this is bbc news. i'm shaun ley. the headlines at 8pm: reports that shots have been heard close to a christmas market in strasbourg in france. french authorities say at least one person is dead. several are injured. theresa may is on a rapid tour of european capitals — including brussels — where she's meeting leaders and officials to ask for more assurances on her brexit deal. what has been shown to me from those meetings that there is a shared determination to deal with this issue and address this problem. but in the european parliament, the commission president rules out any option of renegotiating the current brexit deal. the deal we've achieved is the best deal possible. it's the only deal possible. and so, we cannot... there is no room whatsoever for renegotiation. also this hour, uk coastguards pick up six more migrants claiming to be iranian, as they cross the english channel.

the dinghy was spotted in the early hours of this morning. more than 100 other people made the same journey in the last month. manchester city manager pep guardiola has hailed raheem sterling as an "incredible human being" for confronting racism in football, after the player was allegedly racially abused during city's premier league match at chelsea on saturday. scientists from nasa find signs that major glaciers in the east of antarctica are melting away — a part of the continent that was thought to be more stable. hello, a very good evening to you.

we start this hour with some breaking news, and there are reports that at least one person has been killed in a shooting in the french city of strasbourg, close to a christmas market. let's speak to our correspondent, sophie long. not many developments so far. you are right. in the last hours or so, we got... we have had a confirmed by a central authority that one person has been killed and at least three others have been injured. that's coming from the regional authority and also conferred by the local fire department there. as you can imagine, a lot of traffic on twitter about this. one italian mep has to we did... he wrote that there were people dead and wounded. some pretty chilling videos on twitter as well. you can see people singing to cower on the floor and run away in fear. there's also pictures of armed police there. the christmas market their stuff as you can imagine them it's the 10th of december, very busy

time of yearfor them. it's the 10th of december, very busy time of year for them. the local journalists, one who lives on a local street, says there were dozens of shots fired, one or two to begin with and then they came in bursts. another press officer for the european parliament, they wrote that there was panic in the centre. police with guns running through the streets. what we know at the moment is this is very much an ongoing incidents and we do know that 1% has been killed and at least three others injured. soapy, thank you very much. let's talk now to the labourmep very much. let's talk now to the labour mep richard corbett. good to speak you this evening despite these circumstances. what did you see?|j had just come into the town centre. i noticed a lot of commotion. because the christmas market is on to my did not know what that was about, and i noticed there were

locks and you cannot get in... but let me in and immediately locked the door. it was a italian restaurants. everything around here is locked down. people are not being allowed onto the street for understandable reasons. some rooms is one thing, some say three bet, apparently a lone gunman but... as far as you can tell from inside, then, this kind of activity has started to die down? the streets are empty. people have been asked to vacate the streets, and stay inside, and indeed tonight heard that a nearby

department store is, people are lock in them for safety, people being kept inside. people in the european parliament itself, nobody has been allowed to leave. they're staying in the european parliament. richard corbett mep, thank you very much. i have the lockdown and as soon as it can. and hopefully your evening sta rts can. and hopefully your evening starts to be a bit more peaceful —— i hope the lockdown ends. let's talk to peter fritz, and he took some of the 32—bit showing here on bbc news. what really able to see and hear and what sort of had these things take place? after 8pm, i should say, two distinct gunshots and people fleeing the place. i was not sure these were actually gunshots. i went around the corner and i thought percent with two shots into the had lying on the bridge here. we tried to engage in

resuscitation activities. we try to resuscitate him and the ambulance service... everybody told us ambulance service... everybody told us the amulet had been called but so far, no science. police cordoned off the area. we had confirmation over the area. we had confirmation over the phone, that... that must've been a very distressing experience for all of you there. can you tell us anything at all about the victim? he isa anything at all about the victim? he is a taurus from thailand, a p pa re ntly is a taurus from thailand, apparently in his 30s. other than that, i can not tell you what is happening. eight forwarder. it's a spectacular sight in your city, and one

critically this time of year would be very busy so close to christmas. from what mr corbett was telling us, the street is now practically deserted. they surely have a plan in place for events like these, and this plan apparently seems to function really well. but the downside is the indolence service cannot enter the area, apparently. we've waited for 45 minutes for some medical personnel to show up and there was no help and we could do nothing but cover up the poor victim's face and for all practical purposes, i agree that he won't be allowed anywhere. this is, i'm sure, and you won't forget and it very distressing one for you and those who are there. i'm sure everybody would appreciate how hard you tried to help that man who has sadly fallen victim to this. peter, thank you very much for speaking to us on

