i'm christian fraser live in brussels as eu leaders gather for a special brexit summit. as theresa may arrives at the summit, donald tusk says european union leaders have endorsed the terms of britain's withdrawal from the eu. they've also agreed the text which will outline the terms of britain's relationship with the eu for years to come — with negotiators now hoping they will be able to move on to the next stage of the brexit talks. we need to build to the next phase this unprecedented and ambitious partnership. we will remain allies, partners and friends. with the deal approved, next it will face a much tougher vote in westminster. theresa may has written an open letter to the british public appealing for support. throughout the hour we'll be turning to our reality check correspondent for clarity on what exactly is in both agreements — and where we go from here. hello and welcome to brussels.

european leaders gathered here for a special summit, to sign off on the deal that will see the united kingdom leave and the european union have endorsed it. the announcement came from the european council president donald tusk and came less than an hour into the meeting of leaders. after months of intense negotiations, the two sides have reached agreement on two separate texts — a legally—binding withdrawal agreement and a political declaration, which sets out what the relationship between the uk and the eu might look like after brexit. a last—minute hitch over the future status of gibraltar was overcome yesterday. theresa may, who arrived at the summit a few moments ago, will still need to win a vote

on the deal in the uk parliament, and that is looking tricky. she's now written an open letter to the british people, urging support for her brexit plan. we'll be bringing you all the latest here from brussels, examining the deal, and what it might mean for the uk and europe. we expect the prime minister will get around 90 minutes with the european leaders this afternoon where they will talk about process and what comes next and presumably the difficulties she might have in westminster. let's bring in laura kuenssberg, that was quick wasn't it? it's done, 18 months of arguing, as coming here and fighting about what would be on the table and what was not, he would be the winner and the loser, it was interesting this morning, the european leaders

arriving, they all had the same script which said nobody is happy but this is a decent deal and also its the only deal on the table. that was loud and clear. it was made painfully clear. yes, by all the leaders, one after another after another they were all asked what happens if mps voted down and this was the deal. and they are aware of how difficult it will be. absolutely and that is why they were at pains to say this is it but by strange coincidence of timing, if the vote fails and it's possible it might get through, the next european summit is scheduled for the day after when we think of a meaningful vote will be in the british parliament, so imagine that, the next time we might all be here will be the day after it's either gone through the houses of parliament in which case you will hear the relief from brussels or it's been rejected by parliament and theresa may will be here asking for frankly who knows what. today we've

got the start of a two—week public relations exercise, this open letter going above the heads of her fractures in eyes, do you think it's working? i think it's hard to tell, her supporters always say that theresa may pulls better than people expect, people have a begrudging respect for her, people think she has kept going, carrying on in the face of all of these warring colleagues, all these people resigning in the hearth, these people out to get her, i think it's too early to tell. but you are right, we are at the beginning of what's are varied plans, very scripted number ten operation to persuade the nation that this is something that is imperative, that there is no other real option, this is the deal. also somehow in eyes are being irresponsible or childish

oi’ are being irresponsible or childish orare are being irresponsible or childish or are out for themselves if they don't allow it to go through, that's the tone of what we're going to see. i think it will be bumpy and at times it might feel like we've joked about it but it's a sort of x—rated version of project fear. it is this oui’ version of project fear. it is this our armageddon. that's the way number ten think they can get it through. what you make of what we are reading, groups forming in the cabinet, those who support remain, the michael gove brexit group, are we reading too much into it or is it real for we reading too much into it or is it realfor her? for a long time it's been the case there are different groups in the cabinet, no doubt about it. there is a group of purest brexit supporters who are very unhappy about elements of the deal but have decided to stay on. then you have latter—day brexit supporters, people like jeremy you have latter—day brexit supporters, people likejeremy hunt who did support remain but is now trying to push for the deal he thinks can get through parliament.

then you have former remain supporters who are in the camp of don't open pandora's box because this is what we have to do. there are multiple factions inside the cabinet much more complicated than brexit versus remain. if the deal is to fall it would put forward difficult decisions for different groups of ministers and particularly the ministers of state, the level just underneath cabinet there are ministers i have spoken to who say at that point they might leave government to argue for something else. they are all sitting on their hands and waiting for the day after the vote? the people who have not resigned up until this moment have made the decision to go with this is the best case scenario, to push for this, that this is the best case scenario, but of course there are ministers thinking about what they would do if this falls, of course

there are. because right now if you look at the numbers it's hard to see how it gets through. of course we can't even begin to imagine ourselves into the minds of mps into mac weeks' time, we just cannot. you cannot underline enough how much things could change in the next fortnight. to say today there is no way it's getting to parliament, you cannot say that. because two weeks of debate, of very angry argument, of debate, of very angry argument, of questions and of doubts and of decisions are yet to take place. it's wrong to imagine we can make a call on that right now. thank you, i have to let you go because you are very busy and there is plenty to talk about. let's hear what michelle barney had to say as he made his way into the building. we have worked, i have worked, with my team, to reach a deal that means to organise in an orderly fashion the withdrawal decided by the uk.

