this is bbc news. i'm shaun ley. the headlines at 8:00. cabinet ministers meet to discuss whether to proceed with military action in syria, following the alleged chemical attack in the city of douma last weekend. us warships are on their way to the region, president trump says a decision on air strikes will be made soon. we're looking very, very seriously, very closely at that whole situation. and we'll see what happens, folks, we'll see what happens. the international chemical weapons watchdog back the uk's assessment of the nerve agent used against a former russian spy and his daughter in salisbury. sir cliff richard's lawyers tell the high court the bbc‘s coverage of a raid at his home was a serious invasion of his privacy. in the next hour, the long wait in accident and emergency. figures show waiting times in a&e departments in england last year were the worst since targets were introduced. on meet the author this week, my guest is suzanne o'sullivan,

a leading expert on the brain. who tells the story of doctors‘ efforts to discover the secrets that are still hidden. her book's called brainstorm: detective stories from the world of neurology. good evening and welcome to bbc news. president donald trump has said decisions on how to respond to the chemical attack in syria will be made "soon". in the fast few minutes theresa may has said there is a need to take action and the use of chemical weapons. also tonight russia has

called for a meeting of the un security council. here's our middle east editorjeremy bowen. in the streets of duma, supporters of president assad paraded. the town's been a no—go area for them for more than six years. russian troops are closeby, alongside their syrian allies. moscow denies there was a chemical attack here. in washington, president trump's morning tweet was less belligerent. he posted "never said when an attack on syria would take place. could be very soon or not soon at all!" later president trump didn't give much more away. we're looking very, very seriously, very closely at that whole situation and we'll see what happens, folks, we'll see what happens.

it's too bad that the world puts us in a position like that. the us defence secretary hinted at the delay, to wait for evidence from the bonsai. ——bomb site. there was a chemical attack and we're looking for the actual evidence to the opcw, this organisation for the chemical weapons convention, we are trying to get those inspectors in, probably within the week. in damascus, president assad projected a calm face. reaching a top adviser to un's supreme leader. but syrian forces are reported to be moving out of bases and installations that could be potential targets. in moscow, the foreign ministry is adamant that facing a western provocation. translation: we are not seeking an escalation, but we also will not support false accusations. on french tv, president macron tried to reassure those who worry more war in syria could lead to disaster. translation: what we're doing today,

and what we'll have to do in syria is to stick to our priorities. and to ensure the maximum stability in the region. in no case will france allow an escalation or anything else that could destabilise the region to take place. another possible region for delaying an attack, the americans only dispatched a carrier battle group from norfolk, virginia 2a hours ago. i'm so pleased and proud of the harry s truman carrier striker team. 6500 of the finest americans you could ever sail with or serve with. we are trained, we are ready. any mission, anytime, anywhere. we're ready to go. they're determined, but with more than 5000 miles at sea ahead of them. the americans, british and french between them could attack syria without a us carrier, probably very soon. but hitting the syrian regime without making the lives of civilians worse will be difficult. and generals, admirals and politicians might want more time to think. jeremy bowen, bbc news. we will hear from westminster and

washington in a moment. first to the middle east. matthew price is in beirut in neighboring lebanon for us. you are in a country that traditionally has felt a very strong influence of syria on its affairs and where presumably the impact of the war has been considerable with the war has been considerable with the refugees that have flooded there. what is the concern and the reason about how things are accelerating? you are right. to mention the refugees it is important. this is a country of about five or 6 million people. there are an estimated, at the lower limits of the estimations, estimated 1 limits of the estimations, estimated i million refugees. so a fifth or a six of the country's population are syrian refugees. that has created an economic burden, a social burden, you name it. it has created it here. lebanon is the link am also because of the geopolitical tensions. i think what is fascinating here is

that while in london, in washington and paris and elsewhere this is very much seen as possible air strikes by a us—led coalition against president assad's forces. that is not how people in this region are feeling it. many people in this region are viewing it as specific attacks against iranian influence inside syria. we know the iranians have existed up there. and also has below, the movement that is based here in lebanon and has great populist support as well as being described as a terrorist populace and around the world. his brother and around the world. his brother and iranian influence in this region and iranian influence in this region and in syria has been growing and a lot of people saying that many air strikes would be going against iran and his brother, and if that is the case what is the response if any. —— his brother. —— his brother. if

