Detecting language using up to the first 30 seconds. Use `--language` to specify the language Detected language: English [00:00.000 --> 00:04.760] in the breeze. And the breeze gets stronger through Monday night into Tuesday, a significant [00:04.760 --> 00:09.120] strength in other winds linked into this deepening air of low pressure. Another stormy low, we've [00:09.120 --> 00:12.920] seen some over the past few weeks, another one to come through Monday night into Tuesday, [00:12.920 --> 00:17.680] prompting the Met Office to issue an early warning of strong winds across the UK. Fifty [00:17.680 --> 00:21.560] to seventy mile an hour gusts possible quite widely across the country, even more than [00:21.560 --> 00:26.240] that around the coasts and the hills. We will see heavy rain as well to begin the day, easing [00:26.240 --> 00:30.200] to the south east for the afternoon, snow then packing into northwest Scotland, but there [00:30.200 --> 00:34.400] will be the risk of some minor flooding from that rain, temperatures lifting a little bit. [00:34.400 --> 00:38.320] Temperatures will lift further on Wednesday after a chilly start, driest, brightest for [00:38.320 --> 00:42.320] longest to the south and the east, but more cloud and rain, and hill snow for Scotland [00:42.320 --> 00:46.520] starting to push in from the northwest later, temperatures around seven to ten Celsius. [00:46.520 --> 00:50.480] So a topsy-turvy week of weather, your five day forecast are online and there's more later [00:50.480 --> 00:51.480] on the news channel. [00:51.480 --> 00:57.240] This is a highly volatile situation. We have to leave, it's getting violent. [00:57.240 --> 01:01.400] Tamar Gaddafi, how do you end this crisis? Keep your head down, keep your head down. [01:01.400 --> 01:07.640] As far as the eye can see, you've got destruction and devastation. It's been a truly memorable [01:07.640 --> 01:13.240] occasion. Mr President, what would he have had to do to be captured? It's extremely [01:13.240 --> 01:18.440] tense here right in the heart of Athens. This is the most humble day of my life. The United [01:18.440 --> 01:23.920] Nations World Food Programme, say 10 million others in this corner of Africa, are going [01:23.920 --> 01:28.000] to need their help in the next few months. This is the image of London that has flashed [01:28.000 --> 01:32.640] around the world. It was a day which changed America and the world. [01:32.640 --> 01:38.680] One fighter told me that Tamar Gaddafi said to him, what did I do to you? He said he took [01:38.680 --> 01:43.280] the decision for the good of the country. Are we better off outside the hero? We bet [01:43.280 --> 01:44.280] we are. [01:44.280 --> 01:52.000] Extraordinary events, unparalleled coverage. In 2012, stay with BBC News. [01:52.000 --> 02:07.520] It's hungry time, isn't it? Do you first? Hello, how are you? Can you just give me one [02:07.520 --> 02:17.840] minute? Yes, I know. No, we're fine. You're busy. That's why renewing your TV licence [02:17.840 --> 02:41.680] is easy. Visit tvlicensing.co.uk. [03:17.840 --> 03:28.640] The final countdown begins for London 2012, but there's a new warning about betting syndicates. [03:28.640 --> 03:32.960] Celebrations as the Olympic year gets underway, but the government says it's concerned about [03:32.960 --> 03:37.600] those who want to spoil the party. I'm very worried about it, and it's not just me. The [03:37.600 --> 03:41.920] President of the International Olympic Committee thinks that this is the biggest threat facing [03:41.920 --> 03:48.440] sport this year. Also tonight, grim tidings, Europe's leaders warn 2012 will be even more [03:48.440 --> 03:54.920] difficult than last year, but insist the Eurozone will emerge from the economic crisis. Plans [03:54.920 --> 03:59.360] to make subletting council houses a criminal offence, tenants who rent out their homes [03:59.360 --> 04:04.520] could face jail. The Duke of Edinburgh walks to church to join the other royals for a New [04:04.520 --> 04:14.320] Year's Day service. And Sunderland snatch it with a last gasp goal against league leaders [04:14.320 --> 04:33.080] Manchester City. Good evening. Events have taken place today to mark the start of the [04:33.080 --> 04:38.120] Olympic year. The chairman of London 2012, Lord Coe, said the games would show that Britain [04:38.120 --> 04:43.680] was open for business. But the dangers ahead were highlighted by the Olympic's minister. [04:43.680 --> 04:48.480] He warned that betting syndicates are aiming to fix the outcome of competitions. Sports [04:48.480 --> 04:54.920] correspondent James Pierce is in London's Trafalgar Square now. James. Good evening. [04:54.920 --> 05:00.000] This countdown clock seems to hold special significance this evening. 