Also on the programme this lunchtime. Scotlands first minister Nicola Sturgeon sets out her plans for another independence referendum, and warns Boris Johnson not to oppose it. Record temperatures in australia almost 42 degrees celsius as hundreds of bush fires burn out of control. And after stepping out of the ring, a dramatic change of career for the olympic boxer nicola adams. And coming up on bbc news, liverpool confirm their First Signing of the january transfer window japans Takumi Minamino signs a 4. 5 year deal. Good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. The queen has outlined the governments agenda for the next year following the conservatives decisive election victory last week. Addressing both houses at the state opening of parliament, her majesty said her government would embark on an Ambitious Programme of domestic reform that delivers on the peoples priorities. Legislation to take the uk out of the European Union on 31st ofjanuary is among over 30 bills announced. Other measures include guarantees on extra Health Service funding in england and more cash for schools. There are also proposals for new sentencing laws for serious violent offenders, including terrorists. And the government says it wants to ensure the whole of the uk can prosper with plans for more infrastructure spending. Simon mccoy is at westminster. Sophie, thank you. There was a certain sense of deja vu amid all the somewhat scaled down pomp and ceremony here today no gold coaches and a little less of the frippery associated with the event here at westminster this morning and thats because the last queens speech was only nine weeks ago, before the uk went to the polls. The parliamentary arithmetic is now, of course, very different. The speech is essentially the governments to do list and theres plenty borisjohnson wants to do not least of course, brexit. Our Political Correspondent nick eardley reports. Got a sense of deja vu . Its less than ten weeks since we last had a queens speech. This one is a bit different though. Scaled back, no golden carriage. No ceremonial dress for the queen. The biggest changes here in the house of commons. Black rod mr speaker, the queen commands this honourable house stop summoned to the lords to hear the governments plan for the next year, led by a victorious Prime Minister, a small and weakened opposition. Look at the tension between them. Borisjohnson look at the tension between them. Boris johnson can now look at the tension between them. Borisjohnson can now make his promises reality and that means in a few weeks time, the uk will leave the eu. My governments priority is to deliver the united kingdoms departure from the eu on the 31st of january. My ministers will bring forward legislation to ensure the uks exit on that date. And to make the most of the opportunities this brings for all the people of the uk. But he wants to persuade you theres more to his government, a detailed agenda beyond brexit. The top domestic priority is the Health Service, enshrining in law the promise to spend 3a billion extra a year. My government will embark on an Ambitious Programme of domestic reform that delivers on the peoples priorities. For the first time, the national Health Services multi year funding settlement agreed earlier this year will be enshrined in law. There will be legislation to change the uks immigration system and improve broadband connectivity. And a pledge to change sentencing for serious crimes. New sentencing laws will ensure the most serious violent offenders, including terrorists, serve longer in custody. New laws will require schools, police, councils and Health Authorities to Work Together to prevent serious crime. Ministers say the programme shows they mean business. This five year ambitious plan, the 34 billion additional investment, is exactly what the nhs meets. This is a peoples queens speech. Opposition parties are still sceptical. We are deeply concerned about the headlines differentiating from the reality of peoples lives and that divide has got greater and greater over the last few years under this government. We are going to carry on being the real opposition as weve been over the last number of years and we will be focusing on protecting the nhs, focusing on protecting the nhs, focusing on protecting the nhs, focusing on ensuring the Social Security system is fair and actually catches people. The election may be over but the debate goes on. Boris johnson promised during the campaign that a majority government would get the country moving again. His challenge now is to make that happen, notjust challenge now is to make that happen, not just to challenge now is to make that happen, notjust to deliver brexit but to fulfil those other key campaign pledges too, not least those made to people in the north who voted tory for the first time. A day of tradition in westminster but with a new government comes change and much of what happens around here will feel very different. Our Health Editor hugh pym is with me. What caught your eye . What did catch the eye was the legislation to underpin the extra cash for the nhs in england over the next five years which will raise the budget by 33. 