welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is mike embley. our top stories: the british prime minister postpones a vote in parliament on her brexit plan because, she admits, it would have been defeated. if we went ahead and held the vote tomorrow, the deal would be rejected by a significant margin. we will therefore defer the vote scheduled for tomorrow. european union leaders say they can give assurances, but insist the withdrawal agreement will not be renegotiated. after a fourth weekend of violent protests, france's president promises a rise in the minimum wage, and tax cuts. your cousin mary has returned to rule in scotland. she is formidable. and two women leaders in a world dominated by men. the new film on the rivalry between mary, queen of scots, and elizabeth i. britain's prime minister has taken

the extraordinary step of postponing the house of commons vote that she hoped would back her brexit deal, because she knew she was going to lose. instead, theresa may has promised parliament she will go back to european leaders and ask them to think again on the part of the deal that most concerns many of her colleagues, the so—called northern ireland backstop. the eu has said the deal cannot be renegotiated. this from our political editor laura kuenssberg. the landmarks look the same, but these are extraordinary days this place will remember. on the prime minister's most important plan — the brexit compromise that has taken more than two years, theresa may simply didn't have the mps to back her. so instead, the prime minister backed down. if we went ahead and held the vote tomorrow, the deal would be rejected by a significant margin.

we will therefore defer the vote scheduled for tomorrow, and not proceed to divide the house at this time. in other words, she knew she would lose, so there'll be no vote tomorrow. instead, she is appealing to the rest of the eu to look again at the most controversial part of the agreement, the backstop. i will go to see my counterparts in other member states and the leadership of the council and the commission. i will discuss with them the clear concerns that this house has expressed. we are also looking closely at new ways of empowering the house of commons to ensure that any provision for a backstop has democratic legitimacy. the cabinet can nod along, but was the commons really listening? is it realistic to reckon she'll ever get the support she really needs? i still believe there is a majority to be won in this house in support of it, if i can secure additional reassurance on the question of the backstop, and that is what my focus will be in the days ahead. does this house want to deliver brexit?

mixed cheers and jeers that is the sound of the divide in here. dozens of mps wish none of this was happening, dozens on the other side wish we'd left already. if the house does, does it want to do so through reaching an agreement with the eu? if the answer is yes, and i believe that is the answer of the majority of this house, then we all have to ask ourselves whether we're prepared to make a compromise. i am determined to do all i can to secure the reassurances this house requires to get this deal over the line, and deliver for the british people, and i commend this statement to the house. but the government's efforts to compromise have led them to a crisis. the government has lost control of events, and is in complete disarray. it's been evident for weeks that the prime minister's deal

did not have the confidence of this house, yet she ploughed on regardless, reiterating this is the only deal available. this is a bad deal for britain, a bad deal for our economy, and a bad deal for our democracy. our country deserves better than this. even the speaker furious that the government is dropping a major vote like this. halting the debate, after no fewer than 164 colleagues have taken the trouble to contribute, will be thought by many members of this house to be deeply discourteous. but that procedural palaver was nothing compared to the onslaught for the prime ministerfrom all sides. every time she comes back here with her tail between her legs, she humiliates the british people? i put it to her that she's lost the trust and credibility of the house, lost the trust

and credibility of the country and, most importantly, she's lost the trust and credibility of the european union. does she not realise how chaotic and ridiculous this makes our country look? the prime minister has been forced to pull tomorrow's vote in a stunning display of pathetic cowardice. we have found an impasse in this house. it's time now to take this back to the people and have a people's vote. what she's done today — f—r—i—t. she's frit! farfrom being frit, i think this prime minister has great courage in coming back... all: hear, hear! tonight, mps were so frustrated at not having a vote... shouting ..there was a rare grab for the mace. watch as a labour mp does just about the most rebellious thing they can do to disrupt proceedings. but, if the prime minister is banking on the eu making changes,

it doesn't sound promising. not at all. the withdrawal agreement, including the irish backstop, is the only agreement on the table. it took over a year and a half to negotiate, it has the support of 28 governments, and it's not possible to reopen any aspect of that agreement without reopening all aspects of it. reporter: can you really improve your deal, prime minister? for weeks, the chatter in this circus has been whether she can win her argument, but theresa may's enemies may now accuse her of losing her nerve. laura kuenssberg, bbc news, westminster. well, our europe editor katya adler has been looking at the reaction from there. eu leaders tonight are reflecting on their brexit options. taken by surprise by the delay to the brexit vote in parliament. that brexit deal is the eu's final offer, they say, but they know too the prime minister needs their help. tonight, donald tusk, the european council president, announced a special brexit summit