bbc news this evening. let's just ta ke bbc news this evening. let's just take a look at the live pictures now we're getting from strasbourg as characters are arriving in the city centre. this incident took place at just after 8pm local time, sojust after 7pm uk time. we can see that the military presence as well as police presence was pretty swift. there's a certain amount of police presence because of the european parliament being in session, but many french cities have been on alert, really, since the state of emergency a couple of years ago after the terrorist incidents in paris. we of course do not know what caused the shooting. we do know one person dead. we have heard that, as you heard from peter fritz, who was there, part of the group that desperately tried to save his life. a very sad and for that man. we're waiting for new information. reuters news agency are quoting the french police as saying that one person is

dead, six are injured in gunshot attack in strasbourg. there have been reports the gunmen had been shot dead. it seems now from what peter fritz was telling us, that was an innocence tourist caught up in this. we'll bring you more on this event on bbc news. the prime minister has been holding talks with european leaders and officials as she tries to convince them to help her rescue her brexit deal after today's vote in parliament was called off. she's been to the netherlands, germany and is tonight in brussels where she met the president of the european commission, jean—claude juncker, who told her that there was no room for the withdrawal agreement to be renegotiated. mrs may was given the same message in berlin by the german chancellor angela merkel, who told the prime minister there is "no way to change" the brexit deal.

tomorrow, she be in dublin to meet her irish counterpart, the taisoeach, leo varadker as she tries to get assurances about the backstop, which is intended to prevent checks on the irish border if there's no trade deal with the eu. back here, and downing street says that vote on the deal will take place by 21 january, which is the final deadline for the deal to be approved. our europe editor katya adler has been tracking the prime minister's journey around europe and has this report. the prime minister's breathless whistle—stop tour today to see a number of european leaders seemed, to them, rather surreal. under attack at home, theresa may came to the eu asking, appealing for more. whatever outcome we want, whatever relationship we want with europe in the future, there's no deal available that

doesn't have a backstop within it. but we don't want that backstop to be used. and if it is, we want to be certain that it is only temporary. and it's those assurances that i will be seeking from fellow leaders over the coming days. the eu tried hard to distinguish expectations before the prime minister arrived. no rewriting of the brexit deal, they insisted. although... there is no room whatsoever for renegotiation. but, of course, there is room, if used intelligibly, there is room enough to give further clarification. but if she comes back home with clarifications alone, is that enough to help the prime minister? maybe, if the eu agrees to make them legally binding, as some in the cabinet now suggest. but eu leaders are worried about making too many compromises for the prime minister. they worry whatever they're willing to give her won't be enough to get the brexit deal disliked by so many back home through the house

of parliament. some mps are pushing for the prime minister to play hardball with the eu, especially over the backstop and irish border guarantee. france wouldn't accept it, germany wouldn't accept it. why in heaven's name should we accept it? we need to risk the money. we need to say to the eu, "ok, fine, it's not all one—way. it's not what we want. what do you want? you want 39 billion, you want access to our markets? great, that's coming off the table, by the way, in case you didn't recognise that. and we need you to start being serious." but, everfelt you were pushing hard against a closed door? this was the prime minister on her arrival in berlin today. big smiles followed. but no big breakthrough. translation: i can't imagine how we can substantially change anything already negotiated in these tough negotiations, which were hard for all eu countries,

as well as the uk. we're not cold—hearted, but at the end of the day, decisions have to be taken in london now. the prime minister had faint hopes in the dutch at least today. mark rutte is very close to the uk when it comes to trade. he has a lot to lose in the case of a no deal brexit. he also provides encouraging precedent. two years ago, he got legally binding clarification on a text the eu said was closed. there was a catch. he had his country's parliament behind him, something theresa may certainly doesn't. if she thinks people are going to back downjust because she seeks to blackmail them, running up against a time constraint, i think she is very wrong there. and anyhow, many of us are not

convinced that no deal is better than this bad deal. this evening, the prime minister is in talks with the president of the european commission and the european council. preparations have already started here in brussels for an emergency brexit summit they've called this thursday. more fanfare, more black cars, more red carpets. but no sign yet of a clear way forward. katya adler, bbc news, brussels. back here, the mood has been hardening against the prime minister, with rumours in westminster that more letters of no confidence in the prime minister have gone in. let's get the thoughts now of the conservative mp george freeman, whojoins me now from westminster. thank you very much for coming in to talk to us this evening. you're the chairman of theresa may's policy board for more than a year. i suppose part of your challenge was getting the government to talk about

