this is bbc news. i'm shaun ley. the headlines at midday. a beatle, a bee gee and a ballerina. ringo starr and barry gibb are knighted in the new year honours — strictlyjudge darcey bussell is made a dame. labour peer lord adonis, who's quit as the government's infrastructure adviser, claims brexit is infecting the entire conduct of government. and one of the really depressing things about the government at the moment, which i think is unfortunately a reflection of the brexit malaise which is sweeping whitehall, is the government has become hyper—sensitive to any criticism. thousands of iranians take to the streets of tehran in a show of support for the government, after two days of opposition protests. millennials will enjoy the biggest "inheritance boom" of any post—war generation — but not until they're into their 60s, a report says. captain steve smith scores yet another century as australia bats out the final day to save the fourth ashes test against england in melbourne. and in half an hour here on bbc news, the very best bits of click from 2017 — including tech for cats, haunting holograms and

trigger happy trekkers. good afternoon. welcome to bbc news. the former beatles drummer ringo starr, barry gibb of the bee gees, and the former deputy prime minister, nick clegg, have all been knighted in the new year honours list. starr said it was "great" to be acknowledged for his music, while gibb said the knighthood was as much his brothers‘ "as it is mine". stars from the world of sport who are recognised include the wales and lions rugby union captain, sam warburton, and the world cup winning england cricket captain heather knight, who both receive an obe. lizo mzimba has more details. # twist and shout! # twist and shout. more than 50 years after beatlemania, the fab four‘s drummer

has been honoured with a knighthood... # what would you do if i sang... recognising ringo starr's half—a—century—long contribution to music. # i get by with a little help from my friends. # tragedy! former bee gee barry gibb said he was humbled and very proud to be made sir barry. # with no—one to love you, you're going nowhere. war horse author and one—time children's laureate michael morpurgo, who too has been made a knight, hopes his award highlights the importance of literature for young people. reading is a great bastion against stupidity and bigotry and ignorance. it is the greatest weapon we have, really.

and the greatest assistance we can give them is to make them readers. strictlyjudge darcey bussell, who has occasionally performed on the programme too, is to be made a dame. i'm dickie roper. i'm the night manager. those being made cbes, the next highest level of award, include actor hugh laurie for services to drama, and best—selling riders authorjilly cooper. absolutely knocked out. knocked out — i was thrilled. i couldn't believe it. i mean, suddenly to get a letter, you know, and one thinks "ooh, god, it's a bill, a gas bill or something". and it's this heavenly thing, saying "you're a cbe". it's wonderful. # i've got to run away. singer and campaigner marc almond is made an obe for services to arts and culture. musician and producer wiley, known as the ‘godfather of grime‘, is made an mbe. commentator: pass to warburton.

brilliant catch by the captain! in the world of sport, sam warburton, who has captained wales and the british lions, is made an obe. most of those being honoured are ordinary people doing extraordinary work, like efe ezekiel, who acts as a mentorfor young people. of course, young people are everything to me. i'm passionate about them and passionate their life, their well—being and their welfare, so for me to be recognised for my passion is one of the greatest honours ever, so i'm in complete gratitude and appreciation. the majority of honours do go to people who are not in the public eye but who have given exceptional service. and in 2018, the honours committee say they will be looking to particularly recognise individuals who were involved in the response to, and the aftermath of, the london and manchester terror attacks, and the fire at grenfell tower. lizo mzimba, bbc news, buckingham palace. lord adonis, who last night resigned as the government's

infrastructure adviser, has accused ministers of becoming "hypersensitive to any criticism". the former labour cabinet minister says brexit has "infected" the entire conduct of whitehall. a government source said he walked before he was pushed, but lord adonis insists it was his choice to go. it would speak volumes about how they value independent advice if they were indeed proposing to dismiss me. the whole point about the national infrastructure commission is that it's an independent body giving advice to the government without fear or favour. one of the really depressing things about the government at the moment, which i think is unfortunate reflection of the brexit malaise sweeping whitehall, is the government has become hypersensitive to any criticism, anyone who criticises them on brexit or anyone else. even if they are supposedly independent advisers. they get attacked. so michael heseltine, who was on my commission, he got sacked, even though it is an independent commission, because he opposed brexit. now they say they were thinking

