this is bbc news i'm christian fraser. the european union has set out new proposals to slash the red tape on british goods entering northern ireland the bloc says the changes will eliminate 80 per cent of the border checks for animal products. we have completely turned our rules upside down and inside out to find a solid solution to an outstanding challenge. the international energy agency says the world needs to spend trillions of dollars more on clean energy if we are to meet the climate change targets we have set for 2050. the governors race in virginia is going to the wire which gives us a glimpse perhaps of what is to come in next year's all important midterm elections.

and star trek�*s william shatner — at the tender age of 90 — makes history as the oldest person to travel into space. the european union has published a set of new proposals to relax the strict laws that govern how goods travel from britain to northern ireland post brexit. brussels say their plans will lead to an 80 per cent reduction in customs checks. at the start of the year, a new post brexit agreement was introduced, called the northern ireland protocol. it established new economic barriers to the transport of live animals and certain products like chilled meats which cross the irish sea from great britain. and that's because as part

of the post brexit agreement, northern ireland has remained in the eu's single market for goods in order to keep the sensitive border between northern ireland and the republic open. but it means there's a new trade border hin the irish sea — and that's angered unionists who say it undermines northern ireland s place in the united kingdom. here's our northern ireland correspondent emma vardy. 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. international shipping is a worldwide interconnected web if we went back to 2020, that's the paperwork under the protocol. this is the paperwork for four or five. 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. gb companies that are supplying smaller quantities to northern ireland are simply saying,

"why should i bother?" cor! what a year! let's try to make christmas a little brighter, shall we? i marks & spencer 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, as chilled meats 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 meats 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. it is this robust package of practical, imaginative solutions we can continue to implement the protocol on 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 type 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's proposals won't go far enough. they still fall far short of what is needed to make the fundamental change that is required, but we recognise there is a negotiating process that will happen now. i would much rather that there was no brexit, i would much rather that there was no protocol. but we are now where we are and it is our view that the protocol guarantees to predictions for the good friday agreement, the all ireland economy and it ensures there is no border imposed on the island of ireland. the uk government has also called to an end of the role

of the european court ofjustice in the arrangements, but political leaders in the republic of ireland say the demands are an act of bad faith. the uk going back on the deal that it signed up to. this is a country that makes treaties, that strikes agreements and then intends to renege on them. and that message must now resonate around the world. 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. without a resolution the 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. anand menon is the director of uk in a changing europe — i asked him how far these proposals go in addressing the problems in the northern ireland protocol. in terms of addressing the problems, the eu claims that the checks that

are now necessary will no longer be necessary but of course the issues around the northern ireland protocol are no longer simply about trade because the british government has raised the stakes and talked about political issues like consent for northern ireland for new rules and crucially about the role of the european court ofjustice. can crucially about the role of the european court ofjustice. can we be clear what it — european court ofjustice. can we be clear what it will _ european court ofjustice. can we be clear what it will mean _ european court ofjustice. can we be clear what it will mean in _ european court ofjustice. can we be clear what it will mean in practice? l clear what it will mean in practice? we come to the british point and where on the way, highly effective in talking about agreeing that a green channel and red channel? red channel for those going to northern ireland? not quite, there will be some checks that go into the day and ireland but but the european union has done is made significant efforts to get rid of some of the problems that existed on that border beforehand so that there were publicized problems about his that deal with agricultural standards and making it possible to export sausages that reams of paperwork that h ivory space having a different export certificate for each confinements, that is gone as well. 50 each confinements, that is gone as well. ., , ., ., each confinements, that is gone as well. ., ., ., well. so the european union have resnonded _ well. so the european union have responded both _ well. so the european union have responded both to _ well. so the european union have responded both to what _ well. so the european union have responded both to what the - responded both to what the government is saying and what

businesses are saying to make that trade flow a lot easier and while not frictionless, close to frictionless that it was. we heard from the brexit _ frictionless that it was. we heard from the brexit minister - frictionless that it was. we heard l from the brexit minister yesterday and he referred to the problem of the european court ofjustice and he would say we cannot be bound within britain by the european cow ? court whether it's no longer governing us. it's about british sovereignty. is there a compromise in which the ec] plays a role. there a compromise in which the ec] plays a role-— plays a role. because northern ireland continues _ plays a role. because northern ireland continues to _ plays a role. because northern ireland continues to be - plays a role. because northern ireland continues to be bound l plays a role. because northern i ireland continues to be bound by some eu law under eu law itself the ultimate educator of disputes under eu law is the european court of justice that the problem from the eu side. what it would also say is this. we get the problems that have everything ready implementation of the protocol and beget the concerns that the british government about that the british government about that and have reacted. but we don't get is this concern about the european court ofjustice which has been there from the start which has

not changed at all so how are you changing your mind on this and claiming it'sa changing your mind on this and claiming it's a matter of principle because everything is as it was when we signed it. because everything is as it was when we signed it— we signed it. there has been activations — we signed it. there has been activations on _ we signed it. there has been activations on both _ we signed it. there has been activations on both sides - we signed it. there has beeni activations on both sides and we signed it. there has been. activations on both sides and i we signed it. there has been - activations on both sides and i have no doubt remainers would say you signed up to this lloyd frost and ewing knew what the implications of it were but we are entitled to assume that both brussels and the british government signed up to this impending to comply with it. it's just that over the course of the first few months of implementation maybe it has not worked as either side imagined it would. i maybe it has not worked as either side imagined it would.— maybe it has not worked as either side imagined it would. i think you are probably _ side imagined it would. i think you are probably right _ side imagined it would. i think you are probably right in _ side imagined it would. i think you are probably right in case - side imagined it would. i think you are probably right in case you - side imagined it would. i think you j are probably right in case you have to follow dominic cummings on twitter who was the intention was to sign up to it and then renege on it after that government had won the election and there is no sign that everyone in downing street is going to agree with that analysis. but i think what you call the winning argument you signed up to it, you should have known is very unfair

because yes, both sides signed up to it but there was no way of knowing in practice what was going to happen until the protocol was in operation which is why the european union on the scene having seen it in action and listen to the company we are going to change our process and create a bespoke situation for northern ireland because what we had in place to start with was not working that both sides worked with the experience of the political stuff that was not necessarily obvious at the time they signed it. the international energy agency said today that if the world wants to meet its target of net zero emmissions by 2050 then there needs to be a clear unmistakable signal from world leaders when they gather in glasgow injust over two weeks time. investment in clean power they said will need to be tripled in the next decade. the good news is that progress is being made. this year — two—thirds of all investment in new power capacity went into renewable energy.