something other than brexit. except the possibility of a leadership challenge, people do not want to talk about other things. do you think that is more likely tonight than 2a hours ago? think that is more likely tonight than 24 hours ago? i fear we are now getting into the middle of an all too predictable brexit crisis were the prime minister in crisis talks in europe tonight will try and find some wording that might get this deal into a place that they can get to parliament, and i support her in that. i think the whole country supports are in that. we have to find a deal that can implement the wishes of the people to leave the eu but ina wishes of the people to leave the eu but in a way that works. but i think it's no surprise she's running on a runway, out of room. there is a deadline on this. we leave the eu at the end of march and we have to find a deal, and to my colleagues tonight who are frustrated and feeling that the only thing they can do is put in a letter and call for a leadership change, ijust a letter and call for a leadership change, i just begging a letter and call for a leadership change, ijust begging to see if thatis change, ijust begging to see if that is not the right solution. we

may need to change strategy, yes, if this deal cannot through parliament. iand this deal cannot through parliament. i and others are urging the prime minister to change tact, to work across party and to find a brexit that can get parliament to agreed. triggering a leadership contest would be a huge mistake. you think there will be a way of avoiding a contest but a way to put another person in charge?|j avoiding a contest but a way to put another person in charge? i think that if the prime minister reaches a point where she's says to her cabinet, "i can do no more, i have negotiated the best i can," and he clearly connected to parliament, the prime investor and the cabinet in the 1922 committee in parliament have precedents for saying, someone else now on the half of the party must pick up this negotiation and on behalf of the government and the cabinet need to have that conversation. and there are several

people who could have a go. in the end, these negotiations become personal. i take my hat off to the prime minister. she has given to her very best shot. kudos? she may contact him or with a deal we can get to parliament. but if not, there is clear the store president for the cabinet and the poetry party to invite somebody else to see if they can get us through this last phase —— but can get us through this last phase -- but if can get us through this last phase —— but if not, there is clear precedent for the cabinet and the parliamentary party. i think the viewing parliament would be for a second referendum, and i don't think that's what people want. we have not got time for a leadership election. we have got to step up to the plate and find a solution in parliament. in many ways, this is a message to theresa may herself. reasonably, your fear must be that she cannot get in any more any more out of brussels because the trust thing is kind of gone because of all the changes and shifts that it had to happen. she may go back and say, the

deal i got two or three weeks ago cannot go through. would you think perhaps a freshfaced may get fresh possibility out of the eu? let's see what she comes back with tomorrow. in the end, negotiations are personal. whether their business or political or any sort of negotiation, in the end it comes down to trust, it comes down to the ability to ask for the benefit of some doubts, a comes down to the ability to negotiate with multiple parties. this negotiation is what the dup, with northern ireland, with actions in the conservative party, factions in parliament and the 27 nations. this is very complex. i hope the prime minister can pull it off. if you cannot, men message to collea g u es off. if you cannot, men message to colleagues and parliament is, do not throw in a letter calling for a leadership change when the clock is ticking. if you find a solution to brexit by the end of january. ticking. if you find a solution to brexit by the end of january. george freeman to conservative mp, thank

you very much for talking with me this evening. let's talk now about something else which the prime minister is talking about in her meeting with her counterpart in dublin tomorrow. sean kelly, a fine gael mep who is in strasbourg. thank you for waiting what we talked about those of the developments in strasbourg this evening. let's talk about the prospects of any kind of change in terms of the wording that might give the uk reassurance about the irish backstop as it's called, disposition of what if a trade deal is not arrived at by the time the transition period ends. the beginning of 2021, there could be some kind of requirement that the border is kept open in this way. do you think there's anything that the irish government could give her that would help on this? thank you very much, and glad to be with you. firstly, my fifth of the —— most of

the ghost to tonight. —— my sympathy goes to the victims tonight. to come to your question, there is actually very little room for manoeuvre in the substantial issues in the backstop, and that has been said today. while we all have huge ambition for theresa may to get anything possible for her to get this except in parliament, nonetheless, the backstop is there for a very important purpose in and it's written down, unless it is replaced and put in something better. a free trade agreement and the future relation would be speeded up, then it would... there is little

more that our leader can and would wa nt to more that our leader can and would want to say at this stage, because everything hinges on in shoring there is no hard border and the island of ireland, and we do not return to the days of violence and so forth. it has to stay, the backstop, regardless of the difficulties. we are very close to the united kingdom, and ireland is the united kingdom, and ireland is the one that wants the united kingdom to stay in the european union but it respects the opinion of the people the most. presumably... she can make the point that if the uk leaves with no deal, and nothing us uk leaves with no deal, and nothing us is found in this place, don't act automatically result in the kind of border crisis everybody wants to

avoid. therefore, it may be better to give a bit more of a concession at this stage to beat the no—deal brexit agreed so that that crisis does not happen in march 2019. yes, in an ideal world, that is what would happen. there are two things. there is nothing guaranteed in that respect and there is no guarantee evenif respect and there is no guarantee even if that is done, which cannot be done from our point of view. many of the remainers are against it, many of the brexiteers against it. it's a very difficult situation. ultimately, they have to face the music, and then we will see what happens. nobody wants a hard brexit, but that's entirely in the gift of those who vote in the united kingdom. john kelly, mep, thank you

