at six — plan ahead for christmas, says a shipping boss, amid delays at the uk's ports. a shortage of hgv drivers means around 50,000 containers are still waiting to be collected at felixstowe, the uk's biggest commercial port. retailers are warning it will have a knock—on effect on their shelves. we will still have toys to sell, but if you're looking for choice, don't expect to come in in december and see what you would normally experience in a toy store. but the government says they are confident people will be able to get their toys for christmas. also tonight... the eu sets out its plans to try to resolve disagreements over post—brexit trading arrangements in northern ireland. will it be enough?

the eu and the uk positions seem far apart as negotiations begin again tonight, but both worn stability in northern ireland is at risk. protestors are dragged away by angry motorists in essex this morning as they continue to block roads. two, one... and star trek�*s william shatner — at the age of 90 — makes history as the oldest person to go into space for a io—minute journey injeff bezos�* capsule. what you have given me is the most profound experience i can imagine. i'm so filled with emotion about what just happened. i'm just... it's extraordinary, extraordinary. and coming up on the bbc news channel. fifa condemn the racially aggravated incident in the stands at wembley, as calls grow for hungary to be banned from international football.

good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. don't panic—buy. but do plan ahead for christmas. that's the message to shoppers from a global shipping boss who has warned that a shortage of hgv drivers is having a knock—on effect on ports around the uk. felixstowe is the biggest. it has 50,000 containers waiting to be collected, and ships are having to wait for up to ten days to unload. the port has blamed several factors forthe build—up, including the impact of the pandemic. 0ne retailer has warned the problem could hit supplies of toys this christmas. 0ur transport correspondent caroline davies is in felixstowe. international shipping is a

worldwide, interconnected web, and what we are seeing here in felixstowe and beyond is when that web is disrupted. international trade is beginning to reawaken, and as there is more demand for goods shipped over to the uk, the system that gets them from the quayside to the shops is beginning to struggle. coming in but going out to slowly. felixstowe is the busiest container port in the uk, bringing in goods from around the world. but for months, the situation here and internationally has been getting worse as demand for goods grows after the pandemic. the situation is caused by a messy mix of global problems, including covid disruption. here in the uk it is made worse by a shortage of hgv drivers to take the goods away, and so, they built up. there are around 100,000 containers here. the port normally has around 60,000 to 70,000 on average. they aren't the only port in this position.—

on average. they aren't the only port in this position. well, this is a ulobal port in this position. well, this is a global issue, _ port in this position. well, this is a global issue, so its _ port in this position. well, this is a global issue, so its happening l a global issue, so its happening imports around the world, and it's obviously happening in all the container ports around the uk. because of the volume of traffic, of containers, and of particularly imports at the moment, which are coming into the uk as we come out of lockdown. figs coming into the uk as we come out of lockdown. �* , ., , ., ~ ., lockdown. as well as taking time to net noods lockdown. as well as taking time to get goods to _ lockdown. as well as taking time to get goods to the — lockdown. as well as taking time to get goods to the right _ lockdown. as well as taking time to get goods to the right place, - lockdown. as well as taking time to get goods to the right place, the i get goods to the right place, the cost of shipping goods is also going up. cost of shipping goods is also going u -. ., , ., ., up. the freight rates have gone up massively- — up. the freight rates have gone up massively. two _ up. the freight rates have gone up massively. two years _ up. the freight rates have gone up massively. two years ago you - up. the freight rates have gone up massively. two years ago you paid about _ massively. two years ago you paid about $3000 for a 40 foot from shanghai — about $3000 for a 40 foot from shanghai to felixstowe. this month, it is between $19,000 and $20,000, so as it is between $19,000 and $20,000, 50 as you _ it is between $19,000 and $20,000, so as you can see, they have gone up sixfold _ so as you can see, they have gone up sixfold. , . , so as you can see, they have gone up sixfold. , ., , ., so as you can see, they have gone up sixfold. , .,, ., ~ ~ ., so as you can see, they have gone up sixfold. , ., ~ ., ' . sixfold. this has a knock-on effect in our shops. _ sixfold. this has a knock-on effect in our shops, including _ sixfold. this has a knock-on effect in our shops, including on - sixfold. this has a knock-on effect in our shops, including on toys - in our shops, including on toys coming in before christmas. if i in our shops, including on toys coming in before christmas. ifi use this as an example, _ coming in before christmas. ifi use this as an example, this _ coming in before christmas. ifi use this as an example, this item - coming in before christmas. ifi use this as an example, this item 12 - this as an example, this item 12 months ago would have cost us 70p to ship from the far east to the uk. it

