To a no deal brexit will cost the Global Economy 700 billion next year. A warm welcome to the programme, briefing you on all you need to know in global news, business and sport. This is wednesdays briefing. Also in the programme caring for the elderly is a global issue in the uk, 20 of workers aged over 45 expect to quit theirjobs to care for an elderly relative or partner, at an estimated cost of nearly 2 billion a year. Are you in this position . Do tell us your story. Just use the hashtag bbcthebriefing. Now, there is general agreement brexit talks are not going smoothly but publicly at least both sides say they are still trying. On tuesday the eus donald tusk accused the british Prime Minister of playing a stupid blame game after anonymous uk government sources briefed that a deal was essentially impossible. Borisjohnson is due to have face to face talks later this week with the irish leader leo varadkar. In a newspaper interview, the president of the european commission, jean claude juncker, was forthright. He said he does not accept what he called the blame game that is being played, which aims to pin the eventual failure of the negotiations on the european union. Nobody, he said, would come out a winner in this scenario. Heres our europe editor, katya adler. This isnt the end of the road for the eu because they are looking more long term. They think a new brexit extension is the most likely outcome here, giving more time for talks. But no one here is starry eyed that id talked to about the idea of more time. Of course you still need to find an accord between the eu and the uk acceptable to the European Parliament and the Uk Parliament as well. And of course, no one knows exactly what that accord will look like. Neither now, nor in two or three months time. Alpesh patel, chief executive of praefinium partnersjoins me now. Good morning. Youve been looking at all of these latest comments, the irish taoiseach saying hes going to work extremely hard as is the uk government to see how they can move forward , government to see how they can move forward, if possible. Give us your ta ke forward, if possible. Give us your take on how all of this is going . This is particular important for us because we are a business that exploits, an investment company. You export services. Is a heck of a lot easier than exporting goods across the irish or uk border because it is all digital. Having said that, it does not feel realistic to us that in three weeks, are about to leave, yes, we are speaking to our a ccou nta nt yes, we are speaking to our accountant and compliance officers about changes we need to be aware of, and what is going on, were sort of, and what is going on, were sort of getting a ugh kind of response was that i cant even put it in words. I think, was that i cant even put it in words. Ithink, bloody was that i cant even put it in words. I think, bloody hack, was that i cant even put it in words. Ithink, bloody hack, that was that i cant even put it in words. I think, bloody hack, that is worrying. Do you get the impression, well have to say, we are all reading between the lines here, we dont actually know what is happening between his private discussions between borisjohnson, Angela Merkel and other eu leaders. You get the impression there is a blame game going on here, that actually the uk government is that ona actually the uk government is that on a no deal on october 31, but they arejust sort of on a no deal on october 31, but they are just sort of playing around . Because our business livelihood depends on us being able to interpret this correctly we have to train spent most of our time trying to re m ove train spent most of our time trying to remove personal bases out of it otherwise were going to get it wrong for our otherwise were going to get it wrong for oui own otherwise were going to get it wrong for our own businesses and livelihoods personal bases. Some people will take it as one persons oi people will take it as one persons or the other, we dont really care about that. There might be that strategy going on, it doesnt bother us strategy going on, it doesnt bother us at all. Were trying to get bottom of is there going to be an exit on that date or not . And on a day to day basis, every time we hear somebody saying it looks like a hard brexit, we know ok, the pound is likely to fall. I havent warned you in advance, so you havent been able to, sincei in advance, so you havent been able to, since i saw you at 4am. The institute of fiscal studies report, what do you make of that . Id seen it. If there is a benign Nodeal Brexit at the end of this month, its looking bad for uk debt Going Forward because of the promises made by the uk government in terms of their spending. Ive been pushing for, and in this programme included, and it is something that the government has that as well, increase that is not necessarily a problem because of low interest rates. We are borrowing on an International Credit card of a low interest rate. I prefer no debt to debt, but if were going to have debt, but if were going to have debt, it should be a low debt. Debt, but if were going to have debt, it should be a low debtm debt, but if were going to have debt, it should be a low debt. It is the highest since the 1960s. Absolutely, but the cost of servicing is the issue. And whether oi servicing is the issue. And whether or not we go read in the international market, the chinese by a bit, the japanese by a bit, whether the rest of the world would be willing. The morning after brexit, i was here, be willing. The morning after brexit, iwas here, if be willing. The morning after brexit, i was here, if you recall, and all ofa brexit, i was here, if you recall, and all of a sudden the rest of the world was more willing on bond prices divide british debt because they thought it was a safe haven, perversely, you might think. I thought it was perverse, but they we re thought it was perverse, but they were willing to, because the cost of borrowing for the uk government had actually dropped after brexit. They said no, its a safe haven. Simon is about the amount of debt because of the International Interest rate so the International Interest rate soiam the International Interest rate so i am less worried. Not so much as the iss is. Thank you for now. We will have you back a little later. He is heading to the green room where he is going to get some cold and flu medicine. Hes got germs, which im hoping he wont spread to me. Anyway, it is a time of the year in the uk, im afraid. Lets have a look at the other stories. