Transcripts For BBCNEWS Beyond 100 Days 20180222

Are creating regional tensions. Get in touch with us using the hashtag. Hello and welcome im katty kay in new york, and Christian Fraser is in london. A week after the School Shooting in florida, americas gun lobby has finally spoken up and it is not compromising. As grieving parents and traumatized children confront lawmakers and the president , asking for something be done to stop the countrys mass killings, the nra chief is blaming democrats. Wayne lapierre is defiant. As head of the organisation that lobbies and funds politicians on behalf of the gun industry he is determined to prevent any further restrictions on gun sales in the us. But many of the teenagers, and their parents, whove spoken up since the florida attack, say the nra is out of with the country, and is making schools less safe. As usual, the opportunists wasted not one second to exploit tragedy for political gain. The breakback speed of calls for more gun control laws and the breathless national media, eager to smear the nra. Were yet to learn the finer detail of the president s gun reforms, but under consideration, a proposal to arm some teachers, raising the minimum age to buy certain types of firearms, and enhanced background checks. Just a short time ago, President Trump met with state and local officials and had this to say. And i think we are making a lot of progress, and i can tell you there there is a tremendous feeling that we want get something done. And were leading that feeling, i hope, but it is a great feeling, including at the nra, including with republican senators and hopefully democrat senators in congress. Lets get reaction to the days events from mica mobascher. Shes a political commentator and a member of the 2020 Trump Campaign National Advisory board. Let me put a proposition to do. Because President Trump is trusted by dan on us, and you are a member of the nra, is he actually the president who might be able to shift something when it comes to garner laws, particularly around the age which people can buy guns in the country . Absolutely. The art of the deal president is all action orientated, and a very compelling session he had both students and pa rents, session he had both students and parents, many who were grieving, especially one man who played the last of his daughter. This signal is that he is open to bipartisan decisions, and the raising of the minimum wage for ar is weapons is something that the nra is pushing back against, and it is something that the white house has signalled that the white house has signalled that the white house has signalled that the president would be open to supporting. Additionally, i feel that he is looking into closing those loopholes and efficiencies in the National Instant criminal tax system that is used when you buy it gun, and there is a bipartisan bill, and the president is fully behind this. Additionally, iwould be remiss if i did not bring up the blistering attacks, well deserved, on the fbi, his command centre, which is a Central Call Centre in West Virginia deal to pass on details, two text they received that nikolas cruz had been identified as a clear and present danger to himself and potentially to those around him. The bia has an 8. 9 billion budget, it is a bloated bureaucracy with 35,000 employees, 56 field offices, and there have been other deficiencies in the fbi pointed out in the past, including the former supervisor of the Management Division make make man, who in 2009 reported to his supervisors and two assistant at the idyllic that they were deficiencies and failures are political that are interfering with National Security. We need to hold agencies like the fbi are accountable, donal President Trump will do so. There is no question there is a different tone coming from the president. I want to take you back to april 20 17th at the candidate convention. This is what he said. I will never ever infringe on it the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Never ever. He has talked about nix, but he has also talked about banning public stocks, maybe automatic weapons. Lapeirre did not letting any of that. Addy headed for a confrontation . I am concerned that you can buy an ar 15 weapon when you are not old enough to buy a beer. Dn ali is pushing background as a raising of the 80s to purchase firearms as an infringement on Second Amendment is, but i dont see product complements brother compromise interferes with the right to buy a gun. I think that President Trump has the strength of leadership to co nfro nt trump has the strength of leadership to confront this and other tough issues, especially from the very powerful can lobby, with 500 million members. Thank you very much for joining us. Last night, the survivors of the School Shooting took part in a nationally televised town hall event. One of the stand out moments involved 17 year old cameron kasky, one of the founders of the neveragain movement, who put this question to senator marco rubio. Senator rubio, can you tell me right now that you will not accept a single donation from the nra in the future . Well, number one, the positions i hold on this issue of the Second Amendment, ive held since the day i entered office in the city of western miami as an elected official. Number two. No, the answer to the questions is that people buy into my agenda, and i do support the Second Amendment, and i also support the right of you and everyone here to be able to go to school and be safe. Senator reviewer took to 20 million from the nra. Well, lets get more reaction from republican Florida State representative randy fine hes in tallahassee. 