this is bbc news. the headlines at 11:00pm: the government approves controversial plans to build a third runway at heathrow. campaigners say it will damage the environment, but the transport secretary says expansion will benefit everyone. it's going to be a battle going forward. there is still strong opposition to this, there are still some difficult stages to overcome, but we are absolutely determined to deliver this project, which we think is crucial to all of our futures. the grenfell fire inquiry has heard that the london fire brigade received more calls about how to survive the blaze on the night than from the whole of the rest of london in the previous decade. newspapers across the north of england have joined forces, calling on the prime minister to get a grip of the rail problems causing chaos for commuters. and on newsnight, rape cases have been thrown out after vital evidence was withheld. is the system broken? the barrister who saved her innocent

client from jailjoins us the barrister who saved her innocent client from jail joins us live the barrister who saved her innocent client from jailjoins us live with the former director of public prosecutions. good evening and welcome to bbc news. after almost 20 years of delays and bitter arguments, the government has finally given the go—ahead to build a third runway at heathrow if air quality targets can be met. the prime minister says the decision shows the government's commitment to jobs and infrastructure that britain needs to thrive after brexit, and that it could be completed by 2026. but opponents claim it will damage the environment, and they plan to challenge the decision in the courts. parliament will vote on the plans in the coming weeks. our deputy political editor john pienaar reports. after years of waiting and a few wobbles on the way, britain's biggest transport plan in years is finally in. buckle up for trouble.

today, ministers decided the uk and europe's busiest airport, heathrow, should get a new runway, and plenty of people hate the idea. are you going to lie down in front of the bulldozers? hear that? i don't think you'll see bulldozers, said borisjohnson, whose promise to lay down in front of one to stop the digging near his constituency. is the runway now going to happen? wait, wait, chris will be making a statement. secretary chris grayling. mr speaker, i come to this house to mark a historic moment which signals our commitment to securing global connectivity, creating tens of thousands of local jobs and apprenticeships, and boosting our economy for future generations, by expanding heathrow airport. so this is a test of whether the government is fit for purpose on big projects.

it's going to be a battle going forward. there's still strong opposition to this, there's still some difficult stages to overcome. but we are absolutely determined to deliver this project which we think is crucial to all of our futures. at least, that is the plan — thousands of new jobs, around £2.6 billion in compensation and noise insulation for neighbours. 800 homes could be demolished. many here in harmondsworth don't believe cleaner, quieter planes mean less noise and air pollution. labour is split in two. protesters lined party headquarters this week, and the labour leader is not backing expansion yet. tests must be undertaken on the economic impact for the whole country, noise pollution, air pollution and connectivity to heathrow for transport links.

those are the tests that have to be put before any decision is made. in the commons, mps lined up for and against the plan. the truth is, we don't know how the third runway could be reconciled with air quality limits. we don't know how the third runway can be recognised with our climate change targets. the various scottish chambers of commerce all support expansion at heathrow, as well, because they recognise the business benefits that can bring to scotland, creating up to 16,000 newjobs. an expanded heathrow must deliver for the whole of the uk, notjust the south—east of england. so, for heathrow, what's next? the commons will vote on the decision within weeks. there will be a planning inspectors' consultation on heathrow‘s detailed proposals. but legal challenges look certain from councils and environmental groups. the final target — third runway completed by 2026. with labour and the tories both split, the government will need the support of 0pposition mps to win through, and there will be plenty more fights in parliament, in the courts and outside before it is settled. billions of pounds, britain's airport capacity, and the reputation of the prime minister and her government all at stake. this huge project hasn't

been landed just yet. john pienaar, bbc news, westminster. firms involved in the refurbishment of grenfell tower have been accused of increasing the pain and uncertainty of victims' families by not fully engaging with the public inquiry into the disaster. there was also a statement from the london fire brigade which said the speed and spread of the fire posed an unprecedented set of challenges. 72 people died. our special correspondent lucy manning was at the inquiry today. you may find some of the images in her report distressing. grenfell before it was refurbished, and after. it might have looked better, but it has gone from a safe building to a lethal one, and those who wanted the changes and carried them out have been accused of the delay of trying to derail the inquiry. the corporate silence deprives the families of the degree of resolution and understanding to which they are entitled. and has only served to increase

their pain and uncertainty. it is inhumane to remain silent when so many seek understanding and answers. this woman, disabled yet housed on the 18th floor, died with her sister, her son demanding those answers. it's very hurtful, and it's been insulting. my recommendation is just to speak out, tell us what's happening. let's get to the truth, don't hide behind these things. some of the companies said they needed more information, or were unable to provide details to the inquiry now. those representing the bereaved also demanded more information from government, the council, and the tenant management organisation. the time is now to help the inquiry, they were told. pictures printed inquiry yesterday showed just how quickly the fire spread.

