this is a bbc news with rebecca jones. they headline's: theresa may theresa may prepares to go asks the eu for more time and asked back to the eu to ask the commission president to lay out for brexit to be delayed. the commission president to lay out the government's planet to delay she's likely to ask for a short postponement until the end ofjune — brexit. brussel says the uk needs to but with the option of a longer delay. the eu's negotiator move quickly. extending uncertainty sounds unimpressed. without a clear plan can translation: both short and long? well, it's either one or the other, isn't it? but the real question is, what is the real purpose of it? the prime minister will try to get agreement from eu leaders on thursday. as the law stands now, there are ten days until we leave the eu — with or without a deal. also tonight... the cyclone in western africa — the un says it could be the worst weather disaster to hit the southern hemisphere. as—salaam alaikum. peace be upon you. and peace be upon all of us. after 50 people were killed at mosques last friday,

the prime minister of new zealand vows never to use the gunman‘s name. we're told to start using less water now, with a warning england could run out in 25 years. and what's in a name? team sky becomes team ineos as it gears up for this year's competitions. and coming up on bbc news... a testy situation. cricket shirts with names and numbers. sounds simple, but it's causing a stir. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. theresa may is preparing to ask the eu to postpone brexit, with cabinet sources suggesting she will present two possibilities — a short delay to the end ofjune, with another option

of a longer delay. but today the eu's chief brexit negotiator, michel barnier, said the uk will need to be clear about the reasons behind any extension. and any delay will need to be agreed by eu leaders — they will meet mrs may at a summit in brussels on thursday. here's our political editor, laura kuenssberg. coffee, tea 7 something coffee, tea? something stronger might have been required at number ten last night. how do you explain to the public what you did? it's a very impressive hat you are wearing. after the speaker said yesterday the government can't have another vote on its brexit deal right now. careful, the car is coming... that wasn't at all whatjohn bercow wa nted wasn't at all whatjohn bercow wanted to talk about this morning. lots of people are annoyed to the situation. using a rule from the

17th century to block the possibility of another vote. 17th century to block the possibility of another votei 17th century to block the possibility of another vote. i wish you a good day, thank you. shockingly, this is a call out often around here these days, but in government where there has long been simmering frustration with the speaker, the search is on to find a way of keeping the prime minister's deal alive. will brexit ever happen? absolutely. ministers were told by the cat speaker they can just keep going. —— they can't. have another third go at getting theresa may's compromise through the commons u nless compromise through the commons unless it changes. the rule yesterday raises the bar and we need to see what is different as we approach the next vote and if members of parliament themselves are changing their vote, that does suggest circumstances have changed. but the palaver over the process, what one cabinet minister said was pantomime, is not the big problem

here? are you still persuadable? still getting enough tories on board to back a version of the prime minister's deal. many of those who are holding out, like borisjohnson, we re are holding out, like borisjohnson, were tight—lipped today. and the prime minister's northern irish allies, who might unlock a lot of votes, a re not allies, who might unlock a lot of votes, are not budging. we don't wa nt votes, are not budging. we don't want to see any more uncertainty than absolutely necessary. there is an opportunity over the next number of days for the prime minister to go to europe and say the speaker's ruling makes it imperative we have some change to the current agreement white don't hold out for that happening, at least not fast. after a fraught cabinet meeting this morning, theresa may's writing to her counterparts on the continent asking for a pause. white might after this morning's meeting it is understood she will say we should delay until the end ofjune. but with an option to go further if needs be. downing street says there has been no final decision but it seems the cabinet cannot yet agree.