but fossilfuels — coal, oil, and natural gas — still made up 80% of the world's total energy supply. we have got an interesting graph here which will show you why the cop26 summit is so crucial. it tracks global co2 emissions — the top line in yellow was our trajectory before the paris agreement until 2050. below that in blue — you can see how the world's current stated policies have lowered the trajectory. below that — in orange, is where we'd be if governments follow through on the pledges they've made ahead of the meeting in glasgow. but still— that leaves the grey gap at the bottom. that's how far we still have to go to reach net zero by 2050, even if we stick to the pledges made ahead of galsgow. and this is the difference it made. first of all, there is no lack of capital globally. there is no problem in terms of availability of money and i believe in europe and in north america clean energy projects and the capital will meet.

the issue is the emerging countries, developing countries because the bulk of the emissions growth comes from asia and other countries around the world, other emerging countries around the world and it is also very important that in cop26 government leaders around the world come together, unite and give an unmistakable signal to investors saying that, you, investor, you see that we are united to be the clean energy future. clean, modern, resilient and secure energy future. if you continue to invest in the old energy, you may well lose money. but how do we ramp up clean energy supply, without creating major disruptive shortages. look what happened in the uk recently. gas was running short at a time when wind power was failing to deliver. maybe the answer is a new type of energy. 0ne we have not yet perfected. and one of the most promising solutions if nuclear fusion. right now scientists are trying

to harness the power created when two small atoms collide and fuse together. the collision creates energy. clean energy. and here is one way they plan to do it. this donut—shaped chamber is a nuclearfusion reactor — uses magnets and hot gas they propel the atoms at such speed towards each other that the two atoms collide before their respective charges can repel each other. unlike energy from fossil fuels it doesn't release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and unlike traditional nuclear energy it doesn't leave longlasting radioactive waste behind. nuclearfusion isn't dependent on weather conditions and the plants — apparently — are incredibly space efficient. and unlike conventional nuclear power there is no chance of meltdown. comparatively this is a much safer source of power. if sounds too good to be true, and that because right now it is. the technology doesn't yet exist to generate energy from nuclear fusion at scale.

but there is some significant investment going into it here in the uk. so let's speak to the man in charge of the uk's nuclear fusion research. professor ian chapman is the chief executive of the uk atomic energy authority and is in oxford for us now. welcome to the programme. how close i we honestly to achieving nuclear fusion? , ., ., , i we honestly to achieving nuclear fusion? , ., ., ., , fusion? fusion has enormous potential— fusion? fusion has enormous potential as _ fusion? fusion has enormous potential as you _ fusion? fusion has enormous potential as you have - fusion? fusion has enormous potential as you have just - fusion? fusion has enormous i potential as you have just said. fusion? fusion has enormous - potential as you have just said. and for that reason we should try everything that we possibly can to make it a reality. here in the uk we have a plan to build a prototype power plant and we are aiming to do that by 2040. a machine that the call step and the aim of step would be to put interest on the grade. let us do a quick fusion 101. cell, explain to us how this happens and why it's different to nuclear fission where we split the atom. i would feel a tight agenda. it particles inside had digging gaps.

those particles naturally propelled away from each other so we have to get close and we did not get them close and the fuse and join together and release a huge amount of energy that we can use to produce electricity and we know it works. it's happening right now in the center of our son so it's the root source of all of our energy so we know it works but in the sun it's happening because the sun is so enormous and so massive that gravity is forcing that field close enough to join to fuse and release energy. we obviously cannot recreate the sun here on earth so instead we have to give the fuel even more energy than the center of the sun so we have to take the field to about ten times hotter than the center of the sun. when we do that in our machines we can release energy and produce future and we have done that i'm a laboratory scale and the need to scale it up and demonstrate that it can work at commercial scale and the world is united and building for the be the biggest science experiment ever undertaken by humanity. which

will demonstrate that fusion can be done and can be done at commercial scale and that machine turns on in just five years' time. and you think that will completely solve our energy problems because it is cleaner and safer than the nuclear energy we have at the moment? yes. so there is no risk of chain reaction, unlike in a nuclear fission by convention fission where there is in a field in the machine to keep running for two or three weeks and inside a fusion device is only enough fuel for ten or 15 seconds so if you wanted to stop you can't stop it pretty much straightaway so it's inherently safe and has forwarded me the solution, it has to be part of the solution and we need to do everything and you just outline how big a challenge is and we have to do everything to solve that i'm a bit like covid—i9. it can only be solved by finding a vaccine for everyone globally and the same way to address climate change you need energy solutions which work everywhere and in this country we have a lot so we should absolutely do a lot of offshore wind

but that does not fly everywhere so we need solutions which work in everyjurisdiction and that's the beauty of fusion. it can be done everywhere. beauty of fusion. it can be done everywhere-— beauty of fusion. it can be done everywhere. best of luck with the research. stay with us on bbc news. still to come: we head to virginia, where the race to be the state's next governor is heating up. uk toy retailers are warning that ongoing disruption at british ports might mean a shortage of the most popular products in stores this christmas. the port of felixstowe has 50,000 containers waiting to be collected — with ships waiting days to unload — as caroline davies reports. felixstowe is the busiest container port in the uk, bringing in goods from around the world, but for months the situation at ports 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 covert disruption, but here in the uk it is made worse by a shortage of hgv

drivers to take the goods away and so they build up. there are around 100,000 containers here. at the port normally has around 60—70,000 on average. the government has reassured shoppers that they should shop normally this christmas and has said that while global capacity regularly fluctuates, it is continuing to work with the freight industry to tackle the challenges at ports. thousands of wives and children of islamic state group's foreign fighters are currently held in camps in northern syria. the kurdish authorities which run them are urging countries to repatriate their citizens — but many are refusing, seeing them as a security rirsk. as poonam taneja discovered at one camp, those living there are suffering violence from fellow inmates and family separations. the islamic state group may have been defeated on the battlefield,

but here in the camps where its followers and families are being held, its brutal ideology lives on. killings are common, weapons are smuggled in, people smuggled out. and children are at risk of radicalisation. and so when boys reach adolescence, they are moved on to secure detention centres, alone. he's ten years old. his mother and younger siblings are all he has left. his father, an is fighter, was killed in an air strike. the mother brought him here from the caribbean island of trinidad. there were people who came to is and joined is and realised very, very quickly what is was about, its brutality, and they very quickly decided to return themselves.

