the prime minister calls for cool, calm heads as brexit talks reach a critical point. theresa may heads to the commons to tell mps a deal is still achievable despite warnings that negotiations have hit a "real problem" over the irish border. we have been clear that we cannot agree to anything that threatens the integrity of our united kingdom. this really is beginning to feel like groundhog day. another "nothing has changed" moment from the shambles of a government. we'll have the latest from westminster — with the prime minister under pressure from all sides. also tonight... the secret‘s out — the duke and duchess of sussex confirm they're expecting their first child, as they arrive in australia for a 16—day tour. protests in lancashire as fracking finally gets under way, seven years after the controversial process caused small earthquakes. trouble in seville — the football association condemns last night's violence as england prepare to take on spain tonight. and coming up on bbc news:

ahead of their match against spain, gareth southgate says his england players lack freshness because of the premier league schedule. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the prime minister has insisted that a brexit deal is still achievable, despite negotiations stalling again — just days before an eu summit billed by brussels as "the moment of truth". the sticking point remains the issue of the irish border. hopes of a breakthrough were raised but then dashed after the brexit secretary made an unscheduled trip to brussels yesterday. theresa may has called for cool, calm heads to prevail and said disagreements over the irish border shouldn't leave the two sides facing a no deal outcome which no—one wants. here's our political editor, laura kuenssberg.

making deals, not cups of tea, are what counts right now. brexit talks broke up yesterday with no agreement. the prime minister dropped into a project to help those feeling lonely today. she must know what that feels like, with foes, not friends, around her. there has been progress, but as she went to tell mps negotiations faltered again over the irish border. this is that i'm for cool, calm heads to prevail, and it's the time... —— this is the time for. and it is time for a clear focus on the few remaining but critical issues still to be agreed. we cannot let this disagreement

derail the prospects of a good deal and leave first night with an ordeal outcome no one wants. i continue to believe a negotiated deal is the best outcome for the uk and the european union. i continue to believe such a deal is achievable. the prime minister, mr speaker, faces a simple and inescapable choice— be buffeted this way on that way by the chaos of her own party, oi’ way by the chaos of her own party, or back ideal that can win the support of parliament and the people of this country. —— back a deal. eight claims she was asked about a time limit to her proposal for the so—called irish backstop, and eight claims that answer came near none. the plan is to avoid a hard border in ireland if the trader arrangement can't be reached. —— trade arrangement can't be reached. the jaguar swept in and out of brussels without a deal because the eu in the uk don't see eye to eye. they agree

the uk could stick to the same customs rules as the continent, but the eu is refusing to allow a time—limit on that. there was precious little support for the prime minister in there. this place is alive with what ifs, what if there can't be an agreement on ireland? what if a deal can't be done? what if a deal then can't make it through parliament? there are plenty of people around the answers for louise —— for theresa may. in ireland, they say they must avoid a ha rd ireland, they say they must avoid a hard border... the consequences of getting it wrong for ireland are far too serious and for any person in britain, particularly the british prime minister, they have to understand that. northern ireland's unionists pitted the other way. we need to see that the whole of the uk weaves the eu together and there aren't any differences made between

northern ireland or any other parts of the uk and that is what it means. and the snp with its own set of instructions for number ten... and the snp with its own set of instructions for number ten. . m and the snp with its own set of instructions for number ten... it is probably the case that the only option with any chance of commanding a parliamentary majority is single market and customs union membership. it actually might well be the only option which is not completely impossible at this stage. and tory brexiteers who are pushing to ditch her policy have this warning... the cabinet have been treated at it like mushrooms, to use an old army expression, being kept consistently in the dark and fed something unpleasant. now i think is the time for the cabinet to take the opportunity to assert itself in behalf of the british people who voted to leave the european union. it's an open question as to whether the cabinet will come in behind the prime minister. they will meet tomorrow. more than a handful have fears about her plans. with unhappy

