Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20180203

The Six Nations Rugby tournament, and wales are on target for beating scotla nd and wales are on target for beating scotland in the opening game. And at 4. 30pm, foreign correspondents currently posted to london look at events in the uk through outsiders eyes eyes in dateline london. Good afternoon and welcome to bbc news. President trump says his decision to release a classified memo accusing the fbi of political bias has totally vindicated him in the inquiry into his alleged links with russia. The memo, which accuses the bureau of an abuse of power, was written by republican members of congress. It says the fbi received permission to tap the phone of one of mr trumps advisers, by using evidence which had been paid for by his political opponents. In a tweet, the president again denied collusion with russia, calling the probe a witch hunt and an american disgrace. Daniela relph reports. The memo is out. A controversial gop document on the russia investigation is released. They are the headlines that tell of a vicious fight at the heart of the United States government. For President Trump his decision to release a memo accusing the fbi of working against him is totally justified. I think it is a disgrace what is happening in our country. But for his opponents this is a president and a Republican Party who have engineered a political stunt. Under attack the head of the fbi is defiant. Addressing his staff Christopher Wray said, talk is cheap. The work that you do is what will endure. We will keep doing that work because we know who and what we are. Because we know oui Mission Comes first. The American People come first. The memo written by republicans describes a politically biased Justice Department and fbi who were determined to ensure donald trump lost the election. They have a warrant on someone in the Trump Campaign using Opposition Research paid for by the Democratic Party and the Hillary Clinton campaign. This began as an investigation into the Trump Campaign and its alleged links with russia. It has now put the relationship between the white house and the fbi at a new low with senior democrats warning of a constitutional crisis. Daniela relph, bbc news. Our correspondent david willis has been following the story from our washington newsroom. He told me that this latest tweet by the president was an attempt to have the last word, at the end of a tumultuous week. He has said the memo totally vindicates trump in probe, but the rush hour witch hunt at the end, he is tweeting from his florida retreat, but clearly after a very tumultuous week, he wants to have the last word in this. This was a week of course which began with the fbi Deputy Director general stepping down, from hisjob, after weeks of being attacked through twitter by President Trump. And then, ended with the president hinting ominously that he might get rid of his Deputy Attorney general, rosenstein, who was he was asked if he still had confidence in mr rosenstein, he is the man who oversees the rush hour probe, and Robert Muellers enquiry, as it were, and the president said, you figure that one out. David, you say that the president wants the last word, but will this be the last word . Definitely not. This is going to run and run, and i think it will probably just grow to run and run, and i think it will probablyjust grow in magnitude, if you like. This toxic sort of infighting, because it is looking to potentially interview the president of the United States, thereby suggesting that his enquiry is nearing its conclusion, that. But, i think that as it gets closer and closer to the publication of those findings, we are going to see more and more of this sort of infighting and more of this sort of infighting and it is difficult to see how it could escalate from here, but there are certain people who must be very worried about their jobs are certain people who must be very worried about theirjobs right now. And senior democrats are warning of a potential constitutional crisis how likely is that . Well, certainly, thatis how likely is that . Well, certainly, that is the thought, if donald trump, and he says. Has said repeatedly, not going to, if you move against robert mueller, if he moves to sack robert mueller, then i think there is a general feeling here that we would be in the territory of a constitutional crisis. He has, as i mentioned, said repeatedly that he is not about to do that, but, then of course he fires the fbi director, james comey, and few here so that one coming. David willis, there, in washington. A local council has taken the rare step of imposing emergency spending controls because of what it describes as severe financial challenges. No new expenditure will be allowed at the conservative led northamptonshire county council, except for work protecting Vulnerable People. The labour Leaderjeremy Corbyn said austerity was causing chaos in local government. Jane Frances Kelly reports. Northamptonshire county councils new headquarters cost £53 million and was opened just last year but the building could be up for sale soon to help the authority balance its books. It is now banning all new expenditure although services safeguarding Vulnerable People will be protected. Staff pay will be unaffected. The leader of the council blamed cuts handed down to it from central government. We have been in a perfect storm of huge increases in demand for our services and at the same time significant reductions in funding from central government. We have said to government since 2013 that we could not sustain all of our services with the level of reduction in funding. The council said that rising demand for Adult Social Care services had driven much of the £10 million overspend on the budget this year. Cuts under consideration include bus subsidies and library services. At the labour local government conference the party leader condemned government austerity. What more evidence do we need . Austerity is unleashing chaos across oui country. Squeezing our local authorities and putting jobs and the Vital Services they deliver at risk. Experts say northamptonshires