ago. rio ferdinand manager two days ago. rio ferdinand and sesc fabregas willjoin us. a damning report says the government's flagship benefits system causes hardship and is too expensive. the national audit office says people are suffering delays in receiving universal credit and not being treated sensitively. the former army sergeant who tried to kill his wife by tampering with her parachute is jailed for life. happy christmas. and dirty den — otherwise known as leslie grantham — the villain of eastenders, has died aged 71. coming up later in the hour on bbc news... sportsday will be coming live from moscow as we look at the matches on day two at the world cup, including a late winner for uruguay against egypt. good evening and welcome

to the bbc news at six. the government has been severely criticised in an official report on its flagship benefit reform — universal credit. the national audit office has accused ministers of being in denial over the financial hardship it causes to some claimants. it says £2 billion have been spent introducing the benefit so far. it could prove more expensive than the system it's replacing. of the million people who currently receive the new, combined benefit, 20% experience delays in receiving their first payment — some lasting months. and it costs nearly £700 to administer each claim — that's four times higher than originally intended. but the government insists it's good value for money. michael buchanan reports. my

my name is alex tipton and i have been on universal credit since november. alex is 30 and has a range of visible and psychiatric problems. for two weeks last month he tweeted daily what was like to survive on universal credit, in his case £95 a fortnight. day one, update of the universal credit sufferer. by by dave five after buying bread and cheese can he is left with £3 30 p. by cheese can he is left with £3 30 p. by day 11, all his money is gone. cheese can he is left with £3 30 p. by day 11, all his money is gone] getan by day 11, all his money is gone] get an advance of £30?” by day 11, all his money is gone] get an advance of £30? i have no food, we sat and looked through his universal credit journal. no advance is available to you for those reasons. . . is available to you for those reasons... alex took out an advance

that he is being docked £125 a month, 40% of his total allowance. what is it me not to have any money? no food and no heating or sitting on the bed for a week at the time wrapped up in my duvet with a jumper on sometimes because it is not too warm in the highlands, even in the summer. warm in the highlands, even in the summer. just drinking water. the national audit office says the use of food banks and red arrears rose when universal credit came to an area. ministers repeatedly refused to a cce pt area. ministers repeatedly refused to accept the new benefit creates financial problems. people. we will make sure that the payments have gone up —— the timeliness of payments have gone up. i would say to everyone who is listening, come and talk to us, come and talk to the jobcentres. despite the problems that alex and others have had with

universal credit, the troubled benefit will continue, given the time and money ready spent on it, today's port says scrapping it is not a viable option. —— report. a former army sergeant has been jailed for at least 18 years for trying to murder his wife by tampering with her parachute. emile cilliers was also convicted of attempting to kill his wife on another occasion by causing a gas leak at the family home in wiltshire. duncan kennedy reports from winchester crown court. this was the first time victoria cilliers — on the left — has walked into court. her physical injuries behind her, but her psychological trauma is never ending. she had no idea emile cilliers wanted her dead, so he could claim on her life insurance policy. incredibly, he chose to kill her doing the sport she loved — skydiving. and so, in april, 2015, when victoria jumped here at netheraven, her parachute had been sabotaged by her husband, emile. thejump nearly killed her.

what was happening at the locker when you got there? cilliers denied tampering with her chute, or trying to rig a gas explosion at their home six days earlier. today he was jailed for life for both. where was the parachute when you got to the locker? ican't remember. 0n the surface, the facade can seem quite compelling, quite charming, interested in sport and the army. but, below the surface, the story is completely different. he is cold, callous and treated his wife, victoria, with absolute contempt. nicolene shepherd is the mother of emile cillers' first two children. today, she said, he's finally faced justice. look at what he has done! he has ruined every life he has every touched and that is what he deserves — life for a live. —— a life. how would you describe emile cilliers? an absolute sociopath. tonight, the army confirmed cilliers would be sacked. victoria says she cannot understand why he did it, but he did, and now faces the consequences. duncan kennedy, bbc news, in wiltshire. the boss of rail firm

