainly be very difficult. Thank you. Energy distribution companies

have been summoned to a meeting with the Energy Secretary Ed Davey, to

discuss ways to improve their response to power cuts. They have

been criticised after tens of thousands of people were left

without electricity for several days over Christmas. The firms have

already been called to appear before a committee of MPs next month. Over

the Christmas period 150,000 homes were without power, as floods and

storms swept across the country. On Christmas Day itself, more than

20,000 households had no electricity at all. The companies that look

after the power lines say everyone affected has now been reconnected,

though some are still getting their electricity from generators. Plans

by one, UK Power Networks, which made more than ?500m profit last

year, to offer ?75 to those who were without power on Christmas Day have

been condemned. MPs are summoning the firms in to explain themselves.

Too many consumers were left without prisoners of warrer for too long and

without information about when it would be restored. At a time when

people are now really dependant on a continuous supply of electricity, to

be left without pow her over night, sometimes for more than one or

two-days, that is simply simply un-Septemberable. Was hit hardest,

100 homes were evacuated on Christmas Eve. When David Cameron

visited on Friday, he was confronted by this woman. Angry at being left

without electricity. Today, this resident was still angry with the

power companies. It's all right coming down after David Cameron come

down. We never saw anyone until David Cameron came here. It's wrong.

Of the companies at the centre of the last week's problems have said

they will co-operate with any inquiry by MPs. Coming after the

grilling that the the domestic energy suppliers got here two months

ago, 2013 has not been a good year for the energy industry generally.

The distribution companies in England, Wales and Scotland are

being summoned by the Energy Secretary, in a letter he calls for:

an urgent discussion about the ongoing resilience of the network.

With more heavy rain expected tonight and tomorrow, people are

bracing themselves for more problems ahead. A woman suffered serious

injuries to her neck and spine after being attacked by a stag in the

Scottish Highlands near Fort William. Kate Stone was airlifted to

hospital in Glasgow where she is in intensive care. The annal charged at

her as she stood with some friends outside a house. She had been on

holiday there. In South Sudan the government and rebels have agreed to

meet for peace talks to try to halt the violence that's killed at least

1,000 people. The talks, due to be held in Ethiopia, are the first

since conflict began two weeks ago between forces loyal to President

Salva Kiir and his sacked deputy, rebel leader Riek Machar. The

Archbishop of Canterbury has said it will take a generation for the

banking industry to regain customer trust following the financial

crisis. Justin Welby took part in Radio 4's today programme this

morning, which was guest-edited by the new Chief Executive of Barclays,

Antony Jenkins. Banking has been high on the Archbishop of

Canterbury's priorities. He appeared on the BBC's Today programme he

argued that repairing tarnished reputations could take decades. I

spoke to him afterwards. To change a culture that is so deeply embedded,

which almost no-one remembers anything different, to reinvent a

different kind of culture it has got to be a generational change. He said

many bank chefs had got to chiefs had got to grips, but some had not.

We can go back to normal, we can repair, we don't have to replace.

The Archbishop said this yearly year he was embarrassed that Wonga was

partly backed by a financier of the Church of England. Barclays is one

bank trying to make a break with the past. The former boss Bob Diamond

quick after the bank was fined over attempts to rig the benchmark

interest rate by LIBOR. The new Chief Executive, Generaling

scombreng Generaling, acknowledged it would take five to ten years to

restore trust in Barclays. What society has the right to expect of

us is to see continuous progress along that journey. Of course it

will be time before actually recognise the change and then give

us credit for it. Looking ahead to 2014 there will be clouds hanging

over the city. Investigations into alleged attempts to manipulate the

foreign exchange markets are continuing. That is a reminder that

for banks, restoring reputations may well take some time. The comedian

John Fortune has died at the age of 74. His agent said the veteran

satirist died peacefully with his wife at his bed side. Best-known for

his television appearances with Rory Bremner and John Bird, he

ex-compelled -- excelled at playing self-satisfied but bumbling

establishment figures. A US government consultant on IT

systems? John Fortune with John Bird in Bremner, Bird and Fortune. He

will enter all that appointment information. That's how they do it.

In the computer. And almost instantaneously, the computer will

tell you you can't do it. They largely improvised interviews, and

satirised bumbling politicians and businessmen, something John Fortune

had been doing all his life. It was a consummate performance. Two

people, two seats, no gimmicks, no tricks. Just the words. The two

Johns wrote the satire boom of the 1960s. They had met in the 19 --

they had met at Cambridge. You can use your personal knowledge to

start... For decades, he was a reliable comic performer on stage

and screen. What you know personally but not officially you will know...

He and John Bird won awards for their performances together. Rory

Bremner called John Fortune a father figure and mental. In some ways, he

was one of the pillars of the anti-establishment. Particularly

with John Bird, his performance will hold for many years as an example of

what satire can be. He was a true satirist who turned his anger at the

world's absurdities into laughter. The comedian John Fortune who has

died at the age of 74. There are just a few hours of 2013

left here, but already millions of people around the world have been

welcoming in 2014. In Australia, more than a million people lined

Sydney Harbour to watch a huge firework display. And in just over

an hour, Dubai is aiming for a new world record for the largest ever

pyrotechnic display, stretching over 30 miles of seafront. Nick Beake

looks at the best of the celebrations so far.

Three, two, one! Sydney at New Year, a spectacular sight. On a warm

summer's evening, more than a million crammed into the harbour, as

seven tonnes of fireworks illuminated the night sky. The great

Wall of China became a campus of colourful celebrations in and around

Beijing. And this was the party on the waterfront in Shanghai. Happy

New Year! Meanwhile, a British cannon fired at midnight in Hong

Kong, a tradition reaching back to the end of the Second World War. In

Japan, there was time for prayer and reflection before Shinto priests

rang in the New Year. Back in the UK, with just hours until our turn,

Edinburgh is expecting. In Central London, they are gearing up for the

moment Big Ben strikes midnight. There's more throughout the evening

on the BBC News Channel. I'm back with the News at Ten. Now it's time

for the latest