we have worked thanks to the unity, the full unity of 27 heads of state, the member states. their trust. and also with the european parliament. we have worked, i have worked with my team and negotiated with the uk, never against the uk. i want also to thank the british team. now it's time for everybody to take their responsibility, everybody. i willjust add that this deal is a necessary step to build the trust between the uk and the eu. we need to build to the next phase this unprecedented and ambitious partnership. we will remain allies, partners and friends. michel barnier who has been

instrumental in this process throughout and in the later donald tusk sent out a few minutes ago telling us their withdrawal agreement had been endorsed, he gave thanks to michel barnier who had not only kept the uk on site but also the unity of the 27. perhaps the strongest words of the day came from jean—claude juncker who said it's strongest words of the day came from jean—claudejuncker who said it's a sad moment for the uk and for the eu but was warning that this is the deal that is on the table and the uk parliament have to get behind it. translation: it's a sad day both for the united kingdom and for the european union. it's not a moment of jubilation or of celebration. it's a sad moment and it's a tragedy. lithuanian president —

dalia grybauskaite — says what happens next is up to britain. everything could happen, at least four possible scenarios could be in place, but it's up to the british side to decide what path they choose. what are those scenarios? it could be a return to the vote of people, it could be new elections, it could be a request for renegotiations, there is at least four i calculate. renegotiations, there is at least fouri calculate. what renegotiations, there is at least four i calculate. what with the 27 like to see of those scenarios? we would like to see everything settled as soon as possible. she always tells it like it is rather than spending it like other european leaders. with me is chris morris from the reality check team, that's gone through, what next? today they

endorsed it, eventually the other 27 eu countries will have to formally vote on it. it does not have to be unanimous, it needs to be a qualified majority, that several months down the line and i think it would be extraordinary if it was anything else than unanimous, we have got several hurdles before us. we don't really know what's going to happen but we do know the numbers don't look that good for the prime minister, if there is a vote, could there be a second vote, do the if it got through the house of

commons and you did not change it then it's got to get through european parliament, if it gets to the european parliament probably in march and gets ratified then we would be in a situation where the uk leads the european union on the 29th of march next year and with all these deals in place then a 21 month transition period, the british government because of the implementation period but basically a transition to allow governments and businesses more time to prepare from going from what we have now to a different relationship in future. we don't know what m eyes will do when their tours are over the cliff edge and they are staring into the a byss edge and they are staring into the abyss of no deal, but if it went down is there room the other side of march 29, could they do something with article 50? you could extend it for a brief period, all 28 countries

have to agree to that but there is a deadline looming which is there are european elections at the end of may which means after mid april i think it is there would be no european parliament in place to ratify any different deals so that would be a problem. also during the summer you get into the situation where you need to appoint a new president of the commission, a series of new commissioners later in the year, new president of the body that runs the summits, there is a period of several months of real change for the european union and i don't think they really want unless they have two, to allow the negotiation process to run beyond the european elections because obviously if the uk was still a member state at that stage those european elections would have to take place in the uk as well and do you elect any eyes for a couple of months, for an indeterminate period? couple of months, for an

indeterminate period ? legally couple of months, for an indeterminate period? legally and politically very difficult. lyndon johnson once said the first rule of politics is that its practitioners need to be able to count, when you ta ke need to be able to count, when you take away the dup and the hired core brexit supporters, that makes it incredibly difficult for the prime minister, in this conversation she's having with the european leaders this afternoon are they saying we are not reopening this but is there in the bottom drawer somewhere another bit of tinsel? there might be some small things but i don't think much, qualifications and so forth, do this on do they suddenly wa nt to forth, do this on do they suddenly want tojump the forth, do this on do they suddenly want to jump the irish backstop and you've seen after months of negotiation that they do not, and that on the tory right is a hot button issue, with the other 27 want to open that? i don't think they will, we have negotiated for a long time and it's been very difficult. nobody particularly loves this deal,

people coming and seeing thinking it's a good deal, do they mean it? the dutch prime minister said he hated it! yes, but i think they believe it's the best deal they can have in the circumstances too, if you like, allow for the particular political circumstances not just in the uk but you have to take account of the political circumstances in other countries as well. we've not talked about it at all today really but since we are talking about the dutch, he says we are better prepared for no deal than you are, they have spent about 100 million euros on it. these preparations will continue in the background presumably. they will and i think that's another pressure in terms of the vote in the house of commons probably in the second week of december. if uncertainty continued after that then that would trigger a whole series of things governments and businesses would need to do to prepare for leaving without a deal.

