tonight at ten, a sharp fall in net migration as large numbers of eu nationals decide to leave the uk. homeward bound — net migration is down to its lowest level for three years. many feel they're no longer earning enough here. sterling is going down, you know? we want to go there because we can find good jobs for the same money. business leaders have expressed some concern, warning of the risk of labour shortages. also tonight, the number of teenagers gaining the highest gcse grades has fallen amid the biggest shake—up of exams in england for a generation. the husband of the woman killed by a cyclist riding a bike with no front brakes calls for new laws to prevent another tragedy. once thriving communities — a special report on the former mining towns where people claim disability benefits at up to three times the national average. show me some respect and a little

bit of help. and, most of all, some understanding. the foreign secretary borisjohnson travels to libya to urge military and political leaders to restore peace and stability in the north african country. and test match special is 60 years old today — we look back at that very british institution. and coming up in sportsday on bbc news, there is a very tough draw for tottenham hotspur and celtic, as this seasons's champions league groups are revealed. good evening. net migration to the uk — that's the difference between the number of people entering and leaving — has fallen to its lowest

level for three years, mainly because of the large numbers of eu nationals who've decided to leave. it's prompted warnings from employers about the risk of labour shortages. the latest figures from march 2016 to march 2017 show net migration now stands at 246,000. that's a fall of 81,000 compared with the previous 12 months. more than half of that change is due to the fall in net migration of eu citizens which is down by 51,000. but that still means there are twice as many eu nationals coming to britain as leaving. here's our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford. for some eastern europeans, brexit has been the trigger to go. buses leaving london for poland this afternoon — and some of the passengers won't come back. among the crowds, telecoms technician daniel, who is heading back to romania at christmas. he says the atmosphere in britain has changed. i think they are a little bit racist

with us, with the european people. yeah, for that reason. that's why you are planning to leave? yeah, and also because sterling is going down, you know? we want to go there, because we can find good jobs for the same money. at this chicken hatchery in west 0xfordshire, they've become reliant on workers from the so—called e8 countries — nations thatjoined the eu in 2004, like poland. it's allowed their business to expand, year—on—year. but suddenly, almost as many people from e8 countries are leaving britain as arriving. for workers at this farm, brexit was a sort of watershed. over the last 12 months or so, it's just got worse and worse. people have thought about it more and more and it's now becoming a reality. this isn't something that might happen in the future, in 2019. for people like ourselves, recruiting staff, this

is a problem today. further up the chain in chicken production, they're even more reliant on eu workers. so for the first time in years, he's planning to shrink the business, not grow it. rightly or wrongly, huge sections of the agricultural, food production, hospitality and manufacturing industries in the uk have become reliant on a ready supply of workers from the european union. now, all of a sudden, that supply is drying up. in nearby witney, only some thought the fall in migrant numbers was a good thing. we're getting too many people in the country, so yeah, we'll get over them before long. it does depend where the migrants come from and what skills they bring with them. i like the mix. i think we need the mix and they've been very hard workers. in the year to march, overall migration into britain fell sharply because fewer europeans are coming and more are leaving. it is still almost a quarter

of a million a year, far short of the government's aim of tens of thousands. we won't be complacent. there's still a lot of work to do and we'll continue to do that work, to deliver ultimately on the long—term ambition to see net migration to sustainable levels. and why are eu citizens leaving? a sense of uncertainty and falling pound. it's more expensive to live in the uk. things cost more. but also, if you are earning money in the uk and you want to spend that money another country or send it home to your family, it's worth less. and one argument over student migration was laid to rest today. newly introduced exit checks discovered that almost nobody abuses their student visa and overstays in the black economy. daniel sandford, bbc news. eleanor garnier is at the home office. just explain why the student numbers are proving tricky for the prime minister? well, previous estimates