you stayed here, right until the end. but little has been done to bring them back. some countries like sweden, germany and belgium have brought back some of their citizens. while others like britain and france have only repatriated children, mainly orphans. the adults are seen as a security threat. that's because is killed thousands. among them, kurdish men and women, buried in the cemetery. the lives of women and children in the camps is challenging. but there is little sympathy for them, from the families of those who were killed by islamic state group and its foreign fighters. their grief is raw, as this woman mourns her son.

one of countless kurds killed during a decade of civil war. and there's growing frustration that the responsibility for detaining families falls on them. the situation inside this camp is very bad. kurdish officials have this dire warning. translation: there are daily killings. - they are training the children in isis ideology. it's an international problem, but the international community is not taking their duties and responsibilities towards it. if it keeps going like this, we will face a disaster, that we will not be able to deal with. but while countries decide what to do, children are trapped here.

there are fears that they are wasting away. and for many, hopes of a brighter future at home are fading. poonam taneja, bbc news. france has announced the death of hubert germain — the last surviving recipient of the country's rarest bravery award from the second world war — the order of liberation. it was bestowed on just over a thousand heroes of the french resistance. the elysee palace described mr germain as a figurehead of free france. the bbc�*s tim allman looks back at his life. as allied troops go towards the palace, and announcement from the parties brings great news, paris is liberated. " ., ., :: parties brings great news, paris is liberated. " . . :: liberated. 1944 and after 40 nine ears, liberated. 1944 and after 40 nine years. paris _ liberated. 1944 and after 40 nine years. paris is — liberated. 1944 and after 40 nine years, paris is free _ liberated. 1944 and after 40 nine years, paris is free once - liberated. 1944 and after 40 nine years, paris is free once again. i years, paris is free once again. general de gaulle leading to a and allied troops in retaking the city.

but for most of the war it was the men and women of the resistance who defied nazi occupation. among their number seen here with president micron last year. a resistance fighter, a war hero, and a man who when preparing to take exams to enter the french military decided he would never follow enter the french military decided he would neverfolloinm orders. ? german orders. i would never folloinm orders. ? german orders.— would never folloinm orders. ? german orders. i thought about it for five minutes _ german orders. i thought about it for five minutes and _ german orders. i thought about it for five minutes and fed - german orders. i thought about it for five minutes and fed to - german orders. i thought about it| for five minutes and fed to myself, what are you doing here. so i got up and handed back a blank piece of paper. i said, and handed back a blank piece of paper. isaid, i'm not interested. i am off to war. b5 paper. i said, i'm not interested. i am off to war-— am off to war. as a soldier of the free french _ am off to war. as a soldier of the free french forces, _ am off to war. as a soldier of the free french forces, he _ am off to war. as a soldier of the free french forces, he took- am off to war. as a soldier of the free french forces, he took part | am off to war. as a soldier of the i free french forces, he took part in the battle and went on to help liberate the port and the city of leon. after the wire, he entered politics, becoming a government minister in the 1970s. he represented what president micron called the frame of the resistance.

a frame and that will never be extinguished. he will be buried in the last empty vault at the national memorial to french writers of the second world war. ? french fighters. let's look at some of the day's other news the us land borders with mexico and canada will reopen to fully vaccinated travellers next month, and non—essential travel will resume. the us—canada border has been closed since march 2020. last month the white house announced an easing of restrictions on fully vaccinated air travellers from early november. apple is reported to be cutting production of its latest iphone because of a shortage of chips. the tech giant had expected to make 90 million units in the final quarter of this year but has now told its partners that the total will be lower by as many as 10 million phones. squid game — the violent korean drama — has become netflix�*s, biggest ever series launch. the dystopian nine—part series, tells the story of a group of misfits taking part in six, children's playground games, where the cost of losing — is death.

in just 28 days, it has been watched by a staggering 111 million users — and sparked a huge online following. steve holden has more. squid game is a dystopian drama that puts a baddeley spin on some classic 7 puts a baddeley spin on some classic ? catholic childhood games. 0ver nine episodes, contestants reap huge personnel bets put their lives at risk to the millions of pounds in prize money. the creator of the south korean shell originally came up south korean shell originally came up with the idea and 2008 with netflix taking it on for distribution in 2019. it brands violence, satire, and hearths with striking visuals and puts it simply, everyone is talking about it. there was very little hype around the talk of this when it came out. thea;r

of this when it came out. they launched _ of this when it came out. they launched these _ of this when it came out. they launched these creative - of this when it came out. iie: launched these creative interesting vibrant, violent near shell onto the platform and it's just grown through word—of—mouth in a really interesting and pretty inspiring way. interesting and pretty inspiring wa . ., . way. until now, netflix had said eriod way. until now, netflix had said period drama. _ way. until now, netflix had said period drama, bridget - way. until now, netflix had said period drama, bridget ten, - way. until now, netflix had said period drama, bridget ten, with way. until now, netflix had said i period drama, bridget ten, with its most bitter series launched. squid game had 111 million users watching in its first 28 days. netflix can be secretive and selective about exploring figures. but it counts one feel as anyone who's watched two minutes of an episode. ? one view. squid game is another example of the rights of korean culture globally. two years ago the movie parasite won best film at the oscars and bts from the capital seoul are now the worlds biggest boy band. squid game continues to ride that south korean

