this is bbc news, the headlines: eu leaders have agreed an extension to brexit until the end of october at an emergency summit in brussels. welcome to bbc news, donald tusk urged the uk not broadcasting to viewers in north america to waste any more time. and around the globe. theresa may said she was determined my name is mike embley. our top stories: to deliver on the result of the referendum as donald tusk confirms there will be another delay to brexit quickly as possible. until the end of october — voting is taking place but there's still widespread in the first stage of the indian frustration. general election — the biggest democratic poll ever held. an estimated 900 million people are eligible to vote. the first week's polling will take place in 20 states please do not waste this time. across the country. astronomers have taken the first ever image the british pm remains defiant, but has she done enough of a black hole. it measures a0 billion to calm her critics back home? kilometres across — three million times the size of the earth. scientists are calling it an ‘absolute monster‘ — larger that the size of our entire solar system. we have a duty as politicians to it was photographed by a network of eight telescopes across the world. fill the democratic decision of the referendum. deliver brexit and move oui’ referendum. deliver brexit and move our country forward. nothing is more pressing on more vital.

the uk and the european union have agreed to delay brexit until the thirty first of october. speaking after hours of talks at an emergency summit in brussels, the president of the european council, donald tusk, described the extension as flexible. he urged the uk not to waste any more time, and said the course of action was entirely in its hands. britain will remain a full member state of the eu for now, with the option of cancelling brexit altogether. the irish prime minister, leo varadkar, said it also meant the uk would have to take part in european elections next month, or leave the bloc without a deal injune. christian fraser is at the summit and joins me now. one big question, what exactly is this extension going to before?m

the words of donald was, it needs to be used wisely. there's not much confidence in the political process in westminster but at least theresa may has a process this evening. she spoke to the leaders forjust over an hour about performance, a better performance than the one she put on at the summit. plenty of questions for the 27 other european leaders, in fact they were locked in discussions for some nine hours. that was because there was a disagreement between the german and the french camps in particular on how long the extension should be. the german chancellor had said that it should be as short as possible but long enough for people to take a breather. and to take away some of the anxiety that surrounded exit and in their view, that should have taken brexit to the end of the year. the french, of course, looking at eu reforms, the french president wants to get on with all that business of

reforming the european union they are looking at a shorter extension. it took some time to come to the conclusion of what was a fudge. this ta kes conclusion of what was a fudge. this takes us to october 31, there's going to be a review injune but that won't be a cliff edge. it's an opportunity to take stock of where the uk site has got to. for theresa may it is political difficult to sell because she told the house of commons that she did not want to delay brexit be on the 30th ofjune. now she has missed another deadline, uk should have been leaving the european union on friday. then there was may 22, then there wasjune 30, 110w was may 22, then there wasjune 30, now we're looking at october 31. as the much confidence? no, not within oui’ the much confidence? no, not within our own party. theresa may said that the uk could be out of the european union byjune the first. if it got on with rectifying the deal. good morning everybody, ijust met with the president of the european council where i agreed an extension

to the brexit process to the end of october. i continue to believe we need to leave the eu with the deal as sooi'i need to leave the eu with the deal as 50011 as need to leave the eu with the deal as soon as possible. and vitally the eu have agreed that the extension can be terminated and the withdrawal agreement has been ratified which was my key request of my fellow leaders. for example, this means that if were able to pass a deal in the first three weeks of we will not have to take part in european elections, and will officially leave the er on saturday the first of june. during the course of the stanchion, the european council is clear that the uk will continue to hold full membership rights as well as its obligations. as i said in the i’ooiti as its obligations. as i said in the room tonight, there is a single tear of eu membership with no conditionality attached beyond existing treaty obligations. let me conclude by saying this, i know there is huge frustration from many people that i had to request this extension. the uk should have left the eu by now and i sincerely regret