there are tax best rates on syrian arab bases which you don't hit element military personnel which are not targeted there, then things will calm down again. but if there is some sort of strike capacity lost against other proxies in the region thatis against other proxies in the region that is when people start to get very nervous indeed. are they at all confused by the international attitude because this is reported to be at least the third occasion at which michael weapons are being used in the syrian war behind —— we had a president obama talking about four yea rs president obama talking about four years ago crossing a red line, a p pa re ntly years ago crossing a red line, apparently it was often nothing would happen. then we had trumped firing off missiles when there is another instance am a but there was no father. do they have a sense that this is somehow distant —— difference or do they perceive any consistency from those countries who are threatening this reaction?” don't think they perceive

inconsistency. i think they perceive consistency and that consistency of an inability to act. and there are many people who will tell you that this is not about, this cannot be about the method of delivering death if you like. one person from syria was pointing out to me today that a few top of all the people who are known to have died in chemical weapons attacks in syria, it comes toi weapons attacks in syria, it comes to i think a few hundred. she was saying. if you talk about all the people who have died in the war it comes to 100s of thousands. there is a big discrepancy in people's minds between while would the americans, why are the americans choosing to act out over an alleged chemical weapons attack when every single day president assad's forces are targeting civilians with the barrel bombs, with all sorts of different weapons. so i think it is not seen as is consistent behaviour, it is

seen as as is consistent behaviour, it is seen as consistently week behaviour by outside actors like the united states. i think all i have to say most analysts would agree with that, that there appears to be very little anybody can do. is there —— if there is unity of thought in the region here between those who support president assad and those who are opposed, then that unanimity of thought is this: nobody believes that us—led strikes, if they come, are going to do anything to weaken president assad himself. matthew price in beirut. thank you so much. so as we've heard, that special cabinet meeting this afternoon came out with a strong statement on the need to deter president assad of syria from any further use of chemical weapons. ministers agreed that theresa may should work with allies in the us and france to coordinate an international response. our political correspondent

alex forsyth is in westminster we spoke about a determination not to wait for parliament to be called for a donation of old but to go ahead as it was necessary. is anything out of the cabinet meeting suggesting that that imperative changed? i think what you suggest is that not winning for parliament but waiting for the us and france to decide on what any coordinated response may be. as we saw from president trump's tweet earlier, there is no indication now from the us that we are definitely talking about imminent action. he said he could be soon, it could be not so soon. could be soon, it could be not so soon. i think the word we got from the statement from downing street tonight, the readout from the cabinet meeting seemed to suggest that anything will be coordinated. this is really an echo of what theresa may the prime minister herself was saying yesterday, which is that it is highly likely that it

was the assad regime which was behind this suspected chemical attack. and that the uk alongside his allies had to take action to did her any future attacks —— to determine any future attacks. it says again and this was a shocking and barbaric act, the same or the prime minister used yesterday. it says the cabinet has agreed the prime minister should continue to work with his allies in the us and france to co—ordinate international response. i think what we're hearing is that the cabinet has given its backing to the prime minister's position, which as we know from yesterday is that she is minded to support military action if the us and france go ahead, but she would only do some in coordinated international response. the statement stresses that every cabinet minister spoke and made a contribution and in the cabinet agreed on a position. you and i know that cabinet stumbled, the prime minister sums up the view of the room. if you don't agree then you walk out the door. nobody has, so everybody at least is accepting her judgement. but in terms of the practicalities of this, where the

president to delay, as he has hinted he might or might not and this drags on for several days, would it be rather awkward for the prime minister because parliament is back on monday, would been the pressure increase were her to actually go to parliament and tell it what is going on before any action takes place? almost undoubtedly. i think the reason for the assertion that we have coming from sources within the government yesterday that the prime minister might act about going to parliament first. was the sense of urgency, this need for swift action and for the prime minister to keep in step with the us and france on this. if there is a time delay in any response to this attack in syria, then of course parliament is sitting again on monday. we are currently in recess, so as theresa may have wanted to go before mps she would have agreed to call parliament before this stage. but if this does go on longer, and we have no indication yet as to the time frame this. it is important to remember that everybody is addressing no

