statement since he was forced from power. and it'll be cheaper to have christmas dinner this year — but what's your favourite part? it is the pigs in blankets. i wish i could marry them. and coming up on sportsday later in the hour on bbc news — coming up on sportsday in the next 15 minutes on bbc news. on top in the test, england's women are looking to finish their tour of south africa on a high in bloemfontain. good evening. prince andrew will not be joining the king and the rest of the royal family for their traditional christmas celebration at sandringham, the bbc has learned. the revelation came as the man who's

alleged to be a chinese spy, with close links to the duke of york, was named publically as yang tengbo, also known as chris yang — he was banned from the uk last year. our senior royal correspondent daniela relph is at buckingham palace tonight. well, the question over the duke of york's presence at sandringham after news of his links to that alleged spy news of his links to that alleged spy were threatening to overshadow the royal family christmas. it was planned as a meaningful christmas, because it has been a difficult 12 months for the king and the princess of wales. but palace sources confirmed that prince andrew won't be there for christmas with his elder brother the king and the wider royal family. he was there last year at the church on the sandringham estate with his ex—wife. it was the first time she had been present at

sandringham in more than 20 years. it is expected they will spend christmas privately together at their home in windsor. palace sources said it had been the general hope that prince andrew would do the honourable thing and withdraw from the family christmas to avoid being a distraction. he has now done that. there is one other issues, which is whether he will be at buckingham palace for a private family lunch. it is not clear whether he will be here then. it is not clear whether he will be here then-— well until today the alleged chinese spy at the centre of this was known only as "h6", but today his identity was revealed. 0ur political correspondent damian grammaticus has more. the royal and the alleged spy — this is glossy video from the prince himself designed to drum up business. throughout we see yang tengbo —

we can now name him — banned from the uk as a risk to national security. mr yang is accused of working for china's communist party, using his ties to build contacts. on his desk, photos — him meeting david cameron and theresa may. dealing with foreign threats was already on the prime minister's agenda. today, here in norway, the immediate issue russia's war against ukraine. but he's been seeking closer ties with china. so, he was asked, what about its activities? of course, we are concerned about the challenge that china poses. our approach, as you know, i had a meeting with the president just a few weeks ago now, our approach is one of engagement, of cooperating where we need to cooperate, particularly, for example, on issues like climate change. to challenge where we must and where we should. mr yang is appealing his ban from the uk. he asked today for his own anonymity

to be lifted, insisting he's an entrepreneur trying to build bridges between east and west. in a statement, he said: adding: what the case of yang tengbo and prince andrew has now done is add charge to a political debate here. the government wants to reach out and engage with china. conservatives say that comes with risks. how was it that somebody who was known to the security forces, was allowed to get so close to a member of the royal family without proper scrutiny, exposing them? and the rather sycophantic tone the prime minister took with president xi at the 620 a few weeks ago may not be very wise. china offers economic opportunities — keir starmer wants to seize those. but should he be wary of the true cost that might bring? damian grammaticas,

bbc news, westminster. let's talk to laura bicker our correspondent in beijing. what is being said where you are? $5 correspondent in beijing. what is being said where you are? as you can exect, being said where you are? as you can expect. beijing _ being said where you are? as you can expeet. beijing has — being said where you are? as you can expect, beijing has reacted _ being said where you are? as you can expect, beijing has reacted angrily i expect, beijing has reacted angrily to the allegations and said china has always dealt with honour in its business dealings. china described mi6 business dealings. china described m16 as recruiting two people that they said were trying to spy on china. the point is that surveillance is something both countries deal in. it is striking a balance between security and business interests. there was a hope in china that after keir starmer met xijinping, there would be a reset, they would be able to co—operate on

places where they have shared interests. but the problem now is that there will be furrowed brows in beijing, because they will see these allegations as britain saying that china is simply a threat. in the last hour, the foreign secretary has said a uk delegation has been sent to damascus to meet members of the group now controlling syria. it comes as it appears that bashar al—assad, who was forced out of power a week ago, has issued his first statement since he left the country, claiming he never planned to step down, but left syria at the request of russia. here's our russia editor steve rosenberg. where is bashar al—assad ? he hasn't been seen since he fled syria. today, a statement purporting to be from him appeared on the social media accounts of the former syrian president, dateline moscow.

