restoration on the tower is set to continue until 2021, and the palace of westminster, years after that. but it's been such a privilege work this is bbc news, the headlines: to come up here and see this up close and i cannot wait for the scaffolding to come down. it will all be revealed boeing will suspend production and for everyone to get the chance of its 737 max airliner injanuary. it was grounded in march after two to see it too. fatal crashes in indonesia but in the meantime, limited tours of the houses and ethiopia that killed 346 people. of parliament back on the ground the company says it won't lay off are still available for visitors from around the world. workers but the stoppage is likely it's all getting to affect suppliers and the wider economy. nice and festive here in the uk. opposition parties in india have but if you're planning a trip condemned what they describe and you have some as the police‘s violent suppression last—minute gifts to buy, of student protests over here are some european christmas a new citizenship law. markets we recommend. the congress party accused croatia's capital zagreb has become the government of declaring war on its own people, after video footage of police beating protesters a huge citywide christmas market. at a university appeared on social media. a massive event that's seen it win awards britain's prime minister is planning for the last three years in a row. a new law to prevent the theme this time any extension of the brexit is the nutcracker, transition process beyond which includes an escape room the end of 2020. and a walk—through cave the withdrawal agreement will include a clause making to get you in the mood. further delays illegal. there's some concern this revives the possibility of the uk leaving the eu without a trade deal. our tip — head for zrinjevac park, which has a more traditional croatian feel, to try out what some of the croats

eat at this time of year. new talks have taken place in northern ireland, to try to restore the devolved government at stormont. it's nearly three years since power sharing collapsed if you're looking for winter wonderlands, because of disputes salzburg in austria between sinn fein and the democratic isn't a bad shout. unionists. its market has roots going back there's renewed pressure to the late 15th century. on the parties to get back you'll get all the usual into government with a crisis in the health service, strike action planned and patient mulled wine, wooden huts, waiting lists the worst in the uk. from belfast, here's our ireland gingerbread, and so on, but the activities here are pretty good too. correspondent emma va rdy. they've organised sing—alongs winter at stormont, parties out in the cold. each morning civil servants arrive to run the country. it's many moons since politicians in the main square, took decisions here. will readings of children's christmas stories and traditional wind music it's a source of continuous pain. performed high above the square. bruges‘ usual ice rink has been replaced by an artificial one this john's one of thousands of patients year, said to be much more eco—friendly. the annual ice sculpture festival in northern ireland now waiting has also been cancelled, because city authorities said years for routine operations. a lack of government has led it was too energy inefficient. however, this little belgian town to the slow decay of services. while the parties try is so fairy tail beautiful at this time of year, it's still to resolve their differences, well worth a visit. and the tiny alpine town of bolzano he faces another year—and—a—half‘s wait for a hip replacement. reckons it has got italy's

i mean, to wait that long, biggest christmas market. the organisers here go big and your life's on hold. on rustic and traditional. there are about 80 stalls, most selling locally made gifts. in the kind of pain you're in. it's all set around a nativity scene yeah, yeah. it's just on hold. you can't do anything. in a real wooden stable. there's too many people pointing the finger at each other. theyjust need to get on. today, calls for an irish language act. the main issue pretending sinn fein and the democratic unionists still to come on the travel show: from governing together again. as christmas nears, we're off to meet the people behind one of london's most historic shopping arcades. and i'm heading to the east of england as ever, we enter into these to take to the stage negotiations in a spirit in britain's biggest christmas show. so, don't go away. of optimism and determination. now, at this time of year, and now the big test is political will. i have listened very carefully during this election campaign, and right throughout the campaign there was a desire to get stormont london's streets are packed with last—minute christmas shoppers back up and running again. and, perhaps, therefore, we are here to try the most famous is regent street, and make that happen, which this year i hope all the other celebrates its 200th birthday. butjust off regent street, parties will too. you'll find somewhere else celebrating too. it's the burlington shopping arcade since the dup lost its influence that first opened back in 1819. in westminster, there's new incentive to get back we went to visit as it to power—sharing here, geared up for christmas but deeply—held positions on both in its own unique style.

