Separatist havoc in the area. The prince of wales has led the country and honouring its Service Personnel on remembrance sunday, taking the queens place to lay a wreath at the cenotaph in london. For the first time, the queen watched the surface in whitehall from a balcony. Whitehall is starting to get back to normal now. You whitehall is starting to get back to normal now. You can see whitehall is starting to get back to normal now. You can see lots of people looking at the wreaths that we re people looking at the wreaths that were laid during the ceremony. At its height, the crowds were ten deep. Lots of people came to take pa rt deep. Lots of people came to take part in the act of remembrance. Of course, lots of veterans are here as well, Something Like 8800 veterans took part in the march passed down here, all with their own thoughts. I have a member of the serving personnel, kevin stacey from the regimental division. It is a proud achievement for my family. I am delighted to be here today. Tell me what been like to be at the cenotaph on remembrance sunday and to see all of the members who have been here to share in this act of remembrance and think about the sacrifices that have been made. This is my first time being here. To see the support given to the armed forces has been a tremendous honour. I cant thank the public enough. For us older to know he has the support of people back home, families, friends and the general public, its been a tremendous honour to be here. And presumably, things must come to mind during the two minute silence. You we re during the two minute silence. You were injured in iraq in 200a. I wonder what goes through your mind when that silence happened at 11 oclock. Firstly, i always think of a young soldier who tragically lost his life on that day, august 12, in 2004. I also think of some of the other soldiers who were there that day, because some supper with mental aspects of what they have seen and experienced on that tour. I also think of the families who have lost their loved ones. It is a crying shame for these families. We must never forget the veterans. I think of them and all their service, what they have given from the best parts of their lives for queen and country. It is a deep honour to have this two minute silence each year. And you have a personal connection with veterans from the iraq war of 2004 when you were there but you also took in a bike ride to commemorate the battle of passchendaele, a 700 mile bike ride. There were veterans from recent conflicts, but also from 100 years ago. That is correct. It was really following the route that the 6th battalion took. Passchendaele had a lot of scottish servicemen who ultimately lost their lives. But the black watch took part in the battlefield. So a good 17 of us from edinburghjumped on our bicycles and we cycled the route that they took, each day being given a snippet from theirwardiary as to each day being given a snippet from their war diary as to what they were doing on that day 100 years ago. It culminated in passchendaele itself. Kevin stacey, thank you for talking to us. We have heard lots of stories today, lots of act of remembrance and not just here today, lots of act of remembrance and notjust here in london. This is whether National Service is taking place, but services are taking place at War Memorials across the uk today. Now some breaking news to bring you about the meeting that was had by richard ratcliffe, the husband of Nazanin Zaghari ratcliffe, and the foreign secretary borisjohnson, a phone call that they had today. A Statement Released by the Free Nazanin Campaign says mr ratcliffe had a positive phone call with the foreign secretary. They spoke for approximately 20 minutes and during it, borisjohnson noted that he was deeply sorry for her suffering. There are three points mr men ratcliffe took away from the phone call. One is that there is to be a meeting between him and the foreign secretary in the next few days. Secondly, the foreign secretary will undertake to look seriously at the prospect of mr ratcliffe accompanying him when he goes to iran to discuss the different considerations and impacts of this face to face. And thirdly, nazanins husband also raised the request that she be considered for diplomatic protection. This has come out of a phone call that happened between the husband of the imprisoned british iranian woman and the foreign secretary. Now here on bbc news, time for sportsday. Hello and welcome to sportsday with me, james pearce. The headlines this evening so close but still so far. Northern ireland need to score in switzerland to keep their world cup hopes alive. England keep the ashes series alive by holding on for a draw against australia in the test match. And Sebastian Vettel wins the brazilian grand prix as Lewis Hamilton recovers from last to finish fourth. Its an extremely tough challenge for Northern Ireland. They need to win in switzerland tonight if they are to claim a place in next summers world cup finals. Trailing 1 0 from the first leg, theyve played around half an hour so far. No goals yet, but its been end to end