this is bbc news. our top stories: palace talks conclude over the future of prince harry and meghan — they'll lose their royal titles and public funding when they step back from official duties. president trump's lawyers give their first formal response to his impeachment, they say it's a brazen attempt by his rivals to interfere in the upcoming election. violent clashes break out between anti—government protesters and police in the lebanese capital — dozens of people are injured from fires to floods, scorched parts of australia's east coast are now battered by heavy rain and thunderstorms.

hello and welcome to bbc news. buckingham palace has announced the new arrangements for prince harry and his wife meghan, saying they'll no longer be working members of the royal family and will no longer use their titles of "royal highness." harry and meghan will step back from royal duties, but will continue to be patrons of charities they've chosen to support. in a personal statement queen elizabeth said she supports the couple's wish for a more independent life. our royal correspondent, nicholas witchell, has our first report, it contains some flashing images. the deal has been done. they are walking away from the british monarchy. they will earn their own living and they will spend most of their time in north america. a man who was born to be royal will no longer style himself as "his royal highness."

she will not call herself "her royal highness." that hrh styling applies to full—time, working members of the british royal family which, come the spring, harry and meghan will no longer be. they are going with the best wishes of the queen. in a statement from buckingham palace, she said:. she went on: she added: the details of how their new life will work are comparatively sparse. it is clear many of them have still to be worked out. but here are the essentials. under the new arrangement, they are required to step back from royal duties, including official military appointments.

so harry will have to give up his role as captain general of the royal marines, a role he took over from his grandfather. they will no longer receive public funds for royal duties. they will still receive some funds from harry's father, the prince of wales, but they will be free to earn their own livings and there are no restrictions set out in the statement other than the need to continue to uphold the values of her majesty. it's as vague as that. they will keep frogmore cottage in windsor and they have shared their wish to repay sovereign grant expenditure for its refurbishment. they will pay a commercial rent when they use it. on security, there are no details of who will provide it or who will pay for it. so will these arrangements work? the fact that they are not going to be doing any of their, any royal work... is probably the best solution because then it makes a very clean break and everyone is clear about what they will be doing

and there will be no blurred lines. i think this is a good solution. the royalfamily is putting a brave face on it. but one must suppose there is great sadness and disappointment that it has come to this. one of the family's most popular members has had enough and has negotiated a clean breakfor a new life with his family. this evening's decision is a momentous one for the royal family. our royal correspondent daniela relph looks back now at the duke and duchess‘ story so far. they metjust over a year earlier but these were the first pictures in september 2017, which showed the relationship was serious. meghan lived and worked in toronto, the host city for prince harry's invictus games. two months later, their engagement was announced and the couple were interviewed in kensington palace by the bbc‘s mishal husain. how much of a sense did you have, meghan, of the enormity of

what you are getting into, of what it might mean for your life? i can very safely say, as naive as it sounds now, having gone through this learning curve in the past year, i did not have any understanding of just what it would be like. i don't think either of us did, though. we both said that, even though we knew that it would be... no, i tried to warn you as much as possible. four days later, the couple carried out their first engagement together. just like harry, she was tactile, informal and confident. this seemed a different kind of royal walkabout. when meghan joined harry, prince william and kate on stage as the soon—to—be patron of the royal foundation, it seemed like the future of the royal family was safe in the hands of the so—called fab four. their wedding, watched by millions around the world, seemed the perfect end to a fairytale romance. by january 2019, meghan was pregnant and had begun work with her first patronages, but behind—the—scenes

there were several unexpected moves. rather than live in kensington palace, next to the cambridges, they chose frogmore cottage in windsor. they moved their staff from kensington palace to buckingham palace. injune, it was revealed the sussexes would leave the royal foundation, setting up their own instead. the split led to rumours of a rift between harry and william. towards the end of their high—profile tour of southern africa, it was clear the couple were struggling with the glare of the royal spotlight. can you deal with it? can you manage it? despite outward appearances, this was a couple deeply unhappy with their royal role, and determined to make a change. after the intense discussions of recent days, this new way of working will be something quite different for harry and meghan and for the wider royal family. making a success of it will be a test for all those involved. daniela relph, bbc news, at buckingham palace. let's get some of the day's other news.