position is due to a number of factors, some particular to the county, but it could indicate a wider problem. Ministers and Civil Servants will worry that northamptonshire is a leading indicator of something that could happen more generally. We have had eight years of cuts to council budgets, a far greater impact on them than say the nhs or welfare budget and the question is how far you can go with that policy before it begins to produce results like this . The implications for communities in northamptonshire are due to be discussed at a Council Meeting later in the month. Government inspectors have been appointed to investigate whether the authority is managing its finances correctly. Jane Frances Kelly, bbc news. A prominent conservative mp has stepped up his criticism of Civil Servants at the treasury, accusing them of fiddling the figures in brexit forecasts, in order to make the case for the uk remaining in the eus Customs Union. Jacob rees mogg who was caught up in a scuffle when protesters disrupted a meeting he was attending at a university in bristol last night told bbc radio 4s today programme that treasury forecasts on the impact of brexit were clearly politically influenced. With the referendum, and with the eu, the treasury has gone back to making forecasts. It was politically advantageous for them in the past, its the same now. So yes, i do think they are fiddling the figures. Our Political Correspondent matt cole explained the background to the mps comments. Well, he seems to be suggesting that there is a deliberate attempt to influence policy on brexit, here. Lets remember this is the second time in a week that he has made a serious allegation against the impartiality of Civil Servants. Perhaps trying to undermine their warnings of the dangers of different types of brexit, particularly, when they suggest that getting out of any form of Customs Union with the eu would be a bad idea. Jacob rees mogg is against any form of Customs Union after we leave the eu. It is a serious claim. Earlierthis week, he made a serious suggestion in the commons. The brexit minister had to apologise for not challenging him on those assertions. For their part, the treasury says these claims about their officials, they say theres simply no truth in them whatsoever. It is a big week coming up on brexit when is it never a big week . But we have got some big ministerial meetings. Quite right. And perhaps, this is more thanjust one backbench mp disputing some treasury figures. Jacob rees mogg, lets remember, heads up a section of tory mps, the European Research group, as they are called. They hold some influence over theresa mays future. She is not in the strongest of positions. They are vehemently opposed to any form of Customs Union with the European Union after we leave. This week there are ministerial meetings potentially discussing that particular structure. Theresa may has said that we are going to leave the Customs Union, but, she is said to be open minded about staying in, another arrangement which some interpret as perhaps a Customs Union, slimmed down, perhaps. It could be, herefore, that Jacob Rees Mogg is upping the ante, ahead of these crucial meetings. So that if during these meetings, she comes down in favour of some form of Customs Union, perhaps then, this block, it might have some interesting views on theresa mays longevity as prime minister. The snps deputy leader Angus Robertson has announced that he is stepping down with immediate effect. It comes eight months after he lost his westminster seat. The Scottish First minister Nicola Sturgeon has paid tribute to mr. Robertson, thanking him for contribution to the party. Six migrants have been injured after a gunman opened fire from a car in the central italian city of macerata. Police say the attack appears to be racially motivated, with the shooter targeting african migrants one man has been arrested. Our rome corresponded is following developments. As far as we can tell from the local media and from the police, the gunman opened fire from his car in the city of macerata and he targeted a group of people who appeared to be migrants from africa. The gunman was able to continue going and continue firing against other groups of people. At that point, the authorities set out tweets telling people to stay indoors. The gunman was then arrested and as he was detained, there are reports that he gave a gesture which has been interpreted as a fascist salute. At the moment, the police will be wanting to interrogate him, to find out the exact motive for the attack. What is the background to this, james, because it is not the first attack there has been in macerata . No, a lot of people are looking at what happened earlier this week near macerata, and the dismembered body of an 18 year old italian woman was found near the city. After her body was found, a nigerian migrant was arrested. So, that is the backdrop of what has been happening in our city. In the city. Now, there is the shooting. Of course, there are plenty in italy who are saying, that this finding of the body and the arresting of the nigerian migrant might have caused this particular attack, but it is be too soon to say that. We can say that that is the backdrop to what people in macerata have been talking about. I know that people were being told to stay inside their homes. This must be a very worrying time for People Living there . Yes, and i think it is important to look at it in the context of the election that is coming up. And the fact that migration is become such a big issue, and now clearly the attack against people perceived to be migrants, today, will only add to that. Right wing parties have begun their campaign on a very anti migrant message, on a message that migrants essentially should be kicked out of the country. Remember, 600,000 people in recent years have made it across the mediterranean towards italy, and that is essentially changed the political landscape, here. The right wing are saying, too many migrants, its time for them to go. The headlines on bbc news the head of the fbi has defended its work after a classified memo was released accusing it of bias against