the eu by now and i sincerely regret the fact that i have not yet been able to persuade parliament to approve a deal which will allow the uk to leave in a smooth and orderly way. but the choices we now face our stock and the timetable is clear. we must now press stock and the timetable is clear. we itiust i'iow press on stock and the timetable is clear. we must now press on at pace with our efforts to reach consensus on a deal thatis efforts to reach consensus on a deal that is in the national interest. tomorrow, i'll be making a statement to the house of commons, but the talks will also take place between the government and the opposition to seeka the government and the opposition to seek a way forward. i do not pretend that the next few weeks will be easy, or there is that the next few weeks will be easy, orthere is a that the next few weeks will be easy, or there is a simple way to break the deadlock in parliament that we have a duty as politicians to find a way to fulfil democratic decision of the referendum, deliver brexit and move our country forward. nothing is more pressing or more vital. she stressed in the questions at the press conference at if the uk

parliament was to ratify the deal in the next weeks that the uk could be leaving the european union by the first ofjune and not taking part in those european elections. trying to put some pressure on our those european elections. trying to put some pressure on our own backbenchers. how intra nsigent backbenchers. how intra nsigent backbenchers who refused to back the deal because of the opposition to the irish backstop which is contained within it. what you see on the deal that has been agreed tonight, but you don't see, more accurately, are the more onerous conditions the french side were trying to impose on the united kingdom. they had talked about stripping away voting rights from the uk, not allowing the uk to have a commissioner, if they stay on until october the 31st, not to be taking any decisions over the eu reform programme. but during the press c0 nfe re nce , reform programme. but during the press conference, they were adamant that while the uk remains the member of the opinion that all the conditions it is expected to abide by our pertain to the uk side but also all the voting rights and

benefits of eu membership, they remain too. they were asked a question about whether it had been a difficult night because the french digging in and calling for that short extension. tusk in his response said that it was easier to find an agreement within the european union that it is within the house of commons. tonight the european council decided to grant the european union an extension on article 50. until the 31st of october. this means an additional six months for the uk. during this time, the call will be entirely in the u.k.'s time, the call will be entirely in the u. k.'s hands. time, the call will be entirely in the u.k.'s hands. it can still ratify the argument in which case the extension will be terminated. it can also reconsider the whole brexit strategy. that might lead to changes

in the political declaration but not in the political declaration but not in the withdrawal agreement. until the end of this period, the uk will also have the possibility to revoke article 50 and cancel brexit altogether. the uk will continue its cooperation as a full member state with all its rights and is a close friend and trusted a lie 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's still enough. to find the best possible solution, please do not waste this time. we'll be back in just a moment. jean claude juncker — the president of the european

commission — explained how he thought the extension would applied and what responsibilities the uk would have. we have recalled by colleagues that there should be the principle of sincere cooperation between all members of the states. we are convinced of the united kingdom will respect its obligations. 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 and sentara two. —— its entirety. we don't want the agreement to be called into question because that would jeopardise the backstop agreement that we have negotiated with our irish friends. i'm sure our friends are comforted to see that their wishes and concerns are being taken into their wishes and concerns are being ta ken into account their wishes and concerns are being taken into account by their friends

in the european union. they will probably be an election and the united kingdom, that may seem a bit odd but rules are rules and we must respect to european law. and then we will see what happens. this very much another exercise in kicking the can down the road, it doesn't satisfy anyone but it is a compromise. this is a reason they have picked the 31st of october date, because that brings to an end the commission presidency, the new commission president will take over on november the first. the european union will be hoping that if the uk is going to go, he is out of the way by that point they can get on with electing commissioners to various posts. it won't satisfy the french side entirely because the french are

looking at some of the tweets from the eurosceptics and the uk, it has been suggested that the uk might play up, been suggested that the uk might play up, if it doesn't get its way, as far as they see it. if they are keptin as far as they see it. if they are kept in the european union against their will, maybe uk becomes a truculent member. these are the sort of questions that are put at the press co nfe re nce . of questions that are put at the press conference. we delivered the best possible compromise to preserve the unity of the 27. secondly because we addressed the request from the uk to get more time to deliver a deal on the basis of the agreement negotiated a few months ago. thanks to this agreement, we preserve the well—functioning of the european union. that is, we fix a deal at all the consequences before the first of november which will be