stuff with the irish having the first chance of the game, a long range effort from chris brunt which was well parried. The swiss have had their chances too with a Xherdan Shaqiri cross from the right, Haris Seferovic failing to meet it. In the last few minutes, Northern Ireland have had a few more chances, jamie wards cross headed wide. I will keep you updated during the programme. England and australia have drawn the womens ashes test, a result which keeps the series alive. Georgia elwiss and Heather Knight steered their team home, with captain knight making a crucial half century. The series will now be decided by the three twenty20 matches still to come. From sydney, our correspondent andy swiss reports. A day which began with australia with a real chance of winning both englands batters emerged with their hopes hanging in the balance. Their challenge to win the day and salvage a draw. Tammy beaumonts stylish start steamed to bode well, but then she was bamboozled by David Wellington and england suddenly had problems. Lauren winfield not so much labour before as toe before wicket, konta 34. And australia sensed that the ashes could be in sight. But come the second session, england knuckled down, Heather Knight with a captains innings. Boundaries were a rarity, but it didnt matter. With the help of Georgia Elwiss and a lifeless pitch, knight edged her team closer. Australia decided enough was enough and the captains shook hands. Not the winning england would have wanted, but a battling draw to keep their hopes alive. This was a gritty performance from england, but to regain the ashes, they will now have to win all three remaining matches. Not impossible, but it will be some challenge. The first mens ashes test starts a week on thursday in brisbane. Englands confidence will have been boosted by a convincing win in their latest tour match against a cricket australia xi and the news that fast bowler jake ball is likely to be fit, despite suffering ankle ligament damage in the match. Coach Trevor Bayliss says hes been pleased with the newer batsmen in the side. The more inexperienced batters have spent time in the middle before the start of the series. Theyre the ones under pressure the most. Theyve not had a lot of experience of australian conditions, but theyve spent some time in the middle. But scoring 60s is not enough. We need 160s. Sebastian vettel has won the brazilian grand prix, but the drive of the day came from newly crowned World ChampionLewis Hamilton. He started at the back of the grid, but came through the field to finish fourth. Nick parrot reports. Sebastian vettels championship hopes ended last time out in mexico, but there was still pride to race for in brazil. With newly crowned World ChampionLewis Hamilton started from the pit lane after crashing in qualifying, there was only one mercedes between the german and glory. Valtteri bottas was on pole, but it went wrong for the finn from the start as vettel surged past him and into the lead. Hamiltons job was made easier by a Demolition Derby that unfolded in front of him. Three cars out on the first lap brought the safety car out, allowing him to catch the rest of the field. After the restart, hamilton carved his way up the order and ended up in the lead by virtue of his more durable tyres. When he eventually stopped, he dropped to fifth, but managed to catch Max Verstappen to claim fourth place. That saw him named driver of the day, but that they really belonged to vettel with a first win for ferrari in brazil since 2008. Theres plenty of room for improvement, but england are safely through to the quarter finals of the Rugby League World cup. They beat france by 36 6 in perth. Ireland bowed out of the tournament in style with a comfortable win against wales. John watson was watching the action. Shoulder to shoulder. There rest englands world cup hopes. Rugby leagues elite, broad enough to carry the burden. Fast hands, fast start. Two minutes in, Gareth Widdop with a touching down. Commentator this is going to be englands opening try. Two tries in quick succession. This game was all but over, james graham going through the gears and the french defence. And graham is going to get over the line and score englands third. Its a rout already. A first half packed with pace and precision. England lost their way in the second. Jermaine mcgillvary didnt, finding the line as he often does. Small in stature, but a giant on the wing for huddersfield. Nine tries, nine matches. Three now stand between england and world cup glory. Papua new guinea next. Theyre a great team. Theyve played well the last few weeks and its going to be a tough challenge. But for us, its about what we do, making sure we do the job done individually. If we do that, we will get the job done. Ireland and wales had both already the irish finishing with a flourish, with six tries. Time to take the weight off. For the quarterfinalists, the wait continues. The tennis atp finals are under way in london, and six time champion Roger Federer opened with a straight sets win overjack sock, the ideal way for federer to get used to the playing