President Trump, and abuse of power. After getting caught in a scuffle with protesters last night, conservative mpJacob Rees Mogg accuses the treasury of fiddling its figures on brexit. Six migrants have been injured after a gunman opened fire from a car in the central italian city of macerata. The gunman has been arrested. And, this years six nations tournament has started brilliantly from wales. They have beaten scotland 30 seven. Ireland face france this afternoon. Burnley held Manchester City to a 1 1 draw. All the schools are on the bbc sport website. There was a surprise to in the scottish premiership. Celtic have lost to kill marnoch, i 0. And Great Britain lost the doubles match against spain. That means that spain had a 2 1 lead in the fixture. I will have more details coming up at 5 30pm for you. Three men have been charged with murder after the fatal stabbing of a prisoner. Khader saleh died on wednesday at wormwood scrubs prison in west london. Ahmed khyre, kalif dibassey and enton marku, all in their early 20s, are due to appear in court next week. Thousands of health workers, activists and Union Members have been marching in Central London to demonstrate in support of the nhs. The march was organised by two pressure groups, the Peoples Assembly and Health Campaigns together, to call on the government to increase funding in the nhs. The department of health and social care says it has invested an additional £437 million in the nhs this winter. Britains Civil Aviation authority has announced a review into Airlines Seating policies. It comes following concerns that some operators have deliberately been splitting up groups of passengers in order to force them to pay extra for allocated seating. Our Business Correspondent Vishala Sri Pathma has more. What is the Civil Aviation authority saying and going to do . They are going to look into whether this is deliberate. Now, if you book a flight deliberate. Now, if you book a flight on an online budget a line, you would be made to pay some taxes sit with your families and friends, when you go on holiday. They are looking into whether this seating algorithms are deliberately done to make people pay extra. And, today you got paul has released a result ofa you got paul has released a result of a service aimed that actually, ryanair passengers are more likely to be complain of being separated, so to be complain of being separated, so they are slightly under the spotlight, here. And have they said anything . Tenner they have and said that there is eating policy is very clear. They are happy to be participating in the review. It costs 2 euros to allocate a seat that you want on ryanair. They have actually had quite a few complaints on social media. A lot of people have been treating them, to find that out, and they have been dealing with a lot of competes over the last six months. Easyjet are happy to participate. They say that they do their best to allocate family and friends together. That is in algorithms. What is key is in their algorithms. What is key is in their algorithms. Do you know when the report will be out . Any time in the next few months. Any time soon, charlotte, thank you. 0ligarchs suspected of corruption will be forced to explain how they fund their luxury lifestyles in britain. The security minister, ben wallace, has told the times that he wants to crackdown on criminals and fraudulent politicians who use britain to launder money gained through corruption. Dal babu, a former chief superintendent at the metropolitan police, explained some of the thinking behind the new unexplained wealth orders i think what they want to do is establish where people have got their money, and if you have £50,000 or more, thats probably not going to affect the majority of us, then they want to have the opportunity to ask people were they got that money from. Actually it could apply a lot lower than oligarchs but that is really what looking at, people who are the International Super wealthy who often choose to live in this country. Absolutely. The interview in the times was very much about the oligarchs and the big headline was, we are coming after you. It would be interesting to see what substance there is nothing this because what we have to remember, there are lots of oligarchs, many of them own football clubs here, many of them are a legitimate Business People here, but there is a thread of individuals, if people have been watching the bbc mcmafia series, they will know there are afraid of individuals who are conducting affairs in a sort of unlawful way, and the difficulty is, i was speaking to the cab driver on the way in and he was saying you would be surprised how many people there are, they live a parallel life, huge excesses, huge extravagance. But in terms of what the minister says, what i would be interested in is what resources are put in place. These people are sophisticated individuals. They will have accountants in place. Burglars have stolen hundreds of priceless artefacts dating back to anglo saxon times in a series of raids, in whats believed to be the uks biggest archaeological theft. Thieves smashed through the wall of a store room at the Canterbury Archaeological trust. Its thought more than 15 hundred beads, coins and ancient bones were taken. Jon hunt reports. A series of raids in the course ofjust one week, devastating a0 years of archaeological work. So, this is the third time they entered the building. They actually smashed straight through the exterior wall. The thieves took more than 800 anglo saxon beads, coins and objects made from metal and bone, all unearthed in painstaking excavations in canterbury. Turning these items into information that we can share with the people of canterbury and kent, and the wider world, is what we do. It is a vocation as much as a job, and to see itjust wilfully trashed for the sake of making a few quid off somebody, was really sickening. The stores hold thousands of artefacts, dating back as far as the paleolithic period. The trust documents and research of the object, and also works with schools. The thieves have also ransacked the trusts education store, here, where they keep