the first of november which will be the arrival of the new commission. the first of november which will be the arrival of the new commissionlj think the arrival of the new commission.” think there will be a sigh of relief tonight from the irish because if any country would be as badly affected, it's the uk. after an ideal brexit. the irish will have paid a dear price and we have seen in recent days the prime minister touring european capitals urging —— urging patients. there is a frustration that it suffocating the rest of the business but the president is saying that the need to get the political process time in the united kingdom. you be well satisfied tonight that at least they have six months just to take a breather and to give theresa may an opportunity to get this withdrawal agreement. from ireland's point of view it means you won't have an ideal brexit. if no deal happens at all, it won't happen until the end of october. that creates a period of

time ready for the united kingdom to essentially come across party agreement and to ratify the agreement. as ireland has done, as the european union has done won't matter for the next couple of months. an interesting conversation tonight with the german press about where the german chancellor is coming from. she said earlier today that she wanted the extension to be short as possible but long enough to ta ke short as possible but long enough to take some of the anxiety out of the process. there are the last few months of this brexit scenario, the axe that lives in the uk, the withdrawal agreement, she has really identified, this moment in history. she says this is a political anomaly and the uk and there are many of the uk that disagree with that but she says it as an aberration in british politics. it has to be allowed to

ta ke politics. it has to be allowed to take its course. if at the end of the process, they can't find a way through, a way to ratify the withdrawal agreement, then the uk government should be given time to look at alternative options. revoking article 50, calling a general election or even holding a second referendum. ithink general election or even holding a second referendum. i think she will be well satisfied that she has had the upper hand slightly on the french president and has got a longer extension that he would have granted. we have just concluded our extraordinary european council and of course we focus today on the withdrawal of great britain. we have reached agreement, the prime minister has asked for a postponement of the date of withdrawal until the 31st of june 2019. we took a closer look at matters and suggested that we rather preferred the day to be postponed to the 31st of october. what we wish to

see is an orderly withdrawal of great britain and that orderly withdrawal of great britain we believe can best be assured by granting great britain more time. we will meet again injune to review the situation and then depending on the situation and then depending on the circumstances, say where we stand but what we agreed today sat on the 31st of october we will take a look at the situation. for me, for germany, that is, it has been clear that we are strongly favour and orderly brexit not because of the demands made by great britain but we believe it to be in our very own interest. what they needed to avoid at all costs was a no—deal brexit. that would be painfulfor costs was a no—deal brexit. that would be painful for the costs was a no—deal brexit. that would be painfulfor the uk but also

the other 27 eu countries. you got a sense from angela merkel and all the leaders that there isn't much confidence in the political process in the uk at the pro at the moment. it may well be that may need to review the extension in october if there hasn't been a way to ratify there hasn't been a way to ratify the agreement. at least it does give all sides sometime and of course a very busy political calendar here in europe over the course of the next few months with the european elections, the change of the guard at the commission and a new president in place across the road. all that will take place before the leaders come back to review on october the 31st which has not been lost on many people, the same date as halloween. strong and stable, as theresa may used to say, has been replaced by smooth and orderly. there was nothing very strong about the uk position here. in fact, over the uk position here. in fact, over the course of the week, theresa may has been going around urging eu leaders to give her this extension.

