today at 5. 3 people are stabbed, in a knife attack at the arndale centre, in manchester city centre. a man in his forties has been arrested, on suspicion of terrorism offences. shoppers fled, as a large police operation was launched. it was awful! we did not know what to think, we thought it was a bomb, there was a panic. we'll have increased patrols, including armed patrol in the city centre this weekend. this is to reassure people, but we do not belive there is a wider threat, at this time. we'll have the latest live from manchester. the other main stories, on bbc news at 5. eu countries agree to intensify brexit talks with the uk, but both sides say more work is needed, to get a deal. i think both of us can see a pathway to a deal but that doesn't

mean it's a done deal. there's a way to go. brexit is like climbing a mountain. turkey's offensive against the kurds continues. the united nations says 100,000 people have now fled their homes, in northern syria. the daughter of nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe — the british woman, jailed in iran on spying charges — returns to the uk, after three and a half years. you're just trying to rattle me. i'm trying to save you! what are you? 23? and it's will smith vs will smith, in the action packed gemini man. find out what mark kermode thinks of that, and the rest of this week's releases, in the film review.

good evening, it's 5pm, our main story tonight. three people have been stabbed at the arndale shopping centre, in manchester. police say a man in his 40s has been arrested, on suspicion of terrorism offence. two women and a man were taken to hospital with stab wounds; a third woman, who wasn't stabbed, was treated at the scene. 0ur correspondent richard galpin has this report. police, including from the counterterrorism unit, arrived quickly here at manchester's busy arndale centre. officers, racing to the scene, where a man was lunging at shoppers, with a large knife. just a few minutes later, the man, who is in his 405, was caught, and i5 who is in his 405, was caught, and is being held on suspicion of terrorist offences. it wasjust. .. panic, i think. terrorist offences. it wasjust. .. panic, ithink. nobody terrorist offences. it wasjust. .. panic, i think. nobody really knew what was going on. and... people 5ta rted what was going on. and... people 5tarted shutting the shutters on the

shop and people were diving into the shops, it was scary. we were one floor up, so we didn't actually see it happen, we just saw the people running in the opposite direction. in total, four people were injured, one of whom is in a serious condition. we do not know the motivation for this terrible attack. it appears random, it certainly brutal, and of course extremely frightening. for anyone who witnessed it. at this time, we do not believe that there is anyone else involved in this attack. but we will be constantly keeping this under review. the attack has also prompted a rapid response from the prime minister. obviously our thoughts are very much with the victims, their families, it thoughts are very much with the victims, theirfamilies, it is... clearly a horrific incident. and i'm just very grateful to the emergency services, and to the police. i gather somebody has been apprehended andl gather somebody has been apprehended and i hope thatjustice will take

its course. in a tweet, the labour leader, jeremy corbyn, also said his thoughts were with all of those who had been injured, and their loved ones. this shocking attack, in the heart of the city, is bound to bring back memories of the manchester arena bombing, ju5t back memories of the manchester arena bombing, just two years ago. the police say they are boosting patrols in the city centre this weekend to reassure people and hope manchester will return to normal by tomorrow morning. let's cross to manchester now our correspondent rogerjohnson is there. roger, good evening to you. bring u5 up—to—date with what is happening there tonight. good afternoon. i have to say it is business as usual toa have to say it is business as usual to a large extent in manchester this afternoon for such having said that, a5 afternoon for such having said that, as you can see, this street is still cu rtained as you can see, this street is still curtained off. as you can see, this street is still cu rtained off. —— as you can see, this street is still curtained off. —— cordoned off. as a result, the trams which would normally be rumbling through here are not yet running. a5 normally be rumbling through here are not yet running. as you can see some of the forensic officers are

starting to wind up, theirjob look5 to be done here. but what happened this lunchtime, late this morning, certainly has sent a chair and a5 richard galpin 5aid certainly has sent a chair and a5 richard galpin said in his report, brought back memories of what happened in the city two years ago. let's talk to the city centre 5pokesman let's talk to the city centre spokesman for manchester city council. by the sounds of it, the two police security support officers help to avert something much more serious? we are shocked and horrified by what went on. we can only imagine the terror of those people who were attacked and also other people, who were running for their lives. the emergency services and those two officers, obviously save lives. emergency services were here in minutes, all of manchester thanks. we prepare for this situation all the time, it is not just manchester problem, every city in the world now prepares for the situations to drop everything, get you quickly, get control of the situation and arrest the individual. but we're grateful that there were