and we'll find out how this story and many others are covered in tomorrow's front pages at 10.40pm and 11.30pm this evening in the papers. joining me tonight, polly mackenzie, who's the director of the think—tank demos, and the conservative commentator, tim montgomerie. sport now, and for a full round up, and from the bbc sport centre, here's sarah. thank you. but have a look at how things are going. top number in barcelona, with they need to match or better inter milan's results against psv. they are able down. —— they are a goal down. the good news is inter—are losing at home to psv.

20 minutes gone at anfield, liverpool are at home against natalie. they need a victory by two clear goals to be assured of qualification. if paris saint—germain fail to beat red star belgrade, they will go through. it is goal is there. but psg are up one. in group a, atletico and jordan are through to the last 16. —— dortmund are through. all the details are on the bbc sport website. there is one game tonight in the premiership. aberdeen are taking on livingston. the home side character td toss sticks a victory.

—— the home side can return to the top six with a victory. manchester city manager pep guardiola has spoken publicly for the first time about the alleged racial abuse that raheem sterling faced at stamford bridge on saturday. chelsea have suspended four supporters from attending matches will investigations continue. he pointed a finger towards the press and their coverage of young black players which he said was unfair and potentially fuelling racism and aggressive behaviour. reading is incredible. incredible human being. so, it's tough to understand today, you know, what happened years ago, but position for all history for the black people... he has to protect

how equal we are altogether. it's tough to understand in the 21st century, still to be in a position to be in adversity in a power position. help us to be better everyone. it has to be better, the human rights for everyone. rugby as well. player of the yearjonny sexton has committed himself to lei nster sexton has committed himself to leinster and ireland for three more yea rs. leinster and ireland for three more years. he had a two—year spell in paris and was linked with a return to france but he went out and his career with leinster in ireland. former european truck cycling champion jess varnish has

former european truck cycling championjess varnish has told a tribunal british cycling coaches would listen during the door during training camps as an example of the body's extreme control. she is claiming damages for wrongful dismissal after being dismissed from british cycling's elite squad in 2016. yeah, this case could affect our athletes are funded. she is seeking to prove she was an employee of british cycling rather than self—employed. uk sport chief executive liz mikel is also attending the tribunal that is expected to last all week. that is all the sport for now. you can find lots more on those stories, including live text commentary of the champions league games on the bt sport website —— bbc sport website. totte n ha m sport website —— bbc sport website. tottenham trailing 1—0 against barcelona. back to you. i definitely hope all that will change by the time we get back to you. thank you so much.

large glaciers in east antarctica have begun melting away for the first time, in a region that until now been considered stable compared with more dramatic changes on the continent elsewhere. nasa scientists say that satellites now show that ice streams into the ocean are speeding up, which could lead to a big rise in sea levels in the future. our science editor david shukman reports now from the un climate conference taking place in poland. a great chunk of ice breaks into the ocean. antarctica holds so much frozen water that if all of it melted, the level of the sea would rise by as much as 70 metres. that's why nasa and other teams are keeping a close watch on what's happening. on a research flight, i saw for myself how the glaciers, the great streams of ice, are accelerating in west antarctica. now, nasa has studied satellite data which reveals another region changing as well, a much larger mass of ice in east antarctica. the glaciers there showing signs of stirring. we've known for some time that parts of antarctica

are losing ice into the ocean, causing a sea level rise. nasa has now reported that another eight glaciers in a different part of antarctica are also losing ice. this is an effect of the oceans changing their temperature and taking warm water to the antarctic ice sheet and causing it to melt. this matters for cities around the world. every extra bit of melting threatens the millions who live on coastlines. and that threat is now getting global attention. the future of polar ice is being discussed here at the united nations climate conference in poland. the point of these talks was to try to prevent the increase in temperatures, to head off the rise of the oceans. and this new research shows why that matters. i think it's a very intimidating and worrying piece of news. i think that it goes with the trend that climate change is becoming a more material issue that we have to respond to. we're notjust looking at science into the future.

