³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

Here's some more detail on tonight's programme:

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has issued a warning to banks over excessive bonuses, saying in an interview with the Financial Times "The banks should not be under any illusion, this government cannot stand idly by".

Chancellor George Osborne is currently in New York banging the drum for British business. Tonight, David Grossman, who is also there, will be seeking clarification from him on what the coalition government intends to do if banks refuse to comply.

And in the studio we will be discussing whether limiting bank bonuses is do-able, or indeed desirable.

Senior GPs have said today that they are "deeply concerned" that Britain is facing a major flu crisis this winter fewer people in at-risk groups have received the seasonal flu jab.

We will be talking to one of the country's foremost experts on respiratory diseases.

Plus, Stephen Smith reports on how some councils in England have been wielding the axe this holiday season - but it is not budgets which are being cut down, but Christmas trees.

So just how much have councils been spending on decorations this Christmas? And how will Newsnight's Christmas decorations compare?

Find out on our last programme of 2010 at 10.30pm on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two.

PS We are back on air on Tuesday 4 January 2011 - hope to see you then.

In 1993, Harvard political scientist Samuel Huntington published his famous Clash of Civilizations thesis of a post-Cold War new world order.

In it he argued that the dominating source of conflict in this new world would be primarily ideological or economic, but cultural, that "new patterns of conflict will occur along the boundaries of different cultures and patterns of cohesion will be found within the cultural boundaries".

Tonight, we dedicate much of the programme to asking whether this hypothesis was correct.

Do recent controversies such as the row over a proposed Islamic centre near Ground Zero, the burka ban in France and the eviction of American missionaries from Morocco indicate that Islam and the West are caught in an inevitable clash of civilizations?

We will discuss the issues with a panel including the Bishop of Rochester Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra, chair of the Interfaith Relations Committee of the Muslim Council of Britain, and Stephen Green, national director of Christian pressure group Christian Voice.

Plus, we have reports from Egypt on the fate of Coptic Christians there and from Switzerland on how Muslims are faring in the wake of last year's minaret building ban.

Join Kirsty at 10.30pm on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two.

Unemployment in the UK has risen to 2.5m in the three months to October, with joblessness amongst 16-24 year-olds now running at almost 20 per cent, and joblessness among women at its highest since 1988.

Tonight Liz Mackean considers if the private sector really can pick up the slack of public sector job losses, and if we are in danger of creating a lost generation of young people.

We'll be joined by a government minster, an economist and a big employer to debate the impact on society and what should be done.

The PM of Kosovo has been named as "The Boss" of an extensive criminal network that dealt in heroin, and human organs and assassinations in a pretty extraordinary report by the Council of Europe.

Mark Urban will bring us the latest. It's a subject that Newsnight has investigated before - .

And we have a stunning film from Lyse Doucet who has travelled to Pakistan's interior Sindh province in search of one of the hundreds of thousands of people who contacted a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ helpline after devastating floods tore through the country in July.

Join Gavin at 10.30pm on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two.

Is it getting more difficult for the government to control protests?

In recent weeks we have seen violence on the streets and sit-ins in colleges over tuition fees. High street stores have been invaded over tax arrangements and online businesses targeted by "hacktivists" in support of Wikileaks.

Tonight, we examine the changing nature of protest and the role technology is playing, with Paul Mason looking at what is happening on the streets and Susan Watts turning to the cyber world.

Plus in the studio we will be hearing from direct action group Ukuncut.

Also we ask what will be the legacy of veteran US diplomat Richard Holbrooke who has died at the age of 69. What impact did he have on international peace and security, and how will his passing affect the Obama administration?

Plus, we catch up with the residents of Hartcliffe in Bristol as they prepare for Christmas and have an interview with the youngest and last surviving of the six noted Mitford sisters, Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. .

Join Gavin at 2230 on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two.
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From earlier:

Tonight we'll be considering to what extent technology is changing the nature of protest and asking if it gives people power over authority like never before.

We'll bring you the latest if Julian Assange is released from prison on bail.

We have an update on life on the Hartcliffe estate in Bristol where we have been following people who rely heavily on services under threat from public spending cuts.

And we have an interview with the youngest and last surviving of the six noted Mitford sisters, Deborah Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire.

Here is some more detail on what we are planning for tonight:

English councils are bracing themselves for big cuts in central funding over the next two years when Communities Secretary Eric Pickles addresses the Commons and publishes the government's Localism Bill later today. We will report on that.

Also tonight, with protests taking place in colleges across England over government plans to axe the education maintenance allowance next year, we ask whether poor students are better off under the EMA or new funding models, and, despite all the claims and counter claims, how well will children from low incomes perform under the Coalition?

