Also coming up, most of the historic world war ii aircraft making up the battle of Britain Memorial flight have been grounded. One display has already been cancelled. And production was halted on the 6th of march Mission Impossible film, because its star tom cruise broke his ankle while performing a stunt while filming in london. This is bbc news and these are the top good morning. Its thursday 17th august. Im rebecca jones. Welcome to bbc Newsroom Live. Thousands of teenagers across england, wales and Northern Ireland have received their a level results this morning. In england, the results marked a major reform to the exams introduced by the government, including a move away from coursework and modular exams in 13 subjects and a decision to separate as levels to form stand alone qualifications. There was a fall of 0. 2 in the overall pass rate which was down to 97. 9 . But there was an increase in the number of students awarded the top grades with 26. 3 of entries receiving either an
Of the heart and bonnie tyler belts out her classic total eclipse of the heart to lucky fans chasing the eclipse, as it sweeps over the us. Good morning. Its tuesday 22nd august. Welcome to bbc newsroom live. President trump says the us will fight to win in afghanistan, as he unveils a new strategy in the war against the taliban. In a major speech last night he said that he had changed his mind about withdrawing troops from the country. He also called on nato allies to do more. Our washington correspondent Aleem Maqbool reports. The man who always said he didnt want to intervene abroad came to announce the intervention in afghanistan is going to ratchet up. But said it was for the right reasons. We are a partner and a friend, but we will not dictate to the Afghan People how to live, or how to govern their own complex society. We are not nation building again. We are killing terrorists. He announced the lifting of a cap on the number of us troops in afghanistan, and that there would be
The main news from westminster the brexit bill has been published, but some mps say the government hasnt allowed enough time to debate it. I am astonished at the amount of time that the leader of the house has given to debate it. A new direction for us Foreign Policy . The Foreign Secretary chooses his words carefully. I dont think weve seen any Policy Changes, official Policy Changes or Policy Pronouncements. And gordon brown warns that theres not enough money to educate the worlds poorest children. The Children Of The World will be without the qualifications they need, and that is indeed a crisis thats got to be dealt with. The day kicked off with questions to david davis, the secretary of state for exiting the eu. The Prime Minister has announced that there will be a white paper, setting out the governments brexit strategy. Many mps wanted to know when the document would appear. Can i thank the secretary of state very much for the part he played, i know, in securing the white paper.
Thursday in parliament, our look at the best of the day in the commons and the lords. On this programme, labour describes as shameful the governments decision to wind down a scheme allowing vulnerable refugee children into britain. Where does it say that instead of the 3000 that Parliament Debated, we will only help a tenth of that number . Where does it say that when we get the chance we will somehow turn our backs once again . Egging on their lordships. An snp mp encourages the House Of Lords to delay the brexit bill. For us it is very much a win win whatever the outcome is here because i say to their lordships, reach for these barricades and take on this government. And are they really the future . Smart Energy Meters are criticised for not being very smart. Last year, the telegraph reported that over 130,000 smart meters were now operating in this dumb mode as a result of switching. But first, the government is insisting its not abandoning vulnerable refugee children despite windin
Of the day in the commons and the lords. On this programme. After the drama of the weeks Government Defeat in the House Of Lords on the brexit bill, peers win praise from some unlikely quarters, such as the snp. The peoples aristocrats have spoken and their voice must be listened to. The Farming Minister Rejects claims that food prices are increasing since the uk voted to leave the eu. We have seen a fall in food prices of 0. 5 over the last year and a fall of 6 since 2014. And more tributes are paid to the father of the house, sir Gerald Kaufman, who died last weekend. He had an ability to sum up his views with a witty turn of phrase that could be as colourful and a memorable as his suits. But first. The leader of the commons, david lidington, has confirmed that the government will try to overturn wednesday nights defeat for the government inflicted by peers on the so called brexit bill. Peers voted by a majority of 102 to guarantee the rights of eu nationals living and working in the