208 days to go, [05:00.000 --> 05:05.360] and one wait is over. Here we are now in 2012. Today there have been special celebrations [05:05.360 --> 05:10.600] on this part of London. Olympic theme with the Lord Mayor's New Year's Parade. I should [05:10.600 --> 05:18.320] warn you that this report contains some flash photography. The dawn of a new year over London's [05:18.320 --> 05:26.440] Olympic Stadium. 2012, the year for which all of this has been built. In the centre of the [05:26.440 --> 05:33.120] city the annual New Year's Parade with an Olympic theme as a build up to the games intensifies. [05:33.120 --> 05:38.800] Economically the coming months carry uncertainty, but the message from London 2012 is that the [05:38.800 --> 05:45.200] party's spirit mustn't be dampened. This is a country that is open for business and we [05:45.200 --> 05:52.400] need to use every opportunity we can off the back of the games to showcase the fantastic [05:52.400 --> 05:59.600] creativity, our fantastic businesses, our artistic endeavour, our sporting endeavour, [05:59.600 --> 06:06.240] and most crucially what we are as a nation. But many challenges still remain. In November [06:06.240 --> 06:11.520] three Pakistani cricketers were jailed for their involvement in a betting plot. Today [06:11.520 --> 06:16.960] the sports minister warned about the risk of a similar scandal at the Olympics. It absolutely [06:16.960 --> 06:21.200] is a possibility and the danger, the real danger lies in spot fixing. Just consider [06:21.200 --> 06:26.160] how easy it is to bet on something like the first short corner in a hockey game, any team [06:26.160 --> 06:31.080] sport you can bet on an individual action or a current. So you look at the number of [06:31.080 --> 06:35.080] team sports that there are in the Olympics and the threat, the real threat becomes very [06:35.080 --> 06:40.360] obvious. This being London, one of the other great [06:40.360 --> 06:47.440] unpredictables is the weather. Those taking part in today's parade got soaked. Not that [06:47.440 --> 06:52.480] deterred one Olympic champion who's hoping that by August he'll have another medal to [06:52.480 --> 06:57.800] hold alongside his gold from Beijing. I think what's most exciting about 2012 is not the [06:57.800 --> 07:02.480] fact that we can necessarily go and win grand medals but the amount of enthusiasm that the [07:02.480 --> 07:08.000] country has for the Olympics. We've been competing for this Olympics for years but it's really [07:08.000 --> 07:12.040] exciting to see the country sort of almost wake up and have that moment of revelation. [07:12.040 --> 07:16.160] The fact that 2012 is the Olympic year and we as a country are going to celebrate it [07:16.160 --> 07:21.920] and come away with some fantastic medals to do. The venues are almost ready. The year [07:21.920 --> 07:28.600] is here. The London Olympics suddenly feel very close. [07:28.600 --> 07:32.520] The organisers will hope that when that countdown clock gets to zero the weather is going to [07:32.520 --> 07:37.400] be very different than it has been today. We've had torrential rain throughout the afternoon [07:37.400 --> 07:41.080] but the organisers have done a good job so far getting us to where we are at the start [07:41.080 --> 07:45.440] of 2012 with all those venues pretty much ready for action but as the sports minister [07:45.440 --> 07:50.080] has highlighted there are still some very big issues to be faced before the games can [07:50.080 --> 07:54.240] begin. James thank you very much. [07:54.240 --> 07:58.840] Eurozone leaders have given a gloomy assessment of the year ahead. Exactly 10 years after [07:58.840 --> 08:04.560] Euro coins and banknotes first went into circulation. The French president Nicolas Socozzi warned [08:04.560 --> 08:09.320] that the worst economic crisis since the Second World War would continue to hurt households [08:09.320 --> 08:14.680] in 2012. While Angela Merkel said that for millions of Germans this year would be more [08:14.680 --> 08:19.160] difficult