john mcmanus reports.e, the place where, for christians, it all began just over 2,000 years ago. and this year, a special link to the past — a wooden fragment which the church says is from the manger ofjesus, back in the holy land after 1,300 years. the holy family famously became migrants, fleeing from king herod to the relative safety of egypt. and at the vatican city today, pope francis once again repeated his concern for the plight of those forced to leave their homes. translation: it is an injustice that makes them cross deserts and seas that become cemeteries. it is an injustice that forces them to endure unspeakable forms of abuse, enslavement and every kind of torture at inhumane detention camps. # 0 come all ye faithful... in his sermon this morning at canterbury cathedral, the archbishop of canterbury — who was recently in the war—torn democratic republic of congo — drew a link between the suffering there and the recent terror attack in london. darkness is a monster that lies. its growling claims

john mcmanus, bbc news.he importance of friendship and reconcilitation in her christmas address, following a year of deep divisions in the uk over brexit. she led members of the royal family at a church service on the sandringham estate. prince andrew, who stepped away from royal duties last month, wasn't present, he went to an earlier service. but prince george and princess charlotte were there to greet well wishers, as our royal correspondent nicholas witchell reports. morning service at sandringham. notable for who attended and who was absent. making their first appearance, 6—year—old prince george and 11—year—old princess charlotte. absent from the main service, prince andrew. he decided to attend an earlier private service for the family. after the 11 o'clock service, the queen headed back to sandringham house, where prince philip had remained after his discharge from hospital yesterday. that left the cambridges to lead the royal party greeting the crowds. a little daunting for george and charlotte, who

john mcmanus has latest.ears old and described asa jones was 23 years old and described as a positive influence on many peoples lives. wanting to help the victims of crime, she recently applied tojoin victims of crime, she recently applied to join the police. victims of crime, she recently applied tojoin the police. 0n friday, her life was cut short. 0ne of two people stabbed to death but was in caen as she volunteered at the rehabilitation conference that khan was attending. her friend says she was clever and down—to—earth and would have tried to defuse the situation that ultimately ended in her dad. a young woman with decades and decades, probably even 100 years life left in her, and she is dead. like saskia, jack merritt had studied criminology at cambridge, unlike her he had been committed to helping business starting new life. among those paying tribute to him, his friend holly. "i can't believe i got to call you my best mate. i can't believe i got the privilege of your love. you were quite simply the be

john mcmanus reports.ucracy that's often hindered the fight against clergy sex abuse. critics have often maintained that the pontifical secret — first introduced in 1974 by pope paul vi — provided a handy shield for bishops who didn't want the church's records scrutinised. now pope francis says it will no longer apply to abuse cases involving minors. the change was a key demand of two papal allies at a february summit on sex abuse at the vatican — german cardinal reinhardt marx and the archbishop of malta, charles scicluna. it opens up, for example, avenues of communication with the victims, certain jurisdiction would have easily quoted the pontifical secret, because that was the state of the law in order to say they could not and they were not authorised to share information with either state authorities or the victims. now that impediment, we might call it that way, has been lifted, and the pontifical secret is no more an excuse. you are no longer going to be a priest! many parts of the global church, su

thank you, john mcmanus.am, where the queen has beenin sandringham, where the queen has been in residence since friday. the duke arrived in sandringham pretty quickly? in the last ten minutes or so quickly? in the last ten minutes or soa quickly? in the last ten minutes or so a helicopter landed on the estate at sandringham, he is back at home with his family. he now lives here full—time since he retired from public life in 2017. he spends most of his time at sandringham. speaking to people who work you, they say they often see him walking around they often see him walking around the estate and members of the public can bump into him if they can hear. it isa can bump into him if they can hear. it is a real belief that he is spending christmas with his family. we will see the queen on christmas day, she goes to church in the morning with the rest of her family. we don‘t know if prince philip will join her, he didn‘t go last year and since he retired he spent a lot less time in public, preferring to spend it aw