And we have been to Luton to speak to former associates of Stockholm suicide bomber Taimour Abdulwahab al-Abdaly.

Plus rap and grime aficionado Stephen Smith has been talking to one of the biggest stars of 2010 - Tinie Tempah. , and of course the full interview will be on tonight's programme at 10.30pm.

At a Cameron Direct session, Prime Minister David Cameron's "meet the people" roadshow, he extolled the benefits of his and baby Florence's nightly "Newsnight bottle" regime.

What's your idea of the perfect accompaniment to Newsnight? Let us know here.

More detail on tonight's programme:

Met Police chief Sir Paul Stephenson has defended the handling of yesterday's tuition fees protests and the "commendable restraint" shown by royal protection officers when a car carrying the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall was attacked.

However, others have criticised the operation, with students accusing police of being heavy handed and provocative, others questioning why the violence was not contained more, with Whitehall's buildings and the royal couple better protected.

Tonight, Paul Mason reports on how the violence unfolded, who exactly was behind it, and the tactics used on both sides.

We have an interview with Daniel Ellsberg, the famous whistleblower who leaked the Pentagon Papers about the Vietnam War in 1971 about how he views Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and his website.

Plus, in collaboration with the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s Natural History Unit in Bristol we have a special report on the recent spate of shark attacks in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Join tonight's presenter Stephanie Flanders for all that at 10.30pm on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two.

PS Check this out - David Cameron and his daughter swear by what he calls the 'Newsnight bottle'. How about you?

Here's Kirsty with more details on tonight's programme:

Today is a critical day for the future of university education in England.

It is set to be long remembered as the day the government trebled tuition fees for universities in England amidst protests by thousands of students in London and in other cities.

Many of the students are peaceful, but as I write I'm watching students and police clash in Parliament Square, and mounted police have just charged towards the protestors.

Tonight Newsnight devotes the whole programme to tuition fees, to the politics - the Liberal democrats who will abstain or vote against in line with their manifesto commitment, the protests - are they getting out of control at Parliament and are we witnessing the passion and anger of the students or infiltration by agitators? And how have the police responded - have their tactics been well thought through?

And the biggest questions of all - what are universities for and who will they educate in the future?

The Newsnight studio will be filled with politicians, students and academics, and we'll have live reaction from a university campus as we try to make sense of the day and how it will change university education in the 21st Century.

Join me for all that at 10.30pm.
Kirsty

More than 250 people have either been blocked from travelling, arrested, or put under house arrest by the Chinese government ahead of Friday's Nobel Peace prize ceremony, according to Amnesty International.

The recipient of this year's award, Liu Xiaobo, a 54-year-old writer, is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence for inciting subversion.

Tonight Paul Mason considers what we can read from this whole affair about China's relationship with the rest of the world and the world's relationship with China, and in the studio we'll debate with one of the best-known student leaders of the Tiananmen protests, Wu'er Kaixi.

We'll have the latest on how Lib Dem MPs intend to vote ahead of tomorrow's all important tuition fees vote.

And, ahead of a no confidence vote in the Italian parliament next week, we have a profile of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi - among Italy's richest men, and one of its most controversial and colourful.

Do join Emily at 10.30pm on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two.

***For tomorrow's big tuition fees vote our Political editor and our Economics editor will be live tweeting from Westminster and from the protest route throughout the day. Follow and ***

Here's Kirsty with news of what's happening on tonight's programme:

Tonight we can promise excitement aplenty.

Is Wikileaks a lot bigger and more powerful than Julian Assange? Amidst extraordinary scenes he was finally arrested and remanded in custody today in connection with allegations of rape and sexual molestation in Sweden - allegations he denies. There will be a full extradition hearing on December 14th. High profile supporters - Jemima Khan, John Pilger, Ken Loach - were in court today offering to stand bail. The argument was made in court that Mr Assange might fall prey to unstable characters. Richard Watson is investigating as I write.

And there'll be more Wikileaks revelations tonight including information on the release of the Lockerbie bomber. Will they reignite the controversy about the release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi and the issue of business links with Libya?

Are the Liberal Democrats in big trouble ahead of Thursday's vote on tuition fees? Following a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ ring-round of MPs it is clear that some will defy the leadership's exhortation to support the government. Lib Dem MPs are meeting tonight at Westminster and we will have the latest. Are we about to witness the first big crack in the Coalition?

And we have a fascinating film from Yemen, following a Muslim televangelist's quest to de-radicalise a country in the grip of al-Qaeda - .

I hope you'll be watching, Kirsty

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From earlier:

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been arrested in London and is due to appear in court following sexual assault allegations in Sweden - tonight we will bring you the latest on this unfolding story.

David Grossman will be in Westminster as Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg meets his MPs ahead of Thursday's tuition fees vote.

