also tonight: the actor timothy west has died at the age of 90, leaving behind his wife of 61 years, prunella scales. surprise at the old bailey, as the father of ten—year—old sara sharif — who was found dead at her home in surrey — says he takes full responsibility for her death. woman gasps she's gone. panic on spain's costa del sol — thousands of homes are evacuated in malaga, as more torrential rain sparks flooding. and was this whale really a russian spy? the mystery may have just been solved. and coming up on bbc news, eight england players have dropped out of lee carsley�*s squad for the interim manager's final two games in charge. they are in athens to play greece tomorrow and host ireland on sunday.

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. donald trump has metjoe biden in the white house this afternoon to discuss the transition of power, and he thanked him for making it "as smooth as you can get". it's his first visit to washington since his historic election triumph last week. the two men didn't meet face—to—face four years ago, afterjoe biden won, because donald trump refused to do so. meanwhile, he has been announcing the names of more people who'll be playing key roles in his administration. among them, the richest man on the planet, elon musk. here's our north america editor, sarah smith. he's back. donald trump savouring his victory and making a triumphant return to washington. it does all look remarkably cordial, considering. mr president—elect and former president. thank you very much. donald, congratulations.

thank you very much. president biden is trying to demonstrate his commitment to the peaceful transfer of power. we'll do everything we can to make sure you're accommodated with what you need. maybe we can get chance to talk about some of that today. good. — you're welcome. thank you. thank you very much. and politics is tough and it's, in many cases, not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today, and i appreciate it very much. maybe the enormous fire is to melt any frostiness between the two men, who have not met since the tv debate that destroyed joe biden�*s presidential candidacy. donald trump last left the white house in disgrace four years ago, refusing to admit he'd lost the election. ijust want to say goodbye, but hopefully, it's not a long—term goodbye. we'll see each other again. melania did not return with him today, and nor is she expected to be moving into the white house full—time. his victory lap around washington included meeting congressional republicans. and he's taking credit for getting

many of them re—elected, too. well, thank you very much. this is a very nice gathering. isn't it nice to win? it's nice to win. it's always nice to win. the full—blown bromance between donald trump and elon musk — he is practically part of the family now — has landed him thejob has landed him the job of radically slashing spending and drastically reshaping government, making it much smaller and supposedly more efficient. your money is being wasted, and the department of- government efficiency is going to fix that! i and for defense secretary, he has picked a tv presenter from fox news. he is an army combat veteran, but he has no experience of government, and lots of ideas about sweeping changes to the military. well, first of all, you've got to fire, you've got to fire the chairman ofjoint chiefs

and you've got to fire... i mean, obviously, you're going to bring in a new secretary of defense. but any general that was involved, general, admiral, whatever that was involved in any of the... bleep! has got to go. he does look like a loose cannon. just look at this. going badly wrong. the drummer was very lucky not to be more seriously hurt. hardly confidence—inspiring for all the armed forces seem to be under his command. when he takes over, donald trump plans to make some very dramatic changes and he is appointing the staunch loyalists he thinks will make it happen. donald trump will ignore any of the customs rules to get the job done, we can read into the appointments. they are unorthodox people he is giving really radical briefs too. elon musk is expected to cut something like a third of all government spending, as well as slashing departments and bureaucracies. and just look at the

tv anchor he has picked to be his defence secretary. donald trump spent a lot of the presidential campaign warning that we are on the brink of world war iii, that the world is in such a dangerous place, and he is putting someone with no experience at all in charge of the pentagon. it is because he wants staunch loyalists around him who will do exactly what he says and if it is difficult to get these people confirmed by the senate, then he is going to demand that the senate goes into recess so that he can make these appointments without having to go through the normal confirmation process. all that and he even made a joke, at least, we think it is a joke, at least, we think it is a joke, to the congressional republicans today when he said he will not be running for a third term unless he does so well, you guys have to come up with some way bringing back again. sarah smith, thank you. —— bringing me back again. one of britain's most distinguished and versatile actors, timothy west, has died at the age of 90. he was married to the actress