govia thameslink railway, which runs thameslink, southern and great northern has resigned. passengers have faced major disruption as hundreds of trains have been cancelled following the introduction of new timetables last month. helena lee is at st albans for us this evening. helena, given the scale of the problems and the fury of so many passengers, was this inevitable? charles horton has based increasing pressure since the new timetable was implemented. the new timetable lead to chaos on the rail network with cancellations and delays for thousands of passengers. he said he recognised the restoration that passengers were feeling but he went on to say it was time for a new pair of hands to take over. but, i think the new timetable still has not

settled. we spoke to one nurse who said she had to sleep overnight at home work because five trains had been cancelled. still, cancellations and delays on the rail network. thank you. a message of "peace and hope" from professor stephen hawking has been beamed towards the nearest black hole in space, as his remains were laid to rest at westminster abbey. a memorial service has been held — during which his ashes will were placed alongside other greats of british science, like charles darwin and sir isaac newton. the eastenders actor, leslie grantham, best known as "dirty" den watts, landlord of the old vic, has died aged 71. more than 30 million viewers tuned in to watch a christmas day episode in 1986 in which his character handed divorce papers to his on—screen wife angie. off screen, grantham's life was not without controversy. david sillito reports. six little months to live. six tragic little months and poor old angie's going to pop off.

christmas day, 1986, dirty den and angie and a bit of tv history. more than 30 million people watched this scene. this, my sweet, is a letter from my solicitor, telling you that your husband has filed a petition for divorce. eastenders made leslie grantham and anita dobson tv‘s best—known couple. there was that look about him that you just didn't know what he was going to do next. that was his kind of ace in the hole, i think. there was always that bit about him that was slightly unpredictable, which i liked. that is what i think gave him the edge on tv. there was a kind of restlessness in him, you know, which i think was innate to leslie, himself. however, just three years later, dirty den was killed off. leslie grantham wanted out. it's like working in a factory. um... and you have to make a decision that you're going to move on, so, i said i wanted to leave. he'd started acting in the ‘70s.

he'd turned to drama while serving a sentence for the murder of a german cab driver. he certainly had his troubles. hello, princess. his return to albert square was cut short after the papers revealed a webcam—related sex scandal but he continued to work... including starring in a bulgarian comic drama. but, when it comes to tv history, leslie grantham will always be dirty den. happy christmas, ange. eastenders theme music leslie grantham, who's died at the age of 71. i remember watching that episode with my mum. time for a look at the weather. here's sarah keith—lucas. much quieter today than yesterday. we have lost storm hector. is a various scene out there today with a

bit of sunshine. this is how things are looking in cambridge. into the evening hours, most places are dried but not everywhere. a few showers in scotla nd but not everywhere. a few showers in scotland and northern ireland stop mac later in the night is when we see the next batch of wet weather arriving from the west. breezy in northern ireland and the western fringes of england and wales and scotla nd fringes of england and wales and scotland in the early hours of saturday morning. saturday, the weather will be dominated by this front which works its way from west to east gradually across the country. the heaviest of the rain will be in the north. particularly heavyin will be in the north. particularly heavy in parts of northern ireland and scotland and the north—west of england as the front moves eastwards during the day. further south, the rain will be fairly light and patchy. the south—east of england may well remain dry for much of the day but it will be cooler than today's. sunday looks like the better dead weekend. sunshine towards the east with vicar cloud

dashes up with thicker cloud. there should be fine weather on the cards through the second half of the weekend. thank you very much. good evening, bbc news meetjulian worker. a senior conservative mp has blocked in new law to prevent taking photographs and someone's clothes, known upskirting. sir christopher chope shouted object when the title of the legislation was read out in the commons despite the bill having government support. the draft law was expected to be nodded throughout our past two this afternoon and his decision to hold its progress has been strongly criticised. jean martin who started the campaign to have upskirting made into an offence has spoken to sir christopher and asked him why he rejected the bill. he said he objected to it because he is annoyed that it was not debated because it is a new bill. we have beenin because it is a new bill. we have been in parliament talking about

