downing street rules out accepting a brexit deal that would leave the uk permanently part of a customs union with the eu. it comes as several cabinet ministers are understood to have expressed their concern about a so—called backstop option, but the chancellor is optimistic about the negotiations. well, i've always been optimistic that we would get to a deal in the end because it's clearly in the interests of both sides to do so. and what has happened over the last week, ten days, is there's been a measurable change in pace. we'll hear more about philip hammond'scomments about brexit. also on today's programme: the head of the firm at the centre of controversy about medical waste hits back against claims of mismanagement. he says it provides an excellent service. ten days after a saudi journalist disappeared in turkey, there are reports that audio recordings prove he's been murdered. the finance director of patisserie valerie has been arrested. 2,500 jobs could be at risk after the cafe chain said it needed

an immediate cash injection. and the queen's granddaughter princess eugenie marries at st georges chapel in windsor in front of 850 guests. and coming up on bbc news. 20—year—old george russell will become the third british driver in formula one after being given a seat to drive with williams next season. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. downing street has insisted the prime minister will not agree to a brexit deal with the eu which commits the uk to being permanently in a customs union.

it comes as several cabinet ministers are understood to have expressed their concern about a so—called backstop option to avoid a hard border between the irish republic and northern ireland if arrangements for a trade deal are not ready in time. meanwhile, the chancellor has said there has been a positive change in the pace of the brexit negotiations and that better economic outcomes are now possible. our political correspondent jonathan blake reports. judein jude in the cabinet will agree the compromise on brexit today? cabinet ministers were called into number ten yesterday for an update on the brexit negotiations. a briefing from the prime minister and her advisers could, might be needed at this critical stage. one hour later, senior ministers had their say, raising concerns about how long the uk could keep ties with the eu, a key sticking point in negotiations, which, according to one member of

the government released, are picking up the government released, are picking up pace. there is a real sense now of engagement from both sides, shared enterprise in trying to solve a problem rather than posturing towards each other, so a really important step change. but that shouldn't consider the fact that we've still got some big differences left to resolve. he's not standing in the way of the prime minister. for now, it least, but other thing cabinet are having serious doubts about a plan to keep the uk in a customs union long—term if they trade deal can't be put in place in time. we are at the final stages of a really compensated negotiation and ido a really compensated negotiation and i do think we have to give up i minister the opportunity to be able to do the deal for the uk, something thatis to do the deal for the uk, something that is absolutely determined to do. downing street has dismissed talk of an open ended relationship with the eu, and said this morning the prime minister could never agree to that and any backstop arrangement to avoid a hardboard in northern ireland must be temporary. a tough

task for theresa may of convincing him ministers that that will be the case without naming a date. there arejust case without naming a date. there are just days now and to eu case without naming a date. there arejust days now and to eu leaders meet in brussels where both sides in this negotiation will want to show some progress at least. britain says a deal can be done this autumn. everywhere there are signs of how ha rd everywhere there are signs of how hard that is proving to pull off. jonathan blake, bbc news, westminster. our economics editor, kamal ahmed, is in bali, where philip hammond has been talking at the annual meeting of the imf. so, it did sound like a degree of optimism from the chancellor?” think very much so. you could hear a bit of the music as the entertainments for tonight start off for the imf annual meeting for the interview the chancellor earlier today and i think there was a tone of optimism. ease a daily things will be done, there's been a step change in the pace, he says there's

significant challenges and i think he raised a very interesting point. he said he thought there would be what it described as a deal dividend. ever since the uncertainty of the referendum, there has been an idea that businesses are holding back investment and of course, the economic forecast and economy itself has slowed down. pz if there is a deal, you could see a bit of a pick—up, some growth back in the economy. now that won't help his budget in two weeks' time, and he also talked about the possibility of tax rises in that budget but for next year, when theresa may famously said austerity is coming to an end, there could be a bit more money for public services if that deal is done. if there is no deal, there will be no deal dividend. all right, thank you for now. the head of the company at the centre of controversy about medical waste has hit back against claims of mismanagement. garry pettigrew, the managing director of health care environmental services, told the bbc his firm is providing an excellent service but has found itself vilified.