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has told President Trump he is not above the law after the white house has confirmed it will not co operate with the impeachment inquiry. An official letter to Democratic Party leaders claims the process is constitutionally illegitimate, and accuses them of seeking to rewrite the 2016 election result. Mr trump has blocked one key witness, the Us Ambassador to the european union, from giving evidence to congress, and democrats have now issued a subpoena to try to force him to appear. This from our reporter peter bowes. A clash at the heart of american government. The white house flexing its muscle and refusing to have anything to do with the democrats impeachment enquiry in the house of representatives. In an 8 page letter, the president s lawyer says the enquiry violates fundamental fairness, and lacks any legitimate constitutional foundation. It accuses the democrats of seeking to overturn the results of the 2016 election, and deprive the American People of the president theyve freely chosen. The white house believes the enquiry is flawed because its moving forward without a vote on the floor of the house of representatives. The first sign the administration was putting up a roadblock to the enquiry came when this man, gordon sondland, the Us Ambassador to the european union, failed to appear before the house intelligence committee. The democrats want to question him about his role in discussions with ukrainian officials, which have led to claims President Trump asked a foreign power to investigate a political rival. At the last minute, the state department stopped mr sondland from appearing. President trump tweeted the democrats were quick to object. The failure to produce this witness, the failure to produce these documents, we consider yet additional strong evidence of obstruction of the constitutional functions of congress, a coequal branch of government. The white house says the impeachment process should be abandoned so the president can focus on leading the country and fulfilling his promises to the American People. But with the country on the verge of a constitutional crisis, this is a tug of war that donald trump wont be able to ignore. Peter bowes, bbc news. Lets brief you on some of the other stories making the news. Doctors in the uk have been told to stop prescribing four types of a heartburn medication called zantac also known as ranitidine as a precautionary measure. It follows concern in several countries that products may contain an impurity that has been linked to cancer. The four being recalled were prescription only zantac medicines a syrup, an injection and tablets. The Us Government has imposed visa restrictions on chinese officials thought to be involved in abuses against ethnic uighur muslims. On monday, the us also blacklisted 28 chinese organisations, saying they were involved in the systematic repression and surveillance of minority groups. China accuses washington of interfering in its internal affairs. Italys parliament has voted to cut the number of members by more thana third. The populist five star movement, the main party in the governing coalition, claims the move will save1 billion euro over a decade. There are also claims that the change will weaken italian democracy. A uk Ticket Holder has won the full £170 million euromillions jackpot, thats the equivalent of 207 million us, making them britains richest ever lottery winner. If the winner is an individual, their newfound fortune would earn them a place on the sunday times rich list of the 1,000 wealthiest people. We may never find out. Protesters have clashed with Security Forces inside ecuadors heavily guarded parliament. After days of unrest, the president has moved the government out of the capital, but demonstrators briefly burst through a police cordon, and were driven back with tear gas. The protestors led by indigenous groups are demanding an end to austerity and the return of fuel subsidies. We will have more on that story later in the briefing. Still to come Roger Federer eases his way into the final 16 of the shanghai masters, but andy murray loses his cool and his place in the tournament. This was a celebration by people who were relishing their freedom. They believe everythings going to be different from now on. They think their country will be respected in the world once more as it used to be before Slobodan Milosevic took power. The dalai lama, the exiled spiritual leader of tibet, has won this years nobel peace prize. As the parade was reaching its climax, two grenades exploded and a group of soldiers jumped from a military truck taking part in the parade, and ran towards the president , firing from kalashnikov automatic rifles. After 437 years, the skeletal ribs of henry viiis tragic warship emerged. But, even as divers worked to buoy her up, the mary rose went through another heart stopping drama. I want to be the peoples governor. I want to represent everybody. I believe in the people of california. Youre watching the briefing. Our headlines as the eu accuses britains Prime Minister of a blame game over brexit, irelands Prime Minister says hell work until the very last moment to try to secure a deal, but not at any cost. The white house says it wont cooperate with the impeachment inquiry launched by democrats, calling it partisan and unconstitutional. Lets you bring the latest on ecuador as promised where protesters have classed with Security Forces inside a heavily guarded parliament. Ecuador is descending into anarchy. A state of emergency has been