and it's just been announced that the new poet laureate is simon armitage. and coming—up on sportsday on bbc news, a flawless performance at the british masters gives matt wallace a one—shot lead giong into the third round in southport. good evening. the trade war between the world's two biggest economies, the us and china, has intensfied, with president trump imposing a swathe of new tariffs on thousands of chinese products. he's insisting that doubling import taxes will make america "much stronger". the tariffs affect more than $200 billion worth of chinese imports, including consumer goods like furniture, car parts and handbags shipped to america. the us had already levied a 10% tariff on chinese goods last september. but today that rose to 25%, and beijing has vowed to retaliate. tonight, mr trump maintained his relationship with china's president xi is very strong, but a trade deal seems far off. well we'll be live in beijing but first to our north america editor, jon sopel, who's in washington for us tonight. clive, these crucial talks started this mor

the new poet laureate, simon armitage, speaking to will gompertz.y 1970s, after appearing on the tv talent show, opportunity knocks. it‘s understood he was found at his home, on spain‘s costa del sol. david sillito looks back at his life. freddie starr! 1970, the royal variety show and for a young freddie starr, it was his moment. # it‘s not unusual to be loved by anyone... it was all there, the impersonations, the manic energy, and a touch of danger. muhammad ali came along, yet the white people, the white promoters, they didn‘t want to know black people, they kept them to one side. how do you know? shut up, i‘m talking! not many people would have done that with muhammad ali. the success that followed bought him a lifestyle of helicopters and horses. miinnehoma won the national. in the world of northern comedians, there was a touch of rock and roll about him. he‘s a lunatic, yes, an absolute lunatic! but everyone loved him. but he was a lunatic, wasn‘t he? you wouldn‘t know what freddie starr was going to do when he came into a room. you wouldn‘t k

simon armitage reading the present, his poem about climate change.ere to be some kind of platform or competition or award that recognises writing around those themes, those topics. time in the brain cells sweating like a nail—bomb, trouble with the heartbeat spitting like a sten gun, cut to the chase, pick up the pace; no such thing as a walkabout what, simon, do you think the role of poetry is in contemporary society? it is more valuable and more relevant than it has ever been in this world that we live in, which is a very confused and confusing place — over—information, over—communication — that poetry is time out from that. did it cross your mind even for a moment when you were offered the post to say, actually, i don't think this is one at this stage, for a white male? maybe somebody from a different point of view or background would be better for this role at this moment? i come from a sort of an outside position. i've got no formal education in english literature at all. i understand, to a lesser extent, what it means to come from outside the e

simon armitage. cheering and applause.et laureate wanted to be a rock star, now he's treated like one. from the very beginning, he believed in taking poetry to the people. time in the brain cells sweating like a nail—bomb, trouble with the heartbeat spitting like a sten gun, cut to the chase, pick up the pace; no such thing as a walkabout fun—run, shoot yourself a glance in the chrome in the day—room, don't hang about, your running out of space, son. what, simon, do you think the role of poetry is in 2019, contemporary society? my feeling is that it is more valuable and more relevant than it has ever been in this world that we live in, which is a very confused and confusing place — over—information, over—communication — that poetry is time out from that. did it cross your mind even for a moment when you were offered the post to say, actually, i don't think this is one at this stage, for a white male. maybe somebody from a different point of view or background would be better for this role at this moment? i'm completely sym

meet britain's new poet laureate — the west yorkshire born writer, simon armitage. the dateline london panel ask if theresa may's forthcoming resignation is just a state of mind — or an imminent news event? that's in half an hour, here on bbc news. good morning and welcome to bbc news. concerns over climate change might restrict the growth of aviation in the uk, the government has admitted. a senior civil servant says ministers may have to review their strategy — including plans to expand heathrow. it follows a recent warning from the committee on climate change, which advises government, that the planned increase in aviation would need to be curbed to control emissionsof c02. our environment analyst roger harrabin reports. flying is on the up and the government has been planning for it to continue to grow. what about climate change, you might ask? under current policy, industry will have to cut more greenhouse gases so aviation can expand. but the government is now considering a plan to virtually eliminate emissions by 2050. and a civil servant has admitted in a le

the new poet laureate there, simon armitage. sunshine and showers but it is across eastern england that we are seeing the widespread showers. this is the scene in skipton, showing big cumulonimbus clouds on the horizon. thanks for sending that in. you can see the extent of the showers. it is across central and eastern areas, where there is further west pressure is building. the weather is largely dry across western is building. the weather is largely di’y across western areas. is building. the weather is largely dry across western areas. 0vernight tonight those showers clear away and the sky is clear as well with light winds, a cold night, temperatures in towns and cities down to low single figures. a chilly start to the day for many of us. a glorious day with plenty of sunshine. high cloud works into western scotland making the sunshine hazy and there will be a few showers for the northern isles, otherwise dry and feeling warmer, 16 degrees in edinburgh and manchester, 17 for london and cardiff on the cards for tomorrow afterno