friends, it's not just fears about her plans. with unhappy friends, it's notjust her enemies theresa may needs to bear in mind. and it feels like a very serious moment in what has been a very long—running, twisted and tangled process. one normally loyal minister said to me today, open—mac mcgrillin‘ "it feels like the endgame," questioning whether the prime minister can really get a deal and therefore whether she can stay on in the longer term. she said it still can be done, it is a moment for cool heads, but she has to move the eu, her own cabinet and parliament as well, if there is a deal in the end. in the last few minutes, the president of the european council donald tusk, who is vital to all of this, has written online "we must not give up. adil a lwa ys online "we must not give up. adil always feels impossible until it is done." theresa may will hope that he is right —— a deal always feels. my goodness, there is an awful lot of work to do. studio: our political editor, laura

kuenssberg, thank you. the irish border issue has been one of the sticking points throughtout these negotiations. chris morris from the bbc‘s reality check team has been looking at why it has proved so difficult to solve. the brexit debate has an awful lot to do with lines on the map, and what negotiators call the backstop is a guarantee that after brexit there will be no hard border, no new border checks, between the republic of ireland and the eu, and northern ireland and the uk, under all circumstances. keeping the border open is a crucial part of the northern ireland peace process, and both sides hope a new trade agreement can keep everything running as smoothly as it does now. but if they can't do that deal, or it's not ready in time, the backstop would kick in automatically. the currant dispute is over what exactly the legal text of this backstop should say. to begin with, the eu suggested northern ireland would have to stay in the eu customs union — no customs checks — and in most parts of the single market. the idea — to avoid any checks at the irish land border.

not acceptable, said the uk — that would, in effect, split of the country. —— split up the country. so a compromise is being worked on that focuses broadly on two things. northern ireland would be treated differently from the rest of the uk for a while, in terms of single market regulations. that means there would be some checks within the uk between great britain and northern ireland, on things like product standards, and certainly on food and animals. but the government's allies in northern ireland, the dup, really don't like that. secondly, notjust northern ireland but the whole of the uk would remain in a temporary customs union or arrangement with the eu. many tory mps really don't like that, because it would allow —— wouldn't allow the uk to strike new trade deals around the world. they want any temporary arrangement to have a precise end date, otherwise it could drift on for years. and the eu rejects that, arguing that if there is a precise end date then it's not a backstop "under all circumstances".

so there's deadlock and something will have to give, because with no backstop deal there'd be no withdrawal agreement, and there'd be no transition period after brexit — something which is supposed to give both sides some time to try to sort out all the complexities of their future relationship. chris morris, bbc news. the duchess of sussex is pregnant and is due to give birth next spring. kensington palace made the announcement as meghan and prince harry arrived in sydney at the start of a 16—day tour of australia and new zealand. their baby will be seventh in line to the throne. our royal correspondentjonny dymond reports from sydney. a low—key entrance to a high—profile tour. the duchess doesn't normally carry her own stationery, an attempt perhaps to keep prying eyes away. a few hours later, the announcement on social media — a modern medium

for a modern couple. the congratulations came from the top down. it's wonderful news, very happy for them. there is a cheeky side to prince harry that has always got on with children. they speak the same language. he's made no secret of his desire for children of his own. one step at a time, and hopefully we will start a family in the near future. it was at princess eugenie's wedding on friday that the couple told his family. slightly curious timing perhaps, but with the tour coming up maybe the best opportunity to catch everyone face—to—face. her mother, the palace said, is very happy and looking forward to her first grandchild. it's five months almost to the day since the couple were married at windsor. a wedding that captured the imagination of many. that day saw harry shrug off

the image of a party prince. now he is to be a father. this seems to me to be a natural continuation of his character. he loves playing with the little children of his brother, he loves being with them, so he obviously wants his own as well. the duke and duchess's four—country tour starts tomorrow here in australia, where the news was greeted warmly by locals and visitors alike. i think it's very special as well that they've chosen to announce it when they are in sydney so it's great news. very exciting. very exciting news. a little royal baby! we are americans — i think it's great! there was already excitement about the duke and duchess coming to australia — with today's news the place will be buzzing. and for the duke and duchess, what a place to be together as they prepare for their first child.