wave. it looks good, doesn't it? they can put me down as a plus one, it's on my list. good evening. if you've seen some decent glimpses of the sun today, you have done pretty well. for much of the uk, the skies were cloudy and there's going to be plenty of that cloud sticking around tomorrow too. 0ne change in our story will be strengthening winds for scotland. the big area of high pressure stays to the south of the uk, but this low starts to squeeze into the north and that will mean our winds across scotland start to strengthen even as we head into the small hours of thursday. some showers feeding into western scotland as well on the strengthening breeze. elsewhere, light winds especially to the south of the uk, enough cloud around to keep our temperatures up to the higher end of single figures,

double figures in a few spots. for scotland, as this weather front start to push into the north through thursday morning, we could be talking about gales for the northern isles and through much of the day. at times, the winds could gust up to 40mph. stronger winds will work their way south along with the band of rain. come the afternoon, i think we will see that rain fringing into glasgow perhaps for the end of school for the evening rush hour. that band of rain marks a boundary between relatively mild air to the south of the uk and much colder air that will sweep across us for friday, perhaps not getting into the far southwest. elsewhere, it will look brighter. more sunshine may give the impression that it should feel warmer, but actually with a northerly breeze and moving into more arctic air, it will feel considerably cooler. temperatures across scotland perhaps eight to ten at best, similar to the figures that many will see overnight. further south, 14, perhaps 15 degrees, with a mild air clings on. clear skies and that cold air around overnight friday will set us up for a patchy frost to start us off on saturday, particularly across central and eastern areas of the uk. but coming in towards the western area of cloud and rain will mean a milder start here but a greyer day on saturday, with some rain

particularly for northern ireland and the northwest of england, some showers down towards the southwest. sunday, it looks like the rain will be away to the east. we should see a drier day, a brighter day as well once any early morning mist orfog clears. and with the strengthening southwesterly wind at the moment, it also looks like it will be a warmer day.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. the eu sets out plans to scrap 80% of checks on foods entering northern ireland from britain, but will it be enough? joe biden's son, hunter, is under scrutiny once again — this time for his latest venture as an artist. a closer look coming up. us officials investigate possible cases of the so—called havana syndrome in colombia. and longing for longevity. we all want to add years to our lives, but how to do it is the tricky bit. centenarians in italy may have something to teach us.

hunter biden has been defending himself against allegations of corruption since his father was barack 0bama's vice president. selling access or trading on influence is a common thing in washington. in fact you might recall the trump children being accused of similar things. but ahead of the election last year mr biden said things would be different in his adminstration. "i will take steps to tackle the self—dealing, "co nflicts of interest, "dark money, and rank corruption that are serving narrow, "private, orforeign agendas and undermining our "democracy," he said. so in a white house that says it's committed to anti—corruption, hunter biden's suspected ties to international banks and deals with foreign governments raise difficult questions. in fact, let's walk you through some of his business dealings. in 2013 hunter begins an unpaid position on the board of a chinese bank. a year later in 2014 he joins the board of the ukrainian natural gas firm, burisma. then in 2017 the new

york post reported he was receiving $10 million in an annual fee from a chinese billionaire for introductions. in 2019 hunter's laptop is seized by the fbi and on it was an email from an advisor from burisma, who thanked him for an invitation to washington to meet joe biden. last year republican lawmakers launched an investigation into hunter's work for the ukrainian firm, but there was no evidence that us foreign policy was influenced by it. so no criminal activity has been proven but plenty of lines of enquiry. i'm joined now by ben schreckinger, national political correspondent at politico and the author of the bidens: inside the first family's fifty—year rise to power in portland, maine. i'm s o rry , i'm s o r w , y o u r i'm sorry, your name went across two lines of prompter, i do beg your pardon. i want to go back to the story this summer that hunter biden

would sell paintings with initial prices of half $1 million, which would be quite a feat, would it not, for an established painter? yes. would be quite a feat, would it not, for an established painter? yes, and an absolutely _ for an established painter? yes, and an absolutely extraordinary - for an established painter? yes, and an absolutely extraordinary sum - for an established painter? yes, and an absolutely extraordinary sum for| an absolutely extraordinary sum for an absolutely extraordinary sum for a debut painting to fetch. we don't know for sure whether he has sold any paintings that price yet. he recently did an art show outing los angeles, but there is immediately invited concerns from ethics experts about the possibility that someone who want to ingratiate themselves with joe who want to ingratiate themselves withjoe biden good wildly overpay for art created by hunter biden. ii for art created by hunter biden. if we go back to the same period last year, when donald trump and the republicans were pushing this story about hunter biden and what he was selling, there was a tendency, i think, among liberal commentators, in fact, i have to say, we were in the same boat, about whether to report on it because it was coming

from trump, rudy giuliani was involved and let's face it his track record is not great, there were us officials dismissing it as russian information, be material that was on his laptop, but i want to ask you now that all the noise has gone from that, what do you see in some of these e—mails? was some of the true? i have been able to confirm the sum of the e—mails from this leaked laptop, including one in which this ukrainian representative of charisma, as you mentioned, was thanking hunter biden for the opportunity to meetjoe biden and one in which there was a discussion of hunter biden possibly holding equity and a venture on his father's behalf, so those e—mails are genuine. the interpretation of them, we don't know exactly what happened or what didn't. joe biden has said he has never discussed and his campaign has said he never discussed

going to business with his family or holding equity in this way and that he didn't have a meeting with this ukrainian businessman, and so some of these things remain in question. what is not in question is that there are ethics concerns being raised about this painting venture, just as they were very legitimate ethics concerns that were raised about hunter's work for burisma back when his father was overseeing the 0bama administration. when his father was overseeing the obama administration.— when his father was overseeing the 0bama administration.— when his father was overseeing the 0bama administration. there was a federal criminal _ 0bama administration. there was a federal criminal investigation - 0bama administration. there was a federal criminal investigation that i federal criminal investigation that began shortly after the election. why has that got to? that investigation, _ why has that got to? that investigation, as - why has that got to? that investigation, as far - why has that got to? that investigation, as far as . why has that got to? that j investigation, as far as we why has that got to? trisgt investigation, as far as we know, is ongoing. david weiss is the us attorney was kept on in delaware to oversee that investigation and there has been no indication he has left his post, and so that is a signal that the hunter biden and related investigations appear to be ongoing still at this time. b, investigations appear to be ongoing still at this time.— still at this time. a story that rumbles on. _ still at this time. a story that rumbles on. ben _ still at this time. a story that i rumbles on. ben schreckinger, still at this time. a story that - rumbles on. ben schreckinger, thank you very much for your time.- you very much for your time. thanks for havin: you very much for your time. thanks

