the headlines at 11pm: russia is to expel 60 us diplomats — the same number as america's sent hom in response to the salisbury nerve agent attack. meanwhile the condition of yulia skripal — poisoned in the russian chemical attack — has rapidly improved, although her father sergei is still critically ill. theresa may visits all nations of the uk, one year ahead of brexit day, raising the prospect of more money for schools and the nhs. gkn, one of britain's oldest engineering firms, is bought in a hostile take—over, raising concerns about thousands ofjobs in the uk. join us and half are now for a special edition of the bbc by gusts bbc news, recorded in front of a live studio audience at the bbc radio theatre. —— of the bbc podcast

brexitcast. good evening and welcome to bbc news. russia has responded to the recent expulsion of 60 of its diplomats from the us, by sending home an equal number of american diplomats from moscow and st petersburg. it's the latest twist in the international dispute following the poisoning of a former russian agent and his daughter in salisbury. russia is still denying any involvement in the chemical attack. our correspondent steve rosenberg reports. the diplomatic pressure has been unprecedented. russian diplomats expelled, foreign ambassadors recalled, after the salisbury attack. it was never a question of whether moscow would respond, but when. the announcements came in tonight. foreign minister sergei lavrov said russia was expelling 60 us diplomats for the 60 russians america had ordered out. it's also shouting the us consulate in st petersburg. staff there given until saturday

to vacate the building. and there will be other measures too. as i understand it russia plans to take the same unjustified actions against 28 other countries, countries that stood in solidarity with the uk. russia is further isolating itself following the brazen chemical attack. an attack that left sergei skripal and his daughter yulia fighting for their lives. but the bbc understands that yulia is now conscious and talking. herfather, though, remains critically ill. earlier, the us ambassador to moscow told me he was in no doubt who had targeted them. how certain are you that the russian state was behind the attack in salisbury? there's been enough there not only to convince the united states but about 25 other countries that have taken similar actions. there's enough evidence to believe that the russian state was behind this action in salisbury. america has expelled

60 russian diplomats, part of this coordinated international action. what signal does that send to moscow, do you think? you cannot use a military grade nerve agent on the streets of salisbury against a british citizen and his daughter without a response. this is an expression of outrage about what happened, on the soil of the united kingdom. moscow continues to insist that its innocent, that it had nothing whatsoever to do with the salisbury poisoning. tonight's tit—for—tat was expected — but it comes with a warning that if there are further hostile steps against moscow, russia will take more measures against the west. some in moscow fear a spiralling diplomatic war with the west could end in military conflict. this is not the way for a solution, it is a way to hell. if you have not so many

diplomats as you have, you have a lack of information, you have a lack of trust. you can react in this or that way, in the wrong way, from the wrong point of view, and this is the way to the hell. the west sent a strong message here over salisbury. moscow has its own message for the west: "don't push russia." steve rosenberg, bbc news, moscow. so as we've heard — a significant improvement in the condition of serrgei skripal‘s daughter — our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford gave us this update from salisbury tonight. it has been a great 2a hours for this investigation. we have had the amazing news that yulia skripal as rapid well to treatment. 0nly amazing news that yulia skripal as rapid well to treatment. only a week ago, a judge said she was

unconscious, unable to communicate in any meaningful way, and it was unclear to what extent she would recover a ny unclear to what extent she would recover any capacity. i understand that beyond the official nhs update, she is conscious and talking, and will therefore be able to give her account to detectives as to what happened on that sunday 3.5 weeks ago. whether she will be to explain how they became contaminated is less clear. i understand she had nerve agent on her left hand, and father had it on her right hand, which goes along with the current theory, that it had been spared in gel form on the front door of sergei skripal‘s house. but this does not help anybody understand who put the nerve agent there in the first place. one year from today the uk will leave the european union and enter a transition period. to mark the date, the prime minster toured all four nations of the uk, promising to make brexit a success for everyone labour says that time is running out to negotiate a good

