i'm kasia madera in london — the headlines: donald tusk confirms there will be another delay to brexit until the end of october — we'll be live in brussels with the latest. for all of us i hope that we can resolve this before october the sist. resolve this before october the 31st. but at least by october the sist. the british pm will now hear the terms set by the eu — but will it be enough to calm her critics back home? we will be live in brussels with the very latest. the world's biggest election is set to begin in india with nearly 900 million people expected to vote.

and the first ever photograph of a black hole — it's three million times the size of earth — scientists are astonished. this is bbc world news. it is newsday. welcome to the programme. eu leaders have agreed to grant the british prime minister's request for a second delay to brexit. theresa may is discussing the details now. she is making those right now. they were do to leave on friday but it is not that a delay has been agreed until october the sist. -- has been agreed until october the 31st. —— the has been agreed until october the sist. -- the uk has been agreed until october the 31st. —— the uk were due to leave on friday. the maltese prime minister said the deadline it was a sensible

option, some of the reaction coming through what's up mrs mae had hoped to secure a shorter postponement as she tries to win parliamentary support. —— a mrs may. we are waiting at the moment to hear some of the press conferences that will be taking place shortly, we believe that there has been so many discussions going on in at the moment, theresa may is still negotiating some of the smaller aspects of this delay. christian fraser has spent the whole day in brussels monitoring all of this. he spoke to mairead mcguiness, the vice president of the european parliament about the extension a lot of us that this will go into the night and it has not. that is good news the leaders were able to come to a decision about an extension. in a way, it is some way in the middle between those who wish for longer extensions, it is also an art to the prime minister who wanted

to the 30th, so we have that day in the actual text, we do not know the conditions yet. it is too early to get a full assessment but we did expect the leaders would grant an extension, some wanted a longer period, we now know it is to the end of october, i think the leaders would have been focusing on what was best for the european union. clearly the prime minister has our own concerns and she brought those to the table. i dare say there was a lot of focus on what she said about the talks with the labour party. i was listening to some of the broadcast this evening and it didn't sound very hopeful about those talks come into a good conclusion, but one hopes that that will change. anyway, the end ofjune deadline i think should focus the mind in the house of commons, because ideally, we would like to see some endgame here comes some certainty, i think both here in the european parliament where i still am at one o'clock in the morning, and within the commission and the council, we do

need to move away from brexit talk because it is morning, noon and night. it is a big issue it has to be dealt but will have other things that are equally serious and that need to be dealt with. the leaders will be wanting to give a message that they wanted to move and they wa nt that they wanted to move and they want a deal with this difficult issue a brexit, but we do need to get on with our business here and i think that would've been a top priority. also taking into account the parliamentary elections. it seems to me now the united kingdom will be taking part in those elections. will be also nominated a new commission at the end of this year. it will be interesting to see how that time my works out. that's how that time my works out. that's how that time my works out. that's how that timeline works out. i think we will have to sleep on the decision, wake up in the morning and look of the complications because it will be some. and see how this will eventually work through in terms of trying to get a conclusion to brexit. at least to the divorce settlement. that is only the beginning. we then have to talk

about the future. antonio, the president of the european parliament spoke before teresa made her night. he addressed the 28, he has some fairly strong words. this is messy for the european parliament. fairly strong words. this is messy forthe european parliament. —— theresa may. if the uk government will take the country towards these european elections. then the cut off injune, it seems theresa may european elections. then the cut off in june, it seems theresa may would very much like to be out of europe by the end ofjune. what happens? there will be meps elected but they will not take their seats. whatever happens, that could be a scenario and very bizarre. for people to put and very bizarre. for people to put an effort into a campaign, and then you may be to be frustrated and not actually sit in the european parliament, i don't know how that will work out in british politics. i think the parties are already preparing candidate list and i know collea g u es preparing candidate list and i know colleagues here are expected to run again. but remember, the implications for other member states. let's take ireland for

example. we had legally here, redistributed some of the seats the united kingdom colleagues were leaving. they were to get two extra seats. we have constituencies in new boundaries, i don't know what the implications of this decision will be for elections in my own country. and i'm going back there tomorrow morning. you look at it from the uk eyes, i look at herfrom perhaps with both sets of eyes. —— look at it from. which ever way, it is a mess. it has been a mess since before the referendum was called and i hope that we can move on under other european issues and we can see some way where the united kingdom and the house of commons can come to and the house of commons can come to a consensus around the sort of a brexit or any brexit that they intend to deliver.