not fatalities. the investigation will continue, we will find out more about the individual who has been arrested but it sounds like he is a local person, just as the man who carried out the abbey nat aki two yea rs carried out the abbey nat aki two years ago was also local man? please don't be selling, we're talking about something serious. sorry, carry on. that is what is unsettling, and troubling, that it would be a local person from greater manchester. like last time. that makes it fearful and anxious, the city. but i have to tell people, we prepare for this all the time. it will be business as usual in manchester, workers will be coming to work and we need to support them. we live in very difficult times, every city in the world has to face these challenges, we are always prepared, thankfully, our emergency

services saved lives and so, come in and support manchester over the weekend. thank you very much indeed. at the end of a traumatic day but a day where thanks to the swift actions of those two police community support officers, are much worse tragedy, perhaps, has been averted. back to you. rogerjohnson, many thanks, in manchester. britain and the european union have agreed to intensify discussions about the terms ofa brexit deal, over the coming days. the announcement came after the eu's chief negotiator, michel barnier, said he'd had a "constructive meeting" this morning with the brexit secretary, stephen barclay. but borisjohnson has warned that the eu's willingness to intensify brexit discussions doesn't mean that finding an agreement is "a done deal". mrjohnson and the irish leader leo varadkar, who met yesterday, said there was a ‘pathway to an agreement‘, in the run up to next week's crucial eu summit. our brussels correspondent

adam fleming reports. brexit seems to be moving again. steve barclay arriving in brussels this morning. the two men talked for about two hours, a moment later, a smile. the big sticking point, how the uk plans to do customs checks in northern ireland. afterwards, the priority for michel barnier was explaining what had been discussed, to the rest of the eu, not to the rest of the world. we had a constructive meeting with steve barclay and the british team and now i am going to debrief the 27 ambassadors and the brexit group of the parliament. i have already said that brexit is like climbing a mountain. we need vigilance, determination and patience. are we near the top...? under huge scrutiny from the media,

desperate for news, the eu chief negotiator was not ready to answer the many questions that exist. they are mainly about the process — what is going to happen and when? will the uk and eu negotiators enter what is called the tunnel, an intense period of confidential ,negotiations where compromises get made? and what will have happened by the time eu and meet leaders meet for the next summit, on thursday 17th october, less than a week away? and what will be presented to mp5 at a special sitting of parliament scheduled for a week on saturday? a possible deal, no deal, an extension? but the mood has definitely improved, after yesterday's meeting between borisjohnson and the irish leader, leo varadkar. it has left the eu feeling cautiously optimistic, although there is more caution than optimism. i have received promising signals from the taoiseach that a deal is still possible. of course, there is no guarantee of success and the time is practically up.

but even the slightest chance must be used. a no—deal brexit will never be the choice of the eu. i would anticipate that that will lead to some more detailed proposals being laid down and then the possibility for talks to enter the proverbial tunnel. i think both of us can see a pathway to a deal, but that does not mean it is a done deal. there is a way to go. what is a mystery is what has happened to unblock this process. either the eu has relaxed the guarantees it needs for the irish border, or the uk has relaxed its position, that northern ireland can never, ever be part of the eu customs zone. what emerges from brussels is one thing. whether it flies at westminster is another, for another day. in a moment will talk to our political correspondent

in westminster, helen catt. first to brussels, and our europe correspondent, gavin lee. we heard it from donald tusk, the time is practically up. so we have glimmers of optimism but my goodness, so little time left? glimmers of optimism but my goodness, so little time left7m is. after weeks of pouring scorn and cold water, certainly from this side of the water, onto borisjohnson‘s brexit deal proposal, suddenly, there is this momentum. there is an energy. i was texting with a couple of european commission officials today, there was a sense that this is going to go somewhere. i tell you, before now, there has been a lull, since that where are we going? but now, whilst to small and head donald tusk saying he believes that 40 much, almost insurmountable, but let's see how this plays out over the weekend. —— far too much. we refer in the past, when theresa may

had these talks, they went into the so—called tunnel where mobiles were effectively out the window, went in rome, negotiate until some compromises, in theresa may's case she did not. they say they are intensifying talks, for two reasons. they don't want to overplay this. two, because basically it is a tunnel with benefits, if you will. on sunday or monday morning, michel barnier will go and meet the other 27 ambassadors and say this is how it is going. so he will go into the tunnel to go back in again. so i think the next sense of real news before the summit, we will probably know monday morning. lots more texting for you this weekend i think. thank you very much. let's head to westminster and testament there with helen kat, our political correspondence. similarly, here in the uk, a tense weekend ahead?