we're thinking about issues that are affecting us now. we have to be much more live and contemporary and push harder with our decision—making. antarctica could not be more remote, but its ice has the potential to cause serious damage as the world gets warmer. david shukman, bbc news, in poland. joining us now is dr gabrielle walker, who specialises in climate change and has written a book called antarctica — an intimate portrait of the world's most mysterious continent. doctor walker, texas much for being with us. that sounds like a very vivid description of a place you obviously have had the pleasure of visiting. before i ask you about the science of this, what for you next antarctica special and how'd you get is that your somewhere that is so different from the rest of the planet? the most spectacular thing about antarctica is that humans have never lived there. it is no human history at all. it cannot. there's

no food, there's no fuel. there's nothing. you have to take your system with it really is... because as you can get to the moon or mars or some other world. because of that can you kind of project yourself when you go there. you go to the ends of the earth. define no culture, no existing human history. just what you can with you. and the environment, which is so much a part of that is the most explanation of why there's been a human habitation, we know it's changing, that this particular report, with stretching most about it? this is something happening at the end of the road, and you think, it's kinda the same old. we know the ice is melting. it did a very far off place. in a way, antarctica seems to be a very generous consonants. it doesn't really what happens to itself. in the past and antarctica has been covered in dinosaurs and swans when

it was much hotter. now it's covered in ice. it contains in its eyes is sort of history record telling us would file a change —— it contains in its eyes a sort of history record telling us about climate change... it comes to us... this story, i was very alarmed by bite east antarctica, that's the bit that's supposed to be stable. we're now seeing signs that part of that is going. that will come for us. i think, i work in climate change, i work with businesses in climate change and we are fighting hard to change and we are fighting hard to change the way we actually do business so we can change this thing. so much attention, not on antarctica, that far off place, but in poland, places trying to fix this. and in terms of that. .. the melting is the thing that could drive a rise in sea levels. the world has adapted before. it can adapt again. absolutely. what the

world has experienced is many more hot temperatures are warm temperatures. it has not done it when our humans are around and especially not in such large numbers. with all these coastal cities, there's never been a time where the temperatures are heading for this and the sea levels were heading this way and we build our cities according to the old sylla bles. cities according to the old syllables. not according to the new ones. we cannot think of the city and move it. —— we cannot pick up a city. we have to stop this thing before it gets worse. if we don't, we are the ones you're going to suffer. antarctica won't care. and are certain to —— antarctica will be less mysterious than it is right now. it is going to be mysterious no matter what! and always will be! dr gabrielle walker, thank you. it's time for a look at the less mysterious weather prospects with nick miller.

winds pick up now as we go to the rest of the week. cold enough tonight across eastern parts of england, we've got clear skies. a touch of frost and a few fog patches again. a lot of cloud around. of rain but more especially some operation retorts northern ireland, wales and southwest england as that and just a little further east overnight. you're fairly mild night, but the further east you are, the temperatures in the colder spots close to freezing. not moving very much, this spot of rain. elsewhere, a good deal of cloud around, especially in the morning, but for eastern england, there will be increasing sunshine into the afternoon. the southeasterly breeze does start to pick up and as a result, it will feel a little bit chillier than it did today. it's by thursday that wind is stronger still, so it will feel much colder with wind—chill numbers closer to freezing on thursday. and in

hello this is bbc news. the headlines: shots have been fired close to a christmas market in strasbourg in france. at least one person is dead. several are injured. here's a tourist from thailand, accompanied by his girlfriend or wife. otherwise, i cannot tell you what is happening. he is a tourist, who like so many people came here to see the christmas market. theresa may is on a rapid tour of european capitals including brussels where she's meeting leaders and officials to ask for more assurances on her brexit deal. what has been shown to me from those meetings, is that there is a shared determination to deal with this issue, and address this problem. six more migrants have been picked

up six more migrants have been picked up as they try to cross the channel. manchester city manager pep guardiola has hailed raheem sterling as an "incredible human being" for confronting racism in football after the player was allegedly racially abused during city's premier league match at chelsea on saturday. in an let's return to our top story this hour. at least one person has died ina this hour. at least one person has died in a shooting in the centre of strasbourg. three people are known to have been injured. this is in the french city close to the christmas market. the area has been unlocked down over the last hour, with people being told to stay indoors, and moved to upper floors, being told to stay indoors, and moved to upperfloors, in being told to stay indoors, and moved to upper floors, in case the gunman was still at large. now, let's talk to ben, who is trapped

inside a bar nearby. you are still locked in there? yes, we are, yes. we aren't trapped, we are locked into our own safety. indeed. you inside the bar when the shots were fired? yes. we are about 200-300 litres from where the incident happened from what i can tell. i'd really, i mean, we are all now u psta i rs really, i mean, we are all now upstairs in the bar, rather than downstairs. sorry, the bar manager is just chatting at us. downstairs. sorry, the bar manager isjust chatting at us. so you might be about to get the all clear? no, she isjust... forgive me, i thought you were saying it is all