a news agency in iran says the black box flight recorders of the ukrainian airliner which was accidentally shot down by iranian forces will be sent to ukraine. the tasnim agency quoted an iranian civil aviation offical as saying the black boxes would be transferred to ukraine — as requested by ukrainian authorities. iran has admitted "unintentionally" shooting down the passengerjet killing all 176 passengers and crew earlier this month. canada's federal government has approved emergency assistance to help people in the western province of newfoundland after a record—breaking snowstorm. the blizzard dropped more than 75 centimetres of snow on the newfoundland capital, stjohn's, burying cars and causing an avalanche in one neighbourhood. thousands of residents are without electricity on the atlantic island, and many are having to dig their way out of their homes. five years after his mysterious death, thousands of people have gathered in the argentine capital to demand

justice in the case of a prosecutor, alberto nisman. some protestors carried placards accusing the country's newly—elected vice president, cristina fernandez de kirchner, of involvement in his murder. mr nisman was found shot dead in his apartment five years ago, hours before he was due to present a report on the bombing of a jewish community centre “119911. in the report he accused the president at the time, of helping iran to cover up its alleged involvement. president trump's legal team has set out its response to the impeachment charges against him, saying they violate the constitution and fail to show that any law was broken. a six—page document issued by his lawyers argues that next week's trial in the senate amounts to a dangerous attack on the american people. the bbc‘s washington correspondent ben wright says president trump's lawyers will argue it's an attempt to interfere in this year's presidential election.

they had to do this. it was a demand of the senate in these early days before the trial kicks off on tuesday, they had to sketch out their legal argument and for months president trump has railed on social media and elsewhere about what he sees as an unjust and unfair impeachment process, one that has been under way on capitol hill and he now has to put down his defence in writing. they are essentially arguing that they think the two impeachment articles, one alleging an abuse of power and the second, obstructing congress, are constitutionally and legally invalid. theyjust do not stand up to scrutiny and his lawyers are arguing there is nothing in these impeachment articles that says he has done anything wrong or illegal. the do not dispute some of the basic facts of this, that he made a telephone call with the president of the ukraine back injuly in which they spoke about launching an investigation intojoe biden and his son hunter and military aid was withheld. but they say there was no quid pro quo, it was not a deal there was no threat made and that is precisely what

house democrats who are prosecuting this case do say which is why they think this clearly crosses the bar when it comes to impeachment and they hope to remove donald trump from office. and what happens next week? the lebanese capital beirut has seen its worst violence since anti—establishment street protests began three months ago. the red cross says 220 people were injured as riot police fought running battles with demonstrators for several hours. banks were vandalised and at least one protest camp was set on fire. the lebanese president michel aoun has called on the army to restore calm. lina sinjab reports from beirut. it is getting violent in beirut. for days, angry protesters have taken to the streets, blocking roads and attacking banks in central beirut. with political deadlock and no government in place, the banks continue to limit cash withdrawals for clients, allowing them in some cases just $50 a week,

a reality that has left many furious on the street. and now, this is the scene. stones versus tear gas and water cannons. people are angry about the government's perceived incompetence and their political elite. despite brief smaller protests over the holiday period, it seems things have gotten worse. security forces have been detaining many protesters which, in turn, has pushed more people onto the street. and the politicians are not moving. hassan diab has been appointed as a prime minister from the former government but many see him as incapable of forming a technocrat parliament that would appease the demands of the people. with the economic situation deteriorating, protesters anger is likely to get worse. joining me now is habib battah — an investigative journalist and the editor of beirutreport.com.