conditions again at the o2. Theres always a struggle because of the conditions. You are not quite used to how the ball is flying. It was just not quite connecting. After a while, i was happy to hit some good shots and focus on your own intensity. After a while, i had the hope that i could play more freely. The second set was tight. I missed some opportunities. The break at the end could have gone either way. But he helped me with some mistakes. I am really happy that i got through somehow. Sue barker is there as always, and shes been chatting to tim henman. Roger federer looked in ominous form today, defeating jack sock in straight sets. He seemed to have the answer in every point. From the word go. He broke sock in that first game and you felt he could really run through this match quickly. But credit to sock. Qualifying for this event at the last opportunity, winning in paris, he is the rookie out there and he put in a gutsy performance. In the second set, federer had five or six break points, but he kept hanging in there. He was aggressive, but federer took the tie break. It is only the second time that has happened in their head to head. But at the end of the day, it was federer who came out with the big shots at the right time. Sock has a huge serve, but against federer, he just absorbs that power. Its easy to sit here and comment on federers offensive skills, but an area that doesnt get attention is his defensive skills and getting the ball back in play is one of his huge strengths. It is difficult to ace federer and get three points once hes established himself in the rally. He can turn defence into attack, and it was a solid performance from federer. He has managed his career so well, and he is coming here on the back of a victory. It looks as though he will have a seventh title here. He is the one to beat. Very much so. There are a few faces missing from last year, led by murray and djokovic. But when you put federer on an indoor court, the conditions seemed quicker this year. That plays into his hands. For me, with a win under his belt, he will be the favourite to hold the trophy on sunday. Rafael nadal is the world number one, but he doesnt have a great history here. No, this is one of the few titles hes never won, which im sure will increase his motivation. But for me, indoors in london is a good combination for federer. Tim, thanks very much. Roger was just too good. Great britain claimed their third gold medal of the track cycling world cup with victory in the Womens Team Pursuit in manchester. Katie archibald, elinor barker, emily nelson and neah evans crushed the italian team in the final. It was archibald and barkers second gold, having triumphed in the madison after britains men won their team pursuit final. Earlier today, Callum Skinner won bronze in the mens time trial. Voting is open for this years bbc african footballer of the year award, and for a fifth consecutive year, Pierre Emerick aubameyang is on the prestigious nominee list. The gabonese striker has once again been in superlative scoring form for his bundesliga side borussia dortmund. This is the big star, the best african player of the moment. Heres a largerthan african player of the moment. Heres a larger than life character. He wears the clothes, he goes to parties, he is like a superstar player. Every aubameyang goal is amazing. Translation he is like a leader, giving a lot of positive energy and experience too. Pierre is a good quy experience too. Pierre is a good guy. People recognise the fact that Pierre Emerick aubameyang is a legend in his country. His position in the locker room is very much looked up to by the other players and a man who is very much respected. Hello, my name is boro. Please vote for me for the my name is Pierre Emerick aubameyang, please vote for me for the african footballer of the year. Aubameyang is joined on the shortlist by naby keita, sadio mane, victor moses and Mohamed Salah you can vote for your favourite at the bbc sport website. Let me update you on the football. Still 00. Let me update you on the football. Still 0 0. Northern ireland need to score. The swiss havejust still 0 0. Northern ireland need to score. The swiss have just cleared the ball. Agonisingly close for Northern Ireland. We will have the results for you later. An old man with great power he runs a media empire sees his influence crumbling away. Hes losing his grip, his family, perhaps even his sanity. What becomes of him . Edward st aubyns novel, dunbar, is a retelling of the story of king lear, as a contemporary novel. Funny and melancholy by turns, the author of the celebrated series of novels about patrick melrose, is back on his favourite territory, dealing with a life touched and changed by tragedy. Welcome. The inspiration for this story, the start of the novel in a way, was the idea that you should take the king lear story and do something with it. Now, is it easy to leave the thought of that fundamental story behind, and take off on your own . At first, i suffered from a dont mess with the bard angst, because i was in the face of a sort of monument of world literature,