at the moment, as it stands, we are still waiting for some press conferences, we are expecting donald tusk and also hopefully theresa may to come out and tell us more i brought the extension, as we said, we have had the extension about brexit now to the 31st of october. with a review injune, arguably, theresa may had always asked for the 30th of june theresa may had always asked for the 30th ofjune for this extension to be extended to. in theory, she has a little bit of what she wanted to, but there was a lot of concern on mike's member states and a member states and leaders saying they wa nted states and leaders saying they wanted a longer extensions. —— concern amongst member states. we had a situation where we had earlier on, 17 eu leaders at a bit of a deadlock, they went to a longer delay, with others wanting a show delay. a lot of discussion what i

mega macron have wanted. —— they wa nted mega macron have wanted. —— they wanted a longer delay. —— what emmanuel macron wanted. he was adamant about a shorter delay, but as we have it, we have a pledge to the 31st. —— a four inch. that will be reviewed in june, the 31st. —— a four inch. that will be reviewed injune, and the ist of november. —— a marriage. the new commission will sit down. that is why the 31st of october has been chosen. kathy adler has been speaking to christian fraser a little bit earlier. let's have a little bit earlier. let's have a little listen to her thoughts. they can say this is that last offer. i suppose because what it would affect is whether there is a uk commissioner. so if there is a chance to extend again, the same thing with the european and parliamentary elections. do they ta ke

parliamentary elections. do they take part or not. if there is a likelihood of being in the eu passed the 23rd of may, that is why the uk has to take part. if the extension could be extended further past the sist could be extended further past the 315t of october, the uk really would need to commission that which is... the remainers will be desperate to keep all these different legs of european power because as long as you still have them, you still have that option. the uk will have meps. this is the thing that michelle barnier was wanting a long side. —— michelle barnier. —— was warning again. he said once the uk has elected new meps, said once the uk has elected new meps, who sit in the european parliament, they hold office for five years. as long as they are there, we can keep extending and extending and extending. he did not need a commissioner to do that. you'll have your seat in the parliament. we could be here repeatedly for many years to come.

but a lot of the latest it to be that way, theresa may will be saying we have this extension, but i'm convinced we won't. —— but a lot of leaders were not want it that way. i'm sure she will say that. 31st of october is that in a special state. halloween. i will be coming with a broomstick. and a pointy hat. halloween. i will be coming with a broomstick. and a pointy hati halloween. i will be coming with a broomstick. and a pointy hat. i will come with a cackle. we'll be doing horribly brisk style. presumably, the pressure, they will find some way to put some pressure on the uk. —— we will be doing hollow lean brexit style. 2—party negotiations continuing aimlessly without some sort of ndi. that is what the due date is for. --, we need. an attempt to apply some pressure. but if it is some superficial review thing, it doesn't really apply any pressure at all. also the eu can interfere in the uk domestic affairs. this is

often been the who have wanted to leave the european you get up because brussels interfered, certain parts of life that it does dictate. not actually brussels, it is all the eu leaders that come to a decision about certain aspects of life in the european union. but in this case, this is the uk. they decide if there is cross party talks in the uk to size when those talks in. nothing eu leaders can do about that. also very careful, they don't want to be seen to be exerting that kind of pressure when frankly it is none of their business. they then don't want to get any of the blame of it. this will be their offer to the prime minister. but all 28 countries have to agree to it. by the way, that also means all 28 countries have to agree if this is terminated before the end of it. it is not if the eu now can kick out the uk halfway through this extension, if they don't like this are that, theresa

may, the prime minister, will have to sign up to that. if there was a ratification, they found some way to get it through the parliament, the fa ct get it through the parliament, the fact that europe is taking a breather from five months, fact that europe is taking a breatherfrom five months, that would hold up the process. you wouldn't be waiting until the commission plays in the meps come back. you can crack on with it in mayjune and be out byjune the 30th. yes. as august the uk is an, has the right to take part in those decisions like collecting the new chief of the european commission. that is what emmanuel macron wants to avoid. he worries about that. the eu budget needs approval. concern amongst the member states what happens if the uk decides not to play nice. in the prime minister after theresa may he wants to obstruct the workings of the eu. the extreme concerns of obstruct the workings of the eu. the extreme concerns of monks the leaders. but they have worked that