9 billion in cash terms in the year 2023 compared to now. That is quite an innovation. Normally a spending commitment is made but doesnt require an act of parliament so why arent the conservative government doing that . The political intention is to say, you heard all sorts of numbers being thrown backwards and forwards in the campaign, here is legislation that will commit us to delivering this extra money for the nhs. The only thing is that money was committed by theresa may last yearin was committed by theresa may last year in herfive was committed by theresa may last year in her five year plan for was committed by theresa may last year in herfive year plan for nhs england with that number, give or ta ke england with that number, give or take a bit of adjustment for inflation. Simon steven knows hes going to get it anyway and it would be odd for any government to suddenly cut it back. You might say is ita suddenly cut it back. You might say is it a gimmick or a political move. Weve also heard in the queen speech about the intention of the government to recruit thousands more nurses and doctors and to focus on the workforce because of shortages in the nhs, writing apps, but no detail about that. Rotate gaps. Theres a lot of plans are long term but not so much detail about the short term. Thank you. Well, the speech included government plans to cut Business Rates across england and wales to try and revive high streets. Lets speak to our business correspondent, dharshini david. At im wondering how business will react. We know that Business Rates area react. We know that Business Rates are a huge problem for companies up and down the country, particularly retailers who pay about a quarter of the business rate bill, a quarter of the business rate bill, a quarter of the 30 billion or so raised by government every year. They are struggling in many cases. We are told these plans to revamp the high street. Does it stack up . Whats on offer is concessions of about £320 million and that is just for one year. That 1 of the total bill, it doesnt add up to a huge amount. Businesses will be waiting to hear if there is any more planned in the budget but dont hold your breath because theres not much the government can afford to give away. And this comes at a time when businesses are going to have to fork out an extra £3 billion plus per yearin out an extra £3 billion plus per year in Corporation Tax bills than they were expecting prior to the election due to the cancellation of tax cuts in that area. Plenty there for businesses to grapple with so forget the headlines, its not all balconies and they will have to think about how they are willing to pay for the Higher National living wage that the government wants to introduce. It has got ambitious plans which could help alleviate in work poverty quite drastically but on the other hand goes further than most countries have already gone and the big question is can businesses afford that bill without cutting back on hiring . Business groups and those representing the low alike are urging government to be cautious and keep monitoring the impact of all of this representing business and the low paid alike. This representing business and the lowpaid alike. Thank you. Our assistant Political Editor norman smith is inside the houses of parliament for us. A new government, what have we learned about their priorities today . I think we learned quite a bit because although its tempting to say this queens speech looks like the last one in ten weeks ago, there is one fundamental difference which is the last queens speech was a pie in the sky fantasy queens speech. None of it was ever going to be implemented because borisjohnson didnt have a majority. It simply wasnt going to happen. All changed now because he is armed with a thumping 80 seat majority. This is no longer a fantasy queens speech, this is a legislative programme of action which is actually going to happen. Secondly, it is packed full of measures, 30 different bills and design to say to folk, parliamentary gridlock, the quagmire of introspection and inactivity, but ends and we can now get on with doing all of those things which previously had to be put on hold. It is striking how many of the measures are designed to appeal to those voters who borisjohnson acknowledges dont normally vote tory but lent him their vote at the last election. We get a pack of measures on the nhs, extra cash to provide more funding for schools outside london, the promise of more and better road and rail links in the north. The one wrinkle in this is our old friend aunty brexit. Although mrjohnson will surely get his brexit bill through the commons, hes been got to secure a trade deal. As we know, when it comes to brexit life is rarely easy or simple and it still has the potential to suck a lot of energy out of the government. Thank you. Sophie, a new political era is under way. Much more reaction from westminster throughout the afternoon on the bbc news channel. But for now back to sophie in the studio. Scotlands first minister says the mandate for a new independence referendum is now unarguable. After the snp won 48 of the 59 seats in scotland at the general election, Nicola Sturgeon has now published a document laying out what she says is a detailed case for another referendum. Borisjohnson has repeatedly made clear his opposition to such a move. Our scotland correspondent lorna gordon is at holyrood. This is the document detailing the arguments as Nicola Sturgeon sees it in favour of scotlands right to choose its own constitutional future. The first minister earlier also confirming that today she is sending a letter to the uk government asking them to transfer powers normally reserved to westminster to the Scottish Parliament at