this the six months so a lot of discussions have gone on behind closed doors. he said he objected to it on principle and i said what about the subject matter of the bill. he said i'm not sure what that is, upskirting. isaid bill. he said i'm not sure what that is, upskirting. i said i could help him with fat and asked for his imminent address. i said i would like to talk to him and find out why he objected, explain how this will affect and protect women and girls. that was one of the campaign is involved in trying to get that ball past. 0ne conservative mp is with me, i don't think you are impressed with sir christopher. i'm not. frankly this is a law that the solicitor general helped to draft, that the minister tried to support, because it addresses a gap in the law. we know that technology evolves and things evolve and this was not a

problem 100 years ago, it wasn't even a problem in 50 years ago but it isa even a problem in 50 years ago but it is a problem now. this is why it is important that we address it urgently because it is happening at gatherings, and trains, at various places where people gather and that it is absolutely not acceptable. a violation of some of our fellow citizens, it is outrageous that it should happen and it is objectionable that christopher should have done this without even knowing what the bill was. have you spoken to him about it?|j knowing what the bill was. have you spoken to him about it? i have not. ifidoi spoken to him about it? i have not. if i do i would would say it is disgraceful to block a law that is designed to protect people from having their most intimate selves intruded upon. that is completely not acceptable. is something amiss from the system, in circumstances where a private members bill is put forward , where a private members bill is put forward, it has support and one

person can say object, a person you have just alluded to apparently does not know much about the details proposed. is there something wrong with the system that allows this? no, the system is designed to be used by responsible people. this is why when people are thinking about who they wish to represent them in parliament they should think about the party platform but also think about whether that person is responsible to hold the mandate of 75,000 people whoever it is to the community you live in, and to represent them in parliament. i think that is a question of responsibility and judgment, something all electors should ask themselves every time the foot, not just which party but what is the person you are asking to stand for you like. what are your hopes like mailfor you like. what are your hopes like mail for this you like. what are your hopes like mailfor this law, i understand this can come back in the same form to be looked at again? it can and i've had

separate conversations with the government and they've made it clear that this will go through. i'm sure that this will go through. i'm sure that they will ensure that there is time available, because this is something the government took very seriously. the reason they are allowed to go through as private members bill was because it was a useful way of making sure it did not attract controversy because it was such an obvious thing to go through and the mp for bath, wera hobhouse, was happy to do it so that seemed a logical way of using parliamentary time but if it is not going to happen i'm sure that the government will find a way to bring it forward quickly. the minister responsible has already spoken in favour of it and the government has been clear that this is what it once. thank you for coming on, tom tugendhat. the united states and china have moved closer to a trade war after president trump announced tariffs of

2596 president trump announced tariffs of 25% targeting $50 billion worth of chinese goods. the tariffs will be imposed from july six and will cover a range of sectors including aerospace, communications, non—optics and cars. the chinese commerce ministry swiftly promised immediate countermeasures of similar size and strength. let's stick to our washington correspondent gary 0'donoghue. the trade war has been mooted and he is one more step towards and potentially. yes, on top of that development last week with president trump at the g7 folding his arms and telling his allies he would maintain there is still and aluminium tariffs now comes this bunch of tariffs on china, and the range of areas, particularly areas with high technology that goes into the products, and the reason for this is twofold. 0ne the products, and the reason for this is twofold. one is that donald trump generally thinks that the trade deficit with china is too big,

is $375 billion at the moment, and secondly there is a concern that china is stealing intellectual property and unfairly supporting its own high—tech industries by requiring ministries to hand over some of their intellectual properties. there's been a whole bunch of talks between wilbur ross the commerce secretary, the chinese offered to buy some more in terms of american products, it wasn't enough, and they've gone ahead with these threats to slap on these tariffs. in an impromptu life interview president trump claims he has largely solved the problem after a flurry of early morning tweets he said he could see an american news

