welcome to newsday. i'm babita sharma live at westminster. the headlines: the parliamentary party does have confidence. theresa may survives a vote of no confidence from her own party, but the challenges over brexit remain. here is our new admission, delivering the brexit that people voted for, bringing the country back together, and forming a country that truly works for everyone. i'm rico hizon in singapore. also on the programme: president trump's former lawyer is jailed for three years. he says he felt it was his "duty to cover up his boss's dirty deeds." more details emerge about the strasbourg shooting suspect, as the manhunt continues across france. this is bbc world news. it's newsday. welcome.

it's midnight here in london, where the british prime minister has survived a no confidence vote from her own conservative party. that's the good news for theresa may. the bad news though is that one—third of her own members voted against her. let's take a look at the numbers. 317 conservative mps were eligible to vote in this election. 200 voted in favour of the prime minister, 117 voted against her. that's a majority of 83. before the vote, the prime minister had addressed conservative mps and signalled that she was not intending to lead the party into the next general election, which is meant to be in 2022. she insisted that the focus should be on her determination to deliver brexit. we begin our coverage with our political editor laura kuenssberg, and just

a warning: laura's report contains flash photography. decision time. survival time. for a prime minister and a party twisted together in a years old fight. applause only the conservatives would do it like this behind those walls. a challenge in the morning, the rebels seen off before it's time for bed. the result of the ballot held this evening is that the parliamentary party does have confidence. applause 200 of her mps wanted her to stay, 117 wanted her to go. a clear result, but a party in obvious conflict. no further confidence vote can take place for at least 12 months. applause despite the applause, what do the tories really have

to celebrate beyond tonight? it was another lonely journey to the microphone. the prime minister had to promise she'd go, in order to stay for now. this has been a long and challenging day, but at the end of it, i'm pleased to have received the backing of my colleagues in tonight's ballot. whilst i'm grateful for that support, a significant number of colleagues did cast a vote against me and i have listened to what they said. following this ballot, we now need to get on with the job of delivering brexit for the british people and building a better future for this country. a brexit that delivers on the vote that people gave, that brings back control of our money, our borders and our laws, that protectsjobs, security and the union, that brings the country back together rather than entrenching division. that must start here in westminster, with politicians on all sides coming together and acting in the national interest. so, here is our renewed mission.

delivering the brexit that people voted for, bringing the country back together, and building a country that truly works for everyone. resilient but not inscrutable. this is not the end of this argument — or a triumph over hearts and minds. of course i accept this result, but the prime minister must realise that under all constitutional norms, she ought to go and see the queen urgently and resign. the lessons for her, the lessons for the party, this is hardly been an ideal day for the party. but the party voted that it wants her to stay and take us through brexit. not an ideal, dreadful day for downing street, the prime minister might have won,

the divisions and bitterness are right out there. —— i think this vote will flush out the extremists who are trying to advance a particular agenda. but a win is not the same as a true victory. survival not the same as succeeding. another tory prime minister's leadership fractured if not broken by a decades old dispute of the party's own. well, as we've been reporting, eu leaders have already said that they have no intention of changing their agreement with the uk. but earlier, brussels did perhaps offer some kind of movement, in the form of a draft document which leaders will sign after their summit on thursday. adam fleming has more. this draft is floating around and it has got a few very, very interesting things in it and what those things are is that they amount to the assurances the eu planning to give

the theresa may so that she can take them back to the house of commons and try and persuade mps that the withdrawal agreement is not not that bad after all. it is all about the northern irish backstop, remember that policy for avoiding a high border between northern ireland and the public violence. lots of eu rules and regulations to apply to northern ireland. one of the brexiteers's interferes and many other mp5, and pa rliament‘s brexiteers's interferes and many other mp5, and parliament's fears, is that at backstop, the uk will never be able to escape from it, it will be the end state, but all along the eu has said no, that is not the case, it is only temporary. we do not like it very much, we want to avoid it at all costs, it is only a backupif avoid it at all costs, it is only a backup if it is needed. so then i went to great lengths to show how temporary they wanted to be, this document being sent around the night being signed by eu leaders contains commitments by the eu that they will continue to negotiate future trade agreement with the uk, even if the backstop comes into place at the end

of the post—brexit transition period. so even if the backstop is in place, the uk and eu will continue to negotiate future trade deal that could get rid of it, or swipe it away so you do not need any more. that is to prove that the eu is serious when it means the backstop is temporary and it is not going to be for ever. adam fleming there reporting from brussels. of course, attention will now focus on theresa may, who has survived to fight another day here in westminster. she will head off to brussels first thing on thursday morning to try and sit down at the negotiating table once again and to get the eu leaders on her side, the get the eu leaders on her side, the get her back the deal through, to make that much deadline. i have to say that the people we have been speaking to you in westminster today are not very optimistic for her plans to stay intact because of that was just saying there, that crucial issue regarding northern ireland and that backstop plant with the