holyrood. Enabling it to hold any referendum. She wants what is called a section 30 or debbie because she wants any independence referendum to be beyond legal challenge section 30 order. The dilemma is Nicola Sturgeon wants a referendum, the uk government says no and see it as a damaging distraction. Nicola sturgeon says she believes that position will not hold. The more a tory government seeks to block the will of the scottish people, the more they show complete and utter contempt for scottish democracy, the more support for independence will rise. So, their short term strategy, in my view, sows the seeds of their longer term defeat. It is self defeating, but it will not hold because it is not a democratic position. I think we see the tectonic plates of this shifting already in the days since the election. So, im going to stand my ground. I fully expect today well get the flat no of tory westminster opposition, but thats not an end of the matter and borisjohnson should not be under any illusion that it is. Nicola sturgeon wouldnt be drawn on what her next steps would be but its fair to say she is playing the long game and this constitutional stand off isnt coming to an end anytime soon. Thank you. The bank of england has said it was wholly unacceptable for its audio feeds to be misused by traders who tried to gain a financial advantage over their rivals. They were able to listen to the banks news conferences several seconds before they were broadcast on video feeds enough time to beat the rest of the market. Our Business Editor simon jack is here. We are only talking about a few seconds. Five to eight seconds. How much of an advantage with are able to gain . It is potentially quite valuable. Sometimes it sounds like technical gobbledygook when they talk but the Financial Markets listen to every word and nuance of some sort of hint about what will happen to things like interest rates. A small rise could have a big effect on the value of the pound, on government bonds. These traders were getting the audio feed much easier to co m press getting the audio feed much easier to compress and send a few seconds earlier, they were able to beat the rest of the market by hearing what the governor of the bank of england was saying before the rest of us did. In that time, you could easily make a trade in pounds or government bonds and potentially make some real money. The bank says they are looking into this and have asked the fca to have a look. Its very embarrassing. They are usually paranoid about controlling the release of information. They know how valuable the information is. Although they say the actual things like interest decisions were not, you can get them earlier, it is the news co nfe re nces you can get them earlier, it is the news conferences after. At those words can and do move market so this isa words can and do move market so this is a major embarrassment for them. Figures for last month show the worst ever performance at accident and emergency units in welsh hospitals. Less than 75 of patients were seen within four hours in november. The target is 95 . Our wales correspondent Hywel Griffith is in cardiff. They really are missing those targets by quite some margin . Yes, absolutely. 20 down on what should be hit, thats from 95 of patients seen be hit, thats from 95 of patients seen within four hours. Here at wales busiest hospital, busiest a e unit it was 75 last month and that was one of the better hospitals in wales. In north wales at one hospital only 57 of patients seen within four hours and perhaps more worrying was the number of patients in wales who spent more than 12 hours waiting to be seen, almost 6000 of them in november. That isnt the only part of the system under strain. Ambulances havent been getting too enough category red calls within the eight minute window. We are seeing people not getting cancer treatments on time, so clearly the nhs in wales is under strain as it is across the rest of the uk. The performance here is worse than in england and in scotland, but marginally better than in northern ireland. Everyones problems are the same, record demand, an Elderly Population thats living longer but living with chronic conditions that often exacerbate at this time of year with trips and slips. The most government say the last month was particularly difficult because we saw outbreaks of flu and norovirus within the wards of some hospitals. They say theyve got a winter plan but hearing from some senior consultants who work in a e within wales, they say they are trying to work through a tsunami by throwing sand bags at the problem. They think potentially systemic change is whats needed and that would take an awful lot more money and an awful lot longer to deliver. Thank you. Our top story this lunchtime. The queen sets out the governments plans for the next year, with brexit taking centre stage in more than 30 bills. And coming up calls for the ministry of defence to do more to tackle a rise in racism in the military. Coming up on bbc news, english batsmen alex hales scores 68 runs from 38 deliveries, as his sydney thunder side beat melbourne renegades by six wickets in australias big bash. The record breaking heatwave in australia shows no sign of letting up. The average temperature nationally has reached 41. 9 degrees celsius thats 107. 