john mcmanus, bbc news.ley, a former director—general of the national offender management service. this is now her majesty's prison and probation service. he told me that he couldn't understand what went wrong in this case on the part of probation. it's quite clear that he should have been recalled as soon as he was arrested and charged with burglary. that would be the normal thing with a prisoner who was on an indeterminate sentence, on licence, subject to fairly stringent conditions, which were built into his release. it is incomprehensible for me that he wasn't recalled by the probation service at that stage, let alone at the stage when he was convicted of the offence later on when the trial took place and the judge who commented on the trial seem to comment on the basis that he expected recall to happen but it still didn't happen. that is, frankly, beyond belief. and what i can't understand, it isn't clear to me, how a probation service failed to do that and what were the precise things that went wrong?

john mcmanus, bbc news. i'm joined now via webcam by philip wheatley.ervice and a former director general of the national offender management service — what is now her majesty's prison and probation service. where do you think the key failures we re where do you think the key failures were in this particular case? where do you think the key failures were in this particular case7m where do you think the key failures were in this particular case? it is quite clear that he should have been recalled as soon as he was arrested and charged with burglary, which would be the normal thing for a prisoner on an indeterminate sentence on licence, subject to fairly stringent conditions built into his release. it is incomprehensible he was not recalled by the probation service at that stage, let alone at the stage when he was convicted of the offence later, when the trial took place. thejudge who later, when the trial took place. the judge who commented, seem to comment on the basis he expected recalled to happen but it still did not happen. that is frankly beyond be

john mcmanus, bbc news.rked extensively with life—sentenced prisoners and knows the probation service well. he has written books about parole. thanks forjoining us. what you think went wrong here and how?m some ways it is inexplicable what went wrong, when somebody on a life licence is charged with an offence thatis licence is charged with an offence that is automatically a potential breach of that license. and it would normally trigger an immediate recall to custody and the cancellation of that license. it is also very difficult to understand how after conviction this was not picked up and how when he was released a second time he was given a new license and no one realise that the old licence should have been revoked. but i think what really goes to the root of this is the impact of austerity on the criminal justice system. we had a situation where chris grayling part privatise the probation service, where funding was cut to the bone. the impact of that was that there was a massive churn of probation offic

john mcmanus, bbc news.f napo, the trade union and professional association representing thousands of members working in probation and family courts. thank you very much for being with us thank you very much for being with us this afternoon. the obvious thing is to say that this was a failure, but the question is, how did this failure arise? are you any clearer after hearing the conclusion of the case, the circumstances which meant his situation was overlooked?” think it is so important in these cases to understand the context that has been happening for the last five yea rs on has been happening for the last five years on probation. in 2014, the probation service was split into two parts, one part being privatised, one part remaining in the public sector and this brought massive problems and stresses for the system. we had not enough staff, staff leaving, at a very high rate, higher than expected, because they could not cope with working in this new system, and obviously what happens then is that the work i

let's speak to john let's speak tojohn mcmanus outside the hospital. we saw those images of the hospital. we saw those images of the duke leaving the hospital. he left in singularly good health from what we can see from the pictures. prince philip himself not saying anything to the media, no surprises there. no clues as to what prompted this day for four nights at the hospital, the palace only saying it was a precautionary measure, but they were not saying what the precaution was against. the duke keeping tight—lipped about that, and the entire royal family. keeping tight—lipped about that, and the entire royalfamily. prince charles making very few comments yesterday when he was in yorkshire. he said when you get to that age some things don't work as they should when you get to that age with your body. people with elderly pa rents your body. people with elderly parents will agree. he is going back to sandringham to hopefully enjoy a peaceful christmas. the hospital not saying anything, they will keep their confidentiality. the duke will be looking forw

john mcmanus, bbc news.bation and family courts. she told me that the decision by the coalition government to part—privatise the probation service put enormous pressures on people working in it, and contributed to the tragedy. i think it's so important in these cases to understand the context that has been happening for the last five years in probation. in 2014, the probation service was split into two parts, one part being privatized, one part remaining in the public sector. and this brought massive problems and stresses for the system. we had not enough staff, staff leaving at a very high rate, higher than expected because they couldn't cope with working in this new system. and obviously, what happens then is that the work is spread out amongst a smaller number of people and they then become ill or disillusioned and leave. and that process went on and on and on. and in this case, i understand that there were a very, very high number of staff vacancies in the area at the time that mr mccann should have been