deal, as our political editor laura kuenssberg reports. north, south, east and west. a year left on our planned journey out of the european union. it will change the country, every corner of it. the prime minister hasn't exactly wowed everyone with her handling of brexit so far. so can she turn the page? if you think about the children i have seen here at this school, it's about their future. we want to ensure that we get the deal that's right for the whole of the united kingdom, because there's a bright future out there for us. we want to grasp the opportunities that brexit provides and ensure we strengthen the bonds of this, the most successful union in the world. a group of voters in coventry told us this week they felt they had been made big promises in brexit about the nhs and immigration. what do you say to our viewers,

some of whom are frustrated that nothing seems to be changing yet? well, i understand. i understand why people voted for leaving the european union. for a lot of people, immigration, taking back control of our borders was part of it, taking back control our laws and control of our money. this was all part of why people voted to leave the european union and we're going to deliver on that. but it means people having to be patient? it means — well, it means a smooth process. we will leave the european union on 29th of march, 2019, that's in a year's time. there are so many unresolved arguments though. will power we get back from brussels be fairly spread around the uk? in scotland, there are fears westminster will grab it and won't let go. we're absolutely committed to ensuring there is no hard border. how will the border between northern

and southern ireland work after we leave? the answer won't be found in a barn in bangor. that quandry could yet upset the whole process. and what are the real chances of the eu accepting the prime minister's plan for trade? will there be different rules for different parts of the economy? whether at this factory in wales or where the prime minister ended her tour tonight, in west london, meeting eu citizens. i've been given a polish cookbook. her rivals and critics simply don't believe she has the answers. today is perhaps the end of part one. the decisions that the prime minister makes in the next 12 months will have an impact, notjust for her, but for all of us for many years to come. you've made a big promise on the nhs. some of your colleagues believe the extra cash could come from the so—called brexit dividend. do you believe there will be a brexit dividend,

or might there have to be tax rises for the nhs? that's what some people are calling for. of course, when we leave the european union we will no longer be spending vast sums of money year in and year out, sending money to the eu, so there will be money available here in the uk to spend on our priorities, priorities like the nhs and schools. do you believe there will be a brexit dividend? would you call it that? there is going to be money that we would otherwise be sending to the eu that we will be able to spend in the uk. so you will not rule out a tax rise potentially? as part of our normal processes we will look at the funding. but we've got to look at the long—term plan. do you think brexit will be worth it? i think there are real opportunities for the uk. i think there is a bright future out there, and yes, i think brexit is going to deliver. our country will be different but i think there are real opportunities for us as an independent

nation in the future. whether she's right will determine her future and all of ours too. there's nothing definite yet about the costs or the benefits. a clear decision nearly two years ago now, but what's ahead cannot be known. laura kuenssberg, bbc news. the referendum result was, of course, a close one, and left divisions between leavers and remainers across the country. we've been speaking to people all over the uk about what they think of brexit now with a year to go, starting in a market in bolton. i voted to leave because i wanted, and knowing that having a global market, and being able to trade with the rest of the world, is right for the rest of the world, is right for the uk. i voted to remain in the eu, because i could see some of the problems that could be forthcoming. we might not have had all the

information to make a proper judgement. to me, i think, welll don't know how many years this country has been going downhill and we have been in europe. 50 country has been going downhill and we have been in europe. so long as we have been in europe. so long as we got what we voted for, to take back control, i would say yes. i think there will be bums on the road, but i think we will get there. lam road, but i think we will get there. i am absolutely sick of hearing about brexit. i doubled to hear more about brexit. i doubled to hear more about that. brexit, yes axa back brexit! absolutely! wendi wanted? now! —— when do you wanted. brexit! absolutely! wendi wanted? now! —— when do you wantedlj brexit! absolutely! wendi wanted? now! -- when do you wanted. i think we need to be patient. anything the government does, we need to be patient. we just need to sit tight, be strong as a country, and be positive on the outcome. be strong as a country, and be positive on the outcomelj be strong as a country, and be positive on the outcome. i would vote to stay in, now. if i could rewind the clocks and go back to how it was, i think we should have said

ina it was, i think we should have said in a letter like that. the further we get the better. transition, i am well against that. because you're fishing rights, we still need to do what they want us to do, and we have i'io what they want us to do, and we have no say in it. that is not right. so as farasi no say in it. that is not right. so as far as i am concerned, the sooner we get rid of the europeans, the better. upset, because they wanted them to stay in. ijust... i don't know. i think we were poorly advised at the time. it was badly put. lots of people told lots of lies. that is not unusual for politics. people are struggling, things have gone up in price. wages have gone up. i think this is the biggest mistake we have made. i would not say that i am upset about it. i think we are resilient nation and we have been through a lot. i think if there was less sensationalise asian, it would have to be ok, doesn't it? --