decisions that have been taken at all. but if it does go on mother there will be increasing pressure on there will be increasing pressure on the prime minister to put a decision before mps because that is the position of the labour leaderjeremy corbyn who has been very clear this has to go to parliament. some of theresa may is on mps said they would support a swift targeted response without consultation. but others, even on the tory back benches like an quark, the former cabinet minister saying there is no reason for theresa may not to go to palm —— ken clarke. of course we know the arithmetic for her is very precarious because she doesn't have a majority in the house of commons. theresa may would want to be very sure that if she did go to mps then they would support military action rather than a repeat of what happened with david cameron back in 2013. i think as time goes on, yes, the pressure and the potential parliamentary hurdles for the prime minister grow. alex forsyth at was mr. they give. —— thank you. our correspondent barbara plett usher is in washington. what is the latest reading of the administration's position on

military response to that chemical attack? we don't have anything official yet. president trump has rolled back his own personal momentum about what looked to come, because he has been told i think that it is imminent and it seems as though it is not as imminent as he thought. we do have state m e nts imminent as he thought. we do have statements from the defence secretary who spoke today when she said a decision had not yet been taken and he talked about various things that the administration was working for, which it seems it would ta ke working for, which it seems it would take time. of course try to get allies together, he said they didn't have evidence ever sure of what had happened. he was convinced there was a chemical attack, but he said i cannot say there was evidence as what was said in some social media state m e nts what was said in some social media statements which seem to be a record of mr trump's lease. although he wouldn't talk about any of the details of military planning, he did say there were issues he was

concerned about, including he didn't wa nt to concerned about, including he didn't want to trigger an escalation that would get out of control. what he implied was a reference to the possibility of confrontation with russia. so you have all those things in play and under consideration. it is possible also that mr trump's tweet may have delayed things because the syrians have been running for cover as in the past 2a hours or so. they moving there were planes and other movable assets into safe places, russian bases which the americans would not target. it means there are less targets in play. that may also be a factor in terms of the timing ofany may also be a factor in terms of the timing of any military action. in as you were saying timm is's apparent earlier this is apparent earlier, happy sounding a bit conflicting as a demonstration on this. when any says there was a chemical attack and we are looking for the evidence. then he says "you try to get the memo that might take another week, in the meantime evidence might be moved closer. as he said we notice a

nonpersistent gas. if it is indeed what we believe what was involved. and this is bear hunting for evidence knowing that the evidence might not actually be there. even if the attack ever took place. what is the attack ever took place. what is the point in waiting for this evidence from the inspector? the message sounds confused.” evidence from the inspector? the message sounds confused. i think the americans are quite convinced a chemical attack took place. that is what he said. but terms of actual evidence in hand to improve it, they don't have anything. they don't have anything that they can hand out and say this is what happened. so would hope to have some sort of inspectors on the ground to get something. it is emissive they will be on the ground in the next 24—28 hours —— 24-48 ground in the next 24—28 hours —— 24—48 hours. he said the last time it takes the westchester will be evidence there. i don't think that would necessarily prevent the americans from taking action. the whole issue of under what authority they would strike syria is a matter

of consideration, especially for their allies and for the british and to some degree for the french. under what are you breaking international law, if you are not doing this under aun law, if you are not doing this under a un resolution. you would at least wa nt to a un resolution. you would at least want to have some evidence to back up want to have some evidence to back up what you're doing. the reason they say they are taking, they would ta ke they say they are taking, they would take any sort of action is because they want to make a clear statement against the use of the weapons that there have been formal reports chemical weapons are being used and this cannot become normalised. so i think evidence plays a role in all of these kinds of messages. they wa nt of these kinds of messages. they want a telegraph and also the authority under which they would wa nt to authority under which they would want to carry out the attack. thank you very much. we will find out about the ongoing debate on whether and how that goes on tomorrow in the papers. our guests joining me tonight are the broadcaster and journalist, rachel shabi, and the deputy political editor of the daily

telegraph, steven swinford. the headlines on bbc news: cabinet ministers agreed by use of chemical weapons by the asset regime should not go uncounted. the action is being taken to alleviate human distress in syria. president trump says a decision on air strikes will be made ‘soon' as us warships move into the region. the international chemical weapons watchdog back the uk's assessment of the nerve agent used against sergei and yulia skripal in salisbury last month. more commonwealth games action puzzle ball to look forward to at the bbc sports centre. good evening. we will try and deal you with a bit of both. arsenal are hoping tojoin liverpool in the semifinals of their european competition. china's well to avoid some of the, as has happened in the champions league this week. cska moscow 4—1 going into tonight's second leg of their europa league quarterfinal. after