channel broadcasting from in front of the white house and was thinking about walking down there and as you concede that is exactly what he did. he made his way past waiting journalists to head for fox news and had this to say about his meeting on tuesday with the north korean leader kim jong—un. tuesday with the north korean leader kim jong-un. we now have a very good relationship with north korea. when icame into relationship with north korea. when i came into thisjob relationship with north korea. when i came into this job and relationship with north korea. when i came into thisjob and looked like war, not because of me but if you remember the sits down with barack 0bama and think you will admit he said the biggest problem that the united states has and by far the most dangerous problem, and he said to me, that we've ever had because of nuclear is north korea. that was shortly before i entered office. i have solved that problem. now we are getting it memorialised and all. we signed a very good document, you know what, more importantly than the documents, i have a good relationship with kim jong—un. that isa relationship with kim jong—un. that is a very important thing. i can

now, wait, i can now call him. i can now, wait, i can now call him. i can now say we have a problem. i told him,i now say we have a problem. i told him, igive now say we have a problem. i told him, i give him a very direct number. he can now call me if he has difficulties, i can call him, we have communication. it is a very good thing. people are shocked, they thought trump was going to get in and he would start throwing bombs all over the place. it's the opposite but we are building a military so strong, $716 billion, we're building a military so strong body will mess with us. but you know what, i never want to have to use it. so, what, i never want to have to use it. 50, gary, he has solved that problem. that was quite an extraordinary moment this morning julian, you walked out of the white house straight onto the set of fox and friends, the morning show on the fox network. he spent half an hour with them and as if that was not enough he had another hour and half

with waiting journalists, so he spent about 50 minutes with journalists today. his topics ranged from north korea, as we have mentioned, through the james comey investigation, through our whole slew of topics, freewheeling really. thank you gary 0'donoghue. paul manna fought was accused of tampering with witnesses, the special counsel robert muller expressed concerns that paul ma nafort expressed concerns that paul manafort would try to influence witnesses into his investigation into russia's role in the 2016 election. a mother and daughter part ofa election. a mother and daughter part of a female terror cell have been jailed as part of plans for a knife

attack in the area around the houses of parliament. rizlaine boular has been jailed of parliament. rizlaine boular has beenjailed for 16 years, of parliament. rizlaine boular has been jailed for 16 years, her mother mina dich has beenjailed for six yea rs mina dich has beenjailed for six years and nine months for helping her. her younger sister safaa boular 18 was convicted last week are planning a separate terror attack in the area around the british museum. 0ur the area around the british museum. our home affairs correspondentjim collie reports from the old bailey. rizlaine boular, 22, has been told that she is serving a life term with a minimum of16 that she is serving a life term with a minimum of 16 years, that she is serving a life term with a minimum of16 years, her that she is serving a life term with a minimum of 16 years, her mother mina dich, ali, has been told they could serve six years and nine months her daughter. her daughter was planning an attack around the houses of parliament, they went on a reconnaissance mission scudding qatar gas and then went to sainsbury‘s and bought knives. in

addition rizlaine boular was heard ona bike addition rizlaine boular was heard on a bike that had been placed in a property where she was, she was heard practising wielding the knife. when she was arrested, rizlaine boular was shot at by police and today we got details of how she came today we got details of how she came to be shot. it was said in court that she was refusing to comply with police instructions. she swore at police instructions. she swore at police and an officer became concerned, she moved her hand in such a way that he believed she had something in her hand and he opened fire three times. rizlaine boular‘s barrister says she still has three bullet casings and her abdomen. the youngest member of the terror cell is her sister safaa boular, just 18. she was convicted last week of planning a separate knife attack. she will be sentenced later. the court heard that the women spoke in code when planning attacks and used the phrase "a mad hatter ‘s tea pa rty".

the phrase "a mad hatter ‘s tea party". today the phrase "a mad hatter ‘s tea pa rty". today two the phrase "a mad hatter ‘s tea party". today two members of the cell will be sentenced, sufferable will be sentenced later. jim kelly at the old bailey. binyamin it is reported that saudi led coalition forces have the entrance to the airport in the city which lies on the red sea, the main port in yemen, last night the un security council warned a full—blown offensive in the town could be disastrous. 0ur security correspondent frank gardner has followed developments. the entire operation has been run from abu dhabi the capital of the united arab emirates. the uae has forces on the ground, with advancing yemeni forces, we were told there we re yemeni forces, we were told there were three forces on the ground and the city. they also have a reserve force waiting across the sea and territory. the uae officials insist there is no pause and operations, simply that the first phase of this

