defense secretary gavin williamson has been promoting british hard power in a speech on the prospects of national security advisor to this withdrawal from the european union among the things he advocates is the deployment of more british navy ships overseas we cross live now to our london correspondent for the u.k. polly can you bring us up to speed what else did the defense secretary say at this stage. well gavin williamson is the man who famously said that russia needs to go away and shut up so the rhetoric this time around wasn't as severe but this was an important speech where he outlined his plans and his ambition for the u.k. for the british military whereas for many years we've heard from defense secretaries talking about needing to balance budgets this one was more about the new gadgets and the state of the art toys that gavin williamson has on order for the military and how all that is going to meet the strategic threats that the u.k. currently faces not just from i still say the islamic state extremists but also in the same breath a resurgent russia that's not just threateni

its orbit but is also deploying unconventional cyber warfare against the west and crucially gavin williamson said that britain needs to be ready to use hard power against threats that come from russia or he focused on china as well and he announced that the u.k. would be deploying its aircraft carrier the queen elizabeth to the pacific in order to deter the chinese in fact he spoke several times of needing to increase the mast and the list fallacy of the u.k. military which led to questions about who's going to pay for all of it take a listen you've just issued another short released of high tech capabilities that are probably very difficult to coast in the early stages of their development what we've seen is that the government has always been willing and ready to respond to the case of difference because we realize the priority and the importance of it. and sort of funding aside this speech sounded somewhat detached from reality in other aspects as well apart from that issue of funding gavin williamson spoke about greg's it being a great moment in the u.k.'s history which is sound somewhat

this comes a few days after gavin williamson made that speech which some interpreted as being on the hms queen elizabeth on its maiden voyage to the pacific and the uk having a presence in the region. also saying that china was developing its military capability and commercial power. any suggestion that speech has caused china to pull the plug on this visit has been played down or denied. commons the did raise eyebrows and it has probably not helped things. what does it say about uk — china relations? on the one hand you have got the clear concern which gavin williamson has expressed about china's growing military power, reach and influence in the world, and the need to perhaps counter that oi’ and the need to perhaps counter that or keep a check on it. and also the importance philip hammond is keen to pursue with other close economic relationship with china. china is britain's fifth largest trading partner. a relationship is worth £60 billion a year with china. after brexit, when the uk is able to do more bilateral trade deals, the government will be looking to improve on that and b

first we heard it was lost on the line there saying nato remains our first choice and we heard gavin williamson also say nato is the bad rock of our security again remind us why is it so important to reiterate that commitment it would seem obvious that nato is an important part of security. well i think because some have in recent years begun to question whether nato does have the aunt says of course in particular president trump in washington has raised doubts he suggested that nato is no longer fit for purpose that it doesn't to answer the challenges he's particularly concerned of course about what he sees as a failure by the european allies to pay their fair share of defense spending he wants to hold them to their commitment to increase that to two percent of g.d.p. germany for instance is one of many countries that haven't reached that target but the german defense minister staying here again today you know that germany is on its way it's getting there europe needs to do more she said the americans are right to criticize us in that way but she wanted to make the case for a much wider vision

it follows reports that beijng pulled out of trade talks after the defence secretary gavin williamsonks to life the armed brexit it is trying to make closer economic links with china and eventually once a new trade deal. the plan had been for the chancellor to have a low—key visit with chinese officials imminently. the treasury today said that the visit was ever announced or confirmed but there has clearly been picked up and the visit 110w clearly been picked up and the visit now is not going ahead. it may or may not have something to do with this pretty lacklustre speech that the defence secretary gavin williamson made last monday talking about sending the uk‘s aircraft character —— carrier to the pacific. that will be noticed in china. and today the former chancellor george osborne said that the government china strategy was all conceivable and a reminder of how sensitive the relationship is between china and the uk. in recent years rainbow bootlaces have become a way for sportsmen and women to show their support for the lgbt community. but now non—league football team altrincham ha

we have people like theresa may and gavin williamson, have a very sceptical view of china, they havesecurity concerns and people around them with security priorities, and people like phillip hammond have investment and economic priorities and they think would be much more similar to david cameron george osborne back in the day, and global britain does not mean global britain as a guarantor of international law, sending warships around the world, or does it mean britain trading with whoever we can because you want to boost our economy? yes, that tension will a lwa ys economy? yes, that tension will always be there, wanted? it is also always be there, wanted? it is also a sign of the differences, the rift within the cabinet. they do not seem to be able to agree a common, concerted line on anything, and whatever one may think of the chinese regime, we will probably need to have closer links with them post—brexit and maybe phillip hammond is willing to go there and hold his nose and makes deals. just finishing on the sunday times, there isa finishing on the sunday times, there is a photo