it's unclear who controls the accounts and whether assad wrote this: "my departure from syria was neither planned nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles. i remained in damascus, carrying out my duties until the early hours of sunday 8th december. at no point during these events did i consider stepping down or seeking refuge." president putin, who met army chiefs today, has reportedly granted assad asylum. but the kremlin leader has said nothing publicly about it. most of this speech was about the war in ukraine — not a word about syria. despite having this naval base in syria, in tartus, and a major airbase, events there seem to have taken moscow by surprise. was russia too distracted by its war in ukraine? if you think that we focussed on ukraine and lost syria,

no, we didn't lost syria. we still have bases in syria. but you don't know what the future of those bases will be? of course, and you don't know. for moscow, the issue of the bases is urgent. a kremlin spokesman said moscow was in contact with what he referred to as "representatives of those forces who now control the situation in syria". it is a dialogue that will decide the fate of russia's military presence there. if russia loses its bases, it will lose its foothold in the eastern mediterranean. president putin had invested heavily in syria. what might the russian elite be thinking about the fall of assad? i think they understand that this is putin's failure. they can't be vocal, they can't say it openly. but this is a precedent, this is an example how the autocratic regime

could fail, could fall. as president, bashar al—assad was a regular visitor to moscow. his exact whereabouts now remain a mystery. steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. the archbishop of york has defended how he dealt with a priest accused of sexual assault, after a bbc investigation into the case prompted calls for him to resign. stephen cottrell, who's preparing to take temporary leadership of the church of england, said he was deeply sorry he hadn't been able to act sooner and had suspended priest david tudor from office when he had the power to do so. 0ur religion editor, aleem maqbool reports questions over the judgment of stephen cottrell relate to his time as bishop of chelmsford. when he started there he was briefed about a priest in his charge. for decades,

david tudorfaced priest in his charge. for decades, david tudor faced allegations of abuse. in the 80s he was jailed for six months for the indecent assault of three girls. the charges were quashed on appeal. eventually he was allowed back to be a vicar in essex. for years many of the women who suffered tudor�*s behaviour didn't know that he was a priest again. some like rachel are only now learning that he was operating with the provision that he couldn't be alone with children. so the provision that he couldn't be alone with children.— alone with children. so he was a ractisin: alone with children. so he was a practising minister _ alone with children. so he was a practising minister who - alone with children. so he was a practising minister who wasn't l practising minister who wasn't allowed to be alone with children? i don't know what to say to that. imilieu don't know what to say to that. when he arrived, stephen _ don't know what to say to that. when he arrived, stephen cottrell - don't know what to say to that. when he arrived, stephen cottrell did know that and there was more to come. two years later, he found out that david tudor had paid £10,000 to a woman who had come forward to say

that he abused her as a child. but then not only did david tudor under stephen cottrell remain in post, he was made an honorary canon. its not aood was made an honorary canon. its not good enough- _ was made an honorary canon. its not good enough. how does _ was made an honorary canon. its not good enough. how does that - was made an honorary canon. its not good enough. how does that look to | good enough. how does that look to the outside world, if you appoint somebody an honorary canon, that is not somebody that should be honoured. not somebody that should be honoured-— not somebody that should be honoured. ., , ::' ' honoured. eventually in 2019 when another police _ honoured. eventually in 2019 when another police investigation - honoured. eventually in 2019 when another police investigation was i another police investigation was opened into david tudor, stephen cottrell did suspend him — nine years after he became bishop. but he said that he acted as soon as he could: seeing tudor remain in the church so

long has had a profound impact on those like debbie, who didn't want to be identified, but who was sexually abused by him between the ages of 13 and 15. timer;r sexually abused by him between the ages of 13 and 15.— sexually abused by him between the ages of 13 and 15. they endorsed hey did was ok that — ages of 13 and 15. they endorsed hey did was ok that playing _ ages of 13 and 15. they endorsed hey did was ok that playing with - did was ok that playing with people's lives is ok, to take their childhood from them, limit their friendships with friends and familiar y. carrying the shame for so many years. and aleem is here with us now. we have heard stories about safeguarding in the church for so long, why are we still hear about these cases? it long, why are we still hear about these cases?— long, why are we still hear about these cases? it is a lot to do with culture, there _ these cases? it is a lot to do with culture, there are _ these cases? it is a lot to do with culture, there are few _ these cases? it is a lot to do with culture, there are few from - these cases? it is a lot to do with culture, there are few from the i culture, there are few from the upper echelons of the church talking about the problems. what we heard from stephen cottrell is during his time as bishop of chelmsford he

