welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers of october at an emergency in north america and around the globe. summit in brussels. my name is mike embley. our top stories: donald tusk urged the uk not donald tusk confirms to waste any more time. there will be another delay theresa may said she was determined to brexit until the end of october — to deliver on the result but there's still widespread of the referendum as frustration. quickly as possible. please do not waste this time. voting is taking place in the first stage of the indian general election — the biggest democratic poll ever held. the british pm remains defiant — an estimated 900 million people but has theresa may done enough are eligible to vote. the first week's polling to calm her critics back home? will take place in 20 states across the country. we have a duty as politicians astronomers have taken to fulfil the democratic decision the first ever image of a black hole. of the referendum. it measures a0 billion deliver brexit and move our country forward. kilometres across — nothing is more three million times the size of the earth. pressing or more vital. scientists are calling it an ‘absolute monster‘ — larger that the size australians will vote in a general of our entire solar system. it was photographed by a network election on the 18th of eight telescopes of may — prime minister across the world. scott morrison made the announcement in canberra. now on bbc news,

wednesday in parliament. hello there, welcome to wednesday in parliament. coming up, head of an emergency meeting of eu leaders should decide a brexit extension, theresa may faces calls to change truck. i accept that she has run out of road, i've accepted that the only choice now is to put this back to the people. but the prime minister projects that appeal. my position on the second referendum, the government 's position has not changed was not the house has rejected a second recommended two times one question is whether the middle of the brexit uncertainty is the right time to talk about it at all. each day is worse than the last. could it be thought of as a

good use of our time to backslapping each other on the uk 50 years as a nuclear power. there is a solution for those worried that nearly released uk passports don't have the words european union on the front cover. could you consider getting the home office to produce disposable appeal of stickers for those who are concerned about this with the words european union? first, it was another crunch day is that you can negotiate its exit from the eu. european union leaders gathered in brussels for an emergency summit to decide whether oi’ emergency summit to decide whether or not to extend the timetable for brexit. theresa may sought an extension to the 30th ofjune but before travelling to the summit to find if that request had succeeded, mrs may was in the comments for her weekly round of prime ministers questions. the decision came after days of talks between the government and labour as the two sides try to

inch towards a brexit offer that might give you the comments. the westminster leader wanted to know what had been discussed. westminster leader wanted to know what had been discussedm westminster leader wanted to know what had been discussed. it is now one week since the talks began tween the tory government and the labour party. i want us the premise to at any point during his talks, has a second referendum been offered on the government side offers aggression hitting table? yes or no, feminist? my position on a second referendum, the government 's position has not changed. the house has rejected a second referendum two times. now, when we come to a deal will have to ensure that legislation goes through this house. of course, it may be that those in this house wish to press the issue is that legislation goes through. my position on this has not changed. legislation goes through. my position on this has not changedm was a very simple question, has recommended been offered? yes or no? mr speaker, people could have a any

backroom deal cooked up by two leaders who don't possess the ingredients to hold the parties together, nevermind these islands together. scotland won't be forced together. scotland won't be forced to a cce pt together. scotland won't be forced to accept what is to brexit parties up. to serve up. in herfinal days as prime minister, will she accept the eu offer of a long extension? accept that she has run out of road and accept that their only choice now is to put this back to the people. as i said, i made my position clear on that, can i say to the right honourable gentleman but it isa the right honourable gentleman but it is a little difficult for many of us it is a little difficult for many of us in this house to hear him week after week stand up and say that the uk should stay within the european union. when scottish independence would have meant taking scotland out of the european union. and she came under pressure from some of her own mps. i fully agree with the prime minister when she is repeatedly said that we need to both honour the result of the referendum, hand a

ma nifesto result of the referendum, hand a manifesto commitments which means living the customs union a single market, does my honourable friend agree with me that if the best way to do that rather than deliver a diluted deal which is unrecognisable to many of us who voted to leave, is to many of us who voted to leave, is to go into wto rules, we should grab that opportunity believe in the ability of the british people and the conservative to make a success of it. i still believe that the best brexit for the uk is to be able to leave in an orderly way, to be able to live with a deal. and i do want to live with a deal. and i do want to ensure that the accept does indeed honour the result of the referendum. there are members of this house who don't want to honour the referendum result, i do.“ this house who don't want to honour the referendum result, i do. if the premise to seeking a year—long extension to brexit, does she not recognise that that, of course, would cost over £1 billion a month. to the british taxpayer and subscriptions to the eu and does she