tonight, she was locked outside the room. she got a chance to speak to them for one hour and then for the next seven or eight hours, 27 leaders talked amongst themselves about what they had heard but theresa may effectively sat on her hands with the fate of the uk very much in the hands of the 27 eu leaders and don't forget, it could have been one of these members who could have vetoed this extension and the uk would have been leaving on friday. in the event, that has not happened. they can, as i say, has been kicked down the road was not many will see it as a fudge but at least they can breathe a little easier tonight. least they can breathe a little easiertonight. certainly least they can breathe a little easier tonight. certainly theresa may well before she returns to those very important negotiations in london tomorrow. another country seen quite a bit of turbulence politically. the australian prime minister scott morrison has called a general election for next month. australians will vote on the 18th of may after mr morrison

visited the governor—general to officially request a dissolution of parliament. his party's conservative coalition government has been in power since 2013, but is trailing in the polls behind the opposition labor party. here's mr morrison making the announcement. earlier this morning, i visited the governor general here in canberra and he accepted my advice for an election to be held on the 18th of may. we live in the best country in the world. but to secure your future, the road ahead depends on a strong economy. and that's why there is so much at stake at this election. voting begins in just a few hours time in india's general election — the largest election the world has ever seen. around 900 million people are eligible to vote. the sheer size of the country means that voting is staged over several weeks with a final result not announced until the 23rd of may. the country's current prime minister, narendra modi, a hindu nationalist, is fighting for a second term —

he'll be judged on the country's economic and social progress. our south asia correspondent rajini vaidya nathan reports. the foundations of modern india were built on one basic principle, the right to vote. over the coming weeks, people in every corner of this land will decide on its future. we travelled deep in the himalayas to the district of kinnaur, which borders china, to meet shyam saran negi. at 102, he is india's oldest voter. to him, this election matters more than most. translation: india hasn't progressed enough. to grow, we need unity, and everyone needs equal rights. shyam saran negi's voted in every poll since this country gained independence. but this election sees india at a crossroads. like many other nations,

it's facing increasing nationalism and division. some say the very idea of india is at stake. we've come more than 1,000 miles east, from kinnaur to kolkata, from old to young. many wonder if this country's become less tolerant. these first—time voters are part of the country's growing street rap scene. with more than half of india under the age of 25, the voice of the millennial majority matters more than ever. saifullah khalid's songs focus on growing religious tensions between hindus and muslims. translation: brotherhood is disappearing. i don't want my india to become a country where people are fighting amongst each other. some blame indian prime minister narendra modi for the country's divisions.

his hindu nationalist bjp party swept to power in 2014 in a landslide victory. this election's being seen as a referendum on his time in office. his supporters say he's been a strong man who's protected india's interests home and abroad. others say the better days he promised never arrived. in the last five years, unemployment‘s risen to its highest for nearly half a century. even so, this country's advanced under prime minister modi. it's the world's fastest growing major economy, set to overtake the uk. but india is characterised by deep divides. elections are the one time the country's powerless can send a message to those in power, are they happy with the way things are going or will they vote for change? rajini vaidyanathan,

bbc news, kolkata. astronomers have taken the first ever picture of a supermassive black hole at the heart of a distant galaxy called m87. the black hole is 500—million—trillion kilometres away and was photographed by a network of eight telescopes across the world. our science correspondent, pallab ghosh, has this report. this is the nucleus of the galaxy m87 and this is the first—ever image of a black hole. is more than 3 million times the size of the earth. is being described as a monster at the heart of the galaxy. astronomers have used a global network of dishes from all across the world and link them together. no single telescope is powerful enough to see the black hole but by adding together the information from each of them, the image gradually becomes sharper until it comes into view. this is

the nucleus of the galaxy m87 and the nucleus of the galaxy m87 and the first ever image of a black hole. the image was in unveiled at a news co nfe re nce hole. the image was in unveiled at a news conference this afternoon. hole. the image was in unveiled at a news conference this afternoonm feels like we're looking at the gates of hell at the end of and time. the event arises at point of no return. that is awe—inspiring to me at least but also important for physics. like holes are objects which have such a strong gravitational pull that not even light can escape. the white ring is gas that's being superheated. it is brighter than all the billions of stars in the galaxy together. most intriguingly, the picture may reveal what happens to material that falls inside. i think that what's so exciting is that we are taking our