2. 3 2. 3 million. Just talk to us about marco rubio there. He is talking about maybe being able to ban high capacity magazines. Theres anything that you would accept in terms of restrictions on gun sales . I would like to clear one thing up. Everyone talks about the legislator being bought and paid for by the nra. As faras being bought and paid for by the nra. As far as i know, the nra has not given a single dollar to a candid running for florida in at least 16 years. Those of us to be lead in the right to keep and bear arms, we believe it because we believe it, not because anybody is paying us too. But do they put the money in congress, where the big bullet scars that are taken . money in congress, where the big bullet scars that are taken . I am just a small representative in florida. I think we are going to have a comprehensive package of reforms. It will come out in the next few hours. It is really going to tackle all of the issues, because the fact remains we had all the laws in place to catch this file killer before it happened, yet the government failed in its responsibility to do so, so why do we keep giving this same government more power to solve the problem, im not sure. One change to the lot that the president has again talked about in washington is raising the age that you can buy an assault weapon from 18 to 21. That would have changed the situation here. Nikolas cruz was 19. Would you support that change to the legislation . Nikolas cruz seems to have been sufficiently convinced that i believe he would have barred and find another weapon. Just answer the question, which you support raising the age . |j just answer the question, which you support raising the age . I am open to discussing it, but the question is not an accurate one. And florida, it is already illegal to buy some semiautomatic weapons until 21. There are other magazines where it is not. It is a simple matter of looking at consistencies in our laws and father almighty s us transit should be rather than some of them. Would you also support looking at high capacity magazine clips, which allows tutors to fire Something Like 30 bullets, are even more before the half to pass . I think we need to be very careful before the infringe on peoples Second Amendment rights. And this country, we dont leave you punish the matches because of the m ista kes punish the matches because of the mistakes of the few. They are 5 million ar 15 is in the United States, only five had been used in mass casualties shootings. We have to keep in mind that the overwhelming majority of gun owners handle them any responsible way, and they scared of restricting their legs because of the actions of a few people. We had from mr lapierre that freedoms are being taken away. What freedoms are being taken away. What freedom is therefore students are too frightened to go to school are being protected by teachers who are arms 01 being protected by teachers who are arms or who are locked up behind gates . The fact of the matter is that we have to protect our kids, and whether it is from an ar 15 someone and whether it is from an ar 15 someone who and whether it is from an ar 15 someone who wants and whether it is from an ar 15 someone who wants to run people of use a Pressure Cooker filled with ball bearings as happened in boston, we need to protect our kids. There are things we are going to be doing. But more important than protecting our kids, we need to figure out what is going on with their kids that makes them think this is a good idea. The high that i idea. The high school that i would do, we had guns hanging on the racks of pick up trucks 25 years ago, yet it never occurred to anyone to use those to shoot people. We need to focus on the symptoms. Dont get me wrong, but we need to focus on the underlying issues with what is going wrong with their children that is making some of them believe this is acceptable. Really good of you to spare us acceptable. Really good of you to spare us back some time. Thank you very much indeed. That speech from mr lucky, it was quite a job link that speech from mr lapierre, it was quite a jaw dropping. Time and again, he kept referring back to this Second Amendment. We have had an awful lot about it. It is interesting, because this Second Amendment is what is used by people who support gun rights and the country to say that there should be no restrictions on guns, but actually four tent in the past decade federal Appeals Court in the United States have ruled that banning assault weapons is legal under this Second Amendment, so they have also said that the Supreme Court has said that gun rights are not unlimited, i e. , gone rights are limited in the country. So, there is a debate about these weapons of war, one of the file in the definition of self defence or not, because that is what the Second Amendment protects, but that they are just used to cause harm, and should not be in peoples hands. It seems like the courts and the Supreme Court do think that some restrictions on assault weapons act constitutional, but that is not an argument duty from the gun lobby. The residents of Eastern Ghouta are living without food, water and electricity. In one area, 80 of the population is now living underground. Those grim figures come from the un, where the Security Council is meeting in new york and is right now debating a draft resolution to end the bombing of civilians in the enclave. The resolution calls for a month long truce to get emergency supplies into the area. But of course russia has the power to veto this plan, and their ambassador has already signalled there is no agreement. It will not be easy. 0ur middle east editorjeremy bowen has this report which does contain some very distressing images. What air strikes, more bombs and more casualties. It is not letting if we , if we havefff fiftwe have tofii 7 7 7 we have to 7 to g we have to i to azure . When my boy key go to g we have to i to azure . When my boy key go to heaven, my boy dies, key will go to heaven, but. Least he will be able to eat. But at least he will be able to eat. I would like to i with him i that e 1. 