prunella scales for more than 60 years and was known for a multitude of roles on stage and screen. his family say he died peacefully in his sleep. lizo mzimba looks back at his life. i'll visit. what for? to see what they tell you. and maybe get some advice of my own. broadcastjust a few hours ago... the pair of us need scaffolding, we wobble so much! timothy west's final tv appearance. a stately home. in need of restoration. ..on bbc one's doctors. lords, i protest my soul is full of woe, that blood should sprinkle me to make me grow. his career was decades long, universally known as one of the most skilled actors of his generation... mourn with me for what i do lament... ..one with a love of shakespeare. ..put on sullen black in continent. his presence and passion meant he was also in demand in cinema — here, portraying a calm determination as a police officer

in 1973's the day of the jackal. without a name, all other proposals are meaningless. the first task, then, is to find it. and over the years, he was regularly cast in a variety of tv shows, and was one of the select group of actors to appear in both eastenders... what's the beard for — lost your shaver? i like it. ah, suits you. ..and coronation street. i'm off for a walk. do you want company? no, i'll be on my own, if you don't mind. at a buckingham palace reception for film and tv this afternoon, dame harriet walter spoke about what timothy west meant to her. i love that family, and it's sad when someone goes, | even if he was up - there and in his 90s. it's always sad, because they're irreplaceable. i the first thing you can see as you come around the bend... right.

..is that rather extraordinary tower. yes. in later years, he devoted himself to caring for his wife, fawlty towers actress prunella scales, who'd been diagnosed with dementia 20 years ago. they were occasionally joined on great canaljourneys by their actor son, samuel west. how are you feeling about it all? i manage. ijust feel, really, that i don't any more have anyone, really, to talk to. and a year ago, they gave a rare interview to the bbc, reflecting on their 60—year marriage. how does it feel to you? well, i don't know. what am i supposed to say? thank you. timothy west, who has died, aged 90. the father of ten—year—old sara sharif, who was found dead at her home in surrey, has told a court that he now accepts

full responsibility for her death. urfan sharif had denied killing her but, today, he told the court, "she died because of me", but he insisted he did not intend to kill her. his daughter's body was found with dozens of injuries at the family's home in woking last year. daniel sandford has the story. which one is your bag? i don't have an baa. which one is your bag? i don't have any bag- 35 — which one is your bag? i don't have any bag- 35 days — any bag. 35 days after ten—year—old sara sharif was found dead, urfan sharif was detained on a flight back from pakistan along with his wife and brother. from pakistan along with his wife and brother-— and brother. you are therefore arrested for _ and brother. you are therefore arrested for the _ and brother. you are therefore arrested for the murder - and brother. you are therefore arrested for the murder of - arrested for the murder of sara sharif. he arrested for the murder of sara sharif. . , . , arrested for the murder of sara sharif. ., , ., , ., sharif. he was arrested at the airort sharif. he was arrested at the airport and — sharif. he was arrested at the airport and all— sharif. he was arrested at the airport and all three _ sharif. he was arrested at the airport and all three were - sharif. he was arrested at the - airport and all three were charged with murder and causing or allowing the death of a child, something they all denied. sara sharif was found dead with at least 25 broken bones and a brain injury. for six days in the witness box, urfan sharif said he was not responsible. he was never home. then this morning, only a few

minutes into today's evidence, urfan sharif suddenly said, i want to admit it that it is all my fault. i admit it that it is all my fault. i admit what i said in my phone call and my written note. his wife's lawyer asked him, did you kill your daughter by beating her? and he said, yes, she died because of me. as he started to admit things he had been denying for six days in the witness box, some of the jury sat open—mouthed. the wife of 26 macro started sobbing loudly in the dock. eventually, she became so overwhelmed that she had to leave and the court was suspended for a few minutes. after the break, 57 macro started again. do you accept that you killed sara by beating her? yes, ma'am, he said. to accept using the cricket bat a weapon on her in a number of occasions? yes, ma'am. police had arrived at sara's home in woking in the early hours of the 10th of august last year. they found sara's body on a bunk bed upstairs