john mcmanus, bbc news.l time before the general election next week. they put forward competing visions on brexit, the nhs, and the economy, and attacked each other‘s plans, but neither scored a knockout blow. our political correspondent, nick eardley, was there. with just a few days until the country goes to the polls, one of the last big chances to persuade voters. how would we be better off from the brexit deal or a future labout deal compared to what we already have as a member of the eu? can you guarantee that it will happen next year? on brexit, they attacked each other. what i have not heard from the leader of the labour party, this deal that he thinks he can get in three months' time, who is going to negotiate it? who is going to secure this deal? the news came out of what's happening with northern ireland... for people who did not hear the news, what are you claiming the document show? they show quite clearly that there are going to be charges, there are going to be customs checks, there are going t

our correspondent, john mcmanus, said over 1,000 address were published.ple former military people, counterterrorism officers, the former director of public prosecutions, all people who do not want their details in the public eye and also celebrities who will be unhappy about this, like elton john and ben stokes as well. the cabinet office has apologised and referred itself to the data watchdog. the ico may investigate and could levy a large fine on the government if it so chooses. its powers were upgraded last year in 2018. they can now, as in the case of a british airways data breach, levy a fine of £183 million so it is serious stuff and it goes after public bodies as well as private. it fined the london borough of newham, £145,000, a smaller amount but significant for local government as they accidentally disclosed details of 200 people. this could be a financial headache for the government and there is another problem as well. because there are celebrities on the list, some of them, very well—heeled, if they choose to go to court and sue the governmen

john mcmanus is on london bridge for us this morning.he bridges still closed traffic and the buses you can see

john mcmanus reports.ilding in a congested residential area. local media say the building was packed with handbags and other material, all of which helped the fire to grow in strength. as well as retail goods, the emergency services say some labourers were also sleeping inside the building, a common occurrence for india's many poor migrant workers. dozens of fire appliances rushed to the scene to help extinguish the blaze, though the district's narrow streets made access very difficult. translation: we received a call at 5:22am and we had initially sent four vehicles to the spot. a total of 35 tenders have been sent until now. 150 people have been deployed. the rescued people have been sent to different hospitals. the exact number of dead and alive will be available from the hospital. emergency workers are now combing through the building to check nobody else is trapped. so far, the cause of the fire is unknown, but the state government says it will launch an investigation. around 60,000 people took part i

john mcmanus is here. she says she wants to correct what she said was inaccurate information that has come out since the tragedy occurred on christmas eve on the costa del sol. her husband and two children drowned in that swimming pool, she says that contrary to media reports perhaps most importantly all three of them could swim, or 52—year—old husband and her nine—year—old daughter and her 16—year—old says they could all swim in that she never told the police or anybody else anything contrary to that. she says the whole family were at the pool, the whole family were at the pool, the children were not left unattended at any time and since the children went into the pool themselves by themselves and that nobody fell in and once they're in the water found themselves dragged into the middle of the pool somehow, that part of the pool was deeper and she said the children then started calling for help. at that point her husband gabriel went into the pool, again by the steps to help them and she then said she ran

john mcmanus is at the supreme court.illion when her treatment was so invasive it left her infertile at the age of 29. the money she was awarded was used to freeze her eggs, but miss xx wants to go to california where surrogacy isa to go to california where surrogacy is a commercial progress. you pay the surrogate mother, that is not allowed in the uk, and also where there are greater legal safeguards for both the surrogates and the prospective parents. the nhs trust says that is not something that should happen, it says commercial surrogacy in the uk is illegal but the court of appeal disagreed with them last december and said they should give miss xx are greater, largerfinancial should give miss xx are greater, larger financial settlement. this that's being heard at the supreme court today and tomorrow is the trust's attempt to stop that happening, the final move on their pa rt happening, the final move on their part to ensure this doesn't happen. the ruling is expected sometime in the new year. thank you. rail passenge

