case against the police. the women, who were raped by worboys years before he was brought to justice, were not believed by officers they had all the information there. they should have caught him, they could have stopped him the very next day, but they didn't. they chose to not believe me. the ruling means the police could face legal action from anyone who's a victim of serious crime that they feel is not properly investigated. also this lunchtime... the united nations says the bombardment of ghouta in syria is "beyond imagination" — hundreds of people have died after days of attack. donald trump indicates he's willing to ban devices which turn rifles into machine guns, following pressure after last week's school shooting in florida. we're going to talk to these politicians tomorrow. we are going to talk to them the day after that. we are going to keep talking, we are going to keep pushing until something is done, because people

are dying and this can't happen any more. the economy sees the strongest six months of growth in productivity since the recession of 2008, say new figures. jumping forjoy — great britain's women reached friday's curling semi—finals, with a 6—5 win over canada. also in the sport on bbc news... can mica moore and mica mcneill put theirfunding ordeal behind them, to take a shock medal in the women's bobsleigh in pyeongchang? good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at one. two victims of the black cab rapist, john worboys, have won a landmark legal case against the metropolitan police, after officers failed to take action

when they reported him. the women were sexually assaulted by worboys in 2003 and 2007, and said their treatment by police, who didn't believe them, caused them mental harm. the ruling by the supreme court means police may now face legal action if they fail to properly investigate serious cases. here's our legal correspondent, clive coleman. for years, john worboys cruised the streets of london in his black cab, looking for women to dupe, drug and sexually assault. this woman, known for legal reasons as dsd, was attacked by worboys in 2003, was the first to report him to police. i put my trust in the police. i went to them for them to sort this out. i knew who had attacked me. i didn't know his name, but i knew who was responsible for this. they had all the information there. they should have caught him, they could have stopped him the very next day but they didn't. they chose to not believe me. if they had done theirjob in 2003,

there would be one victim. i can deal with one victim. what i can't deal with one victim. what i can't deal with one victim. what i can't deal with is 105 victims because i wasn't believed. worboys was able to continue to attack women until he was finally brought to justice in 2009. dsd and another of worboys‘ victims brought a legal challenge, claiming the police failures breached their human rights and amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment. the metropolitan police fought them to the supreme court. today, the court ruled in the women's favour. we have held that failures in the investigation of the crimes, provided they are sufficiently serious, will give rise to liability on the part of the police. and we further found that there were such serious deficiencies in this case. today's landmark ruling has huge implications for both the victims of violent crime and the police who investigate it.

if they seriously fail in an investigation, they can face human rights actions by the victim, and have to pay out compensation. this is the highest court in the land telling the police that in the most serious of cases, they have to do theirjob properly. it's looking at things where perhaps article 3 isn't engaged. do we have to move resources from those sort of investigations to things like fraud, into supporting more work around serious crime? crowd chants: domestic violence is a crime! today's judgment can't make up for the police errors in investigating john worboys. but it will put real pressure on them to ensure such mistakes don't happen again. clive is outside the supreme court. this is a significant ruling. tell

us more this is a significant ruling. tell us more about the wider implications? they claimed they had negligently carried out an investigation. the really significant aspect of today's ruling is that this is a novel route using the human rights act, whereby victims of serious violent crime can 110w victims of serious violent crime can now hold the police to account, they can take them to court and they can win compensation. this is one big legal battle by john win compensation. this is one big legal battle byjohn worboys‘ victims that is now over and over successfully. but they face another very significant battle because the two women who were at the centre of this case are also the two women seeking to you dished —— judicially review the decision of the parole board to releasejohn worboys. a fourth hearing in thatjudicial review will take place at the high court next month. the battle is not

overfor court next month. the battle is not over for the victims but today is a very good day for them. clive coleman. the united nations has said the situation in a rebel—held suburb of damascus in syria, which has endured intense government air strikes for the past three days, is "beyond imagination". it has called on global leaders to demand that syrian government forces immediately stop bombing eastern ghouta. activists say at least 250 people have been killed there since sunday night. there are some disturbing images in tom burridge‘s report. this is the intensity of the bombing of eastern ghouta, by syrian forces who have russia's and iran's support. explosions. crying. the result is hard to watch. and hear. but those who survive the air strikes note that the nightmare is not over.