sides make compromise a difficult task. both parties were punished in the general election for three years of stalemate. if there's no agreement in weeks they will face assembly elections, a path they may want to avoid. emma vardy, bbc news, belfast. now on bbc news, the travel show. this week on the travel show: i'm in the uk to see up close how one of the nation's most iconic landmarks is getting a much—needed facelift. 0h! hello. my name is mark lord. i'm the head beadle at the burlington arcade you oh, my very word. here in the heart of mayfair. look at that! and with the festive season just around the corner, we're in london's historic burlington shopping arcade as a famous face helps it celebrate its 200th christmas. before i head east to norfolk‘s thursford spectacular, putting my feet to the test i think the beadles keep a great tradition in here. i love the way they stop people running, they don't let you sing at britain's biggest christmas show. and whistle, all that stuff makes it very different to most arcades.

we have some very good customers and great characters. arnold schwarzenegger is a great customer of ours. bought several pairs once, didn't want to carry them around with him, was going to come back, we said what time are you coming back? we're starting this week as he left, he turned and winked and went, right in the middle of london, "i'll be back." and inside the landmark that, for generations, my predecessors have told me the stories of when fred astaire has been notjust a source danced in the arcade because someone bought some parker slippers. of beauty, but of power too. they used to call this marilyn monroe was filming with laurence olivier. "the mother of pa rliaments". his butler brought her here the palace of westminster because apparently sir lawrence and ms munroe did not get on very well. was first built in 1016, we have all types of people. we have people from the but until the 19th century, it looked very different. prime minister to famous actresses a massive fire and just normal people. in 2006, i popped in here and a victorian rebuild created the gothic spires because it was time for me to look that have made the building famous. that is the 900—year—old heart of the uk establishment, for an engagement ring, and one of its most recognisable landmarks, so a remembered burlington arcade,

which you might know so i popped in. from scenes like this. the ayes to the right, 202. the noes to the left, 228. and i was looking at the jewellery cheering recently, coverage of the ongoing, and i couldn't see the shoeshiner. and often heated, brexit debates i said, "do know where have brought images of this building the shoeshine guy is?" and they said he hasn't come around for the last three months. into homes all over the world. i said, "you're missing the point, i am a shoeshiner, i would love order! to be involved here. order. but the building is falling apart. and from that, 13 years crumbling plasterwork riddled with asbestos and even in the chamber itself, later, i'm here." the inner sanctum of british lawmaking, there are leaks. i want to finally finish my comments... the roof's leaking! ..with a leaky roof in the background. the sitting is now suspended and no photographs please! you could travel the world and look rain sounds at lots of different luxury retail the palace of westminster has stores and streets and they all look been a unesco world heritage site very similar, since 1987, burlington arcade and in 2015, is a unique thoroughfare. it's not too big. it's not a shopping mall. it's very human in terms of size. a joint committee determined wejumped in anothertime, because almost nothing has changed in terms of decor. that the longer

essential works were put off, the higher the risk the building could suffer it's like being in a a sudden catastrophic failure. fairytale or in a movie. the cost of repair has been and five, four, three, two, one! cheering. estimated at 5.5 billion. even just the annual maintenance bill stacks up at a whopping £30 million. they remind us of a winter wonderland, really, and it's amazing it's daunting for the man in charge of conservation the effect the christmas who meets me in the ancient westminster hall. this is the oldest part of the houses of parliament, of course. this dates from 1099 lights can have on people. and was extensively refurbished by richard i! in 1395 and finished off by henry iv in 1402. and it was high time it had a bit of attention, even after my 17 christmases in the arcade, it still gives starting off with straightening you a tingle on the back the steps out over there, for example, sorting out floor, of your spine when you are here which was sinking in one corner and you see the joy on people's and the roof is actually faces and just that little skip in quite good shape, in their step. but it was rather dirty so we thought we it has a very, very, should get up there, and every so often a bit fell off. we used to have fly—pasts, very special atmosphere. and little pieces of timber would drop off, and that is not really conducive to public health and safety, so to speak. that does sound like quite a challenge.