about 15 minutes, still go was in the russian capital. arsenal are still having quite a sizeable advantage in their tie. already three goals in the first nine minutes in france. but it is level on aggregate there. to the commonwealth game, and gloom was disqualified after finishing first in the men's 200 metres. the only found out halfway around what he thought was his victory lap. the crowd at the stadium in australia's gold coast witness what was one of the races of the game so far, as he seemed to have picked trinidad and tobago's richards in a photo finish, but as the pair approached the finish line he appeared to get with his left arm. officials ruled that he had stepped up his lame. england lost their appeal against the decision which means that leon reid of northern ireland has been upgraded to claim the bronze medal. all that means that sophie has won

england's only athletics gold of the game so far. she completed a clean sweep of titles in the t 38100 metres. paralympic world and european champion, she is now commonwealth champion, too. olivia took bronze for wales.” commonwealth champion, too. olivia took bronze for wales. i always wanted to come off with a title and to come here and collect this.” know you, you would have been itching to get on this track. yet, in the form of ipod are needed to get here, i needed the noise and to soak up the atmosphere. so i'm happy a beer. meanwhile more success for a win in the aquatics centre as diver jack won his second gold of the games, can in the three metre springboard diving adding to the one metre title that he is already claimed he is going for a third gold tomorrow and eat —— with a partner with whom he won the olympic gold two years ago. i'm really proud to come out here outdoors at night. and really nail the competition, fantastic score. to get my first

ever just fantastic score. to get my first everjust had a commonwealth title, the one that probably means the most to me. fantastic list, really proud of myself and i'm happy with how me and my to make sure we came from the disaster this morning to nailing this evening. there was a 1- to as annie and ev one england their first ever i'm in love medals in women's mountain biking. she took the ghomeshi the 27, the course and one hourin ghomeshi the 27, the course and one hour in18 ghomeshi the 27, the course and one hour in 18 seconds. —— she took the gold. she finished in the and 48 seconds behind her team—mate behind a civil metal in the mountain bike. after two and a half years, tyson fury will be making his long—awaited comeback to the ring. the former world heavyweight champion will fightan as world heavyweight champion will fight an as yet unnamed opponent on june nine. since beating but liquids go on point for the wba, wbo an ideal —— ibf belt. after receiving a

ban for doping violation is right since was reinstated early this year. and hoping to work his way back to the top of a reinvigorated division. i was very burned out with it all. i have been boxing a long, long time and i needed a change. i wasn't going to keep boxing no matter what for any amount of money and forany matter what for any amount of money and for any bells. i couldn't talk any more. i hadjust and for any bells. i couldn't talk any more. i had just done enough. so i spent time with my family, i got two more kids out of it which was worth all the money in the world to me. and i'm really ready now to come back and take what is mine. and prove myself as well, basically. that is all your support for now. you can follow the arsenal game on the bbc sport website and i will have the resorts —— result for you and many stories in sports day at 10:30pm. iwill and many stories in sports day at 10:30pm. i will see you there. studio: thank you very much. let's return to our top story. international chemical weapons

inspectors have confirmed the uk's assessment of the nerve agent used against a former russian spy and his daughter in salisbury. the government has said it was novichok, a poison developed in the soviet era, and that the russian state must have been behind last month's attack. moscow has denied any involvement, and said today's report is part of an operation to discredit russia. our security correspondent frank gardner reports. investigating the nerve agent attack in salisbury has turned into an international task. after britain published its findings last month and blamed russia, it asked this global chemical watchdog, the opcw for a second opinion. today it published its report. it says the results of the analysis by the opcw designated laboratories confirmed the findings of the uk awaiting the identity of the toxic chemical that was used in salisbury

as severely injured three people. britain's chemical defence establishment quickly identified the nerve agent as a nivickok. today's report doesn't mention that word. but a second classified opcw report does identify the name and church of the poison. by itself, this is not going to be determinative. but if you look at the contextual facts of what we know about novichoks, they were invented by russia, largely to avoid verification under the chemical weapons convention. russia denies any responsability for the attack. today its foreign ministry spokeswoman dismissed every sport as being part of an operation to discredit russia. yulia skripal is now in hiding, somewhere in britain. russia has suggested she's being held against her will. her father is still in hospital. next week the opcw executive council is due to discuss the report into the poisoning and russia's alleged violations of the chemical weapons convention. frank gardner, bbc news. we can speak now to emeritus