sensationalisation. i'm sick to death of hearing about it. they should get on and do it, if they are going to do it. because it is boring. i going to do it. because it is boring. lam going to do it. because it is boring. i am over it. going to do it. because it is boring. iam over it. isat going to do it. because it is boring. i am over it. i sat down and spoke to my grandchildren and they felt we should stay, because they travel and they have their futures, so travel and they have their futures, soi travel and they have their futures, so i would have liked to have remained. but now we are coming out. i think we just have to go with what theresa may gets for us. a couple of days after the referendum, i actually had a celebratory cat to put on. i think we will end up with the worst of both worlds. the government willjust keep rolling over and rolling over until they get their way, and we will be out of europe would know the advantages of being in, but none of the advantages if we had had a clean brexit. —— celebratory tattoo. there we are. when you to go, the viewer some there we are. when you to go, the viewer some voters. there we are. when you to go, the viewer some voters. you're watching bbc news. let me just tell you some of the news coming in to us. there has been a powerful earthquake, six point nine magnitude earthquake

which struck papua new guinea. —— 6.9. this is according to the us seismologist. no immediate reports of damage is. the earthquake struck at 5:25pm level time. it was recorded at shallow depths, about six miles. this is all according to the us geological survey. —— us geological survey. that is the latest air of the earthquake. a powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake striking papua new guinea. no media reports of damage. we'll bring you more on that as it comes into us. here, one of britain's biggest and oldest engineering firms, gkn, has been bought in a hostile take—over. melrose will pay aip —— £8.i

a ip —— £8.1 billion for the company — which makes parts used in half the world's cars. labour has accused melrose of being interested in stripping the assets of gkn — something it denies — as our business editor simonjack reports. for 260 years, gkn has been at the forefront of aerospace and automotive innovation, from icons like the spitfire to components in modern—dayjets and cars. today, it was acquired by a company that likes to do its business quickly. melrose's self—declared motto is to buy, improve and then sell companies within five years. unions fear "improve" is code for cost—cutting. people are obviously concerned about their jobs. they don't know how they're going to stand. you know, guys in their 30s with young families, big mortgages, they want, like everybody, you need some sort of security, some sort of commitment. the melrose chief executive has previously told mps the company can be trusted. one of the things i'm proud about in melrose is,

actually, i do think we have a great track record of trying to do the right thing by everyone, actually. we're not a charity, we are a business, but we do try to do the right thing. the business secretary said he had extracted promises from melrose. commitments have been made, including maintaining the business as a british business, including investing in the business, and they now need to be implemented. melrose has also promised not to sell the aerospace division for five years, but there are no job guarantees. after all the attention from politicians, the intervention of the business secretary, the concerns of the unions, ultimately it is the shareholders who have decided their interests are best served going with the short—term turnaround specialists. after all, that is the way it works. they own the company. former deputy prime minister and defence secretary lord heseltine says that approach ignores the national interest. no other country of our sort would have allowed this to happen. if you have a situation where a major engineering company

is up for grabs in five years' time — to whom? under what circumstances? then how can people enter into the long—term partnerships upon which strategic investment decisions in defence are based? in theory, the takeover can still be blocked on national security grounds, but given melrose is not a foreign company, that is considered unlikely. this historic firm is about to start a new, albeit short, chapter. simon jack, bbc news. there are new allegations of child grooming and abuse in the shropshire town of telford. a woman has told the bbc that her teenage son was being groomed there until very recently. the council in telford has been meeting this evening to discuss the crisis. 0ur midlands correspondent sima kotecha reports. it is an image that telford doesn't want — a town where child abuse is common. but it is not clear how true this is. recent newspaper reports claimed hundreds of girls could have been abused here over the last four decades. a woman who doesn't want to be identified told the bbc her teenage