have shown a big difference between the number of international students arriving and those leaving. that led to concern that student that one mights were being used as a sort of illegal back route into britain. new figures, that officials say are far more accurate, show that the number of people who obeyed the rules, stuck to the rules, was as high as 9796. stuck to the rules, was as high as 97%. fewer than 5000 overstayed their visas. under theresa may, this government has rigidly stuck to its target to bring net migration down to tens of thousands. despite calls even from within her own cabinet, theresa may has refused to remove international students from those immigration figures. even though that could help the government get much closer to its target. now, tonight ministers are slapping themselves on the back and saying that this success with the student figures is down to a crackdown on bogus colleges and other measures

brought in by the government. but this will put much more pressure on theresa may to take those international students out of net migration figures once and for all. thank you. the first gcse results since new, more demanding, english and maths exams were introduced in england are out and they show a decline in the proportion of top grades. the overall pass rate across all subjects in england, wales and northern ireland has also fallen slightly. over the next two years all subjects will move to the new marking system. and this is how it works: the old top mark, a*, is being replaced by a 9, and the bottom mark g is now a 1. it's all part of wider reforms designed to make gcses more rigorous and challenging, as our education editor branwenjeffreys reports. a jumble of letters and numbers. mainly cs, a d... two 65 and a 5. three bs, a 7, two 55 and an a. making sense of their gcse results, the first 16—year—olds to take the tougher exams.

there's loads more new content that you have to learn. there's just not much time to learn it in. we're learning a—level stuff as well as gcse stuff. it's really difficult. it was a shock. it'sjust making sure smarter people get the grades they deserve, i say. maybe? at this nottinghamshire school, tears mainly of relief. for the kids this year, the new gcses have been a real culture shock. they've had to learn so much more, remember so much more, and their grades have all rested on these final exams. the results here, much better than last year — but at a cost. they couldn't teach it all in the school day. we've had a compulsory session after school, particularly focused on english and maths, but on a rotation for all other subjects, to get in the increased content. of course, that's going to get

even tougher as we move towards the new gcses in all other subjects. the pass rate in england for 16—year—olds moved just a little. in english language, 69.9% got a 4 or above, a little better than in the old exam last year. in english literature, it was 72.5%. in maths, 70.7%. both just slightly down, because the grade points are moved to avoid a big drop in results. three a*s, four as and the rest bs. in wales, results included six new gcses. many took exams a year early. as a result, fewer pupils got good grades — still counted here in a* to c. this is where they pick up the pieces. in england, maths and english resits are compulsory. that's for anyone

getting a 3 this year. so does that help us be a better skilled nation? it's a significant concern for us. not just about how they're going to do it, but also the appropriateness. because a lot of young people come to colleges to go into vocational education, into technical education. and gcses, traditional gcse routes, are those the right routes? today's results are just the beginning. what children learn in england is changing, with more tough gcses to follow. bra nwen jeffreys, bbc news, nottinghamshire. amongst those receiving their results today was 16—year—old ines alves. the teenager lived on the 13th floor of grenfell tower and just hours after escaping from the fire, she went to school and sat her chemistry exam — dressed in the same clothes that she'd fled the fire in.

0ur correspondent adina campbell reports. the gloomy grey shell of what is left of grenfell tower has been home to ines alves for the past 16 years. today, she is celebrating her gcse results. how was it, hoping that envelope after what you had gone through? mixed emotions. iwas disappointed in some subjects, but really glad and really excited in others. she and her family had a lucky escape, butjust hours later, ines decided to sit her chemistry exam. i received an capital ain ines decided to sit her chemistry exam. i received an capitalain my chemistry gcse, the exam i did the morning of the fire. how much of the fire did you see? my dad burst into my room, and he said there was a

fire in the building. we left our flat, reached down stairs. at first i was annoyed at him for pulling me out, because it was such a small fire. then we realised how big it was getting when it started reaching six floors above it and it carried on going. six floors above it and it carried ' up, six floors above it and it carried on going. up, and up, then it was no turning back. since the disaster, ines's family have been living in a hotel and are still waiting to permanently rehoused. after everything you had seen, you had heard in that fire, you were at school the next morning taking an exam. many people will be wondering why you had all of that courage to go into school? i had been revising for chemistry the night before. that was in the top of my mind. when i woke up, my dad barged into the room, my chemistry notes were right next to me. the first thing i grabbed. whilst i thought they were