professor alastair hay, who is an expert in chemical and biological warfare. hejoins me now via webcam from leeds. think you for being with us on bbc news. let me ask you to what importance should we attach to the opcw's importance should we attach to the opcw‘s findings? importance should we attach to the opcw's findings? the report is a gold—plated one. it confirms what the uk have settled on. we have a four other laboratories confirming what the uk reported it had found. there is no disputing that this agent is there now. and has been used against the macro. and always this report set out to discredit the russians, it simply confirms what the uk has said and what the opcw has done screw gillislee. opcw is an organisation in which russian is a full member. so this is not a western organisation that excludes russia? not at all. russia is a fully participating member, sign up

to all of the procedures that the opcw to all of the procedures that the o pcw follows. to all of the procedures that the opcw follows. and in the opcw, as you say there, is a neutral party and this. it is there to be objective and that is its virtue. when the opcw says it doesn't name novichok, but it says it is part of the group of chemicals of which novichok was part. it says it has in his confidential version, which is seen his confidential version, which is seen by other member governments, the chemicalformula seen by other member governments, the chemical formula involved. seen by other member governments, the chemicalformula involved. does that mean that potentially someone else could have produced this? in other words that it wouldn'tjust be a state that would be capable of assembling the chemical elements needed to produce the substance? no, not at all. novichok if you like, area not at all. novichok if you like, are a sort of late name, it it really m ea ns are a sort of late name, it it really means newcomer. when you are talking about what you need to do, as you specify exactly what you did,

and in this case the exact chemical description is there, the novichok is just description is there, the novichok isjust a description is there, the novichok is just a name description is there, the novichok isjust a name if description is there, the novichok is just a name if you description is there, the novichok isjust a name if you like. that means nothing. but in terms of the chemical elements, production could have taken place anywhere in theory? really what the report is confirming, this is the opcw report, it is confirming that the material was of very high purity. this implies that the substance was made ina implies that the substance was made in a facility, whether it is a laboratory or some other chemical facility, but that there were considerable resources would devote to purifying the product. so this is not something you do in your kitchen or your back bedroom. so the other implication is that this was something made abroad and would have been brought into the uk. it isn't something you can just cobble together. even organised criminal

groups would have struggled to do something this pure? that is the suggesting was but a big operation and you need the sort of quality of equipment and so on that are associated with state production? absolutely. really you need resources , absolutely. really you need resources, you need very, very good and trained chemists and of course when you are dealing with something as toxic as this, you need to have very good containment facilities so that those making the substance are not in any way exposed to. because otherwise you would have your image to professors just dropping otherwise you would have your image to professorsjust dropping dead all they are trying to make the stuff. so you need a sophisticated operation to this work. the opcw has also caught up in what is happening in syria at the moment. we heard from our correspondent there that an attempt is being made to get inspectors in, perhaps as soon as the next 48 hours, to try and examine what happened in duma and to if they can find any actual concrete

evidence to back up the claims that it was a chemical attack. how difficult is that going to be? this attack took place we are told on saturday. it is now thursday. they may not be there until this saturday. what will be the effect of a week having elapsed, assuming there were chemicals? well, some of there were chemicals? well, some of the product may have disappeared but the product may have disappeared but the opcw its vectors will easily be able to get evidence. it is less easy with chlorine, but by talking to victims and by looking at the environment, they can get some good information about lorene. if it was a nerve agent and looking at some of the social media pictures of the fatalities, something very toxic like a nerve agent being used, that will be around for quite some time. and if you are going to a side where there was an exposure, agents like sarah kelly blasted in to the tarmac and so on —— staring. that chemical

can be around for some time. in fact some work i did in rock showed evidence that the presence of the chemicalfor evidence that the presence of the chemical for years evidence that the presence of the chemicalfor years after evidence that the presence of the chemical for years after a bomb heading slowly. so the opcw inspectors will get the evidence they need, if they get access in the next week or two. as a former exec yourself, when you hearjim mattis, the defence secretary kind of been for and saying as each day goes by it isa for and saying as each day goes by it is a nonpersistent gas so becomes more and more difficult to confirm it, you wouldn't be right so pessimistic? not at all. i'm not a former inspector. i have done six investigations of allegations of the past past. not at all in this case. the inspectors that are going will get the evidence they need. and i am hoping that they will be able to do that. professor alastair hay, toxicology speciality is at leeds university. thank you very much. you're very welcome, good night.