of dismissing me for expressing perfectly legitimate concerns. our political correspondent, emma vardy, explained how lord adonis did not hold back in his comments. he gave it with both barrels to the government. accusing theresa may of allying herself with ukip, being on the tory ha rd herself with ukip, being on the tory hard right. he has been an outspoken critic of brexit. he has attacked the government again and again. it seems his differences had become so great he had no choice but to go. number 10 said if he had not tried to resign, they would have pushed him out the door. it is clear from his interviews this morning that he is bitter about how his resignation was handled. there was a draft resignation letter that leaked out. then number 10 started briefing the media. he has lashed out at the government this morning, saying that for anybody who wants to stand against brexit, whitehall may be a difficult place to be. the government says he would jump

before he was pushed. he also indicated he was going anywhere because he was unhappy with the east coast rail franchise? yes, he had a big followed with the government over this. something he believes was the wrong decision by chris grayling, to allow stagecoach to get out of the franchise arrangement some years early. he said that was a bail out costing the taxpayers millions if not billions of pounds. the government says that is not a bailout. crucially, lord adonis says his opposition to chris grayling's decision, he wanted to shout it from the rooftops. but he was suppressed. life was made difficult for him. he was told things could get awkward if he kept attacking the government position. that was another key part of it. last month the government announced the bailout of stagecoach and virgin, the private sector operators of the east coast rail franchise. i believe that was a huge mistake. the government has been trying to silence me since then for

criticising it, even though i'm an independent adviser, and i thought that position had become unsustainable. this will not be the last we see of him. the eu withdrawal bill comes to the house of lords next month, and he says he will relentlessly oppose it, trying to work with other parties to inflict defeat on the government. there are those in the tory party who say his clashes with the government had become so great his resignation was long overdue. emma vardy. the iranian government has called on citizens to avoid "illegal gatherings", after two days of anti—government protests. thousands of people joined the demonstrations, with scores arrested, prompting the united states to warn "the world is watching" how the iranian government is dealing with them. today, thousands of people are attending rallies across the country in support of the government. the rallies are commemorating the 2009 demonstrations held in support of the then conservative government of mahmoud ahmadinejad. there are also fresh reports of counter protests. jon ironmonger reports.

iran is beset by the worst public unrest for almost a decade. there have been two days of widespread protests and outbreaks of violence, particularly in the western city of kermanshah, where police used force to disperse the crowd. and the capital tehran, with reportedly dozens of arrests. what began as frustrations about the rising cost of living, have escalated, becoming a broader campaign of defiance against iran's clerical rule. videos posted on social media showed demonstrators chanting death to president rouhani, and death to the dictator, referring to ayatollah khamenei. the united states has become one of the first countries to respond publicly to the protest. a white house statement said iran's leaders have turned a wealthy country into an economically depleted rogue state, whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed and chaos. iran has suggested government opponents are behind the protests,

and historically the regime has sought to repress political uprisings. there hasn't been the style and the precedent of authorities to really listen to what people want, and to cave in to their demands. the style and the precedent seems to be, crack down as forcefully as you can, crush it, make sure it doesn't really tip things over. and then wait until the next time that things erupt. and it is a powderkeg. sooner or later, something will have to give in. in spite of the protests, iranian state tv says pro—government rallies would go ahead this weekend to commemorate the support in 2009 of president ahmadinejad, raising the prospect of bitter counterdemonstrations. john ironmonger, bbc news. earlier, i spoke to kasri naji from the bbc persian service, and asked how the protests began this week. it seems from what we gather, bits