is now going to cost £7 to ship. now, that puts it in perspective. we are selling theirs at present at £15. that isn't going to happen when the new freight rates come in. the government _ the new freight rates come in. the government has reassured shoppers that they should shop normally this equipment and has said that while global capacity regularly fluctuates, it is working with the industry to tackle the challenges at ports. the supply chain is stuck in a snarl up and it could take months to unpick. 0ur economics editor, faisal islam, is in washington dc, where the world's finance ministers are meeting this week. this issue of supply is notjust a uk problem, is it? yes, i mean, in the first instance, you can see it much more visibly in the us, in the dozens of cargo ships which are stuck, unable to unload their contain years off california and off georgia. you can see it in

the tens of thousands of cars which are unfinished because car companies cancelled their orders for microchips at the beginning of the pandemic, they thought because of the lockdown people wouldn't want to buy cars. what happened was that even more people wanted to buy cars because of some of the savings they had from not going out, it meant that used car prices shot up. so, you can see that visibly. and indeed right now, president biden at the white house has got america's big companies together, getting them to promise to work 24/7, the big freight companies, to get rid of these supply chain blockages so that christmas can be normal in terms of supplies. so, this is a global issue. it is being discussed here amongst finance ministers. rishi sunak, the chancellor, raised the idea of a global solution to this issue. it should be said that there are some uk specific factors in some sectors, such as the post—brexit immigration visas, which have made things worse. 0ther finance ministers think, we have to be more self—reliant, and have more

production locally, which would increase price pressure permanently, but it is a big issue here for finance ministers to settle and it is not going to be settled before christmas. �* �* . , is not going to be settled before christmas. �* �* ., , ., ., christmas. the bbc has learned that nhs bosses — christmas. the bbc has learned that nhs bosses in _ christmas. the bbc has learned that nhs bosses in england _ christmas. the bbc has learned that nhs bosses in england are - christmas. the bbc has learned that nhs bosses in england are seriously| nhs bosses in england are seriously worried by the number of patients stuck in hospital because of the lack of support at home and in care homes. some chief executive have described the current situation is dire. can companies say the problems they are facing recruiting and retaining staff are acute. injune last year, 6% of posts in the care sector were unfilled. there is now a shortfall of more than 112,000 people working in care. there are now more unfilled care jobs than before the pandemic. alison holt reports. it's another extremely busy

day for this home care manager and her supervisor. day for this home care manager and hersupervisor. both day for this home care manager and her supervisor. both are normally based in the office but staff shortages mean they are out caring for people to cover the gaps in the rotor. it meantjust five hours sleep for vicki last night. i’m sleep for vicki last night. i'm shattered. — sleep for vicki last night. i'm shattered. i _ sleep for vicki last night. i'm shattered, i am _ sleep for vicki last night. i“n shattered, i am tired! i sleep for vicki last night. i“n shattered, lam tired! i have sleep for vicki last night. i“n shattered, i am tired! i have to keep going on with it. until i can recruit again, until we get more people through the door to support. it is not an option not to. the bandages _ it is not an option not to. the bandages were _ it is not an option not to. the bandages were too _ it is not an option not to. the bandages were too tight but they are all right— bandages were too tight but they are all right now. bandages were too tight but they are all right nova— all right now. they are here to help 103-year-old _ all right now. they are here to help 103-year-old margaret _ all right now. they are here to help 103-year-old margaret with - all right now. they are here to help 103-year-old margaret with her - all right now. they are here to help i 103-year-old margaret with her lunch 103—year—old margaret with her lunch and personal care. she recently returned from hospital. how do you feel about being home now, rather than in hospital? filth. feel about being home now, rather than in hospital?— than in hospital? oh, i am glad to be home, definitely. _ than in hospital? oh, i am glad to be home, definitely. after- than in hospital? oh, i am glad to be home, definitely. after four i be home, definitely. afterfour weeks away. but be home, definitely. after four weeks away-— be home, definitely. after four weeks away. be home, definitely. after four weeksawa. �* , ., ., ., weeks away. but the shortage of care staff is making _ weeks away. but the shortage of care staff is making it _ weeks away. but the shortage of care staff is making it increasingly - staff is making it increasingly difficult to get people out of hospital. difficult to get people out of hosital. ., ., , ~ , ., ., hospital. you have perked up a lot. comments — hospital. you have perked up a lot. comments from _ hospital. you have perked up a lot. comments from hospital— hospital. you have perked up a lot. comments from hospital chief - hospital. you have perked up a lot. comments from hospital chief tips | comments from hospital chief tips show the huge pressure this is already causing in england. there are a record number of people