people have different approaches to how we should do this. but we are all how we should do this. but we are a ll clear how we should do this. but we are all clear that we want to get it done as soon as we possibly can. maybe that is a forlorn hope now. what i am trying to do is reach out all across the house for an alternative because clearly, her proposals do not enjoy a majority in the house stoplight and whatever the premise to ask for... the house stoplight and whatever the premise to ask for. .. translation: in truth it is not up to her. tsar it will be for the 27 leaders, brussels, the reason and usefulness foran brussels, the reason and usefulness for an extension. the eu leaders will need a concrete plan for the uk. white a plan? there are plenty of them around here. but one that will work and last? don't so sure. our europe editor, katya adler, joins us now from brussels. thursday is a crunch time for

theresa as getting an agreement for eu leaders for an extension long or short. is she likely to get it? well, i think she will get an extension, but this is not going to be easy. a cacophony is how insiders described the difference of views between eu leaders at the moment when it comes to an extension. first, they are waiting for the letter from the prime minister. first, they are waiting for the letterfrom the prime minister. how long does she want the extension for and for what reason is? because the eu has long said in order to have a more lengthy delay, they say there have to be significant political reasons. so a general election or a referendum for example. right now, there is so little trust in the prime minister here in the eu that there are leaders who say they want to see proof from parliament that they would support a longer extension before they in the eu sign up extension before they in the eu sign up to it. there is also a lot of grumpiness amongst eu leaders at the brexit process, confusion about what

is going at westminster, and irritation that mps seem to be inward looking, they are not taking into the —— into account the cost during the eu of a lengthy delay. one of the negotiator said, what about the cost to citizens' rights, security for our business is? what does it mean for international investment with most of the eu is worried about that. but at the end of the day, eu leaders will want to avoid a no—deal brexit and the inevitable blame game that follows, soi inevitable blame game that follows, so i think they will grant the extension but it may not be their final word this week. the prime minister might have to wait until next week and whisper it quietly. there is even talk in eu circles of a possible eu leaders' summit next week on the 28th of march. thank you. the un says cyclone idai could be one of the worst weather related disasters to hit the southern hemisphere. according to the president of mozambique, which was worst hit, the death toll could rise to a thousand. it's thought a 30—mile stretch

of land is under water, after the river buzi burst its banks. the storm made landfall near the port city of beira, north of the capital, with winds of over 100mph. it then moved inland, carrying the floodwaters with it to malawi and zimbabwe, from where shingai nyoka reports. the cyclone has carved out a whole new landscape. rivers and waterfalls now flow where generations have lived. communities are separated and in need of help. the weak, the old, women with children on their backs, have trekked for hours through mud to get to safety. this makeshift centre has only the basics. food, shelter, a few medicines for the injured. we've heard harrowing stories. some rescuers have told me of homes and also bodies being washed away in the rivers below, washed away to mozambique, which is behind this mountain range. gone, never to come back again.

the trauma of the last few days is written on most faces here. many homes collapsed as people slept. sarah managed to escape. herjob as a survivor has been to bury the dead. translation: most of the bodies were badly decomposed. we weren't able to move them, and we had to bury them in pairs because we didn't have enough coffins. yesterday we buried 70 people. others are making their way back through the treacherous roads to search for their loved ones. kuru's uncle and his wife have been missing for days. we are not confident, but we want to get information so that we can get help from other people, orfrom well—wishers. many more people remain huddled in schools and basic clinics, waiting for help. translation: my mother, my father, my two young sisters,

one of whom had just had a child, they are all dead. translation: my house was destroyed in the floods, and i was buried underneath. my daughter was with me in bed and was washed away from me. pictures are starting to emerge from neighbouring mozambique, confirmation that rescue operations are finally under way. a rescue team released this video of its members jumping into a rescue team released this video of its membersjumping into flood water to rescue a family. experts say the water has nowhere to drain. as the death toll continues to rise in both countries, zimbabwe is struggling to keep up. two countries are now united in mourning. shingai nyoka, bbc news, chimanimani. in an emotional address to the new zealand parliament, the country's prime minister, jacinda ardern, has vowed never to say the name of the gunman who killed 50 people and wounded dozens of others at two mosques in christchurch last friday. instead, she asked people

to remember the names of those whose white—macro lives were lost in the terror attack. clive myrie is in christchurch for us. clive, very strong words from the prime minister today. yes, they are strong words but frankly, the minds of many —— in the minds of many very appropriate and indicative they would say of how the prime minister has handled this whole crisis, with sensitivity and compassion. one man said to me when he saw pictures of the prime minister covering her hair with her headscarf when she was talking to some of the relatives of those who died, he burst into tears. having said that, there are concerns here about levels of racism in new zealand. also hardening political rhetoric against migrants and immigrants. let's get the latest from hywel griffith. bereft of a son, a brother, a friend. hussain al—umari's family want to celebrate his life. witnesses saw the 35—year—old confront the christchurch gunman, moments before being shot.