for having me- _ it's election season in the us — yes, i know we are still rowing about the last one — but this is the governors race in the old dominion, the state of virginia. which could serve as a useful barometer ahead of next yea r�*s mid—term elections. two men vying for the post — on the left, you will have seen him before on this programme, the democrat terry mcauliffe, who has held thejob before. and on the right the republican glenn youngkin, former investment banker who has aligned himself with donald trump and yes the big lie. those divisions are among many that go to the heart of the political divide in the united states right now. let's speak to charlotte woods, who covers local and state government for charlottesville tomorrow. she has been following the campaign. why is there such excitement about this particular race?— this particular race? obviously as ou 'ust this particular race? obviously as you just said _ this particular race? obviously as you just said it — this particular race? obviously as you just said it is _ this particular race? obviously as you just said it is sandwiched - you just said it is sandwiched between a presidential election and midterm elections for congress next year, so it is always about whether... didjunior year, so it is always about whether... did junior is one of two states in the region, the other being newjersey, that has these

kinds of elections and can really energise republicans and democrats alike and it is also the dinner is really a very literally permeable state, meaning there is lots of red and blue here and lots of diverse stakeholders. you have got clusters of military bases, various colleges, couege of military bases, various colleges, college towns, rural areas, of military bases, various colleges, college towns, ruralareas, cities. lots of different constituents and stakeholders with different concerns, so it is kind of like an america in a microcosm, so people really pay attention to virginia, evenif really pay attention to virginia, even if they don't live here. it is interesting _ even if they don't live here. it is interesting you _ even if they don't live here. it is interesting you call— even if they don't live here. it is interesting you call it _ even if they don't live here. it is interesting you call it a purple state. i was looking at the polling and terry mcauliffe has a lead of 3%, which is within the margin of error, and... iam 3%, which is within the margin of error, and... i am thinking that must be worrying to democrats because although you call it a purple state, and presidential elections we would probably call it a blue state now, wouldn't we? virginia certainly has been the, quote, first state in the south to do x, y, z over the last few years

and there is a democratic majority in the us house and senate and in our state legislature, as well as the current sitting democratic governor. historically in the last 20 years whichever party wins the white house the former yet the opposite party tends to win the governors mansion the next year. the one exception was terry mcauliffe in 2017, he caught a wave when 0bama won his second term in office in 2012, so the question is is terry mcauliffe going to be able to do that again or is it going to go to the republicans? because a lot of that base is feeling very energised right now, there has been a lot of... as you spoke about it being very blue in recent years, it has been dubbed the blue wave, but republicans have been flipping states in rural government, so now you are saying that flip back where the republicans are trying to take it back, so that is a very tight race right now and democrats are very worried. flit race right now and democrats are very worried-— race right now and democrats are ve worried. , very worried. of course, as you say, it is the national— very worried. of course, as you say, it is the national issues _ very worried. of course, as you say, it is the national issues that - very worried. of course, as you say, it is the national issues that are - it is the national issues that are playing out, covid and they recovery

being first among them. let's have a look at the poll because what you see is that the voters tend to trust terry mcauliffe to get more people the vaccine, but actually when it comes to creating jobs they seem to lean more towards glenn youngkin. how do you see that debate play out on the campaign trail?— on the campaign trail? some of seaks to on the campaign trail? some of speaks to the — on the campaign trail? some of speaks to the political- on the campaign trail? some of. speaks to the political ideologies of both parties. most every republican constituent and candidate i have spoken with, they like to see less regulation to promotejob growth and more conservative use of government funding, whereas democrats democrats are largely saying, let's allocate these funds for this or that were let's throw in more regulations on different industries. so that is really what i am seeing when i'm speaking with people and also i would like to point out that both candidates really can raise some money. terry mcauliffe, when he has not been governor, he has been heavily fund—raising and stumping for other democratic candidates ran virginia and the country. meanwhile, glenn youngkin does have experience as a

ceo of carlyle group and he has a political action committee he created that is to fund republican candidates in state elections and i think if he is able to take the governor seat he is hoping he is also walking in with the republican party flipping the house of delegates as well. fiifi party flipping the house of delegates as well. ok, charlotte woods, delegates as well. ok, charlotte woods. thank— delegates as well. ok, charlotte woods, thank you _ delegates as well. ok, charlotte woods, thank you very - delegates as well. ok, charlotte woods, thank you very much - delegates as well. ok, charlotte woods, thank you very much for| delegates as well. ok, charlotte - woods, thank you very much for that, when is the election?— when is the election? nobility second, when is the election? nobility second. but — when is the election? nobility second, but voting _ when is the election? nobility second, but voting is - when is the election? nobility second, but voting is under i when is the election? nobility i second, but voting is under way when is the election? nobility - second, but voting is under way ok, second, but voting is under way 0k, will perhaps dip into that, but thank you very much. us officials say they are investigating another case of havana syndrome which has cropped up this time in colombia, days before a visit by secretary of state tony blinken. the us media says there's been a number of unexplained health incidents among american embassy staff and theirfamilies in bogota, with symptoms including a painful sound in the ears, fatigue and dizziness. the illness first emerged among american diplomats in cuba in 2016 and has since been reported in all these countries. on friday president biden approved compensation for those who have suffered traumatic neorological injuries while serving abroad.

i'm joined now by dr robert bartholomew in auckland, new zealand, a medical sociologist who has written a book about this phenomemon as the co—author of havana syndrome: mass psychogenic illness and the real story behind the embassy mystery and hysteria. watch back the title of the book gives us a clue as to what you think. you don't think it is real? that is correct. look, this case can be summarised in a single sentence. when you hear the sound of hoof beats in the night, first thing horses, not sea birds. the doctors in the state department went for the most exotic hypothesis early on. they were going for unicorns when they should have stuck to mundane explanations. they should have stuck to mundane explanations-_ they should have stuck to mundane explanations. they should have stuck to mundane exlanations. , . ., , , explanations. explain more because i know that a — explanations. explain more because i know that a number _ explanations. explain more because i know that a number of _ explanations. explain more because i know that a number of the _ explanations. explain more because i know that a number of the victims i know that a number of the victims say they have heard buzzing and then very quickly afterwards they... they complained about these psychological effects. ~ . ., .