49 115 . 143i if 7 1511165 . Can look after him. So many syrians have died in the war. The killing is escalating. And once again the world is watching from a safe distance. The situation clearly really desperate iniesta and get it at the moment. We can speak now to david ignatius, a journalist for the washington post. He has just returned from reporting in syria. Just looking at what is happening in the conclave, if the russians agreed to this draft resolution for a 30 day truce, what happens to the people . That was a grand airport. This early in regime, with russian backing, is trying to eradicate the rebel opposition in Eastern Ghouta, just to the east of damascus. This has been a stronghold of the opposition, this is an area where cia backed rebels where strong. My fear is that we are watching a replay of aleppo, where again, us cia backed forces that were active we re cia backed forces that were active were finally destroyed by ruthless bombing, barrel bombing, vicious five inbound civilian areas. That is happening in Eastern Ghouta. The russian bass blackbelt want to push as far as it can. There may be a ceasefire, as there was often in aleppo, but i think they will want to keep the momentum going. |j to keep the momentum going. I want to talk a little bad about the carotid seen elsewhere in syria, because that is what you have been looking at. You talked about the craziness that is unfolding on the battlefield, and i just craziness that is unfolding on the battlefield, and ijust want to give our viewers a favourite of that editorial. You wrote. As you say, what we know have is converging forces with diverging interests. What is the policy of the United States amid all that . The honest answer is that the policy of the United States is confused. This has become even more than before, a shooting gallery. The Syrian Civil War was catastrophic in terms of loss of life and refugee flow, now it is becoming a place where there is Little International proxy wa rfa re is Little International proxy warfare going on. The us with its allies currently occupies about one third of the country. The us has not really decided what it wants to do with that. This secretary of state Rex Tillerson has said the us forces will remain the ansaldi process leads towards some kind of transition, but that is a matter of yea rs transition, but that is a matter of years away. What is the us strategy for stabilising the situation . Increasingly, i hear people in washington talking about the importance of some kind of dialogue involving the us, israel, russia and inevitably syrian regime. I think the level of budget, the inability to make any other approach to transitional works comes means that at some stage, the new stage will be at some stage, the new stage will be a change of policy. Thank you very much forjoining us. Ethiopia, sudan and egypt have set a deadline of the end of the month to try to resolve a long running dispute over the blue nile, which is threatening relations between the three countries. Ethiopia has almost finished building one of the biggest dams in africa, to produce hydro electric power, but egypt is worried it will reduce its water supply. 0ur africa correspondent Alastair Leithead sent this special report from sudan. The grand ethiopian renaissance dam is almost finished. Africas biggest hydro electric power station has already bridged the nile. And sudan is waiting expectantly for the cheap power that will soon fizz across its border. But that is not all. The waters of the nile transform the sudanese desert into a land of plenty. First it grew cotton, a century ago, for british textile mills, and now there are vast circles of high quality cattle feed, mostly for export to the gulf. For sudan, the great advantage of this new dam is to regulate the flow of the blue nile. This, at the moment, is a dry season. Theyre having to dredge just so the pumping station can receive water to take to the fields. In the wet season, the level is as high as that platform eight metres higher. Thats what the dam is going to change. These are turbulent times. Sudans had a decade long deal with egypt, but is now at odds with its northern neighbour over how much water the country can use. This is sudans richest man. He owns a golf course as well as the cattle feed farms. For sudan, its wonderful. I mean, its really the best thing that has happened for a long time. And i think the combination of energy and regular water levels is a great blessing. Cheap power to keep his cows cool and to bring Faster Development to eight sudan emerging from decades of crippling us sanctions. But egypt is firmly against the dam. The regional rivalries go back as far as the pyramids. The sudanese pyramids. Egypt was once ruled from here, 2000 years ago. Powers on the nile rise and fall, and ethiopias influence is growing. Water in general is becoming highly politicised, not only in this region but elsewhere, but i think if there is always, as in our case, between the three countries, if the political will is around involving the high up authorities