30/12/2016 BBC News

Donald Trump praises Vladimir Putin for his response to the row over

Russian interference in the US elections.

He says Mr Putin is "very smart" not to retaliate for the expulsion of 35

Russian diplomats ordered by President Obama.

Also tonight, fog and freezing conditions cause dozens of flight

cancellations and problems on the roads.

And crowning a spectacular year for Andy Murray,

a knighthood in the New Year's Honours.

Good evening.

Donald Trump, who becomes US President in three weeks' time,

has congratulated President Putin on his response to the American

sanctions announced yesterday.

35 Russian diplomats are being expelled from the US,

following allegations of interference in the

presidential election.

President Putin said he would not respond until he saw how

Donald Trump would handle matters.

Mr Trump said tonight it proved that Mr Putin was "very smart".

Steve Rosenberg reports from Moscow.

Near the Kremlin tonight, they were putting on a seasonal show,

ahead of the new year celebrations.

There was song and dance and some musical theatre.

But that was nothing compared to the political theatre

being played out inside.

First up on stage, the Foreign Minister.

He advised President Putin to expel 35 US diplomats.

America had expelled 35 Russians.

In other words, tit-for-tat, Cold War style.

It seemed inevitable.

But no, Vladimir Putin said, he wasn't going to stoop

to the level of irresponsible diplomacy.

He wasn't going to expel any Americans.

He even invited the children of all US diplomats in Moscow

to a new year's party here in the Kremlin.

That was a surprise, but it didn't change what America's

top intelligence agencies believe to be true, that state-sponsored

hackers, backed by the highest levels of the Russian government,

had interfered in the US presidential election, with a cyber

attack on the Democratic Party.

Was President Putin behind it?

Last week, I got a chance to ask him myself.

Mr President, your country has been accused of state-sponsored hacking,

with the aim of influencing the result of the US

presidential election.

And President Obama revealed that he told you personally

to cut it out, so what did you tell him in response?

The Kremlin leader refused to tell me, dismissing all the talk

of hacking as sour grapes from the Democratic Party.

Today, President Putin said he would work to restore relations

with America under Donald Trump.

And this evening, Mr Trump responded by praising him for not engaging

in tit-for-tat expulsions, saying, in a tweet, "Great move

on delay by V Putin.

I always knew he was very smart".

What Putin and Trump expect from each other

is a certain kind of decency, a certain kind of frankness,

and no hypocrisy and no political correctness.

By not expelling diplomats today, the Kremlin was sending a new year's

gift to the new man in the White House.

Russia wants to mend ties with Trump's America

and come in from the cold.

Steve Rosenberg, BBC News, Moscow.

Fog and freezing conditions have caused difficulties

on the roads and caused major disruption at airports.

17 people have been treated in hospital, after a bus

crashed on a slip road of the M40 in Oxfordshire.

The fog has also led to flight delays and dozens

of cancellations at Heathrow, Gatwick and London City Airport.

Our correspondent Helena Lee reports.

It was in the early hours of this morning, in thick fog,

the coach veered off a slip road off the M40 before rolling

into a ditch and on its side.

Its mangled remains and the damage done clear

when it was turned back over.

16 passengers were on board, travelling from Heathrow to Oxford.

Remarkably, none were critically injured.

But all were treated in hospital, some for broken bones,

others for cuts and bruises.

Very intensive for the paramedics and ambulance crews that attended,

assisted by fire and the police services as well.

Obviously, probably a chaotic scene to start with.

Dense fog not helping.

The Oxford bus company said the driver was very experienced

and had been doing overnight shifts for a number of years.

Now the coach has been taken away, the investigation turns

to how it happened.

For drivers in parts of southern and eastern England and Wales,

conditions on the roads today have been challenging.

Heavy fog has meant visibility has been poor.

In some places, less than 100 metres.

The thick fog has also been causing disruption at airports.

Flights at Heathrow, were cancelled and delayed today.

City Airport in London suffered too, as did Gatwick.

The Met office has extended their fog warning into tomorrow morning,

leading to more disruption ahead of New Year's Eve.

The advice, to check with the airline before

travelling to the airport.

Helena Lee, BBC News, Oxfordshire.