born in abu dhabi to a family from iraq, they say he lived and died a new zealander, and the country should honour him. that's what he did in the mosque, he sacrificed his life. he is a giver, he gave his soul. he immediately stood up and tried... tried tojump and grab the gun from him, and telling him, "what are you doing here? get out, get out!" he's a hero. at parliament, the day started with reflection, and anger against the 28—year—old australian man accused of bringing bloodshed to christchurch. he sought many things from his act of terror. but one was notoriety. and that is why you will never hear me mention his name. he is a terrorist, he is a criminal, he is an extremist. but he will, when i speak, be nameless.

some have described this terror attack as new zealand's loss of innocence. the reality is more complicated. just like any other country, there are racial tensions here. politicians have railed against immigration. prior to the attacks in 2017, new zealand's deputy prime minister described immigrants as "not people we need", blaming them for low wages and a housing shortage. according to this man, there is an undertow of racism here, which has allowed extremism to fester. it is very much present in new zealand, very deep—rooted. i mean, since i have been here for ten years, i have faced racism, getting called the n word. you don't know it unless you are a person of colour. since the attack, hussain al—umari's family say they have experienced nothing but love and support. they hope that unity lasts beyond these first difficult days. when we see the people, when we see

the community is together... it's an amazing feeling. i love it. thank you, new zealand. i love you, new zealand. like many of the victims, hussain al—umari's body will be buried in a group funeral, laid to rest alongside those he tried to protect. hywel griffith, bbc news, christchurch. the sun will be rising high above the botanical gardens here behind me and takea the botanical gardens here behind me and take a look at this, the outer perimeter wall, this blanket of flowers that has multiplied, grown and grown every single day and every morning we have been here in christchurch. and actually, the air is filled with that sweet smell of flowers, but also, of course, that smell tinged with a sourness and sadness as a result of everything that's happened. jacinda ardern will

be here in christchurch today, she is going to be speaking to some of the first responders who reacted so quickly to the tragedy at the mosques that are not too far from here. also we understand the first bodies have been returned to the families of those who died and we expect the first funerals to take place in the next few days. back to you. clive in christchurch, thank you. clive in christchurch, thank you. police in northern ireland say that two men have been arrested over the deaths of three teenagers at a st patrick's day celebration disco in cookstown on sunday. morgan barnard, lauren bullock and connor currie died after the crush outside the greenvale hotel in cookstown on sunday night. police say as many as 400 people were outside the hotel. they're examining security camera

footage and appealing for any pictures or video from the event. a week after a primary school in birmingham said it was stopping lessons about lgbt rights — the bbc has discovered four more schools in the city have stopped their classes after protests from parents. the "no outsiders" programme which tries to teach children about equality and diversity has been called inappropriate for young children by some parents. sima kotecha has more. last week, parkfield school in birmingham stopped teaching children about same—sex couples. now another four schools in the city have followed suit. this comes after weeks of protests by parents over a programme called no outsiders, in which children are taught about homosexual relationships in storybooks. but many parents, mostly of muslim faith, have objected to it, and want it scrapped. we have traditional family values, but morally we do not accept homosexuality as a valid sexual relationship to have. and it's not about being homophobic. because some people might think that's what you are. you see, that's like saying that if you don't believe in islam, you're islamophobic.

you see, we don't believe in homosexuality, but that does not make us homophobic. we respect individuals as human beings. now in a letter seen by the bbc, a trust which runs several heavily muslim populated schools in birmingham says it will stop lgbt teaching until at leastjune. it says: well, this is the school at the centre of this row. parkfield has temporarily stopped teaching no outsiders. but it says it still fully supports the programme, which it describes being about tolerance, respect and embracing differences in society. one muslim gay rights campaigner says some of the protesters are being prejudicial.