in three countries, i think it will work out. But the diplomatic row is far from settled. Where the rivers two great tributaries meet in khartoum, the blue nile from ethiopia supplies 85 of the water. And so the dam, and its ability to control the flow, is making downstream egypt nervous. It is one of the top three places on the planet most vulnerable to live in sea level, and the problem is that two thirds of the egyptian population live north of cairo. If you dont have water washing down the river, then you get sallow nation of that delta area. So it is not just about food, water, nation of that delta area. So it is notjust about food, water, it is about livelihoods. It has become a National Security issue for egypt, and as we have seems to these reports, the tension is rising, because egypt fears that it is going to be made more unstable by the water that is taking upstream. 0k, beguis water that is taking upstream. 0k, begu is some good news from egypt. Extraordinary footage has emerged of the moment a policeman, caught a little boy who was dangling from the third floor of a building in the city of asyut. You will see the panic on the part of the officers, as they first tried to position a rug beneath the five year old, but it all happened so quick that he ended up falling into one of the policemans arms. What a catch. Lets just take a look again at that in slow mo. Take a bow, that man. The little boy, by all accounts, was uninjured. Here he is afterwards, safe and sound, with some very relieved parents. This is beyond 100 days from the bbc. Coming up for viewers on the bbc news channel and bbc world news bonding in buckinghamshire senior ministers meet at the Prime Ministers country residence to try to reconcile their differences over brexit. Thats still to come. It looks as though we will seek more sunshine as we head towards the weekend. This was the story today. As you can see by the pictures sent in from the scottish borders. After a dreary start, the clouds broke up from that caused, and they will have spells of sunshine, and will continue to take clear skies through the evening, with the exception being the father was. Under clear skies and this time of year, that only leads to one thing a widespread frost. Temperatures in Northern Ireland perhaps holding up slightly above freezing. It will be a cloudy, grey start to Northern Ireland and parts of scotland. We will also see a little bit of cloud coming and all the deep north sea. You can see below the cloud will turn to linger, and also to the Western Isles and into Northern Ireland. For much of wales, central and southern england, just a little bit of cloud and they will seek murk sunshine coming through. Still not a particularly one day, but it is going to get even colder, at this High Pressure across scandinavia really in the driving seat at the moment. As we move into saturday, there will be more of a breeze, particularly on the exposed coast, that will make it feel quite fresh out there. Hopefully, some sunshine to compensate. And again, perhaps Northern Ireland will have more cloud. Itll be chilly on saturday. Into sunday, almost a repeat performance. A stronger breeze down into east anglia and the south east, making it feel much colder than the temperatures suggest. Temperatures around five to 7 degrees. You have probably had that it is going to get even colder still, with the air originating all the way from siberia. 0ver originating all the way from siberia. Over the next few days, it really looks as though the temperatures and set to fall. You can see that in the outlook. Temperatures really struggling to climb. You have been warned. This is beyond 0ne hundred days, with me katty kay in new york Christian Frasers in london. Our top stories. Americas all powerful National Rifle Association Backs the president s call for Armed Security at schools across the United States. The un struggles to agree on a ceasefire in syria as Government Forces continue their intense bombardment of Eastern Ghouta for a 5th day. Coming up in the next half hour. Theresa may holds a war cabinet at the Prime Ministers country residence, chequers to try to agree the governments goals in the brexit process. And the secrets of success, why no one can touch norway at the winter olympics. Let us know your thoughts by using the hashtag. beyond 0ne hundred days crucial, decisive, momentous, urgent pick any of those words and they would probably apply to whats going on the Prime Ministers country retreat right now. Theresa may is surrounded by her closest ministers at a meeting at chequers. She wants unity and a common approach to britains negotiating position with the eu. But those words unity, conservative, and europe very rarely appear in the same sentence. Theresa may has a long day ahead of her and already were being told the meeting could go well into tonight. 