and pieces of information, state m e nts and pieces of information, statements from the hardliners and others, it seems that initially a demonstration was organised by the hardliners in the north—eastern city on thursday. it was supposed to be against rising prices, the rising cost of living, anti—government, anti—the president government, because the hardliners wanted to put him down. but that demonstration quickly got out of control. it expanded and it became a very political demonstration against not only the government but the regime asa only the government but the regime as a whole, the clerical regime. then it spread to towns nearby. and yesterday it spread throughout the country to big cities. the

demonstrations we have today were organised by the government. pro—regime demonstrations. they have happened every year since 2009. from what you say, there is a sense that there are different forces inside iran, the regime if you like, and that some of those conflicts are effectively played out through these protests 7 effectively played out through these protests? initially that is how it started. and interestingly, one of president rouhani's lieutenancy yesterday made a speech warning the hardliners not to start this kind of thing. he said if you start demonstrations like this, you will not be the people who will control it in the end. it was a warning from president rouhani against these people. but this is the past really. we have moved forward in the sense that the demonstrations have got a

lot bigger than any these people expected. the whole regime is under question. people are on the streets calling for the mullahs to go. they wa nt calling for the mullahs to go. they want the supreme leader to step down. they want iran not to spend money on wars abroad like in syria, yemen, iraq or in southern lebanon in support of haspolat. but to spend money on them inside iran. —— hezbollah. they want political prisoners to be freed. it has become very political. is there a generational issue? many of those in the regime date back to 1979 and the revolution. but the population of iran is much younger. 0n revolution. but the population of iran is much younger. on average. of course. of course the population is much younger. things have moved on since 1979. but iran remains a

revolutionary state. who claims the street is still is very important, as you see today. today there is government—sponsored demonstrations. basically the idea is it will bring the pro—government people out onto the pro—government people out onto the streets. we sponsor them, we bring them out to claim the streets ina show bring them out to claim the streets in a show of force. so today basically is a show of force, trying to claim the streets and saying that we are a majority and we will control the streets. let's return now to the new year honours list. the university of strathclyde's prof john curtice, who is a familiar face on the bbc for his election polling analysis, has got a knighthood. we can speak to him now from our glasgow studio. congratulations. am i allowed to call you sirjohn? do you have to wait until you are dogs?|j call you sirjohn? do you have to wait until you are dogs? i think maybe technically you are supposed to wait. but if you wish to call me

sirjohn, you are allowed to do so. congratulations. i suppose it is evidence that in modern politics at least they don't shoot the messenger? i guess that's true. i did slightly read the irony in the official letter said the prime minister is minded to two recommend to the queen to grant you a knighthood. i did have the back of my mind the fact that theresa may did shed a tear when she was told the result of the exit poll by her husband. perhaps one has to say that at least the prime minister had the good grace not to look at the list and put a red pen through my name. i guess that i am. it is an interesting award on a personal level. but the role you have played in communicating what is sometimes quite complicated information, particularly in the polling data,

interpreting it for us in a way that has meaning. i was talking earlier to helen sharman, the former astronaut, who plays a role in trying to educate people about science. do you think in some ways this is a reflection on that, at a much academic work? but what you do to communicate more widely?” much academic work? but what you do to communicate more widely? i think you are right. i think it is a combination of both. the citation says contribution to social sciences and politics. this chap, with income those rather good academic research body tries to communicate the fruits of his research to a wider public. but also just using the academic understanding he has to try to cast some light on what is going on, particularly with respect to public opinion. taking those apparently boring tables of numbers and trying to bring out the implications for the political parties, for the referenda, for the future of our

country. and certainly i suppose if there is anything in particular that pleases me about this award is that it is not just pleases me about this award is that it is notjust for the contribution to social sciences, it is all —— also about politics. it is rare for somebody who doesn't get involved in any side to be honoured for making a contribution to political life. yes, it is accommodation of both. it is the academic work, but then it is deployment in a way that is successful to the wider public. plus, of course, one has to accept this. if the exit poll had been wrong in june, this. if the exit poll had been wrong injune, iwould not be sitting here now! that is very candid. let me ask you about public attitudes to the honours system? it goes through periods of kind of, frankly, there is a lot of public co nte m pt frankly, there is a lot of public contempt for people, but others say it isa contempt for people, but others say it is a good way of doing it. we