than last, Stephen Evans reports from Berlin. [08:19.160 --> 08:25.760] Nobody's crying for 2011. The year of riots in Greece has belts got tighter and tighter [08:25.760 --> 08:31.640] and friends fell out as Euro tensions got tougher and tougher and leaders got shunted [08:31.640 --> 08:42.640] out as voters got less and less patient. So welcome 2012 with fireworks over the Brandenburg [08:42.640 --> 08:49.640] Gate in Berlin and the annual message to her people from Chancellor Merkel. She did not [08:49.640 --> 08:55.440] promise a happy new year. [08:55.440 --> 09:00.400] Europe is growing together in the crisis. The path to overcoming this remains long and [09:00.400 --> 09:05.440] won't be free from setbacks but at the end of it Europe will emerge stronger from the [09:05.440 --> 09:11.280] crisis than it went into it. [09:11.280 --> 09:17.840] And in Paris the fireworks were subdued but a new year's glow shone over the Eiffel Tower. [09:17.840 --> 09:25.520] A glow in the gloom of the message from the president. [09:25.520 --> 09:29.960] We have to be courageous and we have to be lucid. What's happening in the world announces [09:29.960 --> 09:36.280] that 2012 will be a year full of risks but also full of possibilities. Full of hope if [09:36.280 --> 09:42.000] we know how to face the challenges. Full of dangers if we stand still. [09:42.000 --> 09:48.400] There is a new year ritual in Germany. Everybody watches a remake of an old British comedy about [09:48.400 --> 09:54.520] a duchess and her butler. This year there was a twist. A spoof with Chancellor Merkel [09:54.520 --> 10:05.200] and President Sarkozy. [10:05.200 --> 10:10.600] In real life they are now linked together to save the euro. They meet again in a few [10:10.600 --> 10:17.400] days time to try to agree on greater integration of euro's own policies. [10:17.400 --> 10:22.840] Even here in Germany Europe's strongest economy the forecasts are for growth not much more [10:22.840 --> 10:29.600] than zero. Throughout the rest of Europe it may well be recession. 2012 does not promise [10:29.600 --> 10:33.360] to be better than 2011. [10:33.360 --> 10:39.360] Russians take to the icy water in another new year ritual. Their government is not promising [10:39.360 --> 10:46.000] any warm up of the economy. Quite the contrary. And that's bad news for every economy in [10:46.000 --> 10:51.800] Europe. Stephen Evans BBC News Berlin. [10:51.800 --> 10:56.760] A soldier killed in an explosion in Afghanistan was named today as Private John King from [10:56.760 --> 11:01.760] First Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment. Private King who was 19 and from Darlington was killed [11:01.760 --> 11:08.720] in a blast in the Naasaraj district of Helmand province on Friday. [11:08.720 --> 11:12.840] Council tenants who sublet their homes for money will face prosecution and could be jailed [11:12.840 --> 11:17.240] under new government plans for England and Wales. Higher earners may also be forced to [11:17.240 --> 11:23.000] pay the market rate for living in their council property in proposals outlined today. Political [11:23.000 --> 11:27.000] correspondent Vicky Young reports. [11:27.000 --> 11:31.800] They're pocketing money at the taxpayers expense. That's what ministers think of council tenants [11:31.800 --> 11:38.120] who sublet their property. Around 160,000 tenants move out and take up to a thousand [11:38.120 --> 11:43.360] pounds a week in rent from someone else. The government says it's a form of fraud to profit [11:43.360 --> 11:47.720] from accommodation that's no longer needed. And they're promising to change the law to [11:47.720 --> 11:50.800] make it a criminal offence. [11:50.800 --> 11:55.840] It's not fair it's not right. Hardworking taxpayers pay billions of pounds to build [11:55.840 --> 11:59.640] social housing. It should go to the people who really need it not people who are committing [11:59.640 --> 12:01.760] that kind of fraud and abuse. [12:01.760 --> 12:06.440] Many local authorities already tell their tenants not to sublet but often the worst [12:06.440 --> 12:11.800] penalty they face is losing the property. In future they could go to jail. [12:11.800 --> 12:16.120] Around eight million people in England and Wales live in a home owned either by the council [12:16.120 --> 12:22.280] or a housing association but there's a lengthy waiting list too with almost two