with a note saying, love you, sara. whoever sees this note, it is me, urfan sharif, who killed my daughter by beating. sara's family had fled the country the previous date with her father making this tearful phone call from the airport in pakistan. she is my daughter. i killed my daughten — she is my daughter. i killed my dau:hter. ., ., , ., she is my daughter. i killed my dau:hter. ., ., ~' she is my daughter. i killed my dau:hter. ., ., ~ daughter. how have you killed your daughter? i — daughter. how have you killed your daughter? i beat her— daughter. how have you killed your daughter? i beat her up. today, . daughter? i beat her up. today, he aareed daughter? i beat her up. today, he agreed that he _ daughter? i beat her up. today, he agreed that he beat sara _ daughter? i beat her up. today, he agreed that he beat sara for a - daughter? i beat her up. today, he agreed that he beat sara for a final| agreed that he beat sara for a final time on the day she died with a metal pole and refused to let his wife call an ambulance. urfan sharif, his wife beinash batool and macro's brother faisal malik all deny murder and causing or allowing the death of a child. —— and urfan�*s brother. the diy retailer homebase has been sold, in a rescue deal securing up to 1,600 jobs and 70 stores, but leaving the future of its remaining 2,000

workers and 49 shops unclear. 0ur correspondent colletta smith is in altrincham. so who has bought it? if you have not heard of— so who has bought it? if you have not heard of the _ so who has bought it? if you have not heard of the company - so who has bought it? if you have not heard of the company cts, i so who has bought it? if you have | not heard of the company cts, you are much more likely to have heard of their named brands, which is the range. that particular store that has been expanding so rapidly over recent years has been one of the main headaches for homebase. with other rivals like b and time, they have been eating into the homebase market at the lower end, at the same time as homebase has really struggled with the competition from the big diy giants b&q and screw fix and successive owners of homebase over the last decade or more have struggled to find a way through the middle of that market. today, the administrators that have been brought in have tried to reassure staff to say that the remaining 49 stores will stay open. and continue to trade while they try and sell those off as well. there is still a possibility they may be able to sell

some of those stores. and they have tried to reassure customers by saying any existing orders will still be fulfilled and if anyone has a gift voucher, the administrators will find a way for those vouchers to still be sent to spence, which is a relief in the run—up to christmas. thank you. —— to still be spent. up to 115 post office branches could close, putting hundreds ofjobs at risk, as part of a radical shake—up. the post office is looking at options for its wholly—owned branches, which currently employ about 1,000 workers and are loss—making. the plans aim to put the business on a firmer financial footing. it comes as the long—running inquiry into the horizon it scandal heads into its final stages. parts of spain are being lashed with yet more heavy rain. thousands of homes have been evacuated in southern spain after a red alert was issued for extreme rain and flooding. schools have been closed in malaga, and tourist resorts like marbella

are expected to take the full force of the latest storm. this map shows the areas in southern spain and on the east coast that are affected today. it comes just two weeks after more than 220 people were killed in valencia by flash flooding — which were the worst in europe this century. from spain, here's nick beake. more misery heaped on spain. this deluge in malaga today. a scramble to reach safety, in the face of the latest downpour. this has been a brutal time for the country after it was gripped by the worst floods in generations. it's estimated 100,000 cars were destroyed a fortnight ago. that's nothing compared to the human cost. yesterday, we filmed as they searched for two brothers who'd been swept away by the torrent. neighbours told us how the boys had been ripped from their dad's arms after a truck had smashed open their house. today, it was announced the bodies

of five—year—old izan and three—year—old ruben had been found. their family said they had no words to convey their loss. this was paiporta two weeks ago today, where more than 60 people were killed. one of the communities worst hit. lourdes and her brother showed us how high the flood came in. the water then disappeared, but anger here is only rising. translation: this is shameful. we feel abandoned. for four days, we didn't see the army coming to help. we need more troops. translation: we feel locked in here, there are no roads. _ this is horrible. we lost everything here in this town, everything. everything which was lower than three metres is lost. the loss has sparked a huge collective effort, while spain's politicians trade in a bitter blame game. for two weeks now, day in, day out,

volunteers have been coming here to valencia from right across spain. each person playing their own small part. they've achieved a lot already, but just look at what they've still got to do here. this is a massive undertaking. amid all this, incredible stories are still emerging. the man at an english language school who smashed open a door and, one by one, rescued four trapped children, including his 11—year—old daughter. we tracked down daniel, who relived the rescue for us. he's been hailed as the hero of paiporta. translation: there are a lot. of people who did the same thing that night, many heroes like me, if you want to call us that. ifeel good because i feel the love of the people around here. i was the one who was filmed, but there were many, many other heroes. an heroic effort will be needed for many more months to come to rebuild spain's traumatised and shattered communities. nick beake, bbc news, valencia.