going to put the fire out, i thought, why not waste my time and just revise? i don't really think i was thinking of much of the time. i thought it was a normal day, just doing an exam like everybody else. after her success today, ines plans to carry on studying and says nothing will hold her back. today, of course, is a day to celebrate. you have done so well with everything you have gone through. are you positive about the future? yes. i feel like if are you positive about the future? yes. ifeel like if i could get through this, i could get anything, really. the foreign secretary borisjohnson has travelled to libya to urge military and political leaders to restore peace and stability in the north african country. five years after the overthrow of colonel gaddafi, libya is still a country that is deeply divided by civil war. forces loyal to one of gaddafi's former generals, khalifa haftar, are controlling the east of the country. rival militias are in control in the west,

and no—one is in control of libya's southern border. from libya, our diplomatic correspondent, james landale, reports. when rafjets crossed this coast six years ago, they were firing missiles against colonel gaddafi's forces. today, they delivered a foreign secretary instead. officials said borisjohnson was the first senior western politician to set foot in benghazi since 2012. and for good reason. only recently have the last remnants of so—called islamic state been removed from the city. he came to see the troops who had taken the fight to thejihadists here. band plays out of tune. the self—proclaimed libyan national army is clearly better at fighting than playing. but these forces matter because they control much of eastern libya and will have to be part

of any political deal that tries to unite this deeply divided country. so the intentions of their commander matter. marshal khalifa haftar, a military strongman and great rival to the un—backed government in tripoli to the west. the question that many western diplomats and politicians are asking is, will the man who commands these forces be willing to subject them to the control of democratically elected politicians? can they be brought into any kind of political process? because on that, the future of libya may depend. there has got to be a civilian leadership here in this country. the marshal accepts that were he to be successful, were he to stand and be successful in an election, then he could not continue in a military role. libya remains highly insecure. we had to travel around benghazi in armoured vehicles. and yesterday, is beheaded at least

nine of marshal haftar‘s soldiers in the south. the foreign secretary told me there was a chance of a political deal, but only if other countries gave up their different agendas on libya and worked with the united nations. 0ur role, really, is to get the other players, all the friends and partners of libya who may have varying ideas about the future of this country and who should be in charge, to get them to sing from the same song sheet. we are now able to fly the union flag once again... at the former british residence in tripoli, mrjohnson promised to expand the uk's presence here. but this country will be united not by foreign diplomats, but by libyan politicians and commanders agreeing to compromise. and that still looks far off. james landale, bbc news, libya. a brief look at some of the day's other news stories. councillors in kensington and chelsea have agreed a £76 million package to help people who lost their homes

in the grenfell tower fire. £40 million will go towards buying homes from private social housing providers. money is also being set aside to compensate people who owned flats in the tower. at least eight people are still missing in eastern switzerland after the biggest landslide there in decades. almost ten million tonnes of rock and mud rode down into the valley yesterday near the tiny village of bondo. a rescue operation is under way, but police say the mud and rock covers an area of three miles — and is 30 feet deep in places. the husband of a woman — killed by a cyclist riding a bike with no front brakes — is calling for new laws to be introduced for death by dangerous cycling. the cyclist, 19—year—old charlie alliston, was convicted yesterday of "wanton and furious driving", an offence dating back to 1861. kim briggs' husband says it's time the law was brought up to date. dan johnson reports. she had this mantra

of make every day count. enormous believer in filling life with experiences, with travel. she was always happy. yeah, she was just fantastic. kim briggs' husband wants to make her death count. she died crossing the road in a coalition which he describes as senseless and avoidable. the law is inadequate. people keep saying i'm calling for a new law. i'm not. i'm calling for a change in the law to incorporate cycling. we have dangerous driving and reckless driving and causing death by ulster bank calling for cycling to be incorporated into that, for the law to catch up. this case raises broader issues about how cyclists and pedestrians share the same space but the key question is