couldn't get rid of this troublesome priest, somebody he was troubled by. but if you can not do it legally, you have to look at the safety of people in the church and the impact it has on the kind of victims we spoke to in this report. there are some saying, well, if the system isn't working you do the right thing and face the legal consequences or you change the system. and we keep hearing that is going to happen and it has not happened. i5 hearing that is going to happen and it has not happened.— it has not happened. is that part of answer, it has not happened. is that part of answer. how _ it has not happened. is that part of answer, how does _ it has not happened. is that part of answer, how does it _ it has not happened. is that part of answer, how does it change - it has not happened. is that part of answer, how does it change and i it has not happened. is that part of l answer, how does it change and stop having cases like this? $5 answer, how does it change and stop having cases like this?— having cases like this? as you say, we keep hearing — having cases like this? as you say, we keep hearing these _ having cases like this? as you say, we keep hearing these stories, - having cases like this? as you say, we keep hearing these stories, but we keep hearing these stories, but we have had a will the of inquiries, reports, investigations, and they seem to be coming to one conclude — the church is —— conclusion, the church is not able to mark its own homework. it needs to be at least independent oversight and maybe an independent oversight and maybe an independent body dealing with all safeguarding in the church. that is

what leading experts have recommended for a long time. it does not look like the church is looking at this with the sense of urgency that a lot of those experts expect. thank you. a 12—year—old girl has appeared at leicester youth court charged with the manslaughter of an 80—year—old man, who was injured while walking his dog at a park. bhim kohli died in hospital after the alleged attack in september. a 15—year—old boy has been charged with murder. the girl, who cannot be named because of her age, has been granted bail and ordered to appear at leicester crown court in february. a lawyer representing the child serial killer lucy letby says he is applying directly to the court of appeal, to push for her case to be reopened. mark mcdonald says his argument is based around the reliability of the evidence of the prosecution's lead expert witness. our special correspondent judith moritzjoins us from central london.

explain what this means then, what is happening?— is happening? well, this is a new development _ is happening? well, this is a new development in _ is happening? well, this is a new development in lucy _ is happening? well, this is a new development in lucy letby's - is happening? well, this is a new development in lucy letby's case is happening? well, this is a new - development in lucy letby's case and it has been made public by her new defence lawyer, who has taken over from the team that represented her during her trials and appeals, now lucy letby has twice been denied permission by the court of appeal for his case to be heard there, and mr mcdonald has said he is intending to go directly back to the court again. normally he would go to another organisation, the criminal cases review commission, for case to be dealt with but he said he is going to bring up the issue again at the court of appeal of the reliability of the prosecution's lead expert witness, on the basis he said that dr evans changed his view relating to three of the babies in the case. we haven't by the way had any response from dr evans on those claims today. separately, lucy letby's defence tame are also going to the criminal cases review

commission, they say they have fresh evidence, to present there relating to two baby, one of whom, baby 0 alleging rather than having been murdered they say may well have died as a result of mistake made by a doctor at the countess of chester hospital. now, the hospital themselves have not commented on that claim either. all of this together is going to be brought by lucy letby's new defence team. meanwhile cheshire police are continuing their investigation into lucy letby, they say that recently they interviewed her about potential further crimes, so that the case of lucy letby still has some way to go. judith, thank you. the time is 18:17. our top story this evening. prince andrew won'tjoin the royal family for christmas at sandringham this year, as his chinese associate, alleged to be a spy, is finally named. # quiet caroline...