out amongst themselves. they can informally make these decisions and if the uk refuses to ratify them, they can ratify them after the uk has the fossil —— after the uk has left most of the assumption is why when the uk behave some way. just a precautionary measure. but i will be interesting to see when we actually black and white see what sort of safeguard measures they put in place. what they actually agreed on as this is our extension under these addition. i will be interested to see what they see as a good behaviour clause for the uk. katya adler there. the good behaviour class yesterday the erg research group were saying one of the members they uk if they continue to be within the eu could be a trojan horse. —— the good behaviour class. a lot of concern now. some

breaking news coming in from the afp news agency, this is a quote from donald tusk and which he says that brent tenant's theresa may accepts the brexit delays. —— in british's theresa may. at the moment, donald tuskis theresa may. at the moment, donald tusk is saying theresa may has accepted that delay to the 31st. so thatis accepted that delay to the 31st. so that is just confirmation there after the round and remaining eu 27 leaders sat down together to discuss this request for an extension. donald tusk then met up with a theresa may to go through some of those conditions and we heard them talking about this earlier. this behavioural clause and after that, we had a little bit of an extension come expecting a press conference, a lot sooner, but there was an extension because there were a few

issues that theresa may had with some of the small issues with the details of extension but now we are hearing from donald tusk according to the afp news agency that theresa may has accepted that delay, and the suggestion is that there will be a review in june. if suggestion is that there will be a review injune. if you remember, she had admitted to the eu requesting a delay to the 30th ofjune, so in june at some point, there will be a review to see whether depth in and see how the uk is doing with the agreement with theresa may's withdrawal agreement, these are life pictures now where we are seeing donald tusk, juncker, expecting them to speak about this, it has been a long night, and a long night there, it is local time quarter past two in the morning, we are hoping to hear a few words from them just to remind you, donna tuck saying that theresa

may has accepted that. —— donald tusk. that delayed to october now, before the new commission. christian fraser has had a long night. we are watching donald tusk arrive, i am expecting that we are expecting to hear from them imminently. yes. there will be speaking in the next minute or so. theyjust walked into the room behind me. while we are looking for in the conditions attached to this extension, donald tusk has been talking to theresa may over the last hour. we understand she has accepted the terms. let's listen in. welcome to the press co nfe re nce listen in. welcome to the press conference following a special meeting of the european council. without further ado, the president of the european council, donald tusk. thank you. if the president,

friends, tonight, the european council decided to grant the united kingdom a flexible extension of the article for the period under the sist article for the period under the 31st of october. this means an additional six months for the uk. during this time, the call for action will be entirely in the uk's hands. they can still ratify the agreements, in which case the extension will be terminated. it can also reconsider the whole brother strategy. that might lead to changes in the politics. —— brexit tragedy. but not in the withdrawal agreement. until the end of this period, the uk will also have the possibility to report article 50 and cancel brexit altogether. they will continue to

co—operate in a full member state with all of its rights and as a close friend and trusted ally in the future. let me finish with a message to our british friends. this extension is as flexible as i expected, and a little bit shorter than i expected, but it is still enough to find the best possible solution. please do not waste this time. thank you. thank you. now presidentjuncker. time. thank you. thank you. now president juncker. bonjour.

speaking french. you are watching a press conference between donald tusk and the leigh present the letter printed one. we arejust present the letter printed one. we are just waiting present the letter printed one. we arejust waiting for some translation. just to sum out what donald tusk said, the extension shorter than he expected. —— presidentjuncker. a halfway house really between the french and german sites. do not waste this time he said to the uk. let's have a listen to presidentjuncker.

translation: i propose to my collea g u es translation: i propose to my colleagues that the euro group be set up, there was great reluctance, the uk, denmark, sweden, but we did this because we felt those who needed to manage the single currency together she had to be able to speak amongst themselves, while obviously ensuring proper continuity with the work of the council of ministers. the ministers of finance at the time. that is basically what we have done today. we have recalled to our british colleagues that there should be the principle of sincere cooperation between all member states. and we are convinced that the united kingdom will respect his obligation. then in june, the united kingdom will respect his obligation. then injune, when we meet again, we will not be renegotiating amongst ourselves or with the uk. the agreement that was reached months ago, because the

withdrawal agreement must be respected in its entirety. we do not wa nt respected in its entirety. we do not want the withdrawal agreement to be called into question because that would jeopardise the backstop agreement that we have negotiated with our irish friends. and i'm sure our irish friends are confident to see their wishes and concerns have been taken into account by their friends and the european union. that will probably be european election in the united kingdom now. that may seem a bit odd, but rules are rules. and we must respect european law. and we must respect european law. and then we will see what happens. i do rather regret the fact that we only talk about brexit. i read the european impressed this morning,

