After what most agree is the first big legislative achievement of his presidency. His fellow republicans in the senate have pushed through a sweeping tax bill, which promises a sharp cut in corporate taxation, plus cuts for many including some the richest people in america. Laura bicker reports from washington. Donald trumps started the day on a bullish note. He is on course for a much needed win on tax reform, he brushed aside questions about his former National Security adviser lying to the fbi over his meetings with russians. What has been shown is no collusion, no collusion, there has been absolutely no collusion, so we are very happy. But then he issued another controversial tweet, one that could cause him a real headache. He said he had fired Michael Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the fbi. Its a shame, he said, because his actions during the transition were lawful, there was nothing to hide. Many people are asking why Michael Flynn, a former three star general, did not tell the truth to the fbi about his meetings with the Russian Ambassador, as the president said, his actions were not against the law, but mr trumps tweet leads to a bigger question, did you know Michael Flynn have lied to the fbi . This is a problem because the former head of the fbi james comey has testified under oath that the president asked him to drop an investigation into Michael Flynn. Legal analysts are now wondering if the president was trying to stop an inquiry into his former adviser, knowing he was guilty, in other words, was he trying to obstruct justice . On this vote, 51 in favour and 49 against. It should have been a momentous day for donald trump, republicans had finally united by a tax bill a welcome distraction and at last a legislative victory. But now, once again, because of a tweet, the us president is embroiled in a controversy over russian meddling in the us election, a controversy that continues to loom over the white house. Natasha bertrand is the Political Correspondent for business insider. Shes been following the Michael Flynn investigation closely. This tweet was remarkable. Trump essentially said he fired the National Security adviser Michael Flynn because he lied to the Vice President mike pence but he added something that hadnt been disclosed before was that he also fired him because he lied to the fbi. Legal experts were fast to jump on that and said that was a clear indication that trump knew that Michael Flynn light to the fbi when he asked the former Directorjames Comey to drop the investigation into Michael Flynn. That signals intent by mr trump to obstruct justice flynn. That signals intent by mr trump to obstructjustice and this could put him in a precarious position moving forward. Just explain what Michael Flynn is accused of all what pleaded guilty to doing because he has done at deal, hasnt he, whereby he is going to get a lesser sentence. Explain it for us. It is complicated but a sickly Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the fbi about his conversations with rock the russians. He told the fbi he had not discussed the issue with russians when in fact he had. The question is why did he feel the need to lie about this conversations at all . Many people said it may have been perfectly acceptable with the incoming security adviser to discuss sanctions with essentially his counterpart about major Foreign Policy change that had just happened three weeks before the Trump White House was due to come in. The question is why Michael Flynn felt the need to lie and who directed him to speak to the Russian Ambassador about the issue of sanctions because those people could now be extremely vulnerable. A lot of questions. Will we get answers and whether this leave the Trump Administration now . Trump is in a bad can bad position. They were talking about the uns resolution on israel. They met in early december with setting up met in early december with setting upa back met in early december with setting up a back channel to moscow. What Michael Flynn could now do because he was charged on such a low level crime, essentially, it is a crime to lie to the fbi and that is an education he has agreed to give moller information on a higher level. We can expect to see in the coming weeks and months moller really closing in on trumps inner circle and maybe getting to the himself. Lets get more on the tax reform bill passed in the us in the early hours . Andrew desiderio is a reporter in washington dc covering congress for the daily beast. It was 51 49 votes. Very slim, they just got it passed. The political ramifications are major. This was a much needed victory for the president and it is the first time in the ii president and it is the first time in the 11 months also in office that one of his legislations have gotten through the senate. The house had passed a version of his Health Care Reform bill but the senate couldnt. They ended up adding the sweeteners in the legislation that one over key senators that were holding out the last minute. But the democrats are saying the deal is only going to benefit the rich. It is the republicans are saying is going to benefit working families. Who is right here . It depends on how the economy in here in the us. It is a year plan and in the report you are referencing, they are saying 1 trillion will be added to the deficit over the next ten years, evenif deficit over the next ten years, even if you account for economic rope. Republicans believe the economy will grow as a result of tax cuts and that will bring