knowledge of black holes which is really focused on the theory, simulations, simulating how the environment of a black hole looks. now having the data and seeing this, it turns the black hole into something tangible, into something you can see. and there is so much we're going to learn from this. researchers are now planned to take a picture of another supermassive black hole. this time at the heart of our own galaxy and so learn how the milky way came into being. prince harry and us chat show host oprah winfrey are teaming up to produce an apple documentary next year aimed at raising awareness of mental health. harry has made mental health campaigning one of his priorities. he has previously revealed he had come very close to a breakdown after the death of his mother princess diana when he was 12. here's oprah talking about the series. we're doing a multipart documentary series on mental health. all of it

is in the spectrum. what is harry's involvement? hurry is co- creating an executive producing. we have had several meetings. ——we have had secret meetings in london. —— harry pulled up we have been sitting in sessions and talking about directions we will take full stop our hope is it will have an impact on reducing the stigma and allowing people to know that they are not alone and allowing people to speak up alone and allowing people to speak up about it and be able to identify it for themselves and their friends. oprah winfrey, in case you didn't know. the briton is now not leaving the eu on friday. the eu has agreed toa the eu on friday. the eu has agreed to a further delay for another six months. october 31. —— to a further delay for another six months. october31. —— briton is to a further delay for another six months. october 31. —— briton is not leaving. the uk will be taking part in the european elections. —— brittain. there was one thing

stressed by ronald tusk, please don't waste this time. — donald tusk. hello, no sign of spring warmth in the immediate forecast. the weekend is looking a bit colder. we will ta ke is looking a bit colder. we will take a look at that in just a moment. first of all, how's thursday is shaping up and talking about cold weather, a widespread frost to begin the day but a fine day ahead for most the day but a fine day ahead for m ost pla ces the day but a fine day ahead for most places with some sunny spells. high pressure is in control at the moment. that is blocking weather systems from coming away from the atlantic. also blocking milder air from coming our way as well because the flow of air around the high—pressure is bringing in this chilly breeze from the east and the chilly air with blue showing up as thursday begins, so widespread frost away

from northern scotland and along north sea coasts. either the breeze or more cloud will hold temperatures just above freezing but there will be a good deal of sunshine in the day ahead. for some of us, not as much as we had on wednesday. parts of eastern england will see some more cloud around. the weak weather front close to northern scotland with cloud, a bit of patchy rain, maybe later in the day, the odd heavy shower is possible and plenty of cloud moving into northern ireland. it is an easterly breeze, for most of us it is light and will pick up over the weekend. along that easterly breeze, with the cloud coming in towards north sea coasts and the flow of air coming in from the sea, this is where we are just into single figures. elsewhere, the range of 10—12. it still doesn't feel too bad at this time of year if you have some sunshine. as we go through the night into friday morning, some areas of cloud around, some clear spells but the clearer weather isn't as widespread so the frost isn't as widespread going into friday morning. just pockets more especially into parts of scotland and north—east england so temperatures a little bit higher as friday begins. and then on friday, it looks like there will be a bit more cloud around generally while most places will be staying dry, parts of scotland, maybe towards the north—east,

could see a passing shower. the cloud increasing across east anglia and into south—east england, you could pick up a few showers here later in the day. temperatures still pegged back into single figures along north sea coasts and generally feeling a bit cooler on friday. the cooling trend continues further into the weekend. a battle taking place between low pressure in the atlantic trying to move in with milder air. the colder air from high pressure holding it at bay, though, over the weekend. so it is going to stay mainly settled over the weekend. so no rain showing up on the charts here but notice the temperatures edging down a degree or so and the breeze picking up as well. around that area of high pressure, a stronger wind. dry for most, occasional sunshine, cloudier then by sunday but a windier picture, especially in the west, and it is going to feel chilly in that wind.