son was being groomed in the town up until six months ago. they were giving him money, taking advantage of him, getting him drunk, giving him drugs, just really taking advantage of him, and they were using him for sex. there's no way anyone can say grooming isn't happening today, because i know it is. my own son has been going through it and there are other people i know who are still going through it. in 2013, seven men were jailed after police launched an investigation into child prostitution. some of those living here said it was clear something very disturbing was going on. we began to see guys driving up and parking in the car park with their car doors open, you know, nice cars, music blaring, not going into anywhere or doing anything, but just sort of sat there in the car park. and then, as the girls

were walking around the area, they would approach the girls, talk to them, ask them did they want to go to a party? it felt predatory, like there was a purpose or intent there, which felt threatening. west mercia police have said a small number of victims have come forward since the new allegations have come to light. telford has been at the centre of a media storm in recent weeks. the questions being asked now are, is child sexual exploitation worse here than in other parts of the country? and if so, why has it taken this long to bring that into the spotlight? the council and its partners encourage anyone having experience of child sexual exploitation... tonight at a meeting, the local council said it was not in denial, and that it would put more resources into helping victims. the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse will be coming to telford in may to speak to those affected and now all eyes will be on what happens then. sima kotecha, bbc news, telford. australia's former cricket captain steve smith has broken down

in tears while talking about his role in cheating against south africa. smith apologised to his country, his fans and his family for the ball—tampering scandal. during the course of the day, the australia coach, darren lehmann, announced his resignation, despite being cleared of any wrongdoing. about 150 million users of the food and nutrition app and website myfitnesspal have had their accounts accessed, in a major security hack. the owners, under armour, say the personal data that was breached includes user names, emails and encrypted passwords. the breach happened about a month ago, but has only just been revealed. the labour leader, jeremy corbyn, has written to mps to say the party has a zero—tolerance policy on anti—semitism. his email followed the resignation of the head of the party's disputes panel, christine shawcroft,

who despite that still remains a member of labour's ruling body, the national executive committee. 0ur deputy political editor john pienaar reports. off to another tough day at work. morning. and no time to talk. good morning, good morning. jeremy corbyn's critics say he is not saying or doing enough to fight anti—semitism in his party. today, there is no escaping this row. 0h, jeremy's a racist... this is what an internal row looks like out in the open. this week, jewish demonstrators accusing the leadership of failing to confront anti—semitism on one side... this is political. it is not political! 0n the other, jewish protesters condemning that demo as anti—corbyn treachery. some of the labour mps who turned up demanding more action against anti—semitism are being called to account by their local parties.

and now a new row — christine shawcroft quit as chair of labour's disputes panel after it came out she had opposed the suspension of a council candidate accused of holocaust denial. angry mps want her off labour's executive, too, despite her apology. she said... labour's shadow chancellor admits the controversy could hurt labour's chances of winning power. we want to eradicate anti—semitism wherever we found it. it is not going to exist within the labour party. we will be ruthless about that. jeremy says he is sincere about anti—semitism, and he is. the question is, is he brave enough to take on his own allies because they are the people causing this problem and get rid of some of them. that's never easy, taking on people who claim they are close to you, and who are using your name,

but he has to do that. he has to deliver if he's going to be believed. and therefore seen to be sincere. mr corbyn's new devoted followers are his strength, he wants to show unity, but today in an e—mail to members he has had to promise zero tolerance of anti—semitism. some are blaming, among others, far—left members and factions, vociferous supporters of palestine, fierce opponents of israel, who came into the party fold whenjeremy corbyn took the leadership against all the odds. they may be loyal supporters of their leader, but they are also hurting him and his party. as easter approaches, enormous chocolate statues have sprung up in a tiny belgian city. the chocopalace festival in durbuy, south—east of brussels, has already attracted 30,000 visitors to its chocolate zoo, its chocolate river, and its chocolate sculpting sessions. sarah henderson reports. it isa it is a chocoholic ‘s dreamland. giant sculptures of elephants,