the firm has been stripped of nhs contracts after hundreds of tonnes of clinical waste piled up at its sites. mr pettigrew said the problems were caused by a shortage of incinerators, not the compa ny‘s actions. he was speaking to our health editor, hugh pym. following the news about there was a backlog of medical waste disposal sites, 15 nhs hospital trusts in england terminated their contracts with health care environmental services, the regulator, the environment agency, saying the company was in breach of permits and enforcement action was under way. but now in an exclusive bbc interview, the managing director garry pettigrew has claimed he did have a plan to reduce the backlog and his company was treated unfairly. i feel that this company has been vilified severely for providing an excellent service. what

do you say to someone who said they we re do you say to someone who said they were body parts being stored at your sides and its unhygienic and not safe ? sides and its unhygienic and not safe? none of it is true. all the parts people are referring to are dealt with securely, professionally and any anatomical waste are stored in fridges and prioritised for outward bound. the company blames the backlog of waste on a lack of incineration facilities in the uk. to get it safely destroyed. many people will be horrified at the idea of medical waste not being properly disposed of. not being incinerated. that happened at your site. what do you say to that? you must take some responsibility for that.” you say to that? you must take some responsibility for that. i have done this with the nhs at the forefront of my business. that waste has been in our secure facilities 20 a7, it surely don't lack of incineration. ina surely don't lack of incineration. in a statement, the regulator, the environment agency said:.

some people who say their former employees have come forward to us and said what they saw allegedly was u nsafe, and said what they saw allegedly was unsafe, very unpleasant, unhygienic, things happening at sites that would bea things happening at sites that would be a worry to the public.” things happening at sites that would be a worry to the public. i think they will look at any former employee, i don't know who you are referring to, but the reality is we work within permits, but in compliance, ia,001 company, we operate uk wide, and at the same time as well, we operate within the confines of a permit. what is not clear is what will happen to contract the company still holds with more than 30 hospital trusts in england. its contract with the nhs in scotland are continuing. hugh pym, bbc news. a delegation from saudi arabia has arrived in istanbul to investigate the disappearance of a journalist there earlier this month. jamal khashoggi, a critic of the saudi monarchy, was last seen entering his country's consulate ten days ago.

it comes amid reports that turkey has graphic recordings proving that mr khashoggi was murdered inside the building. our correspondent mark lowen is in istanbul. what more do we know? how much do we know about this apparent recordings? i have been told by a source close to the investigation that the turks got documented evidence to show that jamal khashoggi was indeed killed inside the saudi consulate ten days ago. this source tells me the turkish official line is that he is still missing, but they safe ashore they know he was killed and that backs up american news reports which have suggested that the turkish intelligence agency has got audio and video recordings which show that jamal khashoggi was notjust killed, but tortured before that. what we don't know is whether the turks have given those recordings to us

intelligence or indeed how they obtained them in the first place. turkey will want to refute allegations that it bugs the dramatic missions on its soil. now, given all of this, you may think it's rather bizarre that turkey would welcome a joint commission by saudi arabia and turkey to investigate it for that saudi officials have arrived in turkey to dojust officials have arrived in turkey to do just that. it's officials have arrived in turkey to dojust that. it's been officials have arrived in turkey to do just that. it's been like for example to if donald trump were to open a joint cyber enquiry with russia. i think what's happening is turkish government is playing it cautious for now. they are showing they are going the saudis time before the event, tightening the screws on the saudis with a leak committing evidence, trying to go west support behind them. have to say, at this stage, the saudis are denying anything untoward happened to jamal khashoggi. marker, thank you. the queen's granddaughter princess eugenie has married jack brooksbank, at st george's chapel in windsor. the royal family and a number of celebrities, including robbie williams, ellie goulding and james blunt, were among 850

guests at the ceremony. princess eugenie, who is ninth in line to the throne, was given away by her father, prince andrew. crowds gathered outside the castle to wish the couple well. our royal correspondent sarah campbell is at windsor castle. a very blustery day. well, quite. yes, five months ago we were here for a royal wedding and now here we are again. all the senior royals we re are again. all the senior royals were in attendance, the queen, prince philip, harry and megan, the previous bride and groom, all here as well. all here to watch the queen's granddaughter princess eugenie get married. on a very windy day. nicholas witchel reports. held onto your hats. it's another royal wedding. though this were not quite in the premier league. despite the sharp ambitions of the bride's father and mother. the guests