fine. you're inside, is there still activity on the streets? there seems to be... well strasbourg has very narrow streets, very confined spaces. there is not too much on the streets, tall. it is pretty dead. for a meeting the streets. it isn't an surprising. quite. attlee. you better get yourself another drink, in that case. you could be in there for a while. thank you very much. on the line also is james, who is a generalist for france 24. he was in the area to. what have you seen and heard? -- ajournalist. posted the christmas market which is of course a big tourist attraction at this time of year. police are now evacuating the city centre. and they are telling all residents to stay indoors, and confirmed media reports

at this time, according to the french tv channel, that the government is still —— gunman is still on the loose. it can confirmed that two people have been injured, andi that two people have been injured, and i have seen two victims being taken away, for medical treatment. and james, we were talking to somebody in a restaurant, at the top of the hour, who was involved in u nsuccessful of the hour, who was involved in unsuccessful attempts of the hour, who was involved in u nsuccessful attem pts to save of the hour, who was involved in unsuccessful attempts to save the life of a thai tourist. presumably, nothing has been specifically said about that, although the local beef lecture, is quoted by reuters, saying government kills one, injust ten in —— gunman kills one, injures ten. southern i would be careful about regulating, but indeed there isa about regulating, but indeed there is a huge police presence at here in strasbourg. as i say, or the central roads are being blocked off as we speak, and police are encouraging

tourists and indeed members of the press to get away from where the incident has taken place. as soon as possible. what i can tell you, about 30 minutes ago, i saw military officers, also walking through the streets, heavily armed. it is of course, because france has been at a state of high terror alert over the past few months, with regards to the recent terror activity taking place on french soil, but of course, as i say, no confirmation or further details about this incident. thank you very much full finishing us —— filling us in. let'sjust say with the pictures from strasbourg for just a few moments more to confirm what we know. it is limited information. but we know that one person is dead after a shooting

close to the christmas market in strasbourg. you can see the signs indicating the entrance, there, as james was saying, these are narrow streets around the old part of strasbourg, beautiful city in eastern france. the european parliament is in session, that, so there would have been quite a lot of security anyway, but beasley, stepped up once news of the shooting of march. it was about an hour and 40 minutes ago now that the first report appeared, a little after eight o'clock local time, seven o'clock uk time. we understand from one eyewitness, that a tourist may have been the victim. there had been some unconfirmed reports that the gunman had been shot, but people are being encouraged to evacuate and leave, so whether that means the gunman is still alive, or they fear that they may be others involved in this incident, is not clear. there is no official confirmation of that. we do know that president macron cut

short a meeting after being informed. he is being kept informed of the update, and he has... that is the quoting of an official at the elusive paris, the president's official residence. let me bring you... let's move on now to what would have been our top story this evening, had the votes not been deferred, which was due to take place at seven. and that was the brexit information, which is that... and escape to do the usual thing, which is try to read it off the screen, so excuse me for this. there are reports that the chairman of the backbench committee, has asked for a

meeting with the prime minister. the significance of that is not believe that sirgraham significance of that is not believe that sir graham represents backbenchers, but it is potentially that it tells about the prospect of a vote of no—confidence in her leadership. let's be to ben wright who is at westminster. then this is coming from political editor. yes, laura has just tweeted that she is expecting sir graham brady to go and talk to the prime minister after the pmqs tomorrow. the only person who really knows what is going on at this stage is so graham brady, the chair of the 1922 committee. he will know whether the letters are there or not to trigger a contest or a leadership vote in theresa may's position, but certainly, this evening, there is a growing feeling around westminster, a hardening of expectation, the eurosceptic mps have felt that they have got the

numbers. but all have the league caveat it, we will not fully know until later on. i was very struck by talking to george freeman, a theresa may's loyalist, a former chair of her policy board, a former minister under david cameron, talking about the policy that it could be... there might be an argument for someone else on a caretaker basis to be in charge of this process after brexit. is that a sense you have picked up, that there is a feeling that perhaps someone else might get more out of brussels,, that they have got fed up of her. i don't get the sense that george freeman's fears widely shared amongst tory backbenchers. i do think the mood has changed radically, yes. the party was braced for a heavy defeat when the withdrawal agreement was put to mpp mac. it was meant to happen this

evening, but i think the way that it was pulled, the performance of the prime minister yesterday, going after the eu capitals today with very little hope that anything substantial could be changed in terms of the substance of the withdrawal agreement. all of that has not helped her position among the tory parliamentary party, and remainers have added their voice, privately, to the brexiteers, that they are fed up of her leadership. you do feel that the mood has shifted. if there is a context, and thatis shifted. if there is a context, and that is a massive if, i think it is far more uncertain what the outcome might be, as opposed to what the outcome could have been if it happened three weeks ago, as it looked likely when it looked like that er g group, of tory brexiteers, we re that er g group, of tory brexiteers, were talking about having the numbers, and in the end, it didn't happen. i think the mood within the party is darker now, and the