and coming up, after england's footballers triumph at the last euros — who'll face who this time? and, another bad day for england's cricketers, heading for defeat in the final test agianst new zealand and their captain ben stokes is injured. in a big shake up of local government, district councils could be abolished and more elected mayors may be introduced across england. the government has set out plans for what it's calling a devolution revolution. 0ur political correspondentjoe pike explains what it all means. the council which collects these bins could itself be scrapped, as labour paves the way for the phasing out of two tier local authorities. they argue it will be simpler and cheaper. this district council

in rural lincolnshire also looks after planning, leisure centres and green spaces. it covers a vast rural area, but the conservative leader is sceptical if bigger is better. we don't want to lose the local, we are local government. the size that we are means we are well—connected to our communities. this area is part of a political patchwork of seven district borough and city councils in lincolnshire, who look after things like bin collections and planning. there is one wider county council covering the area. they are in charge of social care, roads and education. two other areas do all of that in one, and next may, the whole of lincolnshire will elect their first regional mayor. it is pretty complicated, isn't it? not really, it is complicated if you are looking from the outside. just simply having a different structure doesn't mean that you simplified everything else, we will still have the multiple areas of service delivery, so the real focus on this isn't how the councils are made up,

it is what the councils deliver. angela rayner wants mayors to multiply, so every area of england has one. it is a moment i know many of us have been waiting forfor a long time. the turning point, when people and places across england finally begin to take back control over the things that matter to them. she is also giving the current mayors more powers over infrastructure and public transport, partly hoping they help achieve the government's economic growth and house building targets. i think it is the single biggest change we have seen in our lifetime. you wanted more fiscal powers, didn't you, you wanted power over the money? we always want more, you know, greater manchester has been saying that for years. so we want more. but i think it is probably fair to say today's announcement is the biggest part of devolution since we have seen since george osborne introduced it back in 2016, so it a big step forward. what have you got against district councils though, deputy prime minister? i don't have a thing against district councils,

i think working together, though, unitarisation you get a bigger scale, so some of those district councils will. .. so you want the councils to go, ideally. so those district councils will acknowledge their footprint often isn't able to deal with things like health, inequalities — people do not work and live and you know, transport their lives, via the district council or even the metropolitan borough council they may live in. but in this part of lincolnshire angela rayner may be out of step with some. with many councils already in crisis, further change will take time and energy. joe pike, bbc news, sleaford. a woman who threw a milkshake over the reform uk leader nigel farage has been given a 13 week suspended sentence. victoria thomas bowen, who's 25, had admitted assault by beating, and criminal damage, at an earlier hearing. nigel farage has criticised the sentence, saying it shows "you can assault a member of parliament and not go to prison". it's now feared that thousands of people may be dead, after cyclone chido hit the french

island terriroty of mayotte in territory of mayotte in the indian ocean over the weekend. mayotte is one of the poorest parts of france. nearly half the population are aged under 1a and hundreds of thousands of people live in shanty towns. the cyclone moved west across the island with winds of 140 miles per hour, before making landfall in mozambique. royal mail is to become foreign owned for the first time in its 500 year history. the government has given the go ahead for the group to be sold to a czech billionaire in a £3.6 billion deal. there are some rules governing the sale, which means royal mail has to deliver letters monday to saturday, across the uk. here's our business editor, simonjack. the first owner of royal mail was henry viii. the next owner is likely to be this man — czech billionaire daniel kretinsky. today, the government

insisted his £3.6 billion takeover would help secure royal mail's future. conditions of the takeover include the government reserving the right to block any major moves such as moving royal mail's hq or tax residency, while workers will get a 10% share of any future dividends, plus extended guarantees around future compulsory redundancies. but some customers aren't convinced. ifeel very sad, because i feel as though we are selling part of our history. we get a good service and they are regular. you can more or less say it is 2 o'clock, the post is going to come through the letter box in a minute. there it is. i think there has been a noticeable | drop in the quality of the service. | i i know they are focussing on parcels. because they make a lot more money, but you know, letters keep the country running - at the end of the day. speaking to the bbc injuly, mr kretinsky also vowed to honour the one price goes anywhere universal service. first of all, as long as i am alive, i completely exclude this,

royal mail is going to be the provider of universal service obligation in the uk unconditionally, and i would say forever. but that service is already under review by regulator 0fcom, which is considering reducing second class letters to every other week day. the concessions to workers have brought the blessing of unions,