when we see no deal we should remember that means there would not bea remember that means there would not be a withdrawal agreement, if there is no withdrawal agreement there would not be a transition period, so the uk would move from membership of the uk would move from membership of the european union very suddenly to a different relationship without any trade agreements in place. could there be a negotiated no deal? possibly. at the moment the eu line is we will make our own preparations for no deal, we will make sure our interests are supported and protected but we are not going to negotiate on no deal preparations. if it came to two weeks before march 29, there was no deal in sight, are they really saying let's not have a chat about air transport for example? i think you could have a few side deals but it could still mean the united kingdom leaving what has been its trading relationships around the world for decades into a very new world without any guarantee

of any new agreements in place. most businesses, the vast majority, have been describing it with increasing volume is a disaster. saw a few mattresses at the bottom of the cliff, perhaps a bit softer than you might expect. only supposed to blow the doors off. the withdrawal agreement, that big legal text has been endorsed by the 27 leaders, they have also approved the political declaration but in this negotiation we are at the foothills and we know all too well the real challenge lies ahead of theresa may with that vote in the second week of december are probably in the house of commons, she is talking to the eu leaders in the next hour and we will bring you all the reaction and any other comments from eu leaders as they leave the building around lunchtime later today. for the moment back to the

studio. the headlines on bbc news... donald tusk says european union leaders have endorsed the terms of britain's withdrawal from the eu. they've also agreed the text which will outline the terms of britain's relationship with the eu for years to come — with negotiators now hoping they will be able to move on to the next stage of the brexit talks. with the deal approved, next it will face a much tougher vote in westminster. theresa may has written an open letter to the british public appealing for support. time for sport, let's get a full round—up with john. good morning, england lost to australia in the world t20 final in australia in the world t20 final in australia this morning not following up australia this morning not following up their world cup win last year in the shortest format of the game, their batting proved their downfall,

tammy bourn went out forjust four, only two english players making it into double figures as they failed to bat out their 20 oh overs, england all out 405, australia lost just two wickets and they reached their total with eight wickets in hand. australia have now won this tournament on four mac of the last five occasions. disappointment for heather knight and her team after their success in the world cup last year, our reporter is in antigua. coming into this final england were dreaming of being crowned double world champions and attempting to add the t20 title to the one—day world cup they claimed last year. instead it has ended in bitter disappointment and they were left reflecting on what could have been, having to watch on as australia ended theirfull year having to watch on as australia ended their full year wait for a major trophy. it's quite raw at the moment, we've got to reflect, get

back home and reflect on where we go asa back home and reflect on where we go as a side. but i am chuffed for the young girls that have come out year and is performed on the big stage. there will be big celebrations, we have been waiting for this moment for a long time. it's a very satisfying win and we will celebrate accordingly. i think the girls worked extremely hard to get the success and you don't know what's going to happen in future so we will make the most of it and enjoy each other‘s company. make the most of it and enjoy each other's company. the england women may not have been able to repeat the success they enjoyed at the last world cup but reaching two world finals in 16 months caps a remarkable period for the team. but now is a time for reflection for some of these players the opportunity to be crowned double world champion may never come round again. england have built a lead of over 300 in the third test with sri lanka

as they look to wrap up a clean sweep. keatonjennings as they look to wrap up a clean sweep. keaton jennings produced as they look to wrap up a clean sweep. keatonjennings produced a string of impressive catches yesterday, he was out first ball this morning, one of four mac wickets to go butjos buttler stated things to make a half—century to help england build their lead which they will feel confident of defending. he departed for 64, top scoring for england. then folks has helped move the lead. they will feel confident target they can defend. wales completed their first clean sweep of november internationals beating south africa in cardiff, the welsh made a great start with tomas francis opening the scoring. and they did not have long to wait for a second after liam williams got the ball and weaved his way to the try

line, 14—3 the score at the interval, the springboks responding in the second half. but dan biggar not a bad substitute to bring on, he kicked two penalties to secure a 20-11 kicked two penalties to secure a 20—11win. chelsea's unbeaten premier league record is over after a 3—1 defeat to spurs yesterday, son scored his first league goal since march to secure the win, a lovely solo effort driving at the heart of the chelsea defence. delhi spurs move above chelsea into third, manchester city beat west ham 4—0, liverpool and beaten as well, they stay second. lewis hamilton will be hoping for victory at the abu dhabi grand prix later, he broke the track

