Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20171216

The ashes are slipping away from england. Australia captain steve smith hits a double century, as his side takes complete control of the third test in perth. And in half an hours time, dateline london reflects on brexit talks and asks whether the election of a democrat in alabama it really is a blow to donald trump. Good morning and welcome to bbc news. A leading supporter of brexit has said the uk cannot become a colony of the eu during the expected two year transition period after britains withdrawal in march 2019. Jacob rees mogg made the comments after eu leaders yesterday agreed to move to the next phase of brexit discussions in the new year. They also suggested the uk would continue to participate of the European Court ofjustice during any transition phase. In the Single Market and remain under thejurisdiction of the European Court ofjustice during any transition phase. The date when the uk leaves the eu, march 29 2019 is now likely not to be set in law. Lets speak to our Political Correspondent tom barton. Lets begin with these objections from jacob rees mogg, what is it he is unhappy about . Its about this document, guidance which was published after the European Council meeting that theresa may was out earlier this week. You remember in september, theresa may meadow landmark speech in florence when she said that she was committed your transition period of about iqs. This guidance says that the eu thinks that, in essence, during that period, the uk will have to abide by all of the European Unions laws, evenif all of the European Unions laws, even if those laws change, and it will have to acceptjudgments made by the European Court ofjustice. And all that is drawing objection from brexiteerjacob rees mogg. The Prime Minister has consistently said that she is in favour of an implementation which means we leave in march 2019 and that the consequences of leaving are implemented. But we cannot be a colony of the European Union for two years from 2019 to 2021, accepting new laws that are made without any say so of the british people, parliament or government. That is not leaving the European Union. That is being a vassal state of the European Union, and id be very surprised if that were government policy. Hows the government responded to that characterisation of what it is seeking to do . Be Prime Minister insists that britain will be leaving the Single Market and the Customs Union on brexit day, the 29th of march, 2019. But that alone may happen if a flag that will only happen if a flag that will only happen if a flag that will only happen if the government does not accept what is happening that racket that will only happen if the government does not accept what is and is not ridden the indications are they will do accept that. Trade negotiations are imminent, as a result of theresa mays success at the European Council meeting earlier this week, formal negotiations cant begin until britain has actually left the European Union. Those arguing fora left the European Union. Those arguing for a softer brexit, people like ken clarke, so that it is in the interests of is this that continuity is maintained while negotiations go on. It would be a disaster if, because we havent finished negotiations, in march 2019, we started raising tariff barriers, regulatory barriers, customs barriers between ourselves and the European Union. I doubt whether wed get the planning permission for the lorry parks in time. So a transition period of two years to continue economically as we are now but politically, youve left the union seems to me quite easy to negotiate. And i think thats where well be before a couple of months are up. Philip hammond says that the permit is aiming to create an environment that will take the replicated the status quo, so that the status quo will remain doing the transition period. Thank you very much. Police in canada say theyre treating as suspicious the deaths of one of the worlds richest men, the pharmaceutical billionaire Barry Sherman, and his wife. Their bodies were found in the basement of their home in toronto. He was one of calendars which is people. Canadas richest people. 0ne canadas richest people. One of torontos richest suburbs, a house for sale. In the basement, discovery. Two bodies, a man and a woman. Barry sherman and his wife honey, one of the richest couples in the country. Police cant yet say what happened. The circumstances of their death lead us to believe that there may be suspicious circumstances but its an investigative tool. Until we know exactly how they die, we treated as suspicious and then once that, once a determination has been made by the pathologist in the corner, then we move forward from there. Barry sherman, 75, was thought to be worth more than £2 billion. He made his money in pharmaceutical, in the 19705, money in pharmaceutical, in the 1970s, and building his company into one of the biggest Drugs Companies in the world. Stepping down as chief executive in 2012 he dedicated himself to charity work. Today, the Canadian Premiere just introduced that he and his wife sent condolences to the Sherman Family and to everyone touched by their vision and spirit. Local people came to the couples home to place flowers a nd to the couples home to place flowers and pay their respects. This woman still can believe the news. Flowers and pay their respects. This woman still can believe the newsm truly unexpected. People look up to him. People are in shock and crying. And there are genuine heartbroken. The company has released a statement saying. For now, the Investigation Continues into two deaths which lever community in shock and a family in mourning. A special meeting of the governing party of south