i think at the heart of this, the attitude is very much homophobic, no matter how people are packaging it, whether it's, you know, tradition, culture, religion, we can't step away from who we are. that's part of our identity. but with a religion, at least you can step away from it, and you have a choice. now the parents and the schools must decide whether they can agree on how to move forward. sima kotecha, bbc news, birmingham. the time is 18 minutes past six. our top story this evening. theresa may prepares to ask the eu for a delay to brexit ahead of her meeting with eu leaders on thursday. still to come:. a warning that england may not have enough water to meet demand within 25 years. and coming up on bbc news, a big day for callum hudson—odoi as he trains with the england senior team for the first time.

there continues to be widespread concern about the level of knife crime, as it reached a nine—year high in england and wales last year. we rarely hear from those directly involved. but noel phillips, of the bbc‘s victoria derbyshire programme, has been to meet one former drug dealer in coventry who says he has to carry a weapon to feel safe on the streets. and on the day our reporter met him, he was carrying something much larger than a knife. this is jordan, which is not his real name. he's from coventry, and he fits the basic profile of those most likely to be a victim or perpetrator of knife crime. i first started to carry a knife at the age of 15, because i felt scared. but i didn't really want to, but i just felt like i had to carry it. very rarely do we hear from those at the heart of the problem — young people likejordan who carry machetes, swords and knives on the streets. do you still carry a knife today? i still carry knives today, but i haven't got a knife on me at the minute.

i've got a bigger weapon now, because i feel more safe with it. but i don't want to carry it, i'm just scared. so you're carrying something with you right now? yeah, because i know it's bigger than a knife, so if someone... if someone backs out a knife at me, i can back out this. do you understand that by carrying a weapon like that, you could potentially hurt or kill somebody? yeah. so why do you do it? just to feel safe. if i don't have it, i won't feel safe. despite the risks associated with carrying weapons, jordan tells me self—protection is why he feels he has to be armed when on the streets. figures show nearly 700 young people were victims of knife crime here in the west midlands in 2018. so far this year in coventry, a dozen or so stabbings have been recorded. jordan's mum is worried. she tells me she has confiscated over 20 knives after searching his bags. we've protected her identity because she wants to keep her son safe.

i've searched his bag, took this, this potentially could take someone else's life. i worry every day that the worst could happen, that he could destroy someone's life. what your son is doing is essentially committing a criminal offence, and you should report him to the police each time he decides to carry a knife. why have you not done that? he's defending himself. he's carrying a knife not to use it, he's just carrying a knife to stop people from using one on him. yeah, very worried about my safety every day. last year, three people died having been stabbed in coventry. i'm very desperate to get out, because i don't want to end up dead as well, because it can happen to anyone. i will buy him a stab—proof vest and hopefully that will stop him, reduce him from carrying weapons. a stab—proof vest is nowjordan‘s lifeline to protect him. in the meantime, the authorities will continue to search for solutions to prevent more young people dying. noel phillips, bbc news, coventry.

the number of employed people in the uk has risen again, to a new record. the employment rate, the percentage of those in work, is the highest since records began in 1971. our economics correspondent andy verity is in central london and has been looking through the numbers. andy. iam in i am in front of a construction site here in london, just the sort of place, an industry where there is a skills shortage, so they have to pay well to attract and keep the staff they need, pay rises are up on average 3.4%, and that is partly because unemployment is so low. they have to pay more because they are competing for workers. unemployment is 3.9%, the lowest it has been since 1975. it is a record workforce, the number of jobs since 1975. it is a record workforce, the number ofjobs grew by 220,000, twice as much as affected. how do you square that with all this talk of a brexit induce to slow down? economic growth

was up by just induce to slow down? economic growth was up byjust o.2% induce to slow down? economic growth was up byjust 0.2% in the same time. part of the answer is the fact that although more of us are working, we are not doing as much, we are not as productive as we were the year before. another reason may be that firms who have expanding order books are anxious not to invest in case they blow that money down the line when there is not enough demand. instead it is less risky to take people on and let them go if you need to later on. andy verity, thank you. within 25 years, england will not have enough water to meet demand. that's the stark warning today from the head of the environment agency. the impact of climate change, combined with population growth, means the country is facing an "existential threat" says sirjames bevan. he's calling on people to cut how much water they use, as danny savage now reports. oh, look there's one even... even worse further up. after the last few days in northern england, many people will be surprised to hear that there could be a water supply crisis in years to come. but remember what it was like last summer. this was one reservoir near bolton.