complained about these psychological effects. . ., . , effects. well, the nationalacademy of sciences has _ effects. well, the nationalacademy of sciences has said _ effects. well, the nationalacademy of sciences has said it _ effects. well, the nationalacademy of sciences has said it could - effects. well, the nationalacademy of sciences has said it could be - effects. well, the nationalacademy of sciences has said it could be the i of sciences has said it could be the fray effect, this microwave effect where you hit is barely discernible clicking sound. that is not what the subjects include cuba heard. and when they asked them to do recordings and those recordings were analysed, they turned out to be the mating call of the short tail cricket, the jamaican field cricket and the caribbean sea card. there is no evidence that the diplomats in cuba suffered brain damage. i will resign my position in the department of psychological medicine at the university of auckland if anyone can demonstrate that the victims in cuba suffered from brain damage. there were brain anomalies, but they were not very significant and you will find that in most groups that you start to scrutinise. and those are the same anomalies you would expect to find from exposure to long—term stress, which is exactly what those havana diplomats were under. what you have got here are two separate

events. you have got what happened in cuba and now you have got all these reports around the world. what happened in cuba is clearly an outbreak. it is a standard, textbook outbreak. it is a standard, textbook outbreak of mass psychogenic illness. we can trace it. in the secret fbi report, the contents of which were recently leaked, it concluded it was a psychogenic illness. then you have got people all over the world is now reporting havana syndrome in lots of countries. havana syndrome in lots of countries-— havana syndrome in lots of countries. , countries. let me “ump in there because the h countries. let me “ump in there because the bbc_ countries. let me jump in there because the bbc has _ countries. let me jump in there because the bbc has spoken . countries. let me jump in there because the bbc has spoken to | countries. let me jump in there - because the bbc has spoken to lots of people who say it is real, some are deeply affected, they are getting advanced care and it is spreading and it is causing rifts in the workforce. they don't have a reason why it is happening, but why would the us government be wasting time, money and resources on a syndrome that doesn't exist? it is called syndrome that doesn't exist? it 3 called incompetence. that is the case, how come the us government did not release the fbi investigation on this? it had to be leaked about a

month ago and the contents included exactly what i have said, that it was an outbreak of mass psychogenic illness. a second report, is secret report, the so—called jason report, was obtained under the freedom of information act and that concluded that the freight effect in my grace is extremely unlikely and that there was a major role played by mass psychogenic illness. there this myth out there that mass psychogenic illness is a mental disorder and we are calling people crazy. that is not the case. it is a collective stress response. and now you have got the department of defence and the state department putting up alerts all over the world warning people to be on the lookout for anomalous health incidents. this is anomalous health incidents. this is a recipe for a global outbreak of mass psychogenic illness. there is an almost saying. speak of the devil and he is bound to appear. that is exactly what is happening now. dr robert bartholomew, thank you very much indeed, we will have to leave

it there. right, how long have we got? i mean, how long are we going to live? we all want to know that answer. extending our time is something we all think about, but how do we achieve it? well, there is research that says changes to diet, exercise, our mental outlook will extend the years we have. which might not surprise you. but what sort of diet, how much exercise, what kind of life do we need to lead? doctor valter longo, has been hearing directly from people who are old — really old. all of them from italy, all of them over 100 years old. so what has he learnt? he is with us. what have you learnt? what is the secret, the elixir of life? well, the first secret is they probably had genetically have an advantage, so have the right genes, and then the rest of it is that the don't interfere with that, so they have the diet, the exercise and all the other factors that allow these genes to bloom in maximise life

span. d0 genes to bloom in maximise life san. y ., genes to bloom in maximise life san. ~ . span. do you think we have reached the summit — span. do you think we have reached the summit of— span. do you think we have reached the summit of how _ span. do you think we have reached the summit of how long _ span. do you think we have reached the summit of how long we - span. do you think we have reached the summit of how long we can - span. do you think we have reached the summit of how long we can live| the summit of how long we can live or are we going to find a new plateau if we follow the things that we are learning from the centenarians in sardinia? well, we know a lot- — centenarians in sardinia? well, we know a lot- i— centenarians in sardinia? well, we know a lot. i think _ centenarians in sardinia? well, we know a lot. i think the _ centenarians in sardinia? well, we know a lot. i think the side - centenarians in sardinia? well, we know a lot. i think the side unions| know a lot. i think the side unions are confirming what we know and adding data to it, but i think that most of the world does not follow any of it, so in the united states we we have 70% of people who are overweight or obese and europe is not that far behind, so i think that once we maybe have one or 2 billion people who follow all the rules to get extended longevity and health span, so healthy longevity, then we may see someone... 0ne madam made it 220 years of age, a person in italy

and she made it to 117. i 220 years of age, a person in italy and she made it to 117.— and she made it to 117. i definitely want their secrets. _ and she made it to 117. i definitely want their secrets. i _ and she made it to 117. i definitely want their secrets. i need - and she made it to 117. i definitely want their secrets. i need to - and she made it to 117. i definitely| want their secrets. i need to follow whatever they were doing. == want their secrets. i need to follow whatever they were doing.- whatever they were doing. -- she made to 120 _ whatever they were doing. -- she made to 120 years _ whatever they were doing. -- she made to 120 years of— whatever they were doing. -- she made to 120 years of age. - whatever they were doing. -- she made to 120 years of age. and - whatever they were doing. -- she | made to 120 years of age. and you sa that made to 120 years of age. and you say that this _ made to 120 years of age. and you say that this research _ made to 120 years of age. and you say that this research shows - made to 120 years of age. and you say that this research shows that i say that this research shows that aside from eating vegetables and things, that will extend your life, but what is it about vegetables that extend your longevity? brute but what is it about vegetables that extend your longevity?— extend your longevity? we don't know. extend your longevity? we don't know- one _ extend your longevity? we don't know. one thing _ extend your longevity? we don't know. one thing for— extend your longevity? we don't know. one thing for sure - extend your longevity? we don't know. one thing for sure about i know. one thing for sure about legumes and vegetables is that it prevents you from eating too much protein is, so you should have a diet that is mostly animal —based, animal product based —— if you have animal product based —— if you have a diet that is animal —based, your property going to have lots of proteins and we now know we have just concluded a meta—analysis in the united states that shows the majority of americans are eating too much proteins, i am sure the majority of uk people are eating too much proteins. a few years ago we did a study in italy that showed