brexit, brexit, brexit. —— european depressed. president tusk and i reached an agreement that nobody expected, which china come and get there was hardly anything about that in the international press. —— with china, which nobody expected in we heard hardly anything. after all, they report well on things. which of course it from outside the european union. speaking french did report on historic agreement. —— im proves we improves we are overfocus on matters relating to brexit. and insufficiently focus on other

matters that we work on. so i am very happy that an agreement has been reached amongst the 27. it was essential to demonstrate that the 27 stand united. an action and october we will see what happened. too long ofa we will see what happened. too long of a meeting. thank you. the floor is now open for your questions. gentlemen to our right. thank you. chris morris, bbc news. you said the extension of the little shorter than you expected. it for your perspective in some ways the worst of both worlds, not short enough to really put on the pressure in the uk parliament to get a deal passed quickly, but not long enough to allow you to set aside to brexit to focus and other things for any useful period of time and secondly,

as you know, article 50 says nothing or rule out multiple extensions. is there anything in their language agreed today which says october the sist agreed today which says october the 31st is the final deadline? or is it possible come mid to late october we will once again to be having a summer like this and work got how much longer we will have? —— having a summer like this. it is always better to have a piece of something than all of nothing. which means that in six months, more than six much, and almost three weeks, it could be enough for a good solution, if there is goodwill, and a majority for some solutions. in the house of commons. if you know, not only the

discussion, but the preparations show that this idea of flexible extension was not so obvious for some of our partners, this is why i think we have to be may be not happy, but satisfied by the solution. our intention is to finalise the whole process in october. but the political intention was clear among the member states that are wish and our hope is that the uk will be ready with the final solution until the end of october. i am too old to exclude another scenario. everything is possible

still. in the second questionmaybe you can answer.m would be a disaster. we have to do everything we can to avoid that. that is what we are trying to do. we have been quite successful to now. i like the decision we have taken tonight. the end date has been fixed on the 31st of october. i have to leave my job on the 31st of october. i have to leave myjob on the ist of november this year, so my guess would be that we will have another night session because if i have to leave the meeting, i will be back. laughter

thank you. i think the gentleman to our left was next. thank you. good morning.jim our left was next. thank you. good morning. jim broughton from the financial times. if october is now the deadline, as you have said president tusk, the course of affairs is now fully in the uk possible cans between now, what is the point of this review being discussed for june? why the point of this review being discussed forjune? why are we having this and what can take place on that occasion if everything is now in london and the possible cans? —— in a london's hands. now in london and the possible cans? -- in a london's hands. they should be clear, this assessment and review injune asked be clear, this assessment and review in june asked only be clear, this assessment and review injune asked only to be clear, this assessment and review in june asked only to update be clear, this assessment and review injune asked only to update on the progress when it comes to ratification and the legal process in the uk. june is not for decisions about extension or, my attention is

not even to discuss, but to inform the member states about the situation. —— my intention is not to even discuss. in june, situation. —— my intention is not to even discuss. injune, we are situation. —— my intention is not to even discuss. in june, we are taking stock of what has happened from now, till then. it is not the negotiation session. it is not a time in which we would insert into normal programmes as far as our normal things. we didn't have the intention to negotiate. the vital moment of decision is october. injune that we are taking stock and preparing the meeting. june is not a cliff edge. it must be clear. thank you. we will

ta ke it must be clear. thank you. we will take one more question. gentlemen in the middle. from bloomberg news. can i ask you to elaborate on paragraph seven and eight of the decision today, what do you expect from the uk and mean by the corporation? do you expect them to not participate in the votes for high 11 appointments in june and in the votes for high 11 appointments injune and what is do you expect? the second question, if i may, given the difference today over the length of extension, would you insist that you bulimic unity of the 27 still holds or france go rogue today? —— insist that the unity. sincere cooperation mean sincere cooperation. we have only good expenses with theresa may possibly government when it comes to

the loyalty their rules and principles. —— good experiences with theresa may's government. there is no kind of intention to establish a new format for member states and article 50 and the united kingdom will remain during the whole process a full memberof will remain during the whole process a full member of the your panic again. with all other obligations and the rights and the voting rights. —— a full member of the european union. our intention was to have some political government this integration that the uk will not use any kind of political vikings