disappointment in theresa may has hardened quite a bit. just in terms of the practicalities of this. work so graham to see the prime minister tomorrow and inform her that he has received the 48 letters required, he doesn't have any flexibility, he hath to begin a process of the vote in no confidence. how quickly could that it plays? mps are at westminster. yes, they are. when there was a no—confidence vote against ian duncan ‘s bed, think the ballot happened within 24—hour was. i think it can be jacked up pretty —— iain duncan smith. i think the ballot happened within 24 hours. it isa ballot happened within 24 hours. it is a straight 50% plus one, a straight majority contest. if she doesn't, then it becomes a much wider and longer and more protracted leadership contest that will involve other candidates, it could potentially become a more protracted

process , potentially become a more protracted process, and if this happens, and clearly the hope of the brexiteers is that at the end of that process, they will have one of their own in number ten, they will have one of their own in numberten, and they will have one of their own in number ten, and that is... the sta kes number ten, and that is... the stakes of those are colossal, and mps who may be are considering a vote of no confidence, know that this may be the place. they will be thinking, what sort of premise we have at the end of this, if a leadership contest is triggered. but we are not there yet. we certainly are not. it sounds like we might know more about so graham brady tomorrow. they have only got one shot at this, actually. there is one contest allowed every year, or a challenge like this. so the brexiteers who are furious with theresa may, they have got to time it well, because they have got one shot this side of bradford. the key thing first and foremost is that if

she loses the no—confidence, she cannot stand as a candidate, she's gone. so the other question, is who would be on the cabinet? as i said, we don't know what is good to happen in an hour worth‘s time, let alone four days, two weeks. you can tell -- you can tell how much life has changed. someone said a week was a long time in politics, but an hour can bea long time in politics, but an hour can be a long time now. we may yet be talking again this evening. now, thank you very much. that is the very latest from westminster, and that tweet our political editor, laura, making it clear that she has been told that so graham brady who chairs the 1922 committee has requested a meeting with the prime minister tomorrow, immediately after prime minister's questions. that will be it lunchtime tomorrow. of course, if we get any more from sir ian brady, —— so graham brady we

will bring it to you. six people claiming to be migrants of a rana —— iran have been rescued this morning. many crossed in november. the dover — calais route which was the biggest shipping lane, and uk officials have been warning about the dangers of trying to cross it in a small boat. emerging from the darkness, an inflatable dinghy. it's 2am, we are in the middle of the english channel. the dinghy is motoring at full speed from france towards the kent coast. are you ok? we get the thumbs up, however the boat is dangerously overcrowded, taking on water. the six migrants are cold, scared, desperate, but determined to get to the uk. this dinghy is in a precarious position. it is vulnerable because it is now entering a shipping lane and there are a number of ships

coming towards it. so we are shepherding it almost, i think, at the moment so it remains in a safe position. is we are on board a dover fishing boat. this is the third migrant rescue for skipper matthew coker in three months. there were five ships coming down in one lane and he can't an cross in front of them. i don't know, if we hadn't been with him, the ships wouldn't have gone round him. i only managed tojust pick them up. there are no lights on the boat at all. the migrants were wrapped in blankets and scarves and speak little english. where are you from? you are iranian? iran! the water at the moment appears to be going into the back of the dinghy but they continue. they are not stopping and they don't want our help. it is a desperate race to try and get to the uk for these people. although they decline our offers of help they do stop to ask for water which is lowered down to them in a net. in the last three months more

than 100 migrants have made this treacherous crossing. a fortnight ago we exposed how some of the smuggling operations are being planned from a makeshift migrant camp in dunkirk which we secretly filmed using an undercover research. translation: the boat will cost you £3000 to £4000. i am taking three people with me. they pay in cash. we give them the boat and off we go. last night the weather and sea conditions in the channel were good, but in a small boat in the dark it is still incredibly dangerous. the messages going back to the camps, or to the people on the other side, to the gangs, is that it is working so more are going to come and i am certain they will keep coming until there is an absolute tragedy. these migrants were safely rescued by the rnli and the border force but it is a potentially deadly route that more and more are trying. despite winter, despite the risks, the migrants keep coming. colin campbell, bbc news, dover.