republic of ireland as well, but of course it will be interesting to see what she comes away with from this summit, when she does meet with eu leaders here today. —— plan. but it has been an incredible day of intense drama here in westminster and theresa may, like i said, is fighting another day but she does have a bitterly divided party. she may have won that confidence vote at 37% of the own party voted against her, so still the days ahead are going to be trying and of course, the drama, i am sure, is set to continue here. stay with us, much more coming up for me a little later in the programme in westminster. but, rico hizon, back to you in singapore. a critical week for theresa may. let's now take a look at some of the day's other news. a judge in new york has sentenced donald trump's former lawyer and self—described "fixer" to three years in jail. michael cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance charges in august.

those were related to hush money payments to women who said they had affairs with the president, which he denies. mr cohen also admitted to lying to congress about a proposed trump tower project in russia. nada tawfik was in court. michael cohen hung his head and sugared in disbelief when the sentence was read. he was hoping for no jail sentence was read. he was hoping for nojailtime, sentence was read. he was hoping for no jail time, but the sentence was read. he was hoping for no jailtime, but thejudge ultimately imposed three years in prison, a substantial but still on the lower end of sentencing guidelines. thejudge the lower end of sentencing guidelines. the judge said that michael cohen had lost his moral compass and should have known better asa compass and should have known better as a lawyer, and he said that no future cooperation should be taken into consideration in sentencing. now, michael cohen was president trump's long—term fixer, his pitbull lawyer who protected his interest in more than a decade that in court, yet tough words for the president. he said that he had been living in a

state of personal and mental incarceration ever since working for mrtrump, and he incarceration ever since working for mr trump, and he said that he had a weakness, a blind loyalty to the president. now, michael cohen ended his statement in court by apologising to the american people, saying that they deserve better than being lied to. now, michael cohen is the first of mr trump's inner circle to be sentenced to prison. he will be able to voluntarily surrendered himself and march six, so he has not been sent directly to prison yet, but it is no wonder that the president has distanced himself from michael cohen. these crimes have implicated the president directly, and it is still uncertain what possible consequences could come of this. justice department guidelines say that a sitting president cannot be indicted but there is nothing stopping prosecutors in the future, when mrtrump is stopping prosecutors in the future, when mr trump is out of office, from bringing case forward if they feel

it is warranted. also making news today: the european parliament has ratified the eu's trade deal with japan — the largest it has ever struck. it's been called the cars for cheese deal, with drastically cut tariffs on both sides. the european commission estimates that eu exporters will save more than $1 billion a year on duties. seven mass graves have been discovered in a former islamic state group stronghold, syrian state media says. they contain hundreds of unidentified bodies that seem to have been tortured. a syrian red crescent official told reporters there were several women among the dead, and said some of those killed "were blindfolded and handcuffed." two cardinals facing allegations linked to sexual abuse have been removed from pope francis's inner circle, the vatican said. australia's george pell and chile's francisco javier errazuriz will no longer sit on the council of cardinals, set up by the pope as an international advice body. both cardinals deny allegations against them.

the afghanistan football federation has vigorously denied claims that some officials have sexually and physically abused players on the national women's team. world football's governing body, fifa, has suspended the aff president, keramuddin keram, for 90 days, pending an investigation. the ban can be extended depending on th outcome of the probe. —— the. there was an unusual interruption in colombia's senate, when protestors threw a bag containing rats and mice on the floor of the chamber. take a look at those mice. a total of four rodents were involved, but only this one escaped. well, the demonstrators are thought to have been making a point about graft and corruption. you're watching newsday on the bbc. live from westminster and singapore.

still to come on the programme... we'll have the latest on the search for the man suspected of killing two people at a christmas market in france, as the hunt spreads across europe. 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 newsday on the bbc. i'm rico hizon in singapore. i'm babita sharma in london. our top stories: theresa may has survived a vote of no confidence in her leadership and says she's determined to see through the brexit process. donald trump's former laywer, michael cohen, has beenjailed for three years. he told the court in new york that he blamed his crimes on his former boss. let's take a look at some front pages from around the world. the straits times is leading on malaysia's move to defuse tensions with singapore. it comes after malaysia withdrew two

of its vessels that had been in the republic‘s territorial waters. and the new york times leads on this heartbreaking image of family members grieving over the graves of their loved ones who were killed in el salvador by ms—13 gang members. and finally, the japan times leads on visa tests to be held abroad. the foreign ministry plans to hold japanese language tests in at least seven countries for a new type of work visa. now back to the beta at westminster.