absolutely. mp5 still away from parliament at the moment, not back until monday which is when we were stuck to get a sense of how this is going down. on the backbenches. in the last ever —— order, we had a statement from the dup, what they say and whether they feel this is a deal they can accept, heavily influences some conservative mp5 and whether they would back in either. in the last hour, we have had this statement from the dup leader, arlene foster, who said the housing speculation and the statementjust restates the dup's position, reminds people of what they refer to as the pivotal position in parliament. the key paragraph says they have been consistent in their possession to the backstop and that anything that

traps northern ireland in the european union, whether single market or customs union, as the rest of the united kingdom leaves, well not have our support. the prime minister, she says, is very mindful of that. that seems to address some of that. that seems to address some of the speculation we have seen today that perhaps a concession may have been offered that would effectively keep northern ireland in both camps so that there were not customs checks but it would still be able to take advantage of any trade deals that the uk was to broker, onceit deals that the uk was to broker, once it leaves the eu. of course thatis once it leaves the eu. of course that is just speculation, we do not know the detail of anything that was discussed in those talks. boris johnson very cautious with his wording, asked about this earlier he said we would not see anything that would damage the ability of the whole of the uk to take full advantage of brexit. so all sides being tight—lipped ahead of that eu council meeting next week. of course i had of super saturday back herein westminster. helen, for now, thank you very much.

let's turn our attentions to syria. tens of thousands of people are fleeing their homes, as turkey continues its offensive against kurdish militia in syria. turkish warplanes have struck targets in northeastern syria, on the third day of action, which followed president trump's decision to withdraw us forces. the un says an estimated 100,000 people have now left their homes in northeastern syria. martin patience reports from the turkey syria border. there is no let up in this military offensive. turkish forces, targeting key syrian town where kurdish fighters are still holed up. turkey is not bowing to international pressure. on the border, its military build—up continues. but

kurdish fighters are firing back. this footage, shows a mortar landing ina this footage, shows a mortar landing in a turkish town. back in syria, families are fleeing for their lives. thousands of miles away, donald trump weighing up his options in public. you have the choice of bringing in the military, and defeating everybody again. you have a choice of financially doing some very strong things to turkey. so that they take it a little bit easy on, really, competition that is... i don't think it is being fairly treated in many ways, ok, we have a very good relationship with kurds. orwe can very good relationship with kurds. or we can mediate. i hope we can mediate, i hope we can mediate. the us, largely sidelined in the new age of diplomacy, offered traditional solutions. i want to express my deep

concern, solutions. i want to express my deep concern, about the escalation of conflict we are witnessing in eastern syria. it is absolutely central to have a de—escalation to these conflicts. military operations must always respect the united nations charter and its international humanitarian law. but that will be of little comfort for kurds, who have heard it all before. let's speak now to turkey's ambassador to the uk umit yalcin. very good evening to you, thank you for your time. the united nations saying that 100,000 people have fled their homes already. is turkey concerned about the civilian impact here? thank you, good evening. the undersecretary of the united nations are in turkey, they are talking with

him and cooperating with them. our military operation is exercising utmost care, to avoid cultural garage in syria, and to ensure the safety of our border and to ensure calm and safe times for syrians. they are doing this exercise and also all this militarily arrangements and operations are to prevent terrorist attacks to turkey. i would like to mention that in the last two days, there are civilian casualties in turkey because of the mortar attacks of a terrorist organisation and also i would like to use this opportunity to call to syrian christians, a statement that said under the operation... sorry, you talk about the utmost care. we