jonny dymond, bbc news, sydney. the energy firm, cuadrilla has begun fracking for shale gas in lancashire again. it's the first time since fracking has taken place in the uk since 2011 when it caused two small earthquakes near blackpool. the work involves pumping liquid underground at high pressure to fracture rocks and release natural gas. dozens of protestors gathered near the site as the work got under way. danny savage is there for us. danny? it interesting that ministers have declared this as green gb week, and the government says it is seeking guidance on how to achieve a zero emissions economy in waste doing it yea rs emissions economy in waste doing it years to come, but there is new way of the developing a fossil fuel is being developed here lancashire. in contrast, the company says there is huge demand for natural gas, it powers our boilers at home, and

there will be demand for decades to come, but the protest is here today who were blocking the gate behind me until a few moments ago see the fracking here in lancashire is sending out the wrong message. waving placards, embedding arms into lumps of concrete, refusing to come down from scaffolding on top of a van which they chained themselves to. the fracking may have started again, but the protests haven't stopped. we have to stop using fossil fuels, and we need to stop now. i'm an old granny, right? but i have to be here, because it's going to affect our grandchildren, and we have to stop it. pamela sloan taught geography locally for more than a0 years, and has spent many days here. kids in lancashire are now adults, and they know that global warming, climate change, is real, and this is part of it, and we've got to keep these fossil fuels in the ground. within this site, deep underground, drilling and pumping for gas is now under way. fracking here involves

drilling first vertically, then — for the first time in the uk — horizontally. water, sand and chemicals are pumped at high pressure into shale rock, which has gas trapped inside it. when the rock fractures, gas is released and brought to the surface. objectors don't like the method. they worry it's not safe or green, but the company involved says it's important for our future energy needs. growth in renewables has been welcome, but it's been confined to the electricity sector, and we still use pretty much gas for all of our heating, so if people want to heat their homes, and a lot of people cook their food with gas, we're going to need it for many decades to come. after two minor earthquakes seven years ago in lancashire were linked to fracking, the work here will be closely monitored. if it's viable, the industry has its eye on plenty of other locations. expect protests there too. danny savage, bbc news, lancashire. the time is 6.15.

our top story this evening: the prime minister calls for cool, calm heads as brexit talks reach a critical point. she insists a deal is still achievable. and i will be live here in seville, where england take on spain this evening, but the fa has been forced to condemn what it described as unacceptable behaviour by supporters. and coming up in sportsday, back on the eyes. the british olympic medallist has her eyes on the next winter olympics now she has recovered from hip surgery. last week the world's top climate scientists issued their starkest warning yet about rising global temperatures and the impact it'll have on the planet by the end of this century. this week president trump has admitted that he no longer believes that climate change is a hoax. but he has accused scientists of having a "political agenda" and he cast doubt on their claims that humans are responsible

for the earth's rising temperatures. here's our science editor david shukman. hurricane michael tore into florida a few days ago, and, because global warming has raised the level of the sea, the floods were more serious. the us government's own scientists are warning of worse to come but their president disagrees. i think something's happening, something's changing, and it will change back again. i don't think it's a hoax, i think there's probably a difference but i don't know that it's man—made. i will say this — i don't want to give trillions and trillions of dollars, i don't want to lose millions and millions of jobs. but the reality in america is that more people now work in solar power than in the coal industry. clean energy is creating jobs, and this comes as climate scientists say that is urgently needed. what donald trump is saying about climate change flies in the face of overwhelming scientific evidence that the gases

given off by traffic and power stations and other sources are heating up the planet. only last week, the un climate panel said the world had warmed by one celsius since preindustrial times because of human activity. that we are on course for a rise of three degrees by the end of the century, and to avoid the dangers of that, we need to cut the gases causing the warming by 45% by 2030. making that cut will be all the harder as america leaves the only global agreement on climate change. the head of the un wants to see it come back in. i think the west should rejoin but we need to understand that, as we see in the cities and the business community, in some states, a very solid commitment to climate action. so governments are really those that are more lagging behind.