record at the circuit three times on the way to claiming french president emmanuel macron has criticised demonstrators who clashed with police in paris during protests about fuel prices. on twitter he said, "shame on those who attacked. there is no room for violence in the republic." 0fficers used tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstators. 19 people were injured and 40 arrests were made. christmas shoppers are being warned about health and safety risks when buying electronic goods online. a new campaign by the city of london police says hair stylers and chargers for phones and laptops are popular among counterfeiters. it warns they could be dangerous because they haven't been through vital safety checks. nine in ten people who've bought newly—built homes say they've found some kind of defect

in their property, according to research seen by bbc radio 5 live investigates. the figures come from an annual report called ‘the new homes review‘, which also shows a third of people aren't happy with their properties overall. last month, the government announced plans to help those facing problems. craig and tracey from worcestershire, they are property had a staggering 354 defects ranging from a troublesome roof to damp courses not being put in properly, to world problems, they have been in the property two years and have no had to leave because the house is uninhabitable. the company that made the house, bovis, say they are sorry and are working with the family and they have thousands of happy

customers they have thousands of happy custo m e rs every they have thousands of happy customers every year but it points to real problems when people are buying brand—new houses. a man has been charged with the attempted murder of a police officer after a knife attack in east london. the incident happened at ilford railway station on friday night. daniel adeyemi — who's 24 — will appear before magistrates tomorrow. the officer involved has been discharged from hospital. essex police have issued a warning about a potentially dangerous batch of cocaine, after a man died in colchester. officers are urging anyone who may have bought cocaine in the town or surrounding areas in the last 24 hours not to take it. south american football officials were forced to postpone one of the biggest matches in argentina's history last night, after a bus carrying one of the teams was attacked by rival fans. the game, equivalent to the final of the champions league, was between two teams from buenos aries — boca juniors and river plate. lebo diseko reports. running battles on the streets

of buenos aires as river plate fans throw missiles at police. they should have been cheering on their team at the historic football final. instead, these supporters are part of what looks like a full—blown riot. earlier, river plate fans attacked the bus carrying the boca juniors to the stadium. boca captain pablo perez had an injured eye, apparently after shards of glass got into it. 0thers players suffered cuts on faces, arms and legs. for the fans, there was disappointment and frustration as their evening was cut short. translation: it's a complete embarrassment. the sad thing is, the vast majority of people have come to enjoy this game peacefully with their families and children but because of 300 misfits, it is always the same people, soccer has been hurt. translation: this was supposed to project a good image of people celebrating.

i am very bitter. i've always hoped that things could change but they are not changing. this had been the most anticipated game in the history of the two football giants, the first time they were facing each other in a big south american final. as the boca team left the stadium, the match had been redscheduled to go ahead later today, but are still concerns about more violence and ugly scenes to come. lebo diseko, bbc news. now it's time for a look at the weather with alina jenkins another day where many of us will see large amounts of cloud, bright or sunny spells, more than yesterday, best of the sunshine probably for western scotland, showers pushing across working the way a bit further west but not as many as yesterday across the

midlands, wales and southern parts of england but i cold fuel were exposed to the wind. still showers to come overnight, chiefly the east coast, could be wintry over the high ground of northern england and scotland, frost remaining across scotland, frost remaining across scotland, northern england and northern ireland, temperature is getting close to freezing, cold start to the new week, bright for many, more in the way of brightness and sunshine, showers chiefly for eastern coasts, should not get as far west as they have done today and temperatures tomorrow between 6—9. through the week things will turn my older but also a waiter and windier with a risk of gales. hello, this is bbc news. the headlines now... theresa may's brexit deal has been endorsed by european leaders at a special summit in brussels after 18 months of negotiations. they've also agreed the text which will outline the terms of britain's relationship

with the eu for years to come — with negotiators now hoping they will be able to move on to the next stage of the brexit talks. with the deal approved, next it will face a much tougher vote in westminster. theresa may has written an open letter to the british public appealing for support. and in other news — a man has been charged with the attempted murder of a police officer after a knife attack in east london. the incident happened at ilford railway station on friday night. daniel adeyemi — who's 24 — will appear before magistrates tomorrow. now on bbc news — 100 women. yalda hakim speaks tojulia gillard, who was australia's first female prime minister. julia gillard made history when she became australia's first female prime minister. but her time in office was no easy ride, overshadowed by misogynistic and sexist attacks. since leaving office, she has sought to advance the cause of women and girls through the promotion of education. in this special 100 women interview, i asked her to draw on her personal experience, as well as give advice to women globally who are trying

to break through their own professional glass ceilings.