battled through the strong wind to saint georges chapel. and of course, these days you can't have a royal wedding without some celebrities. and here they were, the singer robbie williams whose daughter was a bridesmaid, james blunt and his wife, and just behind, bridesmaid, james blunt and his wife, andjust behind, oh bridesmaid, james blunt and his wife, and just behind, oh dear, there was another hat,. ellie goulding. into the chapel, by a side door, but duke and duchess of kent six, bang for babs had a spring wedding in bright sunshine rather than a 01 in a gale. and the duke and duchess of kent bridge. prince charles came without his wife, the duchess of cornwall evidently had a pressing engagement. and could not make it. and then stand by for the arrival of the mother of the bride, sarah ferguson, also known as the duchess of york. she's not been an entirely welcome figure within whilst circles for many years, having an unfortunate habit of embarrassing them but she arrived

boisterous as ever and delighted to be part of a family again. the queen was there to see the wedding of one of their granddaughters, and alongside her was a duke of edinburgh, a rare appearance by him at the age of 97. they went into the chapel and took their places just behind the duchess of york. is thought to be the first time a duke of edinburgh has been in such close box at each to his erstwhile daughter—in—law for 26 years and so to the bride. princess eugenie, ninth in line to the throne, she arrived at the chapel with her father, the duke of york, in a dress by designer peter paul otto. waiting in sight, has been to be, jack brooksbank, a drinks company were and stiff and former nightclub manager. the bride came up the aisle with her bridesmaids and page boys among whom were prince george and princess charlotte. at the altar, the couple exchanged their vows.” usually leave victoria helene...

take the jack christopher stamp to my wedded husband. and then, as man and wife together, a carriage ride. it's been seen as an attempt to emulate the ride taken by harry and megan after their wedding and concerns of been expressed about the cost of providing security. in the event, because of the weather, the carriage was closed and the ride was very much shorter. the crowds were respectable, but certainly not huge. nicholas witchel, bbc news. well, now that the service is over, and the carriage ride by the couple has now finished, they are now back in windsor castle and i suppose this is when the party for them properly begins. they are currently at their reception being held in saint georges hall hosted by the queen and then this evening for the evening do, it will be held at royal lodge,

the family home, very nearby, in windsor great park and this really is home for princess eugenie. the people behind me who are queueing, the last few people waiting to get in and see the chapel, see where the wedding is taken place, which we presumably the second and last royal wedding here in windsorfor 2018. back to you. sarah, thank you, at windsor castle. there was a weather forecast coming up at the end of the programme. the finance director of the cafe chain patisserie valerie has been arrested. chris marsh, who was suspended earlier this week, has been released on bail. 2,500 jobs could be at risk after the company said it needed an immediate injection of cash in order to continue trading, after discovering big irregularities in its accounts. our business editor simon jack is here. what is going on? a lot ofjobs. talks are ongoing to rescue a company that on tuesday night was worth nearly half £1 billion and now

it is unclear whether it's worth anything at all. we had a breathtaking series of events on wednesday, shares were suspended, a black hole in its finances were discovered, hmrc emerged, it was winding up in order to shut the company down. them issued a statement saying it could not continue at a cash injection. last night that finance director was arrested. talks are ongoing and they understand the major shareholder lukejohnson, understand the major shareholder luke johnson, pizza express understand the major shareholder lukejohnson, pizza express etc, is not ina lukejohnson, pizza express etc, is not in a position personally immediately to provide a cash injection, so it looks pretty grim at the moment. we expect an update this afternoon or first thing tomorrow morning. but i think this company tomorrow morning. but i think this com pa ny really, tomorrow morning. but i think this company really, its future, 205 stores, 2500 staff are in the balance as we speak. simon, thank you. our top story this lunchtime: the government says it will not

commit britain to accepting an brexit deal that will leave uk part ofa brexit deal that will leave uk part of a permanent customs union with the eu. and five koalas from australia are settling into wiltshire. coming up on bbc news: kyle edmund's run at the shanghai masters is ended by alex zverev in the quarterfinals, as his hunt for a maiden atp tour title continues. people on florida's gulf coast are starting to assess the damage to their homes and businesses, after one of the strongest storms ever to hit the united states. hurricane michael tore into north—west florida on wednesday, with winds of more than 150 miles an hour. emergency workers say mexico beach was worst hit. the bbc‘s gary o'donoghue went to visit the town. two days ago this was an ordinary

beachfront community, home to around 1200 people. but street after street, michael tore through this town, uprooting and smashing everything in its path. this is what the federal emergency directory is calling ground zero. it's completely devastated the street down to the sea. just two houses left standing and people's things are all over the street, microwaves, mattresses, kitchen sinks, you name it. the stuff of everyday life turned into detritus in a matter of a few hours. around the town, friends and neighbours are doing their best to console one another. hard to do when your dream retirement home has ended up like this. i think there's a lot of anger and shock and just emotion that is at its peak right now, so i think we just need a few days to digest what has happened and see how the rebuilding is going to happen.