waiting for care, says one. we have just tipped over the point where delayed discharges are a bigger problem than covid, says another. and a chief executive whose hospital has 140 patients waiting to be sent home says patients are dying in hospital when their choice was home, hospice or nursing home, due to lack of care staff. hospice or nursing home, due to lack of care staff-— of care staff. we're incredibly concerned — of care staff. we're incredibly concerned about _ of care staff. we're incredibly concerned about the coming l of care staff. we're incredibly - concerned about the coming winter. we know that hospitals, mental health trusts, ambulance services, are all under huge pressure and we know that that pressure is linked to social care, who desperately need the support in order to expand their capacity. the support in order to expand their ca aci . . . , the support in order to expand their ca aci . ., . , , the support in order to expand their caaci . ,., the support in order to expand their caaci . , capacity. tracy is a nurse and manager— capacity. tracy is a nurse and manager at _ capacity. tracy is a nurse and manager at this _ capacity. tracy is a nurse and manager at this sheffield - capacity. tracy is a nurse and| manager at this sheffield care capacity. tracy is a nurse and - manager at this sheffield care home. they, too, are struggling to find care workers, with staff exhaustion, compulsory vaccinations and better pay in other sectors all adding to the problems. pay in other sectors all adding to the problems-— pay in other sectors all adding to the problems. there was our from recruitment _ the problems. there was our from recruitment agencies. _ the problems. there was our from recruitment agencies. yeah. - the problems. there was our from recruitment agencies. yeah. and | the problems. there was our from | recruitment agencies. yeah. and it is not 'ust recruitment agencies. yeah. and it is notjust one _ recruitment agencies. yeah. and it is notjust one job, _ recruitment agencies. yeah. and it

is notjust one job, there's - recruitment agencies. yeah. and it is notjust one job, there's two - recruitment agencies. yeah. and it is notjust one job, there's two or. is notjust one job, there's two or threejob's behind it. she is notjust one job, there's two or three job's behind it.— three 'ob's behind it. she is also bein: three job's behind it. she is also being bombarded _ three job's behind it. she is also being bombarded by— three job's behind it. she is also being bombarded by job - three job's behind it. she is also being bombarded by job offers l three job's behind it. she is alsol being bombarded by job offers as being bombarded byjob offers as other companies try to poach her. you're getting e—mails, you're getting text messages from companies that have never even heard of. offering you to go for interview, offering you to go for interview, offering newjobs. offering you to go for interview, offering newjobs.— offering you to go for interview, offering new jobs. offering new 'obs. what you think of that? got a offering newjobs. what you think of that? got a job. — offering newjobs. what you think of that? got a job. i'm _ offering newjobs. what you think of that? got a job. i'm looking - offering newjobs. what you think of that? got a job. i'm looking after. that? got a 'ob. i'm looking after --eole to that? got ajob. i'm looking after people to the _ that? got ajob. i'm looking after people to the best _ that? got ajob. i'm looking after people to the best of— that? got ajob. i'm looking after people to the best of my - that? got ajob. i'm looking after people to the best of my ability. | people to the best of my ability. right, we need three carers... find right, we need three carers... and when they — right, we need three carers... fific when they bring in right, we need three carers... fific when they bring in agency staff right, we need three carers... e'"ic when they bring in agency staff to cover the gaps, they sometimes pay more in a day than the council pays them in a week for a resident's care. i them in a week for a resident's care. ~' them in a week for a resident's care. ~ , ., ., , care. i think we should not be in this position _ care. i think we should not be in this position but _ care. i think we should not be in this position but i _ care. i think we should not be in this position but i think- care. i think we should not be in this position but i think social i this position but i think social care — this position but i think social care is— this position but i think social care is an _ this position but i think social care is an integral part of the healthcare system —— the healthcare system _ healthcare system —— the healthcare system with the nhs, but again it does _ system with the nhs, but again it does not — system with the nhs, but again it does not fear that we have —— it does _ does not fear that we have —— it does not — does not fear that we have —— it does not feel that we have had the necessary— does not feel that we have had the necessary support and potentially it could _ necessary support and potentially it could he _ necessary support and potentially it could be bleak times ahead. the government _ could be bleak times ahead. t"ie: government says it has put extra money into social care and that it is running regular recruitment campaigns. alison holt, bbc news.

