0:00:05 > 0:00:08Donald Trump praises Vladimir Putin for his response to the row over
0:00:08 > 0:00:12Russian interference in the US elections.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16He says Mr Putin is "very smart" not to retaliate for the expulsion of 35
0:00:16 > 0:00:21Russian diplomats ordered by President Obama.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Also tonight, fog and freezing conditions cause dozens of flight
0:00:23 > 0:00:29cancellations and problems on the roads.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31And crowning a spectacular year for Andy Murray,
0:00:31 > 0:00:34a knighthood in the New Year's Honours.
0:00:54 > 0:00:55Good evening.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Donald Trump, who becomes US President in three weeks' time,
0:00:57 > 0:01:00has congratulated President Putin on his response to the American
0:01:00 > 0:01:03sanctions announced yesterday.
0:01:03 > 0:01:0635 Russian diplomats are being expelled from the US,
0:01:06 > 0:01:08following allegations of interference in the
0:01:08 > 0:01:12presidential election.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14President Putin said he would not respond until he saw how
0:01:14 > 0:01:16Donald Trump would handle matters.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Mr Trump said tonight it proved that Mr Putin was "very smart".
0:01:19 > 0:01:25Steve Rosenberg reports from Moscow.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31Near the Kremlin tonight, they were putting on a seasonal show,
0:01:31 > 0:01:33ahead of the new year celebrations.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37There was song and dance and some musical theatre.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39But that was nothing compared to the political theatre
0:01:39 > 0:01:45being played out inside.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47First up on stage, the Foreign Minister.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51He advised President Putin to expel 35 US diplomats.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55America had expelled 35 Russians.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59In other words, tit-for-tat, Cold War style.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02It seemed inevitable.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05But no, Vladimir Putin said, he wasn't going to stoop
0:02:05 > 0:02:08to the level of irresponsible diplomacy.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10He wasn't going to expel any Americans.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12He even invited the children of all US diplomats in Moscow
0:02:12 > 0:02:19to a new year's party here in the Kremlin.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22That was a surprise, but it didn't change what America's
0:02:22 > 0:02:25top intelligence agencies believe to be true, that state-sponsored
0:02:25 > 0:02:28hackers, backed by the highest levels of the Russian government,
0:02:28 > 0:02:32had interfered in the US presidential election, with a cyber
0:02:32 > 0:02:36attack on the Democratic Party.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41Was President Putin behind it?
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Last week, I got a chance to ask him myself.
0:02:44 > 0:02:49Mr President, your country has been accused of state-sponsored hacking,
0:02:49 > 0:02:51with the aim of influencing the result of the US
0:02:51 > 0:02:54presidential election.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56And President Obama revealed that he told you personally
0:02:56 > 0:03:05to cut it out, so what did you tell him in response?
0:03:05 > 0:03:08The Kremlin leader refused to tell me, dismissing all the talk
0:03:08 > 0:03:14of hacking as sour grapes from the Democratic Party.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Today, President Putin said he would work to restore relations
0:03:17 > 0:03:21with America under Donald Trump.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24And this evening, Mr Trump responded by praising him for not engaging
0:03:24 > 0:03:29in tit-for-tat expulsions, saying, in a tweet, "Great move
0:03:29 > 0:03:31on delay by V Putin.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35I always knew he was very smart".
0:03:35 > 0:03:37What Putin and Trump expect from each other
0:03:37 > 0:03:45is a certain kind of decency, a certain kind of frankness,
0:03:45 > 0:03:52and no hypocrisy and no political correctness.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55By not expelling diplomats today, the Kremlin was sending a new year's
0:03:55 > 0:03:58gift to the new man in the White House.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01Russia wants to mend ties with Trump's America
0:04:01 > 0:04:04and come in from the cold.
0:04:04 > 0:04:10Steve Rosenberg, BBC News, Moscow.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Fog and freezing conditions have caused difficulties
0:04:12 > 0:04:14on the roads and caused major disruption at airports.