thank you forjoining us. that me ask you first of all, why do you think that the situation in terms of violence is escalating so much in the last day or so? we've seen a lot of outbursts of violence across the three months of protest, unprecedented processed in the benign ‘s history. but tonight is definitely an uptick in that. the protester frustrated because it has been over three months there is no a nswer been over three months there is no answer from the government as to, is that going to be change in the country? will they be new elections? will we have a new government? all the things a have been demanding had not come true and meanwhile there has been a lot of pressure on the lebanese people let them because they have been more power cuts than ever, the banks in the benign are not giving money out, they have been issuing capital controls, a few hundred dollars a week or a month in some cases. people are fed up, they are feeling the pressure and tonight we saw a group of several hundred

protesters fighting with the police, if the situation continues like this in the benign, people aren't getting money, we could see a lot more people on the street in the future. with scenes like this, why is it do you think that the government is so frozen? what is it that installing right now? is to say because the government in leven on is notoriously not transparent. this whole process of government formation is shrouded in secrecy. we are not given any details about the names until they are announced they are links to the press but there was —— there were some names are believed in these individuals were actually tied to political parties in one of the main demands has been a break from in one of the main demands has been a breakfrom lebanese political system, a break from the a breakfrom lebanese political system, a breakfrom the political parties who they see as corrupt as it does make and of because last 30 yea rs of it does make and of because last 30 years of corruptions, they have become little parties in the postwar period and there's a that these parties alone to the protesters and they're trying to sneak in their

representatives into the new government. people are very angry about that and they are angry about so about that and they are angry about so many things. we've heard that the internet might be cut in the benign because the government is failing to pay the phone before the internet in the country, a few million dollars. the government is incapable of this point of doing the most basic governance task. do you think drafting of the army is a significant escalation in all this? compared to other countries, have been a lot of injuries, pretty —— police brutality in the benign but there hasn't been a lot of death so farand so there hasn't been a lot of death so far and so the military seems to be kind of a symbolic move. people find the military more popular than the right list. who we saw this evening, videos showing them beating protesters without any instigation at some points. beating people and the police are investigating that, the police are investigating that, the military is seen more

trustworthy but they have also engaged in some very rough tactics so engaged in some very rough tactics so the politicians in the country seem so the politicians in the country seem to be up against the wall. they've never experienced anything like this before 11 on and lost three orfour years, like this before 11 on and lost three or four years, it's like this before 11 on and lost three orfour years, it's been like this before 11 on and lost three or four years, it's been a very deliberate structure in which militias have shared power at the expense of the public who has seen the living conditions deteriorate as we see millionaires and billionaires in our parliament. there is a lot of fear out there are what would happen because people are very attached. some people are attached to the resume. “— some people are attached to the resume. —— regime. stay with us on bbc news, still to come: yemen's rivals battle over banknotes, new currency is the latest contention in the country's civil war. donald trump is now the 45th president of the united states. he was sworn in before several hundred thousand people on the steps

of capitol hill in washington. it's going to be only america first. america first. demonstrators waiting for mike gatting and his rebel cricket team were attacked with tear gas and set up on by police dogs. anti—apartheid campaigners say they will carry on the protests throughout the tour. they called him ‘the butcher of lyon'. klaus altmann is being held on a fraud charge in bolivia. the west germans wants to extradite him for crimes committed in wartime france. there, he was the gestapo chief klaus barbie. millions came to bathe as close as possible to this spot. a tide of humanity. it is believed by officials to have broken all records.

this is bbc news, the latest headlines: the queen says prince harry and meghan will lose their royal titles and public funding, they'll also pay back taxpayers' money used to renovate their home. more now on that story: we can now speak to the canadian royal commentator richard berthelsen who has previosly worked as private secretary to two of canada's lieutenant governors. thanks forjoining us. first of all, your reaction to the deal that has been done between the queen and the duke and duchess of sussex?” been done between the queen and the duke and duchess of sussex? i think there is a degree of sadness amongst many people about deal because it ta kes many people about deal because it takes the suffixes out of the direct royal spotlight in terms of their duties, particularly prince harry's involvement with the military, and it starts us on a course that we are not really sure what is going to happen in the future. at the same time, a suspect there is some relief