a paedophile russell bishop has today been sentenced full it in prison. he killed nine your old nicola fellows in brighton. he had been cleared of their murders in 96 to seven, but a dna breakthrough resulted in a fresh row. wages rose at their fastest rate in a decade betweenjuly and october — they went up on average by 3.3 per cent according to the office for national statistics. the number of people in work continued to rise to record levels but unemployment is also up. our economics correspondent andy verity has more details. that is the fastest improvement in living standards the tee years. if

your glass was half full of christmas, that is great news. the average wage is now here. if the glass is half empty, though, the average wage was more than it is now, before 2011. the other question is, who is taking the newjobs? there were 132,000 fewer eu workers in the uk, than there were a year ago. whereas the number of uk nationals in the workforce grew by 448,000. so some of that is pensioners into retirement. there has also been a big drop in the number of people who are economic inactive, in other words, number of people who are economic inactive, in otherwords, people number of people who are economic inactive, in other words, people of working age are not looking for age. asa working age are not looking for age. as a proportion of the nation, that group is now smaller than it has been since records began in 1971. let's return to our top story which

is the shooting in strasbourg. the latest news we have in it from the local prefecture, in a statement quoted by reuters news agency, is that central star ‘s book is in lockdown, still this evening. this is almost two hours after the shooting, in which a gunman shot down a man who we believe was a tourist from thailand, and injured, thatis tourist from thailand, and injured, that is according tojohn mackey has injured ten other people, and the prefecture says that the gunman has been identified, and is being chased in the centre of the city. that is the latest we have from strasbourg. one person dead, ten others are believed to be injured, we have an ongoing incident in strasbourg, in eastern france, after a shooting, just under two hours ago on the christmas market. a gunman is reported to have been identified, but is still on the run. the other main story, latest of

element in it, is with brexit and the future of our prime minister. our political editor is reporting that so graham brady, who is the chairman of the 1922 committee, has requested a meeting with the prime minister to take place tomorrow. this follows the collision, and it is only speculation, that the 48 letters needed to trigger a vote of no confidence has been received. if thatis no confidence has been received. if that is correct, under party rules, so graham wood —— so graham would automatically have two trigger a vote of no—confidence in the prime minister, asking all mps whether they have covered it in her leadership. if she lost that vote, by one, that is all that it takes, she would not be able to stand in the leadership election. if she wins it, there can be no further challenge to her leadership of the conservative party by mps further 12 months. if the reports are correct,

that that is the purpose of so graham brady's request for a meeting, and we do not know that is the case, then it could be the process that could begin at the end of the prime minister's leadership, or silenced the critics for a year. we will of course bring you more developments in the course of the next two hours. it said source is up next. before that, a look at the weather. all quiet on the weather, but it is turning colder and windier towards the end of the week and the weekend, wet and windier. let's take a look at the serene scene from kaymer chav. there are some weak weather fans closed by the uk, kaymer chav. there are some weak weatherfans closed by the uk, this one, with a bit of patchy drizzle, and this one starting to encrypt in the west at the moment. that will bring some outbreaks of rain, part of northern ireland, far west of scotland, west of wales, cornwall

and devon. as well, cloud, maybe some drizzle, but some clear spells through eastern parts of england, there will be a touch of frost as tebbit is get close to freezing. there has been a bit of folk today, and that has been reluctant to clear, thickening up over the course of the evening. do take care on the roads, some of these fog patches lasting until tomorrow morning. still this weather front of the west, delivering some alcoves of rain, western scotland, eastern parts of bold and ireland, increasing sunshine in eastern england, temperatures in the west, six or seven in the east, so around this area of high pressure, which is blocking whether france from coming in from the atlantic, so stronger winds developing, tapping into called it, as well, so the two things come in, colder air coming m, things come in, colder air coming in, and be stronger wind will make it feel different out and about on thursday. some breaks in the cloud,

some sunny spells here and there, might seea some sunny spells here and there, might see a bit of rain in the far south—west of wales, west of england. that backs away westwards, mainly dry day, broken cloud, sunny spells, temperatures down towards mid single figures in places, and that stronger south easterly winds, with that wind—chill factors, it will feel like it is closer to freezing for some of us, —1 in the channel islands, there. friday is the quiet day, is still. most was to be —— still be dry. frosty start on friday, but look at the change on saturday. wet weather coming in, temperatures coming up some of us, but the wind is picking up, too. we finally have a weather front coming in from gatland did, it looks i could will move west and east from the —— west to east from the uk. they will not all be rain, some sleet and snow in places. maybe not just on hills. that is the thing that we are watching very closely at the moment. hello, i'm ros atkins.

this is outside source. straight to strasbourg, were there's a developing situation with reports of gunshots, of one person losing their life and of several people being injured close to a christmas market. and relatively close to the european parliament. we will update you on the whole story. the prime minister travelled to the hague, then to berlin to see angela merkel and then onto brussels. she wants the eu to address concerns some british mps have with plan for the irish border after brexit. but wherever she went, she heard the same message. the deal we have achieved is the best deal possible step is the only deal possible. and