the government's latest coronavirus figures show there were 42,776 new infections recorded in the latest 24—hour period, the highest number since the middle ofjuly. the average number of cases per day in the past week now stands at 39,073. more than 7,000 people were in hospital with covid yesterday. another 136 deaths have been recorded, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive test, which means on average, there were 113 deaths per day in the past week. 0n vaccinations, 85.6% of the population aged 12 and over have had their first dose of a vaccine, and 78.7% have been double—jabbed. the eu has tonight set out new proposals to try to cut red tape in the continuing row over trade from great britain into northern ireland. at the start of the year, a new post—brexit agreement was introduced, called the northern ireland protocol.

it means checks are needed on live animals and certain products like chilled meats which cross the irish sea from great britain. that's because as part of the post—brexit agreement, northern ireland has remained in the eu's single market for goods so that the border between northern ireland and the republic of ireland can be kept open and check—free. but it means a new trade border has been created in the irish sea, and that has angered unionists who say it undermines northern ireland's place in the uk. 0ur ireland correspondent emma vardy is in belfast. so, what it is the eu proposing to do to resolve this? well, sophie, this all relates to what happens when lorries roll off the ferries here at belfast port, and for companies that are filling in paperwork all over the uk. now, the eu is offering to cut down some of that red tape and some of that bureaucracy and reduce the need for so many checks on goods, on products arriving over the irish sea here.

the hope is that it would be less of a headache for companies that send goods to northern ireland. but this isn'tjust goods to northern ireland. but this isn't just about paperwork, goods to northern ireland. but this isn'tjust about paperwork, it's also about the politics, and the uk is still asking for more. could this be the light at the end of the tunnel for businesses? bringing goods into northern ireland from great britain has become much more difficult under the brexit arrangements. if we went back to 2020 for a consignment of goods, that is the paperwork we had to produce. right. under the protocol in 2021, this is the paperwork for four or five boxes. right, and there could be multiple loads of this for one lorry? the uk government argues that difficulties are so serious that it now wants an entirely new treaty. we're seeing fewer if anybody wanting to begin moving goods between great britain and northern ireland. it is gb companies that are supplying smaller quantities to northern ireland who are saying, "why should i bother?"

let's try to make christmas a little brighter, shall we?— let's try to make christmas a little brighter, shall we? marks & spencer is has said it — brighter, shall we? marks & spencer is has said it won't _ brighter, shall we? marks & spencer is has said it won't be _ brighter, shall we? marks & spencer is has said it won't be sending - brighter, shall we? marks & spencer is has said it won't be sending some | is has said it won't be sending some christmas products over the irish sea because of the red tape. and there was due to be a ban on the british banger being brought into northern ireland if chilled meat cannot be imported under eu rules. but the eu has indicated it will now reduce the paperwork. the proposals are understood to include a unique agreement on food to reduce checks on food and drink products moving over the irish sea, an arrangement to allow the sale of chilled meat to continue, and the eu said it will change its laws to solve the problems which are posing a threat to the supply of medicines in northern ireland.— to the supply of medicines in northern ireland. with this robust acka . e northern ireland. with this robust ackaue of northern ireland. with this robust package of practical, _ northern ireland. with this robust package of practical, imaginative | package of practical, imaginative solutions, we can continue to implement the protocol in ireland, northern ireland, for the benefit of all communities on the ground. but logistics are only