of eu leaders this thursday. to negotiate? no, he says. to facilitate the ratification of the deal in the uk. the decision to delay the brexit vote in parliament, while dramatic in the uk, actually changes little here in the eu. of course eu leaders want the vote to pass. they want to avoid a no—deal brexit. so they're open to hearing from the prime minister what she needs from them — up to a point. reassurances on the backstop — that, they can provide. renegotiation, absolutely not, is the view here tonight. the eu is well aware the main sticking point is the irish border guarantee known as the backstop. something the eu shows no sign of backing away from. the deal‘s the deal. it's taken two years to put together. it's a fair deal for both sides.

it protects, from an irish perspective and from a british perspective, peaceful relationships on the island of ireland. critics in the uk don't like the backstop because it keeps the uk tied to eu customs regulations, prevents the uk from making its own trade deals, and the uk and needs the eu's go—ahead to get out of the backstop once it is triggered. theresa may's europe adviser olly robbins was snapped arriving here in brussels this afternoon, ahead of her visit, but what is the eu prepared to give? there will be, i think, a receptive audience for suggestion that certain aspects might need to be clarified or explained better. clarified but not changed? i understand that to be the position, yes. people want this done now. it is a distraction at a time when there are many other burning issues in european politics. frustration is growing in some parts of the eu. take a look at this exasperated tweet today from the european parliament's brexit negotiator.

the eu believes a decent deal is on the table, and the ball is in the uk's court. that is why it is not significantly changing position. but the threat of an no—deal brexit, that neither the prime minister nor the eu want, looms ever larger, both sides of the channel. let's get some of the day's other news: a canadian court hearing the bail request of a top chinese telecoms executive facing extradition to the united states has adjourned without a decision. meng wanzhou of huawei is wanted in the us on charges of violating sanctions against iran. officials in north carolina say the state has experienced an entire year's snowfall in just one day. at least three people died and more than 300,000 people lost power. the governor warns some roads are treacherous and there has been widespread disruption to airports.

france's president has offered an increase in the minimum wage, and tax cuts for pensioners, in response to weeks of violent protests against the rising cost of living. in a national tv address, emmanuel macron said he firmly believed there was a way out of the country's current problems. lucy williamson reports from paris. it is not easy to spot what divides people here, their politics kept hidden under their neon protest uniforms, voters from both far—left and far—right brought together by a president who promised to unite france. after weeks of demanding a response to their protest, mr macron addressed the nation today. some said they wouldn't even bother to watch. "why should i listen to him?" helena said.

"he doesn't listen to us." mr macron spent the day listening to proposals. a new, humbler image, orjust a smart political move? the task for emmanuel macron today is to show humility and concern. economic concessions alone may not work. what protesters want, many say, is a sense the president values them. what he offered today were four concessions — a rise in the minimum wage, tax—free overtime and bonuses, and a freeze in pension taxes. what he didn't say was sorry. translation: i know that i've hurt some of you with my remarks. i want to be very clear with you. if i have fought to shake up the system, it's precisely because i want to serve our country, which i love. his concessions today were more than anyone could've imagined just a few weeks ago, but to some protesters in amiens, it wasn't enough. translation: he tried to make us believe he regrets his behaviour, but he didn't respond to our demands, and tonight, we've lost trust.

it feels like we're talking to a brick wall. frankly, we're frustrated. protesters here are already booking a bus back to paris on saturday for act five of the weekly demonstrations there. president macron told them today that france would find a solution together. but to many, this is what solidarity looks like, not macron and his economic reforms. lucy williamson, bbc news, paris. the american tyre company goodyear is the latest multinational to pull out of venezuela, blaming dire economic conditions and the impact of american sanctions. our reporter kim gittleson has the story. ten tyres, that is what over 1,000 goodyear workers based in venezuela will get as part of their severance after the multinational firm goodyear said it had made the difficult decision to stop producing tyres in the country. goodyear said dire economic conditions and the threat of us sanctions had made operating

in venezuela no longer viable. it is just the latest firm to pull out of the country, in what some analysts have callled an exodus of foreign corporations. just last week, the us car maker ford announced it was offering buyouts to its 900 workers. venezuela has been in an economic crisis since 2014, with chronic shortages of medicines and food leading millions to flee. according to one report, the number of people living in poverty in the country has doubled in the past four years. and here is one reason those goodyear workers are happy to be paid in tyres. just this year, inflation hit 1,300,000%. tyres, at least, are valuable on the black market.