in more revenue. cuts and that will bring in more revenue. Even if you account for the the economy growing. The Senate Parliamentarian ruled it was not allowa ble parliamentarian ruled it was not allowable in terms of the senates procedure. As you were saying, President Trump badly needs this win but it is not over yet. He wants it enacted before christmas and there could be some hurdles. The house and senate bills are pretty different. There are small and big differences. There are small and big differences. The main is that the small is under the Affordable Care act which gets people to pay a penalty if they dont pay. Theoretically, they could just passed the senate bill and pass it to the president s desk. Last night, i was there to three a. M. Republican senators were related. One of them smiled and when i asked him how it tells to pass it in light of the recent failures especially healthcare. He told me he wasnt a great english student but it doesnt get any better than this. Republicans are high on it and they hope they can get it done by christmas. Lets take a look at some of the other stories making the news. Thereve been clashes between German Police and demonstrators outside the far right alternative for Germany Party conference in the city of hannover. The party has elected two new leaders who focus on a nationalist, anti islam message. Both reject the idea that the afd should tone down its nationalist rhetoric to attract more mainstream voters. The family of former egyptian Prime Minister, ahmed shafik, says he is back in egypt after being deported from the united arab emirates. Just a few days ago he declared his intention to stand in egypts president ial election next year. His family say they dont know his exact whereabouts. The Argentine Navy has sent an unmanned search vehicle to check what it describes as a deformed shape on the south atlantic sea bed which might be the wreck of the sanjuan submarine. An International Search has failed to find the submarine which had forty four crew on board when it went missing seventeen days ago. Fighting continues in the yemeni capital sanaa between two groups that have until now been allies in the fight against a Saudi Led Coalition. The fighting led yemens former president , Ali Abdullah Saleh, to make an offer to talk with the saudis, something they have welcomed. He says the talks depend on an end to the coaltions attacks in yemen translation i call on our brothers in neighbouring states and the coalition to stop the aggression and lift the blockade, open the airports and allow food aid, medical supplies, and those wounded to travel, as well as those stuck abroad to come back. We will turn a new page and start dealing with them in a positive way, because what happened to yemen and to them is more than enough. We promise our brothers and neighbours that after a ceasefire is implemented, the airports opened and the blockade stopped, we will start negotiating immediately. Rhodri morgan has more on how a split between allies has led to the former president offering to talk. There are only fighters on the streets of yemens capital at this time, it is allies fighting each other. Those loyal to the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh are now trying to force houthis fighters out of the city. The beauty is again starred by explosions. Scarred. What is of already a complex struggle in yemen has become even more so. Struggle in yemen has become even more so. On one side is the president whose forces control the red area. He is backed by sony states. Opposing other Houthi Rebels. Backed by a run, they formed an alliance with the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. This is broken down with them fighting to houthis. They could even do a deal with saudi arabia. Is his intense right now but the alliance will continue to begin it change that will happen is that Ali Abdullah Saleh is more influential. He has the initiative to end the war. L critical humanitarian situation remains. The conflict has killed more than 10,000 people, displaced over two million and triggered at colorado coli then it. Over two million and triggered at colorado coli then it. People are currently receiving more requests from nickel supplies from dual main hospitals. Supported by the International Red cross in yemen. A cholera epidemic. They are doing their utmost in order to meet the needs and to help the wounded because of the current clashes. Yemenis want the countrys almost three years of war to come to the end but that may revive the dominance of those the man who was then president. Stay with us on bbc world news, still to come the remarkable story of this baby whos had a heart transplant atjust eight weeks old its quite clear that the worst victims of this disaster are the poor People Living in the slums which have sprung up around the factory. I am feeling so helpless, that the childrens are dying in front of me and i cant do anything. Charles manson is the mystical leader of the hippy cult suspected of killing sharon tate and at least six other people in los angeles. At 11 00 this morning, just half a metre of rock separated britain from continental europe. It took the drills just a few moments to cut through the final obstacle. Then philippe cozette, a minerfrom calais, was shaking hands with and exchanging flags with robert fagg, his opposite number from dover. This is bbc news. President trump has said the actions of his former National Security advisor, Michael Flynn who admitted to lying to the fbi on friday were