declared, riot police and the military are out in full force and furious protesters are clashing with them outside the parliament. A handful of demonstrators briefly stormed the building before being hauled out by the police. The reason for the chaos a fuel price hike imposed by the government and president lenin moreno. A hugely unpopular move with millions of people, many of them from indigenous groups who were already struggling to make ends meet. Translation weve come because theyve taken our fuel. Thats no good for us. Translation the bankers, the rich, the millionaires, theyre fine. For us, itsjust no good. Hundreds have been arrested amid the violence and theres little sign of things slowing down in the short term. On wednesday, a National Strike has been called and the tensions and confrontation on the streets is only likely to increase. Although some protesters made their way into the parliament, theyd have found it empty. Instead, president moreno has moved his cabinet and his government to ecuadors second city of guayaquil for their own safety. He can still count on the militarys support, at least for the time being. Translation the democratic system cannot be violated. The constitution cannot be violated. You cannot damage the assets of ecuadorians and the ecuadorian people in general and, of course, nor damage the physical integrity of people. Thats why we are here. One of the biggest difficulties he faces is that oil output, the lifeblood of the ecuadorian economy, has been cut by almost a third since the crisis began with indigenous groups blocking key oil installations. The longer that goes on, the more the Economic Situation deteriorates, making a reversal of the unpopular fuel hike unlikely. In the meantime, the streets of quito resemble a war zone with a National Strike still to come. Will grant, bbc news. If you have been watching the briefings so far this week, it is 30 yea rs briefings so far this week, it is 30 years since etymology was events of 1989 when the berlin wall fell, the iron curtain lifted and the soviet empire began to crumble. The tumultuous events of 1989 when the berlin wall fell, the iron curtain lifted and the soviet empire began to crumble. This week, our moscow correspondent, steve rosenberg, has a special series of reports on how russia views 1989. Today, he travels to the former east germany where hundreds of thousands of soviet troops were based, and there he finds ghosts of the communist past. Every empire believes it will last forever. But eventually falls. Across eastern germany are pieces of the soviet empire. Shards of a superpower. Red army bases lie abandoned. There is something ghostly about the soviet legacy. This was the red armys largest base outside the ussr. The scale of the soviet military presence in east germany was staggering. There were 800 garrisons here and 500,000 soviet troops. But then again, for moscow, this was its key outpost in europe. And its east german comrades were happy to play host. Translation . In1989, in 1989, the berlin wall fell and everything changed. Within a year, east and west germany have reunited. Moscow agreed to withdraw its troops. The red army had been here since defeating the nazis. In germany, the departing troops did little to conceal their true feelings. What the russians didnt leave much when they pulled out. They made sure they left this. This isa they made sure they left this. This is a reminder to germany of the 27 million soviet citizens who were killed in the war. It wasnt only germany that was changing. In 1989, for millions across eastern europe, the fall of the iron curtain brought freedom. Form s for moscow commitment the end of its empire. Todays russia wants to forget about 1989. It was, yes, an amazing period, but it was a period of backtracking, defeat. What is left stands like a monument to past glories. To a superpower defeated. To an empire once thought of as invincible. Steve rosenberg, bbc news, germany. And we will have more from steve tomorrow. But now, lets focus on the latest sports news. Tennis as well as other events. Its over to the bbc sports centre. Hello, im gavin ramjaun, and this is your wednesday sport briefing. In his first tour match since the us open, Roger Federer eased his way through to the third round at the shanghai masters. The 20 time grand slam champion beat spaniard Albert Ramos Vinolas in straight sets, 6 2, 7 6. But theres no place in the next round for andy murray. The 3 time champion showed more positive signs on his road to recovery from hip surgery, but was just edged out by italian Fabio Fognini in a bad tempered match. A furious murray accused fognini of shouting during a critical point, which led to an ugly confrontation. Ive never had in a match and i have played, i dont know, 800 odd matches on the tour ive never had that happen. He wanted to engage with me, fabio, like he shouldnt have done, i probably shouldnt have done, but im not having him talk to me like that on the court. Shes the biggest name in gymnastics, and now, simone biles has gone into a league of her own by becoming the most successful female in World Championship history. Biles won her 21st world medal as the usa took gold in the womens team event at the world gymnastics championships in stuttgart. They finished nearly a full six marks ahead of second placed russia. The bronze medal went to italy who won their first team medal since 1950. Scotland can set up a final Group Showdown with tournament hosts japan if they can overcome russia later. And wales will be hoping they can follow their win against australia with another against fiji. The South Pacific side still harbour hopes of advancing themselves but will have a tough task as wales have had ten days off and are aiming to finish top of their group. Were edging ever closer to baseballs world series. The finalists of the National LeagueDivision Series will become clear on wednesday. Both play offs are tied at 2 2. St Louis Cardinals are at Atlanta Braves for their decider and Washington Nationals are at los angeles dodgers. Game