how much responsibility should cyclists have for safety on the road. should that responsibility be at the same level as car drivers. some cycling groups accept a review is needed but they want all the rules of the road updated. the government promised four years ago to look at road traffic offences and it's been under the remit of four consecutive justice it's been under the remit of four consecutivejustice secretary. none of whom have progressed it. the matter is still in abeyance at the moment. it's prompted plenty of debate especially at this london cycle cafe. everyone has a responsibility on the roads and i think someone's causing death by dangerous cycling, why should that be difference from causing death by dangerous driving. you regularly see bikes that aren't fit for the road, shouldn't be out on the road, bikes with three wheels that have brakes that don't work, that are more dangerous than fixed wheel without brakes. matt briggs writes about himself but he thinks the change in the law could save lives and prevent

injuries. this is the right thing to do and yes, i'm doing it in kim's name, but i'm also doing it to ensure that just name, but i'm also doing it to ensure thatjust perhaps we can stop this happening again. these deaths are rare. many more people come on foot and on bikes, are killed by motorists. but our streets are getting busier, with the potential for more conflict. danjohnson, bbc news, london. nearly 500,000 people are claiming this ability benefits in mining areas. horden is one of those villages. since closure of the horden‘s colliery in 1987, the population has fallen and it now suffers high unemployment. 34% of people have a long term illness, compared to 18% across england. with 39% of children living in poverty, versus 20% across england. nikki fox has gone to see how the villagers are doing. she reports on the legacy of

disability that has been left in one former coal—mining community. the old mining village of horden, nestled along the north—east coast. the industry is gone, but the people remain. show me some respect. and, most of all, some understanding. the strength is absolutely going out of me. do you feel let down? i do. and that's why i am grateful for any help that i get. both these men have spent years at the coal face. like so many on these terraced streets, their lives have been affected by disability. hello, my darling. for nick, that's looking after his recently disabled wife, dot. how did it go with your scan? rubbish. when she leaves hospital, he'll become her full—time carer and it's a daunting prospect. it is one hell of a struggle, financially. whereas when i worked at the pit, you never even thought about it.

you didn't have to. it was a dangerous job that left its mark on the miners who risked their lives, leaving many with hearing loss, lung disease and physical disabilities. many lived on streets like this one. 0nce part of a thriving community — now neglected, forgotten. and what's left? high rates of unemployment, poverty and there's three times as many people claiming disability benefits than the national average. these people gave their life to this country to produce coal, they've just been left to wither on the vine. it's just not right. it's not humane. you shouldn't be treating people with disabilities like that, i tell you. ron worked here for nearly 40 years. his life underground left him deaf, and now he's blind. he no longerfeels he belongs in the village he once loved. there's nothing in this area for us. nothing. i got depressed and...

tried to commit suicide three times. and i couldn't. i couldn't. the community is trying to regain what it's lost. i didn't know what i was entitled to... this friendly drop—in centre offers locals the chance to meet and get help with the very basics, like food, housing and transport. what we'll do is speak to the carers... nick is one of those getting that help — a referral to mental health services. a proud miner who has hit rock bottom. anybody asked for anything, i'd be there straight away to do it. but now, if it's me needing help, i don't know. i don't want to ask anybody else. the demise of the coal—mining industry has left a legacy of disability. it's unlikely this generation will see the investment that's so badly needed to improve the lives of disabled people who live in these forgotten communities.

nikki fox, bbc news, horden. shares in dixons carphone — the company which owns carphone warehouse and dixons — have dropped by nearly a quarter, after it warned that its profits would be lower than previously expected. rory cellan—jones is at a carphone warehouse for us. why aren't people buying so many phones then? it's not that people have stopped buying phones. what dixons carphone thinks it's spotted and what's really worried its investors is they may be holding off a little before upgrading, may be waiting another six months. part of the reason is modern smartphones are capable devices, they all look much the same, and people are finding it quite difficult when a new device comes along to work out what is different about it. then there's the price. we've seen of course the