lawful. Lets get more now on that offer by the former president of yemen, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to start peace talks with the Saudi Led Coalition in yemen. Forces loyal to mr saleh, along with Houthi Rebels, have been fighting against the saudis for the past two years. A short time ago, i spoke to Yemeni Journalist afrah nasser. I asked what this offer by mr saleh means for yemen. This is absolutely a defining moment. Not only on the course of the yemen war but also of the course of the houthi uprising period, in my opinion. I think clearly the saudis are not only succeeding in starting in many into negotiations but also into returning yemen to being the 2011 uprising political reality and i think we are facing the lesser of two evils situation. Now, it is whether Ali Abdullah Saleh, his hands are full of blood as well and it is supposed to be like the rescuer, for, you know, rescuing yemen from being, you know, the world s largest humanitarian crisis over the course of i think the past x months, he has been going on tv, on public speeches, really reflecting and expressing his concerns and worried about, you know, the humanitarian situation in the country so i think it was really what triggered him to, you know, to propose negotiations and in many eyes, he is now a hero. So what needs to happen now to this reaching out to bring an end to the war . In my opinion, we are seeing, you know, the coalition between mr saleh and Houthi Rebels and the emergence of a coalition between mr saleh and the saudis, it is up to them, i think, the ball is in their yard now and it is up to to decide how they trajectory of the days or even hours because as we speak now, there are a major element is happening within, you know, a few hours. Sir it remains to be seen but definitely, the Prime Minister you would be the other side which is, in, the saudis and the hadi government. But how do you feel now that the man who has ruled for the man whose rule you we re ruled for the man whose rule you were posting the uprising in 2011, producer has a lot on his hands, is 110w producer has a lot on his hands, is now becoming a peacemaker . producer has a lot on his hands, is now becoming a peacemaker . I think, juno, the murders, the blood, sacrifices of all of my generation who took to the streets in 2011, i think it is all gone in a waste and did my opinion i think we are going to, you know, block zero, and as there was never an uprising and it seems as dairy stockroom syndrome that a lot of people are turning blind to, you know, what kind of things this man has done not only the past, you know, a few years but for, like, the past three decades. It is all very confusing in yemens history. North Koreas Nuclear programme has caused shock waves abroad and made some big cracks in the International Community but now it could be having an impact much closer to home. Here in britain, one family will be able to celebrate christmas together after an 8 week old baby became the youngest patient on the uk transplant list to receive a new heart. Charlie douthwaite underwent a 9 hour operation after a donor was found following a europe wide appeal. Born with half a heart, doctors feared charlie had only weeks to live. Duncan kennedy reports. A tender moment Tracie Wright thought she would never have with her baby charlie. Charlie was born with only half a heart. Hospitals across europe were contacted to find an organ donor. This week, a heart did become available. And now, atjust eight weeks old, charlie has had a transplant. His skin colour was just amazing. I cant describe it. From going so blue he was just blue all the time to being so pink and peachy and perfect. Charlie was the youngest patient on britains transplant waiting list. His doctors say the operation went well. He was extremely lucky, considering his condition and his size, to get a heart, a suitable donor heart, on time. Its not known if the family who donated their babys heart know about charlie but charlies mother says theyve given her a precious gift. Its the bravest thing anyone could do. Theyve given my boy a Second Chance at life. And for that, i will be forever thankful. I cried for them. Charlie is expected to be Strong Enough to go home in the new year. An unbearable loss in one family that became unrestrained joy in another. Duncan kennedy, bbc news. Now witness, and were heading back to 1957 when a huge science city was built in the middle of siberian forest. Was built in the middle of the siberian forest. They called it Academic City. Dozens of Research Institutes were built, and top scientists were enticed to come to work in this harsh inhospitable region. Victor varand was one of the First Research chemists to move to Academic City. He told witness what it was like to live and work in such an unusual place. The town of 25,000 inhabitants, a town where nearly everyones a scientist, or hoping to become one. A new town called Academic City. Translation my First Impression was that of bewilderment, to be honest. Everything is different here. The houses were right in the middle of the forest. It was so quiet. And the airseemed so the forest. It was so quiet. And the air seemed so fresh. What used to be thought of as a wasteland has turned out to be the soviet unions greatest treasure house. A land unbelievably rich in minerals. Geologists thought it was low but 110w geologists thought it was low but now the whole place seems to be floating on it. The red Diamond Fields which could be as rich as the south african