the un has again called on the syrian regime to stop its assault. but while we spoke to one woman, the missiles were still falling. assad has brought his forces to destroy ghouta and its families, adults and children. so that's 48 hours, hundreds of attacks by warplanes, rockets. oh, my god. warplanes, attacks. after years of siege, the rebels have in this sprawling suburb of damascus, a network of underground hospitals. but basic commodities are scarce and there is only rudimentary care. the suffering of civilians left there is clear. 0ne un official described it as unimaginable. but missing from the videos filmed

by activists are the rebel soldiers. a complicated alliance of islamist groups, labelled as terrorists by the assad regime. washington's influence in syria has over the years waned. the state department says only the syrian regime and its backers can de—escalate the violence. the horrors of eastern aleppo are being repeated in east ghouta with the ongoing slaughter of trapped civilians and woefully inadequate access for humanitarian actors. russia must end its support of the assad regime and its allies. they are responsible for the attacks, for the dire humanitarian situation in east ghouta, and for the horrendous civilian death toll. 0utside actors, and there are many, have turned syria into the theatre for regional power struggles. eastern ghouta now in a deadly phase, isjust the latest tragic chapter. tom burridge, bbc news.

0ur diplomatic correspondent, james robbins, is here. very distressing scenes from ghouta. is there anything the international community can do? so far the international community is relying on strong language. you heard from the state department. in the last hour theresa may has been telling mps about her deep concern. she said deliberately targeting civilians blatantly violates international humanitarian law. she specifically called out the russians, not just the specifically called out the russians, notjust the syrian regime. she said the russians as backers of the syrian regime were deeply implicated in all of this. the kremlin has denied these claims. it is hard to see how the syrian regime could be bombing gutor without at least russian consent. —— eastern ghouta. the problem for

theresa may and the united states is they have largely abdicated, left they have largely abdicated, left the battlefield in recent years. russia has moved into that vacuum and established its order and military dominance in syria. the west is in a very weak position. but it still hopes it can persuade russia in the next phase of peace negotiations, to try to recognise there has to be an end to this awful slaughter. i don't think there will be much of an end, frankly, before the syrian regime is convinced it has destroyed not just the syrian regime is convinced it has destroyed notjust rebel forces but civilians who are accused of being supporters of anti—assad factions. james, thank you. survivors of the florida school shooting that left 17 people dead last week, have gathered in the state capital to press politicians to take more action on gun control. president trump has backed a move to ban the accessory devices known as bump stocks that turn rifles into machine guns. it was used by a gunman in las vegas to kill 58 concert—goers last year. david willis reports does he know where to shoot on him? the scenes are nothing new here,

but last week's high school shooting in florida has galvanised the debate on gun control in america in a way few here can remember. students who survived an attack which killed 17 of their teachers and classmates are speaking out, fluently and forcefully. do not let people try to get under your skin! their youthful voices resonating where those of long serving politicians have largely fallen flat. we're what is bringing the change, 0k? we're going to talk to these politicians tomorrow, we're going to talk to them the day after that. we are going to keep talking. we're going to keep pushing until something is done. because people are dying, and this can't happen any more. reflecting the national mood of grief and anger in the wake of last week's shooting, president trump — who supports gun ownership— offered a concession. a ban on bump stocks, a device used to devastating effect in the las vegas massacre last year.