million families [12:22.280 --> 12:27.680] hoping to be housed. Ministers believe that making subletting illegal is one way to try [12:27.680 --> 12:31.880] and provide council homes for those who really need them. [12:31.880 --> 12:37.560] The government is also considering allowing councils to raise rents for high earning tenants. [12:37.560 --> 12:43.200] Those with an income over 100,000 pounds may have to pay more although only 6,000 people [12:43.200 --> 12:46.040] are likely to be affected. [12:46.040 --> 12:51.000] But leavers say these measures won't do anything to tackle a far deeper problem. [12:51.000 --> 12:56.560] The reality is the housing crisis is only going to be solved by building new affordable [12:56.560 --> 13:01.240] houses and grant shafts as housing minister should stop re-announcing things that aren't [13:01.240 --> 13:06.000] going to make an immediate big difference and get on with building new houses. [13:06.000 --> 13:10.600] The government will consult on its proposals soon but the housing charity shelter has called [13:10.600 --> 13:15.480] for bigger and bolder solutions not more tweaks to social housing policy. [13:15.480 --> 13:18.240] Vicky Young, BBC News. [13:18.240 --> 13:22.320] The Archbishop of Canterbury has said in his New Year message that society is letting [13:22.320 --> 13:27.800] down young people. Dr Roan Williams says the suspicion and negativity shown towards young [13:27.800 --> 13:33.880] people is driving them into unhappiness and anxiety. He said last August's riots in [13:33.880 --> 13:38.160] England were part of a much bigger and more serious problem. [13:38.160 --> 13:43.440] Iran has test fired a new medium range missile during naval exercises close to the Strait [13:43.440 --> 13:48.200] of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest shipping routes for transporting oil. The announcement [13:48.200 --> 13:53.280] of the test firing was followed shortly afterwards by Tehran saying it has successfully tested [13:53.280 --> 13:59.200] a nuclear fuel rod made from uranium enriched from within Iran for the first time. Nick [13:59.200 --> 14:02.840] Childs reports. [14:02.840 --> 14:07.880] Iran's naval forces show off their firepower. Maneuvers at sea that look like a repost to [14:07.880 --> 14:15.840] western diplomatic maneuvers to tighten sanctions on Iran over its suspected nuclear ambitions. [14:15.840 --> 14:20.720] This naval commander says Iran is able to defend all its coastline and hit any target [14:20.720 --> 14:23.280] at any time it chooses. [14:23.280 --> 14:27.520] In the midst of 10 days of exercises, it warned last week that it would shut the Strait of [14:27.520 --> 14:32.680] Hormuz if its own oil exports were squeezed. It may have backed off those comments later, [14:32.680 --> 14:36.920] but it's all a reminder of the fears for the oil market, fragile western economies and [14:36.920 --> 14:39.240] stability in the Gulf. [14:39.240 --> 14:43.560] Iran straddles the narrow Strait of Hormuz the mouth of the Gulf. The waterway's strategic [14:43.560 --> 14:47.440] significance stems from the fact that it carries more than a third of all oil shipped [14:47.440 --> 14:51.880] by sea. That's one reason the US Navy has the headquarters for its fifth fleet in the [14:51.880 --> 14:57.080] Gulf in Bahrain. Britain stations a small force of naval mine hunters there too. [14:57.080 --> 15:02.560] The decision to test a missile is simply to engage in some sort of brinksmanship to show [15:02.560 --> 15:07.320] that in the event of any attack they would have retaliatory capabilities, but it's also [15:07.320 --> 15:12.040] a gesture of way of upping the pressure to make audiences in the west feel they should [15:12.040 --> 15:15.360] stay back. [15:15.360 --> 15:19.640] Iranian television also today proclaimed a new milestone in its nuclear developments, [15:19.640 --> 15:24.800] the production of its first fuel rod with domestically produced uranium. The images were meant to [15:24.800 --> 15:29.880] reinforce its position that its nuclear plans are purely peaceful. It's also hinted it might [15:29.880 --> 15:35.280] be ready to resume negotiations on its nuclear program. But President Obama has just signed [15:35.280 --> 15:41.120] a bill that could tighten US sanctions on Iran, even as the West ponders this mixture of new [15:41.120 --> 15:45.760] messages from Tehran. Nick Childs, BBC