thank you very much —— babita. theresa may's time as prime minister has been overshadowed by the brexit process. 200-117 that 200—117 that voted against her. she has survived that leadership but since she came into office, she hasn't had an easy ride with the brexit process, which is ongoing with a deal yet to be done with the eu -- with a deal yet to be done with the eu —— leadership challenge. what will happen next? here's our deputy uk political editor, john pienaar. they've been demonstrating here for months, rain or shine, for or against brexit. obsessed? maybe. but they're also right to feel brexit is the biggest issue facing britain in decades.

bigger than tonight's decision to keep on and not sack theresa may. it's still herjob to try somehow to break their brexit deadlock and tonight the vote was never going to make that easier. theresa may is still facing a deeply divided house of commons, party and cabinet. still struggling to win over brexiteers who fear that the brexit plan could leave the uk trapped inside european union rules indefinitely. some of them sit in cabinet. two have walked out since this was filmed, more of them are potential leadership candidates. and today, one brexiteer warned a no—deal brexit was still possible and mrs may presumably another leader had to get concessions under brussels, or else. it's very difficult to support the deal if we don't get changes to the backstop, i don't think it'll get through, i'm not sure the cabinet will agree for it to be put to the house of commons. among the cabinet's former remainers, some would support a softer brexit with closer eu links than mrs may's. though they're not saying that. they are saying they would fight

against leaving without a deal and the commons wouldn't wear it. you've been clear, in your view, thinking new deal brexit is not a runner? i have been clear that the house of commons will stop no deal, the fact that i think it'll stop the deal does not mean we should not continue preparations just in case and some people pointed out it could nevertheless happen, but i think no deal would be such a bad outcome for the country that i believe house of commons will assert itself and stop it. so far, though, there's no sign of european leaders agreeing at tomorrow's eu summit that britain could leave eu rules on its own time in its own terms. in berlin today, the german leader spoke plainly. "we have no intention of changing the exit agreement," angela merkel said. today, mrs may warned that any leader would be short of time. the brexit timetable is tight after tomorrow's summit. in the new year, before january 21st, the delayed meaningful vote in the commons is due.

if the government is defeated it must report back on its plans for the next steps within 21 days. but any deal must also be approved by the european parliament before it takes effect. then at 11pm on march the 29th, the uk is due to leave the eu. but the prime minister and her deal are still facing defeat by mps. no—one can yet rule out a brexit tied closely to the eu or a fresh referendum. and however long theresa may has left in office, the biggest question of all — what's britain's future — still hangs in the air. john pienaar, bbc news. hundreds of police are still hunting the gunman who escaped after a shoot—out at a christmas market in france. two people were killed and 13 others were injured in the attack in strasbourg. there are fears the gunman may have crossed the border into germany, where the security forces are also on alert. investigators say it was an act of terror. damian grammaticus reports from strasbourg. this is a city on alert.

hundreds of police and soldiers on a manhunt for a killer. but where did he go? even the nearby border watched to stop him slipping away. cherif chekatt, the suspected gunmen. police now appealing for help finding him. he'd opened fire near the christmas markets. this is the old heart of strasbourg. people barricaded themselves inside. among his victims, a tourist from thailand, here on holiday with his wife. cherif chekatt, 29 years old, has been in prison, has 27 convictions for crimes like robbery and was already on france's terror watch—list. "the shooting went on for 30 or a0 minutes," this man says. he filmed police scrambling for cover and says he knew the gunman.

"yes, he was in prison here and in germany too," he says. outside the shop where he took cover, ali told us he saw chekatt go past shooting and recognised him as they'd been in prison together. "i saw people running, running," he says. "police running, too." "everyone was saying there were gunshots." so now, strasbourg's famous christmas market has been shuttered, all business stopped. the christmas market is one of the big attractions that draws visitors to strasbourg. we don't know when this one will reopen. france has been put on the highest level of alert, and the government says that security will now be stepped up at christmas markets across the country. damian grammaticas, bbc news, strasbourg. more from westminster and of course theresa may is surviving that

no—confidence vote earlier today. i spoke to james brokenshire, the communities secretary in theresa may's government, he is a supporter of the prime minister and he also voted remain in the eu referendum. he gave me his reaction to today's like. tonight it is incumbent on the prime minister to move forward with the vote of confidence behind her so she can go to our european partners to seek the further assurances and clarifications so we're able to get that deal through parliament behind us, to get the vote we need and therefore to deliver on this brexit dealfor the therefore to deliver on this brexit deal for the country and allow us and then to focus on the other priorities of schools, of hospitals, of homes and in the, which is what my brief is, and what people want to see us my brief is, and what people want to see us deliver on. we can't quite talk about thatjust yet of course because everyone is taking here in the last few hours, and let's have that conversation