don't throw huge sums of money at people in public service. this in a way almost compensates for the sacrifices people make? yes, that is certainly true for a large section of public service. there is a sense of public service. there is a sense of course in which those who enter up of course in which those who enter up being civil servants university vice chancellors, it is almost something which comes with the job. i think it is a recognition. if people were deploying the same skills and the private sector, they may get paid more. there is a bit of a mixture. a few years ago there was some research on the honours system. 0n the one hand around three quarters of people say that actually for the most part people are given honours are being given it for the right reasons. but at the same time, less tha n right reasons. but at the same time, less than half the people are entirely sure this is an open

process. and i think certainly appears to differ, according to why people get awards. the thing that almost undoubtedly tends to cause most controversy, particularly in some of the awards announced late last night, that is awards for those who are essentially giving political service to the nation, party political service. on the other hand i'm in the fortunate position of being amongst those who kind of thing —— are being honoured for their scientific work. that is something for which the public should be honoured. as well as volu nta ry should be honoured. as well as voluntary work. half of them also think it is fine to give it to celebrities. in the end, yes there isa celebrities. in the end, yes there is a minority, about a fifth of people according to a recent yougov system, who say we should get rid of the honours system. most people say we should keep the body to be improved. this is a process the government officers binning gazed in in recent years. anybody can nominate anybody else for an honour.

—— the government office has been engaged in. i think you also capture the celebrity category as well. it makes me wonder how it will go down on the allotment when you tell them, whether you get mixed views from your fellow gardeners. but many congratulations. professor john curtice. the headlines on bbc news. performers, writers, politicians and local activists are among hundreds of people recognised in the new year honours list. labour peer lord adonis says attempts to silence his criticism of the government forced him to step down as its infrastructure adviser. and thousands of iranian government supporters attend officially—sponsored rallies across the country, after two days of anti—establishment protests. if the cold weather has got you thinking about summer sunshine, there's a warning today from the consumer group which? that holiday firms may be misleading consumers. many tour operators promote money—off deals, providing travellers book by a certain date.

but a study found that half the holidays advertised were the same price — or even cheaper — after the offer expired. the firms involved have all denied misleading their customers. several families left homeless by the grenfell tower fire have not received extra money promised to them by the council to help cover the cost of christmas. the royal borough of kensington and chelsea has apologised saying it made a mistake, after nearly 20 households promised the relief payments missed out. now to a group of school children from kidderminster, who have become pen pals with elderly residents living at a nearby care home. after five months of correspondence, the children have been able to put faces to the people behind the letters. ali fortescue went along to meet them. signed, sealed, and this time it's being hand delivered. we are going to see our penpals and i am really excited. it is an unlikely friendship, but with just one mile and 80 years

between them, jasmine and her school friends are finally making the trip up to barchester care home to meet their penpals for the very first time. are you jasmine? that is very nice, isn't it? that is lovely. have you got something to give, james? did you do these? we have been writing to the residents here sincejuly now, and the children have been loving receiving replies as well as writing about events that have happened in their lives. more than 400 letters have been sent between the school and the care home, but as well as offering the chance to hand over a christmas card, it is an opportunity for the children to show off their musical talents. #jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way... i thought we would just sing the carols, not really speak to them

and then go home, but it wasn't like that. we got to speak to all the residents. there is a big age gap but it doesn't matter. i gave her a christmas card, a poem, and a card that year one has done. what is it like meeting jasmine who has been writing you these letters? it is lovely, isn't it? you are a lovely girl. many of the residents here have dementia, but their carers say receiving the children's letters has lifted their spirits. i think it's just having that connection again, letting them share their stories with people and children in particular. what it was like living back in the olden days, and the residents get to learn what it is like living now with the children and all their new technology. i loved seeing the children with us. it is a great honour to us.