0ur Political Correspondent alex forsyth is at chequers and we can speak to her now. The consequences of not finding an agreement has been spilled out to eve ryo ne agreement has been spilled out to everyone in the conservative party. Yes there has been a growing call for clarity, not just yes there has been a growing call for clarity, notjust from mps in westminster or people in the uk but crucially also from the other 27 eu countries. What we want and what theresa mays top team is here for is to work out the more detail about what the uk believes is a long term relationship with the european union. Joined any chance ish in period, the tricky part is the trading relationship. The question is what will replace the Customs Union and single market. How closely will the eu the uk be aligned to the eu beyond brexit and what will some people see as what we are prepared to trade off regarding sovereignty to get access to these markets. These are the kind of thing is the senior ministers will be discussing and continue discussing for the next few hours, to try and provide the clarity so many people are calling forth. It sounds like they are holed up in a confined area and have to come out with an agreement. Given that no secret about divisions between ministers on these issues, if you had to stake your fortune these issues, if you had to stake yourfortune on these issues, if you had to stake your fortune on some of them coming out with something after this meeting, we would you point it . My fortune is not that sizeable but what we can expect from to date is not fine detail. Firstly, the british Prime Minister has to be clear she does not want to conduct these negotiations in public. She thinks it would be damaging to give too much away in terms of public discourse. I think what we will get is some broad statements, perhaps not to date but in the next week or so when we expect theresa may to give more detail, fleshing out the endgame. This is the senior level ministers trying to work out what they want for brexit long term. That is just they want for brexit long term. That isjust a they want for brexit long term. That is just a starting position. It then has to be negotiated with brussels. 0nce has to be negotiated with brussels. Once again we hear from the has to be negotiated with brussels. Once again we hearfrom the eu has to be negotiated with brussels. Once again we hear from the eu there can be no cherry picking. The uk cannot have all the benefits without the rights and obligations of the eu. The balancing act the Prime Minister is conducting right now, will continue for some time. Thank you very much indeed. Not many lights on inside checkers. Indeed. Maybe it is one of those episodes of cluedo. Anyway. Over the past few years there is no doubt that institutions in america and around the globe have taken a beating. Government, banks, charities and corporations all dont hold the same trust they used to. According to former us labor secretary robert reich its led to america losing its National Identity and sense of common good. So can it be regained . Thats the topic of mr reichs new book and he joins us now from washington. Thank you forjoining us. One of the things europeans have admired about the United States is that people feel american first. American muslims, american christians, american swedes, Americans First and foremost. Are you suggesting that model is disappearing . foremost. Are you suggesting that model is disappearing . I think it is u nfortu nately. Model is disappearing . I think it is unfortunately. The kind of xenophobia we have seen, especially under this administration, is the culmination of years of decline in the sense of we, the people. I am not trying to exclude the rest of the world. America was always defined by ideals, not by the colour of ourskin or defined by ideals, not by the colour of our skin or creed. America was a set of principles and protection of laws, freedom of the press but also rule of law. Preciousness of democracy. The notion that the type truth was a public good. We have seen truth was a public good. We have seen increasingly the decline of those norms over the years. We are talking about public morality year. We have to get back. The book is about re establishing those fundamental norms. As those norms have declined, we have also seen a rise in income inequality in this country, stagnation for many people, either two related . They are intimately related. As more and more of the nations wealth and income go to the top, most people begin believing the game is rigged against them. Partly because it is. People are great wealth, large corporations have power to get deals and regulations which helped them but not the average person so wages have stagnated in the United States for many years. 35 years in fact, even though the economy has grown, most of has gone to the very top. That sense that the game is rigged, we see it all so in europe, it was behind brexit and some of the for brexit. In the United States it took the form of a 2016 election which was anti establishment which put donald trump in the white house and cause the democratic nomination to go to Bernie Sanders almost. There isa go to Bernie Sanders almost. There is a phenomenon to both our countries, when it comes to trump and brexit, people do not shift from whatever position needs it. If you believed in President Trump, you will not see eye to eye with the other side. This is bringing something new to politics . M other side. This is bringing something new to politics . It has become used to politics, we have now a kind of tribal politics. It used to be left versus right. Most people we re to be left versus right. Most people were in the middle. Republicans versus democrats. Now you have people who are very anti establishment, anti ruling class that are both on the left and right. You also have, and again donald trump has brought this to the fore, a deep anger between, from the middle part of the country, many of them white voters, not College Educated, not all of them but not couege educated, not all of them but not College Educated tends to describe most of them, anger what they call the elites. People who are more educated and more diverse in many respects. That anger has seeped into almost everything. People do not change their positions, they are digging in. Thank you