in ottawa in particular, because this deal makes clear that the suffixes are not going to be full—time working royals or represent the queen so i think will be canadian situation and a better degree of clarity. they will be representing themselves and performing duties as celebrity royals rather than members of the royals rather than members of the royal family. what has been the reaction in canada? i'm sure the canadian press has been going crazy over at? it has been a big story, there have been other big stories, not least of which the snowstorm you referred to earlier and the tragic incident of thejet referred to earlier and the tragic incident of the jet being shot down in tehran. but this has titillated many in parts of canada particularly our west coast with the suffixes have formed a royal refuge on vancouver island. there has been lots of speculation as to whether they would settle their or toronto whether duchess has enormous connections. there has been a lot of concern about whether or not canadians would end up putting what could be a very dramatic security

bill for royals being in the country ona bill for royals being in the country on a full—time basis. we have a delicate situation with many canadians not always understanding that they have a monarchy and that royals are there royals as much of the uk but now it seems there is a bit of walking back from that and i suspect we would not be in a situation where we have to protect them on a 20 47 basis. it was interesting when the queen referred to the future and what harry and meghan would do. it was kept very vague except for the values, keeping the values that the queen holds dear. what does that mean? hello that was one of the vega statements in this release that came up from the palace today. the values that many people associate with the queen our duty and loyalty to the commonwealth and it is not clear how they are going to discharge that. at they are going to discharge that. at the same time, one wonders if it means they are going to be careful about what they do and they are not going to bring dishonour or

tackiness through some of the approaches they may choose to grant financial independence, and as long as their focus on charitable issues and social causes, there are going to be many canadians that agree with that and will support them and that, and how this involves on our west coast will be watched closely. there might bea coast will be watched closely. there might be a demo view taken of that here. thank you so much for talking to us. thank you very much indeed. after weeks of bushfires and one of the most severe droughts on record, parts of australia's east coast have now been hit with heavy rain and thunderstorms. there have been heavy downpours in queensland, new south wales and victoria. some places have had more than three times the average monthly rainfall in one night. courtney bembridge reports. heavy rain doused to the flames in some parts of the country, but brought fresh danger to others. storms described as a 1—in—100—year event have swept through

the north—east state of queensland, causing flash flooding. the water has also washed ash and debris into waterways, with fisheries experts worried thousands of fish may have been killed in new south wales. an estimated one billion animals have died since australia's bushfire crisis began and many more are now at risk of starvation. the australian veterinary association says food desperately needs to be air dropped to inaccessible bushfire affected areas to save starving wildlife. in south australia, one of the country's most important wildlife sanctuaries, renowned for its biodiversity, is taking stock of the damage. this is what kangaroo island used to look like. this is that same road now. it is feared half of the island, more than 200,000 hectares, has been scorched. it is an ecological disaster so big the army has been called in. soldiers have helped to dig trenches to bury thousands of sheep and cattle.

i have seen the level of destruction, it still surprises me now. there are lots of farmers who are in distress, lots of community members suffering. some families have lost everything. further south, hazardous smoke has been blanketing the victorian capital melbourne, and people have been advised to stay indoors. but the city is due to host the australian open tennis tournament starting monday. over the past week, several players have complained of breathing difficulties during qualifying matches. roger federer has won four australian open titles and says he is confident the conditions are ok to play in. with the haze and everything it doesn't look good, but i think we're going to get through and should be fine. there are still more than a dozen fires burning in victoria. firefighters are battling to contain a large fire in the state's mountain region, 15 times the size of manhattan.