warship when it's ready but to actually determine the chances it struck in his past today to gavin williamson said that not only did he say that he has an agent and he said could have trade talks with china but he pointed out of the decision is far too primitive and it wouldn't be taken by the defense secretary anywhere if britain is to send a warship anywhere and stunned as a national security council so it was a real slap down for having williamson yeah defense sources have told the british media that williams and speech was approved by the prime minister's chief of chief of staff and by the national security advisor presumably a part of national security council does this look like a bit of an oversight a site or a sort of miscommunication here well both those people you mentioned are civil servants they're not ministers national security advisor is a civil servant so has a chief as a general stuff is military matters person but not a minister so if truly a pattern described by the national security council includes ministers they're the ones who have to change the decisions not the one mi

i'm sure that philip hammond is most unhappy at gavin williamson is rather strange intervention.g at a time when he needs to be not. gavin williamson famously said russia could go and weigh and shut up, so by those standards this is quite diplomatic. —— go away and shut up. that's it for the papers this hour. henry mance and anne ashworth will be back at 11.30pm for another look at the papers. next on bbc news, it's click. massive attack's teardrop plays. it is pretty far out there, but it really suits the music and what they're about, i think. in his birmingham studio, artist harley davies is painting a unique work that is much, much more than meets the eye. it's mind—blowing to think that, when you consider how much data there must be out there. it's interesting for the future, i'd say. the artwork is the album cover of the hugely popular and influential mezzanine album by massive attack. and to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the band agreed to have this music encoded in dna and then added to several spray paint cans. it means harley's painting will hold thousands of copies of

on the one hand you have the are concern that gavin williamson has expressed about china's growing militaryounter that or keep a check on it. also, the importance philip hammond is keen to pursue with other —— the close economic relationship with china. it is britain's fifth largest trading partner. it is worth about £60 billion a year. after brexit, when the uk is able to do more bilateral trade deals, philip hammond will undoubtedly be looking to build on that. but this episode demonstrate it would be a particularly sensitive relationship and at times a difficult one. thank you. lady falkender, who was political secretary to the former prime minister harold wilson, has died at the age of 86. formerly known as marcia williams, she was a controversial and powerfulfigure. she was the former labour prime minister's right—hand woman during his two periods in office during the 1960's and 70's, and was blamed for his controversial resignation honours list in 1976, a document which became known as the lavender list. former labour mp austin mitchell said she was key to harold wilson becoming prime

meant as an act of atonement or compensation it was eight we also tried to get an interview with gavin williamson brits and secretary of state for defense he refused repeated requests for interview and it's now hope that he will break his silence on the issue and go on records and put this right there i d did issue a statement from a spokes person saying that person does acknowledge and value the sacrifices made by these african servicemen but some fear certainly in the opposition parties in person that that isn't enough compensation and an official apology needs to be made and it needs to made to be made before it's too late thanks for talking to us and you can catch share that investigative documentary at twenty two thirty g.m.t. here on jack loesch thanks so much because thank you very much for your time now nigeria's election commission is promising saturday's presidential vote will go ahead despite another fire at one of its offices the third blaze of its kind within the last two weeks destroyed thousands of voting machines in and number of states president muhammadu buhari is running for a

gavin williamson.as the big winner at last night baftas, with olivia colman taking home the best actress award. for the first time, the best picture award went to a netflix drama. our entertainment correspondent was at the ceremony in london. joining the duke and duchess of cambridge at the annual film awards, representatives of cinema royalty. and it was a royal themed film that won the most awards, the favourite. british star rachel weisz took home best supporting actress, and the film won seven awards in all, including best costume design and best actress for olivia colman. look at me. look at the! out there you! close your eyes. she paid tribute to her co—stars. you! close your eyes. she paid tribute to her co-stars. emma and rachel, lets get it together, not just for your performances but for what you did after the cameras stopped rolling... and we have never talked about this but you were the best and classiest and coolest honour guard anyone could have, and i love you. the best actor prize went