it's a huge logistical challenge. now i'm heading 130 it's always very difficult in a building that's miles east, to norfolk. in intensive use. this is the seat of parliament, this part of the country is known for its beautiful countryside the legislator has primacy over everything we do, and we have to consider that. and a network of waterways and so you tend to get called the norfolk broads. a backlog of maintenance, because there isn't but as the winter chill draws on, much time to do it in. one of the most famous it is the tiny village of thursford, parts of the whole site which since 1977, has made christmas is the elizabeth tower, which contains big ben — a bell, not a clock, as many think. special for over 6 million people. shutterbugs coming here on holiday will have been disappointed and around this time of year for the past two years as the whole thing has been encased in scaffolding. you might be thinking of heading restoring it has been somewhere christmassy, like sa nta's grotto. but few places match the scale a colossaljob. of the thursford christmas spectacular. each day during the festive season we're going over the top up to 50 coach loads of visitors of portcullis house, come in here to see britain's and when we get to level 25 of the scaffold, biggest christmas show. which is about 50 metres up, you go past the clock faces. # let the drums roll out. oh, my very word! # let the trumpets call. look at that! # while the people shout. it's enormous! how big is that? that's about just over eight metres in diameter. #strike up the band... you can drive a double—decker bus through it is the statistic. was it originally natural stone? yes.

yeah, it was, and we found as we were painting our analysis with 2000 pom—poms and 1.5 million rhinestones, of the dialframe itself, this is a show to remember for the 110,000 people who come here during the festive season. now in its 43rd year, this family—run production was started as one man's vision. it's a journey to christmas eve, basically, in music, we went back through the colours song, and dance. but through its popularity and we found that this was the blue through the years it's had to come forward. that was the original colour. so now it starts on november 6. and we carried out extensive stone repairs, we're about halfway it's basically a non—stop through those as well. extravaganza of music, so, has it been dance, and song. a straightforward process? did they leave instructions on how to fix this thing? no, obviously no instructions. i think the team that i feel particularly for are the clock mechanics who have taken apart the mechanism for the first i had a friend in king's college time in its history and now have cambridge who was one of the king's college choral to put it all back together, scholars, which was a school and there are an awful lot of pieces for norfolk at the time. that need to go back together. and just 400—500 people turned up. they are a phenomenally talented group of guys, so i have no doubt that they will do but it was just in the middle it and they will do it very well. of this building here. so it started with one show, just behind the clock face lies the main event. then went to two, then four, the enormous chunk of cast—iron then eight, then 16, and so on. i'm up here to see. i guess that's it! that is big ben, yeah! the show still takes place injohn‘s

the name is apt. the bell is 13 tons in weight, converted farmyard barn. which is phenomenal. you can feel the thickness and he begins preparing each of it, actually. it's so thick. christmas show injanuary. you can't even appreciate looking at it from the outside. can i have a look under? this year, over 3000 west end you can. and broadway artists auditioned oh, wow! that is... 12 inches, maybe. to be part of the company maybe slightly more. that is an impressive bell. of over 120 performers. and, today, i'm going to bejoining in the past, you've only been them for the big finale. but first, a crash course in learning my steps. allowed up into the tower the front, one, two, three... ..five, six, seven, eight. by contacting your mp, and only if you're a uk resident. the powers that be have not yet decided if they will be relaxing hands, hands, bow, stand left foot. those rules when it reopens. as they come up the top of the stairs there will be a glass one, two, three, four, five, box, and just above you will be six, seven, eight... the quarter bell so it will be and then make your way back out. a really interesting viewpoint and one that will probably scare a few people, and you can thank you so much for teaching me. also see out to big ben, i hope i don't cause any disruption later. which previously, you were great. there was an old bridge structure which wasn't particularly impressive you will be great. so we replaced it. what is it like for you to perform it kinda gives you that visibility of big ben when you come to the top, in a show like this? it is a little bit it will be a real wow moment different, isn't it? yeah, it's very different. for the people who come it's not like any other show. up the stairs.