pope accepted the resignation of his ambassador to france, who's been accused of molestation. john mcmanusthat has often hindered the fight against clergy sex abuse. clergy, critics have often maintained that the pontifical secret, first introduced by 1974, by pope all the seats provided a handy shield for bishops who didn't want the church's records good nose. now the pope says it will no longer involved abuse cases involving minors. german cardinal reinhardt marks on the archbishop of malta. it opens avenues of communication with the victims, setting jurisdiction would have easily quoted the pontifical secret, because that was the state of the law. in order to so they could not and they were not authorised to share information with either statutory is all the victims, now that impediment, you could call it that impediment, you could call it that way, has been lifted and the pacific or secret is no more an excuse. pacific or secret is no more an excuse. you are pacific or secret is no more an excuse. you are no pacific or secret is no more an excuse. you are no longer going to bea excuse.

we can talk to our correspondent john mcmanus. take us through the statement from her.importantly, whether gabriel diya in his two children could swing well. mrs diya says all three could swim and never said anything contrary to that to the spanish police. she tells this about the sequence of events leading up to the death of her husband and two of her children. there were reports her daughter had jumped in or fallen there were reports her daughter had jumped in orfallen in. she said she did notjump. jumped in orfallen in. she said she did not jump. they jumped in orfallen in. she said she did notjump. they got in and were dragged to the centre of the pool and could not get out. she said they we re and could not get out. she said they were dragged into the middle of the pool were dragged into the middle of the pool. that is a key part of the statement. she says her husband went in using the steps while she went to try and get help from apartments at the resort but when she returned her husband and two children were under the water. spanish police have investigated and s

john mcmanus has this report.cross london bridge, members of the public pursuing usman khan, determined to stop his stabbing spree. moments before, he had attacked people at a rehabilitation conference inside fishmongers' hall. as armed police arrived, the realisation that khan is wearing what appears to be an explosives vest. moments later, he is shot dead. yesterday, one of his victims was named. 25—year—old jack merritt, who had been working at the conference. paying tribute to his son, david merritt called him a beautiful spirit who always took the side of the underdog. jack was originally from cambridge, and on saturday a vigil was held there to remember all those caught up in the incident. as the investigation into friday's attack continues, properties in stoke—on—trent and stafford have been searched and the government says it has launched an urgent review into the license conditions under which convicted terrorists like khan are freed from jail. there are thought to be around 70 such people but police have

john mcmanus reports.years old and described by her family as a positive influence in many people's lives. wanting to help the victims of crime, she had recently applied tojoin the police. on friday, her life was cut short, one of two people stabbed to death by usman khan as she volunteered at the rehabilitation conference that khan was attending. she would have stood her ground. which breaks my heart even more because she would have stood up for herself, which, i dread to think what would've happened, to be honest. so it's not fair. this world has changed. and a 23—year—old girl dying like that should never happen, it should never come to that. like saskia, 25—year—old jack merritt had studied criminology at cambridge and like her, he'd been committed to helping prisoners start a new life. among those paying tribute to him his friend hollie. jack's father david merritt has already asked that his son's death not be used to impose draconian sentences on prisoners. and last night on twitter he accused the da

john mcmanus, bbc news. john is at london bridge for us this morning.re allowed to be released injail after serving half their sentence under a form of license and thatis sentence under a form of license and that is how usman khan was allowed out ofjail and allowed to do what he did here on friday. his attack started behind me at fishmongers' hall and spilt out onto the bridge where those members of the public very bravely tackled him, prevented him from getting any further and suddenly armed police arrive and we re suddenly armed police arrive and were able to confront him. as you can see, the bridges back open and opened late last night. pedestrians coming across as well as traffic. a bit of a sense of normality starting to return here but i don't think anybody is going to forget what happened on friday in a hurry, especially, of course, as we know, this was the second terrorist attack in london bridge in as many years. thank you very much, john, for the moment. the london bridge attacks also dominated the latest election debate held on itv last night