mexico beach was also the maximum point of the storm surge. the water there rising more than eight feet at the height of the onslaught. one resident said she had five feet of water in the downstairs of her house. the floors and the furniture now ruined. i was in and out of the closet and i was going to check on my husband and i wasjust a basket case. to hear the roar it's just amazing, it's so loud. 30 miles west of mexico beach the hurricane's aftermath proved a temptation some couldn't resist. this was a family dollar store and when we arrived there were a whole bunch of people helping themselves to pretty much everything inside. mainly the cigarettes and the batteries. they were taking those away in bag fulls. while we have been here a whole load more people have come back and been doing exactly the same. it's a bit of a free for all. but for the time being, the priority is seeking out anyone who might need urgent help as the rescuers make their way to some of the more isolated communities.

life will not be back to normal here any time soon. gary o'donoghue, bbc news, florida. in an exclusive interview with the bbc, south korea's president has said it's only a matter of time before the us and north korea declare an official end to their state of war, which has existed since 1953. president moon jae—in admitted that there could be more diplomatic "bumps and bruises" along the way, as he tries to persuade kim jong—un to give up his nuclear weapons. he was speaking to our correspondent, laura bicker, in seoul. these rare dogs are a special gift from kim jong—un to president moon. a symbol of the developing relationship between two leaders who technically are still at war. translation: i got them as a present from chairman kim during my trip to pyongyang. they are actually designated as national treasures in north korea. 150,000 north koreans were introduced to the south korean president in pyongyang.

mr moon has spent decades pushing for peace. he didn't waste this chance to speak. translation: actually, i was quite nervous to give the speech. chairman kim had no strings attached when he gave me the opportunity. he never asked me to say certain things. he didn't even want to know what i was going to say before the speech. i believe this demonstrates the changes that are happening in north korea right now. kim jong—un is expected to come to seoul by the end of this year, the first trip by a north korean leader to the south korean capital. you've now met kim jong—un three times. what is he like? translation: he is young but he has a clear vision to develop his poor country. and he is also quite courteous and candid. and he respects his elders. so i would say he demonstrates humble leadership. president moon said he believes north korea will start dismantling some of its nuclear facilities if the us also takes steps. the hope from both koreas

that donald trump will agree to declare the war on this peninsula is officially over. translation: i believe there is a shared understanding between washington and seoul regarding this viewpoint. i believe it is only a matter of time, a matter of date, and we will be able to sign this declaration. mr moon travels to europe this week to ask for their support. he admits this will be a long process, with more bumps and bruises along the way. as the son of north korean refugees, is this more personal or political for you? translation: i feel more than anyone the pain of war and the tragedy of war, and the pain of separation. this is why i resolve never to see war again on the korean peninsula, and also to overcome the pain of conflict. these are my main political objectives. from humble beginnings, president moon is trying to negotiate with two of the world's

most unpredictable leaders. he is an optimist but some fear he may not be a realist. laura bicker, bbc news, seoul. dwindling pupil numbers and high transport costs are some of the challenges faced by rural schools. tight budgets mean headteachers in remote areas often have to supervise lunchtimes or help out with the cleaning. now the welsh government is launching a plan to cut costs by connecting pupils and teachers using digital technology. tim muffett has been to find out more. head teachers need many skills. for steve woodhouse, they include washing up and serving lunch. today, for instance, i'm going to the school kitchen because we've got some staff absence, which is difficult to cover. if i was to bring in extra staff, that would have a cost implication. steve says he typically does this twice a week. he is head of holme on spalding moor primary school in the east

riding of yorkshire. idon‘t mind. it's always enjoyable to work with the rest of the staff. i just worry that when i get back to the office there will be all the things i haven't got done that i should be focusing on, really. why are you just standing there? why am ijust standing here? i was busy talking. i know i should be doing thejob. more than 500 rural school head teachers in england have been surveyed as part of a new report published today. az% of headteachers in the survey told us they had fewer children on roll than they had capacity for. that affects their budget in many ways. every child that comes into the school attracts funding. there is often the added expense of providing transport for pupils who live far away, and sometimes higher salary costs for teachers. that is because the survey found staff in rural schools tend to stay in their jobs for longer. they are more experienced but more expensive. the situation is described as a perfect storm. some challenges seem very hard to solve. some schools will