not agree, that that funding would be better spent on tackling crime, funding scores and even tax cuts for my constituents and constituents up and down the country. we could actually have been outside the european union by now if we had managed to get the deal through time continuing to work, continuing to work that we sure district to ensure that we can deliver brexit in a way that we can deliver brexit in a way that works of people across the country. what with the prime minister host is her governments greater achievement? the brexit shambles rise in life crime, record numbers using food banks pay packets worse than a decade ago or the worst army yet. i will tell the honourable gentleman what i'm proud of this government achieving. we see more people and work than ever before. we have seen tax cuts for 32 million

people. we are seeing wages rising, deficit fallen, dad coming down, we are restoring this country 's finances. but bill is a brighter future for all our constituents. the green mp turned to environment a protest by youngsters. this friday young people across the uk will again be calling for more urgent action on the climate emergency. so far every party leader except the prime minister has agreed to meet members of this extraordinary uprising. following a speech and a meeting with pope francis, the 16—year—old from sweden sparked the noble uprising, she will visit parliament on the 23rd of april. my question is very simple. for the prime minister agree to meet greater when she is here? i can assure the honourable lady that i hear young people often about the importance of climate change. this covenant has a fine record on climate change. one day the honourable lady will actually stand up in this house and

back on the ephesus government has made. in the run-up to maize local elections, jeremy corbyn focused on local government funding. since 2000 and ten 50p of every pound has a prescription from local authorities by her government. that is the reality of what life is like for those trying to deliver services. mr speaker, the evidence is clear, the tories have abandoned communities across the country. they have left towns and cities to fend for themselves after nine years of an addictive, damaging austerity. he of the governments of a tax cost for the governments of a tax cost for the richard —— richest and swings for the rest. the prime minister now admit that far from tackling the burning injustices she talked about, her government is cruel and unfair policies have pushed councils to the brink and loved those just about managing not being able to manage at all. that is her legacy. i am proud

to lead a government that has seen more children and good schools. more doctors, more jobs, more children and good schools. more doctors, morejobs, lower borrowing, lower unemployment, lower taxes, that conservative is delivering across the country for everyone. but with a labour government? destroying our defences. abandoning our allies, billions more in borrowing, fewer opportunities and higher taxes for everyone. that's a labour future and it will never let it happen. now the government ‘s defended plans to make voters in ten areas in england take identification with them when they go to the polling station for local elections next month. the trials follow a small scheme last year which led to complaints from the electoral reform society that some people were prevented from voting. answering an urgent question, the minister maintained that electoral fraud was unacceptable. something

that people of all backgrounds do every day, when we take it a library book or pick up a parcel from the post office. we were before you make a decision of huge importance at the ballot box should be no different. a commercial house at with postures pilots and the decades of experience in northern ireland show that photo id does not have an adverse effect on election turnout or participation. lustre 350 people we re participation. lustre 350 people were stopped from voting for not having a valid id. three and a half million citizens or seven and a half ‘x: million citizens or seven and a half %of million citizens or seven and a half % of the electorate don't actually have access to any photo id. and if our voter id requirements are restricted to passports or drivers licenses, which it is in some areas, that number arises to 11 million people, just eight cases actually related to fraud at the polling station which is what the minister claims is what this trail is designed to tackle. that's only eight cases out of the 266 investigated. does the minister think that her government has the right priorities when despite most

of the electoral offences being committed by political candidates, the innocent voters are being excluded from the politics because of this ill thought out policy. no demographic group in particular was impacted, she knows history. she knows it's true, perhaps this is pa rt knows it's true, perhaps this is part of the passion that we see here from the labour party which is saying one thing and doing another. she still could not explain why it is the requirement for the selection meetings, she can't explain why these are acceptable powers that are passed by the last statement. she can't expand with the last labour government did this in northern ireland. there is one instance of voter fraud in this country for everyone .6 million votes cast. it isa everyone .6 million votes cast. it is a problem that is so minor, is really not to exist at all. and yet, it continues to be the focus of the government 's policy in this area. one can only conclude that this is a policy driven by suspicion based upon prejudice rather than hard

facts and evidence. we know that forcing people to produce id in order to vote or put people off. there are 2000 and two labour government —— lab government that introduced photographic id for northern ireland. many of them didn't have a passport and still don't. they didn't have a drivers license, the electoral officer did actually supply free of charge, electoral identity cards. taking pa rt electoral identity cards. taking part in as pilots, they will provide a free of charge alternative to id which provide some form of verification that the voters who they say they are, so that'll certainly be a feature and i will be looking at all the experience around the uk to guide the next steps on the uk to guide the next steps on the programme. chloe smith. mp are back proposals banning rapists from