News. [15:45.760 --> 15:49.000] The Duke of Edinburgh has joined the rest of the royal family for the New Year's Day [15:49.000 --> 15:53.680] service at Sandringham. Prince Philip was greeted by hundreds of well-wishers as he walked to [15:53.680 --> 15:58.240] church just a few days after he was released from hospital following surgery for a blocked [15:58.240 --> 16:02.120] artery. Mark Worthington reports. [16:02.120 --> 16:06.240] After more than a week's rest, the Duke of Edinburgh's New Year message was that he's [16:06.240 --> 16:12.560] now firmly back on his feet. Striding as usual at the head of the royal party, he made the [16:12.560 --> 16:19.760] short walk to the morning Sandringham church service to the sound of spontaneous applause. [16:19.760 --> 16:24.680] The hundreds of well-wishers who lined the route far more than normal and all visibly [16:24.680 --> 16:29.960] pleased that just a few days after leaving Papworth Hospital, Prince Philip appeared [16:29.960 --> 16:31.520] to be in good health. [16:31.520 --> 16:36.320] As he came up, people were clapping and genuinely pleased and were all excited saying he's here, [16:36.320 --> 16:38.560] he's here, so yeah, I think everyone was really pleased to see him. [16:38.560 --> 16:43.640] I'd like to think I looked as good when I'm 91, but yeah, he looked good, yeah. [16:43.640 --> 16:47.640] A very well-looking Prince Philip, yes, he looked really well and it was nice to see [16:47.640 --> 16:50.240] him out walking. [16:50.240 --> 16:54.840] After the service, the Duke of Edinburgh emerged from the church to be greeted once [16:54.840 --> 17:05.320] more by applause. It was a show of support, he clearly appreciated. [17:05.320 --> 17:10.320] The Queen may have made the journey to and from church by car, but by arriving and leaving [17:10.320 --> 17:15.360] under his own steam, Prince Philip was sending a clear message that his Christmas health [17:15.360 --> 17:19.040] scare is behind him. [17:19.040 --> 17:25.240] And the whole royal family can now look ahead to the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year. [17:25.240 --> 17:28.920] Mark Worthington, BBC News, Sandro. [17:28.920 --> 17:33.320] Onto football, Manchester City still lead the Premier League, but only on goal difference [17:33.320 --> 17:39.000] after suffering a shock defeat against Sunderland. Joe Wilson, watch the action. [17:39.000 --> 17:43.360] For Mancini's Man City, 2012 promises the Premier League title, it's simple enough [17:43.360 --> 17:48.520] to say. Manchester United's defeat to Blackburn was a reminder of the dangers that lurk [17:48.520 --> 17:52.680] throughout the league, and here rejuvenated Sunderland should have opened the scoring [17:52.680 --> 17:56.760] after two minutes, Nicholas Bentner, the squanderer. [17:56.760 --> 18:01.640] City rested their star forwards, well, some of them, there was still Edin Jekyll, thwarted [18:01.640 --> 18:08.360] by Sunderland's keeper, the masked minulee, with recently fractured nose and eye socket. [18:08.360 --> 18:13.800] Stale mate, Mancini added sparkle from the substitutes, Aguero and Silver both on, no [18:13.800 --> 18:18.840] change. City dominated possession, but time and time again, Sunderland kept them out [18:18.840 --> 18:24.000] with organisation bravery and a bit of good luck. A goal of straw seemed well-earned [18:24.000 --> 18:30.720] until the third minute of injury time, at a young South Korean called G-Dong-a-Wang. [18:30.720 --> 18:36.520] Possibly offside, no-one cared in Sunderland. Teams managed by Martin O'Neill never give [18:36.520 --> 18:42.440] up, as Man City have just discovered. Joe Wilson, BBC News. [18:42.440 --> 18:47.880] Everton climbed into the top half of the Premier League table after a 1-0 win at West Brom. [18:47.880 --> 18:52.560] With just three minutes of the game left, substitute Victor Anchebi, playing his first [18:52.560 --> 18:57.480] game since August because of injury, pounced on some poor defensive work to score from [18:57.480 --> 19:04.680] close range. In rugby's Aviva Premier ship, struggling Bath beat London Irish by 33 points [19:04.680 --> 19:09.880] to three. The pick of the tries for the home side came in the 58th minute when they ran [19:09.880 --> 19:15.240] the ball from inside their own 22. It was South Africa's scrum half Michael Klassens. [19:15.240 --> 19:21.400] We finished off the move