always be isolated. and in rural areas it can be very hard to move people quickly from one place to another. but here in south—west wales, a new project is using technology to try to tackle the problem. recently we have been doing work on energy... dylanjones is teaching further maths a—level in ceredigion. but some of his pupils are 13 miles away. obviously the main idea of this is to stop the travelling. and depending obviously with the internet connections and things in this area, with things like that obviously working fine, i'm sure it is a way forward. this project is part of the welsh government's rural education plan launched today. it will be trialled across ceredigion. it's pretty much exactly the same as having a teacher there without the cost of the travel. it just broadens the possibilities, especially in a rural place like this.

this initiative is based on a similar one launched by the scottish government in the outer hebrides two years ago. the department for education in england says it recognises the importance of rural schools and the challenges they face. it said an extra £25 million had been set aside to support them. but in east yorkshire, head teacher steve woodhouse says he has to make more savings to his budget next year, and right now he doesn't know how he will do it. tim muffett, bbc news. five koala bears are starting new lives in britain, as part of plans to ensure the species' long—term survival. the four females and a male have journeyed half way round the world to the longleat safari park in wiltshire, where it's hoped they'll settle down to breed. to the longleat safari park in wiltshire, where it's hoped they'll settle down to breed. they're not an endangered species, but they are considered vulnerable, and experts are keen to establish new populations outside australia. laura foster has been

to watch them settle in. the tree—clutching, eucalyptus—munching, sleep—needing koalas are nature's cuddly toy. in fact, these creatures can spend up to 20 hours a day asleep, which is handy when some of them have had to catch a long haul flight. this is when five southern koalas landed at heathrow airport. it's the first of its kind, obviously it's the first individuals within europe. so, it's a big, big step towards helping the species survive. but why is there such a need to bring koalas such a long way? things like chlamydia, retrovirus, when that gets into a population of koalas, is devastating. we don't have retrovirus and chlamydia in the wild in the uk. so by bringing them over here you have a nice, almost bio—secure population. in each of these crates is one of the koalas, each blissfully unaware of all the work

and effort it's taken to get them here. they are going to be checked to see if they are all right, and then they will go to their new home in wiltshire. and this is them getting a first taste of their new australia—inspired enclosure. here at longleat safari park they will be studied so we can find out more about how we might be able to protect this species, which is vulnerable to extinction. they are so much more thanjust sitting in a tree and sleeping. they are quite complicated. their behaviours, their hierarchies, everything that they do is fascinating. the site has been growing its own eucalyptus plants in preparation, all part of the plan of the south australian government to create a new back—up population of southern koalas in this part of the world. to stop the koalas from becoming stressed, they will be kept out of sight from the public for the next six months, to allow them to settle in. and it's hoped that soon they will breed and there will be even more of them hanging about. laura foster, bbc news. england face the unusual prospect

of playing in an empty stadium tonight, when they take on croatia in the nations league. the match will be played behind closed doors as croatia complete a stadium ban after a swastika was marked on their pitch before a euro 2016 qualifier against italy. andy swiss reports. it's been called the ghost game. what happens when you hold a football match but nobody is allowed to watch it? england are about to find out. the last time they met croatia in the world cup semifinal, 80,000 fans were inside. tonight there will be zero. croatia are serving a stadium ban, meaning the match is behind closed doors. for england, an unwanted first. it will be a strange experience. it's a shame, especially for our travelling fans who were brilliant for us all summer, and so many of whom haven't missed an england game for years. so, that's unfortunate

for them in particular. this is the unusual sight that will greet the players this evening, banks of empty seats. there will be a few officials, a few of us in the media, and that is it. but if you think that playing this match behind closed doors has stopped england's fans from coming out here, well, think again. many had already arranged their travel here. a hill outside the ground does offer a partial view of the pitch. some fans like luke and martin say being shut out has not deterred them. it's the off chance of being able to get in and being able to tell people back home that we went to a behind closed doors game and we still managed to see it. it's like a story, isn't it? a bit of a challenge, luke, almost? no, you relish it, don't you? it's all part of the fun. you've got to do it.