very much for joining us. Hejoined he worked in the clinton administration. There was probably more of homogeneity in the country. It is really from 1990 onwards we see this rising distrust, along with the rise in income inequality. As he said, it is impossible not to believe they are related. The debate is whether the institutions in this country are Strong Enough to keep the country together. That was the question around their trump election. He has criticised the law agencies, courts and the press but most people would say those agencies are resilient. The investigating are probably doing theirjob as well. The institutions are holding up. The long term trend of fragmentation on the side of the atla ntic of fragmentation on the side of the atlantic and your side, it is hard to see how that ends. Talking of fragmentation dot mac here in the us, the legacy of the black Panther Movement of the 19605 and 70s is one of racial injustice, black empowerment, and armed struggle. These were mostly young, African American men who made headlines with their calls for black liberation, and their violent clashes with police. Now, a new exhibit in new york focuses on 20 former black panther members many who remain incarcerated. The bbcs nada tawfik went for a look. Its been half a century since the black panthers marched through the streets, with upraised fists, crying out power to the people in their black berets and jackets. Many of the black nationalist movements most controversial figures remain in prison today. They are the subjects of this new exhibition by sophia dawson. I think it is really powerful to have somebody whose story was supposed to be forgotten or buried under a rug, to have them on the outside larger than life in front of the people who may be encountering their story for the first time. Sophia says this is a project of both passion and protest. For the last eight years she has written and visited former black panthers still incarcerated. Those letters feature in many of the portraits. Even the technique is a nod to black empowerment. I start off all in black. It is actually an act of protest, a political statement and solidarity with the panther and embracing that the colour black is beautiful. I thnk its really fun to have these colours on a black surface. Power to the people. They were black revolutionaries who openly carried weapons. They said it was for armed self defence against police brutality. To the fbi the panthers were armed militants. To others they were freedom fighters. I did not know that Free Health Clinics in this country did not exist before the Panther Movement. I did not know of the free breakfast clubs did not exist before the Panther Movement. Under constant pressure from law enforcement, the movement faded. This exhibition weaves very personal stories with the larger societal issues the panthers were fighting. Since sophia started painting her subjects, a number have actually been released. They say that the same injustices they saw so many years ago remain. Sekou 0dinga was a leader of the black panthers in new york. He served his time for charges of attempted murder. He maintains he was given a heftier sentence for his ativism and political beliefs. The media always projected us as being some kind of terrorists, some kind of wild, violent bunch. Unprovoked attacks on police. They never talked about how many black men, women and children were dying at the hands of the police every day and still do. The fight against racism and inequality is once again demanding public attention. The upraised fists, athletes taking the knee, the black lives matter movement. Sophia believes understanding of how past activists fought will help todays activists pave the way forward. Anti depressants do work and more people could benefit from taking them thats the verdict of a major study led by Oxford University here in the uk. Scientists analysed data from more than 500 trials and looked at more than 20 drugs and found they all helped patients manage their condition. 0ur correspondent sima kotecha reports. There were times, you know, ifelt really low, to the point i didnt want to be around anyone or anybody or have any interaction with family or friends. There were times when i didnt understand my position in life. Jon needed help. He was struggling to cope. His doctor prescribed antidepressants. I still think theres a lot of stigma around it, as to, you know, are you weak because you take them . Are you are a nut nut because you take them. I had an image ofjack nicholson in one flew over the cuckoos nest at the end when hes a complete and utter zombie and you lose something about yourself, something that makes you you. And thats what i was concerned about, youd turn into zombie without any feeling. But the only way i can describe it is that it gives you a kind of buffer around some of the negative thoughts and your mind racing. Todays report found that 21 of some of the most common antidepressants were more effective at treating anxiety and depression than dummy pills. Those behind the report as well as other gps say the results show that these tablets could help more people cope with low moods. For too long, Healthcare Professionals have been denigrated and slated for prescribing drugs that they know will work. So many patients tell us they work. We only want to do this for the best of our patients. It is not about fobbing people off, it is genuinely trying to help them. In 2016, 65 million prescriptions for antidepressants were issued and the numbers are rising. But some critics say depression can be solved through positive mental attitude. You say youve been on them for five years. The Research Also outlines which pills work best. However, the authors are urging people not to switch medication before getting advice. This is beyond one hundred days. Still to come a leap into the future for the worlds oldest commercial satellite station as the english county of cornwall turns its attention to mars. More than a Million University students face massive disruption for the next month after lecturers walked out over a pensions dispute. They say proposed changes could leave them £10,000 worse off every year in retirement. But thousands of students who pay more than £9,000 in fees a year say theyll demand compensation if their studies are disrupted. 