by going over in the corner. [19:21.400 --> 19:25.000] As we've heard today, marks the start of a big year for Britain, and it began with a [19:25.000 --> 19:30.760] spectacular fireworks display in London, the host city for the 2012 Olympic Games. The [19:30.760 --> 19:36.520] display featured 12,000 fireworks, producing some 50,000 projectiles, and lasted nearly [19:36.520 --> 19:44.160] a quarter of an hour. Louisa Baldini takes another look. [19:44.160 --> 19:49.760] Big Ben chimed in the new year in London, leading a magnificent fireworks display for which [19:49.760 --> 19:57.960] thousands have gathered along the banks of the Thames. [19:57.960 --> 20:02.920] The fireworks at Edinburgh Castle saw the longest ever midnight display put on for the [20:02.920 --> 20:11.800] Hogmanay celebrations. Across the pond in New York, Lady Gargar was at the centre of [20:11.800 --> 20:22.280] proceedings in Times Square with Mayor Michael Bloomberg. [20:22.280 --> 20:28.400] The celebration in Moscow was more muted, but Red Square, lit up by fireworks, was a breathtaking [20:28.400 --> 20:34.200] spectacle as ever. It was cold there, but in Brazil it was wet, though the heavy rains [20:34.200 --> 20:43.800] didn't put off 2 million people from seeing in the new year on Copacabana Beach in Rio. [20:43.800 --> 20:48.720] Back in London it was wet too, but that didn't dampen the celebrations which were welcoming [20:48.720 --> 20:59.920] in not just another new year, but the Olympic year with a bang. [20:59.920 --> 21:04.400] I'll be back with more from the newsroom at 10 past 10. Now on BBC One it's time to join [21:04.400 --> 21:14.320] our news teams where you are. [21:14.320 --> 21:17.680] Hello, good evening. You're watching BBC News with me, Anita McVey, and let's get a little [21:17.680 --> 21:24.560] more now on the Olympic Games. We're just 208 days away now from the opening ceremony, [21:24.560 --> 21:28.440] and our sports news correspondent James Pearce has been in Trafalgar Square where the New [21:28.440 --> 21:32.520] Year's Day Parade has been taking place with an Olympic theme. [21:32.520 --> 21:38.680] Behind me you can see the countdown clock, just 208 days to go. Here in Trafalgar Square [21:38.680 --> 21:43.280] in 2005, many people gathered to watch the announcement that London was going to be the [21:43.280 --> 21:48.160] host city for those 2012 games. It seemed so far away at the time, but here it is, and [21:48.160 --> 21:51.720] I'm delighted to say alongside us we have an Olympic gold medalist, hopefully a two times [21:51.720 --> 21:55.840] gold medalist by the end of this year, and his fiancee, Fliss, thank you very much for [21:55.840 --> 21:59.240] joining us, and to say that medals were awarded today, you should get one, you've come all [21:59.240 --> 22:04.680] the way from Oxfordshire just for this, but here's a medal that really matters, your Beijing [22:04.680 --> 22:10.280] medal. Try and put into words what it feels like as a British athlete to wake up and look [22:10.280 --> 22:14.720] at the calendar and see that it really is 2012. Well you know what, it didn't really [22:14.720 --> 22:19.000] hit me until we saw the fireworks going off last night, we sat home watching the TV, and [22:19.000 --> 22:22.880] we saw those fireworks going off the eye and saw the Olympic theme to them, and just realised [22:22.880 --> 22:27.160] that there's only, as you said, 208 days to go and time to really get cracking with some [22:27.160 --> 22:31.280] training. Does it actually feel different this morning being in Olympic here? I really [22:31.280 --> 22:34.760] hope it's not raining like this in August, I'll tell you that, but no, it feels really [22:34.760 --> 22:38.240] special. You used the water being in a rowing boat anyway. Yeah, you used the water, but [22:38.240 --> 22:43.720] hopefully it won't be coming down from the sky. What do you now have to do? Obviously [22:43.720 --> 22:48.440] the days get closer and closer. Is it just a matter of training and training, or is there [22:48.440 --> 22:52.840] a lot of mental work to be done? What's the secret to success now? The secret for us is [22:52.840 --> 22:58.480] going to be real consistency. We know we can be good, we've won the last world championships [22:58.480 --> 23:02.840] and the one before that, and for us it's about putting in the right work at the right time [23:02.840 --> 23:07.240] and