part of the problem. this is an ideological battle, too. loyalist communities view any kind of border in the irish sea as severing northern ireland's link with the uk, integral to unionist identity here. if we do not kill this protocol, it will kill the union. for the most staunch unionists, the eu proposals won't go far enough. they still fall far short of what is needed to make the fundamental change which is required, but we recognise that there is a negotiating process to happen now. i would much rather they was no brexit. — would much rather they was no brexit. no— would much rather they was no brexit, no protocol, but we are where — brexit, no protocol, but we are where we — brexit, no protocol, but we are where we are, and it is our view that— where we are, and it is our view that the — where we are, and it is our view that the protocol guarantees protections for the good friday agreement, the all—iron economy, and ensures _ agreement, the all—iron economy, and ensures that _ agreement, the all—iron economy, and ensures that there is no border imposed — ensures that there is no border imposed on the island of ireland. the uk _ imposed on the island of ireland. the uk government has also called for an end to the role of the

european court ofjustice. but they say it is an act of faith, with the uk going back on a deal which it signed up to. this uk going back on a deal which it signed up to— uk going back on a deal which it sit-neduto. , ,., , ., signed up to. this is a country that makes treaties, _ signed up to. this is a country that makes treaties, that _ signed up to. this is a country that makes treaties, that strikes - makes treaties, that strikes agreements and then intends to relegate on them, and that must resonate around the world now. don't make any agreement with the british government, don't sign any treaty with the united kingdom, until you can be confident that this is a country that can honour its promises. country that can honour its promises-— country that can honour its romises. ., ., ., promises. without a resolution, the uk could trigger— promises. without a resolution, the uk could trigger a _ promises. without a resolution, the uk could trigger a clause _ promises. without a resolution, the uk could trigger a clause to - uk could trigger a clause to override part of the brexit deal, sparking a potential trade war with northern ireland caught in the middle. emma vardy, bbc news. let's talk now to our europe editor, katya adler, in berlin. the eu has set out its proposals, what now?— the eu has set out its proposals, what now? ~ ., ., ., , , , ., what now? what now really depends on how far the uk — what now? what now really depends on how far the uk and _ what now? what now really depends on how far the uk and eu _ what now? what now really depends on how far the uk and eu are _ what now? what now really depends on how far the uk and eu are willing - what now? what now really depends on how far the uk and eu are willing to - how far the uk and eu are willing to bend. they both say they are in listening mode and they both say they would like to come up with a mutually acceptable way forward on the northern ireland protocol but their positions at the beginning

right now seem pretty far apart. if you listen to lord foster, he says you listen to lord foster, he says you are going to need a real rewrite of the protocol to make it workable and he insists on removing the european court ofjustice oversight role. the eu says, yes, it will refine the protocol but it will not redesign it. we have heard its proposals today, it wants to make daily life in northern ireland more workable but it will not get rid of the european court ofjustice's role, it says, as long as northern ireland follows the rules of the european single market for goods. so what does this mean? does it mean it is almost inevitable that the government will trigger article 16, the ability to suspend part or parts of the northern line protocol? lord foster said he would rather not do it but he will if he thinks that peace in northern ireland is at stake and the talks collapsed. the eu says that stability of northern ireland is at risk by trying to rewrite the protocol. it says it is preparing for every eventuality, germany and france have asked for