0:04:14 > 0:04:1717 people have been treated in hospital, after a bus
0:04:17 > 0:04:21crashed on a slip road of the M40 in Oxfordshire.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23The fog has also led to flight delays and dozens
0:04:23 > 0:04:27of cancellations at Heathrow, Gatwick and London City Airport.
0:04:27 > 0:04:32Our correspondent Helena Lee reports.
0:04:32 > 0:04:38It was in the early hours of this morning, in thick fog,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41the coach veered off a slip road off the M40 before rolling
0:04:41 > 0:04:44into a ditch and on its side.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Its mangled remains and the damage done clear
0:04:46 > 0:04:51when it was turned back over.
0:04:51 > 0:04:5516 passengers were on board, travelling from Heathrow to Oxford.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57Remarkably, none were critically injured.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00But all were treated in hospital, some for broken bones,
0:05:00 > 0:05:03others for cuts and bruises.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Very intensive for the paramedics and ambulance crews that attended,
0:05:06 > 0:05:09assisted by fire and the police services as well.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12Obviously, probably a chaotic scene to start with.
0:05:12 > 0:05:18Dense fog not helping.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21The Oxford bus company said the driver was very experienced
0:05:21 > 0:05:24and had been doing overnight shifts for a number of years.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Now the coach has been taken away, the investigation turns
0:05:26 > 0:05:29to how it happened.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33For drivers in parts of southern and eastern England and Wales,
0:05:33 > 0:05:36conditions on the roads today have been challenging.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38Heavy fog has meant visibility has been poor.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42In some places, less than 100 metres.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45The thick fog has also been causing disruption at airports.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Flights at Heathrow, were cancelled and delayed today.
0:05:48 > 0:05:53City Airport in London suffered too, as did Gatwick.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56The Met office has extended their fog warning into tomorrow morning,
0:05:56 > 0:06:00leading to more disruption ahead of New Year's Eve.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02The advice, to check with the airline before
0:06:02 > 0:06:04travelling to the airport.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09Helena Lee, BBC News, Oxfordshire.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11A postmortem examination, carried out as part of the investigation
0:06:11 > 0:06:14into the death of George Michael, has proved inconclusive.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16Further tests will now be carried out.
0:06:16 > 0:06:18Police are treating the singer's death in Oxfordshire
0:06:18 > 0:06:26on Christmas Day as unexplained but not suspicious.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29Russia is asking members of the UN Security Council to consider a draft
0:06:29 > 0:06:31resolution that would endorse the ceasefire in Syria that came
0:06:31 > 0:06:34into force last night.
0:06:34 > 0:06:3724 hours on, the ceasefire agreed by the Syrian government and some
0:06:37 > 0:06:40opposition forces appears to be holding, despite reports of sporadic
0:06:40 > 0:06:48fighting in parts of the country.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50The New Year's Honours list has been published,
0:06:50 > 0:06:52and among the many sports stars named is Andy Murray,
0:06:52 > 0:06:56the world number one, who's knighted for his services to tennis.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59He's joined by the Olympic champion Mo Farah in a list dominated
0:06:59 > 0:07:02by Britain's Olympic and Paralympic champions.
0:07:02 > 0:07:08Andy Swiss has more details.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10At the end of a glittering year for British sport,
0:07:10 > 0:07:15for five of its greatest stars, the greatest honours.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17First, a knighthood for the man who spent 2016 scaling
0:07:17 > 0:07:20dizzying new heights.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25Wimbledon champion again, a supreme performance.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28After winning a second Wimbledon, a second Olympics and the world
0:07:28 > 0:07:31number one spot, it is now Sir Andy Murray, a fitting finish
0:07:31 > 0:07:35to a remarkable season.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37There's also a new title for Mo Farah's collection.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Gold for Great Britain again.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41The double double.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45He described his knighthood as a dream come true.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48Having come to Britain as an eight-year-old from Somalia,
0:07:48 > 0:07:52he added, he could never have imagined it.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Another athletics star, meanwhile, becomes a dame.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58London 2012 heptathlon champion, Jessica Ennis-Hill,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00who retired this year.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02There's also a damehood for rower Katherine Grainger.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04After five medals at five consecutive Olympics,
0:08:04 > 0:08:09the perfect ending to her career.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11It's not something I ever thought I would get
0:08:11 > 0:08:13but what a great time to get it.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16It's the end of a 20-year career for me in competing for my country,
0:08:16 > 0:08:21and it's a lovely way to bring the curtain down.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25And there's a knighthood for one of Britain's top Paralympians.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28Dressage rider Lee Pearson won his 11th gold medal in Rio
0:08:28 > 0:08:33and he told me just put becoming Sir Lee Pearson meant to him.