children in italy are eating three orfour times the children in italy are eating three or four times the recommendations of proteins, so i think yes, legumes or vegetables make it extremely difficult to get too much protein, you would have to have pounds of lagoons or beans, etc, each day, but it is very easy to get there if you eat red meat or white meat or even fish. dr eat red meat or white meat or even fish. , ., , eat red meat or white meat or even fish. , .,, a, ., ., fish. dr robert bartholomew, we will have to leave — fish. dr robert bartholomew, we will have to leave it _ fish. dr robert bartholomew, we will have to leave it there, _ fish. dr robert bartholomew, we will have to leave it there, we _ fish. dr robert bartholomew, we will have to leave it there, we are - have to leave it there, we are pressed for time —— valter longo, we will have to live there, we are pressed for time, but thank you very much, it really is fascinating, this research. semlessly, we are moving from longevity to the remarkable seamlessly, we are moving from longevity to the remarkable achievements of one 90—year—old, william shatner captain kirk himself who took a ride aboard blue 0rigin sub—orbital capsule today become the oldest astronaut ever to go into space. shatnerjoined three others on the 10 minute journey, which gave them spectalar views of the planet, and quite a story to tell. the bbc�*s sophie long was there, and has this report.

as the sun rose over one of the most desolate parts of the wild west, william shatner made his way to the new shepherd suborbital spacecraft. bell rings. william shatner. he wasn't leading the 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... engine blasts. more than 50 years after he first donned a spacesuit as captain kirk, william shatner is now on his way to the final frontier. and there they are, over 328,000 feet, 100 kilometres... minutes later, as the new shepherd crossed 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. what a thing to have... he's the oldest guy that went into space! in the days before, he had laughed while

saying he was terrified, but he said his going to space was a miracle and it was extraordinary to be part of this new beginning of space travel. and capsule touchdown. welcome back, the newest astronauts. cheering. he emerged from the capsule, clearly moved by the experience he said he hopes he never recovers from. but to see the blue... wow! and now you are staring into blackness, that is the thing. what you have given me... ..is the most profound experience i can imagine. i'm so filled with emotion about what just happened. i just... it's extraordinary. extraordinary. there may be debate over whether he returned to earth an astronaut, but he has gone where no nonagenarian has gone before. sophie long, bbc news, blue 0rigin launch pad one.

let's bring in a retired nasa astronaut and former international space station commander, terry virts. lovely to have you with us. the newest astronaut, sophie called them. i don't know how you feel about that. there was one line william shatner gave us, he said, i don't know about the newest astronaut. he said, maybe with a small ae and two essays. i know that is not how you spell it, but that is how he feels about it. what you think? ,, . ,, , how he feels about it. what you think? ,, . ,,, think? siri always messes in may, she changes _ think? siri always messes in may, she changes it _ think? siri always messes in may, she changes it us _ think? siri always messes in may, she changes it us or— think? siri always messes in may, she changes it us or not. - think? siri always messes in may, she changes it us or not. what. think? siri always messes in may, she changes it us or not. what i i she changes it us or not. what i really felt was happiness, i had a giant smile on my face watching him get out of that capsule, he was so moved and described it perfectly. i had that same emotional experience, the moment i first saw the earth in daylight flying over the atlantic on my first shuttle flight, it was really cool to see and if you are called to fly or not, i mean, i fly

on british airways and so i'm not really a pilot strapped into the seat, but those guys definitely flew into the atmosphere and do something to say with that. that into the atmosphere and do something to say with that-— to say with that. at 90 years of vo a . e, to say with that. at 90 years of voyage. he _ to say with that. at 90 years of voyage. he not— to say with that. at 90 years of voyage, he not only _ to say with that. at 90 years of voyage, he not only did - to say with that. at 90 years of voyage, he not only did he - to say with that. at 90 years of voyage, he not only did he run| to say with that. at 90 years of i voyage, he not only did he run up to say with that. at 90 years of - voyage, he not only did he run up to the steps in the capital, but there was a fair bit of force there, the g force pulling on the way up, he must be fit as a fiddle? it force pulling on the way up, he must be fit as a fiddle?— be fit as a fiddle? it is, that he could do that. _ be fit as a fiddle? it is, that he could do that. at _ be fit as a fiddle? it is, that he could do that. at 90. - be fit as a fiddle? it is, that he could do that. at 90. i- be fit as a fiddle? it is, that he could do that. at 90. i was - be fit as a fiddle? it is, that he could do that. at 90. i was a i be fit as a fiddle? it is, that he l could do that. at 90. i was a bit nervous, to be honest, just to walk up nervous, to be honest, just to walk up those stairs in a space suit and then you are probably going up to three g is also, so laying on your back and have a couple of your friends lie on top of you and that is what it feels like when you're one launching a rocket, so that is... i know a lot of 50—year—olds who would struggle with getting on one of those rockets. he did great. i suppose what he does and this is absolutely no disrespect to the great agree that you guys exhibit when you go up there, is he is the best—known actor in the world, probably, but the poetic way in which he described it obviously

bring space closer to a new audience and i... i don't know, does it... it doesn't really matter whether he is an astronaut or not, does it? we can all feel this new age of space tourism and we all feel that maybe one day we could get there. well. one day we could get there. well, eah. if one day we could get there. well, yeah- if you _ one day we could get there. well, yeah- if youjust— one day we could get there. well, yeah. if you just are _ one day we could get there. well, yeah. if you just are the _ one day we could get there. well, yeah. if you just are the lead - one day we could get there. -ii yeah. if you just are the lead actor in a franchise that lasts for 50 years you will be able to get there! but obviously space tourism is going to open this up for a lot more people and having him describe it was really wonderful. ifelt people and having him describe it was really wonderful. i felt a people and having him describe it was really wonderful. ifelt a lot of the same emotions. unfortunately, the folks who fly on the space tourist vehicles only get a few minutes of weightlessness and they just see the earth and at one spot for a few minutes, but it is still profound and i think it would be better for all of profound and i think it would be betterfor all of us, the more people who get a chance to see that because to be not on your planet and looking back at your planet for me was that there are profound emotional experience. he was desperate _ emotional experience. he was desperate to _ emotional experience. he was desperate to go, _ emotional experience. he was