retaliatory measures for the european commission to prepare them in case article 16 is triggered. that is where talk of a possible trade war is coming from but sophie, we are really not there yet. katya adler, we are really not there yet. katya adler. thank— we are really not there yet. katya adler, thank you. _ police have made 35 arrests after members of the environmental group insulate britain blocked more roads today. demonstrators were dragged out of the way by angry motorists in essex, but immediately returned to join the protest again. jon donnison reports. move out of the way now! temp is at boilin: move out of the way now! temp is at boiling point — move out of the way now! temp is at boiling point this _ move out of the way now! temp is at boiling point this morning _ move out of the way now! temp is at boiling point this morning as - boiling point this morning as protesters blocked roads around the dartford crossing. mr; protesters blocked roads around the dartford crossing.— dartford crossing. my son needs to net to dartford crossing. my son needs to get to school _ dartford crossing. my son needs to get to school today _ dartford crossing. my son needs to get to school today so _ dartford crossing. my son needs to get to school today so move - dartford crossing. my son needs to get to school today so move out. dartford crossing. my son needs to get to school today so move out of| get to school today so move out of the way and let me get my son to school. ., ., ., ., ., ., ., school. you have got to move out of the wa . school. you have got to move out of the way- some _ school. you have got to move out of the way. some drivers took- school. you have got to move out of the way. some drivers took matters| the way. some drivers took matters into their own _ the way. some drivers took matters into their own hands. _ the way. some drivers took matters into their own hands. this _ the way. some drivers took matters into their own hands. this kind - the way. some drivers took matters into their own hands. this kind of i into their own hands. this kind of direct action from insulates britain has been going on for more than a month and today produced the ugliest scenes so far. month and today produced the ugliest scenes so far-—

month and today produced the ugliest scenes so far._ but - scenes so far. excuse me. but the activists, scenes so far. excuse me. but the activists. who _ scenes so far. excuse me. but the activists, who are _ scenes so far. excuse me. but the activists, who are campaigning - scenes so far. excuse me. but the activists, who are campaigning for homes to be heated more efficiently, say they have been left with no choice. it say they have been left with no choice. , , , ., say they have been left with no choice. , , ., , ., choice. it is impossible for us to do anything _ choice. it is impossible for us to do anything else _ choice. it is impossible for us to do anything else because - choice. it is impossible for us to do anything else because the i do anything else because the government listens to nothing about climate destruction and we are deeply sorry for the disruption, it isjust tragic but deeply sorry for the disruption, it is just tragic but we are left with no other option.— is just tragic but we are left with no other option. nearby, the police had to free — no other option. nearby, the police had to free several _ no other option. nearby, the police had to free several protesters i no other option. nearby, the police had to free several protesters who | had to free several protesters who had to free several protesters who had glued themselves to the road. 0verall, essex police say 35 people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance. the government has won a series of high court injunctions, meaning activists could face jail for blocking areas, including those around the m25 and the dartford crossing. insulates britain's tactics are certainly effective in terms of causing disruption. come on, come terms of causing disruption. come on. come on! _ terms of causing disruption. come on, come on! whether _ terms of causing disruption. come on, come on! whether they i on, come on! whether they are winnin: on, come on! whether they are winning over — on, come on! whether they are winning over much _ on, come on! whether they are winning over much public i on, come on! whether they are l winning over much public support on, come on! whether they are i winning over much public support is less clear. jon donnison, bbc news.

our top story this evening... plan ahead for christmas, says a shipping boss, as a shortage of hgv drivers means delays at the uk's biggest commercial port. but the government says the shop normally. and "queen of the channel" swimmer chloe mccardel makes her 44th crossing, breaking the world record. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel. settling back into life in the premier league. we hearfrom the new watford manager claudio ranieri on why he's feeling relaxed despite the pressures of trying to keep the club in the premier league. "galloping around the cosmos is a game for the young." so said captain kirk in star trek. but today, the man who played him proved his words wrong, as william shatner, at the age of 90, went into space. it was just a ten—minute flight onboard the blue 0rigin rocket, built byjeff bezos�* company.