we see society is moving faster and that is a very good signal. here, the government is considering a much tougher target for cutting greenhouse gases, as we've heard, but it's also reducing the subsidies for electric cars and allowing fracking to start for shale gas. tackling climate change is never going to be easy. david shukman, bbc news. violent rainstorms in south—west france have killed at least ten people, as flash floods swamped a number of towns and villages around the city of carcassonne. an elderly nun was swept away as the force of the rising water smashed through a convent. officials say the equivalent of three months' rain fell in just a few hours. the house of commons has allowed a culture to develop in which bullying and harassment of staff has been able to thrive, according to a new report. the inquiry, which was commissioned after a bbc investigation earlier this year, referred to urgent and serious problems in procedures for dealing with complaints and said cultural

change was needed to restore the confidence of staff. president trump has suggested that "rogue killers" could be behind the disappearance of the saudi journalist jamal khashoggi. a joint search by turkish and saudi officials of the consulate the disappearance of the saudi journalist jamal khashoggi. a joint search by turkish and saudi officials of the consulate in istanbul is under way this evening. president trump said saudia arabia's king salman has denied any knowlededge of the journalist's disappearance, but he is sending his secretary of state mike pompeo to saudi arabia. turkish officials believe the journalist was murdered in the saudi consulate nearly two weeks ago. england play spain tonight in seville in their nations league match. the football association has condemned the behaviour of some england fans last night. a group of supporters had to be dispersed by riot police in seville. footage showed fans kicking wing mirrors off parked vehicles and one man throwing a glass at a passing car in the city centre. but some fans complained of heavy—handed policing. our sports editor dan roan is there for us this evening. what is the atmosphere like in

seville? so far so good, at least today. that has probably been helped by the heavy downpour we have experienced all afternoon and a very visible police presence. the trouble may have only involved a minority of england fans last night but it is becoming a recurring and embarrassing problem for the fa. it came despite pleas for the travelling supporters to behave themselves after the last time england played here in spain in alicante three years ago, there was trouble then and memories are still very fresh problems in amsterdam before the world cup when over 100 england supporters were arrested. england's reputation was enhanced by a relatively trouble—free experience at the world cup but it only takes something like last night to happen

and much of that good work is undone. deputy chief constable mark roberts today described those scenes as incredibly disheartening. there isa as incredibly disheartening. there is a lot at stake on the pitch this evening. gareth southgate's memorable run, have failed to win in four competitive matches and tonight come up against a star—studded spanish side at home. thank you. back now to our main story — the brexit talks, which are entering the final stages. no—one can say for sure what impact leaving the european union will have on the uk's economy. new research shows that british voters are split on the issue. around a third think the economy will be better in ten years' time but a third think it will be worse. the study also shows people's overwhelming priority after brexit is to have better public services. our home editor mark easton has been looking at the results. the waves lapping onto swansea bay throw salt onto a community riven by brexit. swansea west voted

emphatically to remain, swansea east equally emphatically to leave. so, as negotiations reach a critical stage, we have invited a panel of local people from both sides of the argument to the city's waterfront museum. a national collection celebrating welsh industry, part—funded by the eu. well, good afternoon. there are fewer than 170 days until the uk is due to leave the european union. so, are you excited, are you anxious? what do you think the days immediately after brexit are going to be like? well, i am quite optimistic. i am glad that we're not going to be part of the use, the united states of europe. because i would never want to be part of that. i feel pessimistic, because it's going to be the start of a division of europe, and this has been the longest time of peace since the last war. it has been chaos from the beginning, and it is still chaos. anxious. just only one word, anxious. that is my feeling, yes. what's going to happen

to the economy, what is going to happen tojobs, what is going to happen to the prices in the shops? i think prices will inflate for the small guys, so for smaller businessand stuff, you might pay 50p more for a light bulb... a price worth paying for leaving the eu, in your view? yes. definitely. definitely, yeah. to somebody who earns a little bit more, 50p here or there might not be much, but i think when you're already penny—pinching, i think it will have a knock—on effect in the supermarkets. research for the joseph rowntree foundation finds that just a quarter of the population think that in the short—term brexit will leave economy better. 45% think it will be worse. i want to focus on what was on the side of the bus. so ten years from now, do you think the health service will be better, or will it be worse, as a result of brexit? i did vote to leave, but i have massively changed my mind since. have you? yeah. why? ifeel like i was misled. i work in the nhs and i really think it will suffer