We have a report from Yemen by Matt Prodger as he follows Muslim televangelist Amr Khaled - a man who broadcasts to millions - on his ambitious mission to, as he puts it, take the battle against al-Qaeda to its heartland.

More details later.

Here's Emily with news of tonight's Newsnight:

Words I Shall Not Be Using On Air Tonight #4164:

Cuts/cut/hunt/culture/can't/Kent countryside.

Right. That's better. Where was I?

There's a joke doing the rounds on Twitter these days. A man calls up Lib Dem HQ and asks if he can buy a copy of the party's manifesto. "I'm so sorry," says the receptionist, "we've sold out". "I know that," says the man, "I just want a copy of the manifesto".

It's probably not that funny if you're one of the tortured souls trying to decide which way to vote on an issue that is being seen as the biggest test for the coalition so far.

Two former Lib Dem leaders - Charles Kennedy and Ming Campbell - have made clear they will vote against it. Another - Paddy Ashdown - has praised Nick Clegg's "bravery" for making a decision he says will pay dividends.

Is it better to stick to your principle and your word - or change your mind for a policy you now say is the right one? We'll be putting that to a senior Lib Dem this evening, and amassing our Newsnight political panel.

But first tonight, Julian Assange - he of Wikileaks, has been issued with a warrant for his arrest.

The accusations relate to sexual behaviour not state secrets. But what to make of the timing? Particularly when many think the revelations have just stepped up a notch with the disclosure of facilities around the world vital to US national security.

There are even rumours tonight that everything Wikileaks has could now be released. We'll be asking what now for the founder and the website.

And Tim Whewell will have the latest on the alleged Russian Spy of Westminster.

Join me for that and more on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two at 10.30pm.

Emily

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From earlier:

A British MP whose parliamentary aide was arrested over claims she is a Russian spy has challenged the security services to "prove their point now".

Liberal Democrat Mike Hancock has launched a staunch defence of Katia Zatuliveter, 25, who was arrested on Thursday and is facing deportation proceedings after she was taken into custody on the orders of MI5, the Sunday Times claims.

Tonight Tim Whewell will consider how far the Russian state's reach might be in UK political society.

Then our Diplomatic editor Mark Urban will be bringing us the latest Wikileaks dispatches.

And, as rebel Lib Dem backbenchers intensify demands for the vote on tuition fees to be abandoned, our Political editor Michael Crick will be looking at what concessions the Lib Dems have so far gained on tuition fees and investigating if there might be more.

More detail on tonight's programme:

Internet shopping is the stress free way to shop and now accounts for one third of high street sales. But do we ever think about what happens once the order is despatched, or how the thousands of workers who bring the goods to our door are treated?

Tonight, we have a report on the workers handling deliveries for some of Britain's biggest retailers who have no employment rights and earn as little as 50p per package.

We will bring you up to date on the latest Wikileaks revelations.

And we have an interview with Richard Thaler - the academic behind "Nudge", the theory which has been embraced by the Tories and is said to lie behind much of the thinking about how government should influence human behaviour.

Here's some more detail on tonight's programme:

Football is not coming home - well not for another 20 years at least - after football's governing body Fifa this afternoon picked Russia to stage the 2018 World Cup.

The England bid team had hoped that lobbying in Zurich by Prince William, David Cameron and David Beckham would give them an advantage however, England actually went out in the first round of the vote with just two of the 22 votes.

Tonight, leading football writer Jim White will give us his take on the troubled bid, and we hope to be speaking to a member of the England bid team.

We have a film on hydraulic fracturing, a process known as fracking, a controversial way to get at natural gas trapped in shale rock a couple of miles underground.

Cleaner than coal, it is being hailed by some as the latest energy solution. But some, especially people who claim the process has contaminated their water supply with methane, are asking if it is safe. Susan Watts has been finding out.

And David Grossman will be dipping into the first tranche of MPs' expenses claims, which has been published online by the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa). Ipsa was set up in the wake of the expenses scandal to restore faith in the way MPs allowances were run - has it worked?

Join Gavin for all that and more at 10.30pm on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two.

Tonight we'll have brand new revelations from the whistle-blowing site Wikileaks. We can't say what they are yet, but, rest assured, they are fascinating. Our Diplomatic editor Mark Urban will assess their impact.

Michael Crick will consider what pressure Nick Clegg is under as many in his party wrestle with what to do about tuition fees. Could this be the Lib Dem's poll tax?

And Paul Mason will meet some of the students who are occupying university buildings across the country, protesting against those increasing tuition fees and university budget cuts.

In the studio we'll debate what impact sit-ins and protests could have on a new generation of young people, with some relics from the sixties and some current students.

Do join us at 10.30pm on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Two.