i signed a memorandum directing the attorney general to propose regulations to ban all devices that turn legal weapons into machine guns. i expect that these critical regulations will be finalised, jeff, very soon. students arriving for a rally later today in the florida state capital, tallahassee, say that is not enough. they're heading to washington at the invitation of the white house to press the case for comprehensive gun reform. some here are hailing it a turning point in the acrimonious debate about guns. but america has been here so many times before. david willis, bbc news, washington. barbara plett usher is in the florida state capital of tallahassee, where protestors have been gathering. what have the students been saying? they have been saying they certainly

we re they have been saying they certainly were not expecting to be sure this time last week. they have suddenly been turned into political activists and they are learning as they go. they say they are speaking from the heart and they are speaking from experience. their message is simple. we don't want to be afraid to go to school. they are not anti—gun. they just want a reform of gun laws so when 19—year—old mentally unstable person cannot buy a semiautomatic rifle legally and come into school and kill them. this is the first generation that has grown up with mass shootings. they practice safety drills in school, which did not work in this case. they have also grown up with social media, so they know how to use it to their cause and they are doing that. they have managed to break into the polarised debate about gun violence and gun control. at the same time they are against a powerful gun lobby and an

entrenched gun culture. barbara plett—usher. health secretaryjeremy hunt has announced a review of how patient problems caused by nhs treatments are handled. the review follows high profile campaigns over the hormone pregnancy test primodos, the anti—epilepsy medication sodium valproate and the use of vaginal mesh. he told mps the review will consider whether there needs to be public enquiries in each case. mr hunt also said that the response from the nhs to the patient campaign groups was "not good enough". a leaked document has set out the common strategy post brexit. eleanor garnier reports. as the brexit secretary tours the eu capitals meeting greek politicians

today, stumbling blocks remain. brussels and the uk both agree the need for temporary transition period after we leave the eu, to allow governments and businesses to get used to the new rules. but a leaked version of the government's latest position leaves some questions unanswered, including over the right of eu citizens. our starting point has been as the prime minister has set out, that we would allow people to, grand goal, live out their lives in the uk on the same basis as before. but we will need a conversation about how they will continue on after. the challenge for the prime minister, notjust in brussels, but in her own party. more than 60 eurosceptic tory mps have written to theresa may urging her to stand firm in the negotiations. laying down their red lines on brexit. they are issues that need to be clarified because there are some people in the government and around

the government who seem to contest these things. for example, that we might be in a customs union or that we might be ruled takers from the european union after we have left. but colleagues in the conservative party are certainly not going in the same direction. they think they are helping the prime minister. the prime minister has said she wants to deliver this deep partnership. she said she wants to keep frictionless borders, orderly transition is. give the flex ability to do that. it is the flex ability to do that. it is the timing of the intervention that is significant. this pressure from a faction of tory mps who are key to the survival of theresa may and her government, comesjust as the survival of theresa may and her government, comes just as the prime minister prepares for tomorrow's crunch meeting of most senior ministers to thrash out an agreed position on what the government from brexit. the road to brexit is not

a lwa ys brexit. the road to brexit is not always straightforward. tricky time is not just for this is notjust for this campaign boss mike but for the prime minister, too. it tough task to keep both sides of party onside. some will end of the disappointed. 0ur assistant political editor, norman smith, is in westminster. let's talk about the leaked document on the transition period. not the news the prime minister might have wa nted news the prime minister might have wanted before the big meeting tomorrow. absolutely not, four weeks tory brexiteers have been on a behaviour. even borisjohnson has stayed resolutely on script. but now you know that the nerves jangling over whether theresa may could backslide on the kind of brexit that they want. all the more so when they look at this leaked document because it suggests the government is not going to push back against eu demands to allow freedom of movement to continue unchanged during the transition period. there is

ambiguity over the length of the transition period. it says it should be two years but will take as long as it takes. also no suggestion of a veto to block new eu rules we do not like, instead a joint committee to monitor and try to sort out any disagreements. and crucially if we wa nt to disagreements. and crucially if we want to sign new trade deals during the transition period we will have to go along to the eu and say can we do this. when you put all that together, i suspect by the close of play today there will be quite a few brexiteers getting out their fountain pens and blotting paper and firing off a few more letters to theresa may with so—called helpful suggestions. norman, thank you. our top story this lunchtime. two victims of the black cab rapist john worboys have won a landmark case against the police. and still to come... we take a look at the runners and riders ahead of tonight's brit awards.