there are reports that beijing was angered by a speech by gavin williamson, who signalled the uk s intentioncific the treasury is yet to respond. the funeral of the footballer, emilio sala, is being held in his home town in argentina. the 28—year—old striker died after the plane he was flying in crashed into the english channel as he was travelling to his new club, cardiff city. aisling mcveigh has more. a hometown hero returned too soon. for the residents of this small argentinian town, this was not the way they wanted to welcome back one of their most successful sons. translation: without a doubt, we would never have imagined everything that we are seeing now. there are 3000 of us and we remain shocked and overcome by the situation, but still trying to give emiliano sala the farewell that he deserves. emiliano sala grew up playing football here in progreso until the age 01:14, when he left to pursue bigger opportunities. recognition seemed to come belatedly to the 28—year—old, when he was bought by cardiff city from nantes, for a club record of £15 million on the 19th of january. but then,

threats including myself so that makes state extremists and in the same breath russia and russia gavin williamson called it crucially he said that britain needs to be ready to use haulage power against russia or china and i've got to say that this speech did it some point sound a little bit dismissive of current reality show we say budget realities when it came to how to finance all of this and political realities too given how positive he sounded about the opportunities that brags it will bring and he also seemed to imply that britain's military interventions up until now have all been successful endeavors he sort of glossed over all the failed ones the a lot of our viewers i'm sure could come up with but then again all of this is coming from the man who famously told russia to shut up and go away indeed. reporting live from london thank you for the update. well to discuss this fad joining me now is chris nineham deputy chair of the stop the war coalition chris good to have you on the program now are you surprised by this talk of military spending post brett fit some might argue that there'll be

this funding aside this speech sounded somewhat detached from reality in other aspects as well gavin williamson spoke about bragg's it being a great moment in the you case history which is sound somewhat optimistic given the chaotic situation that the brakes it process is in right now and it is. to seize the opportunities that brics it brings we will build new alliances rekindle old ones and most importantly make it clear that we offer country that will act when required we should be the nation that people turn to when the world needs leadership he also spoke of britain being ready to intervene to protect the international rules based order which seem to completely gloss over the interventions that britain has taken part in that haven't quite gone to plan for example iraq afghanistan libya to name but a few we spoke to chris nine from the stop the war coalition who says that the u.k. is aligning its military ambitions with america's while the deputy leader of the ukip party mine cookham believes the reasoning behind the plan doesn't quite add up . williamston is doing is positioning our future

british counterpart the gavin williamson of giving the opening address of the munich security conference the conference is three days of high stakes debates and closed door meetings this year brings together an unprecedented number of international decision makers including the largest us company a variety of international organizations has also been shunted including the international monetary fund the world bank and the united nations. chief political correspondent linda crane is also there in the thick of it to welcome belinda us uniforms alive germany's defense minister spoken about a return of competition between great powers what was she getting at. she was absolutely getting united states unilateralism and and the actions by the united states that are perceived as a rejection of the kind of multilateral cooperation that has been a hallmark of the international order since the second world war i was thinking actually as you were just talking about trump's decision to go ahead and declare a national emergency in order to get the wall built that he's now practicing util lateral ism a

germany and others to form european alliances which indeed a ice of people transatlantic says like gavin williamson they threaten nato as a predominant military force of the west so again and again he was keen to suggest that russia is the enemy that is at the gates of europe and europe is desperately in need of support of america and nato that's what it came back to to diminish the importance of the e.u. and increase importance of nato which is called message. security analyst charles shubert speaking there and russia's foreign minister sergey lavrov is attending the conference and said the pact. russia's top diplomat met with the secretary general of nato un stoltenberg focusing on european security in light of washington's withdrawal from the i.n.f. treaty later in the day that lavrov also discussed the gas pipeline project north stream to with his german counterpart i call must the part that has been the target of american pressure with washington going so far as to threaten sanctions against german companies involved so all schubert's again says the u.s. and europe are increasingly not seeing