but an awful lot of precipitation is needed if these reservoirs are to be replenished. eight months on, and things certainly look very different. i couldn't stand now where i was then. but the environment agency says that regular cycle of supplies running down during the summer months and then being replenished by winter rain is something that won't meet our future needs. the suggestion is that we are going to have to drastically change our attitude towards using water. what are customers doing differently? so, we are selling far more shower enclosures than we are baths. people are changing their bathing habits these days. they tend to shower rather than filling about. it appears we are concerned about water if it costs us. a lot of people are on water meters now as well, so they are very much

more aware of how much water they're using, because their bill goes up every month. the environment agency say these are some of the things we can all do to save water. take short showers, not deep baths. get a water efficient washing machine. turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, and when it gets hot, don't water your lawn. it will survive. so what do the people living near the brimming reservoirs think of those ideas? we've got so much water around. and they're telling us to cut down on it and there's not going to be any. and there's plenty of it around, so, yeah. do you think there will always be plenty of water in north—west england? i think so, yeah. we've got plenty of it. well, i think unfortunately, whether we like it or not, it's something we're going to have to get used to. obviously there's lots of water around here, but nationally, we can't actually use as much as we do at the moment. part of today's appeal is based on the belief that we will get more summers like last year. that certainly would put supplies under pressure. danny savage, bbc news, lancashire. team sky have officially become team ineos to reflect their new sponsor,

a chemicals firm owned by britain's cyclists will continue to ride under the team sky banner until may, when their new name will be launched at the tour de yorkshire. our sports editor dan roan is at the national cycling centre in manchester for us. dan, should we expect anything different from team ineos? what the new team owner, sirjim ratcliffe, will want to see is a continuation of this era of unprecedented success, we have won the tour de france six of the last seven the tour de france six of the last seve n yea rs the tour de france six of the last seven years with three different riders, and that has contributed to the upsurge in popularity of the sport, and we have the likes of chris froome and geraint thomas who will be staying together as the team. perhaps what they will want to see less of is the controversy that has shadowed the team. only 12 months ago, mps said that team sky had crossed a line of medical exemptions and banned substances, something they denied. just write

that controversy, sirjim ratcliffe was tempted to come along a saviour, he already invest in sailing and football, but some will worry about sky's financial domination of the sport, and others will look at petrochemical giant ineos. friends of the earth said it was a planet wrecker and worry that they are using cycling to try to furnish the company's image. nonetheless, the tea m company's image. nonetheless, the team at sky's headquarters will be relieved. let's have a look at the weather with matt. it is the spring equinox tomorrow, and high pressure is building. we are going to be dragging some very mild airupfrom are going to be dragging some very mild air up from the mid—atlantic. look at tomorrow afternoon's temperatures, 16, 17 possible. we we re temperatures, 16, 17 possible. we were in the teens today, 15 degrees with northern ireland even with grey skies, so imagine what some sunshine will do tomorrow. the cloud sitting

in place for many tonight, a few brea ks in place for many tonight, a few breaks coming and going, but across parts of the central and southern scotland, the cloud thick enough for drizzle at times. for the start of your morning commute tomorrow, somewhere around six to 9 degrees for most people. a little grey at first in the north, patchy rain or drizzle, some heavy outbursts working their way northwards, and then a few showers will develop across the northern half of the uk, but still a lot of dry weather. increasing amounts of sunshine through the afternoon, north—eastern parts of scotland down through eastern england and the north—east of wales most likely to see the bra kes of wales most likely to see the brakes on the highest of the temperatures. it stays mild into thursday, but it will be a bit wetter across the northern half of scotland, turning increasingly breezy particularly around the highlands and hebrides. many other areas will be dry, thursday little more cloudy compared to tomorrow, so not as warm. and then for friday, a

big area of low pressure to the north, wet weather coming southwards, so into the weekend, after a cloudy day on friday, saturday and the weekend a little bit cooler, but a lot more sunshine. that's all from the bbc news at six, so it's goodbye from me, and on bbc one we nowjoin the bbc‘s news teams where you are.