4 fahrenheit. A week long state of emergency has been declared in New South Wales, where more than a hundred bushfires continue to burn out of control. Two firefighters have been seriously hurt after their fire engine was reportedly engulfed by flames. Phil mercer reports from the blue mountains, north of sydney. Choking smoke, intense heat and raging bush fires. Its been another brutal day in australia. The battle to protect life and property seems never ending, but despite a mammoth firefighting effort more houses have been lost. A seven day state of emergency in New South Wales is giving fire authorities additional powers to cope with dozens of blazes, many of which are burning out of control. The biggest concern for us over the next few days is the unpredictability, with extreme wind conditions, extreme hot temperatures. We have a good idea, a good sense of where the most concerning areas are, but again, when youve got those turbulent wind conditions, embers and spot fires can occur very unpredictably. Military helicopters have joined a huge emergency effort thats being stretched to the limit. On the front line, crews, many of them volunteers, have confronted the sheer ferocity of the flames. Three firefighters were injured, two of them seriously, when theirfire engine was engulfed by flames. The bushfires are again spreading a toxic haze across sydney and other parts of New South Wales. A heatwave has made a dangerous situation even worse. The heat and the smoke are almost unbearable. The streets here in sydneys outer western suburbs are almost deserted. Air quality is at a hazardous level. It is so bad my eyes are stinging, my throat is dry, and my lungs feel sore from all of the smoke blown in from the bushfires. As the fires continue to rage, so does the debate about whether the conservative Prime MinisterScott Morrison is taking the threat of Climate Change seriously. Dont get me started on the government thats just yeah, he should be doing so much more. The bushfires i think are just a normal part of australia, a little bit worse this year, but ten years ago was the same, and im not so sure that Climate Change is responsible for what were experiencing here. We are currently experiencing very hazardous air quality. The record for australias hottest day has been broken for a second time this week. Maximum temperatures across the country reached an average of 41. 9 degrees. Officials fear that conditions on saturday could be even worse. Phil mercer, bbc news, sydney. Donald trump has become only the third us president to be impeached. The democrat controlled house of representatives last night approved two charges, setting up a trial next month in the senate but its dominated by republicans so the president is almost certain to remain in office. Mr trump denies abusing his power and obstructing congress, and says the process is a witch hunt. Our correspondent nada tawfik is in washington. Given that the senate is so dominated by republicans, the president is unlikely, very unlikely, to be found guilty. What are the democrats hoping to achieve by this . Could it backfire . are the democrats hoping to achieve by this . Could it backfire . I think whats really interesting is the message from democrats during this marathon, very partisan, passionate debate in the house yesterday, that they were given no choice by president trump. This was something they had to do. They felt like taking the oath of the constitution they had to protect any future election interference and they said that the president presented an ongoing threat to inviting foreign intervention in elections. And democrats have, remember, for a while been divided in their caucus. Many members wanted to impeach the president after the muller report into russian interference but nancy pelosi really for a long time said that wasnt something that she was going to do until now. I think whats interesting is going into the senate trial, what were hearing from democrats today is that they are going to wait to present the two articles of impeachment to the senate until they are assured they can geta senate until they are assured they can get a fair trial. They only need four republican senators to join the democrats in the senate to push for witnesses like the acting white house chief of staff mick mulvaney, likejohn boulton, house chief of staff mick mulvaney, like john boulton, to house chief of staff mick mulvaney, likejohn boulton, to be. To testify and so democrats are hoping that more will come to light that could possibly help them. They are not taking this as inevitable, by any means, that the senate will put the president even if all of us know that the most likely outcome. Thank you. A six year old boy who was left fighting for his life after being thrown from the viewing platform of the tate modern art gallery in london has started to speak again, his family has revealed. The french boy, who is too young to be named, is also regaining some sensation in his arms and legs. In an online post, his family said his speech was still very stilted but called it wonderful progress. He was attacked on the 4th of august by 18 year old jonty bravery. Bravey has admitted attempted murder and will be sentenced in february. A 15 year old migrant boy is in the care of social services after he was found on the central reservation of the m6 last night. Police say the boy is believed to be from iraq and became separated from his parents a few days ago. He was found walking on the central reservation near great barr, north of birmingham, at about ten oclock last night. The woman in charge of complaints in the armed forces has warned