comes following reports that beijng pulled out of trade talks, after the defence secretary, gavin williamsonific. earlier, my colleague lukwesa burak spoke to our political correspondent, jonathan blake, who told me cancellation of the trip was confirmed by the treasury this morning. a few other stories in the news this hour. one of britain's busiest railway lines will be closed for 9 days from today, causing major disruption to passengers. network rail is carrying out major engineering work, between three bridges and brighton, a stretch which it says, is the cause of many delays. child car seats which are illegal to use in the uk are still available to buy online, according to a consumer watchdog. which says it found the seats, which are made of fabric, offer ‘almost no protection' in a crash, and sell for as little as £8. the government is considering forcing mobile phone companies to open their networks to competitors, to improve reception in rural areas. ministers want 95 percent of the uk to have a mobile signal by 2022. a fifth of the uk lacks an adequate signal for basic mobile servic

it follows reports that beijng pulled out of trade talks after the defence secretary, gavin williamsone treasury says that the trip had never been confirmed. 0ur political correspondent, ben wright, reports. theresa may courting china last year, as the government looks to life after brexit. beijing is important to its plans. the uk wants closer trade links and eventually a new deal and plans had been made for the chancellor phillip hammond to make an imminent visit to see chinese officials. the treasury says nothing was ever confirmed, but now the trip is off. why the hiccup? well, it comes days after a pretty bellicose speech by the defence secretary. china is developing its modern military capability and its commercial power. i can announce the first operational mission of hms queen elizabeth will include the mediterranean, the middle east and the pacific region. making global britain a reality. pledging to send a british aircraft carrier to china's backyard in the pacific and possibly create a permanent british presence in the region, are remarks that will have been noticed in beiji

or may not have something to do with this pretty lacklustre speech that the defence secretary gavin williamson made last monday talking about sending the uk's aircraft character —— carrier to the pacific. that will be noticed in china. and today the former chancellor george osborne said that the government china strategy was all conceivable and a reminder of how sensitive the relationship is between china and the uk. in recent years rainbow bootlaces have become a way for sportsmen and women to show their support for the lgbt community. but now non—league football team altrincham have taken it to a new level by playing a game in a whole rainbow kit. our reporterjo currie was at the match. altrincham football club was looking a little more colourful than usual this afternoon. and it was a scene also reflected in the changing room, with these specially designed one—off rainbow shirts taking the place of the team's usual kit. it is in support of football versus homophobia. it's a simple idea, but one that has seen the club go viral. itjust shows how much work we've got to do, that something being

the defence secretary gavin williamson has announced plans to modernise the armed forces.e world after brexit — or risk being seen as a paper tiger. up up to 86,000 women aged between 35 and 39 with the family history of breast cancer should receive annual mammograms according to new research. a trial by the charity breast cancer known find screening a younger age group detected small tumours early as opposed to the common screening tumours early as opposed to the common screening age of a0. a decision will be made tonight about whether british horse racing can resume again this week after an outbreak for the highly infectious equine flu. there's been no racing forfive days after six horses were found to be infected. now four more cases have been identified at a second yard in newmarket. richard conway is at cheltenham race course, where the next big meet is due to take place next month. that's right, the cheltenham festival gets under in a month's time, a huge event, it transcends racing in many respects. but the shadow of equine flu looms large over the sport this evenin

let's get more on this from the respondent peter oliver good to see peter what message then did gavin williamson have for the world and russia in particular. well the speech by governor williamson was a world certainly something that drew attention on a day that didn't really have its flaming moments but what we heard from the british defense secretary was how he saw the world at the moment and how we saw the better protection of the world he wants to see. this as a nation who holds dear the values of democracy tolerance and justice we must not be cowed or intimidated. that's why our military continues asserting its legitimate freedom of access in action across the globe. it does sound a little bit like what we've heard before from the in one thousand states basically do what we say or we're going to send in our troops williamson is being talked about sometimes in whispered voices as a potential future leader of his party potentially a few chip prime minister of great britain the former fireplace salesman though has made himself somewhat notorious when it comes to statements that he's made he ha

news comes following reports that beijng pulled out of trade talks after the defence secretary gavin williamsonling to deploy a warship in the pacific. 0ur political correspondent, jonathan blake, is here. watto the treasury saying? the treasury have confirmed that philip hammond is not travelling to china. they also say that no visit was ever confront or announced. that is true. but there have been plans in the works for some time for philip hammond to make a brief visit to china to hold trade talks with senior government figures. while a source tells me no final decision has been taken, it seems clear from the chinese side that this visit is off for now. this has happened just a few days after the defence secretary gave that speech in which he talked about britain's new aircraft carrier making it the maiden voyage to the pacific and also talking about china developing its modern military capability and commercial power in the context of state on state competition. any suggestion that speech has led to china —— led to that decision, has been played down. but it didn't help. it shows the govern