in yemen — as the internal conflict continues between the internationally—recognised government and houthi rebels, a new level of economic warfare has been announced by the houthis. they‘ re encouraging their supporters to stop using banknotes produced by the government — and only deal in older banknotes, effectively creating a two—currency system in the country. rich preston has this report. 0ne country, two sets of banknotes. the old ones and the new ones. the ones you use depend on which side of the civil war use it. on saturday, the civil war use it. on saturday, the houthi rebels outlawed the crisp new currency in the areas they control which includes the capital. 0nly control which includes the capital. only the old currency can be used. for yemenis in government—controlled areas, only the new currency is valid. the houthis is this is to

combat rapid money printing by the government. the government called economic vandalism. translation: the decision taken by the houthis is 100% correct and we support it and call for its full implementation. translation: the houthis took this decision and did not consider the economic cost to society. it has affected people's trading and was done forcefully. yemen's civil war has thought to have killed 10,000 people and push millions to the brink of starvation. while the warring factions have found ammunition in banknotes instead of bombs, many say ordinary yemenis will be the hardest hit by this new tactic, unable to buy basic supplies or simply be paid in a currency they can use.

trade bodies warn that brexit could lead to increased costs for businesses. before we go, a reminder of our top story. buckingham palace has announced the new arrangements for prince harry and his wife meghan, saying they will no longer be working members of the royalfamily and will no longer use the title. harry and meghan will step back from royal duties but will continue to be patrons of charities they have chosen to support. in a personal statement, queen elizabeth says she supports the couples wish for a more independent life. you can get more on that story and everything else you have been watching on our website. thanks so much for your

company, stay with us here. hello. it's bitterly cold out and about. it looks like it will be the coldest night of the winter so far. and frost, ice and increasingly patchy fog will feature in the forecast for the next few days. in fact, with some sunshine and a lot of dry weather as well, though the sunshine will tend to fade as these weak weather fronts come around our area of high pressure and bring more cloud with them. but for the most part it's dry, some showers lingering in the far north and west of scotland and some rain and sleet is coming into eastern parts of england, especially east anglia. so with a widespread frost, —5 or —6 in the countryside, obviously ice will be a concern, especially where we have had the showers, but it has been so damp. freezing fog, especially in the likes of the severn valley up through the welsh

marches, the cheshire plains, not exclusively here, parts of northern ireland and scotland as well, it will struggle to lift. for most of us it is dry, plenty of sunshine, mostly hazy in the north with the approach of this weather front. temperatures should get to about average where we clear the fog. some bright and crisp sunshine. however, we do pull in more cloud and a stronger breeze and a little bit of rain for the far north of scotland, the northern isles, and that cloud will tend to hang around as we go through sunday night and into monday, which means if we run the temperature profile through the night, the drop in temperature, it will not get quite as cold through tonight, sunday night into monday, as it does again, harsh frost for many of us further south. again, freezing fog. that is going to be a concern for the morning rush hour on monday. with patches around, being patchy makes it more dangerous if you are travelling. watch out for that in the coming mornings, including this morning.

monday looks like another day, once that clears, bright weather but pretty cold. more cloud will thicken up across scotland and northern ireland, with the approach of this weather front, which will bring a little bit of a drizzly rain in through tuesday. nothing significant because that high will come back again for the rest of the week. so monday, yes, it looks like another cold night come monday into tuesday across many southern and central areas, but we do get some rain for the far north of scotland, but look how it peters out as it sinks out. introducing more cloud for the day on tuesday to central areas. brighter skies following, brighter but cold with patchy fog towards the south as well. basically, with high pressure on top of us, apart from that weather front and the odd shower around through this morning, it does look like a largely dry picture until the end of next weekend. goodbye.

this is bbc news, the headlines: buckingham palace announces details of prince harry and meghan's new status, as they step back from being senior royals. the couple will stop using their royal highness titles and will receive no public funds for royal duties. lawyers for president trump issue their first formal response to his impeachment saying it is an attack on the american people. a six page letter describes the charges as unconstitutional and a brazen attempt by his rivals to interfere in the upcoming presidential election. the lebanese capital beirut has seen its worst violence since anti—government protests began three months ago. the red cross says more than 200 people have been injured. rain and thunderstorms have hit parts of australia's east coast, putting out some long—burning bushfires, but bringing a new threat of flooding to some areas. there have been heavy downpours in queensland, victoria and new south wales.