ones. And gold and platinum too. Transocean micro were tim macrow one to 46 years, since 1962. I was a Research Chemist at the institute of inorganic chemistry. And from 1963, i put my beloved subject, analytical chemistry, at the university there. Since the times of the far, people we re since the times of the far, people were exiled to siberia. Would you x while anybody to a good place . That was the image of siberia, but walls eight people they are. But are so was only 10 more than the others, the so called siberian supplement, that they did give us a parchment, immediately. At that time, there was an acute shortage of housing. It didnt attract us with money, that attracted us with available accommodation and interesting work. The other Research Laboratories are so the other Research Laboratories are so lavishly equipped and nowhere else are the student says that carefully examined. This is what is called a colliding beam accelerator, the only one of its kind in the world. Designed to hurl particles of matter at particles of antimatter. At institute of Nuclear Physics is a globally but it might research centre, scientists have collaborated in the construction of the large hadron collider in switzerland, but many of the inventions and breakthroughs happened in secret Research Projects for the ministry of defence. Of course, the creation of defence. Of course, the creation of Academic City was a great achievement. A new generation of scientists have been nurtured here. Most people who work in Academic City now are graduates of our university and what does russia live on today . And will, of course, and to found an export of those resources . All siberian scientists. Remarkable. Thats all from me for 110w. Dont forget you can get in touch with me and some of the team on twitter, im samanthabbcnews. Stay with us for all of the latest. It has been a better week are some parts of the uk but it is a least a little less cold this weekend. Further afield, if youre keeping an eye on the second test in adelaide, it is warmer but we did have some interruptions because of showers on saturday. Fewer shawo sunday but still a brisk breeze and here, but as are below par but for par but should recover towards me beeck. Despite increasing crowd on saturday we had a late evening sunshine in kent. Im hopeful we will see a little bit more sunshine through the day ahead, slightly less cold conditions particularly in the south but at the moment we still have quite a bit of cloud, it is recalling its way southwards, weak weather front really come that they are bringing patchy rain and trevor with mr low cloud and hill fog. To the north, yes, the cloud breaks clear that it could turn a tad chilly. Perhaps a touch of frost, a little fog but for many, it should not be frosty first thing. But it will be rather grey and murky. Hill fog around, patchy drizzle, and the weather front they will drag its heels across southern parts of england, across the west and into the west of wales, it will move across Northern Ireland and we may see early brightness towards an driven down, a decent start to the day across the day, a brisk wind in the north east, still the potential for someone in fog and frost in the blend but it should lift and we should be some good spells of sunshine. Naturally, the cloud or thin and break across western southern britain but it may hang around in cornwall, western parts of wales and drift eastward across Northern Ireland would scotland so the west of Northern Ireland may be some brighter spells. In contrast to yesterday, a little bit cool in the north east but actually feeling a bit milderfurther south north east but actually feeling a bit milder further south as temperatures were so low to start the day. Then through the night ahead, we will see the cloud gradually easing back into east but whether the brakes, yes, it will turn chilly, but also we could have some fog for the monday morning rush across east anglia, the south east, the east midlands but here, once the fog clears we should see some brightness and some sunshine again to start a week. Relatively mild compared with last week, ninth and 10th, but quite a bit of clout, shari rain coming in, although it will be lightened patchy because it is under the influence of High Pressure over the next or three days. This is keeping the weather fronts at bay but this does have our name on it. It will come into wednesday, it looks nasty actually, wet and windy weather. Between now and then, quiet conditions. As ever, more on our website. Goodbye. This is bbc news. The headlines. A tweet from President Trump about his former National Security advisor Michael Flynn has refocussed attention on what and when mr trump knew about his teams contacts with russian officials before he took office. In yemen, saudi arabia has welcomed an offer of peace talks from ex president , Ali Abdullah Saleh. His supporters are now fighting former allies on the streets of the capital sa naa. The family of former egyptian Prime Minister, ahmed shafik, say hes back in egypt after being deported from the united arab emirates. His return comes after he said he want to stand in next years president ial election. The youngest patient on the uks transplant waiting list has received a new heart. Charlie douthwaite whos just eight weeks old is said to be making Good Progress after a nine hour operation. Now on bbc news, radio 5 live presenter anna foster hosts the uks biggest conversation about mums and Mental Health at this special event held at the iconic blackpool tower