massively from us leaving. do you think that brexit will make the nhs better or worse? i would like to think that it would. make it better? yes. you know, people are put on waiting lists and they are waiting for such a long time. so brexit, for you, is partly about focusing on british people and making sure that they have access to health care? yeah. i think it is going to get better, yeah. i think it is going to help, anyway. i think it is going to help. the national survey finds stark division on how brexit will affect britain longer term. 29% think the nhs will be better, 29% think it'll be worse. on the economy, 32% think it will be better, 33% think worse. we want to know what your priorities for brexit should be. it might be hospitals, schools, immigration, incomes, jobs, a whole range of different things... show me what you have done. jobs and prosperity, jobs. jobs, public funding for services. money for the nhs. more money for the nhs. does anyone else here feel that it is odd that not one

of you wrote down immigration? when we were told that that was the big priority that drove the vote for brexit. i think a lot of people who voted for brexit are the ones that wanted to see less migrants, and when they think of migrants they see the droves of people coming on boats — that is what they anticipated, without actually thinking what that means. no, i think that is wrong. more than 50% of britain voted to leave. that is like saying more than 50% of people in britain are completely racist and don't want anybody to come in, which is not the case. according to the national survey, the uk's top three priorities for brexit should be improving public services, by far the most popular choice, creating morejobs and reducing low incomes. cutting immigration comes fourth. we are going to make you choose. we have two doors, a doorfor optimists and a doorfor pessimists. you have to decide which one you are going to leave by. please leave now. our panel was evenly split. five all. like the country, it seems,

optimism and pessimism in equal measure as the uk attempts to define its relationship with its neighbours and the world. time for a look at the weather. here's susan powell. there were some really big contrasts in the weather across the uk today, and a tale of two cities. here is a picture of belfast, not a hint of a cloud and an autumn tint on the trees. contrast that with the image from norwich, you can see flat colours, gray skies, low cloud and drizzle. the reason for the contrast isa drizzle. the reason for the contrast is a weather front which will sit across northern parts of england, midlands, wales and the south—west, bringing light rain but also creating murk and missed around the coast. the skies were clear to the

south. further north, the clearest of the skies will stay across scotla nd of the skies will stay across scotland and northern ireland as they have been through the day—to—day. a different story tomorrow though, a weather front pushing into northern ireland and western scotland by lunchtime. we could see some gales across the western isles. further south however, when early morning mist and fog clears, temperatures could reach 23 celsius, positively balmy for this point in october. further north we are looking at 13 degrees. cooler airwill we are looking at 13 degrees. cooler air will try to push its way across the uk before the week is out, coming down behind this cold weather front. temperatures still perhaps a little above average across the south—east even on wednesday, when we get some brightness, but this weather front will loiter on wednesday. slight uncertainty about the exact position but anticipate cloud and rain around here. further

north plenty of sunshine and temperatures into the mid teens. high pressure will build towards the end of the week so there should be autumn sunshine on the way for most of us. thank you. a reminder of our top story... theresa may says a brexit deal is still achievable — despite warnings that negotiations have hit a "real problem" over the issue of the irish border. that's all from the bbc news at six so it's goodbye from me and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc‘s news teams where you are. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines: theresa may has told mps she believes a deal with the eu is achievable despite differences over how to handle the irish border. we cannot let this disagreement derail the prospect of a good deal ashley barnes with a no deal will come that no one wants. —— leave ours with a no deal. as police arrive at the saudi consulate in istanbul, the us secretary of state has been sent to saudi arabia for urgent talks on the disappearance of the

saudi journalist jamal khashoggi. the duchess of sussex is expecting her first child in spring next year. kensington palace said she and prince harry were "delighted" to share their news. the government is launching green gb week — an initiative to encourage companies to turn away from coal, oil and gas to protect the climate. in a moment it will be time for sportsday, but first a look at what else is coming up this evening on bbc news: at 7:10pm, beyond 100 days will be talking to a former advisor to the clinton administration about the us reaction to the disappearance of the saudi journalist jamal khashoggi. with the brexit talks yet again running into trouble over the issue of the irish border, we'll talk to the news editor of the the irish times, for some insight as to why it's so difficult to resolve — that's at 8:30pm.