gorillas and flamingos all crafted from belgian chocolate. the animal creations, up to three metres tall, are the centrepiece of an exhibition of around 50 chocolate figures. everything in this mouthwatering universe is handmade. translation: when you think about how everything is made of chocolate, you think about how a lot of work went into it. it is really very beautiful, and to convey a message on animals through chocolate, it is something that really pleases me. stalls sell maca roons that really pleases me. stalls sell macaroons and easter eggs, and there are chocolate sculpting workshops for children. the town of durbuy, which has a population ofjust 10,000, already had a reputation for some of the finest chocolate in belgium. translation: so why durbuy? because durbuy is known as the smaller city in the world, the idea was to bring the biggest chocolate

festival in the world to the smaller city in the world. sightseers come from around belgium, from luxembourg, and even further afield. it is the first year the festival has been held, but organisers hope there will be appetite to turn this chocolate extravaganza into a yearly event. time for a look at the weather, with stav da naos. hello there. this coming easter is looking cooler than average right across the board. there will be some spells of rain at times, some of it heavy, some snow in the forecasts, particularly in the easter monday. what it will not be a complete washout. there will be some sunshine in the forecast as well. through the night that rain band which has brought some wet weather to central and southern parts of england and wales will continue to move north into northern ireland, northern england and the far south of scotland. again, some snow on the higher ground in the cool air. for southern parts of written it should be dry into the night and temperature—wise, won the four

celsius. starting good friday off on a bright note for england and wales, that rain band continuing to move northwards and some winter nurse over the hills. further south, the next weather front rings outbreaks of showery rain, quite heavy in places. a little bit of sunshine around as well but temperatures out to nine celsius. that is how it is looking. this is bbc news. it's 11:26pm. with one year to go til britain leaves the eu, here's a very special edition of the bbc‘s brexitcast podcast. hello. it is adam fleming. i'm in london. only with chris mason. we thought we would do our usual dirty pod cast in this covered. but it is not covered. we are here in the bbc radio theatre with 300 friends.

hello everyone. and of course laura and kat i hereto. hello! and the reason we are doing it is because it is about a year to go to a brexit, so welcome to brexitcast: the arena spectacular. brexit means brexit. if people voted, they need to get on with it. a process which i can only describe as a docs brexit. brexit means brexit. what does that mean? —— dog's. means brexit. what does that mean? -- dog's. i care on. welcome to our room. we have a studio audience of around 300. the extraordinary thing, and added a few fill the same, but these four are meant to be used to go on the television and radio, and that notion that people are watching and listening. but it is quite something else when people are actually in front of us, and just imagining that you might be turning

off or yawning or going into the television. actually, i spotted all of our bosses sitting on a balcony. hello! and we are being watched on bbc world news, bbc news channel, listened to by the regular listeners of the pod cast, and also being listened to on 5 live as well, so welcome everyone. we have. i don't have a sit in this jazz. normally when i record the pod cast, and sitting back like this. so i want to involve you guys in the audience a bit. that unfortunately means audience participation. so where is jolly, audience participation. so where is jolly, our colleague? —— joey. joey is one of our researchers, who has been busy writing out brexit cliches en masse it is a card. so at any time anyone of us is one of these phrases, joey is there hold of the ca rd phrases, joey is there hold of the card and the whole audience is going to read what it says. you get the concert? so let's to wake practice.

when will we have certainty on the process ? when will we have certainty on the process? what is michel barnier say? the thing is, adam, whatever michel barnier and david davis says, and whatever is agreed today... the thing is nothing is agreed tell everything is agreed! well done. well done. yes. so it is a year or so to go until brexit day, on the 29th of march 200019. i think, shall we speak to somebody in the audience? i thinkjosh has a question. good, josh. this is where i stand question. good, josh. this is where istand up, question. good, josh. this is where i stand up, walk right here, and walk around with the cameraman. where is josh? walk around with the cameraman. where isjosh? callow walk around with the cameraman. where is josh? callowjosh. walk around with the cameraman. where isjosh? callowjosh. most yellow shirt. what is your question for the panel and the audience?” have two. in the first year, what was the most significant moment the us journalists, was the most significant moment the usjournalists, all for brexit, and the second is, adam, what is the secret of greeting a good buy day?

will be hit or christmas! —— goodbye. laura, for you? of the double my head, i would say the election, because it changed the balance of power in parliament, and give hope to remain as it was not necessarily there, that they might be able to slow down or potentially, from minority of them, try. process, because theresa may's authority had drained away. but i actually think their most important moment, for me, anyway,