do know that infrastructure is being hit, we're talking about dams, we are talking about water pumping stations, it means thousands of people are at risk of losing clean water. and that is affecting the civilian population. i'm afraid this isa civilian population. i'm afraid this is a smear civilian population. i'm afraid this isa smearcampaign civilian population. i'm afraid this is a smear campaign against the operation. our plan is not bombing this infrastructure of the region. on the contrary, we are exercising this operation to save those syrians, as we did in the previous two military operations. because the international committee should be careful against these kinds of baseless claims. terrorist organisation is now spreading false claims and myths about this. i think this is wrong. so you think that is simply not true, that infrastructure has not been hit? yes, our military operation is being done with utmost

ca re operation is being done with utmost care and sensitivity. against all these civilian and infrastructure positions. what about the point, sorry to interrupt again but we don't have very long, what about the point that this risks all the progress that has been made in the attempt to defeat islamic state? that this actually creates a situation where isi tears can have a resurgence? i would like to remind you that party, from the beginning, is the member of the international coalition against isis. our army, so far, has killed more than 3000 isis terrorists in syria and more than 1000 in iraq and also we put many isis terrorists in prison in turkey because i can isis terrorists in prison in turkey because i can assure isis terrorists in prison in turkey because i can assure you that there is no need to be concerned about turkish commitments and determination against isis terrorists in syria, and in this operation. if we are faced with

those terrorists we will again take all responsibility to take on those isis chapters if it is necessary. the us in the last hour has said that this action, your country's action, risks the relationship between the us and turkey. does that for you at all? we are allies with them insofar, because of the inconclusive talks for establishing this safe zone, we took unilateral action but the complexion channels are open. intelligence to intelligence and we are cooperating and talking with it in all spheres. so what is the end point? what is success for you? how does this go on? as we did before in 2017, and 2018, indifferent operations in different parts of north—west of syria, ouraim is different parts of north—west of syria, our aim is still the same. we

will neutralise terrorists in that area, we will ensure the safety of our border and we will create a peaceful and stable and calm area, for the return of syrian refugees. we must that but many thanks for your time tonight. turkey's ambassador to the united kingdom. the defence has begun in the trial of two men and two youths accused of murdering 17 year old jodie chesney who was stabbed in the back, near a playground in romford in essex in march. bring us up—to—date with what the jury bring us up—to—date with what the jury has been told. manuel petrovic is the first defendant in the trial to give evidence. he told a jury here today about his life in east london as a drug dealer. he maintained various phones for supplying a number of customers with different drugs, right up to class a and he recalled how on the 1st of

march, this year, he was helping out another drug dealer, he said his friend and co—defendant, who had called him saying he needed a favour and that he needed a left to pick up some drugs in east london. and manuel petrovic described how he drove him and two other defendants who are 16 and 17 and can't be named, toa who are 16 and 17 and can't be named, to a park in harold tel in east london, on a friday night. that is the part wherejodie chesney east london, on a friday night. that is the part where jodie chesney was spending her night with friends, she was stabbed in the back and died of a serious stab wind. manuel petrovic said today that his co—defendants got back into his car and he had no idea what had happened. he said he never noticed any blood. he said he didn't know the victim or any of her friends and he had no idea that anything violent was going to happen that evening. he said he didn't even realise that she had been stabbed until he saw news reports the following day. he recalled how later on the evening of the murder, his

co—defendant called him and said he needed help, he needed another favour, he needed a change of clothes and manuel petrovic said he had done that, he had taken a spare change of clothes to him but said he didn't realise exactly what had happened and that that is why he needed a change of clothes. he said he felt very sad about that and that he felt very sad about that and that he thought about it everyday. he saidi he thought about it everyday. he said i think about it everyday that i tied apart without the knowledge of what had actually happened at the time. he said i wanted to say it is the least that the family deserve to hear. he was asked by the defence barrister, did you think you were helping someone who had just committed a murder. he said no. i did not. he will continue to give evidence on monday. thank you very much. the 5—year—old daughter of a british iranian woman, jailed in iran on spying charges, has returned to the uk. nazanin zaghari ratcliffe has been detained for more than three years over the allegations which she denies.