well this was a speech read gavin williamson on veiled his future plans and ambitions for the british military he said that president is a historic moment and an opportunity for the u.k. and he listed all the new gadgets and the state of the art toys and equipment that he has on order he spoke about the british military needing to increase its mass and lethality which led to questions about how he's planning on funding increasing this mass and lethality take a lesson we've seen is the government has always been willing and ready to respond to the case. because we realize for pros and be important soldiers funding aside this speech sounded somewhat detached from reality in other aspects as well kevin williamson spoke about bragg's it being a great moment in the u.k.'s history which is sound somewhat optimistic given the chaotic situation that the braggs it process is in right now it is. to seize the opportunities that brics it brings we will build new alliances rekindle old ones and most importantly make it clear that we are tree that will act when required we should be the nation that

america so that they get to act even as dumb as americans cat so that's why you have the likes of gavin williamson you know their defense under secretary sort of person who is like we're going to use high power china you know if they had to come up with a gold a tobacco trying to attack jar you know with their one point four billion people and actually a lot of gold and a lot of hard money and a lot of citizens. a lot of military might you know that would be a huge cost but right now the citizens accept it because it's tolerable because they could just print more. debt you know i used to get into fights when i was in grade school because i knew my older brother would come in and you know subtle and yeah and so britain has been like this for years and then they have a big mouth but they don't have the can't write the checks all hat no cattle and when they're separated from the a.t.o. that's going to be exposed and i for one am going to be left wing myself the silly right now i hope it's right now the bank of england the bank of japan the e.c.b. are under the auspices of the us federal reserve bank

the government in beijing was angered by a speech this week in which the defence secretary, gavin williamsonntion to send an aircraft carrier to the pacific. a spokesman for the treasury said the visit was never confirmed or announced. nigeria's presidential elections have been postponed by a week, just hours before polls were due to open across the country. the independent national electoral commission blamed the delay on logistical difficulties, after reports of problems distributing voting material. 0ur correspondent tomi 0ladipo is in the capital abuja. what explanation was offered by the commission for this rather abrupt last—minute decision? commission for this rather abrupt last-minute decision? the commission gave this medal of the night statement and did not open the floor for any questions from journalists when they made the announcement. they said they had reviewed the operational and logistical processes and that it would not be feasible to hold the election this weekend. it is interesting because they had been questioned for weeks, even months, because of problems coming up and

the defence secretary, gavin williamson, has announced plans to modernise the armed forces, and in hisld after brexit. he said the royal navy's new aircraft carrier, the hms queen elizabeth, would be deployed to the pacific in response to the perceived threat from china. mr williamson said it was vital the uk was prepared to use its military power. the work and pensions secretary, amber rudd, says the increased use of food banks is partly caused by problems in implementing universal credit. the department has previously played down links between the new single benefit and people seeking emergency food parcels. but today, the minister said that difficulty in accessing money after moving to universal credit was one of the causes of the rise. the food bank operator the trussell trust said the acknowledgement was welcome. a trial has started over the rape and murder of six—year—old alesha macphail, who was killed on the isle of bute. her body was discovered in woodland last july. a 16—year—old boy, who can't be named because of his age, denies the charges at glasgow high court. human activ

move follows reports china was angered by a speech this week in which the defence secretary, gavin williamsonaircraft carrier to the pacific. a spokesman for the treasury said the visit was never confirmed or announced. lady falkender, who was political secretary to the former prime minister harold wilson, has died at the age of 86. formerly known as marcia williams, she was a controversial and influentialfigure. she was the former labour prime minister's right—hand woman during his two periods in office during the 1960s and ‘70s, and was blamed by some for his controversial resignation honours list in 1976, a document which became known as the lavender list. the draft copy appeared in her handwriting on lavender notepaper. on the line is the former labour mp austin mitchell, who famously interviewed lady falkender from her bedside. thank you for being with us. pleasure. give us a sense of this woman, because she has passed into history. she was a very charming woman. i was got on well with her, but she was dedicated to harold wilson, and people like bernard donoghue, his speech writer, who c