coming up in sport. no defeats for english clubs so far in the champions league last 16. can manchester united keep up the good work in spain? jose mourinho's men take on seville this evening. average wages went up slightly in the final three months of last year, rising by 2.5 per cent. that's according to the latest figures from the office for national statistics, which also show that the amount each worker produces — known as productivity — has increased. but there was also a slight rise in unemployment from a record low. here's our economics correspondent andy verity. this maker of upmarket switches and sockets has been growing its business and so should the exporting to china. but it has its

manufacturing plant near hastings and workers here have at last won a pay rise that matches inflation, without a fight. staff have been on the same salary effectively for the past three or four years. they have been working hard, the company doing well, so we felt it was time to reward them accordingly. the firm can reward them accordingly. the firm ca n afford reward them accordingly. the firm can afford to pay more because it has invested £200,000 in a robot enabling each worker to produce more top—quality switches and sockets each hour. exactly the kind of boost to productivity that the economy has been crying out for. the robot will polish components to a much greater a ccu ra cy polish components to a much greater accuracy than a human. and the spin off is it does it in half the time. not every worker has done as well as these employees. unemployment has risen to 4.4%, the average pay rise

was 2.5%, still less than inflation but between october and december demand that we produce per hour rose by1.8%. if that demand that we produce per hour rose by 1.8%. if that keeps improving, and that is and is, inflation beating pay rises should become more affordable. there will come a moment when people realise they have more power in the labour market than they used to because we're losing a lot of immigrant labour in key sectors so wages are of immigrant labour in key sectors so wages are likely to go up in those sectors. the figures show a change in who was joining the workforce. in 2017 the number of uk nationals working in the uk went up by 300,000. the number of eu nationals working here went up by around 100,000. but the number of non—eu nationals, people from the rest of the world, went down by 60 8000. the squeeze on living standards has loosened its grip. but it is still uncomfortably tight. 0nly further improvements in pay and productivity can bring that to an

end. andy verity, bbc news. scotland yard are trying to establish whether there's a link between two fatal stabbings in north london, which happened within a mile of each other over a two—hour period. the victims are believed to be a boy in his late teens and a man aged around 20. at least fifteen people have been killed by knife crime in london this year. the high court has ruled that government plans to tackle air pollution are unlawful. it's the third time environmental campaigners have won on the issue — arguing that levels of harmful nitrogen dioxide are still too high across most of the uk. roger harrabin is here. tell us more about this ruling. the government is supposed to have cleaned up the air by the year 2000 so already it is eight years too late. the legal group, client earth, has been taking legal action against the government to push them to go faster. the law says that they have is to deliver clean air as quickly as possible for the each time they go for a court action the judge

agrees with client earth that the government is not delivering clean airas government is not delivering clean air as quickly as possible. so previously the government has been asked to sort out 28 areas where pollution is especially bad and tell local councils to address the problem. it has been asked to do another 33 areas now where pollution is bad and councils again will be asked to address the problem. perhaps by keeping out diesel vehicles or trying to control traffic at busy times. so client earth obviously have to keep going to court, they said this should not happen and the government should just have done what it was meant to. the government says it accepts the rulings and is now going to really clean up the air as quickly as it can. roger, thank you. team gb's women's curling team have beaten the reigning champions canada to reach the semi—finals. it means the canadian women have failed to win a medal for the first time in olympic history. the british captain, eve muirhead, says the team is back on track. the men's team face a playoff as they seek a place in the medal rounds.