0ur education correspondent Elaine Dunkley reports. At leeds university, lecturers out on the picket line. Thousands of lectures have been cancelled across the uk, the message, give us the pension be paid into or there will be massive disruption. We are likely to lose about £10,000 a year. Vice chancellors are earning £250,000 a year so i have questions about why the money should not be coming out of their salaries and not out of her pension. The University Say a £6 billion deficit in the scheme means it is unsustainable and could only be maintained by making cuts tojobs and research. University say they have offered a good deal but lecturers are not convinced. The Student Support the lecturers but also worried about their future. More than 80,000 students have signed petitions calling for a fees to be reimbursed. When we signed up to be reimbursed. When we signed up to university, it was specified in the cubicle and we would have a certain number of hours of contact time with our lecturers. Anything short of that is a breach of the contract and a breach of the £9,000. We should be compensated for that. think out of our £1150 loss of contact time. This dispute is being fought on campuses across the uk. How it is resolved will have a Significant Impact on the retirement of thousands of lecturers and the future of millions of students. Youre watching beyond one hundred days. Its a nation of only 5 Million People but right now norway is flexing its muscle at the winter games in pyongchang. Look at that ex mac with 35 medals it is leading the pack besting both germany and canada. So what is the secret to their success . The long winters, plentiful snow or the folk saying that in norway people are just born with skis on theirfeet . A brief time ago i spoke with norways ambassador to the us to find out. Ambassador, congratulations, norway is doing fantastically at the 0lympics. How is it that a country of little more than 5 Million People is sweeping south korea at the moment . First of all, thank you for the congratulations. It is very nice these days to be a norwegian. I think also the reason were doing so well has to do with the preparations. Prior to the olympics. Also that skiing in norway, Cross Country or downhill is really popular and part of the norwegian culture and history and traditions. That is also infrastructure in norway. This has had an important impact on the results were seeing. You have long winters and a lot of snow but it has not always indicate you have done so well. In the 2006 0lympics you were beaten by sweden in terms of medals. Did that cause a moment of National Introspection . No, i dont think so. This year norway is doing very well and we have been doing well also in the past. There have also been 0lympic tournaments where we have not done so tournaments where we have not done so well but this year we have won so many medals, which really is fantastic. That can change in the future but now we have to be pleased with the results so far. Is there a sport you have been particularly pleased with . I think the skating was something which we hoped would happen, the 500 metres. And it did. I mention that because we have not one that competition in 70 years so that was very very nice that he was able to win the gold medal. But in general, i would say their norwegian athletes are doing fantastic. We have to recognise what they are doing but also to recognise the support team around them. But skiers, the waxing experts are also vital in the success. I have seen the wonderful stories about waxing experts, who knew the research are critically Important National profession . You of course are ambassador to the United States, the us has not done so well in these 0lympics as Many Americans might have anticipated, does this put you ina not have anticipated, does this put you in a not quite position . No, it is not. We are friends and allies. It isa not. We are friends and allies. It is a healthy competition. Being the norwegian ambassador is great. My colleague is having a harder time than i am having for the time being. Do you wish you were back home, what is the atmosphere like . People are very satisfied with the results but it is also important to say that, this is a friendly competition. It is about sports activities. One of the team leaders of the norwegian tea m the team leaders of the Norwegian Team said that, we are going to quote here to have fun and to make friendship and relations with other nations. That is also an important pa rt nations. That is also an important part of why they are competing and an important part of the olympic spirit. Norway has also gone to the 0lympics spirit. Norway has also gone to the olympics to win, you did not have to see it but thank you very much. Thank you. Christian, youre very smart, and instant maths. 