her daughter gabriella who had been living in iran with her grandparents is now back in britain to start school. she was reunited with her father, richard, last night after three and a half years apart. he held a news conference in westminster earlier and gabriella brought a welcome home cake into the room. mr ratcliffe said gabriella wanted to visit a toy shop and had told her mother she was going to brave. he said there was a ‘real risk‘ his wife's mental and physical condition will now deteriorate. i was really worried, about us taking a step, precisely because... the thing that nazanin looks forward to week to week is seeing gabriella. and... put that one over there, shall we? we'll only see, really. ithink, i mean, it's... when she wrote that letter,

that i was talking about, whatever it was, that was a last attempt to kind ofjust hope beyond hope that maybe she'll be released with. .. gabriella. that hasn't happened. i think it will be a very tough next family visit. so the next family visit will be behind a glass screen, with granny and nazanin and both of them feeling the loss. the ethiopian prime minister abiy ahmed has been awarded the nobel peace prize. the norwegian nobel institute in oslo said mr ahmed had played a key role in efforts to end the 20 year war with neighbouring eritrea. the chair of the nobel committee said his domestic agenda had also transformed his country. a group of mp5 says the bbc and the government should find a way for everyone over the age of 75 to continue to get the tv licence for free. the current plan is that free licences will end next year,

apart from for people who receive pension credit. our media correspondent david sillito reports. don't switch us off! there's been widespread protest, about the decision to end the free licence fee scheme for everyone over the age of 75. the bbc has agreed to pay for the licences for anyone over 75 who receives pension credit, but it still means more than 3 million pensioners will lose their benefit. we feel so strongly because we felt we were given it forever, type of thing. and for this to come out of the blue, that you were not going to get it from next year and that the only ones that would receive it was people on pension credit. there is over 32,000 people in wales alone, older people, that do not claim pension credit. and it's not just about broken promises. silver line, a helpline for the elderly set up

by esther rantzen, says that tv is a vital public service. people were actually relying, a lot of people, relying on television, particularly the bbc, for company. at our helpline, we get 10,500 calls a week from people who are really not talking to anyone else. and for them, television is not a luxury, it is their only company. the problem is money. the government used to pay for it, but passed the responsibility on to the bbc. the annual licence fee is now £154.50 a year. the total cost of the scheme is £745 million. the bbc‘s pension credit offer will cost them around 250 million, but it says it can't fund the rest, without big cuts to services. and today's report, from a group of mp5, the commons media select committee, says the government does need to contribute, to save the universal over—75 benefit. the bbc takes on some responsibility for this concession and the government the rest as well.

the bbc's offered to pay for about a third of the free licences, but i think we should look at how everyone is paying. i don't think that can be a cost the bbcjust takes on itself. or if it does take it on, clearly we have to look at how the bbc could make up the money that it's investing. because otherwise, that money will simply come out of the programming, because there's nowhere else for it to come from. the government's response, it says: "we're disappointed with the bbc's decision not to fund free licences for the over 755. we've been clear that we want and expect to continue this concession." but to restore the full concession, it is a choice — cuts to the bbc, or money from the government. david sillito, bbc news. much more coming up but now, the weather. darren hasjoined me. more rain to come i'm afraid, we have had some to around today. it

has been a soggy month and more rain to come over the weekend. this is the radar picture over the last few hours, had a couple of bands of rain, you can see that as the heavy one that is moving down across the midlands and has taken some heavy rain into the south—east of england. more rain returning back up to south wales and pushing its way all the way towards east anglia. further north, showers become fewer, clear skies and the winds having great custody, those will drop as well. quite a chilly northern half of the uk, less so further south but not as warm as it was last night. more rain to come, another dark day but a colder day for southern england. the rain threatens to come back in south wales and south midlands, especially across east anglia but further north many places enjoying a dry day with some sunshine, future was in the north—west, wind won't be a strong and temperatures of 13—15dc. that rain in the south develops more widely on saturday night and it will bea widely on saturday night and it will be a wet day for many parts of the country as we head into sunday.

this is bbc news. the headlines. three people have been stabbed in a knife attack at the arndale shopping centre in manchester. police arrested a man in his 405 on suspicion of terrorism offences. we will have increased patrols including armed patrols this weekend to reassure people. we do not believe there is a wider threat at this time. you countries agreed to intensify brexit talks with the uk, although both sides say more work is needed to reach a deal —— eu countries. turkey's offensive against the kurds is continuing. the united nations say 100,000 people have fled their homes in northern syria. the five—year—old daughter of nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe, the british women in prison in iran, has