desperate to go, but - emotional experience. he was desperate to go, but ahead i emotional experience. he was desperate to go, but ahead of| emotional experience. he was - desperate to go, but ahead of the trip you could tell he was... in that he said, i am truly terrified. we don't get that from astronauts like you. you put on a brave face and say, i am actually looking forward to the trip and trusting the technology. be honest, the first time you went, it must have been a daunting thing? you time you went, it must have been a daunting thing?— time you went, it must have been a daunting thing? you know, i think as a far ilot daunting thing? you know, i think as a far pilot or— daunting thing? you know, i think as a far pilot or fighter _ daunting thing? you know, i think as a far pilot or fighter pilot _ daunting thing? you know, i think as a far pilot or fighter pilot you - a far pilot or fighter pilot you have to be able to not worry about death so much. the fear that i had was messing something up and then all my body is seeing that happen and then giving me a nickname. i think most of my colleagues are the same way. our biggest fear is not death, it is going up then having all your buddies give you a hard time about it.— all your buddies give you a hard time about it. , . , ., . . time about it. yes. well, you are an astronaut with _ time about it. yes. well, you are an astronaut with a _ time about it. yes. well, you are an astronaut with a capital— time about it. yes. well, you are an astronaut with a capital a. - time about it. yes. well, you are an astronaut with a capital a. it - time about it. yes. well, you are an astronaut with a capital a. it is - time about it. yes. well, you are an astronaut with a capital a. it is a - astronaut with a capital a. it is a lot different when you are sitting there in control, isn't it? a lot different when you are a passenger for a ride. different when you are a passenger fora ride. i different when you are a passenger for a ride. i love seeing your smile, and it's obviously very fresh in your memory, so thank you for coming on at describing it. i in your memory, so thank you for coming on at describing it. i hope i

never forget _ coming on at describing it. i hope i never forget the _ coming on at describing it. i hope i never forget the experience, - coming on at describing it. i hope i never forget the experience, just i never forget the experience, just like william shatner said, absolutely.— like william shatner said, absolutely. like william shatner said, absolutel . . ., . absolutely. there are good to have our new absolutely. there are good to have your new programme, _ absolutely. there are good to have your new programme, thank - absolutely. there are good to have your new programme, thank you . absolutely. there are good to have i your new programme, thank you very much indeed, terry virts. dojoin us later, goodbye. hello again. wednesday was another warm day for october. temperatures reached 18 degrees in plymouth. it should be about 14 this time of year and we had the same breaks in the cloud across southern and eastern england. the weather is brightening elsewhere but western areas of wales, western england, west scotland and northern ireland, the cloud was thick enough to give a few spots of drizzle from time to time. here's thursday's charts, high—pressure slipping south and a cold front is going to be bringing rain and strong winds for a time in scotland and now for shetland and the highlands the wind gusting to gale force for a time thursday morning with our band of rain from that cold front slipping south, the rain will be heavy for a time.

south of this for northern ireland, england and wales there will be a lot of cloud around and for western areas, a few mist and fog patches over the high ground and some drizzle possible as well. just like wednesday there will be breaks in the cloud across central and eastern areas and whether it is sunny or cloudy either way it will be another mild day. temperatures around 17 degrees in the warm spots. thursday night a cold front continues to push its way south and notice the rain getting lighter into wales across the midlands and working across lancashire as well that the skies clearing behind that feature and it will turn out to be a cold night in scotland and the north. friday the cold front continues to push southwards and behind that there is a good amount of cold air flowing in. temperatures across the board will be dropping. on friday there is not much rain as this weakening front pushes across the south of both england and wales, but most areas will brighten up behind that with long spells of sunshine. despite the sunshine, it will be cool and through

the afternoon temperature is around eight degrees in aberdeen and ten in newcastle. further south northern ireland and england and wales and temperatures will also be slipping away. friday night it looks to be chilly across the north—east of the uk, particularly for northeastern areas of scotland and it will be cold enough for some areas of frost and that's how we start off the weekend initially with a ridge of high—pressure. and then we have got weather fronts set to move in off the atlantic. this degree of uncertainty, how quickly those fronts will move in so saturday could end up being a decent day. particularly if the rain is slow to come in, but that looks like most of the rain will be across western areas as we go through the afternoon. that still leaves central and eastern england, probably a good part of eastern scotland with dry weather until the end of the day. temperatures mild again — about 13, 16 degrees, although still chilly across the northeast of scotland. sunday is a quieter day weather wise. it looks like we will have south—westerly winds dredging up some relatively mild air, but quite cloudy, particularly across southern and western areas. the best of any sunshine most likely

across the north and east. most temperatures up to 18 celsius in london and cardiff and should be about 14 at this time of year. into next week uncertainty, the weather pattern looks unsettled, but in this area of low pressure in one of the models, it's quite intense, but it does keep the rain out to sea to a degree. the second model doesn't really have that area of low pressure — instead the rain is able to move in more quickly across the uk so that's the kind of differences we're going to see in the weather forecast into next week. it's mainly a timing issue about when the rain is going to come through, but it does look like an unsettled pattern, wet and often pretty windy. that is your weather ? goodbye for now.

tonight at ten: the eu tries to break the deadlock on the long—running brexit dispute involving northern ireland. it's proposed that, in future, most food products arriving in northern ireland from england, scotland and wales will not need to be checked. we have completely turned our rules upside down and inside out to find a solid solution to an outstanding challenge. but for some businesses in northern ireland, the dispute between the uk and the eu has gone unresolved for too long. gb companies that are supplying smaller quantities to northern ireland are simply saying, "why should i bother? "it's too difficult, it's too cumbersome." we'll be asking what happens if, as seems likely, the uk government says it's not enough. also tonight...

toy retailers and other businesses are warning that delays at uk ports