that racist incidents in the military are happening with increasing and depressing frequency. Nicola williams says the ministry of defence needs to do more to tackle the problem. It comes after a number of high profile cases involving soldiers whove taken legal action against the army. The mod says its committed to stamping out racism. Our defence correspondent Jonathan Beale reports. Theres my grandfather, World War Two and his medals. Mark de kretser has always had strong ties to the military. My dad, raf, aden, and his medals. His father, who came from sri lanka, joined the raf. Then we have mine. Those are your medals . Yeah. So thats. Iraq, afghanistan. Mark signed up to the army soon after he left school, serving first as a regular and then as a reserve, but it wasnt combat which left him suffering from post traumatic stress. It was racism. My name wasnt english and as they said, i had a bit of the tar brush in me. There would be names that would come up in the meetings and they were asked to be called black, buddha. Itjust got to the point where i wasnt worried about how i performed at work. I was worried about what was going to be said to me next. Its not the image the army wants. Recent recruitment campaigns have highlighted its diversity and tolerance. It wants more black and asian personnel, who currently make up just 7 of the armed forces. But the harsh reality is that ethnic minorities already make a higher proportion of complaints about bullying, harassment and discrimination. Now, in herfirst tv interview, the independent armed forces ombudsman, overseeing complaints, warns they have a serious problem. I think racism is prevalent in the armed forces, whether or not you describe it as institutionally racist or there are racist incidents which are occurring with increasing and depressing frequency, the issue needs to be tackled. If i tell you something you were doing was wrong i expect you to buy in, accept that and change. The mod says its committed to stamping out racism. Everyone in the armed forces now undergoes diversity and inclusivity training, like this. And theres also a dedicated team to deal with what it calls unacceptable behaviours. The fact that the army has invested in a team of six and hopefully a team thats going to get bigger shows that the army takes all of these issues seriously and its notjust about racism and sexism, its about all unacceptable behaviours. But it didnt stop mark from suffering racist abuse. It has broke me. I was. Really quite a strong character, and im a mouse now. The mod has now paid him compensation, but hell never trust the army he once loved. Jonathan beale, bbc news. Nicola adams made olympic history at london 2012 when she became the first female boxer to win gold the greatest female boxer this country has ever produced. She turned professional in 2017, but last month she announced her retirement over fears she could lose her sight if she continued to box. Now shes told the bbc about her plans for a dramatic career change. Shes been speaking to our sports correspondent, jo currie. Three months ago, nicola adams was at the top of her sport. The double olympic champion was preparing for her world title fight with big plans to continue dominating boxing. But a freak injury brought it all to an end. In my last fight, in the first round, i got caught with it might have been a sum in my eye and it tore the pupil in two places i got caught with what might have been a thumb. Doctors told adams that if she continued to box she might end up she continued to box she might end up blind, leaving where her with a big decision to make. It could be i get caught with that one shot at the wrong time and it could have cost me my site and it wasnt a risk that i was prepared to take. And olympic champion. The 37yearold has had a golden career. The leeds born fighter became the first ever Olympic Boxing champion at london 2012 before repeating the feat at rio, four years later. Shes also held world, european and commonwealth titles, as well as being awarded an mbe and an obe, a true trailblazer who leaves behind an unrivalled legacy. True trailblazer who leaves behind an unrivalled legacylj true trailblazer who leaves behind an unrivalled legacy. I had be the london olympics, it had to be, just because it was the home games, the whole country just lit up because it was the home games, the whole countryjust lit up and we had so much support from the whole nation. It was unreal and it was my first ever olympic gold and it was the first one for female boxing as well, it made history. It has to be the highlight, it has to be. Adams is used to drama in the ring but now says she plans to swap the canvas for the big screen. I started first getting into acting when i was younger. I quite enjoyed doing it. I signed up with emmerdale and coronation street and played myself in waterloo road. I had fun and im hoping in the future i will be able to do hoping in the future i will be able todoa hoping in the future i will be able to do a little bit more. I was, i had to turn down a few opportunities while i was boxing, so im looking forward to now taking up all the opportunities that i had to miss site if i see you as an actor or actress, i see you as an action woman. Is that what you would like to go into, stunt work, orjust acting . Just the acting side, i think ive had enough of getting bashed about jo currie, bbc news. Im not surprised. Time for a look at the weather. Heres nick miller