0:08:33 > 0:08:34It means loads.
0:08:34 > 0:08:40I'm unbelievably shocked and honoured, excuse the pun.
0:08:40 > 0:08:41I hope it doesn't change my life.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43I don't think it will.
0:08:43 > 0:08:48It won't change me, but it has taken a lot of getting used to.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Among the other honours, two sporting couples.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53CBEs for cyclists Jason and Laura Kenney, while hockey
0:08:53 > 0:08:56gold medallists Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh become
0:08:56 > 0:09:00an OBE and MBE respectively.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02And after their impressive run at Euro 2016, Wales football manager
0:09:02 > 0:09:05Chris Coleman becomes an OBE, and his Northern Ireland counterpart
0:09:05 > 0:09:09Michael O'Neill, an MBE.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Just a few of more than 100 sporting figures honoured
0:09:12 > 0:09:14for a memorable 12 months.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17Andy Swiss, BBC News.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20The New Year's Honours also feature some prominent names in the world
0:09:20 > 0:09:21of entertainment and the arts.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24The veteran comic Ken Dodd, who's still performing at 89,
0:09:24 > 0:09:27is knighted for services to entertainment and comedy.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31Also knighted are Ray Davies of the Kinks, the actor Mark Rylance
0:09:31 > 0:09:34and the opera star Bryn Terfel.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39Our correspondent Lizo Mzimba has been studying the list.
0:09:39 > 0:09:40# Happiness
0:09:40 > 0:09:42# Happiness...#
0:09:42 > 0:09:44He's been one of Britain's favourite entertainers for more
0:09:44 > 0:09:47than half a century, now Ken Dodd has
0:09:47 > 0:09:57received a knighthood.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00The best day ever, you can't get better than this.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03I've played lots of big theatres, I've worked abroad, but this is it.
0:10:03 > 0:10:04This is THE day.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07Yes, I'm very, very proud.
0:10:07 > 0:10:13If there's one thing I can't stand it's snobbery and one-upmanship.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Patricia Routledge has been made a Dame.
0:10:15 > 0:10:17# Yeah, you really got me going
0:10:17 > 0:10:19# You got me so I don't know what I'm doing...#
0:10:19 > 0:10:21Kinks frontman, Ray Davies, said he felt "humility
0:10:21 > 0:10:23and joy" to become Sir Ray.
0:10:23 > 0:10:24Lady Anne.
0:10:24 > 0:10:31A knighthood too for award-winning actor, Mark Rylance.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33Bond actress, Naomie Harris, also becomes an OBE.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36Wow!
0:10:36 > 0:10:39Figures from fashion and design have also been recognised.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41American Vogue editor, Anna Wintour, said she was
0:10:41 > 0:10:43touched to be made a Dame.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45Victoria Beckham becomes an OBE for services
0:10:45 > 0:10:51to the fashion industry.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53The former Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones, chaired
0:10:53 > 0:10:56the Hillsborough Independent Panel, set up in 2009.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58Obviously, great pride, but mixed with sadness
0:10:58 > 0:11:01because of that enduring sadness of the families who have continued
0:11:01 > 0:11:05to feel the loss of their loved ones at Hillsborough.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07He's one of hundreds being recognised for their
0:11:07 > 0:11:10contribution across the UK.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14Lizo Mzimba, BBC News.
0:11:14 > 0:11:19You can see more on all of today's stories on the BBC News Channel.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Now it's time for the news where you are.