simon armitage has been named as the new poet laureate, a role that lasts 10 years.r global issues, including climate change. earlier i asked him how he views the role. it has really changed, if you go back a few hundred years it was a very mysterious post, it was a job for life and on occasions people would be obliged to write to commission for royal occasions and there is still some of that element attached to it but it has really been modernised over the last two decades, since it became a decade—long appointment. it is more about rolling our sleeves up these days, some elements are ceremonial and ambassadorial, but there are other parts which are to do with the promotion of poetry and celebrating poetry and trying to encourage younger writers to try their hand at it and to identify people who might have a future in poetry. with the title poet laureate that might open a few doors in terms of the lobbying you do on behalf of poetry and the work of your fellow poets? that's the key, the fact it is a royal appointment, it helps to raise the prominence of this post an

and simon armitage will be with us after nine this morning.ked to elect 73 representatives into the european parliament. the delay in a brexit deal being decided means the uk is obliged to take part in the european elections on the 23rd may. tim muffet has been to grimsby, which overwhelmingly voted to leave the eu, to see what businesses and residents think about next week's vote. gutted. that's how john gutted. that's howjohn feels about the uk's dissipation in the european elections. i think it's absolutely disgraceful and i think we should have been out now. will you take pa rt have been out now. will you take part in the elections? no. what is the point of voting when that is not what we want to do. this is the alfred and will be smoke house in grimsby. the way we traditionally smoked haddock and salmon is unchanged for centuries. the tannins and the flavours within the fabric of the building are part of that taste. when it comes to the european elections, for some employees there is also a whiff of anger. elections, for some employees th

the new poet laureate there, simon armitage.terspout surprised singapore residents on saturday morning. as it would! videos were posted on social media showing the waterspout swirling in the southern shore of the island. witnesses say it was seen for around 20 minutes. the local rnvironment agency say there are generally three waterspout occu rances each year. they form when strong winds occur over water. we always like to keep the weather geeks happy. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. hello there. it has been a day of sunshine and showers with dramatic clouds filling the skies across central and eastern england, clouds like these, cumulonimbus clouds threatening skipton in north yorkshire. thanks to our viewer for sending that weather watcher picture in. now those showers lasting across eastern england for a time during the next few hours so there are still some heavy downpours around, potentially a rumble of thunder, but essentially those showers will fade away as we go through the night, and with ligh

simon armitage will be the new poet laureate.says he wants to use the role to ensure poetry embraces major global issues, including climate change. newswatch is up in around 15 minutes, but first it's 00:01:19,911 --> 4294966103:13:29,430 time for click. in the uk, police are pushing ahead with live facial recognition, deploying specially equipped vans to events such as london's annual notting hill carnival and major football games. i am completely comfortable that the activity we are doing in the trials is lawful and appropriate. but this has become a highly controversial issue, with civil liberties groups claiming that the technology is inaccurate, intrusive and infringes on an individual‘s right to privacy. for the last year, jeff white has been following the uk police‘s deployment of facial recognition. the frontline in facial recognition. police cameras in an east london street — everyone gets scanned. if you refuse, here is what can happen. if i want to cover my face i'll cover my face, don't push me over... this man didn't

simon armitage has been named as the new poet laureate, a role that lasts ten years.y his salary of 6000 pounds a year. he says he wants to use the role to ensure poetry embraces major global issues, including climate change. here's our arts editor, will gompertz. simon armitage reading the present, his poem about climate change, a subject close to his heart and at the top of his poet laureateship manifesto. i think it's absolutely essential that poetry responds to that issue and i'd like there to be some kind of platform or competition or award that recognises writing around those themes, those topics. time in the brain cells sweating like a nail—bomb, trouble with the heartbeat spitting like a sten gun, cut to the chase, pick up the pace; no such thing as a walkabout what, simon, do you think the role of poetry is in 2019, contemporary society? it is more valuable and more relevant than it is more valuable and more relevant than it has ever been in this world that we live in, which is a very confused and confusing place — over—information, over—communication — that

the new poet laureate there, simon armitage.s mother. the calf was struggling to keep its head above water among water plants but rescue workers guided the elephant to safety using sticks. eventually it made its way out of the water and ran back into the forest. the district's zoo says the first priority will be to reunite the calf with its mother. now it's time for a look at the weather with chris fawkes. hello there. it has been a day of sunshine and showers with dramatic clouds filling the skies across central and eastern england, clouds like these, cumulonimbus clouds threatening skipton in north yorkshire. thanks to our viewer for sending that weather watcher picture in. now those showers lasting across eastern england for a time during the next few hours so there are still some heavy downpours around, potentially a rumble of thunder, but essentially those showers will fade away as we go through the night, and with light winds and clearing skies it will be a cold night, cold enough for temperatures in the towns and cities t

simon armitage will be the new poet laureate.

simon armitage gave up his dayjob to pursue his poetry dream. he's written himself into the history books by being crowned poet laureate. he's the 21st poet to be given the honour, joining the likes of ted heath and william wordsworth. simonjoins us now. congratulations! thank you very much. how do you find out? what is the procedure? essentially, it boils down to a phone call from the prime minister which came a couple of days ago one lunchtime. she rang me to offer me the post and say congratulations. that was that. that almost sounds like a poem in itself. the call from the prime minister. almost sounds like a poem in itself. the call from the prime ministerlj might struggle fitting the rhymes in. i know this is not important in the great scheme of things, but how does that work? just to go back a little while, there is a process, a committee, and various interested parties saying who they think would be suitable and appropriate. i didn't really know anything about that then. as far as i understand it, a name goes forward to number ten. that