move to an aircraft carrier through the south china sea earlier this week defense secretary gavin williamson gave. speech to the royal united services institute in which he said the queen elizabeth aircraft carrier which is now being built will sail through the touchy territory in twenty twenty one mr williamson's reportedly rattled the cabinet colleagues in the u.k. as well as the chinese trade diplomats with the speech in which he also said quote brecht's it has brought us to a great moment in history when we must strengthen our global presence and hance our lethality and increase our mass the road deprives chancellor of the exchange or philip hammond of two memorandum of understanding he expected to finalize this week which would have provided some much needed good news as breck's it approaches the news comes a day after news that the continued tariffs on u.k. steel imports to the united states should not only be continued but increased at the behest of u.s. steel manufacturers not a good couple of trade related days for the u.k. . and we now get an update on the upstart tesla are they th

news comes following reports that beijng pulled out of trade talks after the defence secretary, gavin williamsonlitical correspondent, jonathan blake, who told me cancellation of the trip was confirmed by the treasury this morning. philip hammond is not travelling to china as it stands and they also said that no trip was ever announced or confirmed and that is true. but there have been some plans in the works for him to make a brief visit to china and hold trade talks with senior members of the chinese government and this is that a key time after brexit when the uk will be looking to boost its trade with the country. and it does seem clear at least from the chinese side that it is not going to happen for now, as you mentioned, this comes a few days after the secretary made that speech which some interpreted as hostile towards china, talking about sending a voyage to the pacific in the uk having a permanent presence in the region. also saying that china was developing its modern military commercial power. indications that that speech is caused china to pull the plug on this has been denied but it

the defence secretary gavin williamson has announced plans to modernise the armed forces and, in hisafter brexit. he said the royal navy's new aircraft carrier, the hms queen elizabeth, would be deployed to the pacific in response to the perceived threat from china. mr williamson said it was vital the uk was prepared to use its military power. more than 300,0000 babies under the age of one are living below the poverty line — that's according to analysis carried out for the bbc by the joseph rowntree foundation. relative poverty is defined by the organisation as living substantially below the average income. for a single—parent family with one child, that amounts to £198 per week after housing costs. for a family of two parents with two children, it's £360 per week. the government says there are now 1 million fewer people living in absolute poverty since 2010. absolute poverty is defined as living with income 60% below the average income in 2010, adjusted for rises in the cost of living. 0ur correspondent danny savage has been to castleford to talk to one working mother about her expe

the defence secretary, gavin williamson, has announced it is the greatest opportunity facing the countryorld, and that he says will require bolder, stronger, more lethal armed forces, which he says britain must be ready to use, this is what he said. global britain needs to be much more than a pithy phrase. it has to be about action and our armed forces represent the best of global britain in action. taking action alongside our friends and allies, action to strengthen the hand of fragile nations and support those who face natural disaster. action to oppose those who flout international law. now, is part of that he said he would be sending britain's new aircraft carrier to the pacific to challenge china's territorial claims to some waters. he also announced that he was going to invest extra money in cyber operations but also to buy swarms of drones, new ships that could mount attacks on the land... how realistic is this? well, at the moment the mod can't really afford the equipment it has already ordered. that said, the mod also claims that they have costed this. i think there will be plen

move follows reports china was angered by a speech this week in which the defence secretary, gavin williamsonention to send an aircraft carrier to the pacific. a spokesman for the treasury said the visit was never confirmed or announced. president muhammadu buhari has called for nigerians "to refrain from all civil disorder and remain peaceful" after presidential elections there were postponed by a week, just hours before polls were due to open across the country. the independent national electoral commission blamed the delay on logistical difficulties, after reports of problems distributing voting material. a short time ago, i spoke to our news correspondent in abuja, tomi 0ladipo, who brought us up to date with the latest developments. the commission gave this middle of the night statement, and did not open the floor for any questions from journalists when they made the announcement. they said that they had reviewed their operational and logistical processes and found that it would not be feasible to hold the elections this weekend. and it is interesting, because they had been questioned fo

germany and others to form european alliances which in the eyes of people transatlantic since like gavin williamson they threaten nato as a predominant military force of the west so again and again he was keen to suggest that russia is the enemy that is at the gates of europe and europe is desperately in need of support of america and nato that's what it came back to to diminish the importance of the e.u. and increased importance of nato which is called message i'm just interested you mentioned you know this of threatening rhetoric about about china and today it was about russia should you know what shit step just how militarily powerful is the u.k. is it a force to be reckoned with or is it hiding behind nato. well i think even if they are u.k. soldiers and so on watching they will know the situation that britain is desperately short in terms of money for its own forces it takes on commitments that it can't really meet it has recruitment shortages in or the armed forces you doesn't quit when shortages training deficits and so on those aren't just in the case of the u.k. forces of course but in the