making sure whatever we do is really effective, and it's not going to go too much to the [23:07.240 --> 23:10.560] wrong way. That's for more in a moment, but let's introduce Fliss as well. You're getting [23:10.560 --> 23:14.240] married in August this year? That's right, two weeks after the Olympics finish, which [23:14.240 --> 23:18.560] is great planning. What's it like being engaged with someone who's focussed probably isn't [23:18.560 --> 23:21.840] on the wedding right now? Well, maybe it is, but maybe it shouldn't be. I'll let him off, [23:21.840 --> 23:25.160] I'll let him off, I think. He's got a lot of work to do and I'm happy to be doing most [23:25.160 --> 23:28.760] of the planning whilst he's away and on training camps it's fine by me. Do you find yourself [23:28.760 --> 23:33.320] a bit of a sporting widow at the moment? Yeah, I think as that goes away in another four [23:33.320 --> 23:37.400] days' time on a three-week training camp, that would be hard as always, but you sort [23:37.400 --> 23:41.120] of get used to it. We've kind of got used to it by now, haven't we, and it's been sort [23:41.120 --> 23:46.880] of six years of the same routine now, so yeah, I'm really excited. The key question for you, [23:46.880 --> 23:52.680] Zach, is are you going to do it? You've done it once with your partner, Mark Hunter. Confident, [23:52.680 --> 23:55.920] you can do it again this year? I think that with the form we've shown in the last few [23:55.920 --> 23:59.640] years, then if things go right, then there shouldn't be any reason why the opportunity [23:59.640 --> 24:02.880] doesn't present itself in a good way. Obviously, there's a lot of stuff to do between now and [24:02.880 --> 24:07.240] then, injury and illness permitting, we should come out on top. And rowing really, perhaps [24:07.240 --> 24:11.880] should be the strongest sport for Team GB. We have a fantastic tradition sport, you know, [24:11.880 --> 24:15.400] throughout the years. We are the only sport that's come out with the gold medal at every [24:15.400 --> 24:19.720] single Olympics the last few times, so it's really exciting to be part of that. And that [24:19.720 --> 24:23.200] history really spurs us on. We can be sitting down on the start line knowing that we are [24:23.200 --> 24:29.000] part of not only a very successful team within Team GB, but a very successful rowing team [24:29.000 --> 24:32.200] as part of that, and it's really inspiring to be part of that team. I don't expect too [24:32.200 --> 24:34.800] much time looking at the clock behind you, because I tell you what, it's going down all [24:34.800 --> 24:38.040] the time. It's getting close, but thanks so much for joining us. You've done a much better [24:38.040 --> 24:43.200] job than me of keeping your hair dry as well. So, from one Olympic gold medalist, thanks [24:43.200 --> 24:47.440] to you, Mr Jim. James Pierce there in a very wet Trafalgar square. Let's check out the [24:47.440 --> 24:51.960] rest of the weather forecast now. That's with Matt Taylor. Hello there, persistent rain [24:51.960 --> 24:56.000] we've seen across eastern areas this afternoon. We'll clear through and as it goes, we introduce [24:56.000 --> 25:01.600] much colder air across the whole of the UK. Now, that colder air comes with some showers, [25:01.600 --> 25:06.040] that colder air chasing away the persistent rain we've seen in the east quite quickly, [25:06.040 --> 25:09.440] but eastern areas do become dry and clear for a time, but it's in the west, the showers [25:09.440 --> 25:13.320] will continue, and for north-west England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, they'll become [25:13.320 --> 25:17.720] increasingly wintry. For all temperatures, very close to freezing, much colder than recent [25:17.720 --> 25:22.360] nights, frost and where the ground is damp, a risk of ice. That is more of a significant [25:22.360 --> 25:25.440] risk for north-west England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, where there will be wintry [25:25.440 --> 25:29.280] showers throughout the day tomorrow. North-west England, Northern Ireland, rain and sleet, [25:29.280 --> 25:33.760] Scotland, sleet and snow, even to lower levels, mainly rain across southern counties of England [25:33.760 --> 25:37.400] during the morning, but they will gradually clear through, I think, for the most part. [25:37.400 --> 25:41.320] Eastern