the time is 6:17. our top story this evening: backin back in the white house, donald trump meets president biden for the first time since his sweeping election win. and the whale found wearing equipment marked "st petersburg". was it spying for russia? coming up on bbc news, the pressure is on wales manager warren gatland after another loss for his side. wales were beaten by fiji in cardiff at the weekend, in what was a record—equalling tenth successive test defeat.

and tackling what he calls its "fundamental challenges". as double gold medalist, the man who delivered london 2012, and in his current role as head of world athletics, lord coe has become accustomed to success. but he is now in the running to become the next president of the international olympic committee, and told me how it would feel to be the first british holder of the role. it is a movement _ british holder of the role. it is a movement i've _ british holder of the role. it is a movement i've spent _ british holder of the role. it is a movement i've spent my - british holder of the role. it is a movement i've spent my whole| british holder of the role. it is a . movement i've spent my whole life in. i as though actually i've probably been in training for life for this so yes, it would be a huge honour. d0 for this so yes, it would be a huge honour. , ., ~ for this so yes, it would be a huge honour. i. ~ , .., for this so yes, it would be a huge honour. ,, ~ , .., , honour. do you think this could be one of the — honour. do you think this could be one of the toughest _ honour. do you think this could be one of the toughest races - honour. do you think this could be one of the toughest races you - honour. do you think this could be | one of the toughest races you have ever run? i one of the toughest races you have ever run? ., �* ~ ., �*, ever run? i don't know if it's the tou~hest

ever run? i don't know if it's the toughest race — ever run? i don't know if it's the toughest race i _ ever run? i don't know if it's the toughest race i have _ ever run? i don't know if it's the toughest race i have ever- ever run? i don't know if it's the toughest race i have ever run i ever run? i don't know if it's the | toughest race i have ever run but it's the one i'm best prepared for. this summer's paris 0lympics generated record ticket sales and many memorable moments but sebastian coe says his manifesto will include much—needed reforms to future proof the event. much-needed reforms to future proof the event. ., , the event. there are some big fundamental _ the event. there are some big fundamental challenges - the event. there are some big fundamental challenges that l the event. there are some big| fundamental challenges that it confronts. i think geopolitically, i think commercially, i think the salience and relevance of the games. we have come off a very powerful, impactful 0lympic we have come off a very powerful, impactful olympic games in paris. but it would be a mistake to conclude that everything is rosy. paris was overshadowed by controversy after two fighters won gold in women's boxing a year after being disqualified from the world championships for reportedly failing gender eligibility tests, and sebastian coe says the ioc needs to rethink its approach to inclusion, fairness and safety. the protection ofthe fairness and safety. the protection of the female _ fairness and safety. the protection of the female category _ fairness and safety. the protection of the female category for - fairness and safety. the protection of the female category for me - fairness and safety. the protection of the female category for me is i of the female category for me is absolutely non—negotiable. if you are not prepared to do that, and

thatis are not prepared to do that, and that is where the international federations expect a lead it to be taken, then you really will lose female sport, and i'm not prepared, and we certainly haven't been in world athletics, prepared to see that happen. world athletics, prepared to see that happen-— world athletics, prepared to see that ha en. ., ., . , that happen. you feel that currently the ioc is too _ that happen. you feel that currently the ioc is too ambiguous? - that happen. you feel that currently the ioc is too ambiguous? i - that happen. you feel that currently the ioc is too ambiguous? i think. that happen. you feel that currently the ioc is too ambiguous? i think it| the ioc is too ambiguous? i think it needs a really _ the ioc is too ambiguous? i think it needs a really clear _ the ioc is too ambiguous? i think it needs a really clear policy - the ioc is too ambiguous? i think it needs a really clear policy and - the ioc is too ambiguous? i think it needs a really clear policy and i'm l needs a really clear policy and i'm not sure that policy is clear enough at the moment. this not sure that policy is clear enough at the moment.— not sure that policy is clear enough at the moment. as head of athletics, sebastian coe _ at the moment. as head of athletics, sebastian coe stood _ at the moment. as head of athletics, sebastian coe stood up _ at the moment. as head of athletics, sebastian coe stood up to _ at the moment. as head of athletics, sebastian coe stood up to russia - sebastian coe stood up to russia over state—sponsored doping and award the prize money to gold medallists, and if he emerges victorious among seven candidates in 1442 00:20:35,297 --