A postmortem examination, carried out as part of the investigation

into the death of George Michael, has proved inconclusive.

Further tests will now be carried out.

Police are treating the singer's death in Oxfordshire

on Christmas Day as unexplained but not suspicious.

Russia is asking members of the UN Security Council to consider a draft

resolution that would endorse the ceasefire in Syria that came

into force last night.

24 hours on, the ceasefire agreed by the Syrian government and some

opposition forces appears to be holding, despite reports of sporadic

fighting in parts of the country.

The New Year's Honours list has been published,

and among the many sports stars named is Andy Murray,

the world number one, who's knighted for his services to tennis.

He's joined by the Olympic champion Mo Farah in a list dominated

by Britain's Olympic and Paralympic champions.

Andy Swiss has more details.

At the end of a glittering year for British sport,

for five of its greatest stars, the greatest honours.

First, a knighthood for the man who spent 2016 scaling

dizzying new heights.

Wimbledon champion again, a supreme performance.

After winning a second Wimbledon, a second Olympics and the world

number one spot, it is now Sir Andy Murray, a fitting finish

to a remarkable season.

There's also a new title for Mo Farah's collection.

Gold for Great Britain again.

The double double.

He described his knighthood as a dream come true.

Having come to Britain as an eight-year-old from Somalia,

he added, he could never have imagined it.

Another athletics star, meanwhile, becomes a dame.

London 2012 heptathlon champion, Jessica Ennis-Hill,

who retired this year.

There's also a damehood for rower Katherine Grainger.

After five medals at five consecutive Olympics,

the perfect ending to her career.

It's not something I ever thought I would get

but what a great time to get it.

It's the end of a 20-year career for me in competing for my country,

and it's a lovely way to bring the curtain down.

And there's a knighthood for one of Britain's top Paralympians.

Dressage rider Lee Pearson won his 11th gold medal in Rio

and he told me just put becoming Sir Lee Pearson meant to him.

It means loads.

I'm unbelievably shocked and honoured, excuse the pun.

I hope it doesn't change my life.

I don't think it will.

It won't change me, but it has taken a lot of getting used to.

Among the other honours, two sporting couples.

CBEs for cyclists Jason and Laura Kenney, while hockey

gold medallists Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh become

an OBE and MBE respectively.

And after their impressive run at Euro 2016, Wales football manager

Chris Coleman becomes an OBE, and his Northern Ireland counterpart

Michael O'Neill, an MBE.

Just a few of more than 100 sporting figures honoured

for a memorable 12 months.

Andy Swiss, BBC News.

The New Year's Honours also feature some prominent names in the world

of entertainment and the arts.

The veteran comic Ken Dodd, who's still performing at 89,

is knighted for services to entertainment and comedy.

Also knighted are Ray Davies of the Kinks, the actor Mark Rylance

and the opera star Bryn Terfel.

Our correspondent Lizo Mzimba has been studying the list.

# Happiness

# Happiness...#

He's been one of Britain's favourite entertainers for more

than half a century, now Ken Dodd has

received a knighthood.

The best day ever, you can't get better than this.

I've played lots of big theatres, I've worked abroad, but this is it.

This is THE day.

Yes, I'm very, very proud.

If there's one thing I can't stand it's snobbery and one-upmanship.

Patricia Routledge has been made a Dame.

# Yeah, you really got me going

# You got me so I don't know what I'm doing...#

Kinks frontman, Ray Davies, said he felt "humility

and joy" to become Sir Ray.

Lady Anne.

A knighthood too for award-winning actor, Mark Rylance.

Bond actress, Naomie Harris, also becomes an OBE.

Wow!

Figures from fashion and design have also been recognised.

American Vogue editor, Anna Wintour, said she was

touched to be made a Dame.

Victoria Beckham becomes an OBE for services

to the fashion industry.

The former Bishop of Liverpool, James Jones, chaired

the Hillsborough Independent Panel, set up in 2009.

Obviously, great pride, but mixed with sadness

because of that enduring sadness of the families who have continued

to feel the loss of their loved ones at Hillsborough.

He's one of hundreds being recognised for their

contribution across the UK.

Lizo Mzimba, BBC News.

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