u nforg etta ble, really. ican imagine i'm one of the singers in the show. after all those stairs, i did the show last year you would want something and fell in love with it. so i'm back this year. that is a wow moment! it's just such a variety. 324 steps. 00:10:08,727 --> 2147483051:41:49,078 you get a bit of a break halfway 2147483051:41:49,078 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 just to catch your breath, even as a singer i do lots of musical theatre stuff but this has lots of classical in there as well. it's nice to get that kind of mixture. one thing that is incredible is we are celebrating christmas for two months every day. you would think it would get a little tedious, but it doesn't. because every show we have 1400 people watching and they're all there to celebrate christmas and it's just amazing to do shows every day, twice a day. applause. i understand that this is quite a production. we're talking about over 100 performers. i mean, what kind of logistical challenges are there for you guys backstage? it's a massive one. there are thousands and thousands of costumes in the show. because every single musician, singer, dancer, variety act, they've all got 10—15 costumes each. and so, with backstage buzzing,

this afternoon's christmas spectacular is about to start. # i've been dreaming of christmas time. # every day through the year. # trees shine in every window. # children all dream of reindeer hoof prints in the snow. # i've been longing for christmas time. # when hearts are warm and filled with joy. # there's love for all to share. # as gifts...

this is suzy, she's going to help me get into my costume. # the best time of the year... music plays. i have to go onstage now. let's hope i remember my steps. applause. music plays.

0h! ok, so i didn't fall over, i didn't forget the steps, and i didn't cause any kind of incidents. so as far as i'm concerned, job done. but i must say, being up there, looking out at the audience, all standing, clapping, enjoying themselves, everyone singing, it really was something a bit special. and i didn't fall over.

yes! well, that's it for this week's travel show. coming up next week... we'll be looking back at some of our favourite moments of the year, like when mike climbed up one of nature's giants in california. condors get this view. condors — and us. it's incredible. and when ade went full throttle in dubai. oh, yes! so do join us then. and in the meantime, from all of us here at the travel show, we wish you a very happy festive season and, until next time, it's goodbye.

most parts of the uk are pretty chilly at the moment, so we have had some snow across northern scotland and quite a harsh frost, but the main message for the week ahead is quite the opposite. it is going to be mild, wet, and very windy at times as well, but a bit of sunshine from time to time too. it doesn't look like it will be a complete washout. the satellite picture shows a fair bit of cloud across southern parts of the uk, drizzly, northern england is quite misty at the moment with cold weather across scotland. we have had some snow here, it will continue to remain quite wintry through the early hours here, but temperatures are rising through the night. it was around —6 degrees in parts of scotland. by the end of the night those temperatures will be a little bit

higher, but in the far south—east, we are starting with around seven degrees. quite a bit of cloud here, mist and murk around the midlands, northern england, and there will be some sunshine around on tuesday. not a gloomy day everywhere. i think the most likely place to stay cloudy and quite damp is east anglia and the south east. it is pretty chilly, around five degrees for many of us. the forecast tuesday night into wednesday, we are in between weather systems. this next one is heading our way but we're just ahead of it, and that means that on wednesday or at least wednesday morning, we start off with a lot of fog around. there could be some real problems with thick fog particularly around the midlands. then the wind starts to pick up, we will see some sunshine briefly before this weather front arrives on our shores and reaches south—western england, wales, and northern ireland. this as a spell of very wet and windy weather. we are talking about severe gales blowing around some of these coasts here, in fact from wednesday

and into thursday, gusts could be around 70 miles an hour. not as windy inland, but still windy enough. we can see all that bad weather sweeps across the uk through the course of wednesday night and into thursday as well. at the end of the week, this big low pressure is basically dominating a whole chunk of the atlantic, western europe as well. it is notjust us that get bad weather too, there will be some rough, windy weather across parts of europe as well. as we head towards the end of the week, the temperature is going to pick up, we will see mild southerlies for a time — we could heading around 13 degrees in the south. that's it, bye—bye.

year are this is bbc news — welcome if you're watching here in the uk, on pbs in america or around the globe. i'm mike embley. our top stories: crisis at boeing — the company suspends production of its 737 max aircraft — grounded since march, after two fatal crashes. opposition parties in india condemn police for the violent suppression of protests over a new citizenship law. many believe that young people here, who are trying to voice their dissent in a democracy, were crushed by the state. and that's triggered a reaction across india. britain's prime minister plans a new law to prevent any extension of the brexit transition process

beyond the end of 2020. growing concern in australia over the worsening wildfires