john mcmanus is on london bridge for us this morning.s close as we can get to london bridge. the bridges still closed traffic and the buses you can see up there were halted by police at two o'clock on friday afternoon when the incident unfolded. the investigation is still continuing and in staffordshire where properties have been searched, last night the government announced a review into the license conditions under which some terrorist prisoners have been released from jail. amid all this, two people dead and three still in hospital. running across london bridge, members of the public pursuing usman khan, determined to stop his stabbing spree. moments before, he had attacked people at a rehabilitation conference inside fishmongers all. as armed police arrived, the realisation that usman khan is wearing what appears to be an explosives vest. moments later, he is shot dead. yesterday, one of his victims was named. 25—year—old jack merritt who had been working at the conference. paying tribute to his son, david merritt called him a beauti

john mcmanus is outside the hospital in central london. what is the news?, if he does not leave this evening it will be henceforth night in hospital here at the hospital in central london where as you say he was taken on friday from the queen‘s private residence in sandringham. the prince did not need an ambulance, he was taken here by staff and was able to walk in. what he is doing in the hospital we simply don‘t know. the palace see it as a precautionary measure but won‘t say what the precaution is against. thejoke has been slowing down over the last few yea rs been slowing down over the last few years and certainly given up his royal duties. he stopped them in 2017 and is rarely seen in public. for a 2017 and is rarely seen in public. fora man 2017 and is rarely seen in public. for a man his age, perhaps it is not surprising there are some health issues. they have not been any visits from members of his family but the prince of wales on the visit to fishlake but the prince of wales on the visit to fishla ke in but the prince of wales on the visit to fish

thank you very much indeed, john mcmanus reporting from the old bailey.se they have a major winter storm that has already started to deposit a lot of snow and strong winds and will continue to do so. you might think that iceland is used to rough weather and that is true to an extent, but we have a really strong jet stream long across the atlantic, a swirl of cloud, an area of low pressure rather than clearing away, it has become somewhat marooned. very strong winds on the northern flank, a lot of snow in the forecast, perhaps up to two metres in places. people in reykjavik have been told not to go outside after 3pm this afternoon, iceland time, told they have to stay indoors. roads have been closed for 24 hours, such are the concerns, and in terms of what we are expecting, up to two metres of snow in places, but also the wind, 75 miles private sustained winds, and we talk about gusts often, this is a steady wind blowing at 75 mph, round about the low end of hurricane force, believe it or not. coastal flooding as well, so that whether situation is going to

let's get more from our news correspondentjohn mcmanus, who's at the supreme court and can tell us more. fill us in, john involves an anonymous woman, known as xx to the court, who, as you say, was not diagnosed with cancer for more than four years by whittington hospital nhs trust. when she was diagnosed it was treated and successful but it was so invasive, chemo and radiotherapy, she was left infertile at the age of 29. she was awarded more than half £1 million to help pay for surrogacy services and to freeze her eggs but xx wants to pursue her surrogacy in california where rules and laws is different for stop surrogacy is legal in the uk but no money can change hands, apart from expenses for the surrogates. it is simply not a commercial process. also, most importantly, the child is legally the child of the surrogate mother, rather than the prospective parents when it is born. in california, it is entirely different. it is often a commercial process and the child is legally the prospective parents‘ rather than the surrogate mother. xx wa nts to rather than the surrogate mother. xx wants to pursue that

john mcmanus is outside the hospital in central london. what is the news from there?very much away about the treatment that his father may or may not be undergoing in the hospital behind me. prince philip was admitted on friday, he walked into the entrance, he was taken here from sandringham, the queenmantises in norfolk as the queen was on her way from london to northwick begin her christmas break. we don't know what he is being treated for but we are told he is in hospitalfor a precautionary measure. we know he has been omitted to hospital a couple of times over the last couple of years for various complaints that had to be treated including abdominal surgery, had to be treated including abdominalsurgery, bladder infections and on one occasion a blocked coronary artery which were all successfully treated. if the duke does not leave hospital this evening, it will be his fourth night here. we have not seen any sign of family visits but that may come over the next couple of days if he does not make it back to sandringham in time for christmas. thank you. there are grow