some have blamed the socialist government of nicolas maduro for the crisis, but for his part, mr maduro has said the venezuela's woes are due to an economic war led by the united states, and it is true that there has been rising animosity between the two countries. however, this latest departure by yet another multinational firm suggests that, even without further us sanctions, there is more pain ahead for venezuela's workers. kim gittleson, bbc news. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: a costume drama with modern parallels. the rivalry between mary, queen of scots and elizabeth i. john lennon was shot at the entrance to the dakota building, in the centre of new york. there's been a crowd here standing in more or less silent vigil, and the flowers have been piling up. the 14th ceasefire of this war ended at the walls of the old city of dubrovnik.

this morning, witnesses said shells were landing every 20 seconds. people are celebrating the passing of a man they hold responsible for hundreds of deaths and oppression. elsewhere, people have been gathering to mourn his passing. imelda marcos, the widow of the former president of the philippines, has gone on trial in manila. she's facing seven charges of tax evasion. she pleaded not guilty. the prince and princess of wales are to separate. a statement from buckingham palace said the decision had been reached amicably. this is bbc world news. the latest headlines: the british prime minister has postponed a vote in parliament on her brexit plan because, she admits, it would have been defeated. within hours, theresa may will begin speaking to european leaders about the brexit

deal which has bitterly divided parliament, and the country. she's refused to say when mps will now get a vote, saying it depends how long any new talks with the eu last. but as nick robinson explains, for the british people, the row over europe has been raging for decades. it has divided the nation, it has split parties, it has felled one prime minister after another. the question we seem unable to ever resolve — what should our relationship with europe be? the british people have spoken and the answer is, we're out! on the night britain voted to leave it all looked so simple to those who had longed dreamt of an independent, sovereign britain. and it's the woking man who said, "no.". we get our country back today. it is independence day. the woman who took over as prime minister echoed that certainty. brexit means brexit and we are going to make a success of it. but brexit, it soon became clear,

would lead to legal rows, political division and public anger. from leavers... if we bottled brexit now, believe me, the people of this country would find it hard to forgive. ..and from remainers. chanting: what do we wnat? people's vote. when do we want it? now! why don't we just get on with it, many people ask. and the reason is simple there is no agreement on what "it" is. the government who called the referendum did not have a plan for brexit nor did the leave campaign, nor did theresa may's government untiljust a few weeks ago. and leaving the eu was never like leaving a club, let alone going back to what things were like before we were members. it involves rewriting or tearing up thousands of rules, and regulations and relationships. negotiation with the eu just was not as easy... thank you.

..as some had predicted. hold music plays. hello, jean—claude... the woman who voted remain but who now sees it as her duty to ensure that britain leaves, has struggled to convince her own mps. and it's not the brexit that people voted for... a prime minister with no commons majority has faced defeat... the noes to the left 311. ..after defeat... 293. ..after defeat. 299. fear of another potentially fatal defeat is why the prime minister cancelled tomorrow's vote. parliament and the people are as divided as ever between staying in and, well... the battle over whether britain belongs in or out of europe dates back much further than the referendum, more than half a century, in fact, when winston churchill,

the man who led this country in war when britain was alone, first made the case for a united states of europe. archival: we cannot aim at anything less than the union of europe as a whole and we look forward with confidence to the day when that union will be achieved. in fact, when the forerunner of today's eu was formed, we stayed out, until... is europe stronger with britain a member? yes. tory prime minister ted heath's decision to join the common market split both parties. archival: the great decision of course being taken tonight is whether britain should now go into europe. have you got the final result now? yes, the majority is 112... in the referendum which followed, margaret thatcher campaigned for yes until years later, as prime minister, she said... no, no, no. she was toppled and the man

who replaced her, john major, was defeated in the commons when he signed a new european treaty. the noes to the left, 324. two decades later, david cameron promised a new deal with europe and... an in out referendum. but he had no plan forfailure, no plan b. what is plan b? plan b is to hold a referendum and for the british people to choose. that means you don't know. the first rule in politics is being able to count. a prime minister who does not have the votes in parliament may be in office but quickly finds themselves without any power and, on the best of days, theresa may has no parliamentary majority. when it comes to discussing europe, it is never the best of days.