and also, we hope they learn a little too. this has gone so well that schools up and down the country, and as far away as australia, are starting similar pen pal projects. but there's only one thing left to say for now. merry christmas! ali fortescue, bbc news. volunteers have released thousands of baby turtles into the sea at a beach in west mexico. it's part of a project to protect the endangered 0live ridley turtle, whose numbers have fallen sharply in recent years. andy beatt reports. on this secluded beach in concepcion, bamba, the time has come to take the plunge. but not for these locals, for hundreds of endangered ba by turtles. the release of the olive ridley hatchlings is the culmination of a conservation project that hopes to boost the chances of this troubled species. it's two turtles each, and all at once, the rite of passage begins, with a short trudge into the sea. translation: we have

released 2300 turtles today. we always release them at night and the afternoon normally, so the birds and everything have gone. we've seen the number of animals is going down in the ocean. nets and gulls are always killing them. sometimes, four orfive turtles are killed daily. each summer, 0live ridley turtles land on wahaca's pacific beaches to lay their eggs. but populations have dwindled through poaching. the eggs and the meat are a delicacy, and can be found at local food markets despite laws prohibiting their sale. projects like this one hope to reverse the turtles' fortune, by collecting, reburying, and protecting the eggs until it's time for them to hatch, and well as inspiring a new generation of conservationists. i released her to the sea.

she went to the sea. she went to her house with her family. it will be 25 to 30 years until the baby turtles return to these beaches, by which time, theirfuture might be more secure. having had a quick look on the computer, there was no 0live ridley. it isa computer, there was no 0live ridley. it is a name derived from the entomology of the turtle. but there is matt taylor and he has the weather. hello. a fair bit of sunshine from any this afternoon. rain, sleet snow in northern scotland. confined to the north of the mainland by the end of the day. sunny spells elsewhere. showers in the north and west. windy in the south—west. rain will be heading back in by the end of the

afternoon. that will move north to all parts tonight. the ground saturated. some minorflooding possible. storm dylan is starting to move in. into tomorrow morning, the start of new year's eve, travel disruption from the gales affecting northern ireland, southern scotland, northern ireland, southern scotland, northern england and northern wales. rain and mounting snow across scotla nd rain and mounting snow across scotland in the morning. rain in eastern england will clear. then it is sunshine and showers for the rest of the day. that will take us to the end of 2017. bye for now. this is bbc news. i'm shaun ley. the headlines. more than 1100 people are recognised in the new year honours list. ringo starr and barry gibb are knighted in the new year honours — strictlyjudge darcey bussell is made a dame. labour peer lord adonis, who's quit as the government's infrastructure adviser, claims brexit is infecting the entire conduct of government. thousands of iranian government

supporters are attending officially sponsored rallies across the country after two days of anti—establishment protests. sport now and good news in the honours list for people like sam warburton but a more mixed picture out at the ashes. a couple of the women's cricketer is recognised in the new year honours list but we start in melbourne where action has been taking place and australia held england to draw in the fourth ashes test. australian captain steve smith dug in to bat out the final day with yet another century. the good news for england, it will not be a whitewash. patrick kielty is in melbourne. then which england to have completed a dramatic and exciting first victory of this ashes

series ended in a somewhat anti—climactic drawl. the familiar obstacle steve smith, the australian captain who scored his third century of of this ashes series and has now scored more than 600 runs in the series. he batted australia through to see out a draw. england had a glimmer of hope earlier in the day when david warner gave route a wicket on his birthday. then england also got rid of shaun marsh before lunch through jonny also got rid of shaun marsh before lunch throuthonny bairstow. but smith then batted alongside mitchell marsh to see a straight through the rest of the day. the scoring was slow, the