africa, the anc, has been delayed by a procedural debate over who will be allowed to vote for the partys next leader. The anc Party Executive has decided to follow court orders that barred some delegates from attending the conference on the grounds that they have been illegally elected. The South African president , jacob zuma whos beset by allegations of corruption will address the anc conference later today. A short time ago i spoke to our Southern African correspondent milton nkosi who gave this update. Yes, we are now told that the conference has been delayed by about five hours now. It is scheduled to start at two, they had planned to start at nine this morning. The executive committee of the anc had been meeting, trying to decide which delegates would be allowed following the Court Judgment which nullified some of the delegates yesterday. But most of the delegates here are supporting two different candidates, one is Cyril Ramaphosa, mr zumas deputy president. The other is doctor nkosaza na dlamini zuma, who is mr zumas former wife. The ones who support Cyril Ramaphosa, largely middle class. And they think that he will have inclusive growth and he will kick start south africas sluggish economy. Those who support Nkosazana Dlamini zuma believe that as the economic landscape of south africa is still drawn along apartheid lines, they believe that she will try and get the economy into the hands of the majority, that is, to black people. Those are the obvious differences between the two candidates but they are both anti apartheid activists, they have got their own credentials in the anti apartheid struggle, so they are supported by the same people who are in the same party, who support the same policies. I was struck, attending the conference at the time that jacob zuma became party leader when he succeeded thabo mbeki, who effectively was forced out of the job. And the kind of bad blood between the two camps was quite striking. There was. I didnt see the two men speak, i was at diplomatic reception, and they were practically next to each other but didnt look at each other or speak to each other. Jacob zuma was circulating, shaking hands, greeting people. He has been a big figure on the political stage in south africa. Does either of these candidates measure up to him in terms of impact they are likely to make . And then, Cyril Ramaphosa, for a long time was behind the scenes and almost vanished into business. And mr zumas ex wife is a slightly different situation but she has been on the front combine for a period. Indeed, that is why big business will think that Cyril Ramaphosa with his business background is the best person to kick start the sluggish economy of south africa, has Growth Potential is below 1 as we speak. They believe he will take it to greater heights, to create employment, employment here is around 27. 7 which is incredibly high. Around 27. 7 which is incredibly high. Unemployment here is around 20 points stop amongst the years, from ages 25 34, it hovers around 55 . From ages 25 34, it hovers around 55 . So they believe he will deliver inclusive growth, which in turn will those who support Nkosazana Dlamini zuma believe that they will have policies such as radical economic transformation. They think that they will get the land back from white hands, they think that they will be able to get more black people into the mainstream of the economy. That is, essentially, the difference between the two camps. Former Prime Minister David Cameron is to lead a uk Government Investment initiative with china. The announcement comes off the back of a two day visit to the country by the chancellor phillip hammond. Mr cameron will be involved in a new one billion dollar fund which will invest in the uk, china and other countries. A little earlier, i asked the bbc china correspondent why Philip Hammond was bringing David Cameron back into the political fold. |j think maybe the answer to that is more about uk institutional vasteras, their desire to have such a prominent figure on board. Investors. And mr cameron in government championed even closer ties, expanded ties, between the uk and china. Philip hammond told me a few hours ago here in beijing that he supports this investment fund, he endorses it but it is not public money or taxpayers money, it is not a government fund. Nonetheless, David Cameron, very well known, has taken a pretty low profile since he left downing street a year ago. He has campaigned on some health causes, hes been involved in the National Citizen service for 16 17 year olds in the uk. But he is now turning his aim to institutional investing and continuing that focus on, asi investing and continuing that focus on, as i said, trying to improve and expand economic ties between china and the uk. So i think Philip Hammond thinks that every camera will lead to this fund, is going to invest in a swathe of projects, possible, pipelines, infrastructure projects, close the linked with his brother awkwardly named belton Road Initiative which is chinas number one Public Policy priority and is aimed at helping economists to the west of china and beyond in europe to develop, because that helps china gain access there and then helps those countries improve their economic ties with china. But i think what it shows more than anything, when yardage to comments from Philip Hammond, is how much the uk continues to believe in better relations with china, better economic ties, because it believes, especially as brexit approaches and then passes, that china is the worldsmember two economy, is key to helping the uk, mcgraw. Uk economy grew. The headlines on bbc news a leading brexit supporting mp says hes unhappy about the idea britain staying in the Single Market during a period. Policing canada say they are treating the death of billionaire Barry Sherman and his wife as suspicious. After a bitter campaign, South Africans governing anc is preparing to vote for the first time for a leader to replace jacob zuma. Officials in california say the biggest of the wildfires which have driven tens of thousands of people from their homes now covers nearly four hundred square miles. A firefighter has died tackling the flames north of los angeles. 