pound fall against the dollar, and as it's fallen, the price of these has risen. just yesterday, samson fought out a new phone with a price tag of £869. there are rumours when the new iphone comes out, probably next month, that its price could sort above £1000 for some models. that phone is expected to be a really big hit, but it will need to bea really big hit, but it will need to be a huge hit to make investors in this retailer and others feel a bit more cheerful. thank you. a woman in america has won the biggest lottery prize ever awarded to a single ticket—holder. 53—year—old mavis wanczyk — here wearing the black top — scooped almost £600 million after spending $2 on a lottery ticket at a petrol station in massachusetts. the mother of two says she has already quit herjob. she chose her numbers based on her relatives' birthdays. the stand—out moment of the edinburgh fringe festival — that's how one critic has described a new play that's opened there, called "adam". it tells the remarkable story of a transgender asylum seeker from egypt to centre stage. he's making a new life for himself

in scotland. the new play doesn't just tell his story, he is the start of the show. eloise dickers has been following adam's journey from egypt to centre stage. the last time i've seen my mum i was in a girl's body, i looked like a girl. adam felt he couldn't live freely in egypt. they will harass, they might even torture, they will kill for that, because it'sjust something not normal, not normal. he sought asylum in a country that would allow him to live as a man. i left egypt so i can be who i am. ta—da! once in scotland he started reassignment surgery. they take a skin graft from your arm. skin that they took from your arm with the nerves and artery they form it into a penis. i stopped having periods the moment i got on testosterone, so that was like four years ago, that was ages ago. that's history now.

i can hardly remember that. this year, life changed dramatically again. he got married. it's something that just a few years ago he could never have imagined. her name is toni. she's pretty cool. she's not superficial in the slightest. she managed somehow to see through all that and just see me as who i was. with the help of the national theatre of scotland, adam has now turned his extraordinary journey into play. who knew you were transgender in egypt? nobody. let me rephrase. how many of your friends knew you were transgender? none. it's had its premiere at this year's edinburgh fringe festival, where it's received 5—star reviews. female adam is played by neshla caplan, and the real adam is played by adam himself.

he hopes that the play will inspire others like him to speak out. i had my inspirations from people on youtube, showing the me the before and after, and that really gives me hope. he did it, he did it, he did it, why can't i? really hope that i give the light to somebody else. adam's story being told in edinburgh. today is the 60th birthday of test match special and fittingly it was celebrated with a cricket match in yorkshire. teams of celebrities, coached by the bbc‘s cricket correspondent jonathan agnew and the former england batsman geoffrey boycott, were playing at the university of leeds. 0ur media correspondent amol rajan was there, to reflect on a sporting institution. it's the sound of the english summer and this year it turns 60. he bowls to weekes,

and weekes throws his bat at the ball wide outside his offstump. he's gone! he got there in the slips! because i've got a mouthful of cake. you have, you're spitting all into the microphone, too. for over six decades, test match special has marked the fluctuating fortunes of england's cricketers both at home and abroad. and in 1991 it delivered perhaps the most famous episode of cricketing commentary ever when brian johnston and jonathan agnew caught the giggles. part of his thigh must have just removed the bails. hejust didn't quite get his leg over. hita fourover the wicketkeeper's... he laughs aggers, for goodness' sake, stop it! hita fourover the wicketkeeper's... head... and he... it's obviously funny because people still laugh at it. it amazes me, really. it kind of captured everything about test match special, i think. there are people having a bit of fun in the commentary box, that bit of innuendo that goes on at the same time.

it's a bit charming and a bit silly. perhaps more than any other sport, cricket lends itself to talk radio. the long pauses within an epic drama that unfolds over five days have to be filled with something. and that something has, for the past 60 years, been the eccentrically english banter of the tms commentary box. of course cricket itself has changed irreversibly over that period and tms, celebrated in this birthday fixture today, has always tried to move with the times. it's the stories, it's the characters behind the microphone that bring the sport we love so much to life. ebony rainford—brent played for surrey and england as a professional and is now part of the tms team. she says tms has become more than just radio. social media is another way of connecting, you know?