campaign is nearly completed, they have reached the edge of the city, the airport, they now hope that the united nations special envoy martin griffiths can dissuade the rebels to vacate the miniature rebels on the city. if that doesn't happen, they say, a significant forces waiting to be deployed across the sea in eritrea. in the meantime they have said there will be more actions, they will not say what that including deception activity, one thing they did early on in this battle was to do it deception plan to make the rebels believe that the attack was coming from the north when in fact troops were advancing from the south which they say aloud to them to punch to what they call the green zone, a fertile zone to the green zone, a fertile zone to the south of the city. but they are aware that there could be counter attacks. but this could go either way, the rebels are digging in, they

show no sign of wanting to give up grounds of the optimism of the uae could be misplaced. two teenage mugger riders who stabbed a man to death during a robbery spree in west london have been given life sentences, troy thomas 18 and nathan khamenei 19 were found guilty of murdering abdul samad for his mobile phone. the sentencing judge at the 0ld phone. the sentencing judge at the old bailey described cctv footage of their crimes is chilling. this special report. we believe this vehicle was involved in the stabbing. they have been described as 21st century highwayman. this was the police pursuit of troy thomas and nathan gill marni last october. the teenagers have spent hours roaming around maida vale looking for victims. by the end of the might of had been nine match point robberies, five stabbings and abdul samad was dead. the 28—year—old was

knifed after handing over his mobile. his parents were in court to hear thomas and too sentenced to a minimum of 20 and 22 years respectively. in sentencing the judge said he had no doubt that, had the police not called them they would have robbed more people that might. he said that the way that they had given evidence during the trial get a clear impression that their attitude to what they have done and covered in was one of casual matter of casual matter—of—fact indifference. both teenagers went out and that might. judge richard marks qc reference the frequency of young people carrying knives and an alarming rise in mopeds crime in his remarks. 0ff knives and an alarming rise in mopeds crime in his remarks. off i'm pleased to see the judge mention muppet crime and mike crime, i'm hoping it will send a strong message to young people thinking of carrying an eye for getting involved in this kind of activity. the victim was described as an outstanding young man who was engaged to be married.

instead his family have been left devastated by what the judge called the wicked stabbing of him that night. government officials in the central african republic have cast doubt on whether boris becker is and not a show for sporting, cultural and humanitarian affairs. the former wimbledon champion had claimed diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings, he claimed come because of that role. a spokesman for the central african republic government has no suggested that no such diplomatic post exists. boris becker won six grand slam titles in the 19805 won six grand slam titles in the 1980s and 1990s was declared bankrupt in london last year after failing to pay a long—standing debt. now this is not necessarily what you would expect to see in a velodrome but the cyclist mark beaumont, no stranger to world records after becoming the first person in history to cycle around the world in 79 days has been added again. this time

trying to smash a 132—year—old british record on penny farthing. 0ne british record on penny farthing. one of british record on penny farthing. 0ne ofa british record on penny farthing. one of a number of penny farthing ‘s! now time for the weather with louise. that evening, we close on a quieter note after storm hector moved away on thursday but quite a lot of cloud, some sunny spells in the northern isles and north—east of scotland, sean rigg load of northern england and northern ireland for much of the day, the best of the sunshine in the south, tim to speaking in the low 20s. it looks as if we should see affirmative globus evening and some showers along those west facing coasts overnight tonight before we see another area of low pressure pushing into the far north—west. the sign of what is to come for saturday. overnight lows of mine — 1a degrees. overnight pressure will bring white and breezy conditions at times particularly

across the far north—west, the rain light in nature as it moves through england and wales. we start the weekend with rain, some heavy with rumbles of thunder, some light patchy rain moving away south and east across the midlands towards the london area and a fresher feel, highs of 15 to 18. this is bbc news. our latest headlines: a damning report says the government's flagship benefits scheme may end up costing more than the system it replaced. the national audit office said delays in transferring people over to universal credit caused hardship. at least 18 years in jail for the former army sergeant

who tried to kill his wife in a gas explosion and by tampering with her parachute. emilie cilliers hoped he would benefit from his wife's