boxes of replica items that are used by children, in kids schools. But, that work will now have to be suspended whilst staff tried to replace the stolen items. Ive got 200 loan boxes, here, and about 80 of them have been opened, interfered with, pilfered. Most of them have items taken out. The most ambitious urban archaeological project the country has ever known hasjust begun. Some of the items taken worth found during canterburys big dig, between 2000 and 2003. Documented by tvs time team. The trusts director has a message for the thieves. If you dont bring it back, sooner or later, i will find you. I will find you. And, i will make it my business to make you pay. Security measures have now been stepped up. Kent police say they have no suspects, and they are appealing for information about the theft. Members of britains Winter Olympics team are beginning to arrive in south korea, with just under a week to go until the start of the games. There are 59 competitors britains largest ever contingent at the games and leading the medal challenge is short track speed skater Elise Christie. Shes the favourite for gold, having won the overall World Championship title in 2017. Shes been speaking to our reporter david mcdaid. This is Elise Christie. Shes the best short track speed skater uk has ever produced. Shes aworld recordholder, shes a triple World Champion and shes Great Britains best hope for a gold at the upcoming winter 0lympics. Just tell us how it all began for you. I started as a figure skater when i was really young, like seven. I transferred over because we did a race the week after i started and obviously it was just a fun race so i won a Selection Box of chocolate for winning that race, so after that your hearts kind of set on short track. She was one of these kids, you could show her something and she picked it up immediately. She seemed to have the natural ability. Elise is a very special athlete, but four years ago she nearly walked away from the sport she loves. Commentator 0h, theyve gone down. Theyve all gone down one of the favourites for gold in sochi, the olympics she worked so hard for ended in disqualifications, disappointment and death threats. I had quite a lot of abuse over the internet and stuff that ive had to deal with, its been tough as well. Yeah, so im finding it quite hard. What was it like to get a death threat . I dont think most of us thankfully will ever experience that. When it happens to you you do believe those people are genuinely threatening your life, so it becomes very scary and i think i spent about six months after feeling scared of, like, being in my house on my own or going out on my own just because so many at once just made it feel so real, even though realistically it was coming from most of the koreans, so they werent going to be in england. It was a very difficult time. Pyeongchang, these Winter Olympics, what do these signify to you . To everyone here they want to see the redemption. I personally feel like ive had the redemption. This is a dream, every athlete dreams of being an olympic medallist. Show us your medals, is this where you keep them . Is there room for an olympic one . Three big smackers here. The dream isnt to go out and, you know, sit in second place and pick up a medal. The dream is to go out and try and win gold. You know what, that might mean you replicate sochi, but im not scared of doing that in terms of how hard ive worked, i feel like i deserve to go out and try and win irrelevant of what anyone says about it. The speed skater Elise Christie speaking to david mcdaid. Lady gaga has cancelled the last ten dates of the european leg of her world tour, because of severe pain. Shows in london and manchester are among those affected. Cause pain all over the body. Some of her fans have travelled from as far as brazil and denmark to see her on her uk dates, and are disappointed i save money all the year for this. I dont blame her. The same way it hurts so much. Going back home without seeing her again. It has been five years. And booking flights and trains for hamburg and cologne and berlin and london and manchester. You were going to see all of the dates that have been cancelled . This is her health, and it is more important than my pleasure to see her on stage. I prefer to see that she is taking care of herself and getting well. I am quite sad, but its ok. Time for the latest weather prospects now, with nick miller. Hello, after a cold grey damp afternoon and patchy weather, and mostly hill no, itll mostly peter out as we go through the night. Later into the morning, the ice threat increasing in two parts of england, as this is an wintry showers moving in. Those will continue into sunday, across east anglia and south east england. Rain, sleet and hail. Elsewhere, abe dreier and sunnier picture. Cloud drifting through scotland, in the central belt. These spots of rain, sleet and stow in higher ground. Not amounting to very much. Temperatures will feel colder in the wind. East anglia, southern england and south wales, close to freezing, and a bitter, raw day here. Sleet and snow showers south east england, into monday morning. More snow is spreading south on tuesday. This is bbc news our latest headlines. Donald trump takes to twitter to claim a controversial memo proves he is innocent of colluding with alleged russian involvement in the president ial election. A conservative led council in northamptonshire which has imposed emergency spending controls has said it has been warning ministers for years about its financial problems. After getting caught in a scuffle with protesters last night, Jacob Rees Mogg has stepped up his attack on the treasury, accusing Civil Servants of fiddling the figures on brexit. Six migrants have been injured after a gunman opened fire from a car in the central italian city of macerata. The gunman has been arrested. Now on bbc news, its time welcome to dateline london. This week, were discussing theresa may in china, trying to increase trade before brexit, whilst trading blows with the European Union, and even some of her own colleagues. Donald trump delivered his first state of the union address