0ur sports correspondent andy swiss is in pyeongchang. welcome to pyeongchang where as you say it has been such a big day for british curlers, both the men and the women took medals in sochi four yea rs the women took medals in sochi four years ago, both hoping to reach the semifinals today and while the men still have some work to do, the women are safely there thanks to their captain. sport so often turns on a moment of genius. and this was eve muirhead's. with the scores tied against canada, the british captain conjured a mathematical miracle. one, two, hits that one. hits that one, it's a great shot from eve muirhead. it's a cracker. in curling, the simple aim is to get closest to the target. but how eve muirhead took the scenic route. her geometric genius took britain into the semifinals, even if her reaction... ajump in the airforjoy! . . left her slightly embarrassed. i can't actually remember it! when you're up there,

when you're in that zone, you forget about the small things. but yes, i'm glad i landed safely on my feet! so eve muirhead's team are through but could there now be another muirhead into the semifinals? brother thomas is hoping to help the men's team into the last four of their competition. but there was to be no family celebration. the men's team thrashed by the usa. they will now have to beat switzerland in a play—off to reach the semifinals. today's most dazzling display on the ice though came from a 15—year—old. the extraordinary alina zagitova. absolutely glorious! the olympic athletes from russia are still yet to win a gold here. but her new world record suggests that could change. slightly less graceful, the ski cross which delivered its usual brand of chaos. oh, it's gone! an early crash left only two men

standing in the final with canada's brady leman edging the gold. but in the last few hours, british hopes in the bobsleigh have taken a bump. mica mcneil and mica moore, who relied on crowdfunding to help their preparations, were sixth overnight but after a poor third run, their medal prospects seemed to be over. the third run dropped them down to eighth place going into theirfinal run. so it seems britain will not add to their medal tally today but will able be hoping the coders can do so over the next few days. in the last few minutes it has denounced the american evangelist billy graham has died. he was 99 and had been suffering from parkinson's disease for several years. we look back at his life. there are problems that face us tonight that will never be solved unless we bring them to the lord jesus christ. i gave my son to

die for you. charismatic in every sense, lou graham, his message was simple. people should turn tojesus. come through that door! he had a remarkable effect on a sometimes disinterested public. god loves you. and if there's one thing you get out of these days it is this, god loves you. in 1954 london first experienced the force of the billy graham brand of evangelism. we come here at the invitation of these churches to help you in a crusade to win people tojesus christ. churches to help you in a crusade to win people to jesus christ. as his reputation grew so did the crowd. from new york to nigeria. he was god, he was also man. i want you to get out of your seat right now and say i want my sin to be forgiven. get out of your seat right now and say i want my sin to be forgivenm was at a billy graham rally in

ea rl‘s was at a billy graham rally in earl's court in 1966 that cliff richard publicly declared his christianity. the pair joined richard publicly declared his christianity. the pairjoined up with the billy graham television ministry. in that into churches and homes. and reaching hundreds of millions. and he was courted by american presidents. from nixon to clinton, though he never took sides. i'm looking forward to death, i want to go into that glorious new world that everyone who believes injesus christ is going to go. i will have all the actors that i would like to have a nswers all the actors that i would like to have answers to now. he said, i'm just a preacher, that is it. despite cancer and parkinson's disease, billy graham was just that. a

preacher. into old age. and thousands still flocked to hear him. billy graham who has died at the age of 99. it's the brit awards tonight. and it's 22—year—old londoner, dua lipa, who's leading the way with five nominations. the comedian jack whitehall will host the ceremony for the first time. 0ur entertainment correspondent lizo mzimba has more. his report contains some flash photography. her global hit new rules has been viewed on you tube more than a billion times. the youngest female artist ever to achieve that goal. the popularity of the 22—year—old londoner has helped her to lead the way with five nominations. for the moment at least she is bigger than beyonce, taylor swift, rhianna. and she has what all of those huge american artists have. she's not work—shy, she will turn up, she will do the interview, she would do the promo. she will spend 24 hours doing the video and extreme focus, 24/7. she faces strong competition in best

video and the prestigious best album award from ed sheeran. the most successful male artist of the last 12 months. he dominated the singles charts for much of the year. and his album divide spent months at number one, although huge commercial success doesn't always necessarily lead to winning at the brits. he won half a dozen awards with 0asis, this year liam gallagher gets his first solo nomination for best male. but in typical fashion has fallen out with the brits accusing them of being too scared to ask him to perform at the show.