today, it was revealed that cladding made the flames moved faster than dropping a match in petrol, and the ventilation system in the building broke days before the fire, and wasn't repaired. a local authority instigated and oversaw the refurbishment of a social housing high—rise tower block in such a way as to render it a deathtrap. questions are raised whether the victims would have died were they mainly white and middle class. was it ethnic and social cleansing that these families ended up in grenfell, the inquiry was asked. we submit that what occurred at grenfell tower may be explained as a product of institutional racism and we consider it right and proper that they should be investigated. there was more criticism of the fire service, those who escaped that night the barrister said, owe their lives made me the chance

rather than proper planning and the inquiry was told the obvious heroism shouldn't take away from the obvious errors from those in control. the fire service said it faced multiple dilemmas about whether to tell people to leave because of the dangerous and toxic escape route, the single farewell, and difficulty communicating with residents. it had more calls that night from people needing immediate help to get out than in the previous decade from the whole of london. the price of petrol rose last month at the fastest rate for 18 years. figures from the rac show that rising global oil prices helped put up fuel costs by nearly 6p a litre in may, with the average price of petrol reaching 129.1ip a litre. average diesel prices rose to just over 132p a litre. the rac says higher crude oil prices and a weaker pound are to blame. newspapers across the north of england have joined forces

to call on theresa may to get a grip and deal with the delays and cancellations on the rail network. the papers, including the manchester evening news, liverpool echo and yorkshire post, have urged the prime minister to call an emergency summit at downing street to find a solution to the disruption caused by the new rail timetables. danny savage reports. commuters passing through leeds station tonight. they and their cou nterpa rts station tonight. they and their counterparts on lines in south—east england are now being told that travel woes are a government priority. the pledge came on the day collective anger in the north world over onto the front pages of local and regional newspapers. united with one voice, editors sent a message to the powers that be in london that the powers that be in london that the rail chaos must end. we are not willing to take this any more. there has to be some deliverables written down on paper that people like chris grayling, and if chris grayling isn't willing to be held to account,

than the prime minister must be held to account. at what effect that message have? as services rattled to and fro, the political leaders had their say. when northern rail seems surprised that their own timetable announcement, and are incapable of running services properly all across the north of england because they are unprepared for their own changes, well, that says an awful lot about the nonsense of a privatised railway and the franchise system. the prime minister agreed that the situation is absolutely unacceptable, and said it was vital for the government to get to grips with the problem. but two passengers now feel like the focus is finally on them? it really needs to be sorted out. people pay lots of money to go on trains, and you need to get to go on trains, and you need to get to work, and yes, it needs to be on time. is your boss understanding? not very understanding, no, so i won't have a job if it carries on. with all newspapers coming together with one voice in northern england, the message is clear that something

must be done about the way that trains are managed in this part of the country. and the other message they are trying to put forward is that services around here cannot be cared for properly by people 200 miles or so down the track in london. that is a hint towards a long held desire for more devolved power to the region. but before any of that, the pressure is on the government to fix the train problems here, fast. at least 69 people are now known to have died after guatemala's most violent volcanic eruption in more than a century. the fuego volcano, which is 25 miles from the country's capital, erupted on sunday. dozens of people are still missing. whole villages were wiped out by fast—moving mud and ash when the volcano exploded. thousands have been forced to take shelter in nearby schools and churches. from guatemala, aleem maqbool reports. the volcano may be shrouded in

smoke, but it now gives away little of the sudden, catastrophic violence it brought here. with more eruptions feared following further sporadic explosions of the volcano, a frantic recovery effort goes on. well, we are going in with one rescue team as close as we can get to the volcano. they have been digging for days now into the ash, but there are still so many bodies to be found. as we went m, many bodies to be found. as we went in, we saw a recovery team coming out. they had been trying to find survivors, but the only living things they could bring out this time were abandoned chickens. and this is why. the entire village of el rodeo was smothered in effect link ina el rodeo was smothered in effect link in a volcanic ash. in some homes, entire families were buried alive. the land was scarred and suffocated i love and ash. the assault from the vote, it volcano

came so assault from the vote, it volcano came so fast it is no wonder some simply had no chance of escape —— by lava. survivors who did manage to flee for their lives have been left traumatised. thousands are now in makeshift shelters. 39 members of the extended lopez family fled as low at your mac lava, cash flows and debris in their town. but five of their relatives didn't make it, including francisco's rather an two grand nieces, aged 12 and 14. translation: the place is completely destroyed, he says. i don't believe any of them survived, because their homes are totally buried under the ashes. there is no more space in the morgue for more bodies. as night falls, they remember the dead, and those presumed dead. even when bodies are found, so few victims have been as identified. 0ne rescuer said when he did find bodies,

after—hours digging in ash, they often looked like statues, so hard to recognise. the film producer harvey weinstein has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges at the supreme court in new york. it is the first time cases involving the 66—year—old are being tested in the criminal court. more than 70 women have accused him of sexual misconduct. he has denied them all. tributes have been pouring in for the american designer kate spade, who has been found dead at her home in new york. the 55—year—old was best known for designing handbags and a range of accessories. launched in 1993, the kate spade brand became a household name with stores around the world. she sold her remaining share of the business in 2006. that is a summary of the news. newsday is coming up at midnight. now on bbc news, it is time for newsnight. tonight, how many miscarriages ofjustice have there been? 47 sexual offences cases are stopped after prosecutors admit

the scale of the failings. it's been going on for years. there is nothing new in this. everyjudge knew, every barrister, every solicitor. what we have got to do is show the police notjust to build the prosecution case. —— every judge knew. tonight, we hear from the former director of public prosecutions and from the barrister who saved her innocent client from jail. is the north of england stuck with a second class service on the rails? labour announce a major shift in their brexit position — a hardening or a softening? meanwhile, nick watt is in the irish sea as debate continues to rage about a brexit border. off the coast of northern ireland i am examining how a sea crossing within the uk may soon be at the heart of the brexit battle.