been brought back to britain. more on some of those stories to come and the film review but now it is sport. let's get the latest. a busy time, already two rugby world cup matches called off tomorrow and scotla nd cup matches called off tomorrow and scotland see had their must win game against japan on sunday scotland see had their must win game againstjapan on sunday is going to follow. they are looking at their legal options to have the game postponed. world rugby say they are disappointed and have pointed to the contract disappointed and have pointed to the co ntra ct of disappointed and have pointed to the contract of participation which the scots are signed up to which states that pool matches cannot be moved and any cancellation will result in and any cancellation will result in a drawn game. that would see scotla nd a drawn game. that would see scotland failed to qualify for the quarterfinals. the sru say that cancelling their match would go against the sporting integrity of

the tournament. there is a massive broadcast audience worldwide and we have an obligation to our fans, sponsors and partners to make sure we explore every avenue. we don't want to get into a legal arm wrestle with world by, into a legal arm wrestle with world rugby, we don't want to criticise them but we believe we are being turned out in this composition and its collateral damage, scotland will be the collateral damage and it's not something we are prepared to take. island will qualify for the quarterfinals if they beat samoa, that's the only match that goes ahead tomorrow. they are a long way from the path of the typhoon. they are worried about the state of the pitch. you can hide a ball underneath it. organisers assured the teens it is safe. they told us in an e—mailthey

the teens it is safe. they told us in an e—mail they had to relay the pitch so we went out there and had unexpected and have been given assurances that it is safe to play on “— assurances that it is safe to play on —— had and inspection. i don't wa nt to on —— had and inspection. i don't want to predict anything or cause controversy at this stage. we just tried to back the players, trust the pitch will do itsjob. so tried to back the players, trust the pitch will do its job. so we are trying to alleviate any concerns. thenifs trying to alleviate any concerns. then it's just a trying to alleviate any concerns. then it'sjust a matter of trying to alleviate any concerns. then it's just a matter of wait and see. there was one match today whether weather was atrocious for australia against georgia. a bonus point win for the wallabies. they go to the top of pool d. koroibete with a pick of their four tries. wales can a pick of their four tries. wales ca n ove rta ke a pick of their four tries. wales can overtake them if they beat uruguay on sunday. australia would then face england with the welsh taking on france in the quarters. qualifying for the japanese grand prix this weekend has also been

affected by the weather, it's been cancelled because of the forecast. it's going to take place on sunday. practice with valtteri bottas quickest. heather watson has continued her good week in china, reaching the semifinals of the chanting open. the first time she's reached the last four since the beginning of the last year. it lasted over three hours. watson saved four match points in the decider before clinching the victory. novak djokovic and roger federer have both been knocked out at the quarterfinal stage of the shanghai masters. djokovic was first to taste defeat losing to stefanos tsitsipas.

he has qualified for the end of season tour finals as a result of that victory. federer went down in three sets against alexander zverev. the nikkei origin project is going to be closed down following doping violations committed by head coach alberto salazar. he was banned for four years and a spokesperson says it has become an unfair burden and distraction —— nike oregon project. much more on the bbc sport website. mo farah, salazar's former athlete is speaking right now head of the chicago marathon. we will hear more on that in sportsday.

now we'll talk a bit more about one of our main stories, the news that britain and the european union have agreed to intensify brexit talks. the main outstanding issue is the border between ireland and northern ireland because it will be uk's only land border with the eu after the has left. chris morris is the man faced with this conundrum and can tell us more. it's worth remembering that if any last—minute deal is done most of theresa may's withdrawal agreement, rejected three times, will remain in place. but what about the irish border? the biggest problem is customs. the uk insists on getting rid of the irish backstop, the legal guarantee to avoid a hard border under any circumstances. it has proposed placing it not with checks at the border but light touch checks

elsewhere in factories. it also proposed exemptions from customs for many businesses and the eu having to change its own customs laws to suit the uk. the uk basically rejected that proposal hence the search for a compromise. from a customs point of view it doesn't matter where you put the border, the border can be over a sea passage or a land boundary. wherever the politicians decide they wa nt wherever the politicians decide they want to put the border is up to them. you have to make customs declarations as goods cross the border. i don't know precisely what is being discussed but one possible solution would be to designate the land border is the legal customs border but make ports on the irish sea the practical border where czechs actually take place. could both sides swallow that? —— where the cheques checks take place.