and good night to you. and good evening to bend with the weather. hello there. for many of us it has again been a real struggle to lift the gloom. a lot of cloud around. but not everywhere. a beautiful day in the scottish highlands. our weather watch, captured those lovely skies overhead. cloudy skies were most outbreaks of chartering, too, across the midlands, northern england up into scotland. $453;g§.ég§c§§

habitually across the northeast of scotland where i keep will breeze off easy, but things generally worming up through the weekend. some studies both, quite breezy though with a risk of some heavy showers. air strikes will be made soon. let mejust bring

let me just bring you an update on the story and developments in syria, we are getting quotes from the interfax news agency that a russian lawmaker says that russian ships have left the big russian naval base in syria. it's been in syria for many years now. it's one of the most important military installations that russia has in the middle east. we will get more on that and of course bring it to you later this the local council failed to keep children safe for a quarter of a century. the new report said the former council leader richard farnell‘s claim that he was unaware of child sex abuse "defied belief". judith moritz‘ report contains some scenes you may find upsetting. there was this man there. i can only describe him as enormous. i was only small for my age then. he's a pensioner now, but once he was a vulnerable child in care, and ijust turned around

and faced the wall. and he started bringing his hands up inside of my legs. this was years ago? yes. the pain is still very sharp? iam 79. i'm still feeling the pain and suffering as i did. as councillor, mayor and then mp, cyril smith wielded power and influence. he was never charged. smith helped found knowl view, a school for troubled boys. for 25 years, staff abused pupils, and sex between boys was thought normal. the independent inquiry found that former council leader richard farnell lied under oath when he denied knowing about the abuse. so you were completely

and utterly oblivious to what was going on at knowl view for all those years? all those people you mentioned did not bring that to my attention. mr farnell said he did not lie, but the report authors are firm. clearly that is a matter now for others to take forward, but the panel are very clear that they felt he had lied in the evidence given to the inquiry. it might be a matter for the police? indeed. it might be a matter for the police. rochale has lurched from one scandal to the next, from cyril smith in the 60s up to the more recent grooming of teenage girls. there are many here who feel that the town can't move on until the full truth is known. rochdale council has apologised forfailing children. the police say they'll consider whether to take action. judith moritz, bbc news. lawyers for sir cliff richard told the high court today that bbc coverage of a police raid on the singer's home was a "very serious invasion of privacy."

sir cliff is suing the broadcaster, claiming breach of privacy and data protection, after officers went into his berkshire home in 2014 following an allegation of sexual assault. cliff richard denied any wrongdoing. he was not arrested and was not charged with any offence. our special correspondent lucy manning reports. sir cliff richard is more used to walking out on stage than into a court room. the singer has sold millions of records, achieved fame and fortune, but claims the bbc seriously invaded his privacy and he wants very substantial damages. south yorkshire police have confirmed they are searching a property in berkshire. this news report from 2014 was highly intrusive, said sir cliff richard's barrister. as the bbc filmed from a helicopter, the south yorkshire police searched his flat. they were investigating an allegation of historical sexual abuse, which the singer has always denied. he was never arrested or charged. he looked tearful in court as the reports were played,

at times closing his eyes. the bbc claims it was in the public interest to report what was accurate information about a serious police investigation. sir cliff richard's barrister said this story was a toxic combination of unchecked ambition by their local reporter and an obsessive desire to scoop rivals to make headlines rather than report the news, and a regrettable failure by senior managers to even adhere to proper standards. he said, "we are talking about intrusive footage served up to the british public as a sensational story." bbc managers fran unsworth and jonathan munro will give evidence. they argue this case raises issues about press freedom and what the public can be told about police investigations. the bbc‘s barrister, gavin miller, asked if sir cliff richard

could have expected privacy. "we say the answer is very clearly no," he said. in court it was revealed south yorkshire police has already agreed to pay the singer £a00,000 and his legal costs after he sued them. how was the first day? very good. "very good," said sir cliff richard, about his first day in court. he is expected to give evidence tomorrow. latest figures on accident and emergency waiting times in england are the worst since records began 11; years ago. when the target was first introduced. the health watchdog nhs improvement says hospitals are continuing to face a "mammoth task" coping with rising numbers of patients. our health editor hugh pym has this report.