every day in west minster brings a fresh brexit crisis. what will tomorrow bring? scientists in australia say they're astonished to find parts of the great barrier reef are becoming more resistant to coral bleaching. the ecosystem, the world's largest coral reef, has experienced unpredented bleaching since 2016, but a new study shows some tough corals are adapting to heatwave conditions. georgina smythe has the story. it is australia's most iconic and vulnerable natural wonder. stretching 2300 kilometres down the east coast, the ecosystem supports over 3000 individual reef systems and coral islands. but it is under threat from climate change and coral bleaching. now the great barrier reef is fighting back. a new study shows corals that survived severe bleaching in 2016 were more resistant to a second marine heat wave the following year. scientists are calling it ecological memory and believe some of the tougher coral species are changing to survive heat waves. winners are the heat—tolerant

species that survive better than the losers, the heat—sensitive species. so we have seen quite a radical shift in the mix of species on the great barrier reef during 2016 and, when bleaching returned, it was a tougher set of species. bleaching occurs when warm conditions cause coral to lose a type of coloured marine algae and they can eventually die if hot conditions persist. extreme bleaching events are becoming more common in australia and more than 60% of the individual reefs have been severely bleached in the last 20 years. while scientists continue to research the cumulative effect of climate change on coral reefs, they say the best defence against more bleaching is curbing greenhouse emissions. a new film chronicles a 16th century power struggle between two

female leaders in a male—dominated world. mary queen of scots explores the relationship between queen mary of scotland and elizabeth i, and stars saoirse ronan and margot robbie. our arts editor will gompertz went to meet them. mary stuart is condemned to death. saoirse ronan is mary queen of scots. margot robbie plays queen elizabeth, her english cousin. it's thought the two monarchs never actually met. she has prevail. if you speak of it to anyone i shall deny it. but they do in an emotionally charged scene in thejosie rourke directed film, which they talked to me about at the national portrait gallery in london, where the two queens now hang together. so margot, how did you feel about taking on elizabeth, the role which has been played so many times by so many different actresses? the short answer is yes, i was terrified. but i'm very glad i did it and i stayed away from watching anyone else's portrayal. to begin with, i had said tojosie, i'm not the right actress for this, i didn't go to university, i don't have a degree, i didn't do theatre,

i'm not classically trained. i'm the wrong kind of actress to play queen. and she said i don't want you to play a queen, i want you to play a young woman. and that unlocked the character for me in a big way. what have you produced in all your travels between our kingdoms? discord? war? death? it's so timely as well because we've got nicola sturgeon up north, we've got theresa may down south. and essentially our film is mirroring the same sort of dynamic that's happening between north and south right now and these two women in particular. do not play into their hands. your heart has more within it than the men who counsel you. you would do well to watch your words. i will not be scolded by my inferior. your inferior! the more i started to learn about her, the more sort of outraged i was that so many accounts in history had painted her out to be this sort of young, way—in—over— her— head girl.

to see the tenacity that this woman had and how she just had it for so long and it wasn't... i mean really in order to restrain her, they had to come up with lies about her and put her under house arrest for 18 years because she was just unstoppable. reckless child! on the face of it, this film is a classic costume drama to sit back and enjoy. but the way in which the story has been told, with mary and elizabeth constantly undermined by meddling men, in a divided country at odds with itself, makes it resonate today in a way a lot of modern dramas simply do not. will gompertz, bbc news. new york's fearless girl has been moved to a different location. she squared up to wall street's charging bull but now she stands in front of the new york stock exchange, and it is hoped she will inspire the involvement of all women in

business. —— of more women. the other to the next few days is looking pretty quiet. cold. as forest tuesday is concerned, quite muddy the most of us in chile, particularly in eastern areas. a lot of cloud across the uk now and that cloud is not going to shift to the next day or so. here is the forecast in the early hours of tuesday. a lot of cloud across the uk. we have got clearer skies just about in the north of scotland. temperatures around freezing but most major towns and cities to the west and south will be around five degrees or so. tomorrow starts off cold and frosty in eastern areas. but sunshine but generally speaking, the bulk of the country will be pretty cloudy.

mildest in the west around 11 degrees, coldest in the east. this is bbc news. the headlines: theresa may has called off today's crucial commons vote on her eu withdrawal deal because, she has admitted, she looked certain to lose. she is heading for brussels to seek new assurances from european leaders, but they have said the deal cannot be renegotiated. president macron of france has announced a rise in the minimum wage and tax changes in response to weeks of violent anti—government protests. he denied any u—turn, insisting public spending will be kept under control. according to one junior minister, the measures would cost about $10 billion. researchers in australia believe they have found a strain of coral that may be able to resist rising sea temperatures. they have been studying part of the great barrier reef which over two consecutive years has survived the bleaching caused by warmer water. they say it looks as though that experience made the corals more resilient.