northern ireland would have to follow the rules of the eu single market as long as they gave consent. the good friday agreement which lies at the heart of the northern ireland peace process is based in large part on the idea no single party can wield a veto over any aspect of the deal and may have to be the way forward in these negotiations too. the uk also wanted the eu to give a legally binding commitment they would never be any checks at the irish border, a commitment given before the eu could know how the uk proposals would actually work. no way, said the eu. but what if all this can somehow be fudged?m way, said the eu. but what if all this can somehow be fudged? it would enable northern ireland to enjoy the benefits of any free trade deal is the uk did while at the same time allowing it to remain highly aligned

with the eu. it's a hybrid halfway house solution but it's complicated and is the kind of thing the european commission doesn't like. we don't have a lot of time. we really don't. there is a european summit on october the 17th and brexit is due to happen on the 31st. is there still time to sort this out before then? i wouldn't bet anyone's house on it. thank you. first a musician than a comedian and actor, now writer. for 50 years said billy connko writer. for 50 years said billy connolly has been one of britain's most successful and popular entertainers. he has now written a book. our arts editor went to a meeting in glasgow to talk about comedy, scotland and living with parkinson's disease. and so he picks on davey,

who lives in a council house. he says "what do you reckon you would get if you sold your house?" and davey says "about 60 days." laughter. this particular theatre, the kings, is very good, because it's vertical. it's got three gods. and the sound tends to come at you like a wall. posh accent: yes, i know, i do know you. i said "do you think we could go in?" laughter. do you think, "actually, do you know what? i'd ike to give it one more go? i'd like another night here." yes. but not right now. i'm not ready. posh accent: i know you! i know where i know you from. i said "where am ifrom?" posh accent: eton! i know you from eton! laughter. i, i feel different. my mind works differently. i don't know if i can do it, with my mind in the state that it's in. and i... and i drool. which, that's a recent one. it's another gorgeous side

of parkinson's disease. there's a little surprise every month. and this month's surprise is drooling. posh accent: toboggan? laughter. i said "toboggan?" posh accent: yes, toboggan. as if it was the most normal thing on earth. posh accent: he's a jolly good tobogganist. keeps his toboggan lovely. laughter. you've been at this over four decades. yes. and in that time, comedy has changed, a lot. it's got so good. british comedy is an extraordinary shape. i would be scared to go on with these guys. they‘ re better than me. as far as i'm concerned. do you think, then, if you were starting out now, in 2019, young billy connolly, that you wouldn't make it? i would make it... it's attitude. "jojoba." i said "what's jojoba ? " in glasgow, that's the month before november.

laughter. scotland's in great shape. it's... politically, it's in extraordinary shape. it's beginning to stand alone. and they won't take crap any more. they don't want to settle for whoever england votes for. would you like to see scotland be independent? i don't know. if scotland would like it, i would like it. i'm not as young as i was. i've noticed a certain distinctive changes coming over me recently. i tend to make a noise when i bend down. i don't know how long i've been doing this, i caught myself the other day going... groans loudly. laughter. in the book, you finish off talking about your illness and talking about death. yes. and being quite sanguine about it. yeah. well, i'm old. 0h, tish!

i'm 76. my hearing, my eyesight, the way i walk. it's all beginning to fail. ijust accept it for what it is. so you have trouble getting out of bed, so you have trouble getting into bed. so you have trouble your socks on. just deal with it. that's who you are now. you're a drooling, limping has—been. get on with it, enjoy it. you pass this way but once. conneuy connelly proving he is not a has—been. the headlines on bbc news. three people have been standing in knife attack at the arndale centre in manchester —— stabbed in a knife attack. police arrest a man in his

405. eu countries give the go—ahead for their chief negotiator to have more intensified brexit talks with the uk. turkey is offensive against the uk. turkey is offensive against the kurds is continuing, the un says 100,000 people have fled their homes in northern syria. now on bbc news, a look ahead to sportsday at 6:30 tonight. a huge weekend of sport coming up, we have the latest from japan and the typhoon that has affected the rugby world cup schedule and might stop scotland reaching the quarterfinals. ireland against samoa is the only match tomorrow to go ahead. they were more worried about the state of the pitch than the weather. qualifying for the japanese grand prix has been shifted to the morning of the race on sunday because of that typhoon. england can qualify for the euro championships next summer if they beat the czech republic. we live in prague. we also