areas generally drier and brighter than the west, where the showers will continue [25:41.320 --> 25:45.360] through the day, but for all, it will be a much colder day, particularly in the breeze, [25:45.360 --> 25:50.480] 4 to 7 Celsius at best. Turn story on Tuesday, more details on that online, and then half [25:50.480 --> 25:52.880] an hour. [25:52.880 --> 25:58.640] Great things happen when people come together. So in the run-up to London 2012, world-class [25:58.640 --> 26:04.240] or inviting schools across the world to partner up. Inspired by the Olympic spirit, pupils [26:04.240 --> 26:09.480] can reach out to each other across the globe to learn about life in another country, share [26:09.480 --> 26:15.400] ideas and join in the excitement counting down to the games. So to win your school for [26:15.400 --> 26:26.800] 2012, go to bbc.co.uk world-class to find out how. [26:26.800 --> 26:30.400] Hello and a very good evening to you. This is BBC News with me, Anita McVeigh, the summary [26:30.400 --> 26:35.280] of our main stories now at almost half past five. Events have taken place across London [26:35.280 --> 26:41.160] today to mark the start of the Olympic year. The chairman of London 2012, Lord Co, said [26:41.160 --> 26:45.280] the games would show that Britain was open for business. However, there was a warning [26:45.280 --> 26:50.640] from Olympics minister Hugh Robertson, who is described event-fixing by betting syndicates [26:50.640 --> 26:58.240] as the biggest threat to the 2012 games. European leaders have given a somber assessment of [26:58.240 --> 27:03.320] the financial prospects for the year ahead. President Sarkozy said the Eurozone debt crisis [27:03.320 --> 27:08.480] was not yet finished, while the German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe was experiencing [27:08.480 --> 27:15.200] its most severe test in decades. Here, Council tenants who sub-led their homes could face [27:15.200 --> 27:20.920] prosecution under proposals to be set out by the government. Tenants on high wages may [27:20.920 --> 27:26.600] pay market rates for their homes or face eviction. It is estimated that up to 6,000 people living [27:26.600 --> 27:33.840] in social housing have incomes of more than £100,000. A British soldier killed in an [27:33.840 --> 27:39.680] explosion in Afghanistan on Friday has been named by the Ministry of Defence as 19-year-old [27:39.680 --> 27:44.880] Private John King. The serviceman from 1st Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, was killed [27:44.880 --> 27:51.920] in an explosion in the Nare Siraj district of Helmand province. Hundreds of well-wishers [27:51.920 --> 27:56.560] gathered at Sandringham earlier to see Prince Philip make his first public appearance since [27:56.560 --> 28:00.920] having surgery on a blocked artery just before Christmas. The Duke of Edinburgh joined the [28:00.920 --> 28:08.400] rest of the royal family for a New Year's Day church service. More from me at six o'clock, [28:08.400 --> 28:13.440] but right now, it's World Olympic Dreams Matthew Pincent meets young athletes from around [28:13.440 --> 28:39.400] the world aiming to make it to London 2012. [28:43.440 --> 28:53.080] Welcome to World Olympic Dreams, the series that follows 26 athletes from all across the [28:53.080 --> 28:59.640] globe in their preparations for the London Olympics. This is Lords and the Long Room, [28:59.640 --> 29:07.440] the home of Cricket, and it's through these doors that players walk on their way to bat. [29:07.440 --> 29:13.680] It has been played here since 1814, but this week, Old Father Time is looking down on the [29:13.680 --> 29:20.320] world's best archers as they compete in a London archery classic. [29:20.320 --> 29:25.920] It's an official test event for London 2012, giving around 100 of the world's top archers [29:25.920 --> 29:31.560] the perfect chance to acclimatise to conditions here in central London. And hopefully, I'll [29:31.560 --> 29:41.080] be able to have a go myself. Also coming up in this edition of World Olympic Dreams. [29:41.080 --> 29:47.080] My Linda Calmendi, a judo fighter whose Olympic aspirations are threatened by political wranglings [29:47.080 --> 29:54.760] in the former Yugoslavia. From the war-ravaged banks of Baghdad's River Tigris to the idyllic [29:54.760 --> 30:02.560] calm of lake-blood in Slovenia, Iraqi rower Haida Rashid tells me about...