patients on trolleys in crowded corridors, staff working flat out. scenes like these were common in hospitals across the nhs this winter. the latest a&e figures show that in england, things got even worse in march than in previous months. the pressures as acute as ever. nurses are struggling to deliver the quality they want to deliver, patients are frustrated because they are not getting the care they want. it's just a very difficult situation. the proportion of patients treated or assessed within four hours in a&e was the lowest over a year since records began in england. by march it was just 84.6% dealt with in that time. slightly higher was the latest figure for scotland, which was forjanuary, with 87.2% within four hours. whereas in wales and northern

ireland, the average waiting times for the latest months available were worse than in england and scotland. some hospitals, like this one, the royal london, have worked hard to develop new methods of managing the flow of patients, even in the face of extreme pressure over the winter. in partnership with the local ambulance service, they send out consultants to try to treat more patients in the community and for those who are admitted, a big effort is made to get them home as quickly as possible. we have joint meetings between the doctors, nurses, the therapists. that speeds up the process so patients get the therapy they need, the tests they need, the treatment they need just slightly quicker. these marginal gains can take a day or two off the length of stay. but nobody denies it is a really demanding task. there's still relentless pressure. it's what one senior doctor has called "eternal winter". hugh pym, bbc news.

a ground—breaking study has uncovered why some patients' cancers are more deadly than others, despite appearing identical. scientists from the francis crick institute have developed a way of analysing a cancer‘s history to predict its future. the study focused on kidney cancer patients, which showed some tumours were "born to be bad" while others never became aggressive and may not need treatment. joining us now is lead author of the study, dr samra turajlic, explain what it is your research has identified. we show, for the first time, the evolutionary principles of kidney cancer and how it develops and believe in what we have done thatis and believe in what we have done that is by working house the precise sequence that is by working house the precise sequence of genetic events that take place from when the cancer develops forms initially, how it grows and how it spreads, which is what harms our patients the most. and what do

you do and hope to be able to do in the ahead? in the clinic and if we can classify patients, their tumours, using these evolutionary principles we should be able to tailor our treatments precisely to this patient‘s, tailor our treatments precisely to this patients, and troy that will bea this patients, and troy that will be a good thing. in other words, you could potentially tell somebody, your particular tumour is less likely to cause you, eventually shorten your life or kill you, and therefore the treatment options might be different if somebody is cancer you think is potentially life—threatening. cancer you think is potentially life-threatening. that is right. at the moment and we have a limited number of tools to help us make those decisions. it helps in many fronts and from a scientific perspective, it really offers on an illumination of cancer in general. this is specifically to kidney

tumours but he believed that kids are —— you believe that cancer behaves in the same way. we believe all cancers in type have a range of diverse outcomes and this is what we can reconcile that, and we are beginning to see across different cancer types. diversity also means you cannot be 100% definitive, so in a sense, you're hoping you will be able to offer better odds to patients, give them a more, or less, the case of its 50% of this, 50% of this, maybe 80% this, 20% that, would will be the outcome. this kind of understanding really offers a profound insight into a tumour. it's not just about the presence or absence or a change. it tells us so much that we think we should be able, in the next five to ten years, to apply quite a lot of precision to those. how big a change would that be in the treatment then? i mean, the sense from a lot of people who

either had cancer themselves or had family members and cancer, often the treatment sometimes feels worse than the cancer itself, precisely because there is so little... process because you have to hit it hard, because you have to hit it hard, because you have to hit it hard, because you aren't able to properly assess the risk that it will develop into something much worse or that it might never do so. we've seen huge improvements in precision medicine over the last ten years in the context of cancer, so i think patients should be heartened by that. and studies like these will help us to become more precise still, i believe. and can even get to the state from doing a research study into doing an actual, practical application of this in an to environment, or indeed environments that uses real patients? this study was set up to prove this as a principal and we looking forward to introducing it into context... now it's a question of going out and finding the funds, finding the institution that's willing to take it to the next step. that's right. and thanks to the

integration of the national health service, we're able to do that at high level. you're talking five to ten years. everything is always ahead to adjust give us a sense of how quickly in recent years we've made progress in cancer because sometimes it feels it's one of the things we talk about them or have lots of good news stories about new ideas, new thoughts, but actually people living with it but it's the immediate commit to be here and now they're thinking about, the family members, friends, all the rest of it. they think, how much progress has really been made?” it. they think, how much progress has really been made? i think improvements in cancer outcomes are the direct result of research finding the last ten, 20 years. again, patients should be heartened by that. there is no doubt that in an improved understanding of the cancer at a basic level will always lead to improving the treatment eventually.