seeking access to children conceived asa seeking access to children conceived as a result of their crimes. this follows the experience of sammy woodhouse, a victim of child sexual exportation. the man who raped her as serving a prison sentence of 35 yea rs as serving a prison sentence of 35 years for as serving a prison sentence of 35 yea rs for offences as serving a prison sentence of 35 years for offences related to the sexual abuse of more than 50 girls. labourmp sexual abuse of more than 50 girls. labour mp expanded on the trail finished, sammy woodhouse believed her ideals over. but a social worker told that the matter had been informed of his right to apply for access to her son. sammy described to me how she felt at the time. paralysed feel that the man she thought she would never have to they eyes and again it might walk in the room. and terrified of what her own reaction would be if he did. she genuinely couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't attack him. sammy actually considers herself lucky if such a word can be used for someone who been to what she has. because he didn't attend court that day, although months after the court process had finished, the council once again approached him in prison

to encourage contact with her son without even notifying sammy they we re without even notifying sammy they were doing so. it is inconceivable to anyone with any sympathy, empathy ora drop of to anyone with any sympathy, empathy or a drop of common sense that hussein was effectively encouraged to apply to the courts. we need to flick the presumption that anyone who has filed a chart —— fathered a child to rape should apply for access. to child to rape should apply for a ccess . to re m ove child to rape should apply for access. to remove that automatic right and allowing the court to only grant right and allowing the court to only g ra nt a ccess right and allowing the court to only grant access and exceptional circumstances if it is in the clear interest of the child. louise hague was supported by mps but unless the government backs the bills won't become law. you're watching wednesday in parliament with me, alicia mccarthy. you can download the programme to watch anywhere by the programme to watch anywhere by the bbc iplayer. so search for parliament. mps have expressed

concern at the conviction of nine pro—democracy activists in hong kong. for their role in a civil disobedience movement, the call for free elections in the city. after the conviction on tuesday, they could be jailed for up to seven yea rs, could be jailed for up to seven years, for their part in the umbrella movement protests of 2014. this prosecution and our conviction of members of the umbrella movement is just the latest in a series of egregious human rights abuses by the government in china. using the criminal justice system, government in china. using the criminaljustice system, is an abuse of fundamental and international detected human rights. amnesty international point out that these convictions all stem solely from nonviolent direct action is and largely peaceful protest. the foreign office minister acknowledged it was the latest in a string of incidents concerning the british government. we take very

seriously our responsibilities and asi seriously our responsibilities and as i have pointed out, consecutive yearly at six monthly reports we have expressed concerns that there has been a tightening —— consecutively. —— tightening with individual rights. and thejudicial system's independence has remained to the one party system. the joint declaration must remain as valid today as it was when it was signed 3.5 decades ago. labour said the time had come for mps to pay attention to its human rights record in hong kong — make china's human rights record in hong kong. a serious discussion in this house on

the situation in hong kong is overdue. china's iteration on the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the hong kong basic law has been growing since the pro—democracy umbrella movement protests in 2014. —— the last few years has seen an increasing crackdown on dissent and process. “— increasing crackdown on dissent and process. —— protest. pro—democracy candidates block. they could face seven candidates block. they could face seve n yea rs candidates block. they could face seven years in prison for organising peaceful protests and that is totally disproportionate and clearly politically motivated. mr speaker, you will recall that in 2014, at the height of the umbrella movement protests, foreign affairs committee delegation from this country was prevented from going to hong kong by the chinese embassy and it was clearly a matter that the chinese communist authorities are extremely

sensitive about any scrutiny and any questioning that we raised in this house and in our committees. so can i ask the minister, when he meets his counterparts from the chinese government, can he emphasise to them that in this country, we have a pluralistic parliamentary democracy and that is what the people of hong kong also wish to have. the chinese's at that time was reprehensible across the house. they also had the difficulty of grasping the concept of a democratic parliament. i think some re—education was required. minister. some us get really concerned about a depot —— democratic parliament. i

remember being on the bench for many years, minister, so i am not criticising. i very much agree with what the honourable gentleman has had to say. we do need to do our level best to ensure that we stand up level best to ensure that we stand up for our rights. i don't think the chinese are entirely unknowing of this. they know exactly what is going on. for the last 50 years, the uk has had what is known as a continuous at sea deterrent with one of four submarines armed with a nuclear weapon always on patrol. in 2016, the house of commons approved the decision to maintain the nuclear deterrent beyond the early 20 30s with the current vanguard class submarines being replaced. the cost of the design and manufacture of a class of four new marines has been estimated at £31 billion. —— four new submarines. we were a man —— reminded of the history of the top half a century ago hmas resolution