but the actor made history as he became the oldest person to go into orbit. back on earth, he described it as the most profound experience he could imagaine. experience he could imagine. from texas, sophie long reports. as the sun rose over one of the most desolate parts of the wild west, william shatner made his way to the suborbital spacecraft.— suborbital spacecraft. william shatner. he _ suborbital spacecraft. william shatner. he was _ suborbital spacecraft. william shatner. he was knocked i suborbital spacecraft. william i shatner. he was knocked leading the crew his alter — shatner. he was knocked leading the crew his alter ego _ shatner. he was knocked leading the crew his alter ego commanded i shatner. he was knocked leading the crew his alter ego commanded but i crew his alter ego commanded but with three other passengers who would share what the few who have gone before say is a life changing experience. two, one... more than 50 years after he first— two, one... more than 50 years after he first donned — two, one... more than 50 years after he first donned a _ two, one... more than 50 years after he first donned a spacesuit _ he first donned a spacesuit as captain— he first donned a spacesuit as captain kirk, _ he first donned a spacesuit as captain kirk, william - he first donned a spacesuit as captain kirk, william shatnerl he first donned a spacesuit as i captain kirk, william shatner is he first donned a spacesuit as - captain kirk, william shatner is now on his— captain kirk, william shatner is now on his way— captain kirk, william shatner is now on his way to — captain kirk, william shatner is now on his way to the _ captain kirk, william shatner is now on his way to the final— captain kirk, william shatner is now on his way to the final frontier. i

and there they are, over 328,000 feet... ~ , ., ., , and there they are, over 328,000 feet... ~ , ., .,, ., , feet... minutes later, as the orbit across the — feet... minutes later, as the orbit across the internationally - across the internationally recognised boundary with space, he became the oldest person in the world to float there weightless. and to experience the view of earth he said he would be entranced by. iloathed said he would be entranced by. what a thin to said he would be entranced by. what a thing to have... _ said he would be entranced by. what a thing to have... he's _ said he would be entranced by. twat a thing to have... he's the said he would be entranced by. "liaisgt a thing to have... he's the oldest quy a thing to have... he's the oldest guy that went into space! in a thing to have... he's the oldest guy that went into space!- guy that went into space! in the da s guy that went into space! in the days before. — guy that went into space! in the days before, he _ guy that went into space! in the days before, he had _ guy that went into space! in the days before, he had laughed i guy that went into space! in the i days before, he had laughed while he said he was terrified but that is going to space was a miracle and it was extraordinary to be part of this new beginning of space travel. find new beginning of space travel. and ca sule new beginning of space travel. el"ic capsule touchdown, welcome back, the newest astronauts.— newest astronauts. cheering he emerged _ newest astronauts. cheering he emerged from _ newest astronauts. cheering he emerged from the - newest astronauts. cheering | he emerged from the capsule, newest astronauts. cheering - he emerged from the capsule, clearly moved by the experience. he said he hopes he never recovered from it. but to see the blue... wow! and now you are staring into blackness, that is the thing. what you have given me

is the thing. what you have given me is the most profound experience i can imagine. i'm so filled with emotion about whatjust happened. i just... it's extraordinary, extraordinary.— just... it's extraordinary, extraordinary. just... it's extraordinary, extraordina . , extraordinary. there may be debate over whether _ extraordinary. there may be debate over whether he _ extraordinary. there may be debate over whether he returns _ extraordinary. there may be debate over whether he returns to - extraordinary. there may be debate over whether he returns to earth i extraordinary. there may be debate over whether he returns to earth an i over whether he returns to earth an astronaut but he has gone where no nonagenarian has gone before. sophie long, bbc news, blue 0rigin launch pad one. an mp who made threatening phone calls to a woman because she was jealous of her relationship with her partner has been found guilty of harassment. claudia webbe, who's the independent mp for leicester east, was accused of carrying out unwanted phone calls against michelle merritt, a female friend of her partner. she allegedly threatened an acid attack and to distribute naked pictures of her. ms webbe will appeal the verdict. an inquest has been hearing from friends of the first man murdered by the serial killer stephen port, who believe police wrongly assumed he had overdosed because he was a gay sex worker.

port went on to kill a further three young men. the inquests are examining whether any of them could have been saved had police acted differently. our home affairs correspondent daniel sandford is in london. china dunning told the inquestjury how herfriend and china dunning told the inquestjury how her friend and fellow fashion student anthony walgate had been going to meet a man for sex and was expecting to earn £800 which had worried friend because it was an unusually amount. anthony had even messaged one of his friends the details of the person he was going to meet, adding jokingly, "in case i get killed". two days later, his body was found outside a block of flats where stephen port lived and stephen port admitted lying to police about knowing anthony or gate and was brieflyjailed but never arrested on suspicion of murder. china dunning described how she and herfriends had repeatedly told metropolitan police defectives that stephen port was responsible for