0ur correspondent james cook sent this report from the town of fillmore. 12 days on and still it burns. More than 8,000 men and women are now battling this blaze, saving homes one by one. Not far from here, the fire claimed the life of 32 year old cory iverson, a firefighter, a father and a husband. He is survived by his wife, ashley, his two year old daughter, evie. Cory and ashley are expecting a second daughter this spring. 0ur our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all of his friends and co workers. His family and all of his friends and coworkers. Its not clear exactly what went wrong here but the terrain is steep and dangerous and was reportedly overrun by flames after a sudden shift in the wind. The gusts destroyed homes, too. More than 700 of them to stop two apartment blocks and two hotel is also burned down and another 18,000 buildings remain at risk. This is one of five homes in this tiny neighbourhood which was destroyed when the flames swept through here so fast that firefighters had to abandon the area. Which ones survived and which were destroyed was a matter of pure luck. Aaron lawson and his family were among the lucky ones. Their home was scorched, but it survived, thanks in part to neighbours who lost everything but stayed to fight the fire. The most rewarding thing is seeing them, some of the guys who lost their houses, working with us, side by her side, to keep our houses safe those first few days. All week these skies have been alive with activity as pilots battle the blaze from the hour. The welter has not ravaged an area the size of new york city and washington, dc combined, and with more gusty winds forecast, firefighters said they expect the battle to intensify this weekend. Austria is poised to become the only western european country with a a0 foot party in its government. Far right party. The governing party failed to get a majority and has struck a coalition deal. They were thought to be lost forever but tv shows starring cilla black and people suffer among others will be seen for the first time in decades today at an exhibition in london. The British Film Institute celbridge the discovery programmes which had previously been thought to be white from the archive we had a sleek sneak preview. I sleek sneak preview. Ican sleek sneak preview. I can learn a lot of things from you. Cilla black and dudley moore together on her bbc one variety show. This episode has not been seen since it was first transmitted in march 19 68. Hazzard you are really versatile. A copy as turned up in a house near blackpool. Today, it will be shown at the bfi near southbank as part of their missing believed wiped series. Were we discovered tv is showcased. Ive got a feeling about right. Including a crackly recording of the first ever tv appearance by pete postlethwa ite first ever tv appearance by Pete Postlethwaite at the age of 29. Command. Local loony, voices from outer space, command. Local loony, voices from outer space, come on. Command. Local loony, voices from outer space, come on. Thats get on with it. It was broadcast in 1975 and he played a journalist investigating the possible arrival ofan investigating the possible arrival of an alien spaceship. The original was wiped but the director held onto it video cassette of the first edit, which has been restored. The discoveries include the only surviving episode of late night horrorfrom 1968 surviving episode of late night horrorfrom1968 which surviving episode of late night horror from 1968 which was cancelled by the bbc after 16 part series due to the number of complaints about being too scary. 16 part series. One six part series. And an episode of police drama no hiding place has turned up in australia. It had an audience of millions but only 20 of the 236 shows survived. This find is from 1960 and features the guest appearance by Patrick Troughton as grumpy as an, six years before he joined doctor who. Grumpy prisoner. Kerr seven years good conduct amok, you will do another seven in a straitjacket it is hoped more people will come forward with their own tv treasures. If you got a spear half a Million Pounds lying about, you could be the proud owner of a rear with a mammoth skeleton. It goes on auction today. You need a lot of room, as it is almost three metres high. The women mammoth became extinct was 10 million users. Now, it is time for sport. My bushel can tell us more. Good morning. Another incredible batting display by australian captain steve smith, has put his side, in a dominant position, in the third test, in perth, and if they win they will regain the ashes. England had been a glimmer of hope when moeen ali sent shaun marsh back to the pavilion. The trouble is, he has a brother, Mitchell Marsh and he was the next to score a century his first for australia, as they eased past englands total into a lead. With marsh and smith giving englands bowlers and fielders the run around. Steve smith got his double century, finishing the day on a career high score of 229 not out. And marsh is closing in on a double tonne too hes 181 not out. So with two days to go, the hosts are 5a9 a a lead of 1a6 runs. Weve got two more days to play and weve got to get stuck in and play exceptionally over those days. It will be tough, of course, but we had opportunities in the last game. We had opportunities in the previous games. So we have had opportunities, we just havent been good enough, they have been better, in the tough moments and they are taking games away from us. But in terms of this game, there are two days to go and we have got to believe that we can fight over those two days and make sure there is a contest to keep going. The big match in the premier league today, is the late kick off manchester city, 11 points clear at the top of the table and on a 15 match winning run, take on tottenham at the etihad. Spurs are cities bogey team of late, unbeaten in their last four contests. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has suggested city can go through the season unbeaten, as his side did in the early noughties. We are going to lose games. The important thing is too tragically better and better. That is the most important thing. Try to play better and better. I think we are going to play, for me, the best team today in europe. Not only in england. And of course, it is exciting, it is a massive challenge, the kind of challenge that you want always to have. In the scottish premiership, with celtic not playing until tomorrow, the chasing pair have a chance to narrow the gap. Aberdeen and rangers are both five points behind aberdeen take on hibernian in the lunch time kick off, with rangers facing stjohnstone later. A lot of matches have been called off in scotland and england because of the weather, so do check before you travel today. Now they fund themselves, sort their own food and travel to compete, in the bobsleigh world cup, team mcneill came tenth in the latest race in austria. They continue to defy the odds, since the gb womens funding was cut in september, and Misha Mcneill and her brake woman meeca moore were third fastest on the track in eagles at one point, before being pushed down the order. Thats all the sport for now. Now, the weather. Hello, there. Well, it has been cold for the last few weeks. Now, though, we are starting to see a change and were expecting the change to take place during this weekend as a big plume of milder air pushes in off the atlantic. And this milder is potentially going to be with us for much of next week, too. But back to today and its another cold one. It has been a cold, frosty start. Plenty of sunshine across eastern areas but more in the way of cloud and a few splashes of rain further south and west. It will be quite damp, i think, for part of the west country into wales, some of that cloud getting into the West Midlands and southern england. But to the east, it should stay dry with plenty of sunshine after that cold and frosty start. And it really will be cold across Northern England into parts of scotland, particularly where we have light snow on the higher ground. Temperatures around six degrees in belfast, plenty of sunshine here, one or two showers and wintry showers continuing across the north of scotland. So for the football matches this afternoon across england, anyway, its going to be rather damp, i think, for the leicester match. It should dry up later on. Elsewhere, cold and largely dry. Gloriously sunny for the scottish premiership matches but it really will be quite cold, temperatures around two or three celsius at best. Those temperatures really fall away again across scotland, central and eastern parts of england, bit of mist and fog developing. But is where we start to see the change. A weather front pushing in to the west introduces stronger winds, more cloud, outbreaks of rain. So less cold here but a very cold one across eastern areas, again, subzero values so its likely we will wake up to another frost again on sunday morning here. This is the weather system, though, moving slowly from the west. Fairly tightly packed isobars, so it will be quite a windy day across the northern half of the uk. Some of that rain will be quite heavy and persistent across scotland and into north west england. And it becomes a bit lighter as it thinks its way south eastwards so after a dry, cold start it turns wetter and cloudier through the day. And the skies brighten up across scotland and Northern Ireland behind that weather front, and you can see double figure values now starting to pushing to the west. As we head into next week, we have a run of south westerly wind routed down from the azores, so its set to stay very mild. But unfortunately, with this mild air comes a lot of cloud. Sunshine will be limited, although for most of us, it should stay on the dry side. Hello and a very warm welcome to dateline london, imjane hill. This week we reflect on some movement, finally, in the brexit talks and ask whether the election of a democrat in alabama really is a blow to donald trump. My guests this week, the American Writer Stephanie Baker from bloomberg markets, the british political commentator Yasmin Alibhai brown, Suzanne Lynch from the irish times and thomas kielingerfrom germanys die welcome to you all. Weve seen the end of the beginning it was confirmed this week that the brexit talks between britain and the eu can finally move to the second phase. What a week for britains Prime Minister theresa may losing a parliamentary vote in london, but getting a round of applause from leading eu figures in brussels. Though by fridayjean claudejuncker and Angela Merkel were among those pointing out that phase two of the negotiations will be much harder than phase one. Talks move injanuary to discussion of the transition period. Yasmin, the pm more than soldiers on. To raise a soldier s honour. To raise a soldier s honour. You have to add my hurt when you think she is down and out, somehow she brings out something in her. Admire her. She is also. I cant imagine what it feels like to be in her position. She is battling on