the defence secretary, gavin williamson, is due to announce plans today to modernise the armed forcesain needs a bolder and stronger military so it can redefine its role in the world after brexit. he'll warn that the uk must be willing to use its military power, and single out what he sees as growing threats from russia and china. a man held over the disappearance of missing student libby squire remains of interest to the inquiry, and is due in court on unrelated charges. the 24—year—old has been charged with voyeurism, outraging public decency and burglary. the search for the hull university student continues after she went missing 11 days ago on a night out. up to 86,000 women aged between 35 and 39 with a family history of breast cancer should receive annual mammograms, according to new research. a trial by the charity breast cancer now found that screening a younger age group detected small tumours early in comparison to the current nhs screening age of a0. here's our health correspondent dominic hughes. at present, breast cancer screening is offered to women from the age of a0 wh

the british defence secretary gavin williamson says the uk must be ready to intervene" in foreign warshina sea, carrying two squadrons of british and american f—35 fighter jets. the south china sea is one of the busiest, most militarised shipping routes in the world. china claims nearly all this body of water for itself, ignoring competing claims from the phillippenes, vietnam, malaysia, brunei and taiwan. to reinforce it‘s territorial claim china has been building these artificial islands in the spratly chain. mr williamson says hms elizabeth will be carrying out operations in the area to keep the shipping lanes open. we must be ready to show the high price of aggressive behaviour and ready to strengthen our resilience and ready where necessary to use ha rd and ready where necessary to use hard power to support our global interests. it went on to announced plans for the british defence secretary went on to announce plans for a £7 million swarm squadron of drones capable ofjamming enemy air defences. and potentially plans for two new bases in the caribbean and the far east. malcolm cha

the defence secretary gavin williamson has announced plans to modernise the armed forces so britain cand, ready to use its power — or risk being seen as a paper tiger. a teenager has gone on trial accused of abducting, raping and murdering six—year—old alesha macphail on the isle of bute. her body was discovered in woodland last july. a 16—year—old boy — who can't be named because of his age — denies the charges at glasgow high court. president trump will travel to el paso in texas today, to hold his first rally of the new year. he has controversially claimed that the city's 78—mile border fence with mexico is the reason why crime rates have fallen in the city. it's just four days before the us government is due to shut down again, if there is no agreement on funding for a wall that extends right across the border. our correspondent gary o'donoghue reports. this is the fence that transformed el paso from one of the most violent cities in america to one of the safest or at least that is according to donald trump. i want to welcome everyone here... but when he arrives here he is likely to

the defence secretary gavin williamson has set out plans to modernise the armed forces so the unitedexit. mr williamson said britain needed a bolder and stronger military, ready to use its power, or risk being seen as a paper tiger. he said china and russia had blurred the boundaries between war and peace. global britain needs to be much more than a pithy phrase, it has to be about action and our armed forces represent the best of global britain and action. taking action alongside our friends and action. taking action alongside ourfriends and and action. taking action alongside our friends and allies, action to strengthen the hand of fragile nations and support those who face natural disasters. action to depose those who flout international law. the baftas last night proved a golden success for the period drama ‘the favourite,‘ which swept up seven awards, including best actress for its british star olivia colman as queen anne. the best film award went to the black and white mexican movie ‘roma,’ the first time a production by the video streaming service netflix has won. our entertai

to some extent that we are not really up to speed on handling them, and the whole issue of gavin williamson'sent approaches china. you can see that in recent years, there have been moments when britain is open for business for china, and then over whether it is nuclear power, or now over huawei, there have been other voices of security going, hang on a sec, do we have to worry about this? other security concerns? and i think the ability to balance these out, it's going to be crucial to this huawei decision, because whatever the cyber security people will recommend, and say they can deal with it, there will be a wider political economic and diplomatic concerns, and you can already hear behind the scenes, different ministers taking different positions. on how to do that, and there is no doubt this will go up to the very top and be a really major strategic decision for the uk, even though it sounds like something very technical and 5g, it will really matter how the uk comes down, because it will be a signal in terms of how it views china and technology and its relationship with the us. the afric