5 Million People, they have won 35 medals, how many medals as that per person. people, they have won 35 medals, how many medals as that per person. I am clearly not very smart at all. Hold ona clearly not very smart at all. Hold on a second, that is one that medal for every 140,000 norwegians. That is phenomenal. Even we could get a medal at that rate. Yes, i could get a medal in Cross Country. I was doing that in andorra last week without skis. I would like to see you speed skating. No, the best performance since 1994. The uk is currently 17th so maybe the norway model is the one to fall. They have a population much smaller than us. Were used to hearing about rocket launches controlled by nasa from houston, but what about missions into space directed from in South West England . Well, multi Million Dollar plans have been announced to upgrade a huge satellite dish on the lizard peninsula in cornwall to direct missions into deep space. It coincides with a bid by newquay airport to become an official space hub for satellite launches putting the region firmly on the space map, asjon kay has been finding out. Newsreel upon the fantastic dish aerial of cornwalls goonhilly downs. Since the 1960s, goonhilly has been making history, like receiving the first pictures from the telstar satellite. Goonhilly marks an impressive step forward in international communication. And now this earth station will be the first place in britain which can direct missions into deep space. This is goonhilly dish number six. This antenna is 32 metres in diameter. Also known as merlin. It rotates 360 degrees. This one was built in the 1980s. It beamed live aid around the world, but now an £8 million upgrade means it will be able to do much, much more. We will be able to send commands to spacecraft around the moon and around mars, and also receive data coming back from the moon and mars. So in 2020 when a mars rover is on the surface of mars and detects life, we could send that data back and be received by this antenna here. Direct to cornwall . Direct to cornwall. And cornwalls ambitions to join the space race dont end here. Newquay airport. Today passengers were flying to dublin and manchester, but soon it could be much further. Because this county, which relies on tourism, wants to take things to the next level. The airport is bidding to turn its two mile runway into a commercial spaceport, hoping for a share of a multi billion pound industry. The millions for goonhilly are coming from the local enterprise partnership, and some ask if its the best use of public money right now. 0ne local baker delivering space themed pasties today believes this poor county needs to aim for the stars. The perception of cornwall from a lot of people is that its a beautiful place, which it undoubtedly is, but we also need a thriving future for people. It would be great to see better high tech jobs being created in a very much a long term project. More customers for you. That would be nice. Pasties and a giant dish. From martine croxall. For now from katty kay in new york and me Christian Fraser in london goodbye. Good evening. It has been a quiet but tree week of weather so far for many of us but looks like we will see more sunshine towards the weekend. This was the story further north and west, the scottish borders. After a truly smart start the south east, the cloud broke up and we had beautiful spells of sunshine. Bat after a dreary start. The exceptions were further west. Widespread hard frost is likely through the spine of the country. Temperatures in Northern Ireland falling slightly below above freezing. A cloudy and grey start for Northern Ireland and parts of scotland. This cloud coming in off the north seacoast. You can see where the cloud will linger and also through the Western Isles and into Northern Ireland. For much of wales and south englands, just a little bit more cloud, more sunshine coming through. Not a particularly warm day. It is going to get even colder. This High Pressure over scandinavia is in the driving seat of our weather pattern. The winds are coming in off the cold european coastline. Into saturday, one of the disease, especially on the exposed coasts, hopefully some lovely spells of sunshine to compensate and perhaps Northern Ireland will have more cloud. A chilly day on saturday. Into sunday, a repeat performance. Some cloud of the north sea for the north and east. This biddies in the south east are making it feel much colder. This biddies. You have probably heard it is going to get even Colder Weather is going to get even Colder Weather is here originating all the way from siberia, moving across a cold continent over the next few days, it looks like the temperatures are set to fall. You can see from the outlook. You have been warned. This is bbc news. Im martine croxall. The headlines at 8 00 haiti suspends 0xfam operations in the country, as it investigates claims of Sexual Misconduct by charity aid workers in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. It comes as unicefs Deputy Director Justin Forsyth resigns saying he doesnt want coverage of his past to damage his current work. He was accused of sending inappropriate texts whilst working at save the children. Hell on earth the death toll rises again near syrias capital as Government Forces continue bombing civilians in rebel held areas. Police say a letter containing a substance sent to st jamess palace is being treated as a racist hate crime its reported the letter was addressed to prince harry and meghan markle. Also this hour the head of americas all powerful National Rifle Association Backs the president s call for Armed Security at schools across the United States