anthony all gate's desk, urging the police to go through stephen port�*s computer. when that was eventually done a year after anthony's body was found, the trainee detective constable who did it missed the fact that stephen port had made repeated searches for things like unconscious boys and drug rape, and in the meantime, stephen port had killed two more young men with the date rape drug ghb and ultimately killed a fourth young man before finally being arrested on suspicion of murder. daniel sandford, thank you. two more energy suppliers, pure daniel sandford, thank you. two more energy suppuefs, pure planet and colorado energy, have become the latest casualties of the global spike in gas prices. both companies have stopped trading, affecting hundreds of thousands of customers. the energy regulator ofjim will find a new supplier for affected customers. the development brings the number of customers affected by the number of customers affected by the current wave of energy company collapses to around 2 million. more than 100 mps and peers are calling on the government to rethink plans to scrap many btecs

in order to pave the way for new vocational qualifications for 16—to—18 year—olds in england — called t—levels. the government says it's important to avoid duplication, and says t—levels will provide a good route into work and university. 0ur education editor branwenjeffreys has this report. i'm honestly not entirely sure what i'm going to do. three college students studying at the same level, but three different qualifications. t—level, a—levels and btecs. within a couple of years, many btecs could disappear. yasna told me she wanted to keep her options open with btecs. at the beginning of the year, i was not sure what i wanted to do so i picked tech applied science which means i can have a variety so i picked btec applied science which means i can have a variety of choices at university. working with children. that is whatjess wanted to do aged 16, so she chose the more work—based t—level. i like the fact that it is like

something i definitely want to do and it will definitely take me to where i want to be. after two years, jess will get one t—level, t for technical, worth the same as one or two btecs, or three a—levels, but t—levels have at least 45 days of work experience. so dna carries the instructions for making protein. to clear the way, some btecs could be scrapped, and here is the difference — btecs are studied by 250,000 students, t—levels, just a couple of thousand now. t—levels are absolutely central to the government's ambition for higher skills. designed with employers, they rely heavily on businesses being willing to provide work experience. but their introduction risks being overshadowed by massive being overshadowed by a massive row about withdrawing

the very popular btecs. at this college, they fear losing btecs will hit the most disadvantaged students hard. possibly tens of thousands of young people will not have a clear route. they are going to find it very difficult to come to college, to gain extra qualifications that will help them further in their life and i think that it is a very sort of risky scenario we are faced with at the minute. the minister insists students will have a choice, including using t—levels to go to university. one thing that you can be sure of is that we will ensure there is a good range of courses, there is high quality and that young people have those opportunities to go into whatever career they want. while students complete their current courses, the first list of those being scrapped in the future is expected within months.

branwenjeffreys, bbc news, birmingham. swimming the channel once is tough enough. but the australian endurance swimmer chloe mccardel has just done if for the 44th time, breaking the world record. 0ur sports correspondent joe wilson reports. dover, 4am. the english channel's out there... somewhere. just follow chloe mccardel on her 44th crossing, 21 miles against tide and cold. her progress was tracked by satellite but the challenge hasn't changed since the silent '20s when the great gertrude ederle of the usa was the first woman to do it. there's £2000 in cash prizes... by the 1950s, there was barely enough global goose fat to match demand for channel swimming. when chloe mccardel reached french soil this time, she had completed a relentless sequence of channels sequence of channel swims over the past year

in search of the record. she first began endurance training to help her through post—traumatic stress disorder. it is mental as much as physicalfortitude. but bear in mind she had done this crossing with a chest infection. i had very favourable conditions. i am not exhausted and worn out, which i often am after swimming the channel, which is nice. i really got to enjoy soaking in every minute because i was not getting bashed around by the channel, so i've got energy, i feel great and yeah, it's really amazing. 44 channel crossings — that is way ahead, incidentally, of what any man has ever managed. joe wilson, bbc news. time for a look at the weather. here's susan powell. what an act to follow! the weather today across the uk has been quite benign. if you have seen the sun, you have done rather well. for many of us, the skies were like this and this i'm just trying all the time to break through but the cloud then coming back together into rather

solid layers and giving a bit of