five, when i go home. I like the recent familiarity. If there is going to be 115,000 fans there, yes, asafan, going to be 115,000 fans there, yes, as a fan, as a player, you live for moments like this. Sri lanka will play their final game of their tour of pakistan later. They lead 2 0 and have already won the t20 series despite several players missing the trip due to security concerns. Its their first tour of pakistan since gunmen attacked their team bus ten years ago. The hosts won the one day series. You can get all the latest sports news at our website. Thats bbc. Com sport. But from me and the rest of the sport team, thats your wednesday sport briefing. Thank you to the team for that. Now, hows this for a tale of endurance and overcoming adversity . A penguin that swam more than 2,500 kilometres thats about 1,500 miles all the way from new zealand to australia. The bold explorer was eventually rescued by a local zoo and has now been released for a return journey. The bbcs tim allman has the story. There are swimmers. And then there are swimmers. This is a fiordland penguin, albeit no ordinary fiordland penguin. This little bird is made of sterner stuff after going on a very long journey. The fiordland penguin is unique to new zealand and tends to breed along the south west coast of the countrys south island. For reasons known only to itself, the penguin struck out alone, swimming across the tasman sea until it was discovered at kennett river, rescued by the Marine Response unit at melbourne zoo. When it was found, the bird was struggling and underweight and had to be slowly nursed back to health. Experts are uncertain as to why it travelled so far, but this type of penguin is known to forage for food over long distances. Once it was back on its feet and in full health, the penguin was taken to a nearby beach and returned to the wild. The hope is it will find its way back home and then be able to breed. It is a tough life out there in the ocean said the zoos head of veterinary services. But this is one tough penguin. Tim allman, bbc news. A tough penguin with amazing swim and capabilities. In business briefing, we will focus on the cost of looking after elderly relatives oi of looking after elderly relatives ora of looking after elderly relatives or a partner who is unwell for example. It is a big issue and in the uk, they have tried to calculate the uk, they have tried to calculate the cost of the economy. I asked if this was your story and many of you have been in touch, so thank you for your comments. It is notjust the over 45 that cut back on work to ca re over 45 that cut back on work to care for the older generation. My dad had cancelled twice when i was in my 30s. It is 6 our daily round trip ta ken for treatment in my 30s. It is 6 our daily round trip taken for treatment and yet i getjudge forces by the living off my parents. Another viewer has beenin off my parents. Another viewer has been in touch. She talks about how she stopped working to look after both her parents. Her dad has health problems, her mum has dementia. Thank you for getting in touch. Use the hashtag bbcthebriefing. Take a look at those comments. Hello there. Lots more showers to come as we head through wednesday. Similar as we head through wednesday. Story the next few saying similar story the next few days, saying unsettled, low pressure nearby and it will remain rather breezy and windy for many of us. Low pressure to the north of the country, strong winds and low showers. Thursday and friday looks more unsettled and we could see active weather fronts bring more unsettled and we could see active weatherfronts bring more persistent rain rather than showers. Yesterday i mentioned it will not be particularly cold though the source shouldnt be too cold either. Wednesday, right across the east, lots of showers in the south of england and south west, these could be heavy and thundery through the day and plenty of showers affecting western scotland, some of them merging together to produce longer spells of rain. A blustery day for all, particularly when the shower comes along. Temperatures, a few degrees and what we had on tuesday so degrees and what we had on tuesday so low to mid teens celsius. Wednesday night it stays blustery, lots of showers across the north and the west in particular across western scotland and Northern Ireland. Links dryer interludes across central and eastern areas. Temperatures dipped down to seven to 10 degrees for most. Low pressure pushes off to the north east. We look at the next system bringing stronger wind and also more persistent rain to part of the north and west of country for thursday. Sunshine, clouds begin to build in the western see more persistent rain spread across Northern Ireland into scotland, ab north west england. A few showers running into wales and the south west. Central and eastern areas may stay dry. Temperatures up again, 16, maybe 17 degrees. This system will bring a tangle of weather fronts on friday, system will bring a tangle of weatherfronts on friday, uncertain as to where these funds will end up. North west of scotland could be quite wet, part of Northern Ireland early in the day. Another system is putting south west across lots of england and wales to bring persistent rain. Sunshine in between. Temperatures might be higher in the south, 17, 18 degrees, teens in the north. It remains u nsettled teens in the north. It remains unsettled into the weekend. Low pressure nearby so it will stay quite windy for many and showers and longer spells of rain. This is the business briefing. Im sally bundock. The new boss of the imf tells the bbc, global tensions, from the us china trade war to a no deal brexit, could cost the Global Economy 700 billion next year. Beijing criticises apple over an app that helps protestors tracks police in hong kong, hot on the heels of the National Basketball association row, we go live to our Asia Business hub. And right now, the only way is down for Financial Markets worldwide as investors weigh the escalation in tensions between the us and china