because she didn't get a resounding vote of no—confidence. it's still a divided party. how significant is it that 117 mp5 divided party. how significant is it that 117 mps voted against her? there's been a clear showing support for the prime minister tonight but a significant number of people have not voted for the prime minister. we know we need to redouble our thirds in working with colleagues, as the prime minister underlined tonight, on the need to listen, to act and to respond to a number of these concerns over, for example, these concerns over, for example, the insurance policy on the open border between northern ireland and ireland, which obviously has raised a number of issues of concern. we need to deal with that, respond to that as well as working with our collea g u es that as well as working with our colleagues on the dup on that too. you were privy to the conversations being had before the vote was cast, from the prime minister herself, trying to continue to get the support she needed here so desperately this evening. there was concession is she made, saying she will not stand in the 2022 general

election, how much has that served to wea ke n election, how much has that served to weaken her position going forward ? to weaken her position going forward? the prime minister always said she will serve for as long as the party wanted, and that's something she has reaffirmed tonight, how she wanted to deliver through the next general election. how in someway is it she wanted to respond to the mistakes she felt that she made in the last general election. that was the deal, vote for me tonight and i won't be here tomorrow. it comes down to the sense of service that underpins the prime minister's credo, public service, service to party and how she will only continue for the time the party wa nts only continue for the time the party wants her to continue to serve. she underlined and reaffirmed that message that she actually gave 12 months ago too, how she wants to deliver on brexit. she wants to deliver on brexit. she wants to deliver for our country on those issues and a country that works for everyone, as she'd said in downing street tonight. the vote now allows her to do that and it allows her to

move forward with the assurances required from our european partners, also the domestic agenda, and continuing to serve for as long as the party wants. how do you feel about the conservative party... you have been watching newsday. i'm rico hizon in singapore. i'm babita sharma here at westminster. a reminder of our main news. theresa may has survived a vote of no—confidence on wednesday evening. 200 voted in favour of her against 117 that voted against her. she survived to fight on another day as she now heads to brussels to try to negotiate her brexit deal. more to come here on bbc world news. stay with us. hello. a definite chill in the air over the next couple of days. not

only will be aired the cold, there will be strong winds to contend with which will exacerbate the cheerleader galea head. dry almost but not quite fall. a frontal system lingering in western areas bringing outbreaks of rain. that front making very little progress because it's running up against this big block of high pressure and squeezed between the two will be driving a brisk south—easterly wind across the country. it will not feel warm by any country. it will not feel warm by a ny stretch country. it will not feel warm by any stretch of the imagination. we're starting off thursday on a largely dry note. a fair amount of cloud around and a few showers peppering north sea coasts. and our weather front bringing cloud with patchy rain for northern ireland, far south—west of wales, the far south—west of england. elsewhere, we'll develop long spells of sunshine, however we will have the wind to contend with, particularly gusty for some west western coastal areas and. put a thermometer outside, it might say five, seven degrees but factor in the wind chill

and it will feel more like —1 for the channel islands, freezing for birmingham, one degree in glasgow. a very chilly feeling day leading into a pretty chilly night thursday night into friday. more in the way of clear, starry skies in and the winds easing a little allowing temperatures to drop, especially scotland, england and wales and you can see the blue shading on the temperature chart, towns and cities getting down to freezing why touch below, colder than that in the countryside. in northern ireland, more cloud, patchy rain. this old weather front still lingering here as we go through friday. elsewhere, as we go through friday. elsewhere, a decent amount of sunshine. still the potential for one or two showers blowing into north sea coasts. these numbers don't look particularly impressive, three, four, five, but by friday the winds don't feel as strong so it might feel a bit less bitter. as we head towards the weekend, a change because these frontal systems here will have a bit more impetus about them. they'll

make more progress, bringing wet weather across the country but that rain running into cold air. just about wherever you are there could be for a time a little bit of snow. over high ground in northern ireland, northern england and especially scotland, there's the potential for fairly widespread and potentially destructive snow. we'll have to keep you posted on that one. mile there will waft in from the south—west all the time so wintry weather will slowly back to wet weather will slowly back to wet weather and eventually all of us will get into the milder air on sunday and monday but there will still be wind and rain at times. i'm mike embley with bbc news. our top story: thersea may has survived a no confidence vote from her own party. mps backed her by 200 votes to 117 in a secret ballot. mrs may said it was time to get on with the job of securing the brexit, that the british people had voted for in the referendum two years ago. she said she would seek further assurances from european leaders. donald trump's former lawyer gets three years in jail

for paying off two women who said they'd had affairs with the president. michael cohen also admitted to lying to congress about a proposed trump tower project in russia. now, this video is trending on bbc.com. french police have launched a manhunt for the suspect in the deadly strasbourg christmas market attack. there are reports the gunman may have crossed the border into germany, where security forces are also on alert. do stay with bbc world news.