glided into the history books. this was the start of our longest sustained military operation. operation relentless. at the beginning of our continuous arts ——at sea deterrence. since then, there has always been a royal navy ballistic missile submarine at sea protecting our nation. ballistic missile submarine at sea protecting our nationlj ballistic missile submarine at sea protecting our nation. i wonder how we can possibly lecture other countries about not wanting to seek nuclear weapons. what moral high ground do we have? do we think it's that the world won't be a safer place with other countries have nuclear weapons and if that's not the case, how do we justify it? the nuclear dangers have not gone away. on the contrary, the geopolitical situation is more and stayed — make u nsta ble situation is more and stayed — make unstable than ever before. we are facing challenges that are growing

in the scale, complexity and also, —— diversity. russia is rebuilding its nuclear arsenal. it has breached the treaty and europe has now deployed new nuclear capable missile systems to target and threaten the west. —— and in europe. north korea is the only state to have detonated a nuclear weapon in the 21st entry. despite positive dialogue, its weapons remain intact. we hope that north korea will return to compliance with its obligations under the non—proliferation —— treaty. both nations have been rattling the nuclear sabre in the past. labour's secretary set out the policy of renewing trident even though policy of renewing trident even thoutheremy policy of renewing trident even though jeremy corbyn policy of renewing trident even thoutheremy corbyn is a long—standing positive — make ——

opposition to stop the threats facing the uk are real and undiminished. because, none of us ever wants to be in a position where the deterrent is used. if we ever got to that situation, it would represent a catastrophic failure of our rules —based system at the very concept of deterrence. the only issue on which i take a little exception to in the contribution of the shadow defence secretary was one turn of phrase when she said about how appalling it would be if the deterrence weapons were used and i would gently remind her that the nuclear deterrence is in use every day, every week, all around the year. s ijoin with him in applauding the speech from the front edge opposite what does he share with me some disappointment that the honourable mainly — but lady didn't

ta ke honourable mainly — but lady didn't take any interventions because she might have been able to explain the fundamental flaw in the labour party frontbench position, that you cannot have an effective deterrent if you have an effective deterrent if you have committed never to use it as the shadow chancellor and the leader of the opposition have done. the shadow chancellor and the leader of the opposition have donelj the shadow chancellor and the leader of the opposition have done. i don't know about him but if i had been obliterated by a nuclear weapon, i don't give a jot whether we obliterate to somebody back. don't give a jot whether we obliterate to somebody backlj don't give a jot whether we obliterate to somebody back. i am very sorry to have to explain to the honourable lady that the whole point of our ability to reality —— retaliate is to ensure that we are not attacked in the first place. only in this house of commons, at this time, and the back drop of a make — make major constitutional crisis, when each day is worse than the last, could it be thought of as a good use of her time to back slap each other on the uk being 50 years asa each other on the uk being 50 years as a marine nuclear power. there ought to be the case for sure and on this i'm sure we do agree with

others, that the government carries out a threat analysis and subsequent to that threat analysis, it gets in itself what it needs to meet that threat and to keep people safe but we don't believe quite simply that trident compliments that effort. the total cost of trident from design through life—support running to the many billions of pounds, estimated by some as high as 200 early on. what we know for sure is that the current renewal project is already lawfully make woefully out of control. indeed over £1 billion of the 10 billion contingency was set aside by the ministry of defence has been tapped into. stuart macdonald. now, chances are, if you have a passport, you don't look at it that closely except perhaps to cringe at photo on the back what over the weekend it was as —— revealed that the first reduced passports without the first reduced passports without the words european union on the front had been issued even though

brexit has been put off. in the laws, a liberal democrat thought that was a little premature. not only are we still in the eu but after tonight, we may be so for another nine months or even a year at least. during that time, the uk asa at least. during that time, the uk as a country and government will enjoy all the rights and obligations of eu membership including that. why is the government refusing to pass on those rights to its citizens who wa nt on those rights to its citizens who want european union on their passports? this has nothing to do with the will or otherwise of the british people. this has everything to do with the british people voting to do with the british people voting to leave the european union and the home office preparing in changing the passports and i really think it's not a very good point. could my noble friend perhaps consider getting the home office to produce disposable peel off stickers for those people who feel concerned about this with the words european union? well, my noble friend makes a

very practical point and in fact, one can purchase passport covers and they can be in any colour. they can say anything that anybody wants. the noble lady is quite unlimited to do that but i think it is absolutely right that the home office prepares for the situation of the uk leaving the eu. given the limbo that the country finds itself, wouldn't it be sensible to put a? —— question mark. that's it for me from now. join me at the same time tomorrow when theresa may is expected to point — report back on it exit extension. —— report back on it exit extension. —— report back. for now, from me, alysia mccarthy, its bye for now. —— alicia mccarthy.